Mary’s Menu: Honoring Our Blessed Mother
Meeting Mary
As we walked through the serene gardens, I spotted the white statue standing atop a sprinkling fountain in front of the monastery and thought, “Mary, thank you for bringing me here!”
It had been just a handful of months since I completed my first-ever parish small group, and I was rejuvenated yet left with a lingering longing: the desire to know Mary.
The following fall, I was invited to a special tour of the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, also known as “The Grotto,” in Portland, Oregon. I realized then that Mary had been reaching out to me all along.
In recognition of the month of our Blessed Mother, I want to share some sentiments from the point of view of someone who wanted to learn more about Mary but had no idea where to start. I was so far behind. I wasn’t worthy. But my new church friends taught me: Pray, trust, and seek. And so, I did.
Bringing Mary Home
Praying the rosary was never a part of my routine. I didn’t even know how to pray the rosary! But, since joining that first small group, I’ve committed to praying it daily, and I’ve learned to be more reflective and ponder things first before speaking or acting too quickly. Meditating on the mysteries opened the door to learning. I wanted more.
My next order of business was to dig through my parish’s website for upcoming opportunities. I discovered its parish pilgrim program, in which a statue of Mary visits a home each week. I immediately signed up! I was able to bring Mary to our house, and I can’t describe the feeling that resulted, other than to say that our family felt her presence. We prayed and treasured our time that her statue spent with us.
Shortly thereafter, I received other spiritual gifts. My twins were preparing for their first Holy Communion, and I had the opportunity to crown Mary at their Mass. I felt so honored to be able to participate in this way. Then, having long prayed to build relationships with other working women of faith, I was blessed to find new groups to connect with, such as Catholic Women in Business. These new connections have been a gateway to growing my faith.
The Making of Mary’s Menu
Thankful for the various gifts I have received, I vowed to share the graces that our Mother extends. I wanted to offer options—a menu, if you will—for my colleagues to grow their own relationship with her, and “Mary’s Menu” was born.
I now share these opportunities with the Catholic groups that I am involved with and invite others to participate:
Monthly Mary Meetups: Meet once each month, and start each session with a Hail Mary and/or the Magnificat.
Mass and Coffee at the Grotto: What better way to connect with Mary than to go to a place dedicated to her! Find a place near you.
Artful Adoration: Take a Holy Hour, and ask for Mary’s intercession with the assistance of artwork (e.g., prayer cards, statues, figurines, etc.).
First Saturdays: Share this devotion with your network, friends, and family.
Daily Rosary: A visual and audio tutorial are available here.
Consecration to Mary: Select a Marian consecration program that fits your current state in life (33 Days to Morning Glory is a popular one).
Just like many menus that change and adapt to various tastes, I am always looking to expand Mary’s Menu! Share your own preferences, and I will update accordingly.
Lilia Grundy is University of Portland’s Pamplin School of Business’ Director of Corporate Partnerships with over 20 years of corporate experience (including Kraft Foods, NBC Television, and Telemundo). Lilia launched Catholic Women Professionals to inspire other working women to grow their faith. She is married to her high school sweetie Rob - they have beautiful twin girls who love art, music and learning about the Saints.