The Feast of the Annunciation
.. For this reason, the moment God had chosen her to be his
mother, He exacted from her the most authentic proofs of an
inviolable attachment to purity. Thus, it is not in a crowd, or
idle conversation, but in a retreat, that the angel finds her.
It is not from the distraction of diversions and entertainments
that he calls her aside to deliver his message: no; she is
alone in her house, with the door shut; "and," as St. Ambrose
says, "he must be an angel that gets entrance there."
Hence, according to the same holy father, it was not the angel's
appearance that gave her trouble, for he will not have it to be
doubted but heavenly visions and a commerce with the blessed
spirits had been familiar to her. But what alarmed her, he says,
was the angel's appearing in human form, in the shape of a
young man. What might add to her fright on the occasion, was
his addressing her in the strain of praise, which kind of words
flattery often puts in the mouths of ill-designing men. And how
few, alas! are able to withstand such dangers? But Mary,
guarded by her modesty, is in confusion at expressions of this
sort, and dreads the least appearance of deluding flattery. Such
high commendations make her cautious how she answers, till in
silence she has more fully considered of the matter: She revolved
in her mind, says St. Luke, what manner of salutation this should be.
Ah! what numbers of innocent souls have been corrupted
for want of using the like precautions! Mary is retired, but
how seldom now-a-days are young virgins content to stay
at home! Mary is silent when commended, and answered
not a word till she had well considered what she ought to
say; but now it is to be feared that young women never
think so little as when they are entertained with flattery.
Every soothing word is but too apt to slide from the ear to
the heart; and who can tell what multitudes by their unwary
methods, suffer shipwreck of their modesty, and then of their
purity? For how can this be long-lived after having lost all
its guardians? No, it cannot be. Unless a virgin be
assiduous in prayer and spiritual reading, modest in her
dress, prudent and wary in her choice of company, and
extremely careful in the government of her eyes and tongue
when she happens to be in conversation with the other sex,
there is but too much reason to apprehend that either her
heart is already betrayed, or in danger of being vanquished
by the next assault of her spiritual enemy. A dread of, and
a speedy flight from all dangerous occasions is the only
security of virtue and innocence. Presumption wants no
other tempter. Even Mary, though confirmed in grace, was
only secure by this fear and distrust in herself.
A second cause why Mary was disturbed at the words of the
angel was, because they contained her praises. Humble souls
always tremble and sink with confusion in their own minds when
they hear themselves commended, because they are deeply
penetrated with a sense of their own weakness and insufficiency,
and they consider contempt as their due. They know that
the glory of all gifts belongs solely to God, and they justly fear
lest the poison of praise should insinuate itself into their minds;
being sensible how infinitely dangerous honors and flattery are
to humility. Are these our sentiments? Do we never speak of
ourselves to our own advantage? Do we never artfully praise
ourselves, or willingly lend an ear to what flatterers say to
applaud us? Are we troubled when we hear ourselves praised?
What gives trouble but to too many is, that men give
them not what they take to be their right; and that their praises
equal not the notion they have framed of their merits. The high
eulogiums bestowed on Mary by the angel she answers no
otherwise then by a profound silence, by a saintly trouble of
mind, which, with a modest blush, appears in her countenance.
From Butler's Lives of the Saints, "The Annunciation"
