Vessel of devotion . . .

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Mary Introduction
Mary's Litany

 

God has given Mary alone, the honor, the glory, and exalted position of being the Mother of God and the spiritual mother of all whom her son has come to redeem.  The love she has for us, her loyalty to sustain and support us in view of her Son's infinite merits and her faithfulness to lead her children always to her Son makes Mary the most perfect means we have to reach God, her Son.  We must have the highest affection of Mary because of her love for us.

 

Mary has made herself all to all, and opens her merciful heart to all, that all may receive of her fullness: the sick, health: those in affliction, comfort: the sinner, pardon: and God, glory. (1)  St. Bernard-abbot of Clairvaux

Oh sinner, whoever you are – grown old in sin, imbedded in wickedness, despair not.  Thank your lord, who that he might show you mercy, has not only given his son for your advocate, but, to encourage you to greater confidence, has provided you with a Mediatrix, who, by her prayers obtains whatever she will.  Go to her, have recourse to Mary, and you will be saved. (2)  St. Bernard-abbot of Clairvaux

Oh dearest mother Mary, help me to fulfill in all things the most holy will of your son, Jesus.  Help me that I may nevermore offend him.
  (3)  St. John Newumann

In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.  (4)  St. Therese of Lisieux

The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them.  (5)  St. Louis Marie de Montfort

May I give you some advice for you to put into practice daily?  When your heart makes you feel those low cravings, say slowly to the Immaculate Virgin: Look on me with compassion.  Don’t abandon me.  Don’t abandon me, my Mother!  - -  And recommend this prayer to others.  (6)  St. Josemaria Escriva

What the most blessed Virgin Mary wants of us is not to lose sight of Jesus, her Son, the divine model of all humans.  We should always look up to Him with confidence,  From her, we shall receive the graces to imitate Him. (7)  St. Vincent Pillotti

This love of Mary has indeed obliged us to love her; for we see that she has surpassed all others in love towards us, since she has given her only Son; whom she loved more than herself, for us. (8)  St. Bonaventure

And now, if Mary is so good to all, even to the ungrateful and negligent, who love her but little, and seldom have recourse to her, how much more loving will she be to those who love her and often call upon her. (9)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Oh, how easy, is it for those who love Mary to find her, and to find her full of compassion and love. (10)  St. Albert the Great

Blessed is he who loves you, Mary.  If I love Mary, I am certain of perseverance, and shall obtain whatever I wish from God.
  (11)  Venerable John Berchmans

Oh, how much does the love of this good Mother exceed that of all her children!  Let them love her as much as they will, Mary is always amongst lovers the most loving. (12)  St. Ignatius the Martyr

Would that I had the hearts of all angels and saints, to love Mary as they love her - would that I had the lives of all men, to give them all for her love! (13  Rev. James Martinez

My most beloved Mother, I know that you love me, but you do not love me as much as I love you.  (Mary responded) What do you say - what do you say!  O, how much greater is the love that I bear you, than any love that you can have for me!  Know that the distance between heaven and earth is not so great as the distance between your love and mine. (14)  Blessed Alphonsus Rodriguez

She obtains all she asks for and her prayer is always heard. (15)  Pius IX, pope

Devotion consists in the readiness with which our will conforms itself to the will of God.  This was the principal virtue which rendered his most Holy Mother so dear to God. (16)  St. Thomas

Mary was more blessed by the union of her will with that of God than by being his Mother. (17)  Venerable Bede

The flower which always turns towards the sun is a real type of Mary.  The divine will was alone the aim and satisfaction of the heart of Mary. (18)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

O blessed are you my Lady, who was and in all things united to the divine will.  Obtain for me the grace to spend the rest of my life in constant conformity to the will of God. (19)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

We most readily admit that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator of justice, and that by his merits he obtains all the graces and salvation; but we say that Mary is the Mediatress of grace; and that receiving all she obtains through Jesus Christ, and because she prays and asks for it in the name of Jesus Christ, all the graces we receive, come to us through her intercession. (20)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Mary learned from Jesus!  From her very first "fiat, through the long, ordinary years of the hidden life, as she brought up Jesus, or when in Cana in Galilee, she asked for the first sign, or when finally on Calvary, by the Cross, she looked on Jesus, she "learned" him moment by moment.  Firstly in faith and then in her womb, she received the Body of Jesus and then gave birth to him.  Day after day, enraptured, she adored him.  She served him with solicitous love, singing the Magnificat in her heart.  Let Mary guide you as you "learn" Jesus.  Keep your eyes fixed on him.  Let him form you. (21)  Benedict XVI, pope

How necessary it is - both for the lives of individuals and for the serene and peaceful coexistence of all people - to see God as the center of all there is and the center of our personal lives.  The supreme example of this attitude is Mary, Mother of the Lord.  Throughout her earthly life, she was the Woman who listened, the Virgin whose heart was open towards God and towards others.  She is and remains the handmaid of the Lord who does not put herself at the center, but wants to lead us toward God, to teach us a way of life in which God is acknowledged as the center of all there is and the center of our personal lives. (22)  Benedict XVI, pope

The closer a person is to God, the closer he is to people.  We see this in Mary.  The fact that she is totally with God is the reason why she is so close to human beings. (23)  Benedict XVI, pope

Mary is the Mother of every consolation and every help, a Mother whom any one can dare to address in any kind of need in weakness and in sin, for she has understanding for everything and is for everyone the open power of creative goodness. (24)  Benedict XVI, pope

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Mary Introduction
Mary's Litany