From the Monastic Diurnal: Officium sanctae Mariae in sabatto: Mense Augusto

Sermon of St. Bernard: De Assumptione B.V.M. Sermo 4: n. 5

There is nothing, which delights me more, but also nothing, which terrifies me more, than to give a sermon on the glory of the Virgin Mother. Look, if I praise her virginity, there follows many virgins presented to me. If I speak of her humility, maybe a few will be found, who after her Son’s teaching, made meek and lowly of heart. If I wish to make much of her mercy, there are some, both men and women, who have a multitude of mercy.  There is one thing in which she is like no one, either before or after her, the joy of motherhood with the honor of virginity. To Mary belongs a privilege given to no other; it will be given to no other. It is unique but because of that it is found to be ineffable.

Sermon of St. Bernard: De Assumptione B.V.M. Sermo 4: n.1

It is time for all flesh to speak, when the Mother of the Incarnate Word is taken to heaven, all humanity should praise without ceasing, for in the Virgin, human nature is exalted above all immortal spirits. But although devotion does not permit us to be silent about her glory, mere thought does not conceive anything worthy, nor does untaught speech give birth to it. Thus, it is when celestial powers see such a thing, the cry ought loud, who is this, who comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Why shouldn’t I declare such delights about gracious virginity joined to the gift of fruitfulness, the honor of humility, the honeycomb dripping with charity, the womb of mercy, the fulness of grace, unique and glorious singularity.

Sermon of St. Benedict: De Assumptione B.V.M. Sermo 4: n.1

The Queen of the world rising from the dessert is made beautiful, charming in her delights, even to the holy Angels, as the Church sings. But let them stop being amazed by the delights of this wilderness, for the Lord has given his goodness and the earth has given forth its fruit. Why are they amazed that from a desert Mary ascends abounding with delights? Let them rather be amazed that Christ came down from the richness of the heavenly kingdom as a poor man. For it seems a far greater miracle that the Son God was made a little lower than the angels than that the Mother of God should be exalted above the angels. But if his self-emptying was made our fulfillment, his miseries are the world’s delights.  In short, he who was rich for our sake became poor that he might enrich us by poverty.