Episode Transcript  

One

Giving Our Mother a Gift 

Today we celebrate the birth of Mary, the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother. This feast falls on September 8th, exactly nine months after her Immaculate Conception on December 8th.

On birthdays, we give gifts to those we love to show them how much they mean to us. What gift could we possibly bring to Mary on her birthday? All mothers desire the same thing: to be with their children. The greatest gift we can give her is ourselves, our hearts, our lives, our daily trust. To consecrate ourselves to Mary is to say, “Mother, I am all yours. I want to be with you always, to belong to you completely, and to depend on you in everything.”

But why Mary? Why not go directly to Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Because it is the Spirit’s mission to enter our souls, conceive Christ within us, and form Him in our lives, and the Spirit carries out this maternal mission through Mary. She is the perfect human expression of the Spirit’s action. As Wisdom says, “She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and orders all things well” (Wis 8:1). In Mary, the Spirit’s maternal and feminine care becomes visible and tangible. Giving ourselves to Mary, then, is the surest way of giving ourselves to the Spirit and to Jesus.

Two

Jesus Was the First to Consecrate Himself to Mary

Think of this: the very first act of the Son of God in coming to save us was to entrust Himself entirely to Mary, to be a helpless embryo in her womb, a little child in her care. Could dependence go any deeper? Jesus was the first to consecrate Himself to Mary. And what did Mary do for Him? Everything. By the Spirit’s power, she conceived Him, bore Him, nourished and protected Him, guided His first steps, prompted His first miracle at Cana, and remained with Him at the Cross.

And what will the Holy Spirit and Mary do for us? The same. They give birth to divine life in us at Baptism, protect and form us into the likeness of Christ, and stand by us at the hour of death. “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

If we wish to imitate Jesus, where should we begin? Not by walking on water or raising the dead, but by beginning as He did, entrusting ourselves entirely to Mary, becoming her little son or daughter.

Three

John Was the Second to Consecrate Himself to Mary

At the Cross we read, “Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘This is your mother’” (Jn 19:26–27).

In this moment, Jesus gave Mary as Mother not only to John, but to every disciple. The Gospel adds, “From that hour, the disciple took her into his own” (Jn 19:27). The original Greek (eis ta idia) means more than physical accommodation; it suggests bringing Mary into the whole of one’s life, into one’s soul. John welcomed Mary as his Mother, allowing her to form him into the likeness of Christ.

St. John Paul II taught, “The maternity of Mary is a gift that Christ makes to each man personally; each must accept it personally.” By consecration, we personally take Mary into our lives as John did, and we begin to live as her children under her maternal care.

Four

Living as a Child of Mary

Once we invite Mary into the home of our soul, we must live in relationship with her. This is what Jesus did in Nazareth, and what John did after Calvary. By living as children of Mary, she forms Jesus within us. The saints counsel us to become more and more aware of the presence of Mary and then live in a constant relationship with her. Each statue, icon, or medal of Mary can serve as a reminder: she is near, and she cares. In those moments, speak to her, ask her for guidance, wait for her inspirations, and follow them as best you can.

Living in dependence on Mary is living in dependence on the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit does everything through her. Whatever we place in Mary’s hands, she will take care of. In this decade, entrust to her, consecrate to her, everything that weighs on your mind. Once you have given it, leave it there. Do not pull it back with endless worry, for worry steals from her care and piles the burden again on your shoulders. Place your troubles with Mary, break free from the restless loop of thoughts, do what you reasonably can, and surrender the rest to her loving heart.

Five

Giving Yourself as a Gift

So, what will we give Mary on her birthday? The gift she wants most: us. Then let’s consecrate our lives to her today using the prayer of Consecration to Mary by Bl. William Joseph Chaminade.

“O Mary, Virgin most faithful, you who believed the words of the angel, and by your faith brought about the great mystery of the Incarnation, I give myself completely to you—my body and all its senses, my soul and all its powers, my whole being. I am yours, and everything I have belongs to you. Guard me as your child, guide me as your servant, and send me as your apostle. Help me to live with your faith and fidelity, to bring Jesus into the world as you did, and to remain always under your protection. Mother, I am all yours. Keep me always close to your Son. Amen.”

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• The greatest gift we can give Mary today is ourselves, our hearts, our lives, our daily trust. Say to Mary, “Mother, I am all yours. I want to be with you always, to belong to you completely, and to depend on you in everything.”

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