Denise VellaIt seems that all my life my beautiful Mother Mary has been beside me every day and in every way. As a small child of three years of age, I remember sitting on my bed at night with my Mum and sister reciting the “Hail Mary”. The very first prayer I can remember learning and still to this day my very favourite prayer. As a child I asked for Mary’s help in many ways – help me with my school work, help me pass my piano and elocution exams – and she must have worked overtime as I always managed to pass with honours. I loved going to daily Mass and continued to pray to Mary as the years passed. At the age of eighteen I married and had three beautiful children in four and a half years and boy did I pray to her then! Please Mary make it a fine day tomorrow, to dry all those nappies, boiled in a copper and wrung by hand. It was a hard time for me as I also had my father-in-law and brother-in-law living with me. It wasn’t easy at the ripe old age of twenty four. I prayed to Mary everyday and I could almost hear her saying to me “Keep going you can do it” and I did. The years passed and seventeen years after my fourth child was born God blessed us with another beautiful daughter. I was a bit worried being an older Mum but they were the best years of my life. At the age of forty five I developed panic and anxiety attacks which still bother me but not as often and are now controlled by medication. The first three years were the worst. I didn’t leave the house except to take my daughter to and from school. I couldn’t go to shopping centres or movies. If I did I had to hurry home as I thought I was going to die. I contemplated suicide many times as life wasn’t worth living, but something always stopped me. I am sure now that it was my Mother Mary telling me “you are needed and love by your wonderful family, pray harder and my Son will help you.”  I prayed every day and said my Rosary, but because of a bad experience with a priest I stopped going to Mass. I hadn’t been for twenty years. One day on my way home after taking my grandson to St Gabriel’s school in Bexley, I heard a voice in my head say “Don’t turn left, drive into St Gabriel’s Church.” Mass had just begun celebrated by Father Joseph. I felt like a little child again. I couldn’t stop crying. I haven’t missed Mass since that day. I am sure that Mary guided me there that day. When I was invited to come to the Marist Laity meeting I was very nervous. What is it all about? However it has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. The feeling of complete peace and holiness seems to come into that room - the beautiful calming voice of Barbara leading us in prayer - the wonderful guest speakers who inspire us. I am learning so much about the Marian way of life. I hope it continues for many years to come. Once again my Mother Mary is still showing me the way. Prayer to Mary Whenever you are troubled |
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