Sister Mary Rita Griffin

When I prayerfully gaze at the picture, I remember God’s love through Mary’s example of mothering to Jesus, our Lord.

Each winter at the Retreat for Busy Catholic Moms, participants spend part of their time getting to know Our Lady of Providence.  Many of the women write about their experience and then allow us to share them with you. Christy Schmeckebier is a mother, wife, educator, Scout Leader who attended the 2017 retreat. She describes…

As a convert, I had grown to cherish Mary despite my initial unfamiliarity with her veneration. But “Providence” in particular was not a vocabulary word I would have associated with Mary. Upon reflection, I believe this is due to my Protestant background. I was only familiar with the Calvinist-influenced understanding of “Providence” as fate, predestination … a rigid notion vastly removed from Mary’s love for all people.

This painting of Our Lady of Providence, Queen of the Home, was hung at the entrance of my home in 1946, when I was 10 years old. The painting greeted each person coming into our home, not only visitors but my parents, younger brother and me. It spoke to all of the loving care of Mary for each one that entered.