The first time I got to know about Her was on my Mother’s lap when I was less than knee-high.

Mum used to speak about Mary, Mother of God, yet at that vulnerable age I couldn’t understand how she could be God’s Mother and mine too. I remember my naïve innocence when I asked my mum if God was my brother if Mary was my mother also.

It was only when I grew up that intelligence was born and I realised that the Holy Mary was the Mother of us all and prior to my natural mother, Mary was my first mother.

It was through tough experiences in life that I learnt to always be myself, that others need me just as the Holy Mary Mother of God, with the help of God himself, willed me to be.

It was Mary who gave me the grace not to put on a false face, to pretend to be what I am not because I did not want to rob others of my real self.

In the mind of God and the Holy Mary I am unique and irreplaceable.

The 16 July has many special memories for me, besides being the feast of St Mary in other localities, the main one being in the Carmelite Church in Valletta.

It was when I learnt what true devotion was all about, looking at people’s faces and untroubled expressions, glazed eyes, tears being shed as Holy Mary was being taken for a “walk” through the streets of Valletta.

I remember gazing at her with fervent reverence when it seemed my troubles would never come to an end. I remember mingling with the huge crowd following her with a short prayer that may not have had many words but which brought me a lot of comfort: “Please help me, Mary Mother of God”.

This year will be a different one for me.

This year, as I gaze at that beautiful holy face, I will probably shed tears because she is the only mother I have left since the mother who gave birth to me died last December.

I have no doubt, though, that I will see what others do not – my natural mother embracing the Holy Mary, whom she so dearly loved.

Mum, although this year you have vanished from my grasp, you are not so distant because I know you are united with the “Mother” you so dearly loved. Special thanks go to Fr Martin Schembri who made the 16 July a day to remember.

Valerie Borg

MLP Councillor

Valletta