Florida Catholic | Catholic Identity Series

CATHOLIC IDENTITY SERIES

Mary is the ‘mother of prayer’

FATHER JOHN J. PASQUINI | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 03.21.08

Catholic Identity Series

Father Pasquini is the founder of Chi–rhoministries.com, a ministry dedicated to building the family and the faith. He is the parochial administrator of St. John of the Cross in Vero Beach.

Mary is the mother of prayer for she intercedes for us by taking our prayers, purifying them and presenting them to her son.

Mary’s intercessory prayers have a unique role in the plan of salvation. At the Annunciation her prayer opened the way for Christ’s conception (cf. Lk 1:38); at Pentecost her prayer helped form the church (Acts 1:14). In her fiat, she was the perfect disciple, the perfect model of the church. She was what all are called to be: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be (done) to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

Mary is the heart of Christian prayer: “to be wholly God’s, because he is wholly ours” (CCC, 2617). Mary teaches a person how to pray by her example of humility, love, obedience, faith and trust.

Because of our fallen human nature, what we often refer to as concupiscence, our prayers are often tainted by a distorted vision of self, the other and even of God. Mary takes our prayers, purifies them of their taintedness and presents them to her son in a manner that is best for us.

Mary’s intercessory power is exceptional for she is the Mother of God, the spouse of the Holy Spirit. At the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2-12) the wine ran out. Jesus was not prepared to begin his public ministry. Yet when Mary, his mother, asked her son to help the wedding couple — when Mary interceded — Jesus listened to the intercession of his mother and performed the miracle of turning water into wine. Mary’s intercessory power is in her nature as the mother of the Lord, for what good son can refuse the request of a good mother?

Jesus himself reminds all to have recourse to Mary at the foot of the cross when he turns over to John and the whole world Mary as our mother, the mother of the church, the mother of prayer (Jn 19:26).

Mary is our mother. Christ gave the world a powerful intercessor for the needs of his people. Christ came into the world through Mary, and one is blessed to go to Jesus through Mary. Because we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and because the Mother of God is the spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary becomes an essential part to Catholic spirituality.

Mary never ceases to pray for us, now, and at the hour of our death! Mary is truly the mother of prayer.

Father Pasquini is the founder of Chi-rhoministries.com, a ministry dedicated to building the family and the faith. He is the parochial administrator of St. John of the Cross in Vero Beach.

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Mary is the ‘mother of prayer’

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