_Beauty of the 'Ave Maris Stella.'_
In this hymn are celebrated all the prerogatives of Mary. She is the
powerful Mother of God and the most glorious of Virgins--_Dei Mater
alma atque semper Virgo_--and at the same time the most sweet and
humble of Virgins--_Virgo singularis inter omnes mitis._
The Most Holy Virgin performs the function of advocate with her Divine
Son in our favour, and offers Him our prayers--_Monstra te esse
Matrem._
She is the Gate of Heaven. She loosens the chains of sinners, guides
the blind in the way of virtue, removes every kind of evil from us,
and asks in our name for every grace necessary for us to reach the
port of eternal life.--_Solve vincla reis._
Nothing is more appropriate to inspire us with a tender confidence in
Mary than the _Ave Maris Stella_, for its verses contain
considerations of time and eternity. Let us, then, repeat it often,
and Mary will load us with benedictions, as many miraculous facts in
the lives of the Saints attest. Indeed, this Queen of Heaven herself
showed how dear to her is this hymn when she appeared one day to St.
Bridget, and thus addressed her: 'My Son, the Sovereign Master of
heaven, of earth, and of hell, can Himself alone suppress all the
powers of evil, from whatever source they may arise. I shall
henceforth be a shield of defence for you and for the others against
all the attempts of the enemies of your souls and bodies, on
condition, however, that all your community meet together to sing
every evening the _Ave Maris Stella_.'
The Saint did not fail to fulfil punctually the will of the Most Holy
Virgin, and her example was followed by her Confessor, and her
daughter, St. Catherine of Sweden, who caused this pious practice to
be adopted by all the convents of the Order of St. Saviour. Let us
then be glad to salute our most amiable Mother frequently with this
hymn of the holy Abbot of Clairvaux. However, we must not be satisfied
with merely singing it; let us also carry it in our minds and in our
hearts; and, above all, strive to be penetrated with all the
affectionate sentiments it contains. Let us pray to St. Bernard to
recommend us himself to the Queen of Angels, and obtain for us that
she may be to us all that she was to him to the last instant of his
life. Most Blessed Virgin! be my strength, my guide, my Mother! and
let me never become unworthy to bear the beautiful title of Child of
Mary. _Monstra te esse Matrem._
_Prayer._--O Holy Virgin and Mother of God! deign to succour those who
implore your assistance. Cast an eye of compassion upon us, and be
moved at the sight of our miseries. O Mother of Grace! have you
forgotten men in their tribulations and need, by reason of the sublime
dignity to which you have been raised? No, without doubt your heart
will be ever interested in our favour, nor can your great mercy ever
forget misery so profound as ours. Turn then towards us, and consider
the many dangers to which we are continually exposed. God Almighty has
constituted you the depositary of His power and of His graces; pour
them upon us in abundance, we beg of you. The more powerful you are,
the more do I trust, O Mother of Mercy, that you will be singularly
merciful to your afflicted children who have recourse to you. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--O Mary! you are able to succour me, and I hope your
goodness will not refuse me this favour.
_Practice._--Endeavour to recollect yourself frequently during the
day, that you may act with greater purity of intention.