Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/74



Whoever has great  devotion  to  Mary  may  be  called  blessed,  even  in this  life,  and  may  be  looked  on  as  sure  of  paradise,  according-  to  the words placed  by  Holy  Church  in  the  mouth  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven: He that  shall  find  me,  shall  find  life,  and  shall  have  salvation from the  Lord  (Prov.  viii.  35). But who  is  he  that  findeth Mary? It is  he  who  loveth  her  and  who  honoreth  her  by  special  devotions. Now, among  these  devotions  I  know  of  none  more  agreeable to  the  Mother  of  God  than  the  Rosary. What sweet  hope  of salvation  may  we  not  cherish  if  we  daily  recite  our  Beads  with  piety and perseverance. Many books  are  filled  with  striking  examples of  souls  having  been  saved  by  the  practice  of  this  devotion. Listen to  what  the  demons  themselves  have  said  in  praise  of  the Rosary when  they  were  forced  to  speak  by  St.  Dominic:  "  We  are forced  to  make  known  that  whoever  perseveres  in  devotion  to  Mary and  to  the  Rosary  will  not  be  damned,  for  Mary  will  obtain  his  salvation." Do not  fail  then,  in  future,  to  recite  at  least  a  third  part  of it  daily  with  great  affection  and  confidence.

Joyful Mysteries,  i.  The  Annunciation  and  Incarnation  of Christ. 2. The  Visitation. 3. The  Nativity  of  Jesus  Christ. 4. The Presentation  of  Jesus  in  the  Temple. 5. The  Finding  in  the Temple.

Sorrowful Mysteries,  i.  The  Agony  in  the  Garden. 2. The Scourging. 3. The  Crowning  with  Thorns. 4. The  Carrying  of  the Cross. 5. The  Crucifixion.

Glorious Mysteries,  i.  The  Resurrection  of  Our  Lord. 2. The Ascension. 3. The  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 4. The  Assumption of the  Blessed  Virgin. 5. Her  Coronation  in  Heaven.

For easier  meditation  the  mystery  of  each  decade  may  be  inserted in  each  Hail  Mary  after  the  name  of  Jesus. Thus:

I. In  the  Joyful  Mysteries  (for  Mondays,  Thursdays,  and  on  Sundays from  Advent  to  the  Octave  of  Epiphany).

1. Whom  thou  didst  conceive  when  a  Virgin.

2. Whom  thou  didst  carry  when  visiting  St. Elizabeth.

3. Whom  thou  broughtest  forth  when  a  Virgin.

4. Whom  thou  didst  present  in  the  Temple.

5. Whom  thou  didst  find  in  the  Temple.

II. In the  Sorrowful  Mysteries  (for  Tuesdays  and  Fridays  and the  Sundays  in  Lent).

1. Who  didst  endure  for  us  the  Bloody  Sweat.

2. Who  wast  scourged  for  us.

3. Who  wast  crowned  with  thorns  for  us.

4. Who  didst  carry  the  cross  for  us.

5. Who  was  crucified  for  us.

III. In the  Glorious  Mysteries  (for  Wednesdays,  Saturdays,  Sundays, and  the  Paschal  season).