I learned to do small things with Mary

When Marie Claire and I got married, our wedding prayer was the "Hail Mary." Then, at a Conference of the Fraternity of Mary Immaculate Queen¹ in 1989, we discovered the Enthronement of Mary. In our home and workplaces, the enthronement of Mary Immaculate Queen is the first thing we do. We also made our covenant pact with her.* So many beautiful things have happened in our lives that have given me great respect for Our Lady.

I naturally tend to want to do really big things, but with Mary I learned to do small things properly. What Mary asks of us is to do these small things with love. In return, she takes care of the big things. Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus understood this well. Mary is the teacher of giving, of patience, of perseverance. I am the very opposite! And yet her maternal gentleness only wants to envelop us in her cloak of tenderness that our world so badly needs.

Do our ambitious plans hide pride? Mary teaches us humility. Do our addictions enslave us? Mary liberates us. Is our relationship with others and with material possessions somewhat unclear? Mary enlightens us.

Her only desire is to love us. Her only wish is that we would open our hearts so she may hold us peacefully in her arms and carry us to her Son. So let us pray to Mary, let us pray the Rosary, offer her our day, and those whom we love (and others)… let us offer her our life.

Every morning, together with my wife, or on our own, we say the morning prayer to Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe with a beautiful sign of the Cross:

O Father, O Son, O Holy Spirit, through Mary Immaculate Queen, bless me.

Grant me the grace to spend this day in holiness.

Near you, O Mary Immaculate Queen, I want to live.

With you I want to offer myself to Jesus.

Through you I desire to receive His blessing so that my day may begin, continue and end by doing only His most holy will.

O Mary Immaculate Queen, hold me tightly by the hand so that I may advance at the same pace as you in the will of God.

Amen.

(1) https://fratmri.org/

* Editor's note: During a Mass, we commit ourselves to place our whole life in the hands of Mary.

François Asselin, head of the Asselin family business (specializing in the restoration of historic buildings); president of the Confédération générale des petites et moyennes entreprises (CPME) and member of the Family of Messengers of Mary, Immaculate Queen