obtain for us such copious graces as may keep us faithful and acceptable to God unto the end. Ave.

7. O most holy Virgin! who at your conception was replenished with the fulness of grace, obtain for us that, by means of prayer and the participation of the holy Sacraments, we may receive all the graces which we require for our sanctification and salvation. Ave.

8. O most blessed Virgin! who at the first instant of your life was adorned with the choicest and most perfect virtues, obtain for us a most lively faith, the firmest hope, the most perfect charity, and all the other virtues which should adorn a Christian soul. Ave.

9. O blessed Virgin! whose conception announced the near approach of the glorious rising of the Sun of Justice, become the light of our minds, the joy of our hearts, our defence in dangers, our support in temptations, our comfort in tribulations; plant and nourish in our souls all those virtues which made you so admirable upon earth, and now render you so glorious in heaven. Ave. Gloria.

SECTION II.

Novena for the Nativity.

1. O holy Virgin! whose birth into this world announced peace to suffering men, upon this solemn remembrance of your birth, obtain, we beseech you, true peace to our hearts, to the Church, and to all the world. Ave.

2. O invincible Virgin! who commenced at the instant of your birth the overthrow of the kingdom of the devil, obtain for us that we may be enabled to destroy his reign in our hearts, and continually to resist him by a lively faith, so that Christ may reign in us and with us for ever. Ave.

3. Unspotted Virgin! who was born adorned with perfect purity, obtain for us that we may henceforward cease to live after the flesh, but may be enabled to lead a pure and spotless life, such as true Christians should do. Ave.

4. Heavenly Virgin! who came into the world to triumph over it, obtain for us that we also may be de

tached from it, living, not according to its laws, but to those of the Gospel. Ave.

5. Glorious Virgin! who was born to triumph over all heresy, dissipate by your power all the errors which oppose themselves to our holy religion, and preserve constantly in us that lively faith which works by charity. Ave.

6. Most holy Virgin! who appeared on this earth to afford us a bright mirror of virtue and holiness; let our eyes be continually turned towards you, that we may be enabled to imitate your virtuous deeds, and become holy like you.

Ave.

7. Most happy Virgin! whom God created to bring forth Him who would heal the evils of the whole world, obtain for us that we may be preserved from all sin, the only real evil, and may make so profitable a use of divine grace, that we may attain eternal life.

SECTION III.

Ave.

Novena for the Presentation.

1. O great Virgin and dear Mother! by the marvellous promptitude with which you dedicated your earliest years to the service of God, obtain that we may from this time forward be enabled to consecrate our hearts to the divine service without ever being diverted from our purpose. Ave.

2. O great Virgin and dear Mother! by that seraphic zeal with which in your childhood you served in the temple, thereby becoming an object of admiration to angels and men, obtain for us that we may approach the holy Sacraments with the true spirit of devotion. Ave.

3. O great Virgin and dear Mother! by the admirable courage with which you subdued your attachment to home and parents, in your first years of life, that you might devote yourself to the service of God, obtain for us that, no longer seduced by the deceits of our enemies, we may be able to keep our hearts detached from all earthly things, seeking for our true and perfect good alone, and may enjoy one day with you the eternal delights of Paradise. Ave.

SECTION IV.

Novena for the Annunciation.

1. O immaculate Mary! who obtained by your profound humility and perfect chastity to be preferred, before the most renowned women of all ages, for the Mother of your Creator, obtain for us the grace to live like you in the practice of these two beautiful virtues, that we may at length attain, with you, to the joy of our Lord.

Ave.

2. O immaculate Mary! who was troubled when you heard the angel's praises, obtain for us the grace to have, like you, a lowly esteem of ourselves, that, shrinking from the praises of men, we may solely endeavour to deserve the approbation of our Lord. Ave.

3. O immaculate Mary! who valued the privilege of virginity not less than the glory of being the Mother of God, obtain for us the grace that we may willingly sacrifice all things, rather than sully the purity of our souls. Ave.

4. O immaculate Mary! who called yourself the handmaid of the Lord, with an extraordinary humility, after the Archangel Gabriel had announced that you were to be His Mother, obtain from the Lord that we may never be elated by any gifts with which God may favour us, but that they may advance us in virtue, and unite us more and more with the true source of all happiness. Ave.

5. O immaculate Mary! who did not refuse to become the Mother of the Redeemer for the salvation of men, though you knew the great sacrifice which you must one day make of Him on the cross, and the bitter passion which you would have to endure with Him, obtain for us, I pray you, that we may never refuse to make any sacrifice which may be required of us for His glory or for the salvation of our neighbour. Ave.

6. O immaculate Mary! who by that fiat which you pronounced when you consented to become the Mother of the Word, rejoiced heaven, consoled earth, and affrighted hell; obtain for us a perfect confidence in your holy proction, by which we may obtain the copious benefits of

your Son's redemption, to which you, O great Virgin, lent your desired aid. Ave.

7. O immaculate Mary! who by a miracle till then unheard of became the Mother of the Incarnate Word, without the smallest stain on your spotless purity; obtain, we pray you, that we may be reserved and modest in our looks, words, and actions, and never sully, by any stain, that purity which is suited to our profession. Ave.

8. O immaculate Mary! who contracted so intimate a relation with the Most Holy Trinity, that you became at the same time the Daughter of the Holy Father, the Mother of the Holy Son, and the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, obtain for us that we may so preserve the purity of our souls, that we may be worthy to be the temples of the Father who created us, of the Son who redeemed us, and of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us.

Ave.

9. O immaculate Mary! who had the especial privilege of bearing in your virginal womb Him whom heaven and earth cannot contain, obtain for us that we may so exercise ourselves in continual humility, penitence, charity, and prayer, that we may worthily receive your divine Son, when He vouchsafes to visit us in the blessed Sacrament; and may also be blessed by this gracious presence at the moment of our death; and that at length we may contemplate and possess Him, together with you, and with the angels and saints in heaven. Ave.

SECTION V.

Novena for the Visitation.

1. By that purity of intention, through which, O Mary! you quitted your home, and proceeded to visit your cousin Elizabeth, obtain for us, we pray, the grace of seeking in all that we do only the pure glory of God. Ave.

2. By that holy care with which you took the road to the mountains of Judea, obtain for us, we pray, the grace to walk continually in the way of holiness, that we may never be driven back by any obstacles which our enemies may oppose against us. Ave.

3. By the profound humility which induced you, O