Mary's whole life is summed up in this word: adoration

Mary's whole life is summed up in this word: adoration; for adoration is the perfect service of God, and embraces all the duties of a creature towards her Creator. It was Mary who first adored the Incarnate Word; he was in her womb, and no one on earth knew it.

How well Our Lord was served in Mary's womb! He never found a more precious and purer ciborium, a more precious and purer vessel of gold than Mary's womb! This adoration of Mary delighted him more than that of all the angels. “The Lord has set his tabernacle in the sun”, says the Psalmist; that sun is Mary's heart!

In Bethlehem, Mary was the first to adore her divine Son lying in the manger. She adores him with the perfect love of a Virgin Mother, a love of dilection, according to the word of the Holy Spirit; after her, St Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi come to adore: it is Mary who has opened this furrow of fire that is covering the world.

St Julien Eymard www.adoperp.com