The Woman Who Helps Us To Be Pure

For many men struggling with pornography, beautiful women are the last thing they want to see in public, especially given the flourishing of immodest dress. A scandalously dressed, pretty woman can trigger the wounds caused by pornography and often lead them further into addiction. And then, if we fall into lust, we blame the woman just like the first man, Adam: “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (Gen. 3:12).

Anyone who wants to beat pornography addiction must admit that we are responsible for our sins. We are helpless and in need of God’s grace and the support of others.

But there is a woman who can help heal the bad images that have been seared into our brains. There is a woman who points us to Heaven and, above all, to Jesus. That woman is not only the most beautiful woman who ever lived or ever will live, but she is also our Spiritual Mother. That woman is Mary.

Every saint who became pure relied on Mary. Our Lady wants to give us the mind of her Son, Jesus. She wants us to invoke her during times of temptation. She wants us to meditate on the mysteries of her Son’s life through the Rosary, which can help replace those toxic, impure images.

Mary loves us in the same way she loved Jesus. When darkness envelops us and temptations arise, we ought to invoke her fair name. For when we say Mary’s sweet name, she throws her mantle around us as the demons of lust flee.

May 13 is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, an approved Marian apparition that took place in 1917 in Portugal. Our Lady of Fatima once said that “more souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.” Our Lady wants us in Heaven more than we want to be there ourselves.

During this month of May, which is dedicated to the Blessed Mother, may we draw nearer to Mary so that we can grow in the virtue of purity.

Mary will not leave us as orphans. No, she will defend us now and at the hour of our death as the greatest of mothers and as the woman who crushes the head of the ancient serpent (see Gen. 3:15).