31 Meditations for Advent and Christmas
"The King Who is to come; O come let us adore Him."
29th Day: THE LITTLE MAID
"The King Who is to come; O come let us adore Him."
29th Day: THE LITTLE MAID
There is a tradition which asserts that, besides
Joseph and Mary, there was present in the stable
at Bethlehem a little maid, who had accompanied
them from Nazareth, and who ministered to our
Lady and the new-born Child.
Consider the happiness of this little servant, who was privileged to wait upon the holy Mother of God. If to wait upon a Queen is considered an honor worthy of maidens of the highest birth, how much more to wait upon the Queen of Heaven! Angels must have envied her the task, and longed to be allowed to share in it, I, too, can wait upon Mary, by walking in processions in her honor, by kneeling before her statue, by offering her flowers or votive candles; or if this is out of my power, by declaring to her my loyalty and desire to serve her.
Consider how this maiden had a still greater privilege. She ministered to God Himself as He lay in the manger. She had the singular honor of being the first after His Mother and St. Joseph to wait upon the King of kings; to carry Him in. her arms, and to look upon the Face of God; to fold Him to her bosom. How pure and holy she must have been. How pure and holy I ought to be, who in Holy Communion am brought into still closer contact with the Sacred Body of Christ!
Consider how you would have acted had you been that little servant. Imagine yourself ministering to the Infant Jesus. How unworthy of the task, yet how eager to fulfill it well, to anticipate the wishes of Mary! Do I thus minister to Him in His brethren?
Consider the happiness of this little servant, who was privileged to wait upon the holy Mother of God. If to wait upon a Queen is considered an honor worthy of maidens of the highest birth, how much more to wait upon the Queen of Heaven! Angels must have envied her the task, and longed to be allowed to share in it, I, too, can wait upon Mary, by walking in processions in her honor, by kneeling before her statue, by offering her flowers or votive candles; or if this is out of my power, by declaring to her my loyalty and desire to serve her.
Consider how this maiden had a still greater privilege. She ministered to God Himself as He lay in the manger. She had the singular honor of being the first after His Mother and St. Joseph to wait upon the King of kings; to carry Him in. her arms, and to look upon the Face of God; to fold Him to her bosom. How pure and holy she must have been. How pure and holy I ought to be, who in Holy Communion am brought into still closer contact with the Sacred Body of Christ!
Consider how you would have acted had you been that little servant. Imagine yourself ministering to the Infant Jesus. How unworthy of the task, yet how eager to fulfill it well, to anticipate the wishes of Mary! Do I thus minister to Him in His brethren?