an obstinate lukewarmness, and defiled by a thousand imperfections. Come then, O Divine Spirit! come and enlighten us; kindle our fervour, and destroy in us all that is displeasing in thy sight. The greater our miseries are, so much the more glorious will be thy triumph over our perversity. Come, and create in us new hearts, which shall have all for God, and nothing for the world. Create in us a clean heart, O God. Amen.
Come, O Holy Ghost, etc.
V. and R. Send forth, etc.
Grant unto thy Church, O merciful God, that she, being gathered together in the Holy Spirit, may be in no wise disturbed by the incursions of her enemies; through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the unity of the same. Amen.
May the blessing, etc.
SEVENTH DAY. — DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST UPON MARY AT THE ANNUNCIATION.
LET us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and, uniting our dispositions with those of our Blessed Lady and the holy Apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, in honour of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the ever-blessed Mother of God in the Annunciation. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Most Divine Spirit, the Paraclete, we hardly dare to beseech thee to come into our souls, knowing well how sinful and defiled they are. It seems an intolerable boldness to invite God — yea, no less a one than God! — to be a guest in a lodging so unclean. Yet thou vouchsafest graciously to reassure us by that infinite goodness of thine, whereby thou dost dispose
