2 July 2010: On the Great Prerogatives of our Blessed Lady

Mary was destined for the greatest of dignities, and God, says St Thomas, who always proportions the gifts of his grace to the dignity to which we are called, conferred upon her privileges which no one can ever share. Many of the Church Fathers point out twelve principal ones, represented by the twelve stars surrounding the marvelous woman spoken of in the Apocalypse. Four were given before the Incarnation:

1) Preservation from original sin in her conception; a privilege which the Church has proclaimed in 1854 a dogma of faith under the title, “Immaculate Conception”.

2) Plenitude of grace, with which she was invested from her conception.

3) The use of reason given to her at the same time, that she might correspond with grace.

4) Knowledge of the great value of virginity, to which Mary at the age of three years bound herself by vow at her presentation in the Temple.

We should unite in spirit with the angels, the Church, and all servants of our Lady, to honor her on these wonderful prerogatives. This will truly please her, and greatly dispose her heart towards us! It will be a means of obtaining special graces, particularly that of persevering in our norms, and of a continual increase in perfection before God and men, after her example.

The first privilege and the one dearest to the heart of Mary, was that, in becoming a mother, she remained a virgin. She simultaneously enjoyed maternity and the glory of virginity.

The second was that, for nine whole months, she entirely possessed the Son of God incarnate in her virginal womb. He lived by her and with her.

The third, that while for nine months the Body of the Word made flesh grew within her, Mary, in the same proportion, received a continual increase of grace.

The fourth, that she became the channel of the grace which God intends to bestow on man. This privilege is acknowledged by the Church when she salutes Mary by the title of ‘Mother of divine grace’.

As we meditate on the wonderful privileges of our dearest Mother, especially on the last -- that she is the channel of grace which falls from heaven -- let us ask ourself if our devotion and habit of having recourse to our Lady is enough, or can be greatly increased. Could this be the reason why we make so little progress, and have such little success in our works of zeal?

Privileges given to Mary after the Incarnation: Exempted from the curse which befell sinful Eve, “In sorrow shall thou bring forth children” (Gen 3:16), consequent to her Immaculate Conception. She alone was made worthy to be Cooperatrix in redemption of the human race.

When her life on earth ended, she had none of the suffering of other human beings. Her death was a transport of love to heaven, carried by the angels in body and soul, with all the gifts of immortality.

We can have a large share in our Lady’s privileges. Zealously bring back lost sheep to the fold of Jesus Christ and we will really cooperate in his redemptive work. Strive to live our norms well and we will truly share with Mary the joys of heaven in body and soul.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp415-7

Courage and trust in God

Jesus encourages us not to be afraid of anything, except sin, which destroys our friendship with God and leads us to eternal damnation. We must be strong and brave like true children of God amidst difficulties. Our Lord tells us, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot destroy the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28).

This fear of God is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It helps us to struggle with greater determination against sin and whatever separates us from God. It prompts us to avoid the occasions of sin, not to trust ourselves, remembering always that we have ‘feet of clay’, that we are fragile and brittle. Bodily evils, even death, are nothing compared to evils of the soul, to sin.

The fear of losing God should be our only worry; a filial concern not to offend Him. At certain times in our life we may undergo great trials. God will give us the necessary grace to endure them and to grow in interior life. Jesus tells us, “My grace is sufficient for you”. (2 Cor 12:9)

“... If we have faith in Our Lord, in spite of our failings -- or, rather, even with our failings -- we shall be faithful to Our Father, God: his divine power will shine forth in us, sustaining us in our weakness.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 977)

“In the hour of rejection at the Cross, the Virgin Mary is there by her Son, willing to go through the same fate. Let us lose our fear of behaving like responsible Christians when the environment in which we move is not easy. She will help us.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 977)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:631-3

In God’s Hand

“We ought to go through life holding God’s hand. There is much suffering that has to be gone through in this life, and it makes all the difference of pleasure or pain whether we have our hand in God’s or not. It will make a joy of even mortification.

The Angel Gabriel said to our Lady, ‘The Lord is with thee’. We ought to make the intention every time we say the ‘Hail, Mary’ of asking our Lord to be with us.

“Try and love God. He wants us all to be saints. It is our own fault if we are not. In spite of darkness and despondency we must keep on asking Him to be with us. The troubles I have are the troubles He had. For instance, monotony. He was year after year a common carpenter; not even a joiner. Everything He did He did in the hope that we should imitate Him.”

Ref: Daniel Considine, SJ, “Confidence in God”, pp10-11. In “The Vatican II Weekday Missal”, 1975, p1568

Our Lady of Piat -- Vicariate of Itawes, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao (“The 1997 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p357)

Our Lady of the Visitation. National Shrine, Guibang, Gamu, Isabela. (“The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p90)

Feast: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. Instituted by Pope Urban VI. 1385. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) [Moved to 31 May in accordance with reforms instituted by the Second Vatican Council. (Between the solemnity of the Annunciation, 24 March and birth of St John the Baptist, 24 June. “Daily Roman Missal”, edited by Fr James Socias, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr Cecilio Magsino, 1989, p1514)]

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. This feast was instituted by Urban VI, in the year 1385, and confirmed by Boniface IX, in the year 1389. — Antoine, iv. part, tit. xv., chap. 24. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Feast: Visitation of Our Lady, instituted 1385 by Pope Urban VI. (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

Our Lady of Beauraing (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p121)

Unveiling and blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Penrhys, Wales 1953. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)