THE FIFTH MYSTERY.

THE CROWNING OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.Virtue, PERSEVERANCE.

The Meditation.

Let us consider in this Mystery how the Son of God receives into Heaven his most Holy Mother, assigning her the preeminence that was due to her merits and dignity, and crowning her with the brightest diadem of glory.

The Prayer.

O glorious Queen of all the heavenly citizens! accept, we beseech thee, this Rosary, which, as a fragrant garland of roses, we offer at thy feet; obtain for us, during life, the grace of perseverance in the paths of virtue; and when the hour of our death shall arrive, assist us, by thy powerful intercession, to triumph over the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, that so we may enter into those rapturous joys which God has prepared for all those who cease not to love him. Amen.

Subjects for Meditation in this Mystery.

First-Conceive some faint idea of the sublime dignity to which the Mother of God was raised by her Son, when all the host of heaven, as St. Jerome says, met her, and in a blaze of ineffable light conducted her to her throne. Long for the happy day in which you are to see her so gloriously enthroned, and resolve to follow, at an humble distance, in that path of virtue which led her to such a stupendous exaltation.

Second-Consider that it was by perseverance in the fulfilment of all the lowly duties of her temporal state, and in the practice of the most sublime virtues, that our blessed Lady merited her effulgent crown. Pray for the most precious grace of perseverance, that grace on which our eternal salvation depends. "He who perseveres to the end, shall be saved."

Practical Resolutions.

First-To observe steadfastly all our good purposes, avoiding the habits of those whose whole life is an alternation of repentance and relapses.

Second-To beseech over and over again the Mother of God to obtain for us the inestimable gift of final perseverance. For this is a grace which may be gained by prayer, but cannot be strictly merited.

SALVE REGINA.

HAIL! holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope; to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O pious! O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

O GOD, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that meditating upon these Mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LITANY

OF

The Blessed Virgin;

CALLED ALSO,

THE LITANY OF LORETTO.*

WE fly under thy protection, O holy Mother of God, despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin!

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,

God the Son, Redeemer of the
World,

God the Holy Ghost,

Holy Trinity one God,

Have mercy on us.

* Sixtus V granted an Indulgence of two hundred days to the faithful, every time they recite devoutly, and with contrition of heart, this Litany. Benedict XIII confirmed this Indulgence, and granted, moreover, to those who daily

LITANIE

B. Mariæ Virginis.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix, nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos, O Virgo semper gloriosa et benedicta !

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de cœlis Deus, miserere nobis. Fili Redemptor mundi Deus, miserere nobis.

Spiritus Sancte Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis.

say this Litany, a Plenary Indulgence on the Annunciation, Assumption, Nativity, Conception, and Purification of the Blessed Virgin, provided they confess and receive and pray according to the intentions of his Holiness.