in an eminent degree over every other creature, in such a, manner that the words spoken of queen Esther may be applied to her : " And the King loved her more than all the women, and she had favor and kindness before him above all the women." (Esth. ii. 17.)
II. Consider the substance of the message which the angel bore: " Thou shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus," that is, Saviour. " He shall be great," by nature, since He is God; by His office, for He is the mediator between God and man; in consequence of His perfections, "for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead, corporally." (Coloss. ii. 9.) "He shall be called the Son of the Most High," not by adoption, as are all the just, but by nature. "And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father," but in a far more eminent degree. "And He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever," that is in the church of the faithful. (Luke i. 32.) Rejoice at these glorious prerogatives of your Saviour, and congratulate the mother on the greatness of the son.
III. Consider with St. Bernard, these words: "He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever." Learn to imitate the conduct of Jacob, and expel the influence of the devil from your soul. Struggle with your vicious inclinations and propensities. "Let not sin reign in your mortal body" (Rom. vi. 12), but let Jesus Christ reign in your soul forever. Say with St. Bernard, "I have no other king but my Lord Jesus Christ."
THURSDAY.
The Blessed Virgin's Reply.
I. " How shall this be done, because I know not man?" (Luke i. 34.) The blessed Virgin, who had hitherto been
