Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 24. De compassione matemi doloris et mutua commendatione beatae Mariae et sancti

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 24. De compassione matemi doloris et mutua commendatione beatae Mariae et sancti

of John. I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, consoler of all who mourn, for your sorrowful regard with which you mercifully looked upon your most beloved mother standing under the cross, overwhelmed with grief. You alone knew the depth of her pain, for you were the most secret inspector of her heart. You truly had nothing more precious on earth than your virgin mother, and she loved you, her Son, more than anything else, whom she certainly recognized as the Lord and Creator of all things, born from herself. Therefore, seeing you suspended on the cross, whom she loved most, she remained more in you than in herself and, as if entirely drawn out of herself, she hung there in spirit, crucified with you, even though her body still stood nearby, weeping by the cross. I praise and glorify you for your overwhelming compassion, with which you then tenderly mourned for your most sorrowful mother, who truly regarded all your pains as her own and wept for each of your wounds as if they were her own, while she was constantly afflicted by new torments whenever she saw your blood flowing from your body, or when she heard your voice speaking to her from the cross. I praise and honor you for your most compassionate words, with which you spoke to your desolate mother in a brief moment, commending her to your beloved disciple John as a most faithful guardian, and joining the virgin to the virgin in an indissoluble bond of love, saying: "Woman, behold your son," and then to the disciple: "Behold your mother."^✦ O happy union and gracious commendation, which virgin integrity has both joined and consecrated. In this word, you showed the honor due to your mother and the affection of a pious concern, to whom you granted solace as a pure disciple, and for whom you took on another son in a certain way, who would correspond to her chaste heart and wisely provide for her needs. For it was fitting that your filial care should act in such a way, so that the holy and immaculate virgin mother would not lack for a faithful minister, lest she appear as if abandoned in solitude among the world and as a stranger among the Jews, when she was to be adorned with your sweetest presence. May this holy and very good arrangement of your Son be pleasing to you now, O pious Mother of God, Mary. Receive this disciple of yours, whom your Son Jesus has freely entrusted to you. This is John the Apostle, the chosen virgin, more beloved than the others, gentle in character, kind in demeanor, modest in appearance, temperate in diet, humble in habit, ready to serve, and prepared to obey. This is the most beloved disciple, related to you by blood, renowned for his fame, pure in mind, chaste in body, pleasing to God, dear to all, your companion, the Mother of God, worthy of all honor. I know that it has always pleased you and continues to please you to want what the Son wanted, and that you deeply desire what He Himself arranged, who in all His actions sought not His own will, but the will of the Father. Therefore, I have no doubt that it pleases you that, as he was about to leave, he entrusted John to you as his representative. Receive now, holy John, the treasured gift that has been entrusted to you. O receive, Jesus, your venerable mother, the queen of heaven, the lady of the world, your beloved aunt and sister of your mother, the holy virgin. Up to now, the blessed Virgin Mary has rightly been called your aunt, but now she will be named your mother in a more sacred order and by divine right, entrusted to you by special grace. You too, who were previously called the son of Zebedee according to the flesh, brother of James the Greater and close relative of the Lord Savior, and later became a disciple of Jesus, will now be called by a new name, the adopted son of Mary, and you will henceforth serve him with a filial love. So, do what Christ commands: fulfill the word of sacred commendation, and you will be pleasing to everyone and honored throughout the whole world. The most blessed John did as Jesus said to him on the cross. For from that hour, the disciple took her into his own home and cared for her, serving her diligently and as he should. He devotedly obeyed his own mother and loved her sincerely. Rejoice and be glad, most blessed John, for what has been entrusted to you. For what is more precious than what Christ confidently entrusted to you in this world? You have been greatly enriched since Mary entrusted you with her legacy, a gift that even the holy angels cannot praise enough. Christ entrusted the keys of the heavenly kingdom to Saint Peter, but he has appointed you as the chamberlain of his mother. Once, Saint Joseph was betrothed to Mary, but now she is entrusted to you. The angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife'; it is now said to you by the Lord of angels: 'Behold your mother, so that just as he did not fail the virgin at the birth of the Son, neither shall you fail your mother in the passion of Christ, nor for a long time after his ascension into heaven.' If the most blessed John the Baptist had still been alive, he would have been a very fitting minister and distinguished companion to me, due to his kinship and the merit of his purity. But since Joseph is no longer around — nothing is known about him, whether he lived then or died; John, however, was long held in chains and was killed; Jesus is now close to death and will soon be taken from his mother’s eyes — you take the place of all these dear ones and be in the place of Christ for the son who has been taken away. I trust in the Lord Jesus that this will greatly please your brother James and all the other apostles, and no one among your friends will envy you, but everyone devoted to you will rejoice peacefully. This great reward has been earned by your abundant virtues: namely, the perfect contempt of the world, love of Jesus, sweetness of character, virginal integrity, tranquility of mind, freedom of the soul, purity of conscience, and uprightness of life. Therefore, receive the Mother of Christ into your care, and you will gain great grace from her. You'll grow a lot and reach great heights with her help. For you will be instructed by his words, built up by his examples, helped by his prayers, stirred by his admonitions, kindled by his love, drawn by his devotion, lifted up by his contemplation, filled with joy, overflowing with delights, and you will enjoy heavenly things. You'll hear divine mysteries from His mouth, learn hidden truths, perceive wonders, and understand ineffable things. In His presence, you'll be purer, you'll remain more steadfast, you'll become holier, and you'll persevere in greater devotion. His appearance is purity, His words are wisdom, His actions are justice, His teachings are Jesus, His meditation is Christ, His contemplation is God. The beauty of his face shines like light; his reverent appearance is unmatched, his elegance purifies those who behold him, and his words eradicate all evil. Such is the greatness and dignity of Mary that she surpasses all the saints in purity and grace, of which you will be a secretary, granted to her by the highest King of heaven. So, offer diligent service to her, show her honor, and take care of her with great attention. Stand now by the cross, observe the side of the Virgin, support the weary with your arms, embrace Mary, lift up the one who is grieving, and comfort the one who is weeping. Weep also with those who weep, groan with those who groan, walk with those who walk, stand with those who stand, and stay with those who sit. Don't turn away from the one who is grieving; fulfill the work of mercy, and then prepare yourself for the funeral of Jesus, who is about to die. Take your mother with you to the place of the tomb, bring her back to the city, lead her into the house, and comfort the consoler of all the desolate. Be an angelic minister, even if this time you offer comfort to someone more deserving. Christ was strengthened in His agony by an angel; even though He didn't need it, He still wanted to be visited by one from below and did not refuse the comfort. Dear John, to whom you are called for your votive service, a virgin is entrusted to you, and whose mother is believed to be kept by you. Now, therefore, I humbly beseech you, pray fervently for me, a sinner, so that I may also be fervent in the love of Christ and be found devoted in the praise of the blessed Virgin and, being pierced by her sorrow, may be moved to compunction.