The Annunciation by Francesco Albani
The Third Day
Within
THE
OCTAVE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Let us contemplate
our Blessed Lady's being visited by the Angel Gabriel, and conceiving in her
chaste womb the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of mankind. But that
we may the better relish the sweetness of this great Mystery, let us listen to
the Seraphic St. Bonaventure, who, in his Meditations on the Life of Christ,
has brought these sublime scenes of the Gospel so vividly before us, that one
would almost suppose it was an eye-witness was speaking to us.
No human language has ever surpassed the
unction and pathos of these Meditations.
Now, when the fullness of that time had come, wherein the Most High
Trinity, in exceeding love, had decreed to save mankind by the Incarnation of
the Word; the Divine Mercy, and the instant prayers of the blessed Spirits,
pressed for the accomplishment of this redemption. The Blessed Virgin Mary
having returned to Nazareth, the Almighty called unto him the Archangel Gabriel,
and thus spake unto him: Go thou unto our well-beloved Daughter Mary, that is espoused
unto Joseph, she that is dear unto us above all our creatures; and say unto
her, that the ‘Son of God hath been taken with her beauty, and chosen her that
she be his Mother.’ Pray her that 'she accept him joyously, for that through
her have I decreed to save all mankind, and no longer remember the injuries
done unto me.'
Whereupon, Gabriel arose
joyous and glad, and flew from on high, and suddenly stood in a human form
before the Virgin Mary, who was in the inner chamber of her cot. But not so quick had been his flight, but that he found already there the
Holy Trinity, that had gone before their ambassador. As soon, therefore, as the faithful Spirit
Gabriel perceived the Virgin Mary, he said: Hail!
Full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. But she was troubled, and answered him
not a word. Her trouble came not from a guilty fear, nor from the sight of
Gabriel, for oft-times did she receive
the visits of the Angels; but, according to what the Gospel saith, she was
troubled at his saying, thinking within herself upon it, for that it was strange unto her to hear Gabriel speak such manner of salutation.
Ave, gratia plena!
The humble Virgin was
perforce troubled at it, finding therein three praises of herself. She was
praised for that she was full of grace; and that the Lord was with her; and that she was blessed above all women. He that is humble, cannot hear his own
praise without blushes and trouble. Therefore, Mary was troubled with fitting and virtuous shame. She began
wondering how this that she heard could be true; not forasmuch as she suspected
the Angel's having said aught that was false, but by reason that the humble ever ponder their defects and not their virtues, whereby they may always advance; counting
their great virtue to be little, and
their little defects great. As one that was prudent and wary, timid and
bashful, she answered not. In truth, what could she say? Do thou learn, from
her example, to be silent, and to love to speak little, for exceeding great and useful is this virtue. Twice is she spoke unto, before she speaks once,
for it is a thing intolerable that a virgin should be a great talker.
As soon, therefore, as the
Angel saw that she was thus in doubt, he said: 'Fear not, Mary, neither blush'
thou at the praises I have spoken unto thee, for they are most true. Thou
thyself art full of grace; nay, 'verily, I tell thee, that thou hast found for
man the grace he had lost. For behold! thou shalt conceive 'and bring forth a
Son, that hath chosen thee for his 'Mother, and he shall save all that put their
trust in him.’ Whereupon she made answer, heeding nothing the praises of the
Angel, but seeking how it could be that that should not be taken from her,
which was precious unto her above measure; and she asked of the Angel, saying:
'How shall this be?’ for I have vowed 'my Virginity for ever unto God, that I
never should know man.' The Angel answered, and said: It shall be done by the
operation of the Holy Ghost, who shall fill thee as no tongue can speak. Thou 'shalt
conceive by his power, yet shalt remain a pure Virgin, and therefore shall thy
son be called the Son of God.’ For unto God nothing is impossible. For thy
cousin Elizabeth, that is old and called barren, ‘has conceived a son by the
power of God, now these 'six months past.
Consider here, I beseech
thee, for God's sake, how the Trinity is there, waiting the answer and consent
of this their most beloved daughter, and taking delight in her modesty, and
ways, and words; and also, how diligent and wise is the Angel in his endeavour
to obtain her consent, and how admirable are his words, and how he stands with
his head bowed down before his and our Lady, with a placid and recollected
look, doing his embassy with exactitude, and attentively noting Mary's words,
so as to be able to satisfy her in his answers, and execute the divine will in
this wondrous work. See, too, how our Lady stands
in holy fear and humility, showing in her face the blush of modesty, and
surprise at this so sudden visit of the Angel. Neither have his words
extolled her in her own esteem: and albeit they were such as never had been
spoken to mortal, yet does she attribute nought
to herself, but all to grace.
Mary Ever-Virgin, Mother of God - Francesco Albani
Learn, therefore, of her to have modesty
and humility, for without them even virginity
availeth little. The most prudent Virgin is full of joy, and gives consent
unto the words of the Angel. Then, as is related in the revelations made to a
devout servant of God, throwing herself on her knees with intense devotion, and
joining her hands together, she said unto the Angel: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done
unto me according to thy word.' Then straightways did the Son of God enter
the Virgin's womb, and took unto himself flesh of her substance, and though his
whole Person was there, yet did he not cease to abide still wholly in the bosom
of his Father.
Then did Gabriel also kneel
down, and shortly after rise up together with our Lady, He once more bowed down
even unto the ground, and wishing her farewell, he disappeared: and going back to heaven, he related all these things, and a new joy was
there, and a new feast, and exceeding great jubilee. But our Lady, all devout, and burning with
a love of God such as she had felt not before, for she perceived what was done within her, knelt to give thanks for
this so great gift, humbly and devoutly supplicating the divine Majesty that he
would vouchsafe to teach her how she should comport herself with all perfection
in her treatment of this his Only Begotten Son.
Such
is the description of the mystery of the Annunciation given us by the Seraphic
Doctor. Let us profoundly adore our
Creator, who has thus humbled himself out of love for us, and from the desire he has to succour us in our misery. Let us also salute Mary, the Mother of
God and of men.
The Annunciation, Detail - Antonello da Messina,1430–1479
Prose
(Taken from the Cluny Missal of 1523)
This is a day of joy! let us
celebrate it in honour of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, who
gave us him that cleansed us
from sin.
He that is the source of
true light, brought up this
Branch from the root of
Jesse; and his wisdom has
made her the temple
of his grace.
It is a new rising of a new
Star, at which our death
dies: it is now that what
was lost by the fall of Eve, is
found again in Mary.
This is the Holy Virgin
that is described as the
Aurora rising, as the lovely
moon,as the sun, the
brightest of orbs.
O Virgin Mother, Virgin
of Virgins, fragrant cloud of
smoke, sun shedding the
perfume of its light! in thee
both heaven and earth delight.
In the fullness of time,
the Word of the
Father entered into thy chaste
womb; wholly in thee, and
wholly in the bosom
of his Father.
Jesus, the beautiful fruit
of a virgin tree, snatched us,
in his giant strength, from
the claims which sin and
hell had upon us.
This God, that saved the
human race, is the Son of
the Virgin: in that Virgin's
praise all may justly
speak and sing.
He that might have
punished us for the sin of
our first parents, became
himself the Mediator
between God and man.
In thy chaste womb, O
Mary! was made that
merciful barter, whereby
salvation was given to the
sinner. Truly, then, thou art
the cause of our joy and hope!
Oh! pray, that after running
the race of this present life,
we may receive the looked
for prize in heaven. Amen.
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