Devotion to Mary in May: day 28
BURIAL OF JESUS
28 DAY
Holy Mary.
Invocation. - Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for us!
Seventh pain:
BURIAL OF JESUS
Giuseppe d'Arimatea, noble decurion, wanted to have the honor of burialing the body of Jesus and gave a new sepulcher, dug out of the living stone, not far from the place where the Lord had been crucified. He bought a shroud to wrap the sacred limbs in it. Dead Jesus was transported with the greatest respect for burial; a sad procession was formed: some disciples carried the corpse, the pious women followed moved and among them was the Virgin of Sorrows; even the Angels invisibly crowned. The corpse was placed in the sepulcher and, before being wrapped in the shroud and tied with bandages, Maria took a last look at her Jesus. Oh, how she would have liked to remain buried with the Divine Son, so as not to abandon him! The evening was advancing and it was necessary to leave the sepulcher. San Bonaventura says that on her return Maria passed by that place where the Cross was still raised; I gazed at her with affection and pain and kissed that Blood of the Divine Son, who embodied her. Our Lady of Sorrows returned home with John, the beloved Apostle. This poor Mother was so afflicted and sad, says St. Bernard, who moved through tears where she passed. Heartbreaking is the first night for a mother who loses her son; darkness and silence lead to reflection and the awakening of memories. On that night, says Sant'Alfonso, the Madonna could not rest and the terrifying scenes of the day relived in her mind. In such an ambassador it was supported by uniformity in the will of God and by the firm hope of the nearby resurrection. We consider that death will come for us too; we will be placed in a sepulcher and there we will wait for the universal resurrection. The thought that our body will gloriously rise again, let there be light in life, comfort in trials and support us at the point of death. We also consider that the Madonna, leaving the sepulcher, left the Heart buried with that of Jesus. We too bury our heart, with its affections, in the Heart of Jesus. Live and die in Jesus; to be buried with Jesus, to be resurrected with Him. The sepulcher that kept the Body of Jesus for three days is a symbol of our heart that keeps Jesus alive and true with Holy Communion. This thought is recalled in the last station of the Via Crucis, when it is said: O Jesus, let me receive you worthily in Holy Communion! - We meditated on Mary's seven pains. The memory of what the Madonna suffers for us is always present to us. Wish our Heavenly Mother that the Sons will not forget her tears. In 1259 he appeared to seven of his devotees, who then were the founders of the Congregation of the Servants of Mary; he presented them with a black robe, saying that if they wanted to please her, they often meditated on her pains and in memory of them they wore that black robe as a habit. O Virgin of Sorrows, imprint in our heart and in our mind the memory of the Passion of Jesus and your pains!
EXAMPLE
The youth period is very dangerous for purity; if the heart is not dominated, it can go as far as aberration in the path of evil. A young man from Perugia, burning with illicit love and failing in his bad intent, invoked the devil for help. The infernal enemy presented himself in a sensitive form. - I promise to give you my soul, if you help me to commit a sin! - Are you willing to write the promise? - Yup; and I will sign it with my blood! - The unhappy young man managed to commit sin. Immediately afterwards the devil led him to a well; he said: Keep your promise now! Throw yourself into this well; if you don't, I will take you to hell in body and soul! - The young man, believing that he could no longer free himself from the hands of the evil one, not having the courage to rush, added: Give me the push yourself; I dare not throw myself! - Our Lady came to help. The young man had the little Addolorata's dress around his neck; he had been wearing it for some time. The devil added: First remove that dress from the neck, otherwise I cannot give you the push! - The sinner understood to these words the inferiority of Satan before the power of the Virgin and shouting invoked the Addolorata. The devil, angry at seeing his prey escape, protested, tried to intimidate with threats, but eventually he was defeated. The poor ledger, grateful to the Sorrowful Mother, went to thank her and, repented of his sins, he also wanted to suspend a vow, expressed in a painting at his Altar in the Church of S. Maria La Nuova, in Perugia.
Foil. - Get used to reciting seven Hail Marys every day, in honor of the seven Sorrows of Our Lady, adding: Virgin of Sorrows, pray for me!
Ejaculation. - O God, you see me. Am I daring to offend you in your presence?