3. Fidelity to the special relation of love with Mary, Mother and model of consecrated persons, a "fundamental" fidelity  according to the Exhortation "Vita consecrata".

         In a strongly Christological and explicitly Trinitarian perspective of consecrated life, "fidelity" to the Mother of the Incarnate Word cannot be excluded from the category of the "four great fidelities".                                                                                                                                                                                             

        According to the firm conviction expressed by the Synod Fathers in the synod of 1994 in Proposal 55 and according to the doctrinal clarifications given by the Holy Father in the exhortation Vita consecrata , fidelity to the Virgin Mary has to be considered by all consecrated persons like a great fidelity, that is, like a fundamental and necessary fidelity to be able to keep and develop the authentic sense of their consecration, of their mission and of all the other determinant aspects of their spiritual life: Mary's presence is of  "fundamental importance  both for the spiritual life of each consecrated person, and for the solidity, unity, and progress of the whole community" (VC 28).

Mary's fidelity is the necessary spiritual context, in which the three supreme fidelities of consecrated life grow and bear fruit. The Virgin Mary is for the consecrated person a teacher and "a Mother who is altogether unique" (VC 28), the consecrated person carefully cultivates a relationship of special filial love for her, that is, she places herself in syntony with the particular expressions of her maternal love, "loving her and imitating her in a radical manner which befits their vocation"  (VC 28).

        An attitude of faithful love for the Virgin Mary is for every consecrated person the best method so that fidelity to all the other dimensions of one's own vocation grows: "A filial relationship to Mary is the royal road to fidelity to one's vocation and a most effective help for advancing in that vocation and living it fully". (VC 28). The consecrated person finds in the evangelical person of Mary, the supreme consecrated one, missionary and prayerful, a sublime model and incomparable teacher, with whom to remain always united with a bond of perpetual fidelity.

        The mystery of consecrated life, seen in the light of the evangelical life of the Virgin Mary, acquires a new splendour. In fact, as the Pope affirms, Mary "is the sublime example of perfect consecration, since she belongs completely to God and is totally devoted to him" (VC 28). That is why "consecrated life looks at her as the sublime model of consecration to the Father, of union with the Son and of docility to the Spirit, in the awareness which adheres 'to the type of virginal and poor life  (LG 46) of Christ means to make our own also the type of life of Mary" (VC 28).       

         In the aspect of creature, Mary is the expression par excellence of consecrated life. In her shines in an eminent way the divine element and the human element of consecration: "Chosen by the Lord, who wished to accomplish in her the Mystery of the Incarnation, she reminds consecrated persons of the primacy of God's initiative.  At the same time, having assented to the divine Word, who became flesh in her, Mary is the model of the acceptance of grace by human creatures"  (VC 28).  Mary is the model of an obedient, poor and virginal life. The Gospel describes this "ever ready in obedience, courageous in poverty and receptive in fruitful virginity" (VC 112).

        Mary is a teacher in prayer (cfr. VC 34), in "proclaiming the mighty things which the Lord accomplishes" (VC 112), in bearing Jesus (VC 112) and in the union to the suffering Christ (cfr. VC 23)