How Do We Get Closer to Mary?

The month of May is a beautiful time to get closer to Mary. But how can we do that? Fr. Mark-Mary has some great suggestions.

The most popular saints of the modern age, Maximillian Kolbe, Padre Pio, Mother Teresa, and John Paul II, all had at least two things in common: great holiness and devotion to Our Lady. That’s no coincidence.

Learning about their lives, you will see how Marian devotions were not just a little sprinkling on their spirituality. Their relationship with Mary was integral.

Mary mothered Jesus. He wants us to share in that relationship with his mother. He wants to live through us, and that includes having the relationships he had.

To grow in that relationship, Fr. Mark-Mary recommends the Servite Rosary, which is a Rosary of seven decades where we meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, which are:

1) The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2)
2) The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2)
3) The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2)
4) Mary meeting Jesus on his way to the Cross
5) The crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)
6) Jesus’ side pierced with a lance (John 19)
7) The burial of Jesus (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)

Here are the links Fr. Mark-Mary mentions:

In addition to the Servite Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary also suggests familiarizing yourself with the apparitions of Mary, which will help you see her role in the salvation of the world.

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[marcihf]

During a very difficult time in my life, Mother Mary brought me back to Jesus and my Catholic Faith. God used her to bring me back to His Son. I was also contemplating aborting my son and because of her I didn't go through it. I will always be grateful to her.

[susanpaalman]

It’s weird for me to read some of the comments here. I am a convert from Protestantism and I would have given those same responses years ago. Even after I converted, I found the Catholic doctrine on Mary hard to handle. When I finally got serious about understanding it, I was still not sure what I thought until I just decided to give daily rosary prayer a try. My relationship with our Lord has deepened and blossomed since that time, in ways I could not have imagined. I would ask our Protestant brothers and sisters to understand that Mary does not compete for us against Jesus. She really does help us to stand at the foot of the cross with her, coming ever closer to our Lord and hers. For scriptural basis for the doctrine, listen to Brant Petrie YouTube videos on The Biblical roots of Mary.

[CatholicProdigal]

I thank God for the faithful prayers of the Holy Catholic Church, I thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Salvation through Jesus Christ. To every Catholic that prayed for the conversion of sinners and the conversion of protestants, my life is a testament to your faithfulness and the goodness of our Lord. While I come from a long succession of Catholics including my own parents, they left the Catholic Church and never baptized me or my sisters, we were raised outside of church. While there was a "form" of Godliness around us the power thereof was denied. I have always loved Jesus throughout my childhood, at the age of nine I began reading the bible and had an encounter with Him. He never left me and throughout my prodigal wonderings and searching for the truth, I was continually bestowed God's grace. At the start of this year, I rededicated my life to faith and was baptized, albeit by Protestants but valid nonetheless. I began getting frustrated because I could never reconcile what the bible was saying with the teachings found within mainstream Christianity. Finally, one night I surrendered, and a spirit of mourning and contrition fell upon me, I fasted for three weeks and prayed daily for mercy for this world, for sinners, for myself-- and for the TRUTH. Something shifted within me, I started reading the Bible and various verses were standing out and leading me to seek the early Church Fathers, the main verses were "the laying on of hands" for succession. There were other things revealed to me through dreams, and my bible studies, and wouldn't you know it, everything lined up with the Catholic Church. Finally, my heart changed, I was watching a movie with my 13-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son about Jesus. My son asked a question about the crucifixion, as I began explaining to the best of my ability, my heart was led to Mary, and I was crushed. I mourned at that very moment trying to imagine how I would feel witnessing my son suffering. My son saw my tears and grief and his entire countenance changed, he realized this was a serious matter and hugged me with the deepest compassion and said, "It's okay mama, please don't cry." I have contacted my local Parish and will be beginning the RCIA, I have devoured the Catechism and writings of the early Church Fathers, I pray my rosary, and attend mass every day. My greatest joy is looking forward to next year when I can be confirmed and begin the sacraments. There is so much more but I have already written so much here. Thank you all for your prayers, be encouraged.

[RinaRomo]

My dad is a minister at our local church and he was present when a priest was doing an exorcism, he said that the priest had done all the normal prayers when doing an exorcism and it wasn’t working and then the priest started praying the rosary and the demon started yelling not that, not the rosary!” And after they finished praying the demon had left. The rosary is powerful weapon. I know also from personal experience because praying the rosary every single day has helped me with sinful thoughts I would have almost daily, I don’t struggle with those thoughts anymore.

[albertinadumea]

I don t know, but I didn t like Mary, I was more with Jesus when praying.
And I was at a Holy Hour Adoration online, and the priest at some point started the Rosary. I thought to close the tab, but I knew that I wanted to spend one hour with the Lord . So I stayed, prayed Rosary...and...here I am now, its my 18th day of daily Rosary.

Lord Jesus brought me through him to Her. I m learning to love her, to honor her, day by day.

Thank for your video, I will check out that chapter about Her. Thank you God bless everyone!

PS. I haven t said a rosary in the last 3 years, so you have an idea of how far I was with her.🌹🥀🌹🥀🌹

[Jakememes]

I came back into my faith and was healed from 12 years of agony in my spine. Been back in my catholic faith over a year now many miracles have happened to me I’m truly blessed. One thing I want to share is one day I was searching I don’t know why but constant reciting our lady I even bought and had the priest bless my roseramy beads then an old lady came over to me and gave me a miraculous medal of our lady. She said to me my dear child did you know today is the day of our lady. Godbless I said I had no idea. 🙏🙏

[Richie]

Let's then devote time in prayer for our Lady, mother of Christ.

[charliemalchow]

Praise Mary on the highest! Mary is Gods mother

[TkoBallerx]

Our Lady wants us to be Consecrated to her immaculate heart! She will bring us closer to Her Son!

[luuvvvuever]

My favorite devotion in the 54 day Rosary novena. I just ended one on the 9th for someone's conversion and started another one on the 10th for my future spouse and for someone else's conversion. ❤

[angelicanoboa]

I lost my mother at 18 yrs old. I'm not sure why I haven't seeked a closer relationship to our mother mary before if I have needed her so much all these years. This is where I am now.

[wreloise]

I confess...there is ‘wall’ I need to break-down to understand and truly participate in this relationship....Our Lady. Thank you

[win]

I've been trying to offer Mary some blossoms for her special month, but more and more I have to acknowledge my own weakness and how God and our blessed mother still love me even when I fail. Just visiting her spiritually in her Schoenstatt shrine and offering everything I am through the little consecration: My Queen, My Mother, I give myself entire to you. And to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day/night my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and posession. Amen.

[eileen]

We love our Blessed Mother! It's never doesn't sadden me that we must defend His Holy Mother to protestants who disgracefully dismiss Our Lady. Pray for their conversions.

[susankipper]

"33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do it Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration" by Michael E. Gaitley. A retreat in a book that you can repeat every year.

[carolsquitieri]

Thank you so much for this inspiring video on Mart!!
I especially appreciate your prayer: Mary, be a mother to me now !

[JesusIsLove]

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 Mother Mary Pray For Us🙏

[mase]

Great video Fr. I just renewed my consecration to Jesus through Mary by 33 day to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley. I love it and it is a great way to get to know how special our Mother truly is. It provides great spirituality and theology by for great Marian Saints. Saint Louis de Montfort, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Mother Teresa and Saint Pope John Paul II. As it says in the writings, consecration to Jesus through Mary is the easiest and surest way to holiness.

[paulmcnally]

Ave maris stella! Hail the star of the sea. I wear a bronze Star of the Sea medal everyday with Mary and the anchor (symbol of Hope)!

[KarlaMariexix]

For those who will say “This is Idolatry”... Asking your mom to pray for you isn’t idolatry. Neither is saying to Mary “pray for us sinners, ” as in the “Hail Mary.” It’s not “please do X.” It’s “please pray to Your Son for X.” Well-catechized Catholics ask the saints for intercession—just as we ask friends to pray for us.