In his contemplation on the Incarnation St. Ignatius of Loyola asks us to contemplate with gratitude the persons of the Blessed Trinity sending an angel to Our Lady asking her to work with them "to save the human race". Then as now we "poor, banished children of Eve" need Mary's agreement. St. Bernard in his sermon "Answer, quickly O Virgin" makes a heart-rending plea to Mary. In imagination the saint becomes part of the scene, the "fly on the wall" of modern parlance. He begs Mary to make a quick response. He tells her, "Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet". We wait there too.

We owe thanks to St. Bernard and St. Ignatius for so movingly leading us to pray, and to Our Lady for her quick response. We must thank the Son for coming to save us and the Persons of the Trinity for sending Him in love.