II. The Visitation.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the angel that her cousin St. Elizabeth had conceived, went with haste into the mountains of Judea to visit her, bearing her Divine Son within her womb, and remained with her three months.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O holy Virgin, most spotless mirror of humility; by that exceeding charity which moved thee to visit thy holy cousin, St. Elizabeth, obtain for us, through thine intercession, that our hearts being visited by thy divine Son, and freed from all sin, we may praise and give thanks to him for ever. Amen.

III. The Birth of our Saviour Christ in Bethlehem.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her delivery was come, brought forth our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inns at Bethlehem.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O most pure Mother of God; through thy virginal and most joyful delivery, whereby thou gavest to the world thy only Son, our Saviour, we beseech thee obtain for us, through thine intercession, the grace to lead such pure and holy lives in this world, that we may become worthy to sing, without ceasing, the mercies of thy Son, and his benefits to us by thee. Amen.

IV. The Presentation of our Blessed Lord in the Temple.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purification, presented the child Jesus in the Temple, where holy Simeon,

giving thanks to God, with great devotion received him into his arms.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O holy Virgin, most admirable mistress and pattern of obedience, who didst present the Lord of the Temple in the Temple of God; obtain for us, of thy blessed Son, that, with holy Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise and glorify him for ever. Amen.

V. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, after having lost (through no fault of hers) her beloved Son in Jerusalem, sought him for the space of three days; and at length found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions, being of the age of twelve years. Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O most Blessed Virgin, more than martyr in thy sufferings, and yet the comfort of such as are afflicted; by that unspeakable joy wherewith thy soul was filled, when at length thou didst find thy well-beloved Son in the Temple, teaching in the midst of the doctors; obtain of him that we may so seek him and find him in his holy Catholic Church, as never more to be separated from him. Amen.

Salve Regina, as at p. 16, with V. and R.; and the following prayers:

Hear, O merciful God, the prayer of thy servants; that we who meet together in the society of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, may, through her intercession, be delivered by thee from the dangers that continually hang over us; through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, hath laid open to us the rewards of everlasting life; grant, we beseech thee, that, pondering in our hearts these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we

may imitate what they set forth, and obtain what they promise; through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES.

1. The Prayer and Bloody Sweat of our Blessed Saviour in the Garden.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus was so afflicted for us in the garden of Gethsemane, that his body was bathed in a bloody sweat, which ran down in great drops to the ground.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O most holy Virgin, more than martyr; by that' ardent prayer which our beloved Saviour poured forth to his heavenly Father in the garden, vouchsafe to intercede for us, that, our passions being reduced to the obedience of reason, we may always, and in all things, conform and subject ourselves to the holy will of God. Amen.

II. The Scourging of our Blessed Lord at the Pillar.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged in Pilate's house, the number of stripes they gave him being about five

thousand.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

Ó Mother of God, overflowing fountain of patience; through those stripes thy only and much-beloved Son Vouchsafed to suffer for us, obtain of him for us grace to mortify our rebellious senses, to avoid the occasion of sin, and to be ready to suffer every thing rather thar. offend God. Amen.

III. The Crowning of our Blessed Saviour with Thorns. Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how those cruel ministers of Satan platted a crown of sharp thorns, and

cruelly pressed it on the sacred head of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O Mother of our Eternal Prince, the King of Glory; by those sharp thorns wherewith his sacred head was pierced, we beseech thee obtain, through thy intercession, that we may be delivered from all motions of pride, and escape that shame which our sins deserve at the day of judgment. Amen.

IV. Jesus carrying his Cross.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bore, with the most amazing patience, the cross which was laid upon him for his greater torment and ignominy.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O Holy Virgin, example of patience; by the most painful carrying of the cross, in which thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, bore the heavy weight of our sins, obtain for us of him, through thine intercession, courage and strength to follow his steps, and bear our cross after him to the end of our lives. Amen.

V. The Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 nailed to the cross, in the presence of his most afflicted Mother.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God; as the body of thy beloved Son was for us stretched upon the cross, so may we offer up our souls and bodies to be crucified with him

and our hearts to be pierced with grief at his most bitter Passion; and thou, O most sorrowful Mother, graciously vouchsafe to help us, by thy all-powerful intercession, to accomplish the work of our salvation. Amen. Salve Regina and Prayers, as before.

THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.

I. The Resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously over death, rose again the third day, immortal and impassible.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O glorious Virgin Mary; by that unspeakable joy thou didst receive in the resurrection of thy Divine Son, we beseech thee obtain for us of him, that our hearts may never go astray after the false joys of this world, but may be for ever wholly employed in the pursuit of the only true and solid joys of heaven. Amen.

II. The Ascension of Christ into Heaven.

Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his resurrection, ascended into heaven, attended by angels, in the sight, and to the great admiration, of his most holy Mother, and his holy Apostles and disciples.

Our Father, &c.

Prayer.

O Mother of God, comforter of the afflicted; as thy beloved Son, when he ascended into heaven, lifted up his hands and blessed his Apostles, as he was parted from them; so vouchsafe, most holy Mother, to lift up thy pure hands to him on our behalf, that we may enjoy the benefits of his blessing, and of thine, here on earth, and hereafter in heaven. Amen.