she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church "Alma Mater", Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God. Memorare 3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal that never was it known that anyone who her from nearly every other human creature in fled to your protection, implored your help her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. or sought your intercession was left unaided. Her own parents did not really know her; and Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, the angels would often ask one another, "Who can she possibly be?", for God had hidden her O Virgin of virgins our Mother. To you do from them, or if he did reveal anything to we come, before you we stand, sinful and them, it was nothing compared with what he withheld. sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, 1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary 4. God the Father willed that she should perform hear and answer us, that Jesus came into the world, and it is no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although he had given her the power to do also through her that he must reign in so. God the Son willed that she should speak Amen. the world. very little although he had imparted his wisdom to her. Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that his apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known. 8. Every day, from one end of the earth to the other, in 11. Moreover, we should repeat after the Holy Spirit, 5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God the highest heaven and in the lowest abyss, all things "All the glory of the king's daughter is within", and he has reserved the knowledge and possession preach, all things proclaim the wondrous Virgin meaning that all the external glory which heaven and of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of Mary. The nine choirs of angels, men and women of earth vie with each other to give her is nothing God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her every age, rank and religion, both good and evil, compared to what she has received interiorly from during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. even the very devils themselves are compelled by the her Creator, namely, a glory unknown to insignificant He called her "Woman" as if she were a stranger, force of truth, willingly or unwillingly, to call her creatures like us, who cannot penetrate into the although in his heart he esteemed and loved her blessed. secrets of the king. above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only According to St. Bonaventure, all the angels in 12. Finally, we must say in the words of the apostle Paul, he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place heaven unceasingly call out to her: "Holy, holy, holy "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater Mary, Virgin Mother of God." They greet her man understood" the beauty, the grandeur, the and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the countless times each day with the angelic greeting, excellence of Mary, who is indeed a miracle of universe, not excluding his dwelling above the "Hail, Mary", while prostrating themselves before miracles of grace, nature and glory. "If you wish to cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, her, begging her as a favour to honour them with understand the Mother," says a saint, "then may enter there without being specially privileged. one of her requests. According to St. Augustine, understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God." even St. Michael, though prince of all the heavenly Hic taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be 6. I declare with the saints: Mary is the earthly paradise court, is the most eager of all the angels to honour silent. of Jesus Christ the new Adam, where he became her and lead others to honour her. At all times he man by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to awaits the privilege of going at her word to the aid of 13. My heart has dictated with special joy all that I have accomplish in her wonders beyond our one of her servants. written to show that Mary has been unknown up till understanding. She is the vast and divine world of now, and that that is one of the reasons why Jesus God where unutterable marvels and beauties are to 9. The whole world is filled with her glory, and this is Christ is not known as he should be. be found. She is the magnificence of the Almighty especially true of Christian peoples, who have where he hid his only Son, as in his own bosom, and chosen her as guardian and protectress of kingdoms, with him everything that is most excellent and provinces, dioceses, and towns. Many cathedrals are If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom precious. What great and hidden things the all- consecrated to God in her name. There is no church of Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only powerful God has done for this wonderful creature, without an altar dedicated to her, no country or as she herself had to confess in spite of her great region without at least one of her miraculous images be as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and humility, "The Almighty has done great things for where all kinds of afflictions are cured and all sorts reign of Mary. She who first gave him to the world will me." The world does not know these things because of benefits received. Many are the confraternities establish his kingdom in the world. it is incapable and unworthy of knowing them. and associations honouring her as patron; many are the orders under her name and protection; many are 7. The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the the members of sodalities and religious of all holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, congregations who voice her praises and make they were never more eloquent and more pleased known her compassion. There is not a child who than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain does not praise her by lisping a Hail Mary. There is that the height of her merits rising up to the throne scarcely a sinner, however hardened, who does not of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of possess some spark of confidence in her. The very her love which is wider than the earth cannot be devils in hell, while fearing her, show her respect. measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; 10. And yet in truth we must still say with the saints: De and the depths of her profound humility and all her Maria numquam satis : We have still not praised, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What exalted, honored, loved and served Mary adequately. are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy incomprehensible height! What indescribable She is worthy of even more praise, respect, love and womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an service. sinners now and at the hour of our death. impenetrable abyss!