Point II.—Mary's Sacrifice
Then, as soon as the darkness permitted her to draw near without observation, she allowed John to take her to the Foot of the Cross, and there took up her stand. Her sacrifice was very near to its completion now. This is what she meant when she said herFiatto the Angel Gabriel thirty-three years ago. This is what she meant when she presented Him to the Lord when He was forty days old. The three days' loss, and the separation when He left His home at Nazareth, had been a foreshadowing of this. Now the consummation of her sacrifice had arrived: "And there stood by the Cross ofJesusHis Mother"! She had never flinched, had never looked back. It had beenFiatall along the line. She was a "valiant woman" to the end, bravely doing her part, and offering her Son toGod.
This was Mary's sacrifice—but what is her part in the Sacrifice that her Son is offering to His Father for the world's redemption? Just this, that she provided the Victim. She did not withhold her Son—her only Son. (Gen. xxii. 16.)Jesuson Calvary offered Himself to the Father; and Mary assisted—not only by the perfect union of her will and intention with His, butactually, by providing Him with the Body which He was offering to His Father. Her position was that of the Deacon at HighMass. His part is not the offering of the Sacrifice—the Priest alone can do that—but He provides the Priest with the bread and wine which he is going to use for the Sacrifice, and without which there could be no Sacrifice. "ABodyhast thou prepared Me"; and that Body came from Mary—it was with Blood drawn from her veins that He redeemed the world. But the Sacrificial Act was His, and His alone: "I have trodden the wine-press alone." (Isaias lxiii. 3.)
Point III.—Mary's Legacy
As she stood there taking her part, how her heart was enlarging! He was dying for the whole world—for the whole human race, past, present, and future—and she was His Mother; she was standing by and assisting; all His interests were hers. She had seen the conversions worked by Him on the Way of the Cross; she had seen the change in the dying thief; nowJesusaddressed Himself to her, and by His Third Word from the Cross made her the Second Eve, the Mother of all living—of all for whom He was dying. "Woman, behold thy son!" Again He used the official title—Woman; He was not treating her now asHisMother, but rather as the Mother of all. Behold thy son; take John for thy son, and with him take the whole human race. He counted on her power of suffering, and it was through that suffering that she became the universal Mother. He knew how the sword would stab when she heard that she was to take John in His place, but He knew also that the wound made by that sword-thrust would enlarge her heart to take in her new family. He was dying, and His legacy to His Mother was the whole human race. The idea was not a new one to her, for He had been gradually training her up to it, as we have seen, ever since the Incarnation. He added another word to make all sure. He spoke now to John as the representative of the human race: "Behold thy Mother!" The immediate meaning of His words Johnvery well understood—that he was to cherish, support, and take care of her; be a son to her now that her own Son was being taken from her. But He had an intention in that word for each one of us. To each and all He said: "Behold Thy Mother!" and from that moment all who will, have the right to take her to their own.
To what extent have I taken this word seriously? Have I really believed thatJesushad me in His mind as well as St John when He said: "Behold thy Mother!" that it was of me that He thought and to me that He spoke? Have I felt the responsibility as well as the honour of being a child of Mary, and that it is my bounden duty to love and cherish her, to support and take care of her—that is, to stand up for her and shield her from those whowillnot behold her as their Mother? O my Mother, I want more than ever to take thee tomy own, as thy first adopted son did. Come home with me, live side by side with me, talk to me ofJesus, and thus help to pass the time when you see me getting weary; help me to imitate Him as thou didst, and to share His work by my prayer and sacrifice as thou didst. And then, Mother, thou wilt always be there to show me what sacrifice really means—how it enters into all the little details of everyday life—to show me what having my will united to thy Son's means. Thou wilt be there to put a restraining hand upon me and make me live as a child of Mary should; thou, to whomJesuswas subject, wilt teach me what real submission means. Yes, I am decided that to-day it shall be recorded of me in Heaven: "From that hour that disciple took her to his own."
Colloquywith Mary.Resolution.To take Mary as the special gift ofJesusto me.Spiritual Bouquet."There stood by the Cross ofJesusHis Mother."
Colloquywith Mary.
Resolution.To take Mary as the special gift ofJesusto me.
Spiritual Bouquet."There stood by the Cross ofJesusHis Mother."
"And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock." (St Mark xv. 46.)1st Prelude.A picture of the Thirteenth Station.2nd Prelude.Grace to be unselfish in my grief.
"And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock." (St Mark xv. 46.)
1st Prelude.A picture of the Thirteenth Station.
2nd Prelude.Grace to be unselfish in my grief.
Point I.—Mater Dolorosa
As Mary stands at her post, praying for her new family for whom her Son is dying, and uniting herself more closely than ever with His intentions, the sword never ceases to pierce afresh her wounded heart. She has to listen to the cry: "I thirst!" from the parched lips and throat of Him from Whom she had never heard a complaint; and she has to appear to be deaf to His needs. Again she hears a cry, more full of agony even than the last: "MyGod, MyGod, why hast Thou forsaken Me!" and she who once lost her Son for three days (theThird Dolour) can understand in some small degree the anguish of that cry. Then after His next words: "All is consummated," she hears Him commend His Soul to His Father, and she watches Him die. She is alone! And not only is she alone, but she has a sense of responsibility. Just as on the occasion of a death among us, the one next has to rise to the responsibility and actat once, so it was with Mary. She was the onenext. She knew that it was to her that the Apostles and all His friends would turn to know what to do—what He would like done. He who had died on the Cross "was indeed the Son ofGod," and she was His Mother; she, if anyone did, must know all about Him. So, although all is over, there is no time for Mary to relax and give way to her grief. There is work to be done—work that He has left her. "It is finished" for Him, but she is only just beginning her work as Mother of theChurch. And so she still stands at the Foot of the Cross, reverently worshipping the dead Body to which the Divinity is still united.
Her meditation was suddenly interrupted—"One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side"; and again Simeon's prophecy was fulfilled: "Thine own soul a sword shall pierce." Soon followed what is called herSixth Dolour—the taking down of her Son from the Cross. He was in the hands of friends now, and all was done with the greatest reverence and loving tenderness. But nothing could stay the sword from piercing Mary's heart when she received into her hands the blood-stained Crown of Thorns and the rough nails. Nothing could stay it when she had herJesusonce more in her arms, and was able to see for herself the cruel wounds as she washed them and bound them up. Then when the precious Body had been wrapped in the winding sheet, she accompanied the little cortège which carried It to the tomb. And when, after a few minutes' adoration, she beckoned them all away, and the great stone was rolled to its place, the sword pierced her heart again—it was theSeventh Dolour—the burial ofJesus.
She allowed John to escort her past the three crosses, along the way which He had trodden, back to the Cenacle. "That disciple took her to his own." The next time we make the Way of the Cross, let us make it with Mary as John did. She will explain to us better than anyone else can, the meaning of each "station."
Mary has left Him now, but she is with Him still in spirit and in heart—hence her strength. What a lesson she gives us on how to act in times of bereavement! We are never to lose sight of the fact that this particular kind of suffering is intended for our sanctification. This will prevent us from allowing it to make us morbid, selfish, gloomy, inconsiderate, ungrateful, acting as thoughoursuffering were greater than that of everybody else, beingexacting and fastidious about things that remind us of our lost one—even of having the name mentioned in our presence! What about our sacrifice? Are not all such things as these a part of it? We have no business to add to the trials of others by our tyrannical selfishness. Sorrow ought to brace the soul up to greater heights of sanctity; if it depresses it to a lower level of spirituality, there is something very wrong with us. We are not copying Mary, neither are we uniting our sufferings to those ofJesus—the only way of making them meritorious. Let us see to it that our grief is a source of joy and blessing to everyone else in the house. This means self put on one side; it means a smiling face, a bright, cheery, voice in spite of a breaking heart. It means a great sympathy with the grief of others—and itoftenmeans that we shall get the credit of not really caring, of not having much depth of affection, not much heart! But this again is part of the sacrifice which we gladly offer if only it may aid suffering in doing its blessed work. There were those, no doubt, who were ready enough to say that Mary's calm courage was unnatural. Butweknow that it was supernatural: let us try to copy her in it.
Point II.—Mater Misericordiæ
What must have been the grief of the Apostles—their Friend, Teacher, and Lord dead, their hopes all dashed, and their consciences ill at ease as they thought of their base desertion of Him in His hour of need! They were scattered everyone to his own, but probably one by one they found their way back to the Cenacle. It was the last house where they had been all together with Him, and it seemed natural to go there again—and besides, His Mother was there. She was next to Him, and therefore more to them than anyone else could be.Shehad been faithful to the end. She could tell them more about Him than anyoneelse could. Her very voice and manner reminded them of Him. Somehow, they felt that she would look at things from His point of view, and that ifsheforgave them for the wrong they had done to her Son,Hewould. Then they would learn from John whatJesushad said about her with His dying lips—that they might now regard her in very deed as their Mother; that she was now in fact the Mother of the Church which He had founded; and that they could turn to her in their times of perplexity and difficulty. "Behold thy Mother"—the Mother of Good Counsel and the Mother of Mercy! Was it not just what they wanted? How well He knew! How thoughtful it was of Him to leave us Mary!
And so we may think of Mary on Holy Saturday rallying her new family round her, loving them for her Son's sake, making excuses for their weaknesses, as a mother ever does, and putting fresh heart and courage into them. And then we may think of her stealing away to ponder—to make the first Meditation on the Passion, presenting willingly her heart to the sword once more, that her compassion might fit her for her position as Mother of Mercy.
Colloquywith Mary, who says to me: For you, too, my child, "I am the Mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. He that hearkeneth unto me shall not be confounded; and they that work by me shall not sin." (Ecclus. xxiv. 24-30.)Resolution.To take my troubles and difficulties to Mary to-day.Spiritual Bouquet."Mater Dolorosa, Mater misericordiæ, ora pro nobis."
Colloquywith Mary, who says to me: For you, too, my child, "I am the Mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. He that hearkeneth unto me shall not be confounded; and they that work by me shall not sin." (Ecclus. xxiv. 24-30.)
Resolution.To take my troubles and difficulties to Mary to-day.
Spiritual Bouquet."Mater Dolorosa, Mater misericordiæ, ora pro nobis."
"He shall reign for ever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." (St Luke i. 32, 33.)1st Prelude.A picture or statue of Our Lady.2nd Prelude.Grace to learn from Mary how to rejoice.
"He shall reign for ever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." (St Luke i. 32, 33.)
1st Prelude.A picture or statue of Our Lady.
2nd Prelude.Grace to learn from Mary how to rejoice.
Point I.—Mary's Easter Day
"Of His Kingdom there shall be no end." It was to Mary that these words were said, before her Son was born; and she believed them. She knew, therefore, that He would rise again; she knew that all was not finished when she left the precious Body in Joseph's new tomb. In all probability, too,Jesushad told her, as He told the Apostles, that He would rise again on the third day. And while they "believed not nor understood,"shedid both. But this supernatural gift of faith, which she exercised to the full, had not the power to prevent the sword from piercing on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. She felt the full weight of all her sorrow, but she sorrowed, as all Christian mourners should do, "not without hope."
What must her expectation have been as she knelt on that Holy Saturday night counting the minutes till the day dawned! She knew that He would rise again—but would she see Him? Would He come to her? He had kept her so much in the background during His ministry, perhaps He will do so still, and it will be to those who need Him most that He will come. No, sweet Mother, the meek and lowly of heart ever attract Him; it is to the heart whichdesiresHim most that He will come. A pure, disinterested desire to haveJesusever proves to Him an invincible attraction. No one on earth desired to seeJesusas Mary did, and it was to her, as the traditions of the Holy Fathers testify, that He came first—as soon as the Easter Day dawned and "death could no longer be holden of Him." The Evangelists are silent about thisappearance ofJesusto His Blessed Mother, for the very good reason that she told them nothing about it. There was no need to do so, as, for example, there was to tell various little details about His Birth, becauseGodwished us to know them. At this meeting of the Son and the Mother even Angels would fear to intrude; and we ordinary mortals simply should not understand what took place, even were it narrated to us. All those to whom He appeared would take it for granted that His Mother had seen Him—why write down a thing that everybody knew? "According to thy faith be it unto thee." Mary was theonlyone who had faith enough to believe that her Son would rise again, and it was only natural that she should be the first to see Him. She was the one who had entered most deeply into His sorrows, and she would be the one to whom He would first communicate the Easter joy. Let us now think a little about Mary's joy.
Point II.—Mary's Joy and its Causes
What joy it must have been to Mary to see that precious Body which He had taken from her, which she had nurtured and tended and loved, which she had seen so recently covered with scars and gaping wounds! What joy it must have been to her to see It in all the beauty of Its Resurrection—to see It glorified! Her joy was so intense that the saints tell us it was only by a miracle that her body could master her soul and keep it still a prisoner. And then the consolation of knowing that never again would He suffer—the joy of seeing the Five Wounds and knowing that He would keep them always, as precious memorials of His death and of His victory over death, of His undying love for His Church, and of His right to give it all that it should ever claim, because with those wounds He had more than paid for all that it would ever need.
Mary entered into all these truths as no one else could, and therefore her Easter joy was greater than that of anybodyelse. Her joy was greater, too, because herlovewas greater. Her love forJesuswas wholly unselfish, and so was her joy; it was wholly on account of the joy of her Son. She forgot her own joy for the moment; she forgot the long exile that lay before her; she forgot everything but His joy.
Hersufferingalso was indirectly another cause of her joy. Our capacity for joy is in proportion to our capacity for suffering. We have seen something of what Mary's capacity for suffering was, and so we can understand in some small measure how full was her cup of joy.
Mary had other joys too, which were incidental to the joy of seeing her Son risen and glorified. She saw the saints who rose with Him, for He would be sure to present them to His Mother. Some would need no introduction—her dear spouse St Joseph, her parents St Joachim and St Anne.
Yes, Mary's joys more than made up for her sorrows. One day, if we try to receive our cup of sorrow as Mary did, that is, take itforJesusandwithJesus, we too shall receive the cup of joy, and we shall be able to say with St Paul as we put the two side by side: "The sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory." (Rom. viii. 18.)
Teach me, O holy Mother ofGod, something of this real joy—the joy that is arrived at through faith, through suffering, through a perfect union of heart with the Sacred Heart ofJesus, and through conformity toGod'swill; the joy of the risen life—the new life that rises out of the death to self.
Colloquy.TheRegina Cœli:—"Queen of Heaven, rejoice,—AlleluiaFor He Whom thou wast made worthy to bear—AlleluiaHath risen as He said—Alleluia.Pray for us toGod—Alleluia."(Anthem from Easter to Trinity.)Resolution.To say myFiatbravely with Mary, as the surest way of sharing her joy.Spiritual Bouquet."Causa nostræ lætitiæ, ora pro nobis."
Colloquy.TheRegina Cœli:—
"Queen of Heaven, rejoice,—AlleluiaFor He Whom thou wast made worthy to bear—AlleluiaHath risen as He said—Alleluia.Pray for us toGod—Alleluia."
"Queen of Heaven, rejoice,—AlleluiaFor He Whom thou wast made worthy to bear—AlleluiaHath risen as He said—Alleluia.Pray for us toGod—Alleluia."
(Anthem from Easter to Trinity.)
Resolution.To say myFiatbravely with Mary, as the surest way of sharing her joy.
Spiritual Bouquet."Causa nostræ lætitiæ, ora pro nobis."
"All these were persevering with one mind in prayer, with the women, and Mary the Mother ofJesus, and with His brethren." (Acts i. 14.)1st Prelude.(1) A picture of the Ascension—Our Lady kissing the Footprints.(2) A picture of the Descent of the Holy Ghost—a tongue of fire resting on the head of Our Lady, who is seated in the midst of the Apostles.2nd Prelude.Grace to enter into the dispositions of Mary.
"All these were persevering with one mind in prayer, with the women, and Mary the Mother ofJesus, and with His brethren." (Acts i. 14.)
1st Prelude.(1) A picture of the Ascension—Our Lady kissing the Footprints.
(2) A picture of the Descent of the Holy Ghost—a tongue of fire resting on the head of Our Lady, who is seated in the midst of the Apostles.
2nd Prelude.Grace to enter into the dispositions of Mary.
Point I.—Mary on Ascension Day
Many, no doubt, were the visits thatJesuspaid to His Blessed Mother during the forty days that His glorified Body still lingered in this world of ours, as though He were loath to leave it. He was bracing her up for the time of exile that lay before her, filling her with stores of consolation upon which she would be able to draw in her times of desolation. She probably knew that the fortieth day was the last, and that, when He led His little flock out "as far as Bethania," it was His last walk with them. She knew of the "mountain appointed" where He wished all His brethren to assemble—"more than five hundred at once." (1 Cor. xv. 6.) She heard His last words, heard Him charge Hiswitnesses: "Going, therefore, teach (make disciples of) all nations: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." (St Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.) She was not to be a witness—though she was ever the silent witness of His Humanity—but it was only fitting that she should hear all the orders that were given to her children. She heard of the promise of the Father, and that they were to stay in the city till it was fulfilled. She saw Him lift up His hands in blessing—the last blessing; she watched with the rest His glorifiedBody raised up from their midst—watched till "a cloud received Him out of their sight," then she knelt in humble acquiescence toGod'swill and kissed the ground where He had just stood—the favoured bit of earth which was the last to be touched by His blessed Feet. When she looked up, it was to see two angels asking the astonished disciples why they were gazing into Heaven, and telling them that the sameJesuswho was taken up from them into Heaven would so come again as they had seen Him go. It was not toherthat the angels were speaking—shewas not gazing up. Sheknewthe lesson that the others were being taught, knew that her Son was already in Heaven, sitting at the right hand ofGod. (St Mark xvi. 19.) When the Apostles realised sufficiently what had happened, they, "adoring, went back to Jerusalem with joy," (St Luke xxiv. 52), and Mary led them to the Cenacle to "wait for the promise of the Father," as her Son had bidden them.
Thus she taught them the lesson she would teach all her children—that the only thing to do in times of desolation and sorrow is to follow closely the commands ofJesus: "Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye." It is no use to stand gazing after what has gone; this is no time for regrets; He gave a clear command: "Go to Jerusalem and wait." We shall always find that there is no balm for sorrow like fidelity to duty. It costs something; human nature longs to stay and hug its sorrow; but it is far wiser to turn away from the loved spot and go bravely hand in hand with the Mother of Sorrows to do the next thing to which duty—that is the voice ofJesus—calls us.
Point II.—Mary on the Day of Pentecost
Nine days they spent with Mary the Mother ofJesus, persevering with one mind in prayer, (Acts i. 14), andgoing constantly to the Temple to praise and blessGod. (St Lukexxiv. 53.) It was a Novena of prayer and thanksgiving. It was Mary's first official act as Mother of the Church. She kept the little flock together, kept them close to her Son by obedience to His last command, by intercession for the great gift that He had promised to send them, and by thanksgiving for all that He had been to them and done for them. It was the first Retreat, and they made it with Mary, the Mother ofGod.
What must Mary's prayers have been during those nine days! She was now more united than ever to her Son; her eye of faith saw Him at the Right Hand ofGodin Heaven; she saw eye to eye with Him; she knew all His interests and intentions; she had still a Mother's right to command Him; she knew that nothing in their relationship was changed, and that He would not refuse her behests in Heaven any more than He had done on earth. And so, as her eyes swept the wide horizon which was now hers, the Mother of the Church made a Novena for Pentecost, praying with all her knowledge and all her power, for the Holy Ghost to come down upon her children—to come and fill that Church of which she was the Mother, that Church which her Son had founded, for which He had given His life.
These first Retreatants had no books. They needed none—their lives were so closely bound up with the life ofJesus; the Holy Spirit prayed within them; and Mary was ever with them directing, and setting them an example. In proportion as these things are true of us are we independent ofexteriorhelp in our prayers. And the more we are able to dispense with exterior help, the more interior and real will be our prayers.
Then "when the days were accomplished"—when the Novena was over—the Holy Ghost came down asJesushad promised that He should—came down as a tongue of fire upon each one: a proof that He had enteredinto each one of those expectant, faithful souls, filling each according to his capacity, and giving each the power needful to carry on the work that was appointed for him to do.
What, then, must have been the measure with which Mary was "filled with the Holy Ghost," for what was the Apostles' work compared with hers? She had always been "full of grace"—she had long been the spouse of the Holy Ghost, ever since He had overshadowed her at the Incarnation, and He had always been filling her according to her ever-increasing capacity. We have seen how, under her Son's training, her horizon was ever enlarging—how much wider it became on Calvary, how pain and joy had dilated her heart, how her intercourse with her Divine Son during those forty days had still more widened her outlook; and now, with all the fresh territory over which she was to reign, in her mind and in her heart, she had been praying—the Holy Ghost had been praying within her—for Him to come and overshadow her once again, and fill her with grace that she might be able to meet all her new responsibilities as Mother of the Church. Mary had more need of the Holy Ghost than any of the hundred and twenty souls gathered in the Cenacle; her desire to receive Him too was greater than theirs; and so we may well believe that she received Him in a fuller measure. She had no need of the gifts of tongues and miracles, which were a necessity to the Apostles, to help them in the beginning of their difficult work. Her work during the remaining years of her life was that of intercession, and it was to be carried on in secret and obscurity. The gifts she needed from the Holy Ghost were those of hiddenness, patience, humility, conformity toGod'swill. She needed Him in all His plenitude to pray within her with "unutterable groanings" for all the needs of the Church throughout all time. Her work was still, as it ever had been, toponderin her heart—to meditate and holdcolloquies with her Divine Son, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, about all the interests which they had in common.
Colloquy."Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Ghost, I offer thee my whole heart, my soul and my body, to keep forJesus, that I may be His for ever. Our Lady of Light, pray for me." (Prayer of Blessed Grignon de Montfort.)Resolution.To think more of the Holy Spirit praying within me.Spiritual Bouquet."Sacrarium Spiritus Sancti, ora pro nobis." (Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.)
Colloquy."Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Ghost, I offer thee my whole heart, my soul and my body, to keep forJesus, that I may be His for ever. Our Lady of Light, pray for me." (Prayer of Blessed Grignon de Montfort.)
Resolution.To think more of the Holy Spirit praying within me.
Spiritual Bouquet."Sacrarium Spiritus Sancti, ora pro nobis." (Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.)
"Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged." (Ps. cxix. 5.)1st Prelude.A statue or picture of Our Lady.2nd Prelude.Grace to learn how an exiled child of Eve should live.
"Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged." (Ps. cxix. 5.)
1st Prelude.A statue or picture of Our Lady.
2nd Prelude.Grace to learn how an exiled child of Eve should live.
Point I.—Mary's Exile
Tradition tells us that St John took the Holy Mother to his house in Jerusalem, and that it was there that she died, though she spent some of the time of her exile at Ephesus. In solitude and silence she pondered over all the wonderful mysteries of her life; she interceded for her new-born child, the Church, which had already so many needs; and she helped the Apostles by her prayers. They were soon scattered in different directions, "making disciples of all nations," as their Master had bidden them; and it would only be at rare intervals that they could come and see their Mother, and talk over their difficulties, and get the advice of her who saw eye to eye with her Son. But what a comfort and strength it must have been tothem to know that she was always there, telling her Divine Son of their needs!
And during those long years—according to some opinions fifteen, to others, twenty-three—what was Mary's strength? The same as it had ever been—union with her Son. Every day, tradition tells us, she received Him in the Blessed Sacrament at the hands of St John. What Communions must those have been, when Mary said again:Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum, and herGodwas again incarnate within her! What made those Communions so intense? The fact that His love and desire in coming werereciprocated. The love and desire are never wanting on His side, but unfortunately there is so little of either on ours! It takes more than one to make a good Communion.A joining togetherof two is the meaning of the word. If the union is to be strong, fervent, real, lasting, each must do his part. Oh, teach me, dear Mother, how to receive thy Son in Holy Communion. Thy whole life was centred in Him; thy every thought was with Him; everything thou didst was done for Him; every moment of thy exile gladly borne for Him; every sigh a spiritual Communion; and when each day the glad moment of actual Communion came, it was just His embrace—He pressed thee to His Heart for a few minutes, telling thee it would not be long before thy exile would be over, and thou wouldst see His Face again. Thy Communions were an ecstasy of love—help me to put a little more love into mine; teach me to regard them as the Bread from Heaven sent specially for the exile; teach me to make them the centre of my life; teach me to live my whole life with Him, so that my Communion may never be interrupted. This should be the aim, surely, of every communicant; it is the ideal life; it is the life thatJesusintended when He said: "He that eateth Me, he shall live by Me." It is possible; but oh, how far I come short!
Point II.—The Reason for Mary's Exile
Why did her Son leave her behind to suffer so intensely, as He well knew she would, from the separation? Would not the Beatific Vision in Heaven have been better than her Communions on earth? Could not her intercession for the Church have been even more effectual had she been close to her Son's throne in Heaven? Could she not have been the Mother of Good Counsel in Heaven for those who had to guide the Church in its infancy, as she has been ever since?
We can think of many reasons whyJesusleft her in exile for a time:—
1. She had tonurse the new-born Churchby strengthening and encouraging the Apostles with her example, so like that of the Master Himself, and by supplying the Evangelists with many details of His life, which they could not have learnt from any lips but hers.
2. She had toestablish her positionas Mother of the Church—the tradition was to be handed down by the Apostles that it wasshewho guided, and tended, and cared for the Church during the early and tender years of its existence; that it was to her they turned in times of perplexity and doubt; that her constant intercession for them was their strength. This could not have been so had she left the earth with her Son. During those long years of exile the new child learnt to regard Mary as its Mother, and when she was taken away into Heaven, it was quite natural to it still thus to regard her, and to teach all who came after to do the same.
3. Our Lord would give her still more time toincrease her meritsby suffering. He wanted her crown to be the most beautiful possible, and even for the Mother ofGodthere was only one way to make it so—the way of suffering, which intensified her love and humility and submission toGod'swill.
4. May not another reason have been in order that she might be thebetter able to sympathisewith the exiled children of Eve (exules filii Evæ)? Had He taken her with Him, they would surely have felt that their Mother could not quite understand their position. And what is such an effectual barrier to sympathy as the feeling that we are not understood?
So Mary was left in exile to gain much that she could not have gained otherwise.
I am one of the exiled children of Eve. What haveIgot to do as an exile?
1.I have to establish my position.There is a certain place prepared for me in Heaven, whichmaybe mine through all eternity. What is to decide whether I get it or not? The way I "pass the time of my sojourning" here. By the time my exile is over, I must so have lived that there must be no doubt about it that I belong to the Heavenly land; that I am a child ofGodand an heir to His Kingdom; that I seek not the things of earth but those which are above; that Heaven is my Home. And what will be my position there? Mary earned her position as Queen of Angels, of Patriarchs, Prophets, Martyrs, Virgins, as Mother of the Church. What position shall I earn? That depends, as Mary's did, on my fidelity to grace. I shall have just that degree of glory and merit to which I have attained when I am called hence to give an account of my stewardship—no less and no more. The position I have to establish, then, during my exile, is that of being known by all the inhabitants of Heaven—all the Angels and Saints—as one who is sure to join them one day. "Make your calling and electionsure."
2.I have to suffer.One of the actual reasons for my being here on earth is that I maysuffer—not that suffering is in itself good, but it gives me the means—perhaps the greatest means—of developing the virtues which must be mine if I am to enter the Kingdom one day. Our Lordchose for Himself and for His Mother a life of suffering, to make us understand and to show us how suffering may aid us—yes, the very same suffering which hardens the sinner. What is the secret, then, of suffering? That by means of it, and because of it, we may make Acts of Love and Contrition and Submission toGod'sWill. Suffering is too powerful an instrument to leave our human nature untouched by it; wemustdo something under it—eithercurseGodand die, as Job's wife advised him to do, orblessHim all the more fervently, as Job did. Let me remember, then, that one of the things I have to do as an exile is to see to it thatGodgets, out of each piece of suffering that He sends me, the extralovethat He expected would result from it.
3.To do the workGodwants me to do; to work in my little corner of His vineyard; to co-operate with Him in His great work of the salvation of souls; and to show sympathy and kindness to my fellow-exiles.
Colloquy.TheSalve Regina:—"Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb,Jesus: O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary." (Anthem from Trinity to Advent.)Resolution.To learn the exile's lessons.Spiritual Bouquet."For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come." (Heb. xiii. 14.)
Colloquy.TheSalve Regina:—"Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb,Jesus: O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary." (Anthem from Trinity to Advent.)
Resolution.To learn the exile's lessons.
Spiritual Bouquet."For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come." (Heb. xiii. 14.)
"They that work by me shall not sin." (From the Epistle for the Vigil of the Assumption, Ecclus. xxiv. 30.)1st Prelude.A picture of Mary's death.2nd Prelude.To prepare for death by living "by Mary."
"They that work by me shall not sin." (From the Epistle for the Vigil of the Assumption, Ecclus. xxiv. 30.)
1st Prelude.A picture of Mary's death.
2nd Prelude.To prepare for death by living "by Mary."
Point I.—"The sting of death is sin" (1 Cor. xv. 56)
Sin had never touched Mary; there was therefore for her no sting in death. She had no penalty to pay, neither had she to die for others as her Son died. Why, then, should Mary die?
1. Because she had a mortal nature. She belonged to the great human race, and it was therefore appointed unto her to die. (Heb. ix. 27.)
2. Because she chose to die (the Fathers say her Son gave her the choice) that she might be conformable in all things to her Son, and also that she might be the better able to help, and pray for, and sympathise with her children, who throughout all time would be constantly saying: "Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death."
3. Because Our Lord wanted her to have a specially chosen death—one that came neither from old age nor sickness, but simply fromlove. Her love for Him was so great that her body could no longer hold her soul captive.
4. BecauseGodwould not deprive her of the inestimable privilege of making the sacrifice of her life to Him, and such a life! This practice it is which makes the death of His Saints precious in the sight of the Lord. (Ps. cxv. 15.)
Let us learn two lessons:—
1. Tochooseto be in all things conformable toJesus, even though this choice means death to self.
2. How precious a thing inGod'ssight is the sacrifice of their lives to Him by His children! Let us resolve to make Him this sacrifice often beforehand—at least every night before we take from His Hands the precious gift of sleep which "He giveth His beloved."
Point II.—Mary's Preparation for Death
We are told that some little while before her death an Angel (probably Gabriel) was sent to tell her that her time was at hand. She answered:Ecce ancilla Domini("Behold the handmaid of the Lord"), and made once again the sacrifice of her life. She then told the news to John, who made it known to the faithful. How great their sorrow must have been at the prospect of losing such a Mother! St Denis tells us that Our Lord brought all the Apostles and missionaries, who were scattered all over the world, to witness her death. She blessed them, and encouraged them to continue their work, saying that she would help them powerfully in Heaven. Her joy was full because the time, which was to unite her to her Son, had come at last; but Mary was not selfish in her joy any more than she had been in her grief. She did not forget the sorrow of her children; they were still to be exiles, but exiles with a Mother in the Homeland—a Mother who would be there to befriend them and take an interest in all they were doing.
Do I realise this—that while I am an exile here I have a Mother in Heaven who is taking the keenest interest in all that concerns me, in all that is preparing me for my Home; a Mother who is waiting there for me, ready to welcome me?
Point III.—How Mary Died
There was no sickness, no wearing out nor decay of that beautiful body, no effects in it of original sin. Of what, then, did Mary die? Of two things—loveanddesire;and these were so intense that evenherbody, strong and perfect though it was, had not the power to detain the soul captive any longer. Mary died of love, as her Son had died of grief—a grief which was the outcome of an immense love. Did Mary receive the Last Sacraments? The Sacrament of Penance was out of the question for her sinless soul; we may doubt about Extreme Unction; but with what intensity of love and desire must she have received her Viaticum! And whenJesuscame with all His court to fetch her immaculate soul, we are told that she said: "Thy will be done; for a long time I have sighed after Thee, my Son and myGod; nothing can be more delightful than to join Thee and be where Thou art for ever."
Then the Angels began to sing—all who were present heard them—and while they sang, Mary said herFiatand died, and her most pure soul began its eternal happiness in the sight of the Beatific Vision. The Eternal Trinity gave it the glory which was its due—the reward of her love so pure, so generous, so constant. She had a higher degree of glory and a clearer vision ofGodthan all the Saints, because glory depends on grace, virtue, and merit, of which she had far more than any of them.
What does Mary's death say to me? "They that work by me shall not sin." You cannot be sinless, as I was, you cannot die of love, as I did, (St Theresa and St Philip of Neri did), but you can, by keeping close to me, and doing all your work at my side, keep from all wilful sin, and you can thus loveJesusso much that when He comes to fetch you, death will have no terrors for you, and you, too, will be able to say:Ecce ancilla Domini, Here I am, Thy servant, doing Thy work. "Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching"; and the best way to watch is to work at Mary's side.
And let me never forget that my degree of glory in Heaven will be according to the amount of grace and merit that I have at the moment of my death. Howthankful I should be that I still have power to increase these! And how eager and zealous to use my time to the best advantage! Death cometh when no man can work—when no more merit, no more reparation will be possible. The point I have then reached will be mine through all eternity. "As the tree falls, so will it lie." Holy Mary, Mother ofGod, pray for me now and at the hour of my death.
Colloquywith Mary, my Mother in Heaven, who is pleading for me; who is letting me do all my work close to her side; and who will be there at the hour of my death, to put me back into the Hands of her Son, Who gave me to her when He was on the Cross, saying: "Take this child and nurse it for Me." And He will see to it that none shall pluck me out of His Hands, for it is impossible for a child of Mary to be lost.Resolution.To let love for her Son keep me close to Mary's side to-day, listening to all her directions about my work, so that I may do it to please Him.Spiritual Bouquet."They that work by me shall not sin."
Colloquywith Mary, my Mother in Heaven, who is pleading for me; who is letting me do all my work close to her side; and who will be there at the hour of my death, to put me back into the Hands of her Son, Who gave me to her when He was on the Cross, saying: "Take this child and nurse it for Me." And He will see to it that none shall pluck me out of His Hands, for it is impossible for a child of Mary to be lost.
Resolution.To let love for her Son keep me close to Mary's side to-day, listening to all her directions about my work, so that I may do it to please Him.
Spiritual Bouquet."They that work by me shall not sin."
"I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatical balm; I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh." (Ecclus. xxiv. 20.)"In the Holy City likewise I rested, and myabodeis in the full assembly of the Saints." (verses 15, 16.)1st Prelude.The Apostles carrying the body of their Mother to the grave.2nd Prelude.The grace of faith and love to penetrate into these mysteries.
"I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatical balm; I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh." (Ecclus. xxiv. 20.)
"In the Holy City likewise I rested, and myabodeis in the full assembly of the Saints." (verses 15, 16.)
1st Prelude.The Apostles carrying the body of their Mother to the grave.
2nd Prelude.The grace of faith and love to penetrate into these mysteries.