FOURTH DAY
Mary's
Question
PREPARATORY PRAYER
My Queen, my Mother, remember I am
thine own. Keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession!
MEDITATION
Well versed as Mary was in Holy
Scripture, she fully understood the words she had heard and knew their great
import. She was destined to become the Mother of the Most High, the Son of God.
But there is an obstacle which prevents her from giving immediate assent. She
has solemnly vowed her virginity to God. Not knowing how the mystery announced
to her was to be accomplished, and intent above all on keeping inviolate her vow,
she interrupts her silence by the short but comprehensive question, "How
shall this be done, because I know not man?" (Luke 1. 34.) This is the
first word of Mary recorded in the Gospel.
PRACTICE
"How shall this be done, because
I know not man?" Truly a momentous question, proceeding from her knowledge
of the great excellence and value before God of virginity, which, before Mary,
was unknown to the world.
Let us follow Mary's example and
esteem holy purity and chastity above all things. Let us remember how highly
Holy Scripture extols this virtue. "O how beautiful is the chaste
generation with glory; for the memory thereof is immortal, because it is known
both with God and with men" (Wis. iv. 1). St. Athanasius writes: "O
chastity, thou precious pearl, found by few, even hated by some, and sought
only by those who are worthy of thee! Thou art the joy of the prophets, the
ornament of the apostles, the life of the angels, the crown of the
saints." Let us therefore carefully guard this inestimable treasure.
Prayer
Mary, mighty Virgin, thou who on the
day of thy annunciation wast found by the archangel so prompt and ready to do
God's will, and to correspond with the desires of the august Trinity, who
wished for thy consent in order to redeem the world; obtain for me that,
whatever happens, good or ill, I may turn to my God, and with resignation say,
"Be it done unto me according to thy word."
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