Mary's Words Are Full of Promise for Mothers

Lindsey Mitzel ponders what mothers can learn from a devotion to Maria Rosa Mystica ("Mary Mystical Rose").

On July 8, 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF) issued a letter, signed by the prefect for the DDF and Pope Francis, indicating approval of devotion to Maria Rosa Mystica (“Mary Mystical Rose”). The devotion arises from apparitions of Mary to Pierina Gilli in 1947 and 1966, in Montichiali, Italy. 

The story of the apparitions of Mary Mystical Rose

When Pierina, a nurse, was about 35 years old, Mary appeared suddenly in a hospital room wearing purple and white. She was tearful, and her heart appeared pierced by three swords. Tears falling to the floor, she simply stated, “Prayer, penitence, expiation”, and then remained silent.  

Our Lady appeared to Pierina a second time in the hospital. She was wearing white and wore three roses of white, red, and gold, instead of swords. Mary revealed to Pierina that she was, “The Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you.”  She told Pierina, 

"Our Lord sends me to bring a new Marian devotion ... I promise those [consecrated] who venerate me in this special way my special protection, an increase of spiritual vocations, fewer betrayed vocations, and great sanctity among the servants of God. I wish the 13th of each month to be celebrated as the day of Mary.

"On this day I shall send to these [consecrated] who have honored me in this way, a superabundance of graces and great sanctity.” (CatholicTradition.org)

Mary then promised miracles.

"Godly souls, who for some time, especially during the last war, became lukewarm, so that they were unfaithful or even betrayed their vocation, will cease to offend Our Lord gravely. By their great offenses, they brought punishment and persecution upon the Church — as we experience it in our days — but then the original spirit of their holy founders will blossom again.” (CatholicTradition.org)

Our Lady then explained the meaning of the three swords and roses she wore. The swords signified ways consecrated souls lost their vocations and grieved God.  The roses, however, represented prayer (white), expiation or sacrifice (red), and penitence (gold).  

Months later, Our Lady appeared again at the hospital. She was seen by several others and expressed being a “Mediatrix for those specially consecrated souls.” As she left, she said, “Live for love.” 

Over the next few months, Mary appeared four more times. Her messages consistently reiterated the Lord’s sadness over sins against purity — especially priests’ sins. She again requested prayer, great sacrifices to be made for expiation, and penitence, mainly, accepting one’s daily crosses and doing one’s work in a spirit of penitence. Mary promised that great conversions would occur and told Pierina that she wished for us to be “simple and good,” like little children. She wanted to increase devotion to Mystical Rose and her Immaculate Heart, especially among consecrated souls, so that they would receive more graces from her motherly heart.  

On December 8, 1947, as she had promised, Mary appeared in the local parish in front of thousands, stating:

"It is my wish to be appealed to and venerated as 'Rosa Mystica.' I wish people to celebrate each year on December 8th at noon the hour of grace for the whole world ... Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will be abundantly merciful so long as good men go on praying for their fellow men ... Look at this Heart which loves human beings so very much, though most of them overwhelm it with abuses! Very soon, one will know how important this hour of grace is."

During this apparition, several were physically healed. 

Mary's words to mothers

Mary’s words are full of promise for us as mothers. Her call for us to be, “simple and good,” reminds us of our children’s goodness and the good of refocusing on simplicity, which often seems so countercultural. As Mary asks us, we can pray for and with our families. We can work to accept the daily frustrations rather than complain about them. Rather than grumbling or feeling discontented, we can offer our daily sufferings and sacrifices for the salvation of souls and for expiation for sins. In many of our Lady’s most recent apparitions, it seems she continually urges us to live for loving others.

Today we are surrounded by many things that distract us and direct us inwardly. Yet motherhood is one of continuous outward giving. Just so, a life full of prayer and sacrifice means continual laying down of our preferences and desires for the sake of others. As a rose is considered most beautiful amongst flowers, perhaps Mary’s invitation to prayer, petition, and expiation will lead us to a most beautiful life as well. 

Mary, Mystical Rose, pray for us.  

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Copyright 2024 Lindsey Mitzel
Images: Canva; English: Koichi Yokota 日本語: 横田　紘一, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons