Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/489



TO THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN  MARY,  IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  SACRED PASSION OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,  BY  THE  DEVOUT RECITAL OF  WHICH,  FOR  THE  ABOVE  SPACE  OF  TIME,  WE MAY  CONFIDENTLY  HOPE  TO  OBTAIN  OUR  LAWFUL  BEQUEST.

Ever-glorious and  blessed  Mary,  queen  of  virgins, mother of  mercy,  the  hope  and  comfort  of  dejected  and desolate souls;  through  that  sword  of  sorrow  which pierced thy  tender  heart,  whilst  thine  only  Son  Jesus Christ our  Lord  suffered  death  and  ignominy  on  the cross; through  that  filial  tenderness  and  pure  love  he had  for  thee,  grieving  in  thy  grief,  whilst  from  his  cross he recommended  thee  to  the  care  and  protection  of  his beloved disciple  St.  John.;  take  pity,  I  beseech  thee,  on my  poverty  and  necessities;  have  compassion  on  my anxieties  and  cares;  assist  and  comfort  me  in  all  my infirmities  and  miseries,  of  what  kind  soever. Thou art the mother  of  mercies,  the  sweet  comforter  and  only refuge of  the  needy  and  the  orphan,  of  the  desolate  and afflicted. Cast, therefore,  an  eye  of  pity  on  a  poor  child of Eve,  and  hear  my  prayer;  for  since,  in  just  punishment of  my  sins,  I  find  myself  encompassed  by  a  multitude of  evils,  and  oppressed  with  much  anguish  of spirit,  whither  can  I  fly  for  more  secure  shelter,  O amiable  mother  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ! than to  the  wings  of  thy  maternal  protection? Attend, therefore, I  beseech  thee,  with  an  ear  of  pity  and  compassion to  my  humble  and  earnest  request. I ask  it through  the  mercy  of  thy  dear  Son:  through  that  love and condescension  wherewith  he  embraced  our  nature, when, in  compliance  with  the  divine  will,  thou  gavest thy consent;  and  whom,  after  the  expiration  of  nine months, thou  broughtest  forth  from  thy  chaste  womb to visit  this  world,  and  bless  it  with  his  presence. I ask it through  that  anguish  of  mind  wherewith  thy  beloved