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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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“Having learned the lesson of humility perfectly, Mary disappeared from her own eyes and glorified God through her divine Son.”

For Reflection:             

This quote describes the end of all true prayer and a life of faith – union with God. Humility is the path that takes us there. What resolution do I wish to make today in light of this truth?

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“Mary surpassed all others in wisdom, because her intimate union with Christ was the measure and sum of her enlightenment. She is truly the Seat of Wisdom, because she was the living tabernacle of the God of infinite wisdom.”

For Reflection:            � Though I am not the seat of wisdom, in a certain way, I become a seat of wisdom each time I receive the Eucharistic Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ. For those precious few moments, I, too, become a tabernacle of the God of infinite wisdom. I will ponder this great truth and journal my reflection.

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“If God should choose a soul in which to accomplish an extraordinary work, He is in no way bound to enlighten the soul so that it may understand the means whereby the work will be accomplished. But He does condescend to ask that soul’s generous correspondence with Him…”

For Reflection:             

How does this quote apply to Our Lady? How does it apply to me? On a scale of 1 to 10, to what extent do I believe nothing is impossible with God? To what extent do I believe this is true in my own life?

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The sacraments, those masterpieces of divine ingenuity, were instituted not only to dower our souls with the riches of Heaven, but also to smooth for us the path of Christian righteousness so that we might run the way of God’s commandments with enlarged hearts and with a joy that earth knows not.”

For Reflection:              Following this quote, Father Kane gives us four effects of the sacraments that help us live this lesson as perfectly as did Our Lady who did not need the Sacraments to aid her. He tells us they should:

• detach us from the world
• make us “labor for the meat which endureth unto life everlasting” (John 6:27)
• annihilate our natural selves
• make us ardent lovers of Christ crucified

How have I experienced these benefits through the Sacraments of the Church?

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“It is the most cogent proof of our overweening pride to think that God gives us His best gifts just because we hanker after them. Humility is the price of God’s most precious favors. ‘Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord’ (Prov. 16:5). ‘God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble’ (James 4:6).”

For Reflection:              Identify what you consider to be some of God’s special graces. How could “hankering after” them be damaging to spiritual growth? Humility is the virtue highlighted here. Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate my heart to the occasions God offers me to practice this virtue today, and I will assess my progress in my evening examination of conscience.

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“A life of strong, living faith is a life of unwavering submission to Divine Providence. Convinced of this truth, we will never permit the dictates of human prudence to enter into the equation of our conformity to the divine will.”

For Reflection:              To live by faith alone is no easy virtue to acquire. How does Mary’s life characterize this virtue and what practical strategies does Scripture suggest she employed to help her do so? What strategies can I use in my everyday life to assist me?

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