"It is fitting that the Son of God should preserve Mary from sin since she was to be His mother. No other man could choose his mother. But if such a thing could be granted to anyone, who would wish for a slave if he could choose a queen? Who would wish for a servant if he could choose a noble lady? And if he could choose a friend of God, would he not wish for the Devil's greatest enemy?"

- St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri