Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/82

 was so  in  regard  to  all  mankind:  For  God  "hath  put down  the  mighty  from  their  seat,  and  hath  exalted  the humble;  He  hath  filled  the  hungry  with  good  things, and  the  rich  He  hath  sent  away  empty." (Luke i.  52.) If you,  therefore,  wish  to  be  favored  by  Almighty  God, if you  desire  to  be  exalted,  and  if  you  wish  to  be  filled with good  things,  learn  to  be  humble,  and,  with  St. Bernard,  "  love  to  be  unknown  and  not  regarded."

I. Although  the  presence  of  the  virgin  mother  and  her divine son  were  so  beneficial  to  Elizabeth  and  the  Baptist, it did  not  restore  speech  to  Zachary. We may  piously believe, however,  that  he  received  many  spiritual  favors. The restoration  of  his  speech  was  reserved  by  Christ  for the honor  of  His  precursor,  at  His  birth. Learn hence,  to reverence  the  divine  providence  of  God  in  the  dispensation of  His  favors,  and  respectfully  abstain  from  prescribing to  it  the  time  and  manner  of  affording  assistance; but patiently  wait,  with  Zachary,  the  divine  pleasure.

II. The Virgin  remained  in  the  house  of  Zachary  about the space  of  three  months,  displaying  in  her  words  and actions that  humility  and  charity  which  had  rendered her worthy  to  become  the  Mother  of  God. Conceive how holy  was  the  conversation  of  the  blessed  company, and what  benefit  was  derived  from  it. " If  at  the  first  entrance," says  St.  Ambrose,  "  the  benefit  was  so  great,  that at  Mary's  salutation  the  infant  leaped  for  joy,  and  his mother  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  what  do  we think  ought  Mary's  presence  to  have  added  by  the  benefit of  so  long  a  time?" Love, therefore,  to  converse  with