Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/381

 by Joseph  and  Nicodemus,  and  laid  in  the  bosom  of his  weeping  mother. Consider the  sighs  and  tears  of the  Virgin  Mother; with  what  pangs  she  embraced the bleeding  remains  of  her  beloved  Son. Here unite your tears  with  those  of  this  disconsolate  mother. Reflect that  your  Saviour  would  not  descend  from the cross,  until  he  consummated  the  work  of  redemption. Hence learn  constancy  in  your  pious  resolutions; cleave  to  the  standard  of  the  cross. Consider with what  purity  that  soul  should  be  adorned, which receives,  in  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the Eucharist, Christ’s  most  sacred  body  and  blood.

T length,  O blessed  Virgin,  Mother  of  sorrows, you are  permitted  to  embrace  your  beloved  Son. But alas! the fruit  of  your  immaculate  womb  is mangled. From the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  sole  of his  foot,  there  is  no  soundness  in  him. Yes, the infernal fury  of  the  Jews  has  at  length  triumphed; yet we  renew  their  barbarity,  crucify  him  by  our  sins, inflicting new  wounds. Most afflicted  Mother  of  my Redeemer,  I conjure  you,  by  the  pains  and  torments you suffered  in  the  common  cause  of  salvation,  to obtain  for  me,  by  your  powerful  intercession,  the pardon of  my  sins,  and  grace  to  deplore,  with  a sympathizing  feeling,  your  and  your  Son’s  sufferings. As often  as  I appear  at  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass, let me  embrace  thee,  O my  Jesus,  in  the  interior  of my  heart. May I worthily  receive  thee  as  the  sacred pledge of  my  salvation. Amen.

Our Father,  etc. Hail Mary,  etc.  Glory  be  to  the Father, etc.

V. Jesus  Christ  crucified,  have  mercy  on  us.

R. Have  mercy  on  us: O Lord,  have  mercy  on  us.