The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. IV. Rosaries and Exercises, in Verse, on the Life and Passion of Christ.
CHAPTER IV.
Rosaries and Exercises,
In Verse,
ON THE LIFE AND PASSION OF CHRIST.
ADMONITION ON THE END AND USE OF THE FOLLOWING ROSARY.
The character of a Christian appears, not from his name, hut from his life. Glorious indeed is the profession of that name; but it will he of no avail to eternal glory, unless there he holiness of life to correspond with a name so holy.
The life of Christ, moreover, should he our rule to live by. But now there are many who take the name of Christians, hut are little careful to lead a life worthy of that name; and yet they presumptuously hope that they shall he partakers in Christ's glory, though they make no effort to be his followers in his life or on the way. Oh, how many, who in name only are Christians, are deluded by this hope, or rather preemption! who are either so indolent, or so ignorant, as not to know that a name so holy should he the spur to a more holy life, and that we should wish rather to be, than to be called, Christians.
What is to he done? Behold, our mirror is the life of Christ. Look upon it, O Christian! and compare with it thy own; and because what is straight is the rule both of itself and of what is crooked, observe in it its great beauty and its different virtues, and the stains and vices in thy own, that are, however, the easier to be washed out, the more diligently thou consultest thy spotless mirror.
Keep, then, thy eyes ever fixed upon it, and meditate day and night upon the life of Christ, that thou may est learn the faults of thy own life and the virtues of Christs, and conceive hatred for the one, and love, with longing desire, to imitate it, for the other. For meditation produces knowledge, enlightens the understanding, excites the affection, and inflames the will. But of that which is unknown there is no desire; what wonder, then, if Christ has but few to imitate him?
Can it be both distasteful to meditate on the life of Christ, and a pleasure to imitate it ?
But thou, O Christian, hear a few words on the use of this Rosary. It exhibits briefly the whole life of Christ, but suggests, if I mistake not, matter that is fruitful enough for meditation. In the first part of each verse is propounded a mystery, or point in the life and actions of Christ; in the latter, some pious affection is elicited from it, and desire for the virtue indicated is especially expressed.
It is distributed into five parts, or Decades, containing,
I. The infancy and youth of our Saviour to his Baptism.
II. The life of Christ from his Baptism to his Passion.
III. The Passion of Christ to his Crucifixion.
IV. His Crucifixion and acts on the Cross to his Death.
V. His acts after death, and, finally, his Resurrection and Ascension.
This Rosary will serve for Holy Communion, for celebrating and hearing Mass well, and also for other occasions. For as each is a memorial of our Lord's Passion, a better exercise can hardly be drawn from a better source than from its Mysteries themselves.
But that thou mayest profit the more by the use of this Rosary, whenever thou perceivest or readest of any virtue of Christ's, let it draw forth at once thy heart's affection, so that it may respond the more to that virtue or act.
Now there are various affections of the soul that harmonise with so good a work, and with these thy meditation should be watered from time to time, otherwise it will be empty and barren. They are these that follow, with an act of each subjoined.
1. Of sympathy in adversity, and congratulation in prosperity. From my heart I condole with thee, O Lord, because thou hast suffered so bitterly and undeservedly for one so unworthy as I am, &c.
2. Of Compunction and Contrition. Woe is me, for I have sinned; I am sorry because I have caused thee so many sorrows. Can I hold myself worthless when I know that thou hast bought me at so great a price! Shall I deem my soul of little value, the price of which is the Blood of Christ? Shall I be such a wretch as to sin again, when the Son of God has suffered so greatly for my sins?
3. Of Hope and Joy. It is good for me to adhere to God, and in God to place my hope. What may I not hope from thee, when thou hast done and suffered so much for me, O my God and my only refuge!
4. Of Praise and Thanksgiving. What shall I render to thee, O Lord, for all that thou hast rendered to me? My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
5. Of Imitation. Thou hast left us an example, O Lord! and wilt that we follow thy steps. Give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt.
6. Of Admiration. Who art thou, O Lord, and who am I? Thou, who sufferest, art God and Lord, just and innocent. I am a worthless slave, a worm of earth, and a sinner, who have merited the punishment which thou, O miracle! endurest.
7. Of Love. O sweet Jesus, my salvation and my life! All thy works, O Lord, tell of thy love to me! It was love drew thee from heaven, and confined thee in the Virgin’s womb. It was love fastened thee to the Cross; and what shall separate me from thy love? This, oh, that neither life, nor death, nor whatever happens, may effect!
These, then, are the affections on which, according to the subject-matter, thy mind should be exercised, and thy meditation seasoned upon the Life and Passion of Christ; the practice of which in the several points is exhibited in the following Rosary, and will be taught thee more fully by the unction of the Spirit. But the affections of contrition and imitation should be chiefly attended to, especially by beginners. For to derive from the consideration of the Passion the hatred of sin and the love of virtue is one of its principal fruits. And what can more effectually deter us from sin than to think how greatly it was necessary for Christ to suffer, that he might save us from our sins? What can more powerfully incite us to the love of virtue than to reflect how God became man, visible in our flesh, and like us, to set before us examples of victory for us to imitate?
In this Rosary also are to be noted particularly the following virtues: Humility, obedience, meekness, patience, mercy, charity, &c. Remark these and the like, imitate them, and exercise other pious affections in relation to them. Christ, who, by the protection of his grace, guides those whom he teaches by the example of his life, will not fail to assist your endeavours, and will at last crown them that follow him with the eternal rewards of his glory.
The Rosary
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Comprising, in a brief and agreeable manner, the principal points of his Life and Passion, and, with an easy method, supplying also fertile matter for meditation.
Father most high, who didst us make!
Jesu, who diedst for our sake!
Spirit, who care of us dost take!
One God who rulest all;
Grant that I may, with chastened thought,
The things for our salvation wrought
To memory recall.
Jesu! thou didst a Mother choose,
Whose Seed the serpent’s head should bruise, —
Seed of a Virgin’s womb!
May I, who seek thy Mother’s side.
And in her tender care confide,
Aye find in her a home!
Jesu, of joyful Saints the band,
Link’d with the Angels hand in hand,
Praise thee the Judge of all;
With these would I, too, praises bring,
Yet fear, through sinful memory’s sting:
Oh, hear thy suppliant’s call!
I believe in God.
DECADE I.
Jesu, thy throne of glory thou
Didst quit, and for us lowly bow,
To take our shape on earth;
To us, oh, may such boundless love
Give power to raise ourselves above.
To those of heavenly birth!
Our Father.
Jesu, the Virgin Mother blest
Conceived thee in her spotless breast
By dew of heavenly grace;
May I, too, thee with purest heart,
Since in foul sin thou hast no part,
The dreadful God embrace!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, whom Mary, Mother chaste,
O’er rugged mountains bore in haste
Elizabeth to see;
Oh, that this blessed Mother mild
Would often, with her heav’nly Child,
Those sweet steps turn to me!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, with thee thy Mother pure
No pangs of childbirth did endure,
Exempt from sin's curst pow’r;
Grant that my heart, full-grown in love,
May burn towards thee, my God above,
Nor faint in trial’s hour!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, the spacious world was thine,
Yet, when thou wouldst thy head recline,
It scarce found room for thee;
And oh, shall sinful man be bent
On self-sought greatness, not content
With Christ-like poverty!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, to celebrate thy birth,
Bright Angels join in holy mirth,
With lowly shepherds nigh;
Make me, like them, my song to raise,
And chant the Angelic Hymn of praise,
Glory to God on high!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, my God and Saviour, thou
Didst, sinless, as a sinner, bow
To ordinance divine;
Restrain my loose and wandering eves,
Prune my self-will, and circumcise
This carnal heart of mine!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, to thee, the King of kings,
Brought earthly monarchs offerings,
And, falling low, adored;
For countless blessings from above,
What shall I give in proof of love?
Behold, myself, O Lord!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, on strict obedience bent,
To God thy parents thee present Tho’ free from legal bond;
Oh, make my heart, like theirs, upright,
That I may in thy law delight,
And to thy will respond!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, sweet fugitive, who fledst
From kingly Herod’s bloody quest
Thine infant life to slay;
Give me, O Lord, like modest care
To fly the world, when it speaks fair.
To steal thy grace away!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, when thee, with sorrowing mind,
Thy Mother sought, she joy’d to find,
Teaching in God’s own House;
Blest they who keep thee, free from sin,
Or, losing, can regain, within
The Church, thy mystic Spouse!
Hail Mary.
Mighty Creator, deign to
hear;
Vouchsafe to listen, Saviour dear;
Directing Spirit, he thou near,
Thou art my God, my all!
Pray for us, Mary, Mother sweet,
Mother most kind, thy Son entreat,
Ever refresh our weary feet.
That seek His homeward call!
DECADE II.
Jesu, baptised, the Father’s voice
Declared thee his peculiar choice,
The Spirit too came down;
So wash me, Lord, that I may be
At the great day approved of thee,
Before the Father’s throne!
Our Father,
Jesu, thro’ might of lengthen’d fast,
How powerfully didst thou blast
The tempter’s arch deceit;
Lest sin’s deep fraud should me confound,
Grant that I may with faith abound,
The devil’s wiles to meet!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, who calledst from the sea
Poor fishermen, design’d by thee
To teach the world thy way;
Grant, Lord, that at thy in* ward call
We too may come, and guard from fall
The feet that would delay!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, who, when a marriage guest,
Didst, at thy Mother’s sweet request,
Change water into wine;
Make me to seek, by acts of love,
My neighbour’s good, and thus to prove
My zeal for thee and thine!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, how toil’d thy blessed Feet
O’er hill and dale and stony street,
In weary want and pain!
Oh, may I rather cold and heat
Prefer, with hunger, thirst, and sweat,
To joys thou didst disdain!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, in all the zeal of love.
How graciously didst thou reprove
Poor wretches lost in sin!
Ah, may I first in penance live,
Rebuking self, then humbly strive
My brother’s soul to win!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, who didst the multitude
Twice nourish with miraculous food.
Of soul and body both;
Give 'me my daily bread, O
Lord,—
Thy Flesh,— Thyself, Incarnate Word,
That feeds our heav’nly growth!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, what truths by thee were taught,
What Borrows soothed, what wonders wrought,
Requited were with hate;
Vouchsafe that I may ever be Like-minded, blessed Lord, with thee,
And envy no man’s state!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, who on Mount Thabor’s height
Didst shew thyself inglorious light,
A Type of what shall be;
Oh, that my life so stainless were,
That I too on God’s hill might share
The prize of victory!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, at sight of Salem’s steep,
Thy tender Heart was moved to weep
For all her future woes;
Oh, that thy love might wake such grief
In me for sin, and bring relief, In pardon, from its throes!
Hail Mary.
Jesu, betray’d and cheaply sold
By Judas, for the love of gold,
His God, his friend, his guide;
May I of avarice beware,
And make thy love my chiefest care,
Preferr’d to all beside!
Hail Mary.
Mighty Creator, deign to hear,
Vouchsafe to listen, Saviour dear; Directing Spirit, be thou near,
Thou art my God, my all!
Pray for us, Mary, Mother sweet,
Mother most kind, thy Son entreat,
Ever refresh our weary feet.
That seek His homeward call!
DECADE III.
Jesus, our Lord and Master, thou
To wash thy servants’ feet didst bow,
Man’s haughtiness to lower.
Wash me, O Lord, from all my sin,
And if perchance pride lurks within,
Quell all its deadly power!
Our Father.
Jesus, who my true flesh didst take
Upon the Paschal night, and break
For our most precious food;
Oh, Living Bread, be thou my strength,
Through which the world and flesh at length
In me may be subdued!
Hail Mary.
Jesus, who pouredst forth in guide; prayer Thy Bloody Sweat, yet yieldedst there
To do thy Father’s will;
Grant to me too a heart resign’d
To suffer, and a zealous mind Thy statutes to fulfil!
Jesus, who like a sheep away
To be to greedy wolves a prey,
Wert led a victim meek;
From hellish rancour set me free,
And make my inmost heart, like thee.
Love’s winsome, language speak!
Jesus, who sawest, that sad night,
Thy own, thy chosen, take to flight,
And leave their Lord by stealth;
Let pain not tear us from thy side,
Nor waver we, tho’ us betide Prosperity and wealth!
Jesus, who silent stoodst accused,
With bands thy sacred Arms abused,
Yet free from wrath in will;
May I like thee my tongue refrain,
And every evil thought restrain,
Thy precepts to fulfil!
Jesus, whom Peter thrice denied,
But moved by thee to weeping, hied His crime to expiate;
Oh, never may I thee deny.
But ah! if fallen, purify My sin, ere yet too late!
Jesu, the Judge of glory dread,
Thou who Wert falsely judged and led
In mock regalia clad;
May I this solemn part fulfil.
And judge myself, but think no ill, —
Not even of the bad!
Jesu, when scourged, and buffeted,
And spit upon, thy guiltless Head
From every fault was free;
How fitly this on me would fall!
But through thy pains from Satan’s thrall
May I deliver’d be!
Jesu, with thorns they crown thy Brow,
And with the knee inmock’ry bow
To thee th’ almighty King;
Let me, O Lord, with love sincere,
In humble zeal and childlike fear,
To thee my homage bring!
Jesu, led forth before their sight,
The Jews reject thee in despite, And set a robber free;
Oh, let not me, devoid of grace,
Choose aught, like that untoward race, —
Barabbas, Lord, for thee!
Vouchsafe to listen, Saviour dear;
Directing spirit, he thou near,
Thou art my God, my all!
Pray for us, Mary, Mother sweet.
Mother most kind, thy Son entreat,
Ever refresh our weary feet.
That seek His homeward call!
DECADE IV.
Jesus, along thy tearful road
Of sorrows, with thy weary load,
How didst thou toil and strain!
Oh, may I bear my cross like thee,
And thus the fruit of this fair Tree
With joy at length obtain!
Jesus, on that most shameful day,
How were thy garments stripp’d away,
Thy holy Limbs laid bare!
Oh, may no works nor ways unclean
Despoil me of that modest mein
Thy servants, Lord, should wear!
Jesu, what direst agony
Was thine upon that bitter Tree
With healing virtues rife!
Oh, may I count all things but loss,
And glory only in the Cross, The sinner’s Tree of Life!
Jesu, that sacred Name of thine,
Thrice written by a race malign, A joyful omen gave;
Jesus of Nazareth, Saviour dear,
Salvation comes from thee, oh, hear,
And when thou hearest, save!
Jesu, thy Father thou hast pray’d
For those who all thy love repaid
With this dread cup of woes;
Teach me to conquer, Lord, like thee,
By patience and benignity, The thwarting of my foes!
Jesus, O Fount of all relief,
How mercifully to the thief
Thou didst his sins forgive!
Give me, like his, a contrite heart,
That I too, when I hence depart,
In Paradise my live!
Jesus, who dying didst commend
Thy Mother to thy well-loved friend,
To be a mutual stay;
Vouchsafe, in trouble and in care,
And in death's hour, that both be there,
To help me on the way!
Jesus, in agony thou didst cry
With piercing voice, O Father, why
Hast thou forsaken me?
To me, O Lord, be ever nigh,
Lest, tempted in death’s struggle, I
Perchance should vanquish’d be!
Jesu, thy burning thirst they think
To mock, by giving thee to drink
What might inflame thy pain;
Can I forget that bitter draught,
Which for my sins my Saviour quaff’d,
Nor fleshly lusts restrain?
Jesu, Redeemer, all the price
Of Adam’s sin, thy Sacrifice
Hath more than fully paid;
Thy law into my heart instil,
So be thy precepts and thy will
By force of love obey’d!
Jesu, thy Soul, ere freed its bands,
Thou gavest to thy Father’s hands,
The dark sun mourn’d its loss;
Let me, too, at my hour of death,
With joy yield up to thee my breath,
Redeem’d by thy dear Cross!
Vouchsafe to listen, Saviour dear;
Directing Spirit, be thou near,
Thou art my God, my all!
Pray for us, Mary, Mother sweet,
Mothen' most kind, thy Son entreat,
Ever refresh our weary feet,
That seek His homeward call!
Decade V.
Jesu, because of all our guilt
Thy guiltless Blood to death is spilt.
Our pardon thus to win;
Oh, by thy Blood to save me shed,
May I not by the flesh be led,
To die the death of sin!
Jesu, what time was pierced thy Side,
There issued forth a twofold tide
Of love without alloy;
The Saviour’s fountains open fly,
And, guilty, shall not we apply
To draw its streams with joy?
Jesu, thy Passion’s bitter smart
Pierced like a sword thy Mother’s heart,
As Simeon prophesied;
My heart so fasten to the Cross,
That I may count all knowledge loss,
Save Jesus crucified!
Jesus, in spices wrapp’d and laid
Within the garden’s rocky shade,
By jealous seals made sure;
Embalm me with thy grace, and hide
Thy servant in thy wounded Side,
With heav’nly sepulture!
Jesu, the while thy course is bent
Th’ imprison’d spirits long detent
In triumph to release;
Lord, set me free from all my pains,
Nor bind me down in hellish chains
To woes that never cease!
Jesu, when risen from the dead,
Thy vision quickly comforted
The hearts that mourn’d for thee;
From sin let me, too, live again,
That, cleansed from every earthly stain,
I yet my Lord may see!
Jesu, to thy disciples shewn
To Emmaus bound, yet all unknown
Companion of their way;
Let me thy inward sight enjoy,
Nor wayward thoughts from thee decoy
My communing away!
Jesus, who didst in triumph rise
To heav’n on high, and there the prize Of victory receive;
Let me too thither run the race,
And stumble not, but thee embrace
When I the goal achieve!
Jesus, who didst the Paraclete Send down from heaven, and so complete
Thy mission from above;
Oh, may the Holy Spirit’s fire
With truth divine our hearts inspire,
And gifts of heav’nly love!
Jesu, thy Mother thou hast raised
Above the heav’ns, o’er all appraised,
Next thee her throne upon;
My Jesu, turn to me thy face,
In heav’n, O Mother full of grace,
Implore for me thy Son!
Jesus, who wilt hereafter come
To judge our deeds, and fix our doom,
In majesty untold;
Oh, may I now, whilst thou art near,
Seek thee in love, lest then in fear I should thy wrath behold!
Mighty Creator, deign to hear,
Vouchsafe to listen, Saviour dear;
Directing Spirit, be thou near,
Thou art my God, my all!
Pray for us, Mary, Mother, sweet,
Mother most kind, thy Son entreat,
Ever refresh our weary feet.
That seek his homeward call!
Devout Affections of the Soul,
IN RHYME,
Addressed to the several Members of Christ crucified.
Decade 1.
On Sunday.
TO THE SACRED FEET.
Jesu, by saintly Choirs adored.
Light of the world, the Angels Lord,
Way, Life, and Truth, all hail!
Thy sons, O Man of many woes.
Draw peace and healing from thy throes,
And Death of high avail.
Jesu, great King of saving wealth,
Death’s Conqu’ror, Lord of life and health,
Make me to share thy bitter Tree,
That I, who taste of death with thee,
May taste thy joys undying;
Yet while I ask, my sin alarms,
Till I behold thine outstretch’d arms
And Body bleeding — then I fall
In prostrate love, and vow, thee all,
On hope of love relying!
The nails thy tender Feet that pierce,
The wounds, the gashes, large and fierce,
I feel them all, and joy to feel,
Yet, scared by all thy wounds reveal,
The stricken heart recoils.
Oh, how shall rescued sinners prove
Meet gratitude for boundless love?
What love like thine, which paid our cost,
And won the heav’n our sins had lost,
By its atoning toils?
O sweetest Jesu, God of might,
Thou art my portion and delight.
What can I need, possessing thee,
And what are countless worlds to me
Without my God, my all?
Give me, O Lord, to enter in,
And hide this heart, defiled with sin,
In thy red Wounds and punctures deep;
Lest, when o’er earth thy vengeance sweep,
On me the light’ning fall!
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With suchlike fost’ring care,
So by thy aid our steadfast hearts
Shall danger’s threatening dare!
IV. WORD.
Hail Jesu’s voice, My God, my God,
Why hast thou me forsa’en,
For triumph to mine enemies,
By death’s sharp pains o’erta’en?
Here leave us not to perish, Lord,
Tho’ sore temptation try;
But firmly let us hold to thee,
Nor from affliction fly!
V. WORD.
Hail Jesu, when thou saidst, I thirst,
Given vinegar and gall;
With what a potion art thou slaked,
O thou who feedest all!
Make us to thirst for heav’nly things, —
The things that never cloy, Of world and flesh alike to loathe
The transitory joy!
VI. WORD.
Hail Jesu, all accomplish’d now
Thy Father’s sweet commands,
Thy merits are on us bestow’d
By thy all-bounteous hands!
Grant that we too our heav’nward race
May happily begin, Accomplish all thy dear behests,
And thy blest vision win!
VII. WORD.
Hail Jesu, with thy closing speech
Is closed thy earthly strife,
And, to thy Father’s hands resign’d,
Thou yieldest up thy life!
Oh, let thy Death cleanse us from sin,
With good our life supply.
And hopeful of thy promised bliss,
Securely give to die!