Chapter

 501 XIII   |          Rightly is the Blessed Mary extolled by us with extraordinary
 502 XII    |         place these words before the eye of our mind, and direct
 503 XII    |               whose glory will never fade."~Fourthly, consider the
 504 XII    |            the morning it blooms and fades." But the flower perishes
 505 XI     |             strengthening us against failings, if we are well founded
 506 XVI    |            abundant because it never fails those who feed upon it,
 507 XVIII  |             puts to flight defect or failure; He is to us the fruit of
 508 XIV    |            the sick, strength to the faint-hearted, help and deliverance to
 509 XII    |       entered into Christ, sometimes faints away by a kind of stupor,
 510 XVI    |              the words of her mouth; fairer in the flowers of her heart;
 511 XVI    |            the flowers of her heart; fairest of all in the most beautiful
 512 XVI    |             delightful in beauty and fairness. Note on this point what
 513 XVIII  |             the manger, that all the faithful-as it were, the beasts of burden -
 514 XII    |          withered, and the flower is fallen." It will flower again in
 515 XVIII  |            of original sin; for man, falling among thieves, was wounded
 516 VI     |      embraces and kisses with tender familiarity, as St. Augustine says: "
 517 III    |               She leans upon them by familiarly associating with them; she
 518 XVIII  |             relief of hunger, or the famine of the soul, lest for want
 519 IX     |         because He is a renowned and famous Lord, who is with thee in
 520 V      |       delight her husband, and shall fat his bones" (XXVI, 16.) Mary
 521 XVI    |     well-born of all, because of its fatherhood. We can understand of this
 522 III    |             enfeebled breast, had so fatigued her body and all its members,
 523 II     |            Mary. For there are three faults, three miseries, three hells
 524 XIV    |               by obtaining all these favors by thy prayers."~We have
 525 IX     |      renowned among all, because she feared the Lord very much; neither
 526 XI     |              See, therefore, if thou fearest the Lord, for it is written: "
 527 XI     |              for it is written: "Who feareth God, neglecteth nothing" (
 528 XVI    |             it never fails those who feed upon it, nor ever will for
 529 XII    |         Bernard saith: "That Bee who feedeth among the lilies, who dwelt
 530 XVII   |              all my life, all that I feel, all that I discern in contemplating
 531 VI     |           Ghost. Whoever, therefore, feels within himself the beginning
 532 XIII   |       Augustine says: "Thou, O Mary, fellow-citizen of the inhabitants of Heaven,
 533 IV     |           neighbors, companions, and fellowworkers.~Fourthly, see how untiring
 534 XI     |              was employed, while she fervently revolved in her mind all
 535 XI     |             of morals, the course of fervor and of a good life, and
 536 XIII   |              came forth rejoicing in festive array, to meet the Mother
 537        | few
 538 XVII   |             says: "There was nothing fierce in the looks of Mary, nothing
 539 III    |             us like a cloud from the fiery heat of the divine indignation.
 540 XIV    |          year is that of those still fighting in this world; the second
 541 Prol   |             patriarchs, in types and figures, set forth and described
 542 III    |      government and empire we may be filially governed. Through Our Lord
 543 XVI    |              is the crown of wisdom, filling with peace and the fruit
 544 V      |          last day; the breadth of it fills the whole world, so that
 545 II     |           and sepulchers full of the filth of vice. Woe, therefore,
 546 V      |             gracious Mary; it is the finding of perpetual glory. Most
 547 XIII   |             raised above the angelic firmament. St. Bernard says: "Mary
 548 XI     |             of charity, the stone of firmness or of eternity, is conceived
 549 II     |              when she herself is the first-fruit of the virgins, the mirror
 550 XV     |     Therefore, the burning bush is a fit figure of Mary, by whom
 551 XIV    |        Bernard says: "With wonderful fitness is Mary called the middle
 552 III    |          pure," but either phrase is fitted to our Star. For Mary is
 553 XV     |               producing so blessed a flame, blessed Mary bringing forth
 554 V      |             by the oil of praise and flattery. But because the grace of,
 555 VII    |           and wine, wool and thread, flax. and all the necessaries
 556 VI     |           enjoyed; below herself, in fleeing foresight of things that
 557 III    |          just giveth thanks, to whom fleeth the terrified crowd of evil-doers,
 558 XII    |            its divinity, the stem is flexible by its love. And if the
 559 XVII   |                Consider, how the bee flies from garden to garden, from
 560 XII    |         flowering virtue of her life flourished in the beauty of every virtue,
 561 XII    |             when he says: "The field flourishes without any human aid, it
 562 XII    |        heavenly Perfumer, delectably flourishing with the flowers of all
 563 XV     |             was like a fountain ever flowing and ever giving, and therefore
 564 XVI    |           creature, a great fountain flows from a little rill, the
 565 XII    |           God, the nurse of God, the follower of God. According to this
 566 III    |           her, as St. Bernard says: "Following her, thou strayest not,
 567 II     |           each one is born with the "fomes peccati," and by this is
 568 VIII   |          wise Lady, be to us who are foolish a helper and a counselor !
 569 XIV    |       Ecclesiasticus: "The number of fools is infinite" (I, 15). Abigail
 570 XII    |              of sanctity, and in the footprints of the Virgin Mary, attain
 571 XI     |            did she follow Him by her footsteps, as from the love of a son,
 572 XIII   |             mercies of the Lord. God forbid that thy hand should cease
 573 XIII   |      virginal flesh the ardor of the forbidden concupiscence, that He,
 574 Prol   |       heralds, foretold by prophets, fore-shadowed by patriarchs, in types
 575 III    |               for it was she who was foreshadowed by the Lady Esther, of whom
 576 XI     |              O Mary, when thou didst foreshew the splendor of the true
 577 VI     |            below herself, in fleeing foresight of things that were to be
 578 Prol   |          divine and angelic heralds, foretold by prophets, fore-shadowed
 579 Prol   |              reader, I must beg your forgiveness for whatever insufficiency,
 580 V      |           cherishest him, thou never forsakest him, until he is reconciled
 581 II     |         prolix in her words, nothing forward in her deeds." On the lips
 582 XI     |              their order and courses fought against Sisara" (Judg. V,
 583 XII    |          despise any sinner, however foul, if he but sighs to thee,
 584 V      |             the branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode" (
 585 VII    |             full of the fair fame of fragrant sprinkling. Of her fullness
 586 XII    |     aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders
 587 XVII   |            fruit of those possessing fraternal love in opposition to envy,
 588 VI     |              price by which all were freed, can above all others pay
 589 II     |                           CHAPTER II FREEDOM OF MARY FROM THE THREEFOLD
 590 VI     |            shall have the king for a friend" (Prov. XXII, 11.)~Thirdly,
 591 XVII   |               she was not light, nor frivolous, not a loud talker, nor
 592 XVII   |           WHOM IT IS DUE~"Benedictus fructus ventris tui." After we have
 593 I      |              St. Anselm say: "By thy fruitfulness, O Lady, the unclean sinner
 594 Prol   |             the while that I long to fulfill your expectations, lest
 595 III    |            suitable to Mary, for she fulfills the office that a star does
 596 XI     |              well said in Jeremias: "Furbish the spears, put on the coats
 597 XV     |            Genesis: "Cursed be their fury, for it was stubborn: and
 598 XVII   |       Ephesians: "Be ye imitators of Gad, as most dear children,
 599 VII    |             plenitude every creature gains new life !"~Thus you see
 600 XI     |             household of the faith" (Gal. VI, 10.) Well do they say:
 601 XVI    |              Apostle, writing to the Galatians, says: "The fruit of the
 602 II     |             there was nothing of the gall and poison of the devil,
 603 VII    |          same Wisdom, covered with a garb of flesh, whom she had first
 604 II     |             and as she was great and garbed in merit, so is she great
 605 XII    |      speaking to her: "Thou art as a garden-plot of holy perfumes, planted
 606 XI     |           the watering of both these gardens by the mystic river from
 607 III    |          grave of her Son, as to the gates of Paradise. She is as that
 608 XIII   |           her neighbor, the precious gems of virtues and gifts, the
 609 XVI    |            by whom, according to the genealogy described by Matthew, He
 610 XII    |             of pardon. This smoke is generated from the aromatical myrrh
 611 XV     |           than generous, because she generously and liberally despised all
 612 XVI    |              earth, is ever ready to germinate either useful or noxious
 613 XVIII  |              a wilderness because it germinates without culture, and brings
 614 XVIII  |          made peace with both on the gibbet of the Cross, according
 615 IV     |              Mary, thy virginity was gifted, endowed, and consecrated.
 616 VI     |              soul has three beatific gifts-the gift of wonderful love,
 617 XIII   |          stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing, surrounded with
 618 VII    |         glory, of the joy of eternal gladness. Let us consider these nine
 619 XII    |           again." This flower of the glorification of the body has, as it were,
 620 VI     |         brought forth Him who is the Glorifier of all bodies? What wonder
 621 Prol   |          even the sinner desist from glorifying her with all his might."5~
 622 VII    |            Of this odor she herself, glorying, could use the words of
 623 III    |              heavenly country itself glows more brightly from being
 624 XV     |            against gluttony. For the gluttons are accursed, as it appears
 625 XVI    |          forth the Fruit, the Son of God-a Fruit so abundant, that
 626 IX     |              is that bestowed on the God-loving soul, who was reinstated
 627 VII    |              the humanity assumed by God-that cloud, I say, of which we
 628 III    |            empire we may be filially governed. Through Our Lord Jesus
 629 III    |            Mary, help us that by thy government and empire we may be filially
 630 VI     |              were, of nature, but of grace-belongs to the Virgin Mary." Behold
 631 Prol   |           most kind Lady and Mother, graciously accept this small gift offered
 632 XV     |             from a lower to a higher grade, according to that word
 633 XI     |             the aurora progresses by gradually growing in brightness, so
 634 XII    |              is said in Isaias: "The grass is withered, and the flower
 635 XVIII  |             of heavenly desires, the grasses of good works, the fair
 636 IX     |           merciful Lord we were very grateful as Isaias was, who said: "
 637 VII    |           and of the fullness of her gratitude: "She, being already a thousand
 638 III    |             sea of this world to the grave of her Son, as to the gates
 639 XV     |       accursed, as it appears in the greediness of our first parents, for
 640 XV     |               The malediction of the greedy Eve was to bring forth in
 641 XII    |             like pastures of eternal greenness produce Him whose beauty
 642 IV     |               deny to their neighbor greetings of politeness. Woe to those
 643 XI     |             Ps. LXXIII, 6.)~Thus St. Gregory well says: "The day is the
 644 V      |            watered by grace, for she grew in the healthful moisture
 645 VII    |               so that if we have any ground for hope, or for salvation,
 646 IV     |             but in all she is deeply grounded in humility, saying: "Behold
 647 XII    |            land of Israel; thou hast grown into a rod, the rod from
 648 XII    |            us; command the angels to guard us." Thus, therefore, the
 649 VI     |             the shame of those whose guest she was, much more will
 650 III    |              not fear; if she is thy guide, thou shalt not grow weary;
 651 III    |              help us, that we may be guided rightly through the sea
 652 VI     |             angels, if on earth thou hadst not lowered thyself by humility
 653 XIV    |      reverence of her person, she is hailed as "Blessed among women."
 654 XIV    |          Nabal, Abigail, meeting him half-way, appeased him; who being
 655 XI     |             said, "How long will you halt between two sides? If the
 656 XI     |              hell. Let us follow not haltingly, according to what is said, "
 657 XVIII  |          Bernard says: "On the cross hangs all the fruit of life, because
 658 XV     |             how lovable, what we see happening by thee for us, which, seeing,
 659 XII    |              produces such a flower! Happier the stem or rod which in
 660 VII    |          them in check, lest they do harm; she takes hold of her Son,
 661 XII    |             not sowed by anyone, not harrowed by the plough, not made
 662 VI     |             who was now full of God, hasten, unless into the hill country
 663 XVII   |       enemies, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those
 664 II     |           her pure heart was not the haunt of the devil, nor the sepulcher
 665 II     |             hearts of evil-doers are haunts of the devils, and sepulchers
 666 XV     |              Therefore, according to Haymon, the Blessed Mother of God
 667 XIV    |             it were, placed over the heads of all the Saints, as St.
 668 V      |           grace, for she grew in the healthful moisture of grace from the
 669 XVI    |             You see now, O reader, O hearer, how exceedingly well-born,
 670 I      |              in the beginning of thy hearing, listen to this unheard-of
 671 I      |            things new and wonderful! Hearken, O daughter, and see, and
 672 II     |        faults, three miseries, three hells in this woe, for the absence
 673 Prol   |        praised by divine and angelic heralds, foretold by prophets, fore-shadowed
 674 XI     |          Behold, neither the rain of heretical eloquence, nor the floods
 675 Prol   |         speak of such and so great a heroine. Again I say, how could
 676 VII    |            of money with him when He hid the treasure of His mercies
 677 II     |             of a deep heart, that ye hide counsel from the Lord."
 678 XII    |              up in contemplation and hides in the hidden place of His
 679 XIV    |              blessed Mary; the first hierarchy blessed her, the second
 680 V      |             one may sin more freely. Holofernes, who signifies the devil,
 681 V      |           the exile of misery to the homeland of eternal beatitude." O
 682 X      |            honeycomb," etc. Oh, what honeflowing words have those sweet lips
 683 XII    |              also that the flower of honesty, of a good reputation, yea,
 684 XVIII  |          from her lips distilled the honey-flowing words, "Behold the handmaid
 685 X      |         tongue when she uttered that honey-sweet word: "Behold the handmaid
 686 VII    |        devotion He wishes Mary to be honored by us who hath placed the
 687 XVI    |             because of the flower is hoped the coming of the fruit."
 688 V      |          mercy, who were given up as hopeless by their priests and pastors!
 689 IV     |            indeed have found fitting hospitality. While you diligently consider
 690 XI     |              so much fear an immense host of armed soldiers, as the
 691 XI     |              to those who are of the household of the faith" (Gal. VI,
 692 IV     |             God. Of this love Master Hugh of St. Victor saith a good
 693 VI     |              neither think nor speak humbly of themselves, but have
 694 XVIII  |           which is food and drink to hungering and thirsting souls." Do
 695 XVII   |           hunger and thirst, but who hungers and thirsts spiritually
 696 XII    |        restrain the demons lest they hurt us; command the angels to
 697 II     |           evil inclinations are more hurtful, and the remembrance of
 698 XIII   |             the elect to Heaven with hymns and praises." And he adds: "
 699 II     |               Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who are like to whited
 700 VII    |           would dwell in the cloud" (ibid., 12.) Mary, therefore,
 701 XI     |          they dig in the darkness of ignorance, in the darkness of obscurity,
 702 IX     |          there any one that spoke an ill word of her" (Jud. VIII,
 703 III    |             of Heaven, who also doth illuminate the whole earth? For St.
 704 III    |              out of Jacob, whose ray illuminateth the whole world, whose splendor
 705 VII    |              in Mary the fullness of illuminative wisdom, the fullness of
 706 III    |             that we may be eternally illumined in glory ! O Lady Mary,
 707 XI     |              Thou art the most vivid image of the true Sun, amongst
 708 XI     |              relate, or who can even imagine, in what contemplations
 709 III    |              world, follow the star, imitate Mary. It is the safest of
 710 XVII   |             to the Ephesians: "Be ye imitators of Gad, as most dear children,
 711 IV     |          they who are so peevish, so impatient, so irritable as to torment
 712 VII    |          three houses. It belongs to imperial majesty to have three mansions
 713 VI     |             implore Mary, as Abraham implored Sara: "Say, I beseech thee,
 714 II     |     dissolution into dust, which was imposed upon man when it was said
 715 IV     |           not go together. And it is impossible that a man should at the
 716 VIII   |              helper to us who are so impotent ! Now, most wise Lady, be
 717 XI     |            desert without ploughing, impregnated the virgin without corruption;
 718 VIII   |          that my body is exceedingly impure." But lo! this universal
 719 XI     |            this Sun, has wonderfully inaugurated for the world the day of
 720 XV     |             blessed is He who by His Incarnation appeared in the bush, by
 721 VI     |             hold it for certain, and incessantly give thanks for this, that,
 722 VI     |           the Eternal King, of which incident St. Augustine, addressing
 723 XI     |            the mercy of Mary, we are incited to good. We ought to work
 724 II     |             to the wicked their evil inclinations are more hurtful, and the
 725 VI     |            never in the least degree inclined to the slightest venial
 726 II     |            born weakness and misery, inclining them, when adults, to actual
 727 XV     |     therefore doth Bede say: "She is incomparably blessed, who both received
 728 XV     |                Against this curse of incontinence, Mary merited the blessing
 729 II     |          than the earth, and rightly incorruptibility followed on integrity, and
 730 II     |             8.) This Ark was made of incorruptible wood, because the flesh
 731 XV     |            Joseph is interpreted as "increase," and signifies every faithful
 732 IV     |             anger by her gentleness; indefatigable by her diligence against
 733 IV     |            14.) Mary, by persevering indefatigably in prayer, gave an example,
 734 VI     |             Here is a lesson for the indevout, who do not seek Jesus sorrowing,
 735 VI     |           from the lips of Mary, and indicating excellently the honeyflowing
 736 X      |             this: "As the sun shines indifferently upon the good and the bad,
 737 VI     |         thirsting to see Him, she is ineffably nourished by Him." Therefore,
 738 Prol   |             of mine. How shall I, so inefficient, succeed in a task before
 739 XI     |              during the whole of His infancy served Him as a loving Mother,
 740 II     |         bringing them even as little infants under the wrath of God.
 741 II     |            taint of corruption could infect it. Whence it is both of
 742 III    |              the cross, the other by infidelity of mind. And, therefore,
 743 XVIII  |            so blind to the truth, so infirm in good, so prone to evil.
 744 XIV    |          whatever of malediction was infused into our nature by Eve,
 745 VII    |           Lord." Let it roar against ingratitude, giving thanks and saying: "
 746 Prol   |           earth, which amazeth every inhabitant of Heaven, all this was
 747 V      |             fruit? Oh, if thou didst inhale it, wouldst thou not run
 748 VII    |           with those who are full of iniquity. She not only abides in
 749 XI     |               whose nativity was not initiated by the night of original
 750 XI     |             of human violence, could injure the house of a mind founded
 751 XI     |            elements are renewed, the injuries of hell repaired, men are
 752 XIV    |         curse thee, thou vileness of injustice!" Oh, what a malediction
 753 XII    |             well says: "Alone in the inner part of her house, she whom
 754 XVI    |             it can fully refresh the insatiable soul, but it is also so
 755 IX     |          sweetness which is divinely inseparable from thee." Mary, therefore,
 756 Prol   |          things says: "We who are so insignificant, cannot suffice to speak
 757 I      |            sweetly are these praises insinuated! For here is signified how
 758 VIII   |           feeble lord, one needy and insipid, or unable to keep his position,
 759 VII    |              Mary; he wished also to insist emphatically on its fullness,
 760 XIII   |           primacy of our Queen Mary, insomuch as she is compared to the
 761 I      |            devotion of the faithful, inspired by the Holy Ghost. And the
 762 XI     |       needful for us, not only to be instant in good works, but also
 763 XVIII  |            to us the fruit of honey, instilling sweetness into our affections.
 764 VI     |       greeting, the word of truth in instruction. Mary spoke the word of
 765 Prol   |        faileth, Lady, for my mind is insufficient. Lady, all that is within
 766 XI     |            being fervent in charity, intact in virginity, devout in
 767 XVII   |            always the consequence of intemperance."~Seventhly, let us see
 768 IV     |             That is to say, I do not intend to know a man. But Mary
 769 III    |        loving Mother crying out with intensity of pain, beating her enfeebled
 770 XIV    |              and misery, may, by thy intercession, make us sharers of His
 771 XI     |          become pregnant without any intercourse with man, and might bring
 772 Prol   |            tongue, my arid powers of interpretation not fail in the praises
 773 I      |         Presence within her, and her intimacy with Our Lord, she is told:
 774 XIII   |          most dear to the Lord, most intimate with the Lord ! The Lord
 775 I      |              an especial manner most intimately connected with God. St.
 776 XV     |        according to what St. Bernard intimates when he says: "Remember,
 777 VII    |         affections. For such was the inundation of grace, so great was its
 778 VI     |              and at the same time an inviolate virgin. St. Bernard, praising
 779 VIII   |            of all things visible and invisible. This universal Lord of
 780 IX     |          blessed Virgin, who, having invoked it in his necessities, found
 781 XVIII  |              sacramentally, with the inward mouth we receive Him spiritually.
 782 XI     |           forth from her, deigned to irradiate her. Of this St. Bernard
 783 XV     |          below; she was, as it were, irrigated from a mountain and from
 784 XV     |            graces. A valley receives irrigation by waters, sometimes from
 785 IV     |            peevish, so impatient, so irritable as to torment their neighbors,
 786 V      |             Cant. V, 10.) This fruit is-also of a pleasant odor to devout
 787 XVI    |          this Fruit. Oh, that we had Isaac's sense of smell, who perceived
 788 III    |      spiritually illuminated, as the Israelites in olden days were by a
 789 II     |          also made a great throne of ivory" (3 Kings X, 8.) Mary is
 790 IX     |              and great is Thy name" (Jerem. X, 6.) The name of the
 791 XVIII  |              precious stones, and my jewels than chosen gold" (Prov.
 792 VI     |           true Mother and Spouse, is joined to thee in the embrace of
 793 VII    |               This Man-if indeed, as Josephus saith, it be lawful to call
 794 VII    |            he is gone on a very long journey. He took with him a bag
 795 XII    |              the flowers of manifold joys as often as we think in
 796 IX     |           spoke an ill word of her" (Jud. VIII, 8.) Mary is indeed
 797 IV     |           salute their neighbor like Judas, when he said: "Hail, Rabbi !"
 798 XI     |              fought against Sisara" (Judg. V, 20.) Sisara is interpreted,
 799 XVIII  |              to the just, God indeed judging them on earth," etc. "Them,"
 800 IX     |          Lord is just and hath loved justices" (Ps. X, 8.) And again: "
 801 VI     |            thee, thou didst so often kiss on earth." (Serm. de Sanct.,
 802 VI     |             God in pure embraces and kisses with tender familiarity,
 803 Prol   |             I salute thee. On bended knee, with bowed head, with heart
 804 VIII   |              Peter says: "Lord, Thou knowest all things." Behold, Mary,
 805 VI     |             grace of the Holy Spirit knoweth no tardy delays." Again,
 806 VI     |          many of us have no wine; we lack the wine of the Holy Spirit,
 807 XI     |            nourished and nursed Him, laid Him in the manger, and during
 808 XVIII  |     resplendent manger, in which has lain the food of animals, but
 809 V      |             the turpentine tree is a large tree of Syria, and it has
 810 XIV    |            says: "We have not here a lasting city, but we seek that to
 811 XI     |             with thee, as long as it lasts, and that the look of thy
 812 XI     |        attack evil. If thou dost not launch the spear of zeal in this
 813 VII    |             as Josephus saith, it be lawful to call Him a man-has three
 814 XV     |            strictness of life to the lazy, but a sort of nail through
 815 III    |              Michael, the prince and leader of the heavenly militia,
 816 III    |             our heavenly country, by leading us through the sea of this
 817 XVIII  |     signified in the words, "and his leaf shall not fall off." It
 818 III    |             of whom we read that she leaned delicately on one of her
 819 XII    |            counsel, or fortitude, or learning, or piety, or the fear of
 820 IV     |             of her submitting to the legal purification; not alone
 821 III    |           does the Son of the Virgin lessen the virginity of His Mother."
 822 VII    |              it is easily spilt, and lets drop its contents. So the
 823 XVI    |         bears witness to this in his letter to the Romans: "Who was
 824 XVI    |           the fruit of three years" (Lev. XXV, 21) The sixth year
 825 XV     |           because she generously and liberally despised all things. Therefore,
 826 VI     |             pay the suffrage of holy liberty." But what would it avail
 827 XVIII  |             Bernard says: "The Child lies in the manger, that all
 828 Prol   |               a man of most unworthy life-how shall I dare to proclaim
 829 XV     |         neither during her husband's life-time nor after his death had
 830 XV     |          curse of this exclusion was lifted by the Mother of our Savior.
 831 III    |          Mary is illuminatrix by her light-giving life and also by her resplendent
 832 XIII   |              fair as the moon in the lightgiving fecundity of her virginity;
 833 III    |                 The presence of Mary lights up the whole world, and
 834 XII    |            Bee who feedeth among the lilies, who dwelt in a flowering
 835 IX     |              every people and to all Lime, but also to every place,
 836 XIII   |            she surpassed all without limits.~First consider that we
 837 VII    |            her: "If a vessel full of liquid is moved, it is easily spilt,
 838 III    |             darkness." The Lord hath lit this lamp most radiantly,
 839 XIV    |           she showed while she still lived in this world; the latter
 840 XII    |               a flowering rod in our lives, a golden rod in our contemplation,
 841 VII    |            of Mary was closed by the lock of virginity; no man had
 842 XIV    |              mountain because of the loftiness of her life and manners.
 843 XVI    |       patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty,
 844 V      |              Holy Ghost, by which he longed to be enriched who said: "
 845 III    |             mouth to praise, my mind longeth to venerate, my soul desireth
 846 V      |   earnestness, with all the ardor of longing, as the Apostle exhorts
 847 X      |             of kings and the Lord of lords, coming from His royal throne,
 848 XV     |              such a manner as not to lose her virginity. Well therefore
 849 XVIII  |            of virtues and gifts, the lovely leaves of useful words,
 850 IV     |              magnifies that which it loves and rejoices in. Therefore,
 851 XV     |             virtue to virtue, from a lower to a higher grade, according
 852 VI     |              on earth thou hadst not lowered thyself by humility below
 853 XVII   |           roots, always tends to the lowest. The higher the tree, the
 854 III    |              world, if we had not so lucid a lamp, so luminous a pillar ?
 855 IV     |              with pride like Eve and Lucifer. But the humility of Mary
 856 VIII   |         daughter Agnes, the daughter Lucy, the daughters Catherine,
 857 VII    |            roar. Let it roar against luxury, preach chastity, and say: "
 858 XVIII  |            to him that is near" (Is. LVII, 19.) The fruit of the womb
 859 IX     |          hath bestowed upon us" (Is. LXIII, 7.) Behold, Mary, what
 860 VII    |            taketh hold of thee" (Is. LXIV, 7.)~Seventhly, let us consider
 861 XVIII  |            has given her fruit" (Ps. LXVII.) The first effect of this
 862 XI     |             aurora and the sun" (Ps. LXXIII, 6.)~Thus St. Gregory well
 863 V      |          give grace and glory" ( Ps. LXXXIII. )~But the grace of Mary
 864 IX     |          those who invoke Thee" (Ps. LXXXV, 5.) He is a Lord of much
 865 II     |          moon perfect for ever" (Ps. LXXXVIII, 38.)~Thus, therefore, as
 866 III    |           radiant star which led the Magi most surely to Christ. Mary
 867 XVII   |          when, in discoursing on the Magnificat, he puts these words into
 868 III    |             he said: "O Mary, by the magnificent example of thy virtues thou
 869 IV     |             of Mary most befittingly magnified God and most securely rejoiced
 870 IV     |          magnify the Lord." The soul magnifies that which it loves and
 871 III    |           her handmaids, and another maid followed her mistress, bearing
 872        | makes
 873 XVIII  |            the word of the Apostle: "Making peace by the blood of his
 874 XI     |              intellect, according to Malachias: "The sun of justice will
 875 VII    |              be lawful to call Him a man-has three houses. It belongs
 876 VII    |            Him with our nature. This Man-if indeed, as Josephus saith,
 877 IV     |           not in word only, but also manifested itself in deeds; not alone
 878 XV     |           therefore, thou who art so manifoldly blessed, thou more than
 879 V      |              4.)~Third, consider the manifoldness of the grace of Mary, of
 880 XVIII  |             mountain is that sublime mansion, that sublime society of
 881 VII    |       imperial majesty to have three mansions in the palace, namely, a
 882 XII    |        plough, not made fertile with manure; thus indeed did the womb
 883 Prol(4)|                 Serm. de Assumpt. B. Mar.," IV.
 884 III    |            that is fair, but call me Mara, that is bitter, for the
 885 VIII   |            of so powerful a Lord, as Mardochai testifies, saying: "Lord
 886 III    |           office that a star does to mariners at sea. We read, and it
 887 IV     |             how much more so was our martyr, Mary, in her spiritual
 888 VII    |              XXXI, 32.) The woman is Mary-a woman indeed in sex, not
 889 IV     |             invoke the sweet name of Mary-Jesus Christ, who with the Father
 890 VI     |             VI THE FOURFOLD GRACE IN MARY-OF GIFTS, OF SPEECH, OF PRIVILEGES,
 891 XVIII  |         which He had chosen from the mass of perdition; He planted,
 892 III    |                      CHAPTER III THE MEANINGS OF THE NAME MARY~Ave Maria.
 893 XVII   |            is a good fruit, which is meat and drink to the souls who
 894 IV     |     established with grace, not with meats; which have not profited
 895 XI     |              to God, for he has as a Mediator of his cause the Son before
 896 VI     |             we diligently gather and meditate the words of her lips as
 897 XIV    |             the fool Nabal, Abigail, meeting him half-way, appeased him;
 898 IX     |              the portals of a loving memory without bringing with thee
 899 XII    |            petals as it has good and meritorious works to show. Oh, how flowering
 900 V      |             now, and sit down and be merry: for thou hast found favor
 901 I      |             ear ! Hear that glorious messenger, Gabriel! Hear what is to
 902 X      |       signified by Abigail, who sent messengers that she might be brought
 903 IV     |           Mary saluted those whom He met coming forth from the sepulcher,
 904 III    |          power. St. Augustine says: "Michael, the prince and leader of
 905 XI     |              verse, place the aurora midway between the night and the
 906 XVI    |               goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continence,
 907 VIII   |            signifies also the Church militant upon earth. For truly both
 908 V      |              grace, by which so many millions of souls are nourished?
 909 IV     |         might visit, and salute, and minister to Elizabeth. See how this
 910 III    |       heavenly militia, with all his ministering spirits obeyeth, O Virgin,
 911 XI     |             us show ourselves as the ministers of God. But Mary did not
 912 XII    |             as many petals as it had ministries and examples. If thou desirest
 913 XI     |              things prefiguring this miracle, as St. Augustine testifies,
 914 XI     |              we should fall into the mire of sin and the pit of hell.
 915 XVI    |          much power; Thy work is the mission of Gabriel; the supervention
 916 Prol   |            to God with her two brass mites, should not have withheld
 917 V      |             pure, defiled by no base mixture, so that she could truly
 918 I      |          what is to be the wonderful mode of thy fecundity! Incline
 919 XV     |               We praise Susanna as a model of conjugal chastity; but
 920 IV     |              who so often exceed due moderation in food and drink !~Seventhly,
 921 VI     |              or, to put it in a more modern way, the gifts of vision,
 922 XVI    |        longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continence, and chastity."
 923 XVIII  |             bearing its fruits every month, and the leaves of the tree
 924 VII    |          back on the day of the full moon-of that moon, I say, of which
 925 XI     |              order and discipline of morals, the course of fervor and
 926 VII    |            be moved by our sighs and mortifications, let her be moved by our
 927 XIII   |              where there is a cry of mourning. She is also the Queen of
 928 XVIII  |        because He is received in the mouth-so also is well said to be
 929 XII    |           because in Him we live and move and have our being; with
 930 V      |            truth, the immensity, the multiplicity, the utility of the grace
 931 XI     |           wicked ones do in souls by murder, theft, and adultery! That
 932 XI     |            the true Sun, amongst the myriads of stars that are before
 933 XI     |            both these gardens by the mystic river from the womb of Mary,
 934 XIV    |            His hands and feet by the nails. The house of this servant
 935 XI     |            Mother. The Son shows His naked body, with His wounds in
 936 V      |               that she delivered her nation, which had been condemned
 937 XI     |              Heaven, holds the place nearest to the Eternal Sun. We may
 938 VII    |            thread, flax. and all the necessaries of life except from the
 939 IX     |             having invoked it in his necessities, found it wanting." The
 940 VI     |           moved to compassion by the needs of others, and who neither
 941 VIII   |             lord. A feeble lord, one needy and insipid, or unable to
 942 XI     |           written: "Who feareth God, neglecteth nothing" (Ecclus. VII, 19.)
 943 XV     |             who doth the work of God negligently." Against the curse of torpor,
 944 VIII   |              most rich with Him. The never-failing Lord is with thee in such
 945 VIII   |           therefore, is with thee, O neverfailing Mary! Rejoice, O Mary, rejoice!
 946 XVIII  |            of the rational soul; the ninth is the consummation of the
 947 XIII   |            for our sakes (superplena nobis)." So Mary surpassed in
 948 IX     |           that most faithful dove of Noe, who hast most faithfully
 949 XVIII  |        heavenly Paradise. St. Anselm notes all the good things which
 950 X      |             fecundity in good works, notice the humble handmaid, look
 951 XVI    |           germinate either useful or noxious plants, that is, thoughts
 952 VI     |          read that, being led to the nuptial chamber of King Assuerus,
 953 III    |              his ministering spirits obeyeth, O Virgin, thy commands;
 954 XI     |        ignorance, in the darkness of obscurity, the interior houses of
 955 III    |         scarcely drag herself to the obsequies of Christ." Thou seest now
 956 XVII   |      magnitude, all this I employ in observing His precepts."~Fifthly,
 957 XVIII  |       fourthly, to relieve spiritual obstinacy; fifthly, to appease the
 958 VI     |             the holy Church-thou who obtainest for sinners time to repent,
 959 V      |         deepest mercy. Therefore she obtaineth for us the mercy of her
 960 XIV    |          deliverance to pilgrims, by obtaining all these favors by thy
 961 XI     |           blessing of the Virgin man obtains the blessing of peace and
 962 IV     |            neighbor and on all other occasions of charitable speech is,
 963 IV     |           and therefore she not only occupied her mind in holy meditations,
 964 II     |           dissolution into dust more odious; and to the wicked their
 965 VII    |           aromas, was so full of the odoriferous balm of the Holy Spirit
 966 VII    |             was filled with the many odors of the virtues, there came
 967 III    |            saying: "What little thou offerest, take care to commend it
 968 V      |             the devil. For the devil offers the grace of an evil prosperity,
 969 VI     |         swift upon earth? For in the offices of charity she went with
 970 IV     |             alone in the word of her official reply, but in the fact of
 971 Prol   |            Evangelists, worthily and officially saluted by Angels."3~Having
 972 V      |            We run in the odor of thy ointments"? It is to be noted that
 973 III    |    illuminated, as the Israelites in olden days were by a pillar of
 974 XVIII  |             and vineyards, a land of olives, and oil and honey, and
 975 XVIII  |  characteristic of perfection not to omit those things which are profitable
 976 XI     |              us do the work; and let one-half of us hold the spears from
 977 V      |             said in Ecclesiasticus: "Open not thy heart to every man,
 978 XII    |               not only because it is openly exposed to the view of all,
 979 I      |              Spirit, who is about to operate within thee ! Because thou
 980 XVIII  |           word, that he shall let no opportunity of virtue pass, and so he
 981 III    |             devil and to his angels, oppressed by him, as the Red Sea was
 982 II     |           the ruler of Apostles, the oracle of prophets, the daughter
 983 VII    |            plenitudes of the angelic orders in glory.~First let us consider
 984 XVI    |          well-born from its paternal origin. You see also how it is
 985 XII    |               and embracest him, the outcast of all the world, with maternal
 986 VII    |         whole plenitude of grace was outpoured at once." This sea, therefore,
 987 II     |             sepulchers, which appear outwardly to men fair, but within
 988 IV     |             Virgin Mary was divinely overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, her
 989 IV     |            called full of grace; the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit is announced;
 990 III    |            star, if thou wilt not be overwhelmed by storms. If the winds
 991 XVIII  |        mortal sin; the second is the pacification of the supreme enmity; the
 992 XI     |            Mary, men and angels were pacified, because in that dawn, in
 993 XV     |    discipline is, as it were, a nail painfully transfixing the devil, and
 994 XII    |          integrity perseveres to the palm of victory, that in maidens
 995 VII    |             the fullness thereof" (I Par. XVI, 32.) As in the sea
 996 XV     |           the valley of blessing" (2 Paralip. XX, 6.) If every humble
 997 XIII   |          augmented, when sinners are pardoned and the justified are taken
 998 XVI    |              and the nobility of the parent was in the Divinity of the
 999 XV     |              greediness of our first parents, for which both they and
1000 XVI    |         Church, gathered together to partake of this Fruit. Thine, without
1001 XIV    |             thee deigned to become a partaker of our weakness and misery,