God did not bestow all her gifts and graces
on Mary for her own sake. She had done nothing
to earn that first grace that was the foundation of
all the rest. It was the free gift of God. He chose
her of His own good pleasure. He fixed His love
upon her simply because He willed to do so, "that
He might show the riches of His glory on the vessel
of mercy that He had prepared to glory" (Rom. ix.
23), and to a glory more resplendent than the combined
glory of all the other Saints.
But He had a special object in the exceeding
glory conferred on His chosen daughter. It was
because she was to entertain her Creator, because
she was to carry in her womb the co-equal and
co-eternal Son of God. It would have been unworthy
of the Divinity that God should take to
Himself flesh from one whose flesh had ever been
tainted with sin. It was to adorn a house for Himself
when He came to dwell amongst men that
Mary was adorned with such surpassing beauty.
Mary was also decked with these wondrous
graces to prepare her for her work of intercession.
If she was to be the Mother of all men, to take
them all under her sacred protection, it was right
that she should be from the first far exalted above
them all, their model as well as their Queen and
their Mother. O happy we, to have such a Mother
and such a model!
Him who gave us such a Mother,
Let our grateful songs proclaim,
Loving hearts and joyful voices
Praise her great Creator's name.