_The Excellence of the 'Hail Mary.'_
The first Hail Mary pronounced by an Angel produced the greatest of
all miracles, and was the source of the salvation of sinful men. If
our redemption began with the Angelic Salutation, it follows that our
salvation depends in a special manner upon this prayer. If it gave
birth to the fruit of eternal life upon this dry and barren earth when
it was brought by the messenger of Heaven, it will, if we recite it
devoutly, give birth to Jesus Christ in our soul. It is a celestial
dew which fertilizes souls, and those that are not refreshed by it do
not produce fruit but only briars and thorns. The Most Holy Virgin
made the following revelation to the Blessed Alan: 'Know, my son, and
do not forget to make it known, that it is a probable sign of
damnation to have tepidity, aversion, and negligence in the recital of
the Angelical Salutation which brought salvation to the world.'
I know nothing, O Mary, says Thomas a Kempis, that is so glorious for
you and so consoling for us as the Angelical Salutation: its sweetness
is so great that no words can express it. Most certain it is, says
another servant of Mary, that this prayer never ascends to Heaven
without obtaining great favours for the body as well as the soul;
because this tender Mother always responds with some grace when we
salute her with the _Hail Mary_. The Blessed Virgin promised St.
Gertrude as many favours at the hour of her death as she had recited
_Ave Marias_ during her life; and she also counselled St. Bridget to
recite this prayer to obtain the pardon of some acts of impatience. We
know that this Mother of Mercy taught St. Dominic the Holy Rosary as
the most efficacious means for obtaining the conversion of heretics
and sinners. And, in fact, the historians of that period relate that
the first-fruits of this new devotion were manifested by the
abjuration of more than a hundred thousand heretics, and the
conversion of an incredible number of sinners.
Let us also quote the beautiful words of a Saint. 'The "_Ave Maria_,"
well recited, is the enemy that puts the devil to flight, and the
weapon that kills him. It is the sanctification of the soul, the
gladness of Angels, the melody of the predestinated, the Canticle of
the New Testament, the joy of Mary, and the glory of the Most Holy
Trinity. The _Ave Maria_ is a celestial dew that fertilizes the soul,
a beautiful rose which we present to Mary, and a precious pearl which
we bestow upon her. Finally, it is the most magnificent eulogium which
can be offered in her honour, and the attractions it possesses have so
much power over her heart, that she is constrained to love him who
recites it well.'
Another great servant of the Immaculate Virgin says of himself, that
whenever he pronounced these words, _Hail Mary_, the world in his eyes
lost all beauty, he felt an increase of Divine love, a more fervent
devotion, more firmness in hope, greater joy, and a renewal of virtue
and strength in his whole being.
_Prayer of St. Bernard._--O sovereign Mistress of Angels and of men,
to you do we turn our eyes! We must all appear one day before the
Eternal Judge; alas! how shall we dare to present ourselves before
Him, loaded as we are with so many sins, and who shall appease His
just indignation? No one, O Mother of Mercy, can so assuredly do this
but you who loved Him so much, and who were so tenderly loved by Him.
Open then, O Mother of Grace, your compassionate ears to our sighs,
and the bowels of your mercy to our tears; to you do we run as to our
dear Mother. Ah! appease the just indignation of your Divine Son, and
restore us to His favour. You do not abhor the sinner, nor do you
reject him, however unworthy he may be, if, repentant, he implores
your patronage. To you, then, do I have recourse, O my Mother; animate
me to hope, sustain my weakness, abandon me not for a single instant,
and reconcile me to my Eternal Judge, that I may be able to find mercy
at the moment of my death. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--_Monstra te esse matrem_--Show me, O Mary, that you
are my mother!
_Practice._--Whatever contradiction you may meet with this day, accept
it with resignation, and with the reflection that _God wills it_.