How To Not Worry About Anything (With the Help of Mother Mary)

One of my favourite morning rituals is to pray the rosary on my drive to work with the Daily Rosary Meditation Podcast. I look forward to those 30 minutes, listening to Dr. Mike Scherschligt, a theologian as well as founder and executive director of the Holy Family School of Faith, a public Catholic association of the lay faithful based in Kansas City, recite the rosary with his daughter. With each decade, Dr. Scherschligt offers rich and insightful meditations that serve as mini lectures on the teachings of our faith, the Church and lives of the saints.

It brings me such calm clarity as I drive northbound out of the city and reflect on how to apply the learnings to my life that day. I’ll admit, I’ve usually squandered most of my peace by lunchtime but the overall teachings remain.

Earlier this week, on the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother – a.k.a., Mother Mary’s birthday – the meditation seized me more than the rush-hour traffic. It came up in the fourth decade; I’ve included the full passage below, though highly encourage reading the full transcript (or listening on the app):

“Living in dependence on Mary is living in dependence on the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit does everything through her. Whatever we place in Mary’s hands, she will take care of. In this decade, entrust to her, consecrate to her, everything that weighs on your mind. Once you have given it, leave it there. Do not pull it back with endless worry, for worry steals from her care and piles the burden again on your shoulders.”

I replayed that last sentence a few times to let it fully sink in: “Do not pull it back with endless worry, for worry steals from her care and piles the burden again on your shoulders.” I love this concept so much. I've often asked for guidance from spiritual directors and priests in my community on the practical act of surrender. What does that actually look like and how do I really offer up my worries to God, then just walk away?

This simple insight compares it to a task you have assigned to someone infinitely more capable than you. Through endless worry, you undermine their authority by not trusting them to accomplish it. Or worse, implying you can manage it better yourself. The nerve!

Finally, some clear direction on how to truly surrender anything that’s weighing on you. Then came this revelation on what to do next: “Place your troubles with Mary, break free from the restless loop of thoughts, do what you reasonably can, and surrender the rest to her loving heart.”

I can’t think of a better blueprint for how to unburden yourself from literally anything. Besides, the idea that worrying is our way of telling Mother Mary “Thanks, but I got this” is kind of comical. I imagine her sweetly whispering back, “And how’s that working out for you?”

I hope this can serve as a reminder for you too of not only the futility of worrying, but how it acts as a deliberate barrier to receiving the graces our Blessed Mother wants to give us when we trust everything to her care. Seems like the better way.