by Alexandre Joseph de Rouville
When Mary was assured that God had spoken to her by the voice of the angel, she firmly believed, that whatever the angel had told her would be accomplished, and she believed it without seeking to comprehend it. She did not ask for a miracle like Achaz, she did not doubt like Zachary. It was not then that she asked, How shall this be done? How will this child, of which I am to be the mother, accomplish the redemption of mankind? What will be the establishment of his kingdom? The angel did not hear her start any such objection. None of these questions and curious enquiries, so usual to weak souls, did she allow herself; she immediately submitted her judgment to the yoke of faith.
The Annunciation, Carl Bloch, 1890.
After her example, humble yourself, O my soul, by submitting your reason to truths which are above your understanding. Do not seek to comprehend the mysteries which faith proposes. If you could comprehend them they would be no longer mysteries. It is sufficient for you to know that they are grounded upon truth. You cannot call them in question, if you will’ but consider the striking characters of the religion which teaches them, and reflect on the ready submission with which they were received throughout the whole world. These mysteries are incomprehensible, I own. But faith would be destitute of merit, if they could be explained by human reason. Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. John 20:29
From the stars, to the meanest flower every thing is a mystery for yon in nature. These mysteries of nature you cannot comprehend, and yet you wish to comprehend the mysteries of God. We are eager to penetrate without veil into the things which relate to God, whilst our conception of earthly things always remains limited and imperfect. We must not compare the weak and limited faculties of the human mind with the power and works of a being, who is omnipotent, incomprehensible, and infinite in all his perfections. Almighty God would not be what he is if we could fathom his divine essence, and comprehend his whole being.
To believe what the eyes cannot see, nor reason comprehend, is offering a perfect homage to the Sovereign Truth. O my God! it is not by my own narrow lights that I will judge, but by thine, which faith has imparted to me. Thou demandest of me, not only the sacrifice of my heart, but also that of my mind which can be done only by faith. I hope to gain heaven, where every thing will be unveiled and discovered. But in heaven itself, I shall never entirely comprehend thy infinite perfections and wonderful works; because thou shalt always be infinite, and myself always limited. I do believe, O Lord , help thou my unbelief. Increase my faith. Mark 9:23
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Thou wilt not refuse me the gift of faith, which is the source of all other gifts if I ask it of thee as I ought. I solicit this particular grace of thee, through the intercession of that Virgin, who, by the submission and merit of her faith, beheld in herself the accomplishment of those things which were spoken to her by the angel.
Give me a universal faith, a lively faith, without doubts, without waverings, without exception or reserve. To doubt, is not to believe. To except one article, is to reject them all.
Give me a faith animated with charity, that I may live conformably to the truths which faith teaches. I do not ask the power of working those miracles which through faith several of thy saints performed. But I earnestly beg of thee that faith which made them saints.
Fr. Alexandre Joseph de Rouville was a French Jesuit priest born in Lyons in 1716. This excerpt is part of a greater work, The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin, which he wrote in response to a wish for such a text following the publication of Thomas à Kempis’ well-known work, The Imitation of Christ.