IN PRAISE OF
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY1
From a sermon by Amadeus of Lausanne1
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Since we have, at the bidding of God, embarked upon the praises of the
Blessed Virgin, it remains for us to complete her praise from the bottom of our
heart and with dutiful voice. Let us gaze upon her glory and, entering the depth
of so great a light, let us with swelling heart and unspeakable joy hasten through
the vivid brightness of the paths, saying with Solomon, ‘Her paths are lovely and
all her ways are peaceful’. What if, as the same prophet says, ‘the path of the
just, as a shining light, goes forth and grows into the perfect day’? Who will be
able to express the light and brightness of her paths? Yet we shall try to explain
in part the progress and additions of her paths so that she may be perceived as
glorious in her steps and be proclaimed in each of them.
For she possessed progress clearly marked and distinct growth, so that
she advanced according to the fairest order of Charity and, going forward from
virtue to virtue, she saw the God of gods in Sion, being changed from glory to
glory as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Firstly, therefore, she was deemed worthy to be adorned with the beauty
of all the virtues. Secondly, she was united to the Holy Spirit in a bond of
wedlock. Thirdly, she was found the Mother of the Savior. Fourthly, a sword
pierced her soul and by the flesh taken of her flesh the ruin of the lost world is
restored. Fifthly, she rejoices in her Son arising and ascending above the heaven
of heavens to the right hand of the Father. Sixthly, she is caught up from this
world and as the Lord hastens to meet her she is places above the denizens of
heaven. Seventh, she will be completed when the fullness of the Gentiles shall
have entered and all Israel shall be saved. For beyond what it is right to be said13
or believed, she rejoices in the general salvation of the elect, knowing that it was
for them that the Son of God took flesh from her. Therefore, she will then be
fulfilled, God providing a better thing, lest without us she should not be made
perfect.