Meditation: The Choice of a State of Life: Conformity to the Holy Will of God in the Choice (12): Silence of the Blessed Virgin

Silence of the Blessed Virgin

The Blessed Virgin was animated by the same spirit as her Son in the practice of silence, as of every other virtue. She was eminently fitted to repeat those words of St. Paul: "Let this mind be i n you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2, 5). This caused her to love silence, and to hate a multitude of words. We do not read anywhere that she ever broke the sacred silence of her holy childhood. And, we find in the Holy Gospel seven instances of her having spoken at any time of her life, and.even then her words are few.

0 most holy Virgin, I consecrate to thee my powers of speech. Grant that I may henceforth use them to speak only the language of my Most Adorable Father and my most amiable Mother.

Importance of Silence in the Christian Life

Consider these words of St. James: "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" (James 3, 6). I t is the source of blasphemy, impiety, malediction, calumny, detraction, false testimony, perjury and lying; of deceit, murmuring, raillery, injurious and lascivious words. Silence preserves the soul from all these sins, and a multitude of others that follow in their train. Therefore: "If any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, that man's religion i s vain" (James 1, 26). And on the contrary: "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man" (James 3, 2).

God loves silence. For, it is a sacrifice we make of our constant inclination to talk. So eminently agreeable to Him is this silence, that He is pleased when we abstain sometimes even from good words. "I was dumb and was humbled and kept silence from good things," says the Prophet David. Thus, in their silence Our Saviour and His holy Mother abstained from speaking good and holy things for they could

speak naught else. St. John the Baptist retired into the desert to avoid staining the purity of life by a single useless word.

Thousands of saints have spent their lives in silence and solitude for the same reason. This i s why all the founders of religious Orders have recommended silence and mortification of the tongue i n their established rules, for even the praises of our tongue to God are no better than hypocrisy when the tongue alone recites them and the heart is not united thereto (Matt. 15, 7-8). "The voice of the tongue is not heard by God if that of the heart is not present," says St. Augustine. This being so, we should cultivate a deep esteem and affection for the virtue of silence. What a desire to imitate our most holy Mary! What care to guard our tongue against the least injurious word! For we must remember that our Lord has declared that on judgment Day He will demand a severe account of every idle word.

Let us crave pardon for the sins we have committed by our tongue. Let us implore the Blessed Virgin to obtain for us the grace to imitate her and her Divine Son in the devout use of speech and i n their singular love for holy silence.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"In silence and quiet the devout soul maketh progress." In silentio et quiete proficit anima devota (Imitation of Christ, Ch. 20,6).

226-

The Modesty of the Blessed Virgin Mary

in Her Admirable Childhood

Excellence of Modesty

Modesty is a virtue which regulates the exterior of the individual in a manner edifying to-the beholder. It is one of the fruits of the Holy Ghost, and, where modesty is, there is the Holy Spirit.

Modesty, according to St. Paul, is a visible mark of predestination. It is one of the recognizable characteristics of the elect, the saints, and the well-beloved of God: "Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience" (Col. 3, 12).

in the early days of the Church when the Christians were very few, they were recognized by their great modesty, which converted many of the pagans.

Let these considerations fill your mind and heart with a high esteem and great love for this virtue, and with an ardent desire to acquire it.

Admirable Modesty of Our Lord During

His LIFE ON EARTH

Endeavor to picture the Son of God upon earth, conversing with men. Behold the marvelous modesty which appeared in His visage, His eyes, His speech, His gait, His gestures and His entire person. The Blessed Virgin declared to St. Bridget that her Divine Son was endowed with such beauty, sweetness and modesty that His aspect gave comfort and joy not only to the good, but even to the wicked and His enemies, and that the Jews, when they were in distress and affliction,

would say to one another: "Let us go and gaze upon Mary's Son: the sight of Him will console us." Let us adore the admirable modesty of the Saviour. Let us give thanks for the honor He rendered the Eternal Father by the practice of this virtue. Let us entreat Him to grant us grace to eradicate from ourself whatever is contrary to holy modesty.

Angelic Modesty of the Blessed Virgin

Picture the angelic modesty of Mary, the little Handmaid of God. Never was there anything comparable in any creature. Her carriage, her speech and gestures, her whole exterior, whether standing or seated, whether reposing or at work, whether conversing with her neighbor or praying to God in the Temple, her angelic visage, and simple dress and manner suggested a visible angel in whom modesty had become incarnate.

The modesty of this most holy maiden proceeded from three causes.

First, from the virginal chastity which enveloped her whole exterior. Second, from her constant dwelling in the presence of God and conversing with Him in her mind and heart. Third, from her complete possession of this gift of the Holy Ghost, who was the rule of all her actions, and imprinted in her being a living and perfect image of the adorable modesty befitting the Mother of God.

Let us give thanks to God for having clothed Mary with such incomparable modesty. Let us offer this peerless modesty in reparation for our faults against this virtue. Let us resolve to practice earnestly these words of the Apostle: "Let your modesty be known to all men; the Lord is nigh." Let us examine our own behaviour in all the exterior acts of our life, and ask the grace to correct our faults against modesty. Let us beg the Blessed Virgin to obtain this grace for us for the sole glory of her Son.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"Let your modesty be known to all men." Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus (Phil. 4, 5) 229-

231-

The Holy Heart of Mary ( 1 )