One of the first prayers we learn as children is the Hail Mary. It’s a simple praise of the Blessed Mother and a request for her prayers. Did you ever wonder where the prayer came from?
The first part comes from the Gospel of Luke where the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to invite her co-operation with God’s plan in sending His Son into the world through her. “Hail Mary full of grace”, he says, “Blessed are you among women . . .” The second part, also in Luke, is Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary as the expectant mothers meet in Mary’s visitation. “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
This prayer is on the lips of young children as they go to sleep at night and years later in the final breaths of those about to die – – – “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” In their visits to the hospital, priests come upon people barely conscious who haven’t spoken for hours. Simply bending close to their ear the priest whispers, “Hail Mary full of grace . . . “ and with that the patient begins to mouth the words of this holy prayer. Next stop, heaven!
But there’s more to Mary than her prayer. In Jesus’s last words before he died he gave his mother to us as our mother. To John and Mary at the cross Jesus said, “Woman, there is your son. There is your mother.”
But what does this mean, “your mother”? I guess it’s for each of us to search our hearts for what “mother” means. On a natural level it means someone who gives us birth. Someone who gave us every cell in our body. Someone who watches our first steps and rejoices as we grow into maturity. And perhaps most comforting, someone who loves us as her very own child.
Each day the Church urges us to turn to Mary – – the real person who gave birth to Jesus; the woman who has us as her children. – – turn to her for her encouragement and prayers. She’s real.
Sometimes in the spiritual life we feel confronted by the big and imposing figures of God the Father and Jesus, the Son of God. (I’m speaking psychologically now). They “reign in heaven”, “They will come to judge the living and the dead.” Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords. ”It can be intimidating.
Not with Mary. She’s not there to judge. She’s there to nourish, to comfort, and to gently point the way to Jesus. She wants nothing more than for her children to find their happiness and, as a mother, she knows this can only occur when we love and follow her first born son.
Mary doesn’t take away the challenge of following Christ. (She herself bore this at the foot of the cross.) What she provides is a little shade on the journey with Christ; a little space to gather ourselves under her veil of womanly grace. Once renewed, we begin again.
So if praying to God the Father and Jesus is a little scary sometimes, if you feel “They’ll only be disappointed in me”. Talk to Mary. She knows you. She’s your mother. Something like:
“Oh Mary. I know God loves me but I just can’t face him right now. Please tell your Son I love him and I’m sorry for being so weak. Take my case to God, tell God I’ll try again. Right now I need your loving way with me, not your judgement. And please help my spouse/child/friend who’s just as weak as me.”
Dear Mary. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Fr. Tim
