_Further Advantages of the 'Hail Mary.'_
Let us glory, says a pious author, in repeating this salutation with
the Angel Gabriel, the Apostles, the Martyrs, and all the Christian
world. Let this _Ave Maria_, which comes to us fragrant as a Canticle
of heaven, and repeated by as many echoes as there are faithful souls
on earth, be sweet to our lips, and sweeter still to our hearts. It is
a rare and enviable favour indeed to be able to salute a queen, and
yet every day, at every moment, men and women, old and young, all of
every condition, can salute the Queen of heaven and earth, who
contains in her hands all the treasures of God, and can be sure of
being always heard, and that each salutation addressed to her will
meet with a corresponding benefit. . . . But can the sinner also dare
to approach her? Yes, certainly; let him also come with humble
confidence and salute her who is his refuge, for she will in no wise
be offended by his prayer; and if the _Hail Mary_ from his lips be a
cry of sorrow and repentance, it will become omnipotent, and will
obtain mercy, pardon, grace, and salvation.
Hail Mary! _Ave Maria!_ . . . A sweet and beautiful word it is, which
heaven sent to earth, and earth again returns so frequently to heaven!
The _Ave Maria_ is the universal prayer of each and all. The infant
begins to lisp it, and on his knees, with his hands raised to heaven,
says _Ave Maria!_ The aged, weakened by infirmity, may be incapable of
reciting long prayers, but they will always have sufficient strength
to repeat devoutly the _Ave Maria_. This is the favourite prayer of
just souls. Oh, how many times in the day does it rise from their
hearts full of burning love, and ascend, like purest burning incense
to the throne of Mary! _Ave Maria!_ . . . it is also the prayer of
sinners, and perhaps their only prayer. In the great number of these
there are some, alas! who have forgotten all other prayers, but they
still know and repeat the _Ave Maria_. Yes; amidst the universal wreck
of all other prayers and practices of religion, the _Ave Maria_ or
_Hail Mary_ has remained for them ever a means of salvation. . . . How
many poor wrecked souls have been led back to the haven of salvation
by this means!
_Prayer._--O Jesus! only Son of God, Who from the bosom of Thy Eternal
Father, descended into the bosom of Mary, Thy Mother, receive the
homage of my adoration and love. Through Thee I go to Thy Father, and
through Thy Mother I come to Thee. Like the spouses at Cana, I dare
not address my prayer directly to Thee, but I fear nothing when I
direct it through Thy Blessed Mother. O Lord! well Thou knowest that I
have no wine, no courage, nor strength, nor holy and generous
resolutions; I have lost all! Ah! say not to Thy Mother, who
intercedes in my favour: 'Woman, what is there in common between us?'
because I know for certain that she is all-powerful over Thy filial
Heart. Add not 'My hour is not yet come!' Ah, no; Thy hour, O my God,
to benefit those who pray to Thee, through Thy Blessed Mother, is ever
at hand. O Lord! behold, the vessel of my heart is full of the insipid
waters of earth; change this water into the delicious wine of holy
affections for heaven, where the Saints celebrate the nuptials of the
Lamb amidst eternal joys. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--Succour my weakness, O most powerful Virgin!
_Practice._--Endeavour to preserve confidence in God, when He delays
the graces you desire.