the dangerous pastimes of the world of sin, I must faithfully fulfil my baptismal vows to speak more plainly, I must renounce the world with all its pomps, my flesh with all its delights, the devil with all his works, and "fly sin," as also the occasions thereof, as I would fly "from the face of a serpent." Yes, I must deny myself; I must generously and bravely take up my cross and courageously follow my crucified Saviour to the place where He was slain. This my Mother Mary has done; joyfully, therefore, will I study this salutary lesson taught by the Blessed Mother of God; joyfully will I take up my cross, joyfully will I carry it to the Mount of Sorrows; for thus and only thus can I give Mary pleasure, and solace her in her afflictions. This, therefore, is the resolution I make; yes, before Heaven I purpose to follow Mary in the footsteps of her bleeding Son.

Farewell, then, ye false and cheating pleasures, ye fleeting joys, ye vain amusements of this deceitful world;

farewell for ever. No more will I seek in you to indulge the cravings of my own ever hungry appetite; no more through you will I sin against my conscience and my God. Cheerfully now do I receive the Cross of Christ: I embrace it; I press it fervently to my heart and lips, and willingly shall I go with Mary to Calvary, to station. myself beneath the tree of life, and to die with Jesus, as He died for me. Such were the noble sentiments of St. Andrew the Apostle, when the executioner led him to be crucified; and such shall be mine even to my last breath.

PRAYER.

O Mary, Queen of Martyrs! I grieve and mourn with thee. How great must have been thy pangs of grief and thy lamentations when thou didst meet thy beloved Son, crowned with thorns, loaded with a cross, and bathed in blood. Oh that I could fathom the depth and measure the breadth of thine affliction. But, since that is impossible, at least let me feel a part-yes,

dear Mother, let me have a share in thy sorrows. I by my sins have caused all thy pain; therefore I, and I alone, deserve it all. Two most excellent lessons, on this occasion, thou hast taught me; one of love for Jesus, the other, to renounce this world and sin and to follow thy Son to Calvary. Obtain, therefore, for me, grace to practise that which thou didst teach by thy example, that, suffering with thee whilst on earth, I may deserve to reign for ever with thee in Heaven, and may with the Holy Angels praise thee and Jesus, singing joyous hymns unceasingly. Amen.

Ejaculation.

Mary, most afflicted Mother, obtain for me grace for the sake of the love of Jesus, to deny myself, to take up my cross and follow Him to Calvary.

Say "three Ave Marias, in honour of all Mary suffered in Egypt, for an increase of Fraternal Charity."

ON THE FIFTH DOLOUR OF MARY.

Mary beholds the Crucifixion of Jesus.

FIRST POINT.

Great indeed must have been the pain of the Mothers of the Holy Innocents, when they witnessed their dear children cut to pieces by the sword of the tyrant Herod. But all their affliction united, so as to form one most dire sorrow, would be as nothing when compared with the heartrending woe which overpowered Mary's soul when she beheld the crucifixion of her Son. It is called her fifth Dolour, being the fifth sword of grief which transfixed her stainless heart.

The Blessed Virgin met Jesus on his way to Calvary, and thither did she follow Him sorrowing. As soon as He arrived at the place destined for the execution, the Cross was lifted off his mangled shoulders and laid upon

the ground. Then the soldiers came around Him, and with demon-like fury stripped Him of his garments, and as they took these from Him, tore open once more his sacred flesh, for his clothes had by this time adhered to the innumerable wounds He had received. Ah, truly the lamentation of Mary must have been excessive indeed, when she beheld those festered wounds of her Son thus once more made to bleed!!

When everything was ready for the crucifixion, the Jews gave Jesus some drink, for in those days it was the custom to fortify criminals with a refreshing beverage before their execution. But, oh God! what is this draught which the afflicted Mother sees given to her dying Son? St. Matthew answers by saying: "And they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall." How indignant must she not have felt? Surely this insult alone was of itself sufficient to break her heart? After the soldiers had thus shamefully mocked their God,