Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/637



There is  in  the  Sixth  Part of this  Work  a Rosary  of  the Life of  our  Saviour  Christ, so arranged  as  to  be  adapted for daily  use. The reflection that a similar  work  might  be not  unacceptable  to  the  most blessed Mother  of  our  Redeemer and  her  worshippers, has been  my  motive  for  the composition of  the  following Rosary.

My first  endeavour  in  both of them  has  been  to  give  a collective  view  of  the  Life  of Christ, and  of  Mary  his  Mother, simultaneously  with  the special subjects  of  their  praise, and to  furnish  at  the  same time matter  for  the  meditation of good  persons,  as  well  as for  the  arousing  of  their  holy affections.

Let, then,  thy  mind  be  exercised alternately  with  the devout worship  of  Christ,  and of Christ's  Mother. And because the  endeavour  to  imitate its  objects  is  the  kind  of worship  most  acceptable  to them,  and  most  profitable  to thyself,  I have  been  careful to point  out  sufficiently  for this purpose  the  examples which are  displayed  in  them of all  the  virtues,  of  which they are  the  brightest  patterns.

''In what  manner  the  virtues  of  Christ  are  subjects both  for  our  meditation  and imitation,  has  been  already set  forth  in  the  Sixth  Part. But, of  the  things  which  specially demand  our  admiration and  imitation  in  the  Mother of  Christ,  I wish  rather  to  inform thee  in  the  honied  words of  St.  Ambrose.  Have,  he says'',  constantly  pictured  before your  mind  the  Virgin Life of  the  blessed  Mary; for in her  are  displayed,  as  in  a mirror,  all  the  comeliness  of chastity,  and  all  the  beauty  of virtue. Hence are  to  be  deduced examples  proper  to  a good  life; for  in  her,  as  in  a model  of  perfection,  are  delineated those  precepts  of virtue,  by  which  you  are  instructed what  to  correct, what to  avoid,  and  what  to retain. She was,  not  in  body only, but  in  mind  a Virgin, humble in  heart,  grave  in speech,  wise  in  understanding, slow  to  speak,  much  addicted to  reading,  assiduous  at her  work,  modest  in  her  language, and  habituated  to  look up to  God,  and  not  to  man, as the  Judge  of  her  thoughts. There was  no  severity  in  her look, no  boldness  in  her  utterance, no  indecorum  in  her conduct. After much  said  be