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 the Mother  of  God,  so  often  do  we  in  the  "  Holy Mary,"  invoke  her  powerful  intercession  for  us  poor sinners now,  and  especially  at  the  hour  of  our  death. Finally, as  though  to  head  off  a  Protestant  objection, we at  the  end  of  each  decade  turn  from  Mary,  her honor and  perfections,  to  Mary's  Creator,  the  sole Author of  her  greatness,  the  one  Source  of  all  good things, and  we  say,  "  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost."

But beautiful  as  are  the  vocal  prayers  of  the  Rosary, the  accompanying  meditations  are  not  less praiseworthy — a fitting  accompaniment  for  so  sweet a melody. " If,"  says  St.  Bernard,  "  you  would  avoid going  down  to  hell  after  your  death,  you  must  frequently go  down  there  by  meditation  during  your life." With equal  good  reason  may  we  say  if  we would  go  to  heaven  in  eternity,  we  must  accustom our thoughts  to  go  there  often  in  time. But how can we  do  this  better  than  by  following  in  spirit  the footsteps of  our  divine  Guide — Jesus  Christ? Hence we divide  His  history  into  fifteen  parts  or  mysteries, and we  allot  one  mystery  to  each  decade,  and  thus we proceed,  as  He  did  and  as  every  true  disciple  of His  must  do,  from  joy  through  sorrow  to  glory.

We see  the  gentle  Virgin  once  again  in  her  humble home, and  we  see  the  resplendent  Gabriel  coming with his  tidings  of  great  joy  to  her  and  all  mankind. We hear  Mary  and  Elizabeth  blend  their  voices  in magnifying  the  Lord  for  choosing  them  to  be  the mothers of  men  greater  than  whom  have  never been born  of  women,  and  we  kneel  again  by  the