by Fr. Peter
Richard Kenrick
"This woman was most
prudent."—1 Kings xxv. 3
The Holy Ghost pronounced this
eulogium on the virtues of Abigail, whose prudence enabled her to bear with the
imperfections of her husband, Nabal, and to appease the anger of David. Her
prudence was, however, but imperfect, when compared with that which we admire
and venerate in Mary. This prudence was manifested first, by devoting herself
to God's service at an early age; when she was presented by her holy parents in
the temple of God, where she remained occupied in the meditation of His law,
and in the celebration of His divine perfections. The church applies to her the
praise which our Divine Saviour pronounced on Mary, the sister of Martha, when
this latter complained, that her sister remained at the feet of Christ, in
silent contemplation of the divine wisdom: "Martha
was busy about much serving," and
most modern Christians would, probably, conceive, that she was more
meritoriously employed than her sister. The divine lips of Jesus have, however,
pronounced the eulogium of the latter: "Mary
hath chosen the better part, which shall not be taken away from her." The blessed Virgin, in choosing "the better part," manifested her singular prudence as
this is a virtue which guides us in the choice of objects, and in the selection
of the means to attain them. Her excellence in this particular is the more
remarkable, as she had no example to imitate, but was the first to give the
example of a total and perpetual voluntary sacrifice of herself to the divine
service. May we learn from it to choose ever the better part, according to the
measure of grace imparted to us; and ever esteem it as the greatest happiness
and the most consummate wisdom, to be occupied on earth as the blessed are in
heaven—in contemplating and adoring the divine perfections! Happy those souls who
are called to this life "hidden
with Christ in God."
In the other circumstances of
Mary's life, we perceive no less evidence of her prudence. So far removed was
she from every thing that could diminish the lustre of this virtue, that when
her spouse, St. Joseph, perceived her pregnancy, he seems rather to have been
involved in perplexity, than inclined to suspicion. Mary, with the fullest
reliance on God, does not seem to have made any effort to vindicate her
innocence; but patiently awaited the supernatural manifestation of her divine
maternity. Again, although she appears not often in the evangelical history of
our Lord, whenever she is mentioned, we may perceive the prudence which
distinguished her. After remaining three months with her holy cousin, St.
Elizabeth, she returns to Nazareth, when the time of the birth of St. John the
Baptist approached; in order, as the holy fathers remark, to avoid the
observation of those who would be assembled on such a joyous occasion. Like the
prudent merchant in the gospel, she studiously concealed the precious jewel she
possessed, and did not unnecessarily expose it, by imprudently manifesting the
extraordinary favour God had imparted to her. She treasured up all the words
spoken of her Divine Son, by the angels on the night of his birth, pondering on
them in her heart, as also those which the prophetess Anna and the holy Simeon
pronounced, when He was presented in the temple. During the public ministry of
Christ she seldom appears, as best became her sex, and her near relation to the
Redeeemer; but whenever we find mention of her, we may gather from the brief
notice which the evangelists take of her,
The prudence of Mary should be
for us a subject of close imitation. Whenever we have either to choose a state
of life, or determine on any important matter, what are the motives by which we
are influenced? To act prudently on these occasions, we should act on the
principle laid down by Christ in his answer to Martha; "There is indeed one thing
necessary." This is the
criterion by which we should try and prove all things. Whatever conduces to the
great end of our creation—the attainment of heaven, should be embraced;
whatever is opposed to it, or likely to place obstacles to us in our course,
should be rejected. To act otherwise—to be influenced by considerations of
present gratification or emolument, and not by the principle above laid down,
is to invert the order established by God, who commands us to "seek first the kingdom of God
and his justice." It is
to lay the foundation of our happiness on a sandy soil, and thus expose
ourselves to be involved in the ruin that will certainly follow. Even in our
most trivial actions we should be governed by prudence, as it is the only means
by which we can please God, and avoid the violation of fraternal charity. The
words of the psalmist should often be our aspiration to God – “Set a watch, O Lord! before my
mouth, and a door round my lip.” Let
us imitate this truly prudent Virgin, whose example the church so much
recommends to our imitation, and from whom we may learn prudence without guile,
and wisdom without affectation.
EXAMPLE
St Alphonso de Liguori was, in
the early part of his life, a distinguished lawyer; but having lost an important
suit, which had occupied his attention for an entire month, and which he was
certain of gaining, he felt a disgust for the world, and resolved to embrace
the ecclesiastical state. He was subsequently founder of the order of the
Liguorists, otherwise called "Redemptionists," whose principal object is to announce
the truths of salvation to the poor. He was afterwards made bishop of St Agatha
dei Goti, in the kingdom of Naples.
Never did this man of God
permit a day to pass without spending some time before an altar dedicated to
the Blessed Virgin. He never undertook any thing, however trivial, without
invoking her, whom he called his Mother, and, after God, his only hope. Often in
his sermons did he speak in the most touching manner of this Mother of sorrows. "At the foot of the
cross," he would say, "she adopted us in the person
of John. By the sword which pierced her heart, she is become for us a Mother of
mercy; let us therefore, poor sinners, have recourse to her in our pressing
dangers."
In his missions he was
accustomed to give a sermon on the patronage of the Holy Virgin which always
produced most happy results. Often, on such occasions, did the most hardened
sinners feel themselves touched by grace; and, in amazement at their change of
feeling, demand with earnestness to be admitted to penance. The zeal of this
great saint redoubled whenever the devotion to his good Mother was attacked. "Some innovators," he would say, "assert that the veneration given to the Virgin is
injurious to God: they deny her influence; they reject her intercession. It is
our duty to vindicate her privileges." He proved, after St. Bernard and other
fathers of the Church, that a true servant of Mary cannot be lost; because such
a one must necessarily fulfil all the conditions required by God for salvation.
The number of prayers, and beautiful hymns, which he composed in her honour,
and numerous works of piety, especially his "Glories
of Mary," and his "Visits to the Holy
Virgin," attest his
extraordinary devotion to the Mother of God. Several well authenticated
miraculous favours which God conferred on him through Mary, are recorded in his
life, published in Italy and France.
This glorious saint, who from
his childhood had asked every day, through the intercession of Mary, for the
grace of a happy death, was consoled in his last moments by a vision of the
Queen of Heaven. Holding a crucifix in his hand, and with the image of Mary
before him, he calmly expired in the ninetieth year of his age, in 1787. He was
canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on the 26th of May, 1839.
PRAYER
O most prudent Virgin, I
approach thee with sentiments of the most profound veneration, and I
congratulate thee on the heavenly prudence which thou didst manifest from thy
earliest years and which always distinguished thee through life. Thou art the
prudent Virgin, who didst seek God in all thy actions, and ever kept thy lamp
burning, by continually replenishing it with the oil of good works. May I
imitate thee in this respect, and not expose myself to be excluded, like the
foolish virgins, from the nuptials of the Divine Son, by reason of my tepidity
or want of vigilance. O Virgin, bright mirror of heavenly wisdom! be unto me a
guide, and make me ever prefer what is most conducive to my salvation, to what
would flatter my pride or gratify my feelings. Preserve me from those errors in
which passion would involve me: may I be simple and prudent, sincere without
levity, and reserved without moroseness. Amen.
PRACTICE
Make it a rule in all your
actions, especially those of moment, to examine what influence they will have
on your eternal destinies. Let this be the criterion by which you judge of them.
ASPIRATION
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the hour of death!
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