Rodriguez: Mary, not Hillary, most powerful woman

What if I told you that the most powerful woman in the world is not Hillary Clinton? In a global best-seller, the most powerful woman speaks but a few words. Soldiers, artists, actors, government officials, rich and poor, even Olympic medalists, call upon her.

She is the subject of a signature work by famous Italian sculptor Michelangelo. Football passes in her honor have been said to save games. She is said to have saved sailors from sea storms and inspired architecture. Billions flock to her bigger-than-Graceland shrines around the world and she has served as the spiritual confidante for billions.

Last December, National Geographic Magazine published an article titled, “How The Virgin Mary Became the World's Most Powerful Woman.” No, Mary, Mother of the Man-God, Mother of the Messiah, was not named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Her iconic image, sometimes considered a part of pop culture, spans back to ancient cultures. And as the most powerful woman in the world, who prompted Jesus to turn water into wine, it is a title she has held with grace and unmatched humility for two millenniums.

The Virgin Mary is considered to be the woman in the book of Revelation, the one who scriptures speak of as, “She who will crush the head of the serpent,” (Revelation 12:9). Yet when I interviewed a visionary in Lubbock about eight years ago, where The Virgin Mary reportedly appeared before thousands of people, she described Mary as gentle. ABC's 20/20 TV camera were rolling that day at St. John Neumann church, on the August 15 Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. Even the New York Times wrote about the event. It was raining that day, but The Blessed Mother had forewarned Mary Constancio in a vision, saying, “I will come through the clouds like a storm, but gentle as a dove.”

This coming Monday is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a day which the Catholic Church recognizes as when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed, like her son, body and soul into heaven, and crowned our queen mother. The Feast of the Assumption is a special day to me. I have felt the presence of our blessed Mother Mary.

It was on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary in 1988 that thousands at this Lubbock church reported seeing “miracles of the sun,” as it spun around in colors. Other reported seeing images of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, a fountain of water in the sky, doves and even of a door opening. Others reported that their rosaries changed to the color gold.

Maureen Orth wrote the article about Mary for National Geographic magazine, writing, “Mary is everywhere: The image in Mexico of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most reproduced female likenesses ever. Mary draws millions each year to shrines such as Fatima in Portugal and Knock in Ireland … She inspired the creation of many great works of art and architecture (Michelangelo's 'Pieta' and Notre Dame Cathedral), as well as poetry, liturgy and music.”

Katie Ledecky, a 2016 gold medalist in swimming who just set a world record in Rio in the 1,500-meter freestyle this past week, said she prays a Hail Mary before every race.

Helena Rodriguez is a Portales native. Contact her at:

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