Happy Feast of Mary, Mother of God!!!

"And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her." 
- Luke 1:38

"His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever He tells you."'
- John 2:5

"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity."
- Saint Basil the Great

"If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you."
- Saint John Vianney

"If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady, just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit, this prayer has never failed me."
- Blessed Mother Teresa

"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence."
- Saint Francis de Sales

"The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary."
- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"The world being unworthy to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, He gave His Son to Mary for the world to receive Him from her."
- Saint Augustine

"Even while living in the world, the heart of Mary was so filled with motherly tenderness and compassion for men that no-one ever suffered so much for their own pains, as Mary suffered for the pains of her children."
- Saint Jerome

"As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary."
- Saint Thomas Aquinas

"The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."
- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"To give worthy praise to the Lord's mercy, we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because she is chosen from among men and angels. Through her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through her, man became pleasing to God; Through her, streams of grace flowed down upon us."
- Saint Faustina

"So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? . . . Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her Son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace . . . and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva

"May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her most holy Son, every heavenly blessing."
- Saint Padre Pio

"In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear."
- Saint Therese of Lisieux

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Thanks to the Jesuits for these quotes! May Our Lady intercede for them and make them great saints like their holy Father Ignatius and their older brothers St. Francis Xavier and St. Peter Canisius!

And now, one more quote, this time from our sponsor, little brother of Jesus and St. Therese, and smallest son of Mary, Servant of God Marcel Van:

Mother, you know my great weakness; however my weakness and my misfortune will be a reason for unshakeable confidence. Yes, dear Mother, I hope, I hope always and, even if I should not see little Jesus again, I would still hope nevertheless. You doubtless understand very well also that little Jesus, being more mischievous than me, likes this game of hide and seek a lot. Where, therefore, is He hiding so well? However, where else would He be able to hide than under your cloak? One thing is certain; I will end up by finding Him one day. Little Jesus must find it very amusing to be so well hidden; and when He see me looking for Him everywhere without succeeding in finding Him, He must find in that a greater joy, thinking Himself very skillful. However, dear Mother, since you doubtless know where little Jesus is hiding, I am asking you to pass on to Him this advice: "Little Jesus, be careful; don't rejoice too soon, You could regret it. The day will come when You will have to take the initiative and come to me. I know You very well; if I am not there to play with You, You will be very bored even if the game, in itself is very interesting." Mother, all that remains for me now is to wait. . . Nevertheless, the anchor of my hope always remains secure in the Love of Jesus.
- Marcel Van, Conversations (with Jesus, Mary, and Therese of the Child Jesus), February 11, 1946

Wishing you a year full of miracles, Mary, and Marcel!

Draw me; we will run!!!