Mary is exalted above the angels, Mary: Day 172

Last updated on: January 8, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary is exalted above the angels, Mary: Day 172 2015-12-29T11:11:15-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mary is exalted above the angels

As glorious as the angels may be, St. Alphonsus observes, God has placed her above them, the Queen Mother at the right hand of King Jesus.

Rightly does the Church sing in her liturgy, that because Mary loved God more than all the angels, “the Mother of God has been exalted above them all in the heavenly kingdom.” Yes, “she was exalted above the angels,” says the Abbot Guarric, “so that she sees no one above her but her Son,” the Only- begotten of the Father. For this reason, the learned Gerson asserts that, as all the orders of angels and saints are divided into three hierarchies (according to St. Thomas and St. Denis), so Mary in herself constitutes a hierarchy apart, the most sublime of all, and next to that of God. St. Antoninus adds that just as the mistress is, without comparison, above her servants, so also is “Mary, who is the sovereign Lady of the angels, exalted incomparably above the angelic hierar- chies.” To understand this, we need only know what King David said: “At your right hand stands the queen” (Ps 45:9).

It’s certain, as St. Ildephonsus says, that Mary’s good works incomparably surpassed in merit those of all the saints. So her reward must have surpassed theirs in the same proportion: “Just as the One she bore was incomprehensible, so is the reward that she merited and received incomprehensibly greater than that of all the saints.”

As the Apostle Paul writes, it’s certain that God rewards according to merit; “he will render to every man according to his works” (Rom 2:6). So it’s also certain, as St. Thomas teaches, that the Blessed Virgin, “who was equal to and even superior in merit to all men and angels, was exalted above all the heavenly orders.” “In short,” adds St. Bernard, “let us measure the unique grace that she acquired on earth, and then we can measure the unique glory that she obtained in heaven.” For “according to the measure of her grace on earth is the measure of her glory in the kingdom of the blessed.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
The more exalted Mary’s position, the greater is her power to assist us. What is it that I’m facing today that presses me most to seek her help?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of a Bernardine sister: Most holy Mother, send your angels to defend us and to drive the cruel enemy from us. All you holy angels and archangels, help and defend us.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

A Year with Mary

Paul Thigpen

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri

Saint Benedict Press

Previous Post

January 8, 2016

Mary, Queen of Angels, Mary: Day 171

Next Post

January 10, 2016 The angels welcome their queen into heaven, Mary: Day 173

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz