(7) May 30
Mary is the "Virgo Fidelis," the most Faithful Virgin
THIS is one of the titles of the Blessed Virgin, which is
especially hers from the time of her Assumption and glorious Coronation at the
right hand of her Divine Son. How it belongs to her will be plain by
considering some of those other instances in which faithfulness is spoken of in
Holy Scripture.
The word faithfulness means loyalty to a superior, or
exactness in fulfilling an engagement. In the latter sense it is applied even
to Almighty God Himself who, in His great love for us, has vouchsafed to limit
His own power in action by His word of promise and His covenant with His
creatures. He has given His word that, if we will take Him for our portion and
put ourselves into His hands, He will guide us through all trials and
temptations, and bring us safe to heaven. And to encourage and inspirit us, He reminds
us, in various passages of Scripture that He is the faithful God, the faithful
Creator.
And so, His true saints and servants have the special title
of "Faithful," as being true to Him as He is to them; as being simply
obedient to his will, zealous for His honour, observant of the sacred interests
which He has committed to their keeping. Thus Abraham is called the Faithful;
Moses is declared to be faithful in all his house; David, on this account, is
called the "man after God's own heart"; St. Paul returns thanks that
"God accounted him faithful"; and, at the last day, God will say to
all those who have well employed their talents, "Well done, good and
faithful servant."
Mary, in like manner, is pre-eminently faithful to her Lord
and Son. Let no one for an instant suppose that she is not supremely zealous
for His honour, or, as those who are not Catholics fancy, that to exalt her is
to be unfaithful to Him. Her true servants are still more truly His. Well as
she rewards her friends, she would deem him no friend, but a traitor, who
preferred her to Him. As He is zealous for her honour, so is she for His. He is
the Fount of grace, and all her gifts are from His goodness. O Mary, teach us
ever to worship thy Son as the One Creator, and to be devout to thee as the
most highly favoured of creatures.
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