Introduction by William T. Gordon

Bossuet's Sermons on the Feasts of our Blessed Lady number about twenty — there being in many cases two or three, and sometimes even four, for the same festival. Some of these are mere repetitions of each other as to matter, with slight changes in form to suit different audiences or occasions, whilst others, though not actually verbal repetitions, are so much alike in portions that, presented to readers in their integrity, they would be simply wearisome. The writer of this English version has not therefore attempted a literal or consecutive translation of the sermons as they stand, but has aimed at so selecting, combining, and condensing them, as to produce a set of discourses on Mary's Feasts throughout the year that should contain the whole substance of Bossuet's teaching; and in passages of a strictly theo logical nature the actual words of the preacher

X Introduction.

have been adhered to as closely as they could be in English.

Repetitions have been, as a rule, avoided, and where this could not well be done, the translator has tried to account for the repeated matter by reference to what has gone before, so as to show its necessity. On the other hand, care has been taken not to omit anything of importance to the preacher's train of thought; and it is hoped that this small volume fairly sets forth the substantial contents of Bossuet's twenty sermons on the Feasts of our Blessed Lady,

It may seem to many that another book on Devotion to our Blessed Lady is not needed as so many already exist. But different books suit different minds, and I have long wished to be able to put into the hands of English readers Bossuet's learned, logical, and at the same time devout exposition of Catholic doctrine on our Lady's dignity, and on the relations which Almighty God has willed to establish between her and the members of the Mystical Body of her Divine Son. Bossuet's great ability and profound learning must command respect, and his readers cannot fail to be impressed with the authority with which his

Introduction. xi familiarity with the Holy Scriptures, and his wide knowledge of the writings of the eariy Fathers of the Church, enable him to speak.

Catholics, as well as non-Catholics, may need to have brought home to them that devotion to Mary is not merely a beautiful addition to Christian piety, but that it is essential to the full comprehension of the mystery of the Incarnation, as is shown by the action of the Council of Ephesus which not only decreed that the title of " Mother of God " was rightly given to Mary but condemned as heretics those who denied it.

Now the very foundation of Bossuet's teaching on the honour and love due to our Blessed Lady, is that her co-operation in the Incarnation formed an integral part of the merciful design of God for the redemption of man, and that " our love of our Divine Saviour is the unchangeable foundation of our devotion to the Blessed Virgin". In proof of these propositions Bossuet brings out so wonderfully the hidden meaning of the sacred words of Scripture, and supports his interpretation with so many quotations from the writings of the Fathers, that we are filled with admiration, and the hearts of simple Christians are dexii Introduction.

lighted to find how their instinctive love of Mary, and confidence in the power of her intercession, are in harmony with the dogmatic teaching of the Saints and Doctors of the Church in all ages.

To non-Catholics Bossuet's explanation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception will be most useful — that doctrine has been so persistently misunderstood, and often so persistently misrepresented, that Bossuet's clear and logical defence of it will be invaluable, and will impress them the more from the fact that it was written so long before the Vatican Council defined it as an article of faith.

From Bossuet's teaching we learn that, to quote Cardinal Manning's words, " the titles of honour given to Mary are not metaphors but truths — they express, not poetical or rhetorical ideas, but true and living relations between her and her Divine Son and between her and ourselves ".

I will conclude by again quoting Cardinal Manning, who warns Catholics "never to shrink from calling her that which God has made her; never to fear to seek her in those offices of grace with which God has invested her ". " May our Divine Lord," he continues, " pre-

Introduction. xiii serve us from giving way a hair's breadth, before the face of anti-Catholic censors, in the filial piety of our faith, or the childlike confidence of our devotion towards His Blessed Mother and our own."

WILLIAM T. GORDON,

Of the Oratory.