This Franciscan friar would tell his listeners in the middle of a sermon: "When you pray the Hail Mary alone without other prayers, with whom do you think you are speaking? You must know that when you 'hail' Mary, she immediately greets you! Don't think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many -- on the contrary she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you..."
He also prayed: "O Lady blessed by all and above all things, you are the honor and the preservation of the human race! You are rich in merits and power above every other creature. You are the Mother of God. You are the Mistress of the Universe and the Queen of the World. You are our advocate and the dispenser of all grace...You are a model to which the good look, the consolation of your devoted people, and the beginning of our salvation. Yes, we confess that our tongue is too weak to sing your praises and your greatness. But you, O most sweet Mother, in your kindness have mercy on our littleness and grant us the grace of being able to praise you more worthily in Paradise forever and ever! Amen."
I first read about him in a wonderful book called Mary Communes with the Saints by Raphael Brown. I highly recommend it!
(Photo taken in Whitefriars Church, Dublin, Eire)
