+JMJA+

"O Saviour of the world, O Love of souls, O Lord most lovely of all beings!

Thou by Thy Passion didst come to win to Thyself our hearts, by showing

us the immense love that Thou didst bear to us in accomplishing a

redemption which has brought to us a sea of benedictions, and which cost

Thee a sea of pains and ignominies. It was principally for this end that Thou

didst institute the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, in order that we might

have a perpetual memorial of Thy Passion: “That we might have forever a

perpetual memorial of so great a benefit,” says St. Thomas, “He gives his

body to be the food of the faithful,”4328 which St. Paul had already said. As

often as you shall eat this bread, you shall show the death of the Lord.4329

Oh, how many holy souls hast Thou persuaded by these prodigies of love,

consumed by the flames of Thy love, to renounce all earthly goods, in order

to dedicate themselves entirely to loving Thee alone, O most amiable

Saviour! O my Jesus! "

"MY most loving Redeemer and Lord Jesus Christ, I thy poor servant,

knowing how pleasing to thee are those who seek to glorify thy most holy

mother, whom thou lovest so much, and dost so much desire to see loved

and honored by all men, I propose to publish this book of mine which treats

of her glories. I know not to whom I could commend it but to thee, who

hast so much at heart the glory of this mother. To thee, then, I present and

dedicate it. Receive this little offering of my love for thee and thy beloved

mother. Take it under thy protection, and pour into the hearts of those who

read it the light of confidence in this immaculate Virgin, and the warmth of

a burning love for her, in whom thou hast placed the hope and refuge of all

the redeemed. And for the reward of this, my poor effort, give me, I pray

thee, that love for Mary with which I have desired to inflame, by this my

little work, the hearts of all those who read it."

Saint Alfonso Maria de Liguori