Monday, May 07, 2007

May, the month of Our Lady

May, the month dedicated to Our Lady
Fourth Sunday after Easter
J.M.J.


St. Anselm says, "that as it is impossible for one who is not devout to Mary, and consequently not protected by her, to be saved, so is it impossible for one who recommends himself to her, and consequently is beloved by her, to be lost." St. Antoninus repeats the same thing and almost in the same words: "As it is impossible for those from whom Mary turns her eyes of mercy to be saved, so also are those towards whom she turns these eyes, and for whom she prays, necessarily saved and glorified." Consequently the clients of Mary will necessarily be saved.

Let those tremble who make but little account of their devotion to this Mother, or from carelessness give it up. The saints say that the salvation of those who are not protected by Mary is impossible. Many others declare the same thing; such as Blessed Albert, who says, that "all those who are not thy servants, O Mary, will perish." And St. Bonaventure: "He who neglects the service of the blessed Virgin will die in his sins." Again, "He who does not invoke thee, O Lady, will never get to Heaven." And, on the 99th Psalm the saint even says, "that not only those from whom Mary turns her face will not be saved, but that there will be no hope of their salvation." Before him, St. Ignatius the martyr said, "that it was impossible for any sinner to be saved without the help and favor of the most Blessed Virgin; because those who are not saved by the justice of God are with infinite mercy saved by the intercession of Mary."

St. Alphonsus in The Glories of Mary, pgs. 221 & 222


In the times of the Old Testament, friends, God saved the people through great leaders and prophets. He raised up Moses to lead the people out of the land of Egypt and into the Promised Land. He raised up Jonah to save the Ninevites from their sins. He raised up Judith to save the
Israelites from Holofernes and his army. In times of peril, in times of sinfulness and idolatry, at all times God was with His people and protected and guided them through His prophets.

How much more is this true in these latter times, my dear friends, when God provides us with His very own Mother to rescue us from so many
dangers and to guide through the storm to salvation. What a sweet assurance this is to have as our protector and guide one who has such a motherly compassion for all mankind! How foolish those who superciliously reject this necessary aid that God has provided for our salvation! As in the Old Testament, those who refused to listen to the prophets, those who laughed at Noah and his Ark, those who failed to heed the admonitions of Moses, Isaias, Jonas, Daniel, Jeremiah, etc..., just as assuredly as those people perished in their day, so too will we perish in our day if we fail to listen to the admonitions of the Mother of God in her apparitions and if we fail to seek Her aid and be devoted to Her.

We must heed her requests and pleas made known so recently at La Salette, Lourdes, and Fatima. We must pray the Rosary daily and spread and foster devotion to this kind Mother, who tenderly but firmly rebukes the debauchery of the human race and so powerfully intercedes to obtain our salvation.

We hope that you all will increase your devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, during this Her month of May. As the people begged Moses to pray to God to turn away His wrath from them, so we must rush to Mary to confidently implore this tender Mother to save us from the chastisement we so richly deserve. "It is impossible for a client of Mary, who is faithful in honoring and recommending himself to her, to be lost", says St. Alphonsus.

Please take the time to review the section of materials that we offer in our Store
(http://www.olrl.org/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=O&Category_Code=gOL

or http://olrl.org)
to study about and promote devotion to Mary the Mother of God and increase this devotion in your own life.


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Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org



If you follow Mary

You will not swerve from the right path;

If you pray to Her, you will not fall into despair;

If She holds you, you will not fall;

If She protects you, you need not fear;

If She leads you, you will never weary; and

If She befriends you, you will be safe.

--St. Bernard (1153)

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