Our Yes: Learning to Live Like Mary

She conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Archangel Gabriel tells the Blessed Virgin Mary, who always conformed her will to that of God's, that she would become the Mother of God.

The Church always invites us to contemplate the beautiful mystery of Mary’s life—and what her fiat, her complete “yes” to God, means for each of us. Her complete humility and surrender to God are things we should be prepared to emulate; they give us hope.

Just one week after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church celebrates another beautiful Marian feast: the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 22. Because Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, she now reigns with Christ as Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is our sinless queen in heaven who intercedes on our behalf with maternal love.

The Blessed Virgin Mary’s queenship is not about power or earthly authority. It is the queenship of a mother whose entire life was poured out in love and obedience to God. Let us learn from that obedience.  As Queen, Mary teaches us not to seek power for ourselves, but to serve as she served—to bring others to her Son, to pray for His people, and to help lead us closer to Christ. Let us learn from that obedience.

On August 15, we celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, proclaiming that, “having completed the course of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” Defined as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the Assumption is more than a privilege given to Mary. It is a promise of hope: in Christ, death does not have the final word.

Now as we celebrate her Queenship on August 22, we can ask ourselves: Where is Jesus asking me to say yes? Like Mary, may we trust God enough to give Him our fiat—not knowing exactly where it will lead, but knowing that His plan is greater than our own. 

Mary shows us what it looks like to live that hope. Her journey began with a simple but world-changing response: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).

The woman who humbly said those words is now crowned because she never stopped saying yes to God. Mary’s crown points us toward Jesus, her King, our Savior and our God. She always leads us to Him. Her life reminds us that true greatness is found in humility, surrender, and service.

Her fiat opened the door for Christ to enter the world. She continued saying yes—not only in moments of joy, but through uncertainty, sacrifice, and ultimately the suffering of the Cross.

Mary teaches us that holiness begins when we stop asking, “What do I want?” and begin asking, “Lord, what do You want of me?

And the Church gives us many opportunities to keep our eyes on Mary. As we move through the coming weeks, here are a couple more of the Feasts. We celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8), the Holy Name of Mary (September 12), and Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7).

Let these Marian feasts become more than dates on the calendar. Let them prepare our hearts to imitate the woman who gave everything to God. 

And let us always remember to turn to Mary as an intercessor, the mediatrix, who can go to her Son with all our requests. "One sigh from the Blessed Virgin Mary has more power than the prayers of all the saints united,” from the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori in his classic work The Glories of Mary.

Mary said yes—and through her yes, Jesus came into the world.

What might happen if we give Him our yes, too?

Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us. Teach us to say yes to your Son.