# Day 32: St. John Paul II on Mother, Entrustment, and Mercy
*2018-05-10*

> Bill reflects on three key themes from St. John Paul II—Mary as our spiritual mother, the call to entrust ourselves to her, and the flow of divine mercy that follows.

## A Mercy‑Centred Reflection

Before the readings, I wanted to share a short reflection from the “Year of Mercy” series by Pope Francis, titled “Missionaries of Mercy in Ordinary Time.” Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus does not ask us to hoard his graces; he wants us to use them for others. All the gifts we have received are meant to be shared—our mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness. He asks us to examine how many people we have drawn to the faith, encouraged with hope, and loved as neighbors. No environment, however remote or difficult, is beyond the reach of Christian witness. The Gospel must be proclaimed not by discouraged evangelists, but by missionaries of mercy who have already tasted the joy of Christ.

## Mother: Mary as Our Spiritual Mother

St. John Paul II’s teaching on Mary carries the weight of papal authority and the Second Vatican Council’s Marian doctrine. He emphasizes that Mary is our spiritual mother, a source of prayerful love who nurtures our growth in grace and holiness. In John 19:26‑27, Jesus says to Mary, “Woman, behold your son,” and to John, “Behold your mother.” This entrustment invites us to take Mary into our hearts, our homes, and every aspect of our lives—our joys, sorrows, hopes, and plans. By doing so, we allow her intercession and consolation to strengthen our union with Christ.

## Entrustment: Taking Mary Into Our Lives

Entrustment, for John Paul II, means responding to Jesus’ invitation by allowing Mary to guide us toward Christ’s cross. When we feel spiritually thirsty or exhausted, Mary leads us to the “fountain of mercy” in Christ, the source of strength and holiness. This movement of entrustment ultimately brings us to a deeper consecration to Jesus, urging us to take up our share in the work of redemption.

## Mercy: The Fruit of Marian Consecration

The Marian consecration points us to divine mercy. John Paul II highlighted this in his 1982 pilgrimage to Fatima, where he thanked God’s mercy and Mary’s role in saving his life. He recalled that in 1936 the Virgin Mary asked the Holy Father to consecrate the world to her Immaculate Heart, so that the whole Church might recognize her role in the plan of salvation. Through this devotion, we are drawn to the “fountain of mercy” in the Heart of Jesus, receiving the infinite mercy He offers.

## Today's Prayer

Let us pray for the grace to live out St. John Paul II’s three‑word summary: Mother, Entrustment, Mercy. May we welcome Mary into our hearts, trust her guidance, and be transformed by the mercy of Christ.

*Entrusting ourselves to Mary opens the way to a deeper consecration to Christ and the boundless mercy He offers.*