A few years ago, when we moved into our home, my wife and I talked about having religious images throughout the house. Although we had images and icons around our home in Arizona, we created a space with intent on the wall next to our dining room table. It’s still a work in progress, but for now, we have a crucifix, an image of the Holy Family (a future “Monday’s with Mary” article), and a poster of the Virtues of Mary.

Because of our strong devotion to Mama Mary within our domestic church, my wife sought out something distinct and unlike something we already possessed. After a few weeks of looking for items, she hinted to me one day that she wanted a gift box from the website January Jane Shop. Inside the Mother’s Day gift box was a variety of items that pertained to St. Gianna Berretta Molla, St. Therese of Lisieux, and the Virtues of Mary poster.

In the book True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort says, “Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom.”

Heroic Patience (Chamomile) – Our Lady wasn’t just patient; she was [enter your favorite superhero here] of patience. From her pregnancy trials, traveling to Bethlehem, fleeing to Egypt, and losing Jesus to only find him three days later in the Temple, she showed great amounts of patience. Her greatest act of patience was watching Our Lord suffer and die on the cross, but she hoped and knew that God had a plan.

Universal Mortification (Rose) – Another way to understand mortification is self-denial. Our Lady sacrificed and denied her own desires throughout her life. Her Fiat at the Annunciation isn’t just a one and done “Yes”, but she repeated her consenting at the Wedding Feast at Cana and again as she stood at the foot of the Cross. Our Lady was always looking towards God. Self-denial, mortification assist us in looking towards God and denying our own wants and desires.

Profound Humility (Violet) – We see Mary showing her humility at the Annunciation when she declared herself a handmaid of the Lord. It was not about her but about serving God. Someone humble strives to do good in all things and allows God’s presence to work in their life. Mary permitted God to work in her life. She was always humble and meek of heart.  

Constant Mental Prayer (Snowdrop) – When we pray, we communicate with God. Other than Jesus Christ, we have the best example of prayer in the Blessed Mother. Her constant prayer is explained to us in the Scriptures: “Mary pondered these things in her heart.” She always remembered God and the love that the Lord had for her. As the Mother of God, she was united in prayer with the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Her daily routines were offered up to God.

Angelic Sweetness (Morning Glory) – The radiance of Our Lady extends from the Holy Scriptures when she greets St. Elizabeth to the seers and mystics of the many approved Marian apparitions. All who encounter her speak of this radiant joy – a joy of pure holiness. Angelic kindness is a warm welcome, a simple smile, listening to someone carefully, and overall kindness and love.

Divine Wisdom (Daisy) – Unlike Solomon, who gave up his wisdom for foolish desires, Our Lady focused on God, the most important person in her life. As the Seat of Wisdom, we look to the Blessed Mother to help us attain wisdom for decisions in our daily life, just as she did during her time on earth. Praying with intent helped Our Lady understand God’s plan not only in her life but the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Ardent Charity (Columbine) – Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are all called to practice ardent love. We read in the scriptures Mary’s example of ardent love during the Annunciation where she gives her complete love for God. We also see her give love when she visits her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary, as our example, helps us strive to love God and love our neighbor. She is selfless and always giving of herself.

Blind Obedience (Iris) – Obedience is probably the single most difficult action for many of us to do, especially when it comes to our faith and the actions of the universal and particular Church. Obedience is learning to align our will with the will of God. No one in history other than Jesus himself was obedient like Our Lady. She trusted the Angel’s words at the Annunciation, during the flight into Egypt, and the return trip to Galilee. Our Lady always aligned her will with the will of God.

Surpassing Purity (Lily) – One of the most important aspects of Our Lady is that she was immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. Our Lady is the most distinct definition of purity. Because of her Immaculate Conception, she was incapable of sin. Along with this characteristic, she is also the Perpetual Virgin – before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. She is our true example of purity. Even when we defile it, we can be healed through the Sacrament of Confession.

Lively Faith (Sunflower) – In the New Testament, there isn’t anyone with faith like Mama Mary. From the Annunciation to the Wedding Feast at Cana (“Do whatever he tells you”) and to the foot of the Cross, the faith of Mary is stout and unchanging. Her devotion to the Lord never ceased, even when she watched Jesus suffer through his passion and death. When most of the apostles ran, she was there. She is the par excellence of faith.

To learn about the flowers that correspond with the virtues of Mary, check out the January Jane Shop here.