by Fr. Peter
Richard Kenrick
"In thy hands are power
and might." — 1 Paralipomenon xxix. 12
The Holy Virgin is most
powerful with Jesus Christ. While on earth this Divine Saviour was subject to
her, and obeyed her as his Mother; according to St Luke, he "went down with diem, and came
to Nazareth, and was subject to them." (Luke, ii. 51.) She is His Mother no
less in heaven now, than she was while on earth. How powerful then must Mary be
with her Divine Son! "The
son," says St Bernard, "will surely hear the
Mother." When Solomon,
who was a type of Christ, saw his mother approach, he rose from his throne,
bowed to her, and ordered her to be seated on a throne at his right hand. When
she intimated that she had a petition to make, he replied: "My mother, ask, for I must
not turn away my face." (3
Kings ii.20) If this great king thus honoured his mother, and gave her such
influence over him, although she was a poor sinful creature,—how much more
efficacious with Jesus will be the prayer of Mary, who has not only the natural
influence of a mother, but whose perfect holiness must render her so acceptable
to God, the author and rewarder of all sanctity? May we not then say, in the
language of the learned and truly pious Cardinal Bellarmine: "How secure must we be, when
protected by so great a mother? Who will draw us from her? What temptation or
affliction can overcome those who confide in the protection of her who is the
Mother of God, and our Mother also?"
We have a striking instance of
Mary's power with her Divine Son recorded in the gospel of St John. (John, ii.)
At the marriage feast of Cana of Galilee, when the wine was exhausted, she
represented to Him that they had no wine. Although He declared that His hour
was not yet come for manifesting Himself to the world, yet, in compliance with
her request, he changed water into wine, which was the beginning of his
wonders. Is Mary likely to be less powerful with Him now, that his hour for
applying the fruits of his redemption is come, than she was then? Will He be
less moved with her representation of our spiritual necessities, than He was by
her charitable interference on the occasion referred to? Or will she be less
likely to interest herself for us, when she beholds the multiplied dangers
which surround us, and our own spiritual destitution, than she was to prevent the confusion and
disappointment of the guests at the marriage feast? We may be assured that Mary
will plead for us with her Son still more effectually than she did at the
marriage feast. Will the Eternal Father refuse any thing to Her, on whom He has
accumulated so many favours, who was ever obedient to His commands, and whom He
made use of in the great work of the incarnation of His Son? Will the Holy
Ghost, by whose mysterious power she conceived Jesus Christ, who always dwelt
in her by grace, and who always found her so docile to His inspirations—will He
refuse her, when she petitions for a communication of the same grace to our
souls? Or will Jesus, the amiable Saviour of mankind, reject the entreaties of
her, who brought Him forth, who nursed His infancy and cared His childhood, and
who, in all the circumstances of His life, from Bethlehem to Calvary,
participated in His labours and sufferings for the redemption of the world? We
cannot reflect on these motives of confidence in Mary, without entering into
the sentiments of St Bonaventure: "It
is the great privilege of Mary to be most powerful with her Divine Son."
The efficacy of Mary's
intercession has been experienced and celebrated in all ages of the Church. By
means of it have the most hardened sinners been converted, and, by the fervour
of their penance have consoled the Church, which they had before scandalized by
their disorders. By it has many a wavering heart been confirmed in its virtue,
many a tepid soul been roused to the practice of virtue, and many a faithful
servant been excited to go from virtue to virtue, and make renewed efforts to
attain perfection. Why, then, has it not produced in us similar effects? We
shall find, perhaps, that our tepidity, or neglect of her service, and the want
of fidelity and fervour in our devotional practices to Mary, are the causes of
the little benefit we may have derived from the appeals we have hitherto made
to her. Let us animate ourselves to increased exactness in all that appertain
to her service, and with St Bernard, "venerate
Mary with all our heart and affection, because such is the will of Him who has
been pleased to give us all through Mary. Let us then adhere to her, and not
let her go, until she bless us; for she is powerful."
EXAMPLE
In the seventeenth century
lived a holy priest, Father Bernard, who distinguished himself by his love of
poverty and his charitable care of the poor, and whose name is famous in France
as "the poor
priest." He was born at
Dijon, on the 26th December, 1588. After a youth sprat in the frivolity of the
world, he was converted, and received the order of priesthood at Paris, on
which occasion he consecrated himself by vow to the service of the poor and
suffering. In the early part of his new carreer, he suffered much from the
repugnance he felt in visiting the public hospitals; but he at length so far
overcame himself, as to behold without emotion the most disgusting objects.
He constantly visited the
prisons in Paris, and endeavoured to inspire their inmates with sentiments of
resignation, of penitence, and Christian hope. At the end of his exhortations,
he caused all to sing the Salve
Regina. Father Bernard was
particularly zealous in promoting the recital of the celebrated prayer of St.
Bernard to the Mother of God—Memorare—Remember, O most pious Virgin. He caused it to be translated into
various languages; and distributed more than two hundred thousand copies of
this excellent prayer, by means of which he effected innumerable conversions.
One day he accompanied to the
scaffold a hardened culprit, who, even then, ceased not to blaspheme. The good
priest followed him to the ladder, and made an effort to embrace him. The other
pushed him back so violendy as to knock him down. Although much hurt by the
fall, Bernard arose, and falling on his knees, began his favourite prayer, "Remember, O most pious
Virgin." The impenitent
culprit immediately burst into tears, and gave every sign of a sincere
repentance.
On another occasion, Father
Bernard visited a prisoner under sentence of death, who refused to approach the
sacrament of penance. He saluted the unhappy man; exhorted him to hope in God,
and menaced him with the divine judgments in case he continued obstinate. The
other remained unmoved. He begged him to recite at least a short prayer to
Mary: he refused. Then he himself began his favourite prayer, in the hope that
the prisoner would join him, but the unhappy man remained silent. Not dismayed
by his want of success, the holy man persisted in his efforts, and at length
triumphed over the obstinacy of the object of so much zeal. Scarcely had he
pronounced the first words of the above-mentioned prayer, than the other burst
into tears, and manifested the deepest compunction.
PRAYER
O most powerful, because most
faithful, of God's creatures! I presume to approach thee with a lively
sentiment of my own unworthiness to address God, whose indignation I have so
much deserved; and with a strong conviction in the efficacy of thy intercession
with Jesus, thy Divine Son, who has placed in thy hands all power and strength.
May these sentiments always increase within me, that I may never presume on my
own strength, but place all my confidence in thee. Obtain for me, O Glorious
Virgin, a sincere conversion, strength and resolution in the hour of trial, and
the grace of final perseverance. Jesus can refuse thee nothing; whereas my
iniquities render my prayers unworthy of being regarded by Him. Thou hast
crushed the head of the infernal serpent, and snatched from him the prey which
he hoped to possess for ever. O powerful Mary, preserve me against the rude
assaults by which he endeavours to regain what he has lost; and do not permit
me ever more to relapse into my former state of servitude. Amen.
PRACTICE
Resolve to show your confidence
in the powerful protection of Mary, by invoking her assistance in all your
temptations.
ASPIRATION
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of
Mercy! Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
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