Mary, Virgin Most Prudent, Mary: Day 157

Mary, Virgin Most Prudent

We know little of Mary’s everyday life. But Blessed John Henry Newman reminds us that she doubtless would have had numerous practical obligations, and in performing them perfectly, she would have needed that most practical of virtues, prudence.

It may not appear at first sight how the virtue of prudence is connected with the trials and sorrows of Our Lady’s life. Yet there is a point of view from which we are reminded of her prudence by those trials. It must be recollected that she is not only the great example of the contemplative life, but also of the practical; and the practical life is at once a life of penance and of prudence, if it is to be well discharged.

Now Mary was as full of external work and hard service as any Sister of Charity at this day. Of course her duties varied according to the seasons of her life, as a young maiden, as a wife, as a mother, and as a widow. But still her life was full of duties day by day and hour by hour.

As a stranger in Egypt, she had duties towards the poor pagans among whom she was thrown. As a dweller in Nazareth, she had her duties towards her kinsfolk and neighbors. She had her duties, though unrecorded, during those years in which our Lord was preaching and proclaiming his kingdom. After he had left this earth, she had her duties towards the Apostles, and especially toward the Evangelists. She had duties towards the martyrs, and to the confessors in prison; to the sick, to the ignorant, and to the poor.

All her acts were perfect, all were the best that could be done. Now, always to be awake, guarded, fervent, so as to be able to act not only without sin, but in the best possible way, in the varying circumstances of each day, denotes a life of untiring mindfulness. But of such a life, prudence is the presiding virtue. It is, then, through the pains and sorrows of her earthly pilgrimage that we are able to invoke her as “Virgin Most Prudent.” —Blessed John Henry Newman, Meditations and Devotions

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do I tend to view my everyday obligations as competing with my spiritual life, or as providing me a chance to practice the virtue of prudence? When I’m uncertain about the wisest course of action, do I ask myself what would Jesus and Mary do?

CLOSING PRAYER
Virgin, Most Prudent, Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

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