examination of the heart 450 a certain most pious servant said: “Hail (Virgin) Mother! Temple of the Trinity.”219 As for you, proceed to this temple today with great haste, certain that you will obtain whatever you ask. 2. “Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful” (Sir 24:22). Who, being oppressed by the burden of sins or worn out by a multitude of worries, would fear to approach today the most gracious Queen of Heaven? Behold, she extends her hands and calls out: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden” (Mt 11:28). She compares herself to a turpentine tree stretching out its branches that are indeed the branches of honor and grace, so that you may hasten to her with greatest trust, and she will obtain for you every kind grace from God and the honor of eternal blessedness. For what would she not obtain from her Son for mankind, especially on this day; on which by a unique privilege [f.144v] she was exempted from the common lot of all men; on which she was conceived without the original sin; on which she was adorned and crowned with countless gifts of grace and raised entirely above all creation? 3. “my teaching is sweeter than honey” (Sir 24:27). This is what the true Church professes, when addressing the Most Holy Virgin as “clement” and “loving,” it also adds “sweet.”220 Oh, you are truly sweet, Virgin Mary! Was there anyone, filled with bitterness, who ever had recourse to you and went back without a most sweet consolation? Who approached you filled with worry and was not immediately comforted? Who was tormented by bitter temptations, and did not experience sweetness in your bosom? You console, refresh, help, and lift up the disheartened, 219 Officium Parvum Immaculatae Conceptionis Beatissimae Virginis Mariae correctum, Lucae 1679, (Ad Sextam, Hymnus). It is to be noted that the word Virgo (“Virgin”) was omitted in IC crit. ed., but was supplemented here from the original Latin text of this Office. 220 Here St. Stanislaus is referring to the words of the Salve Regina: “O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary” (LHE, vol. III, p. 1288 (Night Prayer: Antiphons in Honor of the Blessed Virgin)).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==