Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/127

 out of  the  deep  pit  into  which  my  sins  have  cast me, and  make  me  save  my  soul.

Hail Mary,  etc.

Ejaculation (p.  97).

Preparatory Prayer  (p. 95).

lthough Mary's  consent  was  free,  and freely given,  she  was  clearly  convinced  and perfectly conscious  of  the  responsibility,  the  obligations, and  the  duties  involved  by  that  consent, and which  she  now  assumed. Great are  the  duties and tearful  the  days  of  a  mother  who  has  to raise  her  Son,  who  is  also  God,  to  be  sacrificed on the  cross. Mary assumes  with  the  dignity this responsibility. She consents  to  conceive the Son  of  God,  to  give  birth  to  Him,  to  nourish Him,  to  educate  Him  for  the  ignominious death of  the  cross. When she  pronounced the words,  "Be  it  done,"  her  eyes  were  fixed on the  distant  tragedy  of  Golgotha,  on  the cross towering  upon  its  height. Yet she accepts it,  together  with  the  dignity  of  Mother of God.