heavenly dispositions of thy holy heart, and beseech thy dear Son to impart to me in particular a lively horror of sin; purity of heart and mind; devotion towards thee, a love of retirement, fidelity in discharging the duties of my state, an ardent love for God, and that spirit of angelic modesty, which always distinguished thee, and marked thee out even exteriorly as the Temple of the Divinity. To obtain these great graces, and in thanksgiving for the favours bestowed on thee, my blessed model, I fervently offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and the thoughts, words, actions, and various duties of this day. I conjure thee, by the maternal tenderness with which thou didst guard the sacred infancy of thy divine Son, to watch over me this day, and every moment of my life; to be a mother, a refuge, and guide to me in all the difficulties, temptations, and dangers I may hereafter be exposed to; and when the dreadful hour of my death comes, O holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, support me, defend me, and plead for me so powerfully with God, that I may die in the friendship of my Creator, and reap for all eternity the happy fruits of having been sincerely devoted to thee. Amen.

Aspiration. O clement, O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary! pray for me now, and at the hour of my death.

Universal Prayer

FOR ALL THINGS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.

MY God, I believe in thee; do thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in thee; do thou

secure them. I love thee with my whole heart; teach me to love thee daily more and more. I am sorry that I have offended thee; do thou increase my sorrow.

I adore thee as my first beginning; I aspire after thee as my last end; I give thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I call upon thee as my sovereign protector.

Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by thy wisdom, to restrain me by thy justice, to comfort me by thy mercy, to defend me by thy power.

To thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of thee, speak of thee, willingly refer all my actions to thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever thou shalt appoint.

Lord, I desire that in all things thy will may be done, because it is thy will, and in the manner thou willest.

I beg of thee to enlighten my understanding, and to inflame my will: to purify my body, and to sanctify my soul.

Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offences, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire virtues proper for my state.

Fill my heart with a tender affection for thy goodness, a hatred for my faults, a love for my neighbour, and a contempt for the world.

Let me always remember to be submissive to my superiors, condescending to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies.

Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion.

O my God, make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in afflictions, and humble in prosperity.

Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employment, and constant in my resolutions.

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my comportment regular.

Assist me, that I may continually labour to overcome nature, to correspond with thy grace, to keep thy commandments, and to work out my salvation.

Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the blessedness of eternity.

Grant that I may prepare for death, that I may fear thy judgments, that I may escape hell, and in the end obtain heaven: through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bevotions to St. Joseph.

A PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH.

HOLY Joseph, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, most glorious advocate of all such as are in danger or in their last agony, and most faithful protector of all the servants of Mary your dearest spouse, I [N.], in the presence of Jesus and Mary, do, from this moment, choose you for my powerful patron and advocate, for the obtaining a most happy death; and I firmly resolve and purpose to invoke thy aid, and never to say or do, or even

to suffer any under my charge to say or do, anything against your honour. Receive me, therefore, for your perpetual servant, and recommend me to the constant protection of Mary, your dearest spouse, and to the everlasting mercies of Jesus my Saviour. Assist me in all the actions of my whole life, all which I now offer to the greater and everlasting glory of Jesus and Mary, as well as to your own. Never, therefore, forsake me; and whatsoever grace you see most necessary and profitable to me, obtain it for me now and at the hour of my death, to which I now invite you against the uncertain hour in which it shall happen, that whatsoever at this moment, and on my death-bed, I cannot of myself obtain, may by your gracious prayers be bestowed on me by the Saviour of my soul, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Pray for us, O holy St. Joseph.

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

LET US PRAY.

GOD, who by thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose St. Joseph to be the spouse of thy most holy Mother! grant, we beseech thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth, may be our intercessor in heaven: who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Special favours have been obtained by the recital of the following prayers in honour of St. Joseph.

GLORIOUS St. Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you do we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession, mi

obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare; particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special favour we now implore. [Here mention or reflect upon your lawful requests.]

O guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

Say the following versicle seven times, in honour of the seven joys and sorrows of St. Joseph.

V. O glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his name, R. Hear our prayers, and obtain our petitions.

LET US PRAY.

GLORIOUS St. Joseph, spouse of the immacucharitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine will. Be my guide, father, and model through life, that I may merit to die as thou didst, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

FOR THE PATRONAGE OF ST. JOSEPH, [To begin on Saturday before the second Sunday after Easter.] JOYS AND DOLORS OF THE SAINT.

The First Prayer.

CHUA of sept I how great was thy grief

YHASTE Spouse of the most Immaculate Mother

when, ignorant of the mystery and co-operation of the Holy Ghost in that sublime mystery, thou perceivest the pregnancy of thy beloved Spouse, and on that account had thoughts of leaving her. By this