Mary’s moments in the New Testament are few, precious, and significant. Sometimes, she teaches by her actions. Other times, she teaches us by her seeming inaction. Why would Mary, the mother of Jesus, born free of original sin, need to purify her heart? We venerate her Immaculate Heart to contemplate her love of God and the earthly journey on which he took her. What could we, normal, struggling children of God hope to learn from such a woman about purifying our own hearts? Ah, that’s the thing about Mary. Like the family members and friends we most admire and desire to emulate, she shows strength in her vulnerability. Her lessons, while challenging, are as gentle as the shepherd we see in the Lord’s face.
— from the book Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith by Melanie Rigney
