The Glories Of Mary
by ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
DEVOTION IV. OF FASTING.
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MANY servants of Mary , on Saturdays and
the vigils of her feast, are accustomed to honor
her by fasting on bread and water. It is well
known that Saturday is a day dedicated by the
holy Church to the honor of the Virgin, because
on this day, says St. Bernard, she remained constant in the faith after the death of her Son.
For this reason the servants of Mary never fail on
this day to offer her some special homage ; and
particularly the fast on bread and water, as St.
Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Toledo, and so many
others practised it. Rittard, Bishop of Bamberg,
and Father Joseph Arriaga, of the Society of
Jesus, did not even taste food on Saturday. The
great graces which the mother of God afterwards bestowed upon those who practised this
devotion, may be read in the writings of Father
Auriemma. It is sufficient for us to mention the
compassion which she showed to that bandit
chief, who on account of this devotion, was permitted to remain alive, although his head had
been cut off, and although he was under the displeasure of God, and was enabled to make his
confession before dying. He afterwards declared that the holy virgin, for this fasting which
he had offered her, had preserved him in life, and
he then suddenly expired. It would not then
be a very extraordinary thing, if any one, especially devoted to Mary, and particularly if he
had already deserved hell, should offer to her
this fast on Saturday. He who practises this
devotion, I may say, will hardly be condemned ;
not that our Lady will deliver him by a miracle
if he dies in mortal sin, as happened to the bandit; such prodigies of divine mercy seldom take
place, and it would be madness to expect eternal
salvation by them. But I do say that the divine
mother will readily obtain perseverance in divine grace and a good death for him who will
practise this devotion. All the brothers of our
little congregation who can do so, fast on bread
and water on Saturday, in honor of Mary. I say
those who can do so, meaning, that if any one is
prevented from doing so on account of ill health,
at least on Saturday, he may content himself
with one dish, make a common fast, or at least
abstain from fruits or other agreeable food. It
is necessary on Saturday to offer special devotions to our Lady, to receive communion, or, at
least, hear mass, visit some image of the Virgin,
wear hair-cloth, and the like. And at least on
the vigils of the seven feasts of Mary, let her servants endeavor to offer this fasting on bread, or
in any other manner they are able.
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