The Catholic scripturist, or, The plea of the Roman Catholics. Shewing the scriptures to hold the Roman faith in above forty of the chief controversies now under debate. No. 13

Abstract

Point XXXIX. That among the Saints it is Most Laudable to Pray to Our Lady: and of the Beads said to Her Honour.

1. As we are far from honouring our Lady more than her Son, because we know that all the grace she hath, and all her power in the court of heaven is wholly and entirely by her Son; so are we also far from equalizing any saint in grace or power to the most blessed Mother of God, who even before she was his mother, was by the archangel pronounced "full of grace" (Luke i. 28.) The highest saints in Heaven are only styled servants of God. But our Lady is truly styled God's mother. "Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me ?" (Luke i. 43.) In all well-ordered families, the power of the lord's mother incomparably exceeds the power of all his serVants. God, who Hath commanded us in a special commandment to honour our parents, cannot, without impiety, be thought not to yield a special honour to his mother. "All generations shall call her blessed : because he that is mighty hath done great things to her.'' (Luke i. 48.)

2. Two things chiefly concur to eminent sanctity: exterior advantages to improve ourselves in grace, and interior assistance of the Holy Ghost to make the best use of those advantages. Our Lady in the exterior occasions of improving herself in grace, had the greatest advantages that ever any creature had, even after she was declared " full of grace." She had our Saviour lodging in her womb nine months. And she knew who he was, and what graces he could bestow upon her, if she neglected not to beg them...[Excerpt]