flock. St. Francis de Sales was never weary of studying his works, and often recommended his books to his penitents.]
In order that nothing should be wanting to heighten the glory of this great mystery, before Jesus was born, or rather from the beginning of the world and from all ages, He has been promised to the patriarchs, He has been announced by the prophets, foretold by the sybils, represented throughout by ancient ceremonies, sacrifices, and every sacrament of the old law.
And when He deigned to descend from heaven to earth, by what circumstances, what prodigies, has not His coming been accompanied, which were but reasonable for so supreme a Majesty.
An angel sent by God has brought the glad tidings, He has been conceived of the Holy Ghost, He had chosen the most pure and holy of virgins to become Incarnate in her womb, and the body He has taken has been united to the Divinity from the very first moment of His birth.
Pagans imagined that it was unworthy of the majesty of God to clothe Himself with a substance so degrading as our flesh; but it is easy to show them how this humanity has been glorified, what riches it has possessed, and, far from having been a thing below the dignity of God, it has, on the contrary, considerably added to His glory, by uniting these two natures into one person.
It is in such marvels as these that the wisdom of God appears more apparent. It shows also, that He alone is capable of elevating lowliness, of aggrandising that which is nothing, of filling with honour and dignity that which was contemptible. For if, by an effect of His goodness, He had wished to humiliate Himself by becoming man, nevertheless having taken the nature of man, instead of receiving ignominy therefrom, He has, on the contrary, received an infinity of glory, since it was in His power to
