May 24th Fast

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JMJ

"Finally, God in these times wishes His Blessed Mother to more known, loved,, and honored than she has ever been. . . They [the elect] will perceive the splendors of this Queen and will consecrate themselves entirely to her service as subjects and slaves of love. They will experience her motherly kindness and affection for her children.  They will love her tenderly and will appreciate how full of compassion she is and how much they stand in need of her help. . . But what will they be like, these servants, these slaves, these children of Mary? . . . They will carry the gold of love in their heart, the frankincense of prayer in their mind and the myrrh of mortification in their body. . . Lastly, they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating His poverty, His humility, His contempt of the world and His love. . . . They will carry the crucifix in their right hand and the rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart. . . Such are the great men to come." 

( True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St. Louis de Montfort, no. 55-56, 59)

To have joy in our vocations and peace in our families, we must learn to love as Christ loves.  We must seek a way to His Most Sacred Heart, there to abide forever.  Who knows Him better than the one who felt His heart beat along with hers for nine months?  She, who carried Him in her most blessed womb, knows Him more intimately than any being ever could.  Mary is the perfect model for family life: she is the Queen of Peace, yet also the Mother of Sorrows.  She understands our difficulties, has experienced our joys and suffered our sadness.  Just as a little child clings to his mother so must we cling to our Mother, Mary most Holy.  She will guide us, she will comfort us, she will show us the path to Her Divine Son.

Are we seeking to grow in virtue?  There is no example better than Mary to show us the way.  St. Louis de Montfort lists her ten principal virtues: profound humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic sweetness, and heavenly wisdom.  Cannot all these to be practiced daily as we strive for holiness in our vocation, as we strive for peace in our home?  

As He offered His life for us on the cross, Christ also offered us the gift of His Beloved Mother.  She is ours, and we must be hers.  To spend time with her is to spend time with Him.  She loves us most tenderly, and, as any mother, desires only our happiness.  Go to her in times of rejoicing for she has been at Bethlehem. Go to her in times of sorrow for she has been at Calvary.  Go to her during the daily struggles of work and family life for she has lived at the home in Nazareth.  After Christ ascended into heaven, we can imagine the apostles going to Mary for guidance and comfort during the early days of the Church.  Should we not also go to her as we seek to build up our own domestic church?

In any vocation, we are called to be servants, and who better to show us than she who was the "handmaid of the Lord".  She, who was the first servant of the Master, will gladly help us to serve Him through serving others.  May Mary always cover you with her mantle and keep you close to her Immaculate Heart!