Most loving Mother, no suppliant ever had recourse to thee in vain! Whatever our needs, thy ear is ever open to our cry. Thou art the comforter of the afflicted, O good and powerful Mother. Come to our aid and deliver us from all our troubles; intercede for each one of us that we may lead a Christian life, and hereafter reign with Christ throughout eternity. Amen.
Twenty-third Day. The Blessed Virgin the Model of Hope.
The salvation of the just (as well of the body as of the soul) is from the Lord. He is their help in time of tribulation, He will uphold them lest they fall, He will bring them out of danger, deliver them from the hands of sinners, and will save them in the end. And why will God bestow such honors on the just? Because, replies the Psalmist, they have hoped in Him, and put all their confidence in Him. At the marriage of Cana, Mary saw the sudden failing of the wine, and her tender charity caused her to have recourse to the omnipotent power of her Son. Our Lord up to that period had not worked any miracles, but knowing His tender Heart Mary hesitated not to have recourse to Him, and her hope was not unfounded. Let us [pg 218] then, like Mary, expose our wants to Jesus, and we shall obtain strength and courage to aid us in the accomplishment of our duties. Let us labor by every possible means to obtain this great gift of confidence by frequent prayer, almsdeeds, and penitential works, as well as by great purity of life. “Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, I will grant it to you.”
Prayer.
Mother most amiable! By thy beauty and unsullied purity thou wast ever attractive in the divine sight. Entreat Jesus that He would grant us grace to love Him more and more fervently, and that by our purity and innocence of life we may spread abroad the sweet odor of Jesus Christ, and daily become more acceptable in His sight. Amen.
Twenty-fourth Day. The Blessed Virgin the Model of Humility.
The Blessed Virgin possessed the spirit of humility in a perfect degree. Not that she failed to know the gifts which God had bestowed upon her; on the contrary she ever remembered that God had drawn her out of nothing, and she returned Him incessant thanks for the favors which He had given her. This virtue is most essential, since without it there is no grace for us, no recompense in heaven; while with it there is pardon, every blessing, and eternal salvation. Let us often meditate on these words of our blessed Mother when she went to visit St. Elizabeth: “The Lord hath regarded the humility of His handmaid.” The archangel Gabriel had saluted her full of grace and blessed [pg 219] among women, but the holy Virgin only humbles herself more and more, confessing aloud that she is but the handmaid of the Lord. What a contrast to our pride and self-sufficiency! If, on account of some appearance of good, we are charged with some duty of importance, do we not immediately begin to consider ourselves something? while in reality we are but nothingness, misery, and sin. St. Basil says there are three things which will establish humility in the heart. First, a perfect conviction of our own nothingness. Second, the constant consideration of the conduct of the good, who are better than ourselves. Third, persevering obedience to those to whom we owe submission.
Prayer.