MARY IS THE HOPE OF SINNERS
In the first chapter of the
Book of Genesis, we read, that ' God made two great lights; a greater light to
rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night.' Cardinal Hugo says, that '
Christ is the greater light to rule the just, and Mary, the lesser to rule
sinners.' Meaning that the sun is a figure of Jesus Christ, whose light is
enjoyed by the just who live in the clear day of Divine grace; and that the
moon is a figure of Mary, by whose means those who are in the night of sin are
enlightened. Since Mary is this auspicious luminary, and is so for the benefit
of poor sinners, should any one have been so unfortunate as to fall into the
night of sin, what is he to do? Innocent III. replies, ' whoever is in the
night of sin let him cast his eyes on the moon, let him implore Mary.' Since he
has lost the light of the sun of justice, by losing the grace of God, let him
turn to the moon, and beseech Mary, and she will certainly give him light to
see the misery of his state, and strength to leave it without delay. St. Methodius
says, ' that by the prayers of Mary, almost innumerable sinners are converted.'
One of the titles which is the most encour aging to poor sinners, and under
which the Church teaches us to invoke Mary in the Litany of Loretto, is that of
' Refuge of sinners.' In Judea, in ancient times, there were cities of refuge,
in which criminals, who fled there for protection, were exempt from the
punishments which they had deserved. Nowadays, these cities are not so numerous; there is but one, and that is Mary, of whom the Psalmist says, ' Glorious
things are said of thee, 0 city of God.' But this city differs from the ancient
ones in this respect, that in the latter all kinds of criminals did not find
refuge, nor was the protection extended to every class of crime; but under the
mantle of Mary, all sinners, without exception, find refuge for every sin that
they may have committed, provided only that they go there to seek for this protection.
'I am the city of refuge,' says St. John Damascene, in the name of our Queen,
' to all who fly to me.' And it is sufficient to have recourse to her, for
whoever has the good fortune to enter this city need not speak to be saved.
'Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced city, and let us be
silent there,' to speak in the words of the Prophet Jeremias. This city, says
blessed Albert the Great, is the most holy Virgin fenced in with grace and
glory. 'And let us be silent there,' that is, continues an interpreter,
'Because we dare not invoke the Lord, whom we have offended, she will invoke
and ask.' For if we do not presume to ask our Lord to forgive us, it will
suffice to enter this city and be silent, for Mary will speak and ask all that we
require. And for this reason, a devout author exhorts all sinners to take
refuge under the mantle of Mary, exclaiming, ' Fly, 0 Adam and Eve, and all
you, their children, who have outraged God; fly, and take refuge in the bosom
of this good Mother; know you not that she is our only city of refuge,' ' the
only hope of sinners.
EXAMPLE
Blessed John
Herold, who put of humility called himself the Disciple, relates, that there
was a married man, who lived at enmity with God. His wife, who was a virtuous
woman, being unable to engage him to give up sin, begged him, in the wretched
state in which he was, to practice at least the devotion of saluting our
Blessed Lady with a 'Hail Mary,' each time that he might pass before her
picture. He began to do so. One night this wretched man was on his way to
commit a crime, when he perceived a light at a distance: he drew near to see
what it was, and found that it was a lamp, burning before a devout picture of
Mary, holding the child Jesus in her arms. He at once, according to custom,
said the ' Hail Mary.' In the same moment, he beheld the Divine Infant covered
with wounds, from which fresh blood was streaming. Terrified, and at the same time
moved to compassion, at this sight, he reflected that it was he, who, by his
sins, had thus wounded his Redeemer. He burst into tears, but the Divine Infant
turned His back to him. Filled with shame, he appealed to the most Blessed
Virgin, saying : 'Mother of Mercy, thy Son rejects me: I can find no advocate
more compassionate and more powerful than thee, for thou art His Mother; my
Queen, do thou help me, and intercede for me.' The Divine Mother, speaking from
the picture, replied: ' You sinners call me Mother of Mercy, but, at the same
time, you cease not to make me a Mother of Sorrows, by crucifying my Son
afresh, and renewing my sorrows.' But as Mary can never let any one leave her
feet disconsolate, she began to implore her Son to pardon this miserable
wretch. Jesus continued to show Himself unwilling to do so. The most Blessed
Virgin, seeing this, placed Him in the niche, and, prostrating her self before
Him, said: ' My Son, I will not leave Thy feet until Thou hast pardoned this
sinner.' 'My Mother,' then said Jesus, ' I can deny thee nothing; thou willest
that he should be forgiven; for love of thee I pardon him ; make him come and
kiss My wounds.' The sinner, sobbing and weeping, did so, and, as he kissed
them, the wounds were healed. Jesus then embraced him, as a mark of forgiveness,
and he changed his life, which, from that time, was one of holiness; and he
always preserved the most tender love and gratitude towards this Blessed
Virgin, who had obtained him so great a grace.
PRAYER
0 most pure
Virgin Mary, I worship thy most holy heart which was the delight and
resting-place of God, a heart overflowing with humility, purity, and Divine
love. I, an unhappy sinner, approach thee with a heart all loathsome and
wounded. 0 compassionate
Mother, disdain
me not on this account; let such a sight rather move thee to greater
tenderness, and excite thee to help me. Do not stay to seek virtues or merit in
me before assisting me. I am lost, and the only thing I merit is hell. See only
my confidence in thee and the purpose I have to amend. Consider all that Jesus
has done and suffered for me, and then abandon me if thou canst. I offer thee
all the pains of His life; the cold that He endured in the stable; His journey
into Egypt; the blood which He shed; the poverty, sweats, sorrows, and death
that He endured for me ; and this in thy presence. For the love of Jesus take
charge of my salvation. Ah, my Mother, I will not and cannot fear that thou
wilt reject me, now that I have recourse to thee and ask thy help. Did I fear
this, I should be offering an outrage to thy mercy, which goes in quest of the
wretched, in order to help them. 0 Lady, deny not thy compassion to one to whom
Jesus has not denied His blood. But the merits of this blood will not be
applied to me unless thou recommendest me to God. Through thee do I hope for
salvation. I ask not for riches, honors, or earthly goods. I seek only the
grace of God, love towards thy Son, the accomplishment of His will, and His
heavenly kingdom, that I may love Him eternally. Is it possible that thou wilt
not hear me? No: for already thou hast granted my prayer, as I hope; already
thou prayest for me; already thou obtainest me the graces that I ask; already
thou takest me under thy protection: my Mother, abandon me not. Never, never
cease to pray for me until thou seest me safe in heaven at thy feet, blessing
and thanking thee for ever. Amen.
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MONTH OF OUR BLESSED LADY - SIXTEENTH DAY
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