You claim to be the servants of Mary: do you really want to become like her in her sublime holiness? Then imitate, as far as you can, her lively faith, her prompt obedience, her deep humility, her selfless intentions, her generous love.
Is there any one of you that cannot make it your aim, with the help of God's grace, to follow Mary's example in the practice of these virtues?
Without such imitation your love for her will be a weak thing indeed, and you cannot expect to receive evident proof of her special protection.
True enough, you recite daily prayers in her honor; you give external signs of your devotion to her; you belong to a society that is especially consecrated to her. And all this binds her to ask God for the saving graces you need.
But if your devotion does not take you a step further and lead you to imitate her virtues, then your devotion will not save you.
The Philistines took possession of the ark of the Lord and adorned it with their gifts. But the ark did not become a source of blessing for them, because they continued to adore their idols as before.
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