Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/585

 doing good  by  the  sweet  apostolate  of  kindness,  or  do  I, by  want  of  charity open  wide  and  make  to  bleed  afresh  the wounds of  my  neighbor?

"My Lord,  from  this  day  I  take  up  my  cross  and  follow Thee!  I  will  look  back  no  more.  Help  me  to  observe Thy  new  commandment  —  to  love  my  neighbor  as  Thou hast  loved  me."

MERCIFUL Jesus,  Who  didst  in  Thy  early  infancy commence Thy  office  of  Saviour  by  shedding  Thy precious blood  and  assuming  for  us  that  name  which  is above  all  names;  we  thank  Thee  for  this  manifestation  of Thy  infinite  love. We venerate  Thy  sacred  name,  in  union with the  profound  respect  of  the  angel  who  first  announced it to  the  earth,  and  unite  our  affections  to  the  sentimients of tender  devotion  which  the  adorable  name  of  Jesus  has in all  ages  enkindled  in  the  hearts  of  Thy  saints. Animated with a  firm  faith  in  Thy  unerring  word,  and  penetrated with  confidence  in  Thy  mercy,  we  now  most  humbly remind Thee  of  the  promise  Thou  hast  made,  that  where two or  three  should  assemble  in  Thy  name. Thou Thyself wouldst be  in  the  midst  of  them. Come, then,  into  the midst of  us,  most  amiable  Jesus,  for  it  is  in  Thy  sacred name we  are  here  assembled;  come  into  our  hearts,  that  we may  be  governed  by  Thy  holy  spirit;  mercifully  grant  us, through that  adorable  name,  which  is  the  joy  of  heaven, the terror  of  hell,  the  consolation  of  the  afflicted,  and  the solid ground  of  our  unlimited  confidence,  all  the  petitions we make  in  this  novena.

Oh I  blessed  Mother  of  our  Redeemer! who didst  participate  so  sensibly  in  the  sufferings  of  thy  dear  Son  when He  shed  His  sacred  blood  and  assumed  for  us  the  name  of Jesus,  obtain  for  us,  through  that  adorable  name,  the  favors we  petition  in  this  novena. Beg also,  that  the  most  ardent love  may  imprint  on  our  hearts  that  sacred  name,  that  it may  be  always  in  our  minds  and  frequently  on  our  lips; that  it  may  be  our  defense  and  our  refuge  in  the  tempta-