Marian Devotion During the Month of Mary

May is the Month of Mary. During this month, we celebrate new life, motherhood, and of course, Our Blessed Mother. Devotion to the Mother of God can take many forms, but at the root is recognizing that the mother of Jesus is also our mother, and that she desires to lead us to her beloved Son.

The Most Rev. Bernard Hebda, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and Relevant Radio® board member, joined Morning Air® to discuss the Month of Mary and Marian devotion. “It’s amazing how it’s a devotion that can inspire us when we’re children with very simple faith, or it can inspire the most heady theologian. It’s such a beautiful devotion in that way, that no matter where we are on our faith journey that we’re able, as we unite ourselves with Mary, to go deeper in exploring the mysteries of our faith,” says Archbishop Hebda.

Though Marian devotion is often a stumbling block for some Protestants, Archbishop Hebda believes that Mary works to unite Christians. “She is the evangelist par excellence and we have to trust that she is able to do things far beyond what we can even imagine. And her desire to bring people to her Son isn’t limited to us who are just Catholics or even Christians.” He hopes that non-Catholic Christians find that “there’s a role for Mary” in their faith journey as they grow closer to Christ.

But why do so many Christians shy away from a relationship with the Blessed Mother? “I think it’s something that they’ve heard from the time that they were children that distinguishes them from Catholics, and we certainly wouldn’t want to do anything that would ever draw anybody away from Christ. We were really blessed with the great teachings of Saint John Paul and his Marian devotion and his appreciation of St. Louis de Monfort and that understanding that we approach Jesus through Mary. And it’s not something that makes Mary an obstacle to going to Jesus, but makes that easier.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe is a patroness of Relevant Radio, and her intercession is of great importance to the network. “It’s beautiful the way that Relevant Radio promotes that devotion to Mary, too. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed as many Memorares in my whole life as I have been listening to Relevant Radio. And then also the beautiful way in which—whether on air or on the app—to be able to pray the Rosary. I know that’s something that’s really changed people’s lives through Relevant Radio, so I’m really grateful for that,” said Archbishop Hebda.

Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did. – St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

Lindsey is a wife, mother, and contributing author at Relevant Radio. She holds a degree in Journalism and Advertising from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lindsey enjoys writing, baking, and liturgical living with her young family.