Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/601

 mortal life,  by  force  of  an  ecstasy  of  love  didst  make known the  fire  which  ever  burnt  within  thy  heart; obtain for  us,  at  least,  a spark  of  that  same  fire,  to give  us  true  sorrow  for  our  sins. Three Hail  Marys.

Let us  with  the  third  choir  of  angels  now  exalt the ineffable  glory  of  Mary,  inflamed  with  the  love  of her  God.

Hymn, or  litany,  V.  and  R,,  and  prayer  as  before.

ET us  meditate  how  glorious  Mary  was  in  her  dead body, because  it  was  adorned  with  marvellous splendour and  majesty,  and  spread  around  an  odour of sanctity,  which  was  the  very  fragrance  of  Paradise, and because  innumerable  miracles  were  wrought  at the  sight  of  it. Then, thinking  upon  our  own miseries, let  us  say:

1. O Lady  most  pure,  who,  by  reason  of  thy virginal purity,  didst  merit  the  glory  to  be  so  bright and so  majestic  in  thy  body  after  death; obtain  for us the  strength  to  detach  ourselves  from  every  foul spirit of  impurity. Three Hail  Marys.

2. O Lady  most  pure,  who,  by  reason  of  thy  rare virtue didst  from  thy  dead  body  spread  around  the sweetness of  Paradise;  make  it  thy  care  that  we may  edify  our  neighbour  by  our  life,  and  never  more by our  bad  example  become  a stumbling-block  to others. Three Hail  Marys.

3. O Lady  most  pure,  at  the  sight  of  whose  body numberless bodily  maladies  were  cured; intercede for us,  that  by  thy  prayers  all  our  spiritual  ills  may be healed. Three Hail  Marys.