The month of May is dedicated to her, and is called Mary’s month.  Temporary altars are raised to her honour, surrounded by flowers and adorned with garlands and drapery; her image usually standing before the altar.  Societies are formed chiefly for the celebration of the Virgin’s praises, and in some Churches the effect, both to the eye and to the ear, corresponds with the preparation.  One thing only is wanting—­the proper object of worship.  I have now before me a book of hymns published professedly for the religious fraternities in Paris, and used in the Churches there. [Nouveau Recueil de Cantiques a l’usage des confreries des Paroisses de Paris.  Paris, 1839.] Many of these hymns are addressed to the Virgin alone; some without any reference to the Son of God and Man, the only Saviour, and without any allusion to the God of Christians; indeed, an address to a heathen Goddess more entirely destitute of Christianity can scarcely be conceived.  I copy one hymn entire.

  “Around the altars of Mary
  Let us, her children, press;
  To that mother so endeared
  Let us address the sweetest prayers. 
  Let a lively and holy mirth
  Animate us in this holy day: 
  There exists no sadness
  For a heart full of her love. 
  Let us adorn this sanctuary with flowers;
  Let us deck her revered altar;
  Let us redouble our efforts to please her. 
  Be this month consecrated to her;
  Let the perfume of these crowns
  Form a delicious incense, {352}
  Which ascending even to her throne
  May carry to her both our hearts and our prayers. 
  Let the holy name of Mary
  Be for us a name of salvation! 
  Let our softened soul
  Ever pay to her a sweet tribute of love. 
  Let us join the choirs of angels
  The more to celebrate her beauty;
  And may our songs of praise
  Resound in eternity. 
  O holy Virgin!  O our mother! 
  Watch over us from fhe height of heaven;
  And when from this sojourning of misery,
  We present our prayers to you;
  O sweet, O divine Mary! 
  Lend an ear to our sighs,
  And after this life
  Make us to taste of immortal pleasures.”

  [Autour des autels de Marie
    Nous ses enfants, empressons-nous;
  A cette Mere si cherie,
    Adressons les voeux les plus doux. 
  Qu’une vive et sainte allegresse
    Nous anime dans ce saint jour;
  Il n’existe point de tristesse
    Pour un coeur plein de son amour. 
  Ornons des fleurs ce sanctuaire,
    Parons son autel revere,
  Redoublons d’efforts pour lui plaire. 
    Que ce mois lui soi, consacre;
  Que le parfume de ces couronnes
    Forme un encens delicieux,
  Qui s’elevant jusqu’a son trone,
    Lui porte et nos coeurs et nos voeux. 
  Que le nom sacre de Marie
    Soit pour nous un nom de salut;
  Que toujours notre ame attendrie,
    D’amour lui paie un doux tribut.