MORE quotations are printed below from the Roman Catholic work, “Manual of Devotion to Good St. Anne.” Fearing that the reader may doubt the genuineness of the quotations we repeat that the book contains the indorsement of “E. A. Card. Taschereau, Archbishop of Quebec,” and is published by “General Printing Office, A. Coté & Co., Quebec,” and can be secured by addressing the publishers. Price 50 cents. The quotations are followed, as in last week’s article by scriptural comments. We have italicized some of the most prominent features in the couplets, but were all the points emphasized the larger portion of the matter would appear in italics.
To our Roman Catholic readers we say that the matter is not published for the purpose of ridiculing Catholics nor Catholic doctrines, but from love for the souls of Roman Catholics for whom Christ died; and with the hope of exalting in their minds the Lord Jesus Christ to the place he occupies by the will and word of God, which place, by the teaching of this book, is given to “St. Anne.”
“O GOOD Jesus, be compassionate to the faithful servants of thy grandmother St. Anne, show them thy mercy, and for love of her extend to them a helping hand in all their necessities. O Mary, Mother of God, vouchsafe always to protect those who pay homage to thy blessed mother and serve her with a devout heart.” P. 362.
“Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak to Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” Matthew 12:47-50.
“O WISE and potent Mother, who hast so much power and merit before God and who reignest in glory with the Queen of Paradise, thy blessed Daughter Mary, never let thy heart forget my needs. I am indeed thy unworthy servant, but I treasure in my soul the thought that my devotedness to serve thee will be the pledge of my salvation.” Pp. 364, 365.
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:15, 16. “Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” not through St. Anne.
“O SWEET advocate, present thyself for me before the throne of divine Majesty that by thy meditation I may obtain pardon of the evil I have done, strength henceforth to overcome my passions, and grace to spend all my days in good works.” P. 365.
“No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5.
“BLESSED was the womb that bore thee, O Mary! Blessed was she who had the happiness of carrying thee in her arms and watching over thy slumbers! P. 65.
“And it came to pass as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and kept it.” Luke 11:27, 28.
“HAIL, blessed Root, whence sprang the beautiful flower and delicious fruit which which have consoled and rejoiced both heaven and earth. Even the most hardened souls obtain grace and pardon when they invoke thee with confidence, the saddest hearts are consoled by thee, if they have recourse to thee in their sorrow.” P. 369.
“Come now let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. “And I will give them, one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I [not “St. Anne’] will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.” [291] Ezekiel 11:19. “Surely he [not “St. Anne”] hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Isaiah 53:4. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, [not to “St. Anne”], that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, 16.
“HOLY Mother St. Anne, by that great power which God hath given unto thee, show thyself my mother my consoler, and my advocate, reconcile me to God whom I have so deeply offended.” P. 370.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son [not by “Mother St. Anne”], much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:8-10.
“HOLY Mother St. Anne, by that great power which God has given unto thee, … console me in my trials.” P. 370.
“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:5. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself [not “St. Anne”], and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17.
“STRENGTHEN me in all my combats; aid me in my day of need.” P. 370.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” Psalm 146:3.
“AID me in my day of need.” P. 370.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace [not to “Mother Anne”], that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
“DELIVER me from all danger.” P. 370.
“Call upon me [not on “St. Anne”] in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” [not “Grandmother Anne”]. Psalm 50:15.
“HELP me at the hour of deasth and open to me the doors of Paradise. Amen.” P. 370.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou [not “St. Anne”] art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:7-9.
“HOLY Mother Anne, make peace for me with my Lord and my God whom I have offended.” P. 376.
“Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” [not through “St. Anne.”] Romans 5:1.
“MY heart, alas, my inclinations and my will are attached to vanity, to the world and to sensuality. This great love which God bears towards me, the many benefits He has bestowed upon me, neither touch, nor rouse me from my guilty sloth. [God’s infinite power and love being too weak (?) the Romanist has recourse to “St. Anne.”] Good St. Anne, change these unholy dispositions.” Pp. 379, 380.
“Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32.
“MY dear Mother St. Anne, I have unbounded confidence in thy prayers; I place in thy blessed hands my soul, my body, and all my hopes, both in this world and in the world to come.” P. 383.
“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146:3-5. “Should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead?” Isaiah 8:19, (R.V.) “Mother Anne,” if such a person ever lived (the Scripture does not give the name of Mary’s mother) is dead, but the Lord Jesus Christ “ever liveth” to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25.
“HONOR,” “Praise, thanksgiving, glory, and love to my powerful and beloved St. Anne!” “forever.” Pp. 104, 325, 392.
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:11-13. [291]