Part 12
Jesus Christ. Lord, have mercy on us. _Christ, have mercy on us._ Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. _Christ, graciously hear us._ God the Father of heaven, _Have mercy on us._ God the Son, Redeemer of the world, _Have mercy on us._ God the Holy Ghost, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Trinity, one God, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, made man to redeem us, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Who, during Thy whole life, didst burn with desire to die for us, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, prostrate in prayer in the Garden of Olives, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, agonizing, and covered with a bloody sweat, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, comforted by an angel, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, betrayed by Judas with a kiss, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, tied and bound by Thy enemies, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, abandoned by Thy disciples, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, arraigned before Annas and Caiphas, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, struck on Thy face by a servant, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, accused by false witnesses, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, declared worthy of death, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, spit upon, blindfolded and buffeted, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, denied thrice by Peter, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, delivered in chains to Pilate, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, despised and mocked by Herod, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, to whom Barabbas was preferred, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, cruelly scourged with whips, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, wounded and bruised for our sins, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, clothed in derision with a purple garment, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, crowned with thorns, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, with a reed in Thy hand instead of a sceptre, derided and insulted as a mock king, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, most unjustly condemned to the ignominious death of the cross, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, loaded with a heavy cross and carrying it to Calvary, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, led as an innocent lamb to slaughter, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, nailed to a cross, and elevated upon it between two thieves, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Who hast loved us, and delivered Thyself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Who didst wash us from our sins in Thy blood, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, praying for Thy enemies, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, blasphemed by those who passed by, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, promising paradise to the penitent thief, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, giving Thy Mother to St. John for his Mother, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, complaining of being forsaken by Thy Father, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, drenched in Thy thirst with vinegar and gall, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, recommending Thy spirit into Thy Father’s hands, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, bowing Thy head and expiring on the cross, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Whose side was opened with a spear, whence issued forth blood and water, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, taken down from the cross, wrapped up in a clean linen cloth, and laid in a new monument, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Whose soul after Thy death descended into hell, _Have mercy on us._ Jesus, Who, in judgment, will demand an account of the profit derived from Thy Passion and death, _Have mercy on us._
Be merciful, _Spare us, O Lord!_ Be merciful, _Hear us, O Lord!_
From all evil, _Lord Jesus, deliver us._ From the snares of the devil, _Lord Jesus, deliver us._ Through Thy most bitter Passion, _Lord Jesus, deliver us._ Through Thy infinite merits, _Lord Jesus, deliver us._
We sinners, _Beseech Thee to hear us._
That being dead to sin, we may live to justice, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That we do not glory but in Thy holy cross, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That for the love of Thee the world may be crucified to us, and we to the world, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That we may always bear about in our body Thy mortification, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That we may crucify our flesh, with its vices and concupiscences, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That Thy sacred blood may cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God, _We beseech Thee to hear us._ That being partakers of Thy sufferings, we may be also of Thy glory, _We beseech Thee to hear us._
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Spare us, O Jesus_! Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Graciously hear us, O Jesus_! Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Have mercy on us, O Jesus_! Christ, hear us. _Christ, graciously hear us._
_V._ O Lord, hear our prayer.
_R._ And let our cry come unto Thee.
_Let Us Pray._
O Lord Jesus! Who didst shed Thy precious blood for the remission of our sins, grant, we most humbly beseech Thee, that in the day of judgment we may merit to hear from Thy adorable mouth these consoling words: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you.” Amen.
A Prayer to Jesus Suffering.
O spotless Lamb! O innocent Victim, Who, by Thy death and blood, hast effaced the sins of mankind, blot out my iniquities, and do not permit that Thy sufferings should become useless to me. O Jesus, abandoned by every one, sorrowful, desolate, and resigned to death! help me now to receive with resignation like Thine, whatever afflictions Thou shalt please to send me. O Jesus, calumniated, accused, despised! teach me to disregard the judgments of men, and to suffer with patience the most base injuries. O Jesus, torn with stripes, pierced with thorns, weltering in blood for my sake! teach me to endure for love of Thee, the anguish and inconvenience of ill‐health and sickness. O Jesus, abandoned to executioners, shamefully condemned to a cross! enable me to fly all vainglory, and embrace the most humbling confusion. O Jesus, sinking under the weight of Thy cross! I unite myself to Thee, and my cross also to Thine. May I ever carry it with the same strength and courage which Thou didst. O Jesus, raised upon Thy cross! draw me now powerfully to Thee. Thou art expiring for my sake. Oh, let me never live but for Thine! that being henceforth crucified with Thee, my whole occupation may be to love, to praise, and to adore Thee. Amen.
Prayers to the Five Wounds of Our Lord.
To The Wound Of The Left Foot.
O my divine Saviour! I humbly adore the sacred wound of Thy left foot, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for the love with which Thou didst make Thy painful journey to Calvary, marking every step of the way with Thy precious blood. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity, in expiation of my crimes, which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
To The Wound Of The Right Foot.
O my divine Saviour! I adore the sacred wound of Thy right foot, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for the love with which Thou didst suffer Thy sacred feet to be pierced, and with barbarous cruelty nailed to the cross, to atone for my wanderings, and for the guilty indulgence of my disorderly passions. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity. I beseech Him to grant me the grace to weep bitterly for my sins, and to persevere in virtue to the end of my life, without ever straying from the obedience due to Thy holy commandments.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
To The Wound Of The Left Hand.
O my divine Saviour! I humbly adore the sacred wound of Thy left hand, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for having thereby, with so much love, delivered me from the eternal punishments which my sins deserve. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity. I beseech Him to grant me the grace to profit by the remainder of my life, that I may bring forth fruits worthy of penance, and thus disarm the divine justice provoked by my repeated sins.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
To The Wound Of The Right Hand.
O my divine Saviour! I adore the sacred wound of Thy right hand, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for all the blessings which this bountiful hand has so abundantly bestowed on me, notwithstanding my ingratitude in refusing to correspond with Thy gracious designs. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity. I beseech Him to change my heart and affections, and to render all my actions conformable to His holy will.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
To The Wound Of The Opened Side.
O my divine Saviour! I humbly adore the sacred wound of Thy opened side. I am exceedingly moved at this cruel outrage. I thank Thee for the love with which Thou didst suffer Thy side to be pierced and Thy Heart opened, to give us even the last drop of Thy precious blood that our redemption might be most abundant. I offer to the eternal Father both this outrage offered to Thy holy humanity, and the love with which Thou art always ready to receive the greatest of sinners, that my soul may be received into this most loving Heart and may abide therein forever. Amen.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
MAY. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
We are now on the eve of the beautiful month of Mary—this blessed month so ardently looked for by every true Christian. On its approach we see the altars of our blessed Mother in churches, chapels, and oratories decorated, and everywhere during this lovely month exercises in honor of the beloved Mother of Our Redeemer are performed with more or less pomp and ceremony. Mary is our heavenly Mother, and we are her children. What well‐trained child but is anxious to express his love and gratitude towards his mother, in order to make her happy? What mother so worthy of love as Mary? Do you wish to please her? This month gives you an opportunity of so doing. Dedicate it to her, practise daily some little act of devotion in her honor, and be faithful in making these meditations. Then only will you deserve to be called a child of Mary. O immaculate Mary, Mother of our Jesus, and our Mother! also obtain that we may give thee most fervent homage during this month, and by our words and example draw all hearts to thee and thy divine Son.
Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.
First Day. Mary’s Immaculate Conception.
“Thou art all fair, O My love, and there is not a spot in thee.”—Cant. iv. 7. These words are found in the Canticles of Solomon, and are applied to the Blessed Virgin. From all eternity she had been predestined to be the Mother of God, to give to the almighty God that body, that flesh and blood, which He was to assume for our redemption, and the creature that He selected for His Mother must have been all pure, all holy, and free from the slightest taint of sin. A few saints, such as John the Baptist and the prophet Jeremias, were sanctified in their mother’s womb. And if these men, because of their predestination, were born without sin, surely it cannot be supposed that God did not bestow on Mary a greater privilege—that He exempted her from the necessity of being even for one instant the slave of sin. O Mother mine, O Mother of the Church of God, I hail thee! Have pity on us, O Mary conceived without sin, and obtain for us the grace to struggle against our passions.
Prayer.
O holiest and purest of virgins, well dost thou merit this title! Thou who wast a virgin although a mother, pray for us. Take pity on us, thy children; intercede for us with Jesus, that He may have mercy on us, and grant us the grace to walk worthy of our vocation, that we may be His through time and eternity. Amen.
Second Day. Mary’s Nativity.
The whole earth was filled with gladness at the birth of Mary, because of her was to be born Jesus Christ, Our Saviour and Redeemer, Who was to deliver us from the slavery of the devil. How heaven must have rejoiced at the birth of such a mother! A nation’s joy at the birth of an heir to the throne may give you some faint idea of the joy the angels experienced at Mary’s nativity. This is a day of jubilation for the entire world, for the just and the sinner, for time and eternity. Hell alone is afraid, for this is the woman destined to crush the serpent’s head. Her appearance was the blessed dawn, announcing the rising of the Sun of righteousness. Made holy at her conception, the object of God’s love at her birth, every step in Mary’s life was marked by new progress in virtue; no shadow of sin ever tarnished the beauty of her soul. Let us then praise our Mother and Queen, and implore her to take pity on us, whose lives are passed in a constant struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Let us beg her to aid us in these combats, and to bring us to our eternal home.
Prayer.
What relief do I feel in my miseries, and what consolation in my sorrow! what strength do I not find in the midst of temptations, when I remember thee, and call thee to my aid! O my most sweet and holy Mother Mary, my own Mother, do thou console me! I see myself loaded with sins and surrounded with enemies, without virtue, and cold in my love towards God. Comfort me, and let me begin a new life, a life which will be pleasing to thy divine Son and to thee. Amen.
Third Day. Mary’s Presentation.
Who is she that advances as the sun, beautiful as Jerusalem? It is Mary, the well‐beloved daughter of the Father, who repairs to the Temple of Jerusalem to consecrate herself to the service of God. Happy he who gives himself to God in his youth, who offers Him a heart which has not been wounded by the thorns on life’s weary way, a heart which has not known the state of sin. He has not to struggle against the memories of the past, which strive to draw him from the service of God. How beautiful, how filled with sweetest instruction for us, is every passage in the life of our beloved Mother! Let us look at the picture now presented to us of the infant Queen of saints, on the day of her early entrance into the Temple of God. Let us follow her, and learn our first lesson from our little Queen, so full of grace. See her as she passes up the long flight of stairs, the little arms folded above the pure young heart, the upturned face glowing with heavenly joy—a face where lies reflected the light of a soul which never for a moment was shrouded in the gloomy shadow of sin.
Prayer.
O Lord, Thou wilt not reject a contrite and humble heart! I come then to Thee, O my Father. At the sight of my bruised and bleeding heart Thou wilt have compassion on Thy child, and receive my offering. Blooming rose, Mother of God all beautiful, Virgin most sweet, pray for us, that we may be worthy to find eternal happiness in eternal light. Grant that by thy intercession our sins may be effaced. Amen.
Fourth Day. The Annunciation.
God sent His archangel, St. Gabriel, one of the great ones of His kingdom, to impart to the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, His eternal counsel, and to ask her consent. The archangel went to Nazareth, and before the rising of the sun entered the oratory where the Blessed Virgin was, and beholding in her his Queen, he saluted her with such reverence that she was overcome with fear, not knowing what to think. We know how the heavenly messenger bowed before his Queen and said, “Fear not, Mary; the Lord is with thee, for thou hast found grace before God. Behold thou shalt conceive and bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name, Jesus.” And we know when that young maiden, bowing her head in her heavenly humility, consented, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to Thy word,” that the Holy Ghost overshadowed her, and “the Word was made flesh.” Truly she is blessed among all women, blessed among all mothers. By her blessedness all women are raised and ennobled. She is their honor, their glory, their model. Blessed Virgin and Mother, ever immaculate on earth as now in heaven, where she leads the army of virgins who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Think of Mary raised above all women, and see her wonderful humility. God loved her for it. The one thought of her life, the one end of her actions, was truly to be the handmaid of God. This is a lesson we all must learn, namely: to yield ourselves up to the will of Him Whose we are already by so many titles, wondering how He can forget the sins we have committed against Him, and how He can desire to pour His celestial grace into so unworthy a vessel.
Prayer.
May Thy will, O God, be done in us, through us, and by us, this day and always, here and everywhere! Hail, glorious Mother of God; hail, Queen of heaven; hail, my patroness! To thy tender maternal love I commend myself, in order that all my actions may have for their end three things, namely, the glory of thy Son, my own salvation, and my neighbor’s good. In every tribulation and sorrow come to my aid and the aid of my friends. Amen.
Fifth Day. The Visitation.
No sooner had Mary heard the words of the angel, announcing that she had been chosen to be the Mother of the long expected Messias, and that her kinswoman Elizabeth was also with child, than she rose up and went with haste into the hill country, and entering into the house of Zachary, saluted Elizabeth. Her heart was full of unselfish love for God and man, and the very love of God which made her heart burn with joy at the coming of Jesus, made it also beat quickly with gladness at the great blessing granted to Elizabeth. The angel had told Zachary that his son John was to be the immediate precursor of the Messias, and Elizabeth had been constantly thinking of all this, longing to know when and whence the Messias should come. Lost in these thoughts she sat on the day of Mary’s arrival, and the instant that sweet voice struck on her ear, it was made known to her in a wonderful manner that this was the Mother of the Messias. Rising, she knelt before her, crying, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” For a moment Mary stood in astonishment—then she realized the greatness of her title of Mother of God, and while the light of ecstasy transfigured her holy face, she exclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations to them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” The visit which occasioned this beautiful canticle preaches in every line the great virtue of charity which marked Our Lady’s life so clearly. The Holy Scripture tells us that Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months, when she returned to her own home.
Prayer.
O Virgin most fair, worthy of all praise and honor! Sanctuary consecrated to God, Virgin Mother, hidden treasure of innocence, splendor of virginity! Thy prayers are favorably received on high. Address them for us to Him, Whom in thy virginity thou didst conceive, Who is true Lord and God, the Author of all creatures. Amen.
Sixth Day. The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
And when the fulness of time was come, “God so loved the world as to give His only‐begotten Son,” Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. The Emperor Augustus ordered that a great census should be taken in all the provinces of his empire, each family being enrolled in the city of its respective tribe. Thus, in obedience to the order, Mary came to the city of David, and in all its length and breadth there was not room for her to lay her weary head. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” Gold would doubtless have procured admission to an appropriate shelter, but Joseph had no gold. The evening wind fell cold and piercing on the young virgin, who breathed not a word of complaint though she was scarcely able to support herself. The lonely travellers, seeing themselves rejected by all the world, quitted Bethlehem, and in a poor ruined stable Mary brought forth her first‐born Son, the promised Messias, and laid Him in a manger. Great artists have striven to paint the rapture of Mary as she laid her Jesus, her Son, her God, in the manger. Who can understand what it was to see Him, to adore Him as her God, to caress Him as her Child, to forget all her fatigue in her wonderful joy? We can adore Him and watch the movements of our beloved Mother, a model and example of resignation on this night of poverty and humiliation. Glory and praise to thee, O holy Mother, in this thy poverty in Bethlehem! Many a poor mother in sorrow and want will look to thee and find consolation, knowing thy tender heart will sympathize with her. For what are we that we should be better treated than the Mother of Our God?
Prayer.
Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, receive my prayer. Help me in all my necessities, intercede for me, O glorious one, with my Redeemer, even with Him, thy divine Son, Whom thou didst bear without spot of sin. Deliver me from every snare of the enemy, and from all carnal delights, that by thy intercession I may obtain the pardon of all my sins, steadfast resistance to all my enemies visible and invisible, and the amendment of my life. Amen.
Seventh Day. The Purification.