Dr. Hellen Titilola OLOJEDE

We are still in the month of Our Lady. It is a special month when we intensify our prayer through Our Lady's intercession to Her Son. Jose Maria’s Escriva in The Way (497) captures this beautifully: “Say to her: Mother, my mother—yours, because you are hers on many counts—may your love bind me to your Son’s Cross: May I not lack the Faith, nor the courage, nor the daring, to carry out the will of our Jesus.”

Jose Maria taught us in this quotation the power of the intercession of our Mother Mary, as she is not an end in herself but a means or conduit through which we approach her son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Are you looking for a simple means of praying to her throughout the day? Adopt those lines or a part of them and repeat continuously in your heart.

 

In paragraph 498, Jose Maria continues thus: “All the sins of your life seem to rise up against you. Don’t lose confidence. Rather, call on your holy Mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul.” Do these words apply to you? Are you struggling with sin? Take it to Our Mother in this special month. She does not want you to despair. Give it a trial again and see the wonders her intercession will do.

 

“So your strength is fast failing you? Why don’t you tell your Mother about it: ‘consolatrix afflictorum, auxilium christianorum…, Spes nostra, Regina apostolorum.’ Please stop trying to do it by yourself, on your own; let your Mother assist you. She is the Help of Christians, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. She is an ever-ready help in times of trouble. The consoler of the afflicted. Call on her, seek her help, and she will definitely answer.

 

“Mother! Call her again and again. She is listening, she sees you in danger perhaps, and with her Son’s grace, your Holy Mother Mary, offers you the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace. Call her, and you will find yourself with added strength for the new struggle” (516). Always remember that Our Lady is closest to us even when she seems to be quiet. Continue to seek her intercession. Do not relent. She is our refuge, the refuge of sinners. Call her lovingly, and she is always ready to help.

 

There is no better time to rekindle our love and devotion to Our Lady than this Holy Month of May. Sure, there are many excellent Marian devotions; avail yourself of them, but endeavour to pray your rosary daily. May Our Lady of the Holy Rosary intercede for us, Amen.