Among the countless devotions to the Blessed Mother, there is one that seems both largely unknown and perfectly appropriate for our day and age: the devotion to the Mother of Fairest Love.

What I love about Marian titles as that they often show Mary in light of her relationship with Christ. He is meant to be our Fairest Love, and she is His Mother. Sigh. Is there anything more romantic than having the love of a Perfect (God) Man and adoring His mother as well? I highly doubt it.

But I digress.

In the book of Sirach, we can discover the biblical source for this devotion.

“I am the mother of fair love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope.” (Sirach 24:24)

This devotion, which is relatively new to me, has been around for a millenia and was a particular favorite of St Bonaventure, and more recently, of St Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, as well as our beloved Pope Saint John Paul II, who referenced her in his 1994 Letter to Families.

As we face the trials of raising families and maintaining relationships with adult children and other family members, it is such a gift to have an intercessor such as our Mother of Fairest Love.

We invite you to join Take Up ministries this Lent by adding this simple prayer to your day:

Prayer to Mary, Mother of Fairest Love

Mary, Mother of Fairest Love, you are the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. Intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding at Cana. Pray for us, Fairest Mother, to strengthen and bless our families.
Help those called to marriage to find their spouses and teach them to love with a pure and selfless love.
Accompany parents in the upbringing and education of their children with unconditional love.
Help those who have answered the Father’s call to the consecrated life or to apostolic celibacy, to be generous and faithful to their vocations.
Bring peace, unity, and joy to the homes of families that are broken or burdened. Accompany with the warmth of your presence those who are alone.
You are the Mater Pulchrae Dilectionis, the Mother of fairest love. Help us to love as Jesus loves, so we may show each other love full of mercy and forgiveness.
May all our love and affections be always faithful, pure, and chaste.
Dear Mother, be our refuge in our material and spiritual needs, and intercede especially for (here mention your petitions).
May we grow in love and come to know true peace and joy, now and in the life to come in Heaven.
Amen.

May our Mother of Fairest Love intercede for each of our families, today and always.

To read more about this devotion, visit the Fairest Love Shrine website.

For a lovely and powerful novena, click here.