doing good by the sweet apostolate of kindness, or do I, by want of charity open wide and make to bleed afresh the wounds of my neighbor?
"My Lord, from this day I take up my cross and follow Thee! I will look back no more. Help me to observe Thy new commandment — to love my neighbor as Thou hast loved me."
Novena in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus
O MERCIFUL Jesus, Who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Saviour by shedding Thy precious blood and assuming for us that name which is above all names; we thank Thee for this manifestation of Thy infinite love. We venerate Thy sacred name, in union with the profound respect of the angel who first announced it to the earth, and unite our affections to the sentimients of tender devotion which the adorable name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy saints. Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy name. Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them. Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable name, which is the joy of heaven, the terror of hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena.
Oh I blessed Mother of our Redeemer! who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His sacred blood and assumed for us the name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable name, the favors we petition in this novena. Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the tempta-
