by Fr. Peter Richard Kenrick (1840)
“Give me my people for whom I request.” —
Esther vii. 3
We read in the book of Esther that this
holy woman, who, amidst the splendour of a most magnificent court, retained the
faith and piety which had distinguished her before her elevation to the throne,
was the occasion of saving her people from utter extirpation. The crafty Aman,
instigated by malicious envy, had obtained from king Assuerus an order, whereby
all the Jews throughout his vast dominions were to be massacred on an appointed
day. Mardochai, the uncle of queen Esther, imparted the sad intelligence to
this princess, who, although not included in it, failed not to grieve at the
approaching destruction of her people. Agreeable to the advice of her uncle,
she resolved to appear before the king, (although at the risk of incurring his
displeasure), and to petition him on behalf of her afflicted people. Knowing,
however, that God alone could cause her to succeed in her perilous undertaking,
she resolved to prepare herself by fasting and prayer, in which she ordered all
the Jews that dwelt in the royal city to join her. After a most rigorous fast
of three days and three nights, she ventured to approach the king, and petition
for her people. He granted her request; and the machinations of the enemies of
God's people became the occasion of their triumph, and elevation throughout the
empire. How admirably does not Esther represent Mary, the Queen of heaven, who
petitions God for her people — her fellow-creatures here below, against whom a
decree, infinitely more just than that of Assuerus for the extirpation of the
Jews, has been sent forth for the punishment of their rebellion against the
Divine Majesty!
The supereminent greatness and holiness
of Mary are calculated to impress us with most profound respect and admiration.
All the virtues which she possessed attract us by their excellence. But the
mercy of Mary — the sympathy which she has with us in our sufferings — and the
inconceivable desire she has to assist us in all our difficulties, are titles
to our gratitude and love, which should call forth the warmest expression of
these feelings. Truly may we apply to her the praise given to the brave woman
mentioned in the Scripture: “The law of clemency
is in her mouth.” (Proverbs xxxi) Although raised infinitely above us by a
dignity which the highest of the angelic host views with awe, still she does
not forget those from among whom she has been taken, and who are exposed to the
malice of that murderer from the beginning, who is more crafty and more cruel
than was Aman, the Assyrian. “Dost thou, O blessed
Virgin,” says St. Peter Damian to her — “dost thou therefore
forget our lowliness, because thou art so highly exalted? No; such mercy
as thine could not forget such misery as ours.” What a consolation to reflect, that we
have in the court of the heavenly king so powerful
and so merciful an advocate, who is ever
ready to plead our cause. If the supplication
of Moses, on behalf of his unworthy people, were so
powerful with God, as to cause him to
order this chosen servant not to pray for them,
lest He should be induced to relent and not
execute the decree which His justice called
for; how much more powerfully will not Mary
plead for us? May we not suppose that God will
say to her, as He said to Moses: “Let me alone, that
my wrath may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them.” (Exodus
xxxii. 10) The charity of Mary in heaven
is certainly not inferior to that of Moses on
earth; and she, like him, will offer a holy violence to God, by the earnestness
and constancy
of her prayer. Who will despair, when protected by so powerful an advocate?
An unlimited confidence in the
intercession of Mary, and a prompt appeal to her in all our necessities and
dangers, should be the result of the consideration of her influence and
compassion. When we address God Almighty, we are overwhelmed with confusion at
the contemplation of his infinite Majesty, and the remembrance of the
innumerable offences we have committed against Him. “Christ,” says
St. Bernard, “could
suffice; for, indeed, all our sufficiency is from Him; — but we have need of an
intercessor with Christ, nor is there any one more influential than Mary."—And
again: “You
were afraid to
appear before the Father, and, terrified at the sound of his voice, you
concealed yourself behind the trees (1): He gave you
Jesus as a Mediator. What cannot such a Son obtain from such a Father? He will,
indeed, be heard for his reverence; for the Father loveth the Son. But perhaps
in Him also you fear the divine Majesty; because although He became man He
remains God. Do you wish for an advocate with Him? Have recourse to Mary. Mary
is a pure human creature, not only pure from all contamination, but also pure
by the singular excellence of her nature. I do not hesitate to say, that she
also will be heard for her reverence. The Son will listen to the Mother, and
the Father to the Son. My dear children," continues this holy doctor
and most tender lover
of Mary, “she is
the ladder, by which sinners may ascend to heaven; she is my greatest hope, and
the whole ground of my hope. For can the Son repulse her, or be himself
repulsed? Will he refuse to hear, or not be himself heard?” — Who can read
these words of this glorious Saint, and not feel his confidence in Mary's
protection wonderfully strengthened and not feel, that if the pious Monica
obtained the conversion of Augustin by her prayers, much more will Mary obtain
God's grace for us, who are her children, and for whose eternal salvation she
feels much more zeal, than ever Monica did for that of her beloved child?
EXAMPLE
The famous victory which the Christians
gained, in 1571, over the Turks, near Lepanto, in the Ionian Sea, will for ever
be a monument of Mary's title to the appellation of “Help of Christians.”
During more than a century before that time, the Turks caused the greatest
anxiety and apprehension among the Christians. They gained victory after
victory. God permitted this, to punish and humble the Christians, and by this
humiliation to awaken their faith; as also to manifest His glory and power by
honouring Mary through the wonders he was to work for her servants.
The Turkish Sultan, Selim, the son and
successor of Soliman, had taken the isle of Cyprus from the Venetians; and,
elated with his success, thought of nothing less than of subjecting all the
Christian kingdoms to his sway. At that time the chair of St. Peter at Rome was
filled by St. Pius V whose zeal for the faith, and confidence in the intercession
of Mary, were unlimited. The Pope was greatly alarmed at the danger to which
Christendom was exposed; but with undoubting confidence in Mary, he united with
the Venetians and Spaniards, to repel the common enemy. There was, indeed, no
proportion between the Turkish and Christian fleets; and in all human
appearance, it must have seemed foolish to contend with such a superior enemy;
but the holy Pope did not for a moment doubt but that Mary would obtain victory
for the Christians. He accordingly ordered general fast days, and specially
exhorted all Christians to flee to Mary for protection. All Europe was roused
by the approaching danger, and joined in this devotion; and everywhere
processions and other devotional practices in honour of the Mother of God were
established. As Pius sent his blessing to John of Austria, the Admiral of the
Christian fleet, he gave him the strongest assurance that he would gain the
battle. He ordered him, at the same time, to dismiss all disorderly soldiers,
or such as thirsted after plunder; lest God should withdraw his protection from
the cause, in consequence of such sinners. Like another Moses, Pius raised his
hands incessantly to heaven, and sought, through Mary, the Mother of mercy, the
blessing of God on the Christian arms. The battle took place on the 7th of
October, 1571, at Lepanto. Both sides engaged with the greatest fury; and, for
a few moments, the Christians seemed to be on the point of yielding to the
superior power of the infidels. Mary, however, had heard the prayers of her
children, and the God of armies decided the cause in favour of the Christians.
The Turks were completely beaten; they lost upwards of thirty thousand men, and
their formidable fleet was for ever destroyed. The holy Pope announced the
victory at the very moment in which it was gained. He was then engaged in
conference with the cardinals, when suddenly stopping the discourse, he raised
his eyes to heaven, and said to them: “Enough of business
to day; at present we have nothing better to do than to thank God for the
victory he has given to the Christian arms.” The sequel showed that
at the very
moment in which Pius spoke these words, the battle was
gained at Lepanto; and the holy Pope was fully
convinced that this victory was to be ascribed
to the intercession of the Mother of God. To leave
a perpetual memorial of this great benefit,
he inserted in her litany the words, “Help of Christians,
pray for us” and instituted a special
festival for the same purpose. Gregory XIII
ordered it to be celebrated throughout the
church, on the first Sunday of October, which
is therefore called “Rosary
Sunday.” In like manner, in the year 1683, the Turks were completely
defeated by the Emperor Leopold I, before Vienna, which they besieged with an
army of 216,000 men, and a large park of artillery. They had laid the whole
country waste; had slain or enslaved thousands of Christians, and threatened
the whole empire with ruin. Meanwhile, the protection of Mary was fervently
invoked throughout all the provinces; public processions and supplications were
made in her honour. When the danger seemed most alarming, they received help
from heaven. On the 12th of September, the Turks were attacked by the Christian
army, which, although vastly inferior in numbers succeeded in giving a complete
overthrow to the enemies of the faith. For the perpetual commemoration of this
signal benefit, Innocent XI established the festival of the Holy Name of Mary,
which he ordered to be kept on the Sunday immediately following the 8th of September,
the solemnity of her birth. It is acknowledged by all, that these two
victories, especially that of Lepanto, were the means of preserving Europe from
the evils of a Mahommedan invasion. Mary is, then, the true Esther, by whose
powerful intercession the evils, which the enemies of God's people designed for
them, have been turned on themselves.
PRAYER
O most amiable Virgin Mary! Never did any
one appeal to thee in vain. In whatever distress or difficulty I may find
myself, I am certain to obtain help and relief through thee. Thou art the “consolation of the
afflicted;” thou driest up the tears of those who, in this land of exile,
raise their eyes to thee. Thou art the help of Christians. As Mother of Christ,
thou dost consider thyself to be the protectress and advocate of all
Christians. O amiable and powerful Mother! Graciously assist us, and rescue us
from all misery and affliction. Help thy Christian people, who, on all sides,
are so severely pressed. Protect the church of thy Son that her enemies may not
prevail over her. Defend the faithful, and especially those who are in danger
of losing the precious treasure of faith. Humble their enemies, confound their
persecutors, and rule over those who invoke thy name, and put their trust in
thee. Show thyself to be our Mother. Pray for me, that I may lead a Christian
life, that thereby I may deserve to enjoy eternal happiness with God. Amen.
PRACTICE
Give some alms to-day in honour of Mary.
Be thus the comforter of the afflicted, and the help of Christians.
ASPIRATION
“If thou dost abandon us, what will
befall us, O life of Christians!”
— Saint Germanus.
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NOTES:
(1) An allusion to Adam in Paradise, when
he sought to conceal himself from God.
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