Why Mary’s Picture Hangs In a Catholic Home

You’ve seen pictures of the Immaculate Heart of Mary beside the Sacred Heart of Jesus in many Catholic homes. In our home, the “alliance of the two hearts” devotion, (as it is popularly called) is not just a design fix to balance out our fireplace mantle decor.  Mary is enthroned with Jesus after a solemn ceremony based on theologically sound reasons for Mary’s role in our family:  she is our mother, queen and intercessor.

1. Mary is Our Mother

Mary was shared with us when Jesus presented her to St. John at the foot of the cross, “Son, behold thy mother.”  Just as St. John obeyed Jesus and took Mary into his home, we do, too. Thus, Mary’s portraits beautify our walls the way a picture of my mother and mother-in-law remind our family of the mothers who have passed on to us remarkable faith and assure us of their constant support, guidance and intercession.  Mary’s picture is bigger, more ornate and recurs in more rooms, because we love and venerate her, and want to be constantly reminded of her motherly love for us.

2. Mary is Our Queen

In Fatima, Portugal, June 13, 1917, Mary confided to Servant of God Lucia Dos Santos, why she came to earth:  “Jesus wishes to establish throughout the world a devotion to my Immaculate Heart.” Devotion to Mary was the brainchild of her son, Jesus, and the plan was within the will of God. Further, St. Jacinta Marto told Lucia before her death, “Tell them that the heart of Jesus wishes that by his side should be venerated the heart of Mary.”  This reference to the Sacred Heart recalls Jesus’ apparition and promise to St. Mary Margaret Alacoque: “I will bless every place where the image of my Sacred Heart is exposed and venerated.”

From these private revelations, we glean the unique relationship between Jesus’ Sacred Heart and Mary’s Immaculate Heart.  Jesus is the King of Heaven, and like earthly kings, Jesus ordained a queen to be a mother to His children, the Church. Jesus, in His divine wisdom, chose His Immaculate Mother, the most perfect of creatures, to be Queen of Heaven.  Mary is Queen by virtue of her being the Mother of the God-Man. She is our Queen, because Jesus offered her help to us.  In Jesus’ desire to reign with His chosen Queen, He bestowed on her corresponding queenly powers. St. Bernard of Siena said: “All gifts, virtues, and graces of the Holy Ghost are administered by the hands of Mary to whomsoever she desires, when she desires, and in the manner she desires, and to whatever degree she desires.”

When we declare Mary as our Queen, and enthrone her beside Our King, we give her freedom as Jesus wished, to exercise her sovereignty over us, confident that she will guide us to her son Jesus Christ.   Blessed John Paul II said: “Among all creatures, no one knows Christ better than His Mother, no one can introduce us to a more profound mystery better than [Mary].” This explains why Marian devotees almost always have a devotion to the Eucharist.

3. Mary is Our Intercessor

The Wedding Feast at Cana emphasizes Mary’s great role as intercessor, when she obtained a grace from Jesus for a couple who gained her motherly care and sympathy.  Even though Jesus was inclined not to grant a petition, the power of Mary’s successful intervention encourages us to trust in our mother and queen with our needs as well.

Mothers often claim they don’t have favorites among their children, or that they don’t love one more than the other.  But any mother knows the relationship with each child is as different as their personalities and virtues. Our Blessed Mother loves those who humbly trust and obey her as much as those who are indifferent to her.  She would never favor a president over a refugee.  But the children who are used to confiding in her, study and follow her example, and ply her with “Hail Marys” of the Rosary, (which she requested to be said daily at Fatima), have a distinct advantage over those who don’t venerate her.  When those very same children implore her intercession, or Mary recognizes a need, she will use her exceptional place in heaven beside Jesus to stop at nothing to secure help for us, and she will know how to reach and influence us with heaven’s answers, because of her prior experience and established relationship with us.

Having Mary as intercessor doesn’t imply that all our petitions will be granted favorably or that family life will be cross-free.  It simply means that Mary will disperse tailor-made graces that will help us on our goal of reaching heaven and becoming saints.  If God’s answer to our prayers is “wait,” we will receive patience. If God’s answer is “no”, we will receive another grace and consolation to help us become more like Christ. If God’s answer is “yes,” we thank Mary for the gift for St. John Mary Vianney said, “No grace comes from heaven without passing through her hands. . . All the saints of heaven have a great devotion to Our Lady.”

© 2014. Anabelle Hazard. All rights reserved.