Mary’s obedience in presenting Jesus in the temple, Mary: Day 218

Last updated on: February 24, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary’s obedience in presenting Jesus in the temple, Mary: Day 218 2016-02-07T11:44:14-05:00 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’s obedience in presenting Jesus in the temple

St. Francis de Sales explains how Mary wasn’t obliged to follow the laws for her purification, but submitted to them anyway to avoid scandalizing others.

Our Lady and sacred mistress was not afraid of disobeying the laws of purification, because she was in no way obliged to the Law, which was not made for her or her Son. Rather, she feared the shadow of disobedience. For though she, being all pure, had no need of being purified, if she had not come to the temple to offer our Lord and be purified, some may have wished to investigate why she had not done as the rest of women.

Thus she comes today to the temple to remove all suspicion from men who might have wondered about her. She comes also to show us that we ought not to be satisfied with avoiding sin, but that we must avoid even the shadow of sin. Neither must we stop at the resolution not to commit such and such a sin; rather, we must fly even from the occasions that could serve as a temptation to fall into it.

She also teaches us not to be satisfied with the testimony of a good conscience, but to take care to remove every suspicion in others that will make them unedified by us or by our conduct. I say this for certain people who, being resolved not to commit some sins, are not careful enough to avoid the suggestion that they would willingly commit them if they dared.

Oh, how this example of most holy obedience that our Lord and Our Lady give us should incite us to submit ourselves absolutely and without any reserva- tion to the obedience of all that is commanded us and, not satisfied with that, to observe also the things that are counseled in order to make us more pleasing to the divine Goodness! —St. Francis de Sales, Sermon for the Feast of the Purification

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do I imitate Mary’s obedience? Am I careful to avoid even the appearance of sin, so that I won’t scandalize others?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Louis de Montfort: O my Savior, grant that, doing willingly what is ordained for us, and endeavoring to believe it is best, we may spend our whole lives in continual obedience, and thus secure for ourselves your grace in time, and your glory for all eternity.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Benedict Press

Saint Francis de Sales

Previous Post

February 23, 2016

CBB Media Giveaway - Atheism: Not Just Monkey Business

Next Post

February 24, 2016 CBB Review: The Seven Last Words

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