Marist Spirituality

… to think as Mary, judge as Mary,
and feel and act as Mary in all things…

Marist spirituality connects us to the spirit of Mary and her desire to see the Gospel of her Son be born anew in the Church community and the world. Each person of the Marist family has a sense of being chosen and called by Mary to do “the work of Mary.” This means more than honoring or imitating her virtues; it is a life-long journey to take on the mind and heart of Mary and make her visible in and through us. In doing so, we hope that people will see beyond us to the source of her faith, Jesus Christ.

To say “Yes” to God
Mary’s faith is a model for us all. Though not understanding the fullness of God’s mystery and plan, aware of her own limitations and the harsh reality of the world around her, she nonetheless accepted God’s Word and was willing to bear the gift of God’s Son. We are encouraged to be as open and trusting of God’s call to us.

To be present and guide gently
Jesus had the value of a caring, accepting presence throughout his life; Mary was confident in God’s promise and encouraged Jesus to live fully into who he was. By the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we, too, can have a personal relationship with Jesus and help others realize the love of God.

To be a humble and merciful servant
Not much is mentioned of Mary in the New Testament, but the power of her spirit is evident. Though “hidden and unknown” – drawing little attention to herself, but rather to the message of Jesus in quiet, simple, thoughtful ways – she embodies God’s compassion and mercy.

To support the Church
Mary was there when the Church was birthed in the days of Pentecost. As Jesus’ mother, she was his first disciple, prophetically proclaiming God’s truth. She seeks us to be “instruments of Divine Mercy” for the sake of the Church.

To unify God’s people
As people of different backgrounds and cultures were brought together by the power and message of the Spirit, Mary seeks a community today of one family, everyone welcomed and embraced by God. We are called as Mary’s agents to be evangelizers of the Good News of God’s love and salvation.

Belonging to a community is at the heart of Marist spirituality. We work and pray separately and as a group so that each member of the community can develop a relationship with Mary that will strengthen the Society’s ability to reflect Mary to others.

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