with the adjoyned Antheme and Prayer to the sacred Virgin and to Saint Joseph 2. Recite them for all such as arâ— thus associated as they all recite the same for him 3. Recite them for his own and their happy death and for the obtaining of Grace necessary for that purpose ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! despise not our Prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son recommend us to your Son represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ hear us O Christ graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us Pray for us Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divin Grace mother most pure Mother most chast Mother undefiled Mother untouched Mother most aminable Mother most admirable Mother of our Creator Mother of our Redeemer Virgin most Prudent Virgin most Venerable Virgin most Renowned Virgin most Powerfull Virgin most Mercifull Virgin most Faithfull Mirrour of Justice Seat of Wisdom Cause of our Joy Spiritual Vessel Honourable Vessel Vessel of singular Devotion Mystical Rose Tower of David Pray for us Tower of Ivory House of Gold Ark of the Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning Star Health of the Weak Refuge of Sinners Comfort of the Afflicted Help of Christians Queen of Angels Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of all Saints Queen of the most sacred Rosary Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Spare us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Hear us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Have mercy on us ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! Despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son Recommend us to your Son Represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Vers Pray for us O holy Mother of God Resp That we may become worthy of Christs promises Let us pray REmember O most compassionate Virgin Mary Mother of Power Mercy and Consolation That it was never yet heard or known that any one was by you rejected who in his grievous pressures and afflictions had recoâ—rse to your powerfull Prayers Patronage and Protection Imboldned with this confidence we your distressed Children of the holy Rosary with eyes full of tears and hearts full of sorrow make now to you O sacred Virgin Mother our most humble addresses in these our present and pressing necessities Despise not our words we beseech you O Blessed Mother of the Word Eternal and Incarnate Reject not the Petitions of your poor servants O you pious Comforter of all afflicted Souls but graciously vouchsafe to hear us to help us to protect us and to obtain for us the accomplishment of all our just and humble desires That we may have fresh occasion to admire your transcendent Mercy Charity and Compassion and to magnify and praise with eternal gratitude and thanksgiving the infinit goodness of your Divin Son our sweet Saviour Christ Jesus The Verse and Prayer of Saint Joseph Vers The just man shall flourish as a Palm-tree Resp He shall be multiplyed as the Cedar of Libanus Let us pray ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the merits of Saint Joseph thy sacred Mothers Bridegroom that what we are unworthy to obtain may be granted us by his intercession who livest and reignest world without end Amen §. 18. Several other Prayers Wherof one or more may be sometimes added after the Litanies of our Blessed Lady according to each ones Devotion Occasion or Necessity I. A Filial Recommendation of our selv's to the sacred Virgin-Mothers protection O Sacred and Sovereign Lady-Mother next after God the onely hope of my soul Into that singular faith commendation and custody wherby your tenderly loving Son Christ Jesus my Saviour recommended you from the Cross to his dearly beloved Disciple Saint John I do this day and all the days of my life commend and commit my body my soul my senses my honour all my hope and comfort all my anguishes miseries and afflictions all my thoughts words and actions my whol life and the final end thereof Most humbly beseeching you that I may by your powerfull intercession be preserved from all sin from all scandal from whatsoever may any way displease yours or your Son 's pure eyes provoke your anger or hazard the loss of your favour and from a sudden and unprovided death Obtain for me I beseech you O my glorious Lady-Mother that I may be truly penitent for all my past offences that I may manfully resist all present occasions of sin that I may walk more warily and innocently for the future Let me feel your prompt and powerfull assistance during the whol course of this my lives pilgrimage and in the dreadfull day of my judgement be you pleas'd O sacred Mother to become my pious Advocatrix at the Tribunal of your Son Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for evermore Amen II. A Prayer for a happy death O My dear Lord Jesu I most humbly beseech you by those most bitter pains and pangs which you suffer'd for me in your cruel passion and particularly in the hour wherein your Divin Soul pass'd forth of your Blessed Body take pity upon my poor and sinfull soul in its last agony and in its passage to Eternity And you O compassionate Virgin-Mother Mary remember how you sadly stood by your dear Son dying on the Cross and by that your excessive grief and your Sons sacred death assist my soul in its last conflict with death and conduct it to a happy Eternity And you O glorious Saints John Joseph Nicodemus Lazarus Mary Magdalen Mary of James Mary of Salome and Martha who stood by my dear Redeemer Christ Jesus expiring on the Cross assist me also in the hour of my souls departure and accompany it to a happy Eternity Amen III. A General Prayer for our selvs our Friends and the whol Church DIssolve we beseech you O Lord by your bounty the bonds of our sins and by the intercession of the sacred Virgin and all your blessed Saints preserve us our Friends our Brethren and our Benefactors in your grace and sanctity Purge O Lord from all impiety and enrich with solid virtues and perfections all such as have any relation to us by consanguinity affinity or familiarity grant us health of
and in them all Christians how they should pray and what they should beg daily of the divin Majestie It is the prime Exemplar of all Prayers the Abridgment of the Gospell the Summary of all our just and fitting petitions and the absolute Form of imploring all such good things as we can expect and desire and of deprecating all such bad things as we are to shun and avoid Finally It is to be by so much the more zealously frequented prized and reverenced before all other prayers whatsoever by how much it excels them all in all sorts of prerogatives First in Authority and dignity as being prescribed by Christ Jesus the Wâ—sdom it self the Truth it self the Divinity it self 2. In Brevity and facility as embracing in few easy and intelligible words all that can rightly be demanded of the Divin Majesty 3. In vertu and efficacie For how should our heavenly Father refuse to hear our petitions which are humbly presented to his Throne of Mercy in the express terms and in obedience to the precept of his dearly beloved Son Christ Jesus Affections contained in our Lords Prayer 1. OF a poor Pilgrim and Prodigall child sighing after his Countrey kindred and Fathers house Our Father which art in Heaven 2. Of a Faithfull servant forgetting himself to procure his Masters honour Hallowed be thy name 3. Of a loving Spouse desiring the sweet presence embraces and enjoyment of her beloved Bridegroom Thy Kingdom come 4. Of a dutifull Son conforming himself absolutely to his Fathers sacred will and pleasure Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 5. Of a needy Beggar asking an Almes at the dore of the Divin Mercy Give us this day our daily bread 6. Of a guilty Prisoner deeply indebted ready to be condemned and petitioning for pardon and remission And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us 7. Of a Blind and weak Traveller imploring light and strength that he erre not fall not faint not in his journey And lead us not into temptation 8. Of a soul Weary of all things which hinder her desired perfection and craving to be freed from them But deliver us from evill A larger Explication of our Lords Prayer It contains a Preface and seven Petitions THE PREFACE Our Father which art in Heaven THese words put us in mind at the beginning of our prayers of the severall parts of our duty 1. Our being a form of plurall signification declares that we are to draw into the communication of our devotions all such as are confederated with us in the common relation of sons to the same Father 2. Father If God be our Father we surely owe unto him a filiall Love Fear Reverence Obedience For if we are Refractory Irreligious Rebellious how can we presume to call him Fatheâ— But if we are dutifull children pliable to Will and obed ent to his precepts we may confidently expect from him childrens portions and inheritances 3. Which art in Heaven This tells us where our Treasure is and consequently where our hopes and hearts should be fixed and whither all our desires petitions affections are to be directed 4. In Heaven We are Prodigall children and therefore sigh after our Parents house We are poor Pilgrims and therefore stear our course towards our happy Countrey We are wretched Exiles and therefore yearn after our heavenly home The first Petition Hallowed be thy Name 1. Whereby we desire to forget and forgo our selves and all things whatsoever to promote and procure the honour and glorie of our loving Father 2. We desire that his holy Name his divin Essence his glorious Attributes may be honoured by all creatures Believed by Faith loved by Charity and celebrated with continuall prayses throughout the whol Universe 3. It is a direct and formall Act of Adoration For Gods Name being the Representative of God himself we here Petition that he may be truly honored worshipped adored by all in all above all 4. It is also an Act of Thanksgiving for all our received Benefits and Blessings and a returning of all that we have are and can to God as to their Origin and Fountain to whose only Goodness we ascribe all that is Good in us and in all creatures The second Petition Thy Kingdom come 1. Whereby we desire that God may reign by his grace and Justice in us in his Church in the hearts of all men and every where subdue all his Enemyes 2. We desire that he will be pleas'd to exercise his absolute Dominion in our spirits and fully rule in all our faculties in our understanding by Faith in our wills by Charity in our Memories by Hope in our members by Mortification in our whol Interiour and exteriour Man by totally possessing all entirely Commanding all and being truly All in all 3. We desire that his spirituall Kingdom to wit the propagation of his faith and Gospell and the perfection of Souls may yet make more and more progress in he world Extending that where it is not and Intending this where it is And that his Kingdom may not only be amongst us in Name and Form but in Effect in efficacie in Power 4. We lastly desire not only his Kingdom of Grace in this world but also of Glory in the next The third Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 1. Whereby we desire the sweet presence and fruition of our beloved Lord in our Souls and beg for a prefect union and conformity to his blessed will 2. We desire that the dispensation of his divin Providence may be the absolutely directing Guide of the whol world and the entire measure of all our wills and wishes 3. We desire that in all our prayses and proceedings we may be evermore pliable to his holy will pleasure Resigned in all accidents Patient in all sufferings unchangeable in al good purposes submissive upon all occasions and that we may perform all our duties of devotion obedience perfection cheerfully promptly perseverantly 4. We finally desire that as the holy Angells and Saints in heaven serve our dread Soveraign with perfect Harmony unity tranquillity agreeing all together sweetly lovingly peaceably to prayse and glorify his divin Majesty so all our hearts and Soul's here upon Earth cancelling all crooked and sinister intentions may live and love together in an Angelicall Conformity and jointly please and prayse our Soveraign Creatour with a Saint-like Peace purity and Charity fervently incessantly Eternally The fourth Petition Give us this day our daily Bread Whereby acknowledging our own Poverty necessity indigency we humbly crave an almes from him who is the Author and Fountain of all Mercy First we beg the Bread of Pilgrims for the support of our lives and for the supply of our bodyes necessities that is a daily Portion of all such things as we daily want we are prohibited to be solicitous for to morrow and therefore we petition only for the present We must not be covetous to
have all at once but content to receive it as we need it and as the Divin Giver pleases to dispense it with a constant relying upon his continued providence which therefore feeds us with extemporarie provisions that being always needie we may always be begging and being daily supplyed we may be daily gratefull for the past joyfull for the present and confident for the future 2. We beg the Bread of sinners Contrition Tears Repentance 3. We beg the Bread of Children Love Devotion Obedience Resignation 4. We beg the Bread of Angells the nourishment of our souls Contemplation Communion Union The fifth Petition For give us our trepasses as we forgive them that trespass against us 1. Whereby we confess our selvs to be deeply indebted fearfull to be condemn'd carefull to be releas'd and therefore humbly sue for Mercy Compassion Remission 2. We here petition for a Pardon not only of our sins of frailty ignorance and sudden surprisall but those of deliberation of election of express malice 3. We petition for a Pardon not only of our Sins of Om ssion but of Commission not only of our Carnall sins but of our Spirituall not only of our known sins but of our secret ones not only of sins don directly against the divin Majesty but also against our Neighbour and our selvs not only of mortall sins but of veniall 4. Forgive us as we forgive By which condition we tacitly oblige our selvs to forgive all such as have any way injur'd and offended us even from our hearts not entertaining so much as a thought of Revenge but truly loving all them that have wrong'd us for so only and not otherwise we desire our Creators Pardon for our own committed crimes and impieties The sixth Petition And lead us not into Temptation 1. Where by we desire light that we fall not help that we fail nor strength that we saint not a guide that we erre not comfort that we perish not 2. St. Cyprian out of an old latin copie reads Suffer us not to be led into Temptation that is permit us not to be overcome by Temptation nor to give our assents to sinfull suggestions 3. Since our life upon Earth is a perpetuall warfare and no one can be Crown'd unless he couragiously resist the World the Flesh and the Devill his swoâ—n Enemies therefore we instantly implore the divin assistance against them that we may be able to resist the Devill chastise our Flesh despise the World and so finally obtain a Crown of Glory after our Victory 4. Finally we here acknowledge our own weakness frailty nothing and that all our sufficiencie is from our Creators grace mercy and bounty which we therefore beg and implore not to abandon us in our necessities afflictions temptation The seventh Petition But deliver us from Evill Whereby as weary of all things which hinder our desired union and conjunction with our beloved Lord and the only Spouse of our Souls and the finall End of our Life and Pilgrimage upon Earth we beg to be delivered First not only from all temporall and corporall Evâ—lls as Famine Pestilence Wars 2. But also from all spirituall Evills as impatience pusâ—illanimity distrust of the divin succour in our tribulations sufferings persecutions 3. From this World which allures us to sin and from these bodyes which imprison our Spirits 4 Finally from all that displeases the divin Majesty under whose sacred wings we desire to shelter our selvs from the violence of all our adversaries that so no Temptation may weaken our Faith discomfort our Hope distroy our Charity daunt our Courage alter our Resolutions hinder our Perseverance or overthrow our Glories An Exercise upon our Lords Prayer Dialated with Acts and Affections 1. Our Father which art in Heaven Adoration and Acknowledgement O Heavenly Father I no sooner had a Being but I see the Effects of your paternall Bountie inflowing upon me all things necessary for my preservation even to this present Instant in which I appear before your dread Majesty to adore you prayse you and to implore your Mercy I humbly acknowledg my own Ingratitude Rebellion Disobedience all which notwithstanding you have still continued the affection of a tender Father towards me in cherishing me comforting me correcting me pardoning me protecting me and treating me not as a Traytor a Prodigall a Slave but as one of your dearly beloved Children Wherefore I adore you as my Soveraign Lord God and I honour you as my heavenly Father and I prayse you as my powerfull Creator and I love you as my mercifull Preserver and I promise for the future to obey you more punctually to serve you more faithfully to prayse you more fervently and to procure the dilatation of your divin honour and glory more zealously upon all occasions with a syncere filiall and cordiall affection Hallowed be thy Name A desire of true Light O what a Father How full of pity patience compassion to have so long endured the undutifullness irreverence insolencie of an â—ll behaved uncivill unnaturall child who instead of procuring the sanctification of your sacred Name in all your creatures and the exaltation of your honour in all his actions hath still continued to dishonour your Majesty to disedify his Neighbour to misuse your gifts graces and mercyes and to defile his heart and soul with all sorts of sins and impieties Grant O Father of Light and Love that I may have a clear sight and lively apprehension of your affection and my obligation that truly considering youâ— mercy and my own misery I may rely confidently upon that and rise speedily out of this so recovering your favour and friendship and eternally sanctifying praysing and magnifying your sacred Name and Majesty 3. Thy Kingdom come Sorrow for our Sins and sighing for Heaven I freely confess O Father of Mercy anâ— King of Majesty that my own willfulâ— blindâ—ess and disobedience hath moâ—… justly deâ—riv'd me of a Childs title anâ— quality Permit me therefore to presenâ— my self before you as a poor Bond-slave or at least as the Prodigall Child with tears in my eyes sighs in my heart and this humble petition in my mouth Father I have offended against Heaven and before you I have dissipated all the graces you so lovingly and liberally gave me and forfeiting my whol freedom am become the absolute slave of sensuality vanity impietie which now over-rule me raign within me and render me a rebell against your divin Majesty Mercy O most compassionate Father Destroy this Kingdom of Sin and Satan and Establish yours in my soul Live Lord Jesu in my heart I will have no other King but him Deprive me not Dear Father of that happy inheritance which your Son my Saviour hath purchased for me with the price of his precious blood But mercifully grant that your glorious Kingdom may come to be my lot and portion at my departure out of this place of banishment that I may there contemplate praise and love you for
Mother of God and Man and entirely a pure and unspotted Virgin O News exclaims S. Bernard never before heard of A Mother and yet a Virgin A Virgin and yet a Mother Hail Mary 3. At her bringing forth without pain O You Blessed and the only Blessed amongst women says the same Saint who alone were exempt from the generall curse of all women But what wonder if he put his Mother to no pain at his birth who was born to take away all pain from the whole world Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Iubilation FOr She saw the heavenly Court rejoycing at her Sons Nativity and heard the alternate Echo's of their Glory to God on high and Peace on Earth to People of good will Hail Mary 5. At the vision of the divin Essence FOr if She frequently enjoy'd this priviledge in her life-time as is the opinion of many learned Fathers She now surely enjoy'd it in a most eminent manner when she brought forth Gods Son into the world Hail Mary 6. At the many benefits bestowed on Mankind by her Son's Birth TO wit The Exaltation of human Nature The Redemption of the World The satisfaction for sin The victory over Satan The Promotion of Man to vertu Sanctity Perfection The certainty of Faith The Erection of Hope The Encrease of Charity The conferring of an Eternall Life and Kingdom Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of miracles wrought then for his manifestation to the World FOr 1. A great bright unusuall Star invites the Wise-men to Bethleem stable 2. Three Suns appear in Spain soon after joyning themselves into one Body signifying says S. Thomas that the Flesh the Soul and the Deity of the then born Infant were united in one person 3. A golden circle encompasses the Sun in the midst whereof stands a beautifull Virgin with a child in her bosom which the Sybill shews to Octavian the then Roman Emperor with many other wonders declaring to the whol world the divin Majesty and glory of her new-born Son Hail Mary 8. At the Adoration of the Wise-men WHo exteriourly summon'd by the appearing Star and interiourly instructed by the Holy Ghost came and fell down at his feet full of Faith Religion and Devotion and there brake forth into Acts of Adoration and extasies of Admiration Hail Mary 9. At their mysticall offrings WHich were Gold as to a great King Frankincense as to a true God Myrrh as to a mortall man who was to dy for the worlds Redemption Hail Mary 10. At the Vocation Conversion and Salvation of the Gentills WHereof she saw a happy beginning in these holy Kings Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth Is your Mercy your Compassion and your Charity to poor Mankind so excessive as that you should thus descend from your Throne of Majesty into a vale of misery for our salvation O Virgin-Mother the choyce Chamber Temple and Tabernacle of Gods Son the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the World Be you Eternally blessed who have been found worthy to bring forth the so long desired and expected of all Ages O Jesu My Lord and my Redeemer who were born of a poor Handmaid wrapp'd in poor Swathes hous'd in a poor Stable Bedded in a poor Cribb Give me true poverty of spirit and a perfect contempt of all worldly honours and greatnesses O sweet Saviour of the World who call'd the Kings to acknowledge and adore you in your Cradle and commanded them to return back by another way into their Countrey Call and compell my rebellious heart unto you by the powerfull light of your efficacious grace shining in my interiour and dispersing all darkness and indevotion in my soul that I may there find you feel you see you adore you and offer up to your divin Majesty the Myrrh of true compunction and mortification The Frankincense of fervent Prayer and devotion the Gold of ardent love and affection O grant that I may henceforth more faithfully follow your holy lights vocations and inspirations which will conduct me into the right way leading to my heavenly home out of which I have hitherto stray'd by my own wilfull malice negligence and sinfullness O my glorious new-born King Christ Jesu you were pleas'd to want a lodging upon Earth that you might lodge me in Heaven To be deprived of all worldly conveniences that you might heap on me your Celestiall comforts To embrace Poverty Humility self-contempt abnegation annihilation that you might inrich me with all the spirituall Treasures of vertu and perfection And shall I gape after temporall goods and glories seek for fleshly solaces and satisfactions place my affection upon poor and perishable trifles No my dear Redeemer I will henceforth endeavour to imitate your most perfest Example And O that I were sincerely willing to abandon all truly content to be abandon'd by all and really resolv'd to submit my self and all to your sacred will and disposition that so I might be absolutely conformable to you my All and All O holy Virgin O happy Mother how sweetly is my Soul ravish'd in the contemplation of that unspeakable joy and gladness which your dilated heart felt when you first embrac'd the long desired of all Nations in your tender folds I congratulate this your happiness O glorious Mother of my good Jesus and humbly creeping in amongst the holy crew of admiring Angells Kings and Shepheards I affectionately present you with these my meaner Canticles of conjubilation We were the poor banish'd miserable progeny of our unfortunat mother Eve we were the wretched Bond-slaves of sin and Satan we were the forlorn lost and stray'd sheep wilfully fled away from our faithfull Shepheard We were the Prodigall children carryed abroad by our own concupiscences from our loving Father and by your Sons means O Blessed and most fortunate Mother we are disingaged deliverd redeem'd from all these miseries woes and disasters O the happy change of our unhappy condition O Eternally Blessed Tree and Blessed Blossom Blessed Womb and Blessed Fruit Blessed Mary and Blessed Jesu The fourth joyfull Mystery offer'd THe Oblation and Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple And the Purification of his Blessed Mother Luc. 2. The Virgin 's purifi'd her dear Son warm's Old Simeons breast presented in his arms Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the carriage of her sweet Son Iesus FOr upon the fortith day after our blessed Saviours birth she cheerfully sets forth of Bethleem stable with her little Jesus in her armes and S. Joseph in her company towards Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moyses and to offer up her Son to his Eternall Father in the Temple And though she had just reason to dread King Herods cruelty yet she was more afraid to offend the divin Majesty The way says Ludolphus was five miles long yet she felt not the least
thought proceeds that it would much redound to the honour of Christ our Lord and Saviour and conduce to the encrease of devotion in the hearts of all pious Christians If as according to the very ancient institution and generally receiv'd custom severall godly people use to recite sixty three Angelicall Salutations with our Lords Prayer seven times interpos'd in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary according to the number of years which she is esteem'd to have liv'd upon earth which kind of prayer is call'd the Virgins Crown so they would also inure themselv's to recite thirty three Lords Prayers interposing four Angâ—lical Salutations in the honour of our Redeemer for a commemoration of the years in which he convers'd upon earth amongst men which would be as it were our Lords Crown c. We whom it behoves to promote the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ as farr forth as he shall enable us and to add fewell to the devotion of his faithfull flock Do approve and confirm the aforesaid manner of Prayer invented by that ancient and recluded Hermit and will have it call'd the Crown of our Lord c. Given at Florence the 18 of Feb. in the year 1516. The same Rosary or Crown of our Lord was afterwards confirm'd by Pope Gregory the 13. and endow'd with more and greater Indulgences vide Augustinum Florentinum Lucam Eremitam Bucelinum in Annalibus Benedictinis c. The Crown therefore consisting of 33. Pater Nosters or Lords Prayers consonant to the number of years in which our dear Redeemer convers'd with men in his human flesh upon earth to merit for us a happy Crown of Glory in Heaven and of four Ave Maries or Angelical Salutations with one Creed added for a conclusion is divided into four parts whereof the three first parts are Decades or Tens there being in each of them a ten-times-repeated Lords Prayer and one Angelical Salutation and in the fourth part there is only a Thrice-repeated Lords Prayer with one Angelical Salutation and the Creed and may be recited as it is here distinctly set down with an additionall point of Meditation upon some of the pious Mysteries of our Saviours life and a short Aspiration which may easily be dilated with more affections and resolutions according to each ones Spirit of devotion The first Part of the Crown of our Lord. Of Christs coming into the World 1. OUr dear Redeemer descended from his royall Throne from his eternall Fathers Bosom from his happy Heaven into this vale of misery and cloath'd himself with human flesh in the holy Virgins Womb. O Jesu how excessive is your Mercy how infinit your affection how stupendious your condescendency to undeserving man Ah! that my heart were perfectly free from all that displeases you that so it might deserve perpetually to harbour you Our Father 2. HE being conceiv'd inspir'd his sacred Virgin Mother to take a journey into the Mountains of Judea there to visit salute and serve St. Elizabeth her Kinswoman O Jesu that my soul were alwaies pliable docible obedient to correspond to your sweet and sacred impulses motions and aspirations how cheerfully should I then serve your soveraign Majesty and how charitably should I assist my necessitous neighbour Our Father 3. AFter he had been carryed nine months in his Mothers chast entralls he was born in a cold Stable wrap'd in poor raggs cradled in a hard Cribb O Jesu make me in love with poverty humility and mortification which you have made so amiable by practising them in your own divin person Our Father 4. THe Angells congratulate his happy birth with their heavenly Canticles and the shepheards humbly joyfully and admiringly adore him O Jesu let my tongue incessantly sing forth your Prayses let my heart perpetually breath forth acts of gratitude for your Mercies and let my soul sweetly melt away in her reciprocall affections Our Father 5. UPon the eighth day after his Nativity he was circumcis'd and call'd Jesus O Jesu O sacred and sugred Name O Jesu be unto me a Jesus O that my tongue heart and hands with all my senses powers and faculties of body and soul were truly circumcis'd from all superfluous curious vitious inclinations passions and affections that so I might never more think speak or act any thing offensive to your divin will and liking Our Father 6. HE was diligently sought out by the Eastern Sages humbly ador'd by them and highly honoured by their royall Presents and Oblations O Iesu let me never leave seeking till I find you the only belov'd Object of all my affections and strengthen me sweet Iesu to make a totall Oblation Consecration and Resignation of my whol self to your holy will and pleasure entirely irrevocably eternally Our Father 7. HE was carryed to the Temple in his sacred Mothers arms to be presented as her first-born to his eternall Father shewing himself in all things subject to the Law O Iesu shall not I humble my self and submit to all men for your sake Our Father 8. HE to avoid Herods cruelty sustain'd a tedious banishment in his tender years O Jesu give me patience in all my persecutions temptarions and troubles and let not my grievous sins banish me from your sweet grace and presence Our Father 9. HE return'd from Egypt after his seven years sufferings O Jesu let your efficacious grace recall me from vice to vertu let me return into you my first Origin and let me repose in you my only center and security Our Father 10. HE dwelt with his Parents in t he City Nazareth O Jesu dwell in my soul here by your grace that my soul may dwell with you hereafter in your eternal glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who having conceiv'd your divin Son without sin and brought him forth without sorrow serv'd him so diligently during the time of his minority appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and intercession Hail Mary The second Part. Of Christs Conversation amongst men 1. OUr dear Redeemer being twelve years old went up with his Parents to Jerusalem to perform his devotions where he was lost sought and after three day's found in the Temple O Jesu replenish my heart with solid devotion that sincerely seeeking you I may happily find you and having found you I may faithfully keep you company in my interiour for evermore Our Father 2. HE return'd with his Parents to Nazareth and was subject unto them O Iesu break my rebellious will that I may promptly obey you and my Superiors according to your most perfect trample Our Father 3. HE being thirty years old was baptiz'd by St. Iohn in the river Iordan O Iesu permit not my sinfull soul to pass forth of my body till it be baptiz'd in a river of tears and restor'd to purity by the Sacrament of Penance Our Father 4. HE fasted forty dayes and nights in the Desert and was tempted by the Devill O Iesu give me courage to subdue all
patience there being no Pope since Sixtus the fourth who hath not freely opened the Churches Storehouse and added new priviledges prerogatives and benefits unto his predecessors liberalitie in so much as I find above forty authentick Bulls and Instruments issued forth of that highest spirituall Court for the approbâ—tion confirmation and ornament of this renowned Arch-Confraternity of the Rosary Fourthly I may add to this large inventory of spirituall profits That to be of this Confraternity is a probable sign of being predestinated to eternall feliâ—ity For if with the holy you shall be holy sayes the Psalmist and with the Elect elected what better sign of holiness what surer token of election can one have in this life than to be associated with so many good Souls aspiring zealously and unanimously to piety to perfection to salvation Fiftly the last profit to let pass many others is a confidence a comfort and a kind of security in the article of Death Death is commonly accompanied with three corrosives Bitterness because of the Cessation of all pleasures the pâ—ivation of all worldly riches the separation of body and Soul two ancient friends and companions Danger because of the dire conflicts and dismall temptations of the then most busy devill Dread and terrour because of the doubtfull and severe judgment immediatly ensuing Now the devout and diligent members of this sacred Confraternity are exempt from the most part of these alarm's For death seems not to them so bitter because long before expected prevented pâ—ovided for The enemies assaults and temptations are not to them so dreadfull and dangerous because the dayly use of their spirituall weapons renders them expert in these combats able to foil their adversaries and experienc'd to defend themselves The apprehension of Gods Judgments is not to them so terrible because they continually think of them and accordingly order their Life and actions discharge their consciences of sin practise works of piety and endeavour to acquire the sacred Virgins favour in hope to have her then their friend and advocate which is surely the best way to dy with safety and security The just man dy's says Saint Bernard as well as the wicked yet the just man dy's with this advantage and assurance that the ending of his life here is the entrance into a better Life hereafter and therefore he living dy's to the world that dying he may begin to live to God O Life truly holy O Death truly happy where the conscience is pure and the Soul unspotted These are some part of the spirituall profits which proceed from this renowned Society of the ROSARY It now remains that I briefly tell you how you may become capable to participate of these priviledges and prerogatives and what duty and devotion befits the faithfull servants of the sacred Virgin Mary and the true members of this most holy Society For it is not enough to have registred your names in the Rosary Catalogue to enter with the rest into her Chappell to be externally associated to this Confraternity but in the first place 1. You must resolve upon an honest honourable holy life A reformation of your manners a renouncing of all vice and vanity a pursute of all vertu piety perfection Yea you must strive to surpass in devotion and sanctity all such other worldlings as have not that honour and happyness you have to be of the blessed Virgins familie for you O devout Rosarists have dedicated your selves more particularly to God service you make a more speciall profession to honour his holy Mother than they who walk in the wide track of the World and if you surpass them not in perfection how deserve you the title of her particular servants If you make not appear in your lives and actions more Modestie Humilitie Patience Piety Devotion and all sorts of vertues than others how are you worthy to be her speciall friends and favourite Finally if you pretend to be truly her children and domesticks she expects from you cleaness of heart purity of conscience sanctity of life and conversation 2. And in order to obtain this mundicity purity and sacntity you must have a high esteem and make frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance as being the main Pillar of a spirituall life the soveraign Medicin to recover our Souls decayed health the first and fundamentall step to all perfection Yes every Christian who hath any Zeal for his own salvation much more we who make a profession of somewhat more than ordinary devotion must presently upon his lapse into mortall sin dispose his Soul to Contrition his mouth to Confession his hands to Satisfaction his body to Penance which is the true Dâ—ttany curing these bitings the wholsom Mithridat expelling these poysons the clear Fountain cleansing us from these filths and impurities O how important is the observation of this point to all pretenders to piety and perfection and how prejudiciall the neglect of it For first a Soul faln into one mortall sin hath set the dore open to let in a second and that makes way for many followers Such is the weight of sin says St. Gregory that it bears dow the Soul under it and sways the inclination to commit more and more on Abyssus calling on another Secondly a Soul in mortall sin looses all her good works all merit all hope of Heaven all title to eternall happyness no alms avail her no prayers profit her no austerities help her no good actions can open to her the gates of Paradise without the key of an intire confession or a true Contrition Thirdly sin as it gains time gets strength becoms insensibly master of the Soul shutts up the dores against the divin mercy and at length leaves her in despair of pardon and makes her give over all hopes of favour and petitioning for grace Ah! what comfort what confidence what means of salvation is left to a miserable Soul that wilfully persevers in her impiety The longer she stays in it the deeper she sinks into it the lesse she deserves favour the more highly she provokes Heavens anger and revenge Fourthly and which is yet worse a Soul wounded with mortall sin and uncured by Confession or Contrition is continually worried with a worm of remorse and if she be grown so insensible as not to feel now its gnawings she shall surely resent its dismall bitings at the approaching hour of death and much more piercingly after her departure when this worm that devours her shall never dy where the fire that burns her shall never be extinguished Behold the inevitable ruins the irreparable losses the unexplicable miseries which are by them incurred who after their fall delay to do Penance Let it be therefore your chief care O devout Rosarists to arise speedily to present your selves presently to the Tribunall of confession to announce your frailty renounce your impiety that so you may obtain grace to walk afterwards more warily For as a spot or stain is sooner rubbed off at first than
between each Decade and the rest of the meditations comprehending the whol life of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus c. Let 's now cast a view upon the Excellency Dignity and Utilitie of this our sacred Rosary which can be no better declared than by shewing the Excellencie of each severall part whereof it is compos'd to wit the Creed the Lords Prayer the Angelical Salutation and the Meditations upon the fifteen Mysteries In the Creed we profess our Faith and by Faith we please God in the Lords Prayer we speak to God as it were in his own dialect and we may be confident the Eternall Father will hearâ—… to the divin words which his own dear Son dictated In the Angelical Salutation we gratefully commemorate the chief mysterie of our Salvation which is our Redeemers Incarnation And in Meditating upon the fifteen mysteries we sweetly melt away in the admiration of the divin love mercy and goodness The Creed wherewith we begin and conclude our Rosary and which may therefore be fitly called the first and last accidentall part thereof contains as many Excellencies fruits and profits as Faith it self whereof it is a formall Act and Profession Now the fruits of Faith are so many that meerely to relate them would make up a large volum and therefore be pleas'd to content your selves for the present most devout Rosarists to take only a compendious touch of such as are expresly registred in holy Writ 1. Faith purges our sins Thy Faith O Woman say's our Saviour to the Penitent Magdalen hath saved thee 2. Faith purifies our hearts sayes S. Peter 3. Faith joynes espouses and unites our souls to God say's the Prophet Oseas 4. Faith is the very life of our souls The just man says the Prophet Abacuc and after him the Apostle S. Paul lives by faith And Christ our Saviour He that believes in me though he be dead in flesh he shall live in his soul 5. Faith enobles exalts and dignifies our nature rendring us Gods adopted children He gave power say's S. John to them who believe in his name to become his children 6. Faith is here the beginning of the hereafter ensuing eternall life This is eternall life says our Saviour to know the only true God 7. Faith gives all the fruit worth and merit to our works Whatsoever is not of Faith says Saint Paul is a sin 8. Faith is our Armour against all sorts of Temptations of the World Flesh and Devill Above all says S. Paul take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And S. Peter Your Adversary the Devill goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in Faith And S. John This is the victory that overcomes the world even your Faith 9. Faith causes our Prayers to be heard and our Petitions granted What things soever you desire says our Saviour When you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them And S. James Let him ask in Faith nothing doubting and it shall be given him 10. Faith works Miracles He that believes in me says our Saviour shall do the works that I do and greater than these And S. Paul proves this by many instances throughout his whol 11th Chapter to the Hebrews Finally there are no greater riches no higher honours no better substance in this world says S. Augustin than the Catholique Faith which saves sinners cures the sick justifies the righteous repairs the penitent perfects the just and crowns all the Elect. These are a part of the innumerable fruits and profits which spring from Faith as from the foundation ground work and root of all goodness and which may be aboundantly gather'd by you O Faithfull servants of God and devout children of Mary by renewing exciting and professing it in the recitall of your Creed at the beginning and end of your Rosary The second Part of the Rosary is our Lords Prayer so called from its divin Author Christ Jesus and for its own excellencie as being says S. Thomas an Abridgment of all that needs to be desired or ought to be demanded This sacred Prayer contain seven Petitions and that not without speciall Mysterie For as this inferior world is govern'd by seven Orbes or Heavens which are under the starrie Firmament and is cherish'd and conserv'd by the Influences of seven Planets And as Man consists of the three powers of his soul and the four Elements whether virtually or formally it matters not which compose his Body And as our spirituall Perfection depends upon seven vertues The three Theologicall and the four Cardinall And as the gifts of the Holy Ghost wherewith our souls are adorned are seven And as the Beatificall Dowries make up the same number three of them belonging to the soul vision love fruition and four to the Body Impassibility Agility Subtility Clarity So Christ our Lord the Eternall Fathers Coeternall wisdom concluded all things for which he would have us pray in these seven short and sweet Petitions To relate all the fruits and effects which are reap'd by the devout recitall of this divin Prayer were to run over the large fields of prayer in generall whereof this our Pater noster is a perfect summarie as hath been already prov'd by the authoritie of S. Thomas and may be further confirm'd by this saying of S. Augustin If thou searchest after all the sacred Prayers that ever were compos'd thou canst in my opinion meet with nothing which is not herein contained and included And by that of S. Cyprian O what mysteries are in our Lords prayer How many and how great Sacraments are in this short speech contracted in words but copious in spirituall sense and vertu In so much as there is nothing at all to be pray'd for which is not comprehended in this compendium of heavenly doctrin To which Encomiums of these great Saints omitting almost infinit others of Tertullian S. John Chrysostom S. Gregory and all the Fathers we shall only add this excellent expression of a modern Author Amongst all divin Prayers and prayses nothing is comparable to the Pater noster It far excells all the supplications of the Saints It fully contains all the conceptions of the Prophets all the expressions of the Psalms all the sweetnesses of the Canticles It asks all that is necessary It prayses God highly It joyns the soul to God entirely c. See Thomas a Kempis Enchirid. Monastic cap. 5. But to make you most devout Rosarists yet more enamour'd with your Pater noster We shall succinctly deliver unto you its manifold fruits and effects in the very sense of S. Dominick himself the Author of this our Confraternity who by divin Inspiration preach'd to his numerous Auditory of Tolosa upon a solemn feast of the sacred Virgin to this effect First says Saint Dominick if little weak children were to walk through some wild and uncouth wilderness had they not need of a
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
is the principall and indeed the only proper Feast of this Confraternity they are to Confess Communicate and be present at the solemnity then celebrated by their fellow members of this Confraternity in the place appointed by the Chief Director thereof 3. Upon the second Sunday of each month they are to Confess Communicate and assist at the solemn Mass and Procession of the Confraternity 4. They are with all possible care and diligence to avoid swearing not only in themselv's but also in all others admonishing checking and correcting as far as the Rules of Charity and Discretion will permit all such as shall inconsideratly and rashly Swear and Blasphem in their presence and hearing 5. They are to assist at the Anniversary of their departed Brethren celebrated upon the first vacant day after the Feast of the Circumcision The Plenary Indulgences omitting the many particular granted to this Fraternity In the year 1564. Idibus Aprilis Pope Pius the fourth the first Approver and Confirmer of this Confraternity endow'd it with most large Favours Priviledges and Indulgences and amongst the rest he granted to all the Members thereof who shall Confess Communicate and Assist at the divin service either in whol or in part upon the Feast of the Circumcision such Plenary Indulgences of all their sins as the Apostolicall Seat usually bestows in the year of Jubily upon all them who visit the Churches in and without Rome In the year 1580. 5th of September Pope Gregory the thirteenth grants a Plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof who shall accompany the Procession which as also the Mass of this Confraternity he appoints to be had upon each second Sunday of the Month not otherwise hindred having confessed communicated and pray'd for the generally intended ends of the Church in the granting of all Indulgences to wit For the Peace of Christian Princes for the extirpation of Heresies for the exaltation of the Catholique Church c. In the year 1598. 2. of Februarie Pope Clement the 8th grants a plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof Confessing and Communicating upon each day of the Festivities of the fifteen Mysteries of this Rosary of the Name of Jesus In the year 1606. 21. of October Paul the fifth grants a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then being truly penitent confess and Communicate and also to all such as shall devoutly call upon the sacred name of Jesus either by mouth or in heart at the Article of death And in the year 1612. 28. of September he renews and confirmes the former Grant of Gregory the 13. And lastly in the year 1626. Pope Vrban the 8. Grants also a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then Confess and Communicate c. and to all such as shall devoutly call upon the holy Name of Jesus at the Article of death The Manner of Reciting this Rosary of the holy Name of JESUS invented by Joannes Micon to implore Christs Mercy for our selv's and for all sinners is this Taking your Ordinary Bedes of the Rosary begin with the sign of the Cross either in Latin or in English In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Then after the recitall of one Pater-noster Ave Maria and Creed begin thus V. Intend unto my ayd O. God R. Lord make hast to help me V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost R. As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen The first part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words fifty Times O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us Meditating during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Life of Our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. The Mysteries of the first Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. Christs Incarnation 2. The Nativity of Christ in Bethleem 3. The Circumcision of Christ 4. The finding of Christ in the Temple disputing amongst the Doctors 5. The Baptizing of Christ in the River Jordan O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us The second Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jew 's have mercy upon us Meditating in like manner during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Death Passion of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father c. as aforesaid The Mysteries of the second Quinquagena or fiftieth 1. The washing of the disciples feet 2. The Prayer in the Garden 3. The Apprehension of Christ in the Garden 4. The carrying of the Cross 5. The Descent into Hell O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jewes have mercy upon us The third Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu Christ Son of the living God have mercy upon us Meditating likewise during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Glory of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. as formerly The Mysteries of the third Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The sending of the Holy Ghost to his Church 4. The Crowning of the Virgin Mary and the Saints 5. The coming to Judgment O Jesu Christ Son of the Living God have mercy upon us A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. THe devotion call'd the Crown of our Lord Or the Rosary of the age of Christ or the Crown of Camaldula was invented by one blessed Michael by birth a Florentin by profession a Monk of Camaldula a man of admirable piety and sanctity who chang'd this life for a happy immortality in the year 1522 since which time this manner of prayer hath been far and near propagated throughout the whol World with the Churches generall applause and approbation and to the great profit and comfort of all faithfull Christians The Tenor of the Brief of Pope Leo the 10th as far forth as it concerns the confirmation and declares the form of reciting this sacred Crown is as here follow 's Bishop Leo the servant of Gods servants to all aâ—d singular the faithfull people of Christ to whom these his letters shall come sends greeting and the Apostolical Benediction We have lately had notice from persons worthy of belief that a certain antient Hermit of the sacred Wilderness of Camaldula having already finish'd fifteen years of his earthly Pilgrimage in great austerity as a Recluse shut up within the narrow limits of one only Cell Hath conceiv'd by divin inspiration as may be piously believ'd from whence every right
may shew more reverence and respect to their Mother-Altar and often visit it with more devotion All which is to be understood as aforesaid where these conveniencies may be obtain'd otherwise they may perform these devotions and obtain the like Indulgences in any other Church or Oratory according to the express dispensation of the said Popes IV. Every first Sunday within the Month. 1. HAving confessed and communlcated a plenary Greg. 13. Pastoris aeterni die quinta Maii 1581. 2. Or visiting the Altar of the Rosary a plenary Greg. 13. 3. Or being present at the Procession of the Rosary a plenary Greg. 13. Ad augendam 28. Octob. 1577. Paulus 5. Piorum hominum 15. April 1608. V. Vpon the seven Feasts of our Blessed Lady which are THe Purification Annunciation Visitation Assumption Nativity Presentation and Conception 1. Being Confessed and Communicated or being Contrite with a will to Confess and Communicate at fit time a Plenary 2. Or visiting the Altar of the Rosary a plenary 3. Or being present at the Processions of the Rosary upon these days a plenary Pius quartus Dum praeclara meritorum anno 1562. VI. For saying or hearing the Mass of the Rosary 1. THey who by vertue of their priviledges shall say the Mass of the Rosary gain a plenary Indulgence 2. Or shall cause it to be said a plenary 3. Or hear it gain all the Indulgences which are granted to them who recite once the whole Rosary which is a plenary Paulus tertius ultimo Augusti 1537. The said Mass of the Rosary thus begins Salve Radix Sancta c. which grant is confirmed by Sixtus quintus Dum ineffabilia 30. Jan. 1586. VII For saying the Rosary THey who shall recite the whole Rosary gain toties quoties a plenary Julius 2. and Leo 10. who granted a plenary to them who recited the Crown of our Lady consisting of sixty three Ave Mary's with seven Pater Noster's interposed which Paul the third communicated and extended to all such as should recite the whol Rosary toties quoties VIII For the dayes in which the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary are celebrated THey who being truly penitent confessed and communicated shall devoutly visit the Chappell of the Rosary upon the days in which the Fifteen Mysteries thereof are celebrated gain a plenary Indulgence Greg. 13. Pastoris aeterm 5 to Maii 1581. IX For praying for the Dead 1. EVery time they recite the whole Rosary for the departed they gain the delivery of a soul out of Purgatory Paulus 3.3o. Junii 1542. granted this vivae vocis oraculo to the Rosarists of the Kingdoms of Spain which Pius quintus Consueverunt Greg. 13. Pastoris aeterni and Sixtus quintus Dum Ineffabilia extend to all other confraternities of the Rosary throughout the world 2. As oft as they shall say cause to be said or are present at the Mass of the Rosary celebrated for that intention they free a Soul out to Purgatory 3. All the Indulgences granted to the living may be applyed to the dead by communicating saving Mass of the Rosary reciting the Rosary c. for them Paulus 3.13 Aug. 1537. see John Carthagena Homelia 6. de Rosario § 3. X. For them who cannot be present SUch Brethren and Sisters of the Rosary who by reason of sickness a journey Imprisonment Persecution Service distance Danger or any other lawfull Impediment cannot be present at the Processions aforesaid nor visit the Altar of the Rosary may notwithstanding gain all the Indulgences as if they were present 1. By Confessing and Communicating 2. Or by saying the Rosary 3. Or the seven Penitentiall Psalms before some Altar or devout Picture Greg. 13. Ad augendam devotionem 29. Aug. 1579. Idem in Bulla cupientes 24. Decemb. 1583. XI Of the Stations of Rome ALl the Indulgences of the Stations of Rome are granted to the Members of the Rosary by visiting upon these days five Altars or one only if there be no more and reciting before each Altar fivâ— Paters and five Aves or twenty-five before that one Altar Leo Decimus Maii 22. 1518 which grant Clement the 7th recites and confirmes in his brief Etsi temporalium 8. Idus Maii 1534. And Paulus tertius Rationi congruit 3. Novemb. 1534. And Pius Quintus Inter desiderabilia 28. Junii 1569. XII ANd these are a chief part of that vast treasure of Indulgences and priviledges granted to the Arch-Confraternity of the sacred Rosary The rest being of less consequence would we conceive be as tedious to be read as they are indeed needless to be known by them who shall duly consider That besides the particular Indulgences which are determined to certain days times and places there are others which are generall unlimited perpetuall and which we shall briefly set before you as a close of this Catalogue of Indulgences in these two chief heads drawn out of what is before delivered I. Every day a Plenary THe first is That they who are of the Rosary in the state of Grace and having a generall Intention to pray for such ends as are required which are the three conditions absolutely necessary for the obtaining of any of these Indulgences may gain a Plenary upon every day in the year and consequently every hour of their whol life By performing any one of these things following 1. Saying the Rosary 2. Celebrating the Mass of the Rosary 3. Causing it to be said 4. Hearing it 5. Visiting five Altars or one if there be no more and saying five Paters and Aves before each Altar or 25. before the one The consequence hereof is most cleere First because a Plenary is annex'd to the due performance of these Acts of Piety toties quoties how oftsoever they are don without any restriction Secondly because at Rome in the Church of St. John Lateran there may be gain'd a Plenary if any one pleases six times every day and in each one of the seven Churches of the Stations All which and all other City-Indulgences are granted to all the Brothers and Sisters of the Rosary performing the devotions aforesaid wheresoever dispersed throughout the whol world by Leo the tenth 22. of May 1518. and by the succeeding Chief Pastors II. Every day a Soul out of Purgatory THe second is That they may every day praying and being disposed as aforesaid obtain the deliverance of a Soul out of Purgatory which directly follows from the former First since all the Indulgences granted to the living may be applyed for the dead Secondly since at Rome there is every day in one part or other of the City the delivery of a Soul out of Purgatory The Particular grants of all these before recited Indulgences may be seen at large in Peter Louuet Alphonsus Fernandez Andreas CoppensteÃnius and other Fathers of the order of St Dominick who have faithfully collected published them according to their originalls Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo Psal 88. Our gratefull hearts O our Eternall King Shall ever of
your boundless mercies sing §. 14. The Generall Rules and Statutes of the Confraternity of the Rosary IT is in the first place to be presupposed That there be a Priest or Dean of the Rosary impowered with sufficient authority from the Superiors of St Dominicks Order to receive such as desire to be admitted into this sacred Confraternity and to make choice of a Prefect with such other Councellors and Officers as he shall conceive requisite for his assistance in order to the managing of the publick affaires of the Confraternity Secondly That there be also a Chappell or Altar of the holy Rosary to which all the Brethren and sisters have a particular Relation Pius Quintus in his Bull Consueverunt and in his Bull Injunctum nobis Which being supposed These are the generall Rules with their explications The first Rule THat all faithfull Christians of whatsoever calling and condition may be received into this sacred Confraternity without any obligation to pay any thing for their entrance and admittance Leo the tenth Pastoris aeterni 1520. pridie nonas Octob. Annotation THe receiving of what is freely given and offred by devout persons Either for the ornament of the Altar or for the entertainment of him that serves the Altar or for the succouring of the poor Members of the Confraternity is not hereby forbidden But it is inhibited to exact any thing as due for any ones admittance First because it is a spirituall and holy thing Secondly to the end the Poor as well as the Rich may enjoy this benefit Thirdly because this pious Institut intend not the Receivers advancement but his reall good who is Received The second Rule THere is to be a particular Book provided wherein the Names and Sirnames of all such as are admitted must be enregistred Annotation IF the keeping of such a Register-Book or this manner of inrolling be found in some places and Countrey 's inconvenient It abundantly suffices to have the Names written and deliver'd to the Prefect of the Confraterternity though they be presently burnt and cancelled The third Rule WHosoever is once thus admitted in any one place is made partaker of the prayers and merits of all them that are of this Confraternity throughout the whol Univers Annotation AS concerning this large participation of spirituall Benefits See the tenth precedent § The fourth Rule NOt only the living but also the â—aithfull departed to wit the souls in Purgatory may be receiv'd and inroll'd in this Confraternity and made partakers of these spirituall Benefits and Priviledges if any of the living Brethren and Sisters performing for their deceased friends such pious duties devotions as the Rules demand shall desire and procure it Annotation THis is grounded upon that Maxim That all the Indulgences which may be obtain'd by the living are also applicable to the Dead The fifth Rule ALl the Brothers and Sisters are obliged to recite once every week the entire Rosary or whol Psalter which they may as themselves please either perform together or divide into three parts for their greater ease and conveniency Annotation THe whol Psalter or Rosary as is before declar'd § 5. is compos'd of 15. Paters and 150. Aves The three parts contain each one five Paters and fifty Aves The Creed is commonly and commendably recited in the beginning and added to the end of every third part with some other prayers as shall be hereafter set down but are no necessary part thereof The sixth Rule IN case of any lawfull Impediment the brothers and sisters causing the Rosary to be recited for them by another satisfy their own obligation Annotation THis is to be understood of some sufficiently excusing circumstance for it is dangerous to trust a Procurator when we traffick for Paradise The seventh Rule IF through forgetfulness multiplicity of Employments or negligence and not out of contempt they omit this weekly Recitall of the Rosary It is no sin but only a privation for that time of such spirituall benefits whereof they should otherwise have been partakers Annotation YEa if through carelesness and tepidity any one shall for a long time neglect the saying of the Rosary he ceaseth not therefore to be a member of this Confraternity but may return to his wonted devotions and re-obtain the usuall graces and benefits without any new admission The eighth Rule ALl the Rosarists should be present at the Mass and Procession which are uually perform'd in the Head-Chappell upon all the Feast-days of the sacred Virgin and first Sundays of the months Annotation THis is enjoyned by Pius 4. in his Brief Dum Praeclara c. Both for the gaining of such Plenary Indulgences as are then and there granted And also that the devout Rosarists may honour their sacred Virgin-Mother with their presence and unitedly implore her Patronage and Protection The ninth Rule THe Dean Prefect and Officers of the Confraternity are to cause four Anniversaries to be every year celebrated at the Rosary Altar for the Souls of their departed Brethren and Sisters upon the morrows of our Blessed Ladyes four principall Festivities which are her Nativity Annunciation Purification Assumption At which all the Rosarists should also assist that they may expect the same piety from their surviving Brethren for themselves after their own decease Annotation WHen the days next following the four feasts before named fall out to be either Sundays or some other greater solemnities then these Anniversary duties are remitted to the next day not so hindred An advertisement SInce these two last Rules cannot well be practis'd in some places The devout Rosarists are exhorted to perform their devotions upon the days before specified at their private homes and in their severall habitations with a Relation to such duties as are then solemniz'd in their Mother-Chappell whereby they may gain the same spirituall benefits as if they were personally there present As is expresly granred by Pius quintus Inter desiderabilia 28. June 1569. by Greg. 13. Cupientes 24. Decemb. 1583. And by Sixtus quintus Dum ineffabilia meritorum 30. Jan. 1586. The tenth Rule THe great Feast of the Rosary is not to be henceforth solemnized as it was formerly upon the 25. day of March but upon the first Sunday of October Annotation THis solemnity was thus translated from the 25. of March to the first Sunday of October by Pope Gregory the 13. who instituted the Feast of our Blessed Lady under the title of the Rosary as appears at large in his Brief beginning Monet Apostolus the first of April 1573. and ordain'd it should be upon that first Sunday of October perpetually celebrated in the Catholique Church for an Eternall and gratefull rememoration of that most remarkable and altogether miraculous Navall victory gained over the Turks by a handfull of Christians under the conduct of Don John of Austria in the Bay of Lepanto in the Gulf of Achaia upon the 7th day of October which was then the first Sunday of that month in the