From 'The Liturgical Year'
Meanwhile, our Risen Jesus has been seen by no mortal eye; He has sped to His most Holy Mother. He is the Son of God; He is the vanquisher of Death; but He is, likewise, the Son of Mary. She stood near him to the last, uniting the sacrifice of her mother's heart with that He made upon the Cross: it is just, therefore, that she should be the first to partake of the joy of His Resurrection. The Gospel does not relate the apparition thus made by Jesus to his Mother, whereas all the others are fully described. It is not difficult to assign the reason. The other apparitions were intended as proofs of the Resurrection; this to Mary was dictated by the tender love borne to her by her Son. Both nature and grace required that His first visit should be to such a Mother, and christian hearts dwell with delight on the meditation of the mystery. There was no need of its being mentioned in the Gospel; the Tradition of the Holy Fathers, beginning with St. Ambrose, bears sufficient testimony to it; and even had they been silent, our hearts would have told it us. And why was it that our Saviour rose from the Tomb so early on the Day He had fixed for His Resurrection? It was, because His filial love was impatient to satisfy the vehement longings of his dearest and most afflicted Mother. Such is the teaching of many pious and learned Writers; and who that knows aught of Jesus and Mary could refuse to accept it?
But who is there would attempt to describe the joy of such a meeting? Those eyes, that had grown dim from wakefulness and tears, now flash with delight at beholding the brightness which tells her Jesus is come. He calls her by her name, not with the tone of voice which pierced her soul when he addressed her from the Cross, but with an accent of joy and love, such as a Son would take when telling a Mother that He had triumphed. The Body, which, three days ago, she had seen covered with Blood and dead, is now radiant with life, beaming with the reflections of Divinity. He speaks to her words of tenderest affection, He embraces her, He kisses her. Who, we ask, would dare to describe this scene, which the devout Abbot Rupert says so inundated the soul of Mary with joy, that it made her forget all the sorrows she had endured.
Let us who love this Blessed Mother, and have seen her offer up her Son on Calvary for our sakes, let us affectionately rejoice in the happiness wherewith Jesus now repays her, and let us learn to compassionate her in her Dolours. This is the first manifestation of our Risen Jesus: it is a just reward for the unwavering Faith which has dwelt in Mary's soul during these three days, when all but she had lost it. But it is time for Him to show Himself to others, that so the glory of His Resurrection may be made known to the world. His first visit was to her that is the dearest to Him of all creatures, and well deserves the favour; now, in His goodness, He is about to console those devoted women, whose grief is, perhaps, too human, but their love is firm, and neither death nor the tomb have shaken it.
The Gothic Church of Spain thus expresses, in the following beautiful Prayer of her Breviary, the gratitude felt by man for the twofold favour granted to us, by the Creator, on this ever blessed day.
CAPITULA
O God, to Whom we owe this the first of days, whereon Thou wouldst manifest to all created things both the visible light, and Him Who is the witness of eternal Light, that on this one and the same day there might rise the light of the seasons and the Light of souls: and which day, being the first of our Lord's creation, and (by a heavenly calculated revolution) the one chosen as fittest for His Resurrection, both begins and ends the mystery of the Paschal Solemnity: mercifully, O Lord, for now is the acceptable time, the day of salvation, mercifully look upon Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed from the spiritual bondage of sin by the victory of our Lord's Passion. Look upon them whom Thou hast freed from the destroying Angel, by sprinkling them with the Blood of Thy Lamb. Be unto us our guide in the wilderness of this life; that, during the day, Thou mayest be to us a cloud protecting and shadowing us from the heat of temptation; and, during the night, a pillar of fire, enlightening us amidst the darkness of sin. Here save us, that so Thou mayst lead us to our rest.
Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it! He has broken the chains of death, and has opened the gates of heaven for all of us. (If we choose).
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