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Post by Dr. Robert Gotcher on Jun 17, 2021 1:40:24 GMT
Why should we have a personal (I-thou) relationship with Mary?
Because she is our Mother. Isn't it good to have a warm devotion to your Mother and to enter into a one-on-one dialogue with her?
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Post by Rene Rillorta on Jun 7, 2023 5:05:54 GMT
A true friend will always never fail in honoring his friend's own mother. That is my never failing experience when I was growing up in the Philippines and I am sure it is very much the same here in the US. The measure of true and authentic friendship is familiarity with the friend's parents specially moms. When my friend went out of the country to work in Japan ,and before the advent of Facebook messenger and ease of communication through social media. The very first person I communicated with was my friend's mom. She became my physical link to my best friend. Another close friend in high school without telling me, and after treating me for lunch, disappeared. I immediately called his mom who told me my friend migrated to Canada, the day after we had lunch, not wanting to formally say goodbye. My best friend who went to Japan, died three years ago, and now my physical link to him is again his mom, and his wife....This life experience attests to why I should, and already have , since I was young continue to have a personal relationship to Mary. Because Mary always leads us to Her Son. Mary raised Jesus to be the son that He is. I would want to be fashioned like Christ and so I will rely on the Blessed Mother on this, as I am sure she will never waiver in reminding me and telling me to "do whatever He tells you". If Mary was blessed as a conduit of the great Blessing of a Savior to us, how can she not be a conduit of other blessings we need to be disciples of Christ.
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Post by steveheun on Jun 8, 2023 18:41:52 GMT
The simplest answer to this question is that Mary points to Jesus. She is the most powerful intercessor for us with Christ and he clearly listens, just as He did at the wedding at Cana (his first miracle) where Mary asked Him to turn water into wine. Though reluctant, He did what she asked because of her unending devotion to Jesus and God the Father. This was demonstrated emphatically by her response to the angel Gabriel through the Annunciation as noted in Luke 1:38 when Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
As an example, if you got sick and asked a friend to pray for you, they probably would. Our relationship with Mary operates under this same principle. We believe that Mary lives on with God for eternity in heaven. And we believe that her prayers are just as powerful now that they originate in heaven or even more powerful than they were when she was here on earth. We are essentially saying to her, that we have problems in the temporal world and need help, as we are sinners. She knows what it is like, because she has been here and can pray for us to help resolve our problems and bring us closer to her Son. In addition, given Mary’s unique perspective on the life of Jesus she has wonderful insights that we can obtain if we pray to her and listen for her response.
One comment I get at times from other Christians is why do Catholics worship Mary. That can be a bit frustrating. I explain that the assumption is incorrect and stress that we pray to Mary, but not in the same way we pray to God—and not to worship her as a god, but as our blessed Mother.
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Post by Kevin Doll on Jun 14, 2023 17:04:37 GMT
The Blessed mother is more than a warm devotion. Our own mother is more than a warm devotion. My mom has been praying for me since I was born and now more than ever since I started the diaconate. I know this because of my relationship with my mom. I know the Blessed mother is my mom too. I have had a personal relationship with her for years. Every retreat I go on she is there guiding me. According to St. Louis de Montfort The Blessed mother is the safest shortest most perfect way of approaching Jesus. Like all relationships we will be more active with people that are active with us. For example people we are close with we are more apt to help in time of need. If we don't know the person that is in need we will still help them but to a limited time. When we know the person we will help them until they are back on their feet. So If we want the Blessed mother to make our prayers suitable for Jesus we need to know the Blessed Mother we need to offer her our sacrifices to make them worthy to offer to Jesus. We need to pray for her intercession to make our sinful nature less sinful. She will guide us educate us protect us just like every good mother in the world. Schoenstatt has given me the Blessed Mother truly as my Mother. I have signed a blank check to her letting her fill in what ever she needs of me. I am open to her will because it is the will of Jesus. The two wills are the same. She will lead you to Jesus and Jesus will lead you to God the Father. If we are faithful to her she will be faithful to us. Every relationship needs endless work to make it strong and this one is no different. What better way to please Jesus than to honor his mother. You can never love Mary more than Jesus does.
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Post by Rich Fedor on Jun 16, 2023 16:39:31 GMT
I remember when I went to my first RCIA session and they encouraged us to bring any questions we had about the faith so they could be addressed. When I was a protestant, I remember times when I wondered why Mary was seemingly disregarded. I remember thinking that being the woman who birthed our Savior must give her some sort of elevated status. So, when I went to this first session of RCIA, one question I needed answered was, "what is the deal with Mary?". Our adult formation director gave a very short and simple answer that instantly turned on the lightbulb for me. Her answer was, "because she said yes." It had never dawned on me before that Mary could have said no and that would have meant that Christianity may have never existed. I instantly developed a whole new and greater appreciation for Mary. It was not an instant devotion, but the new perspective was the catalyst to a devotion that continues to grow.
As I continued to learn about our faith, another epiphany occurred. I learned the Catholic perspective of what took place when Jesus gave John to Mary as her son and Mary to John as his mother. To learn that, in this moment, Jesus was declaring that Mary is the spiritual mother to everyone, was life changing. My earthly mother had been deceased for eight years at that point. While she had taught me some about faith as a child, she was lukewarm in her faith at best. What I discovered in the Blessed Mother is a mother who is a perfect example of living one's faith and following the will of God. Over the years I have developed a desire to be closer and closer to Mary. This continues to grow and I find myself desiring a greater devotion to her.
Something occurred to me along this journey. A mother has a very unique perspective of her child/children. My brother, Jesus, walked the earth over 2000 years ago and my mother, Mary, was with Him. Yes, I could get to know Him one-on-one, but my Blessed Mother helps me understand Jesus in a way only someone's mother could.
In ministry it will be important for me to remember how someone being bold enough to offer a simple and straightforward answer to the question as to why Mary is important. It is impossible to know when something that comes from my mouth with will the words someone else needed to hear to get their faith journey on the right track. Helping others foster a devotion to Mary will aid their relationship with Jesus as it has and does for me.
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Post by John Schroeder on Jun 19, 2023 19:41:07 GMT
Up until the age of 28, I had a relationship with the Blessed mother that was distant as I might put it in that I prayed the Hail Mary off and on throughout my life. It dramatically changed after my first Ignatian retreat. The Jesuit priest became my spiritual director and advised I read St. Louis de Montfort's book: Devotion to Mary. During the Silent Retreat, the priest emphasized St. Ignatius' devotion to our Lady, and how his life changed, especially how the Blessed Mother advised him in the spiritual exercises! That was quite eye-opening because I knew I hadn't practiced the faith as I should have and wanted a deeper relationship with Jesus. The priest advised the fastest way to Jesus was through his Mother. Certainly, that point was well established in de Montfort's book. I knew I wanted to reform my life and be a saint. St. Louis advised that the fastest and easiest way to Jesus was/is through Mary. I definitely wanted the easiest and fastest way to Jesus. His writings have stood the test of time, witnessed to by other saints. These two saints influenced my direction to pray the rosary daily.
The second aspect that converted my heart to have a personal relationship with Mary was the fact that I also began to read a book by Fr. John De Marchi, I.M.C. (Fatima: The Full Story). It heavily influenced my understanding Mary's message at Fatima. In addition, I had a framed print unbeknownst to me at the time, of Our Lady of Fatima (OLF), from my parents house that they gave me when I moved out and stored in the basement. As I decided to refurbish it and carried it up the steps from the basement, I looked at the backside that had a 3x5" explanation of the print titled: Our Lady of Fatima! First the retreat, then my spiritual director recommendations, then Fr. De Marchi's book and now a print of the Blessed mother I had no idea was OLF. Holy coincidence?! I doubt it. God incidence? Yes. Divine Providence has a way of confirming/denying paths. After reading the heroic story of the three children, I was more and more convinced that our Lady was appearing (figuratively) many times over a short period of time to help me be firmly convinced that she could help me.
Along the way whether by a book or by meeting others who shared their journey with our Blessed Mother leading them (The Carl and Kathryn Williams Family of 18 children was remarkable to say the least) and contemplating the mysteries of the rosary, the Lord supplied a zeal for Him (to know, love and serve Him). The personal witness of others was a key ingredient in this path of mine. All these people encouraged my relationship with Mary. Mary encouraged my relationship with her and our Lord. It is good to have a warm relationship as John the disciple had from the foot of the cross going forward in his life. I can only imagine the deep conversations Mary shared with John. I know the deep conversations I've had with Mary as a result. The bottom line is that I know Jesus my savior far better. The argument to take Mary into our home or 'the home of our heart' is biblical! There really isn't a positive biblical argument against what Jesus instituted.
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