Meditations on the Life of Mary, Introduction

Devotions for the month of May

Mary's Vocation

From stmichaelsociety.com

I. Let your prayer at the beginning of the month of May be for a true devotion to our blessed Lady.
     To speed your prayer on its way, make little acts of mortification, such as denying yourself some delicacy at table, keeping silence when your feelings are hurt, checking curiosity, preserving a cheerful countenance under all circumstances, being patient when your plans are thwarted, visiting the Blessed Sacrament when doing so means sacrificing a little pleasure, striving to perform the daily little duties well and carefully in imitation of Mary. By these and similar practices we honor Mary and advance our prayer by making it more pleasing to God.
     Why should we observe the month of May? For the love of Jesus, for the love of Mary, and for the good of our own souls.
     True devotion comes from God and leads to God.
     The fundamental rule in regard to the homage which we offer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints is, that it must ultimately be referred to God and our eternal salvation. Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin would be of no avail if it did not tend toward our union with God, toward possessing Him eternally.
     True devotion extends itself to the saints without being separated from the eternal Source of all sanctity.
     "For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus" (I Cor 3). Let Him be the foundation of our devotion to His holy Mother.
     We are not able to honor our blessed Lady adequately, since, through her, Jesus has come to us. Oh, how destined her before all ages to be the Mother of the Saviour of the world. And having called her to fill this most glorious office, He would not have her be a mere channel of grace, but an instrument cooperating, both by her excellent qualities and by her own free will, in the great work of our Redemption.
     For thousands of years the world had been expecting the promised Messias. The fulness of time has now come. The eternal Father sends a heavenly messenger to Mary, to treat with her of the mystery of the Incarnation. She pronounces the word "Fiat!" "Be it done!" And the heavens open; the earth possess a Saviour; Mary has become the Mother of God.
     Years pass by. The time has arrived when the great sacrifice is to be consummated. We find Mary at the foot of the cross. With the dying breath of Jesus she receives the Church as an inheritance. Mary becomes our Mother.
     These are the two great titles which give Mary a claim on our veneration and affection. She is like a fountain from which the waters of grace have spread themselves abundantly over the whole human race. As we have once received through her Jesus, the Source of all blessing and grace, so we also obtain through her powerful intercession the various effects and applications of this grace in all the circumstances of life. Her maternal charity, which shines forth in the mystery of the Incarnation, also causes her to take a share in the consequences of this universal principle of benediction. Thus Mary is, by her intercession the Mother of all Christians, the Mother of all men. Her overflowing charity is an appropriate instrument for the operations of grace.
     Who is better able than Mary to plead in our behalf? She can confidently speak to the Heart of her divine Son, where her wishes, her sentiments, find an echo. She fears no refusal. The love of the Son makes Him lend a favorable ear to the request of His Mother.

From the Catholic Girl's Guide, which I've written about here, and here.