During the month of May, we are invited to rediscover not only our devotion to Mary, but also her essential place in how we come to know and follow Jesus. St. Ignatius of Loyola understood this deeply. In the Spiritual Exercises, especially during the Second Week—where we contemplate the life of Christ—Mary is not simply present; she is our guide.
The journey begins with her fiat. At the Annunciation, Mary’s quiet yes becomes the doorway through which God enters human history. For Ignatius, this moment is not just something to admire—it is something to enter. We are invited to stand with her, to watch her listen, to witness her trust. In doing so, we begin to learn the posture of a disciple.
Throughout the Second Week, Mary remains our companion. At the Nativity, we behold Christ through her gaze. In moments of uncertainty—like the Finding in the Temple—we see her pondering heart. At Cana, we hear her simple instruction “Do whatever He tells you.” In each scene, she teaches us how to notice, how to trust, and how to respond.
Ignatian spirituality goes even further: it invites us not just to look at these mysteries, but to look through Mary’s heart. To pray with her is to enter into a relationship of closeness with Christ marked by attentiveness, humility, and love. Mary becomes both model and intercessor—the first disciple who helps us become disciples too.
In this Month of Mary, perhaps the invitation is simple: bring her into your prayer. Speak to her as a friend. Ask her to show you how she saw Jesus, how she trusted Him, how she followed Him so completely.
Because in the end, to walk with Mary is to be led—gently and faithfully—closer to her Son.