There are those who think that the bride or bride groom, or perhaps some of their friends who already believed that Christ was the Son of God, when they saw that the wine was running short, spoke to our Lady that she might intercede in their behalf—if so the event proves that they acted wisely, though it involved asking a miracle at the hands of Him who had not yet begun His Ministry of miracle. It is, however, more probable that our Lady's intervention—her gentle plea—fell unsolicited from her loving lips. However this may be, the result is the same—written for our instruction in the Holy Gospels—before our eyes. The beginning of Miracles, the first manifestation of the Glory of Jesus Christ, the consequent belief of His disciples, were due to the prayer of Mary the Mother of Jesus—the direct result of those simple words : " They have no wine " —spoken by her whose prayer is all-prevailing with her Son. God knows not how to refuse His Mother's prayer.
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Nor will Mary refuse to plead for her children.
"Exceeding harm," writes St. Bernard, "one man and one woman have wrought us; nevertheless, thanks b e to God, through one Man and one Woman all things are restored—together with a large interest of graces. For, the gift was not as the sin, but the greatness of the benefit surpasses the extent of the loss. So in truth the most Wise and most Merciful Creator did not break that which had been shaken, but rather preferred altogether to remake it, so that for our well-being He might form a new Adam from the old, and might change Eve into Mary. And indeed Christ might have sufficed—surely all our sufficiency is of Him—but it would not have been good for us that Man should be alone. Rather was it fitting that both sexes should take part in our Reparation, for neither sex had been guiltless of our Fall. Assuredly, a faithful and most powerful Mediator between God and man is the Man Christ Jesus, but men fearfully worship in Him the Majesty of God. The Humanity has been taken into the Godhead, not that its substance has been changed, but that its affections have been deified. We do not proclaim His Mercy alone, it is likewise proclaimed that He exercises Judgment, for though from those things which He has suffered He learned compassion (Cf. Heb. iv. 15; v. 2, 8.) so that He is full of Mercy, still in Him is vested the office of Judgment. Lastly, 'our God is a consuming Fire.' How then should a sinner not fear to approach, lest, even as wax melts from the face of fire, he may also perish from the Face of God.
"Now, therefore, the Woman who is Blessed amongst women shall be seen not to be idle. In truth a place shall be found for her in His work of reconciliation. For we have need of a mediatress with the Mediator, nor can any be of greater advantage to us than Mary. Cruel indeed was the mediatress Eve, through whom the old serpent introduced his deadly poison even into man ; but faithful is Mary who has prepared the antidote of salvation both for men and women. The one was the minister of seduction, the other of propitiation ; the one suggests gainsaying, the other has brought us Redemption.
"Why should human weakness hesitate to approach to Mary ? In her there is nothing that is austere, in her there is nothing that is terrible. She is altogether sweet, to all does she offer milk and wool.
