Episode 78 -- Spiritual Combat c49 -- Growing in Marian Confidence

How can I grow in confidence in the assistance of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

How blessed we are to be reading more about the Blessed Virgin Mary. “To begin well and end better, devotion to the Blessed Virgin is nothing less than indispensable,” St Philip used to say. During his great illnesses, when the doctors had given up hope of his recovery and had closed the curtains around his bed, they were whispering in the hallway with some of the Oratorian fathers. They suddenly heard St Philip’s voice. He was speaking to someone; he was speaking to the Blessed Virgin Mary. “My Madonna, my Lady, My beautiful Madonna.” St Philip thought he was alone. The doctors came and pulled back the curtains and saw St Philip with his arms outstretched as though hugging someone. Surprised and embarrassed at seeing the doctors, St Philip began to weep. He told the doctors that the Madonna has visited him and healed him.

In this episode Fr. Scupoli gives us reasons for greater confidence and trust in the help of Mary. He appeals to analogies taken from perfume containers and fire. He also makes us think about the motivation of Our Lord in giving us His Mother as Ours. Why would he do that unless he planned on listening to her requests?

In the previous episode, we pondered how we can make a longer meditation based on considerations of the role and mission of Mary.

• Start with the Father’s eternal love for her as willed to be the Mother of his Incarnate Son. Enter into the Eternal Father’s heart and all the delight he has in Mary. Speak to the Father about Mary.
• Consider all the ways she helped her Incarnate Son during his life…Speak to Jesus about his Mother…
• Then speak to Mary herself, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, as discussed in the previous episode.
  • Remind her of all that she has done in the past.
  • Ask her especially to help us make use of her Son’s sufferings.

Who helps us to speak to God the Father? The Holy Spirit. “God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying, ‘Abba Father.’” (Galatians 4:6) Who allows us to believe in Christ and love Him? The Holy Spirit. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)