Mary! first to salute your cousin Elizabeth, obtain for us, we pray, the grace to turn to our profit whatever occasions may be offered us for the practice of this virtue, so beautiful and so necessary for our salvation. Ave.

4. By that extreme joy which you infused into the soul of Elizabeth, when you tenderly embraced her, obtain for us, we pray, the grace to continue until death in the profession of piety, that we may attain to the fulness of heavenly happiness. Ave.

5. By that extraordinary favour which you, O Mary! obtained for John, that he should be sanctified in his mother's womb before he saw the light, obtain for us, we pray, the grace of preserving ourselves free from all stain till death.

Ave.

6. By the most humble confession which you made, O Mary! of that marvellous work which Almighty God had performed in you, by which you became the object of the benediction of mankind, obtain for us the grace always to acknowledge the blessings which we receive from the Lord, and to employ them to His honour and glory. Ave.

7. By that ardent charity which you, O Mary! practised during the three months in which you dwelt in the house of Elizabeth, obtain for us, we pray, the grace to be always ready to assist with affection all the necessities of our neighbours. Ave.

8. By the model which you, O Mary! exhibited of every virtue in your daily intercourse with your relations, Elizabeth and her holy spouse Zacharias, obtain for us, we pray, that we may have grace to give continual edification to our neighbours, by all our words and actions. Ave.

9. By that admirable detachment from your nearest relations, O Mary! which you exhibited, when, having completed all the duties which you had undertaken in the house of Elizabeth, you returned immediately to your house in Nazareth, obtain for us, we pray, that we may be enabled always to live so detached from the things of the world, as never to mingle in the affairs of men, except when summoned by necessity or charity; that our hearts may be fixed on God alone, from whom we hope for peace in this life and blessedness in another. Ave.

SECTION VI.

Novena for the Purification.

1. By the heroic obedience which you, O great Virgin! practised in submitting to the law of purification, obtain for us the most exalted obedience to all the laws of God, of the Church, and of our superiors.

Ave.

2. By that angelic modesty and heavenly devotion with which you went and presented yourself in the temple, obtain for us, that we may conduct ourselves in the house of God with that exterior and interior devotion which are fitting its sanctity. Ave.

3. By the holy care with which you sought, O most pure Virgin! to cleanse yourself by the sacred rite of purification from the least appearance of outward uncleanness, obtain for us an insatiable desire to cleanse ourselves from the smallest stain of sin. Ave.

4. By that profound humility which led you to resort to the temple amongst sinners, though you were the most perfect of creatures, obtain for us such a spirit of humility, as shall render us dear to God and deserving of His faAve.

vours.

5. By that perfect faith in God your Son, which you, O Mary! preserved when you heard the prophecy which foretold that He should become an occasion of contradiction and ruin to many, obtain for us an equally firm and lively faith amidst all temptations and contradictions. Ave.

6. By the invincible resignation with which, O Mary! you listened to the bitter prophecy of holy Simeon, that a sword of sorrow should pierce through your soul, obtain that we also may preserve a most perfect resignation amidst the most afflicting events by which God, in His infinite wisdom, may be pleased to try us.

Ave.

7. By the intense charity which induced you, O Mary! to offer to the eternal Father the holy sacrifice of your Son for the redemption and salvation of all men, obtain for us that we may be willing to sacrifice to the Lord whatever is most dear to us, whenever it shall be requisite for our sanctification and salvation. Ave. Gloria.

SECTION VII.

Novena in commemoration of the Seven Dolours of our
Blessed Lady.

1. I compassionate you, O my most afflicted Mother! for the first dolour which you felt when holy Simeon foretold the most bitter passion and painful death of your divine Son, and the sharp sword that would pierce your own most sweet and tender heart; I beseech you to obtain for us a perfect knowledge of our sins, and true contrition for them. Ave.

2. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the second dolour which you felt when, flying with your infant Jesus and your holy spouse St. Joseph from the cruelty of Herod, you departed into Egypt amidst many disasters and sufferings; I beseech you to obtain for us the Divine assistance against the snares of the infernal enemy of our salvation. Ave.

3. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the third dolour which you felt when, having lost your beloved Son Jesus, you sought Him in sorrow and in tears during the space of three days, until you found Him in the holy Temple; I beseech you to obtain for us the pardon of all our sins. Ave.

4. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the fourth dolour which you felt when Jesus was taken away from you to be delivered into the hands of the cruel Jews, and to be crucified on Mount Calvary; I beseech you to obtain for us the acquisition of every virtue and perfect correspondence with Divine grace.

Ave.

5. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the fifth dolour which you felt on meeting your divine Son wounded and bleeding, crowned with thorns, and laden with a heavy cross; I beseech you to obtain for us a humble and entire resignation to the Divine will in all our labours and trials. Ave.

6. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the sixth dolour which you felt when you beheld your divine Son covered with wounds, transfixed with nails, and dying on the cross; I beseech you to make us wor

thy of your heavenly assistance at the hour of our death. Ave.

7. I compassionate you, O my afflicted Mother! for the seventh dolour which felt when, after you divine your Son had expired, you received within your arms the sacred body all mangled and covered with blood; I beseech you to obtain for us that we may so enjoy the fruit of His bitter Passion and death, as to be partakers of His eternal glory in heaven. Ave.

SECTION VIII.

Another method of commemorating the Seven Dolours of our Blessed Lady.

Invocation of the Holy Ghost.

Ant. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be regenerated.

Ry. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who, by the light of the Holy Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of Thy faithful, give us, by this same Holy Spirit, a love and relish of what is right and just, and a constant enjoyment of His comforts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I.

The first dolour of the Blessed Virgin was suffered when the aged and holy Simeon, receiving into his arms her only Son in the temple, told her that a sword of sorrow should pierce her heart; thereby predicting the affliction she was to endure in the Passion and death of Christ our Lord.

Reflections.

The most holy Virgin presented to God what was most dear to her, viz. her only Son; so should we consecrate to God whatever we value most highly and love

CC

most affectionately in this world; if we have nothing else, let us offer Him our hearts. Woe to the soul that refuses to consecrate to God the affections of her heart! The Blessed Virgin offered her Son to God; and this was the occasion of her being forewarned of His cruel Passion and death, and that her own heart would be pierced with the sword of sorrow. Let us learn to throw ourselves into the arms of divine Providence, and not to murmur if we should be visited with trials, and refused consolations even in our best actions.

The Blessed Virgin had ever before her eyes the lively image of the future Passion and death of her Son, and was made the most afflicted of mothers during her whole life by her foreknowledge of the barbarity of the Jews, the cruelty of the executioners, and the treachery of sinners. Ah, let meditation on the Passion of our Lord Jesus be our most delightful occupation, and let us beware that we do not crucify Him again by our sins!

Prayer.

O Blessed Virgin, pierced by that sharp sword with which holy Simeon foretold your soul would be afflicted during the Passion and death of your dear Son Jesus, obtain for me, I beseech you, the grace frequently to meditate on your transfixed heart, and on the bitter sorrows Christ endured for my salvation.

Say once the Our Father and the Hail Mary.

II.

The second dolour of the Blessed Virgin was suffered when she was forced to fly into Egypt, to avoid the cruel persecution of Herod, who impiously sought the death of her divine Son.

Reflections.

The sins which were the cause of Herod's persecution of our Saviour, and which occasioned that flight, so painful to our Blessed Lady, were ambition and a desire of ruling; for he feared that Jesus was come to deprive him of his crown and kingdom. Let us, then, learn to