Devotions for the Months of the Year
It has become a pious custom not only to consecrate certain Seasons and Feasts by Novenas and other prayers, but also to set apart the months of the year for special devotions. Some of these arrangements are already generally recognised, — such as the Month of May for devotion to our Lady; June, to the Sacred Heart of our Lord; July, to the Precious Blood; November, devotions for the faithful departed, — while in others the custom varies in different places. The order observed in the present volume is chiefly that of a well-known series of Italian devotions for the months of the year; while along with this is comprised a series of devotions for the chief Feasts and Commemorations occurring in the several months; those which are movable being placed at those seasons of the year where they more usually fall.
January: The Holy Childhood, Epiphany, Holy Name of Jesus.
February: Lent and Passion, Purification.
March: St. Joseph, St. Francis Xavier, &c.
April: Jesus risen, Ascension, Pentecost.
May: The Blessed Virgin Mary.
June: Sacred Heart of Jesus.
July: Precious Blood of our Lord.
August: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Mary: the Assumption.
September: Seven Dolours, &c.
October: The Holy Angels.
November: Souls in Purgatory.
December: Advent, Immaculate Conception, Nativity.
Many of the devotions here given have long been in public use as Novenas at the seasons to which they refer; and, in conjunction with the hymns indicated at the end of each month, the series may be employed as a popular manual for this purpose. In this view it will probably be found to supply what has hitherto been a desideratum.
January
HOLY CHILDHOOD — EPIPHANY — HOLY NAME.
The Mysteries of the Sacred Infancy.
To be used during the Novena and Octave of Christmas, or at any other time.
Ꝟ. Incline unto my aid, O God.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, &c. Our Father, &c.
I. The Incarnation.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who for our salvation didst descend from the bosom of the eternal Father into the womb of the Virgin Mary, where, conceived by the Holy Ghost, thou didst take upon thee, O Incarnate Word, the form of a servant: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy upon us.
Hail Mary, &c.
II. The Visitation.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who by means of thy Virgin Mother didst visit St. Elizabeth, and filling thy forerunner, St. John Baptist, with the Holy Spirit, didst sanctify him from his mother's womb: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
III. The Expectation of the Birth.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who for nine months enclosed in the womb didst wait for the time of thy birth, and didst meantime inflame the heart of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph with most ardent longings, and didst offer thyself to God the Father for the salvation of the world: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
IV. The Holy Nativity.
O most sweet infant Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, wrapped in poor swaddling clothes, laid in the manger, glorified by angels, and visited by shepherds: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
O Jesu! born of Virigin bright,
Immortal glory be to thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Ꝟ. Christ is at hand. R. O come, let us worship him. Our Father, &c.
V. The Circumcision.
O most sweet infant Jesus, circumcised when eight days old, and called by the glorious name of Jesus, and proclaimed, both by thy name and by thy blood, to be the Saviour of the world: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
VI. The Adoration of the Kings.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who wert manifested to the three kings, who worshipped thee as thou didst lie on Mary's breast, and offered to thee the mysterious presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
VII. The Presentation.
O most sweet infant Jesus, presented in the Temple by the Virgin Mary, embraced by the holy old man, Simeon, and revealed to the Jews, by Anna the prophetess: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
VIII. The Flight into Egypt.
O most sweet infant Jesus, whom Herod sought to slay, carried by St. Joseph with thy Mother into Egypt, saved from death by flight, and glorified by the blood of the holy innocents: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &
O Jesu! born of Virgin bright, &c.
Ꝟ. Christ is at hand. R. O come, let us worship him.
Our Father, &c.
IX. The Sojourn in Egypt.
O most sweet. infant Jesus, who did dwell as an exile in Egypt for seven years, where thou utteredst thy first words, and, loosed from thy swathing bands, didst first begin to walk upon this earth, and, in the destruction of the idols, didst work in a hidden manner thy first miracles: have mercy upon us,
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
X. The Return from Egypt.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who when Herod was dead wast recalled out of Egypt into the land of Israel, and didst in the journey suffer many fatigues and hardships, and wert carried back by Mary and Joseph to the city of Nazareth: have mercy upon us.
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
XI. The Life in the holy House.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who in the holy house of Nazareth didst dwell most holily, and didst pass thy life in obedience, poverty, and toil, and as thou increasedst in years didst manifest to God and men signs of wisdom and of grace: have mercy upon us,
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
XII. The Disputing with the Doctors.
O most sweet infant Jesus, who wert taken to Jerusalem when twelve years old, wert lost by thy parents, and sought for by them with sorrow, and after three days , wert found, to their exceeding joy, with the doctors In the Temple: have mercy upon us,
Ꝟ. and R. Have mercy, &c.
O Jesu! born of Virgin bright, &c.
Our Father, &c
During the Year:
Ꝟ. The Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt amongst us.
At Christmas and during the Octave: add, Alleluia.
At the Epiphany and during the Octave:
Ꝟ. Christ hath manifested himself unto us. Alleluia.
R. O come, let us worship him. Alleluia.
O almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who didst reveal thyself to little ones, grant, we beseech thee, that while we duly celebrate and honour the most holy mysteries of thy Son, the infant Jesus, and worthily strive to imitate them, we may arrive at that heavenly kingdom which thou hast promised to little children; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Say, Eternal rest give to them, &c, three times for the souls in purgatory who were devout to the infant Jesus, and one Hail Mary for the intention of the promoter of this devotion.
A Plenary Indulgence on the 25th day of every month to those who, being truly contrite and having confessed and communicated, should recite, in any church or public oratory where the exercise in honour of the infant Jesus is practised, the above prayers, venerating at the same time the twelve mysteries of the Sacred Infancy, and praying for the intention of his Holiness; and 300 days, once a day, for reciting the same in private. Both applicable to the souls in purgatory.
The Holy Name of Jesus
CHAPLET OF OUR LORD.
This is called the Chaplet of our Lord, because it is said in honour of Jesus Christ, and is composed of thirty-three Pater nosters, in remembrance and veneration of the thirty-three years which he lived on the earth; to these are added five times Ave Maria in honour of his five most holy wounds; the first three of which are said, one at the beginning of each of the three sets of ten Pater nosters, and of the two remaining, one is said previous to reciting the three concluding Pater nosters, and the other after them. The Chaplet finishes with the Credo in honour of the holy Apostles, its composers, and which itself contains an epitome of the Birth, Life, Passion, and Death of our Divine Lord Jesus Christ.
Every one saving the Chaplet must, according to his capacity, meditate on the mysteries of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ; but it is not necessary to use these reflections, which are only added as a help.
Act of Contrition.
FIRST DECADE.
The Archangel Gabriel makes known to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Incarnation of the Divine Word in her pure womb. Hail Mary.
1. The Son of God made man is born of Mary the Virgin in a stable. Our Father.
2. The angels rejoice, and sing Gloria in excelsis Deo. Our Father.
3. The shepherds hear the angels' tidings, and come and adore him. Our Father.
4. He is circumcised the eighth day, and called by the most holy name of Jesus. Our Father.
5. Is adored by the Magi with offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Our Father.
6. Is presented in the Temple, and foretold to be the Saviour of the world. Our Father.
7. Flies from the persecution of Herod, and is earned into Egypt. Our Father.
8. Herod finds him not, and murders the innocents. Our Father.
9. He is carried back by Joseph and his Mother into Nazareth his home. Our Father.
10. Disputes in the Temple with the doctors, being twelve years old. Our Father.
Add Eternal rest, &c. if said for the departed.
SECOND DECADE.
Jesus is most obedient to the Blessed Virgin his Mother, and to St. Joseph. Hail Mary.
1. When thirty years old, he is baptised by John in Jordan. Our Father.
2. Fasts forty days in the desert, and overcomes the tempter. Our Father.
3. Practises and preaches his own holy law, whereby is life eternal. Our Father.
4. Calls his disciples, who forthwith leave all and follow him. Our Father.
5. Works his first miracle of changing water into wine. Our Father.
6. Heals the sick, makes the lame to walk, gives hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, life to the dead. Our Father.
7. Converts sinful men and sinful women, and pardons their sins. Our Father.
8. When the Jews persecute him even unto death, he chastises them not, but sweetly chides them. Our Father.
9. Is transfigured on Mount Tabor, in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Our Father.
10. Enters triumphant into Jerusalem sitting on an ass's colt, and drives the profaners from the Temple. Our Father.
Eternal rest, &c. as above.
THIRD DECADE.
Jesus takes leave of his most holy Mother before he goes to die for our salvation. Hail Mary.
1. Celebrates the Last Paschal Supper, washes the Apostles' feet. Our Father.
2. Institutes the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Our Father.
3. Prays in the garden, sweats blood, and is comforted by an angel. Our Father.
4. Is betrayed by Judas with a kiss, is taken and bound as a malefactor. Our Father.
5. Is falsely accused, is buffeted and spit upon, and shamefully used before four tribunals. Our Father.
6. Looks tenderly on Peter after he had thrice denied him, and converts him; whilst Judas despairs, hangs himself, and is lost. Our Father.
7. Is cruelly scourged at the pillar, and receives innumerable blows. Our Father.
8. Is crowned with thorns, shown to the people, who cry, Crucify him! crucify him! Our Father.
9. Is condemned to die, carries the heavy cross with grievous pain upon his shoulders to Mount Calvary. Our Father.
10. Is crucified between two thieves, dies after three hours' most painful agony, is wounded in the side with a lance, and is buried. Our Father.
Eternal rest, &c. as above.
Jesus rises the third day, and visits first of all his most holy Mother, Mary. Hail Mary.
1. Appears to the three Marys, and bids them tell the disciples they have seen him risen from the dead. Our Father.
2. Appears to the disciples, shows them his most holy wounds, makes Thomas touch them. Our Father.
3. The fortieth day after his resurrection blesses most holy Mary his Mother and all his disciples; then ascends into heaven. Our Father.
Let us pray to the most holy Virgin to obtain for us also the blessing of her Divine Son Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death. Hail Mary.
Eternal rest, &c. as above.
Let us say "I believe," &c. in honour of the holy Apostles.
End with the prayer said to be St. Augustine's, see p. 669.
Plenary Indulgence (1) once a year on any one day to any one who, after Confession and Communion, shall have made a practice of saying it at least four times a week; (2) once a month to any one who shall have said it every day for a month, and shall then, being penitent, after Confession and Communion, pray for the usual intentions; (3) in the article of death to any one who, being penitent and having confessed, shall then invoke, at least with his heart if he cannot do so with his lips, the most holy name of Jesus, provided he has said the above-mentioned Chaplet once during his illness with the intention of gaining this indulgence.
THREE EJACULATIONS: "JESU," &c.
In order to increase the devotion of the faithful to Jesus and Mary by invoking their most holy names, together with the name of St. Joseph, for the purpose of recommending to them the last moments of this life, on which our eternity depends, Pius VII., by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated April 28, 1807, granted an indulgence of 300 days to any one, as often as he says devoutly, and with a contrite heart, the three following ejaculations:
Jesus, Joseph, Mary, I offer you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Joseph, Mary, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Joseph, Mary, may I breathe forth my soul with you in peace.
If but one of the above is recited, then the same Pope granted to the reciter 100 days' Indulgence.
ANOTHER EJACULATION.
Indulgence (1) fifty days every time any one says the following ejaculation of St. Jerome Emilias!; (2) plenary to anyone who says it at least once a day for a year, to be gained once only, on the feast of the saint, July 20, or during its octave, provided that, after Confession and Communion, he visit some church, and pray there according to the intention of his Holiness.
My sweetest Jesus, be not to me a Judge, but a Saviour.
Nobena
IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION.
(Beginning Jan. 24.)
Veni Sancte Spiritus, Sec, p. 437.
1. Most holy Mary, bright mirror of all virtues, the forty days after thy delivery were no sooner past than thou, though the purest of all virgins, didst will to be presented in the Temple to be purified ; oh, help us, then, by imitating thee, to keep our hearts unstained by sin, that so we too may be made worthy one day to be presented to our God in heaven. Hail Mary.
2. Virgin most obedient, at thy Presentation in the Temple thou didst willingly offer the accustomed sacrifice of women ; enable us so to follow thy example, that we may make ourselves a living sacrifice to God, by practising every virtue. Hail Mary.
3. Virgin most pure, thou didst despise the reproach of men whilst observing the precept of the law ; ask for us grace always to keep our hearts pure, whatever the world may think us. Hail Mary.
4. Virgin most holy, by offering thy Son, the Divine Word, to his eternal Father, thou didst make heaven glad ; present our poor hearts to God, that by his grace they may be kept free from mortal sin. Hail Mary.
5. Virgin most humble, in consigning Jesus into the arms of the holy old man Simeon, thou didst fill his spirit full of heavenly joy ; consign our hearts to God, that he may fill them full of his Holy Spirit. Hail Mary.
6. Virgin most diligent, in ransoming thy Son Jesus according to the law, thou didst cooperate in the salvation of the world ; ransom our poor hearts from the slavery of sin, that they may be ever pure in the sight of God. Hail Mary.
7. Virgin most meek, on hearing the prophecy of Simeon foretelling thy woes, thou didst humbly resign thyself to the good pleasure of thy God ; make us always resigned to the dispositions of his Providence, and enable us to bear all troubles with patience. Hail Mary.
8. Virgin most compassionate, when thou didst fill the soul of Anna the prophetess with light, by means of thy Divine Son, thou didst make her magnify the mercies of God in that she recognised Jesus for the Redeemer of the world ; enrich our spirit too with heavenly grace, that we may joyfully reap in full measure the fruits of our Lord's redemption. Hail Mary.
9. Virgin most resigned, although thou didst feel thine own soul transfixed with sorrow, foreseeing all the bitter Passion of thy Son, yet knowing the grief of Joseph thy spouse for all thy sufferings, thou didst console him with holy words; pierce through and through our souls with true sorrow for our sins, that we may one day come to rejoice with thee in everlasting bliss, partakers of thy glory. Hail Mary.
Then the Litany of the B.V.M., and the following Responses, &c.
V. Simeon received answer from the Holy Spirit.
R. That he should not see death till he had seen the Christ of God.
Almighty, everlasting God, we humbly pray thy Majesty, that as thine only-begotten Son was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so thou wouldst enable us to present ourselves before thee with clean hearts. Through, &c.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, graciously look down upon thy servant Pius, whom thou hast chosen to be the pastor of thy Church ; and grant him, we beseech thee, both by word and example, so to direct those over whom thou hast' placed him, that, together with the flock intrusted to his care, he may attain eternal life.
O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all holiness, listen to the pious prayers of thy Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Litany of the Infant Jesus, p. 324.
Litany of the Incarnate Word, p. 322.
Litany of the Holy Name, p. 308.
Litany of the Life of Christ, p. 326
The Psalter of Jesus
"There is no other Name under heaven given to men, where by we must be saved." Acts iv. 12.
Begin by a devout bending of the head, or genuflection, at the adorable Name of JESUS.
Part I.
" At the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and of things in hell ; and let every tongue confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." Phil. ii. 10, 11.
First Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> have mercy on me.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, have mercy on me, O God of compassion, and forgive the many and great offences I have committed in thy sight.
Many have been the follies of my life, and great are the miseries I have deserved for my ingratitude.
Have mercy on me, dear Jesus, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, who am unable to help myself.
Deliver me from setting my heart upon any of thy creatures, which may divert my eyes from continually looking up to thee.
Grant me grace henceforth, for the love of thee, to hate sin; and out of a just esteem of thee to despise all worldly vanities.
Have mercy on all sinners, O Jesus, I beseech thee; turn their vices into virtues, and making them true observers of thy law, and sincere lovers of thee, bring them to bliss in everlasting glory. Have mercy also on the souls in purgatory, for thy bitter passion, I beseech thee, and for thy glorious name, Jesus.
O blessed Trinity, one eternal God, have mercy on me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and for ever, world without end. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Second Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> help me.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, help me to overcome all temptations to sin, and the malice of my ghostly enemy.
Help me to spend my time in virtuous actions, and in such labours as are acceptable to thee.
To resist and repress the motions of my flesh to sloth, gluttony, and impurity.
To render my heart enamoured of virtue, and inflamed with desires of thy glorious presence.
Help me to deserve and keep a good name, by a peaceful and pious living; to thy honour, O Jesus, to my own comfort, and the benefit of others.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Third Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> strengthen me.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, strengthen me in soul and body, to please thee in doing such works of virtue as may bring me to thy everlasting joy and felicity.
Grant me a firm purpose, most merciful Saviour, to amend my life, and atone for the years past:
Those years which I have misspent to thy displeasure, in vain or wicked thoughts, words, deeds, and evil customs.
Make my heart obedient to thy will; and ready, for thy love, to perform all the works of mercy.
Grant me the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which, through a virtuous life, and a devout frequenting of thy most holy sacraments, may at length bring me to thy heavenly kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Fourth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> comfort me.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, comfort me, and give me grace to place my chief, my only joy and felicity in thee.
Send me heavenly meditations, Spiritual sweetness, and fervent desires of thy glory; ravish my soul with the contemplation of heaven, 'where I shall everlastingly dwell with thee.
Bring often to my remembrance thy unspeakable goodness, thy gifts, and thy great kindness shown to me.
And when thou bringest to my mind the sad remembrance of my sins, whereby I have so unkindly offended thee, comfort me with the assurance of obtaining thy grace, by the spirit of perfect penance, purging away my guilt, and preparing me for thy kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Fifth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> make me constant.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, make me constant in faith, hope, and charity, with continuance in all virtues, and resolution not to offend thee.
Make the memory of thy passion, and of those bitter pains thou sufferedst for me, sustain my patience, and refresh me in all tribulations and adversity.
Make me ever hold fast the doctrines of thy holy Catholic Church, and be a diligent frequenter of all holy duties.
Let no false delight of this deceitful world blind me, no fleshly temptation or fraud of the devil shake my heart:
My heart, which has for ever set up its rest in thee; and is resolved to give up all things for thy eternal reward.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
"Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii. 8.
Hear these my petitions, O most merciful Saviour, and grant me thy grace to frequently to repeat and consider them, that they may prove easy steps, whereby my soul may climb up to the knowledge, love, and performance of my duty to thee and to my neighbour, through the whole course of my life. Amen.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Part II.
"At the name of Jesus," &c. Phil. ii. 10, 11, as before.
Sixth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, -> enlighten me with spiritual wisdom.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, enlighten me with, spiritual wisdom, to know thy goodness, and all those things which are most acceptable to thee.
Grant me a clear apprehension of my only good, and discretion to order my life according to it.
Grant that I may wisely proceed from virtue to virtue, till at length I arrive at the clear vision of thy glorious Majesty.
Permit me not, dear Lord, to return to those sins for which. I have sorrowed, and; of which I have purged myself by confession.
Grant me grace to benefit the souls of others by my good example, and to convert those by good counsel who have used me ill.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Seventh Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> grant me grace to fear thee
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, grant me grace inwardly to fear thee, and to avoid all occasions of offending thee.
Let the threats of the torments which shall befal sinners, the fear of losing thy love and thy heavenly inheritance, ever keep me in awe.
Let me not dare to remain in sin, but call me soon to repentance ; lest through thine anger the dreadful sentence of endless death and damnation fall upon me.
May the powerful intercession of thy blessed Mother and all the safety and, above all, thy Own merits and mercy, O my Saviour, be ever between thy avenging justice and me.
Enable me, O my God, to work out my salvation with fear and trembling ; and may the apprehension of thy sacred judgments render me a more humble and diligent suitor at the throne of grace.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Eighth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ---> grant me grace truly to love thee.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, grant me grace truly to love thee for thy infinite goodness, and those great bounties I have received, and hope for ever to receive, from thee;
Let the remembrance of thy kindness and patience conquer the malice and evil inclinations of my perverse nature.
Let the consideration of my many deliverances, and thy gracious calls and continued protection through life, shame me out of my ingratitude.
And what dost thou require of me, for and by all thy mercies, but to love thee; and why, but because thou art my only good?
O my dear Lord! my whole life shall be nothing but a desire of thee; and because I truly love thee, I will most diligently keep thy commandments.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Ninth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> grant me grace to remember my death
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, grant me grace always to remember my death, and the great account I then must render; that so being kept continually disposed, my soul may depart out of this world rightly in thy grace.
Then by the gracious intercession of thy blessed Mother, and the assistance of the glorious St. Michael, deliver me from the danger of my soul's enemies; and do thou, my good angel, beseech thee, help me at the hour of death.
Then, dear Jesus, remember thy mercy; and turn not, for my offences, thy face away from me.
Secure me against the terrors of that day, by causing me now to die daily to all earthly things, and to have my continual conversation in heaven.
Let the remembrance of thy death teach me how to esteem my life; and the memory of thy resurrection encourage me cheerfully to descend into the grave.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Tenth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> send me here my purgatory.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, send me here my purgatory, and so prevent the torments of that cleansing fire, which, after this life, awaits unpurged souls.
Vouchsafe to grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions, which thou seest are necessary to break off my affections from all things here below.
Since none can see thee that loves any thing but for thy sake, permit not my heart to find here any rest but in seeking after thee.
Too bitter, alas, will be the anguish of a separated soul that desires, but cannot come to thee, clogged with the heavy chains of sin.
Here then, O my Saviour, keep me continually mortified in this world ; that, purged thoroughly by the fire of love, I may immediately pass into the everlasting possessions.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
" Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii. 8.
Hear these my petitions, &c. as before.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
I believe in God, &c.
Part III.
"At the name of Jesus," &c. Phil. ii. 10, 11, as before.
Eleventh Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> grant me grace to fly evil company.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, grant me grace to fly evil company ; or if I chance to come among such, I beseech thee, by the merits of thy uncorrupt conversation among sinners, preserve me from being overcome by any temptations to mortal sin.
Make me, O blessed Lord, to remember always with dread, that thou art present and hearest ; who wilt judge us according to our words and actions.
How, then, dare I converse with slanderers, liars, drunkards, or swearers, or such whose discourse is either quarrelsome, dissolute, or vain ?
Repress in me, dear Jesus, all inordinate affection for the pleasure of taste and of the flesh ; and grant me grace to avoid all such as would excite the fire of these unhappy appetites.
May thy power defend, thy wisdom direct, thy fatherly pity chastise me, and make me so to live here among men, as may fit me for the conversation of angels hereafter.
Have mercy on all sinners, Jesus, I beseech thee; turn their vices into virtues, and having made them true observers of thy law, and sincere lovers of thee, bring them to bliss in everlasting glory.
Have mercy also on. all the souls in purgatory,- for thy bitter passion, I beseech thee, and for thy glorious name, Jesus.
O blessed Trinity, one eternal God, have mercy on me.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Twelfth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, ---> grant me grace to call for help to thee.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, grant me grace in all my necessities to call for help to thee, and faithfully to remember thy death and . resurrection for me.
Wilt thou be deaf to my cries, who wouldst lay down thy life for my ransom? or canst thou not save me, who couldst take it up again for my crown?
Whom have I to invoke but thee, O my Jesus, whose own blessed mouth has pronounced, Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will relieve thee.
Thou art my sure rock of defence against all kinds of enemies; thou art my ever, present grace, able to strengthen me to fight and conquer.
In all my sufferings, therefore, in all my weakness and temptations, will I confidently call upon thee; hear mo O my Jesus, and when thou nearest, have mercy.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Thirteenth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> make me to persevere in virtue.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, make me to persevere in virtue and a good life; and never to draw back from serving thee, till thou bringest me to my reward in thy kingdom.
In all pious customs and holy duties, in my honest and necessary employments, continue and strengthen, O Lord, both my soul and body.
Is my life any thing but a pilgrimage upon earth towards the new Jerusalem, at which he that sits down, or turns out of the way, can never arrive?
O Jesus, make me always consider thy blessed example, through how many and great pains and how little pleasure thou pressedst on to a bitter death; because it is the way to a glorious resurrection.
Make me, O my Redeemer, seriously ponder those severe words of thine, He only that perseveres to the end shall be saved.
Have mercy on all sinners &c.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Fourteenth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> grant me grace to fix my mind on thee.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, grant me grace to fix my mind on thee; especially in the time of prayer, when I aspire to converse directly with thee.
Control the wanderings of my mind and the affections of my heart; repress the power of my spiritual enemies, who could then draw off my mind from heavenly things, to thoughts and imaginations of vanity.
So shall I, with joy and gratitude, behold thee, as my deliverer from all the evils I have escaped, and as my benefactor for all the good I have received or can hope for.
I shall see that thou thy very self art my only good; and that all other things are but means ordained by thee to make me fix my mind on thee, to make me love thee more, and be eternally happy.
O beloved of my soul, absorb all my thoughts here, that I may become worthy to behold thee for evermore face to face in thy glory.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
Fifteenth Petition.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, --> give me grace to order my life to thee.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, give me grace to order my life to thee, heartily intending and wisely designing all the operations of my body and soul, for obtaining the reward of thy infinite bliss and eternal felicity.
For what else is this world, but a school to discipline souls, and fit them for the other? And how are they fitted for it but by an eager desire of enjoying God, their only end?
Break my forward spirit, O Jesus; make it humble and obedient; grant me grace to depart hence with a contempt for this world, and with a joyful hope of coming to thee in the next.
Let the memory of thy passion make me cheerfully embrace all occasions of suffering here for thy love; whilst my soul breathes after that blissful life and immortal glory, which thou hast ordained in heaven for thy servants.
O Jesus, let me frequently and attentively consider, that whatsoever I gain, if I lose thee, all is lost; and whatsoever I lose, if I gain thee, all is gained.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.
" Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii. 8.
Hear these my petitions, &c. as before.
Our Father, &c.
Hail Mary, &c.
I believe in God, &c.
Hail, holy Agnes, glorious virgin and martyr. Hail, sweetest spouse of Jesus, thou vessel of election of the Holy Ghost ; like as the rose amongst thorns, and as a star in the midst of a cloud, so didst thou shine forth upon the darkness of the world, I salute and bless thee a thousandfold in that union wherewith, thy loving soul is one spirit with God, and I rejoice and exult in the victory which thou hast gained in thy glorious strife: I congratulate thee on the twofold crown of virginity and of martyrdom, wherein thou shinest gloriously forth as a star in the firmament. For the increase of thy joy, thy glory, and thy blessedness, I offer thee the sweetest Heart of my Jesus, together with all his filial love to God the Father in his Divinity, and to Mary his Mother in his Humanity: and through that sacred Heart I commend myself to thy especial care and patronage, that by thy most holy sufferings and death, and by the merits of thy pure and virgin blood, I may obtain forgiveness of my sins, and the sure protection of divine grace in life and in death, Amen,
February
LENT — PASSION OF OUR LORD — PURIFICATION.
[See also the Seven Dolours, September.]
The Seven Words upon the Cross.[1]
V. O God, bow down to aid me.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, &c. R. As it was, &c.
The First Word.
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who for the love of me didst agonise on the Cross that thou mightest pay by thy sufferings the debt due to my sins, and didst open thy divine mouth to obtain my pardon from eternal justice, have mercy on all the faithful in their agony, and on myself when I shall be in that extremity, and, by the merits of thy most precious blood shed for our salvation, give us so lively a sorrow for our sins that we may breathe out our souls into the bosom of thine infinite mercy. Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and, I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Second Word.
" To-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise."
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who for the love of me didst agonise on the Cross, and with such readiness and bounty didst respond to the faith of the good thief who in the midst of thy humiliation acknowledged thee to be the Son of God: O thou who didst assure him of Paradise, have mercy on all the faithful in their agony, and on me when I shall be in that extremity, and, through the merits of thy most precious blood, revive in our spirits a faith so firm and constant, that it may not waver at any suggestion of the devil, so that we also may obtain the holy reward of Paradise. Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Third Word.
"Behold thy mother; behold thy son."
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who for the love of me didst agonise on the Cross, and, forgetting thy sufferings, didst leave us as a pledge of thy love thine own most holy Mother, that through her we might confidently have recourse to thee in our greatest need, have mercy on all the faithful in their agony, and on me also when I shall be in that extremity, and, through the interior martyrdom of this thy dear Mother, awaken in our hearts a firm hope in the infinite merits of thy most precious blood, that we may avoid the eternal damnation which our sins have merited, Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Fourth Word.
"My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?"
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who for the love of me didst agonise on the Cross, and, heaping suffering on suffering, didst endure with infinite patience not only thy many bodily tortures, but the most heavy affliction of spirit through the dereliction of thine eternal Father, have mercy on all the faithful who are in their agony, and on me also when I shall be in that extremity, and, through the merits of thy most precious blood, give us grace to suffer with true patience all the pains and afflictions of our agony, that, uniting them with thine, we may be partakers of thy glory in Paradise. Three Glories,
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Fifth Word.
"I thirst."
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross than hast redeemed the world,
O my beloved Jesus, who didst agonise on the Cross for the love of me, and who, not satisfied with all the ignominy sad suffering, wouldst willingly have suffered yet more, so that all men; might be saved, as was clearly proved when all the torrents of thy passion would not allay the thirst of thy tender heart, have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and on me also when I shall be in that extremity, and, through the merits of thy most precious blood, enkindle such a fire of charity in our hearts as may cause them to languish with the desire of uniting themselves to thee for all eternity. Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Sixth Word.
"It is consummated."
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who for the love of me didst agonise on the Cross, and from that chair of truth didst announce the completion of the work of our redemption, through which, from being the children of wrath and perdition, we are become the children of God and the heirs of Paradise, have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and on me also when I shall be in that extremity, and, through the merits of thy most precious blood, detach us entirety from the world and from ourselves, and at the moment of our agony give us grace sincerely to offer thee the sacrifice of our life in expiation of our sins. Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
The Seventh Word.
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit"
V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, who didst agonise on the Cross for the love of me, and who, in completing this great sacrifice, didst accept the will of thine eternal Father, by resigning thy spirit into his hands, and then bowing thine head and dying, have mercy on all the faithful who are in their agony, and on me also when I shall be in that extremity, and through the merits of thy most precious blood give us, in our agony, an entire conformity to the divine will, that we may be ready either to live or die according as it shall best please thee, desiring nothing but the accomplishment of thy blessed will in us. Three Glories.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in thee, I hope in thee, I love thee, and I repent of having offended thee by my sins.
A Prayer to our Blessed Lady of Dolours,
O most holy Mother, most afflicted by the intense martyrdom which thou didst endure at the foot of the Cross, during the three hours' agony of Jesus, vouchsafe to assist all of us, the children of thy sorrows, in our last agony, that through thine interference we may pass from the bed of death, to form a crown for thee in the heavenly Paradise. Three Hail Marys.
O Mary, Mother of grace,
Mother of mercy,
Protect us from the enemy,
And receive us at the hour of death.
V. From sudden and unprovided death,
R. Deliver us, O Lord.
V. From the deceits of the devil,
R. Deliver us, O Lord.
V. From eternal death, deliver us, O Lord.
O God, who for the salvation of mankind didst give an example and a help in the most painful death of thy Son; grant, we beseech thee, that in the extremity of death we may experience the effects of this thy charity, and deserve to be partakers in the glory of him our Redeemer; through the same. &c.
Prayer before a Crucifix.
Plenary Indulgence to be obtained by all the faithful, who, after having confessed their sins with contrition, received the Holy Communion, and prayed for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff, shall devoutly recite it before an image or representation of Christ crucified.
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech thee that thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment, whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself, and mentally contemplate thy five most precious wounds; having before my eyes that which David spake in prophecy: "They pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones."
FIFTEEN MEDITATIONS
ON THE PASSION OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
1 . O good and gracious Jesus! who, being most high in the glory of thy Father, and of one essence with him, didst vouchsafe of thy infinite love to be made man, to be born in a stable, to be laid in a manger, to be circumcised, and to fly into Egypt; afterwards to be baptised, to be tempted, to fast, to watch, to teach the ignorant, and to heal the diseased; in thy whole life to suffer continual afflictions and persecutions; and at length voluntarily to suffer death upon the cross; and all this for me, and such wretched creatures as myself.
2. O good and gracious Jesus! who, having eaten the paschal lamb with, thy dearly beloved disciples, didst arise from supper, gird thyself with a towel, pour water into a basin, and on bended knees didst humbly wash the feet of thy disciples, and wipe them with thy own hands.
3. O good and gracious Jesus! who, when the time of thy death approached, didst bequeath a most excellent legacy to thy children, leaving us thy most sacred body to be our meat, and thy most precious blood to be our drink: no wit can teach, nor understanding penetrate the bottomless depth of this thy charity.
4. O good and gracious Jesus! who, having entered into the garden of Olives, beganst to fear and to be heavy; whereupon thou saidst to thy disciples, My soul is sorrowful, even unto death; and then leaving them, kneeledst upon, the ground, and falling flat on thy face, prayedst to thy Father, If it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. And yet with perfect submission, wholly resignedst thyself to him, saying, Father, not my will, but thine be done: and at length, through most painful agony, thy afflicted and fainting body sweated drops of blood.
5. O good and gracious Jesus! who, inflamed with an ineffable desire to redeem me, didst go to meet thine enemies, and sufferedst Judas the traitor to kiss thee, and thyself to be taken and bound with cords, and as a malefactor disgracefully led by the basest of the people to Annas, where with admirable meekness thou receivedst a cruel stroke on thy face, most unjustly given thee by a vile wretch and slave.
6. O good and gracious Jesus! who wast led fast bound like a notorious malefactor from Annas to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the Jews most unjustly accused thee, and with barbarous insolence spat upon thy meek and amiable face, buffeting thy cheeks and blindfolding thine eyes, scornfully mocking, and maliciously affronting thee with injuries all that night.
7. O good and gracious Jesus! who in the morning wast brought to the presence of Pilate, and with a most sweet and humble countenance, pasting thine eyes down, stoodst before him in the judgment-day; and when thou wast most falsely calumniated by the Jews, and many insults and provocations were given thee, thou meekly heldst thy peace, and patiently sufferedst their unjust proceedings.
8. O good and gracious Jesus! who wast seat from Pilate to Herod; he out of vain curiosity coveting to see some miracle at thy hand, demanded many things of thee, and the Jews continuing their perverseness against thee; hut to all these thy meekness replied not a word: wherefore Herod and all his court despised thee, and putting on thee a white garment in scorn and derision, sent thee thus hack again to Pilate. O unspeakable humility and obedience to the will of thine enemies! thou wentst forth and returnedst again, and wast led up and down from place to place without gainsaying, hut suffering them to do whatever they would.
9. O good and gracious Jesus! who in the judgment-hall wast stript naked, and without any compassion most cruelly scourged. There was thy blessed virginal and tender flesh torn with stripes, and altogether mangled and deformed; so that the streams of thy most precious blood ran down on every side upon the earth.
10. O good and gracious Jesus! after thy sharp and bloody scourging, to put thee to more shame and confusion, as also to increase thy torments, they clothed thee with an old purple garment, and platting a crown of thorns, pressed it on thy holy head, till the sharp points pierced thy temples, and thy most precious blood ran down and covered thy face and neck: they gave thee in derision a reed for thy sceptre, and kneeling down before thee in scorn, saluted thee, saying, Hail, King of the Jews; then took they the reed out of thy hand, and with it struck thy sacred head, and again spat upon thy sacred face.
11. O good and gracious Jesus! who wast brought forth from Pilate to the Jews to be gazed on, wearing the crown of thorns and purple garment, Pilate shewing thee to the people, and saying, Behold the man; but they cried out, with a loud voice and insatiable malice, Crucify him, crucify him!
12. O good aim gracious Jesus! thou wast delivered up to the will and pleasure of the Jews, who immediately led thee to be crucified, laying thy heavy cross upon thy sore and bloody shoulders; thus didst thou humbly bear thy own cross, whose weight pained thee excessively, and coming to the place all weary and breathless, thou refusedst not to taste wine mingled with gall and myrrh, which was the only relief there given thee
13. O good and gracious Jesus! being come to Mount Calvary, thou wast again stripped naked, when thy wounds were renewed by the violent pulling off of thy clothes. What bitter pains didst thou suffer, when thou wast fastened to the cross with rough nails, and the joints of thy limbs stretched as on a rack! Oh, with what love and sweetness of charity didst thou suffer thy hands and feet to be pierced through, whence, as from a fountain, thy precious blood gushed out.
14. O good and gracious Jesus! who, hanging on the cross between two thieves, wast assailed with blasphemies, and after so long a continuance of thy tortures, prayedst to thy Father to forgive them: and even when their fury was at the highest, didst exercise the greatest bounty, promising Paradise to the repenting thief, and bequeathing thy dearly beloved Mother (who, pierced with sorrow, stood by the cross,) to thy beloved disciple John, and in him to us all; and after thou hadst suffered for three long hours intolerable pains and extreme thirst, they gave thee vinegar to drink, which when thou hadst tasted, bowing down thy venerable head, thou yieldedst up thy spirit
15. O good and gracious Jesus? O good Shepherd! thus thou bestowedst thy life for thy sheep, and even after death still thou wouldest suffer for us, the sacred side of thy dead body being opened with a spear, out of which flowed water and blood. Thus at last ended all thy sufferings; and thy enemies having slacked their thirst for thy blood, and being gone away, thy disciples came and took thy immaculate body down from the cross, reposed it on the knees of thy blessed Mother, and after all imaginable expressions of piety, reverence, and love, wrapped it up in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre.
Prayer.
O mild and innocent Lamb of God, thus heartily thou didst love me, these things thou didst for me, these pains most patiently and lovingly thou sufferedst for me. What shall I render unto thee? I adore and glorify thee, I praise thee and give thee thanks, with all the powers of my soul. Jesus, Son of the living God, King of kings, and Lord of lords. Hail, most glorious Redeemer of our souls, whose death quickens and gives life to the world.
O blessed Saviour, have mercy on me, for thy goodness sake; forgive me all my sins, destroy and mortify in me whatever displeaseth thee. Make me one according to thy heart, and grant that to the utmost of my power I may most diligently imitate thy holy life. O blessed Father of heaven ! behold I offer the most holy incarnation, life, and passion of thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, in full satisfaction for all my sins, and perfect amendment of my life. Grant, most merciful Father, for the merits of thy only-begotten Son, to the living mercy and grace, and to the souls departed rest and life everlasting. Amen.
THIRTY DAYS' PRAYER
To our Blessed Redeemer, in Honour of his Bitter Passion
For deliverance from any Evil, or for obtaining some especial Mercy.
O merciful Jesus, my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, the sweet comforter of all sad, desolate, and distressed souls; behold thy poor servant, humbly prostrate at the foot of thy holy cross, bewailing my misery, imploring thy mercy, and beseeching thee to take pity and compassion upon me in this my present affliction.
Hear my prayers, O assured refuge of the afflicted! behold my tears, consider my sorrows, and remedy my distresses; for, finding myself encompassed with very grievous calamities, by reason of my sins, I know not whither to fly for succour, or to whom I may make my complaint, but to thee, my meek and merciful Saviour, with a full hope and confidence that thou wilt vouchsafe thy accustomed pity to my humble petition. This I humbly entreat of thee.
By the holy mystery of thy alliance with our human nature, when, resolving with the Father and the Holy Ghost to unite thy divine person to mortal flesh for man's salvation, thou didst send thy angel to the holy Virgin Mary with those happy tidings, and clothing thyself with our human nature, remainedst, true God and true man, for the space of nine months in her sacred womb.
By the anguish thou enduredst when, the time of thy designed passion drawing nigh, thou prayedst to thy eternal Father, that if it were possible that bitter chalice might pass away from thee; yet concluding with a most perfect act of resignation, Not my will, but thine be done.
By the outrageous injuries, shameful disgraces, cruel blows, contumelious blasphemies, forged witnesses, false accusations, and unjust judgments, which thou, innocent Lamb! patiently enduredst; by the shackles which fettered thy limbs, the tears which flowed from thine eyes, the blood which trickled from thy whole body; by the fears, sorrows, and sadness of thy heart; by the shame thou receivedst in being stript of thy garments, to hang naked on the cross, in the sight of thy sorrowful Mother, and in the presence of all the people.
By thy royal head crowned with thorns, and smitten with a reed; by thy thirst quenched with vinegar and gall; by thy side opened with a spear, whence issued blood and water, to refresh our souls with that living fountain of thy love and mercy; by the sharp nails wherewith thy tender hands and feet were cruelly pierced and fastened to the cross; by the recommendation of thy departing soul to thy heavenly Father, saying, Into thy hands I commend my spirit; by thy praying for thy enemies, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do; by thy giving up the ghost, when thou criedst out with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? and then, bowing down thy most blessed head, saidst, It is consummated. By the great mercy thou shewedst towards the penitent thief, saying, This day thou shalt he with me in Paradise; by thy descent into Limbus, and the joy thou communicatedst to the just souls therein detained; by the glory of thy triumphant resurrection, and the consoling appearance thou frequently didst vouchsafe for forty days' space to thy sacred Virgin Mother, to thy apostles, and thy other chosen friends and servants; by thy admirable ascension, when, in the sight of thy holy Mother and thy Apostles, thou wast elevated into heaven; by the miraculous coming down of the Holy Ghost in the form of fiery tongues, whereby thou replenishedst the hearts of thy disciples with thy love, and gavest them strength and courage to plant thy faith in the whole world; by the dreadful day of general judgment, on which thou wilt pass sentence on all mankind.
By all those sorrows, joys, passions, compassions, and whatsoever else is dear to thee in heaven and on earth, take pity on me, O compassionate Redeemer! hear my prayers, and grant me that for which I now most humbly and heartily petition thee. [Mention here the thing you desire, or reflect mentally upon it.] Give me, O gracious Saviour, speedily to experience thy divine succour and comfort, who, according to the accustomed sweetness of thy tender heart, art wont to grant the requests of those who fear and love thee, even to their soul's desire and satisfaction; bestow on me also, O blessed Jesus, a constant faith, a firm hope, a perfect charity, a true contrition, a sincere confession, a full satisfaction, a diligent guarding of myself from future failings, a contempt of the world, a complete conquest of my passions, a zealous imitation of thy exemplary life and conversation, an entire accomplishment of my vows, an absolute mortification of my self-will, a willing readiness to die for thy love and honour, a final perseverance in grace and good works, a happy departure of my soul out of this world, with my perfect senses about me, and with thy holy sacraments to strengthen me; thyself, O dear Jesus, to comfort me! thy sacred Virgin Mother, with the saints, my particular patrons, to pray for me; and my good angel to conduct me to eternal rest and happiness. Amen.
THE THIRTY DAYS' PRAYER
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY THE DEVOUT RECITAL OF WHICH, FOR THE ABOVE SPACE OF TIME, WE MAY CONFIDENTLY HOPE TO OBTAIN OUR LAWFUL BEQUEST.
It is particularly recommended as a proper devotion for every day in Lent, and all the Fridays throughout the year.
Ever-glorious and blessed Mary, queen of virgins, mother of mercy, the hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls; through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart, whilst thine only Son Jesus Christ our Lord suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love he had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from his cross he recommended thee to the care and protection of his beloved disciple St. John.; take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of what kind soever. Thou art the mother of mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a poor child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, whither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! than to the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion to my humble and earnest request. I ask it through the mercy of thy dear Son: through that love and condescension wherewith he embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine will, thou gavest thy consent; and whom, after the expiration of nine months, thou broughtest forth from thy chaste womb to visit this world, and bless it with his presence. I ask it through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the scepter of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, “My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?” I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, “It is consummated.” I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here…) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily,and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relations, and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting. Amen.
Six Prayers of St. Bridget.
To be said in honour of the sacred Wounds of our Blessed Saviour.
1. O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal sweetness of those who love thee; the joy, desire, and firm hope of the hopeless; solace of the sorrowful, and most merciful lover of all penitent sinners; who hast said, thy delight is to he with the sons of men; for the love of whom thou didst assume human nature in the fulness of time: remember, most sweet Lord Jesus, all those sharp sorrows which did pierce thy sacred soul, from the first instant of thy incarnation, until the time of thy sorrowful passion, preordained from all eternity: remember, O moat amiable Saviour, all that bitter anguish thou didst suffer, when at thy last supper thou didst wash the feet of thy disciples, didst feed them with the sacred banquet of thy precious body and blood, and most sweetly comforting them, didst foretell them thy ensuing passion; after which, going to Mount Olivet, thou saidst, My soul is sorrowful unto death. Remember, I beseech thee, O most sweet Saviour, that bitter grief and anguish which thy sacred soul did suffer when, praying three several times to thy heavenly Father, thou didst sweat water and blood, thou wast betrayed by thy own disciple, apprehended by thy chosen people, accused by false witnesses, unjustly arraigned before three judges, and in thy chosen city, in the Paschal solemnity, in the flourishing age of thy youth, wrongfully condemned, bound, beaten, spurned, spit upon, despoiled of thy garments, and clothed with others in scorn; wast blindfolded, buffeted, spit upon again, bound naked to a pillar, most cruelly scourged, crowned with thorns, struck with a reed, and afflicted with innumerable other torments, pains, and injuries. O my Lord Jesus, by the memory and merit of all that bitter pain and anguish, before Thou breathedst Thy last upon the cross, vouchsafe to grant me, before my death, true contrition, entire confession, a flowing fountain of tears, full satisfaction, and plenary remission of all my sins. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to me, a sinner.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c,
2. O Most sweet Lord Jesus, overflowing fountain of heavenly delights, remember, I beseech Thee, that grief and sorrow which Thou didst suffer, when Thy cruel enemies, like fierce lions with furious and dreadful looks, compassing Thee round about, did pluck out Thy hair, spit up on Thy sacred face, lacerate, buffet Thee; and with all manner of unheard of injuries, outrages, and torments, did most cruelly and basely blaspheme, scorn, and affront Thee. O most sweet Lord Jesus, by all those most barbarous and inhuman outrages Thou didst suffer, vouchsafe to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, that, protected under the shadow of Thy wings, I may safely arrive at the port of eternal glory. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, be propitious to me, a sinner.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.
3. O Most sweet Lord Jesus, omnipotent creator and fabricator of the world, and repairer of mankind, Who can tamest both heaven and earth in Thy hand, and whose immensity no bound can limit; remember, I beseech Thee, that bitter pain and anguish which Thou didst endure when the perfidious Jews pierced Thy delicate and tender hands and feet with most rough and blunt nails stretching them forth violently with cords to the holes which they had made in the cross. Thus they heaped pain upon pain, most cruelly disjointing all Thy bones, breaking all Thy veins, and renewing all Thy sacred wounds. O most sweet Jesus, by the memory of all these pains and torments on the cross, vouchsafe to give me Thy fear and love, with perfect charity towards my neighbor. Amen.
O most pious Lord Jesus, be propitious to me, a sinner. &c.
4. O Most sweet Lord Jesus, heavenly physician of human nature, and eternal King, remember, I beseech Thee, all those bitter pains which Thou didst endure in Thy sacred members, who, being raised upon the cross with all Thy precious body rent and torn, all Thy bones being so disjointed that not one remained in its right place; not having from the crown of Thy head unto the soles of Thy feet any part left whole; so that no anguish could be compared to Thine; at which time, being unmindful of Thy own torments, Thou didst mercifully pray to Thy heavenly Father for Thy cruel enemies, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." O most meek and merciful Lord Jesus, by this Thy admirable benignity, goodness, love, and mercy, and by all thy bitter pains and torments, grant that the memory of Thy dolorous passion may be to me a most powerful protection of my soul and body against all the deceits, temptations, and molestations of the devils, my cruel enemies. Amen.
O most merciful Lord Jesus, be propitious to me, a sinner. &c.
5. O Most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, mirror of eternal brightness, and wisdom of the omnipotent Father; remember the bitter grief and sorrow Thy sacred soul did feel, when beholding, in the clear mirror of Thy divine presence, the predestination of the elect, who, through the merits of thy most wholesome passion, were to be saved; and the reprobation of the wicked, who were for their ingratitude to be damned; and the abyss of Thy immense mercy, by which Thou didst commiserate and shed tears for us, miserable, lost, forlorn sinners; and chiefly by that mercy Thou didst show to the thief upon the cross, saying to him, "This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise;" I beseech Thee, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my Lord and my God, to show the like mercy to me, now and at the hour of my death. Amen.
O most sweet Lord Jesus, be propitious to me, a sinner. &c.
6. O Most sweet Lord Jesus, omnipotent king and most amiable friend, remember the bitter grief and sorrow Thy sacred soul did suffer, when, being forsaken by all Thy friends and acquaintance, Thou didst hang naked, rent, and torn upon the cross, having none to comfort or compassionate Thee, but only the blessed Virgin Mary, Thy mother, who standing under the cross, in the bitterness of her soul, accompanied Thee in all Thy torments; unto whom Thou didst commend Thy beloved disciple St. John, in Thy place, saying unto her, "Woman, behold thy son!" and after, to Thy disciple, "Behold thy mother!" O most sweet Lord Jesus, by that sword which did then transpierce her sacred soul; and by that tender love and compassion wherewith Thou didst behold the sad distress of Thy sorrowful Mother, have pity and compassion on me, I beseech Thee, my dearest Lord, and mercifully help, comfort, succor, and assist me in all my tribulations, adversities, necessities, sorrows, and sufferings, both spiritual and corporal. Amen.
O most blessed Lord Jesus, be propitious to me, a sinner. &c.
The Agnus Dei
An Agnus Dei (so called from the image of the Lamb of God impressed on the face of it) is made of ' virgin wax, balsam, and chrism, blessed according to the form prescribed in the Roman Ritual.
The: Pope consecrates the Agnus Dei the first year of his pontificate, and afterwards every seventh year, on Saturday before Low Sunday, with many solemn ceremonies and devout prayers.
The use of the Agnus Dei is very ancient. Pope Leo III. made a present of one to the Emperor Charlemagne, who received it as a treasure sent from heaven, and reverenced it with a singular piety and devotion.
A Prayer to be daily said by those who carry, about them an Agnus Dei.
O my Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb who taketh away the sins of the world; by thy mercy, which is infinite, pardon my iniquities, and, by thy sacred Passion, preserve me this day from all sin and evil. I carry about me this holy Agnus in thine honour, as a preservative against mine own weakness, and as an incentive to the practice of that meekness, humility and innocence which thou hast taught us. I offer myself up to thee as an entire oblation, and in memory of that sacrifice of love which thou didst offer for me on the cross, and in satisfaction for my sins. Accept this oblation, I beseech thee, O my God; and may it be acceptably to thee in the odour of sweetness. Amen.
Short Prayers of St. Gregory
ON OUR LORD'S PASSION.
1. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thy hanging upon the cross, and wearing a crown of thorns. I humbly pray thee, that thy blood may deliver me from the destroying angel. Amen. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.
2. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thee wounded on the cross, and having gall and vinegar given thee to drink. I beseech thee, that thy wounds may become the cure of my soul. Amen. Our Father, &c.
3. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech thee, through the bitterness of the pains which thou didst suffer in the hour of death, and chiefly when thy most holy soul departed from thy blessed body, have mercy on my soul at its quitting my body, and bring it to eternal life. Amen. Our Father, &c.
4. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thee laid in the sepulchre, and embalmed with myrrh and spices; grant, I beseech thee,' that thy death may be my hie. Amen. Our Father, &c.
5. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thee descending into Limbo, and delivering from thence thy captives; never permit, I beseech thee, my soul to be separated from thee. Amen. Our Father, &c.
6. O my Lord Jesus Christ, I adore thee rising from the dead, ascending into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of thy Father; grant, I beseech, that I may follow thee thither, and deserve to be presented to him by thee. Amen. Our Father, &c.
7. O my Lord Jesus Christ, who art the good Shepherd, preserve the just, justify sinners, have mercy on all the faithful, and be propitious to me, a miserable and unworthy sinner. Amen. Our Father. &c.
Prayers to the Sacred Wounds of Jesus
Collect.
O most lovely Redeemer of my soul, prostrate before thee upon the cross my conscience reproaches me with having nailed thee with my own hands to that cross, as often as I have fallen into grievous sin, thus wounding thee by my exceeding ingratitude. O my God, my most perfect and Sovereign Good, to whom are due all the affections of my heart for the blessings which thou hast unceasingly bestowed upon me; I, miserable that I am, cannot undo my evil deeds as I would; but with deep sorrow I abhor them as offences against thine infinite goodness; and, kneeling at thy Feet, I will at least endeavour to compassionate thee, to thank thee, and to implore of thee pardon and amendment of life, while with my heart upon my lips I thus say:
THE WOUND OF THE LEFT FOOT.
O my Jesus, I adore the most sacred Wound of thy Left Foot; I compassionate thy bitter sufferings. I thank thee for the love with which thou didst labour to overtake me in the way of perdition, staining thyself with the blood drawn forth by the thorns and briers of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the sorrow and the love of thy sacred Humanity, in expiation of my abominable transgressions, which I detest with bitter and sincere contrition.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
THE WOUND OF THE RIGHT FOOT.
O my Jesus, I adore the most sacred Wound of thy Right Foot; I compassionate thy bitter sufferings. I thank thee for the love which transfixed thee, convulsed and bleeding in punishment of my wanderings, and the guilty indulgence of my unbridled passions. I offer the sorrow and the love of thy most sacred Humanity to the Eternal Father; and implore of him the grace to bewail my transgressions with burning tears, and to persevere in the path of goodness entered upon, without ever withdrawing myself from obedience to thy divine commandments. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
THE WOUND OF THE LEFT HAND.
O my Jesus, I adore the most sacred Wound of thy Left Hand; I compassionate thy bitter sufferings. I thank thee for having averted with such love the scourges and the everlasting condemnation due to my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the sorrow and the love of thy most sacred. Humanity; and entreat him that I may spend the remainder of my life profitably, in bringing forth fruits worthy of penance, and thus disarming his irritated justice.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
THE WOUND OF THE BIGHT HAND.
O my Jesus, I adore the most sacred Wound of thy Bight Hand; I compassionate thy bitter sufferings. I thank thee for having loaded me- with, ever-increasing benefits; notwithstanding my miserable want of correspondence with them. I offer to the Eternal Father the sorrow and the love of thy most sacred Humanity, entreating him to change my heart and affections, and to enable me to perform all my actions according to his good pleasure.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
THE WOUND OF THE SACRED SIDE.
O my Jesus, I adore the most holy Wound of thy sacred Side; I compassionate thee for that bitter insult. I thank thee for the love which presented thy Breast and Heart to the thrust, and gave up the last drops of blood and water for my plentiful redemption. I offer to the Eternal Father the outrage and the love of thy most sacred Humanity, that my soul, having once entered into that most loving Heart, so ready and willing to receive the worst of sinners, may go out no more for ever.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
TO OUR BLESSED LADY OF DOLOURS.
O Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who endurest a martyrdom of love and grief at beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus, thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption by thy innumerable afflictions, and by offering to the Eternal Father his only-begotten Son and thine, as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I compassionate thy bitter sufferings; I thank thee for the all but infinite love which led thee to deprive thyself of the fruit of thy womb, true God and true man, to save me a sinner. Ah, interpose the ever-availing intercession of thy dolours with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life, and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; and that, persevering till death in his grace, I may obtain eternal life through the merits of his painful cross and Passion.
Three Hail Marys.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who at the sixth hour didst ascend the gibbet of the cross for the redemption of the world, and didst shed thy Precious Blood for the remission of sins; we humbly beseech thee to grant us after death the joy of entering the gates of paradise.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy Mother, may intercede for us with thy clemency, now and at the hour of our death, who in the hour of thy Passion was pierced in her most holy soul by the sword of sorrow; grant this, O Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.
100 days' Indulgence daily to all the faithful who shall devoutly recite the above prayers to the Five "Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ. To those who shall have recited them at least ten times a month, a plenary Indulgence twice a year, namely, on the Feast of the Invention of the most Holy Cross (3d May), and of its Exaltation (14th Sept.), they having confessed and communicated on those days. And further, to those who shall recite them from Passion Sunday to the end of the Holy "Week inclusive, an Indulgence of seven years, and seven quarantains on each of the said days, and a plenary Indulgence on Easter Sunday, they having confessed and communicated on that day, praying for Holy Church. These Indulgences are perpetual, and applicable to the holy souls in purgatory.
The Passion of our Lord.
According to the opinion of the holy fathers and doctors of the Church, there is no more efficacious or useful means by which to progress in the way of salvation than the frequent remembrance of, and meditation on, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is sufficient for us to know how St. Augustin expresses himself on this subject (lib. ii. Advers. Manich. c. xxii.). " I have found," he says, "no more effectual consolation in all my adversities than the wounds of Jesus Christ. I sleep in them with assurance, and I rest in them without fear. Jesus Christ has died for us. There is nothing so bitter that it may not be made sweet by the death of Christ. All my hope is built on the death of my Lord. His death is my merit, my refuge, my salvation, my life, and my resurrection. The mercy of our Lord is my merit. I shall not be wanting in merit as long as our Lord ceases not to be merciful to me; and since the mercies of our Lord are great, my merit is also great." The greater is his power to save us, the safer am I. If this or that unpleasant thought pursues and troubles me, I run to take refuge in the wounds of Jesus Christ. If my evil inclinations weigh me down, I again raise myself by the remembrance of the wounds of my Saviour. If Satan secretly torments me, I confide in the most intimate mercy of my Lord, and he does not forsake me. If the sting of concupiscence attacks me, it is deadened by the remembrance of the wounds of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God." St. Bernard says (Serm. 2 in Epiph.): " As for me, my brothers, from the- very commencement of my conversion, perceiving that I was wanting in virtue, I appropriated to myself this nosegay of myrrh, composed of all the sufferings and bitter sorrows of my Saviour, and I fastened it on my breast. As long as I live, its remembrance will never be effaced from my memory. I have found that wisdom consisted in meditating on these things, and I discovered that therein alone" were the perfection of justice, the plenitude of science, the riches of salvation, and the abundance of merit. You also, my brothers, should form to yourselves a nosegay of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and adorn your bosom with it, and there let it remain; for if you have it thus before your eyes, meditating on the bitter sorrows of our Lord, you will more easily bear your own sufferings, being assisted by the help of Jesus Christ. May God be blessed through all eternity! Amen."
THE CLOCK OF THE PASSION.
In this exercise we divide the Passion and the history of the death of Jesus Christ into twenty-four parts, in order to meditate upon them, either collectively or one by one, at certain times to be determined upon beforehand.
At 6 o'clock in the evening.
After having taken leave of his holy Mother, Jesus celebrates his Last Supper with his disciples.
Admire the excess of his charity, and at the remembrance of it, thank our Lord Jesus Christ for his sufferings and merits, of which he granted us a share at this time; say to him with love and devotion:
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst desire to suffer the dolours of thy Passion. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery. I beseech thee, by thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 7 o'clock.
Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, and institutes the Sacrament of his love.
Admire the humility with which Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and his love which induces him to give himself to us to be our food.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst institute the divine sacrament of the altar. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I implore thee, O Jesus, by thy divine merits, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death,
and to grant me pardon and mercy. At 8 o'clock.
Jesus makes his last discourse after the Supper, and then goes to the Garden of Olives.
Adore the sacred Heart of Jesus, all inflamed with the love of men, and giving to his disciples the food of his holy doctrine.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou gavest thy last instructions, which only breathed the most tender charity, and which were followed by the admirable example of the sacrifice of thyself. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 9 o'clock.
Jesus prays with his face on the ground: "O my Father," says he, "if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."
Admire the perfect submission of Jesus.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which
thou didst accept with so much love the chalice of thy
Passion. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to
this adorable mystery; I beseech thee through thy divine
merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the
hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 10 o'clock.
Jesus begins his agony, and sweats blood and water.
Adore the sacred Heart of Jesus as the source of eternal life.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe for our sakes to be seized with fear and filled with anguish. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 11 o'clock.
Jesus is strengthened by an angel.
Adore the divine Saviour as the truth that enlightens the world, and the life that animates it.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe, for the sake of our weakness, to accept the consolations of an angel. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I implore thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At Midnight.
Jesus is betrayed by the kiss of Judas, and bound with chains.
Adore the divine Saviour in his slavery of love.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to be bound, in order to draw us to thee by the sweet chains of thy love. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 1 o'clock.
Jesus is led to Annas.
Adore Jesus, as the teacher of truth, reduced by his love to the greatest abasement.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to be delivered up to the fury of wicked men; oh. grant that I may humble myself for the love of thee. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 2 o'clock.
Jesus is accused before Caiphas, where he receives a blow on his face, and answers meekly to him that struck him.
Admire the ineffable gentleness of Jesus.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to suffer this insult, in order to teach us to be meek and humble of heart. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and
to grant me pardon and mercy. At 3 o'clock.
Whilst Jesus is insulted in the prison, he is also denied by St. Peter for the third time.
Admire the profound sorrow of Jesus on seeing himself forsaken by all his disciples, and beholding the cowardice of St. Peter, and the malice with which the Jews bandage his eyes, and strike him and turn him into ridicule.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe by one look of compassion to touch the heart of thy disciple ; oh, do thou pierce mine with love and sorrow for my sins. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 4 o'clock.
Jesus, summoned before the great council, is declared worthy of death.
Admire the modesty and the patience of our divine Saviour.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose by thy silence to suffer the opprobium of passing for a blasphemer and for a criminal worthy of death. I adore thee, O Eternal Word, and I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 5 o'clock.
Jesus is led before Pilate, in whose presence he is accused.
Salute him, and adore him as your Master, your Saviour, and your King.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe, for the love of us, to suffer this fresh outrage. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 6 o'clock.
Jesus, in the presence of Herod, is clothed in a white robe, and treated as a fool.
Adore the Son of God, in whom his divine power is thus veiled.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to be loaded with insults: oh, let my consolation be to be despised for thy sake. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 7 o'clock
Jesus is conducted back to Pirate, and Barabbas is preferred before him.
Adore the Heart of Jesus, inexhaustible treasure of every good, open to all, and too little known by men.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to suffer this insulting preference; oh, detach my heart from all created things. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 8 o'clock.
Jesus is cruelly scourged at the pillar; his blood flows on every side.
Admire the immense love to which the wounds of our Saviour bear witness.
Blessed be the hour, O my Saviour Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to be torn by scourges, and to shed thy precious blood in order to blot out my sins. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable, mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits; O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 9 o'clock.
Jesus is crowned with thorns, and afterwards insulted by the soldiers.
Adore the divine King of your heart, in this cruel state in which he suffers for you.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe to suffer this painful crowning for our sakes; oh, pierce my heart with sorrow and regret for having offended thee. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember xne at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 10 o'clock.
Pilate condemns Jesus to death, and abandons him to the cruelty of the Jews.
Adore the Holy of holies, treated as a criminal, and led to Calvary with the cross on his shoulders.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe, for the love of us, to be condemned to death, and delivered up to thy cruel enemies. Thou didst then walk laden with a heavy cross, in order to help me to carry mine with patience; I thank thee for it, I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 11 o'clock.
Jesus is stripped of his garments and fastened to the cross.
Adore this divine Lamb, immolated as a victim on the altar of the cross.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst choose to be stripped of thy garments and sacrificed as a lamb that is slain, to be offered in holocaust; oh, give me a heart capable of returning this great love! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At Noon.
Jesus prays for his executioners, and promises paradise to the good thief.
Adore the divine Shepherd, who gives his life for his sheep.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe to give thyself up as a victim of expiation for us; oh, may thy cross soften thy judgment, and comfort my soul at the hour of my death! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I implore thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 1 o'clock.
Jesus offers his soul up to his Divine Father, and recommends His holy Mother to His beloved disciple, whom he also recommends to his holy Mother.
Admire the entire resignation of our most holy Redeemer upon the cross; give him eternal thanksgiving for the love which induced him to intrust us in the person of St. John to the care of his divine Mother.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst ordain that Mary should become our Mother; oh, grant that the love of thee and of her may inflame my heart! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 2 o'clock.
Jesus cries out, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? " Then he says, "I thirst;" and having taken the vinegar, he says, " It is consummated"
Admire the unalterable patience of the Son of God, and sympathise with this burning thirst which he feels for our salvation.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe to give us such touching examples of resignation and of zeal for the salvation of souls, and for the accomplishment of the will of thy heavenly Father.
I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 3 o'clock.
Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, bends down his head, and expires.
Admire the last sigh of God your Saviour, and the sacrifice that he makes of himself on the cross for our salvation.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou didst vouchsafe to die for us, in order to consummate the great work of our redemption. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to remember me at the hour of my death and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 4 o'clock.
A soldier pierces the sacred side of Jesus with a lance, after which Joseph and Nicodemus take down his holy Body from the cross, and place it in the arms of his afflicted Mother.
Adore this sacred wound, from which flowed forth blood and water.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou wert pleased, through thy wound, to open to us thy sacred Heart, the source of salvation and grace; oh, let thy divine unction flow upon us through the hands of Mary, to whom thou didst leave us as her adopted children! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
At 5 o'clock.
Jesus is placed in the holy sepulchre.
Adore Jesus Christ, who remains in our tabernacles, as it were enclosed in a holy sepulchre.
Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which thou wert pleased to resign thyself into the hands of Joseph and Nicodemus to be buried; which foreshowed so well the generosity with which thou dost abandon thyself into the hands of the priests, in order that thou mayest thy own self provide the better for my wants. O my Jesus, grant me a share in the compassion of thy holy Mother; arm me with the courage of thy two disciples against human respect; but above all give me the ardent love of Mary Magdalen, in order that I may seek thee until I have found thee risen again to die no more. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech thee, through thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me to the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.
PRAYER, "RESPICE."
Look down, O Lord, Holy Father, from thy sanctuary, and from heaven thy dwelling-place on high, and behold this sacred victim, which our great High-Priest, thy holy, innocent, and well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, offers up to thee for the sins of his brethren; and be appeased for the multitude of the transgressions of the world. Behold the voice of the blood of our Brother, thy first-born Jesus, cries to thee from the cross. Give ear, O Lord; be appeased, O Lord; hearken and do: tarry not for thine own sake, O our God; for thy name is called upon this house and city, and upon all thy people; and deal with us according to thine infinite mercy. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
March
ST. JOSEPH, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, &c.
Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph
1. O glorious St. Joseph, most pure spouse of thy most holy Mary, even as the trouble and anguish of thy heart was great in the perplexity of abandoning thy most chaste and stainless spouse, so, too, inexplicable was thy delight when by the angel was revealed to thee the sovereign mystery of the Incarnation.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, we pray thee, now and in our last agony, to comfort our soul with the joy of a good life, and of a holy death, like unto thine between Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
2. O glorious St. Joseph, most blessed patriarch, who wast selected for the office of reputed father of the Word made Man, the grief which thou didst feel at seeing the child Jesus born in such great poverty was suddenly changed for thee into heavenly exultation at hearing the angelic harmony, and seeing the glories of that most resplendent night.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, we beseech thee to obtain for us that, after the journey of this life is over, we may pass hence to hear the angelic praises, and to enjoy the splendours of the glory of heaven.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
3. O glorious St. Joseph, who didst fulfil most obediently all God's commands, the most precious blood which the child Redeemer shed in the circumcision struck death into thy heart, but the name of Jesus revived it and filled it full of joy.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for me that all vices having been taken from us during life, we may expire in exultation with the most holy name of Jesus in our hearts and upon our lips.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
4. O most glorious St. Joseph, most faithful saint, who wast a partaker in the mysteries of our redemption, if Simeon's prophecy of that which Jesus and Mary were to suffer caused thee a mortal pang, it filled thee also with a blessed joy at the salvation and glorious resurrection of innumerable souls, which he at the same time foretold would thence proceed.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that we may be of the number of those who, through the merits of Jesus, and at the intercession of the Virgin Mother, are to rise again in glory.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
5. O glorious St. Joseph, most watchful guardian and familiar attendant of the incarnate Son of God, how much didst thou suffer in supporting and in serving the Son of the Most High, particularly in the flight which thou hadst to make into Egypt; but how much again didst thou rejoice at having always with thee that same God, and at seeing the idols of Egypt fall to the ground.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that, by keeping far from us hell's tyrant, especially by flying from dangerous occasions, every idol of earthly affection may fall from our hearts; and that, wholly occupied in the service of Jesus and of Mary, we may live for them alone, and die a happy death.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
6. O glorious St. Joseph, angel of the earth, who didst marvel at beholding the King of Heaven subject to thy commands, if thy consolation at bringing him back from Egypt was disturbed by the fear of Archelaus, yet, assured by the angel, thou didst with Jesus and Mary dwell in joy at Nazareth.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that our heart, unclouded by hurtful fears, may enjoy peace of conscience, and that we may live secure with Jesus and Mary, and with them may also die.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
7. O glorious St. Joseph, model of all holiness, when, without fault of thine, thou hadst lost the child Jesus, thou didst seek him for three days in the greatest sorrow, until with joyful heart thou didst possess again thy life, finding him in the Temple among the doctors.
Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, with fervent sighs we supplicate thee to interpose in our behalf, that so it may never befall us to lose Jesus by mortal sin; but that, if unhappily we ever lose him, we may seek him again with Unwearied sorrow, until once more we find his favour, especially at the moment of our death, that so we may pass to the enjoyment of him in heaven, and there with thee sing his divine mercies for all eternity.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
Ant. Jesus himself was beginning about his thirtieth year, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph.
V. Pray for us, O holy Joseph.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O God, who by thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose the blessed Joseph for the spouse of thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in heaven; who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
Indulgences: 100 days each time; 300 days on Wednesdays; 300 days on each day of the two Novenas before his Feast and his Patronage; plenary on those two Feasts; plenary once a month for daily recital; 300 days for each Sunday when recited seven Sundays running. Applicable to the dead.
Act of Offering
TO THE PATRIARCH ST. JOSEPH.
Most glorious patriarch, chastest spouse of the great Mother of God, and reputed father of my Lord Jesus Christ, my loving St. Joseph, confiding in the greatness of thy holiness, and inflamed with the love which Jesus and Mary bore thee, I choose thee this day in their presence to be my especial protector, advocate, and patron; and I firmly purpose to keep this devotion to thee always burning within my heart. And since I know that thou wert appointed by the eternal Father to be the head of the holy family upon earth, I desire to be one of its devoted servants and friends, and I beg of thee to admit me into the number. I desire, unworthy sinner though I be, to render to thee also the homage which I pay to the Infant Jesus and to his Virgin Mother. I beseech thee also, O my most glorious father St Joseph, to obtain for me, through thy great merits and by thy most powerful intercession, the grace to imitate in my life thy most holy conversation with Jesus and Mary, so that I too, like thyself, may enjoy the assistance of Jesus and of Mary at my death, and in their arms may breathe forth my soul, saying, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, I give you my heart and my soul. Amen,
An Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, to St. Joseph,
Let us pray.
O God, who by the holy family of the Incarnate Word hast consecrated the whole earth, and hast, in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, given to us the pattern of holy living; grant that we, who by this blessed three implore of thee the grace of holy living, may, together with the angels, come to praise thee in heaven, who livest in thy blissful and undivided trinity of persons, world without end. Amen.
Responsory of St. Joseph
Ye that would live and die secure,
In merit strong, of mercy sure,
Choose Joseph for your heavenly friend,
To guide your steps and bless your end.
He was sweet Mary's consort dear,
And Jesus' sire, when exiled here;
Just true, of purity untold,
Say, shall he ask, and God withhold?
He worship'd at the manger-bed,
And then the Exile comforted;
And sought his Son and joyous found.
While on his Father's business bound,
He through sweet toil and patient pains
The world's Artificer sustains;
And whom th' Angelic legions praise
Obedience to his creatures pays.
And now he waxes old and dies:
But first beholds with loving eyes
Jesus and Mary - gracious sight -
Then sleeps entranced in deep delight.
Ant. Behold the faithful and prudent servant whom the Lord set over his house.
V. Pray for us, holy Joseph,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
O God, who in thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector; who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
An indulgence of one year to all the faithful in the whole Catholic world, every time that with contrite heart and devoutly they say the above Responsory in honour of St . Joseph, to implore his efficacious protection in life and in death.
Litany of St. Joseph, p. 349.
HYMNS.
Hail! holy Joseph, hail! . . . . . .140
Seek ye the grace of God . . . . . . 141
Jesus, let me call thee son . . . . . . 173
Dear husband of Mary . . . . . . 174
Novena of St. Francis Xavier.
This Novena commences on the 4th and ends on the 12th March, the anniversary of the canonisation of St. Francis Xavier 1622. The performance of this Novena consists in devoting each of the nine days to prayer and good works to the glory of Almighty God, and in honour of his servant St. Francis Xavier; with the fervent hope and desire of obtaining from God, through his merits, whatsoever we may ask, provided it be conducive to our salvation and to the good of our souls; or if such be not his divine pleasure, some other grace and benefit more in accordance with the will of God,
Litany of St. Francis Xavier, p. 353; Hymn, No. 4.
Let us pray.
O Lord God, who didst vouchsafe by the preaching and miracles o£ St. Francis Xavier to join unto thy Church the countries of the Indies; grant, we beseech thee, that we who reverence his glorious merits, may also imitate his example; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, my Creator and my Redeemer, for thy sake, and because I lore thee above all things, I am truly sorry for having offended thee: I firmly purpose never again to fall into sin, to shim all occasions of offending thee, to confess my sine, to perform the penance that shall be enjoined me, and to make restitution and satisfaction wherever it shall be due from me. For the tare of thee, I forgive ail my enemies; to thee I offer up my life, my action, and my sufferings, in satisfaction for my Sins; and I trust in thy infinite goodness and mercy, that thou wilt forgive me, through the merits of thy Precious Blood and Passion, and that thou wilt also give me grace to amend my life, and to persevere in thy service unto my death. Amen.
Most glorious St. Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, if that which I desire to obtain by performing this Novena be for the glory of God and for thy honour, do thou intercede for it with our Lord; if otherwise, do thou obtain for me some grace more conformable to his divine will, by which I may the more surely promote thy honour and benefit my own soul.
Prayer for the First Day.
Lord God of the Angels, to whom thou dost commit the guardianship of men, I offer unto thee the merits of these heavenly spirits, and those of thy servant St Francis Xavier, who also was called an angel for his purity, and because he preserved men from many spiritual and corporal dangers. I beseech thee to grant me that purity of soul and body which thou didst confer on this thy holy Apostle, and that particular grace which I beg in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.[2]
The Second Day.
Lord God of the Archangels, to whom thou dost intrust the most weighty concerns of thy glory, I offer unto thee the merits of these most diligent spirits, and those of thy great servant St. Francis Xavier, whom thou didst make the minister of thy glory, and to whom thou didst recommend the spiritual welfare of innumerable souls. I beseech thee to grant that I may perform those duties which thy most holy will hath imposed upon me, and also that I may obtain that particular grace which I beg of thee in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Third Day.
Lord God of the Principalities, through whom thou dost enlighten, instruct, and govern mankind, I offer unto thee the merits of these most zealous spirit, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, who, not only by himself, but also by his disciples and followers, enlightened and converted many provinces and kingdoms, and in them innumerable souls, instructing, teaching, and commanding. I "beseech thee to grant me the zeal of this holy Apostle, and the particular petition I make in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Fourth Day.
Lord God of the Powers, to whom it especially belongs to curb the infernal spirit. I offer unto thee the merits of these mighty spirits and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, to whom thou gavest singular power to expel devils from bodies and souls. I beseech thee to grant me the grace to overcome all the temptations of the devil; grant also that which I beg of thee in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Fifth Day.
Lord God of the Virtues, by whose means thou workest miracles and prodigies peculiar to thy sovereign power, I offer unto thee the merits of these most wonderful spirits, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, whom thou didst make a worker of new and prodigious miracles, renewing in him the signs and wonders of thy blessed Apostles, that he might make known the gospel to strange nations. I beseech thee to grant me that profound humility wherewith St. Francis Xavier amidst so many miracles sought thy glory, and not his own honour, as also that which I beg in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Sixth Day.
Lord God of the Dominations, who as ministers of thy providence preside over all inferior spirits, and submit themselves to thy will, being ever ready to fulfil it, I offer unto the the merits of these excellent spirits, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, who though he excelled many, yet humbly submitted himself- to all superiors, and readily fulfilled their commands, in them acknowledging thy majesty. I beseech thee to grant me ready and perfect obedience to all my superiors, and that special petition which I make in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Seventh Day.
Lord God of the Thrones, on whom thou dost repose as on the seat of thy glory and chair of thy majesty, I offer unto thee the merits of these supreme spirits, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, that throne of thy glory, that vessel of election to convey thy name to heathen nations, who denied himself to himself, and to all worldly things, casting them out of his heart, that thou alone mightest possess it. I beseech thee to grant that I may despise all worldly things, and. rest in thee alone; grant me also the petition I make in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Eighth Day.
Lord God of the Cherubim, who are adorned with the most perfect wisdom, I offer unto thee the merits of these most glorious spirits, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, to whom thou didst give the grace of supereminent wisdom, and to whom thou didst reveal most profound secrets, that he might teach thy law to many people and nations. I beseech thee to grant that I may learn to fear and please thee,, which is true wisdom, and that by word and example I may teach others to keep thy commandments; grant me also the favour I beg in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
The Ninth Day.
Lord God of the Seraphim, who are inflamed with most ardent love of thee, I offer unto thee the merits of these most fervent spirits, and those of thy servant St. Francis Xavier, who like a Seraph, was inflamed with thy love, conquering innumerable hardships and dangers of life to please thee, and to make those know and love thee who before offended thee and knew thee not I beseech thee to grant that I may love thee, my only God and Lord, and may endeavour to bring all men to the knowledge and love of thee; grant me also that which I ask in this Novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.
Here say thrice the Lord's Prayer and thrice the Hail Mary, and then the following prayer to St. Francis Xavier:
Most holy father Francis Xavier, who didst receive praise from the mouths of innocent children, I humbly implore thy bountiful charity, for the sake of the most Precious Blood of Jesus, and of the immaculate conception of our Blessed Lady, Mother of God, to obtain of God's infinite goodness that, at the approach of my last hour, my heart may be separated and withdrawn from all worldly thoughts and distractions, and be fixed in the most ardent love of him, and the desire of a happy eternity; so that, laying aside all earthly things, which have hitherto perplexed me, I may most diligently seek and perfectly find that one thing which is necessary, to die and rest in peace, under the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, in the wounds of Jesus her most blessed Son, in, the sweet embraces of my God, and in thy presence, holy Saint, through whose intercession I hope to obtain this mercy. But yet, whilst it shall please the divine providence to preserve my life, I beseech thee, my loving protector and affectionate father, to obtain for me of his divine majesty, that I may live as one that is to die, and as I would wished to have lived at the hour of my death; ever imitating thy virtues, and fulfilling the most holy will of God, that so my temporal death may be to me a passage into life everlasting. I also beseech thee to obtain for me that which I ask in this Novena, if it be for the glory of God and for the good of my soul. Amen.
Eternal God, Creator of all things, remember that thou alone didst create the souls of infidels, framing them to thy own image and likeness; and yet behold, O Lord, how to thy dishonour they daily become a prey to the Evil One. Remember, O Lord, thy only Son Jesus Christ, who suffered for them, most bountifully shedding his Precious Blood, and permit not that he be any longer despised by the infidels; but rather, being appeased by the entreaties and prayers of thine elect, of the Saints, and of the Church, the most blessed spouse of thy Son, vouchsafe to be mindful of thy mercy, and, forgetting their idolatry and infidelity, cause them also know him thou didst send, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who is our health, our life and our resurrection, through whom we are made free and are saved, and to whom be all glory for ever. Amen.
Ant. Well fare thee, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy oi thy Lord.
V. The Lord hath led the just man by right ways.
R. And he hath shown Mm the kingdom of God.
Let us pray.
O God, who wast pleased to reduce to the bosom at thy Church the nations of the Indies, through the preaching and miracles of St. Francis Xavier; mercifully grant that we may imitate the virtues of him whose glorious merits we commemorate; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commemoration of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Ant. This man despising the world, and triumphing over earthly things, heaped up riches in heaven both by word and work.
V. The Lord hath loved him and hath adorned him.
R. He hath clothed him with a robe of glory.
Let us pray
O God, who for the increase of the greater glory of thy name hast, by blessed Ignatius, strengthened the Church militant with new auxiliaries; vouchsafe that, combating upon earth by his assistance and imitation, we may deserve to be crowned with him in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commemoration of St. Gregory the Great, Apostle of England.
Ant. O most excellent doctor, light of the Holy Church, blessed Gregory, lover of God's law, supplicate the Son of God for us.
V. The Lord hath chosen him a priest unto himself.
R. To offer up unto him the sacrifice of praise.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast bestowed the rewards of eternal blessedness on the soul of thy servant Gregory; mercifully grant that we, who are depressed with the weight of our sins, may by his prayers be delivered; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to a Saint on his Feast-Day.
O holy N., I praise thee, bless thee, and glorify thee, and congratulate thee with all my heart on all the glory and honour which , are rendered to thee to-day, through the boundless liberality of the divine goodness. I recall to thy mind now the overflowing gladness with which thou didst rejoice when thou what presented before the face of the glory of God by the ministry of holy angels, to receive from him thine everlasting reward. Remember, O most blessed saint, all thy honour and thy glad rejoicing when the hand of God placed the crown of the kingdom on thy head, and thy soul was set upon the throne of its glory. For these and all o*her benefits and graces which have been ever bestowed upon thee by the God of majesty, I adore, praise, and bless his unutterable goodness, that he hath poured out upon thee in such abundance the flood of his sweetest compassion; and as the bond of that perpetual love and faithfulness' in which I desire to bind myself to thee, I offer thee the sweetest Heart of my Jesus, that treasure of all good things, together with all the love and the condescension he hath ever showed thee upon earth, and now showeth thee in the heavens. And, finally, with most assured trust I commend myself to thy most holy prayers; beseeching and imploring thee that in the dread hour of my death thou wouldst offer unto the Lord, in satisfaction for wry manifold negligences, all that collected fervour with which thou didst stand before God perfect and complete on this the day of thine entrance into Paradise. Amen.
HYMNS FOR SAINTS IN MARCH.
Mar. 1. St. David, Patron of the Diocese! of Menevia and Newport ...... . 258,259
7. St. Thomas Aquinas .. 157, 158
9. St. Francis ... 260
12. St. Gregory ... 149
17. St. Patrick, Patron of Ireland ... 233
18. St Gabriel ... 154
20. St. Cuthbert, Patron of Diocese of Hexham ... 258, 259
21. St. Benedict . . . . . 266
April
JESUS RISEN—ASCENSION — PENTECOST— THE HOLY TRINITY.
An Exercise
IN HONOUR OF THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS RISEN.
O my blessed Jesus, I adore thee, bright and beautiful in thy Resurrection ; I adore thee in all the mysteries of thy Risen Life on earth, and in all the majesty and loveliness of thy most dear Soul and glorified Body, as seen and worshipped in heaven at this hour. I acknowledge thee to be my Lord and my God: I bless thee for thy sweet victory over death, and for thy faithful love in retaining thy five holy Wounds, wherewith we sinners wounded thee on earth. Grant, I beseech thee, O my dearest Jesus, that I may so often and so tenderly meditate upon thee Risen and Glorified, that my heart may become daily more and more inflamed with love of thee, so that thy beauty may make the world dull and intolerable, and I may thirst exceedingly with pure and disinterested love for the hour when thou shalt admit me to behold thee as thou art, my dearest Lord, at this very moment on thy throne in heaven; who livest and reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
I believe, &c.
O Queen of Heaven and earth, Mother of God, Mother of Mercy, conceived without stain of original sin, and gloriously crowned in heaven, I desire with all the love of my poor heart to congratulate thee on those wonderful joys which thou didst and dost enjoy in the glory and splendour of Jesus Risen, from that first dawn when he appeared to thee in thy sorrow even to the present hour ; and I beseech thee to accept this my devotion to thy maternal joys, and to obtain for me an increase of love to Jesus in this world, and in the world to come the never-fading light of his most blessed countenance. Amen.
Hail Mary.
O glorious and affectionate St. Joseph Foster-father of Jesus and Spouse of Mary , by the joy at thy meeting with Jesus in the place of departed spirits, and by the joy thou hast this hour in thy nearness to his risen beauty and most sweet splendour, present unto him, I beseech thee, O my dear father and protector, this my devotion to the mysteries of his Risen Life; and as he spared thee the bitterness of His sacred Passion, obtain for me the peace of his Resurrection and the gift of spiritual joy, that I may find no Joy but in God, and in Jesus, Mary, and thyself. Amen
Our Father.
V. Pray for us, O holy angels of God, alleluia.
R. That we may be made worthy of the vision of Jesus Glorified, alleluia.
O Eternal Father, who of thine infinite goodness didst give unto us thine eternal and only-begotten son Jesus Christ, and hast now raised his sacred humanity to the high places of heaven; grant, we beseech thee, that by our devotion to the mysteries of his Risen and Glorified Life both on earth and in heaven, we may so please thee, that by thy clemency we may attain to the vision and enjoyment of thee in the world to come; through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
THE MYSTERIES.
1. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore and love "thee m thy risen beauty as then wert at the moment of thy triumph over death, and as thou wert in all thine apparitions during those mysterious forty days: and I bless thee for the joys thou gavest thy dear Mother In thy Soul and Body Glorified.
Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Blessed be Jesus Risen, alleluia.
R. And blessed be his five bright Wounds, alleluia.
All praise to Jesus for the joys
His glory now on Mary showers;
It is a joy the joys are hers,
For Mary's joys are doubly ours.
2. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore and love thee in that risen beauty in which thou didst appear to thy Mother at the dawn of day, and didst console her in her sorrow: and I bless thee for the joys thou gavest thy dear Mother in thy Soul and Body Glorified.
Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Blessed be Jesus Risen, alleluia.
R. And blessed be his five bright Wounds, alleluia.
All praise, &c.
3. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore and love thee in that power and splendour with which thou didst ascend to heaven, in the presence of thy Mother and the holy Apostles, and as thou wert at the moment they last looked on thee, and earth lost sight of thee, after thy sojourn of three-and-thirty years: and I bless thee for the joys thou gavest thy dear Mother in thy Soul and Body Glorified.
Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Blessed be Jesus Risen, alleluia.
R. And blessed be his five bright Wounds, alleluia.
All praise, &c.
4. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore and love thee in that winning majesty and brightness in which thou didst suffer thy first martyr St. Stephen to behold thee at his martyrdom, and thy chosen vessel St. Paul to see thee at his conversion: and I bless thee for the joys thou gavest thy dear Mother in thy Soul and Body Glorified.
Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Blessed be Jesus Risen, alleluia.
R. And blessed be his five bright Wounds, alleluia.
All praise, &c.
5. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore and love thee in that risen beauty of thine which takes away from our hearts all sad and sorrowful thoughts of thee, while the sight of the five precious Wounds which thou retainest keeps the memory of thy Passion sweetly alive in our hearts: and I bless thee for the joys thou gavest thy dear Mother in thy Soul and Body Glorified.
Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Blessed be Jesus Risen, alleluia.
R. And blessed be his five bright Wounds, alleluia.
All praise, &c.
6. O my blessed Jesus, my Lord and my God, I adore
and love thee in thy risen beauty as thine Apostles beheld Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/524 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/525 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/526 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/527 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/528 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/529 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/530 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/531 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/532 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/533 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/534 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/535 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/536 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/537 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/538 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/539 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/540 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/541 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/542 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/543 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/544 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/545 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/546 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/547 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/548 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/549 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/550 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/551 Mother dearest! Mother fairest!
Maiden purest! Maiden rarest !
Help of earth and joy of Heaven !
Love and praise to thee be given,
Blissful Mother! blissful Maiden !
Let us unite our affections with the blessed choir of Principalities, and say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for all the gifts and graces bestowed upon our dear Mother, the Queen of Angels.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
8.
O Help of Christians! mercy-laden ;
O blissful Mother! blissful Maiden!
O Sinless ! were it not for thee,
There were in faith no liberty
To hold that God could stoop so low,
Or love his sinful creatures so.
Mother dearest ! Mother fairest !
Maiden purest! Maiden rarest!
Help of earth and joy of Heaven!
Love and praise to thee be given,
Blissful Mother! blissful Maiden!
Let us unite our affections with the blessed choir of Archangels, and say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory, in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for all the gifts and graces bestowed upon our dear Mother, the Queen of Angels.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
9.
O Mary ! when we think of thee,
Our hearts grow light as light can be ;
For thou hast felt as we have felt,
And thou hast knelt as we have knelt ;
And so it is, that utterly,
Mother of God, we trust in thee.
Mother dearest! Mother fairest!
Maiden purest! Maiden rarest!
Help of earth and joy of Heaven!
Love and praise to thee be given.
Blissful Mother! blissful Maiden!
Let us unite our affections with the blessed choir of Angels, and say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for all the gifts and graces bestowed upon our dear Mother, the Queen of Angels.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Remember thy congregation.
R. Which thou hast possessed from the beginning,
V. Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
Let us pray.
(Prayer used by the Ven. Father Giovanni Tommaso Eustachio of the Naples Oratory.)
O my Lady, Holy Mary,
Queen of Perseverance,
To thee and to thy blessed charge
And special keeping,
And into the bosom of thy mercy,
For this day and every day, and for the hour of my death,
I commend myself, body and soul:
My every hope and every joy,
My every trouble and every sorrow,
My life and my life's end, I commit to thee,
That by virtue of thy most holy intercession,
And by thy merits,
All that I have may be ordered,
All that I do disposed,
According to thy will
And that of thy Son. Amen.
Various Prayers to the Most Blessed Virgin.
O most Holy Virgin, Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the Universe, I acknowledge and worship thee as the Daughter of the Eternal Father, as the Mother of the Eternal Son, and as the loving Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Prostrate at the feet of thy august majesty, I beseech thee, by that divine charity with which thou wast filled to overflowing at thy assumption into Heaven, mercifully to take me under thy most powerful and secure protection; and to receive me into that fortunate company of thy happy servants whom thou Dearest and cherishest in thy virginal bosom. Condescend, O my Mother and most gentle Lady, to accept of this miserable heart of mine; accept my memory, my will, my faculties, my senses, both exterior and interior; accept my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my hands, and my feet; regulate them in conformity to the will of thy Divine Son, and direct them all to his infinite glory. By that wisdom with which thy beloved Son enriched thee, obtain for me, I pray and beseech thee, light to know myself, to know my own nothingness, and especially to know my sins, that I may hate and detest them; obtain for me also light to perceive the snares of my infernal enemy and his assaults, whether they be hidden or manifest; and especially, O most merciful Mother, obtain for me the grace of . . . [Here insert the grace you stand most particularly in need of].
Repeat three times:
Virgin of all virgins!
To thy shelter take us;
Gentlest of the gentle!
Chaste and gentle make us.
Pardon, we beseech thee, O Lord, the sins of thy servants; that we, who by our own actions are unable to please thee, may, through the intercession of the Mother of our Lord, thy Son, obtain eternal salvation; through the same Lord Jesus Christ, &c.
May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Indulgences for the above prayers: 300 days once a day, and a plenary indulgence once a month, with the usual conditions, for those who have said them daily through the month.
PRAYERS TO BE USED ON OCCASION OP PAYING A VISIT TO AN ALTAR OR IMAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, OR AT OTHER TIMES.
Prayer for obtaining the Love of Mary.
O Mary, thou art the purest, the fairest, the holiest of creatures. Oh, that all men would acknowledge and love thee as thou deservest! But I rejoice in the thought of the great number of the just whose hearts are inflamed with the love of thee. O amiable Queen, I also, unworthy as I am, I also love thee; but I love thee too little: I desire to love thee more tenderly and more generously, for to love thee is one of the marks of predestination. I ask thee not for the good things of the world, its riches, its honours, or its pleasures; I beseech thee to obtain for me the grace to love thy Son with all the fervour of my heart, and to consecrate myself entirely to his honour and thine. O Mary, O my Mother, cease not to pray for me, until thou seest me secure of possessing my God, of loving him and loving thee for ever and ever. Amen.
Aspiration.
Oh, that I had the heart of all the angels and all the saints, to love Mary as they love her! Oh, that I had at my disposal the life of all mankind, that I might consecrate it whole and entire to the glory and the service of this most amiable Mother! Oh, that I could engrave on all hearts and on all lips the lovely name of Mary, that name so powerful, which constitutes the delight, the security, the happiness of all who utter it with a sweet confidence and a holy joy!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.
Prayer to our Lady of Peace.
O holy Virgin, my august Queen, obtain for me from thy divine Son the peace which he left as a heritage to his disciples. The world knows it not; it resides only in souls that are sanctified by grace. Obtain for me, I beseech thee, grace to maintain this peace with God, by my fidelity in keeping his law; with my superiors, by my submission, obedience, and respect; with my equals, by meekness, patience, and charity; with myself, by the practice of all virtues: so that it may be poured forth also upon my relations, friends, and all mankind. Obtain for me grace to live on earth in the peace of innocence, that at the last I may be found worthy of that ineffable peace which the blessed enjoy in heaven. Amen.
Prayer to our Lady of Consolation.
O Mary, most sweet, most amiable, and most glorious, thy name cannot be uttered in the secret of the heart without inflaming it with thy love; and they who love thee cannot think of thee without feeling themselves animated to love thee move and more, and putting all their confidence in thee. O Mary, O my Mother, thou seest my trouble, look upon me with an eye of pity; thou art the consolation of all who call upon thee in affliction, be thou, then, mine. Hearken to the sighs, graciously hear the prayers of my poor heart; forsake me not, but support me in affliction, and strengthen me in danger. Thou art the heavenly dew that sweetenest our sorrows; O Mother of consolation, I pray thee, sweeten mine; give peace to my soul, grant me all that thou knowest I desire of thee; obtain for me, from thy divine Son, the pardon of all my sins, the grace to sin no more, the blessedness to imitate thy virtues all the rest of my life, and finally a holy and a happy death. At that tremendous hour, be thou my protectress and my consolation, I beseech thee; O my tender Mother, come and receive my soul, to present it at the tribunal of the sovereign Judge, and to obtain for me a favourable sentence. I deserve not this at thy hands; but I am thy child. I love thee, and I desire to make thee loved by all hearts. Amen.
An Act of Reparation to the Holy Virgin.
How great is my grief, O most holy Virgin Mary, when I consider the injuries which thou receivest every day on the part of men! How can there be found hearts so hard and impious as to despise thee, who art worthy of the respect and love of angels and men ! And among the very children of the Church, thine own children, there are some, alas, who feel nothing but coldness and indifference for thee; who take no pains to testify their gratitude and devotion towards thee; who never honour thee, or invoke thy intercession, or seek to gain thy protection. And how many times have I myself plunged into thy heart the two-edged sword! O Mother of mercy, I should never dare to lift up my eyes to thee, wert thou not the advocate of sinners. Oppressed with the burden of my infidelities, I come to ask forgiveness at thy feet, for myself and for all mankind. I acknowledge thy glory to be above that of all creatures; I honour, with the Church, thy immaculate Conception and thy glorious Assumption; I believe thy power and all they perfections to be proportioned to thy dignity of Mother of God; I acknowledge thee with joy as my advocate, my refuge, and my mother; I will glory all my life in being of the number of thy most devoted children, and it shall be my happiness to win all hearts to thy love. Vouchsafe, O spotless Virgin, to obtain for me grace to imitate thy virtues, and to dwell with thee hereafter in the abode of glory. Amen.
An Act of Consecration to the Holy Virgin.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God, who, from the first moment of thy conception, wast free from the stain of original sin, I choose thee this day for my queen, my patroness, my advocate with God, and my glorious mother. I am most earnestly resolved, from this day, to persevere in thy worship, and in promoting thy honour, during the whole course of my life; I will never say any thing, nor do any thing, nor suffer any who belong to me to offer, in their conversation or their actions, the slightest injury to the reverence and homage which are due to thee by a thousand titles. Vouchsafe, then, I beseech thee, O august Queen of heaven and earth, to admit me to-day into thy service for ever, and to grant me thy holy protection every moment of my life. Above all, O most sacred Mother of my Saviour, I beseech thee not to abandon me at the hour of my death. Amen.
A Prayer for Perseverance in Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
O God, who hast placed us under the patronage of the most holy Mother of thy Son Jesus, and dost excite us to strive for the prize of our high calling; come into our hearts, and pour down upon us thy purifying grace, whereby we may persevere in thy service, and in the service of the same most holy Virgin Mary; so that, fortified by so powerful a protection, we may perform those good desires which thou hast put into our hearts, and having effectually accomplished all that was set before us to do, may attain those things which thou hast been pleased to promise to those that abide in thee. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Way of asking our Lady's Blessing.
Come, O my soul, prostrate thyself at the feet of Mary thy Mother, and depart not till she hath blessed thee. O blessed of God, and enriched with all blessings, in thy mercy and kindness bless my afflicted soul, and obtain for me, from thy beloved Son, abundant grace; that I may so faithfully serve both him And thee in this world, that I may be made partaker of eternal glory. Amen.
An Act of filial Reverence to Mary.
Pope Leo XII. granted, in perpetuity, to all the faithful who should recite the three following prayers, together with three "Hail Marys," to ask the Blessed Virgin's assistance in the practice of Christian virtues, and especially the holy virtue of purity: (1) an indulgence of 100 days each time they are said; (2) a plenary indulgence, once a month, on reciting them every day, with the usual conditions. These indulgences are applicable to the souls in purgatory.
I.
I venerate thee with all my heart, O most holy Virgin, as the Daughter of the father of heaven; and I consecrate to thee my soul, with all its powers. Hail Mary!
II.
I venerate thee with all my heart, O most holy Virgin, as the Mother of the only Son of God; and I consecrate to thee my body, with all its senses. Hail Mary!
III.
I venerate thee with all my heart, O most holy Virgin, as the beloved Spouse of the Holy Ghost; and I consecrate to thee my heart, with all its affections: obtain for me of the Holy Trinity the graces necessary for my salvation. Hail Mary!
Hymn on the above, No. 221.
Any of the foregoing prayers may be used for a Novena, or Month-of-May exercise, adding a hymn from the table, p. 552.
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THE SACRED HEART— CORPUS CHRISTI.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The object of this devotion is the heart of the God - Man Christ Jesus. As the heart is the seat of all the affections, so the heart of our Lord is especially proposed to our devotion, as being the seat and sanctuary of (hat love wherewith he loved us, and gave himself for us. While, then, we address ourselves to that Sacred Heart, as it is united to the blessed Humanity, and therefore to the divine Person of the Word, we, in an especial and peculiar manner, honour the love which burned therein for man.
The particular intention of this devotion is, to make reparation for the outrages committed against the heart of Jesus during his mortal life; outrages which continue to be committed against him in the adorable Eucharist, which is the Sacrament of his love.
It was for this end that our Lord revealed to Venerable Sister Mary Alacoque, that he wished the festival and devotion of his Sacred Heart to be instituted in the Church. It is related in the life of this holy nun, that, being one day in prayer before the blessed Sacrament, Jesus shewed her his heart surrounded with thorns, surmounted by a cross, sand placed upon a throne of fire; and that he said to her: " Be* hold the heart that has so loved men, and has spared nothing to testify its love for them, even to the consuming of itself for their sake; but, in return, receives nothing from the generality of mankind but dishonour and ingratitude. What afflicts me most is, that hearts which treat me thus have been consecrated to me." Our Saviour then bade her use her utmost endeavours to procure the celebration of a particular festival in honour of his divine heart, on the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi; and this, for these principal intentions:— 1. That Christians might return him thanks for the ineffable gift bestowed upon them in the blessed Eucharist. 2. That they might repay , by their homage and adoration, the irreverence and contempt with which he has been treated by sinners in this most holy Sacrament. 3. That they might give him the honour due unto him, but withheld from him in so many churches, where he is so little loved, revered,, and adored He promised: to pour out abundantly the riches of his heart on all who should practise this devotion, not only on the feast itself, but on other days when they visited the blessed Sacrament.
Confraternities of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have been established in every part of &e Church, and have been enriched by the Holy See with numerous indulgences. The plenary indulgences granted to the' associates (with the usual conditions) are as follows: — 1; On the day of admission. 2. Oft the feast of the Sacred Heart. &. The first Friday or the first Sunday in each month. 4. On any one day in each month , at choice. 6 . At the hour of death , en condition of invoking (at least mentally) the holy name of Jesus. 6. On Christmas-day, Maundy-Thursday, Easter-day , and Ascenion-day. 7. On the feasts of the Conception, Nativity, Annunciation, Purification, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; on the feast of All Saints, All Soak-day, and on the feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul, fit Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist. 8. On the six Fridays, or the six Sundays, preceding the feast of the Sacred Heart, according as it is celebrated on the Friday or on the Sunday after the feast of Corpus Christi. 9. Oh the feast of St. Gregory the Great.
The partial indulgences are 1. Thirty years and their quadraganae, on the three nays after Christmas-day; on the feasts of the Circumcision and the Epiphany; the Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesimal, and Quinquageaima; Good-Friday, and Holy-Saturday; every day during the octave of Easter; on Low-Sunday, the feast of St. Mark, and the Rogation-days; and on Whit-Sunday, and during its octave. 2. Twenty years and their quadragenae, on Palm-Sunday. 8. Fifteen years and their quadragenae, on Ash- Wednesday, the 4th Sunday of Lent, the 3d Sunday of Advent; on the Eve, and at the Midnight and Aurora Masses of Christmas. 4. Ten years and their quadragenae, on the 1st, 2d, and 4th Sundays of Advent; every day in Lent (except those mentioned above), the Vigil of, Pentecost, and the three days of the Emberweeks. 5. Seven years and their quadrapenae, on the Visitation and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, and on the feasts of the Apostles mentioned above. 6. The same on every day of the novena preceding the feast of the Sacred Heart. 7. Seven years and their quadragena, on the four Sundays immediately preceding that feast. 8. The same, at every visit to a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in any church or chapel where it is exposed to public veneration; the conductions being contrition and prayers for the Pope's intentions. 9. Sixty days for every work of piety performed by the members.
These indulgences are applicable to the souls in purgatory.
All that is required of the associates in order to obtain the privileges attached to the confraternity (after admission by a duly authorised priest), is to say every day a Pater, an Ave, and a Credo, with the following aspiration:
O most sweet Heart of Jesus, make me to love thee more and more!
An Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; for the use of the Associates in particular.
O amiable Jesus, only Son of the living God, who, by an incomprehensible effect of thy love, wast pleased to be made man, to be born in a stable, to live amidst labours, to die upon a cross, and to leave us, as a perpetual pledge of thy tenderness, thy own body and blood for the nourishment of our souls, in the ineffable Sacrament of the Eucharist; thou beholdest at thy feet a criminal covered with confusion, who comes, in the spirit of union with all the associates in the adoration of thy divine Heart, humbly to confess his ingratitude, his iniquities, and those of all other men, that he may make reparation for them as far as in him lies.
Alas, O most amiable Jesus, we have sinned against Heaven, and before thee. The injuries, the outrages which thy Sacred Heart has received from the ingratitude and the malice of men, far surpass in, number the stars of heaven, the drops of water, the grains of the sand of the sea. What hath it not suffered on our part in the course of thy sacred life, in thy bitter Passion, and from the moment that thou hast dwelt amongst us in the Sacrament of thy love! Oh, with how much bitterness, opprobrium, and grief have we deluged thy divine Heart! Pardon! mercy! O adorable Heart of Jesus; mercy for me! mercy for all men, and for England in particular!
I detest, with all the sincerity of my soul, and with the most profound and bitter grief, every thing which hath ever offended thee in myself or in others; I detest it for the love thou deservest, and which is supremely due unto thee, I come to make thee an honourable reparation, with the deepest humiliation, and the most absolute annihilation of myself. Oh, that I could efface with my tears, and wash away with all my blood, the injuries which we have done unto thee. Oh, that I could repay thee, by my repentance, by my works, and by my love, all the glory, honour, and satisfaction of which thou hast been robbed by the injuries and, outrages that have been committed against thee! Accept at least the earnest desire with which thou inspirest me.
Vouchsafe, O Heart infinitely rich in mercy, to light again in my heart and that of all men, the sacred fire which thou earnest to kindle upon the earth. Let it purify them, let, it inflame them, let it make of them one heart with thy Heart. Pour down, I beseech thee, thy most precious and abundant benedictions on thy holy Church, and these who govern it; on this diocese, on this town, and on all those who are united with us by the bonds of this association. O Heart of Jesus, live, reign in all hearts, for time and for eternity. Amen.
A short Act of Consecration.
I engage myself with all my heart, for all my life, to the confederation of love and of reparation, formed in honour of the Sacred Heart, of Jesus. I renew the sacred alliance which I contracted with him in holy baptism, and renouncing Satan anew, his pomps, and all his works, I devote to the adorable Heart of my divine Master, and of his most holy Mother, all that I am and all that I have, for time and for eternity. Amen.
Meditation on the Love of our Lord Jesus.
Oh, that we understood the love of our Lord Jesus towards us! So tenderly has he loved us, that if all the men, all the angels, and all the saints, were to unite with all their strength, they could not attain to the thousandth part of the love our Lord Jesus bears towards us. He loves us infinitely more than we love ourselves; he loves us to excess. For what greater love, than that God should die for us, his own creatures! He has loved us to the end. (St. John xiii. 1.) There has not been a moment from eternity in which God has not loved us, and thought of us, one by one. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” He afterwards became man for the love of us; and for our sake chose a life of suffering, and the cruel death of the cross. Hence, after sacrificing all to shew his love for us, he has loved us more than his own honour, repose, and life. Oh, excess of love, at which even the angels are astonished! Yet this is not enough; for, through his exceeding love, he is further pleased to stay with us in the blessed Sacrament of the altar; there he abides, motionless, and, as it were, senseless; he appears to do nothing but to love men. Love induces a desire of the constant presence of the object beloved. Hence our Lord Jesus is pleased to remain constantly with us in the blessed Sacrament. It seemed to him too little to stay with men three-and-thirty years on earth; hence he is pleased to tarry with them, in the blessed Sacrament, from age to age. It is true that while on earth he completed the work of redemption; why, then, should he continue to remain with us? Surely, it is to prove his exceeding love for us; he cannot endure to separate himself from us, for his “delights are with the sons of men.” (Prov. viii.) This love leads him to make himself the food of our souls, in order to unite himself with us, and make our hearts and his Heart one and the same. “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.” (John vi.) Oh, excess of divine love! A servant of God used to say.: “My amazement about the mystery of the blessed Eucharist is not, how bread becomes flesh, or how our Lord Jesus is in many places at once, and confined within so small a compass; for all things are possible with God: But this is my wonder, how Jesus loved men so, as to become his food; when I think hereof, I own I am confounded, and have but to say that it is a truth of faith passing my comprehension, O love of Jesus, make men know you, make them love you!” :
An Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, do I devote and offer up my life, my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings. May my whole being be no longer employed but in loving, serving, and glorifying thee. O Sacred Heart, be thou henceforth the sole object of my love, the protector of my life, the pledge of my salvation, and my refuge at the hour of my death. Justify me, O blessed and adorable Heart, at the bar of divine justice, and screen me from the anger which my sins deserve. Imprint thyself like a divine seal on my heart, that I may never be separated from thee. May my name also be ever engraven upon thee, and may I ever be consecrated to thy glory, ever burning with the flames of thy love, and entirely penetrated with it for all eternity. This is all my desire, to live in thee. One thing have I sought of the Lord, and this will I seek, that I may dwell in the Heart of my Lord all the days of my life. Amen.
A Prayer to the Eternal Father.
O eternal Father, let me offer up unto thy mercy the Sacred Heart of thy well-beloved Son, even as he offered himself up a sacrifice to thy justice.
Accept, on my behalf, all the thoughts, sentiments, affections, motions, and all the actions of this Sacred Heart; they are mine, because it was immolated for me; they are mine, because for the future I am resolved to admit nothing into my heart but what hath place in thine. Receive, then, O God, the merits of this Sacred Heart in satisfaction for my sins, and in thanksgiving for all the benefits conferred upon me. Receive them, O Lord, as so many motives for granting my petitions. Give me, O Lord, for their sake, all the graces I need, but especially the gift of final perseverance. Receive them as so many acts of love, adoration, and praise, which I now offer to thy divine majesty. This Sacred Heart, this Heart alone, can love, honour, and glorify thee as thou deservest. Amen.
The faithful are invited to make, at fixed times in the day, according to their opportunities, one or more of the following aspirations of love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I love thee, and desire to love thee more and more!
O Heart of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our heart: with the love of thee!
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, mayest thou be known, loved, and adored throughout all the world!
O Heart of my dear Redeemer, may the love of thy friends supply all the injuries and neglects which thou sustainest!
An Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
O dearest and most loving Lord, who dost invite me to give thee my heart, and commandest me to love thee with my whole heart, I most earnestly desire to perform thy will. For whom have I in heaven but thee? There is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee. For thee my heart and my flesh have fainted away Thou art the God of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Thou art the source of all perfection, whom the angels delight to behold. Thou hast thought of me from all eternity, and hast bestowed on me in time this excellent being, " a little lower than the angel." Thou dost sustain me every moment, lest I should fall back into my original nothingness. When I was lost in my sin, thou, the co-equal Son of the eternal Father, didst give thyself for me, taking upon thee my feeble nature, that thou mightest suffer in my stead. Oh, what bitter sufferings didst thou undergo for me in the garden and on the cross! [Here pause awhile to meditate briefly on some principal sufferings of our Lord, especially such as may in any way resemble your own; for instance, loss, or ingratitude of friends, calumnies, reproaches, desolation of spirit, &c.] O my bountiful and most loving Lord, can it be that such excess of love should not move me to such poor return as I can make thee! Yes, Lord, I will love thee, because thou didst first love me. I will try to love thee, as thou hast commanded, with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul, and all my strength. I protest before thee, that henceforth neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor life, nor death, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate me from thee, my beginning and my end. Quench, then, by thy Holy Spirit, all love of the world and of myself which still reigns within me; enable me to bear thy sweet yoke, that I may learn of thee to be meek and humble of heart. Pierce my soul with a deep sense of my own wretchedness, that so I may learn to esteem others better than myself.
O meek and humble Heart of my Jesus! O Heart of love, teach me to love thee. Be henceforth the moving principle of my heart; shape all its desires and inactions according to thine own, till at length it comes to be absorbed in the abyss of pure love for all eternity. Amen.
Prayer of St. Gertrude to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus! living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the divinity, glowing furnace of love! Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and lovely Saviour! consume my heart with that burning fire wherewith thine is ever inflamed; pour down on my soul those graces which flow from thy love, and let my heart be so united with thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things conformed to thine. May thine be the rule alike of my desires and of my actions, Amen.
An Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
O adorable Heart of my God and Saviour, filled with a lively sorrow at the thought of the injuries which thou hast received, and art every day receiving, in the august Sacrament of the altar, I prostrate myself at thy feet, to make thee an act of humble reparation for all that thou hast suffered. Oh, that by my reverence, by my devotion, I could make amends to thy outraged majesty! Oh, that I could do so, even at the sacrifice of my life! Call to mind thy mercies, O Jesus! and grant me the pardon which I beg for so many impious, heretical, and slothful Christians who dishonour thee, and above all, for myself, who have so often offended thee. Remember not my ingratitude; but remember that thy divine Heart, bearing the burden of my sins, was afflicted even unto death. Let not thy sufferings and thy blood be in vain; destroy in me my sinful heart, and give me one according to thine own, a humble and a contrite heart; a heart that is pure, and full of horror for sin; a heart that henceforth may be as a victim wholly consecrated to thy glory, and inflamed with the sacred fire of thy love. And for my part, I promise thee, O most sweet Jesus, to endeavour for the future, as much as in me lies, by my devotion in church, by my diligence in visiting thee in the Sacrament of the altar, by my fervour in receiving thee in the holy Communion, to make reparation for the irreverences, the profanations, and the sacrileges which I deplore in the bitterness of my soul. Amen,
A Visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
O Heart of Jesus! who remainest day and night amongst us, inviting, expecting, receiving, all those who come to visit thee, I worship thee, and confess to thee my misery and my nothingness. I thank thee for all the mercies which thou hast bestowed upon me, especially for delivering me from the power of the devil; for restoring to me the dignity of a child of God, which I had lost by sin; for giving me blessed Mary for my advocate; and inspiring me with the desire to come into thy presence. I thank thee with all my heart, that thou vouchsafest to remain open for me; I desire to repair the injuries which I have had the misery to inflict upon thee, by my coldness and indifference to thy service. Oh, that I could honour thee as thou deservest to be honoured, in all places where now thou art the least honoured and the most neglected. Amen.
And thou, immaculate Mary, most holy and dear Mother of fair love, who so earnestly desirest that thy divine Son should be loved by all, obtain for me, by thy most powerful intercession, that he may receive and accept this solemn consecration, which I this day make of my whole self in thy presence; to the end that my name may be written indelibly in the number of those happy souls, who, faithful and constant in his service, shall never be separated from the most sweet love of thy dear and most amiable Son Jesus. Amen.
The litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be found in its place, p. 337 .
Form of Admission Into the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I, ___________ for the greater honour of Jesus Christ crucified, and of his divine Heart, burning with love in the blessed Eucharist, and also to repair the outrages he receives in this august Sacrament, associate myself of my own free will to the faithful received into this pious Confraternity: I desire to participate in the indulgences with which it is enriched, and in the good works therein performed; both for the expiation of my own sins, and for the assistance of the suffering souls in purgatory.
O sweet Jesus ! enclose in thy Sacred Heart all the members of this Association; grant that, faithfully observing the precepts of thy law, and fulfilling the duties proper to their condition, they may be more and more inflamed with the fire of thy divine love. Amen.
Received at _________________________
on this _________________________ day of _________________________
_________________________ Director.
______________
The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament.
This Confraternity was established at Rome about the commencement of the 16th century; its object being to pay especial honour to Jesus Christ in the sacrament of his love, and to make reparation for the injuries committed against him therein.
The associates engage — 1 . To promote, by every means, the reverence due to the Blessed Sacrament. 2. To assist at processions in honour of it. 3. To make offerings of candles, &c. for its altar. 4. To say five " Our Fathers," and five " Hail Marys " every week in honour of it. 5. To accompany the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, or to say instead five " Our Fathers" and five " Hail Marys."
The indulgences attached to the Confraternity are — 1. A plenary indulgence, in the form of Jubilee (with the usual conditions), on the day of admission ; also three times during life. 2. A plenary indulgence for assisting at the procession in the octave of Corpus Christi, or, where unable to assist in person, for uniting in spirit with the same object ; also at the hour of death, on invoking, at least mentally, the holy name of Jesus. 3. An indulgence of seven years and seven guadragence (with the usual conditions) on the feast of Corpus Christi, also on Maunday-Thursday, on condition of
confession, &c, and assisting at the procession. 4. An inPage:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/573 Little Chaplet in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. O Lord, bow down to aid me.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
1. O my most beloved Jesus, when I think upon thy loving Heart, so full of compassion and sweetness towards sinners, my soul rejoices, and is filled with hope that thou wilt also receive me into thy merciful arms, and fill me with thy blessings. Have mercy on me, O Lord Jesus, and save my soul. Forgive my sins, as thou didst vouchsafe to forgive Peter and Magdalene, when they turned to thee weeping and detesting their iniquities,
Pater, five Glorias.
O sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love thee always more and more.
2. I bless thee, my Jesus, for the humility of thy Heart, and thank thee that thou hast left it for my model, that, by it I may be excited to imitation. Fool and ingrate that I am, to have wandered so far from thee. Pardon me, O Lord! I offer thee my heart; I will love thee all the days of my life, until I shall be united with thee in the kingdom of thy glory. Give me courage, my Jesus, and help me to fulfil my resolution.
Pater, five Glorias.
O sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love thee always more and more.
3, I marvel, O my Jesus, at the infinite patience of thy Heart. I rejoice at the wondrous pattern of suffering which thou hast left to us, and lament my extreme aversion to endure the slightest pain. Ah, my Jesus, infuse into my heart a fervent and continual love of suffering, of crosses, of mortifications, of penance, that, by following thee to Calvary, I may be united to thee in thy glory in heaven.
Pater, five Glorias.
O sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love thee always more and more.
4, When I meditate on the meekness of thy Heart, O my Jesus, I am struck with horror at the sight of my misery. Oh, what a contrast between thy Heart, all sweetness and mildness, and mine full of bitterness and passion! Oh, pardon me, O Lord, and grant me grace that I may in future imitate thee in thy unalterable meekness, and may thus obtain a constant and holy peace.
Pater, five Glorias.
O sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love thee always more and more.
5. I sing praises, O dearest Jesus, to the generosity of thy Heart, which hath conquered death and hell. How I blush to see mine in so cowardly a manner shrinking from the slightest sacrifice! But it shall be so no longer. Grant me the courage and strength which will render me victorious over all my enemies on earth, and prepare me for the glorious triumphs of Paradise.
Pater, five Glorias.
O sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love thee always more and more.
Concluding Prayer.
Behold, O most loving Jesus, to what an excess thy love has gone! Of thy own flesh and most precious Blood thou hast prepared for me a divine banquet, in which thou givest me thy whole self. What could have moved thee to this transport of love! Nothing else, surely, than thy most loving Heart, O adorable Heart of my Jeeus, furnace of divine love, receive into thy sacred wound my soul, that I may learn in that school of charity how to love my God, who has given me such wonderful proofs of his love: so be it.
Indulgences for the above Chaplet : 1. An indulgence of 300 days, once a day, to all the faithful, who, with contrition and devotion, say the above little chaplet, or rather prayers, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 2. A plenary indulgence once s month, to all who say them once a day for an entire month; to be gained on that day, when, after confession and communion, they shall pray for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
Offering.
My loving Jesus, in order to shew the grateful love I bear thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I (N. N.) give thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to thee; and with thy help I purpose never to sin again.
Plenary indulgence, once a month, to all the faithful who, every day for a month, shall have said the above offering to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus before a representation of the Sacred Heart, to be gained on any one day when, after confession and communion, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. Indulgence of 100 days, once a day, to all who shall make this offering with contrite hearts.
Prayers.
WITH THE "PATER NOSTER," ETC.
1. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us.
Eternal Word, made man for love of us, humbly kneeling at thy feet, we adore thee with the deepest veneration of our soul; and in order that we may repair our ingratitude for this great benefit of thy Incarnation, we unite ourselves to the hearts of all those who love thee, and together with them we offer thee our humble loving thanksgiving. Touched with the "great humility, goodness, and sweetness which we behold in thy divine Heart, we beseech thee to give us thy grace, that in our lives we too may imitate these virtues so dear to thee.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
2. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried.
Jesus, our loving Saviour, humbly kneeling at thy feet, we adore thee with the deepest veneration of our soul; and in order that we may give thee proof of the sorrow we feel for our insensibility to the outrages and sufferings which thy loving Heart made thee undergo for our salvation in thy painful Passion and death, we here unite ourselves with the hearts of all those who love thee, and together with them we give thanks unto thee with our whole soul. We wonder at the boundless patience and the generosity of thy divine Heart; and we entreat thee to fill our hearts with such a spirit of Christian penance as may enable us courageously to embrace suffering, and to make thy Cross our great comfort and all our glory.
Our Father, &c ,
3. Thou didst give them bread from heaven to eat, containing in itself all sweetness.
Jesus, who dost burn with love for us, humbly kneeling at thy feet we adore thee with the deepest veneration of our soul; and in order to make thee recompense for the outrages which thy divine Heart daily receives in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar, we unite ourselves with the hearts of all those who love thee and give thee tender thanks. We love in thy . divine Heart its incomprehensible fire of love towards thy eternal Father; and we entreat thee to inflame our hearts with ardent charity towards thee and towards our neighbours.
Our Father, &c.
Lastly, O most loving Jesu, we entreat thee, by the sweetness of thy divine Heart, to convert the sinner, to console the afflicted, to help the dying, to lighten the pains of the souls in purgatory. Make all our hearts one in the bonds of true peace and charity, deliver us from sudden and unforeseen death, and grant us a death which shall be holy and peaceful. Amen.
V. Heart of Jesus, burning with love of us.
R. Inflame our hearts with love of thee.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who glory in the most sacred Heart of thy well-beloved Son, and call to mind the great benefits of his heavenly charity towards us, may be gladdened by the operation and fruit of those graces in our souls; through the same Christ our Lord.
Indulgences: 300 days each time; plenary once a month, on the usual conditions.
Acts of Adoration and Reparation
To Jesus in the blessed Sacrament.
1. I adore thee profoundly, my Jesus, in the blessed Sacrament; I acknowledge thee true God and true man. By this my act of adoration I intend to make thee reparation for the coldness of so many of thy people, who pass before thy churches, nay, before thy very tabernacle, where hour after hour thou dost deign to dwell in loving impatience to communicate thyself to thy faithful; yet do not even bow the knee before thee, but, like the Israelites in the wilderness, seem by their indifference to loathe this heavenly manna. I offer, thee thine own most precious blood which thou didst shed from the wound in thy left foot, in reparation for this hateful coldness; and, entering therein, I say, and will never cease to say:
Blessed and praised every moment be the most holy and, divine Sacrament. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory, &c.
2. I adore thee profoundly, my Jesus; I acknowledge thee present in the most holy Sacrament. By this act of adoration I would make amends for the forgetfulness of so many Christian people, who, when they see thee go to the poor sick, to be their strength in their great journey to eternity, leave thee unescorted, and hardly give thee even one outward sign of homage, I offer thee, in reparation for this coldness, that most precious blood which thou didst shed from the wound in thy right foot; and, entering therein, I say and will never cease to say:
Blessed and praised, &c.; Our Father, &c.
3. I adore thee profoundly, my Jesus, true Bread of life eternal; and by this my act of adoration I would make thee compensation for all the wounds with which thy sacred Heart bleeds daily to see the profanation of those churches wherein thou dost vouchsafe to abide beneath the sacramental species, to receive the love and adoration of thy people. I offer thee, in reparation for all these irreverences, that most precious blood which thou didst shed from, the wound in thy left hand; and, entering therein, I say every moment:
Blessed and praised, &c.; Our Father, &c.
4. I adore thee profoundly, my Jesus, the Living Bread which has come down from heaven; and by this act of adoration I would make amends for all the acts of irreverence which thy people day by day commit whilst they assist at Holy Mass, in which bloodless sacrifice thou dost renew the very sacrifice which once thou didst consummate on Calvary for our salvation. I offer thee, in reparation for all this ingratitude, that most precious blood which thou didst shed from the wound in thy right hand; and, entering therein, I unite my voice with the voices of the holy angels who adore around thy throne:
Blessed and praised, &c.; Our Father, &c. 5. I adore thee profoundly, my Jesus, true victim of expiation for our sins; and I offer thee this act of adoration in compensation for the sacrilegious outrages thou dost receive from so many of thy ungrateful people, who dare to draw nigh to thee and receive thee in communion with mortal din upon their souls. In reparation for these hateful sacrileges, I offer thee those last drops of thy most precious blood which thou didst shed from the wound in thy side; and, entering therein, I approach thee with acts of adoration, love, and thanksgiving, and, with all holy souls who are devout to thee in the most holy Sacrament, I say:
Blessed and praised, &c.; Our Father, &c
Tantum ergo, Panem de coelo, Deus qui nobis, mus at Benediction, p. 415
An indulgence of 390 days, every time the above are said devoutly, with five Pater nosteus, five Ave Marias , and five Gloria Patris, &c.
Reparation and Ejaculations
REPARATION.
Jesus, my God, my Saviour, true God and true man, with that most profound homage with which the faith itself inspires me, I adore and love thee with my whole heart, enclosed in the most august Sacrament of the Altar, in reparation for all the acts of irreverence, profanation, and sacrilege, which I may ever have been so unhappy as to have committed, as well as for all suchlike acts that ever have been done, or which may be done, though God forbid they should be, in ages yet to come. I adore thee, therefore, my God, not indeed as thou deservest, nor as much as I am bound to adore, but as far as I am able; and I would that I could adore thee with all the perfection of which a reasonable creature is capable. Meantime I purpose now and ever to adore thee, not only for those Catholics who adore thee not, and love thee not, but also in the stead of, and for the conversion of, all heretics, schismatics, impious atheists, blasphemers, sorcerers, Turks, Jews, and idolaters. Jesus, my God, mayest thou be ever known, adored, loved, and praised every moment, in the most holy and divine Sacrament. Amen.
An indulgence of 200 days to everyone who, with contrition for his sins and with devotion, says the above Act of Reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
EJACULATIONS.
I adore thee every moment, O living Bread of Heaven, great Sacrament!
Jesus, Heart of Mary, I pray thee send thy blessing on my soul.
Holiest Jesu! loving Saviour! I give thee my heart.
200 days each time.
Prayer.
Behold, my most loving Jesus, to what an excess thy boundless love has carried thee! Of thine own flesh and precious blood thou hast made ready for me a banquet in order to give me all thyself. What was it that impelled thee to this transport of love for me? It was thy Heart, thy loving Heart. O adorable Heart of my Jesus, burning furnace of divine love! within thy most sacred wound receive thou my soul; that in that school of charity I may learn to requite the love of that God who has given me such wondrous proofs of his love. Amen.
Indulgence, 100 days, once a day, each time.
The "Hour Sanctified."
In order to awaken the gratitude of the faithful towards their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for his institution of the holy Eucharist, on those days when the Church commemorates that act of his love, Pope Pius VII. granted: 1. A plenary indulgence to all who on Holy Thursday, either in public or private, shall, for one hour, practise some devotion in remembrance of the institution of the most holy Eucharist; to be gained after confession and communion on that day, or some day in the following week. 2. A plenary indulgence, on the same conditions, on the Feast of Corpus
Christi. 3. An indulgence of 800 days en any other Thursday, on practising this demotion with a contrite heart. The Agonising Heart of Jesus.
The end of this devotion is:
1st. To pay a tribute of homage to the sufferings which the Heart of Jesus endured for the salvation of souls throughout the whole course of his life, and especially during his sacred Passion.
2dly. To obtain, through the merits of this long agony, the grace of a happy death for those who, in number about 80,000, die each day throughout the world 4 a number in nothing exaggerated — it is an ascertained fact.
A Prayer
To be said daily in behalf of those who are in their agony, and of all those who are that day to die.
O most merciful Jesus, fond lover of souls, purify, I implore thee by the agony of thine own most sacred Heart, and by the grief of thy immaculate Mother,— purify in the laver of thy blood all sinners who are in their agony, and who are this day to die, Amen.
Agonising Heart of Jesus, have pity on the dying!
Pious Practice.
Offer up together with this prayer some of your daily actions to the agonising Heart of Jesus, in behalf of those who are that day in their agony.
Pray!
To-day eighty thousand souls are falling in the harvest of death; they are standing before the awful judgment-seat of God; they are entering on an eternity either of weal or woe; and, oh, of that number thousands perhaps are in the state of mortal sin!
Pray then!
Christian man, blessed with a heart to feel, it is the Heart of Jesus that asks this of you, that Heart which has loved you so dearly, that Heart which has suffered such anguish for you and for these poor souls. Pray then, and above all, for sinners now in their agony and about to die. All that is wanting to save them from hell is a well-made confession or perfect act of contrition. Ask of the agonising Heart of Jesus to grant them the one or the other of these two graces. Ask it without delay; time urge — to-morrow will be too late.
Pray for the agonising; they are your brethren in Jesus Christ, your relations perhaps, your friends, your benefactors.
Pray for the agonising; and you will do what Jesus Christ did — you will save souls. How sublime a mission!
Pray for the agonising. St. James says: " He who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of Bins."
Pray for the agonising. Prayers will one day be offered for you when you are in your agony. How sweet a consolation in this last terrible struggle!
Make known " the devotion to the agonising Heart of Jesus " to those who are ignorant of it; introduce it into your families and into your communities; and the sacred Heart will heap blessings upon you.
If by the fervour of your prayers you succeed in saving one soul each day, at the end of a year the number will amount to 365; at the end of ten years to 3650. How rich this harvest! What a diadem for eternity!
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Prayer.— O Lord, I implore thee, by the precious blood which flowed forth from the pierced side of Jesus, thy divine Son, set free the holy souls in purgatory, especially those who during their life were most devout to his Sacred Heart; that they may enter into the kingdom of thy glory, and begin to praise and bless thee for evermore in the assembly of thy saints. Amen.
Invocation. — " O pierced Heart, O Heart ever open, of my Redeemer! O blissful abode of souls that are smitten with heavenly love! disdain not to take up into thee my unworthy soul!" (St. Alphonsus.}
Practice. — Imitate the zeal of the Heart of Jesus for the salvation of souls, by being faithful to the threefold apostolate of prayer, example, and good advice.
Aspiration. — O Mary, we offer thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Receive it, O most tender Mother, and together with it the hearts of all thy children, whose motto shall ever be, All to the Heart of Jesus through the immaculate heart of Mary!
Resolution. — I will show my zeal for the worship of the Sacred Heart by distributing pictures of it, and by diffusing a knowledge of those practices which are fitted to make it known and loved. During the month of June, and on the first Friday of every month, if there, he a lamp burning before the image of the Sacred Heart in church, I will contribute towards its expense. It shall be the outward token of my love, the pledge of my devotedness, and the expression of my gratitude towards this adorable Heart.
Repeat thrice the following ejaculations:
May all know, adore and praise every moment, always, the most holy and most divine Sacrament. (Indulgence of 100 days.)
My Jesus, mercy! (100 days.)
My sweetest Jesus, be not thou my judge, but my Saviour. (50 days.)
Sweet heart of Mary, bring salvation. (300 days.)
The Chaplet of the Sacred Heart.
This Chaplet is made up of five learge beans in honour of the five wounds of our Lord, and of thirty-three small beads in honour of the thirty-three years of his earthly life.
On beginning, say,
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Hide me within thy wounds.
Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
Defend me from the malignant enemy.
In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to thee; that with thy angels and saints I may praise thee, for all eternity. (Indulgence 300 days.)
Before each large bead, say,
O sweetest Jesus, make my heart like thy Heart
At each large bead, say,
We adore thee, O Jesus, sorrowful even unto death in the Garden of Olives, and still despised by wicked men in the holy Eucharist; for thou only art holy, only thou art Lord, thou alone art great, O Jesus.
At each small bead, say,
I adore thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus; kindle my heart with the love wherewith thou dost burn.. (From P. de Gallifet, S.J.; "On the Sacred Heart.")
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She was well prepared to die.
LET us meditate how glorious Mary was at the moment of her death, because in life she was so well prepared to die: first, by reason of her ardent longing to see her God and to be again united to her Son; and next, by the unapproachable merit of her consummate perfection. Then, reflecting how different we are from Mary in our own practice of preparation for our death, let us say:
1. Most holy Virgin, who, in order to prepare thyself for a holy death, didst live in continual desire after the beatific vision; oh, take from us all vain desires for the frail things of earth. Three Hail Marys.
2. Most holy Virgin, who, in order to prepare thyself holily to die, didst in life ever sigh to be united to thy Son Jesus; obtain for us fidelity to Jesus, even unto death. Three Hail Marys.
3. Most Holy Virgin, who, in order that thou mightest die holily, didst attain an unapproachable height of merit and of virtue; intercede for us, that we may know that virtue alone, and the grace of God, will lead us to salvation. Three Hail Marys.
Let us now give praise to Mary, so prudent in preparing for death; and whilst we exalt her glory, we will unite with the nine angel choirs who, on her Assumption into heaven, escorted her; singing with the first choir —
The Litany of Loretto, p. 312; then,
V. The holy Mother of God is exalted.
R. Into the heavenly kingdom above the angel choirs.
We beseech thee, Lord, pardon the shortcomings of thy servants ; that we who by our works are not able to please thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, graciously look down upon thy servant Leo, whom thou hast chosen to be the pastor of thy Church ; and grant him, we beseech thee, both by word and example, so to direct those over whom thou hast placed him, that, together with the flock intrusted to his care, he may attain eternal life.
O God, our refuge and strength, who art the Author of all holiness, listen to the pious prayers of thy Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
2th Day, Aug. 7
Veni Sancte and Hymn.
GLORY OF MARY IN DEATH
She died in the midst of the Apostles, her Son Jesus assisting.
LET us meditate how glorious Mary was at her death, in that she was comforted not only by the apostles and saints, but also by her dear Son Jesus; and while we contemplate the unspeakable joy which filled her soul at this grace granted alone to her, let us entreat her for ourselves:
1. Glorious Virgin, who for thy consolation didst merit to die in the blessed company of apostles and of saints; obtain for us, that when we breathe forth our souls we may feel thy presence, and that of our holy patrons, assisting us. Three Hail Marys.
2. Glorious Virgin, who at the moment of thy death wast comforted by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus; oh, pray for us, that at that awful moment we too may be comforted by receiving Jesus in the most holy Viaticum. Three Hail Marys.
3. Glorious Virgin, who didst deposit thy spirit into the arms of Jesus; assist us, that we may deposit our souls also into the arms of Jesus, always desirous that his most holy will be done. Three Hail Marys.
Come, then, let us magnify the glory of Mary, assisted at her death by her Son Jesus and his Apostles, and joining in jubilee at her triumph, say with the second choir of the Heavenly Host:
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
3rd Day, Aug. 8
Veni Sancte and Hymn as before.
GLORY OF MARY IN DEATH
She died in an ecstasy of love.
LET us meditate how glorious the most holy Mary was in her death, because she died in a very ecstasy of the love of God ; and desiring that we, too, may be strengthened by that holy fire of love, let us ask for her help:
1. Mary, most happy Virgin, who didst die of the vehemence of thy love of God; make it thy care that in our hearts, as God doth will, there be lit up this living fire of his love. Three Hail Marys.
2. Mary, most happy Virgin, who dying of divine love didst teach what our love of God ought to be; pray for us, that we may never leave our God in life or death. Three Hail Marys.
3. Mary, most happy Virgin, who, in leaving this mortal life, by force of an ecstasy of love didst make known the fire which ever burnt within thy heart; obtain for us, at least, a spark of that same fire, to give us true sorrow for our sins. Three Hail Marys.
Let us with the third choir of angels now exalt the ineffable glory of Mary, inflamed with the love of her God.
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
4th Day, Aug. 9
Veni Sancte and Hymn as before.
GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH
In her dead body.
Let us meditate how glorious Mary was in her dead body, because it was adorned with marvellous splendour and majesty, and spread around an odour of sanctity, which was the very fragrance of Paradise, and because innumerable miracles were wrought at the sight of it. Then, thinking upon our own miseries, let us say:
1. O Lady most pure, who, by reason of thy virginal purity, didst merit the glory to be so bright and so majestic in thy body after death; obtain for us the strength to detach ourselves from every foul spirit of impurity. Three Hail Marys.
2. O Lady most pure, who, by reason of thy rare virtue didst from thy dead body spread around the sweetness of Paradise; make it thy care that we may edify our neighbour by our life, and never more by our bad example become a stumbling-block to others. Three Hail Marys.
3. O Lady most pure, at the sight of whose body numberless bodily maladies were cured; intercede for us, that by thy prayers all our spiritual ills may be healed. Three Hail Marys.
Come, let us rejoice for the glory given to the dead body of Mary, magnifying her with the fourth choir of the angels.
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
5th Day, Aug. 10
Veni Sancte and Hymn as before.
GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH
In the restoration of life to her body.
LET us meditate how glorious Mary was after death, since by the power of the Most High her body, raised again to life, forthwith acquired the four gifts of brightness, subtilty, agility, and impassibility; and, filled with consolation at the excellency of her glory, let us thus invoke her:
1. Lady exalted, who wast so gloriously raised again to life by thy God; help us so to live on earth that we also may rise again like thee in the last judgment-day. Three Hail Marys.
2. O Lady exalted, to whose risen body were given the gifts of brightness and of subtilty, by reason of the bright example and the humility of thy life on earth ; pray for us, that all contemptuous affectation may be removed from us, that so our souls, being freed from all self-love, may be adorned with humility. Three Hail Marys.
3. O Lady exalted, by the gifts of agility and impassibility with which thy risen body was glorified, by reason of thy spiritual zeal and patience while on earth; obtain for us courage valiantly to mortify our bodies, and patiently to curb all our inordinate inclinations. Three Hail Marys.
Then let us render due praise to Mary, and magnify the glory which adorned her risen body, while with the fifth choir we exalt her.
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
6th Day, Aug. 11
Veni Sancte and Hymn as before.
GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH
In her Assumption into heaven.
LET us meditate how gloriously Mary was taken up to heaven, being escorted thither by many legions of the heavenly hosts and blessed souls drawn by her prayers out of Purgatory; and rejoicing in that majestic triumph, let us with all humility offer to her our supplications:
1. Great Queen, who wast assumed so royally into the kingdom of eternal peace; obtain for us that all sordid earthly thoughts be taken away from us, and that our hearts may be fixed upon the contemplation of the unchangeable happiness of heaven. Three Hail Marys.
2. Great Queen, who wast assumed into heaven amidst a company of the Angelic Hierarchy; obtain for us strength to overcome the wiles of all our enemies, and that we may lend a docile ear to the counsels of that good angel who continually assists and governs us. Three Hail Marys.
3. Great Queen, who wast assumed into heaven most gloriously, in the company of souls drawn by thy prayers out of Purgatory: free us from the slavery of sin, and make us worthy to praise thee for all eternity. Three Hail Marys.
Let us not cease to applaud at the royal triumph of Mary; and uniting our homage with the sixth choir of the angels, let us honour the singular glory of her assumption into heaven, while we say:
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
7th Day, Aug. 12
Veni Sancte and Hymn.
GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH
In her Assumption into heaven.
Let us meditate how glorious Mary is in heaven, by reason of her patronage of man, and for the power she has to aid him, with great watchfulness in all his necessities ; wherefore with lively confidence, in having for our patroness the very Mother of our God, let us with all our hearts present our supplications to her:
1. Mary, our most powerful patroness, whose glory it is in heaven to be the advocate of men; oh, preserve us thy children from the touch of the enemy of man, and place us safe in the arms of our God and our Creator. Three Hail Marys.
2. Mary, our most powerful patroness, who, being in heaven the advocate of man, wouldst that all men should be saved; make it thy care that none of us be driven to despair at the sight of our past relapses into sin. Three Hail Marys.
3. Mary, our most powerful Patroness, who fulfilling thine office, dost love to be continually invoked by men; obtain for us the spirit of true devotion, and that we may ever call upon thee in life, and above all at the awful moment of our death. Three Hail Marys.
Let Us take part in the joy of the angels praising Mary, and rejoice because we know that she is raised to the dignity of Queen of the universe; while with the seventh choir we sing:
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
8th Day, Aug. 13.
Veni Sancte and Hymn.
GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.
For the crown which decks her brow.
Let us meditate how glorious Mary is in heaven by royal crown wherewith her divine Son hath crowned her, and for the full knowledge which she now has of the deep mysteries of God, past, present, and to come ; and, full of veneration for the incomparable honour bestowed upon our Queen, let us have recourse to her and say:
1. Queen unrivalled, who in heaven on high dost enjoy the high glory of having been crowned by thy divine Son with a royal diadem; help us to shave thy matchless virtues, and ask for us that, purified in heart, we may be made worthy to wear a crown with thee in Paradise. Three Hail Marys.
2. Queen unrivalled in the full knowledge granted thee of all things upon earth; for thy glory’s sake obtain pardon for our past evil deeds, that we may never offend again by froward tongue or wanton thought. Three Hail Marys.
3. Queen unrivalled, whose desire it is to see men pure and clean of heart, that so they may be made worthy of thy God; obtain for us forgiveness of our sins, and help us, that all our looks, words, and deeds may please his heavenly majesty. Three Hail Marys.
Let us, then, purify our hearts in order that we may be worthy to give praise to Mary; and to the glory she possesses in that bright crown which decks her royal brow, let us add these humble tokens of our love, while with the eighth choir we joyfully sing:
Litany, V. and R., and prayer as before.
9th day, Aug. 14.
Veni Sancte and Hymn.
Glory of Mary after death.
In her patronage of man.
1. Mary, our most powerful patroness, whose glory it is in heaven to be the advocate of men; oh, preserve us thy children from the touch of the enemy of man, and place us safe in the arms of our God and our Creator. Three Hail Marys.
2. Mary, our most powerful Patroness, who, being in heaven the advocate of man, wouldest that all men should be saved; make it thy care that none of us be driven to despair at the sight of our past relapses into sin. Three Hail Marys.
3. Mary, our most powerful Patroness, who, fulfilling thine office, dost love to be continually invoked by men; obtain for us the spirit of true devotion, and that we may ever call upon thee in life, and above all at the awful moment of our death. Three Hail Marys.
Now with all our hearts let us celebrate the glories of Mary; and consoled at having Mary for our advocate in heaven, let us join the ninth choir of the angels in praising her while we sing:
Litany, V. and R. and prayer as before.
Prayers to the Most Holy Trinity.
In Thanksgiving for the privileges bestowed on Mary in her glorious assumption.
Let us say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, in adoration of the Eternal Father.
In company with the whole court of heaven, I adore thee, O Eternal Father, as my Lord and my God, and I offer thee infinite thanks for all the graces and favours thou hast bestowed upon the most holy Virgin, thy beloved Daughter, and, especially for that power with which thou didst enrich her in her assumption into heaven.
Let us say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, in adoration of the Eternal Son,
In company with the whole court of heaven, I adore thee, O Eternal Son, as my God, my Lord, and my Redeemer, and I offer thee infinite thanks for all the graces and favours thou hast bestowed upon the most holy Virgin, thy beloved Mother, and especially for that surpassing wisdom with which thou didst adorn her in her assumption into heaven.
Let us say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, in adoration of the Holy Spirit.
I adore thee, O Holy Spirit, as my God, and my Lord, and in company with the whole court of heaven I offer thee infinite thanks for all the graces and favours thou hast bestowed upon the blessed Virgin, thy most loving Spouse, and especially for that perfect and divine charity with which thou didst inflame her most pure and holy heart in her assumption into heaven. I humbly implore thee, in the name of thy immaculate Spouse, to grant me pardon for all the grievous sins I have committed, from the first moment I wad able to sin till the present hour; I am exceeding sorry for all these my sins, and I firmly purpose to die rather than again offend thy Divine Majesty. By the exceeding great merits and powerful protection of thy loving Spouse, I beseech thee to grant me the precious gift of thy grace and divine love, together with those lights and especial aids through which thy eternal Providence has predetermined to save me and bring me to thyself.
Repeat three times:
Holy Mary, and all ye Saints of God, intercede for us with the Lord, that we may be made worthy of his assistance, and of eternal salvation.
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Mary, p. 838.
HYMNS.
The Death and Assumption of our Lady.
Mary, thy heart for love . . . . 112
Uplift the voice, and sing . . . . 113
Sing, sing, ye angel bands . . . . 114
Hymns for Saints in August.
Aug. 2. St Alphonsus . . . . 274
Litany, p. 371.
4. St. Dominic . . . . 259
6. Transfiguration . . . . 60
9. St. Elisabeth . . . . 278
20. St. Bernard . . . . 57
30. St. Rose of Lima . . . . 279
September.
The Sorrows of Our Lady.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary.
V. O God, stretch forth to aid me.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father.
1. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate the grief of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy old man Simeon. O beloved Mother, through, that afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Hail Mary.
2. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate those afflictions which thy most sensitive heart endured during, the flight into Egypt and the dwelling there. O beloved Mother, by that afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of liberality specially towards the poor, and the gift of piety. Hail Mary.
3. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate that intense distress which thine anxious heart experienced for the loss of thy dearest Jesus. O beloved Mother, by that deeply troubled heart obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. Hail Mary.
4. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate the consternation which thy maternal heart experienced when thou didst meet Jesus bearing his cross. O beloved Mother, by that deep distress of thy tender heart obtain for me the virtue of patience, and the gift of fortitude. Hail Mary.
5. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate that martyrdom which thy mournful heart endured in witnessing the last agony of Jesus. O beloved Mother, by that martyred heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. Hail Mary.
6. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate that wound which thy mournful heart endured from the lance which tore the side of Jesus and wounded his most lovely heart. O beloved Mother, by thy pierced heart obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. Hail Mary.
7. O most sorrowful Mary, I compassionate the convulsion which thy most loving heart experienced at the burial of Jesus. O beloved Mother, by this extreme grief of thy sacred heart obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Hail Mary.
V. Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, We beseech thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy Mother, may intercede for us With thy clemency, now and at the hour of our death, who at the hour of thy passion was pierced in her most holy soul by the sword of sorrow; grant this, O Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.
A perpetual indulgence of 300 days, applicable to the dead, to all Christians every time they shall recite the above exercise in honour of the sorrowful heart of the most blessed Virgin.
Rosary or Chaplet of the Seven Dolours.
Way of Saying the Chaplet.
Act of Contrition.
O my Lord, thou who alone art most worthy of my love, behold me standing before thy divine presence utterly overwhelmed by the thought of the many grievous injuries I have done thee. I ask thy pardon for them, with my whole heart, repenting of them purely for love to thee, and at the thought of thy great goodness hating and loathing them above every other evil of this life. As I would rather have died a thousand times than have offended thee, so now I am most firmly resolved to lose my life rather than offend thee again. My crucified Jesus, I firmly purpose to cleanse my soul as soon as possible by thy most precious blood in the Sacrament of Penance. ANd thou; most tender Virgin, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners, do thou obtain for me the pardon of sin by virtue of thy bitter pains; whilst praying according, to the mind of so many holy Pontiffs in order to obtain the indulgences granted to this thy holy Rosary, I hope thereby to obtain remission of all pains due to my sins.
1. Dolors, the prophecy of Simeon. One Our Father and seven Hail Marys.
2. THe flight into Egypt. One Our Father and seven Hail Marys.
3. The loss of Jesus for three days. One Our Father and seven Hail Marys.
4. Her meeting Jesus carrying His cross.
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary's
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ - reflect on her standing by when her Divine Son was lifted up on the cross, and the blood flowed in streams from His sacred wounds.
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary's
6. Our Lord is Taken Down from the Cross (Pieta) - reflect on her sorrow, when her Divine Son was taken down from the cross, and she received Him into her arms.
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary's
7. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is Buried in the Tomb - contemplate her following His sacred body, as it was borne by Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, to the sepulcher, enclosed there, and hidden from her sight.
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary's
3 Hail Mary's in honor of the Sorrowful tears of Our Lady
V. Pray for us, O most Sorrowful Virgin
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, we now implore, both for the present and for the hour of our death, the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose holy soul was pierced at the time of Thy Passion by a sword of grief. Grant us this favor, O Savior of the world, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen. Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/624 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/625 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/626 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/627 FIFTH SALUTATION.
As above.
At the intercession St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Powers, may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Amen
SIXTH SALUTATION.
As above.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the choir of the admirable celestial Virtues, may our Lord keep us from falling into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen.
SEVENTH SALUTATION.
As above.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Principalities, may it please God to fill our souls with the spirit of true and hearty obedience. Amen.
EIGHTH SALUTATION.
As above.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of Archangels, may it please God to grant us the gift of perseverance in the faith and in all good works that we may thereby be enabled to attain unto the glory of Paradise. Amen.
NINTH SALUTATION.
As above.
At the intercession of St Michael and the heavenly choir of Augels, may God vouchsafe to grant us the safe-conduct of the holy Angels through life, and after death a happy entrance into the everlasting glory of heaven, Amen.
Then say four Our fathers in conclusion: the first to St. Michael, the second to S. Gabriel, he third to St. Raphael, fourth to our Angel Guardian.
This exercise then ends with the following Antiphon and Prayer:
Michael, glorious prince, chief and champion of the heavenly host, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebel angels, steward of the palace of God, our worthy captain under Jesus Christ, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue; vouchsafe to free us all from every evil, who with full confidence have recourse to thee; and by thy powerful protection enable us to make progress every day in the faithful service of our God.
V. Pray for us, most blessed Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of his promises.
Almighty and eternal God, who in thine own marvellous goodness and pity didst, for the common salvation of mar, choose the glorious, archangel Michael to be the Prince of thy Church; make us worthy, we pray thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that at the hour of our death no one of them may approach to harm us, and that by the same archangel Michael we may be introduced into the presence of thy high and heavenly majesty; Through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
THE HYMN, " TE SPLENDOR," &c.
An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines each time for the following hymn.
A plenary indulgence once a month if said daily, after confession and communion, and prayers for the usual intentions. The same on the Feasts of St. Michael, May 18 and Sept. 29; St. Gabriel, March 18; St. Raphael, October 24; Holy Angel Guardians, October 2.
To gain these indulgences, a Chaplet must be used consisting of nine Pater nosters, and three Ave Marias after each Pater noster, with few Pater nosters at the end; the above corresponding salutations being said at the same time in their proper order, with the antiphon and prayer also: given above. These Chaplets must be blessed by the priest who has obtained faculties for this purpose.
O Jesu, life spring of the soul,
The Father's pow'r and glory bright!
Thee with the angels we extol;
From thee, they draw their life and light.
Thy thousand thousand hosts are spread,
Embattled o'er the azure sky
But Michael bears thy standard dread,
And lifts the mighty cross on high.
He in that sign the rebel powers
Did with their dragon prince expel;
And hurl'd them from the heaven's high towers.
Down like a thunderbolt to hell.
Grant us with Michael still, O Lord,
Against the prince of pride to fight;
So may a crown be our rewards,
Before the Lamb's pure throne of light.
To God the Father glory be,
And to his sole-begotten Son;
The same, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
While everlasting ages run.
Ant. Most glorious prince, Michael the archangel, be thou mindful of us; here, and in all places, pray for us to the Son of God most high.
V. I will sing praises to thee, my God, before the angels.
R. I will adore thee in thy holy temple, and praise thy name.
Let us pray.
O God, who in the dispensation of thy providence dost admirably dispose the ministry of angels and of men ; mercifully grant that the holy angels, who ever minister before thy throne in heaven, may he the protectors also of our life on earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Angel Guardian
While we give thanks to God for having granted to each of us a holy angel for our guardian, we ought ever to mind the respect, devotion, and loving confidence we owe to this blessed spirit; and with these feelings we should often think of him, and implore his constant aid with the following invocation:
O angel of God, whom God hath appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect, direct and govern me.
Pope Pius VI., in order to kindle the fervour of the faithful to have frequent recourse to their holy angel guardian, granted: 1. An indulgence of 100 days every time the above 2. short prayer is said devoutly and with a contrite heart. A plenary indulgence to those who have been accustomed to say it morning and evening throughout the year, on the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, October 2; provided that on that day, after confession and communion, they visit a church or public oratory and pray for the Sovereign Pontiff.
3. A plenary indulgence, at the hour of death, to all who had been accustomed during life frequently to say the said prayer.
Pius VII. afterwards granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who say at least once a day, for a month together, the said prayer, " O angel of God," &c. , on any one day when, after confession and communion, they visit a church and pray as above.
Other Prayers to our Guardian Angel.
O most faithful companion, whom God has appointed to watch over me, my guide and protector, ever at my side. What thanks can I offer thee for thy love, thy constancy, and thy innumerable benefits? Thou watchest over me in sleep; thou consolest me in sorrow; thou raisest me When I fall; thou wardest off danger; thou preparest me for the future; thou withdrawest me from sin; thou urgest me to good; and movest me to do penance, and reconcilest me with my God. Already, perhaps, I should have been thrust into hell, unless thou by thy prayers hadst averted from me the dreadful wrath of God. Desert me not then, I beseech thee; encourage me in adversity; restrain me in prosperity; protect me in dangers; and assist me in temptations, lest at any time I yield to them. Offer to the Divine Majesty all my prayers and sighs and works, and obtain for me the grace to die in the friendship of God, and so to enter into life eternal. Amen.
O most holy angel of God, appointed by him to be my guardian, I give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed on me in body and in soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou dost condescend to assist me, miserable and worthless as I am, with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemies. Blessed be the hour in which thou wast assigned me for my guardian, my defender, and my patron. Blessed be all thy love to me, and all thy care for me, wherewith thou dost unwearyingly further my salvation. In acknowledgment and return of all thy loving ministries to me from my youth I offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, full and overflowing with all blessedness: beseeching thee to forgive me for having so often striven against thy holy inspirations, and saddened thee my nearest, dearest friend; and firmly purposing to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen. (St. Gertrude.)
Prayer to St. Gabriel.
O Gabriel, might of God, who didst announce to the Virgin Mary the incarnation of the only Son of God, and in the garden didst console and strengthen Christ oppressed with fear and, sorrow; I praise thee, I worship thee, O chosen spirit, and humbly pray thee to be my advocate with Jesus Christ my Saviour, and with Mary, his blessed Virgin Mother; in all my trials do thou assist me, lest overcome by temptation I offend my God and Sovereign Good. Amen.
Prayer to St. Raphael
O heavenly physician and faithful companion St. Raphael, who didst restore sight to the elder Tobias, and guide the younger in his long journey and preserve him in safety; be thou the physician of my soul and body, disperse the dark clouds of ignorance; defend me from the dangers of my earthly pilgrimage, and lead me to that heavenly country where, with thee, I may gaze for ever on the face of God. Amen.
Litany of Guardian Angels, p. 348.
HYMNS.
Hail, Gabriel, hail . . . . . . 154
Michael, prince of highest heaven . . . . 155
Dear angel, ever at my side . . . . . 188
Kind Angel Guardian . . . . . 189
Blest spirits of light . . . . . . . . . 281
Sweet angel of mercy . . . . . . . 283
Hymns for Sundays in October, see list in May, p. 552.
Hymns for Saints in October
Oct. 13. St. Edward, Patron of Diocese of Westminster 259
25. St John of Beverley, Patron of Diocese of Beverley . . . .258
November.
The Holy Souls in Purgatory.
A Daily Exercise
FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SOULS IN PURGATORY.
O most loving God, Father of mercies, God of infinite goodness, behold me humbly prostrate before thy throne; I pray and beseech thee to have pity on the holy souls that are in the pains of Purgatory. Cast on them a look of mercy, free them from their pains, and put them in possession of the inheritance of heaven. Remember that they are the work of thy hands, redeemed by the most precious blood of thy divine Son Jesus; deal with, them according to thine infinite mercy. Hear, O Lord, the prayer I make to thee with all confidence, through the merits of the passion and death of thy most dear Son Jesus, that they may be consoled, and may enjoy without delay that immortal glory which thou hast prepared for thine elect. O merciful Lord, have pity upon them, according to our trust in thee. Amen.
Prayers.
1. O most sweet Jesus, through the sweat of blood which thou sufferedst in the Garden of Gethsemane, have pity upon the holy souls in Purgatory, and in particular upon the one which was most devout to the most holy Trinity.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them:
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, Mother! turn,
And call him by his tenderest names;
for the holy souls that burn.
This hour amid the cleansing flames.[3]
2. O most sweet Jesus, through the torments which thou sufferedst in thy most cruel scourging, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which was most devout to thy most amiable heart.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, &c.
3. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which thou sufferedst in thy most painful crowning with thorns, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which was most devout to the immaculate heart of Mary.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, &c.
4. O most sweet Jesus, through the afflictions which thou sufferedst in carrying the Cross to Calvary, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which is nearest to its departure from that most painful prison.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, &c.
5. O most sweet Jesus, through, the tortures which thou sufferedst in thy most cruel crucifixion, have pity upon those dear souls, and especially upon that one which thou knowest to be of them all the most destitute of special suffrages.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, &c.
6. O most sweet Jesus, through the pain? which thou sufferedst in the most bitter agony which thou didst undergo upon the Cross, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which among them all would be the last to depart out of such excruciating pains.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon, them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O turn to Jesus, &c.
7. O most sweet Jesus, through that Intense anguish which thou sufferedst; when thou didst breathe out thy blessed soul, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which has the greatest claims on me for help.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal Rest, &c.
O Mary, let thy Son no more
His lingering sponses thus expect :
God's children to their God restore,
And to the Spirit his elect.
They are the children of thy tears:
Then hasten, other, to their aid;
In pity think each hour appears
An age while glory is delayed.
Pray, then, as thou hast ever prayed;
Angels and souls, all look to thee;
God waits thy prayers, for he hath made
Those prayers his law of charity.
O turn to Jesus, Mother! turn,
And call him by his tenderest names;
Pray for the holy souls that burn
This hour amid the cleansing flames.
Supplication to the most holy Mary.
To thee, O most holy Virgin Mary, my mother, I turn in supplication, and through that sword which pierced thy heart, when thou didst behold thy beloved Son Jesus Christ bow down his head and give up the ghost, I pray and implore thee, with the greatest confidence, to succour the poor holy souls in purgatory, and particularly those of which an especial commemoration has been made. O Mother of sorrows, O Queen of Martyrs, for the love of Jesus who died for us upon the Cross, do thou with thy powerful prayers give succour also unto us, who are in danger not only of falling into purgatory, but even of losing ourselves for ever. O Mary, our dear mother, mother of grace, mother of mercy, have pity upon us.
Ejaculation to be repeated every day diving the Octave.
O eternal Father, through the most precious blood of Jesus, and through the most bitter dolours of Mery, have pity and mercy upon the holy souls in purgatory.
For the Souls in Purgatory.
For Sunday.
O Lord God Almighty, I pray thee by the precious blood which thy divine son Jesus shed in the garden; set free the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially the one which is most friendless, and conduct it to thy glory, where it may praise thee and bless thee for eternity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, De Profundis, Out of the depths, &c.
Prayer.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired; who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
V. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen,
Monday.
O Lord God Almighty, I pray thee, through the precious blood which thy divine Son Jesus shed in his cruel scourging; set free the souls In Purgatory, and, among them all, especially the one which is nearest to its entry into thy glory, in order that it may speedily begin to praise thee and to bless thee for eternity. Amen. Our Father, &c.
Tuesday.
O Lord God Almighty, I supplicate thee, through the precious blood which thy divine Son Jesus shed in his bitter crowning with thorns; set free the souls in Purgatory, and in particular, among them all the one which would have to be the last to depart from such grievous pains, to fine end that it may not delay so king to praise thee in thy glory, and to bless thee for ever. Amen, Our Father, &c.
Wednesday.
O Lord God Almighty, I pray thee, through the precious blood which thy divine £on Jesus shed through, the streets of Jerusalem, in carrying the cross on his sacred shoulders; set free the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one which is the richest in merits before thee, in order that in the sublime height of glory which it expects, it may loudly praise thee and bless thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, &c.
Thursday.
O Lord God Almighty, I supplicate thee, through the precious body and blood of thy divine Son Jesus, which he himself on the eve of his passion gave erewhile for meat and drink to his dear Apostles, and left to all his Church as a perpetual sacrifice and life-giving food for his faithful; set free the souls in Purgatory, and most of all the one, most devout to this mystery of infinite love; in, order that it may praise thee for it with thy divine Son, and with the Holy Ghost in thy glory for ever. Amen. Our Father, &c.
Friday.
O Lord God Almighty, I pray thee, through the precious blood which thy divine Son Jesus shed on this day on the altar of the cross, especially from his most holy hands and feet; set free the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one for which I ought most to pray to thee; in order that it may not be owing to my fault that thou dost not quickly take it to praise thee in thy glory, and to bless thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, &c.
Saturday.
O Lord God Almighty, I supplicate thee, through the precious blood which poured forth from the side of thy divine Son Jesus, in the sight and to the exceeding suffering of his most holy Mother; set free the souls in Purgatory, and especially, among, them all, the One which was most devout to this great Queen;l in order that it may speedily come to thy glory to praise thee in her, and her in thee for all eternity. Amen. Our Father, &c.
Indulgences: 100 days each time. Applicable to the dead.
Prayers for a Happy Death.
O Lord Jesus, God of goodness, and Father of mercies, I draw nigh to thee with a contrite and humble heart: to thee I recommend the last hour of my life, and that judgment which awaits me afterwards.
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my feet, benumbed with death, shall admonish me that my course in this life is drawing to an end,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my hands, cold and trembling, shall no longer be able to clasp the crucifix, and shall let it fall against my will on my bed of suffering,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my eyes, dim and troubled at the approach of death, shall fix themselves on thee, my last and only support,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my lips, cold and trembling, pronounce for the last time thy adorable name,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my face, pale and livid, shall inspire the beholders with pity and dismay; when my hair, bathed in the sweat of death, and stiffening on my head, shall forebode my approaching end,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my ears, soon to. be for ever shut to the discourse of men, shall be open to that irrevocable decree which is to fix my doom for all eternity,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my imagination, agitated by dreadful spectres, shall be sunk in an abyss of anguish; when my soul, affrighted with the sight of my iniquities and the terrors of thy judgments, shall have to fight against the angel of darkness, who will endeavour to conceal from my eyes thy mercies, and to plunge me into despair,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my poor heart, oppressed with suffering and exhausted by its continual struggles with the enemies of its salvation, shall feel the pangs of death,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When "the last tear, the forerunner of my dissolution, shall drop from my eyes, receive it as a sacrifice expiation for my sins; grant that I may expire the victim off penance; and in that dreadful moment,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my friends and relations, encircling my bed, shall be moved with compassion for me, and invoke thy clemency in my behalf,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When; I shall have lost! the use. of my senses, when the world Shall have vanished from my sight, when my agonising soul shall feel the sorrows of death,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When my last sighs shall force my soul to issue from, my body, accept them as the children, of a loving impatience to come to thee,
Merciful Jesus, hare mercy on me.
When my soul, trembling on my lips, shall bid adieu to the world, and leave my body lifeless, pale, and cold, receive this separation as a homage which I willingly pay to thy divine majesty, and in that last moment of my mortal life,
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
When at length my soul, admitted to thy presence, shall first behold the splendour of thy majesty, reject me not, but receive me into thy bosom where I may for ever sing thy praises; and in that moment when eternity shall begin to me,
Merciful Jesus have mercy on me.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast doomed all men to die, hut hast concealed from all the hour of their death; grant that I may pass my days in the practice of holiness and justice, and that I may deserve to quit this world in the peace of a good conscience, and in the embrace of thy love. Through Christ our Lord Amen.
Indulgences: 100 days once a day. Plenary, with the usual conditions, and applicable to the dead, once a month, for those who nave raised this Litany daily during the month.
Prayers for Deliverance from Unprepared Death.
1. Hear us O God of our salvation, and issue not the decree for the completion of our days before thou forgivest us our sins; and because penance avails not in hell, and there is no room for amendment in the pit, therefore we humbly pray and beseech thee here on earth, that giving us time to pray for pardon thou wouldst give us also forgiveness, of our sins. Through our Lord, Jesus, Christ. Amen.
2. Take away, merciful Lord all errors from thy 'faithful people, avert from them the sudden destruction of the wasting pestilence; and those whose wanderings thou dost justly chastise, do thou mercifully pity when corrected. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Antiphons.
Sin no longer, O my soul; think upon; the sudden change from sin to endless torments. There, in hell, penance is not accepted and tears profit not. Turn, then, whilst thou hast time; cry out and say, Have mercy upon me, O my God.
In the midst of life we are in death; but to whom can we look to be our helper save thee, O Lord, who art justly angry with us because of our sins? O holy God, holy and strong, holy and merciful Saviour, deliver us not over to a bitter death.
V Lest, overtaken, by the day of death, we seek time for penance, and be unable to find it.
R. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy on us; for we have sinned against thee.
3. We beseech thee, Almighty God, receive in thy fatherly pity thy people who flee unto thee from thine anger; that those who fear to be chastised by the rod of thy majesty through sudden deathy may be made worthy to rejoice in thy pardon. Though our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.
4. We beseech thee, Almighty God, graciously incline thine ear to the assembly of thy Church, and let thy mercy to us go before thine anger; for if thou shouldst mark iniquities, there shall no creature be able to stand before thee: but in that same admirable charity whereby thou didst create us, pardon us sinners, and destroy not the work of thine own hands by sudden death. Through our lord Jesus Christ &c.
5. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enter not into judgment with Thy servants; for, knowing that there is no justice in us on which we can dare to presume, We acknowledge no other fount of mercy whereby we can he washed from our sins, delivered from our infirmities, and espcially from unprepared death, but only Thou, O Lord. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6. O God, before whom every heart trembles and ever conscience is awed; show forth Thy mercy upon us Thy suppliants, that we who trust not in the excellence of our own merit, may never experience unprepared death, but may receive Thy pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. For one lately deceased.
Absolve, we beseech thee, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. from every bond of sin, that, being, raised in the glory of the resurrection, hp may be refreshed among thy Saints and Elect. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
For a Bishop or Priest.
O God, who, amongst apostolic priests, hast adorned thy servant N. with the pontifical (or sacerdotal) dignity, grant, we beseech thee, that he may also be associated with them in everlasting fellowship. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Father and Mother.
O God, who hast commanded us to honour our father and mother, have compassion, in thy mercy, on the soul of my father and mother; forgive them their sins, and grant that I may see them in the joy of eternal brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Friends and Benefactors.
O God, bountiful in forgiving, and lovingly desirous of man's salvation, we humbly beseech thy mercy in behalf of our friends, relations, and benefactors, who have passed from this world, that, through the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin and all the Saints, thou wouldst permit them to come to the full participation of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For all that lie in a church or churchyard.
O God, by whose mercy the souls of the faithful find rest, mercifully grant to thy servants N. N., and to all that, here and every where, have slept in Christ, the pardon of their sins, that, absolved from; all guilt, they may rejoice with thee for all eternity. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
For a Men deceased.
Incline thine ear, O Lord, to our prayers, wherewith we humbly beseech thy mercy, that thou wouldst grant to the soul of thy servant N., which thou hast commanded to depart out of this world, a place in the region of light and peace, and wouldst make it the associate of thy Saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For a Woman deceased.
Have mercy, we beseech thee, O Lord, according to thy goodness, on the soul of thy servant N., that, being delivered from the corruptions of mortality, it may be restored to the inheritance of everlasting salvation., Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c
For many deceased.
We offer to thee, O Lord, our most humble supplications in behalf of the souls of thy servants; beseeching thee, that whatever defilements they have contracted in this mortal life, thou wouldst mercifully pardon, and wouldst set them in the abode of thy redeemed and blessed ones. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
An Invocation of the Most Holy Trinity for the Souls in Purgatory.
O God of all goodness, father of mercies; who, at the prayers and fastings of thy faithful people, didst vouchsafe to send thy Angels to break asunder the fetters of thy holy apostle Peter, and to open the doors of his prison; hear even also on this day the prayers and supplications of thy Church, and send thy Angel to the souls for whom we pray, that, the doors of their prison being opened wide, they may be happily received into the bosom of thy mercy. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
O Son of God, Saviour of souls, who didst refresh the three children; in the burning fiery furnace, pour down upon the souls that cry to thee from the flames, thy heavenly dew. Thy precious blood alone can quench the flame of purgatory; oh, let it now flow down upon these suffering souls, and do thou O Lord, have mercy upon them. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
O Spirit of love, have compassion on the cruel torment which these souls endure, that are filled with the purest charity, and, aspiring without, ceasing. towards their God, cry aloud in their distress, "I thirst: I thirst after my God!" and yet cannot attain unto the object of their love, nor receive the least drop of that torrent of pure delights. O Holy Spirit, great that having felt the fiercest pangs of love, they may taste its heavenly delights in a blessed eternity. Amen. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
Prayer that may be used by surviving Friends.
Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that while we lament the departure Of thy servant, we may always remember that we are most certainly to follow him. Give us grace to prepare for that last hour by a good and holy life, that we may not be taken unprepared by sudden death, but may be ever on the watch, that, when thou shalt call, we may go forth to meet the bridegroom, and enter with him into glory everlasting. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O most wise and merciful Lord, who hast ordained this life as a passage to the future, confining our repentance to the time of out pilgrimage here, and reserving for hereafter the state of punishment and reward; vouchsafe to us who are yet alive, and have still the opportunity of reconciliation with thee the grace so to watch over all our actions, and to correct every slightest wandering from the true way to heaven, that we may not be surprised with our sins uncancelled or our duties unfulfilled; but when our bodies shall go down into the grave, our souls may ascend, to thee, and dwell with thee for ever in the mansions of eternal bliss. Through: Jesus Christ
our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. To all the Saints.
O all ye Saints of God, and ye especially, my most beloved Patrons, I salute and venerate you with the most profound affection of my heart, I adore and bless the infinite goodness and condescension of the ever-adorable Trinity for all the grace which has ever flowed forth from that unfathomable overflowing abyss for your salvation; beseeching you all in general and each one of you in particular, that you would deign to offer in sacrifice to the bright and ever-peaceful Trinity, in satisfaction for all my negligence and unworthiness, all that fervent zeal and preparedness with which you stood perfect and consummate in the presence of the glory of God on the day of your entrance into heaven, to receive your everlasting reward. (St. Gertrude.)
HYMNS FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY.
O turn to Jesus . . . . 125
Help, Lord, the souls ....... 215
Hymns for All Saints.
Jerusalem, thou city blest ... . . . 49
O heavenly Jerusalem . . . . . 50
Who can paint that lovely city . . . . . 51
Yes, heaven is the prize . . . . . 52
O Paradise ... . . . . . . 190
O Christ, thy guilty people spare . . . . . 153
Hymns for Saints in November.
Nov. 3. St. Winifride, Patron of the Diocese of Shrewsbury . . . . 277
17. St. Hugh, Patron of the Diocese of Nottingham . . . . 258
18 SS. Peter and Paul . . . . 143
19. St. Elizabeth . . . .278
22. St. Cecilia . . . . 276
30. St. Andrew, Patron of Scotland . . . . .265 Rorate, Coeli.
(Advent.)
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One.
Be not very angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity: beheld, thy holy city is become deserted: Sion is become a desert: Jerusalem is desolate: the house of thy sanctification and of thy glory, where our fathers praised thee.
We have sinned, and are become as unclean: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have carried us away: thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast crushed us in the hand of our iniquity.
Behold, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send forth him who is to come: send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from Petra of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Sion: that he may take away the yoke of our captivity.
Be comforted; be comforted, my people: thy salvation cometh quickly: why with grief art thou consumed? for sorrow hath stricken thee: I will save thee, fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.
[Music for the above in “ Popular Choir Manual.”]
December.
ADVENT - IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - NATIVITY.
Crown of the Twelve Stars.
OR ROSARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
Let us praise and bless the most holy Trinity, for having shown to us the Virgin Mary clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and with a mysterious crown of twelve stars upon her head.
R. For ever and ever. Amen.
Let us praise, and bless, the divine Father, for having chosen her as his daughter.
R. Amen. Our Father.
Praised be the divine Father, for having predestined her to, be the Mother of his divine Son.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Father, for having, preserved her from all sin in her Conception
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Father for having adorned her with the highest gifts in her Nativity.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Father, for having given her St. Joseph as a most pure spouse and companion.
R. Amen. Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
Let us praise and bless the divine Son, for having chosen her for his Mother.
R. Amen. Our Father.
Praised be the divine Son, for having become incarnate in her womb, and for having remained there nine months.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Son, for having been born of her, and for having given her her milk wherewith to nourish him.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Son, for having been pleased in his childhood to be educated by her.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the divine Son, for having revealed to her the mysteries of the redemption of the world.
R. Amen. Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
Let us praise and bless the Holy Ghost, for having taken her for his spouse.
R. Amen. Our Father.
Praised be the Holy Ghost, for having revealed to her for the first time his name of Holy Ghost.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the Holy Ghost, through whose operation she was at once Virgin and Mother.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the Holy Ghost, through whose power she became the living temple of the most holy Trinity.
R. Amen. Hail Mary.
Praised be the Holy Ghost, by whom she was exalted in Heaven above all creatures.
R. Amen. Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
"For the holy Catholic Church, for the propagation of the faith, for peace among Christian princes, and for the extirpation of heresies, let us say the Salve Regina, Hail, holy Queen, &c. (p. 55).
100 days' indulgence each time. Prevent our actions, we beseech thee, O Lord, by thy inspiration, and further them by thy continual help: that every prayer and work of ours may begin from thee, and by thee be happily ended, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
PREPARATORY PRAYER.
[To be said every day.]
O most pure Virgin, conceived without sin, and from that very first instant entirely beautiful and without spot, O glorious Mary, full of grace, and Mother of my God, Queen of Angels and of men, I humbly worship thee as Mother of my Saviour, inasmuch as God has taught me by the esteem he has for thee, and by his respect and submission towards thee, what honours and what homage I ought to render thee, deign, I beseech thee, to accept this Novena which I consecrate to thee. Thou art the secure refuge of penitent sinners, and I therefore may rightly have recourse to thee; thou art the Mother of Mercy, and therefore thou canst not but be melted into tenderness by my miseries: thou, after Jesus Christ, art all my hope; thou canst not, then, but be pleased with the tender confidence which I have in thee. Make me worthy to be called thy son, that I may be able to say with confidence, Shew thyself to be a Mother.
Here are to be said nine Hail Marys and a Glory to the Father, and then the following
PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY,
The 29th of November.
Behold me at thy most holy feet, O immaculate Virgin. I rejoice with thee exceedingly that from all eternity thou hast been chosen to be the Mother of the eternal Word, and been preserved from original sin. I thank and bless the most holy Trinity for having enriched thee With these privileges in thy conception; and I humbly implore thee to obtain for me grace to overcome those sad effects which original sin has wrought in me. Ah, do thou enable me to conquer them, and never more to cease to love my God.
Here is to be recited the litany of the Blessed Virgin, or the following.
HYMN.
V. Thou art all fair, O Mary.
R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.
V. And the original stain is not in thee.
R. And the original stain is not in thee.
V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
R. Thou art the joy of Isreal.
V. Thou our people's special honour.
R. Thou the advocate of sinners.
V. O Mary.
R. O Mary.
V. Virgin prudent above all
R. Mother too most merciful
V. Pray thou for us.
R. Intercede for us with Jesus Christ our Lord.
V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father, whose Son thou didst bring forth.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the Virgin's immaculate conception didst prepare a worthy dwelling for thy Son, we beseech thee, that thou, who, by the death of that same So of thine, foreseen by thee, didst preserve her from every stain, wouldst grant that by her intercession we also may be purifed; and we come to thee:
Then the following :
O God the shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look marcifully down on thy servant Pius whom thou hast chosen to
be the shepherd of thy Chunch. Grant, we beseech thee, that
he may both by word and example benefit those over whom
he governs, that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to life everlasting.
O God, our refuge and our strength listen to the holy prayers of thy Church, who art thyself the author of holiness, and grant Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/650 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/651 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/652 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/653 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/654 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/655 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/656 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/657 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/658 Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/659