Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/102



Preparatory Prayer  (p.  74).

n the  child  Mary  the  eternal  Father  beheld  His unsullied glorious  image,  which  image  had been defaced  in  all  other  human  beings  by  original and actual  sin. What a  joy  to  Him  to  behold  this stainless, immaculate  child! And how  great  must have been  the  joy  of  the  Son  of  God  at  the  birth of her  who  was  to  be  His  Mother! From her  He was  to  take  that  sacred  body  in  which  He  was  to dwell  on  earth,  the  blood  of  which  He  was  to  shed on the  cross  for  our  redemption,  and  in  which He was  to  return  to  heaven  to  sit  at  the  right hand of  the  Father. He will  call  her  Mother,  and regard her  with  all  the  filial  tenderness  of  a  child for his  mother. She will  love  Him  in  return  with a true  mother's  affection  and  devotion. As the Mother of  Sorrows  she  will  weep  over  His  inanimate body  taken  down  from  the  cross. But like Himself,  she  will  leave  the  tomb,  and  reign at His  side  as  the  queen  of  heaven. How great, then, must  have  been  His  joy  at  the  birth  of  this child!

The Holy  Ghost,  too,  rejoiced  at  Mary's  birth. He infused  into  her  the  plenitude  of  His  holy  love,