a fleece Thou camest down to give salvation to mankind. We praise Thee, O our God. Or this. In the Bush which Moses saw unconsumed we recognise thine ever-preserved and glorious Virginity. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. . Full of grace are thy lips. Ry. Because God hath blessed thee for ever. GOD, Who by the fruitful Virginity of Blessed Mary hast bestowed the gifts of eternal salvation upon mankind; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel the effects of her intercession, from whom we received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. Amen. 3. Behold, Mary hath brought forth a Saviour, whom when John saw, he exclaimed, saying, Behold the Lamb of God; Behold Him that taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia. Or this. The Root of Jesse hath sprouted forth; there hath come a Star out cf Jacob; a Virgin hath brought forth the Saviour. We praise thee, O our God. . After childbirth thou didst remain a pure Virgin. Ry. Intercede for us, O holy Mother of God. RANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health both of mind and body; and helped by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary ever virgin, and all Thy saints, may be delivered from present sorrow, and at last attain to Thine everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 4. The gate of Paradise was closed to all men through Eve, and through Mary the Virgin was again thrown open. Alleluia. . Blessed is the womb that bare Thee: Ry. And the paps which Thou hast sucked. We beseech Thee, O Lord, pour forth Thy grace, &c., as above, p. 209. A very devout Antiphon and Collect in honour of the complete accomplishment of the great mystery of the Incarnation. (From the same.) Lo, all things are fulfilled which were spoken by the angel concerning the Virgin Mary. . After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin. Ry. Intercede for us, O holy mother of God. O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, &c., as above, p. 246. A Pious Address to S. Mary ever Virgin, asking her intercession. Blessed art thou, Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; who didst bring forth Him Who made thee, and evermore remainest a virgin. Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Holy and immaculate virginity! with what praises to address thee I know not. For Him Whom the heavens cannot contain thou hast carried in thy bosom. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Thou art happy, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise; for from thee hath arisen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our Lord. Pray for the clergy and people; intercede for the devout female sex. Let all be sensible of thy intercession, who celebrate thy holy memory. Thee, O holy Mother of God, do the angels praise; because that remaining a pure virgin, thou didst give birth to the Lord; thou hast conceived by thine ear the Lord our God; that thou mightest be called the blessed among women. Him thou didst bring forth, and lay in the manger, Whom the heavenly hosts adore. Rejoice, O Mary, ever virgin, for thou wert counted worthy to bear Christ, the maker of heaven and earth; thou didst give birth to the Saviour of the world. . Blessed is the womb which bare Thee, O Christ. Ry. And blessed are the paps which gave suck to Thee, the Lord and Saviour of the world. Alleluia. A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, Who by the operation of the Holy Spirit didst wonderfully prepare the body and soul of Blessed Mary the Virgin Mother to become a meet habitation for Thy Son; grant that we to whom her childbearing has brought joy may evermore rejoice in her holy intercession, and so may be delivered from all the evils which threaten us, and may have grace to escape everlasting death; through the same. Amen. CHAPTER III. Sundry Crercises, wherewith to hold fellowship with the Saints in general. us. I.-A LITANY OF ALL THE SAINTS. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. O Christ, hear us. O Christ, graciously hear us. O God the Father, of heaven, have mercy upon O God the Son, the Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us. O God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us. O Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us. Holy Mary, the chosen Mother of God, blessed among women, and throughout all generations, (a) All ye holy Angels, who stand ever before God, ready to praise and obey Him, and to minister to man- Pray for kind, (b) All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, who with many prayers and sighs desired the coming of the Messias, and by divers figures and prophecies foretold it, (c) (a) S. Luke i. (b) Isaiah i.; Heb. i. (c) Gen. xlix.; Isa. vi., &c. us. All ye holy Apostles and Disciples of Who have left all things, and followed Who are made princes in all lands, (b) Who were sent to the lost sheep of Who were hated of all men for the Who rejoiced that ye were counted Who were sent as sheep in the midst Pray for of wolves, (f) Who continued with Christ in His temptations, (g) Who were witnesses of the actions of Who, being weak and ignoble accord- Who, when endued with power from on high, and strengthened by the Holy Ghost, boldly Christ, (j) confessed Who obeyed God rather than man, (k) (a) S. Matt. iv. (b) Psalm xlv. (d) S. Matt. x. (g) S. Luke xxii. us. |