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 because by  suffering  she  merited  greater  glory  in heaven. As Mother  of  the  Crucified  she  persevered beneath  the  cross,  and  now  she  thrones  in heaven  as  the  glorious  Mother  of  the  risen  Redeemer. Because she  shared  in  His  suffering,  she now shares  His  glory. Again, God  permitted Mary to  suffer  because  He  loved  us. If she  had not experienced  such  bitter  sorrow,  we  would  not have recourse  to  her,  for  whosoever  has  not suffered himself  can  not  have  sympathy  with  the sufferings of  others. Mary knows  the  pangs  of sorrow  by  experience,  and  therefore  knows  also how to  console  and  help  us.

ecause she  herself  drained  the  most  bitter cup of  sorrow,  Mary  is  always  willing  to help  those  who  invoke  her  aid. But above  all  she is inclined  to  help  repentant  sinners,  because  she knows how  great  the  price  of  their  redemption was, paid  by  the  blood  of  her  divine  Son. She is able  to  help  us,  because,  after  God,  she  is  most powerful; she  is  most  willing  to  help  us,  because she loves  us,  whom  God  so  has  loved  "as  to  give His  only-begotten  Son"  (John  iii.  16). Let us, therefore, have  recourse  to  her  in  all  our  needs, and we  shall  experience  the  power  of  her  help in life  and  death.

Prayer of  the  Church  (p.  117).

Litany of  Loreto  (p.  322).