His Holiness Pope Shenouda in this lecture deals with some ideas in the doctrine of the greatness of our Lady the Virgin Mary and her special rank in the plan of salvation.

Descent of the Holy Spirit and the theological particularity:
He affirms that the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin was a hypostatic descent that worked in her a divine work (producing a fetus without human seed, its sanctification and not inheriting original sin, and the union of divinity with humanity inside her).

New Testament testimonies and the communal praise:
He points to the angel’s greeting to her “Hail, full of grace” and to the Virgin’s visit to Elizabeth where Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit at her greeting, which highlights her greatness and the graces of the Spirit in her.

Her selection and singularity of her rank:
The Virgin is the only one whom the Lord chose from among the women of the world in all generations to bear the Savior, and her status was mentioned in the decision of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in the year 431 presided by Saint Cyril the Great.

Her titles and biblical symbols:
She is titled Queen, Mother of the True Light, the Second Heaven, City of God, the True Vine, the Good Dove, and others. Scripture contains symbols for her from the Old Testament: the burning bush that burned yet was not consumed, Aaron’s rod that budded, a portion of manna, the ark of the covenant, Ezekiel’s closed gate, and Isaiah’s cloud.

Her place in ecclesial and popular life:
The Church’s love and the popular devotion to her appear in hymns, icons, naming girls after her, the many feasts (Annunciation, Nativity, Entrance to the Temple, Entry into Egypt, Dormition, Assumption), her apparitions in various places, and the accompanying miracles.

Her practical and spiritual virtues:
Her virtues stand out: humility which was the reason for the incarnation, service (her service to Elizabeth in love), endurance (she endured orphanhood and poverty without complaint and glory without pride), her acceptance of God’s will even if against her desire, and her bearing of responsibility at a young age.

Result and spiritual exhortation:
The sermon calls believers to imitate the Virgin’s virtues: humility, service, steadfastness in faith, so that their lives become a reflection of the Spirit’s presence and holiness as in her life.

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