Instruction of St. Ambrose: The Blessed Virgin's role in the sanctification of
John the Baptist: Exposition Evang. Sec. Luc I.II. 22-23, 29
The attention of virgins has been drawn to Mary's delicacy,
and now it is for them to consider her humility. She went as one relation to
another, the younger visiting the elder; and not only did she make the journey,
but she was the first to speak—as was only right, since the more securely a
virgin possesses her chastity, the humbler she ought to be. The woman who
intends to keep herself chaste should know how to defer to her elders; she
should be a pattern of humility. The thought will both arouse your devotion and
serve to instruct you. What we have to notice is that it was the superior who
went to the inferior, and for the inferior's sake. Mary went to Elizabeth,
Christ to John; just as later, if Christ went to John to be baptized, it was to
raise baptism to new heights of holiness.
The boons that followed Mary's coming and the
Lord's presence were not slow in revealing themselves, No sooner had Elizabeth
heard Mary's greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself
was filled with the Holy Ghost. Notice the choice of words, each with its
precise shade of meaning. Elizabeth was the first to hear the voice, but John
the first to feel the grace it brought. Elizabeth's hearing was a natural
phenomenon; John's leaping was his response to a mystery. Elizabeth noticed
Mary's coming, John the Lord's: the woman was aware of the woman, the child of
the Child. While the two women talked of the favors they had received, the
children set to work within them and for their mothers' profit began to enact
the mystery we worship.2 Two wonders were wrought: the mothers prophesied, and
they prophesied under inspiration from their children.
Mary returned home when she had been with her
about three months.3 It is good to be told of Mary that she made herself useful
and that she used a sacred number. If she stayed so long, it was not merely for
the sake of her relation, but for the advantage of the child that was to be so
great a prophet. The moment she went in, things advanced so remarkably that at
the sound of her greeting the child leaped in the womb and its mother was
filled with the Holy Spirit; so that holy Mary's continued presence for so long
a time must have made more difference still. As she stayed with Elizabeth for
about three months, the prophet could be anointed and exercised, as a good
athlete should, even while he was in his mother's womb. And well he might be,
as it was no ordinary contest he was training for.
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