The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-08

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin eX-
erts a powerful influence upon the
young man. His indifference to ex-
ternal forms of worship, the awaken.
ing of certain powerful influences
within himself, tend to stunt and
even to starve entirely religious senti- |
ments Will not devotion to the Vir-1
gin affair, which good Catholic
mother implanted in his heart in ten
der years, influence his actions in
later life, or at least affect his
thoughts and desires for the better?
When he contemplates the humble
Handmade of the Lord, he must see
that humility is more pleasing to the
Lord than loud and proud and cease
| less insistence on his own power and
excellence When he looks up to the
Mother of Sorrows, who endured the
greatest afflictions without murmur or
complaint, new ideas concerning true
heroism must arise in his soul; a
glance at the earthly life of this
Queen of Heaven will teach him how
much of true nobility there is in the
quiet, faithful, and well-intentioned
| performance of his daily work.
Devotion to Mary strengthens and
preserves the religious spirit by the
/ gentle power with which it draws men
to Holy Communion. Sometimes it is
| feast of our Lady, then it is a so
ciety dedicated to her; now, it may
be a novena in her honor, at another
time a private devotion, which lead
us to the altar of her Son; at all
times it must be pleasure to know
that we can gladden. her heart by re-
ceiving the Body of the Lord which
was fashioned from her flesh and
blood.
Devotion to Mary urges us to a de-
vout and fruitful reception of this
Holy Sacrament; this is of great mo-
ment nowadays when all are invited
to frequent Holy Communion. God
Himself made of Mary, to certain ex-
tent, is type of sacramento prepara-
ton and thanksgiving. Her childhood
and youth to the time of the Annun-
citation were preparation for the COM
ing of Christ. How numerous must
have been her acts of love, of humil-
ity, of faith, above all, how ardent
must have been her longing for the
coming of the Redeemer!
Can we find more beautiful ideal
for the moments after Communion
than the holy Virgin, whom the Angel
Gabriel has just left, with the heaven
! ~ mystery in her heart, communing
with her God? If we kneel reverent-
ly with her, faint echoes of the har-
mony of her soul will sound in our
hearts. Our devotion, however, must
not end with few moments OF
prayer; the actions of the day must
be prolonged. thanksgiving. This was
the case with Mary, hence her init
mate union with her God; this was
+ the preparation for the days when she
followed Him in His sorrows to the
I very cross of Calvary. The fervor and
> strength of the early Christians would
!. be renewed in us if our sacramento
:, preparation and thanksgiving were
a modelled after Mary's dispositions
There is no doubt that she assists us
4 in the reception of this sacrament
. AS every mother takes great inter
g est in the development of her child
r so our spiritual Mother takes the
; greatest interest in the spiritual prog
ress of her children, and what more
!. powerful means of progress and devel
n opment is there than the fruitful re
: ception of Holy Communion? She as
i sists us in many ways helping along
r nature and procuring for us many
;. graces, but she assists us also in ar
# indirect manner by fostering in us the
: spirit of sacrifice. The spirit of sacri
f fee goes hand in hand with devotion
II to Mary; this is shown by the promp
II and ready service of her clients il
!. little and great affairs when her honol
n is concerned But the spirit of sacri
II fee is a secure means of procuring
: for us the fruits of the sacrifice of thu
n Altar.
Y, Out of this devotion to Mary there
If arose special form of homage which
y was of the greatest value for foster
il ing and preserving the beautiful vir
s. tues of purity-rever for women
r the irreproachable conduct, the mod
est chivalrous department of thu
e sexes. Just as woman who forgeti
st her queenly dignity drags man dow
L. to the darkest depths of sin, SO tn!
4, sincere and modest child of Mary be
d. comes for the young man savini
n guardian angel. In many cases sh'
IS can do more to preserve his virtu
s. than the most Jealous priest or thu
d, most powerful sermon. The mer
D. thought of her awakens in him TIL
mi better, the nob1er man. More thai
u ever he feels himself drawn to re
n ligion, to higher ideals of which h
il perceives a reflex in this modes
,e young woman. How great a chang
n would be wrought in the world if on
10 young maidens would realize and re
lie spect the great dignity which is al
Of their own through their association
a with the Virgin of virgins! =
l. Devotion to Mary has infused int
mans conduct toward woman elevat
it ing and ennobling qualities. Call t
in mind the knighthood of the Middl
a Ages, which in its golden age dre1
re its inspiration from the Ideal of won
" anhood, Mary, the Mother of God. ]
IS imposed upon its members the dut
he of reverence toward women and tn
Is observance of the maxims of homo
of and courtesy. The veneration of tn
er purest and hottest of Virgins is sti