The glories of MaryLiguori, Alfonso Maria de', Saint
Religion
The glories of Mary
Liguori, Alfonso Maria de', Saint
Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint -- Early works to 1800
Suetonius narrates of the Emperor Titus, that he never could refuse a
favor to any one who asked it, and that he even sometimes promised more
than he could perform; and he answered to one who admonished him of this,
that a prince should not dismiss any one from his presence dissatisfied.
Titus said this, but, in reality, was perhaps often either guilty of
falsehood, or failed in his promises. But our queen cannot lie, and can
obtain whatever she wishes for her devoted servants. She has a heart
so kind and compassionate, says Blosius, that she cannot send away
dissatisfied any one who invokes her aid.[40] But, as St. Bernard says,
how couldst thou, oh Mary, refuse succor to the wretched, when thou art
queen of mercy? and who are the subjects of mercy, if not the miserable?
Thou art the queen of mercy, and I the most miserable of all sinners; if
I, then, am the first of thy subjects, then thou shouldst have more care
of me than of all others.[41]
Have pity on us, then, oh queen of mercy, and give heed to our salvation;
neither say to us, oh most holy Virgin, as St. Gregory of Nicomedia
would add, that thou canst not aid us because of the multitude of our
sins, when thou hast such power and pity that no number of sins can
ever surpass it! Nothing resists thy power, since thy Creator and ours,
while he honors thee as his mother, considers thy glory as his own, and
exulting in it, as a Son, grants thy petitions as if he were discharging
an obligation.[42] By this he means to say, that though Mary is under an
infinite obligation to her Son for having elected her to be his mother,
yet it cannot be denied that the Son also is greatly indebted to his
mother for having given him his human nature; whence Jesus, as if to
recompense Mary as he ought, while he enjoys this his glory, honors her
especially by always graciously listening to her prayers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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