Prayer to Mary, Our Mother - Cardinal Bacci

Prayer to Mary, Our Mother

1. There is a story told of a devout man who was wavering before the onslaught of temptation and was accustomed to kneel before a statue of Our Lady and say this simple prayer: "Show yourself a mother to me." When the same man had fallen into sin and, although full of remorse, had not succeeded in reforming, he went one day to Mary's altar and pitifully repeated his usual prayer. Immediately he heard a gentle voice replying: "Show that you are my son."

If we wish Our Lady to be a mother to us, we must also show her that we are her children. Earthly mothers are delighted to think that their offspring take after them. In the same way Mary wishes to see a reflection of her own sanctity in our thoughts, desires and actions. All this demands sacrifice, of course. It demands hard work, fervent prayer, and constant watchfulness over ourselves. If we do all that we can and never lose courage, God will not refuse us His help and our good Mother will not fail to intercede for us.

2. Even if we fall often into sin, we should never be discouraged. Although Mary is the Mother of all mankind, she is in a special fashion the merciful Mother of sinners. No matter how sinful a man may be, he will not be lost if he is sincerely devoted to Mary. We must not be deluded into imagining, however, that it is enough to pray to Our Lady in order to be saved, even if we continue to commit sin. St. Brigid tells us in her revelations that Mary is not the Mother of hardened sinners, but only of those sinners who desire to amend their lives and pray to her with this intention. (Rev., Bk. 4, C. 138) Jesus has told us, moreover, that “not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 7:21) The same holds for those who are devoted to Our Lady. It is not sufficient to pray to her, but we must also imitate her and accompany our prayers with the resolution of improving.

Fervent prayer is certain to obtain Mary's intercession on our behalf. St. Alphonsus recommends in particular (a) the Hail Mary repeated three times every morning and every night with the invocation 'Mother most pure, pray for me'; (b) an invocation to Our Lady every time the clock strikes the hour; (c) the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary; (d) a visit to the altar of Our Lady every time we make our daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament; (e) and some acts of mortification on the vigils of principal feasts of Our Lady, followed by a fervent celebration of the feasts themselves. If we show our good dispositions in this manner, Mary will be our true Mother in life and in death.

3. O Mary, be my merciful and kind Mother always, but especially when you see me struggling against temptation and against the wiles of the devil. Grant that I may never fall and offend God again. I need you so much. Help me and save me. Amen.

Mary, Our Mother - Cardinal Bacci

Mary, Our Mother

1. Let us imagine that we are on Calvary at the foot of the Cross. Jesus is nailed hand and foot to the wood and the last drops of blood are trickling from His wounds to the ground. His thorn-crowned head has nowhere to rest and the weight of His body is extending the wounds caused by the nails which hold it suspended between earth and sky. He has given everything for our salvation. He has given His commandments and His sermons of instruction. He has given us His merits and the grace to apply them to ourselves. He has worked miracles to strengthen the faith of His disciples. He has given us the Sacraments; above all, He has given Himself in the Blessed Eucharist. Now at last He is giving His life for the redemption of men. What more could He give us? His eyes, misty with suffering, look down and see near the Cross the two beings whom He loves even more than the rest, His mother Mary and the Apostle John. All that is left for His infinite goodness to give us is His own Mother. He bestows on her a last loving look and says: "Woman, behold thy son." Then He turns to the beloved disciple. "Son," He says, "behold thy mother." Now He has surrendered everything, even His dearest affections. According to the interpretation of the Fathers and of the Church, in John we became from that moment the sons of Mary, and Mary became our Mother. We are her sons whether we remain faithful like the beloved Apostle or have become the slaves of sin. A mother does not cease to love her sons when she sees them being led astray by error or by vice. She loves them more than ever and does not give up appealing to them to return to the straight path. It should be a great consolation to us to realise that we have Mary as our Mother. She loves us very much and takes a maternal interest in us whether we are leading good lives or have fallen into sin. In life and in death she is our most powerful protectress.

2. Mary is at the same time our loving and powerful Mother. No matter how much earthly mothers love their sons and desire to help them, very often they cannot do so, because their love is limited. It is not so with Mary. Not only does she love us, but she also possesses great influence with her divine son, Jesus. We should have confidence in her, therefore, and have recourse to her in every spiritual or temporal need. We may be certain that she will use her powers of intercession on our behalf. Let us remember, however, to ask first of all for the spiritual favours which we need. Later we may ask in a spirit of resignation to God's will for temporal benefits and for release from worldly suffering. If we acted otherwise, we should not be worthy sons of Mary, who endured all kinds of suffering for the sake of Jesus. When we recite the Our Father, we say "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," before we say "Deliver us from evil." If anyone refuses the cross, he shows that he does not love God because he does not will what God wills for him. We should remember that there is no affliction which does not come from God and that nothing comes from God which is not for our own good. So let us ask Mary for everything which we desire, but let us ask her first of all to make us holy. Devotion to Mary, as St. Catherine of Siena assures us, is a mark of predestination.

3. Holy Mary, it is consoling for me to know that you are my Mother, who loves and protects me and intercedes with God on my behalf that I may obtain everlasting salvation. I desire to be your son and to love you and your Son Jesus more and more. I wish to imitate your virtues as far as possible, especially your complete acceptance in joy and in sorrow of the holy will of God. Amen.