Mystical City of God

Mary’s Further Instruction in Faith - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch9

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes how the Most Holy Mary was instructed in the articles of faith and what use she made of this knowledge. In the Mystical City of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary constantly educates and warns her children. On this occasion, she says, "...what I desire and command, is this; that you preserve with all reverence and solicitude the precious knowledge and understanding of these venerable sacraments. For as Mother I remind and warn you of the cruel and cunning efforts of your enemies to rob you of them. Be you ever on your guard, that they may find you full of strength, and that your domestics, which are the faculties of your body and mind, be clothed with the double vestments of interior and exterior watchfulness in order to be able to resist the onslaught of their temptation (Proverbs 31:17). The powerful arms for battling against those who make war on you must be the doctrines of the Catholic faith (Romans 1:17), for the firm belief in them and the continual exercise of them, the incessant meditation and remembrance of them, illumine the souls, drives away errors, disclose the deceits of Satan and disperse his falsehoods just as the rays of the sun dispel the dark clouds."

 

Mary and the Ten Commandments - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch10

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes how the Blessed Virgin Mary received enlightenment on the Ten Commandments and how she applied that knowledge. The Blessed Virgin Mary tells us about the strength of the law of the Gospels saying, "...when the Word of the eternal Father issued forth from his bosom and assumed humanity in my womb, He came to enlighten those that walk in the darkness and in the shadow of death (Luke 1 79), and to restore them to their lost happiness. Hence, in order to be their light, their way, their truth, and their life, it was necessary that He should give them a law so holy, that it would justify them; so clear that it would enlighten them; so secure, that it would encourage them; so powerful, that it would move them; so efficacious, that it would help them; so truthful, that it would bring joy and delight to all that would observe it."

Mary’s Understanding of the Sacraments and Precepts of the Church - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch11

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the deep knowledge of the Blessed Virgin Mary concerning the seven sacraments which were to be instituted by Christ Our Lord, and the importance of the five precepts of the Catholic Church. The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that the gates to graces are open, yet many don't take advantage of it saying, "...many times I have reminded thee how injurious to the Almighty and how dangerous to mortals is the forgetfulness and the neglect of the mysterious and wonderful works of his divine clemency toward men. My maternal solicitude urges me to renew in thee the memory and the sorrow for this lamentable tendency. Where is the judgment and good sense of men, that they should forget their eternal welfare and the glory of their Redeemer and Creator? The gates of grace and of glory are open; and yet they not only do not enter, but they fly from light and life, and they shut them out from hearts darkened by the shadows of death."

Mary at 33: Her Work Increases as St. Joseph’s Health Begins to Fail - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch13

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes when The Virgin Mary passed her 33rd-year, and she stopped changing physically at that point. She also tells us about how Mary began to supply the labor necessary to support the Holy Family. The Blessed Virgin Mary asks us to imitate her in her labors saying, "I wish that you imitate me in three virtues which you will find in what you have written: they are the virtues of prudence, charity, and justice, so little taken notice of by mortals. Prudence should teach you to provide for the wants of your neighbor as far as possible in your state. Charity should make you diligent and zealous in coming to their assistance. Justice should oblige you to fulfill the obligations of charity, as necessity and love itself point them out to you. You should be an eye to the blind, an ear to the deaf, and your hands should labor for those that are maimed (Job 29:15)."

St. Joseph’s Last Years - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch14

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the sufferings and infirmities of St. Joseph during the last years of his life and how the Blessed Virgin Mary cared for him during that time. The Mother of God reminds us of the importance of caring for the sick saying, "My daughter, one of the virtuous works most pleasing to the Lord and most fruitful for souls, is the loving care of the sick. By it is fulfilled to a great extent that natural law which requires us to do to our neighbors what we wish them to do to us. In the Gospel, this is adduced as one of the works for which the Lord shall give eternal reward to the just (Matthew 25:34), and the failure to exercise this duty is alleged as one of the causes of the eternal damnation of the wicked."

The Death of St. Joseph, and a Caution for Us All - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch15

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the happy death of St. Joseph and what followed. She also explains how Jesus, Our Redeemer, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, assisted in his passing. The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that readiness is key in our last hours, saying, "...you will understand the great danger in the hour of death when both the good works and the bad will begin to show their effects. I will not tell you how many are thus lost, in order that your sincere love of God may not cause you to die of sorrow at this loss. But the general rule is: a good life gives hope of a good end; all other reliance is doubtful, and salvation resting upon it is very rare and merely accidental. The best precaution is to take a good start from afar; and therefore I admonish you, that, at the dawning of each day, when you look upon the light, you seriously consider whether it may not be the last of your life, and, if it should be the last (for you do not know), that you place your soul in such a state as to be able to meet death with a smiling face. Do not delay even for one instant sorrow for your sins and a firm purpose of confessing them as soon as you find yourself guilty of any and of amending the least of your imperfections."

Mary’s age when Joseph Died and his Special Priviledges. - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch16

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda tells us how old Mary was when St. Joseph died and also describes some of the special privileges of Mary's beloved husband. The Blessed Virgin Mary tells us that the intercession of St. Joseph is powerful beyond comprehension saying, "...Saint Joseph, as the most noble among the princes and saints of the heavenly Jerusalem; yet neither can you properly manifest his eminent sanctity, nor can any of the mortals know it fully before they arrive at the vision of the Divinity. Then all of them will be filled with wonder and praise as the Lord will make them capable of understanding this sacrament. On the last day, when all men shall be judged, the damned will bitterly bewail their sins, which prevented them from appreciating this powerful means of their salvation, and availing themselves, as they easily could have, of this intercessor to gain the friendship of the just Judge. The whole human race has much undervalued the privileges and prerogatives conceded to my blessed spouse and they know not what his intercession with God is able to do."

A Special Insight into Service, Mortification, and the Relationship with St. Joseph - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch17

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the changes in the activities of the Blessed Virgin Mary after the death of St. Joseph. The Blessed Virgin Mary places special emphasis on service and mortification as she describes the Holy Family's relationship with St. Joseph saying, "...I wish that, before proceeding to narrate other mysteries, you understand well all that the Lord commanded in regard to my intercourse with my holy spouse, Saint Joseph. When I espoused myself to him, God commanded me to change the order of my meals and other exterior duties in order to accommodate myself to his circumstances; for he was the head of the family, and, according to the common rule, I was the inferior. The same conduct was also followed by my most holy Son, though He was true God, yet He subjected Himself before the eyes of the world to him who was thought to be his father."

What’s meant by, ”Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and man.” - The Transfixion - Bk 5 - Ch18

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes some of the mysteries and activities of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus, during the time when they lived alone. The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us of how much God wishes to shower us with graces saying, "Although your love of the Lord must be spontaneous as that of a devoted daughter and of a most loving spouse, not selfish or forced; yet I wish, that, for the support of your human weakness and the strengthening of your hope, you fondly remember, how delightful the Lord is in his charity toward those who love Him with filial fear. O my dearest Daughter, if men would place no hindrance by their sins, and if they would not resist this infinite bounty, how measureless would be the favors and blessings upon them!"

The Activities of Jesus and Mary before Christ’s Public Ministry - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch19

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes how Christ was preparing for His public preaching by announcing to some people the presence of the Redeemer in the world and how the Blessed Virgin Mary assisted Him. Our Mother and Queen said to Sr. Mary of Ágreda, "...I see you are astonished at the information, which I give you concerning the mysterious works of my most holy Son and concerning my own share in them. For you see on the one hand, how powerful they are for making an impression on human hearts, and on the other, that many of them have remained hidden until now. Your wonder should not be that men have not known these mysteries, but that, having been informed of so many others concerning the life and activity of their own and my Lord, they have held them in such contempt and forgetfulness."