Mary
did not so much repeat acts of love as other saints do, but her whole life was
one continued act of it; for, by a special privilege, she always actually loved
God. (1) Bernadine de Bustis
Home Page
Mary
Introduction
Mary's Litany
Virginity is a voluntary choice to remain free from experiencing the legitimate pleasures associated with the married life.
Mary, before the visit by the angel who announced she would become the Mother of God, Mary had dedicated her life to the practice of virginity, which was possible even while she was under the care of Joseph. She was a virgin at the time of the angel's visit, while she bore Jesus in her womb, at his birth, and during her life which followed. Through the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived the Son of God, and she remained the Virgin Mother of His Son.
Mary is highest model of virginity and can rightly be venerated as the Virgin of Virgins. Who else has been favored as has Mary. Who else can claim the honor of the Mother of all humanity redeemed by her Son than the Mother of the Son of God. Mary, had the honor of being created unsoiled by sin. She willingly became God's instrument and Mother of Mankind, and is rightly honored with the title, "Queen of Virgins."
Mary
did not so much repeat acts of love as other saints do, but her whole life was
one continued act of it; for, by a special privilege, she always actually loved
God. (1) Bernadine de Bustis
Mary never had any thought, desire, or joy, but in and for God. She thought of nothing but God, nothing pleased her but God. (2) St. Bridget
Before
Gabriel communicates to her God's plan our Lady does not know she has been
chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Messiah. She sees herself
a humble creature. That is why she can acknowledge, with full humility,
that "he who is mighty has done great things" in her.
(3) St. Josemaria Escriva
In
Mary we don't find the slightest trace of the attitude of the foolish virgins,
who obey, but thoughtlessly. Our Lady listens attentively to what God
wants, ponders what she doesn't fully understand and asks about what she doesn't
know. (4) St. Josemaria Escriva
As
flies are driven away by a great fire, so were the evil spirits driven away by
Mary's intense love; so much so, that they did not even dare approach her.
(5) Richard of St. Victor
The Blessed Virgin was terrible to the princes of darkness, so that they did not presume to tempt or approach her; for the fire of her charity repulsed them. (6) Richard of St. Victor
When St. John said, 'and there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun,' he meant Mary was so closely united to God by love, and penetrated so deeply the abyss of divine wisdom, that, without a personal union with God, it would seem impossible for a creature to have a closer union with him. (7) St. Bernard
Divine love so penetrated and filled the soul of Mary, that no part of her was left untouched; so that she loved with her whole heart, with her whole soul, with her whole strength, and was full of grace. (8) St. Bernard
God,
who is love, came on earth to enkindle in the hearts of all the flame of his
divine love; but in no heart did he enkindle so much as in that of his Mother;
for her heart was entirely pure from all earthly affections, and fully prepared
to burn with this blessed flame. (9) St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Divine love so inflamed Mary, that nothing earthly could enter her affections; she was always burning with this heavenly flame, and, so to say, inebriated with it. (10) St. Sophronius
The
duties of active life did not prevent Mary from loving, and love did not prevent
her from attending to those duties.
(11) St. Peter Damian
Mary's soul, freely tended toward God; so much so, that she was then wrapped in more perfect contemplation than any other person ever was when awake. (12) St. Bernardine
As long as Mary lived in this world she was continually loving God. (13) St. Bernardine
By
her intense charity the Blessed Virgin became so beautiful, and so enamored of
her God, that, captivated as it were by her love, he descended into her womb and
became man. (14) St. Bernardine
Mary desires nothing more than to see her beloved, who is God loved. (15) St. Bridget
If we also desire to burn with these blessed flames of divine love, let us always try to draw nearer to our Mother by our prayers and the affections of our souls. (16) St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My own sweet Mother, you were always and in all things inflamed with love toward God; be pleased, then, to give at least a spark to me. (17) St. Francis de Sales
So
that God may more easily hear our prayers and supplications, let us lift our
eyes and hands to the Blessed Mother Mary, Immaculate Virgin. We could not
find a more powerful protectress or one more irresistible before God. She
is for us the best of mothers, our safest confidante and in fact the very motive
of our hope: she obtains all she asks for and her prayer is always heard.
(18) Pius IX, pope
So powerful, indeed, is the Blessed Virgin with God and his only begotten Son that, as Dante observes, anyone who desires his help and fails to have recourse to Mary is like one trying to fly without wings. (19) Pius XII, pope
May the most powerful Virgin Mary, who at one time by her charity co-operated in the birth of the faithful in the Church, be still the instrument and guardian of our salvation. (20) Leo XIII, pope
God chose this most pure virgin for his Mother, that she might be an example of chastity to all. (21) St. Sophronis
Mary is the standard-bearer of virginity. (22) St. Ambrose
Mary is pure and a lover of purity. (23) St. John Damascene
Mary cannot endure those who are unchaste. But whoever has recourse to her will certainly be delivered from this vice, if he only pronounces her name with confidence. (24) St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Many have conquered impure temptations by only have devotion to her Immaculate Conception. (25) Venerable John d'Avila
O Mary, O most pure dove, how many are now in hell on account of the vice of impurity! Sovereign Lady, obtain us the grace always to call upon you in our temptations, and always seek your aid, saying, "Mary, Mary, help us. (26) St. Alphonsus de Liguori
When God was pleased to send his Son on earth that by becoming man he might redeem lost man, he chose for him a Virgin Mother, who, among all virgins, was the most pure, the most holy, and the most humble. (27) St. Alphonsus de Liguori
As the light of the sun so greatly surpasses that of the stars, that in it they are no longer visible; it so overwhelms them, that they are as if they were not; so does the great Virgin Mother surpass in sanctity the whole court of heaven. (28) St. Peter Damian
The
daughters saw her, and declared her most blessed; and they praised her.
(29) Canticles 6:8
While
the holy virgins are in heaven, you O most Blessed Lady, are their Queen; for
you were the first to give them the great example of consecrating their
virginity to God. (30)
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Home Page
Mary
Introduction
Mary's Litany