Part 15 - 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. 15. The Circumcision
(exact qoute follows)
During the first days after the Nativity, whenever Mary thought of the
painful ceremonial operation known as Circumcision, which the Law of Israel
prescribed for every male child on the 8th day after birth, she suffered
intensely. Although she had received no intimation of God's will, in her
humility and prudence she refrained from asking either the Lord or her
angels whether her divine Son had to submit to this purifying rite. When
she spoke of it to St. Joseph, they both wept tears of compassion.
Then one day, while Mary was kneeling in prayer, the Lord said to her,
"My Daughter, do not let your heart be afflicted because your Son is to
be subjected to the pains of circumcision. I have sent Him into the world
as an example. Therefore resign yourself to the shedding of His Blood."
Whereupon the Blessed Virgin prayed, "Supreme Lord and God, I offer to Thee
this most meek Lamb. But if His pains may be mitigated at the expense of
my suffering, Thou hast the power to effect this exchange..."
(end qoute)
Mary talked to St. Joseph to tell him that since so far there was no
objection from God, they should comply with the Law. She conformed to the
usual rite except that she would hold her Son herself instead of the usual
practice of not having the mother present during the operation.
About the name to give the Child, St. Joseph remembered what Archangel
Gabriel told him and that is they should name the Babe, Jesus. Mary
confirmed that this was the same as revealed to her on His conception in
her womb.
While they conversed more about this, Mary and Joseph saw several angels
descended from Heaven wearing breast shields that had the name Jesus engrove
on them and their two leaders, Archangel Michael and Gabriel announced:
"This is the Name of your Son, which the Blessed Trinity has given Him
as the sign of salvation for the whole human race. But now, He is to shed
His Blood in receiving it, since it is that of the Savior. This will be
the beginning of His sufferings in obedience to His Father's Will. We
have come to accompany Him and to minister to Him until He ascends into
Heaven."
On the 8th day, Joseph, arrived from Bethlehem and brought with him
an elderly priest with his 2 assistants. The priest was shocked at the
primitiveness and poverty of their home but Mary's grace and modesty
in welcoming them changed such astonishment to deep respect and devotion
towards her.
The circumcision was then performed by the priest while St. Joseph recited
the ritual prayer:
"Blessed be Jehovah the Savior. He hath sanctified His well-beloved
from the womb of His Mother and hath written the Law in our flesh. He
hath signed His Son with the sign of His Covenant, that He may impart to
Him the blessings of Abraham our father." To which the assistants responded,
"Blessed be He whom Thou hast chosen for Thy child!"
(exact qoute follows)
Now, with infinite love, the divine Son of God offered up to His Father
in Heaven the sacrifice of this first shedding of His Precious Blood as
a pledge that He would one day give it all for the Redemption of mankind.
True to His human nature, the tiny Babe of Bethlehem cried as other children
do, though His tears were caused more by supernatural sorrow over the
hardheartedness of men than by His physical pain, which was intense.
As usual His holy Mother perceived and felt all that He was doing and
suffering, and she too wept. When the rite was over, in mutual love
and compassion, the Child clung to His Mother while she tenderly caressed
and comforted Him as she wrapped Him again in His swaddling clothes.
(end qoute)
Then the priest named Him Jesus while an angel revealed to him the name
written on a piece of wood. The priest shed tears of supernatural joy
as he inscribed this name on a parchment register. Then he exclaimed
under inspiration: "I am convinced that this child is to be a Prophet
of the Lord! Take great care in raising Him, and let me know how I
can relieve your needs."
These 3 priests were good and devout men and so they later obtained
salvation.
The Infant Jesus cried often because of the pain and Mary sometimes soothed
Him by nursing Him. Other times, St. Joseph walked up and down the grotto
with the Babe in his arms.
St. Elizabeth with a servant, came to visit and the cousins exchanged long,
intimate talks about all that happened.
Some people came to visit and give gifts. Other times, there were beggars
and Joseph and Mary gave alms to them in as much as they could.
After St. Elizabeth left, more visitor came with gifts. Mary asked one
woman's help in distributing most of these gifts to poor families in
Bethlehem.
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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..."
*