Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/118

 example of  humility! Let us  imitate  her  in  this virtue by  the  acknowledgment  before  God  of  our weakness, our  unworthiness,  our  nothingness,  and by ordering  our  whole  being  accordingly. Humility renders us  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  God  and makes us  susceptible  of  His  grace. Hence St. Augustine  writes:  "God  resists  the  proud  and gives  His  grace  to  the  humble.  What  a  terrible punishment  for  the  proud,  what  a  splendid  reward for  the  humble!  The  proud  man  resembles a  rock,  the  humble  man  a  beautiful  valley.  The grace  of  God  descends  from  heaven  like  a  gentle rain.  It  can  not  penetrate  the  rock  of  pride,  and hence  the  proud  man  loses  God's  grace  and  love. But  in  the  valley  of  humility  the  waters  of  divine grace  can  diffuse  themselves  and  fructify  the  soul of  the  humble  man,  so  that  it  may  bring  forth fruit  unto  eternal  life."

Prayer of  the  Church  (p.  97).

Litany of  Loreto  (p. 322).

Mary, holiest  Virgin,  who,  when  the  archangel Gabriel  hailed  thee  in  thy  annunciation, and thou  wast  raised  by  God  above  all  choirs  of the  angels,  didst  confess  thyself  "the  handmaid  of the  Lord";  do  thou  obtain  for  me  true  humility and a  truly  angelic  purity,  and  so  to  live  on  earth as ever  to  be  worthy  of  the  blessings  of  God.

Hail Mary,  etc.

Ejaculation (p.  97).