St. Peter Chrysologus: "The Virgin brings forth her child"

“WHERE are those who think that the Virgin’s conception and giving birth to her child are to be likened to those of other women? For, this latter case is one of the earth, and the Virgin’s is one from heaven. The one is a case of divine power; the other of human weakness. The one case occurs in a body subject to passion; the other in the tranquility of the divine Spirit and peace of the human body. The blood was still and the flesh astonished; her members were put at rest, and her entire womb was quiescent during the visit of the Heavenly One, until the author of flesh could take on His garment of flesh, and until He, who was not merely to restore the earth to man but also to give him heaven, could become a heavenly Man. The Virgin conceives, the Virgin brings forth her child, and she remains a virgin.”

~St. Peter Chrysologus (406 - 450 A.D.): Sermons, 117.

Annunciation and Nativity (Altarpiece of Observation), 

by Franceso del Cossa. 

Tempera on panel, 1470; Gemäldegalerie, Dresden.