7 May, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

The Virgin Purity of Mary

1. It is a dogma of faith that Mary was always a virgin in body and in soul. According to the teaching of the holy Fathers, Mary would have renounced her dignity as Mother of God rather than lose her virginity. When the Archangel Gabriel appeared with the news of the great privilege which she was about to receive, Mary was afraid and asked meekly how she could become the Mother of God since she had promised to remain always a virgin. The Angel assured her that it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that the eternal Word of God would take human flesh in her and become her son. Only then did she bow her head and reply: "Be it done to me according to thy word." Mary's perpetual virginity is complemented by her purity and absolute immunity from sin. When we consider sin of any kind, says St. Augustine, Mary must always be the one exception to it. (Cf. De natura et gratia, c. 36) She was preserved free from original sin and possessed the fullness of grace. The devil never had any power over her spotless soul. Not even the slightest tarnish marred her virginal splendour. Free from the concupiscence which has disturbed our human nature, she was like a snow-white lily sparkling in the sunlight. Her mortal life was a continuous ascent towards the highest peak of holiness. It would be wrong to believe that the extraordinary privileges which God had granted her from her conception remained fixed and static like an acquired inheritance. On the contrary, her daily correspondence with God's gifts was as remarkable as her dignity. The most chaste Virgin Mary is a model for our imitation. We cannot obtain her privileges, but we should try and imitate her heroic and constant co-operation with the gifts of God.

2. Purity is the most beautiful of the virtues. It is a virtue which is admired by God and by men, even by the most corrupt. It is often said that it makes us like the angels, but in fact, looking at it in a particular way, it makes us superior to the angels. Since they have no bodies, the angels cannot sin against purity, while we have to fight many battles and overcome many temptations in order to preserve our chastity. Jesus had a very special love for this virtue. He chose to be born of a virgin and showed a particular affection for St. John, who was a dedicated celibate. On one occasion He placed His hands on the head of a little child and said: “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 18:3)

Unfortunately, the virtue of purity is as fragile as it is beautiful. It can be lost in a single moment of weakness. We must love this virtue as Mary loved it. We must be prepared to make any sacrifice, even the most heroic, rather than lose it. Worldly charm and beauty attract us and the devil works hard to control our imagination and our affections. On account of the disturbance of original sin, the flesh is like a terrible weight retarding our spiritual advancement. Sometimes it seems as if it is irresistibly drawing us towards the abyss of impurity. But we need not be dragged down if we are prepared to fly from the occasions of sin and to pray to God and to our heavenly Mother for her intercession. We must always act at once, for there is no time to dally. It is fatal to remain inactive and allow temptation to make its way into our soul. This kind of battle, said St. Francis de Sales, is won only by soldiers who flee. We must fly from the occasion of sin, no matter what sacrifice this entails. Jesus has warned us that it is better to enter Heaven without a hand or a foot than to be cast into hell. We know the remedies—instant flight, heroic sacrifice, and constant prayer. We can leave the rest to the grace of God and to the maternal protection of Mary.

3. O Mary, my heavenly Mother, I am so weak, yet the danger in which I find myself is so great. Turn your eyes of mercy upon me and come to my assistance. Most of all, do not allow the demon of impurity to seduce my soul. Grant that I may never yield to the temptations of the flesh. Protect for me the flower of my chastity until I can deliver it unsullied into the hands of Jesus in Heaven. Amen.