o consider the eminent quality of Mother of God
as the source of all other graces bestowed on the Blessed Virgin, it
must yet be owned it is not the greatest, and that she was happier in
loving Jesus Christ, than in having conceived him and brought him forth.
She is blessed among women and above the rest of creatures, not
precisely on account of her maternity, but because she received a
fulness of grace proportioned to the dignity to which she was chosen. So
that, according to the remark of the holy fathers, she was happier for
her sanctity than for her dignity: for her virtues, than for her
privileges. Among her virtues, that of purity seems particularly
deserving of notice on this solemnity, as the epistle for this festival
{657} records that memorable prophecy of Isaias, _That a Virgin should
conceive and bring forth a son_;[8] the most remarkable of all the signs
God had promised the world for making known the accomplishment of the
mystery of man's redemption. And, indeed, right reason seemed to require
that she, who was to be the mother of God, should be of an integrity
above reproach, and incapable of yielding to any solicitation: it was
highly fit her virginity should be perfectly pure, and removed as far as
possible from the least suspicion of blemish. For this reason, the
moment God had chosen her to be his mother, he exacted from her the most
authentic proofs of an inviolable attachment to purity. Thus, it is not
in a crowd, or in idle conversation, but in a retreat, that the angel
finds her. It is not from the distraction of diversions and
entertainments that he calls her aside to deliver his message: no; she
is alone in her house, with the door shut; "and," as St. Ambrose says,
"he must be an angel that gets entrance there."[9] Hence, according to
the same holy father, it was not the angel's appearance that gave her
trouble, for he will not have it to be doubted but heavenly visions and
a commerce with the blessed spirits had been familiar to her. But what
alarmed her, he says, was the angel's appearing in human form, in the
shape of a young man. What might add to her fright on the occasion, was
his addressing her in the strain of praise, which kind of words flattery
often puts in the mouths of ill-designing men. And how few, alas! are
able to withstand such dangers? But Mary, guarded by her modesty, is in
confusion at expressions of this sort, and dreads the least appearance
of deluding flattery. Such high co