From my earliest memories, Mary beckoned me to relationship with her. When I finally took Mary up on being devoted and praying to her, it transformed my life and continues to do so. Late in the fall of 1972, when I was in third grade at St. Mary’s school in Green Bay, I sat in the front of the room right next to a statue of our Blessed Mother. One day the statue of Mary seemed to come alive, and Mary spoke three simple words to me: “Pray to me.” My response as a young lad was “shouldn’t I pray to Jesus instead?” but Mary just smiled at me. Although I didn’t realize it at the moment, Sr. Joselle and Fr. Vianney were observing the whole incident, and they wanted to know everything Our Lady had told me.
Unfortunately, at that time, I did not follow her advice, but I heard Mary’s sweet voice say clearly that “later on in life you will be devoted to me.” As a good Mother, Mary never gave up on my reversion but played a key role by interceding with her Son on my behalf.
In the Spring of 1990, my reversion story began when Green Bay had a massive flood. All the basements in my neck of the woods were flooded. When I ventured part way down the basement steps to check how high the water rose, I observed my brown scapular and rosary, which I had not seen in many years, floating around in the debris. This inspired me to go down to our local Catholic bookstore and buy a new rosary and scapular. I started wearing the new brown scapular every day.
This marked a new chapter in my life. Soon enough I was praying all three mysteries of the rosary every day. In just a few months, Mary led me back to confession—a sacrament I had not received in more than 17 years.
After confession became a part of my life, I felt Mary’s call to be a priest. In fact, I heard her voice say to me: “How long are you going to wait? I want you to be one of my priests. Just keep being devoted to me, and I’ll take care of everything else.”
The means to growth and staying devoted to Mary was praying and meditating on the mysteries of the holy rosary. As devotion to Our Lady grew, so did a greater awareness and conviction of the truths of the Catholic faith. Defending the unborn at a local abortion facility and praying for these mothers and fathers to keep their children or give them up for adoption became a part of my Catholic outreach.
Doubts about vocation did come at times, but I would listen to the words of Mary. In Mexico, when she appeared under the title of the Virgin of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, she asked, “Am I not your mother? Are you not in the mantle of my protection?” Those words calmed the concerns Juan Diego had for his sick uncle and helped him stay on the path of his mission to carry the message to the bishop. Our Blessed Mother’s words also dispelled my doubts and helped me stay on the path to the priesthood.
Upon my ordination, I took the motto of St. Louis de Montfort, a Marian Saint: ad Jesus per Mariam, which means “to Jesus through Mary.” The de Monfort way of growing in holiness “to Jesus through Mary” provided a way of consecrating everything—prayers, thoughts, and intentions—to her. St. Louis says that this method is an easy, short, and secure way that leads us to union with Our Lord. Also, by doing this we can gain a knowledge of why we sin and how to get rid of these sins and all secret attachments to the old self—pride and self-love—so that we only live for Mary, the first and best disciple of Christ.
St. Louis de Monfort underscores that Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces. In short, the soul leaves everything to Mary so that she may apply it to the greater glory of God. When we have given ourselves to Mary, she will far outdo us in generosity—she will communicate her very self to us. By renouncing our own views and intentions, she may act in us and do with us whatever she pleases.
Another source of inspiration and teaching for my priesthood and love for Our Lady was John Paul II. His tested and strong devotion to Mary is expressed in his papal motto: Totus Tuus or “Totally Yours.” The young Pole’s love was tested when his beloved country was invaded by the Nazi forces and later by the communists. St. John Paul never let hatred for the violent and twisted regimes that occupied Poland for a time consume his mind and heart but rather relied on his faith in Our Lord and his Blessed Mother.
In 1980, reflecting on Christ, his work in the pontificate up to that point, and his future death, John Paul II penned, “In life and in death (I am) Totus Tuus through Mary Immaculate.” Encouraged by his writing, I can also say of my priesthood: “I am totally yours, O Mary,” and she strengthens my union with her Son, Jesus.
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)
The Magisterium teaches that in this Scripture Our Lord gives us His mother to be our mother too, the mother of the whole Church. Yet it also speaks to clergy in a special way—of Mary as the mother of all priests. Mary leads and coaches her priests in their work. She also protects them from demons as they turns to her for aid.
From the moment of her fiat, when Mary gave her commitment to be the mother of the eternal high priest, Jesus Christ, there has been a special relationship between Our Lady and her priests. Priests can turn to Mary their mother, and Mary will take them under her wing in the school of charity.
But this relationship cannot be put on autopilot. We must say yes to her each day. And as we stay close to Mary and imitate her virtues, we will reflect more of Christ in our lives and in our ministry. We can be an instrument in her hands, live out our devotion to her, and be the disciple Christ calls us to be.
