CITY OF GOD PART II - THE INCARNATION - Book IV Contents
CHAPTER I. SAINT JOSEPH BECOMES AWARE OF THE PREGNANCY OF HIS
SPOUSE, THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS FILLED WITH ANXIETY, AS HE KNOWS THAT HE HAD NO
PART IN IT.
CHAPTER II. THE
ANXIETIES OF SAINT JOSEPH INCREASE; HE RESOLVES TO LEAVE HIS SPOUSE, AND HE
BETAKES HIMSELF TO PRAYER ON THIS ACCOUNT. CHAPTER III. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH IN HIS SLEEP AND MAKES KNOWN TO HIM THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION - HIS BEHAVIOR THEREAFTER.
CHAPTER IV. SAINT JOSEPH ASKS PARDON OF THE MOST HOLY MARY, HIS
SPOUSE, AND THE HEAVENLY LADY CONSOLES HIM WITH GREAT PRUDENCE.
CHAPTER V. SAINT JOSEPH RESOLVES TO DEVOTE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO
THE SERVICE OF MOST HOLY MARY; THE BEHAVIORS OF HER MAJESTY, AND OTHER
PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF MARY AND JOSEPH.
CHAPTER VI. SOME OF THE SAYINGS AND CONVERSATIONS OF THE MOST HOLY
MARY AND JOSEPH REGARDING DIVINE THINGS; OTHER WONDERFUL EVENTS.
CHAPTER VII. THE MOST HOLY MARY PREPARES THE SWADDLING CLOTHES AND
THE LINENS FOR THE DIVINE INFANT WITH ARDENT LONGINGS TO SEE IT BORN.
CHAPTER VIII. THE EDICT OF CESAR AUGUSTUS IS PUBLISHED, COMMANDING
ALL SUBJECTS OF THE EMPIRE TO REGISTRATE; AND WHAT SAINT JOSEPH DID WHEN HE
HEARD OF IT.
CHAPTER IX. THE JOURNEY OF MOST HOLY MARY FROM NAZARETH TO
BETHLEHEM IN THE COMPANY OF THE HOLY SPOUSE JOSEPH AND OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS.
CHAPTER X. CHRIST OUR SAVIOR IS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN BETHLEHEM,
JUDA.
CHAPTER XI. THE HOLY ANGELS ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND THE SHEPHERDS COME TO ADORE HIM.
CHAPTER XII. WHAT WAS CONCEALED FROM THE DEMON CONCERNING THE MYSTERY
OF THE BIRTH OF THE INCARNATE WORD, AND OF OTHER HAPPENINGS UNTIL THE
CIRCUMCISION.
CHAPTER XIII. THE MOST HOLY MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WILL OF THE
LORD. THAT HIS ONLYBEGOTTEN SON BE CIRCUMCISED. AND SHE CONFERS ABOUT IT WITH
SAINT JOSEPH: THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
IS BROUGHT FROM HEAVEN.
CHAPTER XIV. THE DIVINE INFANT IS CIRCUMCISED AND RECEIVES HIS NAME
JESUS.
CHAPTER XV. THE MOST HOLY MARY REMAINS IN THE PORTAL OF THE
NATIVITY UNTIL THE COMING OF THE MAGI KINGS.
CHAPTER XVI. THE THREE KINGS OF' THE ORIENT COME TO ADORE THE WORD
MADE MAN IN BETHLEHEM.
CHAPTER XVII. THE MAGI KINGS RETURN ONCE MORE TO SEE AND ADORE THE
INFANT JESUS: THEY OFFER THEIR GIFTS ON TAKING LEAVE, AND RETURN BY A DIFFERENT
ROUTS TO THEIR HOMES.
CHAPTER XVIII. MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DISTRIBUTE THE GIFTS RECEIVED
FROM THE MAGI; AND THEY REMAIN IN BETHLEHEM UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE FOR THE PRESENTATION
OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.
CHAPTER XIX. MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DEPART WITH THE INFANT JESUS,
IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE LAW, BY PRESENTING HIM IN THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.
CHAPTER XX. THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE AND
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT OCCASION.
CHAPTER XXI. THE LORD PREPARES THE MOST HOLY MARY FOR THE PLIGHT
INTO EGYPT; THE ANGEL SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH; AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
CHAPTER XXII. JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO EGYPT;
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ANGELIC SPIRITS, THEY ARRIVE AT THE CITY OF GAZA.
CHAPTER XXIII. JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY FROM THE
CITY OF GAZA TO HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE HOLY TRAVELERS, JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, ARRIVE IN
EGYPT, AND AFTER SOME WANDERINGS THEY COME TO HELIOPOLIS, WHERE GREAT MIRACLES
ARE WROUGHT.
CHAPTER XXV. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIVINE WILL JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
SETTLE DOWN TO DWELL NEAR THE CITY OF HELIOPOLIS AND THEY REGULATE THEIR DAILY LIFE
DURING THEIR BANISHMENT.
CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE WONDERS WHICH THE INFANT JESUS, MOST HOLY MARY
AND JOSEPH WROUGHT AT HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT.
CHAPTER XXVII. HEROD RESOLVES TO MURDER THE INNOCENTS; MOST HOLY MARY
IS AWARE OF THIS. SAINT JOHN IS CONCEALED BY HIS RELATIVES.
CHAPTER XXVIII. AT THE AGE OF ONE YEAR THE INFANT JESUS SPEAKS TO
SAINT JOSEPH AND REQUESTS HIS MOTHER TO CLOTH HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO WALK. HE
COMMENCES TO CELEBRATE THE DAY OF HIS INCARNATION AND OF HIS BIRTH.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE MOST HOLY MOTHER CLOTHES THE INFANT JESUS IN THE
SEAMLESS TUNIC; SHE PUTS SHOES ON HIS FEET. THE DOINGS AND OBSERVANCES OF THE
LORD.
CHAPTER XXX. JESUS. MARY AND JOSEPH RETURN TO NAZARETH AT THE
COMMAND OF THE LORD. |
Describing the Anxieties of Saint Joseph on Account of
the Pregnancy of Most Holy Mary, the Birth of Christ our Lord, His
Circumcision, the Adoration of the Kings, the Presentation of the Infant Jesus
In the Temple, the Flight Into Egypt, the Death of the Holy Innocents, and the
Return to Nazareth.
CHAPTER I.
SAINT JOSEPH BECOMES AWARE OF THE PREGNANCY OF HIS
SPOUSE, THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS FILLED WITH ANXIETY, AS HE KNOWS THAT HE HAD NO
PART IN IT.
375. The divine pregnancy of the Princess of heaven
had advanced to its fifth month when the most chaste Joseph, her husband,
commenced to notice the condition of the Virgin; for on account of the natural
elegance and perfection of her virginal body, as I have already remarked (No.
115), any change could not long remain concealed and would so much the sooner
be discovered. One day, when saint Joseph was full of anxious doubts and saw
Her coming out of her oratory, he noticed more particularly this evident
change, without being able to explain away what he saw so clearly with his
eyes. The man of God was wounded to his inmost heart by an arrow of grief,
unable to ward off the force of evidence, which at the same time wounded his
soul. The principal cause of his grief was the most chaste, and therefore the
most intense love with which he cherished his most faithful Spouse, and in
which he had from the beginning given over to Her his whole heart. Moreover,
her charming graces and incomparable holiness had captured and bound to Her his
inmost soul. As She was so perfect and accomplished in her modesty and humble
reticence, saint Joseph, besides his anxious solicitude to serve Her, naturally
entertained the loving desire of meeting a response of his love from his
Spouse. This was so ordained by the Lord, in order that by the desire for this
interchange of affection he might be incited to love and serve Her more
faithfully.
376. Saint Joseph fulfilled this obligation as a most
faithful spouse and as the guardian of the sacrament, which as yet was
concealed from him. In proportion as he was solicitous in serving and
venerating his Spouse, and loving Her with a most pure, chaste, holy and just
love, in so far also increased his desire of finding a response to his
affection and service. He never manifested or spoke of this desire, as well on
account of the reverence elicited by the humble majesty of his Spouse as also
because the more than angelic purity, conversation and intercourse of the
Virgin with him had given him no apprehension in this regard. But when he found
himself thus unexpectedly in the face of this disclosure, where the clear
evidence of his senses allowed no denial, his soul was torn asunder by
sorrowful surprise. Yet, though overwhelmed by the evidence of this change in
his Spouse, he gave his thoughts no greater liberty than to admit what his eyes
could not fail to perceive. For, being a holy and just man (Matth. 1, 19),
although he saw the effect, he withheld his judgment as to the cause. Without
doubt, if the saint had believed that his Spouse had any guilt in causing this
condition, he would have died of sorrow.
377. Besides all this was the certainty of his not
having any part in this pregnancy, the effects of which were before his eyes;
and there was the inevitable dishonor which would follow as soon as it would
become public. This thought caused so much the greater anxiety in him, as he
was of a most noble and honorable disposition, and in his great foresight he
knew how to weigh the disgrace and shame of himself and his Spouse in each
circumstances. The third and most intimate cause of his sorrow, and which gave
him the deepest pain, was the dread of being obliged to deliver over his Spouse
to the authorities to be stoned (Lev. 20, 10), for this was the punishment of
an adulteress convicted of the crime. The heart of saint Joseph, filled with
these painful considerations, found itself as it were exposed to the thrusts of
many sharp-edged swords, without any other refuge than the full confidence
which he had in his Spouse. But as all outward signs confirmed the correctness
of his observations, there was no escape from these tormenting thoughts, and as
he did not dare to communicate about his grievous affliction with anybody, he
found himself surrounded by the sorrows of death (Ps. 17, 5), and he
experienced in himself the saying of the Scriptures, that: "Jealousy is
hard as hell" (Cant. 8, 6).
378. When he attempted to follow out these thoughts in
solitude, grief suspended his faculties. If his thoughts touched upon the
wrong, which his senses led him to suspect, they melted away as the ice before
the sun, or vanished like the dust before the wind, as soon as he remembered
the well-tried holiness of his modest and circumspect Spouse. If he tried to
suspend the workings of his chaste love, he could not; for She continued to
present Herself to his thoughts as the most worthy object of his love, and the
hidden truth of her fidelity had more power of attracting his love than the
deceitful appearances of infidelity to destroy it. The strong and sure bond
which truth, reason and justice had woven about her fidelity could not be
broken. He found no suitable occasion of opening his mind to his heavenly
Spouse, nor did her serene and heavenly equanimity seem to invite him to such
an explanation. Although he could not but admit the change in her shape, yet he
could not conceive how her purity and holiness could be compatible with any
failing such as this change might indicate. For it seemed impossible to him to
connect such a sin with One who manifested such chastity, tranquillity and holy
discretion, and such united harmony of all graces and virtues in her daily
life.
379. In the midst of these tormenting anxieties the
holy Spouse Joseph appealed to the tribunal of the Lord in prayer and placing
himself in his presence, he said: "Most
high Lord and God, my desires and sighs are not unknown to Thee. I find myself
cast about by the violent waves of sorrow (Ps, 31. 10) which through my senses
have come to afflict my heart. I have given myself over with entire confidence
to the Spouse whom thou hast given me. I have confided entirely in her
holiness; and the signs of this unexpected change in Her are giving rise to
tormenting and fearful doubts lest my confidence be misplaced. Nothing have I
until now seen in Her which could give occasion for any doubt in her modesty
and her extraordinary virtue; yet at the same time I cannot deny that She is
pregnant. To think that She has been unfaithful to me, and has offended Thee,
would be temerity in view of such rare purity and holiness: to deny what my own
eyes perceive is impossible. But it is not impossible that I die of grief,
unless there is some mystery hidden beneath it which I cannot yet fathom.
Reason proclaims Her as blameless, while the senses accuse Her. She conceals
from me the cause of her pregnancy, while I have it before my eyes. What shall
I do? We both have come to an agreement concerning our vows of chastity, and we
have both promised to keep them for thy glory; if it could be possible that She
has violated her fidelity toward Thee and toward me, I would defend thy
honor-and would forget mine for love of Thee. Yet how could She preserve such
purity and holiness in all other things if She had committed so grave a crime
in this? And on the other hand, why does She, who is so holy and prudent,
conceal this matter from me? I withhold and defer my judgment. Not being able
to penetrate to the cause of what I see, I pour out in thy presence my afflicted
soul (Ps, 141, 3), God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Receive my tears as an
acceptable sacrifice; and if my sins merit thy indignation, let thy own
clemency and kindness move Thee not to despise my excruciating sorrow. I do not
believe that Mary has offended Thee; yet much less can I presume that there is
a mystery of which I, as her Spouse, am not to be informed. Govern Thou my mind
and heart by thy divine light, in order that I may know and fulfill that which
is most pleasing to Thee."
380. Saint Joseph persevered in this kind of prayer,
adding many more affectionate petitions; for even though he conjectured that
there must be some mystery in the pregnancy of the most holy Mary hidden from
him, he could not find assurance therein. This thought had no greater force to
exculpate most holy Mary than the other reasons founded upon her holiness; and
therefore the idea that the most holy Queen might be the Mother of the Messias
did not come to his mind. If at times he drove away his conjectures, they would
return in greater number and with more urgent force of evidence. Thus he was
cast about on the turbulent waves of doubt. From sheer exhaustion he would at
times fall into a condition of mind wherein he could find neither an anchor of
certainty for his doubts, nor tranquillity for his heart, nor any standard by
which he could direct his course. Yet his forbearance under this torment was so
great that it is an evident proof of his great discretion and holiness, and
that it made him worthy of the singular blessing which awaited him.
381. All that passed in the heart of saint Joseph was
known to the Princess of heaven, who penetrated into its interior by the light
of her divine science. Although her soul was full of tenderness and compassion
for the sufferings of her spouse, She said not a word in the matter; but She
continued to serve him with all devotion and solicitude. The man of God watched
Her without outward demonstration, yet with a greater anxiety than that of any
man that ever lived. The pregnancy of most holy Mary was not burdensome or
painful to Her; but as the great Lady in serving him at table or any other domestic
occupations, necessarily disclosed her state more and more openly, saint Joseph
noticed all these actions and movements and with deep affliction of soul
verified all his observations. Notwithstanding his being a holy and just man,
he permitted himself to be respected and served by the most holy Virgin after
their espousal, claiming in all things the position of head and husband of the
family, though with rare humility and prudence. As long as he was ignorant of
the mystery of his Spouse he judged it right, within befitting limits, to show
his authority in imitation of the ancient Fathers and Patriarchs. For he knew
that they demanded subjection and prompt obedience of their wives, and he did
not wish to. She served him on her knees, and although this somewhat consoled
saint Joseph, yet on the other hand, it was also a cause for new grief. For
thus he only saw the motives of love and esteem multiplied and still remained
uncertain whether She had been untrue or not. The heavenly Lady offered up
continual prayers for him and besought the Most High to look upon him and
console him; as for the rest She submitted all to the will of his Majesty.
383. Saint Joseph could not entirely conceal his cruel
sorrow, and therefore he often appeared to be in doubt and sad suspense.
Sometimes, carried away by his grief, he spoke to his heavenly Spouse with some
degree of severity, such as he had not shown before. This was the natural
effect of the affliction of his heart, not of anger or vengeful feelings; for
these never entered his thoughts, as we shall see later. The most prudent Lady,
however, never lost the sweetness of her countenance, nor showed any feeling;
but merely redoubled her efforts to relieve her husband. She served at table,
offered him a seat, administered food and drink, and if, after all these
services, which She performed with incomparable grace, saint Joseph urged Her
to sit down, he could convince himself more and more of her pregnancy. There is
no doubt that all this was one of the greatest trials not only of saint Joseph,
but of the Princess of heaven, and that it greatly manifested the most profound
humility and wisdom of her most holy soul. The Lord thereby gave Her an
opportunity of exercising and proving all Her virtues; for He had not only not
commanded Her to conceal the sacrament of her pregnancy, but contrary to his
usual manner of proceeding, He had not even manifested to Her his pleasure in
any way. It seemed as if God had left this whole matter in her hands and
entrusted it all to the wisdom and virtue of his chosen Spouse, without giving
Her special enlightenment of help. The divine Providence afforded the most holy
Mary and her most faithful Spouse an opportunity to exercise in a heroic manner
the gifts and graces which He had infused into them, and delighted, (according
to our way of speaking), in the faith, hope and love, in the humility,
patience, peace and tranquillity of these two hearts in the midst of their
grievous affliction. In order to increase their glory and furnish to the world an
example of holiness and prudence, and in order to hear the sweet cries of his
most holy Mother and of her most chaste spouse, He became as it were deaf to
their prolonged invocations and delayed answering them until his own opportune
and fitting time.
INSTRUCTION OF OUR MOST HOLY QUEEN AND LADY.
384. My dearest
daughter, most exalted are the thoughts and intentions of the Lord; his
Providence with souls is sweet and powerful and He is admirable in the
government of them all, especially of his friends and chosen ones. If mortals
would strive to know the loving care for their direction and advancement, as
shown by this Father of mercies (Matth. 6, 5), they would be relieved and would
not be involved in such irksome, useless and dangerous anxieties, living in
perpetual toils and vain trust in the help of creatures. For they would resign
themselves without hesitation to the infinite wisdom and love, which, with
paternal sweetness and gentleness would watch over all their thoughts, words
and actions and all things necessary for them. I do not wish thee to be
ignorant of this truth, but to understand how the Lord from all eternity bears
in his mind all the predestined of the different times and ages; and that by
the invincible force of his infinite wisdom and goodness He continually
disposes and prepares all the blessings useful to them, so that the end desired
for them may be attained.
385. Hence it is very important for the rational
creature to allow itself to be led by the hand of the Lord and leave all to the
divine disposition; for mortal men are ignorant of their ways and of the goal
to which they lead. In their ignorance they should not presume to chose, lest
they make themselves guilty of great temerity and incur the danger of
damnation. But if they resign themselves with all their heart to the divine
Providence of God, acknowledging him as their Father and themselves as his
children and creatures, his Majesty will constitute Himself as their Protector,
Helper and Director; and He will assume these offices with such love that He
wishes to call heaven and earth to witness how much He considers it his affair
to govern his own and direct those who trust and resign themselves into his
hands. If God were capable of grief, or of jealousy like men, it would be aroused
in Him at seeing creatures claiming a part in the providing for the welfare of
souls and that souls should seek to supply their necessities from other
quarters independently of Him (Wis. 12, 13). Mortals would not be so ignorant
of this truth if they would study what happens between a father and his
children, a husband and his wife, one friend and another, a prince and his
well-loved and honored subject. All that these do is nothing in comparison with
the love which God had for his children, and that which He can do and will do
for them.
386. Yet although men in general believe this truth,
no one can fully estimate the love of God and its effects on those souls who
resign themselves entirely to his will. Nor canst thou, my daughter, manifest
what thou knowest, nor shouldst thou; but thou must not lose sight of it in the
Lord. His Majesty says, that not a hair of his elect shall perish, because He
keeps account of them (Luke 21, 18). He directs their footsteps toward eternal
life and keeps them from death. He observes their labors, lovingly corrects
their defects, favors their desires, forestalls their anxieties, defends them
in anger, rejoices them in peace, strengthens them in battle, assists them in
tribulation. His wisdom is at their service against deceit, his goodness for
their sanctification. As He is infinite, whom none can hinder or resist, He
executes what He wishes, and He wishes to be entirely at the service of the
just, who are in his grace and trust themselves wholly to Him. Who could ever measure
the number and greatness of the blessings which He would shower upon a heart
prepared to receive them!
387. If thou, my dearest, wishest to attain to gain
this good fortune, imitate me with true solicitude and apply thyself from now
on to establish in thee a true resignation in the divine Providence. If He
sends thee tribulations, sorrows and labors, accept and embrace them with
tranquillity of soul, with patience, lively faith and hope in the goodness of
the Most High, who always provides that which is the most secure and profitable
for thy salvation. Chose nothing for thyself, since God knows thy ways; trust
thyself to the heavenly Father and Spouse, who will shield and assist thee with
most faithful love. Study also My works, since they are known to thee; and
remember that, excepting the labors of my most holy Son, the greatest suffering
of my life was to see the tribulations of my spouse saint Joseph, and his grief
in the matter which thou hast described.
THE ANXIETIES OF SAINT JOSEPH INCREASE; HE RESOLVES TO
LEAVE HIS SPOUSE, AND HE BETAKES HIMSELF TO PRAYER ON THIS ACCOUNT.
388. In his tormenting doubts the most upright heart
of saint Joseph sometimes prudently tried to find relief and ease for his
sorrow by reasoning for himself and persuading himself that the pregnancy of
his Spouse was as yet doubtful. But this self-deception vanished more and more
every day on account of the increasing evidence of that state in the most holy
Virgin. As this vain and fleeting consolation failed him more and more and
finally changed into complete conviction as her pregnancy advanced, the
glorious saint found no haven of refuge in his anxieties. In the meanwhile the
heavenly Princess grew in loveliness and in perfect freedom from all bodily
failings. Her charming beauty, healthfulness and gracefulness visibly increased
before his eyes. All this only nourished the anxieties and the torments of his
most chaste love, so that his interior was involved by the turbulent waves of
his loving sorrow in unutterable confusion and he was finally stranded on the
shores of a sea of grief by the overpowering evidence of his senses in regard
to the pregnancy of Mary. Although his spirit was always conformed to the will
of God, yet his flesh in his weakness felt the excess of his interior trouble,
which at last reached such a point that he knew not any more which way to turn.
The strength of his body was broken and vanished away, not by a definite
disease, but in weakness and emaciation. These effects of his profound sorrow
and melancholy became openly visible in his countenance. Moreover, as he
suffered all this alone without seeking relief or lessening his sorrow by
communication with others, as is customary with the afflicted, his suffering
grew to be so much the more serious and incurable.
389. In the meanwhile the sorrow which filled the
heart of the most holy Mary was equally great. Yet, although her sorrow
exceeded all bounds, the capacity of her generous and magnanimous soul was much
greater and therefore She could conceal her grief more completely, and occupy
her faculties in the loving care of saint Joseph, her spouse. Her sorrow
therefore only incited Her to attend so much the more devotedly to his health
and comfort. Nevertheless, as the inviolable rule of the actions of the most
prudent Queen was to perform all in the fullness of wisdom and perfection, She
continued to conceal the mystery about the disclosure of which She had received
no command. Though She alone could relieve her spouse by an explanation, She withheld
it in reverence and faithfulness due to the sacrament of the heavenly King
(Tob. 12, 7). As far as She herself was concerned, She exerted her utmost
powers; She spoke to him about his health, She asked what She could do to serve
him and afford him help in the weakness which so mastered him. She urged him to
take some rest and recreation, since it was a duty to yield to necessity and
repair the weakened strength, in order to be able to work for the Lord
afterward. Saint Joseph observed all the actions of his heavenly Spouse, and,
pondering over such virtue and discretion and feeling the effects of her
intercourse and presence, he said:
"Is it possible that a Woman of such habits, and
in whom such graces of the Lord are manifest, can bring over me such
affliction? How can this prudence and holiness agree with these open signs of
her infidelity to God and to me, who love Her so much? If I conclude to send
Her away, or to leave Her, I lose her most loving company, all my comfort, my
home and my tranquility. What blessing equal to Her can I find if I withdraw
from Her? What consolation, if this one fails? But all this weighs less than
the infamy connected with this sad misfortune, and that I should come to be
looked upon as her accomplice in crime. That this event remain concealed is not
possible; since time will reveal all, even if I strive now to hide it. To pass
as the author of this pregnancy will be a vile deceit and a blotch on my good
name and conscience. I cannot recognize it as caused by me, nor can I ascribe
it to any other source known to me. Hence, what am I to do in this dire stress?
The least evil will be to absent myself and leave my house before her delivery
comes upon Her; for then I would be still more confused and afflicted. I would
then be obliged to live in my own house with a child not my own, without being
able to find any outlet or expedient."
390. The Princess of heaven, becoming aware of the
resolve of her spouse saint Joseph to leave Her and absent himself, turned in
great sorrow to her holy angels and said to them: "Blessed spirits and
ministers of the highest King, who raised you to felicity which you enjoy, and
by his kind Providence accompany me as his faithful servants and as my
guardians, I beseech you, my friends, to present before God's clemency the
afflictions of my spouse Joseph. Beseech the Lord to look upon him and console
him as a true Father. And you also, who so devotedly obey his words, hear
likewise my prayers; in the name of Him who is infinite, and to whom I am to
give human shape in my womb, I pray, beseech and supplicate you, that without
delay you assist and relieve my most faithful spouse in the affliction of his
heart and drive from his mind and heart his resolve of leaving me." The
angels which the Queen selected for this purpose obeyed immediately and
instilled into the heart of saint Joseph many holy thoughts, persuading him
anew that his Spouse Mary was holy and most perfect, and that he could not
believe anything wrong of Her; that God was incomprehensible in his works, and
most hidden in his judgments (Ps. 33, 19); that He was always most faithful to
those who confide in Him, and that He would never despise or forsake them in
tribulation.
391. By these and other holy inspirations the troubled
spirit of saint Joseph was somewhat quieted, although he did not know whence
they came; but as the cause of his sorrow was not removed, he soon relapsed,
not finding anything to assure and soothe his soul, and he returned to his
resolve of withdrawing and leaving his Spouse. The heavenly Queen was aware of
this and She concluded that it was necessary to avert this danger and to insist
in earnest prayer on a remedy. She addressed Herself entirely to her most holy
Son in her womb, and with most ardent affection of her soul She prayed:
"Lord and God of my soul, with thy permission,
although I am but dust and ashes (Gen. 18,27), I will speak in thy kingly
presence and manifest to Thee my sighs, that cannot be hidden from Thee (Ps.
37, 10). It is my duty not to be remiss in assisting the spouse whom I have
received from thy hand. I see him overwhelmed by the tribulation, which Thou
hast sent him, and it would not be kind in me to forsake him therein. If I have
found grace in thy eyes, I beseech Thee, Lord and eternal God, by the love
which obliged Thee to enter into the womb of thy servant for the salvation of
mankind, to be pleased to console thy servant Joseph and dispose him to assist
me in the fulfillment of thy great works. It would not be well that I, thy
servant, be left without a husband for a protection and guardian. Do not
permit, my Lord and God, that he execute his resolve and withdraw from
me."
392. The Most High answered Her: "My dearest
Dove, I shall presently visit my servant Joseph with consolation; and after I
shall have manifested to him by my angel the sacrament, which is unknown to
him, thou mayest speak openly about all that I have done with thee, without the
necessity of keeping silent thenceforward in these matters. I will fill him
with my spirit and make him apt to perform his share in these mysteries. He
will assist Thee in them and aid Thee in all that will happen." With this
promise of the Lord, most holy Mary was comforted and consoled, and She gave
most fervent thanks to the same Lord, who disposes all things in admirable
order, measure and weight. For besides the consolation, which the relief from
this anxiety afforded Her, She also knew well how proper it was that the spirit
of saint Joseph be tried and dilated by this tribulation before the great
mysteries should be entrusted to his care.
393. In the meanwhile saint Joseph was anxiously
debating within himself concerning the proper course of action, for he had
borne his tribulation already for two months; and now, overcome by the
greatness of it, he argued with himself: I do not find a better way out of
these difficulties than to absent myself. I confess that my Spouse is most
perfect and exhibits nothing but what shows Her a saint; but after all She is
pregnant and of it I cannot fathom the mystery. I do not wish to injure Her
reputation of holiness by involving Her in the punishment of the law; yet at
the same time I cannot stand by and witness the consequences of her pregnancy.
I will leave her now, and commit myself to the providence of the Lord, who
governs me." He then resolved to depart during that night, and in order to
prepare for his journey he packed some clothes and other trifles into a small
bundle. Having also claimed some wages due to him for his work, he retired to
rest with the intention of leaving at midnight. But on account of the
strangeness of his undertaking, and because he was in the habit of commending
his intentions to God in prayer, after he had come to this resolve he spoke to
the Lord: "Highest and eternal God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, Thou true and only refuge of the poor and afflicted, the grief and
tribulation of my heart are well known to thy clemency. Thou knowest also, O Lord
(although I am unworthy), that I am innocent of that which causes my sorrow, and
Thou likewise art aware of the infamy and danger consequent upon the condition
of my Spouse. I do not believe Her an adulteress, because I see in Her great
virtue and perfection; yet I certainly see Her pregnant. I do not know by whom
or how it was caused; and therefore I find no way to restore my peace. In order
to choose the least evil I will withdraw from Her and seek a place where no one
knows me and, resigning myself to thy Providence, I will pass my life in a
desert. Do not forsake me, my Lord and eternal God, since I desire solely thy
honor and service."
394. Saint Joseph prostrated himself on the ground and
made a vow to go to the temple of Jerusalem and offer up a part of the small
sum of money which he had provided for his journey, in order that God might
help and protect Mary his Spouse from the calamities of men and free Her from
all misfortune; for great was the uprightness of that man of God, and the
esteem in which he held the heavenly Lady. After this prayer he composed
himself for a short sleep with the intention of departing in secret and at
midnight from his Spouse. During this sleep, however, happened what I will
relate in the next chapter. The great Princess of heaven, (assured by the
divine promise), observed from her retirement all that saint Joseph was
preparing to do; for the Almighty showed it to Her. And hearing the vow, which
he made for her welfare, and seeing the small bundle and the poor provision he
prepared for his journey, She was filled with tender compassion and prayed anew
for him, giving praise and thanks to the Lord for his Providence in guiding the
actions of men beyond all human power of comprehension. His Majesty so ordained
events, that both most holy Mary and saint Joseph should be brought to the
utmost reach of interior sorrow. For besides the merits of this prolonged
martyrdom they would gain the admirable and precious blessing of the divine
consolation deserved thereby. Although the great Lady persevered in the belief
and hope of a seasonable intervention of the Lord, and therefore remained
silent in order not to reveal the sacrament, concerning the disclosure of which
the King had given Her no command; yet She was much afflicted by the resolve of
saint Joseph to leave Her; because She reflected upon the great inconvenience
of being alone, without a companion and a protector, on whom She could rely for
consolation and support in the natural order; for She well knew that She could
not expect all to proceed according to the supernatural and miraculous. Yet all
her sighs could not prevent Her from exercising the most exalted virtues with a
magnanimous spirit, such as patience in bearing her afflictions and the
suspicions of saint Joseph and its results; prudence, in withholding the
disclosure of the mystery on account of its greatness; silence, in signalizing
Herself as a woman who knew how to refrain from speaking about that which so
many human reasons urged Her to make known; forbearance and humility, in
silently submitting to the suspicions of saint Joseph. Many other virtues did
She exercise in this trouble in a wonderful manner; by which She taught us to
hope in the Almighty for our deliverance in the greatest tribulations.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, GAVE ME.
395. My daughter, the example of my silence, which
thou hast been writing about, should teach thee to use it as a guide in thy
treatment of the favors and sacraments of the Lord, namely that thou keep them
concealed within thy heart. Although it might at times seem useful to reveal
them for the consolation of some soul, thou must not act upon this opinion
without having first consulted God in prayer, and then thy superiors. For these
spiritual matters must not be made dependent upon human feeling, which are so
much subject to the passions and inclinations of nature. There is always great
danger of considering that to be an advantage which is harmful, and a service
to God, what is injurious. It is not given to eyes of the flesh and blood (I
Cor. 2, 14) to discern the interior movements, so as to decide which of them
are divine and caused by grace, or which are human, engendered by the
disorderly affections. Although there is great difference between these two
kinds of affections and their causes, nevertheless, if the creature is not
highly enlightened and dead to its passions, it cannot recognize this
difference, nor separate the precious from the vile (Jer. 15, 19). This danger
is greater when some temporal or human motive is mixed up with or underlies our
actions; for then our natural selflove is wont to creep in and take away
discretion and supervision of heavenly and spiritual things, leading on to many
sudden and dangerous falls.
396. Let it therefore be to thee as a rule always to
be followed that thou reveal nothing to anyone except to thy spiritual guide,
unless I command otherwise. Since I have constituted myself thy Teacher, I will
not fail to give thee advice and direction in this and in all other things,
lest thou stray from the path appointed to thee by the will of my most holy Son.
Yet I admonish thee to appreciate highly all the favors and revelations of the
Most High. Preserve them with a magnanimous heart; esteem them, give thanks for
them, and put them to practice in preference to anything else, especially in
preference to anything originating from thy own inclinations. The reverential
fear of God bound me to silence, having (as was proper) such a high regard for
the Treasure deposited in me. Notwithstanding the natural feeling of love and
obligation toward my master and spouse saint Joseph, and in disregard of the
sorrow and compassion for his afflictions, of which I so desired to free him, I
hid the secret of my state in silence, preferring the pleasure of the Lord to
all these, and leaving to Him the defense of my cause. Learn also from this
never to defend thyself against accusations, no matter how innocent thou mayest
be. Oblige the Lord to do it by confiding in his love. Charge thy reputation to
his account; and in the meanwhile overcome by patience and humility, by sweet
and kind words, those who have offended thee. Above all things I admonish thee
never to judge evil of anyone, even if thou seest with thy own eyes the outward
warrants of thy judgment; for perfect and sincere charity will teach thee to
find a prudent evasion and excuse for all faults of thy neighbor. God has
placed my spouse, saint Joseph, as a shining example for such a course of
action, since no one had more evident proofs of evil, and no one was more
discreet in deferring his judgment. For in the law of discreet and holy charity
it must be held as prudence, not temerity, to suspect higher causes, as yet
unseen, rather than to judge and condemn our neighbors for faults in which his
guilt is not clearly evident. I do not give thee special instructions for those
that are in the state of matrimony, since they can derive them manifestly from
the whole course of my life. But from the above instruction all can profit,
although just now I have in view thy own advancement, because I desire it with
especial love. Hear me, daughter, and fulfill my counsels and follow these my
words of eternal life.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH IN HIS SLEEP
AND MAKES KNOWN TO HIM THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION - HIS BEHAVIOR THEREAFTER.
397. The sorrow of jealousy keeps such vigilant watch
in those that are beset by it, that very often it not only awakens them from
sleep, but drives away altogether the refreshment of slumber. Nobody ever
suffered this sorrow in the same degree as saint Joseph, although, if he, had
known the truth, nobody ever had less occasion. He was endowed with exalted
light and knowledge, so that he could penetrate to the abyss of the
incalculable sanctity and perfection of his heavenly Spouse. As the reasons
which urged him to resign the possession of such great blessing were
inexorable, it naturally followed that the knowledge of what he was to lose
should add to the sorrow of parting therefrom. Hence, what saint Joseph
suffered in this regard exceeds all that ever was endured by any man; for no
one ever equaled him in the loss, and no one could so value and estimate it.
Besides, there was a great difference in the zeal and jealousy of this faithful
servant of God and the jealousies of others in like troubles. For jealousies
create in the vehement and ardent lover a great anxiety to preserve and prevent
loss of the loved object; and to this anxiety is naturally added the pain
caused by the fear lest the loved one be alienated by others. This kind of
feeling or sorrow is commonly called jealousy. In those who have disorderly
passions, and who, for want of prudence or other virtues, yield to them, it
usually causes the different feelings of wrath, fury, envy toward the person
loved, or against the rival who impedes the return of love, be it a well-ordered
love or not. Then arise the storms of suspicion and conjecture in the
imagination, engendered by these passions; the tempests of alternate desire and
abhorrence; of loving affection and vain regret. Thus the irascible and
concupiscent faculties are in perpetual strife, without any regard for the
demands of reason or prudence; for this kind of sorrow confounds the
understanding, perverts reason, and rejects prudence.
398. In saint Joseph this disorder was not infected
with all these faults, nor could they find room in him, on account both of his
own exalted holiness and that of his Spouse; for in Her he could find no fault
to exasperate him, nor had he any suspicion that her love had been captured by
anyone else, against whom or toward whom his envy might be aroused in defense.
The jealousy of saint Joseph was founded entirely in his own great love for
Her, in a certain conditional doubt or suspicion lest his Spouse had not
entirely responded to his own love; for he found no such strong reasons against,
as he did for his mistrust. A greater uncertainty was not necessary in his case
in order to cause such vehement sorrows; for in the possession of a spouse, no
rival can be tolerated. Hence, the chaste marital love of our saint, which
filled his whole heart, was sufficient to cause in him the most vehement grief
at the least appearance of infidelity, or danger of losing this most perfect,
most beautiful and delightful object of all his desires and thoughts. For if
love is in possession of such just motives, strong and unbreakable are the
bonds and chains with which it captivates the heart and most powerful is the
dominion which it exercises; especially when there are no imperfections to
weaken it. Our Queen exhibited nothing which either in the spiritual or in the
natural order was calculated to diminish or moderate this love in her holy
spouse, but only what tended to blow it into greater flame on many occasions
and for many reasons.
399. Full of this sorrow, which had now become an
intolerable pain, saint Joseph, after saying the prayer above mentioned,
composed himself for a short sleep, assured that he would wake up at the right
time to leave his home at midnight, and, as he thought, without the knowledge
of his Spouse. The heavenly Lady awaited the intervention of God, asking it of
Him in most humble prayer. For She knew that the tribulation of her troubled
spouse had reached such a high point, that the time of God's merciful
assistance must have arrived. The Most High sent his archangel Gabriel, in
order to reveal to him during his sleep the mystery of the Incarnation and
Redemption in the words recorded in the gospel. It might cause some wonder,
(and such was caused in me), why the archangel spoke to saint Joseph in his
sleep and not while awake; since the mystery was so high, and so difficult to
comprehend, especially in the present afflicted and troubled state of his mind;
while this same mystery was made known to others, not while they were asleep,
but awake.
400. In these operations of course, the last reason is
always the divine will itself, just, holy and perfect. However, as far as I
have understood, I will partly mention some other reasons in explanation. The
first reason is, that saint Joseph was so prudent, filled with such heavenly
light, and had such high conception of our most holy Lady, the blessed Mary,
that it was not necessary to convince him by strong evidence, in order to
assure him of her dignity and of the mysteries of the Incarnation; for in
hearts well-disposed the divine inspirations find easy entrance. The second
reason is, because his trouble had its beginning in the senses, namely in
seeing with his eyes the pregnancy of his Spouse; hence it was a just
retribution, that they, having given occasion for deception or suspicion,
should as it were be deadened or repressed by the privation of the angelic
vision. The third reason is as it were a sequence of this last one: saint
Joseph, although he was guilty of no fault, was under the influence of his
affliction and his senses were so to say deadened and incapacitated for the
sensible perception and intercourse of the angel. Therefore it was befitting,
that the angel deliver this message to him at a time, when the senses, which
had been scandalized, were inactive and suspended in their operations. Thus the
holy man might afterwards, regaining their full use, purify and dispose himself
by many acts of virtue for entertaining the operation of the holy Spirit, which
had been entirely interrupted by his troubles.
401. Hence will be also understood, why God spoke to
the ancient Fathers oftener during sleep than happens to the faithful ones of
the evangelical law; for in the new law revelation in sleep is less frequent
than direct intercourse with angels, which affords a more efficient mode of
communication. The explanation of this fact is this: since according to the
divine ordainment the greatest impediment and obstacle of a more familiar
intercourse and converse of the souls with God and his angels is the commission
of sins, even venial sins or even only imperfections, it follows, that, after
the divine Word became man and conversed with mortals, the senses and all our
faculties are purified day by day by the sanctifying use of sensible
Sacraments, by which men in some degree are spiritualized and elevated, their
torpid faculties aroused and made apt for participation in the divine
influences. This blessing we owe in a greater degree to the blood of Christ our
Lord than the ancients; for by its efficiency we are made partakers of his holiness
through the Sacraments, wherein we receive the effects of special graces, and
in some of them even a spiritual character, which destines and prepares us for
Most High ends. But whenever the Lord in our times spoke or speaks in sleep, He
excludes the operations of the senses, as being unfit and unprepared to enter
into the spiritual nuptials of his communications and divine influences.
402. It will also appear from this doctrine, that, in
order to receive the hidden favor of the Lord, men must not only be free from
guilt and possess merits and grace, but that they be also in peace and
tranquillity of spirit; for if the republic of the faculties is in disturbance
(as it was in saint Joseph), the soul is not in a fit condition to receive such
exalted and delicate influences as are implied by the visits and the caresses
of the Lord. It is not at all uncommon, that, no matter how much tribulations
and afflictions increase the merits of the soul (as were those of saint Joseph,
the spouse of the Queen), they nevertheless hinder the divine operations. For
in suffering them the soul is involved in a conflict with the powers of
darkness, while this kind of blessing consists in the possession of light; and
therefore the vision of darkness, even if only in order to ward it off, is not
in harmony with the vision of God or the angels. But in the midst of the
conflict and the battle of temptations, which may be compared to a dream in the
night, the voice of the Lord is nevertheless wont to be heard and perceived
through the ministry of the angels, just as it happened to saint Joseph. He
heard and understood all that saint Gabriel said: that he should not be afraid
to remain with his Spouse Mary (Matth. 1,20,21), because what She bore in her
womb, was the work of the holy Spirit; that She would give birth to a Son, who
should be called Jesus and who was to be the Savior of his people; that in all
this should be fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias, who said (Is. 7, 14): A Virgin
shall conceive and shall bring forth a Son, who was to be called Emmanuel, God
with us. Saint Joseph did not see the angel by imaginary image, he heard only
the interior voice and he understood the mystery. The words of the angel imply,
that saint Joseph had in his mind already resolved to sever his connection with
most holy Mary; for he was told to receive Her again without fear.
403. Saint Joseph awoke with the full consciousness,
that his Spouse was the true Mother of God. Full of joy on account of his good
fortune and of his inconceivable happiness, and at the same time deeply moved
by sudden sorrow for what he had done, he prostrated himself to the earth and
with many other humble, reverential and joyful tokens of his feelings, he
performed heroic acts of humiliation and of thanksgiving. He gave thanks to the
Lord for having revealed to him this mystery and for having made him the
husband of Her, whom God had chosen for his Mother, notwithstanding that he was
not worthy to be even her slave. Amid these recognitions and these acts of
virtue, the spirit of saint Joseph remained tranquil and apt for the reception
of new influences of the holy Spirit. His doubts and anxieties of the past few
months had laid in him those deep foundations of humility, which were necessary
for one who should be entrusted with the highest mysteries of the Lord; and the
remembrance of his experiences was to him a lesson which lasted all his life.
The holy man began to blame himself alone for all that had happened and broke
forth in the following prayer: "0 my heavenly Spouse and meekest Dove,
chosen by the Most High for his dwelling-place and for his Mother: how could
thy unworthy slave have dared to doubt thy fidelity? How could dust and ashes
ever permit itself to be served by Her, who is the Queen of heaven and earth
and the Mistress of the universe? How is it, that I have not kissed the ground
which was touched by thy feet? Why have I not made it my most solicitous care
to serve Thee on my knees? How will I ever raise my eyes in thy presence and
dare to remain in thy company or open my lips to speak to Thee? O my Lord and
God, give me grace and strength to ask her forgiveness; and move her heart to
mercy, that She do not despise her sorrowful servant according to his guilt. Ah
woe is me! Since She is full of light and grace and She bears within Herself
the Author of light, all my thoughts were open to her sight, also that I had in
my mind actually to leave Her; hence it will be temerity on my part to appear
in her presence. I now recognize my rude behavior and my gross error; since
even with such great holiness before my eyes I gave way to unworthy thoughts
and doubts concerning her fidelity, which I did not deserve. And if in
punishment thy justice had permitted me to execute my presumptuous resolve,
what would now be my misfortune? Eternally be thanked, Most High Lord for such
great blessing! Assist me, most powerful King, to make some kind of
reparation. I will go to my Spouse and Lady, confiding in her sweetness and
clemency; prostrate at her feet I will ask her pardon, so that for her sake,
Thou, my eternal Lord and God, mayest look upon me with the eyes of a Father
and mayest pardon my gross error."
404. The holy spouse now left his little room, finding
himself so happily changed in sentiments since the time he had composed himself
for sleep. As the Queen of heaven always had kept Herself in retirement, be did
not wish to disturb her sweet contemplation, until She herself desired. In the
meantime the man of God unwrapped the small bundle, which he had prepared,
shedding many tears with feelings quite different from those with which he had
made it up. Weeping, he began to show his reverence for his heavenly Spouse, by
setting the rooms in order, scrubbing the floors, which were to be touched by
the sacred feet of most holy Mary. He also performed other chores which he had
been accustomed to leave to the heavenly Lady before he knew her dignity. He
resolved to change entirely his relation toward Her, assume for himself the
position of servant and leave to Her the dignity of Mistress. From that day on
arose a wonderful contention between the two, which of them should be allowed
to show most eagerness to serve and most humility. All that happened with saint
Joseph the Queen of heaven saw, and not a thought or movement escaped her attention.
When the time arrived, the saint approached the oratory of her Highness, and
She awaited him with sweetest kindness and mildness, as I will describe in the
following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY LADY, MOST HOLY MARY,
GAVE ME.
405. My daughter, in what thou hast understood of this
chapter, thou hast a sweet motive for praising the wonderful ways of God's
wisdom in afflicting and again consoling his servants and chosen ones; from
both the one and the other, He most wisely and kindly draws for them increase
of merit and glory. Besides this doctrine, I wish that thou receive another
one, most important for thy direction, and for the narrow pathway, which the
Most High has assigned to thee. It is this, that thou strive with all thy might
to preserve thyself in tranquillity and interior peace, without allowing
thyself to be deprived of it by any troublesome event of this life whatever,
and by always keeping in mind the example and instruction contained in this
part of the life of my spouse saint Joseph. The Most High does not wish to see
the creatures disturbed by afflictions, but that they gain merit; not that they
lose courage, but that they test their own power when aided by grace. Although
the more violent temptations are wont to close the haven of exalted peace and
knowledge of God, and although they ground the creature more firmly in the
knowledge of its own lowliness; yet if the soul loses its interior tranquillity
and equilibrium, it will make itself unfit for the visit of the Lord, for hearing
his voice, and for being raised up to his embraces. The Majesty of God does not
come in a stormcloud (III. Reg. 19,12), nor will the rays of this supreme Sun
of justice shine, when calm is not reigning in the soul.
406. If then the want of this tranquillity so hinders
the pure intercourse of the Most High, it is clear that sins are a still
greater hindrance to this great blessing. I desire that thou be very attentive
to this doctrine and that thou do not presume to allow any disregard of it in
any operation of thy faculties. Since thou hast so often offended the Lord,
call upon his mercy, weep and wash thyself from thy sins with copious tears;
remember that, under pain of being condemned as unfaithful, thou art obliged to
watch over thy soul and preserve it for an eternal resting-place of the
Almighty, pure, clean and undisturbed; so that thy God may possess it and find
in it a worthy habitation (I Cor. 2, 16). The harmony of thy faculties and
feelings is to be like that of the music of soft and delicate instruments; in
which the more delicate the harmony, so much the greater is the danger of
discord and so much the greater must be the care to preserve the instruments
from all gross contact. For even the atmosphere infected by earthly tendencies
is sufficient to disturb and spoil the powers of the soul thus consecrated to
God. Labor therefore to live a careful life and to keep full command over thy
faculties and operations. If at any time thou art disturbed or disconcerted in
maintaining this order, strive to attend the divine light, making use of it
without fear or hesitation and working with it whatever is most perfect and
pure. In this I point out to thee the example of my spouse saint Joseph, who
believed the angel without a moment's hesitation and immediately with prompt
obedience executed his commands; find thereby he merited to be raised to great
reward and dignity. If he humiliated himself so deeply after having had such
great, though only apparent reasons for anxiety and without even having sinned
in what he did, how must thou, a mere worm of the earth, acknowledge thy
littleness and humble thyself to the dust, weeping over thy negIigences and
sins, in order that the Most High may look upon thee as a Father and as a
Spouse
SAINT JOSEPH ASKS PARDON OF THE MOST HOLY MARY, HIS
SPOUSE, AND THE HEAVENLY LADY CONSOLES HIM WITH GREAT PRUDENCE.
407. The husband of Mary, saint Joseph, now better
informed, waited until his most holy Spouse had finished her contemplation, and
at the hour known to him he opened the door of the humble apartment which the
Mother of the heavenly King occupied. Immediately upon entering the holy man
threw himself on his knees, saying with the deepest reverence and veneration:
"My Mistress and Spouse, true Mother of the eternal Word, here am I thy
servant prostrate at the feet of thy clemency. \ For the sake of thy God and
Lord, whom Thou bearest in thy virginal womb, I beseech Thee to pardon my
audacity. I am certain, O Lady, that none of my thoughts is hidden to thy wisdom
and to thy heavenly insight. Great was my presumption in resolving to leave
Thee and not less great was my rudeness in treating Thee until now as my
inferior, instead of serving Thee as the Mother of my Lord and God. But Thou
also knowest that I have done all in ignorance, because I knew not the
sacrament of the heavenly King and the greatness of thy dignity, although I
revered in Thee other gifts of the Most High. Do not reflect, my Mistress, upon
the ignorance of such a lowly creature, who, now better instructed, consecrates
his heart and his whole life to thy service and attendance. I will not rise
from my knees, before being assured of thy favor, nor until I have obtained thy
pardon, thy good will and thy blessing."
408. The most holy Mary, hearing the humble words of
saint Joseph, experienced diverse feelings. For with tender joy in the Lord She
saw how apt he was to be entrusted with the sacraments of the Lord, since he
acknowledged and venerated them with such deep faith and humility. But She was
somewhat troubled by his resolve of treating Her henceforth with the respect
and self abasement alluded to in his words; for the humble Lady feared by this
innovation to lose the occasions of obeying and humiliating Herself as a
servant of her spouse. Like one, who suddenly finds herself in danger of being
deprived of some jewel or treasure highly valued, most holy Mary was saddened
by the thought that saint Joseph would no longer treat Her as an inferior and
as subject to him in all things, having now recognized in Her the Mother of the
Lord. She raised her holy spouse from his knees and threw Herself at his feet, although he tried to hinder it, and said: "I myself, my master and
spouse, should ask thee to forgive me and thou art the one who must pardon me
the sorrows and the bitterness, which I have caused thee; and therefore I ask
this forgiveness of thee on my knees, and that thou forget thy anxieties, since
the Most High has looked upon my desires and afflictions in divine
pleasure."
409. It seemed good to the heavenly Lady to console
her spouse, and therefore, not in order to excuse Herself, She added: "As
much as I desired, I could not on my own account give thee any information
regarding the sacrament hidden within me by the power of the Almighty; since,
as his slave, it was my duty to await the manifestation of his holy and perfect
will. Not because I failed to esteem thee as my lord and spouse did I remain
silent: for I was and always will be thy faithful servant, eager to correspond
to thy holy wishes and affection. From my inmost heart and in the name of the
Lord, whom I bear within me, I beseech thee not to change the manner of thy
conversation and intercourse with me. The Lord has not made me his Mother in
order to be served and to command in this life, but in order to be the servant
of all and thy slave, obeying thy will in all things. This is my duty, my
master, and outside of it I would lead a life without joy and full of sorrow.
It is just that thou afford me the opportunity of fulfilling it, since so it
was ordained by the Most High. He has furnished me with thy protection and
devoted assistance, in order that I may live securely in the shade of thy
provident solicitude and with thy aid rear the Fruit of my womb, my God and my
Lord." With these words and others most sweet and persuasive most holy
Mary consoled and quieted saint Joseph, and he raised Her from her knees in
order to confer with Her upon all that would be necessary for this purpose.
Since on this occasion the heavenly Lady was full of the Holy Ghost and
moreover bore within Her, as his Mother, the divine Word, who proceeds from the
Father and the Holy Ghost, saint Joseph received special enlightenment and the
plenitude of divine graces. Altogether renewed in fervor of spirit he said:
410. "Blessed art Thou, Lady, among all women,
fortunate and preferred before all nations and generations. May the Creator of
heaven and earth be extolled with eternal praise, since from his exalted kingly
throne He has looked upon Thee and chosen Thee for his dwelling-place and in
Thee alone has fulfilled the ancient promises made to the Patriarchs and
Prophets. Let all generations bless Him: for in no one has He magnified his
name as He has done in thy humility; and me, the most insignificant of the living,
He has in his divine condescension selected for thy servant." In these
words of praise and benediction saint Joseph was enlightened by the Holy Ghost,
in the same manner as saint Elisabeth, when she responded to the salutation of
our Queen and Mistress. The light and inspiration, received by the most holy
spouse was wonderfully adapted to his dignity and office. The heavenly Lady,
upon hearing the words of the holy man, answered in the words of the
Magnificat, as She had done on her visit to saint Elisabeth, and She added
other canticles. She was all aflame in ecstasy and was raised from the earth in
a globe of light, which surrounded Her and transfigured Her with the gifts of
glory.
411. At this heavenly vision saint Joseph was filled
with admiration and unspeakable delight; for never had he seen his most blessed
Spouse in such eminence of glory and perfection. Now he beheld Her with a full
and clear understanding, since all the integrity and purity of the Princess of
heaven and mystery of her dignity manifested themselves to him. He saw and
recognized in her virginal womb the humanity of the infant God and the union of
the two natures of the Word. With profound humility and reverence he adored Him
and recognized Him as his Redeemer, offering himself to his Majesty. The Lord
looked upon him in benevolence and kindness as upon no other man, for He
accepted him as his foster-father and conferred upon him that title. In
accordance with this dignity, He gifted him with that plenitude of science and
heavenly gifts which Christian piety can and must acknowledge. I do not dilate
upon this vast excellence of saint Joseph made known to me, because I would
extend this history beyond the prescribed bounds.
412. However, if it was a proof of the magnanimity of
the glorious saint Joseph and a clear evidence of his great sanctity, that he
did not wear away and die of the grief sustained at the thought of the loss of
his beloved Spouse, it is yet more astonishing, that he was not overwhelmed by
the unexpected joy of this revelation of the true mystery connected with his
Spouse. In the former he proved his high sanctity; but in the latter he showed
himself worthy of gifts, such which, if the Lord had not expanded his heart, he
could neither have been capable of receiving nor could he have outlived to bear
in the joy of his spirit. In all things he was renewed and elevated, so as to
be able to treat worthily Her, who was the Mother of God himself and his
Spouse, and to co-operate with Her in the mystery of the Incarnation and in
taking care of the Word made man, as I shall relate farther on. In order that
he might be still more apt and so much the more recognize his obligation to
serve his heavenly Spouse, it was also made known to him, that all the gifts
and blessings came to him because of Her: those before his espousal, because he
had been selected for her husband, and those afterward, because he had won and
merited this distinction. He also perceived with what prudence the great Lady
had acted toward him, not only in serving him with such inviolate obedience and
profound humility, but also in consoling him in his affliction, soliciting for
him the grace and assistance of the. Holy Ghost, hiding her feelings with such
discretion, tranquilizing and soothing his sorrow, thus fittingly disposing him
for the influence of the divine Spirit. Just as the Princess of heaven had been
the instrument for the sanctification of saint John the Baptist and his mother,
so She also was instrumental in procuring for saint Joseph the plenitude of
graces in still greater abundance. All this the most faithful and fortunate man
understood and for it, as a most faithful servant, was proportionately
thankful.
413. These great sacraments and many others connected
with our Queen and her spouse saint Joseph, the sacred Evangelists passed over
in silence, not only because they wished to treasure them in their hearts, but
also because neither the humble Lady nor saint Joseph had spoken of them to
anyone. Nor was it necessary to mention these wonders in the life of Christ our
Lord, which they wrote in order to establish our belief in the new Church and
the law of grace; for such things might give rise to many inconveniences among
the heathens in their first conversion. The admirable providence of God, in his
hidden and inscrutable judgments, reserved these secrets for a more suitable
time foreseen in divine wisdom. He wished that, after the Church had been
already established and the Catholic faith well grounded. the faithful,
standing in need of the intercession, the assistance and protection of their
great Queen and Lady should draw, from the knowledge of these mysteries, new
and old treasures of grace and consolation (Matth. 13, 52). Perceiving by new
enlightenment what a loving Mother and powerful Advocate they had in heaven
with her most holy Son, to whom the Father has given the power to judge (John
5, 52), let them flee to Her for help as to the only and sacred refuge of
sinners. Let the tribulations and the tears of the Church themselves give witness,
whether such times of affliction have not come upon us in our days; for never
were her trials greater than now, when her own sons, reared at her breast, afflict
her, seek to destroy her, and dissipate the treasures of the blood of her
Spouse with a greater cruelty than was done by her most embittered enemies. In
this crying need, when the blood, shed by her children calls heavenward, and
much more loudly, the blood of our high Priest Christ (Heb. 12, 24) trodden
under foot and polluted under pretext of justice, resounds in anguish, what are
the most faithful children of the Church doing? Why are they so speechless? Why
do they not call upon most holy Mary? Why do they not invoke her aid and urge
Her to help? What wonder if help is delayed, since we postpone seeking Her and
acknowledging Her as the true Mother of God? I give witness, that great
mysteries are enclosed in this City of God and that in lively faith we should
confess and extol them. They are so great, that the deeper insight into them is
reserved for the time after the general resurrection, when all the saints will
know them in the Most High. But in the meanwhile let the pious and faithful
souls acknowledge the condescension of this their most loving Queen and Lady in
revealing some of the great and hidden sacraments through me, a most unworthy
instrument; for I, in my weakness and insignificance, could be induced to
attempt this work only by the repeated command and encouragement of the Mother
of piety, as was stated several times.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE HEAVENLY QUEEN AND LADY.
414. My daughter, my objective in revealing to thee in this
history so many sacraments and secrets, both those which thou hast written and
many others, which thou art unable to manifest, is, that thou use them as a mirror
of my life and as an inviolable rule of action for thy own. All of them should been
graven in the tablets of thy heart and I recall to thy mind the teachings of
eternal life, I, thereby complying with my duty as thy Teacher. Be ready to
obey and fulfill all commands as a willing and careful pupil; let the humble
care and watchfulness of my spouse saint Joseph, his submission to divine
direction and his esteem for heavenly enlightenment, serve thee as an example.
For only because his heart had been well disposed and prepared for the
execution of the divine will, was he entirely changed and remodeled by the
plenitude of grace for the ministry assigned to him by the Most High. Let
therefore the consciousness of thy faults serve thee as a motive to submit in all
humility to the work of God, not as a pretext to withdraw from the performance
of that which the Lord desires of thee.
415. However, I wish on this occasion to reveal to
thee the just reproach and indignation of the Most High against mortals; so
that, comparing the conduct of other men with the humility and meekness, which
I exercised toward my spouse saint Joseph, thou mayest understand it better in
divine enlightenment. The cause of this reproach, which the lord and I have to
make against men, is the inhuman perversity of men in persisting to treat each
other with so much want of humility and love. In this they commit three faults,
which displease the Most High very much and which cause the Almighty and me to
withhold many mercies. The first is, that men, knowing that they are all
children of the same Father in heaven (Is. 64, 8), works of his hands, formed
of the same nature, graciously nourished and kept alive by his Providence,
reared at the same table of divine mysteries and Sacraments, especially of his
own body and blood, nevertheless forget and despise all these advantages,
concentrating all their interest upon earthly and trivial affairs, exciting
themselves without reason, swelling with indignation, creating discords,
quarrels, indulging in detractions and harsh words, sometimes rising up to most
wicked and inhuman vengeance or mortal hate of one another. The second is,
that, when through human frailty and want of mortification, incited by the
temptation of the devil, they happen to fall into one of these faults, they do
not at once seek to rid themselves of it nor strive to be again reconciled, as
should be done by brothers in the presence of a just judge. Thus they deny Him
as their merciful Father and force Him to become the severe and rigid Judge of
their sins; for no faults excite Him sooner to exercise his severity than the
sins of revenge and hate. The third offense, which causes his great
indignation, is, that sometimes, when a brother comes in order to be
reconciled, he that deems himself offended will not receive him and asks a
greater satisfaction than that which he knows would be accepted by the Lord,
and which he himself offers as satisfaction to God's Majesty. For all of them
wish that God, who is most grievously offended, should receive and pardon them,
whenever they approach Him with humility and contrition; while those that are
but dust and ashes, ask to be revenged upon their brothers and will not content
themselves with the satisfaction, which the Most High himself readily accepts
for their own sins.
416. Of all the sins, which the sons of the Church
commit, none is more horrible than these in the eyes of the Most High. This
thou wilt readily understand by the divine light and in the vigor of God's law,
which commands men to pardon their brethren, although they may have offended
seventy times seven. And if a brother offend many times every day, as soon as
he says that he is sorry for it, the Lord commands us to forgive the offending
brother as many times without counting the number. And those that are not
willing to forgive, He threatens with severest punishment on account of the
scandal, which they cause. This can be gathered from the threatening words of
God himself: Woe to him from whom scandal comes and through whom scandal is caused!
It were better for him, if he fell into the depths of the sea with a heavy
millstone around his neck. This was said in order to indicate the danger of
this sin and the difficulty of obtaining deliverance therefrom, which must be
compared to that of a man dropping into the sea with a grinding-stone around
his neck. It also points out that the punishment is the abyss of eternal pains
(Matth. 18,9). Therefore the command of my most holy Son is good advice to the
faithful, that they rather permit their eyes to be torn out and their hands
chopped off, than allow themselves to fall into this crime of scandalizing the
little ones.
417. O my dearest daughter! How thou must bewail the
wickedness and evils of this sin with tears of blood! That is the sin, which
grieves the Holy Ghost (Eph. 4, 30), affords proud triumphs to the demons,
makes monsters of rational creatures, and wipes out in them the image of the
eternal Father! What thing more unbecoming, or hateful and monstrous, than to
see creatures of the earth, the food of worms and corruption, rise up against
one another in pride and arrogance? Thou wilt not find words strong enough to
describe this wickedness, in order to persuade mortals to fear it and guard
against the wrath of the Lord (Matt. 3, 7). But do thou, dearest, preserve thy
heart from this contagion, stamp and engrave in it the most useful doctrine for
thy guidance. Never think for a moment, that in offending thy neighbor or
scandalizing him in this way, the guilt can be small, for all these sins are
weighty in the sight of God. Place a damper on all thy faculties and feelings
in order to observe most strictly the rules of charity toward all creatures of
the Most High. To me also afford this pleasure, since I wish thee to be most
perfect in this virtue. I impose upon thee as my most vigorous precept, that
thou give offense neither in thought, word or deed to any of thy neighbors; and
that thou prevent any of thy subjects, and, as far as thou canst, any other
person in thy presence from injuring their neighbor. Meditate well on this, as
I ask it of thee, my dearest; for it is a doctrine most divine and least
understood by mortals. Serve thyself with the only remedy against these
passions: namely, with the compelling example of my humility and meekness, the
effect of the sincere love not only toward my spouse, but toward all the
children of the heavenly Father; for I esteemed them and looked upon them as
redeemed and bought for a great price (I Pet. 1, 18). With true fidelity and
ingenious charity watch over thy religious. The divine Majesty is offended
grievously by anyone who does not fulfill this command expressly inculcated and
called a new one by my Son (John 15, 12); but He is roused to incomparably
greater indignation against religious persons, who offend against it. Among
these there are many, who should distinguish themselves as perfect children of
the Father and Teacher of this virtue; nevertheless they cast it aside and
thereby become more odious and detestable in his sight than worldly persons.
SAINT JOSEPH RESOLVES TO DEVOTE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO
THE SERVICE OF MOST HOLY MARY; THE BEHAVIORS OF HER MAJESTY, AND OTHER
PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF MARY AND JOSEPH.
418. The most faithful Joseph, after being informed of
the mystery and sacrament of the Incarnation, was filled with such high and
befitting sentiments concerning his Spouse, that, although he had always been
holy and perfect, he was changed into a new man. He resolved to act toward the
heavenly Lady according to a new rule and with much greater reverence, as I
will relate farther on. This was conformable to the wisdom of the saint and due
to the excellence of his Spouse; for saint Joseph by heavenly enlightenment saw
well, that he was the servant and She the Mistress of heaven and earth. In
order to satisfy his desire for honoring and reverencing Her as the Mother of
God, whenever he passed Her or spoke to Her alone, he did it with great
external veneration and on bended knees. He would not allow Her to serve him,
or wait upon him, or perform any other humble services, such as cleaning the
house or washing the dishes and the like. All these things the most happy
spouse wished to do himself, in order not to derogate from the dignity of the
Queen.
419. But the heavenly Lady, who among the humble was
the most humble and whom no one could surpass in humility, so managed all these
things, that the palm of victory in all these virtues always remained with Her.
She besought saint Joseph not to bend the knees to Her, for though this worship
was due to the Lord whom She carried in her womb, yet as long as He was within
unseen by anyone no distinction was externally manifest between his and her own
person. The saint therefore allowed himself to be persuaded and conformed to
the wishes of the Queen of heaven; only at times, when She was not looking, he
continued to give this worship to the Lord whom She bore in her womb, and also
to Her as his Mother, intending thereby to honor Both according to the
excellence of Each. In regard to the other works and services, a humble
contention arose between them. For saint Joseph could not overcome his
conviction as to the impropriety of allowing the great Queen and Lady to
perform them, and therefore he sought to be beforehand with such household
duties. His heavenly Spouse was filled with the same eagerness to seize upon
occasions in advance of saint Joseph. As however he busied himself in these
duties during the time which She spent in contemplation, he frustrated her
continual desire of serving him and of performing all the duties of the
household, which She considered as belonging to Her as a servant. In her
affliction on this account, the heavenly Lady turned to the Lord with humble
complaints, and besought Him to oblige saint Joseph not to hinder Her in the
exercise of humility, as She desired. As this virtue is so powerful before the
divine tribunal and has free access, no prayer accompanied by it is small.
Humility makes all prayers effective and inclines the immutable Being of God to
clemency. He heard Her petition and He ordered the angel guardian of the
blessed husband to instruct him as follows: "Do not frustrate the humble
desires of Her who is supreme over all the creatures of heaven and earth.
Exteriorly allow Her to serve thee and interiorly treat Her with highest reverence,
and at all times and in all places worship the incarnate Word. It is his will,
equally with that of the heavenly Mother, to serve and not to be served, in
order to teach the world the knowledge of life and the excellence of humility.
In some of the work thou canst assist Her, but always reverence in Her the Lord
of all creation."
420. Instructed by this command of the Most High,
saint Joseph permitted the heavenly Princess to exercise her humility and so
both of them were enabled to make an offering of their will to God: most holy
Mary, by exercising the deepest humility and obedience toward her spouse in all
her acts of virtue which She performed without failing in the least point of
perfection; and saint Joseph by obeying the Almighty with a holy and prudent
embarrassment, which was occasioned by seeing himself waited upon and served by
Her, whom he had recognized as his Mistress and that of the world, and as the
Mother of his God and Creator. In this manner the prudent saint made up for the
humility, which he could not practice in the works now consigned to his Spouse.
This arrangement seemed to humiliate him more and filled him with a greater
reverential fear. In this fear he observed most holy Mary, always bearing in mind
the Treasure of her virginal womb and adoring, magnifying and praising the
Lord. A few times, in reward of his holiness and reverence, or for the increase
of both, the infant God manifested Himself to him in a wonderful manner: he saw
Him in the womb of his purest Mother enclosed as it were in the clearest
crystal. The sovereign Queen conversed with the glorious saint concerning the
Incarnation; because She did not need to be so reserved in her heavenly words
since he had been enlightened and instructed in the sublime sacraments of the
hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in the virginal chamber of his
Spouse.
421. No human tongue can reproduce the celestial words
and conversations of the most holy Mary and the blessed Joseph. I will adduce some
of them in the following chapters, as far as I know how. Yet, who call declare
the effects wrought in the sweet and devout heart of this saint in seeing
himself not only constituted the husband of Her who was the true Mother of his
Creator, but in finding himself also served by Her as if She was the humblest
slave, while at the same time he beheld Her raised in sanctity and dignity
above the highest seraphim and inferior only to God? If the divine right hand
enriched with blessings the house of Obededom for having sheltered for a few
months the figurative ark of the old Testament (I Par. 13, 14), what blessings
did He not shower upon saint Joseph, to whom He entrusted the true ark and the
Lawgiver himself enshrined in Her? Incomparable was the good fortune and
happiness of this saint! Not only because he had with him in his house the
living and true ark of the new Testament, the altar, the sacrifice, and the
temple, all left in his charge: but also because he cared for them worthily and
as a faithful servant (Matth. 24, 45), constituted by the Lord himself over his
family to provide for all their necessities in the right time as a most
faithful dispenser (Os. 14, 20). Let all generations and peoples acknowledge
and bless him, let them extol his merits; since the Most High has favored none
other in the same degree. I, an unworthy and poor worm, in the light of such
venerable sacraments, exalt and magnify this Lord God, confessing Him as holy,
just, merciful, wise and admirable in the disposition of all his great works.
422. The humble but blessed house of Joseph contained
three rooms, which occupied nearly all its space and formed the exclusive
dwelling place of the two Spouses; for they kept neither a man nor a
maid-servant. In one of the rooms saint Joseph slept, in another he worked and
kept the tools of his trade of carpentering; the third was ordinarily occupied
by the Queen of heaven and was also her sleeping room. It contained a couch
made by the hands of saint Joseph. This arrangement they had observed since
their espousal and from the day on which they had come to this, their dwelling.
Before knowing the dignity of his Spouse and Lady, saint Joseph rarely went to
see Her; for while She kept her retirement he was engaged in his work, unless
some affair made it absolutely necessary to consult Her. But after he was
informed of his good fortune, the holy man was more solicitous for her welfare,
and in order to renew the joy of his heart he began to come often to the
retreat of the sovereign Lady, visiting Her and receiving her commands. But he
always approached Her with extreme humility and reverential fear, and before he
spoke to Her, he was careful to note in what She was engaged. Many times he saw
Her in ecstasy raised from the earth and resplendent with most brilliant light;
at other times in the company of her angels holding celestial intercourse with
them; and at other times, he found Her prostrate upon the earth in the form of
a cross, speaking to the Lord. Her most fortunate spouse was a participator in
these favors. But whenever he found the great Lady in these occupations and
postures, he would presume no farther than to look upon Her with profound
reverence; and thereby he merited sometimes to hear the sweetest harmony of the
celestial music, with which the angels regaled their Queen, and perceived a
wonderful fragrance which comforted him and filled him entirely with jubilation
and joy of spirit.
423. The two holy spouses lived alone in their house,
for as I have said, they had no servants of any kind, not only on account of
their humility, but in order more fittingly to hide from any witnesses the
wonders, which passed between them and which were not to be communicated to
outsiders. Likewise the Princess of heaven did not leave her dwelling, except
for very urgent causes in the service of God or her fellow-men. Whenever
anything was necessary She asked that fortunate neighbor, who as I have said
had served saint Joseph during the absence of Mary in the house of Zacharias.
This woman received such a good return from Mary, that not only she herself
became most holy and perfect, but her whole household and family was blessed by
the help of the Queen and Mistress of the world. She was visited by most holy
Mary in some of her sicknesses and with her family was copiously enriched by
the blessings of heaven.
424. Never did saint Joseph see his heavenly Spouse
asleep, nor did he of his own experience know whether She ever slept, although
he besought Her to take some rest, especially during the time of her sacred
pregnancy. The resting-place of the Princess was the low couch, which I said
had been constructed by saint Joseph; and on it were the coverings which served
Her during her brief and holy sleep. Her undergarment was a sort of tunic made
of cotton, but softer than the ordinary or common cloth. This tunic She never
changed from the time since She left the temple, nor did it wear out or grow
old or soiled, and no person ever saw it, nor did saint Joseph know that She
wore that kind of a garment; for he never saw any other part of her clothing
except the outside garments, which were open to the view of other persons.
Those were of a gray color, as 1 have said (Part I. No. 400), and these only
and her head-coverings were the garments, which the Queen changed now and then;
not because they were soiled, but because, being visible to all, She wished to
avoid notice by such strange sameness of outward appearance. Nothing that She
wore upon her most pure and virginal body became soiled or worn; for She
neither perspired, nor was She subject to the punishments, which are laid upon
the sin-impregnated bodies of the children of Adam. She was in all respects
most pure and the works of her hands were like crystal ornaments; and with the
same purity She cared for the clothes and other necessities of saint Joseph.
The food of which She partook, was most limited in kind and quantity; but She
partook of some every day and in company of her spouse; she never ate meat,
although he did, and She prepared it for him. Her sustenance was fruit, fishes,
and ordinarily bread and cooked vegetables; but of all these She partook in
exact measure and weight, only so much as was necessary for the nourishment of
the body and the maintaining of the natural warmth without any superfluities that
could pass over into excess of harmful corruption; the same rule She observed
in regard to drink, although Her fervent acts of love often caused a
superabundance of preternatural ardor. This rule, as to the quantity of her
nourishment, She followed during her whole life, although as to the kind of
food She adapted Herself to the various circumstances demanding a change, as I
shall relate further on.
425. In all things the most pure Mary exhibited
consummate perfection, without any fault or want of grace; and all her actions
both in the natural and the supernatural order reached the pinnacle of
excellence. But words fail me in describing it: for I am never satisfied,
seeing how far short these words fall of that which I perceive and how much
more excellence this sublime Creature possesses than I can express. Continually
I am grieved by my insufficiency and dissatisfied with my limited terms and
descriptions, fearing lest I presume more than I should in striving to do that
which so far exceeds my powers. But the force of obedience inspires me with I
do not know what sweet strength, which dispels my hesitancy and impels my
backwardness, encouraging me to face the greatness of my undertaking and the
smallness of my ability. I work under obedience, and through it I hope to make
great gains. It will also serve me as an excuse.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN ME BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST HOLY
MARY.
426. My daughter, in the school of humility, which my
whole life affords thee, I wish that thou be studious and diligent; and this
should be thy first and principal care, if thou wishest to enjoy the sweet
embraces of the Lord, assure thyself of his favor and possess the treasures of
light, which are hidden to the proud (Matth. 11, 25). For without the trusty
foundation of humility such treasures cannot be confided to any man. Let all
thy ambition be to humble thyself in thy own estimation and thought, so that in
thy exterior actions thou mayest truly exhibit this humility of thy interior.
It must be a subject of confusion and a spur of humility for thee and for all
the souls to have the Lord as their Father and Spouse, to see, that the
presumption and pride of worldly wisdom is more powerful in its devotees, than
humility and true self-knowledge is in the children of light. Consider the
watchfulness, the untiring study and care of ambitious and aspiring men. Look
upon their struggle to be esteemed in the world, their strivings never at rest,
though so vain and worthless; how they conduct themselves outwardly according
to the false notions which they have of themselves; how they pretend to be what
they are not, and how they exert themselves to obtain through these false
pretenses the treasures, which, though only earthly, they do not deserve. Hence
it should be a cause of confusion and shame to the good, that deceit should
urge on the sons of perdition with greater force than truth urges the elect;
that the number of those, who in the world are anxious to strive in the service
of their God and Creator, should be so small in comparison with the number of
those who serve vanity; that there should be so few of the elect, though all
are called (Matth. 20. 16).
427. Seek therefore, my daughter, to make progress in
this science of humility and to gain for thyself the palm of victory in this
virtue in the midst of the children of darkness; in opposition to their pride,
study what I did in order to overcome darkness in this world by the pursuit of
humility. In this the Lord and I desire thee to be very wise and proficient.
Never miss an occasion of exercising humility and allow no one to deprive thee
of such works; and if occasions of humility fail thee and are scarce, seek
after them and ask God to send them to you; for it pleases his Majesty to see
such kind of anxiety and ambition in what He desires so much. For the sake of
this divine complacency alone, thou, as a daughter of his house, as his
domestic and as his spouse, shouldst be solicitous and anxious for acts of
humility; for in this, human ambition itself will teach thee not to be negligent.
Observe how a woman in her house and family conducts herself in order to
benefit and advance her family, and how she loses no chance of advancing it;
nothing seems too much for her, and if anything, no matter how small it is,
goes to loss (Lucas. 15, 8) she becomes much excited. All this is the effect of
worldly covetousness, and there is certainly no reason, that the wisdom of
heaven be less fruitful or less careful in the gifts received. Therefore I
desire thee to allow no carelessness or forgetfulness concerning what so much
concerns thee, and to lose no occasion of practicing humility and laboring for
the glory of the Lord; but do thou seek and strive after his gifts and draw
merits from them as a faithful daughter and spouse. Then wilt thou find grace
in the eyes of the Lord and in mine, according to thy desire.
SOME OF THE SAYINGS AND CONVERSATIONS OF THE MOST HOLY
MARY AND JOSEPH REGARDING DIVINE THINGS; OTHER WONDERFUL EVENTS.
428. Before saint Joseph had been instructed in the
mystery of the Incarnation, the Princess of heaven made use of opportune
occasions for reading to him some of the passages of holy Scriptures,
especially from the Prophets and from the Psalms. As a most wise Teacher She
also explained them to him, and her holy spouse who was indeed capable of the
exalted truths contained therein, asked Her many questions, wondering at and
consoling himself with the heavenly answers of his Spouse; and thus both of
them alternately praised and blessed the Lord. But after he had himself become
instructed in the great sacrament, he conversed with our Queen, as with one,
who was Herself to be the Coadjutrix of the admirable works and mysteries of
our Redemption. For now they could more openly and clearly discuss the divine
prophecies and oracles concerning the conception of the Word through a
Virgin-Mother, of his birth, his bringing up, and his most holy life. All these
things her Highness discussed and explained, delineating beforehand the course
of action, which they were to pursue, when the longed-for day of the birth of
the Child should have arrived, when She should hold Him in her arms, nourish
Him at her breast with virginal milk, and when the holy spouse himself should
share in this greatest of mortal blessedness. Only of his Passion and Death,
and of the sayings of Isaias and Jeremias, the most prudent Queen spoke more
rarely; for as her spouse was of a most kind and tender heart, She thought it
best not to dilate upon or anticipate that which he himself remembered of the
sayings of the ancient writers concerning the coming and the sufferings of the
Messiah. The most prudent Virgin also waited until the Lord should grant more
particular revelation of what was to happen, or until She herself would know
better the divine will in this respect.
429. Her most faithful and blessed husband was wholly
inflamed by her sweet words and conversations, and with tears of joy he said to
the heavenly Spouse: "Is it possible, that in thy most chaste arms I shall
see my God and Redeemer? That I shall hear him speak, and touch Him, and that
my eyes shall look upon his divine face, and that the sweat of my brow shall be
so blessed as to be poured out in his service and for his sustenance? That He
shall live with us, and that we shall eat with Him at the same table, and that
we shall speak and converse with Him? Whence comes to me this good fortune
which nobody can ever deserve? O how much do I regret that I am so poor! Would
I possessed the richest palaces for his entertainment and many treasures to
offer Him I" And the sovereign Queen answered: "My master and spouse,
there is abundant reason that thy desires extend to all things possible for the
reception of thy Creator; but this great God and Lord does not wish to enter
into the world in the pomp of ostentatious riches and royal majesty. He has
need of none of these (Ps. 15,2), nor does He come from heaven for such
vanities. He comes to redeem the world and to guide men on the path of eternal
life (John 10, 10) ; and this is to be done by means of humility and poverty;
in these He wishes to be born, live and die, in order to destroy in the hearts
of men the fetters of covetousness and pride, which keep them from blessedness.
On this account He chose our poor and humble house, and desired us not to be
rich in apparent, deceitful and transitory goods, which are but vanity of
vanities and affliction of spirit (Eccles. 1, 24) and which oppress and obscure
the understanding."
430. At other times the saint asked the most pure Lady
to teach him the nature and essence of virtues, especially of the love of God,
in order that he might know how to behave toward the Most High become man and
in order that he might not be rejected as a useless and incapable servant. The
Queen and Teacher of virtues complied with these requests and explained to him
the nature of true virtues and the manner of exercising them in all perfection.
But in these discourses She proceeded with so much humility and discretion that
She did not appear as the Teacher of her spouse, though such She was; but She
managed to give her information under the guise of conversation or in
addressing the Lord, or at other times asking questions of saint Joseph, which
of themselves suggested the information. In all circumstances She knew how to
preserve her most profound humility, without permitting even the least gesture
not in accordance with it. These alternate discourses or readings from the holy
Scriptures they interrupted by manual labor as occasion required. Not only was
the hard and tiresome labor of saint Joseph lightened by the admirable words of
sympathy of our Lady, but in her rare discretion She also knew how to add
instruction, so that his manual labor became more an exercise of virtue than a
work of the hands. The mildest Dove, with the prudence of a most wise virgin,
administered her consolations by pointing out the most blessed fruits of labor.
In Her estimation She held Herself unworthy of being supported by her spouse,
and She felt Herself in continual debt to the sweat of saint Joseph, as one who
is receiving a great alms and most generous gift. All these considerations
caused in Her sentiments of deepest obligation, as if She were the most useless
creature on earth. Therefore, though She could not assist the saint in his
trade, since that was above the strength of women and unbecoming the modesty
and retirement of the heavenly Queen; yet in all that was befitting Her She
served Him as an humble handmaid, since her discreet humility and thankfulness
would not suffer any less return for the faithful services of saint Joseph.
431. Among other wonderful happenings in connection
with his intercourse with most holy Mary during these days of her pregnancy,
saint Joseph one day saw many birds flocking around Her in order to pay their
respect to the Queen and Mistress of all creatures. They surrounded Her as if
to form a choir and raised up their voices in songs of sweet harmony not less
wonderful than their visit to the heavenly Lady. Saint Joseph had never seen
this wonder until that day and, full of admiration and joy, he said to his
sovereign Spouse; "Is it possible, my Mistress, that these simple birds
and irrational creatures should understand and fulfill their obligations better
than I? Surely it is reasonable, that if they recognize, serve and reverence
Thee according to their powers, that Thou allow me to perform that which in
duty I am bound to do." The most pure Virgin answered him; "My
master, in the behavior of these little birds the Creator offers us a powerful
motive worthily to employ all our strength and faculties in his praise, just as
they recognize and acknowledge their Creator in my womb. I, however, am but a
creature and therefore I deserve no veneration, nor is it right that I accept
it; it is my duty to induce all creatures to praise the Most High, since He has
looked upon me, his handmaid, and has enriched me with the treasures of the
divinity" (Luke 1, 48).
432. It happened also not a few times that the
heavenly Lady and her spouse found themselves so poor and destitute of means
that they were in want of the necessaries of life; for they were most liberal
in their gifts to the poor, and they were never anxious to store up beforehand
food or clothing, as is wont with the children of this world in their
faint-hearted covetousness (Matth. 6, 25). The Lord so disposed things that the
faith and patience of his most holy Mother and of saint Joseph should not be
vain, for this indigence was a source of incomparable consolation to our Lady,
not only because of her love of poverty, but also on account of her astonishing
humility. She considered Herself unworthy of the sustenance of life, and that
She above all others should suffer the want of it. Therefore She blessed the
Lord for this poverty as far as it affected Her, while She asked the Most High
to supply the needs of saint Joseph, as being a just and holy man and well
worthy of this favor of the Almighty. The Lord did not forget his poor entirely
(Ps. 73, 19), for while He permitted them to exercise virtues and gain merits,
He also gave them nourishment in opportune time (Ps. 144, 15). This his
Providence provided in various ways. Sometimes He moved the hearts of their
neighbors and acquaintances to bring some gratuitous gift or pay some debt. At
other times, and more ordinarily, saint Elisabeth sent them assistance from her
home; for ever since She had harbored in her house the Queen of heaven this
devoted matron insisted on sending them a gift from time to time, which the
humble Princess always acknowledged by sending in return some work of her
hands. On some occasions, for the greater glory of the Most High, the blessed
Lady availed Herself of the power given to Her as the Mistress of all creation;
then She would command the birds of the air to bring some fishes from the sea,
or fruits of the field, and they would fulfill her commands to the point;
sometimes they would bring also bread in their beaks, which the Lord had
furnished them. Many times the most fortunate spouse saint Joseph was a witness
to all these happenings.
433. Also in other necessities they were on some
occasions succored by the holy angels in an admirable manner. In order properly
to understand some of the great miracles which happened through the ministry of
the angels to most holy Mary and Joseph, it is necessary to take into account
the magnanimity and generous faith of the saint, for these virtues were so
great in him that not even the shadow of covetousness, or greediness, could
find entrance into his soul. Although he labored for others, as did also his
heavenly Spouse, yet never did they ask for any wages, or set a price on their
work, asking payment therefore they performed all their work not for gain, but
in obedience to a request or for charity, leaving the payment of wages entirely
in the hands of their employers and accepting it not as a just return for their
labors, but as a freely given alms. This is the perfection of sanctity, which
saint Joseph learnt from the heavenly example given to him in his house by the
most holy Virgin. Owing to this circumstance, that he was not paid for his
work, it happened sometimes that they were in total want of food and sustenance
until the Lord would provide for them. One day it came to pass that the hour
set for their meal passed without their having anything in the house to eat.
They persevered in prayer until very late, giving thanks to the Lord for this
privation, and hoping that He would open his all-powerful hand (Ps. 144, 16).
In the meanwhile the holy angels prepared the meal and placed upon the table
some fruit, and whitest bread and fishes, also especially a sort of preserve or
jelly of wonderful and nourishing sweetness. Then some of the angels went to
call their Queen, and others called saint Joseph her spouse. Each came forth
from their separate retirement and, perceiving the regalement provided by
heaven, they thanked the Most High in tears of fervent gratitude and partook of
the food; and afterwards they broke out in exalted songs of praise of the
Almighty.
434. Many other similar events came to pass almost
daily in the house of most holy Mary and her spouse; for as they were alone and
as there was no need of hiding these wonders from witnesses, the Lord did not
hesitate to perform them for his beloved, who were entrusted with co-operation
in the most wonderful of all the works of his powerful arm, I wish merely to
remark, that when I say Mary sang canticles of praise, either She by Herself or
in company with saint Joseph or the holy angels, new songs are meant, such as
saint Anne sang, the mother of Samuel, or Moses, Ezechias and other Prophets,
when they were visited by great blessings of the Lord. If all the canticles
(Kings 2, 1; Deut. 32, 1, etc. ) which the Queen of heaven composed and sang
would have been recorded, there would be a large volume of them, the contents
of which would excite unheard of wonder in this world.
TEACHING VOUCHSAFED ME BY THE SAME QUEEN AND LADY.
435. Much-beloved daughter, I wish that the science of
the Lord be many times renewed in thee, and that thou acquire the knowledge of
the voice (Wis. 1, 7), so that thou mayst know, (and let also mortals know),
the dangerous deceit and perverse estimation in which they, as lovers of
falsehood, hold the temporal and visible goods (Ps. 4, 4). How many men are not
fascinated by their unbounded greed? All of them ordinarily stake their hopes
on gold and material riches; and in order to increase them, they exert all the
forces of their natural being. Thus they spend all the time of their life,
which was given them in order to gain eternal rest and happiness, in these
vanities. They lose themselves in these dark labyrinths and mazes, as if they
knew nothing of God and of his Providence; for they do not think of asking Him
for that which they desire, and do not moderate their desires in such a way as will
dispose them to ask and hope for what they desire at his hands. Thus they lose
all, because they confide in the lying and deceitful prospects of their own
efforts. This blind greed is the root of all evils (I Tim. 6, 20) ; for the
Lord, incensed at such great perversity, permits the mortals to be entangled in
the vile slavery of avarice, in which their understanding is darkened and their
will hardened. Soon the Most High, for greater punishment, withdraws his kindly
care as from creatures so detestable and denies them his paternal protection,
thus letting them fall into what is the deepest misfortune that can befall man
in this life.
436. Although it is true that nothing can hide itself
from the eyes of the Lord (Ps. 138, 6), yet when the transgressors and enemies
of his law offend Him, they forfeit the kind attention and care of his
Providence and are left to their own desires (Ps. 80, 13). They cease to
experience the paternal foresight shown toward those who trust in the Lord.
Those that confide in their own efforts and in the gold, which they can touch
and feel, will reap the fruit of their hopes. But just as far as the divine
Essence and Power is distant from the lowliness and limitation of mortals, so
far also the results of human covetousness are distant from the help and
protection of eternal Providence shown to the humble who trust in it (Ps. 17,
31). Upon these his Majesty looks with kindest love, delights in them,
nourishes them at his breast, and attends to their wishes and wants. I and my
holy spouse Joseph were poor, and at times we suffered great wants; but none of
them were powerful enough to engender within our hearts the contagion of
avarice. We concerned ourselves entirely with the glory of the Most High,
relying wholly on his most faithful and tender care. This was what pleased Him
so much, as thou hast understood and written; since He supplied our wants in
various manners, even commanding the angels to help us and prepare for us our
nourishment.
437. I do not wish to say that the mortals should
yield to laziness and negligence; on the contrary it is just that all should
labor (Ps. 48, 7), and doing nothing is also a great and very reprehensible
fault. Neither leisure nor solicitude must be disorderly; nor should the
creature trust in his own strength; nor should he smother the divine love in
anxiety; nor seek more than is necessary for a temperate life. Neither should
he fear that the divine Providence will fail to supply what is necessary, nor
should he be troubled or lose hope when the Creator seems to delay his
assistance. In the same way he that is in abundance should not (Eccli, 31, 8)
lay aside all exertion and forget that he is a man subject to labor and
travail. Thus riches as well as poverty must be attributed to God and made use
of in a holy and legitimate way for the glory of the Creator and Ruler of all
things. If men would observe this rule of action nobody would be without the
assistance of the Lord, who is a true Father, and neither would the poor be led
into sin by poverty, nor the rich by prosperity. Of thee, my daughter, I
require the practice of these rules, and through thee I wish to inculcate them
on other mortals. Thou must especially impress this doctrine upon all thy
subjects, telling them not to be troubled or faint-hearted because of the wants
they suffer, nor inordinately solicitous about their eating or clothing (Matth.
6, 25), but that they confide in the Most High and in his Providence. For if
they correspond to his love, I assure them that they shall never suffer from
the want of what is necessary. Exhort them also to let their words and
conversations continually turn about holy and divine things, engaging in the
praise and exaltation of the Lord according to the teachings of the Bible and
holy writings. Let their conversations be in heaven (Philip 3,20) with the Most
High, and with me, who am their Mother and Superior, and let it be with the
angels, imitating them in holy love.
THE MOST HOLY MARY PREPARES THE SWADDLING CLOTHES AND
THE LINENS FOR THE DIVINE INFANT WITH ARDENT LONGINGS TO SEE IT BORN.
438. The divine pregnancy of the Mother of the eternal
Word had already far advanced. Although She knew that the necessary coverings
and linens for the time of her parturition must be provided, She wished to
proceed in all things with the fullness of heavenly prudence. Therefore,
fulfilling all requirements of an obedient and faithful handmaid, She presumed
to arrange nothing without the permission and consent of the Lord and of her
holy spouse. Although She could have acted for Herself in such matters as
pertained to her office of chosen Mother and of her most holy Son, She would
not undertake anything without speaking to saint Joseph. Therefore She said to
him: "My master, it is time that we prepare the things necessary for the
birth of my most holy Son. Although his Majesty wishes to be treated as one of
the children of men, humiliating Himself and suffering with them, yet it is
just that we acknowledge Him as our God and as our true King and Lord by rendering
Him our devoted service, and by making careful provision for his wants as an
infant. If thou give me permission I will begin to prepare the coverings and
linens for his protection and shelter. I have already woven with my own hands a
piece of linen which may serve as his first swaddling-clothes; and do thou, my
master, seek to procure some woolen cloth of a soft texture and an humble color
from which I may prepare other coverings; and later on I will weave a seamless
tunic appropriate for Him. In order to avoid any mistake, let us offer special
prayers asking his Highness to govern and direct us in the right way, so that
we may know his will and fulfill his pleasure."
439. "My Spouse and Lady," answered saint
Joseph, "if it were possible to serve with my own heart-blood my Lord and
God and thus fulfill thy commands, I would be willing to shed it amid most
atrocious torments; and as I cannot do this, would that I had great riches to
buy the most costly textures in order to offer them to Thee on this occasion.
Do Thou give thy orders as Thou seest fit, for I will serve Thee as thy
servant." Both of them betook themselves to prayer, and each separately
heard the answer of the Lord, repeating what the sovereign Queen had already
heard many times, and, which now was said in her hearing and that of saint
Joseph: "I have come from heaven to the earth in order to exalt humility
and discredit pride, to honor poverty and contemn riches, to destroy vanity and
establish truth, and in order to enhance worthily the value of labor. Therefore
it is my will that exteriorly you treat Me according to the humble position
which I have assumed, as if I were the natural child of both of you, and that
interiorly you acknowledge Me as the Son of my eternal Father, and bestow the reverence
and love due to Me as the Man-God."
440. Encouraged by this divine voice to seek the
wisest course in the rearing of the infant God, most holy Mary and Joseph
conferred with each other in what way they might conceal the most noble and
perfect worship which was ever given to the true God by his creatures, beneath
the treatment which in the eyes of the world was due to a natural child of them
both; for this was to be the opinion of the world, and such a conduct the Lord
himself had enjoined upon them. Having therefore come to an agreement they
lived up to this command of the Lord in such perfection that they were the
admiration of all heaven; and further on I will say more of this (Nos. 506,
508, 536, 545). They both concluded that according to the limited means allowed
them by their poverty they were to expend whatever they could afford in the
service of the infant God without going into excess or failing in anything; for
the sacrament of the King was to be concealed in humble poverty, though at the
same time they wished to exercise their burning love as far as was possible.
Saint Joseph, in exchange for some of his work, accepted two pieces of woolen
cloth such as his heavenly Spouse had described; the one white, the other
mulberry-colored mixed with grey, both of them of the best quality he could
find. Of these the heavenly Queen made the first little dresses of her most
holy Son, while She prepared the swathing clothes and shirts from the piece of
linen which She herself had spun and woven. Being woven by such hands, it was a
most delicate piece of cloth. She had commenced work upon it from the day of
her entrance into their house at Nazareth; for She had intended it for the
temple as a present. Although it could now serve for another much higher purpose,
nevertheless, She offered whatever remained of it after She had completed the
furnishings of the infant God as a gift to the temple of Jerusalem, according
to her original intention. All the articles and coverings necessary for her
divine Infant the great Lady prepared with her own hands, and while She sewed
and trimmed them She shed tears of ineffable devotion remaining continually on
her knees. Saint Joseph gathered such flowers and herbs as he could find from
which, together with other aromatic materials, the zealous Mother extracted
fragrant essences. With these She sprinkled the sacred vestments of the Victim
of sacrifice which She awaited; then She folded and laid them away in a chest,
in which She afterwards took them along with Her, as I shall relate farther on.
441. All these doings of the Princess of heaven are to
be thought of and estimated not as being without life, nude and bare as I here
represent them, but of incomparable grace and loveliness, full of sanctity and
exalted merit, of a greater perfection than human intellect can comprehend;
because She performed all these works as the Mother of wisdom, and as the Queen
of all virtues. In preparing for the appearance of the most holy humanity of
her Son in this world, She celebrated the dedication of the living temple of
God. The sovereign Queen understood better than all the rest of creation the
ineffable greatness of the mystery of the Incarnation of a God and of his
coming into the world. Not in a spirit of doubt, but inflamed by love and
veneration, She repeated many times the words of Solomon when he built the
temple: "How is it possible that God should dwell with men on earth? If
all the heavens, and the heaven of heavens cannot comprehend Thee, how can this
human body contain Thee, which is formed in my womb?" But if the temple of
Solomon, which served only as a place in which God should hear the prayers
within it, was built and dedicated with such lavish expenditure of gold,
silver, treasures and sacrifices, what should not the Mother of the true
Solomon do for the building up and the dedication of the living temple (Colos.
2, 9) where was to dwell the plenitude of the true Divinity, the eternal and
incomprehensible God? All these innumerable sacrifices and treasures of the
figurative temple, most holy Mary duplicated not in gold, silver, or rich
texture, since God sought no such riches in the living temple, but in heroic
virtues and in canticles of praise, by which She fructified and extolled the
graces and gifts of the Most High. She offered up the sacrifice of her burning
love, and ransacked all the holy writings for hymns, canticles and psalms to
praise and magnify this mystery, adding thereto the expression of her own
exalted sentiments. In a mystical and yet altogether real manner She fulfilled
the ancient figures and types by her virtues and by her interior and her
exterior acts. She called upon and invited all the creatures to praise their
God, to give honor and glory to their Creator, and place the hope of their sanctification
in his coming into the world. In many of these exercises the most fortunate and
blessed Joseph, her spouse, took part.
442. No human tongue can describe, and no created
understanding can reach the sublime height of merit which the Princess of
heaven attained, and the degree of pleasure and complacency which they afforded
the Most High. If the least degree of grace, which any creature merits by an
act of virtue, is more valuable than all the created universe, what treasures
of grace did She not gain, whose acts exceeded in value not only all the
sacrifices, offerings and holocausts of the old law and all the merits of the
human race, but far excelled also those of the highest seraphim? The loving
extremes of the heavenly Lady in hoping to look upon her Son and true God, to
receive Him in her arms, nourish Him at her breast, tend Him with her own
hands, converse with Him and serve Him, and adore Him made man from her own
flesh, reached such a pass that in the ardors of love She would have breathed
forth her spirit and have been consumed if She had not been preserved from
dissolution, assisted and strengthened by the miraculous intervention of that
same God. Yes, many times would She have lost her life, if it had not been
preserved by her most holy Son; for many times She saw Him in her virginal womb
and with divine clearness She saw his humanity united to his Divinity, observed
the interior acts of that most holy Soul, the conditions and postures of his
body, the prayers offered up by Him for Her, for saint Joseph, for all the
human race and especially for the predestined. All these and other mysteries
were open to Her, and in perceiving them She was altogether inflamed with the
desire of imitating and exalting Him, since She bore within Her the devouring
fires which illumine yet do not consume (Exod. 3, 2).
443. Amidst this conflagration of divine love She
spoke sometimes to her most holy Son: "My sweetest Love, Creator of the
universe, when shall my eyes enjoy the light of thy divine countenance? When
shall my arms be consecrated as the altar of the Victim, which is awaited by
the eternal Father? When shall I kiss the earth trodden by thy divine feet, and
when shall I as thy Mother gain the coveted kiss of my Beloved (Cant. 1, 1) so
that I may inhale thy own Spirit from the flow of thy breath? When shalt Thou,
the inaccessible light, the true God of the true God, Light of the Light (John
1, 9), manifest Thyself to us mortals, after so many ages of concealment from
our view? When shall the children of Adam, laden with the guilt of their sins,
know their Redeemer (Baruch 3, 38), see their salvation, welcome in their midst
their Teacher, their Brother and their true Father? O Light of my soul, my
strength, my Beloved, for whom dying I live! Son of my womb, how can I fulfill
the office of a Mother, since I know not how to fulfill the duties, nor merit
the name of even a slave? How shall I be able to treat Thee worthily, who am a
vile and insignificant, poor worm? How can I serve and administer to Thee,
since Thou art sanctity itself and infinite goodness, and I only dust and
ashes? How can I dare to speak before Thee, or stand in Thy presence? Do Thou,
Master of my being, who hast chosen me, the little one among the other
daughters of Adam, govern my conduct, direct my desires and inflame my
affections, in order that I may please Thee with all my powers! And what shall
I do, my only Delight, since Thou art to issue from my womb into the world in
order to suffer affronts and death for the human race, if at the same time I shall
not be allowed to die with Thee and accompany Thee in thy sacrifice? Since Thou
art my life and my being, let the same cause and motive that brings about thy
Death bring about also mine; for they are united as if they were one and the
same. Less than thy Death will suffice to save the world, yes thousands of
worlds; let me die instead of Thee, and let me suffer thy ignominies, while
Thou, by thy love and light, sanctify the world and enlighten the darkness of
mortals, and if it is not possible to revoke the decree of the eternal Father,
which requires that Redemption be abundant (Ephes, 2, 4) and thy excessive
charity be satisfied, look graciously upon my desires and let me take part in:
all the labors of thy life, since Thou art my Son and Lord."
444. The variety of these and other sweetest
sentiments of love uttered by the Queen made Her most beautiful in the eyes
(Esth. 2,9) of the Prince of the eternities, who was enshrined in the virginal
chamber of her womb. All her interior movements were conformable to the actions
of that most sacred and deified Humanity; for as a worthy Mother of such a Son
She closely observed them as models for her imitation. Sometimes the infant God
would place Himself on his knees in order to pray to the Father or assume the
position of one crucified, as if in order to exercise Himself therein
beforehand. From that retirement (as even now from the highest throne in
heaven) He looked upon and comprehended, by the science of his most holy soul,
all that He knows even at this day, and no creatures of the present, past, or
future, with all their thoughts and actions, was hidden from his view. To all
things He attended as the Lord and Redeemer. Since these mysteries were
manifest also to his heavenly Mother and since She was also endowed with all
the graces and gifts necessary for acting in concert with Him, She brought
forth such great fruits of sanctity, that no human words can ever describe
them. But if we were not perverted in our judgments, and if we were not
hardened as stone, we would find it impossible, at the sight and experience of
these vast and admirable works, to remain untouched by loving sorrow and
thankful acknowledgment.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, THE MOST HOLY QUEEN, GAVE ME.
445. The lesson of this chapter, my daughter, should
be, that thou bear in mind with what reverence thou must handle all the things
consecrated and devoted to the divine service; and at the same time estimate
how reprehensible is the irreverence with which the ministers of the Lord
offend in their disregard for the sacred objects. They should not forget or
slight the indignation of his Majesty against them for the gross discourtesy
and ingratitude, which they ordinarily show by handling the sacred ornaments
and objects of worship without attention and respect. And much greater is the
anger of the Lord against those who possess the incomes or stipends of his most
sacred blood, if they waste and squander them in vile vanities and indecent
profanities. They seek for their sustenance and convenience what is most costly
and valuable, while for the honor and worship of the Lord they are satisfied
with what is most cheap, common and ordinary. When this happens, especially in
regard to the linens, which touch the body and blood of my most holy Son, such
as corporals and purificators, I wish thee to understand that the holy angels,
that assist at the most exalted and sublime sacrifice, are as it were struck
with horror and cover their eyes at the sight, full of astonishment that the
Most High bears with them and suffers such boldness and presumption. Although
not all offend in this, yet there are many; and few distinguish themselves in
outward respect and care at the divine cult, or treat the sacred objects with
due reverence; they are the smaller number and even they do not all have the
pure intention, not observing this due respect out of reverence, but out of
vanity and for other human ends. Thus they who adore and worship their Creator
in the spirit of truth and with a pure and upright intention have become very
scarce.
446. Consider, my dearest, what should be our
sentiments when, on the one hand, we reflect on the incomprehensible being of
God, who in his goodness has created us for his honor and worship, establishing
this as the very law of our nature and of all the created universe, and when,
on the other hand, we see with what ingratitude men correspond to the gifts of
the most liberal Creator by withholding from his service the very things
intended for it, reserving for their own vanities the most costly and valuable
and applying for their Creator only the most valueless and despicable of this
world. This fault is little thought of and recognized, and therefore I wish not
only that thou deplore it with true sorrow, but also that thou make reparation
for it as far as possible during the time in which thou art superioress. Give
to the Lord of the best, and instruct thy religious that they attend with a
sincere and devout heart to the keeping in order and the cleaning of the sacred
articles; and this not only for their own convent, but also by seeking to
furnish other poor churches with the corporals and vestments of which they
stand in need. Let them be convinced that the Lord will repay their holy zeal
for his worship, and that He will relieve their poverty and the necessities of
their convent like a Father, and that thereby it will never become poorer. This
is the most appropriate occupation and legitimate business of the spouses of
Christ, and in this they ought to consume their time which may remain after
fulfilling the obligations of the choir and other duties of obedience. If all
the religious would busy themselves purposely in these honorable, praiseworthy
and agreeable occupations they would never suffer any want and they would
maintain an angelic existence in this life. Because they do not attend to this
service of the Lord, many of them, forsaken by the hand of the God, turn toward
the dangerous levities and distractions, which on account of their vileness, I
do not wish thee to describe or consider except to deplore them from thy heart
and to avert such displeasure and offense against God.
447. But because I have especial reason to look with
favor upon the inmates of thy convent, I wish that, in my name and by my
authority, thou admonish and lovingly urge them always to live retired and dead
to the world, with unbroken forgetfulness of all that passes within it; that
among themselves their conversation be of heaven, and that above all they
preserve intact the mutual peace and love, to which I have exhorted thee so
often (Philip 3, 20). If they obey me in this I offer them my protection, and I
will constitute myself their Mother, their help and defense in the same way as
I am thine, and I will also promise them my continual and efficacious
intercession with my most holy Son, if they do not displease me. For this
purpose thou shouldst exhort them to continual love and devotion toward me,
engrafting it in their hearts; in being thus faithful they will attain all that
thou wishest for them, and much more, for I will obtain it for them. In order
that they may occupy themselves with joy and alacrity in preparing things for
the divine worship, and gladly undertake all that pertains to it, remind them
of all that I did in the service of my most holy Son and of the temple. I
desire thee to understand that the holy angels were full of admiration at the
zeal, careful attention and neatness with which I took charge of all that
belonged to the service of my Son and Lord. This loving and reverent anxiety
caused me to prepare all that was necessary for his rearing up beforehand, so
that I was never in want of anything necessary for clothing Him and administering
to his comfort (as some have thought); for my prudence and love would not
permit any negligence or inadvertence in this regard.
THE EDICT OF CESAR AUGUSTUS IS PUBLISHED, COMMANDING
ALL SUBJECTS OF THE EMPIRE TO REGISTRATE; AND WHAT SAINT JOSEPH DID WHEN HE
HEARD OF IT.
448. It had been decreed by the immutable will of
Providence that the Onlybegotten of the Father should be born in the town of
Bethlehem (Mich. 5, 2), and accordingly it had been foretold by the Saints and
Prophets of foregone ages (Jerem. 10, 9) ; for the decrees of the absolute will
of God are infallible, and since nothing can resist them (Esther 13, 9), sooner
would heaven and earth pass away than that they fail of accomplishment (Matth.
24, 35). The fulfillment of this immutable decree the Lord secured by means of
an edict of Caesar Augustus for the whole Roman empire, ordering the registration
or enumeration of all the world, as saint Luke says (Luke 2, 1). The Roman
empire at that time embraced the greater part of what was then known of the
earth and therefore they called themselves masters of the world, ignoring all
the other nations. The object of this census was to make all the inhabitants
acknowledge themselves as vassals of the emperor, and to pay a certain tax to
their temporal lord; for this registration every one was to go to his native
city in order to be inscribed. This edict was also proclaimed in Nazareth and
came to the hearing of saint Joseph while he was on some errand. He returned to
his house in sorrowful consternation and informed his heavenly Spouse of the
news which had spread about concerning the edict. The most prudent Virgin
answered: "Let not this edict of our temporal ruler cause thee any
concern, my master and spouse, for all that happens to us is ordained by the
Lord and King of heaven and earth; and in all events his Providence will assist
and direct us (Eccli, 22, 28). Let us resign ourselves into his hands and we
shall not be disappointed."
449. Most holy Mary was capable of being entrusted
with all the mysteries of her most holy Son and She knew of the prophecies and
their fulfillment; hence, also, that the Onlybegotten of the Father and her own
was to be born in Bethlehem, a Stranger and an Unknown. But She said nothing of
this to saint Joseph; for without being commissioned by the Lord She would
reveal none of his secrets. All that She was not commanded to reveal She
concealed with admirable prudence, notwithstanding her desire of consoling her
most faithful and holy spouse. She wished to entrust Herself to his direction
and arrangement without acting the part of those who are wise in their own
conceit, as Wisdom warns us (Prov, 3, 7). They therefore conferred with each
other about the course to be pursued; for already the pregnancy of the heavenly
Lady was far advanced and her parturition was approaching. Saint Joseph said:
"Queen of heaven and earth and my Mistress, if Thou hast no order to the
contrary from the Almighty, it seems to me necessary that I go alone. Yet,
although this order refers only to the heads of families, I dare not leave Thee
without assistance, nor could I live without Thee, nor would I have a moment's
peace away from Thee; for my heart could not come to any rest without seeing
Thee. Thy heavenly delivery is too imminent to ask Thee to go with me to
Bethlehem, whither this edict calls us; and I fear to place Thee in any risk,
as well on account of thy condition as also on account of my poverty. If thy
delivery should happen on the way, amid inconveniences, which I could not
alleviate, I would be heartbroken. These are the anxious thoughts which trouble
me. I pray Thee, Lady, present them before the Most High and beseech Him to
grant me my desire of not being separated from Thee."
450. His humble Spouse obeyed saint Joseph and
although She was not ignorant of the divine will, yet She would not omit this
act of obedience as a most submissive Spouse. She presented to the Lord the
fervent wishes of saint Joseph and received the following answer:
"My dearest Dove, yield to the wishes of my
servant Joseph in what he proposes. Accompany him on the journey. I shall be
with Thee and I shall assist Thee with paternal love in the tribulations which
Thou shalt suffer for my sake; although they shall be very great, my powerful
arms will make Thee come forth glorious from all of them. Thy footsteps will be
beautiful in my sight (Cant. 7, 1), do not fear, since this is my will."
Then the Lord gave to the holy guardian angels, in the presence of the heavenly
Mary, a new and special command and precept, that they serve Her during this
journey with particular care and solicitude, as befitted the magnificent
mysteries that should be transacted. Beside the thousand angels which served
ordinarily as her guard, the Lord commanded another nine thousand to attend on
their Queen and Mistress, and serve as a guard of honor ten thousand strong
from the first day of her journey. This they did as most faithful servants of
the Lord, as I shall say later on (Nos. 456, 489, 616,622,631, 634). The great
Queen was renewed and strengthened with new enlightenment for the troubles and
tribulations which would be occasioned by the persecution of Herod and other
happenings at the birth of the infant God (Matth. 2, 16). Her invincible heart
being thus prepared, She offered Herself to the Lord without any disquietude
and gave thanks for all that He should choose to do and arrange in regard to
these future events.
451. She returned from this heavenly interview to
saint Joseph, and announced to him the will of the Most High, that She accede
to his wishes and accompany him on his journey to Bethlehem. Joseph was filled
with new consolation and delight; acknowledging the great favor conferred upon
him by the right hand of the Most High, he gave thanks with fervent acts of
gratitude and humility; and, addressing the heavenly Spouse, he answered:
"My Lady, source of my happiness and good fortune, the only cause of grief
in this journey will now be the hardships which Thou must undergo because I
have no riches to procure Thee the conveniences which I would like to furnish
for thy pilgrimage. But we shall find relations, acquaintances and friends of
our family in Bethlehem; I hope they will receive us hospitably, and there thou
canst rest from the exertions of the journey, if the Lord will dispose as I thy
servant would wish." Thus the holy spouse saint Joseph lovingly planned;
but the Lord had already pre-arranged all things in a way unknown to him; and
therefore he experienced so much the greater bitterness of disappointment when
all his loving expectations failed, as we shall see. Most holy Mary said
nothing to saint Joseph of what She knew the Lord had decreed concerning the
heavenly Birth, although She well knew that it would be different from what he
expected She rather encouraged him, saying:
"My spouse and my master, I accompany thee with
much pleasure, and we will make this journey as poor people in the name of the
Lord: for the Most High will not despise poverty, which He came to seek with so
much love. Relying on his protection and assistance in our necessities and
labors, we will proceed with confidence. Do thou, my master, place to his
account all thy difficulties."
452. They at the same time resolved upon the day of
their departure, and Joseph diligently searched in the town of Nazareth for
some beast of burden to bear the Mistress of the world. He could not easily
find one because so many people were going to different towns in order to
fulfill the requirements of the edict of the emperor. But after much anxious
inquiry saint Joseph found an unpretentious little beast which, if we can call
such creatures fortunate, was the most fortunate of all the irrational animals;
since it was privileged not only to bear the Queen of all creation and the
blessed fruit of her womb, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but
afterwards to be present at his Birth (Isaias 1, 3) ; and since it gave to its
Creator the homage denied to Him by men, as I shall relate ( No. 485). They
provided the articles for the journey, which would last five days. The outfit
of the heavenly travelers was the same as that which they had provided for
their previous journey to the house of Zacharias on their visit to Elisabeth.
They carried with them bread, fruit and some fishes, which ordinarily composed
their nourishment. As the most prudent Virgin was enlightened regarding their
protracted absence, She made use of prudent concealment in taking along the
linens and clothes necessary for her heavenly delivery, for She wished to
dispose all things according to the exalted intents of the Lord and in
preparation for the events which She expected. Their house they left in charge
of some neighbor until they should return.
453. The day and hour for their departure for
Bethlehem arrived and, because of the reverence with which the most faithful
and fortunate Joseph had begun to treat his sovereign Spouse, he diligently and
anxiously sought to do all in his power to please Her; he besought Her with
great affection to make known to him all her wishes and to call his attention
to all that he might forget in regard to her pleasure, convenience and comfort,
or that might please the Lord whom She bore in her womb. The humble Queen
thanked him for his loving attention, and referring it to all the glory and
service of her most holy Son, She consoled and animated him to meet
courageously the hardships of the journey, assuring him anew that the Almighty
was pleased with his affectionate solicitude. She also informed him of the will
of his Majesty that they meet with patience and joy of heart the hardships of
poverty on their way. In order to begin her journey the Empress of heaven knelt
at the feet of saint Joseph and asked him for his blessing. Although the man of
God shrunk from such a request and strenuously objected on account of the
dignity of his Spouse, She nevertheless remained victorious in her humility and
prevailed upon him to give Her his benediction. Saint Joseph complied with
great timidity and reverence, and immediately cast himself at her feet in a
flood of tears, asking Her to present him anew to her most holy Son, and obtain
for him divine pardon and grace. Thus prepared they started from Nazareth for
Bethlehem in midwinter, which made the journey more painful and difficult. But
the Mother of God, who bore eternal Life within Her, attended solely to the
divine activities and colloquies of the Lord, observing Him in the virginal
chamber of her womb, imitating Him in his works, and giving Him more delight
and honor than all the rest of creatures taken together.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MOST HOLY MARY, THE QUEEN VOUCHSAFED
ME.
454. My daughter, in all thy discourse on my life, and
in each of the chapters and mysteries so far rehearsed, thou wilt find the
admirable providence of the Most High and his fatherly love toward me, his
humble servant. Although human capacity cannot fully penetrate and estimate the
admirable works of such high wisdom, yet it must venerate it with all its
powers, and must seek to participate in the favors which the Lord showed me, by
striving to imitate me. For mortals must not think that only for my sake and in
me God wished to show Himself as holy, powerful and infinitely good. It is
certain that if any or all of the souls would entrust themselves to the
direction and government of this Lord they would soon experience that same
fidelity, punctuality and most sweet efficacy with which his Majesty arranged
all things that touched upon his honor and service in my life. They would
likewise taste those delightful and divine emotions which I felt in relying
upon his most holy will; nor would they fail to receive the abundance of his
gifts, which are enclosed as in an infinite ocean within his Divinity. And just
as the waters of the ocean rush forth wherever they find a suitable opening, so
the graces and blessings of the Lord overflow upon rational creatures, when
they are well-disposed and do not hinder their course. This truth is hidden to
mortals because they do not stop to ponder and consider the works of the
Almighty.
455. I desire thee to study this truth, to write it
within thy heart, and to learn from my own actions the secret workings of thy
own interior so that thou understand what goes on within thee; also that thou
practice ready obedience and subjection to others, always preferring the good
counsels of others to thy own insight and judgment. Thou must carry this to
such a point that, in order to obey thy superiors and thy spiritual directors,
thou take no notice of what thou foreseest will happen contrary to their
expectations; just as I, when I knew that what my holy spouse Joseph expected
would not happen on our journey to Bethlehem. And even when some equal or
inferior command thee such things, be silent and hide thy better foreknowledge;
perform all that is no sin or imperfection. Listen to all with attention and
silence so that thou mayest learn; in speaking be very slow and reserved, for
in this consist prudent and careful intercourse. Always bear in mind that thou
ask the blessing of the Lord for all that thou wishest to undertake, in order
that thou mayest not wander from what is pleasing to Him. Whenever thou hast an
opportunity, ask also the permission and blessing of thy spiritual father and
director, so that thou mayest not fall short of the greatest merits and
perfections in thy works, and in order that thou mayest also give me the
pleasure, which I desire of thee.
THE JOURNEY OF MOST HOLY MARY FROM NAZARETH TO
BETHLEHEM IN THE COMPANY OF THE HOLY SPOUSE JOSEPH AND OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS.
456. The most pure Mary and the glorious saint Joseph
departed from Nazareth for Bethlehem alone, poor and humble in the eyes of the
world. None of the mortals thought more of them than what was warranted by
their poverty and humility. But O the wonderful sacraments of the Most High,
hidden to the proud, and unpenetrated by the wisdom of the flesh! They did not
walk alone, poor or despised, but prosperous, rich and in magnificence. They
were most worthy of the immense love of the eternal Father and most estimable
in his eyes. They carried with them the Treasure of heaven, the Deity itself.
The whole court of the celestial ministers venerated them. All the inanimate
beings recognized the living and true Ark of the Testament (Josue 3, 16) more
readily than the waters of the Jordan recognized its type and shadow, when they
courteously laid open and free the path for its passage and for those that
followed it. They were accompanied by the ten thousand angels, which as
mentioned (No. 450), were appointed by God himself as the servants of her
Majesty during that whole journey. These heavenly squadrons marched along as
their retinue in human forms visible to the heavenly Lady, more refulgent than
so many suns. She herself walked in their midst better guarded and defended
than the bed of Solomon, surrounded by the sixty valiant ones of Israel, girded
with their swords (Cant. 3, 7). Besides these ten thousand angels there were
many others, who descended from heaven as messengers of the eternal Father to
his Onlybegotten made man in his most holy Mother, and who ascended from earth
as their ambassadors with messages and treaties from them to the heavenly
Father.
457. In the midst of this royal retinue, hidden from
the gaze of men, most holy Mary and Joseph proceeded on their way secure that
their feet would not be bruised by the stone of tribulation (Ps. 40, 12), since
the Lord had commanded his angels to be their defense and watchfulness. This
command the most faithful ministers, as vassals of their great Queen, fulfilled
with wonder and delight, seeing centered in a mere Creature such great
sacraments, such perfections, and immense treasures of the Divinity, and seeing
in Her all this distinction united to dignity and grace far exceeding their own
angelic capacity. They composed new songs in honor of the Lord, whom they saw
reclining as the highest King of glory, on his throne of gold (Cant. 3, 9) ;
and in honor of the heavenly Mother, who was like his living and incorruptible
chariot, or like the fertile ear of corn of the promised land, enclosing the
living grain (Lev. 23, 10); or like the rich merchant ship, which brings the
grain to the house of bread, in order that dying in the earth it might be
multiplied for heaven (John 12, 24). Their journey lasted five days, for on
account of the pregnancy of his Spouse, saint Joseph shortened each day's
journey. The sovereign Queen experienced no darkness of night on the way; for a
few times, when their travel extended beyond nightfall the holy angels spread
about such effulgence as not all the lights of heaven in their noontide
splendor would have thrown forth in the clearest heavens. This light and vision
of the angels also saint Joseph enjoyed at those times; then all of them
together would form celestial choirs, in which they and the two holy travelers
alternated in singing wonderful hymns and canticles of praise, converting the
fields into new heavens. During this whole journey the Queen was rejoiced by
the sight of her resplendent ministers and vassals and by the sweet interior
conversation held with them.
458. With these wonderful favors and delights,
however, the Lord joined some hardships and inconveniences, which the divine
Mother encountered on the way. For the concourse of people in the taverns,
occasioned by the imperial edict, was very disagreeable and annoying to the
modest and retiring Virgin-Mother and her spouse. On account of their poverty
and timid retirement they were treated with less hospitality and consideration
than others, especially the well-to-do; for the world judges and usually
confers its favors according to outward appearance and according to personal
influence. Our holy pilgrims were obliged repeatedly to listen to sharp
reprimands in the taverns, at which they arrived tired out by their journey,
and in some of them they were refused admittance as worthless and despicable
people. Several times they assigned to the Mistress of heaven and earth some
corner of the hallway; while at others She did not fare even so well, being
obliged to retire with her husband to places still more humble and unbecoming
in the estimation of the world. But in whatever places She tarried, how
contemptible so ever it might be considered, the courtiers of heaven
established their court around their supreme King and sovereign Queen.
Immediately they surrounded and enclosed them like an impenetrable wall,
securing the bridal chamber of Solomon against the terrors of the night. Her
most faithful spouse Joseph, seeing the Mistress of heaven so well guarded by
the angelic hosts, betook himself to rest and sleep; for to this She urged him
on account of the hardships of travel. She, however, continued her celestial
colloquies with the ten thousand angels of her retinue.
459. Solomon, in the Canticles, describes in diverse
metaphors and similitudes many great mysteries of the Queen of heaven, but in
the third chapter he refers more particularly to what happened to the heavenly
Mother in her pregnancy and during this journey. During this time was fulfilled
to the letter all that is said of the couch of Solomon (Cant. 3, 7), of his
chariot and of his golden bed, of the guard, which was stationed around it
enjoying the divine vision; also all the other sayings, which are contained in
those prophecies. What I have pointed out will suffice to make them understood,
and they should excite our admiration of the wonderful sacraments of God's
activity for the good of man. Who is there among mortals whose heart is not
softened? Or who is so proud as not to be abashed? Or so careless as not to be
filled with wonder at such miraculous extremes? The infinite and true God
hidden and concealed in the virginal womb of a tender Maiden, full of grace and
beauty, innocent, pure, sweet, pleasing and amiable in the eyes of God and of
men, surpassing all that the Lord God has ever or shall ever create! To see
this great Lady, bearing the treasure of the Divinity, despised, persecuted,
neglected, and cast out by the blind ignorance and pride of the world! And on
the other hand, while She is thus pushed aside into the last places, to see Her
loved and esteemed by the triune God, regaled by his caresses, served by his
angels, revered, defended and assisted with the greatest anxiety and
watchfulness! O children of men, slow and hard of hearts! (Ps. 4, 3). How
deceitful are your ways and how erroneous is your judgment in esteeming the
rich and despising the poor (James 2, 2), exalting the proud and humiliating
the lowly, applauding the braggarts and casting out the just! Blind is your
choice and full of error your judgment, and you will find yourselves frustrated
in all your desires. Ambitiously you seek riches and treasures, and you find
yourself in poverty beating the air; if you had received the true ark of God,
you would have been blessed by the hand of the Almighty, like Obededom (II
Kings, 6, 11) ; but because you have treated it unworthily, many of you have
experienced the punishment of Oza.
460. The heavenly Lady observed and knew the secrets
of the different souls of those She met, penetrating into the very thoughts and
conditions of each, whether of grace or of guilt in their different degrees.
Concerning many souls She also knew whether they were predestined or reprobate,
whether they would persevere, fall, or again rise up. All this variety of
insight moved Her to the exercise of heroic virtues as well in regard to the
ones as to the others. For many of them She obtained the grace of perseverance,
for others efficacious help to rise from their sin to grace; for others again
She prayed to the Lord with affectionate tears, feeling intensest sorrow for
the reprobate, though She did not pray as efficaciously for them. Many times,
worn out by these sorrows, much more than by the hardships of travel, the
strength of her body gave way; on such occasions the holy angels, full of
refulgent light and beauty, bore Her up in their arms, in order that She might
rest and recuperate. The sick, afflicted and indigent whom She met on the way,
She consoled and assisted by asking her most holy Son to come to their aid in
their necessities and adversities. She kept Herself silently aloof from the
multitude, preoccupied with the Fruit of her divine pregnancy, which was already
evident to all. Such was the return which the Mother of mercy made for the
inhospitality of mortals.
461. For the greater reproach of human ingratitude, it
happened also that once during these wintry days they reached a stopping-place
in the midst of a cold rain and snow storm (for the Lord did not spare them
this inconvenience), and they were obliged to take shelter in the stables of
the animals, because the owners would not furnish better accommodation. The
irrational beasts showed them the courtesy and kindness which was refused by
their human fellow-beings; for they retreated in reverence at the entrance of
their Maker and of his Mother, who carried Him in her virginal womb. It is true
the Queen of creation could command the winds, the frost and the snow not to
inconvenience Her; but She would not give such a command in order not to
deprive Herself of suffering in imitation of her most holy Son, even before He
came forth into the world. Therefore the inclemencies of the weather affected
Her to a certain extent. The faithful saint Joseph, however, did his utmost to
shield Her; and still more did the holy angels seek to protect Her, especially
the holy prince Michael, who remained at the right side of his Queen without
leaving Her even for a moment; several times, when She became tired, He led Her
by the arm along the way. Whenever the Lord permitted, he also shielded Her
against the weather and performed many other services for the heavenly Queen
and the blessed Fruit of her womb, Jesus.
462. Thus variously and wonderfully assisted, our
travelers arrived at the town of Bethlehem at four o'clock of the fifth day, a
Saturday. As it was at the time of the winter solstice, the sun was already
sinking and the night was falling. They entered the town, and wandered through
many streets in search of a lodging-house or inn for staying over night. They
knocked at the doors of their acquaintances and nearer family relations; but
they were admitted nowhere and in many places they met with harsh words and
insults. The most modest Queen followed her spouse through the crowds of
people, while he went from house to house and from door to door. Although She
knew that the hearts and the houses of men were to be closed to them, and
although to expose her state at her age to the public gaze was more painful to
her modesty than their failure to procure a night lodging, She nevertheless
wished to obey saint Joseph and suffer this indignity and unmerited shame.
While wandering through the streets they passed the office of the public
registry and they inscribed their names and paid the fiscal tribute in order to
comply with the edict and not be obliged to return. They continued their
search, betaking themselves to other houses. But having already applied at more
than fifty different places, they found themselves rejected and sent away from
them all. The heavenly spirits were filled with astonishment at these exalted
mysteries of the Most High, which manifested the patience and meekness of his
Virgin Mother and the unfeeling hardness of men. At the same time they blessed
the Almighty in his works and hidden sacraments, since from that day on He
began to exalt and honor poverty and humility among men.
463. It was nine o'clock at night when the most
faithful Joseph, full of bitter and heartrending sorrow, returned to his most
prudent Spouse and said: "My sweetest Lady, my heart is broken with sorrow
at the thought of not only not being able to shelter Thee as Thou deservest and
as I desire, but in not being able to offer Thee even any kind of protection
from the weather, or a place of rest, a thing rarely or never denied to the
most poor and despised in the world. No doubt heaven, in thus allowing the
hearts of men to be so unmoved as to refuse us a night-lodging, conceals some
mystery. I now remember, Lady, that outside the city walls there is a cave,
which serves as a shelter for shepherds and their flocks. Let us seek it out;
perhaps it is unoccupied, and we may there expect some assistance from heaven,
since we receive none from men on earth." The most prudent Virgin
answered: "My spouse and my master, let not thy kindest heart be afflicted
because the ardent wishes which the love of thy Lord excites in thee cannot be
fulfilled. Since I bear Him in my womb, let us, I beseech thee, give thanks for
having disposed events in this way. The place of which thou speakest shall be
most satisfactory to me. Let thy tears of sorrow be turned into tears of joy,
and let us lovingly embrace poverty, which is the inestimable and precious
treasure of my most holy Son. He came from heaven in order to seek it, let us
then afford Him an occasion to practice it in the joy of our souls; certainly I
cannot be better delighted than to see thee procure it for me. Let us go gladly
wherever the Lord shall guide us." The holy angels accompanied the
heavenly pair, brilliantly lighting up the way, and when they arrived at the
city gate they saw that the cave was forsaken and unoccupied. Full of heavenly
consolation, they thanked the Lord for this favor, and then happened what I
shall relate in the following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY MARY, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN,
GAVE ME.
464. My dearest daughter, if thou art of a meek and
docile heart, these mysteries which thou hast written about and hast
understood, will stir within thee sweet sentiments of love and affection toward
the Author of such great wonders. I wish that, bearing them in mind, thou from
this day on embrace with new and great esteem the contempt and neglect of the
world. And tell me, dearest, if, in exchange for this forgetfulness and scorn
of the world, God look upon thee with eyes of sweetest love, why shouldst thou
not buy so cheaply what is worth an infinite price? What can the world give
thee, even when it esteems thee and exalts thee most? And what dost thou lose,
if thou despise it? Is its favor not all vanity and deceit (Ps. 4, 3)? Is it
not all a fleeting and momentary shadow, which eludes the grasp of those that
haste after it? Hence, if thou hadst all worldly advantage in thy possession, what
great feat would it be to despise it as of no value? Consider how little thou
dost in rejecting all of it for the love of God, for mine and that of the holy
angels. And if the world does not neglect thee as much as thou shouldst desire,
do thou on thy own behalf despise it, in order to remain free and unhampered to
enjoy to the full extent the highest Good with the plenitude of his most
delightful love and intercourse.
465. My most holy Son is such a faithful Lover of
souls that He hast set me as the teacher and living example of the love of
humility and true contempt of worldly vanity and pride. He ordained also for
his own glory as well as for my sake that I, his Servant and Mother, should be
left without shelter and be turned away by mortals, in order that afterwards
his beloved souls might be so much the more readily induced to offer Him a
welcome, thus obliging Him, by an artifice of love, to come and remain with
them. He also sought destitution and poverty, not because He had any need of
them for bringing the practice of virtues to the highest perfection, but in
order to teach mortals the shortest and surest way for reaching the heights of
divine love and union with God.
466. Thou knowest well, my dearest, that thou hast
been incessantly instructed and exhorted by divine enlightenment to forget the
terrestrial and visible and to gird thyself with fortitude (Prov, 31, 17), to
raise thyself to the imitation of me, copying in thyself, according to thy
capacity, the works and virtues manifested to thee in my life. This is the very
first purpose of the knowledge which thou receivest in writing this history;
for thou hast in me a perfect model, and by it thou canst arrange the converse
and conduct of thy life in the same manner as I arranged mine in imitation of
my sweetest Son. The dread with which this command to imitate me has inspired
thee as a being above thy strength, thou must moderate and thou must encourage
thyself by the words of my most holy Son in the Gospel of saint Matthew:
"Be ye perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect" (Matth. 5, 48). This
command of the Most High imposed upon his holy Church is not impossible of
fulfillment, and, if his faithful children on their part dispose themselves
properly, He will deny to none of them the grace of attaining this resemblance
to the heavenly Father. All this my most holy Son has merited for them. But the
degrading forgetfulness and neglect of men hinder them from maturing within
themselves the fruits of his Redemption.
467. Of thee particularly I expect this perfection,
and I invite thee to it by the sweet law of love which accompanies my
instruction. Ponder and scrutinize, by the divine light, the obligation under
which I place thee, and labor to correspond with it like a faithful and anxious
child. Let no difficulty or hardship disturb thee, nor deter thee from any
virtuous exercise, no matter how hard it may be. Nor be content with striving
after the love of God and salvation of thyself alone; if thou wouldst be
perfect in imitating me and fulfilling all that the Gospel teaches, thou must
work for the salvation of other souls and the exaltation of the holy name of my
Son, making thyself an instrument in his powerful hands for the accomplishment
of mighty works to advance his pleasure and glory.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR IS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN BETHLEHEM,
JUDA.
468. The palace which the supreme King of kings and
the Lord of lords had chosen for entertaining his eternal and incarnate Son in
this world was a most poor and insignificant hut or cave, to which most holy
Mary and Joseph betook themselves after they had been denied all hospitality
and the most ordinary kindness by their fellow-men, as I have described in the
foregoing chapter. This place was held in such contempt that though the town of
Bethlehem was full of strangers in want of night shelter, none would demean or
degrade himself so far as to make use of it for a lodging; for there was none
who deemed it suitable or desirable for such a purpose, except the Teachers of
humility and poverty, Christ our Savior and his purest Mother. On this account
the wisdom of the eternal Father had reserved it for Them, consecrating it in
all its bareness, loneliness and poverty as the first temple of light (Malachy
4, 2, Ps. Ill, 4) and as the house of the true Sun of justice, which was to
arise for the upright of heart from the resplendent Aurora Mary, turning the
night of sin into the daylight of grace.
469. Most holy Mary and saint Joseph entered the
lodging thus provided for them and by the effulgence of the ten thousand angels
of their guard they could easily ascertain its poverty and loneliness, which
they esteemed as favors and welcomed with tears of consolation and joy. Without
delay the two holy travelers fell on their knees and praised the Lord, giving
Him thanks for his benefit, which they knew had been provided by his wisdom for
his own hidden designs. Of this mystery the heavenly Princess Mary had a better
insight; for as soon as She sanctified the interior of the cave by her sacred
footsteps She felt a fullness of joy which entirely elevated and vivified Her.
She besought the Lord to bless with a liberal hand all the inhabitants of the
neighboring city, because by rejecting Her they had given occasion to the vast
favors, which She awaited in this neglected cavern. It was formed entirely of
the bare and coarse rocks, without any natural beauty or artificial adornment;
a place intended merely for the shelter of animals; yet the eternal Father had
selected it for the shelter and dwelling-place of his own Son.
470. The angelic spirits, who like a celestial militia
guarded their Queen and Mistress, formed themselves into cohorts in the manner
of court guards in a royal palace. They showed themselves in their visible
forms also to saint Joseph; for on this occasion it was befitting that he
should enjoy such a favor, on the one hand in order to assuage his sorrow by
allowing him to behold this poor lodging thus beautified and adorned by their
celestial presence, and on the other, in order to enliven and encourage him for
the events which the Lord intended to bring about during that night, and in
this forsaken place. The great Queen and Empress, who was already informed of
the mystery to be transacted here, set about cleaning with her own hands the cave,
which was so soon to serve as a royal throne and sacred mercy seat; for neither
did She want to miss this occasion for exercising her humility, nor would She
deprive her Onlybegotten Son of the worship and reverence implied by this
preparation and cleansing of his temple.
471. Saint Joseph, mindful of the majesty of his
heavenly Spouse (which, it seemed to him, She was forgetting in her ardent
longing for humiliation), besought Her not to deprive Him of this work, which
he considered as his alone; and he hastened to set about cleaning the floor and
the corners of the cave, although the humble Queen continued to assist him
therein. As the holy angels were then present in visible forms, they were
(according to our mode of speaking) abashed at such eagerness for humiliation,
and they speedily emulated with each other to join in this work; or rather, in
order to say it more succinctly, in the shortest time possible they had
cleansed and set in order that cave, filling it with holy fragrance. Saint
Joseph started a fire with the material which he had brought for that purpose.
As it was very cold, they sat at the fire in order to get warm. They partook of
the food which they had brought, and they ate this, their frugal supper, with
incomparable joy of their souls. The Queen of heaven was so absorbed and taken
up with the thought of the impending mystery of her divine delivery, that She
would not have partaken of food if She had not been urged thereto by obedience
to her spouse.
472. After their supper they gave thanks to the Lord
as was their custom. Having spent a short time in this prayer and conferring
about the mysteries of the incarnate Word, the most prudent Virgin felt the
approach of the most blessed Birth. She requested her spouse saint Joseph to
betake himself to rest and sleep as the night was already far advanced. The man
of God yielded to the request of his Spouse and urged Her to do the same; and
for this purpose he arranged and prepared a sort of couch with the articles of
wear in their possession, making use of a crib or manger, that had been left by
the shepherds for their animals. Leaving most holy Mary in the portion of the
cave thus furnished, saint Joseph retired to a corner of the entrance, where he
began to pray. He was immediately visited by the divine Spirit and felt a most
sweet and extraordinary influence, by which he was wrapt and elevated into an
ecstasy. In it was shown him all that passed during that night in this blessed
cave; for he did not return to consciousness until his heavenly Spouse called
him. Such was the sleep which saint Joseph enjoyed in that night, more exalted
and blessed than that of Adam in paradise (Gen. 21, 2).
473. The Queen of all creatures was called from her
resting-place by a loud voice of the Most High, which strongly and sweetly
raised Her above all created things and caused Her to feel new effects of
divine power; for this was one of the most singular and admirable ecstasies of
her most holy life. Immediately also She was filled with new enlightenment and
divine influences, such as I have described in other places, until She reached
the clear vision of the Divinity. The veil fell and She saw intuitively the
Godhead itself in such glory and plenitude of insight, as all the capacity of
men and angels could not describe or fully understand. All the knowledge of the
Divinity and humanity of her most holy Son, which She had ever received in
former visions was renewed and, moreover, other secrets of the inexhaustible
archives of the bosom of God were revealed to Her. I have not ideas or words
sufficient and adequate for expressing what I have been allowed to see of these
sacraments by the divine light; and their abundance and multiplicity convince
me of the poverty and want of proper expression in created language.
474. The Most High announced to his Virgin Mother,
that the time of his coming into the world had arrived and what would be the
manner in which this was now to be fulfilled and executed. The most prudent
Lady perceived in this vision the purpose and exalted scope of these wonderful
mysteries and sacraments, as well in so far as related to the Lord himself as
also in so far as they concerned creatures, for whose benefit they had been
primarily decreed. She prostrated Herself before the throne of his Divinity and
gave Him glory, magnificence, thanks and praise for Herself and for all
creatures, such as was befitting the ineffable mercy and condescension of his
divine love. At the same time She asked of the divine Majesty new light and
grace in order to be able worthily to undertake the service and worship and the
rearing up of the Word made flesh, whom She was to bear in Her arms and nourish
with her virginal milk. This petition the heavenly Mother brought forward with
the profoundest humility, as one who understood the greatness of this new
sacrament. She held Herself unworthy of the office of rearing up and conversing
as a Mother with a God incarnate of which even the highest seraphim are
incapable. Prudently and humbly did the Mother of wisdom ponder and weigh this
matter. And because She humbled Herself to the dust and acknowledged her
nothingness in the presence of the Almighty, therefore his Majesty raised Her
up and confirmed anew upon Her the title of Mother of God. He commanded Her to
exercise this office and ministry of a legitimate and true Mother of Himself;
that She should treat Him as the Son of the eternal Father and at the same time
the Son of her womb. All this could be easily entrusted to such a Mother, in
whom was contained an excellence that words cannot express.
475. The most holy Mary remained in this ecstasy and
beatific vision for over an hour immediately preceding her divine delivery. At
the moment when She issued from it and regained the use of her senses She felt
and saw that the body of the infant God began to move in her virginal womb;
how, releasing and freeing Himself from the place which in the course of nature
He had occupied for nine months, He now prepared to issue forth from that
sacred bridal chamber. This movement not only did not cause any pain or
hardship, as happens with the other daughters of Adam and Eve in their
childbirths; but filled Her with incomparable joy and delight, causing in her
soul and in her virginal body such exalted and divine effects that they exceed
all thoughts of men. Her body became so spiritualized with the beauty of heaven
that She seemed no more a human and earthly creature. Her countenance emitted
rays of light, like a sun incarnadined, and shone in indescribable earnestness
and majesty, all inflamed with fervent love. She was kneeling in the manger,
her eyes raised to heaven, her hands joined and folded at her breat, her soul
wrapped in the Divinity and She herself was entirely deified. In this position,
and at the end of the heavenly rapture, the most exalted Lady gave to the world
the Onlybegotten of the Father and her own, our Savior Jesus, true God and man,
at the hour of midnight, on a Sunday, in the year of the creation of the world
five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine (5199), which is the date given in
the Roman Church, and which date has been manifested to me as the true and
certain one.
476. There are other wonderful circumstances and
particulars, which all the faithful assume to have miraculously accompanied
this most divine Birth; but as the only witnesses were the Queen of heaven and
her courtiers, they cannot all be certified, except only those which the Lord
himself manifests in his holy Church to all or to some particular souls in
diverse ways. As I think there is some divergence of opinion in this matter,
which is most sublime and venerable, as soon as I had manifested to my
superiors and directors what had been made known to me, they commanded me under
obedience to consult anew the divine oracle and ask the Empress of heaven, my Mother
and Teacher, and the holy angels that attend on me, for information on some
particulars necessary for a clearer statement of the most sacred parturition of
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, our Redeemer. In order to comply with this command I
returned for a better understanding of these same happenings and it was then
expounded to me in the following manner:
477. At the end of the beatific rapture and vision of
the Mother ever Virgin, which I have described above (No. 473), was born the
Sun of Justice, the Only begotten of the eternal Father and of Mary most pure,
beautiful, refulgent and immaculate, leaving Her untouched in her virginal
integrity and purity and making Her more godlike and forever sacred; for He did
not divide, but penetrated the virginal chamber as the rays of the sun
penetrate the crystal shrine, lighting it up in prismatic beauty. Before I
describe the miraculous manner in which this took place, I wish to say that the
divine Child was born pure and disengaged, without the protecting shield called
secundina, surrounded by which other children are commonly born, and in which
they are enveloped in the wombs of their mothers. I will not detain myself in
explaining the cause and origin of the error, which is contrary to this
statement. It it enough to know and suppose that in the generation and birth of
the incarnate Word the arm of the Almighty selected and made use of all that
substantially and unavoidably belonged to natural human generation, so that the
Word could truly call Himself conceived and engendered as a true man and born
of the substance of his Mother ever Virgin. In regard to the other
circumstances, which are not essential but accidental to generation and
nativity, we must disconnect our ideas of Christ our Lord and of the most holy
Mary not only from all that are in any way related or consequent upon any sin,
original or actual; but also from many others which are not necessary for the
essential reality of the generation or birth and which imply some impurity or
superfluity, that could in any way lessen or impair the dignity of Mary as the
Queen of heaven and as true Mother of Christ our Lord. For many such
imperfections of sin or nature were not necessary either for the true humanity
of Christ, or for his office of Redeemer or Teacher; and whatever was not
necessary for these three ends, and whatever by its absence would redound to
the greater dignity of Christ and his Mother, must be denied of Both. Nor must
we be niggardly in presuming wonderful intervention of the Author of nature and
grace in favor of Her who was his worthy Mother, prepared, adorned and made
increasingly beautiful for this purpose: for the divine right hand enriched Her
at all times with gifts and graces and reached the utmost limits of his
Omnipotence possible in regard to a mere creature.
478. In accordance with this truth her true motherhood
was not impaired by her remaining a Virgin in his conception and birth through
operation of the Holy Ghost. Although She could have lost her virginity in a
natural manner without incurring any fault, yet in that case the Mother of God
would also be without this singular prerogative of virginity. Therefore we must
say, in order that She might not be without it, the divine power of her most
holy Son preserved it for Her. Likewise the divine Child could have been born
with this covering or cuticle in which others are born; yet this was not
necessary in order to be born a natural Son of the blessed Mother; hence He
could choose not to take it forth with Him from the virginal and maternal womb,
just as He chose not to pay to nature other penal tributes of impurity, which
other human beings do pay at their coming into the light. It was not just that
the incarnate Word should be subject to all the laws of the sons of Adam; but
it was consequent upon his miraculous Birth that He be exempt and free from all
that could be caused by the corruption or uncleanness of matter. Thus also this
covering, or secundina, was not to fall a prey to corruption outside of the
virginal womb, because it had been so closely connected and attached to his
most holy body and because it was composed of the blood and substance of his
Mother; in like manner it was not advisable to keep and preserve it outside of
Her, nor was it becoming to give it the same privileges and importance as to
his divine body in coming forth from the body of his most holy Mother, as I
will yet explain. The wonder which would have to be wrought to dispose of that
sacred covering outside of the womb could be wrought much more appropriately
within.
479. The infant God therefore was brought forth from
the virginal chamber unencumbered by any corporeal or material substance
foreign to Himself. But He came forth glorious and transfigured for the divine
and infinite wisdom decreed and ordained that the glory of his most holy soul
should in his Birth overflow and communicate itself to his body, participating
in the gifts of glory in the same way as happened afterwards in his
Transfiguration on mount Tabor in the presence of the Apostles (Matth. 17, 2).
This miracle was not necessary in order to penetrate the virginal enclosure and
to leave unimpaired the virginal integrity; for without this Transfiguration
God could have brought this about by other miracles. Thus say the holy doctors,
who see no other miracle in this Birth than that the Child was born without
impairing the virginity of the Mother. It was the will of God that the most
blessed Virgin should look upon the body of her Son, the Godman, for this first
time in a glorified state for two reasons. The one was in order that by this
divine vision the most prudent Mother should conceive the highest reverence for
the Majesty of Him whom She was to treat as her Son, the true God-man. Although
She was already informed of his two-fold nature, the Lord nevertheless ordained
that by ocular demonstration She be filled with new graces, corresponding to
the greatness of her most holy Son, which was thus manifested to Her in a
visible manner. The second reason was to reward by this wonder the fidelity and
holiness of the divine Mother; for her most pure and chaste eyes, that had
turned away from all earthly things for love of her most holy Son, were to see
Him at his very Birth in this glory and thus be rejoiced and rewarded for her
loyalty and beautiful love.
480. The sacred evangelist Luke tells us that the
Mother Virgin, having brought forth her firstbegotten Son, wrapped Him in
swathing clothes and placed Him in a manger. He does not say that She received
Him in her arms from her virginal womb; for this did not pertain to the purpose
of his narrative. But the two sovereign princes, saint Michael and saint
Gabriel, were the assistants of the Virgin on this occasion. They stood by at
proper distance in human corporeal forms at the moment when the incarnate Word,
penetrating the virginal chamber by divine power, issued forth to the light,
and they received Him in their hands with ineffable reverence. In the same
manner as a priest exhibits the sacred host to the people for adoration, so
these two celestial ministers presented to the divine Mother her glorious and
refulgent Son. All this happened in a short space of time. In the same moment
in which the holy angels thus presented the divine Child to his Mother, both
Son and Mother looked upon each other, and in this look, She wounded with love
the sweet Infant and was at the same time exalted and transformed in Him. From
the arms of the holy princes the Prince of all the heavens spoke to his holy
Mother: "Mother, become like unto Me, since on this day, for the human
existence, which thou hast today given Me, I will give thee another more
exalted existence in grace, assimilating thy existence as a mere creature to
the likeness of Me, who am God and Man." The most prudent Mother answered:
"Trahe
me post Te, curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum" (Cant. 1, 3). Raise me, elevate me, Lord, and I will run after
Thee in the odor of thy ointments. In the same way many of the hidden mysteries
of the Canticles were fulfilled; and other sayings which passed between the
infant God and the Virgin Mother had been recorded in that book of songs, as
for instance: "My Beloved to me, and I to Him, and his desire is toward
me" (Cant. 2, 16). "Behold thou art beautiful, my friend, and thy
eyes are dove's eyes. Behold, my beloved, for thou art beautiful"; and
many other sacramental words which to mention would unduly prolong this
chapter.
481. The words, which most holy Mary heard from the
mouth of her most holy Son, served to make Her understand at the same time the
interior acts of his holiest soul united with the Divinity; in order that by
imitating them She might become like unto Him. This was one of the greatest
blessings, which the most faithful and fortunate Mother received at the hands
of her Son, the true God and man, not only because it was continued from that
day on through all her life, but because it furnished Her the means of copying
his own divine life as faithfully as was possible to a mere creature. At the
same time the heavenly Lady perceived and felt the presence of the most holy
Trinity, and She heard the voice of the eternal Father saying: "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am greatly pleased and delighted" (Matth. 17, 5).
The most prudent Mother made entirely godlike in the overflow of so many
sacraments, answered:
"Eternal Father and exalted God, Lord and Creator
of the universe, give me anew thy permission and benediction to receive in my
arms the Desired of nations (Agg. 2, 8); and teach me to fulfill as thy
unworthy Mother and lowly slave, thy holy will." Immediately She heard a
voice, which said: "Receive thy Onlybegotten Son, imitate Him and rear
Him; and remember, that thou must sacrifice Him when I shall demand it of
thee." The divine Mother answered: "Behold the creature of thy hands,
adorn me with thy grace so that thy Son and my God receive me for his slave;
and if Thou wilt come to my aid with thy Omnipotence, I shall be faithful in
his service; and do Thou count it no presumption in thy insignificant creature,
that she bear in her arms and nourish at her breast her own Lord and
Creator."
482. After this interchange of words, so full of
mysteries, the divine Child suspended the miracle of his transfiguration, or
rather He inaugurated the other miracle, that of suspending the effects of
glory in his most holy body, confining them solely to his soul; and He now
assumed the appearance of one capable of suffering. In this form the most pure
Mother now saw Him and, still remaining in a kneeling position and adoring Him
with profound humility and reverence, She received Him in her arms from the
hands of the holy angels. And when She saw Him in her arms, She spoke to Him
and said: "My sweetest Love and light of my eyes and being of my soul,
Thou hast arrived in good hour into this world as the Sun of justice (Malach.
4, 2), in order to disperse the darkness of sin and death! True God of the true
God, save thy servants and let all flesh see Him, who shall draw upon it
salvation (Is. 9, 2). Receive me thy servant as thy slave and supply my
deficiency, in order that I may properly serve Thee. Make me, my Son, such as
Thou desirest me to be in thy service." Then the most prudent Mother
turned toward the eternal Father to offer up to Him his Onlybegotten, saying:
"Exalted Creator of all the Universe, here is the altar and the sacrifice
acceptable in thy eyes (Malachy 3, 4). From this hour on, O Lord, look upon the
human race with mercy; and inasmuch as we have deserved thy anger, it is now
time that Thou be appeased in thy Son and mine. Let thy justice now come to
rest, and let thy mercy be exalted; for On this account the Word has clothed
itself in the semblance of sinful flesh (Rom. 8, 3), and became a Brother of
mortals and sinners (Philip 2, 7). In this title I recognize them as brothers
and I intercede for them from my inmost soul. Thou, Lord, hast made me the
Mother of thy Onlybegotten without my merit, since this dignity is above all
merit of a creature; but I partly owe to men the occasion of this incomparable
good fortune; since it is on their account that I am the Mother of the Word
made man and Redeemer of them all. I will not deny them my love, or remit my
care and watchfulness for their salvation. Receive, eternal God, my wishes and
petitions for that which is according to thy pleasure and good will."
483. The Mother of mercy turned also toward all
mortals and addressed them, saying: "Be consoled ye afflicted and rejoice
ye disconsolate, be raised up ye fallen, come to rest ye uneasy. Let the just
be gladdened and the saints be rejoiced; let the heavenly spirits break out in
new jubilee, let the Prophets and Patriarchs of limbo draw new hope, and let
all the generations praise and magnify the Lord, who renews his wonders. Come,
come ye poor; approach ye little ones, without fear, for in my arms I bear the
Lion made a lamb, the Almighty, become weak, the Invincible subdued. Come to
draw life, hasten to obtain salvation, approach to gain eternal rest, since I
have all this for all, and it will be given to you freely and communicated to
you without envy. Do not be slow and heavy of heart, ye sons of men; and Thou,
O sweetest joy of my soul, give me permission to receive from Thee that kiss
desired by all creatures." Therewith the most blessed Mother applied her
most chaste and heavenly lips in order to receive the loving caresses of the
divine Child, who on his part, as her true Son, had desired them from Her.
484. Holding Him in Her arms She thus served as the
altar and the sanctuary, where the ten thousand angels adored in visible human
forms their Creator incarnate. And as the most blessed Trinity assisted in an
especial manner at the birth of the Word, heaven was as it were emptied of its
inhabitants, for the whole heavenly court had betaken itself to that blessed
cave of Bethlehem and was adoring the Creator in his garb and habit of a
pilgrim (Phil. 2, 7). And in their concert of praise the holy angels intoned
the new canticle: "Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae
voluntatis" (Luke 2, 14). In
sweetest and sonorous harmony they repeated it, transfixed in wonder at the new
miracles then being fulfilled and at the unspeakable prudence, grace, humility
and beauty of that tender Maiden of fifteen years, who had become the worthy
Trustee and Minister of such vast and magnificent sacraments.
485. It was now time to call saint Joseph, the
faithful spouse of the most discreet and attentive Lady. As I have said above
(No. 472) he was wrapped in ecstasy, in which he was informed by divine
revelation of all the mysteries of this sacred Birth during this night. But it
was becoming that he should see, and, before all other mortals, should in his
corporeal faculties and senses be present and experience, adore and reverence
the Word made flesh; for he of all others had been chosen to act as the
faithful warden of this great sacrament. At the desire of his heavenly Spouse
he issued from his ecstasy and, on being restored to consciousness, the first
sight of his eyes was the divine Child in the arms of the Virgin Mother
reclining against her sacred countenance and breast. There he adored Him in
profoundest humility and in tears of joy. He kissed his feet in great joy and
admiration, which no doubt would have taken away and destroyed life in him, if
divine power had not preserved it; and he certainly would have lost all the use
of his senses, if the occasion had permitted. When saint Joseph had begun to
adore the Child, the most prudent Mother asked leave of her Son to arise (for
until then She had remained on her knees) and, while saint Joseph handed Her
the wrappings and swaddling clothes, which She had brought, She clothed Him
with incomparable reverence, devotion and tenderness. Having thus swathed and
clothed Him, his Mother, with heavenly wisdom, laid Him in the crib, as related
by saint Luke (Luke 2, 7). For this purpose She had arranged some straw and hay
upon a stone in order to prepare for the God-Man his first resting-place upon
earth next to that which He had found in her arms. According to divine
ordainment an ox from the neighboring fields ran up in great haste and,
entering the cave, joined the beast of burden brought by the Queen. The blessed
Mother commanded them, with what show of reverence was possible to them to
acknowledge and adore their Creator. The humble animals obeyed their Mistress
and prostrated themselves before the Child, warming Him with their breath and
rendering Him the service refused by men. And thus the God made man was placed
between two animals, wrapped in swaddling clothes and wonderfully fulfilling
the prophecy, that "the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib; but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood."
TEACHING OF THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
486. My daughter, if men would keep their heart
disengaged and if they would rightly and worthily consider this great sacrament
of the kindness of the Most High towards men, it would be a powerful means of
conducting them in the pathway of life and subjecting them to the love of their
Creator and Redeemer. For as men are capable of reasoning, if they would only make
use of their freedom to treat this sacrament with the reverence due to its
greatness, who would be so hardened as not to be moved to tenderness at the
sight of their God become man, humiliated in poverty, despised, unknown,
entering the world in a cave, lying in a manger surrounded by brute animals,
protected only by a poverty-stricken Mother, and cast off by the foolish
arrogance of the world? Who will dare to love the vanity and pride, which was
openly abhorred and condemned by the Creator of heaven and earth in his
conduct? No one can despise the humility, poverty and indigence, which the Lord
loved and chose for Himself as the very means of teaching the way of eternal
life. Few there are, who stop to consider this truth and example: and on
account of this vile ingratitude only the few will reap the fruit of these
great sacraments.
487. But if the condescension of my most holy Son was
so great as to bestow so liberally upon thee his light and knowledge concerning
these vast blessings, ponder well how much thou art bound to co-operate with
this light In order that thou mayest correspond to this obligation, I remind
and exhort thee to forget all that is of earth and lose it out of thy sight;
that thou seek nothing, or engage thyself with nothing except what can help
thee to withdraw and detach thee from the world and its inhabitants; so that,
with a heart freed from all terrestrial affection, thou dispose thyself to
celebrate in it the mysteries of the poverty, humility and divine love of the
incarnate God. Learn from my example the reverence, fear and respect, with
which thou must treat Him, remembering how I acted, when I held Him in my arms;
follow my example, whenever thou receivest Him in thy heart in the venerable
sacrament of the holy Eucharist, wherein is contained the same God-Man, who was
born of my womb. In this holy Sacrament thou receivest Him and possessest Him
just as really, and He remains in thee just as actually, as I possessed Him and
conversed with Him, although in another manner.
488. I desire that thou go even to extremes in this
holy reverence and fear; and I wish that thou take notice and be convinced,
that in entering into thy heart in the holy Sacrament, thy God exhorts thee in
the same words, which thou hast recorded as spoken to me: become like unto Me.
His coming down from heaven onto the earth, his being born in humility and
poverty, his living and dying in it, giving such rare example of the contempt
of the world and its deceits; the knowledge, which thou hast received concerning
his conduct and which thou hast penetrated so deeply by divine intelligence:
all these things should be for thee like living voices, which thou must heed
and inscribe into the interior of thy heart. These privileges have all been
granted to thee in order that thou discreetly use the common blessings to their
fullest extent, and in order that thou mayest understand, how thankful thou
must be to my most holy Son and Lord, and how thou shouldst strive to make as
great a return for his goodness, as if He had come from heaven to redeem thee
alone and as if He had instituted all his wonders and doctrines in the holy
Church for none else than thee (Gal. 7, 20).
THE HOLY ANGELS ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND THE SHEPHERDS COME TO ADORE HIM.
489. After the courtiers of heaven had thus celebrated
the birth of God made man near the portals of Bethlehem, some of them were
immediately dispatched to different places, in order to announce the happy news
to those, who according to the divine will were properly disposed to hear it.
The holy prince Michael betook himself to the holy Patriarchs in limbo and
announced to them, how the Onlybegotten of the eternal Father was already born
into the world and was resting, humble and meek, as they had prophesied, in a
manger between two beasts. He addressed also in a special manner holy Joachim
and Anne in the name of the blessed Mother, who had enjoined this upon him; he
congratulated them, that their Daughter now held in her arms the Desired of
nations and Him, who had been foretold by all the Patriarchs and Prophets (Is.
7, 14; 9, 7, etc.), It was the most consoling and joyful day, which this great
gathering of the just and the saints had yet had during their long banishment.
All of them acknowledged this new Godman as the true Author of eternal
salvation, and they composed and sang new songs of adoration and worship in his
praise. Saint Joachim and Anne enjoined the messenger of heaven, saint Michael,
to ask Mary their Daughter to worship in their name the divine Child, the
blessed Fruit of her womb; and this the great Queen of the world immediately
did for them, listening with great jubilee to all that the holy prince reported
concerning the Patriarchs of limbo.
490. Another of the holy angels that attended and
guarded the heavenly Mother was sent to saint Elisabeth and her son John. On
hearing this news of the birth of the Redeemer, the prudent matron and her son,
although he was yet of so tender an age, prostrated themselves upon the earth
and adored their God made man in spirit and in truth (John 4, 23). The child
which had been consecrated as his Precursor, was renewed interiorly with a
spirit more inflamed than that of Elias, causing new admiration and jubilation
in the angels themselves. Saint John and his mother requested our Queen through
the angels, that She in the name of them both, adore her most holy Son and
offer Him their services; all of which the heavenly Queen immediately fulfilled.
491. Having thus been informed of what had happened,
saint Elisabeth hastened to send one of her domestics to Bethlehem with
presents for the blessed Mother and the infant God. They consisted in some
money, some linen and other things for the comfort of the newly born and of his
poor Mother and her spouse. The servant betook himself on the way with no other
instruction than that he visit the blessed Virgin and saint Joseph and take
notice of what comfort or want was theirs, so that he might bring back certain
information of their circumstances and well-being. He had no other knowledge of
the sacrament, except what he himself could perceive with his own eyes; but
renewed and touched by an interior and divine force he came back and in
wonderful jubilee described to saint Elisabeth the poverty and the charming
grace of her Cousin, of the Child and of saint Joseph, and what feelings were
excited in him on beholding them. Admirable were the sentiments roused in the
godly matron by his ingenuous narration. If it had not been for the will of
God, that the secret and privacy of this high sacrament should be preserved,
she could not have restrained herself from visiting the Virgin Mother and the
newborn God. Of the things sent by her, the Queen appropriated some for
relieving their extreme poverty, while She distributed the rest of them to the
poor; for She did not wish to be deprived of the company of the poor during the
days in which She would have to remain in the portal or cave of the Nativity.
492. Other angels were delegated to bring the news to
Zachary, Simeon and Anne, the prophetess, and to some other just and holy
people, who were worthy to be trusted with this new mystery of our Redemption;
for as the Lord found them prepared to receive this news with gratitude and
with benefit to themselves, He considered it a just due to their virtue not to
hide from them the blessing conferred upon the human race. Although not all the
just upon earth were informed at that time of this sacrament; yet in all of
them were wrought certain divine effects in the hour in which the Savior of the
world was born. For all the just felt in their hearts a new and supernatural
joy, though they were ignorant of its cause. There were not only movements of
joy in the angels and in the just, but also wonderful movements in the
insensible creatures; for all the influences of the planets were renovated and
enlivened. The sun much accelerated its course; the stars shone in greater
brightness; and for the Magi kings was formed that wonderful star, which showed
them the way to Bethlehem (Matth. 2,2). Many trees began to bloom and others to
produce fruit. Some temples of the idols were overthrown; and in others the
idols were hurled down and their demons put to flight. These wonders and other
happenings in the world on that day men accounted for in different ways, but
far from the truth. Only among the just there were many, who by divine impulse
suspected or believed that God had come into the world; yet no one knew it with
certainty, except those to whom it was revealed. Among these were the three
Magi, to each of whom in their separate Oriental kingdoms angels of the Queen's
guard were sent to inform them by interior and intellectual enlightenment that
the Redeemer of the human race had been born in poverty and humility. At the
same time they were inspired with the sudden desire of seeking Him and adoring
Him and immediately they saw the star as a guide to Bethlehem, as I will relate
farther on.
493. Amongst all these, the shepherds of that region,
who were watching their flocks at the time of the birth of Christ, were
especially blessed (Luke 2, 8) ; not only because they accepted the labor and
inconvenience of their calling with resignation from the hand of God; but also
because, being poor and humble, and despised by the world, they belonged in
sincerity and uprightness of heart to those Israelites, who fervently hoped and
longed for the coming of the Messias, speaking and discoursing of Him among
themselves many times. They resembled the Author of life, as they were removed
from the riches, vanity and ostentation of the world and far from its
diabolical cunning (John 10, 14). They exhibited in the circumstances of their
calling the office, which the good Shepherd had come to fulfill in knowing his
Sheep and being known to them. Hence they merited to be called and invited, as
the first fruits of the saints by the Savior himself, to be the very first
ones, to whom the eternal and incarnate Word manifested Himself and by whom He
wished to be praised, served and adored. Hence the archangel Gabriel was sent
to them as they watched over the field, appearing to them in human form and with
great splendor.
494. The shepherds found themselves suddenly enveloped
and bathed in the celestial radiance of the angel, and at his sight, being
little versed in such visions, they were filled with great fear. The holy
prince reassured them and said: "Ye upright men, be not afraid: for I
announce to you tidings of great joy, which is, that for you is born today the
Redeemer Christ, our Lord, in the city of David. And as a sign of this truth, I
announce to you, that you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes
and placed in a manger" (Luke 2, 10, 12). At these words of the angel,
suddenly appeared a great multitude of the celestial army, who in voices of
sweet harmony sang to the Most High these words: "Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace to men of good will." Rehearsing this divine
canticle, so new to the world, the holy angels disappeared. All this happened
in the fourth watch of the night. By this angelic vision the humble and
fortunate shepherds were filled with divine enlightenment and were unanimously
impelled by a fervent longing to make certain of this blessing and to witness
with their own eyes the most high mystery of which they had been informed.
495. The signs which the holy angels had indicated to
them did not seem appropriate or proportioned for attesting the greatness of
the Newborn to eyes of the flesh. For to lie in a manger and to be wrapped in
swaddling-clothes, would not have been convincing proof of the majesty of a
king, if these shepherds had not been illumined by divine light and been
enabled to penetrate the mystery. As they were free from the arrogant wisdom of
the world, they were easily made proficient in the divine wisdom. Conferring
among themselves the thoughts excited by this message, they resolved to hasten
in all speed to Bethlehem and see the wonder made known to them by the Lord.
They departed without delay and entering the cave or portal, they found, as saint
Luke tells us, Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger. Seeing all
this they recognized the truth of what they had heard of the Child. Upon this
followed an interior enlightenment consequent upon seeing the Word made flesh;
for when the shepherds looked upon Him, He also glanced at them, emitting from
his countenance a great effulgence, which wounded with love the sincere heart
of each of these poor yet fortunate men; with divine efficiency it changed them
and renewed them, constituting them in a new state of grace and holiness and
filling them with an exalted knowledge of the divine mysteries of the
Incarnation and the Redemption of the human race.
496. Prostrating themselves on the earth they adored
the Word made flesh. Not any more as ignorant rustics, but as wise and prudent
men they adored Him, acknowledged and magnified Him as true God and man, as
Restorer and Redeemer of the human race. The heavenly Lady and Mother of the
Child took notice of all that they did interiorly and exteriorly; for She saw
into their inmost hearts. In highest wisdom and prudence She preserved the
memory of all these happenings and pondered them in her soul, (Luke 2, 19),
comparing them with the other mysteries therein contained and with the holy
prophecies and sayings of the Scriptures. As She was then the organ of the holy
Spirit and the representative of the Infant, She spoke to the shepherds,
instructing and exhorting them to persevere in divine love and in the service
of the Most High. They also conversed with Her on their part and showed by
their answers that they understood many of the mysteries. They remained in the
cave from the beginning of dawn until mid-day, when, having given them
something to eat, our great Queen sent them off full of heavenly grace and
consolation.
497. During the days in which most holy Mary, the
Child and saint Joseph remained in the gates of Bethlehem, these holy shepherds
returned a few times and brought such presents as in their poverty they could
spare. What saint Luke says about those that wondered at what the shepherds
said concerning the holy Family, happened later, after the Queen, the Child and
saint Joseph had departed and fled from the neighborhood of Bethlehem; for
divine Providence so arranged things, that the shepherds were unable to spread
about this news before that time. Not all of those that heard them speaking
about this matter believed them, for they held them to be uncultured and
ignorant people. These shepherds however were saints and were filled with
divine knowledge until they died. Among those who believed them was Herod,
although not because of any laudable faith or piety, but on account of his
worldly and wicked fear of losing his kingdom. Among the children, who merited
to be sacrificed by him, there were also some belonging to these holy men.
Their parents consented joyfully to the martyrdom, which the children
themselves desired and offering themselves up to the Lord, whom they were made
to know beforehand.
INSTRUCTION OF THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN MARY.
498. My daughter, forgetfulness and inattention
regarding the works of the Redeemer are as reprehensible as they are common and
frequent among mortals. Yet these works are most mysterious, loving, merciful
and instructive. Thou hast been called and chosen to receive knowledge and
enlightenment for avoiding such dangerous and gross torpidity; therefore I
wish, that in the mysteries thou hast just written, thou take notice of and
ponder over the burning love of my most holy Son in communicating Himself to
men as soon as He was born, in order to make them immediate partakers of the
joyful fruit of his coming. Men do not know of this obligation, because few of
them penetrate to the significance of this great blessing, just as there were
few who saw the Word at his Birth and thanked Him for his arrival. They are not
aware of the cause of their evil state and of their blindness, which neither
was nor is to be ascribed to the Lord nor to any fault in his love, but to the
sins and the bad dispositions of men. If their own bad dispositions would not
impede or make them unworthy of this favor, the same light, which was given to
the just, to the shepherds and to the kings, would have been vouchsafed to all
or to many. That there should be so few, will make thee understand in what an
unhappy condition the world was at the time of the coming of the incarnate
Word; and also the unhappiness of the present times, when these mysteries have
become so evident and when grateful memory of them is become so scarce.
499. Consider the wicked disposition of mortals in the
present age, in which the light of the Gospel has been spread out and confirmed
by so many miracles wrought by God in his Church. In spite of all this there
are so few, who are perfect and who seek to dispose themselves for greater
participation in the fruits and benefits of the Redemption. Although the number
of fools is so great and the vices are become so measureless, there are those
who think, that also the perfect are numerous, because, forsooth, men do not so
openly dare to act in opposition to God: there are fewer than one thinks, and
many less than there should be, seeing that God is so much offended by the
infidels and continually desires to communicate the treasures of grace in his
Church according to the merits of his Onlybegotten made man. Be mindful,
dearest, of the obligation imposed upon thee by thy clear knowledge of these
truths. Live cautiously, with great attention and watchfulness correspond to
his graces, losing no time, occasion or circumstance for acting in the most
holy and perfect manner known to thee; for thou canst not fulfill thy duty
otherwise. Remember what I tell thee, command and urge upon thee, that thou
receive not such great favor in vain (II Cor. 6, 1); do not allow thy grace and
light to be without profit, but make use of them in the perfection of
thankfulness.
WHAT WAS CONCEALED FROM THE DEMON CONCERNING THE MYSTERY
OF THE BIRTH OF THE INCARNATE WORD, AND OF OTHER HAPPENINGS UNTIL THE
CIRCUMCISION.
500. As far as depended upon the Lord the coming of
the eternal Word as man was most fortunate and blessed for all the mortals; for
He came in order to give light and life to all those that were in darkness and
in the shadows of death (Luke 1, 79). If the foreknown and incredulous stumbled
and hurt themselves on this cornerstone (Rom. 9, 33), seeking ruin where they
could and should have found resurrection to an eternal life, that was not the
fault of the stone, but of those that made of it an occasion of scandal and of
harm to themselves. Only for hell the birth of the infant God was terrible,
since He was the strong and invincible One, who came to despoil that armed
enemy of his tyrannous rule, founded in lies (Psalm 23, 8), who had held his
fortification in unjust yet peaceful possession for a long time. In order to
depose this prince of the world and of darkness, it was befitting, that the
sacrament of the coming of the Word should be hidden from him. Because of his
malice he was not only unworthy to be informed of the mysteries of the divine
wisdom (Wisd. 2, 21, 24) ; but it was just that by divine Providence the malice
of this enemy should be blinded and confused; in his malice he had brought into
the world the deceit and blindness of sin and cast down the whole human race by
the fall of Adam.
501. Accordingly Lucifer and his ministers were left
in ignorance of many things, which they could naturally have known concerning
the incarnation of the Word and other events in the course of his most holy
life, a fact which it is necessary to take notice of in this history (Nos. 326,
Vol. 111,217,226, 284). For if he had known for certain, that Christ was the
true God, he evidently would not have procured his death (I Cor. 2, 8), but he
would have sought to prevent it, as will be said in its proper place (Vol. III,
494, 540, 613). Concerning the mystery of the Nativity he knew only that most
holy Mary had given birth to a Son in poverty and in a forsaken cave, and that
She had not found even lodging and shelter; also that the Child was circumcised
and otherwise treated as mere man: all of which was calculated rather to
mislead his pride than to enlighten it. But he was ignorant of the manner of
his Birth, and of the virginity of the blessed Mother before and after the
Birth; likewise of the message of the angels to the just, and to the shepherds;
of their conversations, and of their adoration of the infant God. Nor did he
see the star, nor did he know the purpose of the kings in coming to Bethlehem,
although he saw them make the journey and attributed it to some worldly
enterprise. The demons were also unable to account for the changes in the
elements, the stars and planets; though they well perceived these changes and
wonderful effects. They misjudged the words of the Magi in the presence of Herod,
their arrival at the stable and the adoration, and the gifts offered.
Notwithstanding, that they perceived the fury of Herod against the children and
abetted it; yet they did not understand his object and they stirred up his
cruelty. Although Lucifer suspected, that Herod was seeking to kill the
Messias, he considered him demented and treated him with derision. For in his
pride he obstinately held fast to the opinion, that the Word, upon entering
into the world in order to set up his dominion, would not come humbly and in a
hidden manner, but with ostentatious power and majesty, while in reality the
infant God chose a far different way, being born of a Mother poor and despised
by men.
502. Thus misled, Lucifer, having noticed some of the
strange events connected with the Nativity, called together his helpers in
hell, and said to them: "I do not find any occasion for fear in the
events, which we have noticed in the world. It is true, the Woman whom we
persecuted so much, has given birth to a Son, but in such poverty and neglect,
that She could not even procure a lodging-place in order to be delivered. We
know all this to be far from the power and greatness of God. If He is to
advance against us as weak as we have seen this Child and as we have assured
ourselves concerning It, He certainly can make no headway against our power. We
need not fear that He is the Messias, since there is even a plot to kill Him as
being mortal like the rest of men. This does not seem to point to the salvation
of the world, since He himself seems to stand in need of atoning for his fault
by death. All these signs conflict with the purpose of the Messias in coming
into the world and therefore it seems to me, that we can rest assured, that He
has not yet come." The ministers of evil approved of the decision of their
damned chief and they were all satisfied, that the Messias had not yet come,
for they were all accomplices in the malice and pride which blinded him (Wis.
2, 21). It never occurred to satan in his vanity and indomitable pride, that
the majesty and greatness of God should humiliate itself; because he himself
sought after applause, ostentation, reverence and exaltation, wishing if
possible to appropriate all honor to himself. Since all honor was attainable by
God, it never entered his mind, that He would consent to the contrary and
subject Himself to humiliation, so much abhorred by the spirits of evil.
503. O sons of vanity I What examples are not here
given to you for your enlightenment! Great is the lesson, which the humility of
Christ, our Teacher and our highest Good, teaches and urges upon us: but if
this does not move us, let the pride of Lucifer at least deter and frighten us.
O vice, O sin, dreadful beyond human imagination! since it confused an angel
of such high intellect so much, that he could judge of the infinite bounty by
no other standard than that by which he judged himself and of his own malicious
disposition! How far then does not man proceed in malice, if to his ignorance
he joins guilt and pride? O unhappy and most foolish Lucifer! How far didst
thou go astray in judging of so reasonable and commendable a proceeding! What
is more beautiful than humility and meekness joined with majesty and power? Why
dost thou fail to see, insignificant creature, that not to know how to
humiliate thyself is only weakness of mind and comes from a base heart? The
magnanimous and truly great do not seek payment in vanity, nor do they seek
after what is low, nor can they be satisfied with what is false and apparent.
It is evident, O Lucifer, that thou art shut out from truth and but an ignorant
guide for the blind (Matth. 15, 14); since thou didst fail to understand, that
the greatness of the bounty and love of God (Rom. 5, 8) manifested and
magnified itself in humility and obedience even to the death of the Cross (Phil.
2, 8).
504. All these errors and insanities of Lucifer and
his ministers were known to the Mother of wisdom and our Mistress; and with a
just appreciation of such high mysteries She magnified and blessed the Lord,
because He had concealed them from the proud and arrogant and revealed them to
the poor and humble, thus beginning to overcome the tyranny of the demons
(Matth. 11, 25). The kind Mother offered up fervent prayers for all the
mortals, who on account of their faults were unworthy of seeing the light,
which for their salvation had appeared in the world; of all this She reminded
her most sweet Son with incomparable compassion and love for sinners. In these
affections She spent most of the time of her stay in the cave of the Nativity.
But as this place was bare of all comfort and much exposed to the inclemencies
of the weather, the great Lady was most solicitous for the shelter of her
tender and sweet Child. As a most prudent Mother She had brought along a mantle,
with which She covered Him in addition to the ordinary swaddling-clothes.
Moreover She held Him continually in the embrace of her sacred arms, except at
times, when, in order to make saint Joseph happy, She asked him to hold his
incarnate God in his arms and serve him as a father.
505. When for the first time She placed the infant God
in his arms, the most holy Mary said to him: My husband and my helper,
receive in thy arms the Creator of heaven and earth and enjoy his amiable and
sweet company, in order that my Lord and my God may be delighted and
recompensed by thy faithful services (Prov. 8, 31). Take to thyself the
Treasure of the eternal Father and participate in this blessing of the human
race." And speaking interiorly to the divine Infant, She said:
"Sweetest Love of my soul and Light of my eyes, rest in the arms of
Joseph, my friend and spouse: do thou hold sweet intercourse with him and
pardon me my shortcomings. Much do I feel the loss of Thee even for one
instant, but I wish to communicate without envy the good I have received, to
all that are worthy" (Wis. 7, 13). Her most faithful husband,
acknowledging this new blessing, humbled himself to the earth and answered:
"Lady and Sovereign of the world, my Spouse, how can I, being so unworthy,
presume to hold in my arms God himself, in whose presence tremble the pillars
of heaven? (Job 26, 11). How can this vile wormlet have courage to accept such
an exalted favor? I am but dust and ashes, but do Thou, Lady, assist me in my
lowliness and ask his Majesty to look upon me with clemency and make me worthy
through his grace."
506. His desire of holding the infant God and his
reverential fear of Him caused in saint Joseph heroic acts of love, of faith,
of humility and profoundest reverence. Trembling with discreet fear He fell on
his knees to receive Him from the hands of his most holy Mother, while sweetest
tears of joy and delight copiously flowed from his eyes at a happiness so
extraordinary. The divine Infant looked at him caressingly and at the same time
renewed his inmost soul with such divine efficacy as no words will suffice to
explain. He broke out in new canticles of praise at seeing himself thus
enriched with such magnificent blessings and favors. After having for some time
enjoyed in spirit the sweetest effects of holding in his arms the Lord, who
contains heaven and earth (Is. 40, 12), He replaced Him into the arms of his
fortunate Mother, both of them being on their knees in receiving and giving
Him. Similar reverence the most prudent Mother observed every time She took Him
up or relinquished Him, in which also saint Joseph imitated Her, as often as it
was his happy lot to hold the incarnate Word. When they approached his Majesty,
they also made three genuflections, kissing the earth and exciting heroic acts
of humility, worship and reverence. Thus both the great Queen and the blessed
Joseph observed all propriety in receiving or giving the Child from and to one
another.
507. When the heavenly Mother judged it time to
nourish Him at her breast, She reverently asked permission of her Son; for
although She knew, that She was to nourish Him as her true and human Child, She
nevertheless bore in mind, that He was at the same time the true God and Lord
and that a great distance intervened between the infinite Being and a mere
creature such as She was. As this consciousness was unfailing in the most
prudent Virgin, her reverence remained faultless and undiminished and permitted
not the least forgetfulness in Her. She was always filled with a comprehensive
insight and She always reached perfection in all her acts. Therefore She
nourished, served and tended her Child, not with an uneasy haste, but with
unremitting care, reverence and discretion, causing ever new admiration in the
angels, whose celestial understanding reached not so far as to comprehend such
heroic acts of a tender Maiden. As they were always corporally present during
the time which She spent at the gates of Bethlehem, they administered to Her in
all things demanded by the service of the infant God and of Her. All these
mysteries are so wonderful and admirable, and so worthy of our attention and
remembrance, that we cannot deny our negligence in forgetting them, and we
cannot acknowledge sufficiently, what harm we are doing ourselves in ceasing to
think of them, nor do we sufficiently understand the divine effect, which the
memory of them produces in the faithful and grateful children of the Church.
508. From what has been revealed to me of the
reverence, with which most holy Mary and the glorious saint Joseph as well as
the angelic hosts treated the Incarnate God, I could easily extend my discourse
on the subject. Though I refrain, I yet wish to confess the want of reverence,
with which I have until now audaciously behaved toward God, and how many
faults, of which I have been guilty toward Him in this respect, have become
known to me. As I said, and will relate further on, in order to assist the
Queen, all the angels of her guard remained present in visible forms from the
time of the Birth until the flight of the Child into Egypt. The solicitude of
the humble and loving Mother for her divine Infant was so unremitting, that She
would not part with Him to place Him in the arms of saint Joseph or into those
of the holy princes Michael or Gabriel, except on rare occasions when She was
obliged to take some nourishment; for these two archangels had besought Her, to
consign the Child to their care during meals or when saint Joseph was at his
work. Thus He was placed into the hands of the angels, in admirable fulfillment
of the words of David: "In their hands they shall bear Thee up," etc.
(Ps. 90, 12). The most watchful Mother would not take any sleep in her
solicitude for her most holy Son, except when his Majesty commanded Her to do
so. In reward for her diligence He provided for Her a new and more miraculous
kind of sleep than that which She had until then enjoyed; for while She slept,
her heart was awake, continuing or rather not interrupting the divine
intelligence and contemplation of the Divinity (Cant. 5, 2). But from this day
on the Lord added still another miracle, namely, during the sleep, which was
necessary, She retained in her arms the power of holding and embracing the
Child in the same way as if She were awake; and She gazed upon Him with the
eyes of her intellect, as if She were looking upon Him with her bodily eyes,
understanding all that She herself and her Child did exteriorly in the
meanwhile. Thus was miraculously fulfilled, what is said in the Canticles:
"I sleep, but my heart is awake."
509. The canticles of praise and exaltation of the
Lord, which our celestial Queen composed in honor of the Child, alternately
singing them with the holy angels and also with her spouse Joseph, I cannot
express by my limited terms of speech. Of them alone there would be much to
write, for they were uninterrupted; but the knowledge of them is reserved for
the special enjoyment of the elect Among all mortals the most faithful Joseph
was privileged and blessed in this respect, for in many of them he himself
participated and many of them he understood. Beside this he enjoyed another
favor, of singular benefit and consolation to his soul and procured for him by
the most prudent Virgin: namely, many times, in conversing with him of the
Child, She spoke of Him as of "our Son" (Luke 2, 48); not that He was
the natural Son of saint Joseph, since in the supernatural order He was the Son
of the eternal Father and in the natural order, the Son of his Virgin Mother;
but because in the opinion of men He was reputed to be the son of Joseph. This
favor and privilege was of inestimable value to the saint and caused him
immeasurable delight; on this account his heavenly Spouse delighted in using
this appellation when conversing about her Son.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN AND LADY OF HEAVEN GAVE
ME.
510. My daughter, I see thee full of devout emulation
of the happiness, which the intercourse with my Son afforded me, my spouse and
the holy angels, since we beheld Him present to our bodily eyes as thou
desirest for thyself, if it were possible. I wish to console thee and guide thy
affections toward that which thou thyself canst and shouldst do according to
thy condition in order to attain the same happiness which thou covetest in us.
For this purpose, beloved, recall what thou hast already sufficiently
understood concerning the ways of God in raising up those souls, whom He seeks
with paternal love and affection. Thou hast attained this knowledge by being
favored with so many particular calls and enlightenments of the Lord, wherein
He continually waits at the portals of thy heart, and urges thee onward
expecting thy conversion (Wis. 6, 15). Thou hast seen Him drawing thee to
Himself by repeated favors and by most exalted doctrines, selecting thee for
the narrow bands of his loving intercourse (Coloss. 3, 14); and the great
purity due to this concession.
511. Faith likewise teaches thee, that God is present
in all places by his essence and by the power of his Divinity; and that to Him
are open all thy thoughts. thy desires and sighs without exception. If thou
cooperate with this truth so as to preserve the graces, which thou receivest
through the sacraments and other channels divinely instituted, the Lord will
remain with thee also by divine and special assistance; and in it He will
regale thee with his love as his chosen spouse. Now since thou knowest and
understandest all these truths, tell me, what more canst thou envy or desire,
when thou already possessest all that thou so anxiously sighest after? What I
require of thee, and all that remains for thee to do, is, that thou exert
thyself in holy emulation to imitate this intercourse and reproduce in thyself
the disposition of the angels, the purity of my husband, and to copy in thyself
my life, as far as possible, in order to be a fit dwelling-place of the Most
High (I Cor. 3, 17). Thou must direct all those endeavors, all those desires
and exertions, with which thou wouldst have wished thyself to be animated if
thou hadst seen and adored my most holy Son in his birth and infancy, toward
the fulfillment of this doctrine; for if thou imitatest me, thou mayest rest
secure, that thou hast me as a Teacher and the Lord for an assured possession
of thy soul. In this assurance thou canst speak to Him, embrace Him and delight
thyself with Him, as with One who is present; for in order to communicate these
delights to the pure and untainted souls He has assumed human flesh and become
a Child. But always look upon Him as the great God, though a Child, in order
that thy caresses may be guarded by reverence and thy love accompanied by holy
fear; for the one is due to Him as God, and the other befits his immense bounty
and merciful magnificence.
512. In this manner of intercourse thou must continue
without intervals of lukewarmness, lest thou disgust Him. Thy legitimate and
chosen occupation should be none other than the love and the praise of the
infinite God. All the rest thou must enter into only sparingly, in such a way
as if visible and earthly things scarcely concerned thee and cannot detain thee
even for a moment. Thou must maintain thyself in this soaring height, so that
thou seem not to have anything earnestly to attend to, except to seek the
highest and true God. Me thou shouldst imitate and for God alone thou shouldst
live; all the rest should not exist for thee, nor shouldst thou exist for it.
But the gifts and blessings, which thou receivest I wish thou dispense and
communicate for the good of thy fellowmen, observing the perfect order of holy
charity; thus thy gifts will not evaporate, but be still more increased (I Cor.
13, 8). In all this thou must keep the regulations, which befit thy condition
and state, as I have already shown and instructed thee in other places at other
times.
THE MOST HOLY MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WILL OF THE
LORD. THAT HIS ONLYBEGOTTEN SON BE CIRCUMCISED. AND SHE CONFERS ABOUT IT WITH
SAINT JOSEPH: THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
IS BROUGHT FROM HEAVEN.
513. From the moment the most prudent Virgin found
Herself chosen as the Mother of the divine Word, She began to ponder upon the
labors and sufferings in store for her sweetest Son. As her knowledge of
Scripture was so profound, She understood all the mysteries contained therein
and She began to foresee and prepare with incomparable compassion for all that
He was to suffer for the Redemption of Man. This sorrow, foreseen and expected
with such a full knowledge of details, was a prolonged martyrdom for the most
meek Mother of the sacrificial Lamb of God (Jer. 11, 19). But in regard to the
Circumcision, which was to take place after the birth of the Child, the
heavenly Lady had received no command or intimation of the will of the eternal
Father. This uncertainty excited the loving solicitude and sweet plaints of the
tender and affectionate Mother. Her prudent foresight enabled Her to
conjecture, that, as her most holy Son had come to honor and confirm his law by
fulfilling it and as He had moreover come in order to suffer for men, He would
be constrained by his burning love and by other motives to undergo the pains of
circumcision.
514. On the other hand her maternal love and
compassion longed to exempt her sweet Child if possible, from this suffering;
moreover She knew, that circumcision was a rite instituted for cleansing the
newborn children from original sin, whereas the divine Infant was entirely free
from this guilt, not having contracted it in Adam. In this hesitation between
love of her divine Son and obedience to the eternal Father, the most prudent
Virgin practiced many heroic acts of virtue, unspeakably pleasing to his
Majesty. Although She could have easily escaped this uncertainty by directly
asking the Lord what was to be done; yet, being as humble as She was prudent,
She refrained. Neither would She ask her angels; for with admirable wisdom, She
awaited the opportune time and occasion, assigned by divine Providence for all
things, and She would not presume curiously to search or pry into his decrees
by consulting supernatural sources of information, especially in order to rid
Herself of any suffering. When any grave and doubtful affair arose, in which
there was danger of offending God, or some urgent undertaking for the good of
creatures, in which it would be necessary to know the divine will, She first
asked permission to submit her petition for enlightenment regarding the divine
pleasure.
515. This does not conflict with what I said in book
second, chapter tenth, namely, that the most holy Mary undertook nothing
without asking permission and counsel of God, for this consultation concerning
the divine pleasure was not coupled with the desire of special revelation. In
this as I have said, She was most discreet and diffident, rarely asking for
such extraordinary intervention. Without aspiring to new revelation She was in
the habit of consulting the habitual and supernatural aid of the Holy Ghost,
who governed and guided Her in all her actions. In directing Her faculties by
this interior light, She perceived the greater perfection and sanctity open to
Her in the affairs and transactions of every-day life. Although it is true,
that the Queen of heaven possessed special claims and rights to be informed of
the will of God in different ways; yet, as She was the model of all sanctity
and discretion, She would not avail Herself of this supernatural order and
direction, except in such cases as were appropriate. As for the rest She guided
Herself by fulfilling to the letter the words of David: "As the eyes of
the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes unto the Lord
our God, until He have mercy on us" (Ps. 122, 2). But this natural and
ordinary light in the Mistress of the world was greater than that of all the
mortals together; and in it She sought the fiat of the divine will.
516. The mystery of the Circumcision required a
special and particular dispensation; it demanded a separate enlightenment of
the Lord, and for this the prudent Mother was waiting. In the meanwhile,
addressing in these words the law that required it, She said: "O law, made
for all, thou art just and holy; but thou dost afflict my heart by thy
hardness, if thou art to wound Him, who is thy life and thy Author I That thou
shouldst inflict thy sufferings upon those, who must be cleansed of guilt, is
just; but that thou shouldst visit with thy severity the Innocent, who is without
fault (Heb. 7,26), seems the excess of rigor unless his own love concedes this
right to thee. O would that it might please my Beloved to exempt Himself from
this punishment! But how shall He refuse to undergo it, since He came to seek
pain, to embrace the Cross, to fulfill and accomplish the law? (Matth. 5, 27).
O cruel knife! Would thou couldst direct thy attacks upon my own life, and not
upon the Lord, who gave it to me! O my Son, sweet Love and Light of my soul, is
it possible, that Thou so soon shalt shed thy blood, which is more precious
than heaven and earth? My loving compassion inclines me to hold Thee exempt
from the common law, from which Thou art excluded as its Author. But the desire
to fulfill it urges me to comply with it, leaving Thee a prey to its rigor,
unless Thou, my sweet Life, art willing to change the decree and punish me
instead. The human nature, which Thou hast from Adam, my Lord, I have given
Thee, but without its fault or guilt; since in thy Omnipotence Thou hast
preserved it among all the rest from original stain. Since Thou art the Son of
the eternal Father and the figure of his substance (Heb. 1, 3), and since thy
generation is eternal, Thou art infinitely removed from sin. Why then, my Lord,
shouldst Thou subject thyself to the remedy provided for sin by the law? Yet am
I aware, my Son, that Thou art the Teacher and Redeemer of men and that Thou
must confirm thy precepts by the example: Thou wilt not yield the least point
in this matter. O eternal Father, let the knife now lose its sharpness and the
flesh its sensitiveness! Let pain descend rather upon me, insignificant
wormlet; let thy Onlybegotten Son fulfill the law, but let me alone feel the
punishment. O inhuman and cruel sin, which so soon profferest the gall to Him,
who cannot be guilty of thee! O sons of Adam, abhor and fear sin, which, for a
remedy, demands bloody punishment of the Lord and God himself."
517. Such grief the sorrowful Mother mixed with the
joy of seeing the Onlybegotten of the Father born of Her and resting in her
arms, and thus She passed the days which remained before the Circumcision,
being faithfully attended by her most chaste spouse Joseph. To him alone She
spoke of the Circumcision; yet only in few words and mixed with the tears of
compassion of them both. Before the eight days after the Birth were completed,
the most prudent Queen placed Herself on her knees in the presence of the Lord
and thus addressed Him: "Highest King, Father of my Lord (Eph, 5, 2),
behold here thy slave with the true Sacrifice and Victim in her arms. My sighs
and their cause are not unknown to thy wisdom (Ps. 37, 10). I know, my Lord,
what according to the law is thy pleasure and what should be done with thy Son.
If by suffering much more rigorous pains I can rescue my Son and God, my heart
is prepared. But I am likewise ready to see Him submit to circumcision, if that
is thy will."
518. The Most High answered Her, saying: "My
Daughter and my Dove, do not let thy heart be afflicted because thy Son is to
be subjected to the knife and to the pains of circumcision. I have sent Him
into the world as an example, that He put an end to the law of Moses by
entirely fulfilling it (Matth. 5, 17). Though it is true that the habitation of
his humanity, which thou hast given Him as his natural Mother, is to be
violated, and his flesh wounded together with thy soul, yet remember: He is my
natural Son by an eternal generation (Ps. 2, 7), the image of my substance
(Heb. 1, 3), equal to Me in essence, majesty and glory, and by thus subjecting
Himself to the sacramental law freeing from sin (John 10, 3Q), without letting
man know that He is exempt therefrom, He suffers also in his honor (II Cor.
2,21). Thou knowest beforehand, my Daughter, that thou must reserve thy
Onlybegotten and Mine for this and other greater sufferings. Resign thyself,
then, to the shedding of his blood and willingly yield to Me the first fruits
of the eternal salvation of men."
519. To this decree of the eternal Father the heavenly
Lady, as the Co-operatrix of our salvation, conformed Herself with such a
plenitude of all sanctity as is far beyond human understanding. With complete
and most loving obedience She offered up her Onlybegotten, saying:
"Supreme Lord and God, I offer to Thee this Victim and Host of acceptable
sacrifice with all my heart, although I am full of compassion and sorrow that
men have offended thy immense Goodness in such a way as to force a God to make
amends. Eternally shall I praise Thee for looking with such infinite love upon
thy creatures and for preferring to refuse pardon to thy own Son rather than
hinder the salvation of man (Eph, 5,2). I, who by thy condescension am his
Mother, must before all other mortals subject myself to thy pleasure and
therefore I offer to Thee the most meek Lamb, which is to take away the sins of
the world by his innocence (John 1, 29). But if it is possible to mitigate the
pains caused by this knife at the expense of suffering in me, thy arm is mighty
to effect this exchange."
520. Most holy Mary issued from her prayer and
requested saint Joseph to take the necessary steps for the Circumcision of the
divine Infant. With rarest prudence She avoided telling Him anything of what
She had been told in answer to her prayer. She spoke as if She wished to
consult Him or ask his opinion in regard to the Circumcision, saying that the
time appointed by law for the Circumcision of the Child had arrived and since
they had not received any orders to the contrary, it seemed necessary to comply
with it. They themselves, She said, were more bound to please the Most High, to
obey more punctually his precepts, and to be more zealous in the love and care
of his most holy Son than all the rest of creatures, seeking to fulfill in all
things the divine pleasure in return for his incomparable favors. To these
words saint Joseph answered with the greatest modesty and discretion, saying,
that, as no command to the contrary had been given concerning the Child he
wished in all things to conform himself to the divine will manifested in the
common law; that, although as God the incarnate Word was not subject to the
law, yet He was now clothed with our humanity, and, as a most perfect Teacher
and Savior, no doubt wished to conform with other men in its fulfillment. Then
he asked his heavenly Spouse how the Circumcision was to take place.
521. The most holy Mary answered, that the
Circumcision should be performed substantially in the same way as it was
performed on other children: but that She need not hand Him over or consign Him
to any other person, but that She would herself hold Him in her arms. And
because the delicacy and tenderness of the Infant would make this ceremony more
painful to Him than to other children, they should have at hand the soothing
medicine, which was ordinarily applied at circumcision. Moreover, She requested
saint Joseph to procure a crystal or glass vessel for preserving the sacred
relic of the Circumcision of the divine Infant. In the meanwhile the cautious
Mother prepared some linen cloths to catch the sacred blood, which was now for
the first time to be shed for our rescue, so that not one drop of it might be
lost or fall upon the ground. After these preparations the heavenly Lady asked
saint Joseph to inform the priest and request him to come to the cave where,
without the necessity of bringing the Child to any other place, he might, as a
fit and worthy minister of so hidden and great a sacrament, with his priestly
hands perform the rite of the Circumcision.
522. Then most holy Mary and Joseph took counsel
concerning the name to be given to the divine Infant in the Circumcision, and
the holy spouse said: "My Lady, when the holy angel of the Most High
informed me of this great sacrament, he also told me that thy most sacred Son
should be called JESUS." The Virgin Mother answered: "This same name
was revealed to me when He assumed flesh in my womb; and thus receiving this
name from the Most High through the mouth of his holy angels, his ministers, it
is befitting that we conform in humble reverence with the hidden and inscrutable
judgments of his infinite wisdom in conferring it on my Son and Lord, and that
we call Him JESUS. This name we will propose to the priest, for inscription in
the register of the other circumcised children."
523. While the great Mistress of heaven and saint
Joseph thus conversed with each other, innumerable angels descended in human
forms from on high, clothed in shining white garments, on which were woven red
embroideries of wonderful beauty. They had palms in their hands and crowns upon
their heads and emitted a greater splendor than many suns. In comparison with
the beauty of these holy princes all the loveliness seen in this world appeared
repulsive. But pre-eminent in splendor were the devices or escutcheons on their
breasts, on each of which the sweet name of Jesus was engraved or embossed. The
effulgence which each of these escutcheons emitted exceeded that of all the
angels together, and the variety of the beauty thus exhibited in this great
multitude was so rare and exquisite as neither human tongue can express nor
human imagination ever compass. The holy angels divided into two choirs in the
cave, keeping their gaze fixed upon the King and Lord in the arms of his
virginal Mother. The chiefs of these heavenly cohorts were the two princes,
saint Michael and saint Gabriel, shining in greater splendor than the rest and
bearing in their hands, as a special distinction, the most holy name of JESUS,
written in larger letters on something like cards of incomparable beauty and
splendor.
524. The two princes presented themselves apart from
the rest before their Queen and said: "Lady, this is the name of thy Son
(Matth. 1,21), which was written in the mind of God from all eternity and which
the blessed Trinity has given to thy Onlybegotten Son and our Lord as the
signal of salvation for the whole human race; establishing Him at the same time
on the throne of David. He shall reign upon it, chastise his enemies and
triumph over them, making them his footstool and passing judgment upon them; He
shall raise his friends to the glory of his right hand. But all this is to
happen at the cost of suffering and blood; and even now He is to shed it in
receiving this name, since it is that of the Savior and Redeemer; it shall be
the beginning of his sufferings in obedience to the will of his eternal Father.
We all are come as ministering spirits of the Most High, appointed and sent by
the holy Trinity in order to serve the Onlybegotten of the Father and thy own
in all the mysteries and sacraments of the law of grace. We are to accompany
Him and minister to Him until He shall ascend triumphantly to the celestial
Jerusalem and open the portals of heaven; afterwards we shall enjoy an especial
accidental glory beyond that of the other blessed, to whom no such commission
has been given." All this was witnessed by the most fortunate spouse
Joseph conjointly with the Queen of heaven; but his understanding of these
happenings was not so deep as hers, for the Mother of wisdom understood and
comprehended the highest mysteries of the Redemption. Although saint Joseph
understood many more mysteries than other mortals, yet he did not penetrate
them in the same way as his heavenly Spouse. Both of them, however, were full
of heavenly joy and admiration, and extolled the Lord in new canticles of
glory. All that they experienced in these various and wonderful events
surpasses human language, and certainly my own powers, and I cannot find
adequate words for expressing my conceptions.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, OUR MOST HOLY LADY, GAVE ME.
525. My daughter, I wish to renovate in thee the
enlightened teaching which thou hast received in order that thou mayst treat
with thy Spouse in the highest reverence; for humility and reverential fear
should increase in the soul in the same measure in which especial and
extraordinary favors are conferred upon it. On account of not being mindful of
this truth, many souls either make themselves unworthy or incapable of great
blessings, or, if they receive them, grow into a dangerous rudeness and
torpidity, which offends the Lord very much. The loving sweetness with which
the Lord often treats them engenders in them a certain presumption and
disrespectful forwardness, causing them to deal with his infinite Majesty in an
irreverent manner, and with a vain desire of searching and inquiring into those
hidden ways of God which are far above their comprehension and capacity. They
fall into this presumption because they judge of the familiar intercourse with
God according to the imperfect insight of mortals, presuming to regulate it
after the friendly intercourse of human creatures with one another.
526. But in this way of judging the soul is much
deceived, measuring the reverence and respect due to the infinite Majesty by
the familiarity and equality caused by the human love of mortals to one
another. The rational creatures are by nature equal to each other, although the
conditions and circumstances of each may be different; and the familiarity of
human love and friendship may disregard the accidental differences in yielding to
the human feelings. But the love of God must ever be mindful of the
immeasurable excellence of the infinite Being, since its object is as well the
infinite goodness as the infinite majesty of God: for just because the goodness
and majesty in God are inseparable, therefore also reverence must not be
separated from love of God in the creature. The light of divine faith must
always go before, manifesting to the one that loves the greatness of the Object
loved, awakening and fomenting reverential fear, restraining the exuberance of
blind affections, and bridling them by the memory of the excellence and
superiority of the Beloved.
527. If the creature is noble-hearted, practiced in
and accustomed to holy and reverential fear, it is not in such danger of forgetting
the respect due to the Most High, no matter how great the favors it receives;
for it does not give itself up unguardedly to the spiritual delights and does
not lose, on account of them, the discreet consciousness of the supreme
Majesty; but it respects and reverences Him in proportion to the greatness of
his divine love and enlightenment. With such souls the Lord converses as one
friend with another (Exod, 33, 11). Let it therefore, my daughter, be to thee
an inviolable rule that the closer the embraces, and the greater the delights
with which the Most High visits thee, so much the more unremitting shall be the
consciousness of his immutable and infinite Majesty, extolling and loving Him
at one and the same time. In this wise consciousness thou wilt learn to know
and estimate more becomingly the greatness of his favors. Thou wilt avoid the
dangerous presumption of those who lightly inquire into the secrets of the Lord
at each trivial or even important event, imagining that his most wise
Providence should pay attention to or regard the vain curiosity excited by some
passion or disorder, or some human and reprehensible affection far removed from
holy zeal and love.
528. Take notice of the cautiousness with which I
proceeded in my duties; since, as regards finding grace in the eyes of the
Lord, a vast difference always remains between the efforts of other creatures
and my own. Nevertheless, though I held in my arms God himself as his true
Mother, I never presumed to ask Him to explain to me anything whatever by
extraordinary revelation, neither for the sake of knowing it or for the sake of
ridding myself of suffering, nor for any other merely human reason; for all
this would have been human weakness, vain and vicious curiosity, which could
find no room in me. Whenever necessity urged it upon me for the glory of his
Majesty, or some circumstances made it unavoidable, I asked permission to
propose my wishes. Although I always found Him most propitious, ready to answer
me with kindness and mercifully urging me to declare my wishes, I nevertheless
humiliated myself to the dust and merely asked Him to inform me of what was
most pleasing and acceptable in his eyes.
529. Write this doctrine in thy heart, my daughter,
and guard thyself against the disorderly and curious desire of searching into
or knowing anything above the powers of the human intellect. For besides the
fact that the Lord makes no response to such foolish inquiry, because it
displeases Him very much, remember that the demon is the real author of this
fault in those who are in pursuit of a spiritual life. As he is ordinarily the
author of such blameworthy inquiries, astutely promoting them in the soul, he
also satisfies its curiosity by answering them himself at the same time
assuming the appearance of an angel of light and thus deceiving the imperfect
and the unwary (II Cor. 12, 14). When such inquisitiveness arises from one's
own natural inclination, one must be equally careful not to follow or attend to
it. For in what concerns such high matters as familiar intercourse with the
Lord, one's own reason and judgment is not a safe guide, it being hampered by
evil inclinations and passions. Our depraved and infected nature has been
thrown into great disorder by sin, and is subject to much confusion and excess,
making it unfit for guidance and direction in the high things of God. Equally
wrong is it for the soul to rely on divine revelations in order to free itself
from suffering and labor; for the spouses of Christ and his true servants must
not seek his favors for the purpose of avoiding the cross, but in order to seek
and bear it with the Lord (Matth. 16, 24), patiently enduring the sufferings
which his divine Providence chooses to send. This course of action I desire
thee to maintain in humble fear, and rather to go to extremes in this regard so
as to avoid so much the more securely the opposite fault. From now on I wish
that thou perfect all thy motives and thy undertakings by divine love (Phil. 1,
9), as being the great end of all thy undertakings. In this thou needst not
observe degree or measure; on the contrary I wish thee to create in thee an
excess of love, accompanied by so much of holy fear as will suffice to keep
thee from transgressing the law of the Most High, and to perform all thy
exterior and interior acts in rectitude. Be careful and diligent therein, even
if it cost thee much exertion and pain; for I have endured the same in the
Circumcision of my most holy Son, and for no other reason than because in his
holy law this was manifested and intimated to me as the will of the Lord, whom
we must in all things fully obey.
THE DIVINE INFANT IS CIRCUMCISED AND RECEIVES HIS NAME
JESUS.
530. Like other towns of Israel, the city of Bethlehem
had its own synagogue, where the people came together to pray (wherefore it was
also called the house of prayer), and to hear the law of Moses. This was read
and explained by a priest from the pulpit in a loud voice, in order that the
people might understand its precepts. But in these synagogues no sacrifices
were offered; this was reserved for the temple of Jerusalem, except when the
Lord commanded otherwise. It was not left to the choice of the people, in order
to avoid the danger of idolatry, as is mentioned in Deuteronomy (12, 6). But
the priest, who was the teacher or minister of the law in those places, was
usually also charged with administering the circumcision; not that this was a
binding law, for not only priests but anyone could perform the circumcision;
but because the pious mothers firmly believed that the infants would run less
danger in being circumcised by the hands of a priest. Our great Queen, not on
account of any apprehension of danger, but because of the dignity of the Child,
also wished a priest to administer this rite to Him; and therefore She sent her
most fortunate spouse to Bethlehem to call the priest of that town.
531. The priest came to the gates or cave of the
Nativity, where the incarnate Word, resting in the arms of his Virgin Mother,
awaited him. With the priest came also two other officials, who were to render
such assistance as was customary at the performance of the rite. The rudeness
of the dwelling at first astonished and somewhat disconcerted the priest. But
the most prudent Queen spoke to him and welcomed him with such modesty and
grace that his constraint soon changed into devotion and into admiration at the
composure and noblest majesty of the Mother; and without knowing the cause he
was moved to reverence and esteem for such an unusual personage. When the
priest looked upon the face of Mary and of the Child in her arms he was filled
with great devotion and tenderness, wondering at the contrast exhibited amid
such poverty and in a place so lowly and despised. And when he proceeded to
touch the divine flesh of the Infant, he was renovated by a secret influence
which sanctified and perfected him; it gave him a new existence in grace, and
raised him up to a state of holiness very pleasing to the most high Lord.
532. In order to show as much exterior reverence for
the sacred rite of circumcision as was possible in that place, saint Joseph
lighted two wax candles. The priest requested the Virgin Mother to consign the
Child to the arms of the two assistants and withdraw for a little while in
order not to be obliged to witness the sacrifice. This command caused some
hesitation in the great Lady; for her humility and spirit of obedience inclined
Her to obey the priest, while on the other hand She was withheld by the love
and reverence for her Onlybegotten. In order not to fail against either of
these virtues, She humbly requested to be allowed to remain, saying that She
desired to be present at the performance of this rite, since She held it in
great esteem, and that She would have courage to hold her Son in her arms, as
She wished not to leave Him alone on such an occasion. All that She would ask
would be that the circumcision be performed with as much tenderness as possible
on account of the delicacy of the Child. The priest promised to fulfill her
request, and permitted the Child to be held in the arms of his Mother for
fulfilling the mystery. Thus She became the sacred altar on which the truths
typified in the ancient sacrifice became a reality (Heb. 9, 6) ; and She
herself offered up this new morning's sacrifice on her own arms in order that
it might be acceptable to the eternal Father in all particulars.
533. The divine Mother then unwound the swaddling clothes
in which her most holy Son was wrapped and drew from her bosom a towel or linen
cloth, which She had previously placed there for the purpose of warming it; for
the weather was very cold on that day. While holding the Child in her hands She
so placed this towel that the relics and the blood of the Circumcision would
fall upon it. The priest thereupon proceeded to his duty and circumcised the
Child, the true God and man. At the same time the Son of God, with immeasurable
love, offered up to the eternal Father three sacrifices of so great value that
each one would have been sufficient for the Redemption of a thousand worlds.
The first was that He, being innocent and the Son of the true God, assumed the
condition of a sinner (Phil. 2, 7) by subjecting Himself to a rite instituted
as a remedy for original sin, and to a law not binding on Him (II Cor. 5, 21).
The second was his willingness to suffer the pains of circumcision, which He
felt as a true and perfect man. The third was the most ardent love with which
He began to shed his blood for the human race, giving thanks to the eternal
Father for having given Him a human nature capable of suffering for his
exaltation and glory.
534. This prayerful sacrifice of JESUS our Savior the
Father accepted, and, according to our way of speaking, He began to declare
Himself satisfied and paid for the indebtedness of humanity. The incarnate Word
offered these first fruits of his blood as pledges that He would give it all in
order to consummate the Redemption and extinguish the debt of the sons of Adam.
All these interior acts and movements of the Onlybegotten his most holy Mother
perceived, and in her heavenly wisdom She penetrated the mystery of this
sacrament, acting as his Mother and in concert with Her Son and Lord in all
that He was doing and suffering. True to his human nature, the divine Infant
shed tears as other children. Although the pains caused by the wounding were
most severe, as well on account of the delicacy of his body as on account of
the coarseness of the knife, which was made of flint, yet his tears were caused
not so much by the sensible pain as by the supernatural sorrow caused by his
knowledge of the hard-heartedness of mortals. For this was more rude and
unyielding than the flint, resisting his sweetest love and the divine fire He
had come to enkindle in the world and in the hearts of the faithful (Luke
12,49). Also the tender and affectionate Mother wept, like the guileless sheep,
which raises its voice in unison with the innocent lamb. In reciprocal love and
compassion the Child clung to his Mother, while She sweetly caressed Him at her
virginal breast and caught the sacred relics and the falling blood in the
towel. These She entrusted to saint Joseph, in order to tend to the divine
Infant and wrap Him once more in the swaddling-clothes. The priest was somewhat
surprised at the tears of the Mother; yet, not understanding the mystery, he
conjectured that the beauty of the Child might well cause such deep and loving
sorrow in Her who had given Him birth.
535. In all these proceedings the Queen of heaven was
so prudent, circumspect and magnanimous, that She caused admiration in the
angelic choirs and highest delight to her Creator. She gave forth the
effulgence of the divine wisdom, which filled Her, performing each of her
actions as perfectly as if She had that alone to perform. She was unyielding in
her desire of holding the Child in her arms during the Circumcision, most
careful in preserving the relics, most compassionate in her affliction and
tears, feeling Herself his pains, most loving in her caresses, most diligent in
procuring his comfort, fervent in imitating Him in his works, always careful to
treat Him with the highest reverence, without ever failing or intermitting her
acts of virtue, and without ever letting the perfection of one disturb that of
the other. Wonderful spectacle exhibited by a Maiden of fifteen years, and
affording even the angels a sort of new lesson and cause of admiration! In the
meanwhile the priest asked the parents what name they wished to give to the
Child in Circumcision; the great Lady, always attentive to honor her spouse,
asked saint Joseph to mention the name. Saint Joseph turned toward Her in like
reverence and gave Her to understand that He thought it proper this sweet name
should first flow from her mouth. Therefore, by divine interference, both Mary
and Joseph said at the same time: "JESUS is his name." The priest
answered: "The parents are unanimously agreed, and great is the name which
they give to the Child"; and thereupon he inscribed it in the tablet or
register of names of the rest of the children. While writing it the priest felt
great interior movements, so that he shed copious tears; and wondering at what
he felt yet not being able to account for, he said: "I am convinced that
this Child is to be a great Prophet of the Lord. Have great care in raising
Him, and tell me in what I can relieve your needs." Most holy Mary and
Joseph answered the priest with humble gratitude and dismissed him after
offering him the gift of some candles and other articles.
536. Being again left alone with the Child, most holy
Mary and Joseph celebrated anew the mystery of the Circumcision, commenting on
the holy name of JESUS amid sweet canticles and tears of joy, the fuller
knowledge of which (as also of other mysteries which I have mentioned) is
reserved as an additional accidental glory to the saints in heaven. The most
prudent Mother applied to the wound caused by the knife such medicines as were
wont to be used on such occasions for other children, and during the time while
the pain and the healing lasted She would not for a moment part with Him, holding
Him in her arms day and night. The tender love of the heavenly Mother is beyond
all comprehension or understanding of man; for her natural love was greater
than any other mother was capable of, and her supernatural love exceeded that
of all the angels and saints together. Her reverence and worship cannot be
compared with that of any other created being. These were the delights of the
incarnate Word (Prov. 8, 31), which He desired and longed for among the
children of men; and this was the recompense, which his loving heart drew from
the exceeding sanctity of the Virgin Mother for the sorrows occasioned Him by
their behavior. Although He pleased Himself in Her alone above all the mortals
and in Her found full satisfaction of his love, yet the humble Queen sought to
alleviate his bodily pains by all the means within her power. Therefore She
besought the holy angels to assist Her and produce sweet harmony for their
incarnate God, and her suffering Child. The ministers of the Most High obeyed
their Queen and Lady and in audible voices they rehearsed the canticles which
She herself had composed with her spouse in praise of the new and sweet name of
JESUS.
537. With this music, so sweet that in comparison to
it all human music seemed but irksome discord, the heavenly Lady entertained
her most holy Son; and sweeter yet was the harmony of her heroic virtues, which
in her soul formed "choirs as of serried armies," as the Lord and
Spouse himself says in the Canticles. Hard are human hearts, and more than slow
and dull in recognizing and thankfully acknowledging such venerable sacraments,
instituted for their eternal salvation by the immense love of the Creator and
Redeemer. O sweetest Good of my soul and of my life! What wicked return do we
make for the exquisite artifices of thy eternal love! O measureless charity,
which is not extinguished by the overwhelming waters of our gross and faithless
ingratitude! Truly the essential Bounty and Holiness could not go to a greater
length of condescension for love of us, nor exercise more exquisite love than
to assume the form of a sinner (Phil. 2, 7), drawing upon his own innocence the
punishment of the sin, which otherwise could never approach Him. If men despise
such an example and forget such a benefit, how can they be said to retain the
use of their reason? How can they presume upon and glory in their wisdom,
prudence or judgment? It would be prudence, ungrateful man, if thou wouldst
afflict thyself and weep over thy notorious dullness and darkness of mind in
not being moved by such great works of thy God; since not even the divine love
can melt the iciness of thy heart.
538. My daughter, I wish thee to consider attentively
the blessed favor conferred upon thee by being informed of the solicitous care
and attention which I lavished upon my most holy and sweetest Son in the
mysteries just now described. The Most High does not give thee this special
light in order only to be regaled by the knowledge of these mysteries; but in
order to imitate me in all these things as a faithful handmaid and in order to
distinguish thyself in rendering thanks for his works in the same measure as
thou art distinguished in knowing them more fully. Ponder, then, dearest, upon
the small return given for the love of my Son and Lord by mortals, and how
forgetful of thanks even his faithful continue to be. Assume it as thy task, as
far as thy weak powers allow, to render satisfaction for this grievous offense:
loving Him, thanking Him and serving Him with all thy powers, for all the other
men who fail to do so. Therefore thou must be an angel in promptitude, most
fervent and punctual on all occasions; thou must die to all earthly things,
eliminating and crushing all human inclinations and rising upon the wings of
love to the heights of love designed for thee by the Lord.
539. Thou art not ignorant of the sweet efficacy
contained in the memory of the works performed by my most holy Son: and
although thou canst so copiously avail thyself of the light given thee to be
thankful: yet, in order that thou mayest fear so much the more the danger of
forgetfulness, I particularly inform thee that the saints in heaven,
comprehending by the divine light these mysteries, are astonished at themselves
for not having paid more attention to them during their life. And if they were
capable of pain, they would be deeply grieved for their tardiness and
carelessness in not having set proper value upon the works for the Redemption,
and for failing in the imitation of Christ. All the angels and saints, by an
insight hidden to mortals, wonder at the cruelty of human hearts against
themselves and against Christ their Redeemer. Men have compassion neither for
the sufferings of the lord, nor for the sufferings they themselves stand in
danger of incurring. When the foreknown, in unending bitterness shall recognize
their dreadful forgetfulness and their indifference to the works of Christ
their Savior, their confusion and despair will be an intolerable punishment,
and it alone will be a chastisement beyond all imagination; for they will then
see the copiousness of the Redemption, which they have despised (Ps. 44, 11).
Hear me, my daughter, and bend thy ears to these counsels and doctrines of
eternal life. Cast out from thy faculties every image and affection toward
human creatures and turn all the powers of thy heart and soul toward the
mysteries and blessings of the Redemption. Occupy thyself wholly with them,
ponder and weigh them, give thanks for them as if thou alone wert in existence,
as if they had been wrought solely for thee, and singly for each human being in
particular (Gal. 2, 20). Thus thou wilt find life and the way of life,
proceeding thus thou canst not err; but thou shalt find therein the light of
thy eyes and true peace.
THE MOST HOLY MARY REMAINS IN THE PORTAL OF THE
NATIVITY UNTIL THE COMING OF THE MAGI KINGS.
540. By the infused knowledge of holy Scriptures and
her high supernatural enlightenment, our great Queen knew that the Magi Kings
of the Orient would come to acknowledge and adore her most holy Son as their
true God. She was aware of it also more particularly because an angel had been
sent to them to announce the birth of the incarnate Word, as mentioned in
chapter second (No. 492), and the Virgin Mother was not ignorant of this
message. Saint Joseph had no foreknowledge of these mysteries; because they had
not been revealed to him, nor had his most prudent Spouse informed him of this
secret. In all things She was most wise and discreet, awaiting the sweet and
timely dispositions of the divine Providence (Wis. 8, 1). After the
Circumcision, the holy spouse suggested to the Mistress of heaven that they
leave their poor and forsaken habitation on account of the insufficient shelter
which it afforded the divine Infant and to Her; for it would now be possible to
find a lodging in Bethlehem, where they could remain until after presenting the
Child in the temple of Jerusalem. This proposal of the most faithful spouse
arose from his solicitude and anxiety lest the Child and the Mother should want
even that comfort and convenience which it was possible for their poverty to
procure; but he left it all to the disposition of his heavenly Spouse.
541. Without revealing the mystery, the humble Queen
answered: "My spouse and master, I resign myself to thy will, and wherever
thou wishest to go I will follow with great pleasure: arrange it as thou
pleasest," The heavenly Lady had an affection for the cave on account of
its humbleness and poverty, and because the incarnate Word had consecrated it
by the mysteries of his Nativity and Circumcision, and was to hallow it by the
mystery of the Magi's visit, although She did not know at what time that would
happen. This was a most pious affection, full of devotion and reverence; yet
She preferred to give an example of the highest perfection in all things. She
considered it more important to resign and submit to saint Joseph, letting her
spouse decide what was to be done. While they were thus conferring with each
other, the Lord himself informed them through the two celestial princes Michael
and Gabriel, who were attending in corporeal forms to the service of their Lord
and God and of their great Queen. They spoke to Mary and Joseph, saying:
"Divine Providence has ordained that three kings of the earth, coming from
the Orient in search of the King of heaven, should adore the divine Word in
this very place (Ps. 71, 6). They are already ten days on the way; for at the
hour of the birth of Jesus they were informed of it, and they immediately set
out on their journey. Therefore they will shortly arrive, fulfilling all that
the Prophets had from very ancient times foreknown and foretold."
542. By this announcement saint Joseph was instructed
on his part concerning the will of the Lord, and Mary his most holy Spouse said
to him: "My master, this place, chosen by the Most High for such
magnificent mysteries, although it is poor and ill-furnished in the eyes of the
world, in the sight of eternal Wisdom is rich, precious, the most estimable and
preferable on this earth, since the Lord of heaven is satisfied with it and has
consecrated it by his presence. He who is the true land of promise can favor us
with his vision in this place. And if it is his pleasure, He will afford us
some protection and shelter against the inclemencies of the weather during the
few days in which we are to stay here." Saint Joseph was much consoled and
encouraged by these words of the most prudent Queen. He answered Her, that,
since the divine Child was to fulfill the law, which required Him to be
presented in the temple, just as He had subjected Himself to the law of
Circumcision, they could remain in this sacred place until that day should
arrive, without first undertaking the distant and wearisome journey to Nazareth
during the inclement weather. If, perhaps, the severity of the season would
compel them to seek shelter in the city, they could easily do so; since from
Bethlehem to Jerusalem there was only a distance of two hours.
543. In all these matters the most holy Mary conformed
Herself to the will of her watchful spouse; for She knew his solicitude for the
sacred tabernacle which was confided to his care, and which was more holy and
venerable than the Holy of Holies in the temple. Awaiting the time when her
Onlybegotten should be presented in the temple, She was unremitting in her care
of Him, lest She forget anything necessary to protect Him against the cold and
the roughness of the weather. She also prepared the cave for the arrival of the
Kings, cleaning it once more and arranging it anew as far as the rudeness and
destitution of the place allowed. But her greatest attention and care was
always reserved for the Child itself, bearing It in her arms continually unless
absolute necessity demanded otherwise. Besides all this She made use of her
power as Queen of all creation whenever the rigors of winter rose to excess;
for She commanded the frost and the winds, the snow and the ice not to
incommode their Creator, and to spend their elemental fury and asperity upon
her person alone. The heavenly Queen gave her commands as follows:
"Restrain your wrath before your Creator, Author, Lord and Preserver, who
has called you into existence and given you strength and activity. Be mindful,
creatures of my Beloved, that you are furnished with rigor on account of sin
for the chastisement of the disobedience of the first Adam and his progeny. But
with the second Adam, who comes to repair this fall and cannot have any part
therein, you must be courteous, reverencing and not offending Him, to whom you
owe worship and subjection. And therefore I command you in his name to cause no
inconvenience or displeasure to Him."
544. It is worthy of our admiration and imitation to
notice the ready obedience of the irrational creatures to the divine will,
intimated to them by the Mother of God : for upon her command, the snow and
rain approached no nearer than ten yards, the winds stopped short and the
surrounding air retained a mild temperature. To this miracle was added another
one: at the same time in which the divine Infant in her arms received this
homage of the elements and was protected from their asperity, the Virgin Mother
felt and suffered the cold and inclemency of the weather as if it were exerting
all its natural influences in that place. In this they obeyed the loving Mother
and sovereign Mistress of creatures to the letter, as She wished not to exempt
Herself from their asperity while She prevented her tender Child and her God
from suffering under it. Saint Joseph enjoyed the same privilege as the sweet
Infant; he noticed the favorable change of the temperature, without knowing
that it was due to the commands of his heavenly Spouse and an effect of her
power; for She had not manifested to him this privilege, because She had no
command to that effect from the Most High.
545. As to the order and manner in which the great
Queen nourished her Child JESUS, it is to be remarked that She offered Him her
virginal milk three times a day, and always with such reverence that She asked
his permission beforehand and his pardon for the indignity, considering Herself
and acknowledging Herself unworthy of such a privilege. Many times, while
holding Him in her arms, She was on her knees adoring Him; and if at any time
it was necessary to seat Herself She always asked his permission. With the same
tokens of reverence She handed Him to saint Joseph and received Him from his
arms, as I have said above. Many times She kissed his feet, and when She wished
to kiss his face She interiorly asked his benevolent consent. The sweetest
Child returned these caresses of his Mother not only by the expression of
pleasure in his countenance, which was at the same time full of majesty, but
also by other actions usual in children. In Him, however, they were accompanied
by a serene deliberation. The most ordinary token of his love was to recline
sweetly upon the breast of the most pure Mother, or upon her shoulder,
encircling her neck with his divine arms. These caresses the Empress Mary met
with so much attention and discretion that She neither petulantly sought them
as other mothers, nor too timidly withdrew from them. In all these things She
behaved most perfectly and prudently, without defect or excess of any kind: the
more openly and affectionately her most holy Son manifested his love toward
Her, so much the more deeply did She humiliate Herself, and so much the greater
was her reverence; in the same manner She gaged also the tokens of her
affection and lent new glory to her magnanimity.
546. There was an interchange of caresses of another
kind between the Infant and his Mother: for besides understanding by divine
enlightenment all the interior acts of the most holy soul of her Onlybegotten,
as I have already stated (481, 534), it often happened that, holding Him in her
arms, She was privileged to see through his humanity as through a crystal
casement, thus perceiving the hypostatic union of the Son of God with his human
nature, and witnessing the activity of his soul in interceding with the eternal
Father for the human race. These operations and intercessions the heavenly Lady
faithfully imitated, being entirely absorbed and transformed in her divine Son.
His Majesty on his part looked upon Her with new accidental joy and delight,
regaling Himself in the purity of this Creature, rejoicing that He had created
Her, and that his becoming man had resulted in such a living image of his
Divinity and humanity. In regard to this mystery the words of the soldiers of
Holofernes when they beheld the beauty of Judith in the camp of Bethulia,
occurred to me: "Who can despise the people of the Hebrews, who have such
beautiful women? Shall we not think it worth our while for their sakes to fight
against them?" This saying seemed to be mysteriously realized in the
incarnate Word, since He, with greater cause, could address them to his eternal
Father and to all the rest of the creatures:
"Who shall fail to see, that my coming from
heaven and assuming flesh is fully justified, since by coming upon the earth
and dethroning the demon, the world and the flesh, and by conquering and
vanquishing them, such a Woman is called into existence as is my Mother among
the children of Adam?" O sweetest love, essence of my virtue, life of my
soul, most loving Jesus, behold and see that most holy Mary by Herself
possesses such immense beauty as exceeds that of all the human race! She is
the only and chosen One (Cant. 6, 8), so perfectly pleasing to Thee, my Lord
and my God, that She not only equals but far surpasses all the rest of thy
people; and that She alone compensates God for all the wickedness of the race
of Adam.
547. So powerful were the effects of this delightful
intercourse with her Son and true God, that She was more and more spiritualized
and made Godlike. Many times in these flights of her soul the force of her
burning love would have torn asunder the ligaments of her members and destroyed
the union of her soul and body, if She had not been miraculously comforted and
preserved. She spoke to her most holy Son secret words so exalted and full of
weight that they cannot come within the range of our expression. All that I can
reproduce can never be anything more than a mere shadow of that which was
manifested to me. She said to Him: "0 my Love, sweet Life of my soul, who
art Thou, and who am I? What dost Thou wish to make of me by thus becoming man of
man, lowering thy greatness and magnificence in favor of such useless dust? O what
shall thy slave do to pay the debt of love which she owes to Thee? What return
shall I make for the great things which thou hast done to me (Ps. 115, 12)? My
being, my life, my faculties, my feelings, my desires and longings, all is for
Thee. Comfort thy servant and thy Mother, in order that She may not fail in thy
service at the sight of her own insignificance, and in order that she may not
die for love of Thee. O how limited is the power of man! How circumscribed his
capacity! How insufficient is human affection, as it cannot sufficiently
render a just return for thy love! But the victory of mercy and magnificence
must always be thine, and to Thee belong the triumphal songs of love; while we
must on the contrary always consider ourselves overcome and vanquished by thy
power. Let us be humiliated and let us grovel in the dust, while thy greatness
is magnified and exalted in all the eternities." The heavenly Lady, partaking
of the science of her most holy Son, sometimes beheld the souls which in the
course of the new law of grace were to distinguish themselves in divine love,
the works which they were to perform, the martyrdom which they were to suffer
in imitation of the Lord; in this knowledge She became so inflamed with love
that her longings of love caused in Her a greater martyrdom than those actually
suffered by the saints. To her happened what the Spouse in the Canticles
mentions (Cant. 8, 6), that the emulations of love are strong as death and hard
as hell. To these agonies of the loving Mother, caused by the mortal wounds of
divine affection, her most holy Son answered in the words there used:
"Place Me as a sign or seal in thy heart and upon thy arm," causing
in Her at the same time the full understanding of these words as well as their
actual fulfillment. By this divine suffering most holy Mary was a Martyr above
all other martyrs. Among such beds of lilies the meekest Lamb, Jesus, wandered,
while the day of grace began to break and the shades of the ancient Law
receded.
548. The divine Child ate nothing during the time in
which He was nourished at the virginal breast of his most holy Mother, for this
milk was his only sustenance. This was most sweet and substantial, since it
originated in a body so pure, perfect and refined, and one built up in
exquisite harmony without any disorder or inequality. No other body was equal
to it in healthfulness; and the sacred milk, even if it would have been
preserved a long time, would have remained free from corruption; by an especial
privilege it never changed or soured, though the milk of other women
immediately degenerates and becomes corrupt, as experience teaches.
549. The most fortunate Joseph not only witnessed the
favors and caresses which passed between the Child and its Mother; but he
himself shared in others, which Jesus deigned to confer upon him. Many times
his heavenly Spouse placed him in his arms. This happened whenever She had to
do some work during which She could not hold Him herself; as for instance, when
She prepared the meals, or arranged the clothes of the Infant or cleaned the
house. On these occasions saint Joseph held Him in his arms and he always felt
divine effects in his soul. The Child Jesus showed exterior signs of affection
by his pleased looks, by reclining upon his breast, and by other tokens of
affection usual with children in regard to their fathers, but in Him these
tokens were always tempered with kingly majesty. Yet all this was not so frequent
in his dealings with saint Joseph, nor with such endearment, as with his true
Virgin Mother. Whenever She left Jesus in his care, She received from saint
Joseph the relic of the Circumcision, which the latter ordinarily bore about
with him for his consolation. Thus both the two Spouses were continually
enriched: She by holding her most holy Son, he by his sacred blood and deified
flesh. They preserved it in a crystal vase, which saint Joseph had purchased
with the money sent to them by saint Elisabeth. In this they had enclosed the
particle of flesh and the sacred blood shed at the Circumcision, which had been
caught up in pieces of linen. The opening of the vase was encased in silver,
which the mighty Queen, in order to preserve the sacred relics more securely,
had sealed by her mere command. Thus the silver opening was more firmly sealed
than if it had been soldered by the artisan, who had made the vessel. In this
vase the prudent Mother treasured the relics during her whole life and
afterwards She entrusted it to the Apostles, leaving it as an inheritance to
the holy Church. In this immense sea of mysteries I find myself so annihilated
and dumbfounded by my ignorance as a woman, and so narrowed in my powers of
expression, that I must leave much of it to be fathomed by the faith and piety
of the Christians.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY GAVE ME.
550. My daughter, in the foregoing chapter, thou hast
been instructed not to seek information from the Lord by supernatural means,
neither in order to relieve any suffering, nor in order to satisfy a natural
hankering of curiosity. Now I exhort thee likewise not to yield, for any of
these reasons, to the desire of performing any exterior action according to the
promptings of nature. For in all the activity of thy exterior faculties and
senses thou must seek to moderate and subject thy inclinations, not yielding to
them in their demands, although they may have the color of virtue or piety. I
was in no danger of going to excess in these affections on account of my
sinlessness; nor was there a want of piety in my desire of remaining in the
cave, where my most holy Son had been born and had been circumcised. Yet I did
not wish to express my desire, even when asked about it by my spouse; for I
preferred obedience to this pious inclination, and I knew that it is more
secure for the souls and more according to the pleasure of the Lord to seek his
will in the counsel and decision coming from other, rather than in their own
inclination. In me this course of action was advisable only on account of the
greater perfection contained therein, but in thee and in other souls, who are
subject to error in their judgment, this rule must be observed most rigorously,
so as to prevent and avoid mistakes diligently and discreetly. For in their
ignorance and pusillanimity men are easily carried away by their feelings and
inclinations toward insignificant things, and very often they occupy themselves
with trifles as if they were important matters, and with vanities, as if they
were realities. All such activity weakens the soul and deprives it of great
spiritual blessings, of grace, enlightenment and merit.
551. This doctrine shalt thou write in thy heart
together with all the others which I am to give thee. Seek to use it as a
reminder of all that I did, so that as thou hast come to know it thou mayest
also understand and execute it in thy life. Take notice of the reverence, love
and solicitude, the holy and discreet fear, with which I conversed with my most
holy Son. I always lived in this kind of watchfulness; and even after I had
conceived Him in my womb, I never lost it out of sight, nor did the great love
which He showed me diminish it in me. In this ardent desire to please Him my
heart found no rest until it was entirely united and absorbed in the enjoyment
of this my highest Good and ultimate End. Excepting at certain times, during
which I rested in his love as in my sole joy, I invariably carried about with
me this continual solicitude, like one who restlessly pursues his way, and who
permits himself not to be delayed by anything that is useless or hinders the
attainment of his desired object. So far was my heart from attaching itself to
any earthly thing, or from following the inclination of the senses, that I
lived as if I had not been composed of earthly substance. If other creatures
are not free from passions, or do not overcome them as much as possible, let
them not blame nature, but their own will: on the contrary, they justly incur
the reproaches of weak nature; because, instead of governing and directing
nature by the sovereign power of the will, they make no use of that power. They
allow the natural inclinations to involve them in disorders, abetting it by the
free will and using their understanding to find still more dangerous
occupations and occasions of ruin. On account of these pitfalls presenting
themselves in mortal life, I warn thee, my dearest, not to hanker after or seek
any of the visible things, although they may appear to thee necessary and most
appropriate for the circumstances. Use all things, thy cell, thy garments, thy
sustenance, and whatever else of this life, only in obedience and with the full
consent of thy superiors; because the Lord requires this of thee; and it is
also my pleasure to see thee apply all things for the service of the
Omnipotent. According to these great rules which I have given thee thou must
regulate all thy activity.
THE THREE KINGS OF' THE ORIENT COME TO ADORE THE WORD
MADE MAN IN BETHLEHEM.
552. The three Magi Kings, who came to find the divine
Infant after his birth, were natives of Persia, Arabia and Sabba (Ps. 71, 10),
countries to the east of Palestine. Their coming was prophesied especially by
David, and before him, by Balaam, who, having been hired by Balaac, king of the
Moabites, to curse the Israelites, blessed them instead (Numb. 24, 17). In this
blessing Balaam said, that he would see the King Christ, although not at once,
and that he would behold Him, although not be present; for he did not see Him with
his own eyes, but through the Magi, his descendants many centuries after. He
said, also, that a star would arise unto Jacob, which was Christ, who arose to
reign forever in the house of Jacob (Luke 1, 32).
553. These three Kings were well versed in the natural
sciences, and well read in the Scriptures of the people of God; and on account
of their learning they were called Magi. By their knowledge of Scripture, and
by conferring with some of the Jews, they were imbued with a belief in the
coming of the Messias expected by that people. They were, moreover, upright
men, truthful and very just in the government of their countries. Since their
dominions were not so extended as those of our times, they governed them
easily, and personally administered justice as wise and prudent sovereigns.
This is the true office of kings, and therefore the Holy Ghost says, that He
holds their hearts in his hands in order to direct them like irrigated waters
to the fulfillment of his holy will (Prov, 21, 1). They were also of noble and
magnanimous disposition, free from avarice and covetousness, which so
oppresses, degrades and belittles the spirits of princes. Because these Magi
governed adjoining countries and lived not far from each other, they were
mutual friends and shared with each other the virtues and the knowledge which
they had acquired, consulting each other in the more important events of their
reigns. In all things they communicated with each other as most faithful
friends.
554. I have already mentioned in the eleventh chapter
(No. 492) that in the same night in which the incarnate Word was born, they
were informed of his Birth by the ministry of the holy angels. It happened in
the following manner: one of the guardian angels of our Queen, of a higher
order than that of the guardian angels of the three kings, was sent from the
cave of the Nativity. By his superior faculties he enlightened the three
guardian angels of the Kings informing them at the same time of the will and
command of the Lord, that each of them should manifest to his charge the
mystery of the Incarnation and of the birth of Christ our Redeemer. Immediately
and in the same hour each of the three angels spoke in dreams to the wise man
under his care. This is the usual course of angelic revelations when the Lord
communicates with souls through the angels. This enlightenment of the Kings
concerning the mysteries of the Incarnation was very copious and clear. They
were informed that the King of the Jews was born as true God and man; that He
was the Messias and Savior who was expected; that it was the One who was
promised in the Scriptures and prophecies (Gen. 3, 10); and that they
themselves, the three Kings, were singled out by the Lord to seek the star,
which Balaam had foretold. Each one of the three Kings also was made aware that
the same revelation was being made to the other two in the same way; and that
it was not a favor or miracle which should remain unused, but that they were
expected to co-operate with the divine light and execute what it pointed out.
They were inspired and inflamed with a great love and with a desire to know the
God made man, to adore Him as their Creator and Redeemer, and serve Him with
most perfect devotion. In all this they were greatly assisted by their
distinguished moral virtues, which they had acquired; for on account of them
they were excellently disposed for the operation of the divine enlightenment.
555. After receiving these heavenly revelations in
their sleep, the three Kings awoke at the same hour of the night, and
prostrating themselves on the ground and humiliating themselves to the dust,
they adored in spirit the immutable being of God. They exalted his infinite
mercy and goodness for having sent the divine Word to assume flesh of a Virgin
(Is. 7, 14) in order to redeem the world and give eternal salvation to men.
Then all three of them, governed by an impulse of the same Spirit, resolved to
depart without delay for Judea in search of the divine Child in order to adore
Him. The three Kings prepared gifts of gold, incense and myrrh in equal
quantities, being guided by the same mysterious impulse; and without having
conferred with each other concerning their undertaking, the three of them
arrived at the same resolve and the same plan of executing it. In order to set
out immediately, they procured on the same day the necessary camels and
provisions together with a number of servants for the journey. Without heeding
the commotion caused among their people, or considering that they were to
travel in foreign regions, or caring for any outward show of authority, without
ascertaining particulars of the place whither they were to go, or gathering
information for identifying the Child, they at once resolved with fervent zeal
and ardent love to depart in order to seek the newborn King.
556. At the same time the holy angel, who had brought
the news from Bethlehem to the kings, formed of the material air a most
resplendent star, although not so large as those of the firmament; for it was
not to ascend higher than was necessary for the purpose of its formation. It
took its course through the atmospheric regions in order to guide and direct
the holy Kings to the cave, where the Child awaited them. Its splendor was of a
different kind from that of the sun and the other stars; with its most beautiful
light it illumined the night like a brilliant torch, and it mingled its own
most active brilliancy with that of the sun by day. On coming out of their
palaces each one of the kings saw this new star (Matth. 2, 2) although each
from a different standpoint, because it was only one star and it was placed in
such distance and height that it could be seen by each one at the same time. As
the three of them followed the guidance of this miraculous star, they soon met.
Thereupon it immediately approached them much more closely, descending through
many shifts of the aerial space and rejoicing them by shedding its refulgence
over them at closer range. They began to confer among themselves about the
revelation they had received and about their plans, finding that they were
identical. They were more and more inflamed with devotion and with the pious
desire of adoring the newborn God, and broke out in praise and admiration at
the inscrutable works and mysteries of the Almighty.
557. The Magi pursued their journey under the guidance
of the star without losing sight of it until they arrived at Jerusalem. As well
on this account as also because this city was the capital and metropolis of the
Jews, they suspected that this was the birthplace of their legitimate and true
King. They entered into the city and openly inquired after Him, saying (Matth.
2, 8) :
Where is the king of the Jews, who is born? For we
have seen his star in the East, announcing to us his Birth and we have come to
see Him and adore Him. Their inquiry came to the ears of Herod, who at that
time unjustly reigned in Judea and lived in Jerusalem. The wicked king,
panic-stricken at the thought that a more legitimate claimant to the throne
should have been born, felt much disturbed and outraged by this report. With
him the whole city was aroused, some of the people, out of flattery to the
king, others on account of the fear of disturbance. Immediately, as saint
Matthew relates, Herod called together a meeting of the principal priests and
scribes in order to ask them where Christ was to be born according to the
prophecies and holy Scriptures. They answered that, according to the words Of
one of the Prophets, Micheas (Mich. 5, 2), He was to be born in Bethlehem;
since it was written by him that thence the Ruler of Israel was to arise.
558. Thus informed of the birthplace of the new King
of Israel, and insidiously plotting from that very moment to destroy Him, Herod
dismissed the priests. Then he secretly called the Magi in order to learn of
them at what time they had seen the star as harbinger of his Birth (Matth. 2,
7). They ingenuously informed him, and he sent them away to Bethlehem, saying
to them in covert malice: "Go and inquire after the Infant, and when you
have found Him, announce it to me, in order that I, too, may go to recognize
and adore Him." The Magi departed, leaving the hypocritical king ill at
ease and in great consternation at such indisputable signs of the coming of the
legitimate King of Israel into the world. Although he could have eased his mind
in regard to his sovereignty by the thought that a recently born infant could
not be enthroned so very soon, yet human prosperity is so unstable and
deceitful that it can be overthrown even by an infant, or by the mere threat of
faroff danger. Thus can even an imagined uncertainty destroy all the enjoyment
and happiness so deceitfully offered to its possessors.
559. On leaving Jerusalem the Magi again found the
star, which at their entrance they had lost from view. By its light they were
conducted to Bethlehem and to the cave of the Nativity. Diminishing in size it
hovered over the head of the infant Jesus and bathed Him in its light;
whereupon the matter of which it had been composed dissolved and disappeared.
Our great Queen had already been prepared by the Lord for the coming of the
Kings, and when She understood that they were approaching the cave, She
requested saint Joseph not to leave it, but to stay at her side. This he did,
although the sacred text does not mention it. Like many other things passed over
in the Gospels, this was not necessary for establishing the truth of the
mystery. Nevertheless it is certain that saint Joseph was present when the
Kings adored the infant Jesus. The precaution of sending him away was not
necessary; for the Magi had already been instructed that the Mother of the
Newborn was a Virgin, and that He was the true God and not a son of saint
Joseph. Nor would God have permitted them to be led to the cave ignorant of
such an important circumstance as his origin, allowing them to adore the Child
as the son of Joseph and of a Mother not a Virgin. They were fully instructed
as to all these things, and they were deeply impressed by the sacramental
character of all these exalted and complicated mysteries.
560. The heavenly Mother awaited the pious and devout
kings, standing with the Child in her arms. Amid the humble and poor
surroundings of the cave, in incomparable modesty and beauty, she exhibited at
the same time a majesty more than human, the light-of heaven shining in her countenance.
Still more visible was this light in the Child, shedding through the cavern
effulgent splendor, which made it like a heaven. The three kings of the East
entered and at the first sight of the Son and Mother they were for a
considerable space of time overwhelmed with wonder. They prostrated themselves
upon the earth, and in this position they worshiped and adored the Infant,
acknowledging Him as the true God and man, and as the Savior of the human race.
By the divine power, which the sight of Him and his presence exerted in their
souls, they were filled with new enlightenment. They perceived the multitude of
angelic spirits, who as servants and ministers of the King of kings and Lord of
lords attended upon Him in reverential fear (Heb. 1, 4). Arising, they
congratulated their and our Queen as Mother of the Son of the eternal Father;
and they approached to reverence Her on their knees. They sought her hand in
order to kiss it, as they were accustomed to do to their queens in their
countries. But the most prudent Lady withdrew her hand, and offered instead
that of the Redeemer of the world, saying: "My spirit rejoices in the Lord
and my soul blesses and extols Him; because among all the nations He has called
and selected you to look upon and behold that which many kings and prophets
have in vain desired to see, namely, Him who is the eternal Word incarnate
(Luke 10, 24). Let us extol and praise his name on account of the sacraments
and mysteries wrought among his people; let us kiss the earth which He sanctifies
by his real presence."
561. At these words of most holy Mary the three kings
humiliated themselves anew, adoring the infant Jesus; they acknowledged the
great blessings of living in the time when the Sun of justice was arising in
order to illumine the darkness (Malachy 4, 2). Thereupon they spoke to saint
Joseph, congratulating him and extolling his good fortune in being chosen as
the spouse of the Mother of God; and they expressed wonder and compassion at
the great poverty, beneath which were hidden the greatest mysteries of heaven
and earth. In this intercourse they consumed three hours, and then the kings
asked permission of most holy Mary to go to the city in order to seek a
lodging, as they could find no room for themselves in the cave. Some people had
accompanied them; but the Magi alone participated in the light and the grace of
this visit. The others took notice merely of what passed exteriorly, and
witnessed only the destitute and neglected condition of the Mother and her
husband. Though wondering at the strange event, they perceived nothing of its
mystery. The Magi took leave and departed, while most holy Mary and Joseph,
being again alone with their Child, glorified his Majesty with new songs of
praise, because his name was beginning to be known and adored among the
Gentiles (Ps. 85, 9). What else the three wise men did will be related in the
following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN GAVE ME.
562. My daughter, the events recorded in this chapter
contain much for the instruction of kings and princes and for the other
faithful; as for instance, the prompt obedience and humility of the Magi, which
men should imitate, and the obdurate wickedness of Herod, which they are to
fear and abhor; for each reaped the fruit of his actions. The kings reaped the
fruit of justice and other virtues, which they practiced; while Herod reaped
those of ambition and pride by which he had usurped the government, and of
other vices into which he cast himself without restriction or moderation. But
let this remark, together with the other teachings of the holy church, suffice
for those that live in the world. To thyself must thou apply the doctrine
contained in what thou hast written; always remembering that all the perfection
of a Christian life must be founded upon the Catholic truths, and in the
constant and firm acknowledgment of them, as they are taught by holy faith. In
order to impress them upon thy heart, thou must profit of all that thou readest
or hearest of the divine Writings, and of what is contained in the other devout
and instructive books concerning the virtues. Thy faith thou must accompany by
the practice and abundance of all good works, hoping ever in the visitation and
coming of the Most High (Tit. 2, 13).
563. By such a disposition thy soul will be prepared
in the manner I require of thee. For I desire that the Almighty find in thee
the sweet readiness to adopt whatever is manifested to thee, and to put in
practice whateyer may be enjoined without any human respect. I promise, that if
thou follow my counsel as thou shouldst, I will be thy star and guide on the
ways of the Lord, so that thou wilt quickly arrive at the vision and enjoyment
of thy God and of thy highest good in Sion (Ps. 83,8). In this doctrine, and in
what happened to the devout kings of the Orient, there is contained a most
effective means for the salvation of souls; yet this is known to few and heeded
by a still smaller number of men. It is this: that the inspirations and
enlightenments are usually sent by God to creatures in a certain order. At
first some are sent to incite the soul to practice some of the virtues; if the
soul corresponds, the Most High sends other and greater ones in order to move
the soul to greater perfection in virtue; and thus, profiting from previous graces,
the soul is disposed for still others, receiving ever greater helps and
securing an increase of the favors of the Lord according as it corresponds to
them. Thou wilt therefore understand two things: first, how great a damage it
is to neglect the exercise of any virtue and not to practice perfection
according to the dictates of the divine inspirations; secondly, how often God
would give great assistance to the souls, if they would begin to correspond to
the smaller ones; since He is as it were in expectation and hope that they will
prepare for his greater ones (Apoc. 6, 20). For He wishes to deal with the soul
according to his just judgments. But because they overlook this orderly manner
of proceeding in his invitations, He suspends the flow of his divine gifts and
He refuses to the souls, what was intended for them if they had not placed an
obstacle, allowing them to fall from one abyss to the other (Ps. 41, 8).
564. The Magi and Herod pursued opposite courses: the
Magi met the first inspirations and graces by the practice of the good works;
thus they disposed themselves by many virtues for being called and drawn by
divine revelation to the knowledge of the mysteries of the Incarnation, the
birth of the divine Word and the Redemption of the human race; and through this
to the happiness and perfection of the way of life. But Herod, on the other
hand, by his hard-heartedness and neglect of the helps, which God offered him
for the practice of virtue, was drawn into the abyss of his measureless pride
and ambition. These vices hurled him into such vast precipices of cruelty as to
be the first one among men to seek the life of the Redeemer of the world under
the cloak of simulated devotion and piety. In giving vent to his furious rage,
he took away the life of the innocent children and attempted by so foul a
measure to advance his damned and perverse undertaking.
THE MAGI KINGS RETURN ONCE MORE TO SEE AND ADORE THE
INFANT JESUS: THEY OFFER THEIR GIFTS ON TAKING LEAVE, AND RETURN BY A DIFFERENT
ROUTS TO THEIR HOMES.
565. From the grotto of the Nativity, into which the
three Kings had entered directly on their way to Jerusalem, they betook
themselves to a lodging inside of the town of Bethlehem. They retired to a room
where, in an abundance of affectionate tears and aspirations, they spent the
greater part of the night, speaking of what they had seen, of the feelings and
affections aroused in each, and of what each had noticed for himself in the
divine Child and his Mother. During this conference they were more and more
inflamed with divine love, amazed at the majesty and divine effulgence of the
Infant Jesus; at the prudence; modesty and reserve of his Mother; at the
holiness of her spouse Joseph, and the poverty of all three; at the humbleness
of the place, where the Lord of heaven and earth had wished to be born. The
devout kings felt a divine fire, which flamed up in their hearts, and, not
being able to restrain themselves, they broke out into exclamations of sweet
affection and acts of great reverence and love. "What is this that we
feel?" they said. "What influence of this great King is it that moves
us to such desires and affections? After this, how shall we converse with men?
What can we do, who have been instructed in such new, hidden and supernatural
mysteries? O greatness of his Omnipotence unknown to men and concealed beneath
so much poverty! O humility unimaginable for mortals! Would that all be drawn
to it, in order that they may not be deprived of such happiness!"
566. During these divine colloquies the Magi
remembered the dire destitution of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their cave, and
they resolved immediately to send them some gifts in order to show their
affection and to satisfy their desire of serving them, since they could not do
anything else for them. They sent through their servants many of the presents,
which they had already set aside for them, and others which they could procure.
Most holy Mary and Joseph received these gifts with humble acknowledgment and
they made a return not of emptyworded thanks, as other men are apt to make, but
many efficacious blessings for the spiritual consolation of the three Kings.
These gifts enabled our great Queen to prepare for her ordinary guests, the
poor, an abundant repast; for the needy ones were accustomed to receive alms
from Her, and, attracted still more by her sweet words, were wont to come and
visit Her. The Kings went to rest full of incomparable joy in the Lord; and in
their sleep the angels advised them as to their journey homeward.
567. On the following day at dawn they returned to the
cave of the Nativity in order to offer to the heavenly King the special gifts
which they had provided. Arriving they prostrated themselves anew in profound
humility; and opening their treasures, as Scripture relates, they offered Him
gold, incense and myrrh (Matth. 2, 11). They consulted the heavenly Mother in
regard to many mysteries and practices of faith, and concerning matters
pertaining to their consciences and to the government of their countries; for
they wished to return well instructed and capable of directing themselves to
holiness and perfection in their daily life. The great Lady heard them with
exceeding pleasure and She conferred interiorly with the divine Infant
concerning all that they had asked, in order to answer and properly to instruct
these sons of the new Law. As a Teacher and an instrument of divine wisdom She
answered all their questions, giving them such high precepts of sanctity that
they could scarcely part from Her on account of the sweetness and attraction of
her words. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, reminding them of
the necessity and of the will of the Lord that they should return to their
country. No wonder that her words should so deeply affect these Kings; for all
her words were inspired by the holy Spirit and full of infused science
regarding all that they had inquired and many other matters.
568. The heavenly Mother received the gifts of the
Kings and in their name offered them to the Infant Jesus. His Majesty showed by
signs of highest pleasure, that He accepted their gifts: they themselves became
aware of the exalted and heavenly blessings with which He repaid them more than
a hundredfold (Matth. 19, 29). According to the custom of their country they also
offered to the heavenly Princess some gems of great value; but because these
gifts had no mysterious signification and referred not to Jesus, She returned
them to the Kings, reserving only the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. In
order to send them away more rejoiced, She gave them some of the clothes in
which She had wrapped the infant God; for She neither had nor could have had
any greater visible pledges of esteem with which to enrich them at their
departure. The three Kings received these relics with such reverence and esteem
that they encased them in gold and precious stones in order to keep them ever
after. As a proof of their value these relics spread about such a copious
fragrance that they revealed their presence a league in circumference. However,
only those who believed in the coming of God into the world were able to
perceive it; while the incredulous perceived none of the fragrance emitted by
the relics. In their own countries the Magi performed great miracles with these
relics.
569. The holy Kings also offered their property and
possession to the Mother of the sweetest Jesus, or, if She did not wish to
accept of them and preferred to live in this place, where her most holy Son had
been born, they would build Her a house, wherein She could live more
comfortably. The most prudent Mother thanked them for their offers without
accepting them. On taking leave of Her, the three Kings besought Her from their
inmost hearts not to forget them, which She promised and fulfilled; in the same
way they spoke to saint Joseph. With the blessing of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
they departed, so moved by tenderest affection that it seemed to them they had
left their hearts all melted into sighs and tears in that place. They chose
another way for their return journey, in order not to meet Herod in Jerusalem;
for thus they had been instructed by the angel on the preceding night. On their
departure from Bethlehem the same or a similar star appeared in order to guide
them home, conducting them on their new route to the place where they had first
met, whence each one separated to reach his own country.
570. For the rest of their lives these most fortunate
Kings lived up to their divine vocation as true disciples of the Mistress of
holiness, governing both their souls and the people of their states according
to her teaching. By the example of their lives and the knowledge of the
Messias, which they spread about, they converted a great number of souls to the
belief in the true God and to the way of salvation. Finally, full of days and
merits, they dosed their careers in sanctity and justice, having been favored
both in life and in death by the Mother of mercy. After dismissing the Kings,
the heavenly Queen and saint Joseph spent their time in new canticles of praise
of the wonders of the Most High, conferring them with the sayings of the
Scriptures and the prophecies of the Patriarchs, which they saw fulfilled one
after another in the Infant Jesus. But the most prudent Mother, who profoundly
penetrated into the deepest meaning of these high sacraments, remembered them
all and treasured them up in her bosom (Luke 2, 19). The holy angels, who were
witnesses of these holy mysteries, congratulated their Queen, that her most
holy Son had been manifested and that his Majesty had been adored by men; and
they sang to Him new canticles, magnifying his mercies wrought upon mankind.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN GAVE ME.
571. My daughter, great were the gifts which the Kings
offered to my most holy Son; but greater still was the affection with which
they offered them and the mystery concealed beneath them. On account of all
this they were most acceptable to his Majesty. I wish that thou also offer up
similar gifts, thanking Him for having made thee poor in condition and
profession. For I assure thee, my dearest, there is no more acceptable gift to
the Most High than voluntary poverty. There are very few in the world in our
days who use well the temporal riches and offer them to their God and Lord with
the generosity and love of these holy Kings. The poor of the Lord, so numerous
in our day, experience and give witness how cruel and avaricious human nature
has become; since in their great necessities they are so little succored by the
rich. This gross uncharitableness of men offends the holy angels and grieves
the Holy Ghost, since they are bound to witness the nobility of the souls so
degraded and abased in the service of vile greed of gold with all its evil
powers (Eccles. 10, 20). As if all things had been created for the individual use
of the rich, they appropriate them to themselves and deprive the poor, their
brothers springing from the same nature and flesh; and denying them even to
God, who created and preserves all things, and who can give or take at will. It
is most lamentable that while the rich might purchase eternal life with their
possessions, they abuse them to draw upon themselves damnation as senseless and
foolish creatures (Luke 16, 9).
572. This evil is common among the children of Adam;
and therefore voluntary poverty is so excellent and safe a remedy. By it,
making man willing to part joyfully with his possessions for the sake of the
poor, a great sacrifice is offered to the Lord. Thou also canst make such an
offering of the things necessary for sustenance, giving a part of it to the
poor and desiring, if it were possible by thy labor and sweat, to help all of
them. Thy ceaseless offer, however, must be love, which is the gold; continual
prayer, which is the incense; and the patient acceptance of labors and true
mortifications, which is the myrrh. All that thou dost for the Lord, thou
should offer up to Him with fervent affection and promptitude, without
negligence or fear; for negligent works, and those not enlivened by love, are
not an acceptable sacrifice in the eyes of his Majesty. In order to make those
incessant offerings, it is necessary that divine faith and light continually
inflame thy heart, having before thy eyes the great object of thy praise and
exaltation, and the stimulus of love, by which thou art bound to the right hand
of the Most High. Thus shouldst thou continue incessantly in this sweet
exercise of love, so proper to the spouses of his Majesty; for their name
implies such a continual payment of the debt of love and affection.
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DISTRIBUTE THE GIFTS RECEIVED
FROM THE MAGI; AND THEY REMAIN IN BETHLEHEM UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE FOR THE PRESENTATION
OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.
573. After the departure of the three Kings and after
the due celebration of the great mystery of the adoration of the Infant Jesus,
there was really nothing to wait for in that poor yet sacred place, and they
were free to leave it. The most prudent Mother then said to saint Joseph:
"My master and spouse, the offerings which the Kings have made to our God
and Child must not remain here idle; but they must be applied in the service of
his Majesty and should be used according to his will and pleasure. I deserve
nothing, even of temporal goods; dispose of all these gifts as belonging to my
Son and to thee." The most faithful of husbands answered, with his
accustomed humility and courtesy, that he would leave all to Her and would be
pleased to see Her dispose of them. But her Majesty insisted anew and said:
"Since thou makest an excuse of humility, my
master, do it then for love of the poor, who are waiting for their share; they
have a right to the things which their heavenly Father has created for their
sustenance." They therefore immediately concluded to divide the gifts into
three parts: one destined for the temple of Jerusalem, namely the incense and
myrrh, as well as part of the gold; another part as offering to the priest, who
had circumcised the Child, in order that he might use it for himself and for
the synagogue or oratory in Bethlehem, and the third part for distribution
among the poor. This resolve they executed with generous and fervent affection.
574. The Almighty made use of a poor but honorable and
pious woman to be the occasion of their leaving the cave. She had come a few
times to visit our Queen; for the house in which She lived was built up against
the wall of the city, not far from the cave. Some time later this devout woman,
not being aware of what had happened, but having heard the rumor of the Kings'
coming, held a conversation with most holy Mary and asked Her whether She had
heard that some wise men, who were said to be kings, had come from far seeking
the Messias? The heavenly Princess, aware of the good disposition of this
woman, took occasion to instruct her and catechize her in the common belief,
without revealing to her the hidden sacrament connected with Herself and the
sweetest Child whom She held in her arms (Tob. 12, 7). In order to relieve her
poverty She gave her some of the gold destined for the poor. Thereby the condition
of this fortunate woman was much improved and she became attached with heart
and soul to her Teacher and Benefactress. She invited the holy Family to live
in her house; and as it was a poor one, it was so much the more accommodated to
the Founders and Builders of holy poverty. The poor woman pleaded with great
persistence, as she saw the great inconvenience to which the most holy Mary and
Joseph with the Child were subject in the cave. The Queen did not refuse her
offer and answered, that She would let her know of her decision. Mary and saint
Joseph conferred with each other and they resolved to leave the cave and lodge
in the house of this woman, awaiting there the time of the purification and the
presentation in the temple. They did it so much the more willingly as it
afforded them a chance to remain near the cave of the Nativity; and also
because many people began to frequent the cave on account of the rumor of the
visit of the Kings, which had been spread about.
575. On account of these and other considerations most
holy Mary, with saint Joseph and the sacred Child took leave of the cave
although with tenderest regret. They accepted the hospitality of that fortunate
woman, who received them with the greatest charity and assigned to them the larger
portion of her dwelling. The holy angels and ministers of the Most High
accompanied them in human forms, which they had always retained. Whenever the
heavenly Mother and saint Joseph her spouse piously revisited the memorable
spots of this sanctuary, they came and went with them as numerous courtiers
delegated to their service. Moreover, when the Child and his Mother took leave
of the cave, God appointed an angel as its keeper and watcher, as He had done
with the garden of Paradise (Gen. 3, 24). And this guard remained and does
remain to this day sword in hand at the opening of the cave; and never since
then has an animal entered there. That this holy angel does not hinder the
entrance of hostile infidels, in whose possession this and the other holy places
are, is because of the judgments of the Most High, who allows men to execute
the designs of his wisdom and justice. This permission would not be necessary,
if Christian princes were filled with fervent zeal for the honor and glory of
Christ and would seek the restoration of these holy places, consecrated by the
blood and the labors of the Lord and of his most holy Mother, and by the works
of our Redemption. And even if this would not be possible, there is no excuse
for not attending with faithful diligence to the decent keeping of the
mysterious places; since nothing is impossible to the believer, who can
overcome the mountains (Matth. 17, 19). I was given to understand, that the
pious devotion and veneration for the Holy Land is one of the most powerful and
efficacious means for establishing and confirming Catholic monarchies; and no
one can deny, that many of their excessive and unnecessary expenses could be
avoided by employing their resources in such a pious enterprise, which would be
pleasing both to God and to men; for in making such an honest use of their
incomes there is no need of outward justification.
576. The most pure Mary and her spouse, having with
her divine Child moved to the dwelling in the vicinity of the cave, remained
there until, according to the requirements of the law, She was to be present
Herself with her First-born for purification in the temple. For this mystery
the most holy of creatures resolved to dispose Herself worthily by a fervent
desire of carrying the infant Jesus as an offering to the eternal Father in his
temple; by imitating her Son and by seeking the adornment and beauty of great
virtues as a worthy offering and victim for the Most High. With this intention
the heavenly Lady, during the days which still remained until her purification,
performed such heroic acts of love and of all other virtues, that neither the
tongue of angels nor of men can explain them. How much lese can this then be
done by a useless and entirely ignorant woman? By sincere piety and devotion,
the Christians who dispose themselves by reverent contemplation, will merit to
feel these mysteries. Judging of the more intelligible favors received by the
Virgin Mother, they can surmise and imagine the others, which do not fall
within the scope of human words.
577. From his very Birth the infant Jesus spoke to his
sweetest Mother in audible words; for immediately after his Birth (as mentioned
in chapter the tenth), He said to Her: "Imitate Me, my Spouse, make
thyself like unto Me." This was when They were alone, and although He
always spoke to Her most plainly, saint Joseph never heard his words until the
Child was one year of age, when He also spoke to him. Nor did the heavenly Lady
reveal this secret, for She understood, that it was only for Her. The conversations
of the infant God were such as were worthy of the greatness of his majesty and
his infinite power; such as were befitting the most pure and holy, the most
wise and prudent of all creatures next to Himself, and One who was his true
Mother. Sometimes He said: "My Dove, my chosen One, my dearest
Mother." (Cant. 2, 10). In such caressing words as were contained in the
Canticles and other continual interior intercourse the most holy Son and Mother
passed their time; and in these the heavenly Princess received favors, and was
delighted by caresses so sweet and loving, as exceed those of the Canticles of
Solomon; and greater ones than all the just and holy souls enjoyed from the
beginning to the end of the world. Many times, during these mysteries of his love,
the Infant Jesus repeated these words already mentioned:
"Make thyself like unto Me, my Mother and my
Dove." As they were words of life and infinite power, and as most holy
Mary at the same time was furnished with the infused knowledge of all the interior
operations of the soul of her Onlybegotten, no tongue can declare nor thought
can comprehend the effects wrought in the most candid and inflamed heart of
this Mother of the Godman.
578. Among the more rare and excellent privileges of
most pure Mary, the chief one is, that She is Mother of God, which is the
foundation of all the rest. The second is, that She was conceived without sin.
The third, that She enjoyed many times the beatific vision in this mortal life,
and the fourth is that She continually saw clearly the most holy soul of her
Son and all its operations for her imitation. She had it present to her eyes,
as a most clear and pure mirror, in which She could behold Herself again and
again in order to adorn Herself with most precious gems of virtue, made in
imitation of those seen in that most holy Soul. There She saw it united with
the divine Word and She exercised her humility in seeing how much her own human
nature was inferior to that of Christ. She perceived with the clearest insight
the acts of gratitude and praise, with which the soul of Christ praised the
Almighty for having been created out of nothing as the rest of the souls, and
for the graces and gifts, with which it was endowed above others as a creature;
and especially, for having been elevated and made godlike by the union of the
human nature with the Divinity. She pondered over his petitions, prayers and
supplications to his eternal Father for the human race; and how in all his
other activity He prepared Himself for its Redemption and instruction, as the
sole Redeemer and Teacher of man for eternal life.
579. All these works of the most holy humanity of
Christ, our supreme Good, his most pure Mother continually sought to imitate.
There is much to say concerning this great mystery of her imitation in this
history; for She had this example and model incessantly before her eyes, and
according to it She regulated her own activity and behavior during the
Incarnation and Nativity of her Son. Like a busy bee She continually built up
the sweetest honeycomb of delights for the incarnate Word. His Majesty, having
come from heaven as our Redeemer and Teacher, wished that his most holy Mother,
of whom He had formed his human existence, should participate in a most exalted
and singular manner in the fruits of the common Redemption and that She should
be the chosen and selected Disciple, in whom his teaching should be vividly
stamped and whom He wished to make as similar to Himself as possible. In the
light of these intentions and blessed purposes of the incarnate Word we must
judge of the greatness of Mary's deeds, and of the delights, which He enjoyed
while resting upon her arms and reclining upon her breast; for it was indeed
the bridal-chamber and the couch of this the true Spouse (Cant. 1, 15).
580. During the days in which the most holy Queen
tarried near Bethlehem before the purification, some of the people came to see
and speak with Her; but almost all of them were of the poorest class. Some of
them came because of the alms which She distributed, others, because they had
heard of the Kings, who had visited the cave. All of them spoke of this visit
and of the coming of the Redeemer; for in those days, (not without divine
predisposal), the belief, that the birth of the Messias was at hand, was very
widespread among the Jews, and the talk about it was very frequent. This gave
the most prudent Mother repeated occasion to exercise Herself in magnanimous
works, not only by guarding the secret of her bosom and by conferring within
Herself about all that She saw and heard, but also by directing many souls
toward the knowledge of God, by confirming them in the faith, instructing them
in the practice of virtues, enlightening them in the mysteries of the Messias
whom they were expecting, and dispelling the ignorance, in which they were cast
as a low-minded people, little versed in the things of God. Sometimes their
talk about these matters was so full of error and womanish prattle, that the
simple saint Joseph smiled in secret. He wondered at the heavenly wisdom and
force of the answers, with which the great Lady met their gossip and instructed
them; at her patience and gentleness in leading them to the truth and to the
perception of the light; at her profound humility and yet patient reserve, with
which She knew how to dismiss all of them consoled, rejoiced and furnished with
all that was good for them to know. She spoke to them words of eternal life,
which penetrated, inflamed and strengthened their hearts (John 6, 69).
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY MARY OUR QUEEN GAVE
ME.
581. My daughter, by the divine light I knew, better
than all other creatures, at what a low value the Most High esteems earthly
blessings and riches. Therefore, in my holy liberty of spirit, I felt myself
troubled and inconvenienced by the possession of the treasures of the Kings
offered to my most holy Son. As in all my deeds I was to shine in humility and
obedience, I did not wish to appropriate them to myself, nor dispose of them
according to my own will, but according to the wishes of my spouse Joseph. In
this resignation I managed to act as if I were his handmaid and as if none of
these gifts concerned me in any way; for it is debasing, and for you weak
creatures, very dangerous to appropriate or attribute any of the goods of the earth,
be they of material possessions or goods of honor; for all this cannot be done
without covetousness, ambition and vain ostentation.
582. I wished to tell thee all this, my dearest, in
order that thou mayest know how to refuse riches or honor as due to thee, and
not appropriate to thyself any of them; especially not if thou receive them
from persons of influence and exalted station. Preserve thy interior liberty
and make no show of a thing which is worth nothing and which cannot justify
thee before God. If anything is brought to thee, never say: "This is given
to me, or is presented to me;" but "This the Lord sends to our
convent; pray to God for those, whom his Majesty has sent as the instruments of
his mercies." And mention the name of the giver, in order that they may
pray particularly for him and that he may not be disappointed in the purpose of
his gift. Also do not receive it personally, lest you raise a suspicion of
covetousness, but let those appointed for this duty receive it. And, if in thy
office as superior, thou must make distribution of things within the convent,
let it be with detachment and without any show of personal rights of possession
in them; yet at the same time, as one who knows that she does not deserve any
favors, do not forget to thank the Most High and the giver. That which is
brought to the other religious thou must acknowledge thankfully as the superior
and immediately see that thou apply it for the community, without reserving any
part of it for thy own use. Do not inquire curiously about the incomes of the
convent, in order that thou mayest not take a sensible pleasure therein and
that thou mayest not seek delight in the reception of such favors; for frail
and passionate nature incurs many defects in such a transaction and of few of
the defects does it render much account to itself. Nothing can be trusted to
infected human nature; for it always seeks after more than it possesses, and it
never says enough, and the more it receives the greater thirst it has for more.
583. But it is to the intimate and frequent
intercourse with the Lord by unceasing love, praise and reverence, that I wish
thee to attend most of all. In this I wish, my daughter, that thou work with
all thy strength, and that thou apply thy faculties and powers incessantly with
great watchfulness and care; for without this the inferior parts will
inevitably weigh down thy soul, derange and upset it, divert and cast it down,
causing it to lose the vision of the highest Good (Wis. 9, 15). This loving
intercourse of the Lord is so delicate, that even by listening or attending to
the deceits of the enemy, the soul loses it. On this account the enemy makes
great efforts to draw thy attention toward himself, knowing that the punishment
of listening to him will be the concealment of the object of its love from the
soul (Cant. 5, 6). As soon as it carelessly ignores the beauty of the Lord, it
enters upon the byways of neglect and is deprived of the divine sweetness
(Cant. 1,7). When afterwards the soul, having with sorrow experienced the evils
of such inadvertence wishes to return to seek Him, it does not always find or
recover Him (Cant. 3, 1, 2). As the demon, who deceived it, then presents other
delights so vile and unlike those to which the soul has been accustomed interiorly,
new cause of sadness, disturbance, dejection, lukewarmness and dissatisfaction
arises and its whole interior is filled with dangerous confusion.
584. Of this truth, my dearest, thou thyself hast some
experience, wherein thou couldst notice the effects of neglect and tardiness in
believing the favors of the Lord. It is time that thou be prudent in thy
sincerity and constant in keeping up the fire of the sanctuary (Lev. 6, 12),
without ever losing sight for a moment of that same object. which I attended to
with all the powers of my soul and all my faculties. Although the distance
between thy conduct, that of a mere wormlet, and that which I propose for thy
imitation is great, and although thou canst not enjoy the supreme Good so
unreservedly as I, nor live in the same condition as I; yet, since I instruct
thee and show thee what I did to assimilate myself to my most holy Son, thou
canst imitate me according to thy strength using my doings as a mirror. I saw
Him in the mirror of his humanity, thou in my soul and person. If the Almighty
calls and invites all men to the highest perfection by following Him, consider
what thou art obliged to do, since thou hast been drawn toward the Most High by
such a generous and powerful influence of his right hand (Matth. 11, 28; Cant.
I, 3).
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DEPART WITH THE INFANT JESUS,
IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE LAW, BY PRESENTING HIM IN THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.
585. Already the forty days after the birth of a son,
during which a woman, according to the law, was considered unclean and during
which she was obliged to continue her purification for her re-admittance into
the temple, were coming to a close (Lev. 22, 4). In order to comply with this
law and satisfy another obligation contained in Exodus, chapter thirteenth,
which demanded the sanctification and presentation to the Lord of all the
firstborn sons, the Mother of all purity prepared to go to Jerusalem, where She
was to appear in the temple with her Son as the Onlybegotten of the eternal
Father and purify Herself according to the custom of other women. She had no
doubts about complying with that part of the law, which applied to Herself in
common with other mothers. Not that She was ignorant of her innocence and
purity; for, ever since the incarnation of the Word, She knew of her exemption
from actual sin and from the stain of original sin. Nor was She ignorant of the
fact that She had conceived by the Holy Ghost, and brought forth without labor,
remaining a virgin more pure than the sun (Luke 1, 15). Yet She hesitated not
to subject Herself to the common law; on the contrary, in the ardent longing of
her heart after humiliation and annihilation to the dust, She desired to do
this of her own free will.
586. In regard to the presentation of her most holy
Son there was some occasion for the same doubt as in regard to the
Circumcision, for She knew Him to be the true God, superior to the laws, which
He himself had made. But She was informed of the will of the Lord by divine
light and by the interior acts of the most holy soul of the incarnate Word; for
She saw his desire of sacrificing Himself and offering Himself as a living
Victim (Eph. 5, 2) to the eternal Father, in thanksgiving for having formed his
most pure body and created his most holy soul; for having destined Him as an
acceptable sacrifice for the human race and for the welfare of mortals. These
acts of the most sacred humanity of the Word were continual, conforming Himself
to the divine will not only in so far as He was already beatified, but also in
so far as He was still a wayfarer upon earth and our Redeemer. Yet, in addition
to these interior acts and in obedience to the law, He wished to be offered to
the eternal Father in the temple where all adored and magnified Him, as in a
house of prayer, expiation and sacrifice (Deut. 12, 5).
587. The great Lady conferred about the journey with
her husband, and, having resolved to be in Jerusalem on the very day appointed
by the law and having made the necessary preparations, they took leave of the
good woman, who had so devotedly entertained them. Although this woman was left
in ignorance of the divine mysteries connected with her Guests, she was filled
with the blessings of heaven, which brought her abundant fruit. Mary and Joseph
betook themselves to the cave of the Nativity, not wishing to begin their
journey without once more venerating that sanctuary so humble and yet so rich
in happiness, though at that time this was yet unknown to the world. The Mother
handed the Child Jesus to saint Joseph in order to prostrate Herself and
worship the earth which had been witness to such venerable mysteries. Having
done this with incomparable devotion and tenderness, She said to her husband:
"My master, give me thy benediction for this journey, as thou art wont to
do at departing from home. I beseech thee also to allow me to perform this
journey on foot and unshod; since I am to bear in my arms the Victim, which is
to be offered to the eternal Father. This is a mysterious work and as far as it
is possible, I should wish to perform it with due reverence and ceremony."
Our Queen was accustomed, for the sake of modesty, to wear shoes, which covered
her feet and served as a sort of stocking. They were made of a certain plant
used by the poor and something like hemp or mallow, dried and woven into a
coarse and strong texture, which, though poor, was yet cleanly and appropriate.
588. Saint Joseph told Her to arise, for She was
kneeling before him, and said: "May the Most High Son of the eternal
Father, whom I hold in my arms, give Thee his blessing. As for the rest it is
well and good, that Thou journey afoot in bringing Him to Jerusalem. But Thou
must not go barefoot, because the weather does not permit it; and thy desire
will be accepted by the Lord instead of the deed." Thus saint Joseph, in
order not to deprive most holy Mary of the joy of humiliation and obedience,
made use of his authority as husband, although with great reverence. And as
saint Joseph only obeyed Her and humiliated and mortified himself in commanding
Her, it happened that both of them exercised humility and obedience
reciprocally. That he refused Her permission to go barefoot to Jerusalem was
occasioned by his apprehensions, lest the cold should injure her health; for he
did not know the wonderful qualities and composition of her virginal and
perfect body, nor the other privileges, conferred upon Her by the divine right
hand. The obedient Queen made no reply to the orders of her husband and obeyed
his wish not to go unshod. In order to again receive in her arms the Infant
Jesus She prostrated Herself on the earth, thanking Him and adoring Him for the
blessings, which He had wrought for them and for the whole human race in that
cave. She besought his Majesty, that this sanctuary be held in esteem and reverence
by the Catholics and that it remain in their possession; and She again placed
it in charge of the holy angel, who had been set as its guardian. She covered
Herself with a cloak for the journey and, receiving in Her arms Jesus, the
Treasure of heaven, She pressed Him to her breast, tenderly shielding Him from
the inclemency of the wintry weather.
589. They departed from the cave, asking the blessing
of the infant God, which his Majesty gave them in a visible manner. Saint
Joseph placed upon the ass the chest containing the clothes of the Infant and
the gifts of the Kings destined for their temple-offering. Thus began the most
solemn procession, which was ever held from Bethlehem to the temple in
Jerusalem; for in company with the Prince of the eternities, Jesus, the Queen,
his Mother, and saint Joseph, her spouse, journeyed the ten thousand angels,
that had assisted at these mysteries, and the other legions, that had brought
from heaven the sweet and holy name of Jesus at the Circumcision (No. 523). All
these heavenly courtiers passed along in visible human forms, so beautiful and
shining, that in comparison with them, all that is delightful or precious in
the world, is less than dirt or mud compared to the finest and purest gold; and
in their splendor they obliterated the sun in its brightest light and would
have turned night into the brightest day. The heavenly Queen and saint Joseph
rejoiced in their effulgence, while all of them together exalted these
mysteries by new canticles of praise in honor of the divine Child about to be
presented in the temple. In this fashion they journeyed the two leagues from
Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
590. On this occasion, not without divine
dispensation, the weather was unusually severe, so that, without regard for the
tender Child, its Creator, the cold and sleety blasts pierced to his shivering
limbs and caused the divine Infant to weep as it rested in the arms of his
loving Mother, being however moved thereto more by his compassion and love for
men than by the effects of the inclemency of the weather upon his body. The
mighty Empress turned to the winds and elements and as Mistress of creation
reprehended them with indignation, that they should thus persecute their Maker.
She commanded them to moderate their rigor toward the Child but not toward Her.
The elements obeyed the commands of their true and rightful Mistress: the cold
blasts were changed into a soft and balmy air for the Infant, without
diminishing their inclemency toward the Mother; thus She herself felt it, but
not her Infant, as on other occasions already mentioned and yet to be
mentioned. She addressed also sin, which She had not contracted, and said:
"0 sin, how most disorderly and inhuman art thou, since, in order to
satisfy for thee, the Creator of all things is afflicted by the very creatures,
which He has made and preserves in being! Thou art a terrible and horrible
monster, offensive to God and destructive of creatures; thou turnest them into
abominations and deprivest them of their greatest happiness, that of being
friends of God. O children of men, how long will you be so heavy-hearted as to
love vanity and deceit? Be not so ungrateful toward the Most High and so cruel
to yourselves. Open your eyes and recognize your dangers. Do not despise the
precepts of your eternal Father, and do not forget the teachings of your
Mother, who has brought you forth by charity; for since the Onlybegotten of the
Father has assumed flesh in my womb, He has made me the Mother of all creation.
As such I love you and if it were possible and according to the will of the
Most High, that I suffer all the punishments visited upon you from the time of
Adam until now, I would accept them with pleasure."
591. During the journey of our Lady with the infant
God, it happened in Jerusalem that Simeon, the highpriest, was enlightened by
the Holy Ghost concerning the coming of the incarnate Word and his presentation
in the temple on the arms of his Mother. The same revelation was given to the
holy widow Anne, and she was also informed of the poverty and suffering of
saint Joseph and the most pure Lady on their way to Jerusalem. These two holy
persons, immediately conferring with each other about their revelations and
enlightenments, called the chief procurator of the temporal affairs of the temple,
and, describing to him the signs, whereby he should recognize the holy
Travelers, they ordered him to proceed to the gate leading out to Bethlehem and
receive them into his house with all benevolence and hospitality. This the
procurator did and thus the Queen and her spouse were much relieved, since they
had been anxious about finding a proper lodging for the divine Infant. Leaving
Them well provided in his house, the fortunate host returned in order to report
to the high priest.
592. On that evening, before they retired, most holy
Mary and Joseph conferred with each other about what they were to do. The most
prudent Lady reminded him that it was better to bring the gifts of the Kings on
that same evening to the temple in order to be able to make the offering in
silence and without noisy demonstration, as was proper with all donations and
sacrifices, and that on the way he might procure the two turtledoves, which on
the next day were to be the public offering for the Infant Jesus. Saint Joseph
complied with her request. As a stranger and one little known he gave the
myrrh, incense and gold to the one who usually received such gifts for the
temple, but saint Joseph took care not to reveal himself to anyone as the donor
of these great presents. Although he could have bought the lamb, which the rich
usually offered for their first-born, he chose not to do so; because the humble
and poor apparel of the Mother and the Child as well as of the husband, would
not have agreed with a public offering as valuable as that of the rich (Matth. 8,
20). In no particular did the Mother of wisdom deem it befitting to depart from
poverty and humility, even under the cover of a pious and honorable intention.
For in all things was She the Teacher of perfection, and her most holy Son,
that of holy poverty, in which He was born, lived and died.
593. Simeon, as saint Luke tells us, was a just and
god-fearing man and was hoping in the consolation of Israel (Luke 2, 24) ; the
Holy Ghost, who dwelt in him, had revealed to him, that he should not taste
death until he had seen the Christ, the Lord. Moved by the holy Spirit he came
to the temple; for in that night, besides the revelations he had already
received, he was again divinely enlightened and made to understand more clearly
the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption of man, the fulfillment of the
prophecies of Isaias, that a Virgin should conceive and bear a Son and that
from the root of Jesse a flower should blossom, namely Christ (Is. 7, 14);
likewise all the rest contained in these and other prophecies. He received a
clear understanding of the hypostatic union of the two natures in the person of
the Word, and of the mysteries of the passion and death of the Redeemer. Thus
instructed in these two high things, saint Simeon was lifted up and inflamed with
the desire of seeing the Redeemer of the world. On the following day then, as
soon as he had received notice that Christ was coming to present Himself in the
temple to the Father, he was carried in spirit to the temple, for so great is
the force of divine enlightenment. Whereupon succeeded that, which I shall
relate in the following chapter. Also the holy matron Anne was favored with a
revelation during the same night concerning many of these mysteries and great
was the joy of her spirit on that account; for, as I have said in the first
part of this history, she had been the teacher of our Queen, during her stay in
the temple. The Evangelist tells us that She never left the temple-grounds
serving in it day and night in prayer and fasting (Luke I, 27); that she was a
prophetess, daughter of Samuel, of the tribe of Aser. She had lived seven years
with her husband and was now eighty years old. As will be seen, she spoke
prophetically of the Child's future.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN GAVE ME.
594. My daughter, one of the misfortunes, which
deprive souls of happiness, or at least diminish it, is that they content
themselves with performing good works negligently or without fervor, as if they
were engaged in things unimportant or merely accidental. On account of this
ignorance and meanness of heart few of them arrive at an intimate friendship of
God, which they can attain only by fervent love. This is called fervent
precisely because of its similarity to boiling water. For just as water is made
to boil and foam by the fire, so the soul, by the sweet violence of the divine
conflagration of love, is raised above itself and above all created things as
well as above its own doings. In loving, it is more and more inflamed, and from
this very love springs an unquenchable affection, which makes the soul despise
and forget all earthly things while at the same time it becomes dissatisfied
with all temporal goodness. And as the human heart, when it does not attain
what it dearly loves (if that attainment is possible) is inflamed with ever
greater desire of reaching it by other means; therefore, the loving soul, finds
ever new things to strive after for the sake of the Beloved and all service
will seem to it but little. Thus it will pass from good will to a perfect will,
and from this to what will please the Lord still more, until it arrives at the
most intimate union with Him and at a perfect conformation with the will of
God.
595. Hence thou wilt understand, my dearest, why I
desired to go barefooted to the temple, carrying at the same time my most holy
Son in order to present Him there; and why I also wished to comply with the law
of the purification; for, urged on by my love, which incessantly demanded what
was most perfect and agreeable to the Lord, I sought the fullness of perfection
in all my doings and it was precisely this anxiety, which created in me such a
desire of excellence in all my works. Labor to imitate me with all diligence in
all that I did; for I assure thee, my dear, that it is this exercise of thy
love, which the Most High is desiring and expecting of thee, and, as is
mentioned by the spouse in the Canticles (Cant. 2, 9), He is watching thee so
close at hand, that not more than a slight screen intervenes between the soul
and its vision of the Lord. Enamoured and drawn onward He approaches closely to
those souls, who thus love and serve Him in all things, while He withdraws from
the lukewarm and negligent ones, or deals with them only according to the
general rules of his divine Providence. Do thou aspire continually to the most
pure and perfect in the practice of virtues and study and invent new schemes
and projects of love; so that all the forces of thy interior and exterior
faculties continue to be zealously occupied in what is most exalted and excellent
in the service of the Lord. At the same time mention all these affections to
thy spiritual father and subject them to the obedience and advice of thy
counselor, following his instructions: for this will always be the most
preferable and secure way.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE AND
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT OCCASION.
596. The sacred humanity of Christ belonged to the
eternal Father not only because it was created like other beings, but it was
his special property by virtue of the hypostatic union with the person of the
Word, for this person of the Word, being his Onlybegotten Son, was engendered
of his substance, true God of true God. Nevertheless the eternal Father had
decreed, that his Son should be presented to Him in the temple in mysterious
compliance with the law, of which Christ our Lord was the end (Rom. 10, 4). It
was established for no other purpose than that the just men of the old
Testament should perpetually sanctify and offer to the Lord their first-born sons,
in the hope that one thus presented might prove to be the Son of God and a
Child of the Mother of the expected Messias (Exod. 13, 2). According to our way
of thinking his Majesty acted like men, who are apt to repeat and enjoy over
and over again a thing which has caused them enjoyment. For although the Father
understood and knew all things in his infinite wisdom, He sought pleasure in
the offering of the incarnate Word, which by so many titles already belonged to
Him.
597. This will of the eternal Father, which was conformable
to that of his Son in so far as He was God, was known to the Mother of life and
of the human nature of the Word; for She saw that all his interior actions were
in unison with the will of his eternal Father. Full of this holy science the
great Princess passed the night before his presentation in the temple in divine
colloquies. Speaking to the Father She said: "My Lord and God most high,
Father of my Lord, a festive day for heaven and earth will be that, in which I
shall bring and offer to Thee in thy holy temple the living Host, which is at
the same time the Treasure of thy Divinity. Rich, O my Lord and God, is this
oblation; and Thou canst well pour forth, in return for it, thy mercies upon
the human race: pardoning the sinners, that have turned from the straight path,
consoling the afflicted, helping the needy, enriching the poor, succoring the
weak, enlightening the blind, and meeting those who have strayed away. This is,
my Lord, what I ask of thee in offering to Thee thy Onlybegotten, who, by thy
merciful condescension is also my Son. If Thou hast given Him to me as a God, I
return Him to Thee as God and man; his value is infinite, and what I ask of
Thee is much less. In opulence do I return to thy holy temple, from which I departed
poor; and my soul shall magnify Thee forever, because thy divine right hand has
shown itself toward me so liberal and powerful."
598. On the next morning, the Sun of heaven being now
ready to issue from its purest dawning, the Virgin Mary, on whose arms He
reclined, and being about to rise up in full view of the world, the heavenly
Lady, having provided the turtle-dove and two candles, wrapped Him in
swaddling-clothes and betook Herself with saint Joseph from their lodging to
the temple. The holy angels, who had come with them from Bethlehem, again
formed in procession in corporeal and most beautiful forms, just as has been
said concerning the journey of the preceding day. On this occasion however the
holy spirits added many other hymns of the sweetest and most entrancing harmony
in honor of the infant God, which were heard only by the most pure Mary.
Besides the ten thousand, who had formed the procession on the previous day,
innumerable others descended from heaven, who, accompanied by those that bore the
shields of the holy name of Jesus, formed the guard of honor of the incarnate
Word on the occasion of his presentation. These however were not in corporeal
shapes and only the heavenly Princess perceived their presence. Having arrived
at the temple-gate, the most blessed Mother was filled with new and exalted
sentiments of devotion. Joining the other women, She bowed and knelt to adore
the Lord in spirit and in truth in his holy temple and She presented Herself
before the exalted Majesty of God with his Son upon her arms (John 4, 23).
Immediately She was immersed in an intellectual vision of the most holy Trinity
and She heard a voice issuing from the eternal Father, saying: "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matth. 27, 20). Saint Joseph, the
most fortunate of men, felt at the same time a new sweetness of the Holy Ghost,
which filled him with joy and divine light.
599. The holy high-priest Simeon, moved by the Holy
Ghost as explained in the preceding chapter, also entered the temple at that
time (Luke 2, 27). Approaching the place where the Queen stood with the Infant
Jesus in her arms, he saw both Mother and Child enveloped in splendor and
glory. The prophetess Anne, who, as the Evangelist says, had come at the same
hour, also saw Mary and her Infant surrounded by this wonderful light. In the
joy of their spirit both of them approached the Queen of heaven, and the priest
received the Infant Jesus from her arms upon his hands. Raising up his eyes to
heaven he offered Him up to the eternal Father, pronouncing at the same time
these words so full of mysteries: "Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord,
according to thy Word in peace. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which
thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light for the revelation
of the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2, 29). It was
as if He had said: "Now, Lord, thou wilt release me from the bondage of
this mortal body and let me go free and in peace; for until now have I been
detained in it by the hope of seeing thy promises fulfilled and by the desire
of seeing thy Onlybegotten made man. Now that my eyes have seen thy salvation,
the Onlybegotten made man, joined to our nature in order to give it eternal
welfare according to the intention and eternal decree of thy infinite wisdom
and mercy, I shall enjoy true and secure peace. Now, O Lord, Thou hast prepared
and placed before all mortals thy divine light that it may shine upon the world
and that all who wish may enjoy it throughout the universe and derive therefrom
guidance and salvation. For this is the light which is revealed to the gentiles
for the glory of thy chosen people of Israel" (John I, 9, 32).
600. Most holy Mary and saint Joseph heard this
canticle of Simeon, wondering at the exalted revelation it contained. The
Evangelist calls them in this place the parents of the divine Infant, for such
they were in the estimation of the people who were present at this event.
Simeon, addressing himself to the most holy Mother of the Infant Jesus, then
added: "Behold this Child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of
many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a
sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed."
Thus saint Simeon; and being a priest he gave his blessing to the happy parents
of the Child. Then also the prophetess Anne acknowledged the incarnate Word,
and full of the Holy Ghost, she spoke of the mysteries of the Messias to many,
who were expecting the redemption of Israel. By these two holy old people
public testimony of the coming of the Redeemer was given to the world.
601. At the moment when the priest Simeon mentioned
the sword and the sign of contradiction, which were prophetical of the passion
and death of the Lord, the Child bowed its head. Thereby, and by many interior
acts of obedience, Jesus ratified the prophecy of the priest and accepted it as
the sentence of the eternal Father pronounced by his minister. All this the
loving Mother noticed and understood; She presently began to feel the sorrow
predicted by Simeon and thus in advance was She wounded by the sword, of which
She had thus been warned. As in a mirror her spirit was made to see all the
mysteries included in this prophecy; how her most holy Son was to be the stone
of stumbling, the perdition of the unbelievers, and the salvation of the
faithful; the fall of the synagogue and the establishment of the Church among
the heathens; She foresaw the triumph to be gained over the devils and over
death, but also that a great price was to be paid for it, namely the frightful
agony and death of the Cross (Colos, 2, 15). She foresaw the boundless
opposition and contradiction, which the Lord Jesus was to sustain both
personally and in his Church (John 15, 20). At the same time She also saw the
glory and excellence of the predestined souls. Most holy Mary knew it all and
in the joy and sorrow of her most pure soul, excited by the prophecies of
Simeon and these hidden mysteries, She performed heroic acts of virtue. All these
sayings and happenings were indelibly impressed upon her memory and of all
that She understood and experienced. She forgot not the least iota. At all
times She looked upon her most holy Son with such a living sorrow, as we, mere
human creatures with hearts so full of ingratitude, shall never be able to
feel. The holy spouse saint Joseph was by these prophecies also made to see
many of the mysteries of the Redemption and of the labors and sufferings of
Jesus. But the Lord did not reveal them to him so copiously and openly as they
were perceived and understood by his heavenly spouse; for in him these
revelations were to serve a different purpose, and besides, saint Joseph was
not to be an eye-witness of them during his mortal life.
602. The ceremony of the presentation thus being over,
the great Lady kissed the hand of the priest and again asked his blessing. The
same She did also to Anne, her former teacher; for her dignity as Mother of
God, the highest possible to angels or men, did not prevent Her from these acts
of deepest humility. Then, in the company of saint Joseph, her spouse, and of
the fourteen thousand angels in procession, She returned with the divine Infant
to her lodging. They remained, as I shall relate farther on, for some days in
Jerusalem, in order to satisfy their devotion and during that time She spoke a
few times with the priest about the mysteries of the Redemption and of the
prophecies above mentioned. Although the words of the most prudent Virgin
Mother were few, measured and reserved, they were also so weighty and full of
wisdom, that they filled the priest with wonder and excited in him the most
exalted and the sweetest sentiments of joy in his soul. The same happened also
to the prophetess Anne. Both of them died in the Lord shortly afterwards. The
holy Family lodged at the expense of Simeon. During these days the Queen
frequented the temple and in it She was visited with many favors and
consolations in recompense for the sorrow caused by the prophecies of the
priest. In order to heighten their sweetness her most holy Son spoke to Her on
one of these days saying: "My dearest Mother and my Dove, dry up thy tears
and let thy purest heart be expanded; since it is the will of my Father, that I
accept the death of the Cross. I desire that Thou be my companion in my labors
and sufferings; I long to undergo them for the souls, who are the works of my
hands (Ephes, 2, 10), made according to my image and likeness, in order to make
them partakers of my reign and of eternal life in triumph over my enemies
(Coloss. 2, 15). This is what Thou thyself dost wish in union with Me."
The Mother answered: "O my sweetest Love and Son of my womb, if my
accompanying Thee shall include not only the privilege of witnessing and
pitying thy sufferings, but also of dying with Thee, so much the greater will
be my relief; for it will be a greater suffering for me to live, while seeing
Thee die." In these exercises of love and compassion She passed some days,
until saint Joseph was advised to flee into Egypt, as I shall relate in the
following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY GAVE ME.
603. My daughter, the doctrine and example contained
in the foregoing chapter will teach thee to strive after the constancy and
expansion of heart, by which thou mayest prepare thyself to accept blessings
and adversity, the sweet and the bitter with equanimity. O dearest soul! How
narrow and unwilling is the human heart toward that which is contrary and
distasteful to its earthly inclinations! How it chafes in labors! How
impatiently it meets them! How insufferable it deems all that is contrary to
its desires! How persistently it forgets, that its Teacher and Master has
first accepted sufferings, and has honored and sanctified them in his own
Person! It is a great shame, yea a great boldness, on the part of the
faithful, that they should abhor suffering, even after my most holy Son did
suffer for them and when so many of the just before his Death were led to
embrace the cross solely by the hope that Christ would once suffer upon it,
although they would never live to see it. And if this want of correspondence is
so base in others, consider well, my dearest, how vile it would be in thee, who
art so anxious to obtain the grace and the friendship of the Most High; who desirest
to merit the name of a spouse and friend of God, who wishest to belong entirely
to Him and that He belong entirely to thee, who wishest to be my disciple and
that I be thy Teacher, who aspirest to follow and imitate me, as a faithful
daughter her mother (Matth. 7, 21). All this must not result in mere sentiment
and in empty words, or oft-repeated exclamations of: Lord, Lord; and, when the
occasion of tasting the chalice and the cross of suffering is at hand, thou
must not turn away in sorrow and affliction from the sufferings, by which the
sincerity of a loving and affectionate heart is to be tried.
604. All this would be denying in your actions, what
you profess in your words, and it would be a swerving from the path of eternal
life: for thou canst not follow Christ, if thou refusest to embrace the cross
and rejoice in it, nor shalt thou find me by any other way (Matth. 8, 34). If
creatures fail thee, if temptation or trouble assail thee, if the sorrows of
death encompass thee (Ps. 17, 5), thou must in no wise be disturbed or
disheartened; since nothing displeases my most holy Son or me more than placing
a hindrance or misapplying the grace given by Him for thy defense. By misusing
it and receiving it in vain, thou yieldest great victory to the demon, who
glories much in having disturbed or subjected any soul that calls itself a
disciple of Christ and of me; and having once brought thee to default in small
things, he will soon oppress thee in greater ones. Confide then in the
protection of the Most High and press onward trusting in me. Full of this
trust, whenever tribulation comes over thee, fervently exclaim: "The Lord
is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? (Psalm 26, 1). He is my
Helper, why should I hesitate? I have a Mother, a Queen and Mistress, who will
assist me and take care of me in my affliction."
605. In this security seek to preserve interior peace
and keep forever in thy view my works and my footsteps for thy imitation.
Remember the sorrow, which pierced my heart at the prophecies of Simeon, and
how I remained in peace and tranquillity, without any sign of disturbance,
although my heart and soul were transfixed by a sword of pain. In every event I
sought motives for glorifying and adoring his admirable wisdom. If the
transitory labors and sufferings are accepted with joy and with serenity of
heart, they spiritualize the creature, they elevate it and furnish it with a
divine insight; by which the soul begins to esteem affliction at its proper
value and soon finds consolation and the blessings of mortification and of
freedom from disorderly passions. This is the teaching of the school of the
Redeemer, hidden from those living in Babylon and from those who love vanity
(Matth. 11,25). I wish also that thou imitate me in respecting the priests and
ministers of the Lord, who in the new law hold a much higher dignity than in
the old, since the divine Word has now united Itself with human nature and
become the eternal High-Priest according to the order of Melchisedech (Ps.
109,4). Listen to their words and instructions, as God requires, whose place
they take. Consider the power and authority given them in the Gospels, where it
is said: "Who hears you, hears Me; who obeys you obeys Me" (Luke 10,
16). Strive after the perfection they teach thee. Ponder and meditate without
intermission upon that, which my most holy Son suffered, so that thy soul be a
participant in his sorrows. Let the pious memory of his sufferings engender in
thee such a disgust and abhorrence of all earthly pleasures that thou despise
and forget all that is visible, and instead, follow the Author of eternal life.
THE LORD PREPARES THE MOST HOLY MARY FOR THE PLIGHT
INTO EGYPT; THE ANGEL SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH; AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
606. When the most holy Mary and glorious saint Joseph
returned from the presentation of the Infant Jesus in the temple, they
concluded to stay in Jerusalem for nine days in order to be able each day to
visit the temple and repeat the offering of the sacred Victim, their divine
Son, thus rendering fitting thanks for the immense blessing for which they had
been singled out from among all men. The heavenly Lady had a special veneration
for this number in memory of the nine days, during which She had been prepared
and adorned by God for the incarnation of the Word, as I have related in the
first ten chapters of this second part; also in memory of the nine months,
during which She had borne Jesus in her virginal womb. In honor of these events
She wished to make this novena with her divine Child, presenting Him that many
times to the eternal Father as an acceptable offering for her lofty purposes.
They began the devotions of the novena every day before the third hour, praying
in the temple until nightfall. They chose the most obscure and retired place,
meriting thereby the invitation of the master of the banquet in the Gospel: "Friend,
go up higher" (Luke 14, 10). This invitation was given to Her, on one of
those days, when She was pouring out her spirit in the presence of the eternal
Father in the following words:
607. "Highest King, Lord and Creator of all that
has being, here in thy presence lies the useless dust and ashes, which thy
ineffable condescension has favored with grace such as it neither knew, nor
ever could know, how to merit I find myself, O Lord, forced onward by the
impetuous flood of thy blessings to give Thee thanks. But what return can she
offer, who, being nothing, has received her existence and her life from Thee,
and who over and above was overwhelmed by such incomparable mercies and
blessings of thy Divinity? What thanks can she render in acknowledgment of thy
immense bounty? What reverence worthy of thy Majesty? What gift to thy infinite
Deity, since She is only a creature? My soul, my being, and my faculties, all
have I received and continue to receive from thy hands. A thousand times do I
offer it in sacrifice to thy glory. I acknowledge my indebtedness, not only for
having given me all this. but for the love with which Thou hast given it, and
because among all creatures, thy infinite bounty has preserved me from the
contagion of sin and has chosen me to give human form to thy Onlybegotten Son,
to bear Him in my womb and at my breast, though I am only a daughter of Adam
and made of lowly and earthly matter. I perceive thy ineffable condescension
toward me, O Lord, and in gratitude for it my heart fails and my life is spent
in affections of divine love, having nothing else to repay all the favors of
thy right hand conferred upon thy handmaid. But now my heart is revived and
rejoices in possessing a gift worthy of thy greatness, since I can offer Thee
Him, who is one in substance with Thee, equal in majesty, and perfection of
attributes, the Onlybegotten of thy intellect, the image of thy being, the
fullness of thy own pleasure, thy only and most beloved Son. This, eternal
Father and Most High God, is the gift, which I offer, the Victim which I bring
Thee, and this I am sure Thou wilt receive. Having received Him as God, I
return Him to Thee God and man. Neither I nor any other creature, O Lord, can
ever offer Thee a greater gift, nor can thy Majesty ever demand one more
precious. It is so valuable, that it will suffice to repay Thee for what I have
received. In his name and in mine I offer and present Him to Thee. I am the
Mother of thy Onlybegotten, having given Him human flesh, I have made Him the
Brother of mortals, and as He wishes to be their Redeemer and Teacher, it
behooves me to be their advocate, to assume their cause and claim assistance
for them. Therefore, Father of my Onlybegotten, God of mercies, I offer Him to
Thee from all my heart; with Him and because of Him I beg Thee to pardon
sinners, to pour out upon the human race thy mercies of old and to open new
fountains for the renewal of thy wonders (Eccli, 38, 6). This is the Lion of
Juda become a Lamb, which takes away the sins of the world (Apoc. 5, 5). He is
the treasure of thy Divinity."
608. Such prayers and petitions the Mother of piety
offered up in the first days of her novena in the temple. To all of them the
eternal Father responded, accepting the offering of his Onlybegotten as a
pleasing sacrifice, being more and more enamored with the purity of his only
and chosen Daughter and looking upon her sanctity with benign pleasure. As an
answer to her petitions He conceded to Her new and great privileges, among
which was also this one, that, as long as the world should last. She should
obtain all that She would ever ask for her clients; that the greatest sinners,
if they availed themselves of her intercession, should find salvation; that in
the new Church and law of the Gospel She should be the CoOperatrix and Teacher
of salvation with Christ her most holy Son. This was to be her privilege
especially after his Ascension into heaven, when She should remain, as Queen of
the universe, as the representative and instrument of the divine power on
earth. This I will show more particularly in the third part of this history.
Many other favors and mysteries the Most High confirmed upon the heavenly
Mother in answer to her prayers. They, however, are beyond the reach of spoken
language, and cannot be described by my short and limited terms.
609. In the course of these manifestations, on the
fifth day of the novena after the presentation and purification, while the
heavenly Lady was in the temple with the Infant on her arms, the Deity revealed
Itself to Her, although not intuitively, and She was wholly raised and filled
by the Spirit. It is true, that this had been done to Her before; but as God's
power and treasures are infinite, He never gives so much as not to be able to
give still more to the creatures. In this abstractive vision the Most High
visited anew his only Spouse, wishing to prepare Her for the labors, that were
awaiting Her. Speaking to Her, He comforted Her saying: "My Spouse and my
Dove, thy wishes and intentions are pleasing in my eyes and I delight in them
always. But Thou canst not finish the nine days' devotion, which Thou hast
begun, for I have in store for Thee other exercises of Thy love. In order to
save the life of thy Son and raise Him up, Thou must leave thy home and thy
country, flee with Him and thy spouse Joseph into Egypt, where Thou art to
remain until I shall ordain otherwise: for Herod is seeking the life of the
Child. The journey is long, most laborious and most fatiguing; do thou suffer
it all for my sake; for I am, and always will be, with Thee,"
610. Any other faith and virtue might have been
disturbed (as the incredulous really have been) to see the powerful God fleeing
from a miserable earthly being, and that He should do so in order to save his
life, as if He, being both God and man, could be affected by the fear of death.
But the most prudent and obedient Mother advanced no objection or doubt: She
was not in the least disturbed or moved by this unlooked for order. Answering,
She said: "My Lord and Master, behold thy servant with a heart prepared to
die for thy love if necessary. Dispose of me according to thy will. This only
do I ask of thy immense goodness, that, overlooking my want of merit and
gratitude, Thou permit not my Son and Lord to suffer, and that Thou turn all
pains and labor upon me, who am obliged to suffer them." The Lord referred
Her to saint Joseph, bidding Her to follow his directions in all things
concerning the journey. Therewith She issued from her vision, which She had
enjoyed without losing the use of her exterior senses and while holding in her
arms the Infant Jesus. She had been raised up in this vision only as to the
superior part of her soul; but from it flowed other gifts, which spiritualized
her senses and testified to Her that her soul was living more in its love than
in the earthly habitation of her body.
611. On account of the incomparable love, which the
Queen bore toward her most holy Son, her maternal and compassionate heart was
somewhat harrowed at the thought of the labors which She foresaw in the vision
impending upon the infant God. Shedding many tears, She left the temple to go
to her lodging-place, without manifesting to her spouse the cause of her
sorrow. Saint Joseph therefore thought that She grieved on account of the
prophecy of Simeon. As the most faithful Joseph loved Her so much, and as he
was of a kind and solicitous disposition, he was troubled to see his Spouse so
tearful and afflicted, and that She should not manifest to him the cause of
this new affliction, This disturbance of his soul was one of the reasons why
the holy angels spoke to him in sleep, as I have related above, when speaking
of the pregnancy of the Queen. For in the same night, while saint Joseph was
asleep, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and spoke to him as recorded by
saint Matthew: "Arise, take the Child and its Mother and flee into Egypt;
there shalt thou remain until I shall return to give thee other advice; for
Herod is seeking after the Child in order to take away its life."
Immediately the holy spouse arose full of solicitude and sorrow, foreseeing
also that of his most loving Spouse. Entering upon her retirement, he said:
"My Lady, God wills that we should be afflicted; for his holy angel has
announced to me the pleasure and the decree of the Almighty, that we arise and
flee with the Child into Egypt, because Herod is seeking to take away its life.
Encourage thyself, my Lady, to bear the labors of this journey and tell me what
I can do for thy comfort, since I hold my life and being at the service of thy
Child and of Thee."
612. "My husband and my master," answered
the Queen, "if we have received from the hands of the Most High such great
blessings of grace, it is meet that we joyfully accept temporal afflictions
(Job 2, 13). We bear with us the Creator of heaven and earth; if He has placed
us so near to Him, what arms shall be able to harm us, even if it be the arm of
Herod? Wherever we carry with us all our Good, the highest treasure of heaven,
our Lord, our guide and true light, there can be no desert; but He is our rest,
our portion, and our country. All these goods we possess in having his company;
let us proceed to fulfill his will." Then most holy Mary and Joseph
approached the crib where the Infant Jesus lay; and where He, not by chance,
slept at that time. The heavenly Mother uncovered Him without awakening Him;
for He awaited those tender and sorrowful words of his Beloved: "Flyaway,
O my Beloved, and be like the roe and the young hart upon the mountains of
aromatical spices. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us
ride in the villages" (Cant. 8, 14; 7, 11). And the tender Mother added:
"Sweetest Love, meekest Lamb, thy power is not limited by that of earthly
kings; but Thou wishest, in thy exalted wisdom, to hide it for love of men. Who
among mortals can think of taking away thy life, O my God? Is it not in thy
power to annihilate all life? Since Thou givest life to all, why should men
take away thine? (John 10, 10). Since Thou visited them in order to give them
eternal life, why should they wish to give Thee death? But who shall comprehend
the secrets of thy Providence? (Rom. 11, 34). Allow me, then, O Lord and light
of my soul, to awaken Thee; for when thou sleepest thy heart is awake."
613. Some such sentiments were also expressed by saint
Joseph. Then the heavenly Mother, falling upon her knees, awakened the sweetest
Infant, and took Him in her arms, Jesus, in order to move Her to greater
tenderness and in order to show Himself as true man, wept a little. O wonders of
the Most High in things according to our judgments so small! Yet He was
soon again quieted; and when the most holy Mother and saint Joseph asked his
blessing He gave it them in visible manner. Gathering their poor clothing into
the casket and loading it on the beast of burden which they had brought from
Nazareth, they departed shortly after midnight, and hastened without delay on
their journey to Egypt, as I will relate in the following chapter.
614. I will here add what I have been made to
understand as to the concordance of the two Gospels of saint Matthew and saint
Luke in regard to this event For, since all of them wrote under guidance and
light of the Holy Ghost, each of them knew what the other three had written,
and what they had omitted to say in their Gospels. Hence it happened that
according to divine predisposition some of the happenings of the life of Christ
and of the Gospel were described by all four of the Evangelists, while again
some other things mentioned by one were omitted by the others. Saint Matthew
describes the adoration of the Kings and the flight into Egypt, while these
events were not mentioned by saint Luke. He again describes the Circumcision,
Presentation and Purification, which are omitted by saint Matthew. Thus saint
Matthew, after referring to the departure of the Magi, immediately, without
speaking of the Presentation, relates that the angel appeared to saint Joseph
commanding him to flee into Egypt; but it does not follow therefrom that the
Child had not been presented before that time in the temple, for it is certain
that this was done after the departure of the Kings and before the flight into
Egypt, as is narrated by saint Luke. Thus, likewise, although saint Luke, after
describing the Presentation and Purification, immediately mentions that the
holy Family lived in Nazareth, we must not conclude that they had not before
that time lived in Egypt he writes nothing of this flight into Egypt either
before or after, because it had already been recorded by saint Matthew. And
this flight took place immediately after the Presentation before most holy Mary
and Joseph returned to Nazareth. As saint Luke had received no commission to
write about this journey it was natural that, in continuing his history, he
should mention the return to Nazareth immediately after the Presentation. To
say that, having fulfilled what the law commanded, they returned to Galilee,
was not to deny the flight into Egypt, but it was merely continuing the
narrative without mentioning the flight from Herod. Even the very text of saint
Luke intimates that the return to Nazareth happened after their sojourn in
Egypt; for he says that the Child grew and increased in wisdom, and that grace
was manifested in Him; which could not have been before He had passed the years
of infancy. Hence it must have been after his return from Egypt, and at an age
when the use of reason usually begins to show itself in children.
615. I was also given to understand how foolish it is
in the infidels or incredulous to stumble against this cornerstone of Christ
even in his infancy and to take offense at seeing Him flee to Egypt in order to
defend Himself against Herod; as if this were on account of his weakness and
not a mystery, and as if it had happened for no higher purpose than to defend
his life against the cruelty of a wicked man. For the well-disposed souls the
words of the Evangelist are amply sufficient: since he says it happened in
order that the prophecy of Osea might be fulfilled, who prophesies in the name
of the eternal Father: "And I called my Son out of Egypt" (Osee 11,
1). The ends which He had in view in sending Him there and in calling Him
thence are most exalted and mysterious: of these I will say something anon. If
not all of the doings of the incarnate Word are equally admirable and
sacramental, yet no one with sane judgment can dispute or ignore the sweet
providence of God in directing the secondary causes, while allowing full liberty
to the human will (Eccli. 15, 14). For this reason, and not for want of power,
He permits so many idolatries, heresies and other sins, which are not any
smaller than that of Herod; for this reason He permitted the crime of Judas and
all those which followed in the sufferings and crucifixion of Christ. Certainly
He could have prevented all these sins and yet would not; not only because He
wished to work our Redemption, but also in order that He might secure to man
freedom of his will in all his actions. He was ready to give to men the helps
and graces according to his divine Providence, whereby they could accomplish
the good, if they would only use their free will to attain it in the same
degree as they were using it to follow evil.
616. In this sweetness of his Providence He gives
sinners time, hoping for their conversions, as in the case of Herod. If He
would use his absolute power and perform great miracles for preventing the
course of secondary causes, the order of nature would be confounded, and to a certain
extent He would contradict Himself in his double role as Author of grace and as
Author of nature. Therefore, miracles must happen but rarely, and on special
occasions for particular reasons, or when some end is to be served. Therefore,
God reserves them for the manifestations of his power at certain times. He
makes Himself known as the Author of his works by bringing them into existence
and preserving them independently of creatures. Neither must we wonder that He
should consent to the death of the innocent children which Herod murdered; for
it would not have been to their benefit to save them through a miracle, since
by their death they were to gain eternal life together with an abundant reward,
which vastly recompensed them for the loss of their temporal life. If they had
been allowed to escape the sword and die a natural death, all would eventually
not have been saved. The works of the Lord are just and holy in all
particulars, although we do not always see the reasons why they are so; but we
shall come to know them in the Lord when we shall see him face to face.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST HOLY MARY,
GAVE ME.
617. My daughter, what thou must especially learn from
this chapter is, that thou accustom thyself to humble thanksgiving for the
benefits which thou receivest, since thou, among many generations, art so
specially signalized by the riches of grace with which my Son and I visit thee
without any merit of thine. I was wont to repeat many times this verse of
David: "What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that he hath
rendered to me?" (Ps. 115, 12). In such sentiments I humiliated myself to
the dust, esteeming myself altogether useless among creatures. Therefore, if
thou knowest what I did as Mother of God, consider what then is thy obligation,
since thou must with so much truth confess thyself unworthy and undeserving of
all thou receivest, and so poorly furnished for giving thanks and for making
payment. Thou must supply thy insufficiency and thy misery by offering up to the
eternal Father the living host of his onlybegotten Son, especially when thou
receivest Him in the holy Sacrament and possessest Him within thee: for in this
thou shouldst also imitate David, who, after asking the Lord what return he
should make for all his benefits, answers: "I will take the chalice of
salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord" (Ps, 115, 13). Thou
must accept the salvation offered to thee and bring forth its fruits by the
perfection of thy works, calling upon the name of the Lord, offering up his
Onlybegotten. For He it is who gave the virtue of salvation, who merited it,
who alone can be an adequate return for the blessings conferred upon the human
race and upon thee especially. I have given Him human form in order that He might
converse with men and become the property of each one. He conceals Himself
under the appearances of bread and wine in order to accommodate Himself to the
needs of each one, and that each one might consider Him as his personal
property fit to offer to the eternal Father. In this way He furnishes to each
one an oblation which no one could otherwise offer, and the Most High rests
satisfied with it, since there is not anything more acceptable nor anything
more precious in the possession of creatures.
618. In addition to this offering is the resignation
with which souls embrace and bear with equanimity and patience the labors and
difficulties of mortal life. My most holy Son and I were eminent Masters in the
practice of this doctrine. My Son began to teach it from the moment in which He
was conceived in my womb. For already then He began to suffer, and as soon as
He was born into the world He and I were banished by Herod into a desert, and
his sufferings continued until He died on the Cross. I also labored to the end
of my life, as thou wilt be informed more and more in the writing of this
history. Since, therefore, We suffered so much for creatures and for their
salvation, I desire thee to imitate Us in this conformity to the divine will as
being his spouse and my daughter. Suffer with a magnanimous heart, and labor to
increase the possessions of thy Lord and Master, namely, souls, which are so
precious in his sight and which He has purchased with his life-blood. Never
shouldst thou fly from labors, difficulties, bitterness and sorrows, if by any
of them thou canst gain a soul for the Lord, or if thou canst thereby induce it
to leave the path of sin and enter the path of life. Let not the thought that
thou art so useless and poor, or that thy desires and labor avail but little,
discourage thee; since thou canst not know how the Lord will accept of them and
in how far He shall consider Himself served thereby, At least thou shouldst
wish to labor assiduously and eat no unearned bread in his house (Prov. 31,
27).
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO EGYPT;
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ANGELIC SPIRITS, THEY ARRIVE AT THE CITY OF GAZA.
619. Our heavenly Pilgrims left Jerusalem and entered
upon their banishment while yet the silence and obscurity of night held sway.
They were full of solicitude for the Pledge of heaven, which they carried with
them into a strange and unknown land. Although faith and hope strengthened them
(for in no other beings could these virtues be more firmly and securely
established than in our Queen and her most faithful spouse), nevertheless the
Lord afforded them occasion for anxiety. Their love for the Infant Jesus would
naturally excite in them anxiety and suffering on an occasion like this. They
knew not what would happen during such a long journey, nor when it should end,
nor how they would fare in Egypt, where they would be entire strangers, nor
what comfort or convenience they would find there for raising the Child, nor
even how they would be able to ward off great sufferings from Him on the way to
Egypt. Therefore the hearts of these holy Parents were filled with many
misgivings and anxious thoughts when they parted with so much haste from their
lodging-place; but their sorrow was much relieved when the ten thousand
heavenly courtiers above mentioned again appeared to them in human forms and in
their former splendor and beauty, and when they again changed the night into
the brightest day for the holy Pilgrims. As they set forth from the portals of
the city the holy angels humiliated themselves and adored the incarnate Word in
the arms of the Virgin Mother. They also encouraged Her by again offering their
homage and service, stating that it was the will of the Lord that they guide
and accompany Her on the journey.
620. To the afflicted heart the least consolation
seems precious; hence this one, being in itself a great relief, comforted our
Queen and her spouse Joseph very much. They therefore entered upon their
journey with good heart, choosing the way which led through the city gate in
the direction of Nazareth. The heavenly Mother longed to visit again the place
of the Nativity, in order to venerate the sacred cave and the crib, which had
offered shelter and hospitality to her most holy Son at his entrance into the
world. But the holy angels, knowing of her unspoken desires, said to Her:
"Our Queen and Lady, Mother of our Creator, it behooves us to hasten on
our journey without any delay; for on account of the escape of the magi Kings
and their failure to return to Jerusalem, and on account of the words spoken by
the priest Simeon, and by Anne, the people have been roused to attention. Some
of them have begun to say that Thou art the Mother of the Messias; others that
Thou knowest of Him; and others say that thy Son is a Prophet. Various rumors
are also spread about concerning the visit of the Kings in Bethlehem, and of
all these things Herod is informed. He has commanded that You be sought after
very carefully and consequently a most diligent search is being made to find
You. On this account the Most High has commanded You to fly at night and with
so much haste."
621. The Queen of heaven yielded to the will of the
Almighty thus made known to Her by the holy angels. She therefore reverenced
from afar the sacred place of the birth of her Onlybegotten, renewing the
memory of the mysteries there wrought and the favors there received. The holy
angel who stood as guard of the sacred cave approached Them on their way in
visible form and adored the incarnate Word in the arms of his Mother. As She
was thus allowed to see this angel and speak to him, the heavenly Lady was
rejoiced and comforted still more. She would have also preferred to travel by
way of Hebron; since it was only a short distance from the one they were now
traveling, and Elisabeth was just at that time in that city with her son John,
But the anxiety of saint Joseph, who was more timid, prevented also this
diversion and delay; for he said to his heavenly Spouse:
"My Lady, I think it is extremely important that
we do not delay our journey even for one instant; and that we hasten as much as
possible to flee from the place of danger. Therefore it will not be prudent to
go to Hebron, where they will find us more easily than in any other parts of
the country." "Let it be according to thy pleasure," answered
the humble Queen, "yet I wish thou give me permission to send one of these
celestial spirits to Elisabeth, in order to inform my cousin of the cause of
our flight, so that she herself may protect her son; for the wrath of Herod is
so roused that it will extend to them."
622. The Queen of heaven knew of the design to murder
the children; but She did not tell saint Joseph of it at that time. Here I must
marvel at the obedience and humility of most holy Mary, which was so exquisite and
rare: for She obeyed saint Joseph not only in that which he commanded, but also
in that which concerned Herself alone, namely in the matter of sending an angel
to saint Elisabeth. Although She could have sent the angel by a mere wish,
without even expressing it in words, She nevertheless preferred not to do so
without permission and in obedience to her spouse. I must confess my shame and
my negligence; since having before my eyes the most pure fountain of waters, I
do not satiate my thirst, nor profit by the light and the example before me,
though it is so vivid, so sweet, so powerful and so attractive in teaching us
all to abjure our own reprehensible wills. With the permission of saint Joseph,
then most holy Mary dispatched one of the principal angels of her guard, in
order to notify saint Elisabeth of what was passing. As the Sovereign of the
angelic spirits She instructed her messenger on this occasion what he was to
say to the holy matron and to the child John.
623. The angel, according to the order and pleasure of
the Queen, proceeded to inform the fortunate and blessed Elisabeth of all these
events as far as was proper. He told her that the Mother of God was fleeing
before the wrath of Herod into Egypt, as this tyrant was now searching for the
Child in order to kill It. He warned her to see to the safety of saint John by
hiding him in some place of refuge. He also manifested to her other mysteries
of the incarnate Word according to the command of the heavenly Mother. The holy
Elisabeth was filled with joy and wonder at this message, and she expressed her
desire to meet and adore the Infant Jesus, and to see his Mother; asking him
whether they could be reached. The holy angel answered that his King and Lord
was passing with his Mother at a distance from Hebron and could not wait for
her visit; saint Elisabeth therefore gave up her project. Overflowing with
tender and tearful affection, she asked the angel to bring affectionate
greetings to the Son and Mother. The angel then returned with his message to
the Queen. Saint Elisabeth immediately dispatched a servant with some gifts
consisting in provisions, money and material for clothing the Infant. She
foresaw their needs in a strange country and instructed the servant to overtake
them with all haste. He met them in Gaza, which lies a little less than twenty
hours from Jerusalem, on the river Besor, and on the road from Palestine to
Egypt, not far from the Mediterranean sea.
624. In this town they remained two days, for saint
Joseph and the beast of burden which carried the Queen were worn out by the
fatigue of the journey. From that place they sent back the servant of saint
Elisabeth, taking care to caution him not to tell anyone of their whereabouts.
But God provided still more effectually against this danger; for He took away
from this man all remembrance of what saint Joseph had charged him to conceal,
so that he retained only his message to saint Elisabeth. Most holy Mary
expended the presents sent by Elisabeth in entertaining the poor; for She, who
was Mother of the poor, could not bear to pass them by unassisted. Of the
clothes sent to Her She made a cloak for the divine Infant, and one for saint
Joseph, to shelter Them from the discomforts of the season and of the journey.
She also used other things in their possession for the comfort of her Child and
of saint Joseph. The most prudent Virgin would not rely on miraculous
assistance whenever She could provide for the daily needs by her own diligence
and labor; for in these matters She desired to subject Herself to the natural
order and depend upon her own efforts. During the two days which they spent in
that city the most pure Mary, in order to enrich it with great blessings,
performed some wonderful deeds. She freed two sick persons from the danger of death
and cured their ailments. She restored to another person, a crippled woman, the
use of her limbs. In the souls of many, who met Her and conversed with Her, She
caused divine effects of the knowledge of God and of a change of life. All of
them felt themselves moved to praise their Creator. But neither Mary nor Joseph
spoke a word about their native country, nor of the destination or object of
their journey; for if this information had been added to the public notice
caused by their wonderful actions, the attention of Herod's agents might have
been drawn toward them, and they might have found sufficient inducement to
follow them after their departure.
625. Words fail me to describe what I have been made
to understand concerning the happenings during this journey of Jesus and Mary;
moreover, I fall short of the sentiments of reverence and piety which such
admirable mysteries would require. The arms of the most pure Mary continually
served as a delightful couch for the new and real King Solomon (Cant. 3, 7). As
She penetrated in spirit into the secret of the most holy humanity of Christ,
it happened sometimes that the Son and Mother interchanged sweet colloquies and
canticles of praise in honor especially of the infinite essence of God and of
all his attributes and perfections. On these occasions the Son of God favored
his sovereign Mother with new visions of intellectual clearness, in which She
perceived the unity of Essence in the three persons of God, the operations ad
intra, in the generation of the Word, and in the procession of the Holy Spirit.
She perceived how the Three are from eternity, and how the Word is generated by
the operation of the eternal Intellect, and the Holy Ghost is breathed forth in
the operation of the Will; how there is no need of any succession of before or
after, but how all is from eternity; and how it happens that we conceive these
operations with the idea of duration or succession of time. She also perceived
how these three Persons comprehend each other by one and the same act of understanding,
and how this comprehension includes the Divinity of the incarnate Word united
to the humanity, forming one Person, and what effects this union produces in
the humanity.
626. Filled with this exalted knowledge, the great
Lady allowed her thoughts to descend from the Divinity to the humanity and
composed new canticles of praise and thanksgiving for the creation of this
sacred humanity, most perfect in soul and body: the soul, in its plenitude and
all possible abundance of wisdom, gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost; the body,
most pure, and in the highest possible degree well composed and complexioned.
Then again She contemplated the exalted and heroic activity of all his
faculties, and, having in her soul imitated Him therein, She passed on to bless
and give Him thanks for having made Her his Mother, caused Her to be conceived
without sin, chosen Her out of thousands, enriched Her with all the favors and
gifts of his powerful right hand as far as was possible in a mere creature. In
the exaltation and glory of these and other mysteries, the Child spoke to his
Mother and She responded in words which are beyond the tongue of angels and
beyond the conception of any other created being. To all this the heavenly Lady
attended without neglecting the care and comfort of her Child, giving Him
nourishment at her breast three times a day, tenderly caressing Him as a Mother
more attentive and loving than all other Mothers combined could be toward their
children.
627. At other times She said to Him: "My sweetest
and most beloved Son, permit me to speak to Thee and to manifest to Thee my
desires, although Thou, my Lord, already knowest them; permit me to be
delighted in the sound of thy voice. Tell me, life of my soul and light of my
eyes, whether the labors of this journey are fatiguing Thee, whether the rigors
of the season and of the weather cause Thee affliction, and what I can do for
thy service and for thy relief." And the divine Infant answered: "All
the labors, O Mother, and all fatigue are most light and sweet to Me, since I
undergo them for the honor of my eternal Father and for the instruction and
Redemption of men, especially in thy company." The Child wept a few times,
yet in great serenity and in the manner of a grown-up and perfect man; and immediately
the loving Mother sought the interior cause of these tears, finding it in his
soul. She understood that they were tears of love and compassion for the
salvation of men and caused by their ingratitude; in this sorrow and weeping
the sweetest Mother imitated Him. She was wont to answer his tearful plaints
like a compassionate turtledove lovingly caressing and soothing Him as his
affectionate Mother, and kissing Him with matchless reverence. The fortunate
Joseph often witnessed these divine mysteries; and shared in some of the
enlightenments, thus consoling himself for the hardships of the journey. At
other times he would converse with his Spouse as they journeyed along, asking
Her frequently whether She desired any service for Herself or for the Child; or
he would approach and adore the Infant, kissing his feet and asking his
blessing, and sometimes taking Him in his arms. By these little offices of
kindness the great Patriarch sweetened his labors, being at the same time
consoled and encouraged by his heavenly Spouse. To all things She attended with
a magnanimous heart, being hindered neither by her interior prayer, nor by her
exalted and fervent contemplation, from attending to the corporal affairs; for
in all things She was most perfect.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY MY HEAVENLY MOTHER AND MISTRESS.
628. My dearest daughter, for thy instruction and
imitation I wish, in what thou hast written, that thou take as an example the
affectionate wonder which the divine light caused in my soul at seeing my most
holy Son subject Himself to the inhuman fury of wicked men, such as was shown
by Herod in this occasion of our flight from his wrath and afterwards by the
perverse servants of the high priests and magistrates. In all the works of the
Most High his greatness, goodness and infinite wisdom shine forth. But, since
my understanding, by means of the most exalted inspiration, penetrated so
deeply into the very essence of God in the person of the Word united to the
Divinity, and since I knew that my most holy Son was the eternal, all-powerful,
infinite Creator and Preserver of all things, and that this iniquitous king
depended for his life and existence entirely upon this very beneficence, I was
particularly struck with wonder to see the most sacred humanity pray and beseech
his eternal Father to confer upon Herod, at this very time, enlightenment, help
and blessing; to see my Son, who had it so much in his power to punish him, by
his prayers prevent the full measure of chastisement which he deserved.
Although Herod's purpose was frustrated, yet this obstinate reprobate was
visited with less chastisement than would have been given to him if my holy Son
had not prayed for him. All this, and whatever else is contained in this
matchless mercy and kindness of Jesus, I sought to imitate; for as a Teacher He
taught me thus early what He afterwards inculcated by his actions, words and
example concerning the love of enemies (Matth. 5, 44). When I perceive how he
concealed and disguised his infinite power, and how, being the invincible Lion,
He became a meek and humble Lamb (Is. 5, 29), amidst the fury of ravenous
wolves, my heart was overwhelmed and my faculties failed me in the ardent
desire of loving Him, imitating and following Him in his love, charity,
patience and meekness.
629. This example I place before thee for thy constant
imitation, so that thou mayest understand to what extremes thou must be willing
to bear and suffer, forgive and love all who offend thee; for neither thou nor
other creatures are innocent and without fault, and many are burdened with
numerous and oft-repeated sins, by which they have merited all offenses and
insults. Now, if persecutions afford thee the advantage of imitating Him, why
shouldst thou not esteem them as a great blessing? Why shouldst thou not love
those who give thee occasion to practice this highest perfection, why not thank
them for this benefit, and hold them not as enemies but as benefactors, who
afford thee a chance to obtain what is of so much importance for thy welfare?
On account of the object-lesson contained in this history, thou wilt not be
without guilt if thou fall short in this matter; for the divine light, and all
that thou perceivest and understandest through it, is as it were before thy
eyes, as in a living example.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY FROM THE
CITY OF GAZA TO HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT.
630. On the third day after our Pilgrims had touched
Gaza, they departed from that city for Egypt. Soon leaving the inhabited parts
of Palestine, they entered the sandy deserts of Bersabe, which they were
obliged to traverse for sixty leagues in order to arrive and take their abode
in Heliopolis, the present Cairo in Egypt. This journey through the desert
consumed a number of days, for the distance they could travel each day was but
short, not only on account of the laborious progress over the deep sand, but
also on account of the hardships occasioned by the want of shelter. There were
many incidents on their way through this solitude; I will mention some of them,
from which others can be conjectured; for it is not necessary to relate all of
them. In order to understand how much Mary and Joseph and also the Infant Jesus
suffered on their pilgrimage, it must be remembered that the Almighty permitted
his Onlybegotten, with his most holy Mother and saint Joseph, to suffer the
inconveniences and hardships naturally connected with travel through this
desert. And although the heavenly Lady made no complaints, yet She was much
afflicted, which was also true of her most faithful husband. For both of them
suffered many personal inconveniences and discomforts, while the Mother, in
addition thereto, was afflicted still more on account of the sufferings of her
Son and of saint Joseph; and the latter was deeply grieved not to be able by
his diligence and care to ease the hardships of the Child and his Spouse.
631. During all this journey of sixty leagues through
the desert they had no other night-shelter than the sky and open air; moreover,
it was in the time of winter, for this journey took place in the month of
February, only six days after the Purification, as was indicated in the last
chapter. In the first night on these sandy plains they rested at the foot of a
small hill, this being the only protection they could find. The Queen of heaven
with the Child in her arms seated Herself on the earth, and with her husband
She ate of the victuals brought with them from Gaza. The Empress of heaven also
nursed the Infant Jesus at her breast and He on his part rejoiced his Mother
and her husband by his contentment. In order to furnish them with some kind of
shelter against the open air, however narrow and humble it might be, saint
Joseph formed a sort of tent for the divine Word and most holy Mary by means of
his cloak and some sticks. During that night the ten thousand angels who, full
of marvel, assisted these earthly Pilgrims in visible human shapes, formed a
guard around their King and Queen. The great Lady perceived that her divine Son
offered up to the eternal Father the hardships and labors both of Himself and
of Mary and Joseph. In these prayers and in the other acts of his deified Soul,
the Queen joined him for the greater part of the night. The divine Infant slept
for a short time in her arms, while She continued wakeful and engaged in
heavenly colloquies with the Most High and his angels. Saint Joseph slept upon
the ground, resting his head upon the chest, which contained the clothing and
other articles of their baggage.
632. On the next day they pursued their journey and
their little store of fruit and bread was soon exhausted, so that they began to
suffer great want and to feel the hunger. Although Joseph was more deeply
concerned, yet both of them felt this privation very much. On one of the first
days of their journey they partook of no sustenance until nine o'clock at
night, not having any more even of the coarse and poor food which until then
had sustained them in their hardships and labor. As nature demanded some
refreshment after the exertion and weariness of travel, and as there was no way
of supplying their want by natural means, the heavenly Lady addressed Herself
to the Most High in these words: "Eternal, great and powerful God, I give
Thee thanks and bless Thee for thy magnificent bounty; and also that, without
my merits, only on account of thy merciful condescension, Thou gavest me life
and being and preservest me in it, though I am but dust and a useless creature.
I have not made a proper return for all these benefits; therefore how can I ask
for myself what I cannot repay? But, my Lord and Father, look upon thy
Onlybegotten and grant me what is necessary to sustain my natural life and also
that of my spouse, so that I may serve thy Majesty and thy Word made flesh for
the salvation of men."
633. In order that the clamors of the sweetest Mother
might proceed from yet greater tribulation, the Most High permitted the
elements to afflict them more than at other times and in addition to the
sufferings caused by their fatigue, destitution and hunger. For there arose a
storm of wind and rain, which harassed and blinded them by its fury. This
hardship grieved still more the tender-hearted and loving Mother on account of
the delicate Child, which was not yet fifty days old. Although She tried to
cover and protect Him as much as possible, yet She could not prevent Him from
feeling the inclemency of the weather, so that He shed tears and shivered from
the cold in the same manner as other children are wont to do. Then the anxious
Mother, making use of her power as Queen and Mistress of creatures, commanded
the elements not to afflict their Creator, but to afford Him shelter and
refreshment, and wreak their vengeance upon Her alone. And, as related once
before, at the occasion of the birth of Christ and of the journey to Jerusalem,
again the wind immediately moderated and the storm abated, not daring to
approach the Mother and Child. In return for this loving forethought, the
Infant Jesus commanded his angels to assist his kindest Mother and to serve Her
as a shield against the inclemency of the weather. They immediately complied
and constructed a resplendent and beautiful globe round about and over their
incarnate God, his Mother and her spouse. In this they were protected and
defended more effectually than all the wealthy and powerful of the world in
their palaces and rich garments. The same they did several times during the
journey through the desert.
634. Nevertheless, they were in want of food, and they
were destitute of other things unprovidable by their own mere human effort; But
the Lord allowed them to fall into this need in order that, listening to the
acceptable prayers of his Spouse, He might make provision also for this by the
hands of the angels. They brought them delicious bread and well-seasoned
fruits, and moreover a most delicious drink; all of which they administered and
served with their own hands. Then all of them together sang hymns of praise and
thanksgiving to the Lord, who gives food to all creatures at opportune times,
in order that the poor may eat and be filled (Ps. 135,25) whose eyes and hopes
are fixed upon his kingly providence and bounty. Of such a kind was the
delicate feast, with which the Lord regaled his three exiled Wanderers in the
desert of Bersabe (III Kings 19, 3), for it was the same desert in which Elias,
fleeing from Jezebel, was comforted by the hearth cake, brought to him by the
angel in order that he might travel to Horeb mount. Yet neither this bread, nor
the bread and meat, which once before the ravens had miraculously brought him
every morning and evening at the torrent of Carith, nor the manna which fell
from heaven for the Israelites, although it was called the bread of angels and
dropped from heaven, nor the quails, which were carried to them by the African
winds; nor the cloud-tent, which overshadowed them; none of all these could be
compared to the succor and relief which the Lord afforded to his Onlybegotten
and to his Mother and saint Joseph. For these favors were not to be conferred
upon a prophet, or upon an ungrateful and unthinking people; but they were
intended for the nourishment and protection of a God incarnate, for his true
Mother: they were intended for the preservation of the natural life of Christ,
on which depended the eternal life of the whole human race. But if this food
was worthy of the excellence of those who were invited, so was also the
thanksgiving and gratitude worthy of the blessings conferred. In order that all
this might be so much the more opportune, the Lord permitted the necessity to
become extreme and thus naturally call into play the assistance of heaven.
635. Let the poor rejoice in this example, let the
hungry confide, let the destitute take new courage, let none complain of divine
Providence, no matter how afflicted and needy they may find themselves to be.
When has the Lord ever failed him who hoped in his assistance? (Ps. 17,31).
When has He ever turned away his countenance from his afflicted and needy
children? We are brothers of his only Son incarnate, children and heirs of his
blessings, and also children of his kindest Mother. Why, then, ye children of
God and of this most holy Mother, do you continue to distrust such Parents in
your poverty? Why do you deprive them of this honor, and yourselves of the
privilege of being assisted and sustained by Them? Come, come to Them with
humble confidence, so that They may look upon you with the eyes of Parents and
listen to your crying needs. The arms of this Lady are stretched out toward the
poor and her hands opened for the needy. And you, ye rich of this world, why will
you confide so much in your uncertain riches, at the imminent danger of losing
your faith, of piling up for yourselves heaviest cares and sorrows as mentioned
by the Apostle? By your avarice you fail to conduct yourselves as children of
God or of his Mother; by your actions you make of yourselves spurious offspring;
for legitimate children confide in the care and love of their parents, and
abhor trusting in others, who are not only strangers but enemies. These truths
are manifest to me by the divine light and charity compels me thus to speak.
636. The most high Father not only provided
nourishment for our Pilgrims, but also visible relief against the tediousness
of this journey and continued solitude. It happened a few times, when the
heavenly Lady rested on the ground from her fatigue, that, as on other
occasions, a great multitude of birds came flying towards Her from the
mountains. By the sweetness of their warbling and the variety of their plumage
they sought to entertain and delight Her, perching on her shoulders and hands
with signs of great joy. The most prudent Queen gently received them and
invited them to acknowledge their Creator by their songs and to be thankful for
his having created them so beautiful and arrayed them in their gorgeous plumage,
given them the air and the earth for their enjoyment, and provided them with
daily food and sustenance. The birds responded to her exhortations with joyous
movements and sweet warblings, while the loving Mother joined them with still
more sweet and melodious songs for the Infant Jesus, extolling and blessing
Him, and acknowledging Him as her God and her Son, and as the Author of all
these wonders. Also the holy angels took part in these colloquies so full of
sweetness, and alternated their offerings of praise with that of the great Lady
and of these simple birds. All this produced a harmony more perceptible by the
spirit than by the senses, and of admirable concord for the rational soul.
637. At other times the heavenly Princess conversed
with the Child and said: "My love and light of my soul, how can I diminish
thy labor? How can I relieve Thee of thy hardships? What can I do to lighten
the sufferings of this journey? O would that I could carry Thee, not in my
arms, but in my bosom and make for Thee a soft couch in my heart, in order that
Thou mayest rest there without fatigue!" And the sweetest Jesus replied:
"My beloved Mother, very easily do I rest in thy arms while making this
journey, and reclining on thy breast, I am delighted by thy affection, and
entertained by thy words." Sometimes the Son and Mother conversed with
each other interiorly; and these conversations were so exalted and divine that
our words cannot express them. Saint Joseph shared in many of these mysteries
and consolations; and thus he eased his journey, forgot his hardships, feeling
within himself the delight and sweetness of such companionship. Yet he did not
hear or perceive what the Child said audibly to his Mother; for at that time of
the life of Jesus this favor was reserved for Her alone, as I have already
remarked above. In this manner our Exiles proceeded on their way to Egypt.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE MOST HOLY MARY, OUR
LADY.
638. My daughter, just as those who know the Lord also
know how to trust in Him, so those who do not hope in his goodness and immense
love have no perfect knowledge of the Majesty of God. On account of the want of
faith and hope, this love also is deficient; for we readily place our love in
whom we have confidence and whom we esteem. In this error lies the source of
all the damage done to mortals; for they have such a low conception of the
infinite bounty, which gave them being and which preserves them, that they fail
to place full confidence in their God. Failing in this, they also fail in the love
due to Him and they divert it toward the creatures. They esteem in them what
they are seeking, namely power, riches, vain honor and ostentation. Although
the faithful can remedy these injurious influences by faith and hope, yet they
allow these virtues to remain dead, and unused, and debase themselves to the
level of worthless creatures. Those who have riches, trust in them, and those
who have none, greedily haste after them; some procure them by very
reprehensible ways and means; some confide in influential persons, praising and
flattering them. And thus it happens that very few seek the Lord in such a way
as to deserve his providential care; very few trust in God and acknowledge Him
as their Father, who is willing to provide for his children, who will nourish
and sustain them without fail in all necessities.
639. This deceitful error has filled the earth with
lovers of the world; has filled it with avarice and concupiscence against the
law of the Creator; has made men insane in their desires; for all of them
commonly strive after riches and earthly possessions; claiming thereby merely
to satisfy their needs, which is only a pretext for hiding their want of
interest in higher things. In reality they lie to themselves abominously, since
they are seeking the superfluous; not what is really necessary, but what
ministers to worldly pride. If men would confine their desires to what is
really necessary, it would be unreasonable to put any confidence in creatures
instead of placing it in God alone, who ineffably provides even for the young
ravens with no less solicitude than if their crowings were prayers sent up to
their Creator for help (Prov. 28, 8). Secure in this confidence, I was not
alarmed in my exile and prolonged journey. Since I trusted in the Lord, He provided
for me in the time of my need. Thou also, my daughter, who art aware of this
exalted Providence, shouldst not afflict thyself in the time of need, nor
neglect thy duties in order to make provision for them, nor confide in human
efforts, nor in creatures. After having done what is required of thee, the most
efficacious means is to confide in the Lord, without being disturbed or
confused; hope patiently, even when help is somewhat delayed. It will always be
at hand at a time when it will do most good, and when the paternal love of the
Lord can manifest itself most conveniently and openly. Thus it happened with me
and my spouse in the time of our destitution and necessity.
640. Those that do not bear with adversity and do not
put up with privations, who turn toward dried up cisterns (Jer. 2, 5), trusting
in deceit and in the powerful of this world; those that are not moderate in
their desires and greedily covet what is unnecessary for the sustenance of
life; those that anxiously cling to what they possess, fearing that it may be
diminished and withholding the alms due to the poor; all of them have reasons
to dread lest divine Providence, showing Itself just as niggardly in caring for
them as they are in their confidence and in their charities to the poor,
deprive them of what they could otherwise easily expect to receive at its
hands. But the Father in heaven, who lets the sun rise over the just and the
unjust (Matth. 5, 45), and lets the rain fall on the good and the bad,
nevertheless helps all, giving them life and nourishment. However, just as his
blessings are distributed to the good and to the bad, so also it cannot be a
rule with God to give greater temporal goods to the good and less to the bad.
On the contrary He prefers that the chosen and predestined ones be poor (James
2, 5), both because they thus gain more merit and reward, and because there are
few who know how to use wealth properly and who can retain it without
inordinate greed. Although my most holy Son and I had nothing to fear from this
danger, yet He wished to furnish this example to men and to teach them this
science, through which eternal life comes to them.
THE HOLY TRAVELERS, JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, ARRIVE IN
EGYPT, AND AFTER SOME WANDERINGS THEY COME TO HELIOPOLIS, WHERE GREAT MIRACLES
ARE WROUGHT.
641. I have already mentioned that the flight of the
incarnate Word contained other mysteries and aimed at more exalted ends than to
evade Herod and his persecution. The flight into Egypt was to afford the infant
Savior an occasion of visiting that country and performing the miracles spoken
of by the ancient Prophets. Isaias more expressly prophesies of them, when he
says: that the Lord shall ascend upon a swift cloud and enter into Egypt; that
the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence and that the heart of the
Egyptians shall melt in the midst thereof (Is. 19, 1). These and other things
contained in this prophecy happened at the time of the birth of Christ our
Lord. Yet, passing over what does not pertain to my purpose, I wish to say
that, continuing their pilgrimage in the manner already described, Jesus, Mary
and Joseph arrived in the populated districts of Egypt. Before They came to the
place of their abode in Heliopolis, They were conducted by the angels,
according to the ordainment of the Most High, in a roundabout way, so that They
might pass through many places, where God wished his miracles and blessings to
be wrought for the good of the Egyptians. Thus it came that They consumed in
this journey more than fifty days; and the distance of their journey from
Bethlehem or Jerusalem amounted to more than two hundred leagues, while by a
direct route such long-protracted travel would not have been necessary.
642. Egypt was much given to idolatry and its
concomitant superstition. Even the small villages of this country were full of
idols. In many of these places temples had been built, where the demons dwelt;
and the inhabitants, instructed by these devils, gathered in them to offer
services and sacrifices in their honor, while the demons answered their prayers
by oracles, thus obtaining full control of this foolish and superstitious
nation. Steeped in these deceits, they lived on in such error and subjection to
the demons, that only the strong arm of the Lord (which is the incarnate Word)
could rescue these forsaken people and deliver them from the oppression of
Lucifer. It was a harder and more dangerous slavery than that in which the
Egyptians had held the people of Israel (Exod. 1, 11). In order to obtain this
deliverance and enlighten those that were living in the region and the shadows
of death (Luke 1, 79), and in order that they might see the great light spoken
of by Isaias (Is. 9, 2), the Most High ordained that the Son of justice, Christ (Mal. 4, 2), shortly after
his birth, should appear in Egypt in the arms of his most fortunate Mother, and
that He should journey and pass through this country, illumining it everywhere
by the power of his divine light.
643. So then the Infant Jesus, with his Mother and
saint Joseph, reached the inhabited country of Egypt. On entering the towns the
divine Infant, in the arms of his Mother, raised his eyes and his hands to the
Father asking for the salvation of these inhabitants held captive by satan. And
immediately He made use of his sovereign and divine power and drove the demons
from the idols and hurled them to the infernal abyss. Like lightning flashed
from the clouds they darted forth and descended to the lowermost caverns of
hell and darkness (Luke 10, 4). At the same instant the idols crashed to the
ground, the altars fell to pieces, and the temples crumbled to ruins. The cause
of these marvelous effects were known to the heavenly Lady, for She united her
prayers with those of her most holy Son as Cooperatrix of his salvation. Saint
Joseph also knew this to be the work of the incarnate Word; and He praised and
extolled Him in holy admiration. But the demons, although they felt the divine
power, knew not whence this power proceeded.
644. The Egyptian people were astounded at these
inexplicable happenings; although among the more learned, ever since the
sojourn of Jeremias in Egypt, an ancient tradition was current that a King of
the Jews would come and that the temples of the idols would be destroyed. Yet
of this prophecy the common people had no knowledge, nor did the learned know
how it was to be fulfilled: and therefore the terror and confusion was spread
among all of them, as was prophesied by Isaias (Is. 9, 1). In this disturbance
and fear, some, reflecting on these events, came to our great Lady and saint
Joseph; and, in their curiosity at seeing these strangers in their midst, they
also spoke to them about the ruin of their temples and their idols. Making use
of this occasion the Mother of wisdom began to undeceive these people, speaking
to them of the true God and teaching them that He is the one and only Creator
of heaven and earth, who is alone to be adored, and acknowledged as God; that
all others are but false and deceitful gods, nothing more than the wood, or
clay, or metal of which they are made, having neither eyes, nor ears, nor any
power; that the same artisans that made them, and any other man, could destroy
them at pleasure; since any man is more noble and powerful than they; that the
oracles which they gave forth were answers of the lying and deceitful demons
within them; and that the latter had no power, since there is but one true God.
645. The heavenly Lady was so sweet and kind in her
words, and at the same time so full of life and force; her appearance was so
charming, and all her intercourse was accompanied by such salutary effects,
that the rumor of the arrival of these strange Pilgrims quickly spread about in
the different towns, and many people gathered to see and hear Them. Moreover,
the powerful prayers of the incarnate Word wrought a change of hearts, and the
crumbling of the idols caused an incredible commotion among these people,
instilling into their minds knowledge of the true God and sorrow for their sins
without their knowing whence or through whom these blessings came to them.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph pursued their way through many towns of Egypt,
performing these and many other miracles, driving out the demons not only from
the idols, but out of many bodies possessed by them, curing many that were
grievously and dangerously ill, enlightening the hearts by the doctrines of
truth and eternal life. By these temporal benefits and others, so effectual in
moving the ignorant, earthly-minded people, many were drawn to listen to the
instructions of Mary and Joseph concerning a good and salutary life.
646. They arrived at Hermopolis, which lies in the
direction of the Thebaid, and is called by some the city of Mercury. In it
there were many idols infested by powerful demons. One of them dwelt in a tree
at the entrance of the city; for the neighboring inhabitants had begun to
venerate this tree on account of its size and beauty, whence the demon had
taken occasion to erect his seat in it. When the incarnate Word came within
sight of this tree, not only was the demon hurled from his seat and cast into
hell, but the tree bowed down to the ground, as if rejoiced by its good
fortune; for even the senseless creatures testified how tyrannical is the
dominion of the devil. This miraculous reverence of the trees happened at other
times during this journey of Christ, although these incidents are not all
recorded. But the memory of this event remained for centuries, for the leaves
and fruits of this tree cured many sicknesses. Of this miracle some authors
make mention, as well as of others in other cities visited by the incarnate
Word and his Mother (Nicephor 1, 10, c. 31; Sozomen 1, 5, c. 20; Brocard II, Co
4). There is to this day a traditional fountain near Cairo from which the
heavenly Lady drew water for Herself and the Child, and for washing his
clothes; all this rests on truth and the veneration for these wonders and these
places still lives, not only among the faithful who visit the holy places, but
also among the infidels, who there occasionally obtain temporal benefits from
the hands of the Lord. For also the infidels sometimes obtain certain favors,
in order that the Lord may be justified before them, or in order that the
memory of his wonders may be preserved. But it is not necessary to speak of
them especially just now; since the principal wonders during the stay of our
Lord in Egypt were wrought in Heliopolis, which, not without mysterious import,
was called city of the sun, and is now called Cairo, the grand.
647. In writing of these wonders, I asked the great
Queen in astonishment how She could have traveled with the Child through so
many strange provinces and cities? For it appeared to me that She thereby
prolonged exceedingly the labors and hardships of their journey. And our Lady
replied: "Do not wonder that my most holy Son and I journeyed so far in
order to gain souls. For the sake of even one soul, if possible, and if there
would be no other way, We would willingly traverse the whole world." If
what Jesus and Mary did for the salvation of us men does seem great to us, it
is because we do not understand the immensity of their love, and because we
understand just as little how to make a proper return for such love.
648. On account of these strange happenings when so
many of the demons were driven by a new and unwonted power to populate hell,
Lucifer was highly disturbed. Furiously enraged, He issued forth into the world
in order to investigate the cause of such unlooked for events. He roamed about
through all Egypt, where so many temples and altars of his idols had been
overthrown; and reaching Heliopolis, the largest of the cities and the scene of
the greatest destruction in his dominions, he sought to ascertain with the
utmost anxiety what kind of people dwelt therein. He found nothing new, except
that most holy Mary had arrived in the city. Of the Infant Jesus he made no
account, deeming Him a child just like all the rest of that age, for he knew
nothing particular about Him. But as he had been so often vanquished by the
virtues and holiness of the Virgin Mother, he was seized with new
consternation; although he considered a woman far too insignificant for such
great works, yet he resolved anew to persecute Her and to stir up against Her
his associates in wickedness.
649. He therefore returned immediately to hell and,
calling a meeting of the princes of darkness, told them of the destruction of
the temples and idols in Egypt. For these demons had been hurled by the divine
power from their habitations with such suddenness, confusion and torment that
at their departure they were unable to ascertain the fate of the idols and
temples which they were forced to leave. Lucifer, informing them of all that
had happened, and that he feared the destruction of his reign in Egypt, told
them that he could not ascertain or understand what was the cause of this ruin,
since he had found there only that Woman, his enemy (for so the dragon called
most holy Mary) ; and though he knew that her power was extraordinary, yet he
did not presume it to be so great as to account for such portents. N
evertheless, he wished them to begin a new war against Her, and that all should
prepare themselves for it. The satellites of Lucifer proclaimed their readiness
to obey, trying to console him in his desperate fury and promising him victory,
as if their forces were as great as their arrogance (Is. 16, 6).
650. Many legions of devils accordingly sallied forth
from hell and betook themselves to the place where the Queen of heaven was at
that time. As they suspected that God had used the most holy Mary as his
instrument in causing all their losses in that unfortunate country, they
thought they could make up for their defeat and restore their dominion if they
succeeded in overcoming Her. But they were astonished to find that when they
attempted to approach Her in order to begin their diabolical temptations, they
could not come nearer to Her than a distance of two thousand paces; for they
were restrained by the divine power, which they perceived issuing forth from
the heavenly Lady herself. Although Lucifer and the hostile bands struggled
violently, they were paralyzed and as if bound in strong and tormenting
shackles, without being able to reach the most unconquerable Queen; while She
witnessed their struggles, holding in her arms the omnipotence of God himself.
As Lucifer persevered in his attempts, he was suddenly hurled into the abyss of
hell with all his squadrons and wicked spirits. This defeat and ruin filled the
dragon with vast torment and anxiety, and as the like had overtaken him
repeatedly since the Incarnation, he began to have new misgivings, whether the
Messias had not come into the world. But since he knew nothing of the mystery,
and expected the Messias to come in great splendor and renown, he remained in
uncertainty and doubt, full of tormenting fury and wrath. He was consumed with
the desire to find out the cause of his sufferings, and the more he inquired
the more was he involved in darkness and so much the less did he ascertain of
the true cause.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN ME BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST HOLY
MARY.
651. My daughter, great and above all else to be
esteemed, is the consolation of the faithful friends of my most holy Son, when
they with lively faith and assurance are permitted to serve the Lord of lords
and the God of gods, who alone holds power and dominion over all creation and
who triumphs and reigns over his enemies. In this feeling of assurance the
intellect is delighted, the memory is recreated, the will is rejoiced and all
the powers of the devout soul enjoy the sweetness of the most exalted activity.
For they are entirely taken up with this supreme Goodness, Holiness and
infinite Power, which has need of none outside Itself and whose will governs
all created things (II Mach. 14,35, Apoc. 4,11). O how many thousand-fold blessings
do those creatures lose who, forgetful of their true happiness, employ all the
time of their life and all their powers in attending upon visible things,
pursuing the momentary pleasures and seeking the apparent and deceitful goods
of this world! In the knowledge and light vouchsafed to thee I would wish, my
daughter, that thou withdraw thyself from this danger, and that thy intellect
and memory occupy themselves continually with the reality of the existence of
thy God. In this endless sea, engulf and annihilate thyself, repeating without
cessation: "Who is like to God our Lord, that dwells on high and looks
upon the humble in heaven and on earth?" (Ps. 112, 5). Who is like to Him,
that is almighty and depends upon no one? that humbles the proud, and casts
down those whom the blind world calls powerful, that triumphs over the demon
and hurls him to the abyss?
652. In order that thy heart may dilate so much the
more upon these truths and attain a greater power over the enemies of the Most
High and of thyself, I wish that, as far as is possible, thou imitate me,
glorying in the victories and triumphs of his mighty arm and seeking thyself to
have a share in those which he gains over this cruel dragon. No created tongue,
not that of the seraphim, can describe what my soul felt when I beheld my most
holy Son working such wonders against his enemies for the benefit of the souls
blinded and terrorized by their errors and for the exaltation and honor of the
Most High. In this jubilation I magnified the Lord; and in company with my Son
I composed new hymns of praise as his Mother and as Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
Thou art a daughter of the holy Church and a spouse of my most blessed Son,
favored by his grace: it is therefore just that thou be zealous in acquiring
this glory and honor for Him, striving against his enemies and battling for the
triumphs of thy Spouse
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIVINE WILL JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
SETTLE DOWN TO DWELL NEAR THE CITY OF HELIOPOLIS AND THEY REGULATE THEIR DAILY LIFE
DURING THEIR BANISHMENT.
653. The traditions, which in many parts of Egypt kept
alive the remembrance of wonders wrought by the incarnate Word; gave rise to
differences of opinion among the sacred and other writers in regard to the
city, in which our Exiles lived during their stay in Egypt. Some of them assert
that they dwelt in this city, some in another. But all of them may be right and
in accordance with facts, since each one may be speaking of a different period
of the sojourn of our Pilgrims in Memphis, or Babylon of Egypt, or in Matarieh;
for they visited not only these cities, but many others. I for my part have
been informed that they passed through these and then reached Heliopolis, where
they took up their abode. Their holy guardian angels instructed the heavenly
Queen and saint Joseph, that They were to settle in this city. For, besides the
ruin of the temples and idols, which, just as in other places, took place at
their arrival here, the Lord had resolved to perform still other miracles for his
glory and for the rescue of souls; and the inhabitants of this city, (according
to the good fortune already prognosticated in its name as "City of the
Sun"), were to see the Sun of justice and grace arise over them and shine
upon them. Following these orders, saint Joseph sought to purchase for a
suitable price some dwelling in the neighborhood; and the Lord ordained that he
should find a poor and humble, yet serviceable house, at small distance from
the city, just such as the Queen of heaven desired.
654. Having therefore found this dwelling near
Heliopolis, they took their abode therein. At the first entrance of the
heavenly Lady with her divine Son and saint Joseph, She prostrated Herself to
the ground, kissing it in profound humility and lovingly thanking the Most High
for having secured them this place of rest after their prolonged and laborious
journeyings. She thanked also the earth and the elements for bearing with Her,
since in her matchless humility She persisted in esteeming Herself unworthy of all
favors. She adored the immutable being of God in this prostration, dedicating
all that She was to do in this place to his honor and worship. Interiorly She
made a sacrifice of all her powers and faculties, offering to assume readily
and with joy all the labors by which the Almighty could be served during her
exile; for in her prudence She foresaw and affectionately embraced them all. By
means of her divine knowledge She set a great value on sufferings;
understanding how highly they are esteemed at the divine tribunal, and how her
most holy Son looked upon them as a rich treasure and inheritance. Having
performed these exalted acts of devotion, She set about humbly to dean and
arrange the poor little house, borrowing the instruments for this purpose. Although
our heavenly strangers were thus sufficiently provided with the shelter of bare
walls, they were in want of all else pertaining to the sustenance and comfort
of daily life. As they now lived in an inhabited country, the miraculous
assistance, which they had enjoyed in the desert through the ministry of the
angels, failed them; and the Lord left them to the last resource of the poor,
namely, the begging of alms. Having come to these straits of suffering hunger,
saint Joseph went forth to seek this kind of assistance for the love of God;
giving thereby an example to the poor not to complain of their affliction and,
all other means failing, not to be ashamed to have recourse to this expedient.
For so early the Lord of all creation allowed Himself to fall into this extreme
of being obliged to beg for his sustenance, in order that He might have an
occasion to return the alms a hundredfold.
655. During the first three days of their arrival in
Heliopolis, just as in other places of Egypt, the Queen had for Herself and for
her Onlybegotten no other sustenance than what was begged by his foster father
saint Joseph. When he began to earn some wages by his work, he made an humble
couch for the Mother and a cradle for her Son; while he himself had as a
resting place only the bare ground; for the house was without any furniture
until by his own labor he succeeded in making some of the most indispensable
pieces for the convenience of all three. In this connection I must not pass
over in silence the fact that in their extreme poverty and need most holy Mary
and Joseph regretted not their house in Nazareth, nor thought of the aid of
their relations and friends, nor of the gifts of the kings, which they had
given away and which, if they had saved them, would now be useful. All of these
regrets were far from their minds, nor did they complain of the great privation
and destitution, thinking of the past or worrying about their future. But they
bore all with incomparable equanimity, joy and tranquillity, resigning
themselves to the divine Providence in their extreme need and poverty. o
smallness of our unfaithful hearts! In what excruciating anxieties we are apt
to be cast at finding ourselves threatened with poverty or privation immediately
we begin to rail at occasions lost, at having missed or neglected this or that
advantage, or at not having done this or that, by which we would have evaded
our misfortunes. All these complaints are vain and most foolish, since they can
bring no relief. Although it would have been good if we had not committed the
sins by which we are thus punished, yet very often we are sorry for them only
on account of the temporal disadvantages, and not for the guilt connected with
sin. Slow and stupid of heart are we to perceive the spiritual things conducive
to our justification and growth in grace (Luke 24, 25); while on the other hand
we are full of fleshly and earthly rashness in entering upon temporal affairs
and anxieties. The example of our Exiles is indeed a severe reprimand for our
low-minded earthliness.
656. The most prudent Lady and her spouse, forsaken
and destitute of all temporal help, accommodated themselves joyfully to the
poverty of their little dwelling. Of the three rooms, which it contained, they
assigned one to be the sanctuary or temple of the Infant Jesus under the tender
care of the most pure Mother; there they placed the cradle and her bare couch,
until, after some days, by the labor of the holy spouse, and through the
kindness of some pious women, they could obtain wherewith to cover it. Another
room was set aside for the sleeping place and oratory of saint Joseph. The
third served as a workshop for plying his trade. In view of their great
poverty, and of the great difficulty of sufficient employment as a carpenter,
the great Lady resolved to assist him by the work of her hands to earn a
livelihood. She immediately executed her resolve by seeking to obtain
needlework through the intervention of the pious women, who, attracted by her
modesty and sweetness, were beginning to have intercourse with Her. As all that
She attended to or busied Herself with was so perfect, the reputation of her
skill soon spread about, so that She never was in want of employment whereby to
eke out the slender means of livelihood for her Son, the true God and man.
657. In order to obtain the indispensable victuals and
clothing, furnish the house ever so moderately, and pay the necessary expenses,
it seemed to our Queen that She must employ all day in work and consume the
night in attending to her spiritual exercises. This She resolved upon, not for
any motives of gain, or because She did not continue in her contemplations
during the day; for this was her incessant occupation in the presence of the
infant God, as I have so often said and shall repeat hereafter. But some of the
hours, which She was wont to spend in special exercises, She wished to transfer
to the night-time, in order to be able to extend the hours of manual labor, not
being minded to ask or expect God's miraculous assistance for anything which She
could attain by greater diligence and additional labor on her own part. In all
such cases we ask for miraculous help more for our own convenience than on
account of necessity. The most prudent Queen asked the eternal Father to
provide sustenance for her divine Son; but at the same time She continued to
labor. Like one who does not trust in herself, or in her own efforts, She
united prayer with her labors, in order to obtain the necessities of life like
other men.
658. The Infant Jesus was much pleased with the
prudence of his Mother, and with her resignation in the midst of her dire
poverty, and in return for her fidelity He wished to lessen the labors She had
undertaken. One day He spoke to Her from the cradle and said: "My Mother,
I wish to set up a rule for thy daily life and labors." Immediately the
heavenly Mother knelt before Him and answered: "My sweetest Love, and Lord
of all my being, I praise and magnify Thee because Thou hast condescended to
meet my secret thoughts and desires; may it please Thee to direct my footsteps
according to thy holy will, to regulate all my labors according to thy wishes,
and to order all my occupations in each hour of the day according to thy divine
pleasure. And since thy Deity became incarnate' and thy Majesty condescended to
take heed of my longings, speak, Light of my eyes, for thy servant hears."
The Lord replied: "My dearest Mother, from the time of nightfall"
(that is, from the hour called by us nine o'clock) "thou shalt take some
sleep and rest. And from midnight until the break of day thou mayest occupy
thyself in contemplation with Me, and We will praise the eternal Father.
Thereupon prepare the necessary food for thyself and Joseph; and afterwards
give Me nourishment and hold Me in thy arms until the third hour, when thou
shalt place Me in the arms of thy husband, in order to afford him some
refreshment in his labors. Then retire until it is time to prepare his meal and
return to thy work. Since thou hast not with thee the sacred Scriptures, which
were wont to console thee, thou canst, by my holy science, enter into the
doctrines of eternal life, in order that thou mayest follow Me in perfect
imitation. And continually pray to the eternal Father for the sinners."
659. By this rule of life the most holy Mary governed
her doings during her stay in Egypt. Every day three times She nursed the
infant God at her breast; for when He pointed out to Her the hour in which She
was to nurse Him in the morning, He did not forbid Her to afford Him
nourishment at other times, as She had been accustomed to do since his
Nativity. Whenever the heavenly Mother was engaged in any work, She always
performed it in his presence and upon her knees; and it was very usual, during
their colloquies and conferences, that the King from his cradle and the Mother
at her work, broke out in mysterious canticles of praise. If they were all
written, they would outnumber all the psalms and the hymns used by the Church,
and all that are written; for there can be no doubt that God conversed with the
source of his humanity, his most blessed Mother, in a more exalted and
wonderful manner than with David, Moses, Mary, Anne and all the Prophets. By
these hymns the heavenly Mother was continually filled with new influences of
the Divinity, and new longings to be united to his unchangeable being; for She
alone was the Phoenix which could be renewed in this conflagration, and the
royal Eagle which could penetrate into the ineffable light and soar from height
to heights, whither no other created being could venture to wing its flight.
She fulfilled the end for which the divine Word had assumed flesh in her
virginal womb, namely, to draw on and elevate the rational creatures to the
Divinity. As She was the only Creature which did not present the hindrance of
sin and its effects, nor from disordered passions and appetites, but was free
of the downward tendency of our earthly nature, She flew upward to her Beloved
and to his exalted habitation, not resting until She reached her Center, which
was the Divinity. Moreover She had always in view the way and the light (John
16, 6), the incarnate Word, and all her desires and affections met in the
immutable being of the Most High; and therefore She hastened on in burning
fervor, embracing Her goal rather than flying towards it, and living more in
her love than in her life.
660. Sometimes, also, the infant God slept under the
watchful care of his happy and fortunate Mother; in order that also this saying
might become true: "I sleep, but my heart is awake" (Cant. 5,2). And
as this most holy body of her Son was for Her a most clear mirror, in which She
saw and penetrated the secrets of his deified Soul and its operations (Wis. 7,
16), She beheld Herself therein again and again. Especially consoling to the
heavenly Lady was it to see the most holy Soul of her Son revealed to Her in
all its heroic operations as a Pilgrim and yet a Comprehensor, while at the
same time his bodily faculties were lost in the tranquil and beauteous sleep of
childhood, his whole humanity being hypostatically united to the Divinity. Our
language is incapable of describing the sweet affections and flights of love,
and the heroic acts of the Queen of heaven on these occasions, and falls far
short of the reality; but where words fail, let faith and love supply the deficiency.
661. Whenever She wished to afford saint Joseph the
consolation of holding the Infant Jesus, the Mother of God said: "My Son
and Lord, look upon thy faithful servant Joseph with the love of a son and
father, and delight Thyself in the purity of his affectionate soul, so
acceptable in thy eyes." And to saint Joseph She said:
"My Spouse, receive in thy arms the Lord, who
holds in his hands all the orbs of heaven and earth, and who has given them
existence out of his mere bounty. Refresh thyself from thy labors in Him who is
the glory of all creation." For these favors saint Joseph returned most
humble thanks; and he was wont to ask his Spouse whether he could dare to
caress the Child. Encouraged by Her, he would do so; and this privilege made
him forget all the hardships of his labor, and made them easy and sweet in his
eyes. Whenever Mary and Joseph were at their meals they had with them the
Infant; in serving the meals, the heavenly Queen held Him in her arms,
partaking of the food with great modesty and, in holding Him, She at the same
time afforded her most pure soul a sweeter and more nourishing food than to the
body, adoring and loving Him as the eternal God, and caressing Him with the
tenderness of a Mother. It is impossible to conceive the attention which She
paid to this double duty; on the one hand, to fulfill all obligation that was
due to Him as from a creature to its Creator, looking upon Him in his Divinity,
as Son of the eternal Father, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, as the Maker
and Preserver of all the universe; and on the other hand, to give to Him all
the attention that He deserved as an Infant, serving Him and nursing Him.
Betwixt these two extremes She was entirely inflamed with love, and her whole
being consumed in heroic acts of admiration, praise and affection. Of all the
rest which the two Spouses did it can only be said that they were the wonder of
the angels, and that they attained the summit of holiness and of divine
pleasure.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST
HOLY MARY.
662. My daughter, I came into Egypt, where I knew no
relations or friends, in a land of foreign religion, where I could offer no
home or protection or assistance to my Son, whom I loved so much. It can
easily be understood, then, what tribulations and hardships we suffered, since
the Lord permitted them to come over Us. Thou canst not understand with what
patience and forbearance We accepted them; and even the angels cannot estimate
the reward I merited from the Most High by the love and resignation with which
I bore them, and which were greater than if I had been in the greatest
prosperity. It is true, I grieved much to see my husband in such necessity and
want; but at the same time I blessed the Lord to be able to suffer them. In this
most noble patience and joy of spirit I wish that thou imitate me whenever the
Lord offers thee an occasion; and that thou learn to act with prudence
interiorly and exteriorly, ordering well thy actions and thy thoughts, without
hindrance to either of them.
663. When the necessaries of life are wanting to those
under thy charge, exert thyself properly to obtain them. If sometimes thou
must sacrifice thy own tranquillity in fulfilling this obligation, thou needst
not on that account lose thy peace of mind; especially if thou art mindful of
what I have so often told thee: not to lose sight of the presence of the Lord;
for by his divine light and grace, if thou art careful and preservest thy
peace, thou canst do all things. Whatever can duly be procured by human
exertion, is not to be expected by a miracle, nor must one try to exempt
himself from labor in the hope of a supernatural interference on the part of
God; for the Lord sweetly concurs with the ordinary and natural course of
created things. The labor of the body is serviceable to the soul as a sacrifice
and as an increase of the merits due to that kind of activity. While at work
the rational creature can praise God and adore Him in spirit and in truth (John
4, 23). In order to fulfill this duty, direct thy activity according to his
pleasure, consult his will in regard to them, weighing them with the scales of
the sanctuary and riveting thy attention upon the divine light which the
Almighty infuses in thy soul.
OF THE WONDERS WHICH THE INFANT JESUS, MOST HOLY MARY
AND JOSEPH WROUGHT AT HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT.
664. Isaias says that the Lord shall enter Egypt upon
a light cloud in order to work miracles for that country. Isaias, in calling
the most holy Mary, or, as others think, the humanity derived from Her, a
cloud, no doubt wishes to indicate that the Lord was to fertilize and water the
barren land of the hearts of its inhabitants, in order that henceforth they
might produce the fruits of sanctity and of divine knowledge. And so it really happened
after that heavenly cloud had overshadowed this land. For immediately the
belief in the true God began to spread, and idolatry to be destroyed; the paths
of eternal life began to be opened, which until then had been held closed by
the demons. To such an extent was all this true that there was scarcely any
province in that land in which the true God remained unknown, as soon as the
incarnate Word had arrived therein. Although some of the people came to this
knowledge through intercourse with the Hebrews, which existed between these two
nations at that time (Kings IV, 17, 24); yet a great many errors, superstitions
and worship of the demons were mixed up with it; just as was the case with the
Babylonians, who at another time came to live in Samaria. But after the Sun of
justice began to illumine Egypt, and Mary most holy, the taintless cloud, began
to overshadow that land, it became so fertile in holiness and grace that it
gave forth abundant fruit for many centuries. This is witnessed by the many
saints that lived in it afterwards, and by the thousands of hermits that made
its mountains gather up and distil such sweet honey of sanctity and Christian
perfection.
665. As I said, in order to secure these blessings to
the Egyptians, the Lord took his dwelling in the city of Heliopolis. As it was
so full of idols, temples and altars of the demons, which at his entrance all
fell to the dust with great crashing and noise, the whole city was set in
commotion and confusion by the suddenness of this ruin (Is. 19, 1). People
rushed about astonished and as if crazed in mind; curiosity brought to the
newly arrived strangers numbers of men and women, who sought to speak to the
great Queen and saint Joseph. The heavenly Mother, who was aware of the
mysterious designs of God, spoke to their inmost hearts with great wisdom,
prudence and sweetness. They were filled with wonder at her incomparable
gentleness and her exalted teachings, which undeceived them of their errors;
and as She immediately cured some of their sick, She quieted and encouraged
them so much the sooner. These miracles were so rapidly noised abroad that in a
short time an immense concourse of people gathered to see the heavenly
Strangers; and the most prudent Lady was forced to consult her most holy Son as
to her further conduct toward this great multitude. The infant God told Her to
instruct them in the knowledge of God, teach them his true worship, and exhort
them to desist from sinful life.
666. In this office of preaching to the Egyptians, and
of teaching them, our heavenly Princess served as the instrument of her most
holy Son, who lent power to her words. The effect of it was so great that many
books would be required to describe the wonders and the conversions of souls
that took place during the seven years of their stay in this province; for in
her ministry She was filled with the benedictions of sweetness (Ps. 20, 4).
Whenever the heavenly Lady listened to and answered those that came to Her, She
held in her arms the Infant Jesus, as the One who was the Author of all the
graces to be dispensed to sinners. She spoke to each one in the manner suitable
to his capacity and serviceable for teaching him the doctrine of eternal life.
She enlightened them concerning the Divinity and made them understand that there
cannot be more than one God. She explained to them the several articles of
truth pertaining to the Creation and Redemption of the world. She impressed
upon their minds the commandments of the decalogue, founded upon the natural
law; and She showed them the manner of adoring and worshipping God, and how
they were to expect the regeneration of the human race.
667. Concerning the demons, She explained how they
were enemies of God and men; how deeply they kept men in error by their
idol-worship and the false answers of their oracles; how they induced men to
commit the vilest abominations and afterwards secretly tempted them by exciting
the disorderly passions. Although the Queen of heaven was so pure and free from
all that is imperfect, nevertheless, for the glory of the Most High, She did
not deem it beneath Her to speak to them of those vile and impure excesses in
which all Egypt was sunk. She also declared to them that the Repairer of so
many ills, who was to overcome the demons as it was written of Him, was already
come into the world, although She did not say that She held Him in her arms. In
order that her teachings might be accepted so much the more readily, and the
truth might be more apparent, She confirmed her words by great miracles, curing
all sorts of people who were sick or possessed by the devil and who came from
all parts of the country. A few times the Queen went to the infirmaries and
conferred admirable blessings upon the sick. Everywhere She consoled the
sorrowful and brought relief to the afflicted and the unfortunate, winning all
by loving kindness and beneficence and admonishing them with sweet earnestness.
668. In regard to the cure of the sick and wounded the
heavenly Lady hesitated between two different sentiments: the one of charity,
which drew Her to nurse the wounded with her own hand, and the other of
modesty, which forbade Her to touch anyone. In order that all propriety might
be observed, her most holy Son empowered Her to cure the men by her mere word
and exhortations; while She might cure the women by the touch of her hands and
cleansing their wounds. This course of action She maintained thenceforward,
taking upon Herself as well the office of a mother as of a sick-nurse.
respectively. But, as I will narrate, after they had lived two years in that
place, saint Joseph also began to cure the sick, while the matchless charity of
the Queen busied itself more particularly with the cure of the women. Though
She was Herself endowed with such unsullied purity, free from all infirmities and
sufferings, yet She hesitated not to tend their festering ulcers and apply with
her own hands the coverings and bandages required. All this She did with such
tender compassion, as if She herself were afflicted with their misfortunes.
Sometimes it happened that, in order to relieve and cure the poor, She asked
permission of her divine Son to place Him in the cradle; thus permitting the
Lord of the poor to witness in another way the loving charity of this humble
Lady. But in all these occupations and cures (O wonderful to relate!) this most
modest Mistress never looked upon the face of either man or woman. Even when
the wound was in the face, her modesty was so exquisite that She would not have
been able to recognize any of her patients by their features if She had not
known all men by another interior kind of vision.
669. On account of the excessive heat prevailing in
Egypt, and on account of many disorders rampant among the people, the
distempers of the Egyptians were widespread and grievous. During the years of
the stay of the Infant Jesus and his most holy Mother, pestilence devastated
Heliopolis and other places. On this account, and on account of the report of
their wonderful deeds, multitudes of people came to them from all parts of the
country and returned home cured in body and soul. In order that the grace of
the Lord might flow more abundantly, and in order that his kindest Mother might
have assistance in her works of mercy, God, at the instance of the heavenly
Mistress, ordained saint Joseph as her helper in the teaching and healing of
the infirm. For this purpose he was endowed with new light and power of
healing. The holy Mary began to make use of his assistance in the third year of
their stay in Egypt; so that now he ordinarily taught and cured the men, while
the blessed Lady attended to the women. Incredible was the fruit resulting from
their labors in the souls of men; for her uninterrupted beneficence and the
gracious efficacy of her words drew all toward our Queen, and her modesty and
holiness filled them with devoted love. They offered Her many presents and
large possessions, anxious to see Her make use of them: but never did She
receive anything for Herself, or reserve it for her own use; for they continued
to provide for their wants by the labor of her hands and the earnings of saint
Joseph. When at times the blessed Lady was offered some gift that seemed
serviceable and proper for helping the needy and the poor, She would accept it
for that purpose. Only with this understanding would She ever yield to the
pious and affectionate importunities of devout persons; and even then She often
made them a present in return of things made by her own hands. From what I have
related we can form some idea how great and how numerous were the miracles wrought
by the holy Family during their seven years' stay in Egypt and Heliopolis; for
it would be impossible to enumerate and describe all of them.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED TO ME BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN,
MOST HOLY MARY.
670. My daughter, thou art full of wonder at the works
of mercy which I exercised in Egypt, curing the sick of their infirmities and
helping the poor in their necessities, in order to relieve them in body and
soul. Thou wilt be able to understand how all this comported with my love of
modesty and retirement, when thou takest into consideration the immense love
that urged my most holy Son to hasten immediately after his birth to the
assistance of these people and pour out over them his immense love in his
longings for their salvation. This love He communicated to me, and thus made me
an instrument of his power, or I should not have dared to enter upon such a
great enterprise. For though I always preferred to abstain from speaking or
communicating with others, yet the will of my Son and Lord governed me in all
things. Of thee, my friend, I desire, that in imitation of me, thou work for
the benefit and salvation of thy neighbors, seeking to follow me in the
perfection and quality of my works. Thou needst not seek occasions, for the
Lord will send them. In some extraordinary circumstances, however, thou mayst
find it advisable to offer thy services. But seek to exert thy influence upon
all, teach and exhort them according to thy light; not presuming to take upon
thyself the office of a teacher, but of one that seeks to console, and one that
pities the hardships of her brothers; as one who with much reserve and humility
and with great charity seeks to exhort them to patience.
671. As for those under thy charge, exhort and reprove
them, govern and direct them to greater and greater perfection of virtue and to
fulfill the divine pleasure. For next to seeking thy own perfection, God wills
that thou encourage and teach those under thy charge according to power and
graces given to thee. Pray without ceasing for those to whom thou canst not
speak; thus extending thy charity towards all men. Since thou canst not go
outside to tend the sick, make up for it by taking care of those living with
thee, zealously serving them personally in whatever pertains to their comfort
and wants. Do not consider thyself above this service because thou art their
superioress; for on this very account thou must act as their mother and show
thy loving care as such toward all, while in other things thou must interiorly
esteem thyself below them. Since the world ordinarily leaves the care of the
sick to the most poor and despised, simply because it does not know the high
value of this service; therefore I, too, assign to thee as to one who is poor
and the least of all, this office of tending the sick, in order that thou
mayest follow me in the performance of it.
HEROD RESOLVES TO MURDER THE INNOCENTS; MOST HOLY MARY
IS AWARE OF THIS. SAINT JOHN IS CONCEALED BY HIS RELATIVES.
672. We will now leave the Infant Jesus, most holy Mary
and Joseph in the work of sanctifying Egypt by their beneficent presence, and
return to Judea, which was unworthy of it. Thus we will understand the course
of the devilish cunning and hypocrisy of Herod. That wicked king was waiting
for the message of the Magi concerning the newly born King of the Jews, ready
to devote Him to an inhuman death. He trusted for a while to his own cunning,
until his anxiety caused him to inquire. But when he was informed of their stay
in Bethlehem, their departure, their escape from Palestine on a different
route, and of other happenings in the temple, he awoke to the fact that he had
been foiled in his purpose. He consulted anew some of the experts of the Law;
and as their interpretation of the Scriptures concerning Bethlehem and the
happenings at Bethlehem coincided with his suspicions, he ordered a strict
search to be made for our Queen, her Child and the glorious saint Joseph. But
the Lord, who had commanded their flight from Jerusalem in the night, also
concealed them on their journey, so that there was none that knew anything of
it, or that could discover a trace of their flight. Not being able to find
Them, and no one having any knowledge of Them, the henchmen of Herod brought
back the answer that no such man, woman or child could be found in the whole
country.
673. This inflamed the fury of Herod (Matth. 2, 16)
and increased his anxiety; in vain he sought some means to prevent the evil
threatening Him from a rival King. But the devil, who knew him to be ready for
any wickedness, stirred up in his heart the enormous thought of using his royal
power to murder all the children under two years of age around Bethlehem. For
in that way the King of the Jews, recently born there, would inevitably be
murdered among them. The tyrant was highly satisfied with this scheme, which
never yet had been thought of by any even the greatest barbarian; and he set
about its execution without any of the aversion of horror that it was apt to
excite in other rational beings. Having studied out his wrathful plans to his
satisfaction, he ordered some troops to be gathered in that region and
privately instructed some of the more intimate of his officers under severe
penalties to kill all the children under two years in Bethlehem and its
vicinity. The command of Herod was executed and the whole country was filled
with confusion and wailing, and with the tears of the parents and of the other
relations of the innocent victims, who were thus doomed without any possibility
of resistance or prevention.
674. This command of Herod was issued six months after
the birth of the Savior. When it began to be executed the great Queen happened
to hold her divine Son in her arms, lost in contemplation of his most holy
Soul. Looking into it as into a clear mirror, She saw all that passed in
Bethlehem more clearly than if She herself had been present to hear the wailing
of the children and the parents. She saw also how her Son prayed to his eternal
Father for the parents of these innocents; that He offered up the murdered
children as the first fruits of his own Death; asking Him also that they
receive the use of reason, in order that they might be a willing sacrifice for
their Redeemer and accept their death for his glory. Thus He would be able to
reward them with the crowns of martyrdom for what they suffered. All this the
eternal Father granted, and as it was made known to the Queen in her
Onlybegotten Son, She joined Him in his prayers and sacrifices. She also pitied
the parents of the martyred infants in their heartrending tears and sorrows for
their sons. She, indeed, was the first and true Rachel weeping for the children
in Bethlehem (Jer. 31, 15); and there was no mother who sorrowed for them as
She did, since no one could be such a Mother as She was to them.
675. She did not know at the time what saint Elisabeth
had done in order to safeguard her son John pursuant to the warning of the
angel sent to her by the Queen Herself, as narrated in the twenty-second
chapter. Although She had no doubt as to the fulfillment of all the mysteries
known to Her concerning the Precursor by divine enlightenment, yet She was
uncertain of the troubles and anxieties caused to saint Elisabeth and her son,
and of the manner in which they had forestalled the cruelty of Herod. The
sweetest Mother did not presume to ask her divine Son concerning this event, on
account of the prudence and reverence always observed by Her in regard to such
revelations; for in her humility and patience She counted Herself as unworthy
and as dust in the sight of the Lord. But the Almighty took notice of her pious
and compassionate desires and informed Her that Zachary, the father of saint
John, had died four months after her virginal parturition and about three
months after She had left Jerusalem. The widowed saint Elisabeth now had no
other company than that of her son John, with whom she was passing the days of
her widowhood in a retired and secluded place. For on account of the warning of
the angel, and knowing of the cruel disposition of Herod, she had resolved to
flee to the desert with her child and live there in the company of wild beasts
rather than within the dangerous reach of Herod. This resolve she had taken
with the approbation of the Most High and, guided by his impulse, She was now
hidden in a cave or cleft of the rock where, with great hardship and
difficulty, she obtained sustenance for herself and her son.
676. The heavenly Lady also knew that saint Elisabeth,
after three years of this solitary life, died in the Lord; that saint John
remained in the desert, commencing to live an angelic life, and that he was not
to leave his solitude until he should be commanded by the Almighty to preach
penance as his Precursor. These sacraments and mysteries the Infant Jesus
manifested to his most holy Mother with many other hidden and profound
blessings conferred upon saint Elisabeth and her son in that desert. All this
She perceived in the same way as She now perceived the death of the innocent
children. It filled Her with joy and compassion; the one because She saw saint
John and his mother in safety, the other, on account of the hardships to which
they were exposed in the desert. She immediately asked of her most holy Son
permission to take care thenceforward of Elisabeth and her son. From that time
on She frequently sent her holy angels to visit them with the consent of the
Lord; and through them also She sent them provisions, which afforded them
better sustenance than they could find in the wild abode. Through these angelic
messengers the holy Lady kept up a continual intercourse with her relatives
during her stay in Egypt. When the last hour of Elisabeth arrived, Mary sent
her a great number of angels to assist her and her child, who was then four
years old. These angels also helped saint John to bury his mother in the
desert. Thereupon the Queen sent to him every day his sustenance, until he was
of sufficient age to provide for his living by his own labors and exertions in
gathering herbs, roots and woodland honey (Mark 1,6); of these thenceforward
he lived in admirable abstinence, as I shall relate farther on.
677. Neither the tongue of creatures can describe, nor
intellect comprehend, the vast merits and increase of sanctity accumulating in
the most holy Mary through these continued and wonderful works; for in all
things She acted with a prudence more than angelic. What moved Her to the
greatest admiration, love and praise of the Almighty was to see how, at the
intercession of Herself and her Son for the holy Innocents, his providence
showed itself so liberal toward them. She knew as if She were present the great
number of children that were killed and that all of them, though some were only
eight days, two or six months old, and none of them over two years, had the use
of their reason; that they all received a high knowledge of the being of God,
perfect love, faith and hope, in which they performed heroic acts of faith,
worship, and love of God, reverence and compassion for their parents. They
prayed for their parents and, in reward for their sufferings, obtained for them
light and grace for advance in spiritual things. They willingly submitted to
martyrdom, in spite of the tenderness of their age, which made their sufferings
so much the greater and consequently augmented their merits. A multitude of
angels assisted them and bore them to limbo or to the bosom of Abraham. By
their arrival they rejoiced the holy ancients and confirmed them in the hope of
speedy liberation. All these were effects of the prayers of the divine Child
and his Mother. Aware of all these wonders, She was inflamed with ardor and
exclaimed; "Praise the Lord, ye children"; and joined with them in
the praise of the Author of these magnificent works, so worthy of his Goodness
and Omnipotence. Mary alone knew of them and appreciated them properly. And
She, so closely allied to God himself, perfectly reached the degree of humility
required for such appreciation; for though She was the Mother of innocence,
purity and sanctity, She humiliated Herself more than all creatures with all
their faults will ever know how to humiliate themselves. Among all creatures
most holy Mary reached a degree of humility peculiar to Herself, which fully
equaled the high blessings and gifts received by all other creatures; for She
alone comprehended fully how insufficient is the return the creature can make
for all the blessings flowing from the boundless love of God. Knowing that
without this humility no act of a creature can be worthy of a God, She reached
the height of all perfection by making all her acts serve as a grateful return
for benefits received.
678. At the end of this chapter I wish to draw
attention to the fact that in many things which I am describing, a great
diversity of opinion exists among the holy fathers and writers; as, for
instance, in regard to the time of the slaughter of the innocent children, or
whether also the new-born children or those that were only a few days old were
included in the slaughter, or concerning other doubtful points, about which I
will not speak, since they are not necessary to my purpose. I write only what
is being shown or dictated to me, or about which obedience forces me to ask, in
order that this history may be more clear. It will not do to start a dispute
concerning what I write; for from the beginning I said, that the Lord wishes
this whole work to be free from mere opinion and to contain nothing but what is
taught me by the divine light To decide whether that which I write is in
harmony with the truth of holy Scriptures, or befits the majesty and grandeur
of my subject, or whether the events narrated bear the necessary sequence or
connection: all this I leave to the learning of my teachers and superiors and
to the judgment of the wise and pious. Variety of opinion is as it were
inevitable among the writers on these subjects, since they are guided by
different authors, and are each following those of the ancient authors that
satisfy them best; yet more than a few of the old authors (if we except the
events related in the canonical writings) relied only on conjecture or on
doubtful sources. I, as an ignorant woman, cannot enter upon such discussions.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST
HOLY MARY.
679. My daughter, in what thou hast written I wish
that thou learn a lesson from the very sorrow and apprehension with which thou
hast performed this task. Well-founded is thy sorrow to see how such a noble
creature as man, made according to the likeness and image of the Lord, endowed
with such divine qualities, and gifted with the power of knowing, loving,
seeing, and enjoying God eternally, should allow himself to be degraded and
defiled by such brutal and abominable passions as to shed the innocent blood of
those who can do no harm to anyone. This should induce thee to weep over the
ruin of so many souls j especially in the times in which thou livest when that
same ambition which incited Herod, has kindled such great hatred and enmity
among the children of the Church, occasioning the ruin of countless souls and
causing the waste and loss of the blood of my most holy Son, poured out for the
salvation of men. Do thou bitterly deplore this loss.
680. But likewise be warned by what thou hast seen in
others; ponder the effects of passions admitted into the heart; for if once
they have mastered the heart, they will either smother it in lust when it finds
success, or consume it with wrath at meeting any opposition. Fear thou, my
daughter, this danger, not only on account of the results thou seest of
ambition in Herod, but also on account of what thou seest going on every hour
in other persons. Be very careful not to allow thyself to be mastered by
anything, be it ever so small; for in order to start a great conflagration the
smallest spark is sufficient. I have often repeated to thee this same warning,
and I shall continue to do so more often in the future; for the greatest
difficulty in practicing virtue consists in dying to all that is pleasurable to
the senses. Thou canst not be a fit instrument in the hands of the Lord, such
as He desires thee to be, if thou dost not cleanse thy faculties even of the
images of all creatures, so that they do not find entrance into thy desires. I
wish it to be to thee an inexorable law that all things, except God, his angels
and saints, be to thee as if they did not exist. These should be thy sole
possession; on this account the Lord has opened to thee his secrets, honors
thee with his familiarity and intimacy, and for this purpose also do I honor
thee with mine, that thou neither live nor wish to live without the Lord.
AT THE AGE OF ONE YEAR THE INFANT JESUS SPEAKS TO
SAINT JOSEPH AND REQUESTS HIS MOTHER TO CLOTH HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO WALK. HE
COMMENCES TO CELEBRATE THE DAY OF HIS INCARNATION AND OF HIS BIRTH.
681. During one of the conversations of Mary with
Joseph concerning the mysteries of the Lord, the Infant Jesus, having reached
the age of one year, resolved to break the silence and speak in plain words to
Joseph, who so faithfully fulfilled the duties of a foster-father. As I have
already mentioned in chapter the tenth, He had thus conversed with his heavenly
Mother from the time of his Birth. The two holy Spouses were speaking of the
infinite being of God, of his goodness and excessive love, which induced Him to
send his Onlybegotten Son as the Teacher and Savior of men, clothing Him in
human form in order that He might converse with them and suffer the punishments
of their depraved natures. Saint Joseph was lost in wonder at the works of the
Lord and inflamed by affectionate gratitude and exaltation of the Lord. Seizing
upon this occasion the infant God, resting upon the arms of his Mother as upon
the seat of wisdom, began to speak to saint Joseph in an intelligible voice,
saying: "My father, I came from heaven upon this earth in order to be the
light of the world, and in order to rescue it from darkness of sin; in order to
seek and know my sheep as a good Shepherd, to give them nourishment of eternal
life, teach them the way of heaven, open its gates, which had been closed by
their sins. I desire that you both be children of the Light, which you have so
close at hand."
682. These words of the Infant Jesus, being full of
divine life, filled the heart of the patriarch saint Joseph with new love,
reverence and joy. He fell on his knees before the infant God with the profoundest
humility and thanked Him for having called Him "father" by the very
first word spoken to him. He besought the Lord with many tears to enlighten him
and enable him to fulfill entirely his most holy will, to teach him to be
thankful for the incomparable benefits flowing from his generous hands. Parents
who love their children very much are touched with consolation and pride to see
their children show great signs of wisdom and virtue; and even when this is not
the case, they are naturally inclined to extol and make much of their childish
pranks and sayings; for all this is the result of their tender affection for
their young offspring. Although saint Joseph was not the natural, but the
foster-father of Jesus, his love for Him exceeded by far all the love of
parents for their children, since in him grace, or even natural love, was more
powerful than in others, yea than in all the parents together. Hence the joy of
his soul is to be measured by this love and appreciation of saint Joseph as
being the foster-father of the Infant Jesus. For he at the same time heard
himself called the father of the Son of the eternal Father, and saw Him so
beautiful in grace, while listening to such exalted wisdom and knowledge in the
Child.
683. During the whole of this first year his sweetest
Mother had wrapped the infant God in clothes and coverings usual with other
children; for He did not wish to be distinguished in this from others, and He
wished to bear witness to his true humanity and to his love for mortals,
enduring this inconvenience otherwise not required of Him. The most prudent
Mother, judging that now the time had come to free Him from swaddling clothes
and place Him on his feet, knelt down before the Child in its cradle and said:
"My Son and sweetest Love of my soul, my Lord, I desire, as thy slave, to
be punctual in fulfilling thy wishes. O, Light of my eyes, Thou hast been for a
long time oppressed by the swaddling-clothes and thereby gone to the extreme of
thy love for men; it is time Thou change this manner. Tell me, my Master, what
shall I do to place Thee on thy feet?"
684. "My Mother," answered the Infant Jesus,
"on account of the love which I bear toward man, whom I have created and
come to redeem, the swathings of my childhood have not seemed irksome to Me,
since when I shall be grown up I shall be bound and delivered over to my
enemies unto death (Matth. 20, 18). If this prospect is sweet to Me for the
love of my Father (Heb, to, 71) all the rest is certainly easy to Me. I wish to
possess only one garment during all my life, for I seek nothing more than what
is sufficient to cover Me. Although all created things are mine because I have
given them being, I turn them all over to men in order that they may owe Me so
much the more and in order that I may teach them, according to my example and
for my love, to repudiate and despise all that is superfluous for natural life.
Clothe Me, my Mother, in a tunic of a lowly and ordinary color. This alone will
I wear, and it shall grow with Me. Over this garment shall they cast lots at my
death (Ps. 21, 19) ; for even this shall not be left at my disposal, but at the
disposal of others; so that men shall see that I was born and wish to live poor
and destitute of visible things, which being earthly, oppress and darken the heart
of man. At the very moment of my conception in thy virginal womb I made this
renunciation and abdication of all that is contained in the world, though all
is mine on account of the union of my human nature with the divine. I shall not
have anything to do with visible things except to offer them up to the eternal
Father, renouncing them for his love, and making use of only so much as is
sufficient to sustain my natural life, which I will afterwards yield up for
man's sake. By this example I wish to impress upon the world the doctrine that
it must love poverty and not despise it; for I, who am the Lord of the whole
world, entirely repudiated and rejected its possessions. Those who know Me by
faith should be filled with confusion at seeing themselves desire what I taught
them to despise."
685. The words of the divine Child produced in the
heart of the heavenly Mother diverse wonderful effects. The allusion to the
seizure and death of her most holy Son transfixed her pure and compassionate
heart, and the doctrine and example of such extreme poverty and destitution
excited her admiration and urged Her to its imitation. His boundless love for
mortals inflamed Her with loving gratitude toward the Lord and produced in Her
heroic acts of many virtues. Seeing that the Child Jesus desired no footgear
and only one garment, She said to Him: "My Son and my Lord, thy Mother has
not the heart to allow Thee to go barefoot upon the ground at thy tender age;
permit me, my Love, to provide some kind of covering to protect them. I also
fear that the rough garment, which Thou askest of me, will wound thy tender
body, if thou permit no linen to be worn beneath." "My Mother, I will
permit a slight and ordinary covering for my feet until the time of my public
preaching shall come, for this I must do barefooted. But I do not wish to wear
linen, because it foments carnal pleasures, and is the cause of many vices in
men. I wish to teach many by my example to renounce it for love and imitation
of Me."
686. Immediately the great Queen set diligently about
fulfilling the will of her most holy Son. Procuring some wool in its natural
and uncolored state, She spun it very finely with her own hands and of it She
wove a garment of one piece and without any seam, similar to knitted stuff, or rather
like twilled cloth; for it was woven of twisted cords, not like smooth-woven
goods. She wove it upon a small 100m, by meshes, crocheting it of one seamless
piece in a mysterious manner (John 19, 23). Two things were wonderful about it:
that it was entirely even and uniform, without any seams, and that, at her
request, the natural color was changed to a more suitable one, which was a
mixture of brown and a most exquisite silver-gray, so that it could not be
called either, appearing to be neither altogether brown, nor silvery, nor gray,
but having a mixture of them all. She also wove a pair of sandals of strong
thread, like hempen shoes, with which She covered the feet of the infant God.
Besides these She made a half tunic of linen, which was to serve as an
undergarment. In the next chapter I shall telI what happened when She clothed
the Infant Jesus.
687. At this time occurred the anniversary of the
Incarnation and of the Nativity of the divine Word, both of them when they had
already settled in Egypt. The celestial Queen celebrated these feasts, so
joyous for the Mother of God, commencing a custom observed by Her during all
the rest of her life, as will be seen in the third part, which treats about the
mysteries happening later on. She began to prepare for the feast of the
Incarnation nine days before, in accordance with the nine days of preparation,
in which She had been visited with such admirable and magnificent graces. At
the anniversary of the Incarnation or Annunciation She invited all the angels of
heaven, together with those of her guard, to assist Her in the celebration of
those great mysteries and to help Her to acknowledge and give worthy thanks to
the Almighty. Prostrate before the Infant in the form of a cross, She besought
Him to praise in her stead the eternal Father and thank Him for the favors of
his right hand towards Her, and for the gift of his Onlybegotten Son to the
human race (John 3, 16). The same petition She made on the anniversary of her
divine parturition. On these days the heavenly Lady was regaled with many
graces and joys by the Most High; because He renewed the unbroken remembrance
and understanding of these exalted sacraments. As She had received intelligence
how much the eternal Father was pleased and obliged by this outward
manifestation of sorrow exhibited in her prostration in the form of a cross,
and by her mindfulness of the crucifixion of the Lamb of God, She practiced
this devotion on all the festivals, seeking to appease the divine justice and
soliciting mercy for the sinners. Inflamed with charity, She rose up and ended
her celebration with wonderful hymns, singing them alternately with the angels;
they formed a choir of celestial harmony, the holy angels intoning their songs,
and the blessed Lady answering them on her part in hymns more sweet to the ears
of God, and more acceptable than those of the most exalted seraphim and all the
heavenly choirs. For these were the echoes of his infinite virtues piercing to
the very throne and judgment seat of the eternal God.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY THE MISTRESS AND QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
688. My daughter, neither thyself nor all creatures
together can ever comprehend the spirit of poverty of my most holy Son, and
what He has taught me concerning it. But from what I have told thee thou canst
understand much of the excellence of this virtue, which its Author and Teacher
loved so much, and of the horror in which He holds the vice of covetousness.
The Creator cannot hate the beings which He has created; but He knows in his
wisdom the boundless damage caused in mortals by avarice and covetousness of
visible things; and that this insane love would pervert the greater part of the
human nature. His horror of this vice was in proportion to the number of
sinners and foredoomed ones, who are lost by the vice of avarice and cupidity.
689. In order to meet this evil and provide some
remedy against it, my most holy Son chose poverty, and taught it by word and by
example of his admirable abnegation. Thus would the Physician justify his cause
before men if they, for whom He prepared this means of safety and restoration,
would neglect to take advantage of it. This same doctrine I taught and
practiced during all my life, and upon it the Apostles founded the Church. Such
was also the teaching and practice of the Patriarchs and Saints, who
rejuvenated and confirmed religion in the Church; for all of them have loved
poverty, as the only and most efficacious means of holiness. They have abhorred
riches as the incentive to evil and the root of all vices (I Tim. 6, 10). This
poverty I wish thee to love and seek after with all diligence; for it is the
adornment of the spouses of my most holy Son, without which I assure thee, my
dearest, He will disavow and repudiate them as unworthy and far removed from
Him. For it is preposterous to see a bride overflowing in riches and bedecked
with jewels at the side of a poor and destitute bridegroom; nor can true love
exist with such inequality.
690. It is clear that though thou wish to imitate me
as a legitimate daughter, I, being myself poor, shall not recognize thee as my
daughter if thou art not one in reality, nor shall I ever permit that in thee
which I abhorred for myself. I remind thee also not to forget the blessings of
the Most High, which thou hast received in such abundance; for if thou art not
very attentive and solicitous in this duty, thou wilt be drawn into forgetfulness and gross rudeness by the bluntness and sluggishness inherent in the
human nature. Renew many times a day the memory of his blessings, always giving
thanks to the Lord with humble and loving affection. Especially memorable among
his benefits are that He has called thee, waited for thee, dissembled and
excused thy faults, and added thereto such oft repeated favors. This
remembrance will cause in thee sweet and strong movements of love; and thou
wilt find new grace and favor before the Lord, since He is so much pleased by a
faithful and thankful heart. On the other hand, He is much offended if his
kindnesses and blessings are not esteemed and appreciated; for, as He confers
them in the fullness of his love, He desires a dutiful, loyal and loving return
on the part of his creatures.
THE MOST HOLY MOTHER CLOTHES THE INFANT JESUS IN THE
SEAMLESS TUNIC; SHE PUTS SHOES ON HIS FEET. THE DOINGS AND OBSERVANCES OF THE
LORD.
691. In order to clothe the divine Infant in the small
tunic and put on his feet the sandals made by Her, the most prudent Lady cast
Herself on her knees before her sweetest Son and addressed Him in the following
words:
"Most high Lord, and Creator of heaven and earth,
I would wish to clothe Thee, if possible, in such a way as thy Divinity
deserves, and I would gladly have made these garments, which are to cover Thee,
from my heart blood; but I know that the poor and insignificant coverings I now
offer Thee are according to thy desires. Pardon me, my Lord and Master, my
faults and accept the loving affection of her, who is but dust and ashes: allow
me to clothe Thee." The Infant Jesus was pleased with the loving service
of his purest Mother; and thereupon She clothed and shod Him, setting Him upon
his feet. The tunic fitted Him perfectly, covering his feet without hindering
them in walking, and the sleeves extended to the middle of his hands, although
She had taken no measure beforehand. The collar was cut out round, without
being open in front, and was somewhat raised around the neck adjusting itself
to the throat. Through this opening the heavenly Mother passed it over the head
of the Infant; for the garment gracefully adjusted itself according to her
wishes. He never divested Himself of this tunic, until the executioners
themselves tore it off to scourge and afterwards to crucify Him; for this
garment continually grew with Him, adjusting itself to his body. The same happened
also with the sandals and with the undergarment, which the solicitous Mother
made for Him. None of all these articles of clothing wore away or became old in
the thirty-two years, nor did the tunic lose its color or its newness but
remained just as it had left the hands of the great Lady; nor did any of them
become soiled or filthy, but they preserved their first cleanliness. The
garment which the Redeemer of the world laid aside in order to wash the feet of
his Apostles. was a mantle or cape which He wore over his shoulders; and this
also had been made by the Virgin after they had returned to Nazareth. Like the
other clothing it grew with the Lord, was of the same color only a little
darker and was woven in the same way.
692. Thus the infant Lord of the eternities was placed
on his feet, after having since his birth been wrapped in swaddling-clothes and
held for most of the time in the arms of his most holy Mother (John 13. 4). He
was the most beautiful among the sons of men. The angels were astounded at the
humble and poor raiment chosen by Him who clothes the heavens in light and the
fields with beauty. He walked freely on his feet in the presence of his
parents; but before strangers this wonder remained for a time concealed. since
the Queen took Him in her arms when outsiders approached or whenever they went
abroad. Indescribable was the joy of the heavenly Lady and of saint Joseph as
they saw the Infant walking about and exhibit such rare beauty. He received
nourishment at the breast of his purest Mother until He was a year and a half
old and no longer. His meals thereupon were most frugal as well in quantity as
in quality. At first they consisted in broths mixed with oil, and some fruits
or fishes. While He was still in process of growth She gave Him to eat three
times a day, as often as She had formerly given Him her milk; in the morning,
afternoon and at night. The divine Child never asked for food; but the loving
Mother with thoughtful anxiety provided Him his meals at the proper time until
later on, when He was already grown up and would not consent to eat oftener or
at other hours than the heavenly Spouses themselves. This was his rule until He
reached adult age, of which I will speak later on. Whenever He took his meals
with his parents they always waited until He should pronounce the blessing at
the beginning and give thanks at the end.
693. From the time the Child Jesus was on his feet He
commenced to retire and spent certain hours of the day in the oratory of his
Mother. As the most prudent Mother was anxious to know his wishes in regard to
her intercourse with Him, the Lord responded to her mute appeal, saying:
"My Mother, enter and remain with Me always in order that thou mayest
imitate Me in my works; for I wish that in thee be modeled and exhibited the
high perfection which I desire to see accomplished in the souls. For if they
had not resisted my first intentions (I Tim. 2, 4), they would have been
endowed with my most abundant and copious gifts; but since the human race has
hindered this, I have chosen thee as the vessel of all perfection and of the
treasures of my right hand, which the rest of the creatures have abused and
lost. Observe me therefore in all my actions for the purpose of imitating
Me."
694. Thus the heavenly Lady was installed anew as the
Disciple of her most holy Son. Thenceforward passed such great and hidden
mysteries between these Two. that not until the day of eternity will they be
known. Many times the divine Child prostrated Himself on the ground, at others
He was raised from the ground in the form of a cross, earnestly praying to the
eternal Father for the salvation of mortals. In all this his most loving Mother
imitated Him. For to Her were manifest the interior operations of his most holy
soul, just as well as the exterior movements of his body. Of this knowledge of
most pure Mary I have spoken in other parts of this history and it is necessary
to point it out often, because this was the source of the light which guided
Her in her holy life. It was such a singular blessing, that all creatures
together will not be able to understand or describe it by their united powers.
The great Lady did not always enjoy visions of the Divinity; but always the
sight of the most holy humanity and soul of her Son with all their activities.
In a special manner She was witness of the effects of the hypostatic and
beatific union of the humanity with the Divinity. Although She did not always
see this glory and this union substantially; yet She perceived the interior
acts by which his humanity reverenced, loved and magnified the Divinity to
which it was united; and this privilege was reserved solely to most holy Mary.
695. On these occasions it often happened that the
Child Jesus in the presence of his most holy Mother wept and perspired blood,
for this happened many times before his agony in the garden. Then the blessed
Lady would wipe his face interiorly perceiving and knowing the cause of this
agony, namely the loss of the foreknown and of those who would be ungrateful
for the benefits of their Creator and Redeemer and in whom the works of the
infinite power and goodness of the Lord would be wasted. At other times the
blessed Mother would find Him refulgent with heavenly light and surrounded by
angels that sang sweet hymns of praise; and She was made aware, that the
heavenly Father was pleased in his beloved and Onlybegotten Son (Matth. 17, 5).
All these wonders commenced from the time when at the age of one year He began
to walk, witnessed only by his most holy Mother, whose heart was to be the
treasure-house of his wonders. The works of love, praise and worshipful
gratitude, his petitions for the human race, all exceed my ability to describe.
I must refer the understanding of it to the faith and piety of the Christians.
696. The Child Jesus grew in the admiration and esteem
of all that came to know Him. Having reached the age of six years He began now
and then to visit the sick in the hospitals, seeking out the stricken ones and
mysteriously comforting and consoling them in their afflictions. Many of the
inhabitants of Heliopolis began to know Him; the secret attractions of his
Divinity and sanctity drew toward Him the hearts of all, and many offered Him
gifts. These, according to the promptings of his interior knowledge, He refused
or accepted for distribution among the poor. The admiration caused by his wise
counsels and his modest and considerate behavior, caused many to extol and
congratulate the parents on such a Son. Although all of them were ignorant of
the mysteries and of the dignity of the Son and the Mother; yet the Lord of
creation, being desirous of honoring his Mother, permitted them to reverence
Her as far as was possible under the circumstances, without their learning the
special reason for doing so.
697. Many of the children of Heliopolis gathered
around the Child Jesus, as it is natural with children of similar age and
condition. Since they were free from great malice and were not given to
inquire, whether He was more than man, but freely admitted the heavenly light,
the Master of truth welcomed them as far as was befitting. He instilled into
them the knowledge of God and of the virtues; He taught and catechized them in
the way of eternal life, even more abundantly than the adults. As his words
were full of life and strength, He won their hearts and impressed his truths so
deeply upon them, that all those, who had this good fortune, afterwards became
great and saintly men; for in the course of time they ripened in themselves the
fruit of this heavenly seed sown so early into their souls.
698. The blessed Mother was well-informed of all these
happenings. Whenever her most holy Son returned from these errands, in which He
had fulfilled the will of his eternal Father by looking after his flock, the
Queen and the angels prostrated themselves before her divine Son and gave Him
thanks for the benefits done to those innocents, who did not yet know Him for
their true God, and She kissed his feet as those of the Highpriest of heaven
and earth (Heb. 4, 1). This She also did whenever the Child was about to go
forth; on such occasions He would raise Her up from the earth in filial
reverence and Jove. The Mother also asked for his blessing upon all her
undertakings; and She never lost an occasion for practicing virtue with all the
intensity of her love and divine grace. Never was any grace in Her without its
fruit, but it operated in all its plenitude and increased in operation. The
great Lady sought new means and ways of humiliating Herself, adoring the
incarnate Word by her genuflections and prostrations and other most loving and
profound ceremonies as outward tokens of her prudence and holiness. This She
attended to with such wisdom, that She excited the admiration of the angels
themselves, who, interchanging among themselves the praises of the Divinity,
said to each other: "Who is that
pure Creature, so full of delight to our Creator and her Son? (Cant. 1, 2). Who
is this One, that so wisely and attentively honors and reverences the Most
High, far exceeding us all in her loving alertness and attention?"
699. In his intercourse and conversation with his
parents, this most wonderful and beautiful Child, after He had begun to walk
and grow larger, showed more gravity than when He was younger. The tender
caresses, which always had been tempered and measured, were now withheld, for
in his countenance shone forth such majesty as a reflection of his hidden
Deity, that, if He had not mixed it with a certain sweetness and affability,
reverential fear would have prevented all intercourse with Him. The heavenly
Mother and saint Joseph felt the effects of a divine power and efficacy, as
well as the kindness and devotedness of a loving Father, proceeding from his
countenance. Joined with this majesty and magnificence was his filial affection
toward his heavenly Mother, while on the other hand He treated saint Joseph as
one, who had as well the name as the duties of a father toward Him; and
therefore He obeyed them both as a most devoted Son obeys his parents. In his
whole behavior the incarnate Word practiced the virtues of obedience, humility
and human kindness with such an admirable mixture of majesty and gravity, that
his divine wisdom shone forth in all his actions and that none of his grandeur
was impaired by triviality or smallness. The heavenly Queen was most attentive
to all these mysteries and She alone, as far as a mere creature could,
comprehended befittingly the work of her most holy Son and understood the ways
of his infinite wisdom. I would attempt the impossible to try to describe in
human words the effects of all his doings on her most pure and prudent soul, or
how closely She imitated his ineffable sanctity. The souls which were converted
and saved in Heliopolis and in all Egypt, the sick that were cured, and the
wonders wrought during their seven years' stay in that country, cannot be
enumerated: such a blessed crime did the cruelty of Herod turn out to be for
Egypt. The goodness and wisdom of God draws from the very wickedness and evils
of sin the greatest good. If in one direction men cast away his mercies and
shut them out, He calls upon them in other directions to open their hearts and
admit his blessings (Job 34, 24). His ardent desires to benefit the human race
cannot be quenched by the floods of our sins and ingratitudes.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO ME BY THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST
HOLY MARY.
700. My daughter, from the very beginning of this
history of my life thou wast made to understand, that among other purposes, the
Lord wished to call the attention of mortals to the debt contracted by their
unfeeling forgetfulness of his divine love and of mine toward them. It is true
that all his love is included and made manifest in his having died on the Cross
for them, for this was the extremity of his immense charity (John 3, 16). But
many ungrateful men are loath to remember even this blessing. For such and for
all others the knowledge of what He did for them during the thirty-three years
should be a new incentive and spur of love; since each of his acts was worth an
infinite price and merited our eternal gratitude. The Almighty set me as a
witness to all of them: and I assure thee, that from the first instant of his
conception in my womb, He ceased not to clamor to the Father for the salvation
of men. From that moment He began to embrace the Cross (Heb. 10, 5), not only
in desire, but also as far as was possible in effect, placing Himself in the
position of one crucified from his infancy and continuing these exercises
during his whole life. I also imitated Him in this, joining Him in his prayers
and labors for mankind and in the very first acts of his most sacred humanity
by which He rendered thanks for the salvation of men.
701. Let therefore mortals beware, lest I, who was a
Witness and Co-operatrix of this salvation, be not also a Witness and Co-operatrix
in the day of judgment, proclaiming how well justified is the cause of God with
men. If on that day I most justly refuse my intercession to those, who have
foolishly despised and forgotten so many and so great favors and blessings, the
results of the divine love of my Son and my own: what answer, what excuse or
evasion shall those then bring forward, who have been so well informed, so much
admonished and enlightened by the truth? How can these ungrateful and
pertinacious mortals expect mercy of the most just and righteous God, when He
has given them sufficient and opportune time, invited them so often, called
them, waited and worked for them, and conferred upon them immense blessings,
while they abused and wasted all of them in the pursuit of vanity? Fear, my
daughter, this, the greatest of all blindnesses. Refresh ever the memory of the
most holy works of my Son and of me, and imitate them with all thy fervor.
Continue the exercises of the cross under the guidance of obedience, in order
to keep thyself mindful of what thou must imitate and give thanks for. Take
notice at the same time, that my Son and Lord could have redeemed the human
race without suffering so much and that He wished to increase his sufferings
only on account of the immensity of his love for souls. The return for such
condescension should be, that the creature content not itself with little, as
is ordinarily the case with ignorant men. Add thou virtue to virtue and seek
thereby evermore to meet all thy obligations, imitating the Lord and me in our
labors for the salvation of the world. All thy merits offer up for souls,
uniting them with his merits in the presence of the eternal Father.
JESUS. MARY AND JOSEPH RETURN TO NAZARETH AT THE
COMMAND OF THE LORD.
702. The Child Jesus reached the end of his seventh
year while in Egypt, which was also the term set by the eternal Wisdom for his
mysterious sojourn in that land. In order that the prophecies might be
fulfilled, it was necessary that He return to Nazareth. This decree the eternal
Father intimated to his most holy Son on a certain day in the presence of his
holy Mother and while She was with Him in prayer. She saw it mirrored in his
deified soul and She saw how He submitted to it in obedience to the Father.
Therein the great Lady joined Him, although they had already become better
acquainted and habituated to their present abode than to their own native city
of Nazareth. Neither the Mother nor the Son made known to saint Joseph this new
decree of heaven. But in that very night the angel of the Lord spoke to him in
his sleep, as Matthew relates (Matth. 2, 19), and bade him take the Child and
its Mother and return to the land of Israel; for Herod and those who with him
had sought the life of the Child, were dead. So much value does the Almighty
set on the proper order in created things, that, though Jesus was the true God
and his Mother so highly exalted above saint Joseph in sanctity, He did not
permit the arrangements of this journey to proceed from his Son nor from his
Mother, but from saint Joseph, who was the head of this Family. God intended to
teach all mortals, that He wishes all things to be governed by the natural
order set up by his Providence; and that the inferiors and subjects of the
mystical body of the Church, even though they may excel in virtue and in
certain other respects, must obey and submit to their superiors and prelates in
the visible order.
703. Saint Joseph immediately notified the Child Jesus
and his Mother of the command of the Lord; and both of them answered, that the
will of the heavenly Father must be done. Thereupon they resolved upon their
journey without delay, immediately distributing among the poor the little
furniture contained in their dwelling. This was done by the hands of the divine
Child; for the heavenly Mother often consigned into his hands what She had
destined as alms to the poor, knowing that the Child, as the God of mercy,
loved to exercise it with his own hands (Matth. 25, 40). When She gave Him
these alms the most holy Mother falling on her knees, said: "Take, my Son
and Lord, whatever Thou desirest, in order to share it with the poor, our
friends and brothers." The blessed dwelling, which had been sanctified and
consecrated for seven years by the presence of the Highpriest Jesus, was left
in the possession of certain of the most devout and pious persons in
Heliopolis. Their virtue and holiness had gained them a favor which they could
not now fully estimate; although, on account of what they had seen and
experienced, they counted themselves indeed fortunate to occupy the same house,
in which these Strangers had lived for seven years. This affectionate devotion
was rewarded by abundant light and grace for their eternal salvation.
704. They departed for Palestine in the company of
angels as on their way thence. The great Queen sat on the ass with the divine
Child on her lap and saint Joseph walked afoot, closely following the Son and
Mother. On account of the loss of such great Benefactors their acquaintances
and friends were very sorrowful at the news of their departure; with incredible
weeping and sighing they saw Them leave, knowing and loudly complaining, that
they were now losing all their consolation and refuge in their necessities. If
the divine power had not interfered, the holy Family would have found great
difficulty in leaving Heliopolis; for its inhabitants began to feel the night
of their miseries secretly setting upon their hearts at the parting of the Sun,
which had dispersed and brightened its darkness (John 1, 9). In traversing the
inhabited country they passed through some towns of Egypt, where They scattered
their graces and blessings. The news of their passage spreading about, all the
sick, the afflicted and disconsolate gathered to seek Them out, and they found
themselves relieved in body and soul. Many of the sick were cured, many demons
were expelled without their knowing who it was that thus hurled them back to
hell. Yet they felt the divine power, which compelled them and wrought such
blessings among men.
705. I will not tarry to relate the particular events
of this journey of the Child Jesus and his most blessed Mother out of Egypt;
for it is not necessary, nor could it be done without extending this history
too much. It will suffice to say that all who came to Them with greater or less
devotion, left their presence enlightened with truth, assisted by grace and
wounded with the love of God. They felt a secret force, which urged and
compelled them to the pursuit of virtue and, while withdrawing them from the
paths of death, showed them the way of eternal life. They came to the Son,
drawn to Him by the Father, and they turned to the Father, sent there by the
divine light of Christ's truth, which enkindled their souls with the knowledge
of the true God (John 6, 44). Nevertheless He concealed Himself, since it was
not yet time to reveal Himself openly. But the fire, which He had come to
enkindle and spread in this world, secretly and incessantly produced its divine
effects among men.
706. Having thus fulfilled the mysteries decreed by
the divine will and issuing from the inhabited regions of this country, which
They had signalized by their miracles, our heavenly Pilgrims entered the desert
through which They had come. In it They again suffered labors and difficulties
similar to those of their flight from Palestine; for the Lord continued to
permit hardships and tribulation in order to afford Them occasion of merit and
provide a proper relief. He administered to these necessities by the hands of
the angels as in the first journey, or sometimes the Child Jesus himself
commanded them to provide sustenance. Very often saint Joseph, in order that he
might become more sensible of the divine favor, was permitted to hear these
commands and saw how these spirits obeyed and readily procured what was wanted.
This greatly encouraged and consoled the holy Patriarch in his sorrow and
anxiety for the King and Queen of heaven. At other times the divine Child made
use of his Omnipotence and created all that was necessary to supply their wants
out of a crumb of bread. The rest of the journey was similar to the journey
described before in chapter the twenty-second; therefore I do not think it
necessary to repeat the description. When, however, They arrived at the
confines of Palestine the anxious husband was informed, that Archelaus had
succeeded Herod his father in the government of Judea (Matth. 2, 22). Fearing
that with the sovereignty he had inherited also his cruelty, saint Joseph
turned from his route without going to Jerusalem or entering Judea and passed
through the land of the tribe of Dan and Issachar below Galilee, following the
coast of the Mediterranean sea and passing Jerusalem to his right.
707. They reached Nazareth, their home, for the Child
was to be called a Nazarene. They found their former humble house in charge of
the devout cousin of saint Joseph, who, as I have mentioned in the twelfth
chapter of the third book, had offered to serve him while our Queen was absent
in the house of Elisabeth. Before They had left Judea for Egypt, saint Joseph
had written to this woman, asking her to take care of the house and what it
contained. They found it all in good condition and his cousin received Them
with great joy on account of her love for the great Queen, though at the same
time she did not know of her dignity. The heavenly Lady entered with her Son
and saint Joseph, and immediately She prostrated Herself in adoration of the
Lord and in thanksgiving for having led Them, safe from the cruelty of Herod,
to this retreat, and preserved Them in the dangers of their banishment and
their long and arduous journeys. Above all did She Tender thanks for having
returned in company with her Son, now grown both in years and in grace and
virtue (Luke 2, 40).
708. Taking counsel with her divine Child She
proceeded to set up a rule of life and regulate her pious practices; not that
She had failed to observe a rule of life on her journey; for the most prudent
Lady, in imitation of her Son, had always observed the most perfect order
according to circumstances. But being now peacefully settled in her home She
wished to include many exercises, which on the journey were impossible. Her
greatest solicitude was always to co-operate with her most holy Son for the
salvation of souls which was the work most urgently enjoined upon Her by the
eternal Father. Toward this most high end our Queen directed all her practices
in union with the Redeemer, and this was their constant occupation, as we shall
see in the course of this second part. The holy Joseph also ordered his
occupations and his work so as most worthily to earn sustenance for the divine
Child and his Mother as well as for himself. That which in other sons of Adam
is considered a punishment and a hardship was to this holy Patriarch a great
happiness. For while others were condemned to sustain their natural life by the
labor of their hands in the sweat of their brows, saint Joseph was blessed and
consoled beyond measure to know, that he had been chosen by his labor and sweat
to support God himself and his Mother, to whom belonged heaven and earth and
all that they contain (Esther 13, 10).
709. The Queen of the angels herself undertook to pay
the debt of gratitude due to saint Joseph for his labors and solicitude.
Accordingly She provided his meals and attended to his comforts with incredible
care and most loving gratitude. She was obedient to him in all things and
humbled Herself before him as if She were his handmaid and not his spouse, or,
what is more, not the Mother of the Creator and Lord of all. She accounted
Herself unworthy of existence and of being suffered to walk upon the earth; for
She thought it just, that She should be in want of all things. In the
consciousness of having been created out of nothing and therefore unable to
make any return for either this benefit or, according to her estimation, for
any of the otters, She established in Herself such a rare humility, that She
thought Herself less than the dust and unworthy to mingle with it. For the
least favor She gave admirable thanks to the Lord, as to the first cause and
origin of them all, and to creatures as to the instruments of his bounty. To
some She gave thanks because they conferred favors upon Her, to others because
they had denied them; and to others again because they bore with Her in patience.
She acknowledged Herself as indebted to all of them, though She filled them
with the blessings of sweetness and placed Herself at the feet of all, seeking
ingenious means and artifices to let no instant and no occasion pass for
practicing the most perfect and exalted virtues to the admiration of the angels
and the pleasure and the delight of the Most High.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN GAVE ME.
710. My daughter, while journeying at the command of
the Lord from one country to another and during the works enjoined upon me, my
heart was never troubled nor my spirit cast down; for I always held myself
prepared to fulfill entirely the will of God. Although the Lord made known to
Me his high ends, yet this was not always done at the beginning, thus permitting
me to endure so much the greater sufferings; for in obeying the Lord no further
reason is necessary than that the Lord Creator so commands and disposes. The
souls must accustom themselves to look for this motive alone and to learn
solely to please the Lord, without distinguishing between fortunate or
unfortunate events and without looking to their own inclinations. In this kind
of wisdom I wish that thou advance. In imitation of me and to satisfy thy
obligations toward my most holy Son, do thou receive prosperity or adversity in
this mortal life with unmoved countenance and with equanimity and peace of
mind. Let not the one grieve, nor the other vainly rejoice thee; but attend
only to all that which the Almighty ordains according to his pleasure. 711. Human life is interwoven thus variously with both kinds of events; some of them according, others contrary to the likings of mortals; some which they abhor, others which they desire. As the human heart is limited and narrow it immoderately inclines to extremes, boundlessly desiring what it loves and likes, and, on the other hand, grieving and sorrowing at what it abhors and dislikes. These changeful moods and fluctuations create danger for all or many virtues. The disorderly love for one creature which it cannot attain, moves the soul presently to desire another, expecting a balm for its disappointment in the former. And if it is successful, the soul becomes involved and flurried in the desire of retaining what it possesses, thus casting itself by these velleities into still greater disorders and passions. Attend, therefore, dearest, to this danger and attack it at the root by preserving thy heart independent and riveted only on the divine Providence, without ever allowing it to incline toward what it desires or longs for, or to abhor what is painful to it. Let the will of the Lord be thy only delight and joy. Let neither thy desires draw thee on, nor thy fears dishearten thee. Let not thy exterior occupations, and much Jess thy regard or attention to creatures, ever impede thee or divert thee from thy holy exercises, attending always to my example. Seek thou lovingly and diligently to follow in my footsteps. |