May & Mother

You know you're Catholic when...

I have a million of these sayings running through my head. But in the month of May, the one that plays most often is this: You know you're Catholic when you can truly say, "Blessed are you among women" to Mary (and about Mary) and not choke on it.

It's in the Bible. Yes, it really is. (Luke 1:42,48)

If you cannot say that Mary is blessed above all women and that all generations should rise up and call her blessed, then you are deliberately purging part of the Bible because it does not match your theology.

But here's the thing. It's not hard at all to say it. If you love the Bridegroom, you'll love the Mother.

It's May. You are probably planning to call your mom or send her a card this Mother's Day. Go ahead... you can say it... Mary, I'm just doing what all generations have done, you are blessed among women and you are the Mother of my Lord.


So you're not Catholic, and you don't consider Mary to be your Mother. If you tell your mother-in-law Happy Mother's Day, then you can tell the Mother of Our Lord (the Bridegroom) that she is truly blessed among women. If you think of it like that, you can wrap your mind around it.

But you're thinking she's not here. Mary's in heaven, you say. You feel a little silly saying anything to someone in heaven. That's too Catholic for you.

Do you know what I've noticed? My Facebook friends - who are mostly not Catholic - always post something on their wall when it's their father's birthday or their mother's birthday - or when it's Father's Day or Mother's Day - especially when that mother or father isn't here in the flesh. They still say it. They still post it. And they still hope and pray Mom or Dad will hear it. They say it (post it) because their heart demands that they do it. They ache to do it. It's just how it is.

Go ahead. Tell her she's blessed.

Because she is, you know. And every generation that came before this one has known it too.

It's the very Mary month of May. Honor the Mother of Our Lord.