Part 23 - 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
TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.
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Summary:
Chap. 23. The Death of St. Joseph
Though not very old, St. Joseph was worn out in strength and health
after 20 years of hard work for his family. Thus, in order to increase
his sanctity through practice of patience and resignation, the Lord
ordained that he would spend the 8 years of the rest of his life in
illness and suffering. (I guess, all would-be saints are required this.)
Now, Mary voluntered to support the family as when they were in Egypt
by doing some spinning and weaving of linen and wool with a loyal
woman friend. Jesus sometimes miraculously made her accomplish a lot
of work in a day.
St. Joseph suffered fevers, violent headaches and painful rheumatism
which incapacitated him. Mary served him faithfully and prepared the
food of his specific choice. St. Joseph remained humble and patient
in enduring his sufferings.
In the last 3 years of his life, St. Joseph's sufferings became worst.
Mary prayed to Jesus that St. Joseph's pains be given to her. Jesus
would then let them cease for a while. Whenever Jesus was not doing
His public ministry, He also helped and encouraged His foster father.
Near the time of St. Joseph's death, Mary said to Jesus, "My Lord,
I beseech Thee, let Thy servant Joseph's death be as precious in Thy
sight as the uprightness of his life has been pleasing to Thee."
And Jesus replied, "My Mother, your request is granted for the merits
of Joseph are great. I will now assist him and will assign him so
high a place among My people that he will be the admiration of angels
and of men. With no other human being shall I do as with your husband."
(exact qoute follows)
Then for nine days, St. Joseph enjoyed the company of Mary or Jesus
without interruption, and three times each day, the angels comforted
him of celestial music and invigorating fragrances.
On the eighth day he fell into an ecstasy that lasted 24 hours, during
which he was shown clearly many divine mysteries which he had believed
by faith concerning the Incarnation and the Redemption, and he was
formally commissioned as the messenger of the Savior to the patriarchs
and prophets in Limbo.
When St. Joseph came out of this ecstasy, his face was shining with
heavenly light, and he asked Mary to give him her blessing. But
instead she indicated tthat Jesus should bless him, which He did. Then
Mary fell on her knees and begged her dying husband to bless her,
and after he had done so she kissed his hand tenderly and affectionately.
St. Joseph also implored her pardon for all his deficiencies in serving
her and requested her prayers in this hour of his death.
Then he spoke these last words to her: "Blessed art thou among all
women, Mary! Mary angels and men praise thee! And may the Name of the
Lord be known, adored and exalted in thee through all the coming ages.
I hope to see thee in our heavenly home..."
And turning toward Jesus with profound reverence, St. Joseph tried in
vain to kneel, but the Savior gently took him in His arms, while
Joseph said:
"My Lord and my God, give Thy blessing too Thy servaant and pardon the
faults I have committed in Thy service. I give Thee my heartfelt thanks
for having chosen me to be the husband of They Mother! May Thy glory
be my thanksgiving for all eternity..."
Jesus then lovingly blessed St. Joseph and said:
"My father, rest in peace and in the grace of My eternal Father, and
bring to the saints in Limbo the joyful news of the approach of their
redemption."
At these words, in the arms of Jesus, with Mary kneeling and weeping
at his feet, in a room brightly lighted by hosts of angels, St. Joseph
died a happy and peaceful death.
After Jesus had closed His foster father's eyes, Mary prepared his
body for burial with the help of her angels, and as she did so, God
enveloped it in a wonderful light so that she could see only Joseph's
lifelike face. The body was wrapped in a white shroud and placed
in a narrow bier which was then carried to a fine tomb given to
St. Joseph by a rich man. Only Jesus and a few friends formed the
funeral procession, together with a great number of resplendent angels.
(end qoute)
---
The Blessed Virgin said to Ven. Mary of Agreda
"The whole human race has much undervalued the privilege and prerogatives
conceded to my blessed husband, St. Jesoph. I assure you that he is
one of the greatly favored personages in the Divine Presence, and he
has immense power to stay the arms of divine vengeance. That which
my husband asks of the Lord in Heaven is granted upon earth, and on his
intercession depend many extraordinary favors for men."
--
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(__ \/ ) 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..."
*