Mary, Pray for Me

Sharon Wilson shares how asking Mary to carry her prayers has helped in the most difficult times.

“Why do you pray to Mary?” is a common question asked to me from both  non-Catholics and Catholics alike. The answer, of course, is that we, as Catholics don’t pray to Mary but ask Mary to pray for us.  

This answer usually prompts the next question that usually is, “Why don’t you pray directly to God or Jesus?”

The answer here, of course, is that I do pray to God and Jesus (and the Holy Spirit), but there is something comforting about asking Mary to bring my prayers to God.  

To better explain my thoughts on this, my usual question to the person inquiring is, “Have you ever asked anyone to pray for you?” Usually the answer is yes. My next questions is about who they ask to pray for them. “Do you ask a friend or relative who is a prayerful person, or do you ask someone who is distant from a spiritual life?” Most people, when in need of prayers, ask someone who has a relationship with Jesus to pray for them.  

Asking Mary to pray for us is a natural extension of this.  If we can ask our friends who are prayerful and close to Jesus to pray for us, why would we not ask the person closest to Jesus? His Mother.

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I think about some of the times that others and especially Mary have carried me in their prayers. There have been times in my life that I have not been able to even pray for myself.  

Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the death of my infant son. Jordan was a twin and was born healthy. My husband and I were ecstatic at being new parents. Then, at just three weeks old, he died from Sudden Infant Death. Needless to say, my life fell apart. I had little of God in my life at that time. After his death, along with being left with his twin sister to care for, I relied on the prayers of others to carry me. 

I didn’t have the ability to pray a Rosary or even make it to church regularly at that time, but I did have others praying for me.  My own faith was small. You could even say I had faith the size of a mustard seed, but I had enough faith to ask for help from another mother who knew what it was like to lose a son. I cried out in tears, “Mary, help me—pray for me.”

I was a new mother myself and needed role models to help me navigate how to be a mother, yet alone how to be a grieving mother. I found that in Mary.

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Mary shows us how to cling to God even in our sorrow. She shows us that Easter still comes after a very dark Good Friday. #CatholicMom

My husband passed away last year, and once again I find myself not being able to pray. When I can’t find the words or hold my thoughts for longer than ten seconds, I just simply say, “Mary, help me—pray for me.”  

As we enter into these next most sacred days, I find myself asking for Mary’s help as a mother and widow.

As we walk with Mary through this week, she will show us how to remain steadfast even when our lives are shattered.

She shows us how to cling to God even in our sorrow. She shows us that Easter still comes after a very dark Good Friday.  

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