Our relationship with Mary, mother of God, grounds us

Greg Zambrano
NOLA Catholic Parenting

Our Lord God is interested in our families’ salvation and shows it in many ways. One of them is by giving us his Mother. Mary keeps a close relationship with me, and I with her. I think this way because of the numerous devotions related to Mary.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And, from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home” John 19:26-27. First, she has already beheld us. She makes herself present to us. Christ tells us to behold our mother and bring her into our home.

As a disciple of Christ, bring home our mother Mary. Pray a rosary with your family and, if you are not able to do a whole rosary, try to pray the Angelus. It is a much shorter and easier way to initiate prayers at home with your family. We are not jumping into the unknown; the cause of our joy has observed and loves us.

Christ has died on the cross for the redemption of souls. By his holy cross, he has redeemed the world. Through this sacrifice,  he has made the gates of heaven open to all who are worthy of the promises of Christ.

It seems to me that God wants us all in heaven, but he wants us to authentically love him to achieve this – to be able to sacrifice and die for him just like he has for us. I believe that is why he has left us with his mother in the church.

The seven promises of Our Lady of Sorrows prepare our hearts to not lose our souls while life takes aim at us. The first promise is, “I will grant peace to their families.” We may learn from her in times of fear, and, in uncertainty, we may leave the unknown up to God. Avoid fear and anxiety during trials; pray to Our Lady of Sorrows.

Our Lady of the Pillar appeared to St. James in the year 40 A.D. on top of a pillar or column of stone to bring a message of faith, hope and an increase in charity. This demonstrates that, right from the beginning of the church, Mary has been a model and direction toward her son.

This apparition reminds me of the dream of St. John Bosco, his “Vision of Two Columns” on May 30, 1862. “In the midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky. One is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin, at whose feet a large inscription reads: ‘Auxilium Christianorum’ (Help of Christians). The other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a host of proportionate size and bears beneath it the inscription: ‘Salus credentium’ (Salvation of believers).”

Our Lady is the “Help of Christians.” She’s here to help us break through all the resistance that we ourselves and our salvation’s enemies create. I observe her like a static statue in a church, but her beauty, faith and direction are a light that guide towards Christ. I also know that she has taken an active role in the history of the church. As La Salette in  Lourdes, Fatima, she usually appears to young, innocent children, but she is known to be a terror to demons.

The mother of God is here to take us gently by the hand to Jesus. At the same time, this woman is a terror to all enemies. Taken from the Legion of Mary Tessera, “Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?”

Our Lady is here to defend valiantly what is hers. All we must do is stay close to her at all times. She will keep us anchored next to her son in the church. Let us observe her every move and learn from her.

Greg Zambrano was born in Colombia and raised in Miami, Florida. After serving in both the Marine Corps and the Air Force for 10 years, he became a stay-at-home father. He and his wife have been married for 19 years and have two daughters who are now home-schooled. They enjoy going to nearby parks and playgrounds, especially when the weather cools down. Also, as a family, they enjoy going to the movies, eating at restaurants and attending Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Shrine on State Street.