Meditation 78
MARY'S CORONATION IN HEAVEN
1. The Entry into Heaven.
Who from earth below could have the faintest picture of the splendid entry of Our Lady into Heaven? Think of Judith returning to Bethulia, after she had cut off Holophernes' head, thereby freeing her country, and the people running triumphantly to meet her, acclaiming her the savior of the town. They light torches in token of joy. They bless her exclaiming: Blessed art thou by the Lord That made you so great through this achievement. Never will praises be wanting in your honor. This is the figure. Now for Judith substitute Mary, heaven for Bethulia, for those inhabitants you have the angels, for all those shouts of joy and acclamations the hosannas of the holy spirits and you will realize the magnificence of that entry.
Recall what happened at the Ascension of Our Lord and see what happens now. Open your gates! the accompanying angels exclaim. Open your gates, oh princes of the glory. Rise, eternal gates and make way for the queen of the Heavens! Instantly the gates are flung open and with indescribable pomp and majesty the new Empress enters the heavenly court.
The courtiers of the heavens hasten to contemplate their new Queen and on seeing Her so beautiful ask each other: Who is this one who from the desert of the world, from that wilderness of thorns and thistles, rises now to these heights,, not upheld by the hands of the angels but resting on the arms of God Himself? And other angels answer: She is the Mother of Our God and of Our King, the holy of holies, the most pure, the Immaculate, the most beautiful masterpiece of the whole creation, She who is to be crowned as Our Queen. Then taking up the words of the Archangel Gabriel, they would in unison make the heavens shake with enthusiasm and tenderness, repeating, Hail, Thou full of grace, welcome be to this glory, with Thy beauty and sanctity. Thou art always with God and the Lord is always with Thee. Thou are Blessed amongst all creatures and art about to sit on the highest throne, the closest possible to God.
Join the angels, rejoice with them, or rather more than them because whereas they call Her Queen, you may call Her Mother. Be filled with holy pride on seeing your Mother more splendid than the dawn, more beautiful than the moon, more shining than the sun, formidable like an army in battle array, acclaimed by all the hierarchies and angelic choirs as she takes possession of Her glory.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
Who from earth below could have the faintest picture of the splendid entry of Our Lady into Heaven? Think of Judith returning to Bethulia, after she had cut off Holophernes' head, thereby freeing her country, and the people running triumphantly to meet her, acclaiming her the savior of the town. They light torches in token of joy. They bless her exclaiming: Blessed art thou by the Lord That made you so great through this achievement. Never will praises be wanting in your honor. This is the figure. Now for Judith substitute Mary, heaven for Bethulia, for those inhabitants you have the angels, for all those shouts of joy and acclamations the hosannas of the holy spirits and you will realize the magnificence of that entry.
Recall what happened at the Ascension of Our Lord and see what happens now. Open your gates! the accompanying angels exclaim. Open your gates, oh princes of the glory. Rise, eternal gates and make way for the queen of the Heavens! Instantly the gates are flung open and with indescribable pomp and majesty the new Empress enters the heavenly court.
The courtiers of the heavens hasten to contemplate their new Queen and on seeing Her so beautiful ask each other: Who is this one who from the desert of the world, from that wilderness of thorns and thistles, rises now to these heights,, not upheld by the hands of the angels but resting on the arms of God Himself? And other angels answer: She is the Mother of Our God and of Our King, the holy of holies, the most pure, the Immaculate, the most beautiful masterpiece of the whole creation, She who is to be crowned as Our Queen. Then taking up the words of the Archangel Gabriel, they would in unison make the heavens shake with enthusiasm and tenderness, repeating, Hail, Thou full of grace, welcome be to this glory, with Thy beauty and sanctity. Thou art always with God and the Lord is always with Thee. Thou are Blessed amongst all creatures and art about to sit on the highest throne, the closest possible to God.
Join the angels, rejoice with them, or rather more than them because whereas they call Her Queen, you may call Her Mother. Be filled with holy pride on seeing your Mother more splendid than the dawn, more beautiful than the moon, more shining than the sun, formidable like an army in battle array, acclaimed by all the hierarchies and angelic choirs as she takes possession of Her glory.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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