Mother Mary.

I really love Mary. Like, I really love Mary. 

One of my favorite things to do is to imagine what Mary was like as a young mother to her Son. I love imagining her playing and making faces at Him to make Him laugh, or holding Him closely when He was scared, or gazing down upon His tender sleeping face. She was the one who cared for Him, who bandaged His cuts and scrapes, who dried the tears off of His tiny face. She was the one who watched Him grow from a tiny little boy in her arms to a Man...that wonderful Man that He was. She was His mother and there wasn't a single person on earth who loved Him more than she did. It's such a beautiful thought. 

I've a special devotion to the sufferings of Mary.  Mary’s suffering was foreshadowed by Simeon when he said to her after she presented the baby Jesus in the temple: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 1:34-35).And boy, did she suffer. She watched her Son get beaten and mocked, scourged and spit upon. She stood by as He struggled with His cross, slowly dragging it up the mountain on His bloody shoulders. She saw the soldiers drive the nails into her Son's hands and feet. She was at the foot of the cross, watching her Son die. 

My favorite thing to do is to pray the rosary. I understand that not everybody shares this love. It makes me pretty sad, to be honest. More than anything, I wish that my family would make it a point to pray this together more often. Many say that it's too repetitive. But this is something that I particularly like about it. Would you ever get tired of hearing your spouse or your child saying "I love you"? The rosary is my way of telling my Mother that I love her, over and over. I love to not only say the prayers, but to meditate on the mysteries as well. I love going through the life of Jesus, seeing it all through His mother's eyes. It's so beautiful, and so under appreciated. 

There is nothing in my life that's brought me to love my Catholic faith more than Mary has. She has played such a crucial role in my faith life; I know I would not be the same person if it weren't for her. And quite honestly, I owe her it all. She's helped me through so much. I look up to Mary as a role model. She is the person that I want to grow up to be. Her obedience to God, her humility to completely submit herself to His will, and ultimately her love for Him--I want that. She is the kind of person that God is calling all of us to be. She's brought me to love her Son so much. She always draws my eyes and my heart towards Him. I love her. And through this love for her, she helps me to love Him.