CIUDAD to - the Catholic Kingdom!

408 CITY OF GOD
more at ease.
The multitude of the followers of Christ
desire to see Thee and console themselves in thy presence.
When we shall have arrived at Jerusalem, we shall notify
the other cities, and with thy assistance will be established
what shall be conducive to the interests of the holy faith
and to the excellence of the law of grace."
459. This was the tenor and contents of the letter.
The Apostles usually observed the same method, address
ing first the person or persons to whom they were writing,
then mentioning the writer, or inversely, as is
apparent in
the letters of saint Paul, and of saint Peter and of the
other Apostles. To call the Queen Mother of God was
agreed among the Apostles after they had composed the
creed ;
and in speaking of Her they used indiscriminately
the term of Virgin or Mother, because it was very im
portant that all the faithful of the Church should accept
the doctrine of the virginity and maternity of the
Some of the other faithful called Her Mary
great Lady.
of Jesus, or Mary of Jesus, the Nazarene. Others less
significantly called Her Mary, the daughter of Joachim
and Anne. Such were the titles given to our Queen by
the faithful in their conversation. The holy Church,
preferring the names given Her by the Apostles, calls
Her Virgin and Mother of God, and to these it has added
other titles, still more illustrious and mysterious. A
messenger brought the letter of saint Peter to the heav
enly Lady, and in giving it to Her, he mentioned that it
was from the Apostle. She received it on her knees, in
reverence for the Vicar of Christ, and kissed it ;
but She
would not open it, because saint John was absent preach
ing in the city. As soon as the Evangelist returned, She
as usual asked his benediction on her knees, and handed
him the letter, telling him that it was from saint Peter,
the supreme high-priest. Saint John asked her what it
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