Meditations vppon the mysteries of our holy faith with the practise of mental praier touching the same composed in Spanish by the R.F. Luys de la Puente ... ; and translated into English by F. Rich. Gibbons ...

The third Pointe.

FRom hence I will mount to consider that God our Lord in his Eternitye hauing made choice of our blessed LADYE to bee his Mother, * 1.1 did withall elect her to bee the most excellent Vessell of his Mercye, with whome hee would leaue in trust all the Greatenesses of Grace, and Glorye that were conuenient for the Mother of such a Sonne; and consequently the greatest that might bee graunted to any one, beeing but a meere Creature: for the which it is saide of her, that shee is Electa vt Sol, Elect as the Sun: for as the Sun is only, and singular in his Excellencyes among all the Starres: So the blessed Virgin was elected to bee the only, and most singular in the Giftes of Grace among all the pure Creatures, so that neuer any should bee equall vnto her.

This I may ponder in generall, by that saying of S. Paul, * 1.2 that God elected vs, Vt essemus sancti, & immaculati in conspectu eius in Charitate, That wee might bee holy, and immaculate in his sight in Charitye. In all which the Election of our blessed LADYE the Virgin was supereminent. For first, [ 1] shee was chosen to bee holy with all the Degrees of Sanctitye, and in all kindes of Graces, and Vertues, that were to bee bestowed vpon all the other creatures, and with much greater Eccellencye vpon her, then vpon any of them. * 1.3 For (as Sainct Hyerome saithe) Those Graces that were distributed among other Sainctes, were giuen all togither with greate fullnesse vnto MARY, because of her was to bee borne the Author of all Graces Christ IESVS: * 1.4 who as hee is the Holy

of Holyes, would sanctifye her that was to bee his Tabernacle, * 1.5 that among all pure creatures shee should bee as it were the Holye of Holyes, superiour to all in sanctitye.

Secondly, [ 2] shee was chosen to bee pure, and without spot, withall those degrees of Puritye that might bee founde in a pure Creature, without hauing any staine of sinne, or any trace thereof. For (as S. * 1.6 Anselme saieth) It was conuenient that the Virgin should bee resplendent with such a Puritye, that next vnto God none should bee greater, because shee was to bee the Mother of him that is Puritye itselfe: who as in beeing God, hee hath a Father by his Diuine Essence, pure, and cleane from all Sinne: so in beeing Man, hee would haue a mother pure, and cleane with like Puritye thorough speciall Grace, that his earthely Mother might heerein resemble his heauenly Father.

[ 3] Thirdly, shee was chosen to bee holy, * 1.7 and immaculate, not howsoeuer, but in the presence of God: that is, that with Sanctitye, and Puritye, true, and not fained; not exteriour only, but also interiour, shee should walke in the presence of God: aswell in the presence of his Deitye, contemplating, and pleasing him as a faithfull daughter in all her Workes: as also in the pre∣sence of God made man, nourishing him, and ministring vnto him as a mother: louing him for both respectes with most inkindled Charitye, and gathering togither with such seruices, innumerable, and most notable merites, for which, hee might afterwardes communicate vnto her, his amiable Presence, and resplendent Countenance with greater Excellencye of glorye, then to all the rest of the elected. All which proceeded from the infinite Charitye wherewith

the most sacred Trinitye loued her aboue all, and predestinated her to so greate a Glorye. The Father, for that shee was to bee the mother of his owne Sonne: The Sonne, for that shee was to bee his owne Mother: And the holy Ghoste, for that hee was to worke in her, the Conception of this Sonne, true God, and true man.

And this is the ende of the Election, and Pre∣destination of the B. Virgin: for the which I am to praise the most holy Trinity, and to rejoice at the Glory that from hence redoundeth to her, whome I holde for my Mother. And seeing God our Lord hath also called mee thorough his infi∣nite Charitye to bee holy, and immaculate in his presence, I am in all this to take for my patterne the sacred Virgin, imitating her in the three things that haue beene declared: and for my Aduocatrice, that shee may obtaine them for mee of her Sonne; * 1.8 I, for my parte endeuouring (as S. Peter saieth) with good Workes to make sure my Vocation, and Election.

O sacred, * 1.9 and soueraigne Virgin, I rejoice that as the Sun, thou arte elected, in whome there might bee no obscurity of Sinne, but greate Splendour of Grace, and finally bright shining light of Glorye, as farre exceeding all other Sainctes, as the Sun excelleth the Starres. Doe to mee the Office of the Sun, lightening my Darkenesse, that I may bee pure, * 1.10 and resplendent, like a Starre of the Firma∣ment, shining in perpetuall Eternityes. O euer-liuing God by whose Charitye without our merites wee were elected to bee immaculate, and Holye in thy Presence; I most humbly thanke thee for hauing elected this sacred Virgin with so soueraigne an ele∣ction: for wh••se sake I beseeche thee to purifye my Soule from her Sinnes, and to adorne it with thy

Vertues, that I may liue for euer in thy Presence, and obtaine Life euerlasting. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the Predesti∣nation of our blessed LADYE D. Th. 3. p. q. 7. ar. 10 Ex D. Aug. lib. de nat. & grat. c. 38. Cant. 6.9.
• * 1.2

  Ephes. 1.4.
• * 1.3

  Serm. de Assumpt. to. 4.
• * 1.4

  Matt. 1.21
• * 1.5

  Psal. 45.5.
• * 1.6

  Lib. de concept•…•… Virg. cap. 18.
• * 1.7

  In conspe∣ctu ••ius in chari∣tate.
• * 1.8

  2 Pet. 1.10
• * 1.9

  Colloquie.
• * 1.10

  Dan. 12.3