FEB. 9
THE Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before anything was made. From eternity I was brought forth, before the earth was made.
—Prov 8:22-23
REFLECTION. The Holy Spirit spoke of Mary by the mouth of the Prophets, foretold her by His oracles, and drew her portrait by means of figures.
He promised her in the events that preceded her and completed her in the events that followed her.
—St. Ildephonsus
PRAYER. O Mary, both before and after your birth you were looked after by God’s wonderful Providence. Make me realize that the same Providence is also guiding every event in this world and in my life.
FEB. 10
A GREAT sign appeared in heaven, a woman robed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head.
—Rev 12:1
REFLECTION. Mary is the glory of Virgins, the joy of Mothers, the bulwark of the Faithful, and the crown of the Church.
She is the model of the true Faith, the seat of Piety, the robe of Virtue, and the dwelling-place of the Holy Trinity.
—St. Proclus
PRAYER. O Mary, you desire to bring forth true believers in your Divine Son. Help me to be a lifelong follower of Jesus and so deserve to enjoy eternal bliss with you in heaven.
FEB. 11
I HAVE sanctified this temple that you have built to put my name upon it forever, and my eyes and my heart will always be there.
—1 Ki 9:3
REFLECTION. In no other spot as much as Lourdes do we feel so impelled toward prayer, forgetfulness of self, and charity. The most fervent are attracted to a life more totally offered to God’s service.
The less fervent become aware of their tepidity and rediscover the way of prayer. Hardened sinners and unbelievers are often touched by grace.
—Pope Pius XII
PRAYER. O Mary, turn my heart into a miniature Lourdes where I can honor you each day and receive spiritual strength for my earthly journey.
FEB. 12
I SPREAD out my branches like a terebinth, and my branches are glorious and so graceful. Like the vine I bud forth delights, and my blossoms become fair and abundant fruit.
—Sir 24:16-17
REFLECTION. The grace of Mary is outstanding indeed, superabundant and overflowing.
It gave glory to heaven, begot God on earth, filled the Angels with joy, and brought peace to the world.
—St. Lawrence Justinian
PRAYER. O Mary, in you is all grace and you hold the key to the grace of Christ. Obtain for me all the graces I need in my state in life and help me to cooperate with them faithfully.
FEB. 13
THEN in a dream he saw a ladder resting on the ground, with its top reaching to heaven; and God’s angels were ascending and descending.
—Gen 28:12
REFLECTION. Mary may be truly called the Stairway of Heaven.
By her God descended from heaven to the world so that by her we might ascend from earth to heaven.
—St. Fulgentius
PRAYER. O Mary, you are our Stairway to Paradise. Teach me to live in such a way that I may climb a step closer to heaven with each passing day and ultimately attain the Beatific Vision forever.
FEB. 14
LET all who fly to you for refuge rejoice and exult forever. Watch over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
—Ps 5:12
REFLECTION. Place your trust in Mary and go to her in your sorrows.
She will strengthen your will, heal the wounds of your soul, and give you new courage.
—Venerable Francis Libermann
PRAYER. O Mary, I place all my trust in you. Stay with me always, despite my weaknesses and all kinds of difficulties. Renew my flagging courage and never forsake me.
FEB. 15
WHEN you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will repay you.
—Mt 6:6
REFLECTION. Mary’s whole life was one continual colloquy.
It was a colloquy with the heavenly Father and with the Holy Spirit, her Divine Spouse.
—St. Francis de Sales
PRAYER. O Mary, you are our exemplar of prayer. Teach me the science of praying. Help me to set aside each day time for prayer—with the Father, the Holy Spirit, and your Divine Son Jesus.
FEB. 16
TOGETHER with her, all good things came to me, and in her hands are countless riches. And I delighted in them all, since … she was their mother.
—Wis 7:11-12
REFLECTION. Mary is the Mother and Dispensatrix of all grace.
Every servant of this great Queen should affirm: “Thanks to my devotion to Mary, all blessings have come to me.”
—St. Antoninus
PRAYER. O Mary, all that is good in me comes from God through you. I offer you my humble gratitude and ask you to thank your Divine Son on my behalf.
FEB. 17
SAY to the daughter of Zion: See, your savior comes! Behold, his reward is with him, his recompense before him.
—Isa 62:11
REFLECTION. Mary stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him.
She is also the exalted Daughter of Zion in whom the times are fulfilled and the New Plan of salvation is established.
—Vatican II: The Church, 55
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the humble yet exalted Daughter of the Lord. Teach me true humility, which is so prized by your Divine Son.
FEB. 18
I COUNT life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry given to me … to bear witness to the Gospel of the grace of God.
—Acts 20:24
REFLECTION. O my Mother, let it be done to me! Let life be done to me! Let suffering be done to me!
Let even death be done to me, O Mother, as long as I remain united with your Immaculate Heart!
—St. Bernadette
PRAYER. O Mary, I offer myself entirely to God through your hands and after your example. I accept whatever He wills for me and ask you to keep me faithful to this resolve.
FEB. 19
EVEN though I should walk in the valley of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me.
—Ps 23:4
REFLECTION. Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd and our Mother, is renowned for obtaining all kinds of good things for her children.
May she always be our trust and our hope!
—St. Germanus
PRAYER. O Mary, you continually watch over the flock of your Divine Son. Be ever at my side with your unfailing aid, so that I may follow the Good Shepherd closely and dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
FEB. 20
BLESSED are you who have believed because the things promised you by the Lord shall be fulfilled.
—Lk 1:45
REFLECTION. Mary was blessed by conceiving the flesh of Christ. But she was even more blessed by receiving the faith of Christ!
—St. Augustine
PRAYER. O Mary, you are forever identified as “the Virgin who believed.” Grant me some measure of the faith you exhibited. Help me to believe in God’s Word more and more every day.
FEB. 21
DO not be deceived…. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration.
—Jas 1:16-17
REFLECTION. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in no way detracts from the glory of God.
Rather it leads us directly back to that Author of all good Who has willed her to be so great and so pure.
—Pope Pius XII
PRAYER. O Mary, honor paid to you always leads to the praise of God. Grant me a true devotion to you, so that I may be more deeply devoted to your Divine Son, Jesus, Who is our Redeemer.
FEB. 22
YOU are Peter, and upon this roc
k I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it.
—Mt 16:18
REFLECTION. Peter was entrusted with the Church, the Mother of human beings, but John was entrusted with Mary, the Mother of God.
John loved her like his own mother and was loved by her as her own son.
—St. Peter Damien
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Mother of the Church as well as the Mother of God. Keep me close to you so that I may be a true child of God and a faithful member of His holy Church.
FEB. 23
WHO singles you out? What do you have that you have not received? And if you have received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
—1 Cor 4:7
REFLECTION. How dear are humble souls to Mary! She recognizes and loves those who love her and is near to all who call upon her.
This is especially true of those who she sees are like her in chastity and humility.
—St. Bernard
PRAYER. O Mary, you love humility because you know how little we are when set against God’s greatness. Help me to be ever grateful to the Lord for His overwhelming goodness to me.
FEB. 24
DO not remain in the company of drunkards nor with those who gorge themselves at meals. For they soon come to ruin and are clothed in rags.
—Prov 23:20-21
REFLECTION. Mary would never have found such grace had she not been moderate in her food.
For grace and gluttony cannot exist together.
—St. Bonaventure
PRAYER. O Mary, you were a model of self-control with your food. Help me to avoid any kind of gluttony so that I may always be ready to cooperate with the grace of Jesus in me.
FEB. 25
THE angel answered and said to [Mary], “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
—Lk 1:35
REFLECTION. The Holy Spirit heated, inflamed, and melted Mary with love, as fire does to iron.
Thus, the flame of this Holy Spirit was seen, and nothing was felt but the fire of the love of God.
—St. Ildephonsus
PRAYER. O Mary, you were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and with overwhelming love for God. Obtain for me a greater love for God that will overflow in more frequent prayer and a more dedicated Christian life.
FEB. 26
REMEMBER us, O Lord. Reveal yourself in this time of our tribulation, and give me courage, O King of gods and Master of every dominion.
Est C: 23 (14:12)
REFLECTION. Great was the mercy of Mary toward the afflicted when she was still on earth.
But it is far greater now that she is in heaven. For she better sees the miseries suffered by human beings.
—St. Bonaventure
PRAYER. O Mary, you continually come to the aid of the afflicted in this world. Pray for me during my earthly exile and bring me safely to heaven’s blissful shore.
FEB. 27
GIVE and it shall be given to you; a good measure … shall they pour into your lap. For with the same measure that you use, it shall be measured out for you.
—Lk 6:38
REFLECTION. Blessed are they, says the Divine Mother, who pay attention to my charity and, in imitation of me, practice it toward others.
Our charity toward our neighbor will be the measure of that which God and Mary will show us.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
PRAYER. O Mary, you always showed true charity toward others. Enable me to overcome my human prejudices and be charitable to all people, for they are my brothers and sisters in Christ.
FEB. 28
IT is good for me to be close to God, to trust always in the Lord God. I will proclaim all your deeds.
—Ps 73:28
REFLECTION. Hope takes its rise in faith. God enlightens us by faith to know His goodness and the promises He has made and so rise by hope to the desire of possessing Him.
Since Mary had the virtue of faith in the highest degree, she also had hope to that same degree.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Mother of Hope. Help me never to despair. In every difficulty, lead me to rely on God’s promises and place my hope in Him completely.
March
MAR. 1
IN a robe of striking colors she is led to the king; behind her the virgin companions are brought to you. They are borne in with gladness and rejoicing; they enter the palace of the king.
—Ps 45:15-16
REFLECTION. With reason is Mary called “the Virgin of virgins”; for she, without the counsel or example of others, was the first who offered her virginity to God.
Thus did she bring all virgins who imitate her to God, as David foretold (in Psalm 45).
—St. Albert the Great
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Virgin of virgins. Let me be true to my state in life. May I prize purity as the best means of remaining united with God.
MAR. 2
THE Lord our God is one! You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with all your strength.
—Mk 12:29-30
REFLECTION. Divine love so inflamed Mary that nothing earthly could enter her affections.
She was always enkindled with God’s heavenly ardor and, so to speak, inebriated with it.
—St. Sophronius
PRAYER. O Mary, the eyes of your soul were constantly on God with love. Help me to love God with an undivided heart and with the full force of all my being.
MAR. 3
I WAS with him forming all things and was delighted every day playing in his presence, playing in the world.
—Prov 8:30
REFLECTION. So pleasing to God was Mary’s humility that He was constrained by His goodness to entrust to her the Word, His only Son. And it was that dearest Mother who gave Him to us.
—St. Catherine of Siena
PRAYER. O Mary, Mother of humility, teach me the humility that draws your Divine Son to the soul. May I desire to offer whatever I have to Jesus and do everything for His glory.
MAR. 4
HOLOCAUSTS and sin offerings did not please you. Then I said, “As is written of me in the head of the book, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”
—Heb 10:6-7
REFLECTION. Mary’s sole object in this world was to keep her eyes constantly focused on God so as to discover His will.
Then when she had found out what God wanted, she did it.
—St. Bernardine of Siena
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the obedient Daughter of the Father who cooperated with Him in the salvation worked by Jesus. In every situation make known God’s will to me and help me to carry it out willingly.
MAR. 5
GOD is love, and whoever abides in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is brought to perfection among us.
—1 Jn 4:16
REFLECTION. The Heart of Mary constituted a perfect empire for the Divine Love, which always reigned therein.
And it caused to reign therein all the laws of God, all the maxims of heaven, and all the Christian virtues.
—St. John Eudes
PRAYER. O Mary, your Heart was a burning vessel of God’s love. Fill my heart with love for God and let me thank Him every day for His great love in sending His only Son to obtain my salvation.
MAR. 6
RECEIVE my instruction and not silver, and choose knowledge before gold. For wisdom is better than precious stones, and no object of desire can compare with her.
—Prov 8:10-11
REFLECTION. Read attentively the book of purity that is Mary, written by the finger of God.
Read the holiness, the love, the kindness, the humility—in short, read the vast fullness of all the virtues.
—St. Thomas of Villanova
PRAYER. O Mary, help me to learn from you how to lead a Christian life. Let me strive to imitate the virtues you exhibited, for you were the closest follow
er of your Divine Son Jesus on earth.
MAR. 7
JESUS told [the disciples] a parable about praying without losing heart.
—Lk 18:1
REFLECTION. After Jesus Christ, the Divine Mother was the most perfect in prayer of all who have ever been or will ever be.
Mary’s prayer was continual and persevering!
—St. Albert the Great
PRAYER. O Mary, you are the Model of Prayer. Teach me to love and appreciate prayer as you did. Help me to pray morning, noon, or night, in every circumstance of life and in any personal mood.
MAR. 8
WHOEVER is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
—Mt 23:11-12
REFLECTION. Apart from the Son of God, no creature in the world was so exalted as Mary.
For no creature in the world ever humbled itself so much as she did!
—St. Bernardine of Siena
PRAYER. O Mary, you are exalted over all because you were the humblest of all. Let me imitate your humility and merit one day to share in your exaltation in heaven.
MAR. 9
A PATH shall be there called the holy way; the unclean shall not pass over it…. And on it shall walk the delivered.
—Isa 35:8-9
REFLECTION. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help me to live a holy life and die a holy death.
Then at the last instants of my life, may she come to my assistance and lead me to heaven.
—St. Dominic Savio
PRAYER. O Mary, you led St. Dominic along the “holy way” during his short life on earth. Lead me too along this way of holiness so that I may one day join him and you in the eternal holiness of heaven.
MAR. 10
RUN to win. Everyone who competes for a prize abstains in every way…. I chastise my body and train it lest after having preached to others, I myself shall become a castaway.
—1 Cor 9:24-27
Mary Day by Day Page 3
