Reverently did she reveal
her mind’s intention, namely that she had determined to lead the life of a
virgin. And because, most excellent of women, she endeavored to subject herself
to so great a virtue, she deserved by a unique right to surpass other women in
blessedness. How will this be done? she asks. She does not say: How
will I know this? but, how will it be done, because I know not man?
inquiring, that is to say, about the kind of obedience to which she may be
subjected, but not demanding a sign in which she may believe. For it was not
fitting for a virgin chosen to give birth to God to be doubtful from lack of
faith but wary out of prudence, because man could not easily know a mystery
that remained hidden from the world in God. Therefore, since she had read: Behold
a virgin will conceive in her womb, and bear a son, but had not heard how
this could be done, rightly trusting in the things she had read, she inquires
of the angel what she did not find in the prophet. (Bede, Commentary on the
Gospel of Luke [trans. Calvin B. Kendall and Faith Wallis; Translated Texts
for Historians 85; Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2025], 133-34)
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