from whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany him to the doleful theatre of his death and sufferings. I ask it through the stripes and wounds of his virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith he was bound and scourged, when stript of his seamless garment, for which his executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it through the scoffs and ignominies by which he was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which he was condemned to death, and which he bore with heavenly patience. I ask it through his bitter tears and bloody sweat; his silence and resignation; his sadness and grief of heart. I ask it through the blood which trickled from his royal and sacred head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed, and pierced with his crown of thorns. I ask it through the excruciating torments he suffered, when his hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it through his vehement thirst and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it through his dereliction on the cross, when he exclaimed, My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken Me? I ask it through the mercy extended to the good thief; and through his recommending his precious soul and spirit into the hands of his Eternal Father before he expired, saying, ALL 18 FINISHED. I ask it through the blood mixed with water, which issued from his sacred side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it through his immaculate life, bitter pas

sion, and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the temple, the earthquake, and darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it through his descent into hell, where he comforted the saints of the old law with his presence, and led captivity captive. I ask it through his glorious victory over death, when he arose again into life on the third day; and through the joy which his appearance for forty days after gave thee, his blessed Mother, his apostles, and the rest of his disciples; and when, in thy presence and in theirs, he miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it through the grace of the Holy Ghost, infused into the hearts of his disciples, when he descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it through the awful appearance of thy Son at the last dreadful day, when he shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. I ask it through the compassion he bore thee in this life, and the ineffable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of his divine perfections.

O glorious and ever-blessed Virgin, comfort the heart of thy supplicant by obtaining for me [Here mention the particular favour you desire.] And as I am persuaded my divine Saviour honours thee as his beloved mother, to whom he can refuse nothing, let me speedily experience

the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and his filial loving heart, who mercifully grantest the requests and compliest with the desires of those who love and fear him. O most blessed Virgin, besides the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me of thy Divine Son, our Lord and our God, lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition, a horror of sin, love of God and my neighbour, conterapt of the world, and patience and resignation under the trials and afflictions of this life. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred mother of God, the great gift of final perseverance, and grace to receive the last sacraments worthily at the hour of my death. Lastly, obtain, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relations, and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting. Amen.

LOOK DOWN, O MOTHER MARY.

OOK down, O Mother Mary,
From thy bright throne above;

Cast down upon thy children
One only glance of love.
And if a heart so tender
With pity flows not o'er,
Then turn away, O Mother,
And look on us no more.
Look down, &c.

See how ingrate and guilty
We stand before thy Son;
His loving heart reproaches
The evil we have done.
But if thou wilt appease Him,
Speak for us but one word;
Thou only canst obtain us
The pardon of our Lord.
Look down, &c.

O Mary, dearest Mother!

If thou wouldst have us live,
Say that we are thy children,
And then He will forgive.
Our sins make us unworthy
That title still to bear,

But thou art still our Mother!
Then show a mother's care.
Look down, &c.

Open to us thy mantle,

There stay we without fear;
What evil can befall us

If, Mother, thou art near?
O sweetest, dearest Mother!
Thy sinful children save;
Look down on us with pity,
Who thy protection crave.
Look down, &c.

IMMACULATE! IMMACULATE!

MOTHER! I could weep for mirth,
Joy fills
my heart so fast;

My soul to-day is heaven on earth,
O could the transport last!

I think of thee, and what thou art,
Thy majesty, thy state;

And I keep singing in my heart-
Immaculate! Immaculate!

When Jesus looks upon thy face,
His Heart with rapture glows,
And in the Church by His sweet grace,
Thy blessed worship grows.

I think of thee, &c.

The angels answer with their songs.
Bright choirs in gleaming rows;
And saints flock round thy feet in throngs,
And heaven with bliss o'erflows.
I think of thee, &c.

Immaculate conception! far
Above all graces blest;

Thou shinest like a royal star
On God's eternal breast.
I think of thee, &c.

PRAYERS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR.

O Mother of Perpetual Succour, pray for us thy children. Obtain for us that we may continually have recourse to thee.

0

HOLY Virgin Mary, who, in order to inspire us with an unbounded confidence, hast been pleased to take the sweet name of Mother of Perpetual Succour, I implore thee to come to my succour always and in all places, in my temptations and after my falls, in my afflictions and trials, and in all the sorrows of this miserable life, but especially at the hour of my death. Obtain for me, O