"She does not appear to have doubted the event but asked how it would take place. Clearly, if she asked how it would happen, she must have believed in its fulfillment. Thus she merited to hear the words, "Blessed are you, because you have believed" (Lk 1:45). Yes, truly blessed for having surpassed the priest... Continue Reading →
Victory over the enemy by Irenaeus of Lyon
"The victory over the enemy would not have been rightly won had not his conqueror been born as man from a woman. For it was through a woman that the devil held sway over man from the beginning, when he set himself to be man's adversary. Therefore the Lord confesses himself to be the Son... Continue Reading →
Prayer: For the Church II
"15 O God of hosts, convert us now;Look down from heaven and behold,And visit this vineyard16 Which Your right hand planted, and perfect it.And visit the son of man, whom You strengthened for Yourself.17 It was set on fire and uprooted,but they shall perish at the rebuke of Your face.18 Let Your hand be upon... Continue Reading →
Hope through Mary by Ephrem the Syrian
"Mary gave birth without having relations with a man. As in the beginning, Eve was born from Adam without a carnal relationship, so it happened for Joseph and Mary, his wife. Eve brought to the world the murdering Cain; Mary brought forth the life-giver. One brought into the world him who spilled the blood of... Continue Reading →
The second mother blessed by St. Ephrem the Syrian
"Just as their very bodies have sinned and died, and as the earth, their mother is cursed (cf. Gen 3:17-19), so because of this body which is the incorruptible church, his earth is blessed from the beginning. This earth is Mary's body, the temple in which a seed has been deposited. Observe the angel who... Continue Reading →
On Birth from a Woman by St. Cyprian of Carthage
"It is written in the prophet Isaiah "And the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying. "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God ... Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel. He shall eat... Continue Reading →
Jesus re-creates man by Hippolytus of Rome
"The Son is the firstborn of all: firstborn of God, so that it would be clear that He is the Son of God and the second after the Father; firstborn before the angels, so that it would be clear that He is Lord of the angels; firstborn of the Virgin, so that it would be... Continue Reading →
Son of God taking flesh by Hippolytus of Rome
"Being outside of the flesh, the Word of God took upon himself the holy flesh from the holy Virgin: like a bridegroom, He prepared for Himself that garment which He would weave together with His suffering on the Cross... In this way, he intended to obtain salvation for man, who was perishing" Hippolytus, Christ and Antichrist 4;... Continue Reading →
Christ born of a woman by Origen
"If someone believes that he who was crucified under Pontius Pilate was a holy person, who came to bring salvation to the world, but does not believe in his birth of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, thinking instead that he was born of Joseph and Mary, then this person lacks in indispensable condition... Continue Reading →
Mary the Virgin Earth by Tertullian
"First of all, we need to show the reason why the Son of God had to be born of a Virgin. The initiator of a new birth had to be born in a new way, and Isaiah had predicted that the Lord would give a sign of this. What is that sign? "Behold, the virgin shall conceive in her... Continue Reading →