Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/78

 Brethren, this  then  is  the  Child  in  whom  the  Deity and humanity  met  and  kissed  and  were  reconciled. Looking forward— on  His  feeble  heart-beat  hangs the salvation  of  a  world;  looking  backward — He  is the  fulfilment  of  four  thousand  years  of  figure  and  of prophecy. However vague  and  worldly  their  ideas of the  future  Messias,  and  the  kingdom  He  was  to found,  the  Israelites  and  Jews  never  lost  faith  and hope in  His  ultimate  arrival. This expectancy  influenced largely  woman's  life. Celibacy was  practically unknown; fruitfulness  was  woman's  choicest  blessing and  barrenness  her  direst  curse,  for  every  mother of Israel  fondly  hoped  to  discover  some  day  the divine nature  of  the  Messias  beaming  on  her  through the bright  eyes  and  loving  smile  of  her  little  one. To one alone — Mary— came  a  light  from  God  to  know the higher  value  of  virginity. She alone  of  all,  by vow  of  chastity,  forfeited,  humanly  speaking,  her claim to  be  the  mother  of  the  coming  Saviour;  and, wondrous providence  of  God! she alone  of  all  was chosen for  that  honor.

Mary was  the  daughter  of  Joachim  and  Anna  of Nazareth,  humble  folk  enough  it  is  true,  and  yet descendants of  a  priestly  and  a  royal  line. They had but two  children,  Mary,  the  humble  virgin,  and  her younger sister,  Salome,  of  a  more  ambitious  and worldly turn  of  mind. Their relatives  were  few,  comprising Cleophas  and  Joseph,  bachelor  brothers  of Joachim,  living  in  Nazareth,  and  cousin  Elizabeth, Zachary's wife,  in  the  hill  country  of  Judea. Mary being heiress  to  all  her  folks  possessed,  she  was