349 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts FOR THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN Before Holy Communion 1. “The angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary” (cf. Lk 1:2627). Consider, that this great commander of the angelic army160 was sent on a most solemn mission to the untouched Virgin because of the magnificence of the divine plans and the mystery of the Word Incarnate, and also because of the excellence of the most Holy Virgin Mary herself. Just as the kings of this world usually send to dignified persons only men renowned in name and in deed and of great authority within the state, so the greatness of Divine Majesty and the excellence of the Most Blessed Virgin, most eminent among all men, demanded that a distinguished archangel be sent to her. But you, what distinguished messengers do you send to her today, and for what reason? Instead of distinguished envoys, send your most fervent promises and humble entreaties in the matter of salvation. Or rather, approach her yourself, imagining yourself to be one of the murderers who took refuge in the cities of asylum,161 and knocking at the door of mercy, call out in solemn words: “Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners,” etc. 2. “she was greatly troubled at the saying” (Lk 1:29). Consider, that there were two reasons why the Most Blessed Virgin was troubled in her spirit. First, she was worried, because 160 The word St. Stanislaus used here in Latin was Polemarchum. In ancient Athens the Polemarch “was one of the nine Athenian magistrates. … Originally the polemarch …was the commander of the army and had the supreme direction of the war”: cf. Ugo Enrico Paoli, EI, vol. XXVII, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Roma 1935, p. 616 (s.v. Polemarco). Cf. Jan Tokarski, Ed., Słownik wyrazów obcych PWN, PWN, Warsaw 1980, p. 585. 161 The cities of asylum were “designated sanctuary cities in Israel that took the place of local altars in offering protection to the involuntary manslayer who fled for his life from the blood avenger” (J. E. Steinmueller, NCE, vol. I, p. 993 (s.v. Asylum, Cities of)). Cf. Jan Szlaga, EK, vol. I, Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego, Lublin 1973, p. 1221 (s.v. Azyl). Cf. Dt 4:41-43; 19:1-3; Num 35:9-34; Josh 20:7-9.
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