We are accused of pompously eulogizing Mary and are blamed for the honor we render her. I do not refer to the impious, but rather to the poorly instructed Christians who do not know the gift of God in this miracle of His omnipotence. Can we really assert too much, do too much, provided we do not declare her equal to the Divinity, provided we make a distinction between her veneration and that of the Divinity? What has God said of Mary? What has He done for her? He is our Model!

-- W. Joseph Chaminade

PREACHING MARY BY EXAMPLE

"...in proportion as the Marian message of Father Chaminade becomes better known we shall be considered more and more as the religious called upon to reproduce, insofar as it is humanly possible, the fillial love of Jesus for His Mother. If we really try to render synonymous the words child of Mary and saint, our lives will be a continual Marian sermon. This, better than all the theological arguments we might advance, will promote devotion to Mary. If, on the other hand, we are satisfied with ordinary virtue, all our words about the importance of devotion to Mary will meet with the silent objection, 'What has this wonderful practice done for you?"'

-- Emil Neubert, S.M.
OUR GIFT FROM GOD
p. 257

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