Page:KeyOfHeaven.djvu/349

 Father and  protector  of  orphans, the advocate  of  the  defenceless,  the patron of  those  who  are  in  need and desolation. Do not  disregard the petition  of  thy  poor  child;  my sins  have  drawn  upon  me  the  just displeasure of  my  God,  and  hence I am  surrounded  with  sorrows. To thee,  O  amiable  guardian  of the  poor  neglected  family  of  Nazareth, do  I  fly  for  shelter  and  protection. Listen, then,  I  entreat thee, with  a  father's  solicitude,  to the  earnest  prayer  of  thy  poor  supplicant, and  obtain  for  me  the  objects of  my  petition. I ask  it  by the  infinite  mercy  of  the  eternal Son of  God;  which  induced  Him to assume  our  nature,  and  be  born in this  world  of  sorrow. I ask  it by  the  grief  which  filled  thy  heart, when ignorant  of  the  mystery wrought in  thy  Immaculate  Spouse, thou didst  fear  thou  shouldst  be separated  from  her.