Untitled - Saints' Books

INSTR. xi.] Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. 42
1
St. Bridget, that when a sinner casts himself at her feet
she regards not his sins, but the intention with which he
comes. If he comes with a determination to change his
life, she heals and saves him. 1 Hence St. Bonaventure
2
called Mary the salvation of them who invoke her. He
that has recourse to Mary shall be saved.
III.
Practice of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
I repeat, then, let us always have recourse to this great
Mother of God, imploring her to protect us. But the
better to gain her protection, let us endeavor to perform
in her honor as many pious exercises as we can. That
ardently devoted servant of Mary, Brother John Berchmans,
of the Society of Jesus, being asked at death by
his companions what they should do in order to obtain
5
the favor of Mary, said: "However little it may be,
provided it be done with perseverance." Every little
act of devotion is sufficient to secure the patronage of
this divine Mother. She is content with any
cise, provided it be constant; for, as St. Andrew of Crete
says, she is so liberal that she is accustomed to reward
4
the smallest homage by obtaining abundant graces.
But we should not be content with small things: let us
at least offer her all the acts of devotion which her
little exer
clients ordinarily perform in her honor; such as, to re
cite the Rosary every day, to perform the Novenas of
" 1
Quantumcumque homo peccet, si ex vera emendatione ad me
reversus fuerit, statim parata sum recipere revertentem; nee attendo
quantum peccaverit, sed cum quali voluntate venit; nam non dedignor
ejus plagas ungere et sanare, quia vocor (et vere sum) Mater miseri
cord ise." Rev. 1. 2, c. 23; 1. 6, c. 17.
2
O Salus te invocantium rCant. " p. Psalt.
3
"Quidquid minimum, dummodo sit constans."
4 " Cum
sit rmgnificentissima, solet maxima pro minimis reddere."
In Dorm. B. V. s. q,