The Most Revered Mother and Intercessor of All

For most devout Catholics, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the most revered saint and intercessor of all weary souls, our direct line to Jesus. For me, the Blessed Virgin Mary has played a very significant role in my life and the life of my one and only daughter.

photo credits to: deacondance.com

I've always believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary has always played an important role in my life.
She is the bridge connecting us to God. I may not be here now, if not for her intercession through my biological mom's constant prayer for an offspring. It was through the Virgin Mary's intercession that I was born (as my mom would attest). My parents at the early years of their marriage were having a hard time conceiving. If not for the constant prayers and devotion to her, I may not be here now writing this blog. If it is any indication, miracle of miracles, I share the same birthday with the Blessed Virgin Mary -- September the 8th (let's just not discuss the year of my birth :). So I was always considered by my parents as a gift from God through the Blessed Virgin's intercession.

Fast forward to my time... who would've thought that I would also share the same predicament as my mom in my early years of marriage. Hubby and I took us about six years before our unica hija was born. We were already becoming desperate and looking at the possibility of undergoing IVF (in-vitro-fertilization) procedure just to have a child. And in my desperation, I looked to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help. I believe that God answers prayers in His own time, it also helps to have a powerful intercessor like the the Blessed Mother always.

In my visits to various monasteries, including the Pink Sisters in Tagaytay and the nuns in the Trappistine Monastery in Landan, I never fail to ask for help in praying for a baby. And after six years, I was so happy to have my prayers answered. I am here because of her, and I have a daughter all thanks to her intercession to all of our prayers.

There were also times in my life when I lost hope and was wondering why we were having problems, the Blessed Mother was always there to hear me. And the deep gratitude I feel for her constant intercession to all of our prayers were a testament to her undying love to all of us she considers her children. This is true of one of Jesus' last words in the cross on Mt. Calvary:

When Jesus saw his mother,
and the disciple whom he loved standing near,
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Gospel of John 19:26-27

In this passage from John's Gospel, Jesus Christ dying on the Cross tells "the disciple" to behold his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. It seems that Jesus is referring to John, but the actual words are "the disciple." 

And so, in that moment, Mary becomes Mother of all disciples of Jesus, including those in our own time who follow Jesus. To quote Pope John Paul II in his 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater, "This is true not only of John, who at that hour stood at the foot of the Cross together with the Mother (of Jesus), but it is also true of every disciple of Christ, of every Christian (45.3)."

If you are besot with problems and you feel that you are alone, no matter how heavy your cross maybe, always remember that you have a mother to count on to intercede in your behalf. To lift you up to her son Jesus. Have a quiet conversation with her, she hears all who lifts their sorrows to her, and maybe you might be surprised how she can bring you closer to Jesus and intercede in your behalf. 

Have a blessed Lenten season everyone...