Blessings And Belief

Et beata quae credidit, quoniam perficientur ea quae dicta sunt ei a Domino... Vides non dubitasse Mariam, sed credidisse, et ideo fructum fidei consecutam. Beata, inquit, quae credidit. Et vere beata, quae sacerdote praestantior. Cum sacerdos negasset, virgo correxit errorem. Nec mirum si Dominus, redempturus mundum, operationem suam inchoavit a matre, ut per quam salus omnibus parabatur, eadem prima fructum salutis hauriret ex pignore. Pariterque notandum quanta Elisabeth animum gratia, Maria intrante, ditavit, quem simul de praeterito, praesenti, atque futuro, per prophetiae spiritum illustravit. Dicens enim, Beata quae credidisti, aperte indicat quia verba angeli quae dicta ad Mariam fuerant per spiritum agnovit. Atque subiungens: Perficientur ea quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino, quae etiam eam in futuro sequerentur praevidit. Matrem vero Domini sui nominans, quia Redemptorem humani generis in utero portare intellexit. Sanctus Beda, In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, Liber I, Caput I Source: Migne PL 92.321b

And blessed she who believed that these things which were said to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled...1 You see that Mary did not doubt, but believed, and therefore the fruit of faith followed. 'Blessed,' she says, 'she who believed.' And truly she is blessed who surpasses a priest. When he denied, the Virgin corrected the error. Do not wonder if the Lord who shall redeem the world begins His work with His mother, that she through whom salvation was prepared for all is the first to receive the fruit of salvation from Him who guarantees it. Along with which it should be noted how much the soul of Elizabeth was enriched by Mary's coming, she who at the same time, through the spirit of prophecy, was able to offer enlightenment concerning the past, present and the future. For saying, 'Blessed she who has believed,' she openly indicates that through the Spirit she knew the words which were spoken to Mary. And adding, 'These things which were said to you from the Lord,' she foresees what will follow in the future. And she names her mother of her Lord because she understands that the Redeemer of the human race is carried in her womb. Saint Bede, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Luke, Book 1 1 Lk 1.45