The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics

by Raphael Brown

  “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and wrought the redemption of His people . . . that, delivered from the hand of our enemies, we should serve Him without fear, in holiness and justice before Him all our days. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give to His people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins, because of the loving kindness of our God. . . .”

  A few days later St. Joseph came to accompany Mary back to Nazareth. Then the Blessed Virgin said a sad farewell to her dear cousin and her husband. Kneeling before Zacharias, she took his hand and begged him to bless her and to forgive her for all her faults while in his house. The old priest, who knew now that she was the chosen Mother of the Messiah, was deeply moved, and giving her his blessing he said: “In thee let all nations know their God, and through thee let the name of the Lord of Jacob be glorified.” Next Mary consoled St. Elizabeth, who was heartbroken at seeing her leave, and taking the child John in her arms again, Mary gave him many mystic blessings and graces, while he whispered to her: “You are the Mother of God Himself—may your intercession never fail me!” And he kissed her hand three times. Then, after St. Joseph had also bid farewell to his good friends, Mary kneeled before him for his blessing, and they set out on their journey home.

  During this four-day trip the Blessed Virgin mercifully healed a poor woman who was partly possessed by evil spirits, and she also converted to a better life an innkeeper who received her and Joseph kindly. Because she was now in her third month with child, she was more easily fatigued. And now she prayed more than ever that the Lord might assist St. Joseph with special graces and understanding when he became aware of her condition, as would inevitably happen soon. For she knew that she could not explain God’s holy secret to him until the Lord Himself allowed her to do so.

  The Visitation

  X

  Trials

  hen the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph returned to their home in Nazareth after their visit to St. Elizabeth, Mary proceeded to set her house in order and to clean it, with the help of her angels, while St. Joseph applied himself to his carpentry work.

  Now Lucifer and his devils were sorely puzzled by Mary’s exceptional holiness. However, they did not think that she was the Virgin chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah, because besides having a husband she was also extremely poor and modest in her way of living. Nevertheless Satan was enraged against her, due to her sanctity, and he therefore decided to send seven legions of his devils to tempt her in each of the seven capital sins. But Mary was warned by the Lord, who said to her: “My spouse and My dove, I will be with thee in battle, since I am in thy virginal womb. I wish that thou confound these enemies before I appear in the world, and I trust this victory to thy fidelity and thy love.”

  Mary was deeply moved as she replied: “My Lord, I belong entirely to Thee. Thou hast condescended to be my Son. Do with Thy servant whatever shall be to Thy greater glory. For if Thou art in me, and I in Thee, who shall be powerful enough to resist Thy will? Give me strength.”

  Then while Mary was praying alone, left only to her natural force, God allowed the first legion of devils to tempt her to pride. To make her stop praying, they tried to terrify her by howling and roaring at her. But Mary did not change her position or show any fear. She simply repeated the words of the Psalm: “Who is like unto God, who dwells on high and looks down upon the humble in heaven and on earth?” Then the devils changed themselves into resplendent angels and tried to convince Mary that they came from God in order to congratulate and praise her, but they gave themselves away when they promised to select her as the Mother of God! The Blessed Virgin, prostrate on the floor, withdrew within herself and quietly yet firmly continued to pray and adore the Lord.

  Next the second legion of demons tried to tempt her to avarice by offering her great wealth in gold and jewels, telling her that God wanted her to distribute it to the poor, since it was far better for a holy person like her to have all these riches than to leave them to be misused by wicked sinners. Mary did not argue with the devils. She merely prayed these words of the Psalmist: “I have acquired for my heritage and for my riches the keeping of Thy testimonies and Thy laws, my Lord.”

  When the third group of devils sought to tempt the Blessed Virgin to impurity, she renewed her vow of chastity with such fervor and merit that her enemies were driven from her presence like a cannon ball from a cannon.

  Then the fourth legion did all they could to provoke her to anger. They posed as some women whom Mary knew and shouted outrageous insults and threats at her and stole the things she needed most. But Mary saw through their tricks and utterly disregarded them. Then one of the devils took on the appearance of a woman of Nazareth and told an easily influenced neighbor that Mary had criticized and slandered her. The deceived woman, who often lost her temper, hastened to go and insult Mary to her face. The Blessed Virgin calmly allowed her to pour forth all her anger and then spoke to her in such a kind and humble way that soon the woman’s heart softened and she apologized. Mary warned her against letting herself be stirred to anger by the devil, and after giving the poor woman some alms dismissed her in peace. Even the demons were astounded, for they had never seen anyone react that way.

  The fifth legion had no success at all in tempting Mary to gluttony.

  Then the spirits of envy gave her a long list of natural blessings and spiritual favors which God had bestowed on others but denied to her. They also induced several prosperous persons to describe to her the happiness of those who are rich and well off and fortunate in worldly things. But Mary simply told them that they should thank the Lord for all they had and use it well, while she judged herself quite unworthy of such favors.

  Finally the last legion of devils tried to tempt her to idleness by making her feel tired and dejected, suggesting that she postpone certain prayers and good deeds on account of weariness, so that she might do them all the better after having rested. They also sent people to bother her and take up her time in order to prevent her from doing good. But Mary prudently detected these plots and did not allow the devil to keep her from her prayers and good works.

  By now Lucifer was so enraged against Mary that he himself strove with all his might to hurt her and the child in her womb, for he feared that anyone born of her would naturally be a great enemy of his. Therefore, assuming the form of a horrifying monster, he rushed at the Blessed Virgin. Howling and shooting forth fire and fumes from his mouth, he sought to terrify her. But though Mary saw and heard him, she remained as unmoved as if he were nothing but a gnat. Then, in order to poison her mind, the Father of Lies began to recite every falsehood and heresy known to history concerning God and His Truth. But Mary firmly proclaimed the various truths opposed to these errors and sang hymns of praise to the Lord. When she prayed to God to prevent the devils from spreading false teachings so freely throughout the world, the Lord did in fact set narrower limits to the demons’ activities.

  In one last attempt Lucifer stirred up a bitter quarrel over property among Mary’s neighbors by taking on the appearance of a woman known to them and by convincing them that Mary was the true source of all their trouble. Consequently the entire group went to St. Joseph’s home and harshly accused Mary of disturbing their peace. Instead of defending herself, Mary humbly and patiently begged her neighbors to forgive her if she had offended them, and then she pacified them by proving that none of them had really done anything against the others. Finally, after another useless attack by all the demons together, Mary was allowed to command the defeated devils to return to hell. And as a reward the Lord Himself appeared to her with all her angels and honored her, while she joyfully and modestly praised the Author of all good.

  Now that the Blessed Virgin was in her fifth month of pregnancy, one day when St. Joseph saw her coming out of her oratory, he could not help noticing the evident change in her condition, which she did not once try to
conceal. But he was completely unable to explain what he saw so clearly. Naturally, because he loved his dear wife so tenderly, he felt a keen stab of grief in his heart. Yet, as he was a holy and just man, he withheld his judgment, though he began to worry over the matter more and more. He dreaded the terrible thought that he might be forced to give her over to the authorities to be stoned, according to the Law of Moses. But he did not dare to speak to her about this delicate subject, since she did not volunteer any information. And so he turned to the Lord in frequent and fervent prayers, saying: “Most High God, my grief is almost killing me! My reason proclaims her blameless, while my senses accuse her. What shall I do? Why does she conceal this matter from me? Yet I withhold my judgment. . . . Receive my tears as an acceptable sacrifice. I do not believe that Mary has offended Thee. Govern Thou my mind and my heart.”

  Meanwhile St. Joseph’s suffering was known to Mary, and it filled her affectionate heart with intense compassion for him. But she felt obliged to keep God’s great secret to herself until He gave her permission to reveal it to anyone. With deep wisdom and confidence, she resigned the whole matter into the hands of Divine Providence. And she sought to comfort her good husband in his trouble by serving him with still more devotion and thoughtfulness. She served him at table, offered him a chair, and often she knelt before him. All the time, with the Word Incarnate in her womb, she was growing in health, gracefulness, and loveliness.

  St. Joseph, on the contrary, was so troubled in mind and heart that he was wasting away from weakness and emaciation. Mary spoke to him anxiously about his health and urged him to take some rest and recreation. And in great sorrow she prayed fervently to the Lord to console her unhappy husband.

  After bearing his tribulation patiently and nobly for two months, St. Joseph finally came to the sad conclusion that the best thing for him to do was to absent himself, and he decided to leave his home that same night at midnight. After packing some clothes in a bundle, he prayed to God: “O Lord, I find no other way to restore my peace. . . . I do not believe my wife an adulteress. So I will withdraw from her and pass my life in a desert. Do not forsake me, my Lord!” And prostrating himself on the ground he made a vow to go to the Temple in Jerusalem and offer up a sacrifice in order that God might help and protect Mary. Then he took a brief rest.

  Meanwhile Mary, knowing what he was planning to do, also prayed to God: “I beseech Thee, Lord, not to permit him to carry out this decision and leave me!”

  And the Lord answered her: “My dearest dove, I shall presently visit My servant Joseph with consolation. And after I shall have revealed to him by My angel the mystery which is now unknown to him, thou mayest tell him openly about all I have done with thee. I will fill him with My Spirit, and he will assist thee in all that will happen.” This divine promise greatly relieved Mary.

  Now the Lord mercifully sent the Archangel Gabriel to St. Joseph while he slept, and though Joseph did not see the angel, he distinctly heard the inner voice say to him: “Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. For He shall save His people from their sins.”

  Understanding this great mystery for the first time, St. Joseph awoke with the overwhelming realization that his wife Mary was actually the Mother of the Messiah. He was filled with joy and at the same time with sorrow for having doubted her. Prostrating himself on the floor, he humbly gave thanks to God for having revealed this Mystery to him. Then he began to blame himself for all that had happened, exclaiming: “O my heavenly wife, how could your unworthy slave have dared to doubt your faithfulness? How is it that I have not kissed the ground that your feet touched? Woe is me—all my thoughts were open to her sight . . . also that I intended to leave her! O my Lord and God, give me strength to ask her forgiveness, so that for her sake Thou mayest pardon my great fault!”

  Then, shedding tears of repentance, St. Joseph unwrapped his bundle, went out of his room, and began to scrub the floors on which Mary walked, and to do other chores that he had formerly left to her, for he resolved henceforth to be her servant in all things.

  Early that morning when he knew that Mary had finished her first prayers and meditation, he went to her room and threw himself on his knees before her with the deepest reverence saying: “My spouse, Mother of the Eternal Word, I beseech you to pardon my audacity. I am certain that none of my thoughts are hidden to your heavenly insight. Great was my presumption in deciding to leave you instead of serving you as the Mother of my Lord. But you know that I did it all in ignorance. Now I consecrate my heart and my whole life to your service. I will not rise from my knees until I have obtained your pardon and your blessing.”

  Raising him to his feet, Mary knelt before him and said with tender joy and love: “My master and my husband, I should ask you to forgive me for the sorrow and bitterness which I have caused you. As much as I wanted to, I could not on my own account give you any information about the holy sacrament hidden within me by the power of the Almighty. But I will always be your faithful servant. The Lord has not made me His Mother in order that I should be served in this life, but in order that I should be the servant of all and your slave. That is my duty.”

  As St. Joseph raised her from her knees, the pure and humble Mother of God was filled with the Holy Spirit. All aflame and transfigured in a mystical ecstasy, she recited the Magnificat. Seeing her surrounded by a bright radiance of heavenly light, St. Joseph with profound humility and reverence bowed his head and adored his Lord in her womb. And God looked down upon good St. Joseph with kindly favor and accepted him as His foster father, filling his pure heart with holy graces.

  XI

  Mary and Joseph in Nazareth

  fter learning that Mary was the chosen Mother of God, St. Joseph was changed spiritually into a new man. He resolved henceforth to act toward her with much greater reverence. Whenever he passed her or spoke to her alone, he respectfully genuflected, and he would no longer let her serve him or clean the house or wash the dishes. As she protested, he did these chores during the time which she spent in contemplation. Therefore in her humility Mary appealed to the Lord, and St. Joseph’s guardian angel was sent to tell him: “Exteriorly allow her to serve thee, and interiorly treat her with the highest reverence. Always worship in her the Lord of all creation. It is His will and His Mother’s to serve and not to be served, in order to teach the world the value of humility.”

  The modest home of the holy couple contained only three rooms: St. Joseph’s bedroom, his workshop, and Mary’s room. In the latter was a couch which Joseph had made. Now when he came to talk with her in her room, he often found her in ecstasy raised above the ground, or conversing with her angels, or prostrate on the floor in the form of a cross. At such times he heard heavenly melodies and noticed a marvelous fragrance which filled him with deep spiritual joy.

  Mary’s outer garments were of a gray color. Underneath she wore a cotton tunic. Nothing that she wore ever became soiled or worn, and she always kept herself immaculately clean. She ate very sparingly and took no meat, though she prepared it for Joseph. She usually ate cooked vegetables and bread, fruit, and fish.

  St. Joseph and Mary now frequently read and discussed together the various prophecies in Holy Scripture concerning the Messiah, especially all that related to His birth. But out of consideration for her husband, the Blessed Virgin did not dwell on the Redeemer’s sufferings and death. Often during these conversations, St. Joseph would become so moved by Mary’s inspiring words that with tears of joy in his eyes he would exclaim:

  “Is it really possible that I shall see my God in your arms, and hear Him speak, and touch Him—that He will live with us—that we shall eat at the same table with Him and talk with Him? I do not deserve this good fortune, which no one can ever deserve! Oh, how I regret that I am so poor!”

  Then Mary answered:

  “My master and husband, the Lord is c
oming to redeem the world and to guide men on the path to life eternal, and this is to be done by means of humility and poverty. In humility and poverty He wishes to be born, to live, and to die, in order to break the chains of greed and pride in the hearts of men. That is why He chose our poor and humble home and did not want us to be rich in passing goods, which are but vanity and which darken the understanding.”

  When St. Joseph asked Mary to instruct him in the various virtues and in the love of God, she did so with touching humility and skill, often by putting questions to him which of themselves suggested the right answers. She also taught him how to make his daily labor more a practice of virtue than mere manual work.

  Although both St. Joseph and Mary performed work for others, they never demanded any wages or set a price on their labor. As they worked not for gain but for charity or to supply a need, they left the payment to their employers and accepted it as a freely given alms rather than an earned reward. Joseph learned this perfect degree of sanctity in economic matters from Mary.

  Several times during this period they found themselves so poor that they even lacked necessities, for they were extremely generous in their gifts to the needy and they never stocked up food or clothing for the future. In her faith and humility Mary blessed the Lord for this poverty, which was a source of profound spiritual consolation to her. But she asked God to supply Joseph’s wants. And the Lord heard her prayers. Sometimes He moved their neighbors to bring them gifts or to pay off a debt. At other times St. Elizabeth sent them presents, which Mary always acknowledged by sending in return some work of her hands. On rare occasions she commanded her friends, the birds, to bring some fish or fruit or bread, and St. Joseph marveled when he saw the birds come down and place this food in her hands.