Mystical Rose, Tower of David, City of God, Ark of the Covenant, Enclosed Garden, Queen of the Angels, Queen of all Saints, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen Beauty of Carmel, Queen of the most Holy Rosary, Daughter of the Eternal Father, Mother of God the Son, Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Help of Christians, Mediatrix of all graces, Co-Redemptrix, Our Life, Our sweetness and Our hope, Gate to heaven, Key to the Heart of the Eternal Father, the “Full of grace”— all of these are several titles given by the saints, the mystics, as well as the poets expressing their great veneration, love, respect and their great confidence in Our Lady, who is truly the Mother of God and our Mother in the order of grace.
Three short suggestions to enkindle your love for the Blessed Trinity through an increased devotion to Mary.
1. MARIA COGITA, MARIA INVOCA. This is one of the most loved and quoted invocations to Mary, the Mother of God, from the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, whose Founder is Ven. Bruno Lanteri. Translated–“Think about Mary and invoke Mary.” Often during the course of your day, spontaneously lift up your mind and think about the love, goodness, kindness and maternal care that Mary has for you as your spiritual Mother. Then simply invoke her sweet name. After the Name of Jesus, the Name of Mary is the most sweet as well as the most powerful.
2. IMITATE THE VIRTUES OF MARY. All of us are called to heaven and all of us are called to be saints and great saints! Knowledge generates love; love generates following; following generates imitation; imitation generates transformation… That is the dynamic! If we know Mary, then we want to love her as our Mother and Queen; then we want to follow in her holy and inspiring footsteps and imitate her virtues. The end result will be transformation. “No longer I who live but it is Jesus and Mary who live in me.” Those who love Mary love her Son Jesus all the more ardently. Years ago the young people would be wearing a wrist band with the letters WWJD–What would Jesus do? On the other wrist there should be WWJMD–What would Jesus and Mary do? Before acting we should stop and ask the all-important question: Would Jesus and Mary approve of this action? If yes, do it! If not, avoid it!
3. THE GOLDEN HAIL MARY. St. Ignatius of Loyola offers us many forms of prayer. One very efficacious form of prayer is to simply take a prayer that you know well, for example the Our Father, the Creed, an Act of Contrition, or the Hail Mary and pray the prayer very slowly. As a child relishes licking an ice-cream cone in the middle of the summer heat, so we should relish praying the HAIL MARY. Take one word at a time and say it very slowly; relish every word of this beautiful prayer, so pleasing to the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and Mary, God’s favorite!
In conclusion, by constantly thinking of Mary and invoking her Holy Name, then by imitating her most sublime virtues, and finally by praying slowly and relishing the HAIL MARY, our loving devotion to Our Lady will grow, holiness will become more evident in our lives, and Mary will come to our aid now and especially at the hour of our death!
Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.
