Quotes Worth Contemplating for August 22
St. Anselm says, “Everything, even the Blessed Virgin, is subject to the power of God; and everything, even God, is subject to the power of the Blessed Virgin.” We know from many other saints that Mary is all-powerful by grace as God is by nature, but what does this mean?
It means that, whereas God has but to will in order to accomplish, Our Lady has but to request in order to receive. Hers is an intercessory power, the like of which has not been granted to any other saint, nor even to all the saints and angels combined. “This is why the Blessed Virgin is called powerful — nay, sometimes, all-powerful,” says St. John Neuman,
because She has, more than anyone else, more than all angels and saints, this great, prevailing gift of prayer. No one has access to the Almighty as His Mother has; none has merit such as Hers. Her Son will deny Her nothing that She asks; and herein lies Her power. While She defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen forever.
What a wonderful, consoling thought! When we ask Our Lady to pray for us — She actually does.
Hail, then, all-powerful Heart of our Immaculate Mother! Pray for us who have recourse to thee!
SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland: Detail of the left stained glass window of the sixth bay of the east aisle, depicting the Immaculate Conception. Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
