St. Thomas of Villanova

 

St. Thomas of Villanova

OFFICE OF READINGS

 

From a sermon by St. Thomas of Villanova: Opera Om­nia Vol.5, PP 346-349. You shall give God a robe of flesh.

     

All the praises of the Virgin Mary may be summed up by saying that she is the Mother of God. For, what grace could be suitable for the Mother of God? What favor would God be unable to bestow on her? What blessing could her Son not but will for her?

     

When the time was ripe to reveal the mystery that had (as the Apostle says) been hidden through the ages and was now to be shown forth in the final age, God summoned Gabriel. “Go”, he tells him, “to the Virgin Mary, carry the message beyond all messages: God will become man in her.”

     

He enters [her room] and does homage on his knees. “Hail, Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you, “ far more than with me. , do you see and hear this great soldier of heaven? How he does homage to you? How he greets you? What then are your thoughts? Tell us: What. is your reply to him?  What thoughts run through your mind? He greets you: greet him in return?

     

What blush colors your virginal cheek? What rosy hue? Why are you disturbed? ‘Why hesitant and afraid? This is an angel, not a man! He is from heaven, not from earth; he greets you humbly and does not seek to’ over. whelm you; he carries no sword! Why then, are you disturbed? Why frightened? His greetings bring joy, not fear!

     

See how prudent the Virgin is: “She pondered what this greeting might mean.”  Virgin, why do you reflect before answering? This, after all, is an angel, not a serpent. Eve answered without thinking; the virgin ponders. Eve was quick to consent; Mary reflects on what her answer should be.   How different this blessed woman from that first woman of our race!  See, the angel speaks at length; he has now said all he wanted; he has fully carried out his embassy - but she has not yet spoken. How reserved she is! Learn from her all virgins, not to be too talkative. “How shall this take place since: do not know any man? I do not doubt the mystery; I only ask how will it be accomplished. 

 O virgin, how many virgins surrender the virginity to bear a child, and yet it is but a mortal man they bring to birth you have heard that you will give birth to God - and yet you hesitate! “How shall this take place”, angel of God?  However, it takes place, you will be the Mother of God. I could tell you virgin, of a way prefigured in the law. You know the scriptures; you surely know, after all that a virgin was to give him birth. Are not the law and the prophets, then, to be fulfilled?

     

Recall: the bush burned but was not consumed the flames roared through it but it remained intact. So, you shall be robed with the sun, yet your virginity will not be lessened.  You shall give him a robe with a body and be yourself robed by God.  You shall set the crown of mortality upon him; he shall crown you with a diadem of glory. You are a virgin, yet fruitful; you shall be a mother, yet unsullied, and have the joys of motherhood no less than the virgin’s high estate.