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THE LIFE OF MARY ~ CONTENTS & LINKS
Scroll down for Part Two, or click on any other section that you wish to read.
(the links to later parts and chapters will be activated once they are posted)
Scroll down for Part Two, or click on any other section that you wish to read.
(the links to later parts and chapters will be activated once they are posted)
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PART ONE : THE EVENTS UP TO THE BIRTH OF MARY (click here)
► Chapter 1 : The Ancestors of Mary ► Chapter 2 : The Parents of the Mary—Joachim and Anne ► Chapter 3 : The Immaculate Conception of Our Mary ► Chapter 4 : The Birth of Our Mary PART TWO : MARY'S LIFE BEFORE THE ANNUNCIATION (click here) ► Chapter 5 : The Infancy of Mary in Nazareth ► Chapter 6 : The Years Mary spent in the Temple ► Chapter 7 : Mary's Betrothal to Joseph ► Chapter 8 : Mary's Life in Nazareth PART THREE : FROM THE CONCEPTION TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS ► Chapter 9 : The Time of the Annunciation ► Chapter 10 : Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth ► Chapter 11 : Temptations, Trials & Tribulations ► Chapter 12 : Mary and Joseph's Journey to Bethlehem PART FOUR : THE BIRTH OF JESUS & EXILE IN EGYPT ► Chapter 13 : The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem ► Chapter 14 : From Shepherds to Kings ► Chapter 15 : Jesus' Presentation in the Temple ► Chapter 16 : The Flight into Egypt ► Chapter 17 : The Years of Exile |
PART FIVE : THE HIDDEN YEARS UP TO JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY
► Chapter 18 : The Return to Nazareth ► Chapter 19 : The Hidden Life in Nazareth ► Chapter 20 : The Losing and Finding of Jesus ► Chapter 21 : Mary the Widow PART SIX : MARY IN THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS ► Chapter 22 : Cana—Mary Provokes Jesus' First Public Miracle ► Chapter 23 : Mary's Silent Support of Jesus ► Chapter 24 : Mary's Hidden Work ► Chapter 25 : Mary Prepares Her Sacrifice PART SEVEN : MARY AND THE PASSION AND DEATH OF JESUS ► Chapter 26 : Mary's Own Agony ► Chapter 27 : Mary's Spiritual Martyrdom ► Chapter 28 : Mary the Co-Redemptrix ► Chapter 29 : Mary's Sacrificial Example PART EIGHT : MARY AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS ► Chapter 30 : The Joy of Victory ► Chapter 31 : Mary Sacrifices Heaven to Help the Church ► Chapter 32 : Mary's Last Years ► Chapter 33 : Mary's Death and Glory |
PART TWO : THE EVENTS UP TO THE ANNUNCIATION
CHAPTER 5 : THE INFANCY OF MARY IN NAZARETH
Eight days after Mary's birth, all the friends and relatives of the family gathered in St. Joachim's house for the ceremony of naming the baby. According to custom, the mother could not attend the celebration, but remained in her room. Several priests came from Nazareth, and St. Joachim placed his daughter in the hands of their richly robed leader, who lifted her up as if offering her to the Lord, and recited some prayers. Then he wrote the name Mary on a parchment and placed it on her chest. After the singing of some psalms, the ceremony was over and Mary was taken back to St. Anne, while all the guests sat around a long low table and were served a banquet meal.
Later, St. Anne and St. Joachim took Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of the purification of the mother. St. Anne humbly gave her offerings of a lamb and a turtledove, and prayed to the Lord to forgive her all her faults. Then, entering the Temple with her daughter in her arms, she offered up Mary to God with devout and tender tears. In her heart she heard a voice urging her to renew her vow to give Mary to God's service in the Temple within three years.
At the same time, Mary herself, seeing the grandeur of these buildings dedicated to the worship of the Lord, wished that she could prostrate herself on the floor and kiss it. But as she could not, she prayed: "O Most High God, I adore Thee in Thy holy Temple. Accept me, O Lord, so that I may serve Thee in this holy house according to Thy blessed will!"
As a proof that her prayer was granted, a beam of bright light shone down from Heaven onto the mother and child. And while St. Anne renewed her vow, the angels sang hymns of praise to Almighty God.
The holy man Simeon had been deeply moved when he saw St. Anne and Mary, and now as he dimly perceived the mystic light, he asked himself. "Are these women perhaps the parents of the Messias?" And he prayed still more fervently for the coming of the Redeemer.
The Devil had also been studying St. Anne, but when he saw that she humbly submitted to all the regulations of the priests and even asked them to intercede for her, he decided that she was just another pious woman.
During the next three years in the home of her loving mother, Mary was treated as other children of her age and passed her infancy subject to the common laws of nature. However, she never cried or caused anyone any trouble. Even as a baby, she maintained a pleasant countenance mixed with gravity and a certain majesty. While she showed a special affection for her mother and father, they were inspired by God to handle and caress her with unusual restraint. She ate less than other children and she slept much less, for whenever she could, she prayed and meditated and performed interior acts of love for God. When she accepted any service or benefits from anyone, she always received it with humble gratitude and begged the Lord to reward that person.
Being in possession of all her faculties even from birth, Mary could have talked quite clearly and intelligently even as a baby, if she had wished to. But out of modesty and submission to the will of God, she deliberately refrained from speaking at all until she was a year and a half old. However when alone she did often converse with her guardian angels, and in secret she also prayed verbally to the Lord.
Though she was thus filled with the light of God and His mysteries, nevertheless Mary judged herself to be the least of all His creatures, and she always ascribed to herself the last place of all. Whenever, during that first year and a half, St. Anne freed her daughter's little arms and hands, Mary would immediately grasp her dear parents' hands and kiss them with reverent humility. In fact she continued this practice as long as they lived.
When she reached the age of eighteen months, Almighty God urged her to pray many times every day for the coming of the Messias, and He told her that it was now time for her to converse with others. But Mary exclaimed: "O my Lord, I beseech Thee, consider my frailty. To avoid all risk of losing Thee, I would rather keep silence all my life.”
God promised her, however, that He would assist her in directing all her words to His service and glory.
Therefore one day little Mary spoke her first words to her beloved parents, asking their blessing. At the same time she showed them that she could walk by herself.
With intense joy St. Anne took Mary into her arms and said: "O dearest of my heart, this is a blessed hour! Let your words be few and well considered, and may all your footsteps be directed toward the honor of our Creator!"
During the remaining year and a half before she went to the Temple, Mary spoke very little, except to her mother. In order to make her talk, St. Anne used to call her and ask her to speak of God and His mysteries. Mary, however, would humbly beg her mother rather to instruct her. Thus mother and daughter passed many hours in sweet conversation about holy things.
Often when St. Anne watched her dear little girl in their home, she shed tears of-love and gratitude at the thought that this lovely child was actually chosen by God to be the Mother of the Saviour of mankind. Often they spoke together about His coming and about the fortunate maiden of Israel who would give Him to the world, and then Mary would become inflamed with ardent love and would innocently picture this happy creature in the most glowing terms of awe and reverence. But St. Anne never revealed the great secret of her heart.
Being eager to express in her actions her conviction that she was the least of God's creatures, little Mary tried to help in cleaning and scrubbing the house whenever she could. And sometimes, when she was alone, her angels helped her.
While St. Anne naturally wished to dress her daughter as beautifully as she could, Mary, soon after she began to talk, begged her mother to clothe her in plain ash-gray cloth of cheap and coarse material. St. Anne yielded as to the form and color, but not to the material.
Almighty God had already revealed to Mary how grievously the sins of men offended Him. Consequently she would often retire to her room and prostrate herself on the floor and beg for mercy for poor sinners. Even as an infant she practiced penances and mortifications to a point where she taxed her bodily strength.
When Mary reached the age of two, she began to perform works of charity toward the poor. She begged alms for them from her parents, and she set aside parts of her meals for them. Then she would give them what she had, saying in her heart: "This man, my brother, deserves what he needs and what I possess without deserving it." When she gave her alms to the poor, she used to kiss their hands, and if she was alone, their feet. And in each case she prayed fervently to God to give them spiritual graces as well.
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO VENERABLE MOTHER MARY OF AGREDA:
“At the first sight of the Highest Good, my heart was wounded with love, and I gave myself entirely to Him.
“I underwent the hardships of infancy like other children. I felt hunger, thirst, sleepiness and other infirmities of the body. In all the difficulties which I endured after I was born into the world, I was resigned and contented, since I had merited none of God's gifts.
"Be very devout toward my most sweet name."
CHAPTER 6 : THE YEARS MARY SPENT IN THE TEMPLE
Preparing for Temple Life
As the time approached when Mary was to be taken to the Temple, St. Anne often gave her lessons, teaching her various prayers and rules of religion. She already knew how to read. Though only three and a half years old and very delicate, Mary seemed like a girl of five or six. Her long, dark hair hung straight down with curls at the end.
One day, three old priests came from Nazareth to give her an examination, in order to determine whether she was worthy of being accepted for service in the Temple. This was a very solemn proceeding. After explaining to her the different duties she would fulfill, they asked her some questions. Her replies were so filled with naive wisdom that the priests could not help smiling their approval, while her parents wept tears of joy. Then during a meal the oldest priest said to her:
"In consecrating you to God, your father and mother promised that you would give up wine, vinegar, grapes and figs. What other sacrifice do you wish freely to add to those. Think it over and tell us later."
Mary was very fond of vinegar. Meanwhile the priests made it clear to her that she was still free to eat whatever she wanted, and all sorts of delicacies were offered to her, but she took very little and from only a few dishes. After the meal, in another room, Mary said that she had decided to give up fish and meat and milk and all fruits except berries. Also she wished to sleep on the floor and to get up and pray three times every night.
Her parents were deeply moved when they heard this. Taking her up in his arms, St. Joachim wept as he said to her: "My dear child, that is far too much! If you lead such a hard life, your father will never see you again!”
The priests then insisted that she should pray only once during the night, like the other girls, that she should allow herself several other relaxations, and that she should eat fish on all the great feast days. They also told her that she would not have to join the poorer girls in washing the bloodstained robes of the sacrificers, but Mary unhesitatingly replied that she would willingly do that work if she were thought worthy. The priests were filled with surprise and admiration, and the oldest gave her a solemn blessing. Then St. Anne, who was deeply moved, pressed Mary to her heart and kissed her with tender love, while St. Joachim caressed her respectfully. Throughout the examinations, under the guidance and inspiration of her angels, Mary had remained perfectly recollected and serious, and at the same time strikingly beautiful and lovable.
A few days later everyone in St. Joachim's home was busy preparing for the trip to Jerusalem. Several fine ceremonial dresses which had been made for Mary were carefully packed up. Finally one morning, at dawn, two donkeys were loaded with baggage, and St. Joachim and St. Anne set out, the latter carrying Mary in her arms. The holy child was very happy to be going to the Temple. During the trip they often had to travel through cold fogs, as it was the rainy season. When they stopped overnight at an inn or some friend's home,.
Mary often went up to her mother and joyfully put her arms around St. Anre's neck. Several times St. Joachim repeated sadly: "My dear child, I will never see you again!"
On arriving in the Holy City, they were met by a group of friends and children who led them to the house of Zacharias the priest, the future father of John the Baptist, where they were made welcome and given refreshments. Then everyone attended a great reception and feast in an inn which St. Joachim had rented for the occasion, as he wished to spare no expense for this great event. Among those present was a ten-year-old girl, later to be known as St. Veronica.
Early the next morning, St. Joachim took his animal offerings to the Temple with several men, while St. Anne, accompanied by many women and girls, led Mary to God's House in a beautiful solemn procession through the streets of the Holy City. Little Mary walked behind her mother. She was dressed in a lovely sky-blue robe with garlands of flowers around her arms and neck, and in one hand she carried a candle decorated with flowers. On each side of her were three girls in white with flowers and candles. Then came other girls and women. Everyone who saw them was touched by Mary's extraordinarily holy appearance.
At the outer entrance to the Temple, they were met by St. Joachim, Zacharias and several other priests. As they passed through the gate, Mary's parents inwardly offered their beloved daughter to the Lord with a fervent and devout prayer. And Mary too, in deep humility and adoration, offered herself to God. She alone perceived that the Almighty welcomed her and accepted her, for she heard a voice from Heaven saying:
"Come, My beloved, My spouse, come into My Temple, where I wish thee to offer Me praise and worship."
Then, crossing the Women's Court, they came to the fifteen steps leading up to the great Nicanor Gate. It was here that St. Joachim and St. Anne had to make the formal offering of their child to the Temple. After a priest had placed her on the first step, Mary, with his permission, turned and knelt before her parents. Kissing their hands with keen love and gratitude, she asked for their blessing and their prayers. With tears in their eyes, her father and mother laid their hands on her head and solemnly pronounced the words by which they gave her to the Lord, while a priest clipped a few locks of her hair. During this moving ceremony, the young girls who had come with the party sang these words of Psalm 44:
"Thou art beautiful ... therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.... Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house. And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty; for He is the Lord thy God .... Therefore shall people praise thee for ever: yea, for ever and ever!"
Then, after St. Anne and St. Joachim had tenderly blessed her, little Mary, without hesitating and without looking back, began to climb up the fifteen steps. She would not let anyone help her, but with remarkable resolution and dignity she hastened up all by herself, filled with holy fervor and joy. Everyone who saw her was visibly affected.
Two priests then led her up to the gallery, from which the Holy Place could be seen, and read some prayers over her, while incense was burned on an altar. Taking from her the garlands of flowers and the candle, they put a brown veil over her head and conducted her to a hall in which ten girls in the service of the Temple welcomed her by throwing flowers before her. Here she met her teacher, who was the holy prophetess Anna.
As the priests left, Mary's parents and relatives came in to say goodbye. St. Joachim was especially moved. He took Mary into his arms and wept as he murmured: "My child, pray to God for my soul!" St. Anne embraced her beloved daughter sadly and tenderly. Then, resigning herself with courage to the will of God, she turned away. As she walked out, she said to the women accompanying her: "The Ark of the Covenant is now in the Temple." With keen sorrow in their hearts, St. Joachim and St. Anne returned to Nazareth.
But in answer to Mary's prayers, God mercifully consoled and comforted them.
Now Mary humbly knelt before her teacher Anna and asked her blessing and forbearance for the trouble she would give her. Next Mary greeted and embraced each of the other girls, offering herself as their servant and urging them to instruct and command her. After taking a meal together, they retired to their little cells.
Mary's room was high up, with a view over the Holy Place and the Inner Temple containing the Holy of Holies. Her cell was very plain , its only furniture being a lamp, a low round table, and a rolled-up carpet which served as her bed. As soon as she found herself alone, Mary prostrated herself on the floor and kissed it, for to her it was holy ground, being part of God's Temple, and she considered herself unworthy of treading upon it. Then she turned to her angels and prayed:
"Messengers of the Almighty, faithful friends, I beseech you to remain with me in this holy Temple of my Lord and to remind me of all that I should do. Please instruct me and direct me so that in all things I may fulfill the will of God."
Humbling herself before God, she said: "Infinite and Eternal Lord, if trouble and persecutions suffered in patience are precious in Thy sight, do not consent that I be deprived of so rich a treasure and pledge of Thy love. But give the rewards of these tribulations to those who deserve them better than I."
This prayer of Mary pleased Almighty God, and He gave her to understand that He would allow her to suffer and labor for love of Him during her life, though she would not know in advance how it would happen. Mary thanked Him with all her heart and then asked to be allowed to take in His presence the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and perpetual enclosure in the Temple. The Lord answered:
"My chosen one, thou dost not yet understand why, it is impossible for thee to fulfill all thy desires. The vow of chastity I permit and wish thee to make. And from this moment I want thee to renounce earthly riches. It is My will that thou observe whatever pertains to the other vows as if thou hadst made them."
Then the holy child solemnly made the vow of chastity before God, and renounced all affection for created things, while she resolved to obey all creatures for the love of God. Her angels proceeded to adorn her with a gorgeous robe and sparkling jewels of many colors that symbolized her virtues.
Next the Lord told her to ask for whatever she desired, and Mary immediately beseeched Him with burning fervor to send the Reedemer to the world so that all men might know Him, to bless her parents with grace, and to console the poor and the afflicted in their troubles.
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN:
“From my infancy the Holy Spirit was perfectly with me. And as I grew, it filled me so completely as to leave no room for any sin to enter.
"When I had attained an age to know something of my Creator, I turned to Him with unspeakable love and desired Him with my whole heart.
“I vowed in my heart to observe virginity if it was pleasing to Him, and to possess nothing in the world, but if God willed otherwise, that His Will, not mine, be done, I committed my will absolutely to Him."
Mary’s Life in the Temple
On her first day in the Temple, after having taken before God the vows of poverty and chastity, little Mary went to her teacher, the holy prophetess Anna, and asked her to give away to the poor all the clothes, money, and other personal belongings which St. Anne had left there for her, except for a few dresses and prayerbooks. Anna agreed to do so and to take care of Mary as of someone destitute and poor, for the other girls had spending money.
Then Mary asked for a rule of life. Anna consulted the old priest, and summoned Mary, who remained on her knees throughout the interview. The priest said to her:
"Pray always for the Temple of the Lord, for His people, and for the coming of the Messias. Retire to sleep at eight o'clock, and rise at dawn to praise the Lord until nine. During the day, as your teacher directs, engage in manual work and study the Scriptures. Take exercise before meals. In all things be humble, courteous and obedient."
Then Mary asked for his blessing and kissed his hand and Anna's.
During the days that followed, she willingly set about learning all her new duties. Unlike the other girls, she asked her teacher to be allowed to serve them all and to scrub the rooms and wash the dishes. Often she did her own work so quickly and efficiently that she was able to help the others in theirs. To each of her companions she was always sincerely kind, friendly and humble. With them she spinned and sewed, mended and washed the vestments of the priests, or took lessons in Holy Scripture, in singing, and in the ceremonies of the Temple. Her gratitude toward her teachers was touching.
Thus through the years she grew in wisdom and grace and infused mystical knowledge. Even as a child she had a remarkably advanced understanding of the Scriptures, and she loved to spend hours studying and meditating on them, especially on their inspired prophecies of the coming of the Redeemer of mankind in human form.
Studying and Learning
Often she asked profound, penetrating questions of her angels, and spoke with loving tenderness about the Messias. And with their help she gradually pieced together many of the significant scriptural references to the Mysteries of Christ's life, such as:
The Promise of His Incarnation: "the Desired of all nations shall come ... rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy; behold, thy King will come to thee, the just and Saviour."
The Nativity: "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son."
His Apostolate. "He is poor.... He will teach us His Way. I will open My mouth in parables. Behold I Myself will seek My sheep. I will feed My sheep. I will save My flock.”
His Passion: "He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our iniquities...All My enemies whispered together against Me: Let us condemn Him to a most shameful death. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ' 'I have given My body to the strikers. . . .' He will crown Thee with a crown of tribulation. Why then is Thy apparel red? From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head ' wounds and bruises and swelling sores; they are not bound up.... 'They have dug My hands and My feet. And in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink .... I am become as a man without help, free among the dead. They have laid Me in the lower pit.'"
His Resurrection: "And His Sepulchre shall be glorious!"
His Ascension: "Be ye lifted up, O Eternal Gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. God is ascended with jubilee!"
His Church: "And He shall rule from sea to sea .... And all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve Him."
His Second Coming: "God shall come manifestly: our God shall come ... to judge His people."
Very often during her ten years in the Temple, Mary would meditate on these and many other prophecies in the Old Testament, and then she would retire to her little cell at night and pray for many hours. When she thought of God's love for men and of how He was soon to come among them and suffer as one of them, in order to save them, tears flowed from her eyes as she prayed, and a supernatural light surrounded her.
The Death of St. Joachim
Six months after Mary entered the service of the Temple, the Lord appeared to her in a vision and said: "My beloved and chosen one, I love thee with an infinite love, and I desire of thee what is most pleasing in My eyes. Hence I wish that thou dispose thyself for tribulations and sorrows for love of Me."
Mary replied: "I wish only to choose suffering unto death for love of Thee."
Then the Lord continued: "I accept thy desires. And as a beginning of their fulfillment, I announce to thee that thy father Joachim must pass from this mortal to eternal life. His death will happen shortly, and he will pass away in peace and be placed among the saints in Limbo, to await the Redemption of mankind."
Little Mary, who loved St. Joachim with a holy love, felt a keen sorrow and compassion, and she immediately offered a fervent prayer for him. The Lord assured her that He would assist her father.
Eight days before St. Joachim's death, Mary was told the day and hour in which he was to die, and she requested several of her angels to console him in his sickness, which they did. During his last hours, she sent the rest of her angels to help him, and she asked God to let him see them. This favor was granted, and the angels were commanded to say to him:
"Man of God, in order that the pain and sorrow of natural death may be relieved by the joy of thy spirit, the Almighty wishes thee to know now that thy daughter Mary is to be the happy Mother of the Messias! Since thou leavest to the world a daughter through whom God will restore it, do thou part from it in the joy of thy soul, and may the Lord bless thee!"
St. Anne, who was standing at the head of her husband's bed, also heard this message In the same moment St. Joachim lost the power of speech, and he commenced his agony in conflict between joy at this great news and the pains of death. Making many fervent acts of love, faith, humility and thanksgiving, Mary's holy father died the precious death of the saints, and his soul was carried to the Limbo of the Patriarchs and the just, where amid intense rejoicing he shared with them the happy tidings that from Mary was to be born the Redeemer of the world.
When the angels returned and told Mary of her father's death, she begged God to console her mother, good St. Anne.
Soon afterward, the Lord in His wisdom decided to train her further in the science of suffering. From birth she had enjoyed the delights of His love in frequent sensible consolations. Now He suspended all visions and similar graces, and ordered all her angels to conceal themselves from her.
Feeling utterly forsaken in this sudden and unexpected "dark night," in her humility Mary began to fear that it was due to her unworthiness and ingratitude for such precious graces. For days she suffered and longed for the sweet presence of her Lord. Often she said to herself sadly:
"I seek Him, and I do not find Him. Alas for me, my striving serves only to increase my sorrow. My Beloved absents Himself I call Him and He does not answer me Daughters of Jerusalem, I beseech you, if you find my Beloved, tell Him that I am faint and that I am dying with love .... Tell me where is my Beloved. Tell me where He has hidden Himself. Tell me where I can find Him!”
Envy, Hatred and Persecution
Then, while the Lord continued to hide Himself from Mary, He also allowed Satan to try her, in order to increase her merit and reward. Irritated by her perfect virtue and holiness, the devil vainly attempted to incite her to commit even a slight venial sin of thought, word or deed. During these various tests, Mary never stopped praying to the Lord for help, and though she suffered from the strain and at times she wept, nevertheless without once losing her inner union with God she successfully fought and conquered all these temptations.
Consequently Satan changed his tactics. Since he could not influence her directly, he incited others to persecute her. Without much trouble he made the other girls become inflamed with envy against her. Seeing what a model Temple-servant she was, they began to fear that because of her their virtues would be overlooked and their faults would stand out. Driven on by the devil, soon they let themselves be moved to anger and hatred against her. Finally they plotted together to persecute her until she would be forced to leave the Temple. Now they often spoke to her in a sharp, haughty and cruel way, accusing her of being hypocritical and of seeking the favor of the priests and their teacher.
When they did this, Mary answered quietly: "My friends, you are right in saying that I am the least and most imperfect among you, but then you, my sisters, must pardon me and teach me in my ignorance, for as a servant I love you and reverence you, and I will obey you in all things."
Her sincere humility only made them more furious. For many days they continued to persecute and insult her, at times even hitting her. But little Mary remained humble, patient and charitable, returning good for evil and praying for her enemies.
At last one day the other girls decided to provoke her to do something rash, so that they could accuse her before the priests and have her expelled. Therefore they took her to an isolated room and began to insult and hit her. But when she showed herself immovable and only reacted with kindness and humility, it was they who lost control of themselves and screamed their hatred of her so loudly that some priests came running into the room and asked severely who was to blame for this commotion. While Mary remained meekly silent, the other girls cried out: "Mary of Nazareth makes us all quarrel—she irritates and provokes us so much that there can be no peace among us unless she leaves the Temple! When we allow her her own way, she becomes overbearing. But if we correct her, she makes fun of us by pretending to be humble and then starts another quarrel!"
Taking Mary into another room, the priests scolded her very strongly and threatened to send her away if she did not change her conduct. Deeply hurt by this threat, the innocent child answered them in tears: "My masters, thank you for correcting and teaching me, the most imperfect and despicable of creatures. But I beseech you-forgive me and direct me so that I may reform and henceforth please the Lord and my companions."
After the priests dismissed her, Mary went to the other girls and, prostrating herself at their feet, she asked their pardon. However, they continued to treat her with scorn and hostility, while she kept praying to God for help in overcoming her faults.
Then one night the Lord said to a priest in his sleep: "My servant Mary is pleasing in My eyes. She is entirely innocent of anything of which she is accused."
The same revelation was given to Mary's teacher, Anna.
And that morning, after consulting together, she and the priest called in Mary and asked her pardon for having believed the false accusations. But the holy girl simply begged them not to consider her unworthy of being scolded, and kissed their hands as she asked for their blessing.
Thereafter God restrained both the devil and Mary's companions from persecuting her so much. But during all the ten years that she spent in the Temple, the Lord continued to absent Himself from her view, with only a few rare exceptions. This was of course a source of keen and prolonged suffering for Mary, though she felt herself unworthy of His loving visits and continually sought to make amends for her own negligence.
The Death of St. Anne
One day, when she had reached the age of twelve, her angels said to her, still without showing themselves: "Mary, as ordained by the Lord, the life of thy holy mother Anne is now about to come to an end."
This unexpected sad news filled Mary's affectionate heart with sorrow. Prostrating herself before God, she fervently prayed: "O Eternal Lord, dismiss Thy good servant in peace. Strengthen her, assist her, and let her enter into the peace of Thy friendship and grace, since she has always sought it with an upright heart."
God did not answer in words, but that night He commanded Mary's angels to carry her bodily to St. Anne's bedside. Upon seeing her dear mother again, Mary kissed her tenderly and exclaimed: "Good mother, may the Lord be your strength, and may He be blessed, since He has permitted me to receive your last blessing!"
With grave affection the dying St. Anne said slowly: "My beloved daughter, do not forget me in the presence of the Lord, and remind Him of the need I have of His protection in this hour-do not leave me before you close my eyes. You will be an orphan, but you will live under the guardianship of the Lord. Do not leave the Temple before choosing your state of life, with the advice of the priests. Pray that if it be God's will to give you a husband, he may be of the race of David. Share your inheritance with the poor in loving generosity. Without ceasing ask the Almighty to show His mercy by sending His promised Messias. Beseech Him to be your protection. And may His blessing come over you, together with mine."
Then, after giving Mary her blessing, good St. Anne reclined in her daughter's arms and died in perfect peace. She was fifty-six years old. As the angels carried Mary back to her cell in the Temple, her loving heart suffered a keen sense of loneliness. However, while praying for St. Anne, she gratefully thanked the Lord for having given her such a perfect mother and for having showered so many graces on her parents in life and death.
One day not long afterward, for the first time in years, Mary's angels again became visible to her, and said: "Soon thou shalt see Him whom thy soul desires! In order to console His beloved, He afflicts them. In order to be sought after, He withdraws."
Then gradually, by a series of mystical experiences, God endowed Mary's pure soul with new gifts and tranquilized her spirit. At last, having raised her to a still higher spiritual plane, He again revealed Himself to her in an exalted vision which amply rewarded all her suffering and loving anxiety. Once again overwhelmed with joy, Mary prayed: "O infinite Goodness and Wisdom, purify my heart and renew it, so that it may be humble, penitent and pleasing in Thy sight!"
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN:
“As soon as I understood that there was a God, I was always solicitous and fearful for my salvation. And when I heard more fully that God was also my Creator and Judge of all my actions, I loved Him intensely, and every hour I feared and pondered lest I should offend Him in word or deed. Then when I heard that He had given a Law to His people and wrought so many wonders with them, I firmly resolved in my mind to love naught but Him, and all worldly things became most bitter to me.
"Hearing that this same God was to redeem the world and be born of a virgin, I was filled with such love for her that I thought of naught but God. I withdrew as much as Possible from the conversation and presence of others. All that I could have, I gave to the poor, reserving to myself only scanty food and clothing. Nothing pleased me but God. Ever did I long in my heart to live to the time of His birth, if perchance I might be the unworthy handmaid of the Mother of God"
AND TO VENERABLE MOTHER MARY OF AGREDA:
"It is true that on account of the blessings of the Lord, sin was impossible in me. But (this) was hidden from me. I saw that as far as it depended on myself alone, I could fall. Thus God left me in holy fear of sinning during my pilgrimage. From the instant of my conception until my death, I never lost this fear, but rather grew in it with time."
AND TO ST. ELIZABETH OF SCHOENAU:
“I want to teach you the prayers that I said while I was in the Temple. When my father and mother left me in the Temple, I resolved in my heart to have God as my Father, and I frequently and devoutly pondered what I might do to please God so that He would deign to give me His grace. I studied the Law of God. And of all the Precepts of the Divine Law I kept three with particular care in my heart, namely 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole strength. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself '
“I kept these precepts in my soul, and I quickly understood all the virtues which they contain. A soul cannot have any virtue if it does not love God with all its heart for from this love the abundance of grace descends into the soul. But after descending; it does not remain, but flows away like water, if the soul does not hate its enemies, that is, its sins and vices.
“I always used to rise in the middle of the night, and, with as much longing and will and love as I could, I used to beg Almighty God to give me the grace to observe those three precepts and all the other commandments of His Law. And I used to pray these seven petitions:
1. I prayed for the grace to fulfill the Precept of charity: to love God with all my heart.
2. I prayed for the grace to love my neighbor according to His will and pleasure, and that He should make me love all that He Himself loves.
3. I prayed that He make me hate and flee all that He hates.
4. 1 prayed for humility, Patience, kindness, gentleness, and all virtues by which I might become pleasing in His sight.
5. I prayed that He should let me see the time when that most holy virgin would be born who was to give birth to the Son of God, and that He preserve my eyes that I might see her, my ears that I might hear her, my tongue that I might praise her, my hands that I might work for her, my feet that I might walk as her servant, and my knees that I might adore the Son of God in her lap.
6. I prayed for the grace of obeying the orders and rules of the High Priest of the Temple.
7. I prayed that God should preserve the Temple and all His people for His service.
I assure you that as I considered myself a most worthless creature and one unworthy of God's grace, therefore I begged Him to give me grace and virtues.
"The Lord did with me what a musician does with his harp. The musician sets and tunes all the strings so that they give forth a sweet and harmonious melody, and then he sings while playing on it. Thus God brought into harmony with His will my soul and heart and mind and all the senses and actions of my body. And being trained in this manner by His wisdom, I used to be carried by the angels to the bosom of God the Father, and there I received such consolation and joy, such bliss and well-being, such love and sweetness, that I no longer remembered that I had ever been born in this world. Besides, I was in such close intimacy with God and His angels that it seemed to me as though I had always existed in that true glory. Then, when I had stayed there as long as pleased God the Father, He gave me back to the angels, and they carried me back to the spot where I had begun to pray. When I found myself on earth again and recalled where I had been, this memory inflamed me with such a love of God that I embraced and kissed the ground and stones, the trees and other created things, out of love for Him who had created them. And it seemed to me that I should be the handmaid of all the Temple-women, and I wished to be subjected to all creatures, out of love for their supreme Father And I frequently had this experience.
"Once when I was thinking that I never wanted to be deprived of God grace, I arose and went to read in the Scriptures, desiring something to console my soul. When I opened the book, the first thing I saw was this passage of Isaias: 'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.' As I understood from this that the Son of God was going to choose a virgin to be His Mother, I immediately resolved in my heart, out of reverence for that virgin, to remain a virgin myself and to offer myself to her as a handmaid and always to serve her and never to leave her, even if I had to travel all over the world with her.
"I did what a man does when he wants to build a beautiful fountain. He goes to the foot of a hill and carefully investigates where the springs of water are located, and having found their source, he digs with care until he finds them, and then he directs their flow to the spot where he wants to have the fountain. Next he makes the place neat and wide and clean, so that the water will stay clear. Then he puts up a wall around the fountain and erects a column in the middle and makes channels around it so that the water can flow out freely for everyone's convenience. That is what I did: I went to the hill when I applied myself to studying the Law; I found the spring; when through prayer and study I realized that the principal source of all good is to love God with all one's heart; then I prepared and cleaned and enlarged the site when I conceived the desire of loving all that He loves. I also wanted the water to be pure and clear- that was when I resolved to flee and hate all stain of sin. Then I built the walls when I inseparably united the virtues of humility, patience, kindness and gentleness by the fire of charity; and kept them thus fused together until the end of my life. I erected the column and made the channels when I offered myself as an example and helper for all mankind, for I am ever ready to give generous gifts of grace to all who invoke me for themselves or for others. God placed me on earth as a teacher and example for all the elect. And I want you to do as I did.
"My daughter, you think that I had all these graces without trouble, but it is not so. I assure you that I received from God no grace, no gift or virtue, without great labor, continual prayer, ardent desire, Profound devotion, many tears and much affliction, and by always saying; thinking and doing what was pleasing to God, as far as I knew how and was able to do—except for the grace of sanctification by which I was sanctified in the womb of my mother.
I assure you that no grace descends into the soul except through Prayer and mortification of the body. And after we have given God all that we can give by our own efforts, however small they may be, He Himself comes into the soul, bearing with Him such exalted gifts that it seems to the soul as though she faints away and loses her memory and forgets that she has ever said or don e anything pleasing to God, and then she seems to herself more vile and more despicable than she has ever been.
'And what must the soul do then? She must give fervent praises and thanks to God for these graces, and she must consider herself unworthy of the divine gifts, and she must weep. And then God, seeing the soul humiliate herself still more after receiving His gifts, is moved to give even greater gifts....
"Thus did He do with me. For my mind yearned for the Son of God. My spirit burned with longing to have Him. My whole soul became inflamed with such sweet bliss that it seemed to me as though I already had Him, but as the human tongue does not have the power to express my inner fire of love --I Prayed only to keep my external senses, in order to place them at the service of that virgin.
'My dearest daughter, I have revealed to you the prayers that I used to say, in order that by following my example you should confidently ask God in prayer for the graces and virtues which you do not have, and in order that you should humbly persist in asking for them. And I want you to pray with fervor and devotion for your salvation and for that of others, because God wants those who have to help those who have not."
CHAPTER 7 : MARY'S BETROTHAL TO JOSEPH
When Mary reached the age of thirteen and a half, having grown considerably for her age, Almighty God in a vision commanded her to enter the state of matrimony. Because of her intense love of chastity and her early vow of perpetual virginity, which she had often renewed, this divine order meant to her a sacrifice as painful as that of Abraham when God commanded him to offer up his sons life.
When Mary heard this unexpected decree, she was astonished and became greatly afflicted. Nevertheless she prudently suspended her own judgment and preserved her faith and hope more perfectly than Abraham. Still hoping against hope, she meekly replied: "Eternal God, Thou, O Lord, canst dispose of me, Thy worthless little worm, according to Thy pleasure, without making me fail in what I have promised. And if it be not displeasing to Thee, my good Lord, I renew my desire to remain chaste during all my life."
Thus Mary in her great trial, though she felt some human uneasiness and sadness, obediently resigned herself entirely to the will of God. And the Lord answered her: "Mary, let not thy heart be disturbed, for thy resignation is acceptable to Me. And by My disposition, that will happen which is best for thee."
Then, as God intended, while left between uncertainty and hope, Mary gave herself over to fervent prayer and inner acts of love, faith, humility, obedience and chastity.
Meanwhile the Lord spoke in sleep to the High Priest, who happened to be St. Simeon, and commanded him to arrange the marriage of Mary, whom He regarded with special love, to whomever it seemed right to the council of priests. After consulting together, the priests appointed a day on which all the bachelors of the line of David, which was also Mary's, were to assemble in the Temple.
Nine days before that date, Simeon called in Mary and gently explained to her that as she was an orphan and a first-born daughter with an inheritance, now near the age when the young girls had to leave the service of the Temple and marry, the priests were planning to find her a worthy husband. Though deeply moved, Mary replied with great composure and modesty: "As far as my inclinations are concerned, I desire to preserve chastity during all my life, and I never had the intention to enter the married state. But you, my master, will teach me God's holy will."
During the nine days that followed, Mary continually prayed to God with many tears and sighs for that which she had so much at heart. And once the Lord appeared to her and said: “My dove, let not thy heart be sad or disturbed. I will guide the priests by My light, and I will give thee a husband selected by Myself, and one who will not hinder thy holy desires. I will choose a man perfect and according to My heart.”
This good man whom God found worthy of becoming Mary's husband and the foster father of the Word Incarnate, and who is now honored and loved throughout the world as St. Joseph, the Protector of the Universal Church, was at this time a humble, unmarried carpenter who worked for a master in a small town in Galilee.
Joseph was born near Bethlehem, the third of six brothers. His parents were well off and lived in a large two-storied country house which had a bubbling fountain in a court and was surrounded by lovely streams. The Saint's marvelous holiness began when he was sanctified in the womb of his mother seven months after his conception. At his birth he was a beautiful baby with a perfectly formed body, and he caused an extraordinary delight to his parents and relatives. From his third year, thanks to unusual graces, he began to know God by faith. With surprising understanding he eagerly learned all that was taught to him about religion and already practiced advanced forms of prayer. At the age of seven he had attained the perfect use of reason and a high degree of holiness. He was a quiet, likable and humble boy.
The parents, who were neither very good nor bad people, did not spend much time with their children, but left them to the care of an elderly tutor, who gave the boys lessons on a porch that went around the upper floor. Joseph's brothers used to tease him and make fun of him and often tried to hurt him. Each boy had a small garden, and his brothers sometimes stole into his and tore up the plants he liked best. When he was praying on the porch with his face to the wall and his eyes closed, they sneaked up behind him and pushed him over. At such moments he seemed to awaken from a trance, but he did not become angry or seek revenge. He merely withdrew somewhere and continued his prayers.
As the boys grew up, the parents complained that Joseph was too serious and solitary, too simple and lacking in ambition. They wanted him to take advantage of his good qualities and prepare himself for a prosperous career, but he had no desire for such a life. All he wanted was to pray and quietly to perform some manual labor. Often during his teens, to escape from the continuous persecution of his brothers, he went to the other side of Bethlehem among some good, devout families, and worked with an old carpenter or prayed in some grottoes, in one of which the Child Jesus was later born.
Finally, one night when he was about twenty, Joseph left home and went off to earn his living in the country north of Jerusalem. For some time he worked as assistant to a poor carpenter in a small town near Mount Gerizim. He was finishing his apprenticeship, and he humbly did all sorts of jobs for his master. Often he had to carry heavy loads of wood on his back.
When, after a long search, his brothers found him, they scolded him bitterly, for they were ashamed of his modest position. But he was too humble to change it. Later he moved to Taanach on the Plain of Esdraelon, and then to Tiberias, where he dwelt alone in a little house by the Lake of Galilee. Wherever he lived, he was always loved by those who knew him. He was a good, kind and devout workingman – lovable, gentle and utterly sincere. He spent much time in prayer, fervently asking God for the coming of the Messias. He led a very retiring life and consistently avoided the society of women. From the age of twelve he had made and perfectly kept a vow of chastity, and his purity of soul, which was known to all, was that of an angel.
One day, when Joseph was adding a little oratory to his house, an angel appeared to him and told him not to go on with the work, because just as formerly God had given to the Patriarch Joseph the superintendence of the grain in Egypt, so now the granary of salvation was going to be confided to him. St. Joseph in his humility was not able to understand this message. Soon afterward he heard that as an unmarried descendant of King David, he was to go to the Temple in Jerusalem with his best clothes. He was at this time thirty-three years old, a handsome, modest and serious man, with pleasing, honest features.
It was on Mary's fourteenth birthday that the young men gathered in the Temple, dressed in their feast-day robes. After the High Priest had presented Mary to them and explained the purpose of the meeting, she returned to her cell and wept, while he gave to each youth a dry branch and announced that they were all to pray that the Lord might single out the one whom He had chosen as Mary's spouse. Knowing that she was an unusually beautiful and virtuous maiden with a good inheritance, they were eager to win her hand.
One pious young man from Bethlehem was particularly anxious to become her husband, hoping that perhaps the expected Messias might be born of their union. Although the humble carpenter Joseph had a deeper veneration for her than any of the others, he alone considered himself unworthy of such a blessing, and remembering his vow of chastity, he inwardly renewed it and resigned himself entirely to the will of God.
After a number of prayers had been recited, each suitor came forward and placed his branch on an altar facing the Holy of Holies. When Joseph, the last in line, was about to deposit his branch, all of a sudden it blossomed into a white lily-like flower, and at the same time a dove of the purest and most dazzling white was seen to descend and rest on his head for a moment, during which God said in his heart: “Joseph, My servant, Mary shall be thy spouse. Receive her with all care and respect, for she is pleasing in My sight. She is just and pure in mind and body. And thou shalt perform all that she shall ask.”
Thereupon the priests announced that Joseph was the husband selected for Mary by the Lord Himself, and they sent for her, while the other suitors departed—the young man from Bethlehem joined the hermits of Elias on Mount Carmel and continued to pray fervently for the Messias.
When Mary appeared, calm and beautiful and humbly resigned to God's will, the priests introduced her to Joseph and proceeded solemnly to betroth the holy couple. Then, according to the Jewish custom, the two parted until the wedding.
This touching ceremony took place later in a rented house on Mount Sion. Besides Mary's teachers and friends from the Temple, the guests included some relatives of her parents, who had prepared for her a lovely sky-blue wedding gown and cape, though in her humility she hesitated to accept it. St. Joseph wore a plain, long, gray robe.
After the wedding, Mary sadly took leave of the priests and her teachers and companions, thanking them all for their kindness to her during her years among them. And then, offering up her own wish to remain in the Lord's House all her life, with keen grief she left the Temple, and in the company of St. Joseph and some attendants sent by the priests, she set out, with perfect resignation and trust in God, for the new life to which He was leading her in Nazareth.
CHAPTER 8 : MARY'S LIFE IN NAZARETH
When Mary and Joseph arrived at the modest house which she had inherited in Nazareth, they were joyfully welcomed by her friends and relatives.
Then they were left alone in their new home. And Joseph said: "My dear spouse, though I judge myself unworthy even of your company, I give thanks to the Lord for having chosen me as your husband. Please help me to make a proper return in serving Him with upright heart. Therefore consider me your servant, and by the true love which I have for you, I beg you to put up with my deficiencies in the domestic duties which as a worthy husband I should know how to perform. just tell me what you want, so that I may do it."
Mary replied humbly: "My master, I am fortunate that the Lord has chosen you for my husband and that He has thus shown me that He wishes me to serve you. But if you allow me, I will tell you my thoughts and intentions which I wish you to know for this purpose."
As God inflamed Joseph's sincere heart with grace and love, he said: "Speak, dear Lady. Your servant is listening."
Because this all-important interview was the first time that Mary had ever spoken alone to a man, and because with her natural shyness she also felt respect and reverence for her husband, she asked her guardian angels to stand around her, visible only to herself. As they obeyed, she spoke with a serene earnestness:
"My lord and spouse, our Creator has manifested His mercy to us in choosing us to serve Him together. I consider myself more indebted to Him than all other creatures, for while meriting less, I have received from His hand more than they. As a child, therefore, being compelled by the force of this truth, which His divine light made known to me, I consecrated myself to God by a solemn vow of perpetual chastity in body and soul. I am His, and I acknowledge Him as my Spouse and Lord, with the firm resolve of preserving my chastity for Him. So I beseech you, my master, to help me in fulfilling this vow, while in all other things I will be your servant, working willingly for your well-being all my life. My dear spouse, yield to this resolution and make a similar one, in order that, offering ourselves as a sacrifice to God, He may accept us and bestow on us the eternal reward for which we hope."
St. Joseph was overjoyed, and with true supernatural love he replied: "My heart rejoices in hearing your welcome feelings in this matter. I have not told you my thoughts before knowing your own. But I also consider myself under greater obligation to the Lord than other men, for very early He called me by His enlightenment to love Him with an upright heart. And I want you to know that at the age of twelve I also made a promise to serve Him in perpetual chastity. So now I gladly ratify this vow, and in the presence of God I promise to help you as far as I can in serving Him and loving Him according to your desire. With His grace I will be your faithful servant and companion, and I beg you to accept my chaste love and to consider me your brother."
Both Mary and Joseph were now filled with heavenly joy and consolation. And God gave to St. Joseph new purity and complete command over his natural inclinations, so that he might lovingly serve his holy wife without any trace of sensual desire.
The happy couple then set about dividing Mary's inheritance: they put aside one third for the Temple; they distributed one third to the poor; and the last third Mary assigned to Joseph to dispose of as he wished. For herself she reserved only the privilege of serving him and of attending to her household duties, for throughout her life she avoided contact with outsiders and the management of property or business.
Joseph now humbly asked her whether it was agreeable to her that he continue to work at his trade as carpenter for their support and to earn something to help the poor. Mary willingly approved, saying that she knew that the Lord did not wish them to be rich but poor and lovers of the poor, desirous of helping them as much as their means allowed.
Then they both courteously and selflessly disputed as to who should obey the other, but Mary won this holy contest in humility by declaring that since the man is the head of the family she would not permit this natural order to be changed, and that all she wanted was to obey Joseph in all things and to have his permission to help the poor, which he gladly gave.
During the days that followed, as St. Joseph observed Mary's rare nobility and purity of soul, his admiration and love for her greatly increased, and he often joyfully thanked the Lord for having given him a companion so far above his merits. God also filled his humble heart with an indescribable reverence for her by means of the heavenly light which shone from her calm, beautiful and majestic features.
At this time Mary had a vision of the Lord in which He said to her: "My Chosen One, observe all the laws of a spouse in holiness, purity, and all perfection, and let My servant Joseph help thee. Obey him and listen to his advice."
Mary replied in humility and love: "My Lord and Maker, show me Thy good will and blessing, and with it I will strive to obey and serve Thy servant Joseph."
After settling in her home, Mary was never idle. Apart from her housework, she diligently prepared wool and linen for her husband and for the poor, whom she always helped by the labor of her hands. For without making this personal contribution of her own exertion and labor, she could not have satisfied her compassionate and generous charity toward the poor. Also she had no servants, because her love of obedience and humility made it impossible for her to order anyone but herself to do the servile work of her household. In serving and caring for St. Joseph and later for her Son, she was never guilty of any negligence or forgetfulness. And yet in all her daily work she was never interiorly at leisure, for she spent every moment in profound inner recollection, prayer, and spiritual communion with God in her heart, worshiping and beseeching Him to send the promised Redeemer to suffering mankind.
The few persons who knew her during these hidden years in Nazareth were often filled with a mysterious joy which they knew came from her. Many turned from sin at the mere sight of her. Others amended their lives. All were affected by some divine influence. Realizing this, she prayed to God to permit her to be ignored and despised by all mortals, and by His power He prevented these persons from communicating their admiration and seeking her out.
Now the time which Almighty God had appointed for the Incarnation of His Son was drawing near, although the humble and lovely maiden in Nazareth who was destined to be His Mother never once thought that this great and widely expected event would directly involve her. Therefore, as a necessary and fitting preparation for the glorious Mystery of the Annunciation, during the nine days which immediately preceded that decisive turning point in history, the Lord gave His Chosen Spouse and future Mother a series of marvelous mystical experiences which raised her pure soul to a hitherto unparalleled degree of holiness and fervor, and which also infused into her mind a thorough and profound knowledge of His Creation.
On the first day of this first "novena," when Mary according to her custom rose at midnight and prostrated herself on the floor to praise the Lord, her soul was raised to a closer union with God. He revealed to her how He had created the universe purely out of overflowing Love, and He showed her all that He had made on the first day of creation. When she saw that she too was formed of low earthly matter, she humbled herself profoundly. The Lord urged her to pray constantly for the union of the Divinity with human nature, which He informed her was now due. Whereupon Mary exclaimed: "O Eternal God, the sins of men are increasing-how shall we merit the blessing of which we become daily more unworthy? If perhaps I am a hindrance to such a limitless benefit, O my Beloved, let me perish rather than impede Thy Will!"
Then with the deepest humility she lay on the ground in the form of a cross, as the Holy Ghost had taught her, and prayed for the Redemption.
On each of the following six days she not only received an infused knowledge of the various works of God on the corresponding day of Creation, but she was also given comprehension and power over the elements of nature, such as the stars, winds, waters, minerals, plants and animals, although she never thereafter used this power for herself, because she was too humble and she knew the value of suffering. Then she was shown the creation and fall of man. And by her participation in God's love and mercy for sinning humanity, she was prepared to become the Mother of Mercy and Advocate of sinners. God revealed to her the new Law of Grace and the healing blessings which He was going to pour on men through the Sacraments of His holy Church, and He also showed her how many souls would ungratefully reject the salvation which the Redeemer was to offer them. After praying fervently for all men, she was given an explicit promise by the Holy Trinity that the Son of God was now to be sent into the world.
On the seventh day Mary heard God say to her: "Our Chosen Dove, We wish to accept thee anew as Our Bride, and therefore We wish to adorn thee worthily."
As Mary abased herself with charming modesty, two seraphim proceeded to vest her with a beautiful white robe and bejeweled girdle, golden hair clasp, sandals, bracelets, rings, earrings and a necklace-all symbolizing the various virtues that adorned her lovely soul.
At midnight on the eighth day Mary heard in prayer the voice of God saying: "Come, My Chosen One, come to Me. I am He that raises the humble and fills the poor with riches. Thou hast Me for thy Friend. Since thou has found grace in My eyes, ask of Me what thou desirest, and I shall not reject thy petition, even if it be for a part of My Kingdom."
To which Mary replied with touching humility and love: "O Lord, I do not ask for a part of Thy Kingdom on my own behalf, but I ask for the whole of it for all the race of men who are my brothers. And therefore I beseech Thee to send us our Redeemer!"
And the Lord answered: "I desire what thou seekest, My Daughter. It shall be done as thou askest."
All afire with love and gratitude, Mary passed that day in unceasing praise of God.
On the ninth day the Lord, after revealing to her the entire harmonious constitution of the universe, said to her: "My chosen Dove, I have created all creatures, which thou beholdest in all their variety and beauty, solely for the love of men, for the elect congregation of the faithful. Thou, My Spouse, hast found grace in My sight, and therefore I make thee Mistress of all these goods, so that if thou art a loyal spouse, thou mayest dispose of them as thou desirest."
Then a symbolic crown was placed on Mary's head which bore the mystic inscription: "Mother of God"; but she did not see these words. And all the heavenly spirits duly revered and honored her. Lastly the Lord renewed and increased the unique beauty of her pure soul, so that her entire being dazzlingly reflected His own divine light.
Yet Mary continued to humble and abase herself in her own estimation. Her eyes and heart were not elated. On the contrary, the higher God raised her, the more lowly were her thoughts concerning herself. She did not once have a suspicion of anything great or admirable in herself. And her humility was so genuine and so deep that even now the mere thought of her being chosen to be the Mother of the Messias simply could not enter her Immaculate Heart.
Eight days after Mary's birth, all the friends and relatives of the family gathered in St. Joachim's house for the ceremony of naming the baby. According to custom, the mother could not attend the celebration, but remained in her room. Several priests came from Nazareth, and St. Joachim placed his daughter in the hands of their richly robed leader, who lifted her up as if offering her to the Lord, and recited some prayers. Then he wrote the name Mary on a parchment and placed it on her chest. After the singing of some psalms, the ceremony was over and Mary was taken back to St. Anne, while all the guests sat around a long low table and were served a banquet meal.
Later, St. Anne and St. Joachim took Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of the purification of the mother. St. Anne humbly gave her offerings of a lamb and a turtledove, and prayed to the Lord to forgive her all her faults. Then, entering the Temple with her daughter in her arms, she offered up Mary to God with devout and tender tears. In her heart she heard a voice urging her to renew her vow to give Mary to God's service in the Temple within three years.
At the same time, Mary herself, seeing the grandeur of these buildings dedicated to the worship of the Lord, wished that she could prostrate herself on the floor and kiss it. But as she could not, she prayed: "O Most High God, I adore Thee in Thy holy Temple. Accept me, O Lord, so that I may serve Thee in this holy house according to Thy blessed will!"
As a proof that her prayer was granted, a beam of bright light shone down from Heaven onto the mother and child. And while St. Anne renewed her vow, the angels sang hymns of praise to Almighty God.
The holy man Simeon had been deeply moved when he saw St. Anne and Mary, and now as he dimly perceived the mystic light, he asked himself. "Are these women perhaps the parents of the Messias?" And he prayed still more fervently for the coming of the Redeemer.
The Devil had also been studying St. Anne, but when he saw that she humbly submitted to all the regulations of the priests and even asked them to intercede for her, he decided that she was just another pious woman.
During the next three years in the home of her loving mother, Mary was treated as other children of her age and passed her infancy subject to the common laws of nature. However, she never cried or caused anyone any trouble. Even as a baby, she maintained a pleasant countenance mixed with gravity and a certain majesty. While she showed a special affection for her mother and father, they were inspired by God to handle and caress her with unusual restraint. She ate less than other children and she slept much less, for whenever she could, she prayed and meditated and performed interior acts of love for God. When she accepted any service or benefits from anyone, she always received it with humble gratitude and begged the Lord to reward that person.
Being in possession of all her faculties even from birth, Mary could have talked quite clearly and intelligently even as a baby, if she had wished to. But out of modesty and submission to the will of God, she deliberately refrained from speaking at all until she was a year and a half old. However when alone she did often converse with her guardian angels, and in secret she also prayed verbally to the Lord.
Though she was thus filled with the light of God and His mysteries, nevertheless Mary judged herself to be the least of all His creatures, and she always ascribed to herself the last place of all. Whenever, during that first year and a half, St. Anne freed her daughter's little arms and hands, Mary would immediately grasp her dear parents' hands and kiss them with reverent humility. In fact she continued this practice as long as they lived.
When she reached the age of eighteen months, Almighty God urged her to pray many times every day for the coming of the Messias, and He told her that it was now time for her to converse with others. But Mary exclaimed: "O my Lord, I beseech Thee, consider my frailty. To avoid all risk of losing Thee, I would rather keep silence all my life.”
God promised her, however, that He would assist her in directing all her words to His service and glory.
Therefore one day little Mary spoke her first words to her beloved parents, asking their blessing. At the same time she showed them that she could walk by herself.
With intense joy St. Anne took Mary into her arms and said: "O dearest of my heart, this is a blessed hour! Let your words be few and well considered, and may all your footsteps be directed toward the honor of our Creator!"
During the remaining year and a half before she went to the Temple, Mary spoke very little, except to her mother. In order to make her talk, St. Anne used to call her and ask her to speak of God and His mysteries. Mary, however, would humbly beg her mother rather to instruct her. Thus mother and daughter passed many hours in sweet conversation about holy things.
Often when St. Anne watched her dear little girl in their home, she shed tears of-love and gratitude at the thought that this lovely child was actually chosen by God to be the Mother of the Saviour of mankind. Often they spoke together about His coming and about the fortunate maiden of Israel who would give Him to the world, and then Mary would become inflamed with ardent love and would innocently picture this happy creature in the most glowing terms of awe and reverence. But St. Anne never revealed the great secret of her heart.
Being eager to express in her actions her conviction that she was the least of God's creatures, little Mary tried to help in cleaning and scrubbing the house whenever she could. And sometimes, when she was alone, her angels helped her.
While St. Anne naturally wished to dress her daughter as beautifully as she could, Mary, soon after she began to talk, begged her mother to clothe her in plain ash-gray cloth of cheap and coarse material. St. Anne yielded as to the form and color, but not to the material.
Almighty God had already revealed to Mary how grievously the sins of men offended Him. Consequently she would often retire to her room and prostrate herself on the floor and beg for mercy for poor sinners. Even as an infant she practiced penances and mortifications to a point where she taxed her bodily strength.
When Mary reached the age of two, she began to perform works of charity toward the poor. She begged alms for them from her parents, and she set aside parts of her meals for them. Then she would give them what she had, saying in her heart: "This man, my brother, deserves what he needs and what I possess without deserving it." When she gave her alms to the poor, she used to kiss their hands, and if she was alone, their feet. And in each case she prayed fervently to God to give them spiritual graces as well.
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO VENERABLE MOTHER MARY OF AGREDA:
“At the first sight of the Highest Good, my heart was wounded with love, and I gave myself entirely to Him.
“I underwent the hardships of infancy like other children. I felt hunger, thirst, sleepiness and other infirmities of the body. In all the difficulties which I endured after I was born into the world, I was resigned and contented, since I had merited none of God's gifts.
"Be very devout toward my most sweet name."
CHAPTER 6 : THE YEARS MARY SPENT IN THE TEMPLE
Preparing for Temple Life
As the time approached when Mary was to be taken to the Temple, St. Anne often gave her lessons, teaching her various prayers and rules of religion. She already knew how to read. Though only three and a half years old and very delicate, Mary seemed like a girl of five or six. Her long, dark hair hung straight down with curls at the end.
One day, three old priests came from Nazareth to give her an examination, in order to determine whether she was worthy of being accepted for service in the Temple. This was a very solemn proceeding. After explaining to her the different duties she would fulfill, they asked her some questions. Her replies were so filled with naive wisdom that the priests could not help smiling their approval, while her parents wept tears of joy. Then during a meal the oldest priest said to her:
"In consecrating you to God, your father and mother promised that you would give up wine, vinegar, grapes and figs. What other sacrifice do you wish freely to add to those. Think it over and tell us later."
Mary was very fond of vinegar. Meanwhile the priests made it clear to her that she was still free to eat whatever she wanted, and all sorts of delicacies were offered to her, but she took very little and from only a few dishes. After the meal, in another room, Mary said that she had decided to give up fish and meat and milk and all fruits except berries. Also she wished to sleep on the floor and to get up and pray three times every night.
Her parents were deeply moved when they heard this. Taking her up in his arms, St. Joachim wept as he said to her: "My dear child, that is far too much! If you lead such a hard life, your father will never see you again!”
The priests then insisted that she should pray only once during the night, like the other girls, that she should allow herself several other relaxations, and that she should eat fish on all the great feast days. They also told her that she would not have to join the poorer girls in washing the bloodstained robes of the sacrificers, but Mary unhesitatingly replied that she would willingly do that work if she were thought worthy. The priests were filled with surprise and admiration, and the oldest gave her a solemn blessing. Then St. Anne, who was deeply moved, pressed Mary to her heart and kissed her with tender love, while St. Joachim caressed her respectfully. Throughout the examinations, under the guidance and inspiration of her angels, Mary had remained perfectly recollected and serious, and at the same time strikingly beautiful and lovable.
A few days later everyone in St. Joachim's home was busy preparing for the trip to Jerusalem. Several fine ceremonial dresses which had been made for Mary were carefully packed up. Finally one morning, at dawn, two donkeys were loaded with baggage, and St. Joachim and St. Anne set out, the latter carrying Mary in her arms. The holy child was very happy to be going to the Temple. During the trip they often had to travel through cold fogs, as it was the rainy season. When they stopped overnight at an inn or some friend's home,.
Mary often went up to her mother and joyfully put her arms around St. Anre's neck. Several times St. Joachim repeated sadly: "My dear child, I will never see you again!"
On arriving in the Holy City, they were met by a group of friends and children who led them to the house of Zacharias the priest, the future father of John the Baptist, where they were made welcome and given refreshments. Then everyone attended a great reception and feast in an inn which St. Joachim had rented for the occasion, as he wished to spare no expense for this great event. Among those present was a ten-year-old girl, later to be known as St. Veronica.
Early the next morning, St. Joachim took his animal offerings to the Temple with several men, while St. Anne, accompanied by many women and girls, led Mary to God's House in a beautiful solemn procession through the streets of the Holy City. Little Mary walked behind her mother. She was dressed in a lovely sky-blue robe with garlands of flowers around her arms and neck, and in one hand she carried a candle decorated with flowers. On each side of her were three girls in white with flowers and candles. Then came other girls and women. Everyone who saw them was touched by Mary's extraordinarily holy appearance.
At the outer entrance to the Temple, they were met by St. Joachim, Zacharias and several other priests. As they passed through the gate, Mary's parents inwardly offered their beloved daughter to the Lord with a fervent and devout prayer. And Mary too, in deep humility and adoration, offered herself to God. She alone perceived that the Almighty welcomed her and accepted her, for she heard a voice from Heaven saying:
"Come, My beloved, My spouse, come into My Temple, where I wish thee to offer Me praise and worship."
Then, crossing the Women's Court, they came to the fifteen steps leading up to the great Nicanor Gate. It was here that St. Joachim and St. Anne had to make the formal offering of their child to the Temple. After a priest had placed her on the first step, Mary, with his permission, turned and knelt before her parents. Kissing their hands with keen love and gratitude, she asked for their blessing and their prayers. With tears in their eyes, her father and mother laid their hands on her head and solemnly pronounced the words by which they gave her to the Lord, while a priest clipped a few locks of her hair. During this moving ceremony, the young girls who had come with the party sang these words of Psalm 44:
"Thou art beautiful ... therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.... Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house. And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty; for He is the Lord thy God .... Therefore shall people praise thee for ever: yea, for ever and ever!"
Then, after St. Anne and St. Joachim had tenderly blessed her, little Mary, without hesitating and without looking back, began to climb up the fifteen steps. She would not let anyone help her, but with remarkable resolution and dignity she hastened up all by herself, filled with holy fervor and joy. Everyone who saw her was visibly affected.
Two priests then led her up to the gallery, from which the Holy Place could be seen, and read some prayers over her, while incense was burned on an altar. Taking from her the garlands of flowers and the candle, they put a brown veil over her head and conducted her to a hall in which ten girls in the service of the Temple welcomed her by throwing flowers before her. Here she met her teacher, who was the holy prophetess Anna.
As the priests left, Mary's parents and relatives came in to say goodbye. St. Joachim was especially moved. He took Mary into his arms and wept as he murmured: "My child, pray to God for my soul!" St. Anne embraced her beloved daughter sadly and tenderly. Then, resigning herself with courage to the will of God, she turned away. As she walked out, she said to the women accompanying her: "The Ark of the Covenant is now in the Temple." With keen sorrow in their hearts, St. Joachim and St. Anne returned to Nazareth.
But in answer to Mary's prayers, God mercifully consoled and comforted them.
Now Mary humbly knelt before her teacher Anna and asked her blessing and forbearance for the trouble she would give her. Next Mary greeted and embraced each of the other girls, offering herself as their servant and urging them to instruct and command her. After taking a meal together, they retired to their little cells.
Mary's room was high up, with a view over the Holy Place and the Inner Temple containing the Holy of Holies. Her cell was very plain , its only furniture being a lamp, a low round table, and a rolled-up carpet which served as her bed. As soon as she found herself alone, Mary prostrated herself on the floor and kissed it, for to her it was holy ground, being part of God's Temple, and she considered herself unworthy of treading upon it. Then she turned to her angels and prayed:
"Messengers of the Almighty, faithful friends, I beseech you to remain with me in this holy Temple of my Lord and to remind me of all that I should do. Please instruct me and direct me so that in all things I may fulfill the will of God."
Humbling herself before God, she said: "Infinite and Eternal Lord, if trouble and persecutions suffered in patience are precious in Thy sight, do not consent that I be deprived of so rich a treasure and pledge of Thy love. But give the rewards of these tribulations to those who deserve them better than I."
This prayer of Mary pleased Almighty God, and He gave her to understand that He would allow her to suffer and labor for love of Him during her life, though she would not know in advance how it would happen. Mary thanked Him with all her heart and then asked to be allowed to take in His presence the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and perpetual enclosure in the Temple. The Lord answered:
"My chosen one, thou dost not yet understand why, it is impossible for thee to fulfill all thy desires. The vow of chastity I permit and wish thee to make. And from this moment I want thee to renounce earthly riches. It is My will that thou observe whatever pertains to the other vows as if thou hadst made them."
Then the holy child solemnly made the vow of chastity before God, and renounced all affection for created things, while she resolved to obey all creatures for the love of God. Her angels proceeded to adorn her with a gorgeous robe and sparkling jewels of many colors that symbolized her virtues.
Next the Lord told her to ask for whatever she desired, and Mary immediately beseeched Him with burning fervor to send the Reedemer to the world so that all men might know Him, to bless her parents with grace, and to console the poor and the afflicted in their troubles.
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN:
“From my infancy the Holy Spirit was perfectly with me. And as I grew, it filled me so completely as to leave no room for any sin to enter.
"When I had attained an age to know something of my Creator, I turned to Him with unspeakable love and desired Him with my whole heart.
“I vowed in my heart to observe virginity if it was pleasing to Him, and to possess nothing in the world, but if God willed otherwise, that His Will, not mine, be done, I committed my will absolutely to Him."
Mary’s Life in the Temple
On her first day in the Temple, after having taken before God the vows of poverty and chastity, little Mary went to her teacher, the holy prophetess Anna, and asked her to give away to the poor all the clothes, money, and other personal belongings which St. Anne had left there for her, except for a few dresses and prayerbooks. Anna agreed to do so and to take care of Mary as of someone destitute and poor, for the other girls had spending money.
Then Mary asked for a rule of life. Anna consulted the old priest, and summoned Mary, who remained on her knees throughout the interview. The priest said to her:
"Pray always for the Temple of the Lord, for His people, and for the coming of the Messias. Retire to sleep at eight o'clock, and rise at dawn to praise the Lord until nine. During the day, as your teacher directs, engage in manual work and study the Scriptures. Take exercise before meals. In all things be humble, courteous and obedient."
Then Mary asked for his blessing and kissed his hand and Anna's.
During the days that followed, she willingly set about learning all her new duties. Unlike the other girls, she asked her teacher to be allowed to serve them all and to scrub the rooms and wash the dishes. Often she did her own work so quickly and efficiently that she was able to help the others in theirs. To each of her companions she was always sincerely kind, friendly and humble. With them she spinned and sewed, mended and washed the vestments of the priests, or took lessons in Holy Scripture, in singing, and in the ceremonies of the Temple. Her gratitude toward her teachers was touching.
Thus through the years she grew in wisdom and grace and infused mystical knowledge. Even as a child she had a remarkably advanced understanding of the Scriptures, and she loved to spend hours studying and meditating on them, especially on their inspired prophecies of the coming of the Redeemer of mankind in human form.
Studying and Learning
Often she asked profound, penetrating questions of her angels, and spoke with loving tenderness about the Messias. And with their help she gradually pieced together many of the significant scriptural references to the Mysteries of Christ's life, such as:
The Promise of His Incarnation: "the Desired of all nations shall come ... rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy; behold, thy King will come to thee, the just and Saviour."
The Nativity: "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son."
His Apostolate. "He is poor.... He will teach us His Way. I will open My mouth in parables. Behold I Myself will seek My sheep. I will feed My sheep. I will save My flock.”
His Passion: "He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our iniquities...All My enemies whispered together against Me: Let us condemn Him to a most shameful death. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ' 'I have given My body to the strikers. . . .' He will crown Thee with a crown of tribulation. Why then is Thy apparel red? From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head ' wounds and bruises and swelling sores; they are not bound up.... 'They have dug My hands and My feet. And in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink .... I am become as a man without help, free among the dead. They have laid Me in the lower pit.'"
His Resurrection: "And His Sepulchre shall be glorious!"
His Ascension: "Be ye lifted up, O Eternal Gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. God is ascended with jubilee!"
His Church: "And He shall rule from sea to sea .... And all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve Him."
His Second Coming: "God shall come manifestly: our God shall come ... to judge His people."
Very often during her ten years in the Temple, Mary would meditate on these and many other prophecies in the Old Testament, and then she would retire to her little cell at night and pray for many hours. When she thought of God's love for men and of how He was soon to come among them and suffer as one of them, in order to save them, tears flowed from her eyes as she prayed, and a supernatural light surrounded her.
The Death of St. Joachim
Six months after Mary entered the service of the Temple, the Lord appeared to her in a vision and said: "My beloved and chosen one, I love thee with an infinite love, and I desire of thee what is most pleasing in My eyes. Hence I wish that thou dispose thyself for tribulations and sorrows for love of Me."
Mary replied: "I wish only to choose suffering unto death for love of Thee."
Then the Lord continued: "I accept thy desires. And as a beginning of their fulfillment, I announce to thee that thy father Joachim must pass from this mortal to eternal life. His death will happen shortly, and he will pass away in peace and be placed among the saints in Limbo, to await the Redemption of mankind."
Little Mary, who loved St. Joachim with a holy love, felt a keen sorrow and compassion, and she immediately offered a fervent prayer for him. The Lord assured her that He would assist her father.
Eight days before St. Joachim's death, Mary was told the day and hour in which he was to die, and she requested several of her angels to console him in his sickness, which they did. During his last hours, she sent the rest of her angels to help him, and she asked God to let him see them. This favor was granted, and the angels were commanded to say to him:
"Man of God, in order that the pain and sorrow of natural death may be relieved by the joy of thy spirit, the Almighty wishes thee to know now that thy daughter Mary is to be the happy Mother of the Messias! Since thou leavest to the world a daughter through whom God will restore it, do thou part from it in the joy of thy soul, and may the Lord bless thee!"
St. Anne, who was standing at the head of her husband's bed, also heard this message In the same moment St. Joachim lost the power of speech, and he commenced his agony in conflict between joy at this great news and the pains of death. Making many fervent acts of love, faith, humility and thanksgiving, Mary's holy father died the precious death of the saints, and his soul was carried to the Limbo of the Patriarchs and the just, where amid intense rejoicing he shared with them the happy tidings that from Mary was to be born the Redeemer of the world.
When the angels returned and told Mary of her father's death, she begged God to console her mother, good St. Anne.
Soon afterward, the Lord in His wisdom decided to train her further in the science of suffering. From birth she had enjoyed the delights of His love in frequent sensible consolations. Now He suspended all visions and similar graces, and ordered all her angels to conceal themselves from her.
Feeling utterly forsaken in this sudden and unexpected "dark night," in her humility Mary began to fear that it was due to her unworthiness and ingratitude for such precious graces. For days she suffered and longed for the sweet presence of her Lord. Often she said to herself sadly:
"I seek Him, and I do not find Him. Alas for me, my striving serves only to increase my sorrow. My Beloved absents Himself I call Him and He does not answer me Daughters of Jerusalem, I beseech you, if you find my Beloved, tell Him that I am faint and that I am dying with love .... Tell me where is my Beloved. Tell me where He has hidden Himself. Tell me where I can find Him!”
Envy, Hatred and Persecution
Then, while the Lord continued to hide Himself from Mary, He also allowed Satan to try her, in order to increase her merit and reward. Irritated by her perfect virtue and holiness, the devil vainly attempted to incite her to commit even a slight venial sin of thought, word or deed. During these various tests, Mary never stopped praying to the Lord for help, and though she suffered from the strain and at times she wept, nevertheless without once losing her inner union with God she successfully fought and conquered all these temptations.
Consequently Satan changed his tactics. Since he could not influence her directly, he incited others to persecute her. Without much trouble he made the other girls become inflamed with envy against her. Seeing what a model Temple-servant she was, they began to fear that because of her their virtues would be overlooked and their faults would stand out. Driven on by the devil, soon they let themselves be moved to anger and hatred against her. Finally they plotted together to persecute her until she would be forced to leave the Temple. Now they often spoke to her in a sharp, haughty and cruel way, accusing her of being hypocritical and of seeking the favor of the priests and their teacher.
When they did this, Mary answered quietly: "My friends, you are right in saying that I am the least and most imperfect among you, but then you, my sisters, must pardon me and teach me in my ignorance, for as a servant I love you and reverence you, and I will obey you in all things."
Her sincere humility only made them more furious. For many days they continued to persecute and insult her, at times even hitting her. But little Mary remained humble, patient and charitable, returning good for evil and praying for her enemies.
At last one day the other girls decided to provoke her to do something rash, so that they could accuse her before the priests and have her expelled. Therefore they took her to an isolated room and began to insult and hit her. But when she showed herself immovable and only reacted with kindness and humility, it was they who lost control of themselves and screamed their hatred of her so loudly that some priests came running into the room and asked severely who was to blame for this commotion. While Mary remained meekly silent, the other girls cried out: "Mary of Nazareth makes us all quarrel—she irritates and provokes us so much that there can be no peace among us unless she leaves the Temple! When we allow her her own way, she becomes overbearing. But if we correct her, she makes fun of us by pretending to be humble and then starts another quarrel!"
Taking Mary into another room, the priests scolded her very strongly and threatened to send her away if she did not change her conduct. Deeply hurt by this threat, the innocent child answered them in tears: "My masters, thank you for correcting and teaching me, the most imperfect and despicable of creatures. But I beseech you-forgive me and direct me so that I may reform and henceforth please the Lord and my companions."
After the priests dismissed her, Mary went to the other girls and, prostrating herself at their feet, she asked their pardon. However, they continued to treat her with scorn and hostility, while she kept praying to God for help in overcoming her faults.
Then one night the Lord said to a priest in his sleep: "My servant Mary is pleasing in My eyes. She is entirely innocent of anything of which she is accused."
The same revelation was given to Mary's teacher, Anna.
And that morning, after consulting together, she and the priest called in Mary and asked her pardon for having believed the false accusations. But the holy girl simply begged them not to consider her unworthy of being scolded, and kissed their hands as she asked for their blessing.
Thereafter God restrained both the devil and Mary's companions from persecuting her so much. But during all the ten years that she spent in the Temple, the Lord continued to absent Himself from her view, with only a few rare exceptions. This was of course a source of keen and prolonged suffering for Mary, though she felt herself unworthy of His loving visits and continually sought to make amends for her own negligence.
The Death of St. Anne
One day, when she had reached the age of twelve, her angels said to her, still without showing themselves: "Mary, as ordained by the Lord, the life of thy holy mother Anne is now about to come to an end."
This unexpected sad news filled Mary's affectionate heart with sorrow. Prostrating herself before God, she fervently prayed: "O Eternal Lord, dismiss Thy good servant in peace. Strengthen her, assist her, and let her enter into the peace of Thy friendship and grace, since she has always sought it with an upright heart."
God did not answer in words, but that night He commanded Mary's angels to carry her bodily to St. Anne's bedside. Upon seeing her dear mother again, Mary kissed her tenderly and exclaimed: "Good mother, may the Lord be your strength, and may He be blessed, since He has permitted me to receive your last blessing!"
With grave affection the dying St. Anne said slowly: "My beloved daughter, do not forget me in the presence of the Lord, and remind Him of the need I have of His protection in this hour-do not leave me before you close my eyes. You will be an orphan, but you will live under the guardianship of the Lord. Do not leave the Temple before choosing your state of life, with the advice of the priests. Pray that if it be God's will to give you a husband, he may be of the race of David. Share your inheritance with the poor in loving generosity. Without ceasing ask the Almighty to show His mercy by sending His promised Messias. Beseech Him to be your protection. And may His blessing come over you, together with mine."
Then, after giving Mary her blessing, good St. Anne reclined in her daughter's arms and died in perfect peace. She was fifty-six years old. As the angels carried Mary back to her cell in the Temple, her loving heart suffered a keen sense of loneliness. However, while praying for St. Anne, she gratefully thanked the Lord for having given her such a perfect mother and for having showered so many graces on her parents in life and death.
One day not long afterward, for the first time in years, Mary's angels again became visible to her, and said: "Soon thou shalt see Him whom thy soul desires! In order to console His beloved, He afflicts them. In order to be sought after, He withdraws."
Then gradually, by a series of mystical experiences, God endowed Mary's pure soul with new gifts and tranquilized her spirit. At last, having raised her to a still higher spiritual plane, He again revealed Himself to her in an exalted vision which amply rewarded all her suffering and loving anxiety. Once again overwhelmed with joy, Mary prayed: "O infinite Goodness and Wisdom, purify my heart and renew it, so that it may be humble, penitent and pleasing in Thy sight!"
THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN:
“As soon as I understood that there was a God, I was always solicitous and fearful for my salvation. And when I heard more fully that God was also my Creator and Judge of all my actions, I loved Him intensely, and every hour I feared and pondered lest I should offend Him in word or deed. Then when I heard that He had given a Law to His people and wrought so many wonders with them, I firmly resolved in my mind to love naught but Him, and all worldly things became most bitter to me.
"Hearing that this same God was to redeem the world and be born of a virgin, I was filled with such love for her that I thought of naught but God. I withdrew as much as Possible from the conversation and presence of others. All that I could have, I gave to the poor, reserving to myself only scanty food and clothing. Nothing pleased me but God. Ever did I long in my heart to live to the time of His birth, if perchance I might be the unworthy handmaid of the Mother of God"
AND TO VENERABLE MOTHER MARY OF AGREDA:
"It is true that on account of the blessings of the Lord, sin was impossible in me. But (this) was hidden from me. I saw that as far as it depended on myself alone, I could fall. Thus God left me in holy fear of sinning during my pilgrimage. From the instant of my conception until my death, I never lost this fear, but rather grew in it with time."
AND TO ST. ELIZABETH OF SCHOENAU:
“I want to teach you the prayers that I said while I was in the Temple. When my father and mother left me in the Temple, I resolved in my heart to have God as my Father, and I frequently and devoutly pondered what I might do to please God so that He would deign to give me His grace. I studied the Law of God. And of all the Precepts of the Divine Law I kept three with particular care in my heart, namely 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole strength. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself '
“I kept these precepts in my soul, and I quickly understood all the virtues which they contain. A soul cannot have any virtue if it does not love God with all its heart for from this love the abundance of grace descends into the soul. But after descending; it does not remain, but flows away like water, if the soul does not hate its enemies, that is, its sins and vices.
“I always used to rise in the middle of the night, and, with as much longing and will and love as I could, I used to beg Almighty God to give me the grace to observe those three precepts and all the other commandments of His Law. And I used to pray these seven petitions:
1. I prayed for the grace to fulfill the Precept of charity: to love God with all my heart.
2. I prayed for the grace to love my neighbor according to His will and pleasure, and that He should make me love all that He Himself loves.
3. I prayed that He make me hate and flee all that He hates.
4. 1 prayed for humility, Patience, kindness, gentleness, and all virtues by which I might become pleasing in His sight.
5. I prayed that He should let me see the time when that most holy virgin would be born who was to give birth to the Son of God, and that He preserve my eyes that I might see her, my ears that I might hear her, my tongue that I might praise her, my hands that I might work for her, my feet that I might walk as her servant, and my knees that I might adore the Son of God in her lap.
6. I prayed for the grace of obeying the orders and rules of the High Priest of the Temple.
7. I prayed that God should preserve the Temple and all His people for His service.
I assure you that as I considered myself a most worthless creature and one unworthy of God's grace, therefore I begged Him to give me grace and virtues.
"The Lord did with me what a musician does with his harp. The musician sets and tunes all the strings so that they give forth a sweet and harmonious melody, and then he sings while playing on it. Thus God brought into harmony with His will my soul and heart and mind and all the senses and actions of my body. And being trained in this manner by His wisdom, I used to be carried by the angels to the bosom of God the Father, and there I received such consolation and joy, such bliss and well-being, such love and sweetness, that I no longer remembered that I had ever been born in this world. Besides, I was in such close intimacy with God and His angels that it seemed to me as though I had always existed in that true glory. Then, when I had stayed there as long as pleased God the Father, He gave me back to the angels, and they carried me back to the spot where I had begun to pray. When I found myself on earth again and recalled where I had been, this memory inflamed me with such a love of God that I embraced and kissed the ground and stones, the trees and other created things, out of love for Him who had created them. And it seemed to me that I should be the handmaid of all the Temple-women, and I wished to be subjected to all creatures, out of love for their supreme Father And I frequently had this experience.
"Once when I was thinking that I never wanted to be deprived of God grace, I arose and went to read in the Scriptures, desiring something to console my soul. When I opened the book, the first thing I saw was this passage of Isaias: 'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.' As I understood from this that the Son of God was going to choose a virgin to be His Mother, I immediately resolved in my heart, out of reverence for that virgin, to remain a virgin myself and to offer myself to her as a handmaid and always to serve her and never to leave her, even if I had to travel all over the world with her.
"I did what a man does when he wants to build a beautiful fountain. He goes to the foot of a hill and carefully investigates where the springs of water are located, and having found their source, he digs with care until he finds them, and then he directs their flow to the spot where he wants to have the fountain. Next he makes the place neat and wide and clean, so that the water will stay clear. Then he puts up a wall around the fountain and erects a column in the middle and makes channels around it so that the water can flow out freely for everyone's convenience. That is what I did: I went to the hill when I applied myself to studying the Law; I found the spring; when through prayer and study I realized that the principal source of all good is to love God with all one's heart; then I prepared and cleaned and enlarged the site when I conceived the desire of loving all that He loves. I also wanted the water to be pure and clear- that was when I resolved to flee and hate all stain of sin. Then I built the walls when I inseparably united the virtues of humility, patience, kindness and gentleness by the fire of charity; and kept them thus fused together until the end of my life. I erected the column and made the channels when I offered myself as an example and helper for all mankind, for I am ever ready to give generous gifts of grace to all who invoke me for themselves or for others. God placed me on earth as a teacher and example for all the elect. And I want you to do as I did.
"My daughter, you think that I had all these graces without trouble, but it is not so. I assure you that I received from God no grace, no gift or virtue, without great labor, continual prayer, ardent desire, Profound devotion, many tears and much affliction, and by always saying; thinking and doing what was pleasing to God, as far as I knew how and was able to do—except for the grace of sanctification by which I was sanctified in the womb of my mother.
I assure you that no grace descends into the soul except through Prayer and mortification of the body. And after we have given God all that we can give by our own efforts, however small they may be, He Himself comes into the soul, bearing with Him such exalted gifts that it seems to the soul as though she faints away and loses her memory and forgets that she has ever said or don e anything pleasing to God, and then she seems to herself more vile and more despicable than she has ever been.
'And what must the soul do then? She must give fervent praises and thanks to God for these graces, and she must consider herself unworthy of the divine gifts, and she must weep. And then God, seeing the soul humiliate herself still more after receiving His gifts, is moved to give even greater gifts....
"Thus did He do with me. For my mind yearned for the Son of God. My spirit burned with longing to have Him. My whole soul became inflamed with such sweet bliss that it seemed to me as though I already had Him, but as the human tongue does not have the power to express my inner fire of love --I Prayed only to keep my external senses, in order to place them at the service of that virgin.
'My dearest daughter, I have revealed to you the prayers that I used to say, in order that by following my example you should confidently ask God in prayer for the graces and virtues which you do not have, and in order that you should humbly persist in asking for them. And I want you to pray with fervor and devotion for your salvation and for that of others, because God wants those who have to help those who have not."
CHAPTER 7 : MARY'S BETROTHAL TO JOSEPH
When Mary reached the age of thirteen and a half, having grown considerably for her age, Almighty God in a vision commanded her to enter the state of matrimony. Because of her intense love of chastity and her early vow of perpetual virginity, which she had often renewed, this divine order meant to her a sacrifice as painful as that of Abraham when God commanded him to offer up his sons life.
When Mary heard this unexpected decree, she was astonished and became greatly afflicted. Nevertheless she prudently suspended her own judgment and preserved her faith and hope more perfectly than Abraham. Still hoping against hope, she meekly replied: "Eternal God, Thou, O Lord, canst dispose of me, Thy worthless little worm, according to Thy pleasure, without making me fail in what I have promised. And if it be not displeasing to Thee, my good Lord, I renew my desire to remain chaste during all my life."
Thus Mary in her great trial, though she felt some human uneasiness and sadness, obediently resigned herself entirely to the will of God. And the Lord answered her: "Mary, let not thy heart be disturbed, for thy resignation is acceptable to Me. And by My disposition, that will happen which is best for thee."
Then, as God intended, while left between uncertainty and hope, Mary gave herself over to fervent prayer and inner acts of love, faith, humility, obedience and chastity.
Meanwhile the Lord spoke in sleep to the High Priest, who happened to be St. Simeon, and commanded him to arrange the marriage of Mary, whom He regarded with special love, to whomever it seemed right to the council of priests. After consulting together, the priests appointed a day on which all the bachelors of the line of David, which was also Mary's, were to assemble in the Temple.
Nine days before that date, Simeon called in Mary and gently explained to her that as she was an orphan and a first-born daughter with an inheritance, now near the age when the young girls had to leave the service of the Temple and marry, the priests were planning to find her a worthy husband. Though deeply moved, Mary replied with great composure and modesty: "As far as my inclinations are concerned, I desire to preserve chastity during all my life, and I never had the intention to enter the married state. But you, my master, will teach me God's holy will."
During the nine days that followed, Mary continually prayed to God with many tears and sighs for that which she had so much at heart. And once the Lord appeared to her and said: “My dove, let not thy heart be sad or disturbed. I will guide the priests by My light, and I will give thee a husband selected by Myself, and one who will not hinder thy holy desires. I will choose a man perfect and according to My heart.”
This good man whom God found worthy of becoming Mary's husband and the foster father of the Word Incarnate, and who is now honored and loved throughout the world as St. Joseph, the Protector of the Universal Church, was at this time a humble, unmarried carpenter who worked for a master in a small town in Galilee.
Joseph was born near Bethlehem, the third of six brothers. His parents were well off and lived in a large two-storied country house which had a bubbling fountain in a court and was surrounded by lovely streams. The Saint's marvelous holiness began when he was sanctified in the womb of his mother seven months after his conception. At his birth he was a beautiful baby with a perfectly formed body, and he caused an extraordinary delight to his parents and relatives. From his third year, thanks to unusual graces, he began to know God by faith. With surprising understanding he eagerly learned all that was taught to him about religion and already practiced advanced forms of prayer. At the age of seven he had attained the perfect use of reason and a high degree of holiness. He was a quiet, likable and humble boy.
The parents, who were neither very good nor bad people, did not spend much time with their children, but left them to the care of an elderly tutor, who gave the boys lessons on a porch that went around the upper floor. Joseph's brothers used to tease him and make fun of him and often tried to hurt him. Each boy had a small garden, and his brothers sometimes stole into his and tore up the plants he liked best. When he was praying on the porch with his face to the wall and his eyes closed, they sneaked up behind him and pushed him over. At such moments he seemed to awaken from a trance, but he did not become angry or seek revenge. He merely withdrew somewhere and continued his prayers.
As the boys grew up, the parents complained that Joseph was too serious and solitary, too simple and lacking in ambition. They wanted him to take advantage of his good qualities and prepare himself for a prosperous career, but he had no desire for such a life. All he wanted was to pray and quietly to perform some manual labor. Often during his teens, to escape from the continuous persecution of his brothers, he went to the other side of Bethlehem among some good, devout families, and worked with an old carpenter or prayed in some grottoes, in one of which the Child Jesus was later born.
Finally, one night when he was about twenty, Joseph left home and went off to earn his living in the country north of Jerusalem. For some time he worked as assistant to a poor carpenter in a small town near Mount Gerizim. He was finishing his apprenticeship, and he humbly did all sorts of jobs for his master. Often he had to carry heavy loads of wood on his back.
When, after a long search, his brothers found him, they scolded him bitterly, for they were ashamed of his modest position. But he was too humble to change it. Later he moved to Taanach on the Plain of Esdraelon, and then to Tiberias, where he dwelt alone in a little house by the Lake of Galilee. Wherever he lived, he was always loved by those who knew him. He was a good, kind and devout workingman – lovable, gentle and utterly sincere. He spent much time in prayer, fervently asking God for the coming of the Messias. He led a very retiring life and consistently avoided the society of women. From the age of twelve he had made and perfectly kept a vow of chastity, and his purity of soul, which was known to all, was that of an angel.
One day, when Joseph was adding a little oratory to his house, an angel appeared to him and told him not to go on with the work, because just as formerly God had given to the Patriarch Joseph the superintendence of the grain in Egypt, so now the granary of salvation was going to be confided to him. St. Joseph in his humility was not able to understand this message. Soon afterward he heard that as an unmarried descendant of King David, he was to go to the Temple in Jerusalem with his best clothes. He was at this time thirty-three years old, a handsome, modest and serious man, with pleasing, honest features.
It was on Mary's fourteenth birthday that the young men gathered in the Temple, dressed in their feast-day robes. After the High Priest had presented Mary to them and explained the purpose of the meeting, she returned to her cell and wept, while he gave to each youth a dry branch and announced that they were all to pray that the Lord might single out the one whom He had chosen as Mary's spouse. Knowing that she was an unusually beautiful and virtuous maiden with a good inheritance, they were eager to win her hand.
One pious young man from Bethlehem was particularly anxious to become her husband, hoping that perhaps the expected Messias might be born of their union. Although the humble carpenter Joseph had a deeper veneration for her than any of the others, he alone considered himself unworthy of such a blessing, and remembering his vow of chastity, he inwardly renewed it and resigned himself entirely to the will of God.
After a number of prayers had been recited, each suitor came forward and placed his branch on an altar facing the Holy of Holies. When Joseph, the last in line, was about to deposit his branch, all of a sudden it blossomed into a white lily-like flower, and at the same time a dove of the purest and most dazzling white was seen to descend and rest on his head for a moment, during which God said in his heart: “Joseph, My servant, Mary shall be thy spouse. Receive her with all care and respect, for she is pleasing in My sight. She is just and pure in mind and body. And thou shalt perform all that she shall ask.”
Thereupon the priests announced that Joseph was the husband selected for Mary by the Lord Himself, and they sent for her, while the other suitors departed—the young man from Bethlehem joined the hermits of Elias on Mount Carmel and continued to pray fervently for the Messias.
When Mary appeared, calm and beautiful and humbly resigned to God's will, the priests introduced her to Joseph and proceeded solemnly to betroth the holy couple. Then, according to the Jewish custom, the two parted until the wedding.
This touching ceremony took place later in a rented house on Mount Sion. Besides Mary's teachers and friends from the Temple, the guests included some relatives of her parents, who had prepared for her a lovely sky-blue wedding gown and cape, though in her humility she hesitated to accept it. St. Joseph wore a plain, long, gray robe.
After the wedding, Mary sadly took leave of the priests and her teachers and companions, thanking them all for their kindness to her during her years among them. And then, offering up her own wish to remain in the Lord's House all her life, with keen grief she left the Temple, and in the company of St. Joseph and some attendants sent by the priests, she set out, with perfect resignation and trust in God, for the new life to which He was leading her in Nazareth.
CHAPTER 8 : MARY'S LIFE IN NAZARETH
When Mary and Joseph arrived at the modest house which she had inherited in Nazareth, they were joyfully welcomed by her friends and relatives.
Then they were left alone in their new home. And Joseph said: "My dear spouse, though I judge myself unworthy even of your company, I give thanks to the Lord for having chosen me as your husband. Please help me to make a proper return in serving Him with upright heart. Therefore consider me your servant, and by the true love which I have for you, I beg you to put up with my deficiencies in the domestic duties which as a worthy husband I should know how to perform. just tell me what you want, so that I may do it."
Mary replied humbly: "My master, I am fortunate that the Lord has chosen you for my husband and that He has thus shown me that He wishes me to serve you. But if you allow me, I will tell you my thoughts and intentions which I wish you to know for this purpose."
As God inflamed Joseph's sincere heart with grace and love, he said: "Speak, dear Lady. Your servant is listening."
Because this all-important interview was the first time that Mary had ever spoken alone to a man, and because with her natural shyness she also felt respect and reverence for her husband, she asked her guardian angels to stand around her, visible only to herself. As they obeyed, she spoke with a serene earnestness:
"My lord and spouse, our Creator has manifested His mercy to us in choosing us to serve Him together. I consider myself more indebted to Him than all other creatures, for while meriting less, I have received from His hand more than they. As a child, therefore, being compelled by the force of this truth, which His divine light made known to me, I consecrated myself to God by a solemn vow of perpetual chastity in body and soul. I am His, and I acknowledge Him as my Spouse and Lord, with the firm resolve of preserving my chastity for Him. So I beseech you, my master, to help me in fulfilling this vow, while in all other things I will be your servant, working willingly for your well-being all my life. My dear spouse, yield to this resolution and make a similar one, in order that, offering ourselves as a sacrifice to God, He may accept us and bestow on us the eternal reward for which we hope."
St. Joseph was overjoyed, and with true supernatural love he replied: "My heart rejoices in hearing your welcome feelings in this matter. I have not told you my thoughts before knowing your own. But I also consider myself under greater obligation to the Lord than other men, for very early He called me by His enlightenment to love Him with an upright heart. And I want you to know that at the age of twelve I also made a promise to serve Him in perpetual chastity. So now I gladly ratify this vow, and in the presence of God I promise to help you as far as I can in serving Him and loving Him according to your desire. With His grace I will be your faithful servant and companion, and I beg you to accept my chaste love and to consider me your brother."
Both Mary and Joseph were now filled with heavenly joy and consolation. And God gave to St. Joseph new purity and complete command over his natural inclinations, so that he might lovingly serve his holy wife without any trace of sensual desire.
The happy couple then set about dividing Mary's inheritance: they put aside one third for the Temple; they distributed one third to the poor; and the last third Mary assigned to Joseph to dispose of as he wished. For herself she reserved only the privilege of serving him and of attending to her household duties, for throughout her life she avoided contact with outsiders and the management of property or business.
Joseph now humbly asked her whether it was agreeable to her that he continue to work at his trade as carpenter for their support and to earn something to help the poor. Mary willingly approved, saying that she knew that the Lord did not wish them to be rich but poor and lovers of the poor, desirous of helping them as much as their means allowed.
Then they both courteously and selflessly disputed as to who should obey the other, but Mary won this holy contest in humility by declaring that since the man is the head of the family she would not permit this natural order to be changed, and that all she wanted was to obey Joseph in all things and to have his permission to help the poor, which he gladly gave.
During the days that followed, as St. Joseph observed Mary's rare nobility and purity of soul, his admiration and love for her greatly increased, and he often joyfully thanked the Lord for having given him a companion so far above his merits. God also filled his humble heart with an indescribable reverence for her by means of the heavenly light which shone from her calm, beautiful and majestic features.
At this time Mary had a vision of the Lord in which He said to her: "My Chosen One, observe all the laws of a spouse in holiness, purity, and all perfection, and let My servant Joseph help thee. Obey him and listen to his advice."
Mary replied in humility and love: "My Lord and Maker, show me Thy good will and blessing, and with it I will strive to obey and serve Thy servant Joseph."
After settling in her home, Mary was never idle. Apart from her housework, she diligently prepared wool and linen for her husband and for the poor, whom she always helped by the labor of her hands. For without making this personal contribution of her own exertion and labor, she could not have satisfied her compassionate and generous charity toward the poor. Also she had no servants, because her love of obedience and humility made it impossible for her to order anyone but herself to do the servile work of her household. In serving and caring for St. Joseph and later for her Son, she was never guilty of any negligence or forgetfulness. And yet in all her daily work she was never interiorly at leisure, for she spent every moment in profound inner recollection, prayer, and spiritual communion with God in her heart, worshiping and beseeching Him to send the promised Redeemer to suffering mankind.
The few persons who knew her during these hidden years in Nazareth were often filled with a mysterious joy which they knew came from her. Many turned from sin at the mere sight of her. Others amended their lives. All were affected by some divine influence. Realizing this, she prayed to God to permit her to be ignored and despised by all mortals, and by His power He prevented these persons from communicating their admiration and seeking her out.
Now the time which Almighty God had appointed for the Incarnation of His Son was drawing near, although the humble and lovely maiden in Nazareth who was destined to be His Mother never once thought that this great and widely expected event would directly involve her. Therefore, as a necessary and fitting preparation for the glorious Mystery of the Annunciation, during the nine days which immediately preceded that decisive turning point in history, the Lord gave His Chosen Spouse and future Mother a series of marvelous mystical experiences which raised her pure soul to a hitherto unparalleled degree of holiness and fervor, and which also infused into her mind a thorough and profound knowledge of His Creation.
On the first day of this first "novena," when Mary according to her custom rose at midnight and prostrated herself on the floor to praise the Lord, her soul was raised to a closer union with God. He revealed to her how He had created the universe purely out of overflowing Love, and He showed her all that He had made on the first day of creation. When she saw that she too was formed of low earthly matter, she humbled herself profoundly. The Lord urged her to pray constantly for the union of the Divinity with human nature, which He informed her was now due. Whereupon Mary exclaimed: "O Eternal God, the sins of men are increasing-how shall we merit the blessing of which we become daily more unworthy? If perhaps I am a hindrance to such a limitless benefit, O my Beloved, let me perish rather than impede Thy Will!"
Then with the deepest humility she lay on the ground in the form of a cross, as the Holy Ghost had taught her, and prayed for the Redemption.
On each of the following six days she not only received an infused knowledge of the various works of God on the corresponding day of Creation, but she was also given comprehension and power over the elements of nature, such as the stars, winds, waters, minerals, plants and animals, although she never thereafter used this power for herself, because she was too humble and she knew the value of suffering. Then she was shown the creation and fall of man. And by her participation in God's love and mercy for sinning humanity, she was prepared to become the Mother of Mercy and Advocate of sinners. God revealed to her the new Law of Grace and the healing blessings which He was going to pour on men through the Sacraments of His holy Church, and He also showed her how many souls would ungratefully reject the salvation which the Redeemer was to offer them. After praying fervently for all men, she was given an explicit promise by the Holy Trinity that the Son of God was now to be sent into the world.
On the seventh day Mary heard God say to her: "Our Chosen Dove, We wish to accept thee anew as Our Bride, and therefore We wish to adorn thee worthily."
As Mary abased herself with charming modesty, two seraphim proceeded to vest her with a beautiful white robe and bejeweled girdle, golden hair clasp, sandals, bracelets, rings, earrings and a necklace-all symbolizing the various virtues that adorned her lovely soul.
At midnight on the eighth day Mary heard in prayer the voice of God saying: "Come, My Chosen One, come to Me. I am He that raises the humble and fills the poor with riches. Thou hast Me for thy Friend. Since thou has found grace in My eyes, ask of Me what thou desirest, and I shall not reject thy petition, even if it be for a part of My Kingdom."
To which Mary replied with touching humility and love: "O Lord, I do not ask for a part of Thy Kingdom on my own behalf, but I ask for the whole of it for all the race of men who are my brothers. And therefore I beseech Thee to send us our Redeemer!"
And the Lord answered: "I desire what thou seekest, My Daughter. It shall be done as thou askest."
All afire with love and gratitude, Mary passed that day in unceasing praise of God.
On the ninth day the Lord, after revealing to her the entire harmonious constitution of the universe, said to her: "My chosen Dove, I have created all creatures, which thou beholdest in all their variety and beauty, solely for the love of men, for the elect congregation of the faithful. Thou, My Spouse, hast found grace in My sight, and therefore I make thee Mistress of all these goods, so that if thou art a loyal spouse, thou mayest dispose of them as thou desirest."
Then a symbolic crown was placed on Mary's head which bore the mystic inscription: "Mother of God"; but she did not see these words. And all the heavenly spirits duly revered and honored her. Lastly the Lord renewed and increased the unique beauty of her pure soul, so that her entire being dazzlingly reflected His own divine light.
Yet Mary continued to humble and abase herself in her own estimation. Her eyes and heart were not elated. On the contrary, the higher God raised her, the more lowly were her thoughts concerning herself. She did not once have a suspicion of anything great or admirable in herself. And her humility was so genuine and so deep that even now the mere thought of her being chosen to be the Mother of the Messias simply could not enter her Immaculate Heart.