Guidelines on the Mary’s way

“[C. Its lasting fruit: Jesus Christ] Chosen soul, provided you thus carefully cultivate the Tree of Life, which has been freshly planted in your soul by the Holy Spirit, I can assure you that in a short time it will grow so tall that the birds of the air will make their home in it. It will become such a good tree that it will yield in due season the sweet and adorable Fruit of honour and grace, which is Jesus, who has always been and will always be the only fruit of Mary.

Happy is that soul in which Mary, the Tree of Life, is planted. Happier still is the soul in which she has been able to grow and blossom. Happier again is the soul in which she brings forth her fruit. But happiest of all is the soul which savours the sweetness of Mary’s fruit and preserves it up till death and then beyond to all eternity. Amen.”

St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of Mary, 78

Every day renew your consecration into the slavery of love

In order to live your consecration to Our Lady, you need to arouse this intention every day and pray a short act of consecration according to St. Louis: “I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, your most holy Mother. Amen!”

Read and meditate on Scripture

Mary says: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Every day read a fragment of Scripture and meditate on it.

Every Sunday attend Holy Mass

To be together with Mary and closer to her Son, every Sunday, you should attend Mass, which is the manifestation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Take the sacrament of penance every month

In order to unite your pure heart with Mary and her Son, it is important to take the sacrament of penance and reconciliation every month.

Every day pray the rosary

To fulfil Mary’s wish, we should pray the rosary daily, meditating on the mysteries of redemption from Christ’s Incarnation through His teaching, Passion and Death till the resurrection and crowning of Mary in the glory of heaven.

Pray through fasting

While the world tempts us to prioritise our “self” and indulge ourselves, Mary, in her apparitions, e.g., in Fatima, asked for fasting. This is a very efficient practice of following Mary’s way.

Serve others with love

To live daily the most important commandment of loving God and other people, through willingness to help and serve others: at home, at work, in your parish, in the homeland. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40).

Be a part of the community

Involve with all your heart. Your first community is your loved ones—your spouse, home, family. The second important community is your parish. Go to your parish priest and ask if there are any parish communities you could join and how you could get engaged in parish life if only the responsibilities of your status allow it. You can participate in the devotions of the first Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays, as well as the rosary or the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Remember that your parish is your second home, and God certainly gave you some talent you can share with others. Thanks to the parish community, you can grow in your faith with your brothers and sisters.

Deepen your understanding of the true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and live it

As St. Louis put it, all your works do “by Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary; so that we may do them all the more perfectly by Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.”^[i] Read A Treatise on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in which St. Louis gives various practices and recommendations on how to follow daily the path of Mary.

^[i] St. Louis de Montfort, A Treatise on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, (Catholic Way Publishing: London, 2013), 257.