"Suddenly a rumor is circulated throughout the Holy City, a rumor that consoles all Christian hearts, he who blasphemed yesterday, who this morning even ridiculed the friends of God, has become a disciple of Christ; celestial grace has touched his lips, he utters now only words of benediction and sweetness, the most vivid lights of the evangelical law seem to beam from his eyes; we may say that a celestial unction has taught him all things. Whence does he receive this enlightenment of the eyes of the heart, that heart which sees all, which has understood all? O God! Thou art good, infinitely good, and I love to repeat those sweet words, so lately on the blessed lips of him, whose memory is henceforth ineffaceably impressed upon our hearts. We wept over him a few days ago, we still regret him, but we have dried our tears. 'Yes, Thou art good, and the children of men have truly called Thee the good God!' (Last words of M. de La Ferronays.) Thou dost set aside the laws of nature, Thou dost account nothing too much to save Thy children! When Thou dost not come Thyself, Thou dost send Thy angels!... O God! shall I here relate all? I ought to enjoin reserve upon my speech.... But who is she? _Quæ est ista?_ I cannot say the word, and yet I cannot be silent. "Hail Mary! You are full of grace; _Ave, gratia plena_, and from the plentitude of your maternal heart, you love to bestow your gifts upon us. The Lord is with you, _Dominus tecum_, and it is through you He is pleased to descend to us! And now to praise you worthily, I must borrow the images of Heaven or speak the inflamed language of the prophets! For, O Mary! your name is sweeter than the purest joys, more delightful than the most exquisite perfumes, more charming than the harmony of angels, _in corde jubilus_; more refreshing to the faithful heart than honeycomb to the wearied traveler, _mel in lingua_; more encouraging and cheering to the guilty but repentant heart than the evening dew to the leaves parched and shriveled by the mid-day sun, _ros in herba_. You are beautiful as the orb of night, _pulchra ut luna_; you, who guide the bewildered traveler; you are brilliant as the aurora, _aurora consurgens_; fair and pure as the morning star, _stella matutina_; and it is you who precede the dawn of the Sun of Justice in our hearts.