De invocatione sancti nominis Iesu et beatae Mariae virginis matris eius
The Holy Practice of Invocation
The author introduces specific short verses to be prayed as a means of guiding one's steps and guarding the soul from vanity.
Direct my way, Lord my God, in your sight. Your ways, Lord Jesus Christ, are beautiful, clean, and secure—the right and perfect ways to walk. All your paths are peaceful and holy, leading your faithful, humble-hearted ones into your heavenly kingdom. Wherever you go, walk, stand, or rest, call upon Jesus and Mary, his loving mother, and gladly read this holy little verse for guidance on your way. Direct my way, Lord my God, in your sight. Then, in the same way, add this: Perfect my steps in your paths, loving Jesus, so that my feet may not be moved to look upon vanity, or to speak idle things that are harmful to my soul. After this, take up this sweet little verse as food for your journey, hold it firmly in your hand like a staff, and often pray it devoutly.
Companions on the Pilgrim's Path
The prayer to Jesus and Mary is described as a powerful, protective companion for the pilgrim, offering comfort and strength throughout life and at the hour of death.
May Jesus and Mary be with me always on the way, in every place and at every time, for my safe keeping, so that I don't wander off the path or get scattered by the many distractions within and without. This holy prayer to Jesus and Mary is short to read, light to carry, and easy to hold onto; it's sweet to think about, strong to protect, faithful to guard, and a companion to walk with; it's delightful to refresh the soul, friendly to comfort, powerful to help, and wise to lead every poor pilgrim and despiser of the world along the right path to eternal life. This holy prayer has with it better companions and more powerful soldiers than all the kings and princes of the world, and higher saints than all the saints in heaven and on earth. This holy prayer draws the entire heavenly court to itself in the fervor of the spirit, for it follows with all reverence its Lord, Jesus Christ, and its Lady, the holy Mary, the blessed Mother of Jesus, who is worthy of all praise and to be honored by everyone. Whoever has them as companions on the way of this life will also find them to be holy patrons at the time of death. Don't abandon Jesus now if you desire to live and rejoice forever with Jesus and Mary. He walks well and securely who carries Jesus and Mary in his heart; he names them often with his mouth, blesses them with his lips, applauds with his hands, dances with his feet, cries out with his voice, rejoices with his heart, weeps with his eyes, sighs with his face, appeases them with kisses, embraces them with his arms, and worships them on bended knee. Blessed is he who diligently calls upon Jesus and Mary, greets them devoutly, remembers them lovingly, honors them exceedingly, praises them most joyfully, glorifies them most highly, loves them most ardently, speaks of them most sweetly, and celebrates and sings of them most delightfully.
The Blessed Life of the Heavenly Traveler
The author describes the blessed state of the soul that longs for heaven and participates in the life of Christ through devotion and the Eucharist.
How sweet Jesus is, and how sweet is holy Mary, his beloved mother. Blessed is the pilgrim who, in every place and time of his exile in the body, remembers his heavenly homeland, where Jesus and Mary rejoice together with all their angels and saints in the greatest joy and eternal glory. Blessed is the pilgrim who doesn't seek a home in this world, but longs to be set free and to be with Christ in heaven. Blessed is the poor man and beggar who travels daily for the bread of heaven, and who doesn't cease to plead humbly before the table of God until he receives a single crumb. Blessed is the one who is called to the supper of the Lamb, and who receives his Sacrament until he arrives at the heavenly banquet. For as often as anyone communicates devoutly, or a priest celebrates reverently and devoutly for the honor of God, so often does he spiritually eat and drink with the blessed Jesus and his blessed mother. This person is a disciple of Jesus, a chaplain of the blessed Virgin Mary, a companion of the angels, a fellow citizen of the apostles, a member of God's household, a kinsman of the saints, and a friend of heaven. He flees from crowds and avoids idle talk; he ponders the words of Jesus and carefully guards his heart and all his senses, so that he may not offend Jesus, Mary, and all the saints.
The Comfort of the Savior's Voice
The chapter concludes with the promise of Christ's presence in times of fear, reminding the faithful that His voice brings peace and eternal life.
This person will receive blessing and mercy from the Lord Jesus, their Savior; and as soon as they call out to Him, He will hear them from His holy heaven, no matter where they are or what danger they face. For when the disciples were sailing on the sea and, fearing they would drown, called upon Jesus, Jesus Himself was there at once and said: “Why are you afraid?” “Have confidence; it is I; don't be afraid.” For the voice of Jesus is a sweet voice for comforting, strong for protecting, pleasant for gladdening, kind for forgiving, and gracious for bestowing eternal life. Amen.
Read the original Latin
Dirige Domine Deus meus: in conspectu tuo viam meam. Viae tuae Domine Iesu Christe viae pulchrae viae mundae et securae: ad ambulandum in eis recte et perfecte. Et omnes semitae tuae pacificae et sanctae: ad perducendum omnes fideles tuos et humiles corde in regnum tuum caeleste. Vbicumque ergo pergis ambulas stas et resides; invoca Iesum et Mariam piam matrem eius: et hunc sanctum versiculum libenter pro conductu viae lege. Dirige Domine Deus meus: in conspectu tuo viam meam. Deinde consimiliter istum adde. Perfice pie Iesu gressus meos in semitis tuis; ut non moveantur vestigia mea ad videndum vana: et loquendum otiosa animae meae nociva. Post haec etiam hunc dulcem versiculum pro viatico ciborum assume; et quasi baculum in manu firmiter tene: et saepe orans devote lege.
Iesus et Maria sint mecum semper in via: in omni loco et in omni tempore pro bona custodia; ne forte per devia errem: et dispergar per smulta phantasmata intus et extra. Haec sancta oratio Iesus et Maria brevis est ad legendum levis ad portandum, facilis ad tenendum; dulcis ad cogitandum, fortis ad protegendum: fidelis ad custodiendum, Socialis ad ambulandum; delectabilis ad recreandum, amicabilis ad consolandum, potens ad adiuvandum: prudens ad perducendum recto itinere omnem pauperem peregrinum et saeculi contemptorem ad Vitam aeternam. Haec sancta oratio habet secum meliores comites et potentiores milites prae omnibus regibus et principibus mundi: et altiores sanctos prae omnibus sanctis in caelo et in terra. Haec sancta oratio trahit ad se in fervore spiritus totam caelestem curiam; quae sequitur cum omni reverentia Dominum suum Iesum Christum et dominam suam sanctam Mariam matrem Iesu benedictam: omni laude dignissimam ab omnibus honorandam. Qui istos pro sociis secum habet in via huius vitae: etiam pios patronos inveniet mortis tempore. Noli iam Iesum deserere: si cupis cum Iesu et Maria semper vivere et gaudere. Bene ergo et secure ambulat: qui Iesum et Mariam in corde portat; ore saepe nominat, labiis benedicit: manibus plaudit, pedibus tripudiat; voce clamat, corde iubilat: oculis plorat, vultu suspirat; osculis placat, bracchiis amplectitur: et flexis genibus adorat. Beatus qui Iesum et Mariam sedule invocat, devote salutat; amorose commemorat eximie honorat: laetissime collaudat, altissime glorificat; ardentissime amat, suavissime eructat iucundissime celebrat et cantat.
O quam dulcis est Iesus: et quam dulcis sancta Maria dilecta mater eius. Beatus peregrinus qui in omni loco et tempore exilii sui in corpore meminit patriae caelestis: ubi Iesus et Maria gaudent pariter cum omnibus angelis et sanctis suis in maxima laetitia et aeterna gloria. Beatus peregrinus qui non quaerit mansionem in mundo: sed cupit dissolvi eto esse cum Christo in caelis. Beatus pauper et mendicus qui cotidie transit pro pane caeli: et donec accipiat unam micam non cessat supplicare humiliter ante Dei mensam. Beatus qui vocatur ad cenam agni et donec perveniat ad convivium supernum accipit eius sacramentum. Quotiens enim aliquis devote communicat, aut sacerdos ad honorem Dei reverenter et devote celebrat: totiens cum benedicto Iesu et benedicta matre sua spiritualiter manducat et bibit. Iste est discipulus Iesu capellanus beatae Mariae virginis socius angelorum, concivis apostolorum: domesticus Dei; cognatus sanctorum: samicus caeli. Hic turbas fugit, fabulas vitat; verba Iesu cogitat, et cor suum cum ceteris sensibus suis sollicite custodit: ne Iesum et Mariam et omnes sanctos offendat.
Hic accipiet benedictionem et misericordiam a Domino Iesu salutari suo; et quam cito ad eum clamaverit exaudiet eum de caelo sancto suo: in quocumque loco fuerit et periculo. Nam cum discipuli in mari navigarent et prae istimore submergendi Iesum invocarent: statim ipse Iesus affuit et dixit. Quid timidi estis? Habete fiduciam; ego sum: nolite timere. Vox enim Iesu vox dulcis ad consolandum; fortis ad protegendum: iucunda ad laetificandum; benigna ad indulgendum: gratiosa ad tribuendum vitam aeternam. Amen.
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