Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/79

 II. " And  Mary  rising  up  in  those  days,  went  into  the mountainous  country  with  haste,  into  a  city  of  Judea." (Luke i.  39.)  Admire  the  promptness  of  her  obedience to the  divine  Spirit. Neither the  tediousness  nor  the difficulties attending  a  long  journey,  neither  the  delicacy of her  sex,  nor  her  lately  acquired  dignity,  could  deter her from  undertaking  the  journey. This journey  was not undertaken  from  vain  ceremony  nor  compliment;  not out of  curiosity  nor  doubt  in  regard  to  what  the  angel had said,  but  from  a  motive  of  pure  zeal  for  the  glory of God  and  a  desire  of  assisting  her  neighbor. Meditate on her  singular  modesty,  recollection,  and  devotion,  with which she  entertained  the  Son  of  God;  and  learn  how you ought  to  entertain  the  same  God  when  you  carry Him in  your  breast  under  the  sacramental  forms.

III. All those  who  are  full  of  the  divine  Spirit  naturally tend  towards  the  mountain  of  perfection. They despise the  world  and  soar  above  it,  and  their  thoughts  are centred in  heaven. " Save  thyself  in  the  mountain,"  said the angel  to  Lot. (Gen. xix.  17.)  Besides,  they  act  with vigor, with  speed,  and  with  fervor;  for,  as  St.  Ambrose writes, "  The  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  knows  no  lingering delays." Examine whether  or  not,  in  your  thoughts  and desires, you  adhere  to  inferior  things,  and  linger  in  the way that  leads  to  the  mountain  of  perfection.

I. Mary  having  entered  into  the  house  of  Elizabeth, Saluted her  first,  though  herself  the  greater  in  dignity. Thus Christian  charity  should  prompt  every  one  to  act. Imagine what  modesty  and  charity  were  displayed  upon the occasion. There were  no  empty  compliments  nor