A Sunday Thought for Our Blessed Mother in May

From time to time, we've quoted Father Edward Leen, a priest whose writings are well worth your time. Since May is Mary's month, I thought I'd share this particularly striking passage with you this Sunday. Father Leen's writing is perfect for serious Catholics. There's no fluff. He isn't afraid to unfold the Truth in all its fullness. He doesn't talk down to us in any way, or sugar-coat the faith. And in doing this, he shows us the real and immense treasures of our Catholic Faith, if only we take the time to learn and meditate on them.

In this case, we see our total dependence on our Blessed Mother. We grown men, experienced in the ways of this world, earning our living, meeting our responsibilities diligently, remain little children dependent on this loving Mother whom Our Lord gave to us as he was dying on the Cross. No matter how old, how "mature" we may be, we remain, truly, literally, children of Mary, Our Mother. 

"How greatly then, are we dependent on our good Mother. How essential to our happiness is her motherly care. Our dependence on Mary is perfectly illustrated by the dependence of a child on its mother, not the child who has seen the light of day, but the little infant yet unborn. The reason for the choice of this illustration is evident. The little infant is absolutely dependent on its mother. We too, whatever may be the degree of sanctity which we have reached, are completely dependent on Mary. At each moment Mary is essential to us. We can do nothing without grace, and it is through Mary that every grace comes to us. We cannot, therefore, at any moment, no matter how holy we may be, be without Mary's care. Her motherly care is ceaselessly active. We are the infants of the most holy Virgin, and our lips out to address her as 'Mama' rather than Mother. This childlike title has nothing about it of the puerile or the affected. It shows in its own way, and perhaps in the fullest way, this incontestable truth - the fact of our littleness, of our utter dependence as infants and of Mary's preparation by God that in her ceaseless solicitude as Mother, she might answer our need. This attitude of spiritual infancy towards our good Mother is not a pious excess, but it expresses simply our very real condition. It clarifies and makes easier our relations with God, Our Father. Led, so to speak, by the hand of Mary, we are brought with Jesus, and in Jesus, Our Brother, to the true home of the family of the Blessed Trinity."