The Month of Mary:
Practical Meditations for every Day of the Month of May
Abbe Berlioux
John Cuthbert Hedley (Preface)
Laetitia Selwyn Oliver (Translator)
ISBN 9781957066240
eISBN 9781957066264
ASIN B09Z9FVFGF
I do not even recall how I stumbled upon this volume. But I picked it up towards the end of Lent, and then read it during the month of May. I have since found out it is one of 4 volumes available in English by Abbe Berlioux, a couple of them have a number of editions, and Mediatrix press has all 4 available but currently only 2 of the 4 are available as eBooks. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks so I can change the font, and the colour of font and page to make reading easier. I Hope Mediatrix will release the other 2 in English. For the day I finished this volume I started Month of the Sacred Heart: Practical Meditations for Each Day of the Month of June, because this was an excellent volume to work through. The description of this edition of this book states:
“In May we run with excitement to endow Mary’s altars with boughs of flowers that vie with nature’s splendor, and spiritual offerings as well as good works to pay homage to the most generous of queens. To more fully live the spirit of the season, we must enter into the very spirit of the Mother of God.
Each chapter contains the whole day’s reading, prayer, and a fitting example for the reading, usually taken from the author’s personal knowledge or some other historical example.
The subjects, containing two short points each day, range from Our Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Conception, her holy name, her motherhood, each of her shining virtues, her devotion to Holy Communion, and other subjects.
It was originally written in the 19th century by the Abbé Berlioux, who was a priest in the diocese of Grenoble in 1872 and was the Curé, or parish priest, of the church of St. Bruno. The devotional enjoyed ten editions of popularity in the French language before being translated and printed in English in 1884. As each of the thirty-one days of May progresses, the subjects cover every possible facet of the known life of Mary, historical tradition, apparitions and the life of the Church surrounding this ancient devotion, solidifying for the devotee a rich theological truth and piety. As the preface states: “She is a spiritual universe.” There is nothing in our path toward heaven, which she cannot supply, if we but study her soul and apply her works in our lives.
The author uses literary tools in his writings so as to awaken his reader from a spiritual slumber. Particular emphasis in this book is derived from the daily repetition of the phrase “Children of Mary”, addressing the reader affectionately and with a personal effect that cannot be ignored. It is as though the very voice of our heavenly mother is calling out to the reader, as a mother calls her children to her, and should we all not come running? Come, Children of Mary, come to the safety of your mother’s mantle.
In this book you will find:
• An organized 31 days of devotions to the Blessed Mother for the complete month of May
• Daily spiritual reading on the life, virtues, and traditions surrounding the Blessed Virgin
• Daily prayers to Mary
• Daily examples of true-life stories that draw out the truths within each day’s reading.
• Various ways of consecrating oneself to Mary
• Various ways of praying the Holy Rosary and a unique Marian way to attend Mass.
The book is most excellent for the original purpose, to devote one’s life to the practices of the May altar, but it is also an excellent choice during the time of Lent, when the entire Christian world is tuned in so singularly to the deep sorrows and grief of Our Blessed Mother; and Advent, at which time we contemplate Our Blessed Mother’s expectation of her Divine Child.”
The volume has:
Nihil Obstat:
P. J. TYNAN, S.T.D.,
Cens. Theol. Dep.
Imprimatur:
Eduardus Card. Mac Cabe,
ARCHIEPISCOPUS DUBLINENSIS.
Imprimatur :
Gulielmus
ARCHIEPISCOPUS DUBLINENSIS,
HIBERNIÆ PRIMAS.
A sample day is:
“THIRTEENTH DAY: MARY, MODEL OF CHASTITY
I. She knew all its value.
II. She avoided all that could endanger it.
First Point.—Purity was always the favorite virtue of Mary. At the age of three she left her home and family, went up to the temple of Jerusalem, and consecrated herself to the Lord by a vow of perpetual chastity. Oh, how beautiful were the first steps of this royal Virgin! To thee, O Holy Mary, was reserved the privilege of planting the first lilies in the garden of the Church and of unfurling the banner of virginity, under which so many virgins, in succeeding ages, have taken their stand. “Adducentur virgines.” When the Archangel Gabriel proposed to her to become the Mother of God, she only consented to accept this exalted dignity, after having received the assurance that her divine maternity would not tarnish her virginal purity. Thus she preferred the glory of her virginity to the glory of being the Mother of God. Was it possible to give a greater proof of her love for chastity? St. Bernard says: “By the most incomprehensible of all mysteries, it was the virginity of Mary that obtained for her the privilege of the divine maternity.” “Virginitate placuit.” A virgin, by choice and inclination, she found her delight and her happiness in this admirable virtue. A virgin in body and soul, all her thoughts, words, and actions breathed holiness and innocence. A virgin before being a mother, a virgin after having brought into the world her Divine Child, she was always, and will be for eternity, the purest of creatures. The Church calls her the Queen of Virgins, and shows her to us in heaven, walking at the head of that glorious band of virgins who form round the Lamb a guard of honor. “These follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, and they sing a new canticle before the throne” (Rev. 14:1, 3, 4).
Whatever our state and condition in life may be, we are all obliged to be chaste and pure. Jesus Christ by his words, Mary by her example, have made it a strict command. St. Ambrose says: “That he who observes chastity is an angel, and he who loses it becomes a demon.” Children of Mary, have you always valued and practiced this precious virtue? Alas! perhaps the impure breath of your passions has often tarnished and sullied the beauty of your souls, O, Jesus! create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. O Mary, mother of chastity, inspire us with a horror of vice and love of virtue.
Second Point—“Mary, more pure than the rays of the sun,” says St. Jerome, “had nothing to fear from the poisoned breath of Satan, and yet she lived in continual fear of anything that might tarnish her purity.” Although confirmed in grace she distrusted her own strength, as if she was the most fragile of all creatures. She watched over her heart, her thoughts, her words, and all her senses, so as to avoid every occasion of sin. She spoke little, all her words were full of modesty, and her conversation was in heaven. She led an interior life, practiced fasting and mortification, and lived continually in the presence of God, in order to avoid the seductions of the world. According to the beautiful expression of a holy Father, “she breathed only the Lord.” “Her whole deportment was angelic,” says St. Ambrose, “The purity of her soul was reflected as in a mirror, in her person and countenance. Mary preserved the lily of chastity in all its whiteness, and it is thus that she attained the high degree of glory she now holds in heaven.”
If Mary, so pure and so holy, was so careful to preserve this most beautiful and most delicate of virtues, what precautions should we not take who are so weak and inclined to sin? Oh, let us watch over our thoughts, our looks, our words, and fly all dangerous occasions. Let us often ask of God the grace of purity. The wise man says: “And I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it” (Wisdom, 8:21). We must, then, have recourse to prayer, for it is a grace that prayer can obtain. Let us also not forget that the saints recommend devotion to Mary as the great means of acquiring and preserving this admirable virtue. This is why the Church places on our lips this beautiful prayer: “Incomparable Virgin, make us chaste and mild; make us lead lives so pure as to bring us to heaven, where we may enjoy the happiness of seeing and loving thy Son.” Mites fac et castos, vitam præsta puram.
EXAMPLE
A virtuous mother, living in Paris, had great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. She consecrated all her children to her, giving each the name of Mary, so that they might be under the special protection of the Mother of God. This good woman had a great horror of vice, but especially of anything that savored of immodesty. She could not endure the thought that her children should ever be sullied by it, and her generous heart inspired her with the idea of sacrificing herself to preserve them from that misfortune. Many times had she addressed to God the following prayer, conjuring Mary to obtain her request: “My God,” said she, “do with me what Thou wilt. Send me the most terrible of torments, but save my children; never permit them to lose their innocence.”
A dreadful illness, with which she was seized, gave her reason to hope that her sacrifice was accepted. Her illness lasted five years, during which time she often said to her children: “Be careful to preserve your innocence; it is for that end I suffer and die.” At length, satisfied with the heroism of this tender mother, God called her to Himself the 21st day of February, 1834. She gently expired, her hand stretched out to bless her children, her radiant countenance reflecting the angelic innocence of her heart.
Happy mother to have had the courage to make such a sacrifice. Happy children to have had such a virtuous mother. Christians, we too shall be happy if we know how to suffer and endure all, rather than lose the inestimable treasure of chastity.
PRAYER
O Mary, Virgin of virgins, God has chosen thee to be the model of chastity. We hasten then to thee and range ourselves under thy standard. Lead us and protect us so that we may be victorious. Virgin, most pure, virgin most chaste, pray for us and help us. Virgo purissima, ora pro nobis. Amen.”
I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:
“If hitherto your prayers to Mary have been few and cold, let them this month be more frequent and fervent. Oh, yes, pray often, ask much, and ask with confidence, then will all your requests be granted. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” says Louis de Blois “sooner than the Blessed Virgin should fail to assist those who have recourse to her.”
“O Mary, my Sovereign, I am unworthy to appear in thy presence, but nevertheless I will invoke thee each day of this blessed month. My tender Mother, when I come to thee in prayer, cast on me a look of compassion; when I offer thee a sacrifice, give me thy blessing; when I make an act of love, speak to my heart. From this day forward I give thee my heart, entirely and without reserve: it belongs to thee, keep it always, and let it repose on thine. Amen.”
““It is true,” replied the priest; “but we stand in need of it. Communion is not so much a reward as a grace and a help. Unworthy of so great a favor, we ought to humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin, at the moment of the Incarnation: humilitate concepit.”
“When the Archangel Gabriel proposed to her to become the Mother of God, she only consented to accept this exalted dignity, after having received the assurance that her divine maternity would not tarnish her virginal purity. Thus she preferred the glory of her virginity to the glory of being the Mother of God. Was it possible to give a greater proof of her love for chastity?”
“Children of Mary, have you always valued and practiced this precious virtue? Alas! perhaps the impure breath of your passions has often tarnished and sullied the beauty of your souls, O, Jesus! create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. O Mary, mother of chastity, inspire us with a horror of vice and love of virtue.”
“Let us pray in the morning, for prayer is then a ray of strength and joy which lightens the toils of the day and draws down the blessings of heaven. Let us pray in the evening, for it is then a canticle of gratitude for blessings received, and an offering of sleep during the night. Let us pray before and after our meals, let us pray in our joys and in our sorrows, in our struggles and in our victories, and then all our actions will be holy and meritorious for eternal life.”
“O Jesus! O Mary! teach us to pray with fervor, confidence, humility, and perseverance.”
“O Mary! ark of the New Covenant, first Tabernacle of the Word made Flesh, thou who didst so often and with so much love receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, obtain for us the necessary dispositions to make always holy and fervent Communions. We are not worthy of assisting at the Banquet of the Angels, but say only one word to thy Divine Son, and we shall approach with confidence. Amen.”
“I sent for you, Father, so that you might tell the religious of your Order what I have made known to you; convince them that tepidity leads to the greatest excesses, and may my example be of use to them.””
“Remember, Christians, that in order to die as true Children of Mary, it is necessary to live as such, for, ordinarily speaking, death is but the echo of life.”
“Let, then, your practice be detachment from the world, vigilance over your hearts, the practice of good works, the imitation of the virtues of your heavenly Mother.”
“Let us always carry our Rosary about us, as the insignia of the servants of the Queen of Heaven, and as a safeguard in the perils which surround our innocence; let us carry it with reverence uninfluenced by human respect.”
“Those who never fail saying the Rosary every day cannot be lost, for it unites them to Mary as with a chain, and each Hail Mary is like a precious pearl which is added to her eternal crown.”
“We give thee thanks, O Mary, for having given us the holy Rosary, a chain of love, composed of fifteen golden links, which unite us more Closely to thy heart and to that of thy Son. To show our gratitude, we promise that we will profit by so precious a gift, often and devoutly reciting it. Oh! may this Rosary which we shall frequently bear in our hands, be the pledge of the crown which thou wilt one day place on our brows.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for the book. This was a wonderful volume to work through. It was between 4-6 pages a day through the month of May. It was a wonderful volume to use to spend a month with Mary our Mother. There were a few minor formatting errors and typos, but no anything enough to distract from the wonderful material in the volume.
I can easily recommend this book, and look forward to others by Abbe Berlioux. This book would be a great read for any Catholic.
Books by Abbe Berlioux:
The Month of Holy Souls: Practical Meditations for Every Day of the Month of November
The Month of St. Joseph: Practical Meditations for each Day of the Month of March
Month of the Sacred Heart: Practical Meditations for Each Day of the Month of June
…
