Part 16 - Life of Mary
Marida Ignacio
DISCLAIMER: This compilation was based on saints, blesseds,
visionaries (4 in all) accounts of the "Life of Mary" as
"revealed" to them. It is NOT officially approved by the
Church as essential to our faith and belief. It is up to
individual reader's discretion to believe it or not.
This is here for simple contemplation on what "Holy life of
Our Blessed Virgin Mother" was and what virtues we can derive
from it.
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>From the book:
The Life of Mary as Seen by Mystics
Compiled by Raphael Brown
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Summary:
Chap. 16. The Adoration of the Magi
The Lord had given Mary, the Mother of God, supernatural enlightenment
on lot of things and events that occurred during the Nativity. She
knew that the news was revealed to 3 Magi kings from the East and that
they are on their way to Bethlehem to visit and honor the King of kings.
Mary knew so but she did not tell St. Joseph. That's why when St. Joseph
asked that they move to a much more comfortable dwelling place, Mary simply
responded, "My husband and master, wherever you wish to go, I will follow
with great pleasure."
But then Archangel Michael and Gabriel appeared to them both and said,
"Divine Providence has ordained that 3 kings of this world shall come from
the East in search of the King of Heaven, and shall adore the Word Incarnate
in this very place. They are already ten days on the way and will shortly
arrive."
The following days Mary and St. Joseph spent the time cleaning and preparing
the grotto-stable for the arrival of the said visitors. Also Mary saw in
visions, the Magi traveling together across the desert east of the Holy land.
The 3 kings, Gaspar, Baltazar, and Melchior, ruled over what is now Irag and
Iran. They had knowledge of old Testament prophecies, certain practices of
their people and they believed in the coming of the Savior of mankind.
Each perceived the birth of their King separately. The 3 awoke in the same
hour of the night and were filled by extraordinary joy because of this news.
They humbly thanked and adored the Almighty God by prostrating themselves
on the ground. Then, they immediately set out on pilgrimage to the Land of
Israel (the first place that came to mind) with some servants, gifts and
provisions for their journey.
As each king journeyed, he perceived the beautiful mystic star, prepared by
angels, and in this star was a symbolic vision of a Virgin and a Child with
a cross. This same star guided these 3 kings such that in a few days they
came together, with Melchior having traveled more rapidly as being from a
more distant kingdom. These kings were already intimate friends before this
and after conferring about their revelations, they all set out on this
journey together.
They arrived before the walls of Jerusalem and thought that being the capital
of Israel, that's the place where the King was born. They were bewildered as
to why they did not see any major celebration inside Jerusalem. A guard they
asked did not know of any such reports. So, they requested a meeting with
King Herod.
That night prior to their meeting with Herod, the 3 Magi could not sleep.
They speculated that Herod was hiding the Child from them. They looked
at the sky in search of the mystic star which disappeared once they entered
Jerusalem.
Herod was troubled and could not sleep that same night pondering about this
aleged news. He met with high priests and doctors of the Law and they,
unrolling their scriptures, pointed out in the Book of Michaes, "In Bethlehem
of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet". This made Herod more
disturbed and fearful for his throne.
When the 3 Magi met with Herod after dawn the next day, the Magi told him
the details of the visions revealed to them. They also talked about the
mystic star with the vision of the Virgin and the Child.
And so Herod hypocritically pretended that he too wished to adore the Infant
King and he said to the Magi: "Go and make careful inquiry concerning the
Child, and when you found Him, bring me word, that I too may go and worship
Him."
And so, the 3 Magi set out with their caravan towards Bethlehem. Amazingly,
they perceived the mystic star again as soon as they had passed out of the
the city gate of Jerusalem. In the city of David, the mystic star disappeared
again. They were then directed to the Valley of the Shepherds as a suitable
place for the caravan to camp overnight.
Once settled, the kings suddenly perceived the star shining with extraordinary
brightness over a nearby hill.
(exact qoute follows)
Then a beam of fiery light descended from the star onto the grotto, and in
this ray the Magi saw a vision of the holy Child. Reverently taking off their
headdress, they slowly walked over to the hill and found the entrance to the
stable. Gaspar pushed the door open and caught sight of the humble Mother
of God sitting with the Infant Jesus at the far end of the cave, which was
filled with a heavenly light. Both Mother and Child were just as the kings
had seen them in the vision a month before. (end qoute)
The 3 kings told St. Joseph about their mission in coming there. They too
perceived the multitude of resplendent angels who were attending to the King
of kings. Then they humbly prostrated themselves on the ground and fervently
worshipped the divine Infant. They acknowledged Him as their Lord and Master
and as the Savior of all mankind.
When they arose, they approached the Mother to give their customary practice
of kissing the hands as they did to the queens of their land. But the Queen
of Heaven and earth modestly withdrew her hand and said, "My spirit rejoices
in the Lord, because among all the nations He has called you to behold the
Eternal Word Incarnate. Let us therfore praise His Name!"
Upon viewing the Infant God, they again adored Him fervently and they humbly
begged Him to rule over their souls and thoughts and all their actions to
enlighten them and to give happiness, peace and charity to the world.
Then they each presented their gifts before their Lord. After 3 hours passed,
they then let their servants honor the Babe. They came in groups of five.
Once the Holy Family was alone, Mary and Joseph felt overflowing joy for
this great honors and gifts given to Jesus and which where due to the Infant
King.
While asleep at midnight on the last night of the 3 kings' stay, an angel
warned them to leave at once for the East without passing by Jerusalem.
In less than an hour upon knowing this, the 3 kings gave their touching
farewell to St. Joseph and the Magi with their caravan silently vanished into
the night, guided by an angel.
--
___ ___
(__ \/ ) His Peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marida
* )XxXx/
* | / "Human-kind: Where protection of valuable life starts and
* ) / takes off."
* \/ Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
*