Second Sanctification of Mary
Jan 3, 2017 8:09:06 GMT -5
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Post by Marya Dabrowski on Jan 3, 2017 8:09:06 GMT -5
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The second sanctification of Mary lasted nine months, from the Annunciation to the birth of Our Lord in the manger at Bethlehem. His intimate and prolonged union with His mother worked miracles of grace in her that were more indescribable than the previous ones! How could it have been otherwise?
We know from the Gospels that Our Lord's presence has a sovereign efficacy. A supernatural virtue emanated from His person which both healed the sick and transformed hearts. “And all the multiple sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed all.”
A poor woman who had been sick for many years said to herself: “If I shall touch only His garment, I shall be healed.” Carefully she slipped through the crowd surrounding Jesus. When she finally reached Him, she silently and discreetly touched the hem of His cloak with her hand. She was immediately healed.
The sinner Mary Magdalene prostrated herself at the Savior's feet, covering them with her kisses and bathing them with her tears. Through this divine contact, the flood of her iniquities was overwhelmed by the even greater flood of His diving mercy.
Yet, the power of Our Lord's presence did not affect everyone equally. Many who knew Him on this earth did not allow grace to touch their hardened hearts, nor did they recognize the Master. They were devoid of faith. The healing power of Our Lord's divine presence acted upon others according to the degree of their faith.
How completely did Our Lord's presence affect the soul of Our Lady! Her beautiful conscience presented no obstacle to the work of His mysterious action. Indeed, the heart of the Virgin remained pure and spotless. Her faith was unfailing, her confidence unshakable, and her love seemed boundless. During the nine months of her pregnancy an ocean of grace flooded her.
To work the salvation of your soul, Jesus wishes to enter your heart. In the Holy Eucharist, He communicates His infinite life to increase the action of sanctifying grace within you. He thus causes His rays to shine in your heart, allowing supernatural virtues to blossom. He brings you His precious blood so that this beneficial dew quench the fire of concupiscence in your body. The Eucharist is the bread of angels and the wine that engenders virgins.
The Real Presence of the Savior in this sacrament is just as efficacious as His visible presence on earth. Jesus lost none of His power or love by ascending into Heaven. Why then do you draw such scant fruit from your Communions? It is because you present obstacles to His divine action!
“What obstacles?” you might ask. You are too faithful to receive Holy Communion poorly disposed. Likewise, it is not sin which prevents the sacramental action of divine grace from taking place in you. No, the obstacle is a lack of trust. You simply do not sufficiently esteem the indescribable visit of the Body and Blood of Our Savior. You do not pray to Our Lord with the burning faith and holy expectation that conquers Our Lord's heart. In those precious moments of actual grace, present to Him the litany of your woes. Mention them all without forgetting a single one. Say to Him: “I believe firmly that from this heap of dung Thou dost transform my heart. Day and night will I cry out to Thee until Thou dost accomplish this miracle of love.”
Without doubt, He will tell you what He told others during His ministry; “As you have believed, so be it done to thee.” If your trust is small, you will obtain little; if it is great, you will obtain much.
Perhaps your faith is asleep. Perhaps you are gripped by secret anxieties. Ask the Blessed Virgin to inspire you with an unshakable trust in Jesus truly present in the Eucharist. Ask her for this favor in the name of her maternal love and the name of the final words of her agonizing Son to her on the Cross. Whatever your weakness or pain, surrender them with closed eyes to God Who loves you to the point of concealing Himself for you under the veil of the Host.
---From the book The Virgin Mary by Father Raymond de Thomas de Saint-Laurent
The second sanctification of Mary lasted nine months, from the Annunciation to the birth of Our Lord in the manger at Bethlehem. His intimate and prolonged union with His mother worked miracles of grace in her that were more indescribable than the previous ones! How could it have been otherwise?
We know from the Gospels that Our Lord's presence has a sovereign efficacy. A supernatural virtue emanated from His person which both healed the sick and transformed hearts. “And all the multiple sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed all.”
A poor woman who had been sick for many years said to herself: “If I shall touch only His garment, I shall be healed.” Carefully she slipped through the crowd surrounding Jesus. When she finally reached Him, she silently and discreetly touched the hem of His cloak with her hand. She was immediately healed.
The sinner Mary Magdalene prostrated herself at the Savior's feet, covering them with her kisses and bathing them with her tears. Through this divine contact, the flood of her iniquities was overwhelmed by the even greater flood of His diving mercy.
Yet, the power of Our Lord's presence did not affect everyone equally. Many who knew Him on this earth did not allow grace to touch their hardened hearts, nor did they recognize the Master. They were devoid of faith. The healing power of Our Lord's divine presence acted upon others according to the degree of their faith.
How completely did Our Lord's presence affect the soul of Our Lady! Her beautiful conscience presented no obstacle to the work of His mysterious action. Indeed, the heart of the Virgin remained pure and spotless. Her faith was unfailing, her confidence unshakable, and her love seemed boundless. During the nine months of her pregnancy an ocean of grace flooded her.
To work the salvation of your soul, Jesus wishes to enter your heart. In the Holy Eucharist, He communicates His infinite life to increase the action of sanctifying grace within you. He thus causes His rays to shine in your heart, allowing supernatural virtues to blossom. He brings you His precious blood so that this beneficial dew quench the fire of concupiscence in your body. The Eucharist is the bread of angels and the wine that engenders virgins.
The Real Presence of the Savior in this sacrament is just as efficacious as His visible presence on earth. Jesus lost none of His power or love by ascending into Heaven. Why then do you draw such scant fruit from your Communions? It is because you present obstacles to His divine action!
“What obstacles?” you might ask. You are too faithful to receive Holy Communion poorly disposed. Likewise, it is not sin which prevents the sacramental action of divine grace from taking place in you. No, the obstacle is a lack of trust. You simply do not sufficiently esteem the indescribable visit of the Body and Blood of Our Savior. You do not pray to Our Lord with the burning faith and holy expectation that conquers Our Lord's heart. In those precious moments of actual grace, present to Him the litany of your woes. Mention them all without forgetting a single one. Say to Him: “I believe firmly that from this heap of dung Thou dost transform my heart. Day and night will I cry out to Thee until Thou dost accomplish this miracle of love.”
Without doubt, He will tell you what He told others during His ministry; “As you have believed, so be it done to thee.” If your trust is small, you will obtain little; if it is great, you will obtain much.
Perhaps your faith is asleep. Perhaps you are gripped by secret anxieties. Ask the Blessed Virgin to inspire you with an unshakable trust in Jesus truly present in the Eucharist. Ask her for this favor in the name of her maternal love and the name of the final words of her agonizing Son to her on the Cross. Whatever your weakness or pain, surrender them with closed eyes to God Who loves you to the point of concealing Himself for you under the veil of the Host.
---From the book The Virgin Mary by Father Raymond de Thomas de Saint-Laurent