The Hail Mary (2)

I come to you, therefore, with humility and reverence, with devotion and confidence, and with the greeting of Gabriel on my lips - a greeting that I joyously repeat with head bowed in respect and with hands open in deep devotion. I pray that this greeting may be repeated a hundred, a thousand, and even more times on my behalf by all the heavenly spirits. Indeed, I do not know anything dearer and more worthy I can offer you than this greeting.

Listen now to one most enamored of your name: "Heaven rejoices and earth is amazed when I say: Hail, Mary! Satan flees, hell trembles when I say: Hail, Mary! The world becomes contemptible, the flesh foul, when I say: Hail, Mary! Sadness disappears and joy returns when I say: Hail, Mary! Tepidity  vanishes and the heart is inflamed with love when I say: Hail, Mary! Devotion grows, compunction is born, hope intensifies, and consolation is increased when I say: Hail, Mary! The soul is renewed and the inclination to good is strengthened when I say: Hail, Mary!"

So intense is the sweetness of this blessed greeting that it cannot be expressed in human words. It remains forever loftier and more profound than any creature can grasp. Therefore, I kneel again before you, Most Holy Virgin Mary, and say: "Hail, Mary! full of grace."

My most merciful Lady, Holy Mary, accept this very devout greeting and, with it, me as well, so that there may be something in me that pleases you, strengthens my trust in you, enkindles in me an ever increasing love, and keeps me forever devoted to your holy name.

                                                                            - Blessed Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Mary, Book 1

Beyond Compare

It is truly proper to glorify you, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim; who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you truly the Theotokos, we magnify.

                                                                                      -Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Scriptural Sources for the Seven Sorrows of our Lady

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2: 25-35)

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law; He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said; Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace: Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel. And his father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother: Behold, this child is set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2: 13-15)

And when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who, rising up, took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: out of Egypt have I called my son.

3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2: 42-51)

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. And after they had fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child, Jesus, remained in Jerusalem, and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all, that heard him, were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing. And he said to them: how is it that you sought me? Did you not know, that I must be about the things that are my Father’s? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth: and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

4. Mary meets Jesus on the way of the Cross (Luke 23: 26-31)

And as they led him away, they laid hold on one Simon, of Cyrene, coming from the country: and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of people and of women: who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them , said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold the days shall come, wherein they will say: blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us, and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?

5. Mary stands at the foot of the Cross (John 19: 25-27)

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing, whom he loved, he saith to his mother; Woman, Behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple; Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.

6. The taking down of the body of Jesus from the Cross (John 19: 33-38)

But when they came to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers opened his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it, gave testimony; and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled; You shall not break a bone of him. And again another Scripture saith; they shall look on him whom they pierced. And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted him. He came, therefore, and took away the body of Jesus.

7. The burial of Jesus (John 19: 40-42)

They took, therefore, the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as it is the custom with the Jews to bury. Now there was in the place, where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man had yet been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.