Jesus, grant me grace in all my necessities to call on thee for help, faithfully remembering thy death and resurrection for me. Wilt thou be deaf to my cries, that wouldst lay down thy life for my ransom? or canst thou not save me, that couldst take it up again for my crown? Whom have I in heaven but thee, O my Jesus, whose blessed mouth hath pronounced, Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. Thou art my sure rock of defence against all sort of enemies; thou art my ready grace, able to strengthen me to every good work. Therefore, in all my sufferings, weaknesses, and temptations, I will confidently call on thee; hear me, O my Jesus, and when thou hearest have mercy. * Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary. The Thirteenth Petition. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, make me persevere Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, in virtue. Jesus, make me persevere in virtue and a good life, and never give over thy service, till thou bringest me to my reward in thy king dom. In all pious customs and holy duties, in my honest and necessary employments, continue and strengthen, O Lord, my soul and body. Is my life anything but a pilgrimage on earth towards the new Jerusalem, to which, he that sitteth down, or turneth out of the way, can never arrive? O Jesus, make me always consider thy blessed example; through how much pain, and how little pleasure, thou didst press on to a bitter death, that being the way to a glorious resurrection. Make me, O my Redeemer, seriously weigh those severe words of thine, he only that persevereth to the end shall be saved. * Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary. The Fourteenth Petition. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, grant me grace to fix my mind on thee. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, grant me grace to fix my mind on thee, especially in time of prayer, when I directly converse with thee. Stop the motions of my wandering head, and the desires of my unstable heart; suppress the power of my spiritual enemies, who endeavour at that time to draw my mind from heavenly thoughts, to many vain imaginations. So shall I, with joy and gratitude, look on thee as my deliverer from all the evils I have escaped; and as my benefactor for all the good I have ever received, or can hope for. I shall see that thou art my only good, and that all other things are but means ordained by thee, to make me fix my mind on thee, to make me love thee more and more, and, by loving thee, to be eternally happy. O beloved of my soul, take up all my thoughts here, that mine eyes, abstaining from all vain and hurtful sights, may become worthy to behold thee face to face in thy glory for ever. Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary. The Fifteenth Petition. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, ) give me grace to order Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, my life towards my eternal welfare. Jesus, give me grace to order my life towards my eternal welfare, heartily intending, and wisely designing, all the operations of my body and soul to obtain the reward of thine infinite bliss, and eternal felicity. For what else is this world, but a school to breed up souls, and fit them for the other; and how are they fitted, but by an eager desire of enjoying God, their only end? Break my froward spirit, O Jesus; make it humble and obedient: grant me grace to depart hence with contempt of this world and a heart filled with joy at my going to thee. Let the memory of thy passion make me cheerfully undergo all temptations or sufferings here for thy love, whilst my soul breathes after that blissful life and immortal glory, which thou hast prepared in heaven for thy servants. O Jesus, let me frequently and attentively consider, that whatever I gain, if I lose thee, all is lost; and whatever I lose, if I gain thee, all is gained. Have mercy, &c. as in the Fifth Petition. Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe. PRAYERS FOR THE STATIONS; OR, THE WAY OF THE CROSS. (Most numerous Indulgences attached to this Devotion.) The Priests and Acolyths, kneeling before the altar, say as follows: O Jesus, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at thy feet, imploring thy mercy for ourselves, and for the souls of all the faithful departed. Vouchsafe to apply to us the infinite merits of thy Passion, on which we are now about to meditate. Grant that while we trace this path of sighs and tears, our hearts may be so touched with contrition and repentance, that we may be ready to embrace with joy all the crosses, sufferings, and humiliations of this our life and pilgrimage. V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord. R. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise. V. O God, come to my assistance. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory be, &c. R. As it was, &c. Then the Priest and people move in procession to the First Station. |