Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/547



"A great  sign  appeared  in  heaven:  a  woman  clothed with  the  sun,  and  the  moon  under  her  feet,  and  on  her  head a  crown  of  stars." — Apoc. xii. I.

Ex. : I.  John's  vision. II. Origin of  Rosary. III. Division.

I. Its  enemies  :  i.  Names  of  Mary  and  God. 2. Idolatry. 3. Senseless  repetition.

II. Prayers: 1. Vocal and  mental. 2. Prayers  of  Rosary. 3. Meditations.

III. Excellence: 1. Suitable to  all. 2. Support  in  need. 3. Its  victories.

Per.: 1. Theory and  practice. 2. Practice  without  merit. 3. Worthy  practice.

"And a  great  sign  appeared  in  heaven:  a  woman clothed  with  the  sun,  and  the  moon  under  her feet,  and  on  her  head  a  crown  of  stars.  And  being in  labor  she  was  in  pain  to  be  delivered.  And there  was  another  sign  in  heaven — the  red  dragon Satan  ready  to  devour  the  fruit  of  her  womb.  And when  she  brought  forth  there  was  a  great  battle  in heaven,  wherein  the  angels  of  God  cast  out  Satan and  his  angels.  And  I  heard  a  voice  saying:  Now  is come  salvation  and  strength  and  the  kingdom  of God  and  the  power  of  His  Christ." Such, my brethren,  is  the  account,  in  the  twelfth  chapter  of the  Apocalypse,  of  Mary's  first  glorious  victory  over the enemy  of  mankind. History has  repeated  itself since then,  for  in  the  thirteenth  century  we  again  be