"I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on mount Sion." Ecclesiasticus, 24:17.

Every year for over fourteen centuries the town of Salency, France, has given to some girl the honor of being queen. Once every year some young lady is chosen as a model for the village because of her virtue. Our "queen for a day" programs on the radio are nothing new.

On a particular day the winner, the one chosen, is led to the church by the chief magistrate of the village to hear Mass. In the afternoon she is attended by twelve young girls dressed in white, and escorted by twelve young men of the neighborhood. The procession marches into church where a colorful ceremony is conducted. A crown is placed upon the head of this maiden chosen for her goodness. She is given a silver ring and a blue ribbon, which are souvenirs of King Louis XIII, who once took part in this annual festival.

Suppose that this contest were world-wide and history-wide. Suppose that from all the young women of all times and all places, one was to be chosen who would be a model of virtue. No doubt that choice would rest upon the simple, humble, but virtuous maiden by the name of Mary. She was outstanding in virtue. She was outstanding in goodness. For that reason the Catholic Church honors Mary as the Queen of All Saints on May 31. This title is of interest to every one of us, because being a saint is our principal task.

1. Every single one of us has been called to a life of holiness, has been called to be a saint. That is the end and purpose for which God created you and me. God has made us that we might know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, in order to be happy with Him forever in the world to come. That is why we are on this earth. If we fulfill that purpose we will be saints.

But there was one who in the highest degree fulfilled that purpose, and that was our Blessed Mother. She knew God. She even lived with God day after day in the intimacy of the relationship between Mother and Son. The Almighty poured into her mind and heart the knowledge of heavenly things. By prayer, by spiritual thought Mary came to know God. Furthermore, Mary loved God. She not only loved Him as a human being, as her own Child, as her own Flesh and Blood, but Mary loved her Child as God. She also loved the heavenly Father. Likewise, she loved the Holy Spirit. And Mary served God. Not once did she refuse to do what God had asked of her and what God had inspired her to perform. Her service of God was complete.

It was life-long. It was true and sincere. In that sense Mary fulfilled in the highest way the purpose of life—to know, love and serve God. For that reason she is called the Queen of All Saints, the Queen of all those who tried in heroic ways to know, love, and serve God.

2. We call Mary the Queen of All Saints for another reason. Every saint had certain virtues to a high degree. Many of the saints had many virtues, but not one had all the virtues in a high degree. St. Francis of Assisi had the spirit of poverty, but it was not to be compared to the poverty of spirit of our Blessed Mother. Some saints were known for their purity, but Mary was purity personified. Others were outstanding for their obedience, but Mary was the obedient daughter of God in the highest way. We have saints known for their zeal, their charity, their patience, their generosity. But every one of these virtues Mary had in the highest degree. Hence we call her Queen of All Saints.

3. We give Mary that title in the sense and for the reason that she helped the saints to become holy. In the life of every hero and heroine of God you will find a deep, tender, devotion to the Queen of all holiness. No matter what other devotions the saint may have had he or she was devoted to the Mother of God. Learned and unlearned, they loved our Blessed Mother. Affection for her is a mark of sanctity.

4. We give her this title because Mary obtained for the holy people of all times, the graces which made them pleasing to God, just as at the marriage feast of Cana Mary requested and obtained from her Son a miracle. In dispensing His graces Christ does so at the bequest and request of His Blessed Mother. We can call Mary the Queen of All Saints in the sense that she obtained God's help for them to lead virtuous and pious lives.

5. Mary is the Queen of all those who enjoy the glory of heaven. There are different degrees in that glory. Some saints are greater than others. The Mother of God stands out above them all. Let me quote St. Bonaventure on this point: "As the Blessed Virgin surpasses all saints in the grace of a virtuous life and merit, so she stands higher than all the elect in the grace of glory and reward."

Yes, Mary is the Queen of those who have led saintly lives. She is the Queen of those who are leading saintly lives, and she is the Queen of those who are already crowned with the glory of heaven. We should appeal to her on this feast of Mary, Queen of All Saints. We should ask her to help us love her, to help us imitate her, to help us honor and appreciate her.

The people of the little town of Salency, France, yearly honor some young lady because of her virtue. So too every year on this feast the citizens of God's Church honor the one who stood above all men and all women in virtue and grace. Amen.
Source:  Feasts of Our Lady, Imprimatur 1951

After our love and devotion to Our Lord Jesus Christ must surely come our love and devotion to His most holy Mother, the blessed Virgin Mary. She is not only His Mother, but our Mother, and she loves and cares for her weak and sinful children. . . . .

She is never tired of loving us and praying for us; however weak or sinful we have been, we know that her Mother's heart is always ready to welcome us, as soon as we are sorry and wish to do better. If we feel lonely and miserable, we know that we have always a Mother in heaven, to whom we may look for help and comfort; for she too has known sorrow and loneliness. Her only Son died upon the cross to save us, and yet she loves us and calls us her children.

What an example to us, who find it so hard to forgive any one who has offended us, even in some small thing ! When we say the litany of Our Lady we call her by many names of love and respect. Sometimes little children find it hard to understand what some of these names mean.

The first and most beautiful title we can give to the Blessed Virgin is that of Mother--
"Mother of Christ," "Mother of divine Grace." We call Our Lady that name, for, as Jesus is the source or fountain of grace, all grace flows from Him, and, through Him, from His holy Mother. " Mother most pure," " most chaste," " inviolate," " undefiled." All these words mean that Our Lady is absolutely spotless; not even the stain of original sin ever touched her for a single minute. "Mother most amiable," that is, most loving and most worthy of love ; "most admirable," the being whom we admire above all others. " Virgin most venerable," that is, whom we venerate or respect; "Virgin most renowned," that is, most great, most famous; for what Christian is there in the whole world who does not know of Our Lady's greatness?
"Mirror of Justice," which means the very mirror or reflection of truth and justice; "Seat of Wisdom," for was not Our Lady taught by God Himself, the fount of all wisdom? " Spiritual Vessel," " Vessel of Honor," " Singular Vessel of Devotion "—all these titles mean that Our Lady was like a precious vessel, or vase, filled with honor and devotion. " Mystical Rose." As the rose is the queen of flowers, so is Our Lady the Queen of all women. " Tower of David." Our Lady was of the house, or family, of King David. " Tower of Ivory," for ivory is pure white, as is the soul of the Blessed Virgin. " House of Gold," for gold is. the most precious of all metals, as our Mother is the most precious of all creatures. "Ark of the Covenant." The stone tables on which God wrote His law, or covenant, with His people, were the most precious and cherished treasures of the Jews; they kept them in an ark of pure gold, so that we speak of Our Lady as of the ark in which was held our greatest treasure, Jesus Christ.

We like to use these titles, because when, in the Bible, the prophets spoke of Our Lady, telling how one day the Messias would be born of her, they gave her these names of praise. Then we call Our Lady the " Gate of Heaven," for how can we hope to pass into paradise unless our Mother pleads for us ? " Morning Star " is another name for her. When the shipwrecked sailor sees the star of morning gleaming before him, he knows that day is coming, bringing with it help and safety. In the same way, when our souls are shipwrecked and afraid, the thought that our Mother in heaven is always waiting to help us is like a star shining before us, bringing hope and -comfort. "Health of the Sick," " Refuge of Sinners," "Comforter of the Sorrowful." What lovely and what true names are these for our loving Mother! Then she is our Queen—Queen of angels, of saints, and of men. " Queen conceived without original sin " : for, as you know, Our Lady was born without even a stain of original sin; the devil never entered into her pure heart for one single minute. "Queen of the most holy Rosary," for we know that the Rosary is the form of prayer most pleasing to Our Lady. I am sure that you would like to hear more about the Rosary now that you know how pleasing it is to the Blessed Virgin, so I will tell you about it.
 
You all know what a rosary is like. At the end there is a crucifix; then one big bead, then three little ones. Then the rest of the rosary is divided into portions or decades, with one big bead and ten little ones in each. The rosary is made to represent a crown or chaplet of roses, which we offer to Our Lady. On the cross it is usual to say "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."  On the first big bead we recite the Creed, and on the three little ones three " Hail Marys." Then begin the five decades, for each of which one "Our Father " is said on the big bead, and one "Hail Mary " on each of the little ones. At the end of each decade is added the " Glory be to the Father." While we are saying the Rosary we try to meditate, that is, think about something that happened during the life of Christ or of the Blessed Virgin.

These meditations, or thoughts, are arranged in this way: The first five decades—that is, once round the rosary—are given up to joyful thoughts; those are the five " Joyful Mysteries" the " Annunciation," "Visitation," "Birth of Our Lord," "Presentation," and " Finding in the Temple." You see, all these things happened before the suffering part of Christ's life began, while He was still with His parents.

The next five decades—that is, the second time round the rosary—are called the five "Sorrowful Mysteries." While we say them we meditate on the Passion of Christ, His "Agony in the Garden," "Scourging at the Pillar," " Crowning with Thorns," "Carrying of the Cross," and "Crucifixion." Then begin the "Glorious Mysteries," the time after the death of Jesus, when His sufferings and His works were over : the "Resurrection," "Ascension," "Descent, or coming down, of the Holy Ghost," the "Assumption of Our Lady," and her "Coronation." You see, we speak of the "Ascension " of Our Lord and the " Assumption " of Our Lady. That is because Our Lord ascended or rose into heaven of His own power and will, while Our Lady, as creature, was assumed or raised up there. God sent His angels to fetch their Queen up to heaven to reign over them. If you think of all these things while you are saying the "Our Fathers" and "Hail Marys," you will be pleasing Our Lady very much, and you will also be learning to meditate.

All over the world Catholics love to honor Our Lady, and especially to honor her by reciting her favorite prayer, the "Hail Mary." In another part of this book you will read why the Blessed Virgin loves this prayer so much. During the month of October the Holy Father—that is, the Pope—has ordered that five mysteries be said in every church, and he has promised special indulgences to all who take part in this devotion.

In every country one month is specially devoted or given up to prayer for some special intention. We are not obliged to choose any particular order of intention, but I will give you one which many people like to use. January, in honor of the Sacred Infancy; February, the Holy Family; March, St. Joseph; April, the Passion of Our Lord; May, the Blessed Virgin; June, the Sacred Heart; July, the the Precious Blood; August, the Holy Ghost; September, the Immaculate Heart of Mary; October, the Holy Angels; November, the Souls in Purgatory; December, Advent.

In the same way the days of the week can be given to some devotion: Sunday, the Blessed Trinity; Monday to the Holy Ghost and the Souls in Purgatory; Tuesday, the Holy Angels; Wednesday, St. Joseph; Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament; Friday, the Sacred Heart; and Saturday, the Virgin Mary.

When we wish to honor the sorrows of Our Lady, we speak to her of the seven dolors or sufferings which she endured upon earth, and we thank her for suffering them so patiently, and because she loves us still, though we have made her suffer so cruelly.

The first dolor was the prophecy of Simeon. Do you remember how the holy prophet Simeon told Our Lady that her little Baby would die a cruel death to save men? What sorrow this must have caused the poor loving Mother!

The second dolor was the flight into Egypt, when Our Lady was obliged to leave her happy home to fly into Egypt with her little Child, to save Him from Herod.

The third dolor was when Our Lady sought her Son for three days. Do you remember how at last she found Him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors?

The fourth suffering of Our Lady was when she met Jesus carrying His cross on the way to Calvary; she saw Him suffering, and she could not help Him.

Then she saw Him die. That fifth dolor must almost have been the worst of all. Our Lady must have felt so sad and lonely when she knew that her Son was dead, and could never be with her again upon earth.

When the soldier had pierced the Heart of Jesus with a lance, and St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His sacred body down from the cross, a sword of sorrow, the sixth dolor, pierced the heart of His Mother, who stood by the cross to the last.

The seventh sorrow came to Our Lady when she saw the body of her Son laid in the tomb, and hidden from sight. She could no longer watch by Him, but was obliged to return to her desolate home.

It is comforting to think of Mary's joy when her divine Son rose from the dead, and she saw Him again in all His glory and happiness. For long years she lived a life of prayer and good works; then, when the time had come, she gave up her spotless soul to God, and the third day after her death He sent His angels to carry her body up to heaven to reign there as Queen forever and ever.

Another very good way in which we can honor the sufferings of Jesus and Mary is by making what is called the "Stations of the Cross." You will see the pictures for them in every church; the Pope has promised many indulgences to all who take part in this devotion.

The first station is when Jesus is condemned to death. We try to think ourselves standing with Jesus before Pilate; we mourn over His sufferings, and beg Him to forgive the part we have taken in causing them. While we are thinking, we say one "Our Father," one "Hail Mary," and one "Glory be to the Father."

In the second station we follow Our Lord, as it were, on His road to Calvary; we see His patience as He carries His heavy cross, and we say the same prayers as before.

Then, at the third station, Jesus falls for the first time under the weight of His cross; we remember that it was our sins that caused Him to carry that cross, and we promise to try to sin no more.

Then we watch Jesus as He meets His holy Mother; we mourn for the dreadful grief of those two loving hearts. How many times have we, by our sinfulness, caused grief to Jesus and Mary!

At last Jesus grows too weak to support the weight of His cross. The cruel executioners seize Simon of Cyrene, and force him to help Jesus. At first his heart is hard, but soon it melts with compassion, and Simon loves Jesus. We, too, can help Our Saviour to carry His cross if we will forget ourselves, and do only God's will.

A woman, moved with pity, comes forward, in spite of the mockery of the guards, and wipes the face of Jesus. Let us pray that we, like Veronica, may have the courage all our lives to follow Jesus, in spite of the difficulties and temptations.

Although Simon of Cyrene does all he can to help Our Saviour, Jesus falls a second time; the cruel soldiers drag Him up with blows and insults. Let us try, by our love and devotion, to make reparation to Our Lord for the insults He receives from men.

Some holy women in the crowd that watches Jesus are touched by His patience and the sight of His sufferings; they weep for Him. But Jesus is not thinking of Himself, He comforts the sorrowing women. Should not this teach us to think less of ourselves and our little troubles, and more of those around us and their troubles?

For the third time Jesus falls, but still He is patient and does not complain. Let this thought comfort us if, time after time, we fall into sin. Jesus will be patient with us.

At last Our Lord has reached Calvary. His executioners strip Him of His clothes. Let us strip ourselves of our pride, and of the false shame which would prevent us from owning ourselves the servants of Christ.

Jesus is nailed to the cross for our sins. Shall we not beg His forgiveness again and again, and resolve to be faithful to Him who suffered so much for us? When the cross on which the body of Christ has been nailed is raised before us, let us kneel and worship Our Saviour. At least we can promise to do some little act of mortification, and lay any suffering
we may have to endure at His feet.

And now the sufferings of Christ are over. St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus tenderly and reverently take His sacred body down from thecross, and lay it in the arms of the Blessed Virgin. Let us pray that we, too, may be received in the arms of Mary, our Mother, and the Mother of God.

Jesus is laid in the sepulchre. He has died for our sins; at least we will be grateful to Him, and not wound His Heart again by our negligence and want of love.
Source:  Catholic Teaching for Children, Imprimatur 1898

A coloring picture of Our Lady can be found below.

    As you can see above is a picture.  Whose picture is it? Our Lady's  . . . . Yes.  Does anyone know what special name is given to the picture? It is called the picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
    Today I am going to tell you a legend or story about the things that are seen in his picture.  Look closely at the picture which you see above and follow me as we go along.  The first thing we look at is the writing.  Over our Lady's right shoulder you see some Greek letters.  Those letters stand for Mother of God.  By our Lord's head you see some more letters, those stand for Jesus Christ.  Above the angels' heads are their names.  On the left of our Lady is the Archangel Gabriel.  On her right the Archangel Michael.  Now look at the Infant and tell me what you see?  Is He smiling? No.  Does he seem to be upset about something? Yes, Is there anything the matter with His sandals?  That's it . . . one of them is hanging loose. If you look very closely  again, you will see why He is upset.  And so would you be.  Have you got it yet?  Look at what the angels are carrying in their hands.  Gabriel has the cross and nails of the passion.  Michael has the reed, sponge, and spear.  Now do you know why he is distressed? This then is what the picture means.  The angels, Gabriel and Michael, appeared to the Infant Saviour and showed Him the things He was to suffer.  Although He was God and afraid of nothing, in His human nature He was but a child, smaller in this picture than some of you.  Christ knew all His life that He was going to suffer and the thought of it haunted Him.  The Infant in the picture recoils from pain just as did Christ in the garden, when he said, "Father, if Thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me."  The Child then did what you would do.   He ran to His Mother.  He ran so quickly that when Mary bent to pick Him up, one of his sandals came loose.  Just one more point.  Mary in the picture is not looking at her Child.  Her had is turned toward Him just a little.  She is looking straight at us as if to say, "See how He clutches my hand in His?  So must you.  Run to me always and I will shield you from all evil now and at the hour of your death."  
                                                                                     ~ Heavenwords, Imprimatur 1941 ~

A coloring picture for the children can be found below.

The young man shall dwell with the virgin, and the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride. (Isaias Ixii. 5.)
1. Mary, the unspotted spouse of Joseph, learned by degrees how her marriage was a part of God's wonderful designs regarding her. If she had become a mother in an unmarried state, the world would naturally have regarded her as guilty of sin. The Jews, unable to understand so wonderful a mystery, would have pointed the finger of scorn at her. Thus God always guards the good name of those who are true to Him.
2. Mary, too, needed a protector. She was very young; she was to be exposed to many a hardship, to journey afar, to dwell in a strange land. How could the tender, youthful Mother have passed through all these vicissitudes without the guardianship of Joseph's love? How thoughtfully God provides for the welfare of those who commit themselves to Him!
3. Mary, moreover, needed one who would provide for her maintenance. Her wants were few, she loved poverty, but how could she have provided food and clothing for herself and her divine Son? To Joseph she was entrusted that he might by his labor earn what was necessary for their support. How generously God supplies all the wants of those who trust in Him!

                                                  Dear St. Joseph, be near us when we die!
                                   When the treasures of God were unsheltered on earth,
                                     Safe-keeping was found for them both in thy worth;
                                                        O father of Jesus, be father to me,
                                          Sweet spouse of Our Lady, and I will love thee.
                                                                Source:  The Catholic Girl's Guide, Imprimatur 1905
A coloring picture can be found below.

Our Lady's soul was so united to God that never in all her life was she separated from Him. She was in constant prayer. In remembering this, however, we must not suppose that she simply sat quietly in a corner praying all the time. Pray she certainly did, but her work was an overflowing of her prayer and proceeded directly from it.

In the first place Mary had her ordinary work to do, work that women have never liked very much—washing, cooking, carrying water, spinning, weaving, sewing. No one but a princess could afford to hire others to do her work, and Our Lady, although she was Queen of heaven, lived on earth in very moderate circumstances. At the temple she had definite work to do, and as the wife of Joseph the carpenter she would have little time to be idle. It could have been arranged otherwise, of course, had God so wished. But perhaps because of all the tired homemakers who would one day look to Mary as their model, her work was of the same unexciting type that woman's work has always been. In doing it faithfully, day after day, she gave us the perfect example of the use of circumstances as a help to sanctity. She made untrue for all time the lazy little argument that "I can't be a saint. Nothing important ever happens to me!"

The difference between Mary's tasks and ours lies in the way they were performed: something-done-for love, or something-done-because-I-can't-get-out-of-it. Mary's works grew out of her love, of which she had a fullness. Almost all that the Gospel has to say about her reveals her love of God in action, in her consideration for others. At Cana she was to intercede for an embarrassed young couple and save their wedding feast from collapse by a miracle performed at her request. Saint Luke records what is an even more striking incident of her loving works in the Visitation.

The angel was hardly gone from the little house at Nazareth when she went "with haste" to see her cousin Elizabeth. Her reason for going was pure charity. She knew the great miracle that was accomplished in her: that she was the Mother of God. She had studied the Scriptures well and knew the prophecies relating to the Messiah. "He who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders," she was to tell Elizabeth. She knew that this was a great distinction. If her friends and relatives had known of the angel's message, they would have honored and praised and envied her for being so chosen. Every Jewish girl for thousands of years had hoped to be the one so distinguished. As Mother of God, Mary was entitled to greater honor than any other woman on earth, "Behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed. . ." She should not be expected to make the long hard trip across the hill country of Judea; one does not expect persons of great rank to go out of their way for someone of lesser rank. But Mary knew that her visit would bring joy to Elizabeth. Her own heart was all but breaking with the joy of the angel's message. She simply had to share it. Down through the centuries yet to be, zealous missionaries whose hearts were overfull of love for her Son would hasten to far shores to spill into waiting hearts the joy of the Redemption. The feast of the Visitation was to be especially for them, the feast of the sharing of joy.

The human heart can only hold just so much of joy or sorrow, and after it is full the contents spill over into the lives of those around it. We are not made stony  selfish creatures, sufficient unto ourselves and completely lacking in responsibility to our fellow beings. We are sharers in the sorrows of this life, "mourning and weeping in this valley of tears." If we are faithful we shall also be sharers in the happiness of the life to come. Our Lord was very clear in His statements regarding love for the neighbor; it was to come first after our love of God, on a level with our love for ourselves.

Mary shows in the Visitation that she placed her love in that relationship. She was the first of countless thousands whose eager feet could hardly wait to carry the joyful tidings of the Redemption to someone who awaited His coming. She was the first Christopher, the first Christ-bearer, the first to share from a full heart the joy that is Christ. Following her hastening feet on that errand of charity, missionaries to the end of time will bear the Light of the world to nations that sit "in darkness and the shadow of death." She was the first missionary, so pure and so loving and so beautiful that youth will always be inspired to follow in her footsteps. We too are Christ-bearers in a dark world. As members of His Mystical Body, we have somewhat the relationship to the Light of the world that electric wires have to the central power-plant: we do not make the light; we carry it into dark places. As frequent communicants we have the obligation of bringing Him into the lives of those around us.

"You are the light of the world," He told His apostles. The sentence is addressed to us too. Our paths may not lie to the Orient nor into the heart of the Congo, where peoples have never heard of Christ. "We know, with a little reflection, that there are many among our daily associates who would profit by contact with Him. Perhaps we shall be asked on Judgment Day why we did not bring Him into their lives. We cannot rest content with what we have, a Faith to which perhaps we were born and which we have come to take for granted. Faith must be lived or lost: Christ must be shared if we would have Him ourselves. Our Communions are not finished when we have said our thanksgiving prayers. As we go from the church to our daily tasks, Christ must go with us as He went with Mary, so that people will know (as Elizabeth knew, without being told) that Christ is there. Preaching at people can never be the answer to our obligation of sharing Christ: we must manifest Him in deeds as Mary did.

It is true that if we do not possess anything, we have nothing to share. To enkindle others with love of God, we must ourselves be aflame. To share with others the joy of Christ, we must possess Him ourselves. Only when He reigns in our souls can we hope to give to this joyless world any reflection of the happiness that is His, and to follow in Mary's office of the bringing of joy. Cause of our joy, pray for us!
Source: Our Lady's Feasts, Imprimatur 1945

A coloring picture can be found below.

Mary, thy heart for love,
Alone had ever sigh'd;
So much it loved at length,
Of very love it died.
O happy, happy death;
If death indeed could be,
Blest Virgin, that sweet end
Which God bestowed on thee.

Tis in a sweet repose,
With smile of heavenly mirth,
Thou takest joyful flight
To paradise from earth:
And see! above the choirs
Of saints and angels bright,
God's Mother near her Son
Enthroned in dazzling light.

Come, then, to fetch thy child,
O Mary, Mother dear;
And tarry by my side
When my last hour is near.
Yes, this I hope from thee
Despise not my request
To yield my soul in peace
Upon my Mother's breast.

Source: The Catholic Girl's Guide, Imprimatur 1905
A coloring picture can be found below.

 "Now in those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town of Juda." St. Luke, 1:39.

In Bismarck, North Dakota, and in Portland, Oregon, there are statues of the same woman. She is an Indian. Both statues were erected in memory of one who helped a group of American explorers to find their way in the great Northwest.

It was the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. They came upon the home of a trapper named Touissant Charbonneau. They asked him to guide them on their journey west. The trapper answered:

"I'll do it if my wife and son go too."

The soldiers hesitated, because it was unusual, unheard of that a woman and child would go along on an expedition. But their need of a guide forced them to agree. The Indian woman bore all the hardships without complaint as she blazed a trail over the land which had been familiar to her as a girl, in the years before she had been captured by another tribe. Yet, even to her at times places were puzzling. There were streams that had changed their course, forests which had grown thicker. The path was covered with underbrush. The rations were getting low. Many of the expedition died and only twenty-nine remained after exhaustion and disease had killed the rest. Yet the Indian woman with her baby strapped to her back plunged on. One day, as they stopped to rest, they saw smoke signals. "Indians on the warpath," growled the weary men. Yes, Indians were coming as the white men held their fingers on the triggers of their guns. Suddenly the Indian woman rushed to the open, and in the presence of both groups she fell into the arms of the invading chief. It was her own brother. In a few days the expedition moved on into the Pacific Northwest.

It seems unbelievable that a woman could guide these rough frontiersmen in territory which they did not know, and yet this was done by an Indian woman, whose name, by the way, was Cacagawea, which means Birdwoman.

Like her, Mary, the Mother of God, is also a guide along the paths and highways of the world. In recent years there has developed a devotion to Mary as Our Lady of the Highway. How keenly we need a heavenly guide along the roads where death and serious accident wait at every turn. When we realize that in the last 14 years more people have been killed by automobiles on the highways than have been killed in all the wars of the United States, then we begin to appreciate the dangers of the highway. These are only the physical dangers.

In addition we have the moral, spiritual dangers along the highway to heaven. There is deep need for someone to guide us, someone who will be interested in us, someone who is powerful to protect and to direct. That someone is the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of the Highway. She knew what it meant to travel. She made seven special journeys.

1. Our Lady journeyed to visit her cousin, Elizabeth: "Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town of Juda. And she entered the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth... And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own house." St. Luke, 1:39 to 56. During that lengthy and dangerous trip Mary no doubt felt discomfort and experienced the fears of wild animals and robbers.

2. Her second journey was made at the time of Christ's birth. The Bible tells us how she and St. Joseph looked for a place to rest and lodge, but they were turned from every door. St. Luke also describes this: "And Joseph also went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea . . . to register, together with Mary his espoused wife." St. Luke, 2:4.

3. The third journey of our Blessed Mother was made at the Purification, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to offer Him to the Lord, and in order to make the customary offering.

4. The fourth journey of Mary was into Egypt, and what an uncomfortable, dreadful trip that was. In the middle of the night an angel told St. Joseph to take Mary and the Child into a strange land to avoid the sword of Herod.

5. St. Luke also tells us about Mary's fifth journey, made when Jesus was twelve years old. Although women and children were not bound to make this particular pilgrimage, Mary and Jesus went with Joseph.

6. Another notable trip was that taken by our Blessed Mother to Cana, where Christ worked His first public miracle at the marriage feast. It meant a sacrifice for Mary to accompany Jesus i n honoring this young couple on their wedding day.

7. Mary's seventh journey was that sorrowful one to Calvary. It was a bitter, heart-rending walk with her Son struggling beneath His cruel cross. Indeed, Mary is a patroness of travelers because she made these journeys. Accordingly, it is very appropriate that we honor her as Our Lady of the Highway. Furthermore, she is interested in every phase of our lives, especially in the end of life. She does not want our lives to end in a sudden, unprepared way as so often happens on the highway.

Devotion to Our Lady of the Highway is growing. As an aid to motorists and travelers in general a new medal has been struck under that title. It was designed by a Franciscan, the Rev. Giles Lawler, of Singac, New Jersey. On the medal we read these words, "LADY OF THE HIGHWAY, BE WITH US ON OUR JOURNEY FOR THY WAYS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ALL THY PATHS ARE PEACE." On the reverse side is the prayer:

"WE FLY TO THY PATRONAGE, O HOLY MOTHER OF GOD."

Ask Our Lady of the Highway on her feast May 24, to protect you and your loved ones and all other travelers from the material and moral dangers that beset the highways of life.                                                                                                                                                                 Amen.
A coloring picture can be found below.

              Lady, as thy name we ponder,
          Surely thou wilt hear our prayer;
            We are frail and apt to wander,
              And we need maternal care.

           We are wayward and unwary,
            Lightly do we faithless prove;
           Yet we are thy children, Mary,
           And we live in thy heart's love.

           If the world advise us wrongly,
                And we trust its siren lay,
          Lady of Good Counsel, strongly
                Right us, ere we go astray.

       When the ills of life have tried us,
            And we sorely need a friend,
         Lady of Good Counsel, guide us                         
              Safely, surely to our end.  
          
            So whatever need o'ertake us,
               Lady, still we look to thee.
          May thy counsel ever make us,
           Such as God would have us be.
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                        - Reverend Fredrick C. Kolbe -
A coloring picture can be found below.

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.

Triumph, all ye Cherubim, Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

Our life, our sweetness, here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye Cherubim, Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

To thee we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria!
To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye Cherubim, Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

Turn then most gracious Advocate, O Maria!
Toward us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye cherubim, Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

The cause of joy to men below, O Maria!
The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria!

Angels, all your praises bring, Earth and heaven, with us sing,
All creation echoing:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

A coloring picture can be found below.

In the sunny land of France, in fair Provence, there dwelt a little orphan girl, who the simple peasantry called Mary's own child, because she believed that all little ones who have no earthly mother's care are specially watched and shielded by the Blessed Virgin.

The girl grew up amidst the woods and fields; she learnt from no books, her only books were the pictured windows of the old church, which showed each mystery of her Blessed Mother's life, and there, day by day, the child knelt before the shrine of Our Lady, and at her feet would say her rosary.

Once it chanced that she was very weary; so weary that she threw herself upon her bed, forgetting all about her rosary as she fell into a heavy sleep.

But she was soon aroused by a wonderful light in the little room and a sweet perfume as the blossoms of numberless roses, whilst a lady stood close by her bed, so fair and beautiful, that the child felt sure she did not belong to earth, and by the twelve bright stars with which she was crowned, and by her blue mantle, she knew that it must be her Mother Mary.

Then the child knelt before her with folded hands and downcast eyes; she had seen that upon Our Lady's robe there were wreaths of roses in a beautiful pattern, but in one place it was not perfect, just a single rose was wanting!

But Mary's sweet soft voice addressed the girl: "My child," she said, "this rose-wreath, so fair and fragrant, is what your love has twined for me from day to day; but how is it that for once your work of love has been undone? How is it that you have forgotten to say my rosary today? Surely you will not be unfaithful.  There are so many in the world who forget me and forget my Son, but I cannot spare your love," and then the vision was gone, while the child bowed her head with shame, and large sorrowful tears trickled down her cheeks.

Never again was the rosary forgotten by the girl, day after day she said it, no matter how sorrowful or weary; but from that time she seemed drooping slowly, like a flower that fades in the garden it was as if that vision of her gentle Mother had been a glimpse of heaven and she could linger in the world no more.  So, very soon there was a small grave, which pilgrims to Our Lady's shrine go and visit, and are told that the child was laid there whom Mary herself taught to say her rosary.

Source:  Legends of the Saints, 1876
A coloring page for the children can be found below.