Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/461

 O almighty  and  everlasting  God,  Lord  of  heaven  and earth, who  didst  reveal  thyself  to  little  ones,  grant,  we beseech  thee,  that  while  we  duly  celebrate  and  honour the most  holy  mysteries  of  thy  Son,  the  infant  Jesus,  and worthily strive  to  imitate  them,  we  may  arrive  at  that heavenly kingdom  which  thou  hast  promised  to  little children; through  the  same  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  who liveth and  reigneth  with  thee  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy Ghost, God,  world  without  end. Amen.

''Say, Eternal  rest  give  to  them,  &amp;c,  three  times  for  the  souls  in  purgatory who  were  devout  to  the  infant  Jesus,  and  one  Hail  Mary  for  the  intention of  the  promoter  of  this  devotion. ''

A Plenary  Indulgence  on  the  25th  day  of  every  month  to those  who,  being  truly  contrite  and  having  confessed  and communicated, should  recite,  in  any  church  or  public  oratory where the  exercise  in  honour  of  the  infant  Jesus  is  practised, the above  prayers,  venerating  at  the  same  time  the  twelve mysteries of  the  Sacred  Infancy,  and  praying  for  the  intention of  his  Holiness;  and  300  days,  once  a  day,  for  reciting the same  in  private. Both applicable  to  the  souls  in  purgatory.

This is  called  the  Chaplet  of  our  Lord,  because  it  is said  in  honour  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  is  composed  of  thirty-three  Pater  nosters,  in  remembrance  and  veneration  of the  thirty-three  years  which  he  lived  on  the  earth;  to these  are  added  five  times  Ave  Maria  in  honour  of  his five most  holy  wounds;  the  first  three  of  which  are  said, one at  the  beginning  of  each  of  the  three  sets  of  ten Pater nosters,  and  of  the  two  remaining,  one  is  said  previous to  reciting  the  three  concluding  Pater  nosters,  and the other  after  them. The Chaplet  finishes  with  the Credo in  honour  of  the  holy  Apostles,  its  composers,  and which itself  contains  an  epitome  of  the  Birth,  Life,  Passion, and  Death  of  our  Divine  Lord  Jesus  Christ.

Every one  saving  the  Chaplet  must,  according  to  his capacity, meditate  on  the  mysteries  of  the  life  of  our Lord Jesus  Christ;  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  use  these reflections, which are  only  added  as  a  help.