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 first Pointe.

FIrst, I am to consider, how the nine Mo∣neths after the Conception of the Virgin beeing accomplished, shee was borne in the house of her Parents to the ioye of the whole Worlde; according to the saying of the Church; Pondering the ioye of the most holy Trinitye in seeing the birth of this his beloued Childe, by whome hee intended to worke things so glo∣rious for his owne Glorye, and our Benefit. And therefore it is to bee beleued, that vpon that day hee communicated to the Angells of heauen, and to the Righteous on earthe, and to the holy Fathers in Limbus a newes of accidentall Alacritye, (allbeit all knewe not the cause there∣of) as a Prognostication of the Ioy that they should receiue by the comming of God into the Worlde, whose Mother that Childe was to bee: as the birth of the Morning causeth a certaine kinde of ioy, and solace in liuing Creatures, because it is a token of the rising of the sun. For if many reioiced at the natiuitye of S. Iohn, because hee was the Day-starre, and fore-runner of Christe: many more doubtlesse reioiced at the Birth of the blessed VIRGIN, who was to bee his mother. And with this consideration, I will

moue myselfe to affections of Praise, and ioye, giuing the Much good doe it, to the most holy Tri∣nitye, for the birth of this Babe: To the eternall Father, for that there is borne vnto him such a Daughter: To the Sonne of God, for that shee is borne that is to bee his Mother: To the holy Spirit for that there is borne vnto him such a spowse. O most blessed Trinitye, much good may it doe thee, the Birth of this thy Beloued, share to mee of that ioye which thou giuest to others; because shee was borne also for me.

From hence I am likewise to collect another motiue of greate spirituall ioye: [ 2] pondering that as the Natiuitye of the Virgin caused Alacritye in the Worlde: for that it was a signe of the comming of the Sauiour to redeeme it: so also when the Deuotion of the Virgin is bredde in the soule, it causeth therein wonderfull ioye: beeing a greate pledge, that allmighty God will come to visite it, and to saue it. Heerevpon saide S. Anselme. That to bee much deuoted to our blessed LADY is a signe of being predestinated in heauen. For with deuotion to her, enter the effectes of Pre∣destination, shee negotiating them for such as are deuoted vnto her. Shee as a mother sollici∣teth for vs the Inspirations of Heauen; the Vo∣cation of God, the Grace of Iustification, the Victorye of Temptations, the Preseruation from falls, the Augmentation of Merits, the Perse∣ueration in Grace, and the Crowne of Glorye, as in the discourse of the Meditations ensuing shallbee seene. O sacred, and soueraigne Virgin, who by the Commandement of God, layest deepe rootes in the elected for Heauen, fixe in my soule so deepe Rootes of thy deuotion and Imitation, that they may bee assured pledges of my eternall Predestination.

Notes

• Of the Natiuitye of our blessed LADIE. Natiuitas tua gau∣dium an∣nunciauit vniuerso mundo.
• Luc. 1.14.
• Colloquie.
• Deuotiō to our blessed LADIE is a signe of pre∣destina∣tion.
• Lib. de ex∣cellent. Virginis cap, 4.
• Colloquie. Eccl. 24.16.