Part 10 - 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. 10. Trials
Back home, Lucifier and his devils were puzzled by Mary's extraordinary
holiness. But they did not suspect that she could be the Mother of God
because besides having a husband, they were also extremely poor.
Nevertheless, Lucifer sent 7 legions of devils to tempt Mary in each
of the 7 capital sins.
The Lord in her womb knew this and warned Mary, "My spouse and My dove,
I will be with thee in the battle, since I am in thy virginal womb. I
wish that thou confound these enemies before I appear in the world, and
I trust this victory to thy fidelity and thy love.". Mary replied with,
"My Lord, I belong entirely to Thee. Thou hast condescended to be my
Son. Do with Thy servant whatever shall be to Thy greater glory.
For if Thou art in me, and I in Thee, who shall be powerful enough to
resist Thy will? Give me strength."
Pride: The devils tried to stop her from praying. They appeared as
resplendid angels but they gave themselves away when they promised
to make her the mother of God. Mary prostrated herself and continued
praying and reciting words of the Psalms.
Greed: The devils gave her jewels and gold to give to the poor as what
God wanted. Mary did not resist but instead she said to God, "I have
acquired for my heritage and for my riches the keeping of Thy testimonies
and Thy Laws, my Lord."
Impurity: Mary renewed her vow of chastity and the devils were driven
away from her like cannonballs.
Anger: Mary calmly never gave-in to anger as she confronted the women
enticed by the devils to shout insults at her. But because Mary did
not shout back, instead talked to them humbly and kindly, they were
all converted and they apologized to her.
Gluttony: The devils did not have a chance on tempting Mary on this.
Envy: The spirits showed her a list of other people with corresponding
blessings and favors that Mary did not have. Mary only gave more thanks
for what they have and judged herself unworthy to have any other such
favors.
Idleness: The devils made her feel tired and dejected for her to postpone
prayers and good deeds. Other poeple were sent to bother her and occupy
her time with their concerns. But Mary prudently detected this and she
never allowed anything to prevent her from praying and doing good deeds.
Lucifer was angered and so he confronted Mary himself for he thought that
even if she were not the mother of God, anybody born of her would
definitely be his enemy. Lucifer came to her as a monster but that did
not bother Mary. Then the Father of Lies heretically claimed that there
were falsehood in God's Truths but Mary firmly gave truthful oppositions
that exposed his errors then she sang hymns of praised to the Lord.
Mary fervently prayed to God to prevent spreading falsehood around the
world and so God indeed narrowed down the demon's opportunities on such
activities. Another attempt by the devil was to cause quarrels among
Mary's neighbors and made them think that Mary caused them these troubles.
Mary faced these angry neighbors who went to her and she apologized if
she offended them. Then she settled any dispute and proved to them that
there were actually no cause for quarrels among them at all.
Then God allowed Mary to cast the devils away that they returned to Hell.
The Lord rewarded Mary by letting His angels honor her while Mary joyfully
and modestly praised Him.
In the fifth month of her pregnancy, St. Joseph could not help noticing
this difference in Mary as he saw her walked out of her oratory. He
was confused as to what was going on while Mary did not once try to
conceal the evidence. Since St. Joseph was a holy man, he dared not
judge Mary but he was worried that he would have to give her up to
the authorities to be stoned according to the Law of Moses. St. Joseph
did not speak to her about this either. He just prayed to God what
is just and what to do about this.
Mary knew what was affecting St. Joseph and felt compassionate towards
him for his suffering. Since she had not have the permission from God,
she did not reveal God's great secret to anyone about her condition.
With wisdom and confidence, she resigned the whole matter to God.
Mary prayed fervently to God to console her unhappy, emaciated husband.
She thus increased her services and thoughtfulness to Joseph.
Two more months passed and St. Joseph sadly decided to go away from the
whole situation and he planned to leave his home that midnight. He prayed
to God: "O Lord, I find no other way to restore my peace...I do not
believe my wife an adulteress. So I will withdraw from her and pass
my life in a desert. Do not forsake me, my Lord!" Then he prostrated
himself on the ground and vowed to go to the Temple and offer sacrifices
for Mary's help and protection.
Mary, knowing his plan, prayed: "I beseech Thee, Lord, not to permit
him to carry out this decision and leave me!"
God told Mary that He would console Joseph and reveal to him the mystery.
Then she would be free to tell him all the reality on what God did with
her.
St. Joseph decided to sleep before he left at midnight. In his sleep,
Archangel Gabriel told him: "Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David,
to take to thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is
of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt
call His name Jesus. For He shall save His people from their sins."
St. Joseph awoke with the realization that Mary was actually the
Mother of the Messias. He humbly gave thanks to the Lord for knowing
this. Then he unwrapped the bundle of belongings that he planned to
bring and prayed some more for strength in asking forgiveness from
Mary.
The next morning, St. Joseph did the chores and after Mary was done
praying in her room, he went to her. He knelt down before her to ask
for her forgiveness for doubting her faithfulness.
Mary raised St. Joseph to his feet and she knelt before him and asked
pardon for the sorrow and bitterness she caused him. Mary continued:
(exact qoute follows)
"The Lord has not made me His Mother in order that I should be served
in this life, but in order that I should be the servant of all and
your slave. That is my duty."
As St. Joseph raised her from her knees, the pure and humble Mother
of God was filled with the Holy Spirit. All aflame and transfigured
in a mystical ecstasy, she recited the Magnificat. Seeing her
surrounded by a bright radiance of heavenly light, St. Joseph with
profound humility and reverence bowed his head and adored his Lord
in her womb. And God looked down upon good St. Joseph with kindly
favor and accepted him as His foster father, filling his pure heart
with holy graces. (end qoute)
--
___ ___
(__ \/ ) 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..."
*
Scott Carson
> Gluttony: The devils did not have a chance on tempting Mary on this.
But did they tempt her with meat or fish?
> Mary, knowing his plan, prayed: "I beseech Thee, Lord, not to permit
> him to carry out this decision and leave me!"
At least not without some arrangements for child-support.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Scott Carson Department of Philosophy
voice mail: (919) 660-3052 Duke University
FAX: (919) 660-3060 201 West Duke Building
e-mail: dsca...@email.unc.edu Durham, NC 27708