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Twenty-five Days Preparation for the Nativity, after the example of St. Catharine of Bologna
No. 188. The Raccolta (1910).

Prayer to be Said Every Day

IN lowly reverence at thy feet we kneel, great Mother of our GOD, most holy Mary, advocate of sinners; humbly praying thee, by the merits of the Precious Blood ofthy Divine Son, shed for us sinners, and by the intercession of thy well-beloved servant, Catharine, to gain for us by thy prayers true fervour of spirit in this holy exercise, and the grace to walk in the way of all thy virtues, after the example of St Catharine, to the honour and glory of JESUS CHRIST, thine only Son our SAVIOUR. Forget our monstrous ingratitude, look not upon our sins, but rather find for us a refuge in the depths of thy loving kindness; and having regard to that love wherewith thou didst ever love thy faithful servant Catharine, obtain for us the remission of our sins, so that we may confidently hope to attain all that we desire for our spiritual wants. Amen.

For the First Day	For the Other Days	For the Last Day
IN imitation of St Catharine, we purpose now to praise the great Mother of our GOD, honouring her Sacred Delivery, and saying to her forty Angelic Salutations and forty Benedictions, thereby to obtain her powerful aid at the hour of our death, and a true contrition for our sins, that so we may pass from this land of our pilgrimage to eternal joys.	IN imitation of St Catharine, let us continue to praise the great Mother of our GOD, honouring her Sacred Delivery with forty Angelic Salutations and forty Benedictions, to obtain thereby her powerful aid at the hour of our death, and true contrition for our sins, that so we may pass from this land of our pilgrimage to eternal joys.	IN imitation of St Catharine, to-day we end this exercise praising the great Mother of our GOD, and honouring her Sacred Delivery, with forty Angelic Salutations and forty Benedictions, to obtain thereby her powerful aid at the hour of our death, and true contrition for our sins, that so we may pass from this land of our pilgrimage to eternal joys.

First Decade	Second Decade	Third Decade	Fourth Decade
WHILST saying for the first time Ave Maria ten times and the ten Benedictions, we meditate on the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word, and the great dignity of the Virgin who was elected to be the Mother of the Most High. Ave Maria ten times, and after each Ave say, Blessed be the hour, Mary, when thou didst become Mother of JESUS, SON of GOD.	WHILST saying for the second time Ave Maria ten times and the ten Benedictions, we meditate on the humility of the King of heaven, who chose for his birthplace a poor stable, and on the joy of Mary when she first saw the Only-begotten of the FATHER, the Fruit of her womb. Ave Maria ten times, and after each Ave say, Blessed be the hour, Mary, when thou didst bring forth JESUS, SON of GOD.	WHILST saying for the third time Ave Maria ten times and the ten Benedictions, we contemplate the exact carefulness of Mary, as she fulfilled perfectly the parts both of Martha and of Magdalen, contemplating her Son as her REDEEMER, and at the same time ministering to Him as her Child. Ave Maria ten times, and after each Ave say, Blessed be the hour, Mary, when thou didst nourish at thy breast JESUS, SON of GOD.	WHILST saying for the fourth time Ave Maria ten times and the ten Benedictions, we meditate upon the great reverence with which Mary embraced and pressed to her very heart rather than to her bosom, kissed, and adored her GOD and ours, incarnate for love of us; and moved thereby with profound reverence and devout affection we say, Ave Maria ten times, and after each Ave say, Blessed be the hour, Mary, when thou didst embrace JESUS, SON of GOD.

Then say,

PRAISE be to our GOD, because in imitation of St. Catharine, we (have begun/are continuing/have ended) this holy exercise. We beseech the Queen of Angels that for these our thousand Angelic Salutations and thousand Benedictions which we (are saying/have said), the Mother may obtain of the Infant which is born of her these two special blessings, viz. , the first, in life, grace truly to repent of our sins; the second, in death, certainty of salvation. Wherefore let every one here present say heartily with St. Catharine:

Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, JESUS, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

KYRIE eleison. CHRISTE eleison. Kyrie eleison. CHRISTE audi nos. CHRISTE exaudi nos.	LORD, have mercy. CHRIST, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. CHRIST, hear us. CHRIST graciously hear us.
PATER de cœlis DEUS, FILI Redemptor mundi DEUS, Miserere Nobis. SPIRITUS SANCTE DEUS, Sancta Trinitas unus DEUS,	GOD the FATHER of heaven, GOD the SON, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. GOD the HOLY GHOST, Holy Trinity, one GOD.
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Sancta DEI Genitrix, Sancta Virgo Virginum, Mater CHRISTI, Mater Divinæ gratiæ, Mater purissima, Mater castissima, Ora pro nobis. Mater inviolata, Mater intemerata, Mater amabilis, Mater admirabilis, Mater boni consilii, Mater CREATORIS, Mater SALVATORIS,	Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of GOD, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of CHRIST, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Pray for us. Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of our CREATOR, Mother of our SAVIOUR,
Virgo prudentissima, Virgo veneranda, Virgo prædicanda, Ora pro nobis. Virgo potens, Virgo clemens, Virgo fidelis,	Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Pray for us. Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful,
Speculum justitiæ, Sedes sapientiæ, Causa nostræ laetitiæ, Vas spirituale, Vas honorabile, Vas insigne devotionis, Rosa mystica, Turris Davidica, Ora pro nobis. Turris eburnea, Domus aurea, Fœderis area, Janua cæli, Stella matutina, Salus infirmorum, Refugium peccatorum, Consolatrix afflictorum, Auxilium Christianorum,	Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual Vessel, Vessel of honour, 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 sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians,
Regina Angelorum, Regina Patriarcharum, Regina Prophetarum, Regina Apostolorum, Regina Martyrum, Regina Confessorum, Ora pro nobis. Regina Virginum, Regina Sanctorum omnium, Regina sine labe originali concepta, Regina in cœlo assumpta, Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, Regina pacis,	Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Pray for us. Queen of Virgins, Queen of all saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of peace,
AGNUS DEI, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, DOMINE. AGNUS DEI, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, DOMINE. AGNUS DEI, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.	LAMB of GOD, who takest away the sins ot the world, spare us, O LORD. LAMB of GOD, who takest away the sins ot the world, graciously hear us, O LORD. LAMB of GOD, who takest away the sins ot the world, have mercy on us.

V. Make me worthy to praise thee, Virgin ever blessed.
R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Let us pray.
GOD, who by the message of an angel didst will that thy Divine Word should take to Himself human flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant unto us thy suppliants that we, who believe her to be verily and indeed Mother of GOD, may be aided by her intercession with Thee.

Visit us, O LORD, we beseech Thee, and purify our hearts; that our LORD JESUS CHRIST thy SON may, when He comes with all his saints, find a dwelling-place prepared for Himself within us. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. R. Amen.