Peace Prayer to the Mother

The greatest gift of The Mother is Her Love.

It is incumbent upon us, Her children,

to act towards each other as valued members of the same family.

Mother hear our desires, teach us your wisdom.

Let there be peace of understanding;

Peace of a calming of angers;

peace of wisdom,

Peace of a willingness not to seek vengeance.

Let there be peace because we owe it to the children,

Peace because we owe it to the parents,

Peace because we owe it to our ancestors.

Let there be peace so that there may be art,

Peace so there may be farming.

Peace so there may be dancing,

Peace so that utterly different peoples may compare their ways with interest.

Let there be peace among humans

Peace between humans and all living creatures,

Peace between humans and the land.

Let there be peace so that our ingenuity may undo our damage,

Peace so that we may solve riddles.

Peace so that we may reach the stars,

Peace so we may reach our own souls.

Let there be lasting peace;

Peace among men and women.

Peace among adults and children.

Let there be true peace.

Amen!

Greeting Mary

Hail Mary, hello, how are you? I greet you with love, And I thank you for being available. Deeply, I breathe your roses, The twelve fresh roses you place in my spirit Every morning when I say hello to you.

Full of grace are you, Grace spilling over Heaven's boundaries Into my world, living water, bread and wine, The unmerited favor of God That you come carrying to me, Your arms always full of gifts.

The Lord is with thee, Jesus Christ the Messiah is with you, And you teach me how to recognize That the Lord is with me.

Blessed art thou amoung women, Glowing with love for Jesus, Pure blessedness never tainted But alive with holy beauty.

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, The most blessed of humanity, Delivered through you, Virgin Mary. Jesus, the most cursed of humanity, Who became a curse for me So that I might be blessed With his resurrection life.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Teach me to value motherhood, Help me pray for mothers and fathers To love and support each other. Show me how God loves you.

Pray for us sinners now And at the hour of our death. Pray that I can live each moment Consecrated to love, to Christ, That I recognize each now As the moment of salvation So that I die prepared for eternal life. Pray that I can crucify my passions, Those passions that make me a sinner, And that I can die to sin on the cross with Jesus As you look on weeping and praying But joyous, knowing that resurrection follows.

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Anon

Follow Him

It is hard to watch as I see you walk in this parched heat. The ground is so rocky and your feet by the end of the day is blistered by the hours you spend walking from one place to another. Do the people see this, Son?

I follow you.

I see you touch this person, I see you speak to another and they are healed of their infirmities and that which had imprisoned their souls. Do they thank you Son?

I stand apart, yet, as one with your circle of friends. They love you, but not as I love you. Do they understand Love, Son?

I follow you.

Ah, I watch as your face alights when the little one's rush forward. Your laughter rings through the air, what a joy it is to hear. But Son, do you remember when I held you close to my own heart?

Once again I see you walk in your gentle manner towards the rocky ground as you seek silence to pray. My eyes follow you from a distance as you disappear from my sight. Do they understand prayer, Son?

I follow you.

You are surrounded by your friends as you speak words of Wisdom to them. Your face lights up as you speak about Heavenly things. But Son, am I the only one to see the shadow which passes across your face?

I hear your friends promise to do mighty things for love of you. They rely on their strength without fully understanding what real strength is. Yet there is one who unsettles my heart, he turns from you when you reach out to him. Do you see his rejection Son?

I follow you.

It is difficult when I see strangers in fine clothes criticize you. Yes, I hear the murmers which strike at my own heart. Do you hear them Son?

Ah, finally I see the crowds throw Palms before your feet. Their voices sing out Hosanna, such rejoicing. But, do they know who you are Son?

I follow you.

A terrible forboding fills my heart, I hear the murmers grow. The whispering grows stronger by the hour, despite all you have said and done they do not believe. Have they stopped listening to you Son?

I see you beloved of my heart as you kneel before your friends and wash their feet. My mind wonders back to the days when I bathed you and held you in my arms as you gurgled and smiled at me. I watch from a distance as you break bread, my head is bowed. Do they understand the significance Son?

I follow you.

One leaves early, my heart is deeply troubled. My body trembles as my ear catches more whispering. These are the same people who killed the Prophets. I hear your voice ring out strongly, I listen to you Son.

Can I come to you my Son? May I hold you in my arms? Will you be my son for just one more day? I have heard the Prophets of Old, I have listened to you Son, but when I close my eyes I see you, tiny, innocent, loving, holding out your arms to me. Can I be just another mother for one more day Son?

I follow you.

I can find no rest tonight. I pace the room and in the sanctum of my heart I cry out to God who strengthens me. I look out the window and though the world continues to turn as the night closes in, still my heart finds no rest this long and lonely night. Who is keeping watch with you Son?

While I kneel in prayer I hear hurried feet, I rise to face the news. They are like children, lost and forlon when the snow shuts out the sun. My heart fills with pity as I console them. We go in search of you. Will others go in search of you my Son?

I follow you.

There are crowds everywhere. Where are you Son? I must find you. I am jostled too and fro we stand in the courtyard as the news reaches us. You have been condemned, I must find you. Where are you my Son?

I feel the sobs of your friend who stands beside me, he is trying to be strong. I take his hands and look into his eyes, he looks away. Who can bear to look into my eyes? We hear from a distance 'Crucify him.' Where are your friends my Son?

I follow you.

We hurry to find you Son, I will not leave you. The crowd parts and at last I see your beloved face, my knees give way at the sight. Your friends hold me up as each fist strikes my own heart. My heart is faint as they scourge you, the face I once held to my breast is now beaten and bloody. Is that you my Son? Beneath the blood, the sweat and the mucus is that you my Son? My beloved Son? I will not leave you my Son.

We follow your broken and bloodied body as you try and carry that heavy Cross. You fall and I cover my face, what mother can bear it? If it were not for our friends I would be unable to walk, but I will not leave you Son. Our eyes meet. Agony is met with agony, I reach out to you. I am here my Son.

I follow you.

I look up and there you are before me. I hear the taunts from the crowds, were these not the same who sang Hosanna's to you my beloved Son? I hear you cry out as my own soul is rent asunder and my silent scream reaches the Heaven's. Will anyone understand such an agony? I fall to the ground as your blood drenches my own clothes and with words unspoken I plead in my heart, 'give me the body of my bloodied and ragged Son.' I hold you to my heart, though it beats my heart is broken. My tears fall onto your stiff and quiet face as I hold you to myself. I didn't leave you Son..I didn't leave You.

Later Peter comes to see me. My heart fills with pity he is a broken man. I take his hand, look into his eyes and say to him.....

Follow Him.

Written by Marie

Mary's Story

Joseph and I came to Bethlehem because there was a decree that all should go to their ancestral town to be registered. In obedience, Joseph and I went. God even used the oppression of the Roman government to bring about your salvation: because in this time of oppression, my Son, your Savior, was born. We looked for a place but there was no room in the inn: the town was so full. What was offered us was a stable not too far from where the shepherds were guarding their flock. It was soon that my Son was born: that the King of Kings would be born a pauper. It was soon that the very Word would be made flesh. Joseph left me in the stable and went outside for a while thinking that he was not worthy to be present at such a great miracle. While he was thinking, the moment came when my Son was introduced to the world. Because of the immensity of Love that the Lord had filled me with, I felt no pain at His birth. There was pure joy at the coming of my Son. I held Him in my arms: He was the very Savior of the world. A while later, Joseph came in, he saw me with the Child and he was also filled with wondrous joy. As some time past, the shepherds that were near the stable also came. They knew about the birth of my Son: the angels had told them. Heaven was rejoicing at the birth of my Son.

My children, look upon the greatness of your Lord Who has loved you so much as to come down to show the immensity of His Love for you. Show your immensity of love for Him: be humble, be grateful for what you have, be it little or great, and whatever you do have, use it in a way that will give pleasure to my Son. See the face of my Son in those in need, those in want, and respond in love to Him. Pray to the Heavenly Father in this mystery for the gift of simplicity and for the woes of the poor and I will pray with you. I will ask the Father to give you the grace to be generous with those less fortunate.

Source

Catholic Online

Mary and Joseph Living the Divine Will

In the lives of both Mary and Joseph we see two ordinary people who with their whole hearts, minds and soul allowed God to work within them and transform them both to reflect the Divine. These two holy souls became so incorporated into the Divine Presence that when we study them we see the reflection of God in their lives, their words and their actions.

It is the holy lives of this couple, Joseph and Mary that show us that we too are called to give our fiats to God in order for the indwelling Spirit to transform us into living reflections of the Divine. Through Mary and Joseph we learn what it is to live the Divine Will without needing an explanation, as if God had to explain Himself to His creatures.

Joseph and Mary also through their actions teach us what true humility is and also to trust in God's Wisdom, even if it seems bizarre to do so. How many of us would follow a dream if we were told by an angel to rise and leave? Would we not consider it 'just a dream' and fall back to sleep?

Through the life of Joseph, Mary and the young baby Jesus we see how it should be for all of us. How family life should be centred around God and their Faith and not a longing to gain 'things', for what profit is there if one gains a mansion only to lose his/her family?

The example provided by the Holy family is to simplify our lives and to enjoy our families, and first and foremost to place God and our Faith at the centre of our family unit. The lives of Joseph and Mary should not be out of the ordinary in that we should all be trying to emulate them within our own lives.

For both Joseph and Mary lived the Divine Will, even if they at times did not fully comprehend the Way's of God, still they simply Trusted in God's Goodness, because God is Good.

Through the first Christmas that we see how God dignifies the lowly and allowed the humble to see the face of God. Do we see the face of God in today’s society?

MARY's Song-A Reflection

My soul doth magnify

And glory in the Lord

His lowly handmaiden

He has chosen over all

My spirit doth rejoice

Over God my saviour

For He has truly blessed me

And shown great favour

Blessed and exalted

Is the fruit of her womb

The promise from ages past

Was coming very soon

I wonder if Mary

The servant of the Lord

Understood with depth

The magnitude of her call

The son she brought forth

Called Holy and righteous

Blessed Prince of Peace

Forever there to guide us

Did she know that Jesus

Is the name above all names?

That no one else can save us

And take away our shame

Mary Beloved of God

Mary's part in the Salvation of man is of the utmost importance for each of us, for through Mary, we also learn to live the Divine Will with perfection, as did Mary. It was never God's intention to consign Mary to the history books as if she had no more to offer in and of herself.

Mary, was chosen by God to help bring Salvation to all men, through the birth of her son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The most singular feature in this is that God loved Mary for who she was and not for what she would give Him. This is why understanding Mary's unique place in the Salvation of man is integral, because it reveals the Love of our Heavenly Father to his children.

God is a delicate and sensitive Father who Loves us with a depth that the human mind will never be able to comprehend. How can so many disregard the role that Mary played in the Salvation of mankind, as if she were of little consequence?

It is Mary that teaches us true humility in that she drew no attention to herself but instead always points to her Son. Our Blessed Mother looked for no earthly titles in that God loved her for herself, what need would she have had for grand palaces or worldly titles?

Mary knew what was important in life and it was not in a gaining of things but in a giving of herself, an emptying of herself for love of all mankind. Through her Fiat, God became man with both Divine and human nature.

It is Mary who reveals the Awesome Love of God The Father who sent His Son to be the Savior of All.

Let us raise our voices in Praise for our Heavenly Father not for what He gives us but to love God for Himself alone.

Mary and Joseph A Perfect Union

Mary and Joseph had a unique quality that meant they were made for each other. Both loved God and placed Him at the centre of their lives. This meant that their daily lives revolved around God and not their whims. They never questioned God's Good order but with simplicity of trust and confidence they obeyed it.

Mary accepted God's Will and with her Fiat she then co-operated with God in the Salvation of all men. Mary through the Mystery of Mysteries, became the Mother of God. For the Incarnation was not a creation of a new life, but the enclosure in human flesh of the Life that gives Life to all.

Joseph also had his own questions and upon receiving his answers he too from a filial love and devotion to Almighty God accepted his place at Mary's side. To be a good husband and a true father to, their son Jesus.

It is this aspect of complete 'oneness' that both Mary and Joseph shared that makes them unique and sublime; they took God at His Word with full knowledge that God would fulfill it in His time. But God also acknowledged Joseph's role in the upbringing of Jesus. It was Joseph who was the head of their household, but this did not negate Mary's role. It simply ennobled the family unit as God created it to be, with the man as head of the home and the wife as his helpmate and support.

This does not denigrate either couple, but simply compliments the exquisite differences that made this Holy Union so blessed. Their love did not revolve around themselves but was centred in doing the Will of the Father.

Through this Holy couple we can see how much God esteems the family unit. It is also through Mary and Joseph we glimpse how all marriages should reflect that displayed by this most devout union. For a couple that is totally committed to God are also totally committed to each other.

The union of Joseph and Mary is not only God's gift to them it is also God's Gift to each of us. We look to their example of placing God as the foundation of their union and from that springs eternal happiness.

Is God at the centre and core of your family?

For Love of Mary-A Personal Testimony

As most are aware I was not raised in a religious environment. I experienced a conversion to Christianity when I was 30 years old from which I was baptized into the Lutheran Church.

I loved the Lutheran Church and joined several bible studies and prayer devotional groups. The Lutheran people were wonderful to me and accepted me into their homes and their hearts.

Why then did I leave?

It was during a Christmas service when our Pastor gave his sermon. He said to paraphrase, 'Mary was just an ordinary young girl who God happened to choose to bear His Son. Any woman here could also have been chosen.'

For some reason this particular sermon did not sit well with me. How could any of us think that we could carry Jesus within our bodies? Weak, frail and sinful as we are? It simply did not make sense.

I tried to speak to the Pastor about my concerns but he did not take much notice, but I could not let it go. There was something special about Mary. I had to find out what.

The following week I went to the only catholic book shop in Adelaide and bought almost every book I could find on Mary. I read descriptions where authors alluded to the Ark of the Covenant and how Mary was described as the Ark of the New Covenant, now this made sense.

I read strange words like 'Immaculate Conception' and that Mary was the new Eve. More strange words also came to the forefront like 'Eucharist', which then had me buying books on the Eucharist.

I read books where authors said that Mary was sinless and that God had performed this miracle in the womb of her own Mother, St. Anne, rather than confuse me it made perfect sense.

In order for Mary to carry Jesus within her womb she HAD to be sinless for as I have said, the Divine cannot co-exist with corruption.

Through this journey I also knew that Mary was indeed like us. A normal woman who cared for her family and tended to their needs but unlike us, Mary did the Will of the Father perfectly.

I was beginning to love this woman. This perfect and most wondrous lady called, Mary.

Then I read about the Cross and how the Mother of God beheld her Son, bloodied, spittle mixed with sweat dripping from Him. Naked and humiliated. This was her beloved Son, this was her God, who hung from a Cross.

I began to understand what love is.

I understood Mary's love for each of us. Yes! We are also her children. I finally understood that Mary gave her Fiat not just to God but for all of us who are in need of Salvation.

Mary was no human incubator. Mary was God's JOY.

When you love Mary you do not love Jesus less, if anything one learns to love Jesus more because Mary points to her Son, 'do what He tells you.'

The love I have for this most beautiful of women fail me. I cannot describe in words the greatness of this most Holy Woman, a woman who brings JOY to God's Heart.

All I can say is the more I learnt about Mary the more I loved her. This most wondrous Mother has my heart. How could anyone not love the Mother of God?

I spent a year discerning where God wished me to be, but I knew I was being called into the Catholic Church.

By leaving the Lutheran Church I upset many of my friends who felt betrayed. Some came to me and tried to instill fear by saying the Pope is the Anti-Christ.

I did not argue with them. I knew the Truth. It is true when the Word says, 'The Truth shall set you free.'

Many of my Lutheran friends did not speak to me for more than ten years. I understood the pain they felt, and that they considered me a traitor. I understood but I did not turn back.

Though my journey into the Catholic Church was painful, still I did not turn back. I understood to turn back meant leaving behind Our Blessed Mother and the Sacraments of the One True Church.

Our Lady not only stole my heart, she saved it.

My heart overflows with love for Mother Church, for the Sacraments which give us life and for Mary who gave us..Christ.

How can one not love this most beautiful of Mothers? You tell me? Does Mary have your heart?

Our Lady of Sorrows-No Words Needed

Feast of the Queenship of Mary Our Mother

Today we celebrate the Blessed Mother as Our Queen. From the moment of her "yes" at the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit has been her Spouse, thus we can call her our Queen. As our Queen Mother, she intercedes for us to the King whenever we ask her to -- because she loves us dearly, each of us, very dearly.

Mary, Queen of Heaven, give me your heart, so beautiful, so pure, so Immaculate, so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, love Him and serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.

Let me live within your heart and there receive a share of your own love for Jesus, for the Church and for all people. Give me some measure of your own humility and surrender to the will of the Father. May Jesus take on flesh in me.

Like you, I want to be a spouse of the Holy Spirit, docile to His gentlest inspiration and join you in signing a Magnificat for all eternity. Oh my soul magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoice in God my Saviour!

Totus Tuus, Maria ! I belong to you. I want to be …..

All YES

Only YES

Always YES

Amen

Mary-Who Is She?

Mary was an ordinary woman but what happened to Mary was extraordinary, in that God chose her from the beginning of time to help restore that which was broken through Sin. By giving her FIAT to God, Mary opened the Door to Heaven for each of us, for it is through her that our Lord and Savior was born to save ALL mankind. Mary is in effect Co-Redeemer alongside her Son and Savior Jesus Christ. This does not mean that Mary is Divine.

As we look at the life of Mary and the Mystery of her person we find that her life is unfolded like a tapestry of Divine Gold Thread, weaving a design of such Majesty that our limited intellect cannot grasp.

Many historians believe that Mary was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of Joachim and Ann. Some also speculate that Mary was born in Nazareth, but where ever she was born, Mary would have lived a very traditional life, learning the arts of cooking, cleaning and the religious Laws of her day. There is the Tradition that Mary as a young girl spent years serving in The Temple, as she prayed like many others for the coming of the Messiah.

As was the tradition in her day, Mary's parents Joachim and Ann, arranged a marriage between their daughter and Joseph the carpenter, and this is where Mary's path took a very different course than any other person. It would change Mary's life entirely and also the world. For it was soon after her engagement to Joseph that the Archangel Gabriel brought to Mary the 'Good News', as the Angel exclaimed, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." Mary was puzzled and deeply disturbed by these words and questioned the Archangel not out of doubt but from her purity of heart Mary said to the angel, "how can this come about, since I am a virgin?"

As we know Mary gave birth to The Promised Messiah who was named Jesus or Immanuel, and even though Mary is not mentioned a lot in the Bible, this does not mean we should disregard the impact she has had on the generations to come. For Mary is our most perfect example of womanhood. A wife and Mother who would have gone about her daily tasks of cleaning house, cooking, sewing, washing and nurturing the baby Jesus and to be a helpmate to Joseph her husband.

We need look no further than Mary Most Holy to define what it means to be a woman and a woman of immense Faith. A woman who followed God's Will without always understanding the Whys of it, still in all humility and meekness Mary did the Will of The Father. For Mary did not seek glory for herself but to fulfill God's Mission through the Salvific Death and Resurrection of her most beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE SMILE

Gentle Mary, My Mother,

I place before you the worries,

hurts and hopes of my heart.

They shrink my soul and I feel heavy and hopeless.

Darkness closes in around me.

I reach out to you, bright Lady of Hope.

Smile on me.

Smile on my loved ones and the intentions I place before you....

Your tender smile works miracles and heals,

as you did with St. Thérèse, the Little Flower.

You are my true Mother.

You show the tender mercy of God.

Smile on me, Blessed Mother,

and all will be well.

Amen

What The Saints Say About Our Lady

“So pleasing to God was Mary’s humility that He was constrained by His goodness to entrust to her the Word, His only Son. And it was that dearest Mary who gave Him to us.”

---St. Catherine of Siena

“Mary’s sole object in this world was to keep her eyes constantly focused on God so as to discover His will. Then when she had found out what God wanted, she did it.”

---St. Bernardine of Siena

“Do not be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her enough. And Jesus will be very happy, because the Blessed Virgin is His Mother.”

---St. Therese of Lisieux

“Blessed are those who cherish the name of Mary. Her favor will sustain them in the midst of trials, and they will bring forth fruits of salvation.”

---St. Anthony of Padua

“May the Blessed Virgin Mary help me to live a holy life and die a holy death. Then at the last instants of my life, may she come to my assistance and lead me to heaven.”

---St. Dominic Savio

“The Blessed Virgin never committed any actual sin - not even a venial one. Otherwise, she would not have been a Mother worthy of Jesus.”

---St. Thomas Aquinas

“Our Lord preserved the soul together with the body of the Blessed Virgin in that purity which became her who was to receive God into her womb. For, as God is holy, He reposes only in holy places.”

---St. John Damascene

“The name of Mary contains the brilliance of the virtues, the sweet refulgence of modesty and the sacrifice pleasing to God. It is the sign of hospitality and the center of holiness.”

--St. Francis Xavier

“Do you wish to know the most initmate perfections of Jesus and the most hidden attractions of His Love? Then seek them in the Heart of Mary!.”

---St. Peter Julian Eymard

“O sinners, be not discouraged...Call Mary to your assistance, for you will always find her ready to help. It is God’s Will that she should help in every need.”

---St. Basil

Our Lady loves only places made low by humility, common by simplicity, but large by charity; she is willingly near the crib and at the foot of the Cross, provided she has her dear Son with her.

---Saint Francis de Sales

Our Blessed Mother

There are few verses in the bible that talk about Our Blessed Mother and they are very powerful with deep meaning. They show us how important she is. She is the perfect mother and the perfect example of what a Saint should be. She is the Mother of Jesus and no one knows a son better than His Mother. She wants us to be close to her Son, she always leads us to Her Son.

What The Saints Say About Our Lady

“Hail Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

---St. Gabriel

“My children, do you want to obtain perseverance? Then be devoted to our Blessed Lady!”

---St. Philip Neri

“If you want to grow in perfection, you cannot advance by yourselves - you need a guide. Hence, when you go to God, go through Mary and with Mary!”

--- St. Maximilian Kolbe

“The Blessed Virgin Mary comforts and refreshes those who are in their last agony. Then she also receives their souls at death.”

--- St. Vincent Ferrer

“Those who love Mary must silence within themselves the desires of the senses. They must also silence the disordered longings of passions.”

--- St. John Eudes

“As a consoler of the human race, Mary never ceases to pour out before her Son her prayer for the salvation of the faithful crushed by the weight of their sins.”

---St. Pius V

“Human beings will never comprehend sufficiently the anguish and immensity of Mary’s sorrows. Very few Christians partake of those sufferings and even fewer offer any consolation to her.”

---St. Bridget of Sweden

“In danger, anguish, or doubt, think of Mary and call upon her! Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair. Contemplating her, you will never go wrong.”

---St. Bernard

“Mary’s words were discreet, and her voice was measured. She did not shout and she was careful not to say anything bad about another person - nor even to listen willingly to wrong that was spoken.”

---St. Athanasius

“Ask Mary for the grace to love our Lord as she loves Him and to remain faithful to Him in life and in death.”

---St. Bernadette

Montage of Our Blessed Mother

Do enjoy this absolutely awesome montage of Our Blessed Mother to the song "Holy is His Name" by John Michael Talbot.

What The Saints Say About Our Lady

“Mary is the Divine Page on which the Father wrote the Word of God, His Son.”

--- St. Albert the Great

“Think often of the Blessed Virgin with love. Those who have received the grace to do so posses a great sign of predestination.”

--- St. Ambrose

“We cannot enter a house without first speaking to the porter. Similarly, we cannot enter heaven without calling upon the aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the Portress of Heaven.”

--- St. John Vianney

“When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul, He flies to it. He enters therein and communicates Himself to that soul in abundance.”

--- St. Louis de Montfort

“The purer are your words and your glances, the more pleasing will you be to the Blessed Virgin. And the greater will be the graces that she will obtain for you from her Divine Son.”

---St. John Bosco

“Those who burn with the fire of Divine Love are children of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and wherever they go they enkindle that flame. Nothing distresses them; they rejoice in poverty, labor strenuously, welcome hardships, laugh off false accusations, and rejoice in anguish.”

--- St. Anthony Claret

“The Blessed Virgin once said to me: ‘You think that I obtained grace and virtue without effort. Know that I received no graces from God without great labor, constant prayer, ardent desires, and many tears and mortifications.”

--- St. Elizabeth of Hungary

“Mary would never have found such grace had she not been moderate in food. For grace and gluttony cannot exist together. Blessed are those who abandon themselves into Our Lady’s hands. Their names are written in the Book of Life.”

--- St. Bonaventure

“In heaven Mary remains always in the presence of her Divine Son. There she is continually praying on behalf of sinners.”

---St. Bede

“The Holy Spirit did not describe Mary in the Gospels but left it to you to picture her in your heart. In this way, you might comprehend that there is no grace, no perfection, and no glory conceivable in a simple creature that is lacking to her.”

--- St. Thomas of Villanova

Mary-Our Perfect Example-A Reflection

The beginning of Jesus Ministry did not mean that Mary's involvement lessened nor that she was cast aside, for Mary too was to play an integral part in her Son's Ministry.

It would have been Mary that provided a listening heart to his many friends and followers, as she welcomed them into her home and traveled with them as Jesus preached, taught, and healed the wounded and sick.

I am sure that Mary would have provided a keen insight into their home life to the Apostles, and shared her family joys and sorrows with them. But Mary also was a woman of quiet contemplation and of few words, so she would have listened to these friends of Jesus and provided comfort in their times of confusion and bewilderment.

Wherever they journeyed Mary and the women disciples would have provided care and comfort for not only Jesus but his friends and followers. This meant cooking traditional meals such as bread, the vegetables that were in season, fish, served with olives and goats cheese and meals such as Labaneh and other dishes, spiced with the herbs of the area.

Mary would have also provided a good example for the women followers of Jesus and they would have helped Mary in keeping what ever home they stayed in clean and tidy. They also would have helped Mary in the cooking; one can imagine the men gathered around Jesus listening to him as he spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, whilst Mary and the other women prepared the meals. But what Mary would have shown these women disciples of Jesus, is that though one may be busy at their tasks, still one listens to the voice of God, in a spirit of humble obedience, even in the midst of preparing and cleaning.

So though Mary occupied herself with the daily ritual of cooking, cleaning, knitting and darning the clothes of her Son and his friends, with the help of the other women, she would have incorporated prayer into every activity. This would have been a wonderful example for the other women to follow and is central to the Mission of Jesus, that women were not second class citizens but were an essential part to his Ministry.

But there also would have been occasions of humour and fun amidst the seriousness, and Mary would have shared stories of the infant Jesus and her beloved but deceased husband Joseph, as they conversed together in a spirit of fellowship.

And through the love that Jesus had for his mother, it would have also allowed the other Apostles to see the value which Jesus placed on the importance of women in his Ministry and for women in general.

So throughout Jesus Ministry, Mary too had her role, which was to provide an example of Holy obedience with true meekness of heart and soul, and to ennoble the role of women in the life of Jesus, and in what was to come.