Part ten, Chapter XIV: "as He Spoke to Our Fathers, to Abraham and: His Seed Forever" (1)

"as He Spoke to Our Fathers, to Abraham and

His Seed Forever"

THE final verse of the Magnificat sets before us the truth of the word of God and His fidelity to His promises. In Sacred Scripture He is justly called "faithful and true," (1) being not only true to His words, but very truth itself- essential, eternal and impregnable truth. Not only is God faithful to His promises, but He is fidelity itself, infinitely powerful, wise and good: infinitely powerful i n overcoming all obstacles to the fulfilment of His promises; infinitely wise in fulfilling them most appropriately at the most suitable time and place, infinitely good in fulfilling His word in the manner most useful and advantageous to those to whom the promises were made.

Men speak freely and are quick to promise many things, but their words and promises are frequently nothing more than lies and frauds. God speaks little: Semel locutus est Deus.(2) He has but one Word in His Mouth: Verbum erat apud Deum,(3) but with this single Word He gave being to all things: Dixit et facta est.(4) With this single Word He supports and preserves all things: Portans omnia verbo virtutis suae. (5) With this single Word he governs all things. With this single Word He makes and fulfills all His promises truthfully and faithfully, and He always accomplishes even more than He promised. He promised Abraham, first of all, to give him a son who would be called Isaac, and He gave him countless sons. He promised to multiply his children to equal the numher of the stars i n the heavens, and then gave him a Son who is the Creator and sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, man and God at one and the same time. God promised Adam and the other patriarchs and (1). Apoc. 19, 11. (2). Ps. 61, 12. (3). John 1, 1. (4). Ps. 148, 5. (5). Heb. 1, 3

prophets to deliver men from the dark perdition of sin, and then He was not content simply to withdraw them from this wretched state and to free them from the bondage of Satan; He also became man in order to make them like God; He became the Son of man so that men might become Children of God; and He descended from heaven to earth to transport them from earth to heaven.

It is these promises made to Adam, Abraham and the other Fathers and patriarchs which the Blessed Virgin mentions in the final words of her divine canticle, "As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever;' a promise that He fulfilled when He took flesh in her blessed womb. He declared this truth to the Jews when He said to them: "Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day," (6) that is, the day of my Incarnation and birth, of my dwelling on earth, whence he hoped for his salvation and that of the whole world. "He saw it," that is, he knew Christ by faith, or else he knew Him through the revelations that the Heavenly Father made to him, "and was glad." We see, therefore, how God is true to His words and promises, a fact which should afford us wonderful comfort, because this most faithful fulfilment of the pledges of God provides us with infallible assurance that all His other promises to mankind will likewise be perfectly realized.

What are these promises? There are two kinds: those which belong to this life, and those which concern the life to come.

What does God promise us in this life? He promises that He will preserve us from evil if we live in fear of Him: «No evil shall happen to him that feareth the Lord.» (7) Yes, for all things work together for the good of those who love God: "To them that love God all things work together unto good." (8)

He promises to keep track of every step that we take in His service: "Thou indeed hast numbered my steps;" (9) to feel the wrongs that are done to us as if He Himself were wounded in the pupil of His eye: "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye;" (10) to cherish our good works like the apple of His eye: "The alms of a man is as a signet with him: and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye."(11)

These are the promises made to us by our Saviour concerning our present life, but there are many others referring to the life in heaven. Our (6). John 8, 56. (7) Ecclus. 33, 1. (8). Rom. 8 28. (9). Job 14, 16. (10). Zach. 2, 8. (11). Ecclus. 17, 18.

most benign Saviour promises us that on the day of the general resurrection, not only will He cause our bodies to rise again, but He will also clothe them with the brilliance, incorruptibility , immortality and glory of His own most holy body: "Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like the body of his glory"; (12) He will have us dwell with Him not only in heaven but also in the bosom and heart of His Father: "Father, I will that where I am, they also whom thou hast given me, may be with me";(13) He will make us kings of the very kingdom that the Almighty Father conferred upon Him: "And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed to me, a kingdom";(14) He will make us His Father's heirs and His own co-heirs;(15) He will share all His possessions with us;(16) He will give us the same glory that His Father has given to Him;17 He will associate us with His angels, mat us on their thrones, have us live their lives and enjoy their. felicity;(18) He will permit us to dine at His table;(19) He will seat us on His own throne; (20) we shall be through grace and participation what He is by nature and essence; (21) and, finally, we shall be but one with Christ and His Eternal Father who are also but one, as we have already said. (22)

Those are the marvellous promises of our most bountiful Redeemer. But is it possible for such great wonders to be fulfilled? Yes, that is as certain as it is that God is God. It is what the Blessed Virgin tells us: "As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his med for ever." 0 Christian, how admirable is thy religion! How holy and exalted is thy profession! How blessed and advantageous is thy state! Why dost thou not die of joy at the revelation of these rapturous truths! How is it possible for thy heart to remain cold and icy in the midst of them ardent games of the love of thy God for thee? Oh, how fearful will be the furnaces of hell for thee if, instead of loving the God who so loves thee, thou dost despise Him, outrage Him and trample upon His divine commandments! 0 my God, with all my heart do I wish to love Thee, not all for fear of meriting hell, but purely for love of Thee. 0 my Saviour, I implore (12). Phil. 3, 2 1. (13). John 17, 24.(14). Luke 22, 29. (14). Rom. 8, 17. (16). Matt. 24, 47. (17). John 17, 22. (18). Luke 20, 36. (19). Luke 22, 30.

(20). Apoc. 3,

(21). 2 Peter 1, 4. (22). John 17, 22.

Thee to take full, complete and eternal Possession of my heart. Our adorable Saviour is not the only Being to be called the Faithful and True, for Holy Mother Church ascribed this same quality to His Beloved Mother Mary: "Virgin most faithful." This Virgin Mother has declared to her devotees, that among all the titles of honor in the litanies sung daily in her praise those most pleasing to her are: "Mother most amiable," "Mother most admirable" and "Virgin most faithful." And indeed with good reason she bears that title, being most admirably faithful to her words and promises.

Let us listen to her speaking: "Come over to me, all ye that desire me." (23) (i.e. the Holy Spirit, who causes her to speak thus.) Omnes. Not only some, but all-men and women, great and lowly, rich and poor, young and old, children and adolescents, the healthy and the sick, just men and sinners, faithful and unfaithful, learned and ignorant; for I desire to help all of you in your necessities and obtain the salvation of each and every one. Come to me, for I am the Mother of your Creator and Redeemer; to me, your Queen and Sovereign; to me, your Mother, your all-loving Mother: "The Mother of Fair Love." (24)

Come to me with great confidence, for God has given me all power in heaven and on earth, and my love and tenderness for you are greater than all mothers have ever had, now have, or ever will have in their hearts. Come to me, for even as I have given life to your adorable head, who is my Son Jesus, I can also give it to His members: "He that shall find me shall find life." (25) Come to me, for I have given you your Saviour, I can cooperate with Him in your eternal salvation, and I long to do so: "He that shall find me . . . shall have salvation from the Lord." (26) Come to me, for I will help you in all your needs. I will remain always with you to guide you everywhere and in all things. I will comfort your heart in afflictions. I will protect you amid the dangers of this life and defend you from the host of your enemies, visible and invisible. I will light your way in the dark and strengthen you in your weakness. I will sustain you in temptations and assist you specially at the hour of death. I will receive your souls when they leave your bodies and present them to my Beloved Son. Finally, I will lodge you in my bosom and my motherly Heart. I will keep you always before my eyes, and prove the fullness of my truly maternal love.

But listen to me, my children: "Now therefore, ye children, hear (23). Ecclus. 24, 26. (24). Ecclus. 24, 24. (25). Prov. 8, 35. (26). Ibid. 8, 35

me." (27) "And blessed is the man that heareth me." (28) What have I to say to you? Cast your eyes upon my life on earth, and consider the virtues that God granted me the graces to practise there. They are as so many voices saying to you: "Blessed are they that keep My Ways"'(29) that is, who travel the road of faith, hope, charity, humility, obedience, purity, patience and the other virtues that I practised on earth. Then embrace all these virtues in your hearts, and above all, cultivate a great love for my Son Jesus Christ. And if you love Him, keep all His commandments faithfully: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (30)

Finally, we must realize that my Divine Son and I love all those who love us. (31) Love us, therefore, as your Father and your Mother, and we will love you tenderly and ardently as our dearest children. And if you truly love us, strive to implant a love for us in the hearts of other men, and these words will be fulfilled in your regard: "They that explain me shall have life everlasting." (32)

These are the words and promises of our most bountiful Mother, and she will infallibly fulfill them on behalf of her true children, for she frequently accomplishes even more than she has promised.

0 Jesus, Only-begotten Son of God, who has willed to become the only Son of Mary and to accept us as her children and thy brethren, make us partakers, we humbly beseech Thee, of thy wondrous filial love for her, as well as of her admirable love for Thee, that we may love Jesus with the Heart of Mary, and Mary with the Heart of Jesus, and that we may have but one heart and love with Jesus and Mary. (27). Ibid. 8, 32. (28). Ibid. 8, 34 (29). Ibid. 8,32 (30). John 2,5. (31). Prov. 8, 17. (32). Ecclus. 24, 31 331-

Appendix I

Mass and Office

Of

333-

Mass of the Admirable Heart of Mary

Introitus Introit

Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem Let us all rejoice in the Lord while festum, celebrantes sub honore sanctissimi celebrating this festival in honor of the Cordis Beatae Mariae Virginis: de cujus Most Holy Heart of the Blessed Virgin solemnitate gaudem Angeli, et collaudant Mary, a festival which rejoices the Angels Filium Dei. Ps. 44. Eructavit cor meum, and suggests to them new canticles of verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi. Praise Of the Son Of God. Ps. 44. My

V. Gloria. Gaudeamus. heart uttered a good work: I address my

works to the King. Glory

Oratio Collect

Deus, qui Unigenitum tuum, tecum ab 0 God who didst will that Thine Only aeterno viventem, in Corde Virginis Ma- Begotten Son who dost dwell with Thee tris vivere et regnare voluisti: da nobis, from all eternity should live and reign quaesumus, hanc sanctissimam Jesu et in the Heart of the Virgin Mary; grant Mariae in corde uno vitam jugiter cele- us, we beseech thm the grace to celebrate brare, cor unum inter nos et cum ipsis continually with one only heart, this habere, tuamque in omnibus voluntatem most holy life of Jesus and Mary, to have corde magno et animo volenti adimplere; but one heart with them, and one among ut secundurn Cor tuum a te inveniri ourselves, to accomplish Thy will in all mereamur. Per eumdem Dominum. things with a generous heart and resolute

will, that So we may merit to become Ue

to Thy Heart. Through the Same Lord

Lectio Cantici Canticorum. Lesson from the Canticle of

Cant. 4. Canticles (c. 4)

Quam pulchra es, amica mea, quam How beautiful art thou, my love, how pulchra es! Oculi tui columbarum, absque beautiful art thoul Thy eyes are cloves eo quod intrinsecus latet. Tota pulchra eyes, besides what is hid within. Thou a, amica mea, et macula non est in te. art all fair, 0 my love, and there is no Veni de Libano, sponsa mea, veni de Li- spot in thee. Come from Libarms, my bano, veni: coronaberis de capite Amana, spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou de vertice Sanir et Hermon, de cubilibus shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, leonum, de montibus pardorum. Vulne- from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from rasti cor meum, soror mea, sponsa, vul- the dens of lions, from the mountains nerasti cor meum, in uno oculorum of the leopards. Thou hast wounded my meorum, et in uno crine colli tui. Ego heart, my sister, my spouse: thou hast dormio, et cor meum vigilat. Vox dilecti wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, mei pulsantis: Aperi mihi, soror mea, and with one hair of thy neck. I sleep, iamica mca, columba mea, immaculata and my heart watcheth. Open to me, my

mea: quia caput meum plenum est rore, sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: et cincinni eci guttis noctium. Pone me for my hair is full of dew, and my lacks ut signaculum super cor meum, ut sig- of the drops of the nigh". Put me as a naculum super bracbium meum; quia for- seal upon thy bean, as a seal upon thy tis est ut mors dilectio, dura sicut infernus arm: for love is strong as death, jealousy aemulatio. Lampades ejus, lampades ignis as hard as hell. The lamps thereof arc atque flammarum. Aquae multae non po- fire and flames. Many waters cannot tuerunt exstinguere caritatern, nec flumina quench charity, neither can the floods obruent illam. Si dederit homo omnem drown it: if a man should give all the substantiam domus suae pro dilectione, substance of his house for love, he shall quasi nihil despiciet eam. despise it as nothing.

Graduale Gradual

Estote imitatores Jesu et Mariae, sicut filii Be ye imitators of Jesus and Mary as carissimi: et ambulate in dilectione, sicut their cherished children, and walk in et ipsi dilexerunt vos. Hoc sentite in cor- their love as they have loved you. Con dibus vestris, quod et in Corde ipsorum: ceive in your hearts the sentiments of et omnia vestra in humilitate et caritate their Hearts and may all your actions be fiant! V. Convertimini ad Deum in toto performed in humility and charity. Turn corde vestro: et sit vobis cor unum et to God with your whole bean and have anima una. but one heart and one soul among you. ALLELUIA, Alleluia V,(Ps 56:2 M ach. 1) ALLELUIA. Alleluia (Ps. 56:2 Mach. I) Paratum cor meum, Deus cordis mei, pa- My heart is ready, 0 God of my heart, ratum cor meum, ut faciam omnes volun- my heart is ready. To do all that Thou tates tuas corde magno et animo volenti. willest with a generous bean and reso Post Septuagesimam, omissis Alleluia, V. lute will. (44fter Septuagesima Sunday, et Sequentia, dicitur Tractus. the Alleluia and Sequence a" omitted.)

Tractus Tract

Vide, Domine, quoniam tribulor, con- Behold, 0 Lord, the grief which oppresses turbatus est venter meus, subversum est me; my heart is troubled within me for Cor meum in memetipsa, quoniam amari- I am filled with bitterness. tudine plena sum. V. Facturn est Cor V. The Heart of Mary has become a Virginis speculum clarissimum passionis faithful mirror of the Passion of Jesus Christi, et imago perfecta mortis ejus, Christ, for she bore the Stigmata in her quia stigmata illius in Corde suo por- Heart. tavit. V. Mortificationem Jesu semper in V. She constantly bore the mortification Corde et corpore suo portavit, ut vita of Jesus in her Heart, and in her body, Jesu manifestaretur in illa. that the life of Jesus might be manifested in her.

Sequentia Sequence

Lactabunda canant pie Now let all hearts rejoice and sing the Cuncta corda Cor Mariae. praises of the Heart of Mary. Cor amandum omni corde, Every heart should love her liciart, and Cor laudandum omni mente. every heart give highest praise.

Mass of the Admirable Heart 335

Cor aeterni Numinis The Heart of God Most-High hath made En factum est Virginis Himself the Virgin's heart eternal;

Cor aeternum. Haec est Virgo sapiens, She is the Virgin most wise, who has Haec est Virgo rapiens ravished the Heart Divine;

Cor divinum. Consors patris Dexterae, The Son, right-hand of God the Father, Fit Matris Deiparae has made Himself the Heart and Son of Cor et Natus. her, the mother of Incarnate God. Flos Cordis Altissimi, The flower of the Heart of the Almighty, Flos Cordis Virginei, the flower of the Virgin's heart, is now Flos et fructus. become both flower and fruit. Cordis nostri gaudium, 0 heart of Mary pure, thou joy of all our Exsili solatium, hearts, thou solace of our xii, Cor Mariae. Anoris miraculum, Thou miracle of love, thou mirror of Caritatis speculum, great charity and book of life, Liber vitae. Fons vivus charismatum, Thou art the living fountain of heavenly Thesaurus fidelium, gifts, the treasure of the faithful, the lofty Thronus Christi. throne of Christ, Rubus ignem proferens, The burning bush, that glows with fire Incombustus permarens, Yet never is consumed, the furnace of Fornax Coeli. celestial love, 0 Fornax mirifica, 0 admirable fire, in thee there is mingled In te manent socia, the miracle of flarne and dew.

os et flamma! Ros mire vivificans, 0 wondrous dew, imparting life, 0 fire Flamma beatificans, giving happiness to those whose hearts Corda pura. are pure, Infundatur omnibus Pour forth into our souls this dew of Ros ille pectoribus: life, and kindle in our hearts the flames Accendatur cordibus of love.

Flamma sacra. 0 Jesu, Cor Mariae, 0 Jesus, Heart of Mary, 0 dew, 0 fire, Ros, ignis, fons gratiae, 0 fount of grace, burn, purify, possess Urce, purga, posside the hearts of all mankind[ Corda cuncta.

0 amor, propera, 0 love make haste to spread thy kingdom Ubique impera, every where, upon the earth even as Thou In terris, ut super sidera! dost reign beyond the starry firmarnentl Nova praecordia, Renew our hearts in praise, make all Nova fac omnia, things new on earth, singing forever the Ut Jesum laudent cum Maria! glory of Jesus and Mary, Amen.

Amen. Alleluia.