and firm in their faith, will practice the virtues of the Virgin Mary and do what she was pleased to do. Chapter V The Virtue of Devotion Devotion, the fifth virtue mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary was always most devout, and to please God, out of her devotion, she thought, spoke, and acted in the following ways: She praised God with great attentiveness and joy, saying: “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord” [cf. Lk 1:46]. Every year she went up to Jerusalem, and, following her Son, she listened with the greatest devotion to His preaching. She returned often to Nazareth, and finally, with the Apostles, also persevered in prayer [cf. Acts 1:14]. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, and in order to please Christ, devout souls ought, above all, to learn the art and science of praising God and of praying. They must say the Divine Office according to the rules given for the Roman Breviary and every day should have a special commemoration of their patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, added to the regular office. Where the houses are founded under the [titles] of the Annunciation, the [Immaculate] Conception, or the Blessed Sacrament, or Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Consolation, or Our Lady of Virtues and similar titles, they will say the Office of their patronal feast on its day and throughout the octave, and they will have its daily commemoration added to the office [of the day]. Persons not obliged to the canonical Office shall say the Corona of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which contains 72 Hail Marys and seven Our Fathers. All the members of the Order shall, as well, say 10 Hail Marys once a day, in honor of the 10 Virtues of the Mother of God, preceded by one Our Father for the Pope and the well-being of the Church. Further, they shall perform each Appendix 314
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