I love the month of May for many reasons. It’s spring, the flowers are blooming and all that was seemingly dead is coming back to life. It’s also the month of Mary, as celebrated by the Church.
In the secular world, May is Mental Health Awareness month. I’m grateful that we devote a month to raise awareness of the struggles that so many deal with, often invisibly to others. Interior suffering and pain can be more debilitating than physical injury or handicaps for many. Let’s face it, growing up in this world leaves its scars and no one is exempt. In these days the scourge of mental suffering is particularly pronounced, and the need is greater than ever to seek out support that is grounded in truth and charity. Too much of what the secular world of psychology offers can actually work against mental health.
I don’t think it’s an accident that the month of Mary and the month dedicated to mental health awareness coincide. Of course, it may be accidental that the world chose May, but in God’s economy, coincidences don’t exist.
So what can we learn from Mary about mental health?
First, Mary is receptive and not reactive. Being pure and without sin, we can assume the effects of sin- the true cause of all suffering- would impact her Immaculate Heart more keenly, as sin is such an affront to purity and innocence. And yet, we never see Mary rail against it, as we often do. We never see Mary plot revenge. We never see Mary show fear or anxiety, except the one time when Jesus went missing for three days. The loss of Jesus is the only thing that mattered to Mary and is a good indication of what should matter most to us as well.
Second, Mary pondered things in her heart. She remained silent and looked within in prayer when faced with contradictions or sorrow. Mary recognized that her connection with God was within her Heart, the place where God speaks to us most intimately. Mary was a listener more than a speaker. She observed and she pondered in prayer.
Third, Mary lived according to her state in life. If anyone could have had the right to take the lead and give orders, it would have been the sinless one, the Mother of the Son of God. If any woman could have had the right to be in charge at home and pull rank on her husband, it would have been Mary. But that wasn’t her way. Mary followed St. Joseph’s lead. God spoke to Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt. Mary recognized the role her husband was to play and her own role and followed. There’s a reason for the complimentarity of men and women and Mary and Joseph exemplified it to perfection…and lived in joy and peace.
In order for the world to be put right again, for so many who are suffering mentally and emotionally, we need to look to Mary- both for her example and her intercession.
Bishop Michael Burbidge, the Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, recently released a beautiful pastoral letter The Divine Physician and a Christian Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing I am so grateful to Bishop Burbidge for his leadership on this important topic and for highlighting CatholicTherapists.com as a trusted resource. I hope you’ll take the time to read his beautiful reflection and share it with anyone you know who may be suffering emotionally, mentally or spiritually. And perhaps consider sending him a note of thanks.
May our Lady, through her Immaculate Heart and prayerful intercession, lead us back to sanity and true peace in this troubled world.
Allison is also the Founder and President of www.CatholicTherapists.com, and CatholicLifeCoaches.com, which provide nationwide networks of screened and dedicated Catholic therapists and Catholic life coaches.
- Ep. 356 Uprooting Fear & Anxiety - September 16, 2026
- Ep. 355 Praying Through the Pain - September 9, 2026
- How to Forgive Someone Who Hurt You: A Christian Path to Healing and Freedom - September 9, 2026
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