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Is May still the Month of Mary? by Leonardo Raffaini, s.x. in Focus on Mission
 

Is May the month of Mary by Fr. Leonardo Raffaini, - in Focus on Mission::  Is it still Mary's Month? ::

 

Fr. Leonardo Raffaini, s.x.  

 

Love and devotion to Our Lady in Colombia

n my extended missionary experience in Colombia, I have come to know many people and learned to appreciate their simple and deep faith. Living among them, I grew in my Christian journey. As I reflect on May, there are a few events that pop in my mind. It is the celebrations and festivities experienced in Colombia which touched my heart in the month dedicated to Our Lady.

The Rosary at Dawn

There were simple devotions, such as the Rosary at Dawn, at the beginning of the day, said together in the dark before the morning star appeared. Even the procession with the statue of Mary in the streets of the parish, to lift up the struggles of the people I lived with for many years. For this special occasion, each family received the statue in their homes, and then they would spend the whole day in prayer and meditation.

I remember when the entire neighborhood would come together on a Saturday evening, in the main plaza, to celebrate a mass in honor of our Lady. And toward the end of the month, there would be a long procession with the image of our Lady that would revisit once again every street corner of the parish, so that everyone would received her mantle of blessings and protection. I can never forget the air of serenity and peacefulness in my heart as we prayed the missionary rosary every single evening.

Forever at my side

These experiences are imprinted deeply in my soul, and continue to feed my devotion to our Heavenly Mother. It is these experiences of Mary with the simple people of our parishes in Colombia that helped me to know more our Missionary Mother. In fact, I learned most of all her maternal presence, and she has been at my side my whole missionary life. She was ever close to me, especially during joy-filled and sorrowful times of my life, in the good and in the difficulties. I have felt her as my friend in my journey, ever present, and a great provider for all my needs. With her example, Mary has shown me the right journey towards her Son, Jesus, and towards my brothers and sisters.

“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord"
(Luke 1:45)

It was indeed my parishioners, the Colombian people, with her lively and spontaneous devotions, to help me understand the greatness of Mary. I used to think of her as distant, as too perfect for me, super-woman that she is. Instead, these people who honor her with much respect, taught me that Mary is near, close to your heart, and they come to Mary with much simplicity and humility. She is part of their homes, a member of their families, someone who receives much affection and veneration, beyond the folklore that is often expressed with outside signs.

The elderly woman and Mary’s statue

The examples of this devotion and affection are numberless, and in my missionary life I have witness this deep respect and attachment to Mary by so many poor and simple people. There was an elderly woman in our parish, small and thin, who kept living by the mercy and alms-giving of her neighbors. And whenever she could not find any food, she used to visit the parish house of the Xaverians. Her whole life was an endless visiting from house to house, with her ever-present small statue of Our Lady.

She would enter the house, and stop to pray for that family. She used to say: “Since I’m so old, I cannot do anything else for others, except pray with Mary and help others to pray. At this moment of my life, it is the only way that I could thank my Little Mary for all her love for me.” This, I believe, is faith, affection, love for Mary, our Mother, which is transformed in love for neighbors and for the Lord!

Fr. Raffaini leads a procession of our Lady during the month of MayIs this your final answer?

Yes, if you live in Europe or the United States, things are very different from the reality of Colombia, or any other Latin-American country, where I served for over 20 years. And so I ask myself: “is May still the month of honoring Our Lady?”

It is not a rhetorical question, nor a criticism to our ways of doing things in the 21st century, nor a comparison on which is a better society. It is mainly a curiosity on my part. Some people might answer with a resounding, “yes, it is still the month of Mary” and I’m happy to hear that. Others might remark, “what has Mary have to do with May?” which would leave my heart sad.

I believe that the presence of Mary in the life of the Church and in the life of each Christian is foundational. We might have to make some programmed choices and personal answers to express our devotion and honoring of Mary. Yes, what matters at the end is how to be close to Mary, approach her, and through her presence, go out to our neighbors and friends, and see the face of Christ in their lives. Jesus is the center of our faith, hope, and love. And what matters, at the end, is how much you expressed that love.

Fr. Leonardo Raffaini, s.x.
from Missionari Saveriani

  

Blessed Conforti and Holy Mary

Blessed Guido M. Conforti took every possible opportunity to talk about Mary. “It is not a devotion which we might or might not have: it is a devotion that we must have!” In his writings we encounter this thought: “Love Mary and you will become saints. Honor Mary and you will be apostles. Without a devotion to Mary as her children, salvation becomes difficult.”

The life experience of Blessed Guido Maria Conforti is rhythmically touched by this Marian devotion, as a child, seminarian, bishop, founder and superior. His middle name, Maria, speaks of dedication since his birth. Throughout the many events of his life, Conforti lived them under the protection of the Virgin Mary, "full of Grace."

As a seminarian, Conforti often spoke and reflected upon her role. As he prepared himself for the priesthood ordination, he celebrated his first mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fontanellato, who gave him the grace to overcome his personal illness, which precluded him from ordination. Then, in 1902, he wanted to enter the Diocese of Ravenna on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Conforti solemnly celebrated his entrance into Parma’s diocese on March 25, 1907, the feast of the Annunciation.

“There is no disease so deep that Mary cannot heal, sadness that she cannot make sweet, need that she could not provide for… Nothing can be denied to Mary, chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world. She can do all things.” And one more thought from Blessed Conforti: "If we want to show devotion to Mary, we must do our best to imitate her example, rooted on the virtues of humility, purity, patience and charity."

The Angel Gabriel introduces us to the Virgin, the elect among all creations, the object of divine gifts, who is full of grace and mother of the Incarnate Word. She is a masterpiece of the divine majesty; she’s a new creature of the wisdom and love of God. Mary bridges the marvelous works of the created and of the heavenly world. (Blessed Guido M. Conforti)

All Christians should experience a sense of sadness and bring to the Lord the same words of his Virgin Mother Mary at the wedding feast of Cana: ‘They have no wine.’ Lord, look upon the many brothers and sisters who thirst for your justice, who search for your truth, who seek your peace, who need your love. They lack the wine of eternal life that brings strength, that heals illnesses, that brings joy and gladness to the heart. May your Reign be present in them. (Blessed Guido M. Conforti)

  

Pope John Paul II

 

Elizabeth's words to Mary, who is carrying Christ in her womb, can also be applied to the Church on this continent. 

Blessed are you, Church in America, for you have welcomed the Good News of the Gospel and given birth in faith to numerous peoples! Blessed are you for believing, blessed are you for hoping, blessed are you for loving, because the Lord's promise will be fulfilled! The heroic missionary efforts and the wonderful evangelization of these five centuries were not in vain. 

Today we can say that, as a result, the Church in America is the Church of Hope. We need only look at the vigor of her many young people, the exceptional value put on the family, the blossoming of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrate d life and, above all, the deep piety of her peoples. 

Let us not forget that in the next millennium, now close at hand, America will be the continent with the largest number of Catholics. 
John Paul II at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City, January 23, 1999

 

 
 

 

 

I Believe in the Family

(Msgr. Enrico Masseroni) 

I believe in the Family, o Lord
which you created from your plan,
founded upon the rock of eternal and generative love;
You chose to dwell among us
and your family became the cradle of life.

I believe in the family, o Lord:
even when the shadow of the cross
enters in our homes,
when our love loses its original charm
and everything becomes heavy and burdensome.

I believe in the family, O Lord:
as enlightening sign of hope
in the midst of today’s crisis,
as the fountain of love and life,
and counter-balance to the acts
of selfishness and of death.

I believe in the family, o Lord
for it is my road
toward human fulfillment;
it is my call to Holiness
and my mission to transform the world
in the image of your Reign. Amen.

Published - May 2007