Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/68



I. It  was  proper  that  the  eternal  Word  should  honor  His mother, and  raise  her  above  the  common  condition  of mortals  by  special  privileges. If "  king  Solomon  made  a great  throne  of  ivory  and  overlaid  it  with  the  finest  gold — so  that  there  was  no  such  work  made  in  any  kingdom" (3 Kings  x.  18),  with  how  much  more  reason  might  the King of  heaven  adorn  His  throne,  and  decorate  the  habitation in  which  He  was  to  remain  for  nine  months.

II. Some of  her  special  privileges  were:  1. The greatest sanctity  that  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  any  pure  creature was communicated  to  her  from  the  first  moment  of  her conception; for  it  was  not  proper  that  the  mother  of God  should  ever  have  been  subject  to  the  devil,  even for a  moment. 2. She  never  felt  the  stings  of  concupisence. 3. She  was  confirmed  in  grace,  which  she  never lost by  mortal  sin,  and  which  was  never  diminished  by venial  sin. 4. This  grace  was  continually  increased  by her  heroic  acts  of  virtue. 5. She  conceived  and  remained a virgin. 6. She  brought  forth  her  Son  without  pain, and without  detriment  to  her  virginal  integrity. 7. She is finally  an  ocean  of  all  kinds  of  grace,  and  her  perfection surpassed  the  united  perfections  of  all  the  Saints and angels.

III. Consider the  exalted  titles  to  which  she  has  a  just claim. She is  in  a  special  manner  the  daughter  of  the eternal Father,  the  chosen  mother  of  the  only  begotten Son, and  the  spouse  of  the  Holy  Ghost. She is  the  sovereign of  men  and  angels. She is  the  mother  of  mercy and the  refuge  of  sinners. Conceive what  a  refuge  you have and  what  a  protection  you  may  find  in  such  a