Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/147

 Calvary. And yet,  "When  Jesus  therefore  had seen  His  Mother  and  the  disciple  standing  whom He  loved,  He  saith  to  His  Mother,  Woman,  behold Thy  son.  After  that  He  saith  to  the  disciple, Behold  thy  Mother"  (John  xix.  26,  27).

hese words,  "Behold  thy  son,  behold  thy Mother,"  contain  and  express  the  mystery of unbounded  love,  which  Jesus  has  for  all mankind, but  more  especially  for  the  Church, which is  appointed  and  authorized  to  lead  men to salvation. O blessed,  O  happy  bequest! It was not enough  for  the  love  of  Jesus  to  have  restored heaven to  us  by  His  atoning  death;  He  wished also to  give  us  His  dearest  Mother. And she has always  shown  herself  as  such. To each of us  individually  she  was  and  is  a  kind  and loving Mother. Give thanks  to  her,  bless  and praise her  for  having  adopted  you  as  her child, and  strive  to  become  worthy  of  so  great  a privilege.

Prayer of  the  Church  (p.  117).

Litany of  Loreto  (p.  322).

compassionate thee,  sorrowing  Mary,  for  the martyrdom thy  generous  heart  bore  so  nobly whilst thou  didst  stand  by  Jesus  agonizing. Dear Mother, by  thy  heart  then  so  cruelly  martyred,