IV.—Jesus carrying the Cross.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ being sentenced to die, bore, with the most amazing patience, the cross which was laid upon him for his greater torment and ignominy. Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O holy Virgin, example of patience, by the most painful carrying the cross, on which thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ bore the heavy weight of our sins, obtain of him for us by thine intercession, courage and strength to follow his steps, and bear our cross after him to the end of our lives. Amen.

V.—The Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, having arrived at Mount Calvary, was stripped of his clothes, and his hands and feet most cruelly nailed to the cross, in the presence of his most afflicted mother.

Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O holy Mary, mother of God, as the body of thy beloved Son was for us extended on the cross, so may our desires be daily more and more stretched out in his service, and our hearts wounded with compassion for his most bitter passion. And thou, O most blessed Virgin, graciously vouchsafe to help us to accomplish the work of our salvation, by thy powerful intercession. Amen.

Hail, holy Queen, &c. with the verse and prayer as before.

Part The Third.

The Five Glorious Mysteries,

Assigned for Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the Year, and Sundays from Easter until Advent.

I.—The Resurrection of Christ from the Dead.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously over death, rose again the third day, immortal and impassable.

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c, as before.

Let Us Pray.

O glorious Virgin Mary, by that unspeakable joy thou receivedst in the resurrection of thine only Son, we beseech thee to obtain of him for us, that our hearts may never go astray after the false joys of this world; but may be ever and wholly employed in the pursuit of the only true and solid joys of heaven. Amen.

II.—The Ascension of Christ into Heaven.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his resurrection, ascended into heaven, attended by angels, in the sight of his most holy Mother, his holy apostles and disciples, to the great admiration of them all.

Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O mother of God, comfort of the afflicted, as thy beloved Son, when he ascended into heaven, lifted up his hands and blessed his apostles, so vouchsafe, most holy Mother, to lift up thy pure hands to him for us, that we may enjoy the benefits of his blessing and thine, here on earth, and hereafter in heaven. Amen.

III.—The coming of the Holy Ghost to the Disciples.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated at the right hand of God, sent, as he had promised, the Holy Ghost upon the apostles, who, after he was ascended, returning to Jerusalem, continued in prayer and supplication with the blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the performance of his promise.

Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O sacred Virgin, tabernacle of the Holy Ghost, we beseech thee, obtain by thine intercession, that this most sweet Comforter, whom thy beloved Son sent down upon his apostles, filling them thereby with spiritual joy, may teach us in this world the true way of salvation, and make us walk in the paths of virtue and good works. Amen.

IV.—The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin, twelve years after the resurrection of her Son, passed out of this world unto him, and was by him taken into heaven, accompanied by the holy angels.

Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O most prudent Virgin, who entering into the heavenly palace, didst fill the holy angels with joy, and man with hope, vouchsafe to intercede for us at the hour of death, that free from the illusions and temptations of the devil, we may joyfully and successfully pass out of this temporal state, to enjoy the happiness of eternal life. Amen.

V.—The Coronation of the B.V.M, in Heaven.

Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin Mary was, with great jubilee, and exultation of the whole court of heaven, and the particular glory of all the saints, crowned by her Son with the brightest diadem of Glory.

Our Father, &c.

Let Us Pray.

O glorious Queen of all the heavenly citizens, we beseech thee to accept this Rosary, which, as a crown of roses, we offer at thy feet; and grant, most gracious Lady, that by thine intercession, our souls may be inflamed with so ardent a desire of seeing thee so gloriously crowned, that it may never die in us, until it be changed into the happy fruition of thy blessed sight. Amen.

Hail, holy Queen, &c, with the verse and prayer as before.

Te Deum;

A Hymn which may be said after Mass, or on occasion of any public or private Thanksgiving.

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls; through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart, whilst thine only son, Christ Jesus our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love he had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from his cross he recommended thee to the care and protection of his beloved disciple St. John; take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of what kind soever. Thou art the mother of mercies, the sweet consolatrix and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and the afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment for my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, whither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son, through that love and condescension wherewith he embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months, thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit this world, and bless it with his presence. I ask it through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on Mount Olivet, when he besought his eternal Father to remove from him, if possible, the bitter chalice of his future passion. I ask it through the threefold repetition of his prayers in the garden, from whence afterwards with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany him to the doleful theatre of his death and sufferings. I ask it through the welts and sores of his virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith he was bound and scourged, when stripped of his seamless garment, for which his executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it through the scoffs and ignominies by which he was insulted; the false accusation and unjust sentence by which he was condemned to death, and which he bore with heavenly patience. I ask it through his bitter tears and bloody sweat, his silence and resignation, his sadness and grief of heart. I ask it through the blood which trickled from his royal and sacred head, when struck with a sceptre of a reed, and pierced with his crown of thorns. I ask it through the excruciating torments he suffered when his hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it through his vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it through his dereliction on the cross, when he exclaimed: "My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" I ask it through his mercy extended to the good thief, and through his recommending his precious soul and spirit into the hands of his eternal Father before he expired, saying: "All is finished." I ask it through the blood mixed with water, which issued from his sacred side, when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it through his immaculate life, bitter passion, and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the temple, the earthquake, and darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it through his descent into hell, where he comforted the saints of the old law with his presence, and led captivity captive. I ask it through his glorious victory over death, when he arose again to life on the third day; and through the joy which his appearance for forty days after, gave thee, his blessed Mother, his apostles, and the rest of his disciples, when, in thine and their presence, he miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it through the grace of the Holy Ghost, infused into the hearts of the disciples, when he descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it through the awful appearance of thy Son at the last dreadful day, when he shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it through the compassion he bore thee in this life, and the ineffable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of his divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy suppliant, by obtaining it for me.[Footnote 5]

[Footnote 5: Here mention, or reflect on your lawful request, under the reservation of its being agreeable to the will of God, who sees whether it will contribute towards your spiritual good.]

And as I am persuaded my divine Saviour doth honour thee as his beloved Mother, to whom he can refuse nothing; so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and his filial, loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests, and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, besides the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also, of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God, and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for the love of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.—Obtain likewise for me, O Sacred Mother of God! perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self will, a pious conversation through life, and at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relations, and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting. Amen.

Hymns For Festivals.

Hymn for Advent.

Hymn for Christmas.

V. Loquebantur variis linguis Apostoli, Alleluia.

V. The Apostles spoke in various tongues. Alleluia.

R. Magnalia Dei, Alleluia,

R. The wonders of God, Alleluia.

The Prayer.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the direction of the same Holy Spirit, we may relish what is right, and always rejoice in his consolations: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sequence for Whit-Sunday.

Hymns For Festivals.

Hymns for Corpus Christi, and for the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, on Holy Thursday.

The Prayer.

Hymn at the Elevation.