The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-02
The Month Of May.

tillations, q red and odoriferous spirit. How
at this season, Is the thought sug-
gested by this fact How exquisite 10 the
meaning which underlies this explanation!
The month Of May, as o prelude to that OF
June, in which 10 celebrated the devotion to
the Sacred Heart, is also Q marvellous dew to
Christian souls, purifying them from stains OF
sin, and whitening the robes which Baptism
had once made spotless. And If we distiil from
all its happy days the dew of true devotion, We
shall likewise, obtain in June's respondent
month the bright and odoriferous spirit OF
love towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This devotion to the Blessed Virgin, now
known by the name of the Month OF May,
originated in Italy during the present century. !
Father Burke relates, in one of his eloquent
sermons, that one day in the month OF May
| about seventy years ago, little child knelt
down to pray before a shrine of the Blessed
Virgin in one of the streets of Rome.
The first day the boy made his deyotions all
| alone; the next day few of his companions
Joined him on the next, the parents of the
| pious children assembled with them; and
finally, o priest invited the little band into
the neighboring church, where, lighting the
candles on Mary's altar, they recited litanies
in her honor, and offered up their petitions for
| her gracious intercession. Since then this de-
votion has spread from Rome to all Europe,
even to all Christendom, for wherever the
Catholic missionary erects cross, he invokes
the name of Mary and deyotes from out his
| wear of labor one smiling month in which to
do her honor.
As the Spring heralds the brightness and
af1uence of Summer, does devotion to the
Blessed Mother, who is the Spring of mans
hopes, usher in the glorious worship of the
Sacred Son whose loving heart pours forth the
Summer joys of rest, fruition and content.
In 1915, Pope Plus VII, accorded, by q brief,
an indulgence of three hundred days to all the
faithful who would, either in public or private,
honor the Blessed Virgin Mary by devotions,
prayers, or other acts of virtue; and once in
the month q plenary indulgence on the day
when, having confessed and communicated
they shall pray for the necessities of the
Church and the intentions of His Holiness.
The Catholic Church, with that sublime
wisdom which is given her by God, always
presents to her children the most perfect ex-
Q amples of Christian virtue; and hence she
o offers to their reverentisl homage that most
D humble, yet most exalted woman, than whom
!. no man can have a more perfect model.
The month of May unfolds its balmy days as
SO many perfumed pages on which the faithful
may read, by means of instructions, dexotions
and prayers, the beauty of Mary's soul and the
marvellous works in which she bears a part.
,, And as flowers have always been the type OF
u affection and the symbol of the hearts worship
IS it is most appropriate that this month OF
: flowers, with all its bright treasures should be
r set aside to do her honor.
She is the mystical Rose, hence all roses are
IS laid upon her shrine She ia the Lily OF
q Israel, hence all hearts love to offer her thie
symbol of purity; but every flower that mar
finds beautiful is typical of her virtues. The
violet in It's meek loveliness, the woodbine il
/ its tender clnging to what is poor and desc
. late, the marigold in its singular constancy t.
the god of day. the palm tree, as a refuge FOL
- the weary; the olive, a symbol of gentle
- peace; in q word, all the floral creations ar,
y but tributes to her excellence, and Offering
h made by earth to her who is the master piec,
= of Creation.
y. "Oh, that this low earth of ours
Answering the Angelic strain,
-. Till the Heavens replied again"
Another reason assigned for this months de
10 votion, is that it is period full of invitations
< to pleasure, of temptations to the young. Thu
ie wooing wind, the luxuriant flowers, the balmy
- the Church, most thoughtful Mother, leads hel
Of children's minds beyond the things of sense
% and speaks to them of Him who gave then
e. being.
al And this teaching of hers takes the form O.
% q devotion to Mary, by which she invites al
n Christians to employ part of this beautifu
IN season in prsising God, the Author Of al
% beauty, and to consecrate a portion of it
So loveliest treasures to her who is the flares
n flower of our humanity, the brightest treasury
r. of our poor mortality.
h But to return to our first smile. This montl
c. should prove, by means of it's holy observances
eS a precious detO of benedicton, whitening on
a souls and causing them to shine with ever
vs. virtue dear to God, while from its piou
le, practices We should distill an ardent love fo
our Blessed Lord, an humble confidence in tn
40 intercession of His Virgin Mother, and q fel
ey vent hope that through His merits and he