The Twenty-Fourth Day of the Month of St. Anne

Joachim and Anne Ascend to Heaven with Jesus.

The great and beautiful day of our Savior’s Ascension arrived at last; the prison gates were opened to the souls of the just. They thronged forth like a flight of birds escaping from the net which had imprisoned them. "Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together," JESUS has said. With what loving eagerness did these holy souls hasten to the Mount of Olives, where JESUS, their only love, was awaiting them! What joy for them, and more particularly, what joy for St. Joachim and St. Anne, to be able to gaze on the beauty of His risen body, and to behold the rays of light which emanated from His wounds! What joy for them to see beside Him Mary, their beloved Daughter, the glorious Virgin whose life had been renewed by His resurrection! And when JESUS had given His last recommendations to His disciples and blessed them, He began ascending towards Heaven and with Him there ascended all the myriads of patriarchs, of prophets, of the just of all ages, the first-fruits offered to God by the human race. And while ascending to the heavenly realms, they sang in chorus, "Hosanna to the Son of David, glory to Him who redeemed us with His precious blood and drawn us forth from the well where there was no water! Princes, lift up your gates and the King of glory shall come in." "Who is the King of glory?" demanded the Angels. "It is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts." And at these words the gates of Heaven were thrown open.

And then there burst on the eyes of Joachim and Anne, a ravishing spectacle which all the delights of eternity will never efface from their remembrance. On a raised throne blazing with rays of glory, was seated the Ancient of days, the Eternal, the Father of all. Standing around Him, the Dominations, the Powers, the Virtues, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, veiling their faces with their wings and filled with a holy fear, sang: "Holy! holy! holy! the Lord God of hosts; the heavens and earth are filled with His glory!" Now, so soon as the Son of Man, He who was the Son of Mary, the divine Offshoot of Joachim and Anne, had arrived before the throne, the Eternal, opening wide His arms, pressed Him to His heart, saying: "Thou art my Son, my first-begotten; sit Thou on my right hand till I make Thy enemies Thy footstool." Then, on a sign being given them, all the Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Virtues, Principalities, Dominations, Powers, Cherubim and Seraphim came in their choirs, to prostrate themselves before JESUS, saluting Him as their King and their God, crying out: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and honor and glory for ever and ever." What a happiness would it not be for a poor peasant to see his son crowned king of a vast empire and surrounded by the homage of the lords of the land? And yet what is an earthly kingdom but vain show, a source of endless trouble! Its possessor wields a power more imaginary than real, which can neither ward off suffering and sorrow nor delay his death a single moment. How immeasurably greater then must have been the happiness of the two holy spouses on seeing their Grandson recognized by the Most High as His only Son, proclaimed King of kings and adored by millions and millions of the princes of the heavenly courts! And next to the beatific vision, seeing their JESUS, loving Him and beholding His glory will eternally be their greatest delight and happiness.

EXAMPLE.

During the pilgrimages from St. Hyacinth to which we drew attention yesterday, another remarkable miracle was worked in favor of Hermine Lavoigne, of the parish of St. Alexander. From her childhood, and she was then forty years of age, she had been so afflicted with scrofula that she could only walk on crutches and could never kneel down. She was carried to the pilgrimage. On July loth, she was in the church of St. Anne de Beaupre when she felt great suffering working through her limbs. After receiving Holy Communion, she felt herself cured. After having made a long thanksgiving, she left the church quite unassisted and without her crutches. On her return to the boat, she employed her time in thanking the good Saint and telling her friends and relations of the great mercy and grace that had been accorded her. Since her return to her own parish, she has continued being able to kneel and to walk considerable distances.

PRAYER.

My sweetest JESUS! I rejoice more in the supreme felicity which Thou dost enjoy, and wilt eternally enjoy than in all the happiness that may ever be mine in time and in eternity. My greatest happiness, my beloved Redeemer, is knowing that Thou art perfectly happy and that Thy happiness is infinite. Reign then over my soul, dear Lord, I give it entirely to Thee; do Thou take possession of it for ever: may my will, my senses, my faculties, everything in me be subject to Thy love, and in this world be only employed at Thy good pleasure and in Thy glory.

Glorious ancestors of my JESUS, St. Joachim and St. Anne, intercede for me with Mary, with JESUS; obtain for me the grace of loving God, not only because of His goodness to me and the happiness to which I aspire, but also and above all, because He is infinitely good in Himself and, through His divine perfections, worthy of infinite love.

St. Joachim and St. Anne, obtain for me that I may love JESUS not only for the benefits I expect from Him but still more for Himself.

PRACTICE.

Rejoicing in the happiness and glory of JESUS-CHRIST is a most meritorious act of charity, and one strongly recommended by the Saints. Pious souls are the more called on to practice this disinterested love, since it is indispensable for attaining Heaven.