The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. VI. Various Exercises in honour of the Five Sacred Wounds, and the Seven Blood-sheddings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER VI.
Various Exercises
IN HONOUR OF THE FIVE SACRED WOUNDS AND THE SEVEN BLOOD-SHEDDINGS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
A TWOFOLD ROSARY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Which may be said either in honour of the seven Blood sheddings of Jesus Christ, or in honour of his five sacred Wounds.
The first Rosary has seven decades:
It is to be said thus:
Begin with the Apostles' Creed, I believe, &c.
At each decade say once the Lord's Prayer, and the following salutation ten times, with the variation only of the mystery of the Blood-shedding in each decade:
Hail, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, full of grace; there is mercy with thee. Blessed be thy most holy Life, Passion, and Death, and blessed be thy Blood which thou hast shed for us, &c.
At each salutation, after shed for us, add:
To decade I. In thy circumcision.
II. In thy agony.
III. In thy scourging.
IV. In thy crowning with thorns.
To decade V. In the stripping of thy garments.
VI. In thy crucifixion.
VII. In the opening of thy side.
At the end of every decade, or last salutation, subjoin the following aspiration to the most blessed Virgin Mary:
Holy Mary, sorrowful Mother, by the sword of sorrow which pierced thy soul, obtain for us the fruit of the Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.
The recital of this Rosary may be seasoned with various pious affections, applications, and intentions. Each decade, for instance, may be directed severally, either against the seven capital sins, or to the imitation of the seven principal virtues of Christ, as they are commonly set forth by Canisius, Costerus, and others: for example,
Decade I. For Christ’s humility.
II. For his meekness.
III. For his patience.
IV. For his obedience.
V. For his goodness.
VI. For his charity.
VII. For his bounty.
And for this purpose an epithet suited to recall the memory of those virtues may be added to the beginning of the salutation in every decade: as, 1. Hail most humble. 2. Most meek. 3. Most patient. 4. Most obedient. 5. Most gracious. 6. Most loving. 7. Most bountiful Lord Jesus Christ, &c. This Rosary may be said also for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, or for the seven benefits contained in the Lord's Prayer. Also, since it is by the Blood of Christ that the seven Sacraments have each their own efficacy, this Rosary may be offered for obtaining the saving use of the Sacraments for each of their recipients. Thus, decade I. for the baptized, II. for the confirmed, III. for penitents, IV. for communicants, V. for the ordained, VI. for the married, VII. for the dying.
The second Rosary, relating to Christ's most sacred Wounds, has five decades, to be repealed as before.
To each salutation, again, after shed for us, add:
To decade I. From the wound in thy right foot.
II. From the wound in thy left foot.
III. From the wound in thy right hand.
IV. From the wound in thy left hand.
V. From the wound in thy heart.
At the end of each decade add the aspiration to the most holy Virgin, Holy Mary, &c., as above.
Here, then, you have a method most easy and useful to man, and most pleasing to God, of commemorating daily the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mysteries of which are thus readily recalled to the memory.
Seven Thanksgivings
IN RELATION TO THE SEVEN BLOOD-SHEDDINGS OF JESUS CHRIST.
AGAINST THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS.
I.
O most humble Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because in thy tender age, namely, on the eighth day of thy mortal life, it was thy will to shed for us thy precious and innocent Blood; and, like a true son of Abraham, to bear the pain of Circumcision.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I implore of thee the grace of humility, against all pride and worldly vanity. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
O loving Pelican, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because in the garden, out of the exceeding anguish of thy Heart, thou pouredst forth a Bloody sweat, and offeredst it to thy Father with the most ready resignation of one who was to die for us.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I implore of thee the grace of bountifulness, against all cupidity and avarice. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
O most chaste Spouse, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because, in the hall of Pilate, thou sufferedst thyself to be mercilessly bound, and thy virgin flesh to be most cruelly scourged and torn.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I implore of thee the grace of chastity, against all sensuality and lust. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
O most meek Lamb, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because thou sufferedst thy sacred Head to be crowned with sharpest thorns, and to be struck from above with a hard reed.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I beg of thee the grace of meekness, against all anger and desire of revenge. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
O most sweet and abstemious of guests, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, for the stripping of thy garments, which thou sufferedst both before and after the carrying of the Cross, not without the most painful renewal and aggravation of thy Wounds.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I beseech of thee the grace of sobriety and abstinence, against all gluttony and surfeiting. Our Father. Hail Mary.
VI.
O most good and faithful . Samaritan, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because in thy burning love for us thou offeredst for our redemption thy most holy Hands and Feet, to be horribly dug into and fastened to the wood of the Cross.
By this most holy shedding of thy Blood, I beg earnestly the grace of brotherly charity, against all envy and jealousy. Our Father. Hail Mary.
VII.
O most zealous High Priest, Jesus Christ, true God and man! to thee be eternal praise and thanksgiving, because thou sufferedst thy sacred Side to be pierced, laid open, and wounded.
By this most sacred shedding of thy Blood, I humbly ask of thee the grace of holy fervour and zeal, against ail slothfulness and torpor in thy service, and in all exercises of piety. Our Father. Hail Mary.
RECOMMENDATION OF SELF TO OUR SAVIOUR’S FIVE WOUNDS.
I.
Most gracious Jesus, to the most sweet wound of thy Right Foot I offer, with all my heart’s affection, whatever prosperity and pleasure thou ordainest for me in the loving counsel of thy Providence, and I so unite them to thy divine will, together with myself, as to be willing by no sort of temptation to be ever torn away or separated from it, through all eternity. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Most gracious Jesus, in the most sweet wound of thy blessed Left Foot I hide all the troubles, adversities, distresses, and bitternesses which thy divine Providence may, in the whole course of my life, send me, or permit to befall me; and I unite and join them to thy most bitter pains, with this one desire, that what is momentary and light of my tribulation may work for me an eternal weight of glory in heaven. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Most gracious Jesus, in the most sweet wound of thy blessed Right Hand I lay up henceforth all my works, whatever they may be, that I do by the help of thy grace, and so dedicate and consecrate them to thy honour and glory, as to be wholly unwilling that their merit should be marred by vain-glory, but that their full and plentiful reward may remain laid up for me in heaven. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Most gracious Jesus, into the most sweet wound of thy Left Hand I plunge all my sins and failings, with this one earnest entreaty, that thou wouldst so destroy and extinguish them with thy rosy Blood, which thou hast poured out of it for our salvation, that they may not accuse me before thy tribunal, nor demand of thee, the just Judge, the sentence of condemnation against me. Our Father. Hail Mary.
v.
Most gracious Jesus, to the loving wound of thy transfixed Heart I resign my own heart, with all its desires and affections, that thou mayest so fill and influence it with thy divine love, that it may never again henceforth, even in the least degree, recede from thy commandments. Our Father. Hail Mary.
ANOTHER EXERCISE.
Referring to the Five Wounds.
I.
Most meek Jesus, by the saving wound of thy Right Foot, forgive me all that I have ever offended in against thee by bad thoughts, and by its infinite merit make up to me whatever I have lost by the neglect of good thoughts, that henceforth I may desire, seek, and find thee alone, whom my soul loves as its sovereign Good. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Most sweet Jesus, by the blessed wound of thy Left Foot, forgive me, I beseech thee, whatever, by the abuse of both my exterior and interior senses, I have done amiss, contrary to thy divine pleasure, and so restrain them hereafter, by the bridle of thy fear, that, as though dead to the world and all creatures, I may feel nothing and desire nothing but only thee, my God, crucified for me. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Most sweet Jesus, by the sacred wound of thy Right Hand, forgive, I most humbly implore thee, all my bad and sinful deeds, and out of its merit make at the same time full restitution for whatever I have sinned in by omission, through culpable negligence in any kind of obligation whatsoever; and enable me henceforth to lay out to better profit the talents which thou hast intrusted to me. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Most sweet Jesus, by the wound of thy Left Hand, forgive my anger and sudden impulses of impatience and wrath, into which I often, on the least provocation, too rashly and thoughtlessly break out: and out of the heavenly store of that wound administer to me the medicine of true patience in all adversities, that I may merit to possess the land of the living, which is promised to the meek. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
Most sweet Jesus, by the sacred wound of thy perforated Heart, mercifully forgive all that my heart has ever offended in through evil purpose or perversity of will; and so engraft my frail heart upon thy most divine Heart, that it may feel nothing, attempt nothing, and desire nothing, save what is according to thy own Heart; and by reposing constantly in its guidance, may firmly persevere in all good to the end of my life. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
OBLATION TO GOD THE FATHER OF OUR LORD’S PASSION, AND OF OUR SAVIOUR’S FIVE WOUNDS.
Most merciful Father, eternal God, for my sins, together with those of the whole world, I offer to thee thy only-beloved Son hanging on the Cross. I offer to thee his most sacred Wounds, which he received for our sake; I offer to thee also his Passion, Sorrows, Anguish, Misery, Blood, and Death, in that most burning love with which he offered himself for us upon the altar of the Cross, binding myself together with him to thy divine service, and devoting and dedicating, myself for ever to the praise and glory of thy divine Majesty. Amen.
I.
Most merciful Father, I offer to thee the wound and Blood, the labours and sorrows of the Right Hand of thy only-begotten Son, to be set against my disobedience and rebellion, most earnestly praying thee to infuse into me, from it, the spirit of most perfect obedience, by which I may execute as promptly the bidding of thy good pleasure, as a shadow follows the motion of its body, so that I may henceforth love, seek, and perform thy will in all things. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Most merciful Father, I offer to thee the sacred wound and agony of the Left Hand of thy only-begotten Son, and its most deep humility, to be set against my pride and vain-glory, and all my sins that sprout out of them, devoutly beseeching thee, by the power of this wound, utterly to root out and destroy all the swelling vanities of my soul, that I may inwardly know my own worthlessness, and in true humility of heart, even amid shame and contempt, may be able to serve thee with joy. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Most merciful Father, I offer to thee the wound and Blood, the agonies and torments, of the Right Foot of thy only-begotten Son, and its most perfect patience, to be set against my cowardice and impatience; praying thee to give me, by this wound, the virtue and grace of generous constancy and invincible endurance, by which I may receive with thanksgiving from thy hand, endure with contentment, and overcome with fortitude, all the adversities, troubles, calamities, and inconveniences of this life, and in all circumstances and events, with full confidence and resignation, cast myself and all that belongs to me into the arms of thy Providence. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Most merciful Father, I offer to thee the sacred wound of the Left Foot of thy only-begotten Son and his most tender mercy, to be set against all my hardness, mercilessness, and envy; praying thee, out of that wound, as from a most rich treasury of all virtues, to bestow on me the affection of mercy, tenderness, compassion, and meekness, especially towards those who may have offended or injured me, that I may embrace them in their necessity with the bowels of love, and in all things readily assist them, and support their failings and infirmities in the spirit of meekness. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
Most merciful Father, I offer to thee the ruddy wound of the blessed Heart and Side of thy only-begotten Son, and its most fervent charity with which it loved both thee and the human race, to be set against all my carelessness, lukewarmness, and sluggishness in thy service; most earnestly entreating thee to pour into me, out of the most copious fountain of thy grace, such a zeal for thy worship and honour, that I may love thee with my whole heart, and entirely bless and sanctify thy Name in all my works; think of thee alone, desire thee alone, wish to please, and fear to displease, thee alone, and cheerfully and joyfully devote the whole of my life to thy glory. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Accept, most merciful Father, this my oblation to the most sacred Wounds of thy Son Jesus Christ, these most divine medicines of our salvation and monuments of thy love; and out of them bestow upon me such grace, that, living and dying under their protection and defence, I may find safe and certain refuge; until I merit to contemplate them, and praise thee for them, together with all the Blessed, in the glory of thy Majesty for ever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
DEVOUT SALUTATIONS TO OUR SAVIOUR’S WOUNDS.
I.
Hail, wound blessed above all, of the Right Hand of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, dropping with rosy Blood for my own and all men’s salvation! Protect me, O Lord, and save me with thy right hand; strike with it my hellish enemy, lest at any time he say, I have prevailed against him whom thou hast redeemed with thy Blood. Let thy right hand conduct me wonderfully, that all my thoughts, words, and works may ever tend and be directed straight to thee, as to my object and end. Grant me to carry my lamp ever burning, trimmed with the oil of charity, that I may be held worthy to be admitted with thee to the heavenly marriage; that when thou comest to judge the world, I may be set at thy right hand, and merit to hear with thy Elect: Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Hail, beatific wound of the Left Hand of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, empurpled with his most precious Blood! With thy mighty hand and outstretched arm, O Lord, bring to nought whatever sinister, perverse, and unjust designs they contrive who devise evil against me. Repress the power of my enemies, who seek my life. Defend me, and be present with me in all my troubles and adversities; and deliver me most mercifully from all evils, past, present, and to come. Save me out of the hand of my persecutors, and from them that hate me without cause. Say to my soul: I am thy salvation. Let them perish that make haste to destroy me, that, being delivered out of the hand of my enemies, I may serve thee in holiness and justice all the days of my life. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Hail, gracious wound, besprinkled with the Blood of the Right Foot of my Lord Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb who takes away the sins of the world! Make my feet, O Lord, like hart’s feet, that, with unwearied course, I may walk in the way of thy commandments, and ever seek out those things that are pleasing to thy divine will. Direct my steps in thy law, and in the works of thy commandments, that I may go from strength to strength, till I see the God of gods in Sion. Let thy Word be a lantern to my feet and a light to my paths, that, by my example, I may display the light also to my neighbours, to the end that thou, my God, before all things, and in all things, mayest be glorified now and for ever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Hail, adorable wound of the Left Foot of my Lord Jesus Christ, wetted all over with his purple Blood! Pluck my feet, O Lord, out of the snare that my enemies have laid for me. Keep my soul from falling, that I may not become a prey to my enemies. Let not the foot of pride come to me, nor my heart be exalted, nor my eyes lifted up; that I may not walk in wonderful things above me, but walk before thee at all times in the simplicity of my heart. Lead me, O Lord, in the paths of justice, and teach me thy ways, that I may know what is acceptable before thee at all times, and practise fully all that thou hast enjoined me. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
Hail, most saving wound of the Heart and Side of my Lord Jesus Christ, inflicted by the cruel spear of the soldier, overflowing abundantly with Blood and Water, for the washing away of our sins! Wound, I beseech thee, my heart with the dart of thy love, that it may worship, reverence, and honour thee in all things and above all things, and for thy sake only, love all my neighbours with the love of Christian brotherhood. Cleanse my heart with thy most pure Blood and saving Water, that, purified from all stain of sin, I may merit to contemplate thee, my God and Saviour, whom only the clean of heart shall see, through all eternity. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
TO CHRIST,
For obtaining devotion to his most sacred Wounds.
I.
O Jesus, sweetest Spouse of holy souls! inflame, I beseech thee, my heart with the fire of thy divine love, and with thy saving Wounds, that I may love thee from my inmost heart; mercifully visit me, and with thy grace inebriate my soul, for my inmost affections ardently seek for thee, the Fount of sweetness. O fire! that burnest sweetly, shinest secretly, and enkindlest powerfully, fill the whole breadth of my soul with the constant recollection of thy most sacred Wounds, that I may hunger and thirst for thee alone* who hast suffered and wast wounded for me; that I may sigh and pant after thee, and be heated with desire to see thy face, that is the perfection of sweetness. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Transfix the marrow of my soul, O lovely Jesus, with the sweetly penetrating arrow of thy love, that my soul may be wounded and may languish with the inmost love of thee and of thy Wounds; and then, being entirely dissolved into love of thee, may melt away, and be wholly absorbed into thee, and inseparably adhere to thee. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Disengage, O Lord, my soul from all things under heaven, that it may be free to apply itself to thee only, and to thy Wounds, received for my salvation; dwell in it alone, as its true possessor and its rightful Lord. Let the remembrance of thy most sweet Death and Passion sink deeply into it, with the unutterable fragrance of thy charity, to stir up within me pure and heavenly aspirations and desires, that, as the hart pants after the fountains of water, so my soul may pant after thee. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Give me, O Lord Jesus, to be so fully and effectually inflamed with devotion to thy five most awful Wounds, that I may return thy love to me with my whole heart. Let me love thee, as thou hast loved me, O only salvation of my soul! I will love thee with all my might, for thou hast first so loved me as to lay down thy life for me, that by thy Death and Wounds I may live in thee. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
O Jesus! most lovely, most delightful Spouse of souls, marked for me upon the Cross with five very distinct sacred Wounds, as with so many characters of love; engrave and indelibly imprint upon the tablet of my heart the sweet love of thy Wounds, which no oblivion may out-blot; that, ever heated with the desire of thee, I may glow with the fire of thy love, and be entirely absorbed by the ocean of thy divine bounty, until I am taken to contemplate the glory of thy Majesty and of thy most sacred Wounds everlastingly in heaven. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
ANOTHER OBLATION.
Of our Lord's sacred Wounds for expiation of sins.
I.
Most merciful Jesus, I adore thee and give thee thanks for all thy in injuries, persecutions, toils, and fatigues, undergone for my salvation, all of which I deposit in the saving wound of thy Right Foot, that thou mayest offer them to thy heavenly Father for my sins, in union with the divine charity with which thou hast most cheerfully suffered them, and much more, for our salvation. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
II.
Most loving Jesus, I adore thee, and give thee thanks for all thy reproaches, gibes, insults, and various mockeries, endured for the sake of our salvation, all of which I offer to thee in the saving wound of thy Left Foot, that thou mayest offer them to thy heavenly Father for my sins, in union with the most ardent charity, with which thou hast suffered them all for our salvation. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
III.
Most merciful Jesus, I adore thee, and give thee thanks for all thy sorrows, pains, torments, wounds, and bruises, received out of thy love for me; and I humbly offer them to thee in the sacred wound of thy Right Hand, that thou mayest offer them to thy heavenly Father for my sins, in union with the divine charity with which thou hast endured them all for our redemption. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
IV.
Most meek Jesus, I adore thee, and give thee thanks for all and each of the drops of thy most precious Blood shed in thy most cruel Passion for my sake, all of which I offer to thee in the wound of thy Left Hand, that thou mayest offer them to thy heavenly Father for my sins, in union with the most fervent charity with which thou hast poured forth this same Blood of thine, for the sake of our salvation. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
V.
Most patient Jesus, I adore thee, and give thee thanks for all the groans, sighs, and anguish of thy Heart, also for thy sweat and tears that were shed for us, and lastly for the most bitter Death which thou underwentest for my sake, all and each of which I offer to thee in the most sacred wound of thy blessed Heart and Side, that thou mayest offer them to thy heavenly Father for my sins, in union with thy measureless charity, with which thou hast suffered them all, for the sake of man’s salvation. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary.
PRAYERS
FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WHOLE CHURCH FROM ALL EVILS AND INJURIES,
Through the merits and power of the Wounds of Christ.
I.
O God, who desirest not the death but the penitence of sinners, favourably regard people, that, with a contrite heart, has recourse to thy most sacred Wounds, that, while it honours them devoutly, thou mayest mercifully avert from it war, famine, pestilence, and all other scourges of thy wrath.
II.
O God, who despisest not the sighing of the contrite, nor slightest the affection of the sorrowful, be favourable to our prayers which in our affliction we pour forth to thy sacred Wounds; receive them mercifully, and grant that whatever the devil’s or man’s devices plot against us may be crushed and brought to nought; that we, being hurt by no temptations, but saved out of trouble and distress, may in the Church give thanks to thee, our God.
III.
O Lord, forgive us our sins, and out of thy sacred Wounds grant to us the mercy that we pray for, that thou mayest regard our low estate, look upon our afflictions, repel from us adversities, and, bestowing on us the effect of our petition, mayest listen graciously to thy suppliants, and preserve them from all evil, protected by the shield of thy Wounds.
IV.
Most gracious God, who rememberest not the sins of those that have recourse to thee, but graciously hearkenest to their sighs; regard the many temples, the many altars, the many holy spots dedicated in time past to thy holy Name, and now profaned by the abominations of heretics. Remember thy inheritance, acquired by the reception of thy most sacred Wounds, and by the shedding of thy most precious Blood; and hasten to visit thy vineyard, which the wild boar endeavours to uproot, and, by thy power strengthen its cultivators against the madness of them that lay it waste; make them conquerors, and to those who work well in it, give at length the possession of thy Kingdom.
V.
O God, who crushest wars, and by the might of thy defence defeatest the assailants of them that hope in thee; assist thy faithful, who invoke the defence of thy most invincible Wounds, that the fierceness of our enemies being brought low, and all their hostility scattered, we may praise thee with ceaseless thanksgiving. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.