Q&A: I never had a problem with praying to/with Mary – until I made my Total Consecration and joined The Association of Mary. Since then, I have been seriously grappling with this issue of Mary Mediatrix of Grace, which I find increasingly difficult to accept. I don’t even completely know why, either, except that I want to pray to Jesus. Can I not kneel before the Tabernacle and pray to Jesus? I don’t understand how I go to Jesus through Mary in such an instance. And when I receive the Eucharist and I am in thanksgiving afterward, I speak to Jesus who is now physically and spiritually within me. I am more confused than I ever have been before …
Father J. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
Why do you think that you are centering more and more on Jesus since you made your consecration? Why do you experience such a yearning to pray to Jesus? The “blame” has to be placed on Our Lady! There is only one thing Mary can do: bring you more intimately into Jesus. And apparently she has been doing a fine job!
Saint Louis de Montfort speaks of Our Lady bringing us to her Son and doing it so tenderly. She is like the air we breathe . . . “mothering air” says Gerard Manley Hopkins, and so often we do not even notice her. But she is there, bringing you to the Tabernacle to pray to Jesus, with you when you receive her Son in Holy Communion. Incarnate Grace – Jesus – comes into our human family because Mary said – says – YES. So all participation in the life of Christ (grace) comes to us through Mary since she is Incarnate Grace’s Mother (cf. response to the previous question).
You will notice that you become more and more Christ centered when you accept the reality of the “mothering air” who is Our Lady. You pray “in Mary” so that you may “love Him more tenderly, serve Him more faithfully, be united to Him more perfectly” (cf. TD 62). You cannot separate Jesus and Mary. He is always and everywhere the Son of Mary. It is impossible to pray in Mary without praying more perfectly to Jesus. The more we open ourselves – lovingly and simply – to her influence, the more intensely we live in Jesus. Pope John Paul said that the most important lesson he learned from Saint Louis de Montfort is that authentic Marian devotion is totally Christ-centered. And I think that’s exactly what you are experiencing.
Christ: Painter: Ary Scheffer: 1851
You pray “in Mary” so that you may “love Him more tenderly, serve Him more faithfully, be united to Him more perfectly”
Editors Note: In a separate audio excerpt taken from the Conference Audio: At Prayer with the Mother of God – Entering Into the Presence of Our Lord the question of going to Jesus directly is also addressed. St. Louis de Montfort says the issue is not can I go to Jesus directly with my prayers. Of course you can!
The issue is not can I go to Him. It is when I do go to Him, do I do it in the manner that most honors Him? What is the best way to enter His presence? The more I desire what pleases the Lord, the more I turn my attention to the Lord. Should I go to the Lord by myself? Of course you can. But what way honors Him the most? St. Louis says I desire to honor Him fully. But I do not know how to approach Him with the honor He deserves. Is there a way that honors Him the most? St. Louis de Montfort says yes! How can I learn?
Listen to this audio excerpt taken from this conference that discusses this question. While the question asked above is slightly different, we believe this audio will also provide insights that will assist all members in their Spiritual Prayer Life. Double click the image below to go to the audio excerpt that will then appear at the bottom of the page.
