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THE CORONATION 595
he should lose his life in this affliction, the most blessed
Mother came to the relief of saint John by her loving
promises, assuring him, that She would be his Mother
and Advocate with her divine Son. He informed saint
James the less, who, as bishop of Jerusalem and
according to the orders of saint Peter mentioned above,
assisted saint John in the service of the Empress of the
world. From that time on the two Apostles, mindful of
what was coming, were still more solicitous in their at
tendance upon their Queen and Lady. This was especially
true of the Evangelist, who would not leave her presence.
705. During the course of these three last years of the
life of our Queen and Lady the divine power permitted a
certain hidden and sweet force to throw all
nature into
mourning and sorrow at the prospective death of Her,
who by her life beautified and perfected all creation. The
holy Apostles, although they were scattered over the
earth, began to feel new anxiety and misgivings regard
ing the time when they should be deprived of their
Mistress and her help; for already the divine light inti
mated to them, that this event could not be far off. The
others of the faithful living in Jerusalem and in the
country around, began secretly to feel that their treasure
and joy should not be theirs much longer. The heavens,
the stars and planets lost much of their brightness and
beauty, like the day at the approach of night. The birds
of the air fell into singular demonstrations of sorrow
during these last years. A great multitude of them ordi
narily gathered where the most blessed Mary happened to
be. Surrounding her oratory in unusual flight and mo
tions, they uttered, instead of their natural songs, sor
rowful notes, as if they were lamenting and groaning in
their grief, until the Lady herself ordered them again to
their Creator in their natural and musical tones. Of
praise
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