Another prayer runs thus: "Under thy protection we take refuge, Holy Mother of God. Despise not our supplications in our necessities; but from all dangers ever deliver us, O glorious and Blessed Virgin." [Sub tuum præsidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix; nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.--Æst. cxlvi.]
Let us suppose the object of these addresses to be changed; and instead of the Virgin let us substitute the name of the ever-blessed God and Father of us all. The very words here addressed to the Virgin are offered to Him, and spoken of Him in some of the most affecting prayers and praises recorded in the Bible[128].
[Footnote 128: The identity of the prayers offered to the Virgin with those offered in the Book of inspiration, or in the Roman Ritual to the Almighty, becomes very striking, if we lay side by side the authorized language of the Roman Liturgy, and the only translation of the Scriptures authorized by the Roman Church.
_Roman Ritual in addressing the _Roman Ritual, or Translation Virgin_ of the Bible, in addressing the Almighty_.
Sub tuum præsidium confugimus. Dominus, firmamentum meum et refugium meum. Ad te confugi.--Ps. xvii. 1; cxlii. 11.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias Ne despexeris deprecationem in necessitatibus. meam.--Ps. liv. 1.
Sed a periculis cunctis libera nos. Libera, Domine, animam servi tui ab omnibus periculis inferni. Hiem. ccvi.
A periculo mortis libera nos, Domine.--Hiem. cciv.
Tu nos ab hoste protege. Eripe me de inimicis meis, Domine.--Ps. cxlii. 11.
Et hora mortis SUSPICE. _Suscipe_, Domine, servum tuum.--Hiem. ccvi. { 342} ]
But another hymn in the office of the Virgin, addressed in part to the blessed Saviour himself, and partly to the Virgin Mary, is still more revolting to all my feelings with regard to religious worship. The Redeemer is only asked to remember his mortal birth; no blessing is here supplicated for at his hands; his protection is not sought; no deliverance of our souls at the hour of death is implored from Him; these blessings, and these heavenly benefits, and these divine mercies, are sought for exclusively at the hands of the Virgin alone. Can such a mingled prayer, can such a contrast in prayer, be the genuine fruit of that Gospel which bids us ask for all we need in prayer to God in the name and for the sake of his blessed Son?
