Jesus Living in Mary was written by Fr. Émile Neubert, S.M. (+1967), a French Marian theologian and member of the Society of Mary (Marists). Rather than presenting Marian consecration as a theological treatise, Fr. Neubert adopts the creative literary style of an extended dialogue in which Jesus and Mary lovingly speak to the reader, drawing the soul into a deeper life of union with Christ. Although these conversations are a literary device rather than private revelations, they faithfully communicate the Church’s perennial teaching on Marian consecration and the spiritual life.
For this summary, I have organized the book around the classic Benedictine motto Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work), which I believe captures the two goals of Fr. Neubert’s message.
1. Prayer (Ora)
The foundation of the Christian life is to imitate Jesus Christ. To aim at Christian perfection is to imitate Jesus as completely as possible. At the heart of this imitation lies His filial devotion to Mary, to whom He devoted the first 30 years of His life to perfect obedience to her. The whole life of Jesus was marked by loving dependence upon His Mother, and He now invites us to share in that same relationship. “Strive to resemble My Mother as I resembled her” (2.6), He tells us. This begins by entrusting ourselves entirely to Mary: “Give yourself as a well-beloved child to My Mother entirely, unreservedly, and forever,” allowing “no interior or exterior possession of yours which does not belong to her” (2.1).
This consecration is not merely a one-time act but a continual way of living. Throughout the day, Jesus recommends “a certain number of brief pauses” during which we “enter into close contact with Jesus and with me again” (3.6), cultivating the same habitual companionship with Mary that He Himself lived. As He promises, “Live constantly in union with her. You cannot live in intimacy with her without finding her more lovable and without loving her more day by day” (2.3). This intimacy is nourished by contemplating Christ in the Gospels, where “the thoughts of Jesus are found,” and by learning to pray as to a close friend: “Speak to Him directly… Tell Him in all simplicity what you are thinking, what you are feeling, and what you desire” (3.2). In this way, we gradually learn to think, love, and live as Jesus did, making His filial love for Mary the pattern of our own spiritual life.
2. Work (Labora)
Just as we imitate Jesus’ love for Mary in prayer, we are also called to imitate His mission with Mary in the work of saving souls. Love for Mary is never passive or merely sentimental. Jesus tells us, “If you love Mary you will want to work for her… No labor will be too painful for you when there is question of her glory” (2.3). True devotion is therefore measured less by our words than by our fidelity, for “it is not those who say, ‘Mother! Mother!’ who are the true children of Mary, but those who always do her will” (2.5). Every duty faithfully fulfilled, every sacrifice accepted, and every hidden act of charity becomes an offering united to Mary’s own maternal mission.
Mary then widens our horizon from personal holiness to apostolic mission. She asks each disciple: “Do you wish to be my soldier? Do you wish to aid me in rescuing my children from Satan and leading them to Jesus?” (4.1). This mission is never meant to be lived alone. Rather, “If you work with another, you will be not twice but ten times as strong… if you form a closely united battalion marching under my banner, you will be invincible” (4.7). Most importantly, Mary reminds us that the apostolate belongs first to her: “Your apostolate is my apostolate… I am the commandress-in-chief of the army of Christ; you are merely my soldier” (4.7). Like Jesus, who carried out His mission in loving union with His Mother, we too become humble instruments through whom Mary continues to lead souls to her Son.
Review
This is one of the most original books on Marian consecration that I have read. Its greatest insight is that Marian consecration is fundamentally an imitation of Jesus’ own filial love for His Mother. I especially appreciated the literary style of Jesus and Mary speaking directly to the reader. Their words are warm, personal, and deeply encouraging, making the spiritual life feel like a living relationship rather than simply a set of principles. The book’s main weakness is its organization. It can be repetitive at times, and occasionally different practices seem to be presented as the central key to holiness. A clearer structure and a shorter presentation would have made an already excellent book even stronger. Overall, well worth reading!
Prodigal Catholic 
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