me with thy eyes of mercy, lest I perish, and my heart be too much overladen with these troubles which assail me in this miserable life. And when I am dispirited and out of hope, then do thou, Lord, comfort me with thy loving-kindness; for thou hast said that thou wilt not lay temptation upon any man greater than he is able to bear. Also, my Lord God, my faith comforts me when I remember the words of thy Holy Testament, -Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? Thus, O tender Father, I hope and surely trust that I am thy child by adoption, and I perceive in my spirit that thou, Lord, lovest me, and wilt save me from many dangers and perils, which by my folly I should run into, were it not for thy wholesome visitation, which my corporal body with great pain may suffer, as in displeasure, poverty, obedience, tribulation, loss, or worldly hindrance, or any other trials which stir my soul to love thee, when I remember that it is not meet that the servant should be above the master. For thou, sweet Lord, art my most dearly be loved master. And well I know what thou sufferedst here in thy holy Humanity, being both God and Man. Thou wast no stranger to fallen man, but didst live unknown for thirty years among humble people. By their hands, dear Lord, thou didst undergo

thy Passion with many pains, injuries, and insults unto the death, for the sake of us sinners. Wherefore, O my Lord God, of thy great love which thou ever barest unto mankind, ease me, I pray thee, of my heavy burden wherewith I am afflicted, if it be thy will and pleasure; or else fortify me with the gift of patience, which thou gavest unto Job in all his heavy troubles and temptations, so that he was sustained by thy grace, and no harm could touch his soul. Thus, my blessed Lord, may I bear my sorrows and troubles the stronger with thee, who as our master and captain, in giving us an example, sufferedst in thine own Passion more pain, distress, and injury, than all creatures have suffered before or since, as it is written,-Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Give me then, O Lord, grace to endure meekly all thy visitations; and to desire nothing but thy will, who art the Wisdom of the Father. Enable me to pray for them that persecute me in any way, for they know not what they do. If they did know, Lord, they would not do as they do. For I am sure that if they saw clearly, they would not act as they have acted towards me. But for lack of grace they know not what they do. Thus at thy will and pleasure have mercy, I pray thee, on me and on all sinners; and give thy grace to all of us, since thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and

live with thee eternally in thy kingdom of heaven; to the which, Lord, grant us all to depart in rest, peace, and quietness, whensoever it shall be thy pleasure. Amen.

PRAYERS OF S. BRIDGET.

FIRST PETITION.

of peace

my

BELOVED rest and soul, sweet Jesu Christ, who, in the beginning of thy most painful Passion, didst pray at midnight to the Eternal Father, saying these words, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt, and wast in so great anguish for the love which thou hadst to the soul of man, that thou didst shed from thy precious Body both Water and Blood: By all thy pains and agony, I humbly beseech thee, my Sovereign and dear Lord Jesu, to give me grace that my mind and heart may be so fervent in prayer to thee, that I may here obtain forgiveness of all my sins and wicked acts. OUR FATHER,

SECOND PETITION.

SWEET Jesu, the very solace and in

night of thy Passion wast so violently taken from thy disciples, and led away from all thy friends, being alone among thine enemies: By this thy desolation, I beseech thee, my Lord God, to be my daily comfort, and not to leave me destitute in the bonds of my secret enemy, the devil, or of any other

foe; but that, being surely led by thy commay be conducted at last to the life OUR FATHER.

fort, I eternal.

THIRD PETITION.

MAKER and Creator of all this world, Jesu Christ; whose glorious Hands made me of nothing, and all the heavens above; who of thy mercy didst suffer those Holy Hands of thine to be pierced and nailed to the cross, and thy Holy Feet, which walked dry-shod on the sea, to be cruelly torn for my sake: Through these pitiful wounds, I beseech thee, most merciful Lord, that thou wilt forgive me the sinful works and operations of my hands, and the stumbling of my feet; that I may so use them henceforth to thy will and commandment, that by thy pains and Passion I may worthily attain to thy everlasting OUR FATHER.

mansion.

FOURTH PETITION.

MOST delicious Rose and fragrance of all mankind, sweet Jesu, who for our sakes alone wast stretched on the Cross, in such wise that all the joints and bones of thy precious Body might have been told, and hanging naked there didst endure lovingly, for my unkindness, all the shame and misery that men could devise: I humbly pray thee, merciful Lord, that I may patiently for thy love again and again sustain meekly and cha ritably all injuries, sickness, and tribulation

which may come to me in prosperity or in adversity, in this life, so that my poor heart and mind may never be separate from thee. OUR FATHER.

FIFTH PETITION.

HIGHEST Wisdom Divine, everlasting and perfect knowledge of the will and pleasure of the Holy Trinity; Wisdom incomprehensible to all creatures; who being the Lord and Creator of all, didst suffer thy precious Body to be shamefully hung naked, like a malefactor, on the Cross, and being obedient, like a meek lamb among ravening wolves, wast desolate of all comfort from thy earthly friends, insomuch that there was none present who durst be known to show thee, Lord, any consolation or succour: Wherefore, O merciful Lord, I humbly beseech thee, that, in the hour of my departure from this life, when I shall be most weak and feeble, I may, as thou, be strengthened and comforted by thee; so that neither the world nor my ghostly enemy may deceive me, but that thou mayest then conduct me to the life which shall ever endure without sorrow or distress. OUR FATHER.

SIXTH PETITION.

FOUNTAIN and sweet Spring of eternal life, of which Angels and the living souls of the Just love to drink, Lord Jesu Christ; who of thy tender mercy and pity for the salvation of thy chosen and elect