Where did she seek this rest, this calm of which her whole life speaks?
Within her own soul with her Divine Guest, in other words Mary lived an
_interior_ life. She preferred a life inside with God, to one outside in
the world. Hers was a continual realization of God's Presence--of God's
Presence within her; and it was this realization which enabled her to
find rest in every circumstance of her chequered life. She did not allow
outward events to mar her interior calm. Her Divine Guest was always
there and to Him she could always turn. The consequence was that she was
never agitated, disquieted, excited, anxious, troubled. She dwelt "in
the inheritance of the Lord," and there she sought rest in all things
whether it was in:
The joy of the Archangel's visit, or the difficulty of her visit to
Elizabeth.
The anguish of the reception at Bethlehem, or the joy at the birth of
her Son.
The Angels who sang: _Glorias_ at His birth, or the neighbours who made
unkind remarks.
The shepherds who came to worship in their poverty, or the Wise Men in
all their pomp and splendour.
The ecstasy caused by her Babe's smile, or the distress caused by His
tears.
The words of the Angel: "Of His Kingdom there shall be no end," or the
words of Simeon: He shall be "a sign which shall be contradicted."
The peaceful home-life with JESUS and Joseph, or the hurried flight into
Egypt.
The anguish of losing Him (Desolation), or the joy of finding Him
(Consolation).
The active work for the little household, or the times of contemplation
at JESUS' feet.
The long, happy days at Nazareth with her Son, or the sad day when He
left His Mother's roof.
The account of His success: "All men go to Him," or the account of His
failure: "They all forsook Him and fled."
The cry: "Hosannah, blessed is He!" or the cry: "Crucify Him, crucify
Him! it is not fit that He should live."
The agony of watching Him suffer and die, or the delight of seeing His
glorified Body.
The pain of being left in exile on earth, or the joy of hearing Him say:
"Arise, My fair one and come, the winter is over."
* * * * *
_In omnibus requiem quaesivi._--Not that all these things were the same
to her, not that she was indifferent or did not care, she cared more
than anyone else could, for her heart was perfect and therefore more
delicate and sensitive than any other except the Sacred Heart of JESUS.
What then was her secret? That she lived with the Blessed Trinity, and
that made her see God's Will in all that happened to her, and see it so
vividly that she almost lost sight of the particular circumstances, and
hardly knew whether they were painful or joyful. The pain was a joy
because it was God's Will, and the joy was only a joy because it was
God's Will; so she never wanted to change any thing. She sought rest in
the holy habitation, the home of the Blessed Trinity; she pondered
things over in her heart, that is, she talked about them with her Divine
Guest.