the blessed Virgin15O Ave Maria's, which she had said in her honour; and it seemed to her as though every word thus presented were a piece of golden coin And she felt within herself that whenever we commit the end of our life to any saint by special prayers, those prayers are borne up before the throne of the Judge; and the saint to whom they were addressed is appointed by God the advocate of those who have offered them, to provide them all manner of good according to their need.
In like manner St. Mechtilde, having asked one of her sisters departed, who had appeared to her in radiant glory after her death: Tell me, my beloved Sister, of what avail to you are the prayers we offer for you? received this answer: I receive every word of them from your mouth as so many blooming roses, which I offer with joy to my Beloved. And having spoken thus, she showed her under her glorious mantle roses of exquisite bloom, having a leaf of gold in the midst. And being asked what was signified by that golden leaf, she answered: It signifies those prayers which are offered of devotion, without obligation. And she added, moreover: Whenever any one addresses his prayer to any saint, that saint receives all the words of his mouth as though they were fresh blooming roses of spring. And if you say an Our Father to all saints, with the intention, were it possible, of saying one for each of the saints, your intention is accepted by them as though you had really done so.
It is likewise most pleasing to the saints to salute them in and through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and especially
