St Teresa of Calcutta: “If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady!”

St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, “If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady, just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit, this prayer has never failed me.”

I will often pray the Rosary on my commute to work in the mornings. I have a rosary bracelet that is a constant reminder of Mother Mary’s presence and invitation to pray. My fingers run over the smooth stone and wooden beads as I meditate on the mysteries. My breath comes in and out as it regulates my inhale and exhale.

On lunch breaks I take walks in the surrounding parks either on my own or with friends. This helps me to stop, look and thank God. I have been enjoying garden walks and floral videos on Instagram. (...)

Being outdoors in nature soothes the body and lowers blood pressure. And for me praying the Rosary does this too. This is necessary for me to stay at an even keel and keep the symptoms of bipolar disorder away. Each day I take inventory of how my mood is and adjust my activity to stay healthy. If I need a break, I take one. If I need more exercise, I fit that in too. If I need more sleep, I get to bed early. 

During May I made a pilgrimage with my friend Fernanda and sister Monica. We prayed the Rosary as we walked to a shrine of Mary in the city. Sun shone on us as we peeled off our sweaters and put on our sunglasses.

Prayer and the sacraments bring gifts of healing and wholeness to me when I take part in them. It draws me near to the force of love – God himself.

(...) I am thankful that Jesus gave us his Mother Mary to guide us, nature to calm us and the sacraments to bring us a grace-filled life.

Lisa Rumpel, June 1, 2023

Adapted from www.bccatholic.ca