THE VIRGIN MARIES LIFE Faithfully gathered out of auncient and holie fathers TOGEATHER WITH MEDITATIONS AND DOCVMENTS VPON THE SAME Writen first in Italian by the Reuerend father LVCAS PINELLI of the Societie of IESVS And now translated in to English by R. G. Ec. 24. vers 20. As cynnamon and aromatical balme haue I giuen an odour AT DOWAY BY LAVRENS KEL with Priulege MDCIIII S IOACHIM S ANNA TO THE RIGHT REVEREND RELIGIOVS AND VERTVOVS LADIE the Ladie Ioane Barkley Abbesse of the English Nunnes in Brussels I Haue beene so bould Religious and vertuous Madame as to direct this litle booke to you and make you a present thereof as one vvorthie to receaue keepe such a iewel Worthie J saie to receaue it because of your rare vertu so manie vvayes and yeares vttered to the vvorld by your both Religious vocation and maners vvorthie to keepe it because J knovv right vvel how much more you doe value and esteeme spiritual then temporal treasures The tooke Madame is in quaÌ„titie verie smal but in substance passing greate For that it conteineth the life of our blessed Ladie that is of the most excellent most vvorthie and most holie person Christ IESVS her sonne onlie excepted that either liued at anie time in this vvorld or now raigneth glorious in heauen Jn somuch that al dulie considered for me to commende you this woorke it selfe vvere a thing superfluous to request you to accept it vvere a thing needeles to praie you to take it in your custodie and keepe it vvere but to make estimation of you farre othervvise then your godlie vertuous state doth deserue This one thing J vvil adde and end therevvithal that if my smal paines taken in the translating of it may anie vvise benefit your spiritual good and consolation and aduance you in the deuotioÌ„ of this blessed Virgin Mother of God I vvil thinke them vvel employed And so desiring as vvel to be remembred in your feruent deuotions as also that this offer such as it is may serue for vvitnes of my duetiful affection to further that of your good selfe and yours to vvards this mother of mercie and her svveete sonne JESVS J commend your to them both and humblye take my leaue vvishinge you in this vvorld Madame al abundance of heauenlie grace and contentement and in the vvorld to come euerlasting felicitie and ioye Yours Madame in Christ Iesus to commaunde R. G. THE AVTHOR TO THE CHRISTIAN AND DEVOVTE READER FOr so much as in this most noble Cittie of Naples deuoute Reader there be manie Congregations dedicated to the glorious Virgin and blessed mother of God which oftentimes did come togeather not onlie to praise and honour the Queene of heaueÌ„s but also to exercise them selues in mental prayer a meane most effectual whereby to amend and direct our life and my Superiours deeming that it would be a greate help to such as be devoute to the Mother of God if they might haue an abridgement of her life and actions both to consider and imitate them this there godlie desire did animate and spurre me forwards to write this litle booke which doth conteine first the Storie of the Virgin Maries life and manners faithfullie gathered out of auncient and holy fathers with the citations of their bookes which for more briefenes and facilities sake to find out the places that be alleaged at heere sett downe in latin After this there be immâ—diatly set downe for eache historie three short points where vppon to meditate taken out either of the historie that goeth before or of some other godly considerations to the end that eache one may haue sufficient matter whereof to thinke and discourse because our minde and vnderstanding when it hath some beginning and grownde doth easelie discourse of it selfe and findeth out diuers conceits and spiritual thoughts in which the sowle is much comforted and entring into it selfe doth thereby reape great fruite and commoditie Finallie after the points of meditation there doe folow three documents or instructions awnswering to the said points which documents put in practise wil serue vndoubtedlie as a wonderful aide to direct and conforme our liues and actions according to those of the blessed Virgin our Queene and Soueraigne Maruaile not Christian Reader that I in this little booke doe laie before thine eyes the virgin Marie for a patterne to imitate her life manners seeing that Sophronius doth confesse the Virgin Marie to be the forme and Rule of Christian discipline giuen by almightie God to men next after Christ the first and chiefest president of al perfection Rupertus likewise avowcheth that our Sauiour Christ ascending vp into heauen leasâ— the virgin Marie for a mistresse of Christian beleefe life And long time before them both that worthie and holie martyr S. Ignatius named the virgin Marie the mistresse of Christian Religion which office of mistresse she did rather performe in woorks examples of perfect and sound vertues then in woords In somuch that who soeuer wil consider with diligence the course of the virgin Maries life shal euidentlie perceaue that the prouidence and wisdome of God did so dispose her life that it might serue for an example to al sorts of person as I wil manifest by the ensuing discourse The Virgin Marie from three yeares of her age vntil fourteene remained with other virgins in the temple of Ierusalem in which place with her abhorring the vanitie of the world with her prompt Obedience to the Superiours of that place with her diligence in praier and deuotion with her modestie and humilitie she taught as vvel virgins as other religious vveomen how each of them ought to behaue them selues in their state and calling Afterwards til neare fourtie and fiue yeares she vvas a mistresse to married vveomen and such as haue care of how shold for albeit she was the Queene of Angels the mother of God and ful of al grace and wisdome yet she did obey honour and respect her spouse Ioseph with vvhome she liued alwaies in concord and quietnes Besides this in this care of her house and bringing vp of her sonne Christ she vvas most diligent for she did so wel dispose and appoint her time that neither the affaires of her house did hinder her prayers nor these vvere anie impediment or let to such domestical busines as pertained to her charge In the rest of her life which vvas according to the more common opinion vntil threescore and three yeares of age she was an example and mistresse to widdowes and poore vveomen because she in her widdowe state as S. Brigit writeth as it were deade to the world did liue vvholie to God giuen to coÌ„templation of celestial things did leade a life rather diuine than humane Her prouision vvas smal and fit for poore folkes and some doe esteeme that she after the Ascension of Christ did liue as the Hebrew widdowes were wont to doe of the common almes and collections vvhich in the primitiue Church were
Consider likewise of this how much it importeth to be vnder the protection of the virgin Marie who is the Queene of heauen so puissant and so charitable we being so weake and so needeful and remaining in so daungerous a banishment as we doe Documents 1 He that hath charitie as the virgin Marie had getting vp to dignitie doth not forget those whome he leaft behind him 2 The more vertuous that thou shalt be the more God wil fauour thee thou shalt more easilie obtaine the graces thou doest damaund 3 Be thou a true deuoute of the virgin Marie and shee wil deliuer thee from the daungers of this troublesome life FINIS OF THE VIRGIN Maries stature and manners taken out of auncient and holie fathers THe virgin Marie was of a meane stature although some be of opinion as Nicephorus writeth that she was of a little more then a meane stature â—icephor 〈◊〉 2. hist. 〈◊〉 23 â—â—iphan â—onstanti â—esbyter â—â—b de vita â—ariae â—edrenus 〈◊〉 compen â—io hist Anselâ—us apud â—anis lib. 〈◊〉 ca. 13. Her coloure was soÌ„what more broune then white and was much like the colour of wheate Her heare was yellow yet without art or humaine industrie Her eyes were quick liuelie and of a graue colour but the apple of her eye was like to an oliue colour Her eye liddes were decentlie blacke and somwhat bowed her nose was meane her lippes of coral colour her face somthing longe her hands and fingars long In conuersation she was affable and gracious in speeche yet graue modest her talke was litle and not without necessitie she did honour al most willingly she was shamefast and demure without laughing disdaine or anie other perturbation The holy famous martyr S. Ignatius who liued at the same time the virgin Marie did In epistel ad Ioan. EuaÌ„gelist in a certaine epistle of his after he had called her a patterne of penance and a mistresse of christian religion doth saie that from many parts of the world there came sundrie to see her as if she had bene a celestial miracle a most sacred sight to whome she seemed so maruailous that euerie one of them was incredibly glad to haue seene her or spoken with her Amongst those was that greate Dionysius Areopagita Apud Canis lib 5. ca 1. inter mediuÌ„ fineÌ„ in ca 22. post princip who being at the maiestie of the virgin Marie and woundering at the holines of her manners and beholding in her I know not what celestial and diuine brightnesse did say that if Christ had not bene reuealed to him he would easelie haue beleeued that there had bene no other god then the virgin Marie Homil. de hypapan Domini Hence it is that the holy doctor Saint Chrysostome doth cal our Ladie the great miracle of the vvorld CERTAINE AVNcient miracles vvrought by the virgin Marie VVHat time Leo Isauricus sought to take awaie holie images out of the church of Christ S. Iohn Damascene did write three bookes in defence of them wherewith the aduersaries of images being offended they did accuse him as a breaker of the Princes peace saying that he had written letters of treason whereupon his right hand was out of But Damascene entring into his closet and kneeling downe before the image of oure Ladie said in this manner See heere o most holie mother how for defeÌ„ding holie images my hand hath bene cut of to thee doe I humblie commend mie selfe which when he had vttered with teares he slept and in sleepe did see the blessed virgin restore him his haÌ„d so that waking he found his haÌ„d whole there remayninge onlie a signe of the cut This miracle was most famous in al the East and written by Iohn Patriarcke of Ierusalem Theophilus Archdeacon in Cilicia being accused by some enuious persons was put out of his office and offended at the matter did denie Christ and oure Ladie and by a certaine writing did giue him self to the diuel wherunto to he was induced by a certaine Iew that was a magician But afterwards repenting him selfe he went into a church of oure Ladie praying her with teares and fastings for manie daies and nights that she would help him At the length the virgin Marie made the writing to be restored to him by the diuel and so being reconciled to the Church he entred into grace with god and liued in such manner that he was a Sainct whose feast is celebrated the 4. daie of februarie This historie is written by Metaphrastes and others Marie surnamed Aegiptiaca of Aegipt a publicke harlot going to see the churche of the holy Crosse in Ierusalem would often haue entered but she could not whereat astonied and touched of god inwardlie she did enter into her selfe and ashamed of her life did turne her selfe to an image of the virgin Marie that stoode neere to the church doare and saide O virgin and mother seeing that god whome thou hast brought forth became man therby to cal sinners to penance assist and succour me voide of al helpe and I doe promise if I enter into this churche to chaunge my life She entred by the virgin Maries intercession was reconciled to god and after this retiring her selfe into the desert she did penance died a holy woman This historie was written by Paulus Diaconus is to be reade in the second Nicene councel actione 4. In the yeare 1094 a certaine womaÌ„ of Laudune was condemned to death for committing a murder secreatlie and as she went to the place of execution where she was to be burned she entred into a church of our Ladie and there inwardlie contrite did confesse her sinne publiklie and afterwards weeping she turned her selfe to an image of the blessed virgin requestingher helpe for her sowle coÌ„meÌ„ding her self to her with al her hearte departing that she was froÌ„ the church and come to the place of punishment she was twise cast into the midest of a great fire which nether did burne nor touch her and that which made the miracle more manifest was that nether her garments were as much as touched of the fire whereat al the people astonied did returne with the woman to the Church giue thanks to the virgin Marie by whose praiers they acknowledge this miracle to haue bene wrought Thus writeth Sigibert in his chronicle Nestorius was strooken of God with diuers tribulatioÌ„s Canis de Maria Depara lib. 3. ca. 18. lib. 5. ca. for his blasphemies vsed against the virgin Marie but because he amended not him self his tongue was cruellie eaten 〈◊〉 â—icephor 〈◊〉 14 â—st eccl 〈◊〉 36. with wormes and he did dye most miserablie whose body being buried the earth did open and swallowe it vp Moscus Euiratus also doth write that when the virgin Marie did appeare to the Abbot Cyrriacus in sleepe richlie adorned and hauing in her companie S. Iohn Baptist and S. Iohn Euangelist he did praie her that she
would vouchsafe to enter into his chamber but she aunswered him in this manner How wilt thou that I enter into thie chamber where thou hast mine enimie And with this she departed The Abbot wheÌ„ he was awaked was verie anxious for that he knewe not who this enimie of the virgin was But reading a certaine booke which Isichius priest of Ierusalem had lent him he found that in the end thereof with it were bouÌ„d twoe bookes of Nestorius so he straight waies vnderstood who was the enimie of the virgin and forthwith burning these two bookes the Abbot was much comforted Of this euerie one maie gather that dishonest bookes also be enimies to the virgin Marie and so it is no maruaile if she do not enter into the chamber of the soule of these that kepe such bookes Thus we reade in the booke intituled Pratum spirituale A spiritual medowe Chap. 46. Gregorius Turonensis in his booke de gloria martyrum doth recount that a certaine Iews sonne went to a church of the blessed virgin there did communicate with other scholars returning home ioyful that he had so done he told his father of it whoe became so enraged at the matter that being a glasse maker he tooke the childe and threw him into the burning fornace heaping more woode therby the more toe inflame the fornace The childs mother came running to the place and when she could not approache neere to the fornace for the exceedinge greate flame that it seÌ„t forth she cried out in so much that manie people did runne to the howse where she was whoe remouing the fire from the fornace did find the childe lying as it were in a most delicate bead and asking him how the fire had not consumed his bodie he aunswered that the woman at whose Alter he had communicated in the morning did stand by him and defend him from the fire with her mantel This historie did Menna the Patriarch as Glycas writeth tel to Iustine the second Emperour of that name Parte 4. AnnaliuÌ„ as one whoe had bene present at the fact When Rome was grieuouslie vexed with the plague S. Gregorie the greate being at that time Pope did ordaine a solemne procession to be made vpon Easter daie bearing through al the Cittie the image of our Ladie which is said to be that of S. Marie maior yet extant in Rome whervppon the plague did cease verie miraculouslie at the which the people greatlie reioycing behold an Angel that did sing in the ayre Regina coeli laetare Alleluya c. Queene of heauen reioice Alleluya for that he whome thou deseruedst to beare Alleluia is risen as he said Alleluya And the holy Pope aunswered Praie god for vs Alleluia Sigonius amongst others doth recount this in his first booke de regno Italiae In the booke intituled Pratum spirituale chap. 45. we reade of a certaine monke who molested with a long temtation saide to the diuel when wilt thou let me be quiet And the diuel appearing to him spake in this manner Sweare to me that thou wilt not vtter to anie one that which I shal tel thee and I wil not molest thee any more The moÌ„ke did sweare and the diuel then saide worship no more this image of our Ladie and I wil let thee alone The monke tooke time to deliberate of the matter in the meane season discouered al to his Abbot who did reprehend him for giuing his oath to the diuel and afterwards exhorted him to worship the image of the virgin Marie telling him that he had obtained the victorie in so greate temptation by the help of the virgin and that leauing to worship her he should easelie be ouercome of the diuel These other miracles wrought by God thorough the intercession of the virgin Marie are written largelie by Petrus Canisius in his first booke of the virgin Marie chap. 19. and 20. An instruction hovv to meditate vvel Take some time assured determinate for meditation which thou must not chaunge without iust cause for that the diuel when at the first he cannot make thee leaue praier doth seeke to make thee differ it vntil some incoÌ„modious time that so thou maie make it with many defects he more easelie perswade thee afterwards to leaue it altogeather The time most fit is the morning before other affaires it is conuenient that we giue the best time to this holy exercise so grateful to god and profitable to our sowle Let the place be retired where no other busines nor talke maie be heard which doth cause distraction and if thou haue no such place at home thou must not therfore leaue to meditate but doe of thie part what thou canst and afterwards trust in God who of his goodnes wil supplie with his holie grace to make thee be recollected The situation of the bodie must be modest and deuoute as kneeling or standing walking seemeth not a fit act for meditation vnles it were little and softlie And albeit a man sitting maie meditate without sinne yet he ought to choose that manner which doth most further him to attention deuotion so that it be without violence and without paine if somtimes thou do meditate sitting it is good if thy health can beare it to stand bare-headed in signe that thou doest not think of other affaires nor studie or speculate philosophical matters but pray and deale with god thy creator That vvhich a man must doe before Meditation The night before meditation thou must foresee the points misterie wherof thou must meditate in the morning and when thou dost wake or rise out of thie bedde thinke vpoÌ„ the meditation thou art to make recollected and attentiue and if in euerie affaire of oures which we handle with men we thinke wel of it before we doe it how much more ought we to doe so in this thing which is spiritual and whereof we must deale with god When thou wilt goe to the place of meditation imagine thie selfe to be there looked for of Christ our Lord to giue thee grateful audieÌ„ce and going praie thyne Angel keeper or some one of those Saints toe whome thou art most deuoute that he wil accompanie thee and bring thee in to oure Lord. And when thou art come to the place thou must doe him most humble and deuoute reuerence As soone as thou hast kneeled doune lift vp thy minde to god demaunding helpe to make thy meditation to the glorie of his diuine maiestie fâ—uite of thy soule folowing in this the holie church which in the beginning of diuine seruice doth saie Deus in adiutorium meum intende Domine ad adiuuandum me festina that is O god be attentiue to my ayde O Lord make speede to helpe me It doth also helpe in the beginning to craue pardon of god for our imperfections and sinnes which are wont to offend his diuine eyes but thou with repenting thie selfe and as king forgiuenes shalt make him propitious and