Excerpts From the Manual of the
Eucharistic Crusade of the Apostleship of Prayer

Educating the Youth to Live the Mass

(slightly edited by Fr. Boulet)

B. DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART

3. Recommended practices of Marian Devotion:

The first of these is the daily Morning Offering made through Mary. In explaining this to children the following points should be made:

a)       First, show why our oblation is made “through the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary”.  It is proper that we direct our prayers to the heart of our heavenly Mother, as children turn to their mother when they want something very badly. For older children however the meaning of the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary should be more fully explained.  Thus it should be shown how devotion to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord and the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady are very closely linked.

b)       Secondly adolescents must not forget that in making their offering through Mary they are called upon to imitate her example. For it is necessary that they live their oblation. Therefore in making their offering through Mary they must purpose with her aid to imitate her virtues. No one has led more souls to Christ her Son and yet she exercised this apostolate on earth not by preaching or doing apostolic works but simply by doing the will of God completely - by offering herself and living this oblation perfectly.  Here is indeed a perfect example for us of a life spent in the service of Our Lord.

(To be continued)