Virgo Potens

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 3rd When she was seven years of age her mother took her to visit the convent which was near her parents residence. Once there she refused to leave, notwithstanding her mother’s desire for her to return home. Full of delight, she begged the Sisters, one by one, to receive her into their company; and neither threats nor coaxing could move her to leave them. What do we know of the family that the Saint deserted at so early an age, and what of the monastery in which she had come to bury her young life? Mechtilde belonged to the family of Hackborn. She was born in 1241. The monastery into which she entered in 1248 was at that time at Rodarsdorf in the vicinity of her parents chateau. In 1258 this monastery was transferred to Helfta, on land which was given by her brothers the Lords Albert and Ludwig of Hackborn. This monastery was near the small town of Eisleben in Saxony, where, two centuries later, Luther was born. St. Mechtilde advanced rapidly from virtue to virtue. “She had a wonderfully sweet disposition, profoundly humble, most patient, a sincere lover of poverty, and very fervent and devoted. But it was especially in her love for God and her neighbour that she made the greatest progress; she showed herself pleased and amiable to all, full of tender compassion towards the afflicted or those in trouble. She was like a loving mother to those, showering on them consolation and help, and so no one went near her without being comforted and strengthened. She was much loved by all. Everyone wanted to be with her, and this often caused her some inconvenience.” So perfect a religious must have been a treasure in the Convent of Helfta. Not only had God enriched her with spiritual gifts, but also with those of nature—learning, a wide knowledge of literature, a beautiful voice, everything that could make her useful to the monastery. It seemed as if God would not allow her to want for anything. Her beautiful voice caused her to be appointed Cantor to the Convent. Many times she gained by her singing what she prized more than the applause of men, the approval of her divine Spouse, to whom she had entirely consecrated her voice. She also had charge of the School, where St. Gertrude soon became one of her pupils. “She taught Christian doctrine with such efficiency that we have never had, and fear we never shall have, anyone in our Monastery to equal her. The Sisters gathered around her as around a preacher to hear the word of God. She dictated and taught them prayers, and they were so numerous that if gathered together they would make a larger book than all the psalms.” ~ The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde. (1922)

St. Mechtilde 1 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 3rd CHAPTER II LIFE OF ST. MECHTILDE THE first and final chapter of the Book of Grace had been carefully hidden from St. Mechtilde’s sight. Her humility would certainly have taken alarm at the praises there bestowed on her. These pages, though too few, are enough to make us appreciate her great virtues. We will here give the principal details . The first chapter begins as follows: This virgin was from her earliest infancy prevented by divine grace. At her birth, as it was feared that she was about to expire, they carried her in haste to be baptized by a priest of great holiness who was just preparing to celebrate the Holy Mass. After baptizing her he pronounced these words which we love to think prophetic: “Why do you fear? This child will not die, but will become a holy religious. By her God will work great wonders and she will finish her life at a good old age, full of merits.” (continued below)

JESUS has given us His Heart, with the Cross, the Thorns, the Wound, and the Flames, in order that we might give Him ours, without reserve or division, and strive to love as He loves. ~ Father Alexis LeFebvre, Revelations or Effusions of the Heart of Jesus (1869)

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 2nd The servant of God was moreover able to obtain the book, correct it and give it her sanction. It was not, however, without great resistance on the part of her two companions, who constantly refused to allow her to see it from fear of causing her pain. Our Lord had once more to interfere, and He reassured St. Mechtilde, saying to her: “Fear not, all comes from Me, all is My work. I gave thee the gift, and as it comes from Me, it is also just as truly by My inspiration that thy companions have undertaken and carried on this work. So, fear not and be not alarmed, I will Myself preserve this book from all error. Every word that has been written has been dictated by the Holy Spirit, and all are as pearls that shall adorn their crown in My eyes eternally.” From this time the two friends, reassured by this vision, showed the book to St. Mechtilde whenever she wished it, or they read it to her faithfully. In doubtful passages the Saint consulted our Lord, and so He corrected it Himself. After St. Mechtilde’s death St. Gertrude saw her in glory, and asked if she were pleased or otherwise with the publication of this book. “It is my greatest joy,” she replied. “I see it will contribute to the glory of God, to the fulfilment of His will, and to my neighbours good. The book shall also be named The Light of the Church. They who read it shall recognize themselves in the brightness of the light. They will see by what spirit they are animated. The sorrowful shall find in it consolation.” The Saint compared the readers of this book to those who should receive a present from a King through a messenger. They would possess and reap as much benefit as if they had received the gift direct from the King’s hand (vii. 17). Such was the origin of the Book of Special Grace. It would be impossible to tell the history of its beginning more simply or to establish better its truth and worth. Its composition extended over several years. It was begun in 1291, when Mechtilde was fifty years of age. It could only have been finished shortly before her death, which took place in 1298. St. Gertrude, who was one of the collaborators, had begun her own book, The Herald of Divine Love, the 25th of March, 1289, so that these two admirable works date from the same time. They are both incomparable treasures of doctrine on the Sacred Heart, for rarely before and never since have the relations of the divine Heart with the other divine Persons or with the souls of men been treated of so fully or with so much exactness and brilliancy. From this treasure we are going to drink deeply. But first let us cast a glance at the holy soul who thus reveals to us the secrets of the divine Heart. Our faith in her words will surely be the firmer. ~ The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde. (1922)

1 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 2nd Mechtilde’s two friends congratulated themselves and thanked our Lord. . . . “Blessed be God, the Author of all good; it is by His Will and blessing that this book is published. It is by no private design nor presumption in those who have written, but by the advice and command of their Abbess and with the approval of their Bishop. “May we be forgiven the mistakes in composition and elegance of style which will be met with; we are not accustomed to writing, and St. Augustine says : ‘A characteristic of a good mind is to love the truth in the words, not the words themselves.’ ” (Prologue.) (continued below)

2 of 2 Most holy Virgin and our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thine Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Moved by the ardent desire of loving thee as our Mother and of promoting a true devotion to thine Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at thy feet to prove the sorrow we feel for the grievances that men cause thee, and to atone, by means of our prayers and sacrifices, for the offenses with which men return thy tender love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and amendment for us all. Hasten, O Lady, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended, and will not fall into hell. Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us, that henceforth we may love God with all our hearts while on earth and enjoy Him forever in heaven. Amen. ~ St. Joseph Daily Missal (1950)

1 of 2 ACT of REPARATION to the IMMACULATE HEART of MARY

2 of 2 ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀ THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS MARY’S GREAT PROMISE AT FATIMA (continued from above) This devotion and the wonderful promises connected with it were revealed by the Blessed Virgin with these words recorded by Lucy, one of the three children to whom the Blessed Virgin appeared at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917: I promise to help at the hour of death, with the graces needed for salvation, whoever on the First Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Confess and receive Holy Communion. 2. Recite five decades of the Rosary. 3. And keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me. NOTE: Confession during the week, preceding the first Friday, will suffice for the first Saturday, or conversely when Saturday is the first day of the month. The Rosary May be recited at any convenient time of the day, and the fifteen minute meditation may be made at any time during the day on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. A sermon for the occasion may be substituted for the meditation. ~ St. Joseph Daily Missal (1950) ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀

FIRST SATURDAY of JUNE 💙 1 of 2 ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀ THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS MARY’S GREAT PROMISE AT FATIMA THE observance of the First Saturday in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is intended to console her Immaculate Heart, and to make reparation for all the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. (continued)

Dabo eis Cor, ut sciant me, et erunt mihi in populum, et ego ero eis in Deum: quia revertentur ad me in toto corde suo. I will give them a Heart to know Me, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, because they shall return to Me with their whole heart (Jer. xxiv. 7). THE last resource of a God who desired, above all things, to make men love Him was to give them His Heart . . . ~ Father Alexis LeFebvre, Revelations or Effusions of the Heart of Jesus (1869)

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 1 Very much astonished St. Mechtilde asked her friend if she had been in the habit of writing down what she told her. She, not wanting to acknowledge it, made some excuse, telling the Saint to ask our Lord about it. St. Mechtilde, having thus been made aware of the truth, was so grieved as to be inconsolable. She therefore went to our Lord, her ordinary refuge, and told Him confidingly of her sorrow. Our Lord appeared to her at once, holding the book on His Heart with His right hand. He kissed it, and said to her: “All that is found written in this book has flowed from My divine Heart, and will return to it.” St. Mechtilde asked our Lord if now she should cease communicating to others the graces she received from God. Our Lord answered: “Give Me to others with the liberality of My generous Heart. Give Me to others according to My goodness and not according to thine.” She answered: “What will they do with this book after my death and what good will result from its being written?” The Lord replied: “All those that seek Me therein with a true heart shall rejoice; those that love Me will be more inflamed with My love; and those in sorrow shall be consoled.” Mechtilde again asked what name the book should bear, and our Lord answered: “They shall call it The Book of Special Grace.” So our Lord Himself approved of the book being written and also watched over it, so that no error should appear in it. One day Mechtilde, remembering this book, asked our Lord this question: “How am I to know whether what they have written is correct, as I have neither seen nor approved of it; and even if I read it carefully now, I could not be sure if I remembered correctly?” Our Lord replied: “I am in the hearts of those who hear thee and I execute their desires. I am their understanding as they listen, and it is through Me they are able to comprehend what thou sayest. I am also in their mouth, when they speak of it. I guide their hands, when they write it. I am their Helper and co-operator in all, and so, in Me and by Me, who am the Truth, all that they dictate and write is true. The elegance of style with which I speak to thee is wanting, but by My grace, all is approved and confirmed in the truth. Thou hast so often besought Me never to allow thee to fall into any error, that thou hast good reason to believe that, in My goodness, I have heard thy prayer.” She then saw three rays of light from the divine Heart fall on the two persons who wrote this book, and understood from this that it was by the inspiration and strength of divine grace that they devoted themselves to this work, and that therefore they generously accepted all the fatigue that came to them from it. The book could therefore be finished and would do great good to souls. ~ The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde. (1922)

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 1 Very much astonished St. Mechtilde asked her friend if she had been in the habit of writing down what she told her. She, not wanting to acknowledge it, made some excuse, telling the Saint to ask our Lord about it. St. Mechtilde, having thus been made aware of the truth, was so grieved as to be inconsolable. She therefore went to our Lord, her ordinary refuge, and told Him confidingly of her sorrow. Our Lord appeared to her at once, holding the book on His Heart with His right hand. He kissed it, and said to her: “All that is found written in this book has flowed from My divine Heart, and will return to it.” St. Mechtilde asked our Lord if now she should cease communicating to others the graces she received from God. Our Lord answered: “Give Me to others with the liberality of My generous Heart. Give Me to others according to My goodness and not according to thine.” She answered: “What will they do with this book after my death and what good will result from its being written?” The Lord replied: “All those that seek Me therein with a true heart shall rejoice; those that love Me will be more inflamed with My love; and those in sorrow shall be consoled.” Mechtilde again asked what name the book should bear, and our Lord answered: “They shall call it The Book of Special Grace.” So our Lord Himself approved of the book being written and also watched over it, so that no error should appear in it. One day Mechtilde, remembering this book, asked our Lord this question: “How am I to know whether what they have written is correct, as I have neither seen nor approved of it; and even if I read it carefully now, I could not be sure if I remembered correctly?” Our Lord replied: “I am in the hearts of those who hear thee and I execute their desires. I am their understanding as they listen, and it is through Me they are able to comprehend what thou sayest. I am also in their mouth, when they speak of it. I guide their hands, when they write it. I am their Helper and co-operator in all, and so, in Me and by Me, who am the Truth, all that they dictate and write is true. The elegance of style with which I speak to thee is wanting, but by My grace, all is approved and confirmed in the truth. Thou hast so often besought Me never to allow thee to fall into any error, that thou hast good reason to believe that, in My goodness, I have heard thy prayer.” She then saw three rays of light from the divine Heart fall on the two persons who wrote this book, and understood from this that it was by the inspiration and strength of divine grace that they devoted themselves to this work, and that therefore they generously accepted all the fatigue that came to them from it. The book could therefore be finished and would do great good to souls. ~ The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde. (1922)

1 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 1 The Love of the Sacred Heart ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ The Archives of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ INTRODUCTORY THE REVELATIONS TO ST. MECHTILDE CHAPTER I “THE BOOK OF SPECIAL GRACE” THE Revelations of St. Mechtilde are contained in a book entitled “The Book of Special Grace.” This book was written almost entirely without her knowledge, and is based on the recitation of her communications with our divine Master. Two of the Saint’s companions, of whom St. Gertrude was one, had arranged together to write it. It was nearly finished when St. Mechtilde became aware of it. While she was hearing Mass a mysterious voice made one of the culprits known to her and at the same time asked her this question: “What shall be her reward for what she has written?” (continued below)

June ~ Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀ Dear Friends, Thank you for visiting Virgo Potens! During the month of May, we were able to finish all of Chapter One of The Glories of Mary (1852) by St. Alphonsus Liguori, and thus ends our study (for now) of Our Heavenly Mother. Would that we had more time! I hope that you learned as much as did I about the greatness and beauty of Holy Mary, and how wonderful and efficacious it is to turn to her always for aid in all of our trials and needs. She is waiting to help us before we even know that we need her! Today begins the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. New postings will be drawn from The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde (1922). Re-posts will be quotations from Revelations or Effusions of the Heart of Jesus (1869). ~ Virgo Potens ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀ Dear Friends, Thank you again for visiting Virgo Potens! During the month of May, we were able to finish all of Chapter One of The Glories of Mary (1852) by the St. Alphonsus Liguori, and thus ends our study (for now) of Our Heavenly Mother. Would that we had more time! I hope that you learned as much as did I about the greatness and beauty of Holy Mary, and how wonderful and efficacious it is to turn to her always for aid in all of our trials and needs. She is waiting to help us before we even know that we need her! Today begins the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and our meditations will be drawn from two sources: The Love of the Sacred Heart, Illustrated by St. Mechtilde Revelations or Effusions of the Heart of Jesus by Father Alexis LeFebvre (1869). Please visit daily for new posts! ~ Virgo Potens ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ •°❀°•❀

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 31st If then thou sayest that thou canst not help me, at least tell me to whom I must have recourse for succor in my deep distress. With St. Anselm, I will say to thee, and to thy Son: Have pity on me, oh thou, my Redeemer, and pardon me, thou my mother, and recommend me to pardon; or teach me to whom I may have recourse, who is more compassionate than you, and in whom I may have more confidence. No, neither in heaven nor on earth can I find one who has more compassion for the miserable, or who can aid me more than you. Thou, oh Jesus, art my father, and thou, oh Mary, art my mother. You love those who are the most wretched, and you seek to save them. I am worthy of hell, and of all beings the most miserable; you need not to seek me, neither do I ask you to seek me; I present myself to you with a sure hope that I shall not be abandoned by you. Behold me at your feet; my Jesus, pardon me; my Mary, help me. ~ St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary (1852) First American Edition.

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 31st PRAYER Oh Mary, sovereign queen, and worthy mother of my God, most holy Mary! Finding myself so vile, so laden with sin, I dare not approach thee and call thee mother. But I cannot let my miseries deprive me of the consolation and confidence I feel in calling thee mother. I know that I deserve to be rejected by thee, but I pray thee to consider what thy son Jesus has done and suffered for me; and then cast me from thee if thou canst. I am a poor sinner, who, more than others, has despised the divine Majesty; but the evil is already done. To thee I have recourse: thou canst help me; oh, my mother, help me. Do not say that thou canst not aid me, for I know that thou art omnipotent, and dost obtain whatever thou desireth from thy God. (continued below)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 31st PRAYER Oh Mary, sovereign queen, and worthy mother of my God, most holy Mary! Finding myself so vile, so laden with sin, I dare not approach thee and call thee mother. But I cannot let my miseries deprive me of the consolation and confidence I feel in calling thee mother. I know that I deserve to be rejected by thee, but I pray thee to consider what thy son Jesus has done and suffered for me; and then cast me from thee if thou canst. I am a poor sinner, who, more than others, has despised the divine Majesty; but the evil is already done. To thee I have recourse: thou canst help me; oh, my mother, help me. Do not say that thou canst not aid me, for I know that thou art omnipotent, and dost obtain whatever thou desireth from thy God. (continued below)