of grace we do so through Mary, honoring God by honoring His Mother, imitating Him by exalting her, touching the most responsive chord in the sacred heart of Christ with the sweet name of Mary. For who of you does not remember his childhood days and the boyish ruse by which you secured favors from your earthly father? Did you go to him boldly and demand the desired pocket-money? No; for there was about him a stern dignity that overawed. But freely and confidently you went to your good mother to present your petition, and you saw your father smile with pleasure, and your mother returning to you radiant, with double the amount. Brethren, it was not without reason that Our Lord pointing to a little boy said to His Apostles: " To be My disciples you must become as one of these," for the nearer our devotions come to the simple and loving methods of a child, the more perfect they are. Such, I say, is the devotion of the Rosary. Nor do we pay to the mere beads and wire any superstitious worship or attribute to them any magic power, but we cherish the beads as a gift from Mary herself, as an article consecrated to devotion by the blessing of God's minister, as a blessed chain that constantly leads back our wandering thoughts to God and holy things. We repeat the same prayer over and over again just as a child will repeat and repeat and repeat again his question or request till it be granted. True, prayer does not consist in much speaking, says Christ; that is, not long and eloquent discourses, but a short simple request perseveringly repeated. The
