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| Virgo Fidelis. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum. |
Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt.
Tecum tutus semper sum.
Ad Jesum per Mariam
[ ] References in the text to numbered footnotes are not hyperlinked but may be found at the end of the relevant text.
Mary is the "Virgo Fidelis," the most Faithful Virgin
This is one of the titles of the Blessed Virgin, which is especially hers from the time of her Assumption and glorious Coronation at the right hand of her Divine Son. How it belongs to her will be plain by considering some of those other instances in which faithfulness is spoken of in Holy Scripture.
The word faithfulness means loyalty to a superior, or exactness in fulfilling an engagement. In the latter sense it is applied even to Almighty God Himself who, in His great love for us, has vouchsafed to limit His own power in action by His word of promise and His covenant with His creatures. He has given His word that, if we will take Him for our portion and put ourselves into His hands, He will guide us through all trials and temptations, and bring us safe to heaven. And to encourage and inspirit us, He reminds us, in various passages of Scripture that He is the faithful God, the faithful Creator. [1]
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| God's promises to Abraham. JJ Tissot. [Public domain] |
Thus Abraham is called the Faithful;[2] Moses is declared to be faithful in all his house;[3] David, on this account, is called the "man after God's own heart";[4] St. Paul returns thanks that "God accounted him faithful";[5] and, at the last day, God will say to all those who have well employed their talents, "Well done, good and faithful servant."[6]
Mary, in like manner, is pre-eminently faithful to her Lord and Son. Let no one for an instant suppose that she is not supremely zealous for His honour, or, as those who are not Catholics fancy, that to exalt her is to be unfaithful to Him. Her true servants are still more truly His. Well as she rewards her friends, she would deem him no friend, but a traitor, who preferred her to Him. As He is zealous for her honour, so is she for His. He is the Fount of grace, and all her gifts are from His goodness. O Mary, teach us ever to worship thy Son as the One Creator, and to be devout to thee as the most highly favoured of creatures.
Notes
[1] The faithfulness of the Lord in Scripture:
[9] And thou shalt know that the Lord thy God, he is a strong and faithful God, keeping his covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments, unto a thousand generations:
Et scies, quia Dominus Deus tuus, ipse est Deus fortis et fidelis, custodiens pactum et misericordiam diligentibus se, et his qui custodiunt praecepta ejus in mille generationes : [Deut 7]
[22] Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations have not failed.
Misericordiae Domini, quia non sumus consumpti; quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus.
[23] Heth. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.
Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua. [Lam 3]
[1] For the rest, brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may run, and may be glorified, even as among you;
De cetero fratres, orate pro nobis ut sermo Dei currat, et clarificetur, sicut et apud vos :
[2] And that we may be delivered from importunate and evil men; for all men have not faith.
et ut liberemur ab importunis, et malis hominibus : non enim omnium est fides.
[3] But God is faithful, who will strengthen and keep you from evil.
Fidelis autem Deus est, qui confirmabit vos, et custodiet a malo. [2 Thess 3]
[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised),
teneamus spei nostrae confessionem indeclinabilem ( fidelis enim est qui repromisit), [Hebr 10]
[2] Abraham
[8] By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Fide qui vocatur Abraham obedivit in locum exire, quem accepturus erat in haereditatem : et exiit, nesciens quo iret.......
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;
Fide obtulit Abraham Isaac, cum tentaretur, et unigenitum offerebat, qui susceperat repromissiones :[Hebr 11]
[3] Moses
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king's edict.[4] David
Fide Moyses, natus, occultatus est mensibus tribus a parentibus suis, eo quod vidissent elegantem infantem, et non timuerunt regis edictum.
[24] By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao's daughter;
Fide Moyses grandis factus negavit se esse filium filiae Pharaonis,
[25] Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,
magis eligens affligi cum populo Dei, quam temporalis peccati habere jucunditatem,
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.
majores divitias aestimans thesauro Aegyptiorum, improperium Christi : aspiciebat enim in remunerationem.
[27] By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible.
Fide reliquit Aegyptum, non veritus animositatem regis : invisibilem enim tamquam videns sustinuit.
[28] By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them.
Fide celebravit Pascha, et sanguinis effusionem : ne qui vastabat primitiva, tangeret eos.
[29] By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.
Fide transierunt mare Rubrum tamquam per aridam terram : quod experti Aegyptii, devorati sunt.[Hebr 11]
[22] And when he had removed him, he raised them up David to be king: to whom giving testimony, he said: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who shall do all my wills.[5] [12] I give thanks who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he hath counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry;
et amoto illo, suscitavit illis David regem : cui testimonium perhibens, dixit : Inveni David filium Jesse, virum secundum cor meum, qui faciet omnes voluntates meas. [Acts 13]
Gratias ago ei, qui me confortavit, Christo Jesu Domino nostro, quia fidelem me existimavit, ponens in ministerio : [1 Tim 1]
[6] [23] His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Ait illi dominus ejus : Euge serve bone, et fidelis : quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, super multa te constituam; intra in gaudium domini tui. [Matt 25]
Other examples from Chapter 11 of St Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews
[1] Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.Est autem fides sperandarum substantia rerum, argumentum non apparentium.
....
[3] By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made.
Fide intelligimus aptata esse saecula verbo Dei : ut ex invisibilibus visibilia fierent.
[4] By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Fide plurimam hostiam Abel, quam Cain, obtulit Deo, per quam testimonium consecutus est esse justus, testimonium perhibente muneribus ejus Deo, et per illam defunctus adhuc loquitur.
[5] By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.
Fide Henoch translatus est ne videret mortem, et non inveniebatur, quia transtulit illum Deus : ante translationem enim testimonium habuit placuisse Deo.
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.
Sine fide autem impossibile est placere Deo. Credere enim oportet accedentem ad Deum quia est, et inquirentibus se remunerator sit.
[7] By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.
Fide Noe responso accepto de iis quae adhuc non videbantur, metuens aptavit arcam in salutem domus suae, per quam damnavit mundum : et justitiae, quae per fidem est, haeres est institutus.
....
[11] By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,
Fide et ipsa Sara sterilis virtutem in conceptionem seminis accepit, etiam praeter tempus aetatis : quoniam fidelem credidit esse eum qui repromiserat.
....
[13] All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.
Juxta fidem defuncti sunt omnes isti, non acceptis repromissionibus, sed a longe eas aspicientes, et salutantes, et confitentes quia peregrini et hospites sunt super terram.
[14] For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country.
Qui enim haec dicunt, significant se patriam inquirere.
[15] And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.
Et si quidem ipsius meminissent de qua exierunt, habebant utique tempus revertendi :
[16] But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
nunc autem meliorem appetunt, id est, caelestem. Ideo non confunditur Deus vocari Deus eorum : paravit enim illis civitatem.
....
[20] By faith also of things to come, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
Fide et de futuris benedixit Isaac Jacob et Esau.[21] By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.
Fide Jacob, moriens, singulos filiorum Joseph benedixit : et adoravit fastigium virgae ejus.[22] By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Fide Joseph, moriens, de profectione filiorum Israel memoratus est, et de ossibus suis mandavit.
....
[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.
Fide muri Jericho corruerunt, circuitu dierum septem.
[31] By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.
Fide Rahab meretrix non periit cum incredulis, excipiens exploratores cum pace.
[32] And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:
Et quid adhuc dicam? deficiet enim me tempus enarrantem de Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephte, David, Samuel, et prophetis :
[33] Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
qui per fidem vicerunt regna, operati sunt justitiam, adepti sunt repromissiones, obturaverunt ora leonum,
[34] Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:
extinxerunt impetum ignis, effugerunt aciem gladii, convaluerunt de infirmitate, fortes facti sunt in bello, castra verterunt exterorum :
[35] Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.
acceperunt mulieres de resurrectione mortuos suos : alii autem distenti sunt non suscipientes redemptionem ut meliorem invenirent resurrectionem.
[36] And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.
Alii vero ludibria, et verbera experti, insuper et vincula, et carceres :[37] They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:
lapidati sunt, secti sunt, tentati sunt, in occisione gladii mortui sunt, circuierunt in melotis, in pellibus caprinis, egentes, angustiati, afflicti :
[38] Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth.
quibus dignus non erat mundus : in solitudinibus errantes, in montibus, in speluncis, et in cavernis terrae.
[39] And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;
Et hi omnes testimonio fidei probati, non acceperunt repromissionem,
[40] God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
Deo pro nobis melius aliquid providente, ut non sine nobis consummarentur.
Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt.
Tecum tutus semper sum.
Ad Jesum per Mariam
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