9781644135945

The Light of the World
He has given her everything! To virginity and purity God reveals His mysteries. “Blessed are
the clean of heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8).
“Behold a virgin.” A virgin stands at the portals of our redemption. In a sense, the accomplishment
of our redemption depends on her alone, for it depends on her giving her consent
to the plan proposed by God. She gives her consent when she replies to the message
of the angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word”
(Lk 1:38). But before giving her consent she inquires cautiously, “How shall this be done,
because I know not man?” Observe Mary’s high regard for her virginity. She is determined to
remain a virgin. She had previously accepted the life of virginity as God’s will in her regard,
and in the fullness of understanding which God had given her, had recognized the value of
this state of life. Now she desires with her whole soul to remain a virgin if this be the will
of God. A person who gives himself freely to the life of virginity for the love of God, has
given to God all that it is possible to give. He has given God the highest expression of pure
love and of perfect faith.
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” Mary need not fear for her virginity, for God is also
concerned that she remain a virgin. He does not intend to violate her virginity; on the contrary,
He will sanctify her virginity by divine maternity. The power of the Holy Ghost will come upon
her, and the power of the Most High will overshadow her, and the Son of God will descend
and take up His abode in her virginal body. She becomes His handmaid and His mother. Her
concern is that the will of God be accomplished in her. She stands there at the turning point of
history to point out the way of salvation for men. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”
In our daily Holy Communion we, too, experience the conception of Christ in our own
lives. What a privilege and honor is ours! How great, then, should be our purity and devotion
when we approach this holy sacrament! Like Mary, we should declare ourselves the handmaid
of the Lord and imitate the virtues of the Virgin of Nazareth.
Prayer
Hail, Virgin Mother, Star of the Sea,
O Gate of Heaven, we come to thee;
The joy the angel brought is mine,
The name of Eve is changed for thine.
You free th’ earth’s slaves and bring them light,
You put the hellish hordes to flight.
Now prove thyself our one true mother
Left to us by Christ our brother.
O ever virgin, fair and pure,
When thou art near we feel secure.
Now give thy faltering children strength,
And take us to our home at length,
That we may join in praising thee
Both now and in eternity.
Amen.
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