Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/591



Come, O Holy  Ghost,  &c.,  p.  566.

OST holy  Mary,  Lady  elect,  predestined  from  all eternity by  the  Most  Holy  Trinity  to  be  mother of the  only-begotten  Son  of  the  Eternal  Fattier,  foretold by  the  Prophets,  sighed  for  by  the  Patriarchs, desired by  all  nations,  Sanctuary  and  living  Temple  of the  Holy  Ghost,  Sun  without  blemish,  because  conceived  free  from  original  sin,  Mistress  of  Heaven  and  of Earth,  Queen  of  Angels;  humbly  prostrate  at  thy feet we  give  thee  our  homage,  rejoicing  that  the  year has brought  round  again  the  memory  of  thy  sweet Nativity: then with  all  our  hearts  we  pray  thee,  Lady, vouchsafe in  thy  goodness  now  to  come  down  again and be  reborn  spiritually  in  our  souls,  that,  led  captive by thy  loveliness  and  sweetness,  we  may  ever  live united to  thy  most  sweet  and  loving  heart.

1. So  now with  nine  angelic  salutations  here  we  hail thy coming,  pondering  the  while  upon  the  nine  months thou didst  pass  within  the  cloister  of  thy  Mother’s womb; and we  tell  thee  of  thine  origin  from  David’s royal house,  and  how  thou  didst  come  forth  to  the light of  heaven  with  high  honour  from  the  womb  of holy  Anna,  thy  most  happy  mother. ''Ave Maria. ''

2. We  hail  thee,  heavenly  Babe,  white  Dove  of purity; who,  despite  the  serpent,  wast  conceived  free from the  taint  of  Adam’s  sin. ''Ave Maria. ''