Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/91

 flock. St. Francis  de  Sales  was  never  weary  of  studying  his  works, and often  recommended  his  books  to  his  penitents.]

In order  that  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  heighten  the glory of  this  great  mystery,  before  Jesus  was  born,  or  rather from the  beginning  of  the  world  and  from  all  ages,  He  has been promised  to  the  patriarchs,  He  has  been  announced by the  prophets,  foretold  by  the  sybils,  represented  throughout by  ancient  ceremonies,  sacrifices,  and  every  sacrament of the  old  law.

And when  He  deigned  to  descend  from  heaven  to  earth, by what  circumstances,  what  prodigies,  has  not  His  coming been accompanied,  which  were  but  reasonable  for  so  supreme a Majesty.

An angel  sent  by  God  has  brought  the  glad  tidings,  He has  been  conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  He  had  chosen  the most pure  and  holy  of  virgins  to  become  Incarnate  in  her womb, and  the  body  He  has  taken  has  been  united  to  the Divinity from  the  very  first  moment  of  His  birth.

Pagans imagined  that  it  was  unworthy  of  the  majesty of God  to  clothe  Himself  with  a  substance  so  degrading  as our  flesh;  but  it  is  easy  to  show  them  how  this  humanity has been  glorified,  what  riches  it  has  possessed,  and,  far from having  been  a  thing  below  the  dignity  of  God,  it  has, on the  contrary,  considerably  added  to  His  glory,  by  uniting these  two  natures  into  one  person.

It is  in  such  marvels  as  these  that  the  wisdom  of  God appears more  apparent. It shows  also,  that  He  alone  is capable  of  elevating  lowliness,  of  aggrandising  that  which is nothing,  of  filling  with  honour  and  dignity  that  which was contemptible. For if,  by  an  effect  of  His  goodness, He had  wished  to  humiliate  Himself  by  becoming  man, nevertheless having  taken  the  nature  of  man,  instead  of receiving  ignominy  therefrom,  He  has,  on  the  contrary, received an  infinity  of  glory,  since  it  was  in  His  power  to