Of course, we can turn directly to Jesus, just as Mary did. But Mary holds a special place in Jesus’ heart and in ours, not only as the Mother of God, but as the perfect disciple as well. Catholics believe that Mary is the first and most perfect disciple because she always said yes to God.

The first time we encounter Mary in the New Testament, she is saying yes to God, even though she doesn’t understand how she can bear a child or what this will mean for her life (see Luke 1:26-38). Later in Luke’s Gospel, when a woman cries out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” Jesus replies, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” (11:27, 28). That makes Mary doubly blessed and even closer to Jesus, not only because she is the Mother of God, but also because she always did God’s will.

Yet Mary is not only the Mother of God, but the Mother of the Church as well. "Physically mother of Christ the Head, Mary is spiritually mother of the members of Christ. She is mother of all men, for Christ died for all" (Behold Your Mother, §70).

Jesus wants us to turn to Mary as our Mother. In his last moments, as he hung upon the cross, he entrusted her with a mission: "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother'" (John 19:26-27). Catholics believe this is more than just a command to his mother and his disciple to take care of each other. Jesus himself gives Mary her mission to be Our Mother of Perpetual Help. He entrusts the well-being of his Church to her care and tells us to look to her as our model and our help. Who would refuse such a gift?

But if Mary is in heaven with Jesus, would she still care what happens to us on earth or be able to do anything about our concerns? Does a mother stop caring for her children when they are far away at college? We believe that Mary is still deeply concerned for our welfare. "By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home" (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #62).

From the special place of honor she occupies in heaven, Mary intercedes for us with Christ. In other words, she asks Jesus to answer our prayers, just as she did at the wedding at Cana. "It is part of God’s loving plan that, even as we help one another on earth by our prayers and deeds, so we can rely on the blessed in Heaven, above all the Blessed Virgin Mary, to assist us by their prayers" (Behold Your Mother, §84).

Excerpt from The Mother of Millions, available from Liguori Publications. The Story of Perpetual Help, Devotions in Honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, a video "The Story of Our Mother of Perpetual Help", pictures, holy cards, and prayer cards. The Mother of Millions, Copyright © 1995, Liguori Publications. All rights reserved.