Mystical City of God

Revelations 21 cont‘d - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 19

Expanding our understanding of the Immaculate Conception, The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus continues to share her revelations concerning chapter 21 of the book of Revelations and how it refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She also describes how God, in His Providence, has granted Mary Queen of Angels tremendous graces for intervening on behalf of mankind. Reminding us that if only the world would turn to Mary, the Queen of Heaven – and offering the praise and affection she deserves, we would be freed from internal strife within the Church and freed from heresies, paganism, and all the things that torment the world. “Therefore let all the faithful, who are agitated and stirred up by the tormenting anxiety of their vices, pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that so they may obtain from Her this gift of peace.”

Remember that this great Princess honors those that honor Her, enriches those that seek Her, makes illustrious those that praise Her, and defends those that hope in Her.

How Mary Prayed - from the womb! - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 20

In Chapter 20 the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus tells us how the Blessed Virgin Mary prayed while in her mother's womb. The exact words of that prayer and how Mary had a fear of losing God from her conception until the end of her life. The Queen of Heaven told her, “…the two necessary dispositions of a Christian life [are]: one a quiet preservation of tranquillity in the soul, the other the constant presence of a holy fear and watchfulness, lest the treasure be lost. Nevertheless, make use of this fear with measure, and strive instead to excel in love. This, my dear friend, is the great test of spiritual things: that they come with true enlightenment and sound doctrine; that they teach greater perfection of virtues and excite a strong impulse toward seeking it. Do not trust your own judgment, and be not wise in your own conceit (Proverbs 3 7), for the judgments of men are only too easily blinded by their passions, throwing them out of their course and drawing after them the will as their captive.”

She went on to say that the surest way on staying on the path is obedience to our religious superiors.

The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 21

The Blessed Virgin Mary was born on September 8^th. In chapter 21, the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus tells us about the birth of the Virgin Mary and about her daily ritual. The Virgin Mary told her, “…every day at beginning of dawn, I prostrated myself in the presence of the Most High and gave Him thanks and praise for his immutable Being, his infinite perfections, and for having created me out of nothing; acknowledging myself as his creature and the work of his hands, I blessed Him and adored Him, giving Him honor, magnificence, and Divinity, as the supreme Lord and Creator of myself and of all that exists. I raised up my spirit to place it into his hands, offering myself with profound humility and resignation to Him and asking Him to dispose of me according to his will during that day and during all the days of my life, and to teach me to fulfill whatever would be to his greater pleasure.”

 

 

Mary as an Infant - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 22

What was the Blessed Virgin Mary like as an infant? In Chapter 22 Sister Mary of Jesus describes Mary as a child and her presentation at the temp. The Blessed Virgin Mary gave Sr. Mary (and us) a special request, “…which I desire you always to keep in mind. It is this: that you ponder in your heart and in your soul the truths, which I saw, so that you may form a correct judgment of all things, giving to each that esteem and value which is its due. In regard to this the children of Adam are ordinarily full of error and blindness…

On prayer and Gratitude… “I gave thanks to the Author of all things, acknowledging his works as benefits freely bestowed upon me, and not as dues, which He owed to me. Therefore, when anything was wanting of the necessaries of life I remained in peace and contentedness and deemed it all perfectly reasonable and proper in my regard since I had merited none of the gifts and could justly be deprived of all of them.”

On governance and religious obligations… “Despising just and wise laws and frequently dispensing with them destroys the worship and fear of God, and fatally confuses government among men. Beware of easily dispensing in the obligations of the religious state, either for yourself or for others. If infirmity or some other just cause make it advisable, let it be done with moderation and with the approval of the confessor, thus justifying dispensation before God and before men by the certification of holy obedience. If you find yourself weary or weakened, do not at once become remiss in the strict observance, for God will give you strength according to your faith in Him.”

Mary‘s Angelic Guard - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 23

In Chapter 23 the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the Angels that were part of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s guards and assistants. She also describes what Mary knew and didn’t know about them. The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us of the invaluable gift from God, the assistance of the Angels, and how we should ask them for guidance and assistance, being grateful for their diligent support... and that God doesn’t like it when we don't.

The Child Mary begins to Speak - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 24

Although the Blessed Virgin Mary could speak from birth, she remained silent for the first year and a half of her life. She explained to the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda that she didn't want to attract undue attention by speaking at an age when she was expected not to do so. She also said silence is a virtue to be developed, and when we speak, we should do so very carefully. The Blessed Virgin Mary said, "To speak without moderation and forethought is a two-edged sword, which wounds both him that speaks and him that hears, and thus in two ways destroys charity or hinders [people] in all the virtues."

Mary, from 18-moths to her 3rd Birthday - The Conception - Bk 1 - Ch 25

In the final chapter of book 1, the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda gives us the details of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life from the age of 18-months until she was 3 (when she was consecrated to God at the temple in Jerusalem). The child Mary was very apprehensive about speaking to people because she saw how dangerous it could be. She also had a great love of humility, service, and love at this tender young age. In the counseling at the end of the chapter, in the Virgin Mary’s own words, she reminds us and cautions us as a loving mother. "My dearest daughter, keep in mind, that all the living are born destined for death, but ignorant of the time allowed them; however this they know for certain, that the term of life is short, that eternity is without end, and that in this life they can only harvest what will yield life or death eternal. In this dangerous pilgrimage of life God has ordained, that no one shall know for certain, whether he is worthy (Ecclesiastes 9:1) of his love or hate; for if he uses his reason rightly, this uncertainty will urge him to seek with all his powers the friendship of that same Lord."

She continues, "But if man neglects to rise above his low desires and his forgetfulness, he yields to the enemy of God and man. The more he alienates himself from the goodness of God, so much the more unworthy does he become of the secret callings of the Most High, and so much the less does he appreciate his assistance, though it is great. For the demon and the passions have obtained a greater dominion and power over his intellect and have made him more unfit and more incapable of the grace of the Almighty. Thereon, my dear daughter rests the whole salvation or condemnation of souls, that is, in commencing to admit or resist the advances of the Lord. I desire you not to forget this doctrine, so that you may respond to the many calls which you receive of the Most High."

Mary‘s presented in the Temple at Jerusalem - The Conception - Book 2 - Ch 1

Now at the age of three, The Blessed Virgin Mary is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem where she meets St. Anne the prophetess and the High Priest Simeon for the first time.

Mary‘s espousal to God - The Conception - Bk 2 - Ch 2

Mary, having arrived at the temple, is taken up to Heaven and espoused to God. She is the daughter of the Father, The Mother of the Son, and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Blessed Virgin Mary said, "My daughter, among the great and ineffable favors of the Omnipotent in the course of my life, was the one which you have just learned and described; for by this clear vision of the Divinity and of the incomprehensible essence I acquired knowledge of the most hidden sacraments and mysteries, and in this adornment and espousal I received incomparable blessings and felt the sweetest workings of the Divinity in my spirit."

How to perfectly fulfill your vows - The Conception - Bk2 - Ch 3

The Blessed Virgin Mary answers the Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus' question about how to perfectly fulfill her vows and the demands of religious life. This is excellent info for the layperson as well. The Virgin Mary said, "My dear daughter, I will not deny thee the instruction you ask of me with the desire of putting it into practice; but do thou receive it with an appreciative and devout mind, ready to follow it indeed."