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 4. Virgin most holy, by offering thy Son, the Divine Word, to his eternal Father, thou didst make heaven glad ; present our poor hearts to God, that by his grace they may be kept free from mortal sin. Hail Mary.

5. Virgin most humble, in consigning Jesus into the arms of the holy old man Simeon, thou didst fill his spirit full of heavenly joy ; consign our hearts to God, that he may fill them full of his Holy Spirit. Hail Mary.

6. Virgin most diligent, in ransoming thy Son Jesus according to the law, thou didst cooperate in the salvation of the world ; ransom our poor hearts from the slavery of sin, that they may be ever pure in the sight of God. Hail Mary.

7. Virgin most meek, on hearing the prophecy of Simeon foretelling thy woes, thou didst humbly resign thyself to the good pleasure of thy God ; make us always resigned to the dispositions of his Providence, and enable us to bear all troubles with patience. Hail Mary.

8. Virgin most compassionate, when thou didst fill the soul of Anna the prophetess with light, by means of thy Divine Son, thou didst make her magnify the mercies of God in that she recognised Jesus for the Redeemer of the world ; enrich our spirit too with heavenly grace, that we may joyfully reap in full measure the fruits of our Lord's redemption. Hail Mary.

9. Virgin most resigned, although thou didst feel thine own soul transfixed with sorrow, foreseeing all the bitter Passion of thy Son, yet knowing the grief of Joseph thy spouse for all thy sufferings, thou didst console him with holy words; pierce through and through our souls with true sorrow for our sins, that we may one day come to rejoice with thee in everlasting bliss, partakers of thy glory. Hail Mary.

V. Simeon received answer from the Holy Spirit.

R. That he should not see death till he had seen the Christ of God.

Almighty, everlasting God, we humbly pray thy Majesty, that as thine only-begotten Son was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so thou wouldst