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REASONS FOR DEVOTION TO THE MADONNA
Our
Lady has power in Purgatory
The
Madonna revealed to St. Bridget that her mediation, her prayer, extends
into Purgatory, and that the favor of any soul’s deliverance from
those frightening pains comes about through her motherly heart and her
interceding hand.
This teaching is upheld by great Saints and Doctors of the
Church, and St. Peter Damien, St. Bonaventure, St. Bernardine of Siena,
St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori.
For
example, St. Bernardine calls Mary the Plenipotentiary for Purgatory,
that is, one who possesses full powers to deliver whomever she wishes.
Therefore a prayer to the Madonna in behalf of those souls is a
hopeful encouragement to them and truly hastens their deliverance.
God
rewards Rosaries well prayed
St.
Teresa of Avila had a vision of Purgatory once when she was praying her
Rosary.
She saw that at each Hail Mary those souls received a spray of
cool water that relieved them in their burning torments.
The holy Rosary is particularly effective as an appeal for them.
It
is right to expect that, among the souls in Purgatory, the Madonna will
show a preference for those who have been devoted to her.
The oly Virgin said to Blessed Alan.
I am a Mother to the souls in Purgatory, and each hour through my
prayers the pains of those devoted to me are lightened.
Can we imagine what a comfort it must be for souls devoted to her
when this kind Mother visits that place of suffering?
The
Madonna is the Gate of Heaven
We
ought to have devotion to the Madonna because it is a pledge of eternal
salvation and a sign of predestination to Paradise.
St.
Augustine said that all the predestined on earth are enclosed in
Mary’s bosom.
A person’s devotion to the Madonna s a clue arguing that he
will reach the Kingdom of heaven.
The Madonna is called the Gate of Heaven because one does not
enter Paradise except through her.
Thus St. Bonaventure said in his concise way.
No one can enter Paradise unless he passes through Mary, who is
the gate.
It is a consoling though that everybody can be devoted to the
Madonna and thus keep close to this Gate of Heaven – both the saint
and sinner, the believer and the unbeliever – if the sinner and the
unbeliever duly strive toward their conversion, which would eventually
be achieved.
The
Madonna is the Mother of all She is the Mediatrix for whoever wants to
be saved.
She is the Queen of Love over all the world.
If God the Father wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), The
Madonna, the Mother of all, likewise desires that everybody gain eternal
salvation.
And if Jesus says that He gives His sheep life everlasting, and
they shall not perish forever; and no man shall pluck them out of my
hand (John 10:28), then Mary, the Co-Redemtrix, will never allow the
devil to snatch any of her devoted clients from her hands.
He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have salvation
from the Lord. (Prov. 8:35).
In an appropriate, accommodated sense, the Church’s liturgy
applies this text to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary
is Refuge of sinners
It
is a consoling thing to know that God has entrusted to the heavenly
Mother above all else the salvation of people in sin, of souls led
astray, of souls in despair, who turn to her for help.
St.
Gertrude saw in a vision the Holy Virgin wearing a great mantle, and
under it many animals of every kind appeared who sough refuge.
The Madonna gave her to understand that all sinners who appealed
to her were finding refuge and salvation.
St.
Augustine declares that Mary is the only hope of sinners.
And St. Hilary, speaking of true devotion to the Madonna,
consoles us by saying that No Matter how sinful one may have been, if he
has devotion to Mary it is impossible that he be lost.
For one who dies possessing this devotion, surely dies in God’s
friendship.
St.
peter Damien states, O Mary, it is possible for you to restore hope of
salvation even to the most despairing soul.
And St. Anselm adds.
“O Mary, it is impossible that anyone who has recourse to you
should perish.”” For one who sincerely appeals to Our Lady with
right intentions certainly moves her motherly heart.
She
saves souls from going to hell
Another
consoling assurance that the Saints give us is Mary’s boundless,
merciful charity toward those devoted to her who, according to justice,
would deserve hell.
There
is a chorus of strong voices from St. John Chrysostom to St. Bernard,
from St. Alphonsus to St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, who teach that, while
Jesus is King of mercy and Justice, the Madonna is Queen of Mercy only.
St.
John Chrysostom forcefully and clearly declared, “Mary’s immense
mercy saves a great number of unhappy persons who, according to the
norms f divine justice, would be damned.
The
mother of St. Theresa of Lisieux reports a charming episode from the
life of her holy daughter:
Little
Theresa asked me one day if she would go to paradise.
I answered, Yes, if you are nice and good.
Then
she said, “Ah, Mother, then if I am not good, will I go to hell?
But I know what I would do then.
When you go away to heaven I will go with you and you would hold
me real tight in your arms.
Then that would MAKE the good God take me….”
I
read in her expressions that she was convinced that the good God could
do nothing against her if she stayed in her mother’s arms.
St.
Gregory the Great rightly declared, Nothing resists thy power O Mary and
thy Son appears to be fulfilling a duty when He grants your prayers.
It cannot be that Jesus stand against His Mother.
In
the life of St. Gemma we read that one day during an ecstasy the Saint
asked Jesus for the conversion of an obstinate sinner who was a high
ranking mason.
Jesus would not hear of it.
He has abused grace too much.
He is hardened in his evil way.
I have abandoned him.
St.
Germma did not give up.
She appealed again, but had no success.
Finally, in view of Jesus’ decisive refusal, the Saint
exclaimed disappointedly.
Very well.
I understand, Jesus.
I will speak to Your Mother.
And it is up to You to say No to her!
She
spoke to His Mother.
The Madonna cast a glance at Jesus, and Jesus smiled.
The favor was granted.
That very day the sinner went to confession.
-by
Father Stefano M. Manelli, F.F.I., S.T.D. (Mary, Our Sweet Mother)
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