MONDAY MORNING.

HAIL, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory be to Thee, O Christ, who for our sakes didst vouchsafe to be subject unto Thy parents; and to teach us humility, vast carried by Thy mother into the temple, and there redeemed with the offerings of the poor, when the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna, gladdened by Thy presence, gave glorious testimony concerning Thee. O may the slightest breath of vanity never affect my inmost soul! O may all arrogance be ever cast down, may all longing for the praise of men be extinguished, may all wantonness of self-conceit be quenched within me. Give me grace, O Lord, to flee all honours, to hate distinction, 20and to submit myself with readiness to all men for Thy sake.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory be to Thee, O Christ, who as a little child didst, with Thy tender Mother, suffer persecution, and didst not refuse to be carried as an exile, and to fly into Egypt. Give me grace amidst the storms of adversity and the blasts of persecution and misfortunes, to fly for refuge unto Thee alone, to seek Thee, to call upon Thee. Grant that I may receive all things with gladness at Thy hands, may endure everything in meekness of heart, and may cleave with thanksgiving, without wavering, unto Thee.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory, be to Thee, O Christ, whom, when Thou didst remain behind in the temple, Thy pious Mother sought for sorrowing, and at length with joy found Thee, sitting in the midst of the doctors hearing and asking them questions. O mayest Thou so give and communicate Thyself to me, that I may never be separated from Thee, and never be bereft of the comfort of Thy blessed friendship. Drive all sloth from my heart; dispel all dulness that is displeasing in Thy sight; grant me perfect devotion, and such an ardent 21thirst after piety, that my soul may be so affected and possessed by it, as never to feel satisfied with worshipping Thee.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory, be to Thee, who vouchsafedst to live concealed for thirty years, to be reputed by the Jews the son of Joseph the carpenter, and to be subject to the commands of Thy mother Mary and the same Joseph! May Thy grace, I beseech Thee, root out and thoroughly pluck up from the inmost recesses of my heart, all ambition and vain-glory, that I may be little in my own eyes, and may love to be unknown and considered of no account,. and may submit myself to all and obey them for Thine honour.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory, be to Thee, O Christ; who didst not refuse to come to the river Jordan, and to be baptized therein by Thy servant John. O mayest Thou thoroughly cleanse me by Thy merits in this life, that, freed from all vices and sins, I may be filled with the love of Thee, and long for my heavenly country. Make me, I beseech Thee, ere my soul quits the body, pleasing to Thee in all things; that, departing this life, I may be over in Heaven with Thee, to see Thee, enjoy Thee, 22and to praise Thy Holy name for ever and ever.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory, be to Thee, O Christ, who for our sakes didst dwell in the wilderness, amongst the wild beasts, and didst continue fasting and watching in prayer for forty days and forty nights, and didst suffer Thyself to be tempted by the devil, whom when Thou hadst overcome, angels came and ministered unto Thee; give me grace to discipline, overcome, and bring into subjection, my sinful flesh with its evil affections. Give me grace to be instant in prayer and all other spiritual exercises; and grant that by Thine assistance, I may thoroughly overcome the sin of gluttony, and may escape the snares and artifices of the devil. Let no temptations, I beg of Thee, defile me, nor separate me from Thee, but may they rather purify me, and unite and join me unto Thee.

Hail, sweet Jesus! praise, and honour, and glory, be to Thee, O Christ, who didst vouchsafe to preach repentance, to call unto Thee disciples, and from them to choose the twelve Apostles to be the especial heralds of the faith, and to gather together the children of God, that were scattered abroad. 23Draw me after Thee, and powerfully excite my heart to love Thee. Suffer me not to neglect the grace with which Thou halt called me, but make me ready to despise the world and all perishable things, and to follow Thee, taking Thy humility and charity for my example. Give me grace to seek Thee alone, and with earnest longings to sigh continually after Thee. Amen.