The title of Our Lady as Refuge of Sinners dates back to the time of St. Germanus of Constantinople in the eighth century. Mary was the new Eve. As the original Eve led humanity into sin, so Mary shows us the way out of it by leading us to her Son.
In his book The Glories of Mary, St. Alphonsus Liguori writes:
One of the titles which is the most encouraging to poor sinners, and under which the Church teaches us to invoke Mary in the Litany of Loretto, is that of “Refuge of Sinners.” In Judea in ancient times there were cities of refuge, in which criminals who fled there for protection were exempt from the punishments which they had deserved. Nowadays these cities are not so numerous; there is but one, and that is Mary, of whom the Psalmist says Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God (Ps. lxxxvi. 3). But this city differs from the ancient ones in this respect—that in the latter all kinds of criminals did not find refuge, nor was the protection extended to every class of crime; but under the mantle of Mary all sinners, without exception, find refuge for every sin that they may have committed, provided only that they go there to seek for this protection. “I am the city of refuge,” says St. John Damascene, in the name of our Queen, “to all who fly to me” (In Dorm. B. V.or. 2).
(https://www.themarianroom.com/in-january-our-lady-refuge-of-sinners/)
We call on Mary as a refuge for sinners every time we pray the “Hail Mary.”
Prayer
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Reflection
Mary is a tender mother who wants to cover us and protect us under her mantle, especially when we realize our need for mercy. What sins, faults, and failings can you bring to Mary today?
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