The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. IV. Rosary, Oblations, and Daily Exercises to the most Holy Trinity.
CHAP. IV.
A ROSARY, OBLATIONS, AND DAILY EXERCISES TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.
The Rosary of the Most Holy Trinity
Used and recommended by eminent Divines.
The method of reciting it is as follows. After the Apostles' Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory, say,
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.
Afterwards recite the Rosary by three decades, thus;
At the beginning of each decade, or at the three greater
beads, say the Lord's Prayer,
with the Angelic Hymn, taken
out of the seventh chapter of
the Apocalypse: Benediction,
and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, honour, and
power, and strength, to our
God for ever and ever. And
at each of the smaller beads,
say the words of the seraphic
Thrice Holy, in the sixth chapter of Isaias, adding the Doxology of the Church. Holy,
holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts.
The whole earth is full of his
glory. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghost: as it was in
the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
Cornelius & Lapide, on the sixth chapter of Isaias, testifies that this exercise, which he calls a short Doxology, was much and very profitably practised by many learned and pious men.
1. It is a profession of faith in the Most Holy Trinity against heretics and infidels.
2. It is a religious exercise of faith, hope, charity, gratitude, and other virtues.
3. It is an incitement to devotion, and to spiritual joy, to enable us to bear temptations and adversities with fortitude, generously to overcome all difficulties and hardships; and, as it were, after the example of the royal prophet, to say. Bless the Lord at all times.
4. We emulate, in our measure, the life and office of angels, while we thus continually renew our endeavours to praise God; since this is what the angels do incessantly in heaven, and what we shall do there with them hereafter . For the life and office of an angel is, in reality, to praise God. Thus, in fact, we begin here to be blessed, and to have our conversation in heaven; for we rise above earthly things, and are occupied with God and his praises . So far Cornelius.
Further we are thus reminded to accustom ourselves to the practice and exercise of a right intention, that we may refer all things to the greater glory of God.
Thus, too, we put off, and cut away by little and little that corrupt and hurtful affection of zeal for our own glory, which seems rooted in our very nature; and, on the other hand, we profess that all glory is due to God alone, as the supreme source of all good, and to us nothing but confusion.
In order to excite and nourish in us these and similar pious affections, many eminently learned and holy men have taken great pains to illustrate, with a number of pious thoughts and meditations, the Doxology, Glory be to the Father, &C.
This short exercise pleases me as much as any. Glory he to the Father, who, when I did not exist, by his power created me to his own image: and to the Son, who, when I was lost, by his wisdom restored me by his own Blood: and to the Holy Ghost, who, by his grace and goodness, justified me, a child of wrath, both in baptism, and many times afterwards, when I had fallen.
For each and all of these benefits, be the glory such and so great, as it was in the beginning, before every creature; the same, and still greater be now in the course of this present life; and ever be, even to the consummation of the world, and world with out end, amen; to all eternity, without any limit, offered up by all the blessed in their home, where shall be no satiety, rest, or cessation from praising God. Such, and so great, 1 say, is the praise and glory which wow, at this very moment, while I recite this Doxology, I wish and endeavour to offer up to God, and to set forth at the same time in deed. See how pregnant with pious meaning is this little form of devotion!
Accordingly Cornelius, in the passage above cited, expresses his opinion that there is no prayer or action more holy than this; none more worthy of God, or more pleasing to him, nor yet more profitable to man. He there testifies that this Rosary was composed by the B, Nicolaus Serarius, a divine of the Society of Jesus, of whom the following account is given in the life prefixed to his works: —
“ The devotion exceeds belief with which he used that short expression of divine praise with which the Church concludes all the Psalms. To him the Doxology was the beginning and ending of all his actions, both public and private. This he never uttered without a special fervour, which would shine forth even in his countenance, He would seem to exult with joy and triumph, if he heard it sung with peculiar grace by the choristers. How rich and heavenly were the sentiments he derived from that most divine song; and how, by constant reflection upon it, his breast was inflamed daily more and more with zeal for the glory of God, he was eager to declare, not only in frequent discourses, as opportunity offered, but also by public proofs
In order to recite this little chaplet with greater fruit and devotion, observe what Thomas of Sallies says in his Treasury of Prayers: —
“1. This Doxology enables us to effect three special objects: 1st, To praise; 2d, to thank; 3d, to petition the most holy Trinity. Reflect, then, before you begin the Rosary, which of these is the object of your intention; whether all of them together, or one for each decade, or one throughout the three.
“2. Propose to yourself a reason which may be either general or particular, for which you thus desire to praise God. For example, I wish to return thanks, and to praise God for the most holy Nativity, Passion, &c. of our Lord Jesus Christ; for my vocation, for such and such a private or public benefit. In like manner, weigh well what you desire to ask, whether for some virtue, or grace, or deliverance from some temptation, or for help and assistance in this or that matter. For, ask what you will (so you but ask rightly), and you may be sure that you have in it no end in view but the greater glory of God."
A DAILY EXERCISE TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.
By Biasius Palma, Canon Regular of St. Paul.
Most gracious Lord, my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who hast created me for thyself, many and grave are the causes for which I owe thee the tribute of my whole self. I now, therefore, direct, and offer to thy divine majesty, with all the ability I possess, all the thoughts, words, and actions of my whole life, and particularly of this day, uniting them with the merits and works of Jesus Christ my dearest Redeemer, and of the most Blessed Virgin, my sweetest mother and patroness, and all the blessed angels, saints, and spirits of the just, who ever were, are, or shall be.
Oh, that by thy infinite power, to which nothing is impossible, I could possess, besides this narrow heart of mine, other hearts of boundless extent, whose whole wish, occupation, and continual endeavour, should be constantly to look up to, acknowledge, reflect upon, love, and praise thee, my God and my Lord.
Accordingly, I now protest before thee and the whole court of heaven, that it is my intention, my wish, and my desire, in all my thoughts, words, and actions; nay, that in every sigh, motion, and breath, I wish and intend this above all things, to unite with them, and to pile, as it were, on the same heap, all the force and multitude of those acts and hearts that please thy divine majesty, that neither I nor they may ever intermit that exercise to which we are bound by the law of our creation and preservation, which is, always to seek to know thee, to worship, and to love thee.
This duty I now render, and wish to render as perfectly and fully as possible, without regard either to reward or punishment; but only to thee, my chief good, to whom I owe it, for many reasons, and principally these four:
1. That I should acknowledge thy supreme majesty, glory, and excellence, and to this end most closely unite to thee my heart.
2. That I should give thee thanks for thy innumerable benefits to me, both general and particular.
3. That I should to some extent satisfy thee for my sins, and obtain thy favour, both now and at the hour of my death.
4. That I should obtain of thee the help of thy grace, and of every thing which thou knowest to be necessary to enable me to persevere to the end, and to enjoy thee for ever.
I humbly beseech thee, therefore, my dearest Lord, to vouchsafe of thy most tender mercy, to receive all these oblations, to preserve me from all sin, and to give me the grace never to bestow any portion of my heart in exchange for any perishable creature of thine; but that I may entirely, all that I am, cleave constantly to thee alone, my Creator, my God, my Lord, and my highest good.
A VERY BEAUTIFUL OBLATION OF ONE’S SELF.
Taken from the Tree of Life of Francis Bourgoine, Priest of the Congregation of the Oratory.
In which man, from the consideration of God's claims upon him, merely as he is the Author of nature, offers himself to him, entirely, with a general reference to his natural condition, by enumerating all his parts and faculties, as follows:
I offer to thee, O supreme, eternal, and adorable Trinity, one God, my soul, which thou hast created out of nothing: my body, which thou hast formed of clay; my understanding, my memory, my heart, and my will, with all the strength and capacity of those faculties, all the actions and affections, thoughts and desires, which ever shall, or can proceed from them, to thee I offer and dedicate them all.
Accept, O Lord God, all my senses, with their powers, functions, and uses; my eyes, with all their looks; my hearing, smell, taste, and touch; all my appetites, with all their operations; lastly, all my arteries, veins, limbs, and bones of my body, with all their motions, actions, and faculties.
All these I offer, consecrate, devote, and dedicate to thee for ever. Vouchsafe to accept this sacrifice of my service for an odour of sweetness.
ANOTHER OBLATION TO GOD.
From the same Bourgoine.
In which man, considering the titles of God which have reference to the state and condition of grace, offers and dedicates himself entirely to him as far as regards his spiritual state of life through grace.
O most high, powerful, and merciful God, adorable and incomprehensible Trinity! I offer, dedicate, and consecrate to thee my soul, with all its powers and faculties, all the capacity of my will to love thee, and of my intellect to know thee, to my own abasement and thy greater glory.
I offer and give to thee my mind’s whole faculty of obedience, to co-operate with thy divine grace, for the fulfilment of all thy will. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee. Accept all that my will can possibly desire for thy praise, pleasure, and service.
Finally, I offer and give to thee all my affections, thoughts, words, and works, both done and to be done, my life, my time, my eternity, all my existence in nature and in grace; and lastly, myself, as the most worthless and unworthy slave of thy almighty power and goodness, who am entirely dependent on thy mercy; and in virtue of this gift, by thy grace never to be revoked, I intend and desire all that is mine to be for ever thine.
A DAILY EXERCISE,
By far the most useful of all.
In which a great accession of grace and piety may be gained by the oblation of one's self and all one's actions to God, in union with the actions and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is wonderful how much the maintenance and practice of a right intention, by which we refer all that belongs to us to the glory of God alone, conduces to advancement in grace and true piety.
But this exercise will be still more useful if we unite our actions to those of Christ, and so offer them to the eternal Father. To this St Paul exhorts us in the words: Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God. And again, All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this way our little actions, otherwise most valueless, as well as our afflictions, pains, and miseries; nay, even our every step, breath, and sigh, united to the actions and merits of Christ, will be clothed with an honour of the highest value and dignity, and cannot be otherwise than most pleasing to God.
Just as if lead, by being cast into melted gold, were 0 acquire the beauty and value of gold; or as if a vessel of water, by being poured into a cask of most excellent wine, were to be entirely changed into wine; even so it is 0 be warmed with the fleece of the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world. For how can we, poor wretches that we are, who have no confidence in our own merits and justice, please the Father, except through the Son, in whom He is well pleased? For He is our head, by whose united action the members live and grow, and of his fulness we all have received. And how can our loving Father despise us, if he looks on the face of His Christ?
AN OBLATION TO GOD THE FATHER.
Most tender Father of mercies, and God of all consolation ! I thy unworthy creature, and vile slave that I am, humbly place myself before thee, my most gracious Lord and Creator, not trusting in my own merits, but in those of thy most beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ. I come to thee earnestly entreating to be made a partaker of thy grace and goodness, by the help of which I may be able in every thought, word, and deed of mine, so to direct myself according to the rule of thy will and pleasure, that I may render to thee, my Lord, the pleasing and acceptable service which I owe to thee.
To thee, then, O most loving Father, who art the giver and preserver of all things, I offer myself and all that is mine, to thy most ready worship and service, in union with the oblation of thy most beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, with which he offered and commended himself to thee, when yet an infant, in the temple; afterwards, when praying in the garden; and, lastly, when dying on the altar of the cross.
O most merciful God, be favourable to me, a wretched sinner, and despise not the work of thine own hands; but look upon the face of thy Christ, whom thou hast given to us to be our Advocate and Mediator.
Let his worthiness atone for my baseness, that I may obtain through his merits what I cannot by my own.
Vouchsafe, then, of thine infinite goodness and mercy, favourably to accept my service, however unworthy, for the greater glory of thy name, and the salvation of my soul.
AN OBLATION
Of our sleep and watching.
O most gracious God, I offer to thee my sleep and watching, in union with all the sleep and watching, and also with the resurrection of thy Son my Saviour, who, after three days, awoke from death, as it were from sleep, and by his own power took his life again.
Grant, I beseech thee, that I may so use the necessary rest of my body, and so employ my waking hours, as that all may tend to thy greater glory and the salvation of my soul.
AN OBLATION
Of our thoughts, words, and actions.
O most loving God, I offer to thee all my thoughts, words, and actions; all my labours, and all my business, which I this day, and ever undertake, together with all the labours, actions, and troubles, which thy only-begotten Son our Saviour ever undertook to redeem us miserable sinners.
All these I offer to thee in acknowledgment of that debt by which I am bound to thee as my supreme Lord, and in thanksgiving for thy immense benefits, which thou hast bestowed on me from the beginning of my life to this hour.
Look favourably upon me, I beseech thee, and so direct me in all things according to thy divine will, that by thy gift I may desire what is pleasing to thee, and may perform it with all my strength, to thy greater glory and the salvation of my soul.
AN OBLATION
Of the care and refreshment of the body.
O most good God, I offer to thee the necessary care and refreshment of my body, in union with that supper and refreshment which thy most sweet Son my Saviour instituted with his beloved disciples, when the hour of his passion was approaching.
Grant me thy grace to aid me so to moderate the care and recreation of my body, that I may sustain and preserve it, so as to be the better fitted for thy honour and service, without loss or injury to my soul.
AN OBLATION
Of prayer and pious exercises.
O most merciful God, I offer to thee my prayers and devotions of this day, with all my good works and pious exercises, to be accepted by thee through the assistance of thy grace and favour.
May it please thee, O eternal God, to receive them in union with all the merits and prayers of Jesus Christ thy Son, which he poured forth for us on Mount Olivet and elsewhere.
Grant to me ever, I beseech thee, for the love of thy most dear Son, to obtain a salutary effect to my prayers and petitions, so far as shall seem best to thee, to promote thy greater honour and my salvation.
AN OBLATION
Of crosses and afflictions.
O most tender God, I offer to thee my tribulations, difficulties, pains, and all my afflictions, which I have ever endured hitherto, or which thou wishest me to endure hereafter, in union with the most bitter passion of thy only-begotten Son my Saviour, and in union with all the pains, torments, and afflictions which he refused not to endure to redeem me, a lost sinner.
Grant to me, O most gracious God, thy grace and assistance, that I too may not refuse to receive afflictions from thee, nor to endure them for thy sake, but that, bearing them with a cheerful and contented spirit, I may praise and glorify thy name, and in these may seek and find the salvation of my soul. Amen.
AN OBLATION TO GOD THE SON.
O most good and loving Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, I an unworthy sinner, yet redeemed with thy precious blood, fly to thee, my God and Saviour, with a humble mind, and with the deepest affection of my heart.
And because thou hast offered thy whole self to God the Father on the altar of the cross, as the price of my redemption, to redeem me, a wretched sinner, I too, O most loving Jesus, offer to thee my whole self, whatever I am, and whatever I shall be, with all that I have, or ever shall have.
Take, O Lord, I beseech thee, into the hands of thy unspeakable mercy, both my soul and body, my senses, words, and actions. Vouchsafe so to direct and govern me in all things, that I may ever avoid all occasions of sin, and never fall into the snare of the malignant spirit, but may unceasingly adhere to thee, my Redeemer, and to thy commandments; so that neither life, nor death, nor any misfortune, may separate me from thee.
I pray thee, O most loving Jesus, by that love which for our sake drew thee from the bosom of the supreme Father into the Virgin’s womb, supply the imperfection of my actions, which, on my part, are of little value and merit, unless they receive a supply of their deficiency from thy perfection.
Unite, I implore thee, my most unworthy service with all that thou hast done and suffered of thy most perfect and unspeakable love and obedience; and vouchsafe to offer it to the eternal Father, together with the riches of the satisfaction and merits of thy love, that my want may be supplied from thy abundance, and that I may obtain through thy mediation that grace which I in no way merit of myself.
I entreat thee also. O most dear Jesus, by thy holy incarnation, passion, and death, and by all that thou hast done for our salvation, have mercy on my parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and benefactors, living and dead; communicate to them the merits of thy most precious blood and passion, that by the assistance of thy grace they may so order their present life, as to receive finally in heaven the reward of life eternal.
AN OBLATION TO THE HOLY GHOST.
O Holy Ghost, who, with the Father and the Son, art the one and true God; man, without thy inspiration is nought. Only when we are born again of water and the Holy Ghost are we members of Christ Jesus, and sons of his Church, This Church thou governest and protectest, makest fruitful, and sanctifiest by the continual outpouring of thy grace and goodness.
To thee, therefore, I offer my heart and my whole self, and humbly devote and consecrate to thee all that I have, do, and am.
Purify, I beseech thee, my heart and senses, by the outpouring of thy gifts and graces upon me, that I may ever be able to serve thee with a chaste body, and to please thee by a clean heart. And because without thee no good can ever be accomplished, or even devised, let thy grace, I beseech thee,
Illumine our senses And make our heart With patience firm, The weakness of out ever precede and follow me; make me to be continually intent on good works; and because these of themselves are unworthy to please thee, mercifully accept them in union with the most holy works and merits of Christ Jesus, that as he, by thy overshadowing, was conceived of a most pure Virgin and became our Saviour, so from his grace, charity, and infinite merits, our wants and infirmities may be supplied.
Illumine our senses from above,
And make our hearts o’erflow with love;
With patience firm, and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply. Amen.