From a homily In Praise of the Virgin Mother by Saint
Bernard, abbot
(Hom. 4:8-9; Opera omnia, Edit Cisterc 4. [1966], 53-54)
The whole world awaits Mary's reply
You have heard, O Virgin, that you will
conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the
Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God
who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the
sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.
The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be
set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be,
and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be
recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing
family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham
begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it
of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the
whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on
your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for
the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your
race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply
in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a
word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word.
Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe,
give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This
is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O
prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is
pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O
blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired
of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because
of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your
soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in
praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done
to me according to your word.
