May...Month of Our Lady

Mary’s Humility

“If you cannot equal Mary’s absolute purity,” says St. Bernard, “at least imitate her humility. The virtue of humility is essential. We can be saved without virginity, but not without humility. Even Mary’s virginity would not have been pleasing to God without humility. Mary certainly pleased God by her virginity, but she became his Mother because of her humility. The greatest qualities and gifts...are sterile if they are not accompanied by sincere humility. Mary’s maternity was the fruit of her humility; she conceived in humility...The fruitfulness of our interior life...will depend on our humility.

[Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD, Divine Intimacy, Vol II.]

Mary’s Faith

“The Blessed Virgin,” affirms the Second Vatican Council, “advanced on her pilgrimage of faith...a faith never tainted by the least doubt...but still always faith.” It would be very far from the truth to think that the divine mysteries were so revealed to Mary...that she had no need of faith. Excepting the Annunciation and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, we do not find any extraordinary manifestations of the supernatural in her life. Mary lived by pure faith, trusting in God’s word, even as we must. Mary always believed even when she did not understand. A faithful soul does not linger to inquire about God’s actions; even though not fully understanding them.

[Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD, “Divine Intimacy, Vol II.]

Mary’s Hope

Mary, more than anyone, has hoped for and confidently awaited salvation. She did not trust in her own resources, but put all her confidence in God alone. And God...fulfilled her hopes, not only by showering his gifts on her, but by giving himself to her in all his plenitude. Mary’s hope was truly absolute and unshakable, even in the darkest and most difficult moments.

How poor our hope is compared to that of our Blessed Mother! The darkness frightens us, trials make us irresolute and sometimes, perhaps even doubt in God’s assistance. The Virgin Mary shows us the only way to real security, serenity and interior peace, even in the most difficult circumstances: the way of total confidence in God.”               

[Fr.Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD, Divine Intimacy, Vol II.]

Mary’s Charity

She, whom the Angel greeted as “full of grace” is so much the more full of love. But the fullness of grace and of love in which Mary was constituted from the beginning did not dispense her from the active and assiduous practice of charity...For her, as for us, life on earth, was the way where progress in charity was always necessary.

The Lord’s commandment of love is fully realized in Mary who was perfectly humble and accordingly completely empty of self. This attitude is described in the Gospel when, she “went in haste” to visit Elizabeth...and just as she joyfully showed her Son to the shepherds and Magi, she would later offer him to the executioners who would crucify him. Next to Jesus, surely no one has loved mankind more than Mary.

Another aspect of her charity is evidenced in her tactfulness. When Mary found Jesus in the temple after days of anxious searching and keen suffering, she concealed her sorrow behind that of Joseph’s. The marriage in Cana was another example of Mary’s delicacy. She noticed the embarrassment of the bridal couple when the wine ran out. She handled the matter so tactfully that it passed unobserved even by the steward.

[Fr.Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD, Divine Intimacy, Vol II.]