So the successful passing of one test cannot be expected to relieve us from all tests in the future. It is the dream of the child that manhood will set it free; and he reaches manhood only to find that it imposes obligations which are so pressing that he reverses his dream and speaks of his childhood as the time of his true freedom. The meeting of spiritual tests is but the proving of spiritual capacity to meet other tests. To our Lady it might well seem that the acceptance of the conditions of the Incarnation was the severest test that God could assign her; that in the light of the promise she could look on to joy. But the future concealed a sword which should pierce her very heart. The promise contained no doubt wonderful things--this wonder of God's blessing that she was now experiencing in the coming of the Holy Ghost, in the very embrace of God Himself: this is but the first of the Joyful Mysteries which were God's great gifts to her. But her life was not to be a succession of Joyful Mysteries, ultimately crowned with the Mysteries of Glory. There were the Sorrowful Mysteries as well. They were as true, and shall we not say, as necessary, as valuable, a part of her spiritual training as the others. She, our Mother, was now near God, with a nearness that was possible for no other human being, and it is one of the traditional sayings of our Lord: "He that is near Me is near fire." And fire burns as well as warms and lights. She is wonderful, the Virgin of Nazareth, in this moment when she becomes Mother of God: and we share in the rapture of the moment when in the fulness of her joy she hardly notices S. Gabriel's departure: but we feel, too, a great pity for her as we think of the coming days. So we kneel to her who is our Mother, as well as Mother of God, and say our _Ave_, and ask her priceless intercession. Gabriel, that angel bright, Brighter than the sun is light, From heaven to earth he took his flight, Letare. In Nazareth, that great city, Before a maiden he kneeled on knee, And said, "Mary, God is with thee, Letare." "Hail Mary, full of grace, God is with thee, and ever was; He hath in thee chosen a place. Letare." Mary was afraid of that sight, That came to her with so great light, Then said the angel that was so bright, "Letare." "Be not aghast of least nor most, In thee is conceived of the Holy Ghost, To save the souls that were for-lost. Letare." Fifteenth Century. PART TWO CHAPTER III THE ANNUNCIATION II And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. S. Luke I. 38 O God, who through the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary didst bestow on mankind the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession for us through whom we were made worthy to receive the author of life, even Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Roman.