The Imitation of Mary

Praise and glory, therefore, to the Most High God Who gave you, here on earth, the greatest graces ever given to the daughters of men and Who has now set your throne beside that of your Son in the Kingdom of heaven.  He has set it in the highest and most delightful place, above the choirs of Angels and the Saints, a place prepared for you from all eternity and destined to remain a place of bliss forever!
 You are worth of the highest veneration, O Virgin Mary, Mother and Daughter of the eternal King.  Every voice praises you and bestows the highest honors on you, for you are the purest of the virgins, the humblest, the most charitable, the most patient, the most merciful, the most fervent in prayer, the most penetrating in meditation, the loftiest in contemplation, the most lavish in counsels, and the most effective in bringing help.
  You are the royal palace of God, the gate of heaven, the paradise of delights, the well of graces, the glory of the Angels, the joy of humanity, the model of behavior, the splendor of the virtues, the beacon of life, the hope of the needy, the health of the sick, and the mother of orphans.
Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Mary

She Keeps Hope Alive Without Fail

She Keeps Hope Alive Without Fail

Consider the Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross, where she reached the heroic summit of all the virtues: meekness, humility, silence, patience, hope and love.

- She is poor, deprived of everything, since she even has to give up the Son of her womb, God made man;

- Her love for God is such that she offers up her own life with the blood of her Son for the salvation of humanity;

- She died a martyr's death, because she was unable to die with her Son;

- And she keeps hope alive without fail, while experiencing something that the world considers to be a failure and the most complete defeat: the death of God!

Kneel down by Mary's side. Do not try to walk alone

Kneel down by Mary's side. Do not try to walk alone.

Imagine Mary kneeling in the Upper Room. Look at her, adoring her Son hidden in the Eucharist! (…) You too should kneel down, next to Mary. Do not try to walk alone (…), but stay by Mary, unite your adoration to hers, and present to God one and the same homage.

"O Jesus, I do not know how to adore (…) but I will repeat for you her adoration on behalf of sinners, for the conversion of the world, and for all the needs of the Church."

This will rejoice the heart of Mary. She will show you to Jesus, and say: "My Son, see my own reflection in that soul, and how I continue to adore you in her and through her!"

Oh, indeed, the one who honors, loves, and serves Mary, is the one who vows to live for the Eucharist; he needs Mary to help him adore; he must be united to her in his adoration.

Let the Blessed Virgin Mary govern your life. Let her lead you to Jesus