"He went down with them, and came to Nazareth and was OBEDIENT to them; and His Mother kept all things in her heart"  Luke 2:51

Our Lord Jesus Christ had an earthly family.  He had a mother, Mary and foster father, Joseph.  Jesus was their Son and as such He would have followed God the Father's laws.  "Honor your father and mother, that you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12  

As christians, it is our belief that we are made children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ through our baptism.  We belong to a family - the family of Jesus.  His mother becomes our mother.  His devotion to her becomes our devotion to her.  Jesus would want us to love and honor His holy mother.  She was the woman who said yes to God and gave up her life to serve our Lord.  She fed Him, she clothed Him, she nurtured Him, she loved Him with a motherly love.  Jesus spent all of His life with Mary, from birth to the cross.  Before He departed this earth, He gave His Mother to the care of His beloved apostle John.  "Behold your Mother", what beautiful words and what a beautiful gift for mankind!

Mary was no ordinary woman.  The angel Gabriel declared Mary to be "full of Grace".  Mary was in a state of Grace prior to the birth of the Redeemer - prior to being redeemed!  She had been favored by the Lord God.  Her body became the home of Jesus for nine months.  For nine months, this woman actually held the living God Incarnate, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity within her!  Her blood became His blood.  Her cells mingled with His cells.  Her food fed and nurished Him who would one day feed us all!

Mary wanted no praise and asked nothing for herself.   She humbly proclaimed, "My soul proclaims the goodness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For He has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness."  Luke 1:46  Visiting her cousin, Elizabeth, she would speak prophetically, "behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed."  To this day, two thousand years later, she is called blessed.  "Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." (Hail Mary)

Mary was created by God to be His Mother; but, was that her only mission?  Over the centuries, it has appeared that our mother in heaven has another mission - a messenger.

There are many Church approved Marian apparitions. The Church regards these messages of Mary as private revelations and the faithful are not obligated to believe in them.  It seems to me that if God has allowed His mother to visit this earth and has done so with signs and wonders, that we should be paying attention.

"There were flashes of lightening, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake and a violent hailstorm.  A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars." Revelation 12:1 John had a vision of Mary appearing in the sky, crowned as Queen of Heaven.  Just as Mary loved Jesus and walked with Him to Calvary, she loves all of her children and wants to warn us and protect us.  Her messages are clearly warnings of chastisements if we do not follow the laws of God and give our hearts to Jesus.  

Mary has appeared all across the globe.  Her visits have been accompanied by miracles and many gifts.  The sun danced at Fatima, Portugal and a a spring of healing water appeared in Lourdes, France. She has given us weapons to use in these times: the rosary, scapular and the miraculous medal.  She has requested prayers, fasting and sacrifice.  

In 1937, under the title of Queen of the Universe, Mary appeared to four girls in Heede, Germany.  At the time of the apparition, Hitler ruled Germany.  Our mother warned of chastisements and asked for a devotion to the poor souls in purgatory.  One of the girls, Greta Gauseforth, received a message from Jesus in 1945. He said, "Men did not listen to My Most Holy Mother when she appeared to them at Fatima and admonished them to do penance.  Now, I Myself am coming at the last hour to warn and admonish mankind! The times are very serious! Man should at last do penance, turn away from their sins and pray.  Pray much in order that the wrath of God may be mitigated.  Particularly the Holy Rosary should be prayed often.  The Rosary is very powerful with God. ..with a few faithful, I will build up My Kingdom."

God out of His Mercy has allowed His most humble and self-sacrificing mother to visit her children here on earth.  We have been warned.  We have been informed of what is needed to bring about peace.  She calls us all to follow Her Son. The world is full of hatred, disease, war, poverty..time runs short.

Jesus listened to His Mother and obeyed her.  WHEN WILL WE LISTEN?