Mary, Virgin Of Virgins, Mary: Day 143

Mary, Virgin of Virgins

St. Alphonsus presents Mary to us as the model of chastity and purity.

Ever since the fall of Adam, when the bodily senses became rebels against reason, chastity is of all the virtues the one most difficult to practice. St. Augustine notes: “Of all the combats in which we’re engaged, the most severe are those of chastity. Its battles take place daily, but victory is rare.”

May God be ever praised, however, who in Mary has given us a great exam- ple of this virtue. “With good reason,” says Richard of Saint Lawrence, “Mary is called the Virgin of Virgins. For she, without the counsel or example of others, was the first who offered her virginity to God.” In this way she brought all virgins who imitate her to God, as David had already foretold: “After her shall virgins be brought to the King” (see Ps 45:15).

“Without counsel and without example.” Yes; as St. Bernard says: “O Vir- gin, who taught you to please God by virginity, and to lead an angel’s life on earth?” St. Sophronius replies, “God chose this most pure Virgin for his mother, so that she might be an example of chastity to all.” This is why St. Ambrose calls Mary “the standard-bearer of virginity.”

The Blessed Virgin inspired all who looked at her with chaste thoughts. This is confirmed by St. Thomas, who says that the beauty of the Blessed Virgin was an incentive to chastity in all who beheld her. St. Jerome declared it was his opinion that St. Joseph actually remained a virgin by living with Mary. Writing against the heretic Helvidius, who denied Mary’s virginity, he says: “You say that Mary did not remain a virgin. I say that, not only did she remain a virgin, but also that Joseph preserved his virginity through Mary.”

St. John of Damascus says that Mary “is pure, and a lover of purity.” So she cannot endure those who are unchaste. But whoever turns to her will certainly be delivered from this vice, if he only pronounces her name with confidence. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Are the words of St. Augustine true in my life? “Of all the combats in which we’re engaged, the most severe are those of chastity. Its battles take place daily, but victory is rare.” If so, do I turn to Mary to help me win these battles?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: Sovereign Lady, obtain for us the grace always to turn to you in our temptations, and always to invoke you, saying, “Mary, Mary, help us!”

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Mary, Virgin of Virgins, Mary: Day 143