Vigils Reading

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.