Hospitality is a very important social virtue. This virtue deals with how to prepare for and to receive a guest or guests into one’s home. For
the Jewish people, especially at the time of Jesus, this virtue was one of the most important! Lack of hospitality was considered a major offense!
Sweeping, cleaning, dusting, spraying, disinfecting—all of this and more  are preparatory gestures to receiving the guest.

Upon arrival, a warm greeting, an embrace, snacks, a drink, a comfortable sofa , and engaging conversation make
up the details of the practice of the virtue of hospitality. 

Both Mary and Martha

If I were to give you an option of
choosing between two gifts, what would be your choice?  Freely handing you over 5 million dollars or
promising to pray a Rosary for you and your salvation.   I asked this question in church, and there
was a long time of silence, hesitancy!!!! Wow! Most people would blurt
out:  “I will take the money and run!”
Others, more astute in their mental perspective would respond:  “Both!”  
However, those who would respond, “Father, pray the Rosary for me,”
these would be those manifesting the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Knowledge—
knowing

 Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, Heart of Jesus Tabernacle of the Most High, Heart of Jesus , burning Furnace of
charity, Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, Heart of Jesus patient
and abounding in mercy, Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, Heart of
Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mary, Heart of Jesus, Salvation of all
those who hope in you, Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints—- all of
these most sublime expressions are gleaned from one of the most famous of all
Litanies, the “Litany of the Most Sacred Heart

In Sacred Scripture Mary speaks seven times. Can you name them?  The most extended set of words that we have from Mary is her “Magnificat”.  This word “”Magnificat” comes from Latin and means, “Magnify”. To accentuate, to make big. Remember, using a “magnify glass” to magnify the size of the small letters on the page.  Mary’s greatest desire was to magnify the
Lord in all her words, prayers, actions, silence, sufferings— in a word with
all of her being!

Mary’s “Magnificat” can be found in
Lk. 1: 46-56, in the contest of Mary’s “Visitation” to her cousin St.
Elizabeth.

Mary  is model, teacher, guide, inspiration, life, sweetness and hope to all
to raise their eyes to her with love.  In
the beautiful prayer of St. Bernard,  the
Memorare, we pray with confidence: “Never was it known that anyone who had
recourse to Mary was left unaided…”

May is the month of Mary and it concludes with one of the most beautiful Marian Feast days— the Visitation of
the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin St. Elizabeth.  Many superb spiritual lessons can be learned
from this Marian gem, which also is the 2nd Joyful mystery. Let us
descend into