(Ecclus. xxiv. 11). 1st. Prelude. A statue of Our Lady. 2nd. Prelude. Grace to "abide in the inheritance of the Lord." That the Church intends us to spend the season of Advent with our Blessed Mother is quite evident to anyone who takes the trouble to study the Liturgy. The Bridegroom is coming, but it is through the Virgin-Mother that He will come; and if we would be amongst the first to greet Him, if we desire a large share of His grace, if we would have no fear of His judgments, we must keep close to Mary. Point I. "I shall abide in the inheritance of the lord." The Church applies these words to Mary; let us try to see what they mean and how far we may copy her in her determination. "The inheritance of the Lord," Point II. "In all things I sought rest." Where did she seek this rest, this calm of which her whole life speaks? Within her own soul with her Divine Guest, in other words Mary lived an interior life. She preferred a life inside with God, to one outside in the world. Hers was a continual realization of God's Presence—of God's Presence within her; and it was this realization which enabled her to find rest in every circumstance of her chequered life. She did not allow outward events to mar her interior calm. Her Divine Guest was always there and to Him she could always turn. The consequence was that she was never agitated, disquieted, excited, anxious, troubled. She dwelt "in the inheritance of the Lord," The joy of the Archangel's visit, or the difficulty of her visit to Elizabeth. The anguish of the reception at Bethlehem, or the joy at the birth of her Son. The Angels who sang: Glorias at His birth, or the neighbours who made unkind remarks. The shepherds who came to worship in their poverty, or the Wise Men in all their pomp and splendour. The ecstasy caused by her Babe's smile, or the distress caused by His tears. The words of the Angel: "Of His Kingdom there shall be no end," or the words of Simeon: He shall be "a sign which shall be contradicted." The peaceful home-life with Jesus and Joseph, or the hurried flight into Egypt. The anguish of losing Him (Desolation), or the joy of finding Him (Consolation). The active work for the little household, or the times of contemplation at Jesus' feet. The long, happy days at Nazareth with her Son, or the sad day when He left His Mother's roof. The account of His success: "All men go to Him," or the account of His failure: "They all forsook Him and fled." The cry: "Hosannah, blessed is He!" or the cry: "Crucify Him, crucify Him! it is not fit that He should live." The agony of watching Him suffer and die, or the delight of seeing His glorified Body. The pain of being left in exile on earth, or the joy of hearing Him say: "Arise, My fair one and come, the winter is over." In omnibus requiem quaesivi.—Not that all these things were the same to her, not that she was indifferent or did not care, she cared more than anyone else could, Point III. The Child of Mary. The child must copy the Mother. How is it with me? Surely if anyone ought to realize the Divine Presence within, it is a child of Mary! How far do I copy Our Lady in her interior life? What do I know of that deep calm within, into which I can always retire and seek rest, and where I can, if I will, rest so entirely that outward circumstances make little difference? If I have made the same resolution as Our Lady; namely, to "abide in the inheritance of the Lord;" pain and anxiety and difficulty will be an actual source of joy, because they afford an excuse for an extra visit to the Home within, and for longer conversations than usual with my loved Guest. If a difficulty or a humiliation or something that I do not like comes in my way, I shall not be troubled, my first thought will be with my Divine Guest. He has permitted this, even planned it. I will go and talk to Him about it, find out what He means, what He wants me to do and how I can best act in the circumstances to gain glory for Him. This is what is meant by the interior life, and it can be, it ought to be, far stronger than the exterior. It means a holy In omnibus requiem quaesivi.—Is it so very hard? Perhaps, for it means the spiritual life, and that means a continual battle against self; but it is a battle worth fighting. To fight is not only the way to "seek rest," but it is also the surest way to obtain it; for they alone who are continually fighting to keep the enemy out can hope to detain their Divine Guest within. Colloquy with Mary. Help me, my Mother, to dwell, this Advent, in "the inheritance of the Lord," and when outward things are too much for me and I am apt to behave in a manner unworthy of a child of thine, do thou lead me by the hand into the place of rest and calm, where God Himself dwells, and where I shall see things from His point of view. "O God, who didst please that Thy Word should take flesh, at the message of an angel, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant to Thy suppliants, that we who believe her to be truly the Mother of God may be helped by her intercession." (Collect to be said every day at Mass from Advent to Christmas Eve.) Resolution. To "abide in the inheritance of the Lord" to-day. Spiritual Bouquet. "In all things I sought rest." |