"BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB"

The sinner often seeks for something which he does not find; but to the 

just man it is given to find what he seeks: "The substance of the sinner is 

kept for the just." Thus, Eve sought the fruit of the tree (of good and 

evil), but she did not find in it that which she sought. Everything Eve 

desired, however, was given to the Blessed Virgin. Eve sought that which 

the devil falsely promised her, namely, that she and Adam would be as gods, 

knowing good and evil. "You shall be," says this liar, "as gods." But he 

lied, because "he is a liar and the father of lies." Eve was not made 

like God after having eaten of the fruit, but rather she was unlike God in 

that by her sin she withdrew from God and was driven out of paradise. The 

Blessed Virgin, however, and all Christians found in the Fruit of her womb 

Him whereby we are all united to God and are made like to Him: "When He 

shall appear, we shall be like to Him, because we shall see Him as He 

is."

Eve looked for pleasure in the fruit of the tree because it was good to 

eat. But she did not find this pleasure in it, and, on the contrary, she at 

once discovered she was naked and was stricken with sorrow. In the Fruit of 

the Blessed Virgin we find sweetness and salvation: "He that eateth My 

flesh . . . hath eternal life."

The fruit which Eve desired was beautiful to look upon, but that Fruit of 

the Blessed Virgin is far more beautiful, for the Angels desire to look 

upon Him: "Thou art beautiful above the sons of men." He is the splendor 

of the glory of the Father. Eve, therefore, looked in vain for that which 

she sought in the fruit of the tree, just as the sinner is disappointed in 

his sins. We must seek in the Fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary 

whatsoever we desire. This is He who is the Fruit blessed by God, who has 

filled Him with every grace, which in turn is poured out upon us who adore 

Him: "Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 

blessed us with spiritual blessings in Christ." He, too, is revered by 

the Angels: "Benediction and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and 

power and strength, to our God." And He is glorified by men: "Every 

tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the 

Father." The Blessed Virgin is indeed blessed, but far more blessed is 

the Fruit of her womb: "Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the 

Lord."