The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-03-11

it was the sun-basked hills, or the
merry song of the birds, or the gay
ripple of the brooklet by the wayside,
or the carpet of flowers which ran
along the waters edge,-I will not
say; but something surely there was,
brighter and sweeter than all the sun
shine, song and flowers, that was in
the thoughts of solitary traveller who
was fastening along the road leading
up into the hills. To be sure, We
might almost expect to see sunshine in
such face as was that of our lone
wayfarer; for what else ought there
| to be in the face of maid of fifteen?
| Indeed, if you had seen this face You
would have vowed that eyes which
shone with such fair lustre of purity
and innocence, ought never to be
| dimmed with tears. But there was
something more than innocence re-
vealed there Our maiden, you must
know, was of a SUMMER cline than
ours, one where fifteen years is
no longer the age of childhood. In
| nocence was there, it is true and pur-
|
to those eyes that mysterious light, to
the face such winning charm, and to
| her whole carriage that buoyancy
| which seemed to be hurryfng her on.
But we shall see.
We are fortunate in meeting our
| traveller just as she has reached her
| journeys end. With light step she
has approached house where she evil
IDENTIFY is not stranger, for without
further ceremony, she has entered.
"Avei Salve!" a clear, sweet voice
rings out.
But let us hearken to one who can
tell the story better than |.
FAnd she entered into the house of
Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And
it came to pass, that when Elizabeth
heard the salutation of Mary, the in
FAINT leaped in her womb. And Eliza
beth was filled with the Holy Ghost
And she cried out with a loud voice,
and said: Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb . s. $ For behold as soon
as the voice of thy salutation sounded
in my ears, the infant in thy womb
leaped for JOY"
This is my story.
But" you ask, how is this an Ave
story?"
Let us see. If you read the words
of ST. Luke carefully, you will observe
that one statement is repeated, as if
to make sure that it should not escape
our notice. when Elizabeth heard
the salutation sounded in my ears, >
in other words, at the sound of Mary
Ave the two great prodigies took
place: Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Ghost, and the infant in her
womb was sanctified and leaped for
joy.
Now mark we'll, does it seem that
the Holy Ghost wishes to impress it
upon us that it was Mary's salutation,
Mary's Ave, that was the immediate
cause of this extraordinary out-pouring
of Divine grace into these two souls
But, if Mary's Ave was productive OF
such wonderful fruits then, can you
suppose that her greeting today should
be less powerful in opening the flood
gates of Gods mercy? "Ah, yes!
lyou rejoin, that is all we'll and good;
but what shall poor little nobody in
this big world-what shall do that |
may hear the voice of her salutation'
sound in my ears?" What should you
: do? Listen. When, in the morning,
you come downstairs and say good
morning to your mother, or when you
close the day with an affectionate
goodnight, does your greeting ever re-
main unanswered? Now, tell me can
didly, are you going to think that she,
whom her dying Son gave to you as
your mother, is going to be less jof a
mother than your earthly parent?
Surely, no child of Mary who
does not eagerly lay claim to this title?
will believe this for moment. No!
In this we are all of one accord: Mary
is the most loving, the most gracious,
the tenderest of all mothers!
Must we then not have the fullest
assurance that every Ave lovingly adj
dressed to her by one of her children
will elicit greeting from her in re-
turn. 1t is true, alas! that in this our
, earthly exile we are afflicted with the
deafness which bears not the subtle
harmony of the heavenly voices; but
with the ear of faith we hear Mary S
sweet voice echoing back each hal.
lowed Ave that we send up to her
throne. And when, in faith, we thus
hear "the voice of her salutation," who
r will venture to say but that stupen
dous prodigies are wrought in our own
t souls, and that we, too, shall be filled
with the Holy Ghost, and the babe
of grace" in our hearts shall leap. for
joy?
From Orphan s Record.