The month of May has been dedicated to the Virgin Mary for centuries – so long, in fact, that the precise origin of this Catholic devotion is lost in the mists of time.

May is when we honor the women in our lives. For me, that it is when I most marvel at my mother. She taught me to work hard, fulfill commitments, be dependable and make sacrifices. But the most important gift she gave me was a strong foundation in faith.

I’ve evolved through various stages of Marian devotion in my life. … Nevertheless, even today I struggle to know her.

Since Pope Francis spoke of “feminine genius,” I get questions periodically as to what it possibly means. I could not speak for the pope. I could only reach for my own answers, which come into view through the people I associate with his description.