The Blessed Virgin in the Middle Ages

New Zealand Tablet, 27 September 1906, Page 7

The Blessed Virgin in the Middle Ages

The following passage is from Lecky's • History of Rationalism ' :—: — 1 The world is governed by ideals, and seldom or never has there been one which has exercised a more salutary influence than the mediaeval conception of the Virgin. For the first time woman was elevated to her rightful position and the sanctity of weakness was recognised as well as the sanctity of sorrow No longer the slave, the toy of man, no longer associated onJy with ideas 'of degradation and of sensuality woman arose in the Virgin Mother into a new sphere and became the object of a reverent homage of which antiquity had had no conception. Love was idealized The moral oharm and beauty of female excellence was for the first time felt. A new type of character was called into being, a new kind of admiration was fostered. Into a harsh, ignorant, benighted a-ge this ideal type infused a gentleness, a purity unknown to the proudest civilisations of the past. In the millions who in many lands, in many ages have sought with no barren desire to mould their character into her image, in those holy maids who for the love of Mary have separated themselves from all the 'glories and the pleasures of the world to seek in fastings, vigils, and •humble charity to render themselves worthy of her benediction., in the new sense of honor, in the chivalrous respect, in -the softening of manners, in the refinement of tastes displayed in All the walks of life, in this, and in many ways, v<; detect its influence. All that was best in Europe clustered around ■'it, and it is the origin of many of the purest elements of our civilisation. '

' I am afraid, madam,' said . a gentleman who was looking for country lodgings, ' that the house is too near the station' to be pleasant.' / 'Itis a little noisy,' assented the landlady, ' but - from the front verandah one has such a fine- view of the people who miss the trains.'