15 Ways Every Catholic Can Love Mary (More)

“I love you mom.”
“I love you, Son.”

Surely those words were spoken between Jesus and Mary. Loving our Blessed Mother must be pleasing to Jesus, and yet, how do you love someone you never see? Let me count the ways: fifteen for starters.

1. Talk with her.

Jesus talked with his mother daily during his childhood. Let’s get in on that conversation. Beyond praying, talk with our Mother in Heaven throughout the day.

2. Sing of Mary

Lift your voice to the Blessed Mother. Here is Brother Alphonsus Mary singing of his love of Mary.

3. Apologize

Imagine Mary’s heartache when she met her Son on the way to Calvary. Tell her you are sorry for ever having hurt her Jesus and ask her to help keep you from sin.

4. Keep her picture around

Images help us feel closer to our loved ones. I have statues and pictures of Jesus and Mary in key places such as where I sit and have tea or in my field of vision when I wake up in the morning.

5. Consecrate yourself

Don’t go it alone. Total Consecration Through the Mysteries of the Rosary is one way to entrust your life to Jesus through Mary, trusting that she is the surest path to Jesus.

6. Introduce her to your children

Let your children know that they have a dear mother in heaven who loves them. Teach them the Hail Mary, put a picture or statue in their room. Read books about Mary to them. Our Lady’s Picture Book is full of beautiful images and an explanation of some of the Blessed Mother’s titles so that you will find yourself falling more in love with her alongside your children.

7. Give her your intentions

Trust her with your life. Jesus did.

8. Get to know some of Mary’s names

Each of Mary’s names has a story and devotion behind it. To know her is to love her more and more. Go here to learn about 26 of her names.

9. Wear a Miraculous Medal

The image of Our Lady standing on a globe with dazzling rays of light representing graces, streaming down upon us from her outstretched hands was given to St. Catherin Laboure in a vision on November 27, 1830. To receive those graces, wear the medal and pray daily: “Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

10. Let Mary relieve your stress

De-stress with an expert. Consider some of the stress Our Blessed Mother lived with: pregnant with Our Savior while Joseph had no clue, no place to give birth, losing Jesus in the temple, and then watching people conspire against her Son and eventually crucify him. Keep in mind that Jesus’ first miracle was performed because his mother was concerned about someone’s stress—running out of wine at a wedding.

11. Take up your weapon

the Rosary. St. Padre Pio called it “the weapon.” At Fatima and Lourdes, the Blessed Mother told us to pray it daily. The rosary is a powerful bouquet of prayers centered on the Gospels, arranged with Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s.

12. Pray Mother Teresa’s 911 novena

Whenever Mother Teresa faced an emergency, she prayed an “Emergency Novena” of nine Memorares in petition, then a tenth in thanksgiving.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.

13. Make a distress call

St. Teresa of Calcutta also had a distress call to Mary that she said never failed her: “’Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.”

14. Grieve with her

Our Lady of Sorrows. The Blessed Mother promised seven graces for those who pray seven Hail Mary’s while meditating on her seven sorrows.

15. Make the five first Saturdays

Our Lady told Sr. Lucia, one of the visionaries from Fatima: “See, my daughter, my heart encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to me on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.”

After a life spent nurturing a love for Mary, I can think of no one better to come for us with graces at the hour of our death and take us to Jesus.

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