Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/509



MOST chaste  and  vigilant  guardian  of  Mary,  the Virgin of  Virgins ! by thy  great  perplexity when, being  called  out  of  Egypt,  thou  didst  hear that Archelaus,  the  son  of  Herod,  was  made  king, who was  no  less  cruel  and  bloody  than  his  father, and by  the  great  joy  that  possessed  thy  heart  when the angel  bid  thee  not  to  fear,  because  all  were  dead that sought  his  life; pray  for  us,  that  we  may  so  live in the  midst  of  this  Egypt,  a sinful  world,  that  one day we  may  deserve  to  be  called  to  the  heavenly  land of promise. Amen.

Our Father,  etc.

Hail Mary,  etc.

MERCIFUL Joseph ! who is  able  to  conceive the sensible  sorrow  and  extreme  grief  thou  sufferedst  when  thou  hadst  lost  the  child  Jesus; and  on the  other  side,  who  is  able  to  express  the  joy  and extreme satisfaction  wherewith  thy  heart  was  replenished when  thou  didst  find  him  in  the  midst  of the  doctors ! we humbly  beseech  thee,  by  this  inconceivable sadness  and  joy,  that  we  may  never  lose  our most amiable  Jesus; or  if  ever  we  be  so  unhappy  as to  lose  him,  make  us  feel  such  a true  and  lively sorrow with  thee,  that  we  may  so  carefully  seek  him as soon  to  find  him,  with  so  great  and  sensible,  a comfort, that  our  only  care  for  the  future  may  be  always to keep  him  and  never  to  lose  him  any  more. Amen.

Our Father,  etc.

Hail Mary,  etc.