Mary is a living person

My mother had promised the Virgin Mary that if my birth went safely she would consecrate me to her. So I was baptized on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mary has a central place in my life. I have always prayed to her. At home, we prayed the Rosary as a family. These days, I like to pray the Rosary while going on a walk with my dear wife. We have consecrated our four children to her. We have been married for 42 years and Mary consoles us, gives us support and always leads us to Jesus. "All to Jesus through Mary," as Saint Louis de Montfort said.

As a teenager, I distanced myself from the Catholic Church. One day, I hitchhiked to California with a friend to get to know the "Jesus freaks" we’d seen on TV. The US police escorted us back to Quebec! I had asked God: "If You exist, reveal Yourself to me." On June 2, 1972, He answered me through Mary and a community of young people. During the evening prayer, I recited three Hail Marys with other young people; I was overwhelmed with joy and never recovered. I was touched by Christ, wounded in my heart by His Mercy.

After my conversion, I lived for six months with the disabled at the Arche of Trosly-Breuil in France. I returned to Quebec for a four-year monastic experience at Oka Trappist Monastery. But the Lord was calling me to become a writer and teacher, to witness to Him through my writings and speaking. This I did by teaching theology for 20 years at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, by publishing 80 books on spirituality, and by giving retreats to priests and various communities on prayer, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, holiness, etc.

Mary is a living person with whom I have a personal relationship. Like a very tender mother, she accompanies me wherever I go and protects me, along with my guardian angel. She helps me to discern God's will so that I may better accomplish it. With her, I can say: "Let it be done to me according to Your word." This is one of my greatest joys!

Jacques Gauthier, Canadian, former theology teacher, Catholic lecturer, poet and essayist

See also his YouTube channel

February 2021