Mary Day by Day
Page 2
—St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER. O Mary, help me to know you and be devoted to you more each day, so that I may obtain the graces God wants to bestow on me.
JAN. 11
KEEP my commands and you shall live; guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
—Prov 7:2-3
REFLECTION. Entrust your cause to her who is the Mother of Mercy, and zealously offer her day by day most special marks of reverence.
Endeavor to maintain within both body and soul the spotlessness of her purity, and walk in her footsteps, humbly and gently like her.
—St. Bonaventure
PRAYER. O Mary, let me be devoted to you in heart and soul ever more and more. And help me to put that devotion into practice daily by more closely imitating your life and virtues.
JAN. 12
BY me kings reign, and lawmakers decree justice. By me princes govern, and the mighty establish justice.
—Prov 8:15-16
REFLECTION. To serve Mary and to be her courtier is the greatest honor we can possibly possess.
For to serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign on high, and to live under her commands is a greater thing than to govern!
—St. John Damascene
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Grant me the privilege of serving you with love and fidelity all my life. Let me realize that in serving you I am serving Christ the Lord.
JAN. 13
FOR whoever finds me finds life and receives salvation from the Lord. But whoever does not find me hurts himself. They love death who hate me.
—Prov 8:35-36
REFLECTION. In the order of grace, God usually communicates Himself to human beings only through Mary.
If we want to go to Him and be united with Him, we must use the very means he used to come down to us. That means is a true devotion to our Lady.
—St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER. O Mary, you are our most powerful intermediary with Christ and thus with the Blessed Trinity. Teach me what God desires of me, and help me to go to Jesus through you.
JAN. 14
YOU shall separate three cities… [where] a person who kills another may take refuge … to save his life when [he] unintentionally kills his neighbor.
—Deut 19:2-4
REFLECTION. Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor.
Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner.
—St. Anthony of Padua
PRAYER. O Mary, if I am ever so unfortunate as to lose God’s grace, move me to take refuge in you. Help me to flee to my city of refuge, for you will lead me to Jesus.
JAN. 15
TO you, O men, I call; my appeal is to all mankind. You simple ones, gain prudence; you fools, gain understanding.
—Prov 8:4-5
REFLECTION. Those who want to prevent their heart from being pervaded by the evils of earth should entrust it to the Blessed Virgin, our Lady and our Mother. They will then regain it in heaven, freed from all evils.
—St. Francis de Sales
PRAYER. O Mary, move me to entrust my heart and affections to you. By your prayers keep me from all evil and firmly attached to your Divine Son forever.
JAN. 16
HORRIBLE is the death [an evil tongue] inflicts; the netherworld is preferable to it. It has no power over the just; they will not be burned in its flames.
—Sir 28:21-22
REFLECTION. Mary’s words were discreet, and her voice was measured.
She did not shout and she was careful not to say anything bad about another person—nor even to listen willingly to wrong that was spoken.
—St. Athanasius
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Model of Right Speech. Help me to avoid idle gossip as well as intemperate words. Let me make use of right speech to communicate with and help others rather than confuse and hurt them.
JAN. 17
THE angel Gabriel was sent from God … to a virgin … a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And when the angel had come to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
—Lk 1:26-28
REFLECTION. The salvation of the whole world began with the “Hail Mary.”
Hence, the salvation of each person is also attached to this prayer.
—St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER. O Mary, let the great prayer to you be on my lips morning, noon, and night. Enable me to say it especially at the hour of my death—for you will ensure my salvation.
JAN. 18
I … dwell in counsel and in learned thoughts…. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; mine are prudence and power.
—Prov 8:12-14
REFLECTION. When we dedicate ourselves to Mary, we become instruments in her hands just as she is an instrument in God’s hands.
Let us then be guided by her, for she will provide for the needs of body and soul and overcome all difficulties and anxieties.
—St. Maximilian Kolbe
PRAYER. O Mary, in all my trials and difficulties let me have recourse to Jesus through your intercession. And when I call upon you, please comfort me and lead me to your Divine Son.
JAN. 19
WITH me are riches and glory, enduring riches and justice. My fruit is better than pure gold, and my blossoms than rare silver.
—Prov 8:18-19
REFLECTION. Mary is the stem of the beautiful flower on which the Holy Spirit rests with the fullness of His gifts. Hence, those who want to obtain the seven gifts of the Spirit must seek the flower of the Holy Spirit on the stem [Mary].
We go to Jesus through Mary, and through Jesus we find the grace of the Holy Spirit.
—St. Bonaventure
PRAYER. O Mary, You are the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus, help me to reach the Spirit and obtain His surpassing gifts, so that I may live forever in the grip of the Spirit.
JAN. 20
HE who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.
— Lk 1:49-50
REFLECTION. While remaining the Mother of our Judge, Mary is a mother to us, full of mercy.
She constitutes our protection. She keeps us close to Christ, and she faithfully takes the matter of our salvation into her charge.
—St. Peter Canisius
PRAYER. O Mary, God filled you with grace and made you a Co-Redeemer with Christ your Son. Let me have constant recourse to you and attain the salvation you helped win for all.
JAN. 21
I HAVE taken root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
—Sir 24:12
REFLECTION. Many will not let devotion to the Blessed Virgin even take root in their hearts. But blessed is the person who accepts this grace and keeps it.
Such a devotion dwells in all who are the Lord’s heritage—in all who will praise Him eternally in heaven.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
PRAYER. O Mary, let me foster devotion to you within my heart. May one day not go by without my turning to you in prayer and meditation.
JAN. 22
HAVING therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
—2 Cor 7:1
REFLECTION. Those who have great devotion to Mary not only will be saved but also will, through her intercession, become great Saints. Furthermore, their holiness will grow from day to day.
—St. Vincent Palotti
PRAYER. O Mary, grant me such deep devotion to you that it will lead me to thirst after holiness. Make me realize that my first purpose in life is to be holy with the aid of the grace Jesus won for me.
/>
JAN. 23
THE light will be among you only a little longer. Walk while there still is light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark knows not where he is going.
—Jn 12:35
REFLECTION. Go to Mary, then. Praise her, and you will be enlightened.
For it is through her that the true Light shines on the sea of this world.
—St. Ildephonsus
PRAYER. O Mary, grant me always to have the Light of the World. Help me to walk in the Light of Christ all my days, so that I may know where I am going and avoid all evil.
JAN. 24
BLESSED is the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways.
—Prov 8:34
REFLECTION. My most pleasant task is saying my Rosary and praying to my heavenly Mother.
It is the most pure joy of my heart!
—St. Francis de Sales
PRAYER. O Mary, my Mother in heaven, let me pray to you each day and say my Rosary. Help me to regard this as my heart’s purest joy and my soul’s greatest delight.
JAN. 25
EVERYONE who asks, receives; and the one who searches, finds; and to the one who knocks, it shall be opened.
—Lk 11:10
REFLECTION. In His eagerness to show you, mercy, God has given His Son as your Advocate.
And then to make your confidence even stronger, He has given you another Advocate, who obtains through her prayers whatever she asks. Go to Mary, and you will see salvation.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
PRAYER. O Mary, God has given you to me as a most powerful Advocate. Let me call upon you in any trouble and especially in time of danger to my eternal salvation.
JAN. 26
SET me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death, and jealousy as hard as the netherworld; its flames are a blazing fire.
—Song 8:6
REFLECTION. O Mother of love, you have given me your Heart.
Now take firm possession of my heart and offer it completely to the pure love and sole glory of your beloved Son.
—St. John Eudes
PRAYER. O Mary, you love all your spiritual children with a never-ending love. Grant me an undying love for you and your Divine Son Jesus both in time and for all eternity.
JAN. 27
COME, eat my bread, and drink the wine I have mixed for you! … For by me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.
—Prov 9:5, 11
REFLECTION. You never think of Mary without Mary thinking of God on your behalf.
Neither do you ever praise and honor God without Mary praising and honoring God in union with you.
—St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER. O Mary, I thank God for giving you to human beings as our intercessor. Help me to collaborate with you in praising God and in saving the souls of those whom Jesus came to redeem.
JAN. 28
I AM the root and the descendant of David as well as the bright morning star.
—Rev 22:16
REFLECTION. The Blessed Virgin Mary is called the Star of the Sea.
Those who sail the ocean seas are guided to the port they seek by carefully observing the stars. In the same way, Christians are guided to heavenly glory by keeping their eyes on Mary.
—St. Thomas Aquinas
PRAYER. O Mary, bright Morning Star for all the earth, let the rays of your Son’s grace shine ever upon me. Be my loving guide until at last I arrive safely at the heavenly shore.
JAN. 29
YOU have wounded my heart…. You have wounded my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one link of your necklace.
—Song 4:9
REFLECTION. In danger, anguish, or doubt, think of Mary and call upon her!
Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair. Contemplating her, you will never go wrong.
—St. Bernard
PRAYER. O Mary, let my mind and heart be ever focused on you. Watch over me as you lovingly watched over Jesus in His childhood during the Hidden Years at Nazareth.
JAN. 30
I LOVE those who love me, and those who watch for me find me.
—Prov 8:17
REFLECTION. Blessed are those who abandon themselves into our Lady’s hands.
Their names are written in the Book of Life.
—St. Bonaventure
PRAYER. O Mary, I entrust myself into your hands. I give you my body and my soul, my thoughts and my actions, my life and my death. Help me to love Jesus above all things.
JAN. 31
MY son, forget not my teaching, and let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you length of days and years of peace.
—Prov 3:1-2
REFLECTION. When Mary became the Mother of Jesus, true God and true Man, she also became our Mother.
In His great mercy, Jesus wished to call us His brothers and sisters, and by this name He constituted us adopted children of Mary.
—St. John Bosco
PRAYER. O Mary, let me be devoted to you as my Mother and to Jesus as my Brother. Help me to follow your teaching, which is that of your Divine Son.
February
FEB. 1
O ALL you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
—Lam 1:12
REFLECTION. Human beings will never comprehend sufficiently the anguish and immensity of Mary’s sorrows.
Very few Christians partake of those sufferings and even fewer offer any consolation to her.
—St. Bridget
PRAYER. O Mary, let me dwell constantly on your part in the Redemption, which entailed great sorrow for you. Teach me to be compassionate with you in your sufferings and unite myself to them.
FEB. 2
AND suddenly the Lord whom you seek, and the Messenger of his covenant whom you desire, shall come to his temple, says the Lord of hosts.
—Mal 3:1
REFLECTION. The Presentation in the Temple … is the celebration of the Mystery of Salvation accomplished by Christ.
The Blessed Virgin was intimately associated in this Mystery as the Mother of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, as the one who performs a mission belonging to ancient Israel, and as the model of the new People of God.
—Pope Paul VI
PRAYER. O Mary, you felt joy and sorrow during the Presentation. Teach me to accept both joy and sorrow with equanimity, since God works everything out for our good.
FEB. 3
FOR who is God but the Lord? What rock is there except our God? God who has girt me with strength and kept my way secure.
—Ps 18:32-33
REFLECTION. We must look upon Mary as an accomplished model of every virtue and perfection that the Holy Spirit has fashioned in any simple creature.
We will then be able to imitate her in the way suitable to each of us.
—St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Model of every virtue. Help me to study your life and imitate your virtues in the way God intends for me.
FEB. 4
ABRAM believed God and it was credited to him as an act of righteousness.
—Gen 15:6
REFLECTION. Mary is the heir and fulfillment of the faith of Abraham. Just as he is regarded as “our father,” so Mary must with greater reason be regarded as “our Mother” in faith.
Through Mary’s faith and obedience, all the families of the earth are blessed, in accord with the promise made to Abraham (see Gen 12:3).
—Pope John Paul II
PRAYER. O Mary, you are my Mother in faith. Let me model my faith after your own. Increase it from day to day, so that upon my death that faith may be changed into vision in heaven.
FEB. 5
MARY said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
—Lk 1:38
REFLECTION. See the humility. Note the devotion. She w
ho has been chosen to be the Mother of the Lord calls herself His handmaid!
In no way does she become haughty over this promise of such an exalted position. She does not take as a right what is freely given as a grace.
—St. Ambrose
PRAYER. O Mary, you remained humble despite the great grace bestowed on you as Mother of God. Help me to remain humble in all situations for it is God Who does all the good in us.
FEB. 6
NOW therefore, children, listen to me. Hear instruction and be wise and do not reject it.
—Prov 8:32-33
REFLECTION. No one, O most holy Mary, can know God but through you. No one can be saved or redeemed but through you, O Mother of God.
No one obtains mercy but through you, O full of grace.
—St. Germanus
PRAYER. O Mary, reveal Jesus to me more and more. In getting to know the Son, may I also get to know the Father—for Jesus said that this is eternal life.
FEB. 7
BE sober and alert. Your enemy the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, and stand firm in the faith.
—1 Pet 5:8-9
REFLECTION. The devil is always looking for someone to devour.
In the same way, Mary is always looking for someone she can help in any way.
—St. Leo the Great
PRAYER. O Mary, you are especially vigilant in protecting those devoted to you. Defend me from the snares of the devil and keep me ever safe in your loving care.
FEB. 8
BEFORE they cry out, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
—Isa 65:24
REFLECTION. Mary is more prompt than all the Saints in coming to our aid. She has a great desire to comfort us.
The moment she is invoked, she welcomes our prayers and grants us her assistance.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
PRAYER. O Mary, you are ready to hear us at every moment. Let me remain united with you all my days and seek your powerful help in time of trial and temptation.