Even an unbelieving person, when suddenly confronted by a difficult situation, subconsciously cries out like a small child: “Mummy!” We can have recourse to Mary as our Mother. Jesus gave her to us as our Mother. Eve is the mother of the human race. Mary became our spiritual Mother. The task of a mother is not only to give birth to or receive children, but to feed and rear them. Mary accompanied Jesus on His Way of the Cross. None of the people knew Him so intimately, none was in so deep unity with Him as His Mother. And Jesus gave His Mother to us, His children. We have the same Mother: you and I and Jesus.

Turning to her in life situations is not like turning to God, but to someone who is older and more experienced – like turning to mother. We are inexperienced children in our spiritual life. We should have recourse to her especially when we are overwhelmed by worries and weaknesses so much that we are unable to turn directly to Jesus. This is mainly when we are subject to various temptations and are like drunk: we say “no” to sin but actually in our innermost being we agree with sin and our soul is in confusion. At this moment we are simply not able to come to Jesus. Logically, it should not be a problem but such is reality. None the less, we need to make “the first small step” in this situation. We do not have the strength to say a definite NO to a sinful desire. So now we should have recourse to Mary: “Mother, help me! Bring me to Jesus! What should I do as the first step?” Turn to her with confidence. That is why Jesus gave her to us as our Mother. Indeed, we are newborns, immature and inexperienced in the spiritual life and we need an experienced mother. “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother…” Dying, He gave me His mother to lead me to Him and not away from Him. She will teach me to live with Jesus. Am I her child? Did I receive her by faith? Do I rely on her as my Mother in my spiritual growth?

As we have said, we turn to Mary:

1/ in strong temptations, or if we were defiled somehow, and we are not able to go directly to Jesus. Through her, Jesus came to us; through her we should go to Him.

2/ when we have sinned and want to prevent an avalanche. If we have luck, we are in a good mood and eager for self-denial. Then suddenly we fail, deviate from the normal order, and an avalanche starts: one fall after another. In such situation, not only is our will weakening but our soul is overwhelmed by sadness and remorse and prompted to further falls. Why do we fail so easily if we stood firm so long? There is no rescue station, no flood barrier. Now Mary is this rescue station saving us from an avalanche of other sins. She is our emergency brake preventing an accident. She is the strong barrier against the flood of sin. She was given to us as a Mother. Let us turn to her as our Mother, especially when we are hurt. Whenever a child is hurt, it runs to mum. She gently lays her hand on the pain, gives a little rub and applies the kiss.

Let us be aware of this in times of trial. When we are in the fire of temptation, let us turn to her and ask what we should do to return to Jesus as fast as possible. In such situations, we do not have the courage to approach neither the Father nor Jesus. Jesus is our sole Mediator, but He is God! In severe trials, it is good to turn to His Mother so as not to be left entirely on our own. Let us ask her to intercede for us with her Son, and approach Jesus with her and in her.

Those who daily and with confidence turn to Jesus and through Him to the Father know that in hard trials and fatigued by battles we are not able to turn directly to God. It is the same in the natural order. I can go to a good person whom I offended somehow and he forgives me, but it takes some time for the wound to heal. And if I happen to hurt him again and again, I cannot talk with him about intimate matters at once, however willing he may be. If I have a certain sense of justice, it does not allow me straight away the intimacy I enjoyed before. This also applies to the relationship between the soul and God. However, when a child comes to its mother, it is surprising that confidence and boldness are quite appropriate here.

When we hurt somebody and we feel that we no longer have the courage to look in his face, we seek his closest friend to be our mediator and to help us renew our broken relationship. Or we go to the person together with his faithful friend and let him act on our behalf. Who of men is closer to God than Mary, the Mother of God? Who of men is closer to us than our mother? “Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:27) Through her we shall easily return to Jesus and through Jesus to the Father.

+ Elijah

Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Download: Recourse to the Mother of Jesus