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 God bestow  on  her  a nobler  name,  or  a greater dignity? O then, with  what  eyes  will  not  one  day Jesus look  on  those  who  would  not  honour  his Blessed Mother,  although  he  himself  has  honoured her so  much! Is there  indeed  a creature  more beloved by  God  than  Mary,  and  will  you  not  love her whom  God  loves  so  much?

2. The  Holy  Church  of  God  itself  teaches  us devotion  to  Mary. How many  churches  and  altars have been  erected  in  her  honour,  how  many  feasts instituted for  her  glory,  how  many  confraternities and even  religious  orders  established  under  her  name, how many  treasures  of  grace  and  of  indulgences  have been attached  by  the  church  to  the  practice  of honouring  Mary!

Has not  God  performed  innumerable  miracles through her  intercession,  as  so  many  privileged places of  devotion  and  of  pilgrimage  show  us? Have not  kings  and  princes  placed  their  states  under her protection? All who  truly  revere  Jesus  Christ raise their  voices  in  honour  of  Mary. For how  can he honour  the  Son,  who  despises  the  Mother?

3. Mary  is  our  Hope. The Holy  Church  names her so,  when  she  salutes  her  with  these  words: “ Hail, our  Hope! ” God refuses  her  nothing  that she asks,  because  he  is  her  Son. Neither will  she refuse anything  to  us  because  she  is  our  Mother. Jesus gave  her  to  us  for  our  Mother,  with  these words: “Woman,  behold  thy  son!”  She  is  the tenderest, the  most  devoted,  the  most  compassionate, and most  loving  of  all  mothers. Are you  a great sinner? Do not  despair  of  salvation  on  that  account: pray to  Mary,  the  refuge  of  sinners,  and  you  will  not sink in  the  stormy  waves  of  the  sea  of  life. Would you grow  in  virtue? Ask of  Mary,  the  Queen  of