The Church from her very early days, even from New Testament times, has given honor, praise and devotion to the Mother of Our Lord. Down through the ages, prayers and adoration of Saint Mary have been a source of help and strength in the life of the Church and have resulted in deepened love and devotion to Jesus for millions of faithful Christians. Who better to invoke than the one who was closest to Jesus through His birth, life, death and Resurrection than Mary? She is quite rightly honored by the Church as one who will intercede for us before the throne of Christ. Devotion given Our Lady goes straight to Our Lord. We are fortunate to have one of the superiors of The Society of Mary, a devotional society in the Anglican Communion, as our preacher today, our own Father Martin.