the dignity of Saint Joseph was above that of all the Saints, with the exception of the Divine Mother.

II. Let us now attend to what Saint Teresa says, of the confidence which we should have in the protection of Saint Joseph she : says, "Our Lord sems to have granted power to other saints to help in one necessity; experience proves that this Saint helps us in all; and that our Lord wishes us to understand, that as on earth He was subject to Him, so also in heaven He refuses him nothing that he asks. Other persons whom I advised to recommend themselves to him have experienced this. I never knew any one who served him by practising some particular devotion in his honour, who did not always progress in virtue. I entreat those who do not believe what I say, to try it themselves. I cannot understand how it is possible to think of the Queen of Angels, and of all the labours which she underwent during the childhood of Jesus, without returning thanks to Saint Joseph for all the services he rendered at that time to the Mother and the Son.'

III. We should especially be devout to Saint Joseph, in order that the Saint may obtain us a good death. He, on account of having saved the infant Jesus from the snares of Herod, has the special privilege of delivering dying persons from the snares of the devil. Moreover, on account of the services which he rendered for so many years to Jesus and Mary, having by his labours provided them a dwelling and food, he has the privilege of obtaining the special assistance of Jesus and Mary for his devout clients at death. My holy protector Saint Joseph, on account of my sins, I deserve a bad death, but if thou defendest me I shall not be lost. Thou wast not only a great friend of my Judge, but thou wast also his guardian and adopted father; recommend me to thy Jesus who loves thee so much. I place myself under thy protection; accept me for thy perpetual servant. And by that Holy company of Jesus and Mary which thou didst enjoy on earth, obtain that I may never more be separated from their love, and in fine, by the attendance of Jesus and

Mary which thou hadst in death, obtain for me, that at my death, I also may have the special assistance of Jesus and Mary. Most Holy Virgin, by the love which thou didst bear to thy Holy Spouse Saint Joseph, help me at the hour of iny death.

PRAYERS TO THE DIVINE MOTHER FOR EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK.

SUNDAY.

Prayer to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, to obtain the forgiveness of our sins.

BEHOLD, O Mother of God, at thy feet a miserable sinner, a slave of hell, who has recourse to thee and trusts in thee. I do not deserve that thou shouldst even look at me; but I know that thou, having seen thy Son die for the salvation of sinners, hast the greatest desire to help them. I hear all call thee the refuge of sinners, the hope of those who are in despair, and the help of the abandoned. Thou art then my refuge, my hope, and my help. Thou hast to save me by thy intercession. Help me for the love of Jesus Christ; extend thy hand to a miserable creature who has fallen and recommends himself to thee I know that thy pleasure is to help a sinner to thy utmost; help me therefore now that thou canst do so. By my sins I have lost divine grace, and with it my soul; I now place myself in thy hands. Tell me what I must do to recover the favour of my Lord, and I will immediately do it. He sends me to thee that thou mayest help me; and He wills that I should have recourse to thy mercy, not only that the merits of thy Son, but also that thy intercession may help me to save my soul. To thee then I have recourse; do thou who prayest for so many others, pray

also to Jesus for me. Ask him to pardon me, and He will forgive me; tell Him that thou desirest my salvation, and he will save me; show how thou canst enrich those who trust in thee. Amen. Thus I hope, thus may it be.

MONDAY.

Prayer to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, to obtain Holy Perseverance.

O Queen of heaven, I, who was once a miserable slave of Lucifer, now dedicate myself to thee, to be thy servant for ever; I offer myself to honour thee, and serve thee during my whole life; do thou accept me, and refuse me not, as I should deserve. O my Mother, in thee have I placed all my hopes, from thee do I expect every grace. I bless and thank God, who in His mercy has given me this confidence in thee, which I consider a pledge of my salvation. Alas! miserable wretch that I am, I have hitherto fallen, because I have not had recourse to thee. I now hope that, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and thy prayers, I have obtained pardon. But I may again lose Divine grace; the danger is not past. My enemies do not sleep. How many new temptations have I still to conquer! Ah, my most sweet Lady, protect me, and permit me not again to become their slave: help me at all times. I know that thou wilt help me, and that with thy help I shall conquer, if I recommend myself to thee; but this is what I fear, 1 fear that in time of danger I may neglect to call upon thee, and thus be lost. I ask thee then for this grace: obtain, that in the assaults of hell, I may always have recourse to thee, saying, Mary help me. My Mother, permit me not to lose my God.

TUESDAY.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary to obtain a good Death.

O Mary, how shall I die? Even now, that I think of my sins, and of that decisive moment, on which my salvation or eternal damnation depends, of that moment in

which I must expire and be judged, I tremble, and am confounded. Oh my most sweet Mother, my hopes are in the blood of Jesus Christ, and in thy intercession. O comfortress of the afflicted, do not then abandon me, cease not to console me in that moment of so great affliction. If I am now so tormented by remorse for sins committed, the uncertainty of pardon, the danger of relapse, and the rigour of Divine justice, what will become of me then? Unless thou helpest me I shall be lost. Ah, my Lady, before death obtain me great sorrow for my sins, thorough amendment, and fidelity to God during the remainder of my life. And when my last moment arrives, O Mary, my hope, help me in the great distress in which I shall then be; encourage me, that I may not despair at the sight of my sins, which the devil will place before me. Obtain that I may then invoke thee more frequently, so that I may expire with thy most sweet name, and that of thy beloved Son on my lips. Nay more, my Lady, but forgive my boldness, before I expire do thou come thyself and comfort me with thy presence. Thou hast granted this favour to so many of thy devout servants, I also desire and hope it. I am a sinner, it is true; I do not deserve so great a favour, but I am thy servant, I love thee and have full confidence in thee. O Mary, I shall expect thee; do not disappoint me of this consolation. At least, if I am not worthy of so great a favour, do thou help me from heaven, that I may leave this life loving God and thee, to love thee eternally in paradise.

WEDNESDAY.

Prayer to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary to obtain
Deliverance from Hell.

My most beloved Lady I thank thee, for thou hast delivered me from hell as many times as I have deserved it by my sins. Miserable creature that I was, I was once condemned to that prison, and perhaps already, after the first sin, the sentence would have been put into execution

if thou in thy compassion hadst not helped me. I Thou, without even being asked by me, and only in thy goodness, didst restrain Divine Justice; and then, conquering my obduracy, thou didst draw me to have confidence in thee. Oh, into how many other sins should I have afterwards fallen, in the dangers in which I have been, hadst not thou, my loving Mother, preserved me by the graces which thou didst obtain for me. Ah, my Queen, continue to guard me from hell; for what will thy mercy, and the favours which thou hast shown me, avail me if I am lost? If I did not always love thee, now, at least-after God-I love thee above all things. Never allow me to turn my back on thee, and on God, who, by thy means, has granted me so many graces. My most amiable Lady, never allow me to have the misfortune to hate thee and curse thee for all eternity in hell. Wilt thou endure to see a servant of thine who loves thee lost? O Mary, what sayest thou? I shall be lost if I abandon thee. But who can ever more have the heart to leave thee? How can I ever forget the love thou hast borne me? My Lady, since thou hast done so much to save me, complete the work-continue thy aid. Wilt thou help me? But what do I say? If at a time when I lived forgetful of thee, thou didst favour me so much, how much I not hope for now that I love thee and recomend myself to thee! No, he can never be lost who recommends himself to thee; he alone is lost who has not recourse to thee. Ah, my Mother, leave me not in my own hands, for I should then be lost; grant that I may always have recourse to thee. Save me, my hope, save me from hell; but, in the first place, save me from sin, which alone can condemn me to it.

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THURSDAY.

Prayer to the most Blessed Virgin Mary to obtain Heaven.

O Queen of Paradise, who reignest above all the choirs of angels, and who art the nearest of all creatures to God, I, a miserable sinner, salute thee from this