The conception of the Virgin Mary

"There is no doubt that in this necessary conception, a vivifying and incandescent spirit filled each of the two parents with a singular power and that the protection and the visit of holy angels never failed." (1)

These words mean that Joachim and Anna were at the object of a mysterious intervention by God, who made them worthy of giving birth to a unique creature whose future was to be filled with supernatural events; and this would be made evident by the succession of angelic presences around the predestined child.

The Lord willed that such a creature should appear with a unique splendor, and born with an admirable purity:

"Extraordinarily blessed virgin, you cannot, as far as merits are concerned, be compared to anyone; you cannot, as far as chastity is concerned, be equaled by anyone." (2)

Father Luigi Gambero (1930-2013), internationally-known expert on early Christianity, author of a book on the development of Marian doctrine

Library of Marian Writings

(1) St. Bernard: Sermo VI in Nativitate B.V.M., PL 141, 326 C

(2) St. Bernard: Sermo VI in Nativitate B.V.M., PL 141, 327 A