Chapter

1002 XVIII  |            life indeed they are only partially healed by grace; but in
1003 IX     |             crown us in Heaven. This particular Lord of ours was with Mary
1004 II     |          impious alone is this curse particularly addressed, for their concupiscence
1005 XII    |            in a field exposed to all passersby. Therefore, well could Christ
1006 XII    |            despise; but wherever she passes, she spreads the sweet incense
1007 XII    |            virtues, which, after the passing of the devilish winter,
1008 XVIII  |          food, because you have full pasture in the desert, full fruit
1009 XII    |         entire interior of Mary like pastures of eternal greenness produce
1010 IX     |             Lord is so just in every path of justice that for no one
1011 III    |            Mary. It is the safest of paths to follow her, as St. Bernard
1012 IV     |            is poor of necessity, yet patiently, can be much consoled by
1013 Prol(2)|               St. Jerome, "Epist. ad Paulam et Eustoch."
1014 XVIII  |             soul hath cleaved to the pavement." There the Lord will be
1015 XVIII  |            God, when He Himself, the peace-giving Fruit, is both God and man?
1016 XVII   |            exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice" (Heb.
1017 II     |              is born with the "fomes peccati," and by this is weak and
1018 IV     |             meek are they who are so peevish, so impatient, so irritable
1019 III    |            forth in the highest, and penetrates even into hell." As Mary
1020 XII    |              rod to beginners and to penitents. Of this rod it is said
1021 XI     |       depleted choirs of angels were peopled by men, as St. Anselm signifies,
1022 IX     |          most faithful Mary, save us perfidious souls by thy fidelity! O
1023 XI     |               That we may evade such perils, let the dawn come, let
1024 II     |            error of Balaam, and have perished in the contradiction of
1025 XII    |           and fades." But the flower perishes in death, as it is said
1026 VIII   |              without wealth, without permanence, would be a most imperfect
1027 XVII   |              and pray for those that persecute and calumniate you, that
1028 XII    |           affection, until integrity perseveres to the palm of victory,
1029 XI     |               that we may faithfully persist in good works manfully resist
1030 XIV    |         Ghost blessed her; all three Persons blessed her. The Angels
1031 XV     |          children of malediction" (2 Pet. II, 14. ) Against this
1032 II     |             her with Ave, and let us petition her that, through her own
1033 X      |             the bad, so when Mary is petitioned, she does not discuss the
1034 X      |            discuss the merits of the petitioners, but shows herself ready
1035 II     |              Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who are like
1036 III    |               more pure," but either phrase is fitted to our Star. For
1037 I      |            of salutations five sweet phrases are set forth, in which
1038 IV     |         thine own soul a sword shall pierce." This sword signifies the
1039 XI     |              into our souls by their piercing temptations, those houses
1040 VI     |              say, beloved, if she is piously besought by you, will not
1041 XI     |              the mire of sin and the pit of hell. Let us follow not
1042 XVIII  |             mortal sin; secondly, to placate the supreme enmity between
1043 XV     |              meekness is soothed and placated, lest He should take vengeance
1044 VI     |             is sweetest, whatever is pleasanter in glory, that is Mary's,
1045 XIV    |       silence, thou shalt henceforth please much more by thy words,
1046 XVII   |             cares and the riches and pleasures of this life, and yield
1047 VII    |            that the Virgin should be pledged with such gifts, that she
1048 V      |              XXIV, 22.) According to Pliny and the Gloss, the turpentine
1049 XII    |          anyone, not harrowed by the plough, not made fertile with manure;
1050 XI     |          bread in the desert without ploughing, impregnated the virgin
1051 III    |              help us, that we may be plunged into the bitter sea of penance!
1052 II     |            says, evil things, in the plural, because there are many,
1053 XV     |         widow was Judith, as we have pointed out. Of a blessed widow
1054 IV     |          their neighbor greetings of politeness. Woe to those who deceitfully
1055 IV     |           poor spot, not in splendid pomp, but in a poor manger. But
1056 IV     |           Mary kept all these words, pondering in her heart" (Luke II,
1057 IX     |           thou canst never enter the portals of a loving memory without
1058 II     |            malediction shall be your portion" (Eccli. XLI, 11 f.)~Certainly
1059 VIII   |       insipid, or unable to keep his position, would be little esteemed.
1060 Prol   |          follows: "That which nature possesseth not, which custom useth
1061 XVII   |            pride, the fruit of those possessing fraternal love in opposition
1062 XI     |      fourthly, because of her taking possession of her place in glory in
1063 XVII   |        nature; he rather believed it possible for a woman to conceive
1064 IV     |             charity, remained at her post." As Mary in all things
1065 VII    |             is moved by our prayers, pours forth graces upon us."~Thirdly,
1066 Prol   |            and the supreme glory and praiseworthiness of the person whose praises
1067 VI     |       inviolate virgin. St. Bernard, praising this privilege, says: "Mary
1068 III    |              her, thou strayest not, praying to her, thou shalt never
1069 XIII   |     fecundity shone forth a singular pre-eminence. A refreshing dawn and one
1070 Prol   |            Mary has been excellently preached and praised by divine and
1071 XVIII  |         because we obtain Him by the preaching of the mouth or lips, by
1072 XI     |          aurora going before it, and preceding its rise, and beginning
1073 XVII   |              employ in observing His precepts."~Fifthly, let us see how
1074 VI     |            saluted the mother of the Precursor that even the infant in
1075 VII    |              of mercy, which God had predestined from all eternity in our
1076 XV     |            conjugal chastity; but we prefer before her the virtue of
1077 XVIII  |              the earth, because they preferred to cleave to earthly things
1078 VI     |          with that of the angels and preferring it, say: "It is to be believed
1079 XII    |              fruit. The rod of Aaron prefigures the Virgin Mary. In the
1080 XI     |             so many wonderful things prefiguring this miracle, as St. Augustine
1081 XI     |           humility, she might become pregnant without any intercourse
1082 XVI    |             Lord, is the work of the preparation of so much power; Thy work
1083 XI     |      marvelously irradiated, herself prepares the rising of this Sun,
1084 III    |              faithful, especially by presenting to thee, O Lady, those who
1085 Prol   |        knowledge and eloquence, have presumed to offer to so great a Queen
1086 VI     |            she who brought forth the price by which all were freed,
1087 VI     |              of the kingdom, a truly priceless diadem, so delightful, so
1088 XVIII  |         faithful by the hands of the priest. Therefore, this fruit is
1089 XIII   |       Consider the excellence of the primacy of our Queen Mary, insomuch
1090 XVIII  |              her hands, Mary, or the primitive Church, planted a vineyard,
1091 III    |        Augustine says: "Michael, the prince and leader of the heavenly
1092 IX     |            earth, and all ye people, princes and all ye judges of the
1093 XVII   |            examples of the just, and principally of the perfect. Fly, I say,
1094 XII    |           Doctors seem to hold it as probable, and strive with some show
1095 XI     |             who was Himself about to proceed from thee, preventing as
1096 XVI    |              because from such works proceeded this fruit, as it were from
1097 XI     |             in to the King in solemn procession, is the most Blessed Virgin
1098 XVIII  |          omit those things which are profitable to the soul; hence we find, "
1099 IV     |           with meats; which have not profited those that walk in them" (
1100 XV     |           blessing of generosity and profusion. For she was like a fountain
1101 XVI    |           all those noble kings, his progenitors, by whom, according to the
1102 XIII   |             forth by being born, she progressed by advancing in grace and
1103 XI     |              the light of the aurora progresses by gradually growing in
1104 Prol   |                                      PROLOGUE~There is no doubt, as St.
1105 X      |             nor is she elated by the promise. O truly admirable humility !
1106 XVIII  |          most dangerous honors which promote him above the trees of the
1107 XVIII  |       delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees ?" (
1108 III    |          brought forth for us." Very properly is Mary compared to a star
1109 I      |           Elizabeth in the spirit of prophecy. Let us each and everyone
1110 VII    |        according to what Eliseus had prophesied to her, saying: "Thou shalt
1111 XIV    |        blessing; blessed by man, who prophesies her blessing. Truly is Mary
1112 XIV    |             her blessing, but by man prophesying her blessing. Elizabeth,
1113 VII    |             world, according to that prophetic word: "For thou lightest
1114 XI     |             of salvation, the day of propitiation, the day which the Lord
1115 III    |              that sailors, when they propose to sail to some distant
1116 XVIII  |           all that he shall do shall prosper." Truly anyone who shall
1117 XVIII  |       charity, shall find all things prosperous, for all things will work
1118 III    |        prayed to by us, that she may protect us against our enemies.
1119 III    |            of angels, thou art truly proved to be so; if I call thee
1120 XIV    |          most worthy, as St. Bernard proves, saying: "There was not
1121 XV     |             such kind compassion has provided thee with such a mediatrix,
1122 XVIII  |           who beareth fruit, He will purge, that he may bring forth
1123 XVIII  |              He who by this fruit is purged from mortal sins, may also
1124 XV     |        mortals, renewed the heavens, purified the world, opened paradise,
1125 Prol   |             panegyrist, St. Bernard, quailed ? For he saith: "There is
1126 XVI    |           These twelve conditions or qualities of this Fruit may be signified
1127 XVIII  |              seen of what nature and quality the blessed fruit of the
1128 XIII   |       carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold and precious stones" (
1129 III    |              by the power she has of quelling them.~Now we must consider
1130 XI     |              suddenly appear, if she quickly comes to our aid, and if
1131 XII    |              bed is the mind seeking quiet in contemplation. Let the
1132 IV     |          Judas, when he said: "Hail, Rabbi !" Oh, how sweetly did Mary
1133 III    |              hath lit this lamp most radiantly, and by this light he puts
1134 XVII   |              what a height dost thou raise thy holy summit! Even unto
1135 XII    |         contemplative soul, whom God raises up in contemplation and
1136 XII    |              how great a height thou raisest thy summit even unto Him
1137 VI     |              This is a lesson to the rancorous, who will not only not speak
1138 XII    |            And if the flower is most rare, because neither in Heaven
1139 XIV    |              blessed by all men, and reaches to all, and, therefore,
1140 XIII   |            not mere man alone, nor a real angel, but the Son of God
1141 IV     |       consider these things, you may realize how great was the poverty
1142 VI     |           without herself, in a most reasonable discretion concerning all
1143 Prol   |              Mother." And giving his reasons for this delight, he continues: "
1144 XV     |            it is written: "Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they
1145 I      |              saved, and the exile is recalled. Thy Son, O Lady, redeemed
1146 III    |         defending in the body and by receiving the souls of the faithful,
1147 XV     |          valley is, the more is it a receptacle for waters; so was Mary
1148 III    |          wherever they find frequent recollection of this holy name, devout
1149 IX     |             mediatrix, our advocate, reconcile us to thy Son, commend us
1150 VI     |             the words of her lips as recorded in the Gospel. We find in
1151 V      |            Child, I, being lost, was recovered and led back from the exile
1152 III    |             oppressed by him, as the Red Sea was bitter to the Egyptians
1153 Prol   |           said of Our Blessed Mother redounds wholly to the praise and
1154 Prol   |               a kind of mirror which reflects the life, grace, and glory
1155 IV     |             by poverty, the rich are reformed to the likeness of Christ
1156 XVI    |            fruit is abundant, for it refreshes unto complete satisfaction;
1157 XIII   |             singular pre-eminence. A refreshing dawn and one pleasing to
1158 VII    |             is the world; He has His refreshment-room, which now is the Church,
1159 III    |           blessed confidence, O safe refuge, Mother of God and our Mother!"
1160 XI     |          that Mary, our dawn, is, as regards ourselves, a light-giver
1161 XVIII  |          blessed fruit of my womb is regenerated unto eternal blessedness."~
1162 XVIII  |            womb, has given me in the regeneration of Baptism. Woe, therefore,
1163 XVIII  |             Fear not, animals of the region, for the beautiful places
1164 VIII   |            in Exodus: "The Lord will reign in eternity and beyond."
1165 X      |            is her mercy now that she reigns in Heaven. Now by her innumerable
1166 IX     |             God-loving soul, who was reinstated by thee." The Lord is, therefore,
1167 XVIII  |          Church; the eleventh is the reintegration of the empyreal ruin; the
1168 XVII   |             Book of Wisdom: "He that rejecteth wisdom and discipline, is
1169 XIV    |         without example in womankind rejoicest in the honor of a mother
1170 XI     |              XII, 14.) Oh, who shall relate, or who can even imagine,
1171 XIII   |           says: "Virginity is always related to the angels." Therefore
1172 X      |              we wish to describe her relation to each Divine Person, we
1173 IV     |         diligent service to her aged relative." Alas, how unlike Mary
1174 XVIII  |            Mary is necessary for the relief of hunger, or the famine
1175 XVIII  |           original sin; fourthly, to relieve spiritual obstinacy; fifthly,
1176 XVIII  |           and the thirst of souls is relieved, as St. Bernard says: "Good
1177 XVI    |             is a sign that we little relish the sweet odor of this Fruit.
1178 VIII   |             said: "But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever." Behold, O Mary,
1179 XI     |           Book of Judges: "The stars remaining in their order and courses
1180 XVIII  |              very useful effects, or remarkable advantages, on account of
1181 Prol   |              no doubt, as St. Jerome remarks, that whatever is worthily
1182 XVIII  |           Mary is necessary for t-he removal of the mortal enmity which
1183 IX     |          thou be thought of, without renewing the affection of those who
1184 XVIII  |      Therefore, anyone who perfectly renounces all earthly riches for Christ'
1185 XVIII  |     universal Church; eleventhly, to repair the empyreal ruin; twelfthly,
1186 V      |          heart to every man, lest he repay thee with an evil turn;
1187 II     |              most innocent heart was repentance." Of what could the heart
1188 XII    |             to thee, and begs with a repentant heart for thy pardon; thou
1189 XVI    |             this that it can fill to repletion all souls who are to be
1190 III    |          fatherland ? Certainly," he replies, "chiefly by two. By the
1191 IV     |             the word of her official reply, but in the fact of her
1192 XI     |             commission a nurse, or a representative, but showed herself always
1193 XI     |              us do the work, not our representatives. And in another passage:
1194 V      |              an evil turn; and speak reproachfully to thee" (VIII, 22. ) "With
1195 XI     |              the elect and burns the reprobate. He sometimes burns them
1196 XI     |              can be no question of a repulse, where so many marks of
1197 III    |               if thou wouldst not be repulsed. Well for us, beloved, it
1198 XII    |           she has the flower of good repute and the flower of humility;
1199 V      |         redeemed, by whose Son I was rescued from eternal death, by whose
1200 X      |              of her latter mercy she resembles the sun. For as the sun
1201 VI     |            in order in a most strong resistance to the devil; in a most
1202 XVIII  |            CHAPTER XVIII TO WHOM THE RESULTS OF THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB
1203 XVI    |       signified by the rod of Aaron, retained the flower of virginity
1204 XIII   |              whose fullness that Man returned to the Church of whom it
1205 IV     |        crucifixion, when her Son was reviled, as it is said in the Gospel
1206 I      |          abundance every creature is revived and refreshed." Again, how
1207 VI     |            Bernard says: "Diligently revolve in thy mind the whole of
1208 VIII   |            rich lord is with thee so richly, therefore art thou most
1209 XVIII  |            have also seen to whom it rightfully belongs; we must now see
1210 XVI    |         fountain flows from a little rill, the root of all things
1211 VII    |          cinnamon externally, in the rind of her conversation; like
1212 XI     |              therefore, that the sun rises without a cloud, the bush
1213 XI     |           whatever good thing he can rob us of, he; does; the adulterer,
1214 III    |              if thou strikest on the rocks of temptation, tribulation,
1215 VIII   |             all that call upon Him" (Rom. X, 12.) Behold, Mary, how
1216 XVI    |            this in his letter to the Romans: "Who was made from the
1217 X      |           manner unlocked the secret room of generation, and kept
1218 XVII   |              she was the most deeply rooted in humility. Well, therefore,
1219 V      |             the Lord: "Thy odor hath roused in me eternal concupiscences."
1220 XII    |            of the Psalm: "Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron."
1221 II     |             the rose of martyrs, the ruler of Apostles, the oracle
1222 XVIII  |             by this fruit, while the rulers of the Church have caused
1223 VII    |            rest. So our Emperor, who rules the winds and the sea, has
1224 XVII   |       example to another. Above all, ruminate chiefly upon that flower
1225 XVI    |          odor of Christ draw one who runs and says: "Draw me after
1226 XIV    |           manna. The holy ark is the sacred flesh; the golden urn is
1227 XII    |            born without sin, and how sadly was it crushed by dying,
1228 III    |              imitate Mary. It is the safest of paths to follow her,
1229 III    |           read, and it is true, that sailors, when they propose to sail
1230 XIII   |        overflowed with grace for our sakes (superplena nobis)." So
1231 I      |           Mary."~In this sweetest of salutations five sweet phrases are set
1232 XIV    |             the Archangel Gabriel by saluting the glorious Virgin Mary
1233 XVI    |             powerful not only in its salvific virtue, not only more powerful
1234 VI     |            kiss on earth." (Serm. de Sanct., XXV, CCVIII, n. II, appendix.)~
1235 Prol(1)|                   St. Augustine, "De Sanctis," CCVIII, n. 5.
1236 VII    |              No wonder, Lady, if the sanctuary is so copiously anointed
1237 XIII   |        intelligences; for she is the sapphire throne which, as we read
1238 XV     |              herself the strength of Satan by strictness of discipline.
1239 XVI    |      abundant that it can refresh to satiety the rational soul, which
1240 XII    |             the perfumer in manifold satisfactions. No desert doth the Virgin
1241 XVI    |            powerful, not only with a saving power, but with a multiplying
1242 IV     |           further on: 'And they were scandalized in Him.' " Truly is Christ
1243 VI     |     ungrateful, who, alas, give such scant thanks to God for His benefits,
1244 III    |     tottering in her walk, she could scarcely drag herself to the obsequies
1245 VII    |            As a field is full of the scents of various flowers, so is
1246 XIV    |             blood of His back by the scourge; the blood of His head by
1247 II     |            St. Matthew: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,
1248 Prol   |              great a Queen this poor script of mine, that in it, so
1249 IV     |            all these things from the Scriptures, in which we find the name
1250 X      |    generation, and kept for thee the seal of virginity; the Holy Spirit
1251 VII    |           called (Vulg. "he called") seas" (Gen. I, 10.) It is also
1252 V      |             mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid" (Heb. IV, 16.) And
1253 VII    |            of her mind, the Lord was seated, and the house of her body
1254 XI     |      thrilling knowledge of heavenly secrets." The place in which Mary
1255 IV     |   befittingly magnified God and most securely rejoiced in God, because
1256 VI     |          Mary, therefore, say in all security, "In me is all grace of
1257 IV     |         faint. And if Mary prayed so sedulously on earth, why should she
1258 II     |            in which were planted the seeds of all virtues, and the
1259 XVII   |          sought by labor, as the bee seeks the fruit of honey; that
1260 XVII   |  chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy,
1261        | seems
1262 V      |         Virgin Mary, who was truly a seer in contemplation and was
1263 V      |           was swift in work. For she seeth our misery and swiftly bestows
1264 VII    |             hidden. Happy is he "who sells all that he has, and buys
1265 III    |             his power the Lord shall send forth." The rod of power
1266 XVII   |              root downward. The root sending its shoots downward is humility;
1267 I      |             Holy Ghost. And the last sentence, blessed is the fruit of
1268 VI     |             find in the Gospel seven sentences, sweeter than honey, dropping
1269 XVI    |              text has "thy," but the Septuagint has "hers." Let God the
1270 XIII   |           spoken of this Queen in my sermon, "The Queen stood, etc.";
1271 IV     |     patronage of Mary: that while we serve her on earth with suppliant
1272 XIV    |           having become our servant, serves us miserable sinners even
1273 XVII   |             He merited it, I say, in serving for us for thirty-three
1274 V      |              her mercies St. Bernard sets forth, saying: "Mary has
1275 IX     |        rising of the sun even to its setting, the name of the Lord is
1276 VI     |         Likewise, he who desires the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit
1277 XVIII  |              and wicked he will be a severe judge. Woe, therefore, to
1278 VII    |            is Mary-a woman indeed in sex, not in corruption; a mother
1279 VI     |           she had compassion for the shame of those whose guest she
1280 VI     |             Holy Ghost, can find the shape of these pillars in this
1281 XIV    |            thy intercession, make us sharers of His heavenly glory. Amen."~
1282 VIII   |                    CHAPTER VIII MARY SHARES ALL GIFTS WITH THE LORD~"
1283 IV     |            or wound the soul, so the sharp Passion of Christ, although
1284 XI     |             Book of Wisdom: "He will sharpen His dire wrath as a spear" (
1285 XV     |           transfixing the devil, and sharply wounding him. The blessed
1286 XI     |            aurora: "Didst thou . . . shew the dawning of the day its
1287 XI     |            that are before God, thou shinest forth gloriously in Heaven
1288 XI     |         morning when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds" (
1289 XI     |             the rising aurora in her shining virginity, fair as the moon
1290 III    |              sea of the world in the ship of innocence or penance,
1291 III    |      Innocent say: "By what aids can ships pass among so many dangers
1292 XVIII  |          will plant it, and it shall shoot forth into branches, and
1293 XVII   |       downward. The root sending its shoots downward is humility; which,
1294 III    |          star by directing us to the shores of our true home country.~
1295 XV     |            because he himself, being shut out from eternal joy, tries
1296 XV     |        Sisara is interpreted as "the shutting out of joy," and well does
1297 XIII   |             grace for herself (plena sibi); but when the Holy Spirit
1298 XI     |            will you halt between two sides? If the Lord is God, follow
1299 III    |         Blessed Evangelist Luke says significantly: "And the name of the Virgin
1300 XIV    |             thou hast pleased by thy silence, thou shalt henceforth please
1301 IV     |      according to St. Luke: "And he (Simeon) said to Mary His Mother:
1302 Prol   |              as in a dim mirror, the simpler lovers of this great Queen
1303 VII    |            enough for the Arch angel simply to commend the grace of
1304 XIV    |          voice.' " Oh, how true, how sincere, were the lips of Mary,
1305 Prol   |              whose praises I wish to sing.~For who is there who would
1306 VI     |    Everywhere the holy Church of God sings, what it is unlawful to
1307 XIV    |            blessings of grace, but a sink of the devils in the curse
1308 VII    |              the throne of which God sits is the Blessed Virgin, on
1309 VII    |              Isaias: "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and
1310 Prol   |      insufficiency, whatever want of skill appears in this writing
1311 VI     |             sense of words of a most skilled tongue. We shall clearly
1312 III    |           two sons of Mary were both slain in the Passion; the one
1313 XIV    |             For our sake He became a slave, and shed His blood-the
1314 VI     |          while she brought forth the slayer of sin and death, she should
1315 XV     |               Cursed is he who shall sleep with the wife of his neighbor;
1316 Prol   |            Again I say, how could my slender knowledge and my dull mind
1317 Prol   |             secondly, because of the slenderness of my knowledge; thirdly,
1318 IV     |          unlike Mary is the wretched sluggard whose mind, hands, and tongue
1319 XII    |          thee, and came to the sweet smelling flower of thy perpetual
1320 IV     |        against gluttony she was most sober by her temperance; against
1321 IX     |          mercy, in whom all find the solace of mercy. For as we have
1322 XI     |             an immense host of armed soldiers, as the powers of the air
1323 XI     |           entering in to the King in solemn procession, is the most
1324 XII    |             who was in her voluntary solitude visited by an angel. Therefore
1325        | something
1326 XV     |              property of meekness to soothe with kind words the anger
1327 XV     |            who by Mary's meekness is soothed and placated, lest He should
1328 XII    |             any human aid, it is not sowed by anyone, not harrowed
1329 XVII   |               rightly the chaste are specially Blessed by Him, by whom
1330 XIV    |       Bearing fruit in the different species of virtues." Of these happy
1331 VI     |             found grace, immediately specifies what that grace is, saying: "
1332 XII    |           and virtue. The aromatical spice, the sweet incense of the
1333 VII    |        liquid is moved, it is easily spilt, and lets drop its contents.
1334 XI     |           who cultivates these three splendors, these three virtues of
1335 IX     |             the just Mary, from whom sprang the Sun of Justice?" The
1336 III    |          also said in the Psalm, "He spread a cloud."~Mary is a pillar
1337 III    |        angels and all the saints she spreadeth the illumination of her
1338 XII    |             wherever she passes, she spreads the sweet incense of pardon.
1339 VII    |            the fair fame of fragrant sprinkling. Of her fullness we may
1340 VII    |          rested. O truly blessed and stable throne, as it is said in
1341 VIII   |           minds may be cleansed from stains and our darkness illuminated."
1342 IX     |              person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness,
1343 XIII   |           Our Lord Jesus Christ, may stay with us!~
1344 XII    |            nor has she ever felt the sting of corruption because no
1345 III    |          example of thy virtues thou stirrest us up to the imitation of
1346 II     |             further on: "to whom the storm of darkness is preserved
1347 III    |           wilt not be overwhelmed by storms. If the winds of temptation
1348 XII    |              the Virgin Mary. In the straightness of the rod is prefigured
1349 III    |           says: "Following her, thou strayest not, praying to her, thou
1350 XVIII  |           the running waters but the streams of grace, by which man gives
1351 XVIII  |             the fruit of bread which strengthens, and puts to flight defect
1352 V      |            the turpentine tree, have stretched forth my branches, and my
1353 VII    |             hold of her Son, lest He strike sinners. Before Mary there
1354 Prol   |             the heavens tremble, and striketh dumb the earth, which amazeth
1355 XII    |             hold it as probable, and strive with some show of reason
1356 XVII   |             Whatever soul shall have struck deeply the roots of humility,
1357 XV     |            be their fury, for it was stubborn: and their wrath, because
1358 XII    |             faints away by a kind of stupor, when she recognizes the
1359 III    |              above this praise. If I style thee Lady of angels, thou
1360 Prol   |              fitting to take for the subject-matter of my treatise the most
1361 III    |        demons in hell, so powerfully subjugating them that of her we may
1362 III    |              Mary is a bitter sea by submerging the devil. Mary is indeed
1363 IV     |              who is without all sin, submitted herself to the law of purification,
1364 IV     |               a wretch full of sins, submittest not to the law of satisfaction."~
1365 IV     |               but in the fact of her submitting to the legal purification;
1366 Prol   |             shall I, so inefficient, succeed in a task before which Mary'
1367 XVIII  |           Fruit was given, born, and suffered that the sin of man might
1368 VII    |             in the bitterness of her suffering. The good odor of Mary was
1369 VII    |     contemplation; like myrrh in her sufferings. O truly rich, and exceedingly
1370 XVI    |              therefore, is the Fruit sufficing to the universality of souls,
1371 VI     |             above all others pay the suffrage of holy liberty." But what
1372 XI     |              of Mary, to implore the suffrages of Mary. Then, as it were
1373 III    |              sea." This name is most suitable to Mary, for she fulfills
1374 XV     |     interpreted as "going up," which suits Mary, who did not, like
1375 III    |            is that ray of whom it is sung: "As the ray of a star."
1376 III    |          Mary is indeed a sea by the superabounding Passion of her Son; Mary
1377 XIII   |     surpassing all the Saints in the superabundance of her merits and rewards
1378 XII    |           heavenly flower! whom that supercelestial Bee hath so loved. For St.
1379 XIII   |              her mind and heart in a superlative degree; in her virginity
1380 XI     |           and if her grace and mercy supervene, it will be as the shadow
1381 XVI    |              mission of Gabriel; the supervention of the Holy Ghost is Thy
1382 IV     |              serve her on earth with suppliant ardor, she by her fervent
1383 VIII   |        failing creatures a perpetual support in every good deed!~
1384 III    |              which led the Magi most surely to Christ. Mary is that
1385 IX     |        fidelity and most faithful in surety, as the Prophet testifies,
1386 VI     |             certain that these gifts surpass those of all other souls.
1387 XIII   |            consider that we find her surpassing all the Saints in the superabundance
1388 XIII   |              more than full, she was surpassingly full (superplena). St. Bernard
1389 XV     |         indignation, you may perhaps suspect her in other things, and
1390 XVI    |      perceived the fragrance of this sweet-smelling fruit, who said: Behold
1391 VI     |           the gift of agility she is swiftest in Heaven, who by her gift
1392 V      |             she seeth our misery and swiftly bestows on us her mercy.
1393 VI     |             the hill country, of the swiftness of whose haste St. Ambrose
1394 XVIII  |             of Mary is necessary for t-he removal of the mortal enmity
1395 XIII   |            Himself placed in her His tabernacle, when He was conceived in
1396 XI     |         saying: "He who wrote on the tablets of stone without iron, made
1397 II     |        should rise again, before any taint of corruption could infect
1398 XVII   |            nor frivolous, not a loud talker, nor a lover of evil words;
1399 XVII   |         grace before God." Also, the taller a tree is, the more danger
1400 XVI    |            in sweet belief !" Not to taste of it is to sin. See, therefore,
1401 V      |              are the reapers but the teachers and pastors? O truly great
1402 VI     |            is the same Augustine who teaches us this, saying: "We know,
1403 VI     |              my brethren, after your tearful complaints to beseech the
1404 XIV    |            for the Lord! St. Bernard tells us how pleasing to God were
1405 XVI    |          grace of the Holy Ghost the temple of the virginal womb. And
1406 XI     |              souls by their piercing temptations, those houses in which He
1407 Prol   |            produce a work which will tend to the praise of His most
1408 XVII   |              manner of roots, always tends to the lowest. The higher
1409 XVIII  |              the spiritual life; the tenth is the multiplication of
1410 Prol   |          Mary, it is not unfittingly termed the Mirror of Mary. Oh,
1411 XVIII  |              the natural life in the terrestrial Paradise, so Christ is to
1412 III    |           thanks, to whom fleeth the terrified crowd of evil-doers, to
1413 XVII   |            Having had their patience tested, they reap the best fruit,
1414 XVIII  |              God and man? Bede gives testimony to this, saying: "Our earth
1415 XI     |             dawn, let us, therefore, thank Mary for that blessing by
1416 V      |       virtues, and the examples, and the-benefits of Mary. Many are the branches,
1417 XI     |          ones do in souls by murder, theft, and adultery! That we may
1418 XVIII  |               for man, falling among thieves, was wounded with a grievous
1419 VIII   |            the universal Lady of all things-the Lady, I say, of Heaven,
1420 VI     |              the body of Mary, what, thinkest thou, is the glory of her
1421 III    |            thou shalt never despair; thinking of her, thou shalt never
1422 X      |         shine? Hear what St. Bernard thinks of this: "As the sun shines
1423 XVII   |           say, in serving for us for thirty-three years. And because of this,
1424 XIV    |             blood of His head by the thorns; the blood of His side by
1425 XVI    |         white and ruddy, chosen from thousands." He, the brightness of
1426 VII    |             bread and wine, wool and thread, flax. and all the necessaries
1427 XI     |             the Holy Ghost, with the thrilling knowledge of heavenly secrets."
1428 VIII   |         great Gabriel, thou bringest tidings of a great thing to the
1429 III    |           interpreted "lady." Such a title well becometh so great an
1430 XI     |       joyfully dwells who has said: "Today I must abide in thy house" (
1431 I      |       intimacy with Our Lord, she is told: The Lord is with thee;
1432 XIV    |             and the evil are equally tolerated; in the second year, that
1433 XIV    |           the evil are most severely tortured; in the third year, that
1434 III    |           and all its members, that, tottering in her walk, she could scarcely
1435 VI     |             on which we have already touched in speaking of her seventh
1436 XI     |            spiritually, is her mind, tranquil and peaceful, according
1437 VI     |            that the merits (of Mary) transcend those of all angels and
1438 III    |             a lightgiver by her most transcendently luminous life, thou shalt
1439 XII    |              delightful to love, who transcendest the capacity of the heart,
1440 XV     |            it were, a nail painfully transfixing the devil, and sharply wounding
1441 XI     |          morning splendor, copiously transfused thee with the rays of His
1442 VII    |            What more useful ? We all tread the earth under our feet,
1443 XVII   |          discipline of every sort of trial have a soul so patient,
1444 III    |             the rocks of temptation, tribulation, look upon the star, call
1445 XV     |           shut out from eternal joy, tries also to keep others out
1446 XII    |             maidens it may grasp the trophy of sanctity, and in the
1447 XVII   |     ineffable praise of Mary, Joseph trusted more to her chastity than
1448 XIV    |           that prophets may be found trustworthy; those who follow, that
1449 XVII   |           Benedictus fructus ventris tui." After we have seen, in
1450 XII    |           place of His face from the tumult of men. This soul by contemplation
1451 XV     |            of Proverbs: "A mild word turneth away anger" (Prov. XV, 1.)
1452 XVIII  |            of the empyreal ruin; the twelfth is the perpetuation of eternal
1453 Prol   |      fore-shadowed by patriarchs, in types and figures, set forth and
1454 XI     |           this world. His rising was unaccompanied by any cloud of sin; wherefore
1455 VI     |              This is a lesson to the unchaste, who have on their lips
1456 I      |            fruitfulness, O Lady, the unclean sinner is justified, the
1457 XVIII  |          said of her: "That earth is uncultivated, it has become as a garden
1458 XVIII  |             beautiful blooms of this uncultured earth are the flowers of
1459 Prol   |            insufficiency for such an undertaking. First, because of the sublimity
1460 XII    |         world the flower Mary weaves unfading crowns, and keeps the royal
1461 VIII   |             thee ! And because He is unfailingly with thee, therefore, thou
1462 II     |          these three woes we may not unfitly understand what we read
1463 Prol   |             glory of Mary, it is not unfittingly termed the Mirror of Mary.
1464 II     |         Ecclesiasticus: "Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the
1465 I      |             says: "Inasmuch as it is unheard of in human experience,
1466 XVI    |          Holy Ghost is Thy work; the union of the Word with Flesh is
1467 Prol   |             task before which Mary's unique and zealous panegyrist,
1468 XIII   |            purity that He deigned to unite it to His own divine purity."
1469 VI     |         creature is capable, she was united to that inaccessible Light."
1470 VI     |             of God sings, what it is unlawful to believe of any other
1471 X      |        secret, in a wonderful manner unlocked the secret room of generation,
1472 VI     |              Here is a lesson to the unmerciful, who are not moved to compassion
1473 V      |       Ecclesiasticus: "My odor is as unmixed balm" (Eccli. XXIV, 21.)
1474 XVII   |       without fruit, and their works unprofitable" (Wisdom III, 11.) Thus
1475 Prol   |           whatever is said of one so unspeakably sublime, by the very fact
1476 X      |            now sees more clearly the untold miseries of mankind. For
1477 Prol   |        deserves ?"~Again, how can my untrained tongue, my arid powers of
1478 XVII   |            this fruit. But he who is unwilling to give a thousand by leaving
1479 Prol   |              finally, because of the unworthiness of my life, and the supreme
1480 III    |              shalt never err; if she upholdeth thee, thou shalt not fall;
1481 XVII   |         danger there is of its being uprooted by the winds of elation,
1482 VI     |              to their neighbors, but urge them to evil deeds. Again,
1483 IV     |            country. What was it that urged her on to haste in this
1484 XVIII  |        perfection nor to overflow in useless words, which we understand
1485 XVIII  |              shall not pass his time uselessly, that he shall utter no
1486 Prol   |         possesseth not, which custom useth not, which eclipseth reason,
1487 XI     |            forth a child without the usual travail."~Thirdly, note
1488 V      |            all around thee." Balm is usually mixed, and thereby adulterated,
1489 XV     |            if she were the valley of valleys, who was the most humble
1490 XIII   |            clothing, surrounded with variety" (Ps. XLIV, 10.) All can
1491 III    |             how she is bitter by the vehemence of the Lord's Passion, and
1492 III    |           praise, my mind longeth to venerate, my soul desireth to beseech,
1493 VII    |           alms and our other acts of veneration. Let her be moved fully,
1494 XVII   |              DUE~"Benedictus fructus ventris tui." After we have seen,
1495 XI     |           Psalmist, in the aforesaid verse, place the aurora midway
1496 XIV    |               in all the attacks and vexations of the devil. For she is
1497 IV     |              love Master Hugh of St. Victor saith a good word: "Because
1498 XII    |            perseveres to the palm of victory, that in maidens it may
1499 XII    |             is openly exposed to the view of all, but also because
1500 XI     |               and so they fight with vigor against the devil. Of these
1501 XIV    |            the Lord curse thee, thou vileness of injustice!" Oh, what