“Because she had made a vow of virginity and her husband did not have to be the thief of her modesty instead of its guardian (and yet her husband was not its guardian, since it was God who guarded it; her husband was only the witness of her virginal chastity, so that her pregnancy would not be considered the result of adultery), when the angel brought her the news, she said: “How can this be, since I do not know man?” (Luke 1:34). Had she intended to know man, she would not have been amazed. Her amazement is a sign of the vow.”
Augustine of Hippo, Oratio in diem natalem Christ, PG 46, 1140.
Many times we promise and we do not keep them. According to St. Augustine Virgin Mary vowed ad she wanted to keep her vow. As Christians, we struggle to keep our vows in this world. How do you keep your vow in this world?
If you are interested in more quotes on Virgin Mary, you can find them in Mary and the Fathers of the Church on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats.
References:
Gambero, L., 1999. Mary and the Fathers of the Church 1st ed. Translated by Buffer, T., San Francisco: Ignatius Press.
