Meditation for September 24, Our Lady of Mercy

Mary inspired noble-hearted men of earlier centuries to vow their lives for the ransom of the faithful held as captives of the Saracens.

How many souls are now captives of the devil? They must be saved at any cost. Why not call more often upon the power of Mary for them.

She is the all-powerful suppliant; when she presents to God the blood of her Son and her own tears, can the Most High resist her requests?

Dante puts on the lips of St. Bernard the following prayer ad­dressed to Mary:

"O woman, so noble and so powerful, that whoever seeks a grace
without appealing to you, acts as if he wanted his desire to take flight without wings, your goodness does not only come to the assistance of those who appeal to you, but forestalls wishes with liberality. In thee is mercy, in thee is pity; in thee magnificence; in thee is united all good which can be found in any creature."

I will pray more to Mary for the world, for the conversion of sinners; for all tempted souls in danger of yielding; for all apostles who spend themselves for souls, that I may add my help to their efforts. Wherever there is misery I will beg Mary to suppress it; wherever a wound, to heal it.

Antique pictures portray this story: God prepares to destroy the world, but the Virgin uncovers her breast and with all the power of her love for men and her authority as mother, pleads with Him, causing God to renounce the chastisement He threat­ened. Thus, the Mother of the Savior once more saved the world.

I will direct all my prayer to set into action, as far as possible, all the power of intercession and redemption that Mary possesses, so that she may deliver all captives forever.
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)