Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/81

 rich in  indulgences. But note  well  that  a child  of  Mary  must  be  like,  or  earnestly working to  become  like,  to  her  Mother  — like to  her  in  her  purity,  her  patience,  her charity of  heart  and  tongue,  her  resignation in time  of  trial,  her  obedience  and  conformity to the  will  of  God.

There is  another  form  of  devotion  which  is very  helpful,  namely,  to  perform  some  real act of  mortification  in  honor  of  the  person  to whom  I  desire  to  be  devoted  —  on  Saturday in honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  on  Friday  in honor  of  Our  Lord  and  His  Passion;  or,  for a day  now  and  then,  to  deny  myself  something I  like  much,  and  like  all  the  more  because it  is  so  delightful  and  innocent  —  the pleasant book,  the  pleasant  game,  something particularly pleasing  to  the  palate,  at  table, etc.

There are  so  many  forms  of  devotion,  particularly to  Our  Lord  and  the  Blessed  Virgin, that we  must  select  some,  as  no  one  could practise them  all. In this  selection  all  should study their  own  spiritual  taste,  and  practise those which  they  best  like  and  which  help them most. Of late  years,  devotions  of  what I may  call  the  second  or  minor  class  have been multiplied,  perhaps  some  might  be  inclined to  think,  too  much. Devotions to