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 fusion before  the  dawning  aurora,  so  the  demons  before the  coming  of  Mary, — for  she  was  the  first  to throw  off  the  yoke  of  Satan,  the  first  to  put  his forces to  flight.

Brethren, you  came  here  to-night  with  the  simple faith of  little  children,  to  gather  around  Mary,  your Mother, to  pay  her  your  tribute  of  love,  and  to  make or renew  your  promises  of  obedience  to  her  maternal instructions. There are  many,  alas! that stand  aloof in proud  self-sufficiency,  and  sneer,  perhaps,  at  what they consider  our  weak  puerility. But be  not deceived. Christ, pointing  to  a  group  of  children,  said to His  followers:  "  To  be  My  true  disciples,  you  must be  as  these." " For,"  says  St.  Paul,  "  God  resisteth the  proud  and  giveth  grace  to  the  humble." It is  not the high  hills,  but  the  valleys  that  catch  the  heavenly downpour, and  the  deeper  the  valley  the  more  it holds. Hence, Mary  was  full  of  grace  because  the Lord regarded  the  humility  of  His  handmaid. Never be ashamed  or  afraid  to  profess  yourselves  children  of Mary. If you  are  married,  pray  to  Mary  the  Mother of God,  the  spouse  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  if  you  are single, let  Mary,  the  Virgin  of  virgins,  be  your  ideal. If you  are  rich,  be  a  lady-in-waiting  on  the  Queen  of heaven,  or  a  member  of  her  royal  guard;  if  you  are poor you  will  find  congenial  company  in  the  humble home of  Nazareth;  if  you  are  a  sinner — and  who  of us  is  not? — turn to  the  Refuge  of  sinners,  to  Mary,  the Mother of  mercy. Fidelity to  your  sodality  is  a  mark of predestination. You are  the  successors  of  that first sodality — the  little  band  of  shepherds  that