As we go around our cities or when we read the news-papers or watch TV, we see advertisements in connection with food. We will hear of a certain brand of honey, and the agents will tell us that it is pure honey. And we will be told, for instance, of tomato sauce, and we will be assured that it is pure tomato. The same with certain brands of fruit juice, the guarantee will be that it is pure fruit.

In all the above cases, we are being informed that the commodity in question does not contain anything that should not be there. Not only that, but there are "Pure Food Acts." and the Government employs inspectors to go round and investigate if the goods and produce are in accordance with the Government's orders. Not only are there Government regulations dealing with foodstuffs, but there are laws dealing with the cleanliness of homes and business places.

But there is a purity of far greater importance than purity in foodstuffs and freedom from dirt around business premises. And that purity is purity of soul. For the soul is of so great importance, that it should not have the slightest speck on it. Our Lord showed the importance of the soul above the things of this world.
He said that if, for instance, our right hand was going to be an obstacle to our salvation, we were to cut it off. And if our right eye would be a hindrance to our salvation, we were to pluck it out.

Now, outside of Our Lord's purity, what purity is like to that of Mary? In the long ago ages of eternity, before time was, all Three Divine Persons dwelt in uncreated glory; all sufficient; all perfect in that divine happiness from which all created joys come, like scattered drops coming from a fountain. But mankind had wandered from God, and the human beings upon this earth were as sheep that were lost.

However, love that is eternal allows no barrier to stand between itself and the object of its love. And highest of mysteries that human thought can never hope to penetrate, the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity is about to come upon earth. The Creator will enter into His Own creation. The Immutable will adapt Himself to the condition of a mortal childhood. Jesus Christ in human form will be that God, and His Mother will be Mary, a fountain flowing with graces.

Have you ever noticed the loveliness of a sheet of dazzling snow before it has been walked on? Have you ever gazed upon the frail, white purity of cherry blossoms before they were smudged? Well, that snow and those blossoms are a very faint picture of Mary's soul, not only at her conception but also throughout the whole of her life.

When Eve came fresh from the Hands of her Creator, her soul was adorned with graces. She was the pinnacle of perfection in the graces of womanhood. She was truly a queen in majesty and sweetness. But Mary far surpassed Eve in the realm of grace. The accumulation of Mary's graces is beyond our powers of calculation. Mary surpassed Eve as a statue of marble surpasses one of plaster. In spite of her perfection, Eve fell a victim to the temptations of the Evil One, whereas Mary was proof against all of his evil purposes. Mary's purity! Who can measure it? What words could adequately describe the purity of Mary in whose womb God Himself would abide; the purity of Mary whose Divine Child would be flesh of her flesh, and blood of her blood, bone of her bone?

Mother Church has applied to Mary the words: "Thou art all fair, and there is no spot in thee". The Ark was covered with the purest gold, but Mary is the Ark of the Covenant. St. John saw the streets of heaven glittering with the most precious stones. Well, Mary is Our Lord's earthly abode. She increased in grace. The inspirations of grace found in her no rebellion, no resistance, no neglect. And so constant was the increase that when the time came for Mary to quit this earthly scene, her wealth of grace must have been startling to the inmates of heaven. St. Augustine points out that all of us have sinned, "except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom for the honor of Our Lord I wish no question to be raised at all when we are treating of sins." (De nat, et gratia 42).

God wants us to be holy. "Be ye therefore perfect as also your Heavenly Father is perfect." As the Holy Spirit is the infinite perfect Artist in the work of holiness, among mere creatures, Mary is His immeasurably perfect handiwork. We can never hope to attain to the heights of Mary's holiness. But there is a measure of holiness that we can all attain. With Mary's help we can reach that holiness. Let us then fervently ask her to obtain for us the wisdom and strength to be obedient to every inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to keep us free from sin so that, standing one day without spot or wrinkle before God's eternal throne, we may with her, sing God's praises for ever and ever.

Source: The Litany of Our Lady. Fr. P.J. Gearon.