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 the “cause  of  our  joy”,  in  the  words  of  her  Litany,  and  should  venerate her as  the  “Mother  most  pure”,  through  whom  our  Redeemer  was  given to us. The Feast  of  her  Annunciation  is  kept  on  March  25th.

The Angelical  Salutation  (the  Hail  Mary). A pious writer  (Ludolphus) says about  this  salutation:  “Mark  well:  God  the  Father  entrusted  the angel with  this  salutation,  sending  it  by  him  to  the  Virgin. Therefore, never can  she  be  addressed  in  words  more  honourable,  more  pleasing, or more  agreeable  to  her.”

The Angelus.  Besides  the  Hail  Mary,  thrice  repeated,  the  Angelus contains: 1. the message  of  the  angel;  2. the consent  of  Mary;  3. the result of  her  consent,  namely,  the  Incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God. It therefore  reminds  us  of  the  beginning  of  our  Redemption  and of the  part  Mary  had  in  it. The words  which  it  contains  and  which are repeated  by  us  three  times  every  day,  are  more  important,  more significant and  more  precious  than  any  other  words  that  human  lips can utter,  with  the  exception  of  the  “Our  Father”.

The virtues  of  Mary.  The  story  we  have  just  heard  shows  forth especially Mary’s  faith,  chastity,  and  humility. Firstly, the  angel  announced to her  something  stupendous,  namely,  that  God  was  about  to  become Man, and  that  she,  without  losing  her  virginity,  was  to  be  His  Mother: and Mary  confidently  believed  what  was  told  her. Secondly, she  had made a vow  of  virginity,  in  the  full  persuasion  that  the  state  of  virginity was a far  higher  one  and  far  more  pleasing  to  God  than  that  of  maternity. This being  perfectly  true,  God  combined  the  two  in  her  case  and  gave her the  glory  of  both  states. Lastly, her  humility  has  been  shown  forth. She was  troubled  by  the  angel’s  respectful  manner  of  salutation,  and, in spite  of  all  he  had  said,  she  still  called  herself  the  handmaid  of the  Lord. “God resisteth  the  proud  and  giveth  grace  to  the  humble.” (James 4,  6.)  Mary,  in  real  humility,  abased  herself;  therefore  God raised her  to  the  highest  dignity.

''Comparison between  Eve  and  Mary. '' Eve was  the  mother  of  all mankind, according  to  the  flesh: Mary  is  the  spiritual  mother  of  all  the faithful. Both entered  life  without  the  stain  of  sin,  and  in  a state  of grace;  but  Eve  lost  grace,  while  Mary,  on  the  contrary,  preserved  it and  increased  it  by  corresponding  with  it. Eve thoughtlessly  allowed herself to  be  deceived  by  the  devil,  without  asking  herself  whether  it were  a good  or  an  evil  spirit  who  spoke  through  the  serpent; but  Mary pondered, and  asked  herself  whether  the  salutation  of  the  angel  came from God  or  not. Eve conversed  with  the  devil,  for  the  ruin  of  man: Mary with  Gabriel,  for  the  salvation  of  man. Eve sinned  by  unbelief: while Mary  believed  the  wonderful  message  which  God  sent. Eve sinned by pride,  wishing  to  be  as  God:  Mary  was  humble,  calling  herself  the handmaid of  the  Lord. Eve was  disobedient  to  God:  Mary  gave  herself over  entirely  to  His  will. Eve consented  to  sin: Mary  to  God’s  will. Eve, by  her  pride,  degraded  herself,  and  brought  sin  and  death  on  all