Honoring the Nativity of Mary

Every year on September 8^th, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this date, two years ago, I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary using a popular devotion entitled, “33 Days to Morning Glory.” I had known of this devotion for years but hadn’t given it serious consideration. I had a deep affection and love for our Blessed Mother, but not what I would characterize as a devotion to her. But something was tugging at my heart two years ago and since my roommate had the book lying around, I thought I’d at least pick it up and give it a chance.

I reasoned with myself that I could simply start reading it, the consecration didn’t come until the end, and if anything about it seemed theologically questionable to me I could always stop reading, no harm done. It was all smooth sailing at first and I found my morning prayer time enriched with some good spiritual reading drawn from the life and writings of various saints. I still wasn’t convinced that I needed to do the consecration, but there was certainly nothing objectionable in the readings.

Then on day twelve, I read a line that made me sit up, raise an eyebrow, and say aloud, “Huh, I’m not sure that is true.”  “The Holy Spirit does not act except through the Immaculata, his spouse. Hence, she is the Mediatrix  of all the graces of the Holy Spirit.” (Aim Higher! Spiritual and Marian Reflections of St. Maximilian Kolbe pg. 13) It was the little word “all” that gave me pause. I believed and understood that Jesus loves to pour out graces through the intercession of his mother. Thus are his gifts to us enriched through her love as well. But the word all is absolute and to me it seemed to imply a limit to God’s freedom. Surely God could pour out his grace however he wanted without the restriction of having to go through Mary. The Holy Spirt can be poured into people’s souls directly, no mediation necessary. I wrestled with this line for a couple of days. I moved forward with the readings, soothing myself with the thought that this particular line was an expression of St. Maximillian Kolbe’s personal piety, and that I did not have to share it.

Still, I knew I wouldn’t feel comfortable making the act of consecration with this thought unresolved. I was hesitant to continue on, but drawn to do so because week four delved into the devotion of my beloved Pope John Paul II and I knew I would receive all that he had to say with joy. Before my resistance, the hesitation caused by my legitimate concerns, was melted away by my love for and tendency to agree with the Holy Father, I wanted to be sure I had thought it through.

Which I did. The morning I was going to start the JPII section, while talking to myself in the kitchen, I had a breakthrough. It was clear and simple and put all my questions to rest. All grace comes to us through Jesus’s death on the cross. Jesus is the sole source of all grace. Jesus, himself, came to us through Mary’s yes. Through her Fiat, Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin and became Man. Therefore, if all grace comes through Jesus, and Jesus comes through Mary, them all grace truly is mediated to us through Mary. Once again, my response was aloud, “Okay. That makes sense. I can accept that.”

That morning I began the section on John Paul II and his loving relationship with Mary. I cried through the whole thing as a new love for Mary grew in my heart. That same day I started a four-day silent retreat at a beautiful retreat center about six hours from home. The retreat had been scheduled months earlier, before I even thought of beginning this devotion. As I walked into my room the first thing I saw was the picture on the wall, the drawing of Pope John Paul II lovingly embraced by the Blessed Mother. The retreat hadn’t even officially begun, and the Lord was already confirming that he had me right where he wanted me. Two weeks later, on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary I made the act of consecration with no reservations.