Fidelity to grace presumes ‘promptness’ in following its inspirations. The Magi had wonderful fidelity. An interior voice made them understand the meaning of an extraordinarily bright star which attracted their intense interest.
Their excitement aroused, they immediately broke all ties and began to follow it. They could truly say to King Herod, “We have seen the star of the new-born King in the East, and we come to adore Him” (Mt 2:2).
We may have lost many graces by our delays in corresponding with the inspirations God has sent us. To delay is to neglect. How many times have we thought of doing an act of charity, paying a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or some other good work; but we put it off?
Fidelity to grace also presumes ‘generosity’ -- conquering the difficulties and seeming futility that discourage our self-love which invites cowardice.
The Magi needed this generosity. Their journey was long, the weather severe, the roads rough. They knew not where the star would lead them; how long they would be away.
They also faced criticism and ridicule by their countrymen. Fully confident on who had called by these clear signs, nothing stopped them.
Why am I so often unfaithful to grace, to certain practices of piety and mortification, which I know so well are important? Is it because I fail in generosity, discouraged by the fear of imaginary difficulties?
Fidelity to grace is premised on perseverance as shown by the Magi. Nothing discouraged them -- even the disappearance of the star as they drew near to Jerusalem, or the extraordinary indifference of its inhabitants.
God rewarded their constancy. The star reappeared, and led them to our Divine Saviour. Beside the Holy Infant they found his Blessed Mother.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, 18-9
Confidence in God
God never comes late to the aid of his children. Even if all seems lost, God is always present; perhaps in secret and mysterious ways. Thus, complete confidence in God and availing of all human means gives the Christian great fortitude and peace amidst great trials.
“If you don’t abandon him, he will not abandon you.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 730)
“At the very moment when everything seems to be collapsing before our eyes, we realize that quite the opposite is true, ‘because you, Lord, are my strength’. (Ps 42:2) If God is dwelling in our soul, everything else, no matter how important it may seem, is accidental and transitory. ... we, in God, stand permanent and firm.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 92)
St Paul comforted the first Christians in Rome who faced a panorama of difficulties: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ... Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.” (cf Rom 8:31-9)
St Thomas tells us: “Every man, no matter who he is, is God’s friend and should have great confidence in being freed by him from any type of affliction ... And as God helps his servants in a special way, he who serves God should live in great peace.” (St Thomas, “Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed”, 5) The only condition is, be friends of God and live as his children.
“We know that in everything God works for good.” (Rom, 8:28) Even our mistakes and deviations from the right path always end up well, for God “arranges absolutely everything to his own advantage ...” (St Augustine, “De corresp et gracia”, 30:35) The man who knows himself to be a son of God is always happy and never loses his peace of mind without turning away from reality. “This is the difference between us and those who do not know God: they, in adversity, complain and grumble; we, on the other hand, are not drawn away from virtue by the things that go against us but are strengthened in it.” (St Cyprian, “De moralitate”, 13)
Let us go close to Mary, whom we contemplate in the ‘stable’ close to her son. She will teach us how to conduct ourselves like children of God at all times.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:271-5
The intercession of our Blessed Mother
We don’t ask the holy Kings for gold, frankincense or myrrh. It is more natural to ask them the way to Christ so daily we can bring to him our own gold, incense and myrrh. Let us ask “the Mother of God, our Mother, to prepare for us the way that leads to the fullness of love: Most sweet heart of Mary, prepare a safe way! Her sweet heart knows the surest path to find Christ.
“The three Kings had their star. We have Mary, ‘Stella Maris’, ‘Stella Orientis’, Star of the Sea, Star of the East.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 38)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:333
Mother of Christ
The Gospel passages about our Lady show her as the Mother of Jesus, following her Son step by step, playing a part in his redemptive mission, rejoicing and suffering with him, loving those whom Jesus loves, looking after all those around her with maternal care.
Just think, for example, of the marriage at Cana. Our Lady was a guest at one of those noisy country weddings attended by crowds of people from many different villages. But she was the only one who noticed the wine was running out. (cf Jn, 2:3) ... This scene from Christ’s life seems familiar.
The greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary things. It is natural for a housewife, to notice something was lacking, to look after the little things which make life pleasant.
That is how Mary acted. St John, the only evangelist who has recorded this example of our mother’s concern for us, wants us to remember that Mary was present at the beginning of the public life of our Lord.
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 141
• Our Lady of Beauraing. Our Lady appeared to five children at Beauraing, Belgium thirty-two times (19 November 1932 - 3 January 1933). On her last apparition, she said, “I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always!” (Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, p24) Approved (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p121)
• Our Lady of Sichem, near Lonvain, in the duchy of Brabant. It is said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in the year 1306. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Our Lady of Sichem (Central Palestine) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
["O Lady of Sichem, near Louvain, in duchy of Braban. ... said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in 1306. (Justus Dipsius in his History of Sichem, chap 5.)"] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Sichem. Palestine 474. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Sichem, Belgium (474) (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html)
• The Bishop of Fatima Asks Sister Lucy for the Third Secret (1944) (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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