HOUSE OF GOLD

(1) MARY, we honor you as the House of Gold because in you the Blessed Trinity has performed such great and wonderful things. The temple of Jerusalem which King Solomon built was magnificent. Scripture says, "There was nothing in the temple that was not covered with gold" (3 Kings 6,22). This temple could justly be called the "house of gold." But how much more does that name apply to you, the living Sanctuary, whom the Lord made for Himself!

Even before the Incarnation, you were in a marvelous sense "the House of the Lord, His House of Gold" (Isaias 7,14). God the Father worked the greatest miracle at the moment of your conception. He commanded human nature, defiled by sin, to stay its course until you, the child of grace, were conceived and born free from corruption of nature and untouched by original sin. The Divine Son, delighted with your beauty, descended from heaven and was made Man in you by assuming flesh from your flesh. God the Holy Spirit lovingly looked upon you as His Spouse and poured into your soul the fullness of His graces. He worked in you the tremendous miracle of the Incarnation of the Divine Word, so that you became the Mother of God without ceasing to be the Virgin of virgins.

House of Gold, my soul is also a house of gold because it is sanctified by the presence of the Blessed Trinity. My body is a house of gold because it is a temple of the Holy Spirit and most intimately united with Jesus in Holy Communion. Let me never profane the temple of my soul with wicked desires and sins, for the Apostle says, "If anyone destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for holy is the temple of God, and this temple you are" (1 Cor. 3,17). Preserve my body undefiled, and do not permit me to do anything that would be displeasing to God.

(2) MARY, you are adorned with all virtues and especially with the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. "Wisdom has built herself a house: she has hewn her out seven pillars" (Prov. 9,1). The Fathers and writers of the Church recognize this house to be you.

You possessed the gift of Wisdom, for being detached from everything earthly, you always had before your eyes the salvation of your soul and earnestly strove to obtain it; the gift of Understanding, for your knowledge of divine things was most wonderful, deeper than that of the theologians or even the blessed spirits in heaven; the gift of Counsel, for in doubtful affairs you knew what was good and pleasing to God, and you could, therefore, give good counsel to others; the gift of Fortitude, for you overcame every obstacle to salvation, and nothing could weaken your virtue, especially when you accepted God's holy will in the great sufferings of your life; the gift of Knowledge, for you had a thorough insight into the mysteries and truths of the Christian religion and were able to lead others to the knowledge of them; the gift of Piety, for you recognized and honored God in all things as the infinitely wise, kind, and merciful Father, and you found no greater happiness than to adore and serve Him with all your heart; the gift of the Fear of the Lord, for you loved God above all else and feared nothing more than to offend Him.

Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit, House of Gold, obtain for me the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Since prayer is the key to God's Heart and draws down upon us every good and perfect gift, teach me to pray frequently for these gifts. Keep me humble and pure of heart so as to make myself worthy of receiving them.

(3) MARY, you are for us a House of Gold. You have borne in your womb and brought forth Him to whom we owe every blessing, Jesus, our Redeemer, who has broken the chains of sin, reconciled us with God, and opened heaven for us.

You are the House of Gold, the door of which stands ever invitingly open, and through which we receive treasures far more precious than all the gold in the world. You are a Mother who has a most tender compassion for her children, who looks upon us with eyes of mercy, and who comes to our aid in all our needs. Look upon me with mercy, for I need your aid so very much. Unite me with your loving Son so that I may receive the treasures of His grace in this life and everlasting life in heaven.

O God, You mercifully sanctified the house of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin through the mystery of the Incarnation, and placed it in the bosom of Your Church in a wonderful manner; grant that we may avoid the dwellings of sinners and someday live in Your holy home. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Feast of the Transferring of the Holy House of Mary, Dec. 10)