THE PRINCIPAL MYSTERIES WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO MARY'S INCREASE IN GRACE AFTER THE INCARNATION

Article 5 of of The Divine Maternity
and the Plenitude of Grace Continued

Pentecost

   The glorious Resurrection of Our Savior and His different apparitions all marked new stages in Mary's spiritual growth. She saw in them the realization of so many of Jesus' prophecies. She saw in them too His victory over death, a sign of Good Friday's victory over Satan.

   The mystery of the Ascension raised Mary's thoughts still higher heavenwards. The evening of that day, when she withdrew to the Supper-room with the Apostles (Acts i, 14) she must have felt, as they too did, how empty the world was without Jesus. The difficulty of converting the pagan world loomed up in all its magnitude. The presence of Our Lady helped the Apostles to face it. In union with Jesus she merited, de congruo, the graces they were about to receive in this room where the Blessed Eucharist had been instituted. where they had been ordained priests, and where the Master had appeared to them after His Resurrection.

   The day of Pentecost comes. The Holy Ghost descends on Mary and on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, to give the final enlightenment concerning the mysteries of man's salvation, and to impart the strength needed for the immense and arduous task that awaited its accomplishment. On that day, the Apostles were confirmed in grace. St. Peter went forth to manifest by his preaching that he had received fulness of knowledge of the mystery of Jesus Christ, Savior and Author of newness of life. One and all, from being fearful the Apostles became courageous, rejoicing to suffer for the name of Jesus. How marvelous must not Mary's progress have been --- she who was to be on earth, as it were, the heart of the infant Church!

    Now that Jesus has ascended to Heaven no one will participate as she in His love for His Father and for souls. By her prayer, her contemplation, her ceaseless generosity, she will, in some way, sustain the souls of the Twelve, following them as a mother in the labors and difficulties of their apostolate, right up to the crown of martyrdom. They are her sons. The Church will later call her Queen of Apostles.