Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/121

 beauty of  your  divine  Spouse,  and  say  to  Him:  "Thou are  beautiful  above  the  sons  of  men." (Ps. xliv.  3.) Meditate on  His  dignity,  glory,  riches,  wisdom,  and power; and  inflame  your  heart  with  an  ardent  love  for your holy  Spouse.

III. Since you  are  to  be  espoused  to  Christ,  you  must surrender to  Him  everything  which  you  have  in  this world, and  never  forsake  Him  by  sin,  on  any  consideration. Adorn your  soul,  then,  with  every  virtue,  or  you never will  be  pleasing  in  the  eyes  of  your  divine  Spouse. Direct all  your  thoughts  and  actions  according  to  His will, and  study  His  pleasure  in  everything.

I. The  blessed  Virgin,  after  having  buried  herself  in retirement  for  forty  days  after  the  birth  of  her  Son,  appears in  the  temple,  in  compliance  with  a  double  law, that ordained  her  own  purification  and  the  presentation of her  child. The law,  in  fact,  did  not  regard  her,  for she conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  but  she  subjected  herself to  it  in  order  to  imitate  the  conduct  of  her  Son. who submitted to  the  law  of  circumcision. Besides, she  was unwilling to  give  offence  or  scandal  to  the  Jews,  who were ignorant  of  the  great  mystery  which  had  been operated in  her. She was  anxious,  also,  to  conform  her conduct in  what  was  lawful  to  that  of  others  of  her  sex, and thus  to  avoid  singularity,  as  well  as  to  perform works of  greater  perfection  and  supererogation. Study to imitate  her  example.

II. What admirable  virtues  she  exercised  in  this  action! Her obedience  was  perfect;  for  she  fulfilled  exactly  what the law  required  of  others,  without  pleading  exemption,