Our devotion to the Immaculate Conception

WE need to foster a deep devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. I remember St. John Paul II saying of this doctrine about the Immaculate Conception of our Lady: “This solemnly proclaimed doctrine is expressly termed a ‘doctrine revealed by God.’ Whoever does not make this doctrine his own, or maintains an opinion contrary to it, ‘is shipwrecked in faith’ and ‘separates himself from Catholic unity.’”

Quite strong words, but definitely they have solid basis, for Mary is the true icon of love. She is the one closest to God and to all of us. She lived in perfection God’s commandment to love God with all one’s might and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Her heart was completely identified with the heart of God.

Not only is she the Mother of Christ, and therefore can be rightly called as the Mother of God, since Christ is God. She is also truly our Mother who cares for us the way she took care of Christ. She it is who understood Christ the best. Her constant observation and pondering in her heart what she saw in Christ is the perfect way we ought to follow in relating ourselves to Christ.

She is actually present in all aspects of our life, since she involves herself completely in our life, be it in the spiritual, moral or material aspects. She is never indifferent to our conditions and situations. She loves us with a human and supernatural heart, always oozing with human affection as well as divine love.

She especially gives more attention and help to those who need them more. Being a mother, she is not scandalized by our sins and dirt. She will always understand us and is ready to help and clean us. There is no dirt which she as a mother would not clean for us, her little children, for that is how she will always regard us.

She is always around, especially during our difficulties. With all the privileges given to her by God, she can always do that. And if need be, she will make extraordinary interventions as when she makes special apparitions to convey a certain urgent message. And with her, things will always turn out well, since God cannot refuse her pleas in our behalf, as manifested in that first miracle of Christ during the wedding at Cana.

We have to learn to abandon ourselves and everything to her. She is the best way for us to be with God, and she never leaves us. Let us just learn to be humble especially when we stumble, and run to her immediately, because she is all too eager to help us. In this we should not hesitate.

We have to learn to deal with her, developing a deep, most childlike devotion to her. We can learn from St. John, who after being told by Christ on the cross, “Behold your Mother,” immediately took her into his home. (cfr 19,27) Let’s try to be good children of hers, to correspond to her great love for us.

In that document of St. John Paul on her, “Redemptoris Mater,” it is said that “the Christian, Like the Apostle John, ‘welcomes’ the Mother of Christ ‘into his own home’ and brings her into everything that makes up his inner life.” This is what we should always do, without reservations.

We can ask ourselves: how many times have we gone to her today? How often do I express my devotion to the Virgin Mary during the day, from morning to night? How do I fulfill the Marian norms of piety? Do I try to make a new loving effort every day in my affectionate conversation with our Lady?

Do I make a sincere effort to say the Rosary well, without rushing, trying to contemplate each mystery well? Do I say the Angelus attentively? Do I greet my holy Mother Mary when I enter or leave my room or when I discover her image along the streets of the city?

Do I ask her to help in this campaign of holy purity which the world greatly needs today? Do I spread this devotion to Our Lady, learning from her humility? Do I try to entrust the peace and unity of families to our Mother?

We need to realize that Mary is the only way, the shortest, safest and surest way to Christ. If our spiritual life is not as vibrant as it should be, it is almost sure that we are not dealing with Our Lady properly. Let’s then make the necessary changes.