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 The designs  of  God  concerning  Mary  were fully accomplished. God also  has  designs  concerning us. Our life  was  planned  by  Him  from all eternity,  and  we  were  destined  to  co-operate with Him  harmoniously  and  conscientiously  in working  out  our  salvation. Have we  corresponded with  God's  designs? Did we  not  oppose them by  yielding  to  our  evil  inclinations  and  passions? What a  disparity  between  God's  intentions concerning  us  and  our  own  co-operation, between His  merciful  designs  and  our  cowardly resistance to  them!

God, who  through  the  immaculate  conception of the  Virgin  didst  prepare  a  worthy  dwelling-place for  Thy  divine  Son;  grant  that,  as  in view  of  Thy  Son  Thou  didst  preserve  her  from all taint,  so  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  unto  us  that cleansed from  all  sin  by  her  intercession  we  too may arrive  at  Thine  eternal  glory. Through the same Christ  our  Lord. Amen.

Litany of  Loreto  (p.  322).

ehold, Virgin  immaculate,  at  thy  sacred  feet I bow,  while  my  heart  overflows  with  joy in union  with  thine  own,  because  from  eternity thou wast  the  Mother-elect  of  the  eternal  Word,