Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/117



Preparatory Prayer  (p. 95).

ail, full of grace!" Mary  was  greeted  as 6  full  of  grace  by  the  Giver  of  grace  Himself. The  angel's  salutation  meant:  "The  grace  of  God has preserved  thee  from  all  sin. Neither the  stain of original  sin,  nor  the  guilt  of  actual  sin,  ever obscured the  mirror  of  thy  soul. By the  special favor of  God  the  most  sublime  virtues  were  infused into  thy  soul."

"The Lord  is  with  thee." From all  eternity  the Lord was  with  Mary. He was  with  her  not  only as He  is  with  His  whole  creation,  but  He  was  with her in  a  special  manner. The eternal  Father  was with her  from  all  eternity  as  with  His  beloved Daughter. The divine  Son  was  with  her  from  all eternity as  with  His  chosen  Mother. The Holy Ghost was  with  her  from  all  eternity  as  with  His beloved Spouse. This intimate  union  never  was disrupted. Therefore Mary  is  "Blessed  among women,"  and  ever  was,  and  ever  shall  be  the  beloved of  the  Lord.

onsider how  Mary  receives  the  angel's  message. She is  troubled,  she  is  disturbed  at  the praise, at  the  reverence  of  the  angel. What an