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Mary's Name Is Sweet in Life and in Death THE great name of Mary did not come to her from her parents; it was not dictated by human mind or will----it came from Heaven and was given by Divine decree. St. Jerome affirms this, as well as St. Epiphanius, St. Antonine, and others. The name of Mary came from the treasury of the Divinity. 81 The whole Trinity, O Mary, gave thee a name above every name, after that of thy Divine Son, so that in thy name every knee should bend, of things in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth. 82 Of all the privileges which God attached to the name of Mary we will single out that peculiar sweetness which our Lady's ser vants have found in it during life and in death. The holy anchorite Honorius was in the habit of saying that "the name of Mary is filled with all sweetness and Divine savor." St. Anthony of Padua found the same sweetness in the name of Mary that St. Bernard found in that of Jesus. "Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody in the ear is the name of Jesus," said St. Bernard; "is the name of Mary," said St. Anthony. We gather from the Song of Songs that when our Lady was assumed into Heaven the Angels asked her name three times. "Who is she that comes up from the desert as a column of smoke? . . . Who is she that comes forth like the dawn? . . . Who is this coming up from the desert, flowing with delights?" [3: 6; 6: 10; 8: 5]. Why do the Angels ask the name of their Queen so often? Perhaps because it was so sweet even to them that they longed to hear it pronounced in reply. 83 But I am not concerned here with any particular sensible sweetness, since it is not granted to everyone. I am speaking rather of that saving sweetness called consolation, or love, or joy, or confidence, or strength, which the name of Mary generally brings to those who pronounce it devoutly. After the most Sacred Name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in blessings that there is no other in Heaven or earth which brings such grace, and hope, and sweetness to the devout. The astonishing thing about this great name is this: the lovers of our Lady can hear it a thousand times, and yet it always brings them fresh delight, and they experience the same sweetness every time it is pronounced. 84 O most sweet name! O Mary, what
must thou be thyself, when thy very
name is so lovable and St. Bernard, inflamed with love, lifts up his heart to this good Mother and says with tenderness: "O great! O loving! O worthy of all praise, most holy Virgin Mary! Thy name is so sweet and lovable that it cannot be uttered without inspiring love for thee and God! Those who love thee need only recall thy name to mind, and it is enough to console them and enkindle greater love." St. Bonaventure declares: "Thy name, O Mary, cannot be spoken devoutly without bringing some grace with it." And the Blessed Raymond Jordano: "No matter how hardened and abandoned sinners may be, if they do no more than speak the name of the Most Blessed Virgin their hearts will be marvelously softened." O Lady, grant us this grace: to remember thy name frequently and to call to thee with loving confidence. For this practice shows that we have God's grace already, or will soon recover it. Thomas à Kempis affirms that the devils have such dread of the Queen of Heaven that they flee from anyone who pronounces her name, as they would flee from a burning fire. Our Blessed Lady told St. Bridget that there are no sinners, however far from God's grace, from whom the devils are not forced to flee immediately when they invoke her holy name with a firm resolution to repent. And on another occasion our Lady said to her: "Just as the devils fly from sinners who invoke my name, so do the Angels come nearer." Breathing is a sign of life. So too the frequent utterance of Mary's name is a sign of supernatural life, or a sign that will soon be there. For this powerful name has the prerogative of obtaining help and life for anyone who uses it devoutly. 86 It is well known-----and our Lady's clients experience the fact every day-----that her great name gives that special strength which is needed to conquer temptations of the flesh. So St. Peter Chrysologus says that the name of Mary is an indication of chastity. He meant that if some are worried whether they consented to impure thoughts, but remember that they invoked Mary's name, they have a certain proof that they did not sin. In dangers, in worries, in doubts, think of Mary, call on Mary; keep her name on your lips and in your heart. 87 Whenever we are in danger of losing God's grace, we should think of Mary and invoke her name, together with the name of Jesus-----for these two names belong together. If we keep them in our hearts and on our lips, they will give us strength to conquer every temptation. The promises of help which Jesus has made to all who have devotion to the name of Mary are very consoling. One day, in the hearing of St. Bridget, He promised His most holy Mother He would grant special graces to those who invoke that holy name with confidence. Jesus said He would grant perfect sorrow and satisfaction for sin; strength to attain perfection; eternal happiness at the end of all. And then our Savior added: "For thy words are so sweet and pleasing to Me, O My Mother, that I can never deny what thou doth ask." St. Ephrem goes so far as to say that the name of Mary is the key to the gates of Heaven. And so it is no extravagance in St. Bonaventure when he says that " Mary is the salvation of all who call upon her." By this he means that to secure eternal salvation and to invoke her name are synonymous. Blessed Raymond Jordano asserts that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to superabundant graces in this life and a high degree of glory in the next. "If then," Thomas à Kempis says in one of his conferences, "you desire consolation in every affliction, go to Mary, call on Mary, honor Mary, commend yourself to Mary. Rejoice with Mary, lament with Mary, pray with Mary, walk with Mary, seek Jesus with Mary, desire to live and die with Jesus and Mary. "If you do this, you will advance in virtue, Mary will freely pray for you, and Jesus will freely grant Mary's prayers." So we see that the most holy name of Mary is sweet to her servants during life, because of the very great graces she obtains for them. But sweeter still will it be to them in their last hour, because of the peaceful and holy death it will insure them. Father Sertorius Caputo, S.J., advised all who assist the dying to frequently pronounce the name of Mary. For this name of life and hope is enough to put the devils to flight and comfort the dying in their agony. The invocation of the sacred names of Jesus and Mary is a short prayer-----as sweet to think of, and as powerful to protect, as it is easy to remember. 88 What a grace if we could end our lives like the Capuchin, Father Fulgenzio of Ascoli, who died singing: "O Mary, O Mary, most beautiful of creatures, let us depart together!" Or like Blessed Henry the Cistercian, who died at the very moment that he was uttering the most sweet name of Mary. Dear reader, let us beg God that at death the last word on our lips may be the name of Mary .St. Germanus prayed for this grace: "May the last movement of my tongue fashion the name of the Mother of God." Sweet and safe is that death which is accompanied and protected by her saving name. O my sweet Lady and Mother, I love thee deeply, and because I love thee I love thy holy name too. I determine and hope to pronounce it constantly during life and at my death. AND with this, my dear reader, lover of our Mother Mary, I bid you farewell and say: Continue with joy to honor and love this good Lady, and do all you can to see her loved by as many as possible. Be assured that, if you persevere till death in true devotion to Mary, your salvation is certain. I stop here, not because there is nothing more I could say about the glories of this great Queen, but for fear of wearying you. The little I have written should be more than sufficient to make you strive for the tremendous grace of devotion to the Mother of God. She will fully answer such devotion with her powerful patronage. Accept then the desire I have had before me in this work, to lead you to salvation and sanctity, by inflaming you with love and ardent devotion to this most lovable Queen. And if you find that I have helped you, however little, by my book, I beg you, in your charity, to recommend me to Mary, and ask her to grant me the same graces that I ask for you, so that one day we may be together at her feet, with all he other dear children. And to you I turn in conclusion, O Mother of my Lord and my Mother Mary. Graciously accept my poor labors and my desire to see thee praised and loved by all. Thou knowest how anxious I have been to complete this little work on thy glories before the end of my life, which is already drawing to a close. [See Note] But now I die happy, leaving this book after me, which will continue to praise and preach thee, as I have always tried to do since the day thy prayers for me brought about my conversion. O Immaculate Mary, I recommend to thee all those who love thee, and especially those who read this little workk, and more particularly those who in their charity remember me to thee. O Lady, grant them perseverance, make them all Saints, and bring them at last to praise thee in Heaven. O most sweet Mother, it is true I am only a poor sinner, but I glory in loving thee; I hope for great things from thee, and, among other graces, to die loving thee. I trust that in my last agony, when the devil brings my sins before me, the Passion of Jesus first of all, and then thy intercession, will support me and enable me to leave this life of misery in the grace of God, so that I may go and love Him, and thank thee, my Mother, for all eternity. Amen. FOOTNOTES: 81.
Richard of St. Lawrence CONTINUED: FOUR BEAUTIFUL PRAYERS WRITTEN BY ST. ALPHONSUS FOR SINNERS TO SAY TO MARY: LINKS BELOW IN THE CLICK MENU
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