‘CITY OF GOD’ by MARY OF AGREDA; Volume One ~ The Conception; Chapter VIII ~ ‘TWELFTH CHAPTER OF THE …
[Venerable Mary of Agreda – XVII Century AD; born: Agreda, Spain/died: Agreda, Spain; ‘Lady in Blue’; Abess; Writer; Mystic]
101. ‘She cried travailing in birth.’ Although the dignity of this Queen and of that mystery was to be hidden in the beginning in order that God might be born humble, poor and unknown : yet afterwards the news of that Birth was proclaimed so loudly, that its first echo excited King Herod and filled him with uneasiness. It drew the Magi from their palaces and kingdoms in order to find Him (Matth. 2, 3). Some hearts were touched with fear, others moved to interior affection.
The Fruit of this birth, growing until it was raised on the Cross, gave such loud voices, that It was heard from the rising to the setting sun (John 12, 32), and from farthest north to farthest south (Rom. 10, 18). So far then was heard the voice of that Woman who gave birth to the Word of the eternal Father.
102. ‘And was in pain to be delivered.’ He does not say this because She was to give …More
"102. ‘And was in pain to be delivered.’ He does not say this because She was to give birth in bodily pain, for that is not possible in this divine Parturition. But because it was to be a great sorrow for that Mother to see that divine Infant come forth from the secrecy of her virginal womb in order to suffer and die as a victim for the satisfaction of the sins of the world. For this Queen could know and did know all this beforehand by her knowledge of the holy Scriptures."