Mary, Uniting Us in Hope
In July 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris, France. During their time together, Mary said, “There will come a time when the danger will be great, and it will seem that all is lost. But have confidence. You will feel that I am with you and that God and St. Vincent are protecting the communities. Have confidence, do not be discouraged, I shall be with you.”
Nearly two centuries later, events in our communities and around the world can make us feel as discouraged as St. Catherine’s contemporaries. In the following interview, we hear from Marian expert Fr. Thomas McKenna, CM. He shares his thoughts on the importance of Mary and her Miraculous Medal in the atmosphere and dividedness of today’s world, and he discusses how she can help bring us together.
Q: When Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré, she acknowledged the terrible things that were happening and that were to happen in the world. Today’s world can sometimes seem threatening and divided. Do you hear this from the people you encounter in your daily life?
A: I certainly hear it from listening to the news and reading the papers. But for sure I hear it from friends and family who often bring up the divided state of the country and world.
Q: Why is it so important to pray right now, and why pray to Mary?
A: To pray is to open ourselves to God and God’s people, open our hearts to God’s strengthening and healing love that comes in part through Mary’s intercession. Especially when she prays those confident words, “My soul glorifies the Lord,” does she show us what it is to come before our Divine Lord and ask for the saving and reconciling help this divided world needs.
Q: In his November 18, 2020, catechesis, Pope Francis called the Blessed Mother a prayerful woman and a model of humility. If everyone followed Mary’s example of prayer and humility, do you think it would have a positive impact on the world?
A: It’s Mary’s humility which models the way in which all of us are to come before God. Right from the start, she sees herself a lowly servant whom the All-Powerful Lord is lifting up. It’s that stance of humble openness and receptivity that so enriches not only her praying but our prayer too.
In these contentious times, Mary stands as a model for any of us who wants to build bridges of dialogue to people whom we initially do not understand. A telling instance in her life is the time she kept her heart open to the startling message from the angel that she was to conceive and bear a son. Talk about reason to walk away! It was her trusting responsiveness and brave willingness to keep listening that allowed “The Miracle” to come about. This openness to things yet unknown marked all the rest of her life.
Q: In that same catechesis, Pope Francis said Mary “… was open to God’s voice that guided her heart …” What can we do to ensure that we too are more open to God’s voice?
A: One frequently attested way is that of gratitude. A heightened awareness of all we are so freely being given is an everyday way to turn our face toward Mary’s Son. In His Holy Spirit, He is forever pouring out His Father’s love and goodness on each and all of us.
Q: We know that in addition to not opening their hearts and minds to God’s voice, today people often shut out the voice of anyone with whom they disagree. How can praying to Mary help bridge the divide we see occurring among those with differing opinions and beliefs?
A: When Mary prayed those grateful words, “The Almighty has done great things for me,” she voiced her conviction that God’s love spills out on everyone and everything. If when disagreeing, people could keep this awareness that the opposing party is also filled with God’s saving and forgiving love, the absoluteness of the opposition would lessen.
Q: How do you personally pray to Mary?
A: I say a decade of the rosary every night just before going off to sleep. And I try to hold one of those phrases in the Hail Mary for just a moment. Each one gives off its own mercy-filled message—as in “Mary, full of grace,” or “the Lord is with thee.”
Q: Do you have any advice for people just starting to pray to Mary or who have stopped and want to start again?
A: One way might be to stop and picture the event of the Annunciation, a scene often so movingly portrayed in classic art. That’s the moment when Mary said her yes to God’s request that she bear a Son for the salvation of us all. Imagining oneself standing near that holy and world-changing interchange can stir amazement at the depth of her faith.
We invite you to pray the rosary online with the Daughters of Charity.
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