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

[Therese]

'In this wonderful sorrow at the instant of the coming of her into existence, She began to seek a remedy for mankind and commenced the work of mediation, intercession and reparation....It was befitting that God should feel Himself impelled to hasten his coming on account of the prayers and petitions of this Creature; since it was principally for the love of Her that He came, and since in Her body He was assume human flesh, accomplish the most admirable of all his works, and fulfill the end of all other creatures.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 233

[Therese]

Dear Shin,

I have provided quotes to fill that big gap at the beginning of my work.  This should complete my task.  God bless you!

Yours in Mary Immaculate, our loving Mother and Queen,
Therese

[Shin]

Splendid Therese!

Some beautiful quotes!

[Therese]

Splendid Therese!

Some beautiful quotes!

Yes, they are!  What a grace it has been sharing them with you and the others.  I see that you have Volume II of the Mystical City of God listed under Saints' Books, no?  Wonderful!

[Shin]

Yes we have them all!

Reading these last extracts and the passages surrounding truly makes me appreciate the Immaculate Conception much more and much more knowledgeably.

Let me quote a little more extensively:

'At the instant of the creation and infusion of the soul in the most holy Mother, the most blessed Trinity, repeated with greater affection of love the words, recorded by Moses at that time concerning man: "Let us make Mary to our image and likeness to be our true Daughter and Spouse and a Mother to the Onlybegotten of the Father."

By the force of this divine pronouncement and through the love with which it issued from the mouth of Almighty, was created and infused into the body of most holy Mary her most blessed Soul. At the same time She was filled with grace and gifts above those of the highest seraphim of heaven, and there was not a single instant in which She was found wanting or deprived of the light, the friendship and love of the Creator, or in which She was touched by the stain or darkness of original sin. On the contrary She was possessed of the most perfect justice, superior to that of Adam and Eve in their first formation. To Her was also conceded the most perfect use of the light of reason, corresponding to the gifts of grace, which She had received. Not for one instant was She to remain idle, but to engage in works most admirable and pleasing to her Maker. In the perception of this great mystery I confess myself overcome, so that my heart, unable to express itself in words, is dumbfounded in sentiments of admiration and of praise.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 221-222

[Therese]

What powerful material!  Thanks so much for providing us with the surrounding text, Shin! 

[Therese]

'In Her [Blessed Mary] was the fulfillment of that great natural and divine precept: "Thou shalt love thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength."  Mary alone satisfied this obligation and debt for all men, which in this life and before seeing God they neither knew nor could even fulfill entirely.  This Lady fulfilled it more perfectly during her pilgrimage than the saints even in the state of beatitude....And probably if God had not foreknown that Mary our Queen would be among the number of the mortals, He would not have given this command in this form.  But on Her account He was pleased to give it; to Her we owe not only this command of perfect charity, but also the adequate fulfillment of it among men.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 527

[Shin]

'In Her [Blessed Mary] was the fulfillment of that great natural and divine precept: "Thou shalt love thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength."  Mary alone satisfied this obligation and debt for all men, which in this life and before seeing God they neither knew nor could even fulfill entirely.  This Lady fulfilled it more perfectly during her pilgrimage than the saints even in the state of beatitude....And probably if God had not foreknown that Mary our Queen would be among the number of the mortals, He would not have given this command in this form.  But on Her account He was pleased to give it; to Her we owe not only this command of perfect charity, but also the adequate fulfillment of it among men.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 527

Sigh! If only I would love God all throughout the day as I should!

[Therese]

And if only I could love Him with the intensity that I should.

[Shin]

'What words shall serve me, to express how grave was thy bearing, how proper thy attire, the good grace of thy demeanor and the prudence and wisdom of thy sweet childhood? The modesty of thy dress reproached all luxury and softness; thy well composed manner was inimical to all frivolity. All thy actions were full of sweetness and gravity. Thou didst flee occasions of levity. Thou was truly obedient to thy parents and continued humble amid thy lofty contemplations. Finally, what was thou in deed, but the hallowed dwelling of our Lord?'

St. John Damascene, of Our Lady's childhood

[Therese]

'She, who enjoyed the highest position, exalted above all the works of God, so that no higher position was left for a mere creature, humiliated Herself so far as to judge Herself unworthy of the least estimation, distinction or honor, not even of such as would befit the most insignificant of the rational creatures.  Not only did She deem Herself unworthy of the dignity of being Mother of God and of all the graces connected therewith, but She did not esteem Herself deserving of the air She breathed, of the support the earth gave to her footsteps, of the sustenance derived from it, or of any service or kindness at the hands of creatures; of all things She considered Herself unworthy and She gave thanks for all, as if She were really so undeserving....Thus Mary, holding worthily the dignity of Mother of God, annihilated Herself, and by this very humility deserved anew and in justice to be raised to the dominion and sovereignty of all creation.'

Ven. Mary of God, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 593

[Therese]

'Be careful therefore, my dearest, and watch for the divine light in all thy actions, and let not any of thy powers be induced to activity merely by pleasure and inclination; but always act according to reason and for the glory of the Most High in all things necessary for the conduct of thy life; in eating, in sleeping, in dressing, in speaking, in hearing, in desiring, in correcting, in commanding, in speaking:  let all be governed in thee by the light and the pleasure of the Lord God, and not by thy own.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 597

[Therese]

'...the lowest of the perfections of Mary will scarcely be within reach of the highest that can enter the thoughts of man; just as in the same manner the highest perfections of our Lady and Queen attain only in a certain sense the lowest of Christ and the Divinity.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 611

[Therese]

'If the creatures would empty their hearts of earthly love and affections, although their heart is limited, they would participate without measure in the torrent of the infinite Godhead through the inestimable gifts of the Holy Ghost.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 612

[Shin]

'Be careful therefore, my dearest, and watch for the divine light in all thy actions, and let not any of thy powers be induced to activity merely by pleasure and inclination; but always act according to reason and for the glory of the Most High in all things necessary for the conduct of thy life; in eating, in sleeping, in dressing, in speaking, in hearing, in desiring, in correcting, in commanding, in speaking:  let all be governed in thee by the light and the pleasure of the Lord God, and not by thy own.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 597

This way of purity of intention is the way to true happiness!

[Therese]

'Be careful therefore, my dearest, and watch for the divine light in all thy actions, and let not any of thy powers be induced to activity merely by pleasure and inclination; but always act according to reason and for the glory of the Most High in all things necessary for the conduct of thy life; in eating, in sleeping, in dressing, in speaking, in hearing, in desiring, in correcting, in commanding, in speaking:  let all be governed in thee by the light and the pleasure of the Lord God, and not by thy own.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. I, 597

This way of purity of intention is the way to true happiness!

So true, Shin!