Editor’s Note: In a letter to the faithful of South Carolina, Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin, administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, encourages Catholics to dedicate the month of May to Mary.
“Through her may see him
Made sweeter not made dim
And her hand leaves his light
Sifted to suit our sight.”
— Gerard Manley Hopkins, “The Blessed Virgin Compared to the Air We Breathe”
He took our mother Mary’s flesh to become our flesh, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
He was fashioned in our likeness: blood, flesh and spirit in the womb of Mary. Is it no wonder that as Mary brought him forth, in her loving and dutiful response as our mother, she mystically gave birth to us? Mary is our mother.
May, the month of Mary, where all things are aglow — leaf, flower and fertile branch — is the time to honor Mary in prayer, meditative work and responsible task.
During this holy month of May, let us all — through daily prayer and acts of penance — take, restore and renew our devotion to Mary our mother. True devotion to Mary guides us to her son, Jesus, and to God in his triune majesty.
Our daily rosary and loving acts of consecration, our lives made holy, sacrificial in acts of love, all honor Mary and bring us closer to her flesh. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, allows us, too, to embrace the infinite of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you
among women,
And blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour
of our death.
Amen.
Let us pray that Mary our mother will continue to bless the Diocese of Charleston.
Mary, our mother of joyful hope, pray for us.
Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin,
Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston