the-glories-of-mary

GLORIES OF MART. 118
faith and the decrees of the Church, and to the
truth, the rejection of it, and opposition to it, be
cause the contrary may also be true, indicates
little devotion to the mother of God. I would
not be one of the number of these, nor would I
gee you, my reader, one of them, but rather of
the number of those who fully and firmly be
lieve all that can be believed, without error, con
cerning the greatness of Mary, as the Abbot Ru
pert says, who places among the offerings of
devotion most pleasing to this mother, that of a
firm belief in her great privileges.*
If no one
else, St. Augustine at least might remove from
us all fear of exaggeration in the praise of Mary,
who asserts that all we may say in her praise is
little in comparison with what she merits on ac
count of her dignity as mother of God. The holy
Church also, in the Mass of the blessed
Virgin,
requires these words to be read: "For thou art
happy, oh sacred Yirgin Mary, and most worthy
of all praise. "f
But let us return to our subject, and hear
what the saints say of the opinion in question.
St. Bernard says that God had bestowed all
graces on Mary, that men, through her as
through a channel, may receive whatever goods
is in store for them.J; Moreover, the saint here
makes an important reflection, and says that be-
* Ejus magnalia flrmiter credere. Laud. Virg.
t Felix namque es, sacra Virgo Maria, et omni lande digniseima,
Plenug aquwductus, ut accipiant cteteri de plenitudine. Sena,