Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/419



SORROWFUL Virgin! by the  sword  that pierced thy  soul,  obtain  that  the  sufferings  of thy  beloved  Son,  and  thy  own  sorrows,  may  be  deeply imprinted on  my  heart; to  the  end,  that  sacrificing to God  my  entire  will  and  affections,  I may  love  him henceforth with  a love,  pure,  ardent,  and  generous.

EDITATE, with  profound  humility,  the  heart-rending grief  of  the  Virgin  Mother,  when obliged to  flee  into  Egypt,  to  preserve  her  divine Son from  the  persecution  of  impious  Herod.

Our Father,  etc.,  ''as  before. ''

MOST afflicted  Mother,  by  the  sorrow  that overwhelmed thee,  when,  to  save  the  life  of  thy divine Son,  thou  wert  forced  to  flee  into  Egypt,  I conjure  thee  to  be  my  guide  and  support  during  the exile of this  life,  that  imitating  thy  perfect  obedience I may persevere  in  justice,  and,  like  thee,  cling  more closely to  Jesus,  during  the  trials  of  this  life,  in order  that  I may  possess  him  with  thee  in  eternity.

EDITATE, with  profound  humility,  the  anguish with which  the  Blessed  Virgin  sought,  during three days,  her  beloved  Son,  whom  she  had  lost  in the  temple.

Our Father,  etc.