HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT about what an ideal mother would be like? Suppose you could pick any mother in the world to be your mother – who would she be? What qualities would you want her to have? Would it be your own mother or another?
Although theoretical questions since we have a mother, it is good to consider these qualities, for they are present in the most special mother of us all: Mary the mother of Jesus and our mother. As Jesus was dying on the cross, He gave Mary to be the mother of John, His beloved disciple, and a mother to each of us. He also gave each of us to Mary, to love and obey her as our mother.
May has traditionally been observed as the month of Mary, and so it is fitting to focus on her in a special manner this month. Mary has received many titles throughout these past two millennia.
Some refer to locations where she appeared (e.g., Our Lady of Lourdes), others highlight one or more of her virtues (e.g., Our Lady of Peace), still others to special devotions (e.g., Our Lady, Undoer of Knots).
In announcing the 2025 Jubilee Year, our recently deceased Pope Francis gave as the theme “Pilgrims of Home” and said “The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.” (Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit 25)
With hope as the theme, it is fitting to focus on Our Lady of Hope, especially with the numerous hopeless situations of wars, famines, climate change, nuclear proliferation, fear of AI technology replacing jobs, as well as lack of world leaders who truly work for justice and peace among all nations. One of the most ancient devotions to Mary is under her title Our Lady of Hope, with the first shrine of that title constructed in 930. A more recent experience with Our Lady of Hope occurred nearly 1,000 years later, as the Prussian army rapidly approached the small town of Pontmain in France in January 1871.
The parish priest had asked children to pray for peace. Mary appeared to six children with the message: “But pray my children. God will hear you in a short time. My Son allows Himself to be moved with compassion.” At that same time, the Prussian army received orders to withdraw. Let us always ask and thank her for her motherly love and protection.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Pray the Litany of Our Lady of Hope.
■ Pray the Rosary daily.
■ Visit nearby churches dedicated to our Blessed Mother during the month of May.
■ Research titles of Mary and their history.
■ Have a May Crowning. To do so, prepare a prayer area with a nice cloth, a Bible, flowers, candles and a statue of Mary, along with a crown of flowers to fit your statue. Start by singing a favorite Marian song; read a scripture story about Mary.