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"Let Mary take the wheel" by Maria V. Gallagher (CatholicMom.com) Image credit: Calvin Chou (2017), Unsplash.com, CC0 Public Domain[/caption] I will never forget the day of the flying tire. I was commuting from my ailing mother’s bedside to a friend’s house when I was stopped at a traffic light. All of a sudden, a tire flew off a car on the other side of the intersection and landed with a thud on my car door. Thankfully, I was not hurt. My car, however, was a different story. The repair job forced me to stay in my mother’s hometown an additional two weeks. It turned out to be precious, grace-filled time in what would be the last month of my mother’s life. It was an occasion in which I had allowed the Blessed Virgin Mary to take control of my days. I have found that many blessings pour forth when I permit Mary to “take the wheel” — both when it comes to the road and my journey through life. I encourage you to invite Mary into your daily routine in the following ways: Step one: Offer Mary your day. I like to say the following Morning Offering each day: “Blessed Virgin Mary, I offer you all my prayers, actions, and sacrifices this day in reparation for my sins and for the sins of the whole world.” I have found great solace in dedicating my days to the Blessed Mother. The practice gives me the extra courage I need to face the day with resolve and hope. Step two: Invoke the “Hail Mary” as your shield. I begin each car trip with a Hail Mary, asking Mary to pray for my safety and that of my passengers. A holy priest also recommended that I say a Hail Mary each time someone cuts me off in traffic. This helps to extinguish my anger, so I do not act rudely toward others on the road. You may be surprised how much peace you feel once you bring Mary into your traffic troubles. Step three: Consecrate yourself to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This practice, popularized by St. Louis de Montfort, allows you to offer your entire self to God through the loving arms of Mary. The book 33 Days to Morning Glory by Father Michael Gaitley is a down-to-earth guide for making the consecration. By entrusting our souls to Mary, we can draw closer to Jesus, since Mary always points the way toward her Son. I have discovered great peace of mind with Mary as my navigator. I wish the same for you. But I sincerely hope it will not take a flying tire to get you on the right road!
Copyright 2019 Maria V. Gallagher