Novena
for the Annunciation of the
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THIRD DAY
The Effect of the Angel's
Salutation
PREPARATORY PRAYER
My Queen, my Mother, remember I am
thine own. Keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession!
MEDITATION
The effect of the angel's salutation
on Mary was striking. Imbued with sentiments quite different from ours, she was
troubled at the praise addressed to her. Meanwhile she is silent and considers
within herself what might be the meaning of these words. And now the angel
calls her by name, saying, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with
God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and
thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son
of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His
father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom
there shall be no end"
PRACTICE
Let us admire the prudence shining
forth in Mary. After hearing the angel's words of praise she was silent and
thought within herself what kind of a salutation this was. She is very careful
and prudent. On this her conduct St. Thomas Aquinas remarks: "Mary did not
refuse to believe, nor did she receive the message with credulity. She avoided
Eve's gullibility and the distrust of Zachary the high priest." And St.
Bernard writes: "Mary preferred to remain silent in humility, rather than
to speak inconsiderately." Let us strive always to speak and act with
deliberation. Our conversation ought always to be judicious; for often a word
spoken inconsiderately causes bitter regret. St. Thomas Aquinas observes:
"Song was given to a number of creatures, but human beings alone were
endowed with the faculty of speech, to indicate that in speaking we should use
our reason." And St. Chrysostom says: "Let us always guard our tongue;
not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper
time."
I rejoice with thee, O Virgin ever
blessed, because by thy humble word of consent thou didst draw down from the
bosom of the eternal Father the divine Word into thy own pure bosom. O draw, then,
ever my heart to God; and with God bring grace into my heart that I may ever
sincerely bless thy word of consent, so mighty and so efficacious.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is
with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour
of death. Amen.
Ejaculation
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray to
Jesus for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment