"BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN"

The Blessed Virgin exceeds the Angels in purity. She is not only pure, but 

she obtains purity for others. She is purity itself, wholly lacking in 

every guilt of sin, for she never incurred either mortal or venial sin. So, 

too, she was free from the penalties of sin. Sinful man, on the contrary, 

incurs a threefold curse on account of sin. The first fell upon woman who 

conceives in corruption, bears her child with difficulty, and brings it 

forth in pain. The Blessed Virgin was wholly free from this, since she 

conceived without corruption, bore her Child in comfort, and brought Him 

forth in joy: "It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy 

and praise."

The second penalty was inflicted upon man in that he shall earn his bread 

by the sweat of his brow. The Blessed Virgin was also immune from this 

because, as the Apostle says, virgins are free from the cares of this world 

and are occupied wholly with the things of the Lord.

The third curse is common both to man and woman in that both shall one day 

return to dust. The Blessed Virgin was spared this penalty, for her body 

was raised up into heaven, and so we believe that after her death she was 

revived and transported into heaven: "Arise, O Lord, into Thy resting 

place, Thou and the ark which Thou hast sanctified." Because the Blessed 

Virgin was immune from these punishments, she is "blessed among women." 

Moreover, she alone escaped the curse of sin, brought forth the Source of 

blessing, and opened the gate of heaven. It is surely fitting that her name 

is "Mary," which is akin to the Star of the Sea ("Maria - maris stella"), 

for just as sailors are directed to port by the star of the sea, so also 

Christians are by Mary guided to glory.