Opening My Heart to Mary's

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." // Luke 1:28

My heart remained resentful towards Our Lady during my teenage years. I was convinced that she was only for the “really holy” people. I thought to myself, I already have Jesus. What does Mary have to do with me?

Maybe you're wrestling with the same question. The Lord softened my heart throughout the years, and I began to see her ultimate role not only as the Mother of God, but my mother as well.

In August of 2021, the Father tugged my heart to pray the 54 Day Rosary Novena. I agreed to do this, however I was a bit nervous. Praying the Rosary was not a habit in my daily life. I had prayed the Rosary a few times by myself and a decade with my family in the evening, but I had never consistently prayed the full Rosary. I didn’t know all the mysteries; I usually became distracted, restless, and bored. I knew it would be a challenge, but in all my littleness, I remained obedient. It wasn’t easy, however, it drew my heart so intimately with Mary’s.

Not right away, but eventually, this led to making the Rosary a daily habit in my life. The more I learned about Mary’s heart, the more beautiful the Rosary appeared, instead of seeing it as a chore or something to cross off my to-do list.

In a moment of great distress, I grabbed my rosary. Walking outside, I listened to an audio version of the Rosary on my phone. I was too upset to even mouth the prayers, but receiving the motherly care and comfort of Our Lady, through the Rosary, was enough to calm my heart.

Sister, can I gently encourage you to say a Hail Mary today?

Sit with Mary for a moment. Mother Teresa had a simple, but beautiful prayer that she would say to Our Lady, Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.

We need a mom, and Jesus gifted us with the most perfect one.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Sit with Mary for a moment. // Bella RolClick to tweet

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