Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Within the joy of Easter season, we hear one of the many ways Jesus refers to Himself. He reminds us today that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is also the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. Jesus also referred to Himself as the True Vine and compares us to branches. Of course, we know that branches remain alive when they are attached to the vine. Jesus goes on to remind us that His Father is the Vine Grower. The comparison is meant to spur us on to a more abundant life.

The comparison works best as a person recognizes the hand of God at work in the vineyard of his or her life. A vine grower plants the vineyard and cultivates it to produce abundant fruit. Growth happens as we remain in relationship with Christ. Apart from Him, there is no growth. Jesus insists: "I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain" (Jn 15:16).

This is the amazing thing about this relationship with Our Lord. God chose you! God created you from all eternity to live in this moment in this time. But you and I are much more than just meat blobs or a collection of cells. We have a soul. Through baptism, God, the Vine Grower, has grafted His children onto the vine that is Christ. You have the life—ultimate life, eternal life—because you belong to Christ by your baptism.

Union with Christ is life because, as Our Lord reminds us: "the branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine" (Jn 15:4). Jesus says it clearly: "Without me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). St. Bernadette's focus on prayer, suffering, and humility emphasized faith and the grace of God, which are central to the spirit of Baptism. She noted in her private notes, "I must belong entirely to God and God alone, never to myself." By God's grace, the fruit includes our good works and the practice of virtues. As a person grows in holiness, the virtues of faith, hope, and charity enable that person to remain in the grace of God and communion with Him. May the Virgin Mary help us increase grace to produce abundant fruits that give glory to the Father.

In the Catholic Church, the month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. The May Crowning is an act of popular devotion in honor of our Blessed Mother that is repeated every year as an expression of our love for Our Lady. Perhaps you or someone you know has some confusion about Mary and the role she has in our life. The Church has always taught that Catholics believe our worship is due to God alone. Catholics do not worship Mary. Catholics worship God alone. However, Catholics do venerate Mary, and in May we honor her in a special way with our May Crowning. To show our love for our Blessed Mother is appropriate because she is the Mother of God, the Mother of Our Savior.

There are many reasons to honor Our Lady in beautiful ways. She is the model of perfect love and obedience to Our Lord. We know that God preserved Mary from sin. Sacred Scripture reminds us that Mary conceived Our Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, it makes absolute sense to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is full of grace, the Mother of God and our Mother, for her "fiat" or "yes" to God made the Incarnation possible. And without the birth of Christ, we would not have salvation.

Mary is the most beautiful example of giving oneself completely to the will of God. Catholics do not view Mary as equal to Christ, but rather venerate Mary because of her relationship to Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it" (CCC 964).

St. Bernadette reminds us how love leads us to Mary and Jesus when she said: "I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them. I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety."

The May Crowning is a traditional devotion in which an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned, usually with a wreath of flowers. It is usually done within the context of a Mass. This act of devotion is done in the springtime, during the month of May to recognize Mary as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth, and Queen of Peace. With the flowers of spring, we honor Our Blessed Mother and crown Mary the Queen of Heaven.

As Catholics, we pray that we can respond to God's call to holiness for our lives in the way that Mary did.

God bless,

Fr. Don Kline

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