There is one kind of diamond which has this special property--that nothing can diminish its fine water or the brilliancy which nature has given it. The Heart of the Virgin Mother, like this diamond, never ceased to glow with the sacred fire of love that she had received from her Divine Son. However, though the brilliancy of precious stones does not diminish, yet it does not increase; whilst the love of the Most Holy Virgin never remained in the same state, but made continual and incredible progress until she entered heaven. With good reason, then, is Our Lady called the Mother of pure Love--that is to say, the most lovable amongst all creatures, and the most beloved by her only Son, Who is loved by her as the most lovable and loving of Sons. SPIRITUAL FLOWERS. Forgetfulness of God is the sleep of the soul. The soul has been asleep all the time that it has forgotten its God.--_St. Augustine._ The sleep of the Saints is a prayer before God.--_St. Jerome._ It is great blindness and misery to seek repose where it is impossible to find it.--_St. Teresa._ EXAMPLE. _Devotion to the 'Salve Regina.'_ St. Bernard is celebrated for his love of the Blessed Virgin and for the praises he has rendered to her. His language is of such sweetness, that it surpasses that of all preceding ages for beauty and tenderness in discoursing of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This saint seems to have gathered together and made his own all the most loving affections of the most fervent servants. Mary was his ruling thought, and he could not restrain the transports of his heart when he spoke of her. The very mention of her name sufficed to render him ecstatic. With good reason, then, did Peter the Abbot of St. Remigius, at Rheims, say to one of St. Bernard's adversaries: 'If you have the courage to touch the pupil of Mary's eye, write against St. Bernard.' This Saint was commissioned to preach the second general Crusade throughout Europe, and when he had traversed France, Belgium and the Rhenish countries, he retired to the Abbey of Effinghem, to recollect his soul in that pious solitude. One evening the Monks were moved to tears by a discourse of St. Bernard's in praise of Mary, and they begged him to intone the _Salve Regina_, which they sang every evening before her image. As the Saint could not excuse himself, he devoutly intoned the _Salve_ with his powerful voice, and was accompanied by all the Monks. When the sweet words _Et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende_ had been sung, all were silent (because at that time the anthem ended with these words). However, the inspired voice of Bernard continued, and he gave expression to the sentiments of his heart in the three invocations with which it is now concluded: _O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria!_ These words were afterwards adopted by the whole Church. It is in commemoration of this event that the _Salve Regina_ is solemnly sung every evening in the Cathedral of Spire.