Certainly it would be a great disorder for anyone to go directly contrary to the plans of God and neglect Mary. Of course, as we have already said, it is not necessary that we ask explicitly for the intercession of Mary each time we pray. Most Catholics, even those whose devotion to Mary is not especially strong, have learned an excellent prayer, which is a good means of showing the soul's desire to correspond with the plans of God for Mary. It is to be recommended that every Catholic make some such offering as this at lease at times. Just as God has willed to give all to us through Mary, so, by such an offering, we give whatever we have to offer back to Him through Mary.
Marian devotion begins most naturally in the home.
Parents can confer a priceless favor on their children if from earliest years they teach them to take a childlike attitude to God our Father and Mary our Mother. A child's very notion of the meaning of the words father and mother depends largely on what sore of persons its parents are. If the parents are all that they should be, children easily learn to look upon God as the best of fathers, and to love Mary their Mother. An outstanding example of the powerful good influence of parental example of this kind can be seen in the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. On the other hand, the poor example of parents, or the lack of good example, is a spiritual hindrance to the children.