Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/146



compassionate thee,  sorrowing  Mary,  for  the shock thy  mother  heart  experienced  when Jesus met  thee  as  He  carried  His  cross. Dear Mother, by  that  heart  of  thine,  then  so  afflicted, obtain for  me  the  virtue  of  patience  and  the  gift of fortitude.

Hail Mary,  etc.

Ejaculation (p.  118).

Preparatory Prayer  (p.  115).

t the  crucifixion  of  Jesus  the  soul  of  Mary was plunged  into  a  sea  of  sorrow  when  she stood three  hours  under  the  cross. Writhing in excruciating  pain,  the  Son  of  God  hung  upon  the tree of  disgrace  and  infamy,  yet  Mary  continued to stand  at  its  foot,  tearful,  grieving,  yet  persevering, filled  with  anguish  because  she  could  do nothing  to  help  Him. Another great  sorrow befell the  heart  of  Mary  when  she  slowly  withdrew her  tearful  gaze  from  the  face  of  Jesus,  and cast her  weeping  eyes  upon  the  cold  and  indifferent world  that  lay  in  darkness  around  and  about