Part 17 - 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. 17. The Purification
Mary said to St. Joseph, "My master, dispose of all these offerings of the
kings as belonging to my Son and to yourself - I deserve nothing."
Together, they divided the gifts into 3 parts: for the Temple (incense,
myrrh and some of the gold), for the priest who did the Circumcision, and
the rest for the poor.
The holy family accepted the invitation of a devout woman who humbly asked
them to move to her modest home.
The next days before the Purification, the Infant Jesus often murmered to
His Beloved Mother: "My Dove, My Chosen One, My dearest Mother, make thyself
like unto Me!"
Mary gave gifts to poor women and their children when they came to visit.
She also tactfully instructed them in the knowledge of God, the mysteries
concerning the coming of the Messias, and the practice of virtues in everyday
life. She was very firm and patient in guiding those who discussed these
matters superficially.
The Hebrew Law required all mothers to be purified on the 40th day after
delivering a child. This also included presenting their first-born sons
in the Temple of Jerusalem.
(exact qoute follows)
For she saw in the soul of her divine Son that He wished to offer Himself
as a living victim to the eternal Father in the Temple.
Consequently, Mary and Joseph gratefully took leave of the good woman who had
sheltered them, and went with Jesus to the cave of the Nativity for a last
visit. Having gently placed the Christ Child on the ground at the very spot
where He was born, they both knelt and prayed fervently together, and they
did the same where He had been circumcised.
Then, as usual before a journey, Mary asked her husband for his blessing, and
on this special occasion, for his permission to make the trip on foot and
with bare feet (Mary used to ride the donkey). But St. Joseph replied kindly
yet firmly, "May the Son of the eternal Father, whom I hold in my arms, give
you His blessings. You may travel to Jerusalem on foot, but not barefoot,
because of the weather."
Prostrating herself on the ground for the last time in the grotto of the
Nativity, with all her heart, Mary thanked the Infant Jesus for the marvelous
blessings which He had given to Joseph and herself and to all mankind in the
stable of Bethlehem and she prayed to God that his holy place might always
be revered by Christians.
Rising to her feet, she covered herself with her cloak and took her Baby into
her arms, pressing Him to her breast to protect Him from the cold winter
wind. Then, after the Infant God had visibly given them His blessings,
Joseph and Mary, set out for Jerusalem, accompanied by a donkey bearing their
few belongings and the gifts for the Temple. Some of the good shepherds bade
them a sad and touchingly affectionate farewell.
(end qoute)
The travel was 5 miles of unusually severe weather - cold with sleety winds -
that the Babe shivered and wept.
The night before the Purification, Mary prayed fervently to God for the
following day's blessings, for all mankind, for the afflicted and for the
needy.
In the Temple, the holy priest Simeon also prayed that night. It had been
revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he was not to die until he had seen
the promised Messias. Then an angel appeared to him and told him to observe
carefully the first child presented to the priests the next morning for that
Child would be the Savior he had waited for. The same information was given
to Anna, the prophetess, who was Mary's teacher during her stay in the Temple.
Simeon eagerly awaited the coming of Mary and Jesus that he waited long before
dawn the next the day. When they arrived, he approached them. The ceremonies
of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
progressesd and when these were over, Simeon who was one of the priests who
ministered finally prayed to God:
"Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace
because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the
face of all people: A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for
the people of Israel."
When Joseph joined the Mother and the Child who were listening to Simeon,
the old priest said to Mary who he perceived glowed luminously like a heavenly
rose: "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many
in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted and they own soul a sword
shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts maay be revealed."
The Child bowed His head in approval of this prophecy and in acceptance of the
will of His Father while Mary felt sorrow for she saw the mysteries included
in the prophecy and she remembered these all in her heart. Anna, who was
present, was inspired and thus proclaimed Mary as blessed.
So the Holy family returned to their lodging.
Not long afterwards, both Simeon and Anna passed away in peace.
---
The Blessed Virgin said to St. Bridget of Sweden:
"I did not need purification, like other women because my Son who was born
of me, made me clean. Nevertheless, that the Law and the prophecies might be
fulfilled, I chose to live according to the Law. Nor did I live like worldly
parents but humbly conversed with the humble. Nor did I wish to show anything
extraordinary in me, but loved whatever was humble.
"On the day (of the Purification) my pain was increased. For though by divine
inspiration, I knew that my Son was to suffer, yet this grief pierced my heart
more keenly at Simeon's words. And until I was assumed in body and soul to
Heaven, this grief never left my heart, although it was tempered by the
consolation of the Spirit of God. Let not, then, this grief leave thy
heart for without tribulation few would reach Heaven."
-and to Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda:
"My daughter, the doctrine and example contained in this mystery will teach
thee to strive after the constancy and expansion of heart which thou mayest
prepare thyself to accept blessings and adversity, the sweet and the bitter,
with equanimity.
"How persistenly the human heart forgets that its Teacher and Master has
first accepted suffering and has honored and sanctified them in His own
Passion!
"Remember the sorrow that pierced my heart at the prophecies of Simeon, and
how I remained in peace and tranquility, even though my heart and soul were
transfixed by a sword of pain.
"Seek ever to preserve inward peace. Full of trust in me, whenever
tribulation comes over thee, fervently exclaim:
'The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?' "
---
More wonders, pains and sacrifices in the succeeding chapters for
Our Lady of Medjugorje does not just preach: prayers, peace, fasting,
conversion...
she, together with Jesus, also practised and lived these!!!
-Marida
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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..."
*