Getting to know Mary is like getting to know our own earthly mothers – we don’t only need to spend quality time with them but trust them and count on their guidance.
Why do Catholics pray to Mary? There’s a lot of reasons, but in a nutshell, Catholics pray to Mary to honor her, seek her powerful intercession, all while helping them grow closer to Christ. Because who knows Christ better than his own mom?
If you haven’t experienced a personal connection with Mary yet, know that it’s okay. Understanding and relating to her can take time.
Here are some ways you can pray to Mary to understand Our Lady better and get closer to her:
1. Pray the Rosary Regularly
The Rosary is a powerful prayer that meditates on the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mary. Even if you start with just a decade a day, regular recitation can draw you closer to her by understanding the major events of Christ’s life through praying with her.
Need some accountability? Join a prayer group or join FOCUS’s monthly online rosary here.
2. Do a Marian Consecration
Consecrating yourself to Jesus through Mary is a profound way to dedicate your life to Christ with Mary’s guidance. Consecration is a formal entrusting of your life into Mary’s hands, trusting in her to guide and protect you on your journey with her Son.
Our recommendation? Try out Fr. Michael Gaitley’s “33 Days to Morning Glory.”
3. Celebrate Marian Feast Days
Engage more deeply in the Church’s liturgical year by celebrating Marian feast days. These feast days include feasts like: the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Assumption.
First on the list? Head to Mass. Then take time to learn about each of these feast days and the different aspects of Mary that are revealed through them.
Lastly, find out what special devotions you can pray and/or throw a celebration!
Learn how to pray deeper with Mary as your guide in this post.
4. Read Marian Books and Scriptures
Reading books about Mary, like the classic, “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort, is an obvious, but necessary way to deepen our understanding of who the Mother of God is.
Another simple idea: meditate on Marian passages in Scripture, such as the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) and the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56), using Ignatian Contemplation to guide your meditation.
5. Visit Marian Shrines and Statues
Pilgrimage to Marian shrines, whether local or international, can be a powerful way to encounter Mary.
Praying at a statue or image of Mary can help create a space for you to look at and speak to her. Especially for those of us who are more visual, it’s a great way to remember she is a real person that we can talk to.
Mary is a patient mother who will never force herself on you. But eventually, she will have a profound impact on your life.
We hope these five steps help you in getting closer to Mary and developing a relationship with her!
Additional Resources
Read more about Mary in our post “Our Lady of Sorrows.” Learn about the devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Sorrows, which emphasizes her role in suffering alongside her Son, Jesus.
Each year on June 13th and December 12th, FOCUS renews its Consecration to Mary. In this episode of the “He Leadeth Me” podcast by FOCUS, Curtis Martin, Founder of FOCUS, talks about the transforming power of Marian Consecration.
For even more great Catholic resources, check out our podcast, which features talks from our SEEK conference, and our YouTube channel for videos and more!
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