_Devotion to the 'Salve Regina.'_
St. Bernard is celebrated for his love of the Blessed Virgin and for
the praises he has rendered to her. His language is of such sweetness,
that it surpasses that of all preceding ages for beauty and tenderness
in discoursing of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This saint seems to have
gathered together and made his own all the most loving affections of
the most fervent servants. Mary was his ruling thought, and he could
not restrain the transports of his heart when he spoke of her. The
very mention of her name sufficed to render him ecstatic. With good
reason, then, did Peter the Abbot of St. Remigius, at Rheims, say to
one of St. Bernard's adversaries: 'If you have the courage to touch
the pupil of Mary's eye, write against St. Bernard.'
This Saint was commissioned to preach the second general Crusade
throughout Europe, and when he had traversed France, Belgium and the
Rhenish countries, he retired to the Abbey of Effinghem, to recollect
his soul in that pious solitude. One evening the Monks were moved to
tears by a discourse of St. Bernard's in praise of Mary, and they
begged him to intone the _Salve Regina_, which they sang every evening
before her image. As the Saint could not excuse himself, he devoutly
intoned the _Salve_ with his powerful voice, and was accompanied by
all the Monks. When the sweet words _Et Jesum benedictum fructum
ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende_ had been sung, all were
silent (because at that time the anthem ended with these words).
However, the inspired voice of Bernard continued, and he gave
expression to the sentiments of his heart in the three invocations
with which it is now concluded: _O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo
Maria!_ These words were afterwards adopted by the whole Church.
It is in commemoration of this event that the _Salve Regina_ is
solemnly sung every evening in the Cathedral of Spire.
St. Vincent de Paul used to say that no prayer is so suitable to us
miserable exiles in this valley of tears as this: _Salve Regina, Mater
misericordiae . . . Ad te clamamus, exules filii Hevae._
St. Philip Neri, having heard the confession of a famous criminal,
spoke thus to him: 'My son, I shall require but little from you, and
if you fulfil it I assure you that you will be saved. Promise me to
place all your confidence in the Most Blessed Virgin, the Mother of
Divine Grace, and for this purpose recite the _Salve Regina_ seven
times every day in her honour, and kiss the ground the same number of
times, saying: "I may die this moment."' The penitent made the promise
and kept it. He died holily fourteen years after, full of gratitude
and love towards his good Mother Mary.
_Prayer._--Most amiable Heart of Mary, object of the complacency of
the adorable Trinity, and worthy of the veneration of Angels and of
men; Heart like unto that of Jesus Christ and its most perfect image;
Heart full of goodness and compassion for our miseries! Oh, break the
ice of our hearts, turn our affections towards the adorable Heart of
Our Saviour, and impress on them the love of your virtues. Watch over
Holy Church, protect it, and be to it an impregnable fortress, so that
it may be secure amidst all the assaults of its enemies. Be you our
way to God, our succour in our trials, our consolation in sufferings,
our strength in temptations, and our refuge in persecutions. Above all
things assist us at the point of death, when hell will exert all its
efforts for our eternal ruin. Let us then, indeed, experience the
power you have over the Heart of Jesus, that we may find a secure
asylum in the bosom of His Mercy, and then, with you, praise Him
throughout ages and ages. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--I sleep, O Mother, but my heart watches.
_Practice._--Endeavour to be reflecting upon some eternal truth when
you fall asleep.