Page:Sermons in Irish-Gaelic - O'Gallagher.djvu/77

Rh Mary. It is in her hands is placed the power of averting from us the chastisement which our sins deserve. It is through Mary's hands every aid and assistance comes to us from God, She is the stream out of which flow in torrents to us the waters of the fountain of grace. It is for this reason the Church enjoins on us to repeat that prayer frequently—"Ora pro nobis," &c.

We read in the Book of Kings that Bethsabee went to ask a favor of her son Solomon, son of David. When the king had learned that she was coming, he went with great gladness to meet her; he paid her obeisance and honor, and placed her at his right hand on a royal throne, and desired her to ask with confidence every request she wanted to make, and that he would not refuse her anything which she would ask. Ask, oh, my mother, for it is not right that I should turn thy face from me without being satisfied.

Mary, the Queen-mother of Jesus, spent her term in like manner in this world. And her only son, desirous that she should be along with Himself in Paradise, came on the occasion of her Assumption, accompanied by all the hosts of Heaven to meet her. Her Divine Son raised her, both body and soul, up to Heaven. Christ put her sitting at His right hand, and He gave to her, next in order after Himself, all power in heaven and on earth. He promised that there is no request she would ask that she should not obtain.

It is on the wonderful exaltation to Paradise that took place in regard to Mary; and again on the great graces which she pours down on us I purpose this day to treat; and for this purpose I divide the subject of the discourse into two points:

The exaltation of Mary to the region of Paradise was wonderful and extraordinary—that is the first point; she is intercessor and queen advocate standing between us and her only son—that is the second point.

Let us ask of God light and grace, &c., &c.