File:The devout client of Mary instructed in the motives and means of serving her well (IA TheDevoutClientOfMary).pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Introduction PART THE FIRST. THE MOTIVES WHICH MAY HELP US TO OBTAIN TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. CHAPTER I. THE FIRST MOTIVE IS THE SPECIAL LOVE WHICH GOD HIMSELF BEAKS TO HER. I. — God loves the Blessed Virgin alone more than He loves all other creatures 3 II. — The Blessed Virgin is first-born in the order of Nature 6 III. — The Blessed Virgin is first-born in the order of Grace 12 IV. — The Blessed Virgin is first-born in the order of Glory 22 CHAPTER II. THE SECOND MOTIVE IS HER GREAT DIGNITY. I. — The dignity of the Blessed Virgin is above that of all other creatures 26 II. — The Maternity of the Blessed Virgin considered as a material fact 32 III. — The Maternity of the Blessed Virgin considered as a moral fact 34 IV. — The Blessed Virgin obtained her dignity of Mother by merit of congruity 40 CHAPTER III. THE THIRD MOTIVE IS HER SANCTITY. I. — The Blessed Virgin was made the most worthy of all love and honour 45 II. — The fulness of her sanctity inferred from the end for which it was bestowed 46 III. — The fulness of her sanctity inferred from the source whence it was derived 54 IV. — The fulness of her sanctity inferred from her own cooperation with Divine grace 08 V. — The Blessed Virgin confirms to Suarez the truth of this opinion 82 CHAPTER IV. THE FOURTH MOTIVE IS THE HONOUR PAID TO HER BY THE WHOLE CHURCH. I. — Honour paid by the Church is a sure proof of merit 84 II. — The antiquity of that honour 85 III. — The universality of that honour 91 IV. — The sublimity of that honour 95 V. — Instances of that honour 100 CHAPTER V. THE FIFTH MOTIVE IS THE BENEFITS RECEIVED FROM HER. I. — The Blessed Virgin by being the Mother of Christ is the material cause of all our blessings 104 II. — She is thus also the moral cause of all our blessings 108 III. — She still continues to concur in the bestowal of all graces 111 IV. — Her liberality in the distribution of her favours 120 CHAPTER VI. THE SIXTH MOTIVE IS THE GREAT LOVE SHE BEARS US. I. — The difficulty of expressing the greatness of Mary's love for us 120 II. — Her love is inflamed by looking upon herself as appointed to be our mother 127 III. — Her love is inflamed by looking upon the miseries of her children 130 IV. — Her love is enkindled by the fire of tho Divine love 180 CHAPTER VII. THE SEVENTH MOTIVE IS THAT THIS DEVOTION IS A MARK OF PREDESTINATION. I. — Devotion to Mary is a sure sign of predestination 139 II. — The honour of Mary is the secondary end of our predestination 143 III. — Mary is the secondary cause of our predestination 147 IV. — The glory of Mary does not detract from the glory of God 136 PART THE SECOND. THE MEANS WHICH MAY HELP US TO OBTAIN TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. CHAPTER I. THE FIRST AND SECOND MEANS. I. — The first means is meditation 181 II. — The second means is spiritual reading 166 CHAPTER II. THE THIRD MEANS IS FREQUENTLY TO INVOKE HER IN PRAYER. 170 Prayers for each day of the week 172 — 181 CHAPTER III. THE FOURTH MEANS IS TO OBSERVE SOME SPECIAL PRACTICES IN HER HONOUR. 188 I. — To choose the Blessed Virgin for our mother 184 II. — To reverence her in her pictures and images 185 III. — To visit her churches devoutly 187 IV. — To recite daily her office and rosary 188 V. — To make a novena before her principal feasts 190 VI. — To pay special honour to those Saints who were more nearly related or particularly devoted to her 191 VII. — To have Mass said, or to hear it in her honour 198 VIII. — To fast or practise some other works of penance on the vigils of her feasts 195 IX. — To give alms in her name 196 X. — To receive Holy Communion upon her solemn feasts 197 XI. - To imitate her virtues 198 XII. — To abstain from some sinful action for her sake 200

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Subjects: Virgin Mary; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint -- Devotional literature; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Mariaverering