She is our mother, mother of our life, of
our incorruption, of our light...She therefore who is the mother of Christ is
the mother of our wisdom, mother of our righteousness, mother of our
sanctification, mother of our redemption. Therefore, she is more our mother
than the mother of our flesh. Better therefore is our birth which we derive
from Mary, for from her is our holiness, our wisdom; our righteousness, our
sanctification, our redemption.
Scripture says, ‘Praise the Lord in
his saints’. If our Lord is to be praised in those saints through whom he
performs mighty works and miracles, how much more should he be praised in her
in whom he fashioned himself, he who is wonderful beyond all wonder.
Details from an early Cistercian manuscript. Lines from our Cistercian Father, Saint Aelred of Rievaulx.
