But, as the penitential psalms are thus turned, from Him to whom the Psalmist addressed them, so his hymns of praise to Jehovah, are made to flow through the same channel to the Virgin.  And all nature in the sea, on the earth, in the heavens, and heaven of heavens, is called upon to praise and glorify Mary.  Thus, in the 148th psalm, we read,—­

“Praise our Lady of heaven, glorify her in the highest.  Praise her, all ye men and cattle, ye birds of the heaven, and fishes of the sea.  Praise her, sun and moon; ye stars and circles of the planets.  Praise her, cherubim and seraphim, thrones and dominions, and powers.  Praise her, all ye legions of angels.  Praise her, all ye orders of spirits above.” [Laudate Dominam nostram de coelis:  glorificate eam in excelsis.  Laudate eam omnes homines et jumenta:  volucres coeli et pisces maris.  Laudate eam sol et luna:  stellae, et circuli planetarum.  Laudate eam cherubim et seraphim:  throni et dominationes, et potestates.  Laudate eam omnes legiones angelorum.  Laudate eam omnes ordines spirituum supernorum.—­P. 491.]

The last sentence of the psalms is thus rendered,—­“Let every spirit [or every thing that hath breath] praise our Lady.”

To this Psalter are added many hymns changed in the same manner.  One, entitled, “A Canticle, like that of Habakkuk iii.” presents to us an address to the Virgin Mary, of the very words which our blessed Saviour most solemnly addressed to his heavenly Father.

O Lord, I have heard thy O Lady, I have heard thy report,
speech, and was afraid, &c. &c. and was astonished; I considered
                                   thy works, O Lady, and
                                   I was afraid at thy work.  In the
                                   midst of the years thou hast revived
                                   it. {361}

  I will confess to thee, O Lady,

because thou hast hid these things
from the wise, and hast revealed
them to babes.

Thy glory hath covered the
heavens, and the earth is full of
thy mercy.

  Thou, O Virgin, wentest forth

for the salvation of thy people,
for salvation with thy Christ [thy
anointed].

O thou Blessed, our salvation
rests in thy hands.  Remember
our poverty, O thou pious One.

  WHOM THOU WILLEST, HE

SHALL BE SAVED; AND HE FROM
WHOM THOU TURNEST AWAY THY
COUNTENANCE, GOETH INTO DESTRUCTION.

[Domina, audivi auditionem tuam, et obstupui:  consideravi opera tua, et expavi, Domina, opus tuum:  circa medium annorum vivificasti illud.

Confitebor tibi, Domina:  quia abscondisti haec a sapientibus:  et revelasti ea parvulis.  Operuit coelos gloria tua, et misericordia tua plena est terra.

Egressa es, Virgo, in salutem populi tui:  in salutem cum Christo tuo.  O Benedicta, in manibus tuis est reposita nostra salus; recordare, pia, paupertatis nostrae.