The Glories of the Holy Angels
Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
MOTIVE ELEVENTH
The Blessed Virgin is glorified by our Devotion to the Angels.
The increase of the glory of the admirable Mother of God is a motive not a little powerful with those who love her. We read that many persons, vicious in other respects, have been so touched with the honour of this blessed Mother, as to protest that they would willingly sacrifice their lives for it. Now, if rebellious souls were so zealous for the honour of this august Queen of the sweets of Paradise, with much more reason should pious souls be induced to labour in so holy a cause. We can never sufficiently honour her. According to the testimony of the great Saint Bridget of Hungary, the Angels, from the commencement of the world, conceived so warm a love and so pure a zeal for the interests of Mary, that they were more pleased that she should receive existence than that they themselves had been created.
How many persons, in imitation of these blessed Spirits, and by their powerful succour, have since preferred the interest of this blessed Virgin to their own interest—her honour to their own honour! I have known several who were willing to sacrifice their life a thousand times for her honour, and who would remain amid the fire and flames of Purgatory till the day of judgment, to preserve her the least degree of glory. There is nothing which a good heart would not be willing to do and suffer for this Holy Virgin; all would appear little to it when done for her who deserved to be the Mother of God. This it is which persuades me that the motive of her glory will induce men to be devout to the Angels.
Being mistress general of the celestial host, the Angels are the soldiers of her who alone “is terrible as an enemy set in battle array.” They have vigorously combatted for her glory from the beginning, opposing themselves against Lucifer and his adherents, who refused to submit to her dominion, when God had revealed to them that she would one day become their Queen. Being the august Empress of Paradise, the Angels are her subjects, and consider it a great honour to be obedient to her laws. As lady or mistress of the Angels, these pure spirits are her servants, and so faithful that they fly at the least intimation of her will. According to the opinion of Theologians, Mary is mother of the Angels, and the friend of these holy Spirits—for the Spouse in the Canticles says to her, “speak, my beloved, for the friends hear” and these friends are the Angels.
Now, do not all these titles, which connect Mary with the Angels, show that her glory is concerned in their veneration? The servants, subjects, and soldiers of so great a Queen, have all manner of claims on our homage and devotion. Let us then praise and bless the holy Angels, because this most pure Virgin, our amiable Mother, is praised and blessed in them and by them) but let us, above all, praise that Lord, who has operated all that is good or great in our Lady of the Angels and the Angels themselves—God alone! God alone! God alone!
