There are many gifts Christ has given us, and one of the greatest is that of His Mother.
The Gospel of Saint John recounts how Jesus, dying on the Cross, says to Mary, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother," entrusting both to each other (John 19:26-27).
As Francis Martin and William M. Wright observe in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, the Beloved Disciple represents every faithful disciple of Christ.
Consequently, when Jesus entrusts Mary to the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross, He entrusts her to all who follow Him.
Every disciple loved by Jesus receives Mary as a spiritual mother (The Gospel of John, commentary on John 19:26-27).
As Catholics, we honour her with a filial response: "From that hour the disciple took her into his own home" (John 19:27).
These words express the essence of Marian piety: welcoming Mary into our lives so that she may lead us more deeply to her Son.
The Gospel enables us to reasonably conclude that St John encountered Mary on a daily basis, caring for her with the affection and reverence of a son.
In turn, Mary would have accompanied him with a mother's love and encouragement.
While Scripture does not record the details of their life together, as Catholics, we may reasonably see in this relationship a model of Mary's continuing maternal care for all Christ's disciples and her intercession for their growth in holiness.
Devotion in Ordinary Ways
St Josemaría Escrivá, whom St John Paul II called the "saint of ordinary life", lived a life of devotion to Mary grounded not in grand gestures but in ordinary moments.
One should turn to Our Lady daily, and not just during her liturgical feasts, he wrote. For him, recourse to Mary was a constantly lived reality.
He encouraged everyone to seek a personal experience of her maternal love, and to express their affection for her on a daily basis.
"If we really want to act as good children, every day is a good day for loving Mary" (Friends of God, 291).
The saint also proposed that we treat Mother Mary as we treat our earthly mothers.
"How does a normal son or daughter treat his mother? In different ways, of course, but always affectionately and confidently, never coldly. In an intimate way, through small, commonplace customs" (Christ Is Passing By, 142).
"Devotion to Mary can be woven into our daily lives in a way that is simple."
Traditional Devotions
According to St Josemaría, devotion to Mary is characterised by the simplicity of children.
Living out the Marian prayers and customs that are part of the Church's treasure of piety does not need to be complicated, nor a burden.
For example, some Catholics have a custom of wearing a devotional scapular, two small pieces of cloth connected by a band and bearing an image of Our Lady.
Others affectionately acknowledge sacred images of the Blessed Mother found in many Christian homes and public places.
Yet others recall the central events in Christ's life by reciting the Rosary, setting aside a day of the week for Mary, traditionally Saturday, doing something special for her, or thinking particularly about her motherhood (Christ Is Passing By, 142).
Simple Prayers
Other ways we keep Mary close to us can include adding the invocation of Mary during the Morning Offering1, praying the Angelus or Regina Coeli at noon, or reciting the Memorare traditionally attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux.
In these ways, our devotion to Mary is maintained through the bustle of daily life.
A simple "Hail Mary" or a glance at her image takes up very little time, keeps up our continuous dialogue with her, and rewards us with the joy and peace of knowing that the Mother of the Lord is close to us.
It is easy to think that devotion must be a grand affair. What St Josemaría makes clear, however, is that devotion to Mary can be woven into our daily lives in a simple way.
Reflecting on his life, let us ask ourselves: How can I increase my love for our Mother?
1. St Josemaría used to habitually say this offering prayer he learnt from his parents: "O my Lady my Mother! I offer myself entirely to you, and in proof of my filial love, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart..." (Friends of God, 296)
Key Takeaways
☑️ Before He died, Jesus directed His beloved disciple, representing all disciples until the end of time, to receive Mary into his life.
☑️ St Josemaría Escrivá's life and preaching demonstrate that deep devotion to Mary can be lived in a way that is profoundly ordinary and accessible to everyone.
☑️ True Marian piety is built on "details of love", practices woven seamlessly and constantly into the fabric of a normal day that demonstrate and kindle that same love.