Sharing in the Glory of the Guardian Angels
Among all the choirs of angels, the lowest are the Guardian Angels. They are perfectly happy and eternally fulfilled, despite their status as the lowest choir. They stand on this “first step” of the Celestial Hierarchy because their mission requires the least amount of divine insight and authority. Each angel among the Guardian Angels is given the singular mission to guide and protect one human being. They fulfill their mission perfectly, in complete obedience to God. Their nature does not provide more than what they need to complete their mission. Unlike the other choirs, they are not sent to communicate the most important messages of divine mysteries, nor to enter into direct battle with the devil and higher demons. They do not keep creation in motion, nor do they govern entire nations and institutions. They do not behold God’s authority, wisdom, and essence to the same degree as do those in the highest triad. Their exclusive focus upon one human being is their perfect joy, and God uses them to exercise their angelic powers continuously to that end. When needs arise within our lives that are beyond their powers, they communicate to the higher choirs and call upon their help, which those choirs readily provide.
As was seen in Part One from Saint Thomas Aquinas, “…by the gift of grace men can merit glory in such a degree as to be equal to the angels, in each of the angelic grades…” (Summa, I.108.8). With that in mind, to what extent do we on earth need to cooperate with God’s grace so as to merit a share in the Guardian Angels’ glory? Though the Church has not definitively declared the answer in Her higher dogmatic and doctrinal teachings, we can reliably turn to the teachings of the Doctors of the Church and mystics to ponder the possibilities.
The Guardian Angels occupy the first and lowest level of eternal glory, not because of any sin or weakness on their part, but because God willed it so. As angels, they have never sinned and have always cooperated with God’s will and grace. The saints in Heaven who now share in the degree of glory experienced by the Guardian Angels are those who cooperated with grace in only an initial and limited way. They are those who, upon death, needed to undergo much cleansing in Purgatory before beholding the Beatific Vision. Nonetheless, those who die in this beginning state of grace and complete their purification after death, will forever behold God and share in eternal beatitude. Like the Guardian Angels who stand on this first step, due to their nature and God’s design, they will be perfectly happy. Not only will they not envy the higher angels and saints, they will gaze upon them with wonder and awe, and eternally rejoice in how they radiate God’s glory to higher degrees, bathing directly in God’s glory and also in the radiance of the higher angels and saints in the Celestial Hierarchy.
Within this system of nine levels of glory, Step One brings us into the Purgative Way of the Beginner. Three steps or stages make up the Purgative Way of the Beginner—Beginning Purgation, Proficient Purgation, and Perfect Purgation. In this first stage of spiritual development, the soul enjoys a state of grace and begins to confront serious sins so as to avoid falling out of that state. On this step, the soul begins in spiritual infancy, receives the Word of God and responds—possibly for the first time or the first time after mortal sin—thus beginning the Purgative Way. Suddenly, that grace brings an awareness of God’s love and a sense of duty to respond, which leads the soul to acknowledge its sins and experience remorse. Remorse leads to repentance and a newfound desire to turn from sin.
The initial acceptance of grace, by a response to God, becomes like a candle exposed to the wind. It must be guarded and protected, for it can be easily extinguished. Moreover, as an infant requires much care, a newfound faith does also, so that the graced soul will be able to stand, walk, and run.
The key to entrance into the life of grace is to turn from all grave sins. Even children are capable of this first stage, since they are initially incapable of mortal sin. As children reach the age of reason and begin to mature, however, some make serious choices that contradict God’s will and extinguish grace in their souls. Those who do so must become spiritual infants once again—turning from those sins, confessing them, receiving forgiveness, and taking up once again initial forms of prayer and dedication to God.
The lessons we can learn in this stage are also for those who avoid mortal sin but have not yet dedicated themselves to God and begun to practice daily prayer. Without the nourishment of daily prayer, the virtues will not grow and cooperation with God’s grace will be difficult, leaving the soul with a lack of self-knowledge, susceptible to worldly attachments and desires.
The five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are a sure guide for these spiritual infants and provide the necessary nourishment for growth. Just as an infant grows rapidly in the first months of life, so also those who begin to practice daily prayer will witness their lives rapidly change.
Regardless of how long we have been practicing our faith and engaging in prayer, it will be fruitful to begin these reflections by seeing ourselves as spiritual infants. Our divine Lord humbled Himself by permitting Himself to become an infant so that He could show us the way. Join Him in His infancy and follow the lessons taught by the early years of His human life. By doing so, you might find that there are many benefits from this beginning stage of spiritual purification.
As explained in more detail in Part One, Chapters Six and Eight, Saint John of the Cross begins with later spiritual growth and does not offer detailed commentary on this stage. Saint Teresa of Ávila’s First Mansions align with this stage, in which the soul recognizes its sin, repents, chooses God, becomes aware of its attachments, and gains initial humility and self-knowledge. For Saint Bonaventure, this stage is “announcing.” The soul repents as a result of recognizing and accepting God’s Word. Embracing the angels’ humility and lowliness, the soul longs for God in prayer after recognizing that serious sin and attachment to vice have separated the soul from the Truth.
Annunciation: Embracing the Word
Unless otherwise noted, quotes in this reflection are taken from Luke 1:26–38, RSV-CE
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” The Archangel Gabriel spoke these words to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary alone was “full of grace” from the moment of her conception and throughout her life. Though we are not “full” of grace when we begin our union with God, grace is present in our souls. Therefore, we must hear the archangel say to us, “Hail, graced one.” The angels are very attentive to God’s grace and will reverence and aid any soul that has received and protected it.
Begin by pondering this greeting as if it were said to you. Reverencing your own soul, as it is blessed by God’s grace, is the very first step. By recognizing grace, we recognize Him Who placed it there. Seeing God’s grace within us is an act of humility because it reveals our need for grace, the first step to greater self-knowledge. Self-knowledge will lead us to a new ability to more fully cooperate with that grace, leading to its increase, which will lead to a greater reverence of our own souls.
“But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.” Why was the Blessed Mother “greatly troubled” by this greeting? Because of her humility. She was not troubled in a negative sense of the word. Her troubled heart exemplified the spiritual gift of wonder and awe. To behold an Archangel announcing to her that she is full of grace startled Mary because her humility led her to see only her lowliness and absolute need for God, making her all the more receptive to grace. Even Mary could not be saved, except by grace. As she cooperated with grace throughout her life, she did not become prideful, which is a false self-image. Instead, her cooperation with grace led to the deep realization of her need for that grace and her complete reliance on God.
True humility in our souls will do the same. Instead of thinking highly of ourselves, we must think lowly of ourselves—not in a disparaging way, but in the light of truth. Without God’s grace, we can do nothing but sin. Therefore, we must look into our own souls and see God’s grace within. Then we must allow that realization to “greatly trouble” us in the sense that we see that grace as a pure and unmerited gift from God. We do not deserve grace. By realizing that, we do not lessen our worth; we greatly magnify it by allowing the wonder and awe within our Blessed Mother’s heart to reside in our hearts also, thus disposing us to receive more. Pride results in self-righteousness, which extinguishes grace. Humility results in wonder, awe, and profound gratitude, widening the capacity of our souls.
There is another perspective to consider as we ponder this angelic greeting—that of the Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel participated in the pure joy that resulted from his angelic mission. If time could stand still in Heaven, it would have done so at that moment. Recall that when an angel fulfills a mission on earth, that angel acts within time and is able to fulfill only one mission at a time. As Gabriel fulfilled the most important mission any angel had ever fulfilled, we can prayerfully imagine that the entire Celestial Hierarchy gazed with pure and holy wonder and awe.
Gabriel’s mission was born of the burning and overflowing love contained within the Trinity, which the Seraphim contemplated and adored. The Cherubim comprehended the fullness of God’s wisdom that led to the Incarnation. The Thrones beheld God’s infinite authority as He issued the command, and the peace and harmony that would result from it. As these three angelic choirs marveled at God’s love, wisdom, and power, they turned and enlightened the entire Celestial Hierarchy, and the order was sent down through the ranks to Gabriel, a lowly Archangel. What a privilege! Without hesitation, Gabriel interacted with that moment in time and appeared to the one who was the Immaculate Conception and full of grace. Gabriel knew that she to whom he appeared would one day take her place as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and that she was the most glorious and radiant creature in God’s creation. In a sense, this moment in time was the pinnacle and greatest joy of Gabriel’s existence, and the source of eternal rejoicing.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” As Gabriel announced this eternal truth to she who was the Immaculate Conception, God became man and the Celestial Hierarchy rejoiced with inexpressible joy.
While the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived the Son of God in her womb, we are all called to conceive our Lord in our souls by sanctifying grace. When this happens, His greatness resides within us and His Kingdom begins to be established. Every time more grace is conceived in our souls, the Celestial Hierarchy rejoices yet again, seeing those moments as an extension of this first, most glorious, moment of the Incarnation. We too must rejoice with the Mother of God and the Celestial Hierarchy.
“How shall this be, since I have no husband?” The Blessed Mother’s words perfectly modeled the ideal response to divine love, wisdom, and power. She did not doubt; she believed that she would conceive and bear a Son Who would be the “Son of the Most High.” She first sensed the authority of the Thrones in the angelic words, which led her to inquire further into divine wisdom. Faith always seeks understanding.
Are you attentive to Jesus, Who has been spiritually conceived in your soul by grace? Do you seek to understand this unfathomable gift? Wherever the Son of God resides, greatness is present. His Kingdom is present. God wants to establish His Kingdom within us and reign over our lives, bringing perfect peace and harmony as the perfect ruler, subduing our disordered desires and emotions, and bringing them under the control of our minds and wills as they align with the will of God. Believe in His authority to do so. Allow your faith to stir up a holy curiosity. Believe first; then seek to understand.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” The Archangel’s answer is shrouded in mystery. What was said is true, but the depth of meaning in that statement is beyond comprehension. Still, the Blessed Mother believed. Her faith in the wisdom revealed to her then led her to the highest response one can make, pure burning charity: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Ponder our Blessed Mother’s sacred words, “Behold…” What a beautiful way to start. That word indicates that what comes next is worth beholding and is sacred, for what comes next will forever change the world. “I am the handmaid of the Lord…” She acknowledges the glorious truth that she is a handmaid, a servant, one who is obedient to the will of God. As such, she is compelled to say with the purity of divine love, “let it be to me according to your word.” Could any prayer be more perfect? This is a prayer of total submission, complete cooperation, a perfect “Yes” to God.
As you ponder our Blessed Mother’s words, consider your own words. Can you point to words you’ve prayed that are worth beholding, that are sacred and transforming? Do you see yourself as a faithful servant of God, called to complete obedience and service? Do you trust in God’s almighty power, His perfect wisdom, and unfailing love? God invites you to a life of ongoing and profound conversion. Have you said “Yes” to that invitation? If so, are you willing to act on those words? What makes our Blessed Mother’s words so profound and sacred is that she did as she said. She let it be done to her as the Archangel said. She said “Yes” and then lived that yes. You are called to do the same.
Visitation: Sharing Newfound Faith
Unless otherwise noted, quotes in this reflection are taken from Luke 1:26–56, RSV-CE
“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.” When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Mother of God and announced the Incarnation, he informed her that Elizabeth, her kinswoman, was six months pregnant, despite her old age: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Not only did the Blessed Mother believe that she had conceived the “Son of the Most High” in her womb, she also believed that Elizabeth was with child. After receiving this knowledge, the Blessed Mother “went with haste” almost 100 miles through the hill country to visit Elizabeth and assist her in the final months of her pregnancy.
The first virtue that our Blessed Mother modeled is charity. Though she always exhibited perfect charity on account of her Immaculate Conception and fullness of grace, she manifested this charity by showing her concern for Elizabeth, despite the incredible event that just took place in her life. When we say “Yes” to God’s grace as our Blessed Mother did, we must respond to that grace by acting “with haste.” When grace is received, charity must be given; otherwise, the grace is lost.
When we consider the ways that God has given us His sanctifying grace and how He lives within our souls, we must see that grace resulting in charity. At that first moment, the Blessed Mother did not go to the town square in Nazareth and announce to everyone what had happened to her, drawing attention to herself. Instead, she immediately turned her attention to Elizabeth, her relative. Similarly, when God first touches your soul and His presence is conceived in your heart, an initial step must be to express that newfound sanctity through concrete acts of charity toward your family.
What happened next is awe-inspiring. As soon as the Blessed Mother arrived and greeted Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth’s womb—who would be named John and become the Baptist—leaped in his mother’s womb, and Elizabeth cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.”
Some of the great theologians, such as Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, believed that John was sanctified in his mother’s womb at that moment as a fulfillment of the promise the Archangel Gabriel made to Zechariah, “for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15, RSV-CE). To be “filled” is to be full. At that moment, he who would become the Baptist was, spiritually speaking, “baptized” and sanctified in preparation for his mission. This was not done without John’s consent. In God’s perfect knowledge, He foresaw that John would cooperate with His grace, and thus He poured forth the fullness of the Holy Spirit upon him in that moment, making John “great before the Lord.” This happened because our Blessed Mother carried the Son of God in her womb and in her Immaculate Heart; her mere presence communicated the grace of her Son to Elizabeth and her child.
When God lives in you, others will notice. Though John’s awareness of the Son of God was unique and profound, we must strive to imitate the Blessed Mother by radiating God’s light that dwells within us. Elizabeth’s response to the presence of the Son of God and the fullness of grace in the Immaculate Mother is also worth noting. “And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” By a special gift of knowledge, Elizabeth was made aware of the fact that her young relative, Mary, had become the mother of her Lord. Divine wisdom flooded Elizabeth’s mind; she listened and believed.
Once again, the Blessed Mother’s response was perfect. She cried out in a song of praise that echoed in the highest heights of Heaven, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.” First, her soul “magnified” the Lord. Mary’s soul encompassed her whole being—her imagination, intellect, will, appetites, passions, emotions, and desires. Every part of her human nature was united in a perfect song of praise. She was perfectly ordered, and that interior harmony erupted in praise to God.
When we discover the truths of faith and when grace acts in us and through us in the lives of others, we must offer praise to God with all the powers of our souls. It is the only appropriate response. Mary did not say, “You’re welcome, I’m glad I could be of service.” She did not take the credit. In her deep humility, she immediately praised God, acknowledging that she was but God’s handmaiden.
When God works in and through you, does pride well up? Or does humility lead you to praise God? We must praise God every time He uses us. The Blessed Mother was the instrument not only by which the Incarnation took place; at the Visitation she became the instrument by which John the Baptist was sanctified and Elizabeth was inspired. That encounter forever changed their lives. God wants to use us in similar ways. He wants to use us as instruments for the sanctification of others and as instrumental causes of divine blessings. He can only do so when we humbly offer Him all the praise as the Source of every grace and blessing.
Our Blessed Mother’s song of praise went on, “…my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Praise of God, flowing from the depths of one’s human soul, results in spiritual joy. Spiritual joy is a gift from God that fills us to the greatest degree. Everyone craves satisfaction. Sometimes, we turn to unhealthy means to obtain that satisfaction, such as indulgent living or disordered fleshly comforts. Rather than satisfy, they leave us dry and empty. Spiritual joy, however, fulfills us in ways that only God can accomplish. Because the Blessed Mother was full of grace and became an instrument of that grace being poured out upon her relatives with a profound result—the sanctification of John and great blessings upon Elizabeth—the spiritual joy Mary experienced in her Immaculate Heart was beyond comprehension, even by the highest choirs of angels. The Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones, in particular, would have gazed at that moment in awe as they saw most clearly what took place. In Heaven, now that Mary stands by her Son as Queen, she continues to feel the joy she experienced in that moment of the Visitation that is her joy forever. The gift of spiritual joy knows no bounds, and the extent that we share in it now will be the extent that we savor it forever in heavenly glory.
Our Blessed Mother continued, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Again, she begins with the word, “Behold.” Thus, what she says next is worth beholding and reverencing, for it is sacred and holy, reflecting God’s perfect power, wisdom, and love. With the utmost humility, Mary states that all generations will henceforth call her “blessed.” Not because of her, but because of what God has done for her, “and holy is his name.” Humility is nothing other than the truth. Growing in humility in this first stage of spiritual development is essential. We must see ourselves only as God sees us, rejoice in the ways that He uses us, and give Him all the praise, considering ourselves “blessed” for all God has done for us and through us.
Ponder our Blessed Mother’s song of praise and strive to imitate it. When God acts in and through you, give praise to God with all the powers of your soul as best you can. When spiritual joy touches you, rest in it, experience it, and savor it. Know that the joy God wants to bestow upon you, by cooperating with His will and grace, infinitely surpasses any earthly and passing satisfaction you could obtain through your natural appetites and emotions. Authentic spiritual joy removes the blinders from our eyes and enables us to recognize the one and only source of our satisfaction and happiness in life—God and God alone!
Birth of Jesus: Bearing Fruits of Charity
Unless otherwise noted, quotes in this reflection are taken from Luke 2:1–22, RSV-CE
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
Human empathy could lead us to feel sorry for Mary and Joseph. They were required to comply with the decree of Caesar Augustus, had to leave Nazareth, and traveled roughly ninety miles to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the census. Though Joseph was from Bethlehem, no relatives welcomed him and Mary, his betrothed, into their homes. There were so many people in town that not even the inns had room. So they stayed in a cave outside of Bethlehem, where animals dwelt.
Though empathy is a normal reaction, our empathy will turn into joy when we consider divine wisdom. With the Cherubim, we must ponder the fact that the Son of God chose a cave—created by His Father in Heaven—for His first resting place. What more suitable place could there be? Moreover, the poverty and lack of hospitality the Holy Family encountered was but the first indication of the trials to come. The Father did not spare His divine Son from experiencing every human difficulty, rejection, and test. Jesus’ earthly life is unmatched in its apparent misfortune. This was by design and ordered by God’s wisdom.
When you encounter misfortune, difficulty, or setback, what is your first reaction? Is it to be discouraged, frustrated, or disillusioned? Do you sulk and turn in on yourself, upset and unsettled? How did the Mother of God react to being relegated to a cave for the birth of the Son of God? Her Immaculate Heart would have known, by the gift of a divinely granted intuition, that God chose the cave, the animals, and the countryside. For that reason, she would have rejoiced with gratitude as Joseph led her into that holy place. As she looked around and saw the manger, she would have experienced even more joy, knowing that it would be her Son’s first bed. How appropriate that He Who would become the Bread of Life would be laid in a feeding trough for animals!
“And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” The birth of Christ was unique because it came about through a woman untainted by Original Sin. Recall that one of the effects of Original Sin was labor pains, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16, RSV-CE). Freed from Original Sin from the moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary did not suffer the effects of Original Sin, including the pains of childbirth. Jesus’ birth was pure joy—before, during, and after.
Though we retain the effects of Original Sin even after our baptisms, grace tempers those effects by transforming our fallenness into graced moments. Everything difficult becomes easier, lighter, and more refreshing. The body might hurt, but the spirit shares in the joy that our Blessed Mother experienced every time we bring Christ into the world by our charity. When we properly cooperate with God’s grace, He accompanies us before, during, and after our actions, especially those that are sacrificial. Consider, for example, the witness of so many martyrs. The pains they suffered from torture and death became their greatest joy. Their bodies suffered, but their spirits exalted God and were strengthened to endure joyfully all that they suffered.
After Jesus’ birth, the nearby poor and humble shepherds received the first invitation to adore the newborn King. An angel appeared to them, most likely an Archangel (since they are responsible for revealing the most important divine mysteries), and said, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” To confirm what the angel said, the vision expanded. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!’”
One of the most popular hymns for Christmas is “Silent Night.” Was it a silent night? On one hand, the angelic praises the shepherds heard would have been the most glorious hymn ever sung. All of creation would have taken notice, and the entire Celestial Hierarchy would have joined in. All of Heaven was focused on Jesus. But what about on earth? Recall that the angelic choir of the Virtues is traditionally believed to be responsible for the movements of the natural world. The Virtues keep the orbits of the planets in motion, conduct the seasons, command seeds to sprout and grow, and orchestrate all of creation. As the shepherds arrived at that cave, and as they adored with wonder and awe, they were among the first to see the Son of God.
Once again, we can imagine the silence of Heaven at that instant. All angelic activity might have stopped as they gazed in awe at that moment in time. We can further imagine the Virtues commanding all of creation to pause and remain silent. We can wonder if the Virtues directed every creature, from the insects to the cattle, to turn to Christ to share in His birth. We know from Scripture that the Virtues raised a star that night to shine over Bethlehem, indicating that even the distant galaxies were ordered to be attentive. The Magi saw that star from the East, and they knew by a divine intuition that a new King had been born. It was truly a sacred night and perhaps a night during which all of creation stopped for a moment of profound silent adoration of the new King. “But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
As we ponder that sacred night, know that we are invited into that profound silent adoration. Every time Christ is born in our lives by acts of charity, we must adore and love Him with silent affection. The angels most certainly rejoice every time we give birth to Christ by our actions and faith. Every time Jesus is made manifest to others through our lives is a holy night. Mothers especially understand that sacred moment when their child is born, laid in their arms, and held close to their hearts. That moment transcends time as it becomes holy and enveloped in silent love. Every time Jesus is made manifest in our lives must be such an occasion. Ponder those moments. Multiply them. Look for opportunities to adore Him in your life so that you can invite others to share in your love for Him. Doing so will help you to overcome every apparent obstacle and misfortune you encounter, turning them into moments of the utmost grace.
Presentation: Unwavering Consecration to God
Unless otherwise noted, quotes in this reflection are taken from Luke 2:21–38, RSV-CE
“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,’ and to offer the sacrifice of ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,’ in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.”
The Law of Moses stipulated that eight days after birth, a male child was to be circumcised and given his name. Mary was instructed at the Annunciation, and Joseph in his dream, to give their Child the name Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew, or Joshua). “Yeshua” means “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh saves/rescues/helps.”
Forty days after Jesus’ birth, the Blessed Virgin Mary offered the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons, for her ritual purification. At the same time, Jesus, the firstborn Son, was consecrated to God in the Temple. The Law of Moses required this of every firstborn male, both human and animal, as a commemoration of the Isralites’ deliverance from Egypt, when every Egyptian firstborn male was slain, but the Israelites’ firstborn boys were spared. Though the Law did not require that this be done in the Temple in Jerusalem, this is what Joseph and Mary did, possibly because they were still nearby in Bethlehem and because of the sacredness of the Temple.
The Temple was the most sacred place on earth for Jews. Within it was the Holy of Holies that the high priest entered once a year to offer sacrifice to God on the Day of Atonement. Daily ritual animal sacrifices took place elsewhere in the Temple and were the central method of worship, by which individual acts of atonement and purifications were made. From a Christian perspective, the Temple was but a prefiguration of Christ Himself. He became the New Temple, the New Holy of Holies, the New High Priest, and the New Lamb of Sacrifice. How fitting it was that Jesus’ dedication to the Father took place in the Temple that He came to transform into His very Body!
Jesus’ presentation in the Temple offers many lessons for the beginnings of our spiritual journeys. Though many Christians are offered to God as infants in baptism, those baptismal promises must be continuously renewed. Some, however, remain Christian simply because that is how they were raised. They never advance in grace. Advancement and union with God require the solid foundation of unwavering daily consecration to God. There can be little doubt that when the Blessed Mother brought Jesus to the Temple with Saint Joseph, this was no casual moment. We might imagine that from the moment of Jesus’ birth, as the Mother of God held her Child in her arms, her mind turned to this moment of the presentation with joyful anticipation and excitement. Mary and Joseph’s offering of their baby in the Temple was steeped in faith and devotion. They were not there simply to fulfill a custom or duty. They were there for worship and consecration, and they did so with their whole hearts.
We must see this offering of Jesus to the Father as our own offering and consecration. In Christ, the Blessed Mother offers all of us living in sanctifying grace to the Father, for we are all her children by adoption when we are united to her divine Son as members of His Body, the Church. As we mature, we must join her and offer ourselves with the same resolve and devotion that resided in her mind and heart that day. Her joy of offering her Son to the Father must become our joy of offering ourselves to God with her.
Have you consecrated yourself to God? Have you intentionally and wholeheartedly turned to Him in prayer and dedicated your whole life to His service? Deep holiness will never be achieved by simply being a nice person. It requires consecration, dedication, and total commitment.
To consecrate something means it is set aside for a sacred function. We must all set ourselves aside for sacred purposes in accord with our vocations. Those called to the lay life must consecrate themselves to God for service within their families, communities, and world. Those who are priests or religious must do so by fidelity to their priestly service or religious vows. Just as the Temple was holy, and Jesus—the New Temple—is most holy, so we must also become temples who are given over to divine worship and dedicated to God.
When Jesus was born, faithful Jews had great hopes that the Kingdom of Israel would be restored. The United Kingdom of Israel was established by King Saul before 1000 BC and was subsequently ruled by David and Solomon. Solomon built the first Temple and Jewish life flourished. After Solomon’s death, the nation was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. In the eighth century BC, the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom, and in the sixth century BC, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom. Once conquered, in 586 BC, the Jews were forced into exile, and the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple. About fifty years later, the Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple in which Jesus would be presented. In 63 BC, the Romans captured Jerusalem but permitted religious freedom. After centuries of being conquered, exiled, and occupied, most Jews longed for freedom. This longing was not only political in nature, it was also spiritual, founded upon messianic prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Many looked forward to the day when the promised Messiah, the divinely anointed ruler, would restore Israel. This brief historical context is helpful to understand as we consider what happened as soon as Jesus was brought to the Temple.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” As Mary and Joseph entered the Temple, they encountered Simeon, a man from Jerusalem who was one of those holy and hopeful Jews who awaited the promised Messiah and the redemption of Israel. Simeon is not identified as a priest but as a “righteous and devout” man who had the Holy Spirit upon him. Just as with the shepherds, God chose to manifest Himself to one who was humble, morally upright, prayerful, and devout. Simeon was such a man. The passage continues, “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God….”
Simeon sets an ideal example for those who want to grow closer to God and begin an intense transformation of their lives. He knew the promises of the prophets, believed them, was attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and responded when prompted. It appears that the only reason he was in the Temple that day was because the Holy Spirit inspired him to be there.
Do you perceive the Holy Spirit’s promptings in your life? For some, this is difficult. In our fast-paced and overly-stimulated world, our attention is often oversaturated. This has a direct impact upon our ability to perceive the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The only remedy is to consciously and actively listen—every moment of every day. Those who find such a practice to be too difficult are not ready to leave these “First Dwelling Places,” as Saint Teresa of Ávila referred to them, or this first stage of spiritual development. If we are willing to learn from Simeon and follow his example, then God’s invitation to us is to consciously eliminate all that distracts us. Then, in the silence of our minds and hearts, we will begin to perceive the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Because Simeon had built a lifelong habit of doing so, he knew he had to be in the Temple that day.
It’s also fascinating to reflect upon the fact that “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” This could only be the result of infused faith, made possible by daily prayer and morally upright living. That day in the Temple, the promise came true. As soon as Simeon saw the forty-day-old baby Jesus, divine truth was infused into his mind and he knew this Child was the Messiah. In response, he cried out, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” Simeon’s life was fulfilled. Seeing the Messiah was all he needed to complete his earthly sojourn.
What is it that would make your own life complete? Many people turn to passing things that are either of minor importance or unimportant. All that is necessary and all that completes our lives come by being attentive and responsive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Ponder this truth and reflect upon whether you live this way.
After praising God, Simeon said to the Blessed Mother, “a sword will pierce through your own soul.” Ouch! Imagine the sacredness of that day, the joy and anticipation Mary had, and the excitement of offering her firstborn Son to the Father in the glorious Temple. Upon arriving, she is told that her Immaculate Heart will be pierced by a sword. As she heard Simeon say those words, she would have known by an infused divine intuition that what he said was true. It would have hurt deeply, but not in the way we most often experience pain. The pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary was full of grace, so every pain she experienced was transformed into love by the gift of holy sorrow.
Holy sorrow is not sadness; it is the loving response to the sacrifices we are called to offer for the defeat of evil. Holy sorrow is rooted in love of God and compassion for others. It is a response to sin, suffering, and injustice as it is perceived through the lens of divine love. It is not a selfish sadness by which we sulk over our own loss; rather, it directs us to the love of others and fosters a desire for their salvation, leading us to unite our sufferings with the redemptive sufferings of Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
True spiritual love is always sacrificial. It’s not selfish or greedy. As Mary heard Simeon’s prophecy, she would have experienced the first of many piercings, which gave her the first of many opportunities to rejoice in the sacrifice she was called to make. Perhaps at that moment she sensed with her motherly intuition that the offering of her Son in the Temple was a prefiguration of a much greater offering to come. What would it be? How much would God ask of her? For the time being, she pondered the mystery in her heart, immersing it in love, anticipating the next time she would be asked to offer her Son.
Most of us do not willingly or joyfully anticipate opportunities to make extraordinary sacrifices in our lives. Instead, we look for ways to avoid them. But love is always sacrificial. Pure and holy love always includes some piercing of our hearts. That is the model of love—the Cross. The Cross and the love modeled and lived by Christ on the Cross is a profound mysterium fidei, a “mystery of faith.” When we reflect upon the Sorrowful Mysteries, that will become clearer. At this point, ponder the mystery of sacrificial love in seminal form.
Hear Simeon say to you that if you wish to become holy, then “a sword will pierce through your own soul.” Holy sorrow is among the greatest of virtues; it’s a Beatitude. “Blessed are those who mourn [are sorrowful], for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, RSV-CE). Simeon’s words, therefore, apply not only to our Blessed Mother, they apply to all disciples of Christ. As a disciple of Christ, do what Mary did. Take that mystery into your heart, accept it, ponder it, run to it, rejoice in it, and allow grace to give you peace and strength. Once you do, resolve to move forward toward greater sacrifice and anticipate the fulfillment that comes from such a life. Nothing could be greater or more fulfilling; otherwise, the Mother and Son of God would have chosen a different path. Don’t run from the Cross and holy sorrow; run to it.
While the Holy Family was at the Temple, an eighty-four-year-old widow and prophetess named Anna also rejoiced about the Christ Child and spoke prophetically about Him. After marveling at all of these experiences, the Holy Family departed and, according to Luke’s Gospel, returned to Nazareth.
Though not specifically related to the Presentation in the Temple, the next few years of Jesus’ life reveal much about the beginnings of a life of grace and conversion. Recall that the Magi came to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn King. When King Herod, who was jealous of his power, learned of the newborn King from the Magi, he instructed them to find the child and report back to him. They were warned in a dream, however, not to return to Herod, so they departed back to their home country by a different route. When Herod discovered this, he was enraged and ordered the slaughter of all boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Saint Joseph, being warned in a dream, took Jesus and Mary and fled to Egypt.
Though Jesus was divine and His divine nature was perfectly united to His human nature in the Hypostatic Union, He permitted Himself to be vulnerable and in need of parental protection. We can see in this a manifestation of what needs to happen when we choose to give ourselves wholly to God by consecrating ourselves to His service. Herod represents the hatred in the world and the diabolical forces that seek to destroy those who dare offer themselves to God. As the Christ Child needed protection in the first years of His life, so we need to act as Saint Joseph and diligently protect our newborn faith when it emerges. Before we can go and die, we must run and hide, so to speak. This is so that our newborn faith will be protected from all that seeks to destroy it.
Most importantly, we must “run and hide” from serious sin in this stage. Those who have formed habits of grave sin will likely experience severe temptations to return to them. As diligently as Saint Joseph and the Mother of God protected Jesus during His first years, so also the new Christian must protect the grace in the soul by diligently avoiding all sin and all occasions of sin. It’s a spiritual battle, but one that can be won.
How do you protect the grace residing in your soul? If your heart already burns with the pure Seraphic flame of love, then you are setting the world ablaze. But if your heart is just beginning to experience the fire of God’s love, then it needs to be protected and fueled. Ponder the flame of faith in your soul. Be honest with yourself and make a practical plan to ensure it increases in intensity.
Finding in the Temple: Growing in Divine Wisdom
Unless otherwise noted, quotes in this reflection are taken from Luke 2:40–52, RSV-CE
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.”
It’s fascinating to imagine Jesus as a boy. We are familiar with the Gospel stories about His birth, public ministry, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, but His hidden life—first as an exile in Egypt, then as a boy and young man in Nazareth—is largely left to our imaginations. This passage first reveals that Jesus was not only a member of Mary and Joseph’s family, but also a member of a much larger group of kinsfolk. We can imagine the boy Jesus helping around the house with chores, assisting Saint Joseph in his trade, playing games with other children, and being close with His extended family.
Additionally, the fact that Jesus and His parents traveled to Jerusalem on pilgrimage for the feast of Passover shows their devout faith and adherence to the Law of Moses. The Passover was the annual commemoration of the final plague in Egypt when the angel passed over the homes of the Israelites, sparing their firstborn sons but not the sons of the Egyptians. The first Passover was celebrated by the ritual offering of a lamb and the sprinkling of the lamb’s blood on the door of the Israelite homes, instructing the angel to pass over that home. Jesus’ annual participation in this event is profoundly symbolic because He would become the new Passover Lamb of God Whose blood would be sprinkled upon the faithful, saving them from eternal death.
The fact that Mary and Joseph presumed Jesus was in the company of other relatives suggests a few things. First, Saint Joseph and the Mother of God trusted Jesus. They knew He was loved and related well to other relatives, which might have been the reason they presumed He was among his cousins and friends for the journey. Second, the Son of God’s humility, by which He chose to share in every aspect of human and family life, is confounding. God knows, by firsthand experience, what it means to be a child, cousin, nephew, relative, and friend. He understands and lived ordinary daily human life on account of the Hypostatic Union. Third, it’s clear that the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph also were quite close to their extended family and trusted them to care for their twelve-year-old Son. Ponder this amazing fact that God knows, by firsthand experience, what it means to be human and to relate to family and friends throughout life.
In the verse just prior to the passage above, Luke’s Gospel states, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” We can only imagine that as Jesus grew and manifested His divine wisdom in His human intellect, He would have perceived the sacredness of the annual Passover pilgrimage and understood His own role as the fulfillment of that feast. In His divine intellect, the perfection of this knowledge was always present, yet in His humility, He permitted His humanity to slowly acquire conceptual knowledge and understanding of this divine mystery. With each year, he would have experienced a deepening manifestation of that human wisdom through His lived experience.
By returning to Jerusalem, “seeking him,” Mary and Joseph have modeled for us another important quality we must embrace at the beginning stage of spiritual development—we must seek Him! The fact that his parents seek Jesus in Jerusalem can symbolically represent that we will find Him in the New Temple, which is Christ’s Body, the Church. Jerusalem is the place where Jesus would eventually offer the Sacrifice of His life, which is made present to us in the New Passover Meal, the Mass. Thus, we can see in Mary and Joseph’s search for Jesus an invitation to us to seek Him in the Temple of the Church and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Jesus, at age twelve, was filled with such wisdom that even the Jewish teachers were amazed. He not only spoke with understanding, He also asked them questions. Asking the right questions requires understanding. Asking deep, articulate questions about the mysteries of revelation requires divine wisdom.
Here, Jesus models for us the perfection of the first stage of spiritual development. Once God speaks to us and plants grace in our hearts, we must respond by saying “Yes” with our Blessed Mother at the Annunciation. We must then share that newfound faith with those close to us, as in the Visitation. By His birth in poverty, Christ models the richness of the initial stage of growth and manifestation of that faith and charity to others, as to the shepherds. In His Presentation in the Temple, by which He was consecrated to God, He reveals our need for total dedication. The faith must then be protected, as Saint Joseph and the Blessed Mother protected the Christ Child from Herod. Finally, we see in the Finding in the Temple what must happen during this initial stage—spiritual and intellectual growth.
In order to ascend from this “first step” to the second, new Christians must see that their newfound faith affects their relationships and their wisdom. Wisdom is a divinely infused gift by which we begin to understand the “big picture” of life. We begin to consider our lives from the divine perspective, understanding that this life is but a preparation for the next. We must discover our vocation and the many missions on which we will be sent, embracing those missions with confidence. In addition to divine wisdom, Jesus manifested virtue. He was confident, zealous, attentive, friendly, and a pleasure to be around.
“And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.’ And he said to them, ‘How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”
Just as the Mother of God asked the Archangel Gabriel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” (Luke 1:34, RSV-CE), so here she inquires of her Son, “Son, why have you treated us so?” This should not be understood as a scolding or a displeasure expressed by the Blessed Mother. Instead, it must be seen as a pondering of divine mysteries and her attempt to share in her Son’s wisdom and better comprehend His mission. She asked because she knew, with the perfection of faith, that whatever her Son did was perfectly in alignment with the Father’s will. We can imagine her saying, “Son, everything You do is done with the perfection of love and divine wisdom. Help me, your loving mother, a poor servant of God, to understand what is happening and the meaning of this. I want to know and understand because I believe there is a holy and sacred mystery taking place.”
Jesus appears to be astonished, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This might have been His way of drawing His mother more deeply into the divine mystery of His life. “Did you not know…” In other words, “Ponder this mystery, mother…” And “I must be in my Father’s house…” Meaning, “I AM WHO AM, and this Temple is my Father’s house, which makes it my first home.” Though they did not fully understand the words Jesus spoke, “his mother kept all these things in her heart.” The pondering Immaculate Heart of Mary in this moment also should speak to those in this beginning stage. Not every divine illumination will come at once. We must patiently pray, reflect, believe, and seek Eternal Wisdom in His Father’s House. We must inquire of Him, have a holy curiosity, and know that God’s full wisdom is beyond us in this life but strive for clarity nonetheless with fervent zeal.
It’s fascinating that Jesus, at the age of twelve, displayed a wisdom and understanding beyond that of the teachers of the Law, Saint Joseph, and even His Immaculate Mother who was full of grace. The slow manifestation of Eternal Truth exhibited in the life of Christ and the ongoing prayerful pondering of mysteries that the Blessed Mother did not understand, should encourage us to anticipate all that lies ahead of us. If the Mother of God did not understand at that time, we should be content with believing, even though we do not yet comprehend. However, we must grow. This growth will lead us more deeply into the Eternal Truth of God’s very essence and the perfection of His plan of salvation and Wisdom.
This story concludes by saying, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.” This is the second time Luke’s Gospel speaks of Jesus growing in wisdom and stature. This speaks to the temptation toward complacency. It is easy, as a Christian, to remain in a stagnant, lukewarm state. The final lesson we should learn from the first stage of spiritual development, therefore, is that we must advance. We must desire to advance. We must work to advance and do whatever it takes to do so.
Summary of Step One: Beginning Purgation
Spiritual infancy begins, aided and protected by the Guardian Angels. Grace is given and received, and the soul experiences a profound realization of personal sinfulness and a yearning for more of God’s grace. This stage involves a heartfelt repentance and a commitment to change, laying the foundation for later spiritual growth. The soul begins to engage in basic forms of prayer and sacramental life, recognizing the necessity of divine guidance in its journey.
The grace needed for this stage is modeled in the Joyful Mysteries:
- Annunciation: Embracing the Word.
- Visitation: Sharing newfound faith.
- Birth of Jesus: Bearing fruits of charity.
- Presentation: Unwavering consecration to God.
- Finding in the Temple: Growing in divine wisdom.
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary teach us to say “Yes” unwaveringly to God’s grace, to share that faith with others, to manifest God’s presence in our lives, to fully dedicate and consecrate ourselves to God by setting our lives aside for sacred purposes, and to seek growth in wisdom and grace. Though this is a very high calling, it is but the first step on the glorious journey to Divine Union and Seraphic Glory.
Step One is crucial to our spiritual development. By turning to Christ and cooperating with grace, mortal sin is eliminated. Without imitating these mysteries from our Lord’s early life and participating in them by grace, we will not be able to move forward in our journey of grace. The foundation must be set, and it must be firm.
Before moving on to Step Two, think about anything within this first step that you struggle with or that caught your attention. Return to that mystery of faith in prayer and reflection. Allow grace to teach you and enable you to fulfill it so that, like Jesus, you will continue to grow in wisdom by His grace.
The Joyful Mysteries conclude by saying, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.” Though this was said of Him after He was dedicated in the Temple, it was repeated of Him when He was age twelve. Even if you have prayerfully completed the reflections in this step and already practice the lessons well, consider Jesus’ life from the age of twelve until thirty when He began His public ministry. There are so many hidden truths contained within those years. Though Scripture does not reveal those truths, prayerful meditation can open us to insights, given to us by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, consider adding to your meditations a prayerful pondering of Jesus’ life during those later years of His human maturation, and allow Him to direct and accompany you during your ongoing maturation in grace. If you do, then the good fruits attained by engaging your prayer with Jesus’ public ministry in Step Two will be a glorious gift to you.
Next: Reflections for Step Two——Proficient Purgation: Sharing in the Glory of the Archangels
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