Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/80

 unmeaning worldly  ceremonies;  but  all  was  real  expression of  mutual  joy. At the  voice  of  Mary  the  eternal Word sanctified  His  precursor,  purified  him  from  original sin,  enriched  him  with  the  gifts  of  grace  and  sanctity, endowed  him  with  the  use  of  reason,  and  made  him sensible, even  then,  of  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation and his  own  happiness. — " For  behold,"  exclaimed  the enraptured Elizabeth,  "  as  soon  as  the  voice  of  thy  salutation sounded  in  my  ears,  the  infant  in  my  womb  leaped for  joy." (Luke i.  44.)

II. At the  voice  of  Mary,  "  Elizabeth  was  filled  with the  Holy  Ghost." (Luke i,  41,  42.)  She  was  endowed with the  spirit  of  prophecy,  "  and  cried  out  with  a  loud voice,  and  said,  Blessed  art  thou  among  women,  and blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb." Learn hence,  how beneficial is  the  mediation  of  the  Virgin,  by  whose  means the eternal  Word  wrought  such  admirable  effects  in  the infant and  his  mother. Salute her  in  the  spirit  of  Elizabeth; acknowledge  and  praise  her  excellence,  arising from her  divine  maternity.

III. Consider those  other  words  of  Elizabeth: "Whence is  this  to  me,  that  the  mother  of  my  Lord should  come  to  me?" (Luke i.  43.)  The  spirit  of  God always prompts  humility,  and  humility  attends  all  His gifts. Observe how  by  divine  inspiration  she  styles  her Mother of  God,  which  the  Church  acknowledges  as  her chief title. Learn from  the  infant  and  his  mother  how you ought  to  entertain  Christ  in  the  Eucharist.

After Elizabeth  had  uttered  these  praises,  the  blessed Virgin poured  forth  her  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  hu-