Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/74

 silent, began  at  last  to  speak  in  defence  of  her  virginity, which she  would  not  forfeit  even  to  become  the  mother of God. O, admirable  purity! In this  virtue  she  was truly singular  and  without  example. Learn from  her&gt; i, both  to  speak  and  to  be  silent  at  proper  times  and on proper  occasions. 2, not  to  be  withdrawn  from  your good purposes  or  obligations,  on  any  account  or  pretext without carefully  examining  as  she  did  "  how  this  may be  done." 3, to  be  cautious  in  point  of  chastity,  and  to avoid  every  danger  in  regard  to  that  delicate  virtue,  for "we have  this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels." (2 Cor.  iv.  7.)

II, "The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the power  of  the  Most  High  shall  overshadow  thee." (Luke i. 35.)  Ponder  the  excellency  of  Virginity,  of  which  Christ was so  great  a  lover,  that,  whilst  He  took  upon  Himself all our  other  miseries,  yet  He  would  not  be  conceived and born  but  of  a  Virgin. And because  the  Virgin  herself  was  devotedly  attached  to  this  virtue,  the  Divine Spirit of  purity  Himself,  effected  that  her  son,  who  as  God was born  only  of  the  Father,  as  man  was  born  only  of herself. Beseech the  Lord  to  visit  you  with  His  holy grace, and  "  to  overshadow  you  with  His  shoulders,"  especially "in  the  day  of  battle,"  when  you  have  to  fight against the  concupiscence  of  the  flesh. (Ps. xc.  4,  and cxxxix.  8.)

III. " Behold  thy  cousin  Elizabeth,  she  hath  also  conceived a  son  in  her  old  age." (Luke i.  36.)  She  that  was barren has  become  fruitful,  in  order  that  you  may  discover that  nothing  is  impossible  to  God. Therefore although you  have  hitherto  been  fruitless  in  good  works, yet by  the  divine  grace  and  your  own  concurrence,  you may produce  many,  not  only  in  yourself,  but  also  in  your neighbors, according  to  your  condition  and  state  of  life. Therefore, begin  now  to  co-operate  with  God's  grace;