. "Virgo veneranda:" Virgin most venerable. St. Anselm declares, that when we say of Mary that she is the mother of God, we say that she surpasses in greatness, after God, every thing that can be conceived or expressed whence he says to her: Oh Lady, nothing is equal to thee for every thing is either above thee,
and that is God; or it is beneath thee, and that is every thing that is not God. In a word, St. Bernardine says that God alone can know the greatness of Mary; and the blessed Albertus Magnus affirms that Mary could not be more united to God except by becoming God. "Magis Deo conjungi non potuit, nisi fieret Deus." Truly worthy then of our veneration is this great mother of God, for God himself could not make her greater than he has done, by making her his mother. Oh, mother of God, and my mother, Mary, I adore thee, and would wish thee to be adored by all hearts, as that exalted Lady thou art. Have mercy on a poor sinner, who loves thee and trusts in thee. Virgin most venerable, pray for us: "Virgo veneranda, ora pro nobis."
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori, from "The Glories of Mary"
