Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/113

 angel's words,  she  was  troubled  at  his  saying, and thought  with  herself  what  manner  of  salutation this  should  be"  (Luke  i.  28,  29).

he angel's  salutation  comprises  two  titles  of ineffable  greatness. Mary is  called  "full  of grace," because  of  her  innocence  and  purity;  she is called  "blessed  among  women,"  because  she  is the  elect  Mother  of  God. Never before  was  a human  being  thus  greeted. It was  God  Himself who sent  the  message  to  Mary. A good  angel now repaired  the  harm  once  done  by  a  bad  angel. For Lucifer,  the  fallen  angel,  seduced  Eve  to  sin and thereby  caused  the  ruin  of  the  whole human race;  now  another  angel,  Gabriel,  was sent to  announce  the  glad  tidings  to  Mary, that she  was  to  conceive  the  Redeemer  from sin, who  was  to  accomplish  the  salvation  of mankind.

Mary was  troubled  at  the  angel's  words,  and reflected on  the  meaning  of  the  message. St. Ambrose writes:  "Mary  was  troubled,  not  because the  angel  was  a  heavenly  spirit,  but  because  he appeared  to  her  in  the  form  of  a  youth.  Still  more was  she  troubled  at  the  praises  spoken  to  her. She  was  innocent  and  humble,  and  therefore  reflected on  the  meaning  of  the  message.  She  had always  considered  herself  as  a  poor  and  unknown virgin;  she  deemed  herself  unworthy  of  God's