happy place where she first had brought forth her sweet sonne who can imagine the inward ioy she felt and the teares of sorrow she shed in viewing this and other places whilst in the mean time she most studiously meditated vpon mysteryes which had there byn wrought Canisius de B. Virgin E 5. c. 1. Take you now the same matter and argumēt for your daily meditation thinke diligently often on the life of Christ and of his Holy Mother and be assured it will be most pleasing and gratfull vnto thē both F. Lewes dela Puente doth relate in the life of F. Baltazar Aluarez that to a certaine deuout woman replenished with the spirit of God and adorned with the gift of high Contemplation an Angell did one morning appeare when as making the spirituall Exercises of S. Ignatius she was meditating on the life of Christ his Blessed Mother telling her that he came of a message from the B. Virgin to let her vnderstand that those deuotions and spirituall Exercises which she vsed were most gratefull and pleasing vnto her especially those of the diuine Mysteries of her Blessed Sonne IESVS as being most apt to styr vp the affection vnto heauēly things Willing her also to go forwards daily as she had begon for that her selfe was both the Patronesse and Inuentresse of those kind of Exercises did first instruct S. Ignatius in the making therof and disposing thē into method And that also they were the same which herselfe had daily vsed whiles she liued vpon earth P. Burghesius in libello quod Societas fit Virgini sacrat c. 12. Of the solide purposes made by our B. Lady in meditation THat our Blessed Lady did exercise most solid acts and affections in her meditations S. Brigit will witnesse who treating of her continuall meditation in the Temple from her tēder years sayth thus Whē B. Mary being yet but an Infant began to conceyue a knowledge of God she did not childishly but maturely consider with feare and care to discharge her duty how much she was to honour and reuerence so high a Maiesty And when afterwards she came to vnderstād how God the Creatour of all things did behould iudge the liues actions of euery one she firmely purposed with her selfe to adore him in the humblest manner and to cōmit nothing that might be displeasing to so great a Maiesty Againe comming to know that this God was the peculiar Iudge of Israell who had byn always so good and gratious vnto that People she resolued to loue and honour him alone with all her hart mynd But when she came at last to vnderstand that he was to come into the world as a Redemer and to be borne of a Virgin she began so to burne with charity loue towards him that she thought of nothing nor desired nothing but him lib. 1. Reuel ca. 10. l. 3. c. 8. And Canisius speaking of her affections in meditatiō euē in her childhood saith That fayre Virgin who was most deare to God began euen thē to be woūded with the darts of the diuine Loue to be chosen out among thousands to be the only Beloued of God O what heate what fyre of loue did thē burne within her What scope or end had she of louing when the most sweet and pretious spirit of God did mooue her to shed pious louing teares and to send forth innumerable sighes Whose senses were so wholy absorpt therewith and suffered such diuine violēce that her mind would in a manner be rauished euē languish in the most sweet contemplation of the only Good Canis l. 1. c. 13. The Doctours of holy Church are of opiniō that whatsoeuer rapts illustrations diuine Contemplations Extasies were euer granted vnto any Saint or holy person the same were communicated to our Bl. Lady in a farre more perfect and excellent manner by her Blessed Sonne Imagine therfore that when you contemplate S. Paul burning with most ardent charity and crying out Who shall separate me from the charity of Christ Or when you see S. Mary Magdalen like snow melting away in a most tender passion of loue before the presence of her Lord Christ IESVS or Saint Augustin wounded to the hart with the Dart of Loue wholly languishing in the midst of his kisses bestowed vpon the wounds of Christ and dying to himselfe as vnto him he liued or S. Francis vttering of these word My God and my All whilst he imbraced the Crosse of his Loue with his Seraphicall armes or els S. Thomas of Aquin sighing vnto IESVS from his pure and feruent flames of loue I desire thee thy self nothing els but thee Or S. Ignatius with this motto of his Contemplation O how vile doth the Earth seeme when I looke vp to heauen And that other O God of my heart o that the world did but know thee Or that Earthly Angell B. Stanilaus Kostka whilest he was eleuated from the earth al wet with the teares of a teder deuotion and wholy rapt with cerestiall delight yea so burning with diuine loue during the tyme of his meditation as it was necessary often to apply a wet cloth to coole his burning bosome Imagine I say when you ponder these a thousand like rapts and extasies as the true liuely effects of Contemplation and compare them to that diuine most ardent flame which burned in the B. Virgins breast they will all appeare but as litle sparks only in regard of hers Oh that we could but warme our frozen hearts sometymes whilest we meditate at the fornace of her most arcent loue If thou wouldest when thou art dul drowsy propose Her vnto thy selfe as a patterne to be imitated If thou wouldest say vnto thy selfe whilest thou meditatest how much more feruētly would the B. Virg. handle this matter in which I so dully slothfully meditate with what zeale and affection with what higher desires and firmer purposes would she be vnited vnto God the only good Of the the Recollection of the Blessed Virgin IN the recollection which the Bl. Virgin vsed after her Meditation she was alwayes most carefull to keep in memory the illustrations which were diuinly reuealed vnto her during the tyme of her meditation as also all the good desires and purposes which she conceyued from thence All which she first preserued for her owne help then for ours as sayth Eusebius Emissenus Homil. 5. in festo Assump And betwixt her tymes of meditation she did so feed and stir vp the flame which was kindled in her hart by that which she had meditated that her whole life was no other then a perpetuall burning heate and an extreme excesse of loue as saith Rupert serm de Assump Neyther is it to be doubted but the same B. Virgin who instructed S. Jgnatius in the making that admirable Booke of his Spirituall Exercises as we haue formerly declared did teach him also that Addition wherein is prescribed that when we haue ended
THE LITLE GARDEN OF OVR B. LADY Or diuers practicall Exercises in her Honour VVritten in Latin by the R. Father Francis de la Croix of the Society of IESVS And translated into English IHS Permissu Superiorum 1631. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL HIS MVCH HONOVRED LADY THE LA. E. M. MADAME THE true DeuotioÌ„ which your Ladiship is knowne to haue allwayes borne vnto the B. Virgin MARY together with the many courtesies You lately shewed me farre beyoÌ„d my deserts hath emboldened me to present this little GARDEN of our LADY beset with most fragrant and odoriferous Flowers vnto you wel knowing the Noblenesse of your Mynd to be such as will accept of a meane guift wher better ability doth want in the giuer as hauing no other way wher by to manifest the high Estimation and most faythfull Obseruance wherewith he abounds towards You. Into this GARDEN may you often confidently enter both for your spirituall corporal Exercise A GARDEN it is most pleasant and plaÌ„ted with the Flowers of all celestiall Delights And if at any time your Lad. Pchance to be distracted through worldly Cares or other busines retyre hither with speed to recreate your wearied Mynd and Senses with the Variety and sweet Ayre thereof Walke throgh the same dayly diligently CoÌ„pose for your selfe a Nose-gay of sweet smelling Flowers Heere gather a Rose of Loue Confidence There a Lilly of entyre sincere Deuotion Heere a Violet of humble reuereÌ„ce submission There a Marygold of perfect ImitatioÌ„ of the B. Virgins vertues And as the industrious Bee in sucking Hony out of Flowers doth with no lesse Wisdome then Discretion choose what is most fit and apt for her artificiall Building so may your Ladiship imitate that prouident laborious Creature in selecting amoÌ„gst so great variety what shall be most fit for your spirituall Edifice I will not be ouer troublesome with a loÌ„ger Epistle since the BouÌ„ty of your good Nature assureth me aswell of a grateful Acceptance of this mean Offer as of a carefull ImitatioÌ„ of the vertues which the ensuing GardeÌ„ doth liuely represent In confidence wheof I rest very respectfully Your La. P s euer deuoted seruaÌ„t in Christ IESVS I. Wo THREE INSEPArable companions of Deuotion towards the Sacred Virgin Mary The first is Diligence and Feruour THAT the B. Virgin is not to be honoured negligently slouthfully only for fashion sake is cleere euident yet that the fier of our loue and deuotion may dayly be more ferueÌ„t towards her behould beer three principall reasoÌ„s taken out of the 86. Psalme which by frequent meditation may be cast into this flame as fuell to maintaine it The first reason why me ought with feruor to honour the B Virgin is her Excellency the which is by the Psalmist expressed vnder the Type of the Temple of HierusaleÌ„ in these words Her foundations are in the holy mountaines our Lord loueth the gates of Sion more then all the Tabernacles of Iacob Out of which words Doctors do coÌ„monly inferre that the first least grace that was bestowed vpon the Bl. Virgin in the first moment of her Conception was greater theÌ„ he greatest that euer any man or Angel receiued They say also that our B. Lady did coÌ„tinually increase the grace with she had receaued yea doubled the same From whence some no lesse piously then probably discoursing do conclude That her grace and glory alone is more perfect theÌ„ that of all the Saints and Blessed togeather and consequently more esteemed and beloued of God then all other pure creaturs whatsoeuer Wherfore if honour reuerence must answere in proportion vnto the Excellency who cannot easily gather from hence that our Bles Lady is more to be honored loued then all the Blessed togeather Cast now the eye of your Vnderstanding vpoÌ„ the whole world consider euery kingdome Prouince Citty and Village how greatly by how many in what manner aswell priuately as publickly the Angells Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and the rest of Blessed are honoured and after that your haue well pondered and admired the same making one masse of them all O how great will it seeme to be and verily if the B. Virgin may lustly challenge vnto herselfe far greater honour reuereÌ„ce then all that how feruent then how ready how enflamed how many winges of Deuotion ought you to haue how many heads hands to adore and honour her as you ought Her I say whome the B. Trinity so much honoureth how much more ought you poore worme and abiect Creature to honour The Second reason why we should honour and reuerence our B. Lady with feruor is because she is the Mother of God the which the Prophet Dauid toucheth in these words Glorious thinges haue bene sayd of thee O Citty of God Psal 86 Do you desire to know what glorious thinges may ought to be sayd of her whome God hath chosen for the Citty in which himselfe meant to dwell to wit his B. Mother First this title of Mother of God giueth vnto the Bles Virgin a dignity in some sorâ— infinite Secondly it declareth her woderful merits at the hands of our Sauiour Christ whome as aâ—â—enâ—er and louing Mother she most louingly brought vp cloathed cherishd defended forsooke not vntill death and euen buried his dead body with vnspeakable care and lous What honour therefore doth she not deserue at our haÌ„ls who so much honoured our Sauiour Christ our Father the Loue of our Hart Lastly the prerogatiue of the Mother of God comprehendeth her innumerable merits towards all mankind For when the Sonne of God came to take humane Nature vpon him then should the world haue receyued him with great reuerence and opeÌ„ armes of Loue it should haue gone out to haue met and imbraced him with the feruent loue of the Seraphims with the beauty of the Cherubims with the variety of the Vertues and Thrones but such was the blindnes ingraticude and vnworthynes therof as that it despised reiected him and as much as lay in it euen abandoned that necessary and so long desired worke of our Redemption Yet you O most Blessed Virgin Mary you only amoÌ„gst all the world enflamed with Charity like the Seraphims in Wisdome like the Cherubims by your Humility purity did present your selfe a most gratefull Throne vnto Almighty God and with the fragrant odour of your Vertues did so temper the vnsauoury stench of sinne which had made the world so abominable to the Sonne of God as that you allured yea drew him downe from heaueÌ„ to earth most officiously leÌ„ding your bowels vnto men to receiue him your armes to imbrace him your tongue to praise him and finally euen your selfe wholy to serue him perpetually for them And to omit other merits of the B. Virgin towards men as also her many seruices exibited in their behalfe vnto the Sonne of God let vs weigh what S. Bernard sayth of her only consent in the conceyuing of the
my selfe in all my thoughts words works as neuer to do any thing that may be displeasing to his eyes or yours and lastly to be mindfull of me in the houre of my death Amen From henceforth you shall imagine your Chamber to be a Chappell of the B. Virgin whome you shall reuerence in her Image as if she were present with you not suffering any thing to remaine therein which may offend her sacred eyes In the morning as soone as you are risen as also at night before you lye downe to sleepe with low and humble reuerence you shall aske her blessing like as good childreÌ„ in our couÌ„trey are wont carefully to do their PareÌ„ts euery morning night saying The Virgin Mary with her benigne Sonne blesse vs. After that you be apparelled kneeling downe before the sayd Image then shall you say this prayer following O Blessed Mary my good Lady I recommend my selfe vnto your Blessed protection singular custody casting my selfe into the bosome of your mercy both this day and euery day and in the houre of my death I commend also vnto you my Soule and Body In you do I place all my hope and consolation To you do I commend all my distresses and miseries my life the finall conclusion thereof that by your most holy intercession and merits all my workes may be directed disposed according to your will and the will of your most Blessed Sonne Amen Alwayes at your going out and coÌ„ming into your chamber see you salute the said Image imitating heerin the Courtiers who in their passing to and fro do neuer omit to make reuerence vnto their Prince You ought not to vndertake any thing of moment hauing not first acquainted the B Virgin Mother therwich You shall seriously also commeÌ„d vnto her both your priuate and publique affaires if any thing do occurre of greater importance wryte the same briefly in a paper and lay it at the feete of the Image Finally in all your temptations and difficulties you shall haue recourse vnto her as to a mercifull and tender-harted Mother Examples in Confirmation of such things as haue beene sayd THe holy Mother S. Teresa doth approue and much commend this practise and deuotion who being made Prioresse of a certayne Monastery at her very first entrance into her Office she coÌ„secrated both her selfe the whole monastery to our B. Lady placing a fayre Image in the Chaire where the Prioresse was to sit and offering her the keys of the Monastery togeather with the goÌ„uerment thereof as Superiour whose place she was only to supply Which oblatio the Mother of God not long afterwards shewed to be most gratefull vnto her For vpon the Eue of S. Sebastian our B. Lady put her selfe visibly in place of the picture and declared that she tooke indeed vpon her the gouermeÌ„t of the house In eius vita lib. 3. c. 1. It is also recounted by those who haue beene conuersant with Father Francis Suarez a man famous for holynes and learning that he was accustomed to confer with the B. Virgin concerning all doubts which occurred in his studies froÌ„ whome he receyued often the solution of many hard and difficile Questions and he hath beene also seene to kneele downe and giue her thankes for the same vpon his knees To these I adde a story which Boniface relateth out of Alanus and Albertus l. 4. c. 9. hist. Virginalis A certayne Religious Virgin named Ioane liuing in a Monastery somwhat dissolute and disordered vpon a time according to her accustomed manner being very attentiue in saying of her beads she saw a letter fal downe from heauen before her with this superscription Mary Mother of God to her daughter Ioane health The contents of the letter were these My most deare Daughter Perseuere constaÌ„tly in saying my Rosary allwayes as thou hast begun fly from men and shun all conuersation with them which may not profit thee to the attaining true vertue good of thy conscience Beware of sloth dissolutenes idlenes remoue far from thee dainty meates and curiosity of apparell and purge thy Cell of some things which are not decent for a Religious woman and in place therof put the Images of thy Sauiour Christ his Saints other holy things whose protection defence shall preserue thee from all dangers If thou giue eare vnto me and performe with due obedience those things which I shal prescribe vnto thee thou shalt obtaine fauour of my beloued SoÌ„ne I will make intercession to him for thee in al thy necessities The hand mayd of Christ hauing reade his Letter was very much encouraged to set forward the honour of our B. Lady with all possible deuotion and with all diligence put in execution what was coÌ„maunded her Not long after a certaine holy Abbot comming thither to reforme the said Monastery according to their former discipline and religious Institute as he was praying deuoutly for that end he saw the cell of the before named Virgin shining and sending forth radiant beames with an incredible lustre and in the middle of that light the Queene of heauen enuironed with a troupe of glorious Angels in whose coÌ„pany Ioane the Virgin was deuoutly praying In the meane time at the Cell doore without a great multitude of diuels stood raging and to make themselues more terrible put on the shape of diuers kind of vgly and monstrous beasts but being all shamefully put to flight by the powerfull commaund of the B. Virgin they retyred backe to the chambers of the other foolish Virgins dispersing theÌ„selues through the whole Monastery some to one Cell some to another The holy Abbot was much astonisshed at this vision but afterward when he had vnderstood of the singular zeale and deuotion which Ioane the Virgin had towards our B. Lady he caused immediately beades to be prouided and distributed to the other Nunnes exhorting them constantly to the pious vse therof Which deuotion wheÌ„ they had seriously imbraced not long after they all voluntarily submitted themselues to the Rule of their Order From hence you may learne what the Mother of God doth expect of those euery one according to their profession who haue consecrated themselues vnto her according to the aforsayd manner and how great accoumpt she maketh of that deuotion and with what a bountifull hand she rewardeth it Therfore not without cause S. Bonauenture so much commended this kind of deuotion towards the Mother of God in an Epistle of his which is intituled Of 25. Memorials where amongst other deuotions how to lead a good like in the 13. Memoriall he hath these words Alwais haue great reuereÌ„ce and tendernes of affection vnto the glorious Queene Mother of our Lord and haue recourse vnto her as vnto a most safe refuge in all your necessities dangers troubles crauing the defence of her perfection taking her for your Aduocate make knowne your petition suiâ—e vnto her with all deuotion and confidence because she is the Mother
obtaine the same By these wordes OVR LORD IS VVITH THEE are declared that vnspeakeable vnion and operation which the Blessed Trinity did perfect in me when he conioyned the Substance of my flesh to the diuine Nature in one person so as God became Man man God I being in that houre made worthy to tast the ioy and sweetnes which no other Creature could experience And by the wordes BLESSED ART THOV AMONGST VVOMEN euery Creature with admiration doth acknowledge professe me to be Blessed and exalted aboue all By the wordes BLESSED IS THE FRVITE OF THY VVOMBE the most excellent fruite of my wombe which hath sanctifyed euery Creature is blessed and extolled for all eternity In vita S. Mechtildis This holy Virgin of Christ afterwards in saying her Beades was alwayes accustomed to adde three Aue Maries for the obtayning of a happy death of which we haue spoken before in the first Bed and 5. Chapter It wil be also very profitable at all houres of the day and night when the Clocke strikes to say once the Angelicall Salutation to which deuotion certaine Indulgences are granted by the holy Sea Apostolicke as we haue sayd before in the second Bed V. Chater The custome likewise is deuoutly to be kept to recite thrice a day morning noone night three Aue Maries according to so many tolles of the bell adding these vsuall Versicles before euery Aue The Angell of our Lord. Behold the Handmayd And the Word became flesh in honour of the principall Mysteries to wit The Resurrection the Passion and Incarnation of our Lord. CHAP. II. Of the Crowne or Rosary of the B. Virgin and of the first manner of saying the same THat manner of saluting the B. Virgin is very ancient and famous which consisteth of an hundred fifty Aue Maries and one Pater Noster before euery decade Neither is that lesse in vse which consisteth of 63. Aue Maries according to the number of yeares which our Blessed Lady is thought to haue liued on earth adioyning to euery Decade one Pater Noster The first of these manners is called the Rosary both because it is knit together with mysticall Roses as S. Dominicke the Author therof is recounted to haue so receiued the same The latter is tearmed the Crown wherewith as with a garland the B. Virgin shewed her selfe adorned as afterwards we shal declare Chap. 4. And the Religious Order of the Minimes hath greatly propagated the same although the Crowne it selfe is vsually euery where called by the name of Rosary in regard whereof we wil vse these Names confusedly without any regard of distinction But the thing of greatest profit and consolation is to recite daily and offer vnto our B. Lady the Rosary or Crowne the which oblation that it may be done with more fruit and gust it is expediēt to season the same with diuers considerations which are found euery where in deuout bookes and heere we will propound three only as it were fountaines of the rest The first manner of saying the Rosary is that wherin chiefest regard is had of attentiō to the wordes with some application of the sense to the same which is very easy if with discretion the Rules following be obserued 1. Before you begin recollect your selfe a little marking with attention how Noble and Angelicall an Office you are about to performe and for what intent 2. Blessing your selfe with the signe of the crosse begin with saying one of these Versicles or the like Now let my lippes sing display The Blessed Virgins praise this day Grant me O Virgin thee to prayse Againsts thy foes giue strenght allwayes Then recite the first Decade or Ten pondering the Consideration next ensuyng This being duely performed say O mother of God and Virgin Mary let all the holy Angells ten thousand tymes extoll and blesse you The second decade with the Consideration being also ended say Let all holy Patriarches Prophets twenty thousand tymes extoll and blesse you After the third say Let all holy Apostles thirty thousand tymes c. After the fourth Let all holy Martyrs fourty thousand tymes c. After the fifth Let all holy Confessours fifty thousand tymes c. After the sixth Let all holy Virgins widdowes and others blesse and extoll you a hundred thousand tymes Then reciting the three last Aue Maries in the first you shall salute the B. Virgin Mary daughter of the Eternall Father demaunding the vertue of Fayth offering your body to her perpetuall seruice In the second you shall salute the B. Virgin Mary Mother of the Sonne of God asking the vertue of Hope offering your soule vnto her In the third you shall salute the Virgin Mary Spouse of the Holy Ghost crauing the vertue of Charity and offering vnto her whatsoeuer you haue or by any iust title can lay claime vnto after this conclude by saying the Creed deuoutly When you haue thus ended the Rosary you may recite the Hymne Aue Maris stella with the versicle and Prayer Diuers do adde the Psalme De profundis for the dead Or Laudate Dominum omnes gentes c. These aduertisemens may be common to all the manners of saying the beades but that with followeth is most proper for our purpose In saying the first Decade or Ten. YOu shall imagine all the Aues thereof to be as so many pretious stones or other ornamets most beautifull to the sight which are offered to the Mother of God by the handes of your Angel Guardian for composing a Garland or Crowne to adorn her head Neither doth this conceit want good warrant as shal be manifest by the following history taken out of Dionysius Carthusianus in his first Sermon of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady and 13. verse A certaine Monke of the Religious Order of Cistercians who had accustomed daily with great deuotion to salute the B. Virgin by reciting the Rosary when vpon a certaine day all alone in his chamber he was paying on his knees his accustomed taske the most deuout Virgin appeared vnto him shewing him a most beautifull Robe shining with admirable splendour except only a little part thereof being all ouer engrauen with Golden Aue Maries and saying Seest thou quoth shee in what esteem I haue the Aue Maries which hitherto thou hast offred vp vnto me And when this part of the Robe that is vnfinished shall be adorned also with the like Aue Maries I will cause thee to enter into the kingdome of my Sonne adorned also with comelines and glory After the same manner do you behold the B. Virgin present whiles you are saying the first Decade offering those salutations vnto her as if they were so many pretious stones and rich iewells most pleasing and gratefull to hereyes to all the heauenly Court and you shall most humbly intreate her that she will vouchsafe to present vnto herselfe and her beloued Sōne your Soule first made beautifull with the ornaments of
3. Her holy Natiuity 4. Her Presentation in the Tēple 5. The yeares of her Childhood and her vow of Virginity made in her tender age 6. Her betroathing to S. Joseph On Twesday they consider 1. The Annunciation of the Angell 2. The visitation of Saint Elizabeth 3. The Natiuity of Christ 4. The adoration of the Sheepheardes 5. The Circumcision 6. The Adoration of the three kinges On Wednesday they beare in mind 1. The Purification of the B. Virgin and Presentation of Christ in the Temple 2. Their flight into Aegypt and seauen yeares abode there 3. The remayning of Iesus in the Temple his finding there 4. His childhood life vntill thirty yeares of age 5. His departure from the company of his Mother his Baptisme and fasting 6. His preaching and miracles On Thursday they meditate 1. The solēne entrance of Christ into Ierusalem 2. His washing of the Apoles feet 3. The institution of the most B. Sacrament 4. His prayer in the Garden 5. His apprehending 6. That which he suffered in the house of Annas and Cayphas and S. Peters denyall of him On Friday they contemplate 1. Christ our Lord led vnto Pilate and Herod 2. His whipping at the pillar 3. His crowning with thornes 4. His shewing to the people and the wordes Ecce homo 5. His condemnation and carrying of his Crosse 6. His crucifying On Saturday they ponder 1. The words of Christ our Lord vttered vpon the Crosse and chiefly these Behold thy Mother and Behold thy Sonne 2. His death 3. The great griefe sorrow of our Bles Lady 4. The taking downe of Christs body from the Crosse 5. His Buryall 6. The desceding of his soule into Hell On Sunday they call to mynd 1. The Resurrection of Christ our Lord. 2. His Ascension 3. The sending downe of the holy Ghost 4. The rest of our B. Ladyes life vntill her death 5. Her triumphall Assumptiō 6. Her Coronation and the patronage of all men giuen vnto her This exercise of meditating the mysteries of Christ our Lord and of the B. Virgin in saying the Rosary hath beene had in great esteeme and was constantld practysed by Saint Charles Borromeus that famous Contemplant of our B. Lady in eius vita l. 8. c. 2. S. Bernardinus also of Sienna hath left testifyed that whatsoeuer Graces or Spirituall gifts at any tyme he obtayned came from the deuout remembrace of the Ioyes of our B. Lady in the honour of which he dayly recyted her Rosary Ineius vita But a singular testimony of this deuotion may be taken out of the Chronicles of S. Francis where it is recounted that a certayne Priest who had accustomed dayly to adorne an Image of our B. Lady with a garland of flowers entred into Saint Francis Order where when as he could not dayly offer his wonted garland vnto the B. Virgin he thought of retourning backe to the world againe But the Mother of God full of Mercy permitted not that her Client should long remaine in errour but compassed about with a heauenly light she appeared vnto him and with the beames of her benignity did she driue away the darke myst of his mynd commāding that he should not rashly cast from him so great a Iewell of Religious vocation which now he had vndertakē least otherwise himselfe also might perhaps afterwards come to be reiected of God and withall she instructed him how he should dayly offer to her another garlād more odoriferous and gratefull cōposed of the fixty three Aue Maries seauen Pater Nosters in memory of the seauen Ioyes which she tenderly and entirly felt 1. In the Conception of her Blessed Sonne 2. When she carryed him in her wombe and visited S. Elizabeth 3. In his birth 4. In the Adoration of the three Kings 5. In her finding him in the Temple 6. In his Resurrection 7. When she was assumpted into heauen So that euery ioy correspondeth to euery Decade and the seauenth to the three last Salutations This good Religious mā obeyed the admonition wholsome counsell of the B. Virgin and from thence forth began to recite dayly the Corone after that methode and manner A long tyme after notwithout a great miracle the B. Virgin appeared agayne vnto him being in daunger of his life no lesse powerfull benigne a Guardian then before she had beene a prudent and wise Mistresse towardes her seruant For on a tyme as he trauayled by Obedience with his cōpanion through a wood which was much haunted with theeues reciting the Rosary meditating vpon of the foresayd Mysteries the theeues espied him togeather with a most beautiful Virgin who at euery Angelicall Salutation gathered from his mouth as he spake a Rose and with a threed of gold fastened the same to a circle in manner of a Crowne When he had ended his beades and the B. Virgin departed forthwith the theeues came rushing with great violence vpon the Religious mā inquiring of him from whēce that Virgin came and whither she was gone He denyed to haue seene any as also his companion did the like at which the theeues were enraged and ready to kill them In the meane space they both with very great earnestnes inward feruour cryed vpon our B. Lady O Mother of God ayd and succour vs. And behold the B. Virgin presently appeared with a glorious company of Angels adornd with that same garland and first rebuking the theeues turned to the Angels and with a cheerfull countenance said Lo with what a beautifull Crowne thi◠Brother hath adorned me and foothwith vanished away Leauing the mynds of the beholders in great astonishment at this incredible motiue and aspect which so moued the theeues to the true vnderstanding of themselues serious conuersion of their liues that they entred into religion became deuout seruants of the B. Virgin The same also that this religious mā now spoke of did accomplish was no lesse deuoutly performed by S. Thomas of Canterbury who was accustomed dayly to call to mynd the seauen ioyes wherwith our B. Lady was replenished lyuing vpon earth in the pious remembrance whereof he tooke great contentement and sweetnes Wherefore the Virgin Mother hauing a desire to transfer his deuotion to more sublyme ioyes appeared and spake vnto him in this manner Why O my beloued Thomas doest thou meditate only vpon those ioyes that I had on earth cal to mynd also those which I now enioy in heauen which are these 1. I reioyce that aboue all pure Creatures I am placed next in honour vnto the most Blessed Trinity 2. I reioyce for the garland of my vnspotted Virginity whereby I far excell all the orders of Angells Saints 3. I reioyce that euen as the Day is replenished with light from the Sun so the whole Heauēly Court more abundantly shyning by my beatitude is replenished with ioy 4. I reioyce that all the Cittizens of that Court do obey and reuerence me the Mother of their King 5. I recoice because
her head which was not only found whole vncorrupted but also full of a most fragrant odour which like oyle distilled from thence in great aboundance Sur. in eius vita 15. Octob. S. Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury did vse another kind of signe or token to put him alwayes in mynd of the vertues perfâ—ctions of our B. Lady and chiefly of her Chastity which vertue aboue all others be practised and had in most high honour veneration It was this After he had by the instinct of the Holy Ghost solemnly espoused himselfe to the B. Virgin in memory of this his betrothed fayth he put a ring vpon the finger of a certayne Image of the Blessed Virgin and made another most like vnto it which himselfe did continually weare on which afterwards as often as he did look he seemed to see the most amiable Virgin his spouse there present before his eyes and in her a liuely excellent patterne of all vertue and perfection In this Ring was engrauen the Angelicall Salutation and that miraculously as by the relatioÌ„ of diuers of vndoubted fayth sincerity was affirmed In eius vita 16. Nouemb. Others haue inuented and vsed other signes memorials to the same end CHAP. V. The fourth Help to the Imitation of the B. Virgin is to implore her ayd and assistance often ALl that industry which hath byn expressed in the former Chapters will produce but little or no fruit at all vnles it be watered with the pleÌ„teous dew of the diuine Grace therfore we must humbly and often implore and begge the same with a great distrust of our strength and no lesse confidence in our B. Sauiour and his Holy Mother To which end insteed of Iaculatory prayers we may vse certayne Versicles approued by the Holy Church in crauing now this now that vertue of the Bles Virgin As for Example in crauing of Chastity Meeknes these words of the Hymne Aue Maris stella will be most proper O Virgin singular in mildnes passing all Make vs both meek chast deliuer'd from sins thrall As likewise in crauing of sincere and ardent Charity out of the Hymne Stabat Mater Dolorosa these words thus Mother Fountaine of true louing Mee to feele thy Sorrow mouing Cause that I may mourne with thee Let my Hart with feruour burned Towards Christ with Loue be turned Which to him may pleasing bee The B. Mother of God herself gaue vnto S. Ioane Found resse of the Annuntiates three most wholsom documents wherby she attayned vnto great Perfection The first was that she should say ten Aue Maries in memory of those ten Vertues wherin the Bles V. so greatly excelled to wit Chastity Prudence Humility Fayth Gratitude Obedience Pouerty Patiëce Piety and Constancy in affliction The second was that she should salute with 5. Pater Nosters 5. Aue Maries the 5. most pretious wounds of our Sauiour IESVS-Christ in imitation of that deuotion with which the B. V. saluted and contemplated them whilest he hung vpon the Crosse The third was that daily in honour of the fruit of the B. Sacrament she should recite twelue Aue Maries Vnto which threefold deuotion the Popes of Rome haue graunted many pardons and Indulgences In Chron. Annunciat That you may styr vp in your selfe and more and more enkindle in you both a firme trust in the B. Virgin as also feruour in demaunding the gift of the imitation of her vertues it wil be necessary that you often practise these following Exercises and the manner of begging her help ayde CHAP. VI. The practice of begging of our Blessed Lady IN crauing of grace and ayde you must with as great feeling as may be acknowledge your own waÌ„ts and the liberall graces and fauour of the Mother of God And first you shall imagayne your selfe to be in a threefold state 1. As one sicke and wounded for so indeed spiritually you are through your sinnes vnbridled passions and inordinate affections so as from head to foot there is no sound part in you 2. As one poore and in extreeme want of all vertues merits and diuine graces 3. As one hungry longing and thirsting after Iustice perfect vnion with God in this life and Glory in the life to come desiring to be healed of your infirmities and relieued in your wants nakednes still looking about you if by chaÌ„ce you can espy any rich and mercifull person who may bestow an Almes vpoÌ„ a Soule so miserable so poore so diseased so huÌ„gry as yours Secondly you shall imagine that you heare within you the B. Virgin calling of all mortal men vnto her who want or seeke for help offering them ayde and assistance in these words Blessed is he who watcheth daily at my doores waiteth at the entrance of my gates He that findeth me shall find life and saluation from our Lord. Prou. 8. Then thinke vpon the Motiue which may perswade you with humility confideÌ„ce to haue recourse vnto this Lady and Queene As first how that she is replenished with all those graces which you so much need 2. That she is so pure as neuer taynted with the least blemish of Veniall or Originall sinne 3. So holy that she excelleth in all kind of vertue Many daughters haue gathered togeather riches for theÌ„selues but you haue surpassed them all 4. That she is so vnited with God that there is no pure creature eyther in heauen or earth who enioyeth him in greater perfection Lastly coÌ„fider both the meanes the will she hath to do you good For she is called the Queene of Mercy sayth S. Bernard because she can when she will how she wil and to whome she will open the Treasure of diuine Grace in so much as no wicked sinner can perish to whom the Saint of Saintes doth lend a helping hand Serm. 1. in Salue Reg. Thirdly being now stirred vp with these cogitations resolue to approach neere to the B. Virgin like as a poore needly begar And to the end you may the better obteyne what you desire help your selfe with the intercessioÌ„ of your Angell Guardian of all the other Angels also of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and the rest of the Saintes in Heauen of all whome you must earnestly intreat to begge an Almes for you of her Then present your selfe before that sacred Queene and Lady humbly saluting magnifying her laying open your owne miseries begging redresse with no lesse earnestnes and affection then beggars vse to do wheÌ„ they cry out for pitty in the streets lastly make a firme purpose to be more feruent in honoring her heerafter and humbly say as followeth I salute you humbly O most sacred Virgin I prayse and glorify you O most Clement most Pure most Holy most Happy Lady most powerfull Queene of Angells most glorious Queene of Patriarches Prophets and Apostles most poteÌ„t Queene of Martyrs most wise Queene of CoÌ„fessors most vnspotteÌ„d Queene of Virgins most faithfull Queene of
worthily to receaue that holy Sacrament First to beseech our B. Lady by that most immaculate Purity wherby she was made a pleasing Tabernacle for the Sonne of God to free her from the stayne of her sinnes by her intercessiō Secōdly by that most profound Humility wherby she deserued to be exalted aboue the Quires of Angells that she would be pleased to supply and make amēds for all her negligences Thirdly by that inestimable Loue wherby she was inseparably vnited vnto God that she would obtayne for her store and abundance of merits And the same S. Gertrud addeth that once vpon a tyme whilst the Religious drew neer to the Communion she did perceaue the Queene of Glory on the right hand of one who was amonge the rest clothing her with a Robe adorned and beautifyed with the flowers of prayer and deuotion desiring her sweet Sonne for her sake to haue this Virgin in particular regard Who at the petition of his B. Mother presently shewed great signes of grace and fauour vnto them all E. 4. Insin diuin cap. 49. You must likwise stir vp in your selfe frequent actes of Loue following therein the Example of Gods most Holy Mother For who cā comprehēd the fire of that loue which alwayes burned in the Blessed Virgins breast when she was ready to communicate being as it were euen changed into a Holocaust especially whē she considered that he was now wholy to be giuen vnto her who had before wholly giuen himselfe for all mankind as a bloudy Sacrifice vpon the Crosse Who had giuen those hāds and feet to be cruelly boared through That breast to be pierced with a lance which was yet more deeply wounded with loue And lastly who had giuen all his whole body to be moulded and as we may say baked with so many wounds that it might become therby bread more delicious to our tast Labour to beget in thy selfe the like loue vnion with Christ by calling to mynd euery tyme thou dost communicate some one passage or other of his passion so shalt thou do a thing most gratefull pleasing both to God and his B. Mother S. Lydwine the holy Virgin on a tyme lying sicke in her bed was very desirous to communicate but not hauing the commodity at that present she was comforted by her Angell Guardian who told her that very shortly Christ her Lord whome she so much desired would come and visit her Wherupon conuerting her selfe wholy to her prayers being wrapt in contemplation she perceaued diuers Angels comming towards bed her one carrying the Crosse another the Lance some the whippes others the reed the nayles crowne of thornes with all the Instruments of the passion In the midst of the troupe wēt the B. Virgin and last of all our B. Sauiour Being come into her Chamber they compassed her Bed round And then our Sauiour first turning towards her with a smiling countenance in the likenesse of a beautifull child presently appeared vnder the forme of an Host which she receaued with such aboundance of solide ioy that it was wonderfull how so narrow a brest could conteyne such an Ocean of diuine delightes In eiu◠vita mens April Oh that thou couldst obtayne but one only drop out of this Oceā of diuine Mercy by the intercession of the B. Virgin when thou art about to communicate Or at least that thou couldest with a sincere simple heart say with Thomas a Kempis O Lord my God my Creator and my Redeemer I do desire to receaue thee this day with the same affection reuerence prayse and honour with the same gratitude dignity and loue with the same Fayth Hope and purity that thy Most Holy Mother the Glorious Virgin Mary did receaue thee when most deuoutly and humbly she answered vnto the Angel Gabriel announcing vnto her the mystery of thy wonderfull Incarnation Behould the handmayde of my Lord be it dōe vnto me according to thy word lib. 4. cap. 17. What we are to do after Communion in imitation of the B. Virgin WHen you haue communicated you are principally to obserue three things 1. To giue thāks vnto so great a guest whom you haue receaued 2. To desire to be perpetually vnited vnto God 3. To demaund of him what may be necesary for your selfe and others in this or the like manner O with what great ioy and exultation with what celestial delight was the B. Virgin filled when she had receaued the B. Sacramet What infinite thanks did she render vnto the Diuine Maiesty for the same She did no doubt euer and anone repeate that Cāticle with Iubilation My soule doth magnify our Lord. With how great sincerity and simplicity of heart did she offer her selfe al she had vnto him whome she thē lodged within her brest Christ IESVS her Sōne her God Do you offer vp your selfe in the same manner and imagine that your Angel Guardian doth salute you with words of congratulation and ioy as did her Cosen S. Elizabeth our B. Lady Blessed art thou because thou hast belieued and receaned God in the sacred Communion And do you answere ioyfully againe My soule doth magnify our Lord c. pondering particulerly euery worde of that Canticle the better to beget in your selfe affections like vnto those which the Bles Virgin had when she song the same Ponder also with what desire the holy mother of God did burne of seing her Sonne not hidden vnder the Sacramentall forme of bread but with his face discouered shining with glory in heauen And that you may the better conceyue the same heare the B. Virgin herselfe declaring this her desire out of Rupertus in these wordes I did weepe sayth she could not speake a word for the aboundance of sighes that vehemently burst forth For how could I speake of him without weeping Yet those teares were my only consolation and my sole delight euen as any one may cōceaue by those which thēselues shal sweetly shed in memory of them whome they loue best and deerest And if Dauid could say My teares were my bread both day and night whilst it was said vnto him dayly Where is thy God how much more reason had I to say the same of my selfe when it was sayd vnto me dayly Where is thy God where is thy Son Or when I my selfe should say My God my sonne hath sent me hither into this banishment Rupert l. 5. in Cant. And lastly ponder with what feruor the B. Virgin did demaūd of Christ now her Guest new celestiall guifts both necessary for herselfe and others With what affectiō did she commend the vniuersal Church vnto him with al the faithfull both aliue and dead Do you seeke to imitate her heerein and conclude this Exercise of the holy Communion with the like petitions strengthned and seconded by the help and intercession of Gods most holy Mother CHAP. X. Of the Imitation of the B. Virgin in labouring with our hands or corporall Exercise SAint Bonauenture Euthymius Sophronius and others