Confusion and crisis? Let a woman fight your battles.

As I continue to wrestle with the lingering cynicism and spiritual whiplash left by the previous pontificate, I find myself caught between cautious hope and deep suspicion.

“The Immaculate Conception” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

No, I haven’t drunk the modernist, woke Kool-Aid.

I’m speaking, of course, about the greatest woman in salvation history: the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I felt compelled to write this piece for two reasons. First, it’s May—the month of Our Lady, the Mother of God and our mother—and I wanted to honor her here in my humble corner of the Catholic world.

The second reason has to do with our new Pope. As I continue to wrestle with the lingering cynicism and spiritual whiplash left by the previous pontificate, I find myself caught between cautious hope and deep suspicion.

For every glimmer of promise I see in Pope Leo XIV, there seems to be a shadow of uncertainty. What troubles me more, perhaps, is how quickly even trusted traditional voices seem to have discarded discernment and donned their rose-colored glasses—dancing along to what I can only describe as the theological equivalent of “Walking on Sunshine.”

In the midst of reading yet another conflicting report about the man once known as Robert Prevost—now our Holy Father—I felt a gentle prompting, a quiet nudge from the Holy Ghost: return to the source. Return to the one who has never failed me. The Mediatrix of all Graces. The Seat of Wisdom. Mother Most Pure. Mother of Hope. (Insert your favorite title here.)

From the beginning of my Catholic journey, I’ve had a special bond with Our Lady. Even before I was officially received into the Church, I became—using today’s vernacular—a bit of a “momma’s boy.” Ironically, I had expected Marian devotion to be one of the greatest theological hurdles for me as a former Protestant. But the opposite happened. I fell in love with her almost instantly. Long before I received the sacraments, I was already a Rosary warrior. Ave Maria, sweetest mother of mine.

And once again, I was reminded: in every past season of despair or despondency, sin or shame, confusion or chaos—she showed up. Every single time. So why would this time be any different?

When I found myself fretting over “great matters” and “things above me” (Psalm 130:1, Douay-Rheims), I knew it was time to run—not walk—back to my mother.

(How beautiful that the next verse of that psalm ties it all together with a maternal image:

“If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother [my emphasis], so reward in my soul.”)

To be clear, this is not an academic essay on Mariology. Far from it. This is simply a heartfelt invitation to you, dear reader: step back for a moment, and rest beneath her blue mantle. Let her intercession guide you, her wisdom steady you, and her presence calm the storm.

And, in the words of McCartney and company—just let it be, for a while.

In times of doctrinal confusion, institutional scandal and other difficulties, the Church finds in Mary both a spiritual defender and a gentle mother.

The contemporary Catholic landscape is marked by doctrinal dissent, clerical abuse scandals, and cultural pressures that threaten to erode confidence in the Gospel’s unchanging truth. Yet at every historic juncture—from Arianism in the 4th century to modernist upheavals in the early 20th century—the Church has turned to Mary, trusting her maternal intercession to safeguard divine revelation and heal her wounded Body. In the 1907 encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis, Pope Pius X warned that modernism “comprises all heresies” and then invoked Mary as “the destroyer of all heresies”

This paradoxical image of a gentle virgin as a celestial champion against error reminds us that spiritual combat often proceeds by humble obedience rather than human might.

Yet Mary’s role is not merely negative—casting out error—but eminently positive, guiding souls toward deeper union with Christ. As the Church’s mother and model disciple, she shows us how to respond to crisis with faith and hope. To let this “woman fight your battles” or “hide behind this woman” is not to retreat in fear, but to stand securely under her mantle, certain that Christ Himself will defend and renew His Bride.

Mary, Destroyer of Heresies

The title “Destroyer of All Heresies” (Latin Cunctarum Haeresum Interemptrix) appears in the medieval Mass of the Blessed Virgin and was solemnly taken up by Pope Pius X in Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907) to combat modernism.

In the encyclical’s concluding benediction, he prays: “May the Immaculate Virgin, the destroyer of all heresies, be with you by her prayers and aid”

At its heart, this title proclaims that Mary, by her perfect faith and union with Christ, dispels every false teaching. Early Fathers likened her to the “sunrise” that banishes night: “Like a lioness she bore the Sun of Justice, the vanquisher of heretical wickedness” (St. Epiphanius)

Where human pride incubates error, Mary’s humility safeguards truth—she willingly bore the Word made flesh and thus stands as the archetype of orthodox belief.

From the crises of Arianism and Nestorianism to the Protestant Reformation and the modernist controversies of the early 20th century, the Church has invoked Mary under this title when doctrine stood imperilled. In each epoch, popular piety and ecclesial pronouncements alike turned to her as spiritual artillery, confident that her maternal intercession would disperse the fog of error

Other Marian Titles for Times of Crisis

While “Destroyer of Heresies” addresses doctrinal confusion directly, other invocations of Mary speak to specific trials—temptation, sin, illness, persecution, division, and conflict. In the Litany of Loreto alone, over fifty Marian titles present a treasury of spiritual remedies

Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)

First used by St. Jerome in the 4th century, Stella Maris portrays Mary as the guiding star for Christians navigating life’s storms. Mariners evoked her to steer safely through physical tempests; likewise, souls beset by temptation look to her to point them ever toward Christ

Refuge of Sinners

In the same Loreto litany, Refuge of Sinners assures the lost that Mary intercedes for reconciliation with God. When scandal or personal failure leaves the faithful ashamed, we flee to her merciful embrace, knowing she presents our repentance to her Son as a mother pleads for her child’s pardon

Health of the Sick

During plagues, pandemics, or personal illness, the invocation Health of the Sick (Salus Infirmorum) reminds us of Mary’s compassion for the afflicted. Shrines to Our Lady of Lourdes and other healing apparitions bear witness to her ongoing care for body and soul

Comforter of the Afflicted & Help of Christians

Comforter of the Afflicted and Help of Christians acknowledge Mary’s presence amid suffering and persecution. In times of social or ecclesial trial, believers recite these titles to draw strength from her solidarity and maternal protection

Mother of the Church

At the close of Vatican II (1964), Pope Paul VI solemnly proclaimed Mary Mother of the Church, reaffirming her ancient role as spiritual mother not only of Christ but of all baptized believers. He described her as “banner of unity” and “stimulus for perfect brotherhood among all Christians”

Queen of Peace

Finally, Queen of Peace (added to the Loreto litany in modern times) offers a counter‑cultural vision amid conflict—ecclesial, social, or international. When violence or discord threatens, we invoke her reign of harmony, trusting she will lead us toward reconciliation in Christ

Some Devotional Practices

Praying the Rosary goes without saying. This devotion, probably thee most important for any Catholic, deserves an article, no series, of its own. Suffice it to say for the purpose of this article, that Catholics in the spiritual trenches will do themselves, and Mother Church, a huge favour by increasing the amount of Rosaries they pray every day!

The Litany of Loreto also remains indispensable: a daily recitation invites Mary’s intercession under every title—Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven, Destroyer of Heresies, etc.

Hymns such as Ave Maris Stella further meditate on her guiding light, while the Ave Maria roots us in her Fiat—“let it be done” to God’s will.

Following St. Louis de Montfort, the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary (or “33‐Day Preparation”) entrusts one’s entire spiritual life to Mary’s maternal care. By binding ourselves to her as “slaves of love,” we ensure Christ’s reign in our hearts—Mary’s fiat becomes ours

Feasts such as the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7), Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), and Our Lady, Mother of the Church (Whit Monday) punctuate the liturgical year with opportunities for communal renewal. Parish processions, pilgrimages to Marian shrines, and crowning ceremonies foster visible expressions of our reliance on Mary’s protection. There is literally a Marian feast or celebration, albeit some minor and lesser known, every day of the year!

But why stop there? Instead of allowing confusion to fester by being tossed to and fro by the waves of social media and so-called Catholic influencers, submerge yourself into the Marian treasure trove available to us. There are countless encyclicals, devotions and great works that explore this rich part of our Faith and which will bring you closer the Mother of our Saviour.

Pope Leo XIV’s seeming devotion to the Blessed Virgin

But let’s stand still for a moment and ponder the person who indirectly was the reason for this article.

From the outset of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV seems to want to make it clear that the Blessed Virgin Mary holds a central place in his spiritual vision and leadership. His first words to the world, ”coincidentally” spoken on a Marian feast day (the Solemnity of our Lady of Pompeii), reflected more than tradition—they revealed a deep desire to walk in the shadow of Mary’s example and entrust his role entirely to her care. By invoking her intercession as he assumed the weighty responsibilities of the papacy, the Pope not only signalled a personal devotion but presented Mary as a companion and guide for the Church as it journeys into a new chapter.

(As I am in my cautiously and sceptically optimistic phase, I find this encouraging.)

During his first Mass as pope, on 9 May, he also evoked St. Ignatius of Antioch by saying “Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body ( Letter to the Romans , IV, 1). May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the most tender intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church."

Shortly after his election, he made an unannounced pilgrimage to a historic Marian shrine long associated with miraculous guidance and Augustinian spirituality. The visit was quiet, without fanfare, yet profoundly symbolic: a humble appeal to the Mother of Good Counsel at a time of new beginnings. One can hope that such acts are not simply pious expressions but that they reflect a theological vision in which Mary is seen as an active presence, deeply intertwined with the life of the Church and the discernment of its leaders.

Leo XIV’s papal symbolism also reinforces this Marian thread. His coat of arms blends imagery that honors both the Virgin and his own Augustinian roots—suggesting that his leadership will draw on both tradition and personal conviction. This coherence between word, gesture, and symbol suggests a pontificate rooted in the idea that Mary is not a figure of the past, but a living mother to the Church in the present. In placing her at the heart of his mission it is as if Pope Leo XIV is reminding the faithful that genuine renewal begins not with power or programs, but with surrender to grace—just as Mary once said yes to God.

Whispers of Wisdom from the past

Before we go, let us fortify ourselves with what some voices from our Catholic past had to say about the subject.

· “Let the storm rage and the sky darken - not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.” ― Pope St. Pius X

· “Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make our own the lamentation of the Prophet: “There is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God and man” – Pope St. Pius X

· “The foundation of all our confidence is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. God has committed to her the treasury of all good things... For this is His will: that we obtain everything through Mary.” – Pope Pius IX

· “Every grace which is communicated to this world has a threefold origin: it flows from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, and from the Virgin to us... Nothing comes to us except through the mediation of Mary.” - Pope Leo XIII:

· “For, since it is the will of Divine Providence that we should have the God-Man through Mary, there is no other way for us to receive Christ except from her hands.” - Pope St. Pius X

· “What will it cost you, O Mary, to hear our prayer? What will it cost you to save us? Has not Jesus placed in your hands all the treasures of His grace and mercy?” - Pope Pius XI

· “Who, O Lady, ever faithfully employed your all-powerful aid and was abandoned by you?” - Pope St. Eutychian

· “Everyone of the multitudes, therefore, whom the evil of calamitous circumstances has stolen away from Catholic unity, must be born again to Christ by that same Mother whom God has endowed with a never-failing fertility to bring forth a holy people.” - “Pope Leo XIII

· “In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart.” - St. Bernard of Clairvaux

· “Mary obtains salvation for all who have recourse to her.” - St. Alphonsus Liguori

· “To go to Jesus, we should go to Mary, our mediatrix of intercession.” - St. Louis de Montfort

· “Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.” - St. Bonaventure

· “As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.” - St. Thomas Aquinas:

So, let the Woman fight your battles

When crises assail doctrine, discipline, or devotion, the Church’s perennial response has been to let the Woman par excellence fight her battles—Mary, Destroyer of Heresies, Star of the Sea, Refuge of Sinners, and Mother of the Church. Under her maternal mantle, Christ Himself shields His Bride, dispels error, consoles the afflicted, and unites divided hearts.

Let us, then, renew our Marian piety today—praying her litanies, consecrating ourselves to her care, and inviting every soul to take refuge in the Woman whom God Himself has honored above all creatures.

For in Mary we discover the surest path to Christ, the vanquisher of every darkness and the fount of lasting peace.

Christus vincit!

Christus regnat!

Christus imperat!

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