Fundamental to the Marist movement is the conviction that it was Mary’s initiative which called the Society of Mary into existence. She expressed her desire in these words: “Here is what I want . . . a Society which will have my name, which will be called the Society of Mary, whose members will call themselves Marists.†It is she who chose and called the first Marists into her enterprise by giving them her name.
“By Gracious Choiceâ€
To be a Marist in this tradition is to have a sense of being chosen and called by Mary. We use the term “gracious choice†to describe this particular gift. Marists feel themselves in some mysterious way called to be not only followers of Christ (as all Christians are) but also called by Mary to bear her name and share in her concern for the Church, the world, and the whole human race. This grace is an invitation to participate in her spirit and in her desire to see the Gospel of Jesus take root in our contemporary world. Marist groups may use a variety of names, but what is important is that the name of Mary be present in some form and that members live her spirit. The unity of all Marists lies in the name and spirit of Mary which she has bestowed on them, they are convinced, as pure grace, by a “gracious choice.â€
“I supported the Church at her birth; I shall do so again at the end of time.â€
According to the Acts of the Apostles, Mary was present at Pentecost, the birth of the Church, and according to Marist insight, she was its support. One of the ways she wishes to be present in the Church and in the world again is through a family of believers who live her spirit and do her work of gathering the whole world to her Son and who, touched by God’s mercy, become truly one, one in mind and heart. This family is a group of people whose task it is to support the communion of the Church as it comes into being today in the same way that Mary supported it at the beginning. Today there are so many places where the Church is being born or re-born, emerging or re-emerging, places in the center or at the edges where people search for community in which they can hear the Good News proclaimed to them.
“A tree with several branchesâ€
An image for the Society of Mary is that of a “tree with several branches.†Father Colin originally envisioned a multi-branched congregation, a vast enterprise embracing all people: lay people as well as religious, brothers, sisters, and priests, all working for the same goal. It is an image that captured the imagination of the first Marists.
Mary – The Person
When Marists look to Mary they always see her as a person, an individual, in relationship with God the Father, with her Son Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit, as well as in relationship with the Church and with the contemporary world.
“To Think as Mary, judge as Mary, feel and act as Mary in all things.â€
Marists take Mary as their model in all that they do. They come gradually to think, judge, feel, and act in a new way—Mary’s way. This is an entire approach to life, and acquiring it, of course, flows from the action of the Holy Spirit at work in the Marist throughout a life-long process. It may seem paradoxical, but this new way calls for a deep, personal relationship with Mary, without, however, making her the central focus of one’s life. The emphasis here is not on piety toward Mary or keeping her constantly in our spiritual life, but rather on living like Mary, adopting her faith, her point of view, her whole approach to life. In the most profound sense, this means to make Mary present to our world today.
“Hidden and Unknown in the Worldâ€
This phrase touches on the singular manner in which Marists live their lives, striving to bring the men and women of their time to Jesus Christ. Think of Mary in the early Christian community at Jerusalem. We know that she was vitally present, but with a presence at once quiet and unassuming. Marists take this figure of Mary as their model in the way they evangelize. They adopt a low-profile approach, never pushy, always having great respect for others and understanding their weaknesses. Marists will try to avoid anything which could get in the way of someone’s quest to know Jesus. This includes shunning anything flamboyant or that makes a big show. To pattern oneself on Mary in this way does not imply to withdraw or hide from others. It means, rather, to be engaged fully in life, but in a simple, gentle, and humble way. The Marist who lives by this maxim, “hidden and unknown in the world,†will go personally unnoticed while yet doing great good for others.
“Instruments of Divine Mercyâ€
God’s love for us in Jesus Christ lies at the very center of the Christian message. This love reaches out as mercy to everyone, especially to those who are alienated from God or from the Church. In this context, Marists see Mary as the Mother of Mercy who indeed cherishes humanity, especially those who are lost, or excluded, or neglected, and who suffer greatly as a result. Marists, after all, have themselves been first the recipients of this mercy and in turn want to be instruments of mercy to others. Scripture describes God’s relentless love and tireless search for sinners. So, when Marists hear the invitation to become “instruments of divine mercy,†they accept the call and the challenge to portray this merciful face of God and to build a Church which is perceived not in terms of power, control, or competition, but rather in terms of community, compassion, simplicity and, above all, mercy. For this reason Marists are to welcome and embrace all, to the exclusion of no one, and to have an open heart for all.
Woman, Mother, and Disciple
Marists look to Mary as the first and best disciple of Jesus. As disciple, the focus of her attention was away from herself and always on Jesus. Although Scripture says very little about her, we know that she stood there in the community, among the first group of believers, as the Lord’s disciple; she had been a disciple from the Annunciation on. We could even correctly call her a “charter member†of the Church.
Luke the evangelist describes Mary as: one who hears the word of God and accepts it wholeheartedly; one who believes that what she has heard will be fulfilled; one who treasures what she has been told and ponders it; one who hears the word of God, keeps it, and puts it into practice; one who is with the disciples in the community, praying continuously, receiving the Holy Spirit, and witnessing to the Resurrection. Hence we learn a great deal about Mary when we reflect on her presence in the Church as woman, as mother, and as disciple.
As woman and as mother of the Lord and mother of the Church, Mary’s one thought was for the health and growth of the Christian community. Marists see her in that early group as supporting, nourishing, encouraging others, especially its leaders, the apostles chosen by her Son. In these activities she truly acts like a mother, remaining unobtrusive, out of the spotlight, “hidden.â€
As disciple, Mary heard and welcomed the Word, pondered it, searched its meaning for her life, and then acted on it. Marists who live this way of life, will help a “disciple Church†to emerge: a Church that listens to, submits to, and acts upon the Word which has been proclaimed. This will be a Church whose members strive to discover the Gospel together and to live it as Mary did.
“Tasting God†and Trusting “in God aloneâ€
From their personal experience the first Marists believed that once a person had “tasted God†everything else would fall into place. “Tasting God†in prayer, it turns out, was to be a constantly repeated inner experience, even in the busiest moments of a Marist’s life. Through that same experience, we too can develop a willingness to put all our trust in God alone and to be shaped into the image and likeness of God. Then we can pull back from our many activities, concerns, and projects, and remain alone with God, who little by little forms in us the Word we are to make flesh for our world.
Whatever your situation in life, as a Marist you can be a prayerful person. What this means is not necessarily saying long prayers or many prayers, or spending hours at prayer, but it means living in God’s presence, having a deep faith in God’s love, and also interceding, in your prayer, for the whole world. A Marist is concerned particularly with those who are lost, excluded, or neglected, those who seem far from God, and those who are searching. In Mary’s gentle way, a Marist seeks to point people like this directly to Jesus Christ. There are, of course, a thousand ways to pray and care for people. What is essential for the Marist is to be prayerful and apostolic in the spirit of Mary.
The Work of Mary – The Mission
“The Work of Maryâ€: a Missionary Spirit
When the early Marists, in the last century, spoke of the enterprise they were engaged in, they often used the expression, “the work of Mary,†indicating by this what Mary wanted done, at that time, by them. (Recall the phrase, “Here is what I want . . .â€) For us, too, at this particular turning point in our history, a time of great change when a new world is being born, we believe that Mary maintains a special interest in bringing the women and men of our time into contact with her Son, Jesus. Marists feel called to share in this concern of Mary’s and to become part of her family to work on her behalf. The term “work of Mary†covers both the whole breadth of the Society of Mary, including all its branches, as well as denoting that the conditions under which Marists work are not set by themselves but by Mary. It is, to be sure, her work, done on her terms. Marists embrace this missionary spirit, essentially open to all people. It excludes no one and would like to see a brotherhood and sisterhood of everyone united in Jesus Christ.
A Church with Mary’s Features
Here is a useful way to describe the work of the Marist enterprise: to enable the Church to grow and develop. The Church is made up of weak human beings and is in constant need of reform. Inasmuch as we are members of the Church, the way we live affects it. As Marists we want to live in such a way that the Church is ever more clearly a church of mercy and compassion, and a church where the Gospel is lived according to the manner of Mary, always reflecting Christ’s great love for the world. We want the Church to be a place where everyone can grow in the life of Christ, a place characterized by compassion and relationship. A church with “the face of Mary†would make a choice for compassion over competition, an option for relationship over dogmatism, for humility over power, for service over control. A church in which Mary is present will open its doors to welcome all people to Jesus Christ rather than issuing strict regulations so as to admit only some specially chosen souls. This goal of a church with a Marian face does not refer to promoting one or another special devotion to the Mother of Jesus, but it points, rather to Christ’s love and Mary’s presence in the Church community in such a way as to transform it into a more loving, more open, more inclusive, and more merciful church.
Nazareth Nazareth represents the first of two points of reference in Mary’s life and in the life of the first Marists. The second is Pentecost. Nazareth is the setting, Mary’s home, where Marists go in spirit to see things from the same vantage point that she saw them. At Nazareth, Mary “stored up in her heart†and pondered the words of Jesus. It is the place where slowly, silently, and unobtrusively Jesus grew in wisdom, age, and grace. As long as we stand in our own place in the world, we run the risk of being caught up in our own interests and ulterior motives. But at Nazareth we, too, can learn the wisdom that comes from seeing things from God’s point of view. Nazareth also serves as an approach to life, which simply means to “ponder the things of God†and treasure them in one’s heart.
From Nazareth we can get a balanced perspective on life. It could even be called a place of the heart: it is a place of silence and faith, a center point of stillness and tranquility. Nazareth means openness and growth and waiting for the Spirit who is gradually, quietly, and imperceptibly changing us from within.
Mary at Pentecost and in the Newborn Church
The mystery of the newborn Church following Pentecost, the image of Mary in the midst of the apostles and of the other first Christians, is the second major reference point for Marists. The Church came to birth in the Spirit’s fire, and as a result believers, in communion of mind and heart, gave powerful witness to the Resurrection of Jesus. We find here a rich figure of church: all believers from the very beginning until our own day, gathered around the apostles and Mary, and all living in harmony and unity. We picture Mary present in this group of her Son’s followers, and we acknowledge how much she is able to contribute to the life of the Church, in her hidden way, through her faith and wisdom.
The Marist
“Seek the Interests of Christ and Mary†– Be Useful Instruments
From the experience of early Marist days, Father Colin was convinced that it is not necessary to have great talent, or learning, or even great holiness to become a Marist. What is needed are individuals who can be useful instruments of God’s mercy, people who are free to set aside their own interests and plans in favor of those of Jesus and Mary, and who can put themselves in the shoes of the other person. Father Colin is challenging us in a sense to submit ourselves to others rather than impose ourselves on them. This allows the other person to hear more clearly not us, but the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thus does Father Colin call us to approach the people of our time with delicacy and sensitivity.
Says “No†to Greed, Pride, and Power – The Spirit of the World
Marists are to take a stand against greed, pride, and power, that is, the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Mary. Father Colin declared this attitude one of the essential elements of the Marist way. He understood how easily and subtly the desire for money, prestige, and control can infiltrate a person’s life and strangle it spiritually. These three tendencies end up restricting the effectiveness of anyone who wishes to present the Gospel of Jesus. Therefore Father Colin invites Marists to follow in Mary’s footsteps and keep their eyes focused on God alone and on the Kingdom, rejecting the crippling forces of greed, pride, and power. Marists are those who lose their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, develop the inner freedom to be faithful disciples of Jesus in the manner of Mary, and build up the Church to reflect the features of the woman who is mother and disciple.
To be a Marist in this tradition is to have a sense of being chosen and called by Mary. We use the term “gracious choice†to describe this particular gift. Marists feel themselves in some mysterious way called to be not only followers of Christ (as all Christians are) but also called by Mary to bear her name and share in her concern for the Church, the world, and the whole human race. This grace is an invitation to participate in her spirit and in her desire to see the Gospel of Jesus take root in our contemporary world. Marist groups may use a variety of names, but what is important is that the name of Mary be present in some form and that members live her spirit. The unity of all Marists lies in the name and spirit of Mary which she has bestowed on them, they are convinced, as pure grace, by a “gracious choice.†
An image for the Society of Mary is that of a “tree with several branches.†Father Colin originally envisioned a multi-branched congregation, a vast enterprise embracing all people: lay people as well as religious, brothers, sisters, and priests, all working for the same goal. It is an image that captured the imagination of the first Marists.
When Marists look to Mary they always see her as a person, an individual, in relationship with God the Father, with her Son Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit, as well as in relationship with the Church and with the contemporary world.
This phrase touches on the singular manner in which Marists live their lives, striving to bring the men and women of their time to Jesus Christ. Think of Mary in the early Christian community at Jerusalem. We know that she was vitally present, but with a presence at once quiet and unassuming. Marists take this figure of Mary as their model in the way they evangelize. They adopt a low-profile approach, never pushy, always having great respect for others and understanding their weaknesses. Marists will try to avoid anything which could get in the way of someone’s quest to know Jesus. This includes shunning anything flamboyant or that makes a big show. To pattern oneself on Mary in this way does not imply to withdraw or hide from others. It means, rather, to be engaged fully in life, but in a simple, gentle, and humble way. The Marist who lives by this maxim, “hidden and unknown in the world,†will go personally unnoticed while yet doing great good for others.
God’s love for us in Jesus Christ lies at the very center of the Christian message. This love reaches out as mercy to everyone, especially to those who are alienated from God or from the Church. In this context, Marists see Mary as the Mother of Mercy who indeed cherishes humanity, especially those who are lost, or excluded, or neglected, and who suffer greatly as a result. Marists, after all, have themselves been first the recipients of this mercy and in turn want to be instruments of mercy to others. Scripture describes God’s relentless love and tireless search for sinners. So, when Marists hear the invitation to become “instruments of divine mercy,†they accept the call and the challenge to portray this merciful face of God and to build a Church which is perceived not in terms of power, control, or competition, but rather in terms of community, compassion, simplicity and, above all, mercy. For this reason Marists are to welcome and embrace all, to the exclusion of no one, and to have an open heart for all. 
Marists look to Mary as the first and best disciple of Jesus. As disciple, the focus of her attention was away from herself and always on Jesus. Although Scripture says very little about her, we know that she stood there in the community, among the first group of believers, as the Lord’s disciple; she had been a disciple from the Annunciation on. We could even correctly call her a “charter member†of the Church. 
From their personal experience the first Marists believed that once a person had “tasted God†everything else would fall into place. “Tasting God†in prayer, it turns out, was to be a constantly repeated inner experience, even in the busiest moments of a Marist’s life. Through that same experience, we too can develop a willingness to put all our trust in God alone and to be shaped into the image and likeness of God. Then we can pull back from our many activities, concerns, and projects, and remain alone with God, who little by little forms in us the Word we are to make flesh for our world.
When the early Marists, in the last century, spoke of the enterprise they were engaged in, they often used the expression, “the work of Mary,†indicating by this what Mary wanted done, at that time, by them. (Recall the phrase, “Here is what I want . . .â€) For us, too, at this particular turning point in our history, a time of great change when a new world is being born, we believe that Mary maintains a special interest in bringing the women and men of our time into contact with her Son, Jesus. Marists feel called to share in this concern of Mary’s and to become part of her family to work on her behalf. The term “work of Mary†covers both the whole breadth of the Society of Mary, including all its branches, as well as denoting that the conditions under which Marists work are not set by themselves but by Mary. It is, to be sure, her work, done on her terms. Marists embrace this missionary spirit, essentially open to all people. It excludes no one and would like to see a brotherhood and sisterhood of everyone united in Jesus Christ.
Nazareth represents the first of two points of reference in Mary’s life and in the life of the first Marists. The second is Pentecost. Nazareth is the setting, Mary’s home, where Marists go in spirit to see things from the same vantage point that she saw them. At Nazareth, Mary “stored up in her heart†and pondered the words of Jesus. It is the place where slowly, silently, and unobtrusively Jesus grew in wisdom, age, and grace. As long as we stand in our own place in the world, we run the risk of being caught up in our own interests and ulterior motives. But at Nazareth we, too, can learn the wisdom that comes from seeing things from God’s point of view. Nazareth also serves as an approach to life, which simply means to “ponder the things of God†and treasure them in one’s heart. 
From the experience of early Marist days, Father Colin was convinced that it is not necessary to have great talent, or learning, or even great holiness to become a Marist. What is needed are individuals who can be useful instruments of God’s mercy, people who are free to set aside their own interests and plans in favor of those of Jesus and Mary, and who can put themselves in the shoes of the other person. Father Colin is challenging us in a sense to submit ourselves to others rather than impose ourselves on them. This allows the other person to hear more clearly not us, but the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thus does Father Colin call us to approach the people of our time with delicacy and sensitivity. 
Marists are to take a stand against greed, pride, and power, that is, the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Mary. Father Colin declared this attitude one of the essential elements of the Marist way. He understood how easily and subtly the desire for money, prestige, and control can infiltrate a person’s life and strangle it spiritually. These three tendencies end up restricting the effectiveness of anyone who wishes to present the Gospel of Jesus. Therefore Father Colin invites Marists to follow in Mary’s footsteps and keep their eyes focused on God alone and on the Kingdom, rejecting the crippling forces of greed, pride, and power. Marists are those who lose their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, develop the inner freedom to be faithful disciples of Jesus in the manner of Mary, and build up the Church to reflect the features of the woman who is mother and disciple.
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