PART THE FIRST.

REFLECTIONS ON THE SEVEN DOLOURS.

ON THE FIRST DOLOUR OF MARY.

Holy Simeon foretells the Sorrows of

Mary.

FIRST POINT.

The law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, ordained that a woman, after childbirth, should undergo the ceremonies of Purification. For a certain time she was forbidden to appear in public, nor was she allowed to touch anything which was consecrated to the worship of the Most High. Besides this law of purification, we read in Leviticus of another law, which ordained that every first-born son should be offered to God, and, after his presentation, ransomed for a specified sum of money. Now, observe that Mary was

not bound to fulfil either of these laws. As regards the first, certainly it could not oblige her; since it supposed defilement in the person to be purified. But in Mary there was no stain; she was ever a most pure virgin, as even many enemies of our holy faith admit. Moreover, we know from the second chapter of St. Luke, that Jesus was conceived in her sacred womb by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Hence, our Blessed Lady was by no means bound to undergo any ceremony of purification. Again, one of the offerings made on the day of purification was a pigeon or a dove, to be sacrificed for sin. But what sin was there in Mary? Was it original sin? No! Because from her inviolate womb the Son of God Himself took that hallowed flesh with which He clothed his divine nature. Hence the holy fathers declare, and the Church teaches as an article of faith, that she was immaculate in and from her conception. Nor did she ever contaminate her soul by the slightest defilement of actual sin.

On her lips there was no deceit-in her heart no guile in her soul no imperfection. Gabriel, the archangel, solemnly declared that she was "full of grace.' "The Blessed Virgin, therefore, was not bound by the Levitical law, enacted for all other mothers in Israel.

Nor was she obliged to fulfil the law of presentation: first, because her Son being truly God, and therefore the very author of the law, was not subject to his own law. God is bound by no precept which He has given to his creatures; much less by one which requires his own redemption. Secondly, Mary was not bound by this law, because her Son, being a Divine Person, was one God with the Eternal Father and the Holy Ghost, and therefore needed no dedication.

But, though Mary knew well that these two laws, commanded by Moses, did not regard her, nevertheless she faithfully and exactly fulfilled both. For when the required days of retirement were completed, carrying in her arms the infant Jesus, she hastened to

the Temple, accompanied by St. Joseph, taking with her a pair of turtle doves, which were sanctioned by the law as a sufficient offering for very poor persons.

Behold now the Mother of God on her way to Jerusalem, for the purpose of performing the rites of presentation and purification. One perfectly immaculate goes to the Temple as though, like other daughters of sinful Eve, she required to be cleansed. What an excellent lesson of humility for us is here! Mary places herself in the position of a sinner. She boasts not of the sublime dignity of her sacred maternity. She tells not the people that she is the daughter of the Eternal Father -the Virgin Mother of the Omnipotent Son-and the Spouse of the Holy Ghost. Nor does she on account of these exalted relationships, plead exemption from the humiliating laws.

How different is my conduct! If by God's mercy I enjoy any privileges, I take great pains to manifest them; and often, to the prejudice of others, I lose no opportunity of making it

known that I possess them. As for being considered worse than I am, it is the object of all my efforts to avoid it-nay, I even wish to be esteemed better than I am. I wish to be looked on by all as clean of heart, while the disgusting leprosy of sin defiles my soul. I would have others think me just, while, in the all-sceing Eye of Infinite Sanctity, I am a very great sinner. O foul, O miserable pride, truly thou art the principal cause of my spiritual ruin!

Therefore, from the Blessed Virgin's purification let me learn holy humility I will devoutly beseech her to obtain for me this foundation of all virtues, without which it is in vain that I aspire to please God, or to be a sharer of that heavenly bliss, promised to the just. For our Divine Lord has said: "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

St. Bernard says of our Blessed Lady, "As no creature ever went down so deep into the abyss of humility, so no