| Devotion to Our Lady |
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LINKS TO OTHER SPECIAL FEASTS (not all links have been activated at this time)
| Nativity of Mary (Sep 8) | Seven Sorrows of Mary (Sep 15) | Our Lady of Ransom (Sep 24) | Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct 7) | Divine Maternity (Oct 11) |
| Presentation of Mary in Temple (Nov 21) | Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Nov 27) | Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12) | Purification of Mary (Feb 2) | Annunciation (Mar 25) | Help of Christians (May 24) |
For the other meditations click on any link below (not all links have been activated at this time)
| 12-MONTH OVERVIEW OF FEAST DAYS | SPECIAL FEASTS OF MARY | JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH |
| APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER |
| Nativity of Mary (Sep 8) | Seven Sorrows of Mary (Sep 15) | Our Lady of Ransom (Sep 24) | Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct 7) | Divine Maternity (Oct 11) |
| Presentation of Mary in Temple (Nov 21) | Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Nov 27) | Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12) | Purification of Mary (Feb 2) | Annunciation (Mar 25) | Help of Christians (May 24) |
For the other meditations click on any link below (not all links have been activated at this time)
| 12-MONTH OVERVIEW OF FEAST DAYS | SPECIAL FEASTS OF MARY | JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH |
| APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER |
THE PRESENTATION OF MARY IN THE TEMPLE
Feast day : November 21st
Feast day : November 21st
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876)
 The Jesuit Symbol WHO IS FR. WENINGER?
The 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia lists Fr. Francis Xavier as Jesuit missionary and author, who was born at Wildhaus, Styria, Austria, 31 October, 1805; died at Cincinnati, Ohio, 29 June, 1888. When already a priest and doctor of theology, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1832 and in 1841 was sent to Innsbruck, where he taught theology, history, and Hebrew. As the Revolution of 1848 impeded his further usefulness at home, he left Europe and went to the United States. During his forty years he visited almost every state of the Union, preaching to vast multitudes in English, French, or German, as best suited the nationality of his hearers. In the year 1854 alone he delivered nearly a thousand sermons, and in 1864 he preached about forty-five missions. His zeal also prompted Father Weninger to win souls with the pen and he published forty works in German, Sixteen in English, eight in French, three in Latin. Among his principal works are: “Manual of the Catholic Religion” (Ratisbon, 1858); “Easter in Heaven” (Cincinnati, 1862); “Sermons” (Mainz, 1881-86). The Jesuit webiste, www.jesuitsmissouri.org, has this to say about Fr. Weninger: Francis Xavier Weninger (1805-1888) was born in Marburg, Styria, a province in southern Austria, to a prominent Catholic family. He had connections to the old aristocracy of Austria through his mother, Barbara von Mendelstein, and lived for a time on a large estate with his family. Weninger spent much of his youth in Vienna, where he attended the local high school and dreamed of enlisting in the military. However, his father disapproved of this goal, and instead sent the young Weninger to work as an apprentice at a pharmacy in Laybach. With the permission of his guardian and the director of his high school, Weninger continued his studies independently, and his progress in the academic world soon caught the attention of the Habsburg Court. In 1821, on the recommendation of the director, Empress Carolina Augusta of Austria agreed to sponsor Weninger's education, and he entered the Klinkowstöm Institute and the University of Vienna to continue his academic work. At the age of seventeen, having spent two years studying philosophy and the classics, Weninger became convinced that he should become a priest. He began studying dogmatic and moral theology and was ordained a priest in 1827. In 1829 he earned a doctorate of divinity at the Episcopal Seminary at Gratz, and began teaching dogmatic theology at the University of Gratz. For the first few years after his ordination, Weninger associated with the Benedictines, Camaldolese, and the Franciscans. He eventually entered the Society of Jesus in 1832. Weninger worked for several years in Austria and Germany, teaching and preaching throughout the region, at one point even serving as confessor to the Duchess de Berri, the exiled queen of France. However, the 1848 expulsion of the Jesuits due to the revolution in Germany brought Weninger to the United States. He landed in New York, preaching his first American sermon at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Williamsburg, and then traveled to Saint Louis to confer with the Superior of the Missouri Mission about his usefulness in the western territories. Weninger traveled extensively throughout the country; an entry in Weninger's obituary notes that “nearly every part of the country was to feel the effects of his grace-laden mission-tours.” Between 1850 and 1860, Weninger preached in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Virginia, Washington D.C., and various locations across Canada. During this period, worshippers at a mission in the town of Guttenberg, Iowa, experienced, during a visit from Weninger, a vision of a white cross in the sky, which became a well-known event in the Society of Jesus. The primary goal of these missions was conversion, but Weninger also spoke out forcefully against German radicals and the Know-Nothing political party, groups which were gaining popularity during the 1850s. Weninger was residing in the Midwestern portion of the United States when the Civil War broke out in 1861. He spoke out against the politics of the situation, both the Republican bullying of the United States government and the permission of slave-holding in the Confederate states, which was a unique political position to hold at the time. He continued his missionary work in the Union states of Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Iowa, and Minnesota, where he conducted retreats and gave sermons. Following the conclusion of the Civil War, Weninger conducted over ninety-five missions and retreats, traveling to California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington Territory, Vancouver, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, and Arkansas. He also conducted an examination of the relics of Peter Claver. After returning to the Midwest in 1871, Weninger continued his routine of missionary work across the country, preaching in many states until, around 1880, his health forced him to limit the amount of traveling in which he could participate. However, he did not stop his work completely. During the late 1870s and early1880s, he began working toward the improvement of the religious practices of African Americans and began pushing for the canonization of Saint Peter Claver. He retired to Cincinnati around 1882, where he died in 1888 at the age of 82. Weninger's writings during his life time were extensive and varied across a wide spectrum of topics, including, but not limited to, scripture commentaries, works on canon law, sermons, mission techniques, and musical compositions. These works had a great impact their readers, as shown in a letter that was sent in memoriam by a Jewish man from New Orleans. In the letter, he writes: "To my sincere sorrow, I read in to-day's paper of the demise of Fr. Weninger of Cincinnati. Not having had the pleasure of knowing him personally, I have learned to love him from studying some of his works, and it was for some time a favorite idea of mine, when passing through Cincinnati, to call on him and that him for the great spiritual benefit I derived by perusing his books. His picture is hanging over my desk, and if the prayers of a poor sinful Hebrew convert, whom by his writings he has helped by to find again the true and only way that leads to salvation, are acceptable toward the repose of his soul, I will thus try and show him my gratitude." "Father Weninger," Woodstock Letters 18, no. 1 (1889): 123. |
Today's festival is called the Presentation of Mary, because on this day Joachim and Anna, the holy parents of the Blessed Virgin, consecrated their little daughter to the divine service in the temple at Jerusalem, and Mary consecrated herself to the Almighty. At that time, there were two ways of consecrating children: one was ordained by the law, which required every male child to be offered to God, forty days, and every female child, eighty days after its birth. This ceremony was called the consecration of the child and the purification of the mother. The second kind of consecration was a voluntary self-oblation by which some persons devoted themselves to the Almighty.
There were also many parents who either before, or immediately after their child's birth, consecrated it to the service of the Lord, sometimes for a few years, sometimes for life. To this end several separate dwellings had been erected in connection with the Temple, for men, women, youths and maidens, where they remained for the time which had been fixed by themselves or their parents. Their occupations consisted in decorating the temple, and in making the garments which the priests and levites wore during their sacred functions. Thus we read in the first book of Kings, that Anne the spouse of Elkana, made a vow that if she gave birth to a male child, she would consecrate it to the Lord. The Lord blessed her and she brought forth a son, whom she named Samuel, and afterwards consecrated to the Most High, through the hands of the High Priest, Heli. In the second book of the Maccabees, we find mention of virgins, who lived and were educated in the Temple, that is, in a building annexed to it. It is the belief of several holy Fathers, that Joachim and Anna, being already advanced in years and having no issue, made a vow to God that if He would bless them with a child, and thus take from them the dishonor of being barren, they would consecrate their offspring to His service in the Temple. God heard their prayer and blessed them so greatly that they became the parents of the most holy of all human beings, Mary, the ever Blessed Virgin. For three years they kept this sacred treasure at home, after which time, although Mary was their only comfort, they resigned her with pious fortitude, in fulfilment of their vow. Hence they went, with their daughter, to Jerusalem, presented her to the priest in the Temple and consecrated her, through his hands, to the service of the Almighty. But who can worthily describe the devotion and veneration which Mary manifested at the consecration! She had not only consented cheerfully, but as, notwithstanding her tender years, she was already possessed of her full reason, and knew better than any one else, in Heaven or on earth, the Majesty of Him to whom she was consecrated, she had longed for the moment when she was to be given to Him. She went therefore most joyfully to the Temple, her heart full of devotion and love towards God and a fervent desire to serve Him. The priest was at first greatly astonished, not only at the unusual beauty of the little child, but still more at the devotion she showed in such extreme youth. When her parents had given her in charge to the priest, the latter took her to the Altar, to which there was an ascent of fifteen steps on the first of which he placed her. Having in a few words bade her parents farewell, the little maiden went joyfully and unaided, from the lowest step to the highest, and casting herself down before the Altar, she consecrated herself to the Almighty with such humility and reverence, that all present were deeply moved. Her consecration differed greatly from that of all other children. Many were brought to the temple only because their parents desired it, and without their own knowledge of the reasons for which it was done. Others wept bitterly at parting with their parents. No other at that tender age, had understood the ceremony, and none had made the consecration with such entire devotion to the Lord. The Blessed Virgin, however, already gifted with reason, not only consented to the sacrifice thus made by her parents to God, but consecrated herself, entirely and with a happy heart, to His service. How pleasing this sacrifice must have been to the Lord, words are unable to express. It is quite certain that, from the creation of the world until that time, no sacrifice had been so pleasing to Him as that which Mary offered in her own person. Abel, Noah, Aaron, and many more, had sacrificed to the Lord the fruits of the Earth, or dumb brutes; but Mary offered herself. Many parents had consecrated their children to the service of God, but Mary surpassed them all in innocence and grace, in heavenly virtues and gifts; hence it cannot be doubted that her sacrifice surpassed all others, and was more agreeable to the Almighty. After the consecration. Mary was taken into the dwelling of the maidens destined to serve the Most High, and was numbered among them. There she remained until her marriage with St. Joseph. Her conduct during this period can be more easily imagined than described; but it is certain that it was more like an angel's than like that of a human being. Her occupation was prayer, reading, meditation and work. In the works of St. Jerome there is a sermon on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, in which the life she led in the Temple is thus described: "She endeavored to surpass in goodness all those with whom she dwelt; to be the first in the nightly vigils; to understand Holy Writ most thoroughly; to be the most humble; to sing the Pslams of David most devoutly; to love God most fervently; to be the most chaste; in a word, to be the first in all virtues, in order to honor the Almighty, and to prove her love to Him. God was the only subject of her conversation. She prayed without ceasing and meditated on the law of the Lord." St. Ambrose, in his instructions to those who had vowed perpetual chastity, gives them Mary as an example, saying emphatically, that her life had been such that it might serve as a model to all. "Mary," he writes "was virgin, not only in body, but also in heart and mind. She was modest in her speech, and humble of heart. She offended no one, had every one's welfare at heart, avoided pride and loved virtue. Nothing bold was in her gaze, nothing frivolous in words, nothing that was in the least immodest in all her manners. Her body was the index of her mind, a model of piety. She went not to rest until necessity required it, and when her body rested, her soul remained awake." This and much more, the above mentioned Father writes, in praise of the Blessed Virgin. St. Bonaventure relates a vision in which the Divine Mother said to a holy person: "I arose always in the middle of the night, went to the Altar of the Temple, and presented my homage and desires to the Almighty." These desires were for the grace of loving God above all things and with her whole heart; of her neighbor for God's sake; of keeping the Commandments of the Lord, and of hating everything that was displeasing to Him. The same holy teacher says also: "Mary was very solicitous that none of her companions should in the least offend the Lord, but that they should always praise Him and never indulge in idle words." He writes further, that Mary occupied her thoughts with holy contemplations, her mouth with devout prayers; but, at the same time used her hands in sacred work, and admonished others to do the same. S everal Holy Fathers write that the Blessed Virgin, soon after entering the Temple, consecrated her virginity to the Lord. Others, with greater reason, maintain that this had been done before, and as soon as she had been conceived, since she was gifted even then with the full use of her reason. The Holy Fathers Ambrose, Jerome, Rupert, Bernard, and many others, think that the Blessed Virgin was the first who made a vow of chastity, and thus set an example, which many thousands, desiring to serve the Lord more perfectly, have followed and are still following. It is quite certain that the Blessed Virgin, from the first use of her reason until the end of her life, always endeavored to do what she knew would make her more perfect, and thus unite her more closely with the Almighty. Hence it is easy to conclude, that she gathered such a treasure of merits, as no Saint ever did or will possess. St. Bonaventure and St. Bernardine of Sienna apply to her the words of the Proverbs of Solomon: "Many daughters have gathered riches, but thou hast surpassed them all." Many daughters, they say, means, many souls, many Saints have gathered riches in merits; but Mary surpasses them all, as well in grace, as in virtues and merits. Hence it follows that her glory in Heaven is above that of all other Saints; for which reason she is called by the Catholic Church Queen of All Saints. Nothing is more just than that we duly honor so great a Queen, and invoke her with confidence; for the higher she stands above all other Saints, the more powerful is her intercession with God. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS In the third year of her life, Mary, the Blessed Virgin, consecrated herself to the service of the Almighty, and this, not for days or years only, but for ever; for, as long as she lived, she ceased not to serve the Lord. How is it with you? Did you also begin in your tender years to serve the Lord. Or to whom did you dedicate the years of your life? Ah! confess it with weeping eyes and repentant heart, not to the Lord, but to world, to the flesh, to Satan, you gave the years of your youth; and perhaps you have not even made the resolution to serve your God; or it may be, you think it will be time enough when you are old, though it is unknown to you, whether you will ever count many years. But even had you been assured of this, tell me, do you not deserve to be disowned by the Almighty as a second Cain, since like him, you sacrificed only what was a less value, and not, like the pious Abel, what was the best? God cursed him who took from his flock the meanest for his offering. This Curse you also deserve for not having given to the Lord your first and best years, but reserving your old age for Him. Oh! truly you have reason to weep over this wickedness as long as you live. Humbly beg God to pardon you, and resolve, at the same time, to serve Him from this hour most fervently and without ceasing until your end, as the Blessed Virgin did. You have perhaps but a short time more: hence employ ever moment in the service of God. The benefit will be yours, and will last through all eternity. In consecrating herself to the Almighty, the Blessed Virgin gave herself entirely to Him without any reservation. Soul and body, every power of her soul, ever member of her body, her whole heart and life, all was given for evermore to the service of the Most High. Without doubt, you resolve today to serve your Lord most fervently for the future. Consecrate yourself, then, today to His service, but without any reservation, your whole heart, your entire life, your soul with all its powers, your entire body with all its members, sacrifice all willingly and for evermore to the Lord. God Who desires the whole heart and not a part of it, wishes also your whole soul, your whole body, your entire life. Do you wish to divide your heart and to give one part of it to the Almighty the other to the world and Satan? To serve God with one member of your body, and to offend Him with another? Do you wish to employ your memory to honor God with good thoughts, but to soil your will with wicked desires? Oh, then do not imagine that your sacrifice will be acceptable to God! It will rather be a horror in the eyes of Him Who commands us to serve Him alone, and to sacrifice everythying to His service. Make today, a perfect sacrifice, so that you may, at least in something, follow the Blessed Virgin. And take care that you do not, after the lapse of some time, retract your sacrifice. You consecrate, today, your eyes, your tongue, and your hands, with the intention to use them only in God's service. Guard yourself, lest, after some hours or days, you misuse them in offending the Lord, for, this would be as mush robbing the Altar of what you have given to the Most High. Mary did not act thus. It is written: "I am the Lord that hate robbery in a holocaust” (Isaias, ch. 51) Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary O blessed Virgin Mary! Who can duly thank thee, or herald forth thy praises, who, by the assent of thy single will, didst rescue a fallen world? What honor can be paid to thee by our weak human nature, which, by thy intervention alone, hath found the way to return to grace and life? Accept then, such poor thanks as we have here to offer, unequal to thy merits though they be; and, accepting our good desires, obtain by thy prayers the remission of our offenses. Graciously hear our prayers, and obtain for us the remedy of reconciliation. May the offering we make to God through thee, through thee be acceptable in his sight; and may that be granted which we ask with trustful heart. Accept our offerings, grant us our petitions, banish our fears; for thou art the sole hope of sinners. Through thee we hope for forgiveness of our sins; and in thee, most blessed Lady, is the hope of our reward. Holy Mary, succor the wretched, help the fainthearted, comfort the sorrowful, pray for the people, shield the clergy, intercede for holy women; let all who celebrate thy holy commemoration feel thy protection. Be thou at hand, ready to aid our prayers, and obtain for us what we desire. Make it thy care, blessed Lady, to intercede ever for the people of God--thou who didst deserve to bear the Redeemer of the world, who liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever. Amen. (Indulgence of 50 days each time, His Holiness, Pius IX., May 19, 1854) LITURGICAL VIEW
The feast of tday, November 21, commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child in the Temple. Tradition holds that all young Jewish girls were left in the care of the temple for a period of time, during which they were educated.
The feast originated in the Orient probably about the 7th century, and is found in the constitution of Manuel Comnenus (1166) as a recognized festival. It was introduced into the Western Church in the 14th century. Pope Pius V then struck it from the calendar. Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the feast in 1585. Below, we have a commentary by Fr. Goffiné on the Presentation of Mary. Fr. Leonard Goffiné was born in Cologne in 1648 and lived out his 71 years preaching and teaching in parishes and abbeys across the region and among Catholics and Protestants alike. Whereas so many had been led astray as a result of the Protestant Reformation, Goffiné wrote ten books of catechesis, mostly commentaries on the Mass and epistles and gospel for the daily readings. The first printing was in 1690. Widely read, it required an additional printing. It is said that aside from Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, (and the bible, of course) Goffiné’s books are the most widely translated writings in the Church. The reflection below comes from Goffiné’s Devout Instructions on the Epistles and the Gospels. The Blessed Virgin was presented in the temple at Jerusalem by her pious parents, Joachim and Ann, there to be educated in the service and the law of the Lord in order that she might be guarded against the defilements of the world. From this we learn: • Joachim and Ann offered to the Lord their only and most beloved child, and gave her up entirely to His service. Great as the sacrifice was, they yet made it. The preservation of the innocence of their daughter was to them above all else. Parents, God requires of you that you should not merely offer your children to Him in the temple, but that you should take care to keep them pure and holy, as living temples which have been consecrated in Baptism. •Mary gives and dedicates herself to God as soon as she is capable of serving Him, and that without any reservation, for all time, and irrevocably. When, then, shall we give ourselves in earnest to God? True, we have been given to Him in holy Baptism, we have been consecrated as His temples, we have renounced the devil and the world, we have vowed to live only for God, and this vow we have, perhaps, often renewed; but have we kept it? What we gave with one hand, have we not taken it away with the other? Have we not defiled the temple of our hearts by shameful lusts, lived for the world and vanity more than for God? Ah, when shall we give ourselves up to God sincerely and forever? Perhaps when we are old! But will God accept our offering then? Will He be pleased that we begin to serve Him only when we can no longer serve the world? that we first begin to live for Him when our life is soon to cease? No; God is a jealous Lord, and is not pleased with a heart divided between Him and creatures. He requires us to love Him with all our heart and all our soul, and to serve Him with all our powers. Let us, then, do this, and do it from our youth; let us keep ourselves in body and soul undefiled for the Lord; such love, and such love only, will He reward as perfect. |
THE LIFE OF MARY AS SEEN BY THE MYSTICS
By Raphael Brown
THE PRESENTATION OF MARY IN THE TEMPLE
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Various editions have been published over the years, here are the covers of the some of them.
THE PRESENTATION OF MARY IN THE TEMPLE DURING HER INFANCY
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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."
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."
THE MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD
By the Venerable Mary of Agreda
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Volume 1, Book 2, Chapter 1
MARY’S PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
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The three years’ time decreed by the Lord having been completed, Joachim and Anne set out from Nazareth, accompanied by a few kindred and bringing with them the true living Ark of the covenant, the most holy Mary, borne on the arms of her mother in order to be deposited in the holy temple of Jerusalem. The beautiful child, by her fervent and loving aspirations, hastened after the ointments of her Beloved, seeking in the temple Him, whom she bore in her heart.
This humble procession was scarcely noticed by earthly creatures, but it was invisibly accompanied by the angelic spirits, who, in order to celebrate this event, had hastened from Heaven in greater numbers than ordinary as her bodyguard, and were singing in heavenly strains the glory and praise of the Most High. The Princess of Heaven heard and saw them as she hastened her beautiful steps along in the sight of the highest and the true Solomon. Thus they pursued their journey from Nazareth to the holy city of Jerusalem, and also the parents of the holy child Mary felt in their hearts great joy and consolation of spirit. |
They arrived at the holy temple, and the blessed Anne on entering took her daughter and mistress by the hand, accompanied and assisted by Saint Joachim. All three offered a devout and fervent prayer to the Lord; the parents offering to God their daughter, and the most holy child, in profound humility, adoration and worship, offering up herself. She alone perceived that the Most High received and accepted her, and, amid divine splendor which filled the temple, she heard a voice saying to her: "Come, My beloved, My spouse, come to My Temple, where I wish to hear thy voice of praise and worship."
Having offered their prayers, they rose and betook themselves to the priest. The parents consigned their child into his hands and he gave them his blessing. Together they conducted her to the portion of the temple buildings, where many young girls lived to be brought up in retirement and in virtuous habits, until old enough to assume the state of matrimony. It was a place of retirement especially selected for the first-born daughters of the royal tribe of Juda and the sacerdotal tribe of Levi.
Fifteen stairs led up to the entrance of these apartments. Other priests came down these stairs in order to welcome the blessed child Mary. The one that had received them, being according to the law one of a minor order, placed her on the first step. Mary, with his permission, turned and kneeling down before Joachim and Anne, asked their blessing and kissed their hands, recommending herself to their prayers before God. The holy parents in tenderest tears gave her their blessing; whereupon she ascended the fifteen stairs without any assistance. She hastened upward with incomparable fervor and joy, neither turning back, nor shedding tears, nor showing any childish regret at parting from her parents. To see her, in so tender an age, so full of strange majesty and firmness of mind, excited the admiration of all those present.
The priests received her among the rest of the maidens, and Saint Simeon consigned her to the teachers, one of whom was the prophetess Anne. This holy matron had been prepared by the Lord by especial grace and enlightenment, so that she joyfully took charge of this child of Joachim and Anne. She considered the charge a special favor of divine Providence and merited by her holiness and virtue to have her as a disciple, who was to be the Mother of God and Mistress of all the creatures.
Sorrowfully her parents Joachim and Anne retraced their journey to Nazareth, now poor as deprived of the rich Treasure of their house. But the Most High consoled and comforted them in their affliction. The holy priest Simeon, although he did not at this time know of the mystery enshrined in the child Mary, obtained great light as to her sanctity and her special selection by the Lord; also the other priests looked upon her with great reverence and esteem. In ascending the fifteen stairs the child brought to fulfillment, that, which Jacob saw happening in sleep; for here too were angels ascending and descending: the ones accompanying, the others meeting their Queen as she hastened up; whereas at the top God was waiting in order to welcome her as his daughter and spouse. She also felt by the effects of the overflowing love, that this truly was the house of God and the portal of Heaven.
The child Mary, when brought to her teacher, knelt in profound humility before her and asked her blessing. she begged to be admitted among those under her direction, obedience and counsel, and asked her kind forbearance in the labor and trouble, which she would occasion. The prophetess Anne, her teacher, received her with pleasure, and said to her: "My daughter, thou shalt find in me a helpful mother and I will take care of thee and of thy education with all possible solicitude." Then the holy child proceeded to address herself with the same humility to all the maidens which were then present; each one she greeted and embraced, offering herself as their servant and requesting them, as older and more advanced than she in the duties of their position, to instruct and command her. She also gave them thanks, that without her merit they admitted her to their company.
When the heavenly child Mary had dismissed her parents and entered upon her life in the temple, her teacher assigned to her a place among the rest of the maidens, each of whom occupied a large alcove or little room. The Princess of Heaven prostrated herself on the pavement, and, remembering that it was holy ground and part of the temple, she kissed it. In humble adoration she gave thanks to the Lord for this new benefit, and she thanked even the earth for supporting her and allowing her to stand in this holy place; for she held herself unworthy of treading and remaining upon it. Then she turned toward her holy angels and said to them:
"Celestial princes, messengers of the Almighty, most faithful friends and companions, I beseech you with all the powers of my soul to remain with me in this holy temple of my Lord and as my vigilant sentinels, reminding me of all that I should do; instructing me and directing me as the teachers and guides of my actions, so that I may fulfill in all things the perfect will of the Most High, give pleasure to the holy priests and obey my teacher and my companions." And addressing in particular those whom I mentioned above as the twelve angels of the Apocalypse, she said: "And I beseech you, my ambassadors, if the Almighty permit you, go and console my holy parents in their affliction and solitude."
While the twelve angels executed her command, Mary remained with the others in heavenly conversation. She began to feel a supernal influence of great power and sweetness, spiritualizing her and elevating her in burning ecstasy, and immediately the Most High commanded the seraphim to assist in illumining and preparing her most holy soul. Instantly she was filled with a divine light and force, which perfected and proportioned her faculties in accordance with the mysteries now to be manifested to her. Thus prepared and accompanied by her holy angels and many others, in the midst of a refulgent host, the celestial child was raised body and soul to the empyrean Heaven, where she was received by the holy Trinity with befitting benevolence and pleasure. She prostrated herself in the presence of the most mighty and high Lord, as she was wont to do in all her visions, and adored Him in profound reverence and humility. Then she was further transformed by new workings of divine light, so that she saw, intuitively and face to face, the Divinity itself. This was the second time that It manifested Itself to her in this intuitive manner during the first three years of her life.
By no human tongue or any sensible faculty could the effects of this vision and participation of the divine Essence ever be described. The Person of the Father spoke to the future Mother of his Son, and said: "My Dove, my beloved One, I desire thee to see the treasures of my immutable being and of my infinite perfections, and also to perceive the hidden gifts destined for the souls, whom I have chosen as heirs of my glory and who are rescued by the life-blood of the Lamb. Behold, my daughter, how generous I am toward my creatures, that know and love Me; how true in my words, how faithful in my promises, how powerful and admirable in my works. Take notice, my spouse, how ineffably true it is, that he who follows Me does not walk in darkness. I desire that thou, as my chosen One, be an eye-witness of the treasures which I hold in reserve for raising up the humble, enriching the poor, exalting the downtrodden, and for rewarding all that the mortals shall do and suffer for my name."
Other great mysteries were shown to the holy child in this vision of the Divinity, for as the object presented to the soul in such repeated intuitive visions is infinite, that which remains to be seen will always remain infinite and will excite greater and greater wonder and love in the one thus favored. The most holy Mary answered the Lord and said:
"Most high, supreme and eternal God, incomprehensible Thou art in Thy magnificence, overflowing in Thy riches, unspeakable in Thy mysteries, most faithful in Thy promises, true in Thy words, most perfect in Thy works, for Thou art the Lord, infinite and eternal in Thy essence and perfections. But, most high Lord, what shall my littleness begin to do at the sight of Thy magnificence? I acknowledge myself unworthy to look upon Thy greatness, yet I am in great need of being regarded by it. In Thy presence, Lord, all creation is as nothing. What shall I Thy servant do, who am but dust? Fulfill in me all Thy desire and Thy pleasure; and if trouble and persecutions suffered by mortals in patience, if humility and meekness are so precious in Thy eyes, do not consent, O my Beloved, that I be deprived of such a rich treasure and pledge of Thy love. But as the rewards of these tribulations, give them to Thy servants and friends, who deserve them better than I, for I have not yet labored in Thy service and pleasure."
The Most High was much pleased with the petition of the heavenly child and He gave her to understand that He would admit her to suffering and labor for his love in the course of her life, without at the time revealing to her the order and the manner in which He was to dispense them. The Princess of Heaven gave thanks for this blessing and favor of being chosen to labor and suffer for the glory of God’s name. Burning with desire of securing such favor, she asked of his Majesty to be allowed to make four vows in his presence: of chastity, of poverty, of obedience, and of perpetual enclosure in the temple whither He had called her.
To this petition the Lord answered and said to her: "My spouse, my thoughts rise above all that is created, and thou, my chosen one, dost not yet know what is to happen to thee in the course of thy life, and thou dost not yet understand why it is impossible to fulfill thy fervent desires altogether in the manner in which thou now dost imagine. The vow of chastity I permit and I desire that thou make it; I wish that from this moment thou renounce earthly riches. It is also my will that as far as possible thou observe whatever pertains to the other vows, just as if thou hadst made them all. Thy desire shall be fulfilled through many other virgins in the coming law of grace; for, in order to imitate thee and to serve Me, they will make these same vows and live together in community and thou shalt be the Mother of many daughters."
The most holy child then, in the presence of the Lord, made the vow of chastity and as for the rest without binding herself, she renounced all affection for terrestrial and created things. She moreover resolved to obey all creatures for the sake of God. In the fulfillment of these promises she was more punctual, fervent and faithful than any who have ever made these vows or ever will make them. Forthwith the clear and intuitive vision of the Divinity ceased, but she was not immediately restored to the earth. For, remaining in the empyrean Heaven, she enjoyed another, an imaginary vision of the Lord in a lower state of ecstasy, so that in connection with it, she saw other mysteries.
In this secondary and imaginary vision some of the seraphim closest to the Lord approached her and by his command adorned and clothed her in the following manner. First all her senses were illumined with an effulgent light, which filled them with grace and beauty. Then they robed her in a mantle or tunic of most exquisite splendor, and girded her with a cincture of vary-colored and transparent stones, of flashing brilliancy, which adorned her beyond human comprehension. They signified the immaculate purity and the various heroic virtues of her soul. They placed on her also a necklace or collar of inestimable and entrancing beauty, which contained three large stones, symbolic of the three great virtues of faith, hope and charity; this they hung around her neck letting it fall to her breast as if indicating the seat of these precious virtues. They also adorned her hands with seven rings of rare beauty whereby the Holy Ghost wished to proclaim that He had enriched her with his holy gifts in a most eminent degree.
In addition to all this the most holy Trinity crowned her head with an imperial diadem, made of inestimable material and set with most precious stones, constituting her thereby as his spouse and as the Empress of Heaven. In testimony whereof the white and refulgent vestments were emblazoned with letters or figures of the finest and the most shining gold, proclaiming: Mary, daughter of the eternal Father, spouse of the Holy Ghost and Mother of the true Light. This last name or title the heavenly Mistress did not understand; but the angels understood it, who, lost in wonder and praise of the Author, were assisting at this new and strange ceremony. Finally the attention of all the angelic spirits was drawn toward the Most High and a voice proceeded from the throne of the blessed Trinity, which, addressing the most holy Mary, spoke to her: "Thou shalt be our spouse, our beloved and chosen One among all creatures for all eternity; the angels shall serve thee and all the nations and generations shall call thee blessed" (Luke 1:48).
The sovereign child being thus attired in the court dress of the Divinity, then celebrated a more glorious and marvelous espousal than ever could enter the mind of the highest cherubim and seraphim. For the Most High accepted her as his sole and only spouse and conferred upon her the highest dignity which can befall a creature; He deposited within her his own Divinity in the person of the Word and with it all the treasures of grace befitting such eminence. Meanwhile the most Humble among the humble was lost in the abyss of love and wonder which these benefits and favors caused in her, and in the presence of the Lord she spoke:
"Most high King and incomprehensible God, who art Thou and who am I, that Thy condescension should look upon me who am dust, unworthy of such mercy? In Thee, my Lord, as in a clear mirror seeing Thy immutable being, I behold and understand without error my lowliness and vileness, I admire Thy immensity and deprecate my nothingness. At the sight of Thee I am annihilated and lost in astonishment, that the infinite Majesty should stoop to so lowly a worm, who can merit only oblivion and contempt of all the creatures. O Lord, my only Good, how art Thou magnified and exalted in this deed! What marvel dost Thou cause through me in Thy angelic spirits, who understand Thy infinite bounty, magnificence and mercy in raising up from the dust her who in it is poor, and placing her among the princes! (Psalm 112:7). I accept Thee, O my King and my Lord, as my spouse and I offer myself as Thy slave. Let not my understanding attend to any other object, nor my memory hold any other image, nor my will seek other object or pleasure than Thee, my highest Good, my true and only Love. Let not my eyes look upon human creature, nor my faculties and senses attend upon anything beside Thee and whatever Thy Majesty shall direct. Thou alone for Thy spouse, my Beloved, and she for Thee only, who art the immutable and eternal Good."
The Most High received with ineffable pleasure this consent of the sovereign Princess to enter into the new espousal with her most holy soul. As upon his true spouse and as mistress of all creation, He now lavished upon her all the treasures of his grace and power, instructing her to ask for whatever she desired and assuring her that nothing would ever be denied her. The most humble Dove at once proceeded to beseech the Lord with the most burning charity, to send His Only-begotten to the world as a remedy for mortals; that all men be called to the true knowledge of his Divinity; that her natural parents, Joachim and Anne, receive an increase of the loving gifts of his right hand; that the poor and afflicted be consoled and comforted in their troubles; and that in herself be fulfilled the pleasure of the divine will. These were some of the more express petitions addressed by the new spouse on this occasion to the blessed Trinity. And all the angelic host sang new songs of admiration in praise of the Most High, while those appointed by his Majesty, midst heavenly music, bore back the holy child from the empyrean Heaven to the place in the temple, from which they had brought her.
In order to commence at once to put in practice what she had promised in the presence of the Lord, she betook herself to her instructress and offered all that her mother, Saint Anne, had left for her comfort and sustenance, with the exception of a few books and clothes. She requested her to give it to the poor or use it for any other purpose according to her pleasure, and that she command and direct her what she was to do. The discreet matron, (who was, as I have already said, the prophetess Anne) by divine impulse accepted and approved of the offering of the beautiful child and dismissed her entirely poor and stripped of everything except the garments which she wore. She resolved to take care of her in a special manner as one destitute and poor; for the other maidens each possessed their spending money and a certain sum assigned and destined for their wearing apparel and for other necessities according to their inclinations.
The holy matron, having first consulted the high priest, also gave to the sweetest child a rule of life. By thus despoiling and resigning herself the Queen and Mistress of creation obtained a complete freedom and detachment from all creatures and from her own Self, neither possessing nor desiring anything except only the most ardent love of God and her own abasement and humiliation.
WORDS OF THE QUEEN (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain)
My daughter, among the great and ineffable favors of the Omnipotent in the course of my life, was the one which thou has just learned and described; for by this clear vision of the Divinity and of the incomprehensible essence I acquired knowledge of the most hidden sacraments and mysteries, and in this adornment and espousal I received incomparable blessings and felt the sweetest workings of the Divinity in my spirit.
My desire to take the four vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and enclosure pleased the Lord very much, and I merited thereby that the Godfearing in the Church and in the law of grace are drawn to live under these vows, as is the custom in the present time. This was the beginning of that which you religious practice now, fulfilling the words of David in the forty-fourth psalm: "After her shall virgins be brought to the King;" for the Lord ordained that my aspirations be the foundation of religious life and of the evangelical law.
I fulfilled entirely and perfectly all that I proposed to the Lord, as far as was possible in my state of life; never did I look upon the face of a man, not even on that of my husband Joseph, nor on that of the angels, when they appeared to me in human form, though I saw and knew them all in God. Never did I incline toward any creature, rational or irrational, nor toward any human operation or tendency. But in all things I was governed by the Most High, either directly by Himself or indirectly through the obedience, to which I freely subjected myself.
Be careful therefore, my daughter, and fear so dreadful a danger; by divine assistance of grace raise thyself above thyself, never permitting thy will to consent to any disorderly affection or movement. I wish thee to consume thyself in dying to thy passions and in becoming entirely spiritualized, so that having extinguished within thee all that is of earth, thou mayest come to lead an angelic life and conversation. In order to deserve the name of spouse of Christ, thou must pass beyond the limits and the sphere of a human being and ascend to another state and divine existence.
Although thou art earth, thou must be a blessed earth, without the thorns of passion, one whose fruit is all for the Lord, its Master. If thou hast for thy Spouse, that supreme and mighty Lord, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, consider it beneath thy dignity to turn thy eyes, and much more thy heart, toward such vile slaves, as are the human creatures, for even the angels love and respect thee for thy dignity as spouse of the Most High.
If even among men it is held to be a daring and boundless insolence in a plebeian, to cast longing eyes upon the spouse of a prince, what a crime would it be to cast them on the spouse of the heavenly and omnipotent King? And it would not be a smaller crime if she herself would receive and consent to such familiarity. Consider and assure thyself that the punishment reserved for this sin is inconceivably terrible and I do not show it to thee visibly, lest thou perish in thy weakness. I wish that for thee my instructions suffice to urge thee to the fulfillment of all I admonish and to imitate me as my disciple, as far as thy powers go. Be also solicitous in recalling this instruction to the mind of thy nuns and in seeing that they live up to it.
My daughter, the greatest happiness, which can befall any soul in this mortal life, is that the Almighty call her to his house consecrated to his service. For by this benefit He rescues the soul from a dangerous slavery and relieves her of the vile servitude of the world, where, deprived of true liberty, she eats her bread in the sweat of her brow. Who is so dull and insipid as not to know the dangers of the worldly life, which is hampered by all the abominable and most wicked laws and customs introduced by the astuteness of the devil and the perversity of men?
The better part is religious life and retirement; in it is found security, outside is a torment and a stormy sea, full of sorrow and unhappiness. Through the hardness of their heart and the total forgetfulness of themselves men do not know this truth and are not attracted by its blessings. But thou, O soul, be not deaf to the voice of the Most High, attend and correspond to it in thy actions: I wish to remind thee, that one of the greatest snares of the demon is to counteract the call of the Lord, whenever he seeks to attract and incline the soul to a life of perfection in his service.
Even by itself, the public and sacred act of receiving the habit and entering religion, although it is not always performed with proper fervor and purity of intention, is enough to rouse the wrath and fury of the infernal dragon and his demons; for they know that this act tends not only to the glory of the Lord and the joy of the holy angels, but that religious life will bring the soul to holiness and perfection. It very often happens, that they who have received the habit with earthly and human motives, are afterwards visited by divine grace, which perfects them and sets all things aright. If this is possible even when the beginning was without a good intention, how much more powerful and efficacious will be the light and influence of grace and the discipline of religious life, when the soul enters under the influence of divine love and with a sincere and earnest desire of finding God, and of serving and loving Him?
Having offered their prayers, they rose and betook themselves to the priest. The parents consigned their child into his hands and he gave them his blessing. Together they conducted her to the portion of the temple buildings, where many young girls lived to be brought up in retirement and in virtuous habits, until old enough to assume the state of matrimony. It was a place of retirement especially selected for the first-born daughters of the royal tribe of Juda and the sacerdotal tribe of Levi.
Fifteen stairs led up to the entrance of these apartments. Other priests came down these stairs in order to welcome the blessed child Mary. The one that had received them, being according to the law one of a minor order, placed her on the first step. Mary, with his permission, turned and kneeling down before Joachim and Anne, asked their blessing and kissed their hands, recommending herself to their prayers before God. The holy parents in tenderest tears gave her their blessing; whereupon she ascended the fifteen stairs without any assistance. She hastened upward with incomparable fervor and joy, neither turning back, nor shedding tears, nor showing any childish regret at parting from her parents. To see her, in so tender an age, so full of strange majesty and firmness of mind, excited the admiration of all those present.
The priests received her among the rest of the maidens, and Saint Simeon consigned her to the teachers, one of whom was the prophetess Anne. This holy matron had been prepared by the Lord by especial grace and enlightenment, so that she joyfully took charge of this child of Joachim and Anne. She considered the charge a special favor of divine Providence and merited by her holiness and virtue to have her as a disciple, who was to be the Mother of God and Mistress of all the creatures.
Sorrowfully her parents Joachim and Anne retraced their journey to Nazareth, now poor as deprived of the rich Treasure of their house. But the Most High consoled and comforted them in their affliction. The holy priest Simeon, although he did not at this time know of the mystery enshrined in the child Mary, obtained great light as to her sanctity and her special selection by the Lord; also the other priests looked upon her with great reverence and esteem. In ascending the fifteen stairs the child brought to fulfillment, that, which Jacob saw happening in sleep; for here too were angels ascending and descending: the ones accompanying, the others meeting their Queen as she hastened up; whereas at the top God was waiting in order to welcome her as his daughter and spouse. She also felt by the effects of the overflowing love, that this truly was the house of God and the portal of Heaven.
The child Mary, when brought to her teacher, knelt in profound humility before her and asked her blessing. she begged to be admitted among those under her direction, obedience and counsel, and asked her kind forbearance in the labor and trouble, which she would occasion. The prophetess Anne, her teacher, received her with pleasure, and said to her: "My daughter, thou shalt find in me a helpful mother and I will take care of thee and of thy education with all possible solicitude." Then the holy child proceeded to address herself with the same humility to all the maidens which were then present; each one she greeted and embraced, offering herself as their servant and requesting them, as older and more advanced than she in the duties of their position, to instruct and command her. She also gave them thanks, that without her merit they admitted her to their company.
When the heavenly child Mary had dismissed her parents and entered upon her life in the temple, her teacher assigned to her a place among the rest of the maidens, each of whom occupied a large alcove or little room. The Princess of Heaven prostrated herself on the pavement, and, remembering that it was holy ground and part of the temple, she kissed it. In humble adoration she gave thanks to the Lord for this new benefit, and she thanked even the earth for supporting her and allowing her to stand in this holy place; for she held herself unworthy of treading and remaining upon it. Then she turned toward her holy angels and said to them:
"Celestial princes, messengers of the Almighty, most faithful friends and companions, I beseech you with all the powers of my soul to remain with me in this holy temple of my Lord and as my vigilant sentinels, reminding me of all that I should do; instructing me and directing me as the teachers and guides of my actions, so that I may fulfill in all things the perfect will of the Most High, give pleasure to the holy priests and obey my teacher and my companions." And addressing in particular those whom I mentioned above as the twelve angels of the Apocalypse, she said: "And I beseech you, my ambassadors, if the Almighty permit you, go and console my holy parents in their affliction and solitude."
While the twelve angels executed her command, Mary remained with the others in heavenly conversation. She began to feel a supernal influence of great power and sweetness, spiritualizing her and elevating her in burning ecstasy, and immediately the Most High commanded the seraphim to assist in illumining and preparing her most holy soul. Instantly she was filled with a divine light and force, which perfected and proportioned her faculties in accordance with the mysteries now to be manifested to her. Thus prepared and accompanied by her holy angels and many others, in the midst of a refulgent host, the celestial child was raised body and soul to the empyrean Heaven, where she was received by the holy Trinity with befitting benevolence and pleasure. She prostrated herself in the presence of the most mighty and high Lord, as she was wont to do in all her visions, and adored Him in profound reverence and humility. Then she was further transformed by new workings of divine light, so that she saw, intuitively and face to face, the Divinity itself. This was the second time that It manifested Itself to her in this intuitive manner during the first three years of her life.
By no human tongue or any sensible faculty could the effects of this vision and participation of the divine Essence ever be described. The Person of the Father spoke to the future Mother of his Son, and said: "My Dove, my beloved One, I desire thee to see the treasures of my immutable being and of my infinite perfections, and also to perceive the hidden gifts destined for the souls, whom I have chosen as heirs of my glory and who are rescued by the life-blood of the Lamb. Behold, my daughter, how generous I am toward my creatures, that know and love Me; how true in my words, how faithful in my promises, how powerful and admirable in my works. Take notice, my spouse, how ineffably true it is, that he who follows Me does not walk in darkness. I desire that thou, as my chosen One, be an eye-witness of the treasures which I hold in reserve for raising up the humble, enriching the poor, exalting the downtrodden, and for rewarding all that the mortals shall do and suffer for my name."
Other great mysteries were shown to the holy child in this vision of the Divinity, for as the object presented to the soul in such repeated intuitive visions is infinite, that which remains to be seen will always remain infinite and will excite greater and greater wonder and love in the one thus favored. The most holy Mary answered the Lord and said:
"Most high, supreme and eternal God, incomprehensible Thou art in Thy magnificence, overflowing in Thy riches, unspeakable in Thy mysteries, most faithful in Thy promises, true in Thy words, most perfect in Thy works, for Thou art the Lord, infinite and eternal in Thy essence and perfections. But, most high Lord, what shall my littleness begin to do at the sight of Thy magnificence? I acknowledge myself unworthy to look upon Thy greatness, yet I am in great need of being regarded by it. In Thy presence, Lord, all creation is as nothing. What shall I Thy servant do, who am but dust? Fulfill in me all Thy desire and Thy pleasure; and if trouble and persecutions suffered by mortals in patience, if humility and meekness are so precious in Thy eyes, do not consent, O my Beloved, that I be deprived of such a rich treasure and pledge of Thy love. But as the rewards of these tribulations, give them to Thy servants and friends, who deserve them better than I, for I have not yet labored in Thy service and pleasure."
The Most High was much pleased with the petition of the heavenly child and He gave her to understand that He would admit her to suffering and labor for his love in the course of her life, without at the time revealing to her the order and the manner in which He was to dispense them. The Princess of Heaven gave thanks for this blessing and favor of being chosen to labor and suffer for the glory of God’s name. Burning with desire of securing such favor, she asked of his Majesty to be allowed to make four vows in his presence: of chastity, of poverty, of obedience, and of perpetual enclosure in the temple whither He had called her.
To this petition the Lord answered and said to her: "My spouse, my thoughts rise above all that is created, and thou, my chosen one, dost not yet know what is to happen to thee in the course of thy life, and thou dost not yet understand why it is impossible to fulfill thy fervent desires altogether in the manner in which thou now dost imagine. The vow of chastity I permit and I desire that thou make it; I wish that from this moment thou renounce earthly riches. It is also my will that as far as possible thou observe whatever pertains to the other vows, just as if thou hadst made them all. Thy desire shall be fulfilled through many other virgins in the coming law of grace; for, in order to imitate thee and to serve Me, they will make these same vows and live together in community and thou shalt be the Mother of many daughters."
The most holy child then, in the presence of the Lord, made the vow of chastity and as for the rest without binding herself, she renounced all affection for terrestrial and created things. She moreover resolved to obey all creatures for the sake of God. In the fulfillment of these promises she was more punctual, fervent and faithful than any who have ever made these vows or ever will make them. Forthwith the clear and intuitive vision of the Divinity ceased, but she was not immediately restored to the earth. For, remaining in the empyrean Heaven, she enjoyed another, an imaginary vision of the Lord in a lower state of ecstasy, so that in connection with it, she saw other mysteries.
In this secondary and imaginary vision some of the seraphim closest to the Lord approached her and by his command adorned and clothed her in the following manner. First all her senses were illumined with an effulgent light, which filled them with grace and beauty. Then they robed her in a mantle or tunic of most exquisite splendor, and girded her with a cincture of vary-colored and transparent stones, of flashing brilliancy, which adorned her beyond human comprehension. They signified the immaculate purity and the various heroic virtues of her soul. They placed on her also a necklace or collar of inestimable and entrancing beauty, which contained three large stones, symbolic of the three great virtues of faith, hope and charity; this they hung around her neck letting it fall to her breast as if indicating the seat of these precious virtues. They also adorned her hands with seven rings of rare beauty whereby the Holy Ghost wished to proclaim that He had enriched her with his holy gifts in a most eminent degree.
In addition to all this the most holy Trinity crowned her head with an imperial diadem, made of inestimable material and set with most precious stones, constituting her thereby as his spouse and as the Empress of Heaven. In testimony whereof the white and refulgent vestments were emblazoned with letters or figures of the finest and the most shining gold, proclaiming: Mary, daughter of the eternal Father, spouse of the Holy Ghost and Mother of the true Light. This last name or title the heavenly Mistress did not understand; but the angels understood it, who, lost in wonder and praise of the Author, were assisting at this new and strange ceremony. Finally the attention of all the angelic spirits was drawn toward the Most High and a voice proceeded from the throne of the blessed Trinity, which, addressing the most holy Mary, spoke to her: "Thou shalt be our spouse, our beloved and chosen One among all creatures for all eternity; the angels shall serve thee and all the nations and generations shall call thee blessed" (Luke 1:48).
The sovereign child being thus attired in the court dress of the Divinity, then celebrated a more glorious and marvelous espousal than ever could enter the mind of the highest cherubim and seraphim. For the Most High accepted her as his sole and only spouse and conferred upon her the highest dignity which can befall a creature; He deposited within her his own Divinity in the person of the Word and with it all the treasures of grace befitting such eminence. Meanwhile the most Humble among the humble was lost in the abyss of love and wonder which these benefits and favors caused in her, and in the presence of the Lord she spoke:
"Most high King and incomprehensible God, who art Thou and who am I, that Thy condescension should look upon me who am dust, unworthy of such mercy? In Thee, my Lord, as in a clear mirror seeing Thy immutable being, I behold and understand without error my lowliness and vileness, I admire Thy immensity and deprecate my nothingness. At the sight of Thee I am annihilated and lost in astonishment, that the infinite Majesty should stoop to so lowly a worm, who can merit only oblivion and contempt of all the creatures. O Lord, my only Good, how art Thou magnified and exalted in this deed! What marvel dost Thou cause through me in Thy angelic spirits, who understand Thy infinite bounty, magnificence and mercy in raising up from the dust her who in it is poor, and placing her among the princes! (Psalm 112:7). I accept Thee, O my King and my Lord, as my spouse and I offer myself as Thy slave. Let not my understanding attend to any other object, nor my memory hold any other image, nor my will seek other object or pleasure than Thee, my highest Good, my true and only Love. Let not my eyes look upon human creature, nor my faculties and senses attend upon anything beside Thee and whatever Thy Majesty shall direct. Thou alone for Thy spouse, my Beloved, and she for Thee only, who art the immutable and eternal Good."
The Most High received with ineffable pleasure this consent of the sovereign Princess to enter into the new espousal with her most holy soul. As upon his true spouse and as mistress of all creation, He now lavished upon her all the treasures of his grace and power, instructing her to ask for whatever she desired and assuring her that nothing would ever be denied her. The most humble Dove at once proceeded to beseech the Lord with the most burning charity, to send His Only-begotten to the world as a remedy for mortals; that all men be called to the true knowledge of his Divinity; that her natural parents, Joachim and Anne, receive an increase of the loving gifts of his right hand; that the poor and afflicted be consoled and comforted in their troubles; and that in herself be fulfilled the pleasure of the divine will. These were some of the more express petitions addressed by the new spouse on this occasion to the blessed Trinity. And all the angelic host sang new songs of admiration in praise of the Most High, while those appointed by his Majesty, midst heavenly music, bore back the holy child from the empyrean Heaven to the place in the temple, from which they had brought her.
In order to commence at once to put in practice what she had promised in the presence of the Lord, she betook herself to her instructress and offered all that her mother, Saint Anne, had left for her comfort and sustenance, with the exception of a few books and clothes. She requested her to give it to the poor or use it for any other purpose according to her pleasure, and that she command and direct her what she was to do. The discreet matron, (who was, as I have already said, the prophetess Anne) by divine impulse accepted and approved of the offering of the beautiful child and dismissed her entirely poor and stripped of everything except the garments which she wore. She resolved to take care of her in a special manner as one destitute and poor; for the other maidens each possessed their spending money and a certain sum assigned and destined for their wearing apparel and for other necessities according to their inclinations.
The holy matron, having first consulted the high priest, also gave to the sweetest child a rule of life. By thus despoiling and resigning herself the Queen and Mistress of creation obtained a complete freedom and detachment from all creatures and from her own Self, neither possessing nor desiring anything except only the most ardent love of God and her own abasement and humiliation.
WORDS OF THE QUEEN (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain)
My daughter, among the great and ineffable favors of the Omnipotent in the course of my life, was the one which thou has just learned and described; for by this clear vision of the Divinity and of the incomprehensible essence I acquired knowledge of the most hidden sacraments and mysteries, and in this adornment and espousal I received incomparable blessings and felt the sweetest workings of the Divinity in my spirit.
My desire to take the four vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and enclosure pleased the Lord very much, and I merited thereby that the Godfearing in the Church and in the law of grace are drawn to live under these vows, as is the custom in the present time. This was the beginning of that which you religious practice now, fulfilling the words of David in the forty-fourth psalm: "After her shall virgins be brought to the King;" for the Lord ordained that my aspirations be the foundation of religious life and of the evangelical law.
I fulfilled entirely and perfectly all that I proposed to the Lord, as far as was possible in my state of life; never did I look upon the face of a man, not even on that of my husband Joseph, nor on that of the angels, when they appeared to me in human form, though I saw and knew them all in God. Never did I incline toward any creature, rational or irrational, nor toward any human operation or tendency. But in all things I was governed by the Most High, either directly by Himself or indirectly through the obedience, to which I freely subjected myself.
Be careful therefore, my daughter, and fear so dreadful a danger; by divine assistance of grace raise thyself above thyself, never permitting thy will to consent to any disorderly affection or movement. I wish thee to consume thyself in dying to thy passions and in becoming entirely spiritualized, so that having extinguished within thee all that is of earth, thou mayest come to lead an angelic life and conversation. In order to deserve the name of spouse of Christ, thou must pass beyond the limits and the sphere of a human being and ascend to another state and divine existence.
Although thou art earth, thou must be a blessed earth, without the thorns of passion, one whose fruit is all for the Lord, its Master. If thou hast for thy Spouse, that supreme and mighty Lord, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, consider it beneath thy dignity to turn thy eyes, and much more thy heart, toward such vile slaves, as are the human creatures, for even the angels love and respect thee for thy dignity as spouse of the Most High.
If even among men it is held to be a daring and boundless insolence in a plebeian, to cast longing eyes upon the spouse of a prince, what a crime would it be to cast them on the spouse of the heavenly and omnipotent King? And it would not be a smaller crime if she herself would receive and consent to such familiarity. Consider and assure thyself that the punishment reserved for this sin is inconceivably terrible and I do not show it to thee visibly, lest thou perish in thy weakness. I wish that for thee my instructions suffice to urge thee to the fulfillment of all I admonish and to imitate me as my disciple, as far as thy powers go. Be also solicitous in recalling this instruction to the mind of thy nuns and in seeing that they live up to it.
My daughter, the greatest happiness, which can befall any soul in this mortal life, is that the Almighty call her to his house consecrated to his service. For by this benefit He rescues the soul from a dangerous slavery and relieves her of the vile servitude of the world, where, deprived of true liberty, she eats her bread in the sweat of her brow. Who is so dull and insipid as not to know the dangers of the worldly life, which is hampered by all the abominable and most wicked laws and customs introduced by the astuteness of the devil and the perversity of men?
The better part is religious life and retirement; in it is found security, outside is a torment and a stormy sea, full of sorrow and unhappiness. Through the hardness of their heart and the total forgetfulness of themselves men do not know this truth and are not attracted by its blessings. But thou, O soul, be not deaf to the voice of the Most High, attend and correspond to it in thy actions: I wish to remind thee, that one of the greatest snares of the demon is to counteract the call of the Lord, whenever he seeks to attract and incline the soul to a life of perfection in his service.
Even by itself, the public and sacred act of receiving the habit and entering religion, although it is not always performed with proper fervor and purity of intention, is enough to rouse the wrath and fury of the infernal dragon and his demons; for they know that this act tends not only to the glory of the Lord and the joy of the holy angels, but that religious life will bring the soul to holiness and perfection. It very often happens, that they who have received the habit with earthly and human motives, are afterwards visited by divine grace, which perfects them and sets all things aright. If this is possible even when the beginning was without a good intention, how much more powerful and efficacious will be the light and influence of grace and the discipline of religious life, when the soul enters under the influence of divine love and with a sincere and earnest desire of finding God, and of serving and loving Him?