8. Of the Third Method

THERE is a third method that perfects us in Virtue and adorns us with the attire of a holy life. It comprises three ways of exercising the Soul : to Thank, to Praise, and to Bless God. Certainly we ought to thank, praise, and bless God, first because He has created Heaven

Love's Gradatory and Earth and all that in them is for His Glory and our happiness, and He has made man in His image and likeness, setting him over all that is in the world. Then, when our first father according to Nature fell into sin by disobedience, dragging us down with him, our Eternal and Almighty Father willed to efface our sin by His Grace, and gave us His own Son, Who has borne our burden, humbly placing Himself at our service, teaching us the way of Truth by the example of His own life, obedient unto Death, in order that we may live with Him ever lastingly in Eternal Glory. It is therefore but just to thank, praise, and bless our Heavenly Father and His glorious Son

Love's Gradatory with the Holy Spirit, for having brought about these wonders through love of us. We should, furthermore, praise and bless our most dear Lord Jesus Christ in the Glory of the Father for having given us His Sacred Flesh and Blood and glorified Life in the Most Holy Sacrament. There we find most truly nourishment, beverage, eternal Life, and all that we can desire, in greater abundance than we can ever wish. In return, we can offer to the Father His Son, wounded, martyrized, and put to death for love of us ; and that in union with all sacrifices ever offered in His Name by holy priests, at the same time doing homage to the Divine Majesty, of all works accomplished for

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His service by the Just and the Faithful from the first day to the last.

We can thank and praise our Lord Jesus Christ yet more for the greatness of Mary, His most dear Mother, whom He chose as such from the entire earth. He deigned, indeed, to be conceived of her by the Holy Ghost, to be born of her without stain or suffering, Mother and Virgin both together, and to be nourished at her chaste breasts. The Angels sang, "Glory in Heaven " while He wept in the crib, before His Mother adoring Him as her God and as her Son. She tended Him with great respect, and He on His part treated her as a tender child His most dear Mother.

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She could pray to Him as God, and yet command Him as her Son. Never was such a wonder known.

As to the greatness of Mary in Virtue and Holiness of life, none can describe or express it ; of profound Humility, high Purity, large and abundant Charity, she is still full of Mercy for sinners who invoke her ; she is the Mother of every Grace and all Favours, our ad vocate and mediatrix with her Son. He can refuse her nothing that she asks, because she is His Mother, sitting at His right hand, crowned as Queen with Him, sovereign Lady of Heaven and earth, highest of all creatures and nearest to Him, and so we thank and praise Him for the

Love's Gradatory honour He has done His Mother and all of us in His human nature, since ingratitude dries the source of Graces from God. To thank, praise, and honour God is the very first work prac tised by creatures, and thus it will be for ever. It began in Heaven when the Archangel St. Michael fought with his Angels against Lucifer and his Angels for possession of Paradise, and Lucifer, vanquished with all his host, fell from the heights like lightning as a burning flame ; for whoso exalts himself shall be humbled. Then rejoiced all the Choirs, Orders, and powerful Dominions of Heaven ; the highest Angel amid the Seraphim sang the eternal Praise of God, joined by

Love's Gradatory all the celestial choir, giving thanks to God for the victory, adoring and praising Him be cause He is their God, loving and rejoicing in Him everlastingly, to His great Glory.