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A Mother’s Love hen I was and boy my mother used After my mam lost her second husband, my dad, to often tell my siblings and I, in a car accident, I remember chatting with her W “Before you say anything, first ask and she was extremely angry with God. I yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” remember talking about praying and she said, Those three questions I continue to ask my- “No! I’m done with Him, but I’ll talk with His self even as a 48 year old. Concerning the mother, she’ll understand.” Needless to say, my beauty of mother Mary’s love, I now reflect on mam did pray again, as Mary’s kindness always those three questions again: leads us to her Son Jesus. Mother Mary’s love: Is it true? Mother Mary’s love: Is it necessary? Throughout my life, even perhaps in those Those of us blessed to know a mother’s years I wandered in the dessert, I have always love need no response to this question. The known Mary as my mother and her tender tenderness and peace that comes to me when I love. From the bedroom I shared with my three ask Mary’s intercessions is truly soul filling. So, brothers when Mary watched over us as we slept yes in my spiritual life Mary’s love is very to this day when I drive by the Statue here at St. necessary. Stephen, I know her love for me to be true. Mother Mary pray for us! Mother Mary’s love: Is it kind? Fr. Dermot Dunne I’m always reminded of the painting in the Sistine Chapel, on the day of judgment, sinners Fr. Dermot Dunne being pulled into heaven on the rosary beads. Pastor Holy Hour of Prayer we offered a prayer of consecration to her, we ne of the ways I have chosen to place ourselves in her hands and ask for her celebrate the prayers and for her intercessions. O Diocese of St. My hope for the consecration is that it will be Petersburg’s 50th anni- an opportunity for each of us in our Diocese to versary, is to consecrate realize that Mary played a very important role all of our people to the in the life of our Lord, in the life of her son. She Immaculate Heart of not only gave birth to Him, carried Him in her Mary. When we conse- womb, but she stayed close to Him throughout crate ourselves to Mary, His life and ministry, through the good times, as we entrust ourselves to well as through the difficult times and the adver- her, asking for her intercession, asking for her sities of life. I think it’s an example for us - that prayers, but also following her example of trust. we need to stay close to Mary and we need to We know that Mary was close to Jesus, to stay close to our Lord as we journey through our Lord, and she desires nothing more than for our lives. May Mary’s example of trust and each of us to draw close to the Lord as well. On faithfulness be our strength, our light and our May 6, during a special Holy Hour of prayer, guide. –Bishop Gregory Parkes 2 Quarterly Blessings From Mary To Mother By Brandon Avery As Jesus’ death grew near, and He finds Himself still call my mother “Mommy”. The simple worried for both His widowed mother and young, truth of this is that I never really knew her in beloved disciple, He would think of the fond times I any other way. Yes, she has a first name. She is they shared and utter, “‘Woman, behold, your son.’ a wife, daughter, sister, friend, Then He said to John, ‘Behold, nurse, and much more. Yet, from your mother…’”(John 19:26-27). my prospective, she will always John would do as instructed and be the woman who carried me, take care of Mary as his own bore me into the world, helped mother. As they both sat quietly raise me, and introduced me to in their grief John would ask, both parental love and a love of “Mary, is there anything I can God. The title represents respect, do?” and she would say, “No. But station, and love built from before please, call me Mom.” I took my first breath, and among It’s interesting that as you get all of her other titles, “Mommy” is older, the more meaning familial reserved for me. titles take on. What do your In much the same way, I often children call you or their grand- wonder what that relationship was parents? Which of your friends like for Jesus, Mary, and John. earn an “Aunt” or “Uncle” title? I picture the young disciple, What do you call your in-laws? following Jesus much like a baby brother would, Are the titles you choose based on culture? Respect? waiting outside of Jesus’ home as He gathers Familiarity? supplies. He is getting a bit down because he missed It is interesting to watch a Catholic’s progression meeting Jesus’ mother again, when a middle-aged with getting to know Mary. Much like Jesus and woman holding a bucket of water startles him. She John, it is a slow building relationship. At first, it is smiles sweetly and says, “Hello, You must be John. almost a rote answer: Mary is Jesus’ mother. As Jesus has told me so much about you. I’m Jesus’ time goes on, she may gain a bigger role such as mother.” Mary, Mother of God. Then comes the more artistic The young boy would quietly say, “Hello, nice to depictions, such as “Morning Star”, “Ivory Tower” meet you… ummm…what would you like me to call or “Arc of the Covenant”. During May and October, you?” as he opens the door and carries the bucket months devoted to Mary, we may pull out the titles for her. of her station: “Queen of the Angels” or “Queen of She replies, “Mary, is fine. Thank you.” All Saints”. When in distress she is the “Refuge of Over the next couple of years, not constrained Sinners” or “Help of Christians”. However, for with the same familial burdens as the older Apostles, those who have really come to know Mary, who he would often accompany Jesus home and got to have built that relationship via intercessory prayers know Mary. He would fill in parts of stories that and decades of the Rosary, they address her simply Jesus would modestly leave out, help Jesus around as “Mother” or “Mama”, a title of respect, station, the house, and sometimes get rewarded with Mary and love from one of her children in the Church. making his favorite meal. Jesus would start to tease May we all both model and come to know her John about being part of the family. unfading, motherly love. “You must transmit your joy in being adopted sons and daughters of God through the creative power of the Holy Spirit. Do this with the help of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Cling to her Rosary, and you will never wan- der far from her side.” –St. John Paul II Quarterly Blessings 3 A Few Good Men By Reuben Persaud must have rolled His eyes like I did many times at converted to Catholicism. Upon my confirma- my mother, but Jesus did what she asked. I trust tion, my mother-in-law gave me the gift of a Mary to intercede on my behalf as well. Some of the I beautiful Rosary. As a new homeless on Sundays have said catholic, I accepted the Church’s they don’t pray to Mary, I say why teaching on this devotion and the heck would you ask me to pray resolved to learn how to “pray the to Jesus for you when you can go Rosary.” My teacher was Spirit directly to His mother? Sons have FM. And for the last thirteen a special bond with their mothers. years, I have prayed the Rosary at If more men would say the Rosary, least once, and sometimes, several even just a decade, it would times a day. increase their faith and perhaps become a little I learned to make it my own, interjecting, my more personal. own mediations, thanksgivings and petitions; for Many Sundays, my wife and I go to Apollo Beach my relatives, for the Church, for the St. Stephen after Mass to say the Rosary in a beautiful setting!” community in particular, and a host of other situa- Dan Connelly: Retired Sherriff’s Deputy, Scuba tions for which I am asked to pray. I know on my Diver, Catechist, equally comfortable with a hunting own, I was not worthy to intercede for all these rifle or toolbox repairing his old truck; and a man situations, so I asked for Mary’s help. who always carries a Rosary. For many years, I dictated to Mary my intentions “Praying the rosary is a blessing given to us to and where any graces from my prayer were to be continue Jesus’ mission! When Jesus was dying on directed. A few years ago, through the 33 Days to the cross, he gave us his mother. This gift of the first Morning Glory retreat, I learned to totally trust disciple is another contact with the risen Jesus. I, Mary to use the graces as she chooses. It was easy to like most men, had a special love for my mother, as do, given our long relationship.

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