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OF A YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN, THAT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO INCITE THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO SAY "AVE, MARIA!" AND HOW GOD APPEARED TO HER IN THE FORM OF A LITTLE CHILD
OUR sweet Lady, that is the most glorious Virgin Mary, has ever been the friend of maidens and the guardian of pure womanhood. Yea, and to them that serve her maidenly, having given their virtue into her keeping, she will always preserve it as an heavenly treasure.
Now one such servant had the Blessed Virgin in the old time; to wit, a certain young gentlewoman of noble breeding, that was most lovely and discreet. She was sought of many because of her loveliness and fair report; but for the great love and devotion which she had for the Virgin Mary, she was set upon another undertaking, namely, upon the keeping of her maidenhead. And all that love which she might have given to an husband and to children she offered to her celestial Bridegroom, and to the poor, that are the little children of Christ.
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For she said, "Since none ever called my dear Lady wife, why should I ask for it? And what children should I desire if not her little ones, that are every one the brothers and sisters of the Holy Child?"
Therefore this gentlewoman refused herself steadfastly to all lovers, tempted neither by riches nor by fairness of body nor by brave deeds. " For," she said, "I have chosen a fairer Master, that is the Captain of a more shining chivalry." And she lived solitary and in great simplicity, having always with her the pure love of Our Lady, the which puts all luxury to despite. Yet, having this great gift of a devout chastity, still she thought herself little worthy for the service of that Queen, holding herself to be but the lowest of Saint Mary's handmaids, and spotted with many faults: so great was the meekness of her heart. Those only, she thought, that had still the hearts of little children could bring to that service the white innocency it must have; and only from children's lips could the Virgin Mother hear again the melody of that pure and perfect love which her own Child had brought into the world.
Therefore this maiden, that loved the honour of Our Lady above everything yea, even above the gaining of Merit and the safety of her soul was accustomed to call to her side those little children whom she met with in the way, and to caress them and promise them a little gift if they would say after her the Ave, Maria!
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For thus, she said, the circle of Our Lady's lovers would grow wider; and that Angelical Encounter Salutation, the which was always in her heart, would be offered for her by unsullied lips.
So it was, that one day as she went about her business she met a young and most fair boy upon the road. Never, she thought, had she seen a child more fit for God's service, for he walked as a king's son, yet meekly as becomes a little boy. When she spoke to him, he saluted her right courteously; and he looked on her without fear very sweetly, as one who knew she was his friend.
And she said, "My fair boy, because by God's will we have met upon the road, will you not say with me the words of the Ave, Maria? For it is the duty of all children to salute thus their dear Mother, that is the glorious Virgin Mary. If this you will do, I will give you this beautiful apple which I have here."
And the boy answered, "That will I do most willingly."
Then this gentlewoman began to say the Ave, Maria! and the child also said it after her, word after word, with great seriousness and attention, as if he knew not how to say it alone. And the girl praised Our Lady, for that she had allowed her to be the means of teaching this most dear and gentle boy the noble salutation, for she thought, "The defects of my offering may surely be made good by the innocency of his."
But when that they were come to the Dominus Tecum, the child ceased to repeat that which
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she taught him, and stayed silent. The gentle-woman thought he had not heard her rightly, and she recited the words several times, gently and slowly, that he might say them after her; but he would not.
Then she admonished him, and said, "Dear boy, it is not enough that we should salute Our Lady, saying, 'Hail, Mary! full of grace!' For this it is truly right to do; but it is also our duty that we confess, as the Angel Gabriel did, that God is with her, even the Lord Christ. Therefore say after me those words that I have taught you, that God may be also with you."
But still the child spake not; no, though she again charged him that he should do it. And several times over she said to him that he should do this devoir, lest God be offended by his lack of love. And at last, when he saw how strongly she pressed him, and that she would not let him go from her until he had recited the Dominus Tecum, the child said to her exceeding sweetly:
"What would you that I should say, and how is it possible that I should offer to My Mother this prayer? For I am that Lord Himself of Whom speaks the Ave Maria: 'Et ille benedic- tus fructus ventris sum.'"
And having said these words, He vanished, and she was alone in the way.
Then the girl knew that Our Lord Himself had visited her in His own Person, by His Most Blessed Mother's grace; and because she had ever desired that Mother's honour, He had
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deigned of His great mercy to take from her lips the Angelic Salutation, making Himself even as those little children that she taught to be of His brotherhood. Thus doth He bless the lowly and the pure of heart, making Himself the mediator of their prayers. Then went she home, praising Him, and saying, 'Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae,' for she was exalted with a most holy joy. And by this adventure she was so greatly consoled, and so filled with a burning love towards Jesu Christ and His glorious Mother, that afterwards she lived even more devoutly than she had aforetime done. Nor did she cease to seek out the little children and make herself their friend, for she said:
"It may be that I shall see Him again, for I know that He is with them."
Thus did she serve God and Saint Mary many years; and having passed her earthly days in the midst of good works, of innocency, and of love, she did at last most gloriously give back her soul to God.
