July 9 - Octave of the Visitation

Mary’s Obedience.

Preparation. - In obedience to the Holy Ghost Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. With the desire of imitating her, let us consider, first, the perfection of her obedience, and secondly, how God rewarded it. If we wish to render our daily occupations very meritorious, let us resolve to acquit ourselves of them in a spirit of humility, submission, and dependence, without attachment to our own will. “The mind of the just studieth obedience” (Prov. 15. 28).

I. Perfection Of Mary’s Obedience.

When the archangel Gabriel came to offer to the Virgin of Nazareth the sublime dignity of Mother of God, she believed in the heavenly messenger’s word, and fully acquiesced therein as in the will of God Himself. Let us admire her lively faith in the divine authority with which the ambassador of the Most High was clothed, and especially her extraordinary esteem of the virtue of obedience, for, on so solemn an occasion she found nothing better to present to God than a soul wholly submissive to His good pleasure.

Wherefore how promptly and faithfully she executed the least wishes of heaven! The angel insinuated the service to be rendered to Elizabeth, and she at once set out for Hebron there to subject herself to another’s will. “Being a faithful servant,” says St. Thomas of Villanova, “she never contradicted her Creator.” As molten metal, her soul took at every moment all the forms it pleased God to give her. “Her whole life,” says St. Bernardine of Siena, “consisted in seeking and accomplishing the Lord’s will in all things without the slightest resistance.”

We see her leaving Nazareth to go to Bethlehem at a pagan emperor’s order. We follow her into the temple where she went to fulfill the ceremonies of the Law, at the risk of being considered only an ordinary mother, though she was the Virgin of virgins. Let us accompany her into Egypt, whither she goes into exile by order of Joseph admonished by an angel, and where she remained as long as her chaste spouse wished, for she considered him as the interpreter of God’s orders. Ever submissive to this faithful guardian, she lived obedient to him in the house of Nazareth, and when the time came to accomplish the designs of God by immolating her Son, she is seen accompanying Jesus to Calvary and remaining standing near His cross of shame, so as to sacrifice herself with Him.

Who will tell us how pleasing Mary’s obedience was to God? It contributed with that of Jesus in delivering us from hell and in opening to us heaven, which the disobedience of our first parents had closed against us. O my sweet Advocate, consider my extreme misery; instead of imitating thy perfect docility, I cannot receive a command without discussing its motives and difficulties in its way. Hence my repugnance and hesitancy to obey, and often complaints and discontent. Deign, O holy Virgin, to obtain for me greater faith, promptitude and generosity in the discharge of my office, and in the performance of all my duties. May my mind and my heart be ever directed and sanctified by my intention to obey! “The mind of the just studieth obedience.”

II. How God Rewarded Mary’s Obedience.

The immaculate Virgin’s acquiescence in the words of the heavenly messenger was the principle of her glories. In fact, at what moment did the eternal Word become Mary’s Son? At the very moment when the faithful Virgin submitted to the will of the Most High by accepting the divine Maternity. It is from this unheard-of dignity, accepted through obedience, that all the grandeurs of the Virgin-Mother are derived. “Eve, the first woman,” says St. Irineus, “had caused our death by her disobedience; Mary, the new Eve, restored life to us by her subjection to the will of God”; this she did on two decisive occasions, in the Incarnation of the Word and at the death of Jesus.

By giving her will to God, Mary gave Him all; in return for this the Lord entrusted to her all the benefits of the Redemption, to which her perfect submission had greatly contributed; He, therefore, constituted her the Dispensatrix of graces. Thenceforth through her intercession sinners are converted. “By the perfection of my obedience,” Mary revealed to St. Bridget, “I merited the pardon of all who have recourse to me with sentiments of repentance.” This power of Mary also sanctifies the just and strengthens in virtue all who pray to her. Such, O Mary, is the reward of thy fidelity in ever uniting thy heart with the divine will! Thereby is accomplished in thee this saying of our divine Master: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatsoever you will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15. 7).

How great would our influence over the heart of God be, if, like Mary, we would always carefully obey Him! Wherefore let us resolve, first, never to resist our superiors’ orders, desires and intentions, but cheerfully and promptly to execute their every wish in order to please the Lord; and secondly, to be always pliant to the movements of grace, by profiting by the lights and attractions of the Holy Ghost, by means of which He wishes to establish His reign in us and enable us to share His favors.

O my loving Mother Mary, enliven my faith as to the motives that should animate my obedience. Make me docile and faithful like thyself; enable me to overcome my repugnances and to fulfill all the divine commands, especially those that disagree with my tastes, wound my pride, and give the death-blow to my self-love.