The Newtown bee., 1898-02-25

The thought that Mary was conceived
in sin cannot be entertained. 1t is in
pious; it outrages every sentiment of
piety; it is contrary to every dictate of
reason; for who can believe Jesus to be
the Son Of God, without being constraiE-
ed to believe that Mary was conceived
immaculate. The s4pctity of God re-
quired this. The dwelling-place of Je.
sus must, therefore, have been forever
free from sin. "Holiness becometh thy
house, o Lord. throughout length of
days."
If we consider the effects which the
Immaculate Conception produced in the
Blessed Virgin. we must naturally con-
clude that this glorious mystery has con-
ferred on her the highest honor imagina-
BILE. 10 order in some degree to under
stand the surprising lustre of the super
natural beauty which it shed upon her
soul, we must have some idea of the
beauty which sanctifying grace, even in
| its ordinary or lowest degree, diffuses
upon the soul. This beauty is so great
that it surpasses all Imagination. A
soul that is adorned with sanctifying
grace, though it be only ia the lowest
grade, is infinitely more beautiful than
sun and moon and stars; more beautiful
than heaven and earth and the whole
universe with all the grandeur it dis
plays. For, great as is the beauty of the
universe. yet it is merely natural, while
the beauty of soul in sanctifying grace
is supernatural. AS grace surpasses
nature, as heaven surpaases earth, as
eternity surpasses time, in the same
degree does the beauty of the soul in
sanctifying grace transcend all created
beauty of the universe. 1t is so great
that it charms the angels of heaven; so
great that the Infinite God Himself, the
uncreated beauty, contemplates it with
unspeakable complacency. Grace is that
glorious garment which adorns the sane
titled souls on earth and the blessed in
heaven, which renders the soul worthy
to dwell among the angels and saints in
heaven and to appear before the throne
of the Most High. st Thomas does not
hesitate to call grace the radiance of the
light of the divine countenance, by which
the soul becomes partaker of the beauty
of God Himself. But if even the lowest
grade of sanctifying grace sheds such
beauty and splendor on the soul, what
shall we say Of that divine lustre which
was diffused in the soul of the Mother of
God by that high degree of sanctity
which was bestowed on her at her crea-
ton by Him that was to become her
son? That beauty not even the tongues
of angels could describe. So wondrousIy
beautiful was this privileged soul, thus
adorned with supernatural grace, that
the eyes of the adorable Trinity-of the
Father, her creator and father; of the
Son, who was soon to be her son; of the
| uair nhoet x1ho bod oupoDSod har to
Himsef-rested upon her with infinite
delight, and the whole court of heaven
broke out in these words: "Thou art all
fair, o my 1--we, and there is not spot
in thee. "--"Thou art the glory of Jeru-
salem; thou art the joy of Israel; thou
art the honor of our people,"
Whatever view, then, we take of the
Immaculate Conception of the Mother of
God, we must conclude that it is jewel
of incompatible worth, that it Is pre-
rogative which far surpasses mortal
understanding. Have we not reason,
then, TO rejoice with all our hearts and
to congratulate our holy Mother on this
grand privilege which God has conferred
on her? Have we not reason also to
congratulate ourselves that we may with
truth call such privileged creature our
Mother2 For is she not by the very