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OST afflicted  Mother  of  God! suffer thy  servant to remind  thee  of  that  grief  which  pierced  thy sacred heart,  when  in  thy  presence  the  sacred  body of thy  dearest  Son,  being  embalmed  with  precious ointments, and  wrapped  in  a  clean  white  sheet,  was laid in  the  sepulchre. I bear  a  sensible  part  in  thy affliction, most  tender  and  distressed  Mother! obtain for me,  from  thy  divine  Son,  through  the  merits  of this  thy  anguish,  a  meek  and  pure  heart,  and  a  happy departure from  this  life,  under  thy  maternal  care  and powerful protection. ''Amen. Hail Mary.''

HAT congratulating  each  day  our  Blessed  Lady,  of the  seven  joyful  incidents  or  mysteries  of  her  life,  is  a devotion  both  pious  in  itself,  and  agreeable  to  her,  the  following example  will  demonstrate:  St.  Anselm  is  the  author from whom  we  take  it.

A religious  man,  among  other  devotions,  was  accustomed every day  to  entertain  himself  on  the  seven  signal  joys  our Blessed Lady; received  whilst  living  upon  earth:  he  fell sick; his  continual  devotion  and  virtuous  life  did  not  render him unsusceptible  of  the  fears  which  generally  accompany the passage  from  time  to  eternity. His mind  was  troubled with apprehensions  for  the  event,  of  that  moment. Our Blessed Lady  appeared  to him  and  comforted  him  in  the following words:  "Fear  not,  my  son,  the  passage  is  short: you  go  from  a  miserable  life  to  a  happy  eternity.  Your daily  congratulations  with  me  upon  the  joyful  mysteries  of my  life,  have  brought  me  hither;  and  I  now  assure  you that  soon  you  shall  partake  of  them  in  heaven." So unspeakable was  the  joy  he  experienced  in  his  soul  upon hearing these  words,  and  at  witnessing  the  care  which this admirable  protectress  manifests  for  her  clients,  that,