Mary breathes forth her soul in love When Mary died, insists St. Alphonsus, death came not “clothed in mourning and grief . . . but adorned with light and gladness.” The life of Mary being now at its close, the most delicious music, as St. Jerome tells us, was heard in the room where she lay. According to a revelation of St. Bridget, the room was also filled with a brilliant light. This sweet music, and the unusual splendor, warned... Read more
Mary’s last words to the Apostles St. Alphonsus imagines Our Lady’s last farewell to the men who would become the foundation of the Church. The holy Apostles, seeing that Mary was already at the point of leaving this world, renewed their tears. They all threw themselves on their knees around her bed. Some kissed her holy feet, some sought a special blessing from her, some entrusted to her a particular need, and all wept bitterly. Their hearts were pierced with... Read more
The Apostles grieve to know Mary will leave them Who could fully appreciate the sorrow that the Apostles must have felt when they realized that Mary was leaving them? St. Alphonsus imagines the scene. Many authors assert that, before Mary’s death, the Apostles and many disciples who were scattered in different parts of the world were miraculously assembled in her room. When she saw all her dear children in her presence, she addressed them: “My beloved children, through love for... Read more
The saints vie for Mary’s presence St. John of Damascus imagines how, at the time of Our Lady’s departure from this world, the saints in heaven vied with the saints still on earth for her presence with them. At Mary’s death, Adam and Eve, our first parents, opened their lips to exclaim: “You blessed daughter of ours, who removed the penalty of our disobedience! You inherited from us a mortal body, but you have won for us immortality. You received... Read more
This week Carmel Communication marketing firm for Ignatius Press sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Walls Are Talking: Former Abortion Clinic Workers Tell Their Stories (you can read the review here) . I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Friday 04/22 with a winner being announced later that day. a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Jesus gives Mary his Body one last time on earth St. Alphonsus, like St. John of Damascus, imagines a conversation between Jesus and Mary when she is about to die. He sees her receiving Holy Com- munion from the hands of her Son. The death of Mary was at hand. The angels came in choirs to meet her, as if to be ready for the great triumph with which they were to accompany her to paradise. Mary was indeed consoled... Read more
In the pro-life debate both sides of the argument have become very good at catchy slogans. As with any task we partake in there are times where we need a reminder of what the root cause of our efforts are. Former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate Abby Johnson provides a book that gets to the heart of the abortion industry. The Walls Are Talking: Former Abortion Clinic Workers Tell Their Stories is a difficult but necessary read. What you... Read more
Jesus comes to embrace Mary as she dies St. John of Damascus imagines a conversation between Mary and Jesus as she prepares for her assumption. As Mary was about to die, the King was there to receive with a divine embrace the holy, undefiled, and stainless soul of his mother, now on her way home. We can imagine what she might have said: “Into your hands, my Son, I commend my spirit. Receive my soul, which is so dear to... Read more
Mary died certain of her salvation Mary knew that she was full of grace, St. Alphonsus observes, and that she belonged to God. Imagine, then, her joyful confidence that death would take her to heaven! The certainty of eternal salvation renders death sweet. Death is called a passage, because by death we pass from a short life to an eternal life. Those who die in doubt of their salvation, and who approach the solemn moment with a well-grounded fear of... Read more
Mary’s assumption into heaven was fitting Catholics affirm that Mary was assumed into heaven because of the Church’s ancient testimony to the event and her eventual definition of that truth as dogma. But Blessed John Henry Newman points to yet another reason for believing: It was a fitting end to her life. We accept that our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God, was assumed into heaven on the authority of age-old belief. But viewed in the light of reason, it... Read more
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