of my sins in the days of its mortal life, was sorrowful even unto death; do not suffer Thy agony and Thy blood to be unprofitable to me. Annihilate whitin me my criminal heart, and give one according to thine-a heart contrite and humble, a heart pure and spotless, a heart which may be henceforth a victim consecrated to Thy glory, and inflamed with the sacred fire of Thy love. O Lord, I deplore in the bitterness of my heart,, my former irreverences and sacrileges, which I wish in future to repair, by my pious deportment in the churches, my assiduity in visiting and my devotion and fervor in receiving the most holy Sacrament of the altar. But in order to render my respect and my adoration more grateful to Thee, I unite them wit those which are rendered to Thee in our temples, by those blessed spirits who are at the foot of Thy sacred tabernacles. Hear their vows, O! my God, and accept the homages of a heart which returns to thee with the sole view of

loving only Thee, that may merit loving Thee eternally. Amen.

AN ACT OF CONSECRATION (FOR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.) To the Adorable Heart of Jesus. I GIVE and consecrate to the Adorable Heart of Jesus my being, my life, my thoughts, my words, my actions, my pains, and my sufferings. I wish for life. only, that my days may be employed in loving, honoring and adoring it. I thake Thee, then, O! Divine Heart, for the object of my love, the protector of my life, the assurance of my salvation, the remedy of my inconstancy, the repairer of all my defects, and my certain asylum at the hour of my death. O! Heart, abounding in mercy, turn from me the arrows of the just wrath of the Celestial Father. I place all my confidence in Thee; for I fear everything from my weakness, as I hope for everything from thy goodness.

Destroy in me everything which may displease and resist thee; implant so deeply Thy love in my heart that I may never forget Thee, nor be separated from Thee. I conjure Thee by Thy infinite goodness, to transform me into a victim entirely consecrated to Thy glory, which may be from this moment inflamed, and one day consumed in the fire of Thy love. This is the only object of my desires having no other ambition than that of living and dying in Thee and for Thee. Amen.

ORIGIN AND END

OF THE

SODALITY OF THE B. VIRGIN MARY.

THE first Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, which was formed in Rome in 1563, owes its origin to the zealous exertions of Leo Lera, a Father of the Society of Jesus, who was then teaching in the Roman College. He collected youths and placed them under the special protection of the Blessed

Virgin. The pious and exemplary conduct of the first Sodalists caused associations of a similar nature to spread from Rome to every part of the Christian world.

In 1584 in an encyclical letter, Pope Gregory the XIII, approved the Sodality established in Rome, and extended to all the fathful the privilege of becoming members; he wished that the Sodality of the Roman College, under the title of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, should be, as it were the mother and centre of all the others: and he gave to the General of the Society of Jesus, all the necessary powers to direct these pious associations. Pope Sixtus V, Gregory XV, Clement VIII, Benedict XIV,Clement XIII, Pius VII, &c., have enriched the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin with indulgences, and extolled its utility in the warmest manner. Soon after its institution it numbered among its members, Popes, Cardinals, Bishops and many most zealous and learned clergymen, and likewise many secular Princes, Magistrates and men distinguished in every class of society. Among the Saints who have sanctified themselves by a faithful compliance with the rules of the Sodality, of which they were members, we

might mention St. Charles Borromeo St. Francis of Sales, St. Aloysius, St. Stanislaus Kostka.

Advantages of the Sodality.

EXPERIENCE shows that Sodalities are a means of most abundant graces; for Sodalists are generally most faithful in the discharge of all the duties that the obligations Christianity impose. This extraordinary fidelity is to be attributed to the advantages they enjoy :

1.In the special protection which the B. Virgin extends to those who, in a special manner devote themselves to her; for she aids such in their necessities, consoles them in affiction, protects them in danger, supports them in their infirmities, strengthens them in their last moments and finally procures for them the grace of a holy and happy death.

2. In the zeal of a careful Director, who devotes his particular attention to their spiritual welfare, who instructs them in their duties and gives them whole some advice whentheir salvation might be in danger.

3. In the numerous exhortations and pious discourses which renew their fervor and nourish their devotion, and which, by repeatedly