{"id":3823,"date":"2015-07-31T03:30:51","date_gmt":"2015-07-31T08:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=3823"},"modified":"2015-07-18T13:00:09","modified_gmt":"2015-07-18T18:00:09","slug":"mary-the-vine-the-cedar-the-ark-mary-day-010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2015\/07\/31\/mary-the-vine-the-cedar-the-ark-mary-day-010\/","title":{"rendered":"Mary: the vine, the cedar, the Ark, Mary: Day 010"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"year_with_mary_alphonsus_3\"<\/a>Mary: the vine, the cedar, the Ark<\/strong>
\nSt. Alphonsus notes several additional images of Mary from the Old Testament.<\/em>
\nMary is said to be \u201cterrible\u201d to the powers of hell, \u201cas an army in battle array\u201d (Sg 6:10). She is called terrifying because she knows well how to array her power, her mercy, and her prayers, to the defeat of her enemies, and for the benefit of her servants, who in their temptations turn to her most powerful aid. \u201cAs the vine, I have brought forth a pleasant odor\u201d (Ecclus 24:23). These words the Holy Spirit has Mary speak in the book of Ecclesiasticus. \u201cWe are told,\u201d says St. Bernard in commenting on this passage, that \u201call venomous rep- tiles fly from flowering vines\u201d: for as poisonous reptiles fly from flowering vines, so do demons fly from those fortunate souls in whom they perceive the perfume
\nof devotion to Mary.
\nShe also calls herself, in the same book, a cedar: \u201cI was exalted like a cedar\u201d (Ecclus 24:17). Cardinal Hugo of St. Cher remarks on this text that this compari- son is made for two reasons. First, Mary was untainted by sin, just as the cedar is incorruptible. Second, \u201clike the cedar, which by its fragrance keeps away moths, so also does Mary by her sanctity drive away the demons.\u201d
\nAmong the ancient Hebrews, victories were gained by means of the Ark of the Covenant. In this way Moses conquered his enemies, as we learn from the Book of Numbers. \u201cAnd when the Ark was lifted up, Moses said: \u201cArise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered\u201d (Num 10:35).
\nIt is well known that this Ark was a foreshadowing of Mary. For as manna was in the Ark, so is Jesus (of whom manna was a foreshadowing) in Mary; and by means of this Ark we gain the victory over our enemies on earth and in hell. \u201cIn this way,\u201d St. Bernardine of Siena well observes, \u201cwhen Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, was raised to the dignity of Queen of Heaven, the power of hell over men was weakened and dissolved.\u201d\u00a0\u2014St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary<\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong>
\nWhat other images, drawn from my own experience, would be fitting symbols of Our Lady?
\nCLOSING PRAYER<\/strong>
\nBlessed Mother, you are the great highway to heaven, stretching out across the hills and valleys to make the way straight and smooth on our journey home to your Son.<\/p>\n

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