Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/521

 Can it  be both  distasteful  to meditate  on  the  life  of  Christ, and a pleasure  to  imitate  it ?

But thou, O Christian, hear a few words  on  the  use  of  this Rosary. It exhibits  briefly the whole  life  of  Christ, but suggests, if I mistake  not,  matter that  is  fruitful  enough  for meditation. In the  first  part of each  verse  is  propounded a mystery, or  point  in  the  life and actions  of  Christ; in  the latter, some  pious  affection  is elicited  from  it,  and  desire for the  virtue  indicated  is especially  expressed.

It is  distributed  into  five parts, or Decades, containing,

I. The  infancy  and  youth of our  Saviour  to  his  Baptism.

II. The life  of  Christ  from his Baptism  to  his  Passion.

III. The Passion  of  Christ to his  Crucifixion.

IV. His Crucifixion  and acts on  the  Cross  to  his  Death.

V. His  acts  after  death, and, finally,  his  Resurrection and Ascension.

This Rosary  will  serve  for Holy Communion,  for  celebrating and  hearing  Mass well, and  also  for  other  occasions. For as  each  is  a memorial  of  our  Lord's  Passion, a better  exercise  can hardly be  drawn  from  a better source than  from  its  Mysteries themselves.

But that  thou  mayest  profit the more  by  the  use  of  this Rosary, whenever  thou  perceivest  or  readest  of  any  virtue of  Christ's,  let  it  draw forth at  once  thy  heart's  affection, so  that  it  may  respond the more  to  that  virtue  or  act.

Now there  are  various  affections of  the  soul  that  harmonise with  so  good  a work, and with  these  thy  meditation should be  watered  from  time to time,  otherwise  it  will  be empty  and  barren. They are these that  follow,  with  an  act of each  subjoined.

1. Of  sympathy  in  adversity, and  congratulation  in prosperity.  From  my  heart I condole with  thee,  O Lord, because thou  hast  suffered  so bitterly  and  undeservedly  for one so  unworthy  as  I am,  &amp;c.

2. Of  Compunction  and Contrition.  Woe  is  me,  for I have sinned; I am  sorry because I have  caused  thee so many  sorrows. Can I hold myself worthless  when  I know that thou  hast  bought  me  at so  great  a price! Shall I deem  my  soul  of  little  value, the price  of  which  is  the  Blood of Christ? Shall I be  such  a wretch  as  to  sin  again,  when the Son  of  God  has  suffered so greatly  for  my  sins?

3. Of  Hope  and  Joy.  It is  good  for  me  to  adhere  to God,  and  in  God  to  place  my hope. What may  I not  hope from thee,  when  thou  hast done and  suffered  so  much for me,  O my  God  and  my only  refuge!

4. Of  Praise  and  Thanksgiving. What  shall  I ren-