Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/45

 of Mary  whatever  graces  he  is  pleased  to  bestow  upon us. With God,  the  prayers  of  the  saints  are  the  prayers of his  friends,  but  the  prayers  of  Mary  are  the  prayers of his  mother. Happy they  who  confidently  and  at  all times have  recourse  to  this  divine  mother! This, above all others,  is  the  most  pleasing  devotion  to  the  Blessed Virgin, ever  to  have  recourse  to  her  and  to  say:  O Mary! intercede for  me  with  thy  Son  Jesus.

2. Jesus  is  omnipotent  by  nature;  Mary  is  very  powerful  by  grace;  she  obtains  whatever   she  asks  for. It is impossible,  says  St.  Antoninus,  that  this  mother  should ask any  favor  of  her  Son  for  those  who  are  devout  to  her, and the  Son  not   grant   her   request. Jesus delights  to honor  his  mother  by  granting  whatever  she  asks  of  him. Hence St.  Bernard  exhorts  us  to  seek  for  grace,  and  to seek  for  it   through  Mary;  because  she  is  a  mother  to whom   nothing   can  be  denied.1     If,  then,  we  should  be saved,  let  us    recommend    ourselves  to  Mary,  that    she may intercede   for   us,  because   her   prayers  are   always heard. O mother  of  mercy! have pity  on  me. Thou art styled the   advocate  of   sinners;  assist   me,   therefore,  a sinner  placing  my  confidence  in  thee.

3. Let  us  not  doubt  whether  Mary  will  hear  us  when  we address  our  prayers  to  her. It  is   her  delight  to  exercise  her  powerful  influence  with  God  in  obtaining  for us whatever  graces  we  stand  in  need  of. It is  sufficient to ask  favors  of  Mary  to  obtain    them. If we   are   unworthy  of  them,  she  renders  us  worthy,  by  her  powerful intercession; and  she  is  very    desirous    that  we  should have recourse  to  her,  that  she  may  save  us. What sinner   ever  perished,  who,  with  confidence  and    perseverance,  had  recourse  to  Mary,  the  refuge  of  sinners? He is lost  who  has  not  recourse  to  Mary.

O Mary,   my    mother   and    my    hope! I   take   refuge