Cause of Our Joy

These meditations on Mary are filled with wisdom and hope. On ordinary days, on Marian holy days, and in times of spiritual and moral challenges, they offer the strength and the consolation that come from a relationship with the Mother of Jesus.

Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., a contemplative Poor Clare nun and an acclaimed spiritual writer, wrote with an intimate familiarity of the Mother of God. To her Mary was real, lovable, and accessible, and her words help the reader to discover that walking with Our Lady day by day is the cause of our unending joy.

The book includes reflections for the feasts and solemnities of Mary throughout the year. It incorporates the most cherished Marian prayers of the Church, such as the Rosary, the Litany of Loreto, and the Magnificat. Also included are some of the author's poems and a moving tribute to her life and Marian devotion in the form of a foreword written by her Poor Clare spiritual daughters.

“"It is obvious that the heart and mind of Mother Mary Francis have been enriched by her meditations on the Marian titles, feasts, and mysteries of the Rosary. It could do the same for any reader of her book!" -- Mother Assumpta Long, O.P., Superior, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist "In Cause of Our Joy we have an exquisite posthumous flower from the spiritual garden of Mother Mary Francis, who left behind a spiritual heritage of no small merit, especially the right to be merry of the poor in spirit." -- Right Rev. Philip Anderson, O.S.B. , Abbot, Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery "The writings of Mother Mary Francis are a sharing of a lifetime of spiritual wisdom of an abbess, and the richness of her many years leading her community. She teaches us how to pray well." -- Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B ., Author, The Ear of the Heart "These reflections are an overflow of the author's contemplative union with Jesus and with his Mother. Mother Mary Francis shares from the richness of her own intimate familiarity with the Mother of God, thus drawing the reader into a deeper knowledge of Our Lady and into a more loving relationship with her who is the Cause of Our Joy." -- Sister M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M. , Author, Communion with Christ: According to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross”

It is obvious that the heart and mind of Mother Mary Francis have been enriched by her meditations on the Marian titles, feasts, and mysteries of the Rosary. It could do the same for any reader of her book!
-- Mother Assumpta Long, O.P., Superior, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

In Cause of Our Joy we have an exquisite posthumous flower from the spiritual garden of Mother Mary Francis, who left behind a spiritual heritage of no small merit, especially the right to be merry of the poor in spirit.
-- Right Rev. Philip Anderson, O.S.B., Abbot, Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery

The writings of Mother Mary Francis are a sharing of a lifetime of spiritual wisdom of an abbess, and the richness of her many years leading her community. She teaches us how to pray well.
-- Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., Author, The Ear of the Heart

These reflections are an overflow of the author's contemplative union with Jesus and with his Mother. Mother Mary Francis shares from the richness of her own intimate familiarity with the Mother of God, thus drawing the reader into a deeper knowledge of Our Lady and into a more loving relationship with her who is the Cause of Our Joy.
-- Sister M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M., Author, Communion with Christ: According to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., (1921-2006) was for more than forty years the abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Roswell, New Mexico. She is recognized as an authoritative voice for contemplative spirituality, prayer and the renewal of religious life. She wrote many books, including A Right to Be Merry and Come, Lord Jesus, which is a collection of her reflections for Advent.

This is a beautiful book of meditations on Our Lady based on the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and on her Magnificat prayer. It also contains reflections for all the major feasts and solemnities of Mary, as well as poetry centered on the Mother of God. These meditations come from the profound prayer of a holy contemplative nun, which gives a unique unction to her reflections because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit. The great St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, "Of Mary there is never enough," and in the spiritually and morally challenging times that we live, these powerful Marian meditations will give us the wisdom, love, hope and strength we need to pick up our daily crosses and win the battle of life. Acclaimed spiritual writer Mother Mary Francis speaks with an intimate familiarity of the Mother of God, and you will feel that same closeness to Mary after reading these soul stirring reflections. This book will be a vade mecum for all those who seek a deeper closeness with Jesus through his Mother. This Poor Clare abbess, gifted with a brilliant intellect and a poet's heart, lived in abiding relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady during a monastic life spanning 63 years. In these pages you will discover the wondrous secret that walking with Our Lady day by day is the unending cause of our joy.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.