The Marian Virtues: Angelic Sweetness

This post is a part of a Marian Virtue Series, running every Wednesday and Friday. It will conclude on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
If you are just joining the series now and want to learn more
you can start here: Introduction to Marian Virtue Series.

Previous Blog Article:
Ardent Charity at A Beautiful, Camouflaged, Mess of a Life

Next Blog Article:
Heroic Patience at Fresh Starts and New Adventures 

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Angelic Qualities

The Twelve Most Important Things to Know About Angels:

1. They really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity.
   
2. They’re present, right here, right now, right next to you, reading these words with you.
   
3. They’re not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.
4. They are the real “extra-terrestrials”, the real “Super-men”, the ultimate aliens. Their powers are far beyond those of all fictional creatures.
5. They are more brilliant minds than Einstein.
6. They can literally move the heavens and the earth if God permits them.
7. There are also evil angels, fallen angels, demons, or devils. These too are not myths. Demon possessions, and exorcisms, are real.
8. Angels are aware of you, even though you can’t usually see or hear them. But you can communicate with them. You can talk to them without even speaking.
9. You really do have your very own “guardian angel”. Everybody does.
10. Angels often come disguised. “Do not neglect hospitality, for some have entertained angels unawares”—that’s a warning from life’s oldest and best instruction manual.  ~  from Peter Kreeft's teaching on Angels.

Mary's Angelic Qualities

• Angels are "real and present".   Mary, assumed into Heaven, is also very real and ever present to us. She is not a deity but graced.  She is not only our model but our guide to holiness and a life with her Son, Jesus.
• The Angels are "fearsome and formidable."  Prompting a proclamation of "Do not be afraid," following their appearance in Scripture. Evidence of Mary's angelic fierceness begins in Genesis. "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." (Genesis 3:15)
  
• Angels are "aware of you" and "you can talk with them without even speaking." Mary is very much aware of each of her children.  Her tender mother's heart longs to comfort, guide, intercede and love on you. 

My daughter Faith circa 2011 exhibiting her idea of Angelic Sweetness

Evidence of Mary's Sweetness in Scripture

• Caring:   "In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?"  ~ Luke 1:40-44
• Compassionate:  "When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."  And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."  ~ John 2:3-5
• Welcoming:  "So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart."  ~ Luke 2:16-19

Bringing Peace

Leading up to the days of Jesus Passion, Death and Resurrection, St. John's Gospel shares these poignant words from our Lord, "“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)  As a world-class worry-wart, this promise of peace brings me great joy.  How will Jesus bestow this peace? 

Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus endows the faithful with two magnificent gifts. First, the promise to send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.  The grace of God's Holy Spirit living within us, when evoked and cooperated with, offers a peace this world can not give.  Second, Jesus from the cross, generously gifts to us His Mother.

As he looked down upon His Mother, whose very presence must have filled his own heart with peace and comfort, he speaks these words:

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. ~  John 19:25-27

These words are not spoken merely for John's benefit.  Jesus bequests Mary to all  willing to accept her.  The Marian Virtue of Angelic Sweetness has been described as, "radiating joy and peace to everyone she encountered."  Mary, by her very nature, can not help but impart peace, comfort, and joy.

How Can I Emulate this Virtue?

We can seek opportunities to be caring, compassionate, and welcoming.  Although busy, and probably overwhelmed by our to-do lists, we can carve out time to be present and aware of the needs of others.  Angelic Sweetness challenges us to be tenacious in our living out the Catholic faith, no matter how many (or how big) the obstacles.

The Marian Virtue of Angelic Sweetness manifests in my life through the blessing of being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.   I have discovered my home-bound friends are not only thrilled to be receiving Jesus in the Eucharist but also to have av visitor.  This ministry grants me the opportunity to practice caring, compassion and being ever present to others.

I will never forget my first Christmas delivering Communion to four sweet residents of our local assisted living complex.  I arrived to find a note on the door of the complex, "WARNNG:  Stomach Flu epidemic. ENTER AT OWN RISK."  What? NO!   My germaphobe alarms sounded and I could feel myself on the verge of a panic attack.   I looked down at the pyx holding Jesus. How could I allow my anxiety to keep me from bringing my new friends, "Christmas Jesus"?  Mother Mary, I prayed, help.  In that moment, a peace that surpassed all understanding, flooded my heart.   We enjoyed a joyous visit and gratefully I did not spend Christmas in the bathroom.

How have you experienced the Marian Virtue of Angelic Sweetness in your life? 

Share your story in the comment section below! 

Also don't forget to enter this FABULOUS giveaway!!
Funny story -- I am a late entry to this inspiring Marian Virtues Series. I am so grateful for this opportunity to fill in and write on Angelic Sweetness.  The late entry really WORKED out awesome because that left me eligible to WIN the first week's giveaway - a gorgeous print of Mary by Providential Co. 

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