The Good Fruit of the Virgin's Womb
The sinner at times seeks but does not find, whereas the righteous seeks and finds…. Thus Eve sought the fruit [of the tree], but did not find in it all that she coveted; whereas the Blessed Virgin in her Fruit found all that Eve had desired.
In her fruit, Eve sought to become like gods, knowing good and evil (which the devil falsely promised)…. Through eating the fruit, Eve did not become like God, but unlike him, since by sinning she turned away from God, her salvation, and was expelled from paradise. On the other hand, the Blessed Virgin found likeness to God in the Fruit of her womband so do all followers of Christsince through Christ we are united and likened to God. When he shall appear, we shall be like unto him, for we shall see him as he is.
Eve in her fruit sought pleasure, since it was good to eat; yet she did not find it, for at once she perceived that she was naked, and tasted sorrow. But in the Fruit of the Blessed Virgin we find sweetness and salvation. He that eateth my flesh…hath eternal life.
Eve in her fruit sought beauty: Eve's fruit was fair to the eyes. Yet fairer still is the Virgin's Fruit on whom the angels long to gaze: Thou art fairer than the sons of men (Ps 45:3). This is because he is the brightness of the Father's glory (Heb 1:3).
Therefore, let us seek in the Virgin's Fruit that which we desire to have. This Fruit is blessed by God, because God so filled him with all grace that it overflows upon us who bow to him in adoration: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing on high in Christ (Eph 1:3). He is blessed by the angels: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever (Rv 7:12). And he is blessed by men: Let every tongue confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:11)….
Thus is the Virgin blessed, but still more blessed is her Fruit.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
The sinner at times seeks but does not find, whereas the righteous seeks and finds…. Thus Eve sought the fruit [of the tree], but did not find in it all that she coveted; whereas the Blessed Virgin in her Fruit found all that Eve had desired.
In her fruit, Eve sought to become like gods, knowing good and evil (which the devil falsely promised)…. Through eating the fruit, Eve did not become like God, but unlike him, since by sinning she turned away from God, her salvation, and was expelled from paradise. On the other hand, the Blessed Virgin found likeness to God in the Fruit of her womband so do all followers of Christsince through Christ we are united and likened to God. When he shall appear, we shall be like unto him, for we shall see him as he is.
Eve in her fruit sought pleasure, since it was good to eat; yet she did not find it, for at once she perceived that she was naked, and tasted sorrow. But in the Fruit of the Blessed Virgin we find sweetness and salvation. He that eateth my flesh…hath eternal life.
Eve in her fruit sought beauty: Eve's fruit was fair to the eyes. Yet fairer still is the Virgin's Fruit on whom the angels long to gaze: Thou art fairer than the sons of men (Ps 45:3). This is because he is the brightness of the Father's glory (Heb 1:3).
Therefore, let us seek in the Virgin's Fruit that which we desire to have. This Fruit is blessed by God, because God so filled him with all grace that it overflows upon us who bow to him in adoration: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing on high in Christ (Eph 1:3). He is blessed by the angels: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever (Rv 7:12). And he is blessed by men: Let every tongue confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:11)….
Thus is the Virgin blessed, but still more blessed is her Fruit.
Saint Thomas Aquinas