Though just a young lad, St. John Vianney would always lend a hand on the family farm.  He had a great love for Mary and each morning he would spend a moment praying to her before placing his favorite statue of her carefully in his pocket and heading out to the fields with his brothers.  Many times, while they were hoeing the soil, young John would pull out his little statue of Mary and, holding her in his tiny hands, talk to her like a little boy speaks to his mother. 

It didn’t take long for St. John’s older brother to see that the younger Vianney was falling behind in his work.  He called out to his little brother saying that he had better catch up or he would tell their father.  Pondering the punishment he would receive, St. John quickly came up with a solution.  He looked down at the statue in his hands and kissed the Blessed Mother who he loved so dearly.  Then, looking down the line he had yet to hoe, he threw the statue as far as he could and watched it land amongst the weeds and dry soil.  He picked up his hoe and worked as fast as he could until he reached his little statue of Mary.  Delicately picking her up, he kissed Mary again and threw her further down the line.  He did this several times until, by the end of the day, he had not only caught up to his brother but he had surpassed him.

Though it could seem like a childish example, St. John Vianney shows us in this month of May that when problems arise our greatest solution is to put Mary into the equation.  All we have to do is follow her and she will lead us to her Son.  Whether we have difficulties within our family, at work, at school or amongst friends, we should ask Mary for guidance and help.  As our Blessed Mother told St. Juan Diego, “Why do you worry?  Am I not here who am your mother?”  Trust in Mary and let yourself be wrapped in her arms like a small child.  With her, all things are possible.  There is no difficulty, no problem that Mary cannot overcome.  Like St. John Vianney throw Mary into all your difficulties and you will see how things begin to change for the better.

Question or comment? Please, writeto Fr. Nathan Miller, LC at nmiller@legionaries.org