Part eight (*), Chapter XI (i): Heart of Mary, World of Wonders

Heart of Mary, World of Wonders

FROM the beginning of time the Three Divine Persons have cherished a most ardent love for the glorious Virgin, upon whom They have showered such inestimable favors, even to the communication of Their adorable perfections. (2)

In addition, think of the numberless churches which, in every century since the time of the Apostles, God has caused to be built all over the world in honor of the incomparable Mary, where her praises are chanted night and day. Among these churches there arc more than sixty in Rome alone, sixty-six in the city of Naples, eighty thousand in Spain, and an uncountable number in France. At Avignon not only is the main altar of the Cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God, but every one of the many other altars in the edifice are likewise dedicated.

Consider the feasts of the univeral Church, which include seven principal feasts of Our Lady, not to mention fifteen others celebrated in special localities or churches. Also, every Saturday of the year is dedicated by Holy Church to Our Lady.

Add to the great number of Orders, Congregations and Sodalitics the processions and pilgrimages made wherever Christianity prevails in honor of the Blessed Virgin with the approving sanction of Holy Church. Together with these arc the miracles performed by God through veneration of the Mother of God, and the blessings poured by Our Saviour upon those who honor and cherish pictures and images of His Beloved Mother.

Then consider the number of books that have been penned in praise of the Queen of Angels, i n such quantities that one noted bibliographer counts more than five thousand, composed by persons of importance, Popes, cardinals, bishops, theologians, emperors, rulers, princes, lords, canons and religious. There is scarcely a nation which has not produced literature in praise of Mary, for among these writers are men of Ethiopia, (1). This chapter is an abridgment of chapters 13 and 14 in the original work. (2). St. Chrysostom calls Mary abyssus immensarum Dei perfectionum. In Hor.ani.

Africa, Arabia, Dalmatia, Sardinia, Syria, Hungary, Scythia, and of the West and East Indies. Others are Irish, Scottish, Polish, Portuguese, Sicilians, English, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Spanish, Italian.

No less than forty-six Popes have written treatises concerning the Mother of God; fifty-seven Cardinals; thirty- four Patriarchs; two hundred and fifty-nine Bishops; twelve Emperors, six Kings and Queens, princes and lords, eighteen, not to count the many works of members of religious orders.

Imagine for yourselves the innumerable panegyrics and sermons which have been pronounced in every part of the world at all times by successive mintly Fathers in praise of the Mother of Our Saviour, together with the praises chanted forever by the blessed in Paradise.

Even thus has the majesty of God proclaimed His love for Mary. Omnis gloria Filiae Regis ab intus. All the glory and all the splendours of the peerless daughter of the Most-High spring from within, from her admirable Heart.

Mary's Heart is truly a world of wonders because it is the principle and source of everything great and admirable in the peerless Virgin. We have already listened to the Holy Ghost preaching the grandeur and marvels of His most worthy spouse, but let us open our cars of our heart to hear again the words of tradition throughout the centuries of history, inciting our zeal for devotion to the admirable Virgin Mary.(3)

In the First Century, there stand out the Twelve Apostles, and in the second, St. Irenacus, St. Ignatius and St. Justin Martyr. From the Fathers of the Third Century I chose, writing in praise of Mary, ST. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop of Neocaesarea, and of the fourth, St. Athanasius, renowned Patriarch of Alexandria, together with St. Ephrem, Father of the Eastern Church, whose invocations to Mary constitute a most beautiful litany.

In the Fifth Century there is the great St. Augustine, and St. Eucher, Archbishop of Lyons. From the sixth I cite St. Fulgentius, who, while defending the Divinity of Christ so ardently against the Arians, had signal devotion to proclaiming the praises of the Mother of our Saviour.

In the Seventh Century, Pope St. Gregory extolled Our Lady as "the mountain towering above all creation in dignity," (4) while St. Ildefonsus, Archbishop of Toledo, vehemently cursed the Helvidians and other heretics who clued to deny the perpetual virginity of Mary. (3). In this concluding chapter St. John Eudes summarizes the history of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic Tradition. Cf. 0euvres Complètes, V. 7. PP. 607 ff. (4). Expor. in 1 Reg. lib. x, cap. 1, n.45.

In the Eighth Century, St. Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople stands out particularly for his writings and sermons in praise of Our Lady, having special recourse to her most merciful heart.

From the writers of the Ninth Century I have most frequently quoted a religious of the Augustine Order who sought to conceal his name by calling himself by the extraordinarily humble title, "The Idiot." (5) Nevertheless God Who exalts the lowly saw that he became known by his true name, Raymund Jourdain. His writings reveal exceptionally profound devotion to the Mother of God.

I wish to mention a few other writers of subsequent centuries, particularly St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose love for the Glorious Virgin Mary, his Princess, shines particularly in his treatise on her excellence. (6) I quote from his panegyric, which should suffice to warm even the coldest hearts, the following words: "0 woman admirably unique, and uniquely admirable~, grant me the grace that thy love may be constantly in my heart, and that thou wilt bear me forever within Thy Heart." In the Twelfth Century the great St. Bernard, expounding the symbolism of the twelve stars i n the crown of the woman envisioned in the Apocalypse, says that they represent the mysteries and virtues of her life, while the twelfth star signifies the "martyrdom of her Heart." (70 St. Bonaventure, Albert the Great, Thomas a Kempis, St. Thomas of Villanova, Arnauld of Bonneval, all have written eloquently on the prerogatives and privileges of the incomparable Mary. The revelations and writings of St. Brigid, including the vision of the Admirable Mother of Our Saviour,(8) have been approved by Holy Church.

In conclusion, if we were to recount everything written by the Doctors of the Church, and all that God has caused to become known through His s:saints, concerning the privileges, excellence and perfection of Our Lady, it would fill an almost countless number of large volumes.

Mother Most Admirable, what great and glorious things have been said, thought and written i n praise of thee and of thy loving heard To me it seems incontestable that thy heart is the centre of all these wonders, having drawn down the munificence of the Most High by its humility, purity and love. That is why I regard, hail and honor the Virginal (5). St. John Eudes follows the opinion of Salazas and other writers who assigned the works of "The Idiot" to the Ninth Century. But Theophilus Raymund, the editor of Jourdain's works, discovered that this learned writer was Abbot of Celles and lived about 1381. (6). Alloquia Caelestia. (7). Serm. in Signum Magnum. (8). Revel. lib. 1, Cap. 31

Heart under so many titles and symbols. Infinite and everlasting praise be to God, the Sovereign of all hearts, for having filled thy admirable Heart with such miracles of wonder and grace!

0 Queen of my heart, I have testified many times already, but I shall repeat thousands of times again, imploring all the inhabitants of heaven to repeat with me and on my behalf, that all sublime prerogatives are thine, and that if the least Of thy perfections were wanting, and it could be given thee by the complete destruction of myself, I should consent to it with all my heart. 261-