Mary, conceived without sin, is the ideal mediatrix

My relationship with Mary starts with my daily morning prayer. I organize it in four parts: the reading of the Word of the Lord (generally the Mass readings); asking God for forgiveness; thanksgiving; and petitions.

God speaks to me when I read the Bible: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). During the other three parts of my prayers I speak to God. It’s almost as if I were saying to Him, "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking!"

My prayers are addressed to God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To which of the three persons of the Trinity should I address my prayer in particular? For me, speaking directly to God the Father is more difficult than speaking to Jesus. I have noticed that the prayers said during Mass are always addressed to God the Father, and they all end with the line: "Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord." This way of praying applies exactly what Jesus says in the Gospel of St John: "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do" (Jn 14:13). So to me it’s an invitation to address my prayers to Jesus. Especially because Jesus is true man like each one of us, while at the same time true God. Jesus shared our human condition, lived as a man, loved, wept, prayed and suffered, all the way to His sacrifice on the Cross. But at the same time His divine nature produces a sort of distance in my mind, which makes me hesitate to share everything directly to Him.

Jesus is our brother because He gave us His Mother: the Virgin Mary, who is fully woman but a woman who was conceived without sin. She is therefore the ideal mediatrix. That is why I use Mary’s intercession in all my prayers to Jesus. In doing so, I am responding to Mary's last words to the children of Fatima: "Say the Rosary every day so that the world may obtain peace." And I implicitly address to her this quick prayer that I like very much: "O Mary, take our prayers, purify them, complete them, and present them to your Son." In this way I am sure that Jesus receives all my prayers, carried and sanctified by Mary, and that He will answer them, according to His justice and infinite mercy.

Pierre Deschamps

Former partner of a large French digital services company; ex-president of Entrepreneurs et Dirigeants Chrétiens; patron of several foundations (including Bassac Abbey) and founder of the Family Foundation Capital Donation; silviculturist and proud grandfather of six grandchildren

February 2021