Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/595

 measure  the  fruits  of  our  Lord's  redemption. Hail Mary.

9. Virgin  most  resigned,  although  thou  didst  feel thine own  soul  transfixed  with  sorrow,  foreseeing  all the bitter  Passion  of  thy  Son,  yet  knowing  the  grief of Joseph  thy  spouse  for  thy  sufferings,  thou  didst console him  with  holy  words; pierce  through  and through our  souls  with  true  sorrow  for  our  sins,  that we may  one  day  come  to  rejoice  with  thee  in  everlasting bliss, partakers  of  thy  glory. Hail Mary.

ITH wonder  I revere  thee,  holiest  Virgin  Mary, for of  all  God’s  creatures  thou  wast  humblest on the  very  day  of  the  Annunciation,  when  God  himself exalted thee  to  the  sublimest  dignity  of  his  own Mother. O mightiest Virgin,  make  me,  wretched sinner that  I am,  know  the  depths  of  my  own  nothingness, and  at  once,  with  all  my  heart,  humble myself beneath  the  feet  of  all. ''Ave Maria. ''

2. When,  Mary,  holiest  Virgin,  Gabriel  the  archangel hailed  thee  in  thy  Annunciation,  thou  wast raised by  God  above  all  angel  choirs; yet  didst  thou then confess  thyself  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord  ( Ecce ancilla  Domini.)  O Mary,  obtain  for  me  true humility and  angelic  purity,  that  I may  so  live  on earth  as  ever  to  be  worthy  of  the  blessings  of  my God. Ave Maria.

3. With  thee  I rejoice,  O Virgin  ever  blest,  because by  the  sole  fiat  uttered  by  thee  so  lowly,  thou