My Lady: Queen of the Rosary

Due to a technical difficulty, this post comes two days late. It was written for Wednesday, May 13, 2020: the day we celebrate Our Lady of Fatima.

Since I was a little kid, I was fascinated by the events that took place on this day in 1917, and then continued on the 13th of each month until October. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, came to visit three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. In the midst of the chaos of a world torn by war and plague, heaven touched earth in the Cova da Iria, and the events these events would change the course of Marian Devotion throughout the entire world. More than that, it would touch countless lives.

Lucia, the only visionary who would go on to live until old age, writes of how they were “astounded” when Our Lady made her appearance. She assured them there was no need to be afraid and said simply that she was from heaven. The children immediately ask her “what do you want of me?”

As we consider the title of Our Lady as Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, this question of Lucia’s should also spring into our minds (and from our hearts): what do you want of me?

Our devotion to the Blessed Mother is often misunderstood. So many non-Catholics think that we hold Mary in the same regard as the Lord. This is a huge misunderstanding. Sacred Scripture makes Mary’s role in our lives crystal clear: to bring Jesus into the world, to intercede for us at his right hand, and to be our mother. We know from the way she lived that Mary never wants anything that is not in God’s plan. This principle remains true today.

Through the Rosary we invite her to walk with us and guide us as we explore the mysteries of the life of Jesus. In doing so, we come to know both of them more intimately. Who better to unlock the questions of Jesus’ earthly life than the one who made the journey with him? So an important question to ask ourselves is: are we making the most of the powerful tool that we have in the Rosary?

More than just reciting prayers and counting beads, the Rosary is in fact a profound and personal meditation on events from the life of Jesus. The prayers and the movement of the beads provide a prayerful backdrop against which the meditation can occur. Through it all, we are asking Mary to guide and lead us, over and over again. Like the Fatima children, we are asking her: what do you want of me?

Jesus is always drawing us closer to his Sacred Heart, inviting us drown in the ocean of his unfathomable love. He calls us to meditate and lose ourselves in his love and mercy, so that we can learn to place all our hope and trust in him. The more we are able to surrender in such a way, the more we live in HIS peace. This dynamic makes us unflappable in the face of any challenges that life throws our way. When we live in his peace, we hear his voice, and recognize the call he puts out to each and every one of us.

We frequently call Mary, “Our Lady.” I have found that by calling her instead “My Lady”, the realities of Mary become much more personal to me. The truth is Jesus didn’t come to save us corporately, but rather he came for each and every one of us: for YOU and YOUR sin, and for ME and MY sin. Likewise his love for us is personal and intimate. Mary is likewise not merely “our” mother: she’s MINE, and she’s YOURS. When we can embrace Mary as mother more personally, the Rosary we pray likewise becomes more personal. Jesus and his love becomes more personal.

Perhaps before every Rosary we can offer Mary a simple prayer from the depths of our heart:

“My lady, guide and accompany me through this Rosary.

Open my eyes to see the incredible love of Jesus, your son.

Open my heart to accept his mercy.

Open my ears to hear his call.

My lady, what do you want of me?”