is the womb that has borne and produced for us such fruit !
Thou rejoicest, O holy Parent! and feastest now, but in another form, upon the Fruit of thy womb. Be satisfied, then, O Mother, with the glory of thy Son; but scatter to thy little ones thy crumbs! Now thou art Mistress at the table; we, the dogs under the table. As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress, so do our attendant souls expect of thee the Sustenance of life. By thee have we partaken of the Fruit of Life at the Table of the Mysteries that are thereon ; by thee let us partake of Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb, at the table of everlasting joys! Amen.[1]
CHAPTER III.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
TAKEN FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE, MOSTLY OF RESTRICTIVE AND ALLEGORICAL SIGNIFICATION.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us,
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
| Holy Mary, Mother of all the living, | Gen. iii. | |
| Holy Mary, set up from eternity, | Prov. viii. | |
| Holy Mary, the glory of Jerusalem, | Judith xv. | Pray for us. |
| Holy Mary, promised to the Fathers, | Isaiah vii. | |
| Holy Mary, prefigured by mystic wonders, | Exod. iii., &c. |
- ↑ Thus much more has been written than our purpose required, for the benefit of those who dislike the frequent repetitions of the Hail Mary. Pope Paul V. has granted an indulgence of a hundred days to those who recite the Hail Mary at the stroke of the clock.
