Tag: on the beauty and lineage of mary

Thought for the Day –21 May – The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

Extracts from The Imitation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)
Imprimatur 17 February 1947

Chapter VIII
On the BEAUTY and LINEAGE of MARY

i. O Mary, illustrious Virgin, engendered from the fruitful race of Patriarchs, nourished by the holy descendants of priests, O Mary, honoured with the dignity of Pontiffs, announced by the choir of Prophets, heiress of the grandeur of Kings, illustrious daughter of the House of David, supreme glory of the Tribe of Juda.
Sacred heroine of the valiant people of Israel, living symbol of a holy nation, miraculous child of blessed parents, thou merit glory and praise, thou merit tenderness and love.
Thou art a treasure among all women, thou, who even before the beginning of time had been chosen as the Mother of God.
The Patriarchs desired thy birth, O Mary, the wise Prophets announced thee, the just men and the Kings bore witness to thee, the people of Israel sighed for thee, until the day, when at last, thou appeared, O Mary, for the salvation of this dying world.

ii. Thy name is proclaimed in the whole universe, O Mary! from the rising to the setting of the sun, among all nations, Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Latins, Romans and Scythians, everywhere thy name is announced with the Gospel.
Everywhere, too and everyday, thy name is preached in Churches and Chapels, in cloisters, in fields, in deserts.
It is repeated by the little and the great, by priests and doctors and preachers, who all equally seek to praise thee.
Yes, O Mary, together the choir of the just unites its harmonies and its voices, in order to chant thy attractions, thy grace and thy holiness.
Its love is so great, its love is so gentle that it can, without ever tiring, chant, contemplate, meditate and fete thy mysteries.
Mindful of the words of Wisdom:
‘Those who eat of me yet hunger for this bread,
those who drink of me still thirst for this wine.’

iii. Prayer: Come then, O Mary, Sweet Virgin Whom I Love!

Come then, O Mary, sweet Virgin whom I love!
Come then, my hope and my consolation!
Come, for when I am near thee,
when I hear thy voice,
it seems, I already possess all good,
it seems, I am sheltered from all evil,
recalling thy sweet clemency,
I come to seek refuge under thine aegis,
O Mary, thou who knowest how to give,
to the weak – strength,
to the captive – freedom,
be for me, all merciful,
be, by thy love, a mother to me.
Thus I shall know,
through having experienced it.
All those who arc faithful in serving thee,
how thou console, with charm
and how thou defend, with assurance.

By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
(Soliloquy of the Soul, Chapter V)

Translated By:
Fr & Dr C Albin de Cigala (1865-1928)
Faculty of Paris (1947)
Doctor of Theology and Philosophy