December 8, 2025 - Immaculate Conception - Behold your mother

 On Calvary, on Good Friday, from the Cross, Jesus gave a commandment to his followers. With his final breaths, he said, “Behold your mother”. Behold your mother. Even in his agony, he was thinking of his mother Mary. And he commanded that we do the same. One of the dimensions of the Christian life, part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, is to behold Mary, to behold her. After all, Jesus told us to do so.

We behold Mary in a number of ways. We depict her in art. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and our mother in faith, has been depicted in art, in paintings, statues, stained glass windows, murals and mosaics, more than any person in human history. She was even painted on the walls of the catacombs. 

We behold our mother by considering her faith—meditating on her countless virtues. We meditate upon how she responded to God with humility and trust at her annunciation. We meditate upon how she went in haste out of charity to her cousin Elizabeth who had become pregnant in her old age. We meditate upon how Mary rejoiced at the birth of Christ in the poor stable of Bethlehem—how she faithfully brought Jesus to the temple and pondered the words of Simeon who foretold how her heart would be pierced by swords of sorrow. We meditate upon her strength, as she stood at the cross of Christ, her only son, consoling Him as only a mother’s presence can. 

Beholding our mother by meditating upon her faith and virtues is always fruit for us—how we, like her are called to respond to God, the mission and role God has for us in salvation in history. 

We also behold our mother by considering the special graces given to her by God. And today we celebrate one of those graces, one of those special favors and privileges that God chose to bestow on Mary. 

Today, beholding her, we look, not to the end of her earthly life, not to a moment when she was influential during the ministry of Jesus or even his childhood or infancy when she birthed him and nursed him. We look to a moment even before Mary was an infant herself, born of her parents Joachim and Anne. We behold our mother, today--looking to the very first moment of Mary’s existence as a human person, her conception in the womb of her mother. 

And beholding her at the first moment of her existence, we are taught that God did something he had never done before, and never will do again. He made her immaculate. 

By virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, savior of the human race, God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception. That’s what it means to be immaculate—to have been made without stain.

Could God do this? Of course. He is God. Nothing is impossible for God. God is all-powerful. To say God couldn’t do that is to assert that he is not Almighty. But he is. He could make her immaculate if he so chose. And he did. And Christians have believed that He did since the beginning of the Church.

In the early church we see the great Fathers teaching about Mary’s Immaculate Conception. Hippolytus around 235 writes, ““She was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle was exempt from putridity and corruption.” St. Ephraem around 370 writes, “[Jesus], Thou alone and thy Mother are in all things fair, there is no flaw in thee and no stain in thy Mother.”

The bishop and doctor of the Church, St. Ambrose, whose feast was yesterday, December 7, in 388 “Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” 

Why did God make Mary this way? Because he wanted to—he saw it fitting—to make Mary immaculate—to prepare a worthy Mother for His Son. He made her Immaculate so that the Word might take his sinless flesh from the sinless flesh of an immaculate mother.

We honor and obey God by doing what we have been taught by Jesus Himself—we behold our mother. So make sure you do. Love her. Get to know her. Imitate her virtues. Turn to her in prayer. Behold her today and all days. Don’t let a day go by without beholding her in some way. For Jesus commanded it so. He gave her to us to be our mother also, a mother filled with special graces to help us be the people God made us to be—to use the graces he has bestowed on us in His service, for the building up of the church, for the mission of the Gospel, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 1 2024 - Mary Mother of God

 An octave of days have passed since the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.  Most of the world has already left the message of Christmas far behind. Some retail store, I’ve seen, have already begun to sell Valentine’s Day cards and candy. Even some Catholics looked at me quizzically when I wished them a Merry Christmas this weekend. 

Yet, the Church in her wisdom realizes that celebrating the birth of the Savior is too great an occasion to be contained in a single, 24-hour day. This eighth day of Christmas is celebrated with particular solemnity, as we adore Christ embraced by the arms of his Mother.

Among the most ancient and important catacombs in Rome are the catacombs of St. Priscilla on the Via Salaria, east-northeast of the Vatican.  Painted on the walls of these catacombs are numerous frescoes that throw light on the faith of the early Church.  One fresco depicts the Virgin Mary seated, with the infant Jesus at her breast.  Next to her stands a man pointing to a star directly above, the star being the ancient Jewish symbol for the Messiah. 

This Fresco, dating from the early 200s is the oldest known representation in art of Mary and Child.  This fresco evidences that from the very beginning the Church has placed Mary in a place of honor and devotion.

From the cross, Jesus commanded his disciples to “Behold your mother”. And so the church beholds her. The first thing we do every new calendar year, liturgically, is to behold our mother. We behold our mother by meditating upon those passages of scripture in which she is found, we depict her in art, we compose hymns to her, and erect shrines in her honor.

In the holy city of Rome is found the largest basilica dedicated to our Mother, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Mary Major. St. Mary Major stands atop one of Rome’s seven hills, the Esquiline Hill, mosaics from the 5th century, paintings by numerous master artists from across the century.

The basilica is of particular importance to the Christians of Rome, for it contains the ancient and venerated image of Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, depicting the Blessed Virgin as the help and protectress of the Roman People. She holds the Christ Child with the Greek Words “Mater Theou—Mother of God.”

According to legend, this image was painted by the Apostle Luke. The story goes that after the crucifixion, the pious women of Jerusalem urged St. Luke to visit Mary in the home of John the Apostle to memorialize her image. While he painted, the Mother of Jesus spoke of the life of her son. Which is why St. Luke’s Gospel contains all those marvelous stories from prior to the birth of Jesus. After it’s completion, St. Luke brought the painting back to Jerusalem where it remained until it was discovered by Saint Helen in the 4th century who brought it to Rome. 

The Christians of Rome gone to that image for centuries seeking our Mother’s intercession in times of war and plague and for assistance in all life’s trials and the mission of the Gospel.

Also contained in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a shrine visited by pilgrims from all around the world—a shrine which contains the relics of the crib in which the Virgin Mother laid the Christ Child in Bethlehem. I’ve visited that shrine on a number of occasions. When I was there with Bishop Perez and a group of priests from Cleveland 4 years ago, we knelt in front of the shrine and sang “Silent Night” together.

Pope Francis has visited that crib a number of times, seeking the intercession of Mother Mary for himself and the church. On one occasion, after praying the rosary at the holy crib, Pope Francis spoke about Mary’s motherhood. He said, “A mother helps her children to grow and wants them to grow well; Our Lady does the same thing in us, she helps us to grow as human beings and in the faith, to be strong and not to give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way, but to live with responsibility, to aim ever higher.”  

She helps us to not give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way. Superficial. It means shallow or surface-level. Our Christian faith is meant to permeate all of our words and works. Our thoughts are to be Christian thoughts, are words are to be Christian words, our works are to be Christian works. 

In 2024 we must seek to be Christians of substance—of substantial faith—not mediocre or superficial faith. 

And the Holy Father explains, and I agree with him 100% on this, that Mother Mary helps us like no other, nurtures us and teaches us like no other, to live for Christ. She wants us to resemble Christ, she wants the very life of Christ to grow in us, and will help us, if we let her, if we go to her, if we behold her, as Christ himself commanded us from the Cross.

Behold your mother every day this year. Behold her faith, behold her tender love for Christ, behold her tender love for you. Behold her face in art, behold her virtues in poetry and song, behold her nearness with statues and art around your homes, consider wearing her miraculous medal near to your heart as a reminder of her closeness. Behold her by contemplating the mysteries of the rosary and in all those powerful marian devotions passed down to us through the centuries. Bring flowers to her statues and shrines, invoke her powerful intercession in your temptations and trials.

Behold your mother as Jesus commanded that your days may be blessed, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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In this time when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior have appeared, let us, dear brethren, humbly pour forth to him our prayers, trusting not in our own good works, but in his mercy.

That Mary’s maternal care and heavenly intercession will help us all to reach the moral greatness befitting true children of God.  

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, Mother of the Lord and Mother of the Church—blessings of goodness and peace may be upon the world and the Church in this Year of Our Lord 2024.

For blessings on all expectant mothers, newborn infants, and young families. 

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven. 

For all those who have died, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.  

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

December 8 2023 - Immaculate Conception - Behold your mother!

 On the Cross, on Calvary, on Good Friday, Jesus gave a commandment to his followers. With his final breaths, he said, “Behold your mother”. Behold your mother. Even in his agony, he was thinking of his mother Mary. And he commanded that we do the same. One of the dimensions of the Christian life, part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, is to behold Mary, to behold her. After all, Jesus told us to do so.

We behold Mary in a number of ways. We depict her in art. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and our mother in faith, has been depicted in art, in paintings, statues, stained glass windows, murals and mosaics, more than any person in human history. Just in this church alone, you can spend a good chunk time, counting the many depictions of the blessed mother. She’s even on a number of our candlesticks. 

We behold our mother, also by considering her faith—her countless virtues. We meditate upon how she responded to God with such humility and trust at her annunciation. We meditate upon how she went in haste out of charity to her cousin Elizabeth who had become pregnant in her old age. We meditate upon how Mary rejoiced at the birth of Christ in the poor stable of Bethlehem—how she faithfully brought Jesus to the temple and pondered the words of Simeon who foretold how her heart would be pierced by swords of sorrow. We meditate upon her strength, as she stood at the cross of Christ, her only son, consoling Him as only a mother’s presence can. 

And we also behold our mother by considering the special graces given to her by God. And today we consider one of those graces, one of those special favors and privileges that God chose to bestow on Mary. Because when Jesus tells us to behold your mother, Catholics take that command seriously.

And today, beholding her, we look, not to the end of her earthly life, not to a moment during the ministry of Jesus or even his childhood or infancy when she birthed him and nursed him. We look to a moment even before Mary was an infant herself, born of her parents Joachim and Anne. We behold our mother--looking to the very first moment of Mary’s existence as a human person, her conception in the womb of her mother. 

And beholding her at the first moment of her existence, we find God doing something he had never  done before, and never will do again. He made her immaculate. 

Now each of us, every human person is beautifully and wonderfully made by God. But God did something very special for her. By virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, savior of the human race, God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin. That’s what it means to be immaculate—to have been made without stain. 

Could God do this? Of course. He is God. Nothing is impossible for God. God is all-powerful. To say God couldn’t do that is to claim assert that he is not almighty. But he is. He could make her immaculate if he so chose. And he did. And Christians have believed that He did since the beginning of the Church.

And God made Mary this way, because he wanted to—he saw it fitting—to make Mary immaculate—to prepare a worthy Mother for her Son. So that the Word might take his sinless flesh from the sinless flesh of his immaculate mother.

So we praise God today for his marvelous work by beholding our mother. Love her. Get to know her. Imitate her virtues. Turn to her in prayer. Behold her today and all days. Don’t let a day go by without beholding her in some way. For Jesus commanded it so. He gave her to us to be our mother also, a mother filled with special graces to help us be the people God made us to be—to use the graces he has bestowed on us in God’s service, for the building up of the church, for the mission of the Gospel, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we await with longing the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, dear brethren, let us with renewed devotion beseech his mercy, that, as he came into the world to bring the good news to the poor and heal the contrite of heart, so in our own time, also, he may bring salvation to all in need.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of the Church, Our Holy Father, all bishops, clergy and religious may be sustained in their labors, and that the entire people of God may be disposed to the great graces of Our Lady’s intercession.

For these United States of America on this our patronal feast, that our nation may be united by God’s Spirit, guarded from terror, observant of God’s Holy Laws, and vigilant against threats to our freedom, peace, and well-being. May the Wisdom of God guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust and pernicious laws that permit the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  Let us pray to the Lord. Lord Hear our Prayer.

That Immaculate Mary, help of Christians, may obtain strength for the weary, rest for the overburdened, healing for the sick, love for the lonely, hope for the despairing, freedom for the addicted, wisdom for the foolish, and faith for the faithless.

For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for Julie Strunk, for whom this mass is offered.

For all those prayers written in our prayer intention book and those prayers we now voice in the silence of our hearts…[pause for few moments].  

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

April 28 2021 - St. Louie Marie de Montfort - Love of Mary bears fruit in our souls

 The priest St. Louie Marie de Montfort is one of the great Marian saints of history. He is one of the patron saints of the Legion of Mary; in fact, he is quoted more than any of the saints in the Legion Handbook.

His words "Totus tuus ego sum” became well known in the last few decades, when they were taken by Pope St. John Paul II as his papal motto. The sainted Pope dedicated his papacy entirely to Mary, and encouraged members of the Church to turn to her as well.

In the Gospel today, the Lord says, “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” Having been sent by the Father, Jesus comes into a world that is fallen and in the spiritual darkness of sin. It is sometimes difficult to believe, and to remain committed disciples of the Lord. It is difficult to follow him amidst so many worldly temptations.

Well, today’s Saint, would say, let Mary help you believe. Give yourself to Mary. She loved Jesus more than anyone in history. She will help you love him too. The greater our doubts, the more we should turn to Mary for help. The greater our temptations, the more we should turn to Mary.

When from the Cross, the Lord said, “behold your mother”, he meant more than just keeping her picture on our mantle. He wants us to study her, to imitate her, to hold her in our hearts as he did. For she will help us in the Christian way like no other. 

In his book “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”, which John Paul II carried with him and read often, Saint Louis wrote, “Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul”.

St. Louie’s feast prepares us well for the upcoming month of May, dedicated to our Lady, in which we are to increase the fervor of our Marian devotion, that the abundant life of Christ might increase in us and willingly be spread by us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For deeper Marian devotion amongst all Christians, that the Church may more deeply share in Mary’s Easter joy in the Resurrection of her Son.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will diminish, and purity, righteousness and faith may increase.   

For those whose hearts are hardened against or cold toward Our Lady, that they may come to know her great maternal love for them, for the Church, and all mankind.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, Mediatrix of Grace and Help of the Afflicted. 

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

 

June 1 2020 - Mary, Mother of the Church

Just in 2018, Holy Father Pope Francis instituted a new liturgical feast to be celebrated universally the Monday after Pentecost, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Church.

The day after we celebrate, the birthday of the Church, so to speak on Pentecost, we celebrate our Mother, who was present, praying for the apostles, as the Holy Spirit descended upon them.

Theologically, this title of Mary is not difficult to grasp. The members of the body of Christ are one with her head. She is the Mother of Christ the head of the Church, and so she must be the mother of all the members who are mystically united with Him. She is mother of both head and body, as all mothers are to their children.

Mary’s spiritual relationship to the members of the Church is evidenced in Our Lord’s proclamation from the cross. He gave Mary to be the Mother of all the disciples, when he said, “woman, behold your son.” And he commanded all of his disciples to love and honor her as a mother, when he said, “Behold, your mother.”

The title “Mother of the Church” is not new, but has been ascribed to Our Lady for centuries, recognizing Our Lady’s spiritual motherhood of all Christians, of all disciples, of all believers, of clergy and religious, married, single, and all the lay faithful.

As Mother prays constantly for her children from her place in heaven, as she did on Pentecost, as she no doubt did every day of her earthly life.

She no doubt prays that we may be open to all of those spiritual gifts we need, the gifts that God wants for us, for the spread of the Gospel and the building up of the Church. And I believe this is the deep reason Pope Francis placed this feast in proximity to Pentecost.

If we wish to be open to the gifts of the spirit and utilize-well the gifts of the Spirit, we need to honor and love Our Mother, for God chose her as an instrument of our redemption and sanctification. 

Today is a fitting day to offer a Rosary in Our Lady’s honor and to commit to cultivating our relationship with Our Blessed Mother daily, praying, through her, for the sanctification of the church, for the protection of the Church, and renewal of the Church especially in areas of the church that have grown stagnant, corrupt, fearful, or lifeless.

Pray for us, O holy mother of God, Mother of the Church, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.

Guide and assist our Holy Father and our Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.

Mother of the Church! Enlighten the People of God along the paths of faith, hope and love! You were given to us as a mother by your Divine Son at the moment of his redeeming death.

Remember us your children, support our prayers to God. Preserve our Faith, strengthen our Hope, increase our Charity.

Immaculate Heart! Help us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today.

From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, and from every kind of war, deliver us. From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us. From every kind of injustice in the life of society, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil deliver us. From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.

That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for all the poor souls in purgatory and for…Valentine & Sophie Reindle, for whom this Mass is offered.

January 1 2019 - Mary, Mother of God - "You are my mother now!"

In 1929, just 17 days short of his 9th birthday, the young Karol Wojtyla — the future Pope Saint John Paul II — entered his family home during the afternoon. His parents were very pious, and young Karol was accustomed to see his father — a strong soldier in the Polish army — praying on his knees on their parlor’s hardwood floor. That day, when the young Karol saw his father praying, he saw his dad’s knees bathing in a pool of tears.

“What’s wrong, Papa” the young future Pope asked his father. “Karol, your mother has died!” was his father’s answer. His mother had Emilia died in childbirth.

The eight year old ran out of his home to the local parish Church, which was actually right across the street from the Wojtyla apartment home. He entered the Church and ran up the aisle of the Church to a kneeler in front of a statue of Mary.  Tearfully, he said to her: “Blessed Lady, I don’t know why God took my mother home at the time he did. But I do know one thing: YOU are my mother now!”

“You are my mother now!” Today we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. At the beginning of the civil year, when we ponder what time will bring in the upcoming year, the Church reminds us very strongly of what happened at the fullness of time. “When the fullness of time had come,” we hear in today’s second reading, “God sent his Son, born of a woman.”

“You are my mother now!” Those words would first have been said by Jesus.  This is an incredible mystery, that the second person of the Blessed Trinity, who take human flesh, and call one of his creatures, “his mother”. Mary bore God in her womb, and is thus rightly called “Theotokos” the God-bearer.  We profess this truth every time we pray the Hail Mary:  “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners”

“You are my mother now!” Those words were spoken by Saint John the Apostle.  For from the Cross, Jesus said to his beloved disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home”. 

“You are my mother now!” These words are spoken now by every disciple. For Jesus gave Mary as mother in the order of grace to the whole Church. We know that Mary had an important role in the life of the early Church, the disciples gathered around her in prayer in the upper room at Pentecost. And Mary is the mother of the family Jesus established through his passion, death, and resurrection.  Jesus wants his disciples to have his Mother as our own so that she could raise us to be like her Son.  Through Baptism, we say along with Saint John and along with Jesus himself, “You are my mother now!”

Jesus says to each of us, “Behold your mother!” He wants and hopes that each of us will do what his first beloved disciple wisely did, and take Mary into our home, into our lives.

Pope Saint John Paul’s devotion to the Blessed Mother deeply impacted his life, his priesthood, and his papacy.  When he was made bishop of Krakow, he took as his episcopal motto the words: Totus Tuus ego sum, which is latin for “I am completely yours.”  The motto “Totus tuus” was taken from a prayer by Saint Louis Marie de Montfordt: "Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria." "I am completely yours, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart"

In giving one’s self to Mary you can trust that she will always lead you to Jesus.  In our sinfulness, Mary leads us to Christ’s mercy.  In our sorrows and sufferings, Mary leads us to the sweet comfort of her son.  In our joys, Mary leads us to magnify God.  When we turn to Mary in prayer, she leads us deeper into the mystery of God.  She helps us to overcome our vices and our selfishness.

Our mother comes in haste to our aid when we call upon her.  And she will always help us to be free from all that keeps us from loving her son as we should—to make haste in serving God’s kingdom. 
We celebrate this Feast of the Motherhood of Mary at the beginning of the Church year, not because the Church wants to make New Year’s morning more difficult for us, but because this title of Mary as Mother is of the utmost importance. The heart of Jesus was filled with love for His Mother, and our hearts must become like His. Love for Mother Mary does not detract from our Love of God, but magnifies it. Authentic love of Mother Mary deepens our gratitude for the for the role she played in Jesus’ life, for the role she continues to play in our salvation.

So deepen your love for her by Praying her Rosary. Bring flowers to her statues. Build shrines to her in your homes and workplaces. Teach your children songs in her honor. Imitate her virtue. Take as your personal motto for 2019, Totus Tuus, give yourself and all that is yours to her completely. You will not regret it. Invoke the sweet name of Mary, our mother often, fly to her protection, implore her help, and seek her intercession for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

October 22 2018 - St. John Paul II - Totus Tuus

In 1929, just 17 days short of his 9th birthday, the young Karol Wojtyla — the future Blessed Pope John Paul II — entered his house during the afternoon. His parents were very pious, and young Karol was accustomed to see his father — a strong soldier in the Polish army — praying on his knees on their parlor’s hardwood floor. That day, when the young Karol saw his father praying, he saw his dad’s knees bathing in a pool of tears.

“What’s wrong, Papa” the young future Pope asked his father. “Karol, your mother has died!” was his father’s answer. His mother had Emilia died in childbirth.

The eight year old ran out of his home to the local parish Church, which was actually right across the street from the Wojtyla apartment home. He entered the Church and ran up the aisle of the Church to a kneeler in front of a statue of Mary.  Tearfully, he said to her: “Blessed Lady, I don’t know why God took my mother home at the time he did. But I do know one thing: YOU are my mother now!”

Blessed Pope John Paul’s devotion to the Blessed Mother deeply impacted his life, his priesthood, and his papacy.  When he was made bishop of Krakow, he took as his episcopal motto the words: Totus Tuus ego sum, which is latin for “I am completely yours.”  The motto “Totus tuus” was taken from a prayer by Saint Louis Marie de Montfordt: "Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria." "I am completely yours, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart"

Jesus, from the cross, told us to Behold his mother. We seek to “do whatever he tells us” and so this is why we turn to Mary’s guidance and holy example, that our hearts may become more like hers in her love of Jesus and faithfulness to God’s Divine Will.

[Maggie’s Place Mass:] In this place dedicated to motherhood, all mothers and all those who assist them in the care of their children do well to place themselves under the guidance and protection of the Mother of Jesus. Mary is the mother who has endured the greatest of sufferings, and she will always help mothers who turn to Her to endure their own sufferings in union with Jesus. She will always help mothers who turn to her to raise their children to know Jesus and to follow his teachings.

[Nursing Home Mass:] Mary stood at the cross as her son suffered and died for our salvation. She was the instrument through which God brought Christ Our Salvation into the world. So any grace, any healing we need, we do well to turn to Mary. She will always help us to experience the healing of God in our illnesses, and the peace of God in our suffering.

During this month of October especially, we do well to take up her Holy Rosary, as Saint John Paul II did so many times in his life, to pray the rosary for peace, for healing, for the conversion so many souls are desperately in need of.

Through the intercession of Saint John Paul who entrusted himself, his priesthood, his papacy and the Church to Mary, may we place that same trust in her, who bore the Christ child, who nurtured Him through childhood, who at the Wedding at Cana told the servants to “do whatever he tells you.” Mary, Mother of the Church, Mother of all Christians, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That through the teaching, preaching, and pastoral care of the Church all Christians will grow in their devotion to and imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We pray to the Lord.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.  We pray to the Lord.

For those trapped in the downward spiral of sin, that the hope offered through the Incarnation of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin will bring them new life in the Spirit.  We pray to the Lord.

That Mary’s maternal care and heavenly intercession will raise us to the moral greatness befitting true children of God.  We pray to the Lord.

For blessings on all expectant mothers, newborn infants, and young families.  We pray to the Lord.

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who have died, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.  We pray to the Lord.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

January 1 2018 - Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

An octave of days has passed since the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.  Most of the world has already left the message of Christmas far behind. Some retail store, I’ve seen, have already begun to sell Valentine’s Day cards and candy. Even some Catholics looked at me quizzically when I wished them a Merry Christmas this weekend.

Yet, the Church in her wisdom realizes that celebrating the birth of the Savior is too great an occasion to be contained in a single, 24-hour day. This eighth day of Christmas is celebrated with particular solemnity, as we adore Christ embraced by the arms of his Mother.

Among the most ancient and important catacombs in Rome are the catacombs of St. Priscilla on the Via Salaria, east-northeast of the Vatican.  Painted on the walls of these catacombs are numerous frescoes that throw light on the faith of the early Church.  One fresco depicts the Virgin Mary seated, with the infant Jesus at her breast.  Next to her stands a man pointing to a star directly above, the star being the ancient Jewish symbol for the Messiah.

This Fresco, dating from the early 200s is the oldest known representation in art of Mary and Child.  This fresco evidences that, from the very beginning, the Church has placed Mary in a place of honor and devotion.  The Church has looked to this image of Mother and Child as containing profound spiritual truths for every Christian.

Just as babies are embraced in love by their mother; Mary embraces every Christian.

Just as babies learn to smile and sing in the arms of their mothers; so every Christian learns what real joy looks like, by looking to the face of the Mother, who finds her joy in doing the will of the heavenly Father, in caring for the life of the Son.

Just as babies learn talk, walk, eat, and clothe themselves, so also Christians are taught to talk, walk, think, feel, and act like Christ.  Mary nurtured and taught the Christ child, and she will nurture and teach us—how to put God first in our lives, how to serve him, how to be healed by him, how to be saved by him, that his peace and joy and strength may be ours.

From the cross, Jesus gave us Mary to be our Mother in the order of grace. If what St. Paul said is true, “God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Then we also, like the Son, turn to Mary, and cry, “Hail, Mother”

Throughout the Christmas octave, we’ve considered the example of martyrs and apostles who have followed Christ unto death. And on this octave Day, we look to the perfect disciple, the Mother Mary who gives herself without reserve to the person and work of her Son. Her self-giving and cooperation with Christ continues now, from her place in heaven. She always helps us to adore, contemplate, and follow Christ ever more faithfully, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.