Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/164

 our behalf,  that  we  may  perfectly confess  with  thy  confessors the  Catholic  Faith, not only  with  our  heart  and mouth, but  also  in  our  life and works;  and  in  knowing and doing  the  Lord’s  will, may shine  like  burning  lights in thy  house  on  every  side, and ever  glorify  thy  name: who livest  and  reignest,  world without end. Amen.

Let us  praise  our  God,  because, among  other  miracles of his  power,  he  has  performed many  wonders  even in the  weaker  sex,  by  variously adorning  them  with  different excellent  endowments of grace  and  virtue; but chiefly by  implanting  in  weak and tender  vessels  so  noble and masculine  a courage,  that they despised  a tyrant’s threatenings of  death  and torments, and  went  to  death as though  it  were  to  feasting and pleasure.

These wonderful  works  of God  I this  day  honour,  especially in  thee,  O most  beloved spouse  of  Christ,  N.!

And I humbly  beseech  thee, by the  grace  which  Christ has so  largely  bestowed  upon thee, to  obtain  for  me  greater grace to  enable  me  to  please God, and  to  fulfil  my  vocation; but  chiefly  to  make daily progress  in  true  faith, charity, and  patience; to overcome  worldly  allurements and  carnal  pleasures by the  love  of  holy  continence and  abstinence; and  to think  nothing  sweeter  than Christ’s yoke,  or  dearer  than his love,  until,  in  the  enjoyment of  a happy  immortality, I unite with  thee  in  praising God for  ever.

From my  soul  I give  thee joy, O N.,  saint  of  God,  because the  eternal  King  has wonderfully crowned  thee with glory  and  honour  in heaven,  and  associated  thee with the  princes  of  his  supreme oourt  in  his  kingdom on high.

And because  thou  hast  no cause  to  be  anxious  for  thyself, I beseech  thee  to  take care of  us  thy  brethren,  and of thy  unfailing  charity  lovingly to  procure  for  us  what thou knowest  to  be  chiefly necessary to  enable  us  to  lead a good and  a happy  life.

Succour us  by  thy  intercession, who  are  set  in  the  so great  perils  of  this  life,  and in the  midst  of  enemies,  that, purified from  all  stains  of  sin, we may  safely  come  to  you  in cur  common  home,  through Jesus Christ  our  Lord. Amen.

O Lord, we  beseech  thee