A child places a crown of flowers on a statue of Mary during a May Crowning ceremony. The month of May is devoted to Mary and is traditionally celebrated with a crowning and praying of the rosary. (File photo/CNS)

In this month of May, on this page devoted to the advice of mothers, we would do well to recall the advice of our Blessed Mother, Mary.

We can’t go wrong if we follow Mother Mary’s advice to the servants at the Cana wedding feast: “Do whatever (Jesus) tells you.” What is Jesus asking of us this moment, this day, this approaching summer, this next chapter of our lives?

And, like the mothers described above, Mary’s example is as powerful as her words. When she told the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word,” her “yes” to God in that moment was followed by a lifetime of trust, even through unfathomable mysteries — joyful, sorrowful, and glorious.

Pope Francis says Mary has much to teach us in this jubilee Year of Mercy. Mary, at the foot of the cross, witnessed the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus.  “Mary attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone, without exception,” the pope wrote in his document announcing the special year.

In recent times the Mother of God has appeared in various parts of the world and asked for penance and prayer — especially the recitation of the rosary, the prayer she gave to the world centuries ago as a meditation on the life of her Divine Son.

This Mother’s Day and this month are good times to ask, are we taking our Mother’s advice? — Thomas J. Dermody