Our Blessed Mother Mary is God’s most highly favored daughter, the most blessed among women for she was chosen from all women to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We dare compare ourselves with such a perfect being. Yet, Our Lady lived an ordinary life like the other women of her day. St. Josemaria said: “ Mary most holy, Mother of God, passes unnoticed, just as one more among women of her town. Learn from her to live with “naturalness.” (The Way, #499)
The following passage from St. Josemaria Escriva’s Christ is Passing By, beautifully expresses the ordinary life of Our Lady: “We can't forget that Mary spent nearly every day of her life just like millions of other women who look after their family, bring up their children and take care of the house. Mary sanctifies the ordinary everyday things — what some people wrongly regard as unimportant and insignificant: everyday work, looking after those closest to you, visits to friends and relatives. What a blessed ordinariness, that can be so full of love of God!
For that's what explains Mary's life — her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live. If we act in this way, we give those around us the example of a simple and normal life which is consistent, even though it has all the limitations and defects which are part and parcel of the human condition. And when they see that we live the same life as they do, they will ask us: Why are you so happy? How do you manage to overcome selfishness and comfort-seeking? Who has taught you to understand others, to live well and to spend yourself in the service of others? Then we must disclose to them the divine secret of christian existence. We must speak to them about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Mary. The time has come for us to use our poor words to communicate the depth of God's love which grace has poured into our souls.”
Consider these words from Mary of Nazareth by Frederico Suarez. “It is encouraging for us to know our Lady achieved her incomparable sanctity through these small, everyday actions. All our life, so ordinary, so monotonous, made up of little joys and unimportant sorrows, of commonplace occupations and happenings can become something very great if we do everything for love, with enthusiasm and trying for perfection.”
Our Lady truly was an extraordinary woman who lived an ordinary life. Each day we should try to emulate her virtue. The following “little prayers”, known as aspirations are a simple way of maintaining close contact with our Blessed Lady throughout our day.
SOME ASPIRATIONS TO OUR LADY
Holy Mary, our hope handmaid of the Lord, pray for us
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Holy Mary, our hope, seat of wisdom, pray for us
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Holy Mary, star of the sea, help your children
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Mother of fair love, help your children
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Queen of Apostles, pray for us
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Show that you are our mother
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Sweet Heart of Mary, prepare a safe way for us
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