Mary leads her servants to heaven

By St Alphonsus Maria Liguori   |   19 November 2025

From the Glories of Mary

Being a servant of Mary is a sure sign of predestination. Mary says, “I shall abide in the Lord’s inheritance.” (Eccl 29:2) The “Lord’s inheritance” is the soul who offers Mary a place of repose. How many souls are in heaven only through Mary’s intercession. “Mary has caused as many lights to shine in heaven as she has followers. Many saints would never be there without her.” (Cardinal Hugo)

Heaven’s Gate
“Heaven’s gates will open to all who trust in Mary.” (St Bonaventure) “Devotion to Mary unlocks the doors of the heavenly Jerusalem.” (St. Ephrem) “To you, O Lady, are given the keys of heaven.” (Blosius) “Mary, open to us the gates of paradise because you have the keys.” (St Ambrose) The Church says, “You are heaven’s gate.” She is “Star of the Sea” because Mary guides Christians to heaven as sailors to a port.” (St Thomas) She is “the heavenly ladder.” “Through Mary, God came down from heaven so that men can ascend to heaven by her.” (St Fulgentius) “You were filled with grace, O Lady, so you can be our means of ascent to the heavenly kingdom.” (St Athanasius) She is “the heavenly chariot.” (St Bernard) “Knowing you is the high road to everlasting life. Preaching your virtues is the way to salvation.” (St Bonaventure)

Reign with Mary
“Who are saved? Certainly those for whom the Queen intercedes.” (Denis the Carthusian) Of Mary, the Spirit says, “By me, kings reign.” (Pr 8:15) On earth, souls rule over their passions. In heaven, they reign eternally where “all are kings.” (St Augustine) The Bible says, “And my power was in Jerusalem.” (Sir 14:15) Mary is the New Jerusalem, bringing to heaven whomever she wills. “By right, she possesses the whole Kingdom of her Son.” (Rupert) “Mary has already gained heaven for us if we put no obstacle in the way.” (St Antoninus) “Whoever serves Mary is as certain of heaven as if he were already there.” (Abbot Gueric) “To serve the Queen of heaven is to already reign there. To live under her commands is to govern. Those who do not serve Mary will not be saved. Those deprived of her help are deprived of her Son’s help.” (St John Damascene)

The Bridge to Heaven
In God’s infinite goodness, He gave us Mary. “She is the mother of the Judge, so she can bring our eternal salvation to a happy conclusion.” (St Bernard) “Mary is the bridge of salvation. By her, we safely pass from this world to paradise.” (St James) “Listen O nations, serve Mary and you will find eternal life.” (St Bonaventure) Even those who deserved hell will gain heaven if they serve this Queen. “How many sinners have been saved by you, O Mary!” (St Germanus) Revelation says, “On her head is a crown of twelve stars.” The Canticle says, “You will be crowned with lions and leopards.” (Cant 4:8) The lions and leopards are sinners who have become stars of paradise by Mary’s intercession. The saintly Sister Seraphina asked Our Lady (during a novena for her Assumption) for the conversion of a thousand sinners. Thinking she had asked too much, Mary corrected her: “Am I not powerful enough? The favour is already granted.” She took Sister Seraphina to heaven in spirit and showed her the thousand souls that were saved from hell.

Certain of Salvation
“Man does not know whether he is worthy of love or hatred.” (Eccl 9:1) However, St Bonaventure says, “Let us sinners follow Mary and stay at her feet until she ensures our salvation.” “O Lady, if you will our salvation, it is certain.” (St Anselm) “Souls protected by Mary are necessarily saved.” (St Antoninus) “Mary predicted that all generations would call her blessed, for all the elect gain salvation through her.” (St Ildephonsus) Mary is the beginning, middle, and end of our happiness. She gains pardon for sins (beginning), perseverance in grace (middle), and life in heaven (end). “By you, O Mary, heaven was opened, hell was emptied, and eternal life was given to so many miserable sinners.” (St Bernard)

Sealed With Mary
The Bible says of Mary, “Those who work by me shall not sin. Those who explain me shall have everlasting life.” (Sir 29:30) “Whoever bears the stamp of Mary is already enrolled in the book of life.” (St Bonaventure) “God only grants devotion to Mary to those whom He wants to save.” (St John Damascene) Scripture says, “I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God.” (Rev 3:12) Mary is this city of God. Paul writes, “Whoever has this seal, the Lord knows is His.” (2 Tim 2:19) That is, whoever carries the mark of devotion to Mary. “Devotion to Mary is a mark of certain salvation.” (St Bernard) “Whoever honours Mary by saying the Hail Mary often has a great mark of predestination.” (Bl Alan) He says the same of those who say the rosary. “Even in heaven, her followers are more honored. They will be recognized as servants of the Queen.” (Fr Nieremberg) Proverbs says, “All her children are clothed in double garments.” (Pr 31:21) St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi saw Mary guiding a ship filled with her followers to a safe port. Let’s enter her ship to be sure of the Kingdom. “Holy Mother of God, all who live in you will share in heaven.”

Example
Brother Leo saw two ladders, one red with Jesus at the top and one white with Mary at the top. Many tried to climb the red ladder but fell back. Then they tried to climb the white ladder. They succeeded because Mary helped them to the top. This vision does not make Mary’s power superior to Christ. It is symbolic of even papal teaching: “We can come to the Father only through the Son and to the Son only through the Mother. The Son is all-powerful by nature. The mother is all-powerful by God’s merciful disposition.”

Prayer
O Queen of heaven, you have saved me from hell. Let me never again become God’s enemy, as I was for a time. Then, I loved you little. Now, I desire only to love you. My past sins do not discourage me because I will love you with no fear of losing you. You are my hope of salvation.