My dear friends:

For a good while back, and not months only, but years, you have been asking me for a letter that will help you to know Mary better. Someone has even gone to the extreme of suggesting that I write a book of Mariology. Such a book is completely outside my capacity and strength. I suggest that one of you write the book; better still, one of you women! But a letter is within my possibilities. I don't say this through any false modesty, but because it's absolutely true. Those who know me well can confirm the fact.

Finally, today, the 1st of May, feast of St Joseph, while in my "oratory" -that retreat where Mary and I chat and look at each other- I asked her: "Who are you? Tell me, please, what is your name?"

I'll share with you now what I heard. Let me make it clear, especially to the more learned among you, that Mary did not speak to me in verse, but in prose, so that what follows is not badly metered and rhymed poetry, but an authentic testimony.

I am Mary of the Annunciation.
Prefigured prophetically in the old covenant,
the first among the humble and poor of the Lord,
of those who confidently look forward to
and receive His salvation.

In me is fulfilled the fullness of time
and is begun the new covenant with God.

My canticle of praise to the Lord
is the mirror of my soul,
the prophecy of the poor,
the proclamation of the Gospel
and the prelude of beatitude.

I am the Immaculate Virgin Mother.

Redeemed in the most sublime manner,
on account of the merits of my Son,
I was preserved from all stain of original sin.
I am the Virgin Mother of God the Son,
the favorite daughter of the Father and
the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Everything in me looks to Christ
and I am completely dependent on Him.
With Him in mind,
the Father chose me from eternity
as His most holy Mother
and adorned me with gifts of the Spirit
which were never given to anyone else.
Saying "yes" to the designs of Divine Love,
having relations with no man,
but covered by the shadow of the Spirit,
I received in my heart and in my womb the Word of God.

I am the New Eve.

True Mother of the Redeeming Word.
When I embraced the saving will of God,
I was the cause of salvation for myself
and for the entire world.
I consecrated myself completely
to the person and work of the New Adam.
I cooperated in the salvation of the world
in freedom and obedience.
Advancing in the pilgrimage of faith,
I shared with Him a history of love,
faithful to my word even to His death on the cross.
I belong completely to Christ, and with Him,
I am completely the servant of all.
The Spirit united me with the New Man
so that I might be the New Woman.

I am Mother of the Church.

As a living and perfect model,
I attract and invite
to faith, love and communion with God.
I am Mother of the Church,
of the members of my Son,
since I cooperated with love
when the redeemed were born.
I awaken the filial heart
which sleeps in every one
and I unite them as brothers and sisters
in the unity of one family.
I am Mother
and with the Holy Spirit
I reproduce in my children
the spiritual features of the Firstborn.

I am Mary of the Assumption.

When I completed the course of my earthly life,
I was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
Made like unto my Son,
who rose from among the dead,
I received in anticipation the lot of the just.
And exalted by the King as the Queen of the universe,
I shine forth as a model of virtues
before the community of the elect.
Shining as a sign of hope and consolation
before the pilgrim people of God,
with my continual intercession
I obtain for them
the graces of eternal salvation.

I am the Eternal Woman.

As a guarantee of feminine greatness,
I teach how to be a woman.
I am the soul, the heart and the gift
which spiritualizes the flesh
and incarnates the spirit.
I am a sign,
with the features of a mother,
of the mercy of the Father.
My feminine presence
is the sacrament
of the maternal countenance of God.

I am Spouse of Joseph.

Woman, Mother, Virgin and Spouse.
God gave Himself to me and gave me,
in all confidence, to the youthful Joseph.
Our union of life and of love,
steady and definitive,
still remains until today.
Therefore he is father of the Church
and I am Mary of St Joseph.

Thus far, Mary. If you've been paying attention to her, perhaps a suspicion has entered your mind: the voice of Mary sounds exactly like that of the Magisterium of the Church. You need not have any more suspicions: they are both the same voice. But she is not the one who has heard and repeated what she heard, she is not the echo of our pastors; they are the ones who have learned and who teach us.

And I end by returning to the beginning: do you want to continue getting to know Mary? Since I am sure you do, I offer you two simple pieces of advice: love her with all your heart and read some good book about her.

I've been thinking... If I had to recommend a good writer on Mary, whom would I recommend? My first inclination is to St Louis Maria Grignon de Montfort. Although I don't share all his points of view, perhaps because he is a saint and I am a sinner, I don't hesitate to consider his work a classic: someone whom children page through, young people read, adults understand and old people celebrate with feasting.

All and always in Mary of St Joseph, with all my love,
Bernardo