Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/141

 Thy hands,  being  obedient  even  unto  death. In consideration of  this  holocaust  of  agreeable  odor,  do Thou  exercise  Thy  mercy  in  favor  of  the  souls  in purgatory,  and  deliver  them  from  the  chains  which bind them  and  prevent  them  from  taking  their  flight to heaven,  where  they  wish  to  praise  and  love  Thee with a  consummate  love. Together with  the  sorrows of  Thy  divine  Son,  I  also  offer  Thee  those  of His  blessed  Mother,  whose  maternal  heart  was crucified at  the  foot  of  the  cross. The lance  that pierced the  side  and  the  heart  of  Jesus,  Thy  Son, also transfixed  Mary's  soul,  as  had  been  prophesied by Simeon,  and  thus  she  became  the  Queen  of  all the martyrs. Behold then,  O  heavenly  Father,  the disfigured face  of  Thy  Son  on  the  cross,  and  the crucified heart  of  His  Mother  at  the  foot  of  the  cross; and by  the  merits  of  the  Son's  and  Mother's  sufferings, grant  peace  and  rest  to  the  souls  in  purgatory.

''Requiem, etc.

OST holy  Mary,  Queen  of  Heaven. I, who  was once the  slave  of  Satan,  now  dedicate  myself to thy  service  forever. I offer  myself  to honor  and  to  serve  thee  while  I  live. Accept me as  thy  willing  servant,  and  cast  me  not  from  thee as I  deserve. Mother, in  thee  have  I  placed  all  my hope. All blessing  and  thanksgiving  be  to  God, Who in  His  mercy  giveth  me  this  trust  in  thee. True it  is  that  in  the  past  I  was  miserably  fallen  in sin. But through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  by thy  prayers,  I  hope  that  God  has  pardoned  me  my sins. Yet it  is  not  enough,  my  Mother,  to  be  forgiven whilst  the  thought  appals  me  that  I may  still lose the  grace  of  God. Danger is  ever  nigh;  the