In the way of Mary ¹⁶

117. Mary is for us the perfect model of the Marist educator, as she was for Marcellin. As woman and layperson, Jesus' first follower, she inspires our personal faith. As educator of Jesus at Nazareth, she inspires our pedagogical approach.

118. Mary’s was a journey of faith, just like ours. Though schooled in the tradition of her people, she was nevertheless astounded by the extraordinary intervention of God in her life. Though "chosen from all women", ¹⁷ she knew the hardship of giving birth in an inhospitable place, far from home, and the life of a refugee. There was dust on her feet. ¹⁸

119. She knew the joys and trials of life. She marvelled at the greatness of God even as she was disturbed. In faith, she was open to the action of the Holy Spirit. In faith, she pondered on the events of her life and of her Son’s. In faith, she responded wholeheartedly, not waiting to have answers to all her questions, from her "Yes" at the Annunciation to her grief at the foot of the Cross. ¹⁹ In faith, she humbly became one of Jesus’ new family of followers who wanted only to do the will of the Father. ²⁰

120. Together with Joseph at Nazareth, she provided Jesus with the family unity and love he needed to grow as a person. ²¹ As Jesus developed through adolescence, they gave him the space to establish his own identity. Even when this provoked misunderstanding, they conveyed their trust and continued to foster his maturing "in wisdom, age and grace". ²² From its beginnings, then, Mary has continued to carry out her mission of mother and educator within the Christian community.

121. The marial aspect of our spirituality is expressed, above all, in our identifying with her attitudes towards others and to God. She invites us, in her song of praise, the Magnificat, ²³ to give witness to God’s solidarity with people in their needs and sufferings. She urges us to do whatever Jesus tells us. ²⁴ She is in our midst, a symbol of unity and mission, as she was for the apostles on the day of Pentecost. ²⁵ Like Marcellin, we look to Mary as our Good Mother and Ordinary Resource, ²⁶ and express our devotion to her in ways that are personal, family-based, simple, and that follow the practices of the Church and of local traditions.

122. We consciously bring a marial dimension to our catechesis and prayer with young people. We lead them to love and honour her. We inspire them to imitate her tenderness, strength, and constancy in faith, and to turn to her often in prayer.

123. In all that we do, we associate ourselves with Mary so as to bring Jesus to birth in the hearts of young people: "All to Jesus through Mary. All to Mary for Jesus". ²⁷