_Consecration of the Saturday to Mary._
Holy Church is ever desirous to maintain a tender devotion in the
hearts of the faithful towards the Most Blessed Virgin, and from the
earliest ages of Christianity she has encouraged the consecration of
the Saturday to her. It is related that there was in the church of
Santa Sofia at Constantinople a picture of the Mother of God which was
veiled during the rest of the week, but on Friday evening the veil was
raised without human aid, and lowered on the evening of Saturday. Thus
did Almighty God manifest His Will that _Saturday_ should be dedicated
to Mary. It was on Saturday she took so great a part in the work of
our redemption, and it was fitting that on the morrow of the day when
she so bitterly wept over the sorrowful scene of Calvary we should
remember her tears shed for us in a special manner. Again, on Saturday
God rested from His work in the creation of the world, and the Church
consecrates this day to her, to honour the mysterious repose of the
Holy Ghost in her Immaculate Heart, and that of Our Blessed Saviour in
her chaste womb. Saturday is the introduction to Sunday--the symbol of
eternal rest--and the Holy Virgin is truly invoked under the title of
'Gate of Heaven'--_Janua Coeli_.
Saturday, moreover, is the day between Friday, the day of mourning,
and Sunday, the day of joy--and the Holy Virgin is the mediatrix
between God, Who is Eternal Beatitude, and man, who is subject to
endless evils and miseries. Mary is the way to arrive at Jesus, and
Saturday is a prelude to the solemnity of Sunday. Saturday is as a
magnificent portal consecrated to the Mother of God, by which we enter
the Sanctuary of God Himself. The Saints held this day in great
esteem--on it they redoubled their pious exercises--and many begged,
as a signal favour, that they might die on a Saturday.
_Prayer._--O Sovereign Queen of Angels! you are the Mother of Orphans,
as your faithful servant, St. Bonaventure, says: _Mater Orphanorum_.
Sinners are truly orphans--for they have had the misfortune to lose
their God, the most tender of Fathers. To you, therefore, I have
recourse, O Mother of Mercy. I have had the misfortune to lose my true
Father, by sin; and yet, since you have not abandoned me, O my Mother,
I feel a lively hope that through your goodness you will deign to
intercede for me, and reconcile me to my Father, Whom I have so
grievously offended. O Holy Virgin! he alone can perish who does not
have recourse to you. I confess, indeed, that I am a most unworthy
sinner, and, nevertheless, to you do I fly, animated by sweet
confidence in your love. Your mercy is greater than all my miseries;
and, although my iniquities are enormous, they will never exhaust the
treasures of your Son's mercy, nor your own. I sincerely detest, from
my heart, all my sins, and hope, through your intercession, for a
general pardon. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--O Mother of God and my Mother, the confidence I place
in you is to me a pledge of my eternal salvation.
_Practice._--Let all your prayers and actions this day be offered in
suffrage for the holy souls in Purgatory.