fly and place ourselves under the mantle of Mary. I will, however, quote the Saint's own words addressed to Mary. 'As chickens when they see a kite soaring above, run and find refuge under the wings of the hen, so are we preserved under the shadow of thy wings.'1 'And thou,' he continues, who art our Lady and Mother, hast to defend us ; for, after God, we have no other refuge than thee, who art our only hope and our protectress; towards thee we all turn our eyes with confidence.'

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Let us then conclude in the words of Saint Bernard: 'Oh man, whoever thou art, understand that in this world thou art tossed about on a stormy and tempestuous sea, rather than walking on solid ground; remember, that if thou wouldst avoid being drowned, thou must never turn thine eyes from the brightness of this star, but keep them fixed on it, and call on Mary. In dangers, in straits, in doubts, remember Mary, invoke Mary. Yes, in dangers of sinning, when molested by temptations, when doubtful as to how you should act, remember that Mary can help you; and call upon her, and she will instantly succour you. Let not her name leave thy lips, let it be ever in thy heart.' Your hearts should never lose confidence in her holy name, nor should your lips ever cease to invoke it. Following her, thou wilt certainly not go astray.' O no; if we follow Mary, we shall never err from the paths of salvation. Imploring her, thou wilt not despair.' Each time that we invoke her aid, we shall be inspired with perfect confidence. If she supports thee, thou canst not fall;' if she protects thee thou hast nothing to fear, for thou canst not be lost :' with her for thy guide, thou wilt not be weary;' for thy salvation will be worked out with

1 Sicut pulli, volitantibus desuper milvis, ad gallinæ alas occurrunt, ita nos sub velamento alarum tuarum abscondimur.-Serm. 3 de Nat. Virg.

2 Nescimus aliud refugium nisi te; tu sola es unica Spes nostra in qua confidimus; tu sola Patrona nostra, ad quam omnes aspicimus.-Serm. 3, de Nat. B.V. 30 quisquis te intelligis hujus seculi profluvio magis inter procellas et tempestates fluctuare, quam per terram ambulare; ne avertas oculos a fulgore hujus sideris, si non vis obrui procellis. Respice stellam, voca Mariam.... In periculis, in augustiis, in rebus dubiis, Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca.---Super missus est Hom. ii,

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ease.' If she is propitious, thou wilt gain the port.' 1 If Mary undertakes our defence, we are certain of gaining the kingdom of heaven. "This do, and thou shalt live."

EXAMPLE.

The history of St. Mary of Egypt, in the first book of the lives of the Fathers, is well known. At the age of twelve years she fled from the house of her parents, and went to Alexandria, and there led an infamous life, and was a scandal to the whole city. After living for sixteen years in sin, she took it into her head to go to Jerusalem. At the time the feast of the holy cross was being celebrated, and, moved rather by curiosity than by devotion, she determined on entering the church; but when at the door, she felt herself repelled by an invisible force. She made a second attempt and was again unable to enter; and the same thing was repeated a third and a fourth time. Finding her efforts in vain, the unfortunate creature withdrew to a corner of the porch, and there, enlightened from above, understood that it was on account of her infamous life that God had repelled her even from the church. In that moment she fortunately raised her eyes and beheld a picture of Mary. No sooner did she perceive it, than, sobbing, she exclaimed, 'O Mother of God, pity a poor sinner. I know that on account of my sins I deserve not that thou shouldst cast thine eyes upon me. But thou art the refuge of sinners; for the love of thy son Jesus, help me. Permit me to enter the church, and I promise to change my life and to go and do penance in whatever place thou pointest out to me.' She immediately heard an internal voice, as it were that of the Blessed Virgin, replying Since thou hast recourse to me, and wishest to

1 Non recedat ab ore, non recedat a corde, et ut impetres ejus orationis suffragium non deseras conversationis exemplum: ipsam sequens, non devias: ipsam rogans, non desperas: ipsam cogitans non erras: ipsa tenente, non corruis: ipsa protegente, non metuis: ipsa duce, non fatigaris: ipsa propitia, pervenis, et sic in temetipso experiris quam merito dictum sit, et nomen Virginis Maria. -Ib.

2 Sic fac, et vives.-Luc. x, 28.

change thy life, go-enter the church, it is no longer closed against thee.' The sinner entered, adored the cross, and wept bitterly. She then returned to the picture, and said, 'Lady, behold I am ready, where wilt, thou that I should go to do penance?' Go,' the Blessed Virgin replied, 'cross the Jordan, and thou wilt find the place of thy repose.' She went to confession and communion, and then passed the river, and finding herself in the desert, she understood that it was in that place she should do penance for her sinful life. During the first seventeen years the assaults of the devil, by which he endeavoured to make the Saint again fall into sin, were terrible. And what were her means of defence? She constantly recommended herself to Mary, and this most Blessed Virgin obtained her strength to resist during the whole of the above time, after which her combats ceased. After fifty-seven years spent in the desert, and having attained the age of eighty-seven, she was by a disposition of providence met by the Abbot Zosimus; to him she related the history of her life, and entreated him to return the following year, and to bring her the holy communion. The saintly Abbot did so, and gave her the bread of angels. She then requested that he would again return to see her. This also he did, but found her dead. Her body was encompassed by a bright light, and at her head these words were written, Bury my body here-it is that of a poor sinner, and intercede with God for me.' A lion came and made a grave with his claws. S. Zosimus buried her, returned to his monastery, and related the wonders of God's mercy towards this happy sinner.

PRAYER.

O compassionate Mother, most Sacred Virgin, behold at thy feet the traitor, who, by paying with ingratitude the graces received from God through thy means, has betrayed both thee and him. But I must tell thee, O most blessed Lady, that my misery, far from taking away my confidence, increases it; for I see that thy compassion is great, in proportion to the greatness of my misery. Show thy

self, O Mary, full of liberality towards me; for thus thou art towards all who invoke thy aid. All that I ask is that thou shouldst cast thine eyes of compassion on me, and · pity me. If thy heart is thus far moved, it cannot do otherwise than protect me; and if thou protectest me, what can I fear? No, I fear nothing; I do not fear my sins, for thou canst provide a remedy; I do not fear devils, for thou art more powerful than the whole of hell; I do not even fear thy Son, though justly irritated against me; for at a word of thine he will be appeased. I only fear lest, in my temptations, and by my own fault, I may cease to recommend myself to thee, and thus be lost. But I now promise thee that I will always have recourse to thee; O help me to fulfil my promise. Lose not the opportunity which now presents itself of gratifying thy ardent desire to succour such poor wretches as myself. In thee, O Mother of God, I have unbounded confidence. From thee I hope for grace to bewail my sins as I ought, and from thee I hope for strength never again to fall into them. If I am sick, thou, O heavenly physician, canst heal me. If my sins have weakened me, thy help will strengthen me. O Mary, I hope all from thee; for thou art all-powerful with God. Amen.

SECTION III.-Mary renders Death sweet to her Clients.

He that is a friend, loveth at all times; and a brother is proved in distress," 1 says the Book of Proverbs. We can never know our friends and relations in the time of prosperity; it is only in the time of adversity that we sce them in their true colours. People of the world never abandon a friend as long as he is in prosperity; but should misfortunes overtake him, and more particularly should he be at the point of death, they immediately forsake him. Mary does not act thus with her clients. In their afflictions, and more particularly in the sorrows of death-the

1 Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.-Prov. xvii, 17.

greatest that can be endured in this world, this good Lady and Mother not only does not abandon her faithful servants, but as, during our exile, she is our life, so also is she, at our last hour, our sweetness, by obtaining us a calm and happy death. For from the day on which Mary had the privilege and sorrow of being present at the death of Jesus, her Son, who was the head of all the predestined, it became her privilege to assist also at their deaths. And for this reason the holy Church teaches us to beg this most Blessed Virgin to assist us, especially at the moment of death; pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death!

Oh how great are the sufferings of the dying. They suffer from remorse of conscience on account of past sins, from fear of the approaching judgment, and from the uncertainty of their eternal salvation. Then it is that hell arms itself, and spares no efforts to gain the soul which is on the point of entering eternity; for it knows that only a short time remains in which to gain it, and that if it then loses it, it has lost it for ever. "The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time." 1 And for this reason the enemy of our salvation, whose charge it was to tempt the soul during life, does not choose at death to be alone, but calls others to his assistance, according to the prophet Isais: "Their houses shall be filled with serpents." 2 And indeed they are so; for when a person is at the point of death, the whole place in which he is, is filled with devils, who all unite to make him lose his soul.

It is related of St. Andrew Avellino, that ten thousand devils came to tempt him at his death. The conflict that he had in his agony with the powers of hell was so terrible, that all the good religious who assisted him trembled. They saw the Saint's face swelled to such a degree from agitation, that it became quite black, every limb trembled,

1 Descendit diabolus ad vos, habens iram magnam, sciens quod modicum tempus habet.-Apoc. xii, 12.

2 Replebuntur domus eorum draconibus.-Isaias xiii, 21.