IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Mary
said,” Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to
His word.” [Luke 1)
The empire of Sin, in the generation of
the wicked had extended its dominion to the utmost limits. The ancient serpent
had infected the entire earth with its poison, blinding those who had control
over the mortals. Instead of seeking the celestial Supreme God and His will, each
set up his own false, misleading laws and finally creating a god according to
his likeness, thus leading to further confusion, hatred and severe commotion
among mankind. Lucifer the ruler reigned, with pride as his right-hand and fools
as the ministers, he sent out proclamation to punish the pure and innocent
people.
With days advanced in utter ignorance,
errors and scatterbrained, the world in its new laws, blurred and diminished
the image and presence of the True God.
God, who was all the more deeply
offended, resolved to steer clear the sins of mankind pledging His precious
possession, His own dear Son, sun of justice-Christ our Salvation.
It was important to make known to the
ignorant mankind the essence of the True God and Heavenly Kingdom.
The right time for the redemption of His
Creation, was at hand.
To send his only Beloved Son to the evil
reigning earth, God created St. Joachim and St. Anne. While Joachim from
Galilee, was a most humble man, leading a life of purity, holy and sincerity,
St. Anne with residence in Bethlehem, too lead a life of chastity and humility.
She was a beautiful maiden; infused with the knowledge in the Divine Scriptures
and the holy sacraments equally excelling in the path with the virtues of
faith, hope and love. As the customary tradition, she prayed and awaited the
coming of the Messiah: a prayer that was much acceptable to the Lord.
St. Anne prayed fervently for the
procurement of a spouse in matrimony, who could continue her to observe all the
ancient laws in fulfillment to its percepts. St. Joachim, earnest and
incomparably modest and honest to His Provider, too requested the petition of a
dutiful spouse.
Both their prayers were presented at the same
time before the Holy Trinity where they were heeded to and fulfilled.
Thus they both united to marry and became
the parents of Her- who was to be the mother of the incarnate God.
In furthermost of this divine decree the
archangel Gabriel was sent to pronounce it to both.
To St. Anne, he appeared in a visible
form while she was engaged in fervent prayer for the coming of the Savior and redeemer
of man; concerned and frightened by seeing the most beautiful and holy prints. Inwardly rejoiced and enlightened, the Holy
Maiden prostrated herself in profound humility to reverence, but the Angel
prevented and encouraged as she had been destined to be the Arc of the true
Manna- Mary Most Holy Mother of God.
He said to her “The Most High give thee,
His blessing, servant of God and be thy Salvation. His Majesty has heard thy
petitions and wishes thee to persevere therein and that continue to clamor for
the coming of the redeemer. It is His will that thou accept Joachim as thy
spouse for he is a man of upright heart and acceptable to the Lord. In his company thou will be able to persevere
in the observance of his Law and in his service. Continue thy prayers and thy supplications
and be not solicitors for anything else.
Walk in the straight path of justice…etc. and the Angel disappeared leaving
her enlightened in many mysteries of Holy Scriptures and comforted by renewing
her Spirit”
To St. Joachim, the Archangel did not
appear in a corpal manner but he spoke to the man of God in his sleep and
followed, “Joachim, be thou blessed by the right hand of the Most High!
persevere in thy desire and live according to rectitude and perfection . It is
the will of the Almighty that thou receive St. Anne as thy spouse for her the
Lord had visited with his blessings. Take care of her and esteem her as a
pledge of the Most High and give thanks to his Majesty because he has given her
into thy charge. Immediately St. Joachim
asked for the hand of the most chaste St. Anne and in most obedience to the
divine ordainment they espoused each other.
But they never manifested each other the
secret mystery for several years. They
lived to themselves with an undisturbed peace and union of heart without
quarrel or a shadow of a grudge. This fortunate couple passed twenty years of
their married life without issues.
Being a childless couple they had to bear
much disgrace, insult and reproach from their neighbors and Jewish people; yet
they continued in most fervent prayers from the bottom of their hearts, mindful
of the command from the Most High; they had prepared and vowed to the Lord that
If the Most High was willing to answer their supplication they would consecrate
him/her to His service in the temple of Jerusalem. The holy man full of shame
and confusion he prayed; as he was hastened away from the temple full of sorrow,
however he maintained his peace and contentment. They both continued their prayers.
Once again Archangel Gabriel enlightened
and consoled both St. Joachim and St. Anne telling them their prayers have come
to the Holy presence and their petitions are heard in clemency. Together they gave
thanks to the Almighty for His wonderful Blessings and offered special gifts
and sacrifices.
Neither to Joachim nor to anyone did
prudent matron Anne ever disclose the secret that her daughter was chosen to be
the mother of the Messiah. However, in the last moments of his life the
Almighty made the secret known to him.
The most cheerful mother, holy Anne
passed the days of her pregnancy spiritualized by the works of the sweet Holy
Spirit in all her faculties.
Thus the day most fortunate for the world
arrived! Mary was born; pure and stainless, beautiful and full of grace,
thereby demonstrating that she was free form the law and the tribute of sin.
With Loved filled blessings,
Your Sister in Christ