August 22
Mary’s Glory In Heaven
Preparation. - At the end of the octave of the Assumption we shall meditate again on the exaltation of our Queen and Mother. Wherefore, we shall see, first, the place she occupies in heaven, and secondly, how she deserved it. We shall then resolve to imitate her in her docility to grace and often to invoke her under the beautiful title given her by the Church: “Virgin most faithful, pray for us.”
I. Mary’s Place In Heaven
According to St. Thomas the orders of the angels and saints are divided in heaven into three hierarchies. But the Immaculate Virgin surpasses in merit the whole heavenly court, just as the sun surpasses all the stars in brightness. Her glory in heaven, therefore, effaces that of all the saints combined. She is, moreover, their Queen, and they are her subjects; she is the Mother of Jesus, and they are His servants. Hence Gerson says: “Mary by herself forms one of the heavenly hierarchies, the most sublime of all; she is the first after God.”
As Jesus sits at the right hand of the eternal Father, so the Virgin-Mother is at the right hand of her Son. And is not this just? Are not Mary’s merits the greatest after those of the Man-God? Did she not follow Him the most closely in the ways of His sufferings and virtues? As the living book of the Incarnate Word, says St. Epiphanius, she described better than any one else His adorable perfections. Hence no one but Jesus Himself can precede her in the kingdom of glory.
O our amiable Sovereign, how can we sufficiently praise thee and love thee? Would that I had the devotion and love of the blessed husband Joseph, who was wont to spend hours conversing with thy goodness; of St. Stanislaus, who delighted in calling thee his Mother; of Blessed Henry Suso, who felt the taste of honey in his mouth, whenever he pronounced thy sweet name; of St. Ephrem, of St. Bernard, of St. Alphonsus, who wrote such touching pages on the love due to thee, our Queen, our Mother!
Let us examine our sentiments concerning Mary. Do we not find it wearisome to think on her, to pray to her, to converse with her, to meditate on her virtues, to study her grandeurs, to celebrate her praises and thank her for her benefits? Do we carefully say our beads, and recite the Angelus, and the Hail Mary? Do we often have recourse with true fervor to her powerful protection? If we do this, we may most surely expect abundant graces from her.
O spotless Virgin, purify my mind, make it capable of knowing thee; sanctify my heart, which desires to love thee with a truly filial love, and so regulate my life, that it may resemble thine in all things by the practice of the virtues.
II. How Mary Deserves The Place She Occupies In Heaven
Undoubtedly by her excellent virtues. But how did she acquire them, unless by her fidelity to grace? Already from her very conception being more greatly favored by the Holy Ghost than all creatures combined, she so perfectly corresponded to the gifts and privileges bestowed upon her, that never will a created holiness approach hers. What saint in heaven, in fact, can congratulate himself on never having lost a single light of inspiration from heaven? Mary alone fully satisfied her Creator at every moment of her admirable life.
Wherefore with what transport of praise does not the royal prophet celebrate the triumph of this great Queen! He describes her as clothed with a golden garment, a symbol of her charity, and adorned most splendidly, as a symbol of her sublime virtues. Every other saint distinguishes himself by some peculiar trait or virtue. But Mary, their Queen, excelled in every thing. She is the apostle of the apostles, the Queen of martyrs, the Standard-bearer of the virgins. She joined the most perfect innocence with the most complete mortification, and the most profound mistrust of self with the most childlike confidence in God. And then how great her generosity, her grandeur of soul in suffering, and how wonderful her charity, capable of inflaming the whole universe! Hence she justly reigns with Jesus in the highest heaven!
If we wish to follow her in glory after this life, it behooves us to humble our haughty spirit, our spirit of insubordination, which prompts us to resist grace. The Lord has already long been requiring of us a more constant recollection, a more complete self-denial, a prayer more fervent and more fertile in fruits of salvation. And we neglect, and even refuse, to make the necessary sacrifice to comply with His will. Let us, says St. Augustine, fear lest we render useless the precious moment of the visit of Jesus, a moment that passes away and does not return.
O constantly faithful Virgin, enable me always to correspond with grace, especially when it invites me to pray and meditate, for it is by this means that I can draw from the divine treasures the fruits of mental prayer, that is, all that enlightens, purifies, strengthens, enriches and sanctifies me.
