A POOR MAN'S MITE. A letter of a Religious man of the Order of Saint BENEDICT, unto a Sister of his, concerning the rosary or Psalter of our blessed Lady, Commonly called the Beads. ✚ IHS Printed with licence of Superiors. M.DC.XXXIX. A Poor Man's Mite. A Letter of a Religious Man of the Order of S. BENEDICT unto a sister of his concerning the rosary or PSALTER of our blessed LADY commonly called the BEADS. Dear Sister. I Have sent you a small token of my no small love, a pair of plain Beads, together with the explication thereof. The (a) 1. Reg. 18, 19 Prophet David used to sing certain spiritual Ditties or Songs to his Harp, with which melody, he so appeased the spirit of fury, wherewith King Saul was possessed, and grievously tormented: that notwithstanding he was so incensed against David, that he would have slain him: he was fain to forbear, for the great ease he enjoyed by his melody yea and whilst he sang in his presence, he had no power to execute his wicked purpose upon him, as if he had enchanted him by the sweetness thereof, as indeed it seemed to do. These Songs are called Psalms of Psallo a latin word, which in english signifieth to sing, because they were sung to the Harp, and the whole number of them, are called David's Psalter. They are registered amongst the Books of Canonical Scripture, and accounted a principal part thereof so mysterious, that they are appliable and correspondent to all the affections and motions of our mind whatsoever. They are spiritual Manna, (b) Sapient. 16. vers. 20. Exod. 16. vers. 14. Num. 11. vers. 7. having the taste of every good thing we can desire: In regard whereof a certain Father affirmeth, whatsoever is contained in all the other Books of holy Scripture, by way of Prophecy, Doctrine, or Example; is comprised in this by way of spiritual Songs, and praises of God, the several Verses whereof are, as it were, so many iaculatory darts cast up to heaven; and therefore they are altogether used in the church-service and in the Office of our blessed Lady, commonly called the primer, and in the Manual of Prayers, as a most sovereign and sanctified devotion to please God, and appease the fury of our ghostly enemy the Devil, who like another Saul seeketh the destruction of our souls. The number of theses Psalms are one hundred and fifty, and are called, as I said before, the Psalter of David. To the imitation of this holy Psalter, the Church hath ordained another divine Psalter, called the Psalter of jesus, commonly set in the latter end of the Manual of Prayers consisting also of the like number, that is to say, fifteen Petitions, with ten Invocations to each Petition. And to the same imitation, the Church hath instituted yet another Psalter, of our blessed Lady, the glorious Virgin Mary, commonly called the rosary or Psalter of our blessed Lady, or the Beads, consisting of the like number of Aue Maries, and is divided into three parts, each part consisting of fifty Aue Maries, whereunto are added five Pater nosters, to wit, one between every ten Aue Maries, and a Creed at the end. This Psalter is nothing inferior unto the other two: but rather so much the more sovereign, by how much more excellent the words and mysteries thereof are: The Pater noster for sanctity and pithynesse no Prayer comparable unto it, proceeding from the sacred mouth of Christ, (a) Matth. 6. vers. 9 Luc. 1. vers. 29. and instituted by him as a general form of Prayer. The Aue Mary, indicted by the most blessed Trinity, in heaven, and brought as an Ambassage, unto the earth by the Archangel Gabriel, (b) for most joyful tidings of the Redemption of Mankind, the blessed Virgin Mary being saluted and honoured with the miraculous Motherhood of the World's Redeemer. The Creed containeth the twelve principal articles of our Faith, whereupon as most certain and infallible foundations, our holy Catholic belief (without which, (a) Ephes. 2. vers. 20. Hebr. 11. vers. 5. it is impossible to please God) is built, and erected, and was composed by the twelve Apostles, each of them making one several Article, which in regard thereof, is called in Latin, S●mbo●um Apostolorum, that is to say, The Shot of the Apostles, alluding to an Ordinary, whereas every one of the Commensals lay down their shot or share. And as this Creed is a general Sum of all our belief: so are the Pater noster, and Aue Marie, general forms of prayer and praisings of God, which may be applied to all the particular affections and motions of our mind, whatsoever we desire to obtain at the hands of Almighty God, as the Psalter of David may. And as our Saviour Christ commended the Pater noster unto us, saying: When you pray, pray thus, Our Father. etc. So our blessed Lady in her Hymn of Magnificat, commended the Aue Marie unto us, saying: For, behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed: for with what words, I pray you, can we more properly and pleasingly to God and Her, call her blessed, then by the Aue Marie, wherewithal the Angel Gabriel was sent from Heaven to salute her so, as aforesaid? The mystery of the number of prayers in this holy rosary or Psalter is this: In the old Law, (a) Levit. 25. vers. 10. before the coming of Christ, every Fiftieth year was a year of jubilee, wherein there was a general forgiveness of all debts, crimes, and grievances whatsoever, and a reducing of all things to their former quality and state: in which all grievances being redressed, the whole earth did seem to rejoice, and clap her hands, and therefore had the appellation of the year of jubilee, or jubilation, that is to say, of exceeding joy and iubilation: and this was indeed a figure of the most ample remission of sins in the new Law, by the Death and Passion of Christ jesus, expressed more plainly by the descending of the holy Ghost (the Fountain of Grace and Remission of sins) upon the Apostles and Disciples of Christ, Fifty days after his Death and Resurrection, upon the feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday, so called, in regard of the number of fifty days. Wherefore by the number of fifty Aves Maries, whereof the third part of the said Psalter consisteth, is aptly signified remission of sins. By the five Pater nosters, is signified the five principal wounds of Christ, which five wounds may be resembled to those Cities of refuge in the old Law, (a) Dcuter. 15. vers. 2. as it were, places of Sanctuary for all Offenders to fly unto for refuge against their persecuting Foes, either spiritual or corporal. By the ten Aue Maries between the Pater nosters, is signified the ten Commandments. By the Creed is signified the Catholic Faith or Belief, out of which there is no salvation, or possibility of pleasing God, as aforesaid: So that all this put together signifieth thus much, when we say this holy Psalter. We desire that by the keeping of the ten Commandments signified by the ten Aue Maries, between the Pater nosters, We being of the Catholic Faith or Belief, signified by the Creed, in the virtue of the five wounds and death of Christ, signified by the five Pater nosters, we may obtain remission of our sins signified by the fifty Aue Maries, the number of remission of sins, as aforesaid. Besides this, the Church addeth her Benediction or Sanctification to the Beads whereupon they are said, wherewithal I have caused yours to be hallowed, to make them (being otherwise but plain) more precious unto you. That the Church hath such authority, you need not doubt, it being the use in the old Law (a) Num. 7. vers. 1. to bless or hollow, not only the Temple and Altars, but also all Vestments & Utensils belonging to the service of God. And Saint Paul saith (a) that Creatures are or may be sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer, especially that which is authorised and appointed by the Church of God to that end, as this of the Beads is. Moreover, if there be any virtue in words (as certainly there is) and if words can enchant Serpents, as it appears they can, out of the prophet David (b) and many natural experiences there are of the same. Then surely it is piously to be thought, that Almighty God is pleased to be, as it were, enchanted with these most sovereign prayers devoutly rehearsed, & hath caused our blessed Lady and his Saints to be so likewise: and no marvel, though he make himself subject hereunto, 1. Tim. 4. vers. 5. Psal. 57 when he said to his servant Moses, (a) Let me go that my fury may be angry against this people: as if Moses had forceably with holden him. This rosary or Psalter of our blessed Lady, is adorned with fifteen most pious and devout Meditations, to wit, of the five joyous, five dolorous, and five glorious mysteries of our blessed Lady, well known to most Catholics and used accordingly, with sundry other kinds of godly and devout Meditations: amongst which I lighted of late upon certain most devout and ancient Meditations in latin, called Rasarium aureum, the golden rosary, which, in my opinion, doth very well deserve that name. These have I translated into English meeter, & sent unto you to stir up & sweetnen your devotion so much the more. Exod. 32. vers. 9 If you object the Aue Mary, pronounced by the Angel Gabriel, is no prayer but only a falutation? I answer, The Church hath made it an express Prayer, by adding unto the Salutation of the Angel, these words: Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the bower of our death. Amen. Which thing, supposing the doctrine of the Invocation of Saints to be true, She may lawfully do, and hath great reason to do unto our blessed Lady as a general prayer for all vies especially, considering the Salutation was intentionally said as a prayer, before: and was more than insinuated for such by our Saviour Christ upon the Cross, saying to our blessed Lady of Saint john (a) joan. 19 vers. 26. Woman, behold thy Son: and to him of her, Behold thy Mother: by which words he commended her mystically, not only to Saint john, but also to all others in him, that are john's by grace and love of God, as he was by name, as a Mother of intercesssion to God for them, and they as children confidently to entreat it at her hands. If your conceit suggest unto you, It is a dishonour to God to pray unto his Mother? answer unto it, No more dishonour, then to desire one another's prayers here on earth, which is to the greater honour of God, commanded and commended unto us in his sacred Word. If it urge, The Saints know not our prayers? answer, They rejoice at the conversion of a Sinner: Therefore they know the same. If the often repetition of the same prayers seem vain? answer. It is full of mystery and holy meditation, as is before declared; which mysteriousness, together with the often repetition, do marvelously incite the soul to fervour and devotion, if it be done with due attention. The Angels use the repetition of Holy, holy, holy. (a) Matth. 26. vers. 44. Our Saviour Christ, went three several times together into the Garden and prayed (as the text saith) the same Prayer. In the 135. Psalm. the Prophet David repeateth in every verse, for his mercy endureth for ever. If one may use often repetition of one thing in the praise of God, Why not in prayer? This being so, this holy Psalter of the Beads cannot be but a most acceptable service and devotion to God, and to our blessed Lady the glorious Virgin Marie the Mother of of God, and to all the Court of Heaven. And to our enemy the Devil a great confusion, chase him out of our hearts, or at least repressing and much appeasing his deadly assaults and temptations against us, as that Psalter of David did, as aforesaid, which was indeed, a lively figure of this. Before every Meditation following say the first part of the Aue Marie till you come to jesus: Then say the Meditation in verse: then the other part of the Aue Marie in order as it lieth. The golden rosary of the most glorious Virgin MARY. Pater noster, Aue Maria, etc. JESUS. 1. Marry of Virgins all most pure Receive this golden rosary, Decked with the life of thy sweet Son Under a brief compendiarie. JESUS. 2. Whom thou, a Virgin void of sin, Conceivedst of the holy Ghost, When Gabriels news thou didst believe, Gaining thereby what Eve had lost. JESUS. 3. Of whom thou being great with Child, Unto Elizabeth didst high, And john the Baptist in her womb Didst with thy presence sanctify. JESUS. 4. Whom in the City Bethleem Thou didst bring forth with heavenly joy, Free from those pains which evermore Women in I'll birth do annoy. JESUS. 5. Whom newly in a Stable borne Thou didst forth with as God. adore; And with thy Virgin's milk distst feed, A thing most strange, ne'er heard before. JESUS. 6. Whom thou didst wrapp in silly clouts, And with brute beasts laid in a Manger; And didst him serve in what thou couldst, To keep his tender Corpse from danger. JESUS. 7. Whom troops of Angels, with great joy And heavenly melody did praise; Proclaiming glory unto God, And peace to Men on earth always. JESUS. 8 Whom being chief of Shepherds all, The Shepherds of the field first found: And finding, worshipped as their Lord Though lying poorly on the ground. JESUS. 9 Who did vouchsafe like sinful man, To take the mark of Circumcision: And eke the Name of jesus sweet, Our sinful soul's Physician. JESUS. 10. To whom three Kings did come with gifts Of Gold, and Myrrh, and Frankincense, Directed by a blazing star, And him adored with reverence. Pater noster, Aue Maria; etc. JESUS. 1. Who being forty days of age, Thou in the Temple didst present According unto Mose Law, Making thyself obedient. JESUS. 2. Whom flying Herodes persecution, To Egypt thou by night didst carry: And after coming back from thence, In Nazareth with him didst tarry. JESUS. 3. Whom in the Temple thou didst lose With many a tear and woeful hart, But missing him, didst seek him out. And finding him, didst glad depart. JESUS. 4. Whom with the labour of thy hands, In all his wants thou didst sustain: And though thy means were very poor, Yet didst thou never once complain. JESUS. 5. Whom john in jordane did baptise And pointing to him, thus did say: Behold, the Lamb of God one hie, That takes the sin of Man away. JESUS. 6. Whom Satan in great subtility Did tempt with sundry sorts of sin, To try where he was God or Man, But no way could prevail therein. JESUS. 7. Who at thy motion did vouchsafe To change pure Water into Wine, Confirming his Disciples faith By that strange miracle divine. JESUS. 8. Who freed such as were possessed With wicked spirits in body or mind, Curing the sick and lame also, And giving sight unto the blind. JESUS. 9 Who raised Lazarus from the grave. Restored to life the Widow's son; Brought home again the prodigal Child That such a desperate race had run. JESUS. 10. Who oft with Sinners did converse, And oft with such did take repast, And them unto repentance brought, Forgiving all their sins at last. Pater noster, Aue Maria, etc. JESUS. 1. Whose feet the sinner Magdalen Did wash with tears of love and grief, And sorrowing deeply for her sins, Obtained pardon and relief. JESUS. 2. Who on the holy Mount of Thabor Caused his body so to shine, That blessed Peter, james, and john, Did see his Majesty divine. JESUS. 3. Whom store of people with applause With boughs of palm strewing his way, Did bring into jerusalem, But him forsook that very day. JESUS. 2. Who, he eat the Pascall Lamb, Washed his twelve Disciples feet, Then fed them with his Flesh and Blood In Sacrament of love most sweet. JESUS. 5. Who in the Garden prostrate prayed With sweat of water mixed with blood, For fear of death, yet glad to die, If to his Father it seemed good. JESUS. 6. Whom vile and most malicious Knaves Did take, and eke with cords did tie, And brought him captive to the judge. Who then was Cayphas Bishop high. JESUS. 7. Whose comely face (O heinous crime) With filthy spittle they berayed, And with their firsts full many a blow Most cruelly thereon they laid. JESUS. 8. Whom they to Pilate did present To be condemned and judged to dye, Bringing false witness to that end, Who did accuse him wrongfully. JESUS. 9 Whom Pilate unto Herode sent, To do with him what he best deemed, Who for his silence sent him back, Clad like a Fool and so esteemed. JESUS. 10. Whose tender Flesfl with whips they tore: Whose sacred Head they crowned with thorn, In purple garments like a King, And so saluted him in scorn. Pater noster, Aue Maria, etc. JESUS. 1. Whom wounded sore with cruel stripes, The Soldiers lewdly did deride, And eke the jews with open mouth Did cry to have him crucified. JESUS. 2. Whom as a Malefactor then, Pilate condemned unto death, Bearing his Cross upon his back, Till he was spent & out of breath. JESUS. 3. Whom on the Mount of Caluarie They stripped naked to the skin; And setting up the Cross an end, Did nail him hands and feet therein. JESUS. 4. Who for his Persecutors prayed Unto his heavenly Father dear, And stretched on the bloody Cross, His pains most patiently did bear. JESUS. 5. Who unto the repentant Thief, Of all his sins full pardon gave, With promise of eternal bliss, Which he there hanging by did crave. JESUS. 6. Who unto his Disciple john Thee for his Mother did commend, And him to thee as a dear Son In mutual love for to depend. JESUS. 7. Who when he seemed to complain. His Father had him quite forsook, His Foes blasphemed him the more And no compassion on him took. JESUS. 8. Who when he cried out, I thirst, His forces being almost spent, They gave him gall and vinegar, That so they might him more torment. JESUS. 9 Who by his Passion finishing The prophecies of holy Writ, Discharged the debt of Adam's sin, Paying his precious blood for it. JESUS. 10. Who then into his Father's hands His sacred Spirit did commend, Crying aloud with voice most shrill, And so his blessed Life did end. Pater noster, Aue Maria. etc. JESUS. 1. Whose side a Soldier with his spear Pierced, hanging dead upon the Rood, And therewithal there gushed out A stream of water mixed with blood. JESUS. 2 Who being slain upon the Cross His liveless Corpse did rest in peace: His Soul went down to Limbo lake, And did those captive soul's release. JESUS. 3. Whose sacred Body from the Cross joseph and Nicodemus took, And buried it in noble sort, When all men else had it forsook. JESUS. 4. Who by his only power divine Did rise again, being three days dead. And thee, and his Disciples all, With his appearance comforted. JESUS. 5. Who, after forty days were passed Ascended into heaven high, And at his Father's tied hand sits, To reign with him eternally. JESUS 6. Who sent from thence the holy Ghost Upon the feast of Whitsuntide, Which, his Disciples being weak, Inflamed with love and fortifi'de. JESUS. 7. Who thee unto his heavenly Throne, When thou on earth thy time hadst been, Assumpted both in Body and Soul, To reign with him as heaven's Queen. JESUS. 8. Who at the latter Day shall come And sit as judge upon his Throne, With rigour and severity judging the deeds of every one. JESUS. 9 Who to the bad eternal pains. And to the good eternal bliss, Will justly judge without respect Of any person that or this. JESUS. 10. Who grant, that they, which do recite This Golden rosary of thine, May see the face of Him and Thee, In heavenly bliss for aye to shine. Credo in Deum Patrem, etc. Another Letter to his Sister, concerning the Office of our blessed LADY. commonly called the primer. IT is said in the Gospel, that we must pray always: and Saint Paul exhorteth us to pray without intermission. The meaning of which words is not, that we should do nothing else but pray, for that we cannot, nor ought not to do. The meaning therefort of these places of holy Scripture, is, that we should pray at certain set times, (a) Luc. 1. v. 1. (b) 1. Thes. 5. verse 17. without omission or intermission. Such times did the Prophet David set to himself, as appeareth by his own words: In the evening and morning or at midday, Will I declare or set forth thy praise: and, Psal. 118. v. 164. he saith, he did the like seven times a day. Our holy Mother the Church, hath ordained for Religious and Ecclesiastical persons, a certain set Office or Service to be said to God, in every hour of the day and night that so they may seem to pray always or without intermission, as aforesaid. But because it were hard and over burdensome to pray every natural hour of the day and night, which are in number twenty four, She hath put three natural hours into one hour, (a) Psal. 54. vers. 18. calling it a Canonical or Ecclesiastical hour, and of these there are but eight in a day and night. For every of which eight hours She hath ordained a several Service or Office of prayer and praising of God At midnight She hath ordained that to be said, which we call the Matins: At three a clock after midnight, the Laudes: At six a clock in the moaning, the Prime: At nine a clock, the Third: At twelve, the Ninth: At six, the Evensong, At nine, the Compline, so that by this means they seem to pray always or without intermission, according to the exhortation of the holy Scripture, as aforesaid. Thus do Religious & Ecclesiastical persons serve God night and day, and do by their profession bind themselves thereunto, and this is the public or common Service and prayer of the whole Church dispersed throughout the world, whereof all such as are members of the Church are partakers, wheresoever they are, though not present thereat, but more especially and effectually if they be corporally present. And that is the reason why denout people resort to Churches upon Sundays and Holy days, and many week days also, not only to hear Mass, but also Matins and Evensong. Lay people are not bound to any such form of continual prayer or service; but because it is a godly and devout exercise to imitate Religious and Ecclesiastical persons herein, and maketh them so much the more effectually partakers thereof (it being the public Prayer or Service of the Church) by how much the more devoutly they imitate the same: Therefore the Church hath also ordained a certain short, but very sweet Office or Service for them to say also, after the same method or order, called the Office of our blessed Lady, or the primer, consisting of those several eight hours, aforesaid. to wit, Matins, Laudes, Prime. Third, sixth, Ninth, Evensong, Compline. Such a book (dear sister) I have sent you, whereby you may serve our Lord jesus Christ and his blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Mary, every our of the day and night, as aforesaid, and so purchase the daily and hourly blessings of God. Not that I would have you say these several Services in their proper several houtes, but to say them all at two times in the day, in the Morning and Evening for your Matins and Evensong, as the custom is. Or if you cannot conveniently say them at those times, then at such times as you can: And if you cannot conveniently say then at all, make no scruple to omit them, for none are bound but such as bind themselves. Moreover, besides the saying of these hours, to the imitation of Religious persons, that so you may seem to pray always or without intermission, as aforesaid: you may make another singular benefit by way of Meditation, according to the Pictures set down and prefixed at the beginning of every hour, to which end they are set there. At your Matins you may meditate of the Annunciation or Salutation of our blessed Lady by the Archangel Gabriel. At Laudes of our blessed Lady's visitation of her cousin Saint Elizabeth. At Prime, of the Nativity or birth of Christ. At Third, of the Circumcision of Christ, and of his blessed Name jesus. At sixth, of the Purification of our blessed Lady, and Presentation of Christ in the Temple. At Ninth, of the Adoration of the three Kings and their gifts. At Evensong, of the flight of our blessed Lady and Saint joseph into Egypt with little jesus. At Compline, of our blessed Ladies glorious Assumption body and soul into Heaven. These, with the several circumstances thereof, are most sweet Meditations, fit to be used every day, and would be very comfortable unto you, if you knew them perfectly, and were well instructed therein. And in these exercises you show yourself, as it were, one of our blessed Ladies especial Handmaidens, or Wayting-women, attending upon her daily and hourly in this Office or Service of hers, for such She hath and must have, as appeareth in the first Psalm of the second Nocturne at Matins, vers. 15.16. and 17. and it is the fourth Psalm in your primer. Another Letter to his Sister, concerning the Order of Saint Benedict, together with a little Office of Saint BENEDICT. According to the hours of the primer, as aforesaid. When our blessed Father Saint Benedict departed this life, the very same time, two religious men saw him ascend into heaven in a rich Robe, with bright Lamps shining round about him, & a Man of a bright and venerable aspect standing over him, who said unto them, while they were gazing on him: This is the way which the beloved of our Lord, Benedict, ascendeth into Heaven. By this way mystically is understood his religious Rule, or course of life, which he instituted and began, and prescribed unto his Disciples. In this way, not only Saint Benedict himself, but also all his Disciples and Followers have walked, and do still walk as in a most ready and beaten way to heaven. In this way have walked forty six Popes (for so many have theree been of this holy Order or Rule) Emperors, four: Empresses, twenty two: Archbishops, one thousand six hundred: Kings, forty: Queens, fifty one: Children of Kings, one hundred forty six: Abbots being Doctors, fifteen thousand seven hundred: Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls, two hundred forty five: Apostles or Converters of Kingdoms and Countries, thirty; whereof our England was one, Saint Gregory the Great Pope, and one of the four principal Doctors of the Church, sending thirty Religious Monks of the Order of Saint Benedict, who converted it, and established Catholic Religion therein, in that perfection that it was called the Garden of Christendom, and Dowry of our blessed Lady, the most glorious Virgin Mary. Saint Gregory being of the same Order himself, and the glory, not only of his own Order, but of the universal Church, and for that cause was surnamed the Great: and of venerable Bede called the Apostle of the English Nation. Of this holy Order of Saint Benedict were also of military Orders of Knights, for the defence of the Gospel by the sword, six. Of Religious Orders twelve principal, besides diverse other lesser, all branches of the holy Order of Saint Benedict, whereof there were in the world of Monasteries of Men, thirty thousand: & of Women one thousand and five hundred; who illuminated & filled all the western Church with learning and virtue: it being the only Religious Order that was extant in the western Church, the first fix hundred years after their beginning, which was about eleven or twelve hundred years ago. Unto this Religious Order, the Dominicans, Franciscans, and jesuites, three famous Orders of Religion, are in some part to attribute their beginnings, Saint Dominicke was given to his barren mother, by the prayers of Saint Dominick Abbot, of the Order of Saint Benedict, whose name for that cause his Parents imposed upon him. Saint Franeis conceived the first project of his religious course, in a Monastery of the Order of Saint Benedict. Saint Ignatius (for so he is now newly canonised) received the first sparks of his religious spirit, in a famous Monastery of Saint Benedict in Spain, called Monteseratta. Of this Order there were of canonised or approved Saints, Fifty five thousand five hundred and ten, in the time of Pope john the two and twentieth, which was long ago, besides infinite others holy Men and reputed Saints. And we have had five or six glorious Martyrs in these our days of our small number here in England, Father Roberts, one of the first that were sent hither in Mission, being one: (so happily did they begin) neither did any one hitherto (thankes be to God) fall or miscarry, so happily have they gone forwards. The glory of the children is to be attributed, a great part of it, to the Parents The branches, buds, blossoms and fruit of a Tree unto the Root. Of all these aforesaid & infinite others, our most blessed Patron Saint Benedict is the Father, the Founder, the Root. All these went the way of blessed Saint Benedict, & so do likewise all those who join themselves unto him in this holy Fraternity or Society of his, ordained for lay people, that are devoutly affected unto the Order, as I understand you are one. Rejoice therefore and be glad in our Lord jesus, and in his glorious servant Saint Benedict, that you are a blossom or bud of such a Tree, that hath so replenished Heaven and Earth with such noble Fruit, that you are a Child of such a Father, and have such and so many worthy Brethren and Sisters in heaven and earth, those in Heaven being ready to draw you unto them, by the golden chains of their intercession & merits: and those on Earth, to lift you up with their charitable and brotherly assistance, in what they can: these on Earth being bound so to do, as long as you are of their fraternity, & walk with them in the way that our blessed Father Saint Benedict did; and they in Heaven out of their respective charity can do no less. The office of the holy Father S. BENEDICT. At Matins. Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips, And my mouth shall declare thy praise. O God, incline unto mine aid: O Lord make haste to help me. 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. A Hymn. A Vrora fair vnmask's her face, And smiles upon the earth, to see Saint benedict's soul, adorn'ed with grace, Ascend to Heaven so gloriously: How gracious is he there above? Who here on earth did shine so bright: Whose wonders, stony hearts did move, And gave to all the World, his light. Praise, honour, glory, without end, To thee, O sacred Trinity: Which Benedict, thy faithful friend, Enjoyeth for all Eternity. An Anthem. There was a man of venerable life, blessed in grace and name, who even from his Chilhood, bearing a grave mind, and transcending his age in virtuous conversation, gave his mind to no voluptuousness. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Crist. A Prayer. O God who didst call the blessed Father, and Law maker Saint Benedict, from all worldly tumults, to serve thee alone: grant to all, & specially such as serve under his discipline, constant perseverance in virtue, and perfect victory unto their end Through jesus-christ thy Son, who with thee, liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen. At Prime. O God incline unto my aid, O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. GReat Conductor in sacred War, Who never conquered wert by might: Defend us with thy holy prayer, And strengthen us, when we do fight. Protect us from all sin's disgrace, Who mad'st the Blackbird to retire: Which fluttering came about thy face, To tempt thee with unchaste desire Praise, honour, glory, etc. An Anthem. Our powerful Lord, did so great a favour to blessed Benedict, that under one Sunbeam he did see the whole world. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made worthy, etc. A Prayer. MAke us we beseech thee, O Lord, to imitate here the labours of the blessed Father Saint Benedict, that there we may be partakers of his glory, through jesus-christ our Lord, Amen. At the third hour. O God incline unto my aid: O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. TO free thee from unchaste desire, Thy flesh the wounds of thorns endured: And thus fire quenched was with fire, And one wound with another cured With sign of Cross a poisoned Cup, Thou brok'st in two, with power Divine; Which poison thou hadst supped up, But Death was weaker than life's sign. Praise, honour, glory, etc. An Anthem. The man of our Lord, Benedict, was of a pleasant countenance, and adorned with Angelical grey hairs, and so great was the brightness that shined about him, that being yet upon the Earth, he seemed to dwell in Heaven. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ. A Prayer. WE beseech thee, O Lord; that the intercession of the blessed Abbot Saint Benedict may so recommend us, that what by our own merits we cannot, by his patronage we may obtain, through Christ our Lord. Amen. At the sixth hour. O God incline unto my aid: O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. A Monk there was, when others prayed, Oft pulled away from serving God: Who afterwards became most stayed When he was touched with thy rod. The Earth their bones did vomit out. Who did in thy disfavour die. But those to thee that were devout, Did walk upon the wathers' dry. Praise, honour, glory, etc. An Anthem. The glorious Confessor of our Lord, Bénedict, leading an Angelical life upon earth, was made a mirror of good works to the world, and therefore rejoiceth in heaven without end. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made Worthy, etc. A Prayer. O God, in whose power holy Saint Benedict made the dead members of a child to revive, grant we beseech thee, that for is merits, we may by the breath of thy Spirit be quickened from the death of our Souls: through Christ our Lord. Amen. At the ninth hour. O God incline unto my aid: O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. THe compass of the World so round He in a Sunbeam did descry; Nothing on earth so strange was found That was concealed from his eye. O holy Saint! O heavenly Man! To whom God did his secrets tell, Who saw the soul of Saint German, Ascend the Heavens, for aye to dwell, Praise, honour, glory, etc. An Anthem. The man of God, Benedict, was replenished with the spirit of all righteous men: pray he for all Professors of the Catholic Religion. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict, Resp. That we may be made worhy, etc. A Prayer. Grant us, we beseech thee O Lord, that with cheerful mind We may daily celebrate the memory of thy blessed Confessor Benedict, whose life graced with many miracles did well please thee: through Christ our Lord. Amen. At Evensong. O God incline unto my aid: O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. HIs sister's soul, from sin most free, And Beautified with heavenly love: Fly up to heaven's Throne he see, In likeness of a milk white Dove. O blessed Saints of God beloved, Who lie in tombed both in one grave: One heart you had, while here ye moved, One glory now in Heaven have, Praise, honour, glory, etc. An Anthem. Towards the East appeared a strait way, reaching from his Cell, even unto Heaven, and a Man of venerable feature, shining in brightness, standing, thereby, demanded whose way that was? which they, confessing they, did not know; he said unto them: This is the way by which Benedict, the beloved of our Lord ascended to Heaven. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made worthy, etc. A Prayer. WE beseech thee, O almighty God, by the merits and prayers of the most blessed Father Saint Benedict, and of his disciples Saint Placidus, and Saint Maurus, and of the Virgin his sister Saint Scholastica, and of all holy Monks and Nuns, which under his Banner and conduct fought for thee, that thou wouldst renew in us thy holy Spirit, by whose inspiration we may make war against the Flesh, the World, and the Devil and because the Palm of victory cannot be achieved, without laborious battle; give us in adversity patience, in temptation constancy, in perils Counsel: give us the purity of Chastity, the desire of Poverty, the fruit of Obedience, and a firm purpose to observe thy Commandments, so that being strengned with thy Consolation, and linked in brotherly Charity, we may serve thee with one heart, and so pass over these temporal things, that being crowned for our victories: we may deserve at last in the compagnie of those Religious troops, to attain unto those eternal good things: Through Christ our Lord. Amen. A Commpline. Convert us O Lord our Saviour, And avert thy wrath from us: O God incline unto my aid: O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc. A Hymn. BLessed Patriarch we thee pray, And also crave in humble wise: That unto Heaven thou shows the Way, Whom thou the earth taughtest to despise. Grant we may seek those joy above. And mend in us what is amiss: That living here in Christian love, We may hereafter live in bliss. Praise, honour, glory, without end, To thou O sacred Trinity: Which Benedict thy faithful friend, Enjoyeth for all eternity, Amen. An Anthem. Let the whole compagnie of all the faithful rejoice for the glory of the blessed Abbot Saint Benedict let the troops of Religious persons chief exult, celebrating is memory upon earth, for whose society the Saints do joy in Heaven. Verse. Pray for us, O blessed Father Benedict. Resp. That we may be made worthy, etc. A Prayer. PVrifie, O God, the hearts of all those, who forsaking worldly vanities, thou hast encouraged to aspire to the reward of a higher vocation, under the discipline of their holy Patriarch and founder Saint Benedict, and pour thy grace into them, whereby they may persever in thee, and by thy assistance accomplish what by thy inspiration they have promised, that so achieving the perfection, which they profess, they may also merit to attain to the reward, by thee proposed, to such as should persever in thee. Through our Lord jesus-christ, who with thee liveth and reigneth in unity of the holy Ghost Amen. A filial recommendation to the most blessed Father Saint Benedict. O Most glorious Father Saint Benedict, the Governor and Leader of such as profess Monastical discipline, hope, and solace of all them, that hearty implore thy assistance; I humbly recommend me to thy holy protection, that for the excellency of thy merits, thou wilt vouchsafe to defend me from all evils hurtful to my soul: and that out of the abundance of thy piety, thou wilt obtain for me the gift of compunction and tears, that I may worthily and abundantly bewail my great wickedness and offences, whereby I have oftentimes even from my childhood, provoked to anger my loving and gracious Lord jesus-christ; and that I may also worthily praise and reverence thee: O most precious Olive, and fruitful Vine in the house of God: O most solid vessel adorned with all kinds of precious stones, chosen according to Gods own heart, most sweet and with innumerable gifts of graces, like so many glistering Pearls embellized: thee I beseech, thee I pray, thee with all the affection of my heart, with all the desires of my soul I implore, that thou wilt vouchsafe, to be mindful of me wretched sinner with Almighty God, that of his infinite goodness, he will be pleased to forgive me all my sins, and conserve me in virtues; and that for no cause or necessity whatsoever, he will suffer me to departed from him; but that together with thee, O loving Father, he will admit me into the company of his Saints, and to that blissful vision of himself, where together with thee, and that glorious Army of Religious persons, who fought under thy Banner, I may for ever enjoy the presence of my God, and my Lord jesus Christ, who with the Father, and the holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever. Amen. FINIS.