Mary goes to Jesus’ tomb, Mary: Day 342

Last updated on: June 27, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary goes to Jesus’ tomb, Mary: Day 342 2016-06-15T11:21:28-05:00 Pete Socks

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Mary goes to Jesus’ tomb

St. Alphonsus recalls the speculations of several saints about what Mary did as her Son was buried, and as she returned home.

The disciples raised the stone and closed up the holy sepulcher, and in it the body of Jesus, that great treasure—a treasure so great that neither earth nor heaven had a greater one. Mary’s heart was buried with Jesus, because Jesus was all her treasure: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Lk 12:34).

Before leaving the sepulcher, according to St. Bonaventure, Mary blessed the sacred stone that closed it, saying, “Happy stone, that now encloses the sacred body that for nine months was contained in my womb! I bless you and envy you. I leave you as the guardian of my Son, of that Son who is all my treasure and all my love.” Then raising her heart to the Eternal Father, she said, “Father, to you I entrust him—the One who is your Son at the same time that he is mine.” In this way, saying her last goodbye to her beloved Jesus and to the sepulcher, she left it and returned to her own house.

“This mother,” says St. Bernard, “went away so afflicted and sad that she moved many to tears in spite of themselves. And wherever she passed, all who met her wept” and could not restrain their tears. He adds that the holy disciples and women who accompanied her “mourned even more for her than for their Lord.” St. Bonaventure remarks: “The sisters of Our Lady veiled her as a widow, almost covering her whole face.” He also says that on her return, passing before the Cross still wet with the blood of her Jesus, she was the first to adore it. “Holy cross,” she then said, “I kiss you, I adore you! For you are no longer a shameful gibbet, but a throne of love and an altar of mercy, consecrated by the blood of the divine Lamb, which on you has been sacrificed for the salvation of the world.”

—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

When I attend a funeral, or visit the grave of a loved one, am I able to let the hope of eternal life lighten my grief, with gratitude to Jesus and his mother for opening the door to heaven?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: Ah, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses you. But you rose again the third day. I beg you, by your resurrection, make me rise glorious with you on the last day, to be always united with you in heaven, to praise you and love you forever.

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