Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/556

 Queen of  the  Rosary. We find  instances  in  history where the  Christian  soldier,  defeated  in  his  struggle for faith  and  fatherland,  has  turned  the  tide  of  battle by an  appeal  to  Mary  of  the  Rosary. We see  the great O'Connell  wincing  under  the  fiery  eloquence of his  opponent,  but  preparing  himself  by  reciting the Rosary  for  that  grand  effort  of  his  which  procured hope  for  the  country  he  loved  full  well,  and freedom for  the  Church  he  loved  better  still. Besides these victories,  who  will  recount  its  spiritual conquests, the  hardened  hearts  moved  to  repentance, the despairing  souls  it  has  snatched  from  the  edge  of hell  and  returned  to  God! In fine,  it  is  the  badge  of the  noblest  of  God's  creatures,  of  the  gentle  Sisters of Charity  on  the  battlefield  and  in  the  hospital,  and of the  intrepid  missioners  in  the  wilderness.

Brethren, do  we  appreciate  the  full  value  of  this devotion? Are we  its  friends  or  are  we  its  enemies? We are,  you  say,  its  friends,  But  alas! as many  a man  will  say:  "I am a Catholic,  but  I  cannot  say  I practice  my  religion,"  so  many  of  us  will  have  to say:  "I  approve  of  the  Rosary,  but  I  cannot  say  I practice  it,"  To  each  I  say  equally:  "  Stuff  and  nonsense; there  is  no  Catholic  but  a  practical  Catholic, and  there  is  no  friend  of  the  Rosary  but  he  who  practices it  often  and  well." " He  that  is  not  with  me  is against  me,"  is  not  less  true  of  Christ  than  it  is  of the  Church  and  the  Rosary. Your Protestant  friend refuses the  honor  due  to  the  Queen  of  the  Rosary and you  resent  it,  but  if  you  practice  not  this  devotion your  action  is  inconsistent,  for  the  Protestant