Leading Little Ones to Mary

The title of this blog post refers specifically to a book title but also to our general goal to lead our little ones to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As my four-year-old Mary said today, "You're a little one too, Mama." Confused, I explained, "No, the 'little ones' being referred to are children." She said, quite rightly, "No, you're a little one of the Blessed Virgin Mary too because you are one of her children!"

Tea Time: Sometimes leading little ones to Mary will involve the lures of herbal tea and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies!

This is the month of May, which the Catholic Church, in her wisdom, dedicates to honoring Our Lady. The Church dedicates many times (particular days, months, and seasons) to different subjects of study or adoration to help the faithful remember to focus on many different important aspects of Christianity throughout the year. The liturgical year is so useful!

So, here we are in May and it is time to draw nearer to Our Lady, especially if our devotion or understanding of her is not as whole as it could be (and couldn't that be said of nearly all of us?). I will share a few ideas of what can we do to learn more about Mary and to honor her.

• One of the most important things we can do is pray the rosary daily, especially edifying in numerous ways if we do so as a family. (Listen to or read this sermon by our pastor on the subject.) Maybe if your family isn't in the habit of doing this, it would help to build up to it slowly. I can remember the degree to which my heels were dug in against this when we first had children. We didn't start praying the rosary with our children till perhaps three years ago, so Margaret is the first one to grow up with it nightly from birth. In the meanwhile, we began trying for one decade until we got good at that one. That first year or two was HARD: did I say HARD? Not gratifying? Causing the parents to collapse in exhaustion each time? Very much an exercise in discipline every single night? But well worth it and the children got better at it. Then we increased to two decades. Several years into this, we are praying three decades nightly, the children are usually very well-behaved (for their respective ages), and we hope soon to be five decades: it is slow going and that is okay! We are trying and the children are in the habit of praying. (Have you learned about the 15 promises given to St. Benedict and to Bl. Alan de la Roche for those who pray the rosary faithfully? See here.)

• Do you and your children wear the brown scapular? Read "The Garment of Grace" to learn more about this devotion and the promises attached to its spiritual practice. (There is an adult version of this booklet and a children's version, available for order.)

• Do you wear the Miraculous Medal? Because I always like a dramatic story, my favorite miracle of the Miraculous Medal is the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne (read here).

• One could practice the Five First Saturdays devotion (see here).

• One can consecrate oneself to Jesus through Mary, via the most traditional St. Louis de Montfort 33-day preparation (click here) or another version.

"Leading Little Ones to Mary" is a children's version of the de Montfort consecration: we are planning to work through this book's "little chats" during May.

• A very fun way to honor Mary is to participate in a May Crowning (like we did a few days ago!).

• Offer some flowers in honor of our lady, placing a bouquet at a Marian statue at your parish (or at a statue in your yard or home). Or sing a Marian hymn to her!

• For one with little children, a mother could go hog wild doing Marian crafts (found at such an addictive or daunting place such as Catholic Icing), but personally I think any or all of the above spiritual practices are more edifying than any crafts could ever be.