Votive Mass for Mary, Cause of Our Joy

St. Louis de Montfort writes that, “Mary is the cause of our joy because, through her, we received the greatest gift—Jesus Christ.” And Bishop Fulton J. Sheen writes that Mary is also the cause of our joy because of her love for us. 

Being loved is one of life’s greatest gifts.  Mary is loved by God beyond anything we can imagine.  She said, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” and she spreads her joy by loving us.  How good is that! 

By contrast, Vladimir Lenin once said, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”  But there is no real joy in violence and hatred for others.  Likewise, Voltaire, the French philosopher and historian famous for his criticisms of Christianity once wrote, “I wish I had never been born.”

I like the wisdom of St. Teresa of Calcutta who said, “A Sister [or Brother] who is filled with joy preaches without preaching.” 

In my personal experience, I found joy by following the example of Mary who prayed Psalms and verses of Scripture in her heart, where she kept the Word of God as in a treasure chest, where she found joy in the presence of Jesus, as we do praying before the Blessed Sacrament.