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The Bishop Writes
May 2008
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The Bishop Writes |
May Our Blessed Mother Intercede For Us
My Dear Friends,
As we are all aware, the
month of May is dedicated to special devotions honoring Mary, the Mother of
Jesus, the Mother of the Church. This
means that, as part of the Mystical Body of Christ, she is indeed our Mother.
It is most fitting that we
all have a special place in our lives for Mary our Mother.
Over the years, the Church has developed many devotions honoring Mary and
asking Mary to pray for us. One of
the prayers that we all know and say often is the Hail Mary.
This beautiful prayer contains so many of the truths of our faith.
As we pray the Hail Mary, we first recognize her as the Mother of Jesus: Hail
Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and
blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Mary’s call was to be the Mother
of Jesus and to bring Jesus to us—as one of us.
She was also called to bring us to Jesus.
So we continue the Hail Mary
with Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
How often do we pray this
prayer when we say the rosary or when we just need to talk to our Mother?
Perhaps a better question would be: ‘Do we reflect on what we are
saying when we pray the Hail Mary?’ There are many devotions and prayers in
which we invoke Mary’s help in coming to her Son.
During this month of May and
every month, let us reflect with deep faith when we ask Mary to help us to grow
closer to her divine Son.
The Church has approved many
books filled with good devotions and prayers about Mary’s role in our
salvation as the Mother of our Savior. As
we reflect on the Hail Mary in a special way, we are called to do so with the
realization that we must always follow the rules of the Church in our theology
and Mariology.
Let us all pray, asking Mary
to intercede for us, that we might remain one and united to the Church as
faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. John J. McRaith
Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro
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