If you didn’t already know…May is the month of Mary!
What a joy, right?

Well, some of you may feel this way, a lot of you may not. Why do I say this?

In my four years of ministering to women in their faith, I have learned that many women struggle to have a close relationship with Mary. Either they're lost on where to start, or don’t want to “love her more” than Jesus, or are just intimidated and avoid her all together.

In a recent questionnaire asking women to describe their relationship with Mary, 51.6% of women (almost 400 women participated) answered that they would like to be closer to Mary but don't know how, or don't know her at all. Part of me wasn’t super surprised about the results, but part of me also was a little heartbroken.

Although my relationship with Jesus has evolved and grown so much throughout my life, my relationship with Mary has been extremely strong. She is my Heavenly Mother, and her protective and comforting presence has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. I wish everyone could feel how much she loves them.

She is YOUR Heavenly Mother. 

And she desires you to know and believe that so deeply.

One of my favorite moments in scripture to meditate on is the moment where Jesus entrusts his mother to John and John to his mother. In John chapter 19:26-27 it reads, “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! '”

This is a pivotal moment not just for John but for all of humanity, as it represents Jesus entrusting all his children to Our Lady and Our Lady to all his children. Her mission on Earth was to bear the savior of the world, but her mission in Heaven is to fiercely love, protect, and intercede for each child of God, and therefore her children, so that we may come to know, love and serve Him.

If you’re unsure or afraid of “crossing the line” of loving Mary too much, don’t be.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe once said, “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

So, where to start? Here are three things you can do to start leaning into your relationship with your Heavenly Mother.

1. Pray the Rosary. It’s not just for grandmas, I promise-- no offense grandma, we love ya. Start by adding it in once a week. Read the promises of the Rosary, and if you can work up to praying it daily, it will change your life.
2. Read “33 Days to Morning Glory” and consecrate yourself to Mary. You learn a lot about the theology of Mary through this devotional and it opens your heart to her so much.
3. Learn about one of the amazing Marian apparitions throughout our Church’s history. Lucky for you, we’ll be sharing about one every week for the month of May on IG and our website blog.

From the bottom of my heart, know that I am praying for you to come to know and love Mama Mary as so many holy people and saints have before us. Stick around for Marian Mondays on our shop Instagram, @shop.wcc, and weekly blogs about the different Marian apparitions. May is going to be jam packed with education and devotion to the Queen of Heaven.

If you made it this far…I’ll also let you in on a little secret–a new Marian collection is coming to the shop soon, and you’re going to want to keep a close eye on all the little hints we drop along the way! ;)