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THE CORONATION 409
contained; but the Mistress of all virtues answered:
"Do thou, my master, first read it and then tell me what
it contains." This the Evangelist proceeded to do.
460. I cannot restrain my wonder and confusion at the
humility and obedience of the most holy Mary in a
matter of so small moment; for only her heavenly pru
dence could inspire Her, the Mother of God, with the
thought, that it would be more humble and submissive
not to read this letter of the Vicar of Christ except in
the presence and under the obedience of the one to whose
guidance She had submitted Herself as her superior. Her
example reproves and stigmatizes the presumption of
inferiors, who try to find excuses and pretenses for evad
ing the humility and obedience due to their superiors.
But the most holy Mary was a model and a teacher of
holiness in all things, great or small. Having read the
letter to Her, he asked Her, what She thought best to
write to the Vicar of Christ. But also in this She did
not wish to give any appearance of her being his equal
or superior, preferring to obey; and therefore She an
swered : son and
"My master, do thou arrange what
ever shall be proper; for I, as thy servant, will obey."
The Evangelist replied, that it seemed to him best to
obey saint Peter and return immediately to Jerusalem.
"It is right and proper to obey the head of the Church,"
answered the purest lady; us "let
prepare even now for
our departure."
461. Thus resolved, saint John went out to seek pas
sage for Palestine and to prepare whatever was necessary
for a speedy departure. In the meanwhile, at the re
quest of the Evangelist, most blessed Mary called to
gether the women who were her acquaintances and dis
ciples in Ephesus, in order to take leave of them and
instruct them in what they must do to persevere in their
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