Various Practices of Devotion
in Honor of the Divine Mother;
of several other Devotions
by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori
I. To say or to hear
Mass, or to have
Mass said, in honor of the
Blessed Virgin. It is true that the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can be
offered to God alone, to
Whom it
is offered principally as an acknowledgement of
His Supreme Dominion. But the sacred Council of Trent
says that this does not prevent its
being, at the same time, offered to God
in thanksgiving for the graces
granted to the Saints and to His
most holy Mother, that whilst we are
mindful of them, they may deign intercede for us. And for
this reason at Mass we say, "That
it may avail to their honor, but to our salvation". Our
Blessed Lady herself revealed to a
holy soul, that this
devotion of offering the
Mass, as also of saying
three Paters,
Aves, and Glorias, in honor of the most
Holy Trinity, and in thanksgiving
for the graces granted to
her, was most pleasing to
her; for the
Blessed Virgin, being unable fully to thank
Our Lord for all the
precious gifts He has bestowed on
her, rejoices greatly when
her children help
her to thank
God.
II.
To reverence the Saints who are more nearly related to
Mary, as Saint Joseph, Saint Joachim, and
Saint Anne. The Blessed Virgin herself recommended a certain nobleman to be
devout towards her mother, Saint
Anne. We should also honor the Saints who were most
devoted to the
Divine Mother, such as Saint John the Evangelist,
Saint John the Baptist, Saint Bernard, Saint John
Damascen the defender of her
images, Saint Ildephonsus the defender of
her virginity, etc.
III. To read every day a book which
treats of the Glories of Mary; to preach, or at least to try to
instill into all, and particularly our relations,
devotion to the Divine Mother.
The Blessed Virgin once said to Saint Bridget, "Take
care that the children are also my children". To
pray every day for the most
devoted clients of
Mary, both living and
dead.
We should also remember the many indulgences
granted by Sovereign Pontiffs to those who in various ways honor
the Queen of Heaven:
I. To whoever
says, "Blessed be the holy and immaculate
conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary", Pius VI
granted for each time an indulgence of
one hundred days. Father Crasset says that
other indulgences applicable to the
souls in Purgatory
have been granted to those who after the word
immaculate add, and most pure.
II. For the
Salve Regina, forty days
indulgence. III.
For the Litany of Loreto,
three hundred days indulgence.
IV. To those who
bow their heads on hearing the names of
Jesus and Mary,
twenty days indulgence.
V. To those who say
five Paters and
Aves in honor of the Passion
of Jesus and the
Sorrows of
Mary, many and great indulgences.
Here, for the convenience of devout souls,
I will indicate other indulgences granted by Sovereign
Pontiffs for other devotions:
I. For hearing
Mass there are many
indulgences. II. For
making the Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity, and
Contrition, with the intention of receiving the
Holy Sacraments during life
and in death, Benedict XIII
granted seven years
indulgence, and a plenary indulgence once a month
applicable to the souls in
Purgatory, and for one's self in
the hour of death to those who
have made these Acts everyday for a month.
III. To those who say
fifteen Paters and
Aves for sinners,
the remission of a
third part of the
penalties due for their own
sins.
IV. To those who meditate
for half an hour a day,
Benedict XIV granted many indulgences, and a plenary
one once a month, on condition
of approaching the Sacraments of
Penance and the
Holy Eucharist.
V. To those who say the
prayer Anima Christi,
three hundred days indulgence.
VI. To those who accompany the
Holy Viaticum,
five years, and
five quarantines, if without a
wax-light; and if with one, seven years
and seven quarantines; those who
cannot accompany it, but say a
Pater and an Ave for the intention of
the Sovereign Pontiff, one hundred
days. VII. To those
who genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament,
two hundred days indulgence.
VIII. To those who kiss the
Cross, a
year and forty days indulgence.
IX. To those who bow their heads
at the Gloria Patri, thirty
days indulgence. X.
To priests who before saying Mass
say the prayer
Ego volo celebrare missam,
fifty years.
XI. To kiss the habit of a
religious order, five years.
Father Viva gives a list of many other indulgences.
Those who endeavor to gain these indulgences must be careful to
dispose themselves by an Act of Contrition.
I omit other devotions which may be found in other books, such as those
of the Seven Joys, of the Twelve Privileges of Mary, and
such-like; and conclude this work in the beautiful words of Saint
Bernardine of Siena: Prayer
O Lady, blessed amongst
all women,
Thou art the honor of the human race,
and the salvation of our people.
Thy merits have no limits,
and thou hast full power over all creatures.
Thou art the Mother of God,
the sovereign Lady of the world,
and the Queen of Heaven.
Thou art the dispenser of all graces,
and the ornament of the holy Church.
Thou art the model of the just,
the consolation of the Saints,
and the root of our salvation.
Thou art the Joy of Paradise,
the Gate of Heaven, the Glory of God.
Behold, we have announced thy praises.
We beseech thee, then, O Mother of Mercy,
to supply for our weakness,
to excuse our presumption,
to accept our services, to bless our labors,
by imprinting thy love in the hearts of all;
that after having honored and loved thy Son on earth,
we may praise Him and bless Him for ever in Heaven.
Amen
 |
