Devotion of the day: the sacrifice of the Virgin Mary

The age of Mary's sacrifice. Joachim and Anna are believed to have led Mary to the temple. Three year old girl; and the Virgin, already endowed with the use of reason and the ability to discern the good and the best, while her relatives presented Her to the priest, offered herself to the Lord, and consecrated herself to Him. Reflect on the age of Mary: a three years ... How soon his sanctification begins! ... And you at what age did you begin? Does it still seem too early now?

The way of the sacrifice of Mary. Generous souls do not halve their offerings. On that day Mary sacrificed her body to God with the vow of chastity; he sacrificed his mind to think only of God; he sacrificed his heart to admit no lover but God; he sacrifices everything to God with readiness, with generosity, with loving joy. What a beautiful example! Can you imitate him? With what generosity do you make those little sacrifices that happen to you during the day?

The constancy of sacrifice. Mary offered herself to God at an early age, never again withdrew the word. She will live long years, many thorns will prick her, she will become the Mother of Sorrow, but her heart, both in the temple, both in Nazareth and on Calvary, will always remain fixed in God, consecrated to God; in any place, time or circumstance, nothing else will want but God's will. What a reproach for your inconstancy!

PRACTICE. - Offer yourself entirely to Jesus through the hands of Mary; reads the Ave maris stella.