Tiny Wonders: Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Everyday Ministry of Mothers
Reflecting on motherhood and Marian devotion through children’s books.
Dear fellow wonderers,
May is the month of Mary in the Church, and also, more generally, the month of mothers, especially those who aspire to be like her. It’s the season of sacraments and celebrations, of planning and preparing, of beauty blooming alongside barely managed chaos. Indeed, I see Mary in the mothers around me: organizing receptions for First Communion, ironing dresses for school awards, coordinating cupcakes and corsages and camera rolls.
And in my own life, everything seems to bloom and burst at once. My daughter’s dance recital. My son’s Cub Scout crossover. Both children’s school award ceremonies. My husband’s birthday. My son’s birthday. My students’ graduation. My wedding anniversary. My favorite out-of-town literature conference. The list goes on…
It’s a time when joy and exhaustion walk hand in hand.
And in the middle of it, I returned this week to one of my favorite picture books: Mary, the Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola.
DePaola’s retelling of Mary’s life is simple and reverent, accompanied by his signature illustrations—pastel, beautiful, and full of glowing, illuminative color.
One of my favorite images comes on page 24, under the heading “The Ministry.” At the top of the page, it reads, simply:
“Each and every day I shall praise you, O Lord.” —Antiphon 3, Friday Vespers
I sighed a little when I read these lines of prayer, my heart realigning to remember the praise and honor that should underlie all the activities I listed above.
On the left page of the illustration, Jesus stands on a hill surrounded by disciples, teaching. He is drawn small in the distance, one figure among many. On the facing page, Mary is shown with arms gently outstretched. She is surrounded by children, her figure slightly larger and more central. She takes up the whole page, in fact. The two scenes mirror each other—their ministries side by side, his and hers, each proclaiming the Word in their own way.
And in a way, they reflect ours, too. To Jesus through Mary, we see what it means to teach, to tend to one another, to stay, even when it’s hard, even when we’re tired. Their witness speaks to our ministries here on Earth today, too: the ones done quietly, lovingly, persistently. This image is a striking visual reminder that Mary's calling did not end in Bethlehem or at the foot of the cross. She continues her ministry—steadfastly, lovingly—wherever she is needed. And through her example, so can we.
That image stayed with me this week during First Communions and Confirmations, and the small flurry of parties, photo booths, and proud grandparents that followed. It reminded me that Mary’s vocation was not limited to Nazareth or one moment of surrender. Her fiat wasn’t just a yes to Gabriel—it was a lifetime of yeses. A yes to raising Jesus. A yes to letting him go. A yes to standing nearby while others listened to him. A yes to being his mother, even when the world didn’t recognize who he was.
This is what I love most about this book. It doesn’t just tell children about Mary. It shows them—and us—what it looks like to live a life of daily devotion, one yes at a time.
And in a month that sometimes spins faster than I can follow, I’m grateful for that reminder: that ministry can look like presence, and that Mary walks with us through all the lovely and hectic May days still.
Is there a book about Mary you especially loved as a child or love sharing with your children now?
In hope and holy curiosity,
LuElla
So lovely