The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Discourse VIII

Second Discourse on the Assumption

It would seem right that on this day of the Assumption of Mary to Heaven, the holy Church should rather invite us to mourn than to rejoice, since our sweet Mother has quitted this world and left us deprived of her sweet presence, as Saint Bernard says: "It seems that we should rather weep than rejoice". But no, the holy Church invites us to rejoice: "Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary". And justly, for, if we love our Mother, we ought to congratulate ourselves more upon her glory than on our own private consolation. What son does not rejoice, though on account of it he has to be separated from his mother, if he knows that she is going to take possession of a kingdom? Mary, on this day, is crowned Queen of Heaven; and shall we not keep it a festival and rejoice if we truly love her? "Let us rejoice then, let us all rejoice". And that we may rejoice, and be consoled the more by her exaltation, let us consider, first, how glorious was the triumph of Mary when she ascended to Heaven; and secondly, how glorious was the throne to which she was there exalted.

First Point:  How glorious was the Triumph of Mary when she ascended to Heaven

After Jesus Christ, Our Savior had completed, by His death, the work of redemption, the angels ardently desired to possess Him in their heavenly country; hence they were continually supplicating Him in the words of David: "Arise, O Lord, into Thy resting place: Thou and the ark, which Thou hast sanctified" - Psalm 131:8. Come O Lord, come quickly, now that Thou hast redeemed men; come to Thy kingdom and dwell with us, and bring with Thee the living ark of Thy Mother, who was the ark which Thou didst sanctify by dwelling in her womb. Precisely thus does Saint Bernardine make the angels say: "Let Thy most holy Mother Mary, sanctified by Thy conception, also ascend". Our Lord was, therefore, at length pleased to satisfy the desire of these heavenly citizens by calling Mary to Paradise. But if it was His will that the ark of the old dispensation should be brought with great pomp into the city of David, "And David and all the house of Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet" - 2Kings 6:15; how much greater and more glorious pomp did He ordain that His Mother should enter Heaven!

The Prophet Elias was carried to Heaven in a fiery chariot, which according to interpreters, was no other than a group of angels who bore him off from the Earth. "But, to conduct thee to Heaven, O Mother of God", says the Abbot Rupert, "a fiery chariot was not enough; the whole court of Heaven, headed by its King thy Son, went forth to meet and accompany thee".

Saint Bernardine of Siena is of the same opinion. He says that, "Jesus", to honor the triumph of His most sweet Mother, "went forth in His Glory to meet and accompany her". Saint Anselm also says, "that it was precisely for this purpose that the Redeemer was pleased to ascend to Heaven before His Mother; that is, He did so not only to prepare a throne for her in that kingdom, but also that He might Himself accompany her with all the blessed spirits, and thus render her entry into Heaven more glorious and such as become one who was His Mother". Hence Saint Peter Damian, contemplating the splendor of this Assumption of Mary into Heaven, says, "that we shall find it more glorious than the Ascension of Jesus Christ; for, to meet the Redeemer, angels only went forth; but when the Blessed Virgin was assumed to glory, she was met and accompanied by the Lord Himself of glory, and by the whole blessed company of saints and angels". For this reason the Abbot Guarric supposes the Divine Word thus speaking: "To honor the Father, I descended from Heaven; to honor My Mother, I re-ascended there"; that thus I might be enabled to go forth to meet her, and Myself accompany her to Paradise.

Let us now consider how Our Savior went forth from Heaven to meet His Mother. On first meeting her, He said: "Arise, make haste, My love, My dove, My beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone" - Canticles 2:10,11. Come My own dear Mother, My pure and beautiful dove; leave that valley of tears, in which, for My love, thou hast suffered so much. "Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come; thou shalt be crowned". Come in soul and body, to enjoy the recompense of thy holy life. If thy sufferings have been great on Earth, far greater is the glory which I have prepared for thee in Heaven. Enter then that kingdom, and take thy seat near Me; come to receive the crown which I will bestow upon thee as Queen of the Universe. Behold, Mary already leaves the Earth, at which she looks with affection and compassion; with affection, remembering the many graces she had there received from her Lord; and with affection and compassion, because in it she leaves so many poor children surrounded with miseries and dangers. But see, Jesus offers her His hand , and the blessed Mother already ascends; already she has passed beyond the clouds, beyond the spheres. Behold her already at the gates of Heaven. When monarchs make their solemn entry into their kingdoms, they do not pass through the gates of the capital, for they are removed to make way for them on this occasion. Hence, when Jesus Christ entered Paradise, the angels cried out: "Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates; and the King of Glory shall enter in" - Psalm 23:8.

Behold, Mary already enters that blessed country. But on her entrance the celestial spirits, seeing her so beautiful and glorious, ask the angels without, as Origen supposes it, with united voices of exultation, "Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her Beloved?" - Canticles 8:5. And who can this creature so beautiful be, that comes from the desert of the Earth; a place of thorns and tribulations? But this one comes pure and rich in virtue, leaning on her beloved Lord, Who is graciously pleased Himself to accompany her with so great honor. Who is she? The angels accompanying her answer: "She is the Mother of our King; she is our Queen, and the blessed one among women; full of grace, the Saint of saints, the beloved of God, the immaculate one, the dove, the fairest of all creatures". Then all the blessed spirits begin to bless her and praise her; singing with far more reason than the Hebrews did to Judith: "Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people" - Judith 15:10. Ah, our Lady and our Queen, thou then art the glory of Paradise, the joy of our country, thou art the honor of us all; be thou ever welcome, be thou ever blessed! Behold thy kingdom; behold us also, who are thy servants, ever ready to obey thy commands.

All the Saints who were in Paradise then came to welcome her and salute her as their Queen. All the holy virgins came: "The daughters saw her, and declared her most blessed; . . . .  and they praised her" - Canticles 6:8. "We", they said, "O most blessed Lady, are also queens in this kingdom, but thou art our Queen; for thou wast the first to give us the great example of consecrating our virginity to God; we all bless and thank thee for it". Then came the holy confessors to salute her as their Mistress; who, by her holy life, had taught them so many virtues. The holy martyrs also came to salute her as their Queen; for she, by her great constancy in the sorrows of her Son's Passion, had taught them, and also by her merits had obtained them strength, to lay down their lives for the Faith. Saint James, the only one of the Apostles who was yet in Heaven, also came to thank her in the name of all the other Apostles for all the comfort and help she had afforded them while she was on Earth. The Prophets next came to salute her, and said: "Ah Lady, thou wast the one foreshadowed in our prophecies". The holy Patriarchs then came, and said: "O Mary, it is thou who wast our hope; for thee it was that we sighed with much ardor and for so long a time". But amongst these latter came our first parents, Adam and Eve, to thank her with still greater affection. "Ah, beloved Daughter", they said, "thou hast repaired the injury which we inflicted on the human race; thou hast obtained for the world that blessing which we lost by our crime; by thee we are saved, and for it be ever blessed".

Saint Simeon then came to kiss her feet, and with joy reminded her of the day when he received the infant Jesus from her hands. Saint Zachary and Saint Elizabeth also came, and thanked her for that loving visit which, with great humility and charity, she had paid them in their dwelling, and by which they had received such treasures of grace. Saint John the Baptist came with still greater affection to thank her for having sanctified him by her voice. But how must her holy parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, have spoken when they came to salute her? O God, with what tenderness must they have blessed her, saying: "Ah, beloved daughter, what a favor it was for us to have such a child! Be thou now our Queen; for thou art the Mother of our God, and as such we salute and adore thee". But who can ever form an idea of the affection with which her dear spouse, Saint Joseph, came to salute her? Who can ever describe the joy which the holy patriarch felt at seeing his spouse so triumphantly enter Heaven and made Queen of Paradise? With what tenderness must he have addressed her: "Ah, my Lady and Spouse, how can I ever thank our God as I ought, for having made me thy spouse, thou who art His true Mother! Through thee I merited to assist on Earth the childhood of the Eternal Word, to carry Him so often in my arms, and to receive so many special graces. Ever blessed be those moments which I spent in life in serving Jesus and thee, my holy Spouse. Behold our Jesus! let us rejoice that now He no longer lies on straw in a manger, as we saw Him at His birth in Bethlehem. He no longer lives poor and despised in a shop, as He once lived with us in Nazareth; He is no longer nail to an infamous gibbet, as when He died in Jerusalem for the salvation of the world; but He is seated at the right hand of His Father, as King and Lord of Heaven and Earth. And now, O my Queen, we shall never more be separated from His feet; we shall there bless Him and love Him for all eternity".

All the angels then came to salute her; and she, the great Queen, thanked all for the assistance they had given her on Earth, and more especially she thanked the archangel Gabriel, who was the happy ambassador, the bearer of all her glories, when he came to announce to her that she was the chosen Mother of God. The humble and holy Virgin, then kneeling, adored the Divine Majesty, and all absorbed in the consciousness of her own nothingness, thanked Him for all the graces bestowed upon her by His pure goodness, and especially for having made her the Mother of the Eternal Word. And then, let him who can, comprehend with what love the Most Holy Trinity blessed her. Let him comprehend the welcome given to His Daughter by the Eternal Father, to His Mother by the Son, to His Spouse by the Holy Ghost. The Father crowned her by imparting His power to her; the Son, His wisdom; the Holy Ghost, His love. And the three Divine Persons, placing her throne at the right of that of Jesus, declared her Sovereign of Heaven and Earth; and commanded the Angels and all creatures to acknowledge her as their Queen, and as such to serve and obey her. Let us now consider how exalted was the throne to which Mary was raised in Heaven!

 

Second Point:  How exalted was the Throne to which she was elevated in Heaven.

"If the mind of man", says Saint Bernard, "can never comprehend the immense glory prepared in Heaven by God for those who on Earth have loved Him, as the Apostle tells us, who can ever comprehend the glory He has prepared for His beloved Mother, who, more than all men, loved Him on Earth; nay, even from the very first moment of her creation, loved Him more than all men and Angels united"? Rightly then, does the Church sing, that Mary having loved God more than all the Angels, "the Mother of God has been exalted above them all in the heavenly kingdom". Yes, "she was exalted ", says the Abbot Guarric, "above the angels, so that she sees none above her but her Son", Who is the only only-begotten of the Father.

Hence it is that the learned Gerson asserts that, as all the orders of Angels and Saints are divided into three hierarchies (according to the Angelic Doctor and Saint Denis), so does Mary of herself constitute a hierarchy apart, the sublimest of all, and next to that of God. And as, adds Saint Antoninus, the mistress is, without comparison, above her servants, so is "Mary, who is the sovereign Lady of the Angels, exalted incomparably above the angelic hierarchies". To understand this, we need only know what David said: "The Queen stood on Thy right hand" - Psalm 44:10. And in a sermon by an ancient author, among the works of Saint Athanasius, these words are explained as meaning that "Mary is placed at the right hand of God".

It is certain, as Saint Ildephonsus says, that Mary's good works incomparably surpassed in merit those of all the saints, and therefore her reward must have surpassed theirs in the same proportion; for, "as that which she bore was incomprehensible, so is the reward which she merited and received incomprehensibly greater than that of all the saints". And since it is certain that God rewards according to merit, as the Apostle writes, "Who will render to every man according to his works" - Romans 2:6, it is also certain, as Saint Thomas teaches, that the Blessed Virgin, "who was equal to and even superior in merit to all men and angels, was exalted above all the celestial orders". "In fine", adds Saint Bernard, "let us measure the singular grace that she acquired on Earth, and then we may measure the singular glory which she obtained in Heaven"; for "according to the measure of her grace on Earth is the measure of her glory in the kingdom of the blessed".

A learned author remarks that the glory of Mary, which is a full, a complete glory, differs in that from the glory of other saints in Heaven. It is true that in Heaven all the blessed enjoy perfect peace and full contentment; yet it will always be true that no one of them enjoys as great a glory as he could have merited had he loved and served God with greater fidelity. Hence, though the saints in Heaven desire nothing more than they possess, yet in fact there is something that they could desire. It is also true that the sins which they have committed, and the time which they have lost, do not bring suffering; still it cannot be denied that a greater amount of good done in life, innocence preserved, and time well employed, give the greatest happiness. Mary desires nothing in Heaven, and has nothing to desire. Who amongst the saints in Heaven, except Mary, says Saint Augustine, if asked if he has committed sins, could say no? It is certain, as the holy Council of Trent has defined, that Mary never committed any sin or the slightest imperfection. Not only she never lost Divine grace, and never even obscured it, but she never kept it idle; she never performed an action which was not meritorious; she never pronounced a word, never had a thought, never drew a breath, that was not directed to the greater glory of God. In fine', she never cooled in her ardor or stopped a single moment in her onward course towards God; she never lost anything by negligence, but always corresponded with grace with her whole strength, and loved God as much as she could love Him. "O Lord", she now says to Him in Heaven, "If I loved Thee not as much as Thou didst deserve, at least I loved Thee as much as I could".

In each of the saints there were different graces, as Saint Paul says, "there are diversities of operations (graces), but the same God, Who worketh all in all" - 1Corinthians 12:6. So that each of them, by corresponding with the grace he had received, excelled in some particular virtue - the one in saving souls, the other in leading a penitential life; one in enduring torments, another in a life of prayer; and this is the reason for which the holy Church, in celebrating their festivals, says of each, "there was not found one like him". And as in their merits they differ, so do they differ in celestial glory: "One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory" - 1Corinthians 15:41. Apostles differ from martyrs, confessors from virgins, the innocent from penitents. The Blessed Virgin, being full of all graces, excelled each saint in every particular virtue; she was the Apostle of the apostles; she was the Queen of martyrs, for she suffered more than all of them; she was the standard-bearer of virgins, the model of married people; she united in herself perfect innocence and perfect mortification; in fine', she united in her heart all the most heroic virtues that any saint ever practiced. Hence of her it was said that "The Queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety" - Psalm 44:10. For all the graces, privileges, and merits of the other saints were all united in Mary, as the Abbot of Celles says, "The prerogatives of all the saints, O Virgin, thou hast united in thyself".

She possessed them in such a degree that, as "the splendor of the sun exceeds that of all the stars united", so, says Saint Basil of Seleucia, "does Mary's glory exceed that of all the blessed". Saint Peter Damian adds, that "as the light of the moon and stars is so entirely eclipsed on the appearance of the sun, that it is as if it was not, so also does Mary's glory so far exceed the splendor of all men and angels, that, so to say, they do not appear in Heaven". Hence Saint Bernardine of Sienna asserts, with Saint Bernard, that the blessed participate in part in the Divine glory; but that the Blessed Virgin has been, in a certain way, so greatly enriched with it, that it would seem that no creature could be more closely united with God than Mary is: "She has penetrated into the bottom of the deep, and seems immersed as deeply as it is possible for a creature in that inaccessible light". Blessed Albert the Great confirms this, saying that our Queen "contemplates the majesty of God in incomparably closer proximity than all other creatures". The above named Saint Bernardine moreover says, "that as the other planets are illumined by the sun, so do all the blessed receive light and an increase of happiness from the sight of Mary". And in another place he also asserts that "when the glorious Virgin Mother of God ascended to Heaven, she augmented the joy of all its inhabitants".

For the same reason Saint Peter Damien says, that "the greatest glory of the blessed in Heaven is, after seeing God, the presence of this most beautiful Queen". And Saint Bonaventure, that, "after God, our greatest glory and our greatest joy is Mary".

Let us then, rejoice with Mary that God has exalted her to so high a throne in Heaven. Let us also rejoice on our own account; for though our Mother is no longer present with us on Earth, having ascended in glory to Heaven, yet in affection she is always with us. Nay, even being there nearer to God, she better knows our miseries; and her pity for us is greater, while she is better able to help us. "Is it possible, O Blessed Virgin", says Saint Peter Damien , "because thou art so greatly exalted, thou hast forgotten us in our miseries? Ah no, God forbid that we should have such a thought! So compassionate a heart cannot but pity our so great miseries". "If Mary's compassion for the miserable", says Saint Bonaventure, "was great when she lived upon Earth, it is far greater now that she reigns in Heaven".

Let us, in the mean time, dedicate ourselves to the service of this Queen, to honor and love her as much as we can; for as Richard of Saint Lawrence remarks, "she is not like other rulers, who oppress their vassals with burdens and taxes; but she enriches her servants with graces, merits, and rewards". Let us also entreat her in the words of the Abbot Guarrie: "O Mother of mercy, thou who sittest on so lofty a throne and in such close proximity to God, satiate thyself with the glory of thy Jesus, and send us, thy servants, the fragments that are left". Thou dost now enjoy the heavenly banquet of the Lord; and we, who are still on Earth, as dogs under the table, ask thy mercy.

Example

Father Silvano Razzi relates that a devout ecclesiastic and tender lover of our Queen Mary, having heard her beauty greatly extolled, had a most ardent desire once to see his Lady; and therefore, with humble prayers, begged this favor. The clement Mother sent him word by an angel that she would gratify him, by allowing him to see her; but on this condition, that after seeing her he should remain blind. He accepted the condition. Behold, one day the Blessed Virgin appeared to him; but that he might not remain quite blind, he first wished to look at her with one eye only; but afterwards, overcome by the great beauty of Mary, he wished to contemplate her with both; whereupon the Mother of God disappeared. Grieved at having lost the presence of his Queen, he could not cease weeping, not indeed for his lost eye, but because he had not seen her with both. He then began to entreat her again that she would once more appear to him, being quite willing, for this purpose, to lose the other eye and become blind. "Happy and contented shall I be, O my Lady", he said, "to become wholly blind for so good a cause, which will leave me more than ever enamored of thee and of thy beauty". Mary was graciously pleased once more to satisfy him, and again consoled him with her presence; but because this loving Queen can never injure any one, she not only did not deprive him of the sight of the other eye, but even restored him the one he had lost.

Prayer

O great, exalted, and most glorious Lady, prostrate at the foot of thy throne we adore thee from this valley of tears. We rejoice at thy immense glory, with which our Lord has enriched thee; and now that thou art enthroned as Queen of Heaven and Earth, ah forget us not, thy poor servants. Disdain not, from the high throne on which thou reignest, to cast thine eyes of mercy on us miserable creatures. The nearer thou art to the source of graces, in the greater abundance canst thou procure those graces for us. In Heaven thou seest more plainly our miseries; hence thou must compassionate and succor us the more. Make us thy faithful servants on Earth, that thus we may one day bless thee in Heaven. On this day, on which thou wast made Queen of the Universe, we also consecrate ourselves to thy service. In the midst of thy so great joy, console us also by accepting us as thy servants. Thou art, then, our Mother. Ah, most sweet Mother, most amiable Mother, thine altars are surrounded by many people; some ask to be cured of a disorder, some to be relieved in their necessities, some for an abundant harvest, and some for success in litigation. We ask thee for graces more pleasing to thy heart; obtain for us that we may be humble, detached from the world, resigned to the Divine Will; obtain us the holy fear of God, a good death, and Paradise. O Lady, change us from sinners into saints; work this miracle, which will redound more to thy honor than if thou didst sight to a thousand blind persons, or didst raise a thousand from the dead. Thou art so powerful with God, we need only say that thou art His Mother, His beloved one, His most dear one, filled with His grace. What can He ever deny thee? O most beautiful Queen, we have no pretensions to see thee on Earth, but we do desire to see thee in Paradise; and it is thou who must obtain us this grace. For it we hope with confidence.

Amen, amen

The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Discourse VII
August 15: The Assumption of Mary

On this day the Church celebrates in honor of Mary two solemn festivals: the first is that of her happy passage from this world; the second, that of her glorious Assumption into Heaven.

DEATH being the punishment of sin, it would seem that the Divine Mother ---- all holy, and exempt as she was from its slightest stain ---- should also have been exempt from death, and from encountering the misfortunes to which the the children of Adam, infected by the poison of sin, are subject. But God was pleased that Mary should in all things resemble Jesus; and as the Son died, it was becoming that the Mother should also die; because, moreover, He wished to give the just an example of the precious death prepared for them, He willed that even the most Blessed Virgin should die, but by a sweet and happy death. Let us, therefore, now consider how precious was Mary's death: first, on account of the special favors by which it was accompanied; secondly, on account of the manner in which it took place.

1.

There are three things that render death bitter: attachment to the world, remorse for sins, and the uncertainty of salvation. The death of Mary was entirely free from these causes of bitterness, and was accompanied by three special graces, which rendered it precious and joyful. She dies as she had lived, entirely detached from the things of the world; she died in the most perfect peace; she died in the certainty of eternal glory.

I. And in the first place, there can be no doubt that attachment to earthly things, renders the death of the worldly bitter and miserable, as the Holy Ghost says: O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man who hath peace in his possessions! [1] But because the Saints die detached from the things of the world, their death is not bitter, but sweet, lovely, and precious; that is to say, as St. Bernard remarks, worth purchasing at any price, however great. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. [2] Who are they who, being already dead, die? They are those happy souls who pass into eternity already detached, and so to say, dead to all affection for terrestrial things; and who, like St. Francis of Assisi, found in God alone all their happiness, and with him could say, "My God and my all." But what soul was ever more detached from earthly goods, and more united to God, than the beautiful soul of Mary? She was detached from her parents; for at the age of three years, when children are most attached to them, and stand in the greatest need of their assistance, Mary with the greatest intrepidity, left them, and went to shut herself up in the Temple to attend to God alone. She was detached from riches, contenting herself to always live poor, and supporting herself with the labor of her own hands. She was detached from honors, loving a humble and abject life, though the honors due to a queen were hers, as she was descended from the kings of Israel. The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, that when her parents left her in the Temple. she resolved in her heart to have no father, and to love no other good than God.

St. John saw Mary represented in that woman, clothed with the sun, who held the moon under her feet. And a great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. [3] Interpreters explain the moon to signify the goods of this world, which like her, are uncertain and unchangeable. Mary never had these goods in her heart, but always despised them and trampled them under her feet; living in this world as a solitary turtle in a desert, never allowing her affection to center itself in any earthly thing; so that of her it was aid: The voice of the turtle is heard in our land. [4] And elsewhere: Who is she that goeth up by the desert? [5] When the Abbot Rupert says, "Thus didst thou go by the desert; that is, having a solitary soul." Mary, then, having lived always and in all things detached from the earth, and united to God alone, death was not bitter, but on the contrary, very sweet and dear to her; since it united her more closely to God in Heaven, by an eternal bond.

II. Peace of mind renders the death of the just precious. Sins committed during life are the worms that so cruelly torment and gnaw the hearts of poor dying sinners, who, about to appear before the Divine tribunal, see themselves at that moment surrounded by their sins, which terrify them, and cry out according to St. Bernard, "we are thy works; we will not abandon thee." Mary certainly could not be tormented at death by any remorse of conscience, for she was always pure, and always free from the least shade of actual or Original Sin; so much so, that of her it was aid, Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee. [6] from the moment that she had the use of reason, that is, from the first moment  of her Immaculate Conception in the womb of St. Anne, she began to love God with all her strength, and. continue do so, always advancing more and more throughout her whole life in love and perfection. And all her thoughts, desires, and affections were of and for God alone; she never uttered a word, made a movement, cast a glance or breathed, but for God and His glory ; and never departed a step or detached herself for a single moment from the Divine love. Ah, how did all the lovely virtue that she had practiced during life surround her blessed bed in the happy hour of her death! That faith so constant; that loving confidence in God; that unconquerable patience in the midst of so many sufferings; that humility in the midst of so many privileges; that modesty; that meekness; that tender compassion for souls; that insatiable zeal for the glory of God; and, above all, that most perfect love towards Him, with that entire conformity to the Divine will: all, in a word, surrounded her and consoling her, said: "We are thy works; we will not abandon thee." Our Lady and Mother, we are all daughters of thy beautiful heart; now that thou a leaving this miserable life, we will not leave thee; we also will go, and be thy eternal accompaniment and honor in Paradise, where, by our means thou wilt reign as Queen of all men and of all Angels.

III. Finally, the certainty of eternal salvation renders death sweet. Death is called a passage; for by death we pass from a short to an eternal life. And as the dread of those is indeed great who die in doubt of their salvation, and who approach the solemn moment with welI-grounded fear of passing into eternal death; thus on the other hand, the joy of the Saints is indeed great at the close of life, hoping with some security to go and possess God in Heaven. A nun of the Order of St. Teresa, when the doctor announced to her her approaching death, was so filled with joy that she exclaimed, " O how is it, sir, that you announce to me such welcome news, and demand no fee?" St. Laurence Justinian, being at the point of death, and perceiving his servants weeping round him, said: "Away, away with your tears; this is no time to mourn." Go elsewhere to weep; if you would remain with me, rejoice, as I rejoice, in seeing the gates of Heaven open to me, that I may be united to my God. Thus also a St. Peter of Alcantara, a St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and so many other Saints, on hearing their death was at hand, burst forth into exclamations of joy and gladness. And yet they were not certain of being in possession of Divine grace, nor were they secure of their own sanctity, as Mary was.

But what joy must the Divine Mother have felt in receiving the news of her approaching death! She who had the fullest certainty of the possession of Divine grace especially after the Angel Gabriel had assured her that she was full of it, and that she already possessed God.  Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee . . . thou hast found grace. [7] And well did she herself know that her heart was continually burning with Divine love; so that as Bernardine de Bustis says, " Mary, by a singular privilege granted to no other Saint, loved, and was always actually loving God, in every moment of her life with such ardor, that St. Bernard declares, it required a continued miracle to preserve her life in the midst of such flames."

Of Mary it had already been asked in the sacred canticles, Who is she that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar smoke, of aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, allthe powders of the perfumer? [8] Her entire mortification typified by the myrrh, her fervent prayers signified by the incense, and all her holy virtues united to her perfect love for God, kindled in her a flame so great that her beautiful soul, wholly devoted to and consumed, by Divine love, arose continually to God as a pillar of smoke, breathing forth on every side a most sweet odor. "Such smoke, nay even such a pillar of smoke," says the Abbot Rupert, "Hast thou, O Blessed Mary, breathed forth a sweet odor to the Most High." Eustachius expresses it in still stronger terms: "A pillar of smoke, because burning interiorly as a holocaust with the flame of Divine love, she sent forth a most sweet odor."  As the loving Virgin lived, so did she died. As Divine love gave her life, so did it cause her death; for the Doctors and holy Fathers of the Church generally say she died of no other infirmity than pure love; St. Ildephonsus says that Mary either ought not to die, or only die of love.

II. But now let us see how her blessed death took place. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, Mary remained on earth to attend to the propagation of the faith. Hence the disciples of our Lord had recourse to her, and she solved their doubts, comforted them in their persecutions, and encouraged them to labor for the Divine glory and the salvation of redeemed souls. She willingly remained on earth, knowing that such was the will of God, for the good of the Church; but she could not but. feel the pain of being far from the presence and sight of her beloved Son, who had ascended to Heaven. Where your treasure is, there Will your heart be also, said the Redeemer. Where anyone believes his treasure and his happiness to be, here he always holds the love and desires of his heart fixed. If Mary, then, loved no other good than Jesus, He being in Heaven, all her desires were in Heaven.

   Tauler says, that "Heaven was the cell of the Heavenly and most Blessed Virgin Mary; for, being there with all her desires and affections, she she made it her continual abode. Her school was eternity; for she was always detached and free from temporal possessions. Her teacher was Divine truth; for her whole life was guided by this alone. Her book was the purity of her own conscience, in which she always found occasion to rejoice in the Lord. Her mirror was the Divinity; for she never admitted any representations into her soul but such as were transformed into and clothed with God, that so she might always conform herself to His will. Her ornament was devotion; for she attended solely to her interior sanctification, and was always ready to fulfill the. Divine commands. Her repose was union with God; for He alone was her treasure and the resting-place of her heart."

  The most holy Virgin consoled her loving heart during this painful separation by visiting, as it is related, the holy places of Palestine, where her Son had been during His life. She frequently visited ---- at one time the stable at Bethlehem, where her Son was born; at another, the workshop of Nazareth, where her Son had lived so many years poor and despised; now the Garden of Gethsemani, where her Son began His Passion; then the Prætorium of Pilate, where He was scourged,  and the spot on which He was crowned with thorns; but visited most frequently the Mount of Calvary, where her Son expired; and the Holy Sepulchre in which she had finally left Him: thus did the most loving Mother soothe the pains of her cruel exile. But this could not be enough to satisfy her heart, which was unable to find perfect repose in this world. Hence she was continually sending up sighs to her Lord, exclaiming with David: Who will giveth me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? [9] Who will give me wings like a dove, that I may fly to my God, and there find my repose? As the heart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, my God. [10] As the wounded stag pants for the fountain, so does my soul, wounded by Thy love, O my God, desire and sigh after Thee.

   Yes, indeed, the sighs of this holy turtle-dove could not but deeply penetrate the heart of her God, Who indeed so tenderly loved her. The voice of the turtle heard in our land. [11] Wherefore being unwilling to de any longer the so-much-desired consolation of His beloved, behold, He graciously hears her desire, and calls her to His Kingdom.

Cedrenus, Nicephorus, and Metaphrastes, relate some days before her death. our Lord sent her the Archangel Gabriel, the same that announced to her that she was that blessed woman chosen to be the Mother of God: " My Lady and Queen," said the Angel, " God has already graciously heard thy holy desires, and has sent me to tell thee to prepare thyself to leave the earth: for He wills thee in Heaven. Come, then, to take possession of thy kingdom; for it and all its holy inhabitants await and desire thee.," On this happy annunciation, what else could our most humble and most holy Virgin do, but, with the most profound humility, answer in the same words in which she had answered St. Gabriel when he announced to her that she was to become the Mother of God: Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Behold, she answered again, the slave of the Lord, He in His pure goodness chose me and made me His Mother; He now calls me to Paradise. I did not deserve that honor, nor do I deserve this, but since He is pleased to show in my person His infinite liberality, behold, I am ready to go where He pleases. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May the will of my God and Lord be ever accomplished in me!

After receiving this welcome intelligence she imparted it to St. John. We may well imagine with what grief and tender feelings he heard the news; he who for so many years had attended upon her as a son, and had enjoyed the Heavenly conversation of this most holy Mother. She then once more visited the holy places of Jerusalem, tenderly taking leave of them, and especially of Mount Calvary, where her beloved Son had died. She then retired into her poor cottage, there to prepare for death.

During this time the Angels did not cease their visits to their beloved Queen, consoling themselves with the thought that they would soon see her crowned in Heaven. Many authors, such as Andrew of Crete, St. John Damascene, Euthymius, assert that, before her death, the Apostles, and also many disciples who were scattered in different parts of the world, were miraculously assembled in Mary's room, and that when she saw all these her dear children in her presence, she thus addressed them: " My beloved children, through love for you and to help you my Son left me on this earth. The holy faith is now spread throughout the world, already the fruit of the Divine seed is grown up; hence my Lord, seeing that my assistance on earth is no longer necessary, and compassionating my grief in being separated from Him, has graciously listened to my desire to quit this life and to go and see Him in Heaven. Do you remain, then, to labor for His glory. If I leave you, my heart remains with you; the great love I bear you shall carry with me and always preserve. I go to Paradise to pray for you."

   Who can form an idea of the tears and lamentation of the holy disciples at this sad announcement, and the thought that soon they were to be separated from their Mother? All then, weeping, exclaimed, Then, O Mary, thou art already about to leave us. It is true that this world is not a place worthy of or fit for thee; and as for us, we are unworthy to enjoy the society of the  Mother of God; but, remember, thou art our Mother, hitherto thou hast enlightened us in our doubts; thou hast consoled us in our afflictions; thou hast been our strength in persecutions; and now, how canst thou abandon us, leaving us alone in the midst of so many enemies and so many conflicts, deprived of thy consolation? We have already lost on earth Jesus, our Master and Father, Who has ascended into Heaven; until now we have found consolation in thee, our Mother; and now, how canst thou also leave us orphans without father or mother? Our own sweet Lady, either remain with us, or take us with thee." Thus St. John Damascene writes:

"No, my children" [thus sweetly the loving Queen began to speak], "this is not according to the will of God; be satisfied to do that which He has decreed for me and for you. To you it yet remains to labor on earth for the glory of your Redeemer, and to make up your eternal crown. I do not leave you to abandon you, but to help you still more in Heaven by my intercession with God. Be satisfied. I commend the holy Church to you; I commend redeemed souls to you; let this be my last farewell, and the only remembrance I leave you: execute it if you love me, labor for the good of souls and for the glory of my Son; for one day we shall meet again in Paradise, never more for all eternity to be separated."

     She then begged them to give burial to her body after death; blessed them, and desired St. John, as St. John Damascene relates, to give after her death two of her gowns to two virgins who had served her for some time. She then decently composed herself on her poor little bed, where she laid herself to await death, and with it the meeting with the Divine Spouse, who shortly was to come and take her with Him to the Kingdom of the blessed. Behold, she already feels in her heart a great joy, the forerunner of the coming of the Bridegroom, which inundates her with an unaccustomed and novel sweetness. The holy Apostles, seeing that Mary was , already on the point of leaving this world, renewing their tears, all threw themselves on their knees around her bed; some kissed her holy feet, some sought a special blessing from her, some recommended a particular want, and all wept bitterly; for their hearts were pierced with grief at being obliged to separate themselves for the rest of their lives from their beloved Lady. And she, the most loving Mother, compassionated all, and consoled each one; to some promising her patronage, blessing others with particular affection, and encouraging others to the work of the conversion of the world; especially, she called St. Peter to her, and as head of the Church and Vicar of her Son, recommended to him in a particular manner the propagation of the faith, promising him at the same time her especial protection in Heaven. But more particularly did she call St. John to her, who more than any other was grieved at this moment when he had to part with his holy Mother; and most gracious Lady, remembering the affection and attention with which this holy disciple had served her during all the years she had remained on earth since the death of her Son, said: " My own John" [speaking with the greatest tenderness] ---- " my own John, I thank thee for all the assistance that thou hast afforded my Son, be assured of it, I shall not be ungrateful. If I now leave thee, I go to pray for thee. Remain in peace in this life until we meet again in Heaven, where I await thee. Never forget me. In all thy wants call me to aid; for I will never forget thee, my beloved son. So bless thee, I leave thee my blessing. Remain in peace. Farewell!"

But already the death of Mary is at hand; Divine love, with its vehement and blessed flames, had already almost entirely consumed the vital spirits; the Heavenly phoenix is already Iosing her life in the midst of this fire. Then the host of Angels come in choirs to meet her, as if to be ready for the great triumph with which they were to accompany her to Paradise. Mary was indeed consoled at the sight of these holy spirits, but was not fully consoled; for she did not yet see her beloved Jesus, Who was the whole love of her heart. Hence she often repeated to the Angels who descended to salute her: I adjure you, O daughters of  Jerusalem, if you find my Beloved, that you tell Him that I languish with love. [12] Holy Angels, O fair citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem, you come in choirs kindly to console me; and you all console me with your sweet presence. I thank you; but you do not fully satisfy me, for as yet I do not see my Son coming to console me; go, if you love me, return to Paradise, and on my part tell my Beloved that I anguish with love. Tell Him to come, and to come quickly, for I am dying with the vehemence of my desire to see Him.

But, behold, Jesus is now come to take his Mother to the kingdom of the blessed. It was revealed to St. Elizabeth that her Son appeared to Mary before she expired with His Cross in His hands, to show the special glory He had obtained by the Redemption; having, by His death, made acquisition of that great creature, who for all eternity was to honor Him more than all men and Angels. St. John Damascene relates that our Lord himself gave her the Viaticum, saying with tender love, " Receive, O My Mother, from My hands that same Body that thou gavest to Me." And the Mother, having received with the greatest love that last Communion, with her last breath said, " My Son, into Thy hands do I commend my spirit. I commend to Thee this soul, which from the beginning Thou didst create rich in so many graces, and by a singular privilege didst preserve from the stain of Original Sin. I commend to Thee my body, from which Thou didst deign to take Thy flesh and blood. I also commend to Thee these my beloved children [speaking of the holy disciples, who surrounded her]; they are grieved at my departure. Do Thou, Who lovest them more than I do, console them; bless them, and give them strength to do great things for Thy glory."

The life of Mary being now at its close, the most delicious music, as St. Jerome relates, was heard in the apartment where she lay; and, according to a revelation of St. Bridget, the room was also filled with a brilliant light. The sweet music, and the unaccustomed splendor, warned the holy Apostles that Mary was departing. This caused them again to burst forth in tears and prayers; and raising their hands, with voice they exclaimed, O, Mother, thou already goest to Heaven; thou leavest us; give us thy last blessing and never forget us miserable creatures." Mary, turning her eyes around upon all, as if to bid the last farewell, said, " Adieu, my children; I bless you, fear not, I will never forget you." And now death came; not indeed clothed in mourning and grief, as it does to others, but adorned with light and gladness. But what do we say? Why speak of death? Let us rather say that Divine love came, and cut the thread of that noble life. And as a light, before going out, gives a last and brighter flash than ever, so did this beautiful creature, on hearing her Son's invitation to follow him, wrapped in the flames of love, and in the midst of her amorous sighs, give a last sigh of still more ardent love, and breathing forth her soul, expired. Thus was that great soul, that beautiful dove of the Lord, loosened from the bands of this life; thus did she enter into glory of the blessed, where she is now seated, and will be seated, Queen of Paradise, for all eternity.

Mary, then, has left this world; she is now in Heaven. Thence does this compassionate Mother look down upon us who are still in this valley of tears. She pities us, and, if we wish it, promises to help us. Let us always beseech her by the merits of her blessed death to obtain us a happy death; and should such be the good pleasure of God, let us beg her to obtain us grace to die on a Saturday, which is a day dedicated in her honor, or on a day of a novena, or within the octave of one of her feasts; for this she has obtained for so many of her clients, and especially for St. Stanislaus Kostka, for whom she obtained that he should die on the feast of her Assumption, as Father Bartoli relates in his life of the Saint.

EXAMPLE

During his lifetime this holy youth, who was wholly dedicated to the love of Mary, happened, on the first of August, to hear a sermon preached by Father Peter Canisius, in which, exhorting the novices of the Society, he urged them all, with the greatest fervor, to live each day, as if it were the last of their lives, and the one on which they were to be presented before God's tribunal. After the sermon St. Stanislaus told his companions that that advice had been for him. in an especial manner, the voice of God; for that he was to die in the course of that very month. It is evident, from what followed, that he said this either because God had expressly revealed it to him, or at least because He gave him a certain internal presentiment of it. Four days afterwards the blessed youth went with Father Emanuel to St. Mary Major's. The conversation fell on the approaching feast of the Assumption, and the saint said, "Father, I believe that on that day a new Paradise is seen in Paradise, as the glory of the Motiler of God, crowned Queen of Heavens and seated so near to our Lord, above all the choirs of Angels, is seen. And if ---- as I firmly believe it to be ---- this festival is renewed every year, I hope to see the next." The glorious Martyr St. Lawrence had fallen by lot to St. Stanislaus as his patron for that month, it being customary in the Society thus to draw lots for the monthly patrons. It is said that he wrote a letter to his Mother Mary, in which he begged her to obtain him the favor to be present at her next festival in Heaven. On the feast of St. Lawrence he received the holy Communion, afterwards entreated the Saint to present his letter to the Divine Mother, and to support his petition with intercession, that the most Blessed Virgin might graciously accept and grant it. Towards the close of that very day he was seized with fever; and though the attack was slight, he considered that certainly he had obtained the favor asked for. This indeed he joyfully expressed, and with a smiling countenance, on going to bed, said, "From this bed I shall never rise again." And speaking to Father Claudius Aquaviva, he added, "Father, I believe that St. Lawrence has already obtained for me the favor from Mary to be in Heaven on the feast of her Assumption." No one, however, took much notice of his words. On the vigil of the feast his illness still seemed of little consequence, but the Saint assured a brother that he should die that night. "O brother, " the other answered, "it would be a greater miracle die of so slight an illness than to be cured." Nevertheless in the afternoon he fell into a deathlike swoon; cold sweat came over him; and he lost all his strength. The Superior hastened to him, and Stanislaus entreated him to have him laid on the bare floor, that he might die as a penitent. To satisfy him, this was granted: he was laid on a thin mattress on the ground. He then made his confession, and in the midst of the tears of all present received the Viaticum: I say, of the tears of all present, for when the Divine Sacrament was brought into the room his eyes brightened up with celestial joy, his whole countenance was inflamed with holy love that he seemed like a seraph. He also received Extreme Unction, and in the meanwhile did nothing but constantly raise his eyes to Heaven and lovingly press to his heart an image of Mary. A Father asked him to what purpose he kept a rosary in his hand, since he could not use it? He replied, " It is a consolation to me, for it is something belonging to my Mother." " O, how much greater will your consolation be," added the Father, " when in a short time you will see her and kiss her hands in Heaven!" On hearing this, the Saint, with his  countenance all on fire, raised his hands to express his desire soon to be in her presence. His dear Mother then appeared to him, as he himself told those who surrounded him; and shortly afterwards, at the dawn of day on the fifteenth of August, with his eyes fixed on Heaven, he expired like a Saint, without the slightest struggle; so much so, that it was only on presenting him the image of the Blessed Virgin, and seeing that he made no movement towards it, that it was perceived that he was already gone to kiss the feet of his beloved Queen in Paradise.

Prayer

  O most sweet Lady and our Mother, thou hast already left the earth and reached thy Kingdom, where, as Queen, thou art enthroned above all the choirs of Angels, as the Church sings : Sheis exalted above the choirs of Angels in the celestIal Kingdom, We well know that we sinners are not worthy to possess thee in this valley of darkness; but we also know that thou, in thy greatness, hast never forgotten, us miserable creatures, and that by being exalted to so great glory thou hast lever lost compassion for us poor children of Adam; nay, even that it is increased in thee. From the high throne, then, to which thou art exalted, turn, O Mary, thy compassionate eyes upon us, and pity us. Remember, also, that in leaving this world thou didst promise not to forget us. Look at us and succor us. See in the midst of what tempests and dangers we constantly are, and shall be until the end of our lives, By the merits of thy happy death obtain for us holy perseverance in the Divine friendship, that we may finally quit this life in God's grace; and thus we also shall one day come to kiss thy feet in Paradise, and unite with the blessed spirits in praising thee and singing thy glories as thou deservest. Amen.

Notes:

1. Ecclus. xli. 1.
2. Apoc. xiv. 13.
3. Apoc. xii. 1.
4. Cant. ii. 12.
5. Ibid., iii.
6. Cant. iv. 7.
7. Luke i. 28.
8. Cant. iii. 6.
9. Ps. liv. 7.
10. Ps. xli. 1.
11. Cant. ii. 12.
12. Cant. v. 8.