“The virgin has a guardian, yes, but she should be the guardian of her honesty. There will be many from whom she can learn (if she has the capacity); if she has virtue as her teacher, then her every act will be a lesson. Thus Mary observed everyone, as if she had something to learn from everyone, every one of her actions was informed by virtue, so that she was more like a teacher than a disciple.
Ambrose of Milan, De virginibus 2, 6-16; PL 16, 220-22
This is how the evangelist describes her; this is how the angel found her and how she was when the Holy Spirit chose her. But why should I should I prolong this discussion of details by saying that she was loved by her family and praised by strangers, if she was worthy to become the Mother of the Son of God?
The angel found her alone in the most secluded room of the house, where she would not be distracted or disturbed. She did not desire the company of other women when she was being kept company by holy thoughts. She felt even less alone when she was by herself. Indeed, how could she have been alone when she enjoyed the company of so many books, so many archangels, so many prophets?”
What a beautiful expression “Guardian of her honesty”!. In being guardians of our honesty lies our freedom to guard or to not guard. However, The evangelist says that whoever keeps/guards the Word of God, the love of God is perfected in him.
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
1 John 2:5
Also, Virgin Mary was nurtured and living on the Word of God. The angel found her accompanied by the holy scripture as the bible says:
“… man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”
Deut 8:3, Mat 4:4
May God grant us to guard our thoughts and hearts and live on His Word until we meet Him.
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 in 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.
I like the part where you discussed how she felt, “less alone when she was by herself, rather than among others, although loving people.”
In the presence of God we don’t need people because we have everything at that divine moment.
When we are around people we are surrounded by human fragility. Beautiful post.
Indeed the presence of God fills the heart and the soul. Thank you.