The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. III. Litany of the Christian Virtues
CHAPTER III.
LITANY OF THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.
Collected out of Holy Scripture.
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.
Who didst create our first parents in original justice and innocence,
Who hadst respect to Abel, when he offered his gifts with especial devotion,
Who didst preserve Noe from the deluge in the ark, when found to be just amongst the wicked,
Who didst make Lot and Abraham illustrious by their signal hospitality,
Who didst adorn Abraham with wonderful obedience and faith,
Who didst promise the blessing of all nations to Isaac, and to his seed,
Who didst strengthen Jacob with wonderful patience and confidence in adversity,
Who didst endue Joseph with a signal love of modesty and chastity,
Who didst declare Moses, the leader of thy people and the meekest of men, to be most faithful in all thy house,
Who didst inspire him with extraordinary love to his neighbour, and zeal for the salvation of his brethren,
Who didst endue the children of Levi with great zeal for the vindication of thy honour,
Who gavest for judge to thy people the prophet Samuel, a lover of justice and hater of corruption,
Who didst exalt King David, a man according to thy own heart, by the praise of his justice, meekness, and piety,
Who didst distinguish Solomon above all the kings of the earth, by his wonderful wisdom, peace, and glory,
Who didst adorn Tobias with signal patience, and pity to his neighbours,
Who didst ennoble Judith, a widow of signal chastity and piety, with confidence in prayer, and with glorious greatness of soul,
Who savedst thy people from destruction by the faithfulness of Esther and Mardochai,
Who madest Job, by his rare and wonderful patience, a mirror and example of patience to us all,
Who didst arm Elias the prophet with signal zeal and boldness of spirit against false prophets, and impious men,
Who didst infuse into King Josias a holy zeal for law and religion,
Who didst adorn the prophet Daniel with signal abstinence, sobriety, and wisdom, Who madest the three children, for their confession of thee, fearlessly to enter the furnace of burning fire, and to come out unhurt,
Who didst arm Matathias and Judas Machabaeus against their enemies with singular zeal and love for the law and religion of their country,
Who madest the seven Machabees and their mother unconquered amidst their torments.
Who hast chosen the most holy Virgin Mary, free from all sin, to be thy most pure Spouse and Mother,
Who hast adorned her above all the rest of thy elect with the special privilege of chastity, humility, obedience, and all virtues,
Who by thy coming didst wonderfully comfort the aged Simeon, a just and devout
| man, who, with great longing, was waiting for the redemption of Israel, | Luke ii. |
| Who, by the sight of thee, didst comfort Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, who served thee constantly in the temple by fastings and prayers, | Ibid. |
| Who didst inflame the three kings with strong desire to seek and adore the newborn King of heaven and earth, | Matt. ii. |
| Who, by the leading of a star, didst enlighten the same kings with a noble faith to acknowledge a little infant to be God and man, | Ibid. |
| Who didst send John the Baptist, of wonderful abstinence and austerity of life, to be thy precursor and preacher of penance, | Matt. iii. |
| Who didst endue him with zeal and love for the truth, fearlessly to reprove the crime of the wicked king, | Mark vi. |
| Who broughtest the whole world to the obedience of thy Gospel by those whom thou choosest to be thy disciples and apostles, though poor, simple, and unlearned men, | Matt. iv. |
| Who didst vouchsafe to John, who was signally gifted with chastity, the special privilege of thy love, | John xiii. |
| Who commendedst the woman of Canaan when she besought thee, for her faith and perseverance in prayer, | Matt. xv. |
| Who approvedst the faith of the centurion and the ruler, and blessed them with a miraculous cure, | Matt. viii. |
| Who didst mark the humility of the publican with special commendation, | Luke xviii. and John iv. |
| Who didst favour with a miracle the zeal of the multitude that stayed with thee three days to hear thy word, | Mark viii. |
| Who, by the fire of the Holy Ghost, on the day of Pentecost, didst confirm in thy love the hearts of thy Apostles, | Acts ii. |
| Be favourable, O Lord, and spare us. | |
| Be favourable, O Lord, and deliver us. |
That we may deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and live soberly, justly, and godly in this world, We beseech thee, hear us.
That we may work good while we have time, We beseech thee, hear us.
That we may walk worthy of the vocation in which we are called, We beseech thee, hear us.
That we may support one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, We beseech thee, hear us.
That we may be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
That, having food and clothing, we may be therewith content,
That we may owe no man anything, but to love one another,
That we may provide good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men,
That we may present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is our reasonable service,
That we may render to no man evil for evil,
That we may labour by good works to make sure our calling,
That we may not fail in doing good,
That we may rejoice in the Lord always,
That, above all, we may seek not our own things, but those that are Jesus Christ’s,
That we may not confess God with our lips, and deny him in our works,
That whatever we do, in word or in work, we may do all to the glory of God,
That we may instruct the living in the spirit of gentleness and meekness,
That all things that we do may be done in charity,
That we may bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ,
That we may not receive the grace of God in vain,
That, considering the conversation of the saints, we may follow their faith and patience,
That, being soldiers to God, we may not entangle ourselves with secular businesses,
That in all things we may take the shield of faith, wherewith we may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one, (Eph. vi.)
That we may so run in the race of this life, that we may at last receive the prize, (1 Cor. ix.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, increase our faith.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Inspire us with hope.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Enkindle in us charity.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Our Father.
Let us pray.
O God, who turnest all things to the profit of them that love thee, fix in our hearts the indestructible affection of thy love, that no temptation may alter the desires, which, by thy inspiration, we have conceived.
O God, who resistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble, grant us the virtue of true humility, the perfect example of which thy only-begotten Son gave to the faithful in himself, that we may never provoke thy wrath against us by our pride, but rather by subjection to thee obtain the gifts of thy grace.
Inflame our reins and hearts, O Lord, with the fire of the Holy Ghost, that we may serve thee with a chaste body, and please thee by a clean heart.
O God, who, by the patience of thy only-begotten Son, hast broken in pieces the pride of our ancient enemy, grant us, we beseech thee, worthily to call to mind the things which he lovingly suffered for us, that by his example we may cheerfully bear the things that cross us.
O God, who justifiest the wicked, and desirest not the death of a sinner, we humbly implore thy majesty, graciously to defend thy servants, who trust in thy mercy, by thy heavenly aid, and preserve them by thy constant protection; that we may never be separated from thee by any temptations, but, by running unweariedly in the race of virtues, may receive the prize. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.