Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
The month of May brings with it several blessings. May is a traditional month dedicated to the Blessed Mother. We turn to her for inspiration and comfort. Just as the beloved disciple John was asked to take Mary into his home, we are invited to bring her into our homes:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)
Bringing Mary into our homes means that we honor her and seek her intercession for our needs. As we open our hearts to her son Jesus, he gives us the comfort of his own mother. She is a beautiful gift from our Lord.
May is also a time in which we honor our own mothers and show them our love and gratitude for all they have done for us. Mother’s Day comes this year on May 9. This will mark the fifth Mother’s Day without my beloved mother Ann. My mother was a deeply faith-filled and loving woman. She was named after the mother of Mary and she had a strong devotion to Mary.
With the loss of my own mother in 2016, I still feel close to her and pray that she is experiencing the eternal embrace of Jesus and Mary. Yet, the loss of my mother has meant my heart has opened up even more to the love of the mother of Jesus.
Even if we have lost our own mothers, we are not without a mother. We have Mary. We can turn to her with great confidence that her love and care continues.
One way to give our Marian devotion a concrete expression to the pray the rosary during the month of May. This May, Pope Francis is encouraging us join in praying the rosary as part of a marathon of prayer for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Mother’s Day, show your mother your love. Remember that we all have been given a blessed mother and bring her into your homes. Ask her to pray with you to her son Jesus for an end to COVID and to draw us closer to her son.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jesus, I trust in you.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us
Your servant,
The Most Reverend Robert J. McClory
Bishop, Diocese of Gary