Excerpts from Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda

[Therese]

Our Lady clothed Mary of Jesus of Agreda with a most precious girdle as a participation of her purity.  Ven. Mary of Jesus also asked for the infused science of the Lord and was adorned with it as well.

[whiterockdove]

Hi Therese! Good to see more posts from you, it sounds like you had a fruitful retreat!

[Therese]

Hi Therese! Good to see more posts from you, it sounds like you had a fruitful retreat!

Hi Whiterockdove!

I learned so much on my retreat!  Now I must practice what I've learned.  I'm so happy to provide you with more excerpts.  I read a chapter of Mystical City of God today and wanted to post some excerpts, but received some company this evening.  Now I must take care of some other things before retiring to bed.  Hopefully, I'll be able to post some excerpts tomorrow.  I love those excerpts of yours from The Practice of the Presence of God thread!  What a most wonderful work that book is!  It is excellent!  If every person could only practice the presence of God and faithfully pray ejaculations to Him and Mary throughout the day!

Good night and God bless you!

Yours in Christ,
Therese

[Therese]

'My daughter, the world stands much in need of this doctrine, for it does not know, nor does it practice, the reverence due to the Lord omnipotent.  On account of this ignorance his justice is provoked to afflict and humiliate men.  They are sunken in their carelessness and filled with darkness, not knowing how to seek relief or attain to the light.  This, however, is justly their lot, since they fail in the reverence and fear, which they ought to have.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 9

[Shin]

May the Lord grant more people piety!

[Therese]

'On another day, while my soul sweetly tarried in the aforesaid habitation, I heard a  voice  from  the  Most  High  saying:  "My  spouse, I  desire  that thou rouse thyself  in earnest to seek Me, and to love Me with fervor; that thou make thy life more angelic than human, and that thou forget entirely the terrestrial affairs. I wish to raise thee as one that is poor from the dust, and as one full of need from the dunghill (Ps. 112:7), so that, while I exalt thee, thou mayest humiliate thyself, and the nard of thy sweet odor may remain in my presence (Cant. 1:11); knowing thy own misery, be thou convinced from  the  bottom  of  thy  heart,  that  thou  meritest  for  thyself  only  tribulation  and humiliation.  Consider  my  greatness  and  thy  littleness;  remember  that  I  am  just  and holy; I deal with thee considerately, making use rather of my mercy and not chastising thee  as  thou  deservest.  Strive  to  build  upon  this  foundation  of  humility  all  the  other virtues in order to fulfill my wishes. I appoint my Virgin Mother to teach, correct and reprehend thee. She will spur thee onward and accompany thy footsteps according to my liking and pleasure.'

Our Lord to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 6

[Therese]

'I have not revealed these mysteries in the primitive Church, because they are so great,  that  the  faithful  would  have  been  lost  in  the  contemplation  and admiration  of them at a time when it was more necessary to establish firmly the law of grace and of the Gospel. Although all mysteries of religion are in perfect harmony with each other, yet  human  ignorance  might  have  suffered  recoil  and  doubt  at  their  magnitude,  when faith in the Incarnation and Redemption and the precepts of the new law of the Gospel were yet in their beginnings. On this same account the person of the incarnate Word said to his disciples at the last supper: "Many things have I to say to you; but you are not  yet  disposed  to  receive  them"  (Jn.16:12).  These  words  He addressed  to  all  the world, for it was not yet capable of giving full obedience to the law of grace and full assent  to  the  faith  in  the  Son,  much  less  was  it prepared  to  be  introduced  into  the mysteries  of  his  Mother.  But  now,  mankind  has  greater  need  for  this  manifestation, and this necessity urges Me to disregard their evil disposition. And if men would now seek  to  please  Me  by  reverencing,  believing,  and  studying  the  wonders,  which  are intimately connected with this Mother of Piety, and if they would all begin to solicit her  intercession  from  their  whole  heart,  the  world  would  find  some  relief.  I  will  not longer  withhold  from  men  this  mystical  City  of  refuge;  describe  and  delineate  it  to them,  as  far  as  thy  shortcomings  allow.  I  do  not intend  that  thy  descriptions  and declarations   of   the   life   of   the   Blessed   Virgin   shall   be   mere   opinions   or contemplations,  but  reliable  truth.  They  that  have  ears  to  hear,  let  them hear (Mt. 11:15).  Let  those  who  thirst  come  to  the  living  waters (Apoc.  22:17) and  leave  the dried-out  cisterns;  let  those  that  are  seeking  for  the  light,  follow  it  to  the  end.  Thus speaks the Lord God Almighty.'

Our Lord to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 10

[Shin]

The last quote reminds me of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and how it was the more revealed for the devout to focus on in later times.

[Therese]

The last quote reminds me of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and how it was the more revealed for the devout to focus on in later times.

Great insight, Shin!

[Therese]

'My  daughter,  when  I  sent  my  Onlybegotten,  the world,  with  the  exception  of  the  few  souls  that  served  Me,  was  in  worse  condition than  it  ever  had  been  since  its  beginning;  for  human  nature  is  so  imperfect  that  if  it  does not subject itself to the interior guidance of my light and to the fulfillment of the
precepts of my ministers by sacrificing its own judgment and following Me, who am the   way, the   truth   and   the   life   (Jn.14:6),   and   by   carefully   observing   my commandments in order not to lose my friendship, it will presently fall into the abyss of  darkness  and  innumerable  miseries,  until  it  arrives  at  obstinacy  in  sin.  From  the creation  and  sin  of  the  first  man  until  I  gave  the  law  to  Moses,  men  governed themselves  according  to  their  own  inclinations  and fell  into many  errors  and  sins (Rom. 8:13).  After having received the law, they again committed sin by not obeying it (Jn.7:19) and thus they lived on, separating themselves more and more from truth and  light  and  arriving  at  the  state  of  complete  forgetfulness.  In  fatherly  love  I  sent them  eternal  salvation (Eph.  2:4-5) and  a remedy  for  the  incurable  infirmities  of human nature,  thus  justifying  my  cause. And  just  as I  then  chose the opportune time for  the  greater  manifestation of my  mercy,  so  I  now  select this  time  for  showing toward them another very great favor. For now the hour has come and the opportune time to let men know the just cause of my anger, and they are now justly charged and convinced  of  their  guilt.  Now  I  will  make  manifest  my  indignation  and  exercise  my justice and equity; I will show how well justified is my cause. In order that this may come  to  pass  more  speedily,  and  because  it  is  now  time  that  my  mercy  show  itself more openly and because my love must not be idle, I will offer to them an opportune remedy, if  they will  but  make use of  it  for  returning  again  to  my  favor.  Now, at  this hour, when the world has arrived at so unfortunate a pass, and when, though the Word has become incarnate,  mortals  are  more careless  of  their  weal  and  seek  it less;  when the day of their transitory life passes swiftly at the setting of the sun of time; when the night of eternity is approaching closer and closer for the wicked and the day without a night  is being  born  for  the  just; when  the majority  of  mortals  are sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness of their ignorance and guilt, oppressing the just and mocking the children of God; when my holy and divine law is despised in the management of the  iniquitous  affairs  of state,  which  are  as  hostile  as  they  are contrary  to  my Providence;  when  the  wicked  least  deserve  my  mercy;  in  these  predestined  times,  I wish  to  open  a  portal  for  the  just  ones  through  which  they  can  find  access  to  my mercy; I wish to give them a light by which they can dispel the gloom that envelops the eyes of their minds. I wish to furnish them a suitable remedy for restoring them to my  grace.  Happy  they  who  find  it (Prov.  3:13ff.),  and  blessed  they  who  shall appreciate its value, rich they who shall come upon this treasure, and blessed and very wise  those  who  shall  search into  and  shall  understand  its  marvels  and  hidden mysteries. I desire to make known to mortals how much intercession of Her is worth, who  brought  restoration  of  life  by  giving  mortal  existence  to  the  immortal  God.  As recompense  I  desire  that  they  look  upon  the  wonders  wrought  by  my  mighty  arm  in that pure Creature, as upon a mirror by which they can estimate their own ingratitude. I wish to make known to them much of that, which according to my high judgment is still hidden concerning the Mother of the Word.'

Our Lord to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 9

[Shin]

arriving  at  the  state  of  complete  forgetfulness. 

Forgetfulness and ignorance are not good things!

I wish to give them a light by which they can dispel the gloom that envelops the eyes of their minds. I wish to furnish them a suitable remedy for restoring them to my  grace.  Happy  they  who  find  it (Prov.  3:13ff.),

[Therese]

arriving  at  the  state  of  complete  forgetfulness.  

Forgetfulness and ignorance are not good things!

I wish to give them a light by which they can dispel the gloom that envelops the eyes of their minds. I wish to furnish them a suitable remedy for restoring them to my  grace.  Happy  they  who  find  it (Prov.  3:13ff.),

True!  Here is some information I just received today:  "We must also remember that although there can be ignorance, it is VERY important to realize that most ignorance is NOT innocent but quite culpable."

[Therese]

Here is more information about culpable ignorance, from the same source:  "Whether we like it or not, we all have an obligation to know what our Faith teaches regarding the authority and infallibility of the Magisterium and the papacy, regarding Church authority, and regarding our duty to submit to those whom we recognize to be our legitimate pastors in the Church. Some people believe that as long as they are in ignorance on these matters and mean well, then their duty ceases. Others, again, have persuaded themselves that some Catholic teaching doesn’t “apply” today because of “the crisis” or “diabolical disorientation”. They are mistaken."

[Therese]

7.
'While  the  Most  High  spoke  to  me  the  Queen  stood  near  by;  and  the  heavenly Princess  disdained  not  to  accept  the  office  which  his  Majesty  assigned  to  Her.  She accepted  it benignly  and  said  to  me:  "My daughter;  I  desire  that  thou  be  my  disciple and my companion, and I will be thy Teacher; but remember that thou must obey me courageously and from this day on no vestige of a daughter of Adam must be found in thee.  My  conduct  and  my  works  during my  pilgrimage  on  earth,  and  the  wonders, which the arm of the Almighty wrought through me, shall be the mirror and the model of  thy  life."  I  prostrated  myself  before  the  throne  of  the  King  and  Queen  of  the universe and  I offered  to obey Her  in all  things;  I gave thanks  to the Highest  for  the  favor,  which  He,  so  much  in  excess  of  my  merits,  conferred  upon  me  in  giving  me such a Guide and Protectress. Into her hands I renewed the vows of my profession; I offered myself to Her and proposed to work anew at the amendment of my life. Again the Lord spoke to me: "Behold and see!" Turning I saw a most beautiful ladder with many rungs; around it were many angels, and a great number of them were ascending and  descending  upon  it.  His  Majesty  said  to  me:  "This  is  the  mysterious  ladder  of Jacob(Gen.  28:12), the house of  God  and the portal of  heaven (Ib. 17); if  thou wilt earnestly strive to live irreprehensible in my eyes, thou wilt ascend upon it to Me."'

8.
'This  promise incited  my  desires,  set  my  will  aflame  and  enraptured  my  spirit; with  many  tears  I grieved, that  I should be a burden  to  myself  in  my  sinfulness (Job 7:20). I sighed for the end of my captivity and longed to arrive where there would be no obstacle to my love. In this anxiety I passed some days, trying to reform my life; I again made a general confession and corrected some of my imperfections. The vision of  the ladder  continued  without  intermission, but  it  was not  explained  to  me.  I  made many promises to the Lord and proposed to free myself from all terrestrial things and to  reserve  the  powers  of  my  will  entirely  for  his  love,  without  allowing  it  to  incline toward  any  creature,  be  it  ever  so  small  or  unsuspicious;  I  repudiated  all  visible  and sensible  things.  Having  passed  some  days  in  these  affections  and  sentiments,  I  was  informed by the Most High, that the ladder signified the life of the most Holy Virgin, its  virtues  and sacraments.  His  Majesty  said  to  me:  "I  desire,  my  spouse,  that  thou ascend  this  stair of  Jacob  and  enter  through  this  door  of  heaven  to  acquire  the knowledge of  my  attributes and  occupy  thyself  in  the contemplation of  my  Divinity.  Arise  then  and  walk,  ascend  by  it  to  Me.  These  angels,  which  surround  it  and accompany  it,  are  those  that  I  appointed  as  the  guardians  of  Mary,  as  the  defenders and  sentinels of  the citadel of  Sion. Consider  Her  attentively, and, meditating  on her virtues,  seek  to  imitate  them."  It  seemed  to  me  then,  that  I  ascended  the  ladder  and that I recognized the great wonders and the ineffable prodigies of the Lord in a mere Creature and the greatest sanctity and perfection of virtue ever worked by the arm of the  Almighty.  At  the  top  of  the  ladder  I  saw  the  Lord  of  hosts  and  the  Queen  of  all creation.  They  commanded  me  to  glorify,  exalt  and  praise  Him  on  account  of  these great  mysteries  and  to  write  down  so  much  of  them,  as  I  might  bring  myself  to understand. The exalted and high Lord gave me a law, written not only on tablets,as He gave to Moses (Ex. 31:18), but one wrought by his omnipotent finger in order that it might be studied and observed (Ps. 1:2). He moved my will so that in her presence I promised to overcome my repugnance and with her assistance to set about writing her history, paying attention to three things: First, to remember that the creature must ever seek  to  acknowledge  the  profound  reverence  due  to  God  and  to  abase  itself  in proportion  to  the  condescension  of  his  Majesty  toward  men  and  that  the  effect  of greater  favors  and  benefits  must  be  a  greater  fear,  reverence,  attention  and  humility; secondly, to be ever mindful of the obligation of all men, who are so forgetful of their own salvation, to consider and learn what they owe to the Queen and Mother of piety on account of the part assumed by Her in the Redemption, to think of the love and the reverence which She showed to God and the honor in which we are to hold this great Lady;  thirdly.  to  be willing  to  have  my  spiritual  director,  and  if  necessary  the whole world, find out my littleness and vileness, and the small returns which I make for what I receive.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 7-8

[Shin]

Sometimes I am reminded of St. Elizabeth of Toss reading these passages.

It is very short to read the passages about her, I encourage folks to do so.

[Therese]

Thanks for the link, Shin!