Untitled - Saints' Books

"
"
422 Material for Institutions. [PART n.
her festivals, to fast on Saturday, to wear the Scapular,
to visit some image every day in her honor, asking her
to obtain some special grace, to read each day a book
that treats of her praises, to salute her in leaving and
returning home; rising in the morning and going to bed
at night, to put ourselves under her protection, by say
ing three Hail Marys" in honor of her purity.
Even seculars practise these devotions; but we priests
can honor her much more by preaching her glories, and
by inculcating to others the advantages of being devoted
to her: They that explain Me shall have life everlasting?
She promises eternal life to him who endeavors in this
life to make others know and love her. Blessed Edminco,
Bishop, began every sermon by the praises of Mary. This
was so pleasing to the divine Mother, that she one day
said to St. Bridget: Tell that prelate that I will be a
mother to him, and that at death I will present his soul
5
to my Son." Oh, what pleasure would a priest give to
Mary, if every Saturday he made a short discourse to
the people on devotion to her, and especially on her
tender compassion for us, and her desire to assist all
who pray to her !
For, as St. Bernard says, it is the
mercy of Mary that inspires in the people the greatest
affection for her devotion. Let preachers at least en
deavor in every sermon, before the conclusion, to exhort
the hearers to have recourse to most holy Mary, and to
ask some favor from her:
In a word, Richard of St. Laurence says that he who
honors Mary acquires treasures of eternal life. 3 For
this purpose I published some years since a book en
titled the Glories of Mary, and I endeavored to enrich it
"
1
3 "
Qui elucidant me, vitam aeternam habebunt." Ecclus. xxiv. 31.
2
Rev. cxtr. c. 104.
Honorare Mariarn, thesaurizare est sibi vitam aeternam." De
Laud, B, M. 1. 2, p. I.