If you want to have a great relationship with someone, get to know them on a personal level.
That’s true about people, and it’s also true about the saints. In particular, I’m thinking about the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For centuries, the Catholic Church has observed the month of May as Mary’s month, giving her special honor and holding extra devotions to her. Parishes erect May altars, decorated with a statue of the Blessed Mother, flowers, and perhaps candles. They hold May crowning celebrations during which Mary is again crowned – either with flowers or a material crown – commemorating her place as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
May is Mary’s month, so what better time to work on our relationship with her by getting to know her better?
One obvious way is to take up a book (or two…or three…) about her and draw closer to her by finding out more about her. It doesn’t have to be a major time commitment; ten to fifteen minutes a day would do it. Or more, if you can manage. How long you read is less important than making sure you do read and that you do it on a daily basis.
I’ve complied a list of books you might find helpful in fostering your relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can choose from these, or come up with something on your own. This list is by no means exhaustive!
Either way, I hope that you accept my invitation to spend May getting to know the Blessed Virgin Mary. I guarantee that the more you learn about her, the more you’ll come to love her.
Enjoy!
Classics
The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Anne Catherine Emmerich
The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary edited by John. E. Rotelle
The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales: On Our Lady (Volume III)
True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
St. Bernard of Clairevaux: Homilies in Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori
Contemporary
Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross by Edward Sri
Hail Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
Listen to Your Blessed Mother: Mary’s Words in Scripture by Gary Zimak
Praying the Angelus: Find Joy, Peace, and Purpose in Everyday Life by Jared Dees
Gifts of the Visitation: Nine Spiritual Encounters with Mary and Elizabeth by Denise Bossert
A Heart Like Mary’s: 31 Daily Meditations to Help You Live and Love as She Does by Edward Looney
Waiting with Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom by Marge Fenelon
Meet Your Mother: A Brief Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle
This May 13 marks the 100th Anniversary of the first apparition of our Blessed Mother to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. If you’ve never been knowledgeable about Fatima more before this, now’s the time to look into it.
Fatima
Fatima: The Apparition that Changed the World by Jean Heimann
Our Lady’s Message to Three Shepherd Children and the World by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle (children’s book)
Vision of Fatima by Fr. Thomas McGlynn
Our Lady of Fatima: 100 Years of Stories, Prayers, and Devotions by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle
Mary and the Little Shepherds of Fatima by Marlyn Monge and Jaymie Stuart Wolfe (children’s book)
Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words by Sr. Lucia and Louis Kondor (ed)
0 Comments