It was on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception that the idea first occurred to me of writing a popular work on the Litany of Loreto.It was on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception that the idea first occurred to me of writing a popular work on the Litany of Loreto.
This Litany has been held in honor throughout the Church for many centuries: it is daily recited by millions of the faithful, and has even become an integral part in some of our public acts of worship. We have therefore thought that it would not be out of place to inquire into its doctrinal meaning, and to give to light the fruits of our studies for the edification of the Christian people.
For it seemed to us that while others on this great occasion were offering to Mary profound and erudite treatises, this tender Mother would none the less deign to accept a work, unworthy indeed of her, but yet a pledge of boundless love and gratitude.
Encouraged by this hope, we set ourself to the task, and were presently surprised to see how easy it is, by the application of simple principles, to trace in these invocations all the mysteries of the life of the Blessed Virgin: her excellences, her privileges, and her sorrows. In reciting the Litany, the faithful, mayhap unconsciously, go over the whole field of Marian theology.
As every one knows, Mary occupies a unique position in the economy of the universe. Her divine Maternity has raised her high' above all creatures, even the very angels: she is the epitome of God's works and through the Incarnation of the Word, she is in some sort bound to the Most Holy Trinity by the ties of parentage. Now, the full tale of all these privileges and splendors is, in our opinion, summed up in the Litany of Loreto, that Litany which is, as it were, the Christian people's hymn in honor of Mary, their daily tribute of praise and love to this divine Mother.
Moreover, a pious custom has been universally introduced, of honoring Mary in a special manner during the month of May. In many places the praiseworthy custom obtains of a course of sermons about the Blessed Virgin, in which the prerogatives and the mysteries of her mortal life are dwelt upon. But although it is easy to speak about Mary, it is not equally easy to do so in a fitting manner. For this there is required a profound knowledge of Catholic doctrine, since in Mary are to be found the perfections of the entire universe: rather we should say that in Marian theology the whole deposit of Christian faith and morality in some way or another lies hid.
It behooves us, therefore, to give the most faithful and exact utterance, to all that concerns the Mother of God. If indeed the Church cares, as with a holy jealousy, about Mary's honor, if the name of this holy Virgin is in the mouth of all the faithful, if her sanctuaries are spread over all the earth, in a word, if Mary is that Woman seen in the Apocalyptic vision, "clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars," - is it not fitting that we should strive our utmost to study and know her as she is? In studying Mary we study Jesus, we contemplate the Holy Trinity, we meditate on grace, the sacraments and our last end, because in all the works of God, Mary holds her assigned place: "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything from the beginning."
Considering, therefore, that every point of Christian doctrine is after some fashion comprised in Mary, and that one of the most efficacious means to promote the Christian life, is to propose to the faithful the example of the divine Mother, we have thought it profitable to write a popular work, having for its foundation the series of invocations contained in the Litany of Loreto. In this work the whole Marian theology is briefly set forth, while at the same time the principal dogmas of our Faith and the moral duties of the Christian are brought to mind.
With this in view, we have deemed it advisable to follow the logical sequence in our treatment of what belongs to the Blessed Virgin, applying to each subject that invocation which appears most fitting. Since, however, several of these invocations are in fact but different expressions of one idea, we have been obliged, in order to avoid treating the same subject twice, to adapt to some of them, themes which at first sight may not appear to correspond with them very exactly, though in reality there is no notable discrepancy.
To the usual invocations we have added that which is proper to the Order of Servants of Mary, Queen of Thy Servants, an invocation which has afforded us the opportunity of speaking about the royal dignity which here below invests every Christian who devoutly serves the glorious Mother of God.
And now, as to our design in writing this little book, we may say that it has been to collect in one, under the heading of the invocations of the Litany of Loreto, whatsoever belongs to the Most Holy Virgin, in its relation to the dogmas of faith and the precepts of Christian morality. Without entering into subtle points of theology which, useful enough in their own proper time and place, would be little appreciated by ordinary Christians, we have endeavored to weave a garland of all that is most beautiful and at the same time of the greatest practical utility in Mary's life. This Woman without peer is by far the fairest flower of heaven, a flower of so sweet perfume, that only to breathe its fragrance suffices to fill the soul with purest delight. The spiritual enjoyment derived from a more intimate knowledge of Mary, is ample recompense for the labor of study.
With a view to making the present little work serviceable to many, we have appended two tables: the first containing the traditional order of the invocations of the Litany of Loreto with the titles of the different subjects we have allotted to each: the second presenting the same subjects arranged in logical sequence. This latter table may be used by those who, whether for their own private study, or with a view to giving public instructions, prefer to have a complete and well-ordered course on all those matters which regard the Most Holy Virgin.
Those who wish to make use of this book for the purpose of finding therein subjects for conferences or sermons during the month of May, can make choice of those invocations which seem best calculated to meet the needs of their audience. For the rest, the subjects are independent one of the other, and taken separately will perhaps be found of value for occasional sermons.
We lay down this little book at the feet of the Immaculate Virgin, with the ardent longing that she may become more and more known and loved. There is no surer or shorter way to Jesus than the knowledge and love of Mary. Whosoever would find Jesus must seek Him at Mary's hands, for it is written of the Magi that they found Him nowhere else except in His Mother's arms. Invenerunt puerum cum Maria Matre ejus.
- from the book The Fairest Flower of Paradise: Considerations on the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, Enriched with Examples Drawn from the Lives of the Saints, by Cardinal Alexis-Henri-Marie Lépicier, O.S.M., 1922