Imitate Mary’s patience If Mary is to be our model, says St. Alphonsus, we need to imitate her patience; for it’s patience that makes saints. If we wish to be the children of Mary, we must seek to imitate her in her patience. “For what can enrich us with greater merit in this life,” asks St. Cyprian, “and greater glory in the next, than the patient endurance of sufferings?” Just as a hedge of thorns protects a vineyard, God protects... Read more

Imitate Mary’s humility We can never be true children of Mary, St. Alphonsus warns, if we aren’t humble. On one occasion our Lord showed St. Bridget two ladies. One was all pomp and vanity. “She is Pride,” the Lord said. “But the other one you see with her head bent down, courteous toward all, having God alone in mind, and con- sidering herself as no one, is Humility. Her name is Mary.” In this revelation, God was pleased to make... Read more

Mary exercised perfect faith If we’re looking for a perfect model of faith, St. Alphonsus says, we can look to Mary. The theologian Francisco Suárez teaches that the most holy Virgin had more faith than all men and angels. She saw her Son in the crib of Bethlehem, yet she believed him to be the Creator of the world. She saw him flee from Herod, yet she believed him to be the King of kings. She saw him born, yet... Read more

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... Read more

Imitate Mary’s charity St. Alphonsus reminds us that if we want to imitate Mary, we must give ourselves to practicing charity. “Mary’s love for us,” says St. Bonaventure, “hasn’t diminished now that she’s in heaven. It’s increased, because she now sees better the miseries of the world. Mary’s mercy toward the miserable was great when she was still in exile on earth; but it’s far greater now that she reigns in heaven.” Blessed is he, says the Mother of God,... Read more

How to celebrate Marian novenas What are some specific ways to observe a novena—nine days of special prayer—leading up to one of Our Lady’s feast days? St. Alphonsus proposes several possibilities. Those devoted to Mary are all attention and fervor in celebrating the novenas, or nine days preceding her festivals. And the Blessed Virgin is all love in granting countless and most special graces to them. St. Gertrude one day saw, under Mary’s mantle, a band of souls on whom the... Read more