Page:O'Donnell - Hail Holy Queen 02 - Less of the Sun-Worship.djvu/3

 He gave His divine sanction to the end of time." "Behold," He said, "I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world" (Matthew 28:20). Know true life, says the Church, and the mystery unfolds itself. The question is answered.

Now in order to have a full appreciation of what this life means, it is necessary to understand the true composition of man, beginning with the miracle of childbirth.

Motherhood is woman's glorious prerogative. It is her high destiny to be God's agent in bringing life into the world. Who has not been touched by the beauty that transfigures a mother when she enfolds her child in arms for the first time? And who has not been moved at the sight of a new-born babe? Who has not marveled at the fair body of the infant, so symmetrically perfect, so tender, so helpless, yet so promising? Immediately we think of the poet's tribute: "What a piece of work is man! how noble is reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!"

But what would the body of man be were it not for the principle that animates it? For it is the soul that gives it life. That soul is brought into being by the direct act of the Creator Himself. It is what makes man the image of God. The soul is immortal. It never dies. And, as God's image, it will never rest until it rests in God. "We were made, O Lord, for Thee," says St. Augustine, "and our heart is restless until it finds peace in Thee."

Since the soul sets man above and apart from all of God's other creatures, it is the supernatural life, the life of the immortal soul, that should be our first concern. It is this life eternal that we are striving for as we sojourn here in this our exile. Such is our goal, and as we strive to reach it, Mary is our helpmate and our mediatrix. In this sense she is our life, because she will lead us to God, the Source of Life.

Now, in order to possess God, man must follow in the footsteps of His Son. He must accept the way of the Cross as the Master does. He must undergo another Calvary, if he is to enjoy life eternal. Truly does the author of the precious little book, The Following of Christ, declare: "If, indeed, there had been anything better and more beneficial to man's salvation than suffering, Christ certainly would have showed it by word and example."