Page:O'Donnell - Hail Holy Queen 02 - Less of the Sun-Worship.djvu/2



A modern spiritual writer once wrote: "Through Our Lady, God fell in love with humanity." In this happily phrased thought we find the key that unlocks the mystery of Mary, Our Life. The scene is beautifully recorded in the Gospel according to St. Luke in the passage relating to the Annunciation.

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin and the virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women." Mary was troubled and thought with herself "what manner of salutation this should be." But the Angel reassured her, saying: "Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High And of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:26–33).

And Mary, perplexed, said to the Angel: "How shall this be done, because I know not man?" (Luke 1:34). Yet through divine inspiration she knew in her heart the extraordinary significance of the pronouncement. And the Angel, continuing, said to her: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Because no word shall be impossible with God, Mary made her humble reply: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38).

Mary had spoken her fiat. She was resigned to God's holy will. And months later at Bethlehem, in the abandoned stable warmed only by the breath of cattle, she gave birth to the Son of God—to Life Itself—to the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

Thus Mary, whose body became a sanctuary for divine life, also became the mediatrix through whom all the members of the human race can reach that Life Itself. "Impossible," says the world. "Quite possible," rejoin those who have the gift of faith. "But how?" asks the world. And the faithful answer: "By having recourse to Mary in carrying out the teachings of her Divine Son, as sanctified and promulgated by His Church, which He founded, and to which