Mary

When the weather starts to turn warmer, a great event typically takes place in my house — spring cleaning. With the windows wide open to let the fresh air blow through the house, I clean, scrub, organize, donate, and simplify my home where…

The painting, Annunciazione di Cestello by Sandro Botticelli, or the Cestello Annunciation, has always struck me. I first saw it in 2014 at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, as a sophomore in college spending my spring semester…

Our Lady’s love is like a stream that has its source in the Eternal Fountains, quenches the thirst of all, can never be drained, and ever flows back to its Source. — St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Jesus, Son of Mary, has no likeness among men, nor has Mary any likeness among women. He is the most beautiful of the living. She is a splendid dawn rising. – St. Bruno

If the hurricanes of temptation rise against you, or you are running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star — call on Mary! — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Why should human frailty fear to go to Mary? In her there is no austerity, nothing terrible: she is all sweetness, offering milk and wool to all. — St. Bernard

Your name, O Mary, is a precious ointment, which breathes forth the odor of divine grace. Let this ointment of salvation enter the inmost recesses of our souls. — St. Ambrose

Assuredly she who played the part of the Creator’s servant and Mother is in all strictness and truth in reality God’s Mother and Lady and Queen over all created things. — St. John of Damascus

Divine love so penetrated and filled the soul of Mary that no part of her was left untouched, so that she loved with her whole heart, with her whole soul, and her whole strength, and was full of grace. — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

It’s the middle of August. Summer is quickly coming to an end. Our calendars are busy with back-to-school shopping, sports practices beginning again, moving children to college, and enjoying the last days of relaxation before everything…