Member-only story
You Don’t Have to Be Catholic
To Love and Include Mother Mary in Your Spiritual Life
Many people celebrate the birth of Jesus this month. Yes, the celebration is often overshadowed by presents, shopping, and Santa Claus, but if you dig deep enough, it started as a birthday celebration.
I look back on my life and see how much my religious beliefs have changed. Although the changes weren’t always comfortable, they led me to where I am now, and I’m very grateful. I’ve been a member of or attended Protestant churches, as well as Catholic churches at different times of my life. These days, I’ve learned too much and feel too much to attend either, but when I decided to leave Christianity, I held on to Jesus, and when I quit Catholicism before that, I held on to Mary. What’s strange, I suppose, is that I found Mary before I became Catholic. In fact, I joined the Catholic church with the idea of being closer to Her.
I’ve been married twice. The first time was not a good experience, although I was blessed with two wonderful children from the union. I was a Protestant when I married my Catholic husband — a story for another day — and because we both continually struggled throughout the marriage, I eventually began praying the rosary, desperately seeking some kind of peace and guidance. My husband had stopped praying the rosary, and I hoped if I…
