Mary, Mother Most Amiable

by Fr. Peter Richard Kenrick (1840)

“And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and called his name 'amiable to the Lord,' because the Lord loved him."—2 Kings xii. 25

This was the name given by God to Solomon at his birth; because he was the happy son of David from whom the Messiah was to descend, and because his reign was to be an illustrious type of the peaceful glories of the Messiah's kingdom. If the Lord loved so remote an ancestor of Christ, how much more "amiable to the Lord" was that favoured creature, who conceived and brought him forth? When God created this world, and beheld all the things that he had made, he saw that they were good, and was pleased in the manifestation of His own divine perfections which they presented. In Mary, he beheld a spotless creature, who, according to the scripture expression, "although black was beautiful"—that is, who although belonging to a sinful race, was unsullied by the stain of sin, having been exempted, through the future merits of her divine Son, from contracting the guilt, and suffering the consequences, of Adam's prevarication. Hence Richard of St. Laurence writes: "the Blessed Virgin was lovely even in the eyes of God."

We cannot doubt but that our first parents before their fall possessed natural advantages which we no longer enjoy. Mary, through the divine mercy, was not only placed in the same condition as if Adam had never fallen, but was, moreover, endowed with gifts, both of the natural and supernatural order, in some measure proportioned to the greatness of her destiny. Hence in the canticle of canticles, the spouse, by whom the holy fathers understand the blessed Virgin to be signified, is called "the fairest among women” (Cant i. 7,) and the daughters of Jerusalem are represented as struck with admiration at her beauty, and exclaiming, "Return, return, O Sulamitess, return, return, that we may behold thee." (Cant iv. 1.) If we admire the wisdom of God, exhibited in the beauty of the firmament, or in variety of wonders which the earth presents to our contemplation, how much more justly are we called on to admire the manifestation of the same divine perfections in this singularly favoured creature. "Who can refuse to love thee, O Mary," says St. Bonaventure; "thou art more beautiful than the sun; thou art sweeter than honey; to all thou art amiable, to all thou art gracious."

Mary was amiable beyond all other creatures, because beyond all other creatures she reflected the divine perfections in the moral qualities of her nature. All that we can conceive of suavity of disposition, gentleness of nature, and kindliness of manner, were found in her in a degree far surpassing our conceptions. How many hearts must she have attracted to God by the amiability of her deportment, in which every thing indicated exalted purity and godliness! Her look, according to St Ambrose, inspired all who beheld it with a love of purity. How many sinners have been converted to God, and how many holy souls incited to renewed zeal for their salvation, by beholding the representation of the sweet countenance of this most amiable mother, who clasps the divine infant to her breast, and looks down, with an expression of mild rebuke, on those who esteem so little the excess of that love wherewith he has loved them! Who has ever looked at these prodigies of the painter's pencil, in which are expressed such unearthly beauty and such sweet benignity, without ejaculating an aspiration to this most amiable, because most perfect of creatures? Let us endeavour to imitate her virtue as far as is given to our weakness: and, by showing forth the gifts of grace in the conduct of our lives, in- duce our fellow-creatures to glorify our Father who is in heaven. Let the amiable character of Mary not only serve to excite us to virtue, but let it moreover give us great confidence in our applications for her intercession. If the recollection of our infidelities to God makes us dread to approach Him, let us fly like children to our most amiable Mother, according to the counsel of a holy writer, Hugh of St. Victor "If you dread to approach God, look up to Mary. In her you will see nothing that can terrify you. She is of the same race as you yourselves are."

EXAMPLE

A celebrated missionary, Father Gonzales Silveira, brought with him to the kingdom of Monomatapa, in Africa, a beautiful picture of the blessed Virgin. One of the officers of the court saw it, and not knowing how to distinguish the picture from reality, told his prince that the strange priest had brought with him a lady of singular beauty. The king conceived a great desire to see her, and sent accordingly to Father Gonzales, who immediately brought him the painting, and told him that this was the lady the officer had seen. The king was so charmed with it, that he placed it under a rich canopy in his own chamber. On the following night, while he slept tranquilly, he seemed to behold the Virgin surrounded with light, in the same dress and similarly ornamented as in the picture. She addressed him in a language he did not understand. This happened on three successive nights. He was so annoyed at not understanding what the unknown lady said to him, that he interrogated the missionary on the subject. This latter replied that the language of the Queen of Heaven was a heavenly language, and could only be understood by a Christian. "Well then," said the king, "I will be a Christian, since it is so agreeable to the Queen of Heaven." He was accordingly instructed in the principles of our holy faith, and was solemnly baptized, together with his mother, and many of the nobles of his court. He then learned that the incomprehensible language of the Queen of Heaven was the means she had made use of to induce him to become a Christian; and he esteemed this character too much not to be ever thankful to her by whose means he had obtained it

PRAYER

O blessed Mary, who can return thee sufficient thanks, or adequately celebrate thy praises, for having by thy consent succoured a ruined world? What praise can human weakness offer to thee, which by thy means has found the port of salvation? Receive, however, our thanks, although unworthy of thee and unequal to thy merits, and obtain for us pardon by thy intercession. Receive our prayers within the sanctuary of thy clemency, and procure for us the antidote of reconciliation. May our offerings be rendered acceptable through thy intercession and may we obtain what we confidentially ask. Receive what we offer; impart what we desire; avert what we fear: for thou art the only hope of sinners. Through thee do we hope for pardon of our sins; and in thee, O most blessed lady! is the expectation of our rewards. Holy Mary! Succour the miserable, help the pusillanimous, comfort the mournful, pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, pray for the devoted female sex, and let all experience thy intercession who celebrate thy holy conception. Amen. (Ascribed to St. Augustine)

PRACTICE

Keep always a picture of this most amiable Mother in your room, and when it meets your eye, make an aspiration of love to Jesus and to Mary.

ASPIRATION

How beautiful art thou, O my beloved! How beautiful art thou. — Canticles iv. 1