from Saint Bernard
Dearly Beloved! one man and one woman wrought us much harm, but, none the less - thanks be to God! - through one man and one woman all things are set right again, and that with great usury of grace. Verily Christ was enough, for now, indeed, all 'our sufficiency is in Him' (2 Corinthians 3:5); but it was not good for us that man should be alone (Genesis 2:18). It was more. fitting that both sexes should have to do with our redemption. And thus the woman, 'blessed among women,' will at once be seen not to be idle, for a place will be found for her in this reconciliation. For we need an intermediary between us and the Mediator, Christ; and none can be more useful to us than Mary. A very cruel intermediary was Eve, through whom the ancient serpent infected even her husband with his pestiferous poison; but Mary was true and trustful, and she gave forth, both to men and women, the saving antidote. The one served unto seduction, the other unto propitiation; the one brought in prevarication, the other redemption.
Why should human weakness fear to come nigh to Mary? There is nothing austere in her, nothing terrible; she is all sweetness, offering milk and wool to all. Consider well the whole course of the Gospel history, and if haply you find in Mary any harshness or any hardness - in a word, any sign of even slight indignation - suspect her for the time to come, and fear to draw near to her. But if you find her rather to be, as indeed she is, full of all tenderness and all grace, full of all gentleness and all mercy, give thanks to Him who, in His great and tender pity, has given you such an intermediary as she, in whom you can have entire confidence. In short, in the abundance of her charity she has made herself 'all things to all men' (1 Corinthians 9:22) - 'a debtor to both the wise and the unwise' (Romans 1:14). She opens up to all the bosom of her mercy, that of her fullness all may receive; the captive ransom; the sick health; the sorrowful comfort; the sinner forgiveness; the righteous grace; and the Angels joy. She does not inquire what our merits may have been, but shows herself exorable and most merciful to all: in the largeness of her love she takes pity upon all our necessities.
She is the woman of whom, in the olden time, God promised that with her foot of power she should crush the head of the ancient serpent; and he, indeed, with many wiles, lay in wait for her heel, but lay in wait in vain. For she, of her sole self, has crushed all the wickedness of heresy. They that lay in wait for her have been crushed, they that attacked her have been trodden down, they that maligned her have been confuted, and all generations call her blessed. If, under the simile of the moon, we are to recognize the Church, it is evident that the Blessed Virgin's mediatorial office is set forth for us in the words: 'A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet' (Apocalypse 12:1). Let us kiss the footprints of Mary; let us cast ourselves down in devoutest supplication before her blessed feet; let us take hold of her and not let her go until she bless us, for she can.
Consider, O man! the counsel of God, and recognize therein a counsel of wisdom and of goodness. He who was about to water all the ground with the dews of heaven began by drenching the fleece; He who was about to redeem the human race conferred the whole ransom on Mary. Consider, still more deeply, how He wills that we should honour Mary with all affection of devotion, He who has bestowed upon her the plenitude of all good; so that if we have any hope, any grace, any salvation, we know that it is her overflow, 'who cometh up, flowing with delights' (Canticle of Canticles 8:5). From the very core, then, of our hearts, and with all our deepest affections and all our desires, let us venerate this Mary of ours, since such is the will of Him who has been pleased that all things should come to us through Mary. Such, I say, is His will - and for our sakes. For in all things and through all things He provides for our miseries, consoles our fears, arouses our faith, confirms our hope, drives away our diffidence, and gives us courage in our cowardice. Thou wast ashamed to approach the Father, and, fearful at the mere sound of His voice, didst flee to the foliage: He gave thee Jesus to be thy Mediator. What will such a Son not obtain from such a Father! He will surely be 'heard for His reverence' (Hebrews 5:7), for 'the Father loveth the Son' (John 3:35). But perhaps thou fearest the Divine Majesty also in Him, since although He became Man, yet He remained God still. Wouldst thou have an Advocate also with Him? Have recourse to Mary. For in Mary there is nothing but pure humanity - pure, not only from any stain, but also in this that hers is human nature and nothing more. And I have no hesitation in saying that she also will be 'heard for her reverence. The Son will surely hear the Mother, and the Father will hear the Son.
My little children, this is a ladder for sinners, this is my. chief trust, this is the whole ground of my hope. And why? Can the Son either repel her or Himself suffer a repulse? Can He either not hear or Himself not be heard? Plainly, He cannot. 'Thou hast found grace with God,' says the Angel; and happily so. She will always find grace; and grace is all we need, since it is by grace alone that we are saved. Why do we desire' aught else, my brethren? Let us seek grace, and let us seek it through Mary, for what she seeks she finds, and cannot seek in vain. Let us seek grace, but grace with God, for among men 'favour is deceitful' (Proverbs 31:30). Let others seek for merit, but let us study to find grace. And why? Is it not by grace that we are here? In verity ' it is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed' (Lamentations 3:22).
Let us pray
O almighty and merciful God! who in a wonderful way didst appoint the most Blessed Virgin Mary to be an abiding aid for the defence of the Christian commonwealth, mercifully grant that we, strong in her protection through the 'struggles of life, may be able to win the victory over our malignant enemy in death. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is, from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers - to Abraham and to His seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Salve Regina!
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Petition
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!
- from The May-Book of the Breviary, by Father John Fitzpatrick