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“In the trials most repugnant to our natural selves, when we are misunderstood, misrepresented, or calumniated, let us be silent and, like Jesus and Mary, make no attempt at justification… The soul that is dead to itself has mastered the fine art of living.”

For Reflection:

How hard is this virtue to practice! And how imperfectly I live it. Perhaps the key is to die to self in the small affronts I experience each day so that when greater persecutions come I will be spiritually prepared. What are my thoughts about this?

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“When, through the reception of God’s favors, we are placed in a false light, we should rejoice that God has enabled us to overturn the idol of our self-love and thus to love Him above all things for His own love-worthy sake.”

For Reflection:             

Read John 15: 18-21. What parallels do you see between this quote and the scripture passage? Think of a time when you have been misunderstood. How did you respond? In light of these quotes and in light of your increase of wisdom, what would be your response now? Make a promise to try to remember this lesson of Our Lady the next time you are misunderstood.

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“The house of Elizabeth, under the blessed influence of Mary, became a school of perfect sanctity in which everything was said and done from religious principle, thus enabling the mother of the Baptist to progress in holiness and allowing the virtues of Christ’s precursor to develop…”

For Reflection:             

Holy Mother Church tells us our homes are to be domestic churches. Am I a blessed influence in my home? To what extent could my home be called a school of perfect sanctity? In what ways am I succeeding in this regard? In what ways can I improve?

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“Who can estimate the degree of grace conferred on Elizabeth through daily contact with the Mother of God? Bearing in her chaste womb the Creator of men and the lord of angels, she infused blessings of the highest spiritual order into the soul of her virtuous relative, not only by her words and actions, but, by her mere presence.”

For Reflection:             

In what situations have I imitated Our Blessed Mother by blessing others by my presence. Is there a situation where I can do so today? Am I willing – why or why not?

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“It is through serving God faithfully that man becomes the beneficiary of his Creator’s mercy.”

For Reflection:             

In what ways do I serve God faithfully? Where do I need to become more diligent in my service?

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“We desire God’s favors for our own individual gain, and not for our advancement in virtue and the consequent glorification of their divine Donor. Mary’s self-renunciation should teach us how to overcome this deadly vice, even though the price of victory is for us, as it was for her, moral crucifixion.”

For Reflection:              Define what you think is meant by “moral crucifixion.” How was this so for Mary in her self-renunciation? How has this been so for you in the passages of your life? Do I truly want to be victorious?

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The 31 “lessons” and the quotes in this month of March come from the book written by Father John A. Kane entitled The School of Mary: Forty Essential Lessons for Sinners from the Blessed Mother Herself, ©, 1999. They are used with the permission of Sophia Institute Press.

“Mary, being dead to herself, never longed for God to speak to her until He deemed it necessary for the accomplishment of His designs in her regard.”

For Reflection:       

What do I think it means that Mary was “dead to herself?” To what extent can I say the same about myself? Am I willing to remain “dead” as I await the accomplishment of God’s designs in me? What about me can help? What can hinder? Which virtue do I need to employ?

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“In his perplexity, the person should not ask for a sign from Heaven, but, with filial trust in God, should await the divine comfort with which God will allay his fears and dispel his anxiety at the time best suited to further his spiritual progress.”

 For Reflection: 

The operative word in the quote above is await. How hard this is! And yet, Mary images this so perfectly for us. What are some of the moments of waiting she endured? Is God asking me to wait right now perhaps for a response to a prayer, a solution for a difficult problem, insight for a deep worry or concern? What does the quote tell me I need to employ? I will ask Mary for her motherly help and assistance.

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“To the superficial observer, the visit of Mary to her cousin may seem a very ordinary event in her life. But how momentous it was to God the Father, who, through the presence of His most favored daughter, wished to sanctify the precursor of His divine Son!”

For Reflection:             

This is an amazing quote to reflect upon. What most strikes me about it? I will journal my reflection. In imitation of Mary, I will seek to bring Christ to all those whom I meet today. At the close of the day, I will journal about these instances.

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“Self-knowledge is at the root of all real growth in holiness…Humility is the heart and soul of virtue. It is humility that gives power and efficacy to all we do for God.”

For Reflection:             

True humility is in knowing who we are, with all of our strengths and weakness, and who God is, in His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. How do we see Mary’s humility both in the words she speaks at the annunciation and through her Magnificat? Think of three instances in Sacred Scripture where she displays it in her actions. I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me identify my strengths and weaknesses that I might grow in self-knowledge and, thus, Humility.

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