Mary is Also Mother of Penitent Sinners
Mary once told St. Bridget that she is the mother not only of the good and the innocent, but also of those who have sinned—as long as they sincerely want to change. When someone turns back to God and throws himself at Mary’s feet, he finds her more ready to help and embrace him than any earthly mother could ever be.
St. Gregory wrote the same thing to Princess Matilda: “Only desire to leave sin behind, and I confidently promise you that Mary will help you even faster than an earthly mother.”
But anyone who wants to be called a child of Mary must first make the decision to leave sin behind. Richard of St. Laurence explained that Scripture first says “they rose up” and then “their children”—meaning that a person must rise from wrongdoing before he can truly be called Mary’s child. St. Peter Chrysologus teaches that whoever behaves in a way completely opposite to Mary—if he is proud when she is humble, impure when she is pure, or hateful when she is full of love—shows by his life that he does not want to live as her child.
Mary’s true children imitate her virtues: purity, humility, gentleness, and mercy.
One sinner once said to her, “Show yourself a mother,” and Mary replied, “Show yourself a son.” Another sinner called her “Mother of Mercy,” and Mary answered, “If you want mercy from me, stop turning my motherhood into grief by your sins.”
But this does not mean Mary refuses help to the struggling. When a person sincerely tries to change—even if he keeps falling—Mary always helps him. Jesus Himself told St. Bridget: “You help those who are trying to rise to God, and you leave no soul without consolation.”
Mary cannot love a heart that is stubborn in sin, but she rushes to help anyone who wants to leave sin behind. If passion or weakness has trapped someone, and he turns to Mary, asking for help with confidence and perseverance, she never fails to reach out and lift him up.
The Council of Trent teaches that even the prayers of a sinner are not useless. Though they may lack full spiritual merit, God still hears them. St. Thomas says the prayers of a sinner can obtain grace—not because of the sinner’s worthiness, but because of God’s goodness and the promises of Jesus. Jesus said, “Everyone who asks, receives.”
This is also true of prayers said to Mary. Even if the sinner does not deserve to be heard, Mary’s merits win the grace he needs. St. Bernard therefore urges all sinners to pray to Mary with great confidence, because she obtains from God what they cannot obtain for themselves.
A good mother always works to bring peace between her children. If two of her sons were enemies, she would do everything in her power to reconcile them. Mary is Mother of Jesus and Mother of us. When she sees someone living in a way that opposes Christ, she cannot bear it. She works tirelessly to bring that soul back into friendship with Him.
Mary asks only two things of a sinner:
that he come to her, and that he sincerely wants to change.
When she sees these two signs, she does not look at the sins of the past—only at the heart that is turning to her. Even if a person has committed every sin in the world, if he comes to her with good intention, she receives him, embraces him, and begins healing his soul. She is called the Mother of Mercy not just in name, but in reality.
Mary showed this to St. Bridget when she said:
“However great a person’s sins may be, when he turns to me, I am ready at once to receive him. I look not at how much he has sinned, but at how he comes. I do not refuse to heal his wounds, for I am truly the Mother of Mercy.”
A true mother feels the misery of her children as if it were her own. Just like the mother in Scripture who begged King David to spare her last remaining son, Mary pleads before God on behalf of those who come to her:
“Lord, I had two sons—Jesus and mankind. Mankind has crucified my Jesus. Do not let me lose my other child as well.”
God never condemns those who sincerely turn to Mary. He Himself has entrusted sinners to her care, and she does everything she can to bring them back to Him.
St. Bernard says we should throw ourselves at Mary’s feet and not rise until she blesses us and accepts us as her children.
St. Bonaventure wrote: “Mary embraces with motherly affection the sinner rejected by everyone else, and she does not rest until he is reconciled to God.”
Even if a person deserves to be punished for his sins, he should still say:
“Mary, even if you were to reject me, I will still hope in you. Even if you were to strike me, I would still trust you. For if you abandon me, who will help me?”
Mary never abandons those who ask her for mercy, who desire to change, and who place their trust in her maternal heart.
St. Gregory wrote the same thing to Princess Matilda: “Only desire to leave sin behind, and I confidently promise you that Mary will help you even faster than an earthly mother.”
But anyone who wants to be called a child of Mary must first make the decision to leave sin behind. Richard of St. Laurence explained that Scripture first says “they rose up” and then “their children”—meaning that a person must rise from wrongdoing before he can truly be called Mary’s child. St. Peter Chrysologus teaches that whoever behaves in a way completely opposite to Mary—if he is proud when she is humble, impure when she is pure, or hateful when she is full of love—shows by his life that he does not want to live as her child.
Mary’s true children imitate her virtues: purity, humility, gentleness, and mercy.
One sinner once said to her, “Show yourself a mother,” and Mary replied, “Show yourself a son.” Another sinner called her “Mother of Mercy,” and Mary answered, “If you want mercy from me, stop turning my motherhood into grief by your sins.”
But this does not mean Mary refuses help to the struggling. When a person sincerely tries to change—even if he keeps falling—Mary always helps him. Jesus Himself told St. Bridget: “You help those who are trying to rise to God, and you leave no soul without consolation.”
Mary cannot love a heart that is stubborn in sin, but she rushes to help anyone who wants to leave sin behind. If passion or weakness has trapped someone, and he turns to Mary, asking for help with confidence and perseverance, she never fails to reach out and lift him up.
The Council of Trent teaches that even the prayers of a sinner are not useless. Though they may lack full spiritual merit, God still hears them. St. Thomas says the prayers of a sinner can obtain grace—not because of the sinner’s worthiness, but because of God’s goodness and the promises of Jesus. Jesus said, “Everyone who asks, receives.”
This is also true of prayers said to Mary. Even if the sinner does not deserve to be heard, Mary’s merits win the grace he needs. St. Bernard therefore urges all sinners to pray to Mary with great confidence, because she obtains from God what they cannot obtain for themselves.
A good mother always works to bring peace between her children. If two of her sons were enemies, she would do everything in her power to reconcile them. Mary is Mother of Jesus and Mother of us. When she sees someone living in a way that opposes Christ, she cannot bear it. She works tirelessly to bring that soul back into friendship with Him.
Mary asks only two things of a sinner:
that he come to her, and that he sincerely wants to change.
When she sees these two signs, she does not look at the sins of the past—only at the heart that is turning to her. Even if a person has committed every sin in the world, if he comes to her with good intention, she receives him, embraces him, and begins healing his soul. She is called the Mother of Mercy not just in name, but in reality.
Mary showed this to St. Bridget when she said:
“However great a person’s sins may be, when he turns to me, I am ready at once to receive him. I look not at how much he has sinned, but at how he comes. I do not refuse to heal his wounds, for I am truly the Mother of Mercy.”
A true mother feels the misery of her children as if it were her own. Just like the mother in Scripture who begged King David to spare her last remaining son, Mary pleads before God on behalf of those who come to her:
“Lord, I had two sons—Jesus and mankind. Mankind has crucified my Jesus. Do not let me lose my other child as well.”
God never condemns those who sincerely turn to Mary. He Himself has entrusted sinners to her care, and she does everything she can to bring them back to Him.
St. Bernard says we should throw ourselves at Mary’s feet and not rise until she blesses us and accepts us as her children.
St. Bonaventure wrote: “Mary embraces with motherly affection the sinner rejected by everyone else, and she does not rest until he is reconciled to God.”
Even if a person deserves to be punished for his sins, he should still say:
“Mary, even if you were to reject me, I will still hope in you. Even if you were to strike me, I would still trust you. For if you abandon me, who will help me?”
Mary never abandons those who ask her for mercy, who desire to change, and who place their trust in her maternal heart.
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