Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/477

 who was  a  figure  of  Christ,  introduced  the  ark  of  the Covenant into  the  temple  of  God  amid  the  rejoicings and thanksgivings  of  the  entire  people,  so  did  Christ introduce into  heaven,  Mary,  body  and  soul;  Mary, the ark  of  the  New  Covenant,  amid  the  joyful  acclaims of  the  whole  heavenly  court. Who can imagine the  splendor  of  that  scene — the  myriads  of the  angels  and  the  blessed  whom  eye  hath  not  seen; the sweet  strains  of  their  celestial  chant  which  ear hath not  heard;  and  the  glory  of  her  divine  Son  which it hath  not  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive! And who  shall  describe  the  emotions  of  Mary  as, standing by  her  Son,  glorified  and  immortal,  she compares the  misery  of  the  past  with  the  joy  of  the present; her  former  lowliness  with  her  present  exalted dignity! The wound  made  by  the  sword  of sorrow  that  pierced  her  heart  is  now  healed  by  the blessed balm  of  heavenly  peace — and  the  obscurity that has  hitherto  enshrouded  her  is  now  dispelled  by the  voice  of  God  proclaiming  through  heaven: " Come  forth,  ye  daughters  of  Sion,  come  forth  and see  your  Queen  with  the  diadem  wherewith  her  Son hath  crowned  her."

Brethren, if  we  wish  one  day  to  imitate  the  Virgin Mary in  her  glorious  Assumption;  if  we  desire  to enter  the  kingdom  of  God,  into  the  rest  and  the  joy  of Our  Lord,  to  do  homage  to  our  crowned  Queen,  we must  first  learn  to  imitate  the  example  of  her  life. Our faith must  be  strong  and  not  carried  hither  and thither by  every  new  doctrine;  our  hope  must  be  firm, having for  its  object  not  the  uncertainty  of  worldly things but  the  living  God;  and  our  charity  must  be