The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"210 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the HolyGhost, and she cried out with a loud voice and said :Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is thefruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me thatLord should come to me? Forthe mother of mybeheld as soon as the voice of thy salutation soundedinmy ears, the infant inmy womb leaped for joy.And blessed art thou that hast believed, becausethose things shall be accomplished that were spokento thee 1by the Lord."The usual order of salutation is here reversed.Age pays reverence to youth. A lady who is reveredby the whole community honors a lowly maiden. Aninspired matron expresses her astonishment that heryoung kinswoman should deign to visit her. Sheextols Marys faith and calls her blessed. She blendsthe praise of Mary with the praise of Mary s Son,and even the infant John testifies his reverential joyby leaping in his mother s womb. And we are informed that during this interview Elizabeth wasfilled with the Holy Ghost, to remind us that theveneration she paid to her cousin, was not promptedby her own feelings, but was dictated by the Spiritof God.Then Mary breaks out into that sublime canticle,the Magnificat:My soul doth magnify the Lord,and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, because He hath regarded the humility of His hand-1Luke i. 39-45.