Oh María, Madre mía (Oh Mary, my mother)
oh consuelo del mortal: (oh consoler of mortals)
amparadme y guiadme (Protect me and guide me)
a la patria celestial. (To the heavenly homeland.)
Song of Mary
This is always the song that we sing after the daily mass when I was serving at St Patrick in San Antonio, Texas. The Hispanic parishioners are so in love with this beautiful song of Mary.
A priest formator once told us during our seminary days that the Catholic Church is being held by two pillars. One of which is God, and the other is Mary. In many Christian teachings, Mary has been sidelined and forgotten in the very life of Jesus. Despite being a rather significant character in the Bible, she has not been honored much more by some.
When the Angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, the one who people called barren was now in her sixth month, Mary went with haste to the hill country to visit and stay with Elizabeth for three months. This visit is what we celebrate today.
There are many reasons why this visit is so significant
First, it tells us the kind of woman Mary is. As soon as she heard that Elizabeth was having a child, she quickly ran to help her out. How often have you heard that people are sick and refused to visit them? How often have you heard about your close relatives and even your friends who are in trouble and just sat down to laugh about their condition?
Second, this visit explains why we are devoted to Mary. Mary forgot about herself, she forgot about her own needs, she put herself in the shoes of her cousin Elizabeth having to go through the pains of pregnancy and she went to help.
Now, if Mary is an expert in putting herself in the shoes of others and helping them when in need, we believe that if we ask for her intercession, she will gladly pray to God on our behalf.
Mary is Our Help
Dear friends, as we conclude our May Devotion for our Madrecita, let this day not pass without saying the rosary and I pray that just as Mary visited Elizabeth who needed a helper, Mary would visit you and become your helper today.
Holy Spirit, develop in me a generous and giving heart like Mary, so I may be willing to share with others everything I receive from God. Amen
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone? How can you serve the Church and those who might need your help?
