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Section 1.
Fidelity to the order established by God comprehended the whole
sanctity of the righteous under the old law; even that of St.
Joseph, and of Mary herself.
God continues to speak to-day as He spoke in former times to our
fathers when there were no directors as at present, nor any
regular method of direction. Then all spirituality was comprised
in fidelity to the designs of God, for there was no regular system
of guidance in the spiritual life to explain it in detail, nor so
many instructions, precepts and examples as there are now.
Doubtless our present difficulties render this necessary, but it
was not so in the first ages when souls were more simple and
straightforward. Then, for those who led a spiritual life, each
moment brought some duty to be faithfully accomplished. Their
whole attention was thus concentrated consecutively like a hand
that marks the hours which, at each moment, traverses the space
allotted to it. Their minds, incessantly animated by the impulsion
of divine grace, turned imperceptibly to each new duty that
presented itself by the permission of God at different hours of
the day.
Such were the hidden springs by which the conduct of Mary was
actuated. Mary was the most simple of all creatures, and the most
closely united to God. Her answer to the angel when she said:
"Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum": contained all the mystic
theology of her ancestors to whom everything was reduced, as it is
now, to the purest, simplest submission of the soul to the will of
God, under whatever form it presents itself. This beautiful and
exalted state, which was the basis of the spiritual life of Mary,
shines conspicuously in these simple words, "Fiat mihi" (Luke i,
38). Take notice that they are in complete harmony with those
which Our Lord desires that we should have always on our lips and
in our hearts: "Fiat voluntas tua".
It is true that what was required of Mary at this great moment,
was for her very great glory, but the magnificence of this glory
would have made no impression on her if she had not seen in it the
fulfilment of the will of God. In all things was she ruled by the
divine will. Were her occupations ordinary, or of an elevated
nature, they were to her but the manifestation, sometimes obscure,
sometimes clear, of the operations of the most High, in which she
found alike subject matter for the glory of God. Her spirit,
transported with joy, looked upon all that she had to do or to
suffer at each moment as the gift of Him who fills with good
things the hearts of those who hunger and thirst for Him alone,
and have no desire for created things.
Section 2
"The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee " (Luke i, 35),
said the angel to Mary. This shadow, beneath which is hidden the
power of God for the purpose of bringing forth Jesus Christ in the
soul, is the duty, the attraction, or the cross that is presented
to us at each moment. These are, in fact, but shadows like those
in the order of nature which, like a veil, cover sensible objects
and hide them from us.
Therefore in the moral and supernatural
order the duties of each moment conceal, under the semblance of
dark shadows, the truth of their divine character which alone
should rivet the attention. It was in this light that Mary beheld
them.
Also these shadows diffused over her faculties, far from
creating illusion, did but increase her faith in Him who is
unchanging and unchangeable. The archangel may depart. He has
delivered his message, and his moment has passed. Mary advances
without ceasing, and is already far beyond him. The Holy Spirit,
who comes to take possession of her under the shadow of the
angel's words, will never abandon her.
There are remarkably few extraordinary characteristics in the
outward events of the life of the most holy Virgin, at least there
are none recorded in holy Scripture. Her exterior life is
represented as very ordinary and simple. She did and suffered the
same things that anyone in a similar state of life might do or
suffer. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth as her other
relatives did. She took shelter in a stable in consequence of her
poverty. She returned to Nazareth from whence she had been driven
by the persecution of Herod, and lived there with Jesus and
Joseph, supporting themselves by the work of their hands. It was
in this way that the holy family gained their daily bread. But
what a divine nourishment Mary and Joseph received from this daily
bread for the strengthening of their faith! It is like a sacrament
to sanctify all their moments.
What treasures of grace lie
concealed in these moments filled, apparently, by the most
ordinary events. That which is visible might happen to anyone, but
the invisible, discerned by faith, is no less than God operating
very great things. O Bread of Angels! heavenly manna! pearl of the
Gospel! Sacrament of the present moment! thou givest God under as
lowly a form as the manger, the hay, or the straw. And to whom dost
thou give Him "Esurientes implevit bonis" (Luke i. 53).
God reveals Himself to the humble under the most lowly forms, but
the proud, attaching themselves entirely to that which is
extrinsic, do not discover Him hidden beneath, and are sent empty
away.
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