22 July, 2025

Holy Mother & Me – The Beginning

I grew up in a poor carpenter’s family in a small town in Kerala, India. My parents had only a basic education, and they could not guide me in my schoolwork. I often watched other children being helped by their mothers after school, and I felt a deep sadness in my heart.

I longed for the same. One day, I asked my mother if she could teach me like the other children’s mothers did. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said: “My child, I do not know how to teach you. But pray to the Holy Mother. She will guide you, just as she guided many saints.”

Her words pierced my little heart. I was only seven years old, but I understood the pain in her tears. I wanted to comfort her. I hugged her and whispered: “Don’t worry, Amma. I will ask the Holy Mother to help me.”

A Child’s Prayer

That evening, I took my grandmother’s old, broken rosary and ran to the small chapel near our home. I knelt before the image of the Blessed Mother, tears falling down my cheeks, and prayed with all the innocence of a child:“Amma, I want to learn. Please, teach me.”

In that moment, I felt something stir in my heart — as if the Holy Mother herself was bending down to hear me. From that day forward, I held the rosary whenever I studied, believing that I was holding Our Lady’s hand to guide me.

The Beginning of My Journey with Mary

That prayer at age seven became the true beginning of my spiritual journey with the Holy Mother.

When I struggled in school, I asked her to give me wisdom.
When I felt lonely, I sensed her gentle presence beside me.
When life seemed too heavy, I remembered her tears at the Cross and found strength in my own.

From then on, I no longer felt abandoned. I knew I had a Mother in heaven who loved me and would never leave me.

A Mother’s Guidance

Looking back, I see clearly how much she guided me. She gave me courage when I felt weak, hope when I was discouraged, and peace when I was restless.
It was Mary who taught me to love her Son more deeply. It was Mary who reminded me that I was never alone.
That simple prayer of a seven-year-old boy, whispered through tears in a small chapel, has shaped my entire life.

What I Carry Today

Looking back, I see how important those early prayers were. The Infant Jesus was my very first friend in faith, and that friendship has never faded. He walked with me through my childhood, carried me through trials, and prepared me for the greater mission that lay ahead.

Even now, I turn to Him with the same simple heart I had as a child. I know that He smiles upon me, and I know that He loves me.

Yes, the Infant Jesus is — and will always be — my best friend for life.
The Blessed Mother has been my greatest teacher, my comforter, and my companion. Truly, from that day onwards, my journey has been “Holy Mother & Me.”

Closing Prayer