Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us

In the womb of the Virgin Mary, Jesus became incarnate. Through his life and his death, he saved us in such a way that whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life: « whoever believes in me will never die » (Jn 11:25-28). All who believe in Jesus, even if they die, remain united to the mystical body of Christ; they remain united to him.

The Word of God encourages us to support one another and to pray for one another. « Brothers, pray for us » (2 Th 3:1); « I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Holy Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf » (Rom 15:30). In the « Our Father » we say « give us this day our daily bread ». Thus, Jesus invites us to pray for one another. Since death does not separate us from the body of Christ when we believe in him, the one who is with Jesus in heaven therefore continues to intercede for his brothers and sisters who are still on the way. Saint John Chrysostom said: « When you feel that God is not with you, do not run to his enemies, but rather to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who have done the will of God and who have great power ».

Yet it would be wrong to believe that the saints are more compassionate than God, and that if we have pleaded with God for a request without being answered, we should then turn to the saints who would understand us better. This would be a false understanding of intercession, for everything we obtain through the prayer of the saints comes from the one mercy of God. It is in this light that we pray to the Virgin Mary. At Cana, Jesus performed his first miracle thanks to the intervention of the Virgin Mary.

The Church has always encouraged the faithful to have recourse to the Virgin Mary. For this reason, she proposes to us the prayer of the rosary. In the « Hail Mary » (Ave Maria), the first part contains words that come directly from the Bible: « Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you» (Lk 1:28); « Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb » (Lk 1:42). In the second part, we ask the Virgin Mary to pray for us: « Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen ».

Jesus prayed, repeating the same prayer at Gethsemane (Mt 26:29; 42; 44). The Ave Maria is also repeated many times. The angels never cease to take up, day and night, the following canticle: « Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come » (Rev 4:8). Thus prayer can be repetitive. What is also striking in the prayer of the rosary is the meditation on the mysteries: joyful, luminous, sorrowful, glorious, and on the biblical texts. This shows that the Virgin Mary does not turn us away from her son. On the contrary, she shows us the way that leads to him and calls us to obey him: « do whatever he (Jesus) tells you » (Jn 2:5).

Through the prayer of the rosary, many people have received answers to their prayers, protection against the forces of evil, and so on. Many are the saints who have loved the Virgin Mary with a deeply marked filial love, and she has helped them to love Jesus better and to serve him. Let it suffice to mention, by way of illustration, saints such as Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort or Saint Maximilian Kolbe. The Church therefore encourages us to pray the Rosary and to entrust ourselves to the Virgin Mary. Whoever listens to the Church listens to Jesus (Mt 18:17). This month of October, let us pray the rosary faithfully, alone, as a family, or in small groups. Let us offer up our difficulties and intercede for one another.

Henri Bayemi