May 31 – THE CROWN OF VIRTUES

The great crown of all the flowers of May

We have already finished our work. All the flowers of the month of May are already in the circle circumscribed by the finger of God. Let us examine now our work and let us contemplate it. Have we been careless? Are there in our fields, valleys, mountains, hills, meadows and banks any of the flowers of the cheerful season that do not embellish, adorn, strike our sight and perfume our great crown? If you see it, if you find it, pick it up and put it together with one of the thirty bouquets that will enclose and complete them. Let us celebrate now the complement of our work.

The crown of glory due to the merit of the virtues

The crown the saints bear in heaven is due to them and given to them in exchange for the virtues they have earned on earth. The flowers on that crown are the emblems of our virtues. All of them are tied around the golden circle traced over our heads by the hand of the Supreme Artificer, God, when he announced the law of grace: “You shall love God; you shall love your neighbor.” The circle originates from a point, continues forming a curve and returns to where it originated. The precept of love and charity, which is the implementation of this precept, originates in God who is love, Deus charitas est. While passing through our hearts, it makes known its ambits, it takes up all our affections and ties them to charity, and upon returning to God from it proceeds, and it leaves them there satisfied. All virtue that is true virtue originates from charity grows in charity, and lives bound to it and with it.

Mary’s crown in glory

The crown that Mary bears in heaven was given to her as a prize for all her virtues. While she lived there was not a single virtue that was not in her crown; she has them all in their fullness: Ave gratia plena; yes, full of grace, full of gifts; yes, full of gifts, full of virtues.

Our crown around Mary

Contemplate attentively this crown that we have just made and adorned; they are all our virtues symbolized in the flowers. Is anything missing? Are they all included without missing anyone? Ah! if you lose one all are lost and wherever one goes, all go because all are tied in one and the same circle; and wherever you place the circle all are there and when the circle is moved all are moved. Let us present today before the throne of God, through the hands of our Queen, our crown; it is asked of us adorned, enriched, clothed and embellish with all the virtues and not a single flower should be missing. Have you already given all? All? Have you kept nothing for yourself? Think about it well: today our work ends with the month of May; you still have time, examine your soul and give to Mary if you have forgotten or neglected anything. Present to her today not a flower but the entire and complete crown and upon offering it say to her:

Queen of heaven: I have given to you during this month consecrated to you whatever I have found of the most beautiful and fragrant in the garden; I have given the best that I had and I give it to you again. No more, Lady, no more: Ah! it is little thing, but I have no more. I have given you vows, promises, intentions, resolutions and I have given them to you firmly and efficaciously as far as it was possible for me to form. You have asked them of me and I have given them to you as you could see them in that crown.

Lady: these intentions which, through God’s mercy and your favor, I have formed in these practices, to you I have offered them and in your hands they are. Foment them, activate them, give them firmness, constancy, perseverance, efficacy and fortitude. I offer myself anew so that I can put them into action. I entrust them to your maternal solicitude, most beautiful, most amiable and skillful gardener, into your hands I leave my crown; into your sacred hands I commend my virtues. Guard them, protect them, water them, cultivate them and perfect them.

Download in PDF: May 31 – Coronation