J.M.J.
From The Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus Mary Liguori:
Oesarius relates that a certain Cistercian monk,
who was a devoted servant of Our Blessed Lady, desired very earnestly a visit
from his dear Lady, and was praying [to] her continually to grant him this
favor.
He went one night into the garden, and while he
stood there looking up to heaven, breathing forth to his Queen in ardent sighs
his desire to see her, a beautiful and radiant virgin descended, and said to
him: “Thomas, wouldst thou like to hear me sing?”
“Certainly,” he answered, and then she sang so
sweetly that it seemed to the devout religious that he was in Paradise. Having
finished her song, she disappeared, leaving him absorbed with an ardent desire
to know who it could have been; and, soon after, another extremely beautiful
virgin appeared to him, who, like the other, allowed him the pleasure of
hearing her sing.
He could not refrain from asking this one who
she was, and the virgin answered: “She whom you saw a little while ago was
Catherine, and I am Agnes, both martyrs for Jesus Christ, sent by Our Lady to
console you. Give thanks to Mary, and prepare for a greater favor.”
Having
said this she disappeared, but left the religious with a greater hope of
finally seeing his Queen. Nor was he deceived, for shortly afterwards he saw a
great light and felt a new joy flowing into his heart, for in the midst of that
light the Mother of God appeared to him surrounded by Angels, and of a beauty
far surpassing that of the other two Saints who had appeared to him.
She
said to him, “My dear servant and son, I have been pleased with the devotion
which you have offered me, and have graciously heard your prayers: you have
desired to see me; look on me, and I too will sing to you.”
Then the Most Holy Virgin began to sing with so
great sweetness, that the devout religious lost his senses, and fell with his
face upon the ground.
The Matin-bell sounded, the monks assembled,
and, not seeing Thomas, searched for him in his cell and other parts of the
convent, and at last, going into the garden, found him apparently lifeless. The
Superior commanded him to tell what had befallen him. And coming to himself, by
the power of obedience, he related all the favors which the Mother of God had
bestowed upon him.
Commentary: It seems evident from this story that Our Lady’s voice is so
sweet that even those holy souls privileged to hear it must first have their
senses prepared for the “shock” by first hearing less holy heavenly voices.- -
- And even then, the sweet impact of Our Lady’s voice can leave us senseless .
. . just one more reason to fight for Our Lady’s cause so we can listen to her
sing God’s praises forever.
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