I’m a convert and as with many converts to the Catholic faith, I was hesitant in my devotion to our Blessed Mother. The Protestant prejudice against our Lady is deep-seated. They see her as a potential rival to our Lord Jesus Christ and some seem to go out of their way in their efforts to demean her. Some Catholics have been persuaded by the Protestant attacks on her Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity and even the virgin birth of our Lord. All these attacks are, of course, ultimately attacks on our Lord since Mary and Jesus are inseparable. This truth that Mary and Jesus are inseparable was the first ray of light that began to draw me to our Blessed Mother.

Our Lady’s message is to bring us to her Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her spouse, the Holy Spirit, uses her to bring us to Jesus and bring Jesus to us. The story of the visitation of our lady to St. Elizabeth in Luke illustrates this primary work of our Lady through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God precedes our Lady and fall upon Elizabeth and the baby in her womb, John the Baptist, and fills both with joy to be in the presence of the Lord in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The story is repeated in the numerous apparitions of our Blessed Mother. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the forms of wind and clouds occur both at Lourdes and Fatima. They precede the appearances of the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin. Her mission at Lourdes and Fatima and all her appearances is to awaken her children to conversion through prayer and reparation. In other words, she guides, directs, points us to her Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus and Mary are inseparable. He came into this world through the flesh of the Blessed Virgin and He continues to come to this world through her appearances. And many believe as I do that her many apparitions today herald His second coming. Through the Holy Spirit she prepares us for His return.

The close affinity of our Lord and our Lady is particularly realized in the Sacrifice of the Mass. First with her we share in the "Communion of Saints". When Christ’s presence in the Mass is actualized by the words of Consecration, (This is my body... This is my blood...), the presence of His saints and angels is also actualized. Where Christ is present there is the Church, triumphant (in Heaven), suffering (in Purgatory) and militant (on earth). Our Lady’s presence is assured since she holds that most worthy and honorable position as Mother of God and Mother of the Church. Secondly, her presence is secured since the flesh of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, is her own flesh. When God became Man He took His body from the body of His Mother. We are linked to her through His substantial presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Maximilian Kolbe believed that there should always be a statue of the Blessed Virgin near the tabernacle to emphasize the inseparability of the Blessed Mother and her Son in the tabernacle. As Mary stood by His side on the Cross and at His side in Heaven she continues to remain at His side as His Mother and ours. She continues as the Mother of Sorrows to offer her suffering and her prayers with His for us. At every Mass Christ re-enacts His sacrifice on Calvary and there at every Mass is His Mother and ours, praying for us, comforting, leading and guiding us to Jesus, her Son, our Lord.