Page:Sermons in Irish-Gaelic - O'Gallagher.djvu/79

Rh When a Queen comes for the first time to a realm or to a city, every person feels a desire and a longing to see her; the lowly and the noble, the weak, and the strong; the poor and the rich, go forth to meet her and to bid her welcome; nothing is to be seen but feasting and rejoicings; wines poured out in abundance; cannons firing salutes; harps and organs giving out melodious strains; gifts and presents of great value bestowed on the princess,—in a word, every kind of festivity and of pleasurable joy is indulged in on the occasion of either a prince or a princess coming to take possession of the crown.

This is what takes place, I say, in regard to princes of this world. But anything— even the most superb and solemn display which can be performed on earth—is not worth counting, or worth being narrated, in comparison with the grand solemnization, and exuberance of joy which was felt in the abode of the blessed on the occasion of the Queen of Heaven entering to take possession of the crown of glory. The nine orders of angels came out to meet her, singing as they came, harmonious songs and canticles of praise. The prophets in like manner came out to meet her. The patriarchs, too, and those apostles who had been before her; and all the saints, men and women, of that heavenly home came forth to bid her welcome. The whole court of heaven were of one acclaim in chanting songs of joy and welcome, in sounding the praises of Mary, Queen of Paradise.

You will say, dear Christians, all that, in your opinion was quite enough to give expression to the amount of honor which should be bestowed in hailing the presence of any creature who, as such, is inferior to God. But Christ did not deem it enough. He did still more than all this for his mother. He himself went forth to meet her; He put the crown of glory on her head; rays and the effulgence of glory, the while, beaming from her countenance. With exultant joy and with delight He received