Pastor’s Corner — July 18th, 2021
Devotion to Mary
Hello Everyone!
With Fr. Mathias being on vacation, I have the opportunity to write this week’s “Pastor’s Corner” article. How exciting! The takeover begins!
For this article I would just like to share with you the story of how my devotion to Mary began. As some of you may remember, I mentioned how my family prayed the rosary daily throughout the years. Well, it wasn’t until seminary that my relationship with Mary truly began.
I remembered the first time I saw a metal chain around a seminarian’s wrist. I thought it looked pretty cool, and after seeing more guys wearing the metal chain I couldn’t help but ask what the chain was for. Much to my surprise, they told me that it was a sign of their consecration to Mary! Interested, I did some more research, and thought, “well, my family is all about the rosary, so why not?” Little did I know how important that decision would be!
Using Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 days to Morning Glory consecration book, I and a few other men went through the consecration process, and there I realized just how real Mary was! She became much more than a painting on the wall or a statue on the desk for me. I discovered that she was someone real, a live person who always seeks to lead me closer to Jesus and help me in my most difficult moments.
A couple years later, I learned about St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Militia Immaculata. It was originally founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 as a means to combat the attacks on Catholicism by the Freemasons, and it seeks for the conversion of all sinners and the sanctification of the world by means of consecration to Mary. Ever since I joined the M.I., I’ve found great joy in being used by Mary as her instrument to bring her son Jesus into the lives of so many people. It’s been quite the blessing!
I am so grateful for the role Mary has played in my life, and I am grateful that I was ordained a priest this past June on the feast of her Immaculate Heart. Both before I was a priest and now, whenever I find myself burdened, anxious, or stressed, I find immediate relief when I pick up my rosary and begin to entrust everything to her. She is so generous to all who go to her!
To end, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes on Mary by St. Augustine:
“Our Blessed Lady is the means Our Lord made use of to come to us. She is also the means which we must make use of to go to Him.” (Sermo 113 in Nativit Domini)
God Bless you all!
Fr. Miguel Colunga
PS: As Fr. Mathias mentioned last week, I would love the chance to get to know you and your family more. So please feel free to email me at frmiguel@stpatchurch.org and we can set up a date for lunch or dinner. Thanks!