The divine lover, heaving a deep sigh, begins by saying: Let Him kiss me, this dear friend of my soul, let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth!  For Your breasts are better than wine, giving forth odors of delicious fragrance.  Your name is as oil poured out which, being composed of all the most precious perfumes, gives forth odors delightful above all others; and that is why young maidens love You.  Then continuing, she adds: Draw me and we will run after your ointments [Song 1:3] 

The Fathers, considering this word of the Song of Songs which the spouse addresses to her Spouse: “Let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth,” say that this kiss which she s ardently desires is nothing else but the accomplishment of the Mystery of Our Lord’s Incarnation, a kiss so awaited and desired during the long flow of years by all souls who merit the name of lovers.  But at length this kiss, which had been so long refused and deferred, was granted to this sacred lover, Our Lady, who, above all others, merits the name “spouse” and “lover” par excellence…..the divine union of the Eternal Word with the human nature, represented by this kiss, was made in the sacred womb of his glorious Virgin.  –‘The Sermons of St Francis de Sales on Our Lady

The Annunciation
Adelaide Anne Procter

How pure, and frail, and white,
The snowdrops shine!
Gather a garland bright
For Mary’s shrine.

For, born of winter snows,
These fragile flowers
Are gifts to our fair Queen
From spring’s first hours.

For on this blessed day
She knelt at prayer;
When, lo! Before her shone
An angel fair.

“Hail Mary!” thus he cried,
With reverent fear;
She, with sweet wondering eyes,
Marveled to hear.

Be still, ye clouds of Heaven!
Be silent, Earth!
And hear an angel tell
Of Jesus’ birth.

While she, whom Gabriel hails
As full of grace,
Listens with humble faith
In her sweet face.

Be still—Pride, War, and Pomp,
Vain hopes, vain fears,
For now an angel speaks,
And Mary hears.

“Hail Mary!” lo, it rings
Through ages on;
“Hail Mary!” it shall sound,
Till time is done

“Hail Mary!” infant lips
Lisp it today;
“Hail Mary! With faint smile
The dying saying.

“Hali Mary!” many a heart
Broken with grief
In that angelic prayer
Has found relief.

And many a half-lost soul,
When turned at bay,
With those triumphant words
Has won the day..

“Hail Mary, Queen of Heaven!”
Let us repeat,
And place our snowdrop wreath
Here at her feet.