522. March 25, Annunciation of Our Lady (III)
Meditations no. 454 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
Recourse to our Lady is a sure way to reach God.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virginâs name was Mary.
Once again, the Gospel of St Luke speaks to us of this woman who has been predestined by God from all eternity to be the Mother of the Redeemer. Her name is Mary. As regards this name, St Bernard explains, let us say that it means star of the sea, and it is admirably suited to the Virgin Mother. Mary is very appropriately compared to a star because, just as a star gives off rays of light without itself being corrupted, so the Blessed Virgin gave birth to her Son without any harm to herself. Just as the ray of light does not diminish the brightness of the star, neither does the Son diminish the integrity of the Virgin.
Mary: a most sweet name that all Christians, who are her children for special reasons, like to pronounce. We know well that the Sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ, in whom the whole plenitude of Deity is embodied, is the only way to reach God the Father. But the best path, the direct and straight way which leads us to the Sacred Humanity of Christ in this earthly world⌠is the Blessed Virgin, Mary Most Holy, Mother of Christ and, therefore, Mother of God and our Mother.
By dealing with our Lady we are drawn closer to Christ. Maryâs function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power, the Second Vatican Council teaches. To venerate the Blessed Virgin is to venerate Christ, since to serve the maid servant is also to serve the Lord; what is given to the Mother is reflected on the Son, passing from the Mother to the One whom She nourished. The honour which the servant renders to the Queen falls upon the King.
Many years ago, our Father wrote that love for our Lady is proof of good spirit, in organizations and in individuals.
Distrust the undertaking that lacks this characteristic.
And he taught us to deal with our heavenly Mother at all times, from morning to night and from night to morning. Because we are in love and we live on Love, he told us, we have placed our heart in Jesus Christ Our Lord, and we come to Him through his Mother Holy Mary and, through Him, to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The name of Mary is the way of salvation. For this reason Christians for many centuries have recited a prayer which constitutes a perfect summary of this sure doctrine: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help and sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, 0 Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. 0 Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Going to our Lady in the ascetical struggle.
Our dealings with our Lady ought be tender, full of the abandonment and confidence that a little child has in its mother. To be a child in the spiritual life has this great advantage, because by ourselves we cannot do anything. Without the grace of Jesus Christ, which our Mother obtains for us, we cannot do anything which has value before God. We do not know how to pray as we ought, nor to do any other supernatural action, since both the will to do it and the accomplishment of that will are something which God accomplishes in you, to carry out his loving purpose. But we know the power of the Blessed Virgin and we abandon ourselves trustingly in her arms.
As our spiritual life grows, we become more aware of another lack which is even deeper: our condition of sinners, the existence in us of a poisoned root, which tends to harm our actions. The knowledge of the consequences of original sin - now forgiven by Baptism but which has left our nature disordered - then becomes a source of progress in the spiritual life, because it invites us to accept humbly our need for help and, moved by that authentic humility, not to remain indifferent. On the contrary, our repeated failings move us to contrition and to seek the safe refuge of the Most Sweet Heart of Mary.
Our faults then become an occasion for a renewed love. Your involuntary falls - a childâs falls - show your Father, God, that he must take more care and your Mother Mary that she must never let you go from her loving hand. Each day as our Lord picks you up from the ground, take advantage of it, embrace him with all your strength and lay your wearied head on his open breast so that you will be carried away by the beating of his most loving Heart.
We must deal with our Mother, and deal with her often and well so as not to lose that intimate affection. If someone does not see a friend for a year or two⌠or twenty, at the end there will be a fond memory, but the intimacy will have passed. You pray the Rosary, our Father commented, the three Hail Marys, the Angelus; you go to her during the day with many aspirations; you have an image of her in your room and in so many other places⌠They are like awakeners of your love for the Blessed Virgin and means for living a continuous relationship with our Mother who is in Heaven.
Our Norms are full of invocations to our Lady, of aspirations, many of which we have learned from our Father. We should say them slowly, thinking about how they please our Mother, who always hears them as if we were saying them for the first time. We will stay by her side, without wanting to venture out on our own in life. And, if in some moment we should go astray, we will call on her urgently so that she does not leave us alone. Have confidence. Return, call on our Lady and you will be faithful.
Calling on the name of Mary especially in moments of need.
Mary, a saving name. We call upon her along with the Church: Holy Mary, assist the wretched, help the fearful, strengthen the weakâŚ
We should have the name of Mary on our lips at all times, but especially when the soul feels buffeted by the winds of temptation and difficulty, which God can allow in order to foster our humility and to increase our confidence in his power. But it can also happen then, that an element of despair enters through the cracks of our heart and, at times, perhaps even the desire to continue struggling diminishes. It is the moment to have recourse with more confidence than ever to the Stella maris, to the Virgin Mary. She is the bright and singular star⌠that shines before everyone with her merits, and enlightens them with her example.
You, whoever you are, who find yourself in the rushing torrent of this world⌠, do not take your gaze off the brightness of this star if you do not want to be overwhelmed by the squalls.
If the winds of temptation rise, if you are in the midst of the reefs and shoals of tribulation, fix your gaze on the star, call upon Mary. If you are tossed by the waves of pride, of detraction, of ambition or envy, look at the star, call upon Mary. If the billows of anger, of avarice or lust batter the tiny ship of your soul, look at Mary. If you are troubled when you think of the enormity of your sins, humiliated when you look at the filthiness of your conscience, frightened when you think of the judgment, and you are about to sink in the depths of despondency or in the abyss of despair, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name be always on your lips and the thought of her always in your heart. And in order to obtain the benefits of her intercession, do not turn away from the example of her virtue.
If you follow her, you will not go astray; if you call upon her, you will not despair; if you think of her, you will not be lost. If she takes you by the hand, you will not fall; if she protects you, you will have nothing to fear; if she guides you, you will not give up; if she shelters you, you will reach safe harbour. Then you will experience in your own life the truth of those words: âand the name of the Virgin was Maryâ (Luke 1: 27).
With the help of our Lady we will always emerge victorious. We will repeat her name with affection and strength, reminding her that we have given ourselves completely to the service of her son. And when she hears her name on our lips, she, who is concerned about us at all times, will make haste to protect us. Mother! Call her name again and again. She is listening, she sees you in danger perhaps, and with her Sonâs grace she, your holy Mother Mary, offers you the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace. Call her, and you will find yourself with added strength for the new struggle.