He has chosen her to be the Mother of the Saviour.

Maronites honour and venerate Mary, the Blessed among women, because she was chosen from amongst all women to be the Mother of the Saviour.

One year, during the night of the Assumption, the Mother of the Saviour appeared to her again and placed the Infant Jesus in her arms.

In order for us to scorn the things of here below, we implore you to give us your ardent love for Jesus Host and your tender devotion for the Mother of the Saviour.

In Matthew's Gospel she remains a shadowy figure - Joseph is much more prominent in the story of Jesus' infancy - but she does have an important role as the mother of the Saviour.

On 7 December 28 graduates were commissioned by Bishop Michael in a liturgy that made apparent the links between the season of Advent and the commitment they were making: "Mary received her call to be Mother of the Saviour.

Mary was brought into the world not like other children of Adam, infected with the contagion of sin, but pure, holy, beautiful, and glorious, adorned with all the most precious graces fitting for the One predestined to be the Mother of the Saviour.