May, month of Mary: tenth day meditation
MARY HOPE OF THE MORIBONDI
10 DAY
Holy Mary.
Invocation. - Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for us!
MARY HOPE OF THE MORIBONDI
You come to the world crying and you die shedding the last tear; this land is rightly called the valley of tears and the place of exile, from which everyone must start.
Few are the joys of the present life and many the pains; all this is providential, because if one did not suffer, one would cling too much to the earth and would not aspire to Heaven.
The greatest punishment for everyone is death, both for the pains of the body, and for the detachment from any earthly affection and especially for the thought of the appearance before Jesus Christ Judge. The hour of death, certain for all, but uncertain for the day, is the most important hour of life, because eternity depends on it.
Who can help us in those supreme moments? Only God and Our Lady.
The mother does not abandon her children in need and the more serious this is, the more her concern intensifies. The Heavenly Mother, dispenser of divine treasures, runs to the aid of souls, especially if they are about to leave for eternity. The Church, divinely inspired, in the Ave Maria has made a particular supplication: Saint Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death! -
How many times during this life is this prayer repeated! And can Our Lady, a delicately motherly Heart, remain indifferent to the cry of her children?
The Virgin on Calvary assisted the agonizing Son Jesus; he did not speak, but contemplated and prayed. As Mother of believers in those moments she also turned her gaze to the multitude of adopted children, who over the centuries would find themselves in agony and would implore his help.
For us, Our Lady prayed on Calvary and we console ourselves that on her deathbed she will help us. But we do everything to deserve his assistance.
Every day let us offer her some special act of respect, even a small one, as the recitation of three Hail Marys would be, with the ejaculation: Dear Mother Virgin Mary, let me save my soul! -
We often ask that you free us from sudden death; that death does not catch us when unfortunately we were in mortal sin; that we can receive the Holy Sacraments and not only the Extreme Unction, but especially the Viaticum; that we can overcome the assaults of the devil during agony, because then the enemy of souls doubles the fight; and that the serenity of the spirit finally obtains us, to die in the kiss of the Lord, fully conformed to the will of God. Mary's devotees usually die placidly and sometimes have the joy of sensibly seeing the Queen of Heaven, who comforts them and invites to eternal joy. Thus died the boy Domenico Savio, now a saint, exclaiming with joy: Oh, what a beautiful thing I see!
EXAMPLE
San Vincenzo Ferreri was called urgently to a very serious patient who refused the sacraments.
The Saint said to him: Do not persist! Don't give Jesus so much displeasure! Place yourself in God's grace and you will acquire peace of heart. - The sick man, even more angry, protested that he did not want to confess.
St. Vincent thought of turning to Our Lady, confident that he could obtain the good death of that unhappy one. Then he added: Well, you will have to confess at any cost! -
He invited all those present, family and friends, to recite the Rosary for the sick person. While praying, the Blessed Virgin with the Infant Jesus appeared at the bed of the sinner, all sprinkled with blood.
The dying man could not resist this sight and cried out: Lord, forgiveness. . . pardon! I want to confess! -
Everyone was crying with emotion. St. Vincent was able to confess and give him the Viaticum and had the joy of seeing him expire while kissing the Crucified affectionately.
The crown of the Rosary was placed in the hands of the deceased, as a sign of the triumph of the Madonna.
Foil. - Spend the day in particular recollection and think from time to time: If I were to die today, would I have a clear conscience? How would I like to be on my deathbed? -
Ejaculation. - Mary, Mother of mercy, mercy on the dying!