It is humbling to consider the purity of the Virgin Mary's thought, which permitted the conception of Jesus. Matthew's Gospel bears record to the fact that before she was married to Joseph, "she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 1:18. Her purity, innocence, and tender spirituality made her uniquely receptive to this new revelation of Truth and Love. According to Luke's Gospel, the angel Gabriel, the herald of divine Love, told Mary that she would bear a child through the power of the Holy Ghost and that the child would be named Jesus and would be called the Son of God.See Luke, chap. 1. Mary reflected the holiness, love, goodness, and understanding that would characterize Christ Jesus' divine nature. Later he would teach, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," Matt. 5:8. and Mary's life testified to this fact.
Science and Health states: "Jesus was the son of a virgin. He was appointed to speak God's word and to appear to mortals in such a form of humanity as they could understand as well as perceive. Mary's conception of him was spiritual, for only purity could reflect Truth and Love, which were plainly incarnate in the good and pure Christ Jesus." Science and Health, p. 332.
Following Gabriel's appearing, Mary stayed with her cousin Elisabeth, who after many years of barrenness was pregnant with the child who would be known as John the Baptist. Here Mary found a quiet place of refuge and spiritual companionship, a safe haven for the early days of her pregnancy.
