_A Conquest of the Blessed Virgin's._
Father Paul Stub, a Barnabite, became a conquest of grace, and an
Angel in virtue and learning, through the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. He himself thus relates his conversion in his excellent
book for the Month of Mary, entitled 'The School of Mary':
'A Protestant youth set out from the North, in 1826, to take a post at
Genoa, in the family of the Consul of Sweden and Norway, who was a
very good Catholic. But the wife of the Consul, fearing that this
youth might by his conversation have an evil influence on a nephew who
lived with them, went to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, and made
the following prayer to the Queen of Heaven and Earth:
"'O Mary! if you see that this Protestant youth will become a Catholic
and be virtuous, then let him arrive, but if otherwise, send his ship
to America."
'The ship arrived safely at Genoa, and the boy entered on his
situation. He was edified by the examples of virtue that he witnessed,
but had no thoughts whatever of becoming a Catholic--until after some
time, when he was in trouble, calling to mind the devotion which
Catholics bear to Our Lady, he said to her: "O Mother of Jesus! it is
the first time that I invoke you, but if you do me the favour I desire
I will invoke you all my life."
'The favour was obtained most completely, and after that time the
young man began to pray to God to know the truth, entered upon the
study of religion, and became a Catholic in 1829, to his own great joy
and that of many others. He afterwards took the Religious habit, and
has since exercised his zeal for the glory of the Most Blessed Virgin
in preaching; and, to give her a new proof of his gratitude, he
composed this little book in her honour.'
_Prayer._--Most pure Virgin! obtain for me the grace to understand
henceforth the Divine sweetness of union with God. May my adorable
Saviour abide with me under the veil of Faith as He dwelt with you in
the seclusion of a hidden life! May He live in me through the union of
my heart with His adorable Heart as He lived in you, forming one heart
and soul with you! Oh that henceforth I may know how to love, to
desire, and to relish only Jesus! May He alone, during the whole
course of my life, be my strength, my life, the heart of my heart, the
soul of my soul, that after having been frequently nourished with His
virginal Body, which was conceived and born of you a Virgin, I may be
able to say with the Apostle: '_I live now, not I, but Christ liveth
in me_.' Amen.
_Ejaculation._--My heart is prepared to obey you in everything, O my
Mother!
_Practice._--Do everything you do to-day be done in the spirit of
obedience.