“May the spirit of Mary be in each one of you”
My Mother! Mothers on earth look with greater love upon the weakest of their children, the one with the worst health, or who is least intelligent, or is a poor cripple. Sweet Lady, I know that you are more of a Mother than all other mothers put together. And, since I am your son, since I am weak, and ill, and crippled, and ugly ... (The Forge, 234)
“Nothing is worthwhile if we are not close to Our Lord”
Mary, your Mother, will bring you to the Love of Jesus. There you will be cum gaudio et pace, with joy and peace. And you will be always "brought", because on your own you would fall and get covered with mud: you will be brought onward, brought to believe, to love, and to suffer. (The Forge, 677)
“Go with confidence to the Virgin Mary”
When you see yourself with a dry heart, without knowing what to say, go with confidence to the Virgin Mary. Say to her, "My Mother Immaculate, intercede for me.'' If you invoke her with faith, she will make you taste in the midst of your dryness the proximity of God. (Furrow, 695)
“It is beautiful to live holy purity”
Without God's help it is impossible to live a clean life. God wants us to be humble, and to ask him for his help through our Mother who is his Mother.
“Help of Christians”
Auxilium christianorum! -- Help of Christians, says the litany of Loreto with confidence. Have you tried to repeat that aspiration in time of difficulty? If you do it with faith, with the tenderness of a daughter or a son, you will discover the power of the intercession of your Holy Mother Mary, who will lead you to victory. (Furrow, 180)
“With your help, Lord, I’ll fight”
Mary's humble song of joy, the Magnificat, recalls to our minds the infinite generosity of the Lord towards those who become like children towards those who abase themselves and are sincerely aware that they are nothing. (The Forge, 608)
“Why do we men become dejected?”
"Blessed are you for believing'', said Elizabeth to our Mother. Union with God, supernatural virtue, always brings with it the attractive practice of human virtues: Mary brought joy to her cousin's home, because she brought Christ. (Furrow, 566)
“Service, my children, service: that is our role”
In the middle of the rejoicing at the feast in Cana, only Mary notices that they are short of wine. A soul will notice even the smallest details of service if, like her, it is alive with a passion for helping its neighbour, for God. (Furrow, 631)
“Mary... looking for the son who was lost”
Mary spent three days and three nights looking for the son who was lost. May you and I also be able to say that our willingness to find Jesus knows no rest. (Furrow, 794)
“Magnificat anima mea Dominum!”
What must the cheerful way that Jesus looked upon people have been like? It must have been the same which shone from the eyes of his Mother who could not contain her joy -- Magnificat anima mea Dominum! -- and her soul glorified the Lord while she carried Him within her and by her side. Oh, Mother! May we, like you, rejoice to be with Him and to hold Him. (Furrow, 95)