Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/778

 long as  I  may  live. Surround me  with  thy  powerful  patronage, and  obtain  for  me  from  God  the  grace  to  imitate those virtues  with  which  thou  wast  so  abundantly  adorned. Grant that  I  may  know  and  bitterly  lament  my  sins. Obtain for me  a  most  lively  affection  for  Jesus  and  Mary,  and fidelity and  constancy  in  the  practice  of  the  duties  of  my state. Preserve me  from  every  danger  in  life,  and  assist me in  the  moment  of  my  death,  so  that,  safe  in  paradise, I may  unite  with  thee,  most  blessed  Mother,  in  praising  the Word of  God  made  man  in  the  bosom  of  thy  most  pure child, the  Virgin  Mary. Amen.

Our Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  three times.

Indulgence of 300  days,  once  a  day. — Leo  XIII,  March 20,  1886.

St. Joachim, spouse  of  Anne,  father  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, aid  thy  clients  here  on  the  way  to  salvation.

Indulgence of 300  days. — Pius  X,  June  16,  1906.

The Novena  of  Grace,  which  begins  on  March  4th  and ends on  the  12th,  the  day  of  the  canonization  of  St.  Francis Xavier, owes  its  origin  to  the  saint  himself. At Naples,  in December,  1633,  Father  Marcello  Mastrilli,  S.J.,  was  at  the point of  death. The saint  appeared  to  him,  and  bidding him renew  a  vow  he  had  made  to  labor  in  Japan,  said: " All  those  who  implore  my  help  daily  for  nine  consecutive days,  from  the  4th  to  the  12th  of  March  included,  and worthily  receive  the  sacraments  of  Penance  and  the  Holy Eucharist  on  one  of  the  nine  days,  will  experience  my  protection and  may  hope  to  obtain  from  God  any  grace  they ask  for  the  good  of  their  souls  and  the  glory  of  God." The