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"Mary,

PleaseDon'tDelay"

bySt.Bernard

ThisbriefpassagebySt.BernardisoneofthemostfamouswrittenbythisDoctoroftheChurch.This
passagedemonstratestheCatholicteachingthatGodtrulyleftMaryfreetobelieveandtoacceptGod's
invitationtobeHisMother.AllofhumanityowesMaryaverygreatdebtofgratitudebecausewithout
Hercooperation,JesuswouldnothavebecomeManandSavedusbyHisPassionandDeath.This
teachingofSt.Bernardhasaspecialmeaningtodayforusaswewillseebythebriefreflectionatthe
endofthisextractfromhisvoluminouswritings.ThistextisaddressedtotheBlessedVirginbySt.
Bernard,beforeShegaveHerdecisiontoSt.GabrieltheArchangel'sinvitationtobecometheMotherof
God.

"Wealso,OLady,wealsoawaitfromYourlipsthesentenceofmercyandcompassion,wewhoareso
miserablygroaningunderthesentenceofcondemnation.Forlo!thepriceofoursalvationisnow
offeredtoYou:IfYouwillbutconsentweshallatoncebesetatliberty.Wehavebeencreatedbythe
EternalWordoftheFather,andbeholdwedie:byYourmomentarywordwemustberenewedand
restoredtolife.OVirginmostloving,Adam,nowexiledfromparadisewithallhisunhappyoffspring,
imploresthisfavorofYou.ForthisdoesAbrahamentreatYou,forthisDavid,forthisalltheotherholy
fathers,Yourownancestors,whoarenowdwellinginthisregionoftheshadowofdeath.See,thewhole
worldprostrateatYourfeetawaitsYouranswer.Andnotwithoutcause.ForonYourworddependthe
consolationofthemiserable,theredemptionofcaptives,thesalvationofallthechildrenofAdam,of
theentirehumanrace.Therefore,OVirgin,delaynottoanswer.Speaktheword,OLady,speakthe
wordwhichallonearth,andallinlimbo,yea,andevenallinparadisearewaitingtohear.Christthe
WordHimself,theKingandLordofall,longsforYouranswerwithalongingequaltotheardour
wherewithHe'hathdesiredThybeauty'(Ps.44:12),becauseitisbymeansofYourconsentthatHehas
decreedtosavetheworld.HithertoYouhavepleasedHimbyYoursilence,butnowYourspeechshall
giveHimmorepleasure.ForbeholdHecallstoYoufromHeavensaying:'Ofairestamongwomen,let
ThyvoicesoundinMyears'(Cant.2:14).

"If,then,YouwillgiveHimtohearYourvoice,HewillgiveYoutoseeoursalvation.Andisitnotforthis
Youhavebeensupplicatingandsighingandpouringoutprayerswithtearsbydayandbynight?What
then?AreYouShetowhomthishasbeenpromisedorlookweforanother'(Matt.11:3)?Nay,You
YourselfareSheandthereisnoneother.You,Isay,areShewhohasbeenpromised,whohasbeen
expected,whohasbeenyearnedfor,throughwhomtheholypatriarchJacobhopedtoreceiveeternal
life,whenbeingabouttodieheexclaimed,'IwilllookforYoursalvation,OLord'(Gen.49:18).Youare
Sheinwhomandbywhom'GodourKingbeforetheageshasdecreedtoworksalvationinthemidstof
theearth'(Ps.73:12).WhereforedoYouexpecttoreceivethroughanotherwhatisnowofferedto
Yourself?WhydoYouhopetoreceivethroughanotherthatwhichthroughYoushallbesoongiventous
all,providedonlyYouwillconsentandsaytheword?Makehaste,therefore,toanswertheangel,or
rathertoanswertheLordthroughtheangel.SaythewordandreceivetheWord.UtterYourhuman
wordandconceivetheWordDivine.PronouncethetransitorywordandembracetheEternalWord.
WhydoYouhesitate,OLady?WhereforedoYoufear?Believe,consent,andreceiveintoYourwomb
theWordoftheFather.LetYourhumilitytakecourage,letYourmodestybeconfident.Itisnowise
expedientnowthatyourvirginalsimplicityshouldbeforgetfulofprudence.OVirginmostprudent,in
thismatteraloneYoumayputasideallfearofpresumption,because,althoughmodestypleasesbyits
silence,morenecessaryforusnowisthecharityofspeech.OhappyVirgin,openYourhearttofaith,
openYourlipstoconsent,openYourbosomtoadmityourCreator.BeholdtheDesiredofallnationsis
standingoutsideevennowandknockingatYourdoor.Oh,ifHeshouldpassonwhileYoudelaytoopen,
andYoushouldbeobligedtobeginoncemoretoseekwithsorrow'HimWhomThysoulloveth'(Cant.
3:1)!Arise,then,andmakehastetoopentoHim.Arisebyfaith,makehastebydevotion,openby
consent."

WecanhearnowtheBlessedVirginMary:"AndnowMychildren,whydoyouwait?Itis68yearssinceI
askedyouatFatimatorespondtoMycallfortheRosaryandamendmentoflife.Andyou,Myspecial
sonstheBishops,itis56yearssinceIsaidtoyou,'ITISNOWTHEMOMENTTOCONSECRATERUSSIA.'"

TOTHEBISHOPSweimplorewiththesamewordsthatSt.Bernardusedabove,"Wealsoawaitfrom
yourlipsthesentenceofMercyandCompassion,wewhoaresomiserablygroaningunderthesentence
ofcondemnation."(OFENSLAVEMENTANDANNIHILATION)"Ifyouwillbutconsentweshallatoncebe
setatliberty.""See,thewholeworldprostrateatyourfeetawaitsyouranswer.""Therefore,delaynot
toanswer.""Whydoyouexpecttoreceivethrough"others"whatisnowofferedto"yourselves?"Make
haste,therefore,toanswer.""WHYDOYOUHESITATE?""WHYDOYOUFEAR?"

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