Our Monthly Devotions

By

Very Rev. Dean A. A. Lings

Author of “Our Favorite Devotions,” “Our Favorite Novenas,” etc.

Benziger Brothers

New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

1899

Contents

[Transcriber's Note: The above cover image was produced by the submitter at Distributed Proofreaders, and is being placed into the public domain.]

He was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins.—Is. liii. 5.

Nihil Obstat.

THOMAS L. KINKEAD,

Censor Librorum.

Imprimatur.

† MICHAEL AUGUSTINE,

Archbishop of New York.

New York, May 10, 1899.

Copyright, 1899, by Benziger Brothers.

Preface.

The Church, desirous of filling our minds with pious thoughts from the beginning to the end of the year, has encouraged, and in some cases designated, certain devotions to be practised, and sets aside a whole month in which the prevailing thought ought to be centred on a certain devotion. Not that the Church has by any decree appointed a special devotion for any particular time, except in the cases of Advent and Lent; but the universal piety of the people has adopted them; and each month has its particular devotion.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Sacred Heart in June, and during this month we may offer our prayers in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that our souls may be thoroughly imbued with the beauty of this devotion.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Rosary on the first Sunday of October, and our Holy Father Leo XIII. has ordered that the Rosary be recited each day during the month.

The feast of the Guardian Angel is celebrated on the second of October; thus two devotions are practised [pg 004] during this month. The Church has arranged some special devotion for each month by which our confidence in God is increased, and our love of holy Church intensified. What a rich treasure of piety and love for God may a good Catholic not gather from one year of such holy practices!

January. The Holy Infancy.

The month of the holy infancy of Our Lord is January. The Lord was born in December as we know, but so late in the month that we must take the beginning of the new year and consecrate the first part of the year to God. We begin with the childhood of Our Lord in our devotions, that we may grow as He did in grace before God and man. The holy Infant is laid in our arms this month, that we may contemplate Him and learn holy lessons. What are these lessons? The goodness of God towards us—the mercy and kindness of the Child Jesus for us; for His infancy is infinitely meritorious before God, and all grace comes to us on account of Christ, Who has been an Infant among us. We should be like children in our confidence in God, Who has created us and will not make us stand greater trials than we are able to bear. We should not care over much for the things of this world; we should not depend so much on our own efforts; but with filial resignation we should say to God: “You want this done, and you want one to do it. Well, then, give me the grace, the intelligence, the will, and I will do it in such a manner as will be worthy of God.” The whole month can be spent in meditating on these virtues; be assured they are worth being learned, and will repay you for the trouble of practising them.

Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.

First Day.

Consider the Holy Family on this day. They rise early to make preparations to proceed to the Temple to fulfil the law of God given to Moses, that every male child of the Jewish nation should be circumcised. Let us accompany them in spirit to the Temple, and witness God's providence working plainly in behalf of His divine Son. To-day the Child Jesus is circumcised. A painful operation is performed on the body of the pure and holy Babe which was formed in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Jesus knew that by this ceremony He subjected Himself to the Law, and the observance of all the dictates of a life regulated by it. Be you also subject to the law of God, hard though it may be to man's corrupt nature. The life of a Christian will be a difficult one if you are not good and pious. It will be hard for you to pray, to fast, to go to Mass, or confession. Only by submitting to the law of God will you learn to bear your burdens patiently, willingly, and joyfully. Remember you are not carrying your cross alone, for the great Bearer of the cross, Our Lord Jesus Christ, will help you: He Who has said, “My yoke is sweet and My burden light.”

Prayer.

O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, hast bestowed on mankind the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience the intercession of her through whom we have had the happiness to receive the Author of life, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Second Day.

Jesus underwent the circumcision as an act of redemption. He was carried forth by His holy Mother to begin the way of the cross, and from that moment until the day of His death He suffered physical pain. You may here form many thoughts on this period in the life of this holy Child, which will console you in your sufferings. Be not cast down in your struggle after a livelihood, be not impatient in poverty and suffering, for by these Jesus has redeemed the world. These crosses will one day bring you to heaven. All humanity from childhood has the vicissitudes of nature and fortune to combat. Cruel indeed is the fate of some children: poverty, neglect, sickness, the death of parents, and other misfortunes, leave them often in a deplorable state. But there is a Providence watching over them; not a sparrow falls from the housetop without the will of the heavenly Father. At the same time those who have the means should be interested in God's poor, and seek to help them in all their necessities.

Prayer.

O Jesus, when Thou givest me such touching proof of Thy love, could I remain cold towards Thee? No! it is not possible. I will love Thee, then, O my God, with a love which nothing will daunt or repel.

Third Day.

At the presentation of the Lord in the Temple were present Simeon and Anna; they were faithful people, and were permitted to witness the solemn entry of Our Lord into the Temple. They [pg 014] were old and had served the Lord God with faithfulness all their days, and were now waiting for the coming of the Messias. On this day their fidelity was partially rewarded. It was certainly a great grace to be allowed to witness the presentation of Jesus to God, His Father, and this great reward for a good life was followed afterwards by eternal happiness in heaven. Be faithful, then, to the teachings of God in His holy Church. Begin in your youth, or at least when the grace of God visits you. Never cease to trust in God during your whole life, so that you, too, may be received into the heavenly kingdom as a reward for your fidelity. Pray always, as Simeon and Anna did, who never left the Temple but remained there in prayer and fasting, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

Prayer.

O my God, how Thou didst love me on the day of Thy presentation! Oh, how well Thou dost teach me thereby what love is when it burns the heart! O my God! come and consume me, come and take possession of my whole being, so that I may belong entirely to Thee. Let Thy good pleasure dispose of me as Thou willest. Amen.

Fourth Day.

On the occasion of the circumcision, the name of Jesus was given to Our Lord. He was called Jesus, the Redeemer: a name which was given to Him by His Father and announced to man by an angel. Let this holy name be on your lips—it will be to you a light, guiding you on your way through this valley of darkness. Let it be your food, to strengthen you on [pg 015] your journey to your heavenly home. Let it be a watchword at the end of your life, by which you may open the gates of heaven. The name of Jesus is a powerful one; it is the conqueror of death, the victor over hell. You are a follower of Jesus, therefore you ought to show yourself an enthusiastic follower, and love to repeat that sacred name. The name of Jesus piously said will strengthen our good resolutions, and our resistance against temptations. When the end of life approaches, and the darkness of despair comes over us because we have done so little in the hours of daylight, when we should have worked, the merits of Jesus will give us hope, for He came to this earth to suffer for us, to give us hope, and to supply the deficiency of our efforts.

Prayer.

Oh, may the adorable name of Jesus be the sweet and daily music of my soul and the seal of my heart; and when, in the agony and cold sweat of death, I shall give the last look for mercy, may the parting sigh of my soul be Jesus. Amen, sweet Jesus, Amen.

Fifth Day.

The name of Jesus must not only be on our lips, but it must also be indelibly engraven in our hearts. You have heard perhaps in the life of that blessed Dominican, Suso, that he cut over his heart the name of Jesus. In this name you can overcome all things. In this name you will be rich in grace and strength, you will be victorious over all temptations and successful in all your labors. Why should you not have the name of Jesus in your heart? [pg 016] St. Paul has said: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” You remember the exclamation of the great Apostle, “If any man love not Our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema.” There is great peace and comfort in the name of Jesus; it is this which enables pious people to remain faithful for long years in dryness of the spiritual life. It is this which gives us courage to do good actions, not for an earthly gain, but for Jesus, and the reward of His society for all eternity. Let us never pronounce it except with confidence, respect, love, and delight.

Prayer.

O sweet Jesus! O loving Jesus! O Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, full of piety and of love! O sweet Jesus, according to Thy great mercy have mercy on me; blot out my iniquities, and look with tenderness upon me, a miserable sinner invoking Thy holy name, Jesus. Amen.

Sixth Day.

The Lord has commended His holy name to every Christian as a precious jewel which he is to use to obtain mercy and grace. “That whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” We all belong to the army of the Lord, stand under His banner, and are supposed to be ever ready to make battle in His cause. How often have not you received the body and blood of the Lord? Think, then, what efficacy your prayers have when you appear before God, with the sign of the blood of Jesus on your soul; you then pray with a power to which nothing is equal, for not only do [pg 017] you pray, but Christ prays in and by you. By this holy name God is honored, as He is honored in His adorable Son. “God hath given Him a name which is above all names.”—Phil. ii. 9. The Lord is always an intercessor for us—it is His office of Redeemer and Saviour that has merited this name, by His life on earth and His death on the cross. To-day is the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Lord Himself to the Gentiles. Let us thank God during the day by frequent outbursts of love, for our vocation to the faith in the person of the Magi.

Prayer.

O God! Who didst this day reveal Thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles by the guidance of a star; grant in Thy mercy, that we, who already know Thee by faith, may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy majesty, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Seventh Day.

The Lord has shown Himself to you also, as He did to the three Wise Men from the East who represented you on the feast of Epiphany. You have had mercy shown you on this day because now you have the right to choose the true faith, and you should be thankful for this grace. You have had a singular privilege extended to you, which all Christians do not enjoy to the fulness. There are among us many who have not the consolation of dying in the arms of Jesus. They cannot claim that He said to them, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” We know that they, too, are hastening with us to [pg 018] the Last Judgment, but with what a difference! When a misfortune befalls these men in life they have no peace of mind; when a humiliation meets them, the ungentle spirit of nature is aroused in them at being despised. They are unhappy in privations, impatient in disputes, and they are selfish. The life of those who think not of Christ is full of misery, disappointment, and dissatisfaction; they sit in the darkness of heathenism; but you who have the faith find relief in all your ills. Be not one of those who by their sinfulness deserve to be deserted by God.

Prayer.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy heavenly mercy, the prayers of Thy suppliant people; that they may perceive where their duty lies, and be enabled to accomplish whatsoever tasks are necessary for their salvation. Amen.

Eighth Day.

Our faith ought to be pure and precious as the gold which the wise kings offered at the throne of God. You ought, then, to hold fast the faith of Jesus Christ, which is preserved in the Catholic Church. Learn your faith, learn the proofs of it; you will be a more fervent adherent to the chair of St. Peter and be well instructed in everything that concerns the Church. You will pray for our Holy Father, the Pope, and for holy Mother Church in these troublous times. If love is a part of that purity of faith, read nothing, listen to nothing which is against your faith; do not belong to societies that are condemned by the Church, for they are enemies of God's religion. Your faith must be a lively one; [pg 019] give signs of it in your actions. Sweet-smelling as the incense in the hands of the kings must be our faith. Every one should see that we are good and stanch Catholics; education or riches or social standing should not be an obstacle to our humble practice of our religion. What is there more beautiful than a well-educated man practising the Catholic faith according to the laws of the Church? Unhappily the rich and the learned are sometimes ashamed of the Church, leaving it to the poor and ignorant to be good Catholics.

Prayer.

O my God, I thank Thee for the inestimable gift of faith which Thou hast bestowed upon me. Grant that I may always acknowledge this Thy mercy with thanksgiving; and this not only in words, but in making a good use of it. This grace I ask through Thy sweet name, Jesus. Amen.

Ninth Day.

In trying to lead a good Christian life you will often meet with contradictions and persecutions, even from your associates. But the Wise Men included the myrrh of mortification among their gifts. He who wants to lead a life of purity will necessarily meet with many persecutions and crosses, and only when he has taken up the cross can he follow the divine Redeemer. The faith of Christ cannot exist without the bitter herb of mortification. This faith is the power that conquers the world, and the world's insults. Let us then be firm in our faith as the three kings were in all their trials, for they had many a one to encounter before they [pg 020] found the cave of Bethlehem. Let us show our appreciation then by our zeal and our holy lives. “He is my God, and I will glorify Him: the God of my father, and I will exalt Him.”—Exod. xv. 2. The holy man Job will be an example to us as to how we should serve God in trials and tribulations. Though the Lord allowed great sufferings to come upon him, and precisely because he had been good, still he remained true and firm and would not make a compromise with the devil, his persecutor. Job was thankful for everything that came from the hands of God. He praised God for it all his days.

Prayer.

O my God, how good it is to serve Thee thus, and to give ourselves wholly to Thee. Give to me as Thou didst to the Magi the spirit of wisdom, of prayer, and of sacrifice, so that, following Thee through all my life, I may reach a happy eternity. Amen.

Tenth Day.

It is a singular fact that the star disappeared at Jerusalem, though that was not, as yet, the place where the new-born King of the Jews was to be looked for. Herod was the temporal king of Jerusalem; the high priest and the doctors of the Law were also there. As this was the seat of the religion of the people of God, here were made many prophecies that were to be accomplished. We should have thought that here also the star would have been seen. Jerusalem, however, remains in darkness, the people that were to be the recipients of God's promises are passed over, and the great [pg 021] grace of vocation was given to men who knew nothing of the testament of God—to pagans. The star appears to them and illuminates the darkness in which they find themselves, and calls them to a heavenly light. Our Lord explained this Himself afterwards, when He said that from the rising to the setting of the sun would come those who would sit at His banquet, while the “children of the kingdom” should go out empty-handed, for they deserved no better treatment because of their infidelity and presumption.

Prayer.

O God, Who didst permit the children of Israel so often to sink under the trials which Thou didst send them, and so often to offend by yielding under temptation: have regard, I beseech Thee, to Thy servant, and assist me with heavenly strength that I may have patience and courage under all the trials of life. Amen.

Eleventh Day.

We are similar in condition to Jerusalem: We have the promise of God, we have the Messias in our midst, on our altars. Jerusalem was the gay capital of the Jewish nation, and it had no time to attend to the call of God. We also will meet the same fate that overtook that unfortunate city, which knew not the day of its visitation. Our Lord “came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” We are too busy with the things of this world to give a few thoughts to God; we do not realize the precious gifts of Our Lord, or of His sacred presence, and so we will be allowed to go [pg 022] forth empty-handed; strangers will take our places in the heavenly kingdom, while we shall sit in darkness for all eternity. The Lord will find faithful followers among strangers who have not our knowledge; they are guided only by a star that does not speak. They follow it and are rewarded; they follow it because they acknowledge the fact that they stand in need of a leader and guide.

Prayer.

Help me, O my God, and defend me from all dangers; let Thy heavenly light dart upon my soul amidst all its darkness; let faith be its guide, and support it with hope. Behold, I now protest that I renounce all kinds of suggestions that are injurious to that faith and hope which I am bound to have in Thee. Amen.

Twelfth Day.

Mary was found with the Child by the Magi; she it was who received the gifts for the Lord. There sat Mary as on a throne, having the Infant Jesus in her lap, and the Wise Men fell down and adored Him. How kingly seemed to them the poverty of that Babe! how right royal that sinless Mother's lap, on which He was enthroned! We, too, have arrived at the stable of Bethlehem in our meditations. Mary is there, holding out towards us also her divine Son. Through her He has become ours in holy communion, ours when we are faithful servants of this good Master. Mary is always with Jesus; we cannot think of the sacred humanity of Christ without thinking also of the Mother who gave Him birth. How far removed is the Mother [pg 023] from the Son? Let us then bow down in humility and adoration before the Child who is Our God; but let us also look up to Mary. She teaches us God as we never could else have learned Him. The Child Jesus seems to understand better than we that the caresses which are poured out to Him are also intended for us. Let us look with gratitude at this good Mother of Jesus, who is to be our Mother because she has taken us under her protection, and presents our petitions to the divine Infant, her sweet Son.

Prayer.

O Mary, my good Mother, I cast myself into thy arms: obtain for me from thy divine Son the virtues of humility and charity, great purity of heart, of body, and of soul, final perseverance in good, the gift of fervor in prayer, a pious life, and a happy death. Amen.

Thirteenth Day.

Mary is present at our visit to Jesus, to receive the gifts that we are about to bring to the Infant at this sacred season, when we celebrate the feast of Epiphany. We are going to offer to Jesus, through Mary, a gift of gold. Gold is the most precious and the most sought after possession in the world. Whatever we have most precious, then, we will give to Him: our attachment to our family, our inclinations, our prejudices, our possessions, we will lay at the feet of Jesus, so that Mary may point them out to this sacred Babe, and show Him how generous we have been to make a sacrifice of the dearest things we have on earth. The man of the [pg 024] world makes supreme efforts to gain gold, so we will make supreme efforts to bring our whole being, with all its energies, as a sacrifice to Him; our hearts with all their inclinations will be consecrated to the service of Jesus Christ. We will love Him not only in Himself, but in our neighbor; we will succor Him in the person of the poor, and in those even of whom we have to complain; and that on account of His words, “As long as you did it to one of these, My least brethren, you did it to Me.”—Matt. xxv. 40.

Prayer.

O my Mother, give me Jesus as thou didst give Him to the holy Wise Men. Obtain for me a fervent heart to desire Jesus; a pure and humble heart to receive Jesus; a constant heart, that I may never, by the least wilful sin, sadden His loving Heart. Amen.

Fourteenth Day.

During these days make the sacrifice of your heart a persevering, loving, patient sacrifice. You are not going to retain anything of this heart, you are not going to divide your love. Jesus has given Himself entirely to you; He has been presented to you by the hands of Mary. He has made you a Christian, that you may take advantage of this privilege of enjoying Him as often as you please. You can be on familiar terms with Him, you can unite Him to your heart in holy communion, when He will enter your soul and be such a gracious, noble guest. By your Christian character He has privileged you to participate in all the sacraments of the Church. He [pg 025] confirms you in your Christianity; He pardons your transgressions when you have fallen, and when, with sorrow in your heart, you wish to rise again; He claims you as His at the end of your life by anointing you in your last sickness: He claims you in fact, body and soul, for His own glory.

Prayer.

Most sweet Infant Jesus, I acknowledge Thee my benefactor. I return Thee thanks for whatever I possess, and I heartily beg Thy grace, that I may make good use of the benefits which through Thy great mercy I enjoy. Amen.

Fifteenth Day.

You are going to appear before Jesus and Mary during these days with the incense of the Magi, which they presented to Him as a tribute of praise; they acknowledged Jesus as their God. Incense is offered to God alone; it is a prayer in itself, and ascends with a pleasant odor. You are going to stand before Jesus offering your incense of prayer and adoration. You have your daily prayers to say; in fact the whole day should be a prayer, which should insert itself into all your actions. How noble will not such a day appear to you when you look back on it! Oh, that all your days were like this one, full of holy joy, peace and happiness; such a happiness as you cannot find in earthly pleasure and enjoyment. Mary will receive this gift of prayer for her divine Son, and point out to Him the pious Christian that has brought the same sacrifice as did the kings of the East—the incense of prayer. How pleased will be our sweet Jesus to receive this gift from our hands, and in exchange [pg 026] He will give us the gift of piety, thus enabling us to love God alone and to despise all else.

Prayer.

Hail, most sweet Jesus, Son of God and of Mary, I love Thee with my whole soul, and above all things, because Thou art infinitely worthy of all love. I firmly resolve by Thy grace to sin no more, and henceforth to avoid all occasions of sin. Amen.

Sixteenth Day.

Mary is found with Jesus, too, in order to accept another gift, which you must not forget and which the Magi brought also, i.e., the bitter myrrh of mortification. We have seen that we should offer a pure heart to the Lord and a life full of prayer—but we must also add to these gifts the virtues of self-denial, self-abnegation and mortification. Mary offered this great gift of generosity in its fulness. She is the Queen of martyrs, the sorrowful Mother. Mourn with her over your own ingratitude and the sins of the world; follow her in the way of the cross of her life; condole with her. It is a precious gift to God to mortify one's self, and one can find daily opportunities of doing so. As a Christian you are not to look backward. Give the same gifts as the Magi did; put some little privation on yourself, no matter what it may be, or how insignificant it may appear. God will look upon it with eyes of love, and in return will enrich you with the spirit of mortification and of sacrifice, which will make you apostles and martyrs.

Prayer.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! grant me, as Thou didst to the Magi, the spirit of wisdom, of prayer, and of sacrifice; so that following their example of steadfast faith, I may one day receive the reward of eternal happiness. Amen.

Seventeenth Day.

We read that the Lord accompanied His parents on a visit to the Temple in Jerusalem, and remained there unknown to them, when they had departed for their own home. It was His Father's house, and He expressed a kind of wonder that He was expected to be anywhere else at any time. We might apply this to ourselves as well. God is Our Father; the church is Our Father's house, and we should be found at home. Besides, Jesus is in the tabernacle; He, our Brother, is in His Father's house, and the whole family should be gathered there. You should make frequent visits to the church, and should any one be surprised at your conduct, and ask you the reason, you can answer with justice: “Am I not to be about the things that are my Father's?” Go to your work, be in your home, but also love to pass some time in the presence of the Lord in the church. The angels are there, silently praying before their God in the tabernacle; join them in their devout occupation. You like to visit a friend; no nearer nor dearer friend will you ever find than Jesus, your loving Saviour.

Prayer.

O Jesus, Thou knowest my desire of serving Thee with the purest intention of living but for [pg 028] Thee. Thou art my hope, my strength, and my life. I will seek not so much for consolation as for the grace of a greater love towards Thee, my sweet Saviour, and for strength to suffer bravely for Thy greater glory and my own sanctification. Amen.

Eighteenth Day.

From your early childhood you have been brought to the church. Even before you knew what church meant you trotted along with the other children, and sat in your pew and knelt with the rest, not knowing how to pray, not knowing what you were about. But afterwards you began to understand that you were going to a holy place, where sacred things were performed: things that reminded you of heaven, even while you were still on this earth. When you were made a Christian by Baptism, then you were introduced into the mystic body of the Church, and you also received the right to stand in the material temple of the Lord, and take your place among the many members of the Christian people. The Church has become your home, a place of happiness and consolation in all your afflictions. But do we use it as such? Do we go with all our trials and temptations to our sweet Lord, hidden in the tabernacle, Who is there waiting and anxious to console us in our miseries?

Prayer.

My dearest Jesus, how much hast Thou not done to oblige me to love Thee, and how much hath it cost Thee to gain to Thyself my love? Pierce my poor soul, O dearest Jesus, with the [pg 029] sweet dart of Thy love, so that I may ever languish with desire of Thee. Amen.

Nineteenth Day.

When the shepherds were told to seek for the Child Jesus, they were sent to look for a child. When we set out to look for the Redeemer we expect to see something remarkable; with fear and trembling we approach the spot, and find only a helpless Child lying on some straw in a manger. Man looks for great and startling works, and God meets him by showing things which, in his consideration, are insignificant. We think that God should choose great things and He chooses small ones. This is the difference between divine and human reasoning, between the ways of God and the ways of man. God has become man in the form of a child, and human wisdom thinks that now, over the whole world, a great clamor, noise, and wonderment should be raised; that all nations should be astounded. Instead the Lord is a child that does not talk, does nothing wonderful, even cries like other children, and so He remains, or rather grows, gaining by degrees the use of human faculties the same as other children. These are the ways of God; we think we should have ordered all things differently.

Prayer.

O sweet Babe of Bethlehem, I adore Thee in Thy humility. Mayest Thou be ever reverenced and adored by all creatures. May we with the angels ever adore Thee, and may the hearts of all the faithful ever breathe out in Thy honor a most sweet perfume. Amen.

Twentieth Day.

What a difference! Adam was placed in paradise, a most beautiful garden; the second Adam, Jesus, is placed in the manger. The former was but a simple human being, while this One is the true God. And why was this difference made? Through Adam's sin paradise, that beautiful place, had been desecrated: God, the Author of our being, forgotten. In punishment of this rebellion the second Adam had to atone for this defection. We had lowered ourselves to the level of the animals, we had sought our joy among the natural inclinations, and thither Our Lord had to descend in order to find us. Paradise is again to be brought to this earth. We, too, should show by our faith, our devotions, and our magnificent churches, where our happiness is. We may enjoy this paradise even on earth by doing the will of God in all things, and receiving frequently the body and blood of Christ, in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Prayer.

O most sweet Infant Jesus, behold here a poor petitioner who wants Thy aid; but such is my unhappiness, the more I want the less able I am to ask for relief. Have regard, therefore, to my distressed condition, and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies have compassion on me. Amen.

Twenty-first Day.

The angels announced the glad tidings of the birth of Christ to the shepherds, who heard the words and acted on them promptly and with joy, [pg 031] ignorant though they were. The promise of the coming of a Redeemer was clearly placed before their minds, so that they were as prepared for this startling announcement as if they had been waiting for it for many years. So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant. How beautiful is Our Lord's attraction to the lowly, represented in the call of these poor men. Such are the men that the Babe called first. We should allow the glorious truths of the incarnation to sink deeply into our souls, that we may celebrate the month of the holy childhood with profit to ourselves and to the glory of God. We should be interested also in spreading the Gospel among Protestants and Jews, and by our lives lead bad Catholics back again to the Infant Babe. Lay people can sometimes do more good than they imagine, and in some cases even more than a priest, because their advice and good example may have an effect where a priest could not reach.

Prayer.

O most sweet Babe of Bethlehem! what praise, love, and thanks shall I return Thee for all Thy mercies? Let my body, soul, and all that is within me bless Thee eternally, and let heaven, earth, and all that is within them say Amen.

Twenty-second Day.

God's glory was the object of the angels who came to announce the birth of Our Lord. Glory to God in the highest! Infinite glory accrues to God the Father by sending His divine Son to this earth to become man. We are His intelligent creatures, to whom He was sent, and we must give [pg 032] to God a rational worship. When we do not give glory and thanks to God, and are ungrateful, we rob the Creator of that recognition which He should have from His creatures. But the same must be said of all our works; we must have the glory of God before our minds; we should do nothing but with the express or implicit motive—the honor of God. Our maxim should be, “All for the greater glory of God.” When the angels reported the birth of the Lord they did not refer to their own greatness but sang out, “God has done this from His throne in heaven,” to Him is due the glorification of His creatures; so also we, after a good action, do not think complacently of our own sanctity or excellence, but say it was the inspiration of God, and God's work, which has been done by us unworthy instruments in His hands. Mary referred all her glory and graces to God: “My soul doth magnify the Lord.”

Prayer.

Almighty and everlasting God! Lord of heaven and earth, Who dost reveal Thyself to little ones, grant us, we beseech Thee, to honor meetly the holy mysteries in the life of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and to follow Him humbly in our lives, so that we may come to the eternal kingdom promised by Thee to little ones, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Twenty-third Day.

Again the angels said, “Peace on earth to men of good-will.” How precious is the peace of the soul! Peace is the fruit of a good conscience, [pg 033] which produces peace with God and with one's self. Seek to purify your will, make it conformable to the will of God, for then you enjoy peace more and more; you will taste the happiness of that peace which surpasses all the joys of the world, and which the world cannot give. In the contemplation of the joyous feasts which we celebrate, during this month of the mysteries of the divine infancy of the Lord, we will find the happiness of our soul. Continue in your adoration of the Infant Jesus, bring Him the grateful thanks of a pure heart, pray with earnestness, with perseverance, for the mercy of God, which He can extend to you in answer to your supplications if you are sincere. Remember the words of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good-will.” It is a saying which is worth repeating to yourself.

Prayer.

O most amiable Jesus, who for my sake and instruction didst vouchsafe to conceal Thy eternal wisdom under the weakness of childhood! I most humbly thank Thee for having shown me in Thy own sacred person how I should sanctify my youth, and thereby draw a blessing on my future life. Amen.

Twenty-fourth Day.

“Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.”—Luke ii. 19. Twice do we read that Mary did this. The Holy Ghost certainly wished to attract our attention to this fact, that we might imitate the action. All that was [pg 034] done and all that was said made a great impression on Mary's heart. She merited more and more the eulogiums which God Himself bestows on those who hear the word of God and keep it. The facts and the words of the incarnation must be the same to us—precious thoughts and gifts which we know how to value and appreciate. At certain times we should give evidence of our belief in the joy of our heart. God's glory must be published externally, we must not bury it in our hearts only, for Mary preserved all these words in her heart so as to make them public at some future time, for the welfare of the Church. With greatest devotion and zeal she had heard the revelations of God; with liberality she made manifest the fulness of her heart for the glory of God.

Prayer.

O Wisdom, Who didst proceed out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, with might and with sweetness disposing all things, come and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.

Twenty-fifth Day.

Mary not only kept all these words in her heart, but she also meditated on them. In fact the meaning of the words, “kept in her heart,” is that they were ever fresh there; she kept the eyes of her soul on them, and thought of them; she was part of the workings of God's providence, and had no other thought than that the will of God should be done in all things, especially just now, in this instance of the childhood of Christ. Men and angels had brought her the testimony of their admiration of the [pg 035] wonderful works of God; and Mary was consoled and confirmed in her willingness to suffer everything for her divine Infant Son. To us also the meditation and the consideration of God's infinite goodness, and the facts of revelation, are the very centre-post around which the Christian life should move. Be not a passive Christian that is borne along in the crowd; go a little farther, and become an intelligent worshipper, who has reflected well on religious tenets, and to whom they have given a great deal of consolation and hope of future happiness.

Prayer.

O Adonai and leader of the house of Israel! Who didst appear to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush, and didst give him the Law of Sinai: come and save us with a stretched-forth arm. Amen.

Twenty-sixth Day.

We are often solicitous about temporal affairs: our eating, drinking, clothing, and that which is dependent on us. We are right in making all necessary efforts, but we must not forget God, or lose confidence in Him. The Magi left their kingdoms, palaces, families, their great comforts of home, and went on a long journey, led by the star, without being clearly told how far their journey was to carry them. They had to travel through unknown lands, under a burning sun, exposed to wild beasts, and the enmity of wandering tribes. Still they persevered until they were rewarded by the sight of the Messias, the Redeemer of the world. Then “they rejoiced [pg 036] with exceeding great joy.” This is also a lesson to us to quiet our fears. God knows what we have done for Him, and a thousand-fold will He reward our generous actions, and at the same time our families will be protected and our wants supplied. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice: and all these things shall be added unto you.”—Luke xii. 31.

Prayer.

O Root of Jesse! Who art a signal to the people, in Whose presence kings shall be silent, and to Whom the Gentiles shall pray: come and deliver us now and delay not. Amen.

Twenty-seventh Day.

The revelation which you have received from God ought to enter deeply into your soul. Mary's heart was full of grace. You should receive God's word into your hearts, that it may be the nourishment of your souls, that it may fill you with holy sentiments and desires, and model you according to the life of Christ. During these days you have given much thought to the birth of Our Lord. Be careful in your prayers not to keep it on your lips only, but let it take deep root in your hearts, so that Christ may be born again in your souls. Pray to Mary, to the angels, and to the saints, that they may assist you; that you may preserve the deposit of faith with fidelity as they preserved it, for the nourishment of the spirit and the sanctification of your soul, and of others that may be intrusted to your care. Your piety and love of the Lord should increase with these [pg 037] meditations. “Thy word is exceedingly refined: and Thy servant hath loved it.”—Ps. cxviii. 140.

Prayer.

O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel! Who openest, and no man shutteth: Who shuttest, and no man openeth; come and take out of prison him that is in fetters, and who sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.

Twenty-eighth Day.

The obedience of Our Lord to His parents is an admirable lesson. Jesus Christ is obedient, and submits His infinite wisdom to the commands of human beings. Not only was He obedient to His heavenly Father even unto the death of the cross, but He exactly fulfilled all the requirements of the Fourth Commandment without a murmur, without deferring the execution of His parents' wishes to a time more suitable to Himself. St. Bernard says that he is obedient who fulfils a command without delay, and with a cheerful heart. Our Lord fulfilled this law so scrupulously because He wished to leave us an example. Remember the fact that the Boy Jesus was not only obedient to His heavenly Father, but also to His superiors according to the order of things. The Lord left, without delay, the performance of a holy action when He was called away from it. Our obedience to the Church and its lawful pastors is also an obligation devolving upon us. Children, obey your parents, servants, your masters, citizens, the State and all constituted public authority. Religious fulfil this law of obedience because they make a vow of obedience.

Prayer.

O Orient brightness of eternal light, and Sun of righteousness! come and enlighten those that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Amen.

Twenty-ninth Day.

“Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men.”—Luke ii. 52. From the first instant of His sacred life on earth there were hidden in the Lord all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He constantly developed these before the sight of men. The sun has always the same abundance of heat and light, yet it still increases as the day wears on until it stands in the zenith in all its glory and power, and as the day wanes it, as it were, draws its power to itself. The older Jesus, the Sun of justice, grew, the brighter became the light of His holy life, and it illumined more and more the lives of those who observed Him. The growing older is inevitable; as time passes we grow older, but we do not necessarily grow in wisdom before God and men. Our piety before God is not increased, and we frequently give scandal to men by our impiety. When we were young we loved God, but as we grew older we were so implicated with the things of this life that we lost a great deal of our simplicity. Why should this be so?

Prayer.

O King of the Gentiles, and their desired One, the corner-stone that joins the two walls! come and save man, whom Thou didst form out of dust. Amen.

Thirtieth Day.

Jesus was filled with grace and truth from the very beginning of His life. We have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. More and more did His virtues, however, shine forth with ever increasing splendor; men wondered at this glorious Being, loved Him, and afterwards followed Him when He began His mission. We, too, were full of grace at our Baptism, and long afterwards, in our childhood, we were pleasing in the sight of God, because we were innocent children whom God loved. We were then modest, pious, obedient, but in course of time we sought to please men more than God. To please men is often to displease God. We should have hungered and thirsted after justice, and this would have kept alive in us the desire to grow in grace, wisdom and truth. But now let us arouse ourselves, and even though we are old, let us strive to become like the divine Infant. Let us, with the grace of God, renew in ourselves the graces that were in us. Let us examine our conscience, and see whether we have remained faithful to our good resolutions, if we have ever made them before. It is not too late yet to resolve to do better in the future.

Prayer.

O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver! the expectation of the Gentiles and their Saviour; come and save us, O Lord, Our God. Amen.

Thirty-first Day.

On this last day of the devotion of the holy infancy, let us endeavor to make permanent [pg 040] the pious sentiments that have passed through our souls. We wish to have Jesus in our hearts, not only for the present but also for the future. It is not enough to find Jesus as the shepherds and the Magi did, but we should try to keep ourselves always in His sacred presence. The means to retain Jesus are no other than to keep ourselves in grace, to avoid sin, to preserve His love in our hearts, and lastly to be watchful, when temptation assails us, against sensuality, pride, avarice, and want of charity, and any other vice. Let us remain close to Our Lord, remembering our promises of fidelity, in a humble confidence that He will assist us with His grace. Let us remember the words of the Royal Prophet David: That a soul that fears God will not be affected by infidelity. Let us repeat with the spouse in the Canticles: “I found Him Whom my soul loveth: I held Him: and I will not let Him go.” Who will separate me from the love of Christ?

Prayer.

O Infant Jesus! grant that each moment of our lives, we may pay homage to that moment in which Thou didst begin the work of our salvation. Amen.

Mass in Commemoration of the Holy Infancy of Jesus Christ.

Preparatory Prayer.

Deign, O almighty God, to give me the grace to remember, with devotion and love during the holy sacrifice, the sacred birth, the Passion and death of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. I offer to Thee, [pg 041] Thy divine Son by the hands of Mary, His Virgin Mother, to the honor of Thy holy name, and in grateful thanksgiving for the numberless graces and blessings which Thou hast bestowed upon Thy poor creature. I offer Him also for the joy of the heavenly court, as a victim of propitiation for my sins, for the living and the dead, and for my special intention, which, with all confidence, I recommend to Thee. Permit me to feel Thy sacred presence, to be immersed in Thy pure light, and to be comforted by it, so that I may always, but especially on this day, serve Thee faithfully, and bear the trials which Thou sendest me with love and courage. In consideration of the tears and the precious blood of Thy divine Son, by Whom I knock at the gates of Thy mercy and kindness, grant that all misfortunes of body and soul may be averted from me, through Christ Our Lord, Who is ever praised with Thee and the Holy Ghost, for all eternity. Amen.

Introit.

O my God, I should be holy as Thou art holy, fountain of all sanctity; and still Thou seest in me nothing pure. I am full of iniquity. Have mercy on me, make manifest in me Thy mercy. I present to Thee, in sorrow and humility, the Infant Jesus as my intercessor. Look upon Him, O heavenly Father, the brightness of Thy own glory, now lying in a crib in a wretched stable. And from that lowly bed He raises up His little hands, begging for pardon, in order that we, His erring brothers and sisters, may be brought back to Thy paternal Heart, and to ward off the punishment which we so richly deserve. O divine Redeemer, [pg 042] despise not our confidence! Stretch out Thy almighty right hand and draw us forth from the floods of our sins, miseries, and iniquities, so that we may gratefully thank Thee and the Father for all eternity. Amen.

Gospel.

We render Thee, O loving Jesus, our everlasting thanksgiving for having descended from Thy unspeakable happiness in heaven to this miserable earth, where Thou dost wish to console Thy needy creatures and to teach us by Thy holy Gospel the way to heaven. Who would not approach Thee with confidence, when he sees Thee, the infinite God, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, resting on the bosom of the purest and tenderest of Mothers, with hands full of graces and a Heart full of love! Even though untold misery should overwhelm our hearts, and innumerable desires consume our souls, still we would take confidence from this kindness and love, and our souls would be filled with happiness and peace. Look upon me, then, O gracious Infant! and by that look of kindness may my intellect be enlightened to understand the divine truths; may my will be inflamed to fulfil Thy commands and inspirations, and my memory continually suggest Thy promises and Thy goodness. So that on the altar of my heart may be placed a triple sacrifice of faith, hope, and charity, and then I can claim from Thy majesty new graces and benedictions upon myself, upon those in whom I am interested, and upon all those on whom the light of the Gospel has not shone, that we may become vessels to Thy honor and love, and may praise Thy mercies for all eternity. Amen.

Offertory.

As I kneel in spirit at the crib of Bethlehem, and see the divine Infant offering Himself to the heavenly Father for my sins, so I bring, as an offering with the priest, my poor heart which thirsts for Thee. Oh, that I could offer Thee as gifts many virtuous acts! but bowed down in the dust of my own nothingness, I cannot offer anything more than an empty, sorrowful heart. Look upon it with mercy, and send upon it the dew of Thy grace and love, which will quickly bear fruit of humility and meekness. Adorn my soul with the flowers of devotion, that my whole life may become a song of praise and petition for mercy. Amen.

Sanctus.

Unfathomable, O Lord God, are the depths of Thy mysteries, and wonderful the inventions of Thy mercy. Faith teaches me that He Who is in the crib, and weeps and trembles, is the One Whose thunder rolls in the clouds, at the sound of Whose voice cherubim and seraphim veil their faces with their wings. What a manifestation of humility and love do I contemplate in this! Come, O Lord, with Thy all-conquering love, and enkindle my cold heart and the hearts of all careless Christians with the flames of love! Come to me in the fulness of Thy graces and blessings, and stir up my sluggish humor; enlighten all needy souls with the abundance of Thy eternal brightness, that we may now, and for all eternity, sing the angelic anthem: Holy, holy, holy, is Our God! Amen.

The Secret.

O kind Father! in humility I beg of Thee, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, may our sacrifice and prayers please Thee. Bless me, bless those who are here present at this sacrifice, and bless also all who are needy and suffering. I pray Thee especially for the holy Catholic Church and her ministers, that Thou mayest keep them in peace and harmony; that Thou mayest protect and govern them, and mayest pour into their souls that peace which the divine Infant brought to this earth—Who alone is the cause of the happiness which we enjoy here below. I wish to join the angels in exclaiming, “Peace to my soul, peace to all men of good-will.”

Consecration.

Look down, O Lord God the Father! on this altar where Thy divine Son adores Thee as He did from the stable of Bethlehem, and offers Himself as a spotless lamb as He did on Calvary. We unite our prayers with His, and we beg of Thy unlimited mercy that Thou wouldst listen to the pleading of this divine Heart and of this precious blood, and grant us what is pleasing to Thee. Grant that we may grow in the odor of sanctity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and share with Him eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

After The Consecration.

O divine Infant Jesus, give me the grace to realize the wonders of Thy holy love! In all humility I consecrate myself to Thee as a holocaust to Thy holy condescension. Oh, that I were able to [pg 045] adore Thee with that sincere and heartfelt devotion with which the holy Virgin, St. Joseph, the pious shepherds, the Magi, and all the fervent adorers of Thy divine infancy adored Thee. With all my soul I will love Thee. All the movements of my heart shall be directed towards Thee; my soul shall be Thy dwelling. With Thy grace I will fulfil all the duties of my state in life. Change this sinful man into a new being by Thy almighty love, by the same love with which Thou hast changed the bread and wine into Thy adorable body and blood. May Thy profound humility restrain the pride of my heart; may Thy wonderful purity transform me into a lily of purity for the heavenly garden, and Thy love guide me through the storms of this wretched life to the habitation of bliss: to Thy throne, where ever and ever springs forth life without end. Amen.

Commemoration Of The Dead.

Remember, also, O most merciful Jesus! all Thy servants who have departed this life, marked with the seal of faith and charity, and who sleep the sleep of peace. Let them all feel, according to their burning desire, the power of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Open to them the gates of heaven, the abode of light and peace, that they may join the innumerable chorus of angels and saints, who praise and love Thee for all eternity. Amen.

Agnus Dei.

O immaculate Lamb of God, suffering all human tribulations! teach me to tear myself away from the affections of earthly things, which still keep [pg 046] me from adhering solely to Thee. O gracious Lamb of God, Who didst descend from heaven to bring grace and light into my needy soul! let the dew of Thy kindness descend upon this barren land of my heart, to enrich it with many virtues. O pure Lamb of God, Prince of peace and love! calm in my soul all disquiet, and let it be inflamed with the flames of Thy holy love, whence all my words and actions derive their merit. Amen.

Communion.

O dearest Jesus, my Redeemer! from the stable of Bethlehem Thou callest to me, “Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.”—Matt. xi. 28. Pressed and overwhelmed with many trials, my soul longs for Thee, and desires to partake of the heavenly banquet of Thy flesh and blood, and to be united to Thee most intimately. Come, O Lord, to comfort my languishing spirit! strengthen my weak resolutions; change my whole being into something more pleasing to Thee. What heart is not softened by Thy loving glance, and desires not to be one with Thee? Admit my heart to a union with Thine, that both may be consumed together. As dry wood easily takes fire from flames, so may my heart begin to burn brightly, and whatever is displeasing to Thee be consumed by Thy holy love. Let me find rest in the enjoyment of Thy divinity; and let me have no earthly attachments, so that when I shall be loosed from the ties of this world, I may fly to Thee, and rest in Thy bosom.

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

Forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion.

Accept, O Blessed Trinity! my grateful thanks for the graces which Thou hast poured upon my soul during this holy sacrifice, which I have attended in honor of the holy infancy. And then, O divine Infant! permit me to remain with Thee whilst I am engaged in the duties of my state in life. Make me ever mindful of that gratitude which I ought to have for Thy holy love; let me feel the truth of the words, “I have found Him Whom my soul loveth”; I will never be separated from Him. Amen.

Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus.

(Form to which an indulgence of three hundred days was granted by Pope Pius IX., who suppressed all other forms.)

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, the 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 the angels, Have mercy on us.

Jesus, king of the 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, Deliver 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.

Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, Graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Through Thy nativity, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy infancy, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy most divine life, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy labors, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy agony and Passion, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy cross and dereliction, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy languors, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy death and burial, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy resurrection, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy ascension, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through Thy joys, Deliver us, O Jesus.

Through 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 it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you,” grant, we beseech Thee, to us who ask the gift of Thy divine love, that we may love Thee with our whole heart, in word and work, and never cease from showing forth Thy praise.

Grant, O Lord, that we may have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name, for Thou never failest to direct and govern those whom Thou hast instructed in Thy true and solid love, through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Litany of the Infant Jesus.

(For Private Devotion Only.)

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Infant Jesus, hear us.

Infant 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.

Infant Jesus, Have mercy on us.

Infant, very God, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the living God, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, Have mercy on us.

Infant, begotten before the morning star, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Word made flesh, Have mercy on us.

Infant, wisdom of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, purity of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, only Son of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, only-born of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, image of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, splendor of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, honor of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, equal to Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, subject to Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, joy of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, riches of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, gift of Thy Father, Have mercy on us.

Infant, offering of Thy Mother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, precious fruit of a Virgin, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of man, Have mercy on us.

Infant, power of God, Have mercy on us.

Infant, our God, Have mercy on us.

Infant, our Brother, Have mercy on us.

Infant, perfect man from Thy conception, Have mercy on us.

Infant, ancient in wisdom from Thy childhood, Have mercy on us.

Infant, father of ages, Have mercy on us.

Infant of days, Have mercy on us.

Infant, giving life and nourished at the breast, Have mercy on us.

Infant, Eternal Word, and making Thyself dumb, Have mercy on us.

Infant, weeping in Thy crib, Have mercy on us.

Infant, thundering in the heavens, Have mercy on us.

Infant, terror of hell, Have mercy on us.

Infant, joy of paradise, Have mercy on us.

Infant, dreaded by tyrants, Have mercy on us.

Infant, desired by the Magi, Have mercy on us.

Infant, exiled from Thy people, Have mercy on us.

Infant, king in exile, Have mercy on us.

Infant, destroyer of idols, Have mercy on us.

Infant, vindicator of the glory of God, Have mercy on us.

Infant, strong in weakness, Have mercy on us.

Infant, powerful in abasement, Have mercy on us.

Infant, treasure of grace, Have mercy on us.

Infant, fountain of love, Have mercy on us.

Infant, author of the blessings of heaven, Have mercy on us.

Infant, repairer of the evils of earth, Have mercy on us.

Infant, head of the angels, Have mercy on us.

Infant, stem of the patriarchs, Have mercy on us.

Infant, word of the prophets, Have mercy on us.

Infant, expectation of nations, Have mercy on us.

Infant, joy of the shepherds, Have mercy on us.

Infant, light of the Magi, Have mercy on us.

Infant, salvation of children, Have mercy on us.

Infant, hope of the just, Have mercy on us.

Infant, teacher of doctors, Have mercy on us.

Infant, first-fruits of the saints, Have mercy on us.

Be merciful, Spare us, O Infant Jesus!

Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus!

From the bondage of the children of Adam, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the slavery of the devil, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the corruption of the world, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the lust of the flesh, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the pride of life, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From an immoderate desire of knowledge, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From blindness of mind, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From perversity of will, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From our sins, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most pure conception, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most humble birth, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy tears, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most painful circumcision, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most glorious epiphany, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most devout presentation, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most innocent conversation in the world, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most holy life, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy poverty, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy sorrows, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy labors and trials. Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Lamb of God. Who takest away the sins of the world. Spare us. O Infant Jesus!

Lamb of God. Who takest away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us. O Infant Jesus!

Lamb of God. Who takest away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. O Infant Jesus!

Infant Jesus, hear us,

Infant Jesus, graciously hear us!

Let Us Pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst vouchsafe so to annihilate the greatness of Thy incarnate divinity and most sacred humanity, as to be born in time, and become a little child; grant that we may acknowledge infinite wisdom in the silence of a child, power in weakness, majesty in abasement: so that adoring Thy humiliations on earth, we may contemplate Thy glories in heaven. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Mysteries of the Sacred Infancy.

(For every day of this month and each 25th day of every month during the year.)

V. Incline unto my aid, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, etc.

R. As it was in, etc. Our Father, etc.

1. The Incarnation.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who for our salvation didst descend from the bosom of the eternal Father, into the womb of the Virgin Mary, where, conceived by the Holy Ghost, Thou didst take upon Thee, O Incarnate Word, the form of a servant, have mercy upon us.

V. Have mercy upon us, O Lord.

R. Have mercy upon us. Hail Mary, etc.

2. The Visitation.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who by means of Thy Virgin Mother didst visit St. Elizabeth, and filling Thy forerunner, St. John the Baptist, with the Holy Spirit, didst sanctify him from his mother's womb, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

3. The Expectation of the Birth.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who for nine months enclosed in the womb, didst wait for the time of Thy birth, and didst meantime inflame the hearts of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph with most ardent longings, and didst offer Thyself to God the Father for the salvation of the world, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

4. The Holy Nativity.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, wrapped in poor swaddling-*clothes, and laid in the manger, glorified by angels, and visited by shepherds, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright,

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost, eternally.

V. Christ is at hand.

R. O come, let us worship Him. Our Father, etc.

5. The Circumcision.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! circumcised when eight days old, called by the glorious name of Jesus, and proclaimed both by Thy name and by Thy blood to be the Saviour of the world, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

6. The Adoration of the Kings.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who wast manifest to the three kings, who worshipped Thee as Thou didst lie on Mary's breast, and offered to Thee the mysterious presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

7. The Presentation.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! presented in the Temple by the Virgin Mary, embraced by the holy old man Simeon, and revealed to the Jews by Anna the prophetess, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

8. The Flight Into Egypt.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Whom Herod sought to slay, carried by St. Joseph with Thy Mother into Egypt, saved from death by flight, and glorified [pg 055] by the blood of the holy innocents, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright, etc.

V. Christ is at hand.

R. O come, let us worship Him. Our Father, etc.

9. The Sojourn In Egypt.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who didst dwell as an exile in Egypt for seven years, where Thou didst utter Thy first words, and, loosed from Thy swathing-bands, didst first begin to walk upon this earth, and, in the destruction of the idols, didst work, in a hidden manner, Thy first miracles, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

10. The Return From Egypt.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who when Herod was dead, wast recalled out of Egypt into the land of Israel, and didst in the journey suffer many fatigues and hardships, and wast carried back by Mary and Joseph to the city of Nazareth, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

11. The Life in the Holy House.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who in the holy house of Nazareth didst dwell most holily, and didst pass Thy life in obedience, poverty, and toil, and as Thou didst increase in years didst manifest to God and men signs of wisdom and grace, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

12. The Disputing With The Doctors.

O most sweet Infant Jesus! Who wast taken to Jerusalem when twelve years old, wast lost by Thy parents, and sought for by them with sorrow, and after three days wast found, to their exceeding joy, with the doctors in the Temple, have mercy upon us.

V. and R. Have mercy, etc.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright, etc.

V. Christ is at hand.

R. O come, let us worship Him. Our Father, etc.

During the year:

V. The Word was made flesh.

R. And dwelt amongst us.

At Christmas and during the octave add Alleluia.

At the Epiphany and during the octave:

V. Christ hath manifested Himself unto us. Alleluia.

R. O come, let us worship Him. Alleluia.

Let Us Pray.

O almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth! Who didst reveal Thyself to little ones, grant, we beseech Thee, that whilst we duly celebrate and honor the most holy mysteries of Thy Son, the Infant Jesus, and worthily strive to imitate them, we may arrive at that heavenly kingdom which Thou hast promised to little children, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

Communion Prayers in Honor of the Infant Jesus.

Preparation for Holy Communion.

1. I believe most firmly, my dear Jesus, that in the consecrated Host is contained Thy humanity and Thy divinity, together with Thy sacred flesh and blood. I believe in this mystery of our faith, because Thou, Who art infinite wisdom, hast announced, “My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” I believe as firmly as Thy holy Mother Mary believed in all the sacred truths which Thou camest to preach. With the heart of Mary, O divine Infant Jesus, I would love Thee! I would wish to receive Thee into the shelter of my heart, as Mary didst receive Thee into her arms with devotion and tenderness, and Thou didst find a resting-place. Cold and dreary was everything about Thee, that night of Thy birth, but Thou didst find a warm heart in Thy holy Mother. Let me embrace Thee with the same fervor with which Joseph and Simeon welcomed Thee into their arms. Give me now, O divine Infant Jesus, through the participation in Thy body and blood, the burning love of Thy holy spirit, which induced Thee to become my Brother. Thou didst institute this Holy Sacrament that I might be united to Thee and Thou to me. I am heartily sorry that I have, hitherto, preferred creatures to Thee, and so far have done nothing to deserve Thy mercy. Forgive the sins for which I have had only a superficial sorrow, and which I, perhaps, have confessed in the same spirit. Clothe me with the garb of innocence of Thy holy childhood; by Thy adorable blood purify me, by Thy holy spirit enliven me, [pg 058] that from the present I may no longer live, but Thou, my Jesus, live in me forever.

O Holy Ghost, Who didst prepare the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the infusion of sanctity, to be a worthy habitation of the body of the divine Infant Jesus, prostrate before Thee I beg that Thy grace may also render my soul and body worthy to receive the body of Christ, that I may receive Him with purity and faith, and may through the reception lay a foundation of sanctity, which will entitle me to enter the glorious kingdom of heaven.

O my good Jesus, my whole confidence is in Thee; Thy wounds and Thy sacred blood encourage me to hope in the Lord.

O Son of the almighty God, Son of the Virgin Mary, hear me, and be merciful unto me. My heart desires to receive Thee with the same joy and desire with which Mary conceived Thee and gave Thee birth.

Come, then, dear Lord, and fashion my heart according to Thy will; and, oh, holy saints, devout adorers of the Infant Jesus, St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Stanislaus, pray that my faith may be strong, that my hope and confidence in the Infant Jesus may increase, that my love for Him and His good Mother may burn with an inextinguishable flame.

And thou, my guardian angel, as well as arch-*angels and angels, cherubim and seraphim, accompany me to the holy table of the Lord; cover me with thy wings, for I am not worthy to receive this heavenly food.

2. O my God, my Lord, is it possible that Thou lovest me, a miserable human being, so tenderly, that now Thou dost feed my soul with Thy precious [pg 059] blood, with the bread of angels? By this sacred food Thou dost so firmly unite me to Thee as to make us one; Thy soul unites itself with my soul, and Thy body with my poor human nature. Rejoice, then, O my soul, for no longer can it be said, “My tears have been my bread day and night: whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?”—Ps. xli. 4. For my food is the bread of angels and my God is not far from me and my God is in my soul! O dear Jesus, how liberal art Thou towards him that seeks Thee! How can I make return for this great kindness?

3. Consider, O my soul, that as often as you receive communion, you become, as it were, like Mary, the Mother of God, and a spouse of Jesus Christ: for in holy communion you may consider that the Lord comes to you as the little Child of Bethlehem. He becomes your Spouse because He loves you, takes care of you, and caresses you. O my soul, with what energy you ought to seek to acquire the virtues of our dear Mother Mary. She was adorned with every virtue when the incarnation took place in her, and she enjoyed the presence of her God.

Put yourself exclusively into the hands of God, and have the same sentiments that Mary had when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord,” or with the spouse in the Canticles: “My Beloved is a bunch of myrrh which rests in my bosom.” And with Simeon, the prophet, exclaim, “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace: Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation.”

4. Permit me, my dear Jesus, to use Thy words in the Gospel: “I am come to cast fire on the earth, [pg 060] and what will I but that it be kindled?”—Luke xii. 49. Why is it that I receive so often, and approach this fire of divine love, and am not ignited? Let, then, this fire of love, which burns in this Sacrament, communicate its flames to me, that I may rise from the things of this world. I will now endeavor to love Thee above all things and no creature shall hinder me from Thy love. I will love Thee with my whole strength.

5. Dear Infant Jesus, Thy love has conquered my heart! I know now that Thou givest Thyself to me as my food, and as a ransom to free me from the slavery of Satan. My servitude to the devil, the flesh, and the world has been hard, but being once liberated from these chains, I hate my former cruel masters, and wish to belong entirely to Thee. There is no joy or happiness in anything in this world, but in Thee, my God, Who callest to me: “Come to Me all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon you ... and you shall find rest to your souls.”—Matt. xi. 28, 29. Yes, I will willingly subject myself to Thy yoke, by obedience to Thy holy commandments, which I will keep with the greatest exactitude. Permit me to approach Thy sacred banquet, for which I am now preparing.

6. In Jesus you may find all that you seek, and all that you need. Why, then, do you turn to other consolations? Seek that only Good which contains all good. Consider Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the greatest Good, and stir up in yourself a desire for Him. He will not despise you, though you are unworthy of the favor. When Jesus dwelt on earth, and travelled through cities, towns, and country, He [pg 061] always had compassion on misery, and rejected none that came seeking relief from the ills of body and soul. And now that same Jesus is in heaven, and He can refuse no one. The woman who touched the hem of His garment was healed of a long standing infirmity. Magdalen, the sinner, kisses His feet, and her sins are forgiven. The pagan woman of Chanaan obtains the cure of her daughter. The sisters Mary and Martha obtain the resurrection of their brother Lazarus. Those possessed by the devil are freed.

My heart will not hesitate, but will boldly and humbly approach the Lord and ask the cure of my soul. He gives me His sacred body and blood, and all other needful things will be added unto me.

7. Yes, my God, my Lord, will come to me! I will not fear; I will approach with a joyful heart; I will not lose courage because I am sinful, as I know the Lord invites the sinner. He has eaten and drank with them, and treated them as His friends. He will also eat with me, and entertain me at His own table if I am only sorry for my sins. He will give me the kiss of peace and welcome me to His house. With His own flesh and blood He will feed me.

8. Come, O dear Jesus, wash my feet as Thou didst the apostles'. St. Peter refused, but when he was told that unless he complied he would have no part with Jesus, he gladly consented. Purify me also that I may have share with Thee in Thy glory. I am full of impurities in body and soul, my lips are unclean, because they utter many reprehensible words, my eyes and ears are impure, because they see and hear impurities. Who can purify me but [pg 062] Thou, O Lord, O crucified Redeemer, by Thy sacred blood which flows from the cross?

9. Who shall give me the wings of a dove, that I may fly to Thee, my rest, my peace? Give me two wings: one the firm confidence in Thy goodness, that Thou wilt allow me to claim some of Thy merits for my salvation; the other the wing of love, that I may soar beyond this world, and remain with Thee. Prepare me for Thy sacred banquet with the virtues which Thou Thyself would have in me. Teach me how I am to serve Thee. Give me a real thirst after Thy sacred blood, and a real hunger after Thy sacred flesh, that I may really desire it.

10. O consolation of my soul, dear Infant Jesus, I beg of Thee to root out of my heart all the sins and vices to which I am so much inclined; spare me not in removing them, even though it may hurt, even though I may be unwilling. Piety, humility, sincerity, modesty, and love are necessary. Then plant these virtues in my soul, and give me grace to practise them.

11. The Bridegroom is coming! I hear this cry, and I am to go forth to meet Him. Am I prepared? Have I oil in my lamp? Bestir yourself then, O my soul: it is not an angel that is coming, or a great prophet. No, it is God Himself Who is approaching: the Son of God, the King of glory. Rise, my soul, and prepare a resting-place in your heart, where the Lord may remain.

After Communion.

Ejaculations To The Dear Infant Jesus.

How great is Thy love, sweet Heart of Jesus, Who hast given Thyself to me as a celestial food! [pg 063] Thou deservest to be loved with an infinite love, and not with the love of ordinary creatures.

O Jesus, I am heartily sorry for having hitherto loved Thee so little! Why did I not love Thee sooner?

Would that I could redeem that time in which I did not love Thee! Where will I find hearts that are going to help me to make up for the glory that I should have given Thee up to this time?

Would that I loved Thee with that tender love with which Mary loved Thee. The angels and saints loved Thee, my Jesus; let me also join them in their love.

Offering.

I offer Thee my whole being; let it be unreservedly Thine. Thou hast taken possession of my heart, Thou art its Master; my whole life shall be used for Thy greater honor and glory. Wherever my influence may reach, there will I carry the name of Jesus. Wherever the word of God may be announced, I will glory in Thy name.

Thou, O Lord, art so full of love, and still Thou art so little loved! O would that I could enkindle all hearts with the fire of Thy love! Thou, O Lord, art the Master of all hearts; we belong to Thee because Thou hast created us, and when we rebelled from Thee and became slaves of Satan, Thou didst redeem us. What greater right have we than to belong to Thee, to be subject to Thee, and to announce Thy holy name to all, so that by our mutual example we may be encouraged to live lives of sanctity?

O that all of us would have the love of the Infant Jesus in our souls, and make earnest endeavors to [pg 064] spread Thy love among all men! When, O Lord, will I be dissolved, to live only with Thee? To Thee my sighs and desires go up day and night. When will I see Thy blessed countenance? When my time comes to die, let me die in Thy love, so that I may love Thee for all eternity. Thy will, O Jesus, be done in all things, and let me delight to walk in Thy footsteps.

Do with me what Thou wilt; I am willing to submit to joy or sorrow, life or death, fortune or misfortune. It is all indifferent to me as long as it is Thy will, only give me the grace to endure adversity with resignation. It will be a joy to me to fulfil Thy holy will in all things.

Thanksgiving After Communion.

Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, according to St. Francis de Sales.

How can I, O Lord Jesus Christ, praise Thee sufficiently for having visited my soul in Thy infinite goodness, by Thy divinity and Thy sacred humanity, with Thy body and blood? I give Thee, my Lord and my God, a loving welcome, Thou Who art my Redeemer, my last end, my consolation, my sweetest rest, my all. A thousand welcomes to Thee, my dear Jesus, my good shepherd. In the abyss of my nothingness I humbly adore Thee. I adore Thy sacred flesh and blood, which Thou hast given me for my food, and the pledge of my eternal union with Thee. I adore Thy sacred head crowned with thorns; I adore Thy eyes that have shed so many tears for me; I adore Thy mouth, with which Thou didst teach me eternal truths; I adore Thy [pg 065] sacred countenance, which has been beaten for me by cruel soldiers; Thy feet, that have been pierced by the nails and fixed to the tree of the cross; Thy arms, which were outstretched for me, for a loving embrace; Thy side which the lance pierced, and from which blood and water issued forth, the witnesses of my redemption; Thy Heart, which loved me even unto the death of the cross. My dear Redeemer, I adore Thy sacred body, covered with innumerable wounds which Thou didst suffer for me. I adore Thy most holy soul, which was saddened unto death in the Garden of Olives that I might reach eternal life.

My dear Jesus, with great love I embrace Thee, and I will remain faithful to Thee until my last hour. Bless these feelings of a good heart: grant that no storm of temptation may lead me again to be unfaithful as I have repeatedly been heretofore.

A Pious Salutation To The Infant Jesus.

Hail, holy and adorable Infant Jesus, source of mercy! Thou art the life of the sinner, unfathomable ocean of divine sweetness, our hope, our joy. To Thee, born in the dreary stable of Bethlehem, we cry, poor children of Eve, to Thee we send forth our sighs, to Thee we send up our lamentations in this valley of tears. Turn then, O incarnate love, Thine eyes of mercy towards us, O blessed fruit of Thy Virgin Mother. As Thou didst show Thyself full of kindness in the stable of Bethlehem, so show unto us, after this miserable life, Thy divine mercy, when Thou shalt come in the glory of Thy Father. O sweet, O loving, O clement Infant Jesus! Amen.

Pious Invocation To The Infant Jesus.

(Father Elias Avillon.)

Hail, Infant Jesus, Thou fountain of mercy, Thou life of the sinner dead in sin, Thou unfathomable ocean of divine consolation, our hope and our joy. Hail, to Thee, born in the desolate stable of Bethlehem, do we cry, poor children of Eve. To Thee do we sigh and bewail our misery from this valley of tears. Turn then, O incarnate love of God, Thine eyes of mercy upon us, Thou blessed fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary. As Thou didst show poor humanity unbounded mercy from the manger, so also continue Thy kindness during our life, until after this miserable existence we arrive in the glory of heaven, where we shall meet Thee, to praise and glorify Thee for all eternity. O sweet, O pious, O merciful Infant Jesus! Amen.

A Prayer To The Holy Name Of Jesus.

Eternal God, Father in heaven, daily do we pray that Thy sacred name be sanctified, that Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done. It is also Thy holy will that the name of Thy beloved Son should be glorified. Thou hast given Him a name at which every knee should bend in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. I pray Thee with all my heart that Thou give us the grace to pronounce that holy name with the greatest devotion, and to serve the Lord with a good and willing heart. Engrave this holy name on my heart, that I may never forget it. Place it as a sign on my forehead, that I may ever be faithful to it. O holy name of Jesus! my heart rejoices when I hear thee mentioned. I feel great [pg 067] consolation as often as I hear that holy name. Angels of heaven, who are gathered in ecstasy about the throne of God, praise with us on earth the sacred name of Jesus; sing its praises worthily, as we cannot sing it; invoke it for us also, that when our feeble powers fail, thy holiness and zeal will supply our deficiency. Thy holy name, O Jesus, be praised forever!

Adoration of the Child Jesus in the Twelve Mysteries of His Divine Infancy.

Dear Jesus, divine Infant of incomparable beauty, of infinite goodness, I adore Thee, because Thou art my Redeemer, and I love Thee. I make a sacrifice to Thee of all my intellect, and of my heart, and I thank Thee for having become a child for my sake. I adore Thee in all the mysteries of Thy holy childhood, and pray Thee to let me enter into the spirit of it. Give me the grace to honor Thy childhood all my life, and that I may imitate the virtues which Thou dost inculcate by Thy example.

I adore Thee, O God of purity, at the moment when the Holy Ghost formed Thy sacred body in the bosom of the Virgin Mary, and beg of Thee the grace to be always pure.

I adore Thee, O hidden God, hidden for nine months in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, and I desire to honor Thee by my perfect life.

I adore Thee, O Child of grace, in Thy visitation to John the Baptist in order to sanctify him. Visit also my soul, that I may live a saintly life and remain faithful to the impulses of Thy grace.

I adore Thee, O Child Jesus, at the moment of Thy birth, and I desire, with Thy help, that no other [pg 068] fire burn in my heart than that which Thou camest on this earth to kindle.

I adore Thee, O Spouse covered with wounds, in the painful mystery of the circumcision. I conjure Thee by the sacred blood which Thou didst then shed for the first time for our salvation, that Thou wilt give me the virtue of meekness, with which I am to go through life, for Thy glory and the edification of my neighbor.

I adore Thee, O Lord Jesus, with the Magi, who came from the distant orient to adore Thee lying in the crib in the stable. Give me the grace to be in earnest in the work of my salvation.

Great God, Author of all sanctity, I adore Thee in the Temple, where Thou didst present Thyself according to the Law of Moses, to be offered to Thy Father as His first-born Son. Give me grace to subject myself to every law, even though it would imply that I am a sinner, which I really am.

I adore Thee, humble Jesus, in Thy flight into Egypt, and beg of Thee to give me the grace, by this holy mystery of Thy life, of perfect humility of heart.

I adore Thee, O Child Jesus, in Thy poverty, which afflicted Thee in Thy stay in Egypt. Give me the grace also to be poor in spirit, and endure actual poverty with resignation.

I adore Thee, O Child Jesus, in Thy joyful and triumphal return from Thy exile in Egypt to Nazareth; give me the grace to overcome the enemies of my salvation.

I adore Thee, O obedient Child Jesus, in Thy exact compliance with the commands of Mary and Joseph; give me the grace joyfully to obey my superiors.

I adore Thee, O Child Jesus, in the midst of the doctors in the Temple of Jerusalem, when Thou didst enlighten their minds on the sacred prophecies of the Old Testament. Give me a Christian simplicity, that I may believe all that Thou teachest me through the holy Catholic Church.

[pg 070]

February. The Holy Family.

What a beautiful sight is the Holy Family dwelling on earth! God could not create anything more beautiful than this Holy Family; He reached the limit of possibilities in creation when He had accomplished this. It is indeed a great example to us, and a model which we ought to hold before our eyes during this month, in order that we may study the foundations of what a holy family ought to be; what a life that should be, where the holiest are bound together in ties of most affectionate friendship and relationship.

Our Holy Father Leo XIII. has seen the great importance of the Christian family: the family established by the laws of the Church and the country, where marriages are legalized and solemnized; where continence and modesty reign; where children, under kind and parental subjection, are brought up to be good men and women, good for religion and for society. When poverty strikes such a family there is patience and forbearance shown; when sickness and death come, there is resignation to the will of God. In the Christian home there is surpassing peace, and not that crazy restlessness that looks for satisfaction in grasping at possessions, never satisfied day nor night.

I do not think that this devotion has been appointed for this month by any authority, except the idea that after having adored the divine infancy during the month of January, the devotion to the Holy Family may follow as a natural sequence. Should any one desire to make this devotion during another month, it would certainly not be out of the way, for save only in a few cases has a certain devotion been assigned to a particular time. The devotion to the Holy Family is a beautiful and instructive one; the Christian family should be built on this great model. The Holy Family consisted of Jesus, Mary, and [pg 071] Joseph; the father, Mother, and Child. All other families are made up of the same constituents.

Those who are actually in a family, or who intend to choose that mode of life by which they may get to heaven, will love this devotion and find instruction and consolation in it.

One of the greatest works of God in this world is the Holy Family at Bethlehem and Nazareth. He sent down upon the earth His only Son, Jesus Christ; prepared a most holy Mother for Him, Mary immaculate, and selected for Him a foster-father and a protector. He held them together in the most tender family ties of father, Mother, and Child. He kept them in that relation until St. Joseph died a blessed death, and the Lord Jesus went forth on His sacred mission of teaching and redeeming mankind.

What a beautiful sight to us poor human beings! what a glory to God was that Holy Family, dwelling in the humble abode of Nazareth! We find here the model on which we shall reflect for this month of February. We will consecrate this month to praising God with the members of the Holy Family; we will study the ways by which they were so pleasing to God, and we will draw from these considerations many valuable lessons for our own conduct.

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII., with an ever-watchful eye to the necessities of our time, has seen the importance of a devotion to the Holy Family, and has recommended it to the faithful, and with his own authority established a sodality of the Holy Family; he has invested it with many indulgences in order to encourage the faithful in taking the Holy Family as their model. Here is, then, a practical way to teach ourselves the way of salvation by the example of others.

It is therefore a most useful practice of piety to become members of the sodality of the Holy Family; you will then place yourselves under its special protection, and choose Jesus, Mary, and Joseph for your particular advocates before God. Look upon the members of the Holy Family as the most perfect models for imitation, whose examples will teach you what to correct and what to avoid, what to do for your temporal and eternal welfare, and that of your families.

Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.

First Day.

In an apostolic brief of June 14, 1892, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII., demonstrates how the welfare of the family and of the State depends chiefly on education, and that it is of the utmost importance that a religious spirit be fostered in the Christian family. From the first family, God so arranged the method and order of such a life as to exhibit to the world a form of a divinely ordered association, in which all human beings might behold a most complete model of family life, and of all virtue and holiness. The devotion to the Holy Family, a holy and a powerful institution before God and man, has increased very much within a few years, and it is worth our while to think of this on the first day of our monthly devotion, and appreciate it as we ought.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, Who didst hallow by Thy surpassing virtues, and the example of Thy home life, the household Thou didst choose to live in whilst on earth, mercifully look down upon this family, whose members, humbly prostrate before Thee, implore Thy protection. Remember that we are Thine, bound and consecrated to Thee by a special devotion. Protect us in Thy mercy, deliver us from danger, help us in our necessities, and impart to us strength to persevere always in the imitation of Thy Holy Family, so that, by serving Thee and loving Thee faithfully during this mortal life, we may at length give Thee eternal praise in heaven. [pg 073] O Mary, dearest Mother, we implore thy assistance, knowing that thy divine Son will hearken to thy petitions; and do thou, most glorious patriarch St. Joseph, help us with thy powerful patronage, and place our petitions in Mary's hands that she may offer them to Jesus Christ. Amen.

Second Day.

Within our own time the devotion to the Holy Family has grown under the fostering care of the Supreme Pontiff, who has authorized the establishment of associations throughout the world, by which men and women, married and unmarried, are gathered into one fold from the standpoint of the family. The Holy Father desires that all the faithful of the Catholic Church should consider this association as a consecration to the Christian life, and that they will feel that they are bound to lead a holy life because their association is established and legalized by God. For what is the Sacrament of Matrimony but the legalizing of the family before God and man? Let us consider the family as a special institution of God's providence for the preservation of the world, and the propagating in it of sound principles of learning and religion.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Third Day.

We are to consecrate ourselves to God under the union of a family. That is the pretence with which we come before God, to claim His kindness and mercy because we belong to a family. We are [pg 074] not isolated creatures, looking for our selfish ends, but we are a union of individuals constituted under a certain authority, which gives us a claim to the respect of God and man; for God has said, “Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”—Matt. xviii. 20. The formula of consecration of a Christian family has been given us by the Sovereign Pontiff himself; rules, regulations, and by-laws have been given to this society under the same authority of the Holy Father. The whole Christian family should be so united among themselves, that there be but one family under one head, set over all to rule them by its supreme power. We belong to this Christian family of the Church; let us then unite for the common good of all.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Fourth Day.

The scope of the pious association of the Holy Family is that all Christian families be consecrated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, placing it before themselves for veneration and imitation; offering up every day before its image prayers in its honor, and practising in their lives the sublime virtues which the Holy Family offered for imitation to every grade of society. The rich will find a model before them, the learned and highly educated will know exactly what to do according to the dignity of their position, the working class, especially, will find here the guidance and friendship needed in their temptations and troubles. The Holy Family is a [pg 075] poor, working, humble family, as poor as the poorest, as laborious as the most hard-working, as humble as the most lowly.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Fifth Day.

The picture of the Holy Family should be in every household; it is a perpetual reminder, placed in tangible form, of our dear Lord, our blessed Lady, and our friend, St. Joseph, who were the members of the Holy Family. We often are interested in the pictures of great persons, and take delight in representations of angels and holy people. What is the secret of this inclination? Why, we can see those whom we wish to imitate, and grow to know their good and holy lives through their pictures. The Holy Father has approved one special picture which is to be the emblem of this association: Mary and Joseph, holding the youth Jesus between them by the hand. Jesus is not an infant, for this picture is to bring to mind the fact that His parents had to suffer care and anxiety in order to bring Him to this stage of boyhood, for which noble duty they were fitted by special providence and by special faithfulness.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Sixth Day.

“We have good hopes,” says the Holy Father, concluding his encyclical letter, “that all [pg 076] to whom the salvation of souls is committed, especially the bishops, will make themselves partners and sharers of our zeal in promoting this pious association. For those who recognize and deplore with us the change and corruption of Christian morals, the extinction of the love of religion and piety in families, and the passion for earthly goods, enkindled beyond measure, will desire exceedingly to apply suitable remedies for so many grievous evils. Since nothing can be more salutary and efficacious for Christian families than the example of the Holy Family, let care be taken that as many families as possible, especially those of the working classes, against which insidious forces are more strongly exercised, enroll themselves in this association. Let the association be on its guard, lest it swerve from its purpose, or change its spirit—rather let the practices of piety and the prayers which have been determined on to be preserved intact. May Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, thus besought within the family circle, be graciously present! May they foster charity, regulate morals, incite all that imitate them to virtue, and alleviate and render more bearable the hardships which oppress mankind!”

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Seventh Day.

A plenary indulgence after a sincere confession and a worthy communion, and praying for the intentions of His Holiness, may be gained by the members of the association on the following days: First, on the day of their entrance into the association, [pg 077] after they have recited the act of consecration. Second, on the day of a general meeting, when all go to communion in a body, and renew their promises. Third, on the feasts of the Nativity (Christmas), the Circumcision, Epiphany, Easter and Ascension. Fourth, on the feasts of the Blessed Virgin: Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Annunciation, Purification, Assumption. Fifth, also on the following days: feast of St. Joseph in March, Patronage of St. Joseph, Third Sunday after Easter, Espousal of the Blessed Virgin on the twenty-third of January. Sixth, on the feast of the Holy Family, and Seventh, at the hour of death.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Eighth Day.

Partial indulgences may be gained when visiting a church where the association is established, provided the members pray for the prosperity of Christendom, and for the intention of the Holy Father. Seven years and seven quarantines may be gained on the feasts of the Visitation, Presentation, and the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin. The same indulgences may be gained by the family in the reunion in prayer among themselves, if they pray before a picture of the Holy Family. The same also, whenever the members attend a public meeting of the association. Three hundred days' indulgence is granted as often as a member of the association recites, before a picture of the Holy Family, the prayer “O most loving Jesus,” etc., etc. The members [pg 078] may gain an indulgence of two hundred days when they make the salutation: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, enlighten us, aid us, save us. Amen.” One hundred days for every new member that is brought to the association, and sixty days for every good work done in honor of the Holy Family. All these indulgences are applicable to the souls in purgatory.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Ninth Day.

The Catholic Christian has the true faith which comes to him from Jesus Christ, the Founder of the true Church. He ought, then, to show by his conduct that his faith has made him better than so many others, who have not had the graces and advantages which came to him. In other words, it is not enough to believe the truths that God has revealed; it is not enough to belong to the true Church by the internal adhesion of the mind; it is indispensably necessary to manifest our faith in exterior works. Our faith should so have penetrated our whole being, that the profession of religion should show itself in all our actions. Faith without works is dead, and at the Last Judgment the almighty Judge will demand of us an account of all our actions, and then will He render to every one the merited reward or punishment. Let it be our aim in life to fill the days of our stay on earth with many good actions, the outcome of our faith, so that when we stand before the throne of God, we may have many glorious deeds to our credit.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Tenth Day.

A Christian considers his faith as a gift of heaven, a priceless treasure far surpassing any earthly wealth, because it raises man to a true knowledge of God and secures for him his eternal salvation. He rejects with horror the maxims of our modern infidels, who say, “One religion is as good as another”; “Hell is only a bugbear”; “The faith of the heart is enough for salvation,” and many others of the same nature. He rejects them because he knows that God is one, that the truth that comes from God is one, and that therefore faith must be one, and religion one. He knows that religion cannot be framed according to the whims of man, but only can come from the authority of God in His holy revelation. He will not associate with those who hold the above false doctrines; he will be an enemy of bad books, which teach errors of faith and which drag those who read them into the mire of immorality, and he will caution his friends against them.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Eleventh Day.

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ as a perfect society, with authority to make laws, with power to punish the guilty, and to expel rebellious subjects from her midst. This power was [pg 080] given to the Church by Christ when He said, “And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven.” It is clear that Christ intended His Church to be our guide in all our actions, as an authority to teach us what the revelation is concerning our future state. We should, therefore, be obedient and faithful children of the Church. We should be grateful to God, Who in His mercy has established certain fountains of grace, which are found in the Church, and are guarded by her. These fountains of grace are the sacraments, which point out the holy states of life, and the true manner of pleasing God. We should use the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist for the remedy of our faults, and the strength of our weakness.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twelfth Day.

Confession is the correction of our faults, and if we have sinned let us remember we have an advocate in heaven, to Whom we wish to return in the sincerity of our hearts. The Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ and communion the partaking of it.

We should not, therefore, be deterred from frequenting these sacraments by human considerations, or by the mockery of the people of this world. We should have these words of Christ deeply engraven in our hearts: “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you.”—John vi. 54. A devout Catholic is [pg 081] easily distinguished from the crowd of careless ones, when we see him humbly and frequently going to confession and to holy communion.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Thirteenth Day.

Be also reverent and devout in the house of God; not brought there by vain curiosity, or by fashion, but by unfeigned piety, rendering to God an external tribute of dependence and adoration. Look upon priests as the ambassadors of God, treat them with respect, listen to their teaching, and put it into practice. Reverence the bishops as divinely constituted guardians and teachers in the Church: especially the see of St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, the Father and teacher, in whom is intrusted the plentitude of power to rule the whole Catholic family. Reverence the infallible authority of the Pope, which guides you in matters of faith, in form of worship, and morality.

Accept with docility and obedience the decisions of the Holy See, and conform to them your opinions and thoughts. Do not follow the changeable and novel opinions of our infidel age.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Fourteenth Day.

The true Christian must not only profess the faith, but also the laws of Christ. He is [pg 082] anxious to observe them exactly and to observe them all, knowing that he is guilty of damnation who violates the law in one important point. This law bids us to love all men as fellow creatures, to love our relatives, our country, but above all, and before all, we must love God, the Author of our being, the great loving Father of heaven. The honor of God is the very first duty of man, who as a rational being knows God and His infinite goodness; we wish to serve Him as His subjects, render Him the homage due to His immensity, a worship which our infinite littleness renders to God. Never profane the word of God yourself, and prevent curses and oaths in others as far as possible. By acts of praise and benediction let us repair the offences against God when we cannot prevent them. At least pray for those who use the name of God in vain, and thus endeavor to ward off from them the eternal punishment due to that wicked practice.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Fifteenth Day.

Contribute your share towards the glorification of the name of God, by observing the Sundays and festivals of the Church. God has expressly reserved these days to Himself, and has pointed them out by the authority of the Church. In the Old and in the New Law, God has had days of rest and of religious practices; and for the observances of these He has promised publicly that there should be many rewards. Every good, God-fearing man will give a [pg 083] just tribute of respect to God, because God wills it, and because he is looking for some benefit from God. Abstain then from servile works on those days, no matter what temporal gains may be expected, and be careful that others, too, keep holy the Sabbath of the Lord, particularly those who are intrusted to your care and command. Do not have work done on Sunday, and allow none to be done about your premises.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Sixteenth Day.

Respect your parents, superiors, and masters, and all those who hold positions of trust towards you. They hold the authority of God, and he who despises them despises God Himself. Honor and respect those superiors as representatives of God, and obey them in all things that are not against His law; and so we come to that great second commandment, which is like unto the first: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” We should do unto others as we would wish that others should do unto us; that is, we should look upon one another as children of one great family, of which God is the heavenly Father. “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another,” not showing this love through politeness only, but through a real, downright feeling of interest in others, and without a selfish regard of our own interests. Try to perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy for your neighbor.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Seventeenth Day.

In all your intercourse with others respect their persons and property; do not look for unjust gains; be faithful to your bargains and contracts; never look to your own selfish interests solely. Never speak ill of anybody, nor circulate detractions, nor reveal secrets and defects that might lessen the esteem in which any one is held; excuse the faults of others, and find some excuse for the intention with which even an evil action is committed. We are all temples of the Holy Ghost, sanctified and ennobled by the blood of Christ. We are the dwellings of the Holy Trinity, called to a heavenly inheritance. Do not desecrate this sacred temple by impurity; guard against impure thoughts and immodest desires, flee from dangerous occasions. Avoid foolishly pursuing the luxuries and vanities of the world, improper company, and bad conversation. Do not enter theatres or places of amusement where your morals are endangered, and from which you carry nothing but pictures of immoral objects. Arm yourself most effectually against the approach of evil by the powerful shield of prayer, and walk in the presence of God.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Eighteenth Day.

So far we have considered the law of God practically interpreted in our every-day life; let us [pg 085] go still further and endeavor to learn the laws of the Church, for the Lord has said: “He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me,” and “If he will not hear the Church let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.” On Sundays and holydays of obligation, we ought to hear Mass. We should observe the feasts of the Church and the restriction from flesh meat on Fridays and other days of abstinence. Remember that these little acts of mortification are a great benefit to us, since the Lord has commanded, “That we should bring forth fruits worthy of penance.” Make your Easter duty, for the Church has laid down the law that you should fulfil those duties, not from routine or human respect, but with the knowledge of the needs of your soul.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Nineteenth Day.

What an exalted opinion we should have of Christian piety! It inspires the Christian man and woman with lofty ideas, and prepares them for noble undertakings. These lessons of piety should be planted early in the hearts of the young, that they may take root and grow up to a magnificent fruit of mature virtue. Serve God as a loving and dutiful child, cherish a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and have recourse to her in all your wants, being sure that all your petitions will meet with a ready and hearty response. Never forget these three truths, which should be the main considerations of [pg 086] the true Christian on every occasion: First, That sin is the only evil which should be feared; Second, The grace of God is the real good for which we should strive with all our heart; Third, The salvation of the soul is the all-important business of our lives, for which we were created, and which should be looked after with that care which it deserves.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twentieth Day.

The husband, as head of the family, owes to his wife fidelity, love, and support. Fidelity is that constancy of affection which he has promised at his marriage, and which must be preserved inviolable until death; it means that purity of soul and body which will not permit itself to be degraded by impurity and adultery. Conjugal fidelity is a great and holy duty, in which matrimony is held sacred. There you find peace, happiness, and the blessing of almighty God. Our Lord was very stringent upon this point, for He says: “Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.”—Matt. v. 28. Whosoever then commits adultery transgresses a most important divine commandment. In the Old Law this crime was punished by stoning the guilty person to death, and in the primitive Church by a severe public penance of many years' duration. What fidelity does not the husband demand of the wife! With the same strictness is he obliged to be faithful to her whom he has chosen as his life companion.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-first Day.

The second duty of the husband and wife is conjugal love. The word conjugal means joined together, because husband and wife are united to bear the same burden. The Apostle says: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it.”—Ephes. v. 25. Husband and wife are individuals whom God has joined in inseparable companionship. The greatest bond between mankind, and the sweetest one, is conjugal love, of which we are thinking on this day consecrated to the Holy Family. Keep this great duty before your eyes and never forget it, for it is easily destroyed. It is from that love, too, that should spring your children, who are to grow up to take your place in the Church and the State. These children you are to bring up in the fear and love of God, faithful to the Church and their fatherland. A tremendous responsibility!

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-second Day.

The husband is the main worker in the family, so that his duty is to provide for his family by his industry and economy. He must look for employment [pg 088] and strive to keep it, so as to have a never-failing source of income, by which his people may live in comparative comfort. There are husbands who will allow their wives and children to work, while they themselves live idle lives, which is the fashion of the untutored Indian. Not only must the husband work, but he must live in economy, and not throw his money away foolishly in gaming or in drunkenness. The most frequent cause of a husband and father's failure to provide for his family is drunkenness. Drunkenness causes woe, sin, sorrow and shame. Drunkenness besots the mind, and makes of an intelligent being a brute in his passions, and a fool in his actions; it extinguishes the spirit of God in him, all sentiments of religion are lost, the Church of God is despised and disgraced. Drunkenness does as much harm as the greatest vices, bringing ruin with it whenever indulged in.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-third Day.

The husband has to share the care of the children and he should look after the instruction of the child. Children are a great treasure, worth more than all the wealth of the world. The Lord said of them to the apostles: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” And why is the Lord so anxious for the welfare of the innocent child? Because it is a weak human being, unable to help itself, [pg 089] destined for heaven, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and a temple of the Holy Ghost, more fitted to be such on account of the purity of its soul. Now the care of this child is given to the father and the mother, under whose care it is to grow up a true Christian, an exemplary member of the Church of God; to live on until it has fulfilled its days and the duties of its state of life, when, like yourself, having come to the fulness of maturity, it is gathered in to render an account of its life work to almighty God. The success of the child's life depends chiefly on the manner in which its parents fulfil their duty.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-fourth Day.

In what special duties are you to instruct your children? First of all, let the young children learn early to pray, make them think of God, speak to them of His love for mankind, teach them to adore Him, because He has created them, to thank Him for all His benefits which flow to them so abundantly, to ask Him with confidence for all the graces that they need. Correct the children for their faults: Lying, stealing, cursing, stubbornness, disobedience, fighting, and cruelty. Have an eye very early on their morals, for little children learn to do wicked things, by which they lose the love and grace of God. Be not a tyrant, but a sensible, religious father or mother, and see to it that the children are free from these vices. Give them no bad example, [pg 090] especially by using profanity, or by getting intoxicated. All this presupposes perpetual vigilance; remember you will have to render a strict account of these things before God.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-fifth Day.

Having considered the husband's duties, we must now look at the duty of a wife. The Scriptures say of the wife: “A good wife is a good portion; she shall be given in the portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds.”—Eccles. xxvi. 3. There is nothing in the whole world more precious than a good wife. “A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.”—Prov. xiv. 1. A wife must love her husband, and she owes him the most scrupulous fidelity; if the first duty of the husband is to love his wife, so also is there a corresponding duty to return that love. She must be patient with him when he comes home murmuring against his fate; she must make the home agreeable to him by cleanliness and cheerfulness. She must bear the burdens of this life with her husband, and encourage him, that he may not be despondent. The wife must be sober, not given to scolding and fault-finding. “Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord; because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church.”—Ephes. v. 22.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-sixth Day.

The conscientious observance of the marriage vows is to be a supreme law to the wife. Purity must be the virtue principally looked to in marriage, according to the laws of the Sacrament of Matrimony; the wife's motto must be that of Susanna of old, who said: “I will rather die than sin before God.” The wife owes her husband a compliance at least to his wishes; not exactly an abject obedience, but that the husband and wife consult with each other, and that she comply in all lawful and sensible things. This subjection is founded on the Scriptures. God Himself said to Eve, “Thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee” (Gen. iii. 16), and St. Paul declares, “Let women be subject to their husbands as to the Lord.”—Ephes. v. 22. The loving, true, and obedient wife exerts an unbounded influence for good over her husband. She will make him great in the eyes of men, she will make him respectable and presentable in society; in short, she will make the married life a truly happy one from beginning to end.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-seventh Day.

The wife has a sublime calling to be a mother. What is more beautiful than motherhood? [pg 092] what is more useful to the new-born humanity than the mother? All the world recognizes her dignity, and respects her. A Christian mother will consider the child a gift from God, which though given to her, still belongs to God; hers is the first care of the newly-born infant, her care and love will not relax for all time to come. She is always the mother. Have the child presented for Baptism at the very earliest moment; if it be in danger of death see that it receives private baptism. Then start out in patience and kindness to rear it, giving it a secular but above all a religious training, as the child must be prepared to take its place as a good member of society and of the Church. Hence prayers must be taught, and care must be taken that they are recited with piety and regularity; the dogmas of the Church must be impressed on the child. At home it has to learn all that pertains to the spiritual life of the holy Roman Catholic Church, of which it is a member. Secular learning must be imparted, too, as much as possible in schools belonging to the Church, so that the very best education may be secured for the child.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-eighth Day.

The mother must watch over the children, and be very careful of the company they keep. She must see that prayers are said morning and night, before and after meals, that they go regularly to church on Sundays, and to school every day. When they are able to go to work, give them an occupation [pg 093] so that they will not be idle. Keep a vigilant eye on your grown-up sons and daughters. They are forming acquaintances which perhaps are not good for them; their associations may not be the best. Unrestricted, unobserved meetings should not be allowed, for they excite the passions. When the time of their marriage comes, pray to almighty God that they may find such partners as will be a help to them for the rest of their lives, and lead them on in sanctity to their eternal salvation. As you have been a good mother to your children, they will respect your memory, will pray for you when you are gone, and will imitate your virtues. The memory of a good mother lives forever.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Twenty-ninth Day.

The principal feast during the month of February is the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, or Candlemas. On that day Mary goes to the Temple, because the days of her purification are over. For forty days she was excluded from the Temple as being impure. Mary, as we know, was holy and good, and did not need to subject herself to the Law of Moses; but she was obedient and permitted herself to be regarded as an ordinary woman. There in the Temple she presented her first-born Son to God. He belongs to God already, He is God; He is the victim by whose atonement a permanent reconciliation is effected between God and man. The gates of heaven are opened, and the places made vacant by the fall of the angels are to be filled. [pg 094] Mary brings with her the offering of the poor, a pair of turtle-doves as a ransom. God has accepted the sacrifice of His divine Son, made for Him by His holy Mother. O holy Virgin! do thou also make propitiation to the Father for us poor sinners, that we may be acceptable to God, may belong to God, and may spend our lives in His service.

Prayer.

O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.

Litany of the Holy Family.

(For Private Devotion Only.)

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, 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.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Have mercy on us.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, worthy subjects of our reverence and love, We all have recourse to you.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, by the voice of the ages called the Holy Family, We all have recourse to you.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, names forever blessed, of the father, the Mother, and the Child, who compose the Holy Family, We all have recourse to you.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pure husband, pure spouse, and divine Child, restorers of the family, degraded before Christianity, We all have recourse to you.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, image of the august Trinity on earth, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, whose chaste union was prepared for by an innocent and virtuous youth, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, tried by great contradictions, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, afflicted in the journey to Bethlehem, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, repulsed by all, and forced to take refuge in a stable, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, greeted by the concert of angels, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, visited by the poor shepherds, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, extolled by holy Simeon, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, persecuted and exiled to a strange land, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, hidden and unknown at Nazareth, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, faithful to the law of God, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, model of the Christian family, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, in which reign peace and concord, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, whose head is a model of paternal vigilance, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, whose spouse is a model of maternal solicitude, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, whose Child is a model of obedience and filial piety, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, who led a poor, laborious, and penitent life, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, who earned your bread by the sweat of your brow, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, poor in goods of the earth, but rich in goods of heaven, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, despised by men, but great in God's eyes, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, our support during life and our hope at the hour of our death, We all have recourse to you.

Holy Family, patron and protector of our associates, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, We all have recourse to you.

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!

Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let Us Pray.

O God of goodness and mercy, Who hast vouchsafed to call us to this pious association of the Holy Family, grant us the grace always to honor and imitate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; [pg 096] that having pleased them on earth we may enjoy their company forever in heaven. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Memorare To Mary.

Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary! that no one ever had recourse to thy protection, implored thy aid, or sought thy mediation without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in thy goodness and mercy, we cast ourselves at thy sacred feet, and do most humbly supplicate thee, O Mother of the Eternal Word! to adopt us as thy children and to take upon thyself the care of our salvation. O let it not be said, our dearest Mother, that we have perished, where no one ever found but mercy, grace, and salvation. Amen.

Form Of Renewing The Baptismal Vows.

Humbly prostrate before Thee, O my God! and before the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I return my grateful thanks for the inestimable benefit bestowed upon me, of being born and educated in the Catholic Church, of which I was made a child by Baptism. I thus received a right to the graces which Jesus Christ dispenses through the sacraments, the happiness of being admitted into the number of the children of the true faith, and the hope of one day entering paradise. I come to renew and ratify the promises made at my Baptism. Yes, O my God! I desire to belong entirely to Thee, to serve Thee all my life, and strive always for the end for which I was created. Therefore I renounce Satan and all his works, sin and its occasions. I renounce [pg 097] the world, its maxims and vanities. I renounce the flesh and its concupiscences, all irregular desires, and whatever may be displeasing to Thee. I renounce human respect, which for so long kept me from Thee. Formerly I feared the world and its ridicule, now I have but one fear, that of forgetting my religious duties. I will henceforth faithfully perform them, I will live according to the precepts and maxims of Jesus Christ, I will be a good Christian. O Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! make me more and more worthy of the name. Through the help of your powerful protection, may I be a respectful child of God, submissive to the Church, faithful to my duties, that I may one day have the happiness of thanking and glorifying you in the heavenly country. I am resolved to live according to the precepts and maxims of Jesus Christ; yes, I desire to live a good Christian life, that I may die the death of the elect. I promise to remain faithful to my obligations as an associate of the Holy Family, and hope to persevere until death. And at that moment what happiness it will be for me to pass from the arms of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on earth, to the arms of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in heaven, for all eternity. This is my hope. Amen.

An indulgence of forty days.

Act Of Consecration.

O Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I, N. N., in sight of the whole celestial court, choose you this day for my patrons and protectors. I offer, and solemnly consecrate to you in this association, my body and soul, all I have and all I am. I promise to live as a [pg 098] good Christian, that I may die the death of the predestined. What happiness for me to pass one day from the arms of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on earth, to the arms of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in heaven, for all eternity. This is my hope. Amen.

March. St. Joseph.

We can easily imagine that the foster-father of the Infant Jesus must have been a great man in the eyes of God. His duties were very important; they called for such a self-sacrificing character. We wish to imitate his virtues this month; we wish to praise almighty God for all the distinctions which He has showered upon St. Joseph; we want to belong to St. Joseph, to be associated with him in heaven, and even now while we are still on earth, for prayer associates us here with those whom we address above. The saints hear our prayers by God's favor, and they reply at once. We need many things, and so we are going to pray to St. Joseph, especially during this month, for whatever we want. Go confidently and make out a list of your necessities, write them down, and look over them occasionally to see whether your petitions have been granted.

St. Joseph is all-powerful before God; whatever we ask of him we are sure to obtain; this has been the experience of many good Christians; it will also be your experience if you sincerely try it.

St. Joseph sanctified labor, poverty, and privations, by bearing them with patience, humility, and resignation to the will of God. We have many trials in life to endure, we have need of these virtues; let us look to it that we acquire them for our own spiritual comfort. Let us bear with patience all these trials; patience makes things bearable, for without this virtue we would sink in despair.

The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on the nineteenth of March, and for this reason the month of March is dedicated to honor, venerate, and pray to this great friend of God. The Church has in various ways encouraged this devotion. Her devout children have taken it up, so that we find the month of March as much dedicated to St. Joseph as the month of May to the Blessed Virgin. Catholics hold St. Joseph in high veneration, [pg 100] and deservedly so, as we will see in the following meditations on his life. They have great confidence in his power before God, they know that he is a great saint, and a great favorite with the Almighty. Many examples of virtue has this loved saint given to us: his love of poverty, his assiduous labors, his resignation to the will of God in the most trying circumstances, are practical virtues, which we may endeavor to acquire for our own spiritual as well as temporal welfare. The affairs of human life are such, that we often find ourselves having to sustain hard trials, in which we need precisely those same virtues which made him a great saint.

Let us then enter upon this month with great joy, and continue to honor this saint, that we may love him, and become particularly devoted to him. Let us pray especially for our eternal salvation, in which he is greatly interested being the patron of a happy death, and then we will be sharers, after this life, in the same glory which he enjoys in heaven.

Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.

First Day.

After the adoration of the Lord, and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin, next in order of importance comes the devotion to St. Joseph. Among all the saints of God in heaven, there is none more powerful, none has more claim on our confidence and love. Almighty God encourages us to look up to St. Joseph, for to him were intrusted the greatest treasures that the world ever saw, Jesus and Mary. Our Lord from the first moment recognized St. Joseph as the one who took the place of His heavenly Father, and He obeyed him in all things. Mary respected this saintly man as the head of the family, as her spouse whom God had sent to her for her protection. She, before whom the angels bowed in respect, willingly served St. Joseph in the necessities [pg 101] of this life. The Church of God, the custodian of truth, revelation, and tradition, has encouraged this devotion by many indulgences. St. Francis de Sales said to his confessor on the eve of his death: “Do you not know, venerable father, that I belong to St. Joseph?” St. Teresa called him her father and master.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, be mindful of me, pray for me, watch over me. Guardian of the paradise of the new Adam, provide for my temporal wants. Faithful guardian of the most precious of all treasures, I beseech thee to bring this matter to a happy end, if it be for the glory of God and the good of my soul. Amen.

Second Day.

The devotion to St. Joseph, when well understood and faithfully practised, is undoubtedly a great means of increasing piety. We know well that we honor the saints most by imitating their virtues, therefore we will endeavor to acquire these virtues which most distinguished our saint, and the chief virtue of St. Joseph was piety. We will learn to love Jesus tenderly; to do all our actions with the intention of pleasing Him, to remain faithful to the teachings of the Church; all this is piety. The whole life of St. Joseph was a life of poverty, humility, retirement, recollection and prayer. When the Egyptian people were starving, and clamoring for food, Pharao said to them, “Go to Joseph,” who had gathered [pg 102] the superfluous grain of seven abundant years, and kept the keys of the granaries in his possession. So now, also, can we say confidently, “Go to Joseph,” who holds the keys of the graces and blessings of God. We need never fear the poverty which may stare us in the face, knowing that all our needs will be supplied by him.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Third Day.

When Mary was chosen to be Mother of God, the old judgment of God was re-echoed: “It is not good for man to be alone.” God gave her a chaste spouse. The honor of the Son of God required that He should be born of a virgin, but He needed a man to protect Him and His Mother. A man worthy of this trust had to be chosen, and such a one was found in the person of St. Joseph. He was a man of angelic purity and he would guard the purity of his bride. He was to be the reputed father of Jesus before the Jews, lest Mary be stoned for having broken her marriage vows; his purity was to be in every way similar to that of the purest of virgins. All those who were immediately connected with the great work of our salvation, were to be pure and spotless, their sanctity was to be unquestioned. It was the will of God that the divine origin of His adorable Son should be hid from human eyes, and Joseph was chosen to become the cloak with which this mystery was enshrouded. Only in the secrecy of his family life did he manifest his adoration of the [pg 103] “Word made flesh,” and there, as in a sanctuary, he adored his Lord and Saviour.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Fourth Day.

Joseph is that wise and provident servant, who was set over his family to distribute to it the necessary food at stated times. He is the visible physical means which God employed for the work of the salvation of mankind. God chooses, it is true, humble instruments to accomplish His holy designs, but at the same time He furnishes them with suitable graces, that His work may be gloriously and effectively performed. Such a servant was chosen by God in the person of St. Joseph, who was a humble and saintly man. To him He gave His graces, for He refuses them to the proud. We too ought to be disinterested and humble in the service of God, using our natural talents to the fullest extent because they belong to God, and have been given to us for the special purpose of performing the duties of our vocation in this world. Disinterestedness and humility are the great sources from which all good proceeds.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Fifth Day.

All the saints were filled with the spirit of the Lord, and in consequence they esteemed the [pg 104] virtue of humility as the foundation of perfection. St. Bernard considered this virtue as the corner-stone of the edifice of faith; the perfection of Christian virtues; the tower of safety, into which the soul could retire before the insidious attacks of Satan. And St. Ambrose calls this virtue the first one, and the source of all other virtues—all other virtues must be combined with humility to give them value. To no other virtue does God give so many graces. Just because St. Joseph thought nothing of himself, and lowered himself in the eyes of others, did Jesus select him as His foster-father. This great virtue of humility appears in all the circumstances of his life. Though of the royal house of David, still he did not disdain to labor at the humble trade of a carpenter. He was perfectly resigned to the providence of God; God's will was his will, and he never repined at the trials God sent him.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Sixth Day.

Joseph consented to become the spouse of the Blessed Virgin, because he knew he could preserve the chastity which he had vowed to keep, and because he could be the guardian of the virginity of Mary. Little did he suspect that he was to become the spouse of the Mother of God. St. Bridget had a vision, in which the sentiments of St. Joseph were made known to her by the Blessed Virgin herself. She said: “When Joseph, who was given to me by the Most High as my protector, knew of the mystery of [pg 105] the incarnation, which was operated in me by the power of the Holy Ghost, he was filled with astonishment, and conceived not the least suspicion against my purity. He believed firmly in the prophecies which proclaimed that the Son of God would be born of a Virgin, and therefore he considered himself unworthy to serve such an exalted Mother.” St. Joseph learned the virtue of humility still more profoundly in his association with Jesus and Mary, for how could it be otherwise when he hourly observed their self-abnegation? Daily did he see the Mother of God engaged in the most lowly services.

Prayer.

Holy Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Seventh Day.

What must have been the feelings of the holy patriarch in witnessing the humiliation of the Son of God! What must have been his astonishment, when the divine wisdom of the Child Jesus asked him his counsel, obeyed him in all things, and was for many years his fellow-laborer at his humble trade! The Lord taught him the great lesson: to be meek and humble of heart. Surely we may suppose that St. Joseph was in a constant ecstasy of adoration as he contemplated the Son of God, lowered to the condition of a helpless child, and afterwards by natural growth becoming a man and laboring at such humble employment. How could he have within himself one spark of pride or vanity in the knowledge that he was a descendant of King David? Therefore he humbled himself all the [pg 106] more, and only considered himself great in the thought that he was allowed to imitate the humiliation of the Son of God. Let us learn from St. Joseph the value of this virtue, and practise it all our lives. Let us often enter the Sacred Heart of Jesus to learn from Him meekness and humility.

Prayer For Humility.

Glorious patron, St. Joseph, let me understand the deep feeling with which thou didst witness the humble lives of Jesus and Mary. How far am I from being able to say that I have acquired this virtue! Thou seekest only to hide from the gaze of the world the divine gifts with which thou art enriched, whilst I seek to draw the attention of the world on myself, to shine before the world, and to be much thought of. O my loving protector, my patron, my father, obtain for me the virtue of humility, which is the foundation of all perfection. Obtain for me the great grace to know myself, to despise myself, to look for humiliations from others, to feel inferior to all, that in the future I may desire no other witness of my actions but God, and no other reward but God. Amen.

Eighth Day.

When God had created Adam, and made him strong and intelligent, He found that one great thing was wanting. Adam needed a companion; he could not content himself in all the superabundance that was around him. Then God took a rib out of the first man, and built a woman upon it. The same thing seems true in the case of the [pg 107] Blessed Virgin. She was all alone in the spiritual order among men. She was endowed with many graces, yet in all her abundance she would be desolate, only God said, let us make her a companion like unto herself, one who would also be the favorite creature of God, and would be the recipient of many extraordinary graces. He therefore chose a great saint, and gave him special gifts. A prince of this world does the same thing when he desires to make a lowly subject his companion; he first makes him a noble, then enriches him with much wealth in order that the favorite may make a good appearance before the world. God united in St. Joseph all the virtues and graces of the other saints, that he might be greater than they. From all eternity it had been ordained that St. Joseph was to be the foster-father of Jesus.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Ninth Day.

Great must have been the terror of Mary when the angel of God appeared to her, and announced that she was to be the Mother of God. She was troubled, but the angel encouraged her, saying, “Fear not, Mary.” The angel announced the incarnation to St. Joseph, and he was greatly troubled; the angel assured him, “Fear not, Joseph, Son of David.” Mary gave life to the Lord and brought Him up. Joseph, on his part, labored day and night to scrape together what was necessary for their existence. Both Mary and Joseph were equally, according [pg 108] to their position, contributing to the rearing of Jesus. Like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, St. Joseph is powerful with her divine Son. St. Joseph is called, by the Holy Ghost, a just man. He was the first to be exposed to the persecutions of the Jews for the Lord. In all things then, is Joseph like unto Mary; similar also are his virtues, and like also his eternal reward.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Tenth Day.

We may trace other phases of similarity between the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph. Mary is the Queen of angels, high above them, because she is the Mother of the Creator; she is then all-powerful, and she can use these heavenly spirits for the glory of God. St. Joseph is not inferior to the angels in purity; his mind was always careful to guard against any pollution; he was a guardian angel to Jesus, Our Lord. This office made him a great being in the sight of Jesus Himself, for He acknowledged His guardian angel and was on the most intimate terms with him. St. Joseph served Our Lord as a throne. The choir of thrones are the angels on whom God is carried about in majesty, and Jesus was carried about in the arms of St. Joseph. The seraphims, in a certain degree, were inferior to St. Joseph. The angels have no paternity, but St. Joseph is called the father of Jesus. The angels could then bow down before St. Joseph, and acknowledge and call him their superior, because he had received a commission which no angel had ever [pg 109] yet received, and because he had a name which had never been given to any of these holy choirs.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Eleventh Day.

It was the privilege of the father to give a name to the child, and this privilege St. Joseph exercised at the circumcision of the Lord. It was he too who usually performed the painful operation of the circumcision. Thus it was that St. Joseph shed the first drops of the adorable blood which was to redeem mankind. The name of Jesus had been predestined for the Saviour, and given by God Himself; but Joseph, the father on earth, was commissioned to declare it publicly. O great saint! you cannot give to this divine Child a greater dignity than He possesses, for He is your Creator and Lord; but you do the next greatest thing, you give him a name which publishes Him to the world in His character of Redeemer—this great honor is reserved for you. Holy name of Jesus, the greatest of all names, before the mention of which all heaven and earth shall bow their knees in adoration, be to me a source of heavenly joy, and a consolation in all the trials of life.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twelfth Day.

Joseph, no doubt, understood all the importance and meaning of the name of Jesus. He therefore [pg 110] knew all the obligations which this holy name imposed on the divine Child, as well as the obligations which it imposed on himself. He understood that Jesus must be the man of sorrows and derision, and that he must share His destiny. St. Joseph always had the image of the crucified Lord before his eyes. If the faith of the great Apostle of the world was such that he carried the image of the crucified Redeemer always before his eyes, much the more can this be said of our saint, for he had Jesus always with him. When he embraced His sacred head, he had before him that head crowned with thorns, and bowed on His breast in His last agony; he could see that little body covered with wounds from the scourging. God treated St. Joseph as His most intimate friend, and filled him with His share of sorrow. Do we wish to enter into the glory of the Lord, then we, too, must suffer patiently. The closer we follow the Lord, the more intimate we are with Him, the more we will look for sufferings, and love them because they make us resemble the Lord more closely.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Thirteenth Day.

St. Joseph was a man of faith. We read in St. Paul, “the just man lives by faith.” It is the foundation of sanctity, it is the fountain of our spiritual life. All the works of St. Joseph were done in a spirit of faith. Were it not for this spirit of faith, he would never have consented to become the spouse of the Blessed Virgin, for he desired to preserve [pg 111] his own chastity; and the spirit of faith taught him how he might do this. When he had entered upon his duties as spouse, he noticed that the Virgin was with child, and he fell into deep sorrow and concern, until an angel appeared, dispelling all his doubts: “Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife: for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost; and she shall bring forth a Son: and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He will save His people from their sins.”—Matt. i. 20, 21. The spirit of faith made him believe in these words, whether he understood them or not. He subjected his will to the manner in which God wished to redeem mankind, and he was forever afterwards without solicitude.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Fourteenth Day.

Then came a new trial to the faith of St. Joseph. In due course of time the Lord was born, a little helpless Child, in the humble stable at Bethlehem: where He was wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid on a little straw in a manger. Joseph became the first adorer, after the Blessed Virgin. But it required great faith to recognize in this weak Infant the Son of the most high God; still the grace of God sustained him, and he humbly adored. The angel had promised a wonderful Child. He was to be a powerful being, Who would conquer the demons of hell, and free the people of Israel. Now Joseph beholds a small, weak Infant, beginning life in [pg 112] poverty and distress. Far from being a powerful creature He even needs the help of Mary and Joseph. St. Joseph carried the Child in his arms, and yet at the same time acknowledged that the same Child in heaven was carried about on the shoulders of the holiest angels, and governed the universe with His will. He heard the wailings of the Child, but knew that He was the joy of paradise. He taught Him the praises of His heavenly Father, knowing at the same time that He was eternal wisdom.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Fifteenth Day.

Joseph is eminently the just man who lives by faith. No sooner is the Child Jesus born, than, as if an unforeseen accident had happened, which made it necessary to fly, as if there were no God to protect that Babe, an angel appeared to Joseph in his sleep, and bids him arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and fly into the land of Egypt. The enemies of the Child will be on your heels, and all depends on your rapid flight, to save Him from their hands. “Fly into Egypt,” a far-off foreign country. He gets up, and hastily gathering the few necessary articles, makes off in the dead of night, so that the people of Bethlehem may not know where he has gone. But Joseph performs his duty in a spirit of faith: he does not doubt the omnipotence of God. He feels that such is the command of God, and he makes no objections, but goes with alacrity into the poverty and suffering which he knows are inevitable.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Sixteenth Day.

Joseph remained in Egypt until the time of Herod's death. The angel again appears to him, and bids him return to Judea, as if the divine Infant were not sure of His life until His enemies had disappeared. What frailty, what meekness in this little Child! Can this be a God? Without the least hesitation, Joseph treats the Child with the same reverence, and adores Him, as if he had seen Him working miracles. Never was such a faith found in Israel. Nowadays we could not find such a faith. “From a want of this noble faith,” St. Teresa says, “the world is full of sin.” Ask St. Joseph to obtain for us a faith similar to his. Faith is a gift and a virtue. By this gift our intellect is enlightened, we know God, and confide in Him. By the virtue of faith we use this light, and let it shine on all our actions. Let us not be satisfied to bow down our intellect under the influence of the great grace of the gift of faith; we should regulate all the actions of our life according to the dictates and laws of this faith, and live according to it. St. Joseph can obtain such graces for us, if we pray to him.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Seventeenth Day.

St. Joseph possesses another great virtue: it is his obedience. From his childhood he observed [pg 114] with conscientious exactitude all the laws of God. Without a murmur he accompanied Mary to Bethlehem in a severe time of the year, and with Mary so soon to give birth to the Child Jesus, to fulfil the command of a heathen prince. When the command was given to take up the Child and flee into Egypt, he was ready. But one word is necessary: he does not consider any plans for flight, but executes the command without a moment's delay. In many cases he could have alleged causes of inconvenience, or of his not understanding how it could be accomplished; he might have asked the angel for an explanation, saying, how comes it that a few days ago you announced that this Jesus is to be the Redeemer of His people, and now He is to fly before His enemies? He will not be able to free His people afterwards, when now He cannot hold His ground. But he subjected his reason to his faith, and obeyed.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Eighteenth Day.

Through our faith God leads us to the knowledge of His goodness and His promises, that so the desire and hope of enjoying God may be born in us. St. Joseph's faith and knowledge of God effected in him a great confidence; he had been peculiarly confirmed in hope. It is a fact that our confidence in God grows with grace when our hope is strengthened by the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, and when we have great devotion and love for the Blessed Virgin; so we must certainly conclude that Joseph's love of Jesus, [pg 115] Whom he daily carried in his arms, should lay a greater foundation of hope than that of any of the saints. The flight into Egypt is an example of it. His confidence in the providence of God is so implicit that he makes no preparation. There is Jesus, the Son of God, Who is to go with Him; there is Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, who is to be of the party. These are the two strongest pillars of our hope, and why not to the hope of St. Joseph? God the Father will provide. Is He not the God Who, with a strong arm, led the Israelites out of Egypt, and, after forty years of wandering, introduced them according to promise into the land flowing with milk and honey?

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Nineteenth Day.

In Joseph's flight into Egypt, he knew that Jesus was a more powerful protector of a perilous journey than the Ark of the Covenant which was carried before the tribes of Israel, or the column of smoke that led them during the day and the pillar of fire that protected them at night. He would be the manna, the inexhaustible food, in a desert and strange land. Accompanied by this treasure, St. Joseph is content to suffer for Jesus, and under the eyes of Jesus. We can imagine the sympathy of Joseph for his charge, when he relieved the Blessed Virgin of her burden, and had Him to rest on his bosom. Good and faithful Christian, in all the trials of life keep Jesus close to your heart, and when the world storms and frets, be faithful to your promises made in Baptism, and [pg 116] often repeated during your Christian life by receiving the sacraments.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twentieth Day.

The providence of God knows what our destiny is, and what is the best for us. Then let us be resigned to His will. All our anxieties would disappear if we were thoroughly convinced of the goodness of God in our behalf; but because we want to do everything without God, not only do we feel anxiety for the future, but disaster will really overtake us. Let us trust in Providence and give Him entire control of all that concerns us. In all our necessities let us pray and wait, until it is God's pleasure to step in, and do away with our troubles, if it be to His greater glory; or if not, then let us patiently bear them. We know that Providence so watches over us, that not a hair falls from our head without His approval. God has His reasons for all that He does, and for all the evil that He permits, though we may not be able to see them. In this way the Christian soul sleeps softly and peacefully in the arms of God, as a child in the arms of its mother. As David, the prophet king, sang in his psalms: “I will sleep and rest in peace because Thou, O Lord, hast founded my hope on Thy providence. Thy mercy shall accompany me all the days of my life.”

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-first Day.

Joseph lived in Egypt for eight years, among a pagan people, without repining, without being distressed at the prolonged stay, an exile from his own country and relatives. There, far from the sacred Temple of God, he remained in seclusion, serving God in his soul. Who can tell the suffering he underwent among the barbarians, amid their shocking practises of religion, which were abhorrent to him who was so closely united to God? Good people are in the same condition in the wickedness of the world: it is a cross to them. But crosses are to be met with everywhere; you cannot escape. If you get rid of one cross, another is waiting for you, and perhaps a far heavier one; but your consolation should be the knowledge that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph endured the same sufferings. Joseph lived in the Holy Family with the greatest recollection. This should also be the case with those who live in the world, that fiery oven of the trials of God; they should sing the praises of God in the very midst of distractions, and be perfectly recollected, serving God without being led away from the path of duty.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-second Day.

So greatly did Jesus love poverty, that, not finding it in heaven, He came upon the earth to practise it. All those principally associated with Our [pg 118] Lord in the salvation of mankind were obliged to endure poverty. Since the Lord loved poverty so much, St. Joseph, too, had to practise this virtue. Even before St. Joseph was selected to become the foster-father of Our Lord, he was poor according to the will of God, but afterwards he learned the virtue still more from the example of Our Lord. If one single sentence that he had heard from the Gospel, induced St. Antony, abbot and patriarch of monks, to give all his wealth to the poor, how much more did the example of Our Lord act effectively on Joseph, so that he renounced all expectation of worldly advancement. Often in their communing with each other, the question of their destitution must have been the topic; but it was not to find ways and means to avoid it; on the contrary that they should be patient in the trial. Joseph possessed nothing; hence he witnessed the Lord in His poverty laid in a manger after His birth. At the presentation he could make no other offering but that of very poor people, a pair of pigeons which could be bought for very little money. He also had to undergo many hardships on his journey to Egypt.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-third Day.

In Egypt, so tradition has it, Joseph had to labor for others in order to bring in the means of a livelihood for himself and the Holy Family. Even then their income was by no means superfluous, and according to St. Liguori they often had to suffer [pg 119] actual want. In this manner Joseph spent eight years in Egypt. When he was recalled by the voice of the angel, he settled in Nazareth; though his circumstances there were probably better, they were by no means luxurious. Bossuet says: “Imagine a poor laborer, who had no other fortune than the labor of his willing hands, no other means of subsistence but his work. Every day he saw the end of his provision, and he had to begin again on the following day, like our poor working people. Still he was rich in contentment; he had enough, because he had nothing which might be coveted by others; he possessed all because he stood in need of everything; he was happy, quiet, secure, although he had no place whereon to rest his head. He was continually constrained to labor with the sweat of his brow. He divided all his income with Jesus and Mary. Was it not a consolation for him to do this? even according to our weak reason, guided by religion.”

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-fourth Day.

When we have contemplated the willing poverty of Joseph, the thought naturally comes to us to imitate him in the practise of this virtue. Poverty makes us like to the Lord. Our Lord walks before us with giant strides in the practise of this virtue. The rich, burdened with the goods of this world, can hardly follow Him. Let us consider that, after all, our happiness is not to be found in the possession of wealth. He is happy, according to St. [pg 120] Augustine, who possesses what he wants, and who wants nothing beyond what God has sent him. The rich are frequently unhappy, because they are carried along to desire the things which they cannot reach. Not only is poverty a source of virtue and of peace; but also it is a means by which we can make progress in our perfection. For as avarice is the source of all evils, so also poverty is the power by which all our vices are corrected, and held in check. This virtue watches over humility: a virtue so very necessary to our perfection, and it preserves chastity by reason of the mortification of our senses.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-fifth Day.

The interior life of the Holy Family in Nazareth must have been a most beautiful one. They were joined so closely to God, that there was no earthly distraction which could separate them from contemplating and communing with Him. They formed a kind of trinity on earth, a representation of the Trinity in heaven. These three were one, because they were united by the bond of union, Jesus Christ. The people of Nazareth did not know the adorable person of the Lord, nor the dignity of the Mother of God. They knew Joseph by sight, for he had often gone out to look for work, and necessarily came more in contact with his neighbors. That holy house of Nazareth was a perfect paradise, full of peace, of order, recollection, unity, and happiness. Their conversation was about God and the best means to [pg 121] comply with His holy will. Joseph and Mary adored the Lord because He was God; but they exacted His obedience because He was their Son.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-sixth Day.

Let us think to-day, of the social life between Joseph and Mary. St. Joseph was a very great saint, and Mary was unstained by sin: so pure, so holy, that no created being could be compared to her. What can we suppose was the conversation of these heavenly beings? When Mary visited her cousin, St. Elizabeth, John, in his mother's womb, leaped for joy. In other words, the presence of the God-man in the womb of the Blessed Virgin scattered graces about her with god-like profusion, and certainly St. Joseph, too, was affected by it. With as lively a faith as we have before the tabernacle on the altar, St. Joseph must have recognized the presence of the Lord, for he was acquainted with the mystery of the incarnation, as it had been revealed by the mouth of the angel. We are silent, and sunk in deep devotion in church, where God dwells. Was St. Joseph less impressed than we, when he recognized Him Who was the Son of God, and Who was to redeem His people Israel from their sins? How great was their devotion to the hidden Lord, how fervent their prayers! Still St. Joseph was the master in that house; he was the head of the family, and was obeyed in all his instructions.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-seventh Day.

Joseph was obedient to the Law of Moses; scrupulously exact in following the instructions of the Jewish ceremonial, as all good Jews were. Poor as he was, and notwithstanding the loss of time it necessarily entailed, he still went every year, as was the custom, to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover. He did this because it was a law of Moses. The Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus were equally anxious to fulfil the law. And when the feast was over, all went back to Nazareth, but Jesus remained behind, and hid Himself from Joseph for three days, making him feel wretched, because he thought that he had been delinquent in his trust of the divine Jesus. But Jesus wants to be looked for, not with an ordinary desire, but with a real love, and the longer we are separated from Him the more loving should we become, because our heart is desolate without His holy presence. O my God, I have sought Thee all my life! but I have not found Thee because I do not look for Thee where Thou art to be found. Indeed Thou art in my heart, but I go out and look for Thee in distractions where Thou shalt not be found.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-eighth Day.

St. Joseph, as we have seen, earned his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. When Jesus grew up and was stronger, He helped His father, and tradition tells us that the Blessed Virgin was not idle. She sewed and embroidered in order that they might live. The lot of the laborer is always hard, and St. Joseph's life, beyond the consolations of religion, was no exception. Day after day work was necessary, and pleasures and recreations few. That Joseph was of the royal house of David was forgotten because he was poor; had he been rich people would have honored him, would have given him political prominence. Let us also sanctify our labors; Joseph's work made him holy, because it was honest work, done with a good intention and in the spirit of prayer. Prayer and work were the constant employment of St. Joseph; this is the way that God wishes us to spend our time. He wishes us to pursue an active, laborious life, while we keep our eyes on Him.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Twenty-ninth Day.

The whole life of St. Joseph is a perfect model of a Christian life, a life which we must necessarily lead in order to go to heaven; a life of piety and faithful fulfilment of the duties of our station, and the performance of our daily actions in the best manner. In this way St. Joseph reached heaven, and we cannot [pg 124] choose another road. Joseph did nothing extraordinary in a worldly sense; he was no king, with great command of men; he was not a literary man; but he was great, because he made himself, with the grace of God, a great saint. He lived a simple life as far as possible, he strove to perfect himself more and more in the presence of Jesus, his daily companion, and consequently he was always impressed with the omnipresence of God, before Whom he walked in the simplicity of his heart all the days of his life. He is the best model of obedience to Jesus and Mary. In his life we can find a great example of all Christian virtues.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Thirtieth Day.

As the life of St. Joseph was such a perfect one, the seal of approval from almighty God was placed upon it by the grace of a happy death. For thirty years St. Joseph was the head of the Holy Family, and now Jesus was to go forth on His public mission. By the disposition of divine Providence, when his course had been completed and the purpose of his life was over, he was called away to another world to be rewarded for his holy life. What death was ever more precious in the sight of God, than that of St. Joseph! St. Paul exclaimed that the grace of God was not ineffectual in him, and it gave him great joy. But much more did Joseph co-operate with the graces received, so that he was sure that every moment of his life was spent for the greater [pg 125] glory of God. Holy Scripture describes the death of the just as a peaceful falling asleep in the Lord. Precious in the sight of God is the death of His holy ones. They can exclaim, “I know that my Redeemer liveth and mine eyes shall behold Him on the Last Day.” St. Joseph died in peace and happiness in the embrace of Jesus and Mary; his soul was sent forth to the abode of the patriarchs at the bidding of Jesus, Who had created him. What words can describe the consolations that filled this noble breast, and with what confidence he looked up to his Redeemer! And so St. Joseph has become the patron of a happy death.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Thirty-first Day.

On this last day of the month, let us consider the power of St. Joseph for our good in heaven, so that we may draw from it confidence in his willingness to use it for our spiritual and temporal welfare. The general principle is, the greater the saint the greater friend he is of almighty God; and the greater is the power given him by God for the benefit of those who live in this vale of tears. We may with reason assert that after the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph is the greatest saint in heaven. He has been distinguished by God with the greatest privileges on earth, which certainly did not cease in heaven but rather increased. The heavenly Father loved him, because he represented the paternity of His divine Son on earth. God the Son loved him because he was the [pg 126] protector of His infancy and youth, and the faithful guardian and spouse of the Blessed Virgin. The Holy Ghost loved him, because he complied so faithfully to His inspirations. In this predilection for him by the Holy Trinity, lies the secret of his great power. Who will say, if he asks for anything from God, that his prayer will be rejected? Let us turn with confidence to the patronage of St. Joseph, and entreat him to pray for us in all our necessities.

Prayer.

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.

Efficacious Prayers.

Thirty Days' Prayer To St. Joseph.

To Obtain a Happy Death and Other Good Intentions.

Ever-blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and indulgent father, and compassionate friend of all in sorrow, through that bitter grief with which thy heart was saturated, when thou didst behold the sufferings of the Infant Saviour, and in thy prophetic view didst contemplate His most ignominious Passion and death, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities, counsel me in my doubts, and console me in all my anxieties. Thou art the good father and protector of orphans, the advocate of the defenceless, the patron of those who are in need and desolation. Do not, then, disregard the petition of thy poor child; my sins have drawn down upon me the just displeasure of my God, and hence I am surrounded with sorrows. To thee, O amiable guardian of the poor neglected family of Nazareth, do I fly for shelter and protection. Listen, then, I entreat [pg 127] of thee, with a father's solicitude, to the earnest prayer of thy poor supplicant, and obtain for me the objects of my petition. I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which induced Him to assume our nature and be born into this world of sorrow. I ask it by the grief which filled thy heart when, ignorant of the mystery wrought in thy immaculate spouse, thou didst fear thou shouldst be separated from her. I ask it by that weariness, solicitude, and suffering which thou didst endure when thou soughtest in vain at the inns of Bethlehem a shelter for the sacred Virgin and a birthplace for the Infant God, and when, being everywhere refused, thou wert obliged to consent that the Queen of heaven should give birth to the world's Redeemer in a wretched stable. I ask it by that most sad and painful duty imposed on thee when, the divine Child being eight days old, thou wert obliged to inflict a deep wound on His tender body, and thus be the first to make flow that sacred blood which was to wash away the sins of the world. I ask it by the sweetness and power of that sacred name, Jesus, which thou didst confer on the adorable Infant. I ask it by that mortal anguish inflicted on thee by the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and His holy Mother the future victims of their love and our sins. I ask it through that sorrow and anguish which filled thy soul when the angel declared to thee that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies, from whose impious designs thou wert obliged to fly with Him and His blessed Mother into Egypt. I ask it by all the pains, fatigues, and toils of that long and perilous pilgrimage. I ask it by all the sorrows thou didst endure when in [pg 128] Egypt thou wert not able, even by the sweat of thy brow, to procure poor food and clothing for thy most poor family. I ask it by all the grief thou didst feel each time the divine Child asked for a morsel of bread, and thou hadst it not to give Him. I ask it by all thy solicitude to preserve the sacred Child and the immaculate Mary during thy second journey, when thou wert ordered to return to thy native country. I ask it by thy peaceful dwelling in Nazareth, in which so many joys and sorrows were mingled. I ask it by thy extreme affliction in being deprived three days of the company of the adorable Child. I ask it by thy joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the ineffable consolation imparted to thee in the cottage of Nazareth with the company and society of the little Jesus. I ask it by that wonderful condescension by which He subjected Himself to thy will. I ask it through that dolorous view, continually in thy mind, of all thy Jesus was to suffer. I ask it by that painful contemplation, which made thee foresee the divine little hands and feet, now so active in serving thee, one day to be pierced with cruel nails; that head which rested gently on thy bosom, crowned with sharp thorns; that delicate body which thou didst tenderly fold in thy mantle and press to thy heart, stripped and extended on a cross. I ask it by that heroic sacrifice of thy will and best affection by which thou didst offer up to the eternal Father the last awful moment when the Man-God was to expire for our salvation. I ask it by that perfect love and conformity with which thou didst receive the divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by that exceeding great joy which filled thy soul when [pg 129] the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom, and conducted thee also into it with especial honors. I ask it through Mary's glorious assumption, and through that interminable bliss, which with her, thou wilt eternally derive from the presence of God. O good father! I beseech thee by all thy sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and to obtain the grant of my earnest petitions. (Here name them or reflect on them.) Obtain for all those who have asked thy prayers all that is useful to them in the designs of God; and finally, my dear protector, be thou with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally chant the praises of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen.

Choice Of St. Joseph As A Patron.

O blessed Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of thy chaste spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, I choose thee this day to be my special patron and advocate, and I firmly resolve to honor thee from this time forth. Therefore I humbly beseech thee to receive me as thy client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of death. Amen.

Virginum Custos.

Guardian of Virgins, and father, holy Joseph, to whose faithful care Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed, I [pg 130] 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.

An indulgence of one hundred days, once a day.

Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph.

1. O glorious St. Joseph, most pure spouse of thy most holy Mary, even as the trouble and anguish of thy heart was great in the perplexity of abandoning thy most chaste and stainless spouse, so, too, inexplicable was thy delight when by the angel was revealed to thee the sovereign mystery of the incarnation.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, we pray thee, now and in our last agony, to comfort our soul with the joy of a good life, and of a holy death, like unto thine between Jesus and Mary.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

2. O glorious St. Joseph, most blessed patriarch, who wast selected for the office of reputed father of the Word made man, the grief which thou didst feel at seeing the Child Jesus born in such great poverty was suddenly changed for thee into heavenly exultation at hearing the angelic harmony, and seeing the glories of that most resplendent night.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, we beseech thee to obtain for us that, after the journey of this life is over, we may pass hence to hear the angelic praises, and to enjoy the splendors of the glory of heaven.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

3. O glorious St. Joseph, who didst fulfil most obediently all God's commands, the most precious blood which the Child Redeemer shed in the circumcision struck death into thy heart, but the name of Jesus revived it, and filled it full of joy.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that, all vices having been taken from us during life, we may expire in exultation with the most holy name of Jesus in our hearts and upon our lips.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

4. O most glorious St. Joseph, most faithful saint, who wast a partaker in the mysteries of our redemption, if Simeon's prophecy of that which Jesus and Mary were to suffer caused thee a mortal pang, it filled thee also with a blessed joy at the salvation and glorious resurrection of innumerable souls, which he at the same time foretold would thence proceed.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that we may be of the number of those who, through the merits of Jesus, and at the intercession of the Virgin Mother, are to rise again in glory.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

5. O glorious St. Joseph, most watchful guardian and familiar attendant of the incarnate Son of God, how much didst thou suffer in supporting and in serving the Son of the Most High, particularly in the flight which thou hadst to make into Egypt; but how much again didst thou rejoice at having always with thee that same God, and at seeing the idols of Egypt fall to the ground.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that, by keeping far from us hell's tyrant, especially by flying from dangerous occasions, every idol of earthly affection may fall from our hearts; and that, wholly occupied in the service of Jesus and of Mary, we may live for them alone, and die a happy death.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

6. O glorious St. Joseph, angel of the earth, who didst marvel at beholding the King of heaven subject to thy commands, if thy consolation at bringing him back from Egypt was disturbed by the fear of Archelaus, yet, assured by the angel, thou didst with Jesus and Mary dwell in joy at Nazareth.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, obtain for us that our heart, unclouded by hurtful fears, may enjoy peace of conscience, and that we may live secure with Jesus and Mary, and with them may also die.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

7. O glorious St. Joseph, model of all holiness, when, without fault of thine, thou hadst lost the Child Jesus, thou didst seek Him for three days in the greatest sorrow, until with joyful heart thou didst possess again thy life, finding Him in the Temple, among the doctors.

Through this sorrow and this joy of thine, with fervent sighs we supplicate thee to interpose in our behalf, that so it may never befall us to lose Jesus by mortal sin; but that, if unhappily we ever lose Him, we may seek Him again with unwearied sorrow, until once more we find His favor, especially at the moment [pg 133] of our death, that so we may pass to the enjoyment of Him in heaven, and there, with thee, sing His divine mercies for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus Himself was beginning about His thirtieth year, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph.

V. Pray for us, O holy Joseph.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who by Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose the blessed Joseph for the spouse of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in heaven; Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Indulgences: One hundred days each time, three hundred days on Wednesdays, three hundred days on each day of the two novenas before St. Joseph's feast and his patronage; plenary on those two feasts; plenary once a month for daily recital; three hundred days for each Sunday when recited seven Sundays running. Applicable to the dead.

Responsory To St. Joseph.

Ye that would live and die secure,

In merit strong, of mercy sure,

Choose Joseph for your heavenly friend

To guide your steps and bless your end.

He was sweet Mary's consort dear,

And Jesus' sire, when exiled here;

Just, true, of purity untold,

Say, shall he ask and God withhold?

He worshipp'd at the manger-bed,

And then the exile comforted;

And sought his Son, and joyous found,

While on His Father's business bound.

He through sweet toil and patient pains

The world's Artificer sustains;

And Whom th' angelic legions praise

Obedience to His creature pays.

And now he waxes old, and dies;

But first beholds with loving eyes,

Jesus and Mary, gracious sight—

Then sleeps entranced in deep delight.

Ant. Behold the faithful and prudent servant whom the Lord set over His house.

V. Pray for us, holy Joseph.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Litany of St. Joseph.

(For Private Devotion Only.)

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.

Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, Pray for us.

St. Joseph, confirmed in grace, Pray for us.

St. Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate, Pray for us.