Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/1045

 creatures, wast  pleased  to  be  born  under  the  most  lowly roof, to  be  wrapped  in  the  meanest  swaddling-bands,  and to hi  laid  in  a  vile  manger,  amongst  beasts,  and  to  suffer  a thousand  evils. O grant  that  we  also  may  renounce  all worldly vanities,  and  embrace  poverty  of  spirit,  and  mortification of  the  flesh,  so  necessary  for  our  perfection. Grant that we  may  be  thoroughly  detached  from  creatures,  and poor in  all  things  save  in  Thy  love  and  Thy  grace. Pater; Ave;  Gloria,  etc.

8. O  divine  Saviour,  O  King  of  peace,  Who  wast  pleased to make  Thy  appearance  amongst  us  when  the  whole  world was in  peace;  vouchsafe  to  send  us  Thy  peace,  so  that  all our powers  being  brought  into  subjection  to  Thee,  Thou mayest at  the  approaching  solemnity  be  born  anew  in  our souls.

Pater; Ave;  Gloria,  etc.

9. O  divine  Saviour,  O  King  of  immortal  glory,  Who, in Thy  great  mercy,  didst  come  into  the  world  to  redeem us and  to  make  us  holy;  grant  that,  denying  all  ungodliness and love  of  this  world,  we  may  live  soberly  in  ourselves, justly toward  our  neighbor,  and  piously  before  Thee,  that, so we  may  be  happy  with  Thee  for  all  eternity.

Pater; Ave;  Gloria,  etc.

OME to  me,  O  Divine  Saviour! vouchsafe to  be  born  in my  heart;  grant  that,  taught  by  Thine  example,  and assisted by  Thy  grace,  I  may  be  poor  in  spirit  and  humble  of heart. Keep me  chaste  and  obedient. I wish  to  live  but  for Thee, and  to  do  all  things  purely  for  love  of  Thee.

O my  Jesus,  my  supreme  and  true  Good! what can  have attracted Thee  from  heaven  to  be  born  in  a  cave,  if  it  be  not the love  that  Thou  bearest  to  man? What has  drawn  Thee from the  bosom  of  Thy  Father  to  lay  Thyself  down  in  a  manger? What has  brought  Thee  down  from  Thy  throne  above  the  stars, to stretch  Thyself  on  a  little  straw? What, from  the  midst  of the  nine  choirs  of  angels,  has  placed  Thee  between  two  animals? Thou dost  inflame  the  seraphim  with  holy  fire,  and  lo,  Thou art trembling  with  cold  in  this  stable! Thou dost  give  motion to the  heavens  and  the  sun,  and  now  Thou  canst  not  move without being  carried  in  some  one's  arms! Thou dost  provide both man  and  beast  with  food,  and  dost  Thou  now  require  a little  milk  to  sustain  Thy  life! Thou art  the  delight  of  heaven,