Mary has often been portrayed as a kind of goddess far removed from our human lives and the just concerns of society. Her coronation in heaven, to say nothing of her immaculate conception, was seen as something lovely, it is true, but remote from the reasonable and reasoned aspirations of the most of us. She was truly one set apart. Advocates of social justice often saw her as a symbol of the status quo and, hence, an obstacle to their struggle on behalf of the powerless and the poor. The thoughtful reflections set forth in this book will do much to dispel these erroneous views of Mary. She is the glory of our race precisely because she is so human, so full of love for God and of compassion for her neighbor, so concerned about the needs of others. Because she is so alive with God’s presence and His word, she has much to offer to our faith in its search for justice. And in this respect there could be no better starting point for our reflections on Mary as a Model of justice than her own “Magnificat”.