,,the ,,glories ,,of ,,mary ,illustration3 ,g4 ,steinle ,pinxt4 ,,assumption ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary 8,salve ,regina04 ,edward ,dunigan ,brother1 ,new ,york ,,the ,,glories ,,of ,,mary4 ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,italian ,,of ,,st4 ,,alphonsus ,,liguori1 ,,founder ,,of ,,the ,,congregation ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,redeemer4 ,,second ,,american ,,edition4 ,,new ,,york3 ,,edward ,,dunigan ,,and ,,brother1 #aea ,,fulton-,,street1 ,,near ,,broadway4 #aheb4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #aheb1 by ,,edward ,,dunigan ,,brother1 ,in the ,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court for the ,southern ,district of ,new ,york4 ,illustration ,this new and improved translation of 8,the ,glories of ,mary10 having been duly examined1 is hereby approved of4 ,,john1 ,archbishop of ,new ,york ,new ,york1 ,jan4 #bast1 #aheb4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,american ,,edition4 ,the edition of the 8,glories of ,mary0 now presented to the ,catholic public of ,america is the first complete translation of the work ever made into the ,english language4 ,we trust that it will be found to retain the spirit of the learned and saintly author1 and that it will be welcomed by the faithful in this country with the same delight which it has universally called forth in ,catholic ,europe4 ,,protest ,,of ,,the ,,author4 ,in obedience to the decrees of ,urban ,,viii41 of holy memory1 ,i protest that ,i do not intend to attribute any other than purely human authority to all the miracles1 revelations1 graces1 and incidents contained in this book2 neither to the titles holy or blessed applied to the servants of ,god not yet canonized2 except in cases where these have been confirmed by the holy ,roman ,catholic ,church1 and by the holy ,apostolic ,see1 of whom ,i profess myself an obedient son2 and therefore to their judgment ,i submit myself and whatever ,i have written in this book4 ,,contents4 ,,page4 ,preface to ,american edition #c ,protest of the author #d ,petition of the author to ,jesus and ,mary #aa ,to the reader #ac ,introduction #af ,prayer to the blessed ,virgin to obtain a good death #bb ,,chapter ,i4 ,,section #a4--;,hail1 holy ,queen1 ,mother of ,mercy6--,of the great confidence we should have in ,mary1 because she is the ,queen of ,mercy #be ,,sect4 #b4--;,how much greater should be our confidence in ,mary1 because she is our mother #ci ,,sect4 #c4--;,how great is the love of our mother for us #ej ,,sect4 #d4--,mary is also mother of penitent sinners #fh ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,sect4 #a4--,our life1 our sweetness6--,mary is our life1 because she obtains for us the pardon of our sins #hj ,,sect4 #b4--,mary is again our life1 because she obtains for us perseverance #ij ,,sect4 #c4--,mary renders death sweet to her servants #aja ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,sect4 #a4--;,hail1 our hope6--,mary is the hope of all #aae ,,sect4 #b4--,mary1 the hope of sinners #abi ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,sect4 #a4--,to thee do we cry1 poor banished children of ,eve6--,how ready is ,mary to succor those who call upon her #adb ,,sect4 #b4--;,how powerful is ,mary to protect those who invoke her in temptations of the devil #aee ,,chapter ,v4 ,,sect4 #a4--,to thee we send up our sighs1 groaning and weeping in this valley of tears6--,the need we have of the intercession of ,mary for our salvation #afh ,,sect4 #b4--,the same subject continued #ahe ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,sect4 #a4--;,ah1 then1 our advocate6--,mary is an advocate1 powerful to save all #bjj ,,sect4 #b4--,mary is a merciful advocate1 who does not refuse to defend the cause of the most miserable sinners #bae ,,sect4 #c4--,mary is the peacemaker between sinners and ,god #bbf ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,turn thy eyes of mercy towards us4--,mary is all eyes1 to pity and relieve our miseries #bda ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,sect4 #a4--;,and after this our exile1 show us the blessed fruit of thy womb1 ,jesus4--,mary rescues her servants from hell #bed ,,sect4 #b4--,mary assists her servants in purgatory #bfg ,,sect4 #c4--,mary conducts her servants to paradise #bgf ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,oh clement1 oh merciful6--,how great is the clemency and mercy of ,mary #bij ,,chapter ,x4 ,oh sweet ,virgin ,mary6--,how sweet is the name of ,mary in life and in death #cje ,,the ,,very ,,devout ,,prayers ,,of ,,various ,,saints ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,mother #cbb ,,part ,,ii4 ,,discourse ,i4 ,,on ,,the ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,of ,,mary4 ,how befitting it was to all three of the ,divine ,persons that ,mary should be preserved from original sin #ccg ,,discourse ,,ii ,,on ,,the ,,birth ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary was born a saint1 and a great saint1 for great was the grace with which our ,lord enriched her from the beginning1 and great was the fidelity with which ,mary at once corresponded with it #cga ,,discourse ,,iii4 ,,on ,,the ,,presentation ,,of ,,mary4 ,the offering which ,mary made of herself to ,god was prompt1 without delay2 entire1 without reserve #cic ,,discourse ,,iv4 ,,on ,,the ,,annunciation ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary could not humble herself more than she did in the incarnation of the ,word2 on the other hand1 ,god could not exalt her more than he has exalted her #daj ,,discourse ,v4 ,,on ,,the ,,visitation ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary is the treasurer of all the divine graces2 therefore he who desires graces1 should have recourse to ,mary2 and he who has recourse to ,mary1 should be secure of obtaining the graces he wishes #dcf ,,discourse ,,vi4 ,,on ,,the ,,purification ,,of ,,mary4 ,the great sacrifice which ,mary this day made to ,god1 in offering him the life of her ,son #deg ,,discourse ,,vii4 ,,on ,,the ,,assumption ,,of ,,mary4 ,how precious was the death of ,mary4 #ast4 ,by the favors which accompanied it4 #b;d4 ,by the manner in which it took place #dge ,,discourse ,,viii4 ,,another ,,discourse ,,on ,,the ,,assumption ,,of ,,mary4 #ast4 ,how glorious was the triumph of ,mary when she ascended to heaven6 #b;d4 ,how exalted was the throne to which she was raised in heaven6 #dif ,,discourse ,,ix4 ,,on ,,the ,,dolors ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary was queen of martyrs1 because her martyrdom was longer and greater than that of all the martyrs #eae ,,reflections ,,on ,,each ,,of ,,the ,,seven ,,dolors ,,in ,,particular4 ,,on ,,the ,,first ,,dolor4 ,of ,st4 ,simeon's prophecy #ecg ,,on ,,the ,,second ,,dolor4 ,of the flight of ,jesus into ,egypt #ede ,,on ,,the ,,third ,,dolor4 ,of the loss of ,jesus in the temple #eeb ,,on ,,the ,,fourth ,,dolor4 ,of the meeting of ,mary with ,jesus1 when he went to ,calvary #efj ,,on ,,the ,,fifth ,,dolor4 ,of the death of ,jesus #efh ,,on ,,the ,,sixth ,,dolor4 ,the piercing of the side of ,jesus1 and his descent from the cross #egg ,,on ,,the ,,seventh ,,dolor4 ,of the burial of the body of ,jesus #ehe ,,of ,,the ,,virtues ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,mary4 ,,section #a4--,of the humility of ,mary #eid ,,section #b4--,of the charity of ,mary towards ,god #fjc ,,section #c4--,of the charity of ,mary for her neighbor #faa ,,section #d4--,of the faith of ,mary #fae ,,section #e4--,of the hope of ,mary #fbj ,,section #f4--,of the chastity of ,mary #fbc ,,section #g4--,of the poverty of ,mary #fbi ,,section #h4--,of the obedience of ,mary #fcb ,,section #i4--,of the patience of ,mary #fcf ,,section #aj4--,of the prayer of ,mary #fci ,various practices of devotion to the divine mother #fdc ,various additional examples appertaining to the most holy ,mary #fgi ,novena of meditations for the nine days preceding the ,feast of the ,purification of ,mary #gbg ,meditations for various feasts of ,mary #gdi ,prayers to the divine mother for every day of the week #gfd ,little ,rosary of the seven dolors of ,mary #ggc ,little ,rosary of the immaculate ,mary #ggh ,various prayers to ,mary #ggh ,,ejaculations ,,to ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,mary #ghb ,,acclamations ,,in ,,praise ,,of ,,mary #ghe ,,petition ,,of ,,the ,,author ,,to ,,jesus ,,and ,,mary4 ,my most loving ,redeemer and ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i thy poor servant1 knowing how pleasing to thee are those who seek to glorify thy most holy mother1 whom thou lovest so much1 and dost so much desire to see loved and honored by all men1 ,i propose to publish this book of mine which treats of her glories4 ,i know not to whom ,i could commend it but to thee1 who hast so much at heart the glory of this mother4 ,to thee1 then1 ,i present and dedicate it4 ,receive this little offering of my love for thee and thy beloved mother4 ,take it under thy protection1 and pour into the hearts of those who read it the light of confidence in this immaculate ,virgin1 and the warmth of a burning love for her1 in whom thou hast placed the hope and refuge of all the redeemed4 ,and for the reward of this1 my poor effort1 give me1 ,i pray thee1 that love for ,mary with which ,i have desired to inflame1 by this my little work1 the hearts of all those who read it4 ,to thee also ,i appeal1 oh my sweetest ,lady and mother ,mary4 ,thou knowest that in thee1 next to ,jesus1 ,i have placed all hope of my eternal salvation1 since all the good ,i have received1 my conversion1 my vocation to leave the world1 and whatever other graces have been given me by ,god1 ,i acknowledge them all as coming through thee4 ,thou knowest that to see thee loved by all as thou dost deserve1 and to offer thee some token of gratitude1 ,i have always sought to proclaim thee everywhere1 in public and in private1 and to inspire all men with a sweet and salutary devotion to thee4 ,i hope to continue to do so for the remainder of my life1 even to my last breath4 ,but ,i see by my advanced age and declining health that the end of my pilgrimage and my entrance into eternity are drawing near2 therefore1 ,i hope to give to the world1 before my death1 this little book of mine which may continue to proclaim thee for me1 and also may excite others to publish thy glories and the great mercy which thou dost exercise towards thy devoted servants4 ,i hope1 my most beloved queen1 that this my poor offering1 although it falls so far short of thy merit1 may be pleasing to thy grateful heart1 since it is wholly a gift of love4 ,extend1 then1 that most kind hand of thine with which thou hast delivered me from the world and from hell1 and accept it and protect it as belonging to thee4 ,but ,i ask this reward for my little offering1 that henceforth ,i may love thee more1 and that all into whose hands this work shall fall1 may be inflamed with thy love1 so that immediately their desire may increase to love thee1 and see others love thee also2 and that they may engage with all ardor in proclaiming and promoting1 as far as possible1 thy praise1 and confidence in thy most holy intercession4 ,thus ,i hope1 thus may it be4 ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ,in order that this little work of mine may not be exposed to censure from very fastidious critics1 ,i have thought it best to place in a clearer light some of the propositions which it contains1 and which may seem too bold1 or perhaps obscure4 ,i here enumerate some of them1 and if others1 my dear reader1 should come under your eye1 ,i pray you to consider them as meant and spoken by me according to the sense of true and sound theology1 and of the holy ,roman ,catholic ,church1 whose obedient son ,i profess myself4 ,in the introduction1 page #ai1 referring to chap4 #eth of the book1 ,i have said that ,god has ordained that all graces should come to us through the hands of ,mary4 ,now this is a very consoling truth for souls tenderly attached to the most holy ,mary1 and for poor sinners who desire to be converted4 ,nor should this appear to any one inconsistent with sound theology1 since its author1 ,st4 ,augustine1 puts it forth as a general statement1 that ,mary has shared1 by means of her charity1 in the spiritual birth of all the members of the ,church4#a ,a well-known author1 whom no one will suspect of exaggeration or of fanciful and overheated devotion1 adds1 that as ,jesus ,christ really formed his ,church on ,calvary1 it is plain that the holy ,virgin really co-operated with him1 in a peculiar and excellent manner1 in its formation4#b ,and for the same reason it may be said1 that if she brought forth ,jesus ,christ1 the head of the ,church1 without pain1 she did not bring forth the body of this head without pain4 ,hence she commenced on ,calvary to be1 in a particular manner1 mother of the whole ,church4 ,to say all in a few words1 ,almighty ,god1 in order to glorify the mother of the ,redeemer1 has ordained that her great charity should intercede for all those for whom her divine ,son offered and paid the superabundant ransom of his precious blood1 in which alone is our salvation1 life1 and resurrection4 ,it is on the basis of this doctrine and whatever belongs to it that ,i have undertaken to establish my propositions1#c which the saints in their affecting colloquies with ,mary1 and in their fervent discourses concerning her1 have not hesitated to assert3 whence an ancient father1 quoted by the celebrated ,vincenzo ,contensone1 has written3 ,the fulness of grace was in ,christ as the head from which it flows1 but in ,mary as the neck through which it is transmitted4#d ,this is plainly taught by the angelic ,doctor1 ,st4 ,thomas1 who confirms all the foregoing in these words3 ,the blessed ,virgin is called full of grace in three ways4444 ,the third1 in reference to its overflowing upon all men4 ,for great is it in each saint if he hath enough of grace for the salvation of many2 but this would be the greatest1 if he had enough for the salvation of all men2 and it is so with ,christ and the blessed ,virgin1 for in every danger we may obtain salvation through the glorious ,virgin4 ,hence1 cant4 #d1 v4 #d1 a thousand bucklers--that is1 remedies against dangers--hang upon her2 8,mille clypei pendent ex ea40 ,hence in every virtuous work we can have her aid1 and1 therefore1 she herself says1 ,in me is all hope of life and of virtue3 8,in me omnis spes vit et virtutis40#e--;,eccli4 xxiv4 #be4 ,,introduction ,,which ,,ought ,,to ,,be ,,read4 ,my dear reader and brother in ,mary1 since the devotion which has urged me to write1 and now moves you to read this book1 renders us both happy children of this good mother1 if you ever should hear any one say that ,i could have spared this labor1 there being so many learned and celebrated books that treat of this subject1 answer him1 ,i pray you1 in the words of ,francone the abbot1 which we find in the ,library of the ,fathers1 that the praise of ,mary is a fountain so full that the more it extends1 the fuller it becomes1 and the fuller it becomes the more it extends2#f which signifies1 that the blessed ,virgin is so great and sublime1 that the more we praise her1 the more there is to praise4 ,so that ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,all the tongues of men1 even if all their members were changed to tongues1 would not be sufficient to praise her as she deserves4#g ,i know that there are innumerable books1 both great and small1 which treat of the glories of ,mary2 but as these are rare or voluminous1 and not according to my plan1 ,i have endeavored to collect in a small space1 from all the authors at my command1 the most select and pithy sentences of the ,fathers and theologians1 in order to give devout persons an opportunity1 with little effort or expense1 to inflame their ardor by reading of the love of ,mary1 and especially to present materials to priests which may enable them to excite by their sermons devotion to the divine mother4 ,worldly lovers are accustomed to mention frequently and to praise the persons beloved1 that these may be praised and applauded also by others2 then how poor must we suppose the love of those to be who boast of being lovers of ,mary1 but who seldom remember to speak of her1 and inspire the love of her also in others6 ,not so the true lovers of our most lovely ,lady3 they would praise her everywhere1 and see her loved by all the world2 and therefore in public and in private1 wherever it is in their power1 they endeavor to kindle in the hearts of all1 those blessed flames of love with which theirs are burning for their beloved queen4 ,but that every one may be persuaded of how great benefit it is to himself and the people to promote devotion to ,mary1 let us hear what the ,fathers say of it4 ,st4 ,bonaventure declares that those who are devoted to publishing the glories of ,mary1 are secure of paradise2 and ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence confirms this by saying1 that to honor the queen of angels is to acquire life everlasting2#h since our most grateful ,lady1 adds the same author1 pledges herself to honor in the other life him who promises to honor her in this2#i and is there any one ignorant of the promise made by ,mary herself to those who engage in promoting the knowledge and love of her upon the earth8 8,they that explain me shall have life everlasting10#aj as the holy ,church applies it on the festival of her ,immaculate ,conception4 ,exult1 exult6 oh my soul6 said ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who was so assiduous in proclaiming the praises of ,mary1 and rejoice in her1 because many good things are prepared for those who praise her2 and since all the ,holy ,scriptures1 he added1 speak in praise of ,mary1 let us endeavor always with heart and tongue to celebrate this our divine mother1 that we may be conducted by her to the kingdom of the blessed4#aa ,we are told in the revelations of ,st4 ,bridget1 that the blessed ,emingo1 ,bishop1 being accustomed to begin his sermons with the praises of ,mary1 the ,virgin herself appeared one day to the saint1 and said to her1 8,tell that prelate who is accustomed to commence his discourses with my praises1 that ,i will be his mother1 and that ,i will present his soul to ,god1 and that he shall die a good death20#ab and he indeed died like a saint1 in prayer and in celestial peace4 ,mary appeared before his death to another religious1 a ,dominican1 who was accustomed to terminate his sermons by speaking of her4 ,she defended him from the assaults of the demons1 comforted him1 and bore away with her his happy soul4#ac ,the devout ,thomas ,kempis represents ,mary as commending to her ,son those who publish her praises1 and saying1 8,oh1 my ,son1 have compassion on the souls of thy lovers1 and of those who speak in my praise40#ad ,as far as the advantage of the people is concerned1 ,st4 ,anselm says1 that the sacred womb of ,mary having been made the way of salvation for sinners1 sinners cannot but be converted and saved by discourses in praise of ,mary4#ae ,if the assertion is true and incontrovertible1 as ,i believe it to be1 and as ,i shall prove1 in the fifth chapter of this book1 that all graces are dispensed by the hand of ,mary alone1 and that all those who are saved1 are saved solely by means of this divine mother2 it may be said1 as a necessary consequence1 that the salvation of all depends upon preaching ,mary1 and confidence in her intercession4 ,we know that ,st4 ,bernard of ,sienna sanctified ,italy2 ,st4 ,dominic converted many provinces2 ,st4 ,louis ,bertrand1 in all his sermons1 never failed to exhort his hearers to practise devotion towards ,mary2 and many others also have done the same4 ,i find that ,father ,paul ,segneri1 the younger1 a celebrated missionary1 in every mission preached a sermon on devotion to ,mary1 and this he called his favorite sermon4 ,and we can attest1 in all truth1 that in our missions1 where we have an invariable rule not to omit the sermon on our ,lady1 no discourse is so profitable to the people1 or excites more compunction among them1 than that on the mercy of ,mary4 ,i say on the mercy of ,mary3 for ,st4 ,bernard says1 we may praise her humility1 and marvel at her virginity2 but being poor sinners1 we are more pleased and attracted by hearing of her mercy2 for to this we more affectionately cling1 this we more often remember and invoke4#af ,therefore in this little book1 leaving to other authors the description of the other merits of ,mary1 ,i have confined myself especially to treating of her great compassion and her powerful intercession2 having collected1 as far as possible1 with the labor of years1 all that the holy ,fathers and the most celebrated authors have said of the mercy and power of ,mary2 and because these attributes of the blessed ,virgin are wonderfully set forth in the great prayer of the ,salve ,regina1 approved by the ,church1 and required by her to be recited the greater part of the year by all the clergy1 secular and regular1 ,i have undertaken1 in the first place1 to explain in separate discourses this most devout prayer4 ,besides this1 ,i believed it would be acceptable to the servants of ,mary1 if ,i added discourses on her principal festivals and upon the virtues of our divine mother1 placing at the conclusion of them the practices of devotion most in use among her servants1 and approved by the ,church4 ,devout reader1 if this little work of mine pleases you1 as ,i hope it will1 ,i pray you to commend me to the holy ,virgin1 that ,i may obtain great confidence in her protection4 ,ask for me this grace1 and ,i will ask the same for you1 whoever you may be1 who bestow on me this charity4 ,oh1 blessed is he who clings with love and confidence to those two anchors of salvation1 ,jesus and ,mary6 ,he certainly will not be lost4 ,let us both say1 oh my reader1 with the devout ,alphonso ,rodriguez3 ,jesus and ,mary1 my sweet loves1 for you ,i will suffer1 for you ,i will die2 may ,i be wholly yours1 may ,i be in nothing my own4#ag ,may we love ,jesus and ,mary1 and become saints1 since we can aspire and hope for no greater happiness than this4 ,farewell1 till we meet in heaven at the feet of this sweet mother and her dearly beloved ,son1 to praise them1 to thank them1 and love them1 in their immediate presence through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,,prayer ,,to ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,to ,,obtain ,a ,,good ,,death4 ,oh ,mary1 sweet refuge of miserable sinners1 at the moment when my soul departs from this world1 my sweetest mother1 by the grief that thou didst endure when thou wast present at the death of thy ,son upon the cross1 then assist me with thy mercy4 ,keep far from me my infernal enemies1 and come thyself to take my soul and present it to my eternal ,judge4 ,do not abandon me1 oh my queen4 ,thou1 next to ,jesus1 must be my comfort in that dreadful moment4 ,entreat thy ,son that in his goodness1 he will grant me the favor to die clasping thy feet1 and to breathe out my soul in his sacred wounds1 saying1 ,jesus and ,mary1 ,i give you my heart and my soul4 ,,the ,,glories ,,of ,,mary4 ,,part ,,first3 ,,on ,,the ,,salve ,,regina4 ,it treats of the various and abundant graces which the mother of ,god bestows on her devoted servants1 in several discourses on the ,salve ,regina4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,salve ,,regina1 ,,mater ,,misericordi4 ,hail queen1 ,mother of mercy4 ,,section ,i4 ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,confidence ,,we ,,should ,,have ,,in ,,mary1 ,,because ,,she ,,is ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,mercy4 ,the ,holy ,church justly honors the great ,virgin ,mary1 and would have her honored by all men with the glorious title of queen1 because she has been elevated to the dignity of mother of the ,king of kings4 ,if the ,son is king1 says ,st4 ,athanasius1 his mother must necessarily be considered and entitled queen4#ah ,from the moment that ,mary consented1 adds ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1 to become the mother of the ,eternal ,word1 she merited the title of queen of the world and of all creatures4#ai ,if the flesh of ,mary1 says ,st4 ,arnold1 abbot1 was the flesh of ,jesus1 how can the mother be separated from the ,son in his kingdom8 ,hence it follows that the regal glory must not only be considered as common to the mother and the ,son1 but even the same4#bj ,if ,jesus is king of the whole world1 ,mary is also queen of the whole world3#ba therefore1 says ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1 all creatures who serve ,god ought also to serve ,mary2 for all angels and men1 and all things that are in heaven and on earth being subject to the dominion of ,god1 are also subject to the dominion of the glorious ,virgin4#bb ,hence ,guerric1 abbot1 thus addresses the divine mother3 ,continue1 ,mary1 continue in security to reign2 dispose1 according to thy will1 of every thing belonging to thy ,son1 for thou1 being mother and spouse of the king of the world1 the kingdom and power over all creatures is due to thee as queen4#bc ,mary1 then1 is queen2 but let all learn for their consolation that she is a mild and merciful queen1 desiring the good of us poor sinners4 ,hence the holy ,church bids us salute her in this prayer1 and name her the ,queen of ,mercy4 ,the very name of queen signifies1 as blessed ,albertus ,magnus remarks1 compassion1 and provision for the poor2 differing in this from the title of empress1 which signifies severity and rigor4 ,the greatness of kings and queens consists in comforting the wretched1 as ,seneca says4#bd ,so that whereas tyrants1 in reigning1 have only their own advantage in view1 kings should have for their object the good of their subjects4 ,therefore at the consecration of kings their heads are anointed with oil1 which is the symbol of mercy1 to denote that they1 in reigning1 should above all things cherish thoughts of kindness and beneficence towards their subjects4 ,kings should then principally occupy themselves with works of mercy1 but not to the neglect of the exercise of justice towards the guilty1 when it is required4 ,not so ,mary1 who1 although queen1 is not queen of justice1 intent upon the punishment of the guilty1 but queen of mercy1 solely intent upon compassion and pardon for sinners4 ,accordingly1 the ,church requires us explicitly to call her queen of mercy4 ,the ,high ,chancellor of ,paris1 ,john ,gerson1 meditating on the words of ,david1 8,these two things have ,i heard1 that power belongeth to ,god1 and mercy to thee1 ,o ,lord10#be says1 that the kingdom of ,god consisting of justice and mercy1 the ,lord has divided it2 he has reserved the kingdom of justice for himself1 and he has granted the kingdom of mercy to ,mary1 ordaining that all the mercies which are dispensed to men should pass through the hands of ,mary1 and should be bestowed according to her good pleasure4#bf ,st4 ,thomas confirms this in his preface to the ,canonical ,epistles1 saying that the holy ,virgin1 when she conceived the divine ,word in her womb1 and brought him forth1 obtained the half of the kingdom of ,god by becoming queen of mercy1 ,jesus ,christ remaining king of justice4#bg ,the eternal ,father constituted ,jesus ,christ king of justice1 and therefore made him the universal judge of the world2 hence the prophet sang3 8,give to the king thy judgment1 ,oh ,god2 and to the king's son thy justice40#bh ,here a learned interpreter takes up the subject1 and says3 ,oh ,lord1 thou hast given to thy ,son thy justice1 because thou hast given to the mother of the king thy mercy4#bi ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure happily varies the passage above quoted by saying3 ,give to the king thy judgment1 ,oh ,god1 and to his mother thy mercy4#cj ,ernest1 ,archbishop of ,prague1 also says1 that the eternal ,father has given to the ,son the office of judging and punishing1 and to the mother the office of compassionating and relieving the wretched4#ca ,therefore the ,prophet ,david predicted that ,god himself1 if ,i may thus express it1 would consecrate ,mary queen of mercy1 anointing her with the oil of gladness1#cb in order that all of us miserable children of ,adam might rejoice in the thought of having in heaven that great queen1 so full of the unction of mercy and pity for us2 as ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,oh ,mary1 so full of the unction of mercy and the oil of pity1 that ,god has anointed thee with the oil of gladness6#cc ,and how well does blessed ,albertus ,magnus here apply the history of ,queen ,esther1 who was indeed a type of our ,queen ,mary6 ,we read in the #dth chap4 of the ,book of ,esther1 that in the reign of ,king ,assuerus1 there went forth1 throughout his kingdom1 a decree commanding the death of all the ,jews4 ,then ,mardochai1 who was one of the condemned1 committed their cause to ,esther1 that she might intercede with the king to obtain the revocation of the sentence4 ,at first ,esther refused to take upon herself this office1 fearing that it would excite the anger of the king more4 ,but ,mardochai rebuked her1 and bade her remember that she must not think of saving herself alone1 as the ,lord had placed her upon the throne to obtain salvation for all the ,jews3 8,think not that thou mayest save thy life only1 because thou art in the king's house1 more than all the ,jews40#cd ,thus said ,mardochai to ,queen ,esther1 and thus might we poor sinners say to our ,queen ,mary1 if she were ever reluctant to intercede with ,god for our deliverance from the just punishment of our sins4 ,think not that thou mayest save thy life only1 because thou art in the king's house1 more than all men4 ,think not1 oh ,lady1 that ,god has exalted thee to be queen of the world1 only to secure thy own welfare2 but also that thou1 being so greatly elevated1 mayest the more compassionate and the better relieve us miserable sinners4 ,assuerus1 when he saw ,esther before him1 affectionately inquired of her what she had come to ask of him3 8,what is thy petition80 ,then the queen answered1 8,if ,i have found favor in thy sight1 oh king1 give me my people for which ,i request40#ce ,assuerus heard her1 and immediately ordered the sentence to be revoked4 ,now1 if ,assuerus granted to ,esther1 because he loved her1 the salvation of the ,jews1 will not ,god graciously listen to ,mary1 in his boundless love for her1 when she prays to him for those poor sinners who recommend themselves to her and says to him3 ,if ,i have found favor in thy sight1 oh ,king1 my ,king and my ,god1 if ,i have ever found favor with ,thee 7and well does the divine mother know herself to be the blessed1 the fortunate1 the only one of the children of men who found the grace lost by man2 she knows herself to be the beloved of her ,lord1 more beloved than all the saints and angels united71 give me my people for which ,i request3 if thou lovest me1 she says to him1 give me1 oh my ,lord1 these sinners in whose behalf ,i entreat ,thee4 ,is it possible that ,god will not graciously hear her8 ,is there any one who does not know the power of ,mary's prayers with ,god8 ,the law of clemency is on her tongue4#cf ,every prayer of hers is as a law established by our ,lord1 that mercy shall be exercised towards those for whom ,mary intercedes4 ,st4 ,bernard asks1 ,why does the ,church name ,mary ,queen of ,mercy8 and answers1 ,because we believe that she opens the depths of the mercy of ,god1 to whom she will1 when she will1 and as she will2 so that not even the vilest sinner is lost1 if ,mary protects him4#cg ,but it may1 perhaps1 be feared that ,mary disdains interposing in behalf of some sinners1 because she finds them so laden with sins8 ,perhaps the majesty and sanctity of this great queen should alarm us8 ,no1 says ,st4 ,gregory1 in proportion to her greatness and holiness are her clemency and mercy towards sinners who desire to amend1 and who have recourse to her4#ch ,kings and queens inspire terror by the display of their majesty1 and their subjects fear to enter their presence2 but what fear1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 can the wretched have of going to this queen of mercy1 since she never shows herself terrible or austere to those who seek her1 but all sweetness and kindness8#ci ,mary not only gives1 but she herself presents to us milk and wool3 the milk of mercy to inspire us with confidence1 and wool to shield us from the thunderbolts of divine justice6 ,suetonius narrates of the ,emperor ,titus1 that he never could refuse a favor to any one who asked it1 and that he even sometimes promised more than he could perform2 and he answered to one who admonished him of this1 that a prince should not dismiss any one from his presence dissatisfied4 ,titus said this1 but1 in reality1 was perhaps often either guilty of falsehood1 or failed in his promises4 ,but our queen cannot lie1 and can obtain whatever she wishes for her devoted servants4 ,she has a heart so kind and compassionate1 says ,blosius1 that she cannot send away dissatisfied any one who invokes her aid4#dj ,but1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 how couldst thou1 oh ,mary1 refuse succor to the wretched1 when thou art queen of mercy8 and who are the subjects of mercy1 if not the miserable8 ,thou art the queen of mercy1 and ,i the most miserable of all sinners2 if ,i1 then1 am the first of thy subjects1 then thou shouldst have more care of me than of all others4#da ,have pity on us1 then1 oh queen of mercy1 and give heed to our salvation2 neither say to us1 oh most holy ,virgin1 as ,st4 ,gregory of ,nicomedia would add1 that thou canst not aid us because of the multitude of our sins1 when thou hast such power and pity that no number of sins can ever surpass it6 ,nothing resists thy power1 since thy ,creator and ours1 while he honors thee as his mother1 considers thy glory as his own1 and exulting in it1 as a ,son1 grants thy petitions as if he were discharging an obligation4#db ,by this he means to say1 that though ,mary is under an infinite obligation to her ,son for having elected her to be his mother1 yet it cannot be denied that the ,son also is greatly indebted to his mother for having given him his human nature2 whence ,jesus1 as if to recompense ,mary as he ought1 while he enjoys this his glory1 honors her especially by always graciously listening to her prayers4 ,how great then should be our confidence in this queen1 knowing how powerful she is with ,god1 and at the same time how rich and full of mercy2 so much so that there is no one on earth who does not share in the mercies and favors of ,mary6 ,this the blessed ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,i am10 she said to her1 8the queen of heaven and the mother of mercy2 ,i am the joy of the just1 and the gate of entrance for sinners to ,god2 neither is there living on earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion2 for every one1 if he receives nothing else through my intercession1 receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be2 no one1 therefore10 she added1 8who is not entirely accursed0 7by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned71 8is so entirely cast off by ,god that he may not return and enjoy his mercy if he invokes my aid4 ,i am called by all the mother of mercy1 and truly the mercy of ,god towards men has made me so merciful towards them40 ,and then she concluded by saying1 8,therefore he shall be miserable1 and forever miserable in another life1 who in this1 being able1 does not have recourse to me1 who am so compassionate to all1 and so earnestly desire to aid sinners40#dc ,let us then have recourse1 let us always have recourse to this most sweet queen1 if we would be sure of our salvation2 and if the sight of our sins terrifies and disheartens us1 let us remember that ,mary was made queen of mercy for this very end1 that she might save by her protection the greatest and most abandoned sinners who have recourse to her4 ,they are to be her crown in heaven1 as her divine spouse has said3 8,come from ,libanus1 my spouse1 come from ,libanus1 come2 thou shalt be crowned from the dens of the lions1 from the mountains of the leopards40#dd ,and what are these dens of wild beasts and monsters1 if not miserable sinners1 whose souls become dens of sins1 the most deformed monsters8 ,now1 by these same sinners1 as ,rupert1 the abbot1 remarks1 who are saved by thy means1 oh great ,queen ,mary1 thou wilt be crowned in heaven2 for their salvation will be thy crown1 a crown indeed worthy and fit for a queen of mercy2#de and let the following example illustrate this4 ,,example4 ,we read in the life of sister ,catherine1 an ,augustinian nun1 that in the place where that servant of ,god lived1 there lived also a woman named ,mary1 who1 in her youth1 was a sinner1 and obstinately persevered in her evil courses1 even to extreme old age4 ,for this she was banished by her fellow-citizens1 forced to live in a cave beyond the limits of the place1 and died in a state of loathsome corruption1 abandoned by all1 and without the sacraments2 and on this account was buried in a field1 like a beast4 ,now sister ,catherine1 who was accustomed to recommend very affectionately to ,god the souls of those who had departed this life1 after learning the miserable death of this poor old woman1 did not think of praying for her1 as she and every one else believed her already among the damned4 ,four years having past1 a soul from purgatory one day appeared to her1 and said1 8,sister ,catherine1 how unhappy is my fate6 you commend to ,god the souls of all those who die1 and for my soul alone you have had no pity40 8,and who are you80 said the servant of ,god4 8,i am10 answered she1 8that poor ,mary who died in the cave40 8,how6 are you saved80 exclaimed sister ,catherine4 8,yes1 ,i am saved10 she said1 8by the mercy of the ,virgin ,mary40 8,and how80 8,when ,i saw death drawing near1 finding myself laden with sins1 and abandoned by all1 ,i turned to the mother of ,god and said to her1 ,lady1 thou art the refuge of the abandoned1 behold me at this hour deserted by all2 thou art my only hope1 thou alone canst help me2 have pity on me4 ,the holy ,virgin obtained for me the grace of making an act of contrition2 ,i died and am saved1 and my queen has also obtained for me the grace that my pains should be abridged1 and that ,i should1 by suffering intensely for a short time1 pass through that purification which otherwise would have lasted many years4 ,a few masses only are needed to obtain my release from purgatory2 ,i pray thee cause them to be offered for me1 and ,i promise to pray ,god and ,mary for thee40 ,sister ,catherine immediately caused those masses to be said for her1 and that soul1 after a few days1 appeared to her again1 more brilliant than the sun1 and said to her1 8,i thank thee1 sister ,catherine3 behold1 ,i am now going to paradise to sing the mercy of ,god and pray for thee40 ,,prayer4 ,oh ,mother of my ,god and my ,lady ,mary1 as a poor wounded and loathsome wretch presents himself to a great queen1 ,i present myself to thee1 who art the queen of heaven and earth4 ,from the lofty throne on which thou art seated1 do not disdain1 ,i pray thee1 to cast thy eyes upon me1 a poor sinner4 ,god hath made thee so rich in order that thou mayest succor the needy1 and hath made thee queen of mercy that thou mayest help the miserable1 look upon me1 then1 and have pity on me4 ,look upon me1 and do not leave me until thou hast changed me from a sinner into a saint4 ,i see ,i merit nothing1 or rather ,i merit for my ingratitude to be deprived of all the graces which1 by thy means1 ,i have received from the ,lord4 ,but thou1 who art the mother of mercy1 dost not require merits1 but miseries1 that thou mayest succor those who are in need2 and who is more poor and more needy than ,i8 ,oh glorious ,virgin1 ,i know that thou1 being queen of the universe1 art also my queen2 and ,i1 in a more especial manner1 would dedicate myself to thy service2 that thou mayest dispose of me as seemeth best to thee4 ,therefore ,i say to thee with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 ,oh1 ,lady1 ,i submit myself to thy control1 that thou mayest rule and govern me entirely4 ,do not leave me to myself4#df ,rule me1 oh my queen1 and do not leave me to myself4 ,command me1 employ me as thou wilt1 and punish me if ,i do not obey thee1 for very salutary will be the punishments that come from thy hand4 ,i would esteem it a greater thing to be thy servant than ,lord of the whole earth4 ,thine ,i am1 save me6#dg ,accept me1 oh ,mary1 for thy own1 and attend to my salvation1 as ,i am thine own4 ,i no longer will be my own1 ,i give myself to thee4 ,and if hitherto ,i have so poorly served thee1 having lost so many good occasions of honoring thee1 for the time to come ,i will unite myself to thy most loving and most faithful servants4 ,no one from this time henceforth shall surpass me in honoring and loving thee1 my most lovely queen4 ,this ,i promise1 and this ,i hope to perform with thy assistance4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,how ,,much ,,greater ,,should ,,be ,,our ,,confidence ,,in ,,mary ,,because ,,she ,,is ,,our ,,mother4 ,not by chance1 nor in vain1 do the servants of ,mary call her mother1 and it would seem that they cannot invoke her by any other name1 and are never weary of calling her mother2 mother1 indeed1 for she is truly our mother1 not according to the flesh1 but the spiritual mother of our souls and of our salvation4 ,sin1 when it deprived our souls of divine grace1 also deprived them of life4 ,hence1 when they were dead in misery and sin1 ,jesus our ,redeemer came with an excess of mercy and love to restore to us1 by his death upon the cross1 that lost life1 as he has himself declared3 8,i am come that they may have life1 and may have it more abundantly40#dh ,more abundantly1 because1 as the theologians teach us1 ,jesus ,christ by his redemption brought us blessings greater than the injury ,adam inflicted upon us by his sin2 he reconciled us to ,god1 and thus became the father of our souls1 under the new law of grace1 as the prophet ,isaiah predicted3 8,the ,father of the world to come1 the ,prince of peace40#di ,but if ,jesus is the father of our souls1 ,mary is the mother2 for1 in giving us ,jesus1 she gave us the true life2 and offering upon ,calvary the life of her ,son for our salvation1 she then brought us forth to the life of divine grace4 ,at two different times1 then1 as the holy ,fathers show us1 ,mary became our spiritual mother2 the first when she was found worthy of conceiving in her virginal womb the ,son of ,god1 as the blessed ,albertus ,magnus says4 ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna more distinctly teaches us that when the most holy ,virgin1 on the annunciation of the angel1 gave her consent to become mother of the eternal ,word1 which he awaited before making himself her ,son1 she by this consent even from that time demanded of ,god1 with lively affection1 our salvation2 and she was so earnestly engaged in obtaining it1 that from that time she has borne us1 as it were1 in her womb1 as a most loving mother4#ej ,st4 ,luke says1 speaking of the birth of our ,saviour1 that ,mary 8brought forth her first-born son40#ea ,therefore1 says a certain writer1 if the evangelist affirms that ,mary brought forth her first-born1 is it to be supposed that she afterwards had other children8 ,but the same author adds3 ,if it is of faith that ,mary had no other children according to the flesh except ,jesus1 then she must have other spiritual children1 and these we are4#eb ,our ,lord revealed this to ,st4 ,gertrude1 who1 reading one day the passage of the ,gospel just quoted1 was troubled1 not knowing how to understand it1 that ,mary being mother of ,jesus ,christ alone1 it could be said that he was her first-born4 ,and ,god explained it to her1 by telling her that ,jesus was her first-born according to the flesh1 but that men were her second-born according to the spirit4 ,and this explains what is said of ,mary in the holy ,canticles3 8,thy belly is as a heap of wheat1 set about with lilies40#ec ,st4 ,ambrose explains this and says3 ,although in the pure womb of ,mary there was only one grain of wheat1 which was ,jesus ,christ1 yet it is called a heap of grain1 because in that one grain were contained all the elect1 of whom ,mary was to be the mother4#ed ,hence1 ,william the ,abbot wrote1 ,mary1 in bringing forth ,jesus1 who is our ,saviour and our life1 brought forth all of us to life and salvation4#ee ,the second time in which ,mary brought us forth to grace was1 when on ,calvary1 she offered to the eternal ,father with so much sorrow of heart the life of her beloved ,son for our salvation4 ,wherefore1 ,st4 ,augustine asserts1 that1 having then co-operated by her love with ,christ in the birth of the faithful to the life of grace1 she became also by this co-operation the spiritual mother of us all1 who are members of our head1 ,jesus ,christ4#ef ,this is also the meaning of what is said of the blessed ,virgin in the sacred ,canticles3 8,they have made me the keeper in the vineyards2 my vineyard ,i have not kept40#eg ,mary1 to save our souls1 was willing to sacrifice the life of her ,son1#eh as ,william the ,abbot remarks4 ,and who was the soul of ,mary1 but her ,jesus1 who was her life and all her love8 ,wherefore ,st4 ,simeon announced to her that her soul would one day be pierced by a sword of sorrow2#ei which was the very spear that pierced the side of ,jesus1 who was the soul of ,mary4 ,and then she in her sorrow brought us forth to eternal life2 so that we may all call ourselves children of the dolors of ,mary4 ,she1 our most loving mother1 was always and wholly united to the divine will2 whence ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that when she saw the love of the eternal ,father for men1 who would have his ,son die for our salvation1 and the love of the ,son in wishing to die for us1 she too1 with her whole will1 offered her ,son and consented that he should die that we might be saved1 in order to conform herself to that exceeding love of the ,father and ,son for the human race4#fj ,it is true that1 in dying for the redemption of the world1 ,jesus wished to be alone4 ,i have trodden the wine-press alone1#fa 8,torcular calcavi solus40 ,but when ,god saw the great desire of ,mary to devote herself also to the salvation of men1 he ordained that by the sacrifice and offering of the life of this same ,jesus1 she might co-operate with him in the work of our salvation1 and thus become mother of our souls4 ,and this our ,saviour signified1 when1 before expiring1 he saw from the cross his mother and the disciple ,st4 ,john both standing near him1 and first spoke to ,mary3 ,behold thy son1 8,ecce filius tuus20#fb as if he said to her3 ,behold the man who1 by the offering thou hast made of my life for his salvation1 is already born to grace4 ,and then turning to the disciple1 he said3 ,behold thy mother1 8,ecce mater tua40#fc ,by which words1 says ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1 ,mary was then made mother not only of ,st4 ,john1 but of all men1 for the love she bore them4#fd ,on this account1 as ,silveira observes1 ,st4 ,john himself1 when recording this fact in his ,gospel1 wrote1 8,after that he said to the disciple3 8,behold thy mother40#fe ,let it be remarked that ,jesus ,christ did not say this to ,john1 but to the disciple1 to signify that the ,saviour appointed ,mary for common mother of all those who1 being ,christians1 bear the name of his disciples4#ff ,i am the mother of fair love1#fg 8,ego sum mater pulchr dilectionis10 said ,mary2 because her love1 as an author remarks1 which renders the souls of men beautiful in the eye of ,god1 prompts her1 as a loving mother1 to receive us for her children4#fh ,and as a mother loves her children1 and watches over their welfare1 so thou1 oh our most sweet queen1 lovest us1 and dost procure our happiness1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure4#fi ,oh1 happy those who live under the protection of a mother so loving and so powerful6 ,the prophet ,david1 although ,mary was not yet born1 besought of ,god salvation1 by dedicating himself to ,mary as her son1 and thus prayed3 8,save the son of thy handmaid40#gj 8,whose handmaid80 asks ,st4 ,augustine3#ga 8she who says3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord40#gb ,and who1 says the ,cardinal ,bellarmine1 who would dare to snatch these children from the bosom of ,mary1 where they have taken refuge from their enemies8 ,what fury of hell or of passion can conquer them1 if they place their trust in the protection of this great mother8#gc ,it is narrated of the whale1 that when she sees her young in peril1 from the tempest or their pursuers1 she opens her mouth and receives them into her bowels4 ,just so1 says ,novarino1 does this compassionate mother of the faithful1 when the tempest of the passions is raging4 ,she then1 with maternal affection1 protects them as it were in her own bowels1 and continues to shelter them until she has placed them in the secure haven of paradise4#gd ,oh1 most loving mother6 ,oh1 most compassionate mother1 be ever blessed6 and may that ,god be ever blessed1 who has given us thee as a mother1 and as a secure refuge in all the dangers of this life4 ,the blessed ,virgin herself revealed this to ,st4 ,bridget1 saying3 8,as a mother who sees her son exposed to the sword of the enemy1 makes every effort to save him1 thus do ,i1 and will ,i ever do for my children1 sinful though they be1 if they come to me for help40#ge ,behold1 then1 how in every battle with hell we shall always conquer1 and certainly conquer1 if we have recourse to the mother of ,god and our mother1 always repeating3 8,we fly to thy protection1 oh holy mother of ,god2 we fly to thy protection1 oh holy mother of ,god40#gf ,oh1 how many victories have the faithful obtained over hell1 by having recourse to ,mary with this short but powerful prayer6 ,that great servant of ,god1 sister ,mary of the ,crucifixion1 a ,benedictine nun1 by this means always conquered the evil spirits4 ,be joyful1 then1 all ye children of ,mary2 remember that she adopts as her children all those who wish her for their mother4 ,joyful2 for what fear have you of being lost when this mother defends and protects you8 ,thus says ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,every one who loves this good mother and trusts in her protection1 should take courage and repeat3 ,what do you fear1 oh my soul8 ,the cause of thy eternal salvation will not be lost1 as the final sentence depends upon ,jesus1 who is thy brother1 and upon ,mary1 who is thy mother4#gg ,and ,st4 ,anselm1 full of joy at this thought1 exclaims1 in order to encourage us3 ,oh1 blessed confidence6 ,oh1 secure refuge6 ,the mother of ,god is my mother also4 ,with what certainty may we hope1 since our salvation depends upon the sentence of a good brother and of a kind mother6#gh ,hear1 then1 our mother who calls us1 and says to us3 8,whosoever is a little one1 let him come to me40#gi ,little children have always on their lips the word mother1 and in all the dangers to which they are exposed1 and in all their fears1 they cry1 mother1 mother6 ,ah1 most sweet ,mary6 ,ah1 most loving mother6 this is exactly what thou dost desire2 that we become little children1 and always call upon thee in our dangers1 and always have recourse to thee1 for thou wishest to aid and save us1 as thou hast saved all thy children who have had recourse to thee4 ,,example4 ,in the history of the foundations of the ,company of ,jesus1 in the kingdom of ,naples1 is related the following story of a noble youth of ,scotland1 named ,william ,elphinstone4 ,he was a relation of ,king ,james4 ,born a heretic1 he followed the false sect to which he belonged2 but enlightened by divine grace1 which showed him his errors1 he went to ,france1 where1 with the assistance of a good ,jesuit father1 who was like himself a ,scotchman1 and still more by the intercession of the blessed ,virgin1 he at length saw the truth1 abjured heresy1 and became a ,catholic4 ,he went afterwards to ,rome1 where a friend of his found him one day very much afflicted1 and weeping4 ,he asked him the cause1 and he answered1 that in the night his mother had appeared to him and said3 8,my son1 it is well for thee that thou hast entered the true ,church2 ,i am already lost1 because ,i died in heresy40 ,from that time he became more fervent in his devotion to ,mary1 chose her for his mother1 and by her was inspired to become a religious4 ,he made a vow to do so1 but being ill1 he went to ,naples to restore his health by a change of air4 ,but the ,lord ordered it so that he should die in ,naples1 and die a religious2 for1 having become dangerously ill soon after his arrival there1 he by prayers and tears obtained from the superiors admittance1 and when about receiving the viaticum1 he made his vows in presence of the blessed sacrament1 and was enrolled in the society4 ,after this1 in the tenderness of his feelings1 he gave thanks to his mother ,mary for having rescued him from heresy1 and brought him to die in the true ,church1 and in a religious house in the midst of his brethren4 ,therefore1 he exclaimed3 8,oh6 how glorious it is to die in the midst of so many angels60 ,being exhorted to take a little rest1 he answered3 8,ah1 this is not the time to rest when the end of my life is drawing near40 ,before dying1 he said to the persons present3 8,brethren1 do you not see the angels of heaven around me80 ,one of the religious having heard him murmuring something to himself1 asked him what he had said4 ,he answered1 that his angel-guardian had revealed to him that he should be in purgatory but a short time1 and would soon enter paradise4 ,then he began again to talk with his sweet mother ,mary1 and repeating the word1 mother1 mother1 he tranquilly expired1 like a child falling asleep in the arms of its mother4 ,soon after1 it was revealed to a devout religious that he had already entered paradise4 ,,prayer4 ,oh1 my most holy mother1 how is it possible that1 having so holy a mother1 ,i should be so wicked8 ,a mother so inflamed with love to ,god1 and that ,i should so love creatures8 ,a mother so rich in virtue1 and that ,i should be so poor8 ,oh1 my most amiable mother6 ,i no longer deserve1 it is true1 to be thy son1 because by my bad life ,i have rendered myself unworthy4 ,i am content if thou wilt accept me as thy servant4 ,i am ready to renounce all the kingdoms of the earth1 to be admitted among the lowest of thy servants4 ,yes1 ,i am content1 but do not forbid me to call thee my mother4 ,this name wholly consoles me1 melts me1 and reminds me of my obligation to love thee4 ,this name encourages me to confide in thee4 ,when ,i am the most terrified at the thought of my sins and of the divine justice1 ,i feel myself comforted by the remembrance that thou art my mother4 ,permit me1 then1 to call thee my mother1 my sweetest mother4 ,thus ,i call thee1 and thus ,i will ever call thee4 ,thou1 next to ,god1 shalt always be my hope1 my refuge1 and my love1 in this valley of tears4 ,and thus ,i hope to die1 commending my soul1 at the last moment1 into thy sacred hands1 saying3 8,my mother1 my mother ,mary1 help me1 have pity on me40 ,amen4 ,,section ,,iii4 ,,how ,,great ,,is ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,our ,,mother ,,for ,,us4 ,if1 then1 ,mary is our mother1 let us consider how much she loves us4 ,the love of parents for their children is a necessary love1 and for this reason1 as ,st4 ,thomas observes1#hj children are commanded in the divine law to love their parents2 but there is no command1 on the other hand1 given to parents to love their children1 for love towards one's own offspring is a love so deeply planted in the heart by nature herself1 that even the wild beasts1 as ,st4 ,ambrose says1 never fail to love their young4#ha ,it is said that even tigers1 hearing the cry of their whelps when they are taken by the hunters1 will plunge into the sea to swim after the vessels where they are confined4 ,if1 then1 says our most loving mother ,mary1 even tigers cannot forget their young1 how can ,i forget to love you1 my children8 ,and1 she adds1 even if it should happen that a mother could forget her child1 it is not possible that ,i can forget a soul which is my child4#hb ,mary is our mother1 not according to the flesh1 but by love3 8,i am the mother of fair love40#hc ,hence she becomes our mother only on account of the love she bears us2 and she glories1 says a certain author1 in being the mother of love2 because1 having taken us for her children1 she is all love towards us4#hd ,who can describe the love of ,mary for us miserable creatures8 ,arnold of ,carnotensis says that1 at the death of ,jesus ,christ1 she ardently desired to die with her ,son for our sake4#he ,so that1 as ,st4 ,ambrose adds1 when her ,son hung dying on the cross1 ,mary offered herself to his murderers1 that she might give her life for us4#hf ,but let us consider the reasons of this love1 for thus we shall better understand how this good mother loves us4 ,the first reason of the great love that ,mary bears to men1 is the great love she bears to ,god4 ,love to ,god and man is contained in the same precept1 as ,st4 ,john has written3 8,this commandment we have from ,god1 that he who loveth ,god1 love also his brother20#hg so that one increases as the other increases4 ,hence what have the saints not done for love of the neighbor1 because they have loved ,god so much8 ,they have gone so far as to expose and lose liberty and even life for his salvation4 ,let us read what ,st4 ,francis ,xavier did in ,india1 where1 for the sake of the souls of those barbarians1 he climbed mountains1 and exposed himself to innumerable dangers to find those wretched beings1 in the caverns where they dwelt like wild beasts1 and to lead them to ,god4 ,st4 ,francis de ,sales1 to convert the heretics of the province of ,chablais1 risked his life by crossing a river every day for a year1 on his hands and knees1 upon a frozen beam1 that he might go to the other side to preach to those stubborn men4 ,st4 ,paulinus became a slave1 to obtain liberty for the son of a poor widow4 ,st4 ,fidelis1 to bring the heretics of a certain place back to ,god1 willingly consented1 in preaching to them1 to lose his life4 ,the saints1 then1 because they have loved ,god so much1 have done much for love of the neighbor4 ,but who has loved ,god more than ,mary8 ,she loved ,god more1 in the first moment of her life1 than all the saints and angels have loved him in the whole course of theirs2 as we shall consider at length1 when we speak of the virtues of ,mary4 ,she herself revealed to sister ,mary of the ,crucifixion1#hh that the fire of love with which she burned for ,god was so great1 that it would in a moment inflame heaven and earth2 and that1 in comparison to it1 all the flames of the burning love of the seraphim were as cool breezes4 ,therefore1 as there is none among the blessed spirits who loves ,god more than ,mary2 so there is1 and can be none1 except ,god1 who loves us more than this our most loving mother4 ,if the love of all mothers for their children1 of all husbands for their wives1 and of all saints and angels for their devoted servants1 were united1 it would not be so great as the love that ,mary bears to one soul alone4 ,father ,nierembergh says that the love which all mothers have borne to their children is a shadow when compared with the love which ,mary bears to any one of us4 ,truly she alone loves us more1 he adds1 than all the angels and saints united4 ,moreover1 our mother loves us much1 because we have been commended to her as children by her beloved ,jesus1 when1 before expiring1 he said to her3 8,woman1 behold thy son20#hi signifying by the person of ,john1 all men1 as we have before remarked4 ,these were the last words of her ,son to her4 ,the last remembrances left by beloved friends at the moment of their death are greatly valued1 and the memory of them is never lost4 ,moreover1 we are children extremely dear to ,mary1 because we cost her so much suffering4 ,those children are much dearer to a mother whose lives she has preserved3--we are those children1 for whom1 that we may have the life of grace1 ,mary suffered the pain of sacrificing the dear life of her ,jesus2 submitting1 for our sake1 to see him die before her eyes in cruel torments4 ,by this great offering of ,mary we were then born to the life of divine grace4 ,so1 then1 we are children very dear to her1 because we were redeemed at such a cost of suffering4 ,accordingly1 as we read of the love which the eternal ,father has manifested for men by giving his own ,son to death for us1 8,god so loved the world as to give his only-begotten ,son30#ij as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 it may be said of ,mary also1 that she so loved us as to give her only-begotten ,son4#ia ,and when did she give him to us8 ,she gave him to us1 says ,father ,nierembergh1 when first she consented to his death2 she gave him to us1 when others deserted him through hatred or through fear1 and she alone could have defended1 before the judges1 the life of her ,son4 ,we can easily believe that the words of so wise and tender a mother would have had a great power1 at least with ,pilate1 to induce him to abstain from condemning to death a man whom he knew and declared innocent4 ,but no1 ,mary would not utter even one word in favor of her ,son1 to prevent his death1 upon which our salvation depended2 finally1 she gave him to us again and again at the foot of the cross1 in those three hours when she was witnessing his death2 because then1 at every moment1 she was offering up for us his life1 with the deepest grief1 and the greatest love for us1 at the cost of great trouble and suffering1 and with such firmness1 that if executioners had been wanting1 as ,st4 ,anselm and ,st4 ,antoninus tell us1 she herself would have crucified him in obedience to the will of the ,father1 who had decreed he should die for our salvation4 ,and if ,abraham showed a similar fortitude in consenting to sacrifice his son with his own hands1 we must believe that ,mary would certainly have done the same1 with more resolution1 as she was holier1 and more obedient than ,abraham4 ,but to return to our subject4 ,how grateful should we be to ,mary1 for an act of so much love6 for the sacrifice she made of the life of her ,son1 in the midst of so much anguish1 to obtain salvation for us all6 ,the ,lord1 indeed1 rewarded ,abraham for the sacrifice he was prepared to make to him of his son ,isaac2 but what can we render to ,mary for the life of her ,jesus1 as she has given us a ,son more noble and beloved than the son of ,abraham8 ,this love of ,mary1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 greatly obliges us to love her1 seeing that she has loved us more than any other created being loves us1 since she has given for us her only ,son1 whom she loved more than herself4#ib ,and from this follows another reason why we are so much beloved by ,mary3 because she knows that we have been purchased by the death of ,jesus ,christ4 ,if a mother should see a servant redeemed by a beloved son of hers1 by twenty years of imprisonment and suffering1 for this reason alone how much would she esteem that servant6 ,mary well knows that her ,son came upon earth solely to save us miserable sinners1 as he himself declared3 8,i have come to save what was lost40#ic ,and to save us he has consented to lay down his life for us3 8,becoming obedient unto death40#id ,if ,mary1 then1 had little love for us1 she would slightly value the blood of her ,son1 which was the price of our salvation4 ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 the nun1 that ,mary1 from the time she was in the temple1 was always praying that ,god would quickly send his ,son to save the world4 ,now1 how much more certainly must we believe that she loves us1 after she has seen us so greatly prized by her ,son1 that he deigned to purchase us at such a cost6 ,and because all men have been redeemed by ,jesus1 ,mary loves and favors all4 ,she was seen by ,st4 ,john clothed with the sun3 8,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven1 a woman clothed with the sun40#ie ,she is said to be clothed with the sun1 because1 as 8,there is no one that can hide himself from his heat10#if so there is no one living on the earth who is deprived of the love of ,mary4 ,from the heat of the sun1 as it is explained by the venerable ,raymond ,jordan1 who through humility called himself the ,idiot1 that is1 from the love of ,mary4#ig ,and who1 says ,st4 ,anthony1 can comprehend the care which this loving mother has of us all8 ,therefore1 to all she offers and dispenses her mercy4#ih ,for our mother has desired the salvation of all1 and has co-operated with her ,son in the salvation of all4 ,it is certain that she is concerned for the whole human race1 as ,st4 ,bernard affirms2#ii hence the practice of some devout servants of ,mary is very useful1 who1 as ,cornelius ,lapide relates1 have the habit of praying our ,lord to grant them those graces which the blessed ,virgin is seeking for them1 using these words3 8,oh ,lord1 give me what the most holy ,virgin ,mary is asking for me40#ajj ,and this is well1 as ,lapide adds1 for our mother desires greater things for us than we think of asking for ourselves4#aja ,the devout ,bernardine de ,bustis says1 that ,mary is more desirous to do us good1 and bestow favors upon us1 than we are to receive them4#ajb ,therefore blessed ,albertus ,magnus applies to ,mary the words of wisdom3 8,she preventeth them that covet her1 so that she first showeth herself unto them40#ajc ,so great is the love1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 which this good mother bears us1 that when she perceives our necessities1 she comes to relieve them4 ,she hastens before she is invoked4#ajd ,if ,mary1 then1 is so good to all1 even to the ungrateful and negligent1 who have but little love for her1 and seldom have recourse to her1 how much more loving must she not be to those who love her and often invoke her6 8,she is easily seen by them that love her40#aje ,oh1 how easy it is1 exclaims the same blessed ,albertus1 for those who love ,mary to find her1 and find her full of love and pity6 8,i love them that love me10#ajf she assures us1 and declares that she cannot but love those who love her4 ,and although our most loving lady loves all men as her children1 yet1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 she recognizes and loves especially those who most tenderly love her4 ,those happy lovers of ,mary1 as the ,idiot asserts1 are not only loved1 but served by her4#ajg ,leonard the ,dominican1 as we read in the chronicles of his order1 who was accustomed to recommend himself two hundred times a day to this mother of mercy1 when he was on his death-bed1 saw one beautiful as a queen by his side1 who said to him3 8,leonard1 do you wish to die and come to my ,son and me80 8,who are you80 answered the religious4 8,i am the mother of mercy10 replied the ,virgin2 8you have many times invoked me1 and now ,i come to take you3 let us go to paradise40 ,on that same day ,leonard died1 and we hope that he followed her to the kingdom of the blessed4 8,ah1 most sweet ,mary1 blessed is he who loves you60 the venerable brother ,john ,berchmans1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 used to say3 8,if ,i love ,mary1 ,i am sure of perseverance1 and ,i shall obtain from ,god whatsoever ,i wish40 ,and this devout youth was never satisfied with renewing his intention1 and often repeated to himself3 8,i will love ,mary1 ,i will love ,mary40 ,oh1 how much this our good mother exceeds all her children in affection1 even if they love her to the extent of their power6 8,mary is always more loving than her lovers10 says ,st4 ,ignatius1 martyr4#ajh ,let us love her as much as ,st4 ,stanislas ,kostka1 who loved this his dear mother so tenderly1 that when he spoke of her1 every one who heard him desired to love her also2 he invented new titles by which he honored her name2 he never commenced an action without first turning to her image and asking her blessing2 when he recited her office1 her rosary1 and other prayers1 he repeated them with such affectionate earnestness1 that he seemed speaking face to face with ,mary2 when he heard the ,salve ,regina sung1 his soul and even his countenance was all on fire2 when asked one day by a father of the society1 as they were going together to visit an altar of the blessed ,virgin1 how much he loved her1 8,father10 he answered1 8what can ,i say more than that she is my mother80 ,and that father tells us how the holy youth spoke these words with such tender emotion of voice1 countenance1 and heart1 that he appeared not a man1 but an angel discoursing of the love of ,mary4 ,let us love her as much as blessed ,hermann1 who called her his beloved spouse1 whilst he also was honored by ,mary with the same name4 ,as much as ,st4 ,philip ,neri1 who felt wholly consoled in merely thinking of ,mary1 and on this account named her his delight4 ,as much as ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who not only called her his lady and mother1 but1 to show the tender affection he bore her1 went so far as to call her his heart and his soul3 8,hail1 lady1 my mother2 yea1 my heart1 my soul40#aji ,let us love her as much as her great lover ,st4 ,bernard1 who loved his sweet mother so much1 that he called her 8the ravisher of hearts30#aaj whence the saint1 in order to express to her the ardent love he bore her1 said to her1 8,hast thou not stolen my heart80#aaa ,let us name her our beloved mistress1 as ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna named her1 who went every day to visit her before her sacred image1 in order to declare his love in the tender colloquies he held with his queen4 ,when he was asked where he went every day1 he answered that he went to find his beloved4 ,let them love her as much as ,st4 ,louis of ,gonzaga1 who burned continually with so great love of ,mary1 that as soon as he heard the sound of the sweet name of his dear mother1 his heart kindled1 and a flame1 perceptible to all1 lighted up his countenance4 ,let us love her like ,st4 ,francis ,solano1 who1 distracted by a holy passion for ,mary1 sometimes went with a musical instrument to sing of love before her altar1 saying that1 like earthly lovers1 he was serenading his beloved queen4 ,let us love her as so many of her servants have loved her1 who had no way left of manifesting their love to her4 ,father ,jerome of ,trexo1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 delighted in calling himself the slave of ,mary1 and as a mark of his servitude went often to visit her in a church3 and what did he do there8 ,he watered the church with the tears of that tender love which he felt for ,mary2 then he wiped them with his lips1 kissing that pavement a thousand times1 remembering that it was the house of his beloved mistress4 ,father ,diego ,martinez1 of the same society1 who1 on account of his devotion to our ,lady1 on the feasts of ,mary1 was carried by angels to heaven1 that he might see with how much devotion they were celebrated there1 said1 8,would that ,i had all the hearts of the angels and the saints to love ,mary as they love her4 ,would that ,i had the lives of all men1 to devote them all to the love of ,mary60 ,let others love her as ,charles the son of ,st4 ,bridget loved her1 who said that he knew of nothing in the world which gave him so much consolation as the thought of how much ,mary was beloved by ,god2 and he added1 that he would accept every suffering rather than that ,mary should lose1 if it were possible for her to lose it1 the least portion of her greatness2 and if the greatness of ,mary were his1 he would renounce it in her behalf1 because she was more worthy of it4 ,let us desire to sacrifice our life in testimony of our love to ,mary1 as ,alphonso ,rodriguez desired to do4 ,let us1 like ,francesco ,binanzio1 a religious1 and ,radagunde1 wife of ,king ,clotaire1 engrave with sharp instruments of iron upon our breast the sweet name of ,mary4 ,let us1 with red-hot iron1 impress upon our flesh the beloved name1 that it may be more distinct and more enduring1 as did her devoted servants ,battista ,archinto and ,agostino d',espinosa1 both of the ,company of ,jesus4 ,if1 then1 the lovers of ,mary imitate1 as much as possible1 those lovers who endeavor to make known their affection to the person beloved1 they can never love her so much as she loves them4 ,i know1 oh ,lady1 said ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 how loving thou art1 and that thou lovest us with unconquerable love4#aab ,the venerable ,alphonso ,rodriguez1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 was once standing before an image of ,mary2 and there burning with love for the most holy ,virgin1 broke forth into these words3 8,my most amiable mother1 ,i know that thou lovest me1 but thou dost not love me so much as ,i love thee40 ,then ,mary1 as if wounded in her love1 spoke to him from that image and said3 8,what dost thou say--what dost thou say1 oh ,alphonso8 ,oh1 how much greater is the love ,i bear thee than the love thou bearest me6 ,know that the distance from heaven to earth is not so great as from my love to thine40 ,with how much reason1 then1 did ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaim3 ,blessed are those whose lot it is to be faithful servants and lovers of this most loving mother6#aac ,for this most grateful queen is never surpassed in love by her devoted servants4#aad ,mary1 in this respect1 imitating our loving ,redeemer ,jesus ,christ1 makes by her favors a twofold return to him who loves her4 ,i will exclaim1 then1 with the enamored ,st4 ,anselm3 ,may my heart languish1 may my soul melt with your never-failing love4#aae ,may my heart always burn and my soul be consumed with love for you1 oh ,jesus1 my beloved ,saviour1 oh my dear mother ,mary4 ,grant then1 oh ,jesus and ,mary1 since without your grace ,i cannot love you1 grant to my soul1 not through my merits1 but through yours1 that ,i may love you as you deserve4 ,oh ,god6 the lover of men1 thou hast died for thy enemies1 and canst thou deny to him who asks it1 the grace of loving thee and thy mother8#aaf ,,example4 ,it is narrated by ,father ,auriemma1#aag that a poor shepherdess loved ,mary so much that all her delight was to go to a little chapel of our ,lady1 on a mountain1 and there in solitude1 while her sheep were feeding1 to converse with her beloved mother and pay her devotion to her4 ,when she saw that the figure of ,mary1 in relief1 was unadorned1 she began1 by the poor labor of her hands1 to make a drapery for it4 ,having gathered one day some flowers in the fields1 she wove them into a garland1 and then ascending the altar of that little chapel1 placed it on the head of the figure1 saying3 8,oh1 my mother1 ,i would that ,i could place on thy head a crown of gold and gems2 but as ,i am poor1 receive from me this poor crown of flowers1 and accept it as a token of the love ,i bear thee40 ,thus this devout maiden always endeavored to serve and honor her beloved ,lady4 ,but let us see how our good mother1 on the other hand1 rewarded the visits and the affection of her child4 ,she fell ill1 and was near her end4 ,it happened that two religious passing that way1 weary with travelling1 stopped to rest under a tree2 one fell asleep and the other watched1 but both had the same vision4 ,they saw a company of beautiful virgins1 and among them there was one who1 in loveliness and majesty1 surpassed the rest4 ,one of the brothers addressed her1 and said3 8,lady1 who art thou8 and where art thou going80 8,i am the mother of ,god10 she replied1 8and ,i am going to the neighboring village1 with these holy virgins1 to visit a dying shepherdess1 who has many times visited me40 ,she spoke thus and disappeared4 ,these two good servants of ,god proposed to each other to go and visit her also4 ,they went towards the place where the dying maiden lived1 entered a small cottage1 and there found her lying upon a little straw4 ,they saluted her1 and she said to them3 8,brothers1 ask of ,god that he may permit you to see the company that surrounds me40 ,they were quickly on their knees1 and saw ,mary1 with a crown in her hand by the side of the dying girl1 consoling her4 ,then those holy virgins began to sing1 and with that sweet music the blessed soul was released from the body4 ,mary crowned her1 and took her soul with her to paradise4 ,,prayer4 ,oh ,lady1 ,ravisher of hearts6 ,i would exclaim with ,st4 ,bonaventure2 who1 with the love and favor thou dost bestow upon thy servants1 dost ravish their hearts2 take my miserable heart also1 which desires so earnestly to love thee4 ,thou1 oh my mother1 with thy beauty hast enamored a ,god1 and hast drawn him from heaven into thy bosom1 and shall ,i live without loving thee8 ,no4 ,i will say to thee with thy loving child ,john ,berchmans3 8,i will never rest until ,i have attained a tender love for my mother ,mary40#aah ,no1 ,i will not rest until ,i am certain of having obtained a love--a constant and tender love for thee1 my mother1 who hast loved me with so much tenderness even when ,i was so ungrateful towards thee4 ,and where should ,i now be if thou1 oh ,mary1 hadst not loved me1 and obtained so many favors for me8 ,if then thou hast loved me so much when ,i did not love thee1 how much more may ,i confide in thy goodness1 now that ,i love thee8 ,i love thee1 oh my mother1 and would wish for a heart capable of loving thee1 for all those unhappy beings who do not love thee4 ,would that my tongue could praise thee with the power of a thousand tongues1 in order to make known thy greatness1 thy holiness1 thy mercy1 and thy love1 with which thou lovest those who love thee4 ,if ,i had riches1 ,i would employ them all for thy honor2 if ,i had subjects1 ,i would make them all thy lovers2 for thee and for thy glory ,i would give my life1 if it were required4 ,i love thee1 oh my mother1 but at the same time ,i fear that thou dost not love me1 for ,i have heard that love makes lovers like those they love4#aai ,if then ,i find myself so unlike to thee1 it is a proof that ,i do not love thee4 ,thou so pure1 ,i so unclean2 thou so humble1 ,i so proud2 thou so holy1 ,i so sinful4 ,but this1 oh ,mary1 is to be thy work2 since thou lovest me1 make me like unto thyself4 ,thou hast the power to change the heart2 take then mine and change it4 ,let the world see what thou canst do for those who love thee4 ,make me holy--make me worthy of thy ,son4 ,thus ,i hope2 thus may it be4 ,,section ,,iv4 ,,mary ,,is ,,also ,,mother ,,of ,,penitent ,,sinners4 ,mary assured ,st4 ,bridget that she was mother not only of the just and innocent1 but also of sinners1 provided they wish to amend4#abj ,when a sinner becomes penitent1 and throws himself at her feet1 he finds this good mother of mercy more ready to embrace and aid him than any earthly mother could be4 ,this ,st4 ,gregory wrote to the ,princess ,matilda3 8,desire to cease from sin1 and ,i confidently promise you you will find ,mary more prompt than an earthly mother in thy behalf40#aba ,but whoever aspires to be the son of this great mother1 must first leave off sinning1 and then let him hope to be accepted as her son4 ,richard1 commenting upon the words1 8,then rose up her children10#abb remarks1 that first comes the word rose up1 surrexerunt1 and then children1 filii2 because he cannot be a son of ,mary who does not first rise from the iniquity into which he has fallen4#abc ,for1 says ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus1 he who does works contrary to those of ,mary1 by such conduct denies that he wishes to be her son4#abd ,mary is humble1 and will he be proud8 ,mary is pure1 and will he be impure8 ,mary is full of love1 and will he hate his neighbor8 ,he proves that he is not1 and does not wish to be the son of this holy mother1 when he so much disgusts her with his life4 ,the sons of ,mary1 repeats ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 are her imitators in chastity1 humility1 meekness1 mercy4#abe ,and how can he who so much disgusts her with his life1 dare to call himself the son of ,mary8 ,a certain sinner once said to ,mary1 8,show thyself a mother20#abf but the ,virgin answered him1 8,show thyself a son40#abg ,another1 one day1 invoked this divine mother1 calling her mother of mercy4 ,but ,mary said to him1 8,when you sinners wish me to aid you1 you call me mother of mercy1 and yet by your sins make me the mother of misery and grief40 8,he is cursed of ,god that angereth his mother40#abh ,his mother--that is1 ,mary1 remarks ,richard4#abi ,god curses every one who afflicts this his good mother1 by his bad life or his wilfulness4 ,i have said wilfulness1 for when a sinner1 although he may not have left his sins1 makes an effort to quit them1 and seeks the aid of ,mary1 this mother will not fail to assist him1 and bring him to the grace of ,god4 ,this ,st4 ,bridget once learned from ,jesus ,christ himself1 who1 speaking with his mother1 said3 8,thou dost aid those who are striving to rise to ,god1 and dost leave no soul without thy consolation40#acj ,while the sinner1 then1 is obstinate1 ,mary cannot love him2 but if he finds himself enchained by some passion which makes him a slave of hell1 and will commend himself to the ,virgin1 and implore her with confidence and perseverance to rescue him from his sin1 this good mother will not fail to extend her powerful hand1 she will loose his chains1 and bring him to a state of safety4 ,it is a heresy1 condemned by the sacred ,council of ,trent1 to say that all the prayers and works of a person in a state of sin are sins4 ,st4 ,bernard says that prayer in the mouth of a sinner1 although it is without supernatural excellence1 since it is not accompanied by charity1 yet is useful and efficient in obtaining a release from sin2 for1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches1#aca the prayer of the sinner is indeed without merit1 but it serves to obtain the grace of pardon2 for the power of obtaining it is based not upon the worth of him who prays1 but upon the divine bounty1 and upon the merits and promise of ,jesus ,christ1 who has said1 8,every one that asketh receiveth40#acb ,the same may be said of the prayers offered to the divine mother4 ,if he who prays1 says ,st4 ,anselm1 does not deserve to be heard1 the merits of ,mary1 to whom he commends himself1 will cause him to be heard4#acc ,hence ,st4 ,bernard exhorts every sinner to pray to ,mary1 and to feel great confidence in praying to her2 because if he does not deserve what he demands1 yet ,mary obtains for him1 by her merits1 the graces which she asks of ,god for him4#acd ,the office of a good mother1 says the same saint1 is this3 if a mother knew that her two sons were deadly enemies1 and that one was plotting against the life of the other1 what would she do but endeavor in every way to pacify him8 ,thus1 says the saint1 ,mary is mother of ,jesus1 and mother of man2 when she sees any one by his sin an enemy of ,jesus ,christ1 she cannot endure it1 and makes every effort to reconcile them4#ace ,our most indulgent lady only requires the sinner to commend himself to her1 and have the intention to reform4 ,when she sees a sinner coming to implore mercy at her feet1 she does not regard the sins with which he is laden1 but the intention with which he comes4 ,if he comes with a good intention1 though he have committed all the sins in the world1 she embraces him1 and this most loving mother condescends to heal all the wounds of his soul2 for she is not only called by us the mother of mercy1 but she really is such1 and shows herself such by the love and tenderness with which she succors us4 ,the blessed ,virgin herself expressed all this to ,st4 ,bridget1 when she said to her1 8,however great may be a man's sins1 when he turns to me1 ,i am immediately ready to receive him2 neither do ,i consider how much he has sinned1 but with what intention he comes2 for ,i do not disdain to anoint and heal his wounds1 because ,i am called1 and truly am1 the mother of mercy40#acf ,mary is the mother of sinners who desire to be converted1 and as a mother she cannot but compassionate them1 and it even seems that she regards the woes of her poor children as her own4 ,when the woman of ,chanaan implored ,jesus ,christ to liberate her daughter from the demon which tormented her1 she said3 8,have mercy on me1 oh ,lord1 thou son of ,david2 my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil40#acg ,but as the daughter1 not the mother1 was tormented by the devil1 it would seem that she should have said1 8,oh ,lord1 have mercy on my daughter10 not 8have mercy upon me20 but no1 she said1 8,have mercy upon me10#ach and with reason1 for all the miseries of children are felt as their own by their mothers4 ,exactly thus ,mary prays ,god1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 when she commends to him a sinner who has recommended himself to her3 8,have mercy upon me40#aci ,it is as if she said to him1 ,my ,lord1 this poor creature1 who is in sin1 is my child2 have pity on him1 not so much on him as on me who am his mother4 ,oh1 would to ,god that all sinners would have recourse to this sweet mother1 for all would certainly be pardoned by ,god4 ,oh ,mary1 exclaims ,st4 ,bonaventure1 in wonder2 thou dost embrace1 with maternal affection1 the sinner who is despised by the whole world6 neither dost thou leave him until he is reconciled to his ,judge6#adj ,the saint here intends to say that the sinner who remains in sin is hated and rejected by all men2 even insensible creatures1 fire1 air1 the earth1 would punish him1 and inflict vengeance upon him in order to repair the honor of their insulted ,lord4 ,but if this wretch has recourse to ,mary1 does she banish him from her presence8 ,no3 if he comes asking for help1 and intending to amend1 she embraces him with the affection of a mother1 and does not leave him until she has reconciled him to ,god by her powerful intercession1 and re-established him in his grace4 ,we read in the #b;d book of ,kings1#ada that the wise woman of ,thecua said to ,david3 8,my ,lord1 ,i had two sons1 and for my misfortune one has killed the other2 so that ,i have already lost a child2 justice would now take from me my other and only son2 have pity on me a poor mother1 and do not let me be deprived of both my children40 ,then ,david had compassion on this mother1 and liberated the criminal1 and restored him to her4#adb ,it appears that ,mary offers the same petition when ,god is angry with a sinner1 who has recourse to her3 ,oh my ,god1 she says to him1 ,i had two sons1 ,jesus and man2 man has killed my ,jesus on the cross2 thy justice would now condemn man2 my ,lord1 my ,jesus is dead2 have mercy upon me1 and if ,i have lost one1 do not condemn me to lose the other also4 ,ah1 ,god assuredly does not condemn those sinners who have recourse to ,mary1 and for whom she prays2 since ,god himself has given these sinners to ,mary for her children4 ,the devout ,lanspergius puts these words into the mouth of our ,lord3 ,i have commended sinners to ,mary as her children4 ,wherefore she is so watchful in the performance of her office that she permits none to be lost who are committed to her care1 especially those who invoke her1 and uses all her power to lead them back to me4 ,and who can describe1 says ,blosius1 the goodness1 the mercy1 the fidelity1 and the charity with which this our mother strives to save us1 when we invoke her aid8#adc ,let us prostrate ourselves1 then1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 before this good mother1 let us cling to her sacred feet1 and leave her not until she gives us her blessing1 and accepts us for her children4#add ,who could distrust the goodness of this mother8 said ,st4 ,bonaventure4 ,though she should slay me1 ,i will hope in her2 and1 confident in my trust1 ,i would die near her image1 and be saved4#ade ,and thus should every sinner say who has recourse to this kind mother3 ,oh my ,lady and mother1 ,i deserve for my faults that thou shouldst banish me from thy presence1 and shouldst punish me for my sins2 but even if thou shouldst cast me off and slay me1 ,i shall never lose confidence in thee and in thy power to save me4 ,in thee ,i entirely confide1 and if it be my fate to die before some image of thine1 recommending myself to thy compassion1 ,i should have a certain hope of my salvation1 and of going to praise thee in heaven1 united to all thy servants who called upon thee for aid in death1 and are saved4 ,let the following example be read1 and let the reader judge if any sinner can distrust the mercy and love of this good mother1 if he has recourse to her4 ,,example4 ,it is narrated by ,belluacensis that in ,ridolio1 a city of ,england1 in the year #adcj1 there lived a young nobleman named ,ernest1 who gave all his patrimony to the poor1 and entered a monastery1 where he led so holy a life that he was greatly esteemed by his superiors1 particularly for his special devotion to the most holy ,virgin4 ,it happened that a pestilence prevailed in that city1 and the citizens had recourse to that monastery to ask the prayers of the monks4 ,the abbot ordered ,ernest to go and pray before the altar of ,mary1 and not to quit it until she had given him an answer4 ,the youth remained there three days1 and received from ,mary1 in answer1 some prayers1 which were to be said4 ,they were said1 and the plague ceased4 ,it happened afterwards that this youth became less ardent in his devotion to ,mary2 the devil assailed him with many temptations1 especially to impurity1 and to a desire to flee from the monastery2 and having neglected to recommend himself to ,mary1 he resolved to take flight by casting himself from the wall of the monastery2 but passing before an image of the ,virgin which stood in the corridor1 the mother of ,god spoke to him1 and said3 8,my son1 why do you leave me80 ,ernest was overwhelmed with surprise1 and1 filled with compunction1 fell on the earth1 saying3 8,my ,lady1 behold1 ,i have no power to resist1 why do you not aid me80 and the ,madonna replied3 8,why have you not invoked me8 ,if you had sought my protection1 you would not have been reduced to this2 from this day commend yourself to me1 and have confidence40 ,ernest returned to his cell2 but the temptations were renewed1 yet he neglected to call upon ,mary for assistance4 ,he finally fled from the monastery1 and leading a bad life1 he went on from one sin to another1 till he became an assassin4 ,he rented an inn1 where in the night he murdered unfortunate travellers1 and stripped them of all they had4 ,one night1 among others1 he killed the cousin of the governor of the place1 who1 after examination and trial1 condemned him to the gallows4 ,but during the examination1 a young traveller arrived at the inn1 and the host1 as usual1 laid his plans and entered his chamber to assassinate him3 but on approaching the bed1 he finds the young man gone1 and a ,christ on the cross1 covered with wounds1 in his place4 ,our ,lord1 looking compassionately at him1 said3 8,is it not enough that ,i have died once for thee8 ,dost thou wish to slay me again8 ,do it1 then2 lift thy hand and kill me60 ,then the poor ,ernest1 covered with confusion1 began to weep1 and exclaimed3 8,oh ,lord1 behold me ready to return to thee1 who hast shown me so much mercy40 ,he immediately left the inn to go back to the monastery and do penance2 but the officers of justice overtook him on the way1 he was carried before the judge1 and in his presence confessed all the murders he had committed4 ,he was at once condemned to death1 without even being allowed time for confession4 ,he commended himself to ,mary4 ,he was hung upon the gallows1 but the ,virgin prevented his death4 ,she herself released him1 and said to him3 8,return to the monastery2 do penance2 and when you shall see in my hand a paper containing the pardon of thy sins1 then prepare to die40 ,ernest returned1 and having related all to the abbot1 did great penance4 ,after many years1 he saw in the hand of ,mary the paper containing his pardon2 he then prepared for his last end1 and died a holy death4 ,,prayer4 ,oh ,mary1 sovereign queen1 and worthy mother of my ,god1 most holy ,mary6 ,finding myself so vile1 so laden with sin1 ,i dare not approach thee and call thee mother4 ,but ,i cannot let my miseries deprive me of the consolation and confidence ,i feel in calling thee mother4 ,i know that ,i deserve to be rejected by thee1 but ,i pray thee to consider what thy son ,jesus has done and suffered for me2 and then cast me from thee if thou canst4 ,i am a poor sinner1 who1 more than others1 have despised the divine ,majesty2 but the evil is already done4 ,to thee ,i have recourse3 thou canst help me2 oh1 my mother1 help me4 ,do not say that thou canst not aid me1 for ,i know that thou art omnipotent1 and dost obtain whatever thou desirest from thy ,god4 ,if then thou sayest that thou canst not help me1 at least tell me to whom ,i must have recourse for succor in my deep distress4 ,with ,st4 ,anselm1 ,i will say to thee1 and to thy ,son3 ,have pity on me1 oh thou1 my ,redeemer1 and pardon me1 thou my mother1 and recommend me to pardon2 or teach me to whom ,i may have recourse1 who is more compassionate than you1 and in whom ,i may have more confidence4 ,no1 neither in heaven nor on earth can ,i find one who has more compassion for the miserable1 or who can aid me more than you4 ,thou1 oh ,jesus1 art my father1 and thou1 oh ,mary1 art my mother4 ,you love those who are the most wretched1 and you seek to save them4 ,i am worthy of hell1 and of all beings the most miserable2 you need not to seek me1 neither do ,i ask you to seek me2 ,i present myself to you with a sure hope that ,i shall not be abandoned by you4 ,behold me at your feet2 my ,jesus1 pardon me2 my ,mary1 help me4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,vita1 ,,dulcedo4 ,our life1 our sweetness4 ,,section ,i4 ,,mary ,,is ,,our ,,life1 ,,because ,,she ,,obtains ,,for ,,us ,,the ,,pardon ,,of ,,our ,,sins4 ,in order to understand rightly the reason why the holy ,church calls ,mary our life1 we must consider that as the soul gives life to the body1 so divine grace gives life to the soul2 for a soul without grace1 though nominally alive1 in truth is dead1 as we find in the ,apocalypse3 8,thou hast the name of being alive1 and thou art dead40#adf ,as ,mary1 then1 obtains for sinners1 by her intercession1 the gift of grace1 she restores them to life4 ,the holy ,church applies to her the following words of ,proverbs3 8,they that in the morning early watch for me1 shall find me40#adg ,they shall find me1 or1 according to the ,septuagint1 8they shall find grace40#adh ,hence1 to have recourse to ,mary is to find the grace of ,god2 for1 as immediately follows3 8,he who finds me shall find life1 and shall receive from ,god eternal salvation40#adi ,listen1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaims here upon these words1 listen1 all ye who desire the kingdom of ,god2 honor the ,virgin ,mary1 and ye shall have life and eternal salvation4#aej ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says1 that ,god did not destroy man after his fall1 because of the peculiar love that he bore his future child ,mary4 ,and the saint adds1 that he doubts not all the mercy and pardon which sinners received under the ,old ,law1 was granted them by ,god solely for the sake of this blessed ,virgin4#aea ,therefore ,st4 ,bernard exhorts us1 if we have been so unfortunate as to lose divine grace1 to strive to recover it1 but to strive through ,mary2 for if we have lost it1 she has found it3#aeb and hence she is called by this saint1 8,the finder of grace40#aec ,this the angel ,gabriel expressed for our consolation1 when he said to the ,virgin1 8,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found grace40#aed ,but if ,mary had never been without grace1 how could the angel say to her that she had found it8 ,a thing is said to be found when it has been lost4 ,the ,virgin was always with ,god and with grace2 she was even full of grace1 as the ,archangel himself announced when he saluted her1 8,hail6 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee40#aee ,if1 then1 ,mary did not find grace for herself1 for whom did she find it8 ,cardinal ,hugo answers1 when commenting upon the above passage1 that she found it for sinners who had lost it4 ,let sinners1 then1 says the devout writer who have lost grace1 flee to ,mary2 with her they will certainly find it2 and let them say3 ,oh ,lady1 what is lost must be restored to him who has lost it2 this grace which thou hast found is not thine1 thou hast never lost it2 it is ours1 for we have lost it1 and to us thou shouldst restore it4#aef ,in connection with which1 ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence remarks3 ,if then we desire to find the grace of ,god1 let us go to ,mary1 who has found it1 and always finds it4#aeg ,and since she ever has been1 and ever will be1 dear to ,god1 if we have recourse to her1 we certainly shall find it4 ,she says1 in the holy ,canticles1 that ,god has placed her in the world to be our defence1#aeh and therefore she is ordained to be the mediatrix of peace between the sinner and ,god4 8,i am become in his presence as one finding peace40#aei ,by which words ,st4 ,bernard gives encouragement to the sinner1 and says3 ,go to this mother of mercy1 and show her the wounds which thy sins have inflicted upon thy soul4 ,then she will certainly pray her ,son that he may pardon thee by the milk with which she has nourished him1 and the ,son who loves her so much will certainly hear her4#afj ,so1 too1 the holy ,church teaches us to pray the ,lord to grant us the powerful intercession of ,mary1 that we may arise from our sins1 in the following prayer3 8,grant us1 oh merciful ,god6 strength against all our weakness2 that we who celebrate the memory of the holy mother of ,god1 may1 by the help of her intercession1 arise again from our iniquities40#afa ,justly1 then1 does ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian call her the hope of evil-doers1 8spes delinquentium10 since she alone can obtain their pardon from ,god4 ,st4 ,bernard rightly names her the ladder of sinners1 8,peccatorum scala20 since she1 this compassionate queen1 offers her hand to poor fallen mortals1 leads them from the precipice of sin1 and helps them to ascend to ,god4 ,st4 ,augustine rightly calls her the only hope of us sinners1 since by her means alone we hope for the remission of all our sins4#afb ,and ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom repeats the same thing1 namely1 that sinners receive pardon only through the intercession of ,mary4#afc ,whence the saint in the name of all sinners thus salutes her3 ,hail6 mother of ,god and ours2 ,heaven where ,god dwells2 ,throne from which the ,lord dispenses all graces2 always pray to ,jesus for us1 that by thy prayers we may obtain pardon in the day of account1 and the glory of the blessed in heaven4#afd ,finally1 ,mary is rightly called aurora3 8,who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising80#afe ,because1 as ,pope ,innocent says1 aurora is the end of night1 and the beginning of day1 well is the ,virgin ,mary1 who is the end of vices and the beginning of virtues1 designated as aurora4#aff ,and the same effect which the birth of ,mary produced in the world1 devotion to her produces in the soul2 she puts an end to the night of sin1 and leads the soul into the way of virtue4 ,hence1 ,st4 ,germanus says3 ,oh mother of ,god1 thy protection is immortal6 thy intercession is life4#afg ,and in his sermon on the ,zone of the ,virgin1#afh the saint says that the name of ,mary1 to him who pronounces it with affection1 is either the sign of life1 or that soon he will have life4 ,mary sang3 8,for behold1 from henceforth all nations shall call me blessed40#afi ,on this account1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 all nations shall call thee blessed1 because all thy servants by thy means shall obtain the life of grace and eternal glory4#agj 8,in thee sinners find pardon1 and the just perseverance1 and afterwards life eternal40#aga ,do not despair1 as the devout ,bernardine de ,bustis says1 oh sinner1 although you have committed all possible sin1 but confidently have recourse to this ,lady1 for you will find her hands full of mercies4 ,then he adds3 ,mary is more desirous to bestow favors upon you than you are to receive them4#agb ,by ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete1 ,mary is called 8,the security of divine pardon40#agc ,by this is meant1 that when sinners have recourse to ,mary that they may be reconciled to ,god1 ,god assures them of pardon1 and gives them the assurance by also giving them the pledge of it4 ,and this pledge is ,mary1 whom he has given us for our advocate1 by whose intercession1 in virtue of the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god pardons all sinners who place themselves under her protection4 ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget by an angel1 that the holy prophets were full of joy when they learned that ,god1 by the humility and purity of ,mary1 would become reconciled to sinners1 and receive into his favor those who had provoked his wrath4#agd ,no sinner need ever fear that he shall be rejected by ,mary1 if he has recourse to her mercy4 ,no1 for she is mother of mercy2 and as such1 desires to save the most miserable4 ,mary is that happy ark in which he who takes refuge will never suffer the shipwreck of eternal ruin2 8arca in qua naufragium evadimus40 ,even the brutes were saved in the time of the deluge in the ark of ,noe2 so1 under the mantle of ,mary1 even sinners are saved4 ,st4 ,gertrude one day saw ,mary with her mantle extended1 beneath which many wild beasts1 lions1 bears1 and tigers had sheltered themselves2 and ,mary not only did not cast them from her1 but received them with pity and caressed them4 ,and by this the saint understood1 that the vilest sinners1 when they flee to ,mary1 are not cast out1 but welcomed and saved from eternal death4 ,let us enter1 then1 into this ark1 and seek refuge under the mantle of ,mary2 for she certainly will not reject us1 and will surely save us4 ,,example4 ,it is narrated by ,father ,bovius1#age of a very sinful person named ,helen1 that having gone to church1 she accidentally heard a sermon on the rosary4 ,as she went out she bought one1 but carried it hidden1 so that it should not be seen4 ,afterwards1 she began to recite it2 and although she recited it without devotion1 the most holy ,virgin infused into her heart such consolation and sweetness in it1 that she could not cease repeating it4 ,and by this she was inspired with such a horror of her evil life1 that she could find no peace1 and was forced1 as it were1 to go to confession4 ,she confessed with so much contrition1 that the confessor was amazed4 ,having finished her confession1 she went immediately before an altar of the blessed ,virgin1 to thank her advocate2 she recited her rosary1 and the divine mother spoke to her from her image1 and said3 8,helen1 you have too long offended ,god and me2 henceforth change your life1 and ,i will bestow upon you many of my favors40 ,the poor sinner1 in confusion1 answered3 8,ah1 most holy ,virgin1 it is true that hitherto ,i have been very sinful1 but thou1 who art all-powerful1 assist me2 ,i give myself to thee1 and will pass the remainder of my life in doing penance for my sins40 ,assisted by ,mary1 ,helen bestowed all her goods upon the poor1 and commenced a rigorous penance4 ,she was tormented by dreadful temptations1 but she continued to recommend herself to the mother of ,god2 and always1 with her aid1 came off victorious4 ,she was favored also with many supernatural graces1 as visions1 revelations1 and prophecies4 ,at last1 before her death1 of which she had been warned a few days previously by ,mary1 the ,virgin herself came with her ,son to visit her2 and in death1 the soul of this sinner was seen1 in the form of a beautiful dove1 ascending to heaven4 ,,prayer4 ,behold1 oh mother of my ,god1 ,mary1 my only hope1 behold at thy feet a miserable sinner1 who implores thy mercy4 ,thou art proclaimed and called by the whole ,church1 and by all the faithful1 the refuge of sinners2 thou then art my refuge2 it is thine to save me4 ,thou knowest how much thy ,son desires our salvation4#agf ,thou1 too1 knowest what ,jesus ,christ suffered to save me4 ,i offer to thee1 oh my mother1 the sufferings of ,jesus2 the cold which he endured in the stable1 the steps of his long journey into ,egypt1 his toils1 his sweat1 the blood that he shed1 the torments which caused his death before thy eyes upon the cross2 show thy love for this ,son1 whilst ,i1 for the love of him1 beg thee to aid me4 ,extend thy hand to a fallen creature1 who asks pity of thee4 ,if ,i were a saint1 ,i would not ask for mercy2 but because ,i am a sinner1 ,i have recourse to thee1 who art the mother of mercies4 ,i know that thy compassionate heart finds consolation in succoring the wretched1 when thou canst aid them1 and dost not find them obstinate in their sins4 ,console1 then1 to-day thy own compassionate heart1 and console me2 for thou hast a chance to save me1 a poor wretch condemned to hell2 and thou canst aid me1 for ,i will not be obstinate4 ,i place myself in thy hands2 tell me what ,i must do1 and obtain for me strength to do it1 and ,i will do all ,i can to return to a state of grace4 ,i take refuge beneath thy mantle4 ,jesus ,christ wishes me to have recourse to thee1 that1 for thy glory and his1 since thou art his mother1 not only his blood1 but also thy prayers1 may aid me to obtain salvation4 ,he sends me to thee that thou mayest assist me4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i hasten to thee1 and in thee ,i trust4 ,thou dost pray for so many others1 pray1 and say also one word for me4 ,say to ,god1 that thou desirest my salvation1 and ,god certainly will save me4 ,tell him that ,i am thine2 this is all ,i ask from thee4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,mary ,,is ,,again ,,our ,,life1 ,,because ,,she ,,obtains ,,for ,,us ,,perseverance4 ,final perseverance is a divine gift so great1 that1 as the holy ,council of ,trent has declared1 it is a wholly gratuitous gift1 and one that cannot be merited by us4 ,but1 as ,st4 ,augustine teaches us1 all those obtain perseverance from ,god who ask it of him2 and as ,father ,suarez says1 they infallibly obtain it if they are diligent to the end of life in praying ,god for it2 because1 as ,cardinal ,bellarmine writes3 ,this perseverance is daily to be sought1 that it may be daily obtained4#agg ,now1 if it is true1 which ,i consider certain1 according to the present very general opinion1 as ,i shall presently demonstrate in chap4 #eth--if it is true that all the graces which are bestowed on us by ,god pass through the hands of ,mary1 it must also be true that only through ,mary can we hope for and obtain this great gift of perseverance4 ,and we certainly shall obtain it1 if1 with confidence1 we always ask it of ,mary4 ,she herself promises this grace to all those who serve her faithfully in this life4 8,they that work by me shall not sin2 they that explain me shall have life everlasting30#agh which words the holy ,church puts into the mouth of ,mary on the ,feast of her ,conception4 ,in order that we may be preserved in the life of divine grace1 spiritual strength is necessary to resist all the enemies of our salvation4 ,now1 this strength can only be obtained by means of ,mary3 ,mine is this strength1 says ,mary3 8,mea est fortitudo40 ,god has intrusted this gift to my hand1 that ,i may bestow it on my devoted servants4 8,by me kings reign30 8,per me reges regnant40#agi ,by me my servants reign1 and rule their senses and their passions1 and thus make themselves worthy of reigning eternally in heaven4 ,oh1 what strength have the servants of this great ,lady to conquer all the temptations of hell6 ,mary is that tower spoken of in the holy ,canticles3 8,thy neck is as the tower of ,david1 which is built with bulwarks2 a thousand bucklers hang upon it1 all the armor of valiant men40#ahj ,she is like a strong tower of defence for her lovers1 who take refuge with her in the day of battle2 in her all her devoted servants find shields and weapons of every kind to defend themselves against the powers of hell4 ,for this reason1 the most holy ,virgin is called a plane-tree3 8,as a plane-tree by the water in the streets was ,i exalted40#aha ,this passage is explained by ,cardinal ,hugo1 who tells us that the plane-tree has leaves like shields4#ahb ,and by this is explained the defence that ,mary affords those who take refuge with her4 ,the blessed ,amadeus gives another explanation1 and says that she is called a plane-tree because1 as the plane-tree1 with its shade1 protects the traveller from the heat of the sun and from the rain1 so1 under the mantle of ,mary1 men find shelter from the heat of their passions and the fury of temptations4#ahc ,unfortunate are those souls who withdraw from this shelter1 neglect their devotion to ,mary1 and fail to recommend themselves to her in trial4 ,if the sun should no more rise upon the world1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 what would the world become but a chaos of darkness and horror8#ahd ,if a soul loses her devotion to ,mary1 she will immediately be full of darkness1 and that darkness of which the ,holy ,ghost says3 8,thou hast appointed darkness1 and it is night2 in it shall all the beasts of the woods go about40#ahe ,when the divine light does not shine in a soul it is night1 and it will become a den of all sins and demons4 ,woe to those1 as ,st4 ,anselm says1 who turn away from the light of this sun2#ahf that is1 who neglect devotion to ,mary4 ,st4 ,francis ,borgia1 with reason1 feared for the perseverance of those in whom he did not find a special devotion to the blessed ,virgin4 ,when once he asked some novices to what saint they had the most devotion1 and found that some of them were not especially devoted to ,mary1 he warned the master to watch more carefully these unfortunate persons2 and it happened that they all lost their vocation and quitted religion4 ,st4 ,germanus justly called the most holy ,virgin the breath of ,christians2 because1 as the body cannot live without breathing1 so the soul cannot live without having recourse and commending itself to ,mary1 through whose means the life of divine grace is obtained for us and preserved in us4#ahg ,as respiration is not only the sign1 but also the cause of life1 so the name of ,mary1 when it is spoken by the servants of ,god1 not only proves that they are living1 but procures and maintains this life1 and obtains for them every aid4 ,the blessed ,alanus1 when once assailed by a strong temptation1 was on the point of being lost because he omitted to recommend himself to ,mary2 but the blessed ,virgin appeared to him1 and1 to warn him against such neglect in future1 gave him a blow on the ear1 and said to him3 8,if thou hadst commended thyself to me1 thou wouldst not have been exposed to this peril40 ,on the other hand3 8,blessed is the man10 says ,mary1 8that heareth me1 and that watcheth daily at my gates1 and waiteth at the posts of my doors40#ahh ,mary will certainly be ready to obtain light and strength for those faithful servants1 that they may abandon their vices and walk in the paths of virtue4 ,hence is she1 as ,innocent ,,iii4 beautifully expresses it3 ,the moon by night1 the dawn of the morning1 and the sun by day4#ahi ,the moon1 to him who is groping in the night of sin1 to give him light to see his wretched state of condemnation2 the dawn1 the forerunner of the sun1 to him who is enlightened1 that he may come forth from sin and return to divine grace2 and the sun1 to him who is in grace1 that he may not again fall into any precipice4 ,theologians apply to ,mary these words of ,ecclesiasticus3 8,her bands are a healthful binding40#aij ,wherefore are they called bands1 asks ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian1 unless because she binds her servants1 that they may not wander in forbidden fields8#aia ,st4 ,bonaventure explains in a similar manner the words of the office of ,mary3 8,my abode is in the full assembly of saints40#aib ,he says that ,mary is not only established in the fulness of the saints1 but that she also upholds the saints1 that they may not fall away2 she sustains their virtue that it may not waver1 and prevents the demons from doing them harm4#aic ,it is said that 8all her domestics are clothed with double garments40#aid ,cornelius ,lapide thus describes this double garment3 ,it is a double garment1 because she clothes her servants with the virtues of her ,son1 as well as with her own2#aie and1 thus clothed1 they will preserve holy perseverance4 ,for this reason1 ,st4 ,philip ,neri always admonished his penitents by saying to them3 ,my children1 if you desire perseverance1 be devout to ,mary4 ,the venerable brother ,john ,berchmans1 of the ,company of ,jesus1 also said3 ,he who loves ,mary1 shall have perseverance4 ,the reflection which ,rupert the ,abbot makes upon the prodigal son is very beautiful4 ,if the mother of this prodigal son had been living1 he would either never have left his father's house1 or would have returned much sooner4#aif ,and by this he wished to say1 that he who is a child of ,mary1 either never departs from ,god1 or if for his misfortune he departs1 by means of ,mary he quickly returns4 ,oh1 if all men loved this most kind and loving ,lady1 and in temptations always and immediately had recourse to her1 who would fall8 ,who would be lost8 ,he falls and is lost who does not flee to ,mary4 ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian applies to ,mary these words of ,ecclesiasticus3 8,i have walked in the waves of the sea20#aig and makes her to say3 ,i walk with my servants in the midst of the tempests to which they are exposed1 to assist them1 and prevent them from falling into the precipice of sin4#aih ,father ,bernardine de ,bustis relates that a hawk darted upon a bird which had been taught to say ,ave ,maria2 the bird said ,ave ,maria1 and the hawk fell dead4 ,by this our ,lord wished to show us1 that if an irrational bird was saved from destruction by invoking ,mary1 how much more surely will he be prevented from falling into the power of evil spirits1 who is mindful to invoke ,mary in his temptations4 ,nothing remains to be done1 says ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova1 when the devils come to tempt us1 but1 like the chickens when the kite appears1 to run quickly under the shelter of the wings of our mother4 ,let us1 then1 at the approach of the temptations which assail us1 without stopping to parley with them1 place ourselves at once under the protection of ,mary4#aii ,and then1 the saint goes on to say1 our ,lady and mother must defend us2 for1 after ,god1 we have no refuge but thee1 who art our only hope1 and the only protectress in whom we may confide4#bjj ,let us1 then1 conclude with the words of ,st4 ,bernard3#bja ,oh man1 whoever thou art1 thou knowest that in this miserable life thou art rather tossing on the tempestuous waves1 among dangers and tempests1 than walking upon the earth2 if thou wouldst not sink1 keep thy eye fixed on this star1 namely1 ,mary4 ,look at the star1 invoke ,mary4 ,when in danger of sinning1 when tormented by temptations1 when doubts disturb thee1 remember that ,mary can aid thee1 and instantly call upon her4 ,may her powerful name never depart from the confidence of thy heart1 nor from the invocation of thy lips4 ,if thou wilt follow ,mary1 thou shalt never wander from the path of safety4 ,commend thyself always to her1 and thou shalt not despair4 ,if she upholds thee1 thou shalt not fall4 ,if she protects thee1 thou need not fear ruin4 ,if she guides thee1 thou shalt be saved without difficulty4 ,in a word1 if ,mary undertakes to defend thee1 thou shalt certainly arrive at the kingdom of the blessed4 ,thus do1 and thou shalt live4 ,,example4 ,in the celebrated history of ,st4 ,mary of ,egypt1 which we find in the first volume of the ,lives of the ,fathers1 we read that1 at twelve years of age1 she fled from her parents1 and went to ,alexandria1 where she led an infamous life1 and became the scandal of the city4 ,after sixteen years spent in sin1 she wandered off to ,jerusalem2 where1 on the festival of the ,holy ,cross1 she was led to enter the church1 more from curiosity than devotion4 ,on the threshold she was thrust back1 as if by some invisible power2 she attempted a second time to enter1 and again was repelled1 and a third and a fourth time the same thing happened4 ,the wretched creature withdrew then into a corner of the portico1 and there she was interiorly enlightened1 and saw that ,god had refused her entrance into the church on account of her wicked life4 ,by chance she raised her eyes1 and saw a picture of ,mary which was painted in the vestibule4 ,she turned to it1 weeping1 and said3 8,oh mother of ,god1 have pity on this poor sinner6 ,i know that1 on account of my sins1 ,i do not deserve that thou shouldst regard me2 but thou art the refuge of sinners3 for the love of ,jesus1 thy ,son1 help me4 ,obtain for me that ,i may enter the church1 for ,i desire to change my life1 and go and do penance wherever thou shalt direct40 ,then she heard an interior voice1 as if the blessed ,virgin answered her3 8,come1 since thou hast invoked me1 and wishest to change thy life1 enter the church1 for the door will no longer be closed against thee40 ,the sinner entered1 adored the cross1 and wept4 ,she returned to the picture3 8,oh ,lady10 she said1 8,i am ready2 where shall ,i retire to do penance80 8,go10 said the ,virgin1 8beyond the ,jordan1 and thou wilt find the place of thy repose40 ,she made her confession1 received holy communion1 passed the river1 reached the desert1 and understood that there was her place of penance4 ,during the first seventeen years that she lived in the desert1 the evil spirits fiercely assailed her1 to make her fall again4 ,what did she then do8 ,she recommended herself to ,mary1 and ,mary obtained for her strength to resist for seventeen years1 after which the conflict ceased4 ,finally1 after fifty-seven years spent in the desert1 in the eighty-seventh of her age1 through ,divine ,providence1 she was found by the abbot ,st4 ,zosimus4 ,to him she related the story of her whole life1 and begged him to return there the following year1 and bring her holy communion4 ,the holy abbot returned1 and gave her communion4 ,then she implored him again to do the same thing4 ,he returned the second time1 and found her dead1 her body surrounded with light1 and at her head these words written in the sand3 8,bury in this place the body of me1 a miserable sinner1 and pray ,god for me40 ,a lion came and dug her grave1 the abbot buried her1 and1 returning to the monastery1 he related the wonders of divine mercy towards this happy penitent4 ,,prayer4 ,oh mother of mercy6 holy ,virgin6 behold at thy feet the traitor1 who1 returning ingratitude for the favors received through thee from ,god1 has betrayed thee and ,god4 ,but1 oh my ,lady6 know that my misery does not destroy1 but increases my confidence in thee1 because ,i see that my misery increases thy compassion for me4 ,show1 oh ,mary6 that thou art the same to me as thou art to all those who invoke thee1 full of grace and mercy4 ,it is enough for me that thou regardest me with compassion4 ,if in thy heart thou hast pity for me1 thou wilt not cease to protect me2 and if thou dost protect me1 what should ,i fear8 ,no1 ,i fear nothing2 ,i fear not my sins1 for thou canst remedy their evil consequences2 nor the demons1 for thou art more powerful than hell2 nor thy ,son who is justly angry with me1 for at one word of thine he will be appeased4 ,i only fear that through negligence ,i may fail to implore thy protection in my temptations1 and that this may cause my ruin4 ,but ,i promise thee to-day1 ,i will always have recourse to thee4 ,help me to keep this resolution4 ,behold the opportunity thou hast of satisfying thy desire to relieve so miserable a creature as ,i am4 ,oh mother of ,god1 ,i have great confidence in thee4 ,from thee ,i expect the grace to do just penance for my sins1 and from thee ,i hope the strength never more to fall back into them4 ,if ,i am sick1 thou canst heal me1 oh heavenly physician4 ,if my sins have made me weak1 thy help can make me strong4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i hope every thing from thee1 for thou hast all power with ,god4 ,,section ,,iii4 ,,mary ,,renders ,,death ,,sweet ,,to ,,her ,,servants4 ,dulcedo3--,sweetness4 8,he that is a friend loveth at all times2 and a brother is proved in distress40#bjb ,true friends and relatives are not known in times of prosperity1 but in the season of adversity and misery4 ,worldly friends do not desert their friend when he is in prosperity2 but if any misfortune overtakes him1 particularly in the hour of death1 immediately his friends abandon him4 ,not so does ,mary desert her devoted servants4 ,in their distresses1 and especially at the trying hour of death1 when our sufferings are the greatest that can be endured on earth1 she our good ,lady and mother cannot abandon her faithful servants2 and as she is our life in the time of our exile1 so is she also our sweetness in the hour of death1 by obtaining for us that it may be sweet and blessed4 ,for since that great day in which it was the lot and the grief of ,mary to be present at the death of ,jesus1 her ,son1 who was the head of the elect1 she obtained the grace of aiding at death all the elect4 ,hence the holy ,church requires us to pray the blessed ,virgin1 that she would especially aid us in the hour of our death3 8,pray for us sinners1 now and at the hour of our death40#bjc ,the sufferings of the dying are very great1 on account of their remorse for sins committed1 their dread of approaching judgment1 and the uncertainty of eternal salvation4 ,at that moment especially1 the devil puts forth all his power to gain the soul that is passing into eternity2 knowing that the time is short in which he may win her1 and that if he loses her1 he has lost her forever4 8,the devil is come down unto you1 having great wrath1 knowing that he hath but a short time40#bjd ,and therefore the devil1 who has always tempted her in life1 will not be satisfied to tempt her alone in death1 but calls companions to his aid3 8,their houses shall be filled with serpents40#bje ,when any one is at the point of death1 his house is filled with demons1 who unite to accomplish his ruin4 ,it is related of ,st4 ,andrew ,avellino1 that at the time of his death1 ten thousand devils came to tempt him2 and we read in his life1 that at the time of his agony he had so fierce a struggle with hell1 that it caused all his good religious who were present to tremble4 ,they saw the face of the saint swell from agitation1 so that it became black2 they saw all his limbs trembling1 and greatly agitated1 rivers of tears flowed from his eyes1 and his head shook violently2 all these were signs of the horrible assault he was suffering from the powers of hell4 ,all the religious wept in compassion1 redoubled their prayers1 and trembled with fear when they saw that a saint died thus4 ,yet they were consoled by seeing that the saint often turned his eyes1 as if seeking help1 towards a devout image of ,mary1 for they remembered that he had often said in life1 that in the hour of his death ,mary must be his refuge4 ,it finally pleased ,god to terminate this struggle by a glorious victory1 for the agitation of his body ceased1 his countenance gained its natural shape and color1 and fixing his eyes tranquilly on that image1 he devoutly bowed his head to ,mary1 who1 it is believed1 then appeared to him1 as if to thank her1 and quietly breathed forth in her arms his blessed soul1 with heavenly peace depicted on his countenance4 ,at the same time a ,capuchin nun1 in her agony1 turned to the religious who were with her and said3 8,say an ,ave ,maria1 for a saint has just died40 ,ah1 how these rebels flee before the presence of their queen6 ,if1 in the hour of death1 we have ,mary on our side1 what fear can we have of all the powers of hell8 ,david1 in dread of the agony of death1 comforted himself with confidence in the death of his future ,redeemer1 and in the intercession of the ,virgin mother3 8,for though ,i should walk in the midst of the shadow of death1 ,i fear no evils1 for thou art with me2 thy rod and thy staff they have comforted me40#bjf ,cardinal ,hugo understands the staff to signify the tree of the ,cross1 and the rod the intercession of ,mary1 who was the rod foretold by ,isaias3 8,and there shall come forth a rod out of the root of ,jesse1 and a flower shall rise up out of his root40#bjg ,this divine mother1 says ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 is that powerful rod by which the fury of the infernal enemies is conquered4#bjh ,hence ,st4 ,antoninus encourages us1 saying3 ,if ,mary is for us1 who is against us8#bji ,father ,manuel ,padial1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 being at the point of death1 ,mary appeared to him1 and said1 to comfort him3 8,the hour has at length come when the angels1 rejoicing1 say to thee1 ,oh happy labors6 oh mortifications well recompensed60 ,at which words an army of devils was seen taking flight in despair1 crying3 8,alas6 we have no power1 for she who is without stain defends him40#baj ,in like manner1 the devils assailed ,father ,jasper ,haywood1 when he was dying1 with great temptations against faith2 he immediately commended himself to the most holy ,virgin1 and then was heard to exclaim3 8,i thank thee1 oh ,mary1 that thou hast come to my aid40#baa ,st4 ,bonaventure says that ,mary sends the archangel ,michael1 with all the angels1 to the defence of her dying servants1 to protect them from the assaults of evil spirits1 and to receive the souls of all those who have especially and constantly recommended themselves to her4#bab ,when a man leaves this life1 ,isaias says that hell is in uproar1 and sends its most terrible demons to tempt that soul before it leaves the body1 and then afterwards to accuse it when it is presented at the tribunal of ,jesus ,christ to be judged3 8,hell below was in an uproar to meet thee2 at thy coming it stirred up the giants for thee40#bac ,but ,richard says1 that the demons1 when that soul is defended by ,mary1 will not even dare to accuse it2 knowing that a soul protected by this great mother is never1 and will never1 be condemned4#bad ,st4 ,jerome wrote to the virgin ,eustochium1 that ,mary not only assists her dear servants in their death1 but also comes to meet them in their passage to the other life1 to encourage them and accompany them to the divine tribunal4#bae ,and this agrees with what the blessed ,virgin said to ,st4 ,bridget1 speaking of her servants when they are at the point of death3 8,then ,i1 their most loving ,lady and mother1 hasten to them in death1 that they may have consolation and comfort40#baf ,st4 ,vincent of ,ferrer adds3 ,the blessed ,virgin receives the souls of the dying4 ,the loving queen receives their souls under her protection1 and she herself presents them to the judge her ,son1 and thus certainly procures their salvation4#bag ,this happened to ,charles1 son of ,st4 ,bridget1 who1 dying in the perilous profession of a soldier1 and far from his mother1 the saint feared for his salvation2 but the blessed ,virgin revealed to her that ,charles was saved for the love he bore her1 in recompense of which she had assisted him in death1 and had suggested to him the christian acts necessary to be made at that moment4 ,the saint saw at the same time ,jesus upon a throne1 and the devil bringing two accusations against the most holy ,virgin3 the first1 that ,mary had prevented him from tempting ,charles at the moment of death2 the second1 that ,mary herself had presented his soul to its judge1 and thus had saved it without even giving him an opportunity to expose the reasons why he claimed it as his own4 ,she then saw him driven from the presence of the judge1 and the soul of ,charles taken to heaven4 8,her bands are a healthful binding2 in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her40#bah ,blessed art thou1 oh brother1 if in death thou shalt find thyself bound by the sweet chains of love for the mother of ,god6 ,these chains are chains of salvation1 which will secure to thee eternal salvation1 and give thee in death that blessed peace which will be the commencement of thy eternal peace and rest4 ,father ,binetti1 in his book 8,on the ,perfections of our ,lord10 relates that having been present at the death of a devoted servant of ,mary1 he heard from him these words before he breathed his last3 8,oh1 my ,father1 if you knew what happiness ,i find in having served the most holy mother of ,god6 ,i could not describe to you the joy ,i feel at this moment40#bai ,father ,suarez1 because he was all his life very devoted to ,mary1 used to say1 that he would willingly exchange all his knowledge for the merit of one ,hail ,mary1 and died with so much joy1 that he exclaimed at his last moment1 8,i never imagined it would be so sweet to die1--non putabam tam dulce esse mori40#bbj ,you too1 devout reader1 will doubtless feel the same peace and joy1 if at death you can remember having loved this good mother1 who cannot but be faithful to her children1 when they are faithful to her service1 paying her their offerings of visits1 rosaries1 and fastings1 and especially thanking her1 praising her1 and often commending themselves to her powerful protection4 ,neither will you be deprived of this consolation on account of your sins1 if from henceforth you will be careful to live well1 and to serve this very grateful and gracious ,lady4 ,in the trials and temptations with which the devil will assail you1 that he may throw you into despair1 she will comfort you1 and even come herself to assist you in death4 ,martin1 brother of ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 as the saint himself relates1 finding that he had offended ,god1 went one day before an altar of ,mary to dedicate himself to her service1 putting his girdle around his neck in token of his servitude1 and thus said3 8,my ,lady1 mirror of purity1 ,i1 a poor sinner1 have offended ,god and thee by violating chastity3 ,i have no other remedy than to offer myself as thy servant2 to thy service ,i dedicate myself to-day2 receive this rebel1 do not despise me40 ,he then laid on the altar a certain sum of money1 promising to pay the same every year as a tribute of his devotion to ,mary4 ,after some time ,martin died2 but before his death he was heard one morning to say3 8,arise1 arise1 pay homage to my ,lady20 and afterwards3 8,what a favor is this1 oh queen of heaven1 that thou shouldst condescend to visit this thy poor servant4 ,bless me1 oh ,lady1 and permit me not to be lost after thou hast honored me with thy presence40 ,at this moment his brother ,peter entered4 ,martin related to him the visit of ,mary1 and how she had blessed him1 lamenting that the persons present had not arisen at her entrance2 and shortly after quietly passed away to our ,lord4 ,such will be your death also1 oh my reader1 if you are faithful to ,mary1 even if in your past life you have offended ,god4 ,she will give you a sweet and happy death4 ,and if then you are greatly alarmed and lose courage in view of the sins you have committed1 she will come to comfort you as she came to ,adolphus1 ,count of ,alsace1 who1 having quitted the world and become a ,franciscan1 as the chronicles relate1 was very devoted to the mother of ,god4 ,his last days arrived1 and at the remembrance of the life he had led in the world1 and the rigor of divine justice1 he began to fear death and doubt of his salvation4 ,then ,mary1 who never sleeps when her faithful servants are in trouble1 accompanied by many saints1 appeared to him1 and encouraged him with these tender words of consolation3 8,my dear ,adolphus1 thou art mine1 thou hast given thyself to me1 then why dost thou so greatly fear death80#bba ,the servant of ,mary was consoled by these words2 every fear disappeared1 and he died in great peace and contentment4 ,let us1 too1 although we are sinners1 take courage and have the confidence that ,mary will come to assist us in death1 and console us by her presence1 if we serve and love her during the remainder of our life on this earth4 ,our queen1 speaking one day to ,st4 ,matilda1 promised that she would be present at the death of all those devoted children who had faithfully served her in life4#bbb ,oh my ,god1 what a consolation must it be in that last hour of life1 when our lot for eternity is to be decided1 to find close by our side the queen of heaven1 who sustains and comforts us by promising us her protection6 ,besides the examples already cited of the assistance afforded by ,mary to her faithful servants1 there are innumerable others to be found in various books4 ,this favor was granted to ,st4 ,clare1 to ,st4 ,felix1 a ,capuchin1 to the blessed ,clara of ,montefalco1 to ,st4 ,theresa1 and ,st4 ,peter of ,alcantara4 ,but for our common consolation1 ,i will mention the few following examples4 ,father ,crasset relates#bbc that ,st4 ,mary of ,oignies saw the blessed ,virgin by the pillow of a devout widow of ,villembroe1 who was tormented by a burning fever4 ,the most holy ,mary was standing by her side consoling her1 and cooling her with a fan4 ,st4 ,john of ,god1 at death1 expected a visit from ,mary1 to whom he was greatly devoted2 but finding she did not come1 he was afflicted1 and perhaps complained a little4 ,but at length the holy mother appeared to him1 and as if reproaching him for his want of confidence1 said to him these tender words1 which should encourage all the servants of ,mary3 8,john1 it is not in my heart1 at this hour1 to desert my children40#bbd ,as if she had said to him3 ,my ,john1 of what were you thinking8 that ,i had abandoned you8 ,do you not know that ,i cannot abandon my devoted children at the hour of death8 ,i did not come before1 because it was not yet time2 but now ,i come ready to take you1 let us go to paradise4 ,and soon after the saint expired1 and flew to heaven to give thanks eternally to his most loving queen4#bbe ,,example4 ,i will now relate another example by way of conclusion to the subject of which ,i have been just speaking1 and for the sake of showing how great is the tenderness of this good mother towards her children when they are dying4 ,the pastor of a certain place went to assist at the death-bed of a rich man4 ,he was dying in a splendid house1 and a multitude of relations1 friends1 and servants1 surrounded his bed4 ,but among these1 the priest saw a number of devils in the shape of hounds1 who waited to seize upon his soul1 and who actually did so2 for he died in sin4 ,at the same time he was sent for by a poor woman1 who was dying1 and desired the holy sacraments2 not being able to leave the dying rich man1 whose soul was so much in need of his assistance1 he sent another priest to her1 who accordingly went1 carrying with him the holy sacrament4 ,he found in the dwelling of that good woman no servants1 no retinue1 no splendid furniture1 for she was very poor1 and we may suppose had only a little straw to lie upon4 ,but what does he see8 ,he sees in that apartment a great light1 and near the bed of the dying person was ,mary the mother of ,god1 who was consoling her1 and with a cloth was wiping the sweat from her brow4 ,the priest seeing ,mary1 had not the courage to enter1 but she made a motion to him to approach4 ,he entered1 ,mary pointed to a seat1 that he might sit down and hear the confession of her servant4 ,the poor woman then made her confession1 received the holy sacrament with much devotion1 and at last expired happily in the arms of ,mary4#bbf ,,prayer4 ,oh my sweetest mother1 what will be the death of me1 a poor sinner8 ,even now1 when thinking of that great moment1 in which ,i must die1 and be presented at the divine tribunal1 and remembering how often1 by my wicked consent1 ,i myself have written my own sentence of condemnation1 ,i tremble1 am confounded1 and fear greatly for my eternal salvation4 ,oh ,mary1 my hopes are in the blood of ,jesus1 and in thy intercession4 ,thou art the ,queen of heaven6 the ,lady of the universe6 it is sufficient to say that thou art the mother of ,god4 ,thou art great1 but thy greatness does not separate thee from us2 it even inclines thee to have more compassion on our miseries4 ,when our earthly friends are raised to any dignity1 they seclude themselves from those whom they have left in a low estate1 and will not condescend even to look at them4 ,but it is not so with thy loving and noble heart4 ,where thou dost behold the greatest misery1 there thou art most intent on giving relief4 ,when invoked1 thou dost immediately come to our aid1 and even anticipate our supplications2 thou dost console us in our afflictions1 dissipate all tempests1 put down our enemies2 in a word1 thou dost never omit an opportunity of doing us good4 ,ever blessed be that divine hand which has united in thee so much majesty and so much tenderness1 so much greatness and so much love6 ,i always thank our ,lord1 and congratulate myself that ,i can regard thy happiness and mine1 thy fate and mine as one4 ,oh consoler of the afflicted1 console in his affliction one who recommends himself to thee4 ,i am tortured with remorse for my many sins2 ,i am uncertain whether ,i have repented of them as ,i ought to have done2 ,i see how corrupt and imperfect are all my works4 ,the devil is awaiting my death in order to accuse me4 ,divine justice violated must be satisfied4 ,oh my mother1 what will become of me8 ,if thou dost not aid me1 ,i am lost4 ,answer me1 wilt thou aid me8 ,oh merciful ,virgin1 console me2 obtain for me strength to amend1 and to be faithful to ,god during what remains to me of life4 ,and when ,i shall find myself in the last agony of death1 oh ,mary6 my hope1 do not abandon me2 then more than ever assist me1 and save me from despair at the sight of my sins1 of which the devil will accuse me4 ,oh ,lady1 pardon my boldness2 come1 then1 thyself to console me by thy presence4 ,grant me this favor which thou hast bestowed on so many2 ,i also desire it4 ,if my boldness is great1 greater still is thy goodness1 which seeks the most miserable to console them4 ,in this1 thy goodness1 ,i trust4 ,may it be to thy eternal glory that thou hast saved from hell a miserable wretch1 and brought him to thy kingdom1 where ,i hope to console myself by being always at thy feet to thank1 bless1 and love thee throughout eternity4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i wait for thee1 do not leave me then disconsolate4 ,come1 come4 ,amen1 amen4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,spes ,,nostra ,,salve4 ,hail1 our hope4 ,,section ,i4 ,,mary ,,is ,,the ,,hope ,,of ,,all4 ,modern heretics cannot endure that we should salute ,mary in this manner by calling her our hope4 ,hail1 our hope1 8spes nostra salve40 ,they say that ,god alone is our hope1 and that he who places his hope in a creature is accursed of ,god4#bbg ,mary1 they exclaim1 is a creature1 and1 as a creature1 how can she be our hope8 ,thus say the heretics1 but notwithstanding this1 the ,church requires all the clergy1 and all religious daily to raise their voices1 and in the name of all the faithful1 invoke and call ,mary by the sweet name of our hope1 the hope of all3 8,hail1 our hope60 ,in two ways1 says the angelic ,st4 ,thomas1 can we place our hope in a person3 as the principal cause1 and as the intermediate cause4 ,those who hope for some favor from the king1 hope for it from the king as sovereign1 and hope for it from his minister or favorite as intercessor4 ,if the favor is granted1 it comes in the first place from the king1 but it comes through the medium of his favorite2 wherefore1 he who asks a favor justly calls that intercessor his hope4 ,the king of heaven1 because he is infinite goodness1 greatly desires to enrich us with his graces2 but1 because confidence is necessary on our part1 in order to increase our confidence1 he has given us his own mother for our mother and advocate1 and has given her all power to aid us2 and hence he wishes us to place in her all our hopes of salvation1 and of every blessing4 ,those who place all their hope on creatures1 without dependence upon ,god1 as sinners do1 who to obtain the friendship and favor of man1 are willing to displease ,god1 are certainly cursed by ,god1 as ,isaias says4 ,but those who hope in ,mary1 as mother of ,god1 powerful to obtain for them graces and life eternal1 are blessed1 and please the heart of ,god1 who wishes to see that noble creature honored1 who1 more than all men and angels1 loved and honored him in this world4 ,hence1 we justly call the ,virgin our hope1 hoping1 as ,cardinal ,bellarmine says1 to obtain by her intercession what we could not obtain by our prayers alone4#bbh ,we pray to her1 says ,st4 ,anselm1 in order that the dignity of the intercessor may supply our deficiencies4#bbi ,therefore1 the saint adds1 to supplicate the ,virgin with such hope1 is not to distrust the mercy of ,god1 but to fear our own unworthiness4#bcj ,with reason does the ,church1 then1 apply to ,mary the words of ,ecclesiasticus1 with which she salutes her3 8,mother of holy hope20#bca that mother who inspires us not with the vain hope of the miserable and transitory advantages of this life1 but with the holy hope of the immense and eternal good of the blessed life to come4 ,st4 ,ephrem thus salutes the divine mother3 8,hail1 hope of the soul6 hail1 secure salvation of ,christians6 hail1 helper of sinners6 hail1 defence of the faithful1 and salvation of the world60#bcb ,st4 ,basil teaches us that1 next to ,god1 we have no other hope than ,mary1 and for this reason he calls her3 ,after ,god our only hope1 8,post ,deum sola spes nostra20 and ,st4 ,ephrem1 reflecting on the order of ,providence in this life1 by which ,god has ordained 7as ,st4 ,bernard says1 and we shall hereafter prove at length7 that all those who are saved must be saved by means of ,mary1 says to her3 ,oh ,lady1 do not cease to receive and shelter us under the mantle of thy protection1 since1 after ,god1 we have no hope but thee4#bcc ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova says the same thing1 calling her our only refuge1 help1 and protection4#bcd ,st4 ,bernard assigns the reason for this by saying3 ,behold1 oh man1 the design of ,god1 a design arranged for our benefit1 that he may be able to bestow upon us more abundantly his compassion2 for1 wishing to redeem the human race1 he has placed the price of our redemption in the hands of ,mary1 that she may dispense it at her pleasure4#bce ,god ordered ,moses to make a propitiatory of the purest gold1 telling him that from it he would speak to him3 8,thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold4 ,thence will ,i give orders1 and will speak to thee40#bcf ,a certain author explains this propitiatory to be ,mary1 through whom the ,lord speaks to men1 and dispenses to them pardon1 graces1 and favors4#bcg ,and therefore ,st4 ,irenus says that the divine ,word1 before incarnating himself in the womb of ,mary1 sent the archangel to obtain her consent1 because he would have the world indebted to ,mary for the mystery of the incarnation4#bch ,also the ,idiot remarks1 that every blessing1 every help1 every grace that men have received or will receive from ,god1 to the end of the world1 has come to them1 and will come to them1 through the intercession and by means of ,mary4#bci ,rightly1 then1 did the devout ,blosius exclaim3 ,oh ,mary1 who art so amiable1 and so grateful to him who loves thee1 who will be so stupid and unhappy as not to love thee8 ,in doubt and perplexity thou dost enlighten the minds of those who have recourse to thee in their troubles4 ,thou art the comfort of those who trust in thee1 in time of danger4 ,thou dost help those who invoke thee4 ,thou art1 continues ,blosius1 next to thy divine ,son1 the secure salvation of thy servants4 ,hail1 then1 oh hope of the despairing6 ,hail1 helper of the destitute6 ,oh ,mary1 thou art omnipotent1 since thy ,son would honor thee by immediately doing all that thou desirest4#bdj ,st4 ,germanus1 recognizing ,mary to be the source of every blessing and the deliverance from every evil1 thus invokes her3 ,oh my ,lady1 thou alone art my help1 given me by ,god2 thou art the guide of my pilgrimage1 the support of my weakness1 my riches in poverty1 my deliverer from bondage1 the hope of my salvation3 graciously listen1 ,i pray thee1 to my supplications1 take compassion on my sighs1 thou my queen1 my refuge1 my life1 my help1 my hope1 my strength4#bda ,justly1 then1 does ,st4 ,antoninus apply to ,mary that passage of wisdom3 8,now all good things came to me together with her40#bdb ,since ,mary is the mother of ,god and the dispenser of all good1 the world may truly say1 and especially those in the world who are devoted to this queen1 that1 together with devotion to ,mary1 they have obtained every good thing4#bdc ,wherefore the ,abbot of ,celles said positively3 ,he who has found ,mary finds every good thing4#bdd ,he finds all graces and all virtues2 since she by her powerful intercession obtains for him in abundance all that he needs to make him rich in divine grace4 ,she gives us to know that she has with her all the riches of ,god1 that is1 the divine mercies1 that she may dispense them for the benefit of those who love her4 8,with me are riches and glory1 that ,i may enrich them that love me40#bde ,whence ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,we should all keep our eyes fixed on the hands of ,mary1 that through her we may receive the blessings we desire4#bdf ,oh6 how many of the proud have found humility through devotion to ,mary2 how many of the violent1 meekness2 how many blind1 the light2 how many despairing1 confidence2 how many lost1 salvation6 ,and precisely this she herself predicted when she pronounced in the house of ,elizabeth that sublime canticle3 8,behold1 from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed40#bdg ,which words ,st4 ,bernard repeats1 and says3 ,all nations will call thee blessed1 for to all nations thou hast given life and glory2 in thee sinners find pardon1 and the just find perseverance in divine grace4#bdh ,whence the devout ,lanspergius represents the ,lord thus speaking to the world3 ,venerate my mother with especial veneration4 ,oh men1 he says1 poor children of ,adam1 who live in the midst of so many enemies and so much misery1 strive to honor with particular affection my mother and yours4 ,i have given her to the world as an example of purity1 a refuge and asylum for the afflicted4#bdi ,that is1 ,i have given ,mary to the world for your example1 that from her you may learn to live as you ought2 and for your refuge1 that you may have recourse to her in your tribulations4 ,this my child1 says ,god1 ,i have created such that no one can fear her1 or be unwilling to have recourse to her1 for ,i have created her with so benign and compassionate a nature1 that she will not despise any who seek her protection1 and she will deny no favor to any who ask it4 ,she spreads the mantle of her compassion over all1 and never permits any one to go from her feet unconsoled4 ,may the great goodness of our ,god1 then1 be ever blessed1 who has given us this great mother and advocate1 so loving and tender4 ,oh6 how tender are the sentiments of confidence which filled the heart of the most loving ,st4 ,bonaventure for his dear ,redeemer ,jesus1 and for our loving intercessor ,mary6 ,let the ,lord chastise me as much as seemeth to him good1 ,i know that he will not refuse himself to those who love him and who seek him with an upright heart4 ,i will embrace him with my love1 and ,i will not let him go till he has blessed me1 and he will not depart without me4 ,if ,i can do nothing else1 at least ,i will hide myself in his wounds2 there ,i will remain1 and out of himself he shall not be able to find me4#bej ,finally1 he adds1 if my ,redeemer1 for my sins1 drives me from his feet1 ,i will cast myself at the feet of his mother ,mary1 and1 prostrate there1 ,i will not depart until she has obtained my pardon2 for this mother of mercy has never failed to take pity on misery and console the wretched who seek her aid2 and therefore1 if not from obligation1 at least from compassion1 she will not fail to induce her ,son to pardon me4#bea ,look upon us1 then1 we will conclude with the words of ,euthymius1 look upon us1 then1 with thine eyes of compassion1 oh our most merciful mother1 for we are thy servants1 and in thee we have placed all our hope4#beb ,,example4 ,it is related in the ,fourth ,part of the ,treasure of the ,rosary1 miracle eighty-fifth1 that a gentleman who was most devoted to the divine mother1 had set apart in his palace an oratory where1 before a beautiful statue of ,mary1 he was accustomed often to remain praying1 not only by day1 but also by night1 interrupting his rest to go and honor his beloved ,lady2 but his wife1 for he was married1 though she was a very devout person1 observing that her husband in the deepest silence of the night left his bed1 and going from his apartment did not return for a long time1 became jealous1 and was suspicious of evil2 wherefore1 one day1 to free herself from this thorn which tormented her1 she ventured to ask her husband if he ever loved any other woman but herself4 ,smiling1 he answered her3 8,i assure you that ,i love the most amiable lady in the world2 to her ,i have given my whole heart1 and rather would ,i die than cease to love her2 if you knew her1 you would say that ,i ought to love her more than ,i do40 ,he meant the most holy ,virgin1 whom he loved so tenderly4 ,but his wife1 conceiving a greater suspicion than before1 in order to ascertain the truth better1 interrogated him anew1 and asked him if he arose from his bed and left the room every night to meet that lady4 ,the gentleman1 who did not perceive the great trouble of his wife1 answered 8,yes40 ,the wife was completely deceived1 and1 blinded by passion1 one night when her husband1 according to his custom1 had left the chamber1 seized a knife in despair1 cut her throat1 and very soon died4 ,her husband having finished his devotions1 returned to his apartment1 but1 on going to bed1 found it wet4 ,he called his wife2 she did not answer3 he tried to arouse her2 she was immovable4 ,at length he took a light1 found the bed full of blood1 and his wife dead1 with her throat cut4 ,then he perceived that she had destroyed herself through jealousy4 ,what does he do8 ,he locks the door of his apartment1 returns to the chapel1 prostrates himself before the most blessed ,virgin1 and1 shedding a torrent of tears1 said to her3 8,oh my mother1 behold my affliction3 if thou dost not console me1 to whom shall ,i go8 ,remember ,i am so unfortunate as to see my wife dead and lost because ,i have come hither to pay thee honor3 oh my mother1 who dost help us in all our troubles1 help me now40 ,how surely does every one obtain what he wishes if he supplicates with confidence this mother of mercy6 ,no sooner did he offer this prayer than he heard a servant-maid calling him3 8,my lord1 come to your apartment1 for your lady calls you40 ,the gentleman could hardly believe these words for joy4 ,return1 he said to the servant1 and see if she really calls me4 ,she returned1 entreating him to go quickly1 for her mistress was waiting for him4 ,he went1 opened the door1 and found his wife living2 she threw herself at his feet in tears and begged him to pardon her1 saying3 8,oh1 my husband1 the mother of ,god1 through thy prayers1 has delivered me from hell40 ,weeping for joy1 they went to their oratory to thank the blessed ,virgin4 ,the next day the husband made a feast for all their relations1 to whom the wife herself related the facts1 at the same time showing the marks of the wound1 and all were more deeply inflamed with the love of the divine mother4 ,,prayer4 ,oh mother of holy love1 oh our life1 our refuge1 and our hope1 thou knowest that thy ,son ,jesus ,christ1 not content with making himself our perpetual intercessor with the eternal ,father1 would have thee also engaged in obtaining for us1 by thy prayers1 the divine mercy4 ,he has ordained that thy prayers should aid in our salvation1 and has given such power to them that they obtain whatever they ask2 ,i1 a miserable sinner1 turn to thee then1 oh hope of the wretched4 ,i hope1 oh ,lady1 through the merits of ,jesus ,christ and thy intercession1 to secure my salvation4 ,in these ,i trust2 and so entirely do ,i trust in thee1 that if my eternal salvation were in my own hands1 ,i would wish to place it in thine2 for in thy mercy and protection ,i would trust far more than in my own works4 ,my mother and my hope1 do not abandon me1 as ,i deserve4 ,behold my misery1 pity me1 help me1 save me4 ,i confess that ,i have often1 by my sins1 shut out the light and aid which thou hast obtained for me from the ,lord4 ,but thy compassion for the wretched and thy power with ,god are far greater than the number and malignity of my sins4 ,it is known in heaven and on earth that he who is protected by thee will certainly not perish4 ,let all forget me1 but do not thou forget me1 oh mother of the omnipotent ,god4 ,say unto ,god that ,i am thy servant1 tell him that ,i am defended by thee1 and ,i shall be saved4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i trust in thee2 in this hope ,i live1 and in this hope ,i wish to die1 repeating always3 8,jesus is my only hope1 and after ,jesus1 ,mary40#bec ,,section ,,ii4 ,,hast ,,the ,,hope ,,of ,,sinners4 ,after ,god had created the earth he created two lights1 the greater and the less3 the sun to give light by day1 and the moon to give light by night4#bed ,the sun1 says ,cardinal ,hugo1 was the type of ,jesus ,christ1 in whose light the just rejoice1 who live in the daylight of divine grace2 but the moon was the type of ,mary1 by whom sinners are enlightened1 who are living in the night of sin4#bee ,mary1 then1 being the moon1 so propitious to miserable sinners1 if any unhappy person1 says ,innocent ,,iii4 finds that he has fallen into this night of sin1 what must he do8 ,since he has lost the light of the sun1 by losing divine grace1 let him turn to the moon1 let him pray to ,mary1 and she will give him light to know the misery of his condition1 and strength to come forth from it4#bef ,st4 ,methodius says that by the prayers of ,mary innumerable sinners are continually converted4#beg ,one of the titles by which the holy ,church teaches us to invoke the divine mother1 and which most encourages poor sinners1 is the title of 8,refuge of ,sinners10 with which we invoke her in the ,litanies4 ,there were anciently1 in ,judea1 cities of refuge2 and criminals1 who sought protection in them1 were free from the penalty of their offences4 ,now1 there are not so many cities of refuge1 but instead of these there is one only1 ,mary2 of whom it was spoken3 ,glorious things are said of thee1 oh city of ,god--,gloriosa dicta sunt de te civitas ,dei4#beh ,but with this difference1 that not all criminals could find refuge in those ancient cities1 nor for all sorts of crime2 but under the mantle of ,mary all offenders may find protection1 whatever crimes they have committed4 ,it is sufficient for any one to have recourse to her for protection4 8,i am the city of refuge for all those who flee to me10#bei as ,st4 ,john of ,damascus says1 speaking in her name4 ,it is enough that we have recourse to her4 ,he who has been so happy as to enter this city need not speak in order to secure his safety4 8,assemble yourselves1 and let us enter into the fenced city1 and let us be silent there40#bfj ,this fenced city1 as the blessed ,albertus ,magnus explains it1 is the holy ,virgin1 whose defence is grace and glory4 8,let us be silent there10 according to the gloss3 8since we may not dare to supplicate the ,lord for pardon1 it is enough that we enter into the city and are silent1 for then ,mary will speak and will pray for us40#bfa ,whence a devout writer exhorts all sinners to seek shelter under the mantle of ,mary1 saying3 ,fly1 oh ,adam1 oh ,eve1 and ye their children1 who have offended ,god2 fly and take refuge in the bosom of this good mother4 ,do you not know that she is the only city of refuge1 and the only hope of sinners8#bfb ,as ,st4 ,augustine has called her1 ,the only hope of sinners3 8,unica spes peccatorum40#bfc ,hence ,st4 ,ephrem says3 ,thou art the only advocate of sinners1 and of those who are deprived of every help2 and he thus salutes her3 ,hail6 refuge and retreat of sinners1 to whom alone they can flee with confidence4#bfd ,and this is what ,david intended to express1 says a certain author1 when he said3 8,he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle40#bfe ,and what is this tabernacle1 if not ,mary8 ,as ,st4 ,germanus calls her1 a tabernacle made by ,god1 in which none but ,god has entered1 in order to complete the great mysteries of human redemption4#bff ,on this subject the great ,father ,st4 ,basil says3 ,the ,lord has given us ,mary as a public hospital1 where all the infirm who are poor1 and destitute of every other help1 may assemble3 8,aperuit nobis ,deus publicum valetudinarium40 ,now1 in hospitals established expressly for the reception of the poor1 ,i would ask1 who have the first claim to be received1 if not the poorest and most infirm8 ,wherefore1 let him who finds himself most miserable1 because most destitute of merit1 and most afflicted by the maladies of the soul1 namely1 sins1 say to ,mary3 ,oh ,lady1 thou art the refuge of the infirm2 do not reject me1 for1 because ,i am the poorest and most infirm of all1 ,i have the greater claim upon thee to receive me4 ,let us say with ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova3 ,oh ,mary1 we poor sinners know no refuge but thee4 ,thou art our only hope2 to thee we intrust our salvation4 ,thou art the only advocate with ,jesus ,christ2 to thee we all have recourse4#bfg ,in the ,revelations of ,st4 ,bridget1 ,mary is called the star going before the sun3 8,sidus vadens ante solem40#bfh ,by which we are to understand1 that when devotion to the divine mother first dawns in a sinful soul1 it is a certain sign that ,god will soon come to enrich her with his grace4 ,the glorious ,st4 ,bonaventure1 in order to revive in the hearts of sinners confidence in the protection of ,mary1 represents to us the sea in a tempest1 in which sinners who have fallen from the bark of divine grace1 tossed about by remorse of conscience1 and by the fear of divine justice1 without light and without a guide1 have almost lost the breath of hope1 and are nearly sinking in despair2 at this critical moment the saint1 pointing to ,mary1 who is commonly called 8,the star of the sea10 raises his voice and exclaims3 ,oh poor1 lost sinners1 do not despair1 lift your eyes to that beautiful star1 take courage and trust1 for she will guide you out of the tempest1 and bring you to the port of safety4#bfi ,st4 ,bernard has said the same thing3 ,if you would not be overwhelmed in the tempest1 turn to this star1 and call ,mary to thy aid4#bgj ,the devout ,blosius also says1 that she is the only refuge for those who have offended ,god3 the asylum of all those who are tempted and afflicted4#bga ,this mother of mercy is all kindness and all sweetness1 not only with the just1 but also with sinners and those who are in despair2 so that when she beholds them turning towards her1 and sees that they are with sincerity seeking her help1 she at once welcomes them1 aids them1 and obtains their pardon from her ,son4#bgb ,she neglects none1 however unworthy they may be1 and refuses to none her protection3 she consoles all2 and no sooner do they call upon her1 than she hastens to their help4#bgc ,with her gentleness she often wins their devotion1 and raises those sinners who are most averse to ,god1 and who are the most deeply plunged in the lethargy of their vices1 that she may dispose them to receive divine grace1 and at last render themselves worthy of eternal glory4#bgd ,god has created this his beloved daughter with a disposition so kind and compassionate1 that no one can hesitate to have recourse to her intercession4#bge ,the devout writer concludes with saying3 ,it is not possible that any one can be lost1 who with exactness and humility practises devotion to this divine mother4#bgf ,she is called a plane-tree3 ,as a plane-tree was ,i exalted3 8,quasi platanus exaltata sum40#bgg ,sinners may understand by this1 that as the plane-tree gives a shelter to travellers1 where they may take refuge from the heat of the sun1 thus ,mary1 when she sees the anger of divine justice kindled against them1 invites them to resort to the shelter of her protection4 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks that ,isaias1 in his day1 lamented1 and said3 8,behold1 thou art angry and we have sinned 444 there is none that riseth up and taketh hold of thee20#bgh because ,mary was not yet born into the world4#bgi ,but now1 if ,god is offended with any sinner1 and ,mary undertakes to protect him1 she restrains the ,son from punishing him1 and saves him4#bhj ,also1 continues ,st4 ,bonaventure1 no one can be found more fit than ,mary to place her hand upon the sword of divine justice1 that it may not descend upon the head of the sinner4#bha ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence expresses the same thought1 when he says3 ,god lamented1 before the birth of ,mary1 that there was no one to restrain him from punishing the sinner2 but ,mary being born1 she appeases him4#bhb ,st4 ,basil encourages sinners with the same thought1 and says3 ,oh sinner1 be not timid1 but in all thy necessities flee to ,mary1 invoke her aid1 and thou wilt always find her ready to assist thee1 for it is the divine will that she should aid all men in all their necessities4#bhc ,this mother of mercy has such a desire to save the most abandoned sinners1 that she even goes to seek them2 and if they have recourse to her1 she will surely find a method of rendering them dear to ,god4 ,isaac being desirous to eat the flesh of some venison1 promised to give his benediction in exchange for it to ,esau2 but ,rebecca wishing that her other son ,jacob should receive this benediction1 ordered him to bring her two kids1 for she would prepare the food that ,isaac loved4 8,go thy way to the flock1 bring me two kids40#bhd ,st4 ,antoninus says that ,rebecca was the type of ,mary1 who says to the angels1 ,bring me sinners 7who are typified by the kids71 that ,i may prepare them in such a manner 7by obtaining for them sorrow and good resolutions7 as to render them dear and acceptable to my ,lord4#bhe ,the ,abbot ,francone1 pursuing the same thought1 says1 that ,mary so well understands how to prepare these kids1 that they not only equal1 but sometimes even surpass the flavor of venison4#bhf ,the blessed ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that no sinner in the world is so great an enemy to ,god1 that if he has recourse to her and invokes her aid1 does not return to ,god and is not restored to his favor4#bhg ,and the same ,st4 ,bridget heard one day ,jesus ,christ saying to his mother1 that she could obtain the divine favor even for ,lucifer1 if he would humble himself so far as to ask her help4#bhh ,that proud spirit will never stoop to implore the protection of ,mary1 but if such a thing could happen1 ,mary would take pity upon him1 and the power of her prayers would obtain from ,god his pardon and salvation4 ,but what cannot happen to the devil may well happen to sinners who seek the help of this mother of mercy4 ,noe's ark also prefigured ,mary2 because as in that all the animal creation found refuge1 so under the mantle of ,mary all sinners find protection1 who have made themselves like the brutes by their vices and sensuality4 ,with this difference1 however1 says a certain author3 ,the brutes entered into the ark and remained brutes still2 the wolf remained a wolf1 the tiger a tiger4#bhi ,but under the mantle of ,mary the wolf becomes a lamb1 the tiger a dove4 ,st4 ,gertrude once saw ,mary with her mantle outspread1 and under it wild beasts of various kinds1 leopards1 lions1 and bears2 and the ,virgin not only did not drive them from her1 but with her gentle hand kindly received them and caressed them4 ,the saint understood that these wild beasts were miserable sinners1 who when they take refuge with ,mary are received by her with sweetness and love4#bij ,justly1 then1 did ,st4 ,bernard say to the ,virgin3 ,oh ,lady1 thou dost abhor no sinner1 however abandoned and vile he may be1 when he has recourse to thee2 if he asks thy help thou wilt condescend to extend thy kind hand to draw him from the depths of despair4#bia ,oh ever blessed and thanked be our ,god1 oh most amiable ,mary1 who made thee so merciful and kind towards the most miserable sinners4 ,oh1 wretched are those who do not love thee1 and who1 having it in their power to seek help of thee1 do not trust in thee6 ,he who does not implore the aid of ,mary is lost2 but who has ever been lost that had recourse to her8 ,it is related in ,scripture that ,booz permitted the woman named ,ruth to glean the ears that the reapers dropped and left behind them3 8,colligebat spicas post terga metentium40#bib ,st4 ,bonaventure adds1 that as ,ruth found favor in the eyes of ,booz1 so ,mary has found favor in the eyes of the ,lord1 and is permitted to glean after the reapers4#bic ,the reapers are the apostolic laborers1 missionaries1 preachers1 and confessors1 who toil through the day to gather and win souls to ,god4 ,but there are some rebellious and obdurate souls who are left behind even by these reapers1 and it is granted to ,mary alone by her powerful intercession to save these abandoned ears4 ,but unhappy are those who do not yield themselves to this sweet ,lady6 for they will be entirely lost and accursed6 ,blessed1 on the other hand1 are those who have recourse to this good mother6 ,there is no sinner in the world1 says the devout ,blosius1 so lost and sunk in sin1 that ,mary would abhor him and reject him4 ,ah1 if such would seek her aid1 this good mother could and would reconcile them to her ,son1 and obtain for them pardon4#bid ,with reason1 then1 oh my sweetest queen1 does ,st4 ,john of ,damascus salute thee and call thee3 8,the hope of the despairing40#bie ,justly does ,st4 ,laurence ,justinian name thee3 8,the hope of evil-doers40#bif ,st4 ,augustine3 8,the only refuge of sinners40#big ,st4 ,ephrem3 8,the secure haven for the shipwrecked40#bih ,the same saint calls thee even by another appellation3 8,the protectress of the condemned40#bii ,finally1 ,st4 ,bernard1 with reason1 exhorts the desperate not to despair2 whence1 full of joy and tenderness towards this his most dear mother1 he asks her lovingly3 ,oh ,lady1 who would not trust in thee1 if thou dost thus relieve even the despairing8 ,i do not doubt in the least1 he adds1 that if we always applied to thee we should obtain what we wish4 ,in thee1 then1 let the despairing hope4#cjj ,st4 ,antoninus relates that a sinner finding himself in disgrace before ,god1 imagined himself standing before the tribunal of ,jesus ,christ3 the devil was accusing him and ,mary defending him4 ,the enemy presented against this poor criminal the catalogue of his offences1 which1 placed in the balance of divine justice1 far outweighed his good works2 but what then did his great advocate do8 ,she extended her kind hand and placed it in the other scale2 it descended in favor of her suppliant1 and thus it was given him to understand1 that she would obtain his pardon if he would change his life2 and1 indeed1 after that vision he was converted and changed his life4 ,,example4 ,the blessed ,john ,erolto1 who1 through humility1 called himself the disciple1 relates#cja that there was once a married man who lived in disgrace in the sight of ,god4 ,his wife1 a virtuous woman1 not being able to induce him to abandon his vicious courses1 entreated him that at least1 while he was in so miserable a condition1 he would offer this devotion to the mother of ,god1 namely1 to say a 8,hail ,mary0 every time he passed before her altar4 ,he accordingly began to practice this devotion4 ,one night1 when he was about to commit a sin1 he saw a light1 and1 on closer observation1 perceived that it was a lamp burning before a holy image of the blessed ,virgin1 who held the infant ,jesus in her arms4 ,he said a 8,hail ,mary10 as usual2 but what did he see8 ,he saw the infant covered with wounds1 and fresh blood flowing from them4 ,both terrified and moved in his feelings1 he remembered that he himself too had wounded his ,redeemer by his sins1 and began to weep1 but he observed that the child turned away from him4 ,in deep confusion1 he had recourse to the most holy ,virgin1 saying3 8,mother of mercy1 thy ,son rejects me2 ,i can find no advocate more kind and more powerful than thou1 who art his mother2 my queen1 aid me1 and pray to him in my behalf40 ,the divine mother answered him from that image3 8,you sinners call me mother of mercy1 but yet you do not cease to make me mother of misery1 renewing the passion of my ,son1 and my dolors40 ,but because ,mary never sends away disconsolate those who cast themselves at her feet1 she began to entreat her ,son that he would pardon that miserable sinner4 ,jesus continued to show himself unwilling to grant such a pardon1 but the holy ,virgin1 placing the infant in the niche1 prostrated herself before him1 saying3 8,my ,son1 ,i will not leave thy feet until thou hast pardoned this sinner40 8,my mother10 answered ,jesus1 8,i can deny thee nothing2 dost thou wish for his pardon8 for love of thee ,i will pardon him4 ,let him come and kiss my wounds40 ,the sinner approached1 weeping bitterly1 and as he kissed the wounds of the infant1 they were healed4 ,then ,jesus embraced him as a sign of pardon4 ,he changed his conduct1 led a holy life1 and was ever full of love to the blessed ,virgin1 who had obtained for him so great a favor4 ,,prayer4 ,i venerate1 oh most pure ,virgin ,mary1 thy most sacred heart1 which was the delight and repose of ,god2 a heart filled with humility1 purity1 and divine love4 ,i1 an unhappy sinner1 come to thee with a heart filled with uncleanness and wounds4 ,oh mother of mercy1 do not on this account despise me1 but let it excite thee to a greater compassion1 and come to my help4 ,do not look for virtue or merits in me before thou grantest me thy aid2 ,i am lost1 and only merit hell4 ,look at nothing1 ,i pray thee1 but the confidence ,i have in thee1 and the desire ,i cherish of amending my life4 ,look at what ,jesus has done and suffered for me1 and then abandon me if thou canst4 ,i offer to thee all the afflictions of his life1 the cold that he suffered in the stable1 his journey to ,egypt1 the blood that he shed1 his poverty1 toil1 sweat1 and sadness1 the death he endured in thy presence1 for love of me2 and1 for the love of ,jesus1 promise to save me4 ,ah1 my mother1 ,i will not and ,i cannot fear that thou wilt cast me from thee1 when ,i flee to thee and implore thy help4 ,to fear this1 would be unjust to thy mercy1 which seeks the miserable to relieve them4 ,oh ,lady1 do not refuse thy compassion to him to whom ,jesus has not refused his blood2 but the merits of this blood will not be applied to me1 if thou dost not recommend me to ,god4 ,from thee ,i hope salvation4 ,i do not ask of thee riches1 honors1 or the other goods of earth2 ,i only ask of thee the grace of ,god1 love for thy ,son1 the fulfilment of his will1 and paradise1 where ,i may love him eternally4 ,is it possible that thou wilt not hear me8 ,no1 already thou dost hear me1 as ,i hope2 already thou art praying for me1 already thou art procuring me the favors ,i ask1 already thou art receiving me under thy protection4 ,my mother1 do not leave me2 continue1 continue to pray for me1 until thou seest me safe in heaven at thy feet1 to bless and thank thee through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,ad ,,te ,,clamamus ,,exules ,,filii ,,hev4 ,to thee do we cry1 poor banished children of ,eve4 ,,section ,i4 ,,how ,,ready ,,mary ,,is ,,to ,,succor ,,those ,,who ,,call ,,upon ,,her4 ,we poor children of the unhappy ,eve1 guilty before ,god of her sin1 and condemned to the same punishment1 go wandering through this valley of tears1 exiles from our country1 weeping and afflicted by innumerable pains of body and soul6 ,but blessed is he who in the midst of so many miseries turns to the consoler of the world1 to the refuge of the unhappy1 to the great mother of ,god1 and devoutly invokes her and supplicates her6 8,blessed is the man that heareth me1 and that watcheth daily at my gates40#cjb ,blessed1 says ,mary1 is he who listens to my counsels1 and incessantly watches at the door of my mercy1 invoking my help and intercession6 ,the holy ,church instructs us her children with how great attention and confidence we should have continually recourse to this our loving protectress2 ordaining special devotions to her1 that during the year many festivals should be celebrated in her honor2 that one day of the week should be especially consecrated to her2 that every day1 in the divine office1 all ecclesiastics and members of religious orders should invoke her in behalf of the whole ,christian people1 and that three times a day all the faithful1 at the sound of the bell1 should salute her4 ,this will suffice to show how1 in all seasons of public calamity1 the holy ,church always directs her children to have recourse to the divine mother with novenas1 prayers1 processions1 visits to her churches and altars4 ,this1 ,mary herself wishes us to do1 namely1 always to invoke and supplicate her1 not to ask our homage and praise1 which are too poor in comparison with her merit1 but that our confidence and devotion to her thus increasing1 she may aid and console us more4 ,she seeks such as approach her devoutly and reverently1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure2 these she cherishes1 loves1 and adopts as her children4#cjc ,the same ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that ,mary was prefigured by ,ruth1 whose name1 being interpreted1 signifies seeing1 hastening2#cjd for ,mary1 seeing our miseries1 hastens to aid us by her compassion4#cje ,to which ,novarino adds1 that ,mary is so desirous to do us good1 that she can bear no delay2 and not being a miserly keeper of her favors1 but the mother of mercy1 she cannot restrain herself from dispensing1 as soon as possible among her servants1 the treasures of her liberality4#cjf ,oh1 how ready is this good mother to aid him who invokes her6 8,thy two breasts are like two young roes40#cjg ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 explaining this passage1 says that the breasts of ,mary readily1 like the roe's1 give the milk of mercy to those who ask it4#cjh ,the same author assures us that the mercy of ,mary is bestowed on all who ask it1 though they offer no prayer but a 8,hail ,mary40 ,hence1 ,novarino affirms1 that the blessed ,virgin not only hastens1 but flies to aid those who have recourse to her4 ,she1 says this author1 in exercising mercy1 cannot but resemble ,god2 for1 as the ,lord hastens to succor those who ask help from him1 being very faithful to observe the promise which he has made to us--,ask1 and you shall receive#cji--so ,mary1 when she is invoked1 immediately hastens to help those who call upon her4#caj ,and by this is explained who was the woman of the ,apocalypse1 with two wings of a great eagle1 that she might fly into the desert4#caa ,ribeira explains these two wings to signify the love with which ,mary always hastens to ,god4#cab ,but the blessed ,amadeus says1 remarking on this passage1 that the wings of an eagle signify the velocity with which ,mary1 surpassing in swiftness the seraphs1 always comes to the help of her children4#cac ,we read in the ,gospel of ,st4 ,luke1 that when ,mary went to visit ,st4 ,elisabeth1 and bestow blessings on all her family1 she was not slow1 but travelled that whole journey with haste4#cad ,but we do not read that it was so on her return4 ,for the same reason1 it is said in the sacred ,canticles1 that the hands of ,mary are turned4#cae ,for1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence explains it1 ,the art of turning is easier and quicker than other arts1 so ,mary is more ready than any other of the saints to aid her suppliants4#caf ,she has the greatest desire to console all1 and she scarcely hears herself invoked before she graciously receives the petition and comes to our aid4#cag ,justly1 then1 ,st4 ,bonaventure calls ,mary1 ,the salvation of those who invoke her3 8,o salus te invocantium60 signifying1 that to be saved it is sufficient to appeal to this divine mother1 who1 according to ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 is always ready to aid those who pray to her4#cah ,for1 as ,st4 ,bernardine de ,bustis says3 ,this great ,lady is more desirous to confer favors upon us than we are to receive them4#cai ,neither should the multitude of our sins diminish our confidence that we shall be graciously heard by ,mary1 if we cast ourselves at her feet4 ,she is the mother of mercy1 and there would be no occasion for mercy1 if there were no wretchedness to be relieved4 ,therefore1 as a good mother does not hesitate to apply a remedy to her child1 however loathsome its disease1 although the cure may be troublesome and disgusting2 thus our good mother does not abandon us1 when we recur to her1 however great may be the filth of our sins1 which she comes to cure4#cbj ,this sentiment is taken from ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence4 ,and ,mary intended to signify the same when she appeared to ,st4 ,gertrude1 spreading her mantle to receive all who had recourse to her3 at the same time it was given the saint to understand1 that the angels are waiting to defend the devout suppliants of ,mary from the assaults of hell4#cba ,so great is the love and pity which this good mother has for us1 that she does not wait for our prayers before giving us her aid4 8,she preventeth them that covet her1 so that she first showeth herself unto them40#cbb ,these words of wisdom ,st4 ,anselm applies to ,mary1 and says that she anticipates those who desire her protection4 ,by this we are to understand1 that she obtains many graces from ,god for us before we ask them from her4 ,therefore ,richard of ,st4 ,victor says3 ,mary is called the moon3 ,pulchra ut luna2#cbc not only because she hastens as the moon to shine on those who seek her light1#cbd but because she so earnestly desires our welfare that in our necessities she anticipates our prayers1 and in her compassion she is more prompt to help us than we are to have recourse to her4#cbe ,for1 adds the same ,richard1 the breast of ,mary is so full of pity that she scarcely knows our miseries before she offers us the milk of her mercy1 neither can this gracious queen perceive the necessities of any soul without relieving it4#cbf ,and truly1 ,mary manifested to us while she was on earth1 in the nuptials of ,cana1#cbg her great compassion for our sufferings1 which prompts her to relieve them before we pray to her4 ,this kind mother saw the trouble of that pair who were mortified to find that their wine had failed at the wedding banquet2 and without being requested1 moved only by her compassionate heart1 which cannot look upon the afflictions of others without pity1 prayed her ,son to console them by merely mentioning to him the necessities of the family3 ,they have no wine3#cbh 8,vinum non habent40 ,after which1 her ,son1 to comfort that family1 and still more to satisfy the compassionate heart of his mother1 performed1 as she desired1 the well-known miracle of changing the water contained in vases into wine4 ,novarino here remarks1 that if ,mary1 though unasked1 is so ready to aid us in our necessities1 how much more so will she be when we invoke her and implore her aid6#cbi ,if any one doubts that he shall be assisted by ,mary when he has recourse to her1 let him listen to the words of ,innocent ,,iii43 ,who has ever invoked this sweet ,lady1 and has not been heard by her8#ccj ,who1 oh holy ,virgin1 exclaims the blessed ,eutychian1 has ever sought thy powerful protection1 which can relieve the most miserable and rescue the most degraded1 and has been abandoned by thee8 ,no1 this has never happened1 and never will happen4#cca ,let him be silent concerning thy mercy1 oh blessed ,virgin1 whose necessities have been neglected by thee after he has implored thy aid4#ccb ,sooner will heaven and earth be destroyed1 says the devout ,blosius1 than ,mary fail to aid those who1 with a pure intention1 recommend themselves to her and put their confidence in her4#ccc ,and to increase our confidence1 ,st4 ,anselm adds1 that when we have recourse to this divine mother1 we may not only be sure of her protection1 but that sometimes we shall be sooner heard and saved by invoking her holy name than that of ,jesus our ,saviour4#ccd ,and he gives this reason3 ,because it belongs to ,christ1 as our judge1 to punish1 but to ,mary1 as our advocate1 to pity4#cce ,by this he would give us to understand1 that we sooner find salvation by recurring to the mother than the ,son2 not because ,mary is more powerful than her ,son to save us1 for we know that ,jesus is our only ,saviour1 and that by his merits alone he has obtained and does obtain for us salvation2 but because when we have recourse to ,jesus1 considering him also as the judge to whom it belongs to punish the ungrateful1 we may lose the confidence necessary to be heard2 but going to ,mary1 who has no other office than that of exercising compassion towards us as mother of mercy1 and defending us as our advocate1 our confidence will be more secure and greater4 ,we ask many things of ,god and do not obtain them2 we ask them from ,mary and obtain them2 how is this8 ,nicephorus answers3 ,this does not happen because ,mary is more powerful than ,god1 but because ,god has seen fit thus to honor his mother4#ccf ,how consoling is the promise that our ,lord himself made on this subject to ,st4 ,bridget6 ,we read in her revelations1 that one day this saint heard ,jesus speaking with his mother1 and that he said to her3 8,my mother1 ask of me whatever thou wilt1 for ,i will refuse nothing that thou dost ask2#ccg and be assured10 he added1 8that all those who for love of thee seek any favor1 although they are sinners1 if they desire to amend1 ,i promise to hear them40#cch ,the same thing was revealed to ,st4 ,gertrude1 who heard our ,redeemer himself say to ,mary1 that he had in his omnipotence permitted her to exercise mercy towards sinners who invoke her1 in whatever manner it should please her4#cci ,every one invoking this mother of mercy may then say1 with ,st4 ,augustine3 8,remember1 oh most compassionate ,lady6 that since the beginning of the world there never has been any one abandoned by thee4 ,therefore pardon me if ,i say that ,i do not wish to be the first sinner who has sought thy aid in vain40#cdj ,,example4 ,st4 ,francis of ,sales1 as we read in his life1 efficaciously experienced the power of this prayer4 ,at seventeen years of age he was living in ,paris1 engaged in study1 and at the same time wholly devoted to pious exercises and holy love of ,god1 which gave him a perpetual foretaste of heavenly joy4 ,at this time the ,lord1 to try his faith1 and attach him more strongly to his love1 permitted the devil to represent to him that his efforts were in vain1 because he was already condemned by the divine decree4 ,the darkness and dryness in which it pleased ,god to leave him at the time for he was insensible to all consoling thoughts of the divine goodness1 caused this temptation to have more power over the heart of the holy youth2 so that through great fear and desolation he lost his appetite1 sleep1 color1 and cheerfulness1 and excited the compassion of all those who looked upon him4 ,whilst this horrible conflict lasted1 the saint could conceive no other thoughts and utter no other words but those of sorrow and distrust4 8,shall ,i1 then10 he said1 as it is related in his life1 8be deprived of the favor of my ,god1 who hitherto has shown himself so gracious and so kind to me8 ,oh love6 oh beauty6 to which ,i have consecrated all my affections1 shall ,i never more enjoy your consolations8 ,oh ,virgin mother of ,god1 the most beautiful of all the daughters of ,jerusalem1 am ,i then never to see thee in paradise8 ,ah1 my ,lady6 if ,i am never to see thy lovely face1 do not permit me to be forced to blaspheme and curse thee in hell40 ,these were the tender sentiments of that afflicted heart1 still so enamored of ,god and the ,virgin4 ,this temptation lasted for a month1 but at length the ,lord was pleased to deliver him from it by means of the consoler of the world1 most holy ,mary1 to whom the saint had before made a vow of chastity1 and upon whom he used to say he had placed all his hopes4 ,one evening1 on returning home1 he entered a church1 where he saw a small tablet suspended from the wall2 he found written on it the prayer of ,st4 ,augustine above mentioned3 8,remember1 oh most merciful ,mary6 that no one1 in any age1 was ever known to have fled to thee for help and found himself abandoned40 ,he prostrated himself before the altar of the divine mother1 and recited with deep feeling this prayer2 he renewed his vow of chastity1 promised to recite daily the rosary1 and then added3 8,oh my queen1 be my advocate with thy ,son1 whom ,i dare not approach4 ,my mother1 if in the other world ,i should be so unhappy as not to be able to love my ,lord1 whom ,i know is so worthy to be loved1 at least obtain for me that ,i may love him as much as ,i can in this world4 ,this is the grace that ,i ask of thee1 and from thee ,i hope for it40 ,thus he supplicated the ,virgin1 and then abandoned himself to the divine mercy1 resigning himself entirely to the will of ,god4 ,but hardly had he finished his prayer1 when by his most sweet mother he was suddenly freed from temptation2 he immediately recovered his interior peace1 and with it health of body1 and from that time continued to live a most devout servant of ,mary1 whose praises and mercies he never ceased to proclaim in his preaching and his writings to the end of his life4 ,,prayer4 ,oh mother of ,god6 oh queen of angels6 oh hope of men6 listen to him who invokes thee and has recourse to thee4 ,behold me to-day prostrate at thy feet2 ,i1 a miserable slave of hell1 consecrate myself to thee as thy servant forever1 offering myself to serve and honor thee to the utmost of my power all the days of my life4 ,i know that thy honor is not increased by the service of so vile and wretched a slave as ,i am1 who have so grievously offended thy ,son and my ,redeemer1 ,jesus4 ,but if thou wilt accept one so unworthy as ,i for thy servant1 and1 changing him by thy intercession1 wilt render him worthy1 thy own compassion will confer upon thee that honor which ,i1 vile as ,i am1 cannot render thee4 ,accept me1 then1 and do not reject me1 oh my mother6 ,the eternal ,word came from heaven upon earth to seek the lost sheep1 and to save them1 became thy ,son4 ,and wilt thou despise a poor sheep1 who comes to thee to help him find ,jesus8 ,the price has already been paid for my salvation2 my ,saviour has shed his blood1 which is enough to save infinite worlds4 ,it only remains that this blood should be applied to me2 and to thee it belongs1 oh blessed ,virgin6 to thee it belongs1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 to bestow the merits of this blood on whomsoever it may please thee4 ,to thee it belongs1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure also says1 to save whom thou wilt4#cda ,oh my queen1 help me1 then6 my queen1 save me6 ,to you this day ,i commit my soul2 and do thou secure its safety4 ,oh1 salvation of those who invoke thee6 ,i will exclaim with the same saint1 save me4#cdb ,,section ,,ii4 ,,how ,,powerful ,,is ,,mary ,,in ,,protecting ,,those ,,who ,,invoke ,,her ,,in ,,temptations ,,of ,,the ,,devil4 ,not only most holy ,mary is queen of heaven and of the saints1 but also of hell and the devils1 for she has bravely triumphed over them by her virtues4 ,from the beginning of the world ,god predicted to the infernal serpent the victory and the empire which our queen would obtain over him1 when he announced to him that a woman would come into the world who should conquer him4 8,i will put enmities between thee and the woman2 she shall crush thy head40#cdc ,and what woman was this enemy if not ,mary1 who1 with her beautiful humility and holy life1 always conquered him and destroyed his forces8 ,st4 ,cyprian affirms that the mother of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ was promised in that woman3#cdd and hence he remarks1 that ,god did not use the words ,i put1 but ,i will put1 lest the prophecy should seem to appertain to ,eve4#cde ,he said1 ,i will put enmity between thee and the woman1 to signify that this his vanquisher was not the living ,eve1 but must be another woman descending from her1 who was to bring to our first parents greater blessings1 as ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer says1 than those they had lost by their sin4#cdf ,mary1 then1 is this great and strong woman who has conquered the devil1 and has crushed his head by subduing his pride1 as the ,lord added3 8,she shall crash thy head40#cdg ,some of the commentators doubt whether these words refer to ,mary or to ,jesus ,christ1 because in the ,septuagint version we read3 8,he shall crush thy head40#cdh ,but in our ,vulgate1 which is the only version approved by the ,council of ,trent1 it is ,she1 and not ,he4 ,and thus ,st4 ,ambrose1 ,st4 ,jerome1 ,st4 ,augustine1 ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 and many others have understood it4 ,however this may be1 it is certain that the ,son by means of the mother1 or the mother by means of the ,son1 has vanquished ,lucifer2 so that this proud spirit1 as ,st4 ,bernard tells us1 has been ignominiously overpowered and crushed by this blessed ,virgin4#cdi ,hence as a slave conquered in war1 he is forced always to obey the commands of this queen4 ,st4 ,bruno says1 that ,eve1 by yielding to the serpent1 brought into the world death and darkness2 but that the blessed ,virgin1 by conquering the devil1 brought us life and light3 and she has bound him so that he cannot move to do the least harm to her servants4#cej ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence gives a beautiful explanation to these words of ,proverbs3 8,the heart of her husband trusteth in her1 and he shall have no need of spoils40#cea ,richard says3 ,the heart of her husband1 that is1 ,christ1 trusts in her1 and he shall have no need of spoils1 for she will endow him with the spoils which she has taken from the devil4#ceb ,god has intrusted the heart of ,jesus1 as ,lapide expresses it1 to the care of ,mary1 that she may procure for it the love of men2 and thus he will not be in need of spoils1 that is1 of the conquest of souls1 for she will enrich him with those souls of which she despoils hell1 and which she has rescued from the demons by her powerful aid4 ,it is well known that the palm is the emblem of victory1 and for this reason our queen has been placed on a high throne in the sight of all potentates1 as a palm1 the sign of certain victory1 which all can promise themselves who have recourse to her4 8,i was exalted like a palm-tree in ,cades40#cec ,that is1 for a defence1#ced as blessed ,albertus ,magnus says3 ,oh1 my children1 ,mary seems to say to us with these words1 when the enemy assails you1 lift your eyes to me1 behold me and take courage2 for in me1 who defends you1 you will behold1 at the same time1 your victory4 ,so that recourse to ,mary is the most certain means of overcoming all the assaults of hell2 for she1 as ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says1 is queen over hell1 and ruler of the spirits of evil1 for she controls and conquers them4#cee ,and therefore ,mary is called terrible against the power of hell1 as an army set in array4 8,terrible as an army set in array40#cef ,set in array1 because she knows how to array her powers1 that is1 her compassion and her prayers1 to the confusion of the enemy and the benefit of her servants1 who1 in their temptations1 invoke her powerful aid4 8,as the vine ,i have brought forth a pleasant odor40#ceg 8,i1 like the vine1 as the ,holy ,spirit puts it in her mouth to say1 have given fruits of sweet odor40 8,it is said10 adds ,st4 ,bernard1 on this passage1 8that every venomous reptile shuns the flowering vines40#ceh ,as from vines all poisonous serpents flee1 thus the demons flee from those fortunate souls in whom they perceive the odor of devotion to ,mary4 ,on this account she also is called a cedar3 8,i was exalted like a cedar in ,libanus10#cei not only because as the cedar is free from corruption1 so ,mary is free from sin1 but also because1 as ,cardinal ,hugo remarks upon this passage1 as the cedar with its perfume puts serpents to flight1 so ,mary with her sanctity puts to flight the devils4#cfj ,victories were gained in ,judea by means of the ark4 ,thus ,moses conquered his enemies4 8,when the ark was lifted up1 ,moses said1 ,arise1 oh ,lord1 and let thy enemies be scattered40#cfa ,thus ,jericho was conquered2 thus were the ,philistines conquered2 8for the ark of ,god was there40#cfb ,it is well known that this ark was the type of ,mary4 ,as the ark contained the manna1 thus ,mary contained ,jesus1 whom the manna also prefigured1 and by means of this ark1 victories were gained over the enemies of earth and over hell4#cfc ,wherefore ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says that when ,mary1 the ark of the ,new ,testament1 was crowned queen of heaven1 the power of hell over men was weakened and overthrown4#cfd 8,oh1 how the devils in hell10 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 8tremble at ,mary and her great name60#cfe ,the saint compares these enemies to those of whom ,job makes mention and says3 8,he diggeth through houses in the dark4444 ,if the morning suddenly appear1 it is to them the shadow of death40#cff ,thieves enter houses in the dark to rob them1 but when the dawn comes they flee1 as if the image of death appeared to them4 ,in the same manner1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure expresses it1 the demons enter into the soul in times of darkness1 that is1 when the soul is obscured by ignorance2 they dig through the houses of our minds in the darkness of ignorance2 but then1 he adds1 as soon as the grace and the mercy of ,mary enter the soul1 this beautiful aurora dissipates the darkness1 and the infernal enemies flee as at the approach of death4#cfg ,oh1 blessed is he who always1 in his conflicts with hell1 invokes the beautiful name of ,mary6 ,in confirmation of this it was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget that ,god has given ,mary such power over all evil spirits1 that whenever they assail any of her servants who implore her aid1 at the slightest sign from her they flee far away in terror1 preferring that their pains should be redoubled rather than that ,mary should domineer over them in this manner4#cfh ,lapide remarks upon the words with which the divine spouse praises his beloved bride1 when he calls her the lily1 and says that as the lily is among thorns1 so is his beloved among the other daughters2#cfi that1 as the lily is a remedy against serpents and poisons1 so the invocation of ,mary is a special remedy for overcoming all temptations1 particularly those of impurity1 as they who have tried it have universally experienced4#cgj ,st4 ,john of ,damascus said1 and every one may say the same who is so happy as to be devoted to this great queen3 ,oh1 mother of ,god1 if ,i trust in thee1 ,i shall surely not be vanquished2 for1 defended by thee1 ,i will pursue my enemies1 and opposing to them thy protection and thy powerful support as a shield1 ,i shall surely conquer them4#cga ,james the ,monk1 reputed a doctor among the ,greek fathers1 discoursing of ,mary to our ,lord1 says3 ,thou1 oh my ,lord1 hast given us this mother for a powerful defence against all our enemies4#cgb ,it is related in the ,old ,testament that the ,lord guided his people from ,egypt to the promised land1 by day in a pillar of cloud1 by night in a pillar of fire4#cgc ,this pillar1 now of clouds1 now of fire1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 was a type of ,mary and her double office1 which she exercises continually in our behalf2 as a cloud she protects us from the heat of divine justice1 and as fire she protects us from demons4#cgd ,fire1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure adds1 for as wax melts at the approach of fire1 thus the evil spirits lose all power in the presence of those souls who often call upon the name of ,mary1 and devoutly invoke her1 and more than all1 strive to imitate her4#cge ,oh1 how the devils tremble1 exclaims ,st4 ,bernard1 if they only hear the name of ,mary uttered6#cgf ,as men1 says ,thomas ,kempis1 fall to the earth through fear1 when a thunderbolt strikes near them1 so fall prostrate the devils when but the name of ,mary is heard4#cgg ,how many noble victories have the servants of ,mary not gained over these enemies by the power of her most holy name6 ,thus ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua conquered them1 thus the blessed ,henry ,suso1 thus many other lovers of ,mary4 ,it is related in the accounts of the missions to ,japan1 that a great number of demons appeared in the form of ferocious animals to a certain ,christian of that country1 to alarm him and threaten him1 but he spoke to them in these words3 8,i have no arms with which to terrify you2 if the ,most ,high permits it1 do with me according to your pleasure4 ,meanwhile ,i use as my defence the most sweet names of ,jesus and ,mary40 ,hardly had he uttered these words1 when behold1 at the sound of those fearful names1 the earth opened and those proud spirits were swallowed up4 ,st4 ,anselm also asserts that he had seen and heard many persons who at the mention of the name of ,mary were delivered from their dangers4#cgh ,very glorious1 oh ,mary1 and wonderful exclaims ,st4 ,bonaventure1 is thy great name4 ,those who are mindful to utter it at the hour of death1 have nothing to fear from hell1 for the devils at once abandon the soul when they hear the name of ,mary4#cgi ,and the saint adds1 that an earthly enemy does not so greatly fear a great army1 as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of ,mary4#chj ,thou1 oh ,lady1 says ,st4 ,germanus1 by the invocation alone of thy most powerful name1 dost render thy servants secure from all the assaults of the enemy4#cha ,oh1 if ,christians were only mindful in temptations to invoke with confidence the name of ,mary1 it is certain that they would never fall2 for1 as blessed ,alanus remarks1 at the thunder of that great name1 the devil flees and hell trembles4#chb ,this heavenly queen herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that even from the most abandoned sinners1 who had wandered the farthest from ,god1 and were most fully possessed by the devil1 the enemy departs as soon as he hears her most powerful name invoked by them1 if they do it with a true intention of amending4#chc ,but the ,virgin added1 that if the soul does not amend1 and with contrition quit its sins1 the demons immediately return to it and hold it in their possession4#chd ,,example4 ,in ,reisberg there lived a ,canon regular named ,arnold1 who was very devoted to the blessed ,virgin4 ,being at the point of death1 he received the sacraments1 and calling his religious to him1 begged them not to leave him at the last moment4 ,scarcely had he said this1 when he began to tremble violently and roll his eyes2 cold sweat fell from him1 and with an agitated voice he exclaimed3 8,do you not see those demons who would seize me and carry me to hell80 ,then he cried3 8,my brothers1 invoke for me the help of ,mary2 ,i trust in her that she will give me the victory40 ,they immediately began to recite the ,litany of our ,lady1 and at the words1 ,holy ,mary1 pray for him1 8,sancta ,maria1 ora pro eo10 the dying man cried3 8,repeat1 repeat the name of ,mary1 for ,i am even now at the tribunal of ,god40 ,he stopped for a moment1 and then added3 8,it is true that ,i did it1 but ,i have done penance for it40 ,then turning to the ,virgin1 he said3 8,oh ,mary1 ,i shall be delivered if thou wilt help me40 ,the demons soon after made another attack1 but he defended himself by blessing himself with the crucifix1 and invoking ,mary4 ,thus he passed the whole night1 but when morning dawned1 ,arnold1 restored to serenity1 joyfully said3 8,mary1 my ,lady and my refuge1 has obtained for me pardon and salvation40 ,then beholding the ,virgin1 who summoned him to follow her1 he said3 8,i come1 oh ,lady1 ,i come40 ,he made an effort to rise1 but not being able to follow her with the body1 gently expiring1 he followed her with his soul1 as we hope1 to the blessed kingdom of glory4#che ,,prayer4 ,behold at thy feet1 oh ,mary my hope1 a poor sinner who many times1 through his own fault1 has been the slave of hell4 ,i know that ,i have often been conquered by the devil1 because ,i have neglected to recur to thee1 oh my refuge4 ,if ,i had always sought thy protection1 if ,i had invoked thee1 ,i should never have fallen4 ,i hope1 oh my ,lady1 most worthy of love1 that by thy help ,i have escaped the powers of hell1 and that ,god has pardoned me4 ,but ,i tremble for the future1 lest ,i again fall into their power4 ,i know that these enemies of mine have not lost all hope of reconquering me1 and at this moment they are preparing new assaults and temptations4 ,oh1 my queen and refuge1 aid me4 ,shelter me beneath thy mantle1 let me not become again their slave4 ,i know that thou wilt succor me and give me victory whenever ,i invoke thee4 ,i fear only that in my temptations ,i may forget thee1 and neglect to call upon thee4 ,this1 then1 is the grace1 oh most holy ,virgin1 that ,i seek and wish from thee1 that ,i may always remember thee1 and especially when ,i find myself in conflict with the enemy2 let me not then fail to invoke thee often with the words3 8,oh ,mary1 help me1 help me1 oh ,mary40 ,and when at length the day of my last conflict with hell1 the day of my death arrives1 oh1 my queen1 powerfully assist me then1 and remind me thyself to invoke thee more frequently1 with the voice or with the heart1 that expiring with thy most sweet name1 and that of thy son ,jesus on my lips1 ,i may go to bless and praise thee1 and never leave thy feet in paradise through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,ad ,,te ,,suspiramus ,,gementes ,,et ,,flentes ,,in ,,hac ,,lacrymarum ,,valle4 ,to thee we send up our sighs1 groaning and weeping in this valley of tears4 ,,section ,i4 ,,the ,,need ,,we ,,have ,,of ,,the ,,intercession ,,of ,,mary ,,for ,,our ,,salvation4 ,to invoke and pray to the saints1 especially to the queen of saints1 most holy ,mary1 that they may obtain for us1 by their intercession1 the divine favor1 is not only a lawful but a useful and holy practice1 and this is of faith1 being established by the ,councils1 against heretics1 who condemn it as injurious to ,jesus ,christ1 who is our only mediator2 but if a ,jeremias1 after his death1 prays for ,jerusalem#chf2 if the elders of the ,apocalypse present to ,god the prayers of the saints2 if a ,st4 ,peter promises his disciples to remember them after his death2 if a ,st4 ,stephen prays for his persecutors2 if a ,st4 ,paul prays for his companions2 if1 in a word1 the saints pray for us1 why may we not implore the saints to intercede for us8 ,st4 ,paul commends himself to the prayers of his disciples3 ,pray for us3 8,orate pro nobis40#chg ,st4 ,james exhorts the ,christians to pray for each other3 8,pray for one another1 that ye may be saved40#chh ,we may then do likewise4 ,no one will deny that ,jesus ,christ is the only mediator of justice1 and that by his merits he has obtained for us reconciliation with ,god4 ,but1 on the other hand1 it is impious to deny that ,god is pleased to grant favors at the intercession of the saints1 and especially of ,mary his mother1 whom ,jesus desires so much to see loved and honored by us4 ,every one knows that honor paid to a mother redounds to her children4#chi ,hence ,st4 ,bernard says1 let not any one think that by greatly praising the mother he will throw into the shade the glories of the ,son2 for the more he honors the mother1 so much more he honors the ,son4#cij ,st4 ,ildephonsus says1 that all the honor which is paid to the mother and the queen1 is rendered to the ,son and king4#cia ,and there is no doubt that on account of the merits of ,jesus1 the great privilege has been granted to ,mary to be the mediatrix of our salvation2 not1 indeed1 mediatrix of justice1 but of grace and intercession1 as she is called by ,st4 ,bonaventure4#cib ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian also says3 ,can she be otherwise than full of grace1 who has been made the ladder of paradise1 the gate of heaven1 the most true mediatrix between ,god and man8#cic ,wherefore ,st4 ,anselm well remarks1 that when we implore the holy ,virgin to obtain graces for us1 it is not that we distrust the divine mercy1 but rather that we distrust our own unworthiness1 and commend ourselves to ,mary that her merits may compensate for our unworthiness4#cid ,it cannot be doubted1 therefore1 except by those who are deficient in faith1 that it is a useful and holy thing to have recourse to the intercession of ,mary4 ,but the point that we here propose to prove is1 that the intercession of ,mary is even necessary for our salvation2 necessary1 to speak properly1 not indeed absolutely1 but morally4 ,and we affirm that this necessity arises from the will of ,god itself1 who has ordained that all the favors which he dispenses should pass through the hands of ,mary1 according to the opinion of ,st4 ,bernard1 which may well be considered at the present day the common opinion of doctors and divines1 as the author of 8,the kingdom of ,mary0 has already called it4 ,it is embraced by ,vega1 ,mendoza1 ,paciucchelli1 ,segneri1 ,poir1 ,crasset1 and innumerable other learned authors4 ,even ,father ,noel ,alexander1 an author usually very reserved in his assertions1 declares it to be the will of ,god that we receive all favors through the intercession of ,mary4#cie ,in confirmation of this1 he quotes the celebrated passage of ,st4 ,bernard3 ,this is the will of him who would have us receive all things through ,mary4#cif ,the same opinion is held by ,father ,contensone1 who1 explaining the words of ,jesus ,christ on the cross to ,john1 ,behold thy mother1 8,ecce mater tua10 says3 ,it is as if he said1 no one shall partake of my blood except by the intercession of my mother4 ,my wounds are fountains of grace1 but to none can their streams be conveyed except by the channel of ,mary4 ,oh ,john1 my disciple1 even as thou lovest my mother1 so shalt thou be loved by me4#cig ,the statement that whatsoever we receive from the ,lord comes to us by means of ,mary1 does not find favor with a certain modern author1 who1 although he treats with much piety and learning of true and false devotion1 yet speaking of the devotion towards the divine mother1 has shown himself very sparing in granting her the glory that a ,st4 ,germanus1 a ,st4 ,anselm1 a ,st4 ,john of ,damascus1 a ,st4 ,bonaventure1 a ,st4 ,antoninus1 a ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1 the venerable ,abbot of ,celles1 and so many other doctors1 have not hesitated to attribute to her1 who have not scrupled to declare that for the above-mentioned reason the intercession of ,mary is not only useful1 but necessary4 ,the above-named author says that this proposition1 namely1 that ,god grants no favors except through ,mary1 is an hyperbole and an exaggeration which has escaped from the mouth of some saints in a moment of fervor1 and properly speaking1 is to be understood only in the sense that through ,mary we have received ,jesus ,christ1 by whose merits we receive all graces4 ,otherwise1 he continues1 it would be an error to believe that ,god could not grant graces without the intercession of ,mary1 since the apostle says3 8,there is one ,god and one ,mediator of ,god and men1 the man ,christ ,jesus40#cih ,so far the above-named author4 ,but with his leave ,i will suggest to him what he himself in his book teaches me1 that the mediation of justice by means of merit1 and the mediation of grace by means of prayer1 are very different things4 ,thus it is also one thing to say that ,god cannot1 another to say he will not grant favors without the intercession of ,mary4 ,we willingly acknowledge that ,god is the fountain of every good1 and absolute ,lord of all graces1 and that ,mary is only a pure creature who1 through grace1 receives whatever she obtains from ,god4 ,but who can deny it to be reasonable and proper to assert that ,god1 in order to exalt this noble creature1 who1 more than all other creatures1 has loved and honored him in her life1 having chosen her for the mother of his ,son the ,redeemer of the world1 has also seen fit to dispense through her hands all the graces which are to be granted to redeemed souls8 ,we acknowledge that ,jesus ,christ is the only mediator of justice1 as we have stated above1 who by his merits obtains for us grace and salvation2 but we affirm that ,mary is the mediatrix of grace1 and although whatever she obtains1 she obtains through the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and because she prays and asks for it in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 yet whatever favors we ask are all obtained through her intercession4 ,in this there is certainly nothing opposed to the sacred doctrines2 on the contrary1 it is entirely conformed to the sentiments of the ,church1 who1 in the public prayers1 by her approved1 teaches us to appeal constantly to this divine mother1 and invoke her as the ,health of the weak3 8,salus infirmorum40 ,the ,refuge of sinners3 8,refugium peccatorum40 ,the ,help of ,christians3 8,auxilium christianorum40 ,our life and our hope3 8,vita et spes nostra40 ,the same holy ,church1 in the office which she requires to be recited on the ,festivals of ,mary1 applying to her the words of ,wisdom1 gives us to understand that in ,mary we shall find every hope3 8,in me is all hope of life and virtue40#cii ,that in ,mary we shall find every grace3 8,in me is all grace of the way and of the truth40#djj ,in a word1 that we shall find in ,mary life and eternal salvation3 8,he that shall find me shall find life1 and shall have salvation from the ,lord40#dja ,and again3 8,they that work by me shall not sin4 ,they that explain me shall have life everlasting40#djb ,all which passages signify the need we have of the intercession of ,mary4 ,this then is the sentiment in which so many theologians and holy fathers concur1 of whom we cannot with justice say1 as the author quoted above has asserted1 that to exalt ,mary they have uttered hyperboles1 and that excessive exaggerations have fallen from their lips4 ,to exaggerate and utter hyperboles1 is to exceed the limits of truth1 which cannot be said of the saints who have spoken1 enlightened by the ,spirit of ,god1 who is the ,spirit of truth4 ,and here1 if ,i may make a brief digression1 let me express a sentiment of mine1 namely3 when an opinion is in any way honorable to the most holy ,virgin1 and has some foundation1 and is not repugnant to the faith and the decrees of the ,church1 and to the truth2 the rejection of it1 and opposition to it1 because the contrary may also be true1 indicates little devotion to the mother of ,god4 ,i would not be one of the number of these1 nor would ,i see you1 my reader1 one of them1 but rather of the number of those who fully and firmly believe all that can be believed1 without error1 concerning the greatness of ,mary1 as the ,abbot ,rupert says1 who places among the offerings of devotion most pleasing to this mother1 that of a firm belief in her great privileges4#djc ,if no one else1 ,st4 ,augustine at least might remove from us all fear of exaggeration in the praise of ,mary1 who asserts that all we may say in her praise is little in comparison with what she merits on account of her dignity as mother of ,god4 ,the holy ,church also1 in the ,mass of the blessed ,virgin1 requires these words to be read3 8,for thou art happy1 oh sacred ,virgin ,mary1 and most worthy of all praise40#djd ,but let us return to our subject1 and hear what the saints say of the opinion in question4 ,st4 ,bernard says that ,god has bestowed all graces on ,mary1 that men1 through her as through a channel1 may receive whatever good is in store for them4#dje ,moreover1 the saint here makes an important reflection1 and says that before the birth of the most holy ,virgin there flowed no such current of grace for all1 since this desired channel did not yet exist4#djf ,but for this end1 he adds1 ,mary has been given to the world1 that through this channel the divine graces might continually flow down upon us4#djg ,as ,holofernes1 in order to gain the city of ,bethulia1 directed the aqueducts to be broken1 so the devil makes every effort to deprive souls of their devotion to the mother of ,god2 for1 if this channel of grace were closed1 he could easily succeed in gaining them to himself4 ,the same holy father continues1 and says3 ,observe1 then1 oh souls1 with what affection and devotion the ,lord would have us honor this our queen1 by always seeking and confiding in her protection2 for in her he has placed the fulness of all good1 that henceforth we may recognize as coming from ,mary whatever of hope1 grace1 or salvation we receive4#djh ,st4 ,antoninus says the same thing3 ,all the mercies ever bestowed upon men have all come through ,mary4#dji ,for this reason she is called the moon1 because1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 as the moon is between the sun and the earth1 and reflects upon the latter what she receives from the former1 so ,mary receives the celestial influences of grace from the divine ,son1 to transfuse them into us who are upon the earth4#daj ,for this reason1 too1 she is called the gate of heaven by the holy ,church3 8,felix cli porta20 because1 ,st4 ,bernard again observes1 as every rescript of grace sent by the king comes through the palace gate1 so it is given to ,mary1 that through her thou shouldst receive whatever thou hast4#daa ,st4 ,bonaventure1 moreover1 says that ,mary is called the gate of heaven1 because no one can enter heaven if he does not pass through ,mary1 who is the door of it4#dab ,st4 ,jerome confirms us in the same sentiment 7or1 as some persons think1 another ancient author of a sermon upon the ,assumption1 which is inserted among the works of ,st4 ,jerome71 when he says1 that in ,jesus ,christ was the fulness of grace as in the head1 whence descend to the members1 which we are1 all the vital spirits1 that is1 the divine aids for attaining eternal salvation2 in ,mary likewise was fulness as in the neck1 through which those vital spirits pass to the members4#dac ,this is confirmed by ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1 who more clearly unfolded this thought1 saying that through ,mary are transmitted to the faithful1 who are the mystic body of ,jesus ,christ1 all the graces of the spiritual life1 which descend upon them from ,jesus their head4#dad ,st4 ,bonaventure also attempts to assign the reason for this when he says3 ,god being pleased to dwell in the womb of this holy ,virgin1 she has acquired thereby1 in a certain sense1 a kind of jurisdiction over all graces2 since ,jesus came from her sacred womb1 together with him proceed from her1 as from a celestial ocean1 all the streams of divine gifts4#dae ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna expresses this in even clearer terms4 ,from the time1 he asserts1 that this mother conceived in her womb the ,divine ,word1 she acquired1 if we may thus express it1 a special right to the gifts which proceed to us from the ,holy ,spirit1 so that no creature has received any grace from ,god except by the intervention and hand of ,mary4#daf ,and thus is explained by a certain author#dag that passage of ,jeremias where the prophet1 speaking of the incarnation of the ,word and of ,mary his mother1 says1 that 8a woman shall compass a man40#dah ,the author above named explains this to mean that1 as no line proceeds from the centre of a circle which does not pass through its circumference2 thus no grace comes to us from ,jesus1 who is the centre of every good1 that does not pass through ,mary1 who encompassed him after she had received him in her womb4 ,hence1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 all gifts1 all virtues1 and all graces1 are dispensed by ,mary#dai to whom she will1 when she will1 and in the manner she will4 ,richard likewise says1 that ,god wishes all the good he bestows on creatures to pass through the hands of ,mary4#dbj ,hence the venerable ,abbot of ,celles exhorts every one to have recourse to this treasurer of graces1 as he calls her3 8,thesaurariam gratiarum20 for only by her means the world and men are to receive all the good they may hope for4#dba ,by which it is evident that the saints and authors above quoted1 in saying that all graces come to us through ,mary1 have not intended to say this only because we have received from ,mary1 ,jesus ,christ1 who is the fountain of every good1 as the author named above would imply2 but they assure us that ,god1 after having given us ,jesus ,christ1 has decreed that all the graces which have been dispensed1 are dispensed1 and shall be dispensed to men1 even to the end of the world1 through the merits of ,jesus1 shall be dispensed through the hands and by the intercession of ,mary4 ,hence ,father ,suarez concludes it to be the universal sentiment of the ,church at the present day1 that the intercession of ,mary is not only useful1 but necessary4#dbb ,necessary1 as we said before1 not in the sense of absolute necessity1 because only the mediation of ,jesus ,christ is absolutely necessary for us1 but in the sense of moral necessity2 for the ,church holds the opinion1 with ,st4 ,bernard1 that ,god has chosen to bestow no grace upon us but by the hands of ,mary4#dbc ,st4 ,ildephonsus affirmed this before ,st4 ,bernard1 when1 addressing the ,virgin1 he says3 ,oh ,mary1 ,god has decreed to commit to thee all the favors that he would confer upon men2 hence he has confided to thee all the treasures and riches of grace4#dbd ,and therefore ,st4 ,peter ,damian says1#dbe that ,god would not become man without the consent of ,mary1 that1 in the first place1 we might remain greatly indebted to her2 and secondly1 that we might understand the salvation of all men to be made dependent upon her good pleasure4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 contemplating the words of ,isaias1 where the prophet says3 ,from the race of ,jesse there shall come forth a rod--that is1 ,mary2 and from that the flower--that is1 the ,word incarnate1#dbf utters these beautiful words3 ,let him who would obtain the grace of the ,holy ,spirit1 seek the flower in the rod1 ,jesus in ,mary2 since by the rod we obtain the flower1 and by the flower we find ,god4#dbg ,and he afterwards adds3 ,if thou wouldst have this flower1 strive1 with prayers1 to incline the stem of the flower in thy favor1 and thou wilt obtain it4#dbh ,the seraphic ,doctor1 also commenting on the words3 8,they found the child with ,mary his mother10#dbi says3 ,jesus is never found but with and through ,mary2#dcj and concludes with these words3 ,he seeks ,jesus in vain who does not look for him with ,mary4#dca ,hence ,st4 ,ildephonsus says3 ,i would be a servant of the ,son1 and as he can never be a servant of the ,son who is not the servant of the mother1 my ambition is to be a servant of ,mary4#dcb ,,example4 ,it is related by ,belluacensis#dcc and ,cesarius1#dcd that a noble youth having lost by his vices the wealth left him by his father1 became so poor that he was obliged to beg4 ,he quitted his native land1 that he might live with less shame in a distant country where he was unknown4 ,on this journey he met one day an old servant of his father1 who1 seeing him so cast down by the poverty he was suffering1 told him to cheer up1 for he would take him to a prince who was so liberal that he would provide him with every thing he needed4 ,now this wretch was an impious sorcerer4 ,one day he took the youth with him to a wood on the borders of a moor1 where he began to address some invisible person4 ,the youth asked to whom he was speaking4 8,to the devil10 he answered2 and seeing the youth terrified1 bade him not to fear4 ,continuing to speak with the devil1 he said3 8,this youth1 oh my master1 is reduced to extreme necessity1 and wishes to be restored to his former condition40 8,if he will obey me10 said the enemy1 8,i will make him richer than before2 but in the first place1 he must renounce ,god40 ,at this the youth shuddered1 but urged on by that cursed magician1 he yielded1 and renounced ,god4 8,but this is not sufficient10 said the demon2 8he must also renounce ,mary2 for it is to her that we attribute our greatest losses4 ,oh1 how many souls she has snatched from us1 and led back to ,god and saved60 8,oh1 this ,i will not do10 exclaimed the youth2 8deny ,mary6 why she is my only hope4 ,i would rather be a beggar all my life40 ,with these words he left the place4 ,on his way he happened to pass a church dedicated to ,mary4 ,the unhappy youth entered it1 and kneeling before her altar1 began to weep and implore the most holy ,virgin that she would obtain the pardon of his sins4 ,mary immediately began to intercede with the ,son for that miserable being4 ,jesus at first said3 8,but that ungrateful youth1 my mother1 has denied me40 ,but seeing that his mother still continued to entreat him1 he at last said3 8,oh1 my mother1 ,i have never refused thee any thing2 he shall be pardoned1 since thou dost ask it40 ,the citizen who had purchased the inheritance of that prodigal was secretly present at this scene1 and beholding the mercy of ,mary towards that sinner1 he gave him his only daughter in marriage1 and made him heir of all his possessions4 ,thus that youth recovered1 through the intercession of ,mary1 the favor of ,god and even his temporal possessions4 ,,prayer4 ,oh my soul6 behold the beautiful hope of salvation1 and of life eternal1 which the ,lord has granted thee1 by giving thee1 in his mercy1 confidence in the protection of his mother1 when thou hast by thy sins so often merited his displeasure and the pains of hell4 ,give thanks1 then1 to ,god1 and to thy protectress1 ,mary1 who hath deigned to shelter thee beneath her mantle1 as already thou certainly knowest1 by the many graces that thou hast received through her4 ,yes1 ,i thank thee1 oh my loving mother6 for the good thou hast done me1 a miserable sinner1 deserving of hell4 ,from how many dangers hast thou delivered me1 oh my queen6 ,how much light and how many mercies hast thou obtained for me1 from ,god1 by thy intercession6 ,what great advantage1 or what great honor hast thou received from me1 that thou art thus intent on doing me good8 ,thy goodness alone1 then1 hath moved thee in my behalf4 ,ah6 if ,i were to give my blood1 my life for thee1 it would be little compared to what ,i owe thee1 for thou hast delivered me from eternal death2 thou1 who hast enabled me to recover1 as ,i hope1 the divine favor1 and from thee finally ,i acknowledge all my blessings to proceed4 ,oh my ,lady6 most worthy of love1 ,i a miserable creature can make thee no return but always to praise and love thee4 ,ah6 do not disdain to accept the affection of a poor sinner1 who is enamored of thy goodness4 ,if my heart is not worthy to love thee1 because it is evil and full of earthly affections1 do thou change it4 ,ah6 unite me to my ,god1 and unite me so that ,i can never be separated from his love4 ,this thou desirest of me1 that ,i may love thy ,god1 and this ,i wish from thee4 ,obtain for me that ,i may love him1 and love him always1 and ,i ask nothing more4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,the ,,same ,,subject ,,continued4 ,st4 ,bernard says1 that as a man and a woman have co-operated for our ruin1 so it was fit that another man and another woman should co-operate for our restoration2 and these were ,jesus and his mother ,mary4 ,doubtless1 says the saint1 ,jesus ,christ alone was all-sufficient for our redemption3 yet it was more fitting that each sex should take part in our redemption1 when both took part in our corruption4#dce ,for this reason blessed ,albertus ,magnus calls ,mary the co-operatrix with ,christ in our redemption3 8,adjutrix ,redemptionis40 ,and she herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that as ,adam and ,eve sold the world for one apple1 so her ,son and herself with one heart redeemed the world4#dcf ,god could1 indeed1 as ,st4 ,anselm asserts1 create the world from nothing2 but when it was lost by sin1 he would not redeem it without the co-operation of ,mary4#dcg ,in three ways1 says ,father ,suarez1 the divine mother shared in the work of our salvation3 first1 by having merited1 that is1 with merit of congruity1 the ,incarnation of the ,word4 ,secondly1 by praying much for us while she lived on the earth4 ,thirdly1 by willingly sacrificing to ,god the life of her ,son for our salvation2 and therefore the ,lord has justly ordained that as ,mary has1 with so much love for man1 aided in the salvation of all1 and thereby so greatly promoted the glory of ,god1 all through her intercession shall obtain salvation4 ,mary is called the co-operatrix with her ,son in our justification1 because ,god has committed to her keeping all the graces that he has destined for us4#dch ,wherefore ,st4 ,bernard affirms1 that all men1 past1 present1 and to come1 should regard her as the medium and negotiator of the salvation of all ages4#dci ,jesus ,christ has said1 that no one could find him unless his ,eternal ,father drew him by his divine grace4#ddj ,thus1 also1 according to ,richard1 ,jesus said of his mother3 ,no one comes to me unless my mother draw him with her prayers4#dda ,jesus was the fruit of ,mary1 as ,elizabeth expressed it3 8,blessed art thou among women1 and blessed is the fruit of thy womb40#ddb ,whoever1 then1 wishes for the fruit1 must go to the tree2 whoever wishes for ,jesus must go to ,mary2 and he who finds ,mary1 certainly also finds ,jesus4 ,st4 ,elizabeth1 when the most holy ,virgin came to visit her in her house1 not knowing how to thank her1 in deep humility exclaimed3 8,how have ,i merited that the mother of my ,god should come to visit me80#ddc ,but why6 we may ask3 did not ,elizabeth already know that not ,mary only1 but ,jesus also1 had entered her dwelling8 ,and why1 then1 does she call herself unworthy to receive the mother1 and not rather unworthy of receiving a visit from the ,son8 ,ah1 well did the saint understand that when ,mary comes she brings ,jesus also2 and hence it was sufficient for her to thank the mother1 without naming the ,son4 8,she is like the merchant's ship1 she bringeth her bread from afar40#ddd ,mary is that blessed ship1 which brought to us from heaven ,jesus ,christ1 the living bread that came from heaven to give us life eternal1 as he has said3 8,i am the living bread which came down from heaven3 if any man eat of this bread1 he shall live forever40#dde ,hence ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says1 that all those will be lost in the sea of this world who are not received into this ship1 that is1 protected by ,mary4#ddf ,he also adds1 that whenever we find ourselves in danger of destruction from the temptations or passions of the present life1 we ought to flee to ,mary1 crying quickly1 ,oh ,lady1 help us2 save us1 if thou wouldst not see us lost4#ddg ,and let it be remarked here1 in passing1 that this writer does not hesitate to say to ,mary3 ,save us1 we perish--8,salva nos1 perimus20 as the author mentioned several times in the previous section does1 who denies that we can ask the ,virgin to save us1 because1 as he says1 it belongs only to ,god to save us4 ,but if a person condemned to death may ask some favorite of the king to save him by interceding for him with his prince1 why cannot we implore the mother of ,god to save us1 by obtaining for us through her prayers the grace of eternal life8 ,st4 ,john of ,damascus did not hesitate to say to the ,virgin3 ,oh pure and immaculate queen1 save me1 deliver me from eternal damnation4#ddh ,st4 ,bonaventure called ,mary the salvation of those invoking her4#ddi ,the ,church allows us to invoke her3 ,health of the weak--8,salus infirmorum20 and shall we hesitate to ask her to save us1 when1 according to a certain author1 to no one is the door of salvation open except through her8#dej ,and before him ,st4 ,germanus1 speaking of ,mary1 said3 ,no one can be saved except through thee4#dea ,but let us see what more the saints say of the need we have of the intercession of the divine mother4 ,the glorious ,st4 ,cajetan said that we could ask for graces1 but we could never obtain them without the intercession of ,mary4 ,and ,st4 ,antoninus confirms this1 expressing himself thus beautifully3 ,whoever asks and wishes to obtain graces without the intercession of ,mary1 attempts to fly without wings2#deb for1 as ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 8,the land of ,egypt is in thy hand20#dec and as he sent all those to ,joseph who applied to him for assistance1 saying3 ,go to ,joseph--8,ite ad ,joseph20 so ,god1 when we supplicate him for favors1 sends us to ,mary3 ,go to ,mary--8,ite ad ,mariam20 for he has decreed1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 that he will grant no favors except through the hands of ,mary4#ded ,hence ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says3 ,our salvation is in the hands of ,mary1 and we ,christians can more justly say to her than the ,egyptians to ,joseph1 our salvation is in thy hand4#dee ,the venerable ,idiot says the same thing3 ,our salvation is in her hands--8,salus nostra in manu illius est40#def ,cassian asserts the same thing1 but in stronger language4 ,he absolutely affirms that the salvation of the whole world depends upon the favor and protection of ,mary4#deg ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna thus addresses her3 ,oh ,lady1 since thou art the dispenser of all graces1 and we must receive the grace of salvation through thy hand alone1 then our salvation depends on thee4#deh ,richard says rightly then1 that as a stone falls so soon as the earth is removed from beneath it1 in like manner a soul1 if the support of ,mary is taken away1 will fall first into sin and then into hell4#dei ,st4 ,bonaventure adds1 that ,god will not save us without the intercession of ,mary1#dfj and goes on to say1 that as an infant cannot live without its nurse1 so no one without the protection of ,mary can be saved4#dfa ,therefore he exhorts us in this way3 ,let thy soul thirst for devotion to ,mary2 preserve it always1 never abandon it until you arrive in heaven and receive her maternal benediction4#dfb ,who1 says ,st4 ,germanus1 would ever know ,god1 if it were not through thee1 oh most holy ,mary8 ,who would be saved8 ,who would be free from peril8 ,who would receive any favor if it were not through thee1 oh mother of ,god8 ,oh ,virgin mother1 oh full of grace6#dfc ,and in another place he says3 ,if thou didst not open the way1 no one would be free from the sting of the flesh and of sin4#dfd ,as we have access to the eternal ,father only through ,jesus ,christ1 so1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 we have access to ,jesus ,christ only through ,mary4#dfe ,and ,st4 ,bernard gives us the reason why the ,lord decreed that all men should be saved by the intercession of ,mary1 namely1 that through ,mary we might be received by that ,saviour who1 through ,mary1 has been given to us2 and therefore the saint calls her the mother of grace and of our salvation4 ,then1 resumes ,st4 ,germanus1 what would become of us8 what hope of salvation would remain to us if thou1 oh ,mary1 didst abandon us1 thou who art the life of ,christians8#dff ,but1 the modern author above quoted remarks3 ,if all graces pass through ,mary1 when we implore the intercession of the saints1 they must have recourse to the mediation of ,mary to obtain for us these graces4 ,this1 however1 says he1 no one believes1 or has ever thought of4 ,i reply1 that there can be no error or difficulty in believing this4 ,what difficulty is there in saying that ,god1 to honor his mother1 having crowned her queen of the saints1 and having ordained that all graces should be dispensed by her hands1 would have the saints also invoke her to obtain favors for their clients8 ,as to saying that no one has ever thought of it1 ,i find that ,st4 ,bernard1 ,st4 ,anselm1 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 ,father ,suarez#dfg also1 and others expressly assert it4 ,in vain1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 would one pray to the other saints for a desired favor1 if ,mary did not intercede to obtain it for them4#dfh ,thus also a certain author explains1 in this connection1 that passage of ,david3 8,all the rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance40#dfi ,the rich of that great people of ,god are the saints1 who1 when they wish to obtain a favor for one of their clients1 all recommend themselves to ,mary1 that she may obtain it for them4 ,justly1 then1 says ,father ,suarez1 we implore the saints to be our intercessors with ,mary1 who is their lady and queen4#dgj ,it is precisely this which ,st4 ,benedict promised to ,st4 ,frances of ,rome1 as we learn from ,father ,marchese4#dga ,the above-named saint appeared to her one day1 and taking her under his protection1 promised to be her advocate with the divine mother4 ,st4 ,anselm adds1 in confirmation of this1 addressing the blessed ,virgin3 ,oh ,lady1 what the prayers of all these saints can obtain1 in union with thine1 thou canst obtain1 by thy intercession alone without their aid4#dgb ,but wherefore hast thou such power8 8quare hoc potes80 continues the saint4 ,because thou alone art the mother of our common ,saviour1 thou art the spouse of ,god1 the universal queen of heaven and earth4#dgc ,if thou dost not speak for us1 no saint will pray for us and aid us4#dgd ,but if thou art moved to pray for us1 all the saints will engage to intercede for us and help us4#dge ,so says ,father ,segneri1#dgf applying to ,mary1 as the holy ,church does1 these words of ,wisdom3 8,i alone have compassed the circuit of heaven40#dgg ,as with its motion the first sphere puts in motion all the others1 so when ,mary is moved to pray for a soul1 she moves all heaven to pray with her4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says even1 that then she commands1 as being their queen1 all the saints and angels to accompany her and unite their prayers to hers4#dgh ,so we see1 finally1 why the holy ,church requires us to invoke and salute the divine mother with the great name of our hope3 ,hail our hope1 8,spes nostra salve40 ,the impious ,luther could not endure that the holy ,roman ,church should call ,mary1 our hope2#dgi because1 as he said1 ,god only and ,jesus ,christ as our mediator are our hope2 but that ,god curses those who place their hope in any creature1 as we find in ,jeremias3 8,cursed be the man that trusteth in man40#dhj ,but the ,church teaches us everywhere to invoke ,mary1 and call her our hope3 8,spes nostra salve40 ,whoever places his hope in a creature1 independently of ,god1 is certainly accursed of ,god1 since ,god is the only fountain and the dispenser of every good1 and the creature1 without ,god1 has nothing and can do nothing4 ,but if the ,lord has ordained1 as we have proved1 that all graces shall pass through ,mary1 as a channel of mercy1 we can1 and ought even to assert that ,mary is our hope1 by whose intercession we receive divine graces1 and therefore it is ,st4 ,bernard called her the whole cause of his hope4#dha ,st4 ,john of ,damascus expresses the same thing when1 addressing the blessed ,virgin1 he says to her3 ,oh ,lady1 in thee ,i have placed all my hope1 and with firm confidence ,i look to thee for my salvation4#dhb ,st4 ,thomas says that ,mary is all the hope of our salvation4#dhc ,st4 ,ephrem explains3 ,oh most holy ,virgin1 receive us under thy protection1 if thou wilt see us saved1 since we have no other hope of being saved but through thee4#dhd ,we will then conclude in the words of ,st4 ,bernard3 ,let us strive1 with all the affections of our heart1 to reverence this divine mother1 ,mary1 since this is the will of that ,lord who would have us receive all good from her hands4#dhe ,and the saint exhorts us1 whenever we desire and ask any favor1 to recommend ourselves to ,mary1 and trust that we shall obtain it through her intercession4#dhf ,for1 says the saint1 if you do not deserve from ,god the favor you ask1 ,mary1 who asks it in your behalf1 merits to obtain it4#dhg ,hence the same ,bernard exhorts us each and all1 that1 whatever we offer to ,god1 whether works or prayers1 we recommend all to ,mary1 if we wish our ,lord to accept them4#dhh ,,example4 ,eutychian1 ,patriarch of ,constantinople1 relates the following well-known story of ,theophilus4 ,the ,patriarch was an eye-witness of the fact which we here relate1 and which is confirmed by ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 ,st4 ,bernard1 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 ,st4 ,antoninus1 and others4#dhi ,theophilus was archdeacon of the ,church of ,adanas1 a city of ,cilicia2 and was so much esteemed1 that the people wished him to become their bishop1 but his humility prevented his consent4 ,some malicious persons afterwards accused him1 and he was deposed from his office4 ,this afflicted him so much1 that1 blinded by passion1 he went to a ,jewish magician1 who induced him to apply to ,satan for help in his misfortunes4 ,the devil answered that if he wished his assistance1 he must renounce ,jesus1 and ,mary his mother1 and hand over to him the act of renunciation1 written with his own hand4 ,theophilus executed this vile document4 ,on the following day the bishop having heard of the wrong done him by his calumniators1 asked his forgiveness1 and restored him to his office4 ,but ,theophilus began then to feel so tortured by remorse of conscience on account of the great crime he had committed1 that he wept continually4 ,what does he do8 ,he enters a church1 prostrates himself in tears before an altar of the blessed ,virgin1 and exclaims3 8,oh mother of ,god1 ,i will not despair having thee1 who art so merciful1 to aid me40 ,he persevered forty days in weeping and praying thus to the holy ,virgin2 when behold1 one night the mother of mercy appeared to him and said3 8,oh ,theophilus1 what have you done8 you have renounced my friendship and that of my ,son2 and for whom8 for your own and my enemy40 8,oh ,lady10 answered ,theophilus1 8it belongs to thee to pardon me1 and to obtain my pardon from thy ,son40 ,then ,mary1 seeing his confidence1 answered1 8,take courage1 and ,i will pray ,god for thee40 ,theophilus1 encouraged by these words1 redoubled his tears1 his penance1 and his prayers1 remaining constantly at the foot of that altar4 ,and1 behold1 ,mary appeared to him again1 and with a joyful countenance said to him3 8,theophilus1 rejoice1 ,i have presented thy tears and thy prayers to ,god2 he hath accepted them1 and hath already pardoned thee2 henceforth be grateful and faithful40 8,oh ,lady10 replied ,theophilus1 8this is not sufficient to console me2 the enemy still holds that impious deed1 by which ,i have renounced thee and thy ,son2 thou canst obtain it for me40 ,after three days ,theophilus awoke one night1 and found the paper on his breast4 ,the next day1 when the bishop with a large assembly were present in the church1 ,theophilus cast himself at his feet1 related the whole story1 weeping bitterly1 and gave him the infamous writing1 which the bishop immediately ordered to be burned in presence of all the people1 who wept for joy1 praising the goodness of ,god1 and the mercy of ,mary towards that miserable sinner4 ,theophilus returned to the church of the ,virgin1 and there1 three days afterwards1 he died happily1 with thanksgivings to ,jesus and his holy mother on his lips4 ,,prayer4 ,oh ,queen and ,mother of ,mercy6 who dost dispense graces to all those who have recourse to thee1 so liberally because thou art queen1 and with so much love because thou art our most loving mother2 to thee ,i commend myself to-day1 destitute of merits and virtues as ,i am1 and laden with debts to the divine justice4 ,oh ,mary1 thou hast the keys of all the divine mercies1 do not forget my miseries1 and do not leave me in my great poverty4 ,thou who art so liberal with all1 and who givest more than is asked of thee1 do so with me4 ,oh ,lady1 protect me1 this is all ,i ask4 ,if thou dost protect me ,i fear nothing4 ,i do not fear the demons1 for thou art more powerful than all the spirits of hell2 nor my sins1 for one word of thine in my behalf can obtain pardon of them all from ,god4 ,if ,i have thy favor ,i do not fear even the anger of ,god1 for he is appeased by one prayer of thine4 ,in a word1 if thou dost protect me ,i hope all things1 because all things are possible with thee4 ,oh mother of mercy1 ,i know that thou takest pleasure and pride in giving succor to the most miserable1 for thou canst aid them1 if not prevented by their obstinacy4 ,i am a sinner1 but ,i am not obstinate2 ,i wish to change my life4 ,thou canst1 then1 help me2 do help and save me4 ,to-day ,i place myself entirely in thy hands4 ,teach me what ,i must do to please ,god1 and ,i will do it2 and ,i hope to do so with thy aid1 oh ,mary1 ,mary1 my mother1 my light1 my consolation1 my refuge1 and my hope4 ,amen1 amen1 amen4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,eja ,,ergo ,,advocata ,,nostra6 ,ah1 then1 our advocate6 ,,section ,i4 ,,mary ,,is ,,an ,,advocate ,,powerful ,,to ,,save ,,all4 ,so great is the authority of mothers over their children1 that although they may be monarchs1 having absolute dominion over all the persons in their kingdom1 yet their mothers can never become subject to them4 ,it is true that ,jesus is now in heaven1 for he is seated there at the right hand of the ,father even as man1 as ,st4 ,thomas explains it2 by reason of the hypostatic union with the person of the ,word1 and has supreme dominion over all1 and even over ,mary2 yet it will always be true1 that at the time when our ,redeemer lived on this earth1 he was pleased to humble himself and make himself subject to ,mary1 as ,st4 ,luke teaches us3 ,and he was subject to them3 8,erat subditus illis40#dij ,st4 ,ambrose even says1 that ,jesus ,christ having deigned to make ,mary his mother1 was obliged as her son to obey her4 ,and therefore1 observes ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 it is said of the other saints1 that they are with ,god2 but of ,mary alone can it be said1 that not only was it her lot to be subject to the will of ,god1 but that ,god was also subject to her will4#dia ,and as it is said of the other holy virgins1 as the same author remarks1 that they follow the divine ,lamb wherever he goes3 8,sequuntur agnum quocumque ierit20#dib of the ,virgin ,mary it may be said1 that the divine ,lamb followed her on this earth1 having become subject to her4#dic ,hence we may say1 that though ,mary is in heaven1 and can no longer command her ,son1 yet her prayers will ever be the prayers of a mother1 and therefore most powerful to obtain whatever she asks4 ,mary1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 has this privilege with her ,son1 that she is most powerful to obtain by her prayers whatsoever she will4#did ,and wherefore8 ,precisely for the reason which we have before mentioned1 and which we will now examine more fully1 namely1 because the prayers of ,mary are the prayers of a mother4 ,and therefore1 says ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 the ,virgin has all power in heaven as on earth1 being able to raise to the hope of salvation even the most despairing4#die ,and then he adds1 that when the mother asks any favor for us of ,jesus ,christ 7called by the saint the altar of mercy where sinners obtain pardon from ,god71 the ,son has so great regard for the prayers of ,mary1 and so great a desire to please her1 that when she prays1 she seems to command rather than request1 and to be a mistress rather than a handmaid4#dif ,thus ,jesus would honor this his dear mother1 who has honored him so much in her life1 by granting her immediately whatever she asks and desires4 ,st4 ,germanus beautifully confirms this by saying to the ,virgin3 ,thou art mother of ,god1 omnipotent to save sinners1 and needest no other recommendation with ,god1 since thou art the mother of true life4#dig ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna does not hesitate to say that all obey the commands of ,mary1 even ,god himself2#dih signifying by these words1 that ,god listens to her prayers as though they were commands4 ,hence ,st4 ,anselm thus addresses ,mary3 ,the ,lord1 oh holy ,virgin1 has so highly exalted thee1 that by his favor thou canst obtain all possible graces for thy servants1 for thy protection is omnipotent4#dii ,thy help is omnipotent1 oh ,mary3 8,omnipotens auxilium tuum1 ,o ,maria20 as ,cosmas of ,jerusalem exclaims4 ,yes1 ,mary is omnipotent1 adds ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 since the queen1 by every law1 must enjoy the same privileges as the king4 ,for as the power of the ,son and mother are the same1 the mother by the omnipotent ,son is made omnipotent4#ejj ,as ,st4 ,antoninus says3 ,god has placed the whole ,church1 not only under the patronage1 but also under the dominion of ,mary4#eja ,as the mother1 then1 must have the same power as the ,son1 justly was ,mary made omnipotent by ,jesus1 who is omnipotent2 it being1 however1 always true1 that whereas the ,son is omnipotent by nature1 the mother is so by grace4 ,and her omnipotence consists in this1 that the ,son denies nothing that the mother asks2 as it was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 who heard ,jesus one day addressing ,mary in these words3 8,oh my mother1 thou knowest how ,i love thee2 ask from me1 then1 whatever thou dost desire1 for there is no demand of thine that will not be graciously heard by me40#ejb ,and the reason that he added was beautiful3 8,mother1 when thou wast on earth1 there was nothing thou didst refuse to do for love of me2 now that ,i am in heaven1 it is just that ,i refuse nothing which thou dost ask of me40#ejc ,mary is1 then1 called omnipotent in the sense in which it can be understood of a creature1 who is not capable of any divine attribute4 ,she is omnipotent1 because she obtains by her prayers whatever she wishes4 ,with reason1 then1 oh our great advocate6 says ,st4 ,bernard1 dost thou only wish1 and it is done3 8,velis tu et omnia fient40 ,and ,st4 ,anselm3 ,whatever thou askest1 oh ,virgin6 cannot but be done4#ejd ,wish1 and it will be done2 dost thou wish to raise the most abandoned sinner to an exalted sanctity1 to thee it is given to do it4 ,the blessed ,albertus ,magnus represents ,mary speaking thus3 ,i must be asked to wish1 for if ,i wish it must be done4#eje ,hence ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 contemplating this great power of ,mary1 and praying her to have pity on us1 says3 ,oh ,mary6 oh our beloved advocate6 since thou hast a heart so compassionate1 that thou canst not behold the miserable without pity2 and1 at the same time1 hast so great a power with ,god to save all those whom thou dost defend2 deign to intercede in behalf of us miserable creatures1 who place in thee all our hopes4 ,if our prayers do not move thee1 may thy merciful heart at least move thee2 may thy power at least move thee1 since ,god1 for this end1 has enriched thee with so much power1 that the richer thou art in the power to aid us1 so much more compassionate thou mayest be in thy desire to aid us4#ejf ,of this1 ,st4 ,bernard assures us1 saying1 that ,mary is abundant in mercy as well as in power2 as her charity is most powerful1 so also is it most merciful in our behalf1 and this is manifested to us continually by its effects4#ejg ,even when she was living on this earth1 the only thought of ,mary1 after the glory of ,god1 was to relieve the wretched4 ,and we know that then she enjoyed already the privilege of obtaining whatever she asked4 ,this we know from what took place at the nuptials of ,cana of ,galilee1 when the wine failed1 and the blessed ,virgin1 compassionating the distress and mortification of that family1 asked the ,son to relieve them by a miracle1 making known to him this want3 ,they have no wine3 8,vinum non habent40#ejh ,jesus answered3 8,woman1 what is that to thee and to me8 my hour is not yet come40#eji ,observe1 that although the ,lord appeared to refuse this favor to his mother1 by saying3 ,of what importance is it1 oh woman1 to me and to thee that the wine has failed8 ,it does not become me now to perform any miracle1 as the time has not arrived1 the time of my preaching1 when with signs ,i must confirm my doctrine2 yet1 notwithstanding this1 ,mary1 as if the ,son had already granted her the favor1 said to the attendants3 ,fill the water-pots with water3 8,imple hydrias aqua40#eaj ,come fill the water-pots1 and you will be consoled2 and ,jesus ,christ1 indeed1 to please his mother1 changed that water into the best wine4 ,but how is this8 ,if the time appointed for miracles was the time of preaching1 how could it be anticipated by the miracle of the wine1 contrary to the divine decree8 ,nothing1 it may be answered1 was done contrary to the divine decrees2 for although1 generally speaking1 the time for signs had not come1 yet from eternity ,god had established by another general decree1 that nothing the divine mother could ask should be denied her2 and therefore ,mary1 well acquainted with her privilege1 although her ,son seemed to have then set aside her petition1 said notwithstanding1 that the water-pots should be filled1 as though the favor were already granted4 ,this1 ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom would express1 when commenting on the passage of ,john above mentioned--8,oh woman1 what is that to thee and to me80--he says1 that although ,jesus had answered thus1 yet1 for the honor of his mother1 he did not fail to comply with her demand4#eaa ,st4 ,thomas confirms the same1 when he observes1 that by these words--8,my hour has not yet come0--,jesus ,christ wished to show that he would have deferred the miracle1 if another had asked him to perform it2 but because his mother asked it1 he immediately performed it4#eab ,st4 ,cyril and ,st4 ,jerome confirm this1 according to ,barrada4 ,and ,jansenius of ,ghent says1 commenting on the same passage of ,st4 ,john3 ,that he might honor his mother1 he anticipated the time of working miracles4#eac ,in a word1 it is certain that no creature can obtain for us miserable sinners so many mercies as this good advocate1 who is honored by ,god with this privilege1 not only as his beloved handmaid1 but also as his true mother4 ,william of ,paris says this when addressing her4#ead ,it is enough that ,mary speaks1 and the ,son does all she wishes4 ,the ,lord1 speaking to the spouse of the ,canticles1 by whom is understood ,mary1 says3 8,thou that dwellest in the gardens1 the friends hearken1 make me hear thy voice40#eae ,the friends are the saints1 who1 when they ask any favor for their clients1 wait until their queen prays to ,god for it and obtains it2 for1 as was said before in ,chap4 ,v41 no favor is dispensed except by the intercession of ,mary4 ,and how does ,mary obtain favors8 ,it is enough that her ,son hears her voice3 ,make me to hear thy voice3 8,fac me audire vocem tuam40 ,it is enough that she speaks1 and her ,son immediately hears her4 ,william of ,paris1 explaining in the same way the passage above named1 introduces the ,son1 who thus addresses ,mary3 ,oh thou who dwellest in the celestial gardens1 intercede with confidence for whomsoever thou wilt1 for ,i cannot forget that ,i am thy ,son1 or think of refusing any thing to my mother4 ,it is enough for thee to speak1 and thy ,son will graciously hear and grant thy petition4#eaf ,the ,abbot ,godfrey says that ,mary1 although she obtains favors by praying1 yet prays with a kind of maternal authority2 hence we may be sure that she will obtain whatever she desires and asks for us4#eag ,it is related of ,coriolanus1 by ,valerius ,maximus1#eah that when he held ,rome besieged1 all the prayers of his friends and of the citizens could not induce him to withdraw his forces2 but when his mother ,veturia came to entreat him he could not resist1 and immediately raised the siege4 ,but the prayers of ,mary are as much more powerful with ,jesus than the prayers of ,veturia with her son1 as the love and gratitude of ,jesus to ,mary exceeds that of the son of ,veturia for his mother4 ,father ,justin ,micoviensis writes3 ,one sigh of ,mary has more power than the prayers of all the saints united4#eai ,the devil himself confessed this same thing to ,st4 ,dominic1 when1 constrained by his commands1 he spoke through the mouth of a possessed person1 saying1 as ,father ,paciucchelli narrates1#ebj that one sigh of ,mary availed more with ,god than the united prayers of all the saints4 ,st4 ,antoninus says1 that the prayers of the blessed ,virgin being the prayers of a mother1 have a certain kind of authority1 hence it is impossible that she should not be heard when she prays4#eba ,on this account ,st4 ,germanus encourages sinners to recommend themselves to this advocate with these words3 ,thou1 oh ,mary1 having the authority of a mother with ,god1 dost obtain pardon for the vilest sinners2 for the ,lord1 who in all things recognizes thee for his true mother1 cannot refuse to grant thee whatever thou dost ask4#ebb ,st4 ,bridget1 too1 heard the saints in heaven saying to the ,virgin3 ,what is there that thou canst not do8 ,whatever thou dost desire is done4#ebc ,to which corresponds that celebrated verse3 ,what ,god by a command1 thou1 oh ,virgin1 by a prayer canst effect4#ebd ,is it not1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 worthy of the goodness of the ,lord thus to guard the honor of his mother8 for he asserts that he has come on the earth1 not to break1 but to fulfil the law1 which1 among other things1 commands us to honor our parents4#ebe ,st4 ,george1 ,archbishop of ,nicomedia1 even adds1 that ,jesus ,christ grants to his mother all her petitions1 as if to satisfy the obligation that he is under to her for having caused1 by her consent1 that the human nature should be given him4#ebf ,wherefore1 ,st4 ,methodius the martyr exclaims3 ,rejoice1 oh ,mary1 that a ,son has fallen to thy lot as thy debtor1 who gives to all and receives from none4 ,we are all debtors to ,god for whatever we possess1 since every thing is his gift2 but ,god has wished to make himself a debtor to thee1 taking from thee his body and becoming man4#ebg ,so also ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,mary having merited to give flesh to the ,divine ,word1 and by that to furnish the price of the divine redemption1 that we might be delivered from eternal death2 therefore is she1 says the same doctor1 more powerful than any other to help us and obtain for us eternal salvation4#ebh ,hence ,st4 ,theophilus1 ,bishop of ,alexandria1 who lived in the time of ,st4 ,jerome1 thus wrote3 ,the ,son is pleased to be entreated by his mother1 because he wishes to grant for her sake all that he does grant2 and thus to recompense the favor he has received from her when she gave him flesh4 ,hence ,st4 ,john ,damascene addresses the ,virgin in these words3 ,thou1 then1 oh ,mary1 being mother of ,god1 canst save all men by thy prayers1 which are enforced by a mother's authority4#ebi ,let us conclude with the words of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who1 considering the great benefit which the ,lord has conferred on us in giving us ,mary for our advocate1 thus addresses her3 ,oh truly immense and admirable goodness of ,god1 who to us miserable1 guilty creatures1 has granted thee1 oh our ,lady1 for our advocate1 that thou mightest1 by thy powerful intercession1 obtain for us whatever good thou wilt4#ecj ,oh1 the great mercy of ,god1 continues the saint1 who1 that we might not flee to hide ourselves from the sentence to be pronounced upon us1 has destined his own mother and the treasurer of graces for our advocate4#eca ,,example4 ,father ,razzi1 of the order of ,camaldoli1 relates that a certain youth having lost his father1 was sent by his mother to the court of a prince4#ecb ,the mother1 who had a great devotion to ,mary1 when she parted with him made him promise to recite every day a 8,hail ,mary10 and add these words3 8,blessed ,virgin1 help me in the hour of my death40 ,the youth arrived at court1 but soon began to lead so dissolute a life1 that his master was obliged to send him away4 ,in despair1 without means of support1 he went into the country and became a highway robber2 but even then he did not omit to recommend himself to our ,lady1 as his mother had directed him4 ,at length he fell into the hands of justice1 and was condemned to death4 ,being in prison the evening before his execution1 and thinking of his disgrace1 the grief of his mother1 and the death which awaited him1 he fell to weeping bitterly4 ,the devil seeing him so oppressed by melancholy1 appeared to him in the form of a beautiful young man1 and said to him that he would release him from death and prison1 if he would follow his directions4 ,the convict engaged to do all that he required4 ,then the pretended youth made known to him that he was the devil and had come to his assistance4 ,in the first place1 he ordered him to renounce ,jesus ,christ and the holy sacraments4 ,the youth consented4 ,he then required him to renounce the ,virgin ,mary and her protection4 8,this10 exclaimed the young man1 8,i will never do10 and turning to ,mary1 repeated the accustomed prayer that his mother had taught him3 ,blessed ,virgin1 help me in the hour of my death4 ,at these words the devil disappeared4 ,the youth remained in great affliction for the wickedness he had committed in denying ,jesus ,christ4 ,he invoked the blessed ,virgin1 and she obtained for him1 by her prayers1 a great sorrow for all his sins1 so that he made his confession with much weeping and contrition4 ,on his way to the gallows1 happening to pass before a statue of ,mary1 he saluted her with his usual prayer3 ,blessed ,virgin1 help me in the hour of my death1 and the statue1 in the presence of all1 inclined its head and saluted him4 ,deeply moved1 he begged to be allowed to kiss the feet of the image4 ,the executioners refused1 but afterwards consented on account of the clamor of the people4 ,the youth stooped to kiss her feet1 and ,mary extended her arm from that statue1 took him by the hand and held him so strongly that no power could move him4 ,at this prodigy the multitude shouted 8,pardon1 pardon10 and pardon was granted4 ,having returned to his country1 he led an exemplary life1 and was always most devoted to ,mary1 who had delivered him from temporal and eternal death4 ,,prayer4 ,oh great mother of ,god1 ,i will say to thee with ,st4 ,bernard3 ,thy ,son hears thee1 and will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask4#ecc ,speak1 then1 speak1 oh ,mary our advocate1 in behalf of us miserable creatures4 ,remember that thou hast received thy great power and dignity even for our benefit4 ,a ,god has chosen to become thy debtor1 by taking from thee the human nature to the end that thou mayest dispense to the miserable the riches of divine mercy4 ,we are thy servants1 in a special manner consecrated to thy service1 and among these ,i hope to be one4 ,we glory in living under thy protection4 ,if thou doest good to all1 even to those that do not know thee and do not honor thee1 and who even insult and blaspheme thee2 how much more ought we to hope from thy kindness1 who dost seek for the wretched that thou mayest relieve them6 we who honor1 love1 and trust in thee6 ,we are great sinners1 but ,god has granted thee mercy and power greater than all our sins4 ,thou canst and wilt save us2 and we will so much the more earnestly desire this1 as we are unworthy of it1 that we may glorify thee the more in heaven1 when we shall have been received there by thy intercession4 ,oh1 mother of mercy1 we present to thee our souls1 once pure and washed with the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 but since defiled with sin4 ,to thee we present them1 wilt thou purify them8 ,obtain for us sincere amendment1 obtain for us the love of ,god1 perseverance1 paradise4 ,we ask great things of thee1 but canst thou not obtain them all for us8 ,are they greater than the love which ,god has for thee8 ,thou hast only to open thy lips in prayer to thy ,son1 and he will grant thee all things4 ,pray1 then1 pray1 oh ,mary1 for us2 and surely thou wilt be heard graciously1 and we shall be surely saved4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,mary ,,is ,a ,,merciful ,,advocate1 ,,who ,,does ,,not ,,refuse ,,to ,,defend ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,miserable ,,sinners4 ,there are so many reasons why we should love this our loving queen1 that if all the earth should praise ,mary1 and all sermons treat of her alone1 and all men should give their lives for ,mary1 it would yet be little compared to the homage and gratitude we owe her1 for the very tender love she bears to all men1 even to the most miserable sinners who preserve towards her any feeling of devotion4 ,raymond ,jordan declares that ,mary cannot but love those who love her4 ,nay she does not disdain even to serve those who serve her1 using1 if they are sinners1 all the power of her intercession to obtain pardon for them from her blessed ,son4#ecd ,and so great1 he goes on to say1 is her kindness and compassion1 that no one1 however degraded he may be1 should fear to cast himself at her feet1 since she rejects no one who has recourse to her4#ece ,mary1 as our most loving advocate1 offers herself to ,god the prayers of her servants1 especially those which are offered to her2 for as the ,son intercedes for us with the ,father1 thus she intercedes for us with the ,son1 and never ceases to intercede with both for our salvation1 and to obtain for us the favors that we ask4#ecf ,rightly1 then1 does the blessed ,denis1 the ,carthusian1 call the holy ,virgin the peculiar refuge of the lost1 the hope of the wretched1 and the advocate of all sinners who have recourse to her4#ecg ,but if there ever be any sinner who1 indeed1 does not doubt the power1 but has no trust in the mercy of ,mary1 fearing that she may not be willing to aid him on account of the magnitude of his offences1 ,st4 ,bonaventure encourages him by saying3 ,great and peculiar is the privilege which ,mary has with her ,son1 of obtaining by her prayers whatever she desires2#ech but what would this great power of ,mary avail us1 he adds1 if she should be indifferent to our welfare8#eci ,no1 let us not doubt1 concludes the saint1 let us be secure1 and always thank the ,lord and his divine mother for it2 for1 as she is the most powerful of all saints with ,god1 so she is the most loving advocate1 and the most desirous of our welfare4#edj ,and who1 oh mother of sinners6 joyfully exclaims ,st4 ,germanus1 who1 after thy ,jesus1 has so much care of us1 and of our welfare1 as thou8#eda ,who doth defend us in the trials that afflict us1 as thou dost defend us8 ,who take upon himself to protect sinners1 as if combating in their behalf1 as thou dost8#edb ,wherefore1 he adds1 thy patronage1 oh ,mary6 is more powerful and loving than we are able to comprehend4#edc ,whilst1 as the ,idiot says1 all the other saints can aid their own servants by their patronage more than others2 the divine mother1 as she is the queen of all1 so is she the advocate of all1 and cares for the salvation of all4#edd ,she cares for all1 even for sinners1 and glories especially in being called their advocate2 as she herself declared to the venerable sister ,mary ,villani1 saying3 8,next to the title of mother of ,god1 ,i glory most in being named the advocate of sinners40 ,the blessed ,amadeus says1 that our queen is always before the divine ,majesty1 interceding for us with her powerful prayers4#ede ,and since in heaven she knows perfectly our miseries and necessities1 she cannot but have pity on us2 so1 with the affection of a mother1 moved by compassion for us1 she kindly and mercifully endeavors to relieve and save us4#edf ,it is with good reason1 then1 that ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence encourages every one1 however degraded he may be1 to appeal confidently to this sweet advocate1 in the certain belief that he will always find her ready to help him4#edg ,it is also well said by ,godfrey1 that ,mary is ever ready to pray for all4#edh ,and oh1 with how much efficacy and love1 ,st4 ,bernard exclaims1 this good advocate of ours conducts the cause of our salvation6#edi ,st4 ,augustine1 contemplating the affection and earnestness with which ,mary is continually occupied in interceding with the divine ,majesty for us1 that the ,lord may pardon our sins1 assist us with his grace1 free us from dangers1 and relieve us from our miseries1 thus addresses the holy ,virgin3#eej ,oh ,lady6 it is true that all the saints desire our salvation and pray for us2 but the charity and tenderness which thou dost manifest for us in heaven1 by obtaining with thy prayers so many mercies from ,god1 obliges us to confess1 that we have in heaven only one advocate1 that is thyself1 and that thou alone art the only true lover watchful of our welfare4 ,and who can comprehend the solicitude with which ,mary is always waiting on ,god in our behalf8 ,st4 ,germanus says3 ,she is never satisfied with defending us3 8,non est satietas defensionis ejus40 ,the expression is beautiful4 ,so great is the pity which ,mary has for our miseries1 and so great is the love she bears us1 that she prays always1 and prays again1 and is never satisfied with praying for us1 and defending us from evil with her prayers1 and obtaining for us favors--she is never satisfied with defending us4 ,what poor sinners we should be if we had not this advocate1 so powerful and so merciful1 and at the same time so prudent and so wise1 that the judge1 her ,son1 cannot condemn the guilty1 if she defends them1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says4#eea ,well1 then1 does ,st4 ,john 7the geometrician7 salute her3 ,hail1 authority which puts an end to strife4#eeb ,for all the causes defended by this most wise advocate are gained4 ,hence ,mary is called by ,st4 ,bonaventure1 the wise ,abigail3 8,abigail sapiens40 ,this was the woman who1 as we read in the first of ,kings1 knew so well how to appease ,king ,david1 by her persuasive entreaties1 when he was full of indignation against ,nabal1 that he himself blessed and thanked her for having1 with her sweet words1 prevented him from revenging himself upon ,nabal with his own hands4#eec ,precisely the same thing does ,mary continually in heaven1 in behalf of innumerable sinners3 she knows so well how to appease the divine justice with her tender and wise entreaties1 that ,god himself blesses her for it1 and as it were thanks her1 that thus she restrains him from abandoning and punishing them as they deserve4 ,for this end1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 the eternal ,father1 desirous to show all possible compassion towards us1 besides ,jesus ,christ1 our principal advocate with himself1 has given us ,mary for our advocate with ,jesus ,christ4 ,there is no doubt1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 that ,jesus is the only mediator of justice between men and ,god1 who in virtue of his merits can1 and according to his promises will1 obtain for us pardon and divine grace2 but because men recognize and fear in ,jesus ,christ the divine majesty1 which dwells in him as ,god1 it was necessary that another advocate should be assigned to us1 to whom we could have recourse with less fear and more confidence2 and this is ,mary1 than whom we can find no advocate more powerful with the divine majesty and more compassionate towards us4#eed ,but he would greatly wrong the mercy of ,mary1 continues the saint1 who should still fear to cast himself at the feet of this most sweet advocate1 who is in nothing severe or terrible1 but is in all things kind1 lovely1 and compassionate4#eee ,read and revolve as much as you will all the history found in the ,gospels1 and if you find any act of austerity in ,mary1 then fear to approach her4 ,but you will never find any2 go then joyfully to her1 for she will save thee by her intercession4#eef ,exceedingly beautiful is the exclamation which ,william of ,paris puts in the mouth of a sinner who has recourse to ,mary3 ,oh mother of my ,god1 ,i come to thee full of confidence1 even in the miserable state to which ,i find myself reduced by my sins2 if thou dost reject me1 ,i will plead with thee1 for in a certain sense thou art bound to help me1 since all the ,church of the faithful calls thee and proclaims thee mother of mercy4#eeg ,thou1 oh ,mary1 art so dear to ,god that he always graciously listens to thee2 thy great mercy has never failed2 thy most sweet condescension has never despised any sinner1 however enormous his sins1 who has had recourse to thee4#eeh ,what6 could the whole ,church falsely and in vain name thee her advocate and the refuge of sinners8#eei ,no1 never be it said that my sins prevent thee1 oh my mother1 from exercising the great office of mercy which thou dost hold1 by which thou art at the same time the advocate and mediator of peace between ,god and man1 and next to thy ,son the only hope and secure refuge of sinners4#efj ,whatever of grace and glory is thine1 even the dignity of being mother of ,god itself1 if ,i may so speak1 thou owest to sinners1 since for their sake the divine ,word has made thee his mother4#efa ,far from this divine mother1 who has brought forth into the world the fountain of mercy1 be the thought that she should refuse her compassion to any sinner who recommends himself to her4#efb ,since1 then1 oh ,mary1 thy office is that of peacemaker between ,god and man1 may thy great mercy1 which far exceeds all my sins1 move thee to aid me4#efc ,console yourselves1 then1 oh ye faint of heart1 ,i will say with ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova1 take heart1 oh miserable sinners2 this great ,virgin1 who is the mother of your judge and ,god1 is the advocate of the human race4 ,powerful and able to obtain whatever she wishes from ,god2 most wise1 for she knows every method of appeasing him2 universal1 for she welcomes all1 and refuses to defend none4#efd ,,example4 ,our advocate has shown how great is her kindness towards sinners by her mercy to ,beatrice1 a nun in the monastery of ,fontebraldo1 as related by ,cesarius1#efe and by ,father ,rho4#eff ,this unhappy religious1 having contracted a passion for a certain youth1 agreed to flee with him from the convent2 and in fact she went one day before a statue of the blessed ,virgin1 there deposited the keys of the monastery1 for she was portress1 and boldly departed4 ,arrived in another country1 she led the miserable life of a prostitute for fifteen years4 ,it happened that she met1 one day1 the agent of the monastery in the city where she was living1 and asked of him1 thinking he would not recognize her again1 if he knew sister ,beatrice8 8,i know her well10 he said3 8she is a holy nun1 and at present is mistress of novices40 ,at this intelligence she was confounded and amazed1 not knowing how to understand it4 ,in order to ascertain the truth1 she put on another dress and went to the monastery4 ,she asked for sister ,beatrice1 and behold1 the most holy ,virgin appeared before her in the form of that same image to which at parting she had committed her keys and her dress1 and the divine mother thus spoke to her3 8,beatrice1 be it known to thee that1 in order to prevent thy disgrace1 ,i assumed thy form1 and have filled thy office for the fifteen years that thou hast lived far from the monastery and from ,god4 ,my child1 return1 and do penance1 for my ,son is still waiting for thee2 and strive by thy holy life to preserve the good name ,i have gained thee40 ,she spoke thus and disappeared4 ,beatrice re-entered the monastery1 resumed the habit of a religious1 and1 grateful for the mercy of ,mary1 led the life of a saint4 ,at her death she made known the foregoing incident1 to the glory of this great queen4 ,,prayer4 ,oh great mother of my ,lord1 ,i now see that the ingratitude shown by me for so many years to ,god and to thee1 would justly merit that thou shouldst abandon all care of me1 for the ungrateful are no more worthy of favors4 ,but1 oh ,lady1 ,i have a great idea of thy goodness2 ,i believe it to be far greater than my ingratitude2 continue1 then1 oh refuge of sinners1 to help a miserable sinner who confides in thee4 ,oh mother of mercy1 extend thy hand to raise a poor fallen creature who implores thy mercy4 ,oh ,mary1 defend thou me1 or tell me to whom ,i shall have recourse1 and who can protect me better than thou8 ,can ,i find an advocate with ,god more merciful and more powerful than thou1 who art his mother8 ,thou having been created for the mother of the ,saviour1 art destined to save sinners1 and hast been given me for my salvation4 ,oh ,mary1 save him who has recourse to thee4 ,i do not merit thy love1 but the desire thou hast to save the lost gives me the hope that thou dost love me2 and if thou lovest me1 how can ,i be lost8 ,oh my beloved mother1 if1 as ,i hope1 ,i am saved by thee1 ,i will no longer be ungrateful2 ,i will make amends by perpetual praises and by all the affection of my soul for my past ingratitude1 and will make some return for the love thou bearest me4 ,in heaven1 where thou reignest and wilt reign forever1 ,i will always joyfully sing thy mercies1 and forever ,i will kiss those loving hands that have freed me from hell as often as ,i have deserved it for my sins4 ,oh ,mary1 my liberator1 my hope1 my queen1 my advocate1 my mother1 ,i love thee1 ,i wish thee well1 and will always love thee4 ,amen1 amen2 thus ,i hope1 so may it be4 ,,section ,,iii4 ,,mary ,,is ,,the ,,peace-,,maker ,,between ,,sinners ,,and ,,god4 ,the grace of ,god is a treasure1 very great and most earnestly to be desired by every soul4 ,it is called by the ,holy ,spirit an infinite treasure1 since by means of divine grace we are raised to the honor of being made the friends of ,god3 8,she is an infinite treasure to men1 which they that use become the friends of ,god40#efg ,whence it is that ,jesus1 our ,redeemer and ,god1 did not hesitate to call those who are in grace1 his friends3 ,you are my friends3 8,vos amici mei estis40#efh ,oh accursed sin1 that loosens the ties of this blessed friendship3 8,your iniquities have divided between you and your ,god30#efi for they make the soul hateful to ,god1 and from a friend it becomes an enemy of the ,lord3 8,to ,god the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike40#egj ,what1 then1 must a sinner do who finds himself so unhappy as to have become an enemy of ,god8 ,he must find a mediator who will obtain pardon for him and enable him to recover the lost friendship of ,god4 ,take courage1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 oh sinner1 who hast lost ,god4 ,thy ,lord himself hath given thee a mediator1 even his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 who can obtain for thee whatever thou desirest4#ega ,but oh ,god1 the saint here exclaims1 why do men esteem severe this most merciful ,saviour1 who hath given his life for our salvation8 ,why do they look upon him as terrible who is all loveliness8 ,distrustful sinners1 say1 why do you fear8 ,if you fear because you have offended ,god1 remember that ,jesus with his own lacerated hands has nailed your sins to the cross1 and having satisfied the divine justice for them by his death1 he has removed them from your soul4#egb ,but if ever1 adds the saint1 you fear to have recourse to ,jesus ,christ because his divine majesty alarms you1 since when he became man he did not cease to be ,god1 if you ever wish for another advocate with this mediator1 invoke ,mary1 for she will intercede for you with the ,son1 who will surely graciously listen to her1 and the ,son will intercede with the ,father1 who can refuse nothing to this ,son4#egc ,and so1 concludes ,st4 ,bernard1 this divine mother1 oh my children1 is the ladder of sinners1 by which they ascend anew to the height of divine grace4 ,this is my greatest confidence--this is the whole ground of my hope4#egd ,let us hear what the ,holy ,spirit makes the blessed ,virgin say in the sacred ,canticles3#ege ,i am1 says ,mary1 the defence of those who have recourse to me1 and my mercy is to them a tower of refuge2 for this ,i have been appointed by my ,lord as a peacemaker between sinners and him4 ,cardinal ,hugo1 on the same text1 says1 that ,mary is the great peacemaker who obtains from ,god1 and gives peace to enemies1 salvation to the lost1 pardon to sinners1 and mercy to the despairing4#egf ,for this reason she was called by her divine spouse3 ,beautiful as the curtains of ,solomon3 8,formosa sicut pelles ,salomonis40#egg ,in the tents of ,david there was nothing treated of but war1 but in the tents of ,solomon peace alone was spoken of4 ,the ,holy ,spirit giving us to understand by this1 that the mother of mercy does not treat of war and of vengeance against sinners1 but only of peace and the pardon of their offences4 ,again1 ,mary was prefigured by ,noe's dove1 who returned to the ark bearing in her beak the olive-branch1 as a sign of the peace which ,god granted to men4 ,wherefore ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,thou art that most faithful dove1 which1 mediating with ,god1 hath obtained for the world1 which was lost1 peace and salvation4 ,mary1 then1 was the heavenly dove who brought to the lost world the olive-branch1 a sign of mercy2#egh for she gave us ,jesus ,christ1 who is the fountain of mercy1#egi and thus obtained1 by the price of his merits1 all the graces which ,god gives us4 ,and as through ,mary the world received celestial peace1#ehj as ,st4 ,epiphanius says1 so by means of ,mary sinners are constantly becoming reconciled to ,god4 ,in the same way1 the blessed ,albertus ,magnus says in her name3 ,i am that dove of ,noe1 who brought to the ,church universal peace4#eha ,moreover1 the rainbow seen by ,st4 ,john1 that surrounded the throne of ,god1 was also an exact type of ,mary4#ehb ,according to the explanation of ,cardinal ,vitalis1 ,mary is always before the divine tribunal to mitigate the sentence and punishment due to the sinner4#ehc ,and ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says1 that it was of this rainbow that the ,lord spoke1 when he said to ,noe that he would place in the clouds the bow of peace1 that when he should see it he might remember the eternal covenant that he had established with men4#ehd ,and ,mary1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 is that very bow of eternal peace4#ehe ,for as ,god1 at the sight of the bow1 remembers the peace promised to the earth1 thus1 at the prayers of ,mary1 he pardons sinners the offences committed against him1 and establishes peace with them4#ehf ,for the same reason ,mary is also compared to the moon4#ehg ,for1 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 as the moon is in the midst between heaven and earth1 so she continually interposes between ,god and sinners1 that she may appease the ,lord towards them1 and enlighten them on their return to ,god4#ehh ,and this was the most important office given to ,mary when she was placed upon the earth--of lifting the souls fallen from divine grace1 and reconciling them to ,god4 ,feed thy kids3 8,pasce hdos tuos40#ehi ,this was said to her by the ,lord when he created her4 ,it is well known that sinners are represented by goats2 and as the elect1 represented by sheep1 will be placed on the right hand in the valley of judgment1 the goats will be placed on the left4 ,now these goats1 says ,william of ,paris1 are committed to thee1 oh great mother1 that thou mayest change them into sheep1 and that those who1 by their sins1 have merited to be banished to the left1 by thy intercession may be placed on the right4#eij ,hence the ,lord revealed to ,st4 ,catherine of ,sienna that he had created this his beloved child as a sweet bait1 that would draw men1 and especially sinners1 to ,god4#eia ,and here we should note the beautiful reflection of ,william1 the ,englishman1 on the passage above cited1 who says1 that ,god recommends to ,mary her own goats1 8hdos tuos20 because the ,virgin does not save all sinners1 but only those who serve and honor her4 ,those1 on the contrary1 who live in sin1 and do not honor her with any special devotion1 neither recommend themselves to her in order to escape from their sins1 are not the goats of ,mary1 but in the judgment will be placed miserably on the left among the damned4#eib ,a certain nobleman who was despairing of his eternal salvation on account of his sins1 was encouraged by a religious to have recourse to the most holy ,virgin1 by visiting her sacred image which was in a certain church4 ,the nobleman went to the church1 and on seeing the figure of ,mary he felt himself1 as it were1 invited by her to cast himself at her feet and trust4 ,he hastens to do so1 kisses her feet1 and ,mary1 from that statue1 extended her hand for him to kiss1 and on it he saw these words written3 8,i will deliver thee from them that afflict thee40#eic ,as if she had said to him3 ,my son1 do not despair1 for ,i will deliver thee from thy sins1 and from the fears that oppress thee4 ,it is related that on reading these sweet words1 that sinner felt such sorrow for his sins1 and conceived such a love for ,god1 and for his sweet mother1 that he died there at the feet of ,mary4 ,oh1 how many obstinate sinners does this magnet of hearts draw daily to ,god1 as she herself said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,as the magnet attracts to itself iron1 thus ,i draw to myself the most obdurate hearts1 that ,i may reconcile them to ,god20#eid and this prodigy is not rarely1 but daily experienced4 ,i could myself testify to many cases that have occurred in our missions alone1 where sinners who have remained harder than iron during all other sermons1 while hearing that on the mercy of ,mary1 were touched with compunction1 and turned to ,god4 ,st4 ,gregory relates that the unicorn is so ferocious a wild beast1 that no hunter can succeed in taking it2 but at the voice of a maiden who calls upon him to surrender1 he draws near1 and without resistance allows himself to be bound by her4 ,oh1 how many sinners1 more fierce than wild beasts1 who flee from ,god1 at the sound of the voice of this great ,virgin ,mary1 advance and allow themselves to be gently bound by her to ,god6 ,for this end1 says ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 the ,virgin ,mary was made mother of ,god1 that those sinners who1 by reason of their wicked life1 could not be saved according to the divine justice1 might obtain salvation through her sweet compassion and powerful intercession4#eie ,st4 ,anselm confirms this when he says that ,mary has been exalted to be mother of ,god for sinners rather than for the just1 since ,jesus ,christ announced that he came not to call the just1 but sinners4#eif ,and so the holy ,church sings3 8,sinners thou dost not abhor1 since but for them thou never wouldst have been worthy of such a ,son40#eig ,william of ,paris also says3 ,oh ,mary1 thou art obliged to help sinners1 since for all the gifts1 graces1 and honors thou dost possess1 which are comprehended in the dignity thou hast received of being the mother of ,god1 for all1 if ,i may so speak1 thou art indebted to sinners1 since for their sakes thou wert made worthy to have a ,god for thy ,son4#eih ,if1 then1 concludes ,st4 ,anselm1 ,mary1 for the sake of sinners1 has been made mother of ,god1 how can ,i1 however great may be my sins1 despair of pardon8#eii ,the holy ,church teaches us1 in the ,collect of the ,mass for the ,vigil of the ,assumption1 that the divine mother has been removed from this earth1 that she might intercede for us with ,god1 in sure confidence of being graciously heard4#fjj ,hence ,mary is named by ,st4 ,justinian1 ,arbitress3 8,sequestra40 ,the ,word employed ,mary as arbitress4#fja ,sequester signifies the same as arbiter1 one to whom two contending parties refer all their questions2 so that the saint means to say1 that as ,jesus is mediator with the eternal ,father1 so ,mary is our mediatrix with ,jesus1 to whom the ,son refers all the charges which1 as judge1 he has against us4 ,mary is called by ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete1 the confidence and security of our reconciliation with ,god4#fjb ,and by this the saint intends to say1 that ,god seeks a reconciliation with sinners by pardoning them1 and that they may not despair of pardon1 he has given them ,mary as a pledge of it2 hence he salutes her3 ,hail1 oh peace of ,god with men3 8,salve divina hominibus reconciliatio40 ,wherefore ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 encouraging every sinner3 ,if thou fearest1 on account of thy sins1 that an angry ,god may wish to avenge himself upon thee1 what art thou to do8 ,go to the hope of sinners1 namely1 ,mary2 and if thou fearest that she will refuse to take thy part1 know that she cannot refuse to defend thy cause1 for ,god himself has assigned her the office of relieving the wretched4#fjc ,and what does the ,abbot ,adam say8 ,should a sinner fear being lost1 to whom the mother of his judge offers herself as his mother and advocate8#fjd ,and then the same writer adds3 ,oh ,mary6 who art mother of mercy1 couldst thou refuse to pray thy ,son1 who is judge1 for another son1 who is the criminal8 ,canst thou refuse to intercede in behalf of a redeemed soul with the ,redeemer1 who1 for no other end than to save sinners1 died on the cross8#fje ,no1 thou wilt not refuse1 but earnestly wilt employ thyself in praying for all those who invoke thee1 well knowing that the same ,lord who hath constituted thy ,son mediator of peace between ,god and man1 has at the same time made thee mediatrix between the ,judge and the criminal4#fjf ,here ,st4 ,bernard takes up the subject1 and says3 ,give then thanks to him who has provided thee with such a mediatrix4#fjg ,whoever thou art1 oh sinner1 plunged in the mire of guilt1 hoary in sin1 do not despair2 thank thy ,lord1 who1 in order to show mercy to thee1 has not only given thee his ,son for an advocate1 but1 to increase thy confidence and courage1 has provided thee with such a mediatrix1 who1 by her prayers1 obtains whatever she wishes4 ,have recourse to ,mary1 and thou wilt be saved4 ,,example4 ,it is related by ,rupensis1#fjh and by ,boniface1#fji that in ,florence there lived a young girl1 named ,benedetta 7the blessed71 although she might better have been called ,maladetta 7the cursed71 from the scandalous and wicked life she led4 ,happily for her1 ,st4 ,dominic happened to preach in that city1 and she1 from mere curiosity1 went one day to hear him4 ,but the ,lord touched her heart during the sermon1 so that1 weeping bitterly1 she went to make her confession to the saint4 ,st4 ,dominic heard her confession1 gave her absolution1 and directed her to say the rosary4 ,but the unhappy girl1 by the force of her evil habits1 returned to her wicked life4 ,the saint heard of it1 and going to her1 induced her to confess once more4 ,god1 in order to confirm her in her good life1 one day showed hell to her1 and some persons there who had been already condemned on her account4 ,then opening a book1 he made her read in it the frightful record of her sins4 ,the penitent shuddered at the sight1 and1 full of confidence1 had recourse to ,mary1 asked her help1 and learned that this divine mother had already obtained from ,god for her1 time enough to mourn for her numerous sins4 ,the vision disappeared1 and ,benedetta devoted herself to a good life2 but seeing always open before her eyes that dark catalogue1 she one day prayed in these words to her consoler3 8,oh mother1 it is true that for my sins ,i should now be deep in hell2 but since thou1 by thy intercession1 hast liberated me from it1 by obtaining for me time for repentance1 most merciful ,lady1 ,i ask of thee one other favor4 ,i will never cease to weep for my sins2 but do thou obtain for me that they may be cancelled from that book40 ,after this prayer1 ,mary appeared to her1 and told her that in order to obtain what she asked1 she must preserve an eternal remembrance of her sins1 and of the mercy of ,god towards her2 and still more1 that she must meditate on the passion of her ,son1 which he suffered for love of her2 and also that she must bear in mind that many had been damned who had committed fewer sins than she had done4 ,she also revealed to her that a child of only eight years of age1 for one mortal sin only1 had been that day condemned to hell4 ,benedetta having faithfully obeyed the most holy ,virgin1 one day beheld ,jesus ,christ1 who showed her that book1 and said to her3 ,behold1 thy sins are cancelled2 the book is white1 inscribe on it now acts of love and of virtue4 ,benedetta did this1 led a holy life1 and died a holy death4 ,,prayer4 ,then1 oh my most sweet ,lady1 if thy office is1 as ,william of ,paris says1 to interpose as a mediatrix between the sinner and ,god1#faj ,i will say to thee with ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova3 ,ah1 then1 oh our advocate1 fulfil thy office4#faa ,fulfil at once thy office also in my behalf4 ,do not tell me that my cause is too difficult to be gained2 for ,i know1 and all tell me1 that no cause1 however desperate1 if defended by thee1 was ever lost2 and will mine be lost8 ,no1 ,i fear not this4 ,i have only to fear1 when ,i behold the multitude of my sins1 that thou wilt not undertake my defence2 but considering thy vast compassion and the great desire that fills thy most loving heart to help the vilest sinners1 ,i no longer fear even this4 ,and who was ever lost that had recourse to thee8 ,i invoke1 then1 thy aid1 oh my great advocate1 my refuge1 my hope1 and my mother ,mary4 ,to thy hands ,i commit the cause of my eternal salvation4 ,to thee ,i consign my soul2 it was lost1 but thou must save it4 ,i always thank the ,lord that he gives me this great confidence in thee1 which1 notwithstanding my unworthiness1 ,i believe will secure my salvation4 ,one fear alone remains to afflict me1 my beloved queen3 it is1 that ,i may one day lose1 through my neglect1 this confidence in thee4 ,therefore ,i pray thee1 oh ,mary1 by all thy love for thy ,jesus1 to preserve and increase more and more in me this most sweet confidence in thy intercession1 by which ,i certainly hope to recover the divine friendship1 which ,i have hitherto so foolishly despised and lost2 and once having recovered it1 ,i hope by thy means to preserve it2 and preserving it1 ,i hope finally through thee to go one day and thank thee for it in paradise1 and there to sing the mercies of ,god and thine through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,thus ,i hope1 so may it be1 and so it shall be6 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,illos ,,tuos ,,misericordes ,,oculos ,,ad ,,nos ,,converte4 ,turn thy eyes of mercy towards us4 ,,section ,i4 ,,mary ,,is ,,all ,,eyes ,,to ,,pity ,,and ,,relieve ,,our ,,miseries4 ,st4 ,epiphanius calls the blessed ,virgin1 8,multoculam20 that is1 one who has many eyes1 that she may relieve our miseries on this earth4 ,one day1 when a person possessed was being exorcised1 the devil was asked by the exorcist what ,mary was then doing4 ,the ,evil ,one replied3 8,she is descending and ascending30#fab by which he intended to say1 that this gracious ,lady does nothing else than descend upon the earth to bring graces to men1 and ascend to heaven to obtain there the divine blessing on our supplications4 ,rightly1 then1 was the holy ,virgin named by ,st4 ,andrew of ,avellino1 the active power of paradise2 for she is continually employed in deeds of mercy1 imploring favors for all1 for the just and for sinners4 8,the eyes of the ,lord are upon the just10 says ,david2#fac but the eyes of our ,lady are upon the just and upon sinners1#fad as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says2 for he adds3 ,the eyes of ,mary are the eyes of a mother2 and the mother not only guards her child from falling1 but if he falls1 she hastens to raise him4#fae ,jesus himself revealed this to ,st4 ,bridget1 whom the saint heard one day speaking to his mother1 and saying3 8,ask of me1 oh my mother1 whatever thou dost desire20#faf and the ,son is always in heaven saying this to ,mary1 pleased with granting his beloved mother whatever she asks4 ,but what does ,mary ask8 ,st4 ,bridget understood the mother to answer him3 ,i ask mercy for sinners3 8,misericordiam peto pro miseris40#fag ,as if she would say1 my ,son1 thou hast already destined me for the mother of mercy1 for the refuge of sinners1 for the advocate of the miserable1 now thou sayest to me that ,i may ask whatever ,i wish2 but what would ,i ask of thee8 ,i ask of thee that thou wilt have mercy on the sinner3 8,misericordiam peto pro miseris40 ,thou art1 oh ,mary1 so full of compassion1 ,st4 ,bonaventure tenderly says to her1 thou art so watchful to relieve the wretched1 that it seems thou hast no other desire1 no other concern than this4#fah ,and because1 among the wretched1 sinners are the most wretched of all1 the venerable ,bede affirms1 that ,mary is continually praying the ,son in behalf of sinners4#fai ,even whilst on earth ,mary was so kind and tender to men that1 as ,st4 ,jerome says1 there never was any person so afflicted by his own sufferings as ,mary by the sufferings of others4#fbj ,she plainly showed the compassion she feels for the sufferings of others at the nuptials of ,cana 7as has been mentioned in previous chapters71 where1 when the wine failed1 without being requested1 as ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna remarks1 she assumed the office of a kind comforter4#fba ,and from mere compassion for the troubles of that family1 she interceded with her ,son1 and obtained the miracle of changing the water into wine4 ,but1 perhaps1 says ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 since thou wast exalted to the dignity of queen of heaven1 thou hast forgotten the wretched2 and then he adds1 let this never be thought of--it does not belong to a mercy so great as that which reigns in the heart of ,mary1 to forget such misery as ours4#fbb ,the common proverb1 honors change customs1 8,honores mutant mores10 certainly does not apply to ,mary4 ,it1 indeed1 applies to worldlings who1 when raised to any dignity1 become inflated with pride1 and forget their old and poor friends3 but not to ,mary1 who rejoices in her greater exaltation1 because it gives her more power to assist others4 ,considering this point1 ,st4 ,bonaventure applies to the blessed ,virgin the words spoken to ,ruth3 8,blessed art thou1 my daughter1 and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former40#fbc ,meaning1 as he afterwards explains1 that if the pity of ,mary for the unhappy was great when she lived on earth1 much greater is it now when she is reigning in heaven4#fbd ,the saint gives the reason for this by saying1 that the divine mother shows now1 by the innumerable favors she obtains for us1 this her increased compassion1 because now she better understands our miseries4#fbe ,and he adds1 that as the splendor of the sun exceeds that of the moon1 so the mercy of ,mary1 now that she is in heaven1 exceeds the mercy she had for us when she was upon the earth4#fbf ,and is there any one living on the earth who does not enjoy the light of the sun8--any one on whom this mercy of ,mary does not shine8#fbg ,on this account she is called bright as the sun1 8,electa ut sol20#fbh because no one is shut out from the heat of this sun1#fbi as ,st4 ,bonaventure says4 ,and ,st4 ,agnes revealed this from heaven to ,st4 ,bridget1 when she said to her1 that our queen1 now that she is united with her ,son in heaven1 cannot forget her innate goodness2 hence she exercises her compassion towards all1 even towards the most impious sinners1 so that as both the celestial and terrestrial bodies are illuminated by the sun1 thus through the goodness of ,mary1 there is no one in the world who does not1 if he asks for it1 share in the divine mercy4#fcj ,a great and desperate sinner1 in the kingdom of ,valencia1 in order to escape justice1 had resolved to become a ,turk1 and was actually going to embark1 when by chance he passed a church1 in which ,father ,jerome ,lopez1 of the ,company of ,jesus1 was preaching1 and preaching of the divine mercy2 by that preaching he was converted1 and confessed to the father1 who inquired of him if he had practised any devotion1 for which ,god had shown towards him that great mercy2 he answered that he had practised no other devotion than praying the holy ,virgin every day not to abandon him4#fca ,the same ,father found in the hospital a sinner1 who for fifty-five years had never been to confession1 and had only practised this little devotion1 that when he saw an image of ,mary he saluted it1 and prayed to her that he might not die in mortal sin2 and then he related that in a quarrel with an enemy1 his sword was broken1 and he turned to the ,madonna saying3 8,alas1 ,i shall be slain1 and damned2 oh mother of sinners1 help me40 ,when he had said this1 he found himself1 he knew not how1 transported into a secure place4 ,he made a general confession1 and died full of confidence4#fcb ,st4 ,bernard writes that ,mary becomes all things to all men1 and opens to all the bowels of her mercy1 that all may receive of her2 the captive his freedom2 the sick man health2 the afflicted consolation2 the sinner pardon1 and ,god glory3 hence there is no one1 since she is the sun1 who does not partake of her warmth4#fcc ,and is there any one in the world1 exclaims ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who will not love this lovely queen8 ,she is more beautiful than the sun1 and sweeter than honey2 she is a treasure of goodness1 and is kind and courteous to all4#fcd ,i salute thee1 then1 thus the enamored saint goes on to say1 oh my ,lady and mother6 my heart6 my soul6 ,pardon me1 oh ,mary1 if ,i say that ,i love thee3 if ,i am not worthy of loving thee1 thou art truly worthy of being loved by me4#fce ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,gertrude1#fcf that when any one repeats with devotion these words to the ,virgin3 8,turn1 then1 towards us1 oh our advocate1 thy pitying eyes10#fcg ,mary never fails to listen to the prayer4 ,oh1 let the immensity of thy mercy1 oh great ,lady1 fill the whole earth1 exclaims ,st4 ,bernard4#fch ,whence ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that this loving mother has such a desire to do good to all1 that she feels herself offended not only by those who offer her some positive injury1 for there are souls to be found so perverse1 especially gamesters1 who sometimes1 to vent their anger1 blaspheme and insult this good ,lady1 but she looks upon herself as injured by those1 also1 who neglect to ask of her some favor4#fci ,so that1 as ,st4 ,idelbert says1 thou dost instruct us1 oh ,lady1 to expect favors greater than our merits1 for thou dost never cease to dispense graces that far exceed what we merit4#fdj ,the prophet ,isaias predicted that by the great work of human redemption1 a great throne of divine mercy would be prepared for us3 8,a throne shall be prepared in mercy40#fda ,who is this throne8 ,st4 ,bonaventure answers3 ,this throne is ,mary1 in whom all1 both the just and sinners1 find the consolations of mercy2#fdb and he afterwards adds3 ,as the ,lord is full of compassion1 so also is our ,lady2 and as the ,son1 so the mother cannot withhold her mercy from those who ask it4#fdc ,hence ,guerric1 the abbot1 represents ,jesus thus speaking to ,mary3 ,my mother1 upon thee ,i will establish the seat of my kingdom1 for through thee will ,i bestow the graces that are asked of me3 thou hast given me the human nature2 ,i will give to thee1 as it were1 a divine nature1 that is1 my omnipotence1 by which thou canst assist all who invoke thee to obtain their salvation4#fdd ,when ,st4 ,gertrude was one day devoutly repeating these words to the divine mother3 8,turn towards us thy merciful eyes10 she saw the ,virgin pointing to the eyes of her ,son whom she held in her arms1 and she said to her3 8,these are the most merciful eyes that ,i can turn towards all those who invoke me for their salvation40#fde ,a sinner once weeping before the altar of ,mary1 and imploring her to intercede with ,god for his pardon1 was given to understand that the blessed ,virgin turned to the child whom she held in her arms1 and said to him3 8,my son1 shall these tears be in vain80#fdf and he learned that ,jesus ,christ at once pardoned him4 ,and how can any one ever perish who recommends himself to this good mother1 when the ,son1 as ,god1 has promised1 for love of her1 to exercise mercy1 as far as it pleases her1 towards all those that have recourse to her8 ,precisely this our ,lord revealed to ,st4 ,bridget2 permitting her to hear these words which he spoke to ,mary3 8,by my omnipotence1 venerated mother1 ,i have granted thee the pardon of all sinners1 in whatever way it pleases thee1 who devoutly invoke the aid of thy mercy40#fdg ,hence the ,abbot ,adam ,persenius1 considering the great compassion that ,mary has for all1 full of confidence says to her3 ,oh mother of mercy1 thy power is as great as thy pity4 ,as thou art powerful to obtain1 so thou art merciful to pardon4#fdh ,and when1 he adds1 dost thou ever fail to have compassion on sinners1 being the mother of mercy2 or art thou unable to help them1 being mother of omnipotence8 ,ah1 thou canst as readily obtain whatever thou wilt1 as thou canst listen to our woes4#fdi ,satiate thyself1 then1 says the ,abbot ,rupert1 satiate thyself1 oh great queen1 with the glory of thy ,son1 and through thy compassion1 not certainly through our merit1 be pleased to send down to us1 thy poor servants here below1 whatever fragments may remain4#fej ,if our sins ever throw us into despair1 let us say with ,william of ,paris3 ,oh ,lady1 do not bring forward my sins against me1 for ,i shall bring forward thy mercy in opposition to them4 ,and let it never be said that my sins can rival1 in the judgment1 thy mercy1 which is more powerful to obtain my pardon1 than my sins are to obtain my condemnation4#fea ,,example4 ,we read in the chronicles of the ,capuchin ,fathers1#feb that there lived in ,venice a celebrated advocate1 who1 by fraud and evil practices1 had become rich4 ,his whole life was very bad1 and it appears that he had but one good habit1 that of reciting every day a certain prayer to the holy ,virgin4 ,yet1 even this little devotion saved him from eternal death1 through the mercy of ,mary4 ,it happened in this way3 ,happily for himself1 he had a great esteem for ,father ,matthew da ,basso1 and urged him so much to come and dine at his house1 that one day the ,father gave him this pleasure4 ,having arrived1 the advocate said to him3 8,now1 ,father1 ,i will show you something that you have never seen4 ,i have a wonderful ape1 who is my valet1 washes my glasses1 lays the table1 and opens the door40 8,this may not be an ape10 answered the ,father3 8it may be something more than an ape2 order him to come here40 ,the ape was called again and again1 search was made for him everywhere1 and he could not be found4 ,at length1 he was discovered hidden under a bed in the lower part of the house1 but he would not come out4 8,come1 then10 said the religious1 8let us go and see him30 and he went with the advocate to his hiding-place4 8,infernal beast10 he said1 8come forth1 and in the name of ,god ,i command you to tell me what you are40 ,and behold1 the ape answered that he was the devil1 and that he was waiting until that sinner should omit some day to recite his accustomed prayer to the mother of ,god2 for the first time he should omit it1 ,god had given him leave to strangle him1 and take him to hell4 ,at these words the advocate cast himself upon his knees to ask help of the servant of ,god1 who encouraged him1 and commanded the devil to depart from that house without committing any injury1 only he gave him permission1 as a sign that he had really gone1 to break a piece of the wall4 ,scarcely had he finished speaking1 when1 with a great crash1 a hole was made in the wall1 which1 although it was several times closed with stone and mortar1 ,god willed that it should remain open for a long time2 until1 by the advice of the servant of ,god1 it was filled up with a slab of marble1 with an angel carved on it4 ,the advocate was converted1 and1 it is to be hoped1 persevered until death in his new course of life4 ,,prayer4 ,oh creature1 among all others the greatest and most sublime1 most holy ,virgin1 ,i from this earth salute thee2 ,i1 a miserable1 unhappy rebel to my ,god1 who deserve punishment and not favors1 justice and not mercy4 ,oh ,lady1 ,i do not say this because ,i distrust thy mercy4 ,i know that thou dost glory in being merciful as thou art great4 ,i know that thou dost rejoice in being so rich1 that thou mayest share thy riches with us sinners4 ,i know that the more wretched are those who seek thee1 the greater is thy desire to help and save them4 ,oh my mother1 it is thou who once did weep for thy ,son when he died for me4 ,offer1 ,i pray thee1 thy tears to ,god1 and with these obtain for me a true sorrow for my sins4 ,so much did sinners grieve thee1 then1 and so much did ,i1 too1 grieve thee by my iniquities4 ,obtain for me1 oh ,mary1 that ,i at least from henceforth may no longer continue to afflict thee and thy ,son by my ingratitude4 ,what will thy tears avail me if ,i should continue to be ungrateful to thee8 ,what would thy mercy avail me if ,i should again be faithless and be lost8 ,no1 my queen1 do not permit it4 ,thou hast supplied all my deficiencies2 thou canst obtain from ,god whatever thou wilt2 thou graciously hearest every one that prays to thee4 ,these two favors do ,i ask of thee1 and at all events from thee do ,i hope and desire them3 namely1 that thou wilt obtain for me to be faithful to ,god by never more offending him1 and to love him as much as ,i have offended him during the life that remains to me4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,et ,,jesum ,,benedictum ,,fructum ,,ventris ,,tui ,,nobis ,,post ,,hoc ,,exilium ,,ostende4 ,and after this our exile1 show us the blessed fruit of thy womb1 ,jesus4 ,,section ,i4 ,,mary ,,rescues ,,her ,,servants ,,from ,,hell4 ,it is impossible that a servant of ,mary who faithfully honors her and recommends himself to her should be lost4 ,this proposition at first sight may appear to some persons extravagant4 ,but ,i would beg them not to condemn it before reading what will hereafter be said on this point4 ,when it is said that a devoted servant of ,mary cannot be lost1 those servants are not intended who abuse their devotion by sinning with less fear4 ,therefore it is unjust to say1 as some do who disapprove extolling the mercy of ,mary to sinners1 that by so doing they are encouraged to sin the more2 for such presumptuous persons for their presumption merit punishment and not mercy4 ,it is understood1 then only of those of her servants who1 with the desire to amend1 faithfully honor and commend themselves to the mother of ,god4 ,that these should be lost is1 ,i say1 morally impossible4 ,and ,i find ,father ,crasset has affirmed the same thing in his book upon devotion to ,mary2#fec and before him ,vega1#fed ,mendoza1#fee and other theologians4 ,and that we may know that they have not spoken unadvisedly1 let us see what the ,doctors and ,saints have said on this subject4 ,let no one be surprised if ,i here quote several sentences1 of different authors1 containing the same thing2 for ,i have wished to record them all1 in order to show how unanimously all writers agree on this point4 ,st4 ,anselm says1 that as he who is not devoted to ,mary and protected by her cannot be saved1 so it is impossible that he should be condemned who recommends himself to the ,virgin1 and is regarded by her with affection4#fef ,st4 ,antoninus asserts the same thing in nearly the same words3 ,as it is impossible that those from whom ,mary turns away her eyes of compassion should be saved1 so it must be that all those towards whom she turns her eyes1 and for whom she intercedes1 shall be saved and glorified4#feg ,this saint adds1 then1 that the servants of ,mary must necessarily be saved4 ,let us note1 however1 the first part of the statements of these saints1 and let those tremble who little esteem1 or abandon through negligence1 devotion to this divine mother4 ,they say that it is impossible for those to be saved who are not protected by ,mary4 ,and this is also asserted by others1 as the blessed ,albertus ,magnus3 ,all those who are not thy servants1 oh ,mary1 shall perish3 8,gens qu non servierit tibi peribit40#feh ,st4 ,bonaventure1 too3 ,he who neglects the service of ,mary shall die in sin4#fei ,and in another place3 ,he who has not recourse to thee1 oh ,lady1 will not reach paradise4#ffj ,and on ,psalm xcix4 the saint goes so far as to say that those from whom ,mary turns away her face1 not only will not be saved1 but can have no hope of salvation4#ffa ,and before this ,st4 ,ignatius1 the martyr1 said the same thing1 asserting that a sinner cannot be saved except by means of the holy ,virgin1 who1 on the other hand1 saves by her merciful intercession many that would be condemned by the divine justice4#ffb ,some persons doubt whether this passage is from ,st4 ,ignatius2 at least ,father ,crasset says that ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom has adopted it as his own4#ffc ,it is also repeated by the ,abbot of ,celles4#ffd ,and in the same sense the holy ,church applies to ,mary these words of ,proverbs3 ,all that hate me love death3 8,omnes qui me oderunt1 diligunt mortem40#ffe ,for1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says1 commenting on the words3 ,she is like the merchant's ship3#fff all those who are out of this ship shall be submerged in the sea of this world4#ffg ,even the heretic colampadius esteemed neglect of devotion in any one to the mother of ,god as a certain sign of reprobation2 hence1 he said3 ,let it never be heard of me that ,i am averse to ,mary1 to be ill affected towards whom ,i should think a certain sign of a reprobate mind4#ffh ,on the other hand1 ,mary says3 ,he that hearkeneth to me shall not be confounded4#ffi ,he who has recourse to me1 and listens to what ,i say to him1 shall not be lost4 ,from which ,st4 ,bonaventure said3 ,oh1 ,lady1 those who are mindful to honor thee1 shall be far from perdition4#fgj ,even when1 as ,st4 ,hilary says1 they have hitherto deeply offended ,god4#fga ,hence the devil strives so hard with sinners1 in order that1 having lost divine grace1 they may also lose devotion to ,mary4 ,sarah1 seeing ,isaac playing with ,ishmael1 who was teaching him evil habits1 asked ,abraham to send him away1 and his mother ,agar also3 8,cast out this bond-woman and her son40#fgb ,she was not satisfied that the son alone should leave the house without the mother1 fearing lest the son would come to visit his mother1 and thus continue to frequent the house4 ,in like manner1 the devil is not satisfied with seeing ,jesus cast out from a soul1 if he does not see the mother also cast out3 8,cast out this bond-woman and her son40 ,otherwise he fears that the mother1 by her intercession1 may again obtain the return of her son4 ,and he has cause to fear1 for as the learned ,father ,paciucchelli remarks3 ,he who is faithful in honoring the mother of ,god1 through ,mary1 will soon receive him4#fgc ,therefore rightly was the devotion to our ,lady called by ,st4 ,ephrem3 ,the passport of escape from hell3 8,charta libertatis40#fgd ,the divine mother was also named by him3 ,the protectress of the condemned3 8,patrocinatrix damnatorum40 ,and with truth ,st4 ,bernard says1 that ,mary is neither wanting in the power nor the will to save us4#fge ,not in the power1 because it is impossible that her prayers should not be heard1 as ,st4 ,antoninus asserts2#fgf and ,st4 ,bonaventure says also1 that her requests cannot be unavailing1 but obtain for her what she wishes3 ,quod qurit invenit et frustrari non potest4#fgg ,not in the will to save us1 for ,mary is our mother1 and desires our salvation more than we desire it ourselves4 ,if this is then true1 how can it ever happen that a servant of ,mary should be lost8 ,he may be a sinner1 but if1 with perseverance and a desire for amendment1 he commends himself to this good mother1 she will take care to obtain for him light to guide him out of his bad state1 contrition for his sins1 perseverance in goodness1 and finally a good death4 ,and is there any mother who would not rescue her child from death1 if she could do it by praying his judge for mercy8 ,and can we believe that ,mary1 the most loving mother possible to her servants1 would fail to rescue one of them from eternal death1 when she can do it so easily8 ,ah1 devout reader1 let us thank the ,lord1 if we find that he has given us the love of the queen of heaven1 and confidence in her2 for ,god1 as ,st4 ,john ,damascene says1 does not grant this grace except to those whom he wishes to save4 ,these are the beautiful words of the saint1 with which he would quicken his own and our hope3 ,oh mother of ,god1 if ,i place my confidence in thee ,i shall be saved4 ,if ,i am under thy protection1 ,i have nothing to fear1 because to be thy servant is to have certain arms of salvation1 which ,god only grants to those whom he will save4#fgh ,hence ,erasmus thus salutes the ,virgin3 ,hail1 terror of hell6 hail1 hope of ,christians6 confidence in thee secures salvation4#fgi ,oh1 how much it grieves the devil to see a soul persevering in its devotion to the divine mother6 ,we read in the life of ,father ,alphonsus ,alvarez1 who had a special devotion to ,mary1 that being in prayer1 and finding himself tormented by impure temptations with which the devil afflicted him1 the enemy said to him3 ,quit thy devotion to ,mary1 and ,i will cease to tempt thee4 ,the ,lord revealed to ,st4 ,catherine of ,sienna1 as we read in ,blosius1 that he1 in his goodness1 had granted to ,mary1 from love to his only begotten ,son1 whose mother she is1 that not even one sinner1 who commends himself devoutly to her1 should be the prey of hell4#fhj ,the ,prophet ,david1 too1 prayed to be rescued from hell1 for the honor in which he held ,mary3 8,i have loved1 oh ,lord1 the beauty of thy house2 take not away my soul with the wicked40#fha ,he says of thy house1 8,domus tu10 because ,mary was1 indeed1 that house of ,god1 which he himself1 when he became man1 built on this earth for his habitation1 and for the place of his rest1 as we read in ,proverbs3 ,wisdom hath built herself a house4#fhb ,no1 he surely will not be lost1 says ,st4 ,ignatius1 the martyr1 who is constant in his devotion to this virgin mother4#fhc ,and this is confirmed by ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who says3 ,oh ,lady1 those who love thee enjoy great peace in this life1 and in the other they shall not see eternal death4#fhd ,no1 for it never did1 and never will happen1 as the devout ,blosius assures us1 that an humble and constant servant of ,mary will be lost4#fhe ,oh1 how many would have been eternally condemned1 or remained in obstinacy1 if ,mary had not interceded with her ,son to exercise mercy6 ,thus says ,thomas ,kempis4#fhf ,and it is the opinion of many doctors1 especially of ,st4 ,thomas1 that the divine mother has obtained from ,god a reprieve for many persons who had even died in mortal sin1 and their return to life to do penance4 ,we have many examples of this given by writers of good authority4 ,among others1 ,flodoard1 who lived about the ninth century1 narrates1 in his chronicles1#fhg that one ,adelman1 a deacon1 who appeared to be dead1 was about to be buried1 when he returned to life1 and said1 that he had seen the place in hell to which he had already been condemned2 but that1 through the intercession of the blessed ,virgin1 he had been sent back to earth to do penance4 ,surius also relates1 that a ,roman citizen1 named ,andrew1 had died without doing penance1 and that ,mary had obtained his return to life that he might procure pardon4#fhh ,pelbart1 moreover1 relates1 that in his time1 when the ,emperor ,sigismund was crossing the ,alps with his army1 a voice was heard1 proceeding from a dead body1 of which only the bones remained1 asking for confession1 and saying1 that the mother of ,god1 to whom he had been devoted whilst he was a soldier1 had obtained for him that he should live in those bones until he had made his confession4 ,having confessed1 he died4#fhi ,these and similar examples must not serve as encouragement for some rash person who would live in sin1 in the hope that ,mary would free him from hell1 even if he should die in sin2 for as it would be a great folly to throw one's self into a well1 in the hope that ,mary would save us from death1 because the ,virgin has rescued some persons under similar circumstances2 thus a greater folly would it be for one to run the risk of dying in sin1 on the presumption that the holy ,virgin would rescue him from hell4 ,but these examples should serve to strengthen our confidence by the consideration1 that if the intercession of this divine mother could deliver those from hell--even those who have died in sin--how much more will it prevent those from falling into hell who in life have recourse to her with the intention to amend and serve her faithfully8 ,then1 oh our mother1 let us say with ,st4 ,germanus3 ,what will become of us who are sinners1 but who wish to amend and have recourse to thee1 who art the life of ,christians8#fij ,let us1 oh ,lady1 hear what ,st4 ,anselm says of thee1 that he will not be lost for whom thou hast once offered thy prayers4#fia ,pray1 then1 for us1 and we shall be saved from hell4 ,who will tell me1 says ,richard of ,victor1 that when ,i am presented at the divine tribunal1 the ,judge will not be favorable to me1 if ,i shall have thee to defend my cause1 oh mother of mercy8#fib ,and the blessed ,henry ,suso declared1 that he had placed his soul in the care of ,mary1 and he said1 that if the ,judge wished to condemn him1 he would have the sentence pass through the hands of ,mary4#fic ,for he hoped that when the sentence of condemnation should fall into the kind hands of the ,virgin1 its execution would certainly be prevented4 ,i ask and hope the same for myself1 oh my most holy queen4 ,whence ,i will always repeat with ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,oh ,lady1 in thee ,i have placed all my hopes1 therefore ,i securely hope not to be lost1 but safe in heaven to praise and love thee forever4#fid ,,example4 ,in the year #afjd there lived in a city of ,flanders two young students1 who1 instead of attending to their studies1 gave themselves up to excesses and dissipation4 ,one night1 having gone to the house of a woman of ill fame1 one of them1 named ,richard1 after some time returned home1 but the other remained4 ,richard having gone home1 was undressing to go to rest1 when he remembered that he had not recited that day1 as usual1 some 8,hail ,marys40 ,he was oppressed with sleep and very weary1 yet he roused himself and recited them1 although without devotion1 and only half awake4 ,he then went to bed1 and having just fallen asleep1 he heard a loud knocking at the door1 and immediately after1 before he had time to open it1 he saw before him his companion1 with a hideous and ghastly appearance4 8,who are you80 he said to him4 8,do you not know me80 answered the other4 8,but what has so changed you8 you seem like a demon40 8,alas60 exclaimed this poor wretch1 8,i am damned40 8,and how is this80 8,know10 he said1 8that when ,i came out of that infamous house1 a devil attacked me and strangled me4 ,my body lies in the middle of the street1 and my soul is in hell4 ,know that my punishment would also have been yours1 but the blessed ,virgin1 on account of those few #8,hail ,marys' said in her honor1 has saved you4 ,happy will it be for you1 if you know how to avail yourself of this warning1 that the mother of ,god sends you through me40 ,after these words he opened his cloak1 showed the fire and serpents that were consuming him1 and then disappeared4 ,then the youth1 bursting into a flood of tears1 threw himself with his face on the ground1 to thank ,mary1 his deliverer1 and while he was revolving in his mind a change of life1 he hears the matin bell of a neighboring ,franciscan ,monastery4 8,it is there10 he exclaimed1 8that ,god calls me to do penance40 ,he went immediately to the convent to beg the fathers to receive him4 ,knowing how bad his life had been1 they objected4 ,but after he had related the circumstance which had brought him there1 weeping bitterly all the while1 two of the fathers went out to search in the street1 and actually found there the dead body of his companion1 having the marks of strangulation1 and black as a coal4 ,whereupon the young man was received4 ,richard from that time led an exemplary life4 ,he went into ,india to preach the faith2 from thence passed to ,japan1 and finally had the good fortune and received the grace of dying a martyr for ,jesus ,christ1 by being burned alive4#fie ,,prayer4 ,oh ,mary6 oh my most dear mother6 in what an abyss of evil ,i should find myself1 if thou1 with thy kind hand1 hadst not so often preserved me6 ,yea1 how many years should ,i already have been in hell1 if thou1 with thy powerful prayers1 hadst not rescued me6 ,my grievous sins were hurrying me there2 divine justice had already condemned me2 the raging demons were waiting to execute the sentence2 but thou didst appear1 oh mother1 not invoked nor asked by me1 and hast saved me4 ,oh my dear deliverer1 what return can ,i make thee for so much grace and so much love8 ,thou hast overcome the hardness of my heart1 and hast drawn me to love thee and confide in thee4 ,and oh1 into what an abyss of evils ,i afterwards should have fallen1 if thou1 with thy kind hand1 hadst not so many times protected me from the dangers into which ,i was on the brink of falling6 ,continue1 oh my hope1 continue to save me from hell1 but first of all from the sins into which ,i might again fall4 ,do not permit that ,i shall have to curse thee in hell4 ,my beloved ,lady1 ,i love thee1 and how can thy goodness endure to see one of thy servants who loves thee1 lost8 ,ah1 obtain for me the grace to be no longer ungrateful to thee and to my ,god1 who for love of thee hath granted me so many favors4 ,oh ,mary1 what dost thou say to me8 ,shall ,i be lost8 ,i shall be lost if ,i leave thee4 ,but who will any more venture to forsake thee8 ,shall ,i ever forget thy love for me8 ,thou1 after ,god1 art the love of my soul4 ,i dare live no longer without loving thee4 ,i bless thee6 ,i love thee6 and ,i hope that ,i shall always love thee in time and in eternity1 oh creature most beautiful6 most holy6 most sweet6 most amiable of all creatures in this world6 ,amen4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,mary ,,assists ,,her ,,servants ,,in ,,purgatory4 ,too happy are the servants of this most kind mother1 since not only in this world they are aided by her1 but also in purgatory they are assisted and consoled by her protection4 ,for succor being there more needed1 because they are in torment and cannot help themselves1 so much the more does this mother of mercy strive to help them4 ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says1 that in that prison of souls who are spouses of ,jesus ,christ1 ,mary has a certain dominion and plenitude of power to relieve them1 as well as deliver them from their pains4#fif ,and1 in the first place1 as to relieving them1 the same saint1 applying the words of ,ecclesiasticus3 ,i have walked in the waves of the sea3 8,in fluctibus maris ambulavi10#fig adds1 visiting and relieving the necessities and sufferings of my servants1 who are my children4#fih ,st4 ,bernardine says1 that the pains of purgatory are called waves1 because they are transitory1 unlike the pains of hell1 which never end2 and they are called waves of the sea1 because they are very bitter pains4 ,the servants of ,mary tormented by those pains are often visited and succored by her4 ,see1 then1 how important it is1 says ,novarino1 to be a servant of this good ,lady2 for she never forgets such when they are suffering in those flames4 ,and although ,mary succors all the souls in purgatory1 yet she always obtains more indulgences and alleviations for those who have been especially devoted to her4#fii ,this divine mother1 in her revelations to ,st4 ,bridget1 said3 8,i am the mother of all the souls in purgatory2 and all the sufferings which they merit for the sins committed in life are every hour1 while they remain there1 alleviated in some measure by my prayers40#gjj ,this kind mother sometimes condescends even to enter into that holy prison1 to visit and console these her afflicted children4 ,i have penetrated into the bottom of the deep3 8,profundum abyssi penetravi10 as we read in ,ecclesiasticus2#gja and ,st4 ,bonaventure1 applying these words1 adds3 ,i have penetrated the depth of this abyss1 that is1 of purgatory1 to relieve by my presence those holy souls4#gjb ,oh1 how kind and beneficent is the holy ,virgin to those who are suffering in purgatory6 says ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer2 through her they receive continual consolation and refreshment4#gjc ,and what other consolation have they in their sufferings than ,mary1 and the help of this mother of mercy8 ,st4 ,bridget one day heard ,jesus saying to his mother3 8,thou art my mother1 thou art the mother of mercy1 thou art the consoler of those who are in purgatory40#gjd ,and the blessed ,virgin herself said to ,st4 ,bridget1 that as a poor sick person1 suffering and deserted on his bed1 feels himself refreshed by some word of consolation1 so those souls feel themselves consoled in hearing only her name4#gje ,the name alone of ,mary1 a name of hope and salvation1 which these beloved children often invoke in that prison1 is for them a great comfort4 ,but1 then1 says ,novarino1 the loving mother1 on hearing herself invoked by them1 adds her prayers to ,god1 by which these souls receive comfort1 and find their burning pains cooled as if by dew from heaven4#gjf ,but not only does ,mary console and succor her servants in purgatory2 she also releases them from this prison1 and delivers them by her intercession4 ,from the day of her glorious assumption1 in which that prison is said to have been emptied1#gjg as ,gerson writes2 and ,novarino confirms this by saying1 that many weighty authors relate that ,mary1 when about to ascend to paradise1 asked this favor of her ,son1 that she might take with her all the souls that were then in purgatory2#gjh from that time1 says ,gerson1 the blessed ,virgin has possessed the privilege of freeing her servants from those pains4 ,and this also is positively asserted by ,st4 ,bernardine1 who says that the blessed ,virgin has the power of delivering souls from purgatory by her prayers and the application of her merits1 especially if they have been devoted to her4#gji ,and ,novarino says the same thing1 believing that by the merits of ,mary1 not only the torments of these souls are assuaged1 but also abridged1 the time of their purgation being shortened by her intercession3#gaj and for this it is enough that she presents herself to pray for them4 ,st4 ,peter ,damian relates1#gaa that a certain lady1 named ,marozia1 after death1 appeared to her godmother1 and told her that on the day of the ,assumption of ,mary she had been released by her from purgatory1 with a multitude of souls exceeding in number the whole population of ,rome4 ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian relates1 that on the festivals of the birth and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 ,mary descends into purgatory1 accompanied by troops of angels1 and releases many souls from their torments4#gab ,and ,novarino believes that the same thing happens on every solemn festival of the holy ,virgin4#gac ,every one has heard of the promise made by ,mary to ,pope ,john1 to whom she appeared1 and ordered him to make known to all those who should wear the sacred scapular of ,carmel1 that on the ,saturday after their death they should be released from purgatory4 ,and this was proclaimed by the same pontiff1 as ,father ,crasset relates1#gad in a bull which he published4 ,it was also confirmed by ,alexander ,v41 ,clement ,,vii41 ,pius ,v41 ,gregory ,,xiii41 and ,paul ,v41 who1 in #afab1 in a bull said3 8,that ,christians may piously believe that the blessed ,virgin will aid by her continual intercession1 by her merits and special protection1 after death1 and principally on ,saturday1 which is a day consecrated by the ,church to the blessed ,virgin1 the souls of the members of the confraternity of holy ,mary of ,mount ,carmel1 who shall have departed this life in the state of grace1 worn the scapular1 observing chastity according to their state of life1 recited the office of the ,virgin1 and if they have not been able to recite it1 shall have observed the fasts of the ,church1 abstaining from flesh-meat on ,wednesdays1 except on ,christmas-day40 ,and in the solemn office of the feast of holy ,mary of ,mount ,carmel1 we read that it is piously believed1 that the holy ,virgin1 with a mother's love1 consoles the members of the confraternity of ,mount ,carmel in purgatory1 and by her intercession conducts them to their heavenly country4#gae ,why should we not also hope for the same graces and favors1 if we are devoted to this good mother8 ,and if with more special love we serve her1 why cannot we hope to obtain the grace of going immediately after death to paradise1 without entering into purgatory8 as we read that the holy ,virgin said to the blessed ,godfrey1 through brother ,abondo1 in these words3 8,go and tell brother ,godfrey to advance in virtue1 for thus he will be a child of my ,son1 and mine also2 and when his soul quits the body1 ,i will not permit it to go to purgatory1 but ,i will take it and present it to my ,son40#gaf ,and if we would assist the holy souls in purgatory1 let us endeavor to remember them in all our prayers to the blessed ,virgin1 applying to them especially the holy rosary1 which procures for them great relief1 as we read in the following example4 ,,example4 ,father ,eusebius ,nierembergh relates1#gag that there lived in the city of ,aragona a girl1 named ,alexandra1 who1 being noble and very beautiful1 was greatly loved by two young men4 ,through jealousy1 they one day fought and killed each other4 ,their enraged relatives1 in return1 killed the poor young girl1 as the cause of so much trouble1 cut off her head1 and threw her into a well4 ,a few days after1 ,st4 ,dominic was passing through that place1 and1 inspired by the ,lord1 approached the well1 and said3 8,alexandra1 come forth10 and immediately the head of the deceased came forth1 placed itself on the edge of the well1 and prayed ,st4 ,dominic to hear its confession4 ,the saint heard its confession1 and also gave it communion1 in presence of a great concourse of persons who had assembled to witness the miracle4 ,then1 ,st4 ,dominic ordered her to speak and tell why she had received that grace4 ,alexandra answered1 that when she was beheaded1 she was in a state of mortal sin1 but that the most holy ,mary1 on account of the rosary1 which she was in the habit of reciting1 had preserved her in life4 ,two days the head retained its life upon the edge of the well1 in the presence of all1 and then the soul went to purgatory4 ,but fifteen days after1 the soul of ,alexandra appeared to ,st4 ,dominic1 beautiful and radiant as a star1 and told him1 that one of the principal sources of relief to the souls in purgatory is the rosary which is recited for them2 and that1 as soon as they arrive in paradise1 they pray for those who apply to them these powerful prayers4 ,having said this1 ,st4 ,dominic saw that happy soul ascending in triumph to the kingdom of the blessed4 ,,prayer4 ,oh ,queen of heaven and of earth1 oh mother of the ,lord of the world1 oh ,mary1 creature most great1 most exalted1 most amiable1 it is true that many on the earth do not love thee and do not know thee2 but there are innumerable angels and saints in heaven who love and praise thee continually4 ,on this earth1 too1 how many happy souls burn with love of thee1 and live enamored of thy goodness6 ,ah1 if ,i1 too1 might love thee1 my most lovely ,lady6 ,oh1 that ,i might always be engaged in serving thee1 in praising thee1 in honoring thee1 and in striving to awaken love of thee in others4 ,a ,god hath been enamored of thee1 who1 by thy beauty1 if ,i may so speak1 hast drawn him from the bosom of the eternal ,father1 to come upon the earth and become man and thy ,son2 and ,i1 a miserable worm1 shall ,i not be enamored of thee8 ,yes1 my most sweet mother1 ,i also will love thee1 love thee much1 and do all in my power to make thee loved by others4 ,accept1 then1 oh ,mary1 the desire ,i have to love thee1 and help me to fulfil it3 ,i know that thy lovers are regarded with much favor by thy ,god4 ,next to his own glory1 he desires nothing more than thy glory1 in seeing thee honored and loved by all4 ,from thee1 oh ,lady1 ,i await all my blessings4 ,thou must obtain the pardon of all my sins1 thou must obtain for me perseverance1 succor in death1 deliverance from purgatory1 in a word1 thou must conduct me to paradise4 ,all this thy lovers hope from thee1 and they are not deceived4 ,this ,i also hope1 who love thee with all my heart1 and above all things next to ,god4 ,,section ,,iii4 ,,mary ,,conducts ,,her ,,servants ,,to ,,paradise4 ,oh1 what a signal mark of predestination have the servants of ,mary6 ,the holy ,church applies to this divine mother the words of ,ecclesiasticus1 and makes her say for the comfort of her servants3 8,in all these ,i sought rest1 and ,i shall abide in the inheritance of the ,lord40#gah ,cardinal ,hugo1 commenting on this1 remarks3 ,blessed is he in whose habitation the holy ,virgin found rest3 8,beatus in cujus domo beat ,virgo requiem invenerit40 ,mary1 through the love she bears to all1 seeks to make devotion to her prevail in all hearts4 ,many do not receive it1 or do not preserve it2 blessed is he who receives it and preserves it4 ,in the inheritance of the ,lord will ,i abide2 that is1 adds the learned ,paciucchelli1 in those who are the inheritance of the ,lord4#gai ,devotion to the ,virgin abides in all those who are the inheritance of the ,lord1 that is1 who will be in heaven praising him eternally4 ,mary continues in the passage above cited3 8,he that made me1 rested in my tabernacle1 and he said to me3 ,let thy dwelling be in ,jacob1 and thy inheritance in ,israel1 and take root in my elect40#gbj ,my ,creator has condescended to come and rest in my bosom1 and has willed that ,i should inhabit in the hearts of all the elect1 whom ,jacob prefigured1 and who are the inheritance of the ,virgin2 and he has ordained that devotion to me and confidence in me should take root in the hearts of the elect4 ,oh1 how many would have failed of being among the blessed in heaven1 if ,mary1 by her powerful intercession1 had not conducted them thither6 8,i made that in the heavens there should rise light that never faileth20#gba thus ,cardinal ,hugo puts into her mouth these words of the same chapter of ,ecclesiasticus3 ,i have made to shine in heaven as many eternal lights as ,i have devoted servants4 ,whence the same author adds1 commenting on this text3 ,many saints are in heaven by her intercession1 who never would have been there without it4#gbb ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that the gate of heaven will be opened to receive all those who trust in the protection of ,mary4#gbc ,hence ,st4 ,ephrem called devotion to the divine mother the opening of paradise4#gbd ,and the devout ,blosius1 addressing the ,virgin1 says to her3 ,lady1 to thee are committed the keys and the treasures of the heavenly kingdom4#gbe ,and1 therefore1 we should continually supplicate her in the words of ,st4 ,ambrose3 ,open to us1 oh ,virgin1 heaven1 for thou hast the keys of it4#gbf ,nay1 thou art even the gate of it1 as the holy ,church names thee1 8,janua cli40 ,for this reason the great mother is also called by the holy ,church3 ,star of the sea3 8,ave1 ,maris stella40 ,for as navigators1 says the angelic ,st4 ,thomas1 are guided to port by means of a star1 thus ,christians are guided to heaven by means of ,mary4#gbg ,she is for this reason1 finally1 called by ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 the ladder of heaven3 8,scala clestis20 for1 as the saint says1 by means of ,mary ,god has descended from heaven to earth1 that by the same1 or by her1 men might merit to ascend from earth to heaven4#gbh ,and for this reason1 oh ,lady1 says ,st4 ,anastasius1 thou art full of grace1 that thou mightest be made the way of our salvation1 and the ascent to the celestial country4#gbi ,st4 ,bernard calls the blessed ,virgin3 ,the vehicle to heaven3 8,vehiculum ad clum40 ,and ,st4 ,john the ,geometrician salutes her3 ,hail1 most noble chariot3 8,salve clarissime currus20 by which her servants are conducted to heaven4 ,and1 ,st4 ,bonaventure addresses her thus3 ,blessed are those who know thee1 oh mother of ,god6 for to know thee is the path to immortal life1 and to publish thy virtues is the way to eternal salvation4#gcj ,in the ,franciscan chronicles#gca it is related of brother ,leo1 that he once saw a red ladder1 upon which ,jesus ,christ was standing1 and a white one1 upon which stood his holy mother4 ,he saw persons attempting to ascend the red ladder2 they ascended a few steps and then fell2 they ascended again1 and again fell4 ,then they were exhorted to ascend the white ladder1 and on that he saw them succeed1 for the blessed ,virgin offered them her hand1 and they arrived in that manner safe in paradise4 ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian asks3 ,who will ever be saved8 ,who will ever reign in heaven8 ,they are saved1 and will certainly reign1 he himself answers1 for whom this queen of mercy offers her prayers4#gcb ,and this ,mary herself affirms3 ,by me kings reign3 8,per me reges regnant40#gcc ,through my intercession souls reign first in the mortal life on this earth1 by governing their passions1 and then they go to reign eternally in heaven1 where1 as ,st4 ,augustine declares1 all are kings3 8,quot cives1 tot reges40 ,mary1 in a word1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says1 is the mistress of paradise1 since there she commands according to her pleasure1 and introduces into it whom she will4 ,therefore1 applying to her the words of ,ecclesiasticus1 he adds3 8,my power is in ,jerusalem30#gcd ,i command what ,i will1 and introduce whom ,i will4#gce ,and as she is the mother of the ,lord of paradise1 she is with reason1 also1 says ,rupert1 the ,lady of paradise4 ,she possesses1 by right1 the whole kingdom of her ,son4#gcf ,this divine mother1 with her powerful prayers and assistance1 has obtained for us paradise1 if we place no obstacle to our entrance there4#gcg ,wherefore those who are servants of ,mary1 and for whom ,mary intercedes1 are as secure of paradise as if they were already there4#gch ,to serve ,mary and to belong to her court1 adds ,st4 ,john of ,damascus1 is the greatest honor we can attain2 for to serve the queen of heaven is to reign already in heaven1 and to live in obedience to her commands is more than to reign4#gci ,on the other hand1 he says that those who do not serve ,mary will not be saved2 whilst those who are deprived of the support of this great mother1 are deprived of the succor of the ,son1 and of all the celestial court4#gdj ,forever praised be the infinite goodness of our ,god who has constituted ,mary our advocate in heaven1 that she1 as mother of the judge and mother of mercy may efficaciously1 by her intercession1 order the great affair of our eternal salvation4 ,this sentiment is taken from ,st4 ,bernard4#gda ,and ,james the ,monk1 esteemed a doctor among the ,greek fathers1 says that ,god has made ,mary a bridge of salvation1 by which we are enabled to pass over the waves of this world1 and reach the blessed port of paradise4#gdb ,hence ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaims3 ,hear1 oh ye people who desire paradise2 serve and honor ,mary1 and you will certainly find life eternal4#gdc ,not even those who deserve hell should despair of attaining the kingdom of the blessed1 if they faithfully devote themselves to the service of this queen4 ,sinners1 says ,st4 ,germanus1 have sought to find ,god by thy means1 oh ,mary1 and have been saved6#gdd ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence remarks that ,mary is said by ,st4 ,john to be crowned with stars4#gde ,on the other hand1 in the sacred ,canticles1 the ,virgin is said to be crowned with wild beasts1 lions and panthers3 8,come from ,libanus1 my spouse1 come from ,libanus1 come2 thou shalt be crowned from the dens of the lions1 from the mountains of the leopards40#gdf ,what does this signify8 ,richard answers that those wild beasts are those sinners1 who1 through the favor and intercession of ,mary1 have become stars of paradise1 which are a crown more worthy of this queen of mercy1 than all the material stars of heaven4#gdg ,the servant of the ,lord1 sister ,seraphina da ,capri1 as we read in her life1 in her prayers to the most holy ,virgin during the ,novena of her assumption1 asked of her the conversion of a thousand sinners2 but as she feared that her demands were too extravagant1 the ,virgin appeared to her1 and reproved her for this her vain fear1 saying to her3 8,why do you fear8 am ,i not powerful enough to obtain for thee from my ,son the salvation of a thousand sinners8 ,behold them1 ,i have already obtained it40 ,she then led her in spirit to paradise1 and there showed her the souls of innumerable sinners who had merited hell1 and had afterwards been saved by her intercession1 and were already enjoying eternal bliss4 ,it is true that in this life no one can be certain of his eternal salvation3 8,man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred1 but all things are kept uncertain for the time to come40#gdh ,david asked of ,god3 ,oh ,lord1 who will be saved8 8,who shall dwell in thy tabernacle80#gdi ,st4 ,bonaventure1 writing on these words1 answers3 ,oh sinners1 let us follow the footsteps of ,mary1 and cast ourselves at her blessed feet1 and let us not leave her until she blesses us1 for her blessing will secure to us paradise4#gej ,it is enough1 oh ,lady1 says ,st4 ,anselm1 that thou dost wish to save us1 for then we cannot but be saved4#gea ,st4 ,antoninus adds1 that souls protected by ,mary are necessarily saved2 those upon whom she turns her eyes are necessarily justified and glorified4#geb ,with reason1 says ,st4 ,ildephonsus1 the most holy ,virgin predicted that all generations would call her blessed2#gec for all the elect by means of ,mary obtain eternal blessedness4#ged ,thou1 oh great mother1 art the beginning1 the middle1 and the end of our felicity1 says ,st4 ,methodius4#gee ,the beginning1 because ,mary obtains for us the pardon of our sins2 the middle1 because she obtains for us perseverance in divine grace2 the end1 because she finally obtains for us paradise4 ,by thee1 ,st4 ,bernard continues1 heaven has been opened--by thee hell has been emptied--by thee paradise has been restored--by thee1 in a word1 eternal life has been given to many sinners who have merited eternal death4#gef ,but above all1 we should be encouraged in the certain hope of paradise1 by the rich promise which ,mary has herself made to those who honor her1 and especially to those who1 by their words and their example1 strive to make her known and honored among others3 8,they that work by me shall not sin2 they that explain me shall have life everlasting40#geg ,oh happy1 then1 are they1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who gain the favor of ,mary6 they will be welcomed by the blessed as being already their companions2 and whosoever bears the seal of a servant of ,mary1 has his name already written in the book of life4#geh ,of what avail is it1 then1 to trouble ourselves with the opinions of the schoolmen1 on the question1 whether predestination to glory precedes or follows the foreknowledge of merits8 ,whether or not our names are written in the book of life8 ,if we are true servants of ,mary and obtain her protection1 we certainly are written there2 for1 as ,st4 ,john of ,damascus says1 ,god gives the grace of devotion to his holy mother only to those whom he will save2 in conformity with this1 as the ,lord seems to have declared expressly through ,st4 ,john3 8,he that shall overcome1 ,i will write upon him the name of my ,god1 and the name of the city of my ,god40#gei ,and who is this city of ,god but ,mary8 as ,st4 ,gregory explains1 commenting on this passage of ,david3 8,glorious things are said of thee1 oh city of ,god40#gfj ,we may1 then1 well say with ,st4 ,paul3 8,having this seal1 the ,lord knoweth who are his40#gfa ,whosoever carries the seal of a servant of ,mary1 is acknowledged by ,god as his own4 ,we read in ,st4 ,bernard1 that devotion to the mother of ,god is the most certain sign that we shall obtain eternal salvation4#gfb ,and the blessed ,alanus1 speaking of the 8,hail ,mary10 says that he who often invokes the ,virgin with this angelical salutation1 has a very certain sign of predestination4#gfc ,and again he says of perseverance in the daily recitation of the holy rosary3 ,let it be to thee a most probable sign of eternal salvation1 if thou dost perseveringly honor the blessed ,virgin by daily reciting her rosary4#gfd ,father ,nierembergh still further remarks1 that the servants of the mother of ,god not only are more privileged and favored in this world1 but also in heaven will be more especially honored4 ,and he adds1 that in heaven they will have a peculiarly rich device and livery1 by which they will be known as servants of the queen of heaven and as the people of her court1 according to those words of ,proverbs3 8,all her domestics are clothed with double garments40#gfe ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen of ,pazzi saw a small vessel in the midst of the sea1 in which all the servants of ,mary had taken shelter2 she herself steering it1 safely conducted them to port4 ,by this the saint understood that they who live under the protection of ,mary1 are rescued1 in the midst of all the dangers of this life1 from the shipwreck of sin1 and from damnation1 for by her they are guided in safety to the port of paradise4 ,let us1 then1 strive to enter this blessed little vessel of the mantle of ,mary1 and there let us dwell secure of the kingdom of heaven2 for the ,church sings1 8,holy mother of ,god1 all those who are to be partakers of eternal joy dwell with thee1 and live under thy protection40#gff ,,example4 ,cesarius relates1#gfg that a certain ,cistercian monk1 who was a devoted servant of our blessed ,lady1 desired very earnestly a visit from his dear ,lady1 and was praying her continually to grant him this favor4 ,he went one night into the garden1 and while he stood there looking up to heaven1 breathing forth to his queen in ardent sighs his desire to see her1 a beautiful and radiant virgin descended1 and said to him3 8,thomas1 wouldst thou like to hear me sing80 8,certainly10 he answered2 and then she sang so sweetly that it seemed to the devout religious that he was in paradise4 ,having finished her song1 she disappeared1 leaving him absorbed with an ardent desire to know who it could have been2 and1 soon after1 another extremely beautiful virgin appeared to him1 who1 like the first1 allowed him the pleasure of hearing her sing4 ,he could not refrain from asking this one who she was1 and the virgin answered3 8,she whom you saw a little while ago was ,catherine1 and ,i am ,agnes1 both martyrs for ,jesus ,christ1 sent by our ,lady to console you4 ,give thanks to ,mary1 and prepare for a greater favor40 ,having said this she disappeared1 but left the religious with a greater hope of finally seeing his queen4 ,nor was he deceived1 for shortly after he saw a great light and felt a new joy flowing into his heart1 for in the midst of that light the mother of ,god appeared to him surrounded by angels1 and of a beauty far surpassing that of the other two saints who had appeared to him4 ,she said to him3 8,my dear servant and son1 ,i have been pleased with the devotion which you have offered me1 and have graciously heard your prayers3 you have desired to see me2 look on me1 and ,i will also sing to you40 ,then the most holy ,virgin began to sing with so great sweetness1 that the devout religious lost his senses1 and fell with his face upon the ground4 ,the matin-bell sounded1 the monks assembled1 and not seeing ,thomas1 searched for him in his cell and other parts of the convent1 and at last going into the garden they found him there1 apparently lifeless4 ,the superior commanded him to tell what had befallen him4 ,and coming to himself1 by the power of obedience1 he related all the favors which the divine mother had bestowed upon him4 ,,prayer4 ,oh queen of paradise6 mother of holy love6 for thou art of all creatures the most lovely1 the most beloved of ,god and his first lover2 ah1 suffer the vilest and most ungrateful sinner on the earth to love thee1 who sees himself released from hell by thy intercession1 and without any merit of his own so blessed by thee1 that he is enamored of thy goodness4 ,i would wish1 if ,i could1 to make known to all men who do not know thee1 how worthy thou art to be loved1 that all might love and honor thee4 ,i would willingly die for love of thee1 in defending thy virginity1 thy dignity as mother of ,god1 and thy immaculate conception2 if it were ever needful for me to die in defence of these thy great privileges4 ,oh my most beloved mother1 graciously accept this my affection1 and do not permit that one of thy servants1 who loves thee1 should ever become an enemy of thy ,god1 whom thou lovest so much4 ,ah1 unhappy me1 such once was ,i when ,i offended my ,lord4 ,but then1 oh ,mary1 ,i did not love thee1 and ,i sought little to be loved by thee4 ,now1 after the grace of ,god1 ,i desire nothing else than to love thee1 and to be loved by thee4 ,i do not despair of this on account of my past offences1 for ,i know that thou1 oh most benign and grateful ,lady1 dost not disdain to love even the most miserable sinners who love thee1 and never dost allow thyself to be outdone in love by any one4 ,oh most lovely queen1 ,i wish to go to thee in paradise1 there to love thee4 ,there1 at thy feet1 ,i shall better know how amiable thou art1 and how much thou hast done to save me2 therefore ,i shall love thee there with greater love1 and shall love thee eternally1 without the fear that ,i shall ever cease to love thee4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i have the certain hope of being saved through thee4 ,pray to ,jesus for me4 ,i have no other wish4 ,it is thine to save me2 thou art my hope4 ,i will always exclaim1 ,oh ,mary1 my hope1 thou must save me4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,o ,,clemens6 ,o ,,pia6 ,oh clement6 ,oh merciful6 ,,how ,,great ,,is ,,the ,,clemency ,,and ,,mercy ,,of ,,mary4 ,st4 ,bernard1 speaking of the great mercy of ,mary for us poor sinners1 says that she is the very ,land promised by ,god1 flowing with milk and honey4#gfh ,st4 ,leo says1 that to the ,virgin has been given such bowels of compassion1 that she not only merits to be called merciful1 but should be called mercy itself4#gfi ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure1 considering that ,mary was made the mother of ,god for the sake of us sinners1 and that to her was committed the charge of dispensing mercies2 and considering1 moreover1 the great care she has for all those in misery1 which renders her so rich in compassion1 that she appears to desire nothing else than to relieve the necessitous1 says1 that when he looked on ,mary1 it seemed to him that he no longer beheld the divine justice1 but only the divine mercy1 with which ,mary is filled4#ggj ,in a word1 the mercy of ,mary is so great1 that as ,guerric the ,abbot says3 ,her bowels of love can never for a moment cease to bring forth for us the fruits of mercy4#gga ,and what1 exclaims ,st4 ,bernard1 can flow but mercy from a fountain of mercy8 8,quid de fonte pietatis nisi pietas80#ggb ,for this reason ,mary was called the olive-tree3 ,as a fair olive-tree in the plains3 8,quasi oliva speciosa in campis40#ggc ,for1 as the olive-tree produces nothing but oil1 the symbol of mercy1 thus from the hands of ,mary nothing but graces and mercies proceed4 ,hence1 justly1 says the venerable ,louis da ,ponte1 is ,mary called the mother of oil1 since she is the mother of mercy4#ggd ,if1 then1 we have recourse to this mother1 and ask of her the oil of her mercy1 we cannot fear that she will refuse us1 as the wise virgins refused the foolish1 answering3 8,lest there be not enough for us and for you40#gge ,no1 for she is1 indeed1 rich in that oil of mercy1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks3 ,mary abounds in the oil of mercy3 8,maria plena oleo pietatis40#ggf ,she is called by the ,church not only prudent1 but most prudent1 and by this we may understand1 as ,hugo of ,st4 ,victor says1 that ,mary is so full of grace and mercy that there is enough for all without exhausting her4#ggg ,but why1 ,i would ask1 is it said that this fair olive is in the midst of the plains1 and not rather in a garden surrounded by walls and hedges8 ,cardinal ,hugo answers to this question3 ,in order that all may easily see her1 and thus may easily have recourse to her1 to obtain relief for their necessities4#ggh ,st4 ,antoninus confirms this beautiful thought1 when he says3 ,that as all can go and gather the fruit of an olive-tree that is exposed in the open fields1 so all1 both the just and sinners1 can have recourse to ,mary to obtain mercy4#ggi ,and then the saint adds3 ,oh how many sentences of punishment have been revoked through the merciful prayers of this most holy ,virgin1 in favor of sinners who have had recourse to her6#ghj ,and what more secure refuge can we find1 says the devout ,thomas ,kempis1 than the compassionate heart of ,mary8 ,there the poor find shelter2 the sick medicine2 the afflicted consolation2 the doubtful counsel2 the abandoned help4#gha ,wretched should we be1 if we had not this mother of mercy1 mindful and solicitous to help us in our miseries6 8,where there is no wife10 says the ,holy ,spirit1 8he mourneth that is in want40#ghb ,this wife1 remarks ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 is certainly ,mary1 without whom the sick man suffers and mourns4#ghc ,so1 indeed1 it is1 since ,god has ordained that all graces should be dispensed by the prayers of ,mary3 where these are wanting1 there is no hope of mercy1 as our ,lord signified to ,st4 ,bridget1 saying to her3 8,unless ,mary interposes by her prayers1 there is no hope of mercy40#ghd ,but perhaps we fear that ,mary does not see or pity our miseries4 ,oh1 no6 she sees them and feels them more than we do ourselves4 ,and who among the saints can be found1 says ,st4 ,antoninus1 who pities us in our miseries as ,mary does8#ghe ,hence1 wherever she sees misery she cannot refrain from hastening to relieve it with her great compassion4#ghf ,thus ,richard of ,st4 ,victor remarks1 and ,mendoza confirms it by saying3 ,therefore1 oh blessed ,virgin1 wherever thou seest misery1 there thou dost pour forth thy mercies4#ghg ,and our good mother1 as she herself declares1 will never cease to exercise this office of mercy3 ,and unto the world to come ,i shall not cease to be2 and in the holy dwelling-place1 ,i have ministered before him4#ghh ,upon which words ,cardinal ,hugo remarks3 ,i will not cease1 says ,mary1 even to the end of the world1 to succor men in their miseries1 and to pray for sinners1 that they may be saved and rescued from eternal misery4#ghi ,suetonius relates of the ,emperor ,titus1 that he was so desirous to grant favors to those who asked them of him1 that on those days when he had no opportunity of doing so1 he would say1 sorrowfully1 ,i have lost a day3 8,diem perdidi40 ,this day has been lost to me1 because ,i have passed it without benefiting any one4 ,probably ,titus said this more through vanity1 or a desire for esteem1 than through a movement of charity4 ,but our ,empress ,mary1 if a day should ever pass in which she did not confer some favor1 would say it only because she is full of charity1 and of a desire to do us good2 for as ,bernardine de ,bustis says1 she is more desirous to confer favors on us1 than we are to receive them from her4#gij ,and this same author adds1 that when we have recourse to her1 we shall always find her with her hands full of mercy and liberality4#gia ,rebecca was the type of ,mary1 who1 when the servant of ,abraham asked her for a little water1 answered that she would give him water enough not only for himself1 but for his camels also4#gib ,hence the devout ,st4 ,bernard1 addressing the blessed ,virgin1 says3 ,oh ,lady1 not to the servant of ,abraham only1 but also to his camels give from thy overflowing pitcher4#gic ,by which he intends to say3 ,oh ,lady1 thou art merciful and more liberal than ,rebecca1 therefore thou dost not rest contented with dispensing the favors of thy unbounded compassion to the servants of ,abraham alone1 by whom are meant the faithful servants of ,god1 but thou dost bestow them also on the camels1 who represent sinners4 ,and1 as ,rebecca gave more than she was asked1 so ,mary bestows more than we pray for4 ,the liberality of ,mary1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 resembles the liberality of her ,son1 who always gives more than is asked1 and is therefore named by ,st4 ,paul3 8,rich to all that call upon him20#gid that is1 giving abundantly his graces to all those that have recourse to him with their prayers4 ,hear the words of ,richard3 ,the bounty of ,mary is like the bounty of her ,son2 she gives more than is asked4#gie ,hence a devout author1 addressing the ,virgin1 says3 ,oh ,lady1 pray for me1 for thou wilt ask favors for me with greater devotion than ,i can do2 and thou wilt obtain from ,god graces greater by far than ,i can pray for4#gif ,when the ,samaritans refused to receive ,jesus ,christ and his doctrine1 ,st4 ,james and ,st4 ,john said to their ,master3 8,lord1 wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them80 ,but the ,saviour answered3 8,you know not of what spirit you are40#gig ,as if he had said3 ,i am of so mild and merciful a spirit1 that ,i have come from heaven to save1 not to punish sinners1 and would you wish to see them lost8 ,what fire8 ,what punishment8 ,be silent1 speak to me no more of punishment1 that is not my spirit4 ,but we cannot doubt that ,mary1 whose spirit is in every thing so like that of her ,son1 is wholly inclined to exercise mercy2 for1 as she told ,st4 ,bridget1 she is called the mother of mercy1 and the mercy of ,god itself has made her so compassionate and sweet towards all4#gih ,wherefore ,mary was seen by ,st4 ,john clothed with the sun3 8,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven1 a woman clothed with the sun40#gii ,upon which passage ,st4 ,bernard remarks1 addressing the ,virgin3 ,thou hast clothed the sun1 and art thyself clothed with it4#hjj ,oh ,lady1 thou hast clothed the sun1 the divine ,word1 with human flesh1 but he hath clothed thee with his power and his mercy4 ,so compassionate1 then1 and kind is this queen1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 that when a sinner recommends himself to her mercy1 she does not begin to examine his merits1 and whether he is worthy or not of being heard1 but she graciously hears all and succors them4#hja ,hence ,st4 ,idelbert remarks1 that ,mary is called fair as the moon3 8,pulchra ut ,luna20#hjb because1 as the moon illuminates and benefits the smallest bodies upon the earth1 so ,mary enlightens and helps the most unworthy sinners4#hjc ,and although the moon receives all her light from the sun1 she moves more quickly than the sun2 for1 as a certain author remarks1 what the sun does in a year1 the moon does in a month4#hjd ,hence1 says ,st4 ,anselm3 ,our relief is sometimes more immediate when the name of ,mary is invoked than when we invoke the name of ,jesus4#hje ,wherefore ,hugo of ,st4 ,victor tells us1 that if by reason of our sins we fear to draw near to ,god1 because he is an infinite majesty that we have offended1 we should not hesitate to have recourse to ,mary1 because in her we shall find nothing to alarm us4 ,she is indeed holy1 immaculate1 queen of the world1 and mother of ,god2 but she is of our flesh1 and a child of ,adam1 like ourselves4#hjf ,in a word1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 whatever appertains to ,mary is full of grace and mercy2 for she1 as mother of mercy1 has become all things to all1 and by her great charity has made herself a debtor to the just and to sinners1 and opens to all the bowels of her compassion1 that all may share it4#hjg ,as 8the ,devil10 according to ,st4 ,peter1 8goeth about seeking whom he may devour10#hjh so1 on the contrary1 says ,bernardine de ,bustis1 ,mary goeth about seeking to whom she can give life and salvation4#hji ,we should understand that the protection of ,mary1 as ,st4 ,germanus says1 is greater and more powerful than we can comprehend4#haj ,and how is it that the same ,lord1 who was under the old law so severe in punishing1 exercises so great mercy towards the greatest sinners8 ,thus asks the author del ,pomerio2#haa and he also answers3 ,he does all this for the love and merits of ,mary4#hab ,oh1 how long since would the world have been destroyed1 says ,st4 ,fulgentius1 if ,mary had not preserved it by her intercession6#hac ,but we may with confidence go to ,god1 as ,st4 ,arnold ,carnotensis asserts1 and hope for every blessing1 now that the ,son is our mediator with the divine ,father1 and the mother with the ,son4 ,how can it be that the ,father will refuse to hear graciously the ,son1 when he shows him the wounds he has received for sinners8 ,and how can it be that the ,son will not graciously hear the mother1 when she shows him the breasts from which she has nourished us8#had ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus says with great energy1 that this favored ,virgin1 having received ,god in her womb1 demands in return1 peace for the world1 salvation for the lost1 life for the dead4#hae ,oh how many1 exclaims the ,abbot of ,celles1 who merit to be condemned by the divine justice1 are saved by the mercy of ,mary6 for she is the treasure of ,god and the treasurer of all graces2 therefore it is that our salvation is in her hands4#haf ,let us always then have recourse to this mother of mercy1 and confidently hope to be saved by means of her intercession2 since she1 as ,bernardine de ,bustis encourages us to believe1 is our salvation1 our life1 our hope1 our counsel1 our refuge1 our help4#hag ,mary is that very throne of grace1 says ,st4 ,antoninus1 to which the apostle exhorts us to have recourse with confidence1 that we may obtain the divine mercy1 with all needed help for our salvation4#hah ,to the throne of grace1 that is1 to ,mary1 as ,st4 ,antoninus remarks4#hai ,hence1 ,mary was called by ,st4 ,catherine of ,sienna3 ,the dispenser of divine mercy3 8,administratrix misericordi40 ,let us conclude1 then1 with the beautiful and sweet exclamation of ,st4 ,bernard upon the words3 ,oh clement1 oh merciful1 oh sweet ,virgin ,mary3 8,o clemens1 ,o pia1 ,o dulcis ,virgo ,maria40 ,oh ,mary1 thou art clement to the unhappy1 merciful to those who pray to thee1 sweet to those who love thee3 clement to the penitent1 merciful to the advancing1 sweet to the perfect4 ,thou showest thyself clement by rescuing us from punishment1 merciful by bestowing on us graces1 sweet by giving thyself to those who seek thee4#hbj ,,example4 ,father ,charles ,bovius relates that in ,domans1 in ,france1 lived a married man who had held a criminal connection with another woman4 ,now the wife being unable to endure this1 continually besought ,god to punish the guilty parties2 and one day in particular went to an altar of the blessed ,virgin1 which was in a certain church1 to implore vengeance upon the woman who had alienated her husband from her2 and this very woman went also every day to the same altar1 to repeat a 8,hail ,mary40 ,one night the divine mother appeared in a dream to the wife1 who1 on seeing her1 began her accustomed petition3 8,justice1 mother of ,god1 justice40 ,but the blessed ,lady answered3 8,justice6 do you seek justice from me8 ,go and find others to execute justice for you4 ,it belongs not to me to do it for you4 ,be it known to you10 she added1 8that this very sinner offers every day a devotion in my honor1 and that ,i cannot allow any sinner who does this1 to suffer and be punished for his sins40 ,the next day the wife went to hear mass in the above-named church of our ,lady1 and on coming out met her husband's friend2 at the sight of her she began to reproach her and call her a sorceress1 who had even enchanted with her sorceries the blessed ,virgin4 8,be silent10 cried the people3 8what are you saying80 8,i be silent60 she answered3 8what ,i say is only too true2 this night the ,virgin appeared to me2 and when ,i implored justice of her1 she answered me1 that she could not grant it on account of a salutation which this wicked woman repeats daily in her honor40 ,they asked the woman what salutation she repeated to the mother of ,god4 ,she answered that it was the 8,hail ,mary20 and then on hearing that the blessed ,virgin had dealt with her so mercifully in return for that trivial act of devotion1 she cast herself on the ground before the sacred image1 and there1 in the presence of all the people1 asked pardon for her scandalous life1 and made a vow of perpetual continence4 ,she afterwards put on a religious habit1 built for herself a little cell near the church1 where she retired1 and persevered in continual penance until the day of her death4 ,,prayer4 ,oh mother of mercy6 since thou art so compassionate1 and hast so great a desire to do good to us sinners1 and to satisfy our demands1 ,i1 the most wretched of all men1 to-day have recourse to thy mercy1 that thou mayest grant my requests4 ,let others ask what they will1 health of body1 wealth1 or temporal advantages2 ,i come to ask of thee1 oh ,lady1 those things which thou thyself dost most desire of me1 and which are most conformable and most pleasing to thy sacred heart4 ,thou who wast so humble1 obtain for me humility and love of contempt4 ,thou who wast so patient in the difficulties of this life1 obtain for me patience in things contrary to my wishes4 ,thou who didst overflow with love to ,god1 obtain for me the gift of a holy and pure love4 ,thou who wast all charity towards the neighbor1 obtain for me charity towards all men1 and especially towards those who are my enemies4 ,thou who wast wholly united to the divine will1 obtain for me a perfect uniformity with the will of that ,god in all his dispositions concerning me4 ,thou1 in a word1 art the most holy of all creatures2 oh ,mary1 obtain for me the grace to become a saint4 ,thy love is unfailing2 thou canst and wilt obtain all things for me4 ,nothing1 then1 can hinder me from receiving thy graces but my neglect to invoke thee1 or my want of confidence in thy intercession4 ,but thou thyself must obtain for me the grace to seek thee1 and this grace of confidence in thy intercession4 ,these two greatest gifts ,i ask from thee--from thee will ,i receive them--from thee do ,i confidently hope for them4 ,oh ,mary6 ,mary1 my mother1 my hope1 my love1 my life1 my refuge1 and my consolation4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,oh ,,dulcis ,,virgo ,,maria6 ,oh sweet ,virgin ,mary6 ,,how ,,sweet ,,is ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,mary ,,in ,,life ,,and ,,in ,,death6 ,the great name of ,mary1 which was given to the divine mother1 was not found on the earth1 neither was it invented by the mind or will of men1 as were all other names that are in use among them2 but it came from heaven1 and was given to the ,virgin by divine ordinance1 as ,st4 ,jerome1#hba ,st4 ,epiphanius1#hbb ,st4 ,antoninus1#hbc and others attest4 ,the name of ,mary was drawn from the treasury of the divinity1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says3#hbd 8,de thesauro divinitatis ,mari nomen evolvitur40 ,from the treasury of the divinity1 oh ,mary1 came forth thy excellent and admirable name2 for the ,most ,holy ,trinity1 the same author goes on to say1 gave to thee this name1 next to the name of thy ,son1 so superior to every name1 and attached to it such majesty and power1 that when it is uttered1 all in heaven1 earth1 and hell must fall prostrate and venerate it4#hbe ,among all the other privileges which the ,lord has attached to the name of ,mary1 let us see how sweet he has made it to the servants of this most holy ,lady in life as well as in death4 ,to begin with life1 the holy anchorite1 ,honorius1 says1 that the name of ,mary is full of all divine sweetness4#hbf ,and the glorious ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua attributes to the name of ,mary the same sweetness as ,st4 ,bernard attributed to the name of ,jesus4 ,the name of ,jesus1 said the latter1 the name of ,mary1 said the former1 is joy to the heart1 honey to the mouth1 melody to the ear of their devoted servants4#hbg ,it is related in the life of the venerable ,father ,john ,ancina1 ,bishop of ,saluzzo1 that when he pronounced the name of ,mary1 he experienced so great a sensible sweetness that he even tasted it on his lips4 ,we also read that a certain woman in ,cologne told the ,bishop ,marsilius1 that whenever she pronounced the name of ,mary she perceived in her mouth a taste sweeter than honey4 ,marsilius made the trial1 and he also experienced the same sweetness4 ,we read in the holy ,canticles1 that at the ,assumption of the ,virgin1 the angels three times asked her name3 8,who is she that goeth up by the desert as a pillar of smoke80#hbh 8,who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising80#hbi ,and in another3 8,who is this that cometh up from the desert1 flowing with delights80#hcj ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence inquires why the angels so often asked the name of this queen1 and answers3 ,the sound of the name of ,mary was so sweet to the angels1 and they repeated the question that they might hear it repeated also4#hca ,but ,i do not here speak of this sensible sweetness1 since it is not commonly granted to all1 but ,i speak of the salutary sweetness of consolation1 love1 joy1 confidence1 and strength1 which the name of ,mary universally gives to those who1 with devotion1 pronounce it4 ,speaking on this subject1 ,francone the ,abbot says1 that next to the holy name of ,jesus1 the name of ,mary is so rich in blessings1 that no other name is uttered on earth or in heaven from which devout souls receive so much grace1 hope1 and sweetness4#hcb ,for the name of ,mary1 he goes on to say1 contains in itself something admirable1 sweet1 and divine1 which1 when it meets a friendly heart1 breathes into it an odor of holy sweetness4 ,and the wonder of this great name is1 he concludes1 that if heard a thousand times by the lovers of ,mary1 it is always heard as new1 the sweetness they experience in hearing it spoken being always the same4#hcc ,the blessed ,henry ,suso1 also speaking of this sweetness1 says1 that in pronouncing the name of ,mary1 he felt his confidence so much increased1 and his love so joyfully enkindled1 that amidst the joy and tears with which he pronounced the beloved name1 he thought his heart would have leaped from his mouth2 and he affirmed that this most sweet name1 as honeycomb1 melted into the depths of his soul4 ,whereat he exclaims3 ,oh most sweet name6 oh ,mary1 what must thou thyself be1 if thy name alone is so lovely and sweet8 ,the enamored ,st4 ,bernard1 too1 addressing his good mother with tenderness1 says to her3 ,oh great1 oh merciful ,mary1 most holy ,virgin1 worthy of all praise1 thy name is so sweet and lovely that it cannot be spoken without enkindling love to thee and to ,god in the heart of him who pronounces it2 the thought of it alone is enough to console thy lovers1 and inflame them with a far greater love to thee4#hcd ,if riches are a consolation to the poor1 because by them they are relieved of their miseries1 oh how much more1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 does thy name console us sinners1 oh ,mary2 far more than the riches of earth it relieves us in the troubles of the present life4#hce ,in a word1 thy name1 oh mother of ,god1 is full of grace and divine blessings1 as ,st4 ,methodius says4#hcf ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure affirms that thy name cannot be pronounced but it brings some grace to him who devoutly utters it4#hcg ,so great is the virtue of thy name1 oh most compassionate ,virgin1 says the ,idiot1 that no one can pronounce it1 however hardened1 however desponding may be his heart1 and not find it wonderfully softened2 for it is thou who dost console sinners with the hope of pardon and of grace4#hch ,thy most sweet name1 according to ,st4 ,ambrose1 is a sweet ointment1 which breathes the fragrance of divine grace4#hci ,the saint thus invokes the divine mother3 ,may this oil of salvation descend into the depths of our soul2 by which he intends to say3 ,oh ,lady1 remind us often to pronounce thy name with love and confidence2 for thus to name thee1 either is a sign that we already possess divine grace1 or it is an earnest that we shall soon recover it4 ,for as ,landolph of ,saxony expresses it3 ,the remembrance of thy name1 oh ,mary1 consoles the afflicted1 brings back the wanderer to the path of salvation1 encourages the sinner1 and saves him from despair2#hdj and ,father ,pelbart remarks1 that as ,jesus ,christ by his five wounds has prepared for the world the remedy for its woes1 thus also ,mary1 with her most holy name1 which is composed of five letters1 confers every day pardon upon sinners4#hda ,for this reason1 the holy name of ,mary in the sacred ,canticles is compared to oil3 ,thy name is as oil poured out3 8,oleum effusum nomen tuum40#hdb ,the blessed ,alanus1 commenting on this passage1 says3 ,the glory of her name is compared to oil poured out4 ,as oil heals the sick1 diffuses odor1 and kindles flame2 thus the name of ,mary heals sinners1 rejoices hearts1 and inflames them with divine love4#hdc ,hence ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence encourages sinners to invoke this great name1 because that alone will be sufficient to cure all their maladies2 adding1 that there is no disease so malignant that it will not at once yield to the virtue of this name4#hdd ,on the other hand1 the devils1 as ,thomas ,kempis affirms1 are in such fear of the queen of heaven that at the sound of her great name they flee from him who pronounces it as from burning fire4#hde ,the ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget that there is no sinner living so cold in divine love1 that if he invokes her holy name1 with the resolution to amend1 the devil will not instantly depart from him4#hdf ,and she at another time assured her of this1 telling her that all the demons so greatly venerate and fear her name1 that when they hear it pronounced they immediately release the soul which they held in their chains4#hdg ,and as the rebel angels depart from sinners who invoke the name of ,mary1 thus1 on the contrary1 our ,lady herself told ,st4 ,bridget1 that the good angels draw more closely around those just souls who devoutly pronounce it4#hdh ,and ,st4 ,germanus assures us1 that as breathing is a sign of life1 so the frequent utterance of the name of ,mary is a sign that we are already living in divine grace1 or that we shall soon receive that life2 for this powerful name is effectual to obtain help and life for him who devoutly invokes it4#hdi ,finally1 ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence adds1 that this admirable name is like a tower of strength1 by taking shelter in which the sinner will be saved from death1 since from this celestial tower the most abandoned sinners come forth securely defended and saved4#hej ,a tower of strength1 thus continues the same ,richard1 which not only shields sinners from punishment1 but also defends the just from the assaults of hell2 and he adds3 ,next to the name of ,jesus there is no name which gives such support1 and through which so great salvation is bestowed upon men1 as this great name of ,mary4#hea ,especially is it everywhere known1 and the servants of ,mary daily experience1 that her great name gives strength to overcome temptations against chastity4 ,the same author1 remarking on the words of ,st4 ,luke3 ,and the name of the ,virgin was ,mary3 8,et nomen ,virginis ,maria10#heb says1 that these two names1 of ,mary and of ,virgin1 are united by the evangelist to show that the name of this most pure ,virgin can never be separated from chastity4#hec ,hence ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus says1 that the name ,mary is a sign of chastity3 8,nomen hoc indicium castitatis20#hed meaning1 that whoever is in doubt whether he has yielded to temptations against purity1 if he remembers having invoked the name of ,mary may be sure that he has not violated chastity4 ,let us1 then1 always follow the beautiful counsel of ,st4 ,bernard1 who says3 ,in every danger of losing divine grace let us think of ,mary1 let us invoke the name of ,mary together with that of ,jesus1 for these names are always united4 ,let these two most sweet and powerful names never depart from our heart and our lips1 for they will always give us strength to keep us from falling1 and to conquer every temptation4#hee ,very precious are the graces which ,jesus ,christ hast promised to those who are devoted to the name of ,mary1 as he himself1 speaking to his holy mother1 gave ,st4 ,bridget to understand1 revealing to her that whoever will invoke the name of ,mary with confidence and a purpose of amendment1 shall receive three special graces3 namely1 a perfect contrition for his sins1 the grace to make satisfaction for them and strength to obtain perfection1 and at last1 the glory of paradise2#hef for as the divine ,saviour added3 8,thy words are so sweet and dear to me1 oh my mother1 that ,i cannot refuse thee what thou dost ask40#heg ,finally1 ,st4 ,ephrem adds that the name of ,mary is the key of the gate of heaven to him who devoutly invokes it2#heh and therefore ,st4 ,bonaventure rightly calls ,mary the salvation of all those who invoke her3 8,o salus te invocantium20 as if it were the same thing to invoke the name of ,mary and to obtain eternal salvation2 for as the ,idiot affirms3 ,the invocation of this holy and sweet name leads to the acquisition of superabundant grace in this life1 and sublime glory in another4#hei ,if you desire1 then1 brethren1 concludes ,thomas ,kempis1 to be consoled in every affliction1 have recourse to ,mary1 invoke ,mary1 honor ,mary1 recommend yourselves to ,mary4 ,rejoice with ,mary1 weep with ,mary1 pray with ,mary1 walk with ,mary1 and with ,mary seek ,jesus2 in a word1 with ,jesus and ,mary desire to live and to die4 ,do this1 he adds1 and you will always advance in the way of the ,lord2 for ,mary will pray for you1 and the ,son will surely graciously listen to the mother4#hfj ,such are his beautiful words4 ,very sweet1 then1 in life to her servants1 is the most holy name of ,mary1 on account of the great graces which it obtains for them1 as we have seen above2 but sweeter still will it be to them in dying by the sweet and holy death she will obtain for them4 ,father ,sertorio ,caputo1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 exhorted all those who were called to the bedside of the dying1 often to pronounce the name of ,mary1 saying that this name of life and of hope1 pronounced in death1 is alone sufficient to scatter the enemies and to comfort the dying in all their anguishes4 ,st4 ,camillus of ,lellis also strongly recommended it to his religious1 that they should remind the dying often to invoke the name of ,mary and of ,jesus1 as he always practised it with others2 but more sweetly he practised it himself at the moment of his death1 when1 as we read in his life1 he named with so much tenderness his beloved names of ,jesus and ,mary1 that he inflamed also with love of them all those who heard him4 ,and at length1 with his eyes fixed on their adorable image1 and his arms crossed1 the saint expired in celestial peace1 pronouncing with his last breath the most sweet names of ,jesus and ,mary4 ,this short prayer of invoking the holy names of ,jesus and ,mary1 says ,thomas ,kempis1 which it is as easy to retain in the memory as it is sweet to consider1 is at the same time powerful to protect whoever uses it from all the enemies of our salvation4#hfa ,blessed is he1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who loves thy sweet name1 oh mother of ,god4#hfb ,thy name is so glorious and admirable1 that those who remember to invoke it at the moment of death1 do not then fear all the assaults of the enemy4#hfc ,oh1 the happy lot of dying as ,father ,fulgentius of ,ascoli1 a ,capuchin1 died1 who expired singing3 ,oh ,mary1 ,mary1 the most lovely of all beings1 let me depart in thy company4 ,or1 as blessed ,henry the ,cistercian1 of whom it is related in the annals of the order1 that he died with the name of ,mary on his lips4#hfd ,let us pray1 then1 my devout reader1 let us pray ,god to grant us this grace1 that the last word we pronounce at death may be the name of ,mary2 as ,st4 ,germanus desired and prayed4#hfe ,oh sweet death1 oh safe death1 that is accompanied and protected by such a name of salvation1 that ,god does not permit it to be invoked in death1 except by those whom he will save6 ,oh1 my sweet ,lady and mother1 ,i love thee much1 and because ,i love thee1 ,i love also thy holy name4 ,i purpose and hope with thy aid always to invoke it in life and death4 ,for the glory1 then1 of thy name 7let us conclude with the tender prayer of ,st4 ,bonaventure71 when my soul departs from this world1 wilt thou come to meet it1 oh blessed ,lady1 and take it in thy arms8#hff ,do not disdain1 oh ,mary1 let us continue to pray with the saint1 to come and comfort it1 then1 with thy sweet presence4 ,thou art its ladder and way to paradise4 ,wilt thou obtain for me the grace of pardon and eternal rest8#hfg ,and the saint then terminates with saying3 ,oh ,mary1 our advocate1 to thee it belongs to shield thy servants1 and defend their cause before the tribunal of ,jesus ,christ4#hfh ,,example4 ,it is related by ,father ,rho1 in his ,sabbati1 and by ,father ,lireo1 in his ,trisagio ,mariana1 of a certain young maiden of ,guelder-land1 who lived about the year #adfe1 that she was sent one day by her uncle to purchase something at the market of the city of ,nimeguen1 with the direction to go and pass the night at the house of her aunt1 who lived in the town4 ,the girl obeyed1 but when she went at night to her aunt's house1 she was rudely sent away by her1 and she set out on her way homewards4 ,night overtaking her1 she fell into a passion1 and called loudly upon the devil to come to her aid4 ,and behold1 he suddenly appeared in the form of a man1 and promised to assist her1 provided she would do one thing4 ,i will do any thing1 answered the unhappy creature4 ,i only wish1 said the enemy1 that henceforth you will not bless yourself with the sign of the cross1 and will change your name4 ,as to the cross1 she answered1 ,i will no longer sign myself with it1 but my name of ,mary is too dear to me1 ,i will not change it4 ,then ,i will not help you1 said the devil4 ,at length1 after much debate1 it was agreed that she should be called by the first letter of the name of ,mary1 that is1 ,emme4 ,they then went together to ,antwerp1 and the wretched girl remained there six years with her diabolical companion1 living so sinful a life1 that it was the scandal of the whole place4 ,one day she told the devil that she wished to see her country again2 the enemy objected1 but finally was obliged to consent4 ,when they entered together the city of ,nimeguen1 there was just then performing a public representation of the life of the most holy ,mary4 ,at such a sight the poor ,emme1 from that little devotion she had still preserved towards the mother of ,god1 began to weep4 8,what are we doing here80 said her companion3 8would you perform here another comedy80 ,he then seized her to take her away1 but she resisted1 and seeing that she was escaping from him1 in a rage he raised her into the air and let her fall in the midst of the theatre4 ,the poor girl then related what had happened to her4 ,she went to the parish priest to confess1 but he sent her to the ,bishop of ,cologne1 and the bishop sent her to the ,pope1 who1 having heard her confession1 imposed it upon her as a penance1 that she should wear three rings of iron1 one around her neck1 and two around her arms4 ,the penitent obeyed1 and having arrived at ,maestricht1 she retired into a convent of penitents1 where she lived for fourteen years in severe penance4 ,one morning she arose from her bed and found the three rings broken4 ,two years after1 she died in the odor of sanctity1 and wished to have the rings buried with her1 which had changed her from a slave of hell into the happy slave of ,mary1 her deliverer4 ,,prayer4 ,oh great mother of ,god1 and my mother ,mary1 it is true that ,i am unworthy to pronounce thy name1 but thou who lovest me1 and dost desire my salvation1 thou must obtain for me1 that1 unclean as may be my tongue1 ,i may yet always invoke thy most holy and most powerful name2 for thy name is the support of the living1 and the salvation of the dying4 ,ah1 most pure ,mary6 ah1 most sweet ,mary6 make thy name henceforth to be the breath of my life4 ,oh ,lady1 do not delay coming to my help when ,i call upon thee1 since in all the temptations which may assail me1 in all the necessities ,i may suffer1 ,i shall never cease calling upon thee1 always repeating ,mary1 ,mary4 ,thus ,i hope to do in life1 thus especially ,i hope to do in death1 that ,i may afterwards come to praise eternally in heaven thy beloved name3 ,o clemens6 ,o pia6 ,o dulcis ,virgo ,maria6 ,ah ,mary6 ,mary most amiable6 what comfort1 what sweetness1 what confidence1 what tenderness does my soul feel only in pronouncing thy name1 only in thinking of thee6 ,i thank my ,god and my ,lord that he has given thee1 for my good1 this name so sweet1 so lovely1 so powerful4 ,but1 oh my ,lady1 ,i am not satisfied with merely pronouncing thy name1 ,i would pronounce it also with love2 ,i desire that my love may remind me to speak thy name at every hour1 that ,i may exclaim with ,st4 ,anselm3 ,oh name of the mother of ,god1 thou art my love4 ,o amor mei nomen matris ,dei4 ,oh my dear mother ,mary6 oh my beloved ,jesus6 may your most sweet names always live in my own and in all hearts4 ,may ,i forget all other names1 that ,i may remember and always invoke none but your adored names4 ,ah ,jesus1 my ,redeemer6 and my mother ,mary1 when the moment of my death shall arrive1 and my soul shall depart from this life1 by your merits grant me the grace then to utter my last accents1 repeating3 ,i love you1 ,jesus and ,mary2 ,jesus and ,mary1 ,i give you my heart and my soul4 ,,some ,,devout ,,prayers ,,of ,,various ,,saints ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,mother4 ,the following prayers are added1 not only for the use of the faithful1 but also because they show the great idea which the saints entertained of the power and mercy of ,mary1 and their great confidence in her patronage4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,ephrem4 ,oh immaculate and wholly pure ,virgin ,mary6 mother of ,god1 queen of the universe1 our most excellent ,lady1 thou art superior to all the saints1 thou art the only hope of the ,fathers1 and the joy of the blessed4 ,by thee we have been reconciled to our ,god4 ,thou art the only advocate of sinners1 the secure haven of the shipwrecked4 ,thou art the consolation of the world1 the redemption of captives1 the joy of the sick1 the comfort of the afflicted1 the refuge and salvation of the whole world4 ,oh great princess6 mother of ,god6 cover us with the wings of thy compassion3 have pity on us4 ,we have no hope but in thee1 oh most pure ,virgin6 ,we are given to thee1 and consecrated to thy service2 we bear the name of thy servants2 do not permit ,lucifer to draw us down to hell4 ,oh immaculate ,virgin6 we are under thy protection2 therefore1 unitedly we have recourse to thee1 and supplicate thee to prevent thy ,son1 whom our sins have offended1 from abandoning us to the power of the devil4 ,oh full of grace6 illuminate my intellect1 loosen my tongue that it may sing thy praises1 and especially the ,angelic ,salutation1 so worthy of thee4 ,i salute thee1 oh peace6 oh joy6 oh salvation and consolation of the whole world6 ,i salute thee1 oh greatest of miracles6 paradise of delight6 secure haven of those who are in danger6 fountain of grace6 mediatrix of ,god and of men6 ,prayer of ,st4 ,bernard4 ,we raise our eyes to thee1 oh queen of the world6 ,after having committed so many sins we must appear before our ,judge1 and who will appease him8 ,none can do it better than thou1 oh blessed ,lady1 who hast loved him so much1 and hast been so tenderly beloved by him4 ,open thy heart1 then1 oh mother of mercy1 to our sighs and prayers4 ,we fly to thy protection2 appease the anger of thy ,son1 and restore us to his favor4 ,thou dost not abhor the sinner1 however loathsome he may be2 thou dost not despise him1 if he sends up his sighs to thee1 and with contrition asks thy intercession2 thou1 with thy kind hand1 dost deliver him from despair2 thou dost encourage him to hope1 dost comfort him1 and dost not leave him until thou hast reconciled him to his ,judge4 ,thou art that only one in whom the ,saviour found his rest1 and with whom he has deposited all his treasures4 ,hence all the world1 oh ,mary1 honors thy chaste womb1 as the temple of ,god1 where the salvation of the world had its beginning4 ,in thee was effected the reconciliation between ,god and man4 ,thou art the inclosed garden1 oh great mother of ,god1 whose flowers have never been gathered by the sinner's hand4 ,thou art the beautiful garden1 in which ,god has placed all the flowers which adorn the ,church1 such as the violet of thy humility1 the lily of thy purity1 and the rose of thy charity4 ,who can be compared to thee1 oh mother of grace and of beauty8 ,thou art the paradise of ,god4 ,from thee hath sprung up the fountain of living water1 that waters all the earth4 ,oh1 how many favors hast thou bestowed upon the world1 by meriting to be the channel of the waters of salvation6 ,of thee the ,holy ,ghost speaks when he says3 ,who is she that arises like the dawn1 fair as the moon1 bright as the sun8 ,thou art1 then1 come into the world1 oh ,mary1 as a resplendent dawn1 preceding1 with the light of thy sanctity1 the coming of the ,sun of ,justice4 ,the day in which thou didst appear in the world may truly be called the day of salvation1 the day of grace4 ,thou art fair as the moon2 for as there is no planet more like the sun1 so there is no creature more like to ,god than thou art4 ,the moon illuminates the night with the light which it receives from the sun1 and thou dost illuminate our darkness with the splendor of thy virtues2 and thou art fairer than the moon1 because in thee is found neither stain nor shade4 ,thou art bright as the sun1 ,i mean as that ,sun which hath created the sun2 he has been chosen among all men1 and thou among all women4 ,oh sweet1 oh great1 oh most lovely ,mary1 thy name cannot be pronounced by any one that thou dost not inflame him with thy love2 neither can those who love thee think of thee without feeling themselves encouraged to love thee more4 ,oh blessed ,lady1 help our weakness4 ,and who is more fit to speak to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ than thou1 who dost enjoy1 so near to him1 his sweet conversation8 ,speak1 speak1 oh ,lady1 because thy ,son listens1 and thou wilt obtain from him whatever thou shalt demand4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,germanus4 ,oh my only ,lady1 who art the sole consolation which ,i receive from ,god2 thou who art the only celestial dew that doth soothe my pains2 thou who art the light of my soul when it is surrounded with darkness2 thou who art my guide in my journeyings1 my strength in my weakness1 my treasure in my poverty2 balm for my wounds1 my consolation in sorrow2 thou who art my refuge in misery1 the hope of my salvation1 graciously hear my prayer1 have pity on me1 as is befitting the mother of a ,god who hath so much love for men4 ,thou who art our defence and joy1 grant me what ,i ask2 make me worthy of enjoying with thee that great happiness which thou dost enjoy in heaven4 ,yes1 my ,lady1 my refuge1 my life1 my help1 my defence1 my strength1 my joy1 my hope1 make me to come with thee to paradise4 ,i know that1 being the mother of ,god thou canst obtain this for me if thou wilt4 ,oh ,mary1 thou art omnipotent to save sinners1 thou needest nothing else to recommend us to thee1 for thou art the mother of true life4 ,prayer of the ,abbot of ,celles1 surnamed the idiot4 ,draw me after thee1 oh ,virgin ,mary1 that ,i may run to the odor of thy perfumes4 ,draw me1 for ,i am held back by the weight of my sins1 and by the malice of my enemies4 ,as no one goes to thy ,son unless the divine ,father draws him1 so ,i would dare to say1 in a certain sense1 that no one goes to him if thou dost not draw him with thy holy prayers4 ,it is thou who teachest true wisdom2 thou who dost obtain pardon for sinners1 because thou art their advocate4 ,it is thou who dost promise glory to him who honors thee1 because thou art the treasurer of graces4 ,thou hast found grace with ,god1 oh most sweet ,virgin1 because thou hast been preserved from the stain of original sin1 filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and hast conceived the ,son of ,god4 ,thou hast received all these graces1 oh ,mary most humble1 not only for thyself1 but also for us1 that thou mayest help us in all our necessities4 ,and thou1 indeed1 dost so2 thou dost succor the good by preserving them in grace2 and the bad1 by bringing them to receive the divine mercy2 thou dost aid the dying by protecting them against the snares of the devil2 and thou dost aid them also after death by receiving their souls1 and leading them to the kingdom of the blessed4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,methodius4 ,thy name1 oh mother of ,god1 is full of all graces and divine blessings4 ,thou hast comprehended him who is incomprehensible1 and nourished him who nourishes all living creatures4 ,he who fills heaven and earth and is ,lord of all1 has chosen to have need of thee1 since thou hast clothed him with that garment of flesh that he had not before4 ,rejoice1 oh mother and handmaid of ,god6 rejoice6 rejoice6 thou hast for a debtor him to whom all creatures owe their being4 ,we are all debtors to ,god1 but ,god is a debtor to thee4 ,hence it is1 oh most holy mother of ,god1 that thou hast greater goodness and greater charity than all the other saints1 and more than all others hast near access in heaven to ,god1 because thou art his mother4 ,ah1 we pray thee that we may celebrate thy glories1 and may know how great is thy goodness1 being mindful of us and of our miseries4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,john ,damascene4 ,i salute thee1 oh ,mary6 thou art the hope of ,christians2 receive the petition of a servant who tenderly loves thee1 especially honors thee1 and places in thee all the hope of his salvation4 ,from thee ,i have life1 thou dost restore me to the favor of thy ,son2 thou art the certain pledge of my salvation4 ,i implore thee1 then1 to deliver me from the burden of my sins2 dispel the darkness of my mind2 banish earthly affections from my heart2 repel the temptations of my enemies1 and so order my life1 that ,i may reach1 by thy means and by thy guidance1 the eternal felicity of paradise4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,andrew of ,candia1 or of ,jerusalem4 ,i salute thee1 oh full of grace6 the ,lord is with thee4 ,i salute thee1 oh cause of our joy1 by whom the sentence of our condemnation has been already revoked1 and changed into a judgment of benediction4 ,i salute thee1 oh temple of the glory of ,god1 sacred house of the ,king of ,heaven4 ,thou art the reconciliation of ,god with men4 ,i salute thee1 oh mother of our joy4 ,in truth thou art blessed1 for thou alone1 among all women1 hast been found worthy of being the mother of thy ,creator4 ,all nations call thee blessed4 ,oh ,mary1 if ,i put my confidence in thee ,i shall be saved2 if ,i am under thy protection ,i have nothing to fear1 for to be thy servant is to have the secure armor of salvation1 which ,god does not grant except to those whom he will save4 ,oh mother of mercy1 appease thy ,son4 ,whilst thou wast on earth thou didst only occupy a small part of it2 but now that thou art raised above the highest heaven1 the whole world considers thee as the propitiatory of all nations4 ,we supplicate thee1 then1 oh holy ,virgin1 to grant us the aid of thy prayers with ,god2 prayers which are dearer and more precious to us than all the treasures of earth2 prayers that render ,god inclined to forgive our sins2 and wilt thou obtain for us abundant graces to receive the pardon of them and to practise virtue8 prayers that conquer our enemies1 confound their designs1 and triumph over their forces4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,ildephonsus ,i come to thee1 oh mother of ,god1 ,i supplicate thee to obtain for me the pardon of my sins1 and that ,i may be purified from all the errors of my life4 ,i pray thee to grant me thy grace1 that ,i may unite myself with affection to thy ,son and to thee2 to thy ,son as to my ,god1 to thee as to the mother of my ,god4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,athanasius4 ,hearken oh most holy ,virgin1 to our prayers1 and remember us4 ,dispense to us the gifts of thy riches1 and the abundant graces with which thou art filled4 ,the archangel salutes thee and calls thee full of grace4 ,all nations call thee blessed2 the whole hierarchy of heaven blesses thee1 and we1 who are of the terrestrial hierarchy1 also say to thee3 8,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee20 pray for us1 oh mother of ,god1 our ,lady and our ,queen4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,anselm ,we pray thee1 oh most blessed ,lady1 by that grace which ,god bestowed on thee when he so greatly exalted thee1 rendering all things possible to thee with him2 we pray thee to obtain for us that the fulness of grace which thou hast merited may make us to share thy glory4 ,be pleased1 oh most merciful ,lady1 to procure for us the good for which ,god consented to become man in thy chaste womb4 ,be not slow to hear us4 ,if thou wilt deign to supplicate thy ,son1 he at once will graciously hear thee4 ,it is enough that thou wilt save us1 for then we cannot but be saved4 ,who can restrain the bowels of thy compassion8 ,if thou hast not compassion on us1 thou who art the mother of mercy1 what will become of us when thy ,son shall come to judge us8 ,come1 then1 to our succor1 oh most compassionate mother1 without regarding the multitude of our sins4 ,remember again and again that our ,creator has taken human flesh from thee1 not to condemn sinners1 but to save them4 ,if thou hadst been made mother of ,god only for thine own advantage1 it might be said that it would be to thee of little importance whether we were saved or condemned2 but ,god has clothed himself with thy flesh for thy salvation and for that of all men4 ,what will it avail us that thou art so powerful and so glorious1 if thou dost not render us partakers of thy felicity8 ,aid us and protect us2 remember the need we have of thy assistance4 ,we recommend ourselves to thee2 save us from damnation1 and make us serve and love eternally thy ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,peter ,damian4 ,holy ,virgin1 mother of ,god1 succor those who implore thy assistance4 ,turn to us4 ,but1 having been deified1 as it were1 hast thou forgotten men8 ,ah1 certainly not4 ,thou knowest in what peril thou hast left us1 and the wretched condition of thy servants2 no1 it is not befitting a mercy so great1 to forget so great misery as ours4 ,turn to us with thy power1 because he who is powerful hath given thee omnipotence in heaven and on earth4 ,to thee nothing is impossible1 for thou canst raise even the despairing to the hope of salvation4 ,thou must be compassionate as thou art powerful4 ,turn to us1 also1 in thy love4 ,i know1 oh my ,lady1 that thou art all kindness1 and dost love us with a love that no other love can surpass4 ,how often dost thou appease the anger of our ,judge1 when he is on the point of punishing us for our offences6 ,all the treasures of the mercy of ,god are in thy hands4 ,ah1 may it never happen that thou shouldst cease from doing us good3 thou seekest but the occasion of saving all sinners1 and of bestowing thy mercy upon them2 for thy glory is increased when1 by thy means1 penitents are pardoned1 and the pardoned come to paradise4 ,turn1 then1 to us1 that we may come to see thee in heaven2 for the greatest glory we can obtain next to seeing ,god1 is to see thee1 to love thee1 and to be under thy protection4 ,ah1 graciously hear us1 since thy ,son wishes to honor thee1 by granting all thy requests4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,william1 ,bishop of ,paris4 ,oh mother of ,god1 ,i fly to thee and ,i implore thee not to cast me off1 for the whole ,church of the faithful calls thee1 and proclaims thee the mother of mercy4 ,thou art so dear to ,god1 that thou art always graciously heard2 thy compassion has never been wanting to any one2 thy most gracious condescension has never despised any sinner1 however enormous his sin1 who has recommended himself to thee4 ,does the ,church falsely and in vain call thee her advocate1 and the refuge of the unhappy8 ,no2 let my sins never prevent thee from exercising thy great office of mercy by which thou art the advocate1 the mediatrix of reconciliation1 the only hope1 and the most secure refuge of sinners4 ,let it never be that the mother1 who1 for the good of the whole world1 brought forth him who is the fountain of mercy1 should refuse her mercy to any sinner who has recourse to her4 ,it is thy office to reconcile ,god to man2 let1 then1 thy compassion move thee to help me1 for it is greater than all my sins4 ,prayer to the most ,holy ,mary to be said every day at the end of the visit4 ,oh most holy1 immaculate ,virgin1 and my mother ,mary1 to thee who art the mother of my ,lord1 the queen of the world1 the advocate1 the hope1 the refuge of sinners1 ,i1 the most miserable of all1 have recourse to-day4 ,i adore thee1 oh great queen1 and thank thee for all the favors thou hast hitherto granted me1 especially for having delivered me from hell1 which ,i have so often deserved4 ,i love thee1 oh most amiable ,lady1 and through the love ,i bear thee promise that ,i will always serve thee1 and do all that ,i can that thou mayest also be loved by others4 ,i place in thee all my hopes of salvation2 accept me for thy servant1 and receive me under thy mantle1 oh thou mother of mercy4 ,and since thou art so powerful with ,god1 deliver me from all temptations1 or obtain for me the strength to conquer them always until death4 ,from thee ,i ask a true love for ,jesus ,christ2 from thee do ,i hope to die a good death4 ,oh1 my mother1 by the love thou bearest to ,god1 ,i pray thee always to help me1 but most of all at the last moment of my life4 ,do not leave me until thou seest me actually safe in heaven1 blessing thee1 and singing thy mercies through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,thus ,i hope4 ,thus may it be4 ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,part4 ,,the ,,glories ,,of ,,mary4 ,,part ,,second3 ,which treats of her principal ,festivals2 of her dolors in general1 and of each of her seven dolors in particular2 of her virtues2 and lastly1 of devotions to be practised in her honor4 ,,discourses ,,on ,,the ,,seven ,,principal ,,feasts ,,of ,,mary1 ,,and ,,on ,,her ,,dolors4 ,,discourse ,i4 ,,on ,,the ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,of ,,mary4 ,how befitting it was to all ,three of the ,divine ,persons that ,mary should be preserved from original sin4 ,the ruin was great which accursed sin brought upon ,adam and the whole human race2 for when he unhappily lost grace1 he at the same time lost the other blessings with which1 in the beginning1 he was enriched1 and drew upon himself1 and upon all his descendants1 both the displeasure of ,god1 and all other evils4 ,but ,god ordained that the blessed ,virgin should be exempt from this common calamity1 for he had destined her to be the mother of the second ,adam1 ,jesus ,christ1 who was to repair the injury done by the first4 ,now1 let us see how fitting it was that the ,three ,divine ,persons should preserve this ,virgin from original sin4 ,we shall see that it was befitting the ,father to preserve her from it as his daughter1 the ,son as his mother1 the ,holy ,spirit as his spouse4 ,first ,point4--,in the first place1 it was fitting that the eternal ,father should create ,mary free from the original stain1 because she was his daughter1 and his first-born daughter1 as she herself attests3 8,i came out of the mouth of the ,most ,high1 the first-born before all creatures20#hfi for this passage is applied to ,mary by the sacred interpreters1 by the holy ,fathers1 and by the ,church herself1 on the solemn festival of her ,conception4 ,whether she be the first-born on account of her predestination1 together with her ,son1 in the divine decrees1 before all creatures1 as the school of the ,scotists will have it2 or the first-born of grace1 as predestined to be the mother of the ,redeemer1 after the prevision of sin1 according to the school of the ,thomists1 all agree in calling her the first-born of ,god2 which being the case1 it was not meet that ,mary should be the slave of ,lucifer1 but that she should only and always be possessed by her ,creator1 as she herself asserts3 8,the ,lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways40#hgj ,hence ,mary was rightly called by ,dionysius1 ,archbishop of ,alexandria3 ,one and sole daughter of life3 8,una et sola filia vit20#hga differing in this from others1 who being born in sin1 are daughters of death4 ,moreover1 it was meet that the eternal ,father should create her in his grace1 since he destined her for the restorer of the lost world1 and mediatrix of peace between man and ,god2 and thus the holy ,fathers name her1 and especially ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 who thus addresses her3 ,oh blessed ,virgin1 thou art born to procure the salvation of the whole world6#hgb ,st4 ,bernard says that ,mary was already prefigured in the ark of ,noe2 for as by the ark men were saved from the deluge1 so by ,mary we are saved from the shipwreck of sin2 but with this difference1 that by means of the ark few only were saved1 but by means of ,mary the whole human race has been redeemed4#hgc ,hence it is that ,mary is called by ,st4 ,athanasius3 ,the new ,eve1 the mother of life3 8,nova ,eva1 mater vit40#hgd ,a new ,eve1 because the first was the mother of death1 but the most holy ,virgin is mother of life4 ,st4 ,theophanes1 ,bishop of ,nice1 exclaims3 ,hail to thee1 who hast taken away the sorrow of ,eve4#hge ,st4 ,basil calls her3 ,the peacemaker between ,god and men4#hgf ,st4 ,ephrem3 ,the peacemaker of the whole world4#hgg ,now1 certainly he who treats of peace should not be an enemy of the offended person1 still less an accomplice of his crime4 ,st4 ,gregory says1 that to appease the judge his enemy certainly must not be chosen1 for instead of appeasing him he would enrage him more4 ,therefore1 as ,mary was to be the mediatrix of peace between ,god and man1 there was every reason why she should not appear as a sinner and enemy of ,god1 but as his friend1 and pure from sin4 ,besides1 it was fitting that ,god should preserve her from original sin1 since he destined her to bruise the head of the infernal serpent1 who1 by seducing our first parents1 brought death upon all men1 as our ,lord predicted3 8,i will put enmities between thee and the woman1 and thy seed and her seed2 she shall crush thy head40#hgh ,now1 if ,mary was to be the strong woman brought into the world to crush ,lucifer1 surely it was not fitting that she should first be conquered by ,lucifer1 and made his slave1 but rather that she should be free from every stain1 and from all subjection to the enemy4 ,as he had in his pride already corrupted the whole human race1 he would also corrupt the pure soul of this ,virgin4 ,but may the divine goodness be ever praised1 who prevented her with so much grace1 to the end that remaining free from every stain of sin1 she could overthrow and confound his pride1 as ,st4 ,augustine says1 or whoever may have been the author of that commentary upon ,genesis3 ,as the devil was the head from whence original sin proceeded1 that head ,mary crushed1 because no sin ever entered the soul of the ,virgin1 and therefore she was free from all stain4#hgi ,st4 ,bonaventure still more clearly expresses the same3 ,it was meet that the blessed ,virgin ,mary1 by whom our shame was to be removed1 should conquer the devil1 and that she should not yield to him in the least degree4#hhj ,but it was especially fitting that the eternal ,father should preserve his daughter from the sin of ,adam1 because he destined her for the mother of his only begotten ,son4 ,thou wast preordained in the mind of ,god1 before every creature1 to bring forth ,god himself made man4#hha ,if for no other reason1 then1 at least for the honor of his ,son1 who was ,god1 the ,father would create her pure from every stain4 ,the angelic ,doctor ,st4 ,thomas says1 that all things ordained by ,god must be holy1 and pure from every defilement4#hhb ,if ,david1 when he was planning the temple of ,jerusalem with a magnificence worthy the ,lord1 said3 8,not for man a house is prepared1 but for ,god20#hhc now1 how much greater cause have we to believe that the great ,creator1 having destined ,mary to be the mother of his own ,son1 would adorn her soul with every grace1 that it might be a worthy habitation for a ,god4 ,god1 the creator of all things1 affirms blessed ,denis the ,carthusian1 about to construct a worthy habitation for his ,son1 adorned her with all pleasing gifts4#hhd ,and the holy ,church herself assures us of this1 when she affirms that ,god prepared the body and soul of the ,virgin to be1 on earth1 a habitation worthy of his only begotten ,son4 8,omnipotent1 eternal ,god60 thus the holy ,church prays1 8who1 by the co-operation of the ,holy ,ghost1 didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious ,virgin mother1 that she might become a worthy habitation for thy ,son10 c4#hhe ,it is acknowledged to be the greatest glory of sons to be born of noble parents4 ,the glory of children are their fathers3 8,gloria filiorum1 patres eorum40#hhf ,so that in the world the imputation of small fortune and little science is more endurable than that of low birth2 for the poor man may become rich by industry1 the ignorant learned by study1 but he who is of low birth can hardly become noble2 and if ever this occurs1 the old and original reproach is liable always to be revived4 ,how can we then believe that ,god1 when he was able to give his ,son a noble mother1 by preserving her from sin1 would have consented that he should be born of a mother defiled with sin1 and permit ,lucifer to reproach him with the opprobrium of being born of a mother who once was his slave and an enemy of ,god6 ,no1 the ,lord has not permitted this1 but he has well provided for the honor of his ,son1 by ordaining that his mother should always be immaculate1 that she might be a fit mother for such a ,son4 ,the ,greek ,church confirms this3 8,by a singular providence1 ,god ordained that the most holy ,virgin should be perfectly pure from the very beginning of her life1 as was becoming her who was to be a mother worthy of ,christ40#hhg ,it is a common axiom among theologians1 that no gift has ever been granted to any creature with which the blessed ,virgin was not also enriched4 ,st4 ,bernard thus expresses it3 ,we certainly cannot suspect that what has been bestowed on the chosen among mortals should be withheld from the blessed ,virgin4#hhh ,and ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova says3 ,nothing was ever given to any of the saints that did not shine more pre-eminently in ,mary from the beginning of her life4#hhi ,and if it be true1 according to the celebrated saying of ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 that there is an infinite distance between the mother of ,god and the servants of ,god1#hij it certainly must be supposed1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches1 that ,god has conferred greater graces of every kind on the mother than on the servants4#hia ,now1 asks ,st4 ,anselm1 the great defender of the privileges of the immaculate ,mary1 this being granted1 was the wisdom of ,god unable to prepare a pure abode for his ,son1 free from every human stain8#hib ,has it been in the power of ,god1 continues ,st4 ,anselm1 to preserve the angels of heaven unstained amidst the ruin of so many1 and could he not preserve the mother of his ,son and the queen of angels from the common fall of man8#hic ,could ,god1 ,i add1 give the grace even to an ,eve to come into the world immaculate1 and afterwards be unable to bestow it on ,mary8 ,ah1 no1 ,god could do it and has done it1 since it was altogether fitting1 as the above-named ,st4 ,anselm says1 that this ,virgin1 to whom ,god was to give his only ,son1 should be adorned with such purity1 that it not only should surpass the purity of all men and of all angels1 but should be second in greatness only to that of ,god4#hid ,and still more plainly does ,st4 ,john ,damascene declare1 that he preserved the soul as well as the body of this ,virgin1 as beseemed her who was about to receive ,god into her womb2 for he being holy1 dwells only with the holy4#hie ,thus the eternal ,father could say to this beloved daughter3 8,as the lily among the thorns1 so is my love among the daughters40#hif ,daughter among all my other daughters1 thou art like a lily among thorns2 for they are all stained by sin1 but thou wert ever immaculate1 and ever my friend4 ,second ,point4--,in the second place1 it was befitting the ,son that ,mary1 as his mother1 should be preserved from sin4 ,it is not permitted to other children to select a mother according to their good pleasure2 but if this were ever granted to any one1 who would choose a slave for his mother when he might have a queen8 who a peasant1 when he might have a noble8 who an enemy of ,god1 when he might have a friend of ,god8 ,if1 then1 the ,son of ,god alone could select a mother according to his pleasure1 it must be considered as certain that he would choose one befitting a ,god4 ,thus ,st4 ,bernard expresses it3 ,the ,creator of men to be born of man must choose such a mother for himself as he knew to be most fit4#hig ,and as it was1 indeed1 fitting that a most pure ,god should have a mother pure from all sin1 such was she created1 as ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna says1 in these words3 ,the third kind of sanctification is that which is called maternal1 and this removes every stain of original sin4 ,this was in the blessed ,virgin4 ,god1 indeed1 created her1 by the nobility of her nature as well as by the perfection of grace1 such as it was befitting that his mother should be4#hih ,and here the words of the apostle may be applied3 8,for it was fitting that we should have such a high priest1 holy1 innocent1 undefiled1 separated from sinners10#hii c4 ,here a learned author remarks1 that according to ,st4 ,paul1 it was meet that our ,redeemer should not only be separated from sin1 but also from sinners1 as ,st4 ,thomas explains it3 ,it was meet that he who came to take away sins1 should be separate from sinners as far as concerns the sin of which ,adam was guilty4#ijj ,but how could it be said of ,jesus ,christ that he was separate from sinners if his mother was a sinner8 ,st4 ,ambrose says3 ,not from earth1 but from heaven1 ,christ selected this vessel through which he should descend1 and consecrated the temple of modesty4#ija ,the saint alludes to the words of ,st4 ,paul3 8,the first man was of the earth1 earthy3 the second man from heaven1 heavenly40#ijb ,st4 ,ambrose calls the divine mother3 ,a celestial vessel3 not that ,mary was other than earthly in her nature1 as heretics have sometimes fancied1 but celestial through grace1 for she was superior to the angels of heaven in sanctity and purity1 as it was meet she should be1 when a ,king of glory was to dwell in her womb2 as ,john the ,baptist revealed to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,it was befitting the ,king of glory to remain in no vessel but one purer and more select than all angels and men20#ijc to which we may add what the eternal ,father himself said to the same saint3 8,mary was a clean and an unclean vessel4 ,clean because she was wholly fair1 but unclean because she was born of sinners2 although she was conceived without sin1 that my ,son should be born without sin40#ijd ,and these last words are worthy of note1 that ,mary was conceived without sin1 so that the divine ,son might be conceived without sin4 ,not that ,jesus ,christ could be capable of contracting sin1 but that he might not suffer the opprobrium of having a mother infected with sin1 and a slave of the devil4 ,the ,holy ,spirit says1 that the honor of the ,father is the glory of the ,son1 and the dishonor of the ,father is the shame of the ,son4#ije ,and ,st4 ,augustine says1 that ,jesus preserved the body of ,mary from being corrupted after death1 since it would have dishonored him if corruption had destroyed that virginal flesh from which he had clothed himself4#ijf ,corruption is the reproach of the human condition1 from which the nature of ,mary was exempted1 in order that ,jesus might be exempt from it1 for the flesh of ,jesus is the flesh of ,mary4 ,now1 if it were a dishonor for ,jesus ,christ to be born of a mother whose body was subject to the corruption of the flesh1 how much greater would be the shame had he been born of a mother whose soul was corrupted by sin6 ,moreover1 as it is true that the flesh of ,jesus is the same as that of ,mary1 in such a manner 7as the saint himself here adds7 that the flesh of the ,saviour after his resurrection was the very same which he received from his mother2#ijg therefore ,st4 ,arnold of ,carnotensis says3 ,the flesh of ,mary and of ,christ is one1 and hence ,i esteem the glory of the ,son to be not so much common to both as the same4#ijh ,now1 this being true1 if the blessed ,virgin had been conceived in sin1 although the ,son had not contracted the stain of sin1 yet there would always have been a certain stain from the union of himself with flesh once infected by guilt1 a vessel of uncleanness1 and a slave of ,lucifer4 ,mary was not only the mother1 but a worthy mother of the ,saviour4 ,thus all the holy ,fathers name her4 ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,thou alone hast been found worthy1 that in thy virginal hall the ,king of kings should choose his first mansion4#iji ,and ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova3 ,before she had conceived she was fitted to be the mother of ,god4#iaj ,the holy ,church herself attests that the ,virgin merited to be the mother of ,jesus ,christ4#iaa ,explaining which passage1 ,st4 ,thomas of ,aquinas remarks1 that ,mary could not merit the incarnation of the ,word1 but with divine grace she merited such perfection as would render her worthy to become the mother of a ,god2#iab as ,st4 ,peter ,damian also writes3 ,her singular sanctity merited 7out of pure grace7 that she should alone be judged worthy to receive a ,god4#iac ,now1 this being granted1 that ,mary was a mother worthy of ,god1 what excellency and what perfection1 says ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova1 were befitting her6#iad ,the same angelic ,doctor declares1 that when ,god elects any one to a certain dignity1 he also fits him for it2 hence1 he says1 that ,god having chosen ,mary for his mother1 certainly rendered her worthy of it by his grace1 according to what the angel said to her3 8,thou hast found grace with ,god1 behold thou shalt conceive1 etc40#iae ,and from this the saint infers that the ,virgin never committed any actual sin1 not even a venial sin2 otherwise1 he says1 she would not have been a worthy mother of ,jesus ,christ1 since the ignominy of the mother would also be that of the ,son1 if his mother had been a sinner4#iaf ,now1 if ,mary1 by committing only one venial offence1 which does not deprive the soul of divine grace1 might be said not to have been a worthy mother of ,god1 how much more if she had been stained with original sin1 which would have rendered her an enemy of ,god1 and a slave of the devil6 ,therefore ,st4 ,augustine says in a celebrated passage of his writings1 that speaking of ,mary1 he would make no mention of sins1 for the honor of that ,lord whom she merited for her ,son1 and through whom she had the grace to conquer sin in every way4#iag ,we should therefore hold it for certain1 that the incarnate ,word selected for himself a befitting mother1 and one of whom he need not be ashamed1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian expresses it4#iah ,and also ,st4 ,proculus3 ,he inhabited those bowels which he had created1 so as to be free from any mark of infamy4#iai ,jesus felt it no reproach to hear himself called by the ,jews the son of a poor woman3 8,is not his mother called ,mary80#ibj for he came on earth to give an example of humility and patience4 ,but on the other hand1 it would doubtless have been a reproach to him if it could have been said by the demons3 ,was he not born from a mother who was a sinner1 and once our slave8#iba ,it would be considered most unfit that ,jesus ,christ should have been born of a woman deformed and maimed in body1 or possessed by evil spirits2 but how much more unseemly that he should be born of a woman once deformed in soul1 and possessed by ,lucifer6 ,ah1 that ,god who is wisdom itself well knew how to prepare upon the earth a fit dwelling for him to inhabit3 8,wisdom hath built herself a house40#ibb 8,the ,most ,high hath sanctified his own tabernacle40 8,god will help it in the morning early40#ibc ,the ,lord1 says ,david1 sanctified this his habitation in the morning early2 that is1 from the beginning of her life1 to render her worthy of himself2 for it was not befitting a ,god who is holy to select a house that was not holy3 ,holiness becometh thy house3 8,domum tuum decet sanctitudo40#ibd ,and if he himself declares that he will never enter into a malicious soul1 and into a body subject to sins4#ibe ,how can we think that the ,son of ,god would have chosen to inhabit the soul and body of ,mary without first sanctifying her and preserving her from every stain of sin8 for1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches us1 the eternal ,word inhabited not only the soul1 but the body of ,mary4#ibf ,the ,church also sings3 ,oh ,lord1 thou didst not shrink from the ,virgin's womb3 8,non horruisti ,virginis uterum40 ,indeed1 a ,god would have shrunk from incarnating himself in the womb of an ,agnes1 of a ,gertrude1 of a ,theresa1 since those virgins1 although holy1 were for a time stained with original sin2 but he did not shrink from becoming man in the womb of ,mary1 because this chosen ,virgin was always pure from every guilt1 and never possessed by the infernal serpent4 ,hence ,st4 ,augustine wrote3 ,the ,son of ,god has built himself no house more worthy than ,mary1 who was never taken by the enemy1 nor robbed of her ornaments4#ibg ,on the other hand1 ,st4 ,cyril of ,alexandria says3 ,who has ever heard of an architect building a house for his own use and then giving the first possession of it to his greatest enemy8#ibh ,certainly our ,lord1 who1 as ,st4 ,methodius declares1 gave us the command to honor our parents1 would not fail1 when he became man1 like ourselves1 to observe it himself1 by bestowing on his mother every grace and honor4#ibi ,hence ,st4 ,augustine says1 that we must certainly believe that ,jesus ,christ preserved from corruption the body of ,mary after death1 as it has been said above2 for if he had not done so1 he would not have observed the law1 which1 as it commands respect to the mother1 so it condemns disrespect4#icj ,how much less mindful would ,jesus have been of the honor of his mother1 if he had not preserved her from the sin of ,adam6 ,that ,son would1 indeed1 commit a sin1 says ,father ,thomas d',argentina1 an ,augustinian1 who1 being able to preserve his mother from original sin1 should not do so2 now that which would be sinful in us1 says the same author1 cannot be esteemed befitting the ,son of ,god1 namely1 if he should not have created his mother immaculate when he was able to do so4 ,ah1 no1 exclaims ,gerson1 since thou1 the supreme ,prince1 dost wish to have a mother1 honor will certainly be due to her from thee2 but this law would not appear well fulfilled if thou shouldst permit her1 who was to be the dwelling of all purity1 to fall into the abomination of original sin4#ica ,moreover1 the divine ,son1 as we know1 came into the world to redeem ,mary before all others1 as we read in ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna4#icb ,and as there are two modes of redeeming1 as ,st4 ,augustine teaches1 one by raising the fallen2 the other1 by preventing from falling2#icc doubtless1 the latter is the most noble4 ,more nobly1 says ,st4 ,antoninus1 is he redeemed who is prevented from falling1 than he who is raised after falling2#icd because in this way is avoided the injury or stain that the soul always contracts by a fall4 ,therefore we ought to believe that ,mary was redeemed in the nobler manner1 as became the mother of a ,god1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure expresses it2 for ,frassen proves the sermon on the assumption to have been written by that holy doctor4#ice ,we must believe that by a new mode of sanctification the ,holy ,spirit redeemed her at the first moment of her conception1 and preserved her by a special grace from original sin1 which was not in her1 but would have been in her4#icf ,on this subject ,cardinal ,cusano has elegantly written3 ,others have had a deliverer1 but the holy ,virgin had a predeliverer2#icg others have had a ,redeemer to deliver them from sin already contracted1 but the holy ,virgin had a ,redeemer who1 because he was her ,son1 prevented her from contracting sin4 ,in a word1 to conclude this point1 ,hugo of ,st4 ,victor says1 the tree is known by its fruit4 ,if the ,lamb was always immaculate1 always immaculate must the mother also have been4#ich ,hence this same doctor saluted ,mary by calling her3 ,the worthy mother of a worthy ,son3 8,o digna digni40 ,by which he meant to say1 that none but ,mary was the worthy mother of such a ,son1 and that none but ,jesus was the worthy ,son of such a mother4#ici ,therefore let us say with ,st4 ,ildephonsus3 ,give suck1 then1 oh ,mary1 give suck to thy ,creator2 give suck to him who created thee1 and hath made thee so pure and perfect that thou hast merited that he should receive from thee the human nature4#idj ,third ,point4--,if1 then1 it became the ,father to preserve ,mary as his daughter from sin1 and the ,son because she was his mother1 it also became the ,holy ,spirit to preserve her as his spouse4 ,mary1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 was the only one who merited to be called the mother and spouse of ,god4#ida ,for1 as ,st4 ,anselm affirms1 the ,holy ,spirit came bodily upon ,mary and rested in her1 enriching her with grace beyond all creatures1 dwelt in her1 and made his spouse queen of heaven and of earth4#idb ,as the saint expresses it3 ,he was with her really1 as to the effect1 since he came to form from her immaculate body the immaculate body of ,jesus ,christ1 as the archangel predicted3 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee4#idc ,for this reason1 says ,st4 ,thomas1 ,mary is called the temple of the ,lord1 the sanctuary of the ,holy ,spirit1 because1 by the operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 she was made mother of the incarnate ,word4#idd ,now1 if an excellent painter were allowed to choose a bride as beautiful or as deformed as he himself might paint her1 how great would be his solicitude to make her as beautiful as possible6 ,who1 then1 will say that the ,holy ,spirit has not dealt thus with ,mary1 and that1 having it in his power to make this his spouse as beautiful as it became her to be1 he has not done so8 ,yes1 thus it was fitting he should do1 and thus he did1 as the ,lord himself attested when praising ,mary2 he said to her3 8,thou art all fair1 oh my love2 and there is not a spot in thee20#ide which words1 as we learn from ,lapide1 ,st4 ,ildephonsus1 and ,st4 ,thomas1 explain as properly to be understood of ,mary4 ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1#idf and ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian1#idg also declare that the passage above quoted is precisely to be understood of her immaculate conception2 hence the ,idiot says3 ,thou art all fair1 oh most glorious ,virgin1 not in part1 but wholly2 and the stain of sin1 whether mortal1 or venial1 or original1 is not upon thee4#idh ,the ,holy ,spirit signified the same thing1 when he called this his spouse3 8,a garden inclosed1 a fountain sealed up40#idi ,mary1 says ,st4 ,jerome1 was properly this inclosed garden and sealed fountain2 for the enemies never entered to harm her1 but she was always uninjured1 remaining holy in soul and body#iej4 ,and in like manner ,st4 ,bernard said1 addressing the blessed ,virgin3 ,thou art an inclosed garden1 where the sinner's hand never entered to rob it of its flowers4#iea ,we know that this divine spouse loved ,mary more than all the other saints and angels united1 as ,father ,suarez1 ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian1 and others affirm4 ,he loved her from the beginning1 and exalted her in sanctity above all creatures1 as ,david expresses it3 8,the foundations thereof are in the holy mountains2 the ,lord loveth the gates of ,sion above all the tabernacles of ,jacob4444 ,this man is born in her1 and the ,highest himself hath founded her40#ieb ,all which words signify that ,mary was holy from her conception4 ,the same thing is signified by what the ,holy ,spirit himself says in another place3 8,many daughters have gathered together riches2 thou hast surpassed them all40#iec ,if ,mary has surpassed all in the riches of grace1 she then possessed original justice1 as ,adam and the angels had it4 8,there are young maidens without number3 one is my dove1 my perfect one 7the ,hebrew reads1 my uncorrupted1 my immaculate72 she is the only one of her mother40#ied ,all just souls are children of divine grace2 but among these1 ,mary was the ,dove without the bitter gall of sin1 the ,perfect ,one without the stain of original sin1 the one conceived in grace4 ,the angel1 therefore1 before she was mother of ,god1 already found her full of grace1 and thus saluted her3 ,hail1 full of grace3 8,ave gratia plena40 ,commenting upon which words1 ,sophronius writes1 that to the other saints grace is given in part1 but to the ,virgin it was given in fulness4#iee ,so that1 as ,st4 ,thomas says1 grace not only made the soul1 but also the flesh of ,mary holy1 that with it the ,virgin might clothe the eternal ,word4#ief ,now by all this we are to understand1 as ,peter of ,celles remarks1 that ,mary1 from the moment of her conception1 was enriched by the ,holy ,spirit1 and filled with divine grace4#ieg ,hence1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian says3 ,she being elected and pre-elected by ,god1 was borne off by the ,holy ,spirit for himself4#ieh ,borne off1 as the saint expresses it1 to explain the swiftness of the ,divine ,spirit in making her his spouse1 before ,lucifer should take possession of her4 ,i will at length close this discourse1 in which ,i have been more diffuse than in the others1 because our little congregation has for its principal protectress the most holy ,virgin ,mary1 precisely under this title of her immaculate conception4 ,i will close1 ,i say1 by declaring in a few words what are the reasons which make me certain1 and which1 as ,i think1 should make every one certain of this pious sentiment1 so glorious to the divine mother--that she was free from original sin4 ,there are many doctors who maintain that ,mary was even exempt from contracting the debt of sin2 such as ,cardinal ,galatino1#iei ,cardinal ,cusano1#ifj ,de ,ponte1#ifa ,salasar1#ifb ,catherinus1#ifc ,novarino1#ifd ,viva1#ife ,de ,lugo1 ,egidius1 ,richelius1 and others4 ,now this opinion is very probable2 for if it is true that in the will of ,adam1 as head of the human race1 were included the wills of all1 as ,gonet1#iff ,habert1#ifg and others hold it to be probable1 on the testimony of these words of ,st4 ,paul3 8,in whom 7,adam7 all have sinned40#ifh ,if this1 then1 is probable1 it is also probable that ,mary did not contract the debt of sin2 for ,god having greatly distinguished her in the order of grace from the rest of mankind1 it should be piously believed1 that in the will of ,adam1 the will of ,mary was not included4 ,this opinion is only probable1 but ,i adhere to it1 as being more glorious for my ,lady4 ,but1 then1 ,i hold it for certain that ,mary has not contracted the sin of ,adam1 as ,cardinal ,everard1#ifi ,duval1#igj ,raynauld1#iga ,lossada1#igb ,viva1#igc and many others hold it for certain1 and even proximately definable as an article of faith1 as they express it4 ,i omit1 however1 the revelations that confirm this opinion2 especially those made to ,st4 ,bridget1 approved by ,cardinal ,torrecremata1 and by four supreme ,pontiffs1 and which we read in the sixth book of the above-mentioned revelations1 in various places4#igd ,but ,i can by no means omit to mention here the opinions of the holy ,fathers on this point1 in order to prove how uniform they have been in conceding this privilege to the divine mother4 ,st4 ,ambrose says3 ,receive me not from ,sarah1 but from ,mary1 as an uncorrupted ,virgin1 a ,virgin through grace preserved pure from every stain of sin4#ige ,origen1 speaking of ,mary1 says3 ,neither was she infected by the breath of the venomous serpent4#igf ,and ,st4 ,ephrem3 ,she is immaculate1 and remote from every taint of sin4#igg ,st4 ,augustine1 meditating on the words of the angel1 8,hail1 full of grace10 says3 ,by these words he shows her to be entirely 7note1 entirely7 excluded from the wrath of the first sentence1 and restored to the full grace of benediction4#igh ,st4 ,jerome3 ,that cloud was never in darkness1 but always in the light4#igi ,st4 ,cyprian1 on ,psalm lxxvii41 or whoever may be the author of that treatise1 says3 ,neither did justice suffer that vessel of election to be open to common injuries1 for1 being far exalted above others1 she was a partaker of their nature1 but not of their sin4#ihj ,st4 ,amphilochius also says3 ,he who created the first virgin without reproach1 also created the second without stain or crime4#iha ,sophronius3 ,therefore she is called the immaculate ,virgin1 because she was in no manner corrupted4#ihb ,st4 ,ildephonsus3 ,it is certain that she was exempt from original sin4#ihc ,st4 ,john of ,damascus3 ,to this paradise the serpent had no entrance4#ihd ,st4 ,peter ,damian3 ,the flesh of the ,virgin1 received from ,adam1 was free from ,adam's taint of sin4#ihe ,st4 ,bruno3 ,this is that uncorrupted earth which the ,lord has blessed1 and hence she is pure from all contagion of sin4#ihf ,st4 ,bonaventure1 also3 ,our ,lady was full of preventing grace in her sanctification1 namely1 of grace preservative against the defilement of original sin4#ihg ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna3 ,for it is not to be believed that the ,son of ,god himself would choose to be born of a virgin1 and assume her flesh1 if she were defiled in any way with original sin4#ihh ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian3 ,from her conception she was prevented with blessing4#ihi ,so the ,idiot1 upon those words1 ,thou hast found grace1 8,invenisti gratiam10 says3 ,thou hast found peculiar grace1 oh most sweet ,virgin1 for thou wast preserved from the original stain1 c4#iij ,and many other ,doctors express the same4 ,but there are two arguments which conclusively prove the truth of this opinion4 ,the first is the universal consent of the faithful on this point4 ,father ,egidius1 of the ,presentation1 asserts that all the religious orders follow the same opinion3#iia and although in the order of ,st4 ,dominic1 says a modern author1 there are ninety-two writers who are of the contrary opinion1 yet one hundred and thirty-six are of ours4 ,but what should especially persuade us that our pious opinion is conformable to the common opinion of ,catholics1 is the declaration of ,pope ,alexander ,,vii41 in the celebrated bull1 8,sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum10 issued in the year #affa1 namely3 8,this devotion and worship to the mother of ,god again increased and was propagated1 444 so that the universities having embraced this opinion 7that is1 the pious one71 almost all ,catholics embrace it40#iib ,and1 in fact1 this opinion is defended by the universities of the ,sorbonne1 of ,alcala1 of ,salamanca1 of ,coimbra1 of ,cologne1 of ,mayence1 and of ,naples1 and by many others1 in which every one who graduates binds himself by an oath to the defence of the immaculate ,mary4 ,the learned ,petavius rests his proof of the immaculate conception mainly upon this argument of the common consent of the faithful4#iic ,which argument1 writes the most learned ,bishop ,julius ,torni1 cannot fail to convince2 for1 in fact1 if nothing else1 the common consent of the faithful renders us certain of the sanctification of ,mary in the womb1 and of the glorious assumption of her soul and body into heaven2 why1 then1 should not this same common sentiment render us certain of her immaculate conception8#iid ,by another reason1 still stronger than the first1 we are assured of the truth of the fact1 that the ,virgin is exempt from the ,original stain1 namely1 the festival instituted by the universal ,church in honor of her ,immaculate ,conception4 ,and with regard to this ,i see1 on the one hand1 that the ,church celebrates the first moment when her soul was created and infused into the body1 as ,alexander ,,vii4 declares in the bull above quoted1 in which it is expressed that the ,church prescribes the same veneration for the conception of ,mary1 as the pious opinion concedes to her1 which holds her to be conceived without original sin4 ,on the other hand1 ,i know it to be certain that the ,church cannot honor any thing unholy1 according to the decrees of the sovereign pontiffs ,st4 ,leo#iie and ,st4 ,eusebius3 8,in the ,apostolic ,see the ,catholic religion has always been preserved pure from stain4#iif0 ,and all the theologians1 including ,st4 ,augustine1#iig ,st4 ,bernard1 and ,st4 ,thomas1 teach the same thing4 ,the latter makes use of the argument of the festival of her birth1 instituted by the ,church1 to prove that ,mary was sanctified before birth2 and therefore says3 ,the ,church celebrates the nativity of the blessed ,virgin2 but no feast is celebrated in the ,church except in honor of some saint2 therefore the blessed ,virgin was sanctified in the womb4#iih ,now if it is certain1 as the angelic ,doctor declares1 that ,mary was sanctified in the womb1 because for this reason the holy ,church celebrates her birth2 why should we not then hold it for certain that ,mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception1 now that we know that in this sense the ,church herself celebrates the festival of it8#iii ,in confirmation1 too1 of this great privilege of ,mary1 it is well known what numerous and remarkable graces our ,lord has been pleased to dispense daily in the kingdom of ,naples1 by means of the little pictures of the ,virgin of the ,immaculate ,conception4 ,i could relate many that took place under the eyes of the fathers of our own congregation2 but ,i will relate only two1 which are truly wonderful4 ,,example4 ,there came a woman to one of the houses of our little congregation1 in this kingdom1 to tell one of the fathers that her husband had not been to confession for many years1 and that she did not know how to bring him back to his duties1 for whenever she spoke to him of confession he beat her4 ,the father told her to give him a little picture of ,mary immaculate4 ,evening came1 and the woman again begged her husband to go to confession2 but the man being deaf as before1 she gave him the picture4 ,he had no sooner received it than he said3 8,when will you take me to confession1 for ,i am ready80 ,the wife1 at that sudden change1 wept for joy4 ,in the morning he came to our church1 and when the father asked him how long it was since he had been to confession1 he answered3 8,twenty-eight years40 8,and what has brought you to confession this morning80 said the father4 8,father10 he said1 8,i was obstinate1 but yesterday my wife gave me a picture of the ,madonna1 and immediately ,i felt my heart changed1 so that last night appeared to me a thousand years long1 and ,i thought the day would never come when ,i might go to confession40 ,he made his confession with great compunction1 changed his life1 and continued for a long time to go often to confession to the same father4 ,in another place1 in the diocese of ,salerno1 during one of our missions1 there was a certain man who had a great enmity against one who had offended him4 ,one of our fathers spoke to him1 and exhorted him to pardon the offence4 8,father1 have you ever seen me at the sermon8 ,no1 you have not1 and for this reason ,i stay away3 ,i see that ,i am damned1 but ,i do not wish it otherwise1 ,i must have revenge40 ,the father made every effort to convert him1 but finding that he was wasting his words1 8,take10 he said to him1 8this little picture of the ,madonna40 8,of what use10 said he1 8is this picture80 ,but he took it1 and as if he had never refused to pardon his enemy1 he said to the missionary1 8,father1 do you wish any thing more than reconciliation8 for that ,i am ready40 ,the next morning was appointed for the reconciliation2 but when the morning came1 his mind was changed1 and he would do nothing4 ,the father offered him another picture4 ,he did not wish for it1 and took it unwillingly2 but behold1 no sooner had he taken it1 than he immediately said1 8,let us be reconciled3 where is ,mastrodatti80 ,he then forgave his enemy1 and afterwards made his confession4 ,,prayer4 ,ah1 my immaculate ,lady1 ,i rejoice with thee1 seeing thee endowed with so great purity4 ,i give thanks1 and make the resolution always to give thanks to our common ,creator1 for having preserved thee from every stain of sin1 as ,i certainly believe2 and to defend this great and peculiar privilege of thy immaculate conception ,i am ready1 and swear to give even my life if it is necessary4 ,i wish that all the world might know thee1 and acknowledge thee for that beautiful aurora1 which was always resplendent with the divine light2 that chosen ark of salvation1 safe from the common shipwreck of sin2 for that perfect and immaculate dove1 as thy divine spouse declared thee2 that inclosed garden1 which was the delight of ,god2 that fountain sealed up1 which the enemy never entered to trouble2 finally1 that spotless lily1 which thou art1 springing up among the thorns of the children of ,adam2 for whereas all are born defiled with original sin1 and enemies of ,god1 thou wast born pure1 all spotless1 and in all things a friend of thy ,creator4 ,let me1 then1 also praise thee as thy ,god himself hath praised thee when he said3 ,thou art all fair1 and there is not a spot in thee3 8,tota pulchra es et macula non est in te40 ,oh most pure dove1 all white1 all beautiful1 and always the friend of ,god3 8,o quam pulchra es1 amica mea1 quam pulchra es40 ,oh most sweet1 most amiable1 immaculate ,mary1 thou who art so beautiful in the eyes of our ,lord1 do not disdain to look with thy pitying eye upon the loathsome wounds of my soul4 ,behold me1 pity me1 and heal me4 ,oh powerful magnet of hearts1 draw also my miserable heart to thee4 ,thou who even from the first moment of thy life wast pure and beautiful in the sight of ,god1 have pity on me1 for ,i was not only born in sin1 but after baptism1 ,i again have defiled my soul with sin4 ,will ,god1 who hath chosen thee for his child1 his mother1 and his spouse1 and therefore hath preserved thee free from every stain1 refuse any grace to thee8 ,virgin immaculate1 you must save me2 ,i will say to thee with ,st4 ,philip ,neri1 make me always to remember thee1 and do not forget me4 ,it seems to me a thousand years before ,i shall go to behold thy beauty in paradise1 to praise and love thee more1 my mother1 my queen1 my beloved1 most lovely1 most sweet1 most pure1 immaculate ,mary4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,,ii4 ,,on ,,the ,,birth ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary was born a saint1 and a great saint1 for great was the grace with which our ,lord enriched her from the beginning1 and great was the fidelity with which ,mary at once corresponded with it4 ,men are accustomed to celebrate the birth of their children with joy and feasting2 but rather ought they to weep and give signs of grief and mourning1 considering that these are born1 not only destitute of merits and of reason1 but moreover infected by sin and children of wrath1 and therefore condemned to misery and death4 ,but with reason do we celebrate1 with feasts and universal praise1 the birth of our infant ,mary1 for she came into this world an infant in age1 it is true1 but great in merits and in virtues4 ,mary was born a saint1 and a great saint4 ,but to conceive the degree of sanctity in which she was born1 we must call to mind1 in the first place1 how great was the first grace with which ,god enriched ,mary2 and in the second1 with how great fidelity ,mary at once corresponded with ,god4 ,first ,point4--,commencing with the first point1 it is certain that the soul of ,mary was the most beautiful soul that ,god ever created2 indeed1 next to the incarnation of the ,word1 this work was the greatest and most worthy of himself that the ,omnipotent could accomplish in this world--a work1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian terms it1 which ,god alone excels3 8,opus quod solus ,deus supergreditur40 ,hence it was that the divine grace did not descend upon ,mary in drops as upon the other saints1 but as ,david predicted3 ,like rain upon the fleece3 8,sicut pluvia in vellus40#ajjj ,the soul of ,mary was like wool1 that happily imbibed all that great shower of graces without losing a drop4 ,the holy ,virgin1 says ,st4 ,basil1 drew into herself all the graces of the ,holy ,spirit4#ajja ,hence she herself said by the mouth of ,ecclesiasticus3 ,my abode is in the fulness of saints3 8,in plenitudine ,sanctorum detentio mea20#ajjb which ,st4 ,bonaventure thus explains3 ,i have in fulness all that the other saints have in part2#ajjc and ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer1 speaking especially of the sanctity of ,mary before her birth1 said1 that she surpassed all the saints and angels in sanctity4#ajjd ,the grace of the blessed ,virgin surpassed the grace not only of each saint in particular1 but of all the saints and angels together1 as the most learned ,father ,francis ,pepe1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 proves1 in his admirable work on the grandeur of ,jesus and ,mary2#ajje and he asserts that this opinion1 so glorious for our queen1 is now common and established among modern theologians1 as ,carthagena1 ,suarez1 ,spinelli1 ,recupito1 ,guerra1 and others1 who have avowedly examined it1 which was not done by the ancients2 and he further relates1 that the divine mother sent ,father ,martin ,guttierez to thank ,father ,suarez in her name for having1 with so much courage1 defended this most probable opinion1 which ,father ,segneri asserts1 in his work entitled 8,the ,servant of ,mary10 was maintained by the common consent of the ,faculty of ,salamanca4 ,now if this opinion is universal and certain1 the other opinion is also very probable1 namely1 that ,mary received from the first moment of her immaculate conception this grace1 superior to the grace of all the saints and angels together4 ,this the same ,father ,suarez powerfully defends1 and ,father ,spinelli1 ,recupito1#ajjf and ,colombiere1#ajjg follow him4 ,but besides the authority of theologians1 there are yet two great and convincing reasons sufficient to prove the above-mentioned opinion4 ,the first reason is1 that ,mary was chosen by ,god to be the mother of the divine ,word2 hence blessed ,denis the ,carthusian says1 that having been elected to an order superior to all creatures 7for in a certain sense the dignity of mother of ,god1 as ,father ,suarez affirms1 belongs to the order of the hypostatic union71 gifts of a superior order were justly bestowed upon her from the beginning of her life1 so that her graces far exceeded those granted to all other creatures4 ,and1 indeed1 it cannot be doubted1 that at the same time1 when in the divine decrees the person of the eternal ,word was predestined to become man1 a mother was also destined for him1 from whom he was to take the human nature1 and this was our infant ,mary4 ,now ,st4 ,thomas teaches that the ,lord gives to every one grace proportioned to that dignity for which he destines him2#ajjh ,st4 ,paul taught this before1 when he said3 8,who also hath made us fit ministers of the ,new ,testament20#ajji signifying to us that the ,apostles received from ,god gifts proportioned to the great office to which they were elected4 ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna adds1 that when a man is chosen by ,god for any state1 he not only receives the dispositions requisite for that1 but also the gifts necessary to fill the office in a becoming manner4#ajaj ,now if ,mary was chosen to be mother of ,god1 it was meet that ,god should adorn her1 even from the first moment1 with an immense grace1 and of an order superior to the grace of all other men and angels2 it being requisite that the grace should correspond with the most high and immense dignity to which ,god exalted her2 in which opinion all theologians agree with ,st4 ,thomas1 who says3 ,the ,virgin was elected to be the mother of ,god1 and therefore there can be no doubt that ,god1 by his grace1 rendered her fit for it4#ajaa ,hence ,mary1 before being made mother of ,god1 was adorned with a sanctity so perfect1 that it rendered her fit for this great dignity4 ,in the blessed ,virgin1 therefore1 says the holy doctor1 was a perfection1 as it were preparative1 by which she was fitted to become the mother of ,christ2 and this was the perfection of sanctification4#ajab ,and ,st4 ,thomas had before said1 that ,mary was called full of grace1 not on account of the degree of grace1 since she had not grace in its highest possible degree2 for even the habitual grace of ,jesus ,christ 7as the same doctor says7 was not the highest possible1 so that ,god1 by his absolute power1 could not make it greater2 although it was grace sufficient to correspond to the end for which his humanity was destined by the divine ,wisdom1 that is1 for the union with the person of the ,word4#ajac ,the divine power1 although it may form something greater and better than the habitual grace of ,christ1 yet could make nothing that should be destined to any thing greater than the personal union of the only begotten ,son of the ,father1 to which union such a measure of grace would sufficiently correspond1 according to the idea of divine wisdom4#ajad ,the same angelic ,doctor teaches1 that the divine power is so great1 that however much it gives1 there always remains something more to give2 and although the natural power of the creature in receiving is in itself limited1 so that it can be entirely filled1 yet the power of its obedience to the divine will is unlimited1 and ,god can always increase its fulness by making it more capable of receiving2#ajae and hence1 to return to our proposition1 ,st4 ,thomas declares1 that the blessed ,virgin1 although not full of grace1 in respect to absolute grace2 yet is called full of grace in respect to herself1 since she possessed a grace immense1 sufficient1 and corresponding to her great dignity1 which rendered her fit to become the mother of a ,god4#ajaf ,hence the blessed ,fernandez says1 that the measure by which we can know how great was the grace communicated to ,mary is her dignity as mother of ,god4#ajag ,justly1 then1 did ,david say1 that the foundations of this city of ,god1 ,mary1 should be laid upon the summits of the mountains3 8,fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis20#ajah by which we are to understand that the beginning of the life of ,mary was more exalted than the completed lives of all the saints put together4 8,the ,lord loveth the gates of ,sion10 the prophet continues1 8above all the tabernacles of ,jacob40#ajai ,and ,david himself gave this as the reason1 namely1 that ,god was to make himself man in her virginal womb3 ,man was born in her3 8,homo natus est in ea40 ,hence it was fitting that ,god should give to this ,virgin1 even from the first moment he created her1 a grace corresponding with the dignity of the mother of ,god4 ,isaias foretold the same when he said1 that in future the mountain of the house of the ,lord1 which was the blessed ,virgin1 should be prepared on the summit of all the other mountains1 and therefore all the nations must hasten to this mountain1 to receive the divine favors4#ajbj ,st4 ,gregory explains this by saying3 ,yea1 the mountain on the top of mountains1 because the glory of ,mary shone above that of all the saints4#ajba ,and as ,st4 ,john ,damascene expresses it3 ,the mountain which it pleased ,god to choose for his habitation4#ajbb ,mary was called a cypress1 but a cypress of ,mount ,sion3 she was also called a cedar1 but a cedar of ,lebanon2 an olive-tree1 but a fair olive-tree2 chosen1 but chosen as the sun2 for1 as the sun1 says ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 with his light so far exceeds all the splendor of the stars1 that they are seen no more when he appears1 so the great ,virgin ,mary surpasses1 with her sanctity1 the merits of the whole celestial court4#ajbc ,and as ,st4 ,bernard elegantly expresses it3 ,mary was so sublime in sanctity1 that none but ,mary was a fitting mother of ,god4 ,and no other ,son than ,god was befitting ,mary4#ajbd ,the second argument which proves that ,mary1 in the first moment of her life1 was more holy than all the saints united1 is founded upon the great office which she had from the beginning1 of mediatrix of men2 for which it was requisite that she should possess a greater treasure of grace than the whole human race together4 ,it is very well known how universally this title of mediatrix is applied by theologians and by the very holy ,fathers to ,mary1 since by her powerful intercession and merits de congruo she has obtained salvation for all1 procuring for the ruined world the great blessing of redemption4 ,it is said by merit de congruo1 because ,jesus ,christ alone is our mediator by way of justice1 and by merit de condigno1 as it is expressed by the schools1 he having offered to the eternal ,father his merits1 which he has accepted for our salvation4 ,mary1 on the contrary1 is the mediatrix of grace by way of simple intercession1 and of merit de congruo1 she having offered to ,god1 as the theologians say with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 her merits for the salvation of all men2 and ,god1 through grace1 has accepted them in union with the merits of ,jesus ,christ4 ,hence ,arnold ,carnotensis says3 ,she effected our salvation in common with ,christ4#ajbe ,and ,richard of ,st4 ,victor1 also3 ,she desired1 sought1 and obtained the salvation of all2 nay1 more1 the salvation of all was effected through her4#ajbf ,so that every blessing and every gift of eternal life which each of the saints has received from ,god1 has been obtained for them by ,mary4 ,and it is this which the holy ,church wishes us to understand1 when she honors the divine mother by applying to her these passages of ,ecclesiasticus3 ,in me is all grace of the way and of the truth3 8,in me gratia omnis vi et veritatis40#ajbg ,it is said3 ,of the way1 because through ,mary all graces are dispensed to those who are still on the road to heaven3 ,of the truth1 because through ,mary is given the light of truth4 ,in me is all hope of life and of virtue3 8,in me omnes spes vit et virtutis40#ajbh ,of life1 because through ,mary we hope to attain the life of grace upon earth1 and of glory in heaven2 and of virtue1 because through ,mary virtue is obtained1 and especially the theological virtues1 which are the principal virtues of the saints4 ,i am the mother of fair love1 and of fear1 and of knowledge1 and of holy hope4#ajbi ,mary by her intercession obtains for her servants the gifts of divine love1 of holy fear1 of celestial light1 and of holy confidence4 ,and ,st4 ,bernard infers that it is taught by the ,church1 that ,mary is the universal mediatrix of our salvation4 8,extol the finder of grace1 the mediatrix of salvation1 the restorer of ages40 ,thus the ,church sings of her to me1 and hath taught me to sing the same4#ajcj ,therefore1 as ,st4 ,sophronius1 ,patriarch of ,jerusalem1 asserts1 the archangel ,gabriel called her full of grace3 8,ave gratia plena20 because whilst to others1 as the saint above mentioned remarks1 limited grace is given1 to ,mary it was given in fulness4#ajca ,and thus it was ordered1 as ,st4 ,basil attests1 that in this way she might become the worthy mediatrix between ,god and men4#ajcb ,for if the ,virgin had not been full of divine grace1 as ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian adds1 how could she be the ladder of paradise1 the advocate of the world1 and the true mediatrix between ,god and men8#ajcc ,the second argument is now made perfectly clear3 ,if ,mary1 even from the beginning1 as already destined to be the mother of the common ,redeemer1 received the office of mediatrix of all men1 and consequently also of all the saints1 it was requisite that she1 from the beginning1 should have a greater grace than all the saints had1 for whom she was to intercede4 ,to explain myself more clearly1 if by means of ,mary all men were to render themselves dear to ,god1 it was meet that ,mary should be more holy and more dear to ,god than all men united4 ,otherwise1 how could she intercede for all others8 ,in order that an intercessor may obtain from his prince favor for all his vassals1 it is absolutely necessary that he1 more than all the other vassals1 should be dear to his monarch4 ,and ,mary1 therefore1 concludes ,st4 ,anselm1 merited to be the worthy restorer of the ruined world1 because she was the most holy and most pure of all creatures4#ajcd ,mary was1 then1 the mediatrix of men1 some one will say1 but can she be called also the mediatrix of angels8 ,many theologians are of opinion that ,jesus ,christ obtained by his merits the grace of perseverance also for the angels2 so that as ,jesus ,christ was their mediator de condigno1 ,mary may also be called their mediatrix de congruo1 having hastened by her prayers the coming of the ,redeemer4 ,at least1 having merited de congruo to be chosen for the mother of the ,messias1 she merited for the angels the restoration of their seats which had been lost by the demons4 ,then1 at least1 she merited for them this accidental glory2 hence1 ,richard of ,st4 ,victor says3 ,every creature by her is restored1 the ruin of the angels by her is repaired1 and human nature is reconciled4#ajce ,and ,st4 ,anselm before had said3 ,all things by this ,virgin are reclaimed and restored to their pristine state4#ajcf ,so that our heavenly child1 because she was appointed mediatrix of the world1 as well as predestined for the mother of the ,redeemer1 even from the first moment of her life1 received grace greater than that of all the saints united4 ,hence how lovely in the sight of heaven and earth was the beautiful soul of that happy infant1 although still inclosed in the womb of its mother6 ,in the eye of ,god she was the creature most worthy of love1 because1 already full of grace and of merit1 she could1 even at that time1 exult and say3 ,when ,i was a little child ,i pleased the ,most ,high3 8,cum essem parvula1 placui ,altissimo40 ,and at the same time she was the creature most full of love for ,god that until that time had appeared in this world2 so that ,mary1 had she been born immediately after her most pure conception1 would have come into the world more rich in merits1 and more holy1 than all the saints united4 ,now1 let us consider how much more holy she was at her birth1 coming to the light after the acquisition of those merits which she made during the nine months that she remained in her mother's womb4 ,let us now go on to consider the second point1 namely3 how great was the fidelity with which ,mary at once corresponded with the divine grace4 ,second ,point4--,it is not now an individual opinion of some few divines1 says a learned author1#ajcg it is the opinion of the whole world1 that the holy infant1 when she received sanctifying grace in the womb of ,st4 ,anna1 received at the same time the perfect use of reason1 with a great divine light corresponding to the grace with which she was enriched4 ,hence we may believe1 that from the first moment when her pure soul was united to her most pure body1 she was enlightened with divine wisdom to comprehend eternal truths1 the beauty of virtue1 above all1 the infinite goodness of her ,god1 and how much he deserves to be loved by all men1 but especially by her1 on account of the peculiar graces with which he had adorned her and distinguished her from all creatures1 preserving her from the stain of original sin1 bestowing on her a grace so abundant1 and destining her for the mother of the ,word and the queen of the universe4 ,hence ,mary1 from that moment grateful to her ,god1 began to effect all that she could1 using faithfully all that great treasure of grace that she had received2 and wholly applying herself to please and love the divine goodness4 ,from that moment she loved him with all her strength1 and thus continued to love him through all those nine months that she lived before her birth1 in which she did not cease for a moment to unite herself to ,god by fervent acts of love4 ,she was free from original sin1 and therefore she was also exempt from every earthly attachment1 from every irregular tendency1 from every distraction1 from all strife of the senses1 which could have prevented her from advancing constantly in the divine love4 ,all her senses united with her blessed spirit in drawing her near to ,god4 ,hence her pure soul1 freed from every hindrance1 without lingering1 always rose to ,god1 always loved him1 and always increased in love to him4 ,therefore she called herself a plane-tree planted by the waters3 8,quasi platanus exaltata sum juxta aquam20#ajch for she1 indeed1 was that noble tree of ,god that always grew beside the stream of divine grace4 ,she also called herself a vine3 ,as the vine ,i have brought forth a pleasant odor3 8,ego quasi vitis fructificavi suavitatem odoris20#ajci not only because she was so humble in the eyes of the world1 but also because1 as the vine never ceases to grow3 8,vitis nullo fine crescit30 according to the ,proverb1 so the most holy ,virgin always increased in perfection4 ,the growth of other trees1 as the orange1 mulberry1 pear1 c41 is determinate1 but the vine always increases1 and increases in proportion to the height of the tree by which it is supported4 ,hail1 oh vine1 always vigorous6 thus ,st4 ,gregory ,thaumaturgus salutes her2#ajdj for she was always united to her ,god1 who was her only support4 ,thus it was of her that the ,holy ,spirit spoke1 when he said3 ,who is this that cometh up from the desert flowing with delights1 leaning on her beloved8#ajda ,commenting on this1 ,st4 ,ambrose says3 ,who is this that1 accompanied by the divine ,word1 increases like the vine supported by a lofty tree8#ajdb ,many grave theologians teach1 that the soul which possesses a habit of virtue1 whenever she corresponds faithfully with the actual graces which she afterwards receives from ,god1 always produces an act equal in intensity to the habit she possesses2 so that each time she acquires a new and double merit1 equal to the aggregate of all the merits before acquired4 ,this increase1 as they say1 was granted to the angels in the time of their probation2 and if it were granted to the angels1 who shall say that it was not also given to the divine mother while she lived on this earth1 but especially in the time of which ,i am speaking1 when she remained in the womb of her mother1 and was certainly more faithful than the angels1 in corresponding with grace8 ,mary1 then1 during all that time was redoubling continually that sublime grace1 which from the first moment she possessed2 for1 corresponding with all her power and perfection in every act she performed1 at every successive moment she redoubled her merits4 ,hence1 if1 in the first moment1 she had received a thousand degrees of grace1 in the second she had two thousand1 in the third four thousand1 in the fourth eight thousand1 in the fifth sixteen thousand1 in the sixth thirty thousand2 and yet we have only reached the sixth moment4 ,but multiply in this way for a whole day1 multiply for nine months1 and consider what treasures of grace1 of merits1 and of sanctity ,mary brought into the world when she was born4 ,let us rejoice1 then1 with our infant1 who was born so holy1 so dear to ,god1 and so full of grace2 and let us rejoice not only for her1 but also for ourselves1 since she came into the world full of grace1 not only for her own glory1 but for our good4 ,st4 ,thomas says the most holy ,virgin was full of grace in three ways3 #ast1 ,she was full of grace in soul1 so that from the beginning her holy soul belonged entirely to ,god4 #b;d1 ,she was full of grace in body1 so that she merited to clothe the eternal ,word with her pure flesh4 #c;d1 ,she was full of grace for the common benefit1 so that all men might share it4#ajdc ,some saints1 adds the angelic ,doctor1 have so much grace1 that not only is it enough for themselves1 but also to save many others1 not1 however1 all men2 only to ,jesus ,christ and ,mary was given so great a grace that it was sufficient to save all men4 ,if any one had enough for the salvation of all1 that would be the greatest2 and this was in ,jesus ,christ and the blessed ,virgin4#ajdd ,thus ,st4 ,thomas writes4 ,hence1 what ,st4 ,john said of ,jesus--8,and of his fulness we all have received0#ajde--the saints say of ,mary4 ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova says3 ,full of grace1 of whose fulness all receive4#ajdf ,therefore ,st4 ,anselm remarks1 there is no one who does not share in the grace of ,mary4#ajdg ,and is there any one in the world to whom ,mary is not merciful1 and on whom she does not bestow some favor8#ajdh ,from ,jesus1 however 7we should understand71 we receive grace as from the author of grace1 from ,mary as the mediatrix2 from ,jesus as the ,saviour1 from ,mary as the advocate2 from ,jesus as the fountain1 from ,mary as the channel4 ,therefore ,st4 ,bernard says that ,god has established ,mary as the channel of the mercies which he wishes to dispense to men2 and for this reason he filled her with grace1 that every one might receive his portion of her fulness4 ,a full channel1 that all might partake of its fulness1 but not receive the fulness itself4#ajdi ,hence the saint exhorts all to consider with how much love ,god will have us honor this great ,virgin1 since in her he has placed all the treasure of his blessings2 that whatever we possess of hope1 grace1 and salvation1 we may thank our most loving queen for it2 since it all comes to us through her hands1 and by her intercession4#ajej ,miserable is that soul who closes for herself this channel of grace1 by neglecting to recommend herself to ,mary6 ,when ,holophernes wished to make himself master of the city of ,bethulia1 he ordered the aqueducts to be destroyed3 8,and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off40#ajea ,and this the devil does when he wishes to make himself master of a soul1 he makes her abandon the devotion to the most holy ,mary4 ,when this channel is closed1 she will at once lose the light and the fear of ,god1 and finally eternal salvation4 ,by the following example it will be seen how great is the compassion of the heart of ,mary1 and the ruin which he brings upon himself who closes this channel1 and abandons devotion to this queen of heaven4 ,,example4 ,it is narrated by ,tritemius1 ,canisius1 and others1 that in ,magdeburg1 a city of ,saxony1 there was a certain man named ,udo1 who1 from his youth1 had been so destitute of talent that he was the ridicule of all his school-fellows4 ,now one day1 being more than usually disheartened1 he went to pray to the most holy ,virgin before her image4 ,mary appeared to him in a dream1 and said to him3 8,udo1 ,i will console you1 and not only will ,i obtain from ,god for you abilities which will protect you from derision1 but even talents which will make you admired2 and moreover1 after the death of the bishop1 ,i promise that you shall be elected in his place40 ,thus ,mary said1 and thus it came to pass4 ,udo made great progress in the sciences1 and obtained the bishopric of that city4 ,but ,udo was so ungrateful to ,god and to his benefactress for these favors1 that he neglected all his devotions and became the scandal of the place4 ,whilst he was in bed one night with a wicked companion1 he heard a voice saying to him3 8,udo1 cease this sinful pastime1 you have sinned enough40#ajeb ,at first he was irritated by these words1 thinking it was some one who was reproving him2 but hearing it repeated a second and a third night1 he began to tremble a little1 lest it should be a voice from heaven4 ,notwithstanding all this1 he continued in his wickedness4 ,but after ,god had given him three months for repentance1 behold the punishment6 ,one night a devout canon1 named ,frederic1 was praying1 in the church of ,st4 ,maurice1 that ,god would remove the scandal which ,udo gave2 when1 behold1 the door of the church was burst open by a strong wind4 ,two youths entered with lighted torches in their hands1 and stood on each side of the high altar4 ,then two others followed1 who spread before the altar a carpet1 and placed upon it two thrones of gold4 ,another youth1 in military attire1 followed1 with a sword in his hand1 and stopping in the midst of the church1 cried3 8,oh ye saints of heaven1 whose relics are preserved in this church1 come to assist at the great justice which the sovereign ,judge is about to execute40 ,at these words many saints appeared1 and also the twelve apostles1 as assistants in this judgment4 ,lastly1 ,jesus ,christ entered1 and seated himself on one of these thrones4 ,afterwards ,mary appeared1 attended by many holy virgins1 and seated herself on the other throne at the side of her ,son4 ,the ,judge now ordered that the culprit should be brought forward1 and he was the miserable ,udo4 ,st4 ,maurice spoke1 and demanded1 in the name of the people whom he had scandalized1 justice for his infamous life4 ,all present raised their voices and said3 8,oh ,lord1 he merits death40 8,let him die1 then10 said the eternal ,judge4 ,but before the sentence was executed 7see how great is the mercy of ,mary7 she1 the kind mother1 that she might not be present at that tremendous act of justice1 left the church2 and then the heavenly minister1 who entered among the first1 with the sword1 approaching ,udo1 with one blow severed the head from the body1 and the vision vanished4 ,the place was left dark4 ,the canon1 trembling1 went for a light from a lamp which was burning under the church2 and when he returned1 saw the body of ,udo with the head cut off1 and the pavement all covered with blood4 ,when daylight came1 the people thronged the church1 and the canon related the whole vision and the circumstances of that fearful tragedy4 ,and on the same day the wretched ,udo1 who was condemned to hell1 appeared to one of his chaplains1 who knew nothing of what had taken place in the church4 ,the body of ,udo was thrown into a marsh1 and his blood remained for a perpetual memorial on that pavement1 which was always covered with a carpet2 and from that time it became the custom to uncover it when a new bishop took possession of the church1 that at the sight of such a punishment he might be mindful to lead a good life1 and not be ungrateful for the graces of the ,lord and of his most holy mother4 ,,prayer4 ,oh holy and heavenly infant ,mary6 thou who art the destined mother of my ,redeemer and the great mediatrix of miserable sinners1 have pity on me4 ,behold at thy feet another ungrateful creature who has recourse to thee and implores thy mercy4 ,it is true that1 for my ingratitude towards ,god and thee1 ,i am deserving of being abandoned by ,god and by thee2 but ,i have been told1 and thus ,i believe1 knowing how great is thy compassion1 that thou wilt not refuse to help him who1 with confidence1 recommends himself to thee4 ,thou1 oh most exalted of all creatures1 since there is no one above thee but ,god1 and1 in comparison with thee1 the greatest in heaven are but small2 oh saint of saints1 oh ,mary1 abyss of grace1 full of grace1 help a miserable sinner who has lost it by his own fault4 ,i know that thou art so dear to ,god that he denies thee nothing4 ,i know also that thou dost rejoice to employ thy greatness in relieving the distressed4 ,ah1 make known how great is thy favor with ,god by obtaining for me a divine light and a flame so powerful that it may change me from a sinner into a saint1 and1 detaching me from every earthly affection1 may wholly inflame me with divine love4 ,do this1 oh ,lady1 because thou canst do it2 do this for the love of that ,god who has made thee so great1 so powerful1 and merciful4 ,thus ,i hope4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,,iii4 ,,on ,,the ,,presentation ,,of ,,mary4 ,the offering which ,mary made of herself to ,god was prompt1 without delay2 entire1 without reserve4 ,there never has been1 and there never will be1 any offering of a pure creature greater and more perfect than that which ,mary made to ,god1 being yet only a child of three years1 when she presented herself in the temple to offer him1 not spices1 nor calves1 nor talents of gold1 but her whole self as a perfect holocaust1 consecrating herself as a perpetual victim in his honor4 ,well did she understand the voice of ,god1 which even then called her to dedicate herself wholly to his love1 with these words3 ,arise1 make haste1 my love1 and come3 8,surge1 propera1 amica mea1 et veni40#ajec ,and therefore her ,lord would have her from thenceforth forget her country1 her parents1 and every thing1 to attend to nothing but to love and please him3 8,hearken1 oh daughter1 and see and incline thy ear2 and forget thy people and thy father's house40#ajed ,and she at once obeyed promptly the divine voice4 ,let us consider1 then1 how acceptable to ,god was this offering which ,mary made of herself1 as she presented herself promptly and entirely to him2 promptly without delay2 entirely without reserve2 these are the two points4 ,first ,point4--,mary offered herself to ,god promptly4 ,from the first moment when this heavenly infant was sanctified in the womb of her mother 7which was at the first moment of her immaculate conception71 she received the perfect use of reason1 that she might from thenceforth begin to merit1 as the ,doctors universally agree2 and one of them1 ,father ,suarez1 says1 that as the most perfect mode by which ,god sanctifies a soul is its sanctification by its own merits1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches1#ajee so it is to be believed that the blessed ,virgin has been thus sanctified4#ajef ,and if this privilege was granted to the angels and to ,adam1 as the angelic ,doctor says1#ajeg much more should we believe that it was granted to the divine mother1 on whom we cannot doubt that ,god1 having deigned to make her his mother1 conferred greater gifts than on all other creatures1 as the same ,doctor teaches4 ,from her he received his human nature1 hence before all others she must have obtained from ,christ the fulness of grace2#ajeh for1 being mother1 as ,father ,suarez says1 she has a certain peculiar right to all the gifts of her ,son4#ajei ,and as1 by the hypostatic union1 ,jesus must of right have the fulness of all graces2 thus by the divine maternity1 it was meet that ,jesus should confer on ,mary1 as a natural debt1 greater graces than those bestowed on all the other saints and angels4 ,thus1 from the beginning of her life1 ,mary knew ,god1 and knew him so well1 that no tongue1 as the angel declared to ,st4 ,bridget1 shall suffice to tell how the intellect of the holy ,virgin clearly saw ,god in the first moment she knew him4#ajfj ,and even in that first moment of light by which she was illuminated1 she offered herself wholly to her ,lord1 dedicating herself entirely to his lore and glory1 as the angel continued to say to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,at once our queen resolved to sacrifice her will to ,god1 with all her love1 for the whole time of her life2 and no one can understand how completely her will submitted itself then to embrace all things pleasing to him40#ajfa ,yet1 when the immaculate infant understood afterwards that her holy parents1 ,joachim and ,anna1 had promised to ,god1 even by a vow1 as various authors relate1 that if he should grant them a child1 it should be consecrated to his service in the temple2 for it was an ancient custom of the ,jews to place their children in cells which were near the temple1 that there they might be properly educated1 as we learn from ,baronius1 ,nicephorus1 ,cedrenus1 and ,suarez1 as also from ,josephus1 the ,jewish historian1 ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 ,st4 ,gregory of ,nicomedia1 ,st4 ,anselm1#ajfb and ,st4 ,ambrose4#ajfc ,as it is also clearly seen in ,macchabees1 where1 speaking of ,heliodorus1 who wished to enter the temple by force1 in order to take from it the treasures deposited there1 it is said3 8,because the place was like to come into contempt 444 the virgins that were shut up hastened to ,onias40#ajfd ,when ,mary knew of this vow1 as ,i have before said1 she wished solemnly to offer and consecrate herself to ,god1 by presenting herself in the temple1 as ,germanus asserts1 and also ,st4 ,epiphanius1 who says1 that when she was hardly three years old she was presented in the temple1#ajfe at an age when children have the greatest desire for the assistance of their parents1 and need it the most4 ,she was even the first to entreat her parents earnestly that they would take her to the temple1 to fulfil their promise2 and her holy mother1 ,anna1 as ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa says1 did not delay to bring her there1 and offer her to ,god4#ajff ,and behold1 ,joachim and ,anna1 generously sacrificing to ,god what was dearest to them on earth1 set out from ,nazareth1 carrying by turns1 in their arms1 their beloved little daughter1 who could not walk so great a distance as was that from ,nazareth to ,jerusalem1 a journey1 as several authors assert1 of eighty miles4 ,they thus went on their way1 accompanied by only a few of their relations1 but by hosts of angels1 as ,st4 ,george of ,nicomedia asserts1#ajfg who attended and ministered to the immaculate ,virgin1 as she went to dedicate herself to the ,divine ,majesty4 ,how beautiful are thy steps1 oh prince's daughter6 8,quam pulchri sunt gressus tui1 filia principis60#ajfh ,oh1 how beautiful1 how pleasing to ,god1 as the angels sung1 are thy steps1 as thou goest to offer thyself to him1 oh great and chosen daughter of our common ,lord6 ,god himself on that day1 says ,bernardine de ,bustis1 celebrated a great feast with the whole celestial court1 when he beheld his spouse conducted to the temple4#ajfi ,for he never saw a creature more holy and more beloved offering herself to him4#ajgj ,go1 then1 said ,st4 ,germanus1 ,archbishop of ,constantinople1 go1 oh queen of the world1 oh mother of ,god1 go joyfully to the house of the ,lord1 to wait for the coming of the ,holy ,spirit that will make thee mother of the eternal ,word4#ajga ,when the holy company had arrived at the temple1 the eager child turned to her parents1 kneeling kissed their hands1 and asked for their benediction2 and then1 without turning back1 she ascended the fifteen steps of the temple1 as ,arias ,montanus relates upon the authority of ,josephus1 the ,jewish historian1 and presented herself to the priest1 who1 according to ,st4 ,germanus1 was ,zachary2 then1 taking leave of the world1 and renouncing all the goods which it promises to its followers1 she offered and consecrated herself to her ,creator4 ,at the time of the deluge1 the raven which was sent by ,noe from the ark remained to feed upon the bodies of the dead1 but the dove without stopping to rest her foot1 returned quickly to the ark3 ,she returned to him into the ark3 8,reversa est ad eum in arcam40#ajgb ,many who are sent by ,god into this world1 unhappily stop to feed on earthly things4 ,not so ,mary1 our celestial dove2 she knew that ,god should be our only good1 our only hope1 our only love2 she knew that the world is full of dangers1 and that he who the soonest leaves it1 is freest from its snares2 therefore she sought promptly to flee from it in her tenderest years1 and seclude herself in the sacred retirement of the temple1 where she could better hear the voice of ,god1 and better honor and love him4 ,and thus the holy ,virgin1 from the beginning of her life1 rendered herself dear and acceptable to her ,lord1 as the holy ,church makes her say3 8,rejoice with me1 all ye who love the ,lord1 for when ,i was little ,i pleased the ,most ,high40#ajgc ,for this reason she was compared to the moon2 for as the moon completes her course more quickly than the other planets1 so ,mary attained perfection sooner than all the saints1 by giving herself promptly to ,god without delay2 and entirely without reserve4 ,and now let us pass to the second point1 upon which we shall have much to say4 ,point ,second4--,the enlightened infant well knew that ,god does not accept a divided heart1 but wishes it entirely consecrated to his love1 according to the precept he has given3 8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart40#ajgd ,hence1 from the first moment of her existence1 she began to love ,god with all her strength1 and gave herself wholly to him4 ,but her most holy soul awaited with earnest desire the time when she could in reality consecrate herself entirely1 and with a public solemnity1 to ,god4 ,let us consider1 then1 with how great a fervor the loving ,virgin1 seeing herself actually inclosed in that holy place1 first prostrated herself to kiss that ground as the house of the ,lord1 then adored his infinite majesty1 and thanked him for the favor she had received of being brought so early to inhabit his house4 ,then she offered herself entirely to her ,god2 entirely1 without reserving any thing4 ,she offered to him all her powers and all her senses1 her whole mind and her whole heart1 her whole soul and her whole body1 for it was then1 as we are told1 that to please ,god1 she made the vow of virginity4 ,a vow1 according to ,rupert the ,abbot1 that ,mary was the first to make3 8,votum virginitatis prima emisit40#ajge ,and she offered herself without limitation of time1 as ,bernardine de ,bustis asserts3 ,mary offered and dedicated herself to the perpetual service of ,god4#ajgf ,since she had then the intention of dedicating her whole life to the service of his ,divine ,majesty in the temple1 if it should so please ,god2 and of never quitting that sacred place1 ,oh1 with what affection must she have exclaimed3 ,my beloved to me1 and ,i to him3 8,dilectus meus mihi1 et ego illi40#ajgg ,i for him1 as ,cardinal ,hugo remarks1 will wholly live and will wholly die3 8,ego illi tota vivam1 et tota moriar40 ,my ,lord and my ,god1 she said1 ,i have come hither only to please thee1 and to give thee all the honor ,i can2 here ,i will live wholly for thee and die for thee1 if it so please thee2 accept the sacrifice which this thy poor servant makes to thee1 and help me to be faithful to thee4 ,and here let us consider how holy was the life that ,mary led in the temple1 where1 like the rising morn1 8,quasi aurora consurgens10 increasing always in perfection1 as the dawn increases in light2 who can describe how1 from day to day1 in her more brightly shone her virtues2 charity1 modesty1 humility1 silence1 mortification1 meekness8 ,this fair olive-tree1 planted in the house of ,god1 as ,st4 ,john ,damascene says1 under the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 became the habitation of all the virtues4#ajgh ,the same saint says in another place3 ,the countenance of the ,virgin was modest1 her mind humble1 her words kind1 proceeding from a recollected heart4#ajgi ,and he elsewhere asserts3 ,the ,virgin withdrew her thoughts from all earthly things1 embracing all the virtues4 ,thus1 then1 by the practice of perfection1 she made so great progress in a short time1 as to merit being made a temple worthy of ,god4#ajhj ,st4 ,anselm1 also1 speaking of the life of the holy ,virgin in the temple1 says3 ,mary was docile1 spoke little1 was always composed1 never laughed1 was never distracted4 ,she persevered in prayer1 in the reading of the ,holy ,scripture1 in fasting1 and all virtuous works4#ajha ,st4 ,jerome goes more into detail1 and tells us how ,mary's life was ordered3 ,from early in the morning till nine o'clock she remained in prayer2 from nine to three she was engaged in labor2 at three she resumed her prayers1 until the angel1 as usual1 brought her food4 ,she was the most constant in vigils1 the most exact in obedience to the divine law1 the most profound in humility1 and the most perfect in every virtue4 ,no one ever saw her angry2 all her words were so full of sweetness1 that when she spoke it always appeared that ,god was with her4#ajhb ,the divine mother herself revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 a ,benedictine nun1 in the convent of ,sconaugia1 as we read in ,st4 ,bonaventure1#ajhc that when she was left in the temple by her parents1 she resolved on having ,god alone for father1 and often thought what she could do to please him4#ajhd ,she determined1 moreover1 to consecrate to him her virginity1 and to possess nothing in the world1 giving her entire will to ,god4#ajhe ,she also told her that above all the divine precepts to be observed1 she placed before her eyes the precept1 8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god10#ajhf and that she went in the middle of the night to pray the ,lord before the altar of the temple1 that he would grant her the grace to observe the commandments1 and to see the mother of the ,redeemer born while she lived1 praying him that he would preserve her eyes to see her1 her tongue to praise her1 her hands and feet to serve her1 and her knees to adore in her arms1 his divine ,son4 ,st4 ,elizabeth1 on hearing this1 said to her3 8,but1 my ,lady1 were you not full of grace and virtue80 and ,mary answered her3 8,know that ,i esteemed myself the most vile1 and unworthy of divine grace2 therefore ,i prayed thus for grace and virtues40 ,and1 finally1 that she might persuade us of the absolute necessity we are all under1 of asking from ,god the graces that we need1 she added3 8,do you think that ,i obtained grace and virtue without effort8 ,know that ,i received no grace from ,god without great effort1 constant prayer1 ardent desire1 and many tears and penances40 ,but above all1 we should consider the revelations made to ,st4 ,bridget1 of the virtues and exercises practised by the blessed ,virgin in her childhood1 in these words3 8,even from an infant ,mary was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and as she increased in age1 she increased also in grace4 ,even from that time she resolved to love ,god with all her heart1 so that he should never be offended by her actions or her words1 and for this reason all the goods of earth were despised by her4 ,she gave all she could to the poor4 ,in her food she was so temperate that she only took what was absolutely necessary to support life4 ,discovering then from the sacred ,scriptures1 that this ,god was to be born from a virgin to redeem the world1 her spirit was so kindled with divine love that she desired and thought only of ,god2 and taking pleasure only in ,god1 shunned the conversation even of her parents1 that they might not hinder her from thinking on ,god4 ,and more than all did she desire that the coming of the ,messiah might be in her day1 that she might be the servant to that happy ,virgin who merited to be his mother40 ,thus the revelations made to ,st4 ,bridget4#ajhg ,ah1 for love of this exalted child the ,redeemer hastened his coming into the world1 for whilst she through her humility did not esteem herself worthy of being the servant of the divine mother1 she was herself chosen for this mother1 and by the odor of her virtues and her powerful prayers1 she drew into her virginal womb the divine ,son4 ,hence was ,mary called the turtle by her divine spouse3 ,the voice of the turtle is heard in our land3 8,vox turturis audita est in terra nostra40#ajhh ,not only because she1 like the turtle1 always loved solitude1 living in this world as in a desert1 but also because1 like the turtle who makes the fields mournful with its sad note1 ,mary was always mourning in the temple over the miseries of the lost world1 and asking from ,god1 the ,redeemer of the world4 ,oh1 with how much greater affection and fervor than the prophets did she repeat to ,god in the temple their supplications and sighs1 that he might send the ,redeemer6 8,send forth1 oh ,lord1 the ,lamb1 the ruler of the earth40#ajhi 8,drop down dew1 ye heavens1 from above1 and let the clouds rain the just40#ajij 8,oh1 that thou wouldst rend the heavens and wouldst come down40#ajia ,in a word1 it was an object of delight to ,god to see this young ,virgin always ascending to a higher perfection1 like a pillar of smoke1 rich in the odors of all virtues1 as the ,holy ,spirit exactly describes her in the sacred ,canticles3 8,who is she that goeth up by the desert1 as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices1 of myrrh1 and frankincense1 and of all the powders of the perfumer80#ajib ,this holy child1 says ,sophronius1 was in truth the garden of delights of the ,lord1 for he found there flowers of every kind1 and all the odors of the virtues4#ajic ,this ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom affirms1 that ,god chose ,mary for his mother on earth1 because he found not on the earth a more perfect and more holy ,virgin than ,mary1 neither a place more worthy for him to dwell in than her sacred womb2#ajid as ,st4 ,bernard also says3 ,on the earth there was no more worthy place than the womb of the ,virgin4#ajie ,st4 ,antoninus asserts that the blessed ,virgin1 in order to be elected and predestined to the dignity of mother of ,god1 must have possessed a perfection so great and consummate1 that it should surpass the perfection of all other creatures4#ajif ,as then the holy young child ,mary1 presented and offered herself in the temple promptly and entirely1 so let us1 at this day1 without delay and without reserve1 present ourselves to ,mary1 and entreat her to offer us to ,god1 who will not refuse us when he sees us offered by the hand of her who was the living temple of the ,holy ,spirit1 the delight of her ,lord1 and the chosen mother of the ,eternal ,word4 ,and let us place a great hope in this exalted and most gracious ,lady1 who rewards with so much love the devotions that are offered to her by her servants1 as may be seen by the following example4 ,,example4 ,we read in the life of ,sister ,domenica of ,paradise1 written by ,father ,ignatius of ,niente1 a ,dominican1 that in a village called ,paradise1 near ,florence1 this little girl was born of poor parents4 ,from her infancy she practised devotion to the divine mother4 ,she fasted every day of the week in her honor1 and on ,saturday she distributed to the poor the food of which she had deprived herself2 and every ,saturday she went into the garden1 or into the neighboring fields1 and there gathered all the flowers she could find1 and placed them before a statue of the holy ,virgin with the infant ,jesus in her arms1 which she had in her house4 ,but let us see now with what favors our most grateful ,lady compensated this her servant1 for the homage she paid her4 ,as she stood one ,sunday at the window1 when she was about ten years of age1 she saw in the street a woman with a beautiful countenance1 accompanied by a little child1 and they both extended their hands as if to ask alms4 ,she went for some bread1 and1 behold1 before she could open the door1 they stood beside her1 and she saw wounds on the hands1 feet1 and breast of the child4 ,then she said to the woman3 8,who has wounded this child80 8,it was love10 answered the mother4 ,domenica1 charmed by his beauty and modesty1 asked him if his wounds pained him2 but he only answered with a smile4 ,as they were standing near the images of ,jesus and of ,mary1 the mother said to ,domenica3 8,tell me1 little girl1 what makes you crown these images with flowers80 ,she answered3 8,the love ,i have for ,jesus and ,mary makes me do it40 8,and how much do you love them80 8,i love them as much as ,i can40 8,and how much can you love them80 8,as much as they will help me40 8,continue1 then10 said the mother1 8continue to love them1 for they will richly return your love in paradise40 ,then the little girl perceived a celestial odor coming forth from those wounds1 and she asked the mother with what ointment she had anointed them1 and if that ointment could be purchased8 8,it is purchased10 answered she1 8with faith and works40 ,domenica then offered them the bread4 ,the mother said3 8,the food of this my ,son is love2 tell him that you love ,jesus and he will be satisfied40 ,the child at mention of this word love1 began to show great signs of joy1 and turning to the little girl1 he asked her how much she loved ,jesus4 ,she answered that she loved him so much1 that day and night she was always thinking of him1 and desired nothing else but to please him as much as she could4 8,well10 answered he1 8love him2 and love will teach you what you must do to satisfy him40 ,the odor then increasing which came from those wounds1 ,domenica exclaimed3 8,oh ,god1 this odor makes me die of love2 if the odor of a child is so sweet1 what must be the odors of paradise80 ,but behold the scene was changed2 the mother appeared robed as a queen1 and surrounded with light1 and the child resplendent as a sun of beauty4 ,he took those flowers and strewed them on her head4 ,she at once saw that these persons were ,jesus and ,mary1 and prostrated herself in adoration before them4 ,and thus ended the vision4 ,domenica afterwards took the ,dominican habit1 and died in the year #aeec1 with the reputation of a saint4 ,,prayer4 ,oh beloved of ,god6 most amiable child ,mary6 oh1 that like thee1 who didst present thyself in the temple1 and at once and wholly didst consecrate thyself to the glory and love of thy ,god1 ,i might offer to thee to-day the first years of my life1 and dedicate myself entirely to thy service1 oh my most holy and sweet ,lady6 ,but it is now too late1 for1 unhappily1 ,i have lost so many years in serving the world and my caprices1 as it were entirely forgetful of thee and of ,god4 ,alas for the time in which ,i did not love thee6#ajig ,but it is better to commence late than not at all4 ,behold1 oh ,mary1 to-day ,i present myself to thee1 and offer myself entirely to thy service1 for the longer or shorter time that remains for me to live on the earth2 and with thee ,i renounce all creatures1 and dedicate myself entirely to the love of my ,creator4 ,i consecrate to thee1 then1 oh queen1 my mind1 that ,i may always think of the love that thou dost merit1 my tongue to praise thee1 and my heart to love thee4 ,accept1 oh most holy ,virgin1 the offering which the most miserable sinner presents to thee2 accept it1 ,i pray thee1 for the sake of that consolation which filled thy heart when in the temple thou gavest thyself to ,god4 ,and if late ,i begin to serve thee1 it is right that ,i should make good the time lost by redoubling my devotion and my love4 ,aid my weakness1 oh mother of mercy1 with thy powerful intercession1 and obtain for me perseverance and strength to be faithful to thee until death2 that always serving thee in this life1 ,i may come to praise thee eternally in paradise4 ,,discourse ,,iv4 ,,on ,,the ,,annunciation ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary could not humble herself more than she did in the incarnation of the ,word4 ,on the other hand1 ,god could not exalt her more than he has exalted her4 8,whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled1 and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted40#ajih ,these are the words of our ,lord1 and cannot fail4 ,therefore1 ,god having determined to make himself man1 in order to redeem lost man1 and thus manifest to the world his infinite goodness1 being about to choose on earth his mother1 sought among women the holiest and most humble4 ,among them all he saw one1 the youthful virgin ,mary1 who1 as she was the most perfect in all virtues1 so was she the most simple2 and humble as a dove in her own esteem4 8,there are young maidens without number2 one is my dove1 my perfect one40#ajii ,let this one1 then1 said ,god1 be my chosen mother4 ,let us1 then1 see how humble ,mary was1 and how ,god exalted her4 ,mary could not humble herself more than she did in the incarnation of the ,word2 this will be the first point4 ,that ,god could not exalt ,mary more than he exalted her1 will be the second4 ,first ,point4--,our ,lord in the holy ,canticles1 speaking precisely of the humility of this most humble ,virgin1 said3 8,while the king was at his repose1 my spikenard sent forth the odor thereof40#aajj ,st4 ,antoninus1 commenting on these words1 says that the spikenard1 inasmuch as it is a small and lowly plant1 was a type of the humility of ,mary1 whose odor ascended to heaven1 and drew1 even from the bosom of the eternal ,father1 into her virginal womb the divine ,word4 ,the spikenard is a small herb1 and signifies the blessed ,virgin1 who exhaled the odor of humility2 which odor ascended even to heaven1 and in heaven as it were awakened him who was in his repose1 and brought him to rest in her womb4#aaja ,thus the ,lord1 drawn by the odor of this humble ,virgin1 chose her for his mother1 when he wished to become man to redeem the world4 ,but he1 for the greater glory and merit of this his mother1 would not make himself her ,son without first obtaining her consent4 ,he would not take flesh from her without her consent4#aajb ,therefore1 when the humble young ,virgin was in her poor dwelling1 sighing and praying to ,god more earnestly than ever that he would send the ,redeemer1 as was revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 a ,benedictine nun1 behold the ,archangel ,gabriel came1 bearing the great embassy4 ,he enters and salutes her1 saying3 8,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee2 blessed art thou among women40#aajc ,hail1 oh ,virgin1 full of grace1 for thou wast always rich in grace above all the other saints4 ,the ,lord is with thee because thou art so humble4 ,thou art blessed among women1 for all others have incurred the curse of original sin2 but thou1 because thou art to be the mother of the ,blessed ,one1 hast been and wilt always be blessed1 and free from every stain4 ,but what does the humble ,mary answer to this salutation so full of praises8 ,she answered nothing1 but she was disturbed thinking on such a salutation3 8,and when she had heard1 she was troubled at his saying1 and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be40#aajd ,and why was she disturbed8 through fear of illusion1 or through modesty at the sight of a man1 as some suppose1 remembering that the angel appeared to her in human form8 ,no1 the text is plain2 she was troubled at his saying1 8turbata est in sermone ejus10 as ,eusebius ,emissenus remarks3 ,not by his appearance1 but by his speech3 8,non in vultu1 sed in sermone ejus40 ,such a disturbance was then wholly owing to her humility at hearing those praises1 so far beyond her humble esteem of herself4 ,hence the more she is exalted by the angel1 the more she humbles herself1 and the more she considers her nothingness4 ,st4 ,bernardine remarks3 ,if the angel had said that she was the greatest sinner in the world1 ,mary would not have been thus surprised2 but in hearing those exalted praises she was greatly disturbed4#aaje ,she was troubled because1 being so full of humility1 she abhorred every praise1 and desired that none but her ,creator1 the giver of every good1 should be praised and blessed4 ,mary said exactly this to ,st4 ,bridget1 speaking of the time when she became mother of ,god4 8,i disliked my own praise1 and only wished to hear that of the giver and ,creator40#aajf ,but ,i would remark1 that the blessed ,virgin had already well learned from the ,holy ,scriptures that the time foretold by the prophets for the coming of the ,messiah had arrived2 that the weeks of ,daniel were now completed2 that already1 according to the prophecy of ,jacob1 the sceptre of ,judah had passed into the hands of ,herod1 a strange king1 and she well knew that a virgin was to be the mother of the ,messiah2 and she hears those praises offered by the angel to herself1 which seemed to belong only to the mother of ,god2 did it then come into her mind that perhaps she herself might be that chosen mother of ,god8 ,no1 her profound humility did not permit this thought4 ,these praises had no other effect than to cause her great fear2 so that1 as ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus remarks3 ,as ,christ wished to be consoled by an angel1 so must the ,virgin be encouraged by an angel4#aajg ,as the ,saviour willed to be comforted by an angel1 so it was necessary that ,st4 ,gabriel1 seeing ,mary so full of fear at that salutation1 should encourage her1 saying3 8,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found grace with ,god40#aajh ,do not fear1 oh ,mary1 nor be surprised by the great titles by which ,i have saluted thee1 for if thou art so little and humble in thine own eyes1 ,god1 who exalts the humble1 has made thee worthy to find the grace lost by man2 and therefore has he preserved thee from the common stain of all the children of ,adam2 therefore1 even from the moment of thy conception he has adorned thee with a greater grace than that of all the saints2 and therefore1 finally1 he now exalts thee to be his mother3 8,behold1 thou shalt conceive and shalt bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus40#aaji ,now why this delay8 ,the angel1 oh ,lady1 awaits thy answer1 as ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,we rather await it who are condemned to death4#aaaj ,behold1 oh our mother1 continues ,st4 ,bernard1 to thee is now offered the price of our salvation1 which will be the divine ,word in thee made man2 if thou wilt accept him for a son1 we shall be immediately delivered from death2 behold the price of our salvation is offered to thee2 immediately we are liberated if thou dost consent4#aaaa ,thy ,lord himself1 as he is greatly enamored of thy beauty1 so much the more desires thy consent1 on which he has made the salvation of the world depend4#aaab ,answer quickly1 oh ,lady1 adds ,st4 ,augustine1 delay no longer the salvation of the world1 which now depends on thy consent4#aaac ,but1 behold1 ,mary already answers2 she answers the angel1 and says3 8,behold the handmaid of the ,lord1 be it done unto me according to thy word40#aaad ,oh1 what more beautiful1 more humble1 and more prudent answer could all the wisdom of men and of angels united have invented1 if they had thought of it for millions of years6 ,oh powerful answer1 which gave joy in heaven1 and poured upon the earth a vast flood of graces and blessings6 ,answer1 that hardly came forth from the humble heart of ,mary before it drew from the bosom of the eternal ,father1 the only begotten ,son1 to become man in her most pure womb6 yes1 for hardly had she uttered these words3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 be it done to me according to thy word2 when immediately the ,word was made flesh3 8,verbum caro factum est20 the ,son of ,god became also the ,son of ,mary4 ,oh powerful ,fiat6 exclaims ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova2 oh efficacious ,fiat6 oh ,fiat to be reverenced above every fiat6#aaae for by another fiat ,god created the light1 the heaven1 and the earth2 but by this fiat of ,mary1 says the saint1 ,god became man like us4 ,but let us not wander from our point1 let us consider the great humility of the ,virgin in this answer4 ,she was indeed well enlightened to understand how great was the dignity of the mother of ,god4 ,she already had been assured by the angel that she was this happy mother chosen by the ,lord4 ,but with all this she is not at all raised in her own esteem1 stops not at all to enjoy her exaltation1 but considering on one side her own nothingness1 and on the other the infinite majesty of her ,god1 who chose her for his mother1 she knows how unworthy she is of such an honor1 but would by no means oppose herself to his will4 ,hence1 when her consent was asked1 what does she do8 what does she say8 ,wholly annihilated as to self2 all inflamed1 on the other hand1 with the desire of uniting herself thus more closely to ,god1 by entirely abandoning herself to the divine will3 ,behold1 she answers1 behold the handmaid of the ,lord3 8,ecce ancilla ,domini40 ,behold the slave of the ,lord2 obliged to do whatever her ,lord commands4 ,and she intended to say3 ,if the ,lord chooses me for his mother1 who have nothing of my own2 if all that ,i have is his gift1 who could think that he selects me for any merit of my own8 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord4 ,what merit can a slave have1 to be made the mother of her ,lord8 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord4 ,let the goodness of ,god alone be praised1 and not the slave2 since it is wholly his goodness which has led him to place his eye on a creature so lowly as ,i1 and make her so great4 ,oh humility1 exclaims here ,guerric the ,abbot2 small in its own eyes1 great in the eyes of ,god6 ,insufficient to itself1 sufficient to him whom the whole world cannot contain6#aaaf ,but still more beautiful on this occasion is the exclamation of ,st4 ,bernard1 which he makes in the fourth sermon on the ,assumption of ,mary1 in which1 admiring the humility of ,mary1 he says3 ,oh ,lady1 how have you been able to unite in your heart such an humble esteem of yourself with so much purity1 so much innocence1 and with such fulness of grace#aaag as thou dost possess6 ,and whence1 oh blessed ,virgin1 did this humility1 this so great humility1 take such deep root in thee1 when thou wast so honored and exalted by ,god8#aaah ,lucifer1 seeing himself endowed with great beauty1 aspired to exalt his throne above the stars1 and make himself like to ,god4#aaai ,now what would not that proud spirit have said and attempted if he had seen himself adorned with the privileges of ,mary8 ,not so the humble ,mary2 the more she saw herself exalted1 the more she humbled herself4 ,ah ,lady1 for this beautiful humility1 concludes ,st4 ,bernard1 thou hast indeed merited to be regarded by ,god with peculiar love1 to charm thy ,king with thy beauty2 to draw him with the sweet odor of thy humility from his repose in the bosom of ,god1 into thy most pure womb4#aabj ,hence ,st4 ,bernardine de ,bustis says1 that ,mary merited more by that answer3 8,behold the handmaid of the ,lord10 than all creatures could merit by their works4#aaba ,thus1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 this innocent ,virgin1 although by her virginity she rendered herself dear to ,god1 yet by humility afterwards rendered herself worthy1 as much as a creature can render itself worthy1 to be made the mother of her ,creator4 ,although she pleased by her virginity1 by her humility she conceived3 8,etsi placuit ex virginitate1 tamen ex humilitate concepit40#aabb ,and ,st4 ,jerome confirms this by saying1 that ,god chose her for his mother more for her humility1 than for all her other sublime virtues4#aabc ,mary herself expressed this to ,st4 ,bridget1 by saying to her3 ,how did ,i merit such a grace to be made the mother of my ,lord1 if not because ,i knew my nothingness1 and humiliated myself8#aabd ,and this she declared before in her ,canticle1 so full of the deepest humility1 when she said3 8,because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid4444 ,he that is mighty hath done great things to me40#aabe ,upon which words ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian remarks1 that the blessed ,virgin does not say1 he regarded my virginity1 my innocence1 but only my humility4#aabf ,and by this humility1 as ,st4 ,francis de ,sales remarks1 ,mary did not intend to praise the virtue of her humility1 but wished to proclaim that ,god had regarded her nothingness1 humility1 that is1 nothingness3 8,humilitatem1 id est nihilitatem10 and through his pure goodness had willed thus to exalt her4 ,in a word1 ,st4 ,augustine says that the humility of ,mary was like a ladder1 by which our ,lord deigned to descend upon earth to become man in her womb4#aabg ,and ,st4 ,antoninus confirms this by saying that the humility of the ,virgin was her most perfect and the next preparation to become the mother of ,god4#aabh ,and by this is explained what ,isaias predicted3 8,and there shall come forth a rod out of the root of ,jesse1 and a flower shall rise up out of his root40#aabi ,the blessed ,albertus ,magnus remarks1 that the divine flower1 namely1 the only-begotten of ,god1 according to ,isaias1 would come forth1 not from the top or the trunk of the tree of ,jesse1 but from its root1 which precisely denotes the humility of the mother4#aacj ,and this is more clearly explained by the ,abbot of ,celles4 ,observe1 says he1 that not from the top1 but from the root the flower is to spring up4#aaca ,and therefore our ,lord said to this his beloved daughter3 8,turn away thy eyes from me1 for they have made me flee away40#aacb ,and from whence flee1 unless from the bosom of the ,father to the womb of ,mary8#aacc as ,st4 ,augustine says4 ,upon which the learned interpreter ,fernandez observes1 that the most humble eyes of ,mary1 with which she always contemplated the divine greatness1 never losing sight of her nothingness1 did such violence to ,god himself that they drew him into her bosom4#aacd ,and by this we are to understand1 says ,francone the ,abbot1 why the ,holy ,spirit so much praised the beauty of this his spouse for her eyes1 which were like those of a dove3 8,how beautiful art thou1 my love6 how beautiful art thou6 thy eyes are like doves' eyes20#aace because ,mary1 looking on ,god with the eyes of a simple1 humble dove1 he was so much enamored of her beauty1 that with the bands of love she made him a prisoner in her virginal womb2 these are the words of the abbot3 ,in what place on the earth could so beautiful a virgin be found1 who could allure the ,king of heaven by her eyes1 and by a holy violence lead him captive1 bound in the chains of charity8#aacf ,we will conclude this point by remarking that ,mary1 in the incarnation of the ,word1 as we have seen from the beginning1 could not have humiliated herself more than she did4 ,let us now see how ,god could exalt her no higher than he did by making her his mother4 ,point ,second4--,in order to comprehend the greatness to which ,mary was elevated1 it would be necessary to comprehend the sublime majesty and grandeur of ,god4 ,it is sufficient1 then1 only to say1 that ,god made this ,virgin his mother1 to have it understood that ,god could not exalt her more than he did exalt her4 ,rightly did ,st4 ,arnold ,carnotensis affirm1 that ,god1 by making himself the ,son of the ,virgin1 established her in a superior rank to all the saints and angels3 8,maria constituta est super omnem ,creaturam40#aacg ,so that1 next to ,god1 she is incomparably higher than the celestial spirits1 as ,st4 ,ephrem asserts3 8,nulla comparatione cteris superis est gloriosior40#aach ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete confirms this1 saying3 ,god excepted1 she is the highest of all3 8,excepto ,deo1 omnibus est altior40#aaci ,and ,st4 ,anselm also says3 ,oh ,lady1 there is none equal to thee1 because every other is above or beneath thee2 ,god alone is superior to thee1 and all others are inferior4#aadj ,so great1 in a word1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 is the exaltation of this ,virgin1 that ,god alone is able to comprehend it4#aada ,this removes the surprise expressed by some persons1 remarks ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova1 that the holy ,evangelists1 who have so fully recorded the praises of a ,baptist and a ,magdalene1 have been so brief in their descriptions of the privileges of ,mary2 for1 says the saint1 it was enough to say of her1 that from her ,jesus was born4#aadb ,what more would you wish the ,evangelists to say1 continues the saint1 of the grandeur of this ,virgin8 let it be enough for you1 that they attest her to be the mother of ,god4 ,having recorded in these few words the greatest1 and1 indeed1 the whole of her merits1 it was not necessary for them to describe each separately4#aadc ,and why not8 because1 as ,st4 ,anselm answers3 ,to say of ,mary this alone1 that she was the mother of a ,god1 transcends every glory that can be attributed to her1 in thought or word1 after ,god4#aadd ,peter of ,celles adds1 remarking on this same thought3 ,by whatever name you may wish to call her1 whether queen of heaven1 ruler of the angels1 or any other title of honor1 you will never succeed in honoring her so much as by calling her only the mother of ,god4#aade ,the reason of this is evident1 for as the angelic ,doctor teaches3 ,the nearer a thing approaches its author1 the greater the perfection it receives from him2 therefore1 ,mary being the creature nearest to ,god1 she has partaken more than all others of his grace1 perfection1 and greatness4#aadf ,to this ,father ,suarez traces the cause why the dignity of mother of ,god is of an order superior to any other created dignity2 because it appertains1 in a certain manner1 to the order of union with a divine person1 with which union it is necessarily connected4#aadg ,hence ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian asserts1 that after the hypostatic union1 there is none more intimate than the union of the mother of ,god with her ,son4#aadh ,this1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches1 is the highest union that a pure creature can have with ,god4#aadi ,and the blessed ,albertus ,magnus affirms1 that to be mother of ,god is a dignity next to that of being ,god2#aaej therefore he says1 that ,mary could not be more united to ,god than she was1 without becoming ,god4#aaea ,st4 ,bernardine affirms1 that in order to become mother of ,god1 it was requisite that the holy ,virgin should be exalted to a certain equality with the divine ,persons1 by a certain infinity of graces4#aaeb ,and as children are esteemed morally one with their parents1 so that their possessions and honors are in common1 therefore ,st4 ,peter ,damian says1 that if ,god dwells in creatures in different modes1 he dwelt in ,mary in a singular mode of fitness1 making himself one with her4#aaec ,and he exclaims in these celebrated words3 ,here let every creature be silent and tremble1 and scarcely dare to behold the immensity of so great a dignity4 ,god dwells in a virgin with whom he has the identity of one nature4#aaed ,st4 ,thomas asserts1 that ,mary1 being made mother of ,god1 by reason of this close union with an infinite good1 received a certain infinite dignity1 which ,father ,suarez calls infinite of its kind4#aaee ,the dignity of mother of ,god is the highest dignity which can be conferred on a pure creature4 ,the angelic ,doctor teaches1 that the humanity of ,jesus ,christ1 though it might have received greater habitual grace from ,god1 yet1 as to the union with a divine ,person1 could not receive greater perfection2 so1 on the other hand1 the blessed ,virgin could receive no greater dignity than to be the mother of ,god4 ,for as habitual grace 7this is his reasoning7 is a created gift1 we must acknowledge that its essence is finite4 ,the capacity of every creature is limited in measure1 which however prevents not the divine power from being able to form another creature of greater capacity4#aaef ,though the divine power may create something greater and better than the habitual grace of ,christ1 yet it could not destine it to any thing greater than was the personal union of the only begotten ,son with the ,father4#aaeg ,the blessed ,virgin1 because she is mother of ,god1 has a certain infinite dignity from the infinite good1 which is ,god2 and in this respect nothing greater can be created4#aaeh ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova says the same thing3 ,certainly there is something infinite in being the mother of the ,infinite ,one4#aaei ,and ,st4 ,bernardine says1 that the state to which ,god exalted ,mary as his mother was the highest1 so that he could exalt her no higher4#aafj ,and this is confirmed by ,albertus ,magnus4 ,the ,lord conferred on the blessed ,virgin the highest gift which any pure creature was capable of receiving1 namely1 the maternity of ,god4#aafa ,therefore ,st4 ,bonaventure wrote that celebrated sentence1 that ,god could make a greater world1 a greater heaven1 but could not exalt a creature to greater excellence than by making her his mother4#aafb ,but better than all others has the divine mother herself described the height to which ,god had elevated her when she said3 ,he that is mighty hath done great things to me3 8,fecit mihi magna qui potens est40#aafc ,and why has the holy ,virgin never made known what were the great favors conferred upon her by ,god8 ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova answers1 that ,mary did not explain them1 because they were so great that they could not be explained4#aafd ,st4 ,bernard therefore1 with reason1 says that ,god has created all the world for this ,virgin1 who was to be his mother3 8,propter hanc totus mundus factus est40#aafe ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure says that the preservation of the world is at the disposal of ,mary4#aaff ,the saint in this place adheres to the words of ,proverbs1 applied by the ,church to ,mary3 ,i was with him forming all things3 8,cum eo eram cuncta componens40#aafg ,st4 ,bernardine adds1 that ,god1 for love of ,mary1 did not destroy man after the sin of ,adam4#aafh ,hence the ,church1 with reason1 sings of ,mary3 ,she has chosen the best part3 8,optimam partem elegit40#aafi ,for this virgin mother not only chose the best things1 but she chose the best part of the best things2 the ,lord bestowing upon her1 in the highest degree1 as the blessed ,albertus ,magnus attests1 all the graces1 and the general and particular gifts conferred on all other creatures1 wholly in consequence of the dignity granted her of becoming mother of ,god4#aagj ,thus ,mary was an infant1 but of this state she had only the innocence1 but not the defect of incapacity1 for from the first moment of life she always had the perfect use of reason4 ,she was a virgin1 but without the reproach of sterility4 ,she was a mother1 but with the privilege of virginity4 ,she was beautiful1 even most beautiful1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,victor asserts1 and also ,st4 ,george of ,nicomedia1 and ,st4 ,dionysius the ,areopagite1 who1 as many believe1 once had the happiness of enjoying the sight of her beauty1 and said that if faith had not taught him that she was a creature1 he should have adored her as ,god4 ,and the ,lord himself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that the beauty of his mother surpassed the beauty of all men and ,angels1 allowing the saint to hear him say to ,mary3 8,thy beauty exceeds that of all the angels1 and of all creatures40#aaga ,she was most beautiful1 ,i repeat1 but without injury to those who looked upon her1 for her beauty put to flight impure emotions1 and suggested even pure thoughts1 as ,st4 ,ambrose attests3 ,so great grace had she1 that she not only preserved her own virginity1 but also conferred a remarkable gift of purity on those who beheld her4#aagb ,and ,st4 ,thomas confirms this3 ,the grace of sanctification not only repressed in the ,virgin illicit emotions1 but also had efficacy for others2 so that although she was beautiful in person1 she never excited impure desires4#aagc ,therefore she was called myrrh1 which prevents corruption3 ,i yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh3 8,quasi mirrha electa dedi suavitatem odoris20 as the holy ,church applies it4 ,she was occupied in active life1 but labor did not interrupt her union with ,god4 ,in the contemplative life she was recollected in ,god1 but without neglect of the temporal life and of the charity due to the neighbor4 ,death came upon her1 but without its suffering1 and without the corruption of the body4 ,to conclude then3 this divine mother is infinitely inferior to ,god1 but immensely superior to all creatures2 and if it is impossible to find a ,son more noble than ,jesus1 it is also impossible to find a mother more noble than ,mary4 ,this should cause the servants of such a queen not only to rejoice in her greatness1 but also to increase their confidence in her most powerful protection2 for1 being mother of ,god1 says ,father ,suarez1 she has a certain right to his gifts1 to obtain them for those for whom she prays4#aagd ,st4 ,germanus1 on the other hand1 says that ,god cannot but hear the prayers of this mother1 for he cannot but recognize her for his true and immaculate mother4 ,thus says the saint1 addressing the ,virgin3 ,but thou1 who dost prevail with ,god by a maternal authority1 even for those who grievously sin1 thou dost obtain the great grace of reconciliation2 for thou canst not but be graciously heard1 as ,god in all things conforms to thy wishes as to those of a true and pure mother4#aage ,therefore1 oh mother of ,god1 and our mother1 in thee is not wanting the power to help us4 ,the will1 too1 is not wanting4 ,nec facultas1 nec voluntas illi deesse potest4#aagf ,for thou knowest1 ,i will say with thy servant the ,abbot of ,celles1 that ,god has not created thee for himself alone1 but has given thee to the angels for their restorer1 to men for their deliverer1 and to the demons for their conqueror1 for by thy means we recover divine grace1 and by thee the enemy is conquered and crushed4#aagg ,and if we wish to please the divine mother1 let us often salute her by saying the 8,hail ,mary40 ,one day ,mary appeared to ,st4 ,matilda1 and told her that no one could honor her better than by this salutation2 and we shall certainly obtain through it1 peculiar graces from this mother of mercy1 as will be seen by the following example4 ,,example4 ,a well-known incident is related by ,father ,paul ,segneri in his 8,christian ,instructed40#aagh ,a ,roman youth1 of evil habits and laden with sins1 went to confession to ,father ,niccolas ,zucchi4 ,the confessor received him kindly1 compassionated his misery1 and told him that devotion to the blessed ,lady would free him from his accursed vices4 ,he therefore imposed it upon him as a penance1 that until the time of his next confession1 every morning and evening1 on rising and going to bed1 he should recite a 8,hail ,mary0 to the ,virgin2 making an offering to her of his eyes1 hands1 and his whole body1 praying her to keep him as her own2 and that he should kiss the ground three times4 ,the young man practised this penance1 and at first with very little improvement2 but the father continued to exhort him never to give it up1 encouraging him to trust in the patronage of ,mary4 ,in the mean time1 the penitent left home with some other companions1 and travelled over the world4 ,having returned to ,rome1 he went again to seek his confessor1 who to his great joy and surprise1 found him entirely changed1 and free from his former impurities4 8,my son10 he said1 8how have you obtained from ,god so happy a change80 8,father10 answered the youth1 8the blessed ,virgin1 for that little devotion which you taught me1 has obtained for me this grace40 ,but the wonder did not cease here4 ,the same confessor related this fact from the pulpit4 ,an officer1 who1 for several years1 had kept up an illicit intercourse with a certain woman1 heard it1 and proposed also himself to practise the same devotion1 in order to free himself from that horrible tie which held him a slave of the devil 7which intention is necessary for all such sinners1 that the ,virgin may aid them72 and he also quitted his bad practices and changed his life4 ,but what followed8 ,at the end of six months1 foolishly and too confidently trusting in his strength1 he wished1 one day1 to go and find that woman1 to see if she had also changed her way of life4 ,but on approaching the door of her house1 where he was in manifest danger of falling again into sin1 he felt himself thrust back by an invisible force1 and soon found himself distant from the house the whole length of the street1 and before his own door2 he was then enlightened to see clearly that ,mary had thus rescued him from his destruction4 ,thus we perceive how solicitous is our good mother1 not only to save us from sin1 if we for that end commend ourselves to her1 but also to protect us from the danger of falling into it again4 ,,prayer4 ,oh immaculate and holy ,virgin6 oh creature the most humble and the greatest before ,god6 thou wast so small in thy own eyes1 but so great in the eyes of thy ,lord1 that he exalted thee even to choose thee for his mother1 and therefore to make thee queen of heaven and of earth4 ,i then thank that ,god who hath so much exalted thee1 and rejoice with thee in seeing thee so closely united to ,god1 that more is not permitted to a pure creature4 ,i am ashamed to appear before thee who art so humble1 with so many graces2 ,i1 a miserable sinner1 and so proud with so many sins4 ,but wretched as ,i am1 ,i1 too1 wish to salute thee3 ,hail ,mary1 full of grace3 8,ave ,maria1 gratia plena40 ,thou art already full of grace2 obtain a share of it also for me4 ,the ,lord is with thee3 8,dominus tecum40 ,that ,lord who hath ever been with thee even from the first moment of thy creation1 is now more intimately with thee1 by making himself thy ,son4 ,blessed art thou among women3 8,benedicta tu in mulieribus40 ,oh woman1 blessed among all women1 obtain for us also the divine benediction4 ,oh blessed plant which hath given to the world a fruit so noble and so holy3 8,et benedictus fructus ventris tui40 ,holy ,mary1 mother of ,god3 8,sancta ,maria1 mater ,dei40 ,oh ,mary1 ,i confess that thou art the true mother of ,god1 and for this truth ,i would give my life a thousand times4 ,pray for us sinners3 8,ora pro nobis peccatoribus40 ,but if thou art the mother of ,god1 thou art also the mother of our salvation1 and of us poor sinners2 since it is to save sinners that ,god made himself man2 and he has made thee his mother that thy prayers may have the power to save every sinner4 ,pray for us1 oh ,mary4 ,now and in the hour of our death3 8,nunc et in hora mortis nostr40 ,pray always2 pray now1 while we are in life1 in the midst of so many temptations and so great danger of losing ,god2 but still more1 pray in the hour of our death1 when we are on the point of leaving this world and being presented at the divine tribunal2 that being saved by the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and by thy intercession1 we may one day come1 without the danger of losing thee any more1 to salute thee and praise thee1 with thy ,son1 in heaven1 for all eternity4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,v4 ,,on ,,the ,,visitation ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary is the treasurer of all the divine graces4 ,therefore he who desires graces should have recourse to ,mary2 and he who has recourse to ,mary1 should be secure of obtaining the graces he wishes4 ,happy is that house esteemed which is visited by some royal personage1 both for the honor it receives from him1 and the advantages it hopes for2 but more happy should that soul be called which is visited by the queen of the world1 most holy ,mary1 who cannot but fill with mercies and graces those blessed souls whom she deigns to visit with her favors4 ,the house of ,obededom was blessed when it was visited by the ark of the ,lord3 ,the ,lord blessed his house3 8,benedixit ,dominus domui ejus40#aagi ,but with how much greater blessings are those persons enriched who receive some loving visit from this living ark of ,god1 as was the divine mother6 ,happy that house which the mother of ,god visits1#aahj wrote ,engelgrave4 ,this was experienced by the house of the ,baptist1 wherein scarcely had ,mary entered1 when she filled all that family with celestial graces and benedictions2 and for this reason1 the present feast of the ,visitation is commonly called the feast of our ,lady of graces4 ,we shall consider to-day1 in the present discourse1 how the divine mother is the treasurer of all graces4 ,we shall divide the discourse into two points4 ,in the first1 we shall prove that he who desires graces must have recourse to ,mary4 ,in the second1 that he who has recourse to ,mary1 should be certain of obtaining the graces that he desires4 ,point ,first4--,after the holy ,virgin had heard from the archangel ,st4 ,gabriel1 that her cousin ,elizabeth had been six months pregnant1 she was interiorly enlightened by the ,holy ,spirit to know that the ,word which had taken human flesh and had already become her ,son1 wished to commence manifesting to the world the riches of his mercy1 by the first graces that he desired to impart to all that family4 ,therefore1 without interposing any delay1 as ,st4 ,luke relates3 ,rising up1 ,mary went into the mountainous country in haste3 8,exurgens abiit in montana cum festinatione40#aaha ,rising then from the quiet of her contemplation1 to which she was always devoted1 and leaving her dear solitude1 she immediately set out for the house of ,elizabeth4 ,and because holy charity suffers all things3 8,charitas omnia suffert20 and can bear no delay1 as ,st4 ,ambrose remarks1 when treating of this gospel3 ,the grace of the ,holy ,spirit knows no slow movements3 8,nescit tarda molimina ,spiritus ,sancti gratia30 therefore not heeding the fatigue of the journey1 the tender and delicate maiden quickly set forth on her way4 ,having arrived at that house1 she saluted her cousin3 8,she entered into the house of ,zachary1 and saluted ,elizabeth40#aahb ,and1 as ,st4 ,ambrose remarks1 ,mary was the first to salute ,elizabeth3 8,prior salutavit40 ,but the visit of the blessed ,virgin was not like the visits of the worldly1 which1 for the most part1 consist in ceremonies and false display2 the visit of ,mary brought into that house an abundance of graces4 ,for at her first entrance1 and at that first salutation1 ,elizabeth was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,john was delivered from guilt and sanctified1 and therefore gave that sign of joy1 exulting in the womb of his mother2 for he wished in this way to make known the grace received by means of the blessed ,virgin2 as ,elizabeth herself declared3 8,as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears1 the infant in my womb leaped for joy04#aahc ,so1 as ,bernardine de ,bustis observes1 in virtue of the salutation of ,mary1 ,john received the grace of the ,divine ,spirit1 who sanctified him3 ,when the blessed ,virgin saluted ,elizabeth1 the voice of the salutation entering through her ears1 descended to the child1 by virtue of which salutation he received the ,holy ,spirit4#aahd ,now if these first-fruits of the redemption all passed through ,mary1 and she was the channel by means of which grace was communicated to the ,baptist1 the ,holy ,spirit to ,elizabeth1 the gift of prophecy to ,zachary1 and so many other blessings to that house1 which were the first graces that we know to have been given upon earth by the ,word1 after he had become incarnate2 we have great reason to believe that ,god1 even from that time1 had constituted ,mary a universal channel1 as ,st4 ,bernard calls her1 through which thenceforth should be dispensed to us all the other graces which the ,lord wishes to bestow on us1 as it was said in p4 #a1 c4 #e1 of this work4 ,rightly then is this divine mother called the treasure1 the treasurer1 and the dispensatrix of divine graces4 ,thus she is called by the venerable ,abbot of ,celles3 ,the treasure of the ,lord and the treasurer of graces3 8,thesaurus ,domini1 et thesauraria gratiarum40#aahe ,by ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 also3 ,the treasure of divine graces3 8,thesaurus divinarum gratiarum40 ,by blessed ,albertus ,magnus3 ,the treasurer of ,jesus ,christ3 8,thesauraria ,jesu ,christi40 ,by ,st4 ,bernardine3 ,the dispensatrix of graces3 8,dispensatrix gratiarum40 ,by a ,greek ,doctor1 quoted by ,petavius3#aahf ,the store-house of all good things3 8,promptuarium omnium bonarum40 ,thus1 also1 ,st4 ,gregory ,thaumaturgus says3 ,mary is called so full of grace1 because in her the treasure of grace was hidden4#aahg ,and ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says that ,god has placed in ,mary1 as in a treasury of mercy1 the gifts of all the graces1 and from this treasure he enriches his servants4#aahh ,st4 ,bonaventure1 speaking of the field of the ,gospel where the treasure is hidden which should be bought at any great price1 as ,jesus ,christ hath said3 8,the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field1 which1 when a man hath found1 he hideth1 and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath1 and buyeth that field20#aahi remarks that this field is our ,queen ,mary1 in whom is the treasure of ,god1 that is1 ,jesus ,christ1 and with ,jesus ,christ the source and fountain of all graces4#aaij ,st4 ,bernard also affirms that the ,lord has placed in the hands of ,mary all the graces that he wishes to dispense to us1 that we may know that whatever of good we receive1 we receive it all from her hands4#aaia ,and of this ,mary herself assures us1 when she says3 ,in me is all grace of the way and of the truth3 8,in me gratia omnis vi et veritatis40#aaib ,in me are all the graces of true blessings that you men can desire in your life4 ,yes1 our mother and our hope1 well do we know1 to use the words of ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 that all the treasures of the divine mercies are in thy hands4#aaic ,and before ,damian1 ,st4 ,ildephonsus asserted it with more force1 for addressing the ,virgin he said to her3 ,oh ,lady1 all the graces which ,god has determined to bestow upon men1 he has determined to dispense by thy hands2 and therefore has he committed to thee all the treasure of graces4#aaid ,hence1 oh ,mary1 concluded ,st4 ,germanus1 no grace is dispensed to any one except by thy hands2 no one is saved except by thee2 no one receives the gift of ,god except through thee4#aaie ,the blessed ,albertus ,magnus makes a beautiful reflection upon the words of the angel to the most holy ,virgin3 8,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found grace with ,god10#aaif saying3 ,oh1 ,mary1 thou hast not stolen grace as ,lucifer wished to steal it2 thou hast not lost it as ,adam lost it2 thou hast not bought it as ,simon the ,magician wished to buy it2 but thou hast found it because thou hast desired and sought it4 ,thou hast found the uncreated grace1 that is1 ,god himself1 become thy ,son2 and at the same time thou hast found and obtained all created good4#aaig ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus confirms this thought1 by saying that the great mother found this grace by restoring salvation to all men4#aaih ,and elsewhere he says1 that ,mary found grace in its fulness1 sufficient to save all men4#aaii ,in like manner as ,god made the sun1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 that by it the earth may be illuminated1 so hath he created ,mary1 that by her means all divine mercies may be dispensed to the world4#abjj ,and ,st4 ,bernardine adds that the ,virgin1 as soon as she was made mother of the ,redeemer1 acquired1 as it were1 a jurisdiction over all graces3 when the ,virgin ,mary conceived the ,word of ,god in her womb1 she obtained1 as ,i should say1 a certain jurisdiction over all the temporal manifestations of the ,holy ,spirit2 so that no creature obtained any grace from ,god1 unless according to the disposal of this pious mother4#abja ,let us conclude this point in the words of ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 who says1 that if we wish to obtain any grace1 we must have recourse to ,mary1 who cannot but obtain for her servants whatever she demands2 since she has found1 and always will find1 divine grace4#abjb ,and this he took from ,st4 ,bernard1 who said3 ,let us seek grace1 and let us seek it through ,mary1 for what she seeks she finds1 and cannot be frustrated4#abjc ,if1 then1 we desire graces1 we must go to this treasurer and dispensatrix of graces2 for this is the sovereign will of the ,giver of every good1 as ,st4 ,bernard himself assures us1 that all graces are dispensed by the hand of ,mary4#abjd ,all1 all3 ,totum1 totum2 he who says all1 excludes nothing4 ,but1 because confidence is necessary in order to obtain grace1 we now will pass on to consider how certain we should be of obtaining graces1 if we have recourse to ,mary4 ,second ,point4--,and why should ,jesus ,christ ever have placed in the hands of this his mother all the riches of the mercies which he wishes to use for our benefit1 if not that she may enrich with them all her servants who love and honor her1 and with confidence recur to her8 ,with me are riches 444 that ,i may enrich them that love me3 8,mecum sunt diviti 444 ut ditem diligentes me40#abje ,thus the ,virgin herself speaks in this passage1 which the holy ,church applies to her on so many of her festivals4 ,therefore1 for no other use1 but for our benefit1 says ,adam the ,abbot1 are the riches of eternal life preserved by ,mary1 in whose bosom the ,saviour has deposited the treasure of the wretched1 that1 supplied from this treasure1 the poor may become rich4#abjf ,and ,st4 ,bernard adds1 as ,i learn from another author1 that for this purpose ,mary has been given to the world1 for a channel of mercy1 that by her means graces may continually descend from heaven upon men4#abjg ,from this the holy ,father goes on to ask1 why ,st4 ,gabriel1 having found the divine mother already full of grace1 according to his salutation3 ,hail1 full of grace3 8,ave gratia plena20 afterwards says that the ,holy ,spirit was to come to her1 to fill her still more with grace2 if she was already full of this grace1 what more could the coming of the ,holy ,spirit effect8 ,mary was already full of grace1 thus answers ,st4 ,bernard1 but the ,holy ,spirit came upon her for our good1 that from her superabundance we poor sinners might be provided4#abjh ,for this reason ,mary was called the moon1 of which it is said3 ,the moon is full1 for herself and others3 8,luna plena sibi1 et aliis40 8,he that shall find me1 shall find life1 and shall have salvation from the ,lord40#abji ,blessed is he who having recourse to me finds me1 says our mother4 ,he will find life1 and will find it easily2 for1 as it is easy to find and draw water 7as much as one wishes7 from a great fountain1 so it is easy to find graces and eternal salvation by going to ,mary4 ,a holy soul hath said1 we have only to ask graces of our ,lady and we shall have them4 ,and ,st4 ,bernard says1 that before ,mary was born1 the world was without this abundance of graces1 that now are overflowing the earth1 because this desirable channel 7,mary7 was wanting4#abaj ,but now that we actually have this mother of mercy1 what graces can we not obtain1 if we cast ourselves at her feet8 ,i am the city of refuge1 thus ,st4 ,john of ,damascus makes her to say1 for all those who have recourse to me3 come1 then1 my children1 and you will obtain from me graces1 in greater abundance than you can imagine4#abaa ,it is true that many experience what the venerable ,sister ,maria ,villani saw in a heavenly vision4 ,this servant of ,god once saw the mother of ,god1 in the likeness of a great fountain1 to which many went to draw the waters of graces2 but what then happened8 ,those who carried vessels which were whole1 preserved afterwards the graces received2 but those who carry broken vessels1 that is1 souls laden with sins1 received the graces1 but quickly lost them again4 ,as for the rest1 it is certain that by means of ,mary1 men1 even the most ungrateful and wretched sinners1 daily obtain innumerable graces4 ,st4 ,augustine says1 addressing the ,virgin3 ,through thee the wretched obtain mercy1 the ungrateful grace1 sinners pardon1 the weak support1 the earthly heavenly things1 mortals life1 and travellers their country4#abab ,let our confidence1 then1 ever revive1 oh devoted servants of ,mary1 as often as we have recourse to her for graces4 ,and to revive this confidence1 let us ever remember the two great privileges which this good mother possesses1 namely3 the desire she has to do us good1 and the power she has with her ,son to obtain whatever she asks4 ,that we may know the desire ,mary has to aid all1 it would be sufficient only to consider the mystery of the present festival1 namely1 the visit of ,mary to ,elizabeth4 ,the journey from ,nazareth1 where the most holy ,virgin lived1 to the city of ,hebron 7called by ,st4 ,luke a city of ,judah71 where1 according to ,baronius and other authors1 ,elizabeth dwelt1 was about sixty-nine miles1 as the author of the ,life of ,mary1 ,father ,giuseppe of ,jesus1 one of the barefooted ,carmelites1 asserts1#abac as also ,bede and ,brocardo4 ,but this did not prevent the blessed ,virgin1 tender and delicate as she then was1 and not accustomed to such efforts1 from immediately setting forth--moved by what8--moved by that great charity with which her most tender heart was ever filled1 to go and commence from that time her great office of dispenser of graces4 ,precisely thus does ,st4 ,ambrose speak of this her journey3 ,she did not go as if incredulous of the announcement1 but happy in her desire1 hastening for joy1 and intent upon her office4#abad ,not that ,mary1 as the saint says1 went to inform herself of the truth of what the angel had told her concerning ,elizabeth1 but joyful through her desire to help that household1 hastening for the joy she felt to do good to others1 and wholly intent on that charitable errand4 ,rising up1 she went with haste3 8,exurgens abiit cum festinatione40 ,here let it be observed that the ,evangelist1 when he spoke of ,mary going to the house of ,elizabeth1 said that she went in haste3 ,abiit festinatione2 but speaking of her return from that house1 he makes no more mention of haste1 but simply says3 8,and ,mary abode with her about three months1 and she returned to her own house40#abae ,what other object1 then1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 caused the mother of ,god to hasten when going to visit the house of the ,baptist1 except the desire to do good to that family8#abaf ,certainly1 since the assumption of ,mary into heaven1 this her affection of charity towards men has not ceased2 nay1 it has ever been increasing1 for there she better knows our necessities1 and feels more pity for our miseries4 ,bernardine de ,bustis writes1 that ,mary more earnestly desires to do us good than we desire to receive it from her4#abag ,to such a degree1 that ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 she considers herself injured by those who do not ask favors of her2#abah for this is the desire of ,mary1 to enrich all with her graces2 for1 indeed1 according to the assertion of the ,idiot1 she superabundantly enriches her servants4#abai ,hence the same author says1 that he who finds ,mary finds every good3 8,inventa ,maria1 invenitur omne bonum40 ,and he adds1 that every one can find her1 were he even the most abandoned sinner in the world2 for she is so gracious that she sends away none who have recourse to her4#abbj ,i invite all to come to me1 thus ,thomas ,kempis makes her say1 ,i wait for all1 ,i wish that all may come2 neither do ,i ever despise any sinner who comes to seek my help1 however unworthy he may be4#abba ,all who go to her asking favors1 says ,richard1 will find her always ready1 always inclined to succor them1 and obtain for them every grace of eternal salvation by her powerful prayers3 8,inveniet semper paratam auxiliari40 ,i have said by her powerful prayers1 for this is the other reflection which should increase our confidence1 namely1 knowing that she obtains from ,god whatever she asks in favor of her servants4 ,observe especially1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 in this visit that ,mary made to ,elizabeth1 the great virtue of the words of ,mary2 for at the sound of her voice the grace of the ,holy ,spirit was given to ,elizabeth as well as to her son1 as the ,evangelist has written3 8,and it came to pass that when ,elizabeth heard the salutation of ,mary1 the infant leaped in her womb1 and ,elizabeth was filled with the ,holy ,ghost40#abbb ,on which ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks3 ,behold1 how great is the virtue of the words of our ,lady1 for at the sound of them the ,holy ,spirit is given4#abbc ,theophilus of ,alexandria says that ,jesus is much pleased when ,mary prays to him for us1 for then all the graces which he bestows on us through the supplications of ,mary1 he does not consider to be conferred on us1 but rather on ,mary herself4#abbd ,and let these words be noted3 ,persuaded by the prayers of his mother1 he gives3 8,precibus su genitricis evictus1 donat40 ,yes1 because ,jesus1 as ,st4 ,germanus attests1 cannot but graciously hear ,mary in all her petitions1 wishing in this1 as it were1 to obey her as his true mother2 hence the saint says1 that the prayers of this mother have a certain authority with ,jesus ,christ1 so that she obtains pardon even for the greatest sinners1 who commend themselves to her4#abbe ,and this is indeed confirmed1 as ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom observes1 by what took place at the nuptials of ,cana1 where ,mary1 asking of her ,son the wine that was wanting1 said3 8,they have no wine20 ,jesus answered3 8,woman1 what is that to me and to thee8 my hour is not yet come40#abbf ,but although the time for miracles had not yet arrived1 as ,chrysostom and ,theophilactus explain2 yet1 says the same ,chrysostom1 our ,saviour1 in order to obey his mother1 performed the miracle she requested1 and converted the water into wine4#abbg 8,let us go therefore10 thus the apostle exhorts us1 8with confidence to the throne of grace2 that we may obtain mercy1 and find grace in seasonable aid40#abbh ,the throne of grace is the blessed ,virgin ,mary1 says the blessed ,albertus ,magnus3 8,thronus grati est beata ,virgo ,maria40#abbi ,if1 then1 we wish for graces1 let us go to the throne of grace1 which is ,mary2 and let us go with the hope of being certainly heard2 for we have the intercession of ,mary1 who obtains whatever she asks of her ,son4 ,let us ask for grace1 ,i repeat with ,st4 ,bernard1 and through ,mary let us ask3 8,quramus gratiam et per ,mariam quramus10 trusting to what the ,virgin mother said to ,st4 ,matilda1 that the ,holy ,spirit1 filling her with all his sweetness1 had rendered her so dear to ,god that every one who1 through her intercession1 asked for graces1 would certainly obtain them4#abcj ,and if we give credit to that celebrated saying of ,st4 ,anselm3 ,we shall sometimes find grace sooner by having recourse to ,mary1 than by having recourse to our ,saviour ,jesus himself2#abca not that he is not the source and ,lord of all graces1 but because if we go to ,mary1 and she intercedes for us1 her prayers will have more power1 as the prayers of a mother1 than ours4 ,let us never then leave the feet of this treasurer of graces1 but say to her with ,st4 ,john ,damascene3 ,open to us1 oh blessed mother of ,god1 the door of thy mercy1 for thou art the salvation of the human race4#abcb ,oh mother of ,god1 open to us the door of thy mercy1 by praying always for us2 for thy prayers are the salvation of all men4 ,and when we have recourse to ,mary1 it would be best to ask her to pray for us1 and obtain for us those graces which she knows are most expedient for our salvation2 which is precisely what ,brother ,reginald1 a ,dominican1 did1 as is related in the chronicles of the order4#abcc ,this servant of ,mary was infirm1 and asked of her the grace of bodily health4 ,our ,lady appeared to him1 accompanied by ,st4 ,cecilia and ,st4 ,catherine1 and said to him with the greatest sweetness3 8,my son1 what shall ,i do for thee80 ,the religious at this kind offer of ,mary was troubled1 and knew not what to answer4 ,then one of those saints gave him this counsel3 8,reginald1 do you know what you should do8 ,do not ask for any thing1 place every thing at her disposal1 because ,mary knows how to obtain for thee a grace greater than you could ask40 ,the sick brother followed her advice1 and the divine mother obtained for him the grace of health4 ,but if we also desire the happy visits of this queen of heaven1 it will greatly aid us if we often visit her before some image1 or in some church dedicated to her4 ,let us read the following example1 and learn with what special favors she rewards the devout visits of her servants4 ,,example4 ,it is related in the ,franciscan chronicles1 that two religious of that order1 who were going to visit a sanctuary of the ,virgin1 were overtaken by night in a great wood2 where they became bewildered and so troubled that they knew not what to do4 ,but advancing a little1 they discerned through the darkness something which seemed to them a house4 ,they went groping along with outstretched hands1 and at length touched a wall2 they found the door1 knocked1 and heard some one within asking who they were8 ,they answered that they were two poor religious who had lost their way by accident in that wood1 and were seeking a shelter1 that at least they might not be devoured by wolves4 ,but suddenly they heard the door open1 and saw two pages richly dressed1 who received them with great courtesy4 ,the religious asked them who inhabited that palace8 ,the pages answered that a very kind1 good ,lady inhabited it4 ,we wish to pay our respects to her1 said they1 and thank her for her charity4 ,we will take you to her1 said the pages1 for she too wishes to speak to you4 ,they ascended the stairs1 found the apartments all illuminated1 richly furnished1 and perfumed as with an odor of paradise2 they finally entered the apartment of the ,lady1 who was majestic and most lovely in her appearance1 and who welcomed them with the greatest kindness1 and then asked them in what direction they were travelling8 ,they answered that they were going to visit a certain church of the blessed ,virgin4 ,if that is the case1 said the ,lady1 when you go ,i will give you a letter from myself1 which will greatly aid you4 ,and whilst the ,lady was speaking to them1 they felt all inflamed with love of ,god1 and filled with a joy such as they had never before experienced4 ,they afterwards went to rest1 if perchance they could sleep in the midst of so much joy1 and in the morning they went again to take leave of the ,lady of the mansion1 thank her1 and at the same time receive the letter3 they did so and departed4 ,but when they had gone a little distance from the house1 they perceived that there was no superscription to the letter2 but they turned and returned1 and could not find the house again4 ,at last they opened the letter1 to see to whom it was sent1 and what it contained1 and found that it was from the most holy ,mary1 and was written to themselves1 and let them know that she was the ,lady whom they saw the night before1 and that on account of the devotion they cherished for her1 she had provided a house and refreshment for them in that wood4 ,she exhorted them to continue to serve and love her1 for she would well reward their devotion1 and assist them in life and in death4 ,at the bottom of the letter they read the signature of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,we may easily imagine the thanks that those good religious offered to the divine mother1 and how greatly they were inflamed with the desire of loving her and serving her to the end of their lives4 ,,prayer4 ,immaculate and blessed ,virgin1 since thou art the universal dispenser of all divine graces1 therefore thou art the hope of all1 and also my hope4 ,i always thank my ,lord that he hath given me to know thee1 and the means that ,i must use to obtain graces and save myself4 ,thou art this means1 oh great mother of ,god1 for ,i now understand that it is principally through the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and after those1 through thy intercession1 that ,i am to be saved4 ,ah1 my queen1 thou didst make so great haste to visit1 and sanctify with thy visit1 the house of ,elizabeth2 ah1 visit1 and visit quickly1 the poor house of my soul4 ,ah1 hasten6 thou knowest better than ,i how poor it is1 how infected with many maladies1 with irregular affections1 bad habits1 and actual sin1 all those fatal diseases which will bring it to eternal death4 ,thou canst enrich it1 oh treasurer of ,god6 and thou canst heal all its infirmities4 ,visit me then in life1 and visit me especially at the hour of my death1 for then thy help will be more necessary to me4 ,i do not1 indeed expect1 neither am ,i worthy that thou shouldst visit me on this earth with thy visible presence1 as thou hast done to so many of thy servants1 but servants not so unworthy and ungrateful as ,i am4 ,i will be content to be allowed then to see thee in thy kingdom of heaven1 there to love thee better1 and thank thee for whatever good thou hast done me4 ,at present ,i will be content that thou shouldst visit me with thy mercies4 ,it is enough that thou dost pray for me4 ,pray for me then oh ,mary1 and commend me to thy ,son4 ,thou knowest better than ,i know myself1 my miseries and my necessities4 ,what more would ,i say to thee8 ,have pity on me4 ,i am so miserable and ignorant that ,i do not even know1 and cannot even ask1 the graces that are most necessary for me4 ,oh my queen and most sweet mother1 ask thou and obtain for me1 from thy ,son1 those graces which thou knowest to be most useful and necessary for my soul4 ,into thy hands ,i entirely abandon myself1 and only pray the divine ,majesty1 that through the merits of my ,saviour ,jesus1 he may grant me those graces that thou dost ask of him for me4 ,ask1 ask then for me1 oh most holy ,virgin1 whatever thou esteemest best4 ,thy prayers are never rejected4 ,they are the prayers of a mother to a ,son1 who loves thee so much1 and finds his joy in granting whatever thou dost ask of him1 thus the more to honor thee1 and at the same time1 show thee the great love he bears thee4 ,oh ,lady1 thus let it be4 ,i will live trusting in thee4 ,thou must think only on saving me4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,,vi4 ,,on ,,the ,,purification ,,of ,,mary4 ,the great sacrifice which ,mary this day made to ,god1 in offering him the life of her ,son4 ,there were two precepts of the ancient law concerning the birth of first-born sons4 ,one was1 that the mother should remain as an unclean person1 retired in her house1 for forty days2 after which she should go to purify herself in the temple4 ,the other was1 that the parents of the first-born should take him to the temple1 and there offer him to ,god4 ,on this day the most holy ,virgin desired to obey both precepts4 ,although ,mary was not bound by the law of purification1 since she was always a virgin1 and always pure2 yet1 by her love of humility and obedience1 she wished to go1 like other mothers1 to be purified4 ,at the same time she obeyed the second precept1 to present and offer her ,son to the eternal ,father3 8,and after the days of her purification1 according to the law of ,moses1 were accomplished1 they carried him to ,jerusalem1 to present him to the ,lord40#abcd ,but the ,virgin offered him in a different manner from that in which other mothers offered their sons4 ,others offered them1 but they knew that this was a simple ceremony of the law1 through which1 by redeeming them1 they made them their own1 without the fear that they should be obliged to offer them again1 and to death4 ,mary really offered her ,son to death1 knowing certainly that the sacrifice of the life of ,jesus which she then made1 should one day be actually consummated upon the altar of the cross2 so that ,mary1 by offering the life of her ,son1 through the love she bore this ,son1 really sacrificed herself entirely to ,god4 ,laying aside1 then1 all the other considerations which we might make upon the various mysteries of this festival1 let us only consider how great was this sacrifice that ,mary made of herself to ,god1 by offering to him1 on this day1 the life of her ,son4 ,and this will be the only subject of the following discourse4 ,the eternal ,father had already determined to save man1 who was lost through sin1 and free him from eternal death4 ,but because he wished that1 at the same time1 his divine justice should not be defrauded of a full and due satisfaction1 he did not spare the life of his own ,son1 already made man in order to redeem man2 but he required that he should pay1 to its most rigorous extent1 the penalty merited by men3 8,he that spared not even his own ,son10 says the apostle1 8but delivered him up for us all40#abce ,he sent him therefore on the earth to become man1 destined for him a mother1 and chose the ,virgin ,mary2 but as he did not wish his divine ,word to become her ,son before she accepted him by her express consent1 so he did not wish that ,jesus should sacrifice his life for the salvation of men without the concurrence of the consent of ,mary1 that together with the sacrifice of the life of the ,son1 the heart of the mother might be sacrificed also4 ,st4 ,thomas teaches1 that the relation of mother gives an especial right over her children2 hence ,jesus1 being innocent in himself and not deserving any punishment for his own sins1 it seemed fitting that he should not be destined to the cross as the victim for the sins of the world without the consent of his mother1 by which she should voluntarily offer him to death4 ,but although ,mary1 from the moment she was made mother of ,jesus1 gave her consent to his death1 yet the ,lord wished her1 on this day1 to make1 in the temple1 a solemn sacrifice of herself1 by offering solemnly her ,son1 and sacrificing to the divine justice his precious life4 ,hence ,st4 ,epiphanius called her a priest3 8,virginem appello velut sacerdotem40#abcf ,now we begin to see how much this sacrifice cost her1 and what heroic virtue she was obliged to practice when she had herself to sign the sentence of condemnation of her dear ,jesus to death4 ,now behold ,mary actually on her way to ,jerusalem to offer her ,son2 she hastens her steps towards the place of sacrifice1 and she herself carries her beloved victim in her arms4 ,she enters the temple1 approaches the altar1 and there1 filled with modesty1 humility1 and devotion1 she presents her ,son to the ,most ,high4 ,at this moment ,st4 ,simeon1 who had received the promise from ,god that he should not die before seeing the expected ,messias1 takes the divine child from the hands of the ,virgin1 and1 enlightened by the ,holy ,spirit1 announces to her how much sorrow this sacrifice must cause her1 this sacrifice which she was about to make of her ,son1 with whom must her blessed soul also be sacrificed4 ,here ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova contemplates the holy old man1 who1 when he had to announce the fatal prophecy to this poor mother1 is agitated and silent4#abcg ,then the saint considers ,mary1 who asks3 ,why1 oh ,simeon1 in the time of so great consolation1 are you thus disturbed8 8,unde tanta turbatio80 ,to whom he answers3 ,oh1 noble and holy ,virgin1 ,i wished not to announce to thee such bitter tidings1 but since the ,lord wishes it thus1 for thy greater merit1 hear what ,i say to thee4#abch ,this infant who now causes thee1 and with reason1 so much joy1 oh ,god1 shall one day bring thee the most cruel suffering that any creature has ever experienced in the world2 and this will be when thou shalt see him persecuted by men of every sort1 and placed on the earth as the mark of their sneers and derision1 even until he is put to death before thy eyes4#abci ,know that after his death there will be many martyrs who1 for love of this thy ,son1 will be tormented and slain2 but if their martyrdom will be of the body1 thy martyrdom1 oh divine mother1 will be of the heart4#abdj ,yes1 of the heart1 for nothing but compassion for the sufferings of this ,son so dear could be meant by the sword of sorrow that ,st4 ,simeon predicted was to pierce the heart of the mother3 8,and thy own soul a sword shall pierce40#abda ,already the most holy ,virgin1 as ,st4 ,jerome says1 had been enlightened through the divine ,scriptures to know the sufferings which the ,redeemer was to endure in his life1 and still more at the time of his death4 ,she well understood from the prophets1 that he was to be betrayed by one of his friends3 8,who ate my bread hath greatly supplanted me20#abdb as ,david predicted4 ,abandoned by his disciples3 ,strike the shepherd1 and the sheep shall be scattered3 8,percute ,pastorem1 et dispergentur oves40#abdc ,well did she know the insults1 spitting1 blows1 and derision that he was to suffer from the people3 8,i have given my body to the strikers1 and my cheeks to them that plucked them2 ,i have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me and spit upon me40#abdd ,she knew that he was to become the scandal of men1 and the outcast of the lowest of the people3 8,but ,i am a worm and no man1 the reproach of men and the outcast of the people10#abde even to be laden with insults and outrages3 8,he shall be filled with reproaches40#abdf ,she knew that at the end of his life his sacred flesh would be torn and bruised by scourges3 8,he was wounded for our iniquities1 he was bruised for our sins10#abdg so that his body would be wholly disfigured by them1 become as a leper1 all sores3 8,there is no beauty in him1 nor comeliness1 and we have thought him1 as it were1 a leper10#abdh even till the bones were uncovered3 8,they have numbered all my bones40#abdi ,she knew that he was to be pierced by nails4#abej ,that he was to be reputed with the wicked4#abea ,and that finally he was to die1 hanging on the cross1 slain for the salvation of men3 8,and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced40#abeb ,mary1 ,i repeat1 already knew all the sufferings that her ,son was to endure1 but in the above quoted words of ,st4 ,simeon3 8,and thy own soul a sword shall pierce10 as the ,lord revealed to ,st4 ,theresa1 all the minute circumstances of the external as well as internal sufferings which her ,lord ,jesus was to endure in his passion1 were made known to her4 ,she consented to all with a firmness which made the angels wonder1 and pronounced the sentence that her ,son should die1 and die by a death so ignominious and painful1 in these words3 ,eternal ,father1 since thou dost will it1 not my will1 but thine be done3 8,non mea voluntas1 sed tua fiat20 ,i unite mine to thy holy will1 and sacrifice to thee this my ,son2 ,i am satisfied that he should lose his life for thy glory1 and for the salvation of the world4 ,and ,i also sacrifice to thee my heart2 let grief pierce it as much as pleases thee2 it suffices to me that thou1 oh my ,god1 art glorified and satisfied2 not my will1 but thine be done4 ,oh1 charity without measure6 oh1 constancy without example6 oh1 victory that merits the eternal admiration of heaven and of earth6 ,and hence ,mary1 in the passion of ,jesus1 was silent when he was unjustly accused2 she said nothing to ,pilate1 who was inclined to liberate him1 for he had already known his innocence2 but she only appeared in public to be present at the great sacrifice1 which was to be offered on ,calvary4 ,she accompanied him to the place of punishment2 she was with him from the first moment he was placed upon the cross3 ,there stood by the cross of ,jesus his mother3 8,stabat juxta crucem ,jesu mater ejus20 until she saw him expire1 and the sacrifice was consummated4 ,and all this to complete the offering which she had already made of him to ,god in the temple4 ,in order to understand the violence that ,mary had to offer herself in making this sacrifice1 it would be necessary to comprehend the love which this mother bore to ,jesus4 ,generally speaking1 the love of mothers is so tender for their children1 that when they are at the point of death1 and they are about to lose them1 they forget all their faults1 their defects1 and even the injuries they have received from them1 and they suffer an inexpressible grief4 ,and yet the love of those mothers is a love divided among other children1 or among other creatures4 ,mary has one only ,son1 and he is the most beautiful of all the children of ,adam2 he is most amiable1 for he has all lovable qualities2 he is obedient1 virtuous1 innocent1 holy1 in one word1 he is ,god4 ,the love of this mother1 too1 is not divided among other objects2 she has centered all her love upon this only ,son1 neither does she fear loving him to excess1 for this her ,son is ,god1 who merits an infinite love4 ,and this ,son is the victim whom she had voluntarily to offer to death4 ,let every one consider1 then1 how much it must have cost ,mary to sacrifice on the cross the life of a ,son so amiable1 and what strength of mind she must have exercised in this act4 ,behold the most fortunate of mothers1 because she is the mother of a ,god1 but she is at the same time a mother most worthy of compassion1 because the most afflicted2 being the mother of a ,son whom she saw destined to the cross from the day when he was given her for a ,son6 ,what mother would accept a son1 knowing that afterwards she should lose him by such a painful and infamous death1 and that she should be present to see him die8 ,mary willingly accepted this ,son with so hard a condition2 and not only accepted him1 but offers him herself this day1 with her own hands1 to death1 sacrificing him to the divine justice4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that the blessed ,virgin would willingly have taken upon herself the sufferings and death of her ,son2 but to obey ,god she made the great offering of the divine life of her beloved ,jesus1 conquering1 but with the greatest grief1 all the tenderness of love that she bore him4#abec ,hence it is1 that in this offering ,mary had to do more violence to herself1 and was more generous1 than if she had offered herself to suffer all her ,son was to suffer4 ,therefore she surpassed all the martyrs in generosity1 for the martyrs offered their own lives2 but the ,virgin offered the life of her ,son1 whom she loved and esteemed infinitely more than her own life4 ,neither did the suffering of this painful offering end here2 rather it commenced here2 for from that time forward1 through the whole life of her ,son1 ,mary had always before her eyes death1 and all the pains he was to suffer in his death4 ,hence1 the more this ,son discovered to her how beautiful1 graceful1 and amiable he was1 so much more did the anguish of her heart constantly increase4 ,ah1 afflicted mother6 if thou hadst loved thy ,son less1 or if thy ,son had been less lovely1 and had loved thee less1 thy suffering would certainly have been less in offering him to death4 ,but there never has been1 and there never will be1 a more loving mother than thou1 because there never has been1 and never will be1 a son more amiable and more loving towards his mother than thy ,jesus4 ,oh ,god6 if we had seen the beauty1 the majesty of countenance of that divine child1 could we have had the courage to sacrifice his life for our salvation8 ,and thou1 oh ,mary6 who art his mother1 and a mother so loving1 couldst thou offer thy innocent ,son for the salvation of men1 to a death more painful and more cruel than any criminal had ever endured on this earth8 ,alas6 what a fearful scene from that day forward did love continually place before the eyes of ,mary1 representing to her all the injuries and mockeries which were to be offered to her poor ,son6 ,behold love already representing him to her in his agony in the garden1 then torn by scourges1 and crowned with thorns in the hall of ,pilate1 and finally hanging from the infamous wood on ,calvary6 ,behold1 oh mother1 said love1 what a lovely and innocent ,son thou hast offered to such sufferings1 and to so dreadful a death6 ,and of what avail will it be to thee to rescue him from the hands of ,herod1 in order to reserve him for so piteous an end8 ,thus ,mary not only offered her ,son to death in the temple1 but was offering him up at every moment of her life2 for she revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that this grief which ,st4 ,simeon announced to her1 never left her heart till she was assumed into heaven4#abed ,hence ,st4 ,anselm says3 ,oh ,lady1 ,i cannot believe1 that with such a sorrow thou wouldst have been able to live one moment1 if ,god himself1 who gives life1 had not strengthened thee by his divine power4#abee ,and ,st4 ,bernard affirms1 speaking of the great sorrow that ,mary endured on this day1 that henceforth she suffered a living death1 bearing a grief more cruel than death4#abef ,she lived1 dying at every moment1 because grief for the death of her beloved ,jesus1 which was more cruel than any death1 was at every moment assailing her4 ,the divine mother then1 on account of the great merit she acquired in this great sacrifice1 which she made to ,god for the salvation of the world1 was justly called by ,st4 ,augustine3 ,the restorer of the human race3 8,reparatrix generis humani40#abeg ,by ,st4 ,epiphanius3 ,the redeemer of captives3 8,redemptrix captivorum40#abeh ,by ,st4 ,ildephonsus3 ,the restorer of the ruined world3 8,reparatrix perditi orbis40#abei ,by ,st4 ,germanus3 ,the consolation of our miseries3 8,restauratio calamitatum nostrarum40#abfj ,by ,st4 ,ambrose3 ,the mother of all believers3 8,mater omnium credentium40#abfa ,by ,st4 ,augustine3 ,the mother of the living3 8,mater viventium40#abfb ,by ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete3 ,the mother of life3 8,mater vit40#abfc ,for1 as ,st4 ,arnold ,carnotensis says3 ,in the death of ,jesus1 ,mary united her will to that of her ,son in such a manner1 that both offered the same sacrifice2 and therefore the holy abbot says1 that thus the ,son and the mother effected the human redemption1 obtaining salvation for men4#abfd ,jesus by satisfying for our sins1 ,mary by obtaining for us that this satisfaction should be applied to us4 ,and hence blessed ,denis the ,carthusian likewise affirms1 that the divine mother may be called the salvation of the world1 since by the pain she endured in commiserating her ,son 7voluntarily sacrificed by her to divine justice71 she merited that the merits of the ,redeemer should be communicated to men4#abfe ,mary1 then1 having been made the mother of all the redeemed1 by the merit of her sufferings1 and of the offering of her ,son2 it is just to believe that only by her hand may be given them the milk of those divine graces1 which are the fruits of the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and the means to obtain life eternal4 ,and it is to this that ,st4 ,bernard alludes1 when he says that ,god has placed in the hands of ,mary the whole price of our redemption4#abff ,by which the saint gives us to understand1 that by means of the intercession of the blessed ,virgin1 the merits of the ,redeemer are applied to souls1 as by her hand these graces are dispensed1 which are precisely the price of the merits of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and if the sacrifice of ,abraham in offering up to him his son ,isaac so pleased ,god that he promised1 as a reward1 to multiply his descendants as the stars of heaven3 8,because thou hast done this thing1 and hast not spared thy only begotten ,son for my sake2 ,i will bless thee1 and ,i will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven20#abfg we must certainly believe that the more remarkable sacrifice which this great mother made of ,jesus was much more agreeable to the ,lord2 and1 therefore1 it has been granted her1 that by her prayers1 the number of the elect should be multiplied1 that is1 the favored succession of her children1 for she holds and protects as such her devoted servants4 ,st4 ,simeon received a promise from ,god that he should not die until he had seen the ,messiah born3 8,and he had received an answer from the ,holy ,ghost1 that he should not see death before he had seen the ,christ of the ,lord40#abfh ,but he did not receive this grace except by means of ,mary1 for he did not see the ,saviour until he saw him in the arms of ,mary4 ,hence1 whoever wishes to find ,jesus1 will not find him except through ,mary4 ,let us1 then1 go to this divine mother if we wish to find ,jesus2 and let us go with great confidence4 ,mary said to her servant ,prudentiana ,zagnoni1#abfi that every year1 on this day of the purification1 a great mercy would be shown to some sinner4 ,who knows but one of us may to-day be that favored sinner8 ,if our sins are great1 greater is the power of ,mary4 ,the ,son can deny nothing to this mother1 says ,st4 ,bernard4#abgj ,if ,jesus is offended with us1 ,mary immediately appeases him4 ,plutarch relates that ,antipater wrote to ,alexander the ,great a long letter of accusations against ,olympias1 the mother of ,alexander4 ,having read the letter1 he answered3 8,does not ,antipater know that one tear of my mother is enough to cancel an endless number of letters of accusation08#abga ,thus we may imagine ,jesus would also answer to the accusations which the devil presents him against us when ,mary is praying him for us3 ,does not ,lucifer know that one prayer of my mother1 in favor of a sinner1 is enough to make me forget all the accusations of offences committed against me8 ,the following example is a proof of this4 ,,example4 ,this example is not recorded in any book1 but a priest1 a companion of mine1 related it to me1 as having happened to himself4 ,while this priest was hearing confessions in a certain church 7for sufficient reasons he did not mention the place where this occurred1 although the penitent gave him leave to publish the fact71 a youth stood before him1 who appeared to wish and not to wish to come to confession4 ,the ,father1 after looking at him several times1 at length called him1 and asked him if he wished to make his confession4 ,he answered1 yes2 but as he required a long time for it1 the confessor took him into a retired room4 ,there the penitent began by telling him that he was a foreigner1 and of noble birth1 but he could not believe that it was possible for ,god to pardon him after the life he had led4 ,besides innumerable other sins he had committed of impurity1 homicide1 c41 he said1 that being entirely in despair of salvation1 he had set about committing sins1 not so much for his own gratification1 as to defy ,god1 and manifest the hatred he bore him4 ,he said1 that among other things1 he had with him a crucifix1 which he had beaten out of contempt4 ,he said that just before1 on that very morning1 he had made a sacrilegious communion1 and for what object8 ,that he might put under his feet the consecrated wafer4 ,and that1 in fact1 he had actually received1 and was about to put in execution his horrible intention1 but was prevented by the people who observed him4 ,he then consigned to the confessor the consecrated host1 wrapped in a paper1 and told him that as he was passing by that church he had a great desire to enter4 ,he could not resist this desire1 and had entered4 ,that then he felt great remorse of conscience1 together with a certain confused and irresolute desire to make his confession4 ,for this reason he had placed himself before the confessional1 but while standing there he felt so confused and timid1 that he wished to go away1 but it seemed as if some one had retained him by force3 8,until10 he said1 8you1 ,father1 called me2 and now ,i find myself here2 ,i find myself making my confession2 but ,i know not how to do it40 ,the ,father then asked him if he had practiced any act of devotion during that time2 meaning towards the most holy ,mary2 for such sudden conversions only come through the powerful hands of the ,virgin4 8,none1 ,father2 what devotion could ,i offer10 answered the youth1 8when ,i believed myself lost80 8,but try to remember more carefully10 replied the ,father4 8,father1 nothing40 ,but accidentally putting his hand to his breast1 he remembered that he wore the ,scapular of the ,seven ,dolors of ,mary3 8,maria addolorata40 8,ah1 my son10 said the confessor to him1 8do you not see that our blessed ,lady has bestowed this grace upon you8 ,and know10 he added1 8that this church is a church of our blessed ,lady40 ,hearing this1 the youth was moved to contrition1 and began to weep4 ,he confessed his sins1 and his compunction increased to such a degree that1 bursting into tears1 he fell1 overcome with grief1 as it seemed1 at the feet of the ,father1 who1 having restored him by a cordial1 finally finished hearing his confession1 and absolved him with the greatest consolation1 as he was entirely contrite and resolved to amend his life4 ,the ,father sent him back to his own country after having obtained from him full liberty to preach and publish everywhere the great mercy exercised by ,mary towards him4 ,,prayer4 ,oh holy mother of ,god and my mother ,mary1 didst thou then feel so great care of my salvation that thou didst even consent to offer up to death the object dearest to thy heart1 thy beloved ,jesus8 ,if thou1 then1 hast so greatly desired to see me saved1 it is just that next to ,god ,i should place in thee all my hopes4 ,oh blessed ,virgin1 ,i do indeed confide entirely in thee4 ,oh1 by the merit of this great sacrifice of the life of thy ,son which to-day thou hast offered to ,god1 pray him to have pity on my soul1 for which this immaculate ,lamb did not refuse to die upon the cross4 ,to-day1 oh my queen1 ,i also1 in imitation of thee1 wish to offer my poor heart to ,god2 but ,i fear that he will refuse it1 seeing it thus filthy and loathsome4 ,but if thou wilt offer it to him1 he will not refuse it4 ,all the offerings made him by thy most pure hands he accepts and receives4 ,to thee1 then1 oh ,mary1 ,i present myself to-day1 miserable as ,i am1 and to thee ,i give myself entirely4 ,offer me as thine to the eternal ,father and to ,jesus1 and pray him that through the merits of his ,son1 and by thy favor1 he may accept me1 and take me for his own4 ,ah1 my sweetest mother1 for the love thou bearest this ,son whom thou hast sacrificed1 aid me always1 and do not abandon me4 ,do not permit that ,i should one day lose1 through my sins1 this my most loving ,redeemer1 to-day offered by thee with so much anguish to die on the cross4 ,say to him that ,i am thy servant2 say to him that in thee ,i have placed all my hope2 say to him1 in a word1 that thou dost wish for my salvation1 and he will certainly graciously hear thee4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,,vii4 ,,on ,,the ,,assumption ,,of ,,mary4 ,on this day the ,church proposes to us to celebrate two solemn observances in honor of ,mary3 one1 her happy departure from this earth2 the other1 her glorious assumption into heaven4 ,in the present discourse we shall speak of her departure from this earth1 and in the next of her assumption4 ,how precious was the death of ,mary6 #ast1 ,on account of the special graces which attended it2 #b;d1 ,on account of the manner of it4 ,death being the punishment of sin1 it would seem that the divine mother1 all holy and exempt from every stain1 should not be subject to death1 nor suffer the same misfortune as the children of ,adam1 who are infected by the poison of sin4 ,but ,god1 wishing ,mary in all things to be like to ,jesus1 required1 as the ,son had died1 that the mother should also die2 and because he wished to give to the just an example of the blessed death prepared for them1 he decreed that the ,virgin should die1 but by a sweet and happy death4 ,hence we will enter upon the consideration1 how precious was the death of ,mary4 #ast4 ,on account of the special graces by which it was accompanied4 #b;d4 ,on account of the manner in which it took place4 ,point ,first4--,three things render death bitter1 namely1 attachment to earth1 remorse for sin1 and the uncertainty of salvation4 ,but the death of ,mary was entirely free from any such causes of bitterness1 and was attended by many circumstances which rendered it precious and joyful4 ,she died as she had always lived1 entirely detached from all earthly things2 she died in the most perfect peace of conscience2 she died in the certainty of eternal glory4 ,and in the first place1 there is no doubt that attachment to the goods of earth renders the death of the worldly bitter and miserable1 as the ,holy ,spirit says3 8,oh1 death1 how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath peace in his possessions60#abgb ,but because the saints die detached from the things of the world1 their death is not bitter1 but sweet1 lovely1 and precious2 or1 as ,st4 ,bernard explains1 it is worth being purchased at any price4 ,blessed are the dead who die in the ,lord3 8,beati mortui qui in ,domino moriuntur40#abgc ,who are they that being dead1 die8 ,precisely those happy souls that pass into eternity1 already detached1 and1 as it were1 dead to all affections for terrestrial things1 having found in ,god alone their every good2 as ,st4 ,francis of ,assisium1 who exclaimed3 ,my ,god1 and my all3 8,deus meus et omnia40 ,but what soul was ever more detached from the things of the world1 and more united to ,god1 than the beautiful soul of ,mary8 ,she was indeed entirely detached from her parents1 since at the age of three years1 when children are most dependent on their parents1 and have the greatest need of their assistance1 ,mary with so great resolution left them1 and went to shut herself up in the temple to attend to the things of ,god4 ,she was detached from riches1 contented to live always poor1 and supporting herself with the labor of her hands4 ,she was detached from honors1 loving an humble and abject life1 although queenly honor belonged to her1 for she traced her descent from the kings of ,israel4 ,the ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 a ,benedictine nun1 that when she was left in the temple by her parents1 she resolved in her heart to have no other father1 and to love no other good but ,god4 ,st4 ,john saw ,mary represented in that woman clothed with the sun1 who held the moon under her feet4 8,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven2 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet40#abgd ,interpreters explain the moon to signify the goods of this earth1 that are uncertain1 and change as the moon does4 ,all these goods ,mary never had in her heart1 but always despised them and kept them under her feet2 living in this world as a solitary turtle-dove in a desert2 placing her affection on no earthly thing1 so that it was said of her3 ,the voice of the turtle is heard in our land3 8,vox turturis audita est in terra nostra40#abge ,and again1 8,who is she that goeth up by the desert80#abgf whence ,rupert says3 8,thou hast gone up by the desert1 that is1 having a solitary soul40#abgg ,mary1 then1 having always lived entirely detached from the things of earth1 and only united to ,god1 not bitter1 but very sweet and dear to her was death1 which united her more closely to ,god1 by the eternal bonds of paradise4 ,secondly1 peace of conscience renders the death of the just precious4 ,the sins committed in life are those worms that the most torment and gnaw the heart of poor dying sinners1 who1 about to be presented at the divine tribunal1 see themselves at that moment surrounded by their sins1 which terrify them1 and pursue them with cries1 as ,st4 ,bernard says3 8,we are thy works1 we will not desert thee40#abgh ,certainly ,mary could not be afflicted in death by any remorse of conscience1 for she was always holy1 always pure1 and always free from every shade of actual and original sin2 hence it was said of her3 ,thou art all fair1 oh my love1 and there is not a spot in thee3 8,tota pulchra es1 amica mea1 et macula non est in te40#abgi ,as soon as she had the use of reason1 that is1 from the first moment of her immaculate conception in the womb of ,st4 ,ann1 from that time she began with all her powers to love her ,god2 and thus she continued to do1 ever advancing more in perfection and love through her whole life4 ,all her thoughts1 her desires1 her affections1 were wholly given to ,god2 not a word1 not a motion1 not a glance of the eye1 not a breath of hers that was not for ,god and for his glory1 never departing one step1 nor separating herself for one moment from the divine love4 ,ah6 in the happy hour of her death how did all the lovely virtues which she practised during her life surround her blessed bed6 ,that faith so constant1 that affectionate confidence in ,god1 that patience so strong in the midst of sufferings1 that humility in the midst of so many privileges1 that modesty1 that meekness1 that compassion for souls1 that zeal for the divine glory1 and above all1 that perfect charity towards ,god1 with that entire uniformity to the divine will--all1 in a word1 thronged around her1 and consoling her1 said3 ,we are thy works1 we will not desert thee3 8,opera tua sumus1 non te deseremus40 ,oh ,lady and mother1 we are all children of thy loving heart2 now that thou art leaving this miserable life1 we will not leave thee1 we also will go to attend thee and honor thee in paradise1 where1 by our means1 thou wilt be crowned queen of all men and of all the angels4 ,in the third place1 the certainty of eternal salvation renders death sweet4 ,death is called a passage1 since through death we pass from this short life to life eternal4 ,and1 as the dread is great of those who die in doubt of their salvation1 and who approach the solemn moment with just fear of passing into an eternal death1 thus1 on the other hand1 very great is the joy of the saints at the end of life1 hoping with some security to go and possess ,god in heaven4 ,a nun of the order of ,st4 ,theresa1 when the physician announced to her that death was near1 was so full of joy that she said to him3 8,and how does it happen1 sir1 that you tell me this good news and ask no fee for it80 ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian being at the point of death1 and seeing his friends weeping around him1 said to them3 8,away1 away with your tears1 this is no time for tears40#abhj ,go elsewhere to weep2 if you will remain with me you must rejoice1 as ,i rejoice1 in seeing the gate of paradise open to unite me with my ,god4 ,and thus1 also1 a ,st4 ,peter of ,alcantara1 a ,st4 ,louis of ,gonzaga1 and so many other saints1 on hearing that death was at hand1 burst forth into exclamations of joy and gladness4 ,and yet they were not certain of the divine favor1 nor secure of their own sanctity1 as ,mary was secure of hers4 ,but what joy must the divine mother have felt in learning that her death was at hand2 she1 who had the fullest security of enjoying the divine favor1 especially after the angel ,gabriel had assured her that she was full of grace1 and already possessed ,god6 8,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee 444 thou hast found grace40#abha ,and well did she herself know that her heart was burning continually with divine love1 so that as ,bernardine de ,bustis says1 ,mary1 by a singular grace not granted to any other saint1 loved1 and was always actually occupied in loving ,god every moment of her life1 and so ardently1 that1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 it required a perpetual miracle to preserve her life in the midst of such burning flames4 ,it was before said of ,mary in the sacred ,canticles3 8,who is she that goeth up by the desert as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices1 of myrrh1 and frankincense1 and of all the powders of the perfumer80#abhb ,her entire mortification was prefigured in the myrrh1 her fervent prayers were signified by the incense1 and all her holy virtues united to her perfect charity towards ,god1 kindled in her a flame so great1 that her holy soul1 wholly devoted to1 and consumed by divine love1 arose continually to ,god as a pillar of smoke that on all sides breathed sweet odor4 ,as a pillar of smoke1 oh blessed ,lady1 wrote ,rupert1 thou hast breathed forth a sweet odor to the ,most ,high4#abhc ,and ,eustachius still more strongly expresses it3 ,a pillar of smoke1 because burning interiorly as a holocaust with the flame of divine love1 she sent forth a most sweet odor4#abhd ,as the loving ,virgin lived1 such she died4 ,as divine love gave her life1 so it gave her death2 for she died as the holy ,doctors and ,fathers of the ,church generally affirm1 of no other infirmity than pure love2 for ,st4 ,ildephonsus says1 that ,mary either ought not to die1 or only die of love4 ,second ,point4--,but let us now see what were the circumstances of her happy death4 ,after the ascension of ,jesus ,christ1 ,mary remained on earth to attend to the propagation of the faith4 ,hence the disciples of ,jesus had recourse to her1 and she resolved their doubts1 comforted them in their persecutions1 and encouraged them to labor for the divine glory and for the salvation of the souls redeemed by her ,son4 ,she1 indeed1 willingly remained on earth1 understanding this to be the will of ,god for the good of the ,church2 but she could not but feel the pain of being far from the presence and sight of her beloved ,son1 who had ascended into heaven4 8,where your treasure is10 said the ,redeemer1 8there will your heart be also40#abhe ,where any one believes his treasure and his happiness to lie1 there he always holds the love and desire of his heart fixed4 ,if ,mary then loved no other good than ,jesus1 he being in heaven1 in heaven were all her desires4 ,taulerus wrote of ,mary3 ,the cell of ,mary was heaven3 8,mari cella fuit clum10#abhf for being in heaven with her affection1 she made of it her continual abode4 ,her school was eternity3 8,schola ternitas10 for she was always detached from temporal possessions4 ,her teacher1 divine truth3 8,pdagogus divina veritas10 for she was always guided in her actions by the divine light4 ,her mirror1 the ,divinity3 8,speculum divinitas10 for she looked upon nothing but ,god1 in order to conform always to the divine will4 ,her ornament1 devotion3 8,ornatus ejus devotio10 for she was always ready to fulfil the divine commands4 ,her repose1 union with ,god3 8,quies unitas cum ,deo10 for her peace was only in uniting herself with ,god4 ,in a word1 the place and treasure of her heart was ,god alone3 8,cordis illius locus et thesaurus solus ,deus erat40 ,the most holy ,virgin consoled her loving heart during this cruel separation1 by visiting1 as it is narrated1 the holy places of ,palestine1 where her ,son had been in his lifetime3 she often visited now the stable of ,bethlehem1 where her ,son was born2 now the workshop at ,nazareth1 where her ,son had lived so many years poor and despised2 now the garden of ,gethsemane1 where her ,son commenced his passion2 now the hall of ,pilate1 where he was scourged2 the place where he was crowned2 but more often she visited ,calvary1 where her ,son had expired2 and the holy sepulchre1 where she finally had left him4 ,and thus the most loving mother used to soothe the pains of her cruel exile4 ,but this was not enough to satisfy her heart1 which could not find its perfect rest upon this earth2 hence her continual sighs were ascending to her ,lord1 as she exclaimed with ,david1 but with more ardent love3 8,who will give me wings like a dove1 and ,i will fly and be at rest40#abhg ,who will give me wings like a dove to fly to my ,god and there to find my rest8 8,as the hart panteth after the fountains of water1 so my soul panteth after thee1 oh ,god40#abhh ,as the wounded stag pants for the fountain1 so my soul1 wounded by thy love1 oh my ,god1 desires and sighs for thee4 ,ah1 the sighs of this holy turtle-dove could not but reach the heart of her ,god1 who loved her so much3 8,the voice of the turtle is heard in our land40 ,wherefore not being willing to defer any longer consolation to his beloved1 behold1 he graciously hears her desire and calls her to his kingdom4 ,cedrenus1#abhi ,nicephorus1#abij and ,metaphrastes1#abia relate1 that the ,lord1 some days before her death1 sent to her the angel ,gabriel1 the same who once announced to her that she was the blessed woman chosen to be the mother of ,god3 ,my ,lady and ,queen1 said the angel to her1 ,god has already graciously heard thy holy desires1 and he has sent me to tell thee to prepare to leave the earth1 for he wishes thee with him in paradise4 ,come then1 to take possession of thy kingdom1 for ,i and all its holy citizens await and desire thee4 ,at this happy annunciation what should our most humble and holy ,virgin do but conceal herself more deeply in the centre of her most profound humility1 and reply in those same words with which she answered ,st4 ,gabriel when he announced to her that she was to become mother of ,god3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord3 8,ecce ancilla ,domini80 ,behold1 she again answered1 the servant of the ,lord2 he in his pure goodness has chosen me and made me his mother2 now he calls me to paradise4 ,i neither merited the one nor the other honor2 but since he wishes to manifest his infinite liberality towards me1 ,i am ready to go where he wishes4 8,behold the handmaid of the ,lord20 may the will of my ,god and ,lord always be fulfilled in me4 ,after receiving this precious intelligence1 she imparted it to ,st4 ,john1 and we may imagine with what grief and tender emotion he heard this news2 he who for so many years had been near her as a son1 and had enjoyed the celestial conversation of this most holy mother4 ,she then visited anew the holy places of ,jerusalem1 tenderly taking leave of them1 especially of ,calvary1 where her beloved ,son had died4 ,and then she returned to her poor dwelling to prepare for death4 ,during this time the angels did not cease to come and visit this their beloved queen1 consoling themselves with the thought that they should soon see her crowned in heaven4 ,many authors assert1#abib that before she died1 by a divine miracle1 the apostles and also some of the disciples came from the different places where they were dispersed1 and all assembled in the apartment of ,mary1 and that when she saw all these her dear children united together in her presence1 she thus addressed them3 ,my dear children1 for love of you1 and to help you1 my ,son left me on this earth4 ,but now the holy faith is spread throughout the world1 already the fruit of the divine seed is grown up2 hence my divine ,son1 seeing that my assistance was no longer needed upon the earth1 and compassionating me for the pain of separation1 has graciously heard my desire to depart from this life1 and go to see him in glory4 ,if ,i leave you1 my heart does not leave you2 ,i will carry with me the great love ,i bear you1 and it shall always remain with me4 ,i am going to paradise to pray for you4 ,at these sad tidings1 who can realize how great were the tears and lamentations of these holy disciples1 knowing that they were shortly to be separated from their mother8 ,then1 they all in tears exclaimed1 then1 oh ,mary1 thou wilt leave us6 ,it is true that this earth is not a worthy and fit place for thee1 and that we are not worthy to enjoy the society of a mother of ,god2 but remember that thou art our mother2 thou hast until now enlightened us in our doubts1 consoled our sorrows1 strengthened us in persecutions1 and how canst thou now abandon us1 leaving us alone without thy comfort in the midst of so many enemies and so many conflicts8 ,we have already lost on earth ,jesus1 our ,master and our ,father1 who has ascended into heaven2 we have since been consoled by thee1 our mother2 and now how canst thou leave us orphans1 without father or mother8 ,oh remain with us1 oh our ,lady6 or take us with thee4 ,thus writes ,st4 ,john ,damascene4#abic 8,no1 my children 7thus sweetly the loving queen began to speak7 this is not according to the will of ,god2 content yourselves to do what he has appointed for you and for me4 ,to you it yet remains to labor on the earth for the glory of your ,redeemer1 and to perfect your eternal crown4 ,i do not leave you to abandon you1 but to help you more by my intercession with ,god in heaven4 ,be satisfied4 ,i commend to you the holy ,church2 ,i commend to you the souls redeemed by my ,son2 let this be my last farewell1 and the only remembrance that ,i leave you4 ,if you love me1 labor for souls1 and for the glory of my ,son2 for we shall one day meet again in paradise1 never more to separate throughout eternity40 ,then she begged them to give burial to her body after death1 blessed them1 and directed ,st4 ,john1 as ,damascene relates1#abid that after her death he should give her two garments to two virgins who had served her for some time1 and then she decently composed herself upon her poor little bed1 where she laid herself to await death1 and with death the meeting with her divine spouse1 who shortly was to come and take her with him to the kingdom of the blessed4 ,behold1 she already feels in her heart a great joy1 the forerunner of the coming of the spouse1 which overwhelms her with a great and new sweetness4 ,the holy apostles1 seeing that ,mary already was about to depart from this earth1 burst forth into fresh weeping1 and knelt around her bed3 some kissed her holy feet1 others asked her special blessing1 one recommended to her some particular necessity of his1 and all wept bitterly1 for their hearts were pierced with grief at being obliged to separate forever in this life from their beloved ,lady4 ,and she1 their most loving mother1 compassionated all1 consoled all1 promising to some her protection1 blessing others with peculiar affection1 and encouraging others to labor for the conversion of the world2 especially did she call ,st4 ,peter to her1 and as head of the ,church1 and vicar of her ,son1 she recommended to him in particular the propagation of the faith1 promising him her special protection from heaven4 ,but in a very special manner did she call to her ,st4 ,john1 who felt a greater sorrow than all the others at the moment of separation from that holy mother2 and the most grateful ,lady1 calling to mind the affection and attention with which this holy disciple had served her through all the years they had passed on earth since the death of her ,son1 said to him with great tenderness3 ,my ,john1 ,i thank thee for all the assistance thou hast afforded me2 my son1 be certain that ,i never will be ungrateful to thee for it4 ,if ,i leave thee now1 ,i am going to pray for thee4 ,remain in peace in this life until we meet in heaven1 where ,i will await thee4 ,do not forget me2 in all thy necessities call me to thy aid1 for ,i never will forget thee1 my beloved son4 ,my son1 ,i bless thee1 ,i leave thee my benediction2 rest in peace--adieu4 ,but the death of ,mary draws near4 ,the divine love1 with its blessed and ardent flames1 having almost entirely consumed the vital spirits1 the celestial phnix is going to lose her life in the midst of this fire4 ,then the hosts of angels come to meet her1 as if to be ready for the great triumph with which they were to accompany her to paradise4 ,mary was indeed consoled at the sight of these holy spirits2 but not fully consoled1 for she did not yet see her beloved ,jesus1 who was the whole love of her heart4 ,hence she often repeated to the angels who descended to salute her3 8,i adjure you1 oh daughters of ,jerusalem1 if you find my beloved1 that you tell him that ,i languish with love40#abie ,oh holy angels6 oh blessed citizens of the heavenly ,jerusalem6 ye come in hosts kindly to console me1 and ye all console me with your sweet presence2 ,i thank you1 but ye all do not fully satisfy me1 for ,i do not yet see my ,son coming to console me4 ,go1 if you love me1 return to paradise1 and tell my beloved1 from me1 that ,i languish and faint for his love4 ,tell him to come1 and come quickly1 for ,i am dying with my desire to see him4 ,but behold1 ,jesus himself comes to take his mother to the kingdom of the blessed4 ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 that the ,son appeared to ,mary before she expired1 with the cross in his hand1 to show the special glory he had obtained from the redemption1 having by his death made the acquisition of this great creature1 who through the ages of eternity was to honor him more than all men and all angels4 ,st4 ,john of ,damascus relates1 that he gave to her the viaticum1 saying to her1 tenderly3 ,take1 oh my mother1 from my hands1 that same body which thou hast given me4 ,and the mother having received with the greatest love that final communion1 with her last sighs said to him3 ,my ,son1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit2 ,i recommend to thee this soul that thou1 in thy goodness1 didst create even from the beginning1 rich in so many graces1 and by a peculiar privilege hast preserved from every stain of sin4 ,i commend to thee my body1 from which thou hast deigned to take flesh and blood4 ,i commend to thee1 also1 these my dear children 7speaking of the holy disciples who were around her72 they are afflicted at my departure2 do thou console them1 who lovest them more than ,i do2 bless them1 and give them strength to do great things for thy glory4#abif ,the end of the life of ,mary having now arrived1 there was heard1 as ,st4 ,jerome relates1 in the apartment where she lay1 a great harmony2 and also1 as it was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 a great brightness was seen4 ,by this harmony and unusual splendor the holy ,apostles perceived that ,mary was then departing1 at which they broke forth again in tears and prayers1 and raising their hands1 with one voice exclaimed3 ,oh1 our mother1 now thou art going to heaven1 and art leaving us1 give us thy last benediction1 and do not forget us in our misery4 ,and ,mary1 turning her eyes around upon them all1 as if bidding them for the last time farewell1 said3 ,adieu1 my children3 ,i bless you2 do not fear that ,i shall forget you4 ,and now death came1 not indeed clothed with mourning and sadness1 as it comes to others1 but adorned with light and joy4 ,but why death1 why death8 ,rather should we say that divine love came to cut the thread of that noble life4 ,and as a lamp before going out1 her life1 amid these last flickerings1 flashed forth more brightly1 and then expired4 ,thus1 this beautiful soul1 her ,son inviting her to follow him1 wrapped in the flame of her charity1 and in the midst of her amorous sighs1 breathed forth a greater sigh of love1 expired and died2 and thus that great soul1 that beautiful dove of our ,lord1 was released from the bonds of this life1 and entered into the glory of the blessed1 where she sits1 and will sit1 as queen of paradise1 for all eternity4 ,now ,mary has left the earth1 now she is in heaven4 ,from thence this kind mother looks down upon us1 who are still in this valley of tears1 compassionates us1 and promises us her support if we wish for it4 ,let us pray her always that by the merits of her blessed death she may obtain for us a happy death2 and if it please ,god1 that she may obtain for us to die on a ,saturday1 which is dedicated to her honor1 or on a day of the ,novena1 or of the octave of some of her feasts1 as she has obtained for so many of her servants1 and especially for ,st4 ,stanislas ,kostka1 for whom she obtained to die on the day of her glorious ,assumption1 as ,father ,bartoli relates in his life of the saint4#abig ,,example4 ,during the lifetime of this holy youth1 who was wholly devoted to the love of ,mary1 it happened that on the first day of ,august1 he heard a sermon of ,father ,peter ,canisius1 in which1 preaching to the novices of his society1 he fervently urged upon all1 the important advice1 to live every day as if it might be the last of their life1 after which they were to be presented at the divine tribunal4 ,the sermon being finished1 ,st4 ,stanislas told his companions that this counsel had been for him especially the voice of ,god1 for that he was to die on that very month4 ,he said this either because ,god had expressly revealed it to him1 or at least because he gave him a certain internal presentiment of what afterwards happened4 ,four days after1 the blessed youth went with ,father ,emmanuel to ,st4 ,mary ,major1 and beginning to speak of the approaching festival of the ,assumption1 he said3 8,father1 ,i believe that on that day there is seen in paradise a new paradise1 the glory being seen there of the mother of ,god crowned queen of heaven1 and seated so near the ,lord above all the choirs of angels4 ,and if it is true that every year1 as ,i believe it to be certain1 this festival is renewed in heaven1 ,i hope to see the next one40 ,the glorious martyr ,st4 ,lawrence1 having fallen to the saint by lot as his monthly patron1 according to the custom of that society1 it is said that he wrote a letter to his mother ,mary1 in which he prayed her to obtain for him that he might be a spectator of this festival of hers in paradise4 ,on ,st4 ,lawrence's day he received communion1 and after it supplicated the saint to present that letter to the divine mother1 by interposing his intercession that the most holy ,mary might graciously hear his prayer4 ,at the close of this very day a fever came upon him1 and although it was very light1 he1 however1 from that hour esteemed it for certain that he had obtained the favor asked for him1 namely1 an early death4 ,indeed1 on going to bed he said joyfully1 with a smiling countenance3 8,from this bed ,i shall never arise40 ,and speaking to ,father ,claudius ,aquaviva1 he added3 8,i believe that ,st4 ,lawrence has already obtained for me the grace from ,mary that ,i should be in heaven on the festival of her ,assumption40 ,but no one thought much of these his words4 ,the vigil having arrived1 his malady continued to appear light1 but the saint told a brother that he should die the next night1 and the brother answered3 8,oh1 brother1 it would be a greater miracle to die of so slight an illness1 than to be cured40 ,but1 behold1 after noon he fell into a deadly swoon1 and then came a cold sweat1 and he entirely lost his strength4 ,the superior hastened to him1 and ,stanislas prayed him to order him to be placed on the bare floor1 that he might die as a penitent1 which was granted in order to satisfy him1 and he was laid on the floor on a mattress4 ,then he made his confession1 received the viaticum1 not without the tears of all present1 for when the divine sacrament was brought into the apartment1 his eyes kindled with celestial joy1 and his whole countenance was radiant with holy love1 so that he seemed a seraph4 ,he also received extreme unction1 and meanwhile did nothing but now raise his eyes to heaven1 now look upon1 kiss1 and lovingly press to his breast1 an image of ,mary4 ,a father said to him3 8,of what use is it to wear that rosary around your hand1 if you cannot recite it80 ,he answered3 8,it serves to console me1 for it is something belonging to my mother40 8,oh1 how much more10 said the ,father1 8will you be consoled by seeing her1 and kissing1 in a short time1 her hands in heaven60 ,then the saint1 with his countenance all on fire1 raised his hands1 thus to express his desire of finding himself soon in her presence4 ,then his dear mother appeared to him1 as he himself declared to those around him1 and soon after1 at the dawn of day on the fifteenth of ,august1 he expired as a saint1 his eyes fixed on heaven1 without a motion1 so that not until afterwards1 when the image of the most holy ,virgin was presented1 and he made no movement towards it1 it was perceived that he had already gone to kiss in paradise the feet of his beloved queen4 ,,prayer4 ,oh1 our most sweet ,lady and ,mother1 thou hast already left the earth1 and hast reached thy kingdom1 where thou sittest as queen over all the choirs of angels1 as the holy ,church sings3 ,she was exalted above the choirs of angels in the celestial kingdoms3 8,exaltata est super choros angelorum ad clestia regna40 ,we know that we sinners are not worthy of having thee with us in this valley of darkness4 ,but we know also1 that thou in thy grandeur hast never forgotten us in our misery1 and by being exalted to such glory hast never lost compassion for us poor children of ,adam1 but rather that it is increased in thee4 ,from the high throne then1 where thou dost reign1 turn1 oh ,mary1 even upon us1 thy pitying eyes1 and take compassion upon us4 ,remember1 too1 that on leaving this world1 thou didst promise not to forget us4 ,look upon us and succor us4 ,see in what tempests and in how many dangers we are1 and always shall be1 till the end of our life arrives4 ,by the merits of thy holy death1 obtain for us holy perseverance in the divine friendship1 that we may finally depart from this life in the grace of ,god1 and thus come one day to kiss thy feet in paradise1 and unite ourselves with the blessed spirits in praising thee1 and singing thy glories1 as thou dost merit4 ,amen4 ,,discourse ,,viii4 ,,another ,,discourse ,,on ,,the ,,assumption ,,of ,,mary4 #ast4 ,how glorious was the triumph of ,mary when she ascended to heaven6 #b;d4 ,how exalted was the throne to which she was raised in heaven6 ,it would seem just that the holy ,church1 on this day of the ,assumption of ,mary to heaven1 should rather invite us to weep than to rejoice1 since our sweet mother has quitted this earth1 and left us bereft of her sweet presence1 as ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,it seems that we should rather weep than exult3 8,plangendum nobis1 quam plaudendum magis esse videtur40#abih ,but no1 the holy ,church invites us to rejoice3 8,let us all rejoice in the ,lord1 celebrating a festival in honor of the blessed ,virgin ,mary40#abii ,and justly1 if we love this our mother1 we ought to congratulate ourselves more upon her glory than upon our own particular consolation4 ,what son does not rejoice1 although separated from his mother1 if he knows that she is going to take possession of a kingdom8 ,mary1 to-day1 is to be crowned queen of heaven1 and shall we not make a feast and rejoice if we truly love her8 ,let us all rejoice1 let us rejoice3 8,gaudeamus omnes1 et gaudeamus40 ,and that we may be consoled the more by her exaltation1 let us consider1 in the first place1 how glorious was the triumph of ,mary ascending to heaven2 secondly1 how exalted was the throne to which she was elevated in heaven4 ,first ,point4--,after ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour had completed the work of our redemption by his death1 the angels earnestly desired to have him with them in their heavenly country2 hence they were continually supplicating him1 repeating the words of ,david3 8,arise1 oh ,lord1 into thy resting-place1 thou and the ark which thou hast sanctified40#acjj ,come1 oh ,lord1 now that thou hast redeemed men1 come to thy kingdom with us1 and bring with thee also the living ark of thy sanctification1 namely1 thy mother1 who was the ark sanctified by thee when thou didst inhabit her womb4 ,thus ,st4 ,bernardine puts it into the mouth of the angels to say3 ,let thy most holy mother ,mary also ascend1 sanctified by thy conception4#acja ,at length1 then1 our ,lord wished to satisfy this desire of those citizens of the heavenly country1 by calling ,mary to paradise4 ,but1 if he wished that the ark of the covenant should be conducted with great pomp into the city of ,david--,and ,david and all the house of ,israel brought the ark of the covenant of the ,lord with joyful shouting1 and with sound of trumpet#acjb--with far more splendid and glorious pomp he ordained that his mother should enter into heaven4 ,the prophet ,elias was carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire1 which1 according to the interpreters1 was but a company of angels who raised him from the earth4 ,but to conduct thee into heaven1 oh mother of ,god1 as ,rupert the ,abbot says1 a company of angels was not enough1 but the ,king of heaven himself1 with all his celestial court1 came to accompany thee4#acjc ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna is of the same opinion1 namely3 that ,jesus ,christ1 in order to honor the triumph of ,mary1 came himself from paradise to meet and accompany her4#acjd ,and precisely for this object it was1 says ,st4 ,anselm1 that the ,redeemer wished to ascend before his mother1 not only to prepare for her a throne in that palace1 but also to render her entrance into heaven more glorious1 by accompanying her himself1 with all the blessed spirits4#acje ,hence ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 contemplating the splendor of this assumption of ,mary into heaven1 says that we shall find it more glorious than the ascension of ,jesus ,christ2 for the angels only came to meet the ,redeemer1 but the blessed ,virgin went to glory met and accompanied by the ,lord of glory himself1 and by all the blessed company of saints and angels4#acjf ,hence ,guerric the ,abbot represents the divine ,word speaking thus3 ,i descended from heaven upon earth to give glory to my ,father2 but afterwards1 to pay honor to my mother1 ,i ascended again into heaven1 that ,i might thus be enabled to come to meet her1 and accompany her by my presence to paradise4#acjg ,let us now consider how the ,saviour really did come from heaven to meet his mother1 and at the first interview said1 to console her3 8,arise1 make haste1 my love1 my dove1 my beautiful one1 and come2 for winter is now past 444 and gone40#acjh ,come1 my dear mother1 my beautiful and pure dove1 leave that valley of tears where thou hast suffered so much for my love2 come from ,libanus1 my spouse1 come from ,libanus1 come1 thou shalt be crowned4#acji ,come with soul and body1 to enjoy the reward of thy holy life4 ,if thou hast suffered much upon earth1 far greater is the glory that ,i have prepared for thee in heaven4 ,come there to sit near me2 come to receive the crown that ,i will give thee as queen of the universe4 ,now1 behold1 ,mary leaves the earth1 and calling to mind the many graces she had there received from her ,lord1 she looks at it at the same time both with affection and compassion1 leaving in it so many poor children1 in the midst of so many miseries and dangers4 ,and now ,jesus offers her his hand1 and the blessed mother rises in the air and passes beyond the clouds and spheres4 ,behold her now arrived at the gates of heaven4 ,when monarchs make their entrance to take possession of their kingdom1 they do not pass through the gates of the city1 for either these are taken off entirely1 or they pass over them4 ,hence the angels1 when ,jesus ,christ entered paradise1 cried3 8,lift up your gates1 ,o ye princes1 and be ye lifted up1 ,o eternal gates2 and the ,king of glory shall enter in40#acaj ,thus1 also1 now that ,mary is going to take possession of the kingdom of the heavens1 the angels who accompany her cry to the others who are within3 8,lift up your gates1 ye princes1 and be ye lifted up1 ,o eternal gates1 and the queen of glory shall enter in40#acaa ,and now ,mary enters into the blessed country4 ,but on her entrance1 the celestial spirits seeing her so beautiful and glorious1 ask of those who are without1 as ,origen describes it1 and exclaim1 all rejoicing in heaven in one 7voice73 8,who is this that cometh up from the desert1 flowing with delights1 leaning upon her beloved80#acab ,and who is this creature so beautiful1 that comes from the desert of the earth1 a place full of thorns and tribulation8 ,but this one comes so pure and so rich in virtue1 supported by her beloved ,lord1 who deigns to accompany her with so great honor4 ,who is she8 ,the angels who accompany her answer3 ,this is the mother of our ,king1 she is our queen1 and the blessed one among women1 full of grace1 the saint of saints1 the beloved of ,god1 the immaculate1 the dove1 the most beautiful of all creatures4 ,and then all those blessed spirits begin to bless and praise her1 singing1 with more reason than the ,hebrews said to ,judith3 8,thou art the glory of ,jerusalem1 thou art the joy of ,israel1 thou art the honor of our people40#acac ,ah6 our ,lady and our queen1 then thou art the glory of paradise1 the joy of our country1 thou art the honor of us all2 be ever welcome1 be ever blessed2 behold thy kingdom1 behold us1 we are all thy servants1 ready for thy commands4 ,then all the saints who were at that time in paradise came to welcome her and salute her as their queen4 ,all the holy virgins came3 ,they saw her1 and declared her most blessed 444 and they praised her4#acad ,we1 they said1 oh most blessed ,lady1 are also queens of this kingdom1 but thou art our queen2 for thou wast the first to give us the great example of consecrating our virginity to ,god2 we all bless and thank thee for it4 ,then came the holy confessors to salute her as their mistress1 who had taught them so many beautiful virtues by her holy life4 ,the holy martyrs came also to salute her as their queen1 because by her great constancy in the sorrows of the passion of her ,son1 she had taught them1 and also obtained for them by her merits1 strength to give their life for the faith4 ,st4 ,james came also1 the only one of the apostles who was then in paradise1 to thank her in the name of all the other apostles1 for the great comfort and support she had given them while she was upon earth4 ,the prophets next came to salute her1 and they said to her3 ,ah1 ,lady1 thou wast foreshadowed in our prophecies4 ,the holy patriarchs came and said to her3 ,oh ,mary1 thou hast been our hope1 so much and so long sighed for by us4 ,and among those came our first parents1 ,adam and ,eve1 to thank her with greater affection4 ,ah1 beloved daughter1 they said to her1 thou hast repaired the injury done by us to the human race2 thou hast obtained for the world that blessing lost by us1 on account of our crime2 by thee we are saved1 and for it be forever blessed4 ,then came holy ,simeon to kiss her feet1 and with joy reminded her of that day on which he received from her hands the infant ,jesus4 ,st4 ,zachary and ,st4 ,elizabeth also came1 and thanked her again for that loving visit1 that with so much humility and charity she made them in their dwelling1 and through which they received so many treasures of grace4 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist came with greater affection to thank her for having sanctified him by means of her voice4 ,but what could her parents1 ,st4 ,joachim and ,st4 ,anna1 say to her1 when they came to salute her8 ,oh ,god6 with what tenderness must they have blessed her1 saying3 ,ah6 beloved daughter1 what happiness was ours in having such a child6 ,ah6 be thou our queen now1 because thou art the mother of our ,god2 as such we salute thee and adore thee4 ,but who can comprehend the affection with which her dear spouse ,st4 ,joseph came to salute her8 ,who can describe the joy that the holy patriarch experienced at seeing his spouse arrive in heaven with so much triumph1 made queen of all paradise8 ,with what tenderness did he say to her3 ,ah6 my ,lady and spouse1 how shall ,i ever be able to thank our ,god as ,i ought for having made me thy spouse1 thou who art his true mother8 ,through thee ,i merited on earth to attend upon the childhood of the incarnate ,word1 to bear him so often in my arms1 and receive from him so many special favors4 ,blessed be the moments that ,i spent in life serving ,jesus and thee1 my holy spouse4 ,behold our ,jesus2 let us console ourselves that now he is no more lying in a stable upon hay1 as we saw him at his birth in ,bethlehem2 he does not now live poor and despised in a shop1 as once he lived with us in ,nazareth2 he is not now nailed to a shameful cross1 as when he died for the salvation of the world in ,jerusalem2 but he sits at the right hand of the ,father1 as king and ,lord of heaven and of earth4 ,and now1 oh my queen1 we shall never more depart from his holy feet1 where we shall bless and love him eternally4 ,then all the angels came to salute her1 and she1 the great queen1 thanked all for the assistance they had given her on earth1 especially thanking the ,archangel ,st4 ,gabriel1 who was the happy ambassador of all her glories1 when he came to announce to her that she was to be made mother of ,god4 ,then the humble and holy ,virgin1 kneeling1 adores the divine majesty1 and1 wholly lost in the consciousness of her nothingness1 thanks him for all the graces bestowed upon her solely by his goodness1 and especially for having made her mother of the eternal ,word4 ,let those who can1 comprehend with what love the most holy ,trinity blessed her4 ,let them comprehend what a welcome the eternal ,father gave to his daughter1 the ,son to his mother1 the ,holy ,spirit to his spouse4 ,the ,father crowns her by sharing with her his power1 the ,son his wisdom1 the ,holy ,spirit his love4 ,and all the three divine persons establishing her throne at the right hand of ,jesus1 declare her universal queen of heaven and of earth1 and command angels and all creatures to recognize her for their queen1 and as queen to serve and obey her4 ,and here we pass on to the consideration of how exalted was this throne to which ,mary was elevated in heaven4 ,second ,point4--,if the human mind1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 cannot attain to comprehend the immense glory which ,god has prepared in heaven for those who have loved him on earth1 as the apostle declares1 who will ever attain to comprehend what he has prepared for her who bore him8 8,quid prparavit gignenti se08 ,what glory did he prepare for his beloved mother1 he who on earth loved her more than all men2 who1 even from the first moment of her creation1 loved her more than all men and angels united6 ,justly1 then1 does the holy ,church sing that ,mary having loved ,god more than all the angels1 she has been exalted above all the angels in heaven4#acae ,yes1 she was exalted1 says ,william the ,abbot1 above the angels1 so that she sees no one above her but her ,son1 who is the only begotten ,son of ,god4#acaf ,hence the learned ,gerson asserts1 that all the orders of angels and of saints being divided into three hierarchies1 as the angelic ,doctor declares1#acag and ,st4 ,dionysius also1 ,mary constitutes in heaven a hierarchy of herself1 the most sublime of all1 and next to ,god4#acah ,and as the mistress1 ,st4 ,antoninus adds1 is incomparably above her servants1 so is the glory of ,mary incomparably greater than that of the angels4#acai ,and in order to understand this1 it is enough to know what ,david said1 that this queen was seated at the right hand of the ,son3 ,the queen stood on thy right hand3 8,astitit regina a dextris tuis40#acbj ,which ,st4 ,athanasius exactly explained by saying3 ,mary is placed at the right hand of ,god4#acba ,the works of ,mary1 as ,st4 ,ildephonsus says1 certainly incomparably surpassed in merit the works of all the saints1 and therefore the reward and the glory she merited cannot be conceived4#acbb ,and if it is certain that ,god rewards according to merit1 as the apostle says1 8,who will render to every man according to his works20#acbc it is also certain1 says ,st4 ,thomas1 that the ,virgin1 who excelled in merit all1 both men and angels1 must have been exalted above all the celestial orders4#acbd ,in fine1 adds ,st4 ,bernard1 let us measure the singular grace that she acquired on earth1 and then we may measure the singular glory that she has obtained in heaven4#acbe ,the glory of ,mary1 remarks a learned author1#acbf which was a full glory1 a complete glory1 is different from that which the other saints have in heaven4 ,it is true that in heaven all the blessed enjoy a perfect peace and full content2 yet it will always be true that no one of them enjoys that glory that he could have merited if he had loved and served ,god with greater fidelity4 ,hence1 although the saints in heaven desire nothing more than what they possess1 yet1 in fact1 there is something they could yet desire4 ,it is also true that the sins which they have committed1 and the time which they have lost1 do not bring suffering2 but it cannot be denied that the most good done in life1 innocence preserved and time well employed1 give the greatest content4 ,mary in heaven desires nothing1 and has nothing to desire4 ,who of the saints in paradise1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 if asked whether he has committed sins1 can answer no1 except ,mary8#acbg ,it is certain1 as the holy ,council of ,trent has defined1#acbh that ,mary never committed any sin1 not even the least2 not only she has never lost divine grace--never bedimmed it1 but she has never kept it unemployed2 she never did an action that was not meritorious2 she never said a word1 or had a thought1 or drew a breath1 that was not directed to the greatest glory of ,god2 in a word1 she never relaxed or stopped one moment in her onward course to ,god2 she never lost any thing through negligence1 for she always corresponded with grace with all her power1 and loved ,god as much as she could love him4 ,oh ,lord1 she now says to him in heaven1 if ,i have not loved thee as much as thou dost merit1 at least ,i have loved thee as much as ,i could4 ,the graces of the saints were different in each1 as ,st4 ,paul said3 ,there are diversities of graces3 8,divisiones gratiarum sunt40 ,so that each of them corresponding with the grace received1 has rendered himself excellent in some virtue2 one in saving souls1 one in leading a life of penance1 one in suffering torments1 one in contemplation2 hence the holy ,church1 when celebrating their festivals1 says of each3 ,and there was not found the like to him3 8,non est inventus similis illi40 ,and as in their merits1 so are they in heaven different in glory3 ,for star differeth from star in glory3 8,stella enim a stella differt40#acbi ,the ,apostles differ from the martyrs1 confessors from virgins1 the innocents from penitents4 ,the holy ,virgin being full of all graces1 excelled each saint in every kind of virtue2 she was the apostle of the apostles2 she was queen of the martyrs1 for she suffered more than all of them2 she was the standard-bearer of the virgins1 the model of spouses2 she united in herself a perfect innocence with a perfect mortification2 in a word1 she united in her heart all the most heroic virtues which any saint has ever practised4 ,hence it was said of her3 8,the queen stood on thy right hand in gilded clothing1 surrounded with variety20#accj for all the graces1 privileges1 and merits of the other saints were found united in ,mary1 as the ,abbot of ,celles says3 ,the prerogatives of all the saints1 oh ,virgin1 thou hast united in thyself4#acca ,thus as the splendor of the sun exceeds the splendor of all the stars united1 so1 says ,st4 ,basil1 the glory of the divine mother exceeds that of all the blessed4#accb ,and ,st4 ,peter ,damian adds1 that as the light of the stars and of the moon disappears as if they were not1 at the rising of the sun1 thus ,mary so far obscures in glory the splendor of men and of angels1 that1 as it were1 these do not appear in heaven4#accc ,whence ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna agrees with ,st4 ,bernard in asserting that the blessed participate in part in the divine glory1 but that the ,virgin1 in a certain manner1 has been so enriched with it1 that it seems no creature could be more united with ,god than is ,mary4#accd ,which is confirmed by the blessed ,albertus ,magnus1 when he says that our queen contemplates ,god very near1 incomparably more so than all the other celestial spirits4#acce ,and the above-named ,st4 ,bernardine says1 moreover1 that as the other planets are illuminated by the sun1 so all the blessed receive greater light and joy from the sight of ,mary4#accf ,and in another place he likewise asserts1 that the mother of ,god1 ascending to heaven1 increased the joy of all its inhabitants4#accg ,hence ,st4 ,peter ,damian says1 that the blessed have no greater glory in heaven1 after ,god1 than to enjoy the presence of that most beautiful queen3 8,summa gloria est post ,deum te videre40#acch ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,next to ,god1 our greatest glory and our greatest joy is from ,mary4#acci ,let us rejoice1 then1 with ,mary1 in the exalted throne to which ,god has elevated her in heaven4 ,and let us rejoice also for our own sake1 since if our mother has ceased to be present with us1 by ascending in glory to heaven1 she has not ceased to be present with us in her affection4 ,nay1 being there nearer and more united to ,god1 she better knows our miseries1 and therefore pities them more1 and is better able to relieve us4 ,and wilt thou1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian asks1 oh blessed ,virgin1 because thou hast been so exalted in heaven1 be forgetful of us miserable creatures8#acdj ,no1 may ,god preserve us from the thought2 a heart so merciful cannot but pity our miseries which are so great4#acda ,if the pity of ,mary for us was so great when she lived upon earth1 much greater1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 is it in heaven1 where she reigns4#acdb ,meanwhile let us dedicate ourselves to the service of this queen1 to honor and love her as much as we can2 for she is not1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence says1 like other rulers1 who oppress their vassals with burdens and taxes1 but our queen enriches her servants with graces1 merits1 and rewards4#acdc ,and let us pray her with ,guerric the ,abbot3 ,oh mother of mercy1 thou who sittest so near to ,god1 queen of the world1 upon a throne so sublime1 satiate thyself with the glory of thy ,jesus1 and send to us thy servants the fragments that are left4 ,thou dost now enjoy the banquet of the ,lord2 we who are still on earth1 like the dogs under the table1 ask thy pity4#acdd ,,example4 ,father ,silvanus ,razzi relates1#acde that a devout ecclesiastic who had a tender love for our ,queen ,mary1 had heard her beauty so much extolled that he ardently desired once to see his ,lady1 and with humble prayers asked this favor4 ,the kind mother sent an angel to tell him that she would gratify him by allowing him to see her1 but on this condition1 namely1 that after seeing her he should become blind4 ,he accepted the condition4 ,on a certain day1 behold the blessed ,virgin appeared to him1 and that he might not become wholly blind1 he at first wished to look at her with one eye only2 but afterwards becoming enamored of the great beauty of ,mary1 he wished to contemplate her with both1 and then the mother of ,god disappeared4 ,deeply grieved at having lost the presence of his queen1 he could not cease weeping2 not indeed for his lost eye1 but that he had not seen her with both4 ,then he began to supplicate her anew1 that she would again appear to him1 and he would be willing to lose the other eye and become entirely blind4 8,happy and satisfied10 oh my ,lady1 he said1 8,i will remain1 if ,i become wholly blind for so good a cause1 which will leave me more enamored of thee1 and of thy beauty40 ,again ,mary was willing to satisfy him1 and again she consoled him with her presence2 but because this loving queen can never injure any one1 when she appeared to him the second time1 not only she did not take from him the other eye1 but she even restored to him the one he had lost4 ,,prayer4 ,oh great1 excellent1 and most glorious ,lady1 prostrate at the foot of thy throne1 we adore thee from this valley of tears4 ,we rejoice at the immense glory with which our ,lord has enriched thee4 ,now that thou art really queen of heaven and of earth1 ah1 do not forget us thy poor servants4 ,do not disdain from thy lofty throne1 from which thou dost reign1 to turn thy pitying eyes towards us miserable sinners4 ,as thou art so near the source of graces1 thou art able so much the more to obtain them for us4 ,in heaven thou seest more plainly our miseries1 and therefore thou must pity and relieve us the more4 ,make us on earth thy faithful servants1 that we may thus go to bless thee in paradise4 ,on this day1 when thou hast been made queen of the universe1 we also consecrate ourselves to thy service4 ,in thy great joy console us also this day1 by accepting us for thy vassals4 ,thou1 then1 art our mother4 ,ah1 most sweet mother6 most amiable mother6 thy altars are surrounded by many people who ask of thee1 one to be healed of some malady1 another to be relieved in his necessities1 one prays thee for a good harvest1 and another success in some litigation4 ,we ask of thee graces more pleasing to thy heart4 ,obtain for us that we may be humble1 detached from earth1 resigned to the divine will4 ,obtain for us the holy love of ,god1 a good death1 and paradise4 ,oh ,lady1 change us from sinners to saints4 ,perform this miracle that will redound more to thy honor1 than if thou didst restore sight to a thousand blind persons1 or raise a thousand from the dead4 ,thou art so powerful with ,god1 it is enough to say that thou art his mother1 his most beloved1 full of his grace2 what can he then deny thee8 ,oh most lovely queen1 we do not pretend to behold thee on the earth1 but we desire to go and see thee in paradise2 thou must obtain this for us4 ,thus we certainly hope4 ,amen1 amen4 ,,discourse ,,ix4 ,,on ,,the ,,dolors ,,of ,,mary4 ,mary was queen of martyrs1 because her martyrdom was longer and greater than that of all the martyrs4 ,who can have a heart so hard that it will not melt on hearing of a most lamentable event which once happened in the world8 ,there was a noble and holy mother who had but one only ,son2 and he was the most amiable that could be imagined1 innocent1 virtuous1 beautiful1 and most loving towards his mother2 so much so1 that he never had caused her the least displeasure1 but always had showed her all respect1 obedience1 and affection4 ,hence the mother had placed on this ,son all her earthly affections4 ,now what happened8 ,it happened that this ,son1 through envy1 was falsely accused by his enemies1 and the judge1 although he knew and confessed his innocence1 yet1 that he might not offend his enemies1 condemned him to an infamous death1 precisely as they had requested him to do4 ,and this poor mother had to suffer the affliction of seeing that amiable and beloved ,son so unjustly taken from her1 in the flower of his age1 by a barbarous death2 for he was made to die in torment1 drained of his blood before her own eyes1 in a public place1 upon an infamous gibbet4 ,devout souls1 what do you say8 ,is this case and this unhappy mother worthy of compassion8 ,already you know of whom ,i speak4 ,this ,son so cruelly slain was our loving ,redeemer1 ,jesus1 and this mother was the blessed ,virgin ,mary1 who1 for love of us1 was willing to see him offered up to the divine justice by the barbarity of men4 ,this great pain1 then1 which ,mary suffered for us--a pain which was more than a thousand deaths--merits our compassion and gratitude4 ,and if we can return nothing else for so much love1 at least let us for a little time to-day stop to consider the severity of the suffering by which ,mary became queen of martyrs2 for her great martyrdom exceeded in suffering that of all the martyrs1--being1 in the first place1 the longest martyrdom2 and in the second place1 the greatest martyrdom4 ,first ,point4--,as ,jesus is called ,king of sorrows and ,king of martyrs1 because he suffered in his life more than all the other martyrs1 so is also ,mary called1 with reason1 queen of the martyrs1 having merited this title by suffering the greatest martyrdom that could be suffered1 next to that of her ,son4 ,hence she was justly named by ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence1 the martyr of martyrs3 8,martyr martyrum40 ,and to her may be applied what ,isaias said3 ,he will crown thee with the crown of tribulation3 8,coronans coronabit te tribulatione40#acdf ,for that suffering itself which exceeded the suffering of all the other martyrs united1 was the crown by which she was shown to be the queen of martyrs4 ,that ,mary was a true martyr cannot be doubted1 as is proved by the ,carthusian1 ,pelbart1 ,catharinus1 and others2 for it is an established opinion that suffering sufficient to cause death1 constitutes martyrdom1 although death may not then take place4 ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist is revered as a martyr1 although he did not die in the caldron of boiling oil1 but came out more sound than he went in3 8,vegetior exiverit quam intraverit40#acdg ,it is sufficient to procure the glory of martyrdom1 says ,st4 ,thomas1 that any one should be obedient even to offer himself to death4#acdh ,mary was a martyr1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 not by the sword of the executioner1 but by the bitter sorrow of her heart4#acdi ,if her body was not wounded by the hand of the executioner1 yet her blessed heart was pierced by grief at the passion of her ,son2 a grief sufficient to cause her not only one1 but a thousand deaths4 ,and from this we shall see that ,mary was not only a true martyr1 but that her martyrdom surpassed that of all the other martyrs1 for it was a longer martyrdom1 and1 if ,i may thus express it1 all her life was a long death4 ,the passion of ,jesus commenced with his birth1 as ,st4 ,bernard says2#acej and ,mary also1 in all things like unto her ,son1 suffered her martyrdom through her whole life4 ,the name of ,mary1 among its other significations1 as the blessed ,albertus ,magnus affirms1 signifies a bitter sea3 8,mare amarum40 ,wherefore to her is applied the passage of ,jeremias3 ,great as the sea is thy destruction3 8,magna est enim velut mare contritio tua40#acea ,for as the sea is all salt and bitter1 thus the life of ,mary was always full of bitterness at the sight of the passion of the ,redeemer1 which was ever present to her4 ,it cannot be doubted that being more enlightened by the ,holy ,spirit than all the prophets1 she better comprehended than they the predictions concerning the ,messias1 which they recorded in their holy ,scriptures4 ,precisely this the angel revealed to ,st4 ,bridget4#aceb ,whence1 as the same angel declared1 the ,virgin knowing how much the incarnate ,word was to suffer for the salvation of men1 even before she became his mother1 and compassionating this innocent ,saviour1 who was to be so cruelly put to death for crimes not his own1 she commenced1 from that time1 her great martyrdom4#acec ,her grief afterwards increased immeasurably when she was made mother of this ,saviour4 ,so that at the painful thought of all the sufferings which her poor ,son was to endure1 she indeed experienced1 says ,rupert the ,abbot1 a long martyrdom--a martyrdom continued through her whole life4#aced ,and exactly this was signified by the vision which ,st4 ,bridget had at ,rome1 in the church of ,st4 ,mary ,major1 where the blessed ,virgin appeared to her with ,st4 ,simeon1 and an angel1 having a sword which was very long and red with blood2 by which was prefigured the long and bitter grief that pierced the heart of ,mary during her whole life4#acee ,whence the above-named ,rupert puts into the mouth of ,mary the following words3 ,oh redeemed souls and my beloved children1 do not pity me only for that hour in which ,i saw my dear ,jesus dying in my presence1 for the sword of sorrow1 predicted to me by ,simeon1 pierced my soul during my whole life2 when ,i was giving suck to my ,son1 when ,i was warming him in my arms1 ,i already saw the bitter death that awaited him2 consider then what long and cruel sorrows ,i must have endured4#acef ,wherefore ,mary might truly say in the words of ,david3 ,my life is wasted with grief and my years in sighs4#aceg ,my sorrow is continually before me3 8,dolor meus in conspectu meo semper40#aceh ,my life was wholly passed in grief and tears2 for my grief1 which was compassion for my beloved ,son1 never departed from before my eyes1 seeing1 as ,i did1 continually the sufferings and death that he was one day to endure4 ,the divine mother herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that even after the death and ascension of her ,son into heaven1 the memory of his passion1 whether she ate or worked1 was deeply impressed and ever recent in her tender heart4#acei ,taulerus therefore says1 that ,mary passed her whole life in perpetual sorrow2 for her heart was always occupied with thoughts of sadness and of suffering4#acfj ,so that time1 which usually mitigates the sorrows of the afflicted1 did not relieve ,mary2 nay1 time itself increased her sorrow1 for as ,jesus increased in years1 on the one hand1 he continually showed himself more lovely and amiable2 and on the other1 the time of his death was ever drawing nearer1 and grief at having to lose him on this earth1 continually increased in the heart of ,mary4 ,as the rose grows up among thorns1 said the angel to ,st4 ,bridget1 so the mother of ,god advanced in years in the midst of sufferings2 and as the thorns increase with the growth of the rose1 thus this rose selected by the ,lord1 ,mary1 as she increased in age1 was so much the more pierced by the thorns of her dolors4#acfa ,having considered the length of this suffering1 let us now pass on to the second point1 namely1 the consideration of its greatness4 ,point ,second4--,ah1 ,mary was not only queen of the martyrs1 because her martyrdom was longer than that of all others1 but also because it was the greatest of all4 ,but who can measure its greatness8 ,jeremias appears to be unable to find any one with whom he may compare this mother of sorrows1 when considering her great suffering at the death of her ,son4 8,to what shall ,i compare thee1 or to what shall ,i liken thee1 oh daughter of ,jerusalem2 for great as the sea is thy destruction2 who shall heal thee80#acfb ,wherefore ,cardinal ,hugo1 commenting on these words1 says3 ,oh blessed ,virgin1 as the bitterness of the sea exceeds all other bitterness1 so thy grief surpasses all other griefs4#acfc ,hence ,st4 ,anselm affirms1 that if ,god1 by a special miracle1 had not preserved the life of ,mary1 her grief would have been sufficient to cause her death at each moment of her life4#acfd ,and ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna even says1 that the grief of ,mary was so great1 that if it were divided among all men1 it would be enough to cause their immediate death4#acfe ,but let us consider the reasons why the martyrdom of ,mary was greater than that of all the martyrs4 ,in the first place1 it must be remembered that the martyrs suffered their martyrdom in the body1 by means of fire or steel2 ,mary suffered martyrdom in her soul1 as ,st4 ,simeon had before prophesied3 ,and thy own soul a sword shall pierce3 8,et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius30#acff as if the holy old man had said to her3 ,oh holy ,virgin1 the bodies of the other martyrs will be torn with iron1 but thou wilt be pierced and martyred in thy soul1 by the passion of thy own ,son4 ,now1 as the soul is more noble than the body1 so much greater was the suffering of ,mary than that of all the martyrs2 as ,jesus ,christ himself said to ,st4 ,catharine of ,sienna3 ,there is no comparison between the sufferings of the soul and the body3 8,inter dolorem anim et corporis nulla est comparatio40 ,whence the holy abbot ,arnold ,carnotensis says1 that whoever had been present on ,calvary at the great sacrifice of the immaculate ,lamb1 when he was dying on the cross1 would have there beheld two great altars1 one in the body of ,jesus1 the other in the heart of ,mary2 for there1 at the same time that the ,son sacrificed his body in death1 ,mary sacrificed her soul in compassion4#acfg ,moreover1 while the other martyrs1 as ,st4 ,antoninus says1#acfh suffered by sacrificing their own lives1 the blessed ,virgin suffered by sacrificing the life of her ,son1 whom she loved far more than her own life2 so that she not only suffered in spirit all that her ,son suffered in body1 but1 moreover1 the sight of the sufferings of her ,son brought more grief to her heart than if she had endured them all in her own person4 ,there can be no doubt that ,mary suffered in her heart all the tortures by which she saw her beloved ,jesus tormented4 ,every one knows that the sufferings of children are also the sufferings of their mothers1 when they are the witnesses of them4 ,st4 ,augustine1 considering the anguish that the mother of the ,macchabees experienced in witnessing the tortures which her sons endured1 says3 8,she suffered in them all1 because she loved them all2 and endured with her eyes what they all endured in the flesh40#acfi ,thus also was it with ,mary2 all those torments1 scourgings1 thorns1 nails1 and the cross1 which tortured the innocent flesh of ,jesus1 entered at the same time into the heart of ,mary to complete her martyrdom4 ,he in the flesh1 she in the heart suffered1 writes ,st4 ,amadeus3 8,ille carne1 illa corde passa est40#acgj ,so that1 as ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian says1 the heart of ,mary became as it were a mirror of the agonies of her ,son1 in which were seen the spitting1 the scourging1 the wounds1 and all that ,jesus suffered4#acga ,and ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that these wounds which were scattered all over the body of ,jesus1 were all united in the one heart of ,mary4#acgb ,the ,virgin1 then1 through compassion for her ,son1 was scourged1 crowned with thorns1 insulted1 and nailed to the cross4 ,whence the same saint considering ,mary on ,mt4 ,calvary1 where she was present with her dying ,son1 asks of her3 ,oh ,lady1 tell me where you then stood8 ,perhaps only at the foot of the cross6 ,might ,i not rather say thou wast on the cross itself crucified with thy ,son8#acgc ,and ,richard1 remarking on the words of the ,redeemer1 which he spoke by the mouth of ,isaias3 8,i have trodden the wine-press alone1 and of the ,gentiles there is not a man with me10#acgd adds3 ,oh ,lord1 thou dost rightly say that in the work of human redemption thou didst suffer alone1 and there was no man that could pity thee sufficiently2 but there was a woman with thee1 thy own mother1 who suffered in her heart whatever thou didst suffer in thy body4#acge ,but all this is saying only too little of the sorrows of ,mary2 for1 as ,i have before said1 she suffered more in seeing her beloved ,jesus suffer1 than if in her own person she had endured all the tortures and the death of her ,son4 ,erasmus has written1 speaking of parents1 generally1 that they feel the sufferings of their children more than their own4#acgf ,but this is not always true4 ,it was no doubt true of ,mary1 for she certainly loved her ,son and his life far more than herself1 and a thousand lives of her own4 ,therefore ,st4 ,amadeus well declares1 that the afflicted mother1 at the sorrowful sight of the agony of her beloved ,jesus1 suffered much more than if she herself had endured his whole passion4#acgg ,the reason is plain1 since1 as ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,the soul is more where it loves1 than where it lives3 8,anima magis est ubi amat1 quam ubi animat40 ,and the ,saviour himself had before said1 that our heart is where our treasure is4#acgh ,if ,mary1 then1 through love1 lived more in her ,son than in herself1 a much greater grief did she suffer at the death of her ,son1 than if the most cruel death in the world had been inflicted on her4 ,and here is to be considered the other circumstance that rendered the martyrdom of ,mary far greater than the sufferings of all the martyrs1 for in the passion of ,jesus she suffered much1 and she suffered without alleviation4 ,the martyrs suffered under the torments which their tyrants inflicted upon them1 but love to ,jesus rendered their pains sweet and delightful4 ,a ,st4 ,vincent suffered in his martyrdom2 he was tortured on the rack1 torn with hooks1 burned with red-hot iron plates2 but ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,one seemed to suffer1 and another to speak3 8,alius videbatur pati1 alius loqui40 ,the saint addressed the tyrant with such power1 and with such contempt of his torments1 that it seemed as if one ,vincent suffered and another ,vincent spoke1 so greatly did his ,god1 with the sweetness of his love1 comfort him in the midst of his sufferings4 ,a ,st4 ,boniface suffered2 his body was torn with irons1 sharp-pointed reeds were thrust between his nails and flesh1 melted lead was poured into his mouth1 and at the same time he could not often enough repeat3 ,i give thanks to thee1 oh ,jesus ,christ3 8,gratias tibi ago1 ,domine ,jesu ,christe40 ,a ,st4 ,mark and a ,st4 ,marcellinus suffered2 they were bound to a stake1 their feet pierced by nails1 and the tyrant appealed to them1 saying3 8,miserable beings1 look at your condition1 and save yourselves from these torments40 ,and they answered3 8,what torments1 what pains do you speak of8 ,we have never feasted with more joy than now1 when we are suffering with pleasure for the love of ,jesus ,christ40#acgi ,a ,st4 ,lawrence suffered1 but while he was burning on the gridiron1 the interior flame of love1 as ,st4 ,leo says1 was more powerful to cheer his soul1 than the flames without were to torture his body4#achj ,hence love made him so strong1 that he even braved the tyrant by saying to him3 ,tyrant1 if you wish to feed on my flesh1 a part is sufficiently cooked1 turn and eat3 8,assatum est jam1 versa et manduca40 ,but in such torture and lingering death1 how could the saint thus exult8 ,ah1 ,st4 ,augustine answers1 because1 intoxicated with the wine of divine love1 he felt neither torments nor death4#acha ,for the holy martyrs1 the more they loved ,jesus1 the less they felt torments and death1 and the sight alone of the sufferings of a crucified ,god was sufficient to console them4 ,but was not our afflicted mother1 also1 thus consoled by love for her ,son1 and the sight of his sufferings8 ,no1 for this very ,son who suffered1 was the whole cause of her grief2 and the love she bore him was her only1 and too cruel executioner2 for the whole martyrdom of ,mary consisted in seeing and pitying her innocent and beloved ,son1 who suffered so much4 ,therefore1 the more she loved him1 the more bitter and inconsolable was her sorrow4 8,great as the sea is thy destruction1 who shall heal thee80#achb ,ah1 queen of heaven1 love hath alleviated the sufferings of other martyrs1 and has healed their wounds2 but who has ever soothed thy great sorrow8 ,who has ever healed the cruel wounds of thy heart8 ,who will heal thee8 8,quis medebitur tui80 if that same ,son1 who could give thee consolation1 was by his sufferings the sole cause of thy sorrows1 and the love that thou didst bear him1 caused all thy martyrdom8 ,therefore1 whilst the other martyrs1 as ,diez remarks1 are all represented with the instrument of their passion--,st4 ,paul with the sword1 ,st4 ,andrew with the cross1 ,st4 ,lawrence with the gridiron--,mary is represented with her dead ,son in her arms1 because ,jesus himself alone was the instrument of her martyrdom1 by reason of the love which she bore him4 ,in a few words ,st4 ,bernard confirms all ,i have said3 ,with the other martyrs their great love soothed the anguish of their martyrdom2 but the more the blessed ,virgin loved1 so much the more she suffered1 and so much more cruel was her martyrdom4#achc ,it is certain that the greater is our love for a thing1 the greater pain we feel in losing it4 ,the loss of a brother certainly afflicts us more than the loss of a beast of burden2 and the death of a son1 more than that of a friend4 ,now ,cornelius ,lapide says1 that to comprehend how great was the grief of ,mary at the death of her ,son1 we should comprehend how great was the love she bore him4#achd ,but who can measure that love8 ,the blessed ,amadeus says1 that in the heart of ,mary two kinds of love to her ,jesus were united3 the supernatural love with which she loved him as her ,god1 and the natural love with which she loved him as her son2#ache so that1 of these two loves1 one only was formed1 but a love so immense that ,william of ,paris even said1 that the blessed ,virgin loved ,jesus to such a degree that a pure creature could not love him more4#achf ,and ,richard of ,st4 ,laurence says1 as there was no love like her love1 so there was no grief like her grief4#achg ,if1 therefore1 the love of ,mary for her ,son was immense1 immense1 also1 must have been her grief in losing him by death4 ,where love is greatest1 says blessed ,albertus ,magnus1 there grief is greatest3 8,ubi summus amor1 ibi summus dolor40 ,let us imagine1 then1 that the divine mother1 standing near her ,son dying upon the cross1 and justly applying to herself the words of ,jeremias1 says to us3 8,oh1 all ye that pass by the way attend1 and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow40#achh ,oh ye that are passing your lives upon this earth1 and have no pity for me1 stop a while to look upon me1 now that ,i behold this beloved ,son dying before my eyes2 and then see if among all who are afflicted and tormented1 there be sorrow like to my sorrow4 ,no1 answers ,st4 ,bonaventure1 there can be found no sorrow1 oh afflicted mother1 more bitter than thine1 for no son can be found more dear than thine4#achi ,ah1 there has never been in the world1 says ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian1 a son more worthy of love than ,jesus1 nor a mother who loved her son more than ,mary2 if1 then1 there has never been in the world a love like the love of ,mary1 how can there be a grief like the grief of ,mary8#acij ,therefore1 ,st4 ,ildephonsus did not hesitate to affirm1 that it was little to say that the sufferings of the ,virgin exceeded all the torments of the martyrs1 even were they united together4#acia ,and ,st4 ,anselm adds1 that the most cruel tortures inflicted upon the holy martyrs were light or nothing1 in comparison with the martyrdom of ,mary4#acib ,st4 ,basil likewise writes1 that as the sun surpasses in splendor all the other planets1 so ,mary in her sufferings exceeded the sufferings of all the other martyrs4#acic ,a certain learned author#acid concludes with an admirable sentiment1 saying1 that so great was the sorrow which this tender mother suffered in the passion of ,jesus1 that she alone could worthily compassionate the death of a ,god made man4 ,but ,st4 ,bonaventure1 addressing the blessed ,virgin1 says3 ,oh ,lady1 why hast thou wished to go and sacrifice thyself also on ,calvary8 ,was not a crucified ,god sufficient to redeem us1 that thou his mother wouldst be crucified also8#acie ,indeed1 the death of ,jesus was more than enough to save the world1 and also an infinity of worlds2 but this good mother wished1 for the love she bore us1 likewise to aid the cause of our salvation with the merits of the sorrows which she offered for us on ,calvary4 ,and1 therefore1 says the blessed ,albertus ,magnus1 as we are indebted to ,jesus for what he suffered for love of us1 we are also indebted to ,mary for the martyrdom which she1 in the death of her ,son1 voluntarily suffered for our salvation4#acif ,i have added voluntarily1 since1 as the angel revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 this our so merciful and kind mother was willing to suffer any pain1 rather than to see souls unredeemed or left in their former perdition4#acig ,it may be said that this was the only consolation of ,mary in the midst of her great sorrow at the passion of her ,son1 to see the lost world redeemed by his death1 and men1 who were his enemies1 reconciled with ,god4 ,grieving1 she rejoiced1 says ,simon da ,cassia1 because the sacrifice was offered for the redemption of all1 by which wrath was appeased4#acih ,such love as that of ,mary merits our gratitude1 and let us show our gratitude by meditating upon and compassionating her sorrows4 ,but of this she complained to ,st4 ,bridget1 that very few pitied her1 and most lived forgetful of her sorrows4 8,i look around upon all who are in the world1 if perchance there may be any to pity me1 and meditate upon my sorrows1 and truly ,i find very few4 ,therefore1 my daughter1 though ,i am forgotten by many1 at least do not thou forget me2 behold my anguish1 and imitate1 as far as thou canst1 my grief40#acii ,in order to understand how much the ,virgin is pleased by our remembrance of her dolors1 it is sufficient to relate1 that in the year #abci1 she appeared to seven of her servants1 who then became the founders of the order of the ,servants of ,mary1 with a black garment in her hand1 and told them that if they wished to please her1 they should often meditate upon her dolors2 and therefore she wished1 in memory of them1 that they would hereafter wear that garment of mourning4#adjj ,and ,jesus ,christ himself revealed to the blessed ,veronica ,binasco1 that he takes more pleasure1 as it were1 in seeing his mother compassionated than himself2 for thus he addressed her3 8,my daughter1 the tears shed for my passion are dear to me2 but loving with so great love my mother ,mary1 the meditation of the dolors which she suffered at my death is more dear to me40#adja ,wherefore the graces are very great which ,jesus promises to those who are devoted to the dolors of ,mary4 ,pelbart relates1#adjb that it was revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 that ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist1 after the blessed ,virgin was assumed into heaven1 desired to see her again4 ,this favor was granted him2 his dear mother appeared to him1 and ,jesus ,christ with her2 and he then heard ,mary asking of her ,son some peculiar grace for those who were devoted to her dolors2 and ,jesus promised her for them the four following special graces3 #ast4 ,that those who invoke the divine mother by her sorrows1 before death will merit to obtain true repentance of all their sins4 #b;d4 ,that he will protect such in their tribulations1 especially at the hour of death4 #c;d4 ,that he will impress upon them the memory of his passion1 and that they shall have their reward for it in heaven4 #dth4 ,that he will commit such devout servants to the hands of ,mary1 that she may dispose of them according to her pleasure1 and obtain for them all the graces she desires4 ,in proof of this1 let us see in the following example how devotion to the dolors of ,mary may aid our eternal salvation4 ,,example4 ,we read in the revelations of ,st4 ,bridget1#adjc that there was once a lord as noble by birth as he was low and sinful in his habits4 ,he had given himself by an express compact as a slave to the devil1 and had served him for sixty successive years1 leading such a life as may easily be imagined1 and never approaching the sacraments4 ,now1 this prince was about to die1 and ,jesus ,christ1 in his compassion1 commanded ,st4 ,bridget to tell his confessor to visit him1 and exhort him to make his confession4 ,the confessor went1 and the sick man told him that he had no need of a confessor1 for that he had often made his confession4 ,the confessor visited him a second time1 and that poor slave of hell persevered in his obstinate determination not to make his confession4 ,jesus again directed the saint to tell the confessor to go to him again4 ,he obeyed1 and this third time related to him the revelation made to the saint1 and that he had returned so many times because the ,lord1 who desired to show him mercy1 had directed him to do so4 ,on hearing this1 the dying man was moved1 and began to weep4 ,but how1 he exclaimed1 can ,i be pardoned1 when for sixty years ,i have served the devil1 made myself his slave1 and have laden my soul with innumerable sins8 8,son10 answered the father1 encouraging him1 8do not doubt3 if you repent of them1 in the name of ,god ,i promise you pardon40 ,then beginning to gain confidence1 he said to the confessor3 8,father1 ,i believed myself lost1 and despaired of salvation2 but now ,i feel a sorrow for my sins1 which encourages me to trust2 and as ,god has not yet abandoned me1 ,i wish to make my confession40 ,and in fact on that day he made his confession four times1 with great sorrow2 the next day he received communion1 and on the sixth he died1 contrite and entirely resigned4 ,after his death1 ,jesus ,christ further revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that this sinner was saved1 and was in purgatory1 and that he had been saved by the intercession of the ,virgin1 his mother2 for the deceased1 although he had led so sinful a life1 yet had always preserved devotion to her dolors1 whenever he remembered them he pitied her4 ,,prayer4 ,oh my afflicted mother6 queen of martyrs and of sorrows1 thou hast shed so many tears for thy ,son1 who died for my salvation1 and yet what will thy tears avail me1 if ,i am lost8 ,by the merits1 then1 of thy dolors1 obtain for me a true sorrow for my sins1 and a true amendment of life1 with a perpetual and tender compassion for the passion of ,jesus and thy own sufferings4 ,and if ,jesus and thou1 being so innocent1 have suffered so much for me1 obtain for me that ,i1 who am deserving of hell1 may also suffer something for love of you4 ,oh ,lady1 ,i will say to thee with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 if ,i have offended thee1 wound my heart in punishment2 if ,i have served thee1 now ,i beg to be wounded as a reward4 ,it is a shameful thing to see our ,lord ,jesus wounded1 and thee wounded with him1 and ,i uninjured4#adjd ,finally1 oh my mother1 by the grief thou didst experience on seeing thy ,son before thy eyes bow his head and expire upon the cross1 ,i entreat of thee to obtain for me a good death4 ,ah1 do not cease1 oh advocate of sinners1 to assist my afflicted and struggling soul in that great passage that it has to make into eternity4 ,and1 because at that time it may easily be the case that ,i shall have lost the use of speech with which to invoke thy name1 and that of ,jesus1 who are all my hope1 therefore ,i now invoke thy ,son and thee to succor me at that last moment1 and ,i say3 ,jesus and ,mary1 to you ,i commend my soul4 ,amen4 ,,reflections ,,on ,,each ,,of ,,the ,,seven ,,dolors ,,of ,,mary ,,in ,,particular4 ,,on ,,the ,,first ,,dolor4 ,,of ,,st4 ,,simeon',s ,,prophecy4 ,in this valley of tears1 every man is born to weep1 and every one must suffer those afflictions that daily befall him4 ,but how much more miserable would life be1 if every one knew also the future evils which are to afflict him6 ,too unhappy would he be1 says ,seneca1 whose fate was such4#adje ,the ,lord exercises this compassion towards us1 namely1 that he does not make known to us the crosses that await us2 that if we are to suffer them1 at least we may suffer them only once4 ,but he did not exercise this compassion with ,mary1 who1 because ,god wished her to be queen of dolors1 and in all things like his ,son1 had to see always before her eyes1 and to suffer continually all the sorrows that awaited her2 and those were the sufferings of the passion and death of her beloved ,jesus4 ,for ,st4 ,simeon in the temple1 after having received the divine child in his arms1 predicted to her that this child was to be the mark for all the opposition and persecution of men3 8,set for a sign which shall be contradicted20 and that therefore the sword of sorrow should pierce her soul3 8,and thy own soul a sword shall pierce40#adjf ,the holy ,virgin herself said to ,st4 ,matilda1 that at this announcement of ,st4 ,simeon all her joy was changed into sorrow4#adjg ,for1 as it was revealed to ,st4 ,theresa1 the blessed mother1 although she knew before this that the life of her ,son would be sacrificed for the salvation of the world1 yet she then learned more particularly and distinctly the sufferings and cruel death that awaited her poor ,son4 ,she knew that he would be contradicted in all things4 ,contradicted in doctrine2 for instead of being believed1 he would be esteemed a blasphemer for teaching that he was the ,son of ,god1 as the impious ,caiaphas declared him to be1 saying3 8,he hath blasphemed1 he is guilty of death40#adjh ,contradicted in his reputation1 for he was noble1 of royal lineage1 and was despised as a peasant3 8,is not this the carpenter's son80#adji 8,is not this the carpenter1 the son of ,mary80#adaj ,he was wisdom itself1 and was treated as an ignorant man3 8,how doth this man know letters1 having never learned80#adaa ,as a false prophet3 8,and they blindfolded him and smote his face 444 saying3 ,prophesy who is this that struck thee40#adab ,he was treated as a madman3 8,he is mad1 why hear you him80#adac ,as a wine-bibber1 a glutton1 and a friend of sinners3 8,behold a man that is a glutton1 and a drinker of wine1 a friend of publicans and sinners40#adad ,as a sorcerer3 8,by the prince of devils he casteth out devils40#adae ,as a heretic and possessed person3 8,do we not say well of thee1 that thou art a ,samaritan1 and hast a devil80#adaf ,in a word1 ,jesus was considered as so bad and notorious a man1 that no trial was necessary to condemn him1 as the ,jews said to ,pilate3 8,if he were not a malefactor1 we would not have delivered him up to thee40#adag ,he was contradicted in his soul1 for even his eternal ,father1 in order to give place to the divine justice1 contradicted him by not wishing to hear him when he prayed to him1 saying3 8,father1 if it be possible1 let this chalice pass from me20#adah and abandoned him to fear1 weariness1 and sadness1 so that our afflicted ,lord said3 8,my soul is sorrowful even unto death40#adai ,his interior suffering even caused him to sweat blood4 ,contradicted and persecuted1 in a word1 in his body and his life1 for he was tortured in all his sacred members3 in his hands1 in his feet1 in his face1 in his head1 in his whole body1 till1 drained to the last drop of his blood1 he died an ignominious death on the cross4 ,when ,david1 in the midst of all his pleasures and royal grandeur1 heard from ,nathan the prophet that his son should die--8,the child that is born to thee shall surely die0#adbj--;he could find no peace1 but wept1 fasted1 and slept upon the ground4 ,mary received with the greatest calmness the announcement that her ,son should die1 and peacefully continued to submit to it2 but what grief she must have continually suffered1 seeing this amiable ,son always near her1 hearing from him words of eternal life1 and beholding his holy demeanor4 ,abraham suffered great affliction during the three days he passed with his beloved ,isaac1 after he knew that he was to lose him4 ,oh ,god6 not for three days1 but for thirty-three years1 ,mary had to endure a like sorrow4 ,like1 do ,i say8 ,a sorrow as much greater as the ,son of ,mary was more lovely than the son of ,abraham4 ,the blessed ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1#adba that while she lived on the earth there was not an hour when this grief did not pierce her soul3 ,as often1 she continued1 as ,i looked upon my ,son1 as often as ,i wrapped him in his swaddling clothes1 as often as ,i saw his hands and his feet1 so often was my soul overwhelmed as it were with a fresh sorrow1 because ,i considered how he would be crucified4#adbb ,rupert the ,abbot1 contemplating ,mary1 while she was suckling her ,son1 imagines her addressing him in these words3 8,a bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me1 he shall abide between my breasts40#adbc ,ah1 my ,son1 ,i clasp thee in my arms1 because thou art so dear to me2 but the dearer thou art to me1 the more thou dost become to me a bundle of myrrh and of sorrow1 when ,i think of thy sufferings4 ,mary1 says ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna1#adbd considered that the strength of the saints was to pass through death2 the beauty of paradise to be deformed2 the ,lord of the universe to be bound as a criminal2 the ,creator of all things to be livid with stripes2 the ,judge of all to be condemned2 the glory of heaven despised2 the ,king of kings to be crowned with thorns1 and treated as a mock king4 ,father ,engelgrave writes1 that it was revealed to the same ,st4 ,bridget1 that the afflicted mother1 knowing all that her ,son would have to suffer1 when suckling him1 thought of the gall and vinegar2 when she swathed him1 of the cords with which he was to be bound2 when she bore him in her arms1 she thought of him being nailed to the cross2 and when he slept1 she thought of his death4#adbe ,as often as she put on him his clothes1 she reflected that they would one day be torn from him1 that he might be crucified2 and when she beheld his sacred hands and feet1 and thought of the nails that were to pierce them1 as ,mary said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,my eyes filled with tears1 and my heart was tortured with grief40#adbf ,the evangelist says1 that as ,jesus ,christ advanced in years1 so also he advanced in wisdom and in grace with ,god and men4#adbg ,that is1 he advanced in wisdom and in grace before men1 or in their estimation2 and before ,god1 according to ,st4 ,thomas1#adbh inasmuch as all his works would continually have availed to increase his merit1 if from the beginning grace in its complete fulness had not been conferred on him by virtue of the hypostatic union4 ,but if ,jesus advanced in the esteem and love of others1 how much more did he advance in ,mary's love6 ,but1 oh ,god1 as love increased in her1 the more increased in her the grief of having to lose him by a death so cruel4 ,and the nearer the time of the passion of her ,son approached1 with so much greater pain did that sword of sorrow1 predicted by ,st4 ,simeon1 pierce the heart of the mother2 precisely this the angel revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 saying3 8,that sword of sorrow was every hour drawing nearer to the ,virgin as the time for the passion of her ,son drew nearer40#adbi ,if1 then1 ,jesus our ,king and his most holy mother did not refuse1 for love of us1 to suffer during their whole life such cruel pains1 there is no reason that we should complain if we suffer a little4 ,jesus crucified once appeared to sister ,magdalene ,orsini1 a ,dominican nun1 when she had been long suffering a great trial1 and encouraged her to remain with him on the cross with that sorrow that was afflicting her4 ,sister ,magdalene answered him complainingly3 8,oh ,lord1 thou didst suffer on the cross only three hours1 but it is more than three years that ,i have been suffering this cross40 ,then the ,redeemer replied3 8,ah6 ignorant soul1 what dost thou say8 ,i1 from the first moment ,i was conceived1 suffered in heart what ,i afterwards suffered on the cross40 ,if1 then1 we too suffer any affliction and complain1 let us imagine that ,jesus and his mother ,mary are saying to us the same words4 ,,example4 ,father ,roviglione1 of the ,company of ,jesus1 relates1#adcj that a certain youth practised the devotion of visiting every day an image of the sorrowful ,mary1 in which she was represented with seven swords piercing her heart4 ,one night the unhappy youth fell into mortal sin4 ,going next morning to visit the image1 he saw in the heart of the blessed ,virgin not only seven1 but eight swords4 ,as he stood gazing at this1 he heard a voice saying to him1 that his sin had added the eighth sword to the heart of ,mary4 ,this softened his hard heart2 he went immediately to confession1 and through the intercession of his advocate1 recovered the divine grace4 ,,prayer4 ,oh my blessed mother1 not one sword only1 but as many swords as ,i have committed sins have ,i added to those seven in thy heart4 ,ah1 my ,lady1 thy sorrows are not due to thee who art innocent1 but to me who am guilty4 ,but since thou hast wished to suffer so much for me1 ah1 by thy merits obtain for me great sorrow for my sins1 and patience under the trials of this life1 which will always be light in comparison with my demerits1 for ,i have often merited hell4 ,amen4 ,,on ,,the ,,second ,,dolor4 ,,of ,,the ,,flight ,,of ,,jesus ,,into ,,egypt4 ,as the stag1 wounded by an arrow1 carries the pain with him wherever he goes1 because he carries with him the arrow that has wounded him2 thus the divine mother1 after the prophecy of ,st4 ,simeon1 as we saw in our consideration of the first grief1 always carried her sorrow with her by the continual remembrance of the passion of her ,son4 ,ailgrin1 explaining this passage of the ,canticles1 8,the hairs of thy head as the purple of the king bound in the channel10#adca says3 ,these hairs of ,mary were her continual thoughts of the passion of ,jesus1 which kept always before her eyes the blood which was one day to flow from his wounds4 ,thy mind1 oh ,mary1 and thy thoughts tinged in the blood of the passion of our ,lord1 were always moved with sorrow as if they actually saw the blood flowing from his wounds4#adcb ,thus her ,son himself was that arrow in the heart of ,mary1 who1 the more worthy of love he showed himself to her1 always wounded her the more with the sorrowful thought that she should lose him by so cruel a death4 ,let us now pass to the consideration of the second sword of sorrow which wounded ,mary1 in the flight of her infant ,jesus into ,egypt from the persecution of ,herod4 ,herod having heard that the expected ,messiah was born1 foolishly feared that the new-born ,king would deprive him of his kingdom4 ,hence ,st4 ,fulgentius1 reproving him for his folly1 thus says3 8,why1 oh ,herod1 art thou thus disturbed8 ,this ,king who is born has not come to conquer kings by arms1 but to subjugate them1 in a wonderful manner1 by his death40#adcc ,the impious ,herod1 therefore1 waited to learn from the holy magi where the ,king was born1 that he might take from him his life2 but finding himself deceived by the magi1 he ordered all the infants that could be found in the neighborhood of ,bethlehem to be put to death4 ,but an angel appeared in a dream to ,st4 ,joseph1 and said to him3 8,arise1 and take the child and his mother1 and fly into ,egypt40#adcd ,according to ,gerson1 immediately1 on that very night1 ,joseph made this command known to ,mary2 and taking the infant ,jesus1 they commenced their journey1 as it seems clearly from the ,gospel itself3 8,who arose and took the child and his mother by night1 and retired into ,egypt40 ,oh ,god1 as blessed ,albertus ,magnus says in the name of ,mary1 must he1 then1 who came to save men flee from men8 8,debet fugere qui salvator est mundi80#adce ,and then the afflicted ,mary knew that already the prophecy of ,simeon1 regarding her ,son1 was beginning to be verified3 8,he is set for a sign which shall be contradicted40#adcf ,seeing that scarcely is he born1 when he is persecuted to death4 ,what suffering it must have been to the heart of ,mary1 writes ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 to hear the tidings of that cruel exile of herself with her ,son6 ,flee from thy friends to strangers1 from the holy temple of the only true ,god1 to the temples of demons4 ,what greater tribulation than that a new-born child1 clinging to its mother's bosom1 should be forced to fly with the mother herself6#adcg ,every one can imagine how much ,mary must have suffered on this journey4 ,it was a long distance to ,egypt4 ,authors generally agree with ,barrada#adch that it was four hundred miles2 so that at least it was a journey of thirty days4 ,the way1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure describes it1 was rough1 unknown1 through woods1 and little frequented4#adci ,the season was winter1 and therefore they had to travel in snow1 rain1 wind1 and storms1 and through bad and difficult roads4 ,mary was then fifteen years of age1 a delicate virgin1 unaccustomed to such journeys4 ,they had no servant to attend them4 ,joseph and ,mary1 said ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus1 had no man-servant nor maid-servant2 they were themselves both masters and servants4#addj ,oh ,god1 how piteous a spectacle it was to see that tender ,virgin1 with that newly born infant in her arms1 wandering through this world6 ,st4 ,bonaventure asks1 ,where did they obtain food8 ,where did they rest at night8 ,how were they lodged8#adda ,what other food could they have1 than a piece of hard bread which ,joseph brought with him or begged in charity8 ,where could they have slept 7particularly in the two hundred miles of desert through which they travelled1 where1 as authors relate1 there were neither houses nor inns7 except on the sand1 or under some tree in the wood1 in the open air1 exposed to robbers1 or those wild beasts with which ,egypt abounded8 ,ah1 if any one had met these three greatest personages of the world1 what would he have believed them to be but three poor1 roving beggars8 ,they lived in ,egypt1 according to ,brocard and ,jansenius1 in a district called ,maturea1 though1 according to ,st4 ,anselm1 they dwelt in ,heliopolis1 first called ,memphis1 and now ,cairo4 ,and here let us consider the great poverty they must have suffered for the seven years they were there1 as ,st4 ,antoninus1 ,st4 ,thomas1 and others assert4 ,they were foreigners1 unknown1 without revenues1 without money1 without kindred2 hardly were they able to support themselves by their humble labors4 ,as they were destitute1 says ,st4 ,basil1 it is manifest what efforts they must have made to obtain there the necessaries of life4#addb ,moreover1 ,landolph of ,saxony has written1 and let it be repeated for the consolation of the poor1 that so great was the poverty of ,mary there1 that sometimes she had not so much as a morsel of bread1 when her ,son1 forced by hunger1 asked it of her4#addc ,st4 ,matthew also relates that when ,herod was dead1 the angel again appeared1 in a dream1 to ,st4 ,joseph1 and directed him to return to ,judea4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 speaking of this return1 considers the greater pain of the blessed ,virgin1 on account of the sufferings which ,jesus must have endured in that journey1 having arrived at about the age of seven years--an age1 says the saint1 when he was so large that he could not be carried1 and so small that he could not go without assistance4#addd ,the sight1 then1 of ,jesus and ,mary wandering like fugitives through this world1 teaches us that we should also live as pilgrims on the earth1 detached from the goods which the world offers us1 as having soon to leave them and go to eternity4 8,we have not here a lasting city1 but seek one that is to come40#adde ,to which ,st4 ,augustine adds3 ,thou art a stranger1 thou givest a look1 and then passest on3 8,hospes es1 vides et transis40 ,it also teaches us to embrace crosses1 for we cannot live in this world without a cross4 ,the blessed ,veronica da ,binasco1 an ,augustinian nun1 was carried in spirit to accompany ,mary and the infant ,jesus in this journey to ,egypt1 and at the end of it the divine mother said to her3 8,child1 hast thou seen through what difficulties we have reached this place8 ,now learn that no one receives graces without suffering40 ,he who wishes to feel least the sufferings of this life1 must take ,jesus and ,mary with him3 8,accipe puerum et matrem ejus40 ,for him who lovingly bears in his heart this ,son and this mother1 all sufferings become light1 and even sweet and dear4 ,let us then love them1 let us console ,mary by receiving her ,son within our hearts1 whom1 even now1 men continue to persecute with their sins4 ,,example4 ,one day the most holy ,mary appeared to the blessed ,colletta1 a ,franciscan nun1 and showed her the infant ,jesus in a basin1 torn in pieces1 and then said to her3 8,thus sinners continually treat my ,son1 renewing his death and my sorrows2 oh1 my daughter1 pray for them that they may be converted40#addf ,similar to this is that other vision which appeared to the venerable sister ,jane1 of ,jesus and ,mary1 also a ,franciscan nun4 ,as she was one day meditating on the infant ,jesus1 persecuted by ,herod1 she heard a great noise1 as of armed people1 who were pursuing some one2 and then appeared before her a most beautiful child1 who was fleeing in great distress1 and cried to her3 8,my ,jane1 help me1 hide me2 ,i am ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,i am flying from sinners who wish to kill me1 and who persecute me as ,herod did3 do thou save me40#addg ,,prayer4 ,then1 oh ,mary1 even after thy ,son hath died by the hands of men who persecuted him unto death1 have not these ungrateful men yet ceased from persecuting him with their sins1 and continuing to afflict thee1 oh mother of sorrows8 ,and ,i also1 oh ,god1 have been one of these4 ,ah1 my most sweet mother1 obtain for me tears to weep for such ingratitude4 ,and then1 by the sufferings thou didst experience in thy journey to ,egypt1 assist me in the journey that ,i am making to eternity1 that at length ,i may go to unite with thee in loving my persecuted ,saviour1 in the country of the blessed4 ,amen4 ,,on ,,the ,,third ,,dolor4 ,,of ,,the ,,loss ,,of ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,temple4 ,st4 ,james the ,apostle has said1 that our perfection consists in the virtue of patience4 8,and patience hath a perfect work1 that you may be perfect and entire1 failing in nothing40#addh ,the ,lord having then given us the ,virgin ,mary as an example of perfection1 it was necessary that she should be laden with sorrows1 that in her we might admire and imitate her heroic patience4 ,the dolor that we are this day to consider is one of the greatest which our divine mother suffered during her life1 namely1 the loss of her ,son in the temple4 ,he who is born blind is little sensible of the pain of being deprived of the light of day2 but to him who has once had sight and enjoyed the light1 it is a great sorrow to find himself deprived of it by blindness4 ,and thus it is with those unhappy souls who1 being blinded by the mire of this earth1 have but little knowledge of ,god1 and therefore scarcely feel pain at not finding him4 ,on the contrary1 the man who1 illuminated with celestial light1 has been made worthy to find by love the sweet presence of the highest good1 oh ,god1 how he mourns when he finds himself deprived of it6 ,from this we can judge how painful must have been to ,mary1 who was accustomed to enjoy constantly the sweet presence of ,jesus1 that third sword which wounded her1 when she lost him in ,jerusalem1 and was separated from him for three days4 ,in the second chapter of ,st4 ,luke we read that the blessed ,virgin1 being accustomed to visit the temple every year at the paschal season1 with ,joseph her spouse and ,jesus1 once went when he was about twelve years old1 and ,jesus remained in ,jerusalem1 though she was not aware of it1 for she thought he was in company with others4 ,when she reached ,nazareth she inquired for her ,son1 and not finding him there1 she returned immediately to ,jerusalem to seek him1 but did not succeed until after three days4 ,now let us imagine what distress that afflicted mother must have experienced in those three days in which she was searching everywhere for her ,son1 with the spouse in the ,canticles3 8,have you seen him whom my soul loveth80#addi ,but she could hear no tidings of him4 ,oh1 with how much greater tenderness must ,mary1 overcome with fatigue1 and yet not having found her beloved ,son1 have repeated those words of ,ruben1 concerning his brother ,joseph3 ,the boy doth not appear1 and whither shall ,i go8 8,puer non comparet1 et ego quo ibo80 ,my ,jesus doth not appear1 and ,i know not what to do that ,i may find him2 but where shall ,i go without my treasure8 ,weeping continually1 she repeated during these three days with ,david3 8,my tears have been my bread day and night1 whilst it is said to me daily1 ,where is thy ,god80#adej ,wherefore ,pelbart with reason says1 that during those nights the afflicted mother had no rest1 but wept and prayed without ceasing to ,god1 that he would enable her to find her ,son4#adea ,and1 according to ,st4 ,bernard1 often during that time did she repeat to her ,son himself the words of the spouse3 8,show me where thou feedest1 where thou liest in the mid-day1 lest ,i begin to wander40#adeb ,my ,son1 tell me where thou art1 that ,i may no longer wander1 seeking thee in vain4 ,some writers assert1 and not without reason1 that this dolor was not only one of the greatest1 but that it was the greatest and most painful of all4 ,for in the first place1 ,mary in her other dolors had ,jesus with her2 she suffered when ,st4 ,simeon uttered the prophecy in the temple2 she suffered in the flight to ,egypt1 but always with ,jesus2 but in this dolor she suffered at a distance from ,jesus1 without knowing where he was3 8,and the light of my eyes itself is not with me40#adec ,thus1 with tears1 she then exclaimed3 ,ah1 the light of my eyes1 my dear ,jesus1 is no more with me2 he is far from me1 ,i know not where he is6 ,origen says1 that through the love which this holy mother bore her ,son1 she suffered more at this loss of ,jesus than any martyr ever suffered at death4#aded ,ah1 how long were these three days for ,mary6 they appeared three ages4 ,very bitter days1 for there was none to comfort her4 ,and who1 she exclaimed with ,jeremias1 who can console me if he who could console me is far from me8 and therefore my eyes are not satisfied with weeping3 8,therefore do ,i weep1 and my eyes run down with water1 because the comforter is far from me40#adee ,and with ,tobias she repeated3 8,what manner of joy shall be to me who sit in darkness1 and see not the light of heaven80#adef ,secondly4--,mary well understood the cause and end of the other dolors1 namely1 the redemption of the world1 the divine will2 but in this she did not know the cause of the absence of her ,son4 ,the sorrowful mother was grieved to find ,jesus withdrawn from her1 for her humility1 says ,lanspergius1 made her consider herself unworthy to remain with him any longer1 and attend upon him on earth1 and have the care of such a treasure4#adeg ,and perhaps1 she may have thought within herself1 ,i have not served him as ,i ought4 ,perhaps ,i have been guilty of some neglect1 and therefore he has left me4 ,they sought him1 lest he perchance had left them1 as ,origen has said4#adeh ,certainly there is no greater grief for a soul that loves ,god than the fear of having displeased him4 ,and therefore ,mary never complained in any other sorrow but this1 lovingly expostulating with ,jesus after she found him3 8,son1 why hast thou done so to us8 ,thy father and ,i have sought thee sorrowing40#adei ,by these words she did not wish to reprove ,jesus1 as the heretics blasphemously assert1 but only to make known to him the grief she had experienced during his absence from her1 on account of the love she bore him4 ,it was not a rebuke1 says blessed ,denis the ,carthusian1 but a loving complaint3 8,non erat increpatio1 sed amorosa conquestio40 ,finally1 this sword so cruelly pierced the heart of the ,virgin1 that the blessed ,benvenuta1 desiring one day to share the pain of the holy mother in this dolor1 and praying her to obtain for her this grace1 ,mary appeared to her with the infant ,jesus in her arms2 but while ,benvenuta was enjoying the sight of that most beautiful child1 in one moment she was deprived of it4 ,so great was her sorrow that she had recourse to ,mary1 to implore her pity that it should not make her die of grief4 ,the holy ,virgin appeared to her again three days after1 and said to her3 8,now learn1 oh my daughter1 that thy sorrow is but a small part of that which ,i suffered when ,i lost my ,son40#adfj ,this sorrow of ,mary ought1 in the first place1 to serve as a comfort to those souls who are desolate and do not enjoy the sweet presence they once enjoyed of their ,lord4 ,they may weep1 but let them weep in peace1 as ,mary wept the absence of her ,son4 ,let them take courage1 and not fear that on this account they have lost the divine favor1 for ,god himself said to ,st4 ,theresa3 8,no one is lost without knowing it2 and no one is deceived without wishing to be deceived40 ,if the ,lord departs from the sight of that soul who loves him1 he does not therefore depart from the heart4 ,he often hides himself that she may seek him with greater desire and love4 ,but those who would find ,jesus must seek him1 not amid the delights and pleasures of the world1 but amid crosses and mortifications1 as ,mary sought him3 ,we sought thee sorrowing1 as she said to her ,son3 8,dolentes qurebamus te40 ,learn from ,mary to seek ,jesus1 says ,origen3 8,disce a ,maria qurere ,jesum40 ,moreover1 in this world we should seek no other good than ,jesus4 ,job was not unhappy when he lost all that he possessed on earth2 riches1 children1 health1 and honors1 and even descended from a throne to a dunghill2 but because he had ,god with him1 even then he was happy4 ,st4 ,augustine1 speaking of him1 says3 ,he had lost all that ,god had given him1 but he had ,god himself3 8,perdiderat illa qu dederat ,deus1 sed habebat ipsum ,deum40 ,unhappy and truly wretched are those souls who have lost ,god4 ,if ,mary wept for the absence of her ,son for three days1 how ought sinners to weep who have lost divine grace1 to whom ,god says3 8,you are not my people1 and ,i will not be yours40#adfa ,for sin does this1 namely1 it separates the soul from ,god3 8,your iniquities have divided between you and your ,god40#adfb ,hence1 if even sinners possess all the goods of earth and have lost ,god1 every thing on earth becomes vanity and affliction to them1 as ,solomon confessed3 8,behold1 all is vanity and vexation of spirit40#adfc ,but as ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,the greatest misfortune of these poor blind souls is1 that if they lose an ox1 they do not fail to go in search of it2 if they lose a sheep1 they use all diligence to find it2 if they lose a beast of burden1 they cannot rest2 but they lose the highest good1 which is ,god1 and yet they eat and drink1 and take their rest4#adfd ,,example4 ,we read in the ,annual ,letters of the ,society of ,jesus1 that in ,india1 a young man who was just leaving his apartment in order to commit sin heard a voice1 saying3 8,stop1 where are you going80 ,he turned round and saw an image1 in relief1 of the sorrowful ,mary1 who drew out the sword which was in her breast1 and said to him3 8,take this dagger and pierce my heart rather than wound my ,son with this sin40 ,at the sound of these words the youth prostrated himself on the ground1 and with deep contrition1 bursting into tears1 he asked and obtained from ,god and the ,virgin pardon of his sin4 ,,prayer4 ,oh blessed ,virgin1 why art thou afflicted1 seeking thy lost ,son8 ,is it because thou dost not know where he is8 ,but dost thou not know that he is in thy heart8 ,dost thou not see that he is feeding among the lilies8 ,thou thyself hast said it3 8,my beloved to me and ,i to him who feedeth among the lilies40#adfe ,these1 thy humble1 pure1 and holy thoughts and affections1 are all lilies1 that invite the divine spouse to dwell with thee4 ,ah1 ,mary1 dost thou sigh after ,jesus1 thou who lovest none but ,jesus8 ,leave sighing to me and so many other sinners who do not love him1 and who have lost him by offending him4 ,my most amiable mother1 if through my fault thy ,son has not yet returned to my soul1 wilt thou obtain for me that ,i may find him4 ,i know well that he allows himself to be found by all who seek him3 ,the ,lord is good to the soul that seeketh him3 8,bonus est ,dominus 444 anim qurenti illum40#adff ,make me to seek him as ,i ought to seek him4 ,thou art the gate through which all find ,jesus2 through thee ,i too hope to find him4 ,,on ,,the ,,fourth ,,dolor4 ,,of ,,the ,,meeting ,,of ,,mary ,,with ,,jesus1 ,,when ,,he ,,went ,,to ,,death4 ,st4 ,bernardine says1 that to form an idea of the grief of ,mary in losing her ,jesus by death1 it is necessary to consider the love that this mother bore to this her ,son4 ,all mothers feel the sufferings of their children as their own4 ,hence the woman of ,chanaan1 when she prayed the ,saviour to deliver her daughter from the devil that tormented her1 said to him1 that he should have pity on the mother rather than on the daughter3 8,have mercy on me1 oh ,lord1 thou son of ,david1 my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil40#adfg ,but what mother ever loved a child so much as ,mary loved ,jesus8 ,he was her only child1 reared amidst so many troubles and pains2 a most amiable child1 and most loving to his mother2 a ,son1 who was at the same time her ,son and her ,god2 who came on earth to kindle in the hearts of all the holy fire of divine love1 as he himself declared3 8,i am come to cast fire on the earth1 and what will ,i but that it be kindled80#adfh ,let us consider how he must have inflamed that pure heart of his holy mother1 so free from every earthly affection4 ,in a word1 the blessed ,virgin herself said to ,st4 ,bridget1 that through love her heart and the heart of her ,son was one3 8,unum erat cor meum1 et cor filii mei40 ,that blending of handmaid and mother1 of ,son and ,god1 kindled in the heart of ,mary a fire composed of a thousand flames4 ,but afterwards1 at the time of the passion1 this flame of love was changed into a sea of sorrow4 ,hence ,st4 ,bernardine says3 ,all the sorrows of the world united would not be equal to the sorrow of the glorious ,mary4#adfi ,yes1 because this mother1 as ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian writes3 ,the more tenderly she loved1 was the more deeply wounded4#adgj ,the greater the tenderness with which she loved him1 the greater was her grief at the sight of his sufferings1 especially when she met her ,son1 after he had already been condemned1 going to death at the place of punishment1 bearing the cross4 ,and this is the fourth sword of sorrow which to-day we have to consider4 ,the blessed ,virgin revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that at the time when the passion of our ,lord was drawing nigh1 her eyes were always filled with tears1 as she thought of her beloved ,son whom she was about to lose on this earth4 ,therefore1 as she also said1 a cold sweat covered her body from the fear that seized her at that prospect of approaching suffering4#adga ,behold1 the appointed day at length arrived1 and ,jesus came in tears to take leave of his mother before he went to death4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 contemplating ,mary on that night1 says3 ,thou didst spend it without sleep1 and while others slept1 thou didst remain watching4#adgb ,morning having arrived1 the disciples of ,jesus ,christ came to this afflicted mother1 one1 to bring her this tidings1 another1 that2 but all tidings of sorrow1 for in her were then verified the words of ,jeremias3 8,weeping1 she hath wept in the night1 and her tears are on her cheeks2 there is none to comfort her of all them that were dear to her40#adgc ,one came to relate to her the cruel treatment of her ,son in the house of ,caiphas2 another1 the insults received by him from ,herod4 ,finally1 for ,i omit all the rest to come to my point1 ,st4 ,john came1 and announced to ,mary that the most unjust ,pilate had already condemned him to death upon the cross4 ,i say the most unjust1 for1 as ,st4 ,leo remarks1 this unjust judge condemned him to death with the same lips with which he had pronounced him innocent4#adgd ,ah1 sorrowful mother1 said ,st4 ,john to her1 thy ,son has already been condemned to death1 he is already on his way1 bearing himself his cross on his way to ,calvary1 as he afterwards related in his ,gospel3 8,and bearing his own cross1 he went forth to that place which is called ,calvary40#adge ,come1 if thou dost desire to see him1 and bid him a last farewell in some of the streets through which he is to pass4 ,mary goes with ,st4 ,john1 and she perceives by the blood with which the way was sprinkled1 that her ,son had already passed there4 ,this she revealed to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,by the footsteps of my ,son ,i traced his course1 for along the way by which he had passed1 the ground was sprinkled with blood40#adgf ,st4 ,bonaventure imagines the afflicted mother taking a shorter way1 and placing herself at the corner of the street to meet her afflicted ,son as he passed by4#adgg ,this most afflicted mother met her most afflicted ,son3 ,mstissima mater mstissimo filio occurrit1 said ,st4 ,bernard4 ,while ,mary stopped in that place how much she must have heard said against her ,son by the ,jews1 who knew her1 and perhaps also words in mockery of herself6 ,alas6 what a commencement of sorrows was then before her eyes1 when she saw the nails1 the hammers1 the cords1 the fatal instruments of the death of her ,son borne before him6 ,and what a sword pierced her heart when1 she heard the trumpet proclaiming along the way the sentence pronounced against her ,son6 ,but behold1 now1 after the instruments1 the trumpet1 and the ministers of justice had passed1 she raises her eyes and sees2 she sees1 oh ,god1 a young man covered with blood and wounds from head to foot1 with a crown of thorns on his head1 and two heavy beams on his shoulders2 she looks at him and hardly knows him1 saying1 then1 with ,isaias3 8,and we have seen him1 and there was no sightliness40#adgh ,yes1 for the wounds1 the bruises1 and clotted blood1 made him look like a leper3 8,we have thought him1 as it were1 a leper20#adgi so that he could no longer be recognized4 8,and his look was1 as it were1 hidden and despised1 whereupon we esteemed him not40#adhj ,but at length love recognizes him1 and as soon as she knows him1 ah1 what was then1 as ,st4 ,peter of ,alcantara says in his meditations1 the love and fear of the heart of ,mary6 ,on the one hand1 she desired to see him2 on the other1 she could not endure to look upon so pitiable a sight4 ,but at length they look at each other4 ,the ,son wipes from his eyes the clotted blood1 which prevented him from seeing 7as was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget71 and looks upon the mother2 the mother looks upon the ,son4 ,ah1 looks of sorrow1 which pierced1 as with so many arrows1 those two holy and loving souls4 ,when ,margaret1 the daughter of ,sir ,thomas ,more1 met her father on his way to the scaffold1 she could utter only two words1 oh1 father6 oh1 father6 and fell fainting at his feet4 ,at the sight of her ,son going to ,calvary1 ,mary fainted not2 no1 because it was not fitting that this mother should lose the use of her reason1 as ,father ,suarez remarks1 neither did she die1 for ,god reserved her for a greater grief2 but if she did not die1 she suffered sorrow enough to cause her a thousand deaths4 ,the mother wished to embrace him1 as ,st4 ,anselm says1 but the officers of justice thrust her aside1 loading her with insults1 and urge onward our afflicted ,lord4 ,mary follows4 ,ah1 holy ,virgin1 where art thou going8 ,to ,calvary6 ,and canst thou trust thyself to see him who is thy life hanging from a cross8 ,and thy life shall be as it were hanging before thee3 8,et erit vita tua quasi pendens ante te40#adha ,ah6 my mother1 stop1 says ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian1 as if the ,son himself had then spoken to her2 where dost thou hasten8 ,where art thou going8 ,if thou comest where ,i go1 thou wilt be tortured with my sufferings1 and ,i with thine4#adhb ,but although the sight of her dying ,jesus must cost her such cruel anguish1 the loving ,mary will not leave him4 ,the ,son goes before1 and the mother follows1 that she may be crucified with her ,son1 as ,william the ,abbot says3 ,the mother took up her cross1 and followed him1 that she might be crucified with him4#adhc ,we even pity the wild beasts3 8,ferarum etiam miseremur20 ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom has said4 ,if we should see a lioness following her whelp as he was led to death1 even this wild beast would call forth our compassion4 ,and shall we not feel compassion to see ,mary following her immaculate ,lamb1 as they are leading him to death8 ,let us then pity her1 and endeavor also ourselves to accompany her ,son and herself1 bearing with patience the cross which the ,lord imposes on us4 ,why did ,jesus ,christ1 asks ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 desire to be alone in his other sufferings1 but in bearing the cross wished to be helped by the ,cyrenean8 ,and he answers3 ,that thou mayest understand that the cross of ,christ is not sufficient without thine4#adhd ,the cross alone of ,jesus is not enough to save us1 if we do not bear with resignation also our own1 even unto death4 ,,example4 ,the ,saviour appeared one day to sister ,diomira1 a nun1 in ,florence1 and said to her3 8,think of me1 and love me1 and ,i will think of thee1 and love thee0 and at the same time he presented her with a bunch of flowers and a cross1 signifying to her by this1 that the consolations of the saints on this earth are always to be accompanied by the cross4 ,the cross unites souls to ,god4 ,blessed ,jerome ,emilian1 when he was a soldier1 and leading a very sinful life1 was shut up by his enemies in a tower4 ,there1 feeling deeply his misfortune1 and enlightened by ,god to amend his life1 he had recourse to the most holy ,mary1 and then with the help of this divine mother1 he began to live the life of a saint4 ,by this he merited to see once in heaven the high place which ,god had prepared for him4 ,he became founder of the order of ,sommaschi1 died a saint1 and has been lately beatified by the holy ,church4 ,,prayer4 ,my sorrowful mother1 by the merit of that grief which thou didst feel at seeing thy beloved ,jesus led to death1 obtain for me the grace also to bear with patience those crosses which ,god sends me4 ,happy me1 if ,i also shall know how to accompany thee with my cross until death4 ,thou and ,jesus1 both innocent1 have borne a heavy cross2 and shall ,i a sinner1 who have merited hell1 refuse mine8 ,ah1 immaculate ,virgin1 ,i hope that thou wilt help me to bear my crosses with patience4 ,amen4 ,,on ,,the ,,fifth ,,dolor4 ,,of ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,jesus4 ,and now we have to admire a new sort of martyrdom1 a mother condemned to see an innocent son1 whom she loved with all the affection of her heart1 put to death before her eyes1 by the most barbarous tortures4 ,there stood by the cross of ,jesus his mother3 8,stabat autem juxta crucem mater ejus40 ,there is nothing more to be said1 says ,st4 ,john1 of the martyrdom of ,mary3 behold her at the foot of the cross1 looking on her dying ,son1 and then see if there is grief like her grief4 ,let us stop then also to-day on ,calvary1 to consider this fifth sword that pierced the heart of ,mary1 namely1 the death of ,jesus4 ,as soon as our afflicted ,redeemer had ascended the hill of ,calvary1 the executioners stripped him of his garments1 and piercing his sacred hands and feet with nails1 not sharp1 but blunt3 8,non acutis1 sed obtusis20 as ,st4 ,bernard says1#adhe and to torture him more1 they fastened him to the cross4 ,when they had crucified him1 they planted the cross1 and thus left him to die4 ,the executioners abandon him1 but ,mary does not abandon him4 ,she then draws nearer to the cross1 in order to assist at his death4 8,i did not leave him10 thus the blessed ,virgin revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 8and stood nearer to his cross40#adhf ,but what did it avail1 oh ,lady1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 to go to ,calvary to witness there the death of this ,son8 ,shame should have prevented thee1 for his disgrace was also thine1 because thou wast his mother2 or1 at least1 the horror of such a crime as that of seeing a ,god crucified by his own creatures1 should have prevented thee4#adhg ,but the saint himself answers3 ,thy heart did not consider the horror1 but the suffering3 8,non considerabat cor tuum horrorem1 sed dolorem40 ,ah1 thy heart did not then care for its own sorrow1 but for the suffering and death of thy dear ,son2 and therefore thou thyself didst wish to be near him1 at least to compassionate him4 ,ah1 true mother6 says ,william the ,abbot1 loving mother6 for not even the terror of death could separate thee from thy beloved ,son4#adhh ,but1 oh ,god1 what a spectacle of sorrow1 to see this ,son then in agony upon the cross1 and under the cross this mother in agony1 who was suffering all the pain that her ,son was suffering6 ,behold the words in which ,mary revealed to ,st4 ,bridget the pitiable state of her dying ,son1 as she saw him on the cross3 8,my dear ,jesus was on the cross in grief and in agony2 his eyes were sunken1 half closed1 and lifeless2 the lips hanging1 and the mouth open2 the cheeks hollow1 and attached to the teeth2 the face lengthened1 the nose sharp1 the countenance sad2 the head had fallen upon his breast1 the hair black with blood1 the stomach collapsed1 the arms and legs stiff1 and the whole body covered with wounds and blood40#adhi ,mary also suffered all these pains of ,jesus4 ,every torture inflicted on the body of ,jesus1 says ,st4 ,jerome1 was a wound in the heart of the mother4#adij ,any one of us who should then have been on ,mount ,calvary1 would have seen two altars1 says ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 on which two great sacrifices were consummating1 one in the body of ,jesus1 the other in the heart of ,mary4 ,but rather would ,i see there1 with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 one altar only1 namely1 the cross alone of the ,son1 on which1 with the victim1 this divine ,lamb1 the mother also was sacrificed4 ,therefore the saint interrogates her in these words3 ,oh ,lady1 where art thou8 ,near the cross8 ,nay1 on the cross1 thou art crucified with thy ,son4#adia ,st4 ,augustine also says the same thing3 ,the cross and nails of the ,son were also the cross and nails of the mother2 ,christ being crucified1 the mother was also crucified4#adib ,yes1 because1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 love inflicted on the heart of ,mary the same suffering that the nails caused in the body of ,jesus4#adic ,therefore1 at the same time that the ,son was sacrificing his body1 the mother1 as ,st4 ,bernardine says1 was sacrificing her soul4#adid ,mothers fly from the presence of their dying children2 but if a mother is ever obliged to witness the death of a child1 she procures for him all possible relief2 she arranges the bed1 that his posture may be more easy2 she administers refreshments to him2 and thus the poor mother relieves her own sorrows4 ,ah1 mother1 the most afflicted of all mothers6 oh ,mary1 it was decreed that thou shouldst be present at the death of ,jesus1 but it was not given to thee to afford him any relief4 ,mary heard her ,son say3 ,i thirst3 8,sitio20 but it was not permitted her to give him a little water to quench his great thirst4 ,she could only say to him1 as ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer remarks3 ,my ,son1 ,i have only the water of my tears3 8,fili1 non habeo nisi aquam lacrymarum40#adie ,she saw that her ,son1 suspended by three nails to that bed of sorrow1 could find no rest4 ,she wished to clasp him to her heart1 that she might give him relief1 or at least that he might expire in her arms1 but she could not4#adif ,she saw that poor ,son in a sea of sorrow1 seeking one who could console him1 as he had predicted by the mouth of the prophet3 8,i have trodden the wine-press alone2 ,i looked about and there was none to help2 ,i sought and there was none to give aid40#adig ,but who was there among men to console him1 if all were his enemies8 ,even on the cross they cursed and mocked him on every side3 8,and they that passed by blasphemed him1 wagging their heads40#adih ,some said to him3 8,if thou be the ,son of ,god1 come down from the cross40#adii ,some exclaimed3 8,he saved others1 himself he cannot save40#aejj ,others said3 8,if he be the ,king of ,israel1 let him now come down from the cross40#aeja ,the blessed ,virgin herself said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,i heard some call my ,son a thief2 ,i heard others call him an impostor2 others said that no one deserved death more than he2 and every word was to me a new sword of sorrow40#aejb ,but what increased most the sorrows which ,mary suffered through compassion for her ,son1 was to hear him complain on the cross that even the eternal ,father had abandoned him3 8,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me80#aejc ,words which1 as the divine mother herself said to ,st4 ,bridget1 could never depart from her mind during her whole life4#aejd ,thus the afflicted mother saw her ,jesus suffering on every side2 she desired to comfort him1 but could not4 ,and what caused her the greatest sorrow was to see that1 by her presence and her grief1 she increased the sufferings of her ,son4 ,the sorrow itself1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 that filled the heart of ,mary1 increased the bitterness of sorrow in the heart of ,jesus4#aeje ,st4 ,bernard also says1 that ,jesus on the cross suffered more from compassion for his mother than from his own pains3 he thus speaks in the name of the ,virgin3 ,i stood and looked upon him1 and he looked upon me2 and he suffered more for me than for himself4#aejf ,the same saint also1 speaking of ,mary beside her dying ,son1 says1 that she lived dying without being able to die3 ,near the cross stood his mother1 speechless2 living she died1 dying she lived2 neither could she die1 because she was dead1 being yet alive4#aejg ,passino writes that ,jesus ,christ himself1 speaking one day to the blessed ,baptista ,varana1 of ,camerino1 said to her1 that he was so afflicted on the cross at the sight of his mother in such anguish at his feet1 that compassion for his mother caused him to die without consolation4 ,so that the blessed ,baptista1 being enlightened to know this suffering of ,jesus1 exclaimed3 ,oh my ,lord1 tell me no more of this thy sorrow1 for ,i cannot bear it4 ,men were astonished1 says ,simon of ,cassia1 when they saw this mother then keep silence1 without uttering a complaint in this great suffering4#aejh ,but if the lips of ,mary were silent1 her heart was not so2 for she did not cease offering to divine justice the life of her ,son for our salvation4 ,therefore we know that by the merits of her dolors she co-operated with ,christ in bringing us forth to the life of grace1 and therefore we are children of her sorrows3 ,christ1 says ,lanspergius1 wished her whom he had appointed for our mother to co-operate with him in our redemption2 for she herself at the foot of the cross was to bring us forth as her children4#aeji ,and if ever any consolation entered into that sea of bitterness1 namely1 the heart of ,mary1 it was this only one2 namely1 the knowledge that by means of her sorrows1 she was bringing us to eternal salvation2 as ,jesus himself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,my mother ,mary1 on account of her compassion and charity1 was made mother of all in heaven and on earth40#aeaj ,and1 indeed1 these were the last words with which ,jesus took leave of her before his death2 this was his last remembrance1 leaving us to her for her children in the person of ,john1 when he said to her3 ,woman1 behold thy ,son3 8,mulier ecce filius tuus40#aeaa ,and from that time ,mary began to perform for us this office of a good mother2 for1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian declares1 the penitent thief1 through the prayers of ,mary1 was then converted and saved3 ,therefore the good thief repented1 because the blessed ,virgin1 standing between the cross of her ,son and that of the thief1 prayed her ,son for him2 thus rewarding1 by this favor1 his former service4#aeab ,for as other authors also relate1 this thief1 in the journey to ,egypt with the infant ,jesus1 showed them kindness2 and this same office the blessed ,virgin has ever continued1 and still continues to perform4 ,,example4 ,a young man in ,perugia once promised the devil that if he would help him to commit a sinful act which he desired to do1 he would give him his soul2 and he gave him a writing to that effect1 signed with his blood4 ,the evil deed was committed1 and the devil demanded the performance of the promise4 ,he led the young man to a well1 and threatened to take him body and soul to hell if he would not cast himself into it4 ,the wretched youth1 thinking that it would be impossible for him to escape from his enemy1 climbed the well-side in order to cast himself into it1 but terrified at the thought of death1 he said to the devil that he had not the courage to throw himself in1 and that1 if he wished to see him dead1 he himself should thrust him in4 ,the young man wore about his neck the scapular of the sorrowing ,mary2 and the devil said to him3 8,take off that scapular1 and ,i will thrust you in40 ,but the youth1 seeing the protection which the divine mother still gave him through that scapular1 refused to take it off1 and after a great deal of altercation1 the devil departed in confusion4 ,the sinner repented1 and grateful to his sorrowful mother1 went to thank her1 and presented a picture of this case1 as an offering1 at her altar in the new church of ,santa ,maria1 in ,perugia4#aeac ,,prayer4 ,ah1 mother1 the most afflicted of all mothers1 thy ,son1 then1 is dead2 thy ,son so amiable1 and who loved thee so much6 ,weep1 for thou hast reason to weep4 ,who can ever console thee8 ,nothing can console thee but the thought that ,jesus1 by his death1 hath conquered hell1 hath opened paradise1 which was closed to men1 and hath gained so many souls4 ,from that throne of the cross he was to reign over so many hearts1 which1 conquered by his love1 would serve him with love4 ,do not disdain1 oh my mother1 to keep me near to weep with thee1 for ,i have more reason than thou to weep for the offences that ,i have committed against thy ,son4 ,ah1 mother of mercy1 ,i hope for pardon and my eternal salvation1 first through the death of my ,redeemer1 and then through the merits of thy dolors4 ,amen4 ,,on ,,the ,,sixth ,,dolor4 ,,the ,,piercing ,,of ,,the ,,side ,,of ,,jesus1 ,,and ,,his ,,descent ,,from ,,the ,,cross4 8,oh1 all ye that pass by the way attend1 and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow40#aead ,devout souls1 listen to what the sorrowful ,mary says to you to-day3 ,my beloved children1 ,i do not wish you to console me2 no1 for my heart can never again be consoled on this earth after the death of my dear ,jesus4 ,if you wish to please me1 this ,i ask of you1 turn to me and see if there has ever been in the world a grief like mine1 when ,i saw him who was all my love torn from me so cruelly4 ,but1 oh ,lady1 since thou dost not wish to be consoled1 and hast such a thirst for suffering1 ,i must say to thee that thy sorrows have not ended with the death of thy ,son4 ,to-day thou wilt be pierced by another sword of sorrow1 when thou shalt see a cruel lance piercing the side of this thy ,son1 already dead1 and shalt receive him in thy arms after he is taken from the cross4 ,and now we are to consider to-day the sixth dolor which afflicted this sorrowful mother4 ,attend and weep4 ,hitherto the dolors of ,mary tortured her one by one1 but to-day they are all united to assail her4 ,to make known to a mother that her child is dead1 is sufficient to kindle her whole soul with love for the lost one4 ,some persons1 in order to lighten their grief1 will remind mothers whose children have died1 of the displeasure they have once caused them4 ,but if ,i1 oh my queen1 should wish to lighten thy sorrow for the death of ,jesus in this way1 what displeasure has he ever caused thee1 that ,i could recall to thy mind8 ,ah1 no2 he always loved thee1 obeyed thee1 and respected thee4 ,now thou hast lost him1 and who can describe thy sorrow8 ,do thou who hast felt it explain it4 ,a devout author says1 that when our ,redeemer was dead1 the heart of the great mother was first engaged in accompanying the most holy soul of the ,son1 and presenting it to the eternal ,father4 ,i present thee1 oh my ,god1 ,mary must then have said1 the immaculate soul of thy and my ,son1 which has been obedient to thee even unto death3 receive it1 then1 in thy arms4 ,thy justice is now satisfied1 thy will accomplished2 behold1 the great sacrifice to thy eternal glory is consummated4 ,and then turning to the lifeless members of her ,jesus3 ,oh wounds1 she said1 oh loving wounds1 ,i adore you1 ,i rejoice with you1 since through you salvation has been given to the world4 ,you shall remain open in the body of my ,son1 to be the refuge of those who will have recourse to you4 ,oh how many1 through you1 shall receive the pardon of their sins1 and then through you shall be inflamed to love the ,sovereign ,good6 ,that the joy of the following ,paschal ,sabbath should not be disturbed1 the ,jews wished the body of ,jesus to be taken down from the cross2 but because they could not take down a criminal until he was dead1 they came with iron mallets to break his legs1 as they had already done to the two thieves crucified with him4 ,and ,mary1 while she remains weeping at the death of her ,son1 sees those armed men coming towards her ,jesus4 ,at this sight she first trembled with fear1 then she said3 ,ah1 my ,son is already dead1 cease to maltreat him1 and cease to torture me a poor mother longer4 ,she implored them not to break his legs3 8,oravit eos1 ne frangerent crura10 as ,st4 ,bonaventure writes4 ,but while she is thus speaking1 oh1 ,god6 she sees a soldier with violence brandishing a spear1 and piercing the side of ,jesus3 8,one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side1 and immediately there came out blood and water40#aeae ,the cross shook at the stroke of the spear1 and1 as was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 the heart of ,jesus was divided3 8,ita ut amb partes essent divis40#aeaf ,there came out blood and water1 for only a few drops of blood remained1 and those also the ,saviour wished to shed1 in order to show that he had no more blood to give us4 ,the injury of that stroke was offered to ,jesus1 but the pain was inflicted on ,mary3 ,christ1 says the devout ,lanspergius1 shared with his mother the infliction of that wound1 for he received the insult and his mother the pain4#aeag ,the holy ,fathers explain this to be the very sword predicted to the ,virgin by ,st4 ,simeon2 a sword1 not of iron1 but of grief1 which pierced through her blessed soul in the heart of ,jesus1 where it always dwelt4 ,thus1 among others1 ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,the spear which opened his side passed through the soul of the ,virgin1 which could not be torn from the heart of ,jesus4#aeah ,and the divine mother herself revealed the same to ,st4 ,bridget1 saying3 8,when the spear was drawn out1 the point appeared red with blood2 then ,i felt as if my heart were pierced when ,i saw the heart of my most dear ,son pierced40#aeai ,the angel told ,st4 ,bridget1 that such were the sufferings of ,mary1 that she was saved from death only by the miraculous power of ,god4#aebj ,in her other dolors she at least had her ,son to compassionate her2 and now she had not even him to take pity on her4 ,the afflicted mother1 still fearing that other injuries might be inflicted on her ,son1 entreats ,joseph of ,arimathea to obtain from ,pilate the body of her ,jesus1 that at least after his death she may be able to guard it and protect it from injuries4 ,joseph went to ,pilate1 and made known to him the sorrow and the wish of this afflicted mother2 and ,st4 ,anselm thinks that compassion for the mother softened the heart of ,pilate1 and moved him to grant her the body of the ,saviour4 ,and now ,jesus is taken from the cross4 ,oh most holy ,virgin1 after thou with so great love hadst given thy ,son to the world for our salvation1 behold the world returns him to thee again6 ,but oh1 my ,god1 how dost thou return him to me8 said ,mary to the world4 ,my ,son was white and ruddy3 8,dilectus meus candidus et rubicundus30 but thou hast returned him to me blackened with bruises1 and red1 not with a ruddy color1 but with the wounds thou hast inflicted upon him2 he was beautiful1 now there is no more beauty in him2 he is all deformity4 ,all were enamored with his aspect1 now he excites horror in all who look upon him4 ,oh1 how many swords1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 pierced the soul of this mother1 when she received the body of her ,son after it was taken from the cross3 8,o quot gladii animam matris pertransierunt60 ,let us consider what anguish it would cause any mother to receive the lifeless body of a son6 ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that to take down the body of ,jesus1 three ladders were placed against the cross4 ,those holy disciples first drew out the nails from the hands and feet1 and according to ,metaphrastes1 gave them in charge to ,mary4 ,then one supported the upper part of the body of ,jesus1 the other the lower1 and thus took it down from the cross4 ,bernardine de ,bustis describes the afflicted mother as raising herself1 and extending her arms to meet her dear ,son2 she embraces him1 and then sits down at the foot of the cross4 ,she sees his mouth open1 his eye shut1 she examines the lacerated flesh1 and those exposed bones2 she takes off the crown1 and sees the cruel injury made by those thorns1 in that sacred head2 she looks upon those pierced hands and feet1 and says3 ,ah1 my ,son1 to what has the love thou didst bear to men reduced thee6 ,but what evil hast thou done to them1 that they have treated thee so cruelly8 ,thou wast my father1 ,bernardine de ,bustis imagines her to say1 my brother1 my spouse1 my delight1 my glory1 my all4#aeba ,oh1 my ,son1 behold how ,i am afflicted1 look upon me and console me2 but thou dost look upon me no more4 ,speak1 speak to me but one word1 and console me2 but thou dost speak no more1 for thou art dead4 ,then turning to those barbarous instruments1 she said3 ,oh cruel thorns1 oh nails1 oh merciless spear1 how could you thus torture your ,creator8 ,but what thorns1 what nails8 ,alas6 sinners1 she exclaimed1 it is you who have thus cruelly treated my ,son4 ,thus ,mary spoke and complained of us4 ,but if now she were capable of suffering1 what would she say8 ,what grief would she feel to see that men1 after the death of her ,son1 continue to torment and crucify him by their sins6 ,let us no longer give pain to this sorrowful mother2 and if we also have hitherto grieved her by our sins1 let us now do what she directs4 ,she says to us3 ,return1 ye transgressors1 to the heart3 8,redite1 prvaricatores1 ad cor40#aebb ,sinners1 return to the wounded heart of my ,jesus2 return as penitents1 for he will receive you4 ,flee from him to him1 she continues to say with ,guerric the ,abbot2 from the ,judge to the ,redeemer1 from the tribunal to the cross4#aebc ,the ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget that she closed the eyes of her ,son when he was taken down from the cross1 but she could not close his arms3 8,ejus brachia flectere non potui40 ,jesus ,christ giving us to understand by this1 that he desired to remain with open arms to receive all penitent sinners who return to him4 ,oh world1 continues ,mary1 behold1 then1 thy time is the time of lovers3 8,et ecce1 tempus tuum1 tempus amantium40#aebd ,now that my ,son1 oh world1 has died to save thee1 this is no longer for thee a time of fear1 but of love2 a time to love him who has desired to suffer so much in order to show thee the love he bore thee4 ,therefore1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 is the heart of ,jesus wounded that1 through the visible wound1 the invisible wound of love may be seen4#aebe ,if1 then1 concludes ,mary1 in the words of the ,abbot of ,celles1 my ,son has wished his side to be opened that he might give thee his heart1#aebf it is right1 oh man1 that thou shouldst give him thy heart4 ,and if you wish1 oh children of ,mary1 to find a place in the heart of ,jesus without fear of being cast out1 go1 says ,ubertino of ,casale1 go with ,mary1 for she will obtain grace for you2#aebg and in the following example we have a beautiful proof of this4 ,,example4 ,the ,disciple relates#aebh that there was once a poor sinner who1 among other crimes1 had killed his father and a brother1 and therefore became a fugitive4 ,happening to hear one day during ,lent1 a sermon upon the divine mercy1 he went to the preacher himself to make his confession4 ,the confessor having heard his crimes1 sent him to an altar of the sorrowful mother to pray that she might obtain for him compunction and pardon of his sins4 ,the sinner obeyed1 and began to pray1 when behold1 suddenly overpowered by contrition1 he falls down dead4 ,on the following day when the priest recommended to the people to pray for the deceased1 a white dove appeared in the church and let fall a card at the feet of the priest4 ,he took it up1 and found these words written on it3 8,the soul of the dead1 when it left the body1 immediately went to paradise2 and do you continue to preach the infinite mercy of ,god40 ,,prayer4 ,oh afflicted ,virgin6 oh soul1 great in virtues and great also in sorrows6 for both arise from that great fire of love thou hast for ,god2 thou whose heart can love nothing but ,god2 ah mother1 have pity on me1 for ,i have not loved ,god1 and ,i have so much offended him4 ,thy sorrows give me great confidence to hope for pardon4 ,but this is not enough2 ,i wish to love my ,lord1 and who can better obtain this for me than thou--thou who art the mother of fair love8 ,ah ,mary1 thou dost console all1 comfort me also4 ,amen4 ,,on ,,the ,,seventh ,,dolor4 ,,the ,,burial ,,of ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,jesus4 ,when a mother is by the side of a suffering and dying child1 she no doubt then feels and suffers all his pains2 but when the afflicted child is really dead and about to be buried1 and the sorrowful mother takes her last leave of him1 oh ,god6 the thought that she is to see him no more is a sorrow that exceeds all other sorrows4 ,behold1 the last sword of sorrow which we are to consider1 when ,mary1 after being present at the death of her ,son upon the cross1 after having embraced his lifeless body1 was finally to leave him in the sepulchre1 never more to enjoy his beloved presence4 ,but that we may better understand this last dolor1 let us return to ,calvary1 again to look upon the afflicted mother1 who still holds1 clasped in her arms1 the lifeless body of her ,son4 ,oh my ,son1 she seems then to continue to say in the words of ,job1 my ,son1 thou art changed to be cruel towards me3 8,mutatus es mihi in crudelem40#aebi ,yes1 for all thy beauty1 grace1 virtue1 and loveliness1 all the signs of special love thou hast shown me1 the peculiar favors thou hast bestowed on me1 are all changed into so many darts of sorrow1 which the more they have inflamed my love for thee1 so much the more cause me cruelly to feel the pain of having lost thee4 ,ah1 my beloved ,son1 in losing thee ,i have lost all4 ,thus ,st4 ,bernard speaks in her name3 ,oh truly begotten of ,god1 thou wast to me a father1 a son1 a spouse2 thou wast my life6 ,now ,i am deprived of my father1 my spouse1 and my ,son1 for with my ,son whom ,i have lost1 ,i lose all things4#aecj ,thus ,mary1 clinging to her ,son1 was dissolved in grief2 but those holy disciples1 fearing lest this poor mother would expire there through agony1 went to take the body of her ,son from her arms1 to bear it away for burial4 ,therefore1 with reverential force they took him from her arms1 and having embalmed him1 wrapped him in a linen cloth already prepared1 upon which our ,lord wished to leave to the world his image impressed1 as may be seen at the present day in ,turin4 ,and now they bear him to the sepulchre4 ,the sorrowful funeral train sets forth2 the disciples place him on their shoulders2 hosts of angels from heaven accompany him2 those holy women follow him2 and the afflicted mother follows in their company her ,son to the grave4 ,when they had reached the appointed place1 how gladly would ,mary have buried herself there alive with her ,son6 8,oh how willingly10 said the ,virgin to ,st4 ,bridget1 8would ,i have remained there alive with my ,son1 if it had been his will60#aeca ,but since this was not the divine will1 the authors relate that she herself accompanied the sacred body of ,jesus into the sepulchre1 where1 as ,baronius narrates1 they deposited the nails and the crown of thorns4 ,in raising the stone to close the sepulchre1 the disciples of the ,saviour had to turn to the ,virgin1 and say to her3 ,now1 oh ,lady1 we must close the sepulchre2 have patience1 look upon thy ,son and take leave of him for the last time4 ,then1 oh my beloved ,son1 must the afflicted mother have said1 then shall ,i see thee no more8 ,receive1 then1 this last time that ,i look upon thee1 receive the last farewell from me thy dear mother1 and receive my heart which ,i leave buried with thee4 ,the ,virgin1 says ,st4 ,fulgentius1 earnestly desired that her soul should be buried with the body of ,christ4#aecb ,and ,mary herself made this revelation to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,i can truly say1 that at the burial of my ,son1 one sepulchre contained as it were two hearts40#aecc ,finally1 they take the stone and close up in the holy sepulchre the body of ,jesus1 that great treasure1 greater than any in heaven and on earth4 ,and here let us remark1 that ,mary left her heart buried with ,jesus1 because ,jesus was all her treasure3 8,where your treasure is1 there will your heart be also40#aecd ,and where shall we keep our hearts buried8 ,with creatures8 ,in the mire8 ,and why not with ,jesus1 who1 although he has ascended to heaven1 has wished to remain1 not dead but alive1 in the most holy sacrament of the altar1 precisely in order that he may have with him and possess our hearts8 ,but let us return to ,mary4 ,before quitting the sepulchre1 according to ,st4 ,bonaventure1 she blessed that sacred stone1 saying3 ,oh happy stone that doth now inclose that body which was contained nine months in my womb1 ,i bless thee1 and envy thee2 ,i leave thee to guard my ,son for me1 who is my only good1 my only love4 ,and then turning to the eternal ,father1 she said3 ,oh ,father1 to thee ,i recommend him1 who is thy ,son and mine2 and thus bidding a last farewell to her ,son1 and to the sepulchre1 she returned to her own house4 ,this poor mother went away so afflicted and sad1 according to ,st4 ,bernard1 that she moved many to tears even against their will3 8,multos etiam invitos ad lacrymas provocabat20 so that wherever she passed1 all wept who met her3 8,omnes plorabant qui obviabant ei10 and could not restrain their tears4 ,and he adds1 that those holy disciples1 and the women who accompanied her1 mourned for her even more than for their ,lord4#aece ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that her two sisters covered her with a mourning cloak3 ,the sisters of our ,lady wrapped her in a veil as a widow1 covering as it were her whole countenance4#aecf ,and he also says1 that passing1 on her return1 before the cross1 still wet with the blood of her ,jesus1 she was the first to adore it3 ,oh holy cross1 she exclaimed1 ,i kiss thee and adore thee2 for thou art no longer an infamous wood1 but a throne of love1 and an altar of mercy1 consecrated by the blood of the divine ,lamb1 who has been sacrificed upon thee1 for the salvation of the world4 ,she then leaves the cross and returns to her house2 there the afflicted mother casts her eyes around1 and no longer sees her ,jesus2 but instead of the presence of her dear ,son1 all the memorials of his holy life and cruel death are before her4 ,there she is reminded of the embraces she gave her ,son in the stable of ,bethlehem1 of the conversations held with him for so many years in the shop of ,nazareth3 she is reminded of their mutual affection1 of his loving looks1 of the words of eternal life that came forth from that divine mouth4 ,and then comes before her the fatal scene of that very day2 she sees those nails1 those thorns1 that lacerated flesh of her ,son1 those deep wounds1 those uncovered bones1 that open mouth1 those closed eyes4 ,alas6 what a night of sorrow was that night for ,mary6 ,the sorrowful mother turned to ,st4 ,john1 and said mournfully3 ,ah1 ,john1 where is thy ,master8 ,then she asked of ,magdalen3 ,daughter1 tell me where is thy beloved8 ,oh ,god6 who has taken him from us8 ,mary weeps1 and all those who are with her weep4 ,and thou1 oh my soul1 dost thou not weep6 ,ah1 turn to ,mary1 and say to her with ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,let me1 oh my ,lady1 let me weep2 thou art innocent1 ,i am guilty4#aecg ,at least entreat her to permit thee to weep with her3 8,fac ut tecum lugeam40 ,she weeps for love1 and thou dost weep through sorrow for thy sins4 ,and thus weeping1 thou mayest have the happy lot of him of whom we read in the following example4 ,,example4 ,father ,engelgrave relates1#aech that a certain religious was so tormented by scruples1 that sometimes he was almost driven to despair1 but having great devotion to ,mary1 the mother of sorrows1 he had recourse to her in the agony of his spirit1 and was much comforted by contemplating her dolors4 ,death came1 and the devil tormented him more than ever with scruples1 and tempted him to despair4 ,when1 behold our merciful mother1 seeing her poor son so afflicted1 appeared to him1 and said to him3 8,and why1 oh my son1 art thou so overcome with sorrow1 thou who hast so often consoled me by thy compassion for my sorrows8#aeci ,be comforted10 she said to him2 8,jesus sends me to thee to console thee2 be comforted1 rejoice1 and come with me to paradise40 ,and at these words the devout religious tranquilly expired1 full of consolation and confidence4 ,,prayer4 ,my afflicted mother1 ,i will not leave thee alone to weep2 no1 ,i wish to keep thee company with my tears4 ,this grace ,i ask of thee to-day3 obtain for me a continual remembrance of the passion of ,jesus1 and of thine also1 and a tender devotion to them1 that all the remaining days of my life may be spent in weeping for thy sorrows1 oh my mother1 and for those of my ,redeemer4 ,i hope that these dolors will give me the confidence and strength not to despair at the hour of my death1 at the sight of the offences ,i have committed against my ,lord4 ,by these must ,i obtain pardon1 perseverance1 paradise1 where ,i hope to rejoice with thee1 and sing the infinite mercy of my ,god through all eternity3 thus ,i hope1 thus may it be4 ,amen1 amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,whoever wishes to practise the devotion of reciting the chaplet of the dolors of ,mary1 will find it at the end of the book4 ,i composed this many years since1 and insert it anew here for the convenience of the servants of ,mary1 whom ,i pray in their charity to recommend me to her when they meditate upon her dolors4 ,oh ,lady1 who dost ravish the hearts of men with thy sweetness1 hast thou not ravished mine8 ,oh1 ravisher of hearts1 when wilt thou restore to me my heart8 ,do with it as with thine own1 and place it in the side of thy ,son4 ,then ,i shall possess what ,i hope for1 because thou art our hope4#aedj ,,of ,,the ,,virtues ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,mary4 ,st4 ,augustine says1 that in order to obtain more certainly and abundantly the favor of the saints1 it is necessary to imitate them1 for when they see us practising the virtues which they practised1 then they are more moved to pray for us4 ,the queen of saints1 and our first advocate1 ,mary1 after she has rescued a soul from the grasp of ,lucifer1 and has united her to ,god1 wishes her to begin to imitate her example1 otherwise she will not be able to enrich her1 as she would wish1 with her graces1 seeing her so opposed to her in conduct4 ,therefore ,mary calls those blessed who diligently imitate her life3 8,now1 therefore1 children1 hear me2 blessed are they that keep my ways40#aeda ,he who loves1 is like1 or seeks to make himself like1 the person beloved1 according to the celebrated proverb3 ,love either finds or makes like3 8,amor aut pares invenit aut facit40 ,hence ,st4 ,jerome tells us1 that if we love ,mary1 we must seek to imitate her1 for this is the greatest honor we can pay her4#aedb ,richard says1 those are and may call themselves true children of ,mary1 who strive to imitate her life3 8,filii ,mari imitatores ejus40 ,let the child then endeavor1 concludes ,st4 ,bernard1 to imitate the mother1 if he desires her favor2 for when ,mary sees that he honors her as a mother1 she will treat and favor him as a child4 ,although there is little recorded in the ,gospels of the virtues of ,mary in particular1 yet1 when they tell us that she was full of grace1 it is given us to understand that she had all the virtues1 and all in the heroic degree4 ,so much so1 that1 as ,st4 ,thomas says1 whereas the other saints have excelled1 each in some one particular virtue1 the blessed ,virgin has excelled in all1 and in all the virtues has been given us for an example4#aedc ,and ,st4 ,ambrose also says3 ,such was ,mary1 that her life alone is the example for all4#aedd ,and he afterwards adds3 ,let the virginity and life of ,mary be to you as an image1 in which the form of virtue shines forth4 ,from thence obtain the model of your life 444 what you should correct1 what avoid1 what retain4#aede ,and because1 as the holy ,fathers teach1 humility is the foundation of all the virtues1 let us in the first place consider how great was the humility of the mother of ,god4 ,,section ,i4 ,,of ,,the ,,humility ,,of ,,mary4 ,humility1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 is the foundation and guardian of the virtues2#aedf and with reason1 for without humility a soul can possess no other virtue4 ,let her possess all the virtues1 they will all depart when humility departs4 ,on the other hand1 said ,st4 ,francis of ,sales1 in a letter to ,st4 ,jane de ,chantal1 ,god so loves humility that he instantly hastens to the soul in which he sees it4#aedg ,this virtue1 so lovely and so necessary1 was unknown in the world2 but the ,son of ,god himself came on earth to teach it by his example1 and he desired that in this we should especially strive to imitate him3 8,learn of me1 because ,i am meek and humble of heart40#aedh ,and ,mary1 as she was the first and most perfect disciple of ,jesus ,christ in all the virtues1 was so in that of humility1 by which she merited to be exalted above all creatures4 ,it was revealed to ,st4 ,matilda that the first virtue which the blessed mother especially practised from childhood1 was humility4#aedi ,the first act of humility of heart is to have an humble opinion of ourselves2 and ,mary always thought so lowly of herself1 as was revealed to the same ,st4 ,matilda1 that although she saw so many more graces bestowed upon her than upon others1 she preferred all others before herself4#aeej ,rupert the ,abbot1 explaining that passage1 8,thou hast wounded my heart1 my sister1 my spouse 444 with one hair of thy neck10#aeea says1 that this hair of the neck of the spouse was precisely that humble opinion which ,mary had of herself1 with which she wounded the heart of ,god4#aeeb ,not that the holy ,virgin esteemed herself a sinner1 for humility is truth1 as ,st4 ,theresa says1 and ,mary knew that she had never offended ,god2 nor that she did not confess having received greater graces from ,god than any other creature1 for an humble heart always acknowledges the special favors of the ,lord1 that it may humble itself the more2 but the divine mother1 by the greater light she had to see the infinite greatness and goodness of her ,god1 saw still more her own littleness1 and therefore more than all others did she humiliate herself1 and say with the spouse of the ,canticles3 8,do not consider that ,i am brown because the sun hath altered my color40#aeec ,approaching him1 ,i find myself black1 as ,st4 ,bernard explains it3 8,appropinquans illi me nigram invenio40#aeed ,yes1 adds ,st4 ,bernardine1 for the ,virgin had always present before her eyes the divine majesty and her own nothingness4#aeee ,as a beggar1 when she is clothed with a costly garment which has been given her1 is not made proud by it1 but humbles herself more before the giver1 because she is reminded then more of her poverty2 thus1 ,mary1 the more she saw herself enriched1 the more humble she became1 remembering that all was the gift of ,god2 whence she herself said to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 a ,benedictine nun3 8,know for certain that ,i esteemed myself most abject1 and unworthy of the grace of ,god40#aeef ,and therefore1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 no creature in the world has been more exalted1 because no creature has ever humbled herself more than ,mary4#aeeg ,moreover1 it is an act of humility to conceal the gifts of heaven4 ,mary wished to conceal from ,st4 ,joseph the grace of having been made the mother of ,god1 although it seemed necessary to make it known to him1 in order1 at least1 to remove from the mind of her poor spouse the suspicions he might have of her virtue1 when he saw her pregnant2 or at least his perplexity1 for in fact ,st4 ,joseph1 on the one side1 unwilling to doubt the chastity of ,mary1 and1 on the other1 ignorant of the mystery1 in order to free himself from perplexity1 was minded to put her away privately3 8,voluit occulte dimittere eam40#aeeh ,and if the angel had not revealed to him that his spouse was pregnant by the operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 he would really have left her4 ,moreover1 an humble soul also refuses praise1 and gives it all to ,god4 ,behold1 ,mary is disturbed at hearing herself praised by ,st4 ,gabriel4 ,and when ,st4 ,elizabeth said to her1 8,blessed art thou among women 444 and whence is this to me1 that the mother of my ,lord should come to me4444 ,blessed art thou that hast believed1 c410#aeei ,mary1 referring all these praises to ,god1 answered with that humble ,canticle3 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord3 8,magnificat anima mea ,dominum10 as if she had said3 ,you praise me1 oh ,elizabeth1 but ,i praise the ,lord1 to whom alone honor is due2 you wonder that ,i come to you1 and ,i wonder at the divine goodness in which alone my spirit exults4 ,and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour3 8,et exultavit spiritus meus in ,deo salutari meo40 ,you praise me because ,i have believed2 ,i praise my ,god1 because he has wished to exalt my nothingness2 because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid3 8,quia respexit humilitatem ancill su40 ,hence ,mary said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,why did ,i humble myself so far1 or why have ,i merited so much grace1 unless because ,i thought and knew that of and from myself ,i was nothing1 and had nothing8 therefore ,i would have no praise for myself1 but only for the ,giver and ,creator40#aefj ,wherefore1 speaking of the humility of ,mary1 ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,oh truly blessed humility1 which has brought forth ,god to men1 opened paradise1 and liberated souls from hell6#aefa ,it is also a part of humility to serve others2 and ,mary did not refuse to go and serve ,elizabeth for three months4 ,wherefore ,st4 ,bernard has said3 ,elizabeth wondered that ,mary should come to visit her1 but she should wonder still more that she did not come to be ministered unto1 but to minister4#aefb ,the humble retire and choose the lowest place2 and therefore1 as ,st4 ,bernard remarks1 ,mary1 when her ,son was preaching in a certain house1 as ,st4 ,matthew relates1#aefc wished to speak with him1 but would not enter the house unbidden4#aefd ,therefore1 when she was in the 8upper room0 with the apostles1 she wished to take the lowest place1 as ,st4 ,luke has related3 8,all these were persevering with one mind in prayer1 with the women and ,mary the mother of ,jesus40#aefe ,not that ,st4 ,luke did not know the merit of the divine mother1 on account of which he should have given her the first place2 but because she had taken the lowest1 after the apostles and the other women1 therefore ,st4 ,luke described all1 as a certain author remarks1 just in the order of their places4 ,hence ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,justly has the last become first1 who1 when she was first of all1 became last4#aeff ,finally1 the humble love contempt2 therefore we do not find that ,mary appeared in ,jerusalem on ,palm ,sunday1 when her ,son was received with so much honor by the people2 but1 on the other hand1 at the time of the death of her ,son1 she did not shrink from appearing in public on ,calvary1 through fear of the disgrace of being known as the mother of one who was condemned as a criminal to die by an infamous death4 ,therefore she said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,what more contemptible than to be called a fool1 to be in want of all things1 to believe one's self the most unworthy of all8 ,such1 oh daughter1 was my humility1 this was my joy1 this my entire will1 with which ,i thought of nothing but to please my ,son40#aefg ,the venerable sister ,paula of ,foligno was given to understand in an ecstasy how great was the humility of the holy ,virgin4 ,in relating what she had seen to her confessor1 she said1 scarcely able to utter the words through astonishment3 8,oh the humility of the blessed ,virgin6 ,oh father6 oh the humility of our blessed ,lady6 ,in the world there is no humility1 not even the lowest degree of humility1 to be compared with the humility of ,mary40 ,and our ,lord1 at another time1 showed ,st4 ,bridget two females1 one all pomp and vanity3 8,this one10 he said1 8is ,pride2 but the other whom you see with her head bent down1 respectful to all1 having ,god alone in her mind1 and having no esteem for herself1 is ,humility1 and is called ,mary40#aefh ,by this ,god wished to make known to us that his blessed mother was so humble that she was humility itself4 ,it is not to be doubted1 as ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa says1 that for our nature1 corrupted by sin1 there is perhaps no virtue more difficult to practise than humility4 ,but there is no escape2 we can never be true children of ,mary if we are not humble4 ,if1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 you cannot imitate the virginity1 imitate the humility of the humble ,virgin4#aefi ,she abhors the proud1 she invites none to come to her but the humble3 ,whosoever is a little one1 let him come to me3 8,si quis est parvulus1 veniat ad me40 ,mary1 says ,richard1 protects us under the mantle of humility3 8,maria protegit nos sub pallio humilitatis40 ,the mother of ,god herself explained this to ,st4 ,bridget1 saying3 8,come1 then1 oh my daughter1 and hide thyself under my mantle2 this mantle is my humility40#aegj ,and she then added1 that the contemplation of her humility was a good mantle1 that keeps us warm2 but1 as she afterwards said3 8,the mantle only warms him who wears it1 not only in thought but in fact2 thus my humility does not profit unless every one strives to imitate it4 ,therefore1 my daughter10 she concludes1 8clothe thyself with this humility40#aega ,oh1 how dear to ,mary is the humble soul6 ,st4 ,bernard writes3 ,the ,virgin recognizes and loves those who love her1 and she is near to all who invoke her1 especially to those whom she sees like herself in chastity and humility4#aegb ,wherefore the saint then exhorts all those who love ,mary1 to be humble3 ,emulate this virtue if you love ,mary4#aegc ,marino1 or ,martino d',alberto1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 through love of the ,virgin1 was accustomed to sweep the house and collect the filth4 ,the divine mother once appeared to him1 as ,father ,nierembergh relates in his ,life1 and as if thanking him1 said3 8,how dear to me is this humble action done for love of me60 ,then1 oh my queen1 ,i shall never be a true child of thine1 if ,i am not humble4 ,but do you not see that my sins1 after having rendered me ungrateful to my ,lord1 have also made me proud8 ,oh1 my mother1 cure me2 by thy merits obtain for me that ,i may be humble1 and thus become a child of thine4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,ii4 ,,of ,,the ,,charity ,,of ,,mary ,,towards ,,god4 ,st4 ,anselm says1 that where there is the greatest purity1 there is the greatest charity3 8,ubi major puritas1 ibi major charitas40 ,the purer and more emptied of self is a heart1 the more it will be filled with charity towards ,god4 ,most holy ,mary1 because she was all humility1 and entirely emptied of self1 was entirely filled with the divine love1 so that she surpassed all men and all angels in love to ,god1 as ,st4 ,bernardine teaches4#aegd ,therefore ,st4 ,francis of ,sales has justly called her3 ,the queen of love4 ,the ,lord indeed has given to men the precept to love him with their whole heart3 8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart20#aege but1 as ,st4 ,thomas declares1 this precept will never be perfectly fulfilled by men on this earth1 but in heaven4#aegf ,and here the blessed ,albertus ,magnus remarks1 that in a certain sense1 it would be unbecoming for ,god to give a commandment which none could perfectly fulfil1 if the divine mother had not perfectly fulfilled it4 ,these are the words of ,albertus3 ,either some one fulfils this precept or no one2 if any one1 it is the most blessed ,virgin4#aegg ,and this is confirmed by ,richard of ,st4 ,victor1 who says3 ,the mother of our ,emmanuel was perfect in all virtues4 ,who has ever fulfilled as she did that first commandment3 8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart80 ,in her the divine love was so ardent1 that there could be no defect of any kind in her4#aegh ,divine love1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 so penetrated and pervaded the soul of ,mary1 that no part was left untouched by it1 so that she loved with her whole heart1 her whole soul1 and her whole strength1 and was full of grace4#aegi ,wherefore ,mary might well have said3 ,my beloved has given himself wholly to me1 and ,i have given myself wholly to him3 ,my beloved to me1 and ,i to him3 8,dilectus meus mihi1 et ego illi40#aehj ,ah1 says ,richard1 well might even the seraphim descend from heaven to learn from the heart of the ,virgin how to love ,god4#aeha ,god1 who is love3 8,deus charitas est10#aehb came on earth to kindle in all men the flame of his holy love2 but he inflamed no heart so much as the heart of his mother1 who1 being entirely pure from every earthly affection1 was perfectly ready to be enkindled by this blessed flame4 ,thus ,st4 ,jerome teaches4#aehc ,hence the heart of ,mary became all fire and flames1 as we read of her in the sacred ,canticles3 ,the lamps thereof are fire and flames3 8,lampades ejus1 lampades ignis1 atque flammarum40#aehd ,fire burning within1 through love1 as ,st4 ,anselm explains1#aehe and flames shining forth upon all1 by the practice of virtue4 ,mary1 therefore1 when she bore ,jesus in her arms1 might indeed have called herself3 ,fire carrying fire3 8,ignis gestans ignem10 more properly than a certain woman who was carrying fire in her hand was so called by ,hippocrates4 ,yes1 for ,st4 ,ildephonsus said3 ,as fire heats iron1 the ,holy ,spirit so wholly inflamed ,mary that nothing was seen in her but the flame of the ,holy ,ghost1 nothing was felt but the fire of the love of ,god4#aehf ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova says that the bush which ,moses saw entirely in flames without being consumed1 was really a symbol of the heart of the ,virgin4 ,wherefore with reason1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 was she seen by ,st4 ,john clothed with the sun3 ,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven1 a woman clothed with the sun3 8,et signum apparuit in clo1 mulier amicta sole40#aehg ,for1 says the saint1 she was so united to ,god by love that it seems as if no creature could be more united to him4 ,mary1 then1 is justly described as clothed with the sun1 for she has penetrated to an incredible depth the abyss of divine wisdom1 so that1 as far as it is permitted to a creature not personally united with ,god1 she appears immersed in that inaccessible light4#aehh ,therefore ,st4 ,bonaventure asserts1 that the holy ,virgin was never tempted by the spirits of hell3 ,for as flies1 he says1 are driven away by a great fire1 so from the heart of ,mary1 which was one flame of love1 the devils fled1 and did not even dare to approach her4#aehi ,and ,richard also says3 ,the ,virgin was terrible to the princes of darkness1 so that they did not presume to approach and tempt her1 for the flame of charity deterred them4#aeij ,mary herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that in this world she had no other thought1 no other desire1 no other joy1 than ,god3 ,i thought of nothing but ,god2 nothing pleased me but ,god3 8,nihil nisi ,deum cogitabam1 nulla mihi nisi ,deus placuerunt40 ,so that her blessed soul being1 as it were1 on this earth in a continual contemplation of ,god1 the acts of love she made were innumerable2 as ,father ,suarez has declared3 ,the acts of perfect love which the blessed ,virgin made in this life were innumerable1 for she passed almost her whole life in contemplation1 and was very frequently repeating an act of love4#aeia ,but ,bernard de ,bustis pleases me more when he says1 that ,mary did not so much repeat the acts of love in order1 as other saints do1 but1 by a singular privilege1 always actually loved ,god with one continued act4#aeib ,like the royal eagle she kept her eye always fixed upon the divine ,sun1 so that1 as ,st4 ,peter ,damian says1 neither did the actions of life prevent her from loving1 nor love prevent her from acting4#aeic ,thus1 says ,st4 ,germanus1 ,mary was prefigured by the altar of propitiation1 on which the fire was never extinguished by day or by night4 ,neither did sleep interrupt the love of ,mary for her ,god4 ,for if such a privilege was given to our first parents in the state of innocence1 as ,st4 ,augustine asserts1 saying3 ,their dreams when sleeping were as happy as their life when waking3 8,tam felicia erant somnia dormientium1 quam vita vigilantium10#aeid it certainly could not be denied to the divine mother1 as ,suarez and ,rupert the ,abbot believe1 with ,st4 ,bernardine and ,st4 ,ambrose1 who has written concerning ,mary3 ,while her body rested1 her soul watched3 8,cum quiesceret corpus1 vigilaret animus40#aeie ,thus were verified in her the words of the wise man3 ,her lamp shall not be put out in the night3 8,non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus40#aeif ,yes1 for while her blessed body1 with a light sleep1 took its needed rest1 her soul1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 freely rose to ,god1 so at that time her contemplation was more perfect than is that of any other person when awake4#aeig ,therefore could she well say with the spouse in the ,canticles3 ,i sleep and my heart watcheth3 8,ego dormio et cor meum vigilat40#aeih ,happy in sleep as in waking3 8,tam felix dormiendo1 quam vigilando10 as ,suarez says4 ,in a word1 ,st4 ,bernardine asserts1 that ,mary1 while she lived on earth1 was continually loving ,god3 8,mens ,virginis in ardore dilectionis continue tenebatur40#aeii ,and he adds further1 that she never did any thing that she did not know was pleasing to ,god2 and that she loved him as much as she knew he ought to be loved4#afjj ,hence1 according to blessed ,albertus ,magnus1 it may be said that ,mary was filled with so great charity that a greater was not possible in any pure creature on this earth4#afja ,for this reason ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova has said1 that the ,virgin1 by her ardent charity1 was made so beautiful and so enamored her ,god1 that captivated as it were1 by love of her1 he descended into her womb to become man4#afjb ,wherefore ,st4 ,bernardine exclaims3 ,behold a ,virgin who by her virtue has wounded and taken captive the heart of ,god4#afjc ,but since ,mary loves her ,god so much1 she certainly requires from her servants nothing else so much as that they should love ,god as much as they can4 ,and precisely this she said to the blessed ,angela de ,foligno one day after communion3 8,angela1 may you be blessed by my ,son2 seek to love him as much as you can40 ,and the blessed ,virgin herself said to ,st4 ,bridget3 ,daughter1 if you wish to bind me to you1 love my ,son3 8,si vis me tecum devincire1 ama filium meum40 ,mary desires nothing more than to see her beloved1 who is ,god1 loved by all4 ,novarino asks why the holy ,virgin1 with the spouse of the ,canticles1 begged the angels to make known to her ,lord the great love she bore him1 saying3 8,i adjure you1 oh daughters of ,jerusalem1 if you find my beloved1 that you tell him that ,i languish with love40#afjd ,did not ,god know how much she loved him8 ,why does she desire to show the wound to her beloved who gave the wound8 8,cur vulnus ostendi qurit dilecto qui vulnus fecit80 ,the same author answers1 that the divine mother did not wish by this to make known her love to ,god1 but to us2 that1 as she was wounded1 she might be able to wound us also with divine love3 8,ut vulnerata vulneret40#afje ,and because she was wholly inflamed with the love of ,god1 she inflames all those who love and approach her1 and renders them like herself4#afjf ,for this reason ,st4 ,catharine of ,sienna called ,mary3 ,the bearer of the flame of divine love3 8,portatrix ignis40 ,if we also wish to burn with this blessed flame1 let us always endeavor to draw near to our mother with prayers and affections4 ,oh queen of love1 ,mary1 the most lovely1 the most beloved1 and the most loving of all creatures1 as ,st4 ,francis of ,sales said to thee3 ,ah1 my mother1 thou wert always wholly inflamed with love to ,god2 ah1 deign to bestow on me at least one spark of it4 ,thou didst pray thy ,son for that family whose wine had failed3 ,they have no wine3 8,vinum non habent10 and wilt thou not pray for us1 who are wanting in love to ,god1 whom we are under such obligations to love8 ,say to ,jesus3 ,they have no love3 8,amorem non habent40 ,do thou obtain for us this love4 ,we ask of thee no other favor than this4 ,oh mother1 by the great love thou hast for ,jesus1 graciously hear us and pray for us4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,iii4 ,,of ,,the ,,charity ,,of ,,mary ,,for ,,her ,,neighbor4 ,love to ,god and our neighbor is commanded by the same precept3 8,and this commandment we have from ,god1 that he who loveth ,god1 love also his neighbor40#afjg ,and ,st4 ,thomas gives it as a reason for this1 that he who loves ,god1 loves all things which ,god loves4 ,st4 ,catherine of ,genoa one day said to ,god3 8,oh ,lord1 it is thy will that ,i love my neighbor1 and ,i can love none but thee40 ,god answered her in these words3 8,he who loves me1 loves all things loved by me40 ,but as there never has been and never will be one who loves ,god more than ,mary2 so there never has been and never will be one who loves his neighbor more than ,mary4 ,cornelius ,lapide1 remarking on these words3 8,king ,solomon hath made him a litter of the wood of ,libanus 444 the midst he covered with charity for the daughters of ,jerusalem10#afjh says1 that this litter was the womb of ,mary1 in which the incarnate ,word dwelt1 filling the mother with charity1 that she might succor all who had recourse to her4#afji ,mary was so full of charity when she was on earth1 that she assisted unasked1 those who were in need1 just as she did at the marriage of ,cana1 when she told her ,son of the trouble of the family3 ,they have no wine3 8,vinum non habent10#afaj and begged him to give them wine by a miracle4 ,oh6 how she hastened to the relief of her neighbor1 when she went to the house of ,elizabeth on an errand of charity3 ,she went into the hill country in haste3 8,abiit in montana cum festinatione40#afaa ,she could in no way show greater charity than by offering her ,son for our salvation2 so that ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,mary so loved the world as to give her only-begotten ,son4#afab ,therefore ,st4 ,anselm addresses her in these words3 ,oh1 blessed among women1 who dost excel the angels in purity1 and the saints in pity6#afac ,neither does the charity of ,mary for us fail1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 now she is in heaven2 but is much increased there4 ,because now she sees more clearly the miseries of men4#afad ,hence the saint said3 ,great was the mercy of ,mary towards the wretched when she was still an exile on earth2 but it is far greater now that she is reigning in heaven4#afae ,and the angel said to ,st4 ,bridget1 that there is no one who prays that does not receive graces through the charity of the ,virgin4#afaf ,miserable should we be were ,mary not to pray for us4 ,jesus ,christ himself also said to the same saint3 8,if the prayers of my mother did not interpose1 there would be no hope of mercy40#afag ,blessed is he1 says the divine mother1 who hears my teachings and considers my charity1 in order to practise it towards others in imitation of me3 8,blessed is the man that heareth me1 and that watcheth daily at my gates1 and waiteth at the posts of my doors40#afah ,st4 ,gregory ,nazianzen says1 that there is nothing by which we may more surely gain the love of ,mary1 than by the practice of charity towards our neighbor4#afai ,hence1 as ,god commands us1 saying1 8,be ye merciful1 as your ,father also is merciful20#afbj so ,mary appears to say to all her children3 ,be ye merciful1 as your mother also is merciful4#afba ,it is certain that ,god and ,mary will show mercy to us1 according to the charity we practise towards our neighbor4 8,give1 and it shall be given to you40 8,for with the same measure that you shall mete withal1 it shall be measured to you again40#afbb ,st4 ,methodius said3 ,give to the poor and receive paradise3 8,da pauperi et accipe ,paradisum30 for1 according to the apostle1 charity towards our neighbor renders us happy in this life and the next3 8,but piety is profitable to all things1 having promise of the life that now is1 and of that which is to come40#afbc ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 remarking on the words of ,proverbs1 8,he that hath mercy on the poor1 lendeth to the ,lord10#afbd says1 that he who assists the needy1 makes ,god his debtor4#afbe ,oh mother of mercy1 thou art full of charity for all4 ,do not forget my miseries4 ,thou dost even now see them4 ,recommend me to that ,god who denies thee nothing4 ,obtain for me the grace of being able to imitate thee in holy charity towards ,god and towards my neighbor4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,iv4 ,,of ,,the ,,faith ,,of ,,mary4 ,as the blessed ,virgin is the mother of love and of hope1 thus1 also1 is she the mother of faith4 8,i am the mother of fair love1 and of fear1 and knowledge1 and of holy hope40#afbf ,and justly1 says ,st4 ,irneus1 since ,mary repaired by her faith that loss which ,eve caused by her incredulity4#afbg ,eve1 ,tertullian also says1 because she chose to believe the serpent rather than the ,word of ,god1 brought death into the world2 but our queen1 believing the words of the angel1 that she1 remaining a virgin1 was to become the mother of the ,lord1 brought salvation to the world4#afbh ,for ,st4 ,augustine says that ,mary1 giving her consent to the incarnation of the ,word1 by means of her faith opened paradise to men4#afbi ,also ,richard1 commenting on the words of ,st4 ,paul1 8,for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife10#afcj says3 ,this is the believing woman by whose faith the unbelieving ,adam and all his posterity are saved4#afca ,hence1 on account of her faith1 ,elizabeth pronounced the ,virgin blessed3 ,blessed art thou that hast believed1 because those things shall be accomplished in thee that were spoken by the ,lord4#afcb ,and ,st4 ,augustine added3 ,mary is more blessed by receiving the faith of ,christ than by conceiving the flesh of ,christ4#afcc ,father ,suarez says that the holy ,virgin had more faith than all men and all the angels4 ,she saw her ,son in the stable of ,bethlehem1 and believed him the ,creator of the world4 ,she saw him flying from ,herod1 and yet believed that he was the ,king of kings4 ,she saw him born1 and believed him to be eternal4 ,she saw him poor and in need of food1 and believed him to be ,lord of the universe2 laid on straw1 and she believed him omnipotent4 ,she observed that he did not speak1 and she believed him to be the infinite ,wisdom4 ,she heard him weeping1 and she believed him to be the joy of paradise4 ,finally1 she saw him in death1 despised and crucified1 but although the faith of others might have wavered1 ,mary remained firm in the belief that he was ,god4 ,st4 ,antoninus says1 remarking on the words3 ,there stood by the cross of ,jesus his mother3 8,stabat juxta crucem ,jesu mater ejus10 ,mary stood supported by her faith1 which she retained firm in the divinity of ,christ4#afcd ,and it is for this reason1 says the saint1 that in the office of ,tenebr1 only one candle is left lighted4 ,st4 ,leo1 when treating of this subject1 applies to the ,virgin this passage of ,proverbs3 8,her lamp shall not be put out in the night40#afce ,on the words of ,isaias1 8,i have trodden the wine-press alone1 and of the ,gentiles1 there is not a man with me10#afcf ,st4 ,thomas remarks3 ,he says a man1 on account of the ,virgin1 in whom faith never failed4#afcg ,whence the blessed ,albertus ,magnus says1 that ,mary practised then a most perfect faith4 ,she had faith in a most excellent degree2 who1 even when the disciples were doubting1 did not doubt4 ,mary1 therefore1 by her great faith merited to become the light of all the faithful1 as ,st4 ,methodius calls her3 8,fidelium fax40 ,and by ,st4 ,cyril of ,alexandria3 ,the queen of the true faith3 8,sceptrum orthodox fidei40 ,and the holy ,church herself attributes to the ,virgin1 by the merit of her faith1 the destruction of all heresies3 8,rejoice1 oh ,virgin ,mary1 for thou alone hast destroyed all heresies throughout the world40#afch ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova also says1 explaining the words of the ,holy ,spirit1 8,thou hast wounded my heart1 my sister1 my spouse 444 with one of thy eyes10#afci that the eyes signify faith1 by which the ,virgin gave the greatest pleasure to the ,son of ,god4#afdj ,st4 ,ildephonsus exhorts us to imitate the faith of ,mary3 8,imitamini signaculum fidei ,mari40 ,but how are we to imitate this faith of ,mary8 ,faith is at the same time a gift and a virtue4 ,it is a gift of ,god1 in so far as it is a light which ,god infuses into the soul1 and it is also a virtue in so far as it is exercised by the soul4 ,hence faith is given us not only to serve as a rule of belief1 but also of action4 ,therefore ,st4 ,gregory says3 ,he truly believes who1 by his works1 practises what he believes4#afda ,and ,st4 ,augustine3 ,thou sayest1 8,i believe10 do what you say1 and it is faith4#afdb ,and this is to have a lively faith1 namely1 to live according to our belief4 8,my just man liveth by faith40#afdc ,it was thus the blessed ,virgin lived1 very differently from those who do not live according to what they believe1 whose faith is dead1 as ,st4 ,james says3 ,faith without good works is dead3 8,fide sine operibus mortua est40#afdd ,diogenes went about seeking a man upon earth3 8,hominem quro20 but ,god seems seeking a ,christian among the many faithful3 8,christianum quro40 ,for very few are they who have the works1 the greater part have only the name2 but to these should be said what ,alexander said to that cowardly soldier who was also named ,alexander3 ,change either your name or your conduct3 8,aut nomen1 aut mores muta40 ,but1 as ,father ,avila used to say3 ,it would be better if these miserable creatures were put in confinement as madmen1 believing as they do1 that a happy eternity is prepared for him who lives well1 and an unhappy eternity for him who lives ill1 and yet living as if they did not believe this4 ,st4 ,augustine therefore exhorts us to see things with ,christian eyes1 that is1 to see according to faith3 8,oculos ,christianorum habete40 ,for ,st4 ,theresa was accustomed to say1 that all sins arise from a want of faith4 ,let us therefore implore the holy ,virgin1 that by the merit of her faith she may obtain for us a lively faith4 ,oh ,lady1 increase our faith3 ,domina adauge nobis fidem4 ,,section ,v4 ,,of ,,the ,,hope ,,of ,,mary4 ,from faith springs hope1 for ,god enlightens us by faith with a knowledge of his goodness and his promises1 that we may rise by hope to the desire of possessing him4 ,mary1 then1 having the virtue of an extraordinary faith1 had also the virtue of an extraordinary hope1 which made her say with ,david3 8,but it is good for me to adhere to my ,god1 and to put my hope in the ,lord ,god40#afde ,mary was1 indeed1 that faithful spouse of the ,holy ,spirit1 of whom it was said3 8,who is this that cometh up from the desert1 flowing with delights1 leaning on her beloved80#afdf ,for she was always perfectly detached from affection to the world1 which to her appeared a desert2 and placing no confidence either in creatures or her own merits1 but relying entirely on divine grace1 in which alone she trusted1 she always advanced in the divine love2 and thus ,ailgrin said of her3 ,she ascended from the desert1 that is1 from the world1 which she deserted and esteemed such a desert1 that she turned away from it all her affection4 ,leaning upon her beloved2 for she trusted not in her own merits1 but in the grace of him who bestows grace4#afdg ,and the holy ,virgin plainly showed how great was her confidence in ,god3 first1 when she saw the trouble of her holy spouse1 ,joseph1 because he knew not the mode of her miraculous pregnancy1 and thought of leaving her3 ,but ,joseph 444 minded to put her away privately3 8,joseph autem 444 voluit occulte dimittere eam40#afdh ,it appeared then necessary1 as we have already said1 that she should discover to ,joseph the hidden mystery2 but no1 she would not herself reveal the grace she had received2 she thought it better to abandon herself to divine providence1 trusting that ,god himself would protect her innocence and her reputation4 ,cornelius ,lapide makes precisely the same remark1 commenting upon these very words of the ,gospel3 ,the blessed ,virgin was unwilling to make known this secret to ,joseph1 lest she should seem to boast of her gifts1 but resigned herself in perfect confidence to the care of ,god1 trusting that he would protect her innocence and reputation4#afdi ,moreover1 she showed her confidence in ,god when1 as the time for the birth of ,christ approached1 she saw herself in ,bethlehem shut out from the lodgings even of the poor1 and obliged to bring forth her ,son in a stable3 8,and she laid him in a manger1 because there was no room for him in the inn40#afej ,she did not then utter a single word of complaint1 but abandoning herself to ,god1 trusted that he would assist her in her need4 ,the divine mother also showed how much she trusted in the divine providence1 when warned by ,joseph that they were obliged to fly into ,egypt1 she set out the same night on so long a journey to a foreign and unknown country1 without preparation1 without money1 without other company than that of her infant ,jesus and her poor spouse3 8,who arose and took the child and his mother by night1 and retired into ,egypt40#afea ,but much more did ,mary make known her confidence1 when she asked from her ,son the favor of the miracle of wine at the marriage of ,cana2 for having said3 ,they have no wine3 8,vinum non habent20 ,jesus answered her3 8,woman1 what is it to thee and to me8 my hour has not yet come40#afeb ,but after this answer1 by which it seemed clearly that he refused her request1 she1 trusting in the divine goodness1 directed the people of the house to do as the ,son should order1 because the grace was secure2 ,whatsoever he shall say to you1 do ye3 8,quodcumque dixerit vobis facite40 ,and ,jesus ,christ did1 indeed1 order that the vessels should be filled with water1 and then changed it into wine4 ,let us learn then from ,mary to trust in ,god as we ought1 but principally as to what concerns our eternal salvation1 in which1 although our co-operation is necessary1 yet we ought to hope from ,god alone the grace necessary for obtaining it1 entirely distrusting our own strength1 and saying with the apostle3 ,i can do all things in him who strengtheneth me3 8,omnia possum in eo qui me confortat40#afec ,ah1 my most holy ,lady1 of thee ,ecclesiasticus says1 that thou art the mother of holy hope3 8,mater sanct spei40#afed ,the holy ,church says of thee that thou art hope itself3 ,hail1 our hope3 8,spes nostra salve40 ,what other hope then am ,i seeking8 ,thou1 after ,christ1 art all my hope2 thus ,st4 ,bernard called thee1 thus ,i also wish to call thee3 ,the whole reason of my hope3 8,tota ratio spes me20 and ,i will always say to thee with ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,oh salvation of those who invoke thee1 save me3 8,o salus te invocantium salva me40 ,,section ,,vi4 ,,of ,,the ,,chastity ,,of ,,mary4 ,since the fall of ,adam the flesh being rebellious against reason1 the virtue of chastity is the most difficult for men to practise4 ,of all combats1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 those of chastity are the most severe1 for the battle is daily and the victory rare4#afee ,but eternal praise to the ,lord who has given us in ,mary a great example of this virtue4 ,with justice1 says blessed ,albertus ,magnus1 is ,mary called the ,virgin of virgins1 for she being the first who offered her virginity to ,god1 without the counsel or example of others1 has brought to him all virgins who imitate her4#afef ,as ,david had already predicted3 ,after her virgins shall be brought to the temple of the king3 8,adducentur virgines post eam in templum regis40#afeg ,without counsel or example2 yes1 for ,st4 ,bernard exclaims3 ,oh ,virgin1 who has taught thee to please ,god by virginity1 and on earth to lead the life of an angel8#afeh ,ah6 answers ,sophronius1 it is for this ,god has chosen this most pure ,virgin for his mother1 that she may be an example of chastity to all4#afei ,hence ,st4 ,ambrose has called ,mary the standard-bearer of chastity3 8,qu signum ,virginitatis extulit40 ,by reason of this her purity the blessed ,virgin was also called by the ,holy ,spirit3 ,beautiful as the turtle-dove3 ,thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtle-dove's3 8,pulchr sunt gen tu sicut turturis40#affj ,mary1 says ,st4 ,aponius1 is a most chaste turtle3 8,turtur pudicissima ,maria40 ,and therefore she has also been called a lily3 ,as the lily among the thorns1 so is my love among the daughters3 8,sicut lilium inter spinas1 sic amica mea inter filias40#affa ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian1 commenting on this passage1 says1 that she has been called a lily among thorns because all other virgins were thorns either to themselves or others2 but the blessed ,virgin has never been one to herself or others4#affb ,for by her presence alone she infused into all1 thoughts and affections of purity3 8,intuentium corda ad castitatem invitabat40#affc ,and this is confirmed by ,st4 ,thomas1 who says that the beauty of the blessed ,virgin encouraged chastity in all who beheld her3 8,pulchritudo ,b4 ,virginis intuentes ad castitatem excitabat40#affd ,st4 ,jerome declares himself of the opinion that ,st4 ,joseph preserved his virginity by the society of ,mary1 for the saint thus writes against the heretic ,helvidius1 who denied the virginity of ,mary3 ,thou sayest that ,mary did not remain a virgin2 ,i take it upon myself to maintain more than that1 even that ,joseph himself preserved his virginity through ,mary4#affe ,a certain author says that the blessed ,virgin so loved this virtue1 that to preserve it1 she would have been ready to renounce even the dignity of mother of ,god4 ,this we may learn from her own answer to the archangel3 8,how shall this be done1 because ,i know not man80#afff and from the words she afterwards added3 ,be it done to me according to thy word3 8,fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum20 signifying by this that she gave her consent on the condition of which the angel had assured her1 namely1 that she should become a mother by means of the ,holy ,spirit alone4 ,st4 ,ambrose says3 ,he who has preserved chastity is an angel1 he who has lost it is a devil4#affg ,according to the words of our ,lord3 8,they shall be as the angels of ,god in heaven40#affh ,but the unchaste become odious to ,god as the devils4 ,and ,st4 ,remigius said that the greater number of adults are lost through this vice4 ,the victory over this vice is rare1 as has been said in the words of ,st4 ,augustine at the beginning of this section2 but why is it rare8 ,because the means for conquering it are not put in use4 ,the means are three according to ,bellarmine1 and the masters of the spiritual life3 ,fasting1 avoiding dangerous occasions1 and prayer3 8,jejuniun1 periculorum evitatio1 et oratio40 ,by fasting is meant mortification1 particularly of the eyes and of the appetite4 ,the most holy ,mary1 although she was full of divine grace1 was so mortified with her eyes that she kept them always cast down1 as ,st4 ,epiphanius and ,st4 ,john ,damascene inform us1 and never fixed them on any one2 they say that from her childhood she was so modest that she was the wonder of all4 ,and hence ,st4 ,luke remarks1 that in going to visit ,st4 ,elizabeth3 ,she went with haste3 8,abiit cum festinatione10 that she might not be long seen in public4 ,philibert relates with regard to her food1 that it was revealed to a hermit named ,felix1 that the infant ,mary took milk only once a day4 ,and ,st4 ,gregory of ,tours asserts that1 during her whole life1 she fasted always3 8,nullo tempore ,maria non jejunavit20 and ,st4 ,bonaventure adds1 that ,mary would never have found so much grace unless she had been temperate in food1 for grace and gluttony cannot subsist together4#affi ,in a word1 ,mary practised mortification in every thing1 so that of her it was said3 ,my hands dropped with myrrh3 8,manus me stillaverunt myrrham40#afgj ,the second means is to fly the occasions of sin4 ,he that is aware of the snares shall be secure3 8,qui autem cavet laqueos1 securus erit40#afga ,hence ,st4 ,philip ,neri said1 that in this warfare cowards conquer2 that is1 those who avoid dangerous occasions4 ,mary shunned as much as possible the sight of men2 and therefore ,st4 ,luke says that in her visit to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 she went with haste into the hill country3 8,abiit in montana cum festinatione40 ,and a certain author remarks that the ,virgin left ,elizabeth before the birth of the ,baptist1 as we learn from the ,gospel itself1 in which it is said that 8,mary abode with her about three months2 and she returned to her own house4 ,now ,elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come1 and she brought forth a son40#afgb ,and why did she not wait till his birth8 ,in order to avoid the conversation and visits which would follow that event4 ,the third means is prayer4 8,and as ,i knew10 said the wise man1 8that ,i could not otherwise be continent except ,god gave it4444 ,i went to the ,lord and besought him40#afgc ,and the blessed ,virgin revealed to ,st4 ,elisabeth1 a ,benedictine nun1 that she had not acquired any virtue without effort and continual prayer4#afgd ,st4 ,john ,damascene says that ,mary is pure and a lover of purity3 8,pura est et puritatem amans10 and therefore she cannot endure the impure4 ,but whoever has recourse to her will certainly be delivered from this vice by only pronouncing her name with confidence4 ,and the venerable ,john of ,avila says that many temptations against chastity have been overcome solely by devotion to the immaculate ,virgin4 ,oh ,mary1 oh most pure dove1 how many are in hell through the vice of impurity6 ,oh ,lady1 obtain for us that always in our temptations we may have recourse to thee1 and invoke thee1 saying3 ,mary1 ,mary1 help us4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,vii4 ,,on ,,the ,,poverty ,,of ,,mary4 ,our loving ,redeemer chose to be poor on this earth in order to teach us to despise the goods of this world3 8,being rich10 says ,st4 ,paul1 8he became poor for your sake1 that through his poverty you might be rich40#afge ,for this reason ,jesus ,christ says to each one who wishes to be his disciple3 8,if thou wilt be perfect1 go sell what thou hast and give it to the poor1 and come follow me40#afgf ,behold his most perfect disciple ,mary1 who indeed imitated his example4 ,father ,canisius proves that the holy ,virgin could have lived in comfort on the inheritance left her by her parents1 but she was content to remain poor1 reserving to herself a small portion1 and giving the rest in alms to the temple and to the poor4 ,many are of opinion that ,mary also made a vow of poverty1#afgg and it is known that she herself said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,from the beginning ,i vowed in my heart never to possess any thing in the world40#afgh ,the gifts received from the holy ,magi were certainly not of small value1 but ,st4 ,bernard attests that she distributed them all to the poor4#afgi ,and we learn that the divine mother immediately gave to others the presents above mentioned1 from the fact that when she went to the temple she did not offer the lamb1 which was the oblation made by those who were able1 as we read in ,leviticus3 8,for a son she shall bring a lamb10#afhj 444 but she offered two turtle-doves and two young pigeons1 the oblation of the poor3 8,and to offer a sacrifice1 according as it is written in the law of the ,lord1 a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons40#afha ,mary herself said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,all that ,i had ,i gave to the poor1 and kept nothing for myself but poor food and clothing40#afhb ,through love of poverty she did not disdain to marry a poor carpenter1 like ,st4 ,joseph1 and afterwards1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure relates1 to support herself by the work of her hands1 as sewing or spinning4 ,an angel revealed to ,st4 ,bridget concerning ,mary1 that worldly riches were in her eyes vile as dirt3 8,mundan divit velut lutum sibi vilescebat40 ,in a word1 she always lived in poverty1 and she died in poverty2 for as ,metaphrastes and ,nicephorus relate1 she left nothing behind her at her death but two poor garments to two women1 who had assisted her during life4#afhc ,he who loves riches1 said ,st4 ,philip ,neri1 will never become a saint2 and ,st4 ,theresa also said3 ,it justly follows that he who goes in search of things lost is also lost4 ,on the other hand1 the same saint said1 that this virtue of poverty is a good that comprises all other goods4 ,i have said the virtue of poverty which1 according to ,st4 ,bernard1 does not consist alone in being poor1 but in loving poverty3 8,non paupertas1 sed amor paupertatis virtus est40 ,therefore ,jesus ,christ has said3 8,blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven40#afhd ,blessed1 because they who wish for nothing but ,god1 in ,god find every good1 and find in poverty their paradise on earth1 as ,st4 ,francis found it in saying3 ,my ,god and my all3 8,deus meus et omnia40 ,let us1 then1 according to the exhortation of ,st4 ,augustine1 love that only good in which is every good3 8,ama unum bonum1 in quo sunt omnia bona40 ,and let us pray our ,lord with ,st4 ,ignatius3 ,give me only thy love together with thy grace1 and ,i am rich enough4#afhe ,and when poverty afflicts us1 let us console ourselves by the thought that ,jesus and his mother have also been poor like us4#afhf ,ah1 my most holy mother1 thou hadst in truth reason to say1 that in ,god was thy joy3 8,and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour10#afhg for in this world thou didst not desire nor love any other good than ,god4 ,draw me after thee3 8,trahe me post te40 ,oh ,lady6 detach me from the world1 and draw me after thee to love that one who alone merits to be loved4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,viii4 ,,of ,,the ,,obedience ,,of ,,mary4 ,it was through the affection which ,mary bore to the virtue of obedience1 that when the annunciation was made to her by ,st4 ,gabriel1 she did not wish to call herself by any other name than that of handmaid3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord3 8,ecce ancilla ,domini40 ,indeed1 says ,st4 ,thomas of ,villanova1 this faithful handmaid neither in act1 word1 nor thought1 ever disobeyed the ,lord1 but1 divested of all self-will1 she always1 and in all things1 lived obedient to the divine will4#afhh ,she herself declared that ,god was pleased with her obedience when she said3 ,he regarded the humility of his handmaid3 8,respexit humilitatem ancill su20#afhi for this is the humility of a servant1 to be always prompt to obey4 ,st4 ,augustine says1 that the divine mother remedied by her obedience the evil that ,eve had caused by her disobedience4#afij ,the obedience of ,mary was far more perfect than that of all the other saints1 for all men being inclined to evil through original sin1 they all feel difficulty in doing right2 but not so the blessed ,virgin2 for as ,st4 ,bernardine says3 ,because she was free from original sin1 there was in her no hindrance in obeying ,god1 but she was like a wheel readily moved at every divine breath2#afia hence her only occupation on this earth1 as the same saint expresses it1 was to discover and do what was pleasing to ,god4#afib ,of her it was said3 ,my soul melted when he spoke3 8,anima mea liquefacta est1 ut dilectus meus locutus est40#afic ,commenting on this passage1 ,richard says that the soul of ,mary was like metal in a state of fusion1 ready to take any form that was pleasing to ,god4#afid ,mary proved indeed the readiness of her obedience1 in the first place1 when1 in order to please ,god1 she was willing even to obey the ,roman emperor1 and made the journey1 fifty miles1 to ,bethlehem1 in winter1 being pregnant1 and so poor that she was obliged to bring forth her ,son in a stable4 ,she was also ready at the notice of ,st4 ,joseph1 to set out immediately on that very night upon the longer and more difficult journey into ,egypt4 ,and ,silveira asks why the command to fly into ,egypt was given to ,st4 ,joseph and not to the blessed ,virgin1 who was to suffer the most from the journey8 ,and he answers3 ,lest the ,virgin should be deprived of an opportunity for performing an act of obedience for which she was most ready4#afie ,but above all1 she showed her heroic obedience1 when1 in order to obey the divine will1 she offered her ,son to death with so much firmness that1 as ,st4 ,ildephonsus says1 she would have been ready to crucify him1 if executioners had been wanting4#afif ,hence the venerable ,bede1 commenting on those words of the ,redeemer to that woman in the ,gospel who exclaimed3 8,blessed is the womb that bore thee30 8,yea1 rather1 blessed are they who hear the ,word of ,god and keep it10#afig says1 that ,mary was more happy through obedience to the divine will1 than in being the mother of ,god himself4#afih ,for this reason it is1 that those who love obedience are very pleasing to the ,virgin4 ,she appeared once to a religious1 a ,franciscan1 named ,accorso1 in his cell1 who being called by obedience to go and hear the confession of a sick person1 went out1 but when he returned he found ,mary waiting for him1 and she greatly praised his obedience4 ,as1 on the other hand1 she greatly blamed another religious1 who1 when the bell had summoned him to the refectory1 delayed in order to finish certain devotions4#afii ,the ,virgin1 speaking to ,st4 ,bridget of the security found in obeying a spiritual father1 said3 ,obedience has brought all the saints to glory3 8,obedientia omnes introducit ad gloriam40#agjj ,st4 ,philip ,neri also says1 that ,god requires no account of things done in obedience1 having himself declared3 8,he that heareth you1 heareth me2 and he that despiseth you1 despiseth me40#agja ,the mother of ,god herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 that through the merit of her obedience she had obtained from the ,lord that all penitent sinners who have recourse to her1 should be pardoned4#agjb ,ah1 our queen and mother1 pray ,jesus for us1 obtain for us through the merit of thy obedience that we may be faithful in obeying his will1 and the commands of our spiritual fathers4 ,amen4 ,,section ,,ix4 ,,of ,,the ,,patience ,,of ,,mary4 ,since this earth is a place of merit1 it is justly called a valley of tears2 for we are all placed here to suffer1 and by patience to obtain for our souls eternal life3 8,in your patience you shall possess your souls10#agjc said our ,lord4 ,god gave us the ,virgin ,mary as an example of all virtues1 but especially as an example of patience4 ,st4 ,francis of ,sales1 among other things1 remarks1 that at the nuptials of ,cana ,jesus ,christ gave an answer to the most holy ,virgin1 by which he seemed to pay but little regard to her prayers3 ,woman1 what is that to thee and to me8 8,quid mihi et tibi est1 mulier80 precisely for this reason1 that he might give us an example of the patience of his holy mother4 ,but why seek further8 ,the whole life of ,mary was a continual exercise of patience1 for1 as an angel revealed to ,st4 ,bridget1 the blessed ,virgin lived always in the midst of sufferings4#agjd ,her compassion alone for the sufferings of the ,redeemer was enough to make her a martyr of patience2 wherefore ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,the crucified conceived the crucified3 8,crucifixa crucifixum concepit40 ,when we spoke of her dolors1 we considered all she suffered1 as well in her journey and life in ,egypt1 as during the whole time she lived with her ,son in the workshop of ,nazareth4 ,but the presence of ,mary on ,calvary1 with her dying ,jesus1 is alone enough to show us how constant and sublime was her patience3 ,there stood by the cross of ,jesus1 his mother3 8,stabat juxta crucem ,jesu mater ejus40 ,then1 by the merit of this her patience1 as blessed ,albertus ,magnus remarks1 she became our mother1 and brought us forth to the life of grace4#agje ,if we desire then to be the children of ,mary1 we must seek to imitate her patience4 ,and what1 says ,st4 ,cyprian1 can enrich us more with merit in this life1 and glory in the other1 than bearing sufferings with patience8#agjf ,god said by the mouth of the prophet ,osee3 ,i will hedge up thy way with thorns3 8,sepiam viam tuam spinis40#agjg ,st4 ,gregory remarks on this passage1 that the ways of the elect are hedged with thorns3 8,electorum vi spinis sepiuntur40 ,for as a hedge of thorns protects the vine1 so ,god encompasses his servants with tribulation1 in order that they may not become attached to the earth2 therefore ,st4 ,cyprian concludes1 patience delivers us from sin and from hell3 8,patientia nos servat40 ,and it is patience that makes the saints3 8,patience hath a perfect work10#agjh bearing in peace the crosses that come to us directly from ,god1 as sickness1 poverty1 c41 as well as those that come to us from men1 such as persecutions1 injuries1 c4 ,st4 ,john saw all the saints with palms1 the emblem of martyrdom1 in their hands4 8,after this ,i saw a great multitude 444 and palms were in their hands20#agji signifying by this that all men must be martyrs by the sword1 or by patience4 ,be then joyful1 exclaims ,st4 ,gregory3 ,we can be martyrs without blood1 if we preserve patience4#agaj ,if we suffer the afflictions of this life1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 patiently and joyfully3 8,patienter1 et gaudenter10 oh1 how much every pain endured for ,god will obtain for us in heaven6 ,hence the apostle encourages us in these words3 8,our tribulation1 which is momentary and light1 worketh for us 444 an eternal weight of glory40#agaa ,beautiful are the instructions of ,st4 ,theresa on this subject3 8,he who embraces the cross10 she says1 8does not feel it40 ,and again3 8,when a person resolves to suffer1 the pain is over40 ,and if we feel our crosses heavy1 let us have recourse to ,mary1 who is called by the ,church3 ,the comforter of the afflicted3 8,consolatrix afflictorum20 and by ,st4 ,john ,damascene3 ,the remedy for all sorrows of the heart3 8,omnium dolorum cordium medicamentum40 ,ah1 my most sweet ,lady1 thou1 though innocent1 didst suffer with so much patience1 and shall ,i1 who am deserving of hell1 refuse to suffer8 ,my mother1 to-day ,i ask of thee the grace not to be exempt from crosses1 but to support them with patience4 ,for the love of ,jesus ,i pray thee to obtain for me nothing less than this grace from ,god2 through you ,i hope for it4 ,,section ,x4 ,,of ,,the ,,prayer ,,of ,,mary4 ,no soul on this earth has ever followed so perfectly as the blessed ,virgin that great lesson of our ,saviour3 ,we ought always to pray1 and not to faint3 8,oportet semper orare1 et non deficere40#agab ,from no other1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 can we better take example1 and learn the necessity of persevering in prayer1 than from ,mary4 ,mary gave an example1 that we ought to follow and not faint4#agac ,for the blessed ,albertus ,magnus asserts1 that after ,jesus ,christ1 the divine mother was the most perfect in the virtue of prayer1 of all who ever have lived or ever will live3 8,virtus orationis in ,b4 ,virgine excellentissima fuit40#agad ,first1 because her prayer was continual and persevering4 ,from the first moment in which she had life1 and with life the perfect use of reason1 as we have said above in the ,discourse on her ,nativity1 she began to pray4 ,and1 moreover1 that she might devote herself more to prayer1 she wished1 when a child of only three years1 to shut herself up in the retirement of the temple2 where1 as she herself revealed to ,st4 ,elizabeth 7virgin71 among the other hours that she allotted to prayer1 she was accustomed to rise at midnight and go to pray before the altar of the temple4#agae ,and1 in order to meditate on the sufferings of ,jesus1 according to ,odilone1 she also frequently visited the places of our ,lord's nativity1 passion1 and burial4#agaf ,moreover1 her prayer1 as ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian has written1 was wholly recollected1 free from all distractions1 and every irregular inclination4#agag ,therefore the blessed ,virgin1 through her love of prayer1 had so great a love of solitude1 that1 as she said to ,st4 ,bridget1 when she lived in the temple she even abstained from intercourse with her holy parents4 ,st4 ,jerome1 meditating on the words of ,isaias--8,behold a ,virgin shall conceive and bear a ,son1 and his name shall be called ,emmanuel0#agah--says1 that in ,hebrew the word virgin properly signifies a retired virgin2 so that ,mary's love of solitude was already predicted by the prophet4 ,richard says that the angel addressed her in the words1 ,the ,lord is with thee3 8,dominus tecum10 on account of her great love of solitude4#agai ,and ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer asserts that the divine mother never went from home1 except to go to the temple1 and then she went entirely recollected1 having her eyes always cast down4#agbj ,when going to visit ,st4 ,elizabeth1 she went with haste3 8,abiit cum festinatione20 and from this ,st4 ,ambrose says virgins should learn to shun the public eye4 ,st4 ,bernard teaches that ,mary1 through her love of prayer and solitude1 was always careful to avoid conversation with men4#agba ,hence she is called by the ,holy ,spirit the turtle-dove3 ,thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtle-dove's3 8,pulchr sunt gen tu sicut turturis40#agbb ,which words ,vergellus thus explains3 ,the turtle-dove is a lover of solitude1 and is an emblem of the unitive power of the soul4#agbc ,so the ,virgin always lived solitary in this world1 as in a desert1 and therefore it was said of her3 ,who is this that goeth up by the desert1 as a pillar of smoke8 8,qu est ista qu ascendit per desertum1 sicut virgula fumi80#agbd ,on which words ,rupert the ,abbot says3 ,thus thou didst ascend by the desert1 having a solitary soul3 8,talis ascendisti per desertum animam habens solitariam40 ,philo said that ,god speaks to souls only in solitude3 8,dei sermo amat deserta40 ,and ,god himself declared this by the prophet ,osee1 when he said3 ,i will lead her into the wilderness1 and ,i will speak to her heart3 8,ducam eam in solitudinem1 et loquar ad cor ejus40#agbe ,and hence ,st4 ,jerome exclaims3 ,oh solitude1 in which ,god familiarly converses with his servants6#agbf ,yes1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 because the quiet and the silence that is enjoyed in solitude1 force the soul to leave the earth in thought1 and to meditate on the things of heaven4#agbg ,oh1 most holy ,virgin1 obtain for us a love of prayer and solitude1 that detaching ourselves from the love of creatures1 we may aspire only after ,god and heaven1 where we hope one day to see thee1 to praise and love with thee thy ,son1 ,jesus1 forever and ever4 ,amen4 8,come over to me1 all ye that desire me1 and be filled with my fruits40#agbh ,the fruits of ,mary are her virtues4 ,none has appeared like unto thee1 in all time before or after thee4#agbi ,thou alone1 oh woman without equal1 hast been pleasing to ,christ4 ,,various ,,practices ,,of ,,devotion ,,to ,,the ,,divine ,,mother4 ,the queen of heaven is so liberal1 as ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete says1 that she makes a large return for the smallest devotions of her servants4#agcj ,but two conditions are necessary for this3 ,first1 that we offer her the homage of a soul pure from sin2 for otherwise ,mary will say to us what she said to a soldier1 a man of vicious habits1 who1 as ,st4 ,peter ,celestine relates1#agca offered every day a devotion to the ,virgin4 ,one day when he was suffering greatly from hunger1 our ,lady appeared to him1 and presented him some exquisite viands1 but in a vase so filthy that he did not venture to taste them4 8,i am the mother of ,god10 ,mary then said to him1 8who has come to relieve thy hunger40 8,but ,i cannot taste from this vase10 answered the soldier4 8,and do you wish10 replied ,mary1 8that ,i should accept thy devotions1 offered me from a soul so polluted80 ,the soldier1 at these words1 was converted1 became a hermit1 lived thirty years in the desert1 and at death the ,virgin again appeared to him and conducted him to heaven4 ,we have said1 in the first part of this work1 that morally speaking it was impossible that a servant of ,mary should be lost4 ,but this must be understood with the condition1 that he lives without sin1 or at least that he wishes to abandon it1 for then our ,lady will assist him4 ,but if any one1 on the other hand1 should sin1 in the hope that our ,lady will save him1 he would by his sin render himself unworthy and incapable of the protection of ,mary4 ,the second condition is1 that he perseveres in his devotion to ,mary4 ,perseverance alone shall merit a crown1 says ,st4 ,bernard3 8,perseverantia sola meretur coronam40#agcb ,thomas ,kempis1 when a young man1 was accustomed daily to have recourse to the ,virgin with certain prayers2 one day he omitted them1 then he omitted them for some weeks1 then he gave them up entirely4 ,one night he saw ,mary in a dream1 who embraced his companions1 but having come to him1 said3 8,what do you expect1 who have given up your devotions8 ,depart1 for you are unworthy of my favors40 ,terrified by these words1 ,thomas awoke1 and resumed his accustomed prayers4 ,richard therefore with reason says3 ,he who is perseveringly devoted to ,mary will be blessed with the hope1 that all his desires may be gratified4#agcc ,but as no one can be secure of this perseverance1 no one can be sure of salvation before his death4 ,it was a very remarkable document which brother ,john ,berchmans1 of the ,company of ,jesus1 gave to his companions1 when he was requested by them to leave with them in writing1 what was the most pleasing devotion which they could make to our ,lady1 in order to obtain her protection1 and he answered3 ,any small thing1 but let it be constant3 8,quidquid minimum1 dum modo sit constans40 ,finally1 however1 ,i add here1 simply and in a few words1 the different devotions we may offer to our mother1 to obtain for us her favor2 a thing which ,i consider the most useful that ,i have written in this little work4 ,but ,i do not so much recommend to my reader to practise them all1 as to practise those which he selects1 with perseverance1 and in fear of losing the protection of the divine mother1 if he neglects to continue them4 ,oh1 how many who are in hell would have been saved1 if they had continued the devotions which they once commenced to ,mary6 ,,devotion ,i4--,,of ,,the 8,,hail ,,mary40 ,this angelical salutation is very pleasing to the most holy ,virgin1 for it seems to renew1 as it were1 the joy which she experienced1 when ,st4 ,gabriel announced to her that she was made mother of ,god2 and therefore we should often salute her with the 8,hail ,mary40 ,salute her with the angelical salutation1 says ,thomas ,kempis1 for gladly does she hear this sound4#agcd ,the divine mother herself said to ,st4 ,matilda1 that no one could better salute her than with the 8,hail ,mary40 ,he who salutes ,mary will also be saluted by her4 ,st4 ,bernard heard himself once audibly saluted from a statue of the ,virgin1 which said to him1 ,hail ,bernard3 8,ave ,bernarde40#agce ,and the salutation of ,mary1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 will be some grace1 whereby she always responds to those who salute her4#agcf ,and ,richard adds3 ,if any one comes to the mother of our ,lord saying1 8,hail ,mary10 could she deny him the favor he asks8#agcg ,mary herself promised ,st4 ,gertrude help in death for every 8,hail ,mary0 she said4 ,the blessed ,alanus asserts1 that as all heaven rejoices when a 8,hail ,mary0 is said1 so the devil trembles and flees3 8,clum gaudet1 ,satan fugit1 cum dico1 ,ave ,maria40 ,which ,thomas ,kempis also confirms1 for a devil who once appeared to him suddenly fled at hearing the 8,hail ,mary40#agch ,the practice of this devotion is3--#ast4 ,to say every morning on rising1 and every evening on going to bed1 three 8,hail ,marys10 prostrate1 or at least kneeling2 adding at each that short prayer3 8,by thy pure and immaculate conception1 oh ,mary6 make my body pure1 and my soul holy40 ,to ask the blessing of ,mary as our mother1 as ,st4 ,stanislas always did1 and place ourselves under the mantle of our ,lady1 praying her that during the following day or night she may keep us from sin4 ,and it is a great help to this1 to keep near the bed a beautiful image of the ,virgin4 #b;d4 ,to say the ,angelus1 c41 with the three 8,hail ,marys0 as usual1 in the morning1 at noon1 and in the evening4 ,john ,,xxii4 was the first ,pope who attached an indulgence to this devotion1 on the occasion1 as ,father ,crasset relates1#agci when a criminal who was condemned to be burned1 by invoking ,mary on the ,vigil of her ,annunciation remained uninjured1 even to his garments1 in the midst of the flames4 ,benedict ,,xiii4 at length granted a hundred days' indulgence to those who recite it1 and at the end of the month a plenary indulgence1 having made their confession and received holy communion4 ,father ,crasset also states that there have been other indulgences granted by ,clement ,x4 to those who at the end of each 8,hail ,mary0 add3 ,thanks be to ,god and ,mary3 8,deo gratias et ,mari40#agdj ,formerly1 at the sound of the bell1 every one knelt to say the ,angelus2 now some are ashamed to do so2 but ,st4 ,charles ,borromeo was not ashamed to descend from his carriage or horse1 to recite it in the street1 and sometimes even in the mud4 ,it is related that a certain indolent religious1 who would not kneel at the signal for the 8,hail ,mary10 saw the belfry bow three times1 and a voice spoke from it which said3 ,behold1 thou wilt not do what even senseless creatures do4 ,let it be remembered1 that as ,benedict ,,xiv4 directed1 in the ,paschal season1 instead of the ,angelus the 8,regina ,cli0 is said4 ,and from ,vespers on ,saturday1 through the whole of ,sunday1 the ,angelus ,domini is said standing4 #c;d4 ,to salute the mother of ,god with a 8,hail ,mary10 every time the clock strikes4 ,alphonsus ,rodriguez saluted ,mary every hour1 and in the night when the hour came1 the angels awoke him1 that he might not omit this devotion4 #dth4 ,on quitting and entering the house1 to salute the ,virgin with a 8,hail ,mary10 that at home and abroad she may protect us from sin1 and to kiss her feet as the ,carthusian ,fathers are accustomed to do4 #eth4 ,to pay reverence with a 8,hail ,mary0 to every image of ,mary which we meet1 and let every one who can do so1 place some beautiful image of the ,virgin in a niche in the walls of his house1 that it may be honored by those who are passing by4 ,in ,naples1 and still more in ,rome1 there are very beautiful images of our ,lady1 by the wayside1 placed there by her devout servants4 #fth4 ,the holy ,church directs that the angelical salutation be prefixed to all the canonical hours of the office1 and that the office should terminate with it2 hence it is well1 at the beginning and end of every action1 always to say a 8,hail ,mary20 ,i say of every action1 whether it be spiritual1 as prayer1 confession1 communion1 spiritual reading1 hearing a sermon1 c42 or temporal1 as study1 giving counsel1 labor1 going to table1 to bed1 c4 ,happy are those actions that are inclosed between two 8,hail ,marys60 ,and thus also on awaking in the morning1 on closing the eyes to sleep1 in every temptation and peril1 in every burst of anger1 c41 say always a 8,hail ,mary40 ,my dear reader1 practise this1 and you will see the advantage to be drawn from it2 remembering that for every 8,hail ,mary0 there are twenty days' indulgence4#agda ,moreover1 ,father ,auriemma relates1#agdb that the blessed ,virgin promised ,st4 ,matilda a good death1 if she recited every day three 8,hail ,marys0 in honor of her power1 wisdom1 and goodness4 ,and she also said to blessed ,jane of ,france1 that the 8,hail ,mary0 was very pleasing to her1 especially when said ten times in honor of her ten virtues4#agdc ,many indulgences are also attached to these ten 8,hail ,marys40 ,,devotion ,,ii4--,,of ,,novenas4 ,the servants of ,mary are very attentive and fervent in celebrating the ,novenas of her ,feasts2 and during these the holy ,virgin1 full of love1 dispenses to them innumerable and special blessings4 ,one day ,st4 ,gertrude saw under the mantle of ,mary innumerable souls1 whom our ,lady was looking upon with great affection1 and she understood them to be those who1 on preceding days1 had prepared themselves1 by devout exercises1 for the feast of the ,assumption4 ,the devotions to be used for the ,novenas are the following3 #ast4 ,mental prayer1 morning and evening1 with a visit to the most holy ,sacrament1 with the addition of an 8,our ,father10 8,hail ,mary10 and 8,glory be to the ,father1 c410 repeated nine times4 #b;d4 ,three visits to some image of ,mary1 thanking the ,lord for the graces granted to her1 and asking of the ,virgin every time some special favor2 and at one of these visits the prayer which is placed at the end of each of her feasts should be read4 #c;d4 ,make many acts of love1 at least one hundred1 or fifty1 to ,mary and to ,jesus1 for we can do nothing more pleasing to her1 as she said to ,st4 ,bridget1 than to love her ,son3 ,if you wish to become dear to me1 love my ,son ,jesus3 8,si te mihi vis devincire1 ama filium meum ,jesum40 #dth4 ,read every day of the ,novena1 for a quarter of an hour1 some book which treats of her glories4 #eth4 ,make some external mortification of hair-cloth1 discipline1 c41 with fasting1 or some abstinence at table from fruits or other agreeable food1 at least in part2 chewing also some bitter herb3 and on the vigil of the feast fast on bread and water4 ,but all this must be done always with the permission of a spiritual ,father4 ,but better than all others are the practices in these ,novenas of internal mortifications1 as abstaining from the indulgence of curiosity1 either through the eye or the ear2 remaining retired and silent2 obeying1 not answering with impatience2 bearing contradictions1 and other things of the sort1 which may be used with less danger of vainglory and greater merit2 and for these1 too1 the permission of a director is not needed4 ,the most useful exercise is to propose1 at the beginning1 the amending of some fault into which we are most liable to fall4 ,and to this end it is well1 at each of the visits above named1 to ask pardon for some past sin1 renew the intention of avoiding it in future1 and implore the help of ,mary in keeping this resolution4 ,the honor most dear to the ,virgin is the imitation of her virtues2 wherefore it is well in every ,novena to propose to one's self some special virtue of ,mary1 particularly adapted to the mystery2 as for example1 on the feast of the ,conception1 purity of intention2 of her ,nativity1 the renewing of the spirit and the awakening from tepidity2 of her ,presentation1 detachment from something to which we are most attached2 of the ,annunciation1 humility in bearing contempt1 c42 of the ,visitation1 charity towards the neighbor1 alms-giving1 c41 or at least1 the praying for sinners2 of the ,purification1 obedience to superiors2 and finally1 of the ,assumption1 the practice of detachment1 and doing all things as a preparation for death1 living as if every day were to be the last4 ,in this way the ,novena will prove of great service4 #fth4 ,besides the communion on the day of the feast1 it is well to ask it more frequently of the spiritual father on the days of the ,novena4 ,father ,segneri said that we cannot honor ,mary better than with ,jesus4 ,for she herself1 as ,father ,crasset relates1#agdd revealed to a holy soul that nothing dearer could be offered to her than the holy communion1 for there ,jesus ,christ gathers in the soul the fruit of his passion4 ,hence it appears that the ,virgin desires nothing from her servants more than the holy communion1 saying3 8,come1 eat the bread and drink the wine that ,i have prepared for you40#agde ,finally1 on the day of the feast after communion we should offer ourselves for the service of this divine mother by asking of her the grace of the virtue proposed in the ,novena1 or some other special favor4 ,and it is well every year to set apart among others some feasts of the ,virgin1 to which we have the greatest devotion and tenderness1 and make a particular preparation for this by dedicating ourselves anew1 and in a more especial manner1 to her service2 choosing her for our ,lady1 advocate1 and mother4#agdf ,then we should ask pardon for our negligence in her service during the past year1 promising her greater fidelity for the year that is to come4 ,in a word1 let us pray her to accept us as her servants1 and obtain for us a holy death4 ,,devotion ,,iii4--,,of ,,the ,,rosary ,,and ,,office4 ,the devotion of the most holy ,rosary is known to have been revealed to ,st4 ,dominic by the divine mother herself1 when the saint1 being in affliction1 and bewailing to his ,lady the conduct of the ,albigensian heretics1 who at that time were doing great injury to the ,church1 the ,virgin said to him3 8,this earth will always be barren1 until the rain falls on it40 ,st4 ,dominick was then given to understand that this rain was to be the devotion of the ,rosary1 and that he was to publish it4 ,and indeed the saint preached it everywhere1 and this devotion was embraced by all ,catholics1 so that1 at the present day1 there is no devotion more practised by the faithful of every condition1 than that of the most holy ,rosary4 ,what have not modern heretics1 as ,calvin1 ,bucer1 and others said1 to bring into contempt the use of the ,rosary8 ,but the great good is well known1 which this noble devotion has brought to the world4 ,how many by its means have been freed from sin6 ,how many led to a holy life6 ,how many have had a good death and are now saved6 ,let us read the various books which treat of it2 it is enough to know that this devotion has been approved by the holy ,church1 and the sovereign ,pontiffs have attached indulgences to it4 ,to him who recites the third part of the ,rosary1 the indulgence of seventy thousand years is granted1 and to him who recites it entire1 eighty thousand1 and yet more to him who recites it in the chapel of the ,rosary4 ,benedict ,,xiii4 at length annexed to the ,rosary 7for him at least who recites the third part of the ,rosary which has been blessed by the ,dominican ,fathers7 all the indulgences which are attached to the ,rosaries of ,st4 ,bridget1 namely1 one hundred days for every 8,hail ,mary0 and 8,our ,father0 that is repeated4 ,and1 moreover1 those who recite the ,rosary gain the plenary indulgence on all the principal feasts of ,mary and of the holy ,church1 and also of the ,dominican ,saints1 if they visit their churches after confession and communion4 ,but let it be remarked that this is understood of those whose names are inscribed in the book of the ,rosary1 to whom a plenary indulgence is also granted on the day when their names are inscribed1 provided they have made their confession and communion1 and one hundred years if they wear the ,rosary2 and to those who make mental prayer once a day1 seven years each time1 and a plenary indulgence at the end of the month4 ,in order to gain the indulgences attached to the recitation of the ,rosary1 it is necessary to meditate the mysteries which are to be found recorded in many books2 but it is sufficient for those who do not know them to contemplate any one of the mysteries of the passion of ,jesus ,christ1 as the scourging1 death1 c4 ,the ,rosary must be recited with devotion2 and here call to mind what the holy ,virgin said to ,st4 ,eulalia1 namely1 that she was better pleased with five decades said with pauses and devotion1 than with fifteen in haste and with less devotion4 ,on this account it is well to say the ,rosary kneeling1 and before some image of ,mary1 and at the beginning of every decade to make an act of love to ,jesus and ,mary1 by asking some favor4 ,and1 moreover1 let it be remarked that it is more efficacious to say the ,rosary in company with others1 than to say it alone4 ,urban ,,ii4 attached many indulgences to the recitation of the little office of our ,lady1 which is said to have been composed by ,st4 ,peter ,damian2 and the holy ,virgin has often made known how pleasing to her was this devotion1 as we learn from ,father ,auriemma4#agdg ,the ,litanies are also very pleasing to her1 and an indulgence of two hundred days is granted every time they are recited2 also the hymn1 8,hail1 star of the sea10 8,ave ,maris stella10 which the divine mother ordered ,st4 ,bridget to repeat every day2 and more than all1 the 8,magnificat10 for with this we praise her in the very words with which she praised ,god4 ,,devotion ,,iv4--,,of ,,fasting4 ,many servants of ,mary1 on ,saturdays and the vigils of her feasts1 are accustomed to honor her by fasting on bread and water4 ,it is well known that ,saturday is a day dedicated by the holy ,church to the honor of the ,virgin1 because on this day1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 she remained constant in the faith after the death of her ,son4#agdh ,for this reason the servants of ,mary never fail on this day to offer her some special homage2 and particularly the fast on bread and water1 as ,st4 ,charles ,borromeo1 ,cardinal ,toledo1 and so many others practised it4 ,rittard1 ,bishop of ,bamberg1 and ,father ,joseph ,arriaga1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 did not even taste food on ,saturday4 ,the great graces which the mother of ,god afterwards bestowed upon those who practised this devotion1 may be read in the writings of ,father ,auriemma4 ,it is sufficient for us to mention the compassion which she showed to that bandit chief1 who1 on account of this devotion1 was permitted to remain alive1 although his head had been cut off1 and although he was under the displeasure of ,god1 and was enabled to make his confession before dying4 ,he afterwards declared that the holy ,virgin1 for this fasting which he had offered her1 had preserved him in life1 and he then suddenly expired4#agdi ,it would not then be a very extraordinary thing1 if any one1 especially devoted to ,mary1 and particularly if he had already deserved hell1 should offer to her this fast on ,saturday4 ,he who practises this devotion1 ,i may say1 will hardly be condemned2 not that our ,lady will deliver him by a miracle if he dies in mortal sin1 as happened to the bandit2 such prodigies of divine mercy seldom take place1 and it would be madness to expect eternal salvation by them4 ,but ,i do say that the divine mother will readily obtain perseverance in divine grace and a good death for him who will practise this devotion4 ,all the brothers of our little congregation who can do so1 fast on bread and water on ,saturday1 in honor of ,mary4 ,i say those who can do so1 meaning1 that if any one is prevented from doing so on account of ill health1 at least on ,saturday he may content himself with one dish1 make a common fast1 or at least abstain from fruits or other agreeable food4 ,it is necessary on ,saturday to offer special devotions to our ,lady1 to receive communion1 or1 at least1 hear mass1 visit some image of the ,virgin1 wear hair-cloth1 and the like4 ,and at least on the vigils of the seven feasts of ,mary1 let her servants endeavor to offer this fasting on bread1 or in any other manner they are able4 ,,devotion ,v4--,,of ,,visiting ,,the ,,images ,,of ,,mary4 ,father ,segneri says1 that the devil could in no better way console himself for the losses he has sustained by the overthrow of idolatry1 than by attacking sacred images through the heretics4 ,but the holy ,church has defended them even by the blood of the martyrs2 and the divine mother has also made manifest by miracles1 how much she is pleased by devotion and visits to her images4 ,the hand of ,st4 ,john of ,damascus was cut off because he defended with his pen the images of ,mary2 but our ,lady restored it to him in a miraculous manner4 ,father ,spinelli relates1 that in ,constantinople1 every ,friday after vespers1 a veil which hung before the image of ,mary was withdrawn of itself1 and after vespers on ,saturday it closed of itself4 ,the veil before an image of the ,virgin was seen to withdraw itself1 in a similar way1 by ,st4 ,john of ,god1 whereupon the ,sacristan1 believing the saint to be a robber1 struck him with his foot1 but the foot was withered4 ,all the servants of ,mary1 therefore1 are accustomed often to visit her images with great devotion1 and also the churches dedicated to her honor4 ,these are1 indeed1 as ,st4 ,john of ,damascus teaches1 the cities of refuge1 where we find safety from temptations1 and from the punishments merited by the sins we have committed4 ,st4 ,henry1 ,emperor1 when he entered a city1 always visited1 before any thing else1 some church of our ,lady4 ,father ,thomas ,sanchez never returned home until he had visited some church of ,mary4 ,let us not be weary then of visiting our queen every day in some church or chapel1 or in our own house1 where it would be well for that purpose to have in some retired place a little oratory1 with her image1 adorned with drapery1 flowers1 tapers1 or lamps1 and before it also the litanies1 the rosary1 c41 may be said4 ,for this purpose ,i have published a little book1 which has already gone through eight editions1 of ,visits to the most ,holy ,sacrament1 as well as to the ,virgin1 for every day in the month4 ,some devout servant of ,mary might cause one of her feasts to be celebrated in some church or chapel1 and preceding it by a ,novena1 with the exposition of the ,sacrament1 and also with sermons4 ,but here it is well to notice the fact which ,father ,spinelli relates in the 8,miracles of the ,madonna40#agej ,in the year #afaa1 in the celebrated sanctuary of ,mary in ,montevergine1 it happened that on the vigil of ,pentecost the people who thronged there profaned that feast with balls1 excesses1 and immodest conduct1 when a fire was suddenly discovered bursting forth from the house of entertainment where they were feasting1 so that in less than an hour and a half it was consumed1 and more than one thousand five hundred persons were killed4 ,five persons who remained alive affirmed upon oath1 that they had seen the mother of ,god herself1 who with two lighted torches set fire to the inn4 ,after this ,i entreat the servants of ,mary to abstain as far as they can1 and to induce others to abstain from going to such sanctuaries of our ,lady in times of feasting1 for hell then received much more fruit from it1 than the divine mother received honor4 ,let him who practises this devotion go and visit them at a time when they are not thronged4 ,,devotion ,,vi4--,,of ,,the ,,scapular4 ,as men take pride in having others wear their livery1 so the most holy ,mary is pleased when her servants wear her scapular1 as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to her service1 and are of the number of the family of the mother of ,god4 ,modern heretics1 of course1 ridicule this devotion1 but the holy ,church has approved it by many bulls and indulgences4 ,and ,father ,crasset relates1#agea and also ,father ,lezzana1#ageb when speaking of the scapular of ,mt4 ,carmel1 that about the year #abea1 the holy ,virgin appeared to the blessed ,st4 ,simon ,stock1 an ,englishman1 and giving him her scapular1 said to him that those who wore it should be safe from eternal damnation1 in these words3 8,receive1 oh my very beloved son1 this scapular of thy order1 the badge of my confraternity1 a privilege granted to thee and to all other ,carmelites2 and any one who wears this at death shall be delivered from eternal flames40#agec ,and ,father ,crasset still further relates1 that ,mary appeared at another time to ,pope ,john ,,xxii41 and directed him to declare to those who wore the above-mentioned scapular1 that they should be released from purgatory on the ,saturday after their death2 this the same pontiff announced in his bull1 which was afterwards confirmed by ,alexander ,v41 ,clement ,,vii41 and others1 as the above-named ,father ,crasset relates in the passage before cited4 ,and as we have remarked in the first part1#aged ,paul ,v4 mentions the same1 and appears to explain the bulls of the preceding pontiffs1 prescribing in his bull the conditions to be observed in order to gain the indulgences annexed1 namely1 the observance of chastity according to the state of life1 the recitation of the little office of the ,virgin1 and for him who cannot recite that1 the observance1 at least1 of the fasts of the ,church and abstinence from meat on ,wednesday4 ,thus the indulgences that are attached to this scapular of our ,lady of ,mt4 ,carmel1 as well as to the others of the dolors of ,mary1 of ,mary of ,mercy1 and particularly to that of the ,conception1 are innumerable1 daily1 and plenary1 in life and at the article of death4 ,for myself1 ,i have taken all the above-mentioned scapulars4 ,and let it be particularly made known that1 besides many particular indulgences1 there are annexed to the scapular of the ,immaculate ,conception1 which is blessed by the ,theatine ,fathers1 all the indulgences which are granted to any religious order1 pious place1 or person4 ,and particularly by reciting 8,our ,father10 8,hail ,mary10 and 8,glory be to the ,father10 six times1 in honor of the most holy ,trinity and of the immaculate ,mary1 are gained each time all the indulgences of ,rome1 ,portiuncula1 ,jerusalem1 ,galicia1 which reach the number of four hundred and thirty-three plenary indulgences1 besides the temporal1 which are innumerable4 ,all this is transcribed from a sheet printed by the same ,theatine ,fathers4 ,,devotion ,,vii4--,,of ,,entering ,,into ,,the ,,confraternities ,,of ,,mary4 ,some persons disapprove of confraternities1 saying that they give rise to contention1 and that many persons join them for human ends4 ,but as the ,church and the sacraments are not condemned because there are many who abuse them1 neither should we condemn the confraternities4 ,the sovereign pontiffs1 instead of condemning them1 have approved and highly commended them1 and enriched them with indulgences4 ,st4 ,francis of ,sales earnestly exhorts laymen to enter into the confraternities4 ,what did not ,st4 ,charles ,borromeo do to establish and multiply these sodalities8 ,and in his synods he distinctly intimates to confessors that they should endeavor to induce their penitents to join them4#agee ,and with reason1 for these confraternities1 especially those of our ,lady1 are like so many arks of ,noe1 in which the poor people of the world may find refuge from the deluge of temptations and sins which inundate them in it4 ,we well learn in the course of our missions the utility of these confraternities4 ,speaking exactly1 there are found more sins in a man who does not belong to the confraternities than in twenty who frequent them4 ,the confraternity may be said to be the tower of ,david3 8,the tower of ,david1 a thousand bucklers hang upon it1 all the armor of valiant men40#agef ,and this is the cause of the good obtained from the confraternities1 namely1 that their members acquire in them many defences against hell2 and they make use in them of many means to preserve themselves in divine grace1 which it is very difficult for persons in the world1 who are not in confraternities1 to practise4 ,in the first place1 one of the means of salvation is meditating on eternal truths3 8,remember thy last end1 and thou shalt never sin40#ageg ,and so many are lost because they do not think of it3 8,with desolation is all the land made desolate1 because there is none that considereth in the heart40#ageh ,but those who belong to the confraternity are led to think by the many meditations1 readings1 and sermons that are made there4 ,my sheep hear my voice3 8,oves me vocem meam audiunt40#agei ,secondly1 ,in order to be saved it is necessary to commend one's self to ,god3 ,ask1 and you shall receive3 8,petite1 et accipietis40#agfj ,and the brothers of the confraternities do this continually2 and ,god hears them more graciously1 because he has himself said1 that he will willingly grant great graces to prayers made in common3 8,if two of you shall agree upon earth concerning any thing1 whatsoever they shall ask1 it shall be done for them by my ,father who is in heaven40#agfa ,concerning which ,st4 ,ambrose says3 ,many who are small1 if they unite together become great2 and the prayers of many cannot but be heard4#agfb ,in the third place1 in the confraternity the sacraments are more frequently approached1 on account of the rules1 as well as on account of the example of other members4 ,and by this means perseverance in divine grace is more easily obtained2 the holy ,council of ,trent having declared the communion to be3 8,an antidote by which we are freed from daily sins1 and are preserved from mortal sins40#agfc ,fourthly1 ,besides the sacraments in the sodalities1 there are practised many exercises of mortification1 humility1 and charity towards infirm and poor members2 and it would be well if in every confraternity were introduced the holy custom of assisting the infirm poor of the country4 ,it would be a still greater advantage if there could be introduced into them1 in honor of the divine mother1 the secret sodality of more fervent members4 ,i will here enumerate the exercises that are usually practised in these4 #a4 ,half an hour of reading4 #b4 ,vespers and complin of the ,holy ,spirit are said4 #c4 ,the litanies of the ,virgin are repeated1 and then some brothers who are designated1 practise mortifications by bearing the cross upon their shoulders1 or others of a similar kind4 #d4 ,for one quarter of an hour a meditation is made on the passion of ,jesus ,christ4 #e4 ,each one accuses himself of any violation against the rules of which he has been guilty1 and receives penance for it from the father of the congregation4 #f4 ,the little flowers of mortification made during the past week are read by one of the brothers who is selected1 and then the ,novenas to be said are announced1 c4 ,finally1 the discipline is made for the space of a ,miserere and a ,salve1 and every one kisses the feet of the crucifix which is at the foot of the altar4 ,the rules1 then1 would be for each brother3 #a4 ,to make a meditation every day4 #b4 ,a visit to the most holy ,sacrament and to the blessed ,virgin4 #c4 ,in the evening an examination of conscience4 #d4 ,spiritual reading4 #e4 ,to avoid games and the conversation of the world4 #f4 ,to frequent the communion and practise some mortification of the chain1 discipline1 c4 #g4 ,to recommend every day to ,god the souls in purgatory1 and sinners4 #h4 ,if any brother is sick1 to visit him4 ,but let us return to our subject4 ,in the fifth place3 ,it has already been said how much more sure is our salvation if we serve the mother of ,god2 and do not the brothers serve her in the congregation8 ,how much do they praise her there6 ,how many prayers do they offer up to her6 ,there they consecrate themselves from the beginning to her service1 choosing her1 in an especial manner1 for their ,lady and mother2 and they are inscribed in the book of the children of ,mary2 hence as they are distinguished servants and children of the ,virgin1 she therefore treats them with distinction1 and protects them in life and in death4 ,thus a brother of the confraternity may say that1 with the confraternity1 he has received every blessing3 ,now all good things come to me together with her3 8,venerunt mihi omnia bona pariter cum ilia40#agfd ,every brother should pay particular attention to two things4 ,first1 as to the end2 that is1 to enter the confraternity for no other end but to serve ,god and his holy ,mother1 and save his own soul4 #b;d4 ,not to leave the congregation on the appointed days1 for affairs of the world1 since there the most important business in the world is to be transacted1 namely1 eternal salvation4 ,endeavor also to draw as many as you can to the confraternity1 and especially to induce those brothers who have left it to return to it again4 ,oh1 what terrible punishments has our ,lord caused those to suffer who have abandoned the confraternity of our ,lady6 ,in ,naples a certain brother left the congregation1 and being exhorted to return1 he said3 ,i will return when my legs are broken and my head cut off4 ,and he was a prophet3 for very soon after his legs were broken and his head cut off by some of his enemies4#agfe ,on the other hand1 the members who persevere are favored by ,mary with spiritual and temporal good3 ,all her domestics are clothed with double garments3 8,omnes domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus40#agff ,we may read in ,father ,auriemma#agfg the special graces granted by ,mary to the brothers of the confraternity in life and in death1 but especially in death4 ,father ,crasset relates#agfh that in #aehf there was a youth who1 being near death1 fell asleep2 but afterwards awaking1 he said to his confessor3 8,oh ,father1 ,i have been in great danger of hell1 but my ,lady has rescued me4 ,the devils have presented my sins before the tribunal of the ,lord1 and already they were dragging me to hell1 but the holy ,virgin came and said to them3 #8,where are you taking this youth8 ,what have you to do with one of my servants who has so long served me in the congregation8' ,the devils fled1 and thus ,i have been saved from their hands40 ,the same author relates soon after that another brother of the congregation1 also at the point of death1 had a great conflict with hell2 but he conquered1 and full of joy1 exclaimed3 8,oh1 what blessings come from serving the blessed mother well in her confraternity60 ,and thus entirely consoled1 he died4 ,he afterwards adds that the ,duke of ,popoli being on his death-bed1 said to his son3 8,my son1 know that the little good ,i have done in life ,i owe to the congregation2 and therefore ,i have no greater good to leave thee than the confraternity of ,mary4 ,i am more proud of having been a brother of the congregation than the ,duke of ,popoli04 ,,devotion ,,viii4--,,of ,,alms ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,mary4 ,the servants of ,mary are accustomed1 especially on ,saturday1 to give alms in honor of the divine mother4 ,that holy shoemaker called ,st4 ,deusdedit 7,god gave71 as ,st4 ,gregory relates in his ,dialogues1 dispensed to the poor on ,saturday all that he earned during the week4 ,and another holy soul saw in a vision a sumptuous palace which ,god was preparing in heaven for this servant of ,mary1 in the building of which nothing was done except on ,saturday4 ,st4 ,gerard never refused any thing that was asked him in the name of ,mary4 ,father ,martin ,guttierez1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 did the same1 and he confessed that he had never asked a favor from ,mary that he had not received it4 ,and this servant of hers having been slain by the ,huguenots1 the divine mother appeared to his companions1 accompanied by some virgins1 whom she directed to wrap the body in a sheet and carry it away4#agfi ,st4 ,eberard of ,salisbury practised the same devotion1 and on this account a holy monk saw him1 in the form of a child1 in the arms of ,mary1 who said3 8,this is my ,son ,eberard1 who never has refused me any thing40#aggj ,alexander de ,hales practised the same1 who1 having been requested by a lay-brother of ,st4 ,francis1 in the name of ,mary1 to become a ,franciscan1 left the world and entered into the order4#agga ,let not the servants of the ,virgin then be weary of giving daily some little alms in her honor1 and increase it every ,saturday4 ,and if they can do nothing else1 at least for love of ,mary1 perform some other act of charity1 as visiting the sick1 praying for sinners and for the souls in purgatory1 c4 ,works of mercy are very pleasing to this mother of mercy4 ,,devotion ,,ix4--,,of ,,frequent ,,recourse ,,to ,,mary4 ,of all devotions1 none is so pleasing to our mother1 as recurring often to her intercession1 by asking help of her in all special necessities1 as in taking or giving counsel1 in dangers1 afflictions1 and temptations1 particularly in temptations against purity4 ,the divine mother will certainly deliver us if we have recourse to her with the ,antiphon3 ,we fly to thy patronage3 8,sub tuum prsidium10 etc41 or with a 8,hail ,mary10 or only invoking the most holy name of ,mary1 which has particular power against demons4 ,the blessed ,st4 ,francis1 in a temptation against purity1 had recourse to ,mary1 and she immediately appeared to him1 and placing her hand upon his breast1 delivered him4 ,it is useful to kiss or press the rosary1 or the scapular1 or even to look on some image of the ,virgin4 ,and be it known that ,benedict ,,xiii4 granted fifty days' indulgence to those who pronounce the name of ,jesus and ,mary4 ,,tenth ,,and ,,last ,,devotion4 ,i unite in this various practices of devotion in honor of ,mary4 #a4 ,to celebrate1 or cause to be celebrated1 or at least to hear ,mass in honor of the holy ,virgin4 ,it is true that the holy sacrifice of the ,mass can be offered only to ,god1 to whom it is offered principally in acknowledgment of his supreme dominion2 but as the sacred ,council of ,trent declares1#aggb this does not prevent it from being offered to ,god in gratitude for the graces bestowed on the saints and his most holy mother1 and in commemoration of them1 that they may deign to intercede for us4 ,and therefore it is said in the ,mass3 8,that it may avail to their honor1 but to our salvation40#aggc ,this offering of the ,mass1 as also the repeating three 8,our ,fathers10 8,hail ,marys10 and 8,glories0 to the most holy ,trinity1 in gratitude for the graces granted to ,mary1 she herself revealed to a soul1 were very pleasing to her2 for the ,virgin not being able fully to thank the ,lord for all the favors bestowed on her1 is pleased when her children help her to thank ,god4 #b;d4 ,to reverence the saints who are most closely united to ,mary1 as ,st4 ,joseph1 ,st4 ,joachim1 and ,st4 ,ann4 ,the ,virgin herself recommended to a nobleman the devotion to ,st4 ,ann her mother4#aggd ,and we should also honor the saints who had the most special devotion to the divine mother1 as ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist1 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,st4 ,bernard1 ,st4 ,john of ,damascus1 the defender of her images1 ,st4 ,ildephonsus1 the defender of her virginity1 c4 #c;d4 ,to read every day some book which treats of the glories of ,mary4 ,to preach1 or at least recommend to all1 particularly to one's relatives1 devotion to the divine mother4 ,the ,virgin one day said to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,make thy children my children40 ,to pray daily for the living and dead who were most devoted to ,mary4 ,let us here enumerate many other indulgences granted by the ,pontiffs to those who1 in various ways1 honor this queen of heaven3 #ast4 ,to those who say3 8,blessed be the holy and immaculate conception of the blessed ,virgin ,mary10 an indulgence of one hundred years is granted2 and when after the word 8immaculate10 the word 8most pure0 is added1 according to ,father ,crasset1 other indulgences are granted1 applicable to the souls in purgatory4 #b;d4 ,for the 8,salve ,regina10 forty days4 #c;d4 ,litanies1 two hundred days4 #dth4 ,to those who bow the head at the names of ,jesus and of ,mary1 twenty days4 #eth4 ,to those who repeat five 8,our ,fathers0 and 8,hail ,marys0 in honor of the passion of ,jesus and the dolors of ,mary1 ten thousand years4 ,and for the convenience of devout souls1 ,i will here mention other indulgences1 attached by the ,sovereign ,pontiffs to other devotions3 #ast4 ,to him who hears ,mass1 three thousand eight hundred years4 #b;d4 ,benedict ,,xiv4 granted seven years' indulgence to those who make the ,christian acts1 with the intention of receiving in life and in death the holy sacraments2 and if they are continued for a month1 plenary indulgence applicable to the souls in purgatory1 or to themselves at the article of death4 #c;d4 ,to those who recite fifteen 8,our ,fathers0 and 8,hail ,marys10 for sinners1 remission of the third part of their sins4 #dth4 ,pope ,benedict ,,xiv4 has granted more indulgences to those who make mental prayer for half an hour every day1 and plenary once a month1 after confession and communion4 #eth4 ,to those who recite the prayer3 ,soul of ,christ1 8,anima ,christi10 etc41 three hundred days4 #f4 ,those who accompany the viaticum1 obtain five years' indulgence1 and with lights seven years2 and those who cannot do this1 if they accompany it reciting an 8,our ,father0 and 8,hail ,mary10 one hundred days4 #gth4 ,those who kneel before the most holy ,sacrament1 gain two hundred days4 #hth4 ,those who kiss the cross1 one year and forty days4 ,those who bow the head at the 8,glory be to the ,father10 thirty days4 #ajth4 ,to priests who before ,mass recite3 ,i wish to celebrate ,mass1 c41 8,ego volo celebrare missam10 etc41 fifty days are granted4 #aath4 ,to those who kiss the regular scapular1 five years4 ,other indulgences may be found in the works of ,father ,viva4#agge ,let every one endeavor1 when seeking the above-named indulgences1 to make an act of contrition1 that he may be in a disposition to gain them4 ,i omit other devotions1 which are to be found in other books1 as the seven joys1 the twelve privileges of ,mary1 and the like1 and let us terminate this work with the beautiful words of ,st4 ,bernardine3#aggf 8,oh woman1 blessed among all women1 thou art the honor of the human race1 the salvation of our people4 ,thou hast a merit that has no limits1 and an entire power over all creatures4 ,thou art the mother of ,god1 the mistress of the world1 the queen of heaven4 ,thou art the dispenser of all graces1 the glory of the holy ,church4 ,thou art the example of the just1 the consolation of the saints1 and the source of our salvation4 ,thou art the joy of paradise1 the gate of heaven1 the glory of ,god4 ,behold1 we have published thy praises4 ,we supplicate thee then1 oh mother of mercy1 to strengthen our weakness1 to pardon our boldness1 to accept our service1 to bless our labors1 and impress thy love upon the hearts of all1 that after having honored and loved thy ,son on earth1 we may praise and bless him eternally in heaven4 ,amen40 ,and with this1 my dear reader and brother1 lover of our mother ,mary1 ,i leave you1 saying to you1 continue joyfully to honor and love this good ,lady2 endeavor also to promote the love of her wherever you can1 and do not doubt1 but securely trust that if you persevere in true devotion to ,mary1 even until death1 your salvation will be certain4 ,i finish1 not because ,i have nothing more to say of the glories of this great queen1 but that ,i may not weary you4 ,the little that ,i have written may indeed be enough to charm you with this great treasure of devotion to the mother of ,god1 with which she will correspond with her powerful patronage4 ,accept1 then1 the desire ,i have had by this my work1 to see you safe and holy1 to see you become a loving and ardently devoted child of this most amiable queen4 ,and if you know that this book of mine has aided you somewhat1 ,i pray you of your charity recommend me to ,mary1 and ask of her the grace that ,i ask for you1 namely1 that we may both meet in paradise at her feet1 together with all her other dear children4 ,and last of all1 ,i turn to thee1 oh mother of my ,lord1 and my mother ,mary4 ,i pray thee to accept these my poor labors1 and the desire ,i have had to see thee praised and loved by all4 ,thou knowest how much ,i have desired to complete this my little work on thy glories1 before my life1 which is now drawing to a close1 should end4 ,i now say that ,i die content1 leaving on the earth this book of mine1 which will continue to praise and to preach thee1 as ,i have endeavored always to do in these years since my conversion1 which through thee ,i have obtained from ,god4 ,oh immaculate ,mary1 ,i recommend to thee all those who love thee1 and especially those who will read this my book2 and most especially those who will exercise the charity of recommending me to thee2 oh ,lady1 give them perseverance1 make them all saints1 and thus bring us all to praise thee together in heaven4 ,oh1 my most sweet mother1 it is true that ,i am a poor sinner1 but ,i glory in loving thee1 and ,i hope great things from thee1 among others1 that ,i may die loving thee4 ,i hope in the sufferings of my death1 when the devil will place my sins before me1 that first the passion of ,jesus1 and next1 thy intercession1 may give me comfort to quit this miserable life in the grace of ,god1 to come to love him and thank thee1 oh my mother1 through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,thus ,i hope1 thus may it be4 ,oh ,lady1 say for us to thy ,son3 8,they have no wine40 ,how bright and clear is the intoxicating cup of this wine6 ,the love of ,god inebriates us even to contempt of the world2 it warms and strengthens1 renders us insensible to temporal things1 and inclined to heavenly things4#aggg ,thou art a fruitful field1 full of virtues1 full of graces4 ,thou didst come forth as a bright and ruddy dawn2 for original sin being destroyed in the womb of thy mother1 thou wast born bright in the knowledge of truth1 and ruddy with the love of virtue2 no enemy has power against thee1 for a thousand bucklers hang upon thee1 all the armor of valiant men2 for there is no virtue which does not shine in thee1 and thou in thyself dost possess all that belongs to every saint4#aggh ,oh our ,lady1 our mediatrix1 our advocate1 commend us to thy ,son4 ,oh blessed one1 obtain by the grace which thou didst merit1 that he who1 through thy means has deigned to become a partaker of our infirmity and misery1 thou also interceding1 may make us partakers of his blessedness and glory4#aggi ,live ,jesus1 ,mary1 and ,joseph4 ,,various ,,additional ,,examples ,,appertaining ,,to ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,mary4 ,,meditations ,,for ,,various ,,festivals1 ,,and ,,different ,,devotions ,,in ,,her ,,honor4 ,,various ,,additional ,,examples ,,appertaining ,,to ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,mary4 ,some persons1 boasting of being free from prejudices1 take great credit to themselves for believing no miracles but those recorded in the holy ,scriptures1 esteeming all others as tales and fables for foolish women4 ,but it will be well to repeat here a just remark of the learned and pious ,father ,john ,crasset1#aghj who says that the bad are as ready to deride miracles as the good are to believe them2 adding1 that as it is a weakness to give credit to all things1 so1 on the other hand1 to reject miracles which come to us attested by grave and pious men1 either savors of infidelity1 which supposes them impossible to ,god1 or of presumption1 which refuses belief to such a class of authors4 ,we give credit to a ,tacitus and a ,suetonius1 and can we deny it without presumption to ,christian authors of learning and probity8 ,there is less risk1 says ,father ,canisius1 in believing and receiving what is related with some probability by honest persons1 and not rejected by the learned1 and which serves for the edification of our neighbor1 than in rejecting it with a disdainful and presumptuous spirit4#agha #ast ,example4--,a certain man in ,germany had committed a great sin1 and was ashamed to confess it1 yet on the other hand he could not endure the remorse which he felt1 and went to cast himself into the river2 but just as he was on the point of doing so1 he stopped1 and bursting into tears1 prayed ,god to pardon him without confession4 ,one night in his sleep he felt some one waking him1 and heard a voice saying3 ,go and make your confession4 ,he went to the church1 but yet did not make his confession4 ,he heard the same voice a second night2 again he went to the church1 but after he had entered it1 said that he would rather die than confess that sin4 ,he was about to return home1 when he thought he would go and recommend himself to the most holy ,mary1 before her image which was in the church4 ,he had hardly kneeled before it1 when he felt himself entirely changed4 ,he immediately arose1 called for a confessor1 and weeping bitterly1 through grace received from the ,virgin1 made a sincere confession2 and he afterwards said that he felt greater satisfaction than if he had gained all the gold in the world4#aghb #b4--;,a young nobleman was reading one day1 while at sea1 an obscene book1 in which he took great pleasure4 ,a religious said to him3 8,now come1 would you give something to our ,lady80 8,yes10 he answered2 and the other said1 8,i wish that1 for love of the holy ,virgin1 you would tear that book in pieces and cast it into the sea40 8,here it is1 ,father10 said the young man4 8,no10 said the religious1 8,i wish that you yourself would make this offering to ,mary40 ,he did so1 and when he returned to ,genoa1 his native place1 the mother of ,god so inflamed his heart with the love of ,god1 that he became a religious4#aghc #c4--;,a hermit of ,mount ,olivet had in his cell a holy image of ,mary1 and frequently offered up prayers before it4 ,the devil could not endure such devotion to the holy ,virgin1 and tormented him continually with temptations against purity2 and the poor old hermit finding himself still pursued by them1 notwithstanding all his prayers and mortifications1 said one day to the enemy3 8,what have ,i done to you1 that you will not leave me in peace80 ,and the demon appeared to him and answered3 8,you torment me more than ,i torment you20 and then he added3 8,now come1 and swear secrecy to me1 and ,i will tell you what you must cease to do1 if you wish me not to molest you any more40 ,the hermit took the oath1 and then the devil said to him3 8,i wish you never again to approach that image that you have in your cell40 ,the hermit was greatly perplexed1 and went to take counsel of the ,abbot ,theodore1 who told him that he was not bound by his oath1 and that he must not cease to recommend himself to ,mary before that image1 as he had done before4 ,the hermit obeyed1 and the devil was put to shame and conquered4#aghd #d4--;,a woman who had been guilty of a criminal connection with two young men1 one of whom had killed the other1 came one day in great terror to ,father ,onefrio d',anna1 a pious missionary in the kingdom of ,naples1 to make her confession4 ,she told the ,father that in the same hour in which that wretched youth had died1 he appeared to her1 clothed in black1 loaded with chains1 and cast fire on every side4 ,he had a sword in his hand1 and raised it to cut her throat4 ,in terror she exclaimed3 8,what have ,i done to you1 that you wish to kill me80 ,and in a rage he answered3 8,wretch1 do you ask what you have done to me8 ,you have caused me to lose ,god40 ,then she invoked the blessed ,virgin2 and that spectre1 on hearing the most holy name of ,mary pronounced1 disappeared and was seen no more4#aghe #e4--,when ,st4 ,dominic was preaching at ,carcassone1 in ,france1 an ,albigensian heretic1 who was possessed by demons1 was brought to him1 because he had publicly spoken against the devotion of the most holy ,rosary4 ,the saint then ordered the demons1 in the name of ,god1 to declare whether those things which he had said concerning the most holy ,rosary were true2 and howling with rage they said3 8,hear1 oh ,christians1 all that this our enemy has said of ,mary and of the most holy ,rosary is entirely true40 ,they added1 moreover1 that they had no power against the servants of ,mary2 and that many who at death invoked ,mary were saved1 contrary to their deserts4 ,and finally they said3 8,we are constrained to declare1 that no one is lost who perseveres in devotion to ,mary1 and in the devotion of the most holy ,rosary1 for ,mary obtains for sinners a true repentance before death40 ,st4 ,dominick made the people immediately repeat the ,rosary2 and1 oh miracle6 at every 8,hail ,mary10 many devils went out from that wretched man1 in the shape of burning coals1 so that when the ,rosary was finished1 he was entirely freed from them1 and many heretics became converted4#aghf #f4--,the daughter of a certain prince had entered a monastery1 where the discipline was so relaxed1 that1 although she was a young person of good dispositions1 she advanced but little in virtue4 ,by the advice of a good confessor1 she began to say the ,rosary with the mysteries1 and became so changed that she was an example to all4 ,the other religious1 taking offence at her for withdrawing from them1 attacked her on all sides1 to induce her to abandon her newly-begun way of life4 ,one day while she was repeating the ,rosary1 and praying ,mary to assist her in that persecution1 she saw a letter fall from above4 ,on the outside were written these words3 8,mary1 mother of ,god1 to her daughter ,jane1 greeting20 and within3 8,my dear child1 continue to say my ,rosary2 withdraw from intercourse with those who do not help you to live well2 beware of idleness and vanity2 take from thy cell two superfluous things1 and ,i will be your protectress with ,god40 ,the abbot of that monastery soon after visited it1 and attempted to reform it1 but he did not succeed2 and one day he saw a great number of demons entering the cells of all the nuns except that of ,jane1 for the divine mother1 before whose image he saw her praying1 banished them from that4 ,when he heard from her of the devotion of the ,rosary which she practised1 and the letter she had received1 he ordered all the others to repeat it1 and it is related that this monastery became a paradise4#aghg #g4--,there lived in ,rome a woman1 called ,catherine the beautiful1 who led a very sinful life4 ,hearing ,st4 ,dominick once preach on the devotion of the most holy ,rosary1 she had her name inscribed in the book of the confraternity1 and began to recite it1 but did not abandon her sinful life4 ,one evening a youth1 apparently a noble1 came to her house1 whom she received courteously4 ,when they were at supper1 she saw drops of blood falling from his hands while he was breaking a piece of bread1 and then she observed that all the food he took was tinged with blood4 ,she asked him what that blood meant8 ,and the youth answered1 that a ,christian should take no food that was not tinged with the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 seasoned with the memory of his passion4 ,amazed at this1 she asked him who he was4 8,soon10 he answered1 8,i will show you20 and when they had withdrawn into another apartment1 the appearance of the youth changed1 and he showed himself crowned with thorns1 his flesh torn1 and said to her3 8,do you wish to know who ,i am8 ,do you not know me8 ,i am thy ,redeemer4 ,catherine1 when will you cease to offend me8 ,see how much ,i have suffered for you4 ,you have grieved me enough1 change your life40 ,catherine began to weep bitterly1 and ,jesus1 encouraging her1 said3 8,now begin to love me as much as you have offended me2 and know that you have received this grace from me1 on account of the ,rosary you have been accustomed to recite in honor of my mother40 ,and then he disappeared4 ,catherine went in the morning to make her confession to ,st4 ,dominick2 and giving to the poor all she possessed1 led so holy a life1 that she attained to great perfection4 ,the ,virgin often appeared to her2 and ,jesus himself revealed to ,st4 ,dominick1 that this penitent had become very dear to him4#aghh #h4--,the blessed ,alanus relates of a lady1 named ,dominica1 who was accustomed to recite the ,rosary1 that she gave up this devotion1 and afterwards became so poor1 that in desperation she stabbed herself in three different places4 ,but just as she was breathing her last1 and the devils came to take her to hell1 the most holy ,mary appeared to her1 and said to her3 8,my daughter1 you have forgotten me1 but ,i have not been willing to forget you1 on account of that ,rosary which you have for a time recited in my honor4 ,and now10 she added1 8if you will continue to recite it1 ,i will restore life to you1 and also the possessions you have lost40 ,dominica was restored to health1 and continuing the practice of reciting the ,rosary1 recovered her possessions1 and at her death was again visited by ,mary1 who commended her fidelity1 and she died a holy death4#aghi #i4--,there lived in ,saragossa a certain noble1 a very bad man2 his name was ,peter1 and he was a relation of ,st4 ,dominick4 ,one day when the saint was preaching1 he saw ,peter enter the church1 and he prayed the ,lord that he would make known to the audience the condition of that miserable sinner4 ,and1 behold1 ,peter then appeared like a monster from hell1 surrounded and dragged along by many devils4 ,the congregation fled1 even his wife who was in the church1 and the servants who accompanied him4 ,then ,st4 ,dominick directed him1 through one of his companions1 to recommend himself to ,mary1 and to begin to recite the ,rosary which he sent him4 ,peter received the message1 humbled himself1 sent to thank the saint1 and received himself the grace to see the demons that surrounded him4 ,he afterwards went to make his confession to the saint himself1 from whom he received the assurance that he was already pardoned1 and continuing to recite the ,rosary1 he attained to so happy a state1 that one day the ,lord made him appear in church1 in the presence of the whole congregation1 crowned with three crowns of roses4#agij #aj4--;,in the mountains of ,trent lived a notorious robber1 who when he was one day admonished by a religious to change his course of life1 answered1 that for him there was no remedy4 8,do not say so10 said the religious2 8do what ,i tell you2 fast on ,saturday in honor of ,mary1 and on that day do no harm to any one1 and she will obtain for you the grace of not dying under the displeasure of ,god40 ,the obedient robber followed this advice1 and made a vow to continue to do so4 ,that he might not break it1 he from that time went unarmed on ,saturdays4 ,it happened that on a ,saturday he was found by the officers of justice1 and that he might not break his oath1 he allowed himself to be taken without resistance4 ,the judge1 when he saw that he was a gray-haired old man1 wished to pardon him2 but1 through the grace of compunction which he had received from ,mary1 he said that he wished to die in punishment of his sins4 ,he also made a public confession of all the sins of his life in that same judgment-hall1 weeping so bitterly that all present wept with him4 ,he was beheaded1 and buried1 with but little ceremony1 in a grave dug near by4 ,but afterwards the mother of ,god appeared1 with four holy virgins1 who took the dead body from that place1 wrapped it in a rich cloth1 embroidered with gold1 and bore it themselves to the gate of the city2 there the blessed ,virgin said to the guards3 8,tell the bishop from me1 to give an honorable burial1 in such a church1 to this dead person1 for he was my faithful servant40 ,and this was done4 ,all the people of the place thronged to the spot1 where they found the corpse1 with the rich pall1 and the bier on which it was placed4 ,and from that time1 says ,cesarius1 all persons in that region began to fast on ,saturdays4#agia #aa4--;,a devout servant of ,mary1 who lived in ,portugal1 fasted on bread and water every ,saturday of his life1 in honor of ,mary1 and chose for his advocates with the blessed ,virgin1 ,st4 ,michael and ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist4 ,at the hour of his death the queen of heaven appeared to him1 with those saints1 who were praying for him1 and the holy ,virgin1 looking upon her servant with a joyful countenance1 said to those saints3 8,i will not depart hence without taking this soul with me40 #ab4--;,in one of our missions1 after the sermon on ,mary which it is our custom to preach1 a very old man came to one of the ,fathers of our congregation1 to make his confession4 ,he was full of consolation1 and said3 8,our ,lady has done me a favor40 8,and what favor has she done you80 asked the confessor4 8,for thirty-five years1 ,father1 ,i have made sacrilegious confessions1 because ,i was ashamed of one sin1 and yet ,i have passed through many dangers1 and have been several times at the point of death1 and if ,i had died then ,i certainly should have been lost2 and now our ,lady has done me the favor to touch my heart20 and when he said this he wept so bitterly1 that he seemed to be all tenderness4 ,after the ,father had heard his confession1 he asked him what devotion he had practised1 and he answered that he had never failed on ,saturday to keep a strict fast in honor of ,mary1 and therefore the ,virgin had taken pity on him1 and he gave the ,father permission to publish the fact in his sermons4 #ac4--;,in the country of ,normandy a certain robber was beheaded1 and his head was thrown into a trench2 but afterwards it was heard crying3 8,mary1 give me confession40 ,a priest went to him and heard his confession2 and questioning him as to his practices of devotion1 the robber answered that he had no other except that of fasting one day of the week in honor of the holy ,virgin1 and that for this our ,lady had obtained for him the grace to be delivered from hell by that confession4#agib #ad4--,there were two young noblemen living in the city of ,madrid who encouraged each other in their sinful life4 ,one of them saw one night1 in a dream1 his companion seized by some ,moors and carried to the shore of a stormy sea4 ,they were about to do the same with him1 but he had recourse to ,mary1 and made a vow that he would become a religious at once1 and thus he was rescued from these ,moors2 then he saw ,jesus seated on a throne1 and as if in anger1 and the holy ,virgin supplicating and obtaining mercy for him4 ,when his friend came to visit him he related to him the vision1 but he laughed at it2 and shortly after was stabbed with a poniard and died4 ,when the other youth saw the vision verified he made his confession1 and was strengthened in his resolution of becoming a religious4 ,in view of that1 he sold all that he had1 but instead of giving the money to the poor1 as he had intended1 he expended it in debauchery4 ,he afterwards fell ill1 and had another vision2 he thought he saw hell opened and the divine ,judge in the act of condemning him4 ,again he had recourse to ,mary1 and ,mary again delivered him4 ,he was restored to health1 and led a worse life than before4 ,he went to ,lima1 in ,south ,america1 where he fell ill1 and in the hospital of that place was again touched by the grace of ,god4 ,he confessed to ,father ,francis ,perlino1 a ,jesuit1 to whom he promised to change his life1 but went back to his evil courses4 ,at length the same ,father1 visiting one day another hospital in a distant place1 saw that wretched man extended on the earth1 and heard him exclaim3 8,ah1 ,i am lost2 and for my greater torment this ,father has come here to witness my punishment4 ,i came here from ,lima1 and am brought to this end by my vices1 and now ,i am going to hell40 ,with these words on his lips he died1 before the ,father had time to give him any assistance4#agic #ae4--,there was once in ,germany a certain criminal condemned to death2 but he was obstinate and refused to make his confession1 though a ,jesuit father did his utmost to convert him4 ,he entreated him1 he wept1 he cast himself at his feet2 but seeing that all was in vain1 he finally said3 8,let us recite a #8,hail ,mary4'0 ,no sooner had the criminal recited it than he began to cry bitterly1 made his confession with much compunction1 and wished to die clasping the image of ,mary4#agid #af4--;,in a city of ,spain there lived a sinful man who had given himself to the devil1 and had never been to confession4 ,he did nothing good but say a 8,hail ,mary0 every day4 ,father ,eusebius ,nierembergh relates1 that when this man was at the point of death the most holy ,virgin appeared to him in a dream and looked on him2 her kind eyes so changed him that he immediately sent for a confessor1 made his confession with a voice broken by sobs1 made a vow to become a religious if he should live1 and then died4#agie #ag4--;,a devout servant of ,mary always inculcated it upon her daughter that she should often recite the 8,hail ,mary10 especially when she was in any danger4 ,one day when this girl was resting after a ball1 she was attacked by a demon1 who in a visible form1 bore her off with him4 ,he had already seized her1 but she began the 8,hail ,mary10 and the enemy disappeared4#agif #ah4--;,a woman of ,cologne who had criminal intercourse with an ecclesiastic1 found him one day hanging in her rooms dead4 ,after this she entered into a monastery1 where the devil assailed her in a bodily form1 so that she knew not what to do in order to be delivered from him4 ,a companion suggested to her to say the 8,hail ,mary20 and when she did so the demon said3 8,accursed may she be who has taught thee this10 and appeared no more4#agig #ai4--;,a certain baron who led a very sinful life was accidentally visited in his castle by a religious1 who1 enlightened by ,god1 begged him to assemble together all his servants4 ,they all came except the chamberlain4 ,he at last was forced to come in1 and the ,father said to him3 8,now1 ,i command thee in the name of ,jesus ,christ to tell who you are40 ,and he answered3 8,i am a devil from hell1 who for fourteen years have served this villain1 waiting until some day he should omit those seven #8,hail ,marys' which he is in the habit of reciting1 that ,i might then strangle him and take him to the flames of hell40 ,the religious then commanded the devil to depart4 ,he obeyed1 and disappeared4 ,the baron then threw himself at his feet1 was converted1 and led a holy life4#agih #bj4--,the blessed ,francis ,patrizii1 who greatly loved the devotion of the 8,hail ,mary10 recited five hundred every day4 ,mary made known to him the hour of his death4 ,he died as a saint2 and after forty years a most beautiful lily sprung from his mouth1 which was then transported into ,france1 and on the leaves of it was written the 8,hail ,mary0 in letters of gold4#agii #ba4--;,cesarius relates that a ,cistercian lay-brother could say no other prayer but the 8,hail ,mary10 and recited it continually with the greatest devotion4 ,after his death there sprung up from the place where he was buried a tree1 on whose leaves were written these words3 ,hail ,mary1 full of grace3 8,ave ,maria1 gratia plena40#ahjj #bb4--,three devout virgins1 by the advice of their confessor1 recited one year1 for forty days1 the whole ,rosary1 as a preparation for the feast of the purification of ,mary4 ,on the vigil the divine mother appeared to the first of the three sisters with a rich garment1 embroidered with gold1 thanked her1 and blessed her4 ,then she appeared to the second with a simple garment1 and also thanked her4 ,but she said to her3 8,oh ,lady1 why have you brought my sister a richer garment80 8,because she has clothed me10 said ,mary1 8more richly than you have done40 ,she afterwards appeared to the third with a canvas garment1 and she at once asked pardon for her tepidity in honoring her4 ,the next year all three fervently prepared for the same feast1 saying the ,rosary with great devotion1 when behold1 on the evening preceding the festival1 ,mary appeared to them in glory1 and said to them3 8,be prepared1 for to-morrow you shall come to paradise40 ,and1 in fact1 the next day they went to church1 related to the confessor what had occurred1 and received communion in the morning4 ,at the hour of complin they saw again the most holy ,virgin1 who came to take them with her1 and amid the songs of angels1 one after the other sweetly expired4#ahja #bc4--;,father ,crasset relates1 that a certain military officer told him1 that after a battle he found a soldier on the battle-ground who held in his hand a ,rosary and the scapular of ,mary1 and asked for a confessor4 ,his forehead had been pierced by a musket-ball1 which had passed through the head and come out behind1 so that the brain was visible and protruded through each opening1 and he could not live without a miracle4 ,he however raised himself1 made his confession to the chaplain with great compunction1 and after receiving absolution1 expired4#ahjb #bd4--,the same author adds1 that this very captain told him of being present when a trumpeter of his company received a pistol-shot from some one near1 and when he examined his breast where he said that he had been hit1 he found that the ball had been stopped by the scapular of the ,virgin1 which the man wore1 and that it had not even touched the flesh4 ,he took it and exhibited it to the whole company4#ahjc #be4--;,a noble youth1 named ,eschylus1 being sent by the prince his father to ,hildesheim1 a city of ,saxony1 to study1 abandoned himself to a dissolute life4 ,he fell ill1 and was near dying1 and while in that state he had a vision4 ,he saw himself shut up in a furnace of fire1 and believed himself to be already in hell2 and then he escaped from it through a hole and took refuge in a great palace1 where he found the most holy ,mary in the hall1 and she said to him3 8,rash man1 dost thou dare to appear before me8 ,depart from here1 and go to the flames which thou dost merit40 ,the young man besought the ,virgin to have mercy on him1 and then turned to some persons who were near1 and implored them to recommend him to ,mary4 ,they did so1 and the divine mother answered3 8,you do not know the sinful life he has led1 and that he has not even thought of saving a #8,hail ,mary' in my honor40 ,but his advocates answered3 8,oh ,lady1 he will change his life20 and the youth added3 8,yes1 ,i promise really to amend1 and ,i will be thy servant40 ,then the ,virgin's anger was appeased1 and she said to him3 8,well1 ,i accept thy promise1 be faithful to me1 and meanwhile1 with my blessing1 be delivered from hell and death40 ,when she had said this1 the ,virgin disappeared4 ,eschylus came to himself1 and blessing ,mary1 related to others the grace he had received4 ,he led ever after a holy life1 always preserving a great affection towards the blessed ,virgin1 and was made ,archbishop of the ,church of ,lude1 in ,denmark1 where he converted many to the faith4 ,towards the close of his life1 being old1 he resigned the archbishopric and became a monk of ,clairvaux1 where he lived four years1 and died a holy death4 ,hence he has been numbered by some writers among the saints of the ,cistercian order4#ahjd #bf4--;,a member of the brothers of the confraternity of ,mary was invited one morning by a friend to dine with him4 ,he promised to go1 but went first to the meeting of the confraternity1 and after that he forgot his promise4 ,his friend was so much offended by this1 that one day when he met him he attempted to kill him2 but1 by a just judgment of ,god1 he killed himself4 ,his friend was immediately taken before the court1 found guilty of the murder1 and was condemned to death4 ,he recommended himself to the ,virgin1 and1 inspired by her1 begged to be led into the presence of the dead body1 and then asked him how he had died4 ,he confessed that he died by his own hands1 and his friend was set at liberty4#ahje #bg4--;,in the year #afjd1 at ,dola1 a member of the same confraternity was very ill4 ,on a feast-day he said to himself3 8,at this hour my brothers are assembled and occupied in praising ,mary1 and am ,i here08 ,he rose from his bed and went to the assembly1 when suddenly the fever left him1 and he was restored to health4#ahjf #bh4--;,a fisherman1 belonging to the same confraternity in ,naples1 had been ill for several days through the severe discipline he had practised in the meeting of the confraternity4 ,being somewhat better1 as he was poor and had a family1 he returned to his fishing1 saying to the most holy ,virgin3 8,oh1 my ,lady1 for thee ,i have suffered this evil1 do thou help me02 and our blessed ,lady allowed him to take as many fish as he would have taken in all the time he had lost4#ahjg #bi4--;,another member was going to be imprisoned for debt2 he recommended himself to ,mary1 and the most holy ,virgin inspired his creditors to release him from his debt1 and so they did4#ahjh #cj4--;,a young man who had been a member of the confraternity of the ,virgin1 left it1 and abandoned himself to a dissolute life4 ,one night the devil appeared to him in a frightful form4 ,he began to invoke the blessed ,virgin4 8,in vain10 said his enemy to him1 8do you invoke her whom you have abandoned2 your sins have made thee mine40 ,the youth in terror fell on his knees1 and began to recite the formula of the brothers3 8,oh most holy ,virgin mother10 c4 ,then the mother of ,god appeared to him1 at whose presence the demon fled1 leaving behind him a great stench1 and an opening in the wall4 ,and ,mary then turned to the youth1 and said3 8,thou didst not merit my help1 but ,i wish to take pity on thee1 that thou mayest change1 and return to the confraternity40#ahji #ca4--;,in ,braganza there lived another youth who left the confraternity and abandoned himself to such vicious courses1 that one day in despair1 he was going to throw himself into a river4 ,but first he turned to our ,lady and said3 8,oh ,mary1 ,i have served thee in the confraternity1 wilt thou help me80 ,the most holy ,virgin appeared to him and said3 8,what art thou doing8 ,dost thou wish to destroy both soul and body8 ,go1 make thy confession1 and return to the confraternity40 ,the youth1 encouraged by this1 thanked the ,virgin1 and amended his life4#ahaj #cb4--,there was once a religious in ,spain1 who in a fit of passion killed his superior4 ,after committing this crime he fled into ,barbary1 where he renounced his faith and married1 leading afterwards so bad a life that he did nothing good but say a 8,hail1 oh ,queen10 daily4 ,one day1 being alone1 he repeated this devotion1 and behold ,mary appeared to him1 rebuked him1 and encouraged him to amend his life1 promising him her assistance4 ,he then returned to his house1 and was so sorrowful that his wife questioned him as to the cause1 and he in tears told her his condition1 and the vision he had seen4 ,she took compassion on him1 gave him money to enable him to return to his own country1 and also consented that he should take one of their children with him4 ,he returned to the monastery1 where he shed so many tears of compunction that he was again received1 together with his son4 ,he persevered in his holy life1 and died with the reputation of a saint4#ahaa #cc4--;,a pupil had been instructed by his master to salute the most holy ,virgin in these words3 8,hail1 oh mother of mercy40 ,when he was at the point of death ,mary appeared to him1 and said3 8,my son1 do you not know me8 ,i am that mother of mercy whom you have saluted so many times40 ,then this servant of the ,virgin extended his arms as if to follow her1 and gently breathed his last4#ahab #cd4--,there was once a sinner who was so abandoned1 that he practised no other devotion than that of reciting daily3 ,to thy patronage3 8,sub tuum prsidium40 ,the ,virgin one day so greatly enlightened him1 that he abandoned his sins1 entered religion1 led for fifty years an exemplary life1 and thus died4#ahac #ce4--;,in the year #afaj1 there lived in ,turin an obstinate heretic1 who even on his death-bed would not be converted by all that was said to him by the various priests who were with him for eight successive days4 ,at length one of them1 almost by force1 brought him to have recourse to ,mary1 with these words3 ,mother of ,jesus1 help me3 8,mater ,jesu1 assiste mihi40 ,and the heretic1 as if awakened from sleep1 exclaimed1 8,i will die a ,catholic20 and indeed he became reconciled to the ,church1 and died in two hours4#ahad #cf4--;,another infidel1 who was living in ,india1 was about to die1 abandoned by all1 but as he had heard the ,christians so much extol the power of ,mary1 he had recourse to her1 and the blessed ,virgin appeared to him1 and said3 8,behold ,i am she whom you invoke2 become a ,christian40 ,he was immediately restored to health1 and baptized1 and many were converted by the prodigy4#ahae #cg4--,there lived in ,madrid1 in the year #afaj1 a very devout servant of ,mary1 who had an especial devotion to an image of her called 8,mary of ,antioch40 ,he married a woman1 who through suspicion and jealousy1 left him no rest4 ,every ,saturday he went barefoot1 and early in the morning1 to visit that image2 but his wife1 who suspected him of going elsewhere1 once in particular1 attacked him so violently1 that blinded by impatience1 he took a rope and hung himself4 ,but just as his soul was departing1 when he could no more help himself1 he invoked the help of ,mary2 and behold a most beautiful lady appeared1 who approached him and cut the rope4 ,the people without saw this1 and then he narrated the fact4 ,by this the wife was so filled with compunction1 that ever afterwards they lived in peace1 and devoted to the divine mother4#ahaf #ch4--;,another person1 of ,valentia1 in #afac1 committed a great crime1 which he was ashamed to confess1 and therefore made sacrilegious confessions4 ,but1 being troubled with great remorse of conscience1 he went one day to visit the altar of ,our ,lady of ,halle1 that he might obtain relief4 ,when he arrived at the door of the church1 which stood open1 he felt himself thrust back by an invisible power4 ,then he determined to make his confession1 and immediately entered4 ,after making a general confession1 he went home entirely consoled4#ahag #ci4--,the blessed ,adam1 a ,cistercian1 went one evening to visit an altar of the most blessed ,virgin in a church2 but finding the doors closed1 he knelt outside to make his devotions4 ,he was hardly on his knees when he saw the door opening of itself1 and he entered4 ,there he beheld the ,queen of ,heaven1 in the midst of great splendor1 and she said to him3 8,adam1 approach2 do you know who ,i am80 ,adam answered3 8,no1 ,lady2 who art thou80 8,i am10 she said1 8the mother of ,god4 ,know1 that as a reward for thy devotion to me1 ,i will always take care of thee40 ,and then she placed her blessed hand upon his head1 and cured him of the great pain he was suffering there4#ahah #dj4--;,a servant of ,mary went one day to visit a church of our blessed ,lady1 without the knowledge of her husband1 and she was prevented by a severe storm from returning that night to her own house4 ,she felt a great fear lest her husband should be very angry with her2 but she recommended herself to ,mary1 and when she returned home1 her husband was very kind and gracious to her4 ,upon questioning him1 she found that the evening before1 the divine mother had taken her form1 and attended to all the little affairs of the household like a servant4 ,she then related the occurrence to her husband1 and they both afterwards practised great devotion to the blessed ,virgin4#ahai #da4--;,a certain cavalier1 of the city of ,doul1 in ,france1 named ,ansaldo1 received in battle a wound from an arrow1 which entered so deep into the jaw-bone1 that it was not possible to extract the iron4 ,after four years of suffering1 the afflicted man could endure the pain no longer1 and being besides very ill1 he thought he would again try to have the iron extracted4 ,he recommended himself to the blessed ,virgin1 and made a vow to visit every year a sacred image of her which was in that place1 and make an offering of a certain sum of money upon her altar1 if she granted his request4 ,he had no sooner made the vow than the iron1 without being touched1 fell into his mouth4 ,the next day1 ill as he was1 he went to visit the image1 and scarcely had he placed the promised gift upon the altar1 when he felt himself entirely restored to health4#ahbj #db4--,there was once a ,spaniard who held sinful intercourse with a relative4 ,a devout virgin1 while she was at prayer1 saw ,jesus on his throne1 who was on the point of sending that criminal to hell2 but his holy mother obtained thirty days' grace for him1 because he once had honored her4 ,by the command of the divine mother herself1 his female companion told the whole to her confessor1 who made it known to the young man1 and he at once made his confession1 with many tears and promises of amendment4 ,but because he did not remove the temptation from him1 he fell again into sin1 went again to confession1 again made a resolution1 and again relapsed4 ,as he did not go to see the ,father again1 the ,father went to his house to find him1 but was very rudely dismissed4 ,the last of the thirty days had arrived2 the ,father went to the house again1 but in vain2 he desired the servant1 however1 to give him notice if there was any accident2 and indeed at night that miserable sinner was attacked with violent pains4 ,the ,father was called1 and endeavored to relieve him1 but the unhappy man exclaimed3 8,my heart has been pierced with a lance1 and ,i am dying40 ,then giving a groan of despair1 he expired4#ahba #dc4--,there lived once in ,milan a man named ,masaccio1 so addicted to gambling1 that one day he lost at play the very clothes he wore4 ,in a violent rage at his loss1 he took a knife and struck an image of the blessed ,virgin1 and blood burst forth from it into his face4 ,he was so much moved that he burst into tears1 and offered thanks to the ,virgin that she had obtained for him time for repentance4 ,he afterwards entered a ,cistercian monastery1 and led such a holy life that he even received the gift of prophecy2 after being forty years a religious1 he died a holy death4#ahbb #dd4--;,a very sinful man1 once kneeling in tears at the foot of the cross1 prayed that he might receive a sign of pardon4 ,but when he found that his prayer was not granted1 he turned to an image of the sorrowful ,mary1 who then appeared to him1 and he saw her present his tears to her ,son1 saying3 ,my ,son1 shall these tears be lost8 8,fili1 ist lacrym peribunt80 ,and then he was given to understand that ,christ had already pardoned him1 and from that time he led a holy life4#ahbc #de4--;,a man of advanced age1 during one of our missions1 after the usual sermon on the powerful intercession of ,mary1 which it is our custom always to preach in the missions1 came to make his confession to one of our ,fathers1 named ,d4 ,cesar ,sportelli1 who lately died in the fame of sanctity1 and was found uncorrupted many months after his death4 ,kneeling at the feet of his confessor1 he said3 8,father1 our ,lady has had pity on me40 8,this is her office10 answered the ,father4 8,but you cannot give me absolution10 said the other1 8for ,i have never made my confession40 ,and1 in fact1 although he was a ,catholic1 he had never made his confession4 ,the ,father encouraged him1 heard his confession1 and gave him absolution with great consolation4 #df4--,the blessed ,bernard ,tolomeo1 founder of the ,olivetan ,fathers1 who1 from his childhood1 had a great devotion to ,mary1 was one day greatly tormented in his hermitage at ,accona1 called ,mt4 ,olivet1 with the fear that he should not be saved1 and that ,god had not yet pardoned him2 but the divine mother appeared to him1 and said3 8,what do you fear1 my son8 ,take courage2 ,god has already pardoned you1 and is pleased with the life you lead2 go on1 and ,i will help and save you40 ,the blessed religious continued to lead a holy life till he died a happy death in the arms of ,mary4#ahbd #dg4--,there lived in ,germany a young girl1 called ,agnes1 who had been guilty of incest in the first degree4 ,she fled into a desert1 and there gave birth to a child4 ,the devil1 in the form of a religious1 appeared to her1 and persuaded her to throw the child into a pond4 ,but afterwards1 when he proposed to her to throw herself in also1 she said3 8,mary1 help me10 and the devil disappeared4#ahbe #dh4--;,a soldier once made a compact with the devil1 that he would sell his wife to him for a certain sum of money4 ,he was taking her to a wood to fulfil his promise1 when he passed before a church dedicated to the ,virgin4 ,his wife begged him to allow her to pay her devotion to ,mary in that church2 but as she entered it1 ,mary came forth from it1 and taking the form of the woman1 accompanied the husband4 ,when they reached the wood1 the demon said to the man3 8,traitor1 why have you brought me1 instead of your wife1 my enemy1 the mother of ,god80 8,and thou10 said ,mary1 8how hast thou dared to think of injuring my servant8 ,go1 flee to hell40 ,and then turning to the man1 she said3 8,amend your life1 and ,i will aid you40 ,she disappeared1 and that wretched man repented1 and amended his life4#ahbf #di4--;,a very sinful woman who lived in ,messico1 having fallen ill1 repented of her life1 and made a vow to ,mary1 that if she would restore her to health she would present her with her hair4 ,she was cured1 and she cut off her hair1 making an offering of it to the statue of the ,virgin4 ,but the woman again fell into sin1 again fell ill1 and died impenitent4 ,then ,mary one day afterwards spoke from that statue to ,father ,giammaria ,salvaterra1 and said3 ,take those locks from my head1 for they belong to a lost and sinful soul1 and are not befitting the head of the mother of purity4 ,the ,father obeyed her1 and threw them himself instantly into the flames4#ahbg #ej4--;,a ,saracen1 named ,petran1 made captive several ,christians in ,spain1 who recommended themselves to the holy ,virgin4 ,mary appeared to the ,saracen1 and said to him3 8,petran1 how dare you to hold my servants slaves8 ,release them immediately--obey40 ,and the ,moor answered3 8,who are you whom ,i am to obey80 8,i am10 said she1 8the mother of ,god2 and because they have had recourse to me1 ,i wish you to give them their liberty40 ,then the heart of ,petran was changed1 he set the ,christians free1 and presented himself to the ,virgin4 ,she first instructed him1 and then she herself baptized him in a fountain1 near which a church was built1 and a ,benedictine monastery4#ahbh #ea4--;,a certain canon1 while he was repeating some devotions in honor of the divine mother1 fell into the river ,seine and was drowned1 and being in mortal sin1 the devils came to take him to hell4 ,but ,mary appeared at the same time1 and said to them3 8,how have you dared to take possession of one who died praising me80 ,then turning to the sinner1 she said3 ,repent1 and be particularly devout to my ,conception4 ,he was restored to life1 became a religious1 and never ceased to thank his deliverer1 and everywhere to propagate the devotion to her immaculate ,conception4#ahbi #eb4--,whilst the monks of ,clairvaux were reaping in the fields1 and praising the queen of heaven1 most holy ,mary was seen caressing them1 and two other saints wiping their sweat4#ahcj #ec4--,the brother of the ,king of ,hungary recited every day the office of ,mary4 ,once when he was very ill1 he made a vow of chastity to the ,virgin1 if she would restore him to health2 and he immediately recovered4 ,but his brother having died1 he was about to be married1 and just as the nuptials were to be celebrated1 he retired apart to recite his accustomed office4 ,when he came to the words3 ,thou art fair and comely1 c43 8,quam pulchra es et decora10 c41 he saw ,mary1 who said to him3 8,if ,i am fair as you say1 why do you leave me for another spouse8 ,know1 that if you leave her1 you shall have me for a spouse1 and the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of ,hungary40 ,after this the prince withdrew into a desert near ,aquileia1 where he lived a holy life4#ahca #ed4--,st4 ,john ,climacus relates1 that there was a devout religious1 named ,carcerio1 who was accustomed often to repeat little songs in praise of ,mary1 and always saluted her images with a 8,hail ,mary40 ,he was once afflicted with so painful a malady1 that in the paroxysms of his suffering he bit his lips and tongue4 ,he lost his speech1 and was at the point of death4 ,whilst the religious were recommending his soul to ,god1 the mother of ,god appeared to him1 and said3 8,i have come to cure thee1 for ,i do not wish that mouth should suffer with which thou hast so often praised me4 ,arise1 thou art healed1 continue to praise me40 ,having said this1 she sprinkled him with some drops of her milk1 and immediately he was cured1 and never ceased to praise her1 until1 visited again by his ,lady at his death1 he sweetly expired in her arms4#ahcb #ee4--,when ,st4 ,francis ,borgia was in ,rome1 an ecclesiastic came to speak with him2 but the saint being much occupied1 sent ,father ,acosta to him4 ,the ecclesiastic said to him3 8,father1 ,i am a priest and a preacher1 but ,i live in sin1 and distrust the divine mercy4 ,after preaching a sermon one day against the obstinate1 who afterwards despair of pardon1 a person came to me to make his confession1 who narrated to me all my sins1 and at length told me that he despaired of the divine mercy4 ,in order to do my duty1 ,i told him that he must change his life1 and trust in ,god2 then that penitent rose to his feet and reproached me1 saying3 #8,and you1 who preach thus to others1 why do you not amend1 and why do you distrust8 ,know1' said he1 #8that ,i am an angel come to your aid2 amend and you will be pardoned4' ,and when he had said this he disappeared4 ,i abstained for several days from my sinful practices1 but when temptation came ,i again returned to my sins4 ,on another day1 as ,i was celebrating ,mass1 ,jesus ,christ sensibly spoke to me from the host1 and said3 #8,why dost thou thus maltreat me1 when ,i treat thee so well8' ,after this ,i resolved to amend1 but at the next temptation fell again into sin4 ,a few hours ago1 a youth came to me in my apartment1 and drew from under his mantle a chalice1 and from this a consecrated host1 saying3 #8,do you know this ,lord whom ,i hold in my hand8 ,do you remember how many favors he has done you8 ,now behold the punishment of your ingratitude1' and saying this he drew a sword to kill me4 ,i then cried3 #8,for the love of ,mary do not kill me1 for ,i will indeed amend4' ,and then he said3 #8,this was the only thing that could save you3 make a good use of this grace1 for this is the last mercy for you4' ,when he had said this he left me1 and ,i came immediately here1 praying you to receive me among you40 ,father ,acosta consoled him1 and the priest1 by the advice also of ,st4 ,francis1 entered another order of strict observance1 where he persevered in holiness till his death4#ahcc #ef4--;,in the year #abbh1 while a priest was celebrating ,mass on a ,saturday1 in honor of the most holy ,mary1 some ,albigensian heretics came and cruelly cut out his tongue4 ,in this condition he went to the monastery of ,cluny1 where the good religious received him with much charity1 greatly compassionating the suffering he endured from the loss of his tongue4 ,but what caused the greatest suffering to this devout priest was1 that he could no longer say ,mass and recite the divine office1 and that of the blessed ,virgin1 as he had been accustomed to do4 ,the feast of ,epiphany having arrived1 he begged to be carried into the church1 and before the altar of the holy ,virgin prayed her to restore the tongue which he had lost through love of her1 that he might sing her praises as he did before4 ,then ,mary appeared to him with a tongue in her hand1 and said to him3 8,since thou hast lost thy tongue for the faith1 and for the honor thou hast paid me1 ,i give thee in return a new one40 ,having said this1 with her own hands she placed the tongue in his mouth1 and immediately the priest1 raising his voice1 recited the 8,hail ,mary40 ,the religious quickly assembled1 and the priest wished to remain with them1 and to become himself a religious1 that there he might always praise his benefactress4 ,the mark of the scar was always seen on his tongue4#ahcd #eg4--;,it was in #ehi that the famous plague prevailed in ,rome1 when men were attacked with sneezing1 and fell down dead4 ,st4 ,gregory the ,great1 when he was carrying in procession through the city an image belonging to the church of ,st4 ,mary ,major1 in the place now called the ,castle of ,st4 ,angelo1 saw an angel in the air1 who was replacing in its scabbard a sword dripping with blood4 ,then he heard the angels singing3 ,oh1 ,queen of heaven6 rejoice1 ,alleluia2 for he whom thou didst deserve to bear1 ,alleluia1 is risen again1 as he said1 ,alleluia3 8,regina cli1 ltare1 ,alleluia2 quia quem meruisti portare ,alleluia2 resurrexit1 sicut dixit1 ,alleluia40 ,and ,st4 ,gregory responded3 8,ora pro nobis ,deum1 ,alleluia40 ,immediately the plague ceased1 and they then began to celebrate the greater ,litanies every year on the #beth of ,april4#ahce #eh4--;,a city of ,france1 called ,avignon1 was once besieged by enemies4 ,the citizens prayed to ,mary to defend them1 and placed an image of her1 which they had taken from a church1 at the gate of the city4 ,one of the citizens having concealed himself behind the image1 a soldier shot an arrow at him1 saying3 8,this image shall not save you from death40 ,but the image presented her knee1 and the arrow remained fixed in it1 and may be seen there even to this day2 and thus she saved the life of her servant4 ,and the enemy1 moved by this prodigy1 raised the siege4#ahcf #ei4--,there was in ,naples a ,moor1 a slave of ,don ,octavius del ,monaco1 who1 although he had often been exhorted to leave his ,mahometan sect1 remained obstinate1 but yet never failed every evening to keep lighted1 at his own expense1 a lamp before an image of ,mary which was in the house4 ,and he said3 8,i hope that this ,lady will grant me some great favor40 ,one night the blessed ,virgin appeared to him and told him he must become a ,christian4 ,still the ,turk resisted1 but she placed her hand upon his shoulder1 and said to him3 8,now no longer resist1 ,abel2 be baptized and called ,joseph40 ,in the morning he immediately went to be instructed1 and was baptized ,august #ajth1 #afdh1 with eleven other ,turks4 ,let it be observed that when the divine mother appeared to him1 after she had converted him1 she was about to depart1 but the ,moor seized her mantle1 saying3 8,oh ,lady1 when ,i find myself afflicted1 ,i pray thee to let me see thee40 ,in fact she one day promised him this1 and when he was in affliction he invoked her1 and ,mary appeared again to him1 saying3 8,have patience10 and he was consoled4#ahcg #fj4--;,a certain parish priest of ,asella1 named ,baldwin1 became a ,dominican1 and when he was in his novitiate there came to him the temptation that he could do greater good in the world in his parish1 and he resolved to return4 ,but going to take his leave of the altar of the ,rosary1 ,mary appeared to him with two vessels of wine2 she gave him to drink of the first1 but the novice had hardly tasted it1 when he turned away his mouth1 for although the wine was good1 yet it was full of dregs2 the second he pronounced good1 and free from dregs3 8,now10 said the most holy ,virgin1 8there is the same difference between the life in the world1 and the life in religion1 which is under obedience40 ,baldwin persevered1 and died a good religious4#ahch #fa4--;,another novice1 also overcome by temptation1 was about to leave his monastery1 but stopping to say a 8,hail ,mary0 before an image of the ,virgin1 he felt himself nailed1 as it were1 to the floor1 from which he could not rise4 ,he repented1 and made a vow of persevering4 ,he then recovered his liberty1 asked pardon of the master of novices1 and persevered4#ahci #fb4--,the blessed ,clement1 a ,franciscan1 one morning delayed going to the common table1 that he might stop and recite certain accustomed devotions to the most holy ,virgin2 but she spoke from her image1 and directed him to go with the others1 because obedience pleased her more than all other devotions4#ahdj #fc4--,whilst ,angela1 a daughter of the ,king of ,bohemia1 was in a monastery1 ,mary appeared to her1 and an angel said to her3 8,arise1 ,angela1 and fly to ,jerusalem1 for thy father wishes to give thee in marriage to the prince of ,hungary40 ,the devout virgin immediately set out on her journey1 and again the divine mother appeared to her and encouraged her to continue her journey4 ,she was received in ,jerusalem among the ,carmelites1 and afterwards was commanded by the blessed ,virgin herself to return to her own country1 where she lived a holy life till her death4#ahda #fd4--,st4 ,gregory relates that there was a young woman named ,musa1 who had great devotion to the mother of ,god2 but being1 through the evil example of her companions1 in danger of losing her innocence1 one day ,mary appeared to her with many saints1 and said to her3 8,musa1 do you too wish to be one of these80 ,musa answered1 8,yes20 and ,mary added3 8,withdraw from your companions1 and prepare1 for in one month from this you shall come with me40 ,musa retired from her companions1 and related the vision4 ,on the thirtieth day she was at the point of death1 and the most holy ,virgin again appeared to her and called her4 ,she answered3 8,behold1 ,lady1 ,i come10 and sweetly expired4#ahdb #fe4--;,anna ,caterina ,gonzaga was married to ,ferdinand ,i41 ,archduke of ,austria1 but her husband dying1 she entered the religious order of the ,servites1 and had a crown made1 on the globes of which were carved the dolors of the ,virgin4 ,she said that for this crown she renounced all the other crowns of earth2 and1 in fact1 refused marriage with the ,emperor ,rodolph ,,ii4 ,when she heard that her younger sister had been crowned empress1 she said3 8,let my sister enjoy her imperial crown2 for these garments with which ,mary my queen has clothed me1 are to me a thousand-fold dearer40 ,the most holy ,virgin appeared to her many times during her life1 and at last this good religious died a holy death4#ahdc #ff4--;,a young clerical student playing one day at ball with other young men1 and fearing he should lose a ring in his play which had been given him by a lady1 he placed it on the finger of an image of ,mary which was near2 and he immediately felt impelled to make a promise to the ,virgin to quit the world and choose her for his spouse4 ,he made the promise1 and ,mary pressed his finger in token that she accepted it4 ,but after some time he wished to marry another1 and ,mary appeared to him and reproached him for his infidelity2 wherefore he fled into a desert1 and led to the last a holy life4#ahdd #fg4--;,about the year #hej1 ,berengarius1 ,bishop of ,verdun1 in ,lorraine1 having entered a church where a certain priest named ,bernerio was saying the office of ,mary prostrate before the choir1 stumbled against him1 and in his vexation struck him with his foot4 ,in the night the most holy ,virgin appeared to him1 and said3 8,how is it that you struck with your foot my servant who was engaged in praising me8 ,because ,i love you10 she added1 8you must pay the penalty40 ,then his leg became withered1 but he lived and died a saint2 and after many years his body1 except that leg1 remained uncorrupted4#ahde #fh4--;,a young man who was left wealthy at the death of his parents1 by play and dissipation with his friends1 lost all that he had1 but always preserved his chastity4 ,an uncle1 who found him reduced to such poverty by his vices1 exhorted him to say every day a part of the ,rosary1 promising him that if he would persevere in this devotion he would procure for him a good marriage4 ,the youth persevered1 and having amended his life1 he was married4 ,on the evening of his nuptials he rose from the table to go and recite his ,rosary1 and when he had finished it1 ,mary appeared to him and said3 8,now ,i will reward thee for the honor thou hast paid me3 ,i do not wish that thou shouldst lose thy chastity2 in three days thou shalt die1 and shalt come to me in paradise40 ,and this really happened1 for immediately a fever attacked him4 ,he related the vision1 and on the third day died in perfect peace4#ahdf #fi4--,the devout author of the book in honor of the most holy ,rosary1 entitled1 8,the ,secret of every ,grace10 relates that ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer once said to a man dying in despair3 8,why will you ruin yourself when ,jesus ,christ wishes to save you80 ,and he answered1 that in spite of ,christ he would be damned4 ,the saint replied3 8,and you1 in spite of yourself1 shall be saved40 ,he began to recite the ,rosary with the persons of the house1 and behold1 the sick man asked to make his confession1 made it weeping1 and then died4 #gj4--,the same author also relates that a poor woman1 who was buried by an earthquake under the ruins of a house1 was found alive and uninjured1 with her children in her arms1 by some persons who were employed by a priest to remove the stones4 ,when she was asked what devotion she had practised1 she said she had never failed to say the ,rosary and visit a chapel of the most holy ,mary4 #ga4--;,he also relates that another woman who led a wicked life because she thought it the only means by which she could gain a livelihood1 was counselled to recommend herself to ,mary by saying the ,rosary2 she did so1 and behold one night the divine mother appeared and said to her3 8,quit your sinful life3 as for your support1 trust in me1 and ,i will think of that40 ,the next morning she went to confession1 and ,mary most holy provided for her wants4 #gb4--;,a person of impure life who had not the courage to quit his sins1 began to say the ,rosary1 and was delivered from his vices4 #gc4--;,another person who maintained a sinful friendship was seized with abhorrence of his sin by saying the ,rosary4 ,he yielded again to temptation1 but by means of the ,rosary finally freed himself from it4 #gd4--;,a good priest who was attending a woman on her death-bed1 who bitterly hated her husband1 not knowing by what means to convert her1 withdrew to say the ,rosary1 and at the last moment that woman saw her sinfulness1 repented1 and forgave her husband4 #ge4--;,finally1 the same author relates1 that once making a mission to the convicts in the galleys of ,naples1 he found some who obstinately refused to make their confession4 ,he suggested to them that at least they should have themselves enrolled in the confraternity of the ,rosary1 and begin to recite it4 ,they consented to do so1 and they had no sooner recited one than they desired to make their confession1 and did so1 the first time for many years4 ,these modern examples serve to revive our confidence in ,mary1 seeing that she is at the present time the same that she always has been towards those who have recourse to her4 #gf4--,st4 ,gregory relates that a holy prelate1 ,bishop of ,ferento1 was from childhood devoted to relieving the poor4 ,it happened one day that a certain priest1 his nephew1 sold a horse for ten crowns of gold1 and took the money and locked it up4 ,the bishop not having any thing to give when some poor persons came to beg of him1 broke open the chest and distributed the money to them4 ,his nephew made such a disturbance when he discovered it1 that the holy prelate1 not knowing what to do1 went for help to a church dedicated to ,mary4 ,when behold1 he saw ten crowns lying on the drapery of the statue2 he took them and gave them to his nephew4#ahdg #gg4--;,a ,lutheran lady of ,augsburg in ,germany1 who was a very obstinate heretic1 happening to pass one day a small ,catholic chapel1 went in through curiosity4 ,she saw there an image of ,mary with the infant ,jesus in her arms1 and felt moved to make an offering to it4 ,she accordingly went home1 took a silk cloth1 and brought it to the altar of the ,virgin4 ,when she had returned home the most holy ,virgin enlightened her to see the errors of her sect1 and she went immediately to seek some ,catholics1 abjured heresy1 and was converted to ,god4#ahdh #gh4--;,in the city of ,cesena there lived two very bad men who were friends4 ,one of them1 named ,bartholomew1 in the midst of all his vices practised the devotion of reciting every day the 8,stabat ,mater0 in honor of the sorrowful ,mary4 ,once when he was repeating this hymn1 ,bartholomew had a vision1 in which he seemed to stand with his sinful companion in a lake of fire1 and saw the most holy ,virgin1 moved to pity1 offer her hand and take him from the flames4 ,she directed him to seek pardon from ,jesus ,christ1 who showed himself willing to pardon him through the prayers of his mother4 ,the vision ended1 and ,bartholomew at the same moment heard the intelligence that his friend had been mortally wounded and was dead4 ,then he knew the truth of the vision1 and quitting the world1 entered the order of ,capuchins1 where he led a most austere life1 and died in the fame of sanctity4#ahdi #gi4--,the blessed ,jerome1 founder of the ,sommaschian ,fathers1 being governor of a certain place1 was taken by the enemy1 and confined in the dungeon of a tower4 ,he recommended himself to ,mary1 and made a vow to make a pilgrimage to ,treviso in her honor1 if she would rescue him4 ,then the most holy ,virgin appeared to him surrounded by a great light1 and with her own hands loosed his chains1 and gave him the keys of the prison4 ,he fled from the prison1 and1 setting out for ,treviso to fulfil his vow1 he found himself immediately surrounded by the enemy4 ,again he had recourse to his deliverer1 and she again appeared to him1 took him by the hand1 and led him safely through the midst of his enemies1 accompanying him even to the gates of ,treviso1 where she disappeared4 ,he made the visit1 deposited his chains at the foot of the altar of ,mary1 and then devoted himself to a holy life1 by which he has merited recently to be ranked by the holy ,church among the number of the blessed4#ahej #hj4--;,a priest who had a special devotion to the sorrows of ,mary1 often remained alone in a chapel to commiserate the dolors of his ,lady1 and1 moved by compassion1 was accustomed with a little cloth to wipe1 as it were1 the tears of a statue of the sorrowful ,virgin which was in that place4 ,now this good priest1 in a severe illness1 when he was given up by his physicians1 and was going to breathe his last1 saw a beautiful lady by his side1 who consoled him with her words1 and with a handkerchief gently wiped the sweat from his brow1 and with this cured him4 ,when he found himself well1 he said3 8,but1 my ,lady1 who art thou who dost practise such charity towards me80 8,i am she10 answered ,mary1 8whose tears thou hast so often dried10 and she disappeared4#ahea #ha4--;,a noble lady1 who had an only son1 was informed one day that he was killed1 and that his murderer had by chance taken refuge in her own palace2 but when she called to mind that ,mary pardoned the executioners of her ,son1 she wished also to pardon that criminal for love of the sorrowful ,mary2 and not only did she pardon him1 but provided him with a horse1 money1 and clothes1 that he might make his escape4 ,then her son appeared to her1 and told her that he was saved1 and that for her generous act done towards his enemy1 the divine mother had delivered him from purgatory1 where he should otherwise have had to suffer for a long time1 but that he was then already entering paradise4#aheb #hb4--,the blessed ,bionda performed a similar heroic act4 ,some enemies also killed her only son1 though he was innocent1 solely by reason of the hatred they bore to his father1 who was dead2 and with unheard-of cruelty gave the heart of the murdered youth to his mother to eat4 ,now she1 according to the example of the most holy ,mary1 began to pray for her murderers1 and to do them all the good she could4 ,these acts so pleased the divine mother1 that she called her to join the third order of the ,servites1 where she merited to lead so holy a life1 that both before and after her death many miracles were wrought through her4#ahec #hc4--,st4 ,thomas of ,canterbury1 when he was a young man1 found himself one day in conversation with several other youths1 each of whom boasted of some foolish love affair4 ,the holy youth declared that he1 too1 loved a great lady1 and was beloved by her1 meaning the most holy ,virgin4 ,afterwards1 he felt some remorse at having made this boast2 but behold1 ,mary appeared to him in his trouble1 and with a gracious sweetness said to him3 8,thomas1 what do you fear8 ,you had reason to say that you loved me1 and that you are beloved by me4 ,assure your companions of this1 and as a pledge of the love ,i bear you1 show them this gift that ,i make you40 ,the gift was a small box1 containing a chasuble1 of a blood-red color1 as a sign that ,mary1 for the love she bore him1 had obtained for him the grace to be a priest and a martyr1 which indeed happened1 for he was first made priest and afterwards ,bishop of ,canterbury1 in ,england1 where he was at one time persecuted by the king1 and fled to the ,cistercian monastery1 at ,pontignac1 in ,france4 ,while he was there1 wishing one day to mend his hair-cloth shirt that he usually wore1 which was ripped1 and not being able to do it well1 his beloved queen appeared to him1 and1 with especial kindness1 took the hair-cloth from his hand1 and repaired it as it should be done4 ,after this he returned to ,canterbury1 and died a martyr1 having been put to death on account of his zeal for the ,church4#ahed #hd4--;,a young woman in the ,papal ,states1 who was very devout towards ,mary1 met in a certain place a chief of banditti4 ,fearing some outrage1 she implored him1 for love of the most holy ,virgin1 not to molest her4 8,do not fear10 he answered1 8for you have prayed me in the name of the mother of ,god2 and ,i only ask you to recommend me to her40 ,and1 in fact1 he accompanied her himself along the road to a place of safety4 ,the following night ,mary appeared in a dream to the bandit1 and thanking him for the act he had performed for love of her1 told him she would remember it1 and would one day reward him4 ,the robber1 at length1 was arrested1 and condemned to death2 but behold1 the night previous to his execution1 the blessed ,virgin visited him again in a dream1 and first asked him3 8,do you know who ,i am80 ,he answered1 8,it seems to me ,i have seen you before40 8,i am the ,virgin ,mary10 she continued1 8who have come to reward you for what you have done for me4 ,you will die to-morrow1 but you will die with so much contrition that you will come at once to paradise40 ,the convict awoke1 and felt such contrition for his sins that he began to weep bitterly1 all the while giving thanks aloud to our blessed ,lady4 ,he sent immediately for a confessor1 to whom he made his confession with many tears1 relating the vision he had seen1 and begged him to make public this grace that had been bestowed on him by ,mary4 ,he went joyfully to execution1 after which1 as it is related1 his countenance was so peaceful and happy that all who saw him believed that the promise of the divine mother was fulfilled4#ahee #he4--,the blessed ,joachim ,piccolomini1 who had a very great devotion to ,mary1 even from childhood1 used to visit three times a day an image of the sorrowful mother1 which was in a neighboring church1 and abstained from all food on ,saturday in her honor4 ,moreover1 he rose at midnight to meditate upon her dolors4 ,but let us see how ,mary rewarded him4 ,at first she appeared to him when he was young1 and directed him to enter into religion in the order of her ,servants1 which he did4 ,towards the close of his life1 she again appeared to him1 with two crowns in her hand3 one of rubies1 as the reward of the compassion he had cherished for her sorrows2 and the other of pearls1 as the reward of his chastity which he had consecrated to her4 ,finally1 at death she appeared to him again1 when he asked of her the favor to die on the day on which ,jesus ,christ died1 and the most holy ,virgin consoled him by telling him3 8,make ready now1 for to-morrow 7,friday7 you will die suddenly1 as you desire1 and to-morrow you shall be with me in paradise40 ,and thus it happened1 for while they were chanting in the church the passion according to ,st4 ,john1 at the words3 ,there stood near the cross of ,jesus his mother3 8,stabat juxta crucem ,jesu mater ejus10 he was attacked with the faintness of death2 and at the words3 ,and bowing his head he gave up the ghost3 8,et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum10 this blessed one also gave up his spirit to ,god2 and at the same moment the church was filled with a great splendor1 and a most sweet fragrance4#ahef #hf4--;,father ,alphonso ,salmerone1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 being a most devout servant of the blessed ,virgin1 died saying3 8,to paradise1 to paradise2 blessed be the hour that ,i have served ,mary6 ,blessed the sermons1 the toils1 the thoughts that ,i have had for thee1 oh my ,lady6 ,to paradise40#aheg #hg4--;,a youth named ,guido1 who wished to join the order of ,camaldoli1 was presented to ,st4 ,romuald by the prince1 his father1 whose name was ,farnulf4 ,the holy founder received him with pleasure4 ,one day ,mary appeared to this good youth1 her servant1 with the infant ,jesus in her arms4 ,esteeming himself unworthy of such a favor1 he stood trembling1 but the divine mother drawing near to him1 said3 8,why do you doubt8 ,what do you fear1 ,guido8 ,i am the mother of ,god2 this is my son ,jesus1 who wishes to come to you20 and saying this1 she placed him in her arms4 ,guido had not yet been three years in religion when he fell dangerously ill4 ,st4 ,romuald saw the poor youth writhing and trembling1 and heard him saying3 8,oh ,father1 do you see all the ,moors in this cell80 8,my son10 said the saint to him1 8do you remember any thing you have not confessed80 8,yes1 ,father10 he answered1 8,i remember having disobeyed the prior1 by not picking up certain brooms1 and now ,i confess it40 ,st4 ,romuald absolved him1 and then the scene changed2 the devils fled1 and the ,virgin again appeared1 with ,jesus1 at the sight of whom ,guido died in perfect peace4#aheh #hh4--;,a ,cistercian nun in ,toledo1 called ,mary1 being at the point of death1 the divine mother appeared to her1 and ,mary said to her3 8,oh ,lady1 the favor you do me of visiting me1 emboldens me to ask you another favor1 namely1 that ,i may die at the same hour that you died and entered into heaven40 8,yes10 answered ,mary4 8,i will satisfy you2 you shall die at that hour1 and you shall hear the songs and praises with which the blessed accompanied my entrance into heaven2 and now prepare40 ,when she had said this she disappeared4 ,the religious who heard the nun talking to herself1 believed her wandering in mind1 but she related to them the vision and the promised grace1 and awaited the desired hour2 and when she knew it had arrived1 by the striking of the clock 7the writer does not tell us what hour it was71 she said3 8,behold1 the predicted hour has come2 ,i hear the music of the angels2 at this hour my queen ascended to heaven2 rest in peace1 for ,i am going now to see her20 and saying this she expired1 while her eyes became bright as two stars1 and her face glowed with a beautiful color4#ahei #hi4--;,in the city of ,sens1 in ,france1 there lived1 towards the eighth century1 ,st4 ,opportuna1 the daughter of a prince of royal blood4 ,this holy virgin1 who had a great devotion to ,mary1 became a religious in a neighboring monastery1 and being at the point of death1 she saw ,st4 ,cecilia and ,st4 ,lucia standing beside her in the dawn of the morning4 8,my sisters1 be welcome10 she said to them2 8what message do you bring me from my queen80 ,and they answered3 8,she is waiting for thee in paradise40 ,after this the devil appeared to her1 and the saint boldly sent him away1 saying3 8,brute beast1 what hast thou to do with me who am the servant of ,jesus80 ,the hour of her death1 which she herself had predicted1 having arrived1 after receiving the holy viaticum1 she turned towards the door1 and said3 8,behold the mother of ,god who comes to take me4 ,sisters1 ,i commend you to her4 ,adieu1 we shall see each other no more40 ,thus saying1 she raised her arms1 as if to embrace her ,lady1 and gently expired4#ahfj ,,novena ,,of ,,meditations ,,for ,,the ,,nine ,,days ,,preceding ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,purification ,,of ,,mary1 ,,which ,,commences ,,on ,,the #bd,,th ,,of ,,january4 ,the above-mentioned meditations are upon the ,litany of ,loretto1 and can be used for all the ,novenas preceding the principal festivals of the ,divine ,mother4 ,,first ,,day4 #ast4 8,sancta ,maria1 ora pro nobis30 ,holy ,mary1 pray for us4 ,since in the ,litanies of our ,lady the ,church instructs us to repeat so many times the petition that she will pray for us1 8,ora pro nobis10 it is well before meditating upon the titles by which the holy ,virgin is invoked1 to consider of how great value with ,god are the prayers of ,mary4 ,blessed is that person for whom ,mary prays6 ,jesus is pleased when his most beloved mother prays to him1 and grants all she asks4 ,one day ,st4 ,bridget heard ,jesus speaking with ,mary1 and thus saying to her3 8,my mother1 ask what thou wilt of me1 for thy petition cannot be in vain40#ahfa ,and then he added3 8,thou didst deny me nothing on earth1 ,i will deny thee nothing in heaven40 ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,to be heard by the ,son is to be graciously heard3 8,a ,filio audiri est exaudiri40 ,it is enough that ,mary speaks1 her ,son grants whatever she asks4 ,therefore let us always pray to this divine mother if we wish to obtain eternal salvation1 and let us say with ,st4 ,andrew of ,candia1 or perhaps of ,jerusalem3 ,we1 then1 supplicate thee1 oh most holy ,virgin1 to grant us the aid of thy prayers with ,god2 prayers that are more precious than all the treasures of the earth2 prayers that obtain for us a great abundance of graces2 prayers that confound our enemies1 and triumph over their forces4 #b;d4 8,sancta ,maria30 ,holy ,mary4 ,the name of ,mary is a name of salvation4 ,this name came not from earth1 but from heaven2 and therefore ,st4 ,epiphanius says1 that it was not given to ,mary by her parents1 but was bestowed upon her by the express will of ,god4 ,hence it is that after the name of ,jesus1 the name of ,mary is superior to every name1 for ,god has filled it with grace and sweetness in order that through it every blessing may be obtained by him who names it4 ,st4 ,bernard said3 ,oh ,mary1 thy name cannot be pronounced without inflaming the heart of him who utters it with love to thee4 ,and the blessed ,henry ,suso exclaimed3 ,oh ,mary1 what must thou thyself be if thy name is so amiable and gracious6 ,name full of blessings4 ,st4 ,bonaventure said that the name of ,mary cannot be invoked without profit to him who invokes it4 ,but more than all1 this name has the power to overcome the temptations of hell4 ,ah1 my ,lady1 if ,i had always invoked thee in my temptations1 ,i should never have fallen4 ,for the future ,i shall never cease to invoke thee1 saying3 8,mary1 help me2 ,mary1 succor me40 ,and do thou obtain for me the grace always to invoke thee in the perils of my soul4 #c;d4 8,sancta ,dei genitrix30 ,holy mother of ,god4 ,if the prayers of the saints avail much with ,god1 how much more will the prayers of ,mary avail6 ,the former are the prayers of servants1 but the latter are the prayers of a mother4 ,st4 ,antoninus says that the prayer of ,mary has the force of a command with ,jesus ,christ3 8,oratio ,virginis habet rationem imperii20 and hence he adds1 that it is impossible for this mother to ask a favor of the ,son that the ,son will not grant her3 8,impossibile est ,deiparam non exaudiri40 ,therefore ,st4 ,bernard exhorts us to ask through ,mary for every grace that we wish from ,god3 8,quramus gratiam1 et per ,mariam quramus20 for she is the mother1 and is always graciously heard3 8,quia mater est1 et frustrari non potest40 ,oh great mother of ,god1 pray to ,jesus for me4 ,look upon the miseries of my soul1 and have pity on me4 ,pray1 and never cease to pray for me until thou seest me safe in paradise4 ,oh ,mary1 thou art my hope2 do not abandon me4 ,holy mother of ,god1 pray for us3 8,sancta ,dei genitrix1 ora pro nobis40 ,,second ,,day4 #ast4 8,mater divin grati30 ,mother of divine grace4 ,mary is called by ,st4 ,anselm3 ,mother of all graces3 8,mater omnium gratiarum40 ,and by the ,idiot3 ,treasurer of divine grace3 8,thesauraria gratiarum40 ,hence ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna writes3 ,all the graces which we receive from ,god are dispensed by the hand of ,mary1 and are dispensed to whom ,mary will1 when she will1 and as she will4#ahfb ,this she herself says3 8,with me are riches and glory 444 that ,i may enrich them that love me40#ahfc ,the ,lord has placed in my hand all the riches of his graces1 that ,i may enrich those who love me4 ,then1 oh my queen1 if ,i love thee1 ,i shall be no longer poor as ,i am now4 ,after my ,god1 ,i love thee above all things2 do thou obtain for me greater tenderness and love for thy goodness4 ,st4 ,bonaventure tells me that every one will be saved if thou wilt have him saved3 8,quem ipsa vis salvus erit40 ,and therefore will ,i say to thee with the same saint3 ,oh salvation of those who invoke thee1 save me3 8,o salus te invocantium1 salva me40 ,save me from hell1 and first save me from sin1 which alone can bring me to hell4 #b;d4 8,mater purissima30 ,mother most pure4 ,this fair and pure virgin mother renders all her servants chaste and pure4 ,st4 ,ambrose writes that even when ,mary was on the earth1 by her presence she inspired with the love of purity all those who looked upon her4#ahfd ,she was called the lily among thorns3 8,sicut lilium inter spinas sic amica mea inter filias40#ahfe ,all other virgins1 says ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian1 are thorns either to themselves or to others2 but the blessed ,virgin was neither a thorn to herself nor to others1 for she inspired with pure and holy affections all those who beheld her4 ,moreover1 ,frigenius1 author of the life of ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas1 writes1 that this saint said that even the image of this chaste turtle-dove extinguishes the sensual emotions of him who looks upon it with devotion4 ,and the venerable ,john of ,avila relates that many persons1 who were suffering from temptations against purity1 were preserved pure through the devotion to our ,lady4 ,oh1 how especially powerful is the name of ,mary in conquering all temptations to this vice6 ,oh ,mary1 most pure1 free me from this vice2 make me always to have recourse to thee in temptations1 and invoke thee so long as the temptation continues4 #c;d4 8,mater inviolata30 ,mother inviolate4 ,mary was that immaculate woman who appeared in the eyes of ,god all pure and spotless3 8,tota pulchra es1 amica mea1 et macula non est in te40#ahff ,wherefore she was called the reconciler of sinners1 as ,st4 ,ephrem salutes her3 ,hail1 conciliatrix of the world3 8,ave conciliatrix orbis40 ,and as she herself said in the ,canticles3 8,since ,i am become in his presence as one finding peace40#ahfg ,st4 ,gregory says that if a rebel should appear before the offended king to appease him1 it would only provoke him the more to anger4 ,but ,mary being destined to treat of peace between ,god and men1 it was not fitting that she should appear as a partaker in the crime of ,adam1 and therefore the ,lord preserved ,mary from every stain of sin4 ,ah1 my immaculate queen2 oh spotless dove1 so dear to ,god2 ah1 do not disdain to look upon the many stains and wounds of my soul2 look on me and help me4 ,that ,god who loves thee so much1 denies thee nothing1 neither dost thou know how to deny thyself to him who invokes thee4 ,oh ,mary1 to thee ,i have recourse2 have pity on me4 ,mother inviolate1 pray for us3 8,mater inviolata1 ora pro nobis40 ,,third ,,day4 #ast4 8,mater amabilis30 ,amiable mother4 ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence says that the blessed ,virgin was amiable in the eyes of ,god himself3 8,fuit beata ,virgo amabilis oculis ipsius ,dei40 ,mary was so beautiful in the eyes of ,god1 that ,god was enamored of her beauty4 ,how beautiful art thou1 my love6 how beautiful art thou6 8,quam pulchra es1 amica mea1 quam pulchra es40#ahfh ,hence he called her his only dove1 his only perfect one3 ,one is my dove2 my perfect one is but one3 8,una est columba mea1 una est perfecta mea40#ahfi ,it is certain1 as ,father ,suarez says1 that ,god loves ,mary more than all the other saints together1 and justly1 for she alone loved ,god more than all men and all the angels4 ,oh ,mary1 most pure2 oh ,mary1 most lovely1 thou didst gain the heart of ,god2 take possession of my poor heart also1 and make me holy4 ,i love thee1 and ,i confide in thee4 ,amiable mother1 pray for us3 8,mater amabilis1 ora pro nobis40 #b;d4 8,mater ,salvatoris30 ,mother of the ,saviour4 ,st4 ,bonaventure calls ,mary the mediatrix of our salvation3 8,maria mediatrix nostr salutis20 and ,st4 ,john ,damascene3 ,the deliverer of the world3 8,salvatrix mundi suo modo40 ,for two reasons1 ,mary may be called the deliverer of the world and our mediatrix2 that is1 mediatrix of grace1 as ,jesus ,christ is the mediator of justice4 ,first1 by the consent she gave to the incarnation of the ,word2 for by such a consent1 says ,st4 ,bernardine1 she procured for us salvation3 8,per hunc consensum omnium salutem procuravit40 ,secondly1 by the consent which ,mary gave to the death of her ,son1 being willing that for our salvation1 he should be sacrificed on the cross4 ,i will say to thee then1 oh mother of my ,saviour1 thou who once didst offer to ,god the life of thy ,son1 save me now by thy intercession4 #c;d4 8,virgo veneranda30 ,virgin most venerable4 ,st4 ,anselm declares1 that when we say of ,mary that she is mother of ,god1 we say that she surpasses in greatness1 after ,god1 every thing that can be conceived or expressed2 whence he says to her3 ,oh ,lady1 nothing is equal to thee2 for every thing is either above thee1 and that is ,god2 or it is beneath thee1 and that is every thing that is not ,god4 ,in a word1 ,st4 ,bernardine says that ,god alone can know the greatness of ,mary2#ahgj and the blessed ,albertus ,magnus affirms that ,mary could not be more united to ,god except by becoming ,god3 8,magis ,deo conjungi non potuit1 nisi fieret ,deus40 ,truly worthy then of our veneration is this great mother of ,god1 for ,god himself could not make her greater than he has done1 by making her his mother4 ,oh1 mother of ,god1 and my mother1 ,mary1 ,i adore thee1 and would wish thee to be adored by all hearts1 as that exalted ,lady thou art4 ,have mercy on a poor sinner1 who loves thee and trusts in thee4 ,virgin most venerable1 pray for us3 8,virgo veneranda1 ora pro nobis40 ,,fourth ,,day4 #ast4 8,virgo prdicanda30 ,virgin to be praised4 ,the holy ,church sings that this divine mother is worthy of all praise3 8,omni laude dignissima20 for according to ,st4 ,ildephonsus1 all praise that is given to the blessed ,virgin is an honor paid to her ,son3 8,refunditur in filium quod impenditur matri40 ,with reason1 then1 did ,st4 ,george of ,nicomedia declare that the praises given to ,mary ,god accepts1 as if offered to himself4#ahga ,the holy ,virgin promises paradise to him who endeavors to make her known and loved4#ahgb ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence says that ,mary will honor in eternity those who honor her in this life4#ahgc ,st4 ,anselm says1 that as ,mary1 by being mother of ,god1 was the means of saving sinners1 so sinners receive salvation by proclaiming the praises of ,mary4 ,not all can be preachers2 but all can praise her1 and tell others1 when speaking familiarly with relatives and friends1 of the merits of ,mary1 of her power and her mercy1 and thus induce them to become servants of this divine mother4 ,oh queen of heaven1 from this day ,i wish to do all that ,i can to make thee venerated and loved by all4 ,accept this my desire1 and help me to fulfil it2 in the mean time admit me among the number of thy servants1 and no longer permit me to be a slave of ,lucifer4 #b;d4 8,virgo potens30 ,virgin most powerful4 ,and who among the saints is so powerful with ,god as his most holy mother8 ,she obtains whatever she wishes1 as ,st4 ,bernard has said3 ,it is enough that thou dost wish1 and all things are done3 8,velis tu et omnia fient40 ,st4 ,peter ,damian even says that when ,mary asks graces from ,god she does not pray1 but in a certain manner commands4#ahgd ,thus the ,son honors this mother whom he loves so much1 by granting her whatever she asks1 even favors for sinners4 ,hence ,st4 ,germanus says3 ,thou art the mother of ,god1 omnipotent to save sinners1 and thou hast no need of any other recommendation with ,god1 for thou art the mother of true life4 ,oh1 ,mary thou canst make me holy2 in thee ,i trust4 #c;d4 8,virgo clemens30 ,most clement ,virgin4 ,as ,mary is powerful with ,god1 so is she clement and merciful towards those who have recourse to her intercession4 ,neither the power nor the will is wanting to her1 as ,st4 ,bernard says3 8,nec facultas1 nec voluntas illi deesse potest40 ,the power to save us cannot be wanting to ,mary1 for she is mother of ,god2 neither can the will be wanting to aid us1 for she is our mother4 ,and who has ever had recourse to ,mary and been abandoned8 ,let him cease to praise thy mercy1 says again ,st4 ,bernard1 who remembers having ever invoked thee without being heard4#ahge ,st4 ,bonaventure asserts that the desire of ,mary to be invoked by us1 in order that she may dispense to us her favors more abundantly1 is so great1 that she not only considers herself offended by those who injure her1 but also by those who do not ask favors of her4#ahgf ,thus it is not needful to pray long to this mother of mercy1 in order to obtain her aid2 it is enough to ask it of her with confidence4 ,her clemency comes to our aid before we invoke it1 as ,richard of ,st4 ,victor says3 8,velocius occurrit ejus pietas1 quam invocetur20 and he gives us the reason1 saying3 ,she cannot see our miseries1 and not be moved by them3 8,non potest miserias scire1 et non subvenire40 ,behold1 then1 oh ,mary1 behold my miseries1 and succor me3 8,virgo clemens1 ora pro nobis40 ,,fifth ,,day4 #ast4 8,virgo fidelis30 ,virgin most faithful4 ,blessed is he who1 with his prayers1 watches at the gates of ,mary1 as the poor wait at the gates of the rich to obtain relief6 8,blessed is the man10 as she herself says1 8that heareth me1 and that watcheth daily at my gates60#ahgg ,oh1 that we were faithful in serving this divine mother1 as she is faithful in succoring us when we pray to her6 ,mary promises to those who serve and honor her1 that they shall be freed from sins1 and shall obtain eternal salvation4 8,they that work by me shall not sin4444 ,they that explain me shall have life everlasting40#ahgh ,she invites all to come to her1 and promises them every grace that they hope for4 8,in me is all grace of the way and of the truth2 in me is all hope of life and of virtue 444 come over to me all40#ahgi ,st4 ,lawrence ,justinian applies to ,mary that other text of ,ecclesiasticus3 ,her bands are a healthful binding3 8,vincula illius alligatura salutaris20#ahhj and then adds3 8,wherefore bands8 unless to bind her servants1 that they may not go astray into unlawful fields40#ahha ,mary binds her servants that they may not take too much liberty1 and thus cause their own ruin4 ,oh mother of ,god1 in thee ,i place all my hopes3 thou must save me from falling again into sin4 ,oh my ,lady1 do not abandon me2 obtain for me the grace to die rather than to lose the grace of ,god4 #b;d4 8,causa nostr latiti30 ,cause of our joy4 ,as after the darkness and gloom of night1 the dawn is the cause of joy1 thus after the darkness of sin1 which for four thousand years before the coming of ,jesus ,christ had prevailed on earth1 the birth of ,mary1 our ,aurora1 brought joy to the world4 ,when ,mary was born1 the morning rose1 says a holy ,father3 8,nata ,maria1 surrexit ,aurora40 ,the dawn is the precursor of the sun1 and ,mary was the precursor of the incarnate ,word1 the ,sun of ,justice and our ,redeemer1 who by his death1 freed us from eternal death4 ,with reason does the ,church sing of the nativity of ,mary3 8,thy birth1 oh holy mother of ,god1 announced joy to the whole world40#ahhb ,and as ,mary was the beginning of our joy1 so is she also the completion of it2 for ,st4 ,bernard says that ,jesus ,christ has placed the whole treasure of his merits in the hands of his mother1 so that every good we receive we may receive through ,mary4#ahhc ,oh mother of ,god1 thou art my joy and my hope1 for thou dost refuse thy favor to none1 and thou dost obtain from ,god whatever thou dost wish4 #c;d4 8,vas insigne devotionis30 ,vessel of singular devotion4 ,devotion1 as ,st4 ,thomas teaches1 consists in the readiness of our will to conform to the will of ,god4 ,this readiness was the principal virtue that rendered his most holy mother so dear to ,god4 ,and this we are given to understand by the answer of our ,lord to the woman who called blessed the womb that bore him3 8,yea rather1 blessed are they that hear the word of ,god and keep it40#ahhd ,by this1 according to ,bede1 the ,lord intended to say1 that ,mary was more happy by the union of her will with that of ,god1 than by being his mother4 ,that flower which always turns towards the sun is a true type of ,mary4 ,the divine will alone was the only aim and satisfaction of the heart of ,mary1 as she herself sang3 8,my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour40#ahhe ,oh1 blessed art thou1 my ,lady1 who wast always and entirely united to the divine will6 ,obtain for me the grace to live1 for the remainder of my life1 always in uniformity with the will of ,god4 ,,sixth ,,day4 #ast4 8,rosa mystica30 ,mystical rose4 ,it is said of ,mary1 in the holy ,canticles1 that she was the inclosed garden of ,god3 8,hortus conclusus soror mea sponsa40#ahhf ,and ,st4 ,bernard1 explaining this passage1 says that the ,lord planted in this garden all the flowers that adorn the ,church1 and among others the violet of humility1 the lily of purity1 and the rose of charity4 ,the rose is red2 and therefore ,mary is called the rose1 according to the ,idiot1 on account of the ardent charity with which her heart was always inflamed towards ,god1 and towards us4#ahhg ,and where can we find an advocate who is more occupied with our salvation1 and who loves us more than ,mary8 ,we acknowledge that one alone in heaven is solicitous for us1 as ,st4 ,augustine says of her4#ahhh ,oh my dear mother1 if ,i could love thee as thou lovest me6 ,i will not1 however1 fail of doing what ,i can to honor and love thee2 my sweet ,lady1 obtain for me the grace to be faithful to thee4 #b;d4 8,turris ,davidica30 ,tower of ,david4 ,mary is called1 in the holy ,canticles1 ,tower of ,david3 8,thy neck is as the tower of ,david2 a thousand bucklers hang upon it1 all the armor of valiant men40#ahhi ,st4 ,bernardine says1 that the tower of ,david stood on high1 that is1 on ,sion2 and therefore ,mary is called 8,the ,tower of ,david10 to denote the elevation of this great creature3 as ,sion was a most lofty place1 so the blessed ,virgin was most exalted4#ahij ,hence1 of ,mary it is said in the ,psalms1 that her sanctity in the beginning was more exalted than the mountains3 8,fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis40#ahia ,st4 ,gregory explains it by saying1 that the divine mother was more holy in the first moments of her life than the saints have been at the moment of their death4 ,oh my queen and mother1 ,i rejoice in thy greatness1 and am ready to give my life that thy glory should not be diminished in the least degree1 if it were possible that it could be diminished4 ,oh1 that ,i might give all my blood to cause all the nations of the earth to honor and love thee as the ,lady thou art6 #c;d4 8,turris eburnea30 ,tower of ivory4 ,thus ,mary is also called3 ,thy neck is as a tower of ivory3 8,collum tuum sicut turris eburnea40#ahib ,mary is called the neck1 for she is the mystic neck through whom from the head1 ,jesus ,christ1 are transmitted to us the faithful1 who are the members of the mystic body of the ,church1 the vital spirits1 namely1 the divine help which preserves in us the life of grace4 ,in the words of ,st4 ,bernardine3 ,through the ,virgin1 the life-giving graces flow from ,christ1 the head1 into his mystic body4#ahic ,the saint adds1 that from the time when ,mary conceived in her womb the incarnate ,word1 she received from ,god such honor1 that no one could receive any grace except through her hands4 ,ivory1 in a word1 is smooth and strong1 hence ,rupert the ,abbot writes of ,mary3 ,as a tower of ivory1 beautiful in the eye of ,god1 terrible to the devil4#ahid ,thou1 then1 oh my ,lady1 because thou art so beloved by ,god1 canst obtain for us every blessing2 and because thou art terrible to demons1 thou canst liberate us from all their snares4 ,have pity on us1 for we glory in living under thy protection4 ,,seventh ,,day4 #ast4 8,domus aurea30 ,house of gold4 ,gold is the symbol of love4 ,hence the blessed ,albertus ,magnus calls ,mary1 ,the golden temple of charity3 8,templum aureum charitatis40 ,and with reason2 for ,st4 ,thomas says1 that as every thing in the temple was covered with gold1 so the beautiful soul of ,mary was filled with sanctity4#ahie ,mary was that house of gold which the ,eternal ,wisdom1 that is the divine ,word1 chose for his habitation on this earth3 ,wisdom hath built herself a house3 8,sapientia dificavit sibi domum40#ahif ,now this house of ,god1 says ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence1 is so rich that it can relieve all our miseries4#ahig ,oh ,mary1 thou dost love ,god so much that thou dost desire to see him beloved by all4 ,this is the grace that above all others ,i ask of thee1 and hope from thee2 obtain from me a great love to ,god4 #b;d4 8,fderis arca30 ,ark of the covenant4 ,ischio calls ,mary3 ,an ark more spacious than that of ,noe3 8,arca ,noe largior30 for in that only two animals of each kind were received1 but under the mantle of ,mary all find room1 both just and sinners4 ,this was one day revealed to ,st4 ,gertrude1 who saw a multitude of wild beasts1 lions1 leopards1 c41 who took refuge under the mantle of ,mary2 and she did not drive them away1 but with kind hand caressed them1 so that they might not fly away4 ,the brutes who entered into the ark remained brutes2 but sinners1 who take shelter under the mantle of ,mary1 do not remain sinners4 ,she will certainly change their hearts and render them dear to ,god4 ,the ,virgin herself revealed to ,st4 ,bridget3 8,however a man may have sinned1 if with a true purpose of amendment he returns to me1 ,i am ready at once to receive him2 neither do ,i look upon the sins with which he is laden1 but only whether he comes with good dispositions2 and then ,i do not disdain to bind up and heal his wounds1 for ,i am called1 and truly am1 the mother of mercy40 ,oh mother of mercy1 ,i will then say to thee with ,st4 ,augustine1 remember that it has never been known that a sinner was rejected by thee1 who had recourse to thee for help2 ,i1 a miserable sinner1 invoke thee and trust in thee4 #c;d4 8,janua cli30 ,gate of heaven4 ,mary is called the gate of heaven1 because no one can enter into heaven1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure declares1 except through ,mary4#ahih ,in ,jerusalem is my power3 8,in ,jerusalem potestas mea10 says our queen4#ahii ,and ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence adds3 ,commanding what ,i will1 and introducing whom ,i will3 8,imperando quod volo1 et quos volo introducendo40 ,i can obtain whatever ,i wish for my servants1 and introduce whom ,i will into paradise4 ,therefore ,st4 ,bonaventure says3 ,those who enjoy the favor of ,mary1 are recognized as citizens of paradise2 and those who are like her1 that is1 have the grace to be her servants1 are written in the book of life4 ,for this reason ,bernardine de ,bustis calls ,mary the book of life1 and says that he who through devotion to her finds himself written in this book1 will certainly be saved4 ,ah1 my mother1 in thee ,i place the hopes of my eternal salvation4 ,i love thee1 save thou me2 do not permit a servant of thine who loves thee to go to blaspheme thee in hell4 ,,eighth ,,day4 #ast4 8,stella matutina30 ,morning star4 ,mary is called by ,st4 ,john ,damascene3 ,the star that precedes the sun3 8,stella demonstrans solem40 ,as the morning star precedes the sun1 so devotion to the holy ,virgin precedes the sun of divine grace2 and ,st4 ,germanus says1 that devotion towards ,mary in a soul1 is a sign that it is1 or soon will be1 in the state of grace4 ,by the ,church our ,lady is also called3 8,the star of the sea20 for1 as ,st4 ,thomas explains it1 as in the time of tempest mariners are guided into port by the star1 so by ,mary we are guided over the sea of this world to paradise4#aijj ,therefore ,st4 ,bernard gives us this advice3 ,if you do not wish to be overwhelmed by the tempest of temptations1 do not turn your eyes from this star of salvation4#aija ,and then he adds3 ,following ,mary1 you cannot go astray2 if ,mary protects you1 you cannot fear being lost2 if ,mary favors you1 you will arrive at paradise4 #b;d4 8,salus infirmorum30 ,health of the weak4 ,mary is called by ,st4 ,simon ,stock3 ,the medicine of sinners3 8,peccatorum medicina20 and by ,st4 ,ephrem1 not only medicine1 but health itself3 ,firm health for those who have recourse to her3 8,salus firma recurrentium ad eam40#aijb ,for he who has recourse to ,mary not only finds medicine1 but he finds health1 as she herself promises to him who seeks her3 8,he that shall find me shall find life1 and shall have salvation from the ,lord40#aijc ,neither should we fear that on account of the loathsomeness of our wounds she will refuse to take care of us4 ,she is our mother1 and as a mother does not shrink from taking care of a child covered with wounds1 so this celestial physician does not refuse to cure her servants who have recourse to her4 ,wherefore ,st4 ,bernard says3 ,oh mother of ,god1 thou hast no horror of a sinner1 however loathsome he may be2 if he sighs for thee1 thou wilt rescue him with thine own hand from despair4 #c;d4 8,refugium peccatorum30 ,refuge of sinners4 ,thus ,mary is called by ,st4 ,germanus3 ,the refuge1 ever ready1 for all sinners3 8,refugium paratissimum peccatorum20 for the ,idiot says1 that she cannot reject any sinner1 but as soon as he has recourse to her1 ,mary receives him4#aijd ,hence ,st4 ,john ,damascene calls ,mary not only the refuge of the innocent1 but also of the bad who implore her protection4#aije ,and ,st4 ,anselm also says3 ,thou dost embrace with maternal love the sinner who is despised by the whole world1 neither dost thou leave the wretched until thou hast reconciled them to their ,god4#aijf ,by which he gives us to understand that the sinner1 being hated by ,god1 is rendered odious and abominable in the eyes of all creatures2 but if he has recourse to the refuge of sinners1 ,mary not only does not despise him1 but affectionately embraces him1 and does not abandon him until he is pardoned by her ,son and our ,judge1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,then1 oh my ,lady1 if thou art the refuge of all sinners1 thou art also my refuge4 ,thou who dost not despise any one who has recourse to thee1 do not despise me1 for to thee ,i recommend myself3 8,refugium peccatorum1 ora pro nobis40 ,oh ,mary1 pray for us1 and save us4 ,,ninth ,,day4 #ast4 8,consolatrix afflictorum30 ,comforter of the afflicted4 ,st4 ,germanus writes3 ,oh ,mary1 who has so great care of our welfare as thou hast8 ,is there any one who relieves us in our afflictions as thou dost8#aijg ,no1 replies ,st4 ,antoninus3 ,there is none among the saints who compassionates our miseries as this most pious ,lady4#aijh ,and because the miseries which most afflict us are the maladies of the soul1 the blessed ,henry ,suso calls ,mary3 ,the most faithful consoler of sinners3 8,consolatrix fidelissima peccatorum40 ,we need only show to ,mary the wounds of our souls1 and she immediately comes to our aid with her prayers1 and consoles us4 ,even as ,richard of ,st4 ,victor teaches1 her piety prevents us and relieves us before we invoke her3 8,velocius occurrit quam invocetur40 ,let us say to her1 then1 with ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,oh ,mary1 always console us1 but especially at the hour of our death4 ,come1 then1 and take our souls1 and present them to thy ,son1 who is to be our ,judge4 #b;d4 8,auxilium ,christianorum30 ,help of ,christians4 ,st4 ,john of ,damascus calls her3 ,aid prepared and ready to free us from all dangers4#aiji ,the help of ,mary is1 as ,st4 ,cosmas of ,jerusalem declares1 omnipotent to save us from sin and from hell4 ,st4 ,bernard addressed her in these words3 ,thou art invincible in the defence of thy servants3 8,tu bellatrix egregia10 doing battle with the demons who assail them4 ,and for this reason ,mary is called in the sacred ,canticles3 ,terrible as an army set in array3 8,terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata40#aiaj ,ah1 my queen1 if ,i had always had recourse to thee ,i should never have been conquered by my enemies4 ,from henceforth thou must be my strength2 in my temptations ,i will always invoke thee1 and from thee ,i hope for victory4 #c;d4 8,regina martyrum30 ,queen of martyrs4 ,mary is justly called ,queen of martyrs2 for her martyrdom1 in the death of her ,son on the cross1 exceeded the sufferings of all the martyrs4 ,and there stood by the cross of ,jesus his mother3 8,stabat juxta crucem mater ejus40 ,mothers fly from their children when they see them dying before their eyes and cannot help them2 ,mary does not fly1 but remains with ,jesus until she sees him expire3 8,stabat juxta crucem40 ,and while ,jesus is in his agony she is offering to the eternal ,father the life of her ,son for our salvation2 but in offering it she also endures the agony of death1 and experiences a suffering greater than that of every death4 ,oh my afflicted mother1 by the merit of the sufferings thou didst endure at the foot of the cross1 obtain for me a true sorrow for my sins and love for ,jesus my ,redeemer4 ,and by that sword which pierced thy heart when thou didst see him bow his head and expire1 ,i pray thee to assist me at the moment of my death1 and obtain for me then eternal salvation1 that ,i may come to love thee forever with thy ,son ,jesus4 ,,meditation ,for the day of the ,purification of ,mary and the ,presentation of ,jesus4 #ast4 ,the time having arrived when ,mary was to go1 according to the law1 to be purified in the temple and to present ,jesus to the divine ,father1 she departed with ,joseph4 ,joseph took the two turtle-doves that were to be offered1 and ,mary takes her dear infant--she takes the divine ,lamb to offer him to ,god as a sign of that great sacrifice which this ,son was one day to complete upon the cross4 ,oh my ,god1 ,i also unite made man1 and by his merits ,i pray thee to give me thy grace4 ,i do not merit it1 but ,jesus1 to obtain it for me1 has sacrificed himself to thee4 ,for love then of ,jesus1 have pity on me4 #b;d4 ,behold1 ,mary enters into the temple and makes the oblation of her ,son in the name of the whole human race4 ,but especially on this day does ,jesus offer himself to his eternal ,father3 ,behold me1 he says1 oh my ,father1 to thee ,i consecrate my whole life3 thou hast sent me into the world to save it2 behold my blood and my life1 ,i offer all to thee for the salvation of the world4 ,unhappy should ,i be1 my dear ,redeemer1 if thou hadst not satisfied for me the divine justice4 ,i thank thee for it with my whole soul1 and ,i love thee with my whole heart4 ,and whom should ,i love if ,i do not love a ,god who has sacrificed his life for me8 #c;d4 ,this sacrifice was more dear to ,god than if all men and all the angels had offered to him their lives4 ,yes1 because in this offering alone of ,jesus the eternal ,father received an infinite honor and an infinite satisfaction4 ,jesus ,christ once said to the blessed ,angela of ,foligno3 8,i have offered myself for thee that thou mayest offer thyself to me40 ,yes1 my ,jesus1 as thou didst offer to the ,father thy life for me1 ,i offer to thee my life and my whole self4 ,hitherto ,i have with so great ingratitude slighted thee1 but thou hast promised to forget the offences of a sinner who repents of having offended thee2 my ,jesus1 ,i grieve for it1 and ,i wish to die of grief4 ,i was dead in sin2 from thee ,i hope for life1 and my life will be to love thee1 oh ,infinite ,good4 ,grant that ,i may love thee1 and ,i will ask of thee nothing more4 ,dispense the goods of this earth to those who desire them2 ,i desire nothing but the treasure of thy love4 ,my ,jesus1 thou art alone enough for me4 ,oh my queen and mother ,mary1 through thee ,i hope every good4 ,,meditation ,for the ,day of the ,annunciation to ,mary4 #ast4 ,when ,god wished to send his ,son to make himself man that he might redeem lost man1 he chose for him a virgin mother1 among all virgins the most pure1 the most holy1 and the most humble4 ,and behold1 whilst ,mary was in her poor little dwelling praying to ,god for the coming of the ,redeemer1 an angel appears and salutes her1 and says to her3 8,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee2 blessed art thou among women40#aiaa ,and what does the humble ,virgin when she hears such words in her honor8 ,she is not elated1 but is silent and troubled1 esteeming herself too unworthy of these praises4 ,she was troubled at his saying3 8,turbata est in sermone ejus40#aiab ,oh ,mary1 thou so humble and ,i so proud1 obtain for me holy humility4 #b;d4 ,did not those praises1 at least1 cause ,mary to suspect that she was the destined mother of the ,redeemer8 ,no1 they only caused her to conceive a great fear of herself4 ,wherefore it was necessary that the angel should encourage her not to be afraid3 8,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found grace with ,god40#aiac ,and then he announced to her that she was chosen to be the mother of the ,saviour of the world3 8,behold1 thou shalt conceive in thy womb1 and shalt bring forth a ,son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus40#aiad ,blessed art thou1 oh ,mary6 how dear thou wast and art to thy ,god6 ,have pity on me4 #c;d4 ,take courage1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 addressing her2 why delay1 holy ,virgin1 in giving thy consent8 ,the eternal ,word awaits it1 in order to clothe himself with flesh1 and become thy ,son4 ,we1 who are all condemned to eternal death1 are waiting for it in misery2 if thou dost accept and consent to be his mother1 we shall all be delivered4 ,quickly1 oh ,lady1 answer2 do not delay giving to the world that salvation which depends on thy consent4 ,but rejoice1 for ,mary already answers to the angel3 ,behold1 she says1 the servant of the ,lord1 bound to do whatever her ,lord commands3#aiae if he chooses a servant for his mother1 the servant is not to be praised1 but only the goodness of ,god1 who wishes thus to honor her4 ,oh ,mary1 most humble1 thou1 by thy humility1 hast so enamored thy ,god that thou hast constrained him to make himself thy ,son and our ,redeemer4 ,i know that thy ,son denies thee nothing that thou dost ask2 ask of him to give me his holy love2 ask of him to pardon me all the offences which ,i have committed against him2 ask of him to give me perseverance until death4 ,in a word1 recommend to him my soul1 for thy recommendations are never rejected by a ,son who loves thee so much4 ,oh ,mary1 thou must save me2 thou art my hope4 ,,meditation ,,for ,,the ,,second ,,day ,,of ,,july4 ,on the ,feast of the ,visitation of ,mary4 #ast4 ,mary set out from ,nazareth to go to the city of ,hebron1 distant1 according to ,broccardo1 seventy miles2 that is to say1 at least seven days' journey over rough mountains and with no other companion than her spouse ,joseph4 ,the holy ,virgin hastens1 as ,st4 ,luke informs us3 ,she went into the mountainous country in haste3 8,abiit in montana cum festinatione40#aiaf ,tell us1 oh holy ,lady1 why thou didst undertake this long and difficult journey1 and why thou didst thus hasten on thy way8 ,i am going1 she answers1 to exercise my office of charity2 ,i am going to console a family4 ,if1 then1 oh great mother of ,god1 thy office is to console and dispense graces to souls1 ah come to console and visit also my soul4 ,thy visit then sanctified the house of ,elizabeth2 come1 oh ,mary1 and sanctify me also4 #b;d4 ,and now the holy ,virgin has arrived at the house of ,elizabeth4 ,she had been made mother of ,god1 but she is the first to salute her relation4 ,she entered1 and saluted ,elizabeth3 ,intravit et salutavit ,elizabeth4 ,elizabeth1 enlightened by the ,lord1 already knows that the divine ,word had become man and the ,son of ,mary2 hence she calls her blessed among women1 and blesses that divine fruit that was in her womb3 8,blessed art thou among women1 and blessed is the fruit of thy womb40#aiag ,and1 filled 7at the same time7 with confusion and joy1 she exclaims3 8,and whence is this to me that the mother of my ,lord should come to me80#aiah ,but what does the humble ,mary answer to these words8 ,she answers3 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord3 8,magnificat anima mea ,dominum40 ,as if she would say3 ,ah1 ,elizabeth1 you praise me2 but ,i praise my ,god that he has chosen to exalt me1 his poor servant1 to be his mother3 he hath regarded the humility of his servant3 8,respexit humilitatem ancill su40 ,oh most holy ,mary1 since thou dost dispense so many graces to those who ask them of thee1 ,i pray thee to give me thy humility4 ,thou dost esteem thyself as nothing before ,god2 but ,i am worse than nothing1 for ,i am1 at the same time1 nothing and a sinner4 ,thou canst make me humble4 ,make me so through love of that ,god who has made thee his mother4 #c;d4 ,but at the first words of ,mary1 when she salutes ,elizabeth1 what happens8 ,the child1 ,john1 exults with joy on account of the divine grace given him before his birth2#aiai ,elizabeth is filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,zachary1 the father of the ,baptist1 not long after1 is consoled by recovering his speech4 ,so that it is indeed true1 oh my queen and mother1 that through thee the divine graces are dispensed1 and souls are sanctified4 ,do not forget1 then1 oh my most dear ,lady1 me1 thy poor servant1 who love thee1 and have placed in thee all my hopes4 ,thy prayers are all graciously heard by that ,god who loves thee so much4 ,pray1 then1 for me1 oh my mother1 and make me holy4 ,,meditation ,,for ,,the ,,fifteenth ,,day ,,of ,,august4 ,on the ,feast of the ,assumption of ,mary into ,heaven4 #ast4 ,mary dies2 but how does she die8 ,she dies entirely detached from any affection for created things1 and dies consumed with that divine love with which her most holy heart was always and entirely inflamed4 ,oh holy mother1 thou hast already left the earth2 do not forget us1 miserable pilgrims1 who remain in this valley of tears struggling against so many enemies1 who desire to see us lost in hell4 ,ah1 by the merits of thy precious death1 obtain for us detachment from earthly things1 pardon of our sins1 love to ,god1 and holy perseverance2 and1 when the hour of our death shall arrive1 assist us from heaven with thy prayers1 and obtain for us to come and kiss thy feet in paradise4 #b;d4 ,mary dies1 and her most pure body is carried by the holy apostles1 and placed in the sepulchre1 and is guarded by angels for three days1 after which it is transported to paradise2 but her beautiful soul entered1 as soon as she expired1 the kingdom of the blessed1 accompanied by innumerable angels and by her ,son himself4 ,having entered heaven1 she humbly presents herself to ,god1 adores him1 and1 with unbounded love1 thanks him for all the graces which she has received from him4 ,god embraces her1 blesses her1 and constitutes her queen of the universe1 exalting her above all the angels and saints4#aibj ,now1 if the human mind1 as the apostle says1 cannot arrive at the comprehension of the great glory that ,god is preparing in heaven for his servants who have loved him on this earth1 what must be the glory that he gave to this his most holy mother1 who on earth has loved him more than all the saints and angels1 and has loved him with all her power6 ,so that ,mary alone1 when she entered heaven1 could say to ,god3 ,oh my ,lord1 if ,i have not loved thee on earth as thou dost merit1 at least ,i have loved thee as much as ,i could4 #c;d4 ,let us rejoice with ,mary in the glory with which her ,god has enriched her2 and let us also rejoice for ourselves1 for ,mary1 at the same time was made queen of the world1 and appointed our advocate4 ,she is so merciful an advocate1 that she consents to defend all sinners who recommend themselves to her2 and she is so powerful with our ,judge that she gains all the causes which she defends4 ,oh our queen and advocate1 in thy hand is our salvation2 if thou dost pray for us1 we shall be saved4 ,say to thy ,son that thou dost wish us with thee in paradise4 ,he denies thee nothing that thou dost ask4 ,oh our life1 our sweetness1 and our hope6 ,mary1 pray ,jesus for us4 ,,meditation ,,for ,,the ,,eighth ,,day ,,of ,,september4 ,on the ,feast of the ,nativity of ,mary4 #ast4 ,before the birth of ,mary the world was lost in the darkness of sin4 ,mary was born1 and the morning arose3 8,nata ,maria1 surrexit aurora10 says a holy ,father4 ,already it had been said of ,mary3 8,who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising80#aiba ,as the earth rejoices when the day dawns1 for the dawn is the precursor of the sun1 so ,mary at her birth gave joy to the whole world1 for she was the precursor of the sun of justice1 ,jesus ,christ1 who being made her son1 came to save us by his death2 therefore the ,church sings3 8,thy nativity1 oh virgin mother of ,god1 announced joy to the whole world1 for from thee the sun of justice has arisen1 who has given us life eternal40#aibb ,thus1 when ,mary was born1 we received our remedy1 our consolation1 and our salvation2 for through ,mary we have received the ,saviour4 #b;d4 ,this child being then destined for the mother of the eternal ,word1 ,god bestowed on her so much grace1 that even from her immaculate conception her sanctity excelled the sanctity of all the saints and angels united1 for she received a grace of a superior order1 corresponding to the dignity of mother of ,god4 ,oh holy infant1 oh full of grace1 ,i1 a miserable sinner1 salute thee and adore thee4 ,thou art the beloved1 the delight of ,god2 have pity on me1 who through my sins have been hateful and abominable in the eyes of ,god4 ,thou1 oh most pure ,virgin1 hast so well known even from thy infancy how to gain the heart of ,god1 that he denies thee nothing1 and grants all that thou dost ask of him4 ,in thee then ,i place my hopes4 ,recommend me to thy ,son1 and ,i shall be saved4 #c;d4 ,at the same time that ,mary was destined to be the mother of our ,redeemer1 she was also destined to be the mediatrix between ,god and us sinners4 ,hence the ,angelic ,doctor1 ,st4 ,thomas1 says1 that ,mary received grace sufficient to save all men2 and therefore ,st4 ,bernard calls ,mary a channel so full that we can all partake of its fulness4#aibc ,oh my queen1 oh mediatrix of sinners1 perform thy office and intercede for me6 ,let not my sins prevent me from confiding in thee1 oh great mother of ,god2 no1 ,i trust in thee1 and trust in thee so much1 that if my salvation were in my own hands1 yet ,i would place it all in thine4 ,oh ,mary1 receive me under thy protection1 and this is enough for me4 ,,meditation ,,for ,,the ,,twenty-,,first ,,day ,,of ,,november4 ,on the ,feast of the ,presentation of ,mary4 #ast4 ,the holy child ,mary1 having hardly arrived at the age of three years1 entreated her parents that she might be placed in the temple according to the promise which they had made4 ,the day appointed having arrived1 the immaculate young ,virgin leaves ,nazareth with ,st4 ,joachim and ,st4 ,anna1 accompanied by a host of angels who attend that holy child who was destined for the mother of their ,creator4 ,go1 says ,st4 ,germanus1 go1 oh blessed ,virgin1 to the house of the ,lord1 to await the ,holy ,spirit1 who is to come to render thee mother of the eternal ,word4 #b;d4 ,the holy company having arrived at the temple in ,jerusalem1 the holy child turns to her parents1 and kneeling1 kisses their hands1 asks their blessing1 and then1 without looking back1 ascends the steps of the temple4 ,there renouncing entirely the world and all things that the world could give her1 she offers and consecrates herself wholly to ,god4 ,henceforth the life of ,mary in the temple was but one continual exercise of love1 and the offering of her whole self to her ,lord4 ,she increased from hour to hour1 nay1 from moment to moment1 in holy virtues1 sustained indeed by divine grace1 but always endeavoring1 with all her powers1 to correspond with grace4 ,mary herself revealed this to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 the virgin1 saying3 8,do you think that ,i obtained the graces and virtues without an effort8 ,know that ,i received from ,god no grace without great effort1 continual prayer1 an ardent desire1 and many tears and penances40 #c;d4 ,thus ,mary1 a young virgin in the temple1 did nothing but pray4 ,and seeing the human race lost and hateful to ,god1 she especially prayed for the coming of the ,messias1 desiring then to be the servant of that happy ,virgin who was to be the mother of ,god4 ,oh1 who would have said to her then3 ,oh holy ,lady1 know that already through thy prayers the ,son of ,god is hastening to come and redeem the world2 and know that thou art the blessed one chosen to be the mother of thy ,creator4 ,oh beloved of ,god1 most holy child1 thou prayest for all1 pray also for me4 ,thou hast consecrated thyself wholly1 even from infancy1 to the love of thy ,god2 ah1 obtain for me at least that during the remaining years of my life ,i may live for ,god alone4 ,to-day1 together with thee1 ,i renounce all creatures1 and consecrate myself to the love of my ,lord4 ,i also offer myself to thee1 oh my queen1 to serve thee forever4 ,accept me for thy special servant1 and obtain for me the grace to be faithful to thee and to thy ,son1 that ,i may come one day to praise thee and love thee eternally in paradise4 ,,meditation ,,for ,,the ,,eighth ,,day ,,of ,,december4 ,on the ,feast of the ,immaculate ,conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 #ast4 ,it was indeed befitting the three divine persons to preserve ,mary from original sin4 ,it was befitting the ,father1 for ,mary was his first-born daughter4 ,as ,jesus was the first-born of ,god3 8,primogenitus omnis creatur10#aibd so ,mary1 being destined to become the mother of ,jesus1 ,god always considered her as his adopted first-born daughter1 and therefore always possessed her by his grace3 8,dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum40#aibe ,it was1 then1 befitting the honor of the ,son that the ,father should preserve the mother from every stain of sin4 ,it was also fitting1 because he destined this his daughter to crush the head of the infernal serpent which had seduced man1 as we read3 ,ipsa conteret caput tuum4 ,how could he then permit that she should first be his slave8 ,moreover1 ,mary was also destined to be the advocate of sinners2 and for this reason also it was meet that ,god should preserve her from sin1 that she might not appear guilty of the very sin of those for whom she was to intercede4 #b;d4 ,it was befitting the ,son that his mother should be immaculate4 ,he chose her himself for his mother1 and it cannot be believed that a son who has it in his power to choose a queen for his mother1 would choose a slave4 ,how then could we believe that the eternal ,word would wish for his mother one defiled by sin1 and once an enemy of ,god1 when it was in his power to have an immaculate mother and one always the friend of ,god8 ,moreover1 ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,the flesh of ,christ is the flesh of ,mary3 8,caro ,christi caro est ,mari40 ,the ,son of ,god would have felt horror at taking flesh from ,st4 ,agnes1 ,st4 ,gertrude1 or ,st4 ,theresa1 because those holy virgins1 before baptism1 were stained by sin1 and the devil would have been able to reproach him for being clothed with a flesh which once had been subject to him4 ,but he felt no horror at becoming man in the womb of ,mary3 8,non horruisti virginis uterum10 ,mary having always been pure and immaculate4 ,besides1 ,st4 ,thomas says that ,mary was preserved from every actual sin1 even venial1 for otherwise she would not have been a fitting mother of ,god2 but how much less fit would she have been1 if she had been defiled by original sin1 which renders the soul odious to ,god6 #c;d4 ,it was befitting the ,holy ,spirit that this his most beloved spouse should be immaculate4 ,the redemption of men who had already fallen into sin being decreed1 he wished that this his spouse should be redeemed in the most noble manner1 namely1 by being preserved from falling into sin4 ,and if ,god preserved the body of ,mary after her death1 how much more ought we to believe that he would preserve her soul from the corruption of guilt6 ,for this reason the divine spouse called her an inclosed garden1 a sealed fountain 7,cant471 for the enemies never entered the blessed soul of ,mary4 ,therefore he praised her1 calling her all fair1 always beloved1 and spotless4 ,ah1 my most lovely ,lady1 it is my delight to see thee so dear to thy ,god through thy purity and beauty4 ,i thank ,god for having preserved thee from every sin4 ,ah1 my queen1 since thou art so loved by the most ,holy ,trinity1 do not disdain to cast thy eyes upon my soul so defiled by sin1 that thou mayest obtain for me1 from ,god1 pardon and eternal salvation4 ,look upon me and change me4 ,thou1 by thy sweetness1 hast drawn so many hearts to love thee1 draw also my heart1 that henceforth ,i may love no other than ,god and thee4 ,thou knowest that in thee ,i have placed all my hopes2 my dear mother1 do not abandon me4 ,assist me always by thy intercession1 in life and especially in death2 make me then to die invoking thee1 and loving thee1 that ,i may come to love thee forever in paradise4 ,,prayers ,,to ,,the ,,divine ,,mother ,,for ,,every ,,day ,,of ,,the ,,week4 ,,sunday4 ,prayer to the most holy ,mary to obtain the pardon of sins4 ,behold1 oh mother of ,god1 at thy feet a miserable sinner1 the slave of hell1 who has recourse to thee1 and trusts in thee4 ,i do not even merit that thou shouldst look upon me1 but ,i know that having seen thy ,son die to save sinners1 thou hast the greatest desire to aid them4 ,oh mother of mercy1 look on my miseries1 and have pity on me4 ,i hear thee called by all3 ,the refuge of sinners1 the hope of the desperate1 the help of the abandoned4 ,then thou art my refuge1 my hope1 my help4 ,thou must save me by thy intercession4 ,succor me for the love of ,jesus ,christ1 give thy hand to a poor fallen sinner who recommends himself to thee4 ,i know that thou dost find consolation in helping the sinner when thou canst2 help me then1 for thou canst help me4 ,i1 by my sins1 have lost the grace of ,god and my own soul4 ,now ,i place myself in thy hands2 tell me what ,i must do to return to the favor of my ,lord1 for ,i will do it without delay4 ,he sends me to thee1 that thou mayest succor me1 and he wishes me to have recourse to thy mercy1 that not only the merits of thy ,son1 but also thy prayers may aid in my salvation4 ,to thee then ,i have recourse2 thou who dost pray for so many others1 pray also to ,jesus for me4 ,ask him to pardon me1 and he will pardon me2 tell him that thou dost desire my salvation1 and he will save me4 ,make known the good that thou canst do to those who confide in thee4 ,amen2 thus ,i hope1 thus may it be4 ,,monday4 ,prayer to the most holy ,mary to obtain holy perseverance4 ,oh queen of heaven1 ,i who once have been a miserable slave of ,lucifer1 now dedicate myself to thee1 as thy servant forever1 and offer myself to honor and serve thee for my whole life2 accept me1 do not refuse me as ,i merit4 ,oh my mother1 ,i have placed in thee all my hopes1 from thee ,i hope all blessings4 ,i thank and bless ,god1 who in his mercy has given me this confidence in thee1 which ,i consider as the great earnest of my salvation4 ,ah1 how have ,i fallen in my past life1 ,i a miserable sinner1 because ,i have not had recourse to thee6 ,now ,i hope to be pardoned through the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and through thy prayers4 ,but ,i may again lose the divine grace2 the danger is not over2 my enemies do not sleep4 ,how many new temptations remain for me to conquer6 ,ah1 my most sweet ,lady1 protect me1 and do not permit me again to be their slave2 help me always4 ,i know that thou wilt help me1 and with thy help ,i shall conquer1 if ,i recommend myself to thee2 but this ,i fear1 that in occasions of falling into sin1 ,i may neglect to call on thee1 and thus may be lost4 ,this grace ,i ask of thee1 obtain for me that in the assaults of hell1 ,i may always have recourse to thee1 saying3 ,mary1 aid me4 ,my good mother1 do not permit me to lose my ,god4 ,,tuesday4 ,prayer to ,mary most holy to obtain a good death4 ,oh ,mary1 what will be my death8 ,i tremble and am confounded when ,i now consider my sins1 and think of that great1 decisive moment of my salvation or eternal damnation1 when ,i shall die and be judged4 ,oh my most sweet mother1 my hopes are in the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 and in thy intercession4 ,oh consoler of the afflicted1 do not abandon me then2 do not cease consoling me in that great affliction4 ,if now ,i am tormented with remorse on account of past sins1 the uncertainty of pardon1 the danger of relapse1 and the rigor of divine justice1 what will become of me then8 ,if thou dost not aid me1 ,i am lost4 ,ah1 my ,lady1 before my death arrives1 obtain for me a great sorrow for my sins1 a true amendment1 and fidelity to ,god for the life that remains to me4 ,and when the last moment of my life comes1 oh ,mary my hope1 aid me then in my great distress1 and encourage me then that ,i may not despair at the sight of my sins which the demon will present to me4 ,obtain for me the grace to invoke thee then more constantly1 that ,i may expire with thy sweet name1 and that of thy most holy ,son1 upon my lips4 ,and now1 oh ,lady1 pardon my boldness3 before ,i expire come thyself to console me by thy presence4 ,this grace thou hast granted to so many of thy servants1 ,i also wish and hope for it4 ,i am1 indeed1 a sinner1 and ,i do not merit it2 but ,i am thy servant1 who loves thee1 and has great confidence in thee4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i wait for thee1 do not leave me disconsolate4 ,at least1 if ,i am not worthy of so great a favor1 assist me from heaven1 that ,i may die in the love of ,god and of thee1 and come to love ,god and thee eternally in paradise4 ,,wednesday4 ,prayer to ,mary most holy to obtain deliverance from hell4 ,oh my dearest ,lady1 ,i thank thee that thou hast so often rescued me from hell3 as often as ,i have deserved it through my sins4 ,oh miserable sinner6 ,i was already condemned to that prison1 and that sentence would perhaps have been executed upon me after my first sin1 if thou hadst not in thy mercy helped me4 ,thou wast not even invoked by me1 but by thy mercy alone thou hast restrained the divine justice1 and then subduing my hard-heartedness1 hast drawn me to take confidence in thee4 ,and oh1 into how many sins ,i should have fallen in the dangers to which ,i have been exposed1 if thou1 my most loving mother1 hadst not preserved me by the graces which thou hast obtained for me6 ,ah1 my queen1 still preserve me from hell4 ,but of what avail will be thy mercy and the favors that thou hast bestowed on me1 if ,i should be condemned8 ,if once ,i loved thee not1 now1 after ,god1 ,i love thee above every thing4 ,ah1 do not permit that ,i should turn my back upon thee and upon ,god1 who1 through thee1 hath dispensed to me so many mercies4 ,my most amiable ,lady1 do not permit that ,i should hate and curse thee in hell4 ,wilt thou suffer a servant of thine who loves thee to be lost8 ,oh ,mary1 what dost thou say to me8 ,i shall be lost if ,i leave thee4 ,but who could have the heart to leave thee8 ,how could ,i forget the love thou hast borne me8 ,my mother1 since thou hast done so much to save me1 complete the work2 continue to aid me4 ,dost thou wish to help me8 ,but what do ,i say8 ,if thou didst show me so much favor when ,i lived forgetful of thee1 how much more ought ,i now to hope1 when ,i love thee and recommend myself to thee6 ,no1 he who has recourse to thee is never lost2 only he who does not recommend himself to thee4 ,ah1 my mother1 do not leave me in my own hands1 for ,i shall be lost2 make me always to have recourse to thee4 ,save me1 my hope1 save me from hell2 but first from sin1 which alone can condemn me to hell4 ,,thursday4 ,prayer to the most holy ,mary to obtain paradise4 ,oh queen of paradise1 who sittest above the choirs of angels1 nearest to ,god2 from this vale of misery ,i1 a miserable sinner1 salute thee1 and pray thee to turn towards me those kind eyes of thine1 that dispense graces to all those they look upon4 ,see1 oh ,mary1 in how much danger ,i now find myself1 and must find myself1 while ,i live on this earth1 of losing my soul1 paradise1 and ,god4 ,in thee1 oh ,lady1 ,i have placed all my hopes4 ,i love thee1 and long to come to thee1 see thee1 and praise thee in paradise4 ,ah ,mary1 when will the day come that ,i shall see myself safe at thy feet1 and shall behold the mother of my ,lord and my mother1 who has been so occupied with my salvation8 ,when shall ,i kiss that hand which has so many times delivered me from hell and bestowed on me so many graces1 when1 by my sins1 ,i merited to be hated and abandoned by all8 ,oh ,lady1 ,i have been very ungrateful to thee in my life2 but if ,i come to paradise ,i will be no more ungrateful4 ,there ,i will love thee as much as ,i can1 every moment through all eternity1 and ,i will make amends for my ingratitude by blessing thee and thanking thee forever4 ,above all1 ,i thank ,god who gives me such confidence in the blood of ,jesus ,christ and in thee2 namely1 that thou wilt save me1 that thou wilt free me from my sins1 and obtain for me light and strength to execute the divine will1 and finally conduct me to the port of paradise4 ,all this have thy servants hoped1 and none have been deceived4 ,neither shall ,i be deceived4 ,mary1 ,i wish nothing else2 thou must save me4 ,pray thy ,son ,jesus1 as ,i also pray him1 through the merits of his passion1 to preserve in me1 and always more increase this confidence1 and ,i shall be saved4 ,,friday4 ,prayer to the most holy ,mary to obtain love towards her and ,jesus ,christ4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i know that thou art the creature the most noble1 the most sublime1 the most pure1 the most beautiful1 the most merciful1 the most holy2 in a word1 the most lovely of all creatures4 ,oh1 if all knew thee1 oh my ,lady1 and loved thee as thou dost merit6 ,but ,i console myself that so many happy souls in heaven and on earth live enamored of thy goodness and beauty4 ,above all1 ,i rejoice that ,god himself loves thee alone more than all men and angels united4 ,my most amiable queen1 ,i1 a miserable sinner1 also love thee1 but ,i love thee too little3 ,i desire a love greater and more tender towards thee2 and this thou must obtain for me1 for to love thee is a great sign of predestination1 and a grace that ,god does not grant except to those whom he wishes to be saved4 ,i see myself then1 oh my mother1 greatly indebted to thy ,son4 ,i see that he merits an infinite love4 ,thou who desirest nothing but to see him loved1 this is the grace that above all others thou must obtain for me2 obtain for me a great love for ,jesus ,christ4 ,thou dost obtain from ,god whatever thou dost wish2 ah1 obtain for me this grace1 to be so united with the divine will that ,i may never more be separated from it4 ,i do not ask of thee the goods of earth1 neither honors nor riches2 ,i ask of thee what thy heart most desires1 ,i wish to love my ,god4 ,is it possible that thou wilt not aid me in this my desire1 which pleases thee so much8 ,no1 for thou dost even now help me1 already thou art praying for me2 pray1 pray1 and never cease to pray until thou seest me in paradise1 beyond the danger of being able any more to lose my ,lord1 and certain of loving him forever1 together with thee1 my dearest mother4 ,,saturday4 ,prayer to the most holy ,mary to obtain her patronage4 ,oh my most holy mother1 ,i know what graces thou hast obtained for me1 and ,i see the ingratitude of which ,i have been guilty towards thee4 ,the ungrateful are no longer worthy of favors2 but ,i will not on this account distrust thy mercy1 which is greater than my ingratitude4 ,oh my great advocate1 have pity on me4 ,thou art the dispenser of all the graces which ,god grants to us miserable sinners1 and for this end he has made thee so powerful1 so rich1 and so merciful1 that thou mightest succor us in our miseries4 ,ah1 mother of mercy1 do not leave me in my poverty4 ,thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee1 defend me also1 who recommend myself to thee4 ,do not tell me that it is difficult to gain my cause1 for the most desperate causes are all gained when they are defended by thee4 ,in thy hands1 then1 ,i place my eternal salvation1 and to thee ,i commit my soul4 ,it was lost2 thou1 by thy intercession1 must save it4 ,i wish to be enrolled among thy most devoted servants2 do not cast me out3 thou dost go in search of the wretched to relieve them2 do not abandon a miserable sinner who has recourse to thee4 ,speak for me2 thy ,son does whatever thou dost ask of him4 ,take me under thy protection1 and this will be enough3 yes1 for if thou dost protect me ,i fear nothing2 nothing from my sins1 for thou wilt obtain for me the remedy for the injury ,i have inflicted upon myself2 nor from the demons1 for thou art more powerful than all hell united2 nor from ,jesus my ,judge himself1 for by one prayer of thine he is appeased4 ,i only fear that through my negligence ,i may cease to invoke thee1 and shall thus be lost4 ,my mother1 obtain for me the pardon of all my sins1 love to ,jesus1 holy perseverance1 a good death1 and finally1 paradise2 especially obtain for me the grace always to recommend myself to thee4 ,it is true that these graces are too much for me who do not merit them1 but they are not too much for thee who art so much beloved by ,god that he grants thee whatever thou dost ask of him4 ,it is enough that thou dost begin to speak1 and he denies thee nothing4 ,pray then to ,jesus for me1 tell him that thou dost protect me1 and he will not fail to have pity on me4 ,my mother1 ,i trust in thee2 in this hope ,i repose and live1 and in this ,i wish to die4 ,amen4 ,live alway1 ,jesus our love and ,mary our hope6 ,,little ,,rosary ,,of ,,the ,,seven ,,dolors ,,of ,,mary4 ,incline unto mine aid1 oh ,god1 c4 ,my mother1 enable my heart to share thy sorrow for the death of thy ,son4 ,first ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 oh my afflicted mother1 on account of the first sword of sorrow that pierced thee1 when in the temple1 by the prophecy of ,st4 ,simeon1 all the cruel sufferings that men would inflict on thy beloved ,jesus were represented to thee1 which thou hadst already learned from the holy ,scriptures1 even to his death before thy eyes upon the infamous wood of the cross1 exhausted of blood and abandoned by all1 and thou without the power to defend or relieve him4 ,by that bitter memory1 then1 which for so many years afflicted thy heart1 ,i pray thee1 oh my queen1 to obtain for me the grace that always in life and in death ,i may keep impressed upon my heart the passion of ,jesus and thy sorrows4 ,our ,father1 ,hail ,mary1 ,glory be to ,god1 c41 ,oh my mother1 c41 as above4 ,which strophe must always be repeated at the end of each dolor4 ,second ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 oh my afflicted mother1 on account of the second sword that pierced thee when thou didst behold thy innocent ,son1 so soon after his birth1 threatened with death by those very men for whom he had come into the world2 so that thou wast obliged to flee with him by night secretly into ,egypt4 ,by the many hardships1 then1 that thou1 a delicate young virgin1 in company with thy exiled infant1 didst endure in the long and wearisome journey through rough and desert countries1 and in thy sojourn in ,egypt1 where1 being unknown and a stranger1 thou didst live all those years poor and despised1 ,i pray thee1 oh my beloved ,lady1 to obtain for me the grace to suffer with patience1 in thy company till death1 the trials of this miserable life1 that ,i may be able in the next to be preserved from the eternal sufferings of hell deserved by me4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,third ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 oh my afflicted mother1 on account of the third sword that pierced thy heart at the loss of thy dear son1 ,jesus1 who remained absent from thee in ,jerusalem for three days1 when not seeing thy beloved one by thy side1 and not knowing the cause of his absence1 ,i conceive1 my loving queen1 how in these nights thou didst not repose1 and didst naught but sigh for him who was thy only good4 ,by the sighs1 then1 of those three days1 for thee so long and bitter1 ,i pray thee to obtain for me the grace never to lose my ,god2 that ,i may always live closely united to ,god1 and thus united with him depart from this world4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,fourth ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 my afflicted mother1 on account of the fourth sword that pierced thy heart1 in seeing thy ,jesus condemned to death1 bound with ropes and chains1 covered with blood and wounds1 crowned with thorns1 and falling under the weight of the heavy cross which he bore on his bleeding back when going like an innocent lamb to die for love of us4 ,thine eye then met his eye1 and your glances were so many cruel arrows with which each wounded the loving heart of the other4 ,by this great grief1 then1 ,i pray thee to obtain for me the grace to live wholly resigned to the will of my ,god1 joyfully bearing my cross with ,jesus to the last moment of my life4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,fifth ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 oh my afflicted mother1 on account of the fifth sword that pierced thy heart1 when on ,mount ,calvary thou didst behold thy beloved son1 ,jesus1 dying slowly before thy eyes1 amid so many insults1 and in anguish1 on that hard bed of the cross1 without being able to give him even the least of those comforts which the greatest criminals receive at the hour of death4 ,and ,i pray thee by the anguish which thou1 oh my most loving mother1 didst suffer together with thy dying ,son1 and by the tenderness thou didst feel when1 for the last time1 he spoke to thee from the cross1 and taking leave of thee1 left all of us to thee in the person of ,st4 ,john1 as thy children2 and thou1 still constant1 didst behold him bow his head and expire2 ,i pray thee to obtain for me the grace1 by thy crucified love1 to live and die crucified to every thing in this world1 in order to live only to ,god through my whole life1 and thus to enter one day paradise1 to enjoy him face to face4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,sixth ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 oh my afflicted mother1 on account of the sixth sword which pierced thy heart1 when thou didst see the kind heart of thy ,son pierced through and through after his death--a death endured for those ungrateful men1 who1 even after his death1 were not satisfied with the tortures they had inflicted upon him4 ,by this cruel sorrow1 then1 which was wholly thine1 ,i pray thee to obtain for me the grace to abide in the heart of ,jesus1 who was wounded and opened for me2 in that heart1 ,i say1 which is the beautiful abode of love1 where all the souls who love ,god repose2 and that living there1 ,i may never love or think of any thing but ,god4 ,most holy ,virgin1 thou canst do it2 from thee ,i hope for it4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,seventh ,dolor4--,i pity thee1 my afflicted mother1 on account of the seventh sword that pierced thy heart1 on seeing in thy arms thy ,son who had just expired1 no longer fair and beautiful as thou didst once receive him in the stable of ,bethlehem1 but covered with blood1 livid1 and lacerated by wounds which exposed his very bones4 ,my ,son1 thou saidst1 my ,son1 to what has love brought thee8 ,and when he was borne to the sepulchre1 thou didst wish to accompany him thyself1 and help to put him in the tomb with thy own hands2 and1 bidding him a last farewell1 thou hast left thy loving heart buried with thy ,son4 ,by all the anguish of thy pure soul1 obtain for me1 oh mother of fair love1 pardon for the offences that ,i have committed against my ,god1 whom ,i love1 and of which ,i repent with my whole heart4 ,wilt thou defend me in temptations8 ,assist me at the hour of my death1 that1 being saved by the merits of ,jesus and thine1 ,i may come one day1 with thy aid1 after this miserable exile1 to sing in paradise the praises of ,jesus and thine through all eternity4 ,amen4 ,our ,father1 c4 ,pray for us1 oh most sorrowful ,virgin2 ,that we may be worthy of the promises of ,christ4 ,let us ,pray4 ,oh ,god1 at whose passion1 according to the prophecy of ,simeon1 the sword of sorrow pierced through the most sweet soul of the glorious virgin and mother1 ,mary1 grant that we1 who commemorate and reverence her dolors1 may experience the blessed effect of thy passion1 who livest and reignest world without end4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,benedict ,,xiii4 granted two hundred days' indulgence for every 8,our ,father0 and every 8,hail ,mary0 to those who recite this little crown in the churches of the ,servites of ,mary1 and has granted the same favor to those who recite it in any place whatever on ,fridays or any day during ,lent2 and on other days1 one hundred days for every 8,our ,father10 and 8,hail ,mary40 ,to those who recite it entire1 seven years4 ,to those who recite it for a year1 plenary indulgence1 applicable to the souls in purgatory4#aibf ,moreover1 let it be observed that there are seven hundred years of indulgence for the dead granted by ,clement ,,xii4 to those who say1 kneeling1 the ,de ,profundis at the ringing of the bell4 ,a ,little ,rosary of the ,immaculate ,mary1 ,which is recited in some ,churches4 ,incline unto mine aid1 oh ,god1 c4 ,glory1 c4 ,after this1 an 8,our ,father0 is recited in honor of the ,eternal ,father1 in thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed on ,mary2 with four 8,hail ,marys40 ,the same is repeated in honor of the ,son1 and again in honor of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,after each 8,hail ,mary0 is recited the following verse3 ,as 'mid the thorns the lily fair ,art thou1 ,virgin immaculate1 ,from sin preserved1 by him whose care ,did thee his mother blest create4 ,at the end3 ,v4 ,pray for us1 oh immaculate ,virgin3 ,ora pro nobis1 ,virgo immaculata2 ,r4 ,that we may be worthy of the promises of ,christ3 ,ut digni officiamur promissionibus ,christi4 ,let us ,pray4 ,grant to thy servants1 we pray thee1 oh ,lord1 the gift of divine grace1 that to us1 for whom the maternity of the blessed ,virgin was the beginning of salvation1 the votive commemoration of her conception may bring an increase of peace4 ,by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 ,,various ,,prayers ,,to ,,mary4 ,dedication of oneself to ,mary4 ,oh most holy virgin mother of ,god1 ,mary1 ,i1 ,n41 although most unworthy of being thy servant1 yet moved by thy wonderful mercy and by the desire to serve thee1 choose thee to-day1 in presence of my guardian angel1 and of the whole celestial court1 for my especial ,lady1 ,advocate1 and ,mother1 and make the firm resolution that ,i always will love and serve thee for the future1 and do whatever ,i can to induce others also to love and serve thee4 ,i pray thee1 mother of ,god1 and my most kind and amiable mother1 by the blood of thy divine ,son which was shed for me1 that thou wilt receive me into the number of thy servants for thy child and servant forever2 assist me in all my thoughts1 words1 and actions1 at every moment of my life1 that every step and breath may be directed to the greater glory of my ,god1 and through thy most powerful intercession obtain for me that ,i may never more offend my beloved ,jesus1 that ,i may glorify and love him in this life1 and that ,i may also love thee1 my most beloved and dear mother1 that ,i may love thee and enjoy thee through eternity in holy paradise4 ,amen4 ,my mother ,mary1 ,i recommend to thee my soul1 especially at the hour of my death4 ,dedication of a ,family to ,mary4 ,oh blessed and immaculate ,virgin1 our queen and mother1 refuge and consolation of all those who are in misery1 ,i1 prostrate before thy throne with all my family1 choose thee for my ,lady1 ,mother1 and ,advocate with ,god4 ,i1 with all who belong to me1 dedicate myself forever to thy service1 and pray thee1 oh mother of ,god1 to receive us into the number of thy servants1 taking us all under thy protection1 aiding us in life1 and still more1 at the hour of our death4 ,oh mother of mercy1 ,i choose thee ,lady and ruler of my whole house1 of my relatives1 my interests1 and all my affairs4 ,do not disdain to take care of them2 dispose of them all as it pleases thee4 ,bless me1 then1 and all my family1 and do not permit that any of us should offend thy ,son4 ,do thou defend us in temptations1 deliver us from dangers1 provide for us in our necessities1 counsel us in our doubts1 console us in afflictions1 be with us in sickness1 and especially in the agonies of death4 ,do not permit the devil to glory in having in his chains any of us who are now consecrated to thee2 but grant that we may come to thee in heaven to thank thee1 and together with thee to praise and love our ,redeemer ,jesus for all eternity4 ,amen1 thus may it be4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,ephrem to ,mary1 abbreviated4#aibg ,oh immaculate and wholly pure ,virgin ,mary1 mother of ,god1 queen of the world1 hope of the despairing2 thou art the joy of the saints1 thou art the reconciler of sinners to ,god1 thou art the advocate of the abandoned1 the secure haven of the shipwrecked2 thou art the consolation of the world1 the ransom of captives1 the comforter of the afflicted1 the salvation of the world4 ,oh great queen1 we take refuge in thy protection4 ,we confide in none but thee1 oh most pure ,virgin3 ,non nobis est alia quam in te fiducia1 ,o ,virgo sincerissima4 ,oh ,lady1 after ,god we have no other hope but in thee4 ,we bear the name of thy servants1 do not permit the enemy to bear us away to hell4 ,hail1 best mediatrix of ,god and men3 ,ave1 ,dei et hominum mediatrix optima4 ,i salute thee1 oh great mediatrix of peace between men and ,god2 oh mother of ,jesus our ,lord1 the love of all men and of ,god2 to thee be honor and blessing with the ,father and with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,amen4 ,prayer of ,st4 ,thomas of ,aquin4 ,oh most blessed and sweet ,virgin ,mary1 full of compassion1 ,i recommend to thy mercy my soul and my body1 my thoughts1 my works1 my life1 and my death4 ,oh my ,lady1 help me and make me strong against the snares of the devil2 obtain for me a true and perfect love1 with which ,i may love with all my heart thy most beloved ,son1 and my ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and after him may ,i love thee above all things4 ,oh my queen and mother1 with thy most powerful intercession make this love to remain with me until death1 after which may ,i be conducted by thee to the country of the blessed4#aibh ,prayer of ,st4 ,blosius to the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,hail1 ,mary1 hope of the despairing1 help of the destitute1 to whom thy ,son pays so great honor that whatever thou dost ask thou dost at once obtain1 whatever thou dost wish is at once done4 ,to thee are committed the treasures of the celestial kingdom4 ,grant1 oh ,lady1 that amid the storms of this life1 ,i may always turn my eyes to thee4 ,to thy mercy ,i commend my soul and my body4 ,direct and protect me at every hour and every moment1 oh my sweet protectress4 ,another ,prayer4 ,hail1 most compassionate mother of mercy2 hail1 consolation and pardon1 ,mary most desired4 ,who shall not love thee8 ,thou our light in doubt1 our consolation in sorrow1 our relief in distress1 our refuge in perils and temptations1 thou1 after thy only-begotten ,son1 art our secure salvation4 ,blessed are those who love thee1 oh ,lady4 ,incline1 ,i pray thee1 thy ear of mercy to the prayers of this thy servant1 this miserable sinner1 and dissipate the darkness of my vices by the rays of thy sanctity1 that ,i may please thee4#aibi ,ejaculations to the ,most ,holy ,mary4 ,mother of ,god1 remember me4--,st4 ,francis ,xavier4 ,virgin and mother1 make me always to remember thee4--,st4 ,philip ,neri4 ,virgin ,mary1 mother of ,god1 pray to ,jesus for me4--,the same ,saint4 ,oh ,lady1 obtain that ,jesus may not cast me from him4--,st4 ,ephrem4 ,oh ,mary1 may my heart never cease to love thee nor my tongue to praise thee4--,st4 ,bonaventure4 ,oh ,lady1 by the love which thou dost bear to ,jesus1 help me to love him4--,st4 ,bridget4 ,oh ,mary1 deign1 to make me thy servant4--,blessed ,jane of ,france4 ,oh ,mary1 ,i give myself wholly to thee1 do thou accept and preserve me4--,st4 ,mary ,magdalene of ,pazzi4 ,oh ,lady1 do not abandon me until death4--,p4 ,spinelli4 ,hail ,mary1 my mother4--,p4 ,francis ,brancaccio4 ,holy ,mary1 my advocate1 pray for me4--,p4 ,sortorio ,caputi4 ,how sweet1 oh my mother1 is thy name of ,mary6 ,it gives me peace1 and so much pleasure1 ,that ,i wish always to repeat it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the most holy ,mary revealed to a soul devoted to her1 that it pleased her much to be honored by her servants with the following devotions4 ,i thank thee1 oh eternal ,father1 for the power given to ,mary thy daughter4 ,our ,father1 ,hail ,mary1 ,glory be to ,god4 ,i thank thee1 oh eternal ,son1 for the wisdom given to ,mary thy mother4 ,our ,father1 ,hail ,mary1 ,glory be to ,god4 ,i thank thee1 oh eternal ,spirit1 for the love given to ,mary thy spouse4 ,our ,father1 ,hail ,mary1 ,glory be to ,god4 ,to thee we cry1 oh queen of mercy1 turn towards us1 and let us behold thee dispensing favors1 bestowing remedies1 giving strength4 ,show us thy compassionate countenance1 and we shall be safe4#aicj ,oh mistress of all things1 saint of saints1 our strength and refuge1 ,god1 as it were1 of the world1 glory of heaven1 accept those who love thee2 hear us1 for thy ,son honors thee and denies thee nothing4--,ibid4#aica ,come1 hasten1 oh ,lady1 and aid with thy mercy thy most sinful servant who invokes thee1 and deliver him from the hands of the enemy4--,ibid4#aicb ,who will not sigh to thee8 ,with love and grief we sigh4 ,how1 then1 shall we not sigh to thee1 oh solace of the miserable1 refuge of outcasts1 deliverer of captives8 ,we are secure that if thou dost see our miseries1 thy compassion will not be slow to relieve us4--,ibid4#aicc ,oh our ,lady and our advocate1 recommend us to thy ,son4 ,obtain1 oh blessed one1 by the grace thou hast merited1 that he who did condescend1 with thy mediation1 to become a participator of our infirmity and misery1 may also by thy intercession make us to share in his blessedness and glory4--,ibid4#aicd ,in thee ,i have placed the hope of my whole heart4--,st4 ,john ,damascene4 ,it is not possible1 oh ,lady1 that thou shouldst abandon him who places his hope in thee4--,st4 ,bernard4 ,if thou dost only wish for our salvation1 it will be impossible that we should not be saved4--,st4 ,anselm4 ,hail1 daughter of ,god the ,father2 hail1 mother of ,god the ,son2 hail1 spouse of ,god the ,holy ,ghost2 hail1 temple of the whole ,trinity4--,simon ,garcia4 ,oh ,virgin1 how beautiful art thou6 ,mother of my ,god1 my heart is enamored with thy goodness4 99 99 99 99 99 ,thanks be to ,god and to ,mary4 ,may all things be to the eternal glory of the most holy ,trinity1 and of the immaculate ,mary4 ,live always1 ,jesus our love and ,mary our hope1 with ,joseph and ,theresa our advocates4 ,,acclamations ,,in ,,praise ,,of ,,mary4 ,oh most holy ,virgin ,mary6 oh queen of angels6 how complete and perfect heaven has created thee6 ,oh1 that ,i might appear in the eyes of ,god1 as thou dost appear to me6 ,thou art so beautiful and lovely1 that with thy beauty thou dost ravish hearts4 ,when thou dost appear1 every thing appears deformed1 every beauty is eclipsed1 every grace disappears1 precisely as the stars disappear at the rising of the sun4 ,thy great servant1 ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 contemplated thee2 and when he saw thee so lovely1 it appeared to him thou hadst taken the flower and the best of every creature1 and therefore he called thee3 ,the comeliness of nature3 8,natur venustatem20 the grace and comeliness of all creatures4 ,st4 ,augustine1 the brightest light of the ,doctors1 gazed on thee1 and thou didst appear to him so beautiful and lovely1 that he called thee the form and countenance of ,god1 and it did not seem to him adulation3 ,thou art worthy of being called the form of ,god3 8,si formam ,dei te appellem digna existis40 ,thy devout servant1 ,albertus ,magnus1 contemplated thee1 and it seemed to him that all the graces and gifts that were found in the most celebrated women of the ancient dispensation were all surpassed in thee4 ,the golden mouth of ,sara1 when with thy smile thou makest heaven and earth joyful2 the tender and sweet glance of the fruitful ,lia1 with which thou dost soften the heart of ,god inexorable to sinners2 the splendor of the countenance of the beautiful ,rachel1 as thou dost obscure the sun by thy radiant beauty2 the grace and the comeliness of the discreet ,abigail1 with which thou dost appease the wrath of an angry ,god2 the fire and strength of the brave ,judith1 when thou dost powerfully and graciously subdue the proudest hearts4 ,in a word1 sovereign princess1 from the vast ocean of thy beauty flowed forth1 like streams1 the beauty and grace of all creatures4 ,the sea learned to curl its waves1 and wave its crystals1 from the golden locks of thy head1 which1 curling gracefully1 floated upon thy shoulders and ivory neck4 ,the crystal fountains1 and their clear depths1 learned their quiet and steady flow from the serenity of thy beautiful brow and thy placid countenance4 ,the graceful bow1 when it is most beautiful1 has carefully learned from thy eyebrow to arch itself gracefully1 that it may better dart forth its rays of light4 ,the morning ,dian and the gentle ,hesperus are flashes from thy radiant eyes4 ,the white lily and the ruddy rose have stolen their colors from thy cheeks4 ,the envious purple and coral sigh for the ruby of thy lips4 ,the purest milk and sweetest honey are distillations from the sweet honeycomb of thy mouth4 ,the odorous jasmin and the fragrant rose of ,damascus have stolen their perfumes from thy breath4 ,the loftiest cedar and the finest and most erect cypress esteem themselves happy when they see that they are the image of thy straight and lofty neck1 and the palm-tree enviously1 and in emulation1 imitates thy stately stature4 ,and thus1 oh ,lady1 every created beauty is the shadow and copy of thy beauty4 ,therefore ,i do not wonder1 oh sovereign princess1 that heaven and earth are placed under thy feet2 for they are so small and thou so great1 that when thy feet only rest upon them they are enriched1 and they deem themselves happy and blessed when they can kiss them3 so the moon when ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist saw her at thy feet4 ,and the splendor of the sun was increased1 when thou didst clothe thyself with his rays4 ,the ,evangelist1 blinded by the greatness of thy light1 was lost in wonder1 and beside himself at the sight of so stupendous a miracle of beauty1 in which the beauty of heaven and earth was contained1 and he said3 ,and there appeared a great sign in heaven3 8,signum magnum apparuit in clo40 ,there appeared a great wonder in heaven1 that amazed the angels and terrified the earth4 ,and that miracle was a woman clothed from head to foot with light and splendor1 whom the resplendent sun chose for his mother1 and he placed himself in her womb1 and to her the fair moon serves as a robe encircled with silver1 and innumerable stars crown her temples1 and are emulous of encircling her locks1 and adorn her head with a wreath of precious gems3 ,and on her head a crown of twelve stars3 8,et in capite ejus corona duodecim stellarum40 ,and thus the saints1 oh most sacred ,virgin1 marvelling at so great splendor which surpasses the brightness of the sun1 and the graceful loveliness of the moon1 though they be the perfect flower and ideal of all beauty1 and considering the acclamations that burst forth from the heavens1 never ceased to admire thy beauty1 and do nothing but exclaim1 and extol thee also1 with acclamations of wonder and amazement4 ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 paying to thee his homage1 says3 8,oh holy1 and most holy of all the saints1 and the richest treasure of all sanctity60 ,and ,st4 ,bernard3 8,oh admirable ,virgin6 ,oh woman1 the glory of all other women6 ,the best and greatest that the world has ever possessed60 ,st4 ,epiphanius3 8,oh heaven more vast and extended than the empyrean6 ,virgin truly full of grace60 ,and the ,catholic ,church1 in the name of all1 sings3 8,oh most clement1 most merciful1 oh always sweet ,virgin ,mary60 ,and ,i also1 oh heavenly princess1 with thy leave1 although ,i am the least of thy servants1 ,i also wish to make my acclamations of wonder and amazement4 ,oh gracious and beautiful heaven1 more vast than the empyrean6 since in this the immensity of ,god is not contained1 but he was even concealed in thy womb4 ,oh richest treasure1 in which was deposited the most rich jewel of our redemption6 ,oh mother of sinners1 beneath thy mantle we are protected6 ,oh consolation of the world1 in whom all the afflicted1 infirm1 and disconsolate find comfort6 ,oh beautiful eyes1 that ravish hearts6 ,oh coral lips1 that take souls captive6 ,oh beneficent hands1 filled with hyacinths1 that are always dispensing graces6 ,oh pure creature1 who dost appear so like ,god1 and whom ,i should have esteemed a ,god1 if faith had not taught me that thou art not ,god1 although thou hast a splendor and ,i know not what of supreme ,deity6 ,oh great ,lady1 empress of heaven1 enjoy for a thousand eternities the grandeur of thy state1 the immensity of thy graces1 and the felicity of thy glory4 ,only ,i supplicate thee1 oh compassionate mother1 that thou wilt not forget us1 who beg to be thy servants and children4 ,and because thou art the depositary of all graces1 and the best and most privileged of all created things1 obtain for us thy servants1 oh ,lady1 that we may be favored far more than any others in the world4 ,and may all the world know that the dear children of ,mary are the best of heaven and earth2 the beloved children who are tenderly cared for1 and enjoy the best that such a mother has to give2 the well-beloved1 who are caressed in the bosom of the queen of heaven1 and are doubly favored and doubly caressed by thy majesty4 ,thus ,i hope1 oh most beautiful ,rachel6 and thus ,i trust thou wilt do1 oh sovereign princess6 ,in the name of what thou art2 do it1 for all heaven prostrate at thy feet1 is supplicating and praying thee for this4 ,consent2 utter but one loving fiat2 fiat1 fiat2 be it done1 be it done4 ,oh man1 what art thou doing8 ,how dost thou love the creatures of earth1 deceitful and lying creatures1 who betray and make thee lose thy soul1 thy body1 paradise1 and ,god8 ,and why not love ,mary1 the most loving1 the most amiable1 and the most faithful1 who1 after enriching thee with consolations and graces in this life1 will obtain for thee1 from her divine ,son1 the eternal glory of paradise8 ,oh ,mary1 ,mary1 beautiful above all creatures6 lovely1 next to ,jesus1 above all loves6 dearer than all created things6 more graceful than all graces6 have pity on my miserable heart4 ,miserable because it ought to love thee and does not love thee4 ,thou canst kindle it with thy holy love4 ,turn1 oh ,mary1 thy loving eyes upon me1 look on me1 draw me to thyself1 and obtain that1 next to ,god1 ,i may love none but thee1 oh most gracious1 most amiable ,mary1 mother of ,jesus1 and my mother4 ,,footnotes #a ,mater quidem spiritu non capitis nostri1 quod est ipse salvator1 ex quo magis illa spiritualiter nata est2 quia omnes1 qui in eum crediderint1 in quibus et ipsa est1 recte filii sponsi appellantur2 sed plane mater membrorum ejus 7qu nos sumus7 quia cooperata est charitate1 ut fideles in ,ecclesia nascerentur1 qui illius capitis membra sunt4 ,lib4 de ,sancta ,virginitate1 cap4 #f4 #b ,m4 ,nicole1 ,instr4 theol4 and mor4 on the ,lord's ,prayer1 the ,angelical ,salutation1 c41 ,instr4 #e1 c4 #b4 #c ,part #a1 c4 #f1 #b1 c4 #g1 #h1 #b1 c4 #i4 #d ,in ,christo fuit plenitudo grati1 sicut in capite influente2 in ,maria vero1 sicut in collo transfundente4 ,theolog4 mentis et cordis4 ,tom4 #b1 ,lib4 #aj4 ,dissert4 #f1 c4 #a4 ,speculat4 #b4 in ,reflexiones4 #e ,dicitur autem ,beata ,virgo plena grati1 quantum ad tria4444 ,tertio quo ad refusionem in omnes homines4 ,magnum enim est in quolibet sancto1 quando habet tantum de gratia quod sufficit ad salutem multorum2 sed quando haberet tantum1 quod sufficeret ad salutem omnium hominum de mundo1 hoc esset maximum2 et hoc est in ,christo et in ,beata ,virgine4 ,nam in omni periculo potes salutem obtinere ab ipsa ,virgine gloriosa4 ,unde cantic4 #d4 ,mille clypei1 id est remedia contra pericula1 pendent ex ea4 ,item in omni opere virtutis potes eam habere in adjutorium2 et ideo dicit ipsa4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #be4 #f ,laus ,mari fons est indeficiens1 qui quanto amplius tenditur1 tanto amplius impletur2 quanto amplius impletur1 tanto amplius dilatatur4 #g ,etiamsi omnium nostrum membra verterentur in linguas eam laudare sufficiret nullus4 ,ap4 ,b4 ,dion4 ,carth4 #h ,honorare ,mariam est thesaurizare vitam eternam4 ,de ,laud4 v4 c4 #b4 #i ,honorificantes se in hoc sculo honorificabit in futuro4 #aj ,qui elucidant me1 vitam eternam habebunt4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ca4 #aa ,exulta1 exulta1 anima mea1 et ltare in illa2 quia multa bona sunt laudatoribus prparata4 ,si enim omnes scriptur loquuntur de ea1 ,deiparam perpetuo corde et lingua celebremus1 ut ab ipsa ad gaudia eterna perducamur4 #ab ,revel41 cap4 #ad4 #ac ,ap4 ,p4 ,auriem4 #ad ,fili1 miserere anim amatoris tui et laudatoris mei4 ,serm4 #bj1 ad ,nov4 #ae ,quomodo fieri potest ut ex memoria laudum ejus salus non proveniat peccatorum1 cujus uterus facta est via ad peccatores salvandos8 ,s4 ,ans4 ,lib4 #c1 de ,exc4 ,v4 cap4 #a4 #af ,laudamus humilitatem1 miramur virginitatem2 sed miseris sapit dulcius misericordia2 misericordiam amplectimur carius1 recordamur spius1 crebrius invocamus4 ,serm4 #d1 de ,ass4 #ag ,jesus et ,maria1 amores mei dulcissimi1 pro vobis patiar1 pro vobis moriar2 sim totus vester1 sim nihil meus4 ,ap4 ,auriem4 ,aff4 sc4 #ah ,si ipse ,rex est qui natus est de ,virgine1 mater1 qu eum genuit1 ,regina et ,domina proprie ac vere censetur4 ,serm4 de ,deip4 #ai ,hc autem ,virgo in illo consensu meruit primatum orbis1 dominium mundi1 sceptrum regni super omnes creaturas4 ,tom4 #b;d1 cap4 #ea4 #bj ,neque a dominatione filii ,mater potest esse sejuncta1 una est ,mari et ,christi caro4 ,filii gloriam cum ,matre1 non tam communem judico1 quam eamdem4 ,s4 ,arnol4 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #ba ,regina constituta1 totom jure possidet filii regnum4 ,rupert1 abb4 #bb ,tot creatur serviunt glorios ,virgini1 quot serviunt ,trinitati2 omnes namque creatur sive angeli1 sive homines1 et omnia qu sunt in clo et in terra1 quia omnia sunt divino imperio subjecta1 glorios ,virgini sunt subject4 ,tom4 #b1 cap4 #fa4 #bc ,perge ,maria1 perge secura in bonis filii tui2 fiducialiter age tamquam regina1 mater regis et sponsa2 tibi debetur regnum et potestas4 #bd ,hoc reges habent magnificum1 prodesse miseris4 #be ,duo hc audivi1 quia potestas ,dei est1 et tibi1 ,domine1 misericordia4 ,psal4 lxi4 #ab4 #bf ,regnum ,dei consistit in potestate et misericordia2 potestate ,deo remanente1 cessit quodammodo misericordi pars matri regnanti4 ,psal4 iii4 ,tr4 #dth1 ,s4 ,magn4 #bg ,quando filium ,dei in utero concepit1 et post modum peperit1 dimidiam partem regni ,dei impetravit1 ut ipsa sit regina misericordi1 ut ,christus est rex justiti4 #bh ,deus judicium tuum regi da2 et justitiam tuam filio regis4 ,psal4 lxxi4 #b4 #bi ,quia misericordiam tuam dedisti ,matri ,regis4 #cj ,deus judicium tuum regi da1 et misericordiam tuam matri ejus4 #ca ,pater omne judicium dedit filio1 et omne officium misericordi dedit matri4 #cb ,unxit te ,deus oleo ltiti4 ,psal4 xliv4 #h4 #cc ,maria1 plena unctione misericordi et oleo pietatis2 propterea unxit te ,deus oleo ltiti4 ,in spec41 cap4 #g4 #cd ,ne putes quod animam tuam tantum liberes1 quia in domo regis es pr cunctis ,judis4 ,esth4 iv4 #ae4 #ce ,qu est petitio tua8 ,si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis o rex1 dona mihi populum meum1 pro quo obsecro4 #cf ,lex clementi in lingua ejus4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #bf4 #cg ,quod divin pietatis abyssum cui vult1 quando vult et quomodo vult1 creditur aperire2 ut nemo tam enormis peccator pereat1 cui sancta sanctorum pratrocinii suffragia prstat4 ,in ,salve ,regina4 #ch ,maria quanto altior et sanctior1 tanto clementior et dulcior circa conversos peccatores4 ,lib4 #a1 ep4 #dg4 #ci ,quid ad ,mariam accedere trepidat humana fragilitas8 ,nihil austerum in ea1 nihil terribile2 tota suavis est1 omnibus offerens lac et lanam4 ,super ,sign4 ,magn4 #dj ,ita benigna est1 ut neminem tristem redire sinat4 ,lib4 #d1 c4 #ab4 #da ,tu es regina misericordi1 et ego miserrimus peccator1 subditorum maximus4 ,rege nos ergo1 o regina misericordi4 ,in ,salv4 ,reg4 #db ,habes vires insuperabiles1 ne clementiam tuam superet multitudo peccatorum4 ,nihil tu resistet potenti2 tuam enim gloriam ,creator existimat esse propriam1 et filius in ea exultans1 quasi exsolvens debitum1 implet petitiones tuas4 ,or4 de exitu1 ,b4 ,v4 #dc ,ego regina cli2 ego mater misericordi2 ego justorum gaudium et aditus peccatorum ad ,deum4 ,nullus est adeo maledictus1 qui quamdiu vivit careat misericordia mea2 quia propter me levius tentatur a dmonibus1 quam alias tentaretur4 ,nullus est ita abjectus a ,deo1 nisi fuerit omnino maledictus1 qui si me invocaverit1 non revertatur ad ,deum1 et habiturus sit misericordiam4 ,ego vocor ab omnibus mater misericordi1 et vere misericordia illius misericordem me fecit4 ,ideo miser erit qui ad misericordem1 cum possit1 non accedit4 ,rev4 ,lib4 #a1 cap4 #f4 #dd ,veni de ,libano1 sponsa mea1 veni de ,libano1 veni2 coronaberis 444 de cubilibus leonum1 de montibus pardorum4 ,cant4 #d1 #h4 #de ,de talium leonum cubiculis tu coronaberis4 ,eorum salus corona tua erit4 ,rup4 ,vid4 l4 #c1 in ,cant4 #df ,domina1 me tu dominationi volo committere1 ut me plenarie regas et gubernes4 ,non mihi me relinquas4 #dg ,tuus sum ego1 salvum me fac4 #dh ,veni1 ut vitam habeant1 et abundantius habeant4 ,joan x4 #aj4 #di ,pater futuri sculi1 princeps pacis4 ,isa4 ix4 #f4 #ej ,virgo per hunc consensum in incarnatione filii omnium salutem vigorosissime expetiit et procuravit2 et omnium salvationi per hunc consensum se dedicavit1 ita ut ex tunc omnes in suis visceribus bajulat1 tanquam verissima mater filios suos4 ,tr4 de ,b4 ,v4 serm4 #f4 #ea ,peperit filium suum primogenitum4 ,luc4 cap4 ii4 #g4 #eb ,si primogenitus1 ergo alii filii secuti sunt secundogeniti8 ,carnales nullos habet ,b4 ,virgo1 prter ,christum2 ergo spirituales habeat necesse est4 #ec ,venter tuus sicut acervus tritici1 vallatus liliis4 ,cant4 vii4 #b4 #ed ,unum granum frumenti fuit in utero ,virginis1 ,christus ,dominus2 et tamen acervus tritici dicitur1 quia granum hoc virtute omnes electos continet1 ut ipse sit primogenitus in multis fratribus4 ,de ,instit4 ,virg4 #ee ,in illo uno fructu1 in uno salvatore omnium ,jesu plurimos ,maria peperit ad salutem4 ,pariendo vitam1 multos peperit ad vitam4 ,in ,cant4 iv4 #ac4 #ef ,illa spiritu mater est membrorum salvatoris1 quia cooperata est charitate1 ut fideles in ecclesia nascerentur4 ,de ,virg4 cap4 #f4 #eg ,posuit me custodem in vineis2 vineam meam non custodivi4 ,cant4 i4 #e4 #eh ,ut multas animas salvas faceret1 animam suam morti exposuit4 #ei ,et tuam ipsius animam doloris gladius pertransibit4 ,luc4 ii4 #ce4 #fj ,nullo modo dubitandum est1 quia ,mari animus voluit etiam tradere filium suum pro salute generis humani1 ut mater per omnia conformis fieret ,patri et ,filio4 #fa ,isa4 lxiii4 #c4 #fb ,joan4 xix4 #bf4 #fc ,deinde dicit discipulo3 ,ecce mater tua4 ,joan4 xix4 #bg4 #fd ,in ,joanne intelligimus omnes1 quorum ,b4 ,virgo per dilectionem facta est mater4 ,tom4 #a1 ,serm4 #ee4 #fe ,deinde dicit discipulo3 ,ecce mater tua4 ,joan4 xix4 #bg4 #ff ,joannes est nomen particulare1 discipulus commune1 ut denotetur quod ,maria omnibus detur in matrem4 #fg ,ego sum mater pulchr dilectionis4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bd4 #fh ,quia tota est amor erga nos1 quos in filios recepit4 ,paciucch4 de ,b4 ,v4 #fi ,nonne plus sine comparatione nos diligis1 ac bona nostra procuras1 quam mater carnalis8 #gj ,salvum fac filium ancill tu4 ,psal4 lxxxv4 #af4 #ga ,cujus ancill8 #gb ,qu dit2 ,ecce ancilla ,domini4 ,in ,psal4 lxxxv4 #gc ,quam bene nobis erit sub prsidio tant matris8 ,quis detrahere audebit de sinu ejus8 ,qu nos tentatio1 aut turbatio superare poterit confidentes in patrocinio matris ,dei et nostr8 ,bell4 de sept verb4 #gd ,fidelium piissima mater1 furente tentationum tempestate1 materno affectu eos1 velut intra viscera propria receptos protegit1 donec in beatum portum reponat4 ,v4 cap4 #ad1 exc4 #ha4 #ge ,ita ego facio1 et faciam omnibus peccatoribus misericordiam meam petentibus4 ,lib4 #d1 c4 #ch4 #gf ,sub tuum prsidium confugimus1 sancta ,dei genitrix4 #gg ,dic1 anima mea1 cum magna fiducia3 ,exultabo et ltabor1 quia quicquid judicabitur de me pendet ex sententia fratris et matris me4 #gh ,oh beata fiducia1 oh tutum refugium6 ,mater ,dei est mater mea4 ,qua certitudine igitur debemus sperare1 quoniam salus de boni fratris et pi matris pendet arbitrio6 ,in ,depr4 ad4 ,v4 #gi ,si quis est parvulus1 veniat ad me4 ,prov4 ix4 #d4 #hj ,opusc4 #fj1 cap4 #d4 #ha ,natura hoc bestiis infundit1 ut catulos parvulos ament4 ,lib4 #f1 ,exa4 c4 #d4 #hb ,nunquid oblivisci potest mulier infantem suum1 ut non misereatur filio uteri sui8 ,et si illa oblita fuerit ego tamen non obliviscar tui4 ,isa4 xlix4 #ae4 #hc ,ego mater pulchr dilectionis4 ,eccl4 xxiv4 #bd4 #hd ,se dilectionis esse matrem gloriatur1 quia tota est amor erga nos1 quos in filios recepit4 ,paciucch4 #he ,flagrabat ,virgo stuante charitate incensa1 ut pro humani generis salute simul cum prole profunderet vitam4 ,tract4 de ,verb4 ,dom4 #hf ,pendebat in cruce filius1 mater persecutoribus se offerebat4 ,de ,inst4 ,virg4 c4 #g4 #hg ,hoc mandatum habemus a ,deo1 ut qui diligit ,deum1 diligat et fratrem suum4 #a ,joan4 iv4 #ba4 #hh ,vita1 ,lib4 #b1 cap4 #e4 #hi ,mulier ecce filius tuus4 #ij 8,sic ,deus dilexit mundum1 ut filium suum unigenitum daret40 ,joan4 iii4 #af4 #ia ,sic ,maria dilexit nos1 ut filium suum unigenitum daret4 #ib ,nulla post eam creatura ita per amorem nostrum exardescet1 qu filium suum unicum1 quem multo plus se amavit1 nobis dedit1 et pro nobis obtulit4 #ic ,veni salvum facere1 quod perierat4 ,luc4 xix4 #aj4 #id ,factus obediens usque ad mortem4 ,phil4 ii4 #h4 #ie ,et signum magnum apparuit in clo1 mulier amicta sole4 ,apoc4 xii4 #a4 #if ,non est qui se abscondet a calore ejus4 ,psal4 xviii4 #g4 #ig ,a calore ejus1 idest a dilectione ,mari4 #ih ,oh quanta cura est ,virgini matri de nobis6 ,omnibus aperit sinum misericordi su4 #ii ,constat pro universo genere humano fuisse solicitam4 ,ho4 #b1 ,mis4 #ajj ,domine1 da mihi1 quod pro me postulat ,ss4 ,virgo ,maria4 #aja ,ipsa enim majora optat1 quam nos optare possumus4 #ajb ,plus ipsa desiderat facere tibi bonum1 et largiri gratiam1 quam tu accipere concupiscas4 ,mar4 #a1 ,serm4 #e4 #ajc ,proccupat qui se concupiscunt1 ut illis se prior ostendat4 ,sap4 vi4 #ad4 #ajd ,prius occurrit1 quam invocetur4 ,ric4 in ,cant4 iv4 #e4 #aje ,facile invenitur ab his qui diligunt illam4 ,sap4 vi4 #ac4 #ajf ,ego diligentes me diligo4 ,prov4 viii4 #ag4 #ajg ,inventa ,maria ,virgine1 invenitur omne bonum4 ,ipsa namque diligit diligentes se1 immo sibi servientibus servit4 ,de contempl4 ,virgin4 in ,prolog4 #ajh ,semper ,maria cum amantibus est amantior4 ,ep4 ad41 ,ep4 aur4 #aji ,ave ,domina1 mater mea2 imo cor meum1 anima mea4 #aaj ,raptrix cordium4 #aaa ,nonne rapuisti cor meum8 #aab ,scio1 ,domina1 quia amantissima es et amas nos amore invincibili4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #aac ,beati quorum corda diligunt ,mariam6 ,beati qui ei famulantur6 #aad ,nunquam in hoc certamine a nobis vincitur4 ,amorem redhibet1 et prterita beneficia semper novis adauget4 ,paciucch4 de ,b4 ,virg4 #aae ,vestri continuo amore langueat cor meum1 liquefiat anima mea4 ,in ,depr4 ad ,v4 #aaf ,date itaque supplicanti anim me1 non propter meritum meum sed propter meritum vestrum1 date illi quantum digni estis amorem vestrum4 ,oh amator hominum1 tu potuisti reos tuos usque ad mortem amare1 et poteris roganti amorem tui et matris tu negare8 ,loc4 cit4 #aag ,affett ,scamb4 tom4 #b1 cap4 #g4 #aah ,nunquam quiescam1 donec habuero tenerum amorem erga matrem meam ,mariam4 #aai ,amor aut similes invenit1 aut facit4 ,aristot4 #abj ,ego sum quasi mater omnium peccatorum volentium se emendare4 ,l4 #d1 ,rev4 c4 #ach4 #aba ,pone finem a voluntate peccandi1 et invenies ,mariam--indubitanter promitto--promptiorem carnali matre in tui dilectione4 ,l4 #d1 ,ep4 #dg4 #abb ,surrexerunt filii ejus4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #bh4 #abc ,nec dignus est1 qui in mortali peccato est1 vocari filius tant matris4 #abd ,qui genitricis non facit opera1 negat genus4 #abe ,filii ,mari imitatores ejus1 in castitate1 humilitate1 mansuetudine1 misericordia4 #abf ,monstra te esse matrem4 #abg ,monstra te esse filium4 ,ap4 ,aur4 #abh ,maledictus a ,deo qui exasperat matrem suam4 ,eccli4 iii4 #ah4 #abi ,matrem suam1 idest ,mariam4 #acj ,conanti surgere ad ,deum tribuis auxilium1 et neminem relinquis vacuum a tua consolatione4 #aca #b1 #b1 qu4 #agh1 a4 #b1 ad #a4 #acb ,omnis qui petit1 accipit4 ,luc4 xi4 #aj4 #acc ,si merita invocantis non merentur1 ut exaudiatur2 merita tamen matris intercedunt1 ut exaudiatur4 #acd ,quia indignus erat1 cui donaretur1 datum est ,mari1 ut per illam acciperes quicquid haberes4 ,serm4 #c1 in ,vig4 ,nat4 #ace ,oh felix ,maria1 tu mater rei1 tu mater judicis2 cum sis mater utriusque1 discordias inter tuos filios nequis sustinere4 ,in ,depr4 ad ,v4 #acf ,quantumcumque homo peccat1 statim parata sum recipere revertentem2 nec attendo quantum peccaverit1 sed cum quali intentione redit2 nam non dedignor ejus plagas ungere1 et sanare1 quia vocor et vere sum mater misericordi4 ,rev4 #a4 c4 #bc4 #acg ,miserere mei4 ,domine ,fili ,david1 filia mea male a dmonio vexatur4 ,matth4 xv4 #bb4 #ach ,miserere mei4 #aci ,maria clamat pro anima peccatrice2 miserere mei4 ,de ,laud4 ,v4 n4 #f4 #adj ,oh ,maria peccatorem toti mundo despectum1 materno affectu complecteris6 nec deseris1 quousque miserum judici reconcilies4 ,in spec4 c4 #e4 #ada ,c4 xiv4 #adb ,mari peccatores in filios commendavi1 propterea adeo est sedula1 ut1 officio suo satisfaciens neminem eorum1 qui sibi commissi sunt1 prcipue illam invocantium1 perire sinat1 sed quantum valet1 omnes mihi reducat4 ,v4 l4 #d1 ,min4 ,op4 #adc ,hujus matris bonitas1 misericordia1 fidelitas1 charitas erga homines tanta est ut nullis verbis explicari possit4 #add ,beatis illius pedibus persolvamur2 teneamus eam1 nec di mittamus donec benedixerit nes4 ,in ,sign4 ,mag4 #ade ,etiamsi occiderit me1 sperabo in eum2 et tutus confidens juxta ejus imaginem mori desidero1 et salvus ero4 #adf ,nomen habes quod vivas1 et mortuus es4 ,apoc4 iii4 #a4 #adg ,qui mane vigilant ad me1 invenient me4 ,prov4 viii4 #ag4 #adh ,invenient me1 invenient gratiam4 #adi ,qui me invenerit1 inveniet vitam1 et hauriet salutem a ,domino4 #aej ,audite1 audite qui cupitis regnum ,dei2 ,virginem ,mariam honorate1 et invenietis vitam et salutem eternam4 #aea ,omnes indulgentias factas in ,veteri ,testamento non ambigo ,deum fecisse solum propter hujus benedict puell ,virginis reverentiam1 et amorem4 ,tom4 #d1 serm4 #fa1 c4 #h4 #aeb ,quramus gratiam1 et per ,mariam quramus4 ,serm4 de aqud4 #aec ,inventrix grati4 #aed ,ne timeas ,maria1 invenisti gratiam4 ,luc4 i4 #cj4 #aee ,ave gratia plena1 ,dominus tecum4 #aef ,currant ergo1 currant peccatores ad ,virginem qui gratiam amiserant peccando1 et eam invenient apud ipsam4 ,secure dicant2 ,redde nobis rem nostram1 quam invenisti4 #aeg ,cupientes invenire gratiam quramus inventricem grati1 qu1 quia semper invenit frustrari non poterit4 ,de ,laud4 ,v4 l4 #b4 #aeh ,ego murus et ubera mea sicut turris4 ,cant4 viii4 #aj4 #aei ,ex quo facta sum coram eo quasi pacem reperiens4 ,cant4 viii4 #aj4 #afj ,vade ad matrem misericordi1 et ostende illi tuorum plagas peccatorum2 et ita ostendet pro te ubera4 ,exaudiet utique matrem filius4 #afa ,concede1 misericors ,deus1 fragilitati nostr prsidium2 ut qui sanct ,dei ,genitricis memoriam agimus1 intercessionis ejus auxilio a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus4 #afb ,tu es spes unica peccatorum1 quia per te speramus veniam omnium delictorum4 ,serm4 #ah1 de ,sanctis4 #afc ,per hanc peccatorum veniam consequimur4 #afd ,ave igitur mater1 ,clum1 ,thronus1 ,ecclesi nostr ,decus2 assidue precare ,jesum1 ut per te misericordiam invenire in die judicii1 et qu reposita sunt iis qui diligunt ,deum bona consequi possimus4 ,in ,offic4 ,nat4 ,b4 ,m41 die #e4 #afe ,qu est ista1 qu progreditur quasi aurora consurgens8 ,cant4 vi4 #i4 #aff ,cum aurora sit finis noctis1 et origo diei1 vere per auroram designatur ,maria ,virgo1 qu fuit finis vitiorum1 et origo virtutum4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #afg ,serm4 #c1 in ,dorm4 ,b4 ,v4 #afh ,de ,zona ,virgin4 #afi ,ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes4 ,luc4 i4 #dh4 #agj ,ex hoc beatam te dicent omnes generationes1 qu omnibus generationibus vitam et gloriam genuisti4 ,serm4 #b1 in ,pentec4 #aga ,in te peccatores veniam1 justi gratiam inveniunt in eternum4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #agb ,o peccator ne diffidas1 etiamsi commisisti omnia peccata2 sed secure ad istam gloriosissiman ,dominam recurras4 ,invenies eam in manibus plenam misericordia1 et largitate2 plus enim ipsa desiderat facere tibi bonum1 et largiri gratiam1 quam tu accipere concupiscas4 ,serm4 #e1 de ,n4 ,m4 #agc ,fidejussio divinarum reconciliationum1 qu dato pignore fit4 #agd ,exultabant autem prnoscentes1 quod ipse ,dominus ex tua humilitate et vit puritate1 ,o ,maria stella prfulgida1 placaretur1 et quod reciperet eos in suam gratiam1 qui ipsum ad iracundiam provocaverunt4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #i4 #age ,es4 della ,,ss4 ,virg4 #agf ,scis dulcissima ,dei mater1 quantum placeat benedicto filio tuo salus nostra4 ,guill4 ,paris4 #agg ,quotidie petenda est1 ut quotidie obtineatur4 #agh ,qui operantur in me1 non peccabunt2 qui elucidant me1 vitam eternam habebunt4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #cj1 #ca4 #agi ,prov4 viii4 #ae4 ,in ,festo ,s4 ,mari ad nives4 #ahj ,sicut turris ,david collum tuum1 qu edificata est cum propugnaculis2 mille clypei pendent ex ea1 omnia armatura fortium4 ,cant4 iv4 #d4 #aha ,quasi platanus exaltata sum juxta aquam in plateis4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ai4 #ahb ,platanus habet folia scutis similia4 #ahc ,virgo ramorum extensione se ubique expandit1 ut filios ,ad ab stu et turbine umbra desiderabili protegeret4 ,b4 ,am4 ,hom4 #h4 #ahd ,tolle corpus hoc solare1 ubi dies8 ,tolle ,mariam1 quid nisi tenebr relinquentur8 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #ahe ,posuisti tenebras1 et facta est nox2 in ipsa pertransibunt omnes besti sylv4 ,psal4 ciii4 #bj4 #ahf ,v v eis qui solem istum aversantur6 #ahg ,sicut respiratio non solum est signum vit1 sed etiam causa2 sic ,mari nomen1 quod in servorum ,dei ore versatur1 simul argumentum est quod vere vivant1 simul etiam hanc vitam efficit et conservat2 omnemque eis opem impertitur4 ,orat4 de ,deip4 #ahh ,beatus homo qui audit me1 qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie1 et observat ad postes ostii mei4 ,prov4 viii4 #cd4 ,in ,festo ,conc4 ,b4 ,v4 ,m4 #ahi ,luna in nocte1 aurora in diluculo1 sol in die4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #aij ,vincula illius alligatura salutaris4 ,eccli4 vi4 #ca4 #aia ,quare vincul8 nisi quia servos ligat1 ne discurrant per campos licenti4 #aib ,in plenitudine sanctorum detentio mea4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #af4 #aic ,ipsa quoque non solum in plenitudine sanctorum detinetur1 sed etiam in plenitudine sanctos detinet1 ne eorum plenitudo minuatur2 detinet nimirum virtutes1 ne fugiant2 detinet demones1 ne noceant4 ,in spec4 #aid ,omnes domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #ba4 #aie ,duplici veste ipsa ornat sibi devotos1 quia tam ,christi quam suis virtutibus eos induit4 #aif ,si prodigus filius viventem matrem habuisset1 vel a paterna domo nunquam discessisset1 vel forte citius rediisset4 #aig ,in fluctibus maris ambulavi4 ,c4 xxiv4 #h4 #aih ,scilicet cum familiaribus meis1 ut ipsos eruerem a naufragio peccatorum4 #aii ,sicut pulli1 volitantibus desuper milvis1 ad gallin alas occurrunt2 ita nos sub velamento alarum tuarum abscondimur4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #bjj ,nescimus aliud refugium nisi te1 tu sola es unica spes nostra1 tu sola patrona nostra1 ad quem omnes aspicimus4 #bja ,o quisquis te intelligis in hujus sculi pro fluvio magis inter procellas et tempestates fluctuare1 quam per terram ambulare2 ne avertas oculos a fulgore hujus sideris1 si non vis obrui procellis2 respice stellam1 voca ,mariam4 ,in periculis1 in angustiis1 in rebus dubiis ,mariam cogita1 ,mariam invoca4 ,non recedat ab ore1 non recedat a corde4 ,ipsam sequens1 non devias4 ,ipsam rogans1 non desperas4 ,ipsa tenente1 non corruis4 ,ipsa protegente1 non metuis4 ,ipsa duce1 non fatigaris4 ,ipsa propitia1 pervenis4 ,sic fac1 et vives4 ,hom4 #b1 super ,missus4 #bjb ,omni tempore diligit qui amicus est1 et frater in angustiis comprobatur4 ,prov4 xvii4 #ag4 #bjc ,ora pro nobis peccatoribus1 nunc et in hora mortis nostr4 #bjd ,descendit ,diabolus ad vos1 habens iram magnam1 sciens quodmodicum tempus habet4 ,apoc4 xii4 #ab4 #bje ,implebuntur domus eorum draconibus4 ,isa4 xiii4 #ba4 #bjf ,et si ambulavero in medio umbr mortis1 virga tua1 et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt4 ,psal4 xxii4 #d4 #bjg ,egredietur virga de radice ,jesse1 et flos de radice ejus ascendet4 ,isa4 xi4 #a4 #bjh ,hc est illa virga1 qua retunduntur impetus adversantium dmonum4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #bji ,si ,maria pro nobis1 quis contra nos4 #baj ,patrig4 ,menol4 alli4 #bh ,apr4 #baa ,patrig4 ,men4 etc4 #bab ,michael dux et princeps militi clestis cum omnibus administratoriis spiritibus1 tuis1 virgo1 paret prceptis1 in defendendis1 et suscipiendis de corpore animabus ,fidelium1 specialiater tibi1 ,domina1 die1 ac nocte se commendantium4 ,in ,spec4 ,b4 ,v4 c4 #c4 #bac ,infernus subter te conturbatus est in occursum adventus tui1 suscitabit sibi gigantes4 ,isa4 xiv4 #i4 #bad ,quis apud judicem accusare audeat1 cui viderit matrem patrocinantem8 ,ricc4 ap4 ,pep4 to4 #e1 ,lez4 #bdd4 #bae ,morientibus beata virgo1 non tantum succurrit1 sed etiam occurrit4 ,epist4 #b4 #baf ,tunc ego carissima eorum domina et mater occurram eis in morte1 ut ipsi consolationem et refrigerium habeant4 ,rev4 lib4 #a1 c4 #bi4 #bag ,beata virgo animas morientium suscipit4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #bah ,vincula ejus alligatura salutaris1 in novissimis invenies requiem in ea4 ,eccli4 vi4 #bi1 #ca4 #bai ,c4 #ca4 #bbj ,opusc4 #cc1 c4 #d4 #bba ,adolphe mi carissime1 mori cur times1 meus cum sis8 #bbb ,ego omnibus qui mihi pie deserviunt1 volo in morte fidelissime tamquam mater piissima adesse eosque consolari ac protegere4 ,ap4 ,blos4 p4 #b1 ,concl4 an4 fid4 cap4 #ab4 #bbc ,div4 alla verg4 tom4 #a1 tr4 #a1 q4 #aa4 #bbd ,joannes non est meum1 in hac hora meos devotos derelinquere4 #bbe ,bolland4 #h ,martii4 #bbf ,crisog4 ,mond4 ,mar4 p4 #c1 d4 #ch4 #bbg ,maledictus homo qui confidit in homine4 ,jer4 xvii4 #e4 #bbh ,de ,beat4 ,,ss4 lib4 #b1 cap4 #b4 #bbi ,ut dignitas intercessoris suppleat inopiam nostram4 ,de ,exc4 ,v4 c4 #f4 #bcj ,unde ,virginem interpellare1 non est de divina misericordia diffidere1 sed de propria indignitate formidare4 ,loc4 cit4 #bca ,mater sanct spei4 ,cap4 xxiv4 #bd4 #bcb ,ave anim spes2 ave ,christianorum firma salus2 ave peccatorum adjutrix2 ave vallum fidelium2 et mundi salus4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #bcc ,nobis non est alia quam a te fiducia1 ,o ,virgo sincerissima2 sub alis tu pietatis protege et custodi nos4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #bcd ,tu unicum nostrum refugium1 subsidium1 et asylum4 ,con4 #c1 de ,conc4 ,virg4 #bce ,intuere1 homo1 consilium ,dei1 consilium pietatis2 redempturus humanum genus1 universum prtium contulit in ,maria4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 #bcf ,facies et propitiatorium de auro mundissimo4444 ,inde prcipiam et loquar ad te4 ,exod4 c4 xxv4 v4 #ag1 #bb4 #bcg ,te universus mundus continet commune propitiatorium4 ,inde pientissimus ,dominus loquitur ad cor2 inde responsa dat benignitatis et veni2 inde munera largitur2 inde nobis omne bonum emanat4 #bch ,quid est quod sine ,mari consensu non perficitur incarnationis mysterium8 quia nempe vult illam ,deus omnium bonorum esse principium4 ,lib4 #c1 contr4 ,valent4 c4 #cc4 #bci ,per ipsam habet mundus1 et habiturus est omne bonum4 ,in ,pref4 ,contempl4 ,b4 ,m4 #bdj ,o ,maria quis te non amet8 ,tu in dubiis es lumen1 in mroribus solatium1 in periculis refugium4 ,tu post unigenitum tuum certa fidelium salus4 ,ave desperantium spes1 ave destitutorum adjutrix4 ,cujus honori tantum tribuit ,filius1 ut quod vis1 mox fiat4 ,cimeliarch4 ,embol4 #a1 ad ,mar4 #bda ,oh ,domina mea1 sola mihi ex ,deo solatium1 itineris mei directio1 debilitatis me potentia1 mendicitatis me diviti1 vulnerum meorum medicina1 dolorum meorum revelatio1 vinculorum meorum solatio1 salutis me spes2 exaudi orationes meas1 miserere suspiriorum meorum1 ,domina mea1 refugium1 vita1 auxilium1 spes et robur meum4 ,in ,encom4 ,deip4 #bdb ,venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa4 ,cap4 vii4 v4 #aa4 #bdc ,omnium bonorum mater est2 et venerunt mihi omnia bona cum illa1 scilicet virgine1 potest dicere mundus4 ,s4 ,anton4 ,part4 #d1 tit4 #ag1 c4 #bj4 #bdd ,inventa ,maria1 invenitur omne bonum4 #bde ,mecum sunt diviti et opes superb 444 ut ditem diligentes me4 ,prov4 viii4 #ah-ba4 #bdf ,oculi omnium nostrum ad manus ,mari semper debent respicere1 ut per manus ejus aliquid boni accipiamus4 ,in ,spec4 #bdg ,ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes4 ,luc4 i4 #dh4 #bdh ,ex hoc beatam te dicent omnes generationes1 qu omnibus generationibus vitam et gloriam genuisti4 ,in te peccatores veniam1 justi gratiam inveniunt in ternum4 ,serm4 #b1 in ,pentec4 #bdi ,matrem meam veneratione prcipua venerare2 ego enim mundo dedi in puritatis exemplum1 in prsidium tutissimum1 ut sit tribulatis asylum1 quam nemo formidet2 nemo ad eam accedere trepidet4 ,propterea namque adeo feci eam mitem1 adeo misericordem ut neminem aspernat1 nulli se neget2 omnibus pietatis sinum apertum teneat1 neminem a se redire tristem sinat4 ,lib4 #d1 ,min4 ,op4 #bej ,quantumcumque me ,deus prsciverat1 scio quod seipsum negare non potest4 ,eum amplexabor1 et si mihi non benedixerit1 cum non demittam2 et sine me recedere non valebit4 ,in cavernis vulnerum suorum me abscondam1 ibique extra se me invenire non poterit4 #bea ,ad matris su pedes provolutus stabo1 et mihi veniam impetret2 ipsa enim non misereri ignorat2 et miseris non satisfacere nunquam scivit4 ,ideoque ex compassione mihi ad indulgentiam ,filium inclinabit4 ,p4 #c1 ,stim4 ,div4 ,am4 c4 #ac4 #beb ,respice1 ,o mater misericordiosissima1 respice servos tuos2 in te enim omnem spem nostram collocavimus4 ,orat4 de ,deip4 #bec ,unica spes mea ,jesus1 et post ,jesum ,virgo ,maria4 #bed ,fecitque ,deus duo luminaria magna2 luminare majus ut presset diei1 luminare minus ut presset nocti4 ,gen4 i4 #af4 #bee ,luminare majus ,christus1 qui prest justis2 luminare minus1 idest ,maria1 qu prest peccatoribus4 #bef ,qui jacet in nocte culp1 respiciat lunam1 deprecetur ,mariam4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #beg ,mari virtute et precibus pene innumer peccatorum conversiones fiunt4 #beh ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #c4 #bei ,ego civitas refugii omnium ad me confugientium4 ,or4 #b1 de ,dorm4 #bfj ,convenite celeriter et ingrediamur civitatem munitam1 et sileamus ibi4 ,jerem4 viii4 #ad4 #bfa ,et sileamus ibi4 ,quia non audemus deprecari ,dominum quem offendimus1 ipsa deprecetur et roget4 #bfb ,fugite ,o ,adam1 ,o ,eva1 fugite eorum liberi intra sinum matris ,mari4 ,ipsa est civitas refugii1 spes unica peccatorum4 ,b4 ,fernandez1 in c4 iv4 ,gen4 #bfc ,serm4 #ah1 de ,sanct4 #bfd ,ave peccatorum refugium et hospitium3 ad quam nimirum confugere possunt peccatores4 ,de4 ,laud4 ,virg4 #bfe ,protexit me in abscondito tabernaculi sui4 ,psal4 xxvi4 #e4 #bff ,tabernaculum a ,deo fabricatum1 in quo solus ,deus ingressus est sacris mysteriis operaturus in te pro salute omnium hominum4 #bfg ,nescimus aliud refugium nisi te4 ,tu sola es unica spes nostra1 in qua confidimus4 ,tu sola patrona nostra1 ad quam omnes aspicimus4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #bfh ,rev4 entr4 c4 #ej4 #bfi ,respirate ad illam perditi peccatores1 et perducet vos ad portum4 ,in ,psal4 viii4 #bgj ,si non vis obrui procellis1 respice stellam1 voca ,mariam4 ,hom4 #b1 sup4 ,miss4 #bga ,ipsa peccantium singulare refugium2 ipsa omnium quos tentatio urget1 aut calamitas1 aut persecutio1 tutissimum asylum4 #bgb ,tota mitis est et suavis1 non solum justis1 verum etiam peccatoribus1 et desperatis4 ,quos1 ut ad se ex corde clamare conspexerit1 statim adjuvat1 suscipit et ,judici reconciliat4 #bgc ,nullum aspernens1 nulli se negat2 omnes consolatur1 et tenuiter invocata1 prsto adest4 #bgd ,sua bonitate spe eos1 qui ,deo minus afficiuntur ad sui cultum blande allicit2 potenterque excitat1 ut per hujusmodi studium prparentur ad gratiam1 et tandem apti reddantur regno clorum4 #bge ,talis a ,deo facta est1 ut nemo ad eam accedere trepidet4 #bgf ,fieri non potest1 ut pereat1 qui ,mari sedulus et humilis cultor extiterit4 ,in can4 ,vit4 ,spir4 cap4 #ah4 #bgg ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ai4 #bgh ,ecce tu iratus es1 et peccavimus 444 non est qui consurgat1 et teneat te4 ,isa4 lxiv4 #e1 #g4 #bgi ,ante ,mariam non fuit qui sic ,deum detinere auderet4 #bhj ,detinet ,filium ne peccatoribus percutiat4 #bha ,nemo tam idoneus1 qui gladio ,domini manus objiciat4 #bhb ,querebatur ,dominus ante ,mariam3 ,non est qui consurgat1 et teneat me4 ,ezech4 xxii4 ,donec inventa est ,maria1 qu tenuit eum1 donec emolliret4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #bhc ,ne diffidas1 peccator1 sed in cunctis ,mariam sequere et invoca1 quam voluit ,deus in cunctis subvenire4 ,de ,annunc4 ,b4 ,virg4 #bhd ,pergens ad gregem1 affer mihi duos hdos4 ,gen4 xxvii4 #i4 #bhe ,part4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #b4 #bhf ,vere sapiens mulier1 qu novit sic hdos condire1 ut gratiam cervorum coquent1 aut etiam superent4 ,tom4 #c1 de ,grat4 #bhg ,nullus ita abjectus a ,deo1 qui si me invocaverit1 non revertatur ad ,deum4 #bhh ,etiam diabolo misericordiam exhiberes si humiliter peteret4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #f4 #bhi ,quod arca animalia suscepit1 animalia servavit4 ,paciucch4 de ,b4 ,v4 #bij ,ap4 ,blos4 ,mon4 ,spir4 cap4 #a4 #bia ,tu peccatorem quantumcumque ftidum non horres1 si ad te suspiraverit1 tu illum a desperationis baratro pia manu retrahis4 ,orat4 ,paneg4 ad ,b4 ,v4 #bib ,ruth ii4 #c4 #bic ,ruth in oculis ,booz1 ,maria in oculis ,domini hanc gratiam invenit1 ut ipsa spicas1 idest animas a messoribus derelictas1 colligere ad veniam possit4 ,in ,spe4 cap4 #h4 #bid ,nullum tam execrabilem peccatorem orbis habet1 quem ipsa abominetur1 et a se repellat2 quemque dilectissimo nato suo 7modo suam precetur opem7 non possit1 sciat et velit reconciliare4 ,blos4 de dictis1 ,p4 ,p4 c4 #e4 #bie ,salve spes desperatorum4 #bif ,spes delinquentium4 ,p4 ,p4 cap4 #e4 #big ,unica spes peccatorum4 #bih ,naufragorum portus tutissimus4 #bii ,protectrix damnatorum4 #cjj ,quis non sperabit in te1 qu etiam adjuvas desperatos8 ,non dubito1 quod si ad te venerimus2 habebimus quod volemus4 ,in te ergo speret qui desperat4 ,sup4 ,salv4 ,reg4 #cja ,in ,promptuar4 #cjb ,beatus homo1 qui audit me1 et vigilat ad fores meas quotidie6 ,proverbs viii4 #cd4 #cjc ,ipsa tales qurit qui ad eam devote et reverenter accedant2 hos enim diligit1 hos nutrit1 hos in filios suscipit4 ,p4 #c1 ,stim4 ,div4 ,am4 c4 #af4 #cjd ,videns et festinans4 ,in ,spec4 #cje ,videns enim nostram miseriam1 est et festinans ad impendendam suam misericordiam4 #cjf ,nescit nectere moras benefaciendi cupida1 nec gratiarum avara custos est2 tardare nescit molimina misericordi mater beneficenti su thesauros in suos effusura4 ,nov4 ,umbr4 ,virg4 c4 #aj1 ,exc4 #ge4 #cjg ,duo ubera tua sicut duo hinnulli capre4 ,cant4 iv4 #e4 #cjh ,compressione levissima angelic salutationis larga stillabunt stillicidi4 #cji ,petite et accipietis4 #caj ,alis utitur ,deus2 ut suis opituletur1 statim advolat2 alas sumit et ,virgo1 in nostri auxilium advolatura4 ,nov4 c4 #aj1 ,excurs4 #gc4 #caa ,et dat sunt mulieri al du aquil magn ut volaret in desertum4 ,apoc4 xii4 #ad4 #cab ,pennas habet aquil1 quia amore ,dei volat4 #cac ,motu celerrimo seraphin alas excedens1 ubique suis ut mater occurrit4 ,hom4 #h1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #cad ,exurgens ,maria abiit in montana cum festinatione4 ,luc4 ii4 #a-ci4 #cae ,manus illius tornatiles4 ,cant4 v4 #ad4 #caf ,sicut ars tornandi promptior est aliis artibus1 sic ,maria ad benefaciendum promptior est aliis sanctis4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #e4 #cag ,omnes consolatur1 et tenuiter invocata prsto adest4 ,blosius in ,cant4 ,vit4 ,spir4 c4 #ah4 #cah ,inveniens semper paratam auxiliari4 #cai ,plus vult illa facere tibi bonum1 quam tu accipere concupiscas4 ,mar4 #a1 ,serm4 #e1 de ,nom4 ,mar4 #cbj ,non enim mater hc dedignatur peccatorem sicut nec bona mater filium scabiosum4 ,quia propter hoc factam se recolit misericordi genitricem4 ,ubi enim non est miseria1 misericordia non habet locum4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 lib4 #d4 #cba ,rev4 lib4 #d1 cap4 #di4 #cbb ,proccupat1 qui se concupiscunt1 ut illis se prius ostendat4 ,c4 vi4 #d4 #cbc ,in ,cant4 c4 #bc4 #cbd ,velocitate prstat4 #cbe ,velocius occurrit ejus pietas1 quam invocetur1 et causas miserorum anticipat4 ,loc4 cit4 #cbf ,adeo replentur ubera tua misericordia1 ut alterius miseri notitia tacta1 lac fundant misericordi4 ,nec possis miserias scire1 et non subvenire4 ,in ,cant4 c4 #bc4 #cbg ,luc4 ii4 #cbh ,joan4 ii4 #c4 #cbi ,si tam prompta ad auxilium currit non qusita1 quid qusita prstitura est4 ,c4 #aj1 ,ex4 #bg4 #ccj ,quis invocavit eam et non est auditus ab ipsa8 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #cca ,quis unquam1 ,o ,beata1 fideliter omnipotentem tuam rogavit opem1 et fuit derelictus8 ,revera nullus unquam4 ,in vita ,s4 ,theoph4 #ccb ,sileat misericordiam tuam1 ,virgo beata1 qui in necessitatibus te invocatam meminerit defuisse4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,ass4 #ccc ,citius clum cum terra perierint1 quam ,maria aliquem serio se implorantem sua ope destituat4 ,in ,spec4 c4 #ab4 #ccd ,velocior nonnunquam est nostra salus1 invocato nomine ,mari1 quam invocato nomine ,jesu4 ,de ,exc4 ,v4 c4 #f4 #cce ,quia ad ,christum1 tanquam judicem1 pertinet etiam punire2 ad ,virginem tanquam patronam nonnisi misereri4 ,loc4 cit4 #ccf ,multa petuntur a ,deo1 et non obtinentur2 multa petuntur a ,maria et obtinentur2 non quia potentior sed quia ,deus eam decrevit sic honorare4 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pep4 ,grandez1 etc4 #ccg ,nulla erit petitio tua in me1 qu non audiatur4 ,lib4 #a1 #hj4 #cch ,et per te omnes1 qui per te petunt misericordiam1 cum voluntate se emendandi1 gratiam habebunt4 ,loc4 cit4 #cci ,ex omnipotentia mea1 ,mater1 tibi concessi propitiationem omnium peccatorum1 qui devote invocant tu pietatis auxilium1 qualicumque modo placeat tibi4 ,ap4 ,pep4 loc4 cit4 #cdj ,memorare piissima ,maria1 a sculo non esse auditum1 quemquam ad tua prsidia confugientem esse derelictum4 #cda ,quem ipsa vis salvus erit4 #cdb ,o salus te invocantium4 #cdc ,inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem2 ipsa conteret caput tuum4 ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 #cdd ,mater ,domini ,jesu ,christi in illa muliere promissa est4 #cde ,non pono1 sed ponam ne ad ,evam pertinere videatur4 #cdf ,parentibus primis ,virginem ab ipsis processuram2 qu afferret majus bonum quam ipsi perdiderunt4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #cdg ,ipsa conteret caput tuum4 #cdh ,ipse conteret caput tuum4 #cdi ,sub ,mari pedibus conculcatus et contritus miseram patitur servitutem4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #cej ,in ,eva mors1 et caligo2 in ,maria vita consistit1 et lux4 ,illa a diabolo victa est2 hc diabolum vicit et ligavit4 ,ap4 ,scala ,franc4 p4 #d1 c4 #aj4 #cea ,confidit in ea cor viri sui1 et spoliis non indigebit4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #aa4 #ceb ,confidit in ea cor viri sui1 scilicet ,christi4 ,et spoliis non indigebit2 ipsa enim quasi ditat sponsum suum1 quibus spoliat diabolum4 #cec ,quasi palma exaltata sum in ,cades4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ah4 #ced ,scilicet ad defendendum4 #cee ,beata ,virgo dominatur in regno inferni4 ,dicitur igitur domina dmonum1 quasi domans dmones4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,glor4 ,nom4 ,mar4 #cef ,terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata4 ,cant4 vi4 #c4 #ceg ,ego quasi vitis fructificavi suavitatem odoris4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bc4 #ceh ,aiunt de florescentibus vitibus omne reptile venantium excedere loco4 ,serm4 #fj1 in ,cant4 #cei ,quasi cedrus exaltata sum in ,libano4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ag4 #cfj ,cedrus odore suo fugat serpentes1 et beata ,virgo dmones4 #cfa ,cum elevaretur arca1 dicebat ,moyses2 ,surge ,domine1 et dissipentur inimici tui4 ,num4 x4 #cc4 #cfb ,erat enim ibi arca ,dei4 #a1 ,reg4 xiv4 #ah4 #cfc ,arca continens manna1 idest ,christum1 est ,b4 ,virgo1 qu victoriam contra homines et dmones largitur4 ,cornel4 ,lap4 #cfd ,quando elevata fuit ,virgo gloriosa a celestia regna1 dmonis potentia imminuta est et dissipata4 ,tom4 #c1 de ,b4 ,v4 ,serm4 #aa4 #cfe ,o quam tremenda est ,maria dmonibus4 ,spec4 ,virg4 c4 #c4 #cff ,perfodit in tenebris domos4444 ,si subito apparuerit aurora2 arbitrantur umbram mortis4 ,job xxiv4 #af1 #ag4 #cfg ,perfodiunt in tenebris ignoranti domos mentium nostrarum4 ,si subito supervenerit aurora1 idest ,mari gratia1 et misericordia1 sic fugiunt1 sicut omnes fugiunt mortem4 ,in ,spec4 ,virg4 #cfh ,super omnes etiam malignos spiritus ipsam sic potentem effecit1 quod quotiescumque ipsi hominem ,virginis auxilium implorantem impugnaverint1 ad ipsius ,virginis nutum illico pavidi procul diffugiunt2 volentes potius suas pnas multiplicari1 quam ejusdem ,virginis potentiam super se taliter dominari4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #bj4 #cfi ,sicut lilium inter spinas1 sic amica mea inter filias4 ,cant4 ii4 #b4 #cgj ,sicut lilium valet inter serpentes et venena1 sic beat ,virginis invocatio singulare est remedium in omni tentatione1 prsertim libidinis1 ut experientia constat4 #cga ,insuperabilem spem tuam habens1 ,o ,deipara1 servabor1 ,persequar inimicos meos1 solam habens ut thoracem protectionem tuam1 et omnipotens auxilium tuum4 ,in ,annunc4 ,dei ,gen4 #cgb ,tu arma omni vi belli potentiora1 trophumque invictum prstitisti4 #cgc ,per diem in columna nubis1 et per noctem in columna ignis4 ,exod4 xiii4 #ba4 #cgd ,ecce duo officia1 ad qu data est nobis ,maria1 scilicet1 ut nos protegat a calore solis justiti1 tamquam nubes1 et tamquam ignis2 ut omnes nos protegat contra diabolum4 ,lib4 #g1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #cge ,fluunt sicut cera a facie ignis1 ubi inveniunt crebram hujus nominis recordationem1 devotam invocationem1 solicitam imitationem4 ,in ,spec4 #cgf ,in nomine ,mari omne genuflectitur1 et dmones non solum pertimescunt1 sed1 audita hac voce1 contremiscunt4 ,serm4 sup4 ,miss4 #cgg ,expavescunt cli reginam spiritus maligni et diffugiunt1 audito nomine ejus1 velut ab igne1 tamquam tonitru de clo factum sit1 prosternuntur ad sanct ,mari vocabulum4 ,l4 #d1 ad ,nov4 #cgh ,spe vidimus et audivimus plurimos homines in suis periculis nominis recordari ,mari1 et illico omnis periculi malum evasisse4 ,s4 ,ans4 de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #f4 #cgi ,gloriosum et admirabile est nomen tuum ,o ,maria2 qui illud retinent non expavescunt in puncto mortis2 nam dmones audientes hoc nomen ,mari statim relinquunt animam4 ,in ,psalt4 ,b4 ,v4 #chj ,non sic timent hostes visibiles castrorum multitudinem copiosam1 sicut re potestates ,mari vocabulum1 et patrocinium4 ,loc4 cit4 #cha ,tu servos tuos contra hostis invasiones1 sola tui nominis invocatione tutos servas4 ,serm4 de ,zona4 ,virg4 #chb ,satan fugit1 infernus contremiscit1 cum dico ,ave ,maria4 #chc ,omnes dmones audientes hoc nomen1 ,maria1 statim relinquunt animam quasi territi4 ,l4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #i4 #chd ,et revertuntur ad eam1 nisi aliqua emendatio subsequatur4 ,lib4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #i4 #che ,father ,auriemma1 ,affetti ,scambiev4 ,tom4 i4 c4 #g4 #chf ,mach4 xv4 #ad4 #chg ,thess4 #a1 c4 v4 #be4 #chh ,orate pro invicem ut salvemini4 ,c4 v4 #af4 #chi ,gloria filiorum ,patres eorum4 ,prov4 xvii4 #f4 #cij ,non est dubium1 quicquid in laudibus matris proferimus1 ad filium pertinere4 ,hom4 #d1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #cia ,refunditur in filium quod impenditur matri1 transfunditur honor in regem1 qui defertur in famulatum regin4 #cib ,maria fidelissima mediatrix nostr salutis4 #cic ,quomodo non est plena gratia1 qu effecta est paradisi scala1 cli janua1 ,dei atque hominum verissima mediatrix8 ,serm4 de ,annunc4 #cid ,ut dignitas intercessoris suppleat inopiam nostram4 ,unde ,virginem interpellare1 non est de divina misericordia diffidere1 sed de propria indignitate formidare4 ,de ,exc4 ,v4 c4 #f4 #cie ,qui vult ut omnia bona ab ipso expectemus1 potentissima ,virginis matris intercessione impetranda1 cum eam1 ut par est1 invocamus4 ,epist4 #gf1 in calce tom4 #d1 ,moral4 #cif ,sic est voluntas ejus1 qui totum nos habere voluit per ,mariam4 #cig ,quasi diceret1 ,nullus sanguinis mei particeps erit1 nisi intercessione matris me4 ,vulnera gratiarum fontes sunt1 sed ad nullos derivabuntur rivi1 nisi per ,mari canalem4 ,joannes discipule1 tantum a me amaberis1 quantum eam amaveris4 ,theol4 mentis1 et cord4 tom4 #b1 l4 #aj1 ,d4 #d1 c4 #a4 #cih #a ,tim4 ii4 #e4 #cii ,in me omnis spes vit et virtutis4 #djj ,in me omnis gratia vit et veritatis4 #dja ,qui me invenerit1 inveniet vitam1 et hauriet salutem a ,domino4 #djb ,qui operantur in me1 non peccabunt4 ,qui elucidant me1 vitam ternam habebunt4 #djc ,ejus magnalia firmiter credere4 ,laud4 ,virg4 #djd ,felix namque es1 sacra ,virgo ,maria1 et omni laude dignissima4 #dje ,plenus aquductus1 ut accipiant cteri de plenitudine4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #djf ,propterea tempore humano generi fluenta grati defuerunt1 quod necdum intercederet is de quo loquimur1 tam desiderabilis aquductus4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #djg ,descendit per aquductum vena illa clestis stillicidia grati arentibus cordibus nostris infundens4 ,loc4 cit4 #djh ,intueamini quanto devotionis affectu a nobis eam voluit honorari1 qui totius boni plenitudinem posuit in ,maria2 ut proinde si quid spei nobis est1 si quid grati1 si quid salutis1 ab ea noverimus redundare4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #dji ,per eam de clis exivit quidquid grati venit in mundum4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #bj4 #daj ,quia sicut luna inter corpora clestia et terrena est media1 et quod ab illis accipit ad inferiora refundit2 sic et ,virgo regina inter nos et ,deum est media1 et gratiam ipsa nobis refundit4 ,serm4 #gd1 de ,nat4 ,dom4 #daa ,datum est ,mari1 ut per illam acciperes quicquid haberes4 ,serm4 #c1 in ,virg4 ,nat4 #dab ,nullus potest clum intrare1 nisi per ,mariam transeat tamquam per portam4 #dac ,in ,christo fuit plenitudo grati sicut in capite influente1 in ,maria sicut in collo transfundente4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #dad ,per ,virginem a capite ,christi vitales grati in ejus corpus mysticum transfunduntur4 ,serm4 #fa1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 c4 #h4 #dae ,cum tota natura divina intra ,virginia uterum extiterit2 non timeo dicere quod in omnes gratiarum effluxus quamdam jurisdictionem habuerit hc ,virgo1 de cujus utero quasi de quodam divinitatis oceano flumina emanabant omnium gratiarum4 ,in ,spec4 cap4 #c4 #daf ,a tempore quo virgo mater concepit in utero verbum ,dei1 quamdam1 ut sic dicam1 jurisdictionem obtinuit1 in omni spiritus sancti1 processione temporali2 ita ut nulla creatura aliquam a ,deo obtinuit gratiam1 nisi secundum ipsius pi matris dispensationem4 ,serm4 #fa1 tract4 #a1 art4 #h4 #dag ,crasset4 ,div della ,verg4 #dah ,fmina circumdabit virum4 ,jerem4 xxxi4 #bb4 #dai ,ideo omnia dona1 virtutes1 et grati1 quibus vult1 quande vult1 et quomodo vult1 per ipsius manus dispensantur4 ,serm4 #fa1 ut sup4 #dbj ,deus quicquid boni dat creaturis suis1 per manus matris ,virginis vult transire4 #dba ,accede ad ,virginem1 quia per ipsam mundus habiturus est omne bonum4 ,de contempl4 ,v4 in ,prol4 #dbb ,sentit ,ecclesia intercessionem ,b4 ,virginia esse sibi utilem1 et necessariam4 ,tom4 #b1 in #c1 par4 disp4 #bc1 sect4 #c4 #dbc ,nihil ,deus habere nos voluit1 quod per manus ,mari non transiret4 ,serm4 #c1 in ,vigil4 ,nat4 #dbd ,omnia bona qu illis summa majestas decrevit facere1 tuis manibus decrevit commendare2 commissi quippe sunt thesauri1 et ornamenta gratiarum4 ,in ,cor4 ,virg4 c4 #ae4 #dbe ,de ,nat4 ,virg4 ap4 ,pac4 ,exc4 #a1 n4 #ae4 #dbf ,egredietur virga de radice ,jesse1 et flos de radice ejus ascendet1 et requiescet super eum spiritus ,domini4 ,isa4 xi4 #a1 #b4 #dbg ,quicumque ,spiritus ,sancti gratiam adipisci desiderat1 florem1 in virga qurat2 per virgam enim ad florem1 per florem ad spiritum pervenimus4 ,in ,spec4 c4 #f4 #dbh ,si hunc florem habere desideras1 virgam floris precibus flectas4 ,loc4 cit4 #dbi ,invenerunt puerum cum ,maria matre ejus4 ,matth4 ii4 #aa4 #dcj ,nunquam invenitur ,christus1 nisi cum ,maria1 nisi per ,mariam4 ,serm4 #be4 ,in ,epiph4 #dca ,frustra igitur qurit qui cum ,maria invenire non qurit4 #dcb ,ut sim servus filii1 servitutem appeto genitricis4 ,de ,virg4 ,mar4 c4 #ab4 #dcc ,spec4 ,hist4 l4 #g1 c4 #aje4 #dcd ,dist4 #b1 c4 #b4 #dce ,congruum magis fuit ut adesset nostr reparationi sexus uterque1 quorum corruptioni neuter defuisset4 ,serm4 in ,sig4 ,magn4 #dcf ,adam et ,eva vendiderunt mundum pro uno pomo2 filius meus et ego redemimus mundum uno corde4 ,lib4 #e1 c4 #ce4 #dcg ,qui potuit omnia de nihilo facere1 noluit ea violata sine ,maria reficere4 ,in ,alloq4 cl4 n4 #bg4 #dch ,auxiliatrix nostr justificationis1 quia ,deus omnes gratias faciendas ,mari commisit4 #dci ,ad illam sicut ad medium1 sicut ad negotium omnium sculorum respiciant1 et qui prcesserunt1 et nos qui sumus1 et qui sequentur4 ,serm4 #b1 in ,pentec4 #ddj ,nemo venit ad me1 nisi ,pater meus traxerit eum4 #dda ,nemo venit ad me1 nisi ,mater mea suis precibus traxerit eum4 ,in ,cant4 c4 #b1 v4 #c4 #ddb ,benedicta tu inter mulieres1 et benedictus fructus ventris tui4 ,luc4 i4 #db4 #ddc ,et unde hoc mihi1 ut veniat mater ,domini mei ad me8 ,luc4 i4 #dc4 #ddd ,facta est quasi navis institoris1 de longo portans panem suum4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #ad4 #dde ,ego sum panis vivus1 qui de clo descendi1 si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane vivet in ternum4 ,joan4 vi4 #ea4 #ddf ,in mare mundi submergentur omnes illi1 quos non suscepit navis ista4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #ddg ,ideo quoties videmus insurgentes fluctus hujus maris1 clamare debemus ad ,mariam2 ,domina1 salva nos1 perimus4 ,loc4 cit4 #ddh ,regina immaculata et pura1 salva me1 libera ab eterna damnatione4 ,orat4 ,paneg4 #ddi ,o salus te invocantium4 #dej ,nemini nisi per eam patet aditus ad salutem4 ,paciucch4 de ,b4 ,virg4 #dea ,nemo qui salvus fiat nisi per te4 ,serm4 de ,zona4 ,virg4 #deb ,qui petit sine ipsa1 sine alis tentat volare4 ,p4 #c1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #bb1 #i4 #dec ,terra ,egypti in manu tua est4 #ded ,decrevit nihil dare1 nisi per ,mariam4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #dee ,salus nostra in manu ,mari est1 ut ei dicere multo melius valeamus nos ,christiani1 quam ,egyptii dixerunt ,joseph2 salus nostra in manu illius est4 ,l4 #b1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 p4 #a4 #def ,in ,prf4 ,cant4 #e4 #deg ,tota salus mundi consistit in multitudine favoris ,mari4 #deh ,tu dispensatrix omnium gratiarum2 salus nostra in manu tua est4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,virg4 #dei ,sicut lapis1 subtracta terra1 delabitur in profundum2 ita subtracto ,mari adjutorio1 homo delabitur in peccatum1 et inde in infernum4 ,l4 #h1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #aa4 #dfj ,ipse sine ea non salvabit te4 #dfa ,quemadmodum infans sine nutrice non potest vivere1 ita sine domina nostra non potes habere salutem4 ,in ,cant4 ,b4 ,v4 pro ,sabb4 #dfb ,sitiat ergo anima tua ad ipsam2 tene1 nec dimitte1 donec benedixerit tibi4 #dfc ,nemo est1 o sanctissima1 qui ad ,dei notitiam venit1 nisi per te2 nemo qui salvus fiat1 nisi per te1 ,dei parens2 nemo liber a periculis nisi per te1 ,virgo mater4 ,nemo donum ,dei suscepit1 nisi per te1 gratia plena4 ,serm4 de ,zona4 ,virg4 #dfd ,nisi enim tu iter aperieres1 nemo spiritualis evaderet4 ,orat4 de ,dorm4 ,deip4 #dfe ,per te accessum habemus ad filium1 o inventrix1 grati1 mater salutis1 ut per te nos suscipiat1 qui per te datus est nobis4 #dff ,si nos deserueris1 quid erit de nobis1 ,vita ,christianorum8 ,serm4 de ,zona ,virg4 #dfg ,tom4 #b1 in #c1 p4 ,d4 #bc1 sect4 #c4 #dfh ,frustra alios sanctos oraret1 quem ista non adjuvaret4 #dfi ,vultum tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis4 ,psal4 xliv4 #ac4 #dgj ,inter sanctos non solemus uti uno tamquam intercessore ad alium1 cum omnes sint ejusdem ordinis1 ad virginem autem tamquam ad ,dominam ac ,reginam alii sancti adhibentur intercessores4 #dga ,nel ,diario di ,maria alli4 #ba1 di ,marzo4 #dgb ,quid possunt omnes isti tecum1 tu sola potes sine illis omnibus4 ,orat4 #de1 ad ,s4 ,virg4 ,mar4 #dgc ,quia mater es salvatoris nostri1 sponsa ,dei1 regina cli et terr4 ,lib4 ,or4 ,exc4 v4 ap4 ,pac4 ,exc4 #bj1 in4 sal4 ,ang4 #b1 #g4 #dgd ,te tacente1 nullus juvabit1 nullus orabit4 #dge ,te1 domina orante1 omnes juvabunt et orabunt4 #dgf ,in his book1 8,divoto di ,maria40 #dgg ,gyrum cli circuivi sola4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #h4 #dgh ,quando virgo sanctissima procedit ad ,deum pro nobis deprecandum imperat angelis et sanctis1 ut eam comitentur1 et simul cum ipsa altissimum pro nobis exorent4 ,in ,spec4 ,v4 c4 #c4 #dgi ,ferre nequeo ut ,maria dicatur spes et vita mea4 ,in ,post4 ,maj4 ,evang4 in ,nat4 ,mar4 #dhj ,maledictus homo qui confidit in homine4 xvii4 #e4 #dha ,filioli1 hc maxima mea fiducia1 hc tota ratio spei me4 ,or4 ,pan4 ad ,b4 ,v4 #dhb ,in te spem meam collocavi ex animo et intentis oculis1 abs te pendeo4 ,ap4 ,auriem4 to4 #a1 c4 #g4 #dhc ,omnes spes vit4 ,opusc4 #g4 #dhd ,nobis non est alia quam a te fiducia1 o virgo sincerris sima4 ,sub alis pietatis protege et custodi nos4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #dhe ,totis medullis cordium hanc ,mariam veneremur1 quia sic est voluntas ejus1 qui totum nos habere voluit per ,mariam4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #dhf ,quramus gratiam1 et per ,mariam quramus4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #dhg ,quia indignus eras1 cui donaret1 datum est ,mari ut per illam acciperes quidquid haberes4 ,serm4 #c1 in ,vig4 ,nativ4 #dhh ,quidquid ,deo offerre potes1 ,mari commendare memento1 si non vis sustinere repulsum4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #dhi ,crasset ,div4 alla4 ,b4 ,v4 tom4 #a1 tr4 #a1 q4 #aj4 #dij ,c4 ii4 v4 #ea4 #dia ,cum de ceteris sanctis dicatur1 eos esse cum ,deo1 ,maria majus aliquid sortita est1 ut non solum ipsa subjiceretur voluntati ,dei1 sed etiam ,dominus voluntati ipsius4 ,l4 #a1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #e4 #dib ,ap4 #ad4 #dic ,de virgine autem ,maria secure dici potest1 quod agnus sequebater eam1 quocumque ivit2 ex illo ,luc3 ,erat subditus illis4 ,loc4 cit4 #did ,grande privilegium ,mari1 quod apud filium sit potentissima4 ,in ,spec4 c4 #h4 #die ,data est tibi omnis potestas in clo et in terra2 et nihil tibi impossibile1 cui possibile est etiam desperatos in spem salutis relevare4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #dif ,accedis enim ad illud human reconciliationis altare1 non solum rogans1 sed imperans2 domina1 non ancilla2 nam filius nihil negans honorat4 ,loc4 cit4 #dig ,serm4 #c1 in ,dorm4 ,b4 ,v4 #dih ,imperio ,virginis omnia famulantur1 etiam ,deus4 ,tom4 #b1 ,serm4 #fa4 #dii ,te ,deus1 o virgo1 sic exaltavit1 ut omnia tibi secum possibilia esse donaris4 ,lib4 de ,conc4 ,virg4 #ejj ,eisdem privilegiis secundum leges gaudet rex et regina4 ,cum autem eadem sit potestas filii et matris1 ab omnipotente filio omnipotens mater facta est4 ,l4 #d1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #eja ,ecclesia est1 non tantum sub ,virginis patrocinio1 verum etiam sub dominatione ac potestate4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #bj1 #fb4 #ejb ,pete quod vis a me1 non enim potest esse inanis petitio tua4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #d4 #ejc ,quia tu mihi nihil negasti in terris1 ego nihil tibi negabo in clis4 #ejd ,quicquid tu ,virgo velis1 nequaquam fieri non potent4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #ab4 #eje ,roganda sum1 ut velim2 quia1 si volo1 necesse est fieri4 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pep4 ,grand1 etc4 #ejf ,moveat te natura2 potentia moveat2 quia quanto potentior tanto misericordior esse debebis4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,n4 ,b4 ,v4 #ejg ,potentissima1 et piissima charitas matris ,dei1 et affectu compatiendi1 et subveniendi abundat effectu2 que locuples in utroque4 ,serm4 #d1 de ,assumt4 #ejh ,joan4 ii4 #c4 #eji ,quid mihi et tibi1 mulier8 nondum venit hora mea4 ,joan4 ii4 #d4 #eaj ,joan4 ii4 #g4 #eaa ,et licet ita responderit1 maternis tamen precibus obtemperavit4 #eab ,per ilia verba1 nondum venit hora mea1 ostendit se dilaturum fuisse miraculum1 si alius rogasset2 quia tamen rogabat mater1 fecit4 ,apud4 ,defens4 cultus ,mariani1 auctore ,r4 ,d4 ,henr4 de ,cerf4 p4 #abi4 #eac ,quo matrem honoraret1 prvenit tempus miraculi faciendi4 #ead ,nulla creatura tot et tanta impetrare posset apud filium tuum miseris1 quam tu impetras eisdem2 in quo procul dubio non tamquam ancillam1 sed tamquam matrem verissimam te honorat4 #eae ,qu habitas in hortis1 amici auscultant1 fac me audire vecem tuam4 ,cant4 viii4 #ac4 #eaf ,qu habitas in hortis clestibus1 fiducialiter pro quibus volueris intercede2 non enim possum oblivisci me filium tuum1 ut matri quidpiam denegandum putem4 ,tantum ut vocem proferat1 quia a filio audiri1 exaudiri est4 #eag ,virgo ,maria ex eo quod ille homo est1 et natus ex ea1 quasi quodam matus imperio1 apud ipsum impetrare quod voluerit pia fiducia non dubitatur4 ,serm4 viii4 de ,b4 ,virg4 #eah ,lib4 #e1 cap4 #d4 #eai ,unum beat ,mari suspirium plus posset1 quam omnium ,sanctorum simul suffragia4 ,in lit4 ,b4 ,v4 verbo4 ,virg4 pot4 #ebj ,de ,b4 ,v4 #eba ,oratio ,deipar habet rationem imperii2 unde impossibile est1 eam non exaudiri4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #ag1 #d4 #ebb ,tu autem materna in ,deum auctoritate pollens1 etiam iis qui enormiter peccant1 eximiam remissionis gratiam concilias2 non enim potes non exaudiri1 cum ,deus tibi ut ver et intemerat ,matri in omnibus morem gerat4 ,van4 ,enc4 ,deip4 #ebc ,domina benedicta1 quid est quod non poteris8 ,quod enim vis1 hoc factum est4 ,l4 #d1 ,rev4 c4 #gd4 #ebd ,quod ,deus imperio1 tu prece ,virgo potes4 #ebe ,nunquid non pertinet ad benignitatem ,domini1 matris honorem servare1 qui legem non venit solvere2 sed adimplere8 #ebf ,filius quasi exsolvens debitum1 implet petitiones tuas4 ,or4 de ,ex4 ,mar4 #ebg ,euge euge1 qu debitorem habes filium1 qui omnibus mutuatur4 ,deo enim universi debemus1 tibi autem etiam ille debitor est4 ,orat4 in ,hyp4 ,dom4 #ebh ,virgo qu meruit pro liberandis proferre pretium1 potest plus omnibus suffragium liberatis impendere4 ,orat4 #b4 de aff4 ,b4 ,v4 #ebi ,potes quidem omnes salvare1 ut ,dei ,altissimi ,mater1 precibus materna auctoritate pollentibus4 ,ex4 ,men4 #a1 ,jan4 ,ode4 #d4 #ecj ,oh certe ,dei nostri mira benignitas1 qui suis reis te ,dominam tribuit advocatam1 ut auxilio tuo1 quod volueris1 valeas impetrare4 ,in ,salv4 ,reg4 #eca ,o mirabilis erga nos1 misericordia ,dei nostri1 qui ne fugeremus pro sententia1 voluit matrem ac dominam grati instituere advocatam6 #ecb ,mirac4 di ,maria1 ,mir4 #dg4 #ecc ,loquere1 ,domina1 quia audit filius tuus et qucumque petieris1 impetrabis4 #ecd ,maria diligit diligentes se2 imo sibi servientibus servit4 ,ipsa benedicto filio suo irato potentissime reconciliat servos et amatores suos4 ,prf4 in ,cant4 #ece ,tanta est ejus benignitas1 quod nulli formidandum est ad eam accedere2 tantaque misericordia ut nemo ab ea repellatur4 #ecf ,ipsa preces servorum1 maxime qu sibi exhibentur1 reprsentat in conspectu divin majestatis2 quia ipsa est advocata nostra apud filium1 sicut filius apud ,patrem4 ,imo apud ,patrem et ,filium procurat negotia et preces nostras4 ,in dict4 ,prf4 #ecg ,singulare perditorum refugium1 miserorum spem1 advocatam omnium iniquorum ad se confugientium4 #ech ,grande privilegium ,mari1 quod apud filium sit potentissima4 ,in ,spec4 lect4 #f1 #g4 #eci ,sed quid tanta ,mari potentia prodesset nobis2 si ipsa nihil curaret de nobis8 #edj ,carissimi sciamus indubitanter1 et pro hoc gratias agamus incessanter1 quia sicut ipsa apud eum omnibus sanctis est potentior1 ita pro nobis omnibus est sollicitior4 #eda ,quis post filium tuum curam gerit generis humani1 sicut tu8 ,serm4 de ,zona4 ,virg4 #edb ,quis ita nos defendit in nostris afflictionibus8 ,quis pugnat pro peccatoribus8 #edc ,propterea patrocinium tuum majus est quam apprehendi possit4 #edd ,cteri sancti jure quodam patrocinii pro sibi specialiter commissis plus possunt prodesse1 quam pro alienis2 beatissima vero ,virgo1 sicut omnium est regina1 sic est omnium patrona et advocata1 et cura illi est de omnibus4 ,de ,contempl4 ,b4 ,v4 in ,prol4 #ede ,adstat beatissima ,virgo vultui conditoris prece potentissima1 semper interpellans pro nobis4 #edf ,videt enim nostra discrimina1 nostrique clemens ,domina materno affectu miseretur4 #edg ,inveniet semper paratam auxiliari4 #edh ,ipsa pro universo mundo paratissima est ad precandum4 #edi ,advocatam prmisit peregrinatio nostra2 qu tamquam judicis mater1 et mater misericordi1 suppliciter et efficaciter salutis nostr negocia pertractabit4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,ass4 #eej ,unam te ac solam pro nobis in clo fatemur esse sollicitam4 ,ap4 in ,spec4 lect4 #f4 #eea ,tam prudens et diserta est advocata ,maria1 quod non potest filius vindicare in eos1 pro quibus ipsa allegat4 ,de ,laud4 v4 l4 #b1 p4 #b4 #eeb ,salve jus dirimens lites4 ,ap4 ,pep4 ,lez4 to4 #e4 #eec ,benedicta tu1 qu prohibuisti me hodie1 ne ulciscerer me manu mea4 ,c4 xxv4 #eed ,fidelis et potens mediator ,dei et hominum2 sed divinam reverentur in eo homines majestatem1 opus est enim mediatore ad mediatorem ipsum2 nec alter nobis utilior quam ,maria4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #eee ,quid ad ,mariam accedere trepidet humana fragilitas8 ,nihil austerum in ea1 nihil terribile1 tota suavis est4 #eef ,revolve diligentius evangelic histori seriem universam1 et si quid forte durum occurrerit in ,maria1 ad eam accedere verearis4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #eeg ,adibo te imo etiam conveniam1 gloriosissima ,dei genitrix1 quam matrem misericordi vocat1 imo clamitat omnis ecclesia sanctorum4 ,de ,reth4 ,div4 c4 #ah4 #eeh ,tu1 inquam1 cujus gratiositas nunquam repulsam patitur1 cujus misericordia nulli unquam defuit2 cujus benignissima humanitas nullum unquam deprecantem quantumcumque peccatorem despexit4 #eei ,an falso aut inaniter vocat te omnis ,ecclesia advocatam suam1 et miserorum refugium8 #efj ,absit1 ut peccata mea possint suspendere te a tam salubri officio pietatis2 quo et advocata es1 et mediatrix hominum1 post filium tuum spes unica et refugium tutissimum miserorum4 #efa ,totum siquidem quod habes grati1 totum quod habes glori1 et etiam hoc ipsum quod mater es ,dei1 si fas est dicere1 ob peccatores tibi collata sunt4 #efb ,absit hoc a matre ,dei1 qu fontem pietatis toti mundo peperit1 ut cuique miserorum su misericordi subventionem unquam deneget4 #efc ,officium ergo tuum est te mediam interponere inter ipsum et homines4 ,moveat te gloriosa ,dei mater1 benignissima misericordia tua1 qu major est incogitabiliter omnibus vitiis meis et peccatis4 ,d4 c4 #ah1 de ,reth4 ,div4 #efd ,consolamini pusillanimos2 respirate miserabiles2 ,virgo ,deipara est humani generis advocata2 idonea1 sapientissima1 universalis4 ,in ,rog4 pro exp4 adv4 ,turc4 susc4 #efe ,l4 #g1 c4 #be4 #eff ,in ,ex4 #efg ,infinitus est thesaurus1 quo qui usi sunt1 participes facti sunt amiciti ,dei4 ,sap4 vii4 #ad4 #efh ,joan4 xv4 #ad4 #efi ,iniquitates vestr diviserunt inter vos et ,deum vestrum6 ,is4 lix4 #b4 #egj ,odio sunt ,deo impius et impietas ejus4 ,sap4 xiv4 #i4 #ega ,jesum tibi dedit mediatorem2 quid non apud talem patrem filius talis obtineat4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #egb ,severum imaginantur1 qui pius est1 terribilem1 qui amabilis est4 ,quid timetis modic fidei8 ,peccata affixit cruci suis manibus4 #egc ,sed forsitan et in ipso majestatem vereare divinam1 quod licet factus sit homo1 manserit tamen ,deus4 ,advocatum habere vis et apud ipsum8 recurre ad ,mariam2 exaudiet utique matrem filius1 et exaudiet filium ,pater4 #egd ,filioli1 hc peccatorum scala1 hc maxima mea fiducia est1 hc tota ratio spei me4 ,cit4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #ege ,ego murus2 et ubera mea sicut turris1 ex quo facta sum coram eo quasi pacem reperiens4 ,cant4 c4 viii4 v4 #aj4 #egf ,ipsa reperit pacem inimicis1 salutem perditis1 indulgentiam reis1 misericordiam desperatis4 #egg ,cant4 i4 #d4 #egh ,tu enim es illa fidelissima columba ,noe1 qu inter ,deum et mundum diluvio spirituali submersum mediatrix fidelissima extitisti4 #egi ,nam ipsa ,christum nobis detulit fontem misericordi4 ,p4 ,spinell4 #ehj ,per te pax clestis donata est4 #eha ,ego sum columba ,noe1 ,ecclesi ramum oliv et pacis inferens universalis4 ,in ,bibl4 ,mar4 lib4 ,cant4 n4 #af4 #ehb ,et ,iris erat in circuitu sedis4 ,apoc4 c4 iv4 #c4 #ehc ,iris in circuitu sedis est ,maria1 qu mitigat ,dei judicium et sententiam contra peccatores4 ,in ,spec4 ,s4 ,script4 #ehd ,arcum meum ponam in nubibus1 et erit signum fderis inter me et terram4444 ,videbo illum1 et recordabor fderis sempiterni4 ,gen4 ix4 #ac4 #ehe ,ipsa est arcus fderis sempiterni4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,no4 ,mar4 ,art4 #a1 c4 #c4 #ehf ,fructus iridis est recordatio divini fderis2 sic per verginem gloriosam offensa eis remittitur1 fdus stringitur4 ,serm4 in ,apoc4 c4 #da4 #ehg ,pulchra ut ,luna4 ,cant4 vi4 #i4 #ehh ,sicut ,luna est media inter corpora clestia et terrena1 et quod ab illis accipit ad inferiora refundit2 sic et virgo regia inter nos et ,deum est media1 et gratiam ipsa nobis refundit4 ,serm4 #ad1 de ,nat4 ,dom4 #ehi ,cant4 i4 #h4 #eij ,pasce hdos tuos1 quos convertis in oves1 et qui a sinistris in judicio erant collocandi1 tua intercessione collocantur a dextris4 #eia ,hc est a me electa tanquam esca dulcissima ad capiendos homines1 potissimum peccatores4 ,ap4 ,blos4 ,monil4 ,spir4 #eib ,suos vocat quia non omnes hdi vocantur ,mari1 sed qui ,mariam colunt ac venerantur1 licet sceleribus contaminati4 ,qui vero peccatis irretiti sunt1 nec ,b4 ,virginem speciali obsequio prosequuntur1 nec preces fundunt in ejus cultum1 ut aliquando resipiscant1 hdi profecto sunt non ,mari1 sed ad sinistram judicis sistendi4 #eic ,ego eripiam te de affligentibus te4 #eid ,sicut magnes attrahit ferrum1 sic ego attraho dura corda4 ,l4 #c1 ,rev4 c4 #cb4 #eie ,ideo mater ,dei prelecta es ab eterno2 ut quos justitia filii salvare non potest1 tu per tuam salvares pietatem4 ,hom4 de ,prs4 ,b4 ,v4 #eif ,scio illam magis propter peccatores1 quam propter justos1 factam esse ,dei matrem2 dixit enim ejus bonus filius se non venisse vocare justos1 sed peccatores4 #eig ,peccatores non abhorres1 sine quibus nunquam fores tanto digna filio4 #eih ,totum quod habes1 si fas est dicere1 peccatoribus debes2 omnia enim propter peccatores tibi collata sunt4 ,de ,reth4 ,div4 c4 #ah4 #eii ,si ipsa propter peccatores facta est ,dei mater1 quomodo immanitas peccatorum meorum cogere poterit desperare veniam8 ,de ,exc4 v4 c4 #a4 #fjj ,quam idcirco de hoc sculo transtulit1 ut apud te pro peccatis nostris fiducialiter intercedat4 #fja ,verbum usum est ,virgine sequestra4 #fjb ,divinarum reconciliationum1 qu pignore accepto fit1 ,fidejussio4 ,or4 #b1 de ,aff4 #fjc ,si propter tuas nequitias ,dominum videris indignatum1 ad spem peccatorum confugias2 sibi pro miseris satisfacere ex officio commissum est4 #fjd ,timere ne debet ut pereat1 cui ,maria se matrem exhibet1 et advocatam4 #fje ,tu misericordi mater non rogabis pro filio filium1 pro redempto1 redemptorem8 #fjf ,rogabis plane quia qui filium tuum inter ,deum et hominem posuit mediatorem1 te quoque inter reum1 et judicem posuit adjutricem4 #fjg ,age gratias ei1 qui talem tibi mediatricem providit4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #fjh ,ros4 ,sacr4 p4 #e1 c4 #fj4 #fji ,stor4 ,virg4 l4 #a1 c4 #aa4 #faj ,officium tuum est1 te mediam interponere inter ,deum et homines4 #faa ,eja ergo advocata nostra officium tuum imple4 #fab ,ap4 il ,p4 ,pep4 to4 #e1 ,lec4 #bce4 #fac ,oculi ,domini super justos4 ,ps4 xxxiii4 #af4 #fad ,sed oculi ,domin super justos et peccatores4 #fae ,sicut oculi matris ad puerum ne cadat1 vel si ceciderit1 ut eum sublevet4 #faf ,mater pete quod vis a me4 #fag ,rev4 l4 #a4 c4 #df4 #fah ,undique sollicita es de miseris1 misericordia vallaris1 solum misereri videris appetere4 ,sup4 ,salve ,reg4 #fai ,stat ,maria in conspectu filii sui non cessans pro peccatoribus exorare4 ,in cap4 i4 ,luc4 #fbj ,nullum in hac vita adeo pn torserunt propri sicut ,mariam alien4 ,epist4 ad ,eust4 #fba ,officium pi auxiliatricis assumpsit non rogata4 #fbb ,nunquid1 ,o ,beata ,virgo1 quia ita glorificata es1 ideo nostr humilitatis oblita es8 ,absit1 non convenit tant misericordi1 tant miseri oblivisci4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #fbc ,benedicta filia priorem misericordiam posteriore superasti4 ,ruth iii4 #aj4 #fbd ,magna fuit erga miseros misericordia ,mari adhuc exulantis mundo1 sed multo major est regnantis in clo4 ,in ,spec4 ,b4 ,v4 c4 #h4 #fbe ,majorem per innumerabilia beneficia nunc ostendit misericordiam1 quia magis nunc videt hominum miserias4 #fbf ,nam quemadmodum sol lunam superat magnitudine splendoris1 sic priorem ,mari misericordiam superat magnitudo superioris4 #fbg ,quis est super quem misericordia ,mari non resplendet8 ,loc4 cit4 #fbh ,cant4 vi4 #i4 #fbi ,non est qui se abscondat a calore ejus4 #fcj ,nunc autem conjuncta filio non obliviscitur innat bonitatis su1 sed ad omnes extendit misericordiam suam1 etiam ad pessimos2 ut sicut sole illuminantur clestia et terrestria1 sic ex dulcedine ,mari nullus est qui non per eam1 si petitur1 sentiat pietatem4 ,l4 #c1 ,rev4 c4 #cj4 #fca ,patrign4 ,men4 #b1 ,feb4 #fcb ,patr4 ,men4 #b1 ,feb4 #fcc ,maria omnia omnibus facta est2 omnibus misericordi sinum aperit1 ut de plenitudine ejus accipiant omnes1 captivus1 redemptionem1 ger curationem1 tristis consolationem1 peccator veniam2 ut non sit qui se abscondat a calore ejus4 ,in ,sig4 ,mag4 #fcd ,quis te non diliget1 ,o ,maria1 pulchriorem sole1 dulciorem melle1 omnibus amabilis1 omnibus affabilis8 #fce ,ave ergo1 ,domina mea1 mater mea2 imo cor meum1 anima mea1 parce mihi1 ,domina1 si me amare te dicam2 si ego non sum dignus te amare1 tu non es digna amari a me4 ,stim4 p4 #e1 c4 #ai4 #fcf ,rev4 l4 #d1 c4 #ec4 #fcg ,eja ergo2 advocata nostra1 illos tuos misericordes ocules ad nos converte4 #fch ,latitudo misericordi tu replet orbem terrarum4 ,serm4 #d1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #fci ,in te1 ,domina1 peccant1 non solum qui tibi injuriam irrogant1 sed etiam qui te non rogant4 ,in ,spec4 ,virg4 #fdj ,doce nos sperare majora meritis1 qu meritis majora largiri non desinis4 #fda ,prparabitur in misericordia solium ejus4 ,isa4 xvi4 #e4 #fdb ,solium divin misericordi est ,maria1 in qua omnes inveniunt solatia misericordi4 ,spec4 c4 #h4 #fdc ,nam sicut misericordiosissimum ,dominum1 ita misericordiosissimam ,dominam habemus4 ,dominus noster mult misericordi invocantibus se2 et ,domina nostra mult misericordi invocantibus se4 #fdd ,in te mihi regni sedem constituam1 per te preces exaudiam4 ,communicasti mihi quod homo sum1 communicabo tibi quod ,deus sum4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #fde ,hi sunt misericordiosissimi oculi mei1 quos ad omnes me invocantes possum salubriter inclinare4 ,rev4 l4 #d1 c4 #ec4 #fdf ,fili1 et ist lacrim peribunt8 #fdg ,ex omnipotentia mea1 mater reverenda1 tibi concessi propitiationem omnium peccatorum1 qui devote invocant tu pietatis auxilium1 qualicunque modo placeat tibi4 #fdh ,mater misericordi1 tanta est pietas tua1 quanta potestas2 tam pia es ad parcendum1 quam potens ad impetrandum4 #fdi ,quando non compatieris miseris1 mater misericordi8 ,aut quando illi opem conferre non poteris1 cum sis mater omnipotenti8 ,eadem facilitate obtinens quodcumque vis2 qua facilitate nostra innotescit miseria4 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pep4 #fej ,o mater misericordi1 saturare gloria filii tui1 et dimitte reliquias tuas parvulis tuis4 ,in ,cant4 lib4 #e4 #fea ,ne alligaveris peccata mea contra me1 qui misericordiam tuam allego contra ea4 ,absit1 ut stent in judicio peccata mea contra misericordiam tuam1 qu omnibus vitiis fortior est4 ,de4 ,reth4 ,div4 c4 #ah4 #feb ,c4 #aa1 p4 #a4 #fec ,tom4 #a1 qu4 #g4 #fed ,teologia ,mariana4 #fee ,virid4 l4 #a1 ,probl4 #i4 #fef ,virgo benedictissima1 sicut impossibile est1 ut a te aversus1 et a te despectus salvetur1 ita ad te conversus et a te respectus impossibile est ut pereat4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #aa4 #feg ,sicut impossibile est1 ut illi a quibus ,maria oculos su misericordi avertit1 salventur2 ita necessarium quod hi1 ad quos convertit oculos suos1 pro eis advocans1 salventur et glorificentur4 ,part #d1 tit4 #ej4 #feh ,bibl4 ,mar4 c4 #fj4 #fei ,qui neglexerit illam1 morietur in peccatis suis4 ,in ,psal4 cxvi4 #ffj ,qui te non invocat in hac vita1 non perveniet ad regnum ,dei4 ,in ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #ffa ,a quibus averteris vultum tuum1 non erit spes ad salutem4 #ffb ,impossible est aliquem salvari peccatorem1 nisi per tuum1 ,o ,virgo1 auxilium et favorem1 quia quos non salvat ,dei justitia1 salvat sua intercessione ,mari misericordia infinita4 ,ap4 celada in ,jud4 ,fig4 s4 #aj4 #ffc ,in ,deprec4 ad ,virg4 #ffd ,in ,comp4 ,virg4 c4 #e4 #ffe ,prov4 viii4 #cf4 #fff ,facta est quasi navis institoris4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #ad4 #ffg ,in mare mundi submergentur omnes illi1 quos non suscipit navis ista4 ,de ,laud4 ,v4 l4 #aa4 #ffh ,nunquam de me audiatur1 quasi averser ,mariam1 erga quam minus bene affici reprobat mentis certum existimem judicium4 ,v4 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pep4 ,lez4 tom4 #g4 #ffi ,qui audit me non confundetur4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #cj4 #fgj ,qui prstat in obsequio tuo1 procul fiet a perditione4 ,in ,psal4 cxviii4 #fga ,quantumcumque quis fuerit peccator1 si ,mari devotus extiterit1 nunquam in ternum peribit4 ,cant4 #ab1 in ,matt4 #fgb ,ejice ancillam hanc1 et filium ejus4 ,gen4 xxi4 #aj4 #fgc ,qui ,dei genitrici perseveranter obsequitur1 non multa mora et ,deum ipsum in se recipiet4 ,in ,salv4 ,reg4 ,ex4 #e4 #fgd ,or4 de ,laud4 ,v4 #fge ,nec facultas1 nec voluntas illi deesse potest4 ,serm4 de ,aff4 #fgf ,impossibile est ,deiparam non exaudiri4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #ag1 s4 #d4 #fgg ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #fgh ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,b4 ,v4 #fgi ,salve1 inferorum formido1 ,christianorum spes1 certa est fiducia tua4 ,orat4 ad ,virg4 #fhj ,mari filii mei genitrici a bonitate mea concessum est propter ,incarnati ,verbi reverentiam1 ut quicumque etiam peccator ad eam cum devota veneratione recurrit1 nullo modo rapiatur a dmone infernali4 ,in ,man4 ,spir4 #fha ,domine1 dilexi decorem domus tu1 ne perdas cum impiis animam meam4 ,psal4 xxv4 #h1 #i4 #fhb ,sapientia dificavit sibi domum4 ,prov4 ix4 #a4 #fhc ,nunquam peribit qui genitrici ,virgini devotus sedulusque extiterit4 #fhd ,pax multa diligentibus te1 ,domina2 anima eorum non videbit mortem in ternum4 ,in ,psal4 cxviii4 #fhe ,fieri non potest ut pereat qui ,mari sedulus et umilis cultor extiterit4 ,in ,cant4 v4 ,spir4 c4 #ah4 #fhf ,quanti fuissent1 ternaliter condemnati1 vel permansissent in desperatione obstinati1 nisi beatissima ,virgo ,maria interpellasset ad filium4 ,ap4 ,pep4 ,lez4 tom4 #g4 #fhg ,ap4 ,crass4 to4 #a1 q4 #ab4 #fhh ,l4 #a1 c4 #ce4 #fhi ,stellar4 ,cor4 ,b4 ,v4 l4 #ab1 p4 #b1 a4 #a4 #fij ,quid autem de nobis fiet1 ,o sanctissima ,virgo1 ,o vita ,christianorum4 ,de ,zona ,virg4 #fia ternum v non sentiet ille pro quo semel oraverit ,maria4 #fib ,si accedam ad judicium1 et matrem misericordi in causa mea habeo mecum1 quis judicium denegabit propitium8 ,in ,c4 c4 #ae4 #fic ,si judex servum suum damnare voluerit1 per manus tuas piissimas1 ,o ,maria1 hoc faciat4 ,hor4 ,sap4 l4 #a1 c4 #af4 #fid ,in te1 ,domina1 speravi1 non confundar in ternum4 ,in ,psal4 ,mar4 #fie ,p4 ,alf4 ,andrada de ,bapt4 ,virg4 #fif ,beata ,virgo in regno purgatorii dominium habet4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nom4 ,mar4 a4 #a1 c4 #c4 #fig ,cap4 xxiv4 v4 #h4 #fih ,scilicet visitans et subveniens necessitatibus et tormentis devotorum meorum quia filii sunt4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nom4 ,mar4 a4 #a1 c4 #h4 #fii ,vide quam referat ,virginem colere1 cum cultorum suorum in purgatorii flammis existentium non obliviscatur4 ,et licet omnibus opem et refrigerium ferat1 id tamen prcipue erga suos prstat4 ,nov4 ,virg4 ,umb4 c4 #ae1 exc4 #hf4 #gjj ,ego mater omnium qui sunt in purgatorio1 quia omnes pn1 qu debentur illis pro peccatis suis1 in qualibet hora propter preces meas quodammodo mitigantur4 ,l4 #d1 ,rev4 c4 #acb4 #gja ,cap4 xxiv4 #h4 #gjb ,abyssi1 idest purgatorii1 adjuvans illas sanctas animas4 #gjc ,maria bona1 existentibus in purgatorio2 quia per eam habent suffragium4 ,ser4 #b1 de ,nat4 #gjd ,tu es mater mea1 tu mater misericordi1 tu consolatio eorum1 qui sunt in purgatorio4 ,lib4 #a1 ,rev4 #ai4 #gje ,qui sunt in purgatorio gaudent1 nomine meo audito1 quemadmodum ger jacens in lecto1 cum audit verbum solatii4 ,ap4 ,b4 ,dion4 ,cant4 l4 #c1 de ,laud4 ,v4 #gjf ,virginis nomen illarum pnarum refrigerium est2 addit ,virgo preces quibus veluti supero quodam rore cruciatus illi magni mitigantur4 ,nov4 cit4 c4 #ae1 exc4 #hf4 #gjg ,totum purgatorium fuisse evacuatum4 #gjh ,ferunt quippe bon not auctores1 ,virginem in clum ituram a filio hoc petiisse1 ut omnes animas qu detinebantur in purgatorio1 secum ad gloriam ducere posset4 ,cit4 ,exc4 #hf4 #gji ,ab his tormentis liberat beata ,virgo1 maxime devotos suos4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nom4 ,mar4 a4 #b1 c4 #c4 #gaj ,crediderim omnibus qui in flammis purgantur1 ,mari meritis non solum leviores fuisse redditas illas pnas1 sed et breviores2 adeo ut cruciatuum tempus contractum ,virginis ope illius sit4 ,cit4 ,exc4 #hf4 #gaa ,lib4 #c1 ,ep4 #aj1 et in ord4 #ej4 #gab ,beatissima ,virgo singulis in annis festivitate nativitatis ,christi ad purgatorii loca cum multitudine angelorum descendit1 et multas inde animas eripit4 ,etiam in nocte dominic resurrectionis solet descendere ad purgatorium pro eductione animarum4 ,cart4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,aff4 #gac ,facile autem crediderim in quocumque ,virginis solemni festo plures animas ab illis pnis eximi4 ,in loc4 cit4 #gad ,tom4 #b1 ,div4 d4 ,b4 ,virg4 tr4 #f1 prat4 #d4 #gae ,materno plane affectu1 dum igne purgatorii expiantur1 solari1 ac in clestem patriam obtentu suo quantocius pie creditur afferre4 ,in ,festo ,s4 ,mar4 de ,m4 ,carm4 #af1 ,jul4 #gaf ,in lib4 de ,gest4 ,vir4 ill4 ,sol4 ,villar4 #gag ,troph4 ,marian4 l4 #d1 c4 #bi4 #gah ,in omnibus requiem qusivi1 et in hreditate ,domini morabor4 ,cap4 xxiv4 #aa4 #gai ,et in hreditate ,domini morabor1 idest in illis qui sunt hreditas ,domini4 #gbj ,qui creavit me1 requievit in tabernaculo meo2 et dixit mihi2 in ,jacob inhabita1 et in ,israel hreditare1 et in electis meis mitte radices4 #gba ,ego feci in clis1 ut oriretur lumen indeficiens4 ,cap4 xxiv4 v4 #f4 #gbb ,multi sancti sunt in clis1 intercessione ejus1 qui nunquam1 ibi fuissent nisi per eam4 #gbc ,qui speraverit in illa1 porta cli reserabitur ei4 #gbd ,reseramentum clestis ,jerusalem4 ,orat4 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #gbe ,tibi regni clestis claves thesaurique commissi sunt4 ,cimel4 ,endol4 #a4 #gbf ,aperi nobis1 ,o ,virgo1 clum1 cujus claves habes4 #gbg ,dicitur stella maris1 quia sicut navigantes ad portum diriguntur per stellam maris1 ita ,christiani diriguntur ad gloriam per ,mariam4 ,opusc4 #h4 #gbh ,scala clestis1 quia per ipsam ,deus descendit ad terram1 ut per ipsam homines mererentur ascendere ad clum4 #gbi ,ave gratia plena1 quod facta sis salutis via1 ascensusque ad superos4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,annunc4 #gcj ,scire et cognoscere te1 ,o ,virgo ,deipara1 est via immortalitatis2 et narrare virtutes tuas est via salutis4 ,in ,psal4 lxxxv4 #gca ,p4 #a1 t4 #a1 c4 #ce4 #gcb ,quis salvatur8 quis regnat in clo8 illi sunt1 pro quibus regina misericordi interpellat4 #gcc ,prov4 viii4 #ae4 #gcd ,in ,jerusalem potestas mea4 ,c4 #bd1 #be4 #gce ,imperando scilicet quod volo1 et quos volo1 introducendo4 ,ricc4 l4 #d1 de4 ,l4 ,v4 #gcf ,totum jure possidet filii regnum4 ,l4 #c1 in ,cant4 #d4 #gcg ,cleste nobis regnum suo interventu1 auxiliis1 et precibus impetravit4 ,st4 ,antoninus1 p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #b1 s4 #a4 #gch ,qui ,virgini famulatur1 ita securus est de paradiso ac si esset in paradiso4 ,guerricus ,abbas4 #gci ,summus honor servire ,mari1 et de ejus esse familia4 ,etenim ei servire regnare est1 est ejus agi frnis plusquam regium4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #i4 #gdj ,gens qu non servierit illi1 peribit4 ,gentes destitut tant matris auxilio1 destituuntur auxilio ,filii1 et totius curi clestis4 ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #i4 #gda ,advocatam promisit peregrinatio nostra1 qu tanquam judicis mater1 et mater misericordi1 suppliciter et efficaciter salutis nostr negotia pertractabit4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,assump4 #gdb ,eam tu pontem fecisti1 quo a mundi fluctibus trajiciens1 ad tranquillum portum tuum deveniamus4 ,orat4 in ,nat4 ,deip4 #gdc ,audite1 gentes1 qui cupitis regnum ,dei1 ,virginem ,mariam honorate et invenietis vitam ternam4 ,in ,psalt4 ,vir4 #gdd ,peccatores per te1 ,deum exquisierunt et salvi facti sunt4 ,serm4 de ,dorm4 ,deip4 #gde ,et in capite ejus corona stellarum duodecim4 ,apoc4 xii4 #a4 #gdf ,veni de ,libano1 sponsa mea1 veni de ,libano1 veni coronaberis de cubilibus leonum1 de montibus pardorum4 ,cant4 iv4 #h4 #gdg ,et quid est hoc8 nisi quia fer per gratiam et orationes ,mari sunt stell1 qu conveniunt tant regin4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 cap4 #c4 #gdh ,nescit homo utrum odio vel amore dignus sit1 sed omnia in futurum servantur incerta4 ,eccli4 ix4 #a1 #b4 #gdi ,domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo8 ,psal4 xiv4 #a4 #gej ,amplectamur ,mari vestigia1 peccatores1 et ejus beatis pedibus pervolvamur4 ,teneamus eam fortiter1 nec dimittamus1 donec ab ea mereamur benedici4 #gea ,tantummodo velis salutem nostram1 et vere nequaquam salvi esse non poterimus4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #aa4 #geb ,necessarium est quod hi ad quos convertit 7,maria7 oculos suos1 justificentur1 et glorificentur4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ee4 #gec ,beatam me dicent omnes generationes4 ,luc4 i4 #dh4 #ged ,beata jure dicitur1 quia omnes ex ea beatificantur4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,aff4 #gee ,tu felicitatis nostr principium1 medium et finis4 ,serm4 in ,hypant4 #gef ,per te clum apertum est1 infernus evacuatus1 instaurata clestis ,jerusalem1 miseris damnationem expectantibus vita data est4 ,serm4 #d1 de ,aff4 ,virg4 #geg ,qui operabunt in me1 non peccabunt4 ,qui elucidant me1 vitam ternam habebunt4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #cj1 #ca4 #geh ,qui acquirunt gratiam ,mari1 agnoscentur a civibus paradisi et qui habuerit caracterem ejus1 adnotabitur in libro vit4 ,in4 ,spec4 #gei ,qui vicerit 444 scribam super eum nomen ,dei mei1 et nomen civitatis ,dei mei4 ,apoc4 iii4 #ab4 #gfj ,gloriosa dicta sunt de te1 civitas ,dei4 ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #c4 #gfa ,habens signaculum hoc1 cognovit ,dominus qui sunt ejus4 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ai4 #gfb ,certissimum est signum salutis tern consequend4 #gfc ,habentes devotionem hanc1 signum est prdestinationis permagnum ad gloriam4 ,p4 #b1 ,ros4 c4 #aa4 #gfd ,signum sit tibi probabilissimum tern salutis1 si perseveranter in die beatam virginem in ,psalterio salutaveris4 ,p4 #dd1 de ,psalt4 c4 #dd4 #gfe ,omnes domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus4 xxxi4 #ba4 #gff ,sicut ltantium omnium habitatio est in te1 sancta ,dei genitrix4 #gfg ,lib4 #g1 ,dial4 c4 #c4 #gfh ,terra repromissionis ,maria lacte et melle manans4 ,serm4 sup4 ,salv4 ,reg4 #gfi ,maria adeo prdita est misericordi visceribus1 ut non tamen misericors1 sed ipsa misericordia dici promereatur4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,dom4 #ggj ,certe1 ,domina1 cum te aspicio1 nihil nisi misericordiam cerno2 nam pro miseris mater ,dei facta es1 et tibi officium miserendi commissum4 ,undique sollicita es de miseris1 misericordia vallaris2 solum misereri videris appetere4 ,stim4 ,am4 #gga ,cujus viscera nunquam desistunt fructum parturire pietatis4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,assum4 #ggb ,serm4 #a1 in ,dom4 p4 ,ep4 #ggc ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ai4 #ggd ,merito dici potest mater olei1 nam est mater misericordi4 ,lib4 #a1 in ,cant4 #gge ,ne forte non sufficiat nobis et vobis4 ,matth4 xxv4 #i4 #ggf ,maria plena oleo pietatis4 ,in ,spec4 cap4 #g4 #ggg ,gratia plena1 et in tantum plena1 ut ex tua redundante oleo totus mundus hauriat4 ,si enim prudentes ,virgines oleum acceperunt in vasis cum lampadibus1 tu prudentissima ,virgo gestasti vas redundans et indeficiens1 ex quo1 effuso oleo misericordi1 omnium lampades illuminares4 #ggh ,ut omnes eam respiciant1 omnes ad eam confugiant4 #ggi ,ad olivam in campis omnes possunt accedere1 et accipere fructum ejus4 ,ad ,mariam et justi et peccatores possunt accedere1 ut inde misericordiam accipiant4 ,p4 #c1 tit4 #ca1 c4 #d4 #ghj ,o quot sententias flagellorum propter peccata hc sanctissima ,virgo misericorditer revocavit6 #gha ,non est tutior locus ad latendum1 quam sinus ,mari4 ,ibi pauper habet domicilium1 ibi infirmus invenit remedium1 tristis solatium2 ibi turbatus consilium1 ibi destitutus acquirit juvamentum4 #ghb ,ubi non est mulier ingemiscit egens4 ,eccli4 xxxvi4 #bg4 #ghc ,ingemiscit infirmus1 ubi non fuerit hc sanctissima mater4 #ghd ,nisi preces ,mari intervenirent1 non esset spes misericordi4 ,rev4 l4 #f1 c4 #bf4 #ghe ,non reperitur aliquis sanctorum ita compati in infirmitatibus1 sicut mulier hc beatissima ,virgo ,maria4 ,p4 #d1 t4 #ae1 c4 #b4 #ghf ,ubicumque fuerit miseria1 tua currit et succurrit misericordia4 ,in ,cant4 #d1 #e4 #ghg ,itaque1 ,o ,b4 ,virgo1 ubi miserias invenis1 ibi tuas misericordias effundis4 ,cap4 #d1 #a1 ,reg4 #ghh ,et usque ad futurum sculum non desinam1 ut in habitatione sancta coram ipso ministravi4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ad4 #ghi ,usque ad futurum sculum1 id est beatorum1 non desinam miseriis subvenire1 et pro peccatoribus orare4 #gij ,plus vult illa bonum tibi facere et largiri gratiam1 quam tu accipere concupiscas4 ,mar4 p4 #a1 ,serm4 #e1 de ,nov4 ,mar4 #gia ,invenies eam in manibus plenam misericordia et liberalitate4 ,loc4 cit4 #gib ,quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam1 donec cuncti bibant4 ,gen4 xxiv4 #ai4 #gic ,domina1 nec puero ,abrah tantum1 sed et camelis tribue de supereffluente hydria tua4 ,serm4 ,sup4 ,miss4 #gid ,dives in omnes qui invocant illum4 ,rom4 x4 #ab4 #gie ,largitas ,mari assimilat largitatem filii sui2 dat amplius quam petatur4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #gif ,majori devotione orabis pro me1 quam ego auderem petere2 et majora mihi impetrabis quam petere prsumam4 #gig ,noscitis cujus spiritus estis4 ,luc4 ix4 #ee4 #gih ,ego vocor mater misericordi1 et vero misericordia illius misericordem me fecit4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #f4 #gii ,et signum magnum apparuit in clo1 mulier amicta sole4 ,apoc4 xii4 #a4 #hjj ,vestis solem1 et vestiris ab eo4 #hja ,non discutit merita1 sed omnibus exorabilem se prbet4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #hjb ,cant4 #f1 #i4 #hjc ,pulchra ut luna quia pulchrum est benefacere indignis4 ,epist4 #bf4 #hjd ,quod sol facit in anno1 luna facit in mense4 ,jo4 di ,minian4 l4 #a1 de ,cl4 c4 #c4 #hje ,velocior nonnumquam est nostra salus1 invocato nomine ,mari1 quam invocato nomine ,jesu4 ,de ,excell4 ,virg4 c4 #f4 #hjf ,si pertimescis ad ,deum accedere1 respice ad ,mariam2 non illic invenis quod timeas1 genus tuum vides4 #hjg ,qu ad eam pertinent1 plena omnia pietatis et grati4 ,denique omnia omnibus facta est1 sapientibus et insipientibus copiosissima charitate debitricem se fecit4 ,omnibus misericordi su sinum aperit1 ut de plenitudine ejus accipiant omnes4 ,super ,sign4 ,magn4 #hjh ,circuit qurens quem devoret4 ,ep4 #a1 c4 #e4 #hji ,ipsa semper circuit1 qurens quem salvet4 ,marial4 p4 #c1 ,serm4 #c4 #haj ,patrocinium tuum majus est1 quam apprehendi possit4 ,de ,zona4 ,virg4 #haa ,quare parcit nunc mundo ipse ,deus1 qui olim multo his minora peccata acrius punivit8 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pepe4 ,grand4 etc4 #hab ,totum hoc facit propter ,b4 ,virginem1 et ejus merita4 #hac ,clum et terra jamdudum ruissent1 si ,maria suis precibus non sustentasset4 #had ,securum accessum jam habet homo ad ,deum1 ubi mediatorem caus su filium habet ante ,patrem1 et ante filium1 matrem4 ,christus ostendit ,patri latus et vulnera1 ,maria ,christo pectus1 et ubera4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #hae ,una puella sic ,deum in sui pectoris capit hospitio1 ut pacem terris1 salutem perditis1 vitam mortuis1 pro ipsa domo exigat pensionem4 ,serm4 #adj4 #haf ,spe quos justitia filii potest damnare1 mater misericordi liberat4 ,thesaurus ,domini est1 et thesauraria gratiarum4 ,salus nostra in manu illius est4 ,prolog4 in ,contempl4 ,virg4 #hag ,hc est nostra salus1 vita1 spes1 consilium1 refugium1 auxilium nostrum4 ,p4 #a1 ,ser4 #f1 de ,com4 ,mar4 #hah ,adeamus cum fiducia ad thronum grati1 ut misericordiam consequamur1 ut gratiam inveniamus in auxilio opportuno4 ,hebr4 iv4 #af4 #hai ,ad thronum grati1 scilicet ad ,mariam4 ,p4 #d1 t4 #ae1 c4 #ad1 s4 #g4 #hbj ,clemens indigentibus1 pia exorantibus1 dulcis diligentibus4 ,o clemens pnitentibus1 pia proficientibus1 dulcis contemplantibus4 ,o clemens liberando1 ,o pia largiendo1 ,o dulcis te donando4 ,sup4 ,salv4 ,reg4 #hba ,lib4 de ,nat4 ,mar4 #hbb ,or4 de ,prs4 ,deip4 #hbc ,hist4 tit4 #d1 c4 #f4 #hbd ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 p4 #ad4 #hbe ,dedit tibi1 ,maria1 tota ,trinitas nomen post nomen filii tui supra omne nomen2 ut in nomine tuo omne genuflectatur1 clestium1 terrestrium1 et infernorum4 ,de ,laud4 v4 l4 #a1 c4 #b4 #hbf ,hoc nomen ,mari plenum est omni dulcedine ac suavitate divina4 #hbg ,nomen ,jesu4444 ,nomen ,mari jubilus in corde1 mel in ore1 in aure melos4 #hbh ,qu est ista1 qu ascendit per desertum1 sicut virgula fumi8 ,c4 iii4 #f4 #hbi ,qu est ista1 qu progreditur1 quasi aurora consurgens8 ,c4 vi4 #i4 #hcj ,qu est ista1 qu ascendit de deserto deliciis affluens8 viii4 #e4 #hca ,forsitan1 quia dulce nomen sibi desiderant responderi4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #b4 #hcb ,neque enim post filii nomen aliud nomen clum et terra nominat1 unde tantum grati1 spei1 et suavitatis pi mentes concipiant4 ,de ,grat4 ,nov4 ,test4 tr4 #f4 #hcc ,nomen namque ,mari mirum quid1 suave1 atque divinum in se continet1 et cum convenit amicis cordibus1 amic suavitatis odorem spiret4 ,et mirum illud est de nomine ,mari1 ut millies auditum semper audiatur quasi novum4 ,de4 grat4 ,nov4 ,test4 tr4 #f4 #hcd ,o magna1 ,o pia1 ,o multum laudabilis ,maria1 tu nec nominari potes quin accendas2 nec cogitari1 quin recrees affectus diligentium te4 ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 ,spec4 c4 #h4 #hce ,mari nomen longe melius quam diviti1 quia melius angustiam relevat4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #b4 #hcf ,tuum1 ,dei genitrix1 nomen divinis benedictionibus et gratiis ex omni parte refertum4 ,orat4 in ,hyp4 #hcg ,nomen tuum devote nominari non potest sine nominantis utilitate4 ,spec4 ,b4 ,virg4 c4 #h4 #hch ,tanta est virtus tui sacratissimi nominis1 semper benigna ,virgo ,maria1 quod mirabiliter emollit duritia cordis humani4 ,peccator per te respirat in spe veni et grati4 ,idiot4 ap4 ,alph4 ,mar4 p4 #hbg4 #hci ,unguentum nomen tuum4 ,descendat istud unguentum in anim precordia1 ,s4 ,maria1 quo divin grati spiramenta redoleam4 ,de ,instit4 ,virg4 c4 #ac4 #hdj ,o ,maria1 tui recordatio nominis mstos ltificat1 errantes ad viam salutis revocat1 et peccatores ne desperent confortat4 ,in vita ,christ4 p4 #b1 c4 #hf4 #hda ,sic ,maria suo sanctissimo nomine1 quod quinque litteris constat1 confert quotidie veniam peccatoribus4 ,stellar4 a4 #b4 #hdb ,cant4 i4 #b4 #hdc ,gloria nominis ejus oleo effuso comparatur4 ,oleum grotantem sanat1 odorem parit1 flammam accendit4 ,in ,cant4 #a1 #b4 #hdd ,peccator es8 ad nomen ,mari confugias2 ipsum solum sufficit ad medendum4 ,nulla pestis1 qu ad nomen ,mari non cedat continuo4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 p4 #ad4 #hde ,expavescunt cli reginam spiritus maligni1 et diffugiunt1 audito nomine sancto ejus1 velut ab igne4 ,serm4 #d1 p4 #c1 ad ,novit4 #hdf ,nullus est in hac vita tam frigidus ab amore ,dei1 qui si invocaverit nomen meum1 cum proposito pnitendi1 statim diabolus ab ipso non discedat4 ,rev4 lib4 #a1 c4 #i4 #hdg ,omnes dmones verentur hoc nomen1 et timent1 qui audientes hoc nomen ,mari1 statim relinquunt animam de unguibus1 quibus tenebant eam4 ,rev4 l4 #b1 c4 #ai4 #hdh ,angeli boni1 audito nomine meo1 justis magis propinquant4 ,ap4 ,dion4 ,cart4 de ,laud4 ,v4 cap4 ult4 #hdi ,quomodo corpus enim vitalis signum operationis habet respirationem1 ita sanctissimum nomen tuum1 ,o ,virgo1 quod in ore servorum tuorum versatur assidue1 vit et auxilii non solum est signum1 sed etiam ea procurat et conciliat4 ,de ,zona ,virg4 #hej ,turris fortissima nomen ,domin1 ad ipsam fugiet peccator1 et liberabitur4 ,hc defendit quoslibet1 et quantumlibet peccatores4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #aa4 #hea ,non est in aliquo nomine tam potens adjutorium1 nec est aliud nomen datum hominibus post nomen ,jesu1 ex quo tanta salus refundatur hominibus1 sicut nomen ,mari4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #b4 #heb ,luc4 i4 #bg4 #hec ,hoc nomen semper cum castitate conjunctum esse debet4 ,loc4 cit4 #hed ,serm4 #adf4 #hee ,in periculis1 in augustiis1 in rebus dubiis ,mariam cogita1 ,mariam invoca4 ,non recedat ab ore1 non recedat a corde4 ,hom4 #b1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #hef ,quicumque invocaverit nomen tuum1 et in te sperabit cum proposito emendandi1 tria illi dabuntur1 contritio peccatorum1 eorum satisfactio1 et fortitudo ad proficiendum et insuper regnum clorum4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #aj4 #heg ,tanta enim est in me dulcedo verborum tuorum1 quod negare non valeo1 quod tu petis4 #heh ,nomen ,mari est reseratorium port cli4 ,in ,deprec ad ,virg4 #hei ,devota invocatio hujus nominis ducit ad virorem grati in prsenti1 et ad virorem glori in futuro4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #b1 c4 #b4 #hfj ,si consolari in omni tribulatione quritis1 accedite ad ,mariam1 ,mariam invocate1 ,mariam honorate1 ,mari vos commendate2 cum ,maria gaudete1 cum ,maria dolete1 cum ,maria orate1 cum ,maria ambulate1 cum ,maria ,jesum qurite2 cum ,maria et ,jesu vivere et mori desiderate4 ,fratres1 si ista exercetis1 proficietis4 ,maria pro vobis libenter orabit1 et ,jesus libenter matrem suam exaudiet4 ,serm4 par4 #c1 ,serm4 #b4 #hfa ,hc brevis oratio1 ,jesus et ,maria1 facilis est ad tenendum1 dulcis ad cogitandum1 fortis ad protegendum4 #hfb ,beatus vir qui diligit nomen tuum1 ,maria6 #hfc ,gloriosum et admirabile nomen tuum2 qui illud retinent1 non expavescunt in puncto mortis4 ,spec4 ,b4 ,virg4 #hfd ,inter ipsam dulcissimi nominis articulationem4 ,an4 #aaji4 #hfe ,dei matris nomen sit mihi ultimus lingu loquentis motus4 ,orat4 #f1 ad ,ann4 ,virg4 #hff ,propter honorem nominis tui in exitu anim me de hoc mundo1 occurre illi1 domina1 et suscipe eam4 ,in ,psalt4 ,deip4 #hfg ,consolare eam vultu sancto tuo4 ,esto illi scala et iter ad paradisum2 impetra ei indulgentiam pacis et sedem lucis4 #hfh ,sustine devotos1 suscipe causas reorum ante tribunal ,christi4 #hfi ,ego ex ore altissimi prodivi primogenita ante omnem creaturam4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #e4 #hgj ,dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum4 ,prov4 viii4 #bb4 #hga ,ep4 contr4 ,pa4 ,samos4 #hgb ,in vitam prodiisti1 ut orbis universi administram te prberes4 ,or4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #hgc ,sicut per illam homines evaserunt diluvium1 sic per istam peccati naufragium4 ,per illam paucorum facta est liberatio1 per istam humani generis salvatio4 ,serm4 de ,b4 ,virg4 #hgd ,or4 de ,s4 ,deip4 #hge ,salve qu sustulisti tristitiam ,ev4 #hgf ,ave1 ,dei hominumque sequestra constituta4 #hgg ,ave totius orbis conciliatrix4 #hgh ,inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem1 et semen tuum et semen illius2 ipsa conteret caput tuum4 ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 #hgi ,cum peccati originalis caput sit diabolus1 tale caput ,maria contrivit2 quia nulla peccati subjectio ingressum habuit in animam ,virginis1 et ideo ab omni macula immunis fuit4 ,in ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 #hhj ,congruum erat ut ,b4 ,virgo ,maria1 per quam aufertur nobis opprobrium1 vinceret diabolum1 ut nec ei succumberet ad modicum4 ,in #c1 dist4 #c1 art4 #b1 q4 #b4 #hha ,tu ante omnem creaturam in mente ,dei prordinata fuisti1 ut ,deum ipsum hominem procreares4 ,serm4 #ae1 cap4 #d4 #hhb ,sanctitas illis rebus attribuitur1 qu in ,deum sunt ordinat4 #a p4 q4 #cf1 art4 #a4 #hhc ,neque enim homini prparatur habitatio1 sed ,deo4 #a ,par4 xxix4 #a4 #hhd ,omnium artifex ,deus1 filio suo dignum habitaculum fabricaturus1 eam omnium gratificantium charismatum copia adornavit4 ,lib4 #b1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 art4 #b4 #hhe ,omnipotens sempiterne ,deus1 qui glorios ,virginis et matris ,mari corpus et animam ut dignum filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur1 ,spiritu ,sancto co-operante prparasti1 etc4 #hhf ,prov4 xvii4 #f4 #hhg ,providentia singulari perfecit ut sanctissima ,virgo ab ipso vit su principio tam omnino existeret pura quam decebat illam1 qu ,christo digna mater existeret4 ,in ,men4 die4 #be1 ,martii4 #hhh ,quod vel paucis mortalium constat esse collatum1 fas certe non est suspicari tant ,virgini esse negatum4 ,epist4 #agd4 #hhi ,nihil unquam alicui sanctorum concessum est1 quod a principio vit cumulatius non prfulgeat in ,maria4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #hij ,matris ,dei et servorum ,dei infinitum eat discrimen4 ,or4 #a1 de ,ass4 #hia ,majora in quovis genere privilegia grati deferenda sunt matri ,dei1 quam servis4 #c1 p4 q4 #bg1 art4 #b4 #hib ,impotensne fuit sapientia ,dei mundum habitaculum condere1 remota omni labe conditionis human8 ,serm4 de ,conc4 #hic ,angelos1 aliis peccantibus1 a peccato servavit2 et matrem ab aliorum peccatis exortem servare non potuit8 ,loc4 cit4 #hid ,decens erat ut ea puritate1 qua major sub ,deo nequit intelligi1 ,virgo illa niteret1 cui ,deus ,pater unicum sibi filium dare disponebat4 ,dict4 ,lib4 de ,conc4 #hie ,cum ,virginis una cum corpore animam conservasset1 ut eam decebat1 qu ,deum in sinu suo exceptura erat2 sanctus enim ipse cum sit1 in sanctis requiescit4 ,lib4 #d1 de ,fid4 ,ort4 cap4 #ae4 #hif ,sicut lilium inter spinas1 sic amica mea inter filias4 ,cant4 ii4 #b4 #hig ,nascens de homine factor hominum talem sibi debuit eligere matrem1 qualem se decere sciebat4 ,h4 #c1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #hih ,tertio fuit sanctificatio maternalis1 et hc removet omnem culpam originalem4 ,hc fuit in ,b4 ,virgine2 sane ,deus talem tam nobilitate natur1 quam perfectione grati condidit matrem1 qualem eum decebat habere suam matrem4 ,tom4 #b1 ,serm4 #ea1 c4 #a4 #hii ,talis enim decebat1 ut nobis esset pontifex sanctus1 innocens1 impollutus segregatus a peccatoribus1 etc4 ,heb4 vii4 #bf4 #ijj ,oportuit eum qui peccata venerat tollere1 esse a peccatoribus segregatum quantum ad culpam cui ,adam subjacuit4 #c p4 q4 #d1 art4 #f1 ad4 #a4 #ija ,non de terra1 sed de clo vas sibi hoc per quod descenderet1 ,christus elegit1 et sacravit templum pudoris4 ,de ,inst4 ,virg4 c4 #e4 #ijb ,primus homo de terra terrenus2 secundus homo de clo clestis4 #a ,c4 xv4 #dg4 #ijc ,non decuit regem glori jacere nisi in vase purissimo et electissimo pr omnibus angelis et hominibus4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #ag4 #ijd ,maria fuit vas mundum et non mundum2 mundum quia totum pulchra2 sed non mundum1 quia de peccatoribus nata est licet sine peccato concepta1 ut filius meus de ea sine peccato nasceretur4 ,l4 #e1 c4 #ac4 #ije ,gloria enim hominis ex honore patris sui1 et dedecus filii pater sine honore4 ,eccli4 iii4 #ac4 #ijf ,putredo namque human est opprobrium conditionis1 a quo cum ,jesus sit alienus1 natura ,mari excipitur2 caro enim ,jesu caro ,mari est4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #ijg ,caro ,christi caro est ,mari1 et quamvis gloria resurrectionis fuerit glorificata1 eadem tamen mansit qu de ,maria sumpta est4 ,loc4 cit4 #ijh ,una est ,mari et ,christi caro2 atque adeo filii gloriam cum matre non tam communem judico1 quam eamdem4 ,de ,l4 ,v4 #iji ,tu sola inventa est digna1 ut in tua virginali aula ,rex ,regum primam sibi mansionem eligeret4 ,in ,depr4 ad ,virg4 #iaj ,antequam conciperet1 jam idonea erat ut esset mater ,dei4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #iaa ,b4 ,virgo cujus viscera meruerunt portare ,christum ,dominum4 ,resp4 #a1 ,noct4 #b1 in ,nat4 ,mar4 #iab ,b4 ,virgo dicitur meruisse portare dominum omnium1 non quia meruit ipsum incarnari1 sed quia meruit ex gratia sibi data illum puritatis et sanctitatis gradum ut congrue posset esse mater ,dei4 #c p4 q4 #b1 a #aa1 ad #c4 #iac ,singularis ejus sanctitas ex gratia hoc promeruit1 quod susceptione ,dei singulariter judicata est digna4 ,de ,ass4 ,serm4 #b4 #iad ,qu autem excellentia1 qu perfectio decuit eam ut esset mater ,dei4 ,serm4 #c1 ,nat4 ,virg4 #iae ,beata autem ,virgo fuit electa divinitus1 ut esset mater ,dei2 et ideo non est dubitandum1 quin ,deus1 per suam gratiam1 eam ad hoc idoneam reddidit1 secundum quod ,angelus ad eam dicit4 ,luc4 #a1 ,invenisti gratiam apud ,deum2 ecce concipies1 etc41 #c1 p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #d1 in corp4 #iaf ,non fuisset idonea mater ,dei1 si peccasset aliquando1 quia ignominia matris ad filium redundasset4 ,serm4 #c1 ,nat4 ,virg4 #iag ,excepta itaque ,s4 ,virgine ,maria1 de qua propter honorem ,domini nullam prorsus1 cum de peccatis agitur1 habere volo qustionem4 ,inde enim scimus quod ei plus grati collatum fuerit ad vincendum ex omni parte peccatum1 qu concipere et parere meruit eum quem constat nullum habuisse peccatum4 ,de ,nat4 et grat4 contr4 ,pel4 t4 #g1 c4 #cf4 #iah ,christus talem matrem sibi elegit1 qualem meruit habere1 de qua non erubesceret4 #iai ,intra viscera1 qu citra ullam sui dedecoris notam creaverat1 habitavit4 ,or4 de ,nat4 ,dom4 #ibj ,nonne mater ejus dicitur ,maria8 ,matth4 xiii4 #ee4 #iba ,nonne mater ejus extitit peccatrix8 #ibb ,sapientia dificavit sibi domum4 ,prov4 ix4 #a4 #ibc ,sanctificavit tabernaculum suum altissimus4444 ,adjuvabit eam ,deus mane diluculo4 ,psal4 xlv4 #ef4 #ibd ,psal4 xcii4 #e4 #ibe ,in malevolam animam non introibit sapientia1 nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis4 ,sap4 i4 #d4 #ibf ,dei filius in ipsa habitabit1 non solum in anima1 sed etiam in utero4 #c1 p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #d4 #ibg ,nullam digniorem domum sibi filius ,dei dificavit1 quam ,mariam1 qu nunquam fuit ab hostibus capta1 neque suis ornamentis spoliata4 #ibh ,quis unquam audivit architectum1 qui sibi domum dificavit1 ejus occupationem et possessionem primo suo inimico cessisse4 ,in ,conc4 ,eph4 n4 #f4 #ibi ,qui dixit1 honora patrem et matrem ut decretum a se promulgatum servaret1 omnem ,matri gratiam et honorem impendit4 ,or4 in ,hypap4 #icj ,sicut honorem matris prcipit ita inhonorationem damnat4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,virg4 #ica ,cum tu ,summus ,princeps velis habere matrem1 illi certe debebis honorem2 nimis autem appareret illam legem non bene adimpleri1 si in abominationem peccati originalis permitteres illam qu esse debet habitaculum totius puritatis4 ,serm4 de ,conc4 ,b4 ,m4 #icb ,christus plus pro redimenda ,virgine venit quam pro omni alia creatura4 #icc ,duplex est redimendi modus1 unus redimendo lapsum1 alter redimendo non lapsum1 ne cadat4 #icd ,nobilius redimitur cui providetur1 ne cadat1 quam ut lapsus erigatur4 #ice ,scot4 ,acad4 tom4 #h1 art4 #c1 sect4 #c1 q4 l4 s4 #e4 #icf ,credendum est enim quod novo sanctificationis genere in ejus conceptionis primordio ,spiritus ,sanctus eam a peccato originali 7non quod infuit1 sed quod infuisset7 redemit atque singulari gratia preservavit4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #icg ,alii liberatorem1 ,virgo sancta prliberatorem habuit4 #ich ,talis agnus1 qualis ,mater agni2 quoniam omnis arbor ex fructu suo cognoscitur4 ,coll4 #c1 de ,verb4 ,inc4 #ici ,o digna digni1 formosa pulchri1 excelsa altissimi1 mater ,dei4 ,ug4 de ,s4 ,vict4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #idj ,lacta1 ,o ,maria1 ,creatorem tuum1 lacta eum qui te fecit1 et qui talem fecit te1 ut ipse fieret ex te4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #ida ,hc est qu sola meruit mater1 et sponsa vocari4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #idb ,ipse spiritus ,dei1 ipse amor ,patris et ,filii corporaliter venit in eam singularique gratia pr omnibus in ipsa requievit1 et reginam cli et terr fecit sponsam suam4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #d4 #idc ,spiritus ,sanctus superveniet in te4 ,luc4 i4 #ce4 #idd ,unde dicitur templum ,domini1 sacrarium ,spiritus ,sancti1 quia concepit ex ,spiritu ,sancto4 ,opusc4 #h4 #ide ,tota pulchra es1 amica mea1 et macula non est in te4 ,cant4 iv4 #g4 #idf ,tom4 #b1 ,serm4 #eb4 #idg ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #idh ,tota pulchra es1 ,virgo gloriosissima1 non in parte1 sed in toto2 et macula peccati sive mortalis1 sive venialis1 sive originalis non est in te4 ,in ,contemp4 ,b4 ,v4 c4 #c4 #idi ,hortus conclusus1 soror mea sponsa1 hortus conclusus1 fons signatus4 ,cant4 iv4 #ab4 #iej ,hc est hortus conclusus1 fons signatus ad quam nulli potuerunt doli irrumpere1 nec prevalere fraus inimici2 sed permansit sancta mente1 et corpore4 ,ep4 #aj1 ad ,eust4 de ,ass4 #iea ,hortus conclusus tu es1 ad quem deflorandum manus peccatorum nunquam introivit4 #ieb ,fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis2 diligit ,dominus portas ,sion super omnia tabernacula ,jacob4444 ,homo natus est in ea et ipse fundavit eam ,altissimus4 ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #a1 #b1 #e4 #iec ,mut fili congregaverunt divitias1 tu supergressa es universas4 ,prov4 xxxi4 #bi4 #ied ,adolescentularum non est numerus4 ,una est columba mea1 perfecta mea1 una est matris su4 ,cant4 vi4 #h4 #iee ,bene gratia plena dicitur1 quia cteris per partes prstatur1 ,mari vero simul se tota infundit plenitudo grati4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #ief ,anima ,b4 ,virginis ita fuit plena quod ex ea refundit gratia in carnem1 ut de ipsa conciperet ,deum4 ,opusc4 #h4 #ieg ,simul in ea collecta est grati plenitudo1 quia ab exordio su conceptionis aspersione ,spiritus ,sancti tota deitatis gratia est superfusa4 ,lib4 de ,panib4 cap4 #aj4 #ieh ,a ,deo electam et prelectam totam eam rapturus erat sibi ,spiritus ,sanctus4 ,serm4 de ,ann4 #iei ,de ,arcan4 l4 #g1 c4 #ah4 #ifj ,l4 #h1 ,exerc4 #h4 #ifa ,lib4 #b1 ,cant4 ex to4 #ifb ,de ,v4 ,conc4 c4 #g1 s4 #g4 #ifc ,de pecc4 orig4 c4 ult4 #ifd ,umbra4 ,virg4 c4 #aj1 exc4 #bh4 #ife ,p4 #h1 d4 #b1 q4 #b1 a4 #c4 #iff ,man4 to4 #c1 tr4 #e1 c4 #f1 s4 #b4 #ifg ,to4 #c1 de pecc4 c4 #g4 #ifh ,omnes in quo 7,ada7 peccaverunt4 ,rom4 v4 #ifi ,in ,exam4 ,theol4 #igj #a1 #b1 q4 #b1 de pecc4 #iga ,piet4 ,lugd4 n4 #bi4 #igb ,disc4 ,th4 de ,imm4 ,conc4 #igc ,qu4 ,prod4 ad ,trut4 #igd ,c4 xii4 #di1 #ee4 #ige ,suscipe me non ex ,sara1 sed ex ,maria1 ut incorrupta sit virgo1 sed virgo per gratiam ab omni integra labe peccati4 ,serm4 #bb1 in ,psal4 cxviii4 #igf ,nec serpentis venenosi afflatibus infecta est4 ,hom4 #a4 #igg ,immaculata1 et ab omni peccati labe alienissima4 ,tom4 #e1 or4 ad ,dei ,gen4 #igh ,ave1 gratia plena2 quibus ostendit ex integro 7nota ex integro7 iram prim sententi exclusam1 et plenam benedictionis gratiam restitutam4 ,serm4 #aa1 in ,nat4 ,dom4 #igi ,nubes illa non fuit in tenebris1 semper in luce4 ,in ,psal4 #gg4 #ihj ,nec sustinebat justitia1 ut illud vas electionis communibus laxaretur injuriis1 quoniam plurimum a cteris distans natura communicabat non culpa4 ,lib4 de ,carn4 ,christi oper4 de ,nativ4 #iha ,qui antiquam virginem sine probro condidit1 ipse et secundam sine nota et crimine fabricatus est4 ,or4 de ,deip4 #ihb ,virginem ideo dici immaculatam1 quia in nullo corrupta est4 ,in ,ep4 ,ap4 ,syn4 to4 #c1 p4 #cjg4 #ihc ,constat eam aboriginali peccato fuisse immunem4 ,cont4 ,disp4 ,de ,virgin4 ,mar4 #ihd ,ad hunc paradisum serpens aditum non habuit4 ,or4 #b1 de ,nat4 ,mar4 #ihe ,caro ,virginis ex ,adam sumpta1 maculas ,adam non admisit4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,v4 #ihf ,hc est incorrupta terra illa1 cui benedixit ,dominus1 ab omni propterea peccati contagione libera4 ,in ,psal4 ci4 #ihg ,domina nostra fuit plena gratia prveniente in sua sanctificatione1 gratia scilicet prservativa contra fditatem originalis culp4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #ihh ,non enim credendum est1 quod ipse filius ,dei voluerit nasci ex ,virgine1 et sumere ejus carnem1 qu esset maculata aliquo originali peccato4 ,tom4 #c1 ,serm4 #di4 #ihi ,ab ipsa conceptione fuit in benedictionibus prventa4 ,serm4 de ,annunt4 #iij ,gratiam singularem1 ,o dulcissima ,virgo1 invenisti1 quia fuerunt in te ab originali labe prservatio1 etc4 ,c4 #f4 #iia ,de ,prf4 ,virg4 q4 #f1 a4 #d4 #iib ,aucta rursus1 et propagata fuit pietas hc et cultus erga ,deiparam 444 ita ut1 accedentibus academiis ad hanc sententiam1 jam fere omnes ,catholici eam complectantur4 #iic ,tom4 #e1 p4 #b1 l4 #ad1 c4 #b1 n4 #aj4 #iid ,in4 adn4 ad4 ,est4 l4 #b1 ,dist4 #c1 s4 #b4 #iie ,ep4 ,decr4 #d1 c4 #b4 #iif ,in ,sede ,apostolica extra maculam semper est catholica servata religio4 ,decr4 #bd1 #i1 #a1 c4 ,in sede4 #iig ,serm4 #ie1 et #aac4 #iih ,ep4 ad4 ,can4 ,lugd4 #iii ,ecclesia celebret nativitatem ,b4 ,virginis2 non autem celebratur festum in ,ecclesia nisi pro aliquo sancto2 ,ergo ,b4 ,virgo fuit in utero sanctificata4 #b1 p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #b4 #ajjj ,psal4 lxxi4 #f4 #ajja ,virgo sancta totam sibi hauserat ,spiritus ,sancti gratiam4 ,in ,cat4 ,d4 ,ph4 in #a4 ,luc4 #ajjb ,c4 xxiv4 #af4 #ajjc ,totum teneo in plenitudine quod alii sancti tenent in partes4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,b4 ,v4 #ajjd ,virgo sanctificata fuit in utero super omnes sanctos et angelos4 #ajje ,tom4 #c1 ,lez4 #acf4 #ajjf ,ap4 ,p4 ,pepe4 ,loc4 cit4 #ajjg ,serm4 #bi4 #ajjh ,unicuique a ,deo datur gratia1 secundum hoc ad quod eligitur4 #c1 p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #e1 ad #a4 #ajji ,qui et idoneos nos fecit ministros ,novi ,testamenti4 #b ,cor4 iii4 #f4 #ajaj ,regula firma est in sacra theologia1 quod quandocumque ,deus aliquem eligit ad aliquem statum1 omnia bona illi dispenset1 qu illi statui necessaria sunt et illum copiose decorant4 ,serm4 #aj1 a4 #b1 c4 #a4 #ajaa ,virgo fuit electa1 ut esset mater ,dei1 et ideo non est dubitandum quia ,deus per suam gratiam eam ad hoc idoneam reddidit4 ,loc4 cit4 art4 #d4 #ajab ,in ,b4 ,virgine fuit perfectio quasi dispositiva1 per quam reddebatur idonea ad hoc quod esset mater ,christi2 et hc fuit perfectio sanctificationis4 ,cit4 q4 #bg1 a4 #e1 ad #b4 #ajac #c1 p4 q4 #g1 a4 #aj1 ad #a4 #ajad ,virtus divina1 licet possit facere aliquid majus et melius1 quam sit habitualis gratia ,christi2 non tamen posset facere quod ordinaretur ad aliquid majus quam sit unio personalis ad filium unigenitum a ,patre1 cui unioni sufficienter correspondet talis mensura grati1 secundum definitionem divin sapienti4 ,d4 q4 #g1 a4 #ab1 ad #b4 #ajae ,potentiam naturalem ad recipiendum posse totam impleri1 non autem potentiam obedienti4 ,s4 ,th4 q4 #bi1 de ,verit4 a4 #c1 ad #c4 #ajaf ,beata ,virgo est plena gratia1 non ex parte ipsius grati2 quia non habuit gratiam in summa excellentia qua potest haberi1 nec ad omnes effectus grati2 sed dicitur fuisse plena gratia per comparationem ad ipsam2 quia scilicet habebat gratiam sufficientem ad statum illum1 ad quem erat a ,deo electa1 ut esset mater unigeniti ejus4 ,d4 q4 #g1 a4 #aj1 ad #a4 #ajag ,et igitur dignitas matris ,dei regula1 per quam metiendum1 quicquid ,virgini ab eo collatum credimus4 #ajah ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #a4 #ajai ,diligit ,dominus portas ,sion super omnia tabernacula ,jacob4 lxxxvi4 #b4 #ajbj ,et erit in novissimis diebus prparatus mons domus ,domini in vertice montium1 et elevabitur super colles1 et fluent ad eum omnes gentes4 ,isa4 ii4 #b4 #ajba ,mons quippe in vertice montium1 quia altitudo ,mari super omnes sanctos refulsit4 ,l4 #a1 in #a1 ,reg4 c4 v4 #ajbb ,mons in quo beneplacitum est ,deo habitare in eo4 #ajbc ,siderum rapit positionem1 ut sint quasi non sint2 sic ,virgo merita singulorum et omnium antecedit4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #ajbd ,neque enim decebat ,deum alia mater quam ,virgo neque ,virginem alius filius quam ,deus4 #ajbe ,ipsa in nostra salute communem cum ,christo effectum obtinuit4 #ajbf ,omnium salutem desideravit1 qusivit1 obtinuit2 imo omnium salus per ipsam effecta4 ,c4 #bf1 in ,cant4 #ajbg ,c4 xxiv4 #be4 #ajbh ,ibid4 #ajbi ,ego mater pulchr dilectionis1 et timoris1 et agnitionis1 et sanct spei4 #ajcj ,magnifica grati inventricem1 mediatricem salutis1 restauratricem sculorum4 ,hc mihi de illa cantat ,ecclesia1 et me eadem docuit decantare4 ,epist4 #agd1 ad ,canonic4 ,lugd4 #ajca ,bene plena1 quia cteris sanctis datur gratia per partes2 ,mari vero tota se infudit plenitudo grati4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #ajcb ,ave gratia plena1 propterea ,deum inter et homines mediatrix intercedens4 #ajcc ,quomodo non est ,maria plena gratia1 qu effecta est paradisi scala1 interventrix mundi1 ,dei atque hominum verissima mediatrix4 ,serm4 de ann4 ,b4 ,v4 #ajcd ,pura sanctitas pectoris ejus1 omnis creatur puritatem1 sanctitatemque transcendens1 promeruit ut reparatrix perditi orbis dignissima fieret4 ,de ,excell4 ,virg4 c4 #i4 #ajce ,utraque creatura per hanc reparatur1 et angelorum ruina per hanc restaurata est1 et natura humana reconciliata4 ,in ,cant4 #d4 #ajcf ,cuncta per hanc ,virginem in statum pristinum revocata sunt et restaurata4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #aa4 #ajcg ,father ,la ,colombiere4 ,serm4 #ca4 #ajch ,eccli4 xxiv4 #ai4 #ajci ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bc4 #ajdj ,serm4 #a1 in ,ann4 #ajda ,qu est ista1 qu ascendit de deserto deliciis affluens1 innixa super dilectum suum8 ,cant4 viii4 #e4 #ajdb ,hoc est qu ascendit1 ita ut inhret ,dei ,verbo1 sicut vitis propago8 ,ap4 ,seg4 ,pred4 #dj1 dell' ,ann4 #ajdc ,fuit etiam gratia plena quantum ad refusionem ad omnes homines4 #ajdd ,sed quando quis haberet tantum1 quod sufficeret ad salutem omnium1 hoc esset maximum2 et hoc fuit in ,christo et beata ,virgine4 ,opusc4 #h4 #ajde ,et de plenitudine ejus nos omnes accepimus4 ,c4 i4 #af4 #ajdf ,gratia plena1 de cujus plenitudine accipiunt universi4 #ajdg ,ita ut nullus sit1 qui de plenitudine grati ,virginis non sit particeps4 #ajdh ,quis unquam reperitur cui ,virgo propitia non sit8 ,quis ad quem ejus misericordia non se extendat8 #ajdi ,plenus aquductus1 ut accipiant cteri de plenitudine1 sed non plenitudinem ipsam4 #ajej ,intueamini quanto devotionis affectu a nobis eam voluerit honorari1 qui totius boni plenitudinem posuit in ,maria2 ut proinde si quid spei nobis est1 si quid grati1 si quid salutis1 ab ea noverimus redundare4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #ajea ,incidi prcepit aquductus illorum4 ,judith vii4 #f4 #ajeb ,udo cessa de ludo2 lusisti satis2 ,udo4 #ajec ,cant4 ii4 #aj4 #ajed ,audi1 filia1 et vide1 et inclina aurem tuam2 et obliviscere populum tuum1 et domum patris tui4 ,psal4 xliv4 #aa4 #ajee #c p4 q4 #ai1 a4 #c4 #ajef ,sanctificari per propium actum est perfectior modus4 ,ergo credendum est hoc modo fuisse sanctificatam ,virginem4 ,to4 #b1 in #c p4 ,d4 #d1 #e1 #h4 #ajeg #a p4 q4 #fc1 a4 #e1 et q4 #ie1 a4 #b4 #ajeh ,ex ea accepit humanam ,naturam1 et ideo pr cteris majorem debuit a ,christo grati plenitudinem obtinere4 #c p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #e4 #ajei ,unde fit ut singulare jus habeat ad dona filii sui4 ,t4 #b1 in #c1 p4 ,d4 #a1 #e1 #b4 #ajfj ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #ad4 #ajfa ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #ad4 #ajfb ,de ,form4 et ,mor4 ,b4 ,m4 #ajfc ,de ,vir4 l4 #a4 #ajfd ,pro eo quod in contemptum locus esset venturus4444 ,virgines qu conclus erant1 procurrebant ad ,oniam4 #ajfe ,tertio anno oblata est in templo4 ,serm4 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #ajff ,anna haud cunctata est eam at templum adducere1 ac ,deo offerre4 ,or4 de ,nat4 ,chr4 #ajfg ,de ,oblat4 ,deip4 #ajfh ,cant4 vii4 #a4 #ajfi ,magnam quoque festivitatem fecit ,deus cum angelis in deductione su spons ad templum4 ,marial4 p4 #d1 ,serm4 #a4 #ajgj ,quia nullus unquam ,deo gratior1 usque ad illud tempus ascendit4 ,loc4 cit4 #ajga ,abi ergo1 oh ,domina ,mater ,dei1 in atria ,domini1 exultans et expectans ,sancti ,spiritus adventum et unigeniti ,filii conceptionem4 ,de ,oblat4 ,virg4 #ajgb ,gen4 viii4 #i4 #ajgc ,congratulamini mihi omnes qui diligitis ,dominum1 quia1 cum essem parvula1 placui altissimo4 ,in #b1 ,resp4 #a1 ,noct4 in ,fest4 ,s4 ,m4 ad ,niv4 #ajgd ,diliges ,dominum ,deum tuum ex toto corde tuo4 #ajge ,lib4 #a1 de ,inst4 ,virg4 #ajgf ,maria seipsam perpetuis ,dei obsequiis obtulit et dedicavit4 ,mar4 p4 #d1 ,serm4 #a4 #ajgg ,cant4 ii4 #af4 #ajgh ,ad templum adducitur1 ac deinde in domo ,dei plantata1 atque per spiritum saginata1 instar oliv frugifer virtutum omnium domicilium efficitur4 ,l4 #d1 de ,fid4 c4 #ae4 #ajgi ,or4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #ajhj ,de ,fid4 ,ort4 l4 #d1 c4 #ae4 #ajha ,de ,form4 et ,mor4 ,b4 ,m4 #ajhb ,s4 ,gir4 appres4 l'ist4 della vita di ,maria del ,p4 ,gius4 di ,gesu e ,maria4 ,carm4 ,scalzo4 l4 #b1 c4 #a4 #ajhc ,vita ,christi4 c4 #c4 #ajhd ,cum pater meus et mater mea dimiserunt me in templo1 statui in corde meo habere ,deum in patrem1 et spe cogitabam quid possem facere illi gratum4 #ajhe ,statui servare virginitatem2 nihil unquam possidere in mundo2 et omnem voluntatem meam ,deo commisi4 #ajhf ,diliges ,dominum ,deum tuum4 #ajhg ,l4 #b1 et4 l4 #c1 c4 #h4 #ajhh ,vox turturis audita est in terra nostra4 ,cant4 ii4 #ab4 #ajhi ,emitte agnum1 ,domine1 dominatorem terr4 ,isa4 xvi4 #a4 #ajij ,rorate cli desuper1 et nubes pluant justum4 ,id4 xlv4 #h4 #ajia ,utinam dirumperes clos1 et descenderes4 ,id4 lxiv4 #a4 #ajib ,qu est ista qu ascendit per desertum sicut virgula fumi ex aromatibus myrrh1 et thuris et universi pulveris pigmentarii4 ,cant4 iii4 #f4 #ajic ,vere virgo erat hortus deliciarum in quo consita sunt universa florum genera1 et odoramenta virtutum4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #ajid ,ap4 ,canis4 l4 #a1 de ,b4 ,v4 c4 #ac4 #ajie ,nec in terris locus dignior utero virginali4 #ajif ,ultima gratia perfectionis est prparatio ad ,filium ,dei concipiendum4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #f4 #ajig ,v tempori illi1 in quo non amavi te4 #ajih ,qui autem se exaltaverit1 humiliabitur2 et qui se humiliaverit1 exaltabitur4 ,matt4 xxiii4 #ab4 #ajii ,adolescentularum non est numerus4 ,una est columba mea1 perfecta mea4 ,cant4 vi4 #g1 #h4 #aajj ,dum esset ,rex in accubitu suo1 nardus mea dedit odorem suum4 ,cant4 i4 #aa4 #aaja ,nardus est herba parva1 et significat ,b4 ,virginem1 qu dedit humilitatis odorem2 qui odor usque ad clum ascendit1 et in clo accumbentem fecit quasi evigilare1 et in utero suo quiescere4 ,p4 #d1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #ba1 s4 #b4 #aajb ,noluit carnem sumere ex ipsa1 non dante ipsa4 ,in ,cant4 #c4 #aajc ,ave gratia plena2 ,dominus tecum2 benedicta tu in mulieribus4 ,luc4 i4 #bh4 #aajd ,qu cum audisset1 turbata est in sermone ejus1 et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio4 #aaje ,si dixisset1 oh ,maria1 tu es major ribalda qu est in mundo1 non ita admirata fuisset2 unde turbata fuit de tantis laudibus4 ,serm4 #ce1 de ,am4 ,inc4 p4 #c4 #aajf ,nolui laudem meam1 sed solius ,datoris et ,creatoris4 ,l4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #bc4 #aajg ,sicut ,christus per angelum voluit confortari1 ita per angelum debuit ,virgo animari4 #aajh ,ne timeas1 ,maria1 invenisti gratiam apud ,deum4 ,luc4 i4 #cj4 #aaji ,ecce concipies1 et paries filium1 et vocabis nomen ejus ,jesum4 ,luc4 i4 #ca4 #aaaj ,expectat angelus responsum1 expectamus et nos1 oh ,domina1 verbum miserationis1 quos miserabiliter premit sententia damnationis4 ,hom4 #d1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #aaaa ,ecce offertur tibi pretium salutis nostr2 statim liberabimur1 si consentis4 ,loc4 cit4 #aaab ,ipse quoque ,dominus1 quantum concupivit decorem tuum1 tantum desiderat et responsionis assensum1 in qua nimirum proposuit salvare mundum4 ,hom4 #d1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #aaac ,responde jam ,virgo sacra1 vitam quid tricas mundo8 ,serm4 #ba1 de ,temp4 #aaad ,ecce ancilla ,domini1 fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum4 ,luc4 i4 #ch4 #aaae ,o ,fiat potens6 ,o ,fiat efficax6 ,o ,fiat super omni fiat venerandum6 ,conc4 #c1 de ,ann4 #aaaf ,o humilitas1 angusta sibi1 ampla ,divinitati6 ,insufficiens sibi1 sufficiens ei quem non capit orbis6 #aaag ,quanta humilitatis virtus1 cum tanta puritate1 cum innocentia tanta1 imo cum tanta gratia plenitudine8 #aaah ,unde tibi humilitas1 et tanta humilitas ,o ,beata8 #aaai ,super astra ,dei exaltabo solium meum1 et similis ero altissimo4 ,isa4 xiv4 #ac4 #aabj ,digna plane quam respiceret ,dominus1 cujus decorem concupisceret ,rex1 cujus odore suavissimo ab terno illo ,paterni sinus attraheretur accubitu4 #aaba ,beata ,virgo plus meruit1 dicendo humiliter3 ,ecce ancilla ,domini1 quam simul mereri possent omnes pur creatur4 ,mar4 #ab1 p4 #e1 p4 #b4 #aabb ,hom4 #a1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #aabc ,maluit ,deus de ,virgine incarnari propter humilitatem1 quam propter aliam quamcumque virtutem4 #aabd ,unde promerui tantam gratiam1 nisi quia cogitavi et scivi nihil a me esse vel habere8 ,l4 #b1 ,rev4 c4 #ce4 #aabe ,quia respexit humilitatem ancill su 444 fecit mihi magna qui potens est4 ,luc4 i4 #dh1 #di4 #aabf ,non ait1 respexit virginitatem1 innocentiam2 seu humilitatem tantum4 #aabg ,facta est ,mari humilitas scala clestis1 per quam ,deus descendit ad terras4 ,sup4 ,magn4 #aabh ,ultima gratia perfectionis est prparatio ad ,filium ,dei concipiendum2 qu prparatio fuit per profundam humilitatem4 p4 #e1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #f1 et #h4 #aabi ,egredietur virga de radice ,jesse1 et flos de radice ejus ascendet4 ,isa4 xi4 #a4 #aacj ,de radice ejus1 humilitas cordis intelligitur4 #aaca ,nota1 quod non ex summitate1 sed de radice ascendet flos4 #aacb ,averte oculos tuos1 quia ipsi me avolare fecerunt4 ,cant4 vi4 #d4 #aacc ,unde avolare1 nisi a sinu ,patris in uterum matris8 #aacd ,ita illius oculi humillimi ,deum tenuerunt1 ut suavissima quadam violentia ipsummet ,dei ,patris ,verbum in uterum suum ,virgo attraxerit4 ,in c4 #ad1 ,gen4 sect4 #a4 #aace ,quam pulchra es1 amica mea1 quam pulchra es6 oculi tui columbarum4 ,cant4 iv4 #a4 #aacf ,ubinam terrarum tam speciosa virgo inveniri posset1 qu ,regem clorum oculis caperet1 et vinculis charitatis pia violentia captivum traheret4 ,de ,grat4 ,nov4 ,test4 tr4 #f4 #aacg ,tract4 de ,l4 ,v4 #aach ,or4 de ,laud4 ,deip4 #aaci ,or4 de ,dorm4 ,deip4 #aadj ,nihil tibi1 ,domina1 est qualis2 omne enim quod est1 aut supra te est1 aut infra2 quod supra1 solus ,deus2 quod infra1 est omne quod ,deus non est4 ,ap4 ,pelb4 ,stellar4 #a1 p4 #c1 a4 #b4 #aada ,tanta est perfectio ,virginia ut soli ,deo cognoscenda reservetur4 ,to4 #b1 ,serm4 #ea1 a4 c4 #c1 #b4 #aadb ,satis fuit de ea dicere2 de qua natus est ,jesus4 #aadc ,quid ultra requiris8 ,sufficit tibi quod mater ,dei est4 ,ubi ergo totum erat1 pars scribenda non fuit4 ,conc4 #b1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aadd ,hoc solum de ,s4 ,virgine predicari1 quod ,dei mater sit1 excedit omnem altitudinem1 qu post ,deum dici vel cogitari potest4 ,de4 ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #d4 #aade ,si cli ,reginam1 si angelorum ,dominam1 vel quodlibet aliud protuleris1 non assurges ad hunc honorem1 quo prdicatur ,dei genitrix4 ,l4 de ,pan4 c4 #ca4 #aadf ,quanto aliquid magis appropinquat principio in quolibet genere tanto magis participat effectum illius principii4 ,beata autem virgo ,maria propinquissima ,christo fuit secundum humanitatem2 quia ex ea accepit humanam naturam2 et ideo pr cteris majorem debuit a ,christo grati plenitudinem obtinere4 #c p4 q4 #bg1 a4 #e4 #aadg ,dignitas matris est alterioris ordinis1 pertinet enim quodammodo ad ordinem unionis hypostatic2 illum enim intrinsece respicit1 et cum illa necessariam conjunctionem habet4 ,to4 #b1 in4 #c1 p4 d4 #b1 s4 #b4 #aadh ,post hypostaticam conjunctionem non est alia tam vicina1 ut unio matris ,dei cum filio suo4 ,l4 #b1 de ,laud4 ,v4 #aadi ,est suprema qudam conjunctio cum persona infinita4 #a1 p4 q4 #be1 a4 #f4 #aaej ,immediate post esse ,deum1 est esse matrem ,dei4 ,super ,miss4 c4 #ahj4 #aaea ,magis ,deo conjungi1 nisi fieret ,deus1 non potuit4 #aaeb ,quod fmina conciperet et pareret ,deum oportuit eam elevari ad quamdam qualitatem divinam1 per quamdam infinitatem gratiarum4 ,to4 #a1 ,serm4 #fa1 c4 #af4 #aaec ,quarto modo inest ,deus creatur1 scilicet ,mari ,virgini1 per identitatem1 quia idem est quam illa4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aaed ,hic taceat et contremiscat omnis creatura1 et vix audeat aspicere tant dignitatis immensitatem4 ,habitat ,deus in ,virgine1 cum qua unius natur habet identitatem4 ,loc4 cit4 #aaee ,dignitas matris ,dei suo genere est infinita4 ,to4 #b1 in #c1 p4 d4 #ah1 l4 #d4 #aaef ,cum enim gratia habitualis sit donum creatum1 confiteri oportet quod habeat essentiam finitam4 ,est cujuslibet creatur determinata capacitatis mensura1 qu tamen divin potestati non prjudicat1 quin possit aliam creaturam majoris capacitatis facere4 ,opusc4 #b1 ,comp4 ,theol4 c4 #bae4 #aaeg ,virtus divina1 licet possit facere aliquid majus et melius quam sit habitualis gratia ,christi1 non tamen posset facere quod ordinaretur ad aliquid majus quam sit unio personalis ad filium unigenitum a patre4 #c p4 q4 #g1 a4 #ab1 ad #b4 #aaeh ,b4 ,virgo ex hoc quod est mater ,dei1 habet quamdam dignitatem infinitam1 ex bono infinito quod est ,deus4 ,et ex hac parte non potest fieri melius4 #a1 p4 q4 #be1 a4 #f1 ad #d4 #aaei ,utique habet quandam infinitatem esse matrem infiniti4 ,conc4 #c1 de ,nat4 ,mar4 #aafj ,status maternitatis ,dei erat summus status1 qui pur creatur dari posset4 ,to4 #c1 ,serm4 #f1 a4 #c1 c4 #a4 #aafa ,dominus ,b4 ,virgini summum donavit1 cujus capax fuit pura creatura1 scilicet ,dei maternitatem4 ,l4 #a1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #agh4 #aafb ,esse matrem ,dei est gratia maxima pur creatur conferibilis4 ,ipsa est quam majorem facere non potest ,deus1 majus clum1 majorem quam matrem ,dei facero non potest4 ,spec4 ,b4 ,v4 ,lect4 #aj4 #aafc ,luc4 i4 #di4 #aafd ,non explicat qunam hc magna fuerint1 quia inexplicabilia4 ,conc4 #c1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aafe ,propter hanc totus mundus factus est4 ,serm4 #g1 in ,salv4 ,reg4 #aaff ,dispositione tua1 ,virgo sanctissima1 perseverat mundus1 quem et tu cum ,deo ab initio fundasti4 ,ap4 ,p4 ,pep4 ,lect4 #cga4 #aafg ,prov4 viii4 #cj4 #aafh ,propter singularissimam dilectionem ad hanc ,virginem prservavit4 ,to4 #a1 ,serm4 #fa1 c4 #h4 #aafi ,in ,off4 ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #aagj ,beatissima ,virgo gratia fuit plena1 quia omnes gratias generales et speciales omnium creaturarum in summo habuit4 ,bibl4 ,ma4 in ,luc4 #ac4 #aaga ,omnes angelos et omnia qu creata sunt excessit pulchritudo tua4 ,l4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #ea4 #aagb ,tanta erat sua gratia ut non solum in se virginitatem servaret1 sed etiam si quos inviseret1 integritatis donum insigne conferret4 ,de ,inst4 ,virg4 c4 #g4 #aagc ,gratia sanctificationis non solum repressit in ,virgine motus illicitos1 sed etiam in aliis efficaciam habuit2 ita ut quamvis esset pulchra corpore a nullo concupisceretur4 ,in #c ,dist4 disp4 #b1 q4 #b1 a4 #b4 #aagd ,unde fit1 ut singulare jus habeat ad dona filii sui4 ,to4 #b1 in #c p4 d4 #a1 s4 #b4 #aage ,tu autem qu materna in ,deum auctoritate polles1 etiam iis qui enormiter peccant eximiam reconciliationis gratiam concilias4 ,non enim potes non exaudiri1 cum ,deus tibi ut ver ac intemerat matri su in omnibus morem gerat4 ,de ,zona ,virg4 #aagf ,serm4 de ,ass4 #aagg ,non tantum sibi te fecit1 sed te angelis dedit in instaurationem1 hominibus in reparationem1 dmonibus in hostem2 nam per te ,deus homini pacificatur1 diabolus vincitur et conteritur4 ,v4 in ,prol4 ,cont4 ,virg4 #aagh ,p4 #c1 ,reg4 #cd4 #aagi #a ,par4 #aahj ,felix illa domus quam mater ,dei visitat4 #aaha i4 #ci4 #aahb ,et intravit in domum ,zachari1 et salutavit ,elisabeth4 #aahc ,et facta est vox salutationis tu in auribus meis1 exultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo4 #aahd ,cum ,b4 ,virgo salutavit ,elisabeth1 vox salutationis per aures ejus ingrediens ad puerum descendit1 virtute cujus salutationis puer ,spiritum ,sanctum accepit4 ,part #g1 ,serm4 #d4 #aahe ,prol4 ,cont4 ,virg4 c4 #a4 #aahf ,de ,trin4 #aahg ,maria sic gratia plena dicitur1 quod in illa grati thesaurus reconderetur4 #aahh ,maria est thesaurus quia in ea1 ut in gazophylacio1 reposuit ,dominus omnia dona gratiarum2 et de hoc thesauro largitur ipse larga stipendia suis militibus et operariis4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #d4 #aahi ,simile est regnum clorum thesauro abscondito in agro1 quem qui invenit homo1 vadit et vendit universa qu habet1 et emit agrum illum4 ,matth4 xiii4 #ad4 #aaij ,ager iste est ,maria1 in qua thesaurus ,dei ,patris absconditus est4 ,spec4 c4 #g4 #aaia ,totius boni plenitudinem posuit in ,maria1 ut proinde si quid spei in nobis est1 si quid grati1 si quid salutis1 ab ea noverimus redundare4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #aaib ,eccli4 xxiv4 #be4 #aaic ,in manibus tuis omnes thesauri miserationum ,dei4 #aaid ,omnia bona qu illis summa majestas decrevit facere1 tuis manibus decrevit commendare2 commissi quippe tibi sunt thesauri et ornamenta gratiarum4 ,in ,cor4 ,virg4 cap4 #ae4 #aaie ,nemo qui salvus fiet1 nisi per te2 nemo donum ,dei suscipit1 nisi per te4 ,serm4 de ,zona ,virg4 #aaif ,ne timeas1 ,maria invenisti enim gratiam apud ,deum4 ,luc4 i4 #cj4 #aaig ,ne timeas1 quia invenisti4 ,non rapuisti1 ut primus angelus2 non perdidisti1 ut primus parens2 non emisti ut ,simon ,magus2 sed invenisti1 quia qusivisti4 ,invenisti gratiam increatam et in illa omnem creaturam4 ,in ,marial4 c4 #bcg4 #aaih ,hanc gratiam accepit ,virgo salutem sculis redditura4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,ann4 #aaii ,invenisti gratiam1 quantam8 quantam superius dixerat1 plenam et vere plenam1 qu largo imbre totam funderet1 et infunderet creaturam4 ,serm4 #adb4 #abjj ,sicut sol factus est1 ut illuminat totum mundum2 sic ,maria facta est1 ut misericordiam impetret toti mundo4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 lib4 #g4 #abja ,a tempore quo ,virgo mater concepit in utero verbum ,dei1 quandam ut sic dicam1 jurisdictionem obtinuit in omni ,spiritus ,sancti processione temporali2 ita ut nulla creatura aliquam a ,deo obtinuit gratiam1 nisi secundum ipsius pi matris dispensationem4 ,serm4 #fa1 ,tract4 #a1 ,art4 #h4 #abjb ,cupientes invenire gratiam1 quramus inventricem grati1 qu quia semper invenit1 frustrari non potest4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #b1 p4 #e4 #abjc ,quramus gratiam1 et per ,mariam quramus2 quia quod qurit1 invenit1 et frustrari non potest4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #abjd ,quia sic est voluntas ejus1 qui totum nos habere voluit per ,mariam4 ,loc4 cit4 #abje ,prov4 viii4 #ah1 #ba4 #abjf ,diviti salutis penes ,virginem nostris usibus reservantur4 ,christus in ,virginis utero pauperum gazophylacium collocavit2 inde pauperes locupletati sunt4 ,in ,alleg4 utr4 ,test4 c4 #bd1 ,eccli4 #abjg ,ad hoc enim data est ipsa mundo quasi aquductus1 ut per ipsam a ,deo ad homines dona clestia jugiter descenderent4 #abjh ,ad quid nisi1 ut1 adveniente jam ,spiritu plena sibi1 eodem superveniente1 nobis quoque superplena et supereffluens fiat8 ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #abji ,qui me invenerit1 inveniet vitam1 et hauriet salutem a ,domino4 ,prov4 viii4 #ce4 #abaj ,propterea tanto tempore humano generi fluenta grati defuerunt1 quod necdum intercederet is tam desiderabilis aquductus4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #abaa ,ego civitas refugii iis1 qui ad me confugiunt2 accedite1 et gratiarum dona affluentissime haurite4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,dorm4 ,b4 ,v4 #abab ,per te hreditamus misericordiam miseri1 ingrati gratiam1 veniam peccatores1 sublimia infirmi1 clestia terreni1 mortales vitam1 et patriam peregrini4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #abac ,l4 #c1 c4 #ab4 #abad ,non abiit quasi incredula de oraculo1 sed quasi lta pro voto1 festina pr gaudio1 religiosa pro officio4 ,in c4 #a1 ,luc4 #abae ,mansit autem ,maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus2 et reversa est in domum suam4 ,luc4 i4 #ef4 #abaf ,quid eam ad officium charitatis festinare cogebat1 nisi charitas qu in corde fervebat8 ,spec4 c4 #ed4 #abag ,plus vult illa bonum tibi facere1 et largiri gratiam1 quam tu accipere concupiscas4 ,mar4 p4 #a1 ,serm4 #e4 #abah ,in te1 ,domina1 peccant non solum qui tibi injuriam irrogant1 sed etiam qui te non rogant4 ,in ,spec4 ,virg4 #abai ,maria thesaurus ,domini est1 et thesauraria gratiarum ipsius4 ,donis specialibus ditat copiosissime servientes sibi4 ,in ,prol4 ,cant4 ,b4 ,v4 c4 #a4 #abbj ,tanta est ejus benignitas1 quod nulli formidandum est ad eam accidere4 ,tantaque misericordia1 quod ab ea nemo repellitur4 #abba ,omnes invito1 omnes expecto1 omnes desidero1 nullum peccatorem despicio4 #abbb ,et factum est1 ut audivit salutationem ,mari ,elisabeth1 exultavit infans in utero ejus2 et repleta est ,spiritu ,sancto ,elisabeth4 ,luc4 i4 #da4 #abbc ,vide quanta virtus sit verbis ,domin1 quia ad eorum pronuntiationem confertur ,spiritus ,sanctus4 ,tract4 de ,vit4 ,christ4 #abbd ,gaudet filius1 orante matre1 quia omnia qu nobis precibus su genetricis evictus donat1 ipsi matri se donasse putat4 ,ap4 ,baldi ,giard4 di ,mar4 nella ,pref4 #abbe ,tu autem materna in ,deum auctoritate pollens1 etiam iis1 qui enormiter peccant1 eximiam remissionis gratiam concilias4 ,non enim potes non exaudiri1 cum ,deus tibi ut ver et intemerat matri in omnibus morem gerat4 ,or4 de ,dorm4 ,v4 #abbf ,vinum non habent4444 ,quid mihi et tibi est mulier8 nondum venit hora mea4 ,jo4 ii4 #c1 #d4 #abbg ,et licet ita responderit1 maternis tamen votis obtemperavit4 ,s4 ,jo4 ,chrys4 ,hom4 #ba1 in ,joan4 #abbh ,adeamus ergo cum fiducia ad thronum grati1 ut misericordiam consequamur1 et gratiam inveniamus in auxilio opportuno4 ,hebr4 iv4 #af4 #abbi ,serm4 de ,ded4 ,eccl4 #abcj ,spiritus ,sanctus tota sua dulcedine me penetrando1 tam gratiosam effecit1 ut omnis qui per me gratiam qurit1 ipsam inveniat4 ,ap4 ,canis4 l4 #a1 c4 #ac4 #abca ,velocior est nonnunquam salus nostra1 invocato nomine ,mari1 quam invocato nomine ,jesu4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #f4 #abcb ,misericordi januam aperi nobis1 benedicta ,deipara tu enim es salus generis humani4 #abcc ,l4 #a1 p4 #a1 c4 #e4 #abcd ,et postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis ejus1 secundum legem ,moysi1 tulerunt illum in ,jerusalem1 ut sisterent eum ,domino4 ,luc4 ii4 #bb4 #abce ,qui proprio filio suo non pepercit1 sed pro nobis omnibus1 tradidit illum4 ,rom4 viii4 #cb4 #abcf ,or4 de ,laud4 ,deip4 #abcg ,serm4 de ,purific4 ,virg4 #abch ,o ,virgo regia1 nollem tibi talia nuntiare1 sed audi4 ,serm4 de ,purific4 ,virg4 #abci ,nimium nunc pro isto infante ltaris1 sed ecce iste positus in signum cui contradicetur4 #abdj ,o quot millia hominum pro ipso puero laniabuntur1 et jugulabuntur2 et si omnes patientur in corpore1 tu ,virgo in corde patieris4 ,loc4 cit4 #abda ,et tuam ipsius animam doloris gladius pertransibit4 ,luc4 ii4 #ce4 #abdb ,qui edebat panes meos1 magnificavit super me supplantationem4 ,psal4 xl4 #aj4 #abdc ,zacc4 xiii4 #g4 #abdd ,corpus meum dedi percutientibus1 et genas meas vellentibus1 faciem meam non averti ab increpantibus1 et conspuentibus in me4 ,isa4 l4 #f4 #abde ,ego autem sum vermis et non homo2 opprobrium hominum et abjectio plebis4 ,psal4 xxi4 #g4 #abdf ,saturabitur opprobriis4 ,thren4 #c4 #abdg ,ipse autem vulneratus est propter iniquitates nostras1 attritus est propter scelera nostra4 ,isa4 liii4 #e4 #abdh ,non est species ei neque decor4444 ,et nos putavimus eum quasi leprosum4 ,isa4 liii4 #b1 #d4 #abdi ,dinumeraverunt omnia ossa mea4 ,psal4 xxi4 #ah4 #abej ,foderunt manus meas et pedes meas4 ,loc4 cit4 #abea ,et cum sceleratis reputatus est4 ,isa4 liii4 #ab4 #abeb ,et aspicient ad me quem confixerunt4 ,zacc4 xii4 #aj4 #abec ,si fieri potuisset1 omnia tormenta qu filius pertulit1 sustinuisset2 et nihilominus placuit ei quod unigenitus ejus pro salute generis humani offerretur4 ,in p4 #a1 ,dist4 #dh1 q4 #b4 #abed ,dolor iste1 usquedum assumpta fui corpore et anima in clum1 nunquam deficit a corde meo4 #abee ,pia ,domina1 non crediderim te ullo puncto potuisse stimulos tanti cruciatus1 quin vitam emitteres1 sustinere1 nisi ipse spiritus vit te confortasset4 #abef ,moriebatur vivens1 dolorem ferens morte crudeliorem4 #abeg ,de ,fide4 ad ,petr4 #abeh ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 #abei ,serm4 #a1 de ,ass4 #abfj ,in ,exc4 ,virg4 #abfa ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 ,spec4 c4 #bj4 #abfb ,serm4 #b1 de ,ass4 #abfc ,hom4 #b1 ,ass4 #abfd ,omnino tunc erat una ,christi et ,mari voluntas1 unumque holocaustum ambo pariter offerebant2 unde communem in mundi salute cum illo effectum ostendit4 ,tr4 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #abfe ,dici potest ,virgo mundi salvatrix propter meritum su compassionis1 qu patienti filio acerbissime condolendo excellenter promeruit1 ut per preces ejus meritum passionis ,christi hominibus communicetur4 ,l4 #b1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 art4 #bc4 #abff ,redempturus humanum genus1 universum pretium contulit in ,mariam4 ,serm4 de ,aqud4 #abfg ,quia fecisti hanc rem1 et non pepercisti filio tuo unigenito propter me2 benedicam tibi1 et multiplicabo semen tuum sicut stellas cli4 ,genes4 xxii4 #af1 #ag4 #abfh ,responsum acceperat a ,spiritu ,sancto non visurum se mortem nisi prius videret ,christum ,dominum4 ,luc4 ii4 #bf4 #abfi ,ap4 ,marc4 #abgj ,exaudiet utique matrem filius4 ,de ,aqud4 #abga ,ignorare ,antipatrum sexcentas epistolas una deleri matris lacrymula8 ,plut4 in ,alex4 #abgb ,o mors1 quam amara est memoria tua homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis6 ,eccli4 xli4 #a4 #abgc ,apoc4 xiv4 #ac4 #abgd ,signum magnum apparuit in clo2 mulier amicta solo et luna sub pedibus ejus4 ,apoc4 xii4 #a4 #abge ,vox turturis audita est in terra nostra4 ,cant4 ii4 #ab4 #abgf ,qu est ista qu ascendit per desertum1 etc4 ,cant4 iii4 #f4 #abgg ,talis ascendisti per desertum1 idest animam habens solitariam4 #abgh ,opera tua sumus1 non te deseremus4 #abgi ,cant4 iv4 #g4 #abhj ,abite1 abite cum lacrymis vestris2 non est tempus lacrymarum4 #abha ,ave gratia plena2 ,dominus tecum 444 invenisti gratiam4 ,luc4 xxviii4 #cj4 #abhb ,qu est ista qu ascendit per desertum1 sicut virgula fumi1 ex aromatibus myrrh4 et thuris1 et universi pulveris pigmentarii8 ,cant4 iii4 #f4 #abhc ,talis fumi virgula1 beata ,maria1 suavem odorem spirasti altissimo4 #abhd ,virgula fumi1 quia concremata intus in holocaustum incendio divini amoris1 ex ea flagrabat suavissimus odor4 #abhe ,ubi thesaurus vester est ibi et cor vestrum erit4 ,luc4 xii4 #cd4 #abhf ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,v4 ,mar4 #abhg ,quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columb1 et volabo et requiescam8 ,psal4 liv4 #g4 #abhh ,quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum1 ita desiderat anima mea ad te1 ,deus4 ,psal4 xli4 #b4 #abhi ,comp4 ,hist4 #abij ,l4 #b1 c4 #ba4 #abia ,orat4 de ,dorm4 ,mar4 #abib ,s4 ,andr4 ,cret4 ,or4 de ,dorm4 ,deip41 ,damasc4 de ,dorm4 ,deip41 ,euthim4 l4 #c1 ,hist4 c4 #dj4 #abic ,orat4 de ,ass4 ,virg4 #abid ,nicephorus and ,metaphrastes1 appr4 l',ist4 di ,mar4 del ,p4 ,f4 ,gius4 e ,m4 l4 #e1 #ac4 #abie ,adjuro vos1 fili ,jerusalem1 si inveneritis dilectum meum1 ut nuntietis ei1 quia amore langueo4 ,cant4 v4 #h4 #abif ,app4 ,s4 gio4 ,dam4 or4 de ,ass4 ,v4 #abig ,lib4 #a1 cap4 #a1 #b4 #abih ,serm4 #a1 de ,ass4 #abii ,gaudeamus omnes in ,domino diem festum celebrantes sub honore ,b4 ,mari ,virginis4 #acjj ,surge1 ,domine1 in requiem tuam1 tu et arca sanctificationis tu4 ,psal4 cxxxi4 #h4 #acja ,ascendat etiam ,maria tua sanctissima mater1 tui conceptione sanctificata4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #acjb ,et ,david et omnis domus ,israel ducebant arcam testamenti ,domini in jubilo1 et clangore buccin4 #b ,reg4 vi4 #ae4 #acjc ,ad transferendum te in clum non unus tantum currus igneus1 sed totus cum rege suo filio tuo venit1 atque occurrit exercitus angelorum4 #acjd ,surrexit gloriosus ,jesus in occursum su dulcissim matris4 #acje ,prudentiore consilio illam prcedere volebas1 quatenus in regno tuo ei locum prparares1 et sic comitatus tota curia tua festivus ei occurrens sublimius1 sicut decebat1 tuam matrem ad te exaltares4 ,vid4 de ,exc4 ,virg4 cap4 #h4 #acjf ,invenies occursum ejus pomp digniorem1 quam in ,christi ascensione2 soli quippe angeli redemptori occurrere potuerunt1 matri vero filius ipse cum tota curia tam angelorum quam sanctorum occurrens1 auxit ad beat consistorium sessionis4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #acjg ,ego ut patrem honorarem1 ad terram descendi2 ut matrem honorarem1 ad clum reascendi4 #acjh ,surge1 propera1 amica mea1 columba mea1 et veni4 ,jam hyems transiit1 imber abiit et recessit4 ,cant4 ii4 #aj1 #aa4 #acji ,veni de ,libano1 sponsa mea1 veni de ,libano2 veni coronaberis4 ,cant4 iv4 #h4 #acaj ,attollite portas principes vestras1 et elevamini port eternales1 et introibit rex glori4 ,psal4 xxiii4 #g4 #acaa ,attollite portas1 principes1 vestras1 et elevamini port eternales1 et introibit regina glori4 #acab ,una omnium in clo erat ltantium 7vox73 ,qu est ista qu ascendit de deserto deliciis affluens1 innixa super dilectum suum8 ,cant4 viii4 #e4 #acac ,tu gloria ,jerusalem1 tu ltitia ,israel1 tu honorificentia populi nostri4 ,jud4 xv4 #aj4 #acad ,viderunt eam fili1 et beatissimam prdicaverunt1 444 et laudaverunt eam4 ,cant4 vi4 #h4 #acae ,exaltata est sancta ,dei genitrix super choros angelorum ad clestia regna4 ,in ,fest4 ,ass4 #acaf ,matrem dico exaltatam super choros angelorum1 ut nihil contempletur super se mater1 nisi filium suum4 ,serm4 #d1 de ,ass4 #acag ,qust4 #ajh4 #acah ,virgo sola constituit hierarchiam secundam sub ,deo hierarcha primo4 ,sup4 ,magn4 tr4 #d4 #acai ,virgo est domina angelorum2 ergo et improportionabiliter est supra omnem hierarchiam angelorum exaltata4 #d1 part4 tit4 #ae1 c4 #bj4 #acbj ,psal4 xliv4 #aj4 #acba ,collocatur ,maria a dexteris ,dei4 ,de ,ass4 ,b4 ,v4 #acbb ,sicut est incomparabile quod gessit1 ita et incomprehensibile prmium1 et gloria inter omnes sanctos1 quam meruit4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #acbc ,reddet unicuique secundum opera ejus4 ,rom4 ii4 #f4 #acbd ,sicut habuit meritum omnium1 et amplius1 ita congruum fuit1 ut super omnes ponatur ordines clestes4 ,l4 de ,sol4 ,sanct4 #acbe ,quantum enim grati in terris adepta est1 tantum et in clis obtinet glori singularis4 #acbf ,il4 ,p4 la ,colombiere1 ,pred4 #ah1 #bh4 #acbg ,de ,nat4 et ,grat4 l4 #g1 c4 #cf4 #acbh ,sess4 #f1 ,can4 #ac4 #acbi #a ,cor4 xv4 #da4 #accj ,astitit regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato circumdata varietate4 ,psal4 xliv4 #aj4 #acca ,sanctorum omnium privilegia1 ,o ,virgo1 omnia habes in te congesta4 #accb ,maria universos tantum excedit1 quantum sol reliqua astra4 ,or4 de ,an4 #accc ,sol ita sibi siderum et lun rapit positionem1 ut sint quasi non sint4 ,similiter et ,virga ,jesse utrorumque spirituum habebat dignitatem1 ut in comparatione virginis nec possint apparere4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #accd ,divin glori participatio cteris quodammodo per partes datur1 sed secundum ,bernardum ,b4 ,virgo ,maria penetravit abyssum1 ut quantum creatur conditio patitur1 illi luci inaccessibili videatur immersa4 ,to4 #a1 ,serm4 #fa1 a4 #b1 c4 #b1 #bj4 #acce ,visio virginis matris super omnes creaturas incomparabiliter contemplatur majestatem ,dei4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #fi4 #accf ,quodammodo sicut ctera luminaria illuminantur a sole1 sic tota clestis curia a gloriosa virgine ltificatur4 ,loc4 cit4 art4 #c1 c4 #c4 #accg ,gloriosa virgo cum clos ascendit1 supernorum gaudia civium cumulavit4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #acch ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 #acci ,post ,deum major nostra gloria et majus nostrum gaudium ex ,maria4 #acdj ,nunquid1 ,o beata ,virgo1 quia ita glorificata es1 ideo nostr humilitatis oblita es8 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,v4 #acda ,absit non convenit tant misericordi tant miseri oblivisci4 #acdb ,magna fuit erga miseros misericordia ,mari exulantis in mundo1 sed multo major est regnantis in clo4 ,spec4 c4 #h4 #acdc ,regina ,maria non gravat tributis1 sed largitur servis suis divitias1 dona gratiarum1 thesauros meritorum1 et magnitudinem prmiorum4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #f4 #acdd ,o mater misericordi1 saturare gloria filii tui1 et dimitte reliquias parvulis tuis4 ,tu jam ad mensam ,domini nos sub mensa catelli4 ,serm4 #d1 in ,ass4 ,virg4 #acde ,l4 #c1 ,mirac4 ,b4 ,virg4 #acdf ,cap4 xxii4 #ah4 #acdg ,brev4 ,rom4 #f1 ,maj4 #acdh ,martyrium amplectitur id quod in obedientia summum esse potest1 ut scilicet aliquis sit obediens usque ad mortem4 #b1 #b1 q4 #acd1 a4 #c1 ad #c4 #acdi ,non ferro carnificis1 sed acerbo dolore cordis4 ,ap4 ,baldi4 tom4 #a1 p4 #adf4 #acej ,a nativitatis exordio1 passio crucis simul exorta4 ,serm4 #b1 de ,pass4 #acea ,thr4 ii4 #ac4 #aceb ,proculdubio est credendum1 quod ipsa ex inspiratione ,spiritus ,sancti perfectius intellexit quicquid ,prophetarum eloquia figurabant4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #ag4 #acec ,ex ,scripturis ,deum incarnari intelligens1 et quod tam diversis pnis deberet cruciari1 tribulationem non modicam sustinuit4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #af4 #aced ,tu longum prscia futur passionis filii tui1 pertulisti martryium4 ,in ,cant4 c4 #d4 #acee ,rev4 l4 #g1 c4 #b4 #acef ,nolite solam attendere horam illam qua dilectum meum vidi mori2 nam ,simeonis gladius1 antequam pertransiret1 longum per me transitum fecit4 ,cum igitur eum lactarem1 foverem et prospicerem ejus mortem1 quam prolixam me putatis pertulisse passionem8 ,loc4 cit4 #aceg ,defecit in dolore vita mea1 et anni mei in gemitibus4 ,psal4 xxx4 #aa4 #aceh ,psal4 xxxvii4 #ah4 #acei ,tempore quo post ascensionem filii mei vixi1 passio sua in corde meo fixa erat1 ut sive comedebam1 sive laborabam1 quasi recens erat in memoria mea4 ,rev4 l4 #f1 c4 #fe4 #acfj ,beatissima ,virgo pro tota vita fecit professionem doloris4 ,vit4 ,christ4 c4 #bh4 #acfa ,sicut rosa crescere solet inter spinas ita ,b4 ,virgo in hoc mundo crevit inter tribulationes2 et sicut1 crescente rosa1 crescunt spin2 sic hc electissima rosa ,maria1 quanto crescebat tate1 tanto tribulationum spinis pungebatur4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #af4 #acfb ,cui comparabo te8 vel cui assimilabo te1 filia ,jerusalem8 ,magna est enim velut mare contritio tua4 ,quis medebitur tui8 ,thren4 ii4 #a4 #acfc ,quemadmodum mare est in amaritudine excellens1 ita tu contritioni nulla calamitas quari potest4 #acfd ,utique1 ,domina1 non crediderim te potuisse stimulos tanti cruciatus1 quin vitam amitteres1 sustinere2 nisi ipse spiritus tui filii te confortaret4 ,de ,ec4 ,virg4 c4 #c4 #acfe ,tantus fuit dolor ,virginis1 quod si inter omnes creaturas1 qu dolorem pati possunt1 divideretur1 omnes subito interirent4 ,to4 #a1 ,serm4 #fg4 #acff ,luc4 ii4 #ce4 #acfg ,nimirum in tabernaculo illo duo videres altaria1 aliud in pectore matris1 aliud in corpore ,christi2 ,christus carnem1 ,maria immolabat animam4 ,tr4 de sep4 verb4 ,do4 in ,cru4 #acfh ,p4 #a1 tit4 #ae1 c4 #bd4 #acfi ,illa videndo in omnibus passa est2 quia amabat omnes1 ferebat in oculis quod in carne omnes4 ,serm4 #aji1 de ,divers4 c4 #f4 #acgj ,hom4 #e4 #acga ,passionis ,christi speculum effectum erat cor ,virginis1 in illo agnoscebantur sputa1 convicia1 verbera1 vulnera4 ,de ,agon4 ,chri4 c4 #aa4 #acgb ,singula vulnera per ejus corpus dispersa1 in uno corde sunt unita4 ,de ,planctu4 ,virg4 in ,stim4 ,am4 #acgc ,o ,domina mea ubi stabas8 ,nunquid tantum juxta crucem8 ,imo in cruce cum filio crucifixa eras4 ,loc4 cit4 #acgd ,torcular calcavi solus1 et de gentibus non est vir mecum4 ,isa4 lxiii4 #c4 #acge ,verum est1 ,domine1 quod non est vir tecum1 sed mulier una est tecum1 qu omnia vulnera qu tu suscepisti in corpore1 suscepit in corde4 #acgf ,parentes atrocius torquentur in liberis1 quam in scipsis4 ,libell4 de ,machab4 #acgg ,maria torquebatur magis1 quam si torqueretur ex se2 quoniam supra se incomparabiliter diligebat id unde dolebat4 ,cit4 ,hom4 #e4 #acgh ,ubi thesaurus vester est1 ibi et cor vestrum erit4 ,luc4 xii4 #cd4 #acgi ,nunquam tam jucunde epulati sumus1 quam cum hc libenter ,jesu ,christi amore perferimus4 #achj ,segnior fuit ignis qui foris ussit1 quam qui intus accendit4 ,in ,nat4 ,s4 ,laur4 #acha ,in illa longa morte1 in illis tormentis illo calice ebrius tormenta non sentit4 ,tract4 #bg4 #achb ,magna est velut mare contritio tua2 quis medebitur tui8 #achc ,in aliis martyribus magnitudo amoris dolorem lenivit passionis2 sed beata ,virgo quanto plus amavit1 tanto plus doluit1 tantoque ipsius martyrium gravius fuit4 ,ap4 ,crois4 ,vit4 ,mar4 s4 #bc4 #achd ,ut scias quantus fuerit dolor ,b4 ,virginis1 cogita quantus fuerit amor4 #ache ,du dilectiones in unam convenerant et ex duobus amoribus factus est amor unus1 cum ,virgo mater filio divinitatis amorem impenderet1 et in ,deo amorem nato exhiberet4 ,hom4 #e1 de ,laud4 ,v4 #achf ,quantum capere potuit puri hominis modus4 #achg ,unde sicut non fuit amor sicut amor ejus1 ita non fuit dolor sicut dolor ejus4 #achh ,o vos omnes qui transitas per viam attendite1 et videte1 si est dolor sicut dolor meus4 ,thren4 i4 #ab4 #achi ,nullus dolor amarior1 quia nulla proles charior4 ,de ,compas4 ,virg4 c4 #b4 #acij ,non fuit talis filius1 non fuit talis mater2 non fuit tanta charitas1 non fuit dolor tantus4 ,ideo quanto dilexit tenerius1 tanta vulnerata est profundius4 ,lib4 #c1 de ,laud4 ,virg4 #acia ,parum est ,mariam in passione filii tam acerbos pertulisse dolores1 ut omnium martyrum collective tormenta superaret4 ,ap4 ,sinisc4 ,mart4 de ,mar4 ,cons4 #cf4 #acib ,quicquid crudelitatis inflictum est corporibus martyrum1 leve fuit1 aut potius nihil comparatione tu passionis4 ,de ,exc4 ,virg4 c4 #e4 #acic ,virgo universos martyres tantum excedit1 quantum sol reliqua astra4 #acid ,p4 ,pinam4 #acie ,o ,domina1 cur ivisti immolari pro nobis8 ,non sufficiebat filii passio1 nisi crucifigeretur et mater8 ,ap4 ,pac4 ,exc4 #aj1 in ,sal4 ,ang4 #acif ,sicut totus mundus obligatur ,deo propter passionem1 sic obligatur ,domin propter compassionem4 ,sup4 ,miss4 cap4 #bj4 #acig ,sic pia et misericors est1 et fuit1 quod maluit omnes tribulationes sufferre1 quam quod anim non redimerentur4 ,rev4 l4 #c1 c4 #cj4 #acih ,ltabatur dolens quod offerebatur sacrificium in redemptionem omnium quo placabatur iratus4 ,de ,gest4 ,d4 l4 #b4 c4 #bg4 #acii ,respicio ad omnes qui in mundo sunt1 si forte sint aliqui qui compatiantur mihi1 et recogitent dolorem meum2 et valde paucos invenio4 ,ideo filia mea1 licet a multis oblita sim1 tu tamen non obliviscaris mei1 vide dolorem meum1 et imitare quantum potes1 et dole4 ,rev4 l4 #b1 c4 #bd4 #adjj ,gian4 ,cent4 ,serv4 l4 #a1 c4 #ad4 #adja ,ap4 ,bolland4 #ac1 ,jan4 #adjb ,stellar4 l4 #c1 p4 #c1 a4 #c4 #adjc ,l4 #f1 c4 #ig4 #adjd ,o ,domina1 si te offendi pro justitia cor meum vulnera2 si tibi servivi1 nunc pro mercede1 peto1 vulnera4 ,opprobriosum est videre ,dominum ,jesum vulneratum1 te convulneratum1 et me illsum4 #adje ,calamitosus esset animus futuri prscius et ante miserias miser4 ,ep4 #ih4 #adjf ,positus est hic in signum cui contradicetur4 ,et tuam ipsius animam doloris gladius pertransibit4 ,luc4 ii4 #ce4 #adjg ,omnis ltitia mea ad illa verba in mrore conversa est4 #adjh ,blasphemavit1 reus est mortis4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #fe1 #ff4 #adji ,non hic fabri filius8 ,matt4 xiii4 #ee4 #adaj ,nonne hic est faber1 filius ,mari8 ,matt4 vi4 #c4 #adaa ,quomodo hic literas scit1 cum non didicerit4 ,joan4 vii4 #ae4 #adab ,et velaverunt eum1 et percutiebant faciem ejus 444 dicentes2 ,prophetiza1 quis est qui te percussit4 ,luc4 xxii4 #fd4 #adac ,insanit1 quid eum auditis8 ,joan4 x4 #bj4 #adad ,ecce homo devorator1 et bibens vinum1 amicus publicanorum et peccatorum4 ,luc4 vii4 #cd4 #adae ,in principe dmoniorum ejicit dmonia4 ,matt4 ix4 #cd4 #adaf ,nonne bene dicimus nos1 quia ,samaritanus es tu1 et dmonium habes8 ,joan4 viii4 #dh4 #adag ,si non esset hic malefactor1 non tibi tradidissemus eum4 ,joan4 xviii4 #cj4 #adah ,pater mi1 si possibile est1 transeat a me calix iste4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ci4 #adai ,tristis es anima mea usque ad mortem4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ch4 #adbj ,filius qui natus est tibi1 morte morietur4 #b ,reg4 xii4 #ad4 #adba ,lib4 #f1 ,rev4 c4 #i4 #adbb ,quoties aspiciebam filium meum1 quoties involvebam eum pannis1 quoties videbam ejus manus et pedes2 toties animus meus quasi novo dolore absorptus est2 quia cogitabam1 quomodo crucifigeretur4 ,lib4 #f1 c4 #eg4 #adbc ,fasciculus mirrh dilectus meus mihi1 inter ubera mea commorabitur4 ,cant4 i4 #ab4 #adbd ,tom4 #c1 ,serm4 #b1 a4 #c1 c4 #a4 #adbe ,eum lactans cogitabat de felle et aceto2 quando fasciis involvebat1 funes cogitabat quibus ligandus erat2 quando gestabat1 cogitabat in cruce confixum2 quando dormiebat1 cogitabat mortuum4 ,tom4 #a1 ,ev4 ,lu4 ,dom4 infr4 ,oct4 ,nat4 s4 #a4 #adbf ,oculi mei replebantur lacrymis1 et cor meum torquebatur dolore4 ,lib4 #f1 c4 #eg1 et l4 #g1 c4 #g4 #adbg ,et ,jesus proficiebat sapientia et tate1 et gratia apud ,deum1 et homines4 ,luc4 ii4 #bc4 #adbh #c1 p4 q4 #g1 art4 #ab4 #adbi ,ille doloris gladius ,virgini omni hora tanto se propius approximabat1 quanto ,filius passionis tempori magis appropinquabat4 ,fer4 #f1 lect4 #b1 c4 #af4 #adcj ,fasc4 di ,rose1 p4 #b1 c4 #b4 #adca ,et com capitis tui sicut purpura regis vincta canalibus4 ,c4 #g1 v4 #e4 #adcb ,mens tua1 ,o ,maria1 et cogitationes tu tinct in sanguine dominic passionis1 sic affect semper fuere1 quasi recenter viderent sanguinem de vulneribus profluentem4 ,in ,cant4 c4 #g1 v4 #e4 #adcc ,quid est quod sic turbaris ,herodes8 ,rex iste qui natus est non venit reges pugnando superare sed moriendo mirabiliter subjugare4 ,serm4 #e1 de ,epiph4 #adcd ,surge et accipe puerum1 et matrem ejus et fuge in ,egyptum4 ,matth4 ii4 #ac4 #adce ,qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte1 et secessit in ,egyptum4 ,matth4 ii4 #ad4 #adcf ,positus est hic in signum cui contradicetur4 #adcg ,fuge a tuis ad extraneos1 a templo ad dmonum fana4 ,qu major tribulatio1 quam quod recens natus a collo matris pendens cum ipsa matre paupercula fugere cogatur8 #adch #c1 ,lib4 #aj1 c4 #h4 #adci ,viam silvestrem1 obscuram1 asperam1 et inhabitam4 #addj ,joseph et ,maria non habent famulum1 non ancillam2 ipsi domini et famuli4 #adda ,quomodo faciebant de victu8 ,ubi nocte quiescebant8 ,quomodo hospitabantur8 ,de ,vit4 ,chr4 #addb ,cum enim essent egeni1 manifestum est quod sudores frequentabant necessaria vit inde sibi qurentes4 #addc ,aliquando filius famem patiens panem petiit1 nec unde dare mater habuit4 ,in ,vit4 ,christi4 c4 #ac4 #addd ,sic magnus est1 ut portari non valeat3 et sic parvus quod per se ire non potest4 #adde ,non habemus hic manentem civitatem1 sed futuram inquirimus4 ,heb4 xiii4 #ad4 #addf ,ap4 ,p4 ,genev4 ,serv4 ,dol4 di ,mar4 #addg ,loc4 cit4 #addh ,patientia autem opus perfectum habet1 ut sitis perfecti et integri1 in nullo deficientes4 ,jac4 i4 #d4 #addi ,num quem diligit anima mea vidistis8 ,cant4 iii4 #c4 #adej ,fuerunt mihi lacrym me panes die ac nocte1 dum dicitur mihi quotidie1 ubi est ,deus tuus8 ,psal4 xli4 #d4 #adea ,illas noctes insomnes duxit in lacrymis1 ,deum deprecando1 ut daret illi reperire filium4 #adeb ,indica1 mihi ubi cubes1 ubi pascas in meridie1 ne vagari incipiam4 ,cant4 i4 #f4 #adec ,lumen oculorum meorum1 et ipse non est mecum4 ,psal4 xxvii4 #aa4 #aded ,vehementer doluit1 quia vehementer amabat4 ,plus doluit de ejus amissione1 quam aliquis martyr dolorem sentiat de anim a corpore separatione4 ,hom4 infr4 ,oct4 ,ep4 #adee ,idcirco ego plorans1 et oculus meus deducens aquas1 quia longe est a me consolator meus4 ,thren4 i4 #af4 #adef ,quale gaudium erit mihi1 qui in tenebris sedeo1 et lumen cli non video4 ,tob4 vi4 #aa4 #adeg ,tristabatur ex humilitate1 quia arbitrabatur se indignam cui tam pretiosus commissus esset thesaurus4 #adeh ,qurebant eum1 ne forte reliquisset eos4 ,ap4 ,corn4 ,lap4 in ,luc4 #b4 #adei ,fili1 quid fecisti nobis sis8 ,pater tuus et ego dolentes qurebamus te4 ,luc4 ii4 #dh4 #adfj ,march4 ,diar4 #cj1 ,ott4 #adfa ,vos non populus meus1 et ego non ero vester4 ,os4 i4 #ai4 #adfb ,peccata vestra diviserunt inter vos et ,deum vestrum4 ,isa4 lxix4 #b4 #adfc ,ecce universa vanitas1 et afflictio spiritus4 ,eccli4 i4 #ad4 #adfd ,perdit homo bovem1 et post eum vadit3 perdit ovem et sollicite eam qurit2 perdit asinum1 et non quiescit4 ,perdit homo ,deum1 et comedit1 et bibit1 et quiescit4 #adfe ,dilectus meus mihi1 et ego illi1 qui pascitur inter lilia4 ,cant4 ii4 #af4 #adff ,thren4 iii4 #be4 #adfg ,miserere mei1 ,domine fili ,david1 filia mea male a dmone vexatur4 ,matth4 xv4 #bb4 #adfh ,ignem veni mittere in terram1 et quid volo1 nisi ut accendatur4 ,luc4 xii4 #di4 #adfi ,omnes dolores mundi1 si essent simul conjuncti1 non essent tanti quantus dolor glorios ,mari4 ,tom4 iii4 #e1 #de4 #adgj ,quanto dilexit tenerius1 tanto est vulnerata profundius4 #adga ,imminente passione filii mei1 lacrym erant in oculis meis1 et sudor in corpore pr timore4 ,l4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #aj4 #adgb ,sine somno duxisti1 et soporatis cteris1 vigil permansisti4 #adgc ,plorans ploravit in nocte1 et lacrym in maxillis ejus2 non est qui consoletur eam1 ex omnibus charis ejus4 ,thren4 i4 #ab4 #adgd ,iisdem labiis mittit ad mortem quibus eum pronuntiaverunt innocentem4 #adge ,et bajulans sibi crucem exivit in eum qui dicitur ,calvari locum4 ,joan4 xix4 #ag4 #adgf ,ex vestigiis filii mei cognoscebam incessum ejus2 quo enim procedebat1 apparebat terra infusa sanguine4 ,l4 #d1 c4 #gg4 #adgg ,med4 #f4 #adgh ,et vidimus eum1 et non erat aspectus4 ,isa4 liii4 #b4 #adgi ,putavimus eum quasi leprosum4 ,isa4 liii4 #d4 #adhj ,et quasi absconditus vultus ejus1 et despectus1 unde nec reputavimus eum4 ,isa4 liii4 #c4 #adha ,deut4 xxviii4 #ff4 #adhb ,heu quo properas1 quo venis mater6 ,cruciatu meo cruciaberis1 et ego tuo4 #adhc ,tollebat et mater crucem suam1 et sequebatur eum1 crucifigenda cum ipso4 ,in ,cant4 #g4 #adhd ,ut intelligas ,christi crucem non sufficere sine tua4 #adhe ,serm4 #b1 de ,pass4 #adhf ,ego non separabar ab eo1 et stabam vicinior cruci ejus4 ,l4 #a1 c4 #f4 #adhg ,cur ivisti1 ,o ,domina1 ad ,calvari locum8 cur te non retinuit pudor1 horror facinoris8 #adhh ,plane mater1 qu nec in terrore mortis filium deserebat4 ,serm4 #c1 de ,ass4 #adhi ,l4 #a1 ,rev4 c4 #aj1 et l4 #d1 c4 #gj4 #adij ,quot lsiones in corpore ,christi1 tot vulnera in corde matris4 ,ap4 ,bald4 to4 #a1 p4 #dii4 #adia ,o ,domina1 ubi stas8 ,numquid juxta crucem8 ,imo in cruce cum filio cruciaris8 ,ap4 ,bald4 tom4 #a1 p4 #deb4 #adib ,crux et clavi filii fuerunt et matris2 ,christo crucifixo crucifigebatur et mater4 #adic ,quod in carne ,christi agebant clavi1 in ,virginis mente affectus erga filium4 #adid ,dum illi corpus1 ista spiritum immolabat4 ,to4 #a1 ,serm4 #ca4 #adie ,ap4 ,bald4 p4 #def4 #adif ,volebat eum amplecti sed manus frustra protens in se complex redibant4 ,ap4 ,bald4 #dfc4 #adig ,torcular calcavi solus4444 ,circumspexi1 et non est auxiliator2 qusivi1 et non fuit qui adjuvaret4 ,isa4 lxiii4 #c1 #e4 #adih ,prtereuntes autem blasphemabant eum moventes capita sua4 ,matt4 xxvii4 #ci4 #adii ,si filius ,dei es1 descende de cruce4 #aejj ,alios salvos fecit1 seipsum non potest salvum facere4 #aeja ,si rex ,israel est1 descendat nunc de cruce4 ,loc4 cit4 #aejb ,rev4 l4 #d1 c4 #gj4 #aejc ,deus1 ,deus meus1 ut quid dereliquisti me8 ,matth4 xxvii4 #df4 #aejd ,rev4 l4 #d1 c4 #gj4 #aeje ,repleta matre1 ad filium redundaret inundatio amaritudinis4 ,hom4 in ,ev4 ,stabat4 #aejf ,stabam ego videns eum1 ipse videns me1 et plus dolebat de me quam de se4 ,ap4 ,simisc4 ,cons4 #bh4 #aejg ,juxta crucem stabat mater1 vox illi non erat2 moriebatur vivens1 vivebat moriens2 nec mori poterat1 quia vivens mortua erat4 ,de ,lament4 ,virg4 #aejh ,stupebant omnes qui noverant hujus hominis matrem1 quod etiam in tant angusti pressura silentium servabat4 #aeji ,voluit eam ,christus cooperatricem nostr redemptionis adstare1 quam nobis constituerat dare matrem2 debebat enim ipsa sub cruce nos parere filios4 ,hom4 #dd1 de ,pass4 ,dom4 #aeaj ,maria mater mea1 propter compassionem et charitatem facta est mater omnium in clis et in terra4 ,l4 #a1 c4 #ca4 #aeaa ,joan4 xix4 #bf4 #aeab ,idcirco resipuit bonus latro1 quia ,b4 ,virgo inter cruces filii et latronis posita1 filium pro latrone deprecabatur2 hoc suo beneficio1 antiquum latronis obsequium recompensans4 ,ap4 ,salm4 to4 #a1 tr4 #dg4 #aeac ,monum4 ,conv4 ,pec4 ap4 ,p4 ,sinisch4 ,sans4 #af4 #aead ,o vos omnes qui transitis per viam1 attendite et videte1 si est dolor sicut dolor meus4 ,thren4 i4 #ab4 #aeae ,unus militum lancea latus ejus aperuit1 et continuo exivit sanguis1 et aqua4 ,joan4 xix4 #cd4 #aeaf ,rev4 l4 #b1 c4 #ba4 #aeag ,divisit ,christus cum matre sua hujus vulneris pnam1 ut ipse injuriam acciperet1 mater dolorem4 #aeah ,lancea qu ipsius latus aperuit1 animam ,virginis pertransivit1 qu inde nequibat avelli4 ,de ,lament4 ,virg4 #aeai ,cum retraheretur hasta1 apparuit cuspis rubea sanguine4 ,tunc mihi videbatur quod quasi cor meum perforaretur1 cum vidissem cor filii mei charissimi perforatum4 ,rev4 c4 #aj4 #aebj ,non parvum miraculum a ,deo factum est1 quod ,b4 ,virgo tot doloribus sauciata spiritum non exhalarit4 #aeba ,tu mihi pater eras1 tu frater1 sponsus1 me delici1 mea gloria1 tu mihi omnia eras4 #aebb ,isa4 xlvi4 #h4 #aebc ,ab ipso fuge ad ipsum1 a judice ad redemptorem1 a tribunali ad crucem4 #aebd ,ezech4 xvi4 #h4 #aebe ,propterea vulneratum est cor ,christi1 ut per vulnus visibile vulnus amoris invisibilis videatur4 ,serm4 de pass4 ,dom4 #aebf ,pr nimio amore aperuit sibi latus1 ut prberet cor suum4 #aebg ,filii hujus matris1 ingredite um ipsa intra penetralia cordis ,jesu4 #aebh ,promt4 ,ex4 ,v4 ,miser4 #aebi ,c4 xxx4 #ba4 #aecj ,o vere ,dei nate1 tu nihi pater1 tu mihi filius1 tu mihi sponsus1 tu mihi anima eras6 ,nunc orbor patre1 viduor sponso1 desolor filio1 uno perdito filio omnia perdo4 ,de ,lam4 ,v4 ,mar4 #aeca ,o quam libenter tunc posita fuissem viva cum filio meo1 si fuisset voluntas ejus6 ,rev4 l4 #a4 #aecb ,animam cum corpore ,christi contumulari ,virgo vehementer exoptavit4 #aecc ,vere dicere possum1 quod sepulto filio meo quasi duo corda in uno sepulchro fuerunt4 ,rev4 l4 #b1 c4 #ba4 #aecd ,ubi thesaurus vester est1 ibi et cor vestrum erit4 ,luc4 xii4 #cd4 #aece ,super ipsam potius1 quam super ,dominum plangebant4 #aecf ,sorores ,domin velaverunt eam tamquam viduam2 cooperientes quasi totum vultum4 #aecg ,sine1 ,domina mea1 sine me flere2 tu innocens es1 ego sum reus4 #aech ,dom infra oct ,nat4 s4 #b4 #aeci ,et tu1 fili mi1 cur mrore conficeris1 qui in mrore meo toties me consolatus es8 #aedj ,o ,domina1 qu rapis corda hominum dulcore1 nonne cor meum rapuisti8 ,o raptrix cordium1 quando mihi restitues cor meum8 ,guberna illud cum tuo1 et in latere filii colloca4 ,tunc possidebo quod spero1 quia tu es spes nostra4 ,s4 ,bernard4 ,med4 in ,salv4 ,reg4 ap4 s4 ,bon4 ,stim4 c4 #ai1 part4 #c4 #aeda ,nunc1 ergo filii1 audite me2 beati qui custodiunt vias meas4 ,prov4 viii4 #cc4 #aedb ,dilectissimi ,mariam colite quam amatis1 quia tunc vere amatis si imitari volueritis quam amatis4 ,s4 ,hier4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 ap4 ,lohn4 #aedc ,alii sanctorum specialia opera exercuerunt2 alius fuit castus1 alius humilis1 alius misericors2 sed ,b4 ,virgo datur in exemplum omnium virtutum4 ,opusc4 #h4 #aedd ,talis fuit ,maria ut ejus unius vit omnium disciplina sit4 ,l4 #b1 de ,virg4 #aede ,sit vobis tanquam in imagine descripta virginitas vitaque ,mari1 in qua refulget forma virtutis4 ,hinc sumatis exempla vivendi 444 quid corrigere1 quid fugere1 quid tenere debeatis4 ,loc4 cit4 #aedf ,humilitas est fundamentum custosque virtutem4 #aedg ,vit4 l4 #f1 c4 #b1 s4 #aa4 #aedh ,et discite a me1 quia mitis sum1 et humilis corde4 ,matth4 xi4 #bi4 #aedi ,prima virtus in qua ,virgo nata1 et infans se singulariter exercuit1 fuit humilitas4 #aeej ,ita modeste de se sentiebat1 ut cum tot gratias haberet1 nulli se prtulit4 #aeea ,vulnerasti cor meum1 soror mea sponsa 444 in uno crine colli tui4 ,cant4 iv4 #i4 #aeeb ,in uno crine1 idest in nimia humilitate cordis tui4 ,iste est crinis colli1 humilis cogitatus4444 ,quid uno crine gracilius8 ,in d4 l4 ,cant4 #d4 #aeec ,nolite1 me considerare quod fusca sim1 quia decoloravit me sol4 ,cant4 i4 #f4 #aeed ,appropinquans illi me nigram invenio4 #aeee ,virgo continue habebat actualem relationem ad divinam majestatem1 et ad sui nihilitatem4 #aeef ,pro firmo scias1 quod me reputabam vilissimam et gratia ,dei indignam4 ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 de ,vit4 ,christ4 #aeeg ,sicut nulla post filium ,dei creatura tantum ascendit in grati dignitatem1 sic nec tantum descendit in abyssum humilitatis4 ,to4 #b1 ,serm4 #ea1 c4 #c4 #aeeh ,matth4 i4 #ai4 #aeei ,benedicta tu in mulieres4444 ,et unde hoc mihi ut veniat mater ,domini mei ad me8 ,et beata qu credidisti1 c4 ,luc4 i4 #db1 #dc1 #dd4 #aefj ,ut quid enim ego me tantum humiliabam1 aut promerui tantam gratiam1 nisi quia cogitavi et scivi nihil a me esse vel habere4 ,ideo nolui laudem meam1 sed solum datoris et creatoris4 ,rev4 l4 #b1 c4 #bc4 #aefa ,o vere beata humilitas1 qu ,deum hominibus peperit1 paradisum aperuit1 et animas ab inferis liberavit4 ,serm4 #ce1 de ,sanctis4 #aefb ,venisse ,mariam mirabatur ,elisabeth1 sed magis miretur quod ipsa non ministrari venerit1 sed ministrare4 ,serm4 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aefc ,c4 #ab4 #aefd ,foris stabat1 nec materna auctoritate sermonem interrupit1 nec in domum intravit ubi filius loquebatur4 #aefe ,hi omnes erant perseverantes unanimitur in oratione cum mulieribus1 et ,maria matre ,jesu4 ,act4 i4 #ad4 #aeff ,merito facta novissima prima1 qu cum prima esset omnium1 se novissimam faciebat4 ,serm4 ,sup4 ,si4 ,mar4 #aefg ,quid contemtibilius quam vocari fatua1 omnibus indigere1 omnibus indigniorem se credere8 ,talis ,o filia1 fuit humilitas mea1 hoc gaudium meum1 hc voluntas tota1 qua nulli nisi filio meo placare cogitabam4 #aefh ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #bi4 #aefi ,si non potes virginitatem1 humilis1 imitare humilitatem ,virginis4 ,ho4 #a1 ,sup4 ,miss4 #aegj ,ergo et tu1 filia mea veni1 et absconde te sub mantello meo3 hic mantellus humilitas mea est4 #aega ,nec humilitas mea proficit1 nisi unusquisque studuerit eam imitari4 ,ergo1 filia mea1 induere hac humilitate4 #aegb ,agnoscit ,virgo et diligit diligentes se1 et prope est invocantibus se2 prsertim iis quos videt conformes sibi factos in castitate et humilitate4 ,in ,salv4 ,reg4 #aegc mulamini hanc virtutem1 si ,mariam diligitis4 ,loc4 cit4 #aegd ,superat omnium creaturarum amores in filium suum4 #aege ,diliges ,dominum ,deum tuum ex toto corde tuo4 ,matt4 xxii4 #cg4 #aegf ,plene et perfecte in patria implebitur hoc prceptum2 in via autem impletur1 sed imperfecte4 #b1 #b4 q4 #bd1 vid4 a4 #f1 #h4 #aegg ,aut aliquis implet hoc preceptum1 aut nullus2 si aliquis1 ergo beatissima ,virgo4 ,super4 ,miss4 c4 #gf4 #aegh ,emmanuelis nostri puerpera in omni fuit virtutum consummatione perfecta4 ,quis illud primum mandatum sic unquam implevit3 ,diliges ,dominum ,deum tuum ex toto corde tuo8 ,in ea divinus amor adeo concaluit1 ut qualiscumque defectus in eam incidere non posset4 ,l4 #b1 de ,em4 c4 #bf4 #aegi ,amor ,christi ,mari animam non modo confixit1 sed etiam pertransivit2 ut nullam in pectore virginali particulam vacuam relinqueret1 sed toto corde1 tota anima1 tota virtute diligeret1 et esset gratia plena4 ,serm4 #bi1 in ,cant4 #aehj ,cant4 ii4 #aj4 #aeha ,seraphim e clo descendere poterant1 ut amorem discerent in corde virginis4 #aehb ,joan4 iv4 #af4 #aehc ,totam eam incanduerat divinus amor1 ita ut nihil esset mundanum quod ejus violaret affectum1 sed ardor continuus1 et ebrietas profusi amoris4 ,hier4 aut4 ,sofron4 ,serm4 de ,ass4 #aehd ,cant4 viii4 #f4 #aehe ,ap4 ,lap4 #aehf ,mariam1 velut ignis ferrum1 ,spiritus ,sanctus totam ignivit2 ita ut in ea ,spiritus ,sancti flamma tantum videatur1 nec sentiatur nisi tantum ignis amoris ,dei4 ,de ,ass4 ,or4 #a4 #aehg ,apoc4 xii4 #a4 #aehh ,jure ergo ,maria sole perhibetur amicta1 qu profundissimam divin sapienti1 ultra quam credi valeat1 penetravit abyssum2 ut quantum sine personali unione creatur conditio patitur1 luci illi inaccessibili videatur immersa4 ,serm4 in ,sign4 ,magn4 #aehi ,sicut magnus ignis effugat muscas1 sic a sua inflammata charitate dmones pellebantur1 quod non ausi sint illi appropinquare4 ,to4 #b1 ,serm4 #fa1 a4 #c4 #aeij ,virgo principibus tenebrarum terribilis fuit1 ut ad eam accedere1 eamque tentare non prsumserint1 deterrebat eos flamma charitatis4 ,p4 c4 #bf1 in ,cant4 #aeia ,actus perfect charitatis1 quos ,b4 ,virgo habuit in hac vita1 innumerabiles fuerunt1 qu fere totam vitam in contemplatione transegit1 et tunc amoris actum frequentissime repetebat4 ,to4 #b1 in #c1 p4 ,d4 #ah1 ,s4 #d4 #aeib ,tamen ipsa gloriosissima ,virgo de privilegio singulari continue et semper ,deum amabat actualiter4 ,p4 #b1 ,serm4 #d1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aeic ,adeo ut nec actio contemplationem minueret1 et contemplatio non desereret actionem4 ,serm4 #a1 de ,nat4 ,virg4 #aeid ,l4 #e1 in ,jul4 c4 #i4 #aeie ,l4 #b1 de ,virg4 #aeif ,prov4 xxxi4 #ah4 #aeig ,anima ejus libere tunc tendebat in ,deum2 unde illo tempore erat perfectior contemplatrix1 quam unquam fuerit alius dum vigilavit4 #aeih ,cant4 v4 #b4 #aeii ,to4 #b1 ,serm4 #ea1 a4 #c1 c4 #c4 #afjj ,nihil unquam elegit nisi quod divina sapientia demonstrabat2 tantumque dilexit ,deum1 quantum a se diligendum existimabat4 ,loc4 cit4 #afja ,credimus etiam sine prjudicio melioris sententi1 ,b4 ,virginem in conceptione filii ,dei charitatem talem accepisse qualis et quanta percipi poterat a pura creatura in statu vi4 ,l4 de ,laud4 ,virg4 c4 #if4 #afjb ,hc ,virgo sua pulchritudine ,deum a clis allexit1 qui amore illius captus est1 et humanitatis nostr nexibus irretitus4 ,conc4 #e1 in ,nat4 ,dom4 #afjc ,o virtus ,virginis matris6 ,una puella vulneravit et rapuit divinum cor6 ,to4 #b1 ,serm4 #fa1 a4 #a1 c4 #d4 #afjd ,adjuro vos1 fili ,jerusalem1 si inveneritis dilectum meum1 ut nuncietis ei1 quia amore langueo4 ,cant4 v4 #h4 #afje ,l4 #d1 n4 #cjf4 #afjf ,quia tota ardens fuit1 omnes se amantes eamque tangentes incendit1 et sibi assimilat4 #afjg ,et hoc mandatum habemus a ,deo1 ut qui diligit ,deum1 diligat et fratrem suum4 #a ,joan4 iv4 #ba4 #afjh ,ferculum fecit sibi rex ,salomon 444 media charitate constravit propter filias ,jerusalem4 ,cant4 iii4 #i4 #afji ,b4 ,virginis sinus fuit ferculum ferens verbum2 ideoque media charitate constratum propter filias ,jerusalem quia ,christus qui est ipsa charitas1 maximam charitatem ,b4 ,virgini aspiravit1 ut ipsa ad illam recurrentibus opem ferret4 #afaj ,joan4 ii4 #c4 #afaa ,luc4 i4 #ci4 #afab ,sic ,maria dilexit mundum1 ut filium suum unigenitum daret4 #afac ,o benedicta inter mulieres1 qu angelos vincit puritate et sanctos superas pietate4 #afad ,quia magis nunc videt hominum miserias4 ,spec4 c4 #h4 #afae ,magna fuit erga miseros misericordia ,mari adhuc exulantis in mundo1 sed multo major est regnantis in clo4 ,loc4 cit4 #afaf ,ex dulcedine ,mari nullus est1 qui non per eam1 si petitur1 sentiat pietatem4 ,rev4 l4 c4 #c1 #cj4 #afag ,nisi preces matris me intervenirent1 non esset spes misericordi4 ,l4 #f1 c4 #bi4 #afah ,beatus homo qui audit me1 et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie1 et observat ad postes ostii mei4 ,prov4 viii4 #cd4 #afai ,nulla res est qu ,virginis benevolentiam conciliat1 ac misericordia4 #afbj ,estote misericordes1 sicut et pater vester misericors est4 ,luc4 viii4 #cf4 #afba ,estote misericordes sicut et mater vestra misericors est4 #afbb ,date et dabitur vobis2 eadem quippe mensura qua mensi fueritis1 remetietur vobis4 ,luc4 vi4 #ch4 #afbc ,pietas autem ad omnia utilis est1 promissionem habens vit1 qu nunc est1 et futur4 #a ,tim4 iv4 #h4 #afbd ,fneratur ,domino qui miseretur pauperi4 #afbe ,si ,deo fneratur is ergo nobis debitor est4 #afbf ,ego mater pulchr dilectionis1 et timoris1 et agnitionis1 et sanct spei4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bd4 #afbg ,quod ,heva ligavit per incredulitatem1 ,maria solvit per fidem4 #afbh ,crediderat ,heva serpenti1 ,maria ,gabrieli2 quod illa credendo deliquit1 hc credendo delevit4 #afbi ,fides ,mari clum aperuit1 cum angelo nuncianti consensit4 #afcj ,sanctificatus est enim vir infidelis per mulierem fidelem4 #a ,cor4 vii4 #ad4 #afca ,hc est mulier fidelis1 per cujus fidem salvatus est ,adam vir infidelis et tota posteritas4 #afcb ,beata qu credidisti quoniam perficientur ea1 qu dicta sunt tibi a ,domino4 ,luc4 i4 #de4 #afcc ,beatior ,maria percipiendo fidem ,christi1 quam concipiendo carnem ,christi4 #afcd ,stabat mater fide elevata1 quam de ,christi divinitate fixa retinuit4 #afce ,non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus4 xxxi4 #ah4 #afcf ,torcular calcavi solus1 et de gentibus non est vir mecum4 lxiii4 #c4 #afcg ,dicit vir propter ,virginem1 in qua nunquam fides defecit4 #afch ,gaude1 ,maria ,virgo1 cunctas hreses sola interemisti inuniverso mundo4 ,ant4 #a1 ,noct4 #c4 #afci ,vulnerasti cor meum1 soror mea1 sponsa 444 in uno oculorum tuorum4 ,cant4 iv4 #i4 #afdj ,per oculos fidem designat1 qua ,dei filio ,virgo maxime complacuit4 #afda ,ille vero credit1 qui exercet operando quod credit4 #afdb ,dicis1 credo1 fac quod dicis1 et fides est4 #afdc ,justus autem meus ex fide vidit4 ,hebr4 x4 #ch4 #afdd ii4 #bj4 #afde ,mihi autem adhrere ,deo bonum est2 ponere in ,domino ,deo spem meam4 ,psal4 lxxii4 #bh4 #afdf ,qu est ista qu ascendit de deserto1 deliciis affluens innixa super dilectum suum8 ,cant4 viii4 #e4 #afdg ,ascendit de deserto1 scilicet de mundo1 quem sic deseruit1 et tamquam desertum reputavit1 ut ab ipso omnem suum averterit affectum4 ,innixa super dilectum suum1 nam non suis meritis1 sed ipsius innitebatur grati1 qui gratiam tribuit4 ,ap4 ,cornel4 in ,cant4 viii4 #e4 #afdh ,matth4 i4 #ai4 #afdi ,b4 ,virgo autem noduit ultro secretum hoc ,josepho pandere1 ne sua dona jactare videretur1 sed ,dei cur idipsum resignavit certissime confidens1 ,deum suam innocentiam et famam tutaturum4 #afej ,et reclinavit eum in prsepio1 qua non erat eis locus in diversorio4 ,luc4 ii4 #g4 #afea ,qui consurgens accepit puerum1 et matrem ejus nocte1 et secessit in gyptum4 ,matth4 ii4 #ad4 #afeb ,quid mihi et tibi est mulier1 nondum venit hora mea4 ,joan4 ii4 #d4 #afec ,phil4 iv4 #ac4 #afed ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bd4 #afee ,inter omnia certamina duriora sunt prlia castitatis1 ubi quotidiana est pugna et rara victoria4 #afef ,virgo virginum1 qu sine consilio1 sine exemplo munus virginitatis ,deo obtulit1 et per sui imitationem omnes virgines germinavit4 ,mar4 p4 #bi4 #afeg ,psal4 lxiv4 #ae4 #afeh ,o ,virgo quis te docuit ,deo placere virginitate1 et in terris angelicam ducere vitam4 ,hom4 #d4 ,sup4 ,miss4 #afei ,christus matrem virginem elegit1 ut ipsa omnibus esset exemplum castitatis4 ,ap4 ,parav4 p4 #b1 c4 #a4 #affj ,cant4 i4 #i4 #affa ,cant4 ii4 #b4 #affb ,omnes ali virgines spin fuerunt vel sibi vel aliis2 ,b4 ,virgo nec sibi1 nec aliis4 #affc ,id4 ,s4 ,dio4 #affd ,ap4 ,par4 loc4 cit4 #affe ,tu dicis ,mariam virginem non permansisse8 ,ego mihi plus vindico1 etiam ipsum ,joseph virginem fuisse per ,mariam4 ,l4 adv4 ,helvid4 #afff ,quomodo fiet istud1 quoniam virum non cognosco8 ,luc4 i4 #cd4 #affg ,qui castitatem servavit1 angelus est1 qui perdidit1 diabolus4 #affh ,matth4 xxii4 #affi ,nunquam ,maria tantam gratiam invenissit1 nisi cibo temperatissima fuisset2 non enim se compatiuntur gratia et gula4 #afgj ,cant4 v4 #e4 #afga ,prov4 xi4 #ae4 #afgb ,mansit autem ,maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus2 et reversa est in domum suam4 ,elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi1 et peperit filium4 ,cap4 i4 #ef4 #afgc ,et ut scivi quoniam aliter non possem esse continens nisi ,deus det 444 aii ,dominum1 et deprecatus sum ilium4 ,sap4 viii4 #ba4 #afgd ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 de ,vit4 ,chr4 c4 #c4 #afge ,propter vos egenus factus est1 cum esset dives1 et illius inopia vos divites essetis4 #b ,cor4 viii4 #i4 #afgf ,si vis perfectus esse1 vende qu habes1 et da pauperibus 444 et veni1 sequere me4 ,matth4 xix4 #ba4 #afgg ,ap4 ,parav4 p4 c4 #b4 #afgh ,a principio vovi in corde meo nihil unquam possidere in mundo4 ,l4 #a1 c4 #aj4 #afgi ,aurum sibi oblatum a magis non modicum1 prout decebat eorum regiam majestatem1 non sibi reservavit1 sed pauperibus per ,joseph distribuit4 ,ap4 ,par4 loc4 cit4 #afhj ,pro filio 444 deferet agnum4 xii4 #f4 #afha ,et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege ,domini1 par turturum aut duos pullos columbarum4 ,luc4 ii4 #bd4 #afhb ,omnia qu habere potui dedi indigentibus1 nihilque nisi cibum tenuem et vestitum reservavi4 ,rev4 l4 #a1 c4 #aj4 #afhc ,ap4 auct4 ,vit4 ,mar4 ,l4 #e1 c4 #ac4 #afhd ,beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum clorum4 ,matth4 v4 #c4 #afhe ,amorem tui solum cum gratia tua mihi dones1 et dives sum satis4 #afhf ,pauper multum consolari potest de paupertate ,mari1 et de paupere ,christo4 #afhg ,et exultavit spiritus meus in ,deo salutari meo4 #afhh ,o vera ancilla1 qu neque dicto1 neque facto1 neque cogitatu unquam contradixit ,altissimo1 nihil sibi libertatis reservans1 sed per omnia subdita ,deo4 ,conc4 de ,annunc4 #afhi ,luc4 i4 #dh4 #afij ,sicut ,heva inobediens et sibi et universo generi humano causa facta est mortis2 sic et ,maria ,virgo obediens et sibi et universo generi humano facta est causa salutis4 ,ap4 ,parav4 p4 #b1 c4 #aa4 #afia ,in ,b4 ,virgine nullum fuit omnino retardativum1 proinde rota volubilis fuit secundum omnem ,spiritus ,sancti motu4 ,to4 #c1 ,serm4 #aa1 a4 #b1 c4 #a4 #afib ,virgo semper habuit continuum aspectum ad ,dei beneplacitum1 et ferventem consensum4 ,to4 #b1 s4 #da1 a4 #c1 c4 #b4 #afic ,anima mea liquefacta est1 ut dilectus meus locutus est4 ,cant4 v4 #f4 #afid ,anima mea liquefacta est per incendium charitatis1 parata instar metalli liquefacti decurrere in omnes modulos divin voluntatis4 #afie ,ne ,virgini subtrahatur occasio exercendi actum obedienti ad quem erat paratissima4 #afif ,parata enim stetit1 si deesset manus percussoris4 ,ap4 ,parav4 p4 #b1 c4 #ab4 #afig ,beatus venter qui te portavit4444 ,quinimmo beati qui audiunt verbum ,dei1 et custodiunt illud4 ,luc4 xi4 #bh4 #afih ,et inde quidem beata1 quia ,verbi incarnandi ministra facta est2 sed inde multo beatior quia ejusdem semper amandi custos manebat terna4 ,c4 #dj1 in ,luc4 #afii ,march4 ,diar4 della ,mad4 #agjj ,rev4 l4 #f1 c4 #aa4 #agja ,qui vos audit me audit2 et qui vos spernit1 me spernit4 ,luc4 x4 #af4 #agjb ,pro obedientia mea tantam potestatem obtinui1 quod nullus tam immundis peccator1 si ad me cum emendatione proposito convertitur et cum corde contrito1 non habebit veniam4 #agjc ,in patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras4 ,luc4 xxi4 #ai4 #agjd ,sicut rosa crescere solet inter spinas2 ita hc venerabilis ,virgo in hoc mundo crevit inter tribulationes4 ,serm4 ,ang4 c4 #aj4 #agje ,maria facta est mater nostra1 quos genuit filio compatiendo4 #agjf ,quid utilius ad vitam1 vel majus ad gloriam1 quam patientia8 #agjg #b1 #f4 #agjh ,jac4 i4 #d4 #agji ,post hc vidi turbam magnam 444 et palm in manibus eorum4 ,apoc4 vii4 #i4 #agaj ,nos sine ferro martyres esse possumus1 si patientiam custodiamus4 #agaa ,momentaneum1 et leve tribulationis nostr 444 ternum glori pondus operatur in nobis4 #b ,cor4 iv4 #ag4 #agab ,luc4 xviii4 #a4 #agac ,maria exemplum dedit quod oportet sequi1 et non deficere4 ,spec4 c4 #d4 #agad ,sup4 ,miss4 #hj4 #agae ,surgebam semper in noctis medio et pergebam ante altare templi1 et ibi petitiones meas prsentabam4 ,v4 ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 de ,vit4 ,chr4 c4 #c4 #agaf ,loca dominic nativitatis1 passionis1 sepultur frequenter visitabat4 #agag ,nulla unquam inordinata affectio1 nec distractio mentem ,virginis a contemplationis lumine revocavit nec occupatio ulla exterior4 ,de ,laud4 ,virg4 l4 #b1 art4 #h4 #agah ,ecce ,virgo concipiet1 et pariet filium1 et vocabitur nomen ejus ,emmanuel4 ,c4 vii4 #a4 #agai ,merito solitudinis quam ipsa summe diligebat4 ,l4 #a1 c4 #f4 #agbj ,nunquam exibat e domo1 nisi quando ibat ad templum2 et tunc ibat tota composita1 semper habens oculos suos ad terram4 ,serm4 in ,virg4 ,nat4 #agba ,in proposito erat hominum fugere frequentias1 vitare colloquia4 #agbb ,cant4 i4 #i4 #agbc ,turtur est solivaga1 et signat mentis virtutem unitivam4 ,ap4 ,s4 ,bon4 ,dist4 #g4 #agbd ,cant4 iii4 #f4 #agbe ii4 #ad4 #agbf ,o solitudo1 in qua ,deus cum suis familiariter loquitur1 et conversatur6 #agbg ,silentium1 et a strepitu quies cogit clestia meditari4 #agbh ,transite ad me omnes qui concupiscitis me1 et a generationibus meis implemini4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #bf4 #agbi ,nec primam similem visa est1 nec habere sequentem4 ,sola sine exemplo placuisti fmina ,christo4 ,sedulius4 #agcj ,cum sit magnificentissima1 solet maxima pro minimis reddere4 ,or4 #b1 de ,dorm4 ,virg4 #agca ,opusc4 c4 #bc4 #agcb ,ep4 #abi4 #agcc ,qui tenuerit ,mariam perseveranter1 hic beatus erit in spe1 quia omnia optata ei succedent4 ,l4 #b1 p4 #dh4 #agcd ,salutate eam angelica salutatione1 quia vocem hanc audit valde libenter4 ,serm4 #ca1 ad ,nov4 #agce ,march4 #bj1 ,aug4 #agcf ,libenter nos salutat cum gratia1 si libenter salutamus cum ,ave ,maria4 ,auriem4 ,aff4 ,scam4 tom4 #a1 c4 #f4 #agcg ,si quis veniat ad matrem ,domini dicens1 ,ave ,maria1 numquid poterit ei gratiam denegare8 #agch ,serm4 #a1 ad ,nov4 #agci ,to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 prat4 #b4 #agdj ,loc4 cit4 #agda ,ap4 ,viva4 de ,ind4 s4 ult4 #agdb ,loc4 cit4 #agdc ,ap4 ,maracci4 p4 #be4 #agdd ,to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 prat4 #f4 #agde ,venite1 comedite panem meum1 et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis4 #agdf ,at the end of the book will be found two formulas of this dedication2 one for a single person1 and the other for a family4 #agdg ,to4 #a1 c4 #h4 #agdh ,per illud triste ,sabbatum stetit in fide1 propterea aptissime ,s4 ,ecclesia diem ,sabbati per totum anni circulum celebrare consuevit4 ,l4 #b1 de ,pass4 #agdi ,ap4 ,auriem4 l4 c4 #agej ,no4 #ge4 #agea ,to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 p4 #d4 #ageb ,in ,marc4 c4 #e1 n4 #aj4 #agec ,accipe1 fili dilectissime1 hoc tui ordinis scapulare1 me confraternitatis signum1 tibi et cunctis ,carmelitis privilegium2 in quo quis moriens ternum non patietur incendium4 ,ap4 ,lez4 l4 cit4 #aged ,c4 #h1 s4 #b4 #agee ,confessor pro viribus suadebit1 ut alicui societati pnitentes adscribantur4 ,act4 ,med4 to4 #a1 c4 #f1 #eh4 #agef ,turris ,david1 mille clypei pendent ex ea1 omnis armatura fortium4 ,cant4 iv4 #d4 #ageg ,memorare novissima tua1 et in ternum non peccabis4 ,eccli4 vii4 #dj4 #ageh ,desolatione desolata est omnis terra1 quia nullus est qui recogitet corde4 ,jer4 xii4 #aa4 #agei ,joan4 x4 #bg4 #agfj ,joan4 xvi4 #bd4 #agfa ,si duo ex vobis consenserint super terram1 de omni re1 quamcumque petierint1 fiet illis a ,patre meo4 ,matth4 xviii4 #ai4 #agfb ,multi minimi1 dum congregantur unanimes1 fiunt magni2 et multorum preces impossibile est non audiri4 #agfc ,tamquam antidotum quo liberemur a culpis quotidianis1 et a peccatis mortalibus prservemur4 ,sess4 #ac1 c4 #b4 #agfd ,sap4 vii4 #aa4 #agfe ,ap4 ,sarn4 d4 ,congr4 p4 #a4 #agff ,prov4 xxxi4 #ba4 #agfg ,to4 #b1 c4 #d4 #agfh ,to #b1 pr4 #e4 #agfi ,ap4 ,p4 ,pepe4 to4 #e1 ,lez4 #bce1 in fin4 #aggj ,hic est filius meus ,eberardus1 qui nihil mihi unquam negavit4 #agga ,p4 ,auriem4 to4 #a1 c4 #ab4 #aggb ,sess4 #bb1 c4 #c4 #aggc ,ut illis proficiat ad honorem1 nobis autem ad salutem4 #aggd #a ,barry1 ,pa4 ,ap4 #agge ,append4 ,indulg4 in calce ,trut4 s4 ult4 #aggf ,serm4 #fa4 #aggg ,domina dic pro nobis filio tuo1 vinum non habent4 ,calix hujus vini inebrians quam prclarus est6 ,inebriat amor ,dei ad contemptum mundi2 calefacit1 facit fortes1 somnolentes ad temporalia1 et ad invisibilia promptos4 ,s4 ,bern4 aut quisquis est auctor in ,salv4 ,reg4 ,serm4 #d4 #aggh ,tu es ager plenus1 plena virtutum1 plena gratiarum4 ,tu processisti ut aurora lucida1 et rubicunda2 quia superatis originalibus peccatis in utero matris1 nata es lucida cognitione veritatis1 et rubicunda amore virtutis2 nihil omnino inimicus proficit in te1 eo quod mille clypei pependerunt ex te1 omnis armatura fortium2 nihil est enim virtutis quod ex te non resplendeat1 et quicquid singuli habuere sancti1 tu sola possedisti4 ,ibid4 #aggi ,o ,domina nostra1 mediatrix nostra1 advocata nostra1 tu filio nos commenda4 ,fac1 o benedicta1 per gratiam quam meruisti1 ut qui1 te mediante1 dignatus est fieri particeps nostr infirmitatis et miseri1 te quoque intercedente1 participes nos faciat beatitudinis et glori su4 ,ibid4 #aghj ,to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 prat4 #bj4 #agha ,l4 #c1 de ,deip4 c4 #ah4 #aghb ,annal4 ,soc4 #afej1 ,ap4 ,auriem4 ,aff4 ,scamb4 t4 #c1 c4 #g4 #aghc ,ann4 ,marian4 #aeje4 #aghd ,bonif4 ,hist4 ,virg4 c4 #f4 #aghe ,in ,vit4 p4 ,aut4 de ,collel4 c4 #cb1 s4 #e4 #aghf ,paciucch4 in ,sal4 ,ang4 ,exc4 #d1 ,no4 #aj4 #aghg ,bonif4 l4 #d1 c4 #d1 ex4 ,b4 ,alan4 etc4 #aghh ,diotall4 to4 #b1 ,dom4 #b1 ,quinquag4 #aghi ,ap4 ,auriem4 to4 #b1 c4 #aa4 #agij ,cartag4 to4 #d1 l4 ult4 s4 #aad4 ,let any one who wishes for other examples of the power of the ,rosary1 read those at the end of the first vol4 of the above-mentioned work1 pages #fh1 #ib1 #acc1 #bfb1 #cjb4 #agia ,theoph4 ,rayu4 de ,s4 ,lacr4 c4 #ae4 #agib ,cantiprat4 l4 #c1 c4 #ai1 p4 #ah4 #agic ,bovio esempio di4 ,s4 ,s4 ,verg4 to4 #c1 ,es4 #i4 #agid ,ann4 ,marian4 #afah4 #agie ,appr4 ,auriem4 to4 #a1 c4 #g4 #agif ,bovio4 to4 #e1 ,es4 #g4 #agig ,cesar4 l4 #c1 c4 #cc4 #agih ,spec4 ,ex4 ,b4 num4 #fi4 et ,crass1 to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 pr4 ,i4 #agii ,bolland4 #ae1 ,maji4 #ahjj ,ap4 ,crass4 to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 p4 #a4 #ahja ,tesoro del ,rosar4 l4 #d1 ,mir4 #ag1 ,diotall4 to4 #a1 ,agg4 ,es4 #g4 #ahjb ,crass4 to4 #b1 tr4 #f1 pr4 #ad4 #ahjc ,crass4 loc4 cit4 #ahjd ,ann4 ,cisterc4 an4 #aaea1 c4 #e1 et ,bov4 to4 #e1 ,es4 #f4 #ahje ,v4 ,p4 ,aur4 to4 #b1 ex4 c4 #d4 #ahjf ,auriem4 to4 #b1 c4 #f4 #ahjg ,aur4 c4 #e4 #ahjh ,ann4 ,congr4 an4 #aeih4 #ahji ,lecnero4 ,sodal4 ,parth4 l4 #c1 c4 #c4 #ahaj ,ann4 ,soc4 #aeej4 #ahaa ,auriem1 to4 #b1 c4 #g4 #ahab ,ibid4 #ahac ,ann4 ,marian4 #ai ,jul4 #ahad ,barri4 ,par4 ap4 c4 #b4 #ahae ,patr4 ,menol4 #ah ,settembre4 #ahaf ,andrado del ,battes4 di4 n4 ,don4 e il4 ,p4 ,rho4 ,sab4 ,es4 #ga4 #ahag ,an4 ,soc4 ap4 ,auriem4 to4 #b1 c4 #a4 #ahah ,chronic4 ,cisterc4 #ahai ,chron4 ,min4 #ajd1 l4 #e1 c4 #be4 #ahbj ,chron4 ,dul4 to4 #a1 del ,labbeo4 e il ,p4 ,rho4 es4 #bg4 #ahba ,p4 ,andrad4 l4 #b4 ,imit4 della4 ,v4 c4 #bc4 #ahbb ,p4 ,rho4 ,sab4 ,es4 #db4 #ahbc ,p4 ,sinisc4 ,mart4 di ,mar4 ,cons4 #ch4 #ahbd ,in ,vita4 ,b4 ,bern4 ,tolom4 #ahbe ,spec4 ,ex4 ,v4 ,b4 ,maria1 ,ex4 #aj4 #ahbf ,giac4 di ,vorag4 in ,fest4 ,ass4 et ,spec4 ,ex4 #ca4 #ahbg ,patrign4 ,men4 #h lug4 #ahbh ,eus4 ,nier4 ,troph4 ,mar4 l4 #b1 c4 #ad4 #ahbi ,job4 ,clictov4 in ,serm4 ,conc4 #ahcj ,spec4 ,ex4 verb4 ,laborare4 ,ex4 #g4 #ahca ,s4 ,ans4 in ep4 ap4 ,auriem4 to4 #a1 c4 #h4 #ahcb ,prato4 ,fior4 l4 #c1 ,es4 #aje4 #ahcc ,andr4 nel suo ,itin4 ,grad4 #g1 ap4 ,bov4 to4 #d1 ,esemp4 #e4 #ahcd ,csarius4 l4 #g1 ,dial4 c4 #bd4 #ahce ,sigon de ,reb4 ,it4 ap4 ,diotall4 to4 #b1 in fin4 ,ex4 #d4 #ahcf ,discep4 ,promt4 ,ex4 #hc4 #ahcg ,p4 ,allozza4 ,ciel4 ,stell4 di ,mar4 l4 #c1 c4 #e1 ,es4 #fj4 #ahch ,chron4 ,ord4 ap4 ,aur4 to4 #b1 c4 #f4 #ahci ,aur4 to4 #b1 c4 #f4 #ahdj ,ann4 ,min4 ap4 ,aur4 to4 #a1 c4 #d4 #ahda ,p4 ,rho4 ,sab4 della ,b4 l4 ,es4 #ge4 #ahdb ,st4 ,greg4 l4 #d1 ,dial4 c4 #ag4 #ahdc ,jos4 ,mar4 ,barchius1 in ,vita4 #ahdd ,spec4 ,ex4 verb4 ,b4 ,virg4 ,ex4 #c4 #ahde ,chron4 ,verdun4 ap4 ,p4 ,rho4 #ahdf ,cantip4 l4 #b1 c4 #bi1 p4 #f4 #ahdg ,s4 ,gregor4 ,dial4 l4 #a1 c4 #i4 #ahdh ,an4 ,soc4 #afef1 ap4 ,aur4 to4 #b1 c4 #f4 #ahdi ,p4 ,sinisc4 ,mart4 di ,mar4 ,cons4 #ae4 #ahej ,in ,vita4 #ahea ,cantiprat4 l4 ,apum4 ap4 ,sin4 ,cons4 #i4 #aheb ,p4 ,tausc4 de ,,ss4 ,mar4 del4 l4 #b1 c4 #bf4 #ahec ,ann4 ,ord4 ,serv4 ,cen4 #b1 l4 #d1 c4 #ac4 #ahed ,in ,vita et ap4 ,bov4 to4 #d1 ,ex4 #cf4 #ahee ,p4 ,recup4 de ,sign4 ,fruct4 ,sign4 #ab4 #ahef ,rossign4 ,pieta ,osseg4 #aheg ,in ,vita4 #aheh ,franc4 ,lelli in ,vita4 #ahei ,menol4 ,cist4 ai ,santi d',agosto4 #ahfj ,surius die #bb1 ,aprilis4 #ahfa ,mater pete quod vis a me2 non enim potest esse inanis petitio tua4 ,tu nihil mihi negasti in terris2 ego nihil tibi negabo in clis4 #ahfb ,omnia dona et grati quibus vult1 quando vult1 et quomodo vult per ipsius manus dispensantur4 #ahfc ,mecum sunt diviti ut ditem diligentes me4 ,prov4 viii4 #ah1 #ba4 #ahfd ,tanta erat ,mari gratia1 ut si quis inviseret1 integritatis insigne donum conferret4 #ahfe ,cant4 ii4 #b4 #ahff ,cant4 iv4 #g4 #ahfg ,ex quo facta sum coram eo quasi pacem reperiens4 #ahfh ,cant4 iv4 #a4 #ahfi ,cant4 vi4 #h4 #ahgj ,tanta est perfectio ,virginis1 ut soli ,deo cognoscenda reservetur4 #ahga ,tuam enim gloriam ,creator existimat esse propriam4 #ahgb ,qui elucidant me vitam ternam habebunt4 ,offic4 in ,concep4 ,b4 ,virg4 #ahgc ,honorantes eam in hoc sculo1 honorabit in futuro4 #ahgd ,accedis non rogans1 sed imperans2 nam filius nihil negans1 honorat4 #ahge ,sileat misericordiam tuam1 si quis te invocatam meminerit defuisse4 #ahgf ,in te1 ,domina1 peccant non solum qui tibi injuriam irrogant1 sed etiam qui te non rogant4 #ahgg ,beatus homo qui audit me et vigilat ad fores meas quotidie4 ,prov4 viii4 #cd4 #ahgh ,qui operantur in me non peccabunt1 444 qui elucidat me vitam ternam habebunt4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #cj1 #ca4 #ahgi ,in me gratia omnis vi et veritatis2 in me omnis spes vit et virtutis 444 transite ad me omnes4 ,eccli4 xxiv4 #be1 #bf4 #ahhj vi4 #ca4 #ahha ,quare vincula8 ,nisi quia serves suos ligat1 ne discurrant per campos licenti4 #ahhb ,nativitas tua sancta ,dei genitrix gaudium annunciavit universo mundo4 #ahhc ,redempturus humanum genus universum pretium contulit in ,maria1 ut1 si quid salutis in nobis est1 ab illa noverimus redundare4 #ahhd ,quinimmo beati qui audiunt verbum ,dei1 et custodiunt illud6 ,luc4 xi4 #bh4 #ahhe ,et exultavit spiritus meus in ,deo salutari meo4 #ahhf iv4 #ab4 #ahhg ,rosa rubicunda per ,dei et proximi charitatem2 nam igneus color charitatem denotat4 #ahhh ,unam solam in clis fatemur esse solicitam4 #ahhi ,collum tuum sicut turris ,david2 mille clypei pendent ex ea1 omnis armatura fortium4 ,cant4 iv4 #d4 #ahij ,sicut ,sion locus erat eminentissimus1 sic ,b4 ,virgo altissima4 #ahia ,psal4 lxxxvi4 #b4 #ahib ,cant4 vii4 #d4 #ahic ,per ,virginem a capite ,christo vitales grati in ejus corpus mysticum transfunduntur4 #ahid ,sicut turris eburnea1 ,deo amabilis1 diabolo terribilis4 #ahie ,nihil erat in templo quod non auro tegeretur2 nihil erat in ,virgine quod non sanctitate plenum esset4 #ahif ,prov4 ix4 #a4 #ahig ,domus ,dei cujus tanta est abundantia1 quod nostram potest replere inopiam4 #ahih ,nullus potest intrare in clum1 nisi per ,mariam1 tamquam per portam4 #ahii ,in ,missa4 ,b4 ,v4 #aijj ,sicut per stellam maris navigantes diriguntur ad portum1 sic per ,mariam homines diriguntur ad clum4 #aija ,ne avertas oculos a fulgore hujus sideris1 si non vis obrui procellis4 #aijb ,ipsam sequens1 non devias2 ipsa protegente non metuis1 ipsa propitia1 pervenis4 #aijc ,qui invenerit me1 inveniet vitam1 et hauriet salutem a ,domino4 ,prov4 viii4 #ce4 #aijd ,refugium tutissimum a qua nullus peccator despicitur4 ,omnes peccatores excipit1 nec moram in hoc facit4 #aije ,civitas refugii omnium ad eam confugientium4 #aijf ,peccatorem toti mundo despectum materno affectu complecteris1 nec deseris quousque miserum judici reconcilias4 #aijg ,quis post filium tuum curam gerit generis humani1 sicut tu8 ,quis ita nos defendit in nostris afflictionibus8 #aijh ,non reperitur aliquis sanctorum ita compati infirmitalibus nostris1 sicut mulier hc1 ,b4 ,virgo ,maria4 #aiji ,auxilium promptum et paratum christianorum1 eripiens nos a periculis4 #aiaj ,cant4 vi4 #c4 #aiaa ,ave1 gratia plena3 ,dominus tecum1 benedicta tu in mulieribus4 ,luc4 i4 #bh4 #aiab ,luc4 i4 #bi4 #aiac ,ne timeas ,maria1 invenisti enim gratiam apud ,deum4 #aiad ,ecce concipies in utero et paries filium et vocabis nomen ejus ,jesum4 #aiae ,ecce ancilla ,domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum4 #aiaf i4 #ci4 #aiag ,benedicta tu in mulieres1 et benedictus fructus ventris tui4 #aiah ,et unde hoc mihi1 ut veniat mater ,domini mei ad me8 #aiai ,ut audivit salutationem ,mari ,elisabeth1 exultavit infans in utero ejus1 et repleta est spiritu sancto ,elisabeth4 ,luc4 i4 #da4 #aibj ,exaltata est sancta ,dei genitrix super choros angelorum ad clestia regna4 #aiba ,qu est ista qu progreditur quasi aurora consurgens8 ,cant4 vi4 #i4 #aibb ,nativitas tua1 ,dei genitrix virgo1 gaudium annuntiavit universo mundo1 ex te enim ortus est sol justiti1 qui donavit nobis vitam sempiternam4 #aibc ,plenus aquductus1 ut accipiant ceteri de ejus plenitudine4 #aibd ,colos4 i4 #ae4 #aibe ,prov4 viii4 #bb4 #aibf ,sinisc4 in4 fin4 prat4 #c1 p4 #h4 #aibg ,app4 ,crass1 tom4 #b1 sec4 #d4 #aibh ,ex offic4 prd4 et ,diar4 #g1 mart4 #aibi ,blosius or4 ad ,b4 ,v4 #aicj ,s4 ,bern4 aut quisq4 est auctor sup4 ,salv4 ,reg4 ,serm4 #b4 #aica ,loc4 cit4 ,serm4 #c4 #aicb ,in ,salv4 ,reg4 ,s4 ,bon4 ,stim4 c4 #ai1 p4 #c4 #aicc ,loc4 cit4 #aicd ,sup4 ,salv4 ,reg4 ,,index4 ,,appellations ,,of ,,mary-- ,queen of mercy1 #bg ,compassionate mother1 #de ,loving mother1 #ea ,our life1 #hj ,breath of ,christians1 #hc ,terror of ,hell1 #ajd ,our hope1 #aae ,magnet of hearts1 #bcc ,debtor to sinners1 #bcd ,throne of divine mercy1 #bdh ,ladder and vehicle to ,heaven1 #bgh ,throne of grace1 #cjj ,celestial vessel1 #cdg ,inclosed garden1 #ceh ,channel of mercies1 #chh ,treasurer of graces1 #dcg ,numerous1 of ,mary1 #dci ,dispensatrix of graces1 #ddj ,finder of grace1 #ddb ,,dedication of one's self to ,mary1 #ggh of a family to ,mary1 #ggi ,,example-- ,of the mercy of ,mary towards a great sinner1 #cf ,william ,elphinstone1 converted from heresy1 #dh ,how ,mary rewards the love of a poor shepherdess1 #fd ,compassion of ,mary towards penitent sinners1 #gf ,helen1 a sinner1 converted by the devotion of the ,rosary1 #hg ,mary of ,egypt1 #ih ,how ,mary consoled a poor woman in death1 #aab ,how ,mary rewarded a devoted servant1 #abc ,mary the advocate of sinners1 #aci ,st4 ,francis de ,sales and his devotion to ,mary1 #aea ,arnold1 the canon1 who invoked ,mary in death1 #afe ,a youth rescued by ,mary from the power of the devil1 #ahb ,theophilus also rescued by ,mary1 #aif ,a criminal who received pardon on invoking ,mary1 #bab ,beatrice of ,fontebraldo1 #bbd ,benedetta of ,florence1 #bcg ,daily devotion to ,mary saves a certain sinner1 #bea ,two students of ,flanders1 #bfd ,alexander of ,aragona1 #bgc ,a ,cistercian to whom ,mary appeared1 #bhg ,mary--mercy rather than justice1 #cja ,a girl rescued from the devil by one letter of the name of ,mary1 #cah ,a man converted by a picture of ,mary the ,immaculate1 #cfh ,the judgment of our ,lord against ,udo1 bishop1 #chi ,appearance of infant ,jesus to a nun1 #djg ,a youth rescued from sin by devotion to ,mary1 #dcb ,two religious rescued by ,mary in a wood1 #dec ,an abandoned sinner saved by the ,scapular1 #dga ,the death of ,st4 ,stanislas ,kostka1 #dib ,one who lost his sight by a vision of ,mary1 #eab ,a sinner saved by pity for the ,dolors of ,mary1 #ecd ,a sinner saved by a vision of the swords of ,mary's sorrow1 #edd ,a nun who had a vision of the flight of ,jesus1 #eea ,a sinner saved by a vision of the sword of sorrow1 #eei ,revelation of ,jesus to ,diomira1 a nun1 #eff ,a youth rescued from the devil by the ,scapular1 #ege ,a sinner saved by a sermon on the mercy of ,god1 #ehd ,a person freed from scruples by devotion to the ,dolors of ,mary1 #eia ,examples1 various additional1 #fgi ,,jesus1 ,king of ,justice1 #bh and ,mary1 invocation to1 by ,st ,bonaventure1 #abb and ,mary1 invocation of the names of1 dispels demons1 #afc found only through ,mary1 #aha a debtor to ,mary1 #bjj promises special graces to those devoted to the name of ,mary1 #cad ,,mary1 her regal title1 #bd queen of mercy1 #bg invocation to1 by ,st4 ,gregory of ,nicomedia1 #cc confidence in1 #cd recourse to1 #ce our mother1 #ci the joy she gives her children1 #dg her sacrifice of her ,son1 #ed love of1 on account of our redemption by ,jesus1 #ef concern of1 for the human race1 #eg love of1 for those who love her1 #eh devotion of ,leonard the ,dominican to1 #ei examples of love to penitent sinners1 #fh invocation to1 of penitent sinners1 #ge ,st4 ,andrew ,avellino1 example of her help in death1 #ajc the sweetness of her servants in death1 #ajg ,adolphus1 ,count of ,alsace1 consoled in death by1 #aji our hope1 as our intercessor1 #aaf obtains all things for her servants1 #abj ,christians encouraged to invoke her1 #aba hope and refuge of sinners1 #abh invocation of ,st4 ,bernard to1 #acf hope of the despairing1 #ach readiness of1 to aid her servants1 #adc readiness of1 to aid sinners1 #adf anticipates the prayers of her servants1 #adg the marriage of ,cana a proof of her readiness1 #adh the dispenser of favors1 rather than ,jesus1 #adi her power over evil spirits1 #aei invocation of the name of1 powerful at death1 #afc the channel of all graces1 #aga invocation of1 both useful and necessary1 #ahj called by the ,church1 8,our hope01 #aid the maternal authority of1 with ,god1 #bja the miracle at ,cana1 a proof of the influence of1 #bje the wishes of1 always granted by her ,son1 #bjg prayers of1 always heard1 #bji glories in the title of advocate of sinners1 #bah reasons for confidence in1 #bba invocation to1 as mother of our ,judge1 #bcf narration of two sinners saved by devotion to her1 #bde all things to all men1 #bdf offended by those who do not invoke her1 #bdg a faithful servant of1 cannot be lost1 #bed hateful to the devil1 #beh souls devoted to1 hateful to the devil1 #bfj obtains restoration of certain sinners to life1 #bfb servants of1 secure of paradise1 #bhj devotion to1 a sign of salvation1 #bhe protection of1 refuge in danger1 #bhf mercy of unceasing1 #bid full of grace and mercy1 #bih protection of1 very powerful1 #bii worthy mother of the ,saviour1 #cdi redeemed by the ,holy ,spirit at her conception1 #cee greatly beloved by the ,holy ,spirit1 #cei certainly free from original sin1 #cfa the ,feast of her ,immaculate ,conception1 #cff born a saint1 #cga creation of her soul1 greatest work of ,god1 #cgb her graces surpass those of saints and angels united1 #cgc her graces proportioned to her dignity1 #cgd nature of her grace explained1 #cge prophecy of ,david applied to1 #cgg prophecy of ,isaias applied to1 #cgh as mediatrix1 must be sanctified from her birth1 #cgi had use of reason at the first moment of her existence1 #chd used all her graces in the service of ,god1 #che her increase in grace1 #chf offering of herself in the temple1 #cic promptness of her offering1 #cid quits her parents to serve ,god in the temple1 #cif journey of1 to ,jerusalem1 #cig completeness of her devotion to ,god1 #cii holy life of1 in the temple1 #dja details of her life in the temple1 #djb supplications of1 in the temple1 #dje the delight of ,god1 #djf exaltation of1 as mother of ,god1 #daj humility of1 draws the ,word from ,heaven1 #dab disturbed by the praises of the ,angel1 #dac unsuspicious of the dignity awaiting her1 #dad humility of1 in her answer to the ,angel1 #daf privileges of1 increase her humility1 #dah especially beloved of ,god for her humility1 #dai her close union with ,god1 #dbd nature of the union of ,god with her1 #dbe nature of her dignity1 #dbg graces bestowed on1 in consequence of her dignity1 #dbi superior to all creatures1 #dca visit of1 brought grace to ,elizabeth and ,john1 #dch grace easily found through her1 #dde vision of1 to sister ,villani1 #ddf charity of1 in her visit to ,elizabeth1 #ddg certainty of procuring grace through her1 #deb her offering of her ,son in the temple1 #deh by this offering consents to his death1 #dfj understands the prophecies of this sacrifice1 #dfa firmness of1 in this sacrifice1 #dfc cost to1 of this sacrifice1 #dff mother of the redeemed by her sufferings1 #dfi through her only we receive our ,lord1 #dgj death of1 #dge death of happy because she was detached from the world1 #dgg death of happy from peace of conscience1 #dgh death of happy from certainty of salvation1 #dhj circumstances of1 after the death of her ,son1 #dhb death of1 announced to her by ,st4 ,gabriel1 #dhd takes leave of the apostles and disciples1 #dhf directions of1 to the apostles and ,st4 ,john1 #dhg death of1 described1 #dij assumption of1 a season of rejoicing1 #dif ,jesus comes to take her to ,heaven1 #dii entrance of1 into ,heaven1 #eja glory of1 in ,heaven1 #eje martyrdom of1 #eaf length of her martyrdom1 #eag greatness of her martyrdom1 #ebb unlike other martyrs1 suffered without alleviation1 #ebf suffered in proportion to her love of ,jesus1 #ebi graces promised to those devoted to her dolors1 #ecd ,,meditations-- ,for the ,feast of ,purification1 #gdi ,for the ,feast of the ,annunciation1 #gea ,for the ,feast of the ,visitation1 #gec ,for the ,feast of the ,assumption1 #gee ,for the ,feast of the ,nativity of ,mary1 #geg ,for the ,feast of the ,presentation of ,mary1 #gei ,for the ,feast of the ,immaculate ,conception1 #gfa ,,name ,,of ,,mary-- divine1 #cje sweet in life1 #cjf rich in blessings1 #cjg enkindles love1 #cjh consoles the afflicted1 #caj terrifies devils1 #caa attracts the ,angels1 #cab gives strength1 #cac sweet in death1 #cae invocation to the1 #cag ,,novena ,,of ,,meditations ,,to ,,precede ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,purification ,,of ,,mary4 #ast day--8,holy ,mary1 pray for us01 #gbg #b;d day--8,mother of divine grace01 #gbi #c;d day--8,amiable mother01 #gcb #dth day--8,virgin to be praised01 #gcd #eth day--8,virgin most faithful01 #gcg #fth day--8,mystical rose01 #gdj #gth day--8,house of gold01 #gdb #hth day--8,morning star01 #gdd ,,offices ,,of ,,mary-- ,mother of sinners1 #fh ,finder of grace1 #hb ,securer of pardon1 #hf ,giver of perseverance1 #ij ,giver of strength1 #ia ,protector in temptations1 #if ,helper of dying ,christians1 #aja ,receiver of her servants at death1 #ajf ,consoler of the penitent at death1 #aaj ,the destroyer of the serpent1 #aee ,mediatrix of salvation1 #afi ,sharer in the work of our salvation1 #ahe ,mediatrix of saints with ,god1 #aib ,a loving advocate1 #bae ,an earnest advocate1 #bai ,a wise and prudent advocate1 #bbj ,our peacemaker1 #bbh ,the arbitress1 #bce ,saves those for whom she prays1 #bfc ,helper of souls in purgatory1 #bfg ,deliverer of souls in purgatory1 #bgj ,deliverer of those who wear the ,scapular1 #bgb ,guide of souls to paradise1 #bgg ,our intercessor1 #bha ,help of the miserable1 #bid ,,practices ,,of ,,devotion ,,to ,,mary-- #ast--,of the ,hail ,mary1 #fdf #b;d--,of ,novenas1 #fej #c;d--,of the ,rosary and ,office1 #fec #dth--,of ,fasting1 #fee #eth--,of visiting the images of ,mary1 #feg #fth--,of the scapular1 #fei #gth--,of entering her ,confraternities1 #ffb #hth--,of alms in her honor1 #ffh #ith--,of frequent recourse to her1 #ffi ,various united1 #fgj ,,prayer ,,to ,,mary as queen of ,heaven1 #cf as our mother1 #di as the ravisher of hearts1 #ff of a penitent sinner to ,mary1 #gh to ,mary1 the refuge of sinners1 #hh to ,mary1 for protection against temptation1 #ajj to ,mary1 for help in death1 #aab to ,mary1 our intercessor1 #abf to ,mary1 our refuge1 #adj of consecration to ,mary1 #aec invoking the aid of1 against evil spirits1 #aff of thanksgiving to ,mary1 #ahd imploring help to amend1 #aih invoking the influence of ,mary with ,god1 #bad imploring forgiveness for ingratitude1 #bbe to ,mary1 our mediatrix1 #bci to ,mary1 whose eyes are always on her servants1 #bda pity of1 increased in ,heaven1 #bdd to obtain sorrow for sin and amendment1 #beb thanksgiving to ,mary1 #bff for love to ,mary1 #bgd an offering of love to ,mary1 #bhi to ,mary1 as an example of the virtues1 #cjc for devotion to the holy name of ,mary1 #cbj of ,st4 ,ephrem to ,mary1 #cbb of ,st4 ,bernard to ,mary1 #cbc of ,st4 ,germanus to ,mary1 #cbe of the ,abbot of ,celles to ,mary1 #cbf of ,st4 ,methodius1 #cbg of ,st4 ,john ,damascene1 #cbg of ,st4 ,andrew of ,candia1 #cbh ,,prayer of ,st4 ,ildephonsus1 #cbi ,st4 ,athanasius1 #cbi ,st4 ,anselm1 #ccj ,st4 ,peter ,damian1 #cca ,st4 ,william1 ,bishop of ,paris1 #ccb to ,mary1 to be said at the end of daily visit1 #ccb to ,mary ,immaculate1 #cfi to the infant ,mary1 #cib to the child ,mary1 #dji thanksgiving for the exaltation of ,mary1 #dcd to ,mary as the dispensatrix of grace1 #dec to ,mary1 who sacrificed her ,son1 #dgd to ,mary1 on her entrance into ,heaven1 #die to ,mary1 glorified in ,heaven1 #eac to ,mary1 queen of sorrows1 #ecf to ,mary1 pierced by the sword of sorrow1 #edd for the intercession of ,mary with ,jesus persecuted1 #eea to ,mary seeking her lost ,son1 #eei to ,mary1 on her way to ,calvary1 #efg to ,mary1 at the death of ,jesus1 #egf to ,mary1 at the foot of the cross1 #ehe to ,mary1 at the burial of ,jesus1 #eia ,,prayers ,,to ,,the ,,divine ,,mother ,,for ,,every ,,day ,,of ,,the ,,week4 ,for ,pardon of sins--,sunday1 #gfd ,for ,perseverance--,monday1 #gfe ,for a good death--,tuesday1 #gff ,for deliverance from hell--,wednesday1 #gfg ,to obtain paradise--,thursday1 #gfh ,for love to ,mary and ,jesus--,friday1 #ggj ,for the patronage of ,mary--,saturday1 #gga ,prayer of ,st4 ,ephrem to ,mary1 #ghj ,thomas of ,aquin1 #gha ,blosius to the ,virgin1 #gha ,,reasons why ,mary should be created sinless1 #ccg ,she was the first-born daughter of ,god1 #cch ,she was to be the mediatrix of peace1 #cci ,she was to crush the serpent1 #cdj ,she was to be mother of the ,son of ,god1 #cda ,a sinless mother was befitting the ,son1 #cde ,she was to be a worthy mother1 #cej ,she was to be the habitation of the ,lord1 #ceb ,she was to be a respected mother1 #ced ,a sinless spouse was befitting the ,holy ,spirit1 #ceg ,,reflections ,,on ,,the ,,dolors ,,of ,,mary-- ,st4 ,simeon's prophecy1 #ecg ,the flight into ,egypt1 #ede ,the loss of ,jesus in the temple1 #eeb ,the meeting of ,mary with ,jesus when he went to death1 #efj ,the death of ,jesus1 #efh ,the piercing the side of ,jesus1 #egg ,the burial of ,jesus1 #ehe ,rosary1 ,little1 of the ,dolors of ,mary1 #ggc indulgences attached to1 #ggg of the immaculate ,mary1 #ggh ,,types ,,of ,,mary-- ,esther1 #bi ,abigail1 #ee ,aurora1 #hd ,the plane-tree1 #acc ,rebecca1 #acd ,noe's ,ark1 #ace ,ruth1 #acf ,the palm-tree1 #aeg ,the ,ark1 #aei ,the pillar of cloud and of fire1 #afb ,joseph1 #ahi ,abraham1 #bbj ,noe's dove1 #bbi ,the rainbow in the ,apocalypse1 #bcj ,the olive-tree1 #bia ,rebecca1 #bie ,,virtues ,,of ,,mary1 #eib ,her humility1 #eid charity towards ,god1 #fjc charity towards her neighbor1 #faa faith1 #fae hope1 #fbj chastity1 #fbc poverty1 #fbi obedience1 #fcb patience1 #fcf prayer1 #fci