Dom Prosper Guéranger:
The Church makes a Commemoration, on this same day within the Octave [of the Assumption], of the holy Pope Melchiades. This illustrious Pontiff whom Saint Augustine calls the true child of the peace of Jesus Christ, the worthy Father of the Christian people, ascended the papal throne in the year 311, that is, during the very fiercest storm of persecution. It is on this account that he is honoured with the title of Martyr. Though he did not shed his blood for the name of Jesus, yet he shared in the glory of the Martyrs by reason of the great trials he had to suffer during the persecution which afflicted the entire Church. It was the same with many of his predecessors. But the Pontificate of Melchiades marks a very important period of the Church — the transition from persecution to peace. As early as the year 312, liberty had been granted to the Christian religion by Constantine. So that Melchiades had the glory of governing the Church at the commencement of her period of temporal prosperity. His name now graces the calendar of the liturgical year, and reminds us of that Peace which will soon descend upon us from Heaven.
Deign then, Father of the Christian people, to pray for us to the Prince of Peace that, in His approaching visit, He may quell our troubles, remove the obstacles to His grace, and reign as absolute Master over our heart, our mind and our senses. Pray also that Peace may reign in the Holy City and Church of Rome, of which you were the Bishop, and which will honour your venerable memory to the end of time: help her by your intercession now that you are face to face with God, and hear the prayers which she addresses to you.
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Let us contemplate our Blessed Lady’s being visited by the Angel Gabriel, and conceiving in her chaste womb the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of mankind. But that we may the better relish the sweetness of this great Mystery, let us listen to the Seraphic Saint Bonaventure who, in his Meditations on the Life of Christ, has brought these sublime scenes of the Gospel so vividly before us that one would almost suppose it was an eye-witness was speaking to us. No human language has ever surpassed the unction and pathos of these Meditations:
“Now, when the fullness of that time had come in which the Most High Trinity, in exceeding love, had decreed to save mankind by the Incarnation of the Word: the Divine Mercy and the instant prayers of the blessed Spirits pressed for the accomplishment of this redemption. The Blessed Virgin Mary having returned to Nazareth, the Almighty called to him the Archangel Gabriel, and thus spoke to him: Go to our well-beloved Daughter Mary that is espoused to Joseph, she that is dear unto us above all our creatures. And say to her that the Son of God has been taken with her beauty and chosen her that she be his Mother. Pray her that she accept him joyously, for that through her have I decreed to save all mankind, and no longer remember the injuries done to me. Whereupon Gabriel arose joyous and glad and flew from on high, and suddenly stood in a human form before the Virgin Mary who was in the inner chamber of her cot. But not so quick had been his flight but that he found already there the Holy Trinity that had gone before their ambassador. As soon, therefore, as the faithful Spirit Gabriel perceived the Virgin Mary, he said: Hail! Full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. But she was troubled and answered him not a word. Her trouble came not from a guilty fear, nor from the sight of Gabriel, for oft-times did she receive the visits of the Angels. But, according to what the Gospel says, she was troubled at his saying, thinking within herself upon it, for that it was strange to her to hear Gabriel speak such manner of salutation. The humble Virgin was perforce troubled at it, finding in it three praises of herself. She was praised for that she was full of grace, and that the Lord was with her, and that she was blessed above all women. He that is humble cannot hear his own praise without blushes and trouble. Therefore Mary was troubled with fitting and virtuous shame. She began wondering how this that she heard could be true, not for as much as she suspected the Angel’s having said anything that was false, but by reason that the humble ever ponder their defects and not their virtues, by which they may always advance, counting their great virtue to be little, and their little defects great. As one that was prudent and wary, timid and bashful, she answered not. In truth, what could she say? Learn from her example, to be silent and to love to speak little, for exceeding great and useful is this virtue. Twice is she spoke to, before she speaks once, for it is a thing intolerable that a virgin should be a great talker.
As soon, therefore, as the Angel saw that she was in doubt, he said: Fear not, Mary, neither blush at the praises I have spoken to you, for they are most true. You yourself are full of grace. Nay, verily, I tell you that you have found for man the grace he had lost. For behold! You will conceive and bring forth a Son, that has chosen you for his Mother, and he will save all that put their trust in him. Whereupon she made answer, heeding nothing the praises of the Angel, but seeking how it could be that that should not be taken from her, which was precious to her above measure. And she asked of the Angel, saying: “How shall this be? for I have vowed my virginity forever to God, that I never should I know man. The Angel answered, and said: I will be done by the operation of the Holy Ghost who will fill you as no tongue can speak. You will conceive by His power, yet will remain a pure virgin, and therefore your son will be called the Son of God. For to God nothing is impossible. For your cousin Elizabeth, that is old and called barren, has conceived a son by the power of God, now these six months past.
Consider here, I beseech you, for God’s sake, how the Trinity is there, waiting the answer and consent of this their, most beloved daughter, and taking delight in her modesty and ways and words. And also, how diligent and wise is the Angel in his endeavour to obtain her consent, and how admirable are his words, and how he stands with his head bowed down before his and our Lady, with a placid and recollected look, doing his embassy with exactitude, and attentively noting Mary’s words, so as to be able to satisfy her in his answers, and execute the divine will in this wondrous work. See, too, how our Lady stands in holy fear and humility, showing in her face the blush of modesty, and surprise at this so sudden visit of the Angel. Neither have his words extolled her in her own esteem: and albeit they were such as never had been spoken to mortal, yet does she attribute nothing to herself, but all to grace. Learn, therefore, of her to have modesty and humility, for without them even virginity avails little. The most prudent virgin is full of joy and gives consent to the words of the Angel. Then, as is related in the revelations made to a devout servant of God, throwing herself on her knees with intense devotion, and joining her hands together, she said to the Angel: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word. Then straightways did the Son of God enter the virgin’s womb, and took to Himself flesh of her substance, and though His whole Person was there, yet did He not cease to abide still wholly in the bosom of his Father.
Then did Gabriel also kneel down, and shortly after rise up together with our Lady. He once more bowed down even to the ground, and wishing her farewell, he disappeared: and going back to Heaven, he related all these things, and a new joy was there, and a new feast, and exceeding great jubilee. But our Lady, all devout, and burning with a love of God such as she had felt not before, for she perceived what was done within her, knelt to give thanks for this so great gift, humbly and devoutly supplicating the divine Majesty that He would vouchsafe to teach her how she should comport herself with all perfection in her treatment of this His Only Begotten Son.”
Such is the description of the mystery of the Annunciation given us by the Seraphic Doctor. Let us profoundly adore our Creator, who has thus humbled Himself out of love for us, and from the desire He has to succour us in our misery. Let us also salute Mary, the Mother of God and of men.
