“All of them persisted in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and His brothers” / Acts 1:12-14 / Immerse us, Mother, in this invocation of the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father and Jesus; unite our hearts with Yours; strengthen our perseverance; and teach us to pray after Your example.“The few preserved words of Mary’s prayer constitute a complete school of prayer. ‘Let it be done to me according to your word,’ Mary responds at the Annunciation, thereby showing that she remains entirely at God’s disposal. The primary purpose of every form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation is to grow in openness, allowing our body and soul to be like Mary’s body and soul: an open vessel containing God’s life, or to put it negatively: growing out of oneself, out of all self-absorption and self-will. Whoever attends Mary’s school of prayer does not seek spiritual “experiences,” nor does he wish to “fulfill himself” through prayer.The only thing they desire is to be emptied of what is their own, to make room for God. When we choose Mary as our teacher in the art of prayer, our eyes are more easily opened to everything that hinders God’s freedom and binds His hands.. We come to realize more clearly that we are still serving ourselves rather than being “the Lord’s servants.” To pray actually always means—consciously or unconsciously—to be like Mary; yes, to be Mary.” / W. Stinissen, OCD / Mary, who watches over us—pray for us
Siostry Maryi Niepokalanej