…Mary really conveyed to St. Faustina that she was her mother. On one occasion, Mary tells St. Faustina that her role as spiritual mother is part of the will of God. Quoting Mary’s words to her, Faustina writes, “My daughter, at God’s command I am to be, in a special and exclusive way, your Mother; but I desire that you, too, in a special way, be My child” (Diary, 1414). Mary wanted from St. Faustina a total filial, childlike relationship, one of trust and obedience, so that the will of God could be done. What Mary told Faustina was that there were three virtues Faustina should practice that are dearest to her (Mary). Mary said, “The first is humility, humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God. As my daughter, you must especially radiate with these virtues.” (Diary, 1415). Mary was teaching her all these things, focusing on doing the will of God. And she does this in her role as “Mother.” You don’t find a lot of titles for Mary in St. Faustina’s Diary other than Mother. In Polish culture, you find that a popular way of referring to Mary is as “Queen of Poland.” That doesn’t appear at all. Her primary way of talking about Mary was as “Mother.”… (This is taken from an interview with Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC,in which he sheds light on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s profound influence on the life and spirituality of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.)
