Maria Magnificata. Short Meditations for May, the Month on Our Lady’s Life.

Mary’s Immaculate Conception. The Lord said to the serpent, I will put enmities between thee and the woman. (Gen.  iii.  14, 15.) 1.  In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents.  It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve…

Mary’s First Graces. Her foundations are on the holy mountain. (Psalm lxxxvi.  i.) 1.  Mary began her journey along the road to perfection at a height to which other saints only arrived at the end of a long life of saintliness.  God loved her more at the first moment of her existence than He loved…

Mary’s earliest Gift. God said to Abraham, Walk before Me and be perfect. (Gen.  xvii.  i.) 1.  The highest praise that can be bestowed upon the saints of God during their earthly pilgrimage is that they “walked with God.”  In this all perfection consists, as we see from God’s words to faithful Abraham.  This was…

God’s design in beautifying Mary. Wisdom hath builded for herself a house. (Prov.  ix.  i.) 1.  God did not bestow all her gifts and graces on Mary for her own sake.  She had done nothing to earn that first grace that was the foundation of all the rest.  It was the free gift of God. …

The Birth of Mary. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (St.  John i.  4.) 1.  At the time of Mary’s birth the whole world was merged in darkness.  The heathen nations were steeped in vice and pride.  The Jews, too, had corrupted their ways and departed from God.  Everywhere…

The Presentation of Mary in the Temple. The King shall greatly desire thy beauty, for He is the Lord thy God, and Him they shall adore. (Psalm xliv.  12.) 1.  Mary from the first moment of her existence offered herself to God as an entire and an unblemished holocaust.  From the instant when she was…

Mary’s Life in the Temple. Here will I dwells for I have chosen it. (Psalm cxxxi.  14.) 1.  Let us watch this tender little maiden in her daily life in the Temple.  How exact in obedience to all her superiors!  how punctual in the performance of every duty!  how full of charity to her little…

Mary’s Espousals. I have put my trust in Thee, O God. I have said, My lot is in Thy hands. (Psalm xxx.  15.) 1.  When Mary arrived at the age when it was the custom for Jewish maidens to leave the service of the Temple, the High Priest told her that a husband would be…

The Marriage of Mary. The young man shall dwell with the virgin, and the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride. (Isaias Ixii.  5.) 1.  Mary, the unspotted Spouse of Joseph, learned by degrees how her marriage was a part of God’s wonderful designs regarding her.  If she had become a mother in an unmarried state,…

The Annunciation. Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. (St.  Luke i.  30.) 1.  Marys life as Joseph’s Spouse was no less one of devotion and recollection and prayer than her life in the Temple.  In their little cottage her time was spent, when her household duties were done, in fervent prayer to…

The Visitation. As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. (St.  Luke i.  46.) 1.  Mary’s first action after God had come to dwell in her was one of self-denying charity.  She undertook a troublesome journey in order to visit her cousin Elizabeth. …

Mary’s time of Expectancy. Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (St. Matt.  i. 20.) 1.  In due course of time it became evident that Mary was to be a mother.  She had said not a word…

The Nativity. She brought forth her first-born Son and called his name Jesus. (St. Matt.  i. 25.) 1.  Mary brought forth her Son in poverty and humiliation.  She had been slighted and scorned.  No room was found for her in the inn.  In the cave where the ox and ass are stabled, the Mother of…

15th Day — Mary’s Purification. After the days of her Purification, according to the Law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord. (St.  Luke ii.  22.) 1.  Mary’s Purification!  How strangely the phrase sounds in our ears!  What purification could be needed for her who was the pattern and…

Simeon’s Prophecy to Mary. Yea, through thine own soul a sword shall pierce. (St.  Luke ii.  35.) 1.  At these words of holy Simeon all Mary’s joy was changed to sorrow.  Her Divine Son was to be a sign that would be contradicted.  His life was to be one long series of disappointments, outrages, insults, ill-usage…

The Flight into Egypt. Arise and take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt. (St. Matt.  ii.  13.) 1.  It was not long before Mary experienced how true Simeon’s prophecy was to be.  In the midst of the night, as she slept with the Divine Infant by her side, she was aroused by St.…

Mary’s Life at Nazareth. Besides Thee, what do I desire upon the earth? (Psalm lxxii.  25.) 1.  When the Holy Family returned from Egypt, they took up their abode in a little cottage at Nazareth.  Yet that cottage was the closest approximation to heaven upon earth that ever has been or ever can be found.  There…

Mary’s loss of Jesus for three days. Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. (St.  Luke ii.  48.) 1.  When Jesus was twelve years old.  He went up with His parents for their annual visit to the Temple.  On their return they missed Him, and for three days sought Him, and sought in vain.  What…

The Death of St. Joseph. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. (Psalm cxv.  15.) 1.  For nigh thirty years Joseph had been the faithful spouse of Mary, the gentle foster-father of Jesus.  But now the time came for him to die.  How tenderly Mary nursed him in his…

Mary at Cana. Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye, (St.  John ii.  5.) 1.  Jesus’ first miracle was performed at the marriage-feast at Cana.  Thither Mary was invited, and from the words of the Gospel it seems as if Jesus was invited because His Mother had been already asked.  Thus we learn that…

Mary during our Lord’s Public Life. Whoever shall do the will of My Father in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother. (St. Matt.  xii.  50.) 1.  When our Lord left the cottage at Nazareth and went forth to enter on His Public Ministry, what an aching void must have been left in…

Mary meets Jesus carrying the Cross. Bearing His Cross He went forth to the place that is called Calvary. (St.  John xix.  17.) 1.  As the time of the Passion drew near, Mary’s realization of the approaching sufferings of her Son became more vivid.  The Sword of Simeon pierced her heart as it had never done…

Mary at the foot of the Cross. There stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother. (St.  John xix.  25.) 1.  What words can ever describe the indescribable anguish that rent the sacred heart of Mary as she looked upon her Divine Son hanging on the Cross.  Was there ever such a spectacle?  He is so…

Jesus is placed in His Mother’s arms. My God, My God! why hast Thou forsaken Me? (St. Matt, xxvii.  46.) 1.  These words must have echoed in Mary’s heart when the Body of her Divine Son was placed in her arms.  She was alone!  Jesus was dead.  She had heard His last cry of agony, and…

Mary sees Jesus laid in the Sepulcher. Where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also. (St. Matt.  vi.  21.) 1.  When Mary had finished the mournful task of preparing the Sacred Body of her Son for burial, the disciples carry Him to the sepulchre in the garden of Joseph of Arimathea.  Watch that mournful procession,…

Jesus appears to Mary after the Resurrection. According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, Thy comforts have given joy to my soul. (Psalm xciii.  19.) 1.  Holy Scripture tells us nothing of our Lord’s appearance after His Resurrection to His Blessed Mother.  It takes it for granted that He must have appeared…

 Mary the Mother of the Infant Church. Her children rose up and called her blessed. (Prov.  xxxi.  28.) 1.  When our Lord ascended into heaven, we are told that the apostles went back to Jerusalem with great joy (St.  Luke xxiv.  52). But there was none of them so joyful as Mary.  Her sacred heart overflowed…

Mary’s Death. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. (Psalm cxv.  15.) 1.  During the years which succeeded our Lord’s Ascension, Mary had been making a progress in holiness and perfection which surpassed all that had gone before.  She had become more and more a partaker of the Divine…

Mary’s Assumption into Heaven. Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither shalt Thou suffer Thy holy one to see corruption. (Psalm xv.  10.) 1.  On the third day after Mary’s death, when the apostles gathered around her tomb, they found it empty.  The sacred body had been carried up to the celestial Paradise. …

Mary’s Coronation as Queen of Heaven. The Queen stood upon Thy right hand in clothing of gold. (Psalm xliv. 10.) 1.  It was not enough that Mary should be received into heaven.  She was to be no ordinary denizen of the celestial court.  Mary was, by her perfect and unfailing conformity to the will of God throughout…