to die) bore with great patience the Cross which was laid upon him for his greater torment and ignominy. Our Father, &c. LET US PRAY.-O holy Virgin, example of patience, by the most painful carrying of the Cross, on which thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, bore the heavy weight of our sins, obtain for us of him by thy intercession, courage and strength to follow his steps, and bear the Cross after him to the end of our lives. Amen. The Fifth Mystery.-The Crucifixion. THE MEDITATION-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being come to Mount Calvary, was stripped of his clothes, and his hands and feet most cruelly nailed to the Cross in the presence of his most afflicted Mother. Our Father, &c. LET US PRAY.-Holy Mary, Mother of God, as the body of thy beloved Son was for us extended on the Cross, so may our desires be daily more and more stretched out in his service, and our hearts wounded with compassion for his most bitter passion; and do thou, O most Blessed Virgin, vouchsafe to negotiate for and with us the work of our salvation by thy powerful intercession. Amen. Hail, holy Queen, &c., with the verse and prayer as before. [The Glorious Mysteries, for Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year, and Sundays after Easter until Advent.] The First Mystery.-The Resurrection. THE MEDITATION.-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing over death, rose again the third day immortal and impassible. Our Father, &c., once; Hail Mary, &c., ten times; Glory be to the Father, &c., once. LET US PRAY.-O glorious Virgin Mary, by the unspeakable joy thou didst receive in the resurrection of thy only beloved Son, we beseech thee, obtain of him, for us, that our hearts may never go astray after the false joys of this world, but may be ever and wholly employed in pursuit of the only true and solid joys of heaven. Amen. The Second Mystery.-The Ascension. THE MEDITATION.-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his resurrection, ascended into heaven, attended by angels, in sight of his most holy Mother, and his apostles and disciples, to the great admiration of them all. Our Father, &c. LET US PRAY.-O Mother of God, comfort of the afflicted, as thy beloved Son, when he ascended into heaven, lifted up his hands and blessed his apostles, so vouchsafe, most holy Mother, to lift up thy pure hands to him for us, that we may enjoy the benefit of his blessing here on earth, and hereafter in heaven. Amen. The Third Mystery.-The Descent of the Holy Ghost. THE MEDITATION.-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated on the right hand of God, sent (as he had promised) the Holy Ghost upon his apostles, who, after he ascended, returning to Jerusalem, continued in prayer and supplication with the Blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the performance of his promise. Our Father, &c. LET US PRAY.-O Sacred Virgin, tabernacle of the Holy Ghost, we beseech thee, obtain by thy intercession, that this most sweet Comforter, whom thy beloved Son sent down upon his apostles, filling them thereby with spiritual joy, may teach us in this world the true way of salvation, and make us walk in the paths of virtue and good works. Amen. The Fourth Mystery.-The Assumption. THE MEDITATION.-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin, twelve years after the resurrection of her Son, passed out of this world unto him, and was by him assumed into heaven, accompanied by the holy angels. Our Father, &c. Let us pray. O most prudent Virgin, who entering into the heavenly palace, didst fill the holy angels with joy, and man with hope, vouchsafe to intercede for us in the hour of our death, that being free from the illusions and temptations of the devil, we may joyfully and securely pass out of this temporal state to enjoy the happiness of eternal life. Amen. The Fifth Mystery.-The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin. THE MEDITATION.-Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin Mary was, with great jubilee and exultation of the whole court of heaven, and particular glory of all the saints, crowned by her Son with the brightest diadem of glory. Our Father, &c. Let us pray. O glorious Queen of all the heavenly citizens, we beseech thee accept this Rosary, which, as a crown of roses, we offer at thy feet; and grant, most gracious Lady, that by thy intercession, our souls may be inflamed with so ardent a desire of seeing thee so gloriously crowned, that it may never die in us, until it shall be changed into the happy fruition of thy blessed sight. Amen. Hail, holy Queen, &c., with the verse and prayer as before. THE MEMORARE, OR PRAYER OF ST. BERNARD TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 300 d. ap. Remember, O most pious Virgin Mary, that it has never, at any time, been heard that anyone having recourse to thy protection, imploring thy aid, seeking thy intercession, was left unassisted. Animated by such confidence, I run to thee, O Virgin of Virgins and Mother; I come to thee, and present myself, a weeping sinner, before thee. O Mother of the Word, despise not my petition, but hear it propitiously, and accede to it. Amen. OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Hail, Mary, &c. Prefect. O Lord, open thou my lips. All. And my mouth shall declare thy praise. A. O Lord, make haste to help me. P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. A. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia or Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory. Invitatory. P. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. A. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Psalm 94. P. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us joyfully cry out to God our Saviour; let us present ourselves before him, to celebrate his praises, and to sing with joy canticles unto him. A. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. P. Because God is a mighty Lord and a great King above all Gods; for the Lord will not reject his people; in his hands are all the bounds of the earth, and he looks down on the heights of the mountains. A. The Lord is with thee. P. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands framed the earth; come then let us adore, and fall prostrate before God, let us weep in the presence of the Lord who made us, because he is the Lord our God; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. A. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. P. If this day you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as you did when you provoked him on the day you offended him in the desert; where your fathers tempted me, they tried, and saw my works. A. The Lord is with thee. P. I was forty years with the race of men, and said: The hearts of this people are always wandering: but they have not known my ways; and I swore to them in my wrath, that they should not enter my abode of rest. A. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. A. The Lord is with thee. P. Hail, Mary, full of grace. A. The Lord is with thee. Hymn. P. The Sov'reign God, whose hands sustain Lies hid, O sacred Maid, in thee. |