July 26

St. Ann, Mother Of The Blessed Virgin

Preparation. - “Glory and wealth,” says the psalmist, “shall be in his (her) house” (Ps. 111. 3). It is, in the first place, a glory for St. Ann to have given birth to the Immaculate Virgin, to the Mother of our God; and secondly, it is a happiness for her to have faithfully corresponded to this signal favor. Let us, after her example, fear lest we be unfaithful to grace, for, from our fidelity thereto depend our glory before God and our eternal riches. “Glory and wealth shall be in his house, and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.”

I. St. Ann Is Honored For Having Such A Daughter As Mary

What glory for a mother to give birth to a royal prince, destined to procure happiness to an illustrious nation! But how much greater is St. Ann’s glory for having brought into the world the only human creature exempt from original sin, and destined to give us the Redeemer! In imparting life to the future Mother of God, St. Ann caused to arise over fallen man the dawn of the Sun of justice, that was to dispel all errors, and enrich the earth with the sacred stem that was to bring forth the flower of Jesse, whose perfume would sanctify souls of good will.

But before acting on other creatures, this immaculate “rod of Jess” imparted to St. Ann, her mother, the lights and virtues with which she was endowed. This fortunate mother of the Queen of angels participated, in a sublime degree, in the holiness of her beloved daughter. God had already granted her the grace of bearing without complaint the opprobrium of a long sterility, and of obtaining by her prayers and penances that privileged child, the honor and joy of all mankind. She abased herself so profoundly, prayed so tearfully and humble, according to St. John Damascene, that she deserved to be exalted by becoming the mother of the Queen of saints. Her prayer, all palpitating with fervor, ascended to heaven and caused the Dew to descend, whence came forth the Just One who saved mankind.

O glorious saint, who gavest birth to the Mother of our God, I congratulate thee on thy happiness, on thy exaltation and thy power with the Most High. But the dignity and holiness that distinguish thee, cause me the more clearly to realize my lowliness and misery. My barren soul resembles a parched soil no longer watered by rain from heaven. Far from imitating thy patience and spirit of prayer, I am cast down by the least trouble, and often neglect to have recourse to prayer, which is so necessary for my salvation. Deign, then, for the love of thy beloved Daughter, to obtain for me the courage to conquer myself, and unceasingly to invoke Him who made thee the mother of His own Mother, in order to give thee greater influence over His Heart. I am resolved henceforth, after thy example, to pray with humility and perseverance. Enable me to merit, through thy intercession, the abundance of graces that will sanctify my soul.

II. St. Ann Made Herself Worthy Of Her Beloved Daughter

St. Ann faithfully corresponded with the glorious privilege with which God had favored her in making her the mother of the Immaculate Virgin. Notwithstanding her love for Mary, she consented to be separated from her, in order to correspond with God’s designs. Conformably with the promise she had made before the august Virgin’s birth, she brought her daughter to the temple of Jerusalem. Great then was the anguish of her heart at the thought of no longer having near her that Child of benediction.

Moreover, she had powerful motives of deferring so painful a separation. The lovely Child was then but three years old, according to St. Epiphanius, and she had scarcely begun to enjoy her sweet intercourse, so consoling to every one; the separation was the more painful to her after her long sterility. Nevertheless, this admirable mother, worthy of her beloved Daughter, consented, notwithstanding the anguish of her soul, to lead her to the sweet retreat to which God called her. We can easily give up that for which we feel no attachment; but how painful was it for a mother so loving, as St. Ann, to separate herself from that ravishing Child, who charmed the angels, and even the Heart of God Himself!

O generous self-denial, well capable of causing us to blush, who are wont to offer to God only that which has neither attraction nor value for us! When a sacrifice costs us anything, we hesitate; and sometimes we wound our conscience in order not to displease our self-love. Do we not thereby deprive ourselves of numberless graces? For the less faithful we are, the fewer the favors God bestows on us.

Wherefore let us examine, if in our heart there is no attachment, no affection too natural, of which we do not wish to break the bond. Do we not caress a certain defect, certain habits hurtful to our spiritual progress? Perhaps we take as virtues what is merely the effect of our natural disposition, and, at times, even of our apathy and indifference! True holiness consists in renouncing and sacrificing every thing that is required to please God.

O glorious St. Ann, beseech Jesus and Mary to impart to me the courage to serve the Lord faithfully in bitterness, temptations and adversity, as well as in joy, peace and success. Enable me to find out those inclinations and failings which hinder the most my progress in solid virtue.