Our Spirituality

Devotion to Jesus through Mary, Mother of the Church

We practice the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, according to the devotion promoted by St. Louis Grignon de Montfort.  All for Jesus, all through Mary!

In claiming Mary, Mother of the Church as our patroness, we acknowledge our indebtedness to her for the tremendous gift of our membership in the Mystical Body of her Son. We honor the Blessed Virgin in her unique vocation as Mother of God and in her cooperation with Christ in the redemptive mysteries. On Calvary He bequeathed her to us, His members. At the birth of the Church on Pentecost, Mary fulfilled her maternal role by nourishing the first pope and bishops with her presence and her prayers, drawing down upon their company the same Holy Spirit she had attracted at the time of the Incarnation.

The title, "Mary, Mother of the Church," was used as far back as the twelfth century by Berengaud, bishop of Treves (d. 1125).  Since then, saints and popes have honored Our Lady by this name. 

In recent times the title of Mary, Mother of the Church has received much recognition.  "She is invoked as Mother of the Church and teacher and Queen of Apostles," wrote Pope Leo XIII (d. 1903) in his September 1895 encyclical, Adjutricem Populi. Pope Paul VI (d. 1978), in his encyclical Christi Matri echoed this thought: "We want constant and devout prayers to be offered to Her whom we declare Mother of the Church."  And again, Pope John Paul II in the first encyclical of his pontificate, Redemptor Hominis declares: "Mary is Mother of the Church because, on account of the Eternal Father's ineffable choice and due to the Spirit of Love's special action, she gave human life to the Son of God, 'for whom and by whom all things exist' and from whom the whole of the People of God receives the grace and dignity of election."

This is the Mosaic on the outside facade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It is the only image of our Blessed Mother on the outside of the Basilica and was commissioned personally by Pope John Paul II. This mosaic publically proclaims Pope John Paul II’s spirituality, which is also depicted on his coat of arms - Totus Tuus Mater Ecclesiae,(Totally Yours, Mother of the Church).

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church

by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Holy Mary, Mother of the Lord, you remained faithful when the disciples fled. Just as you believed the angel's incredible message that you would become the Mother of the Most High - so too you believed at the hour of His greatest abasement. In this way, at the hour of the Cross, at the hour of the world's darkest night, you became the Mother of all believers, the Mother of the Church. We beg you: teach us to believe, and grant that our faith may bear fruit in courageous service and be the sign of a love ever ready to share suffering and to offer assistance.  

We take as the motto of our community Sentire cum Ecclesia, striving in a spirit of filial obedience to study carefully, live faithfully and promote actively the magisterial teaching of the Church.

Prayer for Priests and Seminarians

In union with Mary, Mother of the one Eternal High Priest and in response to the call of the Holy See, we seek to exercise a true spiritual maternity to Christ's priests, clergy and seminarians through daily self-offering in prayer and sacrifice. Particularly through daily Eucharistic adoration, we unite with other members of the Mystical Body of Christ to form "true and proper cenacles" of prayerful supplication for the sanctification of the clergy. We also encourage this apostolate of prayer among the laity (Congregatio pro Clericis, 12/8/07 Card. Hummes).