Tag: the beauties of mary

Thought for the Day – 16 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

SERMON (V)
Duty

I. Duty is a harsh word, when it designates the obligation which binds a man to his post.
It becomes a word full of sweetness, when it is applied to the voluntary attentions which the heart suggests for a loved one.
Our duties to Mary should be of this type.
These duties, extremely pleasing, are those of a son to his mother, of a friend to his friend.

The thought of Heaven is a force, as the thought of love is an allurement.
To raise one’s thoughts, is to raise oneself completely –Altius cogita (think higher).

II. It is in the life of the soul, as in the present life; to think
well, is the beginning of doing well.
To have great thoughts is to prepare for great actions. Mary’s example, in this case, is more than a demonstration, it is an attraction and an aid.
Mary, says the Gospel, kept all these things in her heart. As Pascal said, great thoughts come from the heart, it is they that create the action.
Too often has mysticism been reproached as being only a dream.
The mysticism of the Imitation, is an action, for it is perfection!

III. This action is arduous and often discouraging; besides, the soul begs Mary for confidence to be able to attain the goal of the spiritual life which is Heaven.

MEDITATION
The Beauties of Mary

The dream of every soul would be to see Mary in her heavenly splendour – Dante had this dream and tried to translate it into his Paradise. He represents Mary to us under the symbol of an aureole of pure gold and he refers to her only, by the names of flowers and nature – “blooming rose” “lily full of whiteness”, “perfumed stem” “fragrant tree”, “singing lyre” “sparkling sapphire” “soaring flame” “arc which riseth.”
He sees her only in the midst of flowers, surrounded by stars, crowned with splendours.
For him, she epitomises, all which is charming here below in the being of a young girl, a virgin.
The grace which extends itself in reflections, the beauty which radiates in magnificence, the love which gushes forth in transport.
Before this dazzling vision, the poet lowers his eyes and kneels with arms extended.
So, it seems, we too should do in order to contemplate the beauties of Mary.

“Now raise thy view” St Bernard then says to him, “unto the visage most resembling Christ – for, in her splendour only, shalt thou win the power to look on Him!”
Mary, indeed, is beautiful, as all souls are beautiful by the reflection of Christ in them!

Practice:
Imitate the Saints, who wore the shield and insignia of Mary, like the Scapular and the Rosary.

Thought:
The remembrance of Mary is an aid and a support –
“Adjuvat et sublevat – it aids and consoles.”

Fr & Dr Célestin Albin de Cigala (1865-1928)
Faculty of Paris (1947)
Doctor of Theology and Philosophy