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

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM VIRGINISQUE DEIPARAE

Father Chaminade summarizes the duty of making Mary Known, Loved and served by speaking of glorifying her. To the motto of St. Ignatius Loyola, Ad majorem Dei gloriam, he added Mary's glory.

Entrusting a delicate mission to Father Caillet, he closed the letter of obedience with these words: "May you in everything and in every place remember this motto of the Society of Mary, 'To the greater glory of God and of His Virgin Mother.'"

Earlier he had written to Father Caillet, "We hope our advice is wise through God's grace and the protection of the Blessed Virgin, for whose glory we wish to work until the end. Ad majorem Dei gloriam Virginisque Deiparae."

-- Emil Neubert, S.M.
OUR GIFT FROM GOD
p. 253

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