Learning From The Best: Imitating Our Heavenly Mother

Children learn by example—and who better to emulate than one’s own mother?

A mother teaches her children so many things:  how to tie their shoes, how to help with the dishes and clean their rooms, how to jump a rope and to control one’s temper.  But the most important lessons are not in the realm of academics or athletics or even culture; rather, the mother’s greatest task is to impart virtue.

And our heavenly Mother Mary is the best model of all.

Marge Fenelon reminds us of that in her new book, Imitating Mary:  Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom. 

In Imitating Mary, Marge outlines spiritual goals which mothers (and everyone else!) should strive to model—virtues like patience, trust, obedience, endurance, courage, strength, hope and joy.  With each chapter’s “Thoughts to Ponder” and “Reflection and Application”, Marge shows us how the virtues are exemplified in Mary’s earthly life, and how we can draw from Mary’s example the practical wisdom we need to serve God in our homes and with our families.

Is this book clear, practical, down-to-earth?  As proof that every page of this spiritual book is warm, personal and immensely useful, I opened randomly to page 26.  There, in her chapter on Mary as “The Unwed Mother”, Marge offers some guidelines to help the reader to imitate Mary’s patience:

1. Explain things carefully to others, and remember that they’re not necessarily coming from the same perspective as you are.
2. Allow others the space to sort things out.
3. Seek counsel from someone who is older and wiser.
4. Surrender heartaches and misunderstandings to God.
5. Realize things aren’t always what they seem.
6. Ask Mary to help you become a woman of profound patience.

Marge Fenelon has combined easy readability with solid helps for the busy mom.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, in his endorsement of the book, says, “Marian virtues will come to life for you, and before you know it, you will be letting Mary spiritually mother you.”  Yep, that’s it exactly.

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I’m proud that Seasons of Grace was chosen to participate in the Blog Tour for Imitating Mary.  Check out the publisher’s page, listing all of the great bloggers who will feature Marge Fenelon’s just-released book.

And Ave Maria Press has just announced a contest!  You can win a copy of Imitating Mary by clicking at this link.