Month of Mary : Mother Most Pure

Ah! let us pray to our dear Mother and Queen, that having received our poor present, she may purify it, sanctify it, embellish it and thus render it worthy of God.

All that our soul possesses is of less value before God, the heavenly Householder, when it come to winning His friendship and favor, than a worm-eaten apple presented to the king by a poor farmer in payment of the rent of his farm.

But what would such a farmer do if he were wise and if he were well liked by the queen? Would he not five his apple to the queen? And would she not out of kindness to the poor man, as also out of respect for the king, remove from the apple all that is worm-eaten or spoiled, and then place it in a gold dish and surround it with flowers. Would the king refuse to accept the apple then? Or would he not rather receive it with joy from the hands of the queen, who favors that poor man? “If you wish to present something to God, no matter how small it may be,” says St. Bernard, “place it in Mary’s hands, if you do not wish to be refused.”

St. Louis Marie Grignion de Monfort, The Secret of Mary, no. 37.