MARY IS AN ADVOCATE WHO IS ABLE TO SAVE ALL

MARY IS AN ADVOCATE WHO IS ABLE TO SAVE ALL

So great is the authority that mothers possess over their sons, that even if they are monarchs, and have absolute dominion over every person in their kingdom, yet never can mothers be- come the subjects of their sons. It is true that Jesus now in heaven sits at the right hand of the Father ; that is, as St. Thomas ex plains it, even as man, on account of the hypostatical union with the Person of the Divine Word. He has supreme dominion over all, and also over Mary; it will nevertheless be always true that, for a time, when He was living in this world, He was pleased to humble Himself and to be subject to Mary, as we are told by St. Luke, 'And He was subject to them.' And still more, says St. Ambrose, Jesus Christ having deigned to make Mary His Mother, inasmuch as He was her Son, He was truly obliged to obey her. And for this reason, says Richard of St. Lawrence, ' of other Saints we say, that they are with God; but of Mary alone can it be said, that she was so far favored as to be, not only herself sub missive to the will of God, but even that God was subject to her will.' And here we say, that although Mary, now in heaven, can no longer command her Son, nevertheless her prayers are always the prayers of a mother, and, consequently, most powerful to obtain whatever she asks. ‘Mary,' says St. Bonaventure, ' has this great privilege, that with her Son, she above all the Saints is most powerful to obtain whatever she wills.' And why? Precisely because they are the prayers of a mother. And therefore, says St. Peter Damian, the Blessed Virgin can do whatever she pleases both in heaven and on earth. She is able to raise even those who are in despair to confidence; and he addresses her in these words: ' All power is given to thee in heaven and on earth, and nothing is impossible to thee, who canst raise those who are in despair to the hope of salvation.' And then he adds, that ' when the Mother goes to seek a favor for us from Jesus Christ' (whom the Saint calls the golden altar of mercy, at which sinners obtain pardon), 'her Son esteems her prayers so greatly, and is so desirous to satisfy her, that when she prays it seems as if she rather commanded than prayed, and was rather a Queen than a handmaid.'

                             EXAMPLE

A noble lady, who had an only son, was informed one day that he had been killed. The murderer had by chance taken refuge in her own palace. She then began to reflect that Mary had forgiven the executioners of her Son, and therefore determined that she also would pardon that criminal for the love of the sorrowful Mary. She not only did this, but also provided him with a horse, money, and clothes, that he might escape. Her son then appeared to her, and told her that he was saved, and that for her generous conduct to his enemy, the Divine Mother had delivered him from purgatory, in which, otherwise, he would have had to suffer for a long time, and that he was then going to paradise,

                        PRAYER

I will address thee, 0 great Mother of God, in the words of St. Bernard: 'Speak, 0 Lady, for thy Son heareth thee; and whatever thou askest thou wilt obtain.' Speak, speak, then, 0 Mary, our Advocate, in favor of us poor miserable creatures. Remember that it was also for our good that thou didst receive such great power and so high a dignity. God was pleased to become thy debtor, by taking humanity of thee, in order that thou mightest at will dispense the riches of Divine mercy to sinners. 0, Mother of mercy, we present thee our souls, once cleansed and rendered beautiful in the blood of Jesus Christ; but alas, since that time defiled by sin. To thee do we present them; do thou purify them. Obtain for us true conversion; obtain for us the love of God, perseverance, heaven.

MONTH OF OUR LADY - NINETEENTH DAY