TO MARY,
THE EVER-IMMACULATE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD.
My most holy Queen,—On the point of publishing the present little work, in which I treat of the love of thy Son, I know not to whom I can better dedicate it than to thee, my most beloved Mother, who, amongst all creatures, art his most tender lover. I believe that by this little offering which I present to thee, and which is composed for the sole purpose of inflaming souls more and more with the love of Jesus Christ,—I believe, I say, that by it I shall greatly please thee, who desirest to see him loved by all as he deserves. To thee, then, I consecrate it, such as it is; do thou graciously accept and protect it; not indeed that I may receive the praises of men, but that all who read it may for the future correspond, by their greater devotion and affection, with the tender and excessive love which our most sweet Saviour has been pleased to show us in his Passion, and in the institution of the Most Holy Sacrament. As such, I place it at thy feet, and beseech thee to accept the gift as wholly thine, as als0 the giver, who has long since placed all his hopes in thee, and wishes and hopes always to call himself, and to rejoice in being,
Most gracious Lady,
Thy most loving, though most unworthy servant,
ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI,
Of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
