The Covenant of March 25th, Nazareth

Let us follow the angel step by step, and let us notice how he goes, not to triumphant Rome, nor to astute Athens, nor to proud Babylon, nor even to holy Jerusalem. He goes to a corner of Galilee, to an unknown little town of which Nathaniel once said:

« Can anything good come out of Nazareth? »

But in this Nazareth is a little house that contains the treasure of heaven and earth, and the secret love of the eternal Father for the world. And in this little place is a virgin greater than heaven and earth together; a virgin chosen by God to understand the incomprehensible. There is a virgin who has more greatness and light than is in Rome, Athens, among men, and among angels.

There is a virgin named Mary, who according to her name is an abyss of grace, a ocean of greatness and a world of wonders. She is the Virgin that God is looking at, and she also is looking at God; she is occupied and elevated with him. She is the Virgin to whom God sends his angel. (...)

God, who in his counsel remains in heaven, and who, through the action of sending a messenger is in the angel that he sent, walks before his angel, and is in the heart of the Virgin by his grace and power. He is all; he is everywhere; he does everything; he does everything with dignity, power, and suavity; he corresponds to himself in his works.

Thus, he is on earth just as he is in heaven; as he acts in heaven, he acts on earth; as he acts in the angel, he acts in the Virgin; and he acts in the Virgin more than he does in the angel. He fills her spirit; he guides her contemplation; he prepares and predisposes this soul to what he wants to accomplish in her and to what his angel must soon announce to her. He attracts her, he raises her, he takes her to him. He gives her the proper thoughts, movements, and dispositions for the work which must take place.

One moment she groans over the sins of the universe, in which she didn't take part. First she pines for the coming of the Messiah in which her part is so great, yet so hidden to her spirit. Then she joins her prayers to the wishes of the just and sighs after the presence of the Messiah on earth. Next, she feels overwhelmed by a wonderful desire to see him and serve him in his days. At another time, she hopes to see him, to adore him, and to give him to the world. Finally God pours in her a new grace, a divine quality, and a heavenly infusion. This grace is the last disposition which, at the very instant that it is produced, will introduce in the world this perfect form, this divine being, this Eternal Word.

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Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle. (1575-1629)