Mary, Mother of God, because of you
the light of the only-begotten Son of God
shone upon those who sat in darkness
and the shadow of death.

 
St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century

She who played the part
of the Creator’s servant and mother
is God’s mother and lady
and queen of all created things.

 
St. John Damascene, 8th century

Hail, O name that breathes out sweetness;
Hail, face that radiates divinity and grace.

 
St. Theodotus of Ancrya, 5th century

Mary is all beautiful, all near to God.
For she, surpassing the cherubim,
exalted beyond the seraphim,
is placed near to God.

 
St. John Damascene, 8th century

Mary, the holy Virgin
is truly great before God and men.
How shall we not proclaim her great,
who held within her the uncontainable One,
whom neither heaven nor earth can contain?

 
Epiphanius, 4th century

Whatever was done in Mary,
was all purity and simplicity, all grace and truth,
all mercy and justice,
which looked forth from Heaven.

 
St. Jerome, 5th century

O noble Virgin, who is your equal in greatness,
O dwelling place of God the Word?
To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin?
You are greater than them all, O Covenant,
clothed with purity instead of gold!

 
St. Athanasius, 4th century

In Mary, God bestowed the greatest honor
ever put upon any individual of our fallen race.
God was taking upon him her flesh,
and humbling himself to be called her offspring;
such is the deep mystery.

 
Ven. John Henry Newman, 19th century