Dear Participants,

Thanks for joining me in this 30-days retreat with Mary! I do not doubt that our Heavenly Mother will be of tremendous help in our spiritual growth. As we walk the path of life with Mary, individually and as a group, let us try to be present for one another and lift up each other in our daily prayers. Please share your thoughts, prayers, and experiences in the comments section. 

United in prayer,

- Danielle. 

And now, let's head to our retreat!

Today, we will introduce Mary to you:

How well do you know Mary? Perhaps you think that she was privileged? That she had it all laid down since the beginning? After all, she was without sin and wasn't tempted to sin, which made her life rather easy...

But let's delve a little bit further: Mary is sinless indeed, that's a reality, but that doesn't mean that she didn't have to grow and progress, make decisions and exercise her free will. Her entire life is a profession of faith, from the Annunciation until the end of her life. And in that, she's a fascinating role model. In the Annunciation event, her inner life is displayed in bright sun, and she shows faithfulness and confidence in God's plan, as we will see progressively throughout this retreat. Mary is an anticipation of what we're called to live too: to show the same confidence and trust in God's plan, surrendering to Him, and walk in glory. 

Remember, Mary lived a human life, like us: she knew the Messiah was coming, she knew her scriptures, she believed that God reveals Himself to His people, that Abraham is the father of the believers. She remembered the detailed prophecies of Isaiah about the Prince of Peace. 

Thus, believing is somehow "seeing the invisible": believing that God exists, believing in a better place. The Council tells us that Mary believed in the promised salvation. 

We will discover in the upcoming days on what paths of faith will Mary lead us...

Let us pray: 

In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose you this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to you as your slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present, and future; leaving to you the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to your good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and eternity. Amen. 

Artwork: The Virgin, by Joseph Stella.