Mary’s Spiritual Role in the Church and in Our Lives
The many appearances, miracles and miraculous
images throughout the history of the Church reveal the realities of our Blessed
Mother as the prophetic “women” who crushes the head of Satan, as well as her
role as intercessor and refuge of sinners in the practice of the faithful. One
has only to look at the many miraculous images which bring forth devotion to
Christ and the conversion of countless souls such as the sacred images of
Czestochowa, Guadalupe, Good Success, Perpetual Help, Las Lajas, and thousands
of others across the world. In addition to inspiring worship to God, Our Lady
brings us confirmation of her Son’s doctrine and dogma and inspires us to be
faithful to God in a world that is increasingly hostile to Christ and His Church.
Mary has made herself more manifest over the
past two centuries with her increasing apparition appearances where she has
revealed important messages to the Church. “Is not the age in which we are
living in a particular way the age of Mary?”[1] The most
notable of these being the apparitions at Rue du Bach, Lourdes, Knock, La
Salette, Fatima, and Akita. These apparitions have brought forth the devotion
of the Miraculous Medal, the reinforcement of the dogma of the Immaculate
conception, warnings of the consequences of sin, the need for prayer and repentance,
the importance of penance and fasting, and a dire call for the faithful to pray
the Most Holy Rosary among many other spiritual messages. All these actions are
in virtue of her divine maternity, through the reality of her Immaculate
Conception and through her prophetic role as the ‘Women’ of Genesis.
Based on what we have now learned, it should
not take much argumentation to prove devotion to Mary is a necessary part of our
Christian faith. The role of Mary is not only conveyed through apparitions but
most importantly in our own spiritual lives. We must have a strong devotion to
Our Lady. It is common for Christians to obtain sacred statues and icons in
order to venerate Our Lady with due reverence. Every home should have a prayer
corner with sacred images, Sacred Scripture and spiritual reading material. We
should constantly petition Our Lady under various titles including but not
limited to, The Immaculate Heart, Czestochowa, Fatima, Perpetual
Help. Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mother of Mercy, Lourdes and
my favorite, Hammer of Heretics! We must have a relationship with Mary if we
are to have a relationship with Jesus. There are two things every Catholic must
do, especially in the dire times where heresy and apostasy have blackened the
skies of the Church, we must consecrate ourselves to Our Lady, and we must pray
the Rosary every day.
The Necessity
of Marian Consecration
“Let us give ourselves to
the Immaculata [Mary]. Let her prepare us, let her receive Him [Jesus] in Holy
Communion. This is the manner most perfect and pleasing to the Lord Jesus and
brings great fruit to us." Because "the Immaculata knows the secret,
how to unite ourselves totally with the heart of the Lord Jesus... We do not
limit ourselves in love. We want to love the Lord Jesus with her heart, or rather
that she would love the Lord with our heart.” (Saint Maximilian Kolbe)
I believe that
among the most special events of the Christian life, nothing other than the receiving
of the Church’s Sacraments are more important than the day we consecrate
ourselves to our Blessed Mother. We place ourselves under her protection and we
dedicate all the actions in our life to direct as she sees fit. We can entrust
this to her because she always knows and does the will of God, and she wants to
help us do the same. There are a couple of options in making this consecration.
One is making it through the formula of Saint Louis De Montfort, a lay
Dominican. This is the most popular method. The other is through the formula of
Saint Maximilian Kolbe, which is becoming more popular in our time. It makes no
difference which one chooses, the outcome is the same. I recommend purchasing
two books on the subject, ‘True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total
Consecration’ By TAN publishing, and ‘The Marian Vow’ published by The Academy
of the Immaculate. These two books will give you all the knowledge you need in
making your consecration. There are many who choose to do them both at the same
time, or at various times in their lives. It is even helpful to renew your
consecration every so often. I have personally done both formulas. Saint Louis
De Montfort sums up the importance of consecrating ourselves to the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
“All our perfection
consists in being conformed, united, and consecrated to Jesus Christ; and
therefore the most perfect of all devotions is, without any doubt, that which
the most perfectly conforms, unites, and consecrates us to Jesus Christ. Now,
Mary being the most conformed of all creatures to Jesus Christ, it follows
that, of all devotions, that which most consecrates and conforms the soul to
our Lord is devotion to His holy Mother, and that the more a soul is
consecrated to Mary, the more is it consecrated to Jesus.” [2]
Rather than give you a full theological
explanation of the consecration which you can obtain from the two sources
above, I would rather like to share a personal testimony to communicate how
special this event is in one’s spiritual life.
Consecration at
Czestochowa
In April of 2018,
I made a personal pilgrimage to Poland by myself. One of the main reasons I
made this pilgrimage was to consecrate myself to the Holy Mother of God at
Czestochowa, to which being half polish I have great devotion. On April 10th,
after a two-hour van ride through several villages in the countryside of
Poland, I arrived at the monastery of Jasna Gora where the miraculous icon is
located. I would like to give a little history of the icon before proceeding.
Before the arrival of the icon of Our Blessed Mother at Jasna Gora, Czestochowa
was a small insignificant town with a very small population. Our Lady arrived there
around 1382 by the wagon of Prince Wladyslaw who left Ruthenia under the pressure
of invasion, taking the image with him. Knowing the miracles surrounding the
icon he refused to leave it behind for the enemy to capture. It was however not
so easy a task for him to relocate it. First, the two horses would not move the
wagon no matter what he tried. The prince brought more horses for a total of
six, and still, the horses would not move. Prince Wladyslaw went to prayer
and promised to build Our Lady a monastery if she would let him move her holy
icon. He also pointed out that she would be well protected in this monastery
since enemy forces were always a threat in the current area. After having made
his promise, the horses moved, and the Prince made his way. Silesia was
the desired destination of the prince. He made his way determined to build a
monastery there. As Our Lady would have it however, Silesia was not her desired
destination. While stopping in the tiny town of Czestochowa, the horses again
refused to move. No matter what the prince did, the horses would not go any
further. So, upon the Bright Hill, Jasna Gora as it is now called, the prince
decided to make her home, and build a monastery. Over 600 years later there I
stood before the same miraculous image that the prince brought with him.
The beautiful icon
is said to have been made by St. Luke himself on the table that St. Joseph
constructed. Some claim the icon is of very early Byzantine origin. In either
case, the miracles associated with this icon are well documented. Thousands
have left votive offerings which can be seen all over the chapel, attesting to
the many miracles Our Lady has provided. The blind see the deaf hear, the
crippled walk. Thousand have been healed
by the hand of Our Lady. As I approached the chapel, I was very excited. There was
a large grate around the perimeter of the inner part of the chapel and the
larger nave, and a rail around the sides of the chapel near the altar allowing
pilgrims to make their way around the icon. Many, as I did on this special
occasion, go around the icon on their knees. This included women who were in
their 80s! As I approached the chapel from the left, I could see her come into
view. I passed her on the left and then circled around behind the altar where I
saw countless votive offerings on the wall. There are countless crutches and
other offerings around the entire area of the chapel. This was my first gaze
upon Our Lady of Czestochowa. I was in awe!
I arrived at about
10:45 AM. After circling around the altar, I came back into the main chapel.
The chapel area was very crowded, so I made my way up closer to the enclosed
part where the altar is located. I was not able to get to the inside inner
chapel area where the altar was. Yet, I stood in awe, gazing at her image
through the grated doorway, thanking Our Lady for bringing me there. I brought
forth my intercessory requests from the many people who asked me to bring their
intentions to her before I left. I then prayed a Rosary with her, and it was
the most special Rosary I have ever prayed. At 11 AM the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass began, so I was able to attend Mass with Our Lady! During my thanksgiving,
I made my consecration to Our Lady using the Saint Maximilian Kolbe act of
consecration. This was very important to me on this pilgrimage since I had a
growing devotion to Saint Kolbe due to this pilgrimage. After Mass was over
many of the priests got up and left their seats leaving a few open in the
front. Thanks to Our Lady I was able to move right up close to her by the main
altar in the second row of the chapel. I was able to spend about 10 minutes
with her before the image was covered. Every day the icon at 12 PM is closed
for a time, and there is a silver embossed cover that slides down over her. It
was ceremonious as the trumpets played a somber tone for about a minute or two
as I watched the cover slowly slide down over her. This was one of the most
memorable moments I have ever experienced.
There was
something about this event that moved beyond just seeing a sacred image, or
icon. It was more than a prayerful devotion in front of a sacred image. It was
like spending time with a loved one and then having to say goodbye. This event
was spiritual and deeply theological in a personal manner. How does the Blessed
Mother participate in our lives as Catholics? Our Lady brought me to Jasna
Gora, I am convinced through her Rosary. Our Lady then led me to her Son, Jesus
in the Most Holy Eucharist! This is what she does. She brings us to her Son!
She then took me under her wing in a special way through the act of
consecration. Although I had done the consecration of St. Louis de Montfort
years before, this was different for me. Perhaps it had just taken me this long
to understand what consecration truly means. Our Lady became more intimate with
me on this occasion, and it was her doing!
Finally, it was
somehow fitting that she then said goodbye as the trumpets played and the cover
came down over her. I was sad to see her go behind the cover, knowing that I
may not ever see this magnificent icon again. Even more so I was very grateful
to her for all she had done for me, not only on this special pilgrimage to Poland
but throughout my entire life. I know that she is always near me ready to intercede
for me whenever I ask, icon or no icon. Obviously, you do not have to go all
the way to Poland to make your consecration. No matter where you choose to do
it, if it is done out of true devotion it will be a very special day for you! Please
plan on making your own consecration to Mary if you have not done so. If you have,
perhaps plan on renewing it. It is true there is no high enough praise for Our
Lady! "It is becoming for you, O Mary, to be mindful of us, as
you stand near Him who bestowed upon you all graces, for you are the Mother of
God and our Queen." (St. Athanasius)
The Necessary Devotion of the Rosary
If there is one devotion to which I would
direct all Catholics to embrace it is that of the Rosary. It is the most
efficacious path to building a relationship with Our Holy Mother. The Rosary
comes to us from Our Blessed Mother herself as a gift to Saint Dominic and the
Church. Along with the consistent teaching of the Saints and countless popes as
to the origin of the Rosary, a famous miraculous image embedded many inches
into a rock at Las Lajas in Columbia depicts Our Lady handing the Rosary to St.
Dominic, again confirming its origin. Since this devotion comes from Our Lady
herself, it is one of the most efficacious forms of prayer. The recitation of
the Rosary is most pleasing to God and Our Lady and there are few prayers that
have the power of conversion, sanctification and provide the gift of final perseverance
than the Rosary. Our Lady told us at Fatima that the Rosary would be critical
for combating the difficulties of our day. In virtually every appearance Our
Lady made to the Fatima children she told them to pray the Rosary every day.
Sister Lucia said,
“The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a
new efficacy to the recitation of the Holy Rosary. She has given this efficacy
to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is,
whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of
us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the religious
communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations that cannot be solved
by the Rosary. There is no problem I tell you, no matter how difficult it is,
that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.”
Looking to South America, Mother Mariana de
Jesus, to whom the now-famous apparition of Our Lady of Good Success in Quito,
Ecuador came through, had a great devotion to the Rosary. She reveals to us a
lesson on its importance in the spiritual life. When the bishop of Quito was to
be judged by Our Lord, Mother Mariana saw Christ in a vision in which Jesus
said concerning the bishop and his many faults,
"He is, nevertheless, a religious of the Dominican Order, so dear to
my Blessed Mother, where he learned the melodious devotion of the Marian
Psalter (The Rosary), by means of which Divine justice is unable to resist
pardoning guilty nations or souls... the bishop loves my Blessed Mother, honors
her with the Psalter... and for this reason he will be treated with mercy on
the day of his death."[3]
This story conveys how imperative it is that
we pray for final perseverance. Every time we say a ‘Hail Mary’ during the
Rosary we are petitioning Our Holy Mother for the obtainment of our final end,
union with God! The Rosary also allows us to contemplate the mysteries of
Christ and His Blessed Mother. The mysteries we pray every day keep us focused
on living for Christ. It is a most fitting meditation on the Gospels and a sure
path to obtain the help of the Most Holy Mother of God. With the Church now being
in such a corrupt state, the Rosary has the power of restoration. How sad so
few Catholics pray the Rosary! It is not an optional prayer but one of
necessity. One should take seriously the need to pray the Rosary daily in order
to attain personal holiness and to attain the restoration of Holy Mother
Church. As you can see, Our Lady often brings us precious unexpected gifts
through the Rosary such as the one I experienced at Czestochowa.
Queen of Militants!
Our Lady is not only Our Mother, but she is
also a warrior who looks to protect her children! She is the one who crushes
the head of Satan, and this very fact fills Satan with rage! We should be
honored that Jesus has given us His own mother as our own. It is true that
through Mary we receive all graces that come from Jesus Christ. She is indeed
the mediatrix of all graces. In practice what does this mean regarding our
consecration to her? As Catholics, we all want to evangelize and bring all men
to the catholic faith. We want to live deeper spiritual lives and help others
to do the same. Our Lady wants this much more than we do and is the closest any
human being can be to the source of grace, which is Jesus. “She obtains grace
for men a thousand times more easily than you because she is the Mother of the
Author of Grace.”[4]
Through our consecration, we ask Our Lady to help us in our spiritual combat! It
must be stated that in the distribution of graces there is no conflict between
Jesus and His mother. Her will is united to His, and thus when she intercedes
for us, it is the desire of Jesus that she does so! Let us close this chapter
by meditating on how Mary will help us win the battle for our souls and the
Church. This litany of Mary’s help is taken from the book Queen of Militants,
which I highly recommend for your prayerful study! First, she will keep us in
the friendship of Christ. Second, she will teach us true love for all men.
Third, she will give us an authentic spiritual life. Fourth, she will teach us
to forget ourselves. Fifth, she will teach us courage. Sixth, she will teach us
perseverance. Seventh, Mary will console us. Eighth, Mary will make us into
another Christ. Finally, Mary will make us valiant prayer warriors! How can we
not help but direct our intellects and will to consecrate ourselves to Mary?
Solemn Act of Consecration by St.
Maximillian Kolbe
O Immaculate, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most
loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to You, I,
an unworthy sinner, cast myself at Your feet, humbly imploring You to take me
with all that I am and have, wholly to Yourself as Your possession and
property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole
life, death, and eternity, whatever pleases You. If it pleases You, use all
that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what has been said of
You: “She will crush your head”, and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in
the whole world.” Let me be a fit instrument in Your immaculate and most
merciful hands for introducing and increasing Your glory to the maximum in all
the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible
the blessed Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For, wherever You enter,
You obtain the grace of conversion and sanctification, since it is through Your
hands that all graces come to us from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. Allow me to praise You, O most holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength
against Your enemies.[5]
[1]
Emil Neubert, S.M., S.T.D., Queen of Militants, (St. Meinrad Abbey 1947)
[2]
St. Louis De Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, (Robson, Levey, and
Franklyn, London, UK.1863)
[3]
Fr. Manual Sousa Pereira, The Admirable
Life of Mother Mariana (Marian Horvat 1999) P65
[4] Emil
Neubert, S.M., S.T.D., Queen of Militants, (St. Meinrad Abbey 1947)
Matthew J. Bellisario
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