Today, as in Fr. Colin’s, SM time, the mistrust and betrayal felt in society produces an almost endemic suspicion of structures and authority. Colin found in Mary, a Lay person, living a quiet ordinary life, an almost hidden way to carry God’s love everywhere. Mary’s ‘Yes’ to God was a resounding ‘Yes’ to service and love for humanity. …Mary is safe, approachable and non-threatening. She is good news. “We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; stake your lives on noble ideals.”

Stabat Mater
Holy Mother! Pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Mary’s presence in the early Christian community at Jerusalem was quiet and unassuming. Marist take this figure of Mary as their model in the way they evangelize. They adopt a low-profile approach always having great respect of others.

Stabat Mater
Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord.

Befriending and showing confidence in young people … are important means by which we allow youth to know our mother Mary’s compassion and concern as an expression of the Father’s love for them. This is what it is to push out past the boundary of ourselves to … meet the needs of others … this instinct animates the missionary spirit of the Marists and instills a call to serve God by serving others, seeking to bring all into Christ’s Church as Mary did.

Stabat Mater
O our Mother, fount of love,
touch my spirit from above;
Help us love as you have done.

Marists are called for a deep, personal relationship with Mary, without, however, making her the central focus. Our emphasis is on living like Mary, adopting her faith, her point of view, her whole approach to life. In a most profound sense, this means to make Mary present to our world today.

Stabat Mater
Can the human heart refrain?
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?