About 1420 a young man who had great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was in the habit of weaving a garland of flowers everyday and crowning an image of Mary with it. When this young man took the habit of St. Francis of Assisi and was no longer able to continue this devotion of his, he became sorely tempted by the devil to leave the religious life. He assumed that as he could no longer offer Our Lady these garlands of flowers that she would withdraw her affection from him.
This young novice had determined to leave the friary when Mary appeared to him and told him to offer a crown in place of the garland of flowers. This crown which she would much prefer, was to be composed of seventy-two "Ave Maria's" separated by a "Pater" after each decade, and recited while meditating during each decade on one of the Seven Joys which she had felt during the seventy-two years of her earthy pilgrimage. These seven joys are: the Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of Our Lord, Adoration of the Magi, discovery of the Child Jesus in the temple, Resurrection of Christ, and the Assumption.
The novice began reciting this crown immediately. He gathered the most abundant fruit thereby, and the devotion soon spread to the whole Order. St. Bernardine of Siena declared that he had obtained all the graces with which he had been favored by means of the Crown of the Seven Joys.
All the children of St. Francis can gain a Plenary Indulgence by reciting it. Confession and Communion are not required. The Feast of the Seven Joys was granted to the Friars Minor, in 1906, by Pope St. Pius X.
The joys that the Blessed Virgin experienced here on earth were a foretaste of the eternal joys that she now tastes in Heaven. But, Mary's life was not one of continual joy while she was here on earth. She had her share of pain and sorrow also. Every pain or sorrow that is borne patiently out of love for God is eventually turned into an everlasting joy. As long as we can keep our eyes focused on the eternal happiness of Heaven, all the crosses here on earth lose their sting. They are no longer heavy and bitter but are made, according to the promise of Christ, sweet and light.
Our lives here on earth are a succession of sorrow and joy. And this is a most wholesome medicine for our fallen nature. The times of sorrow give us cause to turn to God for assistance, and in doing so we are kept humble, trusting, and childlike. We are given the opportunity to practice such virtues as: patience, forgiveness, and understanding. And lest we fall into despair from living in constant sorrow, God often scatters throughout our lives times of happiness and joy.
These alternating periods of sorrow and joy are sent us by God for our own sanctification. It is a necessary medicine for our souls. The Blessed Mother and all the saints knew this well, and were grateful to God at all times and in every situation. This is true conformity to the will of God. In living this way we begin to see the hand of God in all things. We learn that nothing happens without either the express will of God or at least His permissive will. "All things work for the good of those who love God."
We read in the Gospels that Mary pondered these things in her heart. She looked back from time to time at all the events of her life and dwelt on the will of God. She sought in all things to do the will of God and she was and is a ready instrument in the hand of God.
The Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary give us the opportunity to see the will of God manifested here on earth and also show us the perfect cooperation of the human element in God's plan. When we contemplate our own lives with the joys and sorrows sent by God we often see that we were not compliant with the will of God, but that we have resisted His will many times.
If we learn to ponder the events in the life of Mary we will soon learn how we are to respond to the sorrows and joys of our own lives _ how we are to cooperate with the will of God. We will see how we have wasted many opportunities by our own childish thoughtlessness, selfishness, and pride. This should lead us to the virtue of humility, and fill us with hope. As long as we are alive God constantly sends us what is best for our eternal welfare. And if we can only learn not to resist Him but to repeat after Mary "be it done unto me according to Thy will", then we will begin to have a foretaste of the eternal joys that await us in Heaven.
Until the very end of her life, St. Jane Frances de Chantel wished to apply herself to the lowliest tasks of the convent, as the rule prescribed for all the religious; for example to wash the dishes; to sweep the halls or to serve in the refectory. The evening before leaving Annecy for Moulins-she was then seventy years old, just four years before her death-she was sweeping the convent in obedience to the assignment given her that day. A sister who was waiting at the door with some urgent letters for the saint, seeing her gather the dust with remarkable solicitude grew slightly impatient, although she was truly edified, and remarked: "Well, Mother, it seems that you are finding pearls; you gather up that dust so carefully."
"I am piling up more than that," answered the saint, "if we knew what eternity is, we would esteem it a greater privilege to gather the dust in the house of God than pearls in a worldly home."
There is an old expression, gems in our crown. And the most brilliant diamonds are actions that are ordinary in appearance, but to which I apply myself with great love.
Perhaps it happens that when I am assigned certain occupations, and above all material occupations, I think that I am treated badly; that I could do something else. Then let me recall St. Jane Frances and her sweeping. Great actions or small actions, all in the last analysis are only dust. Things vary only according to the idea I have of them. Whatever actions you do-all in the eyes of God, are nothing more than picking up dust "with feathers tied together," as Mother de Chaugy used to say.
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