Introit of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Isaiah 7:14; Psalm 97:1

Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel. Ps. O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He hath done marvellous things. ℣. Glory be to the Father.

Haydock

Isaiah 7

Verse 14. Virgin, halma, (H.) one secluded from the company of men. Alma in Latin signifies “a holy person,” and in Punic “a virgin.” The term is never applied to any but “a young virgin.” If it meant a young woman, what sort of a sign would this be? S. Jer. — It was indeed above the sagacity of man to declare that the child to be born would be a boy, and live till the kings should be destroyed. But the prophet undoubtedly speaks of Jesus Christ, the wonderful, &c. (c. ix. 5.) as well as of a boy, who should prefigure him, and be an earnest of the speedy destruction of the two kings. He was to be born of Isaias, (c. viii. 4.) and of all the qualities belonging to the true Emmanuel, only that regards him, which intimates that the country should be delivered before he should come to years of discretion. v. 16. C. Diss. Bossuet — The Fathers generally apply all to Christ. — Called. Or shall be in effect. C. i. 26. C. — The king hardly trusted in God’s mercies, whereupon the incarnation of Christ, &c. is foretold. W.

Psalm 97

Verse 1. David. His name occurs not in Heb. though the psalm is worthy of him. Bert. — It may refer to the return from captivity, as a figure of the world’s redemption. — Things. In rescuing his people from slavery, and in the incarnation. C. — For him. Or alone. M. — Christ raised himself by his own power. C. Is. lxii. 5. — He redeemed mankind for his own glory, sibi. Bert.

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