Mary, Mirror of Virtue, Mary: Day 162

Mary, Mirror of Virtue

St. Ambrose of Milan offers a meditation on Our Lady, reflecting on how her sinlessness would have shaped her thoughts, words, attitudes, and conduct.

Let the life of Mary be like a mirror, in which is reflected the form of virtue and the beauty of chastity. In her you can find your pattern of life, for she demonstrates clearly the rules of virtue: what you must correct in yourselves, what you must embrace, and what you must hold firmly.

She was virgin, not only in body, but also in mind. She never stained the integrity of her mind through deception. She was humble of heart, serious in conversation, wise in thought, brief in words, earnest in study. She didn’t rest her hope on uncertain riches, but on God who answers the prayers of the poor. She was diligent in work and restrained in speech. She looked to God as the Judge of her thoughts, not to other people. She sought to avoid injury to all and to have goodwill toward everyone. She respected her elders and didn’t envy her
peers. She avoided boasting; she acted reasonably; she loved virtue.

When did she ever bring pain to her parents even by as much as a look? When did she ever quarrel with her neighbors? When did she despise the lowly? When did she turn away from those in need? She avoided gatherings that would have made a generous heart blush, or sent a modest soul fleeing.

There was nothing gloomy in her eyes, nothing pushy in her words, nothing unbecoming in her conduct. She didn’t run around acting silly. Her voice wasn’t rude.

In short, her outward appearance was the image of her soul, a reflection of everything honorable. —St. Ambrose of Milan, On Virginity

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
How do I think Our Lady would think, speak, and act in the circumstances I’ll face today? How might I keep her example in mind?

CLOSING PRAYER
Mary, Mirror of Virtue, help me find in you my pattern for life.

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