In the deep consideration
of these high and hidden sacraments the great Lady passed that whole night,
weeping and sighing, praising and glorifying the works of her divine Son, his
Passion, his hidden judgments, and the rest of the high mysteries of divine
wisdom and unsearchable providence of the Lord. All of them, as the Mother of
true wisdom, She contemplated and understood, conferring sometimes with the
holy angels, at others with the Lord himself concerning what the divine influences
caused Her to feel in her own purest heart.
 |
| She was in sorrowful mood within that period |
On the following sabbath morning,
after four o’clock, saint John entered to console the sorrowful Mother. Falling
on her knees before him, She asked him
for his blessing, as from her superior
and a priest. Her new son on his part asked it of Her with tears in his eyes,
and thus they gave their blessing one to the other. The heavenly Queen begged
saint John to meet saint Peter, who was looking for him on the way to the city.
She ordered saint John to receive and console him kindly, and bring him to her
presence. The same he was to do with the other Apostles, giving them hope of
pardon and offering them her friendship. Saint John issued from the Cenacle and
shortly met saint Peter, who, full of shame and in tears, was timidly seeking
the presence of the great Queen. He had just come from the cave, where he had
bewept his denials; but he was now consoled by saint John and encouraged by the
message from the heavenly Mother. Then these two went in search of the other Apostles.
Having found some they together betook themselves to the Cenacle, hoping for
pardon. Saint Peter entered first and alone to the presence of the Mother of
grace, and falling at her feet, he said with great sorrow: “I have sinned,
Lady, I have sinned before my God, and have offended my Master and Thee!” He
could not speak another word, further speech being stifled with tearful sobs
and sighs which came from the depths of his oppressed heart.
Peter having remembered his denial wept for pardon and then came to Bl. Mary
The most prudent Virgin,
seeing Peter prostrate on the ground and considering him on the one hand as
doing penance for sins so recently committed, and on the other hand as the head
of the church, chosen by her divine Son as his vicar, did not deem it proper to
prostrate Herself before the pastor, who had just denied his Master; but
neither would her humility suffer Her to withhold the reverence due to his
office. In order to conform her action to both these circumstances, She
resolved to show him proper reverence without disclosing her motive. For this
purpose, She fell on her knees to do him reverence, at the same time concealing
her intention by saying: “Let us ask pardon for thy guilt from my Son and thy
Master.” She prayed for him, revived his hope by reminding him of the merciful behaviour
of the Lord in regard to well-known sinners, and pointing out his own
obligation as head of the apostolic college to give the example of constancy in
the confession of the faith. By these and other arguments of great force and
sweetness She confirmed Peter in the hope of pardon. Then also the other
Apostles presented themselves, prostrating themselves before the most blessed
Mary and asking pardon for their cowardice in forsaking her divine Son during
his sufferings. They wept bitterly over their sin, being moved to greater
sorrow by the presence of this Mother so full of sorrowful pity. Her
wonderfully sweet countenance caused in them divine movements of contrition for
their sins and of love of their Master. The great Lady raised them up and
encouraged them, promising them the pardon they sought and her intercession to
obtain it. Then all of them in their turn related what had happened to each in
his flight. Though the blessed Lady knew all even to the last particulars
concerning these events, She heard them all kindly, taking occasion from what
they said to touch their hearts and confirm them in their faith in their
Redeemer and Master and of arousing in them divine love. In this the heavenly
Lady completely succeeded; for they all went away from this conference burning
with new fervour and justified by new increase of graces.
These were the occupations
of the heavenly Queen during a part of the Sabbath. At the approach of evening
She again retired, leaving the Apostles now renewed in spirit and full of
consolation and joy in the Lord, yet also full of grief for the Passion of
their Master.
