For 88 years, St.Mary’s Academy students have gathered at the statue of Mary, now gracing our Circle Drive, to honor her as Queen of Heaven in a tradition that began years before that. Given in memory of high school student Alice Cook, who died in 1936, Mary’s serene face and flowing gown express solace and peace, compassion and strength, to all who see her.

Last week, High School May Queen Natalie Angelier crowned the statue of Mary at the cherished May Crowning with Ana Esteve, Mary Jane Osborn, and Mila Spiel as attendants. They were chosen by their classmates for authentically living out the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice, and respect.

I appreciated that Natalie and speakers in previous years clearly see Mary as a model of kindness, fidelity, courage, and support, welcoming her into their lives as mother and friend. It is heartening that students value the relevance of Mary’s life today in a world vastly different from hers.

Here are some of Natalie’s reflections on how Mary inspires us today:

“Mary was a young person when she was asked to step into a great leap of faith and have the child who was the son of God. She didn’t have everything figured out, and just like we often do, she felt uneasy. And yet, when asked to step into something uncertain and overwhelming, she said yes. I’ve learned that this is what faith looks like: not having all the answers, but still choosing to trust and move forward. In our own lives, faith can look similar.”

As the Loretto saying goes: ‘We work for justice and act for peace because the gospel urges us.’ Mary was an example of that.  Standing at the cross during Jesus’s torture and never leaving his side proves how brave and compassionate Mary was. Although we may never experience something like this, being brave and deeply compassionate are still actions that we can take in our everyday lives and in our SMA community, through actions like community service, speaking up for what you believe in, and using your passions to be a kinder person.”

In this special month dedicated to Mary, may we look to Mary as Queen of Heaven, steadfast mother, and friend.