St. Bernard: De laudibus Virginis Matris, Hom. 2,
4-5 (Monastic Breviary: Mense Octobri Sabbato 2)
To whom would such victory be reserved if not to
Mary? It is obvious that it was she who bruised this venomous head, for she
brought to nothing all suggestions of the evil one, those of carnal lust as
well as those of spiritual pride. Whom else was Solomon looking for when he
said, 'Who shall find a valiant woman?'
That wise man* was well acquainted with the weakness of this sex, frail
in body and fickle in mind. But because he had read God's promise that he who
had prevailed over woman would in turn be prevailed over by her, and realizing
that this was only right, he exclaimed, greatly amazed: 'Who shall find a valiant woman?' This is to
say: if the salvation of all of us, the restitution of our innocence and the victory
over the enemy hang upon the hand of a woman, * it becomes very necessary
indeed that he foresee that she be equal to so great a task.
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