From Saint Romanos the Melodist (+ ca. 560 A.D., celebrated in the East on 1 October), this amusing excerpt from his first Hymn on the Annunciation:
They never believe me. First in the Temple, now in this Virgin's house I find unbelief. The same doubt; there, it was Zechariah's; here, it is Mary's. Nevertheless, I cannot, I dare not give a proof; I do not have the power to obstruct her voice, as I did to the old man. Then, I could reduce him to silence, but now I tremble as I say: Hail, Virgin Bride!
Luigi Gambero comments:
In line with a mentality that was fairly widespread among the Eastern Fathers, Romanos attributes some small defects or imperfections to the Virgin, being certain that this does not prejudice Mary's dignity and extreme holiness. --Mary and the Fathers of the Church, page 330.Posted by billw at December 18, 2002 04:54 AM
Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct, but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.
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