When Mary appeared, calm and beautiful and humbly resigned to God’s will, the priests introduced her to Joseph and proceeded solemnly to betroth the holy couple. Then, according to the Jewish custom, the two parted until the wedding.
This touching ceremony took place later in a rented house on Mount Sion. Besides Mary’s teachers and friends from the Temple, the guests included some relatives of her parents, who had prepared for her a lovely sky-blue wedding gown and cape, though in her humility she hesitated to accept it. St. Joseph wore a plain, long, gray robe.
After the wedding, Mary sadly took leave of the priests and her teachers and companions, thanking them all for their kindness to her during her years among them. And then, offering up her own wish to remain in the Lord’s House all her life, with keen grief she left the Temple, and in the company of St. Joseph and some attendants sent by the priests, she set out, with perfect resignation and trust in God, for the new life to which He was leading her in Nazareth.
VII
Preparation for the Annunciation
hen Mary and Joseph arrived at the modest house which she had inherited in Nazareth, they were joyfully welcomed by her friends and relatives.
Then they were left alone in their new home. And Joseph said:
“My dear spouse, though I judge myself unworthy even of your company, I give thanks to the Lord for having chosen me as your husband. Please help me to make a proper return in serving Him with upright heart. Therefore consider me your servant, and by the true love which I have for you, I beg you to put up with my deficiencies in the domestic duties which as a worthy husband I should know how to perform. Just tell me what you want, so that I may do it.”
Mary replied humbly:
“My master, I am fortunate that the Lord has chosen you for my husband and that He has thus shown me that He wishes me to serve you. But if you allow me, I will tell you my thoughts and intentions which I wish you to know for this purpose.”
As God inflamed Joseph’s sincere heart with grace and love, he said:
“Speak, dear Lady. Your servant is listening.”
Because this all-important interview was the first time that Mary had ever spoken alone to a man, and because with her natural shyness she also felt respect and reverence for her husband, she asked her guardian angels to stand around her, visible only to herself. As they obeyed, she spoke with a serene earnestness:
“My lord and spouse, our Creator has manifested His mercy to us in choosing us to serve Him together. I consider myself more indebted to Him than all other creatures, for while meriting less, I have received from His hand more than they. As a child, therefore, being compelled by the force of this truth, which His divine light made known to me, I consecrated myself to God by a solemn vow of perpetual chastity in body and soul. I am His, and I acknowledge Him as my Spouse and Lord, with the firm resolve of preserving my chastity for Him. So I beseech you, my master, to help me in fulfilling this vow, while in all other things I will be your servant, working willingly for your well-being all my life. My dear spouse, yield to this resolution and make a similar one, in order that, offering ourselves as a sacrifice to God, He may accept us and bestow on us the eternal reward for which we hope.”
St. Joseph was overjoyed, and with true supernatural love he replied:
“My heart rejoices in hearing your welcome feelings in this matter. I have not told you my thoughts before knowing your own. But I also consider myself under greater obligation to the Lord than other men, for very early He called me by His enlightenment to love Him with an upright heart. And I want you to know that at the age of twelve I also made a promise to serve Him in perpetual chastity. So now I gladly ratify this vow, and in the presence of God I promise to help you as far as I can in serving Him and loving Him according to your desire. With His grace I will be your faithful servant and companion, and I beg you to accept my chaste love and to consider me your brother.”
Both Mary and Joseph were now filled with heavenly joy and consolation. And God gave to St. Joseph new purity and complete command over his natural inclinations, so that he might lovingly serve his holy wife without any trace of sensual desire.
The happy couple then set about dividing Mary’s inheritance: they put aside one-third for the Temple; they distributed one-third to the poor; and the last third Mary assigned to Joseph to dispose of as he wished. For herself she reserved only the privilege of serving him and of attending to her household duties, for throughout her life she avoided contact with outsiders and the management of property or business.
Joseph now humbly asked her whether it was agreeable to her that he continue to work at his trade as carpenter for their support and to earn something to help the poor. Mary willingly approved, saying that she knew that the Lord did not wish them to be rich but poor and lovers of the poor, desirous of helping them as much as their means allowed.
Then they both courteously and selflessly disputed as to who should obey the other, but Mary won this holy contest in humility by declaring that since the man is the head of the family she would not permit this natural order to be changed, and that all she wanted was to obey Joseph in all things and to have his permission to help the poor, which he gladly gave.
During the days that followed, as St. Joseph observed Mary’s rare nobility and purity of soul, his admiration and love for her greatly increased, and he often joyfully thanked the Lord for having given him a companion so far above his merits. God also filled his humble heart with an indescribable reverence for her by means of the heavenly light which shone from her calm, beautiful, and majestic features.
At this time Mary had a vision of the Lord in which He said to her:
“My Chosen One, observe all the laws of a spouse in holiness, purity, and all perfection, and let My servant Joseph help thee. Obey him and listen to his advice.”
Mary replied in humility and love:
“My Lord and Maker, show me Thy good will and blessing, and with it I will strive to obey and serve Thy servant Joseph.”
After settling in her home, Mary was never idle. Apart from her housework, she diligently prepared wool and linen for her husband and for the poor, whom she always helped by the labor of her hands. For without making this personal contribution of her own exertion and labor, she could not have satisfied her compassionate and generous charity toward the poor. Also she had no servants, because her love of obedience and humility made it impossible for her to order anyone but herself to do the servile work of her household. In serving and caring for St. Joseph and later for her Son, she was never guilty of any negligence or forgetfulness. And yet in all her daily work she was never interiorly at leisure, for she spent every moment in profound inner recollection, prayer, and spiritual communion with God in her heart, worshiping and beseeching Him to send the promised Redeemer to suffering mankind.
The few persons who knew her during these hidden years in Nazareth were often filled with a mysterious joy which they knew came from her. Many turned from sin at the mere sight of her. Others amended their lives. All were affected by some divine influence. Realizing this, she prayed to God to permit her to be ignored and despised by all mortals, and by His power He prevented these persons from communicating their admiration and seeking her out.
Now the time which Almighty God had appointed for the Incarnation of His Son was drawing near, although the humble and lovely maiden in Nazareth who was destined to be His Mother never once thought that this great and widely expected event would directly involve her. Therefore, as a necessary and fitting preparation for the glorious Mystery of the Annunciation, during the nine days which immediately preceded that decisive turning point in history, the Lord gave His Chosen Spouse and future Mother a series of marvelous mystical experiences which raised her pure soul to a hitherto unparalleled degree of holiness and fervor, and which also infused into her mind a thorough and profound knowledge of His Creation.
On the first day of this first “novena,” when Mary according to her custom r
ose at midnight and prostrated herself on the floor to praise the Lord, her soul was raised to a closer union with God. He revealed to her how He had created the universe purely out of overflowing Love, and He showed her all that He had made on the first day of creation. When she saw that she too was formed of low earthly matter, she humbled herself profoundly. The Lord urged her to pray constantly for the union of the Divinity with human nature, which He informed her was now due. Whereupon Mary exclaimed:
“O Eternal God, the sins of men are increasing—how shall we merit the blessing of which we become daily more unworthy? If perhaps I am a hindrance to such a limitless benefit, O my Beloved, let me perish rather than impede Thy Will!”
Then with the deepest humility she lay on the ground in the form of a cross, as the Holy Ghost had taught her, and prayed for the Redemption.
On each of the following six days she not only received an infused knowledge of the various works of God on the corresponding day of Creation, but she was also given comprehension and power over the elements of nature, such as the stars, winds, waters, minerals, plants, and animals, although she never thereafter used this power for herself, because she was too humble and she knew the value of suffering. Then she was shown the creation and fall of man. And by her participation in God’s love and mercy for sinning humanity, she was prepared to become the Mother of Mercy and Advocate of sinners. God revealed to her the new Law of Grace and the healing blessings which He was going to pour on men through the Sacraments of His holy Church, and He also showed her how many souls would ungratefully reject the salvation which the Redeemer was to offer them. After praying fervently for all men, she was given an explicit promise by the Holy Trinity that the Son of God was now to be sent into the world.
On the seventh day Mary heard God say to her:
“Our Chosen Dove, We wish to accept thee anew as Our Bride, and therefore We wish to adorn thee worthily.”
As Mary abased herself with charming modesty, two seraphim proceeded to vest her with a beautiful white robe and bejeweled girdle, golden hair clasp, sandals, bracelets, rings, earrings, and a necklace—all symbolizing the various virtues that adorned her lovely soul.
At midnight on the eighth day Mary heard in prayer the voice of God saying:
“Come, My Chosen One, come to Me. I am He that raises the humble and fills the poor with riches. Thou hast Me for thy Friend. Since thou hast found grace in My eyes, ask of Me what thou desirest, and I shall not reject thy petition, even if it be for a part of My Kingdom.”
To which Mary replied with touching humility and love:
“O Lord, I do not ask for a part of Thy Kingdom on my own behalf, but I ask for the whole of it for all the race of men who are my brothers. And therefore I beseech Thee to send us our Redeemer!”
And the Lord answered:
“I desire what thou seekest, My Daughter. It shall be done as thou askest.”
All afire with love and gratitude, Mary passed that day in unceasing praise of God.
On the ninth day the Lord, after revealing to her the entire harmonious constitution of the universe, said to her:
“My chosen Dove, I have created all creatures, which thou beholdest in all their variety and beauty, solely for the love of men, for the elect congregation of the faithful. Thou, My Spouse, hast found grace in My sight, and therefore I make thee Mistress of all these goods, so that if thou art a loyal spouse, thou mayest dispose of them as thou desirest.”
Then a symbolic crown was placed on Mary’s head which bore the mystic inscription: “Mother of God”; but she did not see these words. And all the heavenly spirits duly revered and honored her. Lastly the Lord renewed and increased the unique beauty of her pure soul, so that her entire being dazzlingly reflected His own divine light.
Yet Mary continued to humble and abase herself in her own estimation. Her eyes and heart were not elated. On the contrary, the higher God raised her, the more lowly were her thoughts concerning herself. She did not once have a suspicion of anything great or admirable in herself. And her humility was so genuine and so deep that even now the mere thought of her being chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah simply could not enter her Immaculate Heart.
VIII
The Annunciation
Note: In this as in other great mysteries of the Blessed Virgin’s life which she herself described to the mystics, quotations from her own words are printed in italics.
y love for God burned in my heart even more intensely than before and every day my soul was enkindled with new fervor and longing. So I withdrew from everything even more than formerly. . . .
On the day before the occurrence of this mystery I thought I would die and my heart would burst with love and longing, if God’s Providence had not comforted me. He filled my soul with the firm hope that the Saviour would descend from heaven without delay. But on the other hand my humility made me fear lest my presence in the world might perhaps delay His coming.
I was afraid that my lips might say or my ears might hear something against God, or my eyes see something evil. Even in my silence I was timid and very anxious that I might be silent when I should rather speak. When I was thus troubled in heart, I committed all my hopes to God. . . .
On the eve of the Annunciation, at the bidding of the divine will the Archangel Gabriel presented himself before the throne of God, and the Blessed Trinity instructed him in the exact words with which he was to greet and speak to Mary. Then the Lord announced to the other angels in heaven that at last the time for man’s Redemption had come, and all the celestial spirits were filled with joy and thanksgiving, and they sang: “Holy, Holy, Holy, art Thou, Lord God. . . .”
Accompanied by thousands of resplendent angels, Gabriel descended from the highest heaven, delighted to obey God’s epochal command. His appearance was that of an exceedingly handsome young man with wavy blond hair, and his bright features radiated a divine light. His whole bearing was pleasing, yet also godlike and majestic. He wore a rich diadem on his head and a cross on his breast, and his vestments glowed in various striking colors.
Directing his flight toward Nazareth in Galilee, Gabriel arrived at Mary’s modest little cottage as night was falling, when as usual she retired to pray in her small, bare room.
The Blessed Virgin was now fourteen and a half years old. While taller than other girls of her age, she was perfectly proportioned. Her beautiful face with its clear and somewhat brownish complexion was more oblong than round. Under her broad forehead, her dark eyes were large and serious and at the same time wondrously beautiful and gentle. Her straight nose, her small mouth with lips neither thin nor thick—all her features were so symmetrical and so ideally modeled that no other human being has ever had such perfection of form. Her clothes were very humble and poor in appearance, yet spotlessly clean and neat, of a dark silvery color somewhat like ashes, and she wore them without pretense, but with the greatest modesty.
Taking a low narrow table on which was a roll of scriptural writings, Mary placed it in the center of the room. Then she knelt on a little cushion and crossed her hands on her breast. And with growing fervor, her eyes lifted toward heaven, she began to pray for the coming of the Saviour.
That night I prostrated myself devoutly in prayer, and with the most intense love I begged the Lord that He might deign to let me live long enough to see His Mother with my eyes, serve her with my hands, bow my head before her in reverence, and place myself completely at her service.
I began to meditate on the great power of God: how the angels and all creatures serve Him, and how indescribable and immense is His glory. And while I was marveling over this, all of a sudden I perceived three wonderful things:
I saw a star, but not like those that shine in the sky—I saw a light that was greater and brighter than the sun, yet unlike any light in this world.
And I inhaled a scent, but not one that comes from plants or anything of that kind—it was an utterly sweet and almost ineffable scent which completely filled my soul and m
ade me thrill with joy.
Then I heard a voice, but not a human voice—and suddenly there appeared before me the Angel of God in the form of a most beautiful youth, yet not one of flesh and blood.
Recognizing him as an envoy of God, Mary with her usual humility wished to bow reverently before him. But Gabriel would not allow it. Instead he bowed profoundly before his Queen.
And he said to me:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women!”
When I heard this greeting, at first I was indeed very frightened, for I wondered whether it might be an illusion. I asked myself what it might mean and why he uttered such a greeting, because I knew and considered myself unworthy of it or of anything good, although I realized that nothing was impossible with Almighty God.
And now while Mary modestly kept her eyes lowered before the Archangel, the Lord began to make her understand interiorly that He had chosen her for His Mother.
From the midst of this light I heard a voice saying to me: “Thou art to give birth to My Son!” And it added: “Know in truth that I want others to have for thee the reverence which for love of Me thou didst want to have for someone else. I want thee to be My Son’s Mother and Giver, so that thou wilt not only have Him, but thou wilt also be able to give Him to whomever thou wishest. . . .”
The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics Page 8
