Bicentenary

April 23

 Holy Saturday                                                                    

It was more than 4,000 years that hell was opened enveloping amidst its voracious flames thousands of souls condemned by sin: heaven was closed; the children of Adam were subject to the prince of darkness who had conquered them; the demons adored under the monstrous figures of the ugliest passions, God’s throne inaccessible. Mary, consumed by the fire of charity, resolved to change the face of the world; she asks and hopes for it, she hopes for it and she obtains it. To Mary’s faith, hope and charity we owe our salvation. Glory to her!  (MM Day 7)

Mary suffered from her immaculate conception to the incarnation because she saw us without redemption. She conceived in her pure and virginal womb the Redeemer,

suffered the persecution because of her Son. Jesus died, and she suffered the persecution that came upon the newly born Church, and she suffered with equanimity until death; she suffered for us a spiritual martyrdom that lasted all her life and she bore it with great, manly and heroic courage. (MM Day 20)