Exert the Mother's care,
And us thy children own;
To Him convey our prayer,
Who chose to be thy Son.

O pure, O spotless Maid,

Whose meekness all surpass'd,
Our lusts and passions quell,
And make us mild and chaste.

Preserve our lives unstain'd,
And guard us in our way;
Until we come to thee,

To joys that ne'er decay.

Praise to the Father be,

With Christ, his only Son,
And to the Holy Ghost,--
Thrice-blessed three in one.

2.

HAIL, Queen of Heav'n, the ocean Star,
Guide of the wanderer here below!
Thrown on life's surge we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that he has paid

The price of our iniquity.

Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, biest Advocate, we cry;

Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.
And while to Him who reigns above,

In Godhead One, in Persons Three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee;
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.

Venite adoremus,

num.

Ye faithful, approach ye,
Joyfully triumphing;

O, come ye, O, come ye, to
Bethlehem :

Come and behold ye
Born the King of angels:
O, come, let us worship,
O, come, let us worship,

Venite adoremus Domi- O, come, let us worship

Deum de Deo,

Lumen de lumine,
Gestant puellæ viscera:
Deum verum,
Genitum, non factum :
Venite adoremus, &c.

Cantet nunc Io!
Chorus angelorum :
Cantet nunc aula coeles-
tium,

Gloria

In excelsis Deo!

Venite, &c.

V. Tota pulchra es Maria. V. Thou art all fair, O

V. In conceptione tua, Vir V. go, immaculata fuisti.

In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.

R. Ora pro nobis Patrem R. Pray for us to the Fa

cujus Filium
risti.

pepe

Let us pray.

ther, whose Son thou didst bring forth.

O God, who by the Virgin's immaculate conception didst prepare a worthy dwelling for thy Son, we beseech thee, that thou, who, by the death of that same Son of thine, foreseen by thee, didst preserve her from every stain, wouldst grant that by her intercession we also may be purified, and so come to thee.

PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS;
OR, THE WAY OF THE CROSS.
(Via Crucis.)

The priests and acolyths, kneeling before the altar, say as follows:

O Jesus, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at thy feet, imploring thy mercy for ourselves, and for the souls of all the faithful departed. Vouchsafe to apply to us the infinite merits of thy passion, on which we are now about to meditate. Grant that while we trace this path of sighs and tears, our hearts may be so touched with contrition and repentance, that we may be ready to embrace with joy all the crosses and sufferings and humiliations of this our life and pilgrimage.

V. Domine, labia mea V. Thou shalt open my aperies, lips, O Lord.

R. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.

V. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

R. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

V. O God, come to my assistance.

Ry. Domine, ad adjuvan

dum me festina.

V. Gloria Patri, &c.

Ry. Sicut erat, &c.

R. O Lord, make haste

to help me.

y. Glory be, &c.

Ry. As it was, &c.

Then moving in procession to the first Station, the following versicle and response are said or sung:

V. Adoramus te, Christe, te benedicimus tibi.

R. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

y. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.

R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

This versicle and response are repeated before each

Station.

First Station.

JESUS CHRIST CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

The Priest reads:

Leaving the house of Caiphas, where he had been blasphemed, and the house of Herod, where he had been mocked, Jesus is dragged before Pilate, his back torn with scourges, his head crowned with thorns; and he, who on the last day will judge the living and the dead, is himself condemned to a disgraceful death.

It was for us that thou didst suffer, O blessed Jesus ; it was for our sins thou wast condemned to die. Oh, grant that we may detest them from the bottom of our hearts, and by this repentance obtain thy mercy and pardon.

An Act of Contrition.

O God, we love thee with our whole hearts and above all things, and are heartily sorry that we have offended thee. May we never offend thee any more. Oh, may we love thee without ceasing, and make it our delight to do in all things thy most holy will.