The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-23
THE HEAVENLY QUEEN OF MAY
REVIVAL OF DEVOTION TO THE
MOTHER OF GOD IN ENGLISH
cHURCHEs-TRIBUTE OF AN
ANGLICAN CLERGYMAN.
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Cecil UnderWood.)

1t is common thing now to hear
sermons preached by Anglican clergy
men in honor of the Mother of God
During the month of May-the month
set apart for her special honor by Holy
Church-there are many announce
ments of sermons and devotions in
conformity with the ancient Catholic
devotion will increase and become a
powerful factor in the conversion of
England.
On lookir over a recent collection
of sermons issued by an Anglican Com
munity called the Society Of IS. Peter
and Paul, find the following beautiful
tribute to the Virgin 1t is from the
pen of Rev. Hilary Knox, member
of the society and a fellow of Trinity
College, Oxford. The passage is note
worthy il showing the progress of
Catholic thought and sentiment
throughout the Anglican fold.
"And after careful reflection can we
grudge her any Of the praise which
has been accorded to her? When we
have called her Virgin of Virgins,
Parent of God, Mother of Christ, do
not all the other titles in the Litany
of Loretto fall short of these and fol-
low from them as night follows the
day? Mother of Divine Grace, for
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ;
Mother, most pure, most chaste, Moth
er inviolate, Mother undefled- those
are but a statement of the necessary
conditions. Mother loVable-who
could help loving her, unless his heart
were hardened with sin? Mother adj
mirable-Who could help admiring her,
unless his eyes were blinded by envy?
who counselled the servants at Cana
of Galilee, Whatsoever he saith unto
you, do it.: that first lesson of the
Christian life, to do what you're told
without asking questions. Mother of
our Saviour, and of our Creator too,
for without Him was not anything
made that was made. Virgin most pru-
dent, for knowing these things she
kept them and pondered them in her
heart Virgin whom we ought to love,
whom we ought to preach-shame on
the people that do not love her, on
the ministers that do not preach her!
Virgin powerful, for if her prayers are
not heard by her Son, whose will be?
Will yours and mine? Virgin pitiful-
she who stood by Jesus on Calvary
I'm n1XT tn VirOi10 a h.
ful-for she believed in her Son when
the world knew Him not. Mirror of
Righteousness, for there is no Chris
tian grace which is not reflected in
her. Abode of Wisdom, for the com
ing of Jesus is the key to the riddle
of life, as well as to it's prison. Cause
of our joy, for she is the only human
link in the glad chain of our redemp-
ton.
vessel of the Spirit-we are all that
in sense; Vessels of Honor-we may
all be that; but she in fuller and
truer sense is both. Vessel of Devo
ton beyond all other, for there is nc
devotional literature which can sur
pass the Magnificent. Mystic Rose, fol-
Herself a Rose, she bore the Rose
she bore the Rose and felt it's thorn,
Tower of David, for the hopes OF
David's line find their last refuge in
her Tower of Ivory, for she resisted
all assaults of the devil, Fortress
impregnable; House of Gold, for she
like the Monstrance, derived her glory
vyhi
f1ected it all back on Him. Ark Of
the Covenant, because in her was en-
shrined the New Covenant of grace
as the Old Covenant of the Law was
enshrined in the Ark which Moses
made. Gate of Paradise, because the
Gate Of Paradise was barred upon us
by Adams transgression, and Mary
was the Lock in which the Key OIL
David fitted, who alone could swing
| it back.
"She is called the Star of the Morn
| ing, because in her shone the frs
beam of heavenly light that heraldet
the rising of the Sun of Righteousness
| Stay of the Weak, Refuge of Sinners
Comfort of Mourners, Help of Chris
tians, are but the tribute paid by nine
teen centuries of Christian experience
to the power of her intercession. She
is Queen of the Angels, for Gabrie
called her blessed; of the PatriarchG
and Prophets, because she carried OF
her bosom what they desired to see
and died before the sight, of the Apos
ties, because even John was impatient
and even Thomas doubted, and ever
Peter was afraid; of the Martyrs be
cause all the torments of the eXecu
toner were contained in the SworC
that pierced her loving heart at he
Sons Passion; of the Confessors, be
cause she followed the Man of Scr
rows through His earthly pilgrimag,
among the people that would not re
ceive Him; of the Virgins, because
like them she renounced the joys o
wedlock, and unlike them knew its sor
rows, of all the Saints, because al
the Saints in every age have testifie'
to her glory. She is Queen, too, o
the Holy Rosary, the Summary of tn
History of our Redemption, the drama
in three acts, the melody in thre
slaves, by which every affection o
the human heart is stirred, and ever,
passion stilled. She is the Queen con
ceived without a stain, because no les
could be demanded of her, who was t
be the Tabernacle of the Most High
There is no exaggeration in thos
titles, they are rather understate
| ,nontc fnItorinn nffortc of human Inr