The September feasts of our Blessed Mother — the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Most Holy Name of Mary and Our Lady of Sorrows — are Marian gems of the liturgical kind.

They reminded me of other kinds of Marian gems, specifically those in a recent book called Marian Gems.

The book’s subtitle — Daily Wisdom on Our Lady — sets the opening scene and reason for this great gem by Father Donald Calloway of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. It shines and sparkles with beauty and wisdom.

Father Calloway has written several books on Mary, including the exceptionally inspiring Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts From a 21st-Century Priest.

In that book, he included what he called Marian gems, words of wisdom and incredible insights about Our Lady that he had collected since his days as a seminarian.

He came across these treasures lying right out in the open in various fields, so to speak, as said by saints, blesseds, venerables and popes.

But how many people really walk in those fields? Or if they do, how many spot or collect these wonderful gems that inspire prayer and meditation and really and truly lift our minds, hearts and souls higher and higher toward heaven?

Not to worry: Father Calloway shares with everyone such major Marian gems, one for each day of the year. Plus, he mined one from Pope Francis for a 366th day for leap year.

Just look at a couple of random samples:

For so great is her dignity, so great her favor before God, that whosoever in his need will not have recourse to her is trying to fly without wings. – Pope Leo XIII

O what an honor for us to do battle under this valiant captainess! – St. Francis de Sales

God, who gave us Jesus Christ, wills that all graces that have been, that are and will be dispensed to men to the end of the world through the merits of Jesus Christ should be dispensed by the hands and through the intercession of Mary. – St. Alphonsus Ligouri

God has willed that we should have nothing that would not pass through the hands of Mary. – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Blessed, indeed, are those Christians who bind themselves faithfully and completely to her as to a secure anchor! The violent storms of the world will not make them flounder or carry away their heavenly riches. Blessed are those who enter into her as into another Noah’s Ark! – St. Louis de Montfort

The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is a pledge of salvation for every human creature. – St. John Paul II

Let those who think the Church pays too much attention to Mary give heed to the fact that our blessed Lord himself gave ten times as much of his life to her as he gave to his apostles. – Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

In our day, Our Lady has been given to us as the best defense against the evils that afflict modern life; Marian devotion is the sure guarantee of her maternal protection and safeguard in the hour of temptation. – Pope Benedict XVI

 

These few samples show the beauty and the uplifting spirit of these Marian Gems. 

They will make our hearts, minds and souls sparkle, as they reflect the daily gem’s beauty and wisdom.

Best way to start is to go to Marian.org and the bookstore to pick up the priceless Marian Gems.