25235.10.5 APR 25 1888 LIBRARY Treat We approve of "The New Month of Mary," prepared by the Very Rev. Peter R. Kenrick, and recommend the devout exercises which it contains, as expressive of high veneration for the Ever-blessed Virgin Mother of God, and calculated to promote the imitation of her virtues. Given under our hand at Philadelphia, this 25th day of + FRANCIS PATRICK KENRICK, Bp. Arath. and Coadj. of Bp. Philadelphia. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by EUGENE CUMMISKEY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. C. W. MURRAY & CO. STEREOTYPERS, PHILADELPHIA. PREFACE. THL devotion of the faithful towards the Mother of God has inspired them to consecrate the month of May in a special manner to her honour. This pious practice originated in Italy; and the month of May was selected in preference to any other, from a wish to change a season of dissipation and amusement into one of instruction and devotion. From Italy it passed into France, and other countries of Europe, where it has been found productive of the most beneficial results. Within the last few years, it has been introduced into the United States, and has been practised by numbers of the faithful servants of Mary, who eagerly profit by this opportunity of testifying their love and gratitude to the Holy Mother of God, and of cultivating the virtues which would assimilate them to this perfect model of Christians. Several works have appeared in Italy and France, to aid the faithful in the practice of this devotion. The former have generally treated of the great moral truths of religion; while those published in France have more particularly considered the vir (iii) |