News Item: : Our Lady's Consecration - A Consoling Theme for Contemplation
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Sunday 19 August 2018 - 16:20:50

The dreadful revelations emerging from Pennsylvania and elsewhere have made this a harrowing week for Catholics everywhere. And with the hugely compromised World Meeting of Families in Ireland still ahead of us, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to sense that this will likely be another one.

Given these realities, and the proximity of these present days to the Feast of the Assumption, it seems opportune to present a meditation on the Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven, as an encouraging theme for edification and contemplation.

What follows is taken from Raphael Brown's splendid compilation in the book, The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics. A text published by Tan Books, this compilation has been a great help to many Catholics during times of trial, or even just as a source for contemplative prayer and reflection.

With the usual caveats about private revelation, we highly recommend it, because it features a compilation of private revelations recorded in the lives of St. Elizabeth of Schoenau, St. Bridget of Sweden, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich and Venerable Mary of Agreda.

What follows is the concluding section from the chapter on The Assumption and Crowning. As you will see, the concluding section seems particularly apt for these times.

Now amid celestial music a magnificent triumphant procession ascended from the tomb to Heaven. First came the rejoicing angels and saints, and then Christ the King with His Immaculate Mother at His side, while the souls of all the blessed in Heaven gladly welcomed and praised their new Queen and the whole universe seemed to be chanting exultantly:

''Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her Beloved?''

At the Throne of the Divine Trinity, the three Divine Persons received and welcomed Mary in a mystical embrace of eternal love, after she had bowed before Them in deep humility and reverence. She was attired in a marvellous sparkling robe that trailed behind her and scintillated with multi-coloured iridescence.

Then the Eternal Father announced to all the angels and saints:

''Our Daughter Mary has been chosen by Our Will from among all creatures as the first in Our favour, and she has never fallen from the position of a true Daughter. Therefore she has a claim to Our Kingdom, of which she is to be acknowledged and crowned the lawful Sovereign and Queen.''

The Incarnate Word declared:

''To my true and natural Mother belong all the creatures that I have created and redeemed. And of all things over which I am King, she too shall be the rightful Queen.''

And the Holy Ghost said:

''By the title of My only chosen Spouse, to which she has faithfully corresponded, the crown of Queen is also due to her for all eternity.''

Then the three Divine Persons solemnly placed on Mary's bowed head a splendid gleaming crown of glory which far exceeds in beauty any crown that ever has been, or ever will be, awarded to a creature by God.

At the same time, a Voice sounded from the Throne, saying:

''Our Beloved and Chosen One among creatures, Our Kingdom is yours. You are the Queen and Sovereign of the Seraphim and of all Our ministering angels and of all the created universe. We give you power, majesty and dominion over it. While filled with grace beyond all others, you humbled yourself to the lowest place in your own estimation. Receive now the supreme honour which you deserve, and participate in the sovereign power exercised by the Divinity over all that Our Omnipotence has created. From your royal throne you shall rule over Hell and earth and nature. Our own Will shall be ever ready to accomplish your will. You shall be the Protectress, Advocate and Mother of the Church Militant. Whenever any of the children of Adam call upon you from their hearts or serve you, you shall relieve them and help them in their labours and necessities. You shall be the Friend and Defender of the just and of Our friends. All of them you shall comfort, console, and fill with blessings according to their devotion to you. Therefore We make you the treasury of all Our graces. In your hands We place the distribution of Our grace and blessings. For We wish nothing to be given to the world that does not pass through your hands. And We will refuse nothing that you wish to grant. Whatever is Ours shall be yours, just as you have ever been Ours. And you shall reign with Us forever.''

In execution of this divine decree, all the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Heaven, all the angels and saints and blessed, and especially St. Joachim, St. Ann and St. Joseph, joyfully rendered homage and obedience to their glorious new Queen and Sovereign.

Meanwhile, on the morning of Mary's Assumption into Heaven, St. Peter and St. John had been watching and praying at her tomb with some of the faithful. Suddenly they noticed that the music of the angels had ceased. Looking up at the sky, the two Apostles were partly enlightened by the Holy Spirit and guessed that the Blessed Virgin's body might have been taken up to Heaven by God.

As they were debating whether to open the tomb, St. Thomas arrived from the Orient. When they told him that Mary was already dead, he burst into tears and earnestly begged them to have one last look at the Mother of his Lord. Peter and John consented and proceeded to open the tomb.

John and Thomas went in and reverently knelt down in prayer. Then John stood up, while Thomas held aloft a torch.

There was nothing on the bier but Mary's robe and mantle.

In wonder and awe the two saints gazed at the ceiling of the tomb. Then John ran to the entrance and cried to the others outside:

''Come and see - She is no longer here!''

St. Peter and the rest entered two by two in the narrow grotto. In mixed joy and sorrow they all wept as they slowly realized what an extraordinary honour and privilege God had accorded to Mary.

Peter carefully folded and took with him her mantle and robe. Then they all stood outside the tomb and sang hymns of praise to the Lord and to His holy Mother.

After they had replaced the large stone, they were standing gazing silently at the sepulchre when suddenly an angel appeared to them and said:

''Men of Galilee, why do you tarry here? Your Queen and ours is now living body and soul in Heaven and reigning in it forever with Christ. She has sent me to confirm you in this truth. And she recommends to you again the Church, the conversion of souls, and the spread of the Gospel. She wishes you now to return to your ministry. From her throne she will watch over you and protect you.''

Then, celebrating this first feast of Our Lady's Assumption with deep joy and peace of heart, the Apostles and disciples went back to the Cenacle, praying together and singing hymns of thanksgiving to God.

How extremely relevant was that concluding section for the Church in our times! 

Let all Catholics everywhere thus take these words to heart in the difficult days through which we are all presently living.

Our Lady recommends to you again the Church, the conversion of souls, and the spread of the Gospel. She wishes you now to return to your ministry. From her throne she will watch over you and protect you.

That's the Church we joined! - Stay close to Our Lady and Keep the Faith!         

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This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.1763 )