Chapter

  1 I    |          fruit of thy womb.~HEAR, O most sweet Virgin Mary,
  2 I    |           and wonderful! Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline
  3 I    |          everyone say, Hail Mary. O truly gracious and venerable,
  4 I    |           gracious and venerable, O truly glorious and admirable
  5 I    |          most devoutly exclaims: "O Woman full and overfull
  6 I    |        with amazement, exclaims: "O Blessed and ever Blessed
  7 I    |        say: "By thy fruitfulness, O Lady, the unclean sinner
  8 I    |       exile is recalled. Thy Son, O Lady, redeemed the captive
  9 II   |          her: "Thou art all fair, O my beloved, and there is
 10 II   |        the Prophet saith: "Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou
 11 III  |             St. Anselm exclaims: "O blessed confidence, O safe
 12 III  |             O blessed confidence, O safe refuge, Mother of God
 13 III  |           Saint Anselm exclaims: "O Blessed among women, who
 14 III  |         virginity of His Mother." O most truly blessed, O most
 15 III  |             O most truly blessed, O most truly radiant Star,
 16 III  |        For Thou lightest my lamp, O Lord, my God, enlighten
 17 III  |          felt this when he said: "O Mary, by the magnificent
 18 III  |      ministering spirits obeyeth, O Virgin, thy commands; by
 19 III  | especially by presenting to thee, O Lady, those who day and
 20 III  |         The devout Anselm saith: "O great Lady, to whom the
 21 III  |           of evil-doers, to thee, O all-powerful and merciful
 22 III  |        this Lady, he says: "Thee, O Lady so very great, my heart
 23 III  |        devoutly to Mary and say: "O Mary, Bitter Sea, help us,
 24 III  |        the bitter sea of penance! O Mary, Star of the Sea, help
 25 III  |           the sea of this world ! O Mary, Lightgiver, help us,
 26 III  |    eternally illumined in glory ! O Lady Mary, help us that
 27 IV   |           of the Lord' " (I, 38.) O wonderful and profound humility
 28 IV   |               were accomplished.' O hard, unhappy pride! O proud
 29 IV   |            O hard, unhappy pride! O proud and unhappy hardness
 30 IV   |          Mary know how to salute! O Mary, deign to greet us
 31 IV   |      martyrdom St. Jerome saith: "O marvelous patience and meekness
 32 IV   |           enriched. By thy Child, O Mary, thy virginity was
 33 IV   |        that word of St. Bernard: "O clement Queen, may Jesus
 34 V    |     contain God. Thou, therefore, O most immense Mary, art more
 35 V    |           sublimity of thy mercy, O blessed one? For the length
 36 V    |          eternal concupiscences." O soul, O soul, dost thou
 37 V    |          concupiscences." O soul, O soul, dost thou not experience
 38 V    |          glory" ( Prov. XI, 16. ) O truly happy finder, Mary,
 39 V    |         the teachers and pastors? O truly great grace of Mary,
 40 V    |   homeland of eternal beatitude." O Mother of grace, make us
 41 VI   |           have access to thy Son, O blessed finder of grace,
 42 VI   |          them to God. Behold now, O Mary, our advocate, it is
 43 VI   |           is it necessary for me, O my brethren, after your
 44 VI   |           this, saying: "We know, O Mary, that thou above all
 45 VI   |         it is our greatest glory, O Mary, to behold thee, to
 46 VI   |        because of thy grace. Say, O our most beloved Sara, that
 47 VII  |          he said: "Gratia plena." O truly full, and fully full!
 48 VII  |          this world in the flesh. O truly wonderful fullness
 49 VII  |       whose mind the Lord rested. O truly blessed and stable
 50 VII  |        with the author of grace." O truly happy house, full
 51 VII  |          myrrh in her sufferings. O truly rich, and exceedingly
 52 VII  |      Therefore St. Anselm saith: "O Woman full and overfull
 53 VII  |      eternal joy. Now, therefore, O Virgin full of grace, deign
 54 VIII |         tell us, in what measure, O great Gabriel, thou bringest
 55 VIII |       born." The Lord, therefore, O Mary, but who, how great?
 56 VIII |       thine in a singular manner, O Mary. The Lord, I say, of
 57 VIII | especially of thy virginal court, O Mary. We must consider,
 58 VIII |          therefore, is with thee, O most powerful Mary.~Secondly,
 59 VIII |          therefore, is with thee, O most wise Mary.~Thirdly,
 60 VIII |        their fullness. For Thine, O Lord, are the Heavens, and
 61 VIII |     merits and rewards, but thou, O Mary, by thy universal riches
 62 VIII |       even St. Bernard exclaims: "O Mary, rich in all and above
 63 VIII |          is with thee, therefore, O Mary most rich.~Fourthly,
 64 VIII |      Psalm it is said: "But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever."
 65 VIII |      remainest for ever." Behold, O Mary, how great a Lord,
 66 VIII |       only say with truth: "Thou, O Lord, endurest for ever,"
 67 VIII |        can also truly say: "Thou, O Lady, endurest for ever."
 68 VIII |           Bernard says: "In thee, O Mary, angels find joy, the
 69 VIII |          therefore, is with thee, O neverfailing Mary! Rejoice,
 70 VIII |       neverfailing Mary! Rejoice, O Mary, rejoice! Behold the
 71 VIII |          helper and a counselor ! O most wealthy Lady, be to
 72 VIII |         are poor a benefactress ! O most unfailing Lady, be
 73 IX   |        says in the eighth Psalm: "O Lord, our Lord," etc. He
 74 IX   |         the subject of thy mercy, O blessed Virgin, who, having
 75 IX   |          therefore, is with thee, O most merciful Mary.~Secondly,
 76 IX   |        And again: "Thou art just, O Lord, and Thy judgment is
 77 IX   |     equally care of all." Behold, O Mary, what kind of a Lord
 78 IX   |         is, therefore, with thee, O most just Mary. ~Thirdly,
 79 IX   |          pass away," etc. Behold, O Mary, what kind of a Lord
 80 IX   |          therefore, is with thee, O most faithful Mary.~Fourthly,
 81 IX   |       There is none like to Thee, O Lord, and great art Thou,
 82 IX   |             Ps. CXII, 2.) Behold, O Mary, how great a Lord,
 83 IX   |         Bethlehem" (Ruth IV, 11.) O Mary of the most renowned
 84 IX   |       testifies to this, saying: "O great, O loving, O most
 85 IX   |           this, saying: "O great, O loving, O most praiseworthy
 86 IX   |       saying: "O great, O loving, O most praiseworthy Mary,
 87 IX   |         is, therefore, with thee, O most renowned Mary. Rejoice,
 88 IX   |           Him, art most renowned. O most loving Mary, save us
 89 IX   |        merciful, loving kindness! O most just Mary, save us
 90 IX   |         souls by thy just equity! O most faithful Mary, save
 91 IX   | perfidious souls by thy fidelity! O most renowned Mary, save
 92 X    |     Sanctity behooveth Thy house, O Lord." O singularly blessed
 93 X    |     behooveth Thy house, O Lord." O singularly blessed House,
 94 X    |            whose daughter she is. O truly noble daughter of
 95 X    |          is with thee, therefore, O Mary, as a father with a
 96 X    |         is, therefore, with thee, O Mary, as a son with a most
 97 X    |         is, therefore, with thee, O Mary, as a bridegroom with
 98 X    |        the Psalm, where He says: "O Lord, because I am thy servant,
 99 X    |         the son of thy handmaid." O what a good handmaid, and
100 X    |        humility of his handmaid." O Christian soul, handmaid
101 X    |        she elated by the promise. O truly admirable humility !
102 X    |          is with thee, therefore, O Mary, as with a most devout
103 X    |          ever will be. Therefore, O Lady, because so great a
104 XI   |            The Lord is with thee, O Mary. Certainly with thee,
105 XI   |         thou come into the world, O Mary, when thou didst foreshew
106 XI   |     Bernard well saith: "Rightly, O Mary, hast thou fulfilled
107 XI   |        Anselm signifies, saying: "O wonderfully singular and
108 XI   |            The Lord is with thee, O Mary, as the sun is with
109 XI   |         with the dawn. Therefore, O Lady, most sweet morning,
110 XII  |         hast arisen and flowered, O rod of Aaron; thou hast
111 XII  |           it, when he exclaimed: "O Virgin fair to look upon,
112 XII  |          the heart, give thyself, O Lady, to the weak soul who
113 XII  |         them with a rod of iron." O Mary, rod of gold to the
114 XII  |   contemplating this rod, saith: "O Virgin, sublime rod, to
115 XII  |         like a lily by virginity. O angelical lily! O heavenly
116 XII  |      virginity. O angelical lily! O heavenly flower! O truly
117 XII  |          lily! O heavenly flower! O truly heavenly flower! whom
118 XII  |          casket of holy perfumes, O Mary, gathered by the heavenly
119 XII  |        said: "Thy most holy womb, O Mary, is to us a garden
120 XIII |       KING~The Lord is with thee, O Lady most dear to the Lord,
121 XIII |            The Lord is with thee, O most well-fitted Lady, most
122 XIII |            Augustine says: "Thou, O Mary, fellow-citizen of
123 XIII |          angelical intelligences, O Mary. I say that Mary in
124 XIII |       blessed. Behold, therefore, O most sweet Virgin Mary,
125 XIII |       with the Queen entering in. O most sweet aurora, grant
126 XIII |     justice may also be with us ! O most sublime Rod, grant
127 XIII |           be the flower of grace! O most powerful Queen, grant
128 XIV  |           have access to thy Son, O blessed among women, finder
129 XIV  |     salvation." Blessed art thou, O Mary, because of grace.
130 XIV  |       cries to thee from Heaven: 'O most beautiful of women,
131 XIV  |     Canticle: "Thou art all fair, O my beloved." She was beautiful
132 XIV  |             Behold, we have seen, O most dear Mary, that thou
133 XIV  |         says: "Thou hast blessed, O Lord, thy land." That land
134 XIV  |        blessed the house of Mary. O truly blessed house, from
135 XIV  |          forth to all believers." O field truly blessed above
136 XIV  |      fields because of its fruit! O Mother truly blessed above
137 XIV  |          St. Augustine exclaims: "O Woman blessed above all
138 XIV  |       womb!" Behold we have seen, O most sweet Mary, that thou,
139 XIV  |   Therefore St. Anselm exclaims: "O Virgin blessed, and more
140 XIV  |           thus: "Let it be thine, O blessed Virgin, that grace
141 XIV  |           prayers."~We have seen, O most sweet Mary, that thou
142 XIV  |            be thy most sweet Son, O Mary, who by thy abundant
143 XIV  |          of Paralipomenon: "Thou, O Lord, giving the blessing,
144 XIV  |           XLIV.) Thus, therefore, O sweet Virgin Mary, thou
145 XIV  |        received. Thee, therefore, O Blessed One, we invoke,
146 XIV  |         with St. Bernard: "Grant, O blessed one, by the grace
147 XV   |       soul, but blessed art thou, O virtuous Mary. The world
148 XV   |  therefore, art thou among women, O Mary. Blessed by humility
149 XV   |    pleasing! St. Augustine says: "O truly blessed humility of
150 XV   |          when he says: "Remember, O Mary, that Christ bore the
151 XV   |           came upon the faithful. O truly blessed coal, producing
152 XV   |          of this blessed Mother: "O blessed and exalted one,
153 XV   |          not utter ? For if thou, O Lady, art the Mother of
154 XV   |         die say with St. Anselm: "O thou blessed above women,
155 XV   |         of this vein I Therefore, O Church, thy vein be blessed,
156 XV   |           Bernard says: "By thee, O blessed finder of grace,
157 XV   |          St. Augustine exclaims: "O woman blessed above women,
158 XVI  |         is the Fruit of thy womb, O Blessed Mother of the Son
159 XVI  |      heavens are above the earth. O truly wonderful and unheard-of
160 XVI  |          and unheard-of nobility! O truly noble birth from the
161 XVI  |          Me is thy fruit." Thine, O Mary, chosen to produce
162 XVI  |        produce this fruit; thine, O soul, who art drawn to love
163 XVI  |           love this Fruit; thine, O Church, gathered together
164 XVI  |   day-star I have begotten thee." O truly wonderful and venerable
165 XVI  |      Bernard says of this Fruit: "O Mary, thou wilt be the Mother
166 XVI  |           beloved of the beloved, O thou most beautiful of women?"
167 XVI  |   salvation except Him whom thou, O Virgin, hast brought forth."
168 XVI  |          forth." Thou, therefore, O Mary, art truly the tree
169 XVI  |  salvation, as St. Bernard says: "O truly celestial plant, more
170 XVI  |         all, more holy than all ! O truly a tree of life, which
171 XVI  |           the fruit of thy works, O Lord: indeed, of Thine,
172 XVI  |     mortals, but of Thine. Thine, O Lord, is the work of the
173 XVI  |           Of such works of Thine, O Lord, is this fruit, because
174 XVI  |         fail" (Ezech. XLVII, 12.) O infinite abundance! O abundance
175 XVI  |             O infinite abundance! O abundance which knows no
176 XVI  |        all eternity. You see now, O reader, O hearer, how exceedingly
177 XVI  |            You see now, O reader, O hearer, how exceedingly
178 XVI  |          all peoples praise thee, O God, let all peoples praise
179 XVI  |         its fruit" (Ps. LXVI, 7.) O blessed Mother of this blessed
180 XVII |          St. Bernard say of her: "O Virgin, rod sublime, to
181 XVII |         the fruit from the earth" O happy ones, who in the discipline
182 XVII |            Chrysostom well says: "O ineffable praise of Mary,
183 XVII |        than that Mary could sin." O Mary most happy, who truly,
184 XVIII|          all peoples praise thee, O God, let all peoples praise
185 XVIII|   conceived her most sweet Fruit. O truly honeyflowing lips,
186 XVIII|        with St. Anselm: "Hear me, O Lady! Heal the soul of thy
187 XVIII|      flesh." St. Augustine says: "O resplendent manger, in which
188 XVIII|         power of the Holy Ghost." O truly blessed fullness of
189 XVIII|           whom St. Bernard says: "O truly the tree of life,
190 XVIII|          on the angelic mountain. O fruit, truly to be loved
191 XVIII|       fruits.~Help us, therefore, O blessed among women, that
192 XVIII|           twelve fruits. Help us, O fruitful Virgin, that by
193 XVIII|           fruit forever! Help us, O sweetest one, that Jesus