It is a nice tradition. I have my reservations, but I think on a secular level it's one way to have females fully committed to Christ in an age of feigned/impossible equality. She is the symbol of protectress of Christ.

Alas, the iconography of Mary w/ infant Jesus is literally an emulation of Osiris. Yes, there is occultism in Catholicism. But if you didn't know that I don't know what the hell to tell you.

Pray, hope, don't worry. Pray to Mary, Pray to the Great Architect, pray to John Baptist. Pray for peace and promote peace and thou shalt be anointed with holiness.