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diff --git a/33596.txt b/33596.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..12d5bea --- /dev/null +++ b/33596.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12942 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mary, Help of Christians, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mary, Help of Christians + And the Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers: + Instructions, Novenas and Prayers with Thoughts of the + Saints for Every Day in the Year + +Author: Various + +Contributor: John J. Burke + +Editor: Bonaventure Hammer + +Release Date: August 31, 2010 [EBook #33596] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Gray, the Diocese of San Jose + + + + + MARY, THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS + + + + MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS + AND THE + Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers + + Instructions, Legends, Novenas and Prayers + WITH + Thoughts of the Saints for Every Day in the Year + + + + COMPILED BY + REV. BONAVENTURE HAMMER, O.F.M. + + + + TO WHICH IS ADDED AN APPENDIX ON THE + Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices + BY REV. JOHN J. BURKE + + +--- + + + NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO + BENZIGER BROTHERS + + PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE + PUBLISHERS OF BENZINGER'S MAGAZINE + + + + Imprimi Permittitur. + FR. CHRYSOSTOMUS THEOBALD, O.F.M., + _Minister Provincialis._ + Cincinnati, Ohio, die 30, Martii, 1908. + + Nihil Obstat. + REMY LAPORT, S.T.L., + _Censor Librorum._ + + Imprimatur. + JOHN M. FARLEY, + Archbishop of New York. + + + + NEW YORK, March 4, 1909. + + COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY BENZIGER BROTHERS. + + + +PREFACE + +THE contents of the following pages are based on the Catholic doctrine +of the veneration and invocation of the saints, and of the efficacy of +the prayer of intercession. The legends of the individual "Holy Helpers" +were compiled from authors whose writings have the approval of the +Church. + +In compliance with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII of 1625, 1631, and +1634, the compiler formally declares that he submits everything +contained in this little book to the infallible judgment of the Church, +and that he claims no other than human credibility for the facts, +legends, and miracles related, except where the Church has otherwise +decided. + + THE COMPILER. + + + Contents + + PREFACE + + PART I + The Veneration and Invocation of Saints and the Efficacy of Prayer + + CHAPTER I + THE VENERATION AND INVOCATION OF SAINTS + + CHAPTER II + EFFICACY OF THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS + + CHAPTER III + FOR WHAT THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS MAY AND SHOULD BE INVOKED + + CHAPTER IV + THE QUALITIES OF PRAYER + + PART II + Mary, the Help of Christians + Novenas in Preparation for the Principal Feasts of the Blessed Virgin + + RULES FOR THE PROPER OBSERVANCE OF NOVENAS + ON THE MANNER OF READING THE MEDITATIONS AND OBSERVING THE PRACTICES + + INTRODUCTION + + MARY, THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS + + I. NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED +VIRGIN MARY + + FIRST DAY.--THE PREDESTINATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY + SECOND DAY.--MARY'S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION + THIRD DAY.--MARY, THE VICTRIX OF SATAN + FOURTH DAY.--MARY WITHOUT ACTUAL SIN + FIFTH DAY.--MARY, FULL OF GRACE + SIXTH DAY.--MARY, OUR REFUGE + SEVENTH DAY.--MARY, THE MOTHER OF CHASTITY + EIGHTH DAY.--THE IMAGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION + NINTH DAY.--THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION + + II. NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY + + FIRST DAY.--THE BIRTH OF MARY + SECOND DAY.--MARY, THE ELECT OF GOD + THIRD DAY.--MARY, THE CHILD OF ROYALTY + FOURTH DAY.--MARY, THE CHILD OF PIOUS PARENTS + FIFTH DAY.--MARY'S SUPERNATURAL PREROGATIVES + SIXTH DAY.--MARY, THE JOY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY + SEVENTH DAY.--THE ANGELS REJOICE AT MARY'S BIRTH + EIGHTH DAY.--THE JOY OF THE JUST IN LIMBO AT MARY'S BIRTH + NINTH DAY.--THE HOLY NAME OF MARY + + III. NOVENA FOR THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN +MARY + + FIRST DAY.--THE ANNUNCIATION + SECOND DAY.--THE IMPORT OF THE ANGEL'S SALUTATION + THIRD DAY.--THE EFFECT OF THE ANGEL'S SALUTATION + FOURTH DAY.--MARY'S QUESTION + FIFTH DAY.--THE SOLUTION + SIXTH DAY.--MARY'S CONSENT + SEVENTH DAY.--MARY'S FORTITUDE IN SUFFERING + EIGHTH DAY.--MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD + NINTH DAY.--MARY OUR MOTHER + + IV. NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY + + FIRST DAY.--DEVOTION TO THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY + SECOND DAY.--MARY'S FIRST SORROW: SIMEON'S PROPHECY IN THE TEMPLE + THIRD DAY.--MARY'S SECOND SORROW: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT + FOURTH DAY.--MARY'S THIRD SORROW: JESUS LOST IN JERUSALEM + FIFTH DAY.--MARY'S FOURTH SORROW: SHE MEETS JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS + SIXTH DAY.--MARY'S FIFTH SORROW: BENEATH THE CROSS + SEVENTH DAY.--MARY'S SIXTH SORROW: THE TAKING DOWN OF JESUS' BODY FROM +THE CROSS + EIGHTH DAY.--MARY'S SEVENTH SORROW: JESUS IS BURIED + NINTH DAY.--WHY MARY HAD TO SUFFER + + V. NOVENA FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY + + FIRST DAY.--MARY'S DEATH WAS WITHOUT PAIN + SECOND DAY.--AT MARY'S TOMB + THIRD DAY.--THE EMPTY TOMB + FOURTH DAY.--REASONS FOR THE BODILY ASSUMPTION OF MARY INTO HEAVEN + FIFTH DAY.--MARY'S GLORIOUS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN + SIXTH DAY.--MARY CROWNED IN HEAVEN + SEVENTH DAY.--MARY'S BLISS IN HEAVEN + EIGHTH DAY.--MARY, THE QUEEN OF MERCY + NINTH DAY.--MARY IN HEAVEN THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS ON EARTH + + PART III + The Fourteen Holy Helpers + + CHAPTER I + THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS + + CHAPTER II + LEGENDS + + THE LEGENDS OF THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS + I.--ST. GEORGE, MARTYR + II.--ST. BLASE, BISHOP AND MARTYR + III.--ST. ERASMUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR + IV.--ST. PANTALEON, PHYSICIAN AND MARTYR + V.--ST. VITUS, MARTYR + VI.--ST. CHRISTOPHORUS, MARTYR + VII.--ST. DIONYSIUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR + VIII.--ST. CYRIACUS, DEACON AND MARTYR + IX.--ST. ACHATIUS, MARTYR + X.--ST. EUSTACHIUS, MARTYR + XI.--ST. GILES, HERMIT AND ABBOT + XII.--ST. MARGARET, VIRGIN AND MARTYR + XIII.--ST. CATHERINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR + XIV.--ST. BARBARA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR + + PART IV + I. Novenas to the Holy Helpers + + NOVENA TO EACH OF THE HOLY HELPERS + I.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. GEORGE + II.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. BLASE + III.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. ERASMUS + IV.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. PANTALEON + V.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. VITUS + VI.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. CHRISTOPHORUS + VII.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. DIONYSIUS + VIII.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. CYRIACUS + IX.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. ACHATIUS + X.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. EUSTACHIUS + XI.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. GILES + XII.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. MARGARET + XIII.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. CATHERINE + XIV.--NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. BARBARA + + NOVENA TO ALL THE HOLY HELPERS + + FIRST DAY.--THE DEVOTION TO THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS + SECOND DAY.--THE DESTINY OF MAN + THIRD DAY.--THE VIRTUE OF FAITH + FOURTH DAY.--THE VIRTUE OF HOPE + FIFTH DAY.--THE LOVE OF GOD + SIXTH DAY.--THE VIRTUE OF CHARITY + SEVENTH DAY.--HUMAN RESPECT + EIGHTH DAY.--PRAYER + NINTH DAY.--PERSEVERANCE + + II. Prayers and Petitions + + PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION + + I.--THREE INVOCATIONS + II.--PRAYER IN ILLNESS + III.--PRAYER FOR THE SICK + IV.--PRAYER OF PARENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN + V.--PRAYER OF CHILDREN FOR THEIR PARENTS + VI.--PRAYER FOR MARRIED PEOPLE + + PART V + General Devotions + + MORNING PRAYERS + EVENING PRAYERS + PRAYERS AT HOLY MASS + PRAYERS AFTER MASS + PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION + Before Confession + After Confession + PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION + Before Communion + After Communion + VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT + PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS + PRAYERS TO JESUS SUFFERING + THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS + PRAYER TO OUR SUFFERING REDEEMER + PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY + PRAYER FOR ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO SALVATION + + THE FOUR APPROVED LITANIES + LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS + LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS + LITANY OF LORETO, IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY + LITANY OF ALL SAINTS + + PART VI + Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year + + JANUARY + FEBRUARY + MARCH + APRIL + MAY + JUNE + JULY + AUGUST + SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER + NOVEMBER + DECEMBER + + PART VII + Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices + + THE CEREMONIES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH + I.--Ceremonies Necessary to Divine Worship + II.--Vestments Used by the Priest at Mass + III.--Ceremonies of the Mass + + THE PRACTICES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH + I.--Vespers and Benediction + II.--Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament + III.--Holy Communion + IV.--Confirmation + V.--Honoring the Blessed Virgin + VI.--Confession of Sin + VII.--Granting Indulgences + VIII.--The Last Sacraments + IX.--Praying for the Dead + X.--Praying to the Saints + XI.--Crucifixes, Relics, and Images + XII.--Some Sacramentals--The Books Used by the Priest, the Sign of +the Cross, Holy Water, Blessed Candles, Palm and Ashes, Holy Oils, +Scapulars, Medals, Agnus Dei, Prayers, Litanies, Rosary, Angelus, +Stations, Funeral Service, and Various Blessings + XIII.--The Celebration of Feasts + XIV.--Infant Baptism + XV.--The Marriage Tie--One and Indissoluble + XVI.--Respect Shown to Ecclesiastical Superiors + XVII.--Celibacy + XVIII.--Conclusion + + + +PART I + +The Veneration and Invocation of Saints, and the Efficacy of Prayer + + +"Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose +faith follow, considering the end of their conversation" (_Heb._ xiii. +7). + +"Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I am also of Christ" +(_1 Cor._ iv. 16). + + +[Illustration: Presentation of Mary in the temple.] + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Veneration and Invocation of Saints + +IN THE Creed of the Council of Trent, which the Catholic Church places +before the faithful as the Rule of Faith, we read: "I firmly believe +that the saints reigning with Christ are to be venerated and invoked." + +The Church therefore teaches, first, that it is right and pleasing to +God to venerate the saints and to invoke their intercession; and second, +that it is useful and profitable to eternal salvation for us to do so. + +The veneration of the saints is useful and profitable to us. Men +conspicuous in life for knowledge, bravery, or other noble qualities and +unusual merits are honored after death. Why, then, should Catholics not +be permitted to honor the heroes of their faith, who excelled in the +practice of supernatural virtue and are in special grace and favor with +God? That this veneration is profitable to us is evident from the fact +that the example of the saints incites us to imitate them to the best of +our ability. + +The veneration of the saints is not only in full accord with the demands +of reason, but we are, moreover, enjoined explicitly by Holy Scripture +to venerate the memory of the holy patriarchs and prophets: "Let us now +praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation" (_Ecclus_. +xliv. 1). "And their names continue for ever, the glory of the holy men +remaining unto their children" (_Ecclus_. xlvi. 15). + +Reason and Holy Scripture, then, are in favor of the veneration of the +saints. We find it practised, therefore, also in the early Church. She +was convinced from the very beginning of its propriety and utility. As +early as the first century the memorial day of the martyrs' death was +observed by the Christians. They assembled at the tombs of the sainted +victims of pagan cruelty and celebrated their memory by offering up the +Holy Sacrifice over their relics. We know this not only from the +testimony of the earliest ecclesiastical writers, as Origen, Tertullian, +and St. Cyprian, but also from the history of St. Ignatius the Martyr +(d. 107), and of St. Polycarp of Smyrna (d. 166). Over one hundred +panegyrics of various saints written by St. Augustine are still extant. + +And why should it not be right and useful to invoke the _intercession_ +of the saints? Everybody deems it proper to ask a pious friend for his +prayers. St. Paul the Apostle recommended himself to the prayers of the +faithful (_Rom._ xv. 30), and God Himself commanded the friends of Job +to ask Him for His intercession that their sin might not be imputed to +them (_Job_ xlii. 8). How, then, can it be wrong or superfluous to +invoke the intercession of the saints in heaven? The saints are +_willing_ to invoke God's bounty in our favor, for they love us. They +are _able_ to obtain it for us, because God always accepts their prayer +with complacency. That they really hear our prayer and intercede with +God for us is clearly shown by many examples in Holy Scripture. And if, +according to the testimony of St. James (v. 16), the prayer of the just +man here on earth availeth much with God, how much more powerful, then, +must be the prayer of the saints, who are united with God in heaven in +perfect love and are, so to say, partakers of His infinite goodness and +omnipotence? + +A most striking proof of the efficacy of the prayers of the saints is +the numerous miracles wrought and the many favors obtained at all times +through their intercession. Among these miracles are a great number +whose authenticity was declared by the Church after the most scrupulous +and strict investigation, as the acts of canonization prove. + +That the invocation of the saints was a practice of the early Church is +proved by the numerous inscriptions on the tombs of the Roman catacombs +preserved to this day. We read there, for instance, on the tomb of +Sabbatius, a martyr, "Sabbatius, O pious soul, pray and intercede for +your brethren and associates!" On another tomb is inscribed, "Allicius, +thy spirit is blessed; pray for thy parents!" And again, "Jovianus, live +in God, and pray for us!" + +We have also the testimony of one of the greatest thinkers and +Protestant philosophers, Leibnitz, for the claim that the veneration and +invocation of the saints is founded in reason, on Holy Scripture, and on +the tradition of the Church. He writes: "Because we justly expect great +advantage by uniting our prayers with those of our brethren here on +earth, I can not understand how it can be called a crime if a person +invokes the intercession of a glorified soul, or an angel. If it be +really idolatry or a detestable cult to invoke the saints and the angels +to intercede for us with God, I do not comprehend how Basil, Gregory +Nazianzen, Ambrose, and others, who were hitherto considered saints, can +be absolved from idolatry or superstition. To continue in such a +practice would indeed not be a small defect in the Fathers, such as is +inherent in human nature--it would be an enormous public crime. For if +the Church, even in those early times, was infected with such abominable +errors, let any one judge for himself what the Christian faith would +eventually come to. Would not Gamaliel's proposition, to judge whether +Christ's religion be divine or human from its effects, result in its +disfavor?" + +But whilst the Catholic Church practises and recommends the veneration +and invocation of the saints, she does not teach us to honor and invoke +them as we do God, nor to pray to them as we do to Him. She makes a +great distinction. + +The veneration of the saints differs from the worship of God in the +following: + +1. We _adore_ God as our supreme Lord. We _honor_ the saints as His +faithful servants and friends. + +2. We _adore_ God for His own sake. We _honor_ the saints for the gifts +and prerogatives with which God endowed them. + +Therefore there is a difference between the prayer to God and the +invocation of the saints. We pray to God asking Him to help us by His +omnipotence: we pray to the saints to help us by their intercession with +God. + +Our veneration of the saints should consist, primarily, in the imitation +of their virtues. It is truly profitable only when we are intent upon +following their example; for only by imitating their virtues shall we +share their eternal bliss in heaven. A veneration which contents itself +with honoring the saints without imitating their virtues is similar to a +tree that produces leaves and blossoms but bears no fruit. + +The saints themselves desire that we should follow their example. Each +of them, so to say, exhorts us with St. Paul, "Be ye followers of me, as +I also am of Christ" (_1 Cor._ iv. 16). There is no age, no sex, no +station in life for which the Catholic Church has not saints, whose +example teaches us to avoid sin and to observe faithfully the +commandments of God and the Church at this or that age, or in this or +that station. Therefore the principal object of our invocation of the +saints ought to be the obtaining of their help in following their +example. Thus we shall move them to come to our aid all the more +readily. + + + +CHAPTER II + +Efficacy of the Intercession of the Saints + +NOTHING is more consoling and comforting than the assurance that in the +saints of heaven we have powerful protectors and advocates with God. +Through their intercession they obtain for us from Him the grace to lead +a virtuous life and to gain heaven. + +However, is there any reasonable doubt that the saints are able to +render us such a service? In virtue of the communion of saints, which +comprises the Church militant on earth, the Church suffering in +purgatory, and the Church triumphant in heaven, all members of the +Church are members of one body, whose head is Christ. Hence the saints +are united with us in spirit, though separated from us in body. United +with Christ, they are imbued with a superior knowledge, and through Him, +the All-Knowing, they know everything that concerns us, and for which we +have recourse to them in prayer. + +Our confidence in the intercessory power of the saints is founded on +their relation to God and to us. As friends of God they have influence +with Him now, even more than during their sojourn on earth, because +their intercessory power is one of their glorious prerogatives in +heaven. Their love of God and their charity for their fellow-men, and +the zeal for the salvation of souls resulting therefrom, together with +their conformity with Christ, induces them to use their influence +readily in our favor. Because God dispenses His gifts according to His +own adorable will, it may please Him to grant a certain favor at the +particular intercession of a certain saint; hence it is not superstition +to invoke His aid in such cases. Moreover, we justly place our +confidence in saints whom we have selected to be our special patrons, or +who were given us as such by ecclesiastical authority. + +By the intercession of the saints the mediatorship of Christ is not set +aside or restricted. The power of intercession, the intercession itself, +and its invocation are an effect of the grace of Christ; therefore He +remains our only mediator. God remains Our Lord and Father, although men +share in His lordship and paternity; for all power and authority comes +from God, who is pleased to operate in His creatures through other +creatures. Hence, only a dependent mediatorship can be ascribed to the +saints. Whoever admits that the living can pray for each other can not +denounce the intercession of the saints as an usurpation of the +mediatorship of Christ. The saints are not the authors and dispensers of +grace and heavenly gifts, but they are able to obtain them for us from +God. + +The saints, moreover, do not only pray for mankind in general, but for +their clients in particular. As co-reigners with Christ, the denizens of +heaven have knowledge of the conditions and events of His kingdom; hence +the saints may pray for us individually; therefore it is permissible and +profitable for us to invoke them. It is obvious that the knowledge of +individual occurrences does not mar the bliss of the saints. How they +gain this knowledge is not clear to the spiritual authors; but most of +them incline to the view that they attain it by direct divine mediation. +God reveals our condition and our invocation to the saints. + +Can we doubt the willingness of the saints to aid us by their +intercession? According to St. Paul, charity is the greatest of all +virtues. If, then, the saints, whilst on earth loved their fellow-men, +cared for and prayed for them, how much more will they do so now, when +their charity is perfected? They, too, were pilgrims on earth, who had +to suffer the adversities and miseries of life and therefore know by +experience how sorely in need of divine assistance we poor mortals are. +Persons who have themselves experienced trials have more compassion for +the adversities of others. Therefore it is certain that the saints have +compassion on us, that they wish our prayers to be heard and bring them +before the throne of God. "The saints," says St. Augustine, "being +secure of their eternal welfare, are intent upon ours." Holy Scripture +establishes this beyond doubt, saying that the saints bring the prayers +of the faithful before the throne of God (_Apoc._ v. 8). + +Or is there any one that doubts the _efficacy_ of the saints' prayer +with God? At any rate, we must concede that their prayer is more +effectual than ours; for they are confirmed in justice, and therefore +friends and favorites of God, whilst we are sinners, of whom Holy +Scripture says, "The Lord is far from the wicked, and He will hear the +prayers of the just" (_Prov._ xv. 29). On this subject, let us hear St. +Basil in his panegyric on the Forty Martyrs: "You often wanted to find +an intercessor: here you have forty who intercede unanimously for you. +Are you in distress? Have recourse to the holy martyrs. Rejoicing, do +the same. The former that you may find relief, the latter that you may +continue to prosper. These saints hear the mother praying for her +children, the wife invoking aid for her sick or absent husband. O brave +and victorious band, protectors of mankind, generous intercessors when +invoked, be our advocates with God!" + +There is no doubt, then, that during our earthly pilgrimage the saints +are our intercessors with God. True, we know that there is One who +guides our destinies and whose providence watches over all; but who +would not choose, also, to have a friend already abiding with God, +sharing His bliss and confirmed for ever in His grace, and who therefore +is in a position to aid us, and certainly will do so if we invoke Him? + +The following is an example illustrating the power of the saints' +intercession with God: + +Basilides was one of the guards that led St. Potamiana to a martyr's +death. Whilst the rest of the soldiers and the crowd of spectators +insulted the holy virgin, he treated her with great respect and +protected her from the assaults of the rabble. The martyr thanked him +for his kindness, and promised to pray for him when she came into God's +presence. A few days after her death the grace of God touched Basilides' +heart, and he professed himself a Christian. His comrades at first +imagined that he was jesting. But when he persevered in the confession +of the Faith, he was brought before the judge, who sentenced him to be +beheaded next day. Taken to prison, he was baptized, and at the +appointed time, executed. + +What else but the intercession of the saint whom he had befriended +obtained for this heathen the grace of the Faith and martyrdom? +Convinced of the power of the intercession of the saints, Origen writes: +"I will fall on my knees, and because I am unworthy to pray to God on +account of my sins, I will invoke all the saints to come to my aid. O ye +saints of God, I, filled with sadness, sighing and weeping, implore you; +intercede for me, a miserable sinner, with the Lord of mercies!" + + + +CHAPTER III + +For What the Intercession of the Saints May and Should be Invoked + +IT IS obvious that there are objects to attain which we ought not to +pray. We shall try to specify them as follows: + +1. _We may not pray for things that are evil or injurious in themselves, +or injurious on account of circumstances._ Amongst these are comprised +all those that are opposed to the salvation of the person praying, or of +some one else. It is contrary to the very idea of prayer that God should +grant to His creature anything evil, anything that is in itself, and not +only by abuse, harmful. Prayer, according to the rules of morality, must +have for its object only the attainment of whatever is good and +profitable, and only then is it heard by God. + +2. _Things completely indifferent are not comprised in the efficacy of +prayer. Hence prayer imploring for temporal goods is heard only inasmuch +as they relate to the salvation of souls._ Reason, as well as faith, +teaches us that God orders all His actions first for the promotion of +His glory, and secondly for the salvation of souls. Matters, therefore, +that are either in general, or on account of circumstances, positively +indifferent, must be excluded from the general plan of God's providence +when there is question of His positive agency, and not simply of His +permission. It is obvious that temporal goods, such as health, wealth, +etc., are classed with things indifferent, in as far as they are not +connected with the moral order. + +Thus considered, the various goods of the temporal order do, or at least +may, under certain conditions, co-operate unto man's salvation, and then +they belong to the supernatural order. As such, the efficacy of prayer +in their regard must be judged according to the principles applying to +the latter. + +3. _All those things which any one can obtain himself without +extraordinary effort, are not comprised within the scope of prayer._ +This restriction results from the very nature of prayer. Obviously, +prayer is not the only means by which man can obtain those things which, +on the one hand, he momentarily does not possess, and which, on the +other hand, are necessary or advantageous for his supernatural life. As +a rule, man can, by labor and application, procure his sustenance. +Persons unable to work can have recourse to the charity of their +fellow-men, and will, as a rule, find the necessary assistance. In +regard to salvation, it must first be ascertained whether in many or at +least in some cases, the faithful co-operation with the graces which +God gives to all men is not sufficient. + +Considered from this view, we may, and even must, in a certain sense +say: When there is question of attaining specified goods and specified +graces, prayer is often not the primary, but only the secondary and +subordinate means. From this premise follows that God in His wise +providence does not have regard for our prayer when we easily can help +ourselves, either by our own exertion and industry, or by the faithful +cooperation with graces already received, or by the reception of the +holy sacraments. This self-evident idea is expressed in Holy Scripture +as follows, "Because of the cold the sluggard would not plow; he shall +beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him" (_Prov._ xx. +4). For this reason formal miracles are, as a rule, not to be expected +from the efficacy of prayer. God ordained the world and its course in +such a manner, that mankind in general and each individual in particular +can be provided, without the intervention of a miracle, with all things +necessary for their temporal and eternal welfare. + +Theologians, therefore, teach that to ask God for a miracle, generally, +is the same as to tempt Him. This rule, however, admits of exceptions. +And if we may, in exceptional cases, ask for miracles, we may, +logically, expect them; for miracles in general are not excluded from +the plan of divine Providence. They are rather an essential part of the +existing order of God's government of the world. At most we may say: As +miracles of their nature belong among the extraordinary manifestations +of Providence, they are not obtained by the prayer of each and every +one, but only in exceptional cases. + +However, if we consider how feeble and helpless man's nature is, even +with the assistance of divine grace, we may not apply the above +principles too strictly. This, for the following reason: Cases in which +we can not help ourselves with the aid of the grace given us are rare. +Therefore God gives us, in reward of our confident prayer, not only that +which is strictly necessary, but also that which is profitable and +conducive to our welfare. This being so, the logical deduction is, that +God is willing to hear our prayer not only when we, of ourselves, are +totally incapable of helping ourselves, but also when great difficulties +beset us in this our self-help. Hence, in a certain sense, we may +maintain that in the work of our salvation prayer and its efficacy must +be considered, together with the sacraments, as one of the chief means, +and not as a mere accessory. + +[Illustration: The Annunciation] + +This limitation of the main principle is founded on the generality of +the divine promises concerning the hearing of prayer, and on the great +goodness and bounty of God in which these promises originated. When man, +making use of all the means placed at his disposal, can not help +himself, a cry for help is sent to Heaven is not presumptuous or +unreasonable, and therefore the hope of being heard is not unfounded or +in vain. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Qualities of Prayer + +FOR greater convenience of explanation, we condense the various +qualities of prayer taught by theologians as conditions of its efficacy +into the following four: (1) Devotion; (2) Confidence; (3) Perseverance; +(4) Resignation to the will of God. + +Treating of prayer, some theological authors demand, above all, the +intention of praying. This intention is indeed so necessary that it does +not belong to the qualities or attributes of prayer, but to its very +essence. For whosoever has not the intention or will to pray may recite +a formula of prayer with the greatest attention, yet does not really and +truly pray. + +Again, the teachers of the spiritual life tell us that prayer must be +"in the name of Jesus." This being a condition insisted upon by our +divine Lord Himself, it also belongs to the essence of prayer. It means +that we offer up our prayer to God in the name of Jesus His Son, that +is, with reference to Him and in the firm confidence that we shall be +heard on His account and because of His promises. Again, to pray in the +name of Jesus means to pray according to His manner and in His spirit. + +We now proceed to explain the qualities of true prayer: + +1. _Devotion._--What is meant by devotion in prayer? Devotion in prayer +means: (_a_) that our prayer must be attentive; that is, the person +praying must direct his thoughts as uninterruptedly as possible to his +prayer, _viz.,_ to the formula he uses to state the object of his +desires, and above all to God, to whom his prayer is directed. (_b_) The +person praying must know and acknowledge his own needs, and that of +himself he has no claims whatsoever on God, and thus engender in himself +sentiments of true humility, (_c_) These sentiments must, moreover, +embrace reverence for God and the acknowledgment of dependence on Him, +thus giving to prayer the character of piety, (_d_) All this must +culminate in full abandonment to God, the Giver of all good things. This +abandonment is an essential part of our divine cult. + +As to the question whether devotion, and what grade of it, is necessary +in prayer, and whether prayer without it loses its entire efficacy, and +especially its imploring efficiency, it is evident that prayer without +devotion is ineffective; it is simulation. An example of this, that is, +of a man pretending to pray and not praying in reality, is given us in +the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (_Luke_ xviii. 10-12). To +determine accurately what grade of devotion, that is, what degree of +attention, humility, and piety is necessary to render prayer from a +formality into a reality, is possible only when all the circumstances, +dispositions, and qualities of mind of the person praying can be taken +into account. Suffice it to remark that when all the other conditions, +together with the intention of praying, combine, strict but reliable +theologians declare that the true essence of prayer is compatible with a +less degree of attention and recollection. + +2. _Confidence._--There is no doubt but that strong confidence, or the +firm hope of being heard, contributes much to the perfection of prayer +and renders it especially effective. Therefore confidence, like devotion +or attention, must be reckoned among the essential qualities or +attributes of prayer. For it is inconceivable that a rational being +should resolve on presenting a petition when he has not the least hope +of its being granted. In this case his petition would be entirely +useless, and therefore irrational. Again, it is inconceivable that God +should have regard for a prayer or the petition of a man who has +absolutely no confidence in His mercy. A prayer without confidence is +hypocrisy, rather than true and sincere supplication. If we address a +petition to God without the confidence that He can and will grant it, He +must rather feel offended than honored thereby. How, then, shall He feel +moved to grant us new benefits? If we nevertheless receive them, it is +the effect of His bountiful goodness, and not the result of our sham +prayer. + +Therefore, to be effective, our prayer must be inspired by confidence. +The apostle St. James inculcates this, saying: "But let him ask in +faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, +which is moved and carried about by the wind. Therefore let not that man +think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (_James_ i. 6-7). By +these words the apostle designates not a common and ordinary confidence, +but one firm and steadfast. At the same time he speaks in general; that +is, his words have reference not only to extraordinary petitions, but to +everything for which we are accustomed to pray. + +Moreover, the explicit and positive promises made by Christ in regard to +prayer manifestly have the purpose of inspiring the person praying with +firm confidence and the sure hope of being heard. If, then, our prayer +be wanting in this quality, we do not pray in the spirit of Christ, nor +in the terms in which we ought to pray, and can not claim the fulfilment +of His promises. + +3. _Perseverance._--To understand properly in how far perseverance is a +quality of prayer, we must, above all, know what may be the objects of +our prayer. Of these there are three classes. To the first class belong +those cases in which a person needs divine help at the present moment or +at least at a time definitely near, and seeks it through prayer. Such a +petition would be, for instance, to obtain the necessary and effective +aid of divine grace for overcoming an existing transient temptation, or +the conversion of a certain sinner approaching death. To the second +class belongs the avoidance of temporal evils, or of continuous +temptations, or the conversion of a certain sinner now in good health. +To the third class belong such benefits which can be granted only for a +later period, perhaps at the hour of death. The grace of final +perseverance is the foremost among these. + +Having stated the preliminary conditions, the answer to the question of +perseverance in prayer is: + +_a._ Inasmuch as our prayer is directed toward the attainment of +benefits of the first class, that is, of graces which we need +immediately, perseverance can obviously not be an essential condition of +our prayer. Either we can not attain our object by prayer, or a +transient prayer which has the other necessary qualities must suffice +for its attainment. The first supposition is contrary to the divine +promises; therefore the alternative must stand. + +_b._ When there is question of benefits and graces of the second and +third class, we must concede that perseverance or continuance in prayer +is neither impossible, nor is it unreasonable. God is willing to grant +us His almighty help, but at the same time He desires that we, being +convinced of its necessity, implore it all the more eagerly, and thereby +become more worthy to receive it when He shall be pleased to grant our +petitions. Therefore + +4. _Resignation_ to the will of God is a necessary condition for the +efficacy of our prayer. This quality of our prayer needs no lengthy +explanation; its application to prayer is self-evident. + +Finally the petition for a certain benefit, in order to be reasonable +and permissible, must include the following two attributes: (_a_) The +object prayed for must not be harmful, but profitable; (_b_) it must not +be opposed to the will of God. + +_Conclusions._--Careful observation will convince us that prayer is +often wanting in one or more of the above qualities. Often that which +one seeks to obtain by prayer is not promotive of God's glory and of the +salvation of souls, even considered from a human point of view, much +less in the designs of Providence. + +In cases where the object of prayer in itself presents no difficulties, +it is often defective for want of devotion or perseverance. But oftenest +our prayer is wanting in confidence and trust, which want originates in +the feeble faith of the person praying, or in too little reliance on the +promises of Christ and in the merits of His redemption. Thus there is +nothing to surprise us if we are not heard. + +Again, we must never forget that very many, and generally the most +precious gifts of divine grace are bestowed secretly. Remember the many +and great benefits conferred daily and hourly by God on mankind, +universally and individually. Considering them, it is presumption to +maintain that in a special case the prayer of the Church, or of a +community, or of an individual, was not granted. The opposite is fully +proved by the goodness, bounty, and mercy which God shows so profusely +to us. + +We must, moreover, never lose sight of the principle that the promises +made to prayer concern directly only the supernatural order of +salvation. To the goods of the temporal order they are applicable only +relatively. If we, therefore, experience that our prayers relative to +temporal things remain unheard, we must, instead of doubting the divine +promises, be firmly convinced that the attainment of the object for +which we prayed was, under the circumstances, not conducive to our real +welfare. We must, moreover, be convinced that God, in order not to leave +our petition ungranted, conferred on us some other real benefit. + +Finally, when the refusal of our prayer is clearly and unmistakably +established, the reasons for this may be the following: (_a_) Perhaps +the person praying was wanting in effort, or in cooperation with graces +formerly received, a deficiency which can not be repaired by prayer +alone. (_b_) Or the prayer itself is wanting in one or the other +necessary qualities, especially in confidence. (_c_) God does not intend +to refuse the desired grace, but, for reasons of His own, delays it +(_d_) God gives us in place of what we asked some other grace more +salutary to us. + + + +PART II + +Mary, the Help of Christians + +Novenas in Preparation for the Principal Feasts of the Blessed Virgin + + +"Holy Mary, aid the miserable, assist the desponding, strengthen the +weak, pray for the people, plead for the clergy, intercede for the +devout female sex. Let all who have recourse to thee experience the +efficacy of thy help!"--HOLY CHURCH. + + + +Rules for the Proper Observance of Novenas + +_By St. Alphonsus Liguori_ + +1. THE soul must be in the state of grace; for the devotion of a sinful +heart pleases neither God nor the saints. + +2. We must persevere, that is, the prayers for each day of the novena +must never be omitted. + +3. If possible, we should visit a church every day, and there implore +the favor we desire. + +4. Every day we ought to perform certain specified acts of exterior +self-denial and interior mortification, in order to prepare us thereby +for the reception of grace. + +5. It is most important that we receive holy communion when making a +novena. Therefore prepare yourself well for it. + +6. After obtaining the desired grace for which the novena was made, do +not omit to return thanks to God and to the saint through whose +intercession your prayers were heard. + + + +On the Manner of Reading the Meditations and Observing the Practices + +HOLY SCRIPTURE says, "Before prayer prepare thy soul; and be not as a +man that tempteth God" (_Eccles._ xviii. 23). Therefore place yourself +in the presence of God, invoke the assistance of the Holy Ghost, and +make a most sincere act of contrition for your sins. Offer up to God +your will, your intellect, and your memory, so that your prayer may be +pleasing to God and serve to promote your spiritual welfare. + +Then read the meditation slowly, reflecting on each point of the thought +or mystery treated, and consider what you can learn from it, and for +what grace you ought to implore God. This is the principal object to be +attained by mental prayer. + +Never rise from your prayer without having formed some special +resolution for practical observance. The practices at the end of each +consideration in the following novenas will aid you to do so. Finally, +ask for grace to carry out effectively your good purposes, and thank God +for enlightening your mind during the meditation. + + +Introduction + +Mary, the Help of Christians + +NO CATHOLIC denies that Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator +through whose merits we became reconciled to God. Nevertheless, it is a +doctrine of our faith that God willingly grants us grace if the saints, +and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, the queen of saints, intercede +for us. If the saints, during their life on earth, were so potent with +God that through their prayers the blind obtained sight, the deaf +hearing, and the dumb speech, that the sick of all conditions were +healed, the dead restored to life, and the most obstinate sinners +converted; if thousands of other miracles in the order of nature and of +grace were performed through their intercession; what, then, will not +she obtain for us from God, whose virtue and merits transcend those of +all the saints, and who did more for the greater honor and glory of God +than they all? Mary is the queen of saints not only because she is the +Mother of the Most High, but also because her sanctity is more perfect +than theirs, and she therefore thrones above them all in heaven. Hence +the favor with which God regards her, and consequently the power of her +intercession with Him is so much the greater. + +If Mary's sanctity thus impressively illustrates the potency of her +intercession, the contemplation of her dignity as the Mother of God does +still more so. Mary brought forth Him who is the Almighty. She calls Him +her Son, who by the word of His omnipotence created from out of nothing +the whole world with all its beauties, and who can call into being +countless millions of other worlds. She calls Him her Son, whose throne +is heaven and whose footstool is the earth, who governs all nature with +almighty power and reveals His name to mankind through the most +astounding miracles. In a word, Mary calls Him her Son, whose +omnipotence fills heaven and earth; and this great, almighty God, who +honors her as His Mother and has wrought in her such great things, will +He not heed her word of intercession, and hear her pleading for those +who have recourse to her? On earth He was subject to her. Her +intercession moved Him to exercise His omnipotent power at the wedding +feast at Cana; and now, when He has glorified and raised her up so high +He would let her invoke Him in vain? No, it is inconceivable that God +should not hear the prayers of His Mother! + +[Illustration: The Blessed Virgin visits St. Elizabeth] + +The holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church vie with each other in +proclaiming the power of Mary's intercession with the Heart of her +divine Son. Some say that having been subject to her on earth, He +desires to be so in heaven, inasmuch as to refuse her nothing she asks. +Hence St. Bernard calls her the "Intercessory Omnipotence." Indeed, when +all the angels and saints in heaven join in supplication to God, their +prayers are but those of servants; but when Mary prays her intercession +is that of His Mother. + +Therefore we can not sufficiently thank God for having given us in Mary +so powerful an advocate. St. Bernard aptly says: "The angel announces, +'thou hast found grace before God.' O supreme happiness! Mary shall +always find grace. And what else could we wish? If we seek grace, let us +seek it through Mary; for what she seeks, she finds. Never can she plead +ineffectually." + +God, then, who in His infinite mercy has been pleased to provide for all +our needs, desires through Mary to console us, to comfort us, to remove +all distrust, to strengthen our hope. How consoling to him who calls +upon God in sore distress, or implores His pardon for sins committed, is +the thought that at the throne of divine Mercy he has in Mary an +advocate as mighty as she is gracious, who supplements his great +unworthiness by her sublime dignity, and who makes good the defects of +his prayer by her intercession! Therefore St. Bonaventure exclaims: +"Verily, great is Our Lord's mercy! That we, through fear of our divine +Judge, depart not forever from Him, He gave us His own Mother for our +advocate and mediatrix of grace." + + + +I. + +Novena in Honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary + +INDULGENCES + +TO ALL the faithful who by themselves or with others, in church or at +home, with at least contrite heart and devotion, shall make this novena: +(1) 300 days indulgence for each of the nine days; (2) a plenary +indulgence on one day of the novena or of the eight days following it. +(Pius IX, January 5, 1849.) Conditions: Confession, communion, and +prayer, according to the intentions of the Holy Father. + +_Remark._--Whenever, in the following pages, an indulgence is said to be +granted "under the usual conditions," these conditions are the same as +above. + +_Note._--The above indulgences may also be gained for making the novena +at any other time of the year, and are not attached to any prescribed +formula of prayer. The same applies to all other novenas in honor of the +Blessed Virgin. + + +FIRST DAY + +Predestination of the Blessed Virgin Mary + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +IN THY conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us to +the Father, whose Son Jesus, conceived in thy womb by the Holy Ghost, +thou didst bring forth. + +Indulgence. 200 days, every time. (Pius VI, November 21, 1793.) + +MEDITATION + +HOLY Church, our Mother, purposely gathered into the season of Advent +everything which might contribute to assist us in preparing for the +coming of the Redeemer. Purity of heart is the most necessary and +helpful requirement for receiving God worthily, and for participating in +the fruits of our Redemption through Christ. To remind us of this, Holy +Church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed +Virgin Mary, this primary feast of purity, in Advent. + +The Church, moreover, intends to remind us that the coming of Christ, +our promised Redeemer, depended on the consent of the Blessed Virgin. +The Redeemer could not appear before she was born of whom He was to be +born. The aurora must precede the rising sun. Thus also Mary, the +spiritual aurora, had to be conceived and born before the appearance of +the Sun of Justice in this world. + +PRACTICE + +IN MARY appeared the woman who was to crush the serpent's head, who was +to repair by her willing co-operation with God's designs the damage +wrought by the disobedience of our first parents, and who was to become +our mother and mighty advocate with God. + +The designs of God concerning Mary were fully accomplished. God also has +designs concerning us. Our life was planned by Him from all eternity, +and we were destined to co-operate with Him harmoniously and +conscientiously in working out our salvation. Have we corresponded with +God's designs? Did we not oppose them by yielding to our evil +inclinations and passions? What a disparity between God's intentions +concerning us and our own co-operation, between His merciful designs and +our cowardly resistance to them! + +PRAYER OF THE CHURCH + +O GOD, who through the immaculate conception of the Virgin didst prepare +a worthy dwelling-place for Thy divine Son; grant that, as in view of +Thy Son Thou didst preserve her from all taint, so Thou wouldst +vouchsafe unto us that cleansed from all sin by her intercession we too +may arrive at Thine eternal glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. +Amen. + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +BEHOLD, Virgin immaculate, at thy sacred feet I bow, while my heart +overflows with joy in union with thine own, because from eternity thou +wast the Mother-elect of the eternal Word, and was preserved stainless +from the taint of Adam's sin. Forever praised, forever blessed be the +Most Holy Trinity, who in thy conception poured out upon thy soul the +riches of that matchless privilege. I humbly pray thee, most gracious +Mother, obtain for me the grace to overcome the bitter results of +original sin. Make me victorious over them, that I may never cease to +love my God. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +_Ejaculation_ +O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee! + +Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, March 25, 1884.) + + + +SECOND DAY + +Mary's Immaculate Conception + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +ACCORDING to the definition of Pope Pius IX, the immaculate conception +of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that privilege by which she was preserved, +in view of the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, from original sin in +the first moment of her conception. + +By solemnly proclaiming the dogma of Mary's immaculate conception, the +Church confirmed anew the fundamental principles of Christianity which +in our times are so frequently attacked, derided, or forgotten. God +reserved the solemn proclamation of this dogma, which seemingly has no +practical bearing on the Christian life, for our age, to recall to our +mind the doctrines resulting from it. + +PRACTICE + +THE most important of these doctrines is that of original sin, which +to-day is rejected by many as a debasement of human nature, and is +forgotten by others as having no practical influence on our moral state. +By the promulgation of the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the +Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church solemnly declares and defines as an +article of faith, that the Blessed Virgin Mary is conceived without the +stain of original sin by a special privilege and grace of God. If, then, +Mary's sinlessness is an exception, the general rule remains in force, +and all other human beings enter this world in the state of original +sin. + +Thus, by the proclamation of the dogma of the immaculate conception, the +Church combats human pride and sensuality, the foremost vices of the +age. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY, unsullied lily of heavenly purity, I rejoice with thee, because at +thy conception's earliest dawn thou wast full of grace and endowed with +the perfect use of reason. I thank and adore the ever-blessed Trinity, +who gave thee such high gifts. I am overwhelmed with shame in thy +presence, to see myself so poor in grace. O thou who wast filled with +heavenly grace, impart some portion of it to my soul, and make me share +the treasures of thy immaculate conception. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +Mary, the Victrix of Satan + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary inaugurated the +fulfilment of the divine promise made to our first parents in paradise +in the words addressed to the serpent: "I shall put enmities between +thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head" +(_Gen._ iii. 15). Mary is the woman in whom Satan never had a part. Her +intimate connection with God was announced by the angel: "Hail, full of +grace; the Lord is with thee." Now was fulfilled the saying of the +Psalmist, "The Most High hath sanctified His own tabernacle. God is in +the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the +morning early" (_Ps._ xlv. 5-6). Mary was chosen to be the glorious +tabernacle of the Son of God "in the morning early," that is, in the +first moment of her existence. God called her into being that she might +assume the exalted dignity of the Mother of His Son, and therefore +granted her the singular privilege of exemption from original sin. In +her were fulfilled Solomon's prophetic words of praise, "Thou art all +fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee" (_Cant._ iv. 7). It +was in view of her Son's merits applied to her beforehand that God thus +produced in her the image of the new man regenerated in the Holy Ghost. + +PRACTICE + +THE spirit of darkness holds mankind enslaved, but one human being +escapes him. A destructive fire lays waste the whole earth, but one tree +remains unscathed. A terrible tyrant conquers the whole world, but one +fortified city repels his assaults. This human being retaining liberty, +this tree escaping destruction, this city repelling the enemy's attack +is the Blessed Virgin Mary. + +Will the almighty and merciful God, who has accomplished such great +things in Mary, who has selected her for His Mother, not listen to her +prayers when she intercedes for us? St. William of Paris exclaims: "No +other created being can obtain for us so many and so great graces from +God as His Mother. By the all-powerful might of her intercession He +honors her not only as His handmaid, but also as His Mother." Therefore +we ought not be surprised when the holy Fathers maintain that a single +sigh of Mary is more effective with God than the combined intercession +of all the angels and saints. If, then, Mary's power is so great, she +will surely hear us when we invoke her help in our combat with Satan. +Having conquered him herself, she will also help us to conquer him. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY, thou mystical rose of purity, my heart rejoices with thine at the +glorious triumph which thou didst gain over the infernal serpent by thy +immaculate conception, and because thou wast conceived without stain of +original sin. I thank and praise with my whole heart the ever-blessed +Trinity, who granted thee this glorious privilege; and I pray thee to +obtain for me strength to overcome all the wiles of the infernal foe, +and never to stain my soul with sin. Be thou mine aid; make me, by thy +protection, victorious over the common foe of our eternal welfare. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +FOURTH DAY + +Mary without Actual Sin + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY conceived without sin is the most blessed daughter of the eternal +Father, the real and true Mother of the divine Son, the elect spouse of +the Holy Ghost. But in the world, in what condition do we behold her? +She dwells not in a splendid palace; she is not surrounded by a retinue +of servants ready at every moment to do her bidding; she is not exempt +from trials and suffering. On the contrary, she is poor; she lives in +obscurity, and suffered so much on earth that, without shedding her +blood, she merits to be styled the queen of martyrs. Her heart was +transfixed with the sword of sorrow. Mary is not exempt from +tribulations and adversity; but one thing God does not permit to touch +her, _i.e.,_ sin. Hence Holy Church applies to her the words, "Thou art +all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee" (_Cant._ iv. 7). + +PRACTICE + +THOUGH we were not preserved from sin like Mary, yet God in His +ineffable goodness and mercy granted us the grace to be cleansed from +sin and to be clothed with the garment of sanctifying grace in Baptism. +No treasure of the world can be compared with this prerogative. But as +we bear this grace in a fragile vase, we must be most careful to protect +and preserve it in ourselves and others from all danger. Let the Blessed +Virgin Mary be our example. Well knowing the inestimable value of the +grace conferred upon her, she guarded it with the greatest care. +Although exempt from concupiscence and "full of grace," she was so +distrustful of herself as if she were in continual danger. How much +more, then, must we use precaution to preserve in ourselves and in +others this treasure of grace, since we feel in ourselves constantly the +law of the flesh, which resists the law of the spirit, and urges us on +to evil, whilst the world and the devil never weary in placing snares +for us in order to accomplish our ruin. Therefore let us have recourse +to Mary, and invoking her aid bravely resist all temptations. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MIRROR of holy purity, Mary, Virgin immaculate, great is my joy while I +consider that, from thy immaculate conception, the most sublime and +perfect virtues were infused into thy soul, and with them all the gifts +of the Holy Ghost. I thank and praise the Most Holy Trinity, who +bestowed on thee these high privileges. I pray thee, gentle Mother, +obtain for me grace to practise virtue, and to make me worthy to become +partaker of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +Mary, Full of Grace + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +SATAN'S relation to God as His child was severed by sin. The beautiful +image of God imprinted on man's soul was disfigured by it. But with the +immaculate conception of Mary, a being full of grace, an object of God's +supreme complacency entered this world. After the lapse of four thousand +years God, in His wisdom, power, and love, for the first time again +created a human being in that state in which He had originally created +our first parents. Mary, from the first moment of her existence was, in +virtue of the sanctifying grace infused into her soul, most intimately +united with God, and endowed with the most precious gifts of heaven. +Because she was predestined to become the Mother of the Redeemer of +mankind, it was befitting that she should unite in herself all the gifts +becoming to such an ineffable dignity. Hence she surpassed in grace and +holiness all other created beings, and was consecrated a worthy temple +of the incarnate Word. Therefore she was saluted by the angel as "full +of grace," and the Church, in our behalf, addresses the Almighty: "O +God, who through the immaculate conception of the Virgin didst prepare a +worthy dwelling-place for Thy divine Son; grant, that, as in view of the +death of that Son Thou didst preserve her from all taint, so Thou +wouldst vouchsafe unto us that, cleansed from all sin by her +intercession, we too may arrive at Thine eternal glory." + +PRACTICE + +THE world considers men according to their rank and station, their +wealth and knowledge. God recognizes in them but one difference, that +caused by the presence or absence of sanctifying grace in their soul. A +soul in the state of sanctifying grace is God's friend; without it, His +enemy. A man dying in the state of sanctifying grace is sure of eternal +bliss. Therefore we ought to prize this grace above all else, and do +everything in our power to preserve it. St. Leo exhorts us, "Recognize, +O man, thy dignity! As thou hast received divine grace, beware of +returning to your former sinful condition by a wicked life." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY, bright moon of purity, I rejoice with thee, because the mystery of +thy immaculate conception was the beginning of salvation for the race of +man and the joy of the whole world. I thank and bless the ever-blessed +Trinity, who thus did magnify and glorify thee; and I beg of thee to +obtain for me the grace so to profit by thy dear Son's death and +passion, that His precious blood may not have been shed in vain for me +upon the cross, but that, after a holy life, I may reach heaven in +safety. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +Mary, Our Refuge + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +WE CARRY the precious treasure of sanctifying grace in a frail vessel. +Our inclination to evil remains with us, and continues to impel us to +that which is forbidden. On whom shall we call for aid? Call on Mary! +She is conceived without sin. She, the lily among thorns, who never lost +God's friendship, is our advocate. Let her, who was found worthy to +become the Mother of our Redeemer, inspire you with trust and +confidence. The Church invokes her as the refuge of sinners, and under +no other title does she show her love for us more convincingly and her +power with God more efficiently. + +[Illustration: The Adoration of the Shepherds] + +PRACTICE + +WE MAY trust confidently in Mary's intercession and aid in all +temptations and trials, if we but have recourse to her. Therefore St. +John Damascene writes: "Come to my aid, O Mother of my Redeemer! Thou +art my help, my consolation in life. Come to my aid, and I shall escape +unscorched from the fire of temptation; amongst a thousand I shall +remain unharmed; I shall brave the storms of assault unwrecked. Thy name +is my shield, thy help my armor, thy protection my defense. With thee I +boldly attack the enemy and drive him off in confusion; through thee I +shall achieve a triumphant victory." In all temptations, therefore, let +us have recourse to Mary and through her intercession we shall overcome +them. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY immaculate, most brilliant star of purity, I rejoice with thee +because thy immaculate conception has bestowed upon the angels in +paradise the greatest joy. I thank and bless the ever-blessed Trinity, +who enriched thee with this high privilege. O let me, too, one day enter +into this heavenly joy, in the company of angels, that I may praise and +bless thee, world without end. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +Mary, the Mother of Chastity + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +HOLY Scripture and the Fathers agree in the statement that the Blessed +Virgin Mary made the vow of perpetual virginity. For when the Archangel +Gabriel brought God's message to the immaculate spouse of St. Joseph, +that she was to become the Mother of the Most High, she asked, "How +shall this be done, because I know not man?" (_Luke_ i. 34.) Indeed, +Mary would not have been, in the full and most excellent sense of the +word, the "Virgin of virgins," had she not from her own free choice +vowed her virginity to God. + +During the whole Christian era there have been heroic souls who made the +vow of perpetual chastity, consecrating themselves to God. Trusting in +the powerful protection of the immaculate Virgin, they persevered in +their resolve to bear this priceless treasure before God's throne +despite the dangers of the world, the temptations of concupiscence, and +the assaults of hell, and with the help of the queen of virgins they +achieved a triumphant victory. + +PRACTICE + +SINCE the fall of Adam our senses are in rebellion against the law of +God. "I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my +mind, and captivating me in the law of sin" (_Rom._ vii. 23). Chastity +is the virtue which causes us the greatest struggles. St. Augustine +says: "The fiercest of all combats is the one for the preservation of +chastity, and we must engage in it every day." Fierce as this combat is, +the aid which Mary gives her children to achieve victory is +all-powerful. She sustains them by her maternal love and protection. +Those who lead a chaste life receive the Divine Spirit, are happy in +this life, and will receive a special crown in heaven. + +Among the means for the preservation of chastity, the following are +specially recommended: The assiduous and constant practice of +self-denial; the frequentation of the sacraments; the daily invocation +of Mary for her aid and protection; scrupulous avoidance of the +occasions of sin. St. Chrysostom writes: "He errs who believes that he +can overcome his sensual propensities and preserve chastity by his own +efforts. God's mercy must extinguish nature's ardor." Have recourse to +the intercession of the immaculate Virgin and rest assured that you will +obtain this mercy. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY immaculate, rising morn of purity, I rejoice with thee, gazing in +wonder upon thy soul confirmed in grace from the very first moment of +thy conception, and rendered inaccessible to sin. I thank and magnify +the ever-blessed Trinity, who chose thee from all our race for this +special privilege. Holy Virgin, obtain for me utter and constant hatred +of all sin above every other evil, and let me rather die than ever again +fall into sin. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +The Image of the Immaculate Conception + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +CHRISTIAN art represents the Immaculate Conception as follows: The +Blessed Virgin appears standing on a globe, about which is coiled a +serpent holding an apple in its mouth. One of Mary's feet rests upon the +serpent, the other is placed on the moon. Her eyes are raised toward +heaven; her hands are either joined in prayer, or she holds a lily in +her right, and places the left on her breast. Her dress is white; her +ample mantle is of blue color. A crown of twelve stars encircles her +head. These emblems typify in a most striking manner Mary's power and +glory. "And a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed with the +sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve +stars" (_Apoc._ xii. 1). + +PRACTICE + +THE representation of the Immaculate Conception is very instructive. (1) +Mary appears standing on the globe. This signifies that being human, she +belongs to the earth, and yet is exalted above the world and sin; also, +that she trampled under foot earthly possessions, vanities, and joys. +(2) A serpent is coiled about the globe, bearing an apple in its mouth. +This reminds us of the fall of our first parents, and of the +consequences of their sin. (3) Mary's foot rests on the serpent, +indicating that she never was under Satan's dominion, but was preserved +from sin in the first moment of her existence. (4) Mary stands on the +moon. The moon, on account of its changes, is an emblem of inconstancy. +We see it at Mary's feet, to be reminded that we ought to be constant in +faith and virtue. (5) Mary wears a crown, to indicate that she is a +queen. The crown is composed of twelve stars: she is the queen of +heaven. (6) Mary's dress is white, to denote her spotless purity and +innocence. (7) She folds her hands in prayer, reminding us to imitate +her example. (8) Or she holds a lily in her right hand, to indicate her +virginity and chastity, and the sweet odor of her virtues. (9) Mary's +mantle is blue, which color is emblematic of humility. Its folds are +ample, to remind us that all who have recourse to her find a secure +refuge in all dangers and necessities. + +Therefore let us invoke her intercession in the words of Holy Church: +"We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our +petitions, and deliver us from all danger, O ever glorious and blessed +Virgin!" + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O SPOTLESS sun! O Virgin Mary! I congratulate thee. I rejoice with thee +because in thy conception God gave thee grace greater and more boundless +than He ever shed on all His angels and all the saints, together with +all their merits. I am thankful and I marvel at the surpassing +beneficence of the ever-blessed Trinity, who conferred on thee this +privilege. O make me correspond with the grace of God and never abuse +it. Change this heart of mine; make me now begin to amend my life. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +The Feast of the Immaculate Conception + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +EARLY in the Christian era the feast of Mary's immaculate conception was +observed in several countries. St. Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury, +introduced it in England. A great number of Popes favored the doctrine +of Mary's absolute sinlessness, and the adversaries of the Immaculate +Conception were bidden to be silent and not publicly assert or defend +their view. In 1477, Pope Sixtus IV prescribed the feast of the +Immaculate Conception to be observed in the whole Church, and made it +obligatory on priests to recite the special canonical office and to use +the Mass formula published for the purpose. In 1846, the bishops of the +United States assembled in plenary council in Baltimore elected the +Blessed Virgin under the title of her immaculate conception Patroness of +the Church in their country. + +Finally, Pope Pius IX, after consulting with the bishops throughout the +world, and having implored the Holy Ghost for His guidance in prayer and +fasting, promulgated, on December 8, 1854, the dogma which teaches that +the Blessed Virgin Mary was in her conception, by a special grace and +through the merits of her divine Son, preserved from the stain of +original sin. This doctrine was received throughout the world with +ineffable joy; and, indeed, no one who loves the Blessed Virgin can help +rejoicing at this her most glorious privilege. + +The invocation, "Queen conceived without the stain of original sin," was +added to the Litany of Loreto. In 1866, at the Second Plenary Council in +Baltimore, the feast of the Immaculate Conception was raised to the rank +of a holyday of obligation for the Church of the United States. + +PRACTICE + +IN THE inscrutable designs of His providence God ordained that the +mystery of the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary should +be proclaimed an article of faith as late as the middle of the +nineteenth century. But, then, its proclamation was attended by +circumstances that undeniably proved that the Holy Father in pronouncing +the dogma had been inspired and guided by the Holy Ghost. + +Let us praise God and thank Him for bestowing this glorious privilege on +our beloved Mother, and let us often invoke her under her favorite +title, the Immaculate Conception. St. Alphonsus Liguori tells us that +the devotion to this mystery is especially efficacious in overcoming the +temptations of impurity. Therefore he was accustomed to recommend to his +penitents thus tempted to recite three times every day the Hail Mary in +honor of Mary immaculate. And the Venerable John of Avila assures us +that he never found any one who practised a true devotion to the +Immaculate Conception of Mary, who did not in a short time obtain the +gift of that virtue which renders us so dear to her immaculate heart. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O LIVING light of holiness, model of purity, Mary immaculate, virgin and +mother! As soon as thou wast conceived thou didst profoundly adore thy +God, giving Him thanks that in thee the ancient curse was revoked, and +blessing came again upon the sinful sons of Adam. O make this blessing +kindle in my heart love for God; and do thou fan this flame of love +within me, that I may love Him constantly and one day in heaven +eternally enjoy Him, there to thank Him more and more fervently for all +the wondrous privileges conferred on thee, and to rejoice with thee for +thy high crown of glory. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +II + +Novena in Honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary + + + +FIRST DAY + +The Birth of Mary + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +WE FLY to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions +in our necessities, and deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and +blessed Virgin! + +MEDITATION + +MARY is born! The dawn announcing the coming salvation of mankind is at +hand. The deep significance of Mary's birth is expressed in the words of +the Church: "Thy birth, O virgin Mother of God, has brought joy to the +world; for from thee is to come forth the Sun of Justice, Christ our +Lord, to dispel the curse and bring the blessing, to conquer death and +bring us everlasting life. On this day a light broke forth to brighten +the paths of men through all time. Let us, then, rejoice in Mary's +coming." + +Equally expressive and touching are the reflections of that great Doctor +of the Church, St. Augustine: "The day has dawned, the long-wished-for +day of the blessed and venerable Virgin Mary. Well may this earth of +ours rejoice and be glad for having been honored and sanctified by the +birth of such a virgin." + +PRACTICE + +LET us, then, rejoice in Mary's coming. Let us hail the birth of her who +attained the dignity of mother without losing the high privilege of a +virgin. Let us imitate her holy life, that she may become our +intercessor before the throne of her Son, our judge and redeemer. By +becoming the Mother of God she became also our Mother. As Mother of the +Redeemer she is also the Mother of the redeemed. Richard of St. Lawrence +writes: "If we desire grace and help, let us have recourse to Mary and +we shall obtain what we desire." For, as St. Alphonsus remarks: "All +graces and gifts which God has resolved to bestow upon us He gives us +through the hands of Mary." + +PRAYER OF THE CHURCH + +GRANT to us, Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly +grace; that to those for whom the delivery of the Blessed Virgin was the +commencement of salvation, the commemoration of her nativity may give +increasing peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MOST lovely child, who by thy birth hast comforted the world, made glad +the heavens, struck terror into hell, brought help to the fallen, +consolation to the sad, health to the sick, joy to all; we pray thee +with all fervent love, be thou born again in spirit in our souls through +thy most holy love. Renew our fervor in thy service, rekindle in our +hearts the fire of thy love, and bid all virtues blossom there, which +may cause us to find more and more fervor in thy gracious eyes. O Mary, +may we feel the saving power of thy sweetest name! Let it ever be our +comfort to call on that great name in all our troubles; let it be our +hope in dangers, our shield in temptation, and in death our last +aspiration. + +_Ejaculation_ + +O Mary, who didst come into the world free from stain: obtain of God for +me that I may leave it without sin! + +Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Pius IX, March 27, 1863.) + + + +SECOND DAY + +Mary, the Elect of God + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +WE FIND the explanation of the great prerogatives and privileges which +God bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary by reflecting on her singular +and glorious predestination. From all eternity she was predestined to +become the Mother of His divine Son; therefore, says Pope Pius IX, God +loved her above all created beings, and in His special predilection made +her the object of His divine complacency. With singular appropriateness +we may apply to her the words of Holy Scripture, "I have loved thee with +an everlasting love" (_Jer._ xxxi. 3). The eternal Father regarded Mary +as His beloved Daughter; the divine Son honored her as His dearest +Mother; the Holy Ghost loved her as His spotless Spouse. "And," says St. +Anselm, "they loved each other with an affection unsurpassed by any +other." + +PRACTICE + +INSPIRED by the contemplation of Mary's extraordinary privileges, St. +Anselm exclaims: "Thou, O Mary, art more exalted than the patriarchs, +greater than the martyrs, more glorious than the confessors, purer than +the virgins, and therefore thou, alone, canst achieve more than they can +without thee." Let us, then, rejoice that we possess such a powerful +advocate in heaven, and let us place implicit trust in her. But let us +also co-operate with the graces and favors which she obtains for us. +Moreover, let us remember that we grievously offend God and Mary if we +abuse what we obtain through her intercession to gratify our evil +inclinations, and that the graces she obtains for us for our salvation +will redound to our ruin if we do not use them for the glory of God and +the promotion of our soul's welfare. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, Mary, who, sprung from the royal line of David, didst come +forth to the light of heaven with high honor from the womb of holy Anna, +thy most happy mother. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +Mary, the Child of Royalty + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +ACCORDING to her lineage, as traced in two Gospels, Mary numbers among +her paternal and maternal ancestors the holiest and most renowned +personages of the Old Testament. We find amongst them Abraham, the +friend of God, the father of Israel and of all the faithful; then David, +the man after God's own heart, the inspired Royal Prophet; and Solomon, +the wise and mighty king, and the whole line of the kings of Juda. On +her mother's side she belonged to the tribe of Levi, and was descended +from its noblest and most prominent family, that of Aaron the High +Priest, and was therefore a relative of the High Priests of the Old +Testament. Thus royal and sacerdotal prestige distinguished Mary's +lineage. + +PRACTICE + +THE Blessed Virgin was not proud of her illustrious ancestry, and not +depressed because of the downfall of her family, but applied herself +diligently to adhere to the faith and follow the example of her +ancestors. Remembering the wicked members of her family, she learned +from them that temporal greatness, success, wealth, and glory are more +dangerous to virtue than poverty, retirement, and work. Let us imitate +Mary's example. Even possessed of the most excellent prestiges of the +natural order, of ourselves we are nothing. "What hast thou that thou +hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory as if +thou hadst not received?" (1 _Cor._ iv. 7.) Therefore do not +overestimate yourself; do not be conceited; do not strive for praise, +honors, and high station; be not boastful or arrogant; do not presume on +your merits; rather be distrustful of yourself and patiently bear +affronts, neglect, and humiliations. However poor you may be, be content +with your lot, remembering the words of the Apostle: "They that will +become rich fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and +into many unprofitable and hurtful desires which draw men into +destruction and perdition. For the desire of money is the root of all +evils: which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled +themselves in many sorrows" (1 _Tim._ vi. 9, 10). + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, O Mary, heavenly babe, white dove of purity, who, despite +the infernal serpent, was conceived free from the taint of Adam's sin. +With all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to come +down again and be born in spirit in our souls, that, led captive by thy +loveliness and sweetness, they may ever live united to thy most sweet +and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + +[Illustration: The Purification] + + + +FOURTH DAY + +Mary, the Child of Pious Parents + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +TRADITION tells us that Mary's parents were called Joachim and Anna. The +holy Fathers rival each other in praising the virtue of this holy +couple. St. Epiphanius writes: "Joachim and Anna were pleasing in the +sight of God because of the holiness of their lives." St. Andrew of +Crete remarks: "Joachim was eminent for the mildness and fortitude of +his character. The law of God was his rule of life. He was just, and +never relaxed in the fervor of his love of God. Anna was no less noted +for her meekness, continence, and chastity." St. Jerome relates: "The +life of this holy couple was simple and just before the Lord, edifying +and virtuous before men." St. John Damascene exclaims: "O happy, chaste, +and immaculate couple, Joachim and Ann! You are known, according to the +Lord's word, by your fruit. Your life was pleasing in the sight of God, +and worthy of her who was born of you." + +PRACTICE + +IT is a great blessing, and one to be esteemed more highly than wealth +and high station, to have God-fearing, pious parents. For their sake God +is gracious to the children and lavishes His gifts on them. It is +certainly a great privilege to be offered up to God immediately after +birth by the hands of a pious mother. To have, from childhood up, the +example and guidance of virtuous parents is certainly of the greatest +importance. St. Chrysostom writes: "The parents' example is the book +from which the child learns." A pious bishop was wont to say: "The good +example of the parents is the best catechism and the truest mirror that +a family can have." If Christian parents imitate the example of Joachim +and Ann the blessing of God will rest on them and on their children; for +because her parents were so dear to Mary, she will not refuse to join +them in their prayers for us. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, brightest morn, forerunner of the heavenly Sun of Justice, +who didst first bring light to earth. Humbly prostrate, with all our +hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in +spirit in our souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, +they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +Mary's Supernatural Prerogatives + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY was the masterpiece of God's creation; her soul was the most +perfect ever dwelling in a human body. A pious tradition tells us that +she possessed the use of reason much earlier than other children. Her +intellect was illuminated by supernatural light; her will was exempt +from concupiscence. Being preserved from original sin, she surpassed in +holiness, from the first moment of her existence, all angels and men. +She possessed all virtues in the highest degree, because of her faithful +co-operation with sanctifying grace and with the countless actual graces +granted to her. She lived in constant communion with God, undisturbed by +evil inclinations from within or temptations from without. + +PRACTICE + +THROUGH the effects of original sin we have lost the supernatural +prerogative of original justice, and even after receiving sanctifying +grace in holy Baptism we are exposed to many temptations. Our life is a +constant warfare. We must, however, not despair in this struggle, for if +we are true children of Mary she will come to our aid. In all +temptations Mary is the "Help of Christians" if we have recourse to her. +But if we wish her to help us, we must not expose ourselves +unnecessarily to temptation. "He that loveth danger shall perish in it" +(_Ecclus._ iii. 27). This sad experience has come to many. Let us, +therefore, avoid the danger and occasion of sin; and whenever evil +approaches us in any shape, let us call upon Mary, and we may rest +assured that she will assist us. "I shall certainly triumph over my +enemies," exclaims St. Alphonsus, "if I place my trust in thee, O Mary, +and if thou art my shield and protection against them." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, O chosen one! who like the untarnished sun didst burst +forth into being in the dark night of sin. Humbly prostrate at thy feet, +O Mary, we give thee our homage, and with all our hearts we pray thee to +vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in our souls, that, led +captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, they may ever live united to +thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +Mary, the Joy of the Most Holy Trinity + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +IN THE child Mary the eternal Father beheld His unsullied glorious +image, which image had been defaced in all other human beings by +original and actual sin. What a joy to Him to behold this stainless, +immaculate child! And how great must have been the joy of the Son of God +at the birth of her who was to be His Mother! From her He was to take +that sacred body in which He was to dwell on earth, the blood of which +He was to shed on the cross for our redemption, and in which He was to +return to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. He will call +her Mother, and regard her with all the filial tenderness of a child for +his mother. She will love Him in return with a true mother's affection +and devotion. As the Mother of Sorrows she will weep over His inanimate +body taken down from the cross. But like Himself, she will leave the +tomb, and reign at His side as the queen of heaven. How great, then, +must have been His joy at the birth of this child! + +The Holy Ghost, too, rejoiced at Mary's birth. He infused into her the +plenitude of His holy love, for she was destined to become the Mother of +God. And how Mary will love God, from whom she received so many and so +great graces, and whom she is to bear in her arms as her real and true +Son! This, her divine Son's love for mankind, will be imparted also to +her. Therefore the Holy Ghost rejoices at this child, who received into +her heart the fulness of His grace, and shall be the helper of those who +have recourse to her. + +PRACTICE + +RAISE your spirit above time and space; try to contemplate well the +mystery of Mary's predestination. To make us realize the great +privileges conferred upon her, the Church applies to her the words of +Holy Scripture, "He that shall find me, shall find life, and have +salvation from the Lord" (_Prov._ viii. 35). Only when we consider Mary +as the Mother of God, do we arrive at a right conception of her great +dignity. Hence St. Bonaventure exclaims, "God might have created a more +beautiful world; He might have made heaven more glorious; but it was +impossible for Him to exalt a creature higher than Mary in making her +His Mother." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, beauteous moon, O Mary most holy, who didst shed light +upon a world wrapped in the densest darkness of sin. Humbly prostrate at +thy feet, we give thee our homage, and with all our hearts we pray thee +to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our souls, +that led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness they may ever live +united to thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +The Angels Rejoice at Mary's Birth + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +DESCRIBING God's power and wisdom as shown in creation, Holy Scripture, +according to the explanation of the Fathers, introduces Him as saying, +"When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God +made a joyful melody" (_Job_ xxxviii. 7), and by these words intends to +convey with what joy the angels praised God's omnipotence on beholding +the wonders of creation. What, then, must have been their joy on +beholding this new wonder of divine power and wisdom, the child Mary, +destined to be their queen. Filled with admiration they exclaimed, "Who +is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright +as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?" (_Cant._ vi. 9.) And +moreover, if, as Our Lord declares, the angels rejoice at the conversion +of a sinner, how great must have been their joy at the birth of her who +was to be the refuge of sinners and the mother of Him who was to be the +Redeemer of sinners? Again, the angels rejoiced at Mary's birth, because +she would fill, through the salvation of mankind by her divine Son, the +places made vacant in heaven by the apostate angels. + +PRACTICE + +GOOD children rejoice on the birthday of their parents and gratefully +remember all the benefits they have received from them. Thus should we, +also, celebrate the nativity of the Blessed Virgin by a grateful +remembrance of the innumerable graces, individual and general, we +received through her intercession. In acknowledging Mary's co-operation +with our salvation, Holy Church calls her our mediatrix, and greets her +as the "Cause of our joy," because, though we receive grace from Christ, +it comes to us through her mediation. What cause, then, have we not for +rejoicing at her birth! Again, greeting Mary as the cause of our joy, +let us remember the protection she extended to the Church in times of +adversity and persecution; let us, furthermore, remember all the graces +which, according to the holy Fathers, are dispensed to us by Mary's +hands. "Of her plenitude," says St. Bonaventure, "we have all received; +the captive liberty, the sick health, the sad consolation, the sinner +pardon, the just grace." Therefore the Church invokes Mary as the mother +of mercy, the health of the sick, the comforter of the afflicted, the +refuge of sinners, the help of Christians, in a word, as the cause of +our joy. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, fair soul of Mary, who from all eternity wast God's, and +God's alone; sanctuary and living temple of the Holy Ghost; sun without +blemish, because free from original sin. With all our hearts we pray to +thee, O Mary, to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in +our souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, they may +ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +The Joy of the Just in Limbo at Mary's Birth + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +FOR four thousand years the just in limbo sighed for redemption, and +sent up to Heaven the plaintive cry, "O that Thou wouldst rend the +heavens, and wouldst come down!" (_Is._ xiv. 1.) "Drop down dew, ye +heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just; let the earth be +opened and bud forth a Saviour" (_Is._ xlv. 8). What joy must have +filled the souls of the just when they heard the welcome tidings of the +birth of Mary, the virgin Mother of the promised Messias; how great +their consolation at the rising of that dawn which preceded the Sun of +Justice, whose splendor was to illuminate the darkness of them that sat +in the shadow of death! + +PRACTICE + +A JOY similar to that which filled the captive souls in limbo at Mary's +birth now fills the souls in purgatory when we implore her to come to +their relief. Contemplating the immense love of the Most Holy Trinity +for Mary, we may not doubt but that, by her intercession, she might at +once deliver all the suffering souls from their prison, if such were in +accordance with God's will. But God's wisdom and providence have decreed +otherwise. Therefore Mary does not pray for the release of all souls in +purgatory, but recommends them, in conformity with God's will, to His +mercy. St. Bernardine of Sienna applies to Mary the words of Holy +Scripture, "I have penetrated into the bottom of the deep and have +walked in the waves of the sea" (_Ecclus._ xxiv. 8), and says: "She +descends into that sea of suffering and soothes the pains of the poor +souls." St. Denis the Carthusian remarks, that when the name of Mary is +mentioned in purgatory, the souls there imprisoned experience the same +relief as when a sick person hears words of consolation on his bed of +pain. + +Therefore let us entrust our prayers for the souls in purgatory to Mary. +She will present our petitions to God, and thus presented, He will +speedily hear and graciously grant them. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, strong child, who didst put to flight all hell and the +powers of darkness. We give thee our homage, and with all our hearts we +pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our +souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, they may ever +live united to thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +The Holy Name of Mary + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the Novena). + +MEDITATION + +ST. ALPHONSUS writes of the name of Mary: "This name was neither +invented on earth, nor imposed by human agency. It came from heaven and +was given to the Mother of God by divine command." Just as it is a +peculiar glory of our Saviour's name, that "God hath given Him a name +which is above all names, that in the name of Jesus every knee should +bow of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" +(_Philipp._ ii. 9), thus it also behooves that Mary, the most perfect, +the most pure, and most exalted of all created beings, should receive a +most holy, lovely, and powerful name. St. Methodius declares that the +name of Mary is so rich in grace and blessing, that no one can pronounce +it devoutly without at the same time receiving a spiritual favor. Bl. +Jordan exclaims: "Let a heart be ever so obdurate, let a man even +despair of God's mercy, if he have recourse to thee, O Mary, virgin most +clement, he can not fail to be softened and filled with confidence if he +invokes thy name; for thou wilt inspire him with hope in God's mercy, +pardon, and grace." + +PRACTICE + +IT IS, then, meet and just that we should devoutly honor and praise the +name of Mary. Let us never mention it except in reverence and devotion. +Let us invoke Mary by it in all dangers of body and soul, mindful of the +words of St. Bernard: "O sinner, when the floods and tempests of this +earthly life overwhelm thee so that thou canst not firmly set thy foot, +turn not away thy gaze from the light of this guiding star. When the +storms of temptation assail thee, and the rocks and quicksands of +vexation and trial threaten to shatter thy bark of hope, look up to that +bright star in the heavens, and call on the name of Mary. When the +billows of pride and of ambition, when the floods of calumny are about +to submerge thee, look up to this star and call on the name of Mary. +When anger, avarice, and concupiscence convulse the peace of thy soul, +look up to this star and call on Mary. When thy sins rise up like +hideous monsters before thy troubled vision, when thy conscience stings +thee, when the terrors of future judgment fill thee with deadly anguish, +when gloom and sadness overpower thee, when thou findest thyself on the +brink of hellish despair, take courage; think of Mary, and thou wilt +find from thy own inward experience how true are the sayings of those +who tell thee that the name of the Blessed Virgin is 'Star of the Sea,' +the name of the Virgin is Mary." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the Novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WE HAIL thee, beloved child Mary, adorned with every virtue, +immeasurably above all the saints, and therefore worthy Mother of the +Saviour of the world, who by the operation of the Holy Ghost didst bring +forth the incarnate Word. We give thee our homage, and with all our +hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in our +souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, they may ever +live united to thy most sweet and loving heart. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the Novena). + + + +III + +Novena for the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary + +FIRST DAY + +The Annunciation + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +MY QUEEN, my Mother, remember I am thine own. Keep me, guard me, as thy +property and possession! + +Indulgence. 40 days, every time. (Pius IX, August 5, 1851.) + +MEDITATION + +AT NAZARETH, a mountain village in Judea, lived poor and in obscurity +Mary, the virgin selected by God to become the Mother of His Son. On +March 25th she was in prayer in her chamber, and perhaps sent up to +heaven the yearning petition, "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, +and let the clouds rain the just; let the earth be opened and bud a +Saviour" (_Is._ xlv. 8). Behold, suddenly the chamber is suffused by a +heavenly light. The archangel Gabriel stands reverently before her and +says, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou +among women. And when Mary heard the angel's words, she was troubled at +his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this +should be" (_Luke_ i. 28, 29). + +PRACTICE + +THE angel's salutation comprises two titles of ineffable greatness. Mary +is called "full of grace," because of her innocence and purity; she is +called "blessed among women," because she is the elect Mother of God. +Never before was a human being thus greeted. It was God Himself who sent +the message to Mary. A good angel now repaired the harm once done by a +bad angel. For Lucifer, the fallen angel, seduced Eve to sin and thereby +caused the ruin of the whole human race; now another angel, Gabriel, was +sent to announce the glad tidings to Mary, that she was to conceive the +Redeemer from sin, who was to accomplish the salvation of mankind. + +Mary was troubled at the angel's words, and reflected on the meaning of +the message. St. Ambrose writes: "Mary was troubled, not because the +angel was a heavenly spirit, but because he appeared to her in the form +of a youth. Still more was she troubled at the praises spoken to her. +She was innocent and humble, and therefore reflected on the meaning of +the message. She had always considered herself as a poor and unknown +virgin; she deemed herself unworthy of God's grace; therefore she was +troubled at the salutation. In that decisive moment she was and remained +our model." + +[Illustration: The Flight into Egypt] + +PRAYER OF THE CHURCH + +POUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we +unto whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the +message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the +glory of the resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +WITH wonder I revere thee, holiest Virgin Mary; for of all God's +creatures thou wast the humblest on the very day of thy annunciation, +when God Himself exalted Thee to the sublime dignity of His own Mother. +O mightiest Virgin, make me, wretched sinner that I am, know the depths +of my own nothingness, and make me humble myself at last with all my +heart, beneath the feet of all men. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +_Ejaculation_ + +Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me! + +Indulgence. 50 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, March 20, 1894.) + + + +SECOND DAY + +The Import of the Angel's Salutation + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +"HAIL, full of grace!" Mary was greeted as full of grace by the Giver of +grace Himself. The angel's salutation meant: "The grace of God has +preserved thee from all sin. Neither the stain of original sin, nor the +guilt of actual sin, ever obscured the mirror of thy soul. By the +special favor of God the most sublime virtues were infused into thy +soul." + +"The Lord is with thee." From all eternity the Lord was with Mary. He +was with her not only as He is with His whole creation, but He was with +her in a special manner. The eternal Father was with her from all +eternity as with His beloved Daughter. The divine Son was with her from +all eternity as with His chosen Mother. The Holy Ghost was with her from +all eternity as with His beloved Spouse. This intimate union never was +disrupted. Therefore Mary is "Blessed among women," and ever was, and +ever shall be the beloved of the Lord. + +PRACTICE + +CONSIDER how Mary receives the angel's message. She is troubled, she is +disturbed at the praise, at the reverence of the angel. What an example +of humility! Let us imitate her in this virtue by the acknowledgment +before God of our weakness, our unworthiness, our nothingness, and by +ordering our whole being accordingly. Humility renders us pleasing in +the sight of God and makes us susceptible of His grace. Hence St. +Augustine writes: "God resists the proud and gives His grace to the +humble. What a terrible punishment for the proud, what a splendid reward +for the humble! The proud man resembles a rock, the humble man a +beautiful valley. The grace of God descends from heaven like a gentle +rain. It can not penetrate the rock of pride, and hence the proud man +loses God's grace and love. But in the valley of humility the waters of +divine grace can diffuse themselves and fructify the soul of the humble +man, so that it may bring forth fruit unto eternal life." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O MARY, holiest Virgin, who, when the archangel Gabriel hailed thee in +thy annunciation, and thou wast raised by God above all choirs of the +angels, didst confess thyself "the handmaid of the Lord"; do thou obtain +for me true humility and a truly angelic purity, and so to live on earth +as ever to be worthy of the blessings of God. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +The Effect of the Angel's Salutation + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE effect of the angel's salutation on Mary was striking. Imbued with +sentiments quite different from ours, she was troubled at the praise +addressed to her. Meanwhile she is silent and considers within herself +what might be the meaning of these words. And now the angel calls her by +name, saying, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. +Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and +thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called +the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the +throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for +ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end" (_Luke_ i. 30-33). + +PRACTICE + +LET us admire the prudence shining forth in Mary. After hearing the +angel's words of praise she was silent and thought within herself what +kind of a salutation this was. She is very careful and prudent. On this +her conduct St. Thomas Aquinas remarks: "Mary did not refuse to believe, +nor did she receive the message with credulity. She avoided Eve's +gullibility and the distrust of Zachary the high priest." And St. +Bernard writes: "Mary preferred to remain silent in humility, rather +than to speak inconsiderately." Let us strive always to speak and act +with deliberation. Our conversation ought always to be judicious; for +often a word spoken inconsiderately causes bitter regret. St. Thomas +Aquinas observes: "Song was given to a number of creatures, but human +beings alone were endowed with the faculty of speech, to indicate that +in speaking we should use our reason." And St. Chrysostom says: "Let us +always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that +it should speak at the proper time." + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I REJOICE with thee, O Virgin ever blessed, because by thy humble word +of consent thou didst draw down from the bosom of the eternal Father the +divine Word into thy own pure bosom. O draw, then, ever my heart to God; +and with God bring grace into my heart that I may ever sincerely bless +thy word of consent, so mighty and so efficacious. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FOURTH DAY + +Mary's Question + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +WELL versed as Mary was in Holy Scripture, she fully understood the +words she had heard and knew their great import. She was destined to +become the Mother of the Most High, the Son of God. But there is an +obstacle which prevents her from giving immediate assent. She has +solemnly vowed her virginity to God. Not knowing how the mystery +announced to her was to be accomplished, and intent above all on keeping +inviolate her vow, she interrupts her silence by the short but +comprehensive question, "How shall this be done, because I know not +man?" (_Luke_ i. 34.) This is the first word of Mary recorded in the +Gospel. + +PRACTICE + +"HOW shall this be done, because I know not man?" Truly a momentous +question, proceeding from her knowledge of the great excellence and +value before God of virginity, which, before Mary, was unknown to the +world. + +Let us follow Mary's example and esteem holy purity and chastity above +all things. Let us remember how highly Holy Scripture extols this +virtue. "O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory; for the +memory thereof is immortal, because it is known both with God and with +men" (_Wis._ iv. 1). St. Athanasius writes: "O chastity, thou precious +pearl, found by few, even hated by some, and sought only by those who +are worthy of thee! Thou art the joy of the prophets, the ornament of +the apostles, the life of the angels, the crown of the saints." Let us +therefore carefully guard this inestimable treasure. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY, mighty Virgin, thou who on the day of thy annunciation wast found +by the archangel so prompt and ready to do God's will, and to correspond +with the desires of the august Trinity, who wished for thy consent in +order to redeem the world; obtain for me that, whatever happens, good or +ill, I may turn to my God, and with resignation say, "Be it done unto me +according to thy word." + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +The Solution + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE angel explains to Mary how, without detriment to her virginity, she +will become a mother. He says, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and +the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the +Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (_Luke_ +i. 35). St. Bernard remarks: "Let him who can, comprehend it. Who, but +that most happy Virgin who was worthy to experience the influence and +effect of the power of the Most High and to penetrate this sublime +mystery, can understand how the divine Light was poured into the +Virgin's womb? The Most Holy Trinity alone co-operated in the sacred +act, and it remains an impenetrable mystery to all, except to her who +was called to so sublime a destiny." + +PRACTICE + +MARY did not entertain a single doubt concerning the wonders which the +angel announced to her about the coming Messias and His kingdom. She +believed with simple faith the words of the heavenly messenger. Only +about that which concerned her personally she asked a question. When the +wonderful mystery was explained to her, she did not ask how this _can_ +be done, but only how it _shall_ be done. And after the angel had +declared to her that she shall conceive by the Holy Ghost, she was fully +resigned and announced her implicit belief in these humble words: +"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy +word" (_Luke_ i. 38). Therefore the Holy Ghost Himself praised her by +the mouth of Elizabeth: "Blessed art thou that hast believed" (_Luke_ i. +45). + +Let us remain steadfast in the profession of all articles of faith, and +let us oppose, like a strong shield, the words, "Nothing is impossible +with God," to all attacks of unbelievers, and to all doubts that may +arise in our own minds. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +MARY most holy, I see that thy obedience united thee so closely to God, +that all creation never shall know again union so fair and so perfect. I +am overwhelmed with confusion in seeing how my sins have separated me +from God. Help me, then, gentle Mother, to repent sincerely of my sins, +that I may be reunited to thy loving Jesus. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +Mary's Consent + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +WE ADMIRE the creative word of God, by which heaven and earth were +called into existence. But Mary's word, "Be it done to me according to +thy word," is even mightier and more efficacious; for it commands the +obedience even of the almighty Creator. Without this word of humility +and obedience the incarnation of our divine Saviour would not have been +accomplished. Mary does not say, "I accept the proposal, I agree to the +proposition," nor does she use other words of similar import. She simply +says, "Be it done to me according to thy word." It was not her own +choice, nor her own decision, but a voluntary, full, and complete +surrender to the will of God that the message found in Mary's soul, +which was expressed in these words. What a source of consolation to her +in the subsequent sorrowful and afflicted stages of her life was this +complete surrender to God's will! It comprised the tranquilizing +assurance that He to whose designs she submitted, would endow her with +the fortitude and strength necessary to co-operate with them. + +PRACTICE + +JUST as our divine Lord Himself became obedient unto death, thus also +His incarnation and the motherhood of Mary were the result of obedience. +Again, in contemplating the works that in the course of time were +undertaken in the Church for the glory of God and the salvation of man, +we find that only those were really great, effective, and enduring, +which had their beginning, continuation, and consummation in obedience. + +Rejoice, then, if it is your happy lot to walk in the safe path of +obedience. Avail yourself of every opportunity to submit your will to +the will of your Superiors. They are the representatives of God. By +obeying them we fulfil His will, not the will of men. St. Bonaventure +calls obedience the key of heaven. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +HOLIEST Mary, if through thy modesty thou wert troubled at the +appearance of the archangel Gabriel in thy dwelling, I am terrified at +the sight of my monstrous pride. By thy incomparable humility, which +brought forth God for men, reopened paradise and let the captive souls +go free from their prison, draw me, I pray thee, out of the deep pit +into which my sins have cast me, and make me save my soul. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +Mary's Fortitude in Suffering + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +ALTHOUGH Mary's consent was free, and freely given, she was clearly +convinced and perfectly conscious of the responsibility, the +obligations, and the duties involved by that consent, and which she now +assumed. Great are the duties and tearful the days of a mother who has +to raise her Son, who is also God, to be sacrificed on the cross. Mary +assumes with the dignity this responsibility. She consents to conceive +the Son of God, to give birth to Him, to nourish Him, to educate Him for +the ignominious death of the cross. When she pronounced the words, "Be +it done," her eyes were fixed on the distant tragedy of Golgotha, on the +cross towering upon its height. Yet she accepts it, together with the +dignity of Mother of God. + +PRACTICE + +MARY, in consenting to become the Mother of Jesus, became not only His +Mother, but the Mother of all mankind. She became, for all time, the +refuge of sinners, the health of the sick, the intercessor with God for +man; she consented to exercise a mother's love for suffering and sinful +humanity. But alas, how many of those adopted by Mary as her children +under the cross of her dying Son are unworthy of her mother love! How +many are rebellious children, who fill her heart with sorrow and +anguish! Others, faithless and obdurate, become a reproach to her. Have +you, during your past life, always been a good child of this loving +Mother? Are you to her an honor or a disgrace, a joy or a sorrow? + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +THOUGH my tongue is unhallowed, yet, purest Virgin, I presume to hail +thee every day with the angel's salutation, "Hail Mary, full of grace!" +From my heart, I pray thee, pour into my soul a little of that mighty +grace wherewith the Holy Spirit, overshadowing thee, filled thee to the +full. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +Mary, the Mother of God + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY'S true greatness consists in her having been chosen the Mother of +God. This sublime dignity, pre-eminently her own and shared by no other +creature, elevates her to a station inconceivably exalted. Mother of +God! St. Peter Damian thus gives expression to his conception of this +dignity: "In what words may mortal man be permitted to pronounce the +praises of her who brought forth that divine Word who lives for all +eternity? Where can a tongue be found holy and pure enough to eulogize +her who bore the author of all created things, whom the elements praise +and obey in fear and trembling? When we essay to extol a martyr's +constancy, to recount his heroic acts of virtue, to describe his +devotion to his Saviour's cause and honor, we are supplied with words by +facts and occurrences that belong to the province of human experience. +But when we undertake to describe the glories of the Blessed Virgin, we +are on unknown ground, on a subject transcending all human effort. We +fail to find words suitable to portray her sublime prerogatives, +privileges, and mysteries." + +PRACTICE + +ST. ANSELM, writing on the motherhood of Mary, says: "It was eminently +just and proper that the creature chosen to be the Mother of God should +shine with a luster of purity far beyond anything conceivable in any +other creature under heaven. For it was to her that the eternal Father +decreed to give His only-begotten Son, whom He loves as Himself; and to +give Him in such a mysterious manner that He should be at the same time +the Son of God and the Son of the Virgin Mary. She must indeed be purity +itself, whom the Son of God elected as His Mother, and who was the +chosen Spouse of the Holy Ghost, to be overshadowed by Him to bring +forth the Second Person of that Most Blessed Trinity from whom He +Himself proceeds." + +Let us honor the virgin Mother with filial devotion, gratefully greeting +her often in the words of the angel, "Hail Mary, full of grace!" Let us +remember that God alone is above Mary, and beneath her is all that is +not God. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I BELIEVE, holiest Mary, that almighty God was ever with thee from thy +conception, and is, by His incarnation, still more closely united to +thee. Make it thy care, I pray thee, that I may be with that same Lord +Jesus ever one heart and soul by means of sanctifying grace. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +Mary, Our Mother + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY could not consent to become the Mother of the Redeemer without +including in her consent those to be redeemed. "She bore one man," says +St. Antonine, "and thereby has borne all men again. Beneath the cross +of her divine Son she has reborne us to life with great pain, just as +Eve our first mother, has borne us under the tree of forbidden fruit +unto death. That there be no doubt concerning it, her divine Son made +this declaration in His last will." "When therefore Jesus had seen His +Mother and the disciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His Mother, +Woman, behold thy son. After that He saith to the disciple, Behold thy +Mother" (_John_ xix. 26 27). She gave up her Son for the redemption of +mankind, and He gave us, in the person of His beloved disciple St. John, +to her as her children, declaring her our Mother. From that moment we +belong to Mary, and Mary belongs to us: "Behold thy Mother!" + +[Illustration: The rest in Egypt] + +PRACTICE + +MARY loves us because she loves God, and because God loves us. She loves +us as her brethren who share human nature with her. She loves us as her +children, whom she has borne to eternal life. She loves us because we +are miserable and helpless. True, we offended her divine Son, but she +knows our frailty, our blindness, the assaults of the flesh and the +devil to which we are exposed; and by all this she is moved to come to +our aid. + +Do not, however, imagine that this good and amiable Mother will hear +your call for assistance if you continue to offend her divine Son with +malice prepense. To obtain her aid you must make yourself in a manner +worthy of it. This you do by striving to imitate her virtues. Or is +there anything in her example that we are unable to imitate? True, we +can not attain to her perfection in virtue, but we can copy it to a +certain degree. To follow Mary's example there is no need of performing +miracles, of having ecstasies, or of doing any other extraordinary +deeds. All that is necessary is to persevere faithfully in the ordinary +duties of life, and to perform them to the best of our ability. + +"Behold thy Mother!" These words of our dying Lord were addressed to the +beloved disciple St. John, but were intended for all mankind. Even as +Mary never ceases to be the Mother of God, she never will cease to be +our Mother. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O HOLIEST Mary, bless me, my heart and my soul, as thou thyself wast +ever blessed of God among all women; for I have this sure hope, dear +Mother, that if thou bless me while I live, then, when I die, I shall be +blessed of God in the everlasting glory of heaven. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +IV + +Novena in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of Mary + +NOTE.--Besides the indulgences granted for every novena in honor of the +Blessed Virgin Mary by Pius IX, Pope Leo XIII, January 27, 1888, granted +that all the faithful may gain, on the _third Sunday in September_, +being the second feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary (the other is +observed on the Friday before Palm Sunday), a plenary indulgence _as +often_ as they visit, after confession and communion, a church where the +Archconfraternity of the Seven Sorrows is canonically established, and +pray there for the intentions of the Holy Father. This indulgence is +applicable to the souls in purgatory. + + + +FIRST DAY + +Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + + BID me bear, O Mother blessed, + On my heart the wounds impressed + Suffered by the Crucified! + +Indulgence. 300 days, once a day. A plenary indulgence, on any one day, +in each month, to those who shall have practised this devotion for a +month, saying besides seven Hail Marys, followed each time by the above +invocation. Conditions: Confession, communion, and prayer for the +intentions of the Pope. (Pius IX, June 18, 1876.) + +MEDITATION + +FROM the dolorous way of Our Lord's passion Holy Church selected +fourteen incidents to place before us for consideration, which are +called the Stations of the Cross. In the same manner the pious devotion +of the faithful selected seven events in the life of the Blessed Virgin +Mary, and gives itself to their religious contemplation. They are: (1) +Simeon's prophecy in the Temple; (2) the flight into Egypt with the +divine Child; (3) the loss of the divine Child at Jerusalem; (4) Mary's +meeting with her Son bearing the cross; (5) Mary beneath the cross; (6) +Mary receives the body of her Son from the cross; (7) the placing of +Jesus' body in the tomb. + +PRACTICE + +"FORGET not the sorrows of thy mother" (_Ecclus._ vii. 29). According to +this exhortation of Holy Scripture it is our duty to remember and +meditate often on the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ought never +to forget that our sins were the cause of the sufferings and death of +Jesus, and therefore also of the sorrows of Mary. + +Holy Church celebrates two feasts in honor of the sorrows of Mary; she +approved of the Rosary and of many other devotions in honor of the Seven +Dolors, and enriched them with numerous indulgences. Let us practise +these devotions to enkindle in our hearts a true and ardent love for our +sorrowful Mother. + +PRAYER OF THE CHURCH + +GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed +Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of Thy +mercy, now and at the hour of our death, through whose most holy soul, +in the hour of Thine own passion, the sword of sorrow passed. Through +Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who livest and reignest with +the Father and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +EVER glorious Blessed Virgin Mary, queen of martyrs, mother of mercy, +hope, and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through the sorrows +that pierced thy tender heart I beseech thee take pity on my poverty and +necessities, have compassion on my anxieties and miseries. I ask it +through the mercy of thy divine Son; I ask it through His immaculate +life, bitter passion, and ignominious death on the cross. As I am +persuaded that He honors thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses +nothing, let me experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, +according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, now and at the +hour of my death. Amen. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +_Ejaculation_ + +Mother of Sorrows, queen of martyrs, pray for us! + + + +SECOND DAY + +Mary's First Sorrow: Simeon's Prophecy in the Temple + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +FORTY days after the birth of our divine Saviour, Mary His Mother +fulfilled the law of Moses by offering Him to His divine Father in the +Temple. "And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this +man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the +Holy Ghost was in Him. And he received an answer from the Holy Ghost, +that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. +And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when His parents brought +in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he +also took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now dost Thou +dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace; because my +eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face +of all peoples. A light to the revelation of the gentiles and the glory +of Thy people Israel. And His father and mother were wondering at these +things which were spoken concerning Him. And Simeon blessed them, and +said to Mary His Mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for +the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be +contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many +hearts thoughts may be revealed" (_Luke_ ii. 25-35). + +PRACTICE + +MARY was familiar with the predictions of the prophets and knew that +ignominy, sorrow, and suffering would be her divine Son's portion +throughout His earthly career. But to have this secret of her anxious +soul thus publicly and solemnly declared by Simeon, was a sharp thrust +of that seven-edged sword which was to pierce her loving heart. In +spirit she viewed that boundless, surging sea of trials, pain, and death +on which her Son was to be tossed about, and was willing to be engulfed +in its bitter waters. Her affliction would have scarcely been greater +had the death sentence of her divine Son been pronounced then and there +and put into execution. What a sorrow, what an affliction, what a trial +for such a tender Mother! Well might she exclaim with the Royal Prophet: +"My life is wasted with grief, and my years in sighs" (_Ps._ xxx. 11). +Let us often contemplate this sorrow, and excite our hearts to a tender +compassion with the Mother of Sorrows. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, in the grief thy tender heart +underwent when the holy old man Simeon prophesied to thee. Dear Mother, +by thy heart then so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and +the gift of the holy fear of God. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +Mary's Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +FOR the second time the sword of sorrow pierced Mary's heart when she +was commanded to fly into Egypt with her divine Child. Without +manifesting undue perplexity or discontent, she hastily gathered a few +necessaries for the journey, while St. Joseph saddled the beast of +burden. Then taking the infant Jesus into her arms and pressing Him to +her throbbing heart, the holy pilgrims set forth into the cold, starry +night, away to a foreign land, through the trackless desert, and into a +heathen country. Arrived in Egypt, the experience of Bethlehem was +renewed; no one gave them shelter. + +PRACTICE + +DURING this second great sorrow, what was Mary's behavior? She was +content to fulfil the will of God; she did not ask for reasons, or +complain of the fatigues of the journey, but preserved her peace of +heart amid all the trials of this severe probation. She is poor, but her +poverty does not render her unhappy or querulous. If God sends us +trials, we ought not murmur or complain. Following the example of Mary, +let us bear them submissively. If we suffer patiently with Mary on +earth, we shall enjoy eternal bliss with her in heaven. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the anxiety which thy most +tender heart underwent during thy flight into Egypt and thy sojourn +there. Dear Mother, by thy heart then so sorrowful, obtain for me the +virtue of liberality, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FOURTH DAY + +Mary's Third Sorrow: Jesus Lost in Jerusalem + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +WHO can describe Mary's sorrow when, returning from Jerusalem, she +missed her divine Son? With St. Joseph she retraced her steps in anxious +search of Him whom her soul loved. She went to all her relatives and +acquaintances in Jerusalem, but heard no tidings of her lost Child. She +passed three long days of anxiety in her search, and this constitutes +her third sorrow. Of it, Origen writes: "On account of the ineffable +love of Mary for her divine Son, she suffered more by His loss than the +martyrs suffered amid the most cruel tortures." + +PRACTICE + +IN MEDITATING on this sorrow of Mary, we ought to remember how +indifferent so many Christians are after having lost God by sin. They +feel no compunction, no sorrow at having offended Him, and yet they can +weep at the loss of a trifle; they shed copious tears when their will is +crossed, or when they receive a deserved reprimand; but for the loss of +their God they have not a tear. They have lost Him, perhaps years ago, +and never make the least effort to find Him. Pray to the sorrowful +Mother that she preserve you from such a deplorable fate! + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the terrors felt by thy +anxious heart when thou didst lose thy dear Son, Jesus. Dear Mother, by +thy heart, then so agitated, obtain for me the virtue of chastity, and +with it the gift of knowledge. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +Mary's Fourth Sorrow: She Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE time was at hand when mankind's redemption was to be accomplished. +Already the divine Victim of our sins is bearing the instrument of our +salvation. Torn by the cruel scourging, crowned with thorns, and covered +with blood He proceeds on His way to Calvary, and in this pitiful +condition meets His blessed Mother. What a spectacle, what a sight for a +Mother such as Mary! Anxious to look upon her, and with one fond glance +to thank her for her heroic, unselfish love, He made an effort to change +His bowed position beneath the cross, feebly raised His head, and +directed toward her one loving glance of ineffable anguish, mingled with +grateful recognition and humble resignation. Then the sad procession +moves on, Mary following her divine Son on His way to death. + +PRACTICE + +WE, BY our sins, placed into the hands of the Jews and executioners the +weapons by which Jesus suffered, and thus we thrust the sword of sorrow +into Mary's heart. We repeat this, in a certain sense, as often as we +commit a grievous sin, because we thereby number ourselves among those +whom the Apostle describes as "crucifying again to themselves the Son of +God, and making Him a mockery" (_Heb._ vi. 6). Cardinal Hugo writes: +"Sinners crucify, as far as is in them, Christ our Lord, because they +repeat the cause of His crucifixion." Doing this, we thrust anew the +sword of sorrow into Mary's heart. Let this consideration fill us with +hatred for and fear of sin. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the shock thy mother heart +experienced when Jesus met thee as He carried His cross. Dear Mother, by +that heart of thine, then so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of +patience and the gift of fortitude. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +Mary's Fifth Sorrow: Beneath the Cross + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +AT THE crucifixion of Jesus the soul of Mary was plunged into a sea of +sorrow when she stood three hours under the cross. Writhing in +excruciating pain, the Son of God hung upon the tree of disgrace and +infamy, yet Mary continued to stand at its foot, tearful, grieving, yet +persevering, filled with anguish because she could do nothing to help +Him. Another great sorrow befell the heart of Mary when she slowly +withdrew her tearful gaze from the face of Jesus, and cast her weeping +eyes upon the cold and indifferent world that lay in darkness around and +about Calvary. And yet, "When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother and +the disciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His Mother, Woman, +behold Thy son. After that He saith to the disciple, Behold thy Mother" +(_John_ xix. 26, 27). + +PRACTICE + +THESE words, "Behold thy son, behold thy Mother," contain and express +the mystery of unbounded love, which Jesus has for all mankind, but more +especially for the Church which is appointed and authorized to lead men +to salvation. O blessed, O happy bequest! It was not enough for the love +of Jesus to have restored heaven to us by His atoning death; He wished +also to give us His dearest Mother. And she has always shown herself as +such. To each of us individually she was and is a kind and loving +Mother. Give thanks to her, bless and praise her for having adopted you +as her child, and strive to become worthy of so great a privilege. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the martyrdom thy generous +heart bore so nobly whilst thou didst stand by Jesus agonizing. Dear +Mother, by thy heart then so cruelly martyred, obtain for me the virtue +of temperance and the gift of counsel. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +Mary's Sixth Sorrow: The Taking Down of Jesus' Body from the Cross + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +WHO can describe the sorrow and anguish of Mary's heart when the body of +Jesus was taken from the cross, when her tearful eyes fell upon His +disfigured features! The pure and holy and beauteous form of her Son was +a mass of clotted blood and unsightly wounds; and yet, disfigured as it +was, there shone in His countenance a clear, calm expression of divine +majesty. Now Mary views the wounds of that sacred body; she looks at the +gap made in His side by the cruel spear, and can almost see the Sacred +Heart of Jesus, all bruised and broken for love of man. Before her +vision passes in detail His life and her own. Memory presents to her +mind every day and hour of their quiet, happy life at Nazareth. Is it to +be wondered, then, that at this bitter moment her sorrow was so great +that, as St. Anselm observes, she should have died had she not been +sustained by a miracle of divine omnipotence? + +PRACTICE + +OUGHT not the contemplation of the sorrows of our blessed Mother confirm +us in patience, in resignation to the will of God in our trials and +sufferings? If the Son of God said of Himself: "Ought not Christ to have +suffered these things, and so to enter into His glory?" (_Luke_ xxiv. +26); if the most pure and holy Mother of God, despite her great +prerogatives and merits, had to suffer a sorrow so ineffable, do not +murmur if the word of Christ is addressed also to you: "And he that +taketh not up his cross and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me" (_Matt._ +x. 38). + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the pain thou didst suffer +when the body of thy divine Son, taken down all torn and bloody from the +cross, was placed in thy arms. Dear Mother, by thy heart pierced +through, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of +understanding. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + +[Illustration: On the Way to Jerusalem] + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +Mary's Seventh Sorrow: Jesus is Buried + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE sacrifice for the redemption of the world was accomplished. "And +Joseph, taking the body, wrapt it up in a clean linen cloth, and laid it +in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled +a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way" (_Matt._ +xxvii. 59). Mary also took part in the burial of her beloved Son, though +the evangelists do not mention her name amongst those who were present +on that mournful occasion. Never, most assuredly, was human soul visited +by such woe and desolation, as that which overwhelmed hers as she cast a +last glance on the precious remains of her dead Son. + +PRACTICE + +LET us learn of the sorrowful Mother at the tomb of her divine Son +submission to God's holy will in all things, but especially when He +takes from us one of our dear ones. Again, the contemplation of the +sufferings of Mary should fortify us in patience, whenever God is +pleased to visit us with a light and small cross of affliction, or even +with a sorrow that causes our heart to bleed. It should inspire us with +a filial confidence in Mary, who thus suffered for us and gave her +divine Son for our salvation. We can and ought to prove our love for +her, not by sentimental feelings of affection, but by a sincere hatred +of sin and great fervor in the service of her divine Son. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for the anguish felt by thy loving +heart when Jesus' body was laid in the sepulcher. Dear Mother, by all +the bitterness of desolation thou didst know, obtain for me the virtue +of diligence and the gift of wisdom. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +Reasons Why Mary Had to Suffer + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE reasons why God permitted Mary to suffer so much may be briefly +stated as follows: He did so from His love for Mary and from His love +for us. He did so from His love for Mary, because by suffering she +merited greater glory in heaven. As Mother of the Crucified she +persevered beneath the cross, and now she thrones in heaven as the +glorious Mother of the risen Redeemer. Because she shared in His +suffering, she now shares His glory. Again, God permitted Mary to suffer +because He loved us. If she had not experienced such bitter sorrow, we +would not have recourse to her, for whosoever has not suffered himself +can not have sympathy with the sufferings of others. Mary knows the +pangs of sorrow by experience, and therefore knows also how to console +and help us. + +PRACTICE + +BECAUSE she herself drained the most bitter cup of sorrow, Mary is +always willing to help those who invoke her aid. But above all she is +inclined to help repentant sinners, because she knows how great the +price of their redemption was, paid by the blood of her divine Son. She +is able to help us, because, after God, she is most powerful; she is +most willing to help us, because she loves us, whom God so has loved "as +to give His only-begotten Son" (_John_ iii. 16). Let us, therefore, have +recourse to her in all our needs, and we shall experience the power of +her help in life and death. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing Mary, for all thy sorrows. I beseech +thee, dear Mother, by thy heart pierced through by them, obtain for me +full abandonment to the will of God in everything and perseverance to +the end. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +V + +Novena for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary + + + +FIRST DAY + +Mary's Death was without Pain + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +O MARY, Virgin most blessed and Mother of Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus +Christ, through thy mercy I beseech thee to come to my aid, and to +inspire me with such confidence in thy power, that I may have recourse +to thee, pray to thee, and implore thy aid in all needs of soul and +body. + +MEDITATION + +MARY, the virgin Mother of God, was conceived without original sin. She +never dimmed the luster of sanctifying grace which beautified her soul +by actual sin. Nevertheless she had to pass through the dark portal of +death before she was assumed, body and soul, into heaven. She had not +been endowed with the privilege of immortality with which God had +invested our first parents in paradise. It was meet that she should be +like unto her divine Son in everything, even in death. But as she had +drained the bitter cup of suffering during her whole life, and +especially when standing beneath the cross, her death was to be free +from pain and suffering. She quietly passed away yielding up her spirit +in a yearning desire to be united forever with her divine Son in heaven. + +PRACTICE + +IF YOU have dispossessed your heart of all unruly attachment to the +goods and enjoyments of this earth, you, too, may hope for a happy and +tranquil transition from this land of exile to your home in heaven. +Therefore, if you are still attached to the transitory things of this +life, disengage your heart from them now. The voluntary renouncement of +earthly goods alone is meritorious before God. The separation from them +enforced by the strong hand of death is of no supernatural value. + +PRAYER OF THE CHURCH + +WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants; that +we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by +the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O MOST benign Mother Mary! I rejoice that by thy happy and tranquil +death the yearning of thy heart was appeased, and thy life, so rich in +merit and sacrifice, received its crown. I rejoice that after passing +from this life, thou, O most loving Mother, wast made the glorious and +powerful queen of heaven and dost exercise thy influence as such for the +benefit of thy frail, exiled children on earth. Obtain for me, I beseech +thee, a happy death, that I may praise and glorify thy might and +kindness forever in heaven. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +_Ejaculation_ + +Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation! + +Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a +month, on any day, to all who shall have said it every day for a month, +under the usual conditions. + + + +SECOND DAY + +At Mary's Tomb + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +AN ANCIENT legend relates that, led by Heaven, all the Apostles, except +St. Thomas, assembled at the Blessed Virgin's death-bed. After she had +breathed forth her pure spirit, her sacred remains were prepared for the +grave by wrapping the body in new white linen and decking it with +flowers. Meanwhile the apostles, assembled in another room, sang psalms +and hymns in praise of their departed Mother. The apostles, all the +disciples, and the faithful dwelling in Jerusalem followed the blessed +remains to the grave chanting psalms and hymns. Arrived in the valley of +Josaphat, the body was gently placed in a sepulcher of stone not far +from the Garden of Olives. After the entombment the apostles and crowds +of the faithful lingered near the sacred spot in prayer, meditation, and +chanting of psalms in which angels' voices were heard to mingle. + +PRACTICE + +JOIN in spirit with the apostles and faithful in their prayer and +meditation at the grave of our blessed Mother. Contemplate and review +her whole life. Could a course like hers have terminated more +appropriately than with so beautiful, painless, and tranquil a passing +away? Prepare yourself even now for your departure from this life. Do +not postpone the settlement of your affairs, spiritual and temporal, +until the last uncertain hours. Above all, remove now, or as soon as +possible, all doubts, anxieties, and irregularities of conscience, +because delay is dangerous and leads to impenitence, and because in the +last hours the powers of hell usually assail the departing soul with all +their might. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +GLORIOUS Virgin, who for thy consolation didst deserve to die comforted +by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus, and in the company of the apostles +and angels; pray for us, that at that awful moment we, too, may be +comforted by receiving Jesus in the most holy Eucharist, and may feel +thee nigh when we breathe forth our soul. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +The Empty Tomb + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +ST. JOHN DAMASCENE writes: "St. Thomas was not with the other apostles +when the Blessed Virgin died, but arrived in Jerusalem on the third day +after that event. Ardently desiring to see once more and to venerate the +sacred body which had given flesh and blood to his beloved Master, the +grave was opened for this purpose. The body could nowhere be seen, and a +delicious perfume filled the empty tomb. The apostles then became +convinced that as God had preserved the body of Mary free from sin +before, in, and after the birth of His Son, He was pleased likewise, +after her death, to preserve that same body from corruption, and to +glorify it in heaven." + +A council held in Jerusalem in the year 1672 declared: "It is beyond all +doubt that the Blessed Virgin is not only a great and miraculous sign on +earth, because she bore God in the flesh and yet remained a virgin, but +she is also a great and miraculous sign in heaven, because she was taken +up thither with soul and body. For although her sinless body was +enclosed in the tomb, yet, like the body of Our Lord, it arose on the +third day and was carried up to heaven." + +Although the doctrine of the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven was +not defined by the Church as an article of faith in the strict sense, +yet the learned Pope Benedict XIV remarks, "It would be presumptuous and +blameworthy in any one to call into doubt or to question this beautiful +and consoling belief of ages." + +PRACTICE + +LET us rejoice at the thought of the glorious resurrection of our dear +Mother. Let us unite ourselves in spirit with the apostles in heaven and +with Holy Church to congratulate her on this extraordinary privilege. +But let us also rejoice at the thought of our own resurrection. True, it +shall not take place immediately after death, but it is therefore not +the less certain, and it depends on us to make it glorious and blessed. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary! As thy sacred body after +death was preserved from corruption, and united with thy sinless soul +was borne to heaven by the angels; obtain for me the grace that my life +and death be holy, so that on the Day of Judgment I may arise to glory +everlasting. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FOURTH DAY + +Reasons for the Bodily Assumption of Mary into Heaven + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +1. THE wages of sin is death. Now, as the Blessed Virgin from the first +moment of her existence was preserved from all sin, and even from +original sin, it necessarily follows that death could have no permanent +dominion over her, and that her body would not be permitted to see +corruption. + +2. This sinless body had been the medium by which the body of Our Lord +Jesus Christ, who was the conqueror of death, had been formed. How, +then, could such a highly privileged body, a pure and virginal body, be +permitted to pass through corruption and decay? + +3. As Mary had yielded up her sacred person to be a dwelling-place for +the Lord of heaven, it seems fitting that this same Lord, in His turn, +should give the kingdom of heaven to her as her resting-place. St. +Bernard expresses this sentiment as follows: "When Our Lord came into +this world, Mary furnished Him with the noblest dwelling on earth, the +temple of her virginal womb. In return, the Lord on this day raises her +up to the highest throne in heaven." + +PRACTICE + +IF YOU desire to look forward to death without fear, and to expect your +dissolution with confidence, follow the Apostle's injunction, +"Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good" (_Gal._ vi. 10). +Avoid sin, perform good works, be patient in affliction, and strive to +expiate the punishment due to your sins by voluntary acts of penance, +thus reducing your inclination to sin. Therefore offer up to God every +morning, in a spirit of penitence, all your labors, trials, and +sufferings. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary! I beseech thee through the +ineffable glory thou didst make for thy departure from this world by a +life of retirement, full of merits and virtue, dedicated to God alone; +obtain for me the grace that, following thy example, I may detach my +heart from this world, and patiently bear affliction and adversity, +carefully avoid sin, and always strive to advance in the love of God. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +Mary's Glorious Entrance into Heaven + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +A JOY greater than human heart can conceive fills the heavenly spirits +when a soul enters heaven to receive her reward. What jubilant +transports, then, must those have been with which they hailed the +entrance into heavenly bliss of the most pure and holy Virgin, the +Mother of the Son of God, body and soul, transfigured in glory! And she +is, and shall be, for all eternity, their mistress and queen! What an +ineffable joy, too, for the Blessed Virgin, to behold the countless +numbers of angels, to admire their beauty, their purity, their intense +love of God! But as the feeble light of a candle disappears before the +splendor of the sun's rays, thus are these choirs of angels obscured by +the ineffable glory of her divine Son coming to welcome His Mother. Who +can describe this affecting meeting? What a superabundant reward for +affliction and suffering! What an ocean of joy and bliss, when the Son +of God presented His Mother before the throne of His heavenly Father, +who greeted her as His beloved Daughter! What a joy to behold the Holy +Ghost, whose pure Spouse she had been even on earth! These transports of +bliss baffle all attempts at description. + +PRACTICE + +THOUGH we are unable to have an adequate perception of Mary's glory in +heaven, by which she is raised above all angels and saints, yet it is in +our power to do one thing; we can rejoice at the glory of our blessed +Mother, and join the heavenly spirits and the saints in paying homage to +her. Let us resolve to do this, and never to forget that Mary attained +to the largest share of her divine Son's glory because she was foremost +in sharing His sufferings. Let this encourage us to bear our cross, to +bear it with our Saviour even to the height of Calvary, there to die +with Him. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary! I beseech thee through the +preparation with which thou wast glorified by God--by the Father as His +most beloved Daughter, by the Son as His immaculate Mother, and by the +Holy Ghost as His most pure Spouse--in heaven; obtain for me the grace +to share to some extent this thy glory, and therefore to live so that I +may deserve it. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +Mary Crowned in Heaven + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY'S glory received its culmination by her coronation as queen of +heaven and earth. It was meet that in her should be fulfilled the words +of Holy Scripture: "Come from Libanus, my Spouse, come, thou shalt be +crowned" (_Cant._ iv. 8), and that her own prophetic words, "He hath put +down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble" (_Luke_ i. +52), should be exemplified in her. For it was reasonable and becoming +that she, who once with Jesus wore the crown of shame and contempt, +should now share with Him the crown of immortal glory. It was but fair +and just that the immaculate being who was chosen, above all inhabitants +of heaven and earth, to be the true and worthy Mother of God, should now +be solemnly installed over all creatures in heaven and on earth as the +queen of angels and men, and that to her should be offered homage, +praise, and honor by the blessed spirits and by the souls of the saints. +But the crown which she received is not one made of gold and precious +stones; it is composed of the virtues with which Mary, in faithful +co-operation with divine grace, embellished herself; it consists, too, +of all the homage and glory which she receives as queen of heaven. The +most precious gem in this crown is the filial love and gratitude Jesus +shows toward His Mother in heaven. + +PRACTICE + +INDEED, "eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither has it entered +into the heart of man," what the heavenly Father has prepared in the +mansions of eternal bliss for His beloved Daughter, the Son for His +Blessed Mother, and the Holy Ghost for His chosen Spouse. She is now +queen of heaven and earth; of heaven, for she is the queen of all angels +and saints; of earth, for as Mother of God she is the Mother of all +mankind, the mediatrix between the Redeemer and the redeemed. + +You, too, may contribute a gem toward the crown of your heavenly Mother +by paying her filial homage, imitating her virtues, and preserving, for +the love of her, your innocence and purity of heart. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +[Illustration: The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph Finding Jesus in the +Temple] + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary! I beseech thee through the +everlasting crown of glory with which God has crowned thee queen of +heaven and earth; obtain for me through thy mighty intercession the +grace to persevere in virtue to the end, so that finally I may attain +the crown of bliss prepared by God for those that love Him. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +Mary's Bliss in Heaven + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +ACCORDING to Holy Scripture and the doctrine of the Church, there are in +heaven various grades of glory and bliss, according to the rank and +merit of the saints. They probably attain this higher grade of glory and +bliss by the increase of their ability to enjoy the happiness of heaven. +Their intellect is enabled to contemplate more profoundly the +incomprehensible essence of God; their power of perception is augmented +so that they may more readily recognize and admire the splendor of the +angels, saints, and heavenly mansions; their will is enabled to be +united, in a higher degree, with God. From this we may conclude that +Mary's bliss in heaven transcends all human conception. Her heavenly +glory and reward consists in the perfect adaptation of her whole being +to the enjoyment of God and of eternal bliss. + +PRACTICE + +LOOK up, Christian soul, to this great and brilliant queen of heaven. +She is your gentle Mother and assures you of her help, and the diadem +she wears upon her brow is a proof that she has the power to help you. +Do not, therefore, refuse the hand of this mighty friend in heaven, for +she will lift you from the depths of your misery, from the rocky shoals +of temptation, and lead you strong and victorious into the presence of +her divine Son. Thus you will enter into a new and supernatural life in +Christ, to share in the grace-laden mysteries of His life, passion, and +triumph. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GREAT and glorious queen of heaven, Mary! I beseech thee by that +exalted throne upon which God has raised thee above all angels and +saints; let me one day appear amongst them to join them in their praise +of thee. Obtain for me the grace that I may never cease to honor thee as +thou dost deserve to be honored, and thereby to become worthy of thy +mighty protection in life and death. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +Mary, the Queen of Mercy + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY is, then, a queen, but--what a consolation to know it!--a queen +always mild and gentle, always willing to confer benefits upon us. Hence +the Church teaches us to call her the Mother of mercy. The pious and +learned author Gerson says: "God's dominion comprises justice and mercy. +He divided it, retaining the administration of justice for Himself, and +relinquishing, in a certain sense, the dispensation of mercy to Mary, by +conferring through her hands all graces He grants to mankind." How +consoling, then, the assurance that our merciful Mother is so mighty and +so loving a queen! + +PRACTICE + +SO GREAT is the tenderness of Mary's maternal heart "that never was it +heard that any one who fled to her protection, implored her help, and +sought her intercession was left unaided." How many prayers, petitions, +and thanksgivings ascend daily to the throne of this our exalted and +merciful protectress! There is not a cry of an afflicted, struggling, +and suffering soul that she does not graciously hear. Join, therefore, +confidently in the prayer of Holy Church, "Hail, holy queen, Mother of +mercy!" Approach her with filial trust. Neglect not to honor her +yourself, and do all in your power to lead others to do her honor. + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary! Holy Church teaches me that +despite the glory to which thou wast exalted, thou didst not forget thy +miserable clients, and that in heaven thy mercy is still greater than it +was during thy life on earth. Therefore I come to thee and trustingly +lay at thy feet all my needs, miseries, and petitions. My queen, my +Mother, turn not thy gracious eyes from me. Remember me with thy divine +Son; cease not to pray for me and take me under thy protection, so that +I may finally have the happiness to see and praise thee in thy glory for +ever and ever. + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +Mary in Heaven, the Help of Christians on Earth + +Preparatory Prayer (located on the first day of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +MARY'S help as Mother of mercy is not confined to individuals. She is +the protectress and helper of the whole Church. All over the earth, +wherever we cast our glance, in the records of the history of times long +past and those of recent occurrence, we find testimony of the graces and +benefits obtained through her intercession. The feasts celebrated by the +Church throughout the year, what are they but evidences of gratitude +offered to the queen of heaven for the oftentimes miraculous delivery +from war, pestilence, and other great afflictions? Hence she is rightly +invoked as the "Help of Christians." + +PRACTICE + +IN OUR days, too, storms and dangers threaten the Church. Let us, +therefore, by calling on Mary for help, do our part toward shortening +the days of visitation and trial. Let us not confine our petitions to +her within the narrow limits of our own personal needs, but let us join +in the cry for help ascending to the Mother of mercy throughout all +Christendom. Let us daily, for Holy Church, send up our petition to +Mary's heavenly throne: "Help of Christians, pray for us!" + +Prayer of the Church (located on the first day of the novena). + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of approved litanies). + +_Prayer_ + +O GLORIOUS Virgin and Mother of God, Mary, queen of heaven! Forget us +not. Thou art the help of Christians; lighten our tribulations, and help +us with motherly intercession at the throne of thy divine Son. With Holy +Church I join in the petition to thee: "Holy Mary, aid the miserable, +assist the desponding, strengthen the weak, pray for the people, plead +for the clergy, intercede for the devout female sex. Let all who have +recourse to thee experience the efficacy of thy help!" + +Hail Mary, etc. + +Ejaculation (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +PART III + +The Fourteen Holy Helpers + + +"The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death +shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and +their departure was taken for misery, and their going away from us for +utter destruction; but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men +they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in +a few things, in many they shall be well rewarded; because God has tried +them and found them worth of Himself" (_Wis._ iii 1-5.) + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Fourteen Holy Helpers + +AMONG the saints who in Catholic devotion are invoked with special +confidence, because they have proved themselves efficacious helpers in +adversity and difficulties, there is a group venerated under the +collective name of Holy Helpers. They are: + + 1. St. George, Martyr. + 2. St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr. + 3. St. Pantaleon, Martyr. + 4. St. Vitus, Martyr. + 5. St. Erasmus, Bishop and Martyr. + 6. St. Christophorus, Martyr. + 7. St. Dionysius, Bishop and Martyr. + 8. St. Cyriacus, Martyr. + 9. St. Achatius, Martyr. + 10. St. Eustachius, Martyr. + 11. St. Giles, Abbot. + 12. St. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr. + 13. St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr. + 14. St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr. + +The reason why these saints are invoked as a group is said to have been +an epidemic which devastated Europe from 1346 to 1349. It was called the +Plague, or "Black Death," and among its symptoms were the turning black +of the tongue, parching of the throat, violent headache, fever, and +boils on the abdomen. The malady attacked its victims suddenly, bereft +them of reason, and caused death in a few hours, so that many died +without the last sacraments. Fear caused many attacks and disrupted +social and family ties. To all appearances, the disease was incurable. + +During this period of general affliction the people in pious confidence +turned toward Heaven, and had recourse to the intercession of the +saints, praying to be spared an attack, or to be cured when stricken. +Among the saints invoked since the earliest times of the Church as +special patrons in certain diseases were: St. Christopher and St. Giles +against the plague, St. Dionysius against headache, St. Blase against +ills of the throat, St. Catherine against those of the tongue, St. +Erasmus against those of the abdomen, St. Barbara against fever, St. +Vitus against epilepsy. St. Pantaleon was the patron of physicians, St. +Cyriacus was had recourse to in temptations, especially in those at the +hour of death; St. Achatius was invoked in death agony; Sts. +Christopher, Barbara, and Catherine were appealed to for protection +against a sudden and unprovided death; the aid of St. Giles was implored +for making a good confession; St. Eustachius was patron in all kinds of +difficulties, and, because peculiar circumstances separated him for a +time from his family, he was invoked also in family troubles. Domestic +animals, too, being attacked by the plague, Sts. George, Erasmus, +Pantaleon, and Vitus were invoked for their protection. It appears from +the invocation of these saints, so widespread in olden times during the +plague and other epidemics, that their being grouped as the Fourteen +Holy Helpers originated in a like visitation. + +The fourteen saints venerated as the Holy Helpers are represented with +the symbols of their martyrdom, or with the insignia of their state of +life; also, as a group of children. The latter representation is +accounted for as follows: + +The abbey of Langheim, in the diocese of Bamberg, Bavaria, owned a farm +on which the monks kept their flocks. The sheep were tended by +shepherds, who led them along the hillsides, where they grazed quietly +during the day, and were driven home in the evening. + +On the evening of September 22, 1445, a young shepherd, Herman Leicht, +who was gathering his flock for the homeward drive, heard what seemed to +him to be the cry of a child, and looking about, saw a child sitting in +a field near by. Surprised, and wondering how the child came there, he +was about to approach, when it disappeared. Feeling rather disturbed, +the boy returned to his flock. After reaching it, he turned to look back +to the place where he had seen the apparition. There the child sat +again, this time in a circle of light, and between two burning candles. +Terrified at this second apparition, he made the sign of the cross. The +child smiled, as if to encourage him, and he was about to approach it +again, when it vanished a second time. Greatly perplexed, he drove his +flock home and informed his parents of the occurrence. But they called +the apparition a delusion and told him not to mention it to any one. +Nevertheless, feeling uneasy, and desiring an explanation, he went to +the monastery and related his experience to one of the Fathers, who +advised him to ask the child, if it ever should appear to him again, +what it wanted. + +Nearly a year later, June 28, 1446, the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter +and Paul, the child again appeared to the boy in the same place as +before and about sunset; but this time it was surrounded by thirteen +other children, all in a halo of glory. He boldly approached the group +and asked the child he had formerly seen in the name of the Father, and +of the Son, and the Holy Ghost, what it desired. The child replied: "We +are the Fourteen Helpers, and desire that a chapel be built for us. Be +thou our servant, and we shall serve thee." Then the group of children +disappeared, and the shepherd boy was filled with heavenly consolation. + +The following Sunday, after he had driven his flock to the pasture, it +seemed to him that he saw two lighted candles descending from the sky to +the place where he had seen the apparition. A woman who was passing at +the time declared that she also saw them. The boy hastened to the +monastery and told about the two apparitions. The abbot, Frederic IV, +and the rest of the community, were not inclined to believe in the +apparition, and ascribed it to the boy's visionary fancy. But when, in +the course of time, several extraordinary favors were granted to people +who prayed at the place of the apparition, the monks built a chapel +there. It was begun in 1447, and finished and dedicated next year under +the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Fourteen Holy Helpers. +The bishop granted an indulgence for the day of the anniversary of the +dedication, the Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Joannes, granted another, and +Pope Nicholas V a third. These indulgences, and a number of other +spiritual privileges granted to the chapel, attracted a great many +visitors, so that it became a place of pious pilgrimage. Elector +Frederic III, in fulfilment of a vow made when beset with difficulties, +visited the chapel in 1485. Emperor Ferdinand also visited it and left, +as a votive offering, his gold pectoral chain on the altar. + +Devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers continued to spread. In 1743, a +magnificent church, to replace the old chapel, was begun, and completed +in 1772. Churches and altars in honor of these saints are found in +Italy, Austria, Tyrol, Hungary, Bohemia, Switzerland, and other +countries of Europe. In the United States of America two churches are +dedicated under the invocation of the Holy Helpers: one in Baltimore, +Md., the other in Gardenville, N. Y. Wherever and whenever invoked, +these saints have proved themselves willing helpers in all difficulties, +vicissitudes, and trials of their faithful clients. + + + +CHAPTER II + +Legends + +BEFORE proceeding to relate the lives of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, we +deem it opportune to define the term usually applied to the narrative of +the lives of the saints. + +The histories of the saints are called Legends. This word is derived +from the Latin, and signifies something that is to be read, a passage +the reading of which is prescribed. The legends of the saints are the +lives of the holy martyrs and confessors of the Faith. Some of them +occur in the Roman Breviary which the Catholic clergy is obliged to read +every day. + +Joseph von Goerres, an illustrious champion of the Church during the +first half of the nineteenth century, writes as follows concerning +legends: + +"The histories of the lives of the saints were gathered from the +earliest times. A collection of such histories is found in 'The Golden +Legend.' The Passionales, too, containing the life of a saint for every +day in the year, belong to this sort of literature. In Germany these +histories were at first translations from the Latin; later, they were +written in the native idiom, and, in style, were of a charming +simplicity. At that time, when the upper classes did not yet judge +themselves too highly cultivated to share in the Faith, and not too +privileged to join in the sentiments and affections of the people, and +were therefore more in harmony with the lower ranks of society, these +legends were in general circulation among all classes: among the wealthy +in manuscript, among the poor orally and in the form in which they had +become acquainted with them in church and elsewhere. + +"In early times the science of criticism was unknown; therefore little +care was exercised in separating the poetic additions from the authentic +legends, especially as the Church had not yet spoken on the subject. +Faith was yet of that robust sort which is not affected by miraculous +occurrences. Nearly all Europe then still accepted the adage now current +only in Spain, 'It is better sometimes to believe what can not be +established as truth, than to lose a single truth by want of faith.' But +later the science of criticism came into its rights. The Church +established canonical rules, according to which a strict investigation +of all the facts submitted to her judgment was to be made, and rejected +everything that could not stand the most rigid examination. + +[Illustration: Mary, the Mother of Sorrows] + +"Then Art devoted itself to that legendary lore which the Church, +declaring it outside of her domain, permitted to be embellished at will. +Thus poetic legends were multiplied, their authors being more or less +convinced that the reader would be able to distinguish truth from +poetical embellishment. The common people continued to make little +distinction and did not permit criticism to influence their ancient +beliefs. They regarded these legends as they regard the pictures of the +saints; not as portraits of the persons depicted--for in the very next +church the same saint might be represented in a quite different manner-- +but as illustrations, more or less apt, whose object was to attract the +attention by their artistic character and thus to draw the mind to the +contemplation of their original, and by it to God, and thereby serve the +purpose of edification." + +If we are not devoid of all sentiments of piety, the history of the +combats and victories of the saints and martyrs, and the narrative of +the miracles wrought through their intercession before and after their +death, will always be a source of joy and consolation to us, and will +tend to animate us with similar fortitude and love of virtue. + +The legends of the Fourteen Holy Helpers are replete with the most +glorious examples of heroic firmness and invincible courage in the +profession of the Faith, which ought to incite us to imitate their +fidelity in the performance of the Christian and social duties. If they, +with the aid of God's grace, achieved such victories, why should not we, +by the same aid, be able to accomplish the little desired of us? God +rewarded His victorious champions with eternal bliss; the same crown is +prepared for us, if we but render ourselves worthy of it. God placed the +seal of miracles on the intrepid confession of His servants; and a mind +imbued with the spirit of faith sees nothing extraordinary therein, +because our divine Saviour Himself said, "Amen, amen I say to you, he +that believeth in Me, the works that I do, he also shall do, and greater +than these shall he do" (_John_ xiv. 12). In all the miraculous events +wrought in and by the saints appears only the victorious omnipotent +power of Jesus Christ, and the living faith in which His servants +operated in virtue of this power. To obliterate the miracles that appear +in the lives of the saints, or even to enfeeble their import by the +manner of relating them, would rob these legends of their intrinsic +value. If our age is no longer robust enough to acknowledge the effects +of divine omnipotence and grace, it does not follow that they must be +disavowed or denied. + + + +The Legends of the Fourteen Holy Helpers + +I. + +St. George, Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. GEORGE is honored throughout Christendom as one of the most +illustrious martyrs of Jesus Christ. In the reign of the first Christian +emperors numerous churches were erected in his honor, and his tomb in +Palestine became a celebrated place of pilgrimage. But his history is +involved in great obscurity, as no early records of his life and +martyrdom are at present in existence. The following are the traditions +concerning him which have been handed down to us by the Greek +historians, and which are celebrated in verse by that illustrious saint +and poet of the eighth century, St. John Damascene. + +St. George is said to have been born in Cappadocia of noble Christian +parents. After the death of his father, he traveled with his mother into +Palestine, of which she was a native. There she possessed a considerable +estate, which fell to him upon her death. Being strong and robust in +body, he embraced the profession of a soldier, and was made a tribune, +or colonel, in the army. His courage and fidelity attracted the +attention of Emperor Diocletian, who bestowed upon him marks of special +favor. When that prince declared war against the Christian religion, St. +George laid aside the signs of his rank, threw up his commission, and +rebuked the emperor for the severity of his bloody edicts. He was +immediately cast into prison, and alternate threats and promises were +employed to induce him to apostatize. As he continued firm, he was put +to the torture and tormented with great cruelty. "I despise your +promises," he said to the judge, "and do not fear your threats. The +emperor's power is of short duration, and his reign will soon end. It +were better for you, to acknowledge the true God and to seek His +kingdom." Thereupon a great block of stone was placed on the breast of +the brave young officer, and thus he was left in prison. + +Next day he was bound upon a wheel set with sharp knives, and it was put +in motion to cut him to pieces. Whilst suffering this cruel torture, he +saw a heavenly vision, which consoled and encouraged him, saying, +"George, fear not; I am with thee." His patience and fortitude under the +torments inflicted on him so affected the numerous pagan spectators that +many of them were converted to the Faith and suffered martyrdom for it. +On the next day, April 23, 303, St. George was led through the city and +beheaded. This took place at Lydda, the city in which, as we read in the +Acts of the Apostles (ix.), St. Peter healed a man sick with the palsy. + +St. George is usually represented as a knight tilting against a dragon; +but this is only emblematical of the glorious combat in which he +encountered and overthrew the devil, winning for himself thereby a +martyr's crown. + +LESSON + +WE TOO, like St. George, often have opportunity to confess our faith in +Christ. We confess it by patiently bearing adversity, by suppressing our +evil inclinations, by suffering injustice without retaliating evil for +evil, by using every opportunity of performing deeds of charity, by +devoting ourselves unremittingly to our daily duties, by carefully +guarding our tongue, etc. Examine yourself whether you have not often +denied your Faith, if not in words, through your works. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who dost rejoice us by the merits and intercession of Thy blessed +martyr George; graciously grant that we, who through him implore Thee +for Thy bounty, may receive thereby the gift of Thy grace. Through +Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +II + +St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. BLASE was born at Sebaste, Armenia. He became a physician, but at +the same time devoted himself zealously to the practice of his Christian +duties. His virtuous conduct gained for him the esteem of the Christian +clergy and people to such a degree, that he was elected bishop of his +native city. Henceforth he devoted himself to ward off the dangers of +soul from the faithful, as he had hitherto been intent on healing their +bodily ills. To all, he was a shining example of virtue. + +During the reign of Emperor Licinius a cruel persecution of Christians +broke out. The persecutors directed their fury principally against the +bishops, well knowing that when the shepherd is stricken the flock is +dispersed. Listening to the entreaties of the faithful, and mindful of +the words of Our Lord, "When they shall persecute you in this city, flee +into another" (_Matt._ x. 23), St. Blase hid himself in a cave. But one +day the prefect Agricola instituted a chase, and his party discovered +the holy bishop and brought him before their master. + +St. Blase remained steadfast in the Faith, and by its able confession +and defense attracted the attention of the attendants at his trial. The +cruel tyrant had him bound and tortured with iron combs. After suffering +these torments with great patience and meekness, the saint was cast into +prison. He was kept there a long time, because the prefect hoped to +exhaust his powers of endurance, and to bring him to sacrifice to the +idols. His jailer permitted the holy bishop to receive visitors in his +prison, and many sick and suffering availed themselves of this +privilege. He cured some of them and gave good advice to others. + +One day a mother brought to him her boy, who, while eating, had +swallowed a fishbone, which remained in his throat, and, causing great +pain, threatened suffocation. St. Blase prayed and made the sign of the +cross over the boy, and behold, he was cured. For this reason the saint +is invoked in throat troubles. + +At length the holy bishop was again brought before the judge and +commanded to sacrifice to the idols. But he said: "Thou art blind, +because thou art not illuminated by the true light. How can a man +sacrifice to idols, when he adores the true God alone? I do not fear thy +threats. Do with me according to thy pleasure. My body is in thy power, +but God alone has power over my soul. Thou seekest salvation with the +idols; I hope and trust to receive it from the only true and living God +whom I adore." + +Then the prefect sentenced him to death. St. Blase was beheaded, +suffering death for the Faith February 3, 316. + +LESSON + +ST. BLASE gave us a glorious example of fortitude in the confession of +the Faith. According to the teaching of St. Paul, confession of the +Faith is necessary for our salvation. He says, "For if thou confess with +thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised +Him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart we believe +unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" +(_Rom._ x. 9, 10). We are, therefore, not permitted to be silent, much +less to agree, when our Faith, and whatever is connected therewith, as +the sacraments, ceremonies, priests, etc., are ridiculed and reviled. +Parents especially must be most careful in speaking of these subjects +before their children and servants, and do so only with due reverence. + +On the contrary, we must confess our Faith, and if necessary, defend it +against all attacks. Often one serious word will suffice to silence a +calumniator of the Faith and cause him to blush. We must confess our +Faith not only in the bosom of our family, but also in public. We must +let our fellow-men know that we are true Catholics, who adhere to our +Faith from conviction, without regard to what others say of us, or how +they judge us, remembering the words of Our Lord, "Every one, therefore, +that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my +Father who is in heaven" (_Matt._ x. 32). + +It was remarked above that St. Blase is the patron invoked in throat +troubles. Therefore the Church, on his feast, February 3, gives a +special blessing, at which she prays over those receiving it: "By the +intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver thee from +all ills of the throat and from all other ills; in the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Do not neglect to +receive this blessing, if you have the opportunity. The blessings of the +Church are powerful and effective, for she is God's representative on +earth. Therefore her blessing is God's blessing, and is always +effective, except we ourselves place an obstacle in its way. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who dost rejoice us through the memory of Thy blessed bishop and +martyr Blase: graciously grant us, that we, who honor his memory, may +experience his protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +III + +St. Erasmus, Bishop and Martyr + +LEGEND + +THE pious historians of the early Christian times state, as a rule, only +what the saints did and suffered for the Faith, and how they died. They +deemed the martyrs' glorious combat and their victorious entrance into +heaven more instructive, and therefore more important, than a lengthy +description of their lives. + +Hence we know little of the native place and the youth of St. Erasmus, +except that at the beginning of the fourth century of the Christian era +he was bishop of Antioch in Asia Minor, the city where the name of +"Christian" first came into use. When a long and cruel persecution broke +out under the Emperor Diocletian, St. Erasmus hid himself in the +mountains of the Libanon, and led there, for some years, an austere life +of penance and fasting. Finally he was discovered and dragged before the +judge. + +At first, persuasions and kindness were employed to induce him to deny +the Faith, but when these efforts failed recourse was had to the most +cruel torments. He was scourged, and finally cast into a caldron filled +with boiling oil, sulphur, and pitch. In this seething mass God +preserved him from harm, and by this miracle many spectators were +converted to the Faith. Still more enraged thereat, the judge ordered +the holy bishop to be thrown into prison and kept there in chains till +he died of starvation. But God delivered him, as He had once delivered +St. Peter. One night an angel appeared to him and said: "Erasmus, follow +me! Thou shalt convert a great many." Thus far he had led numbers to the +Faith by suffering, now he was to convert multitudes as a missionary. + +Delivered from prison by the power of God, he went forth into many lands +and preached the Faith. Mighty in word and deed, he wrought many +miracles and converted great numbers of heathens. At length he came to +Italy, where Emperor Maximin persecuted the Christians as fiercely as +did Diocletian in the East. As soon as Maximin heard of Erasmus and the +conversions effected by his preaching and miracles, he ordered the +slaughter of three hundred of the converts. Erasmus himself was most +cruelly tortured, but to no purpose. He remained firm. Then cast into +prison, he was again liberated by an angel. + +At last the hour of deliverance came to this valiant and apostolic +confessor and martyr of Christ. He heard a heavenly voice, saying: +"Erasmus, come now to the heavenly city and rest in the place which God +has prepared for thee with the holy martyrs and prophets. Enjoy now the +fruit of thy labor. By thee I was honored in heaven and on earth." +Erasmus, looking toward heaven, saw a splendid crown, and the apostles +and prophets welcoming him. He bowed his head, saying: "Receive, O Lord, +the soul of thy servant!" and peacefully breathed forth his spirit on +June 2, 308. + +LESSON + +THE tortures which St. Erasmus suffered for the Faith seem almost +incredible, and the events related of him are truly wonderful. Martyrdom +and miracles illustrated the doctrine he preached; he converted +multitudes and gained the crown of heaven. + +Perhaps you say that in our times there are no longer any martyrs, at +least not in civilized countries. Are you quite sure of it? St. +Augustine writes: "Peace also has its martyrs." It is certainly not easy +to suffer torments like the martyrs and to receive finally the +death-dealing blow of the sword. But is it not also a martyrdom to suffer +for years the pains of a lingering illness? Again, how difficult the +combat with the world, the flesh, and the powers of hell! How carefully +must we watch and pray to gain the victory! This is our martyrdom. Let us +imitate the example of the holy martyrs in bearing the trials and +sufferings of life, and we shall receive, as they did, the crown of +heaven. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who dost give us joy through the memory of Thy holy martyrs, +graciously grant that we may be inflamed by their example, in whose +merits we rejoice. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +IV + +St. Pantaleon, Physician and Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. PANTALEON was physician to Emperor Maximin and a Christian, but he +fell through a temptation which is sometimes more dangerous than the +most severe trials by the fiercest torments. This temptation was the bad +example of the impious, idolatrous courtiers with whom the young +physician associated. He was seduced by them and abandoned the Faith. +But the grace of God called him, and he obeyed. + +Hermolaus, a zealous priest, by prudent exhortation awakened Pantaleon's +conscience to a sense of his guilt, and brought him back into the fold +of the Church. Henceforth he devoted himself ardently to the advancement +of the spiritual and temporal welfare of his fellow-citizens. First of +all he sought to convert his father, who was still a heathen, and had +the consolation to see him die a Christian. He divided the ample fortune +which he inherited amongst the poor and the sick. As a physician, he was +intent on healing his patients both by physical and by spiritual means. +Christians he confirmed in the practice and confession of the Faith, and +the heathens he sought to convert. Many suffering from incurable +diseases were restored to health by his prayer and the invocation of the +holy name of Jesus. His presence was everywhere fraught with blessings +and consolation. + +St. Pantaleon yearned to prove his fidelity to the Faith by shedding his +blood for it, and the opportunity came to him when his heathen +associates in the healing art denounced him to the emperor as a zealous +propagator of Christianity. He was brought up before the emperor's +tribunal and ordered to sacrifice to the idols. He replied: "The God +whom I adore is Jesus Christ. He created heaven and earth, He raised the +dead to life, made the blind see and healed the sick, all through the +power of His word. Your idols are dead, they can not do anything. Order +a sick person to be brought here, one declared incurable. Your priests +shall invoke their idols for him and I shall call on the only true God, +and we shall see who is able to help him." The proposal was accepted. A +man sick with the palsy was brought, who could neither walk nor stand +without help. The heathen priests prayed for him, but in vain. Then +Pantaleon prayed, took the sick man by the hand, and said: "In the name +of Jesus, the Son of God, I command thee to rise and be well." And the +palsied man rose, restored to perfect health. + +By this miracle a great number of those present were converted. But the +emperor and the idolatrous priests were all the more enraged. Maximin +now attempted to gain Pantaleon by blandishments and promises to deny +the Faith, but without success. Then he had recourse to threats, and as +they too availed nothing, he proceeded to have them put into execution. +The brave confessor of the Faith was tortured in every conceivable +manner. Finally he was nailed to a tree, and then beheaded. The priest +Hermolaus and the brothers Hermippos and Hermocrates suffered death with +him, in the year 308. + +LESSON + +HAPPY are they who, whatever may be their station or calling in life, +are intent on bringing those with whom they come into contact under the +influence of religion. But, alas, too many do just the reverse. They +permit themselves to be led astray by bad example, and set aside the +claims of the Church as too severe and exacting. How do you act in this +regard? Do you shun the company of the wicked? A proverb says: "Tell me +in whose company you are found, and I will tell you who you are." Bad +company insensibly undermines faith and morals, overcomes the fear of +evil and the aversion to it and weakens the will. "He that loveth danger +shall perish in it" (_Ecclus_. iii. 27). + +As soon as St. Pantaleon came to a sense of his apostasy, he repented +and returned to the practice of the Faith. He did this despite the +knowledge that he thereby incurred hatred and persecution. The true +Christian will ever follow the dictates of conscience and please God, +whether he thereby incur the displeasure of men or not. If, to please +men, we become remiss in the service of God, we show that we fear and +love Him less than men. What a lamentable folly! Of whom have we to +expect greater benefits or to fear greater evils--from God or man? Do +not act thus unwisely; rather imitate St. Pantaleon, and live for God +and His service. + +_Prayer of the church_ + +ALMIGHTY God, grant us through the intercession of Thy blessed martyr +Pantaleon to be delivered and preserved from all ills of the body, and +from evil thoughts and influences in spirit. Through Christ our Lord. +Amen. + +[Illustration: Our Lord in the Lap of His Blessed Mother] + + + +V + +St Vitus, Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. VITUS belonged to a noble pagan family of Sicily, and was born about +the year 291, at Mazurra. His father, Hylas, placed him in early +childhood in charge of a Christian couple named Modestus and Crescentia, +who raised him in the Christian faith, and had him baptized. He grew in +years and in virtue, till, at the age of twelve, he was claimed by his +father, who, to his great anger, found him a fervent Christian. +Convinced, after many unsuccessful attempts, that stripes and other +chastisements would not induce him to renounce the Faith, his father +delivered the brave boy up to Valerian, the governor, who in vain +employed every artifice to shake his constancy. Finally he commanded +Vitus to be scourged, but when two soldiers were about to execute this +order their hands and those of Valerian were suddenly lamed. The +governor ascribed this to sorcery, yet he invoked Vitus' help, and +behold, when the Christian boy made the sign of the cross over the lamed +members, they were healed. Then Valerian sent him back to his father, +telling him to leave no means untried to induce his son to sacrifice to +the idols. + +Hylas now tried blandishments, pleasures, and amusements to influence +the brave boy. He even sent a corrupt woman to tempt him, and for that +purpose locked them both together in one room. But Vitus, who had +remained firm amid tortures, resisted also the allurements of +sensuality. Closing his eyes, he knelt in prayer, and behold, an angel +appeared, filling the room with heavenly splendor, and stood at the +youth's side. Terrified, the woman fled. But even this miracle did not +change the obstinate father. + +Finally Vitus escaped, and with Modestus and Crescentia fled to Italy. +They landed safe in Naples, and there proclaimed Christ wherever they +had an opportunity. Their fervor and many miracles which they wrought +attracted the attention of Emperor Diocletian to them. He ordered them +to be brought before his tribunal, which being done, he at first treated +them kindly, employing blandishments and making promises to induce them +to renounce Christ. When this had no effect, they were cruelly +tormented, but with no other result than confirming them in their +constancy. Enraged, the emperor condemned them to be thrown to the wild +beasts. But the lions and tigers forgot their ferocity and cowered at +their feet. Now Diocletian, whose fury knew no bounds, ordered them to +be cast into a caldron of molten lead and boiling pitch. They prayed, "O +God, deliver us through the power of Thy name!" and behold, they +remained unharmed. Then the emperor condemned them to the rack, on which +they expired, in the year 303. + +LESSON + +THE heroic spirit of martyrdom exhibited by St. Vitus was owing to the +early impressions of piety which he received through the teaching and +example of his virtuous foster-parents. The choice of teachers, nurses, +and servants who have the care of children is of the greatest importance +on account of the influence they exert on them. The pagan Romans were +most solicitous that no slave whose speech was not perfectly elegant and +graceful should have access to children. Shall a Christian be less +careful as to their virtue? It is a fatal mistake to imagine that +children are too young to be infected with the contagion of vice. No age +is more impressionable than childhood; no one observes more closely than +the young, and nothing is so easily acquired by them as a spirit of +vanity, pride, revenge, obstinacy, sloth, etc., and nothing is harder to +overcome. What a happiness for a child to be formed to virtue from +infancy, and to be instilled from a tender age with the spirit of piety, +simplicity, meekness, and mercy! Such a foundation being well laid, the +soul will easily, and sometimes without experiencing severe conflicts, +rise to the height of Christian perfection. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, to graciously grant us through the intercession +of Thy blessed martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, that we may not +proudly exalt ourselves, but serve Thee in humility and simplicity, so +as to avoid evil and to do right for Thy sake. Through Christ our Lord. +Amen. + + + +VI + +St. Christophorus, Martyr + +LEGEND + +AN ANCIENT tradition concerning St. Christophorus relates: He was born +in the land of Canaan, and was named Reprobus, that is Reprobate, for he +was a barbarous heathen. In stature and strength he was a giant. +Thinking no one his like in bodily vigor, he resolved to go forth in +search of the mightiest master and serve him. In his wanderings, he met +with a king who was praised as the most valorous man on earth. To him he +offered his services and was accepted. The king was proud of his giant +and kept him near his person. One day a minstrel visited the king's +castle, and among the ballads he sung before the court was one on the +power of Satan. At the mention of this name the king blessed himself, +making the sign of the cross. Reprobus, wondering, asked him why he did +that. The king replied: "When I make this sign, Satan has no power over +me." Reprobus rejoined: "So thou fearest the power of Satan? Then he is +mightier than thou, and I shall seek and serve him." + +Setting forth to seek Satan, he came into a wilderness. One dark night +he met a band of wild fellows riding through the forest. It was Satan +and his escort. Reprobus bravely accosted him, saying he wished to serve +him. He was accepted. But soon he was convinced that his new master was +not the mightiest on earth. For one day, whilst approaching a crucifix +by the wayside, Satan quickly took to flight, and Reprobus asked him for +the reason. Satan replied: "That is the image of my greatest enemy, who +conquered me on the cross. From him I always flee." When Reprobus heard +this, he left the devil, and went in search of Christ. + +In his wanderings, he one day came to a hut hidden in the forest. At its +door sat a venerable old man. Reprobus addressed him, and in the course +of the conversation that ensued the old man told him that he was a +hermit, and had left the world to serve Christ, the Lord of heaven and +earth. "Thou art my man," cried Reprobus; "Christ is He whom I seek, for +He is the strongest and the mightiest. Tell me where I can find Him." + +The hermit then began instructing the giant about God and the Redeemer, +and concluded by saying: "He who would serve Christ must offer himself +entirely to Him, and do and suffer everything for His sake. His reward +for this will be immense and will last forever." Reprobus now asked the +hermit to allow him to remain, and to continue to instruct him. The +hermit consented. When Reprobus was fully instructed, he baptized him. +After his baptism, a great change came over the giant. No longer proud +of his great size and strength, he became meek and humble, and asked the +hermit to assign to him some task by which he might serve God, his +master. "For," said he, "I can not pray and fast; therefore I must serve +God in some other way." The hermit led him to a broad and swift river +nearby, and said: "Here build thyself a hut, and when wanderers wish to +cross the river, carry them over for the love of Christ." For there was +no bridge across the river. + +Henceforth, day and night, whenever he was called, Reprobus faithfully +performed the task assigned to him. One night he heard a child calling +to be carried across the river. Quickly he rose, placed the child on his +stout shoulder, took his staff and walked into the mighty current. +Arrived in midstream, the water rose higher and higher, and the child +became heavier and heavier. "O child," he cried, "how heavy thou art! It +seems I bear the weight of the world on my shoulder." And the child +replied, "Right thou art. Thou bearest not only the world, but the +Creator of heaven and earth. I am Jesus Christ, thy King and Lord, and +henceforth thou shalt be called Christophorus, that is, Christ-bearer. +Arrived on yonder shore, plant thy staff in the ground, and in token of +my power and might tomorrow it shall bear leaves and blossoms." + +And the child disappeared. On reaching the other shore, Christophorus +stuck his staff into the ground, and behold, it budded forth leaves and +blossoms. Then, kneeling, he promised the Lord to serve Him ever +faithfully. He kept his promise, and thenceforth became a zealous +preacher of the Gospel, converting many to the Faith. On his missionary +peregrinations he came also to Lycia, where, after his first sermon, +eighteen thousand heathens requested baptism. When Emperor Decius heard +of this, he sent a company of four hundred soldiers to capture +Christophorus. To these he preached so convincingly, that they all asked +for baptism. Decius became enraged thereat and had him cast into prison. +There he first treated him with great kindness, and surrounded him with +every luxury to tempt him to sin, but in vain. Then he ordered him to be +tortured in the most cruel manner, until he should deny the Faith. He +was scourged, placed on plates of hot iron, boiling oil was poured over +and fire was lighted under him. When all these torments did not +accomplish their purpose, the soldiers were ordered to shoot him with +arrows. This, too, having no effect, he was beheaded, on July 25, 254. + +Two great saints refer to the wonderful achievements of St. +Christophorus. St. Ambrose mentions that this saint converted +forty-eight thousand souls to Christ. St. Vincent Ferrer declares, +that when the plague devastated Valencia, its destructive course +was stayed through the intercession of St. Christophorus. + +LESSON + +THE legend of St. Christophorus conveys a wholesome truth. We ought all +to be Christ-bearers, by preserving in our hearts faith, hope, and +charity, and by receiving Our Lord worthily in holy communion. He alone +is worthy of our service. In the service that we owe to men, we ought to +serve God by doing His will. We can not divide our heart, for Our Lord +Himself says, "No man can serve two masters" (_Matt_. vi. 24). If you +serve the world, it deceives you, for it can not give you what it +promises. If you serve sin, Satan is your master. He, too, deceives his +servants, and leads them to perdition. Christ on the cross conquered +these two tyrants, and with His help you can also vanquish them. +Therefore, give yourself to Him with all your heart, and you shall find +peace in this world, and eternal bliss in the next. St. Augustine +learned this truth by sad experience, and therefore exclaims: "Thou hast +created us for Thee, O Lord, and our heart is restless till it rests in +Thee." + +_Prayer of the church_ + +GRANT us, almighty God, that whilst we celebrate the memory of Thy +blessed martyr St. Christophorus, through his intercession the love of +Thy name may be increased in us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +VII + +St. Dionysius, Bishop and Martyr + +LEGEND + +WHEN St. Paul the Apostle, in the year of Our Lord 51, came to Athens to +preach the Gospel, he was summoned to the Areopagus, the great council +which determined all religious matters. Among the members of this +illustrious assembly was Dionysius. His mind had already been prepared +to receive the good tidings of the Gospel by the miraculous darkness +which overspread the earth at the moment of Our Lord's death on the +cross. He was at that time at Heliopolis, in Egypt. On beholding the sun +obscured in the midst of its course, and this without apparent cause, he +is said to have exclaimed: "Either the God of nature is suffering, or +the world is about to be dissolved." When St. Paul preached before the +Areopagus in Athens, Dionysius easily recognized the truth and readily +embraced it. + +The Apostle received him among his disciples, and appointed him bishop +of the infant Church of Athens. As such he devoted himself with great +zeal to the propagation of the Gospel. He made a journey to Jerusalem to +visit the places hallowed by the footsteps and sufferings of our +Redeemer, and there met the Apostles St. Peter and St. James, the +evangelist St. Luke, and other holy apostolic men. He also had the +happiness to see and converse with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was so +overwhelmed by her presence that he declared, that if he knew not Jesus +to be God, he would consider her divine. + +The idolatrous priests of Athens were greatly alarmed at the many +conversions resulting from the eloquent preaching of Dionysius, and +instigated a revolt against him. The holy bishop left Athens, and, going +to Rome, visited the Pope, St. Clement. He sent him with some other holy +men to Gaul. Some of his companions remained to evangelize the cities in +the south, while Dionysius, with the priest Rusticus and the deacon +Eleutherius continued their journey northward as far as Lutetia, the +modern Paris, where the Gospel had not yet been announced. Here for many +years he and his companions labored with signal success, and finally +obtained the crown of martyrdom on Oct. 9, 119. Dionysius was beheaded +at the advanced age of 110 years. + +The spot where the three martyrs Dionysius, Rusticus, and Eleutherius +suffered martyrdom, is the well-known hill of Montmartre. An ancient +tradition relates that St. Dionysius, after his head was severed from +his body, took it up with his own hands and carried it two thousand +paces to the place where, later, a church was built in his honor. The +bodies of the martyrs were thrown into the river Seine, but taken up and +honorably interred by a Christian lady named Catulla not far from the +place where they had been beheaded. The Christians soon built a chapel +on their tomb. + +St. Dionysius was not only a great missionary and bishop, but also one +of the most illustrious writers of the early Church. Some of his works, +which are full of Catholic doctrine and Christian wisdom, are still +extant, and well worthy of a convert and disciple of St. Paul, whose +spirit they breathe. + +LESSON + +THE apostolic men like St. Dionysius, who converted so many to Christ, +were filled with His spirit, and acted and lived for Him alone. They +gave their lives to spread His religion, convinced that the welfare of +individuals and nations depends upon it. + +On religion depends the security and stability of all government and of +society. Human laws are too weak to restrain those who disregard and +despise the law of God. Unless a man's conscience is enlightened by +religion and bound by its precepts, his passions will so far enslave +him, that the impulse of evil inclinations will prompt him to every +villainy of which he hopes to derive an advantage, if he can but +accomplish his purpose secretly and with impunity. + +True religion, on the contrary, insures comfort, peace, and happiness +amid the sharpest trials, safety in death itself, and after death the +most glorious and eternal reward in God. How grateful, therefore, must +we be to the men who preached the true religion amid so many +difficulties, trials, and persecutions; and also to those who preach it +now, animated by the same spirit. And how carefully should we avoid all +persons, books, and periodicals that revile and calumniate our holy +Faith, and attempt its subversion! + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who didst confer on Thy blessed servant Dionysius the virtue of +fortitude in suffering, and didst join with him Rusticus and +Eleutherius, to announce Thy glory to the heathens, grant, we beseech +Thee, that following them, we may despise, for the love of Thee, the +pleasures of this world, and that we do not recoil from its adversities. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +VIII + +St. Cyriacus, Deacon and Martyr + +LEGEND + +EMPEROR MAXIMIN in token of his gratitude to Diocletian, who had ceded +the western half of his empire to him, ordered the building of that +magnificent structure in Rome, whose ruins are still known as the "Baths +of Diocletian." The Christians imprisoned for the Faith were compelled +to labor under cruel overseers at this building. A zealous Christian +Roman, touched with pity at this moving spectacle, resolved to employ +his means in improving the condition of these poor victims of +persecution. + +Among the deacons of the Roman Church at that time was one by the name +of Cyriacus, who was distinguished by his zeal in the performance of all +good works. Him, with two companions, Largus and Smaragdus, the pious +Roman selected for the execution of his plan. Cyriacus devoted himself +to the work with great ardor. One day, whilst visiting the laborers to +distribute food amongst them, he observed a decrepit old man, who was so +feeble that he was unable to perform his severe task. Filled with pity, +Cyriacus offered to take his place. The aged prisoner consenting, the +merciful deacon thenceforth worked hard at the building. But after some +time he was discovered, and cast into prison. There he again found +opportunity to exercise his zeal. Some blind men who had great +confidence in the power of his prayer, came to ask him for help in their +affliction, and he restored their sight. He and his companions spent +three years in prison, and during that time he healed many sick and +converted a great number of heathens from the darkness of paganism. + +Then Emperor Diocletian's little daughter became possessed by an evil +spirit, and no one was able to deliver her from it. To the idolatrous +priests who were called, the evil spirit declared that he would leave +the girl only when commanded to do so by Cyriacus, the deacon. He was +hastily summoned, and prayed and made the sign of the cross over the +girl, and the evil spirit departed. The emperor loved his daughter, +therefore he was grateful to the holy deacon, and presented him with a +house, where he and his companions might serve their God unmolested by +their enemies. + +About this time the daughter of the Persian King Sapor was attacked by a +similar malady, and when he heard what Cyriacus had done for +Diocletian's daughter, he wrote to the emperor, asking him to send the +Christian deacon. It was done, and Cyriacus, on foot, set out for +Persia. Arrived at his destination, he prayed over the girl and the evil +spirit left her. On hearing of this miracle, four hundred and twenty +heathens were converted to the Faith. These the saint instructed and +baptized, and then set out on his homeward journey. + +Returned to Rome, he continued his life of prayer and good works. But +when Diocletian soon afterward left for the East, his co-emperor Maximin +seized the opportunity to give vent to his hatred for the Christians, +and renewed their persecution. One of the first victims was Cyriacus. He +was loaded with chains and brought before the judge, who first tried +blandishments and promises to induce him to renounce Christ and to +sacrifice to the idols, but in vain. Then the confessor of Christ was +stretched on the rack, his limbs torn from their sockets, and he was +beaten with clubs. His companions shared the same tortures. Finally, +when the emperor and the judge were convinced that nothing would shake +the constancy of the holy martyrs, they were beheaded. They gained the +crown of glory on March 16, 303. + +LESSON + +IN THE life of St. Cyriacus two virtues shine forth in a special manner; +his love of God and his charity toward his fellow-men. His love of God +impelled him to sacrifice all, even his life, for His sake, thereby +fulfilling the commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy +whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind" (_Matt_. +xxii. 37). A greater love of God no man can have than giving his life +for Him. + +St. Cyriacus also fulfilled the other commandment, of which Our Lord +declared, "And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself" (_Matt_. xxii. 39). He helped his fellow-Christians to bear +their burdens, relieved them in their sufferings, assisted and +encouraged them by word and deed, and edified them by his example. His +sole aim was to do good to all men, mindful of the words of the Royal +Prophet: "Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the +poor" (_Ps_. xl. 2). He was so imbued with the virtue of charity, that +he was disposed even to sacrifice his life for the relief and assistance +of others. + +[Illustration: The Holy Women at the Tomb.] + +How shall we justify our unfeeling hardness of heart, by which we seek +every trifling pretense to exempt us from the duty of aiding the +unfortunate? Remember the threat of the apostle, "Judgment without mercy +to him that hath not done mercy" (_James_ ii. 13). + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who rejoicest us by the remembrance of Thy blessed martyrs +Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, by +celebrating their memory, may imitate their fortitude in suffering. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +IX + +St. Achatius, Martyr + +LEGEND + +OF THE saints named Achatius, that one is reckoned among the Holy +Helpers who, as a Roman soldier, died for Christ. + +Achatius was a native of Cappadocia and as a youth joined the Roman army +during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, attaining the rank of captain. One +day, when leading his company against the enemy, he heard a voice saying +to him, "Call on the God of Christians!" He obeyed, was instructed, and +received Baptism. Filled with zeal, he henceforth sought to convert also +the pagan soldiers of the army. When the emperor heard of this, Achatius +was thrown into prison, then placed on the rack, bound to a post and +scourged, because he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols. When all +these tortures availed nothing, he was brought before the tribune +Bibianus. + +Asked by him what was his name and country, Achatius replied, "My name +is Christian, because I am a follower of Christ; men call me Achatius. +My country is Cappadocia. There my parents lived; there I was converted +to the Christian faith, and was so inspired by the combats and +sufferings of the Christian martyrs that I am resolved to shed my blood +for Christ to attain heaven." Then Bibianus ordered him to be beaten +with leaden clubs, after which he was loaded with chains and returned to +the prison. + +After Achatius had been in prison seven days, Bibianus was called to +Byzantium, and ordered all prisoners to be transported there. On the +journey Achatius suffered greatly, for his entire body was covered with +wounds, his chains were galling, the guards were cruel and the roads +were bad. He thought himself dying. Praying to God, a voice from the +clouds answered him, "Achatius, be firm!" The soldiers of the guard were +terrified and asked each other, "What is this? How can the clouds have a +voice?" Many prisoners were converted. Next day some of the converts saw +a number of men in shining armor speaking to Achatius, washing his +wounds and healing them, so that not even a scar remained. + +Arrived in Byzantium the saint was again cast into prison, and after +seven days dragged before the judge. When neither promises nor the most +cruel torments shook the constancy of the brave confessor of the Faith, +the judge sent him to Flaccius, the proconsul of Thracia, who imprisoned +him for five days, and meanwhile read the records of his former trials. +Then he ordered him to be beheaded. Achatius suffered death for Christ +on May 8, 311. + +LESSON + +ACHATIUS manfully and without fear confessed the Faith amid persecutions +and sufferings. We, too, are often placed in circumstances where the +profession of our Faith and the practice of the virtues inculcated by it +cause us trials. But so deplorable are the effects of sensuality, +avarice, and ambition, and such is the laxity and spiritual callousness +of many Christians, that there is real cause for every one to be filled +with alarm for the safety of his soul. It is not the crowd we are to +follow, but the precepts of the Gospel. Therefore we ought to strive to +give a good example by our faithful compliance with the demands of +religion. For Our Lord Himself exhorts us: "So let your light shine +before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, +who is in heaven" (_Matt._ v. 16). + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who dost give us joy through the remembrance of Thy blessed +martyrs, Achatius and his companions; grant, we beseech Thee, that we +may be inflamed by the example of those for whose merits we rejoice. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +X + +St. Eustachius, Martyr + +LEGEND + +AT THE beginning of the second century, during the reign of Emperor +Trajan, there lived in Rome a famous general by the name of Placidus, +who was distinguished among his fellow-citizens for his wealth and +military prowess. It happened one day, that while following the chase he +became separated from his companions, and was pursuing with eagerness a +stag of extraordinary size, when suddenly it turned toward him, and he +beheld raised aloft between its antlers the image of Jesus Christ +suspended on the cross. At the same time our blessed Saviour addressed +him in loving words, inviting him henceforth to follow Him by embracing +the Christian faith, and to make eternal life in future the object of +his pursuit. + +Faithful to the grace which he had received, Placidus on his return home +communicated the heavenly vision to his wife Tatiana, who informed him +that she too had been favored with a heavenly apparition. Together they +went immediately to the Pope, related their experience, and after due +instruction received Baptism. + +At the sacred font Placidus received the name of Eustachius, and his +wife was called Theopista, while his sons were baptized by the names of +Agapitus and Theopistus. + +Upon returning to the spot where he first received the call, Eustachius +was favored with another communication from Our Lord, announcing to him +that he was destined to endure many and great afflictions for the sake +of Christ. It was not long before his faith and patience were put to a +severe trial. Stripped of all his possessions and forced to flee from +the fury of the persecution, he was reduced to extreme distress, and in +the course of his wanderings was by a series of calamitous events +separated from his wife and children, of whom he lost all trace. For +many years he dwelt in a remote spot, following the occupation of a farm +laborer, until he was found by the messengers of the emperor, who was +sadly in need of the skill of his former general, because a fierce war +had broken out, in which the Romans sustained severe losses. + +Being again invested with the command of the imperial troops, Eustachius +set out for the seat of war, and achieved a decisive victory. In the +course of his march he had the happiness, by a singular providence of +God, to recover his wife and children, with whom he returned to Rome. +His entrance into the city was attended with great rejoicings, and many +were the congratulations which he received on his extraordinary good +fortune. But soon afterward a solemn sacrifice of thanksgiving to the +pagan deities was proclaimed, in which he was ordered by the emperor to +take a part. Upon his refusal, after every effort had been made to shake +his constancy, he was condemned to be exposed to the lions in the public +amphitheater along with his wife and children. Finally, as the savage +animals, laying aside their natural ferocity, refused to injure the +confessors of Christ, Eustachius and his family were by order of the +emperor enclosed in the body of an immense brazen bull, which was heated +by means of a great fire enkindled beneath. The last moments of these +heroic martyrs was spent in chanting the divine praises, in the midst of +which their happy souls passed to the enjoyment of everlasting bliss. +Their bodies, miraculously preserved uninjured, were buried with great +devotion by the faithful Christians, and were afterward transferred to a +magnificent church erected in their honor. + +LESSON + +HOW inspiring, to see a great man preferring justice, truth, and +religion to the favor of the mighty, readily quitting estate, friends, +country, and even sacrificing life, rather than consent to do violence +to his conscience; and to see him, at the same time, meek, humble, +patient in suffering, forgiving sincerely and loving his unjust and +treacherous persecutors! Passion and revenge often beget anger and +triumph over virtue and integrity. Ambition and the desire of wealth +may, for a time, urge men on to brave danger, but finally they reduce +them to the most abject slavery, and result in grievous crimes and +misery. Religion alone is the source of charity, magnanimity, and true +courage. It so enlightens the mind, as to place a man above the +vicissitudes of the world; it renders him steadfast and calm in +adversity, preserves him from error, teaches him to bear injustice and +calumny in a tranquil spirit, and gives him that ineffable peace and joy +which springs from the conviction that God's will is always most just +and holy and that He protects, aids, and rewards His servants. + +Does religion exert this powerful influence on us? Do we show it in our +actions and conduct? Our courage and constancy must be apparent not only +when we encounter danger and opposition, but also when our evil +propensity urges us to yield to temptations that present sin to us in +the guise of pleasure. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who dost permit us to celebrate the remembrance of Thy blessed +martyrs, Eustachius and companions, grant us, that we may enjoy their +company in eternal bliss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +XI + +St. Giles, Hermit and Abbot + +LEGEND + +ATHENS, in Greece, was the native city of St. Giles. He was of noble +parentage, and devoted himself from early youth to piety and learning. +After the death of his parents he distributed his rich inheritance to +the poor, and to escape the applause of men for his charity left his +country to bury himself in obscurity. + +He sailed for France, and on his arrival there retired to a deserted +country near the mouth of the river Rhone. Later he made his abode near +the river Gard, and finally buried himself in a forest in the diocese of +Nimes. In this solitude he passed many years, living on wild herbs and +roots, with water for his drink. It is related that for some time a hind +came daily to be milked by him, thus furnishing him additional +sustenance. Here he lived, disengaged from earthly cares, conversing +only with God, and engaged in the contemplation of heavenly things. + +One day the king instituted a great hunt in the forest where Giles +lived, and encountered the hind. Giving chase, the royal hunter was led +to the saint's hut, where the panting animal had sought refuge. The king +inquired who he was, and was greatly edified at the holiness of his +life. The fame of the saintly hermit now spread far and wide, and was +much increased by the many miracles wrought through his intercession. +The king tried to persuade him to leave his solitude, but prevailed upon +him only in so far, that Giles accepted several disciples and founded a +monastery in which the rule of St. Benedict was observed, and of which +he was chosen the abbot. He governed his community wisely and well, and +at the earnest solicitation of his monks was ordained priest. + +The fame of St. Giles' sanctity induced the Frankish King, Charles +Martel to call him to his court to relieve him of a great trouble of +conscience. The saint made the journey, and told the king that he would +find relief and comfort only by the sincere confession of a sin which he +had hitherto concealed. The king followed his advice, found interior +peace and dismissed Giles with many tokens of gratitude. On his homeward +journey the saint raised the recently deceased son of a nobleman to +life. + +After a short stay in his monastery St. Giles went to Rome, to obtain +from the Pope the confirmation of some privileges and the apostolic +blessing for his community. The Pope granted his wishes, and presented +him, besides, with two grand and beautifully carved doors of cedar wood +for his church. + +St. Giles died at a ripe old age on September 1, 725. Many miracles were +wrought at his tomb. + +LESSON + +ST. GILES left his native country and retired into solitude to escape +the notice and applause of the world, and served God as a recluse. To +lead such a life, there must be a special call from God. It is not +suited to all, and even inconsistent with the duties of most men. But +all are capable of disengaging their affections from the inordinate +attachment to creatures, and of attaining to a pure and holy love of +God. By making the service of God the motive of their thoughts and +actions, they will sanctify their whole life. + +In whatever conditions of life we may be placed, we have opportunities +of subduing our evil inclinations and mortifying ourselves by frequent +self-denials, of watching over our hearts and purifying our senses by +recollection and prayer. Thus each one, in his station of life, may +become a saint, by making his calling an exercise of virtue and his +every act a step higher to perfection and eternal glory. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O LORD, we beseech Thee to let us find grace through the intercession of +thy blessed confessor Giles; that what we can not obtain through our +merits be given us through his intercession. Through Christ our Lord +Amen. + + + +XII + +St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. MARGARET was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch. She lost her +mother in infancy and was placed in the care of a nurse in the country, +who was a Christian, and whose first care was to have her little charge +baptized and to give the child a Christian education. Margaret grew up a +modest, pious virgin, and when she returned to her father he was charmed +with the grace and virtue of his daughter. He regretted only one thing; +she took no part in the worship of the idols. When she told him the +reason he was greatly displeased, for she stated that she was a +Christian, and that nothing should separate her from the love of Christ. + +Her father tried every means to change her mind, and when all his +endeavors failed became enraged and drove her forth from his house. +Margaret returned to her nurse and became her servant, doing all kinds +of menial work, and at the same time perfecting herself in virtue. + +About this time Emperor Diocletian began to persecute the Christians. +One day Alybrius, the prefect of the city, saw Margaret, and fell in +love with her. He sent a messenger to ask her in marriage. The pious +virgin was filled with consternation at the proposal and replied to the +messenger: "I can not be espoused to your master, because I am the +spouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am promised to Him, and to Him I wish +to belong." When the prefect heard this, he became furious with rage, +and gave orders to have the virgin brought to him by force. When she +appeared before him he thus addressed her: "What is your name and +condition?" She replied: "I am called Margaret, and belong to a noble +family. I adore Christ and serve Him." The prefect now advised her to +abandon the worship of a crucified God. Margaret asked him, "How do you +know that we worship a crucified God?" The prefect replied: "From the +books of the Christians." Margaret continued: "Why did you not read +further on? The books of the Christians would have told you that the +Crucified rose on the third day, and that He ascended into heaven. Is it +love of truth to believe in the abasement of Christ and to reject His +glorification, when both are related in the selfsame book?" + +At this reproof the prefect became angry and ordered the tender virgin +to be cruelly scourged, placed on the rack, and torn with iron combs. +Then she was cast into prison. There Margaret fervently thanked God for +the victory she had achieved and implored His help for the combat yet in +store for her. Suddenly there appeared to her the arch-enemy of mankind +in the shape of a furious dragon, threatening to swallow her. The brave +virgin feared him not, but made the sign of the cross, and the monster +vanished. Then her desolate prison cell became suffused with heavenly +light, and her heart was filled with divine consolation. At the same +time her terrible wounds were suddenly healed, and not the least scar +was left. + +Next day Margaret was again brought before the prefect. Surprised at her +complete recovery from the effects of his cruelty, he remarked that no +doubt it was due to the power of the pagan gods, and exhorted her to +show her gratitude to them by sacrificing to the idols. Margaret +maintained that she had been healed by the power of Christ alone and +declared that she despised the heathen gods. At this, the rage of +Alybrius knew no bounds. He ordered lighted torches to be applied to +Margaret's body, and then had her cast into icy water to intensify her +torture. But scarcely had this been done when a violent earthquake +occurred. Her bonds were severed and she rose unscathed from the water, +without a mark of the burns caused by the flaming torches. On witnessing +this miracle, a great number of spectators were converted to the Faith. + +Finally the prefect ordered Margaret to be beheaded. Her glorious +martyrdom and death occurred about the year 275. + +LESSON + +THE history of the virgin martyr St. Margaret teaches us that we can and +ought to serve God even in youth. In the Old Law God commanded all the +first-born and the first-fruits to be offered to Him. "Thou shalt not +delay to pay thy tithes and first-fruits. Thou shalt give the first-born +of thy sons to Me" (_Ex._ xxii. 29). + +Certainly our whole life ought to be dedicated to the service of God; +but from the above command we are to understand that God especially +desires our service during the early years of our life. They are our +first-fruits. St. Augustine calls the years of youth the blossoms, the +most beautiful flowers of life, and St. Thomas Aquinas writes: "What the +young give to God in their early years, they give of the bloom, of the +full vigor and beauty of life." + +Youth is the age beset with countless temptations. Safety is found only +in the service of God, by obedience, humility, and docility. This is not +so difficult as it appears, and Our Lord Himself invites you to His +service, saying: "My son, give Me thy heart" (_Prov._ xxiii. 26), and, +"Taste and see that the Lord is sweet" (_Ps._ xxxiii. 9). + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, grant us Thy favor through the intercession of +Thy blessed virgin and martyr Margaret, who pleased Thee by the merit of +her purity and by the confession of Thy might. Through Christ our Lord. +Amen. + + + +XIII + +St Catherine, Virgin and Martyr + +LEGEND + +ST. CATHERINE was a native of Alexandria, Egypt, a city then famous for +its schools of philosophy. She was a daughter of Costis, half-brother of +Constantine, and of Sabinella, queen of Egypt. Her wisdom and +acquirements were remarkable, the philosophy of Plato being her favorite +study. While Catherine was yet young her father died, leaving her +heiress to the kingdom. Her love of study and retirement displeased her +subjects, who desired her to marry, asserting that her gifts of noble +birth, wealth, beauty, and knowledge should be transmitted to her +children. + +The princess replied that the husband whom she would wed must be even +more richly endowed than herself. His blood must be the noblest, his +rank must surpass her own, his beauty without comparison, his benignity +great enough to forgive all offences. The people of Alexandria were +disheartened, for they knew of no such prince; but Catherine remained +persistent in her determination to wed none other. + +Now, it happened that a certain hermit who lived near Alexandria had a +vision in which he saw the Blessed Virgin, who sent him to tell +Catherine that her divine Son was the Spouse whom she desired. He alone +possessed all, and more, than the requirements she demanded. The holy +man gave Catherine a picture of Jesus and Mary; and when the princess +had gazed upon the face of Christ she loved Him so that she could think +of naught else, and the studies in which she had been wont to take +delight became distasteful to her. + +[Illustration: The Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Blessed Virgin and +the Apostles.] + +One night Catherine dreamed that she accompanied the hermit to a +sanctuary, whence angels came to meet her. She fell on her face before +them, but one of the angelic band bade her, "Rise dear sister Catherine, +for the King of glory delighteth to honor thee." She rose and followed +the angels to the presence of the queen of heaven, who was surrounded by +angels and saints and was beautiful beyond description. The queen +welcomed her and led her to her divine Son, Our Lord. But He turned from +her, saying: "She is not fair and beautiful enough for me." + +Catherine awoke at these words and wept bitterly until morning. She then +sent for the hermit and inquired what would make her worthy of the +heavenly Bridegroom. The saintly recluse instructed her in the true +Faith and, with her mother, she was baptized. That night, in a dream, +the Blessed Virgin and her divine Son again appeared to her. Mary +presented her to Jesus, saying: "Behold, she has been regenerated in the +water of Baptism." Then Christ smiled on her and plighted His troth to +her by putting a ring on her finger. When she awoke the ring was still +there, and thenceforth Catherine despised all earthly things and longed +only for the hour when she should go to her heavenly Bridegroom. + +After the death of Sabinella, Emperor Maximin came to Alexandria and +declared a persecution against the Christians. Catherine appeared in the +temple and held an argument with the tyrant, utterly confounding him. +The emperor ordained that fifty of the most learned men of the empire be +brought to dispute with her; but, sustained by the power of God, +Catherine not only vanquished them in argument, but converted them to +the true Faith. In his fury Maximin commanded that the new Christians be +burned; and Catherine comforted them, since they could not be baptized, +by telling them that their blood should be their baptism and the flames +their crown of glory. + +The emperor then tried other means to overcome the virtue of the noble +princess; but, failing to do this, he ordered her to be cast into a +dungeon and starved to death. Twelve days later, when the dungeon was +opened, a bright light and fragrant perfume filled it, and Catherine, +who had been nourished by angels, came forth radiant and beautiful. On +seeing this miracle, the empress and many noble Alexandrians declared +themselves Christians, and suffered death at the command of the emperor. + +Catherine was not spared, for Maximin made a further attempt to win her. +He offered to make her mistress of the world if she would but listen to +him, and when she still spurned his proposals, he ordered her to the +torture. She was bound to four spiked wheels which revolved in different +directions, that she might be torn into many pieces. But an angel +consumed the wheels by fire, and the fragments flying around killed the +executioners and many of the spectators. The tyrant then ordered her to +be scourged and beheaded. The sentence was carried into effect on +November 25, 307. + +A pious legend, recognized by the Church, says that angels bore +Catherine's body to Mount Sinai, and buried it there. + +LESSON + +ST. CATHERINE, for her erudition and the spirit of piety by which she +sanctified it, was chosen the model and patroness of Christian +philosophers. + +Learning, next to virtue, is the noblest quality and ornament of the +human mind. Profane science teaches many useful truths, but when +compared with the importance of the study of the science of the saints, +they are of value only inasmuch as when made subservient to the latter. +The study of the saints was to live in the spirit of Christ. This +science is taught by the Church, and acquired by listening to her +instructions, by pious reading and meditation. + +Be intent on learning this science, and order your life according to its +rules. It is the "one thing necessary," for it is the foundation of all +wisdom and true happiness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of +wisdom" (_Ps._ cx. 10). + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who didst give the law to Moses on the summit of Mount Sinai, and +by the holy angels didst miraculously transfer there the body of blessed +Catherine, virgin and martyr; grant us, we beseech Thee, to come, +through her intercession, to the mountain which is Christ. Through the +same Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +XIV + +St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr + +LEGEND + +NICOMEDIA, a city in Asia Minor, was St. Barbara's birthplace. Her +father Dioscurus was a pagan. Fearing that his only child might learn to +know and love the doctrines of Christianity, he shut her up in a tower, +apart from all intercourse with others. Nevertheless Barbara became a +Christian. She passed her time in study, and from her lonely tower she +used to watch the heavens in their wondrous beauty. She soon became +convinced that the "heavens were telling the glory of God," a God +greater than the idols she had been taught to worship. Her desire to +know that God was in itself a prayer which He answered in His own wise +way. + +The fame of Origen, that famous Christian teacher in Alexandria, reached +even the remote tower, and Barbara sent a trusty servant with the +request that he would make known to her the truth. Origen sent her one +of his disciples, disguised as a physician, who instructed and baptized +her. She practised her new religion discreetly while waiting for a +favorable opportunity of acquainting her father with her conversion. + +This opportunity came in a short time. Some workmen were sent by +Dioscurus to make another room in the tower, and when they had made two +windows she directed them to make a third. When her father saw this +additional window, he asked the reason for it. She replied, "Know, my +father, that the soul receives light through three windows, the Father, +the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and the three are one." The father became +so angry at this discovery of her having become a Christian, that he +would have killed his daughter with his sword, had she not fled to the +top of the tower. He followed her, and finally had her in his power. +First he wreaked his vengeance on her in blows, then clutching her by +the hair he dragged her away and thrust her into a hut to prevent her +escape. Next he tried every means to induce her to renounce her faith; +threats, severe punishments, and starvation had no effect on the +constancy of the Christian maiden. + +Finding himself powerless to shake his daughter's constancy, Dioscurus +delivered her to the proconsul Marcian, who had her scourged and +tortured, but without causing her to deny the Faith. During her +sufferings, her father stood by, exulting in the torments of his child. +Next night, after she had been taken back to prison, Our Lord appeared +to her and healed her wounds. When Barbara appeared again before him, +Marcian was greatly astonished to find no trace of the cruelties that +had been perpetrated on her body. Again she resisted his importunities +to deny the Faith, and when he saw that all his efforts were in vain, he +pronounced the sentence of death. Barbara was to be beheaded. Her +unnatural father claimed the privilege to execute it with his own hands, +and with one blow severed his daughter's head from her body, on December +4, 237. + +At the moment of the saint's death a great tempest arose and Dioscurus +was killed by lightning. Marcian, too, was overtaken by the same fate. + +LESSON + +SINCE early times St. Barbara is invoked as the patroness against +lightning and explosions, and is called upon by those who desire the +sacraments of the dying in their last illness, and many are the +instances of the efficacy of her intercession. + +We all wish for a happy and blessed death. To attain it, we must make +the preparation for it the great object of our life; we must learn to +die to the world and to ourselves, and strive after perfection in +virtue. There is no greater comfort in adversity, no more powerful +incentive to withdrawing our affections from this world, than to +remember the blessing of a happy death. Well prepared, death may strike +us in any form whatsoever, and however suddenly, it will find us ready. + +We can be guilty of no greater folly than to delay our preparation for +death, repentance, the reception of the sacraments, and the amendment of +our life, from day to day, from the time of health to the time of +illness, and in illness to the very last moments, thinking that even +then we can obtain pardon. St. Augustine observes: "It is very dangerous +to postpone the performance of a duty on which our whole eternity +depends to the most inconvenient time, the last hour." And St. Bernard +remarks: "In Holy Scripture we find one single instance of one who +received pardon at the last moment. He was the thief crucified with +Jesus. He is alone, that you despair not; he is alone, also, that you +sin not by presumption on God's mercy." If you, therefore, wish for a +happy death, prepare for it in time. + +_Prayer of the Church_ + +O GOD, who among the wonders of Thy might didst grant the victory of +martyrdom also to the weaker sex, graciously grant us that we, by +recalling the memory of Thy blessed virgin and martyr Barbara, through +her example may be led to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + + +PART IV + +I + +Novenas to the Holy Helpers + +II + +Prayers and Petitions + + +"In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your +petitions be made known to God" (_Philipp._ iv. 6). + +"God is wonderful in His saints. The God of Israel is He who will give +power and strength to His people; blessed be God" (_Ps._ lxvii. 36). + + + +Novena to Each of the Holy Helpers + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +_For Each of the Following Novenas_ + +ALMIGHTY and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping +Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with +filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my +intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the +fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and +merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his +example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son. + +Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and +intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I +humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, "Thy will be done on earth as +it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy +greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen. + +I + +Novena in Honor of St. George + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. GEORGE + +O GOD, who didst grant to St. George strength and constancy in the +various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee +to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and +doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto +death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. GEORGE + +FAITHFUL servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by +God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, +thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and +deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from +the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love +to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround +me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may +patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither +distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus +Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against +evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the +end. + +_Prayer_ + +MY LORD and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the +bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the +merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of +all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose +honor I make this novena. + +Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and +graciously hear my prayer. Amen. + + + +II + +Novena in Honor of St. Blase + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. BLASE + +O GOD, deliver us through the intercession of Thy holy bishop and martyr +Blase, from all evil of soul and body, especially from all ills of the +throat; and grant us the grace to make a good confession in the +confident hope of obtaining Thy pardon, and ever to praise with worthy +lips Thy most holy name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. BLASE + +ST. BLASE, gracious benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of God, +who for the love of our Saviour didst suffer so many tortures with +patience and resignation; I invoke thy powerful intercession. Preserve +me from all evils of soul and body. Because of thy great merits God +endowed thee with the special grace to help those that suffer from ills +of the throat; relieve and preserve me from them, so that I may always +be able to fulfil my duties, and with the aid of God's grace perform +good works. I invoke thy help as special physician of souls, that I may +confess my sins sincerely in the holy sacrament of Penance and obtain +their forgiveness. I recommend to thy merciful intercession also those +who unfortunately concealed a sin in confession. Obtain for them the +grace to accuse themselves sincerely and contritely of the sin they +concealed, of the sacrilegious confessions and communions they made, and +of all the sins they committed since then, so that they may receive +pardon, the grace of God, and the remission of the eternal punishment. +Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +III + +Novena in Honor of St Erasmus + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. ERASMUS + +O GOD, grant us through the intercession of Thy dauntless bishop and +martyr Erasmus, who so valiantly confessed the Faith, that we may learn +the doctrine of this faith, practise its precepts, and thereby be made +worthy to attain its promises. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. ERASMUS + +HOLY martyr Erasmus, who didst willingly and bravely bear the trials and +sufferings of life, and by thy charity didst console many +fellow-sufferers; I implore thee to remember me in my needs and to +intercede for me with God. Staunch confessor of the Faith, victorious +vanquisher of all tortures, pray to Jesus for me and ask Him to grant me +the grace to live and die in the Faith through which thou didst obtain +the crown of glory. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +IV + +Novena to St. Pantaleon + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PANTALEON + +O GOD, who didst give to St. Pantaleon the grace of exercising charity +toward his fellow-men by distributing his goods to the poor, and hast +made him a special patron of the sick, grant, that we, too, show our +charity by works of mercy; and through the intercession of this Thy +servant preserve us from sickness. But if it be Thy will that illness +should afflict us, give us the grace to bear it patiently, and let it +promote our soul's salvation. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. PANTALEON + +ST. PANTALEON, who during life didst have great pity for the sick and +with the help of God didst often relieve and cure them; I invoke thy +intercession with God, that I may obtain the grace to serve Him in good +health by cheerfully fulfilling the duties of my state of life. But if +it be His holy will to visit me with illness, pain, and suffering, do +thou aid me with thy powerful prayer to submit humbly to His +chastisements, to accept sickness in the spirit of penance and to bear +it patiently according to His holy will. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + +[Image: The Blessed Virgin Receives Holy Communion from St. John.] + + + +V + +Novena in Honor of St. Vitus + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. VITUS + +GRANT us, O God, through the intercession of St. Vitus, a due estimation +of the value of our soul and of its redemption by the precious blood of +Thy Son Jesus Christ; so that, for its salvation, we bear all trials +with fortitude. Give this Thy youthful servant and heroic martyr as a +guide and protector to Christian youths, that following his example they +may after a victorious combat receive the crown of justice in heaven. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. VITUS + +ST. VITUS, glorious martyr of Christ; in thy youth thou wast exposed to +violent and dangerous temptations, but in the fear of God and for the +love of Jesus thou didst victoriously overcome them. O amiable, holy +youth, I implore thee by the love of Jesus, assist me with thy powerful +intercession to overcome the temptations to evil, to avoid every +occasion of sin, and thus to preserve spotless the robe of innocence and +sanctifying grace, and to bring it unstained to the judgment-seat of +Jesus Christ, that I may forever enjoy the beatific vision of God which +is promised to the pure of heart. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +VI + +Novena in Honor of St. Christophorus + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. CHRISTOPHORUS + +O GOD, who didst make St. Christophorus a true Christ-bearer, who +converted multitudes to the Christian faith, and who didst give him the +grace to suffer for Thy sake the most cruel torments; through the +intercession of this saint we implore Thee to protect us from sin, the +only real evil. Preserve us, also, against harmful elementary forces, +such as earthquake, lightning, fire, and flood. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. CHRISTOPHORUS + +GREAT St. Christophorus, seeking the strongest and mightiest master thou +didst find him in Jesus Christ, the almighty God of heaven and earth, +and didst faithfully serve Him with all thy power to the end of thy +life, gaining for Him countless souls and finally shedding thy blood for +Him; obtain for me the grace to bear Christ always in my heart, as thou +didst once bear Him on thy shoulder, so that I thereby may be +strengthened to overcome victoriously all temptations and resist all +enticements of the world, the devil, and the flesh, and that the powers +of darkness may not prevail against me. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +VII + +Novena in Honor of St. Dionysius + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. DIONYSIUS + +O GOD, who didst confer Thy saving faith on the people of France through +Thy holy bishop and martyr Dionysius, and didst glorify him before and +after his martyrdom by many miracles; grant us through his intercession +that the Faith practised and preached by him be our light on the way of +life, so that we may be preserved from all anxieties of conscience, and +if by human frailty we have sinned, we may return to Thee speedily by +true penance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. DIONYSIUS + +GLORIOUS servant of God, St. Dionysius, with intense love thou didst +devote thyself to Christ after learning to know Him through the apostle +St. Paul, and didst preach His saving name to the nations, to bring whom +to His knowledge and love thou didst not shrink from martyrdom; implore +for me a continual growth in the knowledge and love of Jesus, so that my +restless heart may experience that peace which He alone can give. Help +me by thy powerful intercession with God to serve Him with a willing +heart, to devote myself with abiding love to His service, and thereby to +attain the eternal bliss of heaven. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +VIII + +Novena in Honor of St. Cyriacus + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. CYRIACUS + +O GOD, who didst grant to St. Cyriacus the grace of heroic charity and +trustful resignation to Thy holy will; bestow upon us, through his +intercession, the grace to walk before Thee in self-denying charity and +to know and fulfil Thy will in all things. Through Christ our Lord. +Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. CYRIACUS + +ST. CYRIACUS, great servant of God, loving Christ with all thy heart, +thou didst for His sake also love thy fellow-men, and didst serve them +even at the peril of thy life, for which charity God rewarded thee with +the power to overcome Satan, the arch-enemy, and to deliver the poor +obsessed from his dreadful tyranny; implore for me of God an effective, +real, and true charity. Show thy power over Satan also in me; deliver me +from his influence when he tries to tempt me. Help me to repel his +assaults and to gain the victory over him in life and in death. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +IX + +Novena in Honor of St. Achatius + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. ACHATIUS + +O GOD, who didst fortify Thy holy martyr Achatius with constancy and +trustful reliance on Thee in death; grant us through his intercession at +the hour of our death to be free from all anxiety and victorious in our +last combat with the enemy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. ACHATIUS + +VALIANT martyr of Christ, St. Achatius, who preached Christ faithfully +before kings and judges, and didst gain the victory over the enemies of +God; help me through thy powerful intercession to resist and gain the +victory over all the enemies of my salvation, over the world and its +allurements, over the concupiscence of the flesh, and over the +temptations of Satan. I implore thee particularly to assist me in my +agony, when the powers of hell rise against me to rob my soul. Then do +thou come to my aid and repel the assaults of the enemy, so that I +surrender my soul into the hands of my Redeemer in faith, hope, and +charity, and confiding in His infinite merits. Through the same Christ +our Lord. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +X + +Novena in Honor of St. Eustachius + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. EUSTACHIUS + +O GOD, who didst lead Thy holy martyr Eustachius safely through many +trials and dangers to the glorious crown of martyrdom; enlighten and +strengthen us through his intercession, that we persevere in Thy love +amid the trials of this life, and by resignation to Thy holy will come +forth from the darkness of this earth into the light of Thy eternal +glory. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. EUSTACHIUS + +HEROIC servant of God, St. Eustachius, cast from the height of earthly +glory and power into the deepest misery, thou wast engaged for a long +time in the labor of a menial servant, eating the bitter bread of +destitution; but never didst thou murmur against the severe probation to +which God subjected thee. I implore thee to aid me with thy powerful +intercession, that in all conditions I may resign myself to the holy +will of God, and particularly that I may bear poverty and its +consequences with patience, trusting in God's providence, completely +resigned to the decrees of Him who humbles and exalts, chastises and +heals, sends trials and consolations, and who has promised to those who +follow Him in the spirit of poverty His beatific vision throughout all +eternity. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +XI + +Novena in Honor of St. Giles + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. GILES + +O GOD, we beseech Thee to grant us through the merits and intercession +of St. Giles to flee from the vanity and praise of this world, to avoid +carefully all occasions of sin, to cleanse our hearts from all +wickedness by a sincere confession, to leave this world in Thy love and +rich in good works, and to find Thee gracious on the day of judgment. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. GILES + +ZEALOUS follower of Christ, St. Giles; from early youth thou didst take +to heart the words of our Saviour: "Learn of Me, because I am meek and +humble of heart." Therefore thou didst flee from the praise and honors +of the world, and wast rewarded with the grace to preserve thy heart +from all sin and to persevere in a holy life to a ripe old age. I, on my +part, through pride, self-confidence, and negligence, yielded to my evil +inclinations, and thereby sinned grievously and often, offending my God +and Lord, my Creator and Redeemer, my most loving Father. Therefore I +implore thee to help me through thy mighty intercession to be +enlightened by the Holy Ghost, that I may know the malice, grievousness, +and multitude of my sins, confess them humbly, fully, and contritely, +and receive pardon, tranquillity of heart, and peace of conscience from +God. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +XII + +Novena in Honor of St. Margaret + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. MARGARET + +O GOD, grant us through the intercession of thy holy virgin and martyr +Margaret, undauntedly to confess the Faith, carefully to observe the +chastity of our state of life, and to overcome the temptations of the +world, the devil, and the flesh, and thereby escape the punishments of +eternal damnation. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. MARGARET + +ST. MARGARET, holy virgin and martyr, thou didst faithfully preserve the +robe of holy innocence and purity, valiantly resisting all the +blandishments and allurements of the world for the love of thy divine +Spouse, Jesus Christ; help me to overcome all temptations against the +choicest of all virtues, holy purity, and to remain steadfast in the +love of Christ, in order to preserve this great gift of God. Implore for +me the grace of perseverance in prayer, distrust of myself, and flight +from the occasions of sin, and finally the grace of a good death, so +that in heaven I may "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +XIII + +Novena in Honor of St. Catherine + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. CATHERINE + +O GOD, who didst distinguish Thy holy virgin and martyr Catherine by the +gift of great wisdom and virtue, and a victorious combat with the +enemies of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, through her +intercession, constancy in the Faith and the wisdom of the saints, that +we may devote all the powers of our mind and heart to Thy service. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. CATHERINE + +ST. CATHERINE, glorious virgin and martyr, resplendent in the luster of +wisdom and purity; thy wisdom refuted the adversaries of divine truth +and covered them with confusion; thy immaculate purity made thee a +spouse of Christ, so that after thy glorious martyrdom angels carried +thy body to Mount Sinai. Implore for me progress in the science of the +saints and the virtue of holy purity, that vanquishing the enemies of my +soul, I may be victorious in my last combat and after death be conducted +by the angels into the eternal beatitude of heaven. Amen. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +XIV + +Novena in Honor of St. Barbara + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV). + +PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. BARBARA + +O GOD, who didst adorn Thy holy virgin and martyr Barbara with +extraordinary fortitude in the confession of the Faith, and didst +console her in the most atrocious torments; grant us through her +intercession perseverance in the fulfilment of Thy law and the grace of +being fortified before our end with the holy sacraments, and of a happy +death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF ST. BARBARA + +INTREPID virgin and martyr, St. Barbara, through thy intercession come +to my aid in all needs of my soul. Obtain for me the grace to be +preserved from a sudden and unprovided death; assist me in my agony, +when my senses are benumbed and I am in the throes of death. Then, O +powerful patroness of the dying, come to my aid! Repel from me all the +assaults and temptations of the evil one, and obtain for me the grace to +receive before death the holy sacraments, that I breathe forth my soul +confirmed in faith, hope, and charity, and be worthy to enter eternal +glory. Amen. + + St. Barbara, at my last end + Obtain for me the Sacrament; + Assist one in that direst need + When I my God and Judge must meet: + That robed in sanctifying grace + My soul may stand before His face. + +Prayer (located in St. George's novena). + + + +Novena to All the Fourteen Holy Helpers + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +_(By St Alphonsus Liguori.)_ + +GREAT princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your +earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are +crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory; +have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain +for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as +His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this +life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to +the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to praise +and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you enjoy, and +whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen. + +FIRST DAY + +The Devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE practice of honoring and invoking the saints to obtain, through +their intercession, help in the various needs of body and soul, is as +old as the Church. At what period, however, the custom of having +recourse to the fourteen saints called Holy Helpers originated, is +unknown. Nevertheless it is certain that each one of them was invoked +for his intercession with God since his entrance into heaven. Prayer is +the Christian's resource in every difficulty: and difficulties and +trials are never wanting on earth. + +Because the needs of mankind on earth are various, the faithful selected +certain saints as intercessors in certain cases of distress, and +obtained relief; hence these saints came to be regarded as special +patrons in such trials, and were called Holy Helpers. + +PRACTICE + +MAKE this novena with full confidence in the power of the intercession +of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During their earthly life they devoted +their whole energy to the spreading of God's kingdom and the relief and +succor of their fellow-men. Much more efficiently can they do so now +when they are in the enjoyment of eternal happiness, and can supplicate +for us at the very throne of God. + +The saints _can_ help us through their intercession. God hears their +prayers and He wrought miracles to confirm us in this belief, even +whilst His servants sojourned here on earth. They _desire_ and are +willing to help us. St. Bernard says: "In heaven hearts do not grow +cold; they are rather rendered more affectionate and tender. By +receiving the crown of justice the saints were not hardened against the +sufferings of their brethren on earth." + +Therefore, in calling on them, have full confidence in their power and +ability to come to your aid. + +_Prayer_ + +WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, to hear the prayer which we send up to Thee in +honor of Thy glorified servants, the Fourteen Holy Helpers: and as we +can not rely upon our own justice, grant our petition through the +intercession of those whose merits have made them especially dear to +Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +[Image: Death of the Blessed Virgin] + +LITANY OF THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS + + LORD, have mercy on us. + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Christ, hear us. + Christ, graciously hear us. + God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. + God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. + God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. + Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. + Holy Mary, queen of martyrs, pray for us. + St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray for us. + Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us. + St. George, valiant martyr of Christ, pray for us. + St. Blase, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor, pray for us. + St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed, pray for us. + St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity, pray for us. + St. Vitus, special protector of chastity, pray for us. + St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers, pray for us. + St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence, pray for us. + St. Cyriacus, terror of hell, pray for us. + St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death, pray for us. + St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity, pray for us. + St. Giles, despiser of the world, pray for us. + St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith, pray for us. + St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity, pray +for us. + St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying, pray for us. + All ye Holy Helpers, pray for us. + All ye saints of God, pray for us. + In temptations against faith, pray for us. + In adversity and trials, pray for us. + In anxiety and want, pray for us. + In every combat, pray for us. + In every temptation, pray for us. + In sickness, pray for us. + In all needs, pray for us. + In fear and terror, pray for us. + In dangers of salvation, pray for us. + In dangers of honor, pray for us. + In dangers of reputation, pray for us. + In dangers of property, pray for us. + In dangers by fire and water, pray for us. + Be merciful, spare us, O Lord! + Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord! + From all sin, deliver us, O Lord. + From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord. + From the scourge of earthquake, deliver us, O Lord. + From plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord. + From lightning and storms, deliver us, O Lord. + From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord. + From eternal damnation, deliver us, O Lord. + Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Lord. + Through Thy birth and Thy life, deliver us, O Lord. + Through Thy cross and passion, deliver us, O Lord. + Through Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Lord. + Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary, deliver us, O Lord. + Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, deliver us, O Lord. + On the Day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord! + We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou convert us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, +hear us. + That Thou protect and propagate Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear +us. + That Thou preserve peace and concord among the nations, we beseech +Thee, hear us. + That Thou give eternal rest to the souls of the departed, we beseech +Thee, hear us. + That Thou come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy +Helpers, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. George Thou preserve us in the +Faith, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Blase Thou confirm us in hope, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou enkindle in us Thy +holy love, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou give us charity +for our neighbor, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou teach us the value of +our soul, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou preserve us +from sin, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou give us +tranquillity of conscience, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou grant us +resignation to Thy holy will, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou give us patience +in adversity, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou grant us a happy +death, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou grant us a merciful +judgment, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou preserve us from +hell, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou shorten our +purgatory, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou receive us in +heaven, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant +our prayers, we beseech Thee, hear us. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear +us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, +O Lord. + +V. Pray for us, ye Fourteen Holy Helpers. + +R. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ. + +_Let us Pray_ + +ALMIGHTY and eternal God, who hast bestowed extraordinary graces and +gifts on Thy saints George, Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, +Christophorus, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Eustachius, Achatius, Giles, +Margaret, Catherine, and Barbara, and hast illustrated them by miracles; +we beseech Thee to graciously hear the petitions of all who invoke their +intercession. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +O God, who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the +confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their +fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us +through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we +may serve Thee in purity of heart and chastity of body. Through Christ +our Lord. Amen. + +INVOCATION OF THE HOLY HELPERS + +FOURTEEN Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on +earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven; +because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life. +Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and +intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen. + +Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty +intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for +the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by +your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my +sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me +the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy +will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so that, +having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven, there to +praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen. + + + +SECOND DAY + +The Destiny of Man + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE Holy Helpers faithfully co-operated with God's designs concerning +their eternal destiny. No obstacle could prevail on them to stray from +the path of duty. Always and everywhere they fulfilled the will of God. + +You, too, have an eternal destiny. You are not your own master, but +belong to God, whose servant and property you are. Therefore you must +obey Him, and not your own inclinations; you must do His will, and not +your own. God had the right of requiring our submission to Him without +giving us a reward, because He is Our Lord; nevertheless He promised to +give us Himself in reward for our faithful service. Ought this not be +sufficient inducement for us to serve Him zealously and gratefully? + +Remember, moreover, that you shall be unhappy both in this and in the +next world if you do not give yourself entirely to God, for whom you +were created. St. Augustine says: "Thou hast created us for Thee, O +Lord, and our heart remains restless till it rests in Thee." + +PRACTICE + +THANK God for the undeserved grace of creation and redemption. Make an +act of contrition for having served Him so negligently. Promise +amendment, and invoke the aid of God's grace through the intercession of +the Holy Helpers. + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD, who according to the decrees of Thy providence hast created man +for eternal bliss; grant, through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, +that I may attain to my destiny by being united with Thee in this life +and loving and praising Thee for ever in heaven. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +THIRD DAY + +The Virtue of Faith + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE Holy Helpers were so thoroughly imbued with the virtue of divine +faith, that they believed its sacred truths with perfect abandonment of +their intellect, will, liberty, and whole being. They wavered not amid +the severest torments, but remained firm until death in the confession +of Christ. + +Our time is noted for assaults on the Faith and on the Church that +teaches it. The Church, the depository of divine revelation, is +blasphemed in her doctrine, in her precepts, in her sacraments, in her +ministers, in her cult, in her entire essence. Were you never ashamed of +your Catholic name? What cowardliness, what timidity, what downright +malice! + +PRACTICE + +REVIVE your faith by the consideration of the example of the Holy +Helpers. Do not, from human respect, neglect the sanctification of the +Lord's Day, the observance of days of fast and abstinence, the reception +of the holy sacraments, the profession of your belief in the real +presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, etc. Meditate frequently +on the words of Christ: "He that shall deny Me before men, I will also +deny him before My Father who is in heaven" (_Matt._ x. 33). + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD, I beseech Thee, through the faith of the Holy Helpers, grant me +the grace to treasure in my heart the doctrines of our holy faith, to +believe them firmly, to confess them bravely, and to live according to +their precepts, that through that same faith I may become worthy to be +admitted to Thy beatific vision in heaven. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FOURTH DAY + +The Virtue of Hope + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +"HOPE confoundeth not" (_Rom._ v. 6). According to the commentators +these words of Holy Scripture are to be understood in the sense that our +works must be in conformity with that which is the object of our hope; +that is, we must live in such a manner that we really merit the reward +of heaven. + +We sin against hope also by presumption in God's mercy, by despair, and +by over-confidence in our own righteousness. According to Holy Scripture +we can not, of our own efficacy, perform a good act, but can do all in +Him that strengthens us. + +All these truths are exemplified in the lives of the Holy Helpers. Their +hope was based on the firm foundation of faith, and consequently, like +it, firm, constant, and unwavering. + +PRACTICE + +LIKE the Holy Helpers, hope to obtain from God all things necessary to +salvation, for "the Lord is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul +that seeketh Him" (_Lam._ iii. 25). Live so that He can fulfil His +promises. Place no obstacle to His bounty and might by a sinful life. + +_Prayer_ + +ETERNAL God of love and mercy, I thank Thee for all the benefits Thou +hast conferred upon me, and hope to obtain, through the intercession of +the Holy Helpers, all the graces necessary for my salvation. Through +Christ our Lord. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +FIFTH DAY + +The Love of God + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE love of God which inflamed the Holy Helpers showed forth in their +whole life, and particularly at their death. We, too, ought to be +inflamed with such love, for without it faith, wisdom, the gift of +tongues, and good works in general, avail nothing; for the love of God +must inspire them all. "And we know that to them that love God, all +things work together unto good" (_Rom._ viii. 28). Such, and such alone, +will receive the crown of life. Did not God love us first? To redeem us +from sin and eternal death He spared not His only begotten, divine Son. +All goods of life and fortune are gifts of His love, evidences of His +infinite love. And we find it difficult to return this love? How +ungrateful not to love God with your whole heart! + +PRACTICE + +IMITATE the Holy Helpers in their ardent love of God. Implore their +intercession to obtain it. Meditate often on God's love for you, and +your heart will be enflamed with love for Him. + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD of mercy and love, I thank Thee from all my heart for the +countless graces which Thy infinite love has bestowed on me. By the +ardent love which the Holy Helpers had for Thee, I implore Thee to +enkindle in my heart the flame of Thy love, so that I may remain in Thee +and Thou in me. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SIXTH DAY + +The Virtue of Charity + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +CHARITY is one of the fundamental virtues of the Christian religion. The +moral doctrine preached by Christ is comprised in the words: "Thou shalt +love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and +with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And +the second is like to this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On +these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets" +(_Matt._ xxii. 37-40). + +As in everything else, the Holy Helpers are our exemplars also in +charity. Charity consists in wishing well to our fellow-men, rejoicing +with the glad and sympathizing with the sad, doing good to all, excusing +their faults whenever possible, disclosing them only when necessary, +being friendly, indulgent, meek, and helpful toward them. We love our +neighbor if we succor the poor and distressed, if we harbor no envy for +the rich, if we esteem the just for their virtue, and hate--not the +sinner--but sin. We love our neighbor if we are not content with +harboring these sentiments in our heart, but show them by our actions. + +PRACTICE + +ENDEAVOR to exercise this charity according to the spirit of Christ. The +love of your neighbor must not be a sentimental affection; it must not +originate in casual qualities of character or rank, in inclination, +etc., but must have the love of God for its motive. We must exercise +charity toward all because God wills it, and in the manner in which He +wills it. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD of charity, who dost will that I love my neighbor for Thy sake, +grant me the grace, through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, to be +animated with that spirit of charity which embraces all and excludes +none, which "is patient, kind, envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is +not puffed up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to +anger, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with +the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all +things, and never falleth away" (1 _Cor._ xiii. 4-8). Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +SEVENTH DAY + +Human Respect + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +BY THE conscientious fulfilment of the duties of their state of life the +Holy Helpers show us that the will of God alone was the motive of all +their actions. Human respect, regard for the opinion of others, did not +influence them. + +The cowardly fear, "What will people say?" was the ruin of many a soul. +The enemy of mankind is ever intent upon preventing us from doing good +through human respect. He insinuates that virtue and piety are out of +date and ridiculed. From human respect many a person boasts of that +which ought to make him blush; he thinks it discreditable to be less +remiss in his religious obligations than others. Ought the opinion and +ridicule of the world influence us to prevent our pleasing God? St. Paul +says: "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" +(_Gal._ i. 10). Our Lord Himself tells us, "He that shall deny Me before +men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven" (_Matt._ x. +33). + +PRACTICE + +OUR Lord says: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see +your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (_Matt._ v. +16). Do not stray from the path of duty on account of human respect; do +not let yourself be influenced by the judgments of the world. + +_Prayer_ + +MERCIFUL God, who gavest the Holy Helpers the grace to fulfil Thy will +regardless of human respect; grant that we may obtain through their +intercession and merits the courage to despise the opinion of men, and +ever serve Thee with a fearless heart. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +EIGHTH DAY + +Prayer + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +THE Holy Helpers, well knowing the efficacy of prayer, assiduously +devoted themselves to it. From it they drew that wonderful strength +which sustained them in their combat for the Faith. + +Prayer is the elevation of the mind to God, intercourse with Him by acts +of adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and petition. St. Chrysostom says of +prayer: "Without prayer it is impossible to lead a good life; for no one +can practise virtue except he humbly implores God for it, who alone can +give him the necessary strength. Who ceases to love and practise prayer, +no longer possesses the gifts of the Spirit. But he that perseveres in +the service of God, and deems it an irreparable loss to miss constant +prayer, possesses every virtue and is a friend of God." + +PRACTICE + +OFFER yourself at the beginning of each day to God, and thereby you will +belong to Him throughout its whole course. Renew your consecration to +Him frequently during the day by short acts of virtue and especially by +a good intention, thus rendering all your work a prayer, and you will +attain perfection. + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD, I implore Thee through the merits and intercession of the Holy +Helpers, to grant me the spirit of prayer, that following their example +I may walk in Thy presence and ever enjoy the consolation of intercourse +with Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + + + +NINTH DAY + +Perseverance + +Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena). + +MEDITATION + +A VICTORIOUS death was the reward of the Holy Helpers' perseverance in +the service of God. During this novena you have, no doubt, formed many +good resolutions, exclaiming with the Royal Prophet, "And I said, now I +have begun" (_Ps._ lxxvi. 11). But it happens that many, despite their +good will, become remiss in the pursuit of virtue. Satan is assiduously +trying to accomplish their ruin, representing to them and exaggerating +the difficulties to be encountered on the path of virtue. They hesitate, +falter, and finally turn back. This is the most unfortunate happening +that can occur. Of the condition of such a one Our Lord Himself says: +"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places +without water, seeking rest; and not finding, he saith: 'I will return +into my house whence I came out.' And when he is come, he findeth it +swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven spirits +more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there. And the last +state of that man becometh worse than the first" (_Luke_ xi. 24-26). Are +these words not a sufficient warning to encourage us to persevere in our +good resolves? + +[Image: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven.] + +PRACTICE + +IN concluding this novena, survey again the depth of that +incomprehensible eternity which is awaiting you. Contemplate in spirit +the endless chain of centuries following each other there in reward or +in punishment. Does this thought not banish all the difficulties of +perseverance? + +_Prayer_ + +O GOD, whose mercies are infinite and whose goodness is without limit, I +beseech Thee through the merits and intercession of the Holy Helpers, +grant me the grace of perseverance in Thy love and service to the end. +Thou, who dost dispense so many favors through the Holy Helpers, despise +not my prayer, but graciously hear and grant it. Amen. + +Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena). + +CONCLUDING PRAYER + +O FAITHFUL servants of God and powerful protectors of man, Holy Helpers! +Since Our Lord appointed you the heavenly advocates for our needs on +earth, I confidently turn to you for help in my distress. Countless +numbers praise you for aiding them with counsel in doubt, with +consolation in anxiety, with health in illness, with safety in danger, +with delivery from prison, and with help and assistance in all +tribulations. Therefore I, too, have recourse to you, and implore you +not to refuse me your aid. + +Give thanks to God for me for all the graces He granted me during this +novena. I ascribe them to your great merits and powerful intercession. I +thank you all together, and each one in particular, for your interest in +my favor before the throne of God. I commend myself to your continued +protection, that I may one day be united with you in heaven, there to +thank the Giver of all good things and to praise Him for all eternity. +Amen. + + + +Prayers of Petition and Intercession + +I. Three Invocations + +1. GREAT friends of God, Holy Helpers, humbly saluting and venerating +you, I implore your help and intercession. Bring my prayers before the +throne of the Most Holy Trinity, so that I may experience in all the +difficulties and trials of life the mercy of the eternal Father, the +love of the incarnate divine Son, and the assistance of the Holy Ghost; +that despondency may not depress me when God's wise decree imposes on my +shoulders a heavy burden. Above all, I implore your assistance at the +hour of death. Help me then to gain the victory over the temptations and +assaults of Satan, and to leave this world hopefully trusting in God's +mercy, to join you in heaven, there to praise Him for ever and ever. +Amen. + +2. With confiding trust I turn to you, Holy Helpers, who were selected +by God before many other saints to be the special intercessors and +advocates of the distressed. Obtain for me strength and courage to +struggle and suffer on earth for the glory of God, for the propagation +of our holy faith, and for my own perfection. You are fruitful branches +of the true and living vine, Jesus Christ, for whom you heroically +suffered hunger and thirst, persecution and ignominy, afflictions and +adversity, tortures and death. Here on earth you were true disciples and +dauntless martyrs of Christ. Assist me to follow your example and to +suffer for His sake, so that I may not be parted from Him as a useless +member, but persevere in His service despite all trials and tribulations +of life. Knowing my inconstancy and weakness, I have recourse to you, O +glorious members of the Church triumphant, and implore you to support my +feeble prayers, and to bear them before the throne of the Almighty, who, +for your sake, will hear them. Amen. + +3. Great friends and servants of God, Holy Helpers! Humbly saluting and +venerating you, I implore your help and intercession. God has promised +and granted that whosoever invokes your aid shall be relieved in his +needs and succored at the hour of death. Therefore I have recourse to +you and confidently implore your aid. I am surrounded by difficulties +and my soul is oppressed with grief. Burdened with sins, the fear of +God's rigorous judgment appalls me, whilst Satan ceases not to exert all +his power to accomplish my eternal ruin. + +Therefore I implore your assistance, powerful Holy Helpers, in my dire +distress. By the penitential life you led, by the cruel tortures you +suffered, and by your holy death I entreat you to pray for me. Obtain +for me the remission of my sins and perseverance to the end in God's +grace. Assist me in my agony and protect me against the wily assaults of +Satan, that through your help I may die a happy death and enter a +blissful eternity. Amen. + + +II. Prayer in Illness + +COMPASSIONATE Holy Helpers, who restored health to so many through the +power of the name of Jesus; behold me suffering from bodily illness and +from wounds of the soul. Implore the kind, merciful Good Samaritan, your +and my Lord Jesus Christ, to heal the wounds of my soul by washing them +in His most precious blood, and to quicken my spirit by His sanctifying +grace. If it, then, be God's holy will and for the welfare of my soul, +let me experience the powerful effect of your intercession, that, +restored to health, I may serve God with greater fervor, and promote +your veneration together with so many who experienced your help in +illness and suffering. Amen. + +III. Prayer for the Sick + +MERCIFUL Holy Helpers, look benignly upon me, who implore your +intercession for a sick person. Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, who +Himself went about healing and doing good, appointed you the special +protectors and intercessors of the sick, and restored to bodily and +spiritual health many for whom you prayed. Encouraged thereby to invoke +you, I implore you to offer up to His sacred Heart all the pains and +torments He suffered during His bitter passion. Offer up to Him also +your own sufferings for God's glory, which you underwent during life, +and in death; offer up to Him all the anguish and distress suffered by +the sick person for whom I invoke your intercession. Ask Him to restore +him to health of body, and to infuse into his soul the grace of +salvation, so that he may devote his life with renewed vigor to the +service of God and to the fulfilment of his duties, and thereby gather +rich merits for eternity. + +But if God, in the designs of His providence, should otherwise dispose, +implore for the sick person patience in his illness, resignation to the +divine will, and the grace of a happy death. Assist him in his agony, +and conduct his soul to the throne of the Almighty. Amen. + +IV. Prayer of Parents for Their Children + +HOLY Helpers, assist me to give thanks to God for blessing me with +children. Having received them from Him, it is my duty to train them for +His service. Therefore I commend them to your special protection. Guard +them from sin, help them to know and fulfil their duties, preserve them +from all harm of body and soul; pray for them that they may be and +remain children of God. For me, obtain the grace always to take good +care of them, to edify them by good example, to punish their faults +wisely, to preserve their innocence, and to instruct them unto piety, so +that they and I may together enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven. +Amen. + +V. Prayer of Children for Their Parents + +HOLY Helpers, mighty intercessors with God in all necessities; God +strictly commanded that children should love, honor, and obey their +parents. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Himself gave them the example +of submission and obedience by being subject to His mother and +foster-father. I commend myself to your powerful intercession and +implore you to obtain for me the grace to follow His example. For my +parents I implore protection from all evil of body and soul, a long +and prosperous life, and a happy death. Reward them for all the care, +anxiety, labor, and trouble which they underwent patiently for my sake +with the eternal crown of heavenly glory. Amen. + +VI. Prayer of Married People + +HOLY Helpers, powerful intercessors at the throne of God, by whose +providence we were indissolubly joined in holy wedlock through the +sacramental bonds of matrimony; obtain for us, through your +intercession, the grace to dwell together in mutual love and peace, and +to fulfil faithfully the duties of our state of life; that following the +example of the saints and elect who lived in wedlock, we may merit God's +grace and blessing by a virtuous life here on earth, and united in +heaven praise and bless Him for ever. Amen. + + + +PART V + +General Devotions + + +"The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call +upon Him in truth. He will do the will of them that fear Him, and He +will bear their prayer and save them" (_Ps._ cxliv. 18, 19). + +"Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer" (_Rom._ +xii. 12). + + + +Morning Prayers + +On awaking, sign yourself with the sign of the cross, saying: + +IN THE name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. + +I rise in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed me by His +precious blood. Bless, guide, and protect me from all evil, O Lord! +Strengthen me to all good and lead me to eternal life. Amen. + +After dressing, kneel and say: + +My Lord and my God! I prostrate myself before the throne of Thy divine +Majesty, and give Thee infinite thanks, O Lord, that I have passed this +night safely and have not died in my sins, but was preserved by Thy +bounty for Thy further service. + +I offer up to Thee all that I shall do and suffer to-day, and unite it +with the prayers, labors, and sufferings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of +His blessed Mother Mary. + +OFFERING + +TAKE, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, +and my whole will. Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I +possess; I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it +according to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I +will be rich enough, and will have no more to desire. + +Indulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.) + + + +Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity + +MY LORD and God! I most firmly believe all that Thou hast revealed and +all that Thy holy Church believes and teaches, because Thou, who art +infallible Truth, hast so revealed and commanded. + +My Lord and God! Because Thou art almighty, infinitely good and +merciful, I hope that by the merits of the passion and death of Jesus +Christ, our Saviour, Thou wilt grant me eternal life, which Thou hast +promised to all who shall do the works of a good Christian, as I purpose +to do by Thy help. + +My Lord and God! Because Thou art the highest and most perfect good, I +love Thee with my whole heart, and above all things; and rather than +offend Thee, I am ready to lose all things else; and for Thy love, I +love and desire to love my neighbor as myself. + +Indulgence. (1) A plenary indulgence, once a month, for devoutly making +these acts daily; under the usual conditions. (2) A plenary indulgence +at the hour of death, under the same conditions. (3) Seven years and +seven quarantines, every time. (Benedict XIV, January 28, 1728.) The +same Pope declared that it is not necessary to use any set formula, but +that any form of words may be used, provided it expresses the particular +motive of each of the three theological virtues. + + +To the Blessed Virgin Mary + +Hail Mary, etc. + +MY QUEEN, my Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my +devotion to thee I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my +mouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good +Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and +possession. + +Indulgence. (1) 100 days, once a day. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a +month, for saying it every day; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX, +Aug. 5, 1851.) + + +To the Angel Guardian + + ANGEL of God, my guardian dear, + To whom His love committed me here, + Ever this day be at my side, + To light and guard, to rule and guide! Amen. + +Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence on the +feast of the holy Guardian Angels, for saying it morning and evening +throughout the year; under the usual conditions. (3) A plenary +indulgence at the hour of death, for saying it often during life. (Pius +VI, Oct 2, 1795, and June 11, 1796.) (4) A plenary indulgence, once a +month, for saying it daily; under the usual conditions. (Pius VII, May +15, 1821.) + + + +Evening Prayers + +ETERNAL and merciful God! I adore Thee and give Thee thanks for all the +graces and benefits which Thou hast conferred upon me during my whole +life, and particularly during this day. May the saints and elect, +especially the Holy Helpers, praise and thank Thee for me. + +Enlighten me now through Thy holy Spirit, and let me know whether and +how I have offended Thee to-day in thought, word, deed, and omission of +duty. + +Examine your conscience. + + +An Act of Contrition + +O MY God! I am deeply sorry for all my sins, for those I committed +to-day, and for those of my whole life, because thereby I offended Thy +supreme and most loving goodness. Pardon me for the sake of Jesus, Thy +Son, who shed His most precious blood on the cross for our sins. With +the help of Thy grace, I firmly resolve to amend my life, and rather to +die than again offend Thee by a mortal sin. + +PETITION + +PROTECT me and mine and all men during this night, and through the +intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of the Holy Helpers preserve +us from all dangers of body and soul. Keep away from us sickness, fire, +and calamities of every kind. Protect us against the assaults of the +wicked and of Satan. Into Thy hands I commend my body and soul; let me +rest in Thy most holy wounds. + +Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and repel from it all +the snares of the enemy; let Thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us +in peace, and may Thy blessings be upon us for ever. Through Christ our +Lord. Amen. + + +To the Sacred Heart of Jesus + +(_Prayer of St Alphonsus._) + +ADORABLE Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly for the love of men! +Until now I have shown toward Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my +Jesus! Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible +that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my +ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast +given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou +hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the +Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. O +Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a +lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace +of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen. + + +To the Blessed Virgin Mary + +REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any +one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy +intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly +unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother! To thee I come; before thee I +stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not +my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. + +Indulgence. (1) 300 days, every time, (2) A plenary indulgence, once a +month, for having said it daily; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX, +December 11, 1846.) + +Litany of Loreto (located in the list of litanies). + + +To St. Joseph + +GUARDIAN of virgins and father, holy Joseph, to whose faithful care +Christ Jesus, very innocence, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were +committed; I pray and beg of thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, +free me from all uncleanness, and make me with spotless mind, pure +heart, and chaste body, ever most chastely to serve Jesus and Mary all +the days of my life. Amen. + +Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Pius IX, Feb. 4, 1877.) + +[Illustration: The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven.] + + +Before Retiring + +(_Prayer of St. Alphonsus._) + +MY LORD and God Jesus Christ! I adore Thee and give Thee thanks for all +the graces which Thou hast granted me to-day. I offer up to Thee my rest +and every moment of this night, and implore Thee to preserve me from all +sin. Therefore I place myself into the wound of Thy sacred side, and +beneath the protecting mantle of my Mother Mary. May Thy holy angels +assist me and watch over my peace, and may Thy holy blessing remain with +me. + +Indulgence. 60 days, once a day, also for the souls in purgatory. (Leo +XIII, June 30, 1898.) + +INVOCATION + +JESUS, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. + +Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. + +Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. + +Indulgence. 100 days for the recital of any one of these invocations, +300 days for all three. (Pius VII, Aug. 26, 1814.) + + + +Prayers at Holy Mass + + +Preparatory Prayer + +ALMIGHTY and eternal God! I appear in Thy presence to assist at the most +holy sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, my +Redeemer, and to offer it up jointly with the priest and the faithful +here present, in grateful remembrance of His passion and death, for the +promotion of Thy glory, and for my salvation. Together with all the holy +Masses that are celebrated throughout the world, I offer up this august +sacrifice for the following intentions: To adore Thee, O my God, as Thou +dost deserve to be adored; to give Thee due thanks for the innumerable +benefits which I owe to Thy bounty; to make reparation for the many +offenses I have committed; to appease Thy just anger, and to invoke Thy +infinite mercy for me, for Thy holy Church, for the whole world, and for +the souls in purgatory. Amen. + + +At the Beginning of Mass + +O HEAVENLY Father! Hear the prayer of Thy holy Church invoking Thy +divine Majesty in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to come to the aid +of Thy children in all their needs. Turn not from us Thy gracious eyes, +but deliver us from all evil, so that we may live to please Thee, die in +Thy love, and enter the kingdom of glory. Amen. + + +At the Gospel + +ALMIGHTY God, Thou source of all truth, holiness, and justice; having +spoken in the Old Law by the mouth of Thy prophets, Thou spokest in the +fulness of time through Thy divine Son Jesus Christ, and speakest now +through Thy holy Church, appointed by Thee the Teacher of truth. We +thank Thee for the saving doctrines entrusted to her for our good, and +implore Thy grace to practise them and to please Thee by all our +actions. + + +At the Credo + +Say the Apostles' Creed. + +At the Offering + +ALMIGHTY and eternal God! Look graciously on the forms of bread and wine +offered up to Thee on the altar by the priest, imploring Thee to bless +and sanctify them for the eucharistic sacrifice of the New Law. With +this sacrifice, O my God, I offer up to Thee my heart with all its +affections, desires, and inclinations. Sanctify my thoughts, words, and +deeds, that they may become a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to Thee. + + +At the Preface + +TO THEE, O Lord, I raise my heart in gratitude for all Thy mercies. For +truly meet and just, right and salutary is it for us to give Thee always +and everywhere praise and thanks, O holy Lord, almighty Father and +eternal God, through Christ our Lord; through whom the angels and +archangels, the cherubs and the seraphs praise Thy majesty and adore Thy +might. With them I unite my voice, joining in their hymns of praise, and +saying: + + +At the Sanctus + +HOLY, holy, holy, Lord, God of hosts. Heaven and earth are filled with +Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. + +Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the +highest. + + +At the Canon + +O GOD! Let my prayer be acceptable to Thee, and graciously hear the +intercession which I make confiding in the virtue of this holy +sacrifice. I commend to Thy mercy our holy Father, N., our bishop, N., +and all bishops and priests of Thy holy Church. Let Thy kingdom be +spread more and more all over the earth; grant peace and concord to the +nations; protect our country; preserve peace and love in all families. +Remember graciously my parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives, my +benefactors, my enemies, and all for whom I am in justice or charity +bound to pray. + + +At the Elevation + +HAIL, thou body of my Saviour, conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of Mary +the immaculate Virgin! With profound humility I adore Thee. Lord, have +mercy on me! + +Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood of Jesus, in +satisfaction for my sins, and for the wants of holy Church. + +Indulgence. 100 days, every time. (Pius VII, Sept. 22, 1817.) + + +After the Elevation + +MOST amiable Jesus! Thou art now present on the altar, God and man, +really, truly, and essentially. Divine victim for our sins, have mercy +on us! Be our mediator with Thy Father; avert from us the punishment we +have deserved for our sins, deliver us from all dangers that threaten +us, and from all evil. Promote the welfare of Thy Church, and remember +in Thy mercy those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and +rest in peace. (_Remember the departed for whom you intend to pray._) + +To these, O Lord, and to all that sleep in Christ, grant, we beseech +Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and peace. + +Also to us sinners, Thy servants, confiding in the multitude of Thy +mercies, grant some part and fellowship with Thy saints, through whose +intercession we invoke Thy favor, and into whose company we beseech Thee +to admit us, not in consideration of our merit, but of Thy own pardon. +Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + + +At the Pater Noster + +INSTRUCTED by Thy saving precepts and following Thy divine directions, +we presume to say: + +Our Father, etc. + + +At the Agnus Dei + +LAMB of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. + +Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. + +Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, give us peace. + + +At Communion + +LORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but +the word, and my soul shall be healed. (_Three times._) + + +Spiritual Communion + +O JESUS, I firmly believe that Thou art truly present in the Blessed +Sacrament. I see Thee therein full of love, willing to pardon us, +anxious to be united with us. I wish most earnestly to respond to this +Thy desire and love. I detest all the sins by which I have ever +displeased Thee. Pardon me, O Lord! I desire to receive Thee into my +heart, and since I now can not receive Thee sacramentally, come at least +spiritually to me. + +I embrace Thee, I unite myself with Thee as if Thou wert really present +in my heart. With all my love I cling to Thee. Preserve me from sin, +that I may never be separated from Thee, but remain united with Thee for +ever. + +Indulgence. 60 days, once a day. Also for the suffering souls. (Leo +XIII, June 30, 1893.) + + +At the Blessing + +BLESS me, O Lord, by the hand of Thy priest, and let the power of this +blessing remain upon me for ever. In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. + + +At the Last Gospel + +O JESUS, incarnate Word of the eternal Father, Thou true light which +enlightens the world! I give thanks to Thee at all times for having +dwelt among us, the only-begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and +truth. Amen. + + + +Prayers after Mass + +Hail Mary, etc. (_Three times._) + + +Salve Regina + +HAIL, holy queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our +hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we +send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn +then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after +this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O +clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! + +V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. + +R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. + +_Let Us Pray._ + +O GOD, our refuge and our strength! Look down with favor upon Thy people +crying to Thee; and through the intercession of the glorious and +immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of her spouse, blessed Joseph, of +thy holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all Thy saints, mercifully and +graciously hear the prayers which we pour forth to Thee for the +conversion of sinners and for the liberty and exaltation of holy mother +Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. + +St. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection +against the malice and snares of the devil. Command him, O God, we +humbly beseech Thee, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the +divine power, cast into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam +through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. + +Indulgence. 300 days. (Leo XIII, September 25, 1888.) + + + +Prayers for Confession + + +Before Confession + +MERCIFUL God! I give infinite thanks to Thee for the many and great +graces Thou hast bestowed upon me during my whole life. Would that I had +never been ungrateful to Thee, that I never had offended Thee. But I +have sinned exceedingly and often, and have done so again since my last +confession. Therefore I come to Thee, imploring Thee in profoundest +humility to give me Thy light and Thy grace, that I may know and +acknowledge all my sins, faults, and transgressions, be truly sorry for +them, sincerely confess them, do penance, and amend my life; for Thy +greater glory and for the salvation of my soul. + +Examine your conscience. + +SUPREME God and Lord! A poor sinner, I cast myself at the throne of Thy +divine Majesty, and contritely confess that I have sinned in thought, +word, and deed, and through the omission of my duties. I am heartily +sorry that I was ungrateful to Thee and have deserved to be punished in +this life and in the life to come. Above all I am sorry because by my +sins I have offended Thee, my supreme and infinite God, who art worthy +to be loved and honored above all else for Thy supreme goodness and +mercy. I detest and abhor my sins above all other evils, and wish I had +never committed them. Humbly I implore Thy pardon, and confidently hope +to obtain it through the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us +poor sinners, and through those of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Holy +Helpers, and of all the saints. + +I firmly purpose to amend my life, to avoid all occasions of sin, to use +the means for conquering my passions, and to practise virtue by ordering +my life according to Thy divine will and pleasure, and rather to die +than to offend Thee again, my God and Lord. I am now ready to make +reparation to Thy divine Justice for all the offenses of which I have +been guilty against Thee, as far as is in my power. Therefore I will +confess my sins sincerely, contritely, fully, and perform the penance +imposed upon me. + +Before entering the confessional. + +The Lord be in my heart and on my lips that I may worthily and +competently confess my sins. + + + +After Confession + +O GOD of infinite mercy! I give Thee due thanks, and praise Thee for +having admitted me to the confession of my sins and for having, through +Thy minister, granted me absolution for them. I implore Thee by the +merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, of Mary, His most blessed Mother, of +the Holy Helpers, and of all the saints, to accept my confession, and in +Thy infinite mercy to condone and amend all the defects and faults I +committed in making it, and to ratify in heaven the absolution I +received on earth. + +O my Jesus! How blind I was in not knowing Thee and preferring +transitory beauty and earthly attractions to Thy grace and love, and +thereby offending Thee! Now I acknowledge my fault, and am convinced +that it is my duty and privilege to love Thee above all things. Too late +I have learned it, but I shall zealously strive to make reparation for +my past neglect. Therefore I renounce the pleasures, vanities, and joys +of this deceitful world, and abhor sin and all that leads to it. In the +future nothing shall ever part me from Thy love. From this moment on I +am resolved nevermore to offend Thee. Confirm, O Jesus, this my +resolution, and with Thy almighty power strengthen my frailty. Seal my +purpose of amendment with the bestowal of Thy grace, and preserve me in +Thy grace and love unto the end. Amen. + + + +Prayers for Holy Communion + + + +BEFORE COMMUNION + + +An Act of Faith + +MY LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ! I firmly believe that Thou art really +present in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe it contains Thy body and +blood, Thy soul and divinity. I acknowledge these truths, I believe +these wonders. I adore Thy power which has wrought them; I praise Thy +infinite goodness which has prepared them for me. "I will praise Thee, +my God, with my whole heart, and will recount all Thy admirable works; I +will rejoice in Thee, and bless Thy holy name" (_Ps._ ix. 2, 3). In this +faith, and with this acknowledgment, I presume to approach this adorable +banquet, wherein Thou bestowest on me the divine food of Thy body and +blood to nourish my soul. Grant, O Jesus, that I may approach Thee with +such a sense of reverence and humility as is due to Thy divine Majesty. +Who am I, O God, that Thou shouldst work such wonders for my sake? +Grant, O Lord, that I be not altogether unworthy of them, and that I may +now receive Thee with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a sincere +and lively faith. Pardon my sins, which have rendered me most unworthy +to approach Thee. I detest them from the bottom of my heart, because +they are displeasing to Thee, my God. I renounce them for ever, and +promise to be faithful to Thee. + + +An Act of Hope + +IN THEE, sweet Jesus, I place all my hope, because Thou alone art my +salvation, my strength, my refuge, and the foundation of all my +happiness. Were it not for the confidence I place in Thy merits, and in +the precious blood Thou didst shed for my redemption, I would not +presume to partake of this banquet. Encouraged, therefore, by Thy +goodness, I come to Thee as one sick to his physician, as a condemned +criminal to his powerful intercessor. Heal me as my physician, and as my +powerful advocate deliver me from the sentence of sin and death. It is +in Thy mercy that I put all my trust. Have pity, therefore, O Jesus, on +me, and save me, for Thou forsakest none that place their hope in Thee. + + +An Act of Love + +O DIVINE Redeemer, how strong was the force of Thy love, that, being +about to depart from this world to Thy eternal Father, Thou didst +provide for us this divine banquet, enriched with all heavenly +sweetness! It was through an excess of Thy love that Thou hast left us +Thy body and blood for the food and nourishment of our souls; that, as +Thou didst unite Thyself to our humanity, so we might be partakers of +Thy divinity. I desire to love Thee, my Jesus, who art my only comfort +in this place of banishment, the only hope of my infirm soul, my +happiness above all I can enjoy in this life. I love Thee, my God, with +my whole heart, with my whole soul, and with all my mind and strength. I +wish that, as every moment is an increase of my life, so it may also be +of my love toward Thee. I desire, with all the affections and powers of +my soul, that, as the inmost thanks are due to Thee, so they may be +returned to Thee by all the faithful, for this divine food, which is our +refreshment, support, strength, armor, and defense in all our miseries; +and that my love may never cease, inflame my heart with the fire of +heaven, that it may continue burning till, nature and corruption being +consumed, I may at length be transformed into Thee. Come, O Lord, hasten +to release me from the bonds of sin, and prepare me for the blessing +Thou art now about to bestow on me. + + +An Act of Desire + +MY LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ! "As the heart panteth after the +fountains of waters so my soul panteth after Thee, O God!" (_Ps._ xlii. +1). Tired with my own evil ways, I now return to Thee, to taste Thy +banquet, that my soul may be refreshed. I henceforth despise all human +consolations, that I may be comforted by Thee, my only good, my God and +Saviour, whom I love above all things and desire to entertain within my +heart with as much devotion and affection as is conceived by Thy chosen +servants, who now sit at Thy table in celestial bliss. And however I may +have been wanting hitherto in my duty, I now for ever renounce my folly +and weakness, and from my heart request that for the future my joy, my +relief, my treasure, and rest may be entirely centered in Thee. May I +never desire anything besides Thee, and may all things seem contemptible +and as nothing without Thee, O my God! + + +An Act of Fear + +O MY God and Saviour, it is with fear and trembling that I approach Thy +banquet, having nothing to confide in but Thy goodness and mercy, being +of myself a sinner, destitute of all virtue. My soul and body are +defiled with many crimes, my thoughts and tongue have been under no +restraint. I have frequently resolved to amend, and yet where do I +remain but in the midst of sin and vice? How little pains do I take to +recover from this misery and return to Thee, to whom I have repeatedly +promised to be faithful! These thoughts cause me to fear that what Thou +hast mercifully ordained for my salvation, I should now receive to my +judgment and condemnation. In this wretched condition I hasten to Thee; +to Thee I expose all my wounds, to Thee I disclose my depravity. Look, +therefore, on me with the eyes of compassion, and have mercy on me, O +Lord and Saviour! + +[Illustration: The Mother of Our Saviour.] + + +An Act of Humility + +O IMMENSE, almighty, and incomprehensible God, who am I, that Thou +shouldst vouchsafe to come to be my food, and to take Thy habitation +within my soul? The consideration of Thy greatness and my unworthiness +penetrates me with awe and confusion. With the utmost sincerity I can +only declare the extent of my misery, and admire that infinite goodness +which induces Thee to visit personally the lowest and basest of Thy +creatures. Receive, then, Thy unworthy servant into the compassionate +arms of Thy mercy. Cast all my sins out of Thy sight, and with the +tenderness of a loving father extend Thy arms to receive me; and let me +effectually experience the truth of Thy prophet's words: "A sacrifice to +God is an afflicted spirit; a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou +wilt not despise" (_Ps._ l. 19). + +IMMEDIATELY BEFORE COMMUNION + +LORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof: say but +the word, and my soul shall be healed. + +The body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. + + + +AFTER COMMUNION + + +An Act of Thanksgiving + +O JESUS, my God and Saviour! I return Thee thanks for having, out of Thy +pure mercy, without any desert of mine, been pleased to feed my soul +with Thine own most sacred body and blood. Suffer me sooner to be +forgetful of myself than to be ever unmindful of this great favor. +Although I have hitherto been ungrateful, with the help of Thy grace I +shall be so no more. But what return can I make Thee, being of myself +insolvent, indigent, and miserable? The sacrifice of all that I am or +have is not worthy to be presented to Thee; but, behold I offer Thee +Thyself, and consider all my debts as abundantly discharged. May Thy +infinite mercy be for ever exalted for having given me such an excellent +means of repaying Thee to the full. O that I could ever remember Thee, +think of Thee, ever love Thee alone! Imprint the memory of what Thou +didst for me so deeply in my heart, that I spend my whole life in +thanking Thee for all Thy benefits, but especially for this banquet of +Thy love. Amen. + + +An Act of Adoration + +UNDER the sacred veil of Thy eucharistic presence, where Thy love of man +conceals the splendor of Thy majesty, I most humbly adore Thee, O +almighty God! The grandeur of the heavens is as nothing in Thy sight; +they shall perish, but Thou shalt remain for ever. The earth Thou hast +poised in Thy hand. The ocean is before Thee but as a drop of water. All +nature bows and trembles in Thy presence. How, then, shall I extol Thee, +immortal King of glory? What homage can I give in proportion to Thy +greatness? Thou art the perfect image of Thy Father's substance. Thou +art the splendor of His glory. Thou art His almighty Word, supporting +all things. Thee He has seated at His right hand. Thy throne, O God, is +for ever and ever; a scepter of justice is the scepter of Thy reign. I +bow before Thy sacred Majesty. I acknowledge with the sincerest +gratitude that Thou art my redeemer, my creator, the supreme arbiter of +my eternal destiny. I desire to humble myself as profoundly for Thy sake +as Thou art humbled for my love in the center of my soul, and to +consecrate to the glory of Thy name the whole extent of my being. Amen. + + +An Act of Oblation + +O MY Saviour! What pledge can I give as an earnest of the gratitude I +owe to Thee? I have nothing worthy of Thee, and if I had, I have nothing +but what is Thine on several accounts. But such is Thy goodness as to be +content to accept from us what is already Thine. Wherefore, behold, I +offer to Thee my body and soul, which are both now sanctified by the +honor of Thy divine presence. I consecrate them to Thee for ever, since +Thou hast chosen them for Thy temple; my body to be continually employed +in Thy service, and nevermore to become an instrument of sin; my soul to +know Thee, to love Thee and be evermore faithful to Thee. And as I am +now resolved to serve Thee with body and soul, I will take pains to +correct their evil inclinations. I will declare war against myself, +renounce my wonted pleasures, my delights, my passions, my anger, my +self-love, my pride, my own will, and, in fine, whatever may offend +Thee. + + +Offering and Petition + +ALMIGHTY God, I offer Thee this holy communion in union with the +superabundant merits of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, and the infinite +love of His adorable Heart; in union with the Blessed Virgin and the +ardent love of her immaculate heart; in union with the Holy Helpers and +all the happy souls who enjoy Thy glorious vision in heaven, and with +all the just on earth. O my God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, present in me +in the eucharistic species; fill me with that lively faith, profound +humility, tender confidence, pure conscience, and ardent love, with +which so many happy souls are inflamed in partaking of this sacred +banquet, and supply by Thy mercy all my deficiencies. I offer my +communion to render Thee the honor and glory which are due to Thy +infinite majesty; to satisfy Thy justice, which I have provoked by my +sins; to thank Thee for the innumerable benefits which I have received +from Thy bounty; and to obtain from Thy infinite mercy the graces +necessary for me; particularly the grace to subdue my predominant +passion and to acquire the virtue in which I am most deficient; but +especially the grace of a happy death. + +I likewise offer my communion, O merciful Father, in memory of the +passion and death of Thy dear Son, my divine Redeemer, to love Him with +more ardor and perfection; to participate in the merits of His labors +and sufferings; to acquire His spirit; to imitate His virtues; to model +my life on His, and to make His adorable Heart a public reparation for +all the sacrilegious communions, irreverences, and profanations which +are committed against Him in this sacrament of His love. I offer it to +thank Thee, O God, for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on mankind, +particularly for all those Thou hast conferred on Thy blessed Mother, on +all the angels and saints, especially on my guardian angel, on my holy +patron, and on the Holy Helpers. I offer it, likewise, for the triumph +of our holy religion, for the exaltation of the Catholic Church, for the +conversion of infidels, heretics, schismatics, and all those who are in +the unhappy state of sin. Also for the needs of my relatives, friends, +benefactors, and enemies; for the perseverance of the just, the comfort +of the afflicted, and the deliverance of the souls in purgatory; in a +word, for all those for whom I am bound to pray; and I desire to enter +into the intentions requisite for gaining the indulgences granted by the +Church to-day for worthy communicants. + +INVOCATIONS + + SOUL of Christ, sanctify me! + Body of Christ, save me! + Blood of Christ, inebriate me! + Water from the side of Christ, wash me! + Passion of Christ, strengthen me! + O good Jesus, hear me! + Within Thy wounds, hide me! + Permit me not to be separated from Thee! + From the malignant enemy defend me! + In the hour of my death call me! + And bid me come to Thee, + That, with Thy saints, I may praise Thee + For ever and ever. Amen. + + +Indulgence, (1) 300 days, every time. (2) 7 years, once a day, after +receiving communion. (3) A plenary indulgence, once a month, to all who +have the pious custom of saying it at least once a day for a month; +under the usual conditions. (Pius IX, January 9, 1854.) + + +Prayer to Jesus Crucified + +[Illustration: A crucifix] + +LOOK down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly +kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my +heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for +my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great +love and tender pity Thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, and +calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my +Jesus: "They pierced my hands and my feet; they numbered all my bones" +(_Ps._ xxi. 17, 18). + +Indulgence. A plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, if said +before an image or picture of the crucified Redeemer, after holy +communion. (Pius IX, July 31, 1858.) + + + +Visit to the Blessed Sacrament + +(_Prayer of St. Alphonsus._) + +LORD Jesus Christ, who through the love which Thou bearest to man, dost +remain with them day and night in this sacrament, full of mercy and +love, expecting, inviting, and receiving all who come to visit Thee; I +believe that Thou art present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the +abyss of my nothingness I adore Thee, and I thank Thee for all the +favors which Thou hast bestowed upon me, particularly for having given +me Thyself in this sacrament, for having given me for my advocate Thy +most holy Mother Mary, and for having called me to visit Thee in this +church. + +I this day salute Thy most loving Heart, and I wish to salute it for +three ends: first, in thanksgiving for this great gift; second, in +compensation for all the injuries Thou hast received from Thy enemies in +this sacrament; third, I wish by this visit to adore Thee in all places +in which Thou art least honored and most abandoned in this holy +sacrament. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I am sorry for +having hitherto offended Thy infinite goodness. I purpose, with the +assistance of Thy grace, nevermore to offend Thee; and at this moment, +miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to Thee. I give Thee my +entire will, all my affections and desires, and all that I have. From +this day forward, do what Thou wilt with me and with whatsoever belongs +to me. I ask and desire only Thy holy love, the gift of final +perseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of Thy will. I recommend to +Thee the souls in purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to +the Blessed Sacrament and to most holy Mary; and I also recommend to +Thee all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my +affections with the affections of Thy most loving Heart; and thus united +I offer them to Thy eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Thy name and +for Thy sake, to accept them. + +Indulgence. (1) 300 days, every time this prayer is said before the +Blessed Sacrament. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a month, for saying it +every day for a month; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX, Sept. 7, +1854.) + + + +An Act of Oblation to the Sacred Heart + +DIVINE Heart of my Jesus! I adore Thee with all the powers of my soul, +which I consecrate to Thee for ever, with my thoughts, my words, my +works, and my whole self. I purpose to offer to Thee, as far as I can, +acts of adoration, love, and glory, like unto those which Thou offerest +to Thy eternal Father. Be Thou, I beseech Thee, the repairer of my +transgressions, the protector of my life, my refuge and asylum in the +hour of death. By Thy sighs, and by that sea of bitterness in which Thou +wast plunged for me throughout Thy whole mortal life, grant me true +contrition for my sins, contempt of earthly things, a burning desire of +eternal glory, trust in Thy infinite merits, and final perseverance in +Thy grace. + +Heart of Jesus, all love! I offer Thee these humble prayers for myself +and for all who unite with me in spirit to adore Thee. Vouchsafe out of +Thy great goodness to hear and answer them, chiefly for that one among +us who will first end this mortal life. Sweet Heart of Jesus! pour into +his heart, in his death agony, Thine inward consolations; receive him +within Thy sacred wound; cleanse him from all stains in that furnace of +love, so that Thou mayest soon open to him the gates of Thy eternal +glory, there to intercede with Thee for all those who tarry yet in this +land of exile. + +Most holy Heart of my most loving Jesus! For myself, a wretched sinner, +and for all who unite with me in adoring Thee, I purpose to renew and +offer to Thee these acts of adoration and these prayers at every moment +and to the last instant of my life. I recommend to Thee, my Jesus, our +holy Church, Thy well-beloved spouse and our true mother; the souls who +are following the path of justice, poor sinners, the afflicted, the +dying, all men on the face of the entire earth. Let not Thy blood be +shed in vain for them; and vouchsafe, lastly, to apply it for the relief +of the souls in purgatory, and above all, for those who in life were +foremost in their devotion to Thee. + +Most loving heart of Mary, which, amongst the hearts of all God's +creatures, is at once the purest and the most inflamed with love for +Jesus, and the most compassionate toward us poor sinners, obtain for us +from the Heart of Jesus, our Redeemer, all graces which we ask of thee. +Mother of mercies, one throb, a single beat of thy burning heart, +offered by thee to the Heart of Jesus, has power to console us to the +full. Grant us, then, this favor. And then the Heart of Jesus, through +the filial love He had for thee, and will ever have, will not fail to +hear and answer our request. Amen. + +DAILY OFFERING + +O LORD Jesus Christ! In union with that divine intention, with which +Thou, whilst on earth, didst give praise to God through Thy most sacred +Heart, and which Thou dost still everywhere offer to Him in the Holy +Eucharist, even to the consummation of the world; I, in imitation of the +most sacred heart of the ever-immaculate Virgin Mary, do most cheerfully +offer to Thee, during this entire day, all my thoughts and intentions, +all my affections and desires, my words and all my works. + +Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, Dec. 19, 1885.) + +_Ejaculation_ + +Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine! + +Indulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Pius IX, January 25, 1858.) + + + +PRAYERS TO JESUS SUFFERING + +The Stations of the Cross + +PREPARATORY PRAYER + +MOST merciful Jesus! With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow +down in profound humility before Thy divine majesty. I adore Thee as my +supreme Lord and master; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee +above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my +supreme and only good. I resolve to amend my life; and though I am +unworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Thy holy cross, on which Thou +didst die, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will therefore +meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the stations of Thy passion in +company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the +intention of promoting Thy glory and saving my soul. + +I desire to gain all the indulgences granted for this exercise, for +myself and for the suffering souls in purgatory. O merciful Redeemer, +who hast said; "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all +things to myself," draw my heart and my love to Thee, that I may perform +this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in +union with Thee. Amen. + +_Before Every Station_ + +We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee: Because by Thy holy cross Thou +hast redeemed the world. + +_After Every Station_ + +Lord Jesus, crucified: Have mercy on us. + + +First Station + +JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH + +JESUS, most innocent, who neither did nor could commit sin, was +condemned to death, and, moreover, to the ignominious death of the +cross. To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him to His +enemies. A fearful crime--to condemn innocence to death, and to offend +God, in order not to displease men. + +_Prayer_ + +O INNOCENT Jesus, having sinned I am guilty of eternal death, but Thou +dost willingly accept the unjust sentence of death, that I might live. +For whom, then, shall I henceforth live, if not for Thee, my Lord? +Should I desire to please men, I could not be Thy servant. Let me, +therefore, rather displease men and all the world than not please Thee, +O Jesus. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Second Station + +JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS + +ON BEHOLDING the cross, our divine Saviour most willingly stretched out +His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, and placing +it on His bruised shoulder, despite His exhaustion joyfully carried it. + +_Prayer_ + +O MY Jesus, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry +the cross. O dearly beloved cross, I embrace thee, I kiss thee, I +rejoice to receive thee from the hands of God. Far be it from me to +glory in anything save in the cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the +world shall be crucified to me, and I to the world, that I may be Thine +for ever. + +Our Father, etc. Hail, Mary, etc + + +Third Station + +JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME + +OUR dear Saviour carrying the cross was so weakened by its heavy weight +as to fall exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy +burden which oppressed Him; the cross was to Him light and sweet, but +our sins were galling and insupportable. + +_Prayer_ + +O MY Jesus! Thou didst bear my burden and the heavy weight of my sins. +Should I, then, not bear in union with Thee my easy burden of suffering +and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? Thy yoke is sweet and Thy +burden light; I therefore willingly accept it. I will take up Thy cross +and follow Thee. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc, + + +Fourth Station + +JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER + +HOW painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful +Mother, to behold her beloved Son laden with the burden of the cross! +What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly +she yearned to die instead of, or at least with, Jesus! Implore this +sorrowful Mother that she assist you in the hour of your death. + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS, O Mary! I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which +pierce your loving hearts. O that my heart also would feel and +experience at least some of your sufferings! O Mother of sorrows, let me +participate in the sufferings which thou and thy Son endured for me, and +let me experience thy sorrow, that, afflicted with thee, I may enjoy thy +assistance in the hour of my death. + +[Illustration: The Immaculate Conception.] + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Fifth Station + +SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS + +SIMON of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus +accepted His assistance. How willingly He would permit you also to carry +the cross! He calls you, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you +decline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly! + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS! Whosoever does not take up His cross and follow Thee is not +worthy of Thee. Behold, I join Thee in the way of Thy cross; I will be +Thy assistant, following Thy footsteps, that I may come to Thee in +eternal life. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Sixth Station + +VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS + +IMPELLED by devotion and compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus +to wipe His disfigured face. And Jesus imprints on it His holy +countenance; a great recompense for so slight a service. What return do +you make to your Saviour for His great and manifold benefits? + +_Prayer_ + +MOST merciful Jesus! What return shall I make for all the benefits Thou +didst bestow on me? Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. +I offer and consecrate to Thee my heart. Imprint upon it Thy sacred +image, never to be effaced again by sin. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Seventh Station + +JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME + +JESUS, suffering under the weight of His cross, again falls to the +ground; but His cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. +Pushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent +repetition of our sins which oppresses Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I +continue to sin? + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS, son of David, have mercy on me! Offer me Thy helping hand, and +aid me that I may not fall again into my former sins. From this very +moment I will earnestly strive to reform; nevermore will I sin. Do Thou, +O sole support of the weak, by Thy grace, without which I can do +nothing, strengthen me to carry out faithfully this my resolution. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Eighth Station + +THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS + +THESE devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering +Saviour. But He turns to them, saying, "Weep not for Me, who am +innocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children." Weep thou +also; for there is nothing more pleasing to Our Lord, and nothing more +profitable for thyself, than tears shed from contrition for thy sins. + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS, who shall give to my eyes a torrent of tears, that day and +night I may weep for my sins? I beseech Thee through Thy bloody tears to +move my heart by Thy divine grace, so that from my eyes tears may flow +abundantly, and I may weep all days over Thy sufferings, and still more +over their cause, my sins. + +Our Father, etc. Hail, Mary, etc. + + +Ninth Station + +JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME + +JESUS, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third +time to the ground. His love for us is not exhausted, not diminished. +What a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to +fall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would +have plunged us into the abyss of hell. + +_Prayer_ + +MOST merciful Jesus! I return Thee infinite thanks for not permitting me +to continue in sin, and to fall, as I have so often deserved, into the +depths of hell. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of amendment. Let me +never again relapse, but vouchsafe me Thy grace to persevere to the end +of my life. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Tenth Station + +JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS + +AFTER arriving on Calvary, our Saviour was cruelly despoiled of His +garments. How painful must this have been, because they adhered to His +wounded and torn body, and with them parts of His bloody skin were +removed! All the wounds of Jesus are renewed. He is despoiled of His +garments that He might die possessed of nothing. How happy shall I die +after laying aside my former self with all evil inclinations and +desires! + +_Prayer_ + +INDUCE me, O Jesus! to lay aside my former self, and to be renewed +according to Thy will and desire. I will not spare myself, however +painful this should be for me; despoiled of things temporal, of my own +will, I desire to die, in order to live for Thee for ever. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Eleventh Station + +JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS + +JESUS, being stripped of His garments, was violently thrown upon the +cross, and His hands and feet were most cruelly nailed thereto. In such +excruciating torments He remained silent, because it thus pleased His +heavenly Father. He suffered patiently because He suffered for us. How +do I act in suffering and affliction? How fretful and impatient, how +full of complaints I am! + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS, gracious Lamb of God! I renounce for ever my impatience. +Crucify, O Lord, my flesh and its concupiscences. Scorch, scathe, and +punish me in this world; do but spare me in the next! I commit my +destiny to Thee, resigning myself to Thy holy will; may it be done in +all things. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +Twelfth Station + +JESUS IS RAISED UPON THE CROSS, AND DIES + +BEHOLD Jesus crucified! Behold the wounds He received for the love of +you! His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you; +His arms are extended to embrace you; His Heart is open to receive you. +O superabundance of love! Jesus, the Son of God dies that man may live +and be delivered from everlasting death. + +_Prayer_ + +O MOST amiable Jesus! Who will grant me that I may die for love of Thee? +I will at least endeavor to die to the world. How must I regard the +world and its vanities, when I behold Thee hanging on the cross, covered +with wounds? O Jesus, receive me into Thy wounded Heart; I belong +entirely to Thee; for Thee alone do I desire to live and to die. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc + + +Thirteenth Station + +JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS, AND PLACED IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER + +JESUS did not descend from the cross, but remained on it till after His +death. And when taken down from it, He, in death as in life, rested on +the bosom of His Mother. Persevere in your resolutions of reform, and do +not part from the cross; he that persevereth to the end shall be saved. +Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body +and blood of Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar. + +_Prayer_ + +O LORD Jesus! Thy lifeless body, mangled and torn, found a worthy +resting-place on the bosom of Thy virgin Mother. Have I not compelled +Thee often to dwell in my heart, full of sin and impurity as it was? +Create in me a new heart, that I may worthily receive Thy most sacred +body in holy communion, and that Thou mayest remain in me, and I in +Thee, for all eternity. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc + + +Fourteenth Station + +JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHER + +THE body of Jesus is laid in a stranger's tomb. He who in this world had +not whereupon to rest His head, would not even have a grave of His own, +because He was not of this world. You, who are so attached to the world, +henceforth despise it, that you may not perish with it. + +_Prayer_ + +O JESUS, Thou hast set me apart from the world; what, then, shall I seek +therein? Thou hast created me for heaven; what, then, have I to do with +the world? Depart from me, deceitful world, with Thy vanities! +Henceforth I will follow the way of the cross traced out for me by my +Redeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, there to dwell for +ever and ever. + +Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. + + +CONCLUSION + +ALMIGHTY and eternal God, merciful Father, who hast given to the human +race Thy beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience, +to precede us on the way of life, bearing the cross; graciously grant, +that we, inflamed by His infinite love, may take up the sweet yoke of +His Gospel, together with the mortification of the cross, following Him +as His true disciples, so that we shall one day rise gloriously with +Him, and joyfully hear the final sentence: "Come, ye blessed of my +Father, and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the +beginning," where Thou reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and +where we hope to reign with Thee throughout all eternity. Amen. + + + +Prayer to Our Suffering Redeemer + +O MY Lord Jesus Christ! Who, to redeem the world, didst vouchsafe to be +born amongst men, to be circumcised, to be rejected and persecuted by +the Jews, to be betrayed by the traitor Judas with a kiss, and as a +lamb, gentle and innocent, to be bound with cords and dragged, in scorn, +before the tribunals of Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod; who didst +suffer Thyself to be accused by false witnesses, to be torn by the +scourge and overwhelmed with ignominy; to be spit upon, to be crowned +with thorns, buffeted, struck with a reed, blindfolded, stripped of Thy +garments; to be nailed to the cross and raised on it between two +thieves; to be given gall and vinegar to drink, and to be pierced with a +lance; do Thou, O Lord, by these Thy most sacred pains, which I, all +unworthy, call to mind, and by Thy holy cross and death, save me from +the pains of hell, and vouchsafe to bring me whither Thou didst bring +the good thief who was crucified with Thee, who with the Father and the +Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, for ever and ever. Amen. + +Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, etc., five times. + +Indulgence. (1) 300 days, once a day. (2) A plenary indulgence, under +the usual conditions, on any one of the last three days of the month, +after saying this prayer daily for a month. (Pius VII, August 25, 1820.) + + + +Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary + +(_By St. Alphonsus._) + +MOST holy and immaculate virgin, O my Mother, thou who art the Mother of +my Lord, the queen of the world, the advocate, hope, and refuge of +sinners! I, the most wretched among them, come now to thee. I venerate +thee, great queen, and give thee thanks for the many favors thou hast +bestowed on me in the past. Most of all do I thank thee for having saved +me from hell, which I so often deserved. I love thee, Lady most worthy +of love, and by the love which I bear thee I promise ever in the future +to serve thee, and to do what in me lies to win others to thy love. In +thee I put all my trust, all my hope of salvation. Receive me as thy +servant, and cover me with the mantle of thy protection, thou who art +the Mother of mercy! And since thou hast so much power with God, deliver +me from all temptations, or at least obtain for me the grace ever to +overcome them. From thee I ask a true love of Jesus Christ, and the +grace of a happy death. O my Mother, by thy love for God I beseech thee +to be at all times my helper, but above all at the last moment of my +life. Leave me not until thou seest me safely in heaven, there for +endless ages to bless thee and sing thy praises. Amen. + +Indulgence, (1) 300 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a +month, for having said it daily during the month; under the usual +conditions. (Pius IX, Sept. 7, 1854.) + + + +Prayer for All Things Necessary for Salvation + +O MY God! I believe in Thee; do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes +are in Thee; do Thou secure them. I love Thee with my whole heart; teach +me to love Thee more and more. I am sorry that I have offended Thee; do +Thou increase my sorrow. I adore Thee as my first beginning; I aspire +after Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor; +I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector. Vouchsafe, O my God, to +conduct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me +by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power. To Thee I desire to consecrate +all my thoughts, my actions, and my sufferings, that I henceforward may +think only of Thee, speak only of Thee, and ever refer all my actions to +Thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou shalt appoint. O +Lord, I desire that in all things Thy will be done, because it is Thy +will, and in the manner that Thou willest. I beg of Thee to enlighten my +understanding, to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my +soul. Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offenses, to overcome my +temptations, to subdue my passions, to acquire the virtues proper for my +state. Fill my heart with tender affection for Thy goodness, a hatred of +my faults, a love for my neighbor, and a contempt for the world. Let me +always be submissive to my superiors, condescending to my inferiors, +faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies. Assist me to +overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by almsdeeds, anger by +meekness, and tepidity by zeal. O my God, make me prudent in my +undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble +in prosperity. Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, +temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my +resolutions. Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior +modest, my conversation edifying, my comportment regular. Assist me, +that I may continually labor to overcome nature, correspond with Thy +grace, keep Thy commandments, and work out my salvation. Discover to me, +O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the +shortness of time, the length of eternity. Grant that I may be prepared +for death, fear Thy judgments, escape hell, and, in the end, obtain +heaven. + +All that I have asked for myself I confidently ask for others; for my +family, my relations, my benefactors, my friends, and also for my +enemies. I ask it for the whole Church, for all the orders of which it +is composed; more especially for our Holy Father, the Pope; for our +bishop, for our pastors, and for all who are in authority; also for all +those for whom Thou desirest that I should pray. Give them, O Lord, all +that Thou knowest to be conducive to Thy glory and necessary for their +salvation. Strengthen the just in virtue, convert sinners, enlighten +infidels, heretics, and schismatics; console the afflicted, give to the +faithful departed rest and eternal life; that together we may praise, +love, and bless Thee for all eternity. Amen. + + + +The Four Approved Litanies + + + +Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus + + LORD, have mercy on us. + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Jesus, hear us. + Jesus, graciously hear us. + God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. + God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. + God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. + Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. + Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. + Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us. + Jesus, brightness of eternal light, have mercy on us. + Jesus, king of glory, have mercy on us. + Jesus, sun of justice, have mercy on us. + Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us. + Jesus amiable, have mercy on us. + Jesus admirable, have mercy on us. + Jesus, powerful God, have mercy on us. + Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us. + Jesus, angel of the great council, have mercy on us. + Jesus most powerful, have mercy on us. + Jesus most patient, have mercy on us. + Jesus most obedient, have mercy on us. + Jesus meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us. + Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us. + Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us. + Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us. + Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us. + Jesus, model of all virtues, have mercy on us. + Jesus, zealous for souls, have mercy on us. + Jesus, our God, have mercy on us. + Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us. + Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us. + Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us. + Jesus, good shepherd, have mercy on us. + Jesus, true light, have mercy on us. + Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us. + Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us. + Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us. + Jesus, joy of angels, have mercy on us. + Jesus, king of patriarchs, have mercy on us. + Jesus, master of the apostles, have mercy on us. + Jesus, teacher of the evangelists, have mercy on us. + Jesus, strength of martyrs, have mercy on us. + Jesus, light of confessors, have mercy on us. + Jesus, purity of virgins, have mercy on us. + Jesus, crown of all saints, have mercy on us. + Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus. + Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus. + From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus. + From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus. + From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus. + From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus. + From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Jesus. + From eternal death, deliver us, O Jesus. + From the neglect of Thy inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus. + By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy nativity, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy infancy, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy most divine life, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy labors, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy agony and passion, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy languors, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy ascension, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy joys, deliver us, O Jesus. + By Thy glory, deliver us, O Jesus. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Jesus. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear +us, O Jesus. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, +O Jesus. + Jesus, hear us. + Jesus, graciously hear us. + +_Let us pray_ + +O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and +ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: mercifully attend +to our supplications, and grant us the gift of Thy divine charity, that +we may ever love Thee with our whole hearts, and never desist from Thy +praise. + +Give us, O Lord, a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name, for Thou +never ceasest to direct and govern by Thy grace those whom Thou +instructest in the solidity of Thy love; who livest and reignest world +without end. Amen. + +Indulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, January 16, 1886.) + +[Illustration: The Children's Offering.] + + + +Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus + +(_Approved by Pope Leo XIII, April 2, 1899._) + + LORD, have mercy on us. + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Christ, hear us. + Christ, graciously hear us. + God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. + God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. + God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. + Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin +Mother, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on +us. + Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, +have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fulness of divinity, have mercy on +us. + Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, of whose fulness we have all received, have mercy on +us. + Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, victim for sin, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in thee, have mercy on +us. + Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us. + Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear +us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, +O Lord. + V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart: + R. Make our hearts like unto Thine. + +_Let us pray_ + +O ALMIGHTY and eternal God! Look upon the Heart of Thy dearly beloved +Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of +sinners and of those who seek Thy mercy; be Thou appeased, and grant us +pardon in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son; who liveth and +reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. +Amen. + +Indulgence. 300 days. (Leo XIII, April 2, 1899.) + + + +The Litany of Loreto + +_In Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary_ + + LORD, have mercy on us, + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us, + Christ, hear us. + Christ, graciously hear us. + God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. + God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. + God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. + Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. + Holy Mary, pray for us. + Holy Mother of God, pray for us. + Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us. + Mother of Christ, pray for us. + Mother of divine grace, pray for us. + Mother most pure, pray for us. + Mother most chaste, pray for us. + Mother inviolate, pray for us. + Mother undefiled, pray for us. + Mother most amiable, pray for us. + Mother most admirable, pray for us. + Mother of good counsel, pray for us. + Mother of our Creator, pray for us. + Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us. + Virgin most prudent, pray for us. + Virgin most venerable, pray for us. + Virgin most renowned, pray for us. + Virgin most powerful, pray for us. + Virgin most merciful, pray for us. + Virgin most faithful, pray for us. + Mirror of justice, pray for us. + Seat of wisdom, pray for us. + Cause of our joy, pray for us. + Spiritual vessel, pray for us. + Vessel of honor, pray for us. + Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us. + Mystical rose, pray for us. + Tower of David, pray for us. + Tower of ivory, pray for us. + House of gold, pray for us. + Ark of the covenant, pray for us. + Gate of heaven, pray for us. + Morning star, pray for us. + Health of the sick, pray for us. + Refuge of sinners, pray for us. + Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us. + Help of Christians, pray for us. + Queen of angels, pray for us. + Queen of patriarchs, pray for us. + Queen of prophets, pray for us. + Queen of apostles, pray for us. + Queen of martyrs, pray for us. + Queen of confessors, pray for us. + Queen of virgins, pray for us. + Queen of all saints, pray for us. + Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us. + Queen of the most holy rosary, pray for us. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear +us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, +O Lord. + V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God: + R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. + +_Let us pray_ + +POUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, +to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message +of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His +resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. + + V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. + R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. + +_Let us pray_ + +VOUCHSAFE, O Lord, that we may be helped by the merits of Thy most holy +Mother's spouse; that what of ourselves we can not obtain may be given +us through his intercession. Who livest and reignest, world without end. +Amen. + +Indulgence. (1) 300 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence on the +following five feasts of the Blessed Virgin: Immaculate Conception, +Nativity, Purification, Annunciation, and Assumption; under the usual +conditions, to all who shall have said it daily during the year. (Pius +VII, September 30, 1817.) These indulgences are granted for the litany +alone; hence the prayers following it may be omitted. + + + +Litany of the Saints + + LORD, have mercy on us. + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Christ, hear us. + Christ, graciously hear us. + God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. + God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. + God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. + Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. + Holy Mary, pray for us. + Holy Mother of God, pray for us. + Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us. + St. Michael, pray for us. + St. Gabriel, pray for us. + St. Raphael, pray for us. + All ye holy angels and archangels, pray for us. + All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us. + St. John Baptist, pray for us. + St. Joseph, pray for us. + All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us. + St. Peter, pray for us. + St. Paul, pray for us. + St. Andrew, pray for us. + St. James, pray for us. + St. John, pray for us. + St. Thomas, pray for us. + St. James, pray for us. + St. Philip, pray for us. + St. Bartholomew, pray for us. + St. Matthew, pray for us. + St. Simon, pray for us. + St. Thaddaeus, pray for us. + St. Mathias, pray for us. + St. Barnabas, pray for us. + St. Luke, pray for us. + St. Mark, pray for us. + All ye holy apostles and evangelists, pray for us. + All ye holy disciples of Our Lord, pray for us. + All ye holy innocents, pray for us. + St. Stephen, pray for us. + St. Lawrence, pray for us. + St. Vincent, pray for us. + SS. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us. + SS. John and Paul, pray for us. + SS. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us. + SS. Gervaise and Protaise, pray for us. + All ye holy martyrs, pray for us. + St. Sylvester, pray for us. + St. Gregory, pray for us. + St. Ambrose, pray for us. + St. Augustine, pray for us. + St. Jerome, pray for us. + St. Martin, pray for us. + St. Nicholas, pray for us. + All ye holy bishops and confessors, pray for us. + All ye holy doctors, pray for us. + St. Anthony, pray for us. + St. Benedict, pray for us. + St. Bernard, pray for us. + St. Dominic, pray for us. + St. Francis, pray for us. + All ye holy priests and levites, pray for us. + All ye holy monks and hermits, pray for us. + St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us. + St. Agatha, pray for us. + St. Lucy, pray for us. + St. Agnes, pray for us. + St. Cecilia, pray for us. + St. Catherine, pray for us. + St. Anastasia, pray for us. + All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us. + All ye men and women, saints of God: Make intercession for us. + Be merciful: Spare us, O Lord. + Be merciful: Graciously hear us, O Lord. + From all evil, O Lord, deliver us. + From all sin, O Lord, deliver us. + From a sudden and unprovided death, O Lord, deliver us. + From the snares of the devil, O Lord, deliver us. + From anger, hatred, and ill will, O Lord, deliver us. + From the spirit of fornication, O Lord, deliver us. + From lightning and tempest, O Lord, deliver us. + From the scourge of earthquake, O Lord, deliver us. + From pestilence, famine, and war, O Lord, deliver us. + From everlasting death, O Lord, deliver us. + Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy coming, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy nativity, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy cross and passion, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy death and burial, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy holy resurrection, O Lord, deliver us. + Through Thy admirable ascension, O Lord, deliver us. + Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, O Lord, deliver +us. + In the Day of Judgment, O Lord, deliver us. + We sinners, Beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to bring us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear +us. + That Thou vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, we beseech +Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to preserve our apostolic prelate and all +ecclesiastical orders in holy religion, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to humble the enemies of Thy holy Church, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings +and princes, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, +we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech Thee, hear +us. + That Thou render eternal good things to all our benefactors, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou deliver our souls and those of our brethren, kinsfolk, and +benefactors from eternal damnation, we beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we +beseech Thee, hear us. + That Thou vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech Thee, hear us. + Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear +us, O Lord. + Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, +O Lord. + Christ, hear us. + Christ, graciously hear us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Christ, have mercy on us. + Lord, have mercy on us. + Our Father, etc. + V. And lead us not into temptation. + R. But deliver us from evil. + +PSALM LXIX + + INCLINE unto my aid, O God: O Lord, make haste to help me. + Let them be confounded and ashamed: that seek after my soul. + Let them be turned backward and blush for shame: that desire evils +unto me. + Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame, that say to me: +Tis well, 'tis well. + Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as +love Thy salvation say always, The Lord be magnified. + But I am needy and poor: O God, help Thou me. + Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no delay. + Glory be to the Father, etc. + V. Save Thy servants: + R. Trusting in Thee, O my God. + V. Be unto us, O God, a tower of strength: + R. From the face of the enemy. + V. Let not the enemy prevail against us: + R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us. + V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins: + R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities. + V. Let us pray for our chief bishop, N. + R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon +earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. + V. Let us pray for our benefactors: + R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life +all those who have done us good. + V. Let us pray for the faithful departed: + R. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine +upon them. + V. May they rest in peace. + R. Amen. + V. For our absent brethren: + R. O my God, save Thy servants trusting in Thee. + V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy holy place: + R. And from Sion protect them. + V. O Lord, hear my prayer: + R. And let my cry come unto Thee. + +_Let us pray_ + +O GOD, whose property it is always to have mercy and to spare, receive +our petitions, that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain +of sin, may, in the compassion of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved. + +Hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayer of Thy suppliants, and pardon +the sins of them that confess to Thee, that of Thy bounty Thou mayest +grant us pardon and peace. + +Out of Thy clemency, O Lord, show Thy unspeakable mercy to us, that so +Thou mayest both acquit us of our sins and deliver us from the +punishment we deserve for them. + +O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully +regard the prayers of Thy people who make supplication to Thee, and turn +away the scourges of Thy anger, which we deserve for our sins. + +O almighty and eternal God, have mercy on Thy servant N., our chief +bishop, and direct him, according to Thy clemency, in the way of +everlasting salvation, that, by Thy grace, he may desire the things that +are agreeable to Thy will, and perform them with all his strength. + +O God, from whom all holy desires, righteous counsels, and just works do +come, give to Thy servants that peace which the world can not give; +that, our hearts being disposed to keep Thy commandments, and the fear +of enemies being taken away, the times, by Thy protection, may be +peaceable. + +Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit; +to the end that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee +with a clean heart. + +O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls +of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that by pious +supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired. + +Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, +and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance; that every prayer and work +of ours may always begin from Thee, and by Thee be happily ended. + +Almighty and eternal God, who hast dominion over the living and the +dead, and art merciful to all whom Thou foreknowest shall be Thine by +faith and good works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we have +purposed to offer our prayers, whether this present world still detains +them in the flesh, or the next world has already received them divested +of their bodies, may, by the clemency of Thine own goodness and the +intercession of Thy saints, obtain pardon and full remission of all +their sins. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with +Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. + + V. O Lord, hear my prayer. + R. And let my cry come unto Thee. + V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. + R. Amen. + V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God +rest in peace. + R. Amen. + +[Illustration: Mary, Help of Christians.] + + + +PART VI + +Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year + + +"Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever" (_Ps._ +cxliv. 2). + + + +Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for every Day in the Year + + + +January + +1 + +THERE are two guarantees of a wise rule of conduct: the thought before +action, and self-command afterward.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +2 + +When we receive with an entire and perfect resignation the afflictions +which God sends us they become for us favors and benefits; because +conformity to the will of God is a gain far superior to all temporal +advantages.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +3 + +All perfection consists in the love of God; and the perfection of divine +love consists in the union of our will with that of God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +4 + +Leave to every one the care of what belongs to him, and disturb not +thyself with what is said or done in the world.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +5 + +Place before your eyes as models for imitation, not the weak and +cowardly, but the fervent and courageous.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +6 + +Prayer is a pasturage, a field, wherein all the virtues find their +nourishment, growth, and strength.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +7 + +A single act of resignation to the divine will in what it ordains +contrary to our desires, is of more value than a hundred thousand +successes conformable to our will and taste.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +8 + +The shortest, yea, the only way to reach sanctity, is to conceive a +horror for all that the world loves and values.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +9 + +As long as we are in this mortal life, nothing is more necessary for us +than humility.--ST. TERESA. + +10 + +Learning without humility has always been pernicious to the Church; and +as pride precipitated the rebellious angels from heaven, it frequently +causes the loss of learned men.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +11 + +Why remain sad and idle? Why exhaust thyself in the anguish of +melancholy? Have courage, do violence to thyself; meditate on the +passion of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt overcome thy sorrow.--BL. HENRY +SUSO. + +12 + +Here is the difference between the joys of the world and the cross of +Jesus Christ: after having tasted the first, one is disgusted with them; +and on the contrary, the more one partakes of the cross, the greater the +thirst for it.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +13 + +When the sky is free from clouds we can see more clearly the brightness +of the sun. In like manner, when the soul is free from sin and the gloom +of passion, it participates in the divine light.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +14 + +Our works are of no value if they be not united to the merits of Jesus +Christ.--ST. TERESA. + +15 + +If we are very determined to mortify ourselves and not to be too much +occupied with our corporal health, we will soon, by the grace of God, +become masters of our bodies.--ST. TERESA. + +16 + +In every creature, however small it be, we may see a striking image of +divine wisdom, power, and goodness.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS. + +17 + +Time is but a period. It passes like the lightning flash. Suffering +passes with time; suffering, then, is very short.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +18 + +In order to bear our afflictions with patience, it is very useful to +read the lives and legends of the saints who endured great torments for +Jesus Christ.--ST. TERESA. + +19 + +Open thine ears to the voices of nature, and thou shalt hear them in +concert inviting thee to the love of God.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +20 + +On the feasts of the saints consider their virtues, and beseech God to +deign to adorn you with them.--ST. TERESA. + +21 + +When faith grows weak, all virtues are weakened. When faith is lost, all +virtues are lost--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +22 + +A precious crown is reserved in heaven for those who perform all their +actions with all the diligence of which they are capable; for it is not +sufficient to do our part well; it must be done more than well.--ST. +IGNATIUS. + +23 + +Nothing created has ever been able to fill the heart of man. God alone +can fill it infinitely.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +24 + +We should only make use of life to grow in the love of God.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +25 + +In vain men try. They can never find in creatures sincere affection, +perfect joy, or true peace.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +26 + +God is supreme strength, fortifying those who place their trust and +confidence in Him.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +27 + +God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, +and to do it fully.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +28 + +Shun useless conversation. We lose by it both time and the spirit of +devotion.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +29 + +The upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life and +makes them good.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +30 + +The truth of faith alone, deeply graven in the soul, is sufficient to +encourage us to very perfect works; for it strengthens man and increases +his charity.--ST. TERESA. + +31 + +It is folly not to think of death. It is greater folly to think of it, +and not prepare for it.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +February + +1 + +THE most perfect and meritorious intention is that by which, in all our +actions, we have in view only the good pleasure of God and the +accomplishment of His holy will.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +2 + +Mary's sorrow was less when she saw her only Son crucified, than it is +now at the sight of men offending Him by sin.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +3 + +There is nothing more unreasonable than to estimate our worth by the +opinion of others. Today they laud us to the skies, to-morrow they will +cover us with ignominy.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +4 + +Act as if every day were the last of your life, and each action the last +you perform.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +5 + +Perfection consists in renouncing ourselves, in carrying our cross, and +in following Jesus Christ. Now, he who renounces himself most perfectly +carries his cross the best and follows nearest to Jesus Christ is he who +never does his own will, but always that of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +6 + +That which would have easily been remedied at first, becomes incurable +by time and habit--ST. IGNATIUS. + +7 + +Among the gifts of grace which the soul receives in holy communion there +is one that must be numbered among the highest. It is, that holy +communion does not permit the soul to remain long in sin, nor to +obstinately persevere in it.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +8 + +Be assured that one great means to find favor when we appear before God +is to have pardoned the injuries we have received here below.--VEN. +LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +9 + +Woe to him who neglects to recommend himself to Mary, and thus closes +the channel of grace!--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +10 + +It is folly to leave your goods where you can never return, and to send +nothing to that place where you must remain for ever.--VEN. LOUIS OF +GRANADA. + +11 + +Discretion is necessary in spiritual life. It is its part to restrain +the exercises in the way of perfection, so as to keep us between the two +extremes.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +12 + +By denying our self-love and our inclinations in little things, we +gradually acquire mortification and victory over ourselves.--ST. TERESA. + +13 + +Should we fall a thousand times in a day, a thousand times we must rise +again, always animated with unbounded confidence in the infinite +goodness of God.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +14 + +God's way in dealing with those whom He intends to admit soonest after +this life into the possession of His everlasting glory, is to purify +them in this world by the greatest afflictions and trials.--ST. +IGNATIUS. + +15 + +After the flower comes the fruit: we receive, as the reward of our +fatigues, an increase of grace in this world, and in the next the +eternal vision of God.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +16 + +God refuses no one the gift of prayer. By it we obtain the help that we +need to overcome disorderly desires and temptations of all kinds.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +17 + +To establish ourselves in a virtue it is necessary to form good and +practical resolutions to perform certain and determined acts of that +virtue, and we must, moreover, be faithful in executing them.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +18 + +Love ought to consist of deeds more than of words.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +19 + +There are many things which seem to us misfortunes and which we call +such; but if we understood the designs of God we would call them +graces.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +20 + +Let us abandon everything to the merciful providence of God.--BL. ALBERT +THE GREAT. + +21 + +Jesus Christ, our great Model, suffered much for us; let us bear our +afflictions cheerfully, seeing that through them we have the happiness +of resembling Him.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +22 + +Remember that virtue is a very high and rugged mountain, difficult to +ascend, and requiring much fatigue and exertion before we arrive at the +summit to rest.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +23 + +Labor to conquer yourself. This victory will assure you a brighter crown +in heaven than they gain whose disposition is more amiable.--ST. +IGNATIUS. + +24 + +We should not examine articles of faith with a curious and subtle +spirit. It is sufficient for us to know that the Church proposes them. +We can never be deceived in believing them.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +25 + +We should guard against jealousy, and even the slightest sentiment +thereof. This vice is absolutely opposed to a pure and sincere zeal for +the glory of God, and is a certain proof of secret and subtle pride.-- +ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +26 + +Charity requires us always to have compassion on human infirmity.--ST. +CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +27 + +When one does not love prayer, it is morally impossible for him to +resist his passions.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +28 + +Docility and easy acquiescence with good advice are the signs of a +humble heart.--VEN. JULIENNE MOREL. + +29 + +There is nothing richer, nothing surer, nothing more agreeable than a +good conscience.--BL. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS. + + + +March + +1 + +IT SEEMS as if God granted to other saints to free us from some +particular needfulness; but I know by experience that the glorious St. +Joseph assists us generally in all our necessities.--ST. TERESA. + +2 + +A most powerful and efficacious remedy for all evils, a means of +correcting all imperfections, of triumphing over temptation, and +preserving our hearts in an undisturbed peace, is conformity with the +will of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +3 + +It often happens that when we take less care of our body, we have better +health than when we bestow upon it too much care.--ST. TERESA. + +4 + +Do nothing, say nothing before considering if that which you are about +to say or do is pleasing to God, profitable to yourself, and edifying to +your neighbor.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +5 + +Sometimes God leaves us for a long time unable to effect any good, that +we may learn to humble ourselves, and never to glory in our efforts.-- +ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +6 + +We easily lose peace of mind, because we make it depend, not on the +testimony of a good conscience, but on the judgment of men.--BL. +BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS. + +7 + +You may fast regularly, give alms, and pray without ceasing, but as long +as you hate your brother, you will not be numbered among the children of +God.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +8 + +He who at the hour of death finds himself protected by St. Joseph, will +certainly experience great consolation.--ST. TERESA. + +9 + +Take care that the worldling does not pursue with greater zeal and +anxiety the perishable goods of this world than you do the eternal.--ST. +IGNATIUS. + +10 + +We should consider our departed brethren as living members of Jesus +Christ, animated by His grace, and certain of participating one day of +His glory. We should therefore love, serve, and assist them as far as is +in our power.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +11 + +Control thy senses, guard thy mouth, bridle thy tongue, subjugate thy +heart, bear all provocation with charity, and thou shalt perfectly +fulfil the will of God.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +12 + +Our perfection consists in uniting our will so intimately with God's +will, that we will only desire what He wills. He who conforms most +perfectly to the will of God will be the most perfect Christian.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +13 + +Humility, modesty, sobriety, purity, piety, and prudence, with meekness, +ornament the soul, and make us live on earth a truly angelic life.--BL. +JORDAN OF SAXONY. + +14 + +In recalling to mind the life and actions of the saints, walk in their +footsteps as much as possible, and humble thyself if thou canst not +attain to their perfection.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +15 + +When the devil again tempts you to sin, telling you that God is +merciful, remember that the Lord showeth mercy to them that fear Him, +but not to them who despise Him.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +16 + +In prayer we should particularly combat our predominant passion or evil +inclination. We should devote continual attention to it, because when it +is once conquered we will easily obtain the victory over all our other +faults.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +17 + +I will carefully consider how, on the day of judgment, I would wish to +have discharged my office or my duty; and the way I would wish to have +done it then I shall do now.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +18 + +It is well to deny ourselves that which is permitted, in order to avoid +more easily that which is not.--ST. BENEDICT. + +19 + +I have noticed that all persons who have true devotion to St. Joseph and +tender him special honor, are very much advanced in virtue, for he takes +great care of souls who recommend themselves to him; and I have never +asked of him anything which he did not obtain for me.--ST. TERESA. + +20 + +He who forgets himself in the service of God may be assured that God +will not forget Him.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +21 + +Let all our actions be directed to the end that God may be glorified in +all things.--ST. BENEDICT. + +22 + +He who suffers in patience, suffers less and saves his soul. He who +suffers impatiently, suffers more and loses his soul.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +23 + +When we remember or hear that the enemies of the Church burn and destroy +God's temples, we should grieve therefor; but we should also rejoice +much when we see new ones built, and we should co-operate in their +erection as much as we possibly can.--ST. TERESA. + +24 + +We should carefully beware of giving ourselves so completely to any +employment as to forget to have recourse to God from time to time.--ST. +TERESA. + +25 + +Our Lady, deign to intercede for us sinners with thy divine Son, our +Lord, and obtain of Him a blessing for us in our trials and +tribulations!--ST. IGNATIUS. + +26 + +Whoever would follow Jesus Christ, must walk in His footsteps, if he +would not go astray.--ST. TERESA. + +27 + +Let us thank God for having called us to His holy faith. It is a great +gift, and the number of those who thank God for it is small.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +28 + +The trials of life cease to oppress us if we accept them for the love of +God.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +29 + +If you wish to take up your abode in the tabernacle of the heavenly +kingdom, you must reach there through your good works, without which you +can not hope to enter.--ST. BENEDICT. + +30 + +It is a great folly to be willing to violate the friendship of God, +rather than the law of human friendship.--ST. TERESA. + +31 + +When the afflictions of this life overcome us, let us encourage +ourselves to bear them patiently by the hope of heaven.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +April + +1 + +TO PUT into practice the teachings of our holy faith, it is not enough +to convince ourselves that they are true; we must love them. Love united +to faith makes us practise our religion.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +2 + +Unite all your works to the merits of Jesus Christ, and then offer them +up to the eternal Father if you desire to make them pleasing to Him.-- +ST. TERESA. + +3 + +God pardons sin; but He will not pardon the will to sin.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +4 + +It is a fault, not a virtue, to wish your humility recognized and +applauded.--ST. BERNARD. + +5 + +Before engaging in your private devotions, perform those which obedience +and your duty toward your neighbor impose upon you in such a manner as +to make an abnegation of self.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +6 + +The world is full of inconstancy; its friendship ceases the moment there +is no advantage to be expected from us.--BL. JOHN TAULER. + +7 + +There is nothing better to display the truth in an excellent light, than +a clear and simple statement of facts.--ST. BENEDICT. + +8 + +Be careful and do not lightly condemn the actions of others. We must +consider the intention of our neighbor, which is often good and pure, +although the act itself seems blameworthy.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +9 + +He who does not overcome his predominant passion is in great danger of +being lost. He who does overcome it will easily conquer all the rest.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +10 + +To conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.--ST. +IGNATIUS. + +11 + +A soul which does not practise the exercise of prayer is very like a +paralyzed body which, though possessing feet and hands, makes no use of +them.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +12 + +When you do a good action, have the intention of first pleasing God, and +then of giving good example to your neighbor.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +13 + +The grace of perseverance is the most important of all; it crowns all +other graces.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +14 + +Prayer is the only channel through which God's great graces and favors +may flow into the soul; and if this be once closed, I know no other way +He can communicate them.--ST. TERESA. + +15 + +To acquire courage it is very useful to read the lives of the saints, +especially of those who, after living in sin, attained great sanctity.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +16 + +The truly humble reject all praise for themselves, and refer it all to +God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +17 + +Prayer should be effective and practical, since it has for its end the +acquisition of solid virtue and the mortification of the passions.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +18 + +We do not keep an account of the graces which God has given us, but God +our Lord keeps an account of them. He has fixed the measure thereof.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +19 + +The more guilty we are, the greater must be our confidence in Mary. +Therefore, courage, timid soul; let Mary know all thy misery, and hasten +with joy to the throne of mercy.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +20 + +Evil is often more hurtful to the doer than to the one against whom it +is done.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +21 + +During life despise that which will avail you nothing at the hour of +death.--ST. ANSELM. + +22 + +He who fails to reflect before acting, walks with his eyes shut and +advances with danger. He also falls very often, because the eye of +reflection does not enable him to see whither his footsteps lead.--ST. +GREGORY THE GREAT. + +23 + +Sanctity and perfection consist not in fine words, but in good +actions.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +24 + +As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations +the path that leads to humility.--ST. BERNARD. + +25 + +Do not disturb yourself with vain curiosity concerning the affairs of +others, nor how they conduct themselves, unless your position makes it +your duty to do so.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +26 + +The deceitful charms of prosperity destroy more souls than all the +scourges of adversity.--ST. BERNARD. + +27 + +The first degree of humility is the fear of God, which we should +constantly have before our eyes.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +28 + +He who cheerfully endures contempt and is happy under crosses and +affliction, partakes of the humility and sufferings of Our Lord.--ST. +MECHTILDIS. + +29 + +He who is resigned to the divine will shall always surmount the +difficulties he meets with in the service of God. The Lord will +accomplish His designs concerning him.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +30 + +Consent to suffer a slight temporary pain, that so thou mayst avoid the +eternal pains which sin deserves.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + + + +May + +1 + +MARY was the most perfect among the saints only because she was always +perfectly united to the will of God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +2 + +After the love which we owe Jesus Christ, we must give the chief place +in our heart to the love of His Mother Mary.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +3 + +When we feel our cross weighing upon us, let us have recourse to Mary, +whom the Church calls the "Consoler of the Afflicted."--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +4 + +The devotions we practise in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary, however +trifling they be, are very pleasing to her divine Son, and He rewards +them with eternal glory.--ST. TERESA. + +5 + +There is nothing which is more profitable and more consoling to the mind +than to frequently remember the Blessed Virgin.--ST. TERESA. + +6 + +Blessed are the actions enclosed between two Hail Marys.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +7 + +Let us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy +apostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus +Christ were the most afflicted.--ST. TERESA. + +8 + +The servants of Mary who are in purgatory receive visits and +consolations from her.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +9 + +If you persevere until death in true devotion to Mary, your salvation is +certain.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +10 + +He who remembers having invoked the name of Mary in an impure +temptation, may be sure that he did not yield to it.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +11 + +Mary being destined to negotiate peace between God and man, it was not +proper that she should be an accomplice in the disobedience of +Adam.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +12 + +Mary having co-operated in our redemption with so much glory to God and +so much love for us, Our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain +salvation except through her intercession.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +13 + +He who wishes to find Jesus will do so only by having recourse to +Mary.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +14 + +Mary having always lived wholly detached from earthly things and united +with God, death, which united her more closely to Him, was extremely +sweet and agreeable to her.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +15 + +Mary being in heaven nearer to God and more united to Him, knows our +miseries better, compassionates them more, and can more efficaciously +assist us.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +16 + +The Virgin Mother, all pure and all white, will make her servants pure +and white.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +17 + +To assure our salvation it does not suffice to call ourselves children +of Mary, therefore let us always have the fear of God.--ST. TERESA. + +18 + +Let us offer ourselves without delay and without reserve to Mary, and +beg her to offer us herself to God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +19 + +Such is the compassion, such the love which Mary bears us, that she is +never tired of praying for us.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +20 + +O Queen of heaven and earth! The universe would perish before thou +couldst refuse aid to one who invokes thee from the depth of his +heart.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +21 + +O most blessed Virgin, who declarest in thy Canticle that it is owing to +thy humility that God hath done great things in thee, obtain for me the +grace to imitate thee, that is, to be obedient; because to obey is to +practise humility.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +22 + +May the two names so sweet and so powerful, of Jesus and Mary, be always +in our hearts and on our lips!--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +23 + +Whatsoever we do, we can never be true children of Mary, unless we are +humble.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +24 + +Let us highly esteem devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and let us lose no +opportunity of inspiring others with it.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +25 + +As a mother feels no disgust in dressing the sores of her child, so +Mary, the heavenly infirmarian, never refuses to care for sinners who +have recourse to her.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +26 + +Each of our days is marked with the protection of Mary, who is +exceedingly anxious to be our Mother, when we desire to be her +children.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +27 + +When the devil wishes to make himself master of a soul, he seeks to make +it give up devotion to Mary.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +28 + +Let us have recourse to Mary; for of all creatures she is the highest, +the purest, the most beautiful, and the most loving.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +29 + +Let the name of Mary be ever on your lips, let it be indelibly engraven +on your heart. If you are under her protection, you have nothing to +fear; if she is propitious, you will arrive at the port of salvation.-- +ST. BERNARD. + +30 + +Know that of all devotions the most pleasing to Mary is to have frequent +recourse to her, asking for favors.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +31 + +Let the servants of Mary perform every day, and especially on Saturday, +some work of charity for her sake.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +June + +1 + +CAN WE, amongst all hearts, find one more amiable than that of Jesus? It +is on His Heart that God looks with special complacency--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +2 + +One must wage war against his predominant passion, and not retreat, +until, with God's help, he has been victorious.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +3 + +An act of perfect conformity to the will of God unites us more to Him +than a hundred other acts of virtue.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +4 + +The love of God inspires the love of our neighbor, and the love of our +neighbor serves to keep alive the love of God.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +5 + +Live always in the certainty that whatever happens to you is the result +of divine Providence; because nothing hard or laborious falls to your +lot without the Lord permitting it.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +6 + +Whatsoever good work you undertake, pray earnestly to God that He will +enable you to bring it to a successful termination.--ST. BENEDICT. + +7 + +What is a fruitless repentance, defiled almost immediately by new +faults?--ST. BERNARD. + +8 + +You propose to give up everything to God; be sure, then, to include +yourself among the things to be given up.--ST. BENEDICT. + +9 + +If you can find a place where God is not, go there and sin with +impunity.--ST. ANSELM. + +10 + +He can not err who is constantly with the visible Head which Jesus +Christ has left to His Church, as its foundation, rule, teacher, and +defender of the Faith.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +11 + +The more numerous the gifts we have received from God, the greater the +account we must render to Him.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +12 + +True penance consists in regretting without ceasing the faults of the +past, and in firmly resolving to never again commit that which is so +deplorable.--ST. BERNARD. + +[Illustration: The Sacred Heart of Mary.] + +13 + +We are not raised the first day to the summit of perfection. It is by +climbing, not by flying, that we arrive there.--ST. BERNARD. + +14 + +What we do for ourselves during life is more certain than all the good +we expect others to do for us after death.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +15 + +Idleness begets a discontented life. It develops self-love, which is the +cause of all our misery, and renders us unworthy to receive the favors +of divine love.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +16 + +Have death always before your eyes as a salutary means of returning to +God.--ST. BERNARD. + +17 + +If the devil tempts me by the thought of divine justice, I think of +God's mercy; if he tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of +His mercy, I think of His justice.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +18 + +In time of temptation continue the good thou hast begun before +temptation.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +19 + +In the eyes of the sovereign Judge the merit of our actions depends on +the motives which prompted them.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +20 + +The benefits to be derived from spiritual reading do not merely consist +in impressing on the memory the precepts set forth, but in opening the +heart to them, that they may bear fruit.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +21 + +As clouds obscure the sun, so bad thoughts darken and destroy the +brightness of the soul.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +22 + +To judge rightly of the goodness and perfection of any one's prayer, it +is sufficient to know the disposition he takes to it, and the fruits he +reaps from it.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +23 + +To commence many things and not to finish them is no small fault; we +must persevere in whatever we undertake with upright intention and +according to God's will.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +24 + +The perfect champion is he who establishes complete control over his +mind by overcoming temptations and the inclination of his nature to +sin.--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +25 + +If the love of God is in your heart, you will understand that to suffer +for God is a joy to which all earthly pleasures are not to be +compared.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +26 + +The world around us is, as it were, a book written by the finger of God; +every creature is a word on the page. We should apply ourselves well to +understand the signification of the volume.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF +MARTYRS. + +27 + +A man of prayer is capable of everything. He can say with St. Paul, "I +can do all things in Him who strengthened me."--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +28 + +Whilst here below our actions can never be entirely free from +negligence, frailty, or defect; but we must not throw away the wheat +because of the chaff.--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +29 + +Strive always to preserve freedom of spirit, so that you need do nothing +with the view of pleasing the world, and that no fear of displeasing it +will have power to shake your good resolutions.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +30 + +Wo to us poor sinners if we had not the Divine Sacrifice to appease the +Lord!--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +July + +1 + +HOW few there are who avail themselves of the precious blood of Jesus to +purchase their salvation!--ST. IGNATIUS. + +2 + +O Queen of heaven and earth! Thou art the gate of mercy ever open, never +closed. The universe must perish before he who invokes thee from his +heart is refused assistance.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +3 + +Our Faith will never be true unless it is united to that of St. Peter +and the Pontiff, his successors.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +4 + +Short pleasures and long sufferings are all the world can give.--VEN. +JOHN TAULER. + +5 + +Learn to be silent sometimes for the edification of others, that you may +learn how to speak sometimes.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +6 + +Gratitude for graces received is a most efficacious means of obtaining +new ones.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +7 + +To a useless question we should answer only by silence.--ST. VINCENT +FERRER. + +8 + +We should not judge things by their exterior or appearance, but consider +what they are in the sight of God, and whether they be according to His +good pleasure.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +9 + +Preserve purity of conscience with care, and never do anything to sully +it or render it less agreeable to God.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +10 + +Give not thyself too much to any one. He who gives himself too freely is +generally the least acceptable.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +11 + +Affliction strengthens the vigor of our soul, whereas happiness weakens +it.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +12 + +To acquire purity of the soul, it is necessary to guard against passing +judgment on our neighbor, or useless remarks on his conduct.--ST. +CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +13 + +Turn away the eyes of thy body and those of thy mind from seeing others, +that thou mayest be able to contemplate thyself.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +14 + +The brightest ornaments in the crown of the blessed in heaven are the +sufferings which they have borne patiently on earth.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +15 + +We are not innocent before God if we punish that which we should pardon, +or pardon that which we should punish.--ST. BERNARD. + +16 + +Is there any one in the world who has invoked thee, O Mary, without +having felt the benefit of thy protection, which is promised to those +who invoke thy mercy?--ST. BERNARD. + +17 + +It is the key of obedience that opens the door of paradise. Jesus Christ +has confided that key to His vicar, the Pope, Christ on earth, whom all +are obliged to obey even unto death.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +18 + +It is true that God promises forgiveness if we repent, but what +assurance have we of obtaining it to-morrow?--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +19 + +We should offer ourselves and all we have to God, that He may dispose of +us according to His holy will, so that we may be ever ready to leave all +and embrace the afflictions that come upon us.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +20 + +No one has a right to mercy who can not himself show mercy.--VEN. LOUIS +DE GRANADA. + +21 + +We should reflect on all our actions, exterior and interior, and before +we commence, examine well if we are able to finish them.--VEN. JOHN +TAULER. + +22 + +The reason why the lukewarm run so great a risk of being lost is because +tepidity conceals from the soul the immense evil which it causes.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +23 + +We should learn of Jesus Christ to be meek and humble of heart, and ask +Him unceasingly for these two virtues. We ought, particularly, to avoid +the two contrary vices which would cause us to destroy with one hand +what we seek to raise with the other.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +24 + +The sufferings endured for God are the greatest proof of our love for +Him.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +25 + +It is in vain that we cut off the branches of evil, if we leave intact +the root, which continually produces new ones.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +26 + +How little is required to be a saint! It suffices to do in all things +the will of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +27 + +Wouldst thou know what thou art? Thou art that to which thy heart turns +the most frequently.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS. + +28 + +When you covet that which delights you, think not only of the sweet +moments of enjoyment, but of the long season of regret which must +follow.--ST. BERNARD. + +29 + +They who voluntarily commit sin show a contempt for life eternal, since +they willingly risk the loss of their soul.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +30 + +It suffices not to perform good works; we must do them well, in +imitation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it is written, "He doeth all +things well."--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +31 + +Put not off till to-morrow what you can do today.--ST. IGNATIUS. + + + +August + +1 + +CHRIST Himself guides the bark of Peter. For this reason it can not +perish, although He sometimes seems to sleep.--ST. ANTONINUS. + +2 + +Prayer teaches us the need of laying before God all our necessities, of +corresponding with His grace, of banishing vice from our heart and of +establishing virtue in it.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +3 + +Take this to heart: Owe no man anything. So shalt thou secure a peaceful +sleep, an easy conscience, a life without inquietude, and a death +without alarm.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +4 + +If you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself +if you have resolved to abandon your sins.--ST. BERNARD. + +5 + +He who does that which is displeasing to himself has discovered the +secret of pleasing God.--ST. ANSELM. + +6 + +An ordinary action, performed through obedience and love of God, is more +meritorious than extraordinary works done on your own authority--VEN. +LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +7 + +Vigilance is rendered necessary and indispensable, not only by the +dangers that surround us, but by the delicacy, the extreme difficulty of +the work we all have to engage in the work of our salvation.--VEN. LOUIS +DE GRANADA. + +8 + +Among the different means that we have of pleasing God in all that we +do, one of the most efficacious is to perform each of our actions as +though it were to be the last of our life.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +9 + +I have to seek only the glory of God, my own sanctification, and the +salvation of my neighbor. I should therefore devote myself to these +things, if necessary, at the peril of my life.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +10 + +Idleness is hell's fishhook for catching souls.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +11 + +Whoever imagines himself without defect has an excess of pride. God +alone is perfect.--ST. ANTONINUS. + +12 + +As we take the bitterest medicine to recover or preserve the health of +the body, we should cheerfully endure sufferings, however repugnant to +nature, and consider them efficacious remedies which God employs to +purify the soul and conduct it to the perfection to which He called +it.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +13 + +To give up prayer because we are often distracted at it is to allow the +devil to gain his cause.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +14 + +Curb the desire of display, and do nothing from human respect.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +15 + +O Mary, vessel of purest gold, ornamented with pearls and sapphires, +filled with grace and virtue, thou art the dearest of all creatures to +the eyes of eternal Wisdom.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +16 + +We must be careful not to omit our prayers, confession, communion, and +other exercises of piety, even when we find no consolation in them.--ST. +VINCENT FERRER. + +17 + +Let us leave to God and to truth the care of our justification, without +trying to excuse ourselves, and peace will truly spring up within us.-- +VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +18 + +Read good and useful books, and abstain from reading those that only +gratify curiosity.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +19 + +So great is the goodness of God in your regard, that when you ask +through ignorance for that which is not beneficial, He does not grant +your prayer in this matter, but gives you something better instead.--ST. +BERNARD. + +20 + +Men can use no better arms to drive away the devil, than prayer and the +sign of the cross.--ST. TERESA. + +21 + +He who knows well how to practise the exercise of the presence of God, +and who is faithful in following the attraction of this divine virtue, +will soon attain a very high degree of perfection.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +22 + +One of the most admirable effects of holy communion is to preserve the +soul from sin, and to help those who fall through weakness to rise +again. It is much more profitable, then, to approach this divine +Sacrament with love, respect, and confidence, than to remain away +through an excess of fear and scrupulosity.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +23 + +Let us remember that every act of mortification is a work for heaven. +This thought will make all suffering and weariness sweet.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +24 + +Correction should be given calmly and with discernment, at seasonable +times, according to the dictates of reason, and not at the impulse of +anger.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +25 + +There is nothing more certain, nothing more agreeable, nothing richer +than a good conscience.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS. + +26 + +God, to procure His glory, sometimes permits that we should be +dishonored and persecuted without reason. He wishes thereby to render us +conformable to His Son, who was calumniated and treated as a seducer, as +an ambitious man, and as one possessed.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +27 + +All that God gives us and all that He permits in this world have no +other end than to sanctify us in Him.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +28 + +If you can not mortify your body by actual penance, abstain at least +from some lawful pleasure.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +29 + +One whose heart is embittered can do nothing but contend and contradict, +finding something to oppose in every remark.--VEN. JULIENNE MOREL. + +30 + +Without prayer we have neither light nor strength to advance in the way +which leads to God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +31 + +I have never gone out to mingle with the world without losing something +of myself.--BL. ALBERT THE GREAT. + + + +September + +1 + +HE who perseveres with constancy and fervor will, without fail, raise +himself to a high degree of perfection.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +2 + +An upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life, and +makes them good.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +3 + +You wish to reform the world: reform yourself, otherwise your efforts +will be in vain.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +4 + +Let all thy care be to possess thy soul in peace and tranquillity. Let +no accident be to thee a cause of ill-humor.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +5 + +Humility is a fortified town; it repels all attacks. The sight of it +obliges the enemy to turn and flee.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +6 + +The world is deceitful and inconstant. When fortune forsakes us, +friendship takes flight.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +7 + +Perform all your actions in union with the pure intention and perfect +love with which Our Lord did all things for the glory of God and the +salvation of the world.--ST. MECHTILDIS. + +8 + +An air of meekness and a modest speech are pleasing alike to God and +men.--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +9 + +The saints owed to their confidence in God that unalterable tranquillity +of soul, which procured their perpetual joy and peace, even in the midst +of adversities.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +10 + +Look not to the qualities thou mayest possess, which are wanting to +others; but look to those which others possess and which are wanting to +thee, that thou mayest acquire them.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +11 + +Your heart is not so narrow that the world can satisfy it entirely; +nothing but God can fill it.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +12 + +If you wish to raise a lofty edifice of perfection, take humility for a +foundation.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +13 + +It ordinarily happens that God permits those who judge others, to fall +into the same or even greater faults.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +14 + +Raise thy heart and thy love toward the sweet and most holy cross, which +soothes every pain!--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +15 + +Often read spiritual books; then, like a sheep, ruminate the food thou +hast taken, by meditation and a desire to practise the holy doctrine +found therein.--ST. ANTONINUS. + +16 + +Love others much, but visit them seldom.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +17 + +God sends us trials and afflictions to exercise us in patience and teach +us sympathy with the sorrows of others.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +18 + +Armed with prayer, the saints sustained a glorious warfare and +vanquished all their enemies. By prayer, also, they appeased the wrath +of God, and obtained from Him all they desired.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +19 + +All souls in hell are there because they did not pray. All the saints +sanctified themselves by prayer.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +20 + +The thought of the presence of God renders us familiar with the practice +of doing in all things His holy will.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +21 + +If we consider the number and excellence of the virtues practised by the +saints, we must feel the inefficiency and imperfection of our actions.-- +ST. VINCENT FERRER. + +22 + +Prayer without fervor has not sufficient strength to rise to heaven.-- +ST. BERNARD. + +23 + +The path of virtue is painful to nature when left to itself; but nature, +assisted by grace, finds it easy and agreeable.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA. + +24 + +Always give the preference to actions which appear to you the most +agreeable to God, and most contrary to self-love.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +25 + +As the branch separated from the roots soon loses all life and verdure, +so it is with good works which are not united with charity.--ST. GREGORY +THE GREAT. + +26 + +We should constantly thank the Lord for having granted us the gift of +the true faith, by associating us with the children of the holy Catholic +Church.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +27 + +We should not spare expense, fatigue, nor even our life, when there is a +question of accomplishing the holy will of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +28 + +Some are unable to fast or give alms; there are none who can not pray.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +29 + +We meet with contradictions everywhere. If only two persons are together +they mutually afford each other opportunities of exercising patience, +and even when one is alone there will still be a necessity for this +virtue, so true it is that our miserable life is full of crosses.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +30 + +We should bear our sufferings in expiation for our sins, to merit +heaven, and to please God.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +October + +1 + +ALWAYS give good example: teach virtue by word and deed. Example is more +powerful than discourse.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +2 + +If thou wouldst glory, let it be in the Lord, by referring everything to +Him, and giving to Him all the honor and glory.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +3 + +There is nothing more holy, more eminently perfect, than resignation to +the will of God, which confirms us in an entire detachment from +ourselves, and a perfect indifference for every condition in which we +may be placed.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +4 + +Prayer consists not in many words, but in the fervor of desire, which +raises the soul to God by the knowledge of its own nothingness and the +divine goodness.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +5 + +Let us make up for lost time. Let us give to God the time that remains +to us.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +6 + +When thou feelest thyself excited, shut thy mouth and chain thy +tongue.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +7 + +If it was necessary that Christ should suffer and so enter by the cross +into the kingdom of His Father, no friend of God should shrink from +suffering.--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +8 + +We should grieve to see no account made of time, which is so precious; +to see it employed so badly, so uselessly, for it can never be +recalled.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +9 + +Every time that some unexpected event befalls us, be it affliction, or +be it spiritual or corporal consolation, we should endeavor to receive +it with equanimity of spirit, since all comes from the hand of God.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +10 + +There are some who sin through frailty, or through the force of some +violent passion. They desire to break these chains of death; if their +prayer is constant they will be heard.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +11 + +"Thy will be done!" This is what the saints had continually on their +lips and in their hearts.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +12 + +He who would be a disciple of Jesus Christ must live in sufferings; for +"The servant is not greater than the Master."--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +13 + +He who submits himself to God in all things is certain that whatever men +say or do against him will always turn to his advantage.--ST. VINCENT DE +PAUL. + +14 + +If he be blind who refuses to believe in the truths of the Catholic +faith, how much blinder is he who believes, and yet lives as if he did +not believe!--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +15 + +There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we +consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured +for us.--ST. TERESA. + +16 + +Outside of God nothing is durable. We exchange life for death, health +for sickness, honor for shame, riches for poverty. All things change and +pass away.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +17 + +If you would keep yourself pure, shun dangerous occasions. Do not trust +your own strength. In this matter we can not take too much precaution.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +18 + +After knowing the will of God in regard to a work which we undertake, we +should continue courageously, however difficult it may be. We should +follow it to the end with as much constancy as the obstacles we +encounter are great.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +19 + +In your prayers, if you would quickly and surely draw upon you the grace +of God, pray in a special manner for our Holy Church and all those +connected with it.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + +20 + +Prayer is our principal weapon. By it we obtain of God the victory over +our evil inclinations, and over all temptations of hell.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +21 + +We should never abandon, on account of the difficulties we encounter, an +enterprise undertaken with due reflection.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +22 + +Being all members of the same body, with the same head, who is Christ, +it is proper that we should have in common the same joys and sorrows.-- +VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +23 + +We should be cordial and affable with the poor, and with persons in +humble circumstances. We should not treat them in a supercilious manner. +Haughtiness makes them revolt. On the contrary, when we are affable with +them, they become more docile and derive more benefit from the advice +they receive.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +24 + +Let not confusion for thy fault overwhelm thee with despair, as if there +were no longer a remedy.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +25 + +As all our wickedness consists in turning away from our Creator, so all +our goodness consists in uniting ourselves with Him.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +26 + +That which we suffer in the accomplishment of a good work, merits for us +the necessary graces to insure its success.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +27 + +We ought to have a special devotion to those saints who excelled in +humility, particularly to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who declares that the +Lord regarded her on account of her humility.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +28 + +He who wishes to find Jesus should seek Him, not in the delights and +pleasures of the world, but in mortification of the senses.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +29 + +Let us not despise, judge, or condemn any one but ourselves; then our +cross will bloom and bear fruit.--VEN. JOHN TAULER. + +30 + +It is rarely that we fall into error if we are humble and trust to the +wisdom of others, in preference to our own judgment.--VEN. LOUIS DE +BLOIS. + +31 + +The best of all prayers is that in which we ask that God's holy will be +accomplished, both in ourselves and in others.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS. + + + +November + +1 + +WE SHOULD honor God in His saints, and beseech Him to make us partakers +of the graces He poured so abundantly upon them.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +2 + +We may have a confident hope of our salvation when we apply ourselves to +relieve the souls in purgatory, so afflicted and so dear to God.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +3 + +The example of the saints is proposed to every one, so that the great +actions shown us may encourage us to undertake smaller things.--VEN. +LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +4 + +Let us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which +they performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of +mortifying our flesh.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +5 + +The greatest pain which the holy souls suffer in purgatory proceeds from +their desire to possess God. This suffering especially afflicts those +who in life had but a feeble desire of heaven.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +6 + +Death is welcome to one who has always feared God and faithfully served +Him.--ST. TERESA. + +7 + +True humility consists in being content with all that God is pleased to +ordain for us, believing ourselves unworthy to be called His servants.-- +ST. TERESA. + +8 + +The best preparation for death is a perfect resignation to the will of +God, after the example of Jesus Christ, who, in His prayer in Gethsemani +prepared Himself with these words, "Father, not as I will, but as Thou +wilt."--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +9 + +The errors of others should serve to keep us from adding any of our own +to them.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +10 + +There is more security in self-denial, mortification, and other like +virtues, than in an abundance of tears.--ST. TERESA. + +11 + +A resolute will triumphs over everything with the help of God, which is +never wanting.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +12 + +If humble souls are contradicted, they remain calm; if they are +calumniated, they suffer with patience; if they are little esteemed, +neglected, or forgotten, they consider that their due; if they are +weighed down with occupations, they perform them cheerfully.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +13 + +When we have to reply to some one who speaks harshly to us, we must +always do it with gentleness. If we are angry, it is better to keep +silence.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +14 + +The two principal dispositions which we should bring to holy communion +are detachment from creatures, and the desire to receive Our Lord with a +view to loving Him more in the future.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +15 + +In doing penance it is necessary to deprive oneself of as many lawful +pleasures as we had the misfortune to indulge in unlawful ones.--ST. +GREGORY THE GREAT. + +16 + +In raising human nature to heaven by His ascension, Christ has given us +the hope of arriving thither ourselves.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. + +17 + +It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his +irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.--ST. BENEDICT. + +18 + +No prayers are so acceptable to God as those which we offer Him after +communion.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +19 + +It avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be +controlled by anger.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. + +20 + +What is it that renders death terrible? Sin. We must therefore fear sin, +not death.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +21 + +The Blessed Virgin is of all the works of the Creator the most +excellent, and to find anything in nature more grand one must go to the +Author of nature Himself.--ST. PETER DAMIAN. + +22 + +If we would advance in virtue, we must not neglect little things, for +they pave the way to greater.--ST. TERESA. + +23 + +When one has fallen into some fault, what better remedy can there be +than to have immediate recourse to the Most Blessed Sacrament?--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +24 + +Afflictions are the most certain proofs that God can give us of His love +for us.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +25 + +Is it not a great cruelty for us Christians, members of the body of the +Holy Church, to attack one another?--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. + +26 + +The Church is the pillar and ground of truth, and her infallibility +admits of no doubt.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +27 + +He who truly loves his neighbor and can not efficaciously assist him, +should strive at least to relieve and help him by his prayers.--ST. +TERESA. + +28 + +We should blush for shame to show so much resentment at what is done or +said against us, knowing that so many injuries and affronts have been +offered to our Redeemer and the saints.--ST. TERESA. + +29 + +The reason why so many souls who apply themselves to prayer are not +inflamed with God's love is, that they neglect to carefully prepare +themselves for it.--ST. TERESA. + +30 + +It is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation +of others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of +faith.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + + + +December + +1 + +IF WE consider all that is imperfect and worldly in us, we shall find +ample reason for abasing ourselves before God and man, before ourselves +and our inferiors.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +2 + +No one should think or say anything of another which he would not wish +thought or said of himself.--ST. TERESA. + +3 + +We should study the interests of others as our own, and be careful to +act on all occasions with uprightness and loyalty.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +4 + +It is God Himself who receives what we give in charity, and is it not an +incomparable happiness to give Him what belongs to Him, and what we have +received from His goodness alone?--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +5 + +Let your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He may do +with you what He pleases.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +6 + +It is not enough to forbid our own tongue to murmur; we must also refuse +to listen to murmurers.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA. + +7 + +We can obtain no reward without merit, and no merit without patience.-- +ST. ALPHONSUS. + +8 + +No harp sends forth such sweet harmonies as are produced in the +afflicted heart by the holy name of Mary. Let us kneel to reverence this +holy, this sublime name of Mary!--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +9 + +The life of a true Christian should be such that he fears neither death +nor any event of his life, but endures and submits to all things with a +good heart.--ST. TERESA. + +10 + +We should abandon ourselves entirely into the hands of God, and believe +that His providence disposes everything that He wishes or permits to +happen to us for our greater good.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +11 + +Regulate and direct all your actions to God, offering them to Him and +beseeching Him to grant that they be for His honor and glory.--ST. +TERESA. + +[Illustration: Hail, Virgin Most Pure!] + +12 + +Conformity to the will of God is an easy and certain means of acquiring +a great treasure of graces in this life.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +13 + +Do not consider what others do, or how they do it; for there are but few +who really work for their own sanctification.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +14 + +To-day God invites you to do good; do it therefore to-day. To-morrow you +may not have time, or God may no longer call you to do it.--ST. +ALPHONSUS. + +15 + +To advance in the way of perfection it does not suffice to say a number +of weak prayers; our principal care should be to acquire solid +virtues.--ST. TERESA. + +16 + +Humility is the virtue of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of His blessed Mother, +and of the greatest saints. It embraces all virtues and, where it is +sincere, introduces them into the soul.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +17 + +It will be a great consolation for us at the hour of death to know that +we are to be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things during +life.--ST. TERESA. + +18 + +Humble submission and obedience to the decrees of the Sovereign Pontiffs +are good means for distinguishing the loyal from the rebellious children +of the Church.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +19 + +The devil attacks us at the time of prayer more frequently than at other +times. His object is to make us weary of prayer.--BL. HENRY SUSO. + +20 + +It is an act as rare as it is precious, to transact business with many +people, without ever forgetting God or oneself.--ST. IGNATIUS. + +21 + +God is our light. The farther the soul strays away from God, the deeper +it goes into darkness.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +22 + +True Christian prudence makes us submit our intellect to the maxims of +the Gospel without fear of being deceived. It teaches us to judge things +as Jesus Christ judged them, and to speak and act as He did.--ST. +VINCENT DE PAUL. + +23 + +Remember that men change easily, and that you can not place your trust +in them; therefore attach yourself to God alone.--ST. TERESA. + +24 + +If we secretly feel a desire to appear greater or better than others, we +must repress it at once.--ST. TERESA. + +25 + +The King of heaven deigned to be born in a stable, because He came to +destroy pride, the cause of man's ruin.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +26 + +To save our souls we must live according to the maxims of the Gospel, +and not according to those of the world.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +27 + +Be gentle and kind with every one, and severe with yourself.--ST. +TERESA. + +28 + +If you wish to be pleasing to God and happy here below, be in all things +united to His will.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + +29 + +In proportion as the love of God increases in our soul, so does also the +love of suffering.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. + +30 + +He who keeps steadily on without pausing, will reach the end of his path +and the summit of perfection.--ST. TERESA. + +31 + +The past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You +have only the present wherein to do good.--ST. ALPHONSUS. + + + +PART VII + +Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices + + +"Let the children of Israel make the Phase in due time . . . according +to all the ceremonies thereof" (_Num._ ix 2, 3). + + +Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices + + +"The priest shall be vested with the tunic" (_Lev._ vi. 10). + +"And he made, of violet and purple, scarlet and fine linen, the +vestments for Aaron to wear when he ministered in the holy places, as +the Lord commanded Moses" (_Ex._ xxxix. 1). + +"In every place there is sacrifice and there is offered to My name a +clean offering" (_Malach._ i. 11). + +"And another Angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden +censer: and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of +the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the +throne of God" (_Apoc._ viii. 3). + + + +The Ceremonies of the Catholic Church + +THE Catholic Church in the celebration of Mass and in the administration +of the sacraments employs certain forms and rites. These are called +ceremonies. By these ceremonies the Church wishes to appeal to the heart +as well as to the intellect, and to impress the faithful with sentiments +of faith and piety. + +What is more capable of raising the heart and mind of man to God than a +priest celebrating Mass? What more inspiring than some of our sacred +music? + +How beneficial and how lasting the impression formed by the ceremonies +of the Church, the following incident will show: + +One of our missionaries once went to visit a tribe of Indians who had +been deprived of a priest for nearly half a century. After traveling +through the forest for some days he came near their village. + +'Twas Sunday morning. Suddenly the silence was broken by a number of +voices singing in unison. He stopped to listen. To his great +astonishment he distinguished the music of a Mass, and of Catholic hymns +well known to him. + +What could be more touching than this simple, savage people endeavoring +to celebrate the Lord's Day as they had been taught by the priest fifty +years before? What more elevating than those sacred songs--the _Stabat +Mater_, the _O Salutaris_, or the _Te Deum_--uttered by pious lips and +resounding through the forest primeval? What better evidence could we +have of the beneficial effects of our ceremonies in raising the heart to +God? + +And yet few things connected with our holy religion have been more +frequently subjected to ridicule than her ceremonies. People scoff at +them, laugh at them, call them foolish and unreasonable. Those people do +not stop to consider that by doing so they, themselves, are acting most +unreasonably. For no reasonable person, no judge, will condemn another +without hearing both sides of the question. + +These wiseacres, however, flatter themselves that they know all about +the Catholic Church and her ceremonies without hearing her side of the +case. Hence the misunderstandings and misrepresentations regarding her +that exist among well-meaning people. + +If people would but learn to speak about that which they knew and +understood; if they would accord to the Catholic Church the same +treatment as to other institutions; if they would examine both sides of +the question before criticising and ridiculing her teachings and her +ceremonies; if they would but treat her with that openness, that +fairness, that candor, that honesty characteristic of the American +citizen when dealing with other questions--what a vast amount of +ignorance, of prejudice, of sin would be avoided! + +We claim that ceremonies used in the worship of God are reasonable, +because they were sanctioned by God in the Old Testament and by Jesus +Christ and His apostles in the New Law. + + + +I. Ceremonies Necessary to Divine Worship + +THE angels are pure spirits. They have no body. Consequently the worship +they render God is spiritual, interior. + +The heavenly bodies are not spiritual, but entirely material substances. +They render God a sort of external worship according to the words of the +prophet Daniel, "Sun and moon bless the Lord, . . . stars of heaven +bless the Lord. Praise and exalt Him forever." Man has a soul, a +spiritual substance similar to the heavenly bodies. He should, +therefore, honor God by the twofold form of worship, interior and +exterior. + +"God is a spirit; and they that adore Him must adore Him in spirit and +in truth" (_John_ iv. 24). + +From these words of the beloved disciple we are not to conclude that +interior worship is prescribed as the only essential, and exterior +worship condemned. True piety must manifest itself externally. Man +naturally manifests his feelings by outward signs and ceremonies. + +The Catholic Church recognizes that man has a heart to be moved as well +as an intellect to be enlightened. She enlightens the intellect by her +good books, sermons, etc.; and she moves the heart by the grandeur of +her ceremonies. + +If any one doubts that God considers ceremonies necessary to divine +worship, let him read the books of Leviticus and Exodus. Almost the +whole of these books treats of the rites and ceremonies used by the then +chosen people of God in their public worship. + +The 26th, 27th, and 28th chapters of Exodus prescribe the form of the +tabernacle and its appurtenances, the size of the altar and the oil for +the lamps, and the holy vestments which Aaron and his sons were to wear +during the performance of the public ceremonies. + +The book of Leviticus treats more particularly of the sacrifices, rites, +and ceremonies of the priests and Levites. + +"And the Lord called Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of the +testimony, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say +to them: The man among you that shall offer to the Lord a sacrifice of +the cattle, that is, offering victims of oxen and sheep, if his offering +be a holocaust and of the herd, he shall offer a male, without blemish, +at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, to make the Lord +favorable to him. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim, +and it shall be acceptable and help to his expiation" (_Lev._ i. 1_ et +seq._). + +After enumerating all the sacrifices and ceremonies, the sacred writer +closes the book of Leviticus with the words, "These are the precepts +which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount +Sinai," thus showing that He considers ceremonies necessary to divine +worship. + +The religion instituted by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is more +spiritual than that of the Old Law. Nevertheless He did not discard +ceremonies. In the Garden of Gethsemani He fell upon His knees in humble +supplication. He went in procession to Jerusalem preceded by a great +multitude strewing palm-branches on the road and singing, "Hosanna to +the Son of David." Before He cured the deaf and dumb man, He put His +fingers into his ears and touched his tongue with spittle, and looking +up to heaven He groaned and said, "Ephpheta," which is, "Be thou +opened." + +At the Last Supper He invoked a blessing on the bread and wine, and +after the supper He chanted a hymn with His disciples--ceremonies +similar to those used in the Mass. When He imparted the Holy Ghost to +His apostles, He breathed upon them. In a similar way they and their +successors communicated the Holy Ghost upon others by breathing upon +them, laying their hands upon them and praying over them, when +conferring the sacrament of Holy Orders. + +St. James directs that if any man is sick he shall call in a priest of +the Church, who shall anoint him with oil, as is done in the sacrament +of Extreme Unction. + +We must, therefore, admit that ceremonies used in the worship of God are +reasonable, since they are sanctioned by God in the Old Law and by Jesus +Christ and His apostles in the New Testament. + +All these acts of Our Saviour--the prostration in the Garden, the +procession to Jerusalem, the touching of the deaf man's ears, the +chanting of the hymn, the laying on of hands, the anointing of the +sick--are but so many ceremonies serving as models of the ceremonies +used by the Catholic Church in her public worship and in the +administration of her sacraments. + + + +II. Vestments Used by the Priest at Mass + +BEFORE entering upon an explanation of the ceremonies of the Mass, which +is our principal act of public worship, let us examine the meaning of +the vestments worn by the priest during the celebration of that august +sacrifice. First, it is well to remember that these vestments come down +to us from the time of the apostles, and have the weight of antiquity +hanging upon them. Hence, if they did not demand our respect as +memorials of Christ, they are at least deserving of attention on account +of their antiquity. + +The 28th chapter of Exodus tells us the sacred vestments God wished the +priests of the Old Law to wear during the public worship. "And these +shall be the vestments which they shall make: a rational and an ephod, a +tunic and a straight linen garment, a mitre and a girdle. They shall +make the holy vestments for thy brother Aaron and his sons, that they +may do the office of priesthood unto Me." As God in the Old Law +prescribed vestments for the priests, so the Church, guided by God, +prescribes sacred vestments to be worn by the priest of the New Law +while engaged in the sacred mysteries. + +The long black garment which the priest wears around the church in all +the sacred functions is called a _cassock_. Kings and officers of the +army wear a special uniform when performing their public duties; priests +wear _cassocks_ and other special garments when performing their public +duties. These vestments are used to excite the minds of the faithful to +the contemplation of heavenly things. + +Who, for example, can behold the cross on the chasuble the priest wears +without thinking of all Christ suffered for us on the cross? As the +priest in celebrating Mass represents the person of Christ, and the Mass +represents His passion, the vestments he wears represent those with +which Christ was clothed at the time of the passion. + +The first vestment the priest puts on over the _cassock_ is called an +_amice_. It is made of linen, and reminds us of the veil that covered +the face of Jesus when His persecutors struck Him. (_Luke_ xxii. 64.) + +When the priest puts on the _amice_ he first places it on his head, thus +recalling to mind the crown of thorns that pierced the head of Jesus. + +The _alb_ (from _albus_, white) represents the white garment with which +Christ was vested by Herod when sent back to Pilate dressed as a fool. +(_Luke_ xxii. 11.) + +White is emblematic of purity. Hence the wearer is reminded of that +purity of mind and body which he should have who serves the altar of the +Most High. + +The _cincture_, or girdle, as well as the _maniple_ and _stole_, +represent the cords and bands with which Christ was bound in the +different stages of His passion. St. Matthew says in the 22d verse of +the 27th chapter, "They brought Him _bound_ and delivered Him to Pontius +Pilate, the governor." + +The _chasuble_, or outer vestment the priest wears, represents the +purple garment with which Christ was clothed as a mock king. "And they +clothed Him with purple" (_Mark_ xv. 17). Upon the back of the +_chasuble_ you see a cross. This represents the cross Christ bore on His +sacred shoulders to Calvary, and upon which He was crucified. + +In these vestments, that is, in the _chasuble_, _stole_, and _maniple_, +the Church uses five colors--white, red, purple, green, and black. + +White, which is symbolic of purity and innocence, is used on the feasts +of Our Lord, of the Blessed Virgin, of the angels, and of the saints +that were not martyrs. + +Red, the symbol of fortitude, is used on the feast of Pentecost, of the +Exaltation of the Cross, of the apostles and martyrs. + +Purple, or violet (the color of penance), is used in Advent and Lent. + +Green (the color of hope) is used on all Sundays when no special feast +is celebrated, except the Sundays of Lent and Advent. + +Black (the color of mourning) is used on Good Friday and during the +celebration of Mass for the dead. + +Thus we see that each vestment and color used has a special +significance. + +All are calculated to attract our attention, elevate our minds to God, +and fill us with a desire to do something for Him Who has done so much +for us--to at least keep His commandments. + +One word about the use of Latin in the celebration of Mass will perhaps +be appropriate here. History tells us that when Christianity was +established the Roman Empire had control of nearly all of Europe, Asia, +and Africa. Wherever the Roman flag floated to the breeze the Latin +language was spoken, just as English is spoken where the sovereign of +Great Britain or the President of the United States holds sway. The +Church naturally adopted in her liturgy the language spoken by the +people. + +In the beginning of the fifth century vast hordes of barbarians began to +come from the north of Europe and spread desolation over the fairest +portions of the Roman Empire. Soon the Empire was broken up. New +kingdoms began to be formed, new languages to be developed. The Latin +finally ceased to be a living language. The Church retained it in her +liturgy, 1st, because, as her doctrine and liturgy are unchangeable, she +wishes the language of her doctrine and liturgy to be unchangeable; 2d, +because, as the Church is spread over the whole world, embracing in her +fold children of all climes, nations, and languages--as she is +universal--she must have a universal language; 3d, because the Catholic +clergy are in constant communication with the Holy See, and this +requires a uniform language. + +Besides, when a priest says Mass the people, by their English Missals or +other prayer-books, are able to follow him from beginning to end. + +The Mass is a sacrifice. The prayers of the Mass are offered to God. +Hence when the priest says Mass he is speaking not to the people, but to +God, to whom all languages are equally intelligible. Are not these +sufficient reasons for the use of the Latin language? Are not good +Catholics more attentive, more devout at Mass than others at their +prayer-meetings? The good Catholic knows that the Mass represents the +passion and death of Christ; that the passion and death of Christ are +the sinner's only refuge, the just man's only hope; that it can not but +be good and wholesome to turn our minds and our hearts toward this +subject; that frequent meditation on Christ's passion will move us to +avoid sin, which caused it; and that nothing can more efficaciously +cause us to think of Christ's passion and death than the holy sacrifice +of the Mass. + + + +III. Ceremonies of the Mass + +THE Mass is the great sacrifice of the New Law. It was foreshadowed by +all the sacrifices ordained by God in the Old Law. They were shadows; it +is the substance. + +We learn from Genesis of the fall of man. Universal tradition, as well +as Scripture, informs us that the creature formerly became guilty in the +eyes of the Creator. All nations, all peoples, endeavored to appease the +anger of Heaven and believed that a victim was necessary for this +purpose. Hence sacrifices have been offered from the beginning of the +human race. + +Cain and Abel offered victims; the one the first fruits of the earth, +the other the firstlings of the flock. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and +Melchisedech worshiped this way, and their worship was acceptable to +God. Everywhere, even among the heathen, you find the altar, the priest, +and the sacrifice. As we learn from Leviticus and other portions of the +Old Testament, God Himself carefully prescribed the quality, manner, +number, and place of the various sacrifices which He was pleased to +accept from the hands of His chosen people. From this fact that +sacrifice has ever formed a prominent feature in the worship of all +people, we conclude that it belongs to the essentials of religion, and +that Christians to-day should have an altar of which, as St. Paul says, +"they can not eat who serve the tabernacle." + +The sacrifices of the Old Law were provisional and prefigured the great +sacrifice of the New Law foretold by the prophet Malachy. This glorious +prophecy of Malachy, "From the rising of the sun even to the going down +My name is great among the Gentiles; in every place there is sacrifice, +and there is offered to My name a clean offering; for My name is great +among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts"--this glorious prophecy is +fulfilled only by the great sacrifice of the Catholic Church. We alone +can say with St. Paul, "_Habemus altare_" "We have an altar" and a true +sacrifice. Of all the blessings bequeathed by Jesus Christ to His +Church, there is none better, none greater, none holier than the holy +sacrifice of the Mass. It is the sacrifice of His own body and blood +offered to the heavenly Father under the appearances of bread and wine. +It was instituted by Our Lord at the Last Supper, when He took bread and +wine in His sacred hands and blessed them, saying, "This is My body. . . +. This is My blood. . . . Do this for a remembrance of Me." + +He instituted the holy Mass in order to represent and continue the +sacrifice of Calvary. St Paul says, in his first epistle to the +Corinthians, xi. 26, that it was instituted to show the death of the +Lord until His second coming. After the consecration, which the priest +effects by saying over the bread and wine the same words which Jesus +Christ said at the Last Supper, there is no longer bread and wine, but +the true and living Jesus Christ, God and man, hidden under the +appearances of bread and wine, just as in the manger He was hidden under +the appearance of an infant. The priest offers Him up to His heavenly +Father in the name of the Catholic Church, or rather He offers Himself +up, and we can confidently hope that we will obtain more through prayers +at the holy Mass than through our own unaided prayers. In order to have +part in the holy sacrifice of the Mass a person should follow the +actions and prayers of the priest, especially at the offertory, +consecration, and communion; meditate on the passion of Christ; say the +rosary or the prayers in the prayer-books, at the same time uniting his +intention with the intention of the sacrificing priest. + +The sacrifice of the Mass is a true sacrifice, because it is the +oblation of a victim to God to represent by its destruction or change +His supreme dominion over life and death. It is offered to satisfy our +four great debts and wants in adoration to God on account of His +omnipotence, in thanksgiving for His benefits, in atonement for our +sins, and to obtain His assistance in difficulties and temptations. The +holy Mass obtains for us all graces and blessings, temporal and +spiritual. + +Since the Mass is the highest act of public worship, it is proper that +it should be celebrated with fitting sacred ceremonies. Every ceremony +which the Church prescribes has its deep significance. All tend to bring +before our minds the mystery of the passion. + +The _altar_, which is reached by means of steps, represents Mount +Calvary, upon which Christ died with His arms extended as if to enfold +all men as brothers. The _crucifix_ recalls Jesus dying on the cross. +The _lighted candles_ are symbols of the faith and devotion which ought +to burn in the hearts of the faithful when present at Mass. The _sacred +vestments_, embroidered with the sign of the cross, indicate that the +priest is the minister and visible representative of Jesus Christ, the +invisible priest. The sign of the cross made many times by the priest +over the host and chalice reminds us that we offer to God the divine +Victim of the cross, and that we ought to unite ourselves to Him by +loving the cross, by patience and Christian penance. We genuflect +because Our Lord is really present. If we know He is not present on the +altar we bow in honor of the place where He sometimes reposes. _Holy +water_ is used to signify that our souls must be pure if we wish God to +answer our prayers. _Incense_ is used at solemn High Mass and at +Vespers. It is symbolic of prayer, agreeably to the words of the 140th +psalm: "Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight." And +St. John, describing the heavenly Jerusalem in the 8th chapter of the +Apocalypse, says: "Another angel came, and stood before the altar, +having a golden censer; and there was given him much incense, that he +should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which is +before the throne of God." + +The sacrifice of the Mass, then, is the sacrifice of Calvary, since the +same Victim is offered up and by the same High Priest, Jesus Christ. The +Emanuel, the God with us, the thought of whom made the prophets tremble +centuries before He came, that divine Teacher who loves to dwell with +the children of men, the Catholic Church beholds dwelling in the midst +of us on our altars. If you have visited some of our ancient cathedrals, +or any of our magnificent modern churches, and admired the varied +ornaments or artistic wonders therein; if you have ever been present at +our religious solemnities and witnessed the gravity of our ceremonies, +the beauty of the chants, the piety of the adorers; if you have +reflected upon the spirit of sacrifice and self-forgetfulness so common +to Catholicism and so unknown elsewhere--that spirit which moves +thousands of the young of both sexes to forsake the world and devote +themselves to the care of the sick, the education of the young, and to +other works of charity--if you have witnessed these things and reflected +upon them, you can not but have asked yourself why are such gorgeous +temples built; why such magnificent works of art as displayed on the +altar, the sacred vessels, paintings, and other things in the church? +What prompts such sacrifices? And the answer will be, because the church +is the edifice where God in the holy Mass daily renews the prodigies of +His mercy, and it can never be worthy of His love; because God, who +sacrificed Himself for us, is ever with us in the Blessed Sacrament of +the altar, to soothe our cares and answer our prayers. Yes, the grand +feature of the Catholic Church is the holy altar. On the altar is the +tabernacle for the residence of the Lord of Hosts. + +There our "hidden God," Jesus in the Eucharist, dwells night and day in +the midst of His people, saying to them with words of love, "Come to me +all you that are burdened and heavy laden, and I will refresh you." + +The Mass, independent of its sacrificial aspect, consists of the best +prayers ever uttered. The priest begins by making the sign of the cross, +"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." This +sign is an epitome of the Christian's belief in the unity and trinity of +God and in the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ. After making the +sign of the cross he repeats the 42d psalm, "Judge me, O God," and then +makes an humble confession of his sins to God. He ascends the altar and +nine times asks God to have mercy on him, _Kyrie Eleison_; then follows +the beautiful hymn the shepherds heard the angels singing at the birth +of the Saviour, _Gloria in Excelsis Deo_. + +The prayer of the feast, the epistle and gospel follow, and then the +sermon in the vernacular is usually preached. After the Nicene Creed, +_Credo in Unum Deum_, the priest makes the offering of bread and wine. +He then washes the tips of his fingers, saying: "I will wash my hands +among the innocent," by which he is reminded to be free from stain to +offer worthily the Holy Sacrifice. + +The preface, canon, and solemn words of consecration follow, during +which the bread and wine are changed by the power of Jesus Christ into +His body and blood. In a short time he comes to the best of all prayers, +the prayer taught us by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Our +Father, _Pater Noster_. The _Agnus Dei_ follows, then the communion, +when he partakes of the consecrated bread and wine, and afterward gives +holy communion to the faithful. He then continues the Mass, gives his +blessing, and finishes the Mass with the beginning of the Gospel of St. +John. Hence you see that, besides the great sacrifice which makes it an +act worthy of God, the Mass consists of the best of all prayers. + +From what has been said it is evident that ceremonies in the worship of +God are reasonable, being sanctioned by God in the Old and New +Testaments; that the holy sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest of all +acts of worship; and that the Catholic Church in using ceremonies is but +following the example of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His +apostles. St. John in the Book of Revelations tells us that before the +throne of God angels stand with golden censers, multitudes from all +nations follow and adore the Lamb, while virgins sing the new song which +they alone can utter. So, too, before the throne of God on earth we +swing our censers, multitudes from all nations prostrate themselves in +adoration, the sweet incense of their praise and prayer ascends to the +throne of grace, their minds are enlightened by God's word, while their +hearts are raised to God by the grandeur of our ceremonies. + +The Son of God, after having taught us by His word, shown us by His +example, and merited for us by His grace the virtues necessary for +salvation, wished to institute the holy sacrifice of the Mass, that He +might come Himself in the Holy Sacrament and imprint them upon us. Of +these virtues, the most important are _humility_, _purity_, _obedience_, +_patience_, and _charity_. + +Let us always ask God when present at the holy Mass for a lively faith +in His _Real Presence_, an ardent love for Him in the Blessed Sacrament +of the altar, and the grace to imitate His humility, His purity, His +meekness, obedience, patience, and charity _here_, and enjoy His +presence forever _hereafter_. + +The following beautiful words of Cardinal Newman show that the Mass is +something more than a mere form of words, and that ceremonies are +reasonable as well as necessary in its celebration: + +"To me nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so +overcoming, as the Mass said as it is among us. I could attend Masses +forever and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words--it is a great +action, the greatest action that can be on earth. It is not the +invocation merely, but, if I dare use the word, the evocation of the +Eternal. He becomes present on the altar in flesh and blood, before Whom +angels bow and devils tremble. This is that awful event which is the +scope and the interpretation of every part of the solemnity. Words are +necessary, but as means, not as ends; they are not mere addresses to the +throne of grace, they are instruments of what is far higher, of +consecration, of sacrifice. + +"They hurry on as if impatient to fulfil their mission. Quickly they go, +for they are awful words of sacrifice; they are a work too great to +delay upon, as when it was said in the beginning, 'What thou doest, do +quickly.' Quickly they pass, for the Lord Jesus goes with them, as He +passed along the lake in the days of His flesh, quickly calling first +one and then another; quickly they pass, because as the lightning which +shineth from one part of the heaven unto the other, so is the coming of +the Son of Man. + +"Quickly they pass, for they are as the words of Moses, when the Lord +came down in the cloud, calling on the name of the Lord as He passed by, +'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and generous, long suffering, and +abundant in goodness and truth.' And as Moses on the mountain, so we, +too, make haste and bow our heads to the earth and adore. + +"So we, all around, each in his place, look for the great Advent +'waiting for the moving of the water,' each in his place, with his own +heart, with his own wants, with his own prayers, separate but +concordant, watching what is going on, watching its progress, uniting in +its consummation; not painfully, and hopelessly following a hard form of +prayer from beginning to end, but like a concert of musical instruments +each different, but concurring in sweet harmony, we take our post with +God's priest, supporting him, yet guided by him. There are little +children there, and old men, and simple laborers, and students in +seminaries, priests preparing for Mass, priests making their +thanksgiving, there are innocent maidens, and there are penitent +sinners; but out of these many minds rises one Eucharistic hymn, and the +great action is the measure and the scope of it." + + + +The Practices of the Catholic Church + +I. Vespers and Benediction + +"Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day" (_Ex_. xx. 8). + +THIS commandment teaches us that God wills the whole Sunday to be spent +in His honor. We should sanctify it by good works, and by assisting at +divine service. On that day servile works and improper amusements are +forbidden. A salutary rest and moderate recreation are allowed, but +never at the expense of duties of obligation. After hearing Mass on +Sunday morning, which is obligatory on all Catholics, there is no better +way of sanctifying the remainder of the day than by attending Vespers +and Benediction. + +The Vesper service is a small portion of the divine office, which +priests must recite daily, for God's honor and glory. It consists of +five of the psalms of David (Dixit Dominus, Ps. 109; Confitebor tibi, +Ps. 110; Beatus vir, Ps. 111; Laudate pueri, Ps. 112; In exitu Israel, +Ps. 113, or Laudate Dominum, Ps. 116), a hymn, the Magnificat, or +canticle of the Virgin Mary, from the first chapter of St. Luke, and +some prayers. Is it not reasonable thus to praise God in psalms and +hymns and spiritual canticles? + +Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament usually follows Vespers. The +Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ is really present in the +Blessed Sacrament. The reasonableness of this teaching will be seen in +the following article. + +Since Jesus Christ is present, He ought to be adored by the faithful. +Faithful adorers frequently visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament and +worship Him in "spirit and in truth." Hence, the Blessed Sacrament is +kept in the Tabernacle on our altars to soothe our cares, answer our +prayers, and be ready at any time to be administered to the sick and +dying. + +Besides our private devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Church has +appointed solemn rites to show publicly our faith and devotion toward +the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. These rites are processions on Corpus +Christi, the Forty Hours' devotion, and, especially, the rite called +Benediction. + +When it is time for Benediction many candles are lighted on the altar. +This is done to show our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. If +He were not present, this display would be unreasonable, unnecessary, +and meaningless. But the candles we light, the incense we burn, the +flowers and other ornaments we use to decorate the altar, and all that +we do for Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can not be too much. + +Everything being prepared, the priest takes the Blessed Sacrament out of +the tabernacle, and, placing it in the ostensorium, exposes it on an +elevated throne, while the choir sings in honor of the Blessed Sacrament +the hymn "O Salutaris Hostia," "O Saving Host." The priest incenses Our +Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, as, according to the Apocalypse, angels +do in heaven. Another hymn or a litany follows; after which is sung the +"Tantum Ergo," "Down in adoration falling," followed by a prayer by the +priest. Then in the midst of a solemn silence (except that a small bell +is tinkled) the priest takes the monstrance, or ostensorium, containing +the Blessed Sacrament, and, turning toward the people, makes with it the +sign of the cross over them, thus blessing the faithful with the Most +Holy One. + +This is certainly a most touching and impressive rite even to those who +do not believe in it. Cardinal Newman calls it one of the most +beautiful, natural, and soothing practices of the Church. No one will +deny that this practice, or rite of the Church, is reasonable, if Jesus +Christ is really present in the Blessed Sacrament. That He is really +present is our belief. This being our belief, is it not reasonable to +light candles as a sign of spiritual joy, and thus to show our faith in +Him who is the light of the world? He gave us all that we have. He gave +us the beautiful world we dwell upon with its variety of scenery--with +its snow-capped mountains, its green-carpeted hills, and its blooming +valleys. He has no need of our gifts; for the earth is His "and the +fulness thereof." Yet as He was pleased to receive the gifts of the Magi +and the precious ointment of Mary, so, too, is He pleased to receive our +offerings. And is anything too good, too beautiful, too precious, for +Him? Can the altar on which He dwells be too richly adorned? Are the +pure candles we light, the sweet incense we burn, the choice flowers and +costly ornaments with which we decorate the altar, too much to use in +honor of Our Lord and our God? Yes, the Catholic practice or rite of +Benediction is dictated by right reason. Everything connected with +Benediction is reasonable, beautiful, and suggestive of the _noblest +sentiments of the heart of man_. + +[Illustration: Mary, Star of the Sea.] + + + +II. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament + +"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and +broke, and gave to His disciples, and said: take ye and eat. This is My +body" (_Matt_. xxvi. 26). + +PERHAPS no mystery of revelation has been so universally attacked as the +Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. + +By the Real Presence is meant that Jesus Christ is really and truly, +body and blood, soul and divinity, present in the Blessed Sacrament, +under the form and appearance of bread and wine. + +This teaching of the Church is in perfect agreement with Scripture, +tradition, and reason. + +If the reader will take up his Bible and read carefully the 6th chapter +of the Gospel according to St. John; the 26th chapter, 26th, 27th, and +28th verses of St. Matthew; the 14th chapter, 22d verse of St. Mark; the +First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 10th chapter, 16th verse, +as well as other portions of the New Testament, he will certainly see +that the Catholic teaching and practice concerning the Real Presence of +Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament are founded on Scripture. In this +6th chapter of St. John, we learn that before instituting the Blessed +Sacrament Our Saviour wished to announce or promise it to His disciples +in order to prepare them for it. He first gave them a figure of the +Blessed Sacrament in the multiplication of the five loaves of bread by +which He fed five thousand persons. After this miracle He told them that +He would give them bread superior to that which they had eaten, and that +this bread was His own flesh and blood. "The bread that I will give is +My flesh, for the life of the world." It is almost impossible to +understand these words of Our Lord in any other than a literal sense. He +was so understood by those who heard Him. "How can this man give us his +flesh to eat?" they said, and many withdrew from Him. It is but +reasonable to believe that if He did not wish to be understood in a +literal sense He would have told His hearers so, rather than have them +leave Him. + +This promise of a doctrine so difficult to understand was fulfilled at +the Last Supper. + +Then Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave to His +disciples, and said: "Take ye and eat. This is My body." And taking the +chalice He gave thanks; and gave to them, saying: "Drink ye all of this. +For this is My blood of the new testament which shall be shed for many +for the remission of sins." + +"Do this for a commemoration of Me." + +These are substantially the words of SS. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and of the +apostle Paul. + +In the 10th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul +says: "The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the +communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it +not the partaking of the body of the Lord?" + +Any one of these texts abundantly proves the Catholic doctrine of the +Real Presence, and shows the reasonableness of the Catholic practice +regarding the Blessed Sacrament. Reflect upon them. Reflect especially +upon the words of Christ, "This is My body." Think what an insult it is +to the divinity and veracity of Christ to doubt His word, because you +can not understand how what appears to be bread is in reality His own +body and blood. + +If you remember that Jesus Christ is God, that He had the power to make +this change, that He could confer this power on others, as the apostles +and their successors, that He did so when He said: "Do this in +commemoration of Me," and that this change at the present time as at the +time of the apostles is made by His almighty power, you will have no +difficulty in believing it. + +The belief and practice of the Catholic Church of to-day regarding the +Blessed Sacrament is the same as it was in every age since the time of +Christ. The history of every century tells us this. The Fathers, +Doctors, and Church writers of every age say the same. If it were not +so, some one ought to be able to find the time when the doctrine was +invented, and the person who invented it. But, since no one has been +able to find the inventor of this doctrine and practice, the time or +place of the invention, we rightly conclude that they came down to us +from the time of Christ, and had Christ for an author. (Berengarius, in +the eleventh century, was the first who denied this doctrine.) If, then, +Christ is the author, is not the Catholic practice reasonable? + +But I don't understand the Catholic doctrine regarding the Blessed +Sacrament, some one may say; therefore it is contrary to reason. Dear +reader, did the consummate puerility, silliness, foolishness of such an +objection ever present itself to you? Do you understand the Blessed +Trinity? And is it contrary to reason? No. Although above reason, it is +not against it. Do you understand how Jesus Christ is both God and man? +Do you understand any mystery? No. If you did it would no longer be a +mystery. For a mystery is something above human intelligence. It is +something incomprehensible to us, for it pertains to the divine +intelligence. And as well might you attempt to pour the mighty ocean +into a small hole on the shore, as attempt to hold with your limited +capacity the illimitable ocean of divinity. The proper office of reason +is to examine the evidences of revelation, and see if God has spoken. +But it constitutes no part of its office to dispute the word of God. +That God has spoken is evident from the fulfilment of many prophecies +and the authority of many miracles. That these prophecies have been +fulfilled, and these miracles performed, is as certain as is any +historical fact. Reason teaches us this. It teaches us, too, that no one +but God (or by the power of God) can prophesy; no one but God can +derogate from the order of nature, by the performance of a miracle. +Reason teaches us, then, that God has spoken. When we know God speaks, +genuine reason will dictate that we humbly believe His holy word. Thus +will true reason ever act. And when God says, "This is My body," it will +not hesitate to believe. + +We all believe that at the baptism of Our Saviour by St. John Baptist, +the Holy Ghost appeared in the form of a dove. Now, is it not as +reasonable for Jesus Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, +to appear in the form of bread as it was for the Holy Ghost, the third +person of the Trinity, to appear in the form of a dove? We must +therefore admit that the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus +Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is reasonable; that it has been believed +by the Christian Church of every age from the time of Christ until the +present time; and that it is taught by SS. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and +John, and by St. Paul in clear and unmistakable terms. + +Now, dear reader, since Jesus Christ is really present, is not the +Catholic practice regarding the Blessed Sacrament reasonable? Should we +not honor Our Lord and Our God? Should we not adore Him as really +present in the Blessed Sacrament? Should we not frequently receive Him +with pure and contrite hearts? Should we not, when we enter the church, +genuflect, bend the knee in His honor? Should we not show Him every mark +of respect and devotion? Can we do too much in His honor? Let us, then, +adore Our Lord and Our God, for we are His people and the sheep of His +pasture. Let us return love for love to the great King of suffering, who +was born for love of us, who died for love of us, and who, for love of +us, remains ever with us in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us ask that our +faith and love may persevere to the end; that loving and adoring Him +here in the Blessed Sacrament of His love, _we may be united with Him +forever hereafter_. + + + +III. Holy Communion + +"He that eateth this bread shall live forever" (_John_ vi. 59) + +HOLY communion is receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Blessed +Sacrament. The clergy when saying Mass, except on Good Friday, receive +under both forms. When not celebrating Mass, they receive only the one +kind, the consecrated bread. In the early ages of the Church communion +was given to the people under both forms. + +The faithful, however, could, if they wished, dispense with one form and +receive under the form of bread. This shows that the Church always +taught that Christ is entire both under the form of bread and under the +form of wine. At one time the faithful received under both forms; now +they receive under one form, the form of bread. It is merely a matter of +discipline, which the Church could change, if circumstances demanded it. +Whether you receive under one form or both, you receive whole and entire +the body and blood of Christ. This is clearly taught by St. Paul in the +11th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, where he says: +"Whosoever shall eat this bread, _or_ drink the chalice of the Lord +_unworthily_, shall be guilty of the body _and_ blood of the Lord." + +How could a person eating that bread unworthily be guilty of the body +and blood of the Lord, unless the body and blood of the Lord were there +under the form of bread? + +Since Jesus Christ is whole and entire under the form of bread, as well +as under the form of wine, the practice of the Catholic Church of giving +holy communion under one form is reasonable. + +Good Christians frequently receive their Lord and their God in holy +communion. He inspires them with feelings of love, gratitude, and +adoration. He reminds them to think frequently of their Creator--to give +Him their first thoughts in the morning and their last in the evening. +He gives them strength to restrain their guilty passions. + +Holy Communion is the seed of immortality. "He that eateth this bread +_shall live forever_." + + + +IV. Confirmation + +"Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost" +(_Acts_ viii. 17). + +BEFORE the coming of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, the apostles were weak +and vacillating. One of them betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of +silver; another--the Prince of the Apostles, he whom Christ afterward +made head of His Church--thrice denied his Lord and his God. + +After the descent of the Holy Ghost, what a change! What a wonderful +transformation! They who before had been as timid as the lamb, as +changeable as the chameleon's hue, became now as bold as the lion, as +firm as Gibraltar's rock. + +In a similar way does Confirmation act on the receiver. Confirmation is +that sacrament in which, by the imposition of the bishop's hands, we +receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and +soldiers of Jesus Christ. It is the second in the order of the +sacraments, because the early Christians were accustomed to receive it +immediately after Baptism. In the 8th chapter of the Acts of the +Apostles we find the first recorded instance of the administering of +Confirmation by the apostles. Here we are told that St. Peter and St. +John confirmed the Samaritans who had been baptized by Philip. "They +prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. . . . Then they +laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost." In a +similar way does the bishop, the successor of the apostles, administer +Confirmation at the present day. First, he turns toward those to be +confirmed and says: "May the Holy Ghost come down upon you and the power +of the Most High keep you from sin." Then extending his hands over them +he prays that they may receive the Holy Ghost. + +In the 6th verse of the 19th chapter of the Acts the sacred writer, +after telling about the baptism of the disciples at Ephesus, adds: "And +when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them." In +the 6th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews St. Paul mentions +Confirmation, the laying on of hands, with Baptism and Penance, as among +the principal practices of Christianity. + +The sacrament of Confirmation has been administered to the faithful of +every age from the time of Christ until the present. We learn this from +the Fathers and writers of the various ages. Among them St. Clement +says: "All must make haste to be confirmed by a bishop, and receive the +sevenfold grace of the Holy Ghost." The practice of administering +Confirmation is founded on tradition, then, as well as on Scripture. Is +it not reasonable to believe and practise that which the Christian +Church of every age believed and practised? + +The apostles of Christ administered Confirmation by praying that the +faithful may receive the Holy Ghost and laying their hands upon them. +The successors of the apostles do likewise. Who will say that this +practice is not reasonable? Baptism gives spiritual life; Confirmation +increases it. Baptism makes persons children of God; Confirmation +strengthens them, causes them to grow, and makes them strong men and +soldiers of Jesus Christ. + +All the morality of life is implied in the sacrament of Confirmation. It +strengthens man, it gives him courage to confess God; and as sin is the +denial of God, whoever has courage to confess _God will practise +virtue_. + + + +V. Honoring the Blessed Virgin + +"The angel Gabriel was sent from God . . . to a Virgin . . . and the +Virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in said to her: Hail, +full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women" +(_Luke_ i. 26, 28). + +"From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed" (_Luke_ i. 48). + +THESE words from St. Luke show that the Catholic practice of honoring +Mary is scriptural. We alone fulfil the prophecy, "From henceforth all +generations shall call me blessed." If Mary was so pure that the +archangel Gabriel could salute her as full of grace; if she was so +perfect as to be honored, respected, and loved by her divine Son, Jesus +Christ, is it not reasonable that we, too, should honor, respect, and +love her? + +How we honor the sword of Washington! What a cluster of tender +recollections clings to the staff of Franklin! Is there a loyal American +citizen who does not think with feelings of love and respect of the +mother of our Revolutionary hero, or who would not doff his hat at the +unveiling of a statue of the sage of Monticello? And why? Is it on +account of their intrinsic merit? No. We honor them principally on +account of the relation they bear to those three brightest stars in the +American firmament. So it is with the honor we show to Mary, the Mother +of God. Although she was an example of all virtues, we honor her +principally because it was through her instrumentality He was born by +whom we achieved not civil liberty, but the liberty of the children of +God. She did not draw lightning from heaven, nor the scepter from kings; +but she brought forth Him who is the Lord of heaven and King of kings. + +The principal reason, then, why we honor Mary is because she is the +Mother of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This honor consists of +love, respect, and veneration. We love her with an interior love, a love +proceeding from the heart; nor should we fear to let this love appear +outwardly. When others revile her, speak disrespectfully of her, we +should shrink from the very idea of acting similarly toward her. We +should then remember that she is the Mother of Our Saviour, and should +ask ourselves how we would have acted toward her had we lived in her day +and been witnesses of the honor shown her by her divine Son. By so doing +we will show her that love which is her due. Our respect, our veneration +for her, should be affectionate and deep. When we remember that it was +her hand that first lifted from the ground and received in maternal +embrace the sacred body of Jesus, just born and just dead; when we think +how respectfully Elizabeth greeted her; when we recall to mind the +reverent salutation of the archangel; when we consider the honor shown +her by the apostles and by her own divine Son, can we help feeling a +deep love, respect, and veneration for her? You see, dear reader, +honoring Mary is scriptural and reasonable. + +But if we should honor her principally because she is the Mother of God, +we should also honor her because she is the peerless glory, the +matchless jewel of her sex. She constitutes a sole exception to a +general law. Sin never contaminated, never touched her fair soul. This +is what we mean by the Immaculate Conception. + +God created the first man free from sin. But he transgressed the law of +God, and, by his transgression, all his posterity are born in sin and +conceived in iniquity. For St. Paul says: "By one man sin entered into +this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom +all have sinned" (_Rom._ v. 12). But God promised that the woman, Mary, +should crush the head of the serpent. Now if she was to crush the head +of the serpent, it was fit that she should never be under his power, +that she should be pure, free from sin of every kind. + +There have been exceptions to all general laws. At the time of the +deluge Noe was saved. Lot was saved from the destruction of Sodom. In +like manner, the Blessed Virgin is an exception to the general law that +all sinned in Adam. Isaias and St. John Baptist were sanctified in their +mother's womb. Was it any more difficult for God to sanctify Mary at the +moment of her conception, at the moment of the union of her soul with +her body? God chose His own Mother. If He had the power to choose her +did He not also have the power to preserve her from original sin? And +does it not appear to you most fitting that God, the Holy Ghost, should +preserve His spouse, and God, the Son, His Mother, from sin of every +kind? + +"Hail, full of grace," the angel said to her. If she was full of grace, +no vacancy was left for sin. Grace denotes the absence of sin, as light +denotes the absence of darkness. Hence if Mary was full of grace, she +was never subject to sin; she was always pure and her conception +immaculate. It is but natural, then, that we arrive at the belief in the +Immaculate Conception, at the belief in the sinlessness, the +spotlessness of the Blessed Virgin from the very beginning of her +existence. If we honor Mary principally because the angel honored her, +because God honored her, we honor her, also, because of her immaculate +conception and total freedom from sin. She was a model of all virtues. +Is it not reasonable, then, to honor Mary, to love her, and to believe +that she loves us? If we honor the good and virtuous, where can we find +a nobler example of virtue than Mary? What a beautiful model Mary is for +Christians, and especially for Christian women! Good Catholic mothers +are continually urging upon their daughters the necessity of choosing as +a model Mary, the true type of female excellence. In Mary you find all +that is tender, loving, constant, and true. In her you find all virtues. +In her humility she refused the highest honors; while in patience she +endured more anguish and agony than any other creature on earth. + +Mary is a creature of God. As the praise we bestow on a beautiful +picture redounds to the glory of the artist, so the honor we give Mary +redounds to God, since we honor her for His sake. Let us honor her. That +person who honors the Blessed Virgin; who loves, respects, and venerates +her as the Mother of God; who takes her as a model and imitates her +virtues; who prays to her in trials and afflictions and asks her +intercession with her divine Son, does not only act in a reasonable +manner, but such action is certain to make the path through this world +smooth and easy and at the same time safe to a life of _eternal +happiness_. + + + +VI. Confession of Sin + +"Whom when He saw He said: Go, show yourselves to the priests" (_Luke_ +xvii. 14). + +"Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins ye shall forgive, they are +forgiven them, and whose sins ye shall retain, they are retained" +(_John_ xx. 23). + +THE whole of the life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be summed +up in these words of the Acts: "He went about doing good." He healed the +sick, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and raised the dead +to life. + +The healing of the body, however, was to Him a secondary object. The +healing of the soul was His mission on earth. He frequently called the +attention of His followers to this. For example, He cured the man of the +palsy to prove that as man He had the power to forgive sins. Another +example is when He gives us in the cure of the lepers a figure of sin +and its cure. + +Leprosy has always been considered a figure of sin. As leprosy covers +the body and makes it disgusting and frightful to behold, so sin covers +the soul and makes it hideous in the sight of God. The Old Law required +lepers to separate themselves from society until their cure was +certified to by the priests who were appointed for this purpose. Our +Lord has been pleased, in the New Law, to institute a similar method for +the cure of the more fatal leprosy of sin. The spiritual leper, the +sinner, is to show himself to the priest, make known the diseased state +of his soul, and submit to the inspection and treatment of the priest, +who is the divinely appointed physician of the soul. But should we not +go directly to God, since God alone has power to justify us? It is true, +God alone can effect our justification; but He has appointed the priest +to judge in His place and pass sentence in His name. To the priests He +has said: "Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in +heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also +in heaven" (_Matt._ xviii. 18); and again: "Whose sins you shall +forgive, they are forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain, they are +retained" (_John_ xx. 23). These two texts clearly show that auricular +confession as practised in the Catholic Church was taught by Christ. For +how could the apostles and their successors, the pastors of the Church, +know what sins to bind and retain and what sins to loose and forgive +unless the sins were confessed to them and they were allowed to judge? + +No matter how numerous or how great these are, provided they are +confessed with a sincere repentance, they will be forgiven. And they +will be forgiven by the power of the priest. Properly speaking, God +alone has power to forgive sins. But no one will deny that He has power +to confer this power on others. He communicated this power to His +apostles and commanded them, in turn, to communicate it to others by +means of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. + +That Our Saviour communicated this power to His apostles is evident from +the words of St. John: "As the Father hath sent Me I also send you. +Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they are +forgiven." But sin was to continue till the end of the world. Hence the +necessity of the means of forgiving sin being coextensive with sin. As +the people receive from the priests the Word of God and the cleansing +from sin in Baptism, so also do they receive from them the cleansing +from sin in confession. + +It is certain that the apostles conferred the power of forgiving sins +upon others, if we find that those whom the apostles ordained this +power. But we find this to be the case. + +From the time of Christ until the present the writers of every age tell +us that confession of sins was practised. St. John, who lived until the +beginning of the second century, says in the 1st chapter of his First +Epistle: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us +our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity." + +St. Cyprian, who wrote in the third century, says: "Let each of you +confess his faults, and the pardon imparted by the priest is acceptable +before God." + +St. Ambrose, in the fourth century, wrote: "The poison is sin; the +remedy, the accusation of one's crime. The poison is iniquity: +confession is the remedy." + +St. Augustine, who lived in the fifth century, seems to be talking to +some people of the present day, who say they confess in private to God, +when he says: "Let no one say to himself, I do penance to God in +private, I do it before God. Is it then in vain that Christ hath said: +'Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven'? Is it +in vain that the keys have been given to the Church? Do we make void the +Gospel? void the words of Christ?" + +These first five centuries were the golden age of Christianity. All +admit that the doctrines and practices of those early centuries were +pure and undefiled, as they came from Christ. But among the practices of +the time we find confession. Hence it is a reasonable practice, because +conformable to Christ's teaching. We might continue quotations from +writers of every century from the sixth to the nineteenth, showing that +the teaching and practice of confession did not vary through the lapse +of ages from the time of Christ until the present day. But this is +unnecessary. The quotations from the first five centuries show that the +power of forgiving sin was not only communicated by Christ to His +apostles, but by them to their successors by means of the sacrament of +Holy Orders. What would be the necessity of this power if they could not +exercise it in confession? If, as some say, priests invented confession, +some one ought to find out and tell us when and where it was invented, +and why they did not exempt themselves from such a humiliating practice. + +Confession alone, however, will be of no avail without contrition. +Contrition is a sincere sorrow and detestation for sin with a firm +determination to sin no more. To the truly humble and sorrowful sinner +confession is not a punishment, but a remedy for a tortured conscience. +The most painful secret to be kept by a heart not yet corrupted by +disease is the secret of sin and crime. The soul that loves God hates +sin and desires to separate herself from it. To this desire is +associated the desire of expiating it. All, from the mother who +questions her child about wrongdoing to the judge who interrogates the +criminal, recognize in spontaneous confession an expiatory power. + +Confession, it is true, is necessarily accompanied by shame and +humiliation. This humiliation is diminished by the knowledge that it is +of divine origin and that eternal silence is divinely imposed upon him +who receives it. Priests never divulge what they know from the +confessional. They have been ill-treated, as was Father Kohlmann in this +country; have even been tortured and cruelly put to death, as was St. +John Nepomucene, in order to extort from them knowledge they gained in +the confessional, but without avail. For what they knew through the +tribunal of penance, they knew as ministers of God. And as it is better +to obey God than man, no minister of state could force them to divulge +that which the laws of God forbid. + +Only sinners, who after a thorough preparation, a sincere sorrow, and a +good confession, can realize the soothing and beneficial effects of +confession, and feel with David, "Blessed are they whose sins are +forgiven." If you have ever noticed such after leaving the confessional +you could see joy beaming on their countenances, as if a heavy burden +had been removed. + +Confession quiets the conscience. But this is only one of the benefits +it confers upon those who practise going to confession. It has also a +salutary influence upon their morals; for one of its necessary +conditions is promise of amendment. + +The pagans of the first centuries were aware of the guiding and +reforming power of the confessional. Voltaire, the leading infidel of +the last century, one who made sport of everything Christian, says that +"there is, perhaps, no wiser institution, and that confession is an +excellent thing, a restraint upon inveterate crime, a very good practice +to prevent the guilty from falling into despair and relapsing into sin, +to influence hearts full of hate to forgive and robbers to make +restitution--that the enemies of the _Romish_ Church who have opposed so +beneficial an institution have taken from man the greatest restraint +that can be put upon crime." While his everyday experience forced these +words of praise from the arch-infidel, his hatred of the Church creeps +out in the word "Romish." + +Confession of sin, as we have seen, is a _reasonable practice_, because +it was taught by Jesus Christ, and by His apostles and their successors +from Christ's time until the present; but _especially_ because it has +the power of soothing and pacifying the conscience by freeing it from +the torture of sin, the poison of crime. It is not strange, then, that +it is so dear to virtuous souls. It is offensive only to those whose +hearts are so hardened as to blunt the sting of remorse. Confession is +Christianity using its moral power to correct and perfect the +individual. In the confessional the minister of God is continually +coming in contact with hearts in which reigns an idol that he +overthrows, a bad practice that he causes to cease, or some injustice +that he has repaired. + +Confession is one of the gates by which Christianity penetrates the +interior man, wipes away stains, heals diseases, and sows therein the +seeds of virtue. The lives and experience of millions are witness of the +truth of this. Is it not, then, a reasonable, a beneficial practice? It +is only the malicious or the ignorant who calumniate the practice and +the consecrated minister who sits in judgment in the sacred tribunal. +Those who lay aside their prejudice and study the question soon become +convinced of its divine origin. A little study and reflection will show +them that confession of sin benefits society by preventing crimes that +would destroy government, cause riots, and fill prisons; that it +promotes human justice, makes men better, nobler, purer, higher, and +more Godlike; that it soothes the sorrowful heart whose crime might make +the despairing suicide; and that individuals and families who +frequently, intelligently, and properly approach this fountain of God's +grace will receive His blessing here _and a pledge of His union +hereafter_. + + + +VII. Granting Indulgences + +"Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven, and +whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven" +(Matt xviii. 18). + +OF THE many practices of the Church, few have been the cause of more +controversy than that of granting indulgences. Though not the cause, the +granting of an indulgence furnished a pretext for Luther's apostasy. Leo +X, who was Pope at that time, desiring to complete St. Peter's at Rome, +appealed to all Catholics for financial aid. There was certainly nothing +wrong in this. With these alms it was intended that the most magnificent +Christian temple in the world would be completed. + + "Majesty, Power, Glory, Strength, and Beauty, all are aisled + In this eternal ark of worship undefiled." + +All who contributed toward the completion of St. Peter's and complied +with the necessary conditions were granted an indulgence. + +The alms were not one of the indispensable conditions. Those conditions +were a sincere repentance and confession. Hence, those who did not +contribute could gain the indulgence. Perhaps the Dominican Tetzel, who +was chosen to announce the indulgence, exceeded his powers and made them +serve his own ends. + +His action in the affair was not approved by Rome. If it is certain that +the Pope did nothing wrong in asking for aid to build that beautiful +monument to religion, it is equally certain that he did nothing wrong, +that he did not exceed the limits of his powers when he granted the +indulgence. In order to understand this, we must have a clear idea of +what is meant by an indulgence. + +You frequently hear it said that it is the forgiveness of sin, or that +it is a permission given to commit sin. It is neither the one nor the +other. An indulgence is not the forgiveness of sin. In fact, an +indulgence can not be gained until sin has been forgiven. One of the +necessary conditions for gaining an indulgence is confession. + +Neither is an indulgence a license, a permission to commit sin. No one, +not even God Himself, could give permission to commit sin. For God is +all good, and although all powerful He can not sanction that which is +evil in itself. It would be contrary to His very nature. An indulgence, +then, is not what it has been painted. Having seen what an indulgence is +not, let us see what it is. It is a remission of the whole or a part of +the debt of temporal punishment due to sin after the guilt and eternal +punishment have been forgiven in the sacrament of Penance. + +In the early ages of the Church notorious sinners, after being absolved, +were sentenced to long public penances. By sincere sorrow, an indulgence +or remission of some of the time was granted them. Public confession and +public penances have passed away. These public penances are replaced by +pious devotions. Upon the performance of certain pious devotions the +Church at times grants an indulgence; that is, a remission of such +temporal punishment as is equivalent to the canonical penances +corresponding to the sins committed. + +Attached to every mortal sin, besides the guilt, is the punishment +incurred. This punishment is eternal and temporal. That there is this +twofold punishment we learn from various places in the Bible. We have an +example in the sin of David. God sent the prophet Nathan to warn him of +his guilt. When Nathan rebuked the king, he confessed his sin with signs +of true contrition. Then Nathan told him that God had forgiven his sin, +but that many temporal punishments would follow. When God forgave the +sin, the guilt and eternal punishment were taken away; but temporal +punishment remained. Other examples could be cited, but this is +sufficient to show that there is a twofold kind of punishment--eternal +and temporal. In confession the guilt and eternal punishment are taken +away, but not always the temporal punishment. This temporal punishment +is what is taken away in whole by a plenary and in part by a partial +indulgence. + +In a similar manner we have a twofold punishment attached to crime in +this world. A man commits a crime. He is sentenced to a term in the +penitentiary. After spending his time of punishment he comes back to +society, but finds he has another punishment to undergo in being avoided +by his friends and others. + +The practice of granting indulgences was founded on many passages of +Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament. In the 12th chapter of the +book of Numbers we learn that Mary, the sister of Moses, was forgiven a +sin which she had committed. But God inflicted upon her the penalty of +leprosy. This was a temporal punishment. By the prayer of Moses an +indulgence was granted; for God took away the temporal punishment. + +Our divine Lord left with His Church the power of granting indulgences, +as we learn from His words taken from St. Matthew: "Whatsoever you shall +loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven." This promise implies +the power of loosing not only from sin and its eternal punishment, but +also the power of releasing the bond of temporal punishment, of freeing +from everything that would prevent the soul from entering the kingdom of +heaven. St. Paul granted an indulgence to the incestuous Corinthian, as +we learn from the 2d chapter of his Second Epistle to the Corinthians. +By the power and authority which he received from Christ, he granted the +Corinthian pardon from performing a certain penance. This penance was a +temporal punishment. The apostle took away the temporal punishment. That +is an indulgence. + +Non-Catholics grant a kind of plenary indulgence to every one by saying +that works of penance are unnecessary. The practice of the Catholic +Church of granting an indulgence only to the deserving is certainly more +conformable to Scripture as well as more reasonable. + +Experience teaches us the utility of indulgences. They encourage the +faithful to frequent the sacraments, to repent, to do acts of penance, +and perform works of piety, charity, and devotion. + +A practice productive of such beneficial results is reasonable; it is +also reasonable because it is sanctioned by Scripture and the Church of +every age. For God would not sanction it nor could the Church practise +it if it were _not conformable to reason_. + + + +VIII. The Last Sacraments + +"Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church, +and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the +Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord +shall raise him up, and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him" +(_James_ v. 14, 15). + +BY THESE words St. James admonishes Christians when sick to do that +which Our Saviour had previously directed to be done. This you will +learn from the 6th chapter of St. Mark: "And [the apostles] anointed +with oil many that were sick." + +The historians of the first centuries tell us that the early Christians +were as anxious to receive the last sacraments as are the Catholics of +our own day. St. Cesarius, in the fifth century, writes: "As soon as a +person falls dangerously sick, he receives the body and blood of Jesus +Christ. Then his body is anointed, and thus is fulfilled what stands +written: 'Is any man sick among you? Let him call in the priests of the +Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil.'" What the +Christians of the first centuries did, we do; and we do it by the +direction of Jesus Christ and of St. James. + +Penance, Holy Eucharist, and Extreme Unction are administered to the +sick and are known as the last sacraments. The priest first hears the +sick person's confession, then he administers holy communion. Afterward +he administers the sacrament of Extreme Unction--last anointing. + +This sacrament aids the sick to bear their sufferings with patience. It +wipes away sin, even mortal sin if the person is unable to confess; and +it purifies the soul for its entrance into heaven. The other sacraments +assist us in making our lives holy like the life of our divine Model. +This sacrament assists in making our death holy, like the death of +Jesus. The sacrament of Baptism met us at our entrance into this world; +the sacrament of Extreme Unction will be our guide at our departure to +the other world. Religion, which rocked us in the cradle of life, will +lull us to sleep in the cradle of death. + +Go to the bedside of the dying Catholic and you will see the +reasonableness of the practice of calling the priest to administer the +last sacraments. After the sacraments have been administered, peace and +joy and contentment are visible on the countenance of the sick person. +He clings no more to the things of earth. His thoughts are centered in +heaven. The minister of God consoles him with the thought of immortality +and the resurrection of the body. He soon hears the singing of the +angelic choir; and breathing the sweet names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, +his soul takes its flight to the _regions of eternal bliss_. + + + +IX. Praying for the Dead + +"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that +they may be loosed from their sins" (_2 Mach_. xii. 46). + +NO ONE will deny that the practice of praying for the dead is +reasonable, if the dead are benefited by our prayers. That our prayers +are beneficial to the departed we will endeavor to show. We are taught +by revelation that besides heaven and hell, a state of everlasting +pleasure and a state of eternal pain, there also exists a middle state +of punishment for those who die in venial sin, or who have not +sufficiently satisfied the justice of God for mortal sins already +forgiven. + +The people of God in the Old Law believed, and Jesus Christ and His +apostles in the New Law taught, the existence of this middle state. In +the Second Book of Machabees, quoted above, we read that the pious +general Judas Machabeus having made a collection, "sent twelve thousand +drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifices to be offered for the +dead [soldiers], thinking well and religiously concerning the +resurrection [for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should +rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the +dead], and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with +godliness had great grace laid up for them. It is, therefore, a holy and +wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from +their sins." If prayers were not beneficial to the dead, God would not +have sanctioned them. + +This is exactly the practice of the Catholic Church. We pray and offer +sacrifices for the souls in purgatory, just as Judas Machabeus did. Even +if the Books of Machabees were not inspired, it is historically true +that the Jews and almost all nations of antiquity believed in the +existence of purgatory and the utility of prayers for the souls detained +there. This universal consent is the voice of nature and of God. Hence +we see that the practice of praying for the dead is reasonable. + +This practice is in accordance with the teaching of Christ. In the 12th +chapter, 32d verse, of St. Matthew, He says: "He that shall speak +against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this +world nor in the world to come." + +These words teach us that some sins will be pardoned in the life to +come. They can not be pardoned in heaven, since nothing defiled can +enter heaven; nor can they be pardoned in hell, out of which there is no +redemption, for "their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be +quenched." Therefore, there must be a state in the next world where sins +will be forgiven, and we call that place or state purgatory. And the +existence of purgatory implies the necessity of praying for those +detained there. The belief in the existence of purgatory and the +practice of praying for the faithful departed have existed in the Church +from the time of its foundation. + +Tertullian, who lived in the second century, considered it a solemn +duty, whose obligation came down from the apostles, to offer sacrifices +and prayers for the faithful departed. St. Augustine says: "The whole +Church received from the tradition of the Fathers to pray for those who +died in the communion of the body and blood of Christ." The dying +request of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, is well known. "I +request you," she said, "that wherever you may be, you will remember me +at the altar of the Lord." And he assures us that he frequently and +fervently prayed for her soul. + +The teaching of the Church of every age confirms the teaching of the Old +and New Testament regarding purgatory and praying for the dead. To one +who believes in heaven and hell, a place of eternal pleasure and of +eternal punishment, the doctrine of purgatory must appear as a +necessity, and the practice of praying for the dead reasonable. For it +is certain that nothing defiled can enter heaven. But it is possible +that many die guilty of but slight sins. Therefore, it must be said that +these are damned, which is impious and absurd; that what is defiled can +enter heaven, which is unscriptural; or that there is a purgatory, a +state in which such souls are made pure as the driven snow, so that they +can enter into the presence of their Maker. For an infinitely just God +can not condemn to the same eternal punishment the child who dies guilty +of a slight fault and the hardened murderer. No. He will render to every +one according to his works. + +The doctrine of purgatory, then, is reasonable as well as scriptural and +traditional. Reasonable, too, is the practice of praying for the dead, +for they are still members of the Church. All the members of the Church, +consisting of the church militant on earth, the church triumphant in +heaven, and the church suffering in purgatory, are one family bound +together by the bond of charity. The members of the Church on earth pray +to those in heaven, who love us and pray for us; and we pray for those +in purgatory. They are God's friends deprived of heaven for a time. As +those in heaven rejoice when one sinner does penance, so those in +purgatory hear us, see us, love us, and are helped by our prayers. We +love them and never cease to pray for them and offer the Holy Sacrifice +for them. Even the unbeliever will stand or kneel by the remains of his +departed friend and offer a prayer for him, thus showing that praying +for the dead is reasonable and the natural dictate of the human heart. + + + +X. Praying to the Saints + +"And may the angel that delivereth me from all evils bless these boys" +(_Gen_. xlviii. 16). + +"So I say to you there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one +sinner doing penance" (_Luke_ xv. 10). + +"For in the resurrection they [the saints] shall be as the angels of God +in heaven" (_Matt_. xxii. 10). + +THE saints are friends of God. They are like the angels in heaven. We +honor them, not as we honor God, but on account of the relation they +bear to God. They are creatures of God, the work of His hands. When we +honor them, we honor God; as when we praise a beautiful painting, we +praise the artist. + +We do not believe that the saints can help us of themselves. But we ask +them to "pray for us." We believe that everything comes to us "through +Our Lord Jesus Christ." With these words all our prayers end. It is +useful, salutary, and reasonable to pray to the saints and ask them to +pray for us. No doubt all will admit the reasonableness of this practice +if the saints can hear and help us. + +That they hear and help us is evident from many passages of Scripture. +The patriarch Jacob would not have prayed to the angel to bless his +grandchildren Manasses and Ephraim (as we learn he did from _Gen_. +xlviii.), unless he knew the angel could do so. + +We are informed (_Luke_ xv.) that the angels rejoice when one sinner +does penance. We are also informed (_Matt_ xxii.) that the saints are +like the angels--_i.e._, have the same happiness and knowledge. + +Hence the saints, as well as the angels, can hear us, can help us, and +are acquainted with our actions, words, and thoughts. + +It is generally conceded that it is reasonable to ask pious persons on +earth to pray for us. St. Paul, in his epistles, frequently asks the +Christians to pray for him. "Brethren," he says, "pray for us." It is +well known that God was pleased to answer the prayer of Abraham in favor +of Abimelech. "More things are wrought by prayer than this world knows +of." Now, if we poor sinners here on earth do not pray in vain for one +another, will the saints in heaven, the friends of God, who rejoice when +a sinner does penance, pray in vain for us? No. We have hosts of friends +in heaven to speak a good word for us. And as a child who has disobeyed +his parents wisely asks a better brother or sister to intercede with his +parents for mercy, so, too, having disobeyed our heavenly Father by sin, +we have recourse to others better than ourselves, to our better brothers +and sisters, the Blessed Virgin and saints, to intercede with God for +us. + +Is not this a reasonable practice? + +If your mother or sister crosses the sea she will continue to pray for +you. And if she crosses the sea of death will she forget you? No. The +love she bore you here will continue in heaven. She will pray for you, +and the "Lord will hear the prayers of the just." Ask the saints to pray +to your God and their God for you. Honor God by honoring His friends and +asking their intercession. And all your friends in heaven will unite in +praying to the Father of us all that one day all who love God and His +friends, the saints, may be admitted with them into the _company of the +Saint of saints, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ._ + + + +XI. Crucifixes, Relics, and Images + +"Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of +anything that is in the heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of +those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not +adore them nor serve them" (_Ex_. xx. 4, 5). + +THIS first commandment teaches us to adore God alone. It does not forbid +the making of images, but it forbids the adoring of them, worshiping +them as gods. This would be idolatry. If the making of images were +forbidden, it would be improper to have images or pictures of our +friends. + +It has frequently been said that Catholics ate idolaters, because they +have in their churches crucifixes, relics, and images of the saints, +which they honor. Perhaps many of those who accuse us of idolatry, if +asked, could not tell what idolatry is. Idolatry is giving to a creature +(whether a crucifix, an image, or any created thing) that honor which +belongs to God. + +The honor we give those sacred things is a relative honor. We honor them +on account of the relation they bear to God and His friends, the saints. + +Every Catholic, even the child, is taught the difference between the +idol of the pagan and a Catholic image. Pagans looked upon their idols +as gods. They thought these senseless objects had power, intelligence, +and other attributes of the Deity. They worshiped them as gods and +thought they could assist them. Hence they were image-worshipers or +idolaters. + +Catholics know full well that images have no intelligence to understand, +no power to assist them. They do not adore nor serve them. That would be +idolatry. It would be breaking the first commandment. They do not say +when praying before the crucifix or image of a saint, "I adore thee, O +Crucifix"; nor "Help me, O Image," But they say, "I adore thee, O God, +whose cruel death is represented by this crucifix," or "Pray for me, O +saint represented by this image." + +We have images, pictures, and relics of Our Lord, His Blessed Mother, +and the saints, for the same reason that we have relics and portraits of +George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or of our relatives and friends. +They remind us of the original. Who can look upon the crucifix or upon a +picture of the Crucifixion without being reminded of all the sufferings +of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? + +And who can seriously contemplate those sufferings, borne for us so +patiently, without being moved to pity and to repentance? Such a person +will be moved to say with the heart if not with the lips: "Oh, my God, I +am sorry for having offended Thee and caused Thee such suffering. Grant +that I may love Thee with my whole heart and never more offend Thee." + +Catholics, as we have seen, adore God alone. They honor the Blessed +Virgin and saints represented by images. They use these holy pictures +and statues to beautify the house of God. These pictures are also a +source of instruction. They are a profession of our faith. If you enter +a house and see on one side of the room a picture of the Blessed Virgin, +Cardinal Gibbons, or of Pope Leo XIII, and on the other a picture of +Lincoln, Cleveland, or Washington, you will at once know the religious +faith as well as the political belief or patriotism of the occupant. + +By the aid of the relics of the martyrs we are reminded of all they +suffered for the faith. By the use of religious pictures, our devotion +is increased and we are stimulated to imitate the virtues of the saints +represented. + +If it is reasonable to have pictures of our martyred President and +relics of our Revolutionary heroes that we may be reminded of their +patriotism, it is none the less reasonable to have pictures and relics +of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, and the saints, that we may be reminded +of their virtues. By imitating their virtues here, we may be _happy with +them hereafter_. + + + +XII. Some Sacramentals + +"Pray without ceasing" (_2 Thess_. v. 17). + +"Every creature is sanctified by the word of God and prayer" (_1 Tim_. +4, 5). + +BY SACRAMENTALS we mean the various prayers, blessings, ceremonies and +pious practices of the Church. Here mention will be made of some of the +most common of the sacramentals that have not already been treated. +Sacramentals, like sacraments, have an outward sign; the latter, +however, were instituted by Christ, the former by the Church, and while +the latter always give grace if we place no obstacle in the way, the +former do not give grace, but excite good thoughts, increase devotion, +and raise the mind to God. + +The chief sacramentals that have not been mentioned are the books used +by the priest in the performance of his sacred duties, the sign of the +cross, holy water, blessed candles, blessed palm and ashes, holy oils, +scapulars, medals, Agnus Dei, prayers, litanies, rosary, the Angelus, +stations, the funeral service, and various blessings. + +The books used by the priest in the performance of his sacred duties are +the _Missal_, which contains the Masses for the various feasts of the +ecclesiastical year; the _Breviary_, in which is the office recited by +the priest every day; and the _Ritual_, where is to be found the form of +administering the different sacraments, the funeral service, and the +various benedictions. + +The sacramental of most frequent use in the Church is the _sign of the +cross_. It is used to remind us of the Passion and Death of Our Lord and +Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross. The cross is the emblem of the +Christian, the "sign of the Son of Man." It is an act of faith in the +principal truths of Christianity. When we say the words, "In the name," +we profess our faith in the unity of God, which means that there is but +one God; "of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," are a +profession of faith in the Trinity--_i.e._, that there are three divine +persons in one God. The form of the cross which we trace with our right +hand from our forehead to our breast, and then from the left to the +right shoulder, is a profession of faith in the Incarnation of the Son +of God, who became man and died on the cross for our redemption. +Tertullian and other writers of the early ages of the Church tell us +that before every action, before rising or retiring, before meals, at +every step, "we impress on our forehead the sign of the cross." The +Catholic Church of to-day, in accordance with the teachings of Christ, +His apostles, and their successors of all time, teaches her children to +put their trust in the merits of Jesus Christ's sufferings on the cross, +and to do everything "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of +the Holy Ghost." + +_Holy water_ is water blessed by a priest. During the blessing beautiful +prayers are recited. These prayers express the spiritual blessings the +Church wishes to follow all who use it. The Church uses holy water in +all the benedictions and some of her sacraments. It is placed at the +doors of her churches, that all who enter may use it and be reminded of +that purity of heart which it symbolizes. Holy water is also kept in the +houses of Catholics, to be used in times of trial and when the priest +comes to administer the sacraments. + +The _blessed candles_ used in the service of the Church receive their +special blessing on Candlemas Day. We use these lighted candles at +different times to remind us of Jesus, who is the "Light of the world." +Catholics always keep a blessed candle in the house. The Church puts a +lighted candle in our hand at our baptism, and wishes us to die with one +in our hand, to remind us to hope in Him who is our Light and the light +of the world. + +On Ash Wednesday _ashes_ are blessed and put on the forehead of the +faithful in the form of a cross, with the words, "Remember, man, that +thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return," to remind them that they +are only dust and ashes. These are the ashes of burnt _palms_ blessed +the Palm Sunday of the previous year. These palms are blessed in memory +of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when the people spread +palm branches along the way. This palm should remind us to perform +faithfully our duty if we wish to enjoy the palm of victory. + +The _holy oils_ are blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday of each year. +They are of three kinds: oil of the sick, used in the sacrament of +Extreme Unction; oil of the Catechumens, used in blessing baptismal +water and in the sacrament of Baptism; and Holy Chrism, used in the +preparation of baptismal water in the ceremonies of Baptism, +Confirmation, and at the consecration of a bishop, of churches, altars, +bells and chalices. The olive oil used should remind us of Our Saviour's +_passion_ in the Garden of Olives. + +_Agnus Deis_ (blessed by the Pope), _scapulars_, and _medals_ are small +articles worn by Catholics to remind them of Our Lord (the Lamb of God), +of the Blessed Virgin, and of the saints. They are emblems of the +Christian, as the starry banner is the emblem of the American; and as +the flag of our country shows that we are under the protection of the +Government of the United States, so the Agnus Dei, scapulars, and medals +show that we are under the protection of Jesus Christ, His Blessed +Mother, and His saints. + +_Prayer_ is the elevation of our mind and heart to God to ask Him for +all blessings, temporal and spiritual. Prayer is necessary to salvation. +We are taught in St. Luke (xviii.) to pray always and faint not. We +should pray with attention and devotion, with confidence and humility. +We are told in the Lord's Prayer to pray for others as well as for +ourselves, and God's choicest blessings will be granted us through Jesus +Christ Our Lord. The best of all prayers is the one God taught us--the +Lord's Prayer. Other prayers common in the Church are Litanies, +Rosaries, the Angelus, Stations, and the Funeral Service for the dead. +The Litanies most in use in the Church are the Litany of All Saints, of +the Blessed Virgin, of the Holy Name of Jesus. In these Litanies we ask +God to have mercy on us and the saints to pray for us; but we ask +everything through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Few practices of the Church +are more widespread than the _Rosary_ of the Blessed Virgin. It consists +of the best of all prayers--the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, three +Hail Marys, and the Glory be to the Father; then the Our Father and ten +Hail Marys repeated five times. This constitutes the beads, or one-third +part of the Rosary. During the recitation of these prayers the mind +should be occupied meditating on the principal mysteries of the life of +Our Lord. These mysteries are divided into the five joyful mysteries: +the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel, the Visitation of the Blessed +Virgin to St. Elizabeth, the Birth of Our Lord, the Presentation, and +the Finding in the Temple; the five sorrowful mysteries: the Agony in +the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the +Cross, and the Crucifixion; and the five glorious mysteries: the +Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the +Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, and the Crowning of the Blessed Virgin +in heaven. Any one of these mysteries furnishes sufficient material to +occupy the mind of man for hours. These mysteries contain the whole +history of the Redemption. The prayers and meditations of the Rosary +satisfy the minds of the humblest, while they are sufficient to occupy +the attention of the most exalted and most cultivated. The _Angelus_ is +a beautiful prayer, said morning, noon, and night. In Catholic countries +the bell is rung, when all cease their occupations, kneel, and recite: +"The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by the Holy +Ghost"--a Hail Mary. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord--be it done unto +me according to Thy Word"--a Hail Mary. "And the Word was made flesh, +and dwelt amongst us"--a Hail Mary. The prayer: "Pour forth, we beseech +Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the +Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an +angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His +resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen." By this beautiful +practice we show in a special manner our faith in the Incarnation of Our +Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. + +The _Stations of the Cross_ are fourteen paintings representing the +various stages of the passion and death of Our Redeemer. The faithful +pass from station to station and meditate upon that feature of the +passion represented by each station. Tradition tells us that from the +beginning pious pilgrims were accustomed to tread the path and bedew +with their tears the way sanctified by our Saviour on that sorrowful +journey from Pilate's tribunal to Calvary's heights. But Jerusalem +falling into the hands of infidels, and many being unable to visit those +holy places, permission was obtained to erect in churches fourteen +crosses and pictures commemorating these sorrowful acts. From these +stations all can meditate upon the sufferings of our Saviour, and learn +from Him submission to God's holy will, patience, charity, and +forgiveness of injuries. + +The _funeral service_ of the Catholic Church is beautiful, touching, and +instructive. After blessing, strengthening, and encouraging us through +life with her sacraments; after fortifying our souls for the last great +struggle, she follows us beyond the grave with her blessings, her +prayers, and her sacrifices. "Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord," she +prays; "and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in +peace." + +There are various other prayers and blessings used by the Church on +special occasions. In fact, the Church blesses everything she uses. This +blessing of the priest is not such an absurd thing as some imagine it to +be; it is rather a most reasonable practice. It is simply a prayer said +by the priest, asking God to send His blessing upon the person or thing +indicated. People of all denominations say grace before meals, asking +God to bless the food they are about to use. This is precisely what the +priest does when blessing anything. He uses different forms of prayer +ordained by the Church to implore God's blessing upon the water, +candles, and other things before using them. This blessing of churches, +water, candles, and other things has its foundation on Scripture. We +read in the Old Testament of the solemn blessing of the Temple of +Solomon. St. Paul tells us that "every creature is sanctified by the +word of God and prayer." Churches, water, candles, bells, books, +persons, and other things blessed by the Church are creatures. Therefore +we are following St. Paul in blessing them, for every creature is +sanctified by the word of God and prayer. + +We do not claim that those articles that are blessed have any efficacy +in themselves; but we hope and pray that God in His infinite goodness +and mercy may render those blessed articles beneficial to those using +them, may protect them and lead them to _His blessed abode above, where +all is peace and light and love._ + + + +XIII. The Celebration of Feasts + +"Seven days shalt thou celebrate feasts to the Lord thy God, in the +place which the Lord shalt choose" (_Deut_. xvi. 15). + +"If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and +the publican" (_Matt._ xviii. 17). + +FROM these texts we learn that besides the Sunday God wishes certain +other days to be observed religiously, and that the Church has the power +of designating these days. + +As the State sets aside certain national holidays in commemoration of +its founder or of the Declaration of Independence, so the Church sets +aside these holidays in honor of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and +the saints. + +Besides the feasts celebrated on Sundays, there are in this country but +six holidays of obligation. Three of these are commemorative of events +in the life of Our Lord: Christmas, the Circumcision, and the Ascension; +two, the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, in honor of the +Blessed Virgin; and one in honor of God's saints--the Feast of All +Saints. + +The ecclesiastical year begins in Advent. Advent is a period of about +four weeks of penance and prayer preparatory to the great feast of +Christmas and corresponding to the penitential season of Lent before +Easter. During the ecclesiastical year, the first of the feasts of +obligation in the order of time is the feast of the _Immaculate +Conception_. + +It is celebrated on the 8th of December. On this day we commemorate the +fact that Mary was immaculate when she first came into being in her +mother's womb; that she was always pure; that sin never touched her fair +soul. Immaculate Conception, as you will see in the article on the +Blessed Virgin, means that she was always free from sin. + +The great feast of _Christmas_, in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ, +is celebrated on December 25th. This feast is a time of joy and peace to +all mankind, and is celebrated by the Church with much pomp and +ceremony. + +The festival of the _Circumcision_ is kept on the first day of the new +year. It is commemorative of Our Lord's strict observance of the law by +submitting to the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. We solemnly celebrate +the day in honor of our merciful Lord, who is our model in all things. + +Next in the order of time is the feast of the _Ascension_. It is kept +forty days after the grand feast of Easter, and is in honor of Our +Lord's glorious ascension into heaven. + +The _Assumption_ of the Blessed Virgin, celebrated the 15th of August, +is commemorative of the glorious taking up to heaven of Mary, soul and +body. (This is a pious tradition.) + +_All Saints'_ Day is November 1st. Every day is a saint's day. There is +not a day that the Catholic Church does not celebrate a feast in honor +of some special mystery or saint. But as there are more saints in heaven +than could be thus specially honored, she sets aside this one day every +year in honor of all the saints in heaven. + +There are various other important feasts, some of which fall on Sunday; +but these we have mentioned being feasts of obligation to be observed as +Sunday, it was thought that it would not be uninteresting to give a +short explanation of them. + +On them we honor God and His special friends. Let us always, by faith, +hope, and love, _bear Jesus in our minds and hearts_. + + + +XIV. Infant Baptism + +"Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the +Holy Ghost, he can not enter into the kingdom of God" (_John_ iii 5). + +WHILE most Christians admit the necessity of Baptism for adults, the +Catholic Church is alone in insisting upon the practice of infant +Baptism. This practice is in accordance with the teaching of St. John, +quoted above. It is also in accordance with apostolic teaching and +practice. + +We read in the 16th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that St. Paul +baptized Lydia "and her household," and that the keeper of the prison +was converted and "was baptized and presently all his family." Among +these families it is but reasonable to suppose that there were some +infants. + +Infant Baptism was the practice of the apostles; it was the practice of +the Christians of the early Church, as Origen tells us. The Church +received the tradition from the apostles to give Baptism to infants, and +it has been the practice of the Church from the time of Christ until the +present. + +St. Paul tells us that Adam's sin was transmitted to all his posterity. +"Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death, +and so death passed unto all men in whom all have sinned" (_Rom_. v. +12). Every infant, according to St. Paul, is born to sin--original sin. +But as Baptism takes away original sin, and as nothing defiled can enter +heaven (_Apoc_. xxi.), Baptism of infants is necessary to open for them +the gates of heaven. + +Baptism may be validly administered by dipping, sprinkling, or pouring. +The method practised in this part of Christendom is pouring the water on +the head of the person to be baptized, saying at the same time: "I +baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost." + +The reasonableness of the practice of baptizing infants will be evident +if we remember that Christ taught the necessity of baptism for all when +He said: "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he can +not enter into the kingdom of God"; and that He declared little children +capable of entering into the kingdom of God when He said: "Suffer little +children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom +of heaven." + +Now, if infants are capable of entering heaven (and Christ so declares), +they must be capable of receiving Baptism, without which Christ says no +one can enter the kingdom of God. + +While in adults faith and sorrow for sin are required before receiving +Baptism, no disposition is required in infants. + +They contracted original sin without their knowledge; without their +knowledge they are freed from it. + +By Baptism they are made heirs of the kingdom of heaven. + +They can be made heirs of property, of a kingdom on earth without their +consent; why not also of the kingdom of heaven? + +Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments which the Church confers +upon man. It cleanses us from original sin (actual sin also if the +recipient be guilty of any), makes us Christians, children of God, and +heirs of heaven. It prepares us for the reception of the other +sacraments. By Baptism we all contracted the obligation of believing and +practising the doctrines of Jesus Christ as taught us by the true +Church. We fulfil this obligation by _leading a truly Christian life_. + + + +XV. The Marriage Tie--One and Indissoluble + +"But I say to you that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for +the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery; and he that +shall marry her that is put away committeth adultery" (_Matt_. v. 33). + +"What, therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" +(_Matt_. xix. 5, 6). + +FEW practices of the Church have been productive of more good to society +than that concerning Christian marriage. The Christian family is the +foundation of Christian society, and Christian marriage is the basis of +the Christian family. Without marriage neither the family nor society +could exist. Marriage was instituted by God before society existed, and, +as a natural consequence, it is subject not to the laws of society, but +to the laws of God and His Church. The principal law and necessary +condition of Christian marriage is its unity and indissolubility. It is +the union of one man with one woman for the purposes intended by the +Creator, which union is to last as long as both survive. Such was +marriage in the beginning; to such it was restored by our Saviour when +He made it a sacrament of His law and a type of His union with His +Church. + +The practice of the Catholic Church in not permitting a divorce that +will allow either party to marry during the life of the other, is +clearly taught by Jesus Christ in the 5th chapter of Matthew: "He who +puts away his wife maketh her to commit adultery, and he that marrieth +her committeth adultery." + +No human power can break the bond of marriage. "What God hath joined +together, let no man put asunder." It is the work of God. Let no man +dare meddle with it. St. Paul teaches the same when he says in the 39th +verse of the 7th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians: "A +woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her +husband die, she is at liberty, let her marry whom she will." The +practice of the Catholic Church is conformable to this teaching of +Christ, St. Paul, the apostles, and their successors. + +In defence of this practice of forbidding divorce, since marriage is one +and indissoluble, the Catholic Church has had many a severe conflict. +And had she not fought this battle bravely for the sanctity, the unity, +and the indissolubility of the marriage tie, Europe and America would +today be in as degraded a condition as are the Mahometan and other +nations where the laws of marriage are disregarded. For divorces are not +only contrary to Christ's teaching concerning the sanctity, unity, and +indissolubility of the marriage tie, but are also subversive of society. +They sever the marriage tie inasmuch as the law of man can do it. If the +marriage tie is loosened, the family is dissolved; and if the family is +dissolved, society, the state, falls to ruin. Divorce destroys conjugal +love, causes unhappiness, renders the proper education of children +impossible, and often leads to terrible crimes. Is it not reasonable as +well as scriptural to forbid it? + +The Christian husband and wife, knowing the sanctity, the unity, and the +indissolubility of the marriage tie, live in love and peace and honor +together; together they rear the issue of their union, teaching them to +be good children, good citizens, and good Christians; together, after a +long, a prosperous, and a happy union, they return to dust; and together +they will meet again beyond the confines of the tomb--_yes, they will +meet to part no more_. + + + +XVI. Respect Shown to Ecclesiastical Superiors + +"We are ambassadors for Christ; God, as it were, exhorting by us" (_2 +Cor_. v. 20). + +"As the Father sent me, I also send you" (_John_ xx. 21). + +"Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature" +(_Mark_ xvi. 15). + +THE respect Catholics have for the bishops and priests of the Church is +often a matter of surprise to those not of the Faith. They do not +understand, as Catholics do, that the priests are "ambassadors for +Christ" sent to "preach the Gospel to every creature." For Christ +instituted the priesthood to carry on divine worship, to govern the +Church, to preach His doctrine, and to administer the sacraments. + +As in the Old Law God chose His priests from among the family of Aaron, +so in the New Law He chooses them from among those whom His apostles and +their successors see fit to ordain. Priests and other ministers of the +Church receive in the sacrament of Holy Orders the power and grace to +perform their sacred duties. If we would but consider seriously for a +moment the importance of these duties and the great dignity of the +minister of God, we would have no difficulty in understanding the +reasonableness of the Catholic practice of showing profound respect to +God's priesthood. + +The priest is the minister of Jesus Christ, who chose him that he might +obtain for himself the greatest good and in return bestow this good upon +his fellow-man. Jesus Christ chose him that he might aid Him in the work +for which He came on earth. What a noble mission! What important duties! +What a great dignity! To aid Jesus Christ in saving souls, to teach them +the truths of salvation, to loose them from their sins, to offer the +eucharistic sacrifice for them, to pray for them, to minister unto them, +and to fill them with Heaven's choice blessings; for such a high +mission, for such important duties did Jesus Christ choose the priest. +If his duties are so important, his dignity must be correspondingly +great. + +On the banks of the Lake of Genesareth the Great Teacher chose Peter as +His vicar and head of His Church. As the pontiff could not be +everywhere, Peter and the other apostles imposed hands on others as the +needs of the growing Church demanded. They understood that it was by a +living, teaching ministry this work of salvation was to be carried on. +For we find it recorded in the 14th chapter of the Acts that Paul and +Barnabas ordained priests in Lystra and Iconium. + +Paul also consecrated Titus Bishop of Crete, for the express purpose of +ordaining others. Thus we see that as Christ was sent by the Father, the +apostles by Christ, so, too, is the priest invested with the same power +"for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry and for +the edification of the body of Christ" (_Eph_. iv. 12), and that no one +but a priest divinely called, rightly ordained, and legitimately sent +has power from God to teach God's words to the faithful. He is the +ambassador of God, commissioned to do His work with His authority; the +vicar of Christ continuing the work He commenced; and the organ of the +Holy Ghost for the sanctification of souls. He is ever imitating his +model, going "about doing good." He devotes his life to alleviate the +sufferings of men. To spend one's life instructing man is but second in +importance to alleviating his sufferings. This the priest is ever doing. +He rescued us from barbarism; saved for us at the risk of his life the +Holy Scriptures, the classics of Greece and Rome, and the writings of +the Fathers; founded the great universities of Europe; and is to-day, as +in the past, the greatest educator in the world. He does all this for +love of God. Do you wonder, then, that Catholics love and revere their +priests? + +Nowhere can there be found a body of men or a series of rulers so +venerable, so renowned for wisdom, justice, charity, and holiness, as +the Popes, bishops, and priests of the Catholic Church in every age, +_from the time of Christ until the present_. + + + +XVII. Celibacy + +"He who is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may +please God" (_i Cor_. vii. 32). + +THE Catholic Church recognizes matrimony as a holy state. She recommends +celibacy to those desiring greater perfection, and enjoins it on her +priests because, as St. Paul says, "He who is unmarried careth about the +things of the Lord." It is said that the life of the priest is a hard, +lonely one, and that it is unscriptural. Let us see. That his life is +one of hardships is certain. His path is by no means one of roses; it is +rather one covered with thorns. The young man knows this well before he +enters it. With a full knowledge of its duties and responsibilities, he +willingly enters the priesthood. He knows well that it is a life full of +trials and crosses. He knows, too, that the whole life of Jesus Christ, +from the stable of Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary's heights, was one +continuous trial, cross, mortification; and that the life of every +follower, especially every minister, of Jesus Christ should be fashioned +after that of his divine model. "If any man will come after Me," He says +in the 16th chapter of St. Matthew, "let him deny himself, take up his +cross and follow Me." The disciple, the minister of Christ, is not above +his Master; and it is not becoming that the path of the disciple or +minister should be covered with flowers while that of the Master was +strewn with thorns and sprinkled with His own precious blood. + +Yes, the priest's life is one of trials, crosses, and hardships. But the +more trials he has to bear, the more crosses he has to carry, the more +hardships he has to endure, the greater is his resemblance to his model, +Jesus Christ; and if he bears those trials, crosses, and hardships, +which he shares with his Master here, with a proper spirit, the more +certain he is of sharing with Him a happy eternity hereafter. + +But is the life of celibacy unscriptural? No. In fact, few questions are +more clearly defined in Holy Scripture than that of religious celibacy. +St. Paul, in the 7th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, +says: "I would have you without solicitude. He who is unmarried careth +for the things of the Lord, how he may please God; but he who is married +careth about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and is +divided. And the unmarried woman and virgin thinketh about the things of +the Lord, how she may be holy in body and spirit. But she that is +married thinketh about the things of the world, how she may please her +husband. Therefore," he concludes, "he that giveth his virgin in +marriage doth well; and he who giveth her not doth better." Could +language be clearer? Marriage is good; celibacy is better. + +"He that is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may +please God." This teaching of St. Paul is the teaching of the Church-- +that marriage is honorable, is good, but that there is a better, a +holier state for those who are called by the grace of God to embrace it. + +Religious celibacy is one of the principal reasons why the Catholic +priest and missionary will risk all dangers, overcome all obstacles, +face all terrors, and in time of plague expose himself to death in its +most disgusting forms for the good of his fellow-man. + +All are acquainted with the noble examples of numbers of priests and +Sisters of Charity who, at the risk of their own lives, voluntarily +nursed the sick and dying during the yellow-fever scourge in the South a +few years ago. Do you think they would have done so had they families +depending upon them? No; they would have cared for the things of this +world. Jesus Christ has said: "Greater love than this no man hath, that +a man give up his life for his fellow-man." This the good priest is ever +doing, ever ready to do. Although death stares him in the face, he never +shrinks from his post of duty, never abandons his flock while there is a +wound to heal, a soul to save. + +When his duty calls him, he is not afraid of death, because St. Paul +says: "_He who is without a wife is solicitous about the things of the +Lord._" + + + +XVIII. Conclusion + +"If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments" (_Matt_. xix. 17). + +WHEN Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, He did so in order to lead +us into life, to open heaven for all mankind. How important our +salvation must be, then, for which Christ shed His precious blood. If it +is important, He must have taught us how to attain it. This, too, He did +by the words, "keep the commandments." + +To assist us in keeping the commandments He left a representative on +earth. His Church, whose ministers were to teach all nations, is this +representative. To her He said: "He that hears you, hears Me." + +The night before He died He instituted the adorable sacrifice of the +Mass, saying: "This is My body . . . This is My blood which shall be +shed for you." He then gave the apostles and their successors power to +do what He had just done: "Do this in commemoration of Me." He also gave +them power to baptize, to forgive sins, to bless, to be "dispensers of +the mysteries of God." He gave them power to confer these powers on +others. "As the Father sent Me [_i.e._, with the same power] I also send +you." To these apostles and their successors He spoke when He said that +He would remain with them until the consummation of the world. To them +and the Church He said: "He that hears you hears Me." What the Church +teaches, then, Christ teaches. + +As, in the natural order, man is born, grows to manhood, is nourished, +and if sick needs proper food and remedies: so, in the supernatural +order, there is a birth, it is Baptism; there is a manly growth, it is +Confirmation; there is a nourishing food, it is the Holy Eucharist, the +Bread of Life; there is a medicinal remedy against death, it is Penance; +and there is a balm to heal the wounds, the scars of sin, it is Extreme +Unction. These are some of the channels through which God's grace flows +into our souls to assist us to keep the commandments. + +The practices of the Church naturally flow from her teachings. She +teaches that there is but one God, the creator and Lord of heaven and +earth and all things; that man by his reason alone can find out this +truth; that the order, beauty, and harmony of the works of nature show +God's work; but that there are some truths which the deepest intellect +of man can never fathom. Hence she teaches that God has revealed certain +truths; such as the mysteries of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, and +the Blessed Sacrament. When we know that God has revealed these truths +we are acting reasonably not only in believing them, but also in showing +our belief by practices of respect, adoration, and love. + +The Church teaches that we must not only believe, but practise our +religion. For faith alone will not save us. "Faith without works is +dead." To have these works we must "keep the commandments." We must love +God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. All the commandments +are comprised in this. In fact, the essence of Christianity is charity. + +Where will you find charity practised in reality except in the Catholic +Church? If you wish to see the truth of this, visit our larger towns and +cities, and you will find hundreds of hospitals, asylums, schools, and +other charitable institutions in which are thousands of the children of +the Catholic Church, who have left everything to alleviate every ill +that flesh is heir to, and follow the meek and humble Jesus in His +mission of love. + +The Catholic Church alone teaches, as Jesus taught while on earth, the +duty of penance. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, +take up his cross and follow Me." According to Christ's teaching, the +Church sets aside the penitential season of Lent and other times of +mortification. + +The Church also teaches that we must not only be faithful in the +observance of the practices of religion, but that we must also live in +peace and justice and charity with all mankind, and die with a hope +beyond the grave. If we love God we will faithfully observe the +practices of the Church; these practices will assist us in keeping the +commandments, by which we will enter into life. + +We have seen that the various ceremonies and practices of the Catholic +Church are dictated by right reason; that they are the rational +deduction from Christ's teaching; that they obtain for us divine grace, +excite pious thoughts, and elevate our minds to God; and that a true +Christian is one who not only believes but also practises the teachings +of Christ and His Church. The observance of these pious practices of the +Church makes us Christians in fact as well as in name. They assist us to +keep the commandment and to live in accordance with our faith. By +faithfully observing them, we show that we are not ashamed to be +Christ's followers. And if we follow Him, who is the way, the truth, and +the life, we will not walk in darkness; but will enter by the narrow way +into the presence of truth itself, _in the regions of eternal light_. + + +PRINTED BY BENZINGER BROTHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mary, Help of Christians, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS *** + +***** This file should be named 33596.txt or 33596.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/9/33596/ + +Produced by Michael Gray, the Diocese of San Jose + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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