By Bishop Robert W. Finn
Bishop of Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
May 12, 2006

POPE PAUL VI wrote a brief and little known encyclical, "Mense Maio" (the Month of May), calling upon our Blessed Mother, asking her to intercede in several special intentions in this month devoted to her. The encyclical letter, released in the last days of April 1965, reflects also the Holy Father's personal devotion to Mary. The first intention that the pope commended to her was for the work and implementation of the Second Vatican Council that was then concluding.
In addition, Pope Paul VI commended to Mary the cause of world peace. The pope specifically mentions acts of terrorism and "secret and treacherous warfare." These intentions are still urgent today and we ask our Blessed Mother to receive them into her Immaculate Heart for our sake and present them to her son.

In a special way I ask her, in this our jubilee year as the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, to ask her son to preserve and strengthen us in unity. May she soothe any bitterness over past hurts and help us to move forward in confidence, carrying out faithfully together all that Our Lord would want of us.

Pope John Paul II also devoted an encyclical, "Redemptoris Mater" (Mother of the Redeemer), in March of 1987, to Mary. He was well known for his devotion to Our Lady, pledging himself in his episcopal motto, "Totus Tuus," ("I am completely yours"). The theme of the Incarnation of Christ characterizes much of the writing of this great pope, and bears witness to the irreplaceable role Mary was given by God in the work of our redemption. As God, in the mystery of his plan, determined to make Mary a necessary part of bringing our redeemer Jesus Christ to the world, so also God has chosen Mary to be an indispensable part of bringing the world to her son. We choose her as a most safe path to the Redeemer.

May begins also with the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. This month in this way directs us to the image of the Holy Family. It is hard for us as Catholics to imagine Christianity without Marian devotion. Gently we must be ready to share with other followers of Christ the joyous truth that we have a mother. Mary and St. Joseph were entrusted by the Eternal Father with the earthly care of Jesus. Similarly we ask their intercession for the protection of human life from its first stages until its natural end. May they watch over our families, caring for each family and also helping us safeguard the truth and beauty of authentic marriage.

In this month of May I have been blessed to participate in some very special events. On the first Saturday I was part of Holy Mass and a May crowning sponsored by the diocesan section of the World Apostolate of Fatima. Later in the week I spent an evening with members of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity who were holding their American Regional Assembly here in Kansas City.

This enthusiastic group, founded less than 50 years ago by Father James Flanagan, uses ecclesial teams of priests, religious and laity, to spread the missionary spirit of the church to people in all parts of the world. They succeed, in part, because of an authentic and fervent devotion to Our Lady.

I also had the privilege of welcoming, through a formal decree, the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles. As Queen of Apostles, Mary encourages each of us as we take up our role in the apostolic mission entrusted to the bishop but shared with each baptized member of the church.

This month consider renewing the expression of your devotion to Mary, individually or in your family. Read the encyclicals of these popes, pray the rosary together, establish a modest Marian shrine in your home with a picture or statue, and don't forget to turn to her with the greatest confidence. She is "spes nostra," our hope, because she guides our hearts to a true and selfless love for Jesus Christ.

Mary, mother of the church and our mother, Pray for us!