Saints of Mary: St. John Paul II and the Heart of Marian Devotion
Few saints in modern history loved Our Blessed Mother as deeply as St. John Paul II.
His papal motto, "Totus Tuus"—Latin for "Totally Yours"—was more than a phrase. It was a complete surrender of his life to Mary and, through her, to Jesus Christ.
From his youth in Poland to his years as Pope, St. John Paul II turned to Mary in every season of life. He saw her not only as the Mother of Jesus, but as a loving mother for all Christians—a guide who always leads her children closer to her Son.
One of the most powerful examples of this devotion came on May 13, 1981, when an assassin attempted to take his life in St. Peter's Square. The date was significant: it was the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Though seriously wounded, John Paul II survived. He later credited Mary with saving his life, famously saying, "One hand fired, another guided the bullet."
In gratitude, he placed the bullet that struck him into the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, where it remains today.
Throughout his papacy, St. John Paul II continually encouraged Catholics to deepen their relationship with Mary. He taught that Mary never draws attention to herself but always points us toward Jesus. By entrusting ourselves to her care, we learn to trust more fully in God's plan for our lives.
His devotion reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: we never walk alone. Mary accompanies us through our struggles, our joys, our doubts, and our victories, always leading us closer to Christ.
Like St. John Paul II, we can place our lives in Mary's hands and confidently pray:
"Mary, I am totally yours."
Pray the Rosary With Us
St. John Paul II called the Rosary one of the most powerful prayers in the life of a Christian and even introduced the Luminous Mysteries to help believers reflect more deeply on the life of Christ.
At MaryLives, we invite you to join us each Monday evening as we pray the Rosary together and entrust our intentions to Our Blessed Mother.
Weekly Rosary Prayer Gathering
Mondays at 7:00 PM EST
Whether you pray the Rosary every day or are just beginning, you are welcome to join us. Come as you are, bring your intentions, and let Mary lead you closer to her Son.
"The Rosary is my favorite prayer." — St. John Paul II