Meditations for Eight Days

Being a portion of an attempt to teach a young invalid to meditate.

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

{209}

Sunday
Our Lord

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Apocalypse, chap. i, verses 10-18.

"I was," &c. down to "of death and of hell."

3. Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

4. Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:—

"His eyes were as a flame of fire," and "His countenance shone as the sun shineth in his strength."

(1) O my God, the day will come when I shall see that countenance and those eyes, when my soul returns to Him to be judged.

(2) Those eyes are so piercing: they see through me; nothing is hid from them. Thou countest every hair of my head; Thou knowest {210} every breath I breathe; Thou seest every morsel of food I take.

(3) Those eyes are so pure. They are so clear that I can look into their depths, as into some transparent well of water, though I cannot see the bottom; for Thou art infinite.

(4) Those eyes are so loving; so gentle, so sweet; they seem to say, "Come to Me."

5. Conclusion. O Lord, make me love Thee, make me love Thee. {211}

Monday
Guardian Angel

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Psalm xc. (as it is found in Compline)

3. Bring all you have read before you, as if you saw the Angels protecting you, especially your Guardian Angel.

4. Then say to God whatever is suggested to you; for instance:—

"He hath given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

(1) O my God, I will go forward in Thy way, for my Guardian goes with me. I am very blind; I know not what is before me. I know not what will happen to me in life. I do not know whether I shall live long, or die young. But this I know, that in health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, in youth and age, Thou wilt be with me.

(2) O my sweet Guardian, how beautiful thou {212} art. I wish I could see thee. And thou art as pure and holy as thou art beautiful, and thy breath inspires chaste thoughts. And as gentle and kind as thou art pure.

5. Conclusion.—God of Angels, have mercy on me. Queen of Angels, pray for me. {213}

Tuesday
St. Joseph

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Psalm xiv.

3. Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

4. Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:—

(1) Joseph was pure and innocent in a way unlike any other man who ever lived, our Lord excepted. His soul was as white as snow. He had nothing whatever within his heart to make him ashamed, and he would have found it most difficult to find matter for confession. O Joseph, make me so blameless and irreproachable that I should not care though friends saw into my heart as perfectly as Jesus and Mary saw into thine. O gain me the grace of holy simplicity and affectionateness, so that I may love thee, Mary, and, above all, Jesus, as thou didst love Jesus and Mary.

(2) Joseph was as humble as he was sinless. {214} He never thought of himself, but always of the Infant Saviour, whom he carried in his arms. O holy Joseph, make me like thee in purity, simplicity, innocence and devotion.

5. Conclusion.—Jesus, mercy! Mary, Joseph, pray for me. {215}

Wednesday
All Saints

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Apocalypse, chap. vii. verses 9-17.

3. Bring all this before you as in a picture.

4. Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:—

"They are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple." "They shall not hunger nor thirst any more;" "The Lamb shall lead them to the fountains of living waters."

(1) My dear Lord and Saviour, shall I ever see Thee in heaven? This world is very beautiful, very attractive, and there are many things and persons whom I love in it. But Thou art the most beautiful and best of all. Make me acknowledge this with my heart, as well as by faith and in my reason.

(2) My Lord, I know nothing here below lasts; nothing here below satisfies. Pleasures come and go; I quench my thirst and am thirsty {216} again. But the saints in heaven are always gazing on Thee, and drinking in eternal blessedness from Thy dear and gracious and most awful and most glorious countenance.

5. Conclusion.—May my lot be with the saints. {217}

Thursday
The Paraclete

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Psalm ciii. verses 29-36.

3. Try to imagine the secret power of God dispensing blessing and grace every moment all over the earth.

4. Then say what is suggested by that thought; for instance:—

(1) How mysterious is my sovereign Lord and God! He is doing things innumerable always everywhere; yet one does not interfere with another. He hears everything which is said everywhere, yet He never confuses one thing with another. He sustains everything day and night, yet He is not wearied. He is at once most occupied, yet ever in repose. He is sovereign and supreme, yet He ministers, like a servant, to the whole creation.

(2) He is thus mysterious in His works—much more mysterious is He in His nature. God the Holy Ghost is the one God—but so is God the {218} Father, so is God the Son. How is it that God is at once perfectly one, and perfectly three? I cannot tell—no wit of man can tell, no angel can tell it fully—for He is incomprehensible.

(3) O my Lord, God the Holy Ghost, I adore Thee, because Thou art so mysterious, so incomprehensible. Unless Thou wert incomprehensible, Thou wouldst not be God. For how can the Infinite be other than incomprehensible to me?

5. Conclusion.—Holy angels, who see God’s face, teach me to have faith in Him.

Friday
Jesus

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

St. Luke xxii. verses 40 to 46 (as it occurs in the Passion on Holy Wednesday).

3. Bring what you have read before you, as a picture.

4. Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:—

(1) What is it that bows down the Almighty Son of God? What is it that so terrifies and overwhelms my dear Saviour? What is it that thus convulses Him from head to foot? See how He trembles! He falls on his knees as under a tremendous load! His flesh quivers, and at length out of its pores comes a dew. It is red, and it trickles down Him, and falls heavily on the ground. It is His precious blood, and this is His agony.

(2) Alas! I know well enough what was the cause of it. He came on earth to undergo it, and to destroy it by undergoing it. It is the weight of sin. The sins of every child of Adam, {220} of the whole race, were all then heaped into one mass, higher than the mountains, and placed upon His head. The burden would have crushed anyone else, even the highest Archangel, even the Blessed Mother of God. One human heart alone could undergo it, the heart of the Divine Son; yet see how His soul and body agonised with it, though it was the soul and body of God Incarnate.

(3) My most dear Saviour, give me some little tenderness to grieve for Thee suffering for me.

5. Conclusion.—My dear Mother Mary, thou wert sinless, teach me to grieve with Thee.

Saturday
Mary

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

Isaias xxxv. (as on Ember Saturday Mass in Advent)

3. Think of Mary as robed in white, like the lily.

4. And say:—

(1) Thou, Mary, art the Virgin of Virgins. To have a virgin soul is to love nothing on earth in comparison of God, or except for His sake. That soul is virginal which is ever looking for its Beloved who is in heaven, and which sees Him in whatever is lovely upon earth, loving earthly friends very dearly, but in their proper place, as His gifts, and His representatives, but loving Jesus alone with sovereign affection, and bearing to lose all, so that she may keep Him.

(2) O Mary, I wish I could see how you used to behave towards father and mother, especially towards St. Anne; and then how you behaved towards the priests of the temple; and then towards St. Joseph; and towards St. Elizabeth, and St. John Baptist; and afterwards towards the {222} Apostles, especially towards St. John. I should see how sweet and lovely you were to every one of them; but still your heart was with Jesus only. And they would all feel and understand this, however kind you were to them.

5. Conclusion.—O Mary, when will you gain for me some little of this celestial purity, this true whiteness of soul, that I may fix my heart on my true love? {223}

Sunday
Our Lord

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly

The Apocalypse as last Sunday.

3. Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

4. Then say, "His head and hairs were white like white wool, and as snow."

(1) Thy hair is white, O Jesus, because Thou art the Ancient of days, as the Prophet Daniel speaks. From everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. Thou didst come indeed to us as a little child—Thou didst hang upon the Cross at an age of life before as yet grey hairs come—but, O my dear Lord, there was always something mysterious about Thee, so that men were not quite sure of Thy age. The Pharisees talked of Thee as near fifty. For Thou hadst lived millions upon millions of years, and Thy face awfully showed it. And even when Thou wast a child, Thy hair shone so bright that people said, "It is snow." {224}

(2) O my Lord, Thou art ever old, and ever young. Thou hast all perfection, and old age in Thee is ten thousand times more beautiful than the most beautiful youth. Thy white hair is an ornament, not a sign of decay. It is as dazzling as the sun, as white as the light, and as glorious as gold.

5. Conclusion.—Jesus, may I ever love Thee, not with human eyes, but with the eyes of the Spirit, which sees not as man sees.

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Litanies

Being the finished portion of a Scheme of Litanies for the whole year.

{227} [Note]

(1) From Quinquagesima down to end of Second Week in Lent

Litany of Penance

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                  Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,               "
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Incarnate Lord,
Lover of souls,
Saviour of sinners, {228}
Who didst come to seek those that were lost,
Who didst fast for them forty days and nights,
By Thy tenderness towards Adam when he fell,
By Thy faithfulness to Noe in the ark,
By Thy remembrance of Lot in the midst of sinners,
By Thy mercy on the Israelites in the desert,
By Thy forgiveness of David after his confession,
By Thy patience with wicked Achab on his humiliation,
By Thy restoration of the penitent Manasses,
By Thy long suffering towards the Ninevites,
    when they went in sackcloth and ashes,
By Thy blessing on the Maccabees,
    who fasted before the battle,
By Thy choice of John to go before Thee as the preacher of penance,
By Thy testimony to the Publican,
    who hung his head and smote his breast,
By Thy welcome given to the returning Prodigal,
By Thy gentleness with the woman of Samaria,
By Thy condescension towards Zacchæus,
    persuading him to restitution,
By Thy pity upon the woman taken in adultery,
By Thy love of Magdalen, who loved much,
By Thy converting look, at which Peter wept,
By Thy gracious words to the thief upon the cross,

We sinners,                                  Beseech Thee, hear us. {229}
That we may judge ourselves,
    and so escape Thy judgment.                     "
That we may bring forth worthy fruits of penance,
That sin may not reign in our mortal bodies,
That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling,
Son of God,

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.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

O Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us Pray

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy faithful, pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their offences, and also serve Thee with a quiet mind, through Christ our Lord.—Amen. {230}

(2) From Third Sunday in Lent, to Passion Sunday, exclusive

Litany of the Passion

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                        Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,                    "
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Jesus, the Eternal Wisdom,                      Have mercy on us.
The Word made flesh,                                           "
Hated by the world,
Sold for thirty pieces of silver,
Sweating blood in Thy agony,
Betrayed by Judas,
Forsaken by Thy disciples,
Struck upon the cheek, {231}
Accused by false witnesses,
Spit upon in the face,
Denied by Peter,
Mocked by Herod,
Scourged by Pilate,
Rejected for Barabbas,
Loaded with the cross,
Crowned with thorns,
Stripped of Thy garments,
Nailed to the tree,
Reviled by the Jews,
Scoffed at by the malefactor,
Wounded in the side,
Shedding Thy last drop of blood,
Forsaken by Thy Father,
Dying for our sins,
Taken down from the cross,
Laid in the sepulchre,
Rising gloriously,
Ascending into Heaven,
Sending down the Paraclete,
Jesus our Sacrifice,
Jesus our Mediator,
Jesus our Judge,

Be merciful.
Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all sin,                              Lord Jesus, deliver us.
From all evil,                                              "
From anger and hatred, {232}
From malice and revenge,
From unbelief and hardness of heart,
From blasphemy and sacrilege,
From hypocrisy and covetousness,
From blindness of the understanding,
From contempt of Thy warnings,
From relapse after Thy judgments,
From danger of soul and body,
From everlasting death,

We sinners, Beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldest spare us,                  We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldest pardon us,                                  "
That Thou wouldest defend Thy Church,
That Thou wouldest bless Thy own,
That Thou wouldest convert Thy foes,
That Thou wouldest spread the truth,
That Thou wouldest destroy error,
That Thou wouldest break to pieces false gods,
That Thou wouldest increase Thy elect,
That Thou wouldest let loose the holy souls in prison,
That Thou wouldest unite us to Thy Saints above,

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, {233}
Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
Because through Thy Holy Cross Thou didst redeem the world.

Let us Pray

O God, who for the redemption of the world wast pleased to be born; to be circumcised; to be rejected; to be betrayed; to be bound with thongs; to be led to the slaughter; to be shamefully gazed at; to be falsely accused; to be scourged and torn; to be spit upon, and crowned with thorns; to be mocked and reviled; to be buffeted and struck with rods; to be stripped; to be nailed to the cross; to be hoisted up thereon; to be reckoned among thieves; to have gall and vinegar to drink; to be pierced with a lance: through Thy most holy passion, which we, Thy sinful servants, call to mind, and by Thy holy cross and gracious death, deliver us from the pains of hell, and lead us whither Thou didst lead the thief who was crucified with Thee, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, God, world without end.—Amen. {234}

(3) For Passion Tide

Litany of the Seven Dolours of the
Blessed Virgin Mary

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                      Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,                   "
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Mother of sorrows,                                                  Pray for us.
Mother, whose soul was pierced by the sword,               "
Mother, who didst flee with Jesus into Egypt,
Mother, who didst seek Him sorrowing for three days,
Mother, who didst see Him scourged, and crowned with thorns, {235}
Mother, who didst stand by Him whilst He hung upon the cross,
Mother, who didst receive Him into thine arms when He was dead,
Mother, who didst see Him buried in the tomb,

O Mary, Queen of Martyrs,                         Pray for us.
O Mary, comfort of the sorrowful,                       "
O Mary, help of the weak,
O Mary, strength of the fearful,
O Mary, light of the desponding,
O Mary, nursing-mother of the sick,
O Mary, refuge of sinners,

Through the bitter passion of thy Son,           Save us by thy prayers.
Through the piercing anguish of thy heart,                    "
Through thy heavy weight of woe,
Through thy sadness and desolation,
Through thy maternal pity,
Through thy perfect resignation,
Through thy meritorious prayers,

From immoderate sadness,      Save us by thy prayers.
From a cowardly spirit,
From an impatient temper,
From fretfulness and discontent,
From sullenness and gloom,
From despair and unbelief,
From final impenitence,

We sinners, Beseech Thee, hear us. {236}

Preserve us from sudden death, We beseech thee, hear us.
Teach us how to die,                                      "
Succour us in our last agony,
Guard us from the enemy,
Bring us to a happy end,
Gain for us the gift of perseverance,
Aid us before the judgment seat,

Mother of God,                         We beseech Thee, hear us.
Mother, most sorrowful,                                 "
Mother, most desolate,

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.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, O Blessed Virgin Mary,
In every time, and in every place.

Let us Pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy dear Mother Mary, whose soul the sword pierced in the hour of Thy passion, may {237} intercede for us, now, and in the hour of our death, through Thine own merits, O Saviour of the world, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, God, world without end.—Amen. {238}

(4) From Easter Day to May 1st

Litany of the Resurrection

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                    Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,                "
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind,               Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Conqueror of sin and Satan,                    "
Jesus, triumphant over Death,
Jesus, the Holy and the Just,
Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life,
Jesus, the Giver of grace,
Jesus, the Judge of the world, {239}
Who didst lay down Thy life for Thy sheep,
Who didst rise again the third day,
Who didst manifest Thyself to Thy chosen,
Visiting Thy blessed Mother,
Appearing to Magdalen while she wept,
Sending Thy angels to the holy women,
Comforting the Eleven,
Saying to them, Peace,
Breathing on them the Holy Ghost,
Confirming the faith of Thomas,
Committing Thy flock to Peter,
Speaking of the Kingdom of God,

We sinners, Beseech Thee, hear us,
That we may walk in newness of life,        We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may advance in the knowledge of Thee,              "
That we may grow in grace,
That we may ever have the bread of life,
That we may persevere unto the end,
That we may have confidence before Thee at Thy coming,
That we may behold Thy face with joy,
That we may be placed at Thy right hand in the judgment,
That we may have our lot with the saints,

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. {240}
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ is risen, Alleluia.
He is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon, Alleluia.

Let us Pray

O God, who by Thy only begotten Son hast overcome death, and opened on us the way to eternal life, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, so to confirm us by Thy grace, that we may in all things walk after the manner of those who have been redeemed from their sins, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.—Amen. {241}

(5) From August 1 to August 15

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                    Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,                 "
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Heart of Mary,                                          Pray for us.
Heart, after God’s own Heart,                           "
Heart, in union with the Heart of Jesus,
Heart, the vessel of the Holy Ghost,
Heart of Mary, shrine of the Trinity,
Heart of Mary, home of the Word,
Heart of Mary, immaculate in thy creation,
Heart of Mary, flooded with grace, {242}
Heart of Mary, blessed of all hearts,
Heart of Mary, Throne of glory,
Heart of Mary, Abyss of humbleness,
Heart of Mary, Victim of love,
Heart of Mary, nailed to the Cross,
Heart of Mary, comfort of the sad,
Heart of Mary, refuge of the sinner,
Heart of Mary, hope of the dying,
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy,

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.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

V. Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart.
R. Conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus.

Let us Pray

O most merciful God, who for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the wretched, hast made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in tenderness {243} and pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most sweet and loving heart, may by her merits and intercession, ever live in the fellowship of the Hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ our Lord.—Amen.

(6) From August 15 to August 31

Litany of the Holy Name of Mary

LORD, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

Heavenly Father, who hast Mary for Thy daughter, Have mercy on us.
Eternal Son, who hast Mary for Thy mother,                         "
Holy Spirit, who hast Mary for Thy spouse,
Glorious Trinity, who hast Mary for Thy handmaid,

Mary, Mother of the Living God,                  Pray for us.
Mary, Daughter of the Light Unapproachable,       "
Mary, our light,
Mary, our sister,
Mary, stem of Jesse, {245}
Mary, offspring of kings,
Mary, best work of God,
Mary, immaculate,
Mary, all fair,
Mary, Virgin Mother,
Mary, suffering with Jesus,
Mary, pierced with a sword,
Mary, bereft of consolation,
Mary, standing by the Cross,
Mary, ocean of bitterness,
Mary, rejoicing in God’s will,
Mary, our Lady,
Mary, our Queen,
Mary, bright as the sun,
Mary, fair as the moon,
Mary, crowned with twelve stars,
Mary, seated on the right hand of Jesus,
Mary, our sweetness,
Mary, our hope,
Mary, glory of Jerusalem,
Mary, joy of Israel,
Mary, honour of our people,

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. {246}

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
R. Blessed art Thou among women.

Let us Pray

O Almighty God, who seest how earnestly we desire to place ourselves under the shadow of the name of Mary, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that as often as we invoke her in our need, we may receive grace and pardon from Thy holy heaven, through Christ our Lord.—Amen.

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Note

All these Litanies, except the Litany of St. Philip, are founded upon the Litanies to be met with in the ordinary Catholic Prayer books. None of them are Indulgenced, and none authorised for the use in public. The Litany of St. Philip was composed by Cardinal Newman about 1851, and altered by him from time to time till printed in 1856.—W. N.
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