SPECIAL PRIVILEGES GRANTED BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN THE REDEMPTION OF HUMANS
God, most certainly, manifests in a wonderful way the incomprehensible riches of his power in the great variety of things that we see in nature. He made the infinite treasures of his goodness magnificently visible in the unparalleled difference of goods which we recognize in grace. God, Theotimus, was not content with the superabundance of mercy bestowed on his people, that is, the human race. This means that He was not satisfied with giving a general universal redemption by which each person could be saved. So he offered redemption in such a variety of ways that his generosity shines in all this variety and this variety mutually enhances this generosity.
First of all, he predestined for his most holy Mother a privilege worthy of the love of a Son. As he is all-wise, all-powerful and all-good, he has to prepare a Mother to his liking. Hence, he willed that his redemption be applied to her like preventive medicine, so that the sin which was flowing from generation to generation did not touch her. So she was redeemed in a most perfect way. Although the torrent of original sin drove its wretched waves with as much vehemence on the conception of this holy Virgin as on any other daughter of Adam, yet on reaching there, it did not proceed further. It stopped short, as the Jordan did long ago at the time of Joshua (Josh 3:16-17), due to the same respect. For this river held back its course out of respect for the passage of the Ark of the Covenant. Original sin withdrew its waters, revering and fearing the presence of the true sanctuary of the eternal Covenant.
In this way, then, God turned away from his glorious Mother all captivity. He gave her the happiness of the two states of human nature: She had the innocence which the first Adam lost and pre-eminently enjoyed the redemption which the second acquired for her. Then, as a garden chosen to produce the fruit of life, she was made to blossom in every kind of perfection. This Son of eternal love adorned his Mother with the robe ofgold from Ophir of beautiful variety that she might be the queen at his right side (Ps 45:9). That is, she might be the first of all the elect to enjoy the delights at the right hand of God (Ps 16:11). Since this holy Mother was fully set apart for her Son, she was redeemed by him not only from damnation but also from all the danger of damnation by assuring her grace and the perfection of grace. She rose like a beautiful dawn which began to appear (Song 6:10) and shines brighter and brighter until full day (Prov 4:18).12 It is a marvellous redemption, a master piece of the Redeemer and the first of all redemptions. By it, the Son with a truly filial heart came before his Mother with the blessings oflovingkindness (Ps 21:6). He preserved her not only from sin like the angels but also from every danger of sin and all distractions and hindrances in the practice of holy love. He also declares that among all the rational creatures he chose, this Mother is his unique dove, his most perfect and most cherished Well-Beloved (Song 6:9; 7: 6) beyond all parallel and comparison.
God granted also other privileges to a small number of special persons whom he willed to preserve from the danger of damnation. Such are John the Baptist, it is certain, and most probably Jeremiah and some others whom divine providence took hold of from their mother’s womb. From that moment, he confirmed them for ever in his grace so that they might remain steadfast in his love. They were subject to hindrances and venial sins which are contrary to the perfection of love, but not to love itself. These souls in comparison with others are like queens always crowned with charity. They hold a chief rank in the Saviour’s love after his Mother who is the Queen of queens. She is not only crowned with love but with the perfection of love. Moreover, she is crowned with her own Son who is the supreme object of love since children are the crown of their fathers and mothers (Prov 17:6).
Still there are persons whom God allowed to be exposed to the danger of losing his love for a time, but not to the peril of losing salvation. In fact, he allowed them to lose it. He did not guarantee love for their whole life, but only to the end of it and a time preceding it. Such were the apostles, David, Mary Magdalene[1] and many others. They remained away from the love of God for a time. Finally, once for all converted (Lk 22: 32) they were confirmed in grace till death. Though they were liable to some imperfection from that time, still they were exempt from every mortal sin and from the danger of losing divine love. They were like the sacred friends of the heavenly bridegroom, vested, indeed, with the wedding garment of most holy love. But they were not crowned because the crown is an ornament of the head, the first part of the person. The first stage of the life of these persons was steeped in the love of earthly things. So they are not worthy to wear the crown of celestial love. It is enough for them to wear the robe. It makes them fit for the nuptial company of the divine Spouse and to be eternally happy with him.
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[1] St. Francis de Sales follows the tradition which incorrectly identifies Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50. There is no basis for this identification. Mary Magdalene was a possessed woman healed by Jesus as indicated by Luke in the passage that immediately follows (Lk 8:1-2). She was the first to whom Jesus appeared after his Resurrection (Jn 20:11-16). See also Mk 16:9.