April 9 — Saint Mary Op Egypt

from her body which was worn out by austerities ! Let us humble ourselves at such a comparison ; let us think with fear on this great truth — that God's justice will require an exact account of all the graces He has heaped upon us ; and with this thought, let us rouse ourselves to a determination to merit, by the sincerity of our repentance, a place near the humble penitent of the desert.

We take the lessons of the Office of St. Mary of Egypt from the ancient Roman-French breviaries :

Maria iEgyptia, duodecennis, tempore Justini imperatoris, relictis parentibus, Alexandriam venit, fuitque per annos septemdecim ea in civitate peccatrix. Cum autem Hierosolymam profecta, Calvariae templum in festo Exaltationis sanctae Crucis ingredi tentasset, ter divinitus repulsa, in atrio coram imagine Deiparse Virginis vovit poenitentiam, si liceret sibi vivificum crucis lignum videre et adorare : moxque templum ingressa, vidit et adoravit.

Inde sumpto trium panum viatioo, perceptaque Eucharistia in oratorio sancti Joannis ad ripam Jordanis, ultra flumen in vastissimam solitudinem recessit. Ibi, consumpto viatico detritisque vestibus, ignota permansit annis quadraginta septem, donee

Mary of Egypt left her parents, when she was twelve years of age. It was during the reign of the emperor Justin. She entered Alexandria, and was a sinner in that city, for seventeen years. Having visited Jerusalem, and, it being the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Cross, having endeavoured to enter the church of Calvary, she felt herself thrice repelled by divine power. Standing under the portico, she made a vow before an image of the Virgin Mother of God, that if our Lord would grant her to see and venerate the life-giving wood of the cross, she woula lead a life of penance. Immediately, she entered the church ; she saw ; she adored.

Then, taking three loaves as provision for her journey, and having received the Eucharist in St. John's church on the banks of the Jordan, she withdrew into an immense wilderness, on the other side of the river. There, her provisions consumed, and her garments worn to tatters, she abode unknown to all, for

LENT ad torrentem quemdam occurrit ei Zozimas presbyter, a quo obtinuit ut vespere in Coena Domini, in adversam Jordanis ripam afferret sibi Corpus et Sanguinem Domini, quorum participatione tot annos caruerat. forty-seven years, when she was discovered by the priest Zozimus. She asked him to bring to her, on the evening of Maundy Thursday, and on the other side of the Jordan, the Body and Blood of our Lord, which she had not received during all these years.

On the appointed day, Zozimus came to the place that had been agreed on ; and Mary, having made the sign of the cross upon the waters, walked over them, and came to the priest. Having recited the Symbol and' the Lord's Prayer, as was the custom, she received the divine gifts. She again besought Zozimus that he would come to the same torrent, the following year. He did so, and found her body lying on the ground, on which were written these words: Abbot Zozimus ! bury the body of this wretched Mary. Give back to the earth what belongs to it, and add dust unto dust. Yet, pray to God for me. This last day of the month of Pharmuthi, on the night of the saving Passion, after the Communion of the divine and sacred Supper. A lion then came towards the place, and making a hole in the ground with his paws, he prepared a grave for her body.

In praise of our incomparable penitent, we offer to the reader the following beautiful sequence, taken from the ancient missals of Germany :

Condicto die accessit ad eumdem locum Zozimas, quo et Maria signo crucis impresso super aquas ambulans pervenit ; recitatoque Symbolo et Oratione Dominica, ut moris erat, divina dona suscepit ; rursumque precata est Zozimam ut anno recurrente ad eumdem torrentem veniret. Qui cum eo accessisset, conspexit corpus ejus jacens in terra, in qua scripta hseo legit: Sepeli, Abba Zozima, misero Marise corpusculum ; redde terrse quod suum est, et pulveri ad j ice pulverem ; ora tamen Deum pro me : transeunte mense Pharmuthi, nocte salutiferae Passionis, post divinse et sacrae Coenae communionem. Corpori ejus leo adveniens, effossa ungufls terra, paravit sepulchrum.

Googk

APRIL 9. ST. MARY OP EGYPT

Ex jEgypto Pharaonis In amplexum Salomonis

Nostri transit filia ; Ex abjecta fit electa, Ex rugosa fit f ormosa,

Ex lebete phiala.

Stella maris huic illuxit, Ad dilectum quam conduxit

Pacis nectens f oedera ; Matre Dei mediante, Peccatrici, Christo dante,

Sunt dimissa scelera.

Vitam ducens haec carnalem,

Pervenit in Jerusalem,

Nuptura Pacifico ; Hino excluso adultero Maritatur Sponso vero

Ornata mirifico. Dei templum introire Dum laborat, mox redire

Necdum digna cogitur ; Ad cor suum revertitur, Fletii culpa submergitur,

Fletu culpa teritur.

Locus desertus quseritur, Leviathan conteritur,

Mundus, caro vincitur, Domus patris postponitur, Vultus mentis componitur,

Decor carnis spernitur.

Laetare filia Thanis, Tuis ornata tympanis,

Lauda quondam sterilis, Gaude, plaude, casta, munda, Virtutum prole f cecunda, Vitis meri f ertilis.

This daughter passes from the Egypt of Pharao to the espousals with Jesus, our true Solomon. She that was abject, is made a chosen one ; she that was deformed, is made fair ; the vessel of dishonour is made one of honour.

The Star of the sea shone * upon her, and leading her to her beloved Son, has knit the bond of peace. The Mother of God interceded ; Christ forgave ; the sinner's sins are pardoned.

She that led a carnal life, came to Jerusalem, to be espoused to the King of peace ; leaving her false lover, she is united to the true Spouse, honoured by the wonderful One.

She strives to enter the house of God, but her unworthiness forbids it ; she is compelled to retire. Then does she return to her own heart ; she weeps for her sins, and her weeping blots them out.

She flees to the desert ; tramples on Leviathan ; conquers the world and the flesh ; forgets her father's house : neglects the beauty of the body, that her spirit may be made comely.

Rejoice, 0 daughter of Egypt ! Thou, that once wast barren, take up thy harp, and sing. Exult and be joyful, for now thou art chaste and pure, fruitful in virtue, a vine that yields a precious fruit.

LENT

Te dilexit noster risus, Umbilicus est praecisus Tuus continentia ; Aquis lotam, pulchram to tarn

Te salivit, te condivit Sponsi sapientia.

Septem pannis involuta, Intus tota delibuta

Oleo lsetitiae ; Croeo rubens charitatis ; Bysso cincta castitatis,

Zona pudicitiae.

Hino hyacintho calciaris, Dum superna contemplaris,

Mutatis affectibus ; Vestiris discoloribus, Cubile vernat floribus,

Fragat aromatibus.

0 Maria, gaude quia Decoravit et amavit

Sic te Christi gratia, Memor semper pecoatorum, Et cunctorum populorum, Plaude nunc in gloria. Amen.

He that is our Joy hath loved thee ; the shame of thy disorders is effaced by the merit of thy purity. Cleansed and all fair, the wisdom of thy heavenly Spouse has given thee the incorruption of his grace.

Robed in the seven - fold veil of his Spirit, thou wast anointed with the oil of gladness. The scarlet of charity, the lily of chastity, the girdle of modesty — all were upon thee.

Thy feet were decked with violet, for thy affections were changed from earthly to heavenly things. Thy vesture was of every richest hue, and thy couch was decked with flowers, sweeter than those of spring.

Rejoice, 0 Mary, in that Christ so loved thee, and beautified thee with grace. Be mindful of us sinners ; pray for all mankind ; feast now in thy eternal glory ! Amen.

Thou wilt sing for all eternity, 0 Mary, the mercies of the Lord, who changed thee from a sinner into so glorious a saint ; we join thee in thy praises, and we give Him thanks for having shown us so evidently, in thy person, that a true penitent, whatever and how great soever may have been his sins, may not only avoid eternal torments, but merit everlasting bliss. How light must now appear to thee, 0 Mary, that forty years' penance, the very thought of which terrifies us ! How short a time, when compared with eternity ! How insignificant its austerity, if we think of hell ! And how rich must its reward seem to thee, now that thou art face to face with infinite Beauty !

APRIL 9. ST. MARY OF EGYPT

We, top, are sinners ; dare we say that we are penitents ? Aid our weakness, 0 Mary ! Thou wast made known to the world at the close of thy hidden life, in order that Christians might learn from thee the grievousness of sin, of which they make so little account ; the justice of God, of which they are so apt to form so false an idea ; and the goodness of that Father, whom they cease not to offend. Pray for us, 0 Mary, that we may profit by the instructions given to us so profusely during this holy season. Pray that our conversion may be complete ; that we may leave our pride and our cowardice ; that we may appreciate the grace of reconciliation with our Maker ; and, lastly, that we may ever approach to the holy Table with compunction and love such as thou hadst, when, in thy last happy Communion, Jesus gave Himself to thee in His Sacrament, and then took thee to Himself in the kingdom of everlasting rest and joy.