Mary, model of courageous faith, and tenderness 1. Mary has gone before us on the way of faith: believing the angel's message, she was the first to welcome the mystery of the Incarnation and did so perfectly [...] Jn 2: 1-5). Mary teaches Christians to live their faith as a demanding and engaging journey which, in every age and situation of life, requires courage and constant perseverance. 2. Mary's docility to [...] future and to abandon themselves to the Lord's promises. 4. Mary's example enables the Church better to appreciate the value of silence. Mary's silence is not only moderation in speech, but it is especially

expression in pious pictures dominated by feeling and romanticism: images of Mary abounded. Even in statuary, the Virgin Mary is often represented surrounded by clouds and cherubs (cf. the statue of Our

Mary's Cooperation in the Redemption Throughout the centuries, the Church has meditated on Mary's cooperation in the work of Salvation by deepening its understanding of her association to Christ's redeeming [...] title underlines Mary's joint and subordinated action to Christ the Redeemer Further work on the subject has used the same premises, particularly from the 15th century on. Some feared that Mary would be elevated [...] plant it in human hearts. We are all "cooperators in the work of Christ's Salvation," but applied to Mary though, the term of "cooperator" holds a particular meaning The collaboration of Christians to the

come from the consecration of a church dedicated to Mary, by Bishop Juvenal, in Kathisma (a stopping place where Mary may have rested between Nazareth and Bethlehem). However, it most likely came from the [...] Christianity has believed in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary since the first centuries of its history and the official feast of the Assumption probably dates back to as early as the sixth century. As [...] As Bishop Dubost (from France) writes in his book called Marie (Ed. Mame, Paris 2002): "The feast of the Assumption originated in Jerusalem, but it is hard to know when. The origin of the feast may come

And because she is Mother, Mary is an educator for us all. St. Louis de Montfort once even said that if we let Mary guide us, the path to Jesus is much easier and gentler... Mary is Mother so as to guide [...] Kingdom of Heaven. Mary, our Mother of Mercy, our surest refuge: How could Mary be our Mother, without being at the same time our refuge and our surest consolation before the face of God? Mary accepted all the [...] Who is Mary for us? Mother of the living, "Noah's Ark" that holds all humanity: Mary is first and foremost Mother! Of course, she is Mother of all Christians, since Jesus Himself gave his mother to all

and Wisdom of the Father; and that for our sake in these latter days He took flesh from the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and became man.” Again further on he says: “There have been many holy men, free from [...] was sanctified in his mother’s womb, and John while still in the womb leaped for joy at the voice of Mary, the Mother of God.” Athanasius is a man we can trust, one who deserves our complete confidence, for

Mary, Joseph and Spirituality Just imagine the incredible number of Christian institutions, orders and other religious congregations both for men and women, throughout the ages and spread over the entire [...] entire globe which have chosen the Virgin Mary as their model and patron saint. There is a multitude! How can we wonder why when we can see that a Marian dimension goes all along through the entire life of [...] of a Christian? In the first place, Mary is the Mother of the Redeemer and the Mother of the human race. She maternally accompanies us when we meet her Son and her prayers, interceding on our behalf, have

by God. Mary receives an announcement (Lk 1: 26-38) and so does Joseph (Mt 1: 18-25). After a short dialogue with the Angel, Mary gives her assent. Joseph first thinks of parting ways with Mary until the [...] (Mt 1 : 24) This phrase in the Gospel speaks volumes about the harmony between Joseph and Mary. The Fiat of Mary and the Fiat of Joseph are the fulfillment of the original harmony between Adam and Eve, [...] destroyed the previously harmonious relationship with God. Joseph and Mary are faithful to the Covenant : Joseph is just (Mt 1: 19) and Mary is the humble servant of the Lord (Lk 1:48) and they fulfill the

to affirm that Mary was a "preexisting" creature, she would have chosen the above readings for the mass of the Nativity of Mary (September 8th), or for the mass of the Conception of Mary (December 8th) [...] Through Mary, the Eternal Word, who is the Son of God, entered time. This contact we now have with the Eternal reality is our salvation. In this sense, Mary is a mediatrix of eternity, but she isn’t eternal [...] soul (be it men, Christ, or Mary) is heresy. Using correct terminology is important here. From Saint Irenaeus to the Second Vatican Council, the Church has always taught that Mary cannot be separated from

le way to imitation of the divine model, Jesus Christ, of whom she was the most faithful image... Mary's eminent sanctity was not only a singular gift of divine liberality. It was also the fruit of the [...] with the Evangelists, with the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church, full of admiration, contemplate Mary: firm in her faith, ready in obedience, simple in humility, exulting in praising the Lord, ardent