"It is neither to Jerusalem, the royal city, nor within the Temple that makes it great, nor in the sanctuary, which is the holiest part of the Temple, nor among the most holy exercises of a wholly divine function, nor to a man as famous for his virtue as for the dignity of his office that the holy angel is sent this time. No, this time God sent Gabriel to a small village in Galilee, one of the least esteemed of the provinces, to the wife of a man who, as she did, truly belonged to the royal household but had been reduced to a humble trade. This was no Elizabeth, whose virtue shone forth due to her husband's rank. It was not thus with the wife of Joseph, who was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus: the wife of an unknown artisan, of a poor carpenter. Ancient tradition teaches us that Mary too earned a living by her work, which is why the most ancient of the Fathers call Jesus Christ the son of a builder and a wage-earner.
"This is not the wife of a famous man, whose name was well-known: 'she had been betrothed to a man named Joseph, and her name was Mary.' Concerning externals, then, this second embassy of the angel is much illustrious than the other. But if we look more deeply, we will discover something much more elevated.
"The angel begins with these words of humble greeting: 'Hail, Mary, full of grace.' Hail, that is, most agreeable to God and full of his gifts, 'the Lord is within you, and you are blessed above all women' (cf. Luke 1:28). This discourse is in a much loftier tone than the one that was addressed to Zechariah. To him the angel said, 'Do not be afraid,' as to a man who has something to fear; and 'your prayers have been heard.' Yet what is announced to Mary is something so sublime and excellent that she could not have asked for it in her prayers. Mary, humble, hidden, small in her eyes, could not have begun to think that an angel would greet her, especially not with such noble words. It is humility that made her heart troubled. But the angel immediately said, 'Do not be afraid, Mary.' He did not begin with these words, as we have seen him do with Zechariah, but her humility called forth his reply: 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God; you will conceive in your womb and bear a son' (Luke 1:30-31). This marvelous conception will be followed by no less marvelous a birth. There are those who conceive but never give birth, who have only barren, fruitless thoughts. O my God! Grant, O Lord, that following the example of Mary, I too should conceive and give birth. And to whom should I give birth, if not to Jesus Christ? 'My little children,' said Saint Paul, 'I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!' (Galatians 4:19) As long as Jesus Christ, this is to say, consummate virtue, be not in us, it is only a weak and imperfect conception: Jesus Christ must be born in our souls by true virtue and raised to maturity according to the new law of the gospel.
"O Jesus, your reign is eternal: will I ever see it come to an end in my own heart? Will I ever cease to obey you? After having begun according to the spirit, will I finish according to the flesh? Will I repent of having done well? Will I hand myself over anew to the tempter, after so many holy efforts to escape from his clutches? Will pride ravage the harvest that is so ready to be gathered in? No, we must be one of those of whom it is written: 'Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.'" (Galatians 6:9)
~Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, French bishop, theologian, and court preacher (1627-1704)
"Grant, O Lord,
that following the example of Mary,
I too should conceive and give birth."
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