Feeling Mary’s presence while folding the laundry

When I was praying through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, my spiritual director and I decided to pause for a couple of weeks during Advent so I could focus on the daily readings leading up to Christmas. 

During that time, I had such a profound moment in prayer with Mary. It was one of those moments I’ve brought myself back to when I feel like I need Mary’s intercession. The image I had of Mary brought me so much comfort, I could really, truly feel her present with me.

In my mind, I was sitting on my bed with a giant pile of laundry to fold. I was in my typical laundry folding spot, but instead of being alone, a very pregnant Mary sat diagonally across from me. 

I chuckled when this image of Mary first came to me during prayer. The Mother of Jesus was sitting pregnant on my bed, helping me fold laundry. The Mother of God, the woman born without sin, was helping me do an everyday ordinary task of folding clothes. My chuckling quickly turned to a profound sense of comfort.

 As Mary and I folded clothes, we had a prayerful conversation. It is an image of her that I have returned to time and time again in prayer.

 When life feels overwhelming from the everyday, ordinary moments of trying to balance everything, I return to this image of Mary, our mother. When I start to doubt myself as a wife or mother, I bring myself back to this image of Mary and have a prayerful conversation with her.

 I invite you now to imagine Mary with you in an everyday, ordinary moment of your life. While in my imagination Mary is sitting pregnant on the bed helping me fold clothes, where are you with Mary? 

I invite you to imagine a familiar time and place when you are typically alone and imagine Mary there with you. Maybe you are folding laundry. Maybe you are cooking dinner, washing dishes, driving to or from work, sitting at your desk, or sitting on your couch at the end of the day. Wherever you are with Mary, ask the Holy Spirit to deepen this image of you and Mary in your mind.

 Notice, how does it feel to be in this space with Mary? How does it feel to have a moment with Mary, the mother of God? Are you happy, hesitant, filled with joy? Notice what you are feeling and share these feelings with Mary.

 As you become more comfortable with Mary, share with our heavenly mother what feels overwhelming in your life. Are the demands of work feeling particularly stressful? Are you struggling to balance staying on top of basic household chores? Are you simply exhausted from working and caring for your children and other loved ones? No matter how small and ordinary, share these thoughts and feelings with Mary.

After you have shared these thoughts with Mary, take time to notice, what does Mary have to say to you? Does she tell you about a time she felt overwhelmed? Does she remind you that you are not alone in feeling this way? Take a moment to listen to what Mary has to say to you.

 Next, ask Mary to bring your thoughts and feelings to her Son. Ask our heavenly Mother to intercede on your behalf. After a few moments, end this prayerful conversation with a Hail Mary.

Parenting can be hard. Thankfully, we aren’t in this alone. During this month devoted to Mary, let us remember to thank God for the gift of our heavenly mother, and to remember we can always turn to Mary for comfort.

Charlotte Phillips has a bachelor of arts in theology, a master of pastoral studies from Spring Hill College and teaches ninth-grade religion at Ursuline Academy. Charlotte enjoys Ignatian Spirituality, listening to live music and spending time with her family.