The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics

by Raphael Brown

  “O Lord and Creator, with eternal thanks I offer Thee this blessed fruit of my womb which I have received from Thy bounty without any merit of mine. But how shall I be able to treat such a child worthily?”

  God gave her to understand that she was to bring up her daughter with all motherly love and care but without any outward show of reverence, while retaining inwardly her profound veneration for the future Mother of the Messiah.

  In this marvelous yet natural childbirth, St. Ann had been free from the usual labor and pains experienced by mothers. Now she herself bathed and wrapped the babe in red and gray swaddling clothes. As the bright mystic light vanished, the three relatives got up and to their keen surprise and joy perceived the lovely child in her mother’s arms. Then they sang a hymn of praise and thanks to the Lord while many invisible guardian angels also greeted the tiny Mary with heavenly music.

  Later St. Ann retired to her room and lay down on her bed with her baby in a little cradle next to her, and St. Joachim was called in. The holy old man knelt beside the bed, deeply moved at the sight of this lovely daughter for which he and his dear wife had waited and suffered for twenty long years. While warm tears flowed freely down his cheeks, he carefully took the baby in his arms and sang a fervent hymn of praise to God. Then, as he tenderly embraced his daughter and put her back in the cradle, he murmured with touching humility and piety:

  “Now I am ready to die. . . .”

  At the moment of Mary’s birth, Almighty God gave to her pure soul a mystical vision of the Blessed Trinity in heaven, and by a miraculous privilege He endowed her from birth with the full use of her reason and all her senses. Thus, like many of the saints, though to a far greater degree, even as an infant she knew and loved God with all her heart. And as soon as she opened her eyes on earth, she perceived with keen affection her good parents, St. Ann and St. Joachim, and then she saw the many angels which God had assigned to guard and protect her throughout her life.

  The Archangel Gabriel was sent to announce the great news of the birth of Mary to all the Prophets, Patriarchs, and souls in Limbo. Upon hearing that at last the Mother of the Redeemer was in the world, they rejoiced and praised God for His mercy toward mankind.

  In all Nature there was at this time an extraordinary movement of joy, and many good people felt an unusual spiritual exaltation without knowing its cause. On the other hand, many evil men and possessed persons felt sorely disturbed.

  Near the Temple in Jerusalem, old Simeon was awakened by the shouts of a possessed man, who cried:

  “I must flee—all of us must flee! A Virgin has been born. . . !”

  Simeon prayed fervently, and the devil left the man.

  Anna the Prophetess and another holy woman were shown in visions that a child of election had been given to Israel.

  The next day many friends and neighbors of St. Ann and St. Joachim came to see the baby and congratulate the happy parents. Everyone was deeply touched upon seeing little Mary lying in her cradle, wrapped in her red and gray swaddling clothes, and there was general rejoicing.

  Now in heaven the Blessed Trinity announced to the choirs of angels:

  “Our Chosen One shall be called Mary, and this name is to be powerful in grace.”

  III

  Infancy

  ight days after Mary’s birth, all the friends and relatives of the family gathered in St. Joachim’s house for the ceremony of naming the baby. According to custom, the mother could not attend the celebration, but remained in her room. Several priests came from Nazareth, and St. Joachim placed his daughter in the hands of their richly-robed leader, who lifted her up as if offering her to the Lord, and recited some prayers. Then he wrote the name Mary on a parchment and placed it on her chest. After the singing of some psalms, the ceremony was over and Mary was taken back to St. Ann, while all the guests sat around a long low table and were served a banquet meal.

  Later, St. Ann and St. Joachim took Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of the purification of the mother. St. Ann humbly gave her offerings of a lamb and a turtle dove, and prayed to the Lord to forgive her all her faults. Then, entering the Temple with her daughter in her arms, she offered up Mary to God with devout and tender tears. In her heart she heard a voice urging her to renew her vow to give Mary to God’s service in the Temple within three years.

  At the same time, Mary herself, seeing the grandeur of these buildings dedicated to the worship of the Lord, wished that she could prostrate herself on the floor and kiss it. But as she could not, she prayed:

  “O Most High God, I adore Thee in Thy holy Temple. Accept me, O Lord, so that I may serve Thee in this holy house according to Thy blessed will!”

  As a proof that her prayer was granted, a beam of bright light shone down from heaven onto the mother and child. And while St. Ann renewed her vow, the angels sang hymns of praise to Almighty God.

  The holy man Simeon had been deeply moved when he saw St. Ann and Mary, and now as he dimly perceived the mystic light, he asked himself: “Are these women perhaps the parents of the Messiah?” And he prayed still more fervently for the coming of the Redeemer.

  The Devil had also been studying St. Ann, but when he saw that she humbly submitted to all the regulations of the priests and even asked them to intercede for her, he decided that she was just another pious woman.

  During the next three years in the home of her loving mother, Mary was treated as other children of her age and passed her infancy subject to the common laws of nature. However, she never cried or caused anyone any trouble. Even as a baby, she maintained a pleasant countenance mixed with gravity and a certain majesty. While she showed a special affection for her mother and father, they were inspired by God to handle and caress her with unusual restraint. She ate less than other children and she slept much less, for whenever she could, she prayed and meditated and performed interior acts of love for God. When she accepted any service or benefits from anyone, she always received it with humble gratitude and begged the Lord to reward that person.

  Being in possession of all her faculties even from birth, Mary could have talked quite clearly and intelligently even as a baby, if she had wished to. But out of modesty and submission to the will of God, she deliberately refrained from speaking at all until she was a year and a half old. However when alone she did often converse with her guardian angels, and in secret she also prayed verbally to the Lord.

  Though she was thus filled with the light of God and His mysteries, nevertheless Mary judged herself to be the least of all His creatures, and she always ascribed to herself the last place of all. Whenever, during that first year and a half, St. Ann freed her daughter’s little arms and hands, Mary would immediately grasp her dear parents’ hands and kiss them with reverent humility. In fact she continued this practice as long as they lived.

  When she reached the age of eighteen months, Almighty God urged her to pray many times every day for the coming of the Messiah, and He told her that it was now time for her to converse with others. But Mary exclaimed:

  “O my Lord, I beseech Thee, consider my frailty. To avoid all risk of losing Thee, I would rather keep silence all my life. . . .”

  God promised her, however, that He would assist her in directing all her words to His service and glory.

  Therefore one day little Mary spoke her first words to her beloved parents, asking their blessing. At the same time she showed them that she could walk by herself.

  With intense joy St. Ann took Mary into her arms and said:

  “O darling of my heart, this is a blessed hour! Let your words be few and well considered, and may all your footsteps be directed toward the honor of our Creator!”

  During the remaining year and a half before she went to the Temple, Mary spoke very little, except to her mother. In order to make her talk, St. Ann used to call her and ask her to speak of God and His mysteries. Mary, however, would humbly beg her mother rather to instruct her. Thus mother and daughter passed many hours in sweet conversati
on about holy things.

  Often when St. Ann watched her dear little girl in their home, she shed tears of love and gratitude at the thought that this lovely child was actually chosen by God to be the Mother of the Saviour of mankind. Often they spoke together about His coming and about the fortunate maiden of Israel who would give Him to the world, and then Mary would become inflamed with ardent love and would innocently picture this happy creature in the most glowing terms of awe and reverence. But St. Ann never revealed the great secret of her heart.

  Being eager to express in her actions her conviction that she was the least of God’s creatures, little Mary tried to help in cleaning and scrubbing the house whenever she could. And sometimes, when she was alone, her angels helped her.

  While St. Ann naturally wished to dress her daughter as beautifully as she could, Mary, soon after she began to talk, begged her mother to clothe her in plain ash-gray cloth of cheap and coarse material. St. Ann yielded as to the form and color, but not as to the material.

  Almighty God had already revealed to Mary how grievously the sins of men offended Him. Consequently she would often retire to her room and prostrate herself on the floor and beg for mercy for poor sinners. Even as an infant she practiced penances and mortifications to a point where she taxed her bodily strength.

  When Mary reached the age of two, she began to perform works of charity toward the poor. She begged alms for them from her parents, and she set aside parts of her meals for them. Then she would give them what she had, saying in her heart: “This man, my brother, deserves what he needs and what I possess without deserving it.” When she gave her alms to the poor, she used to kiss their hands, and if she was alone, their feet. And in each case she prayed fervently to God to give them spiritual graces as well.

  The Blessed Virgin said to the Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda:

  “At the first sight of the Highest Good, my heart was wounded with love, and I gave myself entirely to Him.

  “I underwent the hardships of infancy like other children. I felt hunger, thirst, sleepiness, and other infirmities of the body. In all the difficulties which I endured after I was born into the world, I was resigned and contented, since I had merited none of God’s gifts.

  “Be very devout toward my most sweet name.”

  IV

  Presentation

  s the time approached when Mary was to be taken to the Temple, St. Ann often gave her lessons, teaching her various prayers and rules of religion. She already knew how to read. Though only three and a half years old and very delicate, Mary seemed like a girl of five or six. Her long, dark hair hung straight down with curls at the end.

  One day, three old priests came from Nazareth to give her an examination, in order to determine whether she was worthy of being accepted for service in the Temple. This was a very solemn proceeding. After explaining to her the different duties she would fulfill, they asked her some questions. Her replies were so filled with naïve wisdom that the priests could not help smiling their approval, while her parents wept tears of joy. Then during a meal the oldest priest said to her:

  “In consecrating you to God, your father and mother promised that you would give up wine, vinegar, grapes, and figs. What other sacrifice do you wish freely to add to those? Think it over and tell us later.”

  Mary was very fond of vinegar. Meanwhile the priests made it clear to her that she was still free to eat whatever she wanted, and all sorts of delicacies were offered to her, but she took very little and from only a few dishes. After the meal, in another room, Mary said that she had decided to give up fish and meat and milk and all fruits except berries. Also she wished to sleep on the floor and to get up and pray three times every night.

  Her parents were deeply moved when they heard this. Taking her up in his arms, St. Joachim wept as he said to her:

  “My dear child, that is far too much! If you lead such a hard life, your father will never see you again. . . .”

  The priests then insisted that she should pray only once during the night, like the other girls, that she should allow herself several other relaxations, and that she should eat fish on all the great feast days. They also told her that she would not have to join the poorer girls in washing the bloodstained robes of the sacrificers, but Mary unhesitatingly replied that she would willingly do that work if she were thought worthy. The priests were filled with surprise and admiration, and the oldest gave her a solemn blessing. Then St. Ann, who was deeply moved, pressed Mary to her heart and kissed her with tender love, while St. Joachim caressed her respectfully. Throughout the examinations, under the guidance and inspiration of her angels, Mary had remained perfectly recollected and serious, and at the same time strikingly beautiful and lovable.

  A few days later everyone in St. Joachim’s home was busy preparing for the trip to Jerusalem. Several fine ceremonial dresses which had been made for Mary were carefully packed up. Finally one morning, at dawn, two donkeys were loaded with baggage, and St. Joachim and St. Ann set out, the latter carrying Mary in her arms. The holy child was very happy to be going to the Temple. During the trip they often had to travel through cold fogs, as it was the rainy reason. When they stopped overnight at an inn or some friend’s home, Mary often went up to her mother and joyfully put her arms around St. Ann’s neck. Several times St. Joachim repeated sadly: “My dear child, I will never see you again. . . .”

  On arriving in the Holy City, they were met by a group of friends and children who led them to the house of Zacharias the priest, the future father of John the Baptist, where they were made welcome and given refreshments. Then everyone attended a great reception and feast in an inn which St. Joachim had rented for the occasion, as he wished to spare no expense for this great event. Among those present was a ten-year-old girl, later to be known as St. Veronica.

  Early the next morning, St. Joachim took his animal offerings to the Temple with several men, while St. Ann, accompanied by many women and girls, led Mary to God’s House in a beautiful solemn procession through the streets of the Holy City. Little Mary walked behind her mother. She was dressed in a lovely sky-blue robe with garlands of flowers around her arms and neck, and in one hand she carried a candle decorated with flowers. On each side of her were three girls in white with flowers and candles. Then came other girls and women. Everyone who saw them was touched by Mary’s extraordinarily holy appearance.

  At the outer entrance to the Temple, they were met by St. Joachim, Zacharias, and several other priests. As they passed through the gate, Mary’s parents inwardly offered their beloved daughter to the Lord with a fervent and devout prayer. And Mary too, in deep humility and adoration, offered herself to God. She alone perceived that the Almighty welcomed her and accepted her, for she heard a voice from heaven saying:

  “Come, My beloved, My spouse, come into My Temple, where I wish thee to offer Me praise and worship.”

  Then, crossing the Women’s Court, they came to the fifteen steps leading up to the great Nicanor Gate. It was here that St. Joachim and St. Ann had to make the formal offering of their child to the Temple. After a priest had placed her on the first step, Mary, with his permission, turned and knelt before her parents. Kissing their hands with keen love and gratitude, she asked for their blessing and their prayers. With tears in their eyes, her father and mother laid their hands on her head and solemnly pronounced the words by which they gave her to the Lord, while a priest clipped a few locks of her hair. During this moving ceremony, the young girls who had come with the party sang these words of Psalm 44:

  “Thou art beautiful . . . therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. . . . Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house. And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty; for He is the Lord thy God. . . . Therefore shall people praise thee for ever: yea, for ever and ever!”

  Then, after St. Ann and St. Joachim had tenderly blessed her, little Mary, without hesitating and without looking back, began to climb up the fifteen steps. She
would not let anyone help her, but with remarkable resolution and dignity she hastened up all by herself, filled with holy fervor and joy. Everyone who saw her was visibly affected.

  Two priests then led her up to the gallery, from which the Holy Place could be seen, and read some prayers over her, while incense was burned on an altar. Taking from her the garlands of flowers and the candle, they put a brown veil over her head and conducted her to a hall in which ten girls in the service of the Temple welcomed her by throwing flowers before her. Here she met her teacher, who was the holy prophetess Anna.

  As the priests left, Mary’s parents and relatives came in to say good-by. St. Joachim was especially moved. He took Mary into his arms and wept as he murmured: “My child, pray to God for my soul!” St. Ann embraced her beloved daughter sadly and tenderly. Then, resigning herself with courage to the will of God, she turned away. As she walked out, she said to the women accompanying her: “The Ark of the Covenant is now in the Temple.” With keen sorrow in their hearts, St. Joachim and St. Ann returned to Nazareth. But in answer to Mary’s prayers, God mercifully consoled and comforted them.