To Jesus Through Mary: Why Our Mother Matters

Hello everyone!

Since we began our journey together at St. Kevin’s, I’ve told you from day one: The entire point of the RCIA is to bring you closer to Jesus Christ. He is the "Word made flesh," the bridge between us and the Father.

As Catholics, we believe that we know God through Jesus. But a question often comes up: Where does Mary fit in? Does focusing on her take away from our focus on Him?

Actually, it’s quite the opposite. To help explain why, I want to share an analogy I often use.

Meeting the "Parents": Why Mary Adds to the Relationship

Think about when you start dating someone. Eventually, the relationship gets to a point where they say, "I want you to meet my parents." When you meet the parents of the person you love, you know two things immediately:

1. It’s getting serious. You are being brought into the inner circle of their life.

2. The parents don't take away from your relationship; they add to it. By getting to know the parents, you start to understand why your partner is the way they are. You see their history, their heart, and their family traits. You know your partner better because you know the mother who raised them.

It is the same with Mary. She doesn’t compete with Jesus for our attention. Instead, she introduces us to Him in a way no one else can. She doesn't take from the relationship; she adds a better, deeper knowing of the Word made flesh.

The "New Eve": Healing the Ancient Disobedience

To understand why Mary is so central to God’s plan, we look back to the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, the first Eve was given a choice. She chose disobedience, which brought sin and "death" into our story.

Mary is called the "New Eve." Where the first Eve said "No" to God, Mary said "Yes." Her fiat ("Let it be done to me") allowed the Savior to enter the world. As the New Eve, she helps untie the knot of disobedience that the first Eve tied. By her obedience, she became the doorway through which God entered humanity.

Why the Hail Mary and the Rosary?

If Mary’s whole job is to point us to Jesus, why do we have specific prayers for her?

• The Hail Mary: This prayer is almost entirely Scripture. When we say, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee," we are repeating the words of the Angel Gabriel. When we say, "Blessed art thou among women," we are repeating the words of her cousin Elizabeth. We are simply joining our voices with the Bible to honour the woman God chose.

• The Rosary: People often think the Rosary is about Mary. It’s actually a meditation on the life of Jesus. As we pray the beads, we are walking through the Gospel—His birth, His miracles, His suffering, and His resurrection—but we are doing it while holding Mary’s hand. We are looking at Jesus through the eyes of the person who loved Him most.

To Jesus, Through Mary

Always remember this: Jesus leads us to God, and Mary leads us to Jesus.

She is like a magnifying glass. When you look through a magnifying glass, you don't focus on the glass itself; you focus on what the glass is showing you. Mary magnifies the Lord. She points her finger away from herself and directly at her Son, saying, "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).

As you continue your RCIA journey, don't be afraid to get to know the "Mother." She is waiting to introduce you more deeply to the Son she loves so much.

God bless,