_The Advantages of the 'Hail Mary.'_
After having considered in the preceding example the esteem in which
this prayer was held by the Saints, let us now consider its
advantages.
Mary rejoices greatly when she is addressed in the Angelical
Salutation, as she herself revealed to St. Mechtild, saying that of
all the honours that can be rendered her none is more pleasing, or
gives more joy, than this prayer, to which are added the words, 'Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, etc.' This prayer reminds
her of the obligation she is under to have compassion on poor sinners,
to pray for them, to love them. Sinners are the occasion of all her
happiness, 'because,' said she, 'I should not have found grace if they
had not lost it; I should not have been chosen to be the Mother of the
Saviour if it had not been necessary to save them; and lastly, I
should not have received such an abundance of graces had it not been
necessary that I should become the Mother of Mercy and the Refuge of
Sinners.'
But the recitation of the _Hail Mary_ does not form the joy of Mary
alone; it is also the joy of the Angels and of the Saints. Blessed
Alan says that the words of this prayer convey joy to all the
inhabitants of heaven. The Angelical Salutation is the distinctive
salute of the Angels to Mary; and these blessed spirits enjoy a
special delight in offering it to her frequently every day. But whilst
this admirable prayer causes all Paradise to exult with joy, and is a
source of grace to faithful souls, it is also the terror of the
demons, who take flight as soon as they hear it pronounced. When the
_Hail Mary_ was brought from heaven by an Angel, the earth leapt for
joy, on account of its approaching deliverance. But hell seemed
already to foresee the formidable presence of the Omnipotent Who was
to destroy the empire of Satan; and it trembled with fear when this
salutation was uttered. No wonder, then, that the impious, who are
children of the accursed spirits, should adopt their sentiments and
hate all that relates to the mystery of the Incarnation, and speak
contemptuously of the Holy Rosary and of devotion to the Blessed
Virgin. However, experience shows us that the more a soul gives signs
of predestination, the more does she love, relish, and gladly recite
the _Hail Mary_; and the more she loves God, the more does she love
this prayer. 'I have no surer secret for ascertaining if a person love
God,' says the venerable Louis Marie de Montfort, 'than to examine if
he love to recite the _Ave Maria_ or the Rosary.'
_Prayer._--Help us, O Mother full of mercy, and do not allow the
multitude of our sins to weaken your love for us. Remember that our
adorable Saviour deigned to take from you a mortal body, not to
condemn but to save sinners. If it were for your own personal glory
alone that you were chosen to be the Mother of God, it might be said
that our eternal salvation, or damnation, matters but little to you;
but it was for the salvation of all men that your Divine Son clothed
Himself with our flesh. What advantage would accrue to us from your
happiness and power if you did not make use of your power to render us
partakers of your happiness? You know the need we have of your
assistance; and therefore we recommend ourselves earnestly to you.
Help us, that we may not have the misfortune to lose our souls, but
may eternally love and serve your Divine Son with you in His kingdom
of glory. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--Obtain for us, O Mary, by your powerful intercession,
the grace not to lose the place which Our Saviour has prepared for us
in Paradise.
_Practice._--Ask Mary to obtain for you from God all the graces you
are in need of to-day.