Imitate Mary’s faith, Mary: Day 073

Imitate Mary’s faith

A lively faith is one that puts belief into practice, St. Alphonsus reminds us. It’s the kind of faith Our Lady had, and we should imitate it.

We must imitate Mary’s faith. But how can we do so? Faith, at the same time that it’s a gift, is also a virtue. It’s a gift of God in that it’s a light infused by him into our souls. But it’s a virtue in that the soul must exercise itself to practice it. For this reason, faith is not only to be the rule of our belief, but also the rule of our actions. That’s why St. Gregory the Great says, “The one who truly believes is the one who puts what he believes in practice.” St. Augustine adds: “You say, ‘I believe.’ Well, then, do what you say, and that is faith.”

This is to have a lively faith, to live according to our belief. “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38). In this way the Blessed Virgin lived very differently from those who don’t live in accordance with what they believe, and whose faith is dead, as St. James declares: “Faith, apart from works, is dead” (Jas 2:26). The ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes sought for an honest man on earth. But God, among the many faithful, seems to seek for a real Christian. For only a few have good works; the greater part have only the name of Christian.

To such people as these should be applied the words once addressed by Alexander the Great to a cowardly soldier who was also named Alexander: “Either change your name or change your conduct.” For this reason, St. Augus- tine exhorts us to see things with the eyes of Christians—that is to say, with eyes that look at everything in the light of faith. For as St. Teresa of Avila often said, all sins come from a lack of faith. So let’s beg the most holy Virgin, by the merit of her faith, to obtain for us a lively faith: “O Lady, increase our faith.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
When I consider to what extent my faith is expressed in works, would I say that my faith is lively? Lazy? Comatose? Perhaps even dead? Have I asked Mary to increase and enliven my faith?

CLOSING PRAYER
My Lord, even the demons believe in God, and they tremble in fear (see Jas 2:19). Let me believe in such a way that I tremble, not with fear, but with eagerness to do your will, so that by my works I may show my faith (see Jas 2:18).

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