If  he  stifles  all  silly  thoughts  of  pride,  and  remembers  that
whatever  he  is,  or  whatever  he  can  do,  comes  from  God —
he  is  devout  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  If  he  obeys  his  masters'
wishes — if  he  is  grateful  to  them  for  their  unwearying  efforts
to  improve  his  mind — if  he  is  brave  and  truthful,  never
shrinking  from  punishment  if  deserved,  and  scorning  to
save  himself  by  a  disgraceful  lie — he  is  devout  to  the  Blessed
Virgin.  If  he  courageously  sits  down  to  his  books,  and


198  LECTURES  FOR  BOYS

diligently  applies  himself  to  master  their  difficulties,  con
scientiously  employing  all  the  time  appointed  for  lessons
in  accomplishing  his  duty — he  is  devout  to  the  Blessed
Virgin.
His  homage  to  her  is  then  not  a  mere  lip-service,  for  he
tries  to  do  what  he  knows  will  be  pleasing  to  her ;  he  tries
to  serve  God  in  his  little  way,  as  she  served  Him,  by  a  holy
life,  and  by  the  scrupulous  discharge  of  all  its  duties,  no
matter  whether  they  are  pleasant  or  not.  Like  her,  he
looks  upon  them  as  the  will  of  God,  and  by  doing  that,  he
tries  to  serve  his  Father  Who  is  in  heaven.  Every  other
kind  of  devotion  is  a  delusion.  It  does  not  please  God,  and
it  is  consequently  profitless  to  man.
WHAT  IS  MEANT  BY  THE  IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION.
