LET us meditate attentively upon the virtues of which Mary gives us so
moving an example in the mystery of her Purification in the Temple.
First of all, what more profound humility can be imagined than that
practised by Our Saviour and Our Lady in their visit to the Temple? He
comes to be offered, like all the sons of sinful men; she, to be
purified like all other women. With regard to our adorable Redeemer,
it is of Faith that He, being essential purity, could not be under the
obligation of this Law, which was promulgated for sinners. With regard
to the Most Holy Virgin, what need had she to purify herself, who,
from the instant of her Immaculate Conception, had been endowed with
purity so excellent, and with such a fulness of grace, that the
highest Seraphim and Cherubim could not be compared to her? And yet,
behold, the Son and the Mother, notwithstanding their incomparable
purity, present themselves in the Temple, as if they were sinners like
other children of Adam! O truly wonderful act of humility! If the
value of this act increases in proportion to the dignity of the person
who humbles himself, how full of useful instruction to souls tending
to perfection is the humility practised by the Sovereign Creator of
all things.
He shows us that this virtue was so dear to Him that He preferred
death rather than relinquish its practice; for after teaching that
there can be no greater love than to give one's life for the object
beloved, He lays down His life for the exercise of humility. By
submitting to die He, the immortal God, practised the most excellent
and most sublime act of humility that can be conceived. Some persons
deceive themselves by regarding humility as a virtue necessary merely
to novices and beginners in the spiritual life, and the practice of
which can be laid aside after some advance. But our adorable Saviour
shows us how erroneous is this opinion, by humbling Himself unto
death.
Oh if we could well understand the necessity of perseverance in this
virtue! How many, after beginning well, have miserably fallen away
because they did not persevere in the practice of humility! But Jesus
Christ did not say he who _shall begin_, but he who _shall persevere_
until death, shall be saved: _Qui perseveraverit usque in finem hic
salvus erit._
Genuine virtue may be distinguished from that which is only apparent,
as true balsam is distinguished from false. Balsam is tested by
dropping it into water; if it sinks to the bottom of the vessel it may
be considered very pure and precious. We may know if a person be truly
prudent, generous and noble, by observing if these virtues tend to
make him humble, modest, submissive; for in such a case they are truly
valuable gifts; but if they stay only on the surface, and love to show
themselves and to win admiration, they are so far false and
counterfeit.
The Angels, and, after them, our first parents, prevaricated through
pride. Upon this account, Our Lord, like a wise and loving physician
of our souls, applied the remedy to the root of the evil, and came
into the world to plant in the place of pride the beautiful and useful
virtue of Divine humility, become very necessary on account of the
contrary vice being so general. Indeed, so common an evil is pride,
that humility can never be sufficiently inculcated; and on this
account, our adorable Saviour and our Immaculate Lady would obey the
law, not made for them, to teach us to esteem this virtue. For us, who
deserve only humiliation and contempt, to abase ourselves is no great
thing. However, humiliation acquires an inestimable value when
embraced by Jesus Christ and His Most Holy Mother; and this
humiliation was continual with them throughout the whole course of
their life. Wherefore the Apostle, speaking of the humility of Our
Redeemer, said that 'He humbled Himself unto death, even to the death
of the Cross'--_Humiliavit semitipsum usque ad mortem, mortem autem
crucis_. But if we miserable creatures humble ourselves on some slight
occasion, we quickly seek by every means in our power to indemnify
ourselves for the transient exercise of this virtue, and the very
thought of persevering in the practice of it alarms us. We are
convinced, it is true, that we are very imperfect, and yet we desire
to be looked upon as holy and perfect, notwithstanding the example of
Mary, who consented to be clothed in the semblance of a sinner,
although confirmed in grace and possessed of a more than angelic
purity.
Observe any other daughter of Eve, and see how eagerly she seeks for
honour and esteem; and although this defect be common to all mankind
in general, it seems to be more marked in the female sex. Now, Our
Lady and glorious Mistress is not the Daughter of Eve according to the
spirit, but only according to the flesh, and therefore she always
persevered in the most profound humility, and could say in her sacred
Canticle of the _Magnificat_ that on this account 'All generations
would call her blessed'--_Beatam me dicent omnes generationes_.
How beautiful is it to behold the Holy Virgin presenting herself and
the Infant Jesus in the Temple, and making her offering of two doves!
Happier is she than all the princes of earth! And what shall I say of
the aged Simeon, who takes the Divine Infant in his arms? Let us also
embrace Him, let us live and die in these tender embraces.
Place this sweet Jesus in your heart, like another Solomon upon his
ivory throne. Let your soul follow His steps, that you may hear the
holy words He continually breathes. Remember that your heart should be
like ivory in purity and firmness; firm in its resolutions, and pure
in its affections.