Sermon for Our Lady's Birthday—II

Extract

‘How can that be', said Mary, ‘since I have no knowledge of man?'—and in these words showed herself holy in body and spirit, a virgin without stain and vowed to rem.ain so. The angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Don't question me about it', he said. ‘This plan is far beyond my reach, and no thought of mine can attain it. It is the Holy Spirit, not an angelic spirit, that will come upon you, and you will be overshadowed by the power of the Most High, not by any power of mine.'

Mary must not be content with a place among the angels; the parched earth cries out to her for relief that they could never and she will scarcely have left them behind when she will find what her soul longs for.