The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 229the Blessed Virgin on society, on the family, and onthe individual.The Mother of Jesus exercises throughout theChristian commonwealth that hallowing influencewhich a good mother wields over the Christian family.What temple or chapel, how rude soever itmaybe, is not adorned with a painting or a statue of theMadonna ? What house is not embellished with animage of Mary What ? Catholic child is a strangerto her familiar face?The priest and the layman, the scholar and theilliterate, the prince and the peasant, the motherand the maid, acknowledge her benign sway.And if Christianity is so fruitful in comparisonwith paganism, in conjugal fidelity, in female purity,and in the respect which ispaid to womanhood,these blessings are in no small measure due to theforce of Mary s all-pervading influence and example.Ever since the Son of God chose a woman to be Hismother, man looks up to woman with a homage akinto veneration.The poet Longfellow pays the following tribute toMary s sanctifying influence :"This is indeed the blessed Mary s land,Virgin and Mother of our dear Redeemer!All hearts are touched and softened at her name;Alike the bandit with the bloody hand,The priest, the prince, the scholar and the peasant,The man of deeds, the visionary dreamer,Pay homage to her as one ever present !20