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
During the lifetime of this holy youth, who was wholly devoted to the
love of Mary, it happened that on the first day of August, he heard a
sermon of Father Peter Canisius, in which, preaching to the novices of
his society, he fervently urged upon all, the important advice, to live
every day as if it might be the last of their life, after which they
were to be presented at the divine tribunal. The sermon being finished,
St. Stanislas told his companions that this counsel had been for him
especially the voice of God, for that he was to die on that very month.
He said this either because God had expressly revealed it to him, or
at least because he gave him a certain internal presentiment of what
afterwards happened. Four days after, the blessed youth went with Father
Emmanuel to St. Mary Major, and beginning to speak of the approaching
festival of the Assumption, he said: “Father, I believe that on that day
there is seen in paradise a new paradise, the glory being seen there of
the mother of God crowned queen of heaven, and seated so near the Lord
above all the choirs of angels. And if it is true that every year, as
I believe it to be certain, this festival is renewed in heaven, I hope
to see the next one.” The glorious martyr St. Lawrence, having fallen
to the saint by lot as his monthly patron, according to the custom of
that society, it is said that he wrote a letter to his mother Mary, in
which he prayed her to obtain for him that he might be a spectator of
this festival of hers in paradise. On St. Lawrence’s day he received
communion, and after it supplicated the saint to present that letter to
the divine mother, by interposing his intercession that the most holy
Mary might graciously hear his prayer. At the close of this very day
a fever came upon him, and although it was very light, he, however,
from that hour esteemed it for certain that he had obtained the favor
asked for him, namely, an early death. Indeed, on going to bed he said
joyfully, with a smiling countenance: “From this bed I shall never
arise.” And speaking to Father Claudius Aquaviva, he added: “I believe
that St. Lawrence has already obtained for me the grace from Mary that
I should be in heaven on the festival of her Assumption.” But no one
thought much of these his words. The vigil having arrived, his malady
continued to appear light, but the saint told a brother that he should
die the next night, and the brother answered: “Oh, brother, it would be
a greater miracle to die of so slight an illness, than to be cured.”
But, behold, after noon he fell into a deadly swoon, and then came a
cold sweat, and he entirely lost his strength. The superior hastened
to him, and Stanislas prayed him to order him to be placed on the bare
floor, that he might die as a penitent, which was granted in order to
satisfy him, and he was laid on the floor on a mattress. Then he made his
confession, received the viaticum, not without the tears of all present,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account