In the autumn of 1873, Saint John Bosco shared a vision with his spiritual director that would crystallize the spiritual wisdom of his entire life’s work. In this dream, he beheld the Church as a mighty ship besieged by enemy vessels bent on her destruction. Yet amid the chaos and bombardment, two towering columns rose from the sea, steadfast and unshakeable. One was crowned with a statue of the Immaculate Virgin, bearing the inscription “Help of Christians.” The other, taller and more enduring still, supported a Eucharistic Host and proclaimed “Salvation of believers.” The Pope, steering the flagship through the storm, safely moored the Church to these two columns. At that moment, all enmity dissolved.
For Bosco, this vision was no mere spiritual fantasy. It was the culmination of decades spent educating poor and neglected youth. It revealed the deepest conviction of his pedagogical mission: that the salvation and flourishing of souls rests entirely upon devotion to Mary and frequent reception of the Eucharist. To understand Saint John Bosco as a teacher is to understand him as a herald of these two pillars, and to grasp their central importance for Catholic life today.
The Foundation: Reason, Religion, and Love
Don Bosco’s approach to education, which he termed the “Preventive System,” stands in sharp contrast to the harsh disciplinary methods of his era. Where other educators relied on fear, punishment, and distance, Bosco built his entire method on a trinomial foundation: reason, religion, and love. This was not mere sentimentality. It was a profound theological conviction about the nature of the human person and the work of formation.
The Preventive System sought to prevent faults rather than punish them after the fact. Bosco believed that young people, prone to fickleness and distraction, often stumbled not from malice but from momentary forgetfulness or weakness. A strict system of repression might stop disorder, but it could never transform hearts. It would breed resentment, bitterness, and revenge—scars that lasted into adulthood. Instead, Bosco positioned educators as loving fathers who would walk alongside their charges, offering counsel, warning them of dangers ahead, and drawing them toward goodness through affection and trust.
The genius of Bosco’s method lay in its recognition that education is fundamentally a work of the heart. An educator must first be loved before he can be respected. He must be present, not as a distant authority, but as a benefactor invested in each student’s welfare. This way, the educator becomes a cherished guide, whose words and counsel stay with the student long after school ends.
The Feast of the Presentation is an example of Mama Mary being obedient to the Lord. Under Mosaic Law, women who have given birth have to wait a specified amount of time to return to worship at the temple. In Mary’s case because Jesus was a male child, she had to wait 40 days. Thus, this is the reason we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas.
I imagine for a woman that had given her life over to the Lord not getting to worship in His house may have seemed like a daunting task. It probably required a good amount of patience and an enormous amount of obedience. I feel like even 2,000 years later, we, just like Mary, are being called to have such faith.
A Journey of Faith Across Denominations
I did not grow up Catholic. I was baptized at 2 months old into the Lutheran faith. However, for various reasons, my family did not attend a church until I met my best friend in 2nd grade. She invited me to attend the church where her parents were pastors, The Salvation Army. I was invited to a VBS that they were running and that is where I first encountered Jesus for myself.
After getting married, my husband and I decided that we wanted to attend a Methodist church in our area. While that church was just what we needed as newlyweds, as we matured in our faith and had our own family, we felt called to something more. However, that something more would call us to be patient and obedient due to COVID closing everything down.
Sponsored: This article is made possible by Totus Tuus Co., supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.
The Heart of Evangelization: Totally Yours
Evangelization can sound intimidating. We imagine missionaries in distant lands, theological debates, or complicated catechetical lessons. But at its core, evangelization simply means handing ourselves over to Christ so that He may work through us. In other words, we say to Him what Mary said at the Annunciation: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
That spirit is beautifully summed up in two small Latin words that shaped the life and papacy of Saint John Paul II: Totus Tuus — Totally Yours.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Father Edward Looney via phone call on July 1st, 2025. We have rearranged and edited some of the questions. This provides the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
You’ve written and spoken extensively about the Blessed Mother. What first sparked your devotion to Mary, and how has that relationship deepened over time?
What really started it was—I joke—I came out of the womb loving Mary. My mother and father were separated by the time I was born. I grew up in Oconto, WI, and in my hometown, there was a woman who organized pilgrimages to Medjugorje. And I think she had a great influence on Marian devotion in our parish. I remember starting later with rosaries.
Once you realize our Catholic tradition is 2,000 years old, and once you start reading the Early Church Fathers, it only deepens your devotions. The writings and quotes of the saints inspired me too.
In your book A Heart Like Mary’s, you offer practical ways to imitate Our Lady. What’s one Marian virtue you personally find the most challenging to practice as a priest?
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joshua Mazrin via phone call on June 18th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
You’ve described real estate development as your “St. Joseph job.” How has this vocation helped shape your understanding of holiness in ordinary work?
This job is a contributor to that, but I think the sacramental grace of marriage helped me learn this. So long as my work is morally good or at least morally neutral, that even the most mundane work can be seen as the best work as it is helping to provide for my family. While my apostolate work is important, the ordinary work is to provide for my family. Saint Joseph worked with dirt and wood and maybe stone. And learning how to pray during the real estate development is something I am working on. I am blessed to work a very flexible schedule. My office downtown is three blocks away from the Catholic Church so I can pop in for adoration or Confession.
Fr. LaGrange, in The Three Ages of the Interior Life, talks about how we all have an evergoing monologue in our day. And the challenge is to turn that monologue into a dialogue. And to find the random things and the challenges we face to bring those into dialogue with God.
Your latest book, Led by the Immaculata, dives into St. Maximilian Kolbe’s spiritual battle plan. What’s one surprising insight about Marian consecration that Catholics often overlook?
You know the attitude that surrounds Confirmation being just a graduation step? But really it is a change and a confirmation of our faith. In a similar way, not ontologically, Marian consecration should be a transformative moment. Catholics often see Marian consecration as a mere devotion. But it really should shape your outlook. Saint Maximilian saw himself as a soldier under the guidance of Mary. The spiritual battle is ongoing. His outlook on this battle was so peculiar to me, Maximilian was going against the actions of freemasonry. The victory is not in destroying people (the freemasons) but to convert them to our side. And Mary is the surest way to convert people to Christ.
As someone deeply formed in both academic theology and practical ministry, how do you balance intellectual formation with spiritual intimacy in your daily life?
It might just be my outlook or my temperament, but my primary intention is never to focus on winning an argument. My first intention with theology is to know God and the end intention is to love God. The primary objective of theology is to know and love God. I think Aquinas is brilliant but he was also very mystical in his prayer life.
You’ve edited over 30 theology textbooks—how do you keep theology from becoming “just academic,” especially when forming students or catechists?
That one’s got to be a grace. I don’t know. I have been doing this for over five years. And I like doing this. Some of the more academic stuff you can get burned out on but I am not doing as much. I genuinely enjoy editing! Your intention has to be Jesus. You are encountering a person, not just an event.
The Holy Spirit plays a central role in your first book. What’s a simple way Catholics can begin to cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit today?
I would start by intentionally talking to Him. In an interesting way, the Holy Spirit is the action of God. Anytime God does something it is by the action of the Holy Spirit. So simply ask the Holy Spirit to help learn about Him. Start by rote prayer and then turn those into more conversational, spontaneous prayers. It requires an ongoingrelationship to get to know a person and it’s no different with the Holy Spirit.
You founded The Immaculata Institute to continue Kolbe’s mission. What’s the biggest challenge—and biggest joy—of trying to evangelize through Marian devotion in today’s world?
The challenge is getting everything out there because people are distracted by a million different things. We have moved to a culture where we are too busy. Lack of intention, people don’t say yes or no anymore. They say maybe. The joy occurs in that Marian consecration changed my life. And to share that with others is exciting because you can see an intense transformation in others.
If someone has never heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe before, what’s the one reason you’d tell them to get to know him?
The actions on Auschwitz was the icing on the cake. It was the natural actions of how he lived out his life. We live in a time where cultures are influenced by bad things. Saint Maximilian’s response was to do something about it. He was very patriotic in Poland. Originally he thought he was called to be a soldier, but he was actually called by Mary to be a priest. He found his mission, and poured his energy into his vocation. How we actually orient ourselves towards our callings.
Plus he was brilliant (insanely high IQ): as a kid he drew military strategies; and in college drew blueprints for a satellite. He organized a structure with his magazine that grew to 1-2 million subscriptions and organized his monastery to be printing 24/7. He went to Japan with no money and had his magazine in print in a month. He grew his beard as a sign of respect in Japan (it was a cultural symbol of a wise elder).
Maximilian Kolbe was the first Fulton Sheen, the first Mother Angelica. He was the precursor to all digital evangelization and media.
A husband and father first, Joshua holds bachelors and masters degrees in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and has completed PhD-level coursework in Systematic Theology at Ave Maria University. He spent years in ministry as the founder of an apostolate in New York City and later as Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Venice, FL.
Now, he helps to build up both souls and structures. His “St. Joseph job” is in real estate development, while his passion for theology continues through his work as a technical editor, author, and curriculum writer. He’s edited more than 30 theology textbooks and other Catholic books, and has contributed to diocesan institutes, graduate programs, and national publications.
Joshua is the author of Knowing the Unknown God: A Practical Guide to How the Holy Spirit Will Make You Holy, and his most recent book, Led by the Immaculata, which unveils St. Maximilian Kolbe’s spiritual battle plan for Marian consecration.
He has been featured on EWTN, Catholic Answers, iHeart Radio, popular Catholic podcasts and radio shows, and at international and diocesan conferences on evangelization, apologetics, and spirituality. He has taught theology at multiple levels, helped design graduate programs, and served in academic publishing for international Mariological organizations and other Catholic organizations.
Joshua specializes in Marian theology and devotion, the Holy Spirit, Catholic spirituality, Scripture, and dynamic evangelization. His goal is to help Catholics live a Spirit-filled, Marian-led, radically holy life—whether they’re preaching, parenting, or laying bricks.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Whitney Hetzel via phone call on May 23rd, 2025 and June 11th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What drew you personally to the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and how has working on this project deepened your own faith journey?
We at Good Catholic did our first series in 2017 and launched with Fatima. The response was excellent. We had a lot of conversations about which series we could do. We figured we would do the major Marian Apparitions. We realized how many layers and history to look at for Guadalupe. We shelved the project, finally the next year we decided to start the project.
I constantly hear from people who have a devotion to Guadalupe that Mary meets us in the little places. I myself am a convert and while it took me a bit to get to Mary, I have had a devotion to her ever since. Through this project I am learning that Mary is concerned about all the things in our lives (big AND small).
The tilma of Juan Diego has survived nearly 500 years without deterioration—what does the scientific analysis reveal about this miraculous preservation, and how do you present this evidence in the film?
It’s just fascinating. It’s almost too much to present. We are probably going to do seven episodes. Science looks at something and gives the validity of something. All science points to and answers the fact that Mary gave the tilma to Juan.
Even the Church is slow to accept miracles and test things. The thing that fascinates me the most is the cornea in her eye shows what she saw. The reflection in the eye (smaller than a grain of rice) was validated by a number of eye doctors to show that Mary was looking at Juan Diego and the bishop.
The constellations in the sky on her mantle are looking down from the galaxies on the tilma. And all the symbols on the mantle reflect certain things to the indigenous people. There’s so many things and they are equally fascinating.
There’s no signs of aging on the actual image of Our Lady. That’s incredible after all these years.
You’ve assembled incredible contributors like Fr. Spitzer and Jorge Arredondo from Harvard and Notre Dame. What unique insights do they bring about the theological and historical significance of Guadalupe that might surprise viewers?
Fr. Spitzer is a scientist and has a brilliant mind. He is also a priest, but he is coming from the perspective of a scientist. I didn’t think that I would be able to speak with a scientist because all of this has been studied before.
I don’t remember how I found Fr. Spitzer’s book on Guadalupe in our warehouse (he just wrote this last year).
We got in contact with Jorge from the authors of Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy. Jorge came from a linguistics perspective on the tilma. He gets into a lot of the history. We wanted to stay in line with the historical aspects and stay away from the sensational aspects. Even on the language side we wanted to cover our bases and Jorge is coming back in June for additional conversations about the Nahuatl language that Juan Diego spoke.
We wanted to look at the tilma from a factual and unbiased perspective. That’s why we look at it from the scientific and historical perspectives. It would be silly to add to the story of the tilma because there’s so many fascinating facts from the event itself.
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to an indigenous man and spoke in his native language—how does the documentary explore the cultural bridge she created between indigenous peoples and the Catholic faith?
That’s a great question! Really, it’s a narrative story. The protagonist is Juan Diego. The Franciscan missionaries really did help bridge that gap. The conquest ended the human sacrifices in the Aztec culture. Truly in the ten years before Our Lady appeared the Franciscans tried to bridge and catechize. There was a language barrier that made it difficult to help in the conversion process. The bishop sent by King Charles (around 1521) was up against a lot, two steps forward five steps back. The conquistadors were poor examples of the faith. And some of the indigenous people didn’t want Catholicism to take root.
The bishop wrote a letter to King Charles and sent it in a lard barrel and got on his knees and asked for a sign. And shortly after Our Lady was sent to Juan Diego and also appeared to his sick uncle.
In today’s cultural climate, why do you believe the message of Guadalupe is particularly relevant?
I think it’s just as relevant today. Each age has a time of challenges. When you look at the stuff that is going on in the Church the last decade, people are leaving the Church. But you see a juxtaposition of there being a resurgence of the faith. I feel like there has been a sense of the faith waning but there’s the beginnings of a Catholic moment. We are nearing the 500th anniversary of the Blessed Virgin appearing to Juan Diego. I think we are living in an exciting time.
What do you hope Catholic families will take away from this series?
I think my strongest hope is that a renewed devotion and trust in our Lady will happen. In some ways it is in the small ways that Mary cares for us. And that Mary always, always, always leads us to Christ. I hope Catholic families truly embrace this. That we can always turn to Mary and be covered under Her mantle.
Mary is the connection to the humanity of Jesus and shows us that Jesus is still with us. When she appears, Mary helps us recognize that the Incarnation is important. Especially with Guadalupe, Mary left us something tangible with the tilma. People really do need a tangible sign that our Lord is not distant, that he is with us.
Beyond the Kickstarter campaign, what’s your vision for how this documentary can reach both practicing Catholics and those who might be encountering this miracle for the first time?
Thanks for this question, because this is one of our biggest challenges (and our greatest hope). Because of the tangibility of the tilma, we have this opportunity to reach people who aren’t Catholic. A lot of people (myself included) kind of look at Guadalupe as a Latin American devotion. But she appeared for all of us. And I hope that this series will show through the science of the tilma that this devotion is not culturally limited, it’s for the whole world.
In 1945, Pope Pius XII named Our Lady of Guadalupe as Patroness of the Americas (North and South). Saint Pope John Paul II confirmed this title in the late 90s.
What has been the most profound moment or discovery during your research and filming process that reinforced why this story needed to be told?
It’s one of the scientific elements of the tilma. Truly, the evidence of the eyes of our Lady having the curvature of being the same as a human eye. And the reflection in her eyes being what she saw (Juan Diego and the bishop). Father Spitzer reinforced this truth. These are signs that were interesting to me. In 1531, the people didn’t need scientific evidence to be convinced, but she knew that our modern world would need more of this scientific evidence. The fact that the tilma has survived for 500 years is a miracle.
My hope is that this will lead people to the truth of believing in God.
Where can my readers learn more about this project and support it?
Whitney Hetzel’s most important job is her vocation as mother to nine children (ages 15–35) and grandmother to five (soon to be eight). Whitney is a convert to Catholicism. In college, she majored in journalism and English and received a Master’s degree in Psychology from Saint Louis University. She loves her job as a writer and content creator for Good Catholic—the digital arm of The Catholic Company.
Whitney is the Executive Producer of Not Made By Human Hands: The Miracle of Guadalupe and has enjoyed combining rigorous research, theology, and storytelling to bring the story of the miracle of Guadalupe to others. Her lifelong passion for writing, sparked early on with her blog 9 Kid Fitness, has evolved into a vocation of sharing faith-filled content that helps others live as authentic Christians in their daily lives.
Sponsored: This article is made possible by Matrivi supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.
The Memorare prayer begins with “Remember” – a gentle reminder that we can approach the Blessed Virgin Mary with confidence in her unfailing intercession. This beautiful prayer encapsulates a profound theological truth that resonates with the heart of the Catholic faith: Mary serves as our surest guide to her Son, Jesus Christ. Like a well-worn path that leads home, Mary provides the most direct route to encounter Christ in our spiritual journey.
Where Mary is, so too is Jesus. This simple yet profound theology is evident even to children who instantly recognize Mother and Son in holy icons. The innocence of a child pointing to an image and exclaiming “Gee-sus! Mary!” captures perfectly what the Church Fathers spent centuries articulating. Mary’s primary purpose is always to lead us to Christ.
For many Catholics, the Memorare holds a special place in their hearts. Learning this prayer word by word in middle school classrooms creates lasting memories that grow more meaningful with time and deeper understanding of Mary’s role in salvation. Mary’s constant maternal care for the faithful throughout centuries doesn’t leave anyone who seeks her help “unaided.” The prayer confidently asserts this truth not merely as poetic language, but as a testament to her enduring protection.
Mary: The Theological GPS to Christ
Like a divine GPS, Mary unfailingly guides us toward her Son. She doesn’t simply point the way – she accompanies us on the journey, offering direction, protection, and unwavering love. As the “Star of the Sea” (Stella Maris), Mary serves as our guiding light through life’s often turbulent waters, leading us unerringly to the safe harbor that is Christ.
The name “Matrivi” beautifully captures this concept, combining the Latin “matri” (mother) with “vi” (road, way, journey). Mary is both mother and path – the one who nurtures us spiritually while simultaneously showing us the way to Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Mary’s instruction at the wedding feast of Cana perfectly encapsulates her mission: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Her words always direct us to listen to and follow her Son.
Mary’s role as our spiritual guide was highlighted by Pope Pius X when he referred to her as the “Destroyer of Heresies.” False teachings lead us down incorrect paths, but Mary, through her perfect obedience and unwavering faith, always illuminates the true path to salvation. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux aptly described Mary as “the neck” through which “the body is joined to the head,” emphasizing her unique role in connecting the faithful (the Body of Christ) to Jesus (the Head).
Throughout history, Marian apparitions have served as divine “checkpoints,” helping humanity return to the right path when we’ve strayed. From Guadalupe to Lourdes to Fatima, Mary has appeared with messages of prayer, penance, and return to her Son. These apparitions reinforce her role as our spiritual guide, always gently redirecting our attention to Christ.
The Humble Connector of Divine Grace
The image of Mary as “the neck of the Body of Christ” beautifully illustrates her humble yet crucial role. There’s nothing flashy about a neck – its primary function is to connect the head to the rest of the body. Similarly, Mary’s humility shines throughout Scripture, from her troubled response to Gabriel’s greeting to her quiet presence at the foot of the cross.
Despite receiving more titles and honors than any other saint, Mary remains the model of humility. As Saint Bernard noted, “It is not hard to be humble in a hidden life, but to remain so in the midst of honors is a truly rare and beautiful virtue.” Mary’s humility makes her the perfect channel of grace from Christ to his Church.
We Confidently Find Jesus through Mary
When we pray the Memorare with sincere hearts, we acknowledge Mary’s unique position in salvation history. The prayer’s confidence – “never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection… was left unaided” – stems from Mary’s perfect alignment with God’s will. She never keeps grace for herself but always directs it toward those in need, just as she directed the servants at Cana to her Son.
The Memorare invites us to approach Mary as “Mother of the Word Incarnate,” reminding us of the Council of Ephesus’ declaration of Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer). This title protects the truth of Christ’s full humanity and divinity. Mary’s motherhood ensures that Jesus is truly one of us while remaining fully God – a mystery we can approach with confidence through her intercession.
As we wear or gift a Miraculous Medal from Matrivi, we carry a tangible reminder of Mary’s guidance. Each medal becomes a small compass pointing us toward Christ, a physical manifestation of the spiritual reality that Mary always leads us to Jesus. In praying the Memorare, we recognize that through Mary, we find our most reliable path to Christ – a journey of truth, beauty, and ultimately, eternal life.
Thank you to today’s sponsor! Find the perfect gift for First Communion or Confirmation by visiting Matrivi.
