Our poverty has made you rich, Mary!, Mary: Day 023

Our poverty has made you rich, Mary!

Blessed Henry Suso is confident of Mary’s willingness to show him compas- sion, because she became the Mother of God precisely for that purpose.

Consider, mild Queen, consider, chosen one, how you derive all your merits from us poor sinners. What was it that made you the Mother of God, that made you a jewel box in which the Eternal Wisdom came to rest? O Lady, it was the sins of us poor mortals!

How could you be called a mother of graces and compassion if it weren’t for our wretchedness, which has need of grace and compassion? Our poverty has made you rich; our crimes have made you noble above all creatures.

So turn this way the eyes of your compassion, which your gentle heart has never turned away from a sinner, from a forlorn mortal! Take me under your protection, for my consolation and confidence are in you.

Who is the sinner—no matter how great his crimes—to whom your over- flowing goodness has denied assistance? When my soul seriously reflects within herself, I think it would only be right, if it were possible, that while my eyes wept for joy, my heart should leap out of my mouth! For your name dissolves in my mouth like honey from the honeycomb.

You are called the Mother, the Queen, of Compassion—yes, tender mother; yes, gentle mother of compassion! What a name! How immeasurable is she whose name is so rich in grace! Did the melody of song ever resound so sooth- ingly in an anxious heart as your name resounds in our penitent hearts? At this exalted name, all heads should rightly bow, and all knees should bend. —Blessed Henry Suso, Little Book of Eternal Wisdom

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
If there were no sinners, there would be no need for a Savior, nor for his mother. Given the mission of Jesus and Mary, can I doubt that they both eagerly desire my salvation? Does that increase my confidence to turn to them?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Bernard: Grant, we beg you, almighty God, that your faithful, calling upon the name of the Virgin Mary and rejoicing in her protection, may, by her motherly intercession, be delivered from the evils of the earth and advance to the eternal happiness of heaven.

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