VIRGIN MOST VENERABLE

(1) MARY, you are the Virgin Most Venerable because the Old Testament pays you the greatest veneration and honor. In the first of all the prophesies you were the woman who was to crush the serpent's head. You are announced and, with Christ, solemnly promised to the world as the Mother of the future Redeemer, as the victorious heroine who shall destroy the power of the devil.

The prophets, too, speak of you in most beautiful comparisons. You are to them that precious bud of the root of Jesse from which comes forth the Savior; the blessed earth of which the Savior is born (Isaias 45,8); the chaste spouse who enjoys the most intimate love of God (Canticles 4,9); the glorious queen upon whom the angels look in amazement, and who sits at the right of God (Ps. 44,10). Isaias speaks of a miracle: a sign which God will give to His people, and in which the full splendor of His power shall be made known. You are this sign; you are to become a Mother and still remain a virgin; you shall bring forth a Son who will be God and Man at the same time: "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth and they shall call his name Emmanuel" (Isaias 7,14).

(2) MARY, in the New Testament you are revered as the Mother of God and Mediatrix of grace. God sends an angel to you, who greets you, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1,28). Of the Holy Spirit you conceive the Son of God and become a Mother without ceasing to be a virgin. Then at your visit to Elizabeth, she is filled with the Holy Spirit, and her infant is sanctified and leaps in her womb.

In the Apocalypse St. John proclaims your greatness as Mother of God: "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (12,1). You are this woman of whom it is said that she brought forth a male child who was to rule all nations with an iron rod, because you brought forth the Son of God, the ruler of heaven and earth.

Virgin Most Venerable, there is no creature in heaven or on earth worthy of such high honor as you deserve, because you are the Mother of God. Fill my heart with a tender and childlike love for you. By venerating you I hope to please your dear Son Jesus, who loved you more than anyone else ever could.

(3) MARY, you are deserving of veneration because of your dignity. If we honor great people on earth because of their dignity, we should all the more venerate you who by a special privilege were chosen to become the Mother of God. Why should we not honor you who conceived and brought forth a God-Man, carried the true God in your arms, and by reason of your motherly authority could command Him? You have seen Him obey your every wish as an obedient son. You will ever remain the Mother of God, and Jesus will forever love you as His Mother. Hence you will be honored forever in heaven by all the angels and saints, even by God Himself. Should not the whole world imitate their example and give you loving veneration? Why should not 1, a poor miserable sinner who stands so much in need of your mercy and help, venerate and invoke you as my only hope?

Virgin Most Venerable, I wish to imitate the angels and saints in heaven, and all the faithful Christians on earth who love and venerate you. Help me in my daily needs. Look kindly upon the efforts I make to do you honor. Reward my life of devotion to you with the greatest of all graces—final perseverance in the grace of God, and the eternal possession of God in His heavenly kingdom.

O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary; grant us, Your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12)