Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/107



Preparatory Prayer  (p.  74).

OR four  thousand  years  the  just  in  limbo sighed for  redemption,  and  sent  up  to Heaven  the  plaintive  cry,  "O  that  Thou  wouldst rend  the  heavens,  and  wouldst  come  down!" (Is. lxiv.  1.)  "Drop  down  dew,  ye  heavens,  from above,  and  let  the  clouds  rain  the  just;  let  the earth  be  opened  and  bud  forth  a  Saviour"  (Is. xlv.  8). What joy  must  have  filled  the  souls  of the  just  when  they  heard  the  welcome  tidings  of the  birth  of  Mary,  the  virgin  Mother  of  the  promised Messias;  how  great  their  consolation  at  the rising of  that  dawn  which  preceded  the  Sun  of Justice,  whose  splendor  was  to  illuminate  the darkness of  them  that  sat  in  the  shadow  of  death!

joy similar  to  that  which  filled  the  captive souls in  limbo  at  Mary's  birth  now  fills  the souls in  purgatory  when  we  implore  her  to  come to their  relief. Contemplating the  immense  love of the  Most  Holy  Trinity  for  Mary,  we  may  not doubt but  that,  by  her  intercession,  she  might  at once  deliver  all  the  suffering  souls  from  their