Part 14 - 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. 14. The Adoration of the Shepherds
All nature, plants and animals, caught the wave of rejoicing, life, bloom,
flow, and abundance at the holy hour of our Savior's Nativity.
Some chosen souls received the thrilling and consoling news announced by
holy angels. The holy old priest Simeon and Mary's former teacher at
the temple, Anna, were both given the news of the birth of the Savior.
Archangel Michael brought the good news to patriarchs and prophets in
Limbo. Mary's parents, St. Ann and St. Joachim, who were there, rejoiced
with the others upon knowing this great news.
St. Elizabeth, with her son, St. John the Baptist were also given the news
of the Nativity and St. Elizabeth immediately sent out one of her servants
to bring some money and linens to the holy family.
The 3 Magi were also given the news and they perceived the mystic star
above the holy place. After confiding each one's private revelation to one
another, the 3 set out on pilgrimage to the Savior's birth place.
Meanwhile, some poor shepherds minding their flocks a mile from the grotto,
observed a strange, luminous cloud hovering right above the hill of the
Infant Lord's birth site. Then Archangel Gabriel came to them to reveal
the good news to this poor, humble and devout shepherds. Then more angels
came and sang hymns of praise in His glory.
Near dawn, the shepherds, with some chickens and goats as presents, arrived
at the grotto-stable. St. Joseph openly received them after hearing them
say that an angel told them of the news of the birth of the divine Child.
St. Joseph led them to the cave where the Babe was lying with His lovely
and Blessed Mother sitting beside His crib. The shepherd looked down upon
the beautiful Infant and He looked up to them. Then a mystical current
of divine love streamed forth from Him and touched the sincere hearts of
these poor but fortunate men. This Love spiritually changed and renewed
them as well as filled them with a new grace and understanding of the mystery
of the Incarnation and of the Redemption. The shepherds then humbly
prostrated themselves on the ground weeping tears of joy and they honored
their Infant God. The shepherds finally sang together the words and melody
they heard the angels sang after Archangel Gabriel gave the news to them.
Mary observed all these. After they sang, since she felt and knew what's
in their hearts, she urged them to persevere in the love and service of
the Lord.
At noon, Mary graciously serve the shephered something to eat.
Before they left, Mary let each of them hold the divine Babe and each in
turn wept tears of joy and gratitude. Then they left with this in their
hearts: "glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen,
even as it was spoken to then."
The next day they returned with their wives and children. They brought
gifts of eggs, honey and cloth. The men helped St. Joseph make the grotto
somewhat more habitable while some of the women who knew him from childhood
did some cooking and washing for the Holy Family.
Once alone, Mary and Joseph contemplated on the happiness in their hearts
on having the Infant Lord, the Savior.
(exact qoute follows)
Most of the time the loving Mother of God held her divine Son in her arms.
Whenever she took Him up, she first made 3 genuflections and humbly kissed
the ground before kneeling at the crib and touching the tiny Jesus. And
when she thought that she should nurse Him, she first asked His permission.
All her angels remained present and visible to her until the Flight to Egypt,
and on rare occasions she gave her Baby into the hands of the Archangel
Gabriel and Michael. She would not sleep except when the Lord Himself
commanded her to do so. With her angels and with St. Joseph, she often
composed and sang beautiful hymns in honor of the holy Child. And she often
gave her good husband the intense pleasure of hearing her refer to Jesus
as "our Son".
Many times in caressing her beloved Son, she humbly kissed His feet, and
she always asked His consent before kissing His sacred face. And often He
returned her affection by putting His little arms around her neck. At such
times Mary said to Him: "O my Love, sweet Life of my soul, who art Thou, and
who am I? What return shall I make for the great things which Thou has done
to me?"
(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
> Chap. 14. The Adoration of the Shepherds
Why are we supposed to adore the shepherds?
> All nature, plants and animals, caught the wave
I knew those Beach Boys were on to something.
> St. Joseph openly received them after hearing them
> say that an angel told them of the news of the birth of the divine Child.
Yes, you'd want to treat people who said things like that pretty carefully.
> The shepherds finally sang together the words and melody
> they heard the angels sang after Archangel Gabriel gave the news to them.
I believe it went, "And in my hour of darkness, Mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be."
> the Archangel Gabriel and Michael.
I knew that guy was weird.
> And she often
> gave her good husband the intense pleasure
Oh please. I thought this was a family picture. I'm outta here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Scott Carson Department of Philosophy
voice mail: (919) 660-3052 Duke University
FAX: (919) 660-3060 201 West Duke Building
e-mail: sket...@acpub.duke.edu Durham, NC 27708