Wellspring of Peace

Madonna with Child

Hans Zatzka 

From the Litany of Mary of Nazareth...

Mary, wellspring of peace...

Be our guide.

Model of strength...

Be our guide.

Model of gentleness...

Be our guide.

Model of trust...

Be our guide.

Model of patience...

Be our guide.

Model of courage...

Be our guide.

Model of risk...

Be our guide.

Model of openness...

Be our guide.

Model of perseverance...

Be our guide. 

Woman of mercy...

Empower us.

Woman of faith...

Empower us.

Woman of contemplation...

Empower us.

Woman of vision...

Empower us.

Woman of wisdom and understanding...

Empower us.

Woman of grace and truth...

Empower us.

Woman, pregnant with hope...

Empower us.

Woman, centered in God...

Empower us.

"Mary embodies all the qualities of a holy woman. Whether she is the Mary we knew in our childhood, remembered in stories told us by the nuns who taught us, the saint in heaven we imagined from holy cards or statues of her, or the Mary we read about in the New testament, she is a model and source of inspiration for us.

Because she is the mother of God, a mother and a woman, we feel close to her . We find it easier to have a more personal relationship with her than with the formal, almighty God. So we approach God through Mary. As our understanding of her deepens, she becomes an example to us in our daily lives."

From the Introduction of Mary's Flowers (a book I highly recommend for all Christian gardeners)