Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/556

 upon  those  wounds  of  thine, when I see  that  crown  of thorns,  and  learn  that  it  is  for me that  thou  hast  suffered  it all. I indeed it  was  who  inflicted on  thee  all  those  dreadful wounds;  I pressed  down that crown  of  thorns  upon thy sacred  Head; I fastened thee upon  that  Cross.

But, oh,  the  greatness  of thy  charity,  clemency,  and mercy! It is  I that  have sinned, and  it  is  thou  that art tortured,  and  payest for me  the  penalty  of  the death which  I deserve. It is I who  have  been  myself thy enemy,  but  by  thy  Cross thou makest  me  thy  son. It is I who  have  been  a slave, but thou,  by  thy  Blood,  proclaimest  me  free.

Oh, if  once  thou  wouldst permit me  to  be  all  on  fire with thy  love,  then  would  I most  cheerfully  devote  to thee  my  very  life,  for  I owe thee myself  and  my  all Amen.

Which may  be  said  either  in  honour  of  the  seven  Blood sheddings  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  in  honour  of  his  five  sacred Wounds.

The first  Rosary  has  seven  decades: 

It is  to  be  said  thus:

''Begin with  the  Apostles'  Creed, I believe,  &amp;c. ''

At each  decade  say  once  the  Lord's  Prayer, and  the  following salutation  ten  times, with  the  variation  only  of  the mystery  of  the  Blood-shedding  in  each  decade: 

Hail, most  sweet  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  full  of  grace; there  is mercy  with  thee. Blessed be  thy  most  holy  Life,  Passion, and Death,  and  blessed  be  thy  Blood  which  thou  hast  shed for us,  &amp;c.

At each  salutation, after  shed  for  us,  add: 

To decade  I.  In  thy  circumcision.

II. In thy  agony.

III. In thy  scourging.

IV. In thy  crowning  with  thorns.