MARY, OUR MOTHER

THE DEATH OF MARY

2. Death of Love.
Mary was dying through love throughout Her life. Love had been Her fever. St. Theresa of Jesus felt like dying because she could not actually die. Blessed Imelda died in an ecstasy. So many other saints, being unable to stand the fire of love which consumed them, actually died of it. What then happened in the heart of Mary? The astonishing thing is that She could still live. A continuous miracle was needed, else She must long ago have died of love.

Have you ever seen a tree heavily laden with fruit, barely able to hold its branches aloft? Such was the case with Our Heavenly Mother. She was a fruit-laden tree.

Her soul could hardly bear the weight of so much grace whose fullness She had had from the first instant of Her life. And that precious weight went on increasing without ceasing for one single moment. How could that body, so pure, holy and immaculate, contain that soul, which from Her conception was being pulled with an irresistible strength towards Heaven?

Moreover, how powerful would that attraction be with which the soul of Our Mother gravitated towards Jesus! How strong would the longing be with which that most white dove was urged to fly to Hom! Those words of the psalm: Alas! How has my exile been lengthened, how long have I been living with the dwellers of Cedar. How long has my soul been a pilgrim in this life, undoubtedly were written of Her. At times with more ardor than David She would exclaim: Oh God, my whole soul longs for Thee, as a deer for running water. My whole soul thirsts for God, the living God. Shall I never again make my pilgrimage into God's presence? Finally, with the angels, She would utter those words of the Song of Songs I charge you, maidens of the Heavenly Jerusalem; if you find my Beloved, tell Him that I pine away with love.

Every moment would that volcano burning within Her soul increase until it consumed and devoured Her completely. Oh, that you could love God in this manner, and be consumed by His love!

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]