Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

P. 284. If we are the true servants of Mary and are protected by her, our names shall be written in the book of life: for as St. John Damascene says, God grants the gift of devotion to his holy mother, to them only whose salvation he wills in a special manner. This our Lord appears to proclaim in the words of St. John: "He that shall overcome . I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God," Apoc. iii. 12. He that shall conquer and be saved shall carry in his heart the name of the city of God: and who but Mary is the city of God? To her St. Mary applies the word of David, "Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God," Ps. lxxxvi. 3. Here, then, we may well say with St. Paul, "having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are his," 2 Tim. v. 19. God recognises as his own all who bear the seal of servant of Mary.

Vol. ii. p. 110. "Let us, therefore, says the Apostle, go with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in every time of need," Heb. iv. 16. The throne of grace, says B. Ålbertus Magnus, is Mary.

Mary's power over devils.

Vol. i. p. 156. "As wax, adds St. Bonaventure, melts before the fire, so the devils lose their power against souls that frequently remember the name of Mary, and invoke it, particularly if they endeavour to imitate her virtues." Oh! how the devils tremble, says St. Bernard, at the bare mention of the name of Mary! "In nomine Mariæ omne genu flectitur; et dæmones non solum pertimescunt, sed audita hac voce, contremiscunt." Serm. Scip. Miss. As men, says Thomas à Kempis, (lib. iv. ad Nov.) fall on the ground through fear, when a thunderbolt strikes a neighbouring object, so the devils fall down powerless at the sound of the name of Mary. "Expavescunt cœli reginam spiritus maligni et diffugiunt, audito nomine ejus, velut ab igne. Tanquam tonitru de cœlo factum sit, prosternuntur ad Sanctæ Mariæ vocabulum." O how many splendid victories have the clients of Mary gained over these enemies by the invocation of her most holy name. By this means St. Anthony of Padua, Blessed Henry Suson, and so many other lovers of Mary have conquered the devils. From the accounts of the Missions of Japan, we learn that to a certain Christian a multitude of demons appeared in the form of ferocious

animals,* in order to terrify him and to threaten him. He said to them, "I have no arms calculated to excite terror or dismay if the Most High permits, you may do with me whatsoever you please. My defence shall be the most sweet names of Jesus and Mary." Scarcely had he said these words, when, behold! at the sound of the tremendous names, the earth opened, and the haughty spirits fell into the chasm. And St. Anselm attests that he himself saw and heard of many, who at the mention of the name of Mary, were instantly delivered from danger. "Sæpe vidimus et audivimus plurimos homines in suis periculis nominis recordari Mariæ, et illico omnes periculi malum evasisse." S. Ans. de excel. Virg. c. 6.

"Glorious and admirable is thy name, O Mary, says Bonaventure. They who retain it, fear not at the hour of death; for as soon as the devils hear the name of Mary they immediately leave the soul." The Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget (lib. i. rev. c. 9.) that even from sinners the most abandoned, the most distant from God, and most possessed by the devil, the enemy departs the moment he hears them invoke the most powerful name of Mary, with a sincere desire of amending their lives. "Omnes dæmones audientes hoc nomen, Maria, statim relinquunt animam, quasi territi." &c. &c.

Mary's ladder.

Vol. i. p. 277. In the Franciscan Chronicles, it is related of Brother Leo, that he once saw in a vision two ladders, one of them was red, at its summit stood Jesus Christ; the other was white, at its top he saw the Virgin Mary. He saw that some who twice attempted to ascend the red ladder, fell back. They were then exhorted to ascend the white ladder. The blessed Virgin stretched out her hand to them, and they securely ascended to paradise. Who, asks blessed Denis the Carthusian, is saved? who attains the kingdom of heaven? they, he answers, are saved, and certainly reign in paradise, for whom this queen of mercy presents her prayers. "Quis salvatur, quis regnat in cœlo? Illi sane, pro quibus regina misericordiæ interpellat." This Mary herself declares; "by me kings reign," Prov. viii. 15. Through my

The almost innumerable lying legends and false miracles and visions by which the Romish idolatries and corruptions have been and are supported, give a most awful character to the Church of Rome; her depravity is ineffably great.

intercession souls reign, first on this earth ruling over their passions, and afterwards for eternity in heaven; where says St. Augustine, all are kings: "quot cives tot reges." In a word, Mary, says Richard of St. Lawrence, is mistress of paradise; for there she commands as she pleases, and introduces whom she pleases.*

SALTERIO DI S. BONAVENTURA alla beata Vergine Maria col testo di rincontro.t

Roma, 1834, presso Gio. Battista Marini, piazza del Collegio Romano. Nuova traduzione col testo di rincontro. In the last page we find, Imprimatur Fr. Angelus v. Modena Ord. Præd. S. P. A. Mag. Soc.

Imprimatur A. Piatti, Archiep. Trapezunt. Vieesg.

Preci quotidiane alle Madre di Dio per impetrare una buona morte, tratte dal Salterio di S. Bonaventura.

[blocks in formation]

Copious extracts have been made from this most idolatrous book of devotion, because so many of the most celebrated Saints of the Church of Rome are shewn by it to have been guilty of idolatry, and the most awful perversion of Scripture.

+ St. Bonaventure published his Psalter, in which in most instances the name of Mary was substituted for that of God in the thirteenth century. He converted the "Te Deum" also into a laudatory address and prayer to the Virgin Mary. English Romanists when St. Bonaventure's Psalter is referred to, are wont to speak of it as obsolete; but we find that some of the popular books of devotion at Rome at the present day have copious extracts from St. Bonaventure's Psalter, which must consequently be in high repute at Rome. The extract here introduced is taken from a small devotional work published at Rome, which has passed through several editions.

Accedite ad eam in tentationibus vestris; et stabiliet vos serenitas vultus ejus.

Benedicite eum in toto corde vestro, misericordia enim illius plena est terra.

Jesus, tibi sit gloria, &c.—p. 6.

Psalm 3.

Domina, quid multiplicati sunt, qui tribulant me? In potestate tua persequeris et dissipabis eos.

Dissolve colligationes impietatis nostræ ; tolle fasciculum peccatorum nostrorum.

Miserere mei, Domina, et sana infirmitatem meam: tolle dolorem et angustiam cordis mei.

Ne tradas me manibus inimicorum meorum; et in die mortis meæ conforta animam meam.

Deduc me ad portum salutis; et Spiritum meum redde Factori et Creatori m'eo.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria, &c.-p. 8.

Psalm 19.

Exaudi nos, Domina, in die tribu lationis; et precibus nostris converte clementem faciem tuam.

Ne projicias nos in tempore mortis nostræ; sed succurre animæ, cum deseruerit corpus suum.

Mitte angelum in occursum ejus, per quem a malignis hostibus defendatur.

Ostende ei serenissimum Judicem seculorum; qui ob tui gratiam indulgentiam ei largiatur.

Sentiat in pœnis refrigerium tuum, et concede ei locum inter electos Dei.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria.—p. 10.

Psalm 24.

Ad te, Domina, levavi animam meam in judicio Dei tuis precibus non erubescam.

Neque illudant mihi adversarii

Ricoverate a lei nelle tentazioni vostre ; e il volto suo sereno vi dara fortezza.

Benedite a Lei con tutti il cuor vostro: che la terra tutta e piena delle sue misericordie.

Gesu, gloria, &c.—p. 7.

Salmo 3.

O Signora, perchè sorsero tanti a darmi tribulazione? Ma tu li perseguirai e li dispergerai colla potenza tua.

Sciogli i legami della nostra empietà; e leva di noi il carico dei peccati nostri.

Abbi pieta di me, O Signora, e risana la inferma anima mia: cessa il dolore e l'angoscia del mio cuore.

Non mi abbandonare fra le mani degli inimici miei; e nel di della morte porgi conforto all' anima mea.

Guidami tu al porto della Salvezza, e rendi il mio Spirito al supremo Fattore e Creator mio. Gesù, gloria, &c. - p. 9.

Salmo 19.

Esaudisci, O Signora, le nostre preghiere nel di della tribulazione, e volgi il tuo pietoso sguardo alle orazioni nostre.

Non ci rigettare da te nel punto della nostra morte: ma soccorri all' anima nostra, quando si separera dal proprio corpo.

Manda l'angelo del cielo in suo ajuto: e quegli la difenda dal nemico maligno.

Per te il sommo guidice dei secoli le si mostri placato; e pel favor tuo le conceda il perdono.

Nelle sue pene senta essa il refrigerio tuo pietoso: e sia per te fatta del bel numer' una degli eletti del Signore.

Gesu, gloria, &c.—p. 11.

Salmo 24.

A te, O Signora, sollevai il mio Spirito per la tua intercessione fa ch'io non rimanga confuso nel guidizio di Dio.

Non insultino a me gli avversarii

[blocks in formation]

miei, perocchè chiunque in te confida, invigorisce contro di loro.

Non prevalgono ad illaciarmi i legami mortiferi del peccato e le squadre dei maligni non attraversino i passi miei.

Rompi col poter tuo l'impeto degli sforzi loro e benigna soccorri alla anima mia.

Sii tu mia guida alla patria celeste; e degnati farmi del novero delle angeliche schiere.

Gesu, gloria, &c.—p. 13.

Salmo 100.

La tua misericordia e guistizia io cantero, o Signora ; a te salmeggero con guicondato cuore, perchè tu colmerai di letizia l'anima mia.

Io cantero il tuo nome, e la gloria tua e tu sarai cortese di refrigerio alla anima mia.

Io zelai sempre il tuo amore e l'onor tuo ma tu degna patrocinare la causa mia davanti al Guidice dei secoli.

La tua grazia e la bonta tua a te mi trae; e si ti prego, perche io non rimanga deluso nella mia speranza e nella mia fiducia buona.

Confortá l'anima mia ne' miei novissimi: e fa che in questa mia carne medesima io veder possa il mio Salvatore.

Gesu, gloria, &c.—p. 81.

Salmo 110.

Cantero le lodi tue, O Signora, con tutto il mio cuore: celebrerò le tue glorie con tutta la mia mente.

Le opere della tua grazia saranno in eterna ricordanza, è il monumento della tua misericordia davanti al trono di Dio.

Per mezzo tuo Iddio a noi largi la redenzione: e i popoli penitenti avranno percio speranza di salute.

Rettitudine di mente ottengono quelli che ti onorano: e la sorte loro sara cogli angeli di pace.

Glorioso ed ammirabile è il nome tuo: e chi lo serba in suo cuore non isbigottira nel punto della morte. Gesù, gloria, &c.-p. 83.

« PredošláPokračovať »