PRAYER FOR THE FITFH DAY. The 3rd of December. MARY, bright moon of mercy, I congratulate with thee, inasmuch as the mystery of thy immaculate conception was the beginning of the salvation of all the human race and the joy of the whole world. I thank and bless the most holy Trinity for having so exalted and glorified thy person; and I implore thee to obtain for me grace to know how to profit by the passion and death of thy Jesus, and that the blood shed upon the Cross may not be unavailing for me, but that may live holily and be saved. Here the Litany, or the Hymn, as before, is to be said. PRAYER FOR THE SIXTH DAY. The 4th of December. sanctity, I rejoice with thee that thy immaculate conception has brought a most exceeding joy to all the angels of paradise. I thank and bless the most holy Trinity for having enriched thee with so beautiful a privilege. Ah, grant that I may enter one day into a participation of that joy, and may be able, in the company of the angels, to praise and bless thee for all eternity. Here the Litany, or the Hymn, as before, is to be said. PRAYER FOR THE SEVENTH DAY. The 5th of December. IMMACULATE justice, I rejoice with thee, and wonder that in the moment of thy conception thou wast confirmed in grace and preserved from all sin. I thank and extol the most holy Trinity for having distinguished thee alone with this special privilege. Ah, obtain for me, O holy Virgin, an entire and constant abhorrence of sin above every other evil, and that I may sooner die than commit it any more. Here the Litany, or the Hymn, as before, is to be said. PRAYER FOR THE EIGHTH DAY. The 6th of December. VIRGIN Mary, sun without spot, I congratulate with thee, and rejoice that in thy conception a greater and more abundant grace was bestowed upon thee than all the angels and saints possessed in the fulness of their merits. I thank and admire the sovereign goodness of the most holy Trinity in having enriched thee with this privilege. Ah, enable me to correspond to divine grace, and never more abuse it! Change my heart, and let me from this moment begin to amend my life. Here the Litany, or the Hymn, as before, is to be said. PRAYER FOR THE NINTH DAY. The 7th of December. IMMACULATE Virgin and Mother Mary, living light of holiness and model of purity, thou, when scarcely yet conceived, didst profoundly adore God and thank him, because in thee, the ancient curse being taken away, the fulness of blessing was coming upon the children of Adam. Ah, let this blessing enkindle in my heart a love of God! Do thou inflame it, that I may love him constantly, and then enjoy him eternally in paradise, where I may be able to thank him more ardently for the singular privileges granted to thee, and behold thee also crowned as thou art with such exceeding glory. Here the Litany, or the Hymn, as before, is to be said, Novena IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF OUR LADY'S NATIVITY. (Commencing August 30th). Come, O Holy Ghost, &c., p. 566. MOS TOST holy Mary, Lady elect, predestined from all eternity by the Most Holy Trinity to be mother of the only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, foretold by the Prophets, sighed for by the Patriarchs, desired by all nations, Sanctuary and living Temple of the Holy Ghost, Sun without blemish, because conceived free from original sin, Mistress of Heaven and of Earth, Queen of Angels; humbly prostrate at thy feet we give thee our homage, rejoicing that the year has brought round again the memory of thy sweet Nativity then with all our hearts we pray thee, Lady, vouchsafe in thy goodness now to come down again and be reborn spiritually in our souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, we may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart. : 1. So now with nine angelic salutations here we hail thy coming, pondering the while upon the nine months thou didst pass within the cloister of thy Mother's womb; and we tell thee of thine origin from David's royal house, and how thou didst come forth to the light of heaven with high honour from the womb of holy Anna, thy most happy mother. Ave Maria. 2. We hail thee, heavenly Babe, white Dove of purity; who, despite the serpent, wast conceived free from the taint of Adam's sin. Ave Maria. 3. We hail thee, brightest Morn; who, forerunner of the Heavenly Sun of Justice, didst first bring light to earth. Ave Maria. 4. We hail thee, Elect; who, like the untarnished Sun, didst burst forth in the dark night of sin. Ave Maria. 5. We hail thee, beauteous Moon; who didst shed light upon a world wrapt in the darkness of idolatry. Ave Maria. 6. We hail thee, dread Warrior-Queen, who, in thyself a host, alone didst put to flight all hell. Ave Maria. 7. We hail thee, fair Soul of Mary, who, from all eternity, wast God's and God's alone. Ave Maria. 8. We hail thee, dear Child, and we humbly venerate thy most holy infant body; we honour the sacred swaddling-clothes wherewith they bound thee, the cradle wherein they laid thee, and we bless the hour and the day when thou wast born. Ave Maria. 9. We hail thee, most beloved Infant, decked with every virtue, immeasurably high above all saints, and therefore worthy Mother of the Saviour of the world; who, made fruitful by the Holy Spirit, didst bring forth the Incarnate Word. Ave Maria. INFA PRAYER. [NFANT most lovely, who, by thy holy birth, hast comforted the world, made glad the heavens, struck terror into hell, brought help to the fallen, consolation to the sad, salvation to the weak, joy to all men living; we pray thee, with all fervent love and gratitude, be thou spiritually reborn in our souls by means of thy most holy love; renew our spirits to thy service, rekindle in our hearts the fire of charity, bid all the virtues blossom there, that so we may find more and more favour in thy gracious eyes. Mary! be thou our Mary, and may we feel the saving power of thy sweetest name; let it ever be our comfort to call on that great name in all our troubles; be it our hope in danger, our shield in temptation and in death, with the name of thy Divine Son, our last comfort. Sit nomen Mariæ mel in ore, melos in aure, et jubilus in corde. Amen. Let the name of Mary be honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, ecstacy in the heart. Amen. V. Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, G LET US PRAY. RANT to us thy servants, we beseech thee, Lord, the gift of heavenly grace; that to those, for whom the delivery of the Virgin was the commencement of salvation, this her votive festival may give increasing peace. Through, &c. O God, &c., p. 569. Novena IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION (Beginning January 24th). OST holy Mary, bright mirror of all virtues, the were no past than thou, though the purest of all virgins, didst will to be presented in the Temple to be purified; Oh, help us, then, by imitating thee, to keep our hearts unstained by sin, that so we too may be made worthy one day to be presented to our God in heaven. Hail Mary. |