Grace For All
Fr. A. Raymond, SMM
St. THOMAS tells us that some have, received enough grace to save themselves and many others with them. But not one of them has received enough to redeem the whole human race. This super-abundance was given only to Christ and His Mother. That is why the Holy Fathers have applied to Our Lady the words which St. John the Evangelist applies to Christ: ”. . of Whose fulness we have all received.”
You Are Full of Grace, O Holy Virgin
St. Thomas of Villanova applies this same text to Mary. “You are full of grace, O holy Virgin, and all human beings receive of this fulness”. St. Anselm, stresses this same truth in his writings. “This is so true that there isn’t a soul that has not received grace from this plenitude of the Virgin Mary”.
In fact, St. Alphonsus of Liguori asks, where in the whole wide world will you find a soul that has not experienced the goodness and the power of this rich Sovereign and has not been mercifully helped? Mary has made herself all things to all men, says St. Bernard, that all may receive her favors. To the slave she brings freedom; for the sick, recovery; to the afflicted she brings consolation; and to the sinner, pardon. God Himself is highly glorified in her. In a word, no one is deprived of the influence of her maternal kindness.
No doubt, all graces come to us through and from Jesus, since He is the Author and Source of all grace. But Mary is the dispenser of those graces because it is only through her, as through a divine aqueduct, that the Savior is pleased to distribute his graces and His gifts.
Adoration: Italian Painter: Cappella Sassetti: 1485
With this article, Father A. Raymond, a Montfort Father and seasoned Missionary of Our Lady, continues a series of sermonettes. The prior article may be found here. The next article (#7) may be found here: Mary’s Virtues, More Than The Stars.
Mary responded to God’s gifts by an act of perfect love. She began to sing in her heart the great things which the Almighty was working in her, His handmaid. This was the prelude to her Magnificat. She began to love God with every fiber of her being, with her whole strength.
God Places In Her Hands All His Gifts And Treasures
St. Bernard, who continually reminded the faithful of this truth, exhorted them to reflect on how much our divine Lord desires us to love His Mother, since He has placed in her hands all His gifts and treasures. So much so that we are obliged to admit that all the faith, hope and charity we possess, all the graces for salvation come to us through her.
But there is more. Now that Mary is in heaven her power is greater than ever. That explains why she is able to distribute graces and blessings upon all who pray to her. St. Bernard points out that, in the Old Testament, God seemed to be so sparing of His graces that we are inclined to say that He let them fall only drop by drop. Today, they are sent down in torrents upon the Church thus filling it with numberless virtues.
”Why this difference”? St. Bernard inquires. And he answers at once: Mary is the reason; for if the flow of graces has to a certain extent been cut off from humanity for a very long time, it is because Mary, God’s aqueduct of graces, was not yet established. No sooner did she appear upon the scene than the world was flooded with divine grace.
Through Mary, the World Was Flooded With Divine Grace
Far be it from us to imply that there were no great saints in the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel and others; or that God’s power was limited and His mercy not boundless. But no one can deny that the flow of graces then was as nothing compared to that which began on Pentecost Sunday and which has since enriched the Church down to our own day. To take but one example, the virtue of purity. Virginal purity was practically unheard of, in the Old Testament. The history of the Church proves that down through the centuries this virtue has been one of the glories of the Church.
Mary, the Aqueduct That Conveys Grace To Us
It is true that Jesus is the source of the graces which flow from His Sacred Wounds. But it is also true that Mary is the aqueduct that conveys them to us, since it is God’s will that we should have no grace but through Mary.
St. Bernard concludes by saying that if, therefore, the luster of perfection and the glory of sanctity shine forth today in the Church, all thanks to Mary. It is for this same reason that the Fathers of the Church attribute to Mary the honor and glory of all that is great, excellent, heroic and praise-worthy in the Church.
Thus, if such saints as St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nazianzus and other illustrious Doctors of the Church have championed the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, if they have urged everyone to hallow and adore the three divine Persons, it was with Mary’s help. ”Through thee (Mary) the Trinity is hallowed,” says St. Cyril of Alexandria. If the emperor Heraclius and the empress Helena have rendered the Cross of Christ famous throughout the world, it was through Mary’s inspiration. ”Through thee (Mary) the precious Cross was made famous”.
For Those That Wish God’s Graces
St. Cyril goes on to say. If the Apostles have drawn men away from idolatry and converted the world to faith in, and knowledge of the true God, it was through Mary’s good example. If the emperor Charlemagne, St. Louis of France and other monarchs had churches built and consecrated to the true God, it was Mary who inspired them with this devotion. The reason for this is that the virtues of the Virgin Mary were granted her as a preparation for her divine Maternity or are the effects of it. Like the divine Maternity, they too are productive and fruitful. That is why all the good works of the saints, all the virtues of predestinate souls will forever render homage and thanks to Mary’s virtues, as to their model and source.
Draw nigh to her and you will be enlightened, says Holy Writ, speaking of Wisdom. When a fountain gushes forth on all sides, one has only to approach it to partake of its waters. Do you wish to be inundated with God’s graces? Run to Mary with confidence. Cast yourselves into her motherly arms.
St. Augustine says that one does not approach God simply by physically walking towards Him, but by the affections of the heart, by honoring and loving Him. The same may be said of Mary. We can best approach her by honoring and loving her. Let us consecrate our whole being to her and thus prove our devotion and our love for her and her divine Son.
Let Us Consecration Our Whole Being
O Virgin most helpful and most amiable, whom God has singularly enriched with His gifts that all men might have recourse to thee and receive thy help, look upon us poor sinners, today, who run to you from all sides to implore your intercession. Alas, we know only too well that because of our past ingratitude we do not deserve to be heard.
We are, therefore, resolved to make reparation four our past sins and to make up for time lost, since it is always better late than never. We give thee our hearts without reserve, O, Queen of All Hearts. Project them and fill them with your graces and virtues. Grant us a share in your wisdom and fortitude that we may ever remain by your side on the thorny and narrow path that leads to God. Amen.
