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<\/a>Mary breathes forth her soul in love<\/h4>\nWhen Mary died, insists St. Alphonsus, death came not \u201cclothed in mourning<\/em> and grief . . . but adorned with light and gladness.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n 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 the holy apostles that Mary was then departing. This caused them to burst forth in tears and prayers again. Raising their hands, with one voice they exclaimed, \u201cMother, you\u2019re already going to heaven! You\u2019re leaving us! Give us your final blessing, and never forget us miserable creatures.\u201d Mary, turning her eyes around upon all of them, as if to bid them a last farewell, said: \u201cGoodbye, my children. I bless you. Don\u2019t be afraid: I will never forget you.\u201d Now death came\u2014not, indeed, clothed in mourning and grief, as it does to others, but adorned with light and gladness. But what shall we say? Why speak of death? Let\u2019s say rather that divine love came, and cut the thread of that noble life. Just as a light, before going out, gives a last and brighter flash than ever, so did this beautiful creature, on hearing her Son\u2019s invitation to follow him, wrapped in the flames of love, and in the midst of her loving sighs, give a last sigh<\/p>\n of still more ardent love. Then, breathing forth her soul, she died.<\/p>\n In this way was that great soul, that beautiful dove of the Lord, loosened from the bands of this life. In this way she entered into the glory of the blessed, where she is now seated, and will be seated, as queen of paradise, for all eternity. Mary, then, has left this world; she\u2019s now in heaven. From there, this compassion- ate mother looks down upon us who are still in this valley of tears. She pities us and, if we desire it, she promises to help us. Let\u2019s always beg her, by the merits of her blessed death, to obtain for us a happy death. \u2014St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary<\/em><\/p>\n IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Have I ever been present when the soul of a loved one was \u201cbreathed forth\u201d into the arms of God? What lessons did I learn from that poignant experience?<\/p>\n CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n From a prayer of St. Germanus: O sovereign Queen! You are our defense and our joy.<\/em><\/p>\n Make me worthy to share with you the happiness that you enjoy in heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n _________________________________________________________________________
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