We go backward…
By the mere fact that we do not go forward, we go backward.
–Blessed Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
The Blessed Mother…
As the mother knows the needs better than the babe, so the Blessed Mother understands our cries and worries and knows them better than we know ourselves.
–Blessed Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
The bigness of God…
The humble, simple souls, who are little enough to see the bigness of God in the littleness of a Babe, are therefore the only ones who will ever understand the reason of His visitation. He came to this poor earth of ours to carry on an exchange; to say to us, as only the Good God could say: ‘you give me your humanity, and I will give you my Divinity; you give me your time, and I will give you My eternity; you give me your broken heart, and I will give you Love; you give me your nothingness, and I will give you My all.
–Blessed Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
Most pure Virgin…
Come, let us wonder at the virgin most pure, wondrous in herself, unique in creation, she gave birth, yet knew no man; her pure soul with wonder was filled, daily her mind gave praise in joy at the twofold wonder: her virginity preserved, her child most dear. Blessed is He who shone forth from her!
–Saint Ephrem of Syria (c. 306 – 373)
Seven precious gems…
In between these resplendent lilies her Son placed seven precious gems.
- The first gem is her outstanding virtuousness, for there exists no virtue in any other spirit or in any other body, which she does not possess more excellently.
- The second gem is her perfect purity, for the Queen of Heaven was so pure that not a single stain of sin was ever to be found in her from the beginning when she first entered the world up to the final day of her death.
- The third gem was her beauty, for God is praised constantly by his saints for the beauty of his Mother. Her beauty completes the joy of the holy angels and of all holy souls.
- The fourth precious gem in the crown is the Virgin Mothers’ wisdom, for she was filled with all divine wisdom in God and through her all wisdom is completed and perfected.
- The fifth gem is power, for she is so powerful before God that she can crush anything that has been created or made.
- The sixth gem is her shining clarity, for she shines so clear that she even sheds light on the angels, whose eyes shine more clearly than light, and the demons do not dare to look upon her shining clarity.
- The seventh gem is the fullness of every delight and spiritual sweetness, since her fullness is such that there is no joy that she does not add to, no delight that is not made fuller and more perfect through her and through the blessed vision of her, for she is filled and replete with grace beyond all the saints….
Her Son placed these seven gems in between the seven lilies in her crown. Wherefore… honor and praise her with all your heart, for she is truly worthy of all praise and honor!’
–Saint Brigid of Sweden (1303-1373)
From Mary we learn…
From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!
–Saint John Paul (1920-2005)
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