A simple prayer book


JJVl /\caf» c?v\ / Cxx-^Uclic Tlri^-^k S<dc>"<s^A

- /4 iintple praLp-.r hocK

AtAS.9.^(o

K

Sonk



INDEX

PAGE

Usual Prayers 2

Morning Prayers 3

Night Prayers ......... i ... . 4
Acts and Prayers 5

Indulgenced Prayers ........... 8
Holy Mass 9

Prayers after Mass . . . 37

The Angelus 38
The De Profundis ............ 39
Prayers for Confession 40

Prayers for Holy Communion 45
Necessary Truths 53

Benediction . . . . _ . . . 54

Litany of the Blessed Virgin 54

Divine Praises 58

Way of the Cross 58
The Holy Rosary 59
Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus 60
A Quarter of an Hour before the Blessed Sacrament . . 62
Summary of Christian Doctrine 65

Reimprimatur

1^ PETRUS
Episcopus Southwarcensis



A

Simpk frager loak

INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY
407 Bergen Street

Brooklyn, New York



USUAL PRAYERS
OUR FATHER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed

art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sin-
ners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven

and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin
Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and
was buried

;
He descended into hell

;
the third day He rose

again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at
the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He
shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in
the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church

;
the communion

of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the
body, and life everlasting. Amen.

GLORY BE
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.

CONFITEOR
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin,

to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Bap-
tist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the
Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and
deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most
grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever
Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the



MORNING PRAYERS 3

Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the
Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
May Almighty God have mercy on me, forgive me

my sins and bring me to life everlasting. Amen.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me par-

don, absolution, and remission of all my sins. Amen.

MORNING PRAYERS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and

of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. The Apostles’ Creed.

Glory be.
O my God, I believe in Thee, because Thou art

truth itself.

O my God, I hope in Thee, because of Thy prom-
ises to me.

O my God, I love Thee above all things, because
Thou art so good; teach me to love Thee daily more
and more.
0 my God, I offer Thee all my thoughts, words,

actions, and sufferings; and I beseech Thee give me
Thy grace that I may not offend Thee this day, but
may faithfully serve Thee and do Thy holy will in
all things.

1 desire to gain all the Indulgences that I can.

Holy Mary, be a mother to me.
All ye Angels and Saints of God, pray for me.
May our Lord ^ bless us and keep us from all evil,

and bring us to life everlasting.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through

the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
During: the Day—Keep from sin. Be obedient. Always

tell the truth. Do not steal. Do not let anyone lead you to
do anything wrong. God sees you.



4 NIGHT PRAYERS

Always do what is right, and be afraid of none but God.
If you are tempted to sin, make the sign of the Cross and

say, “Lord, save me, or I perish.”
If you have fallen into sin, say, “My God, I am very sorry

that I have offended Thee. I will not sin again.”
Never miss Mass on Sundays or Holydays of Obligation.
Do not eat meat on Fridays or other days on which it is

forbidden.

NIGHT PRAYERS
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and

of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. The Apostles' Creed.

Glory be.
O my God, I return Thee thanks for all the bene-

fits which I have ever received from Thee, and par-
ticularly this day. Give me light to see what sins I
have committed this day, and grant me grace to be
truly sorry for them.

[Here wait a little^ and think over what faults you have
committed during the day.^

O my God, I am very sorry that I have offended
Thee; I love Thee with all my heart because Thou
art so good, and I will not sin again.

Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
Lord Jesus, receive my soul.
Holy Mary, be a mother to me.
May the blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and all

the Saints, pray for us to our Lord, that we may be
preserved this night from sin and all evil. Amen.
O my good Angel, whom God has appointed to be

my guardian, watch over me during this night.
All ye Angels and Saints of God, pray for me.
May our Lord ^ bless us and preserve us from all

evil, and bring us to life everlasting.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through

the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.



ACTS AND PRAYERS 5

ACTS AND PRAYERS

An Act of Faith

I firmly believe that there is one God and that in
this one God there are three Persons, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost; that the Son took to Him-
self the nature of man, from the Virgin Mary’s womb,
by the power of the Holy Ghost; and that in this
our human nature He was’ crucified and died for us;
that afterwards He arose again and ascended into
heaven; from thence He shall come to repay the just
with everlasting glory, and the wicked with everlast-
ing punishment. Moreover, I believe whatsoever else
the Catholic Church proposes to be believed; and this
because God, Who is the sovereign Truth, Who can
neither deceive nor be deceived, has revealed all

these things’ to this His Church.

An Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thine almighty power and
Thine infinite mercy and goodness, and because Thou
art faithful to Thy promises, I trust in Thee that
Thou wilt grant me forgiveness of my sins, through
the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son; and that Thou
wilt give me the assistance of Thy grace, with which
I may labor to continue to the end in the diligent
exercise of all good works, and may deserve to obtain
the glory which Thou hast promised in heaven.



6 ACTS AND PRAYERS

An Act of Charity
O Lord, my God, I love Thee with my whole heart,

and above all things, because Thou, O God, art the
sovereign good, and for Thine own infinite perfec-
tions art most worthy of all love; and for Thy sake
I also love my neighbor as myself. I renounce every
thought which is contrary to that love of one another,
by which men are known to be the disciples of Thy
Son; I forgive all who have in any way injured me,
and I beg Thy grace and mercy for all the world.

An Act of Contrition
O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my

sins, and detest them above all things, because they
deserve Thy dreadful punishments, because they have
crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and most
of all, because they offended Thine infinite goodness;
and I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy grace, never
to offend Thee again, and carefully to avoid the occa-
sions of sin.

In Temptation

Lord, save me, or I perish. Keep me close to Thee
by Thy grace, or I shall sin and fall away from Thee.
Lord, I am very weak; give me grace and make my
will strong, that I may not sin.

Jesus, help me; Mary, help me; my holy Angel,
watch over me.

In Trouble

In all things may the most holy, the most just, and
the most lovable will of God be done, praised and



ACTS AND PRAYERS 7

exalted above all for ever. Thy will be done. O
Lord, Thy will be done. The Lord has given, the
Lord has taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.

In Sickness and Pain

Lord, Thy will be done, I take this for my sins.
I offer up to Thee my sufferings, together with all
that my Saviour has suffered for me; and I beg of
Thee, through His sufferings, to have mercy on me.
Free me from this illness and pain if Thou wilt, and
if it be for my good. Thou lovest me too much to let
me suffer unless it be for my good. Therefore, O
Lord, I trust myself to Thee; do with me as Thou
pleasest. In sickness and in health, I wish to love
Thee always.

For Purity

O Jesus, most pure of heart i O spotless Lamb of
God! help me that I may keep my heart and body
pure, that all through my life I may never displease
Thee by any wicked thing. Give me the blessings of
the clean of heart.

On Going to Bed
Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;

Lord Jesus, receive my soul. In the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ crucified, I lay me down to rest. Bless
me, O Lord, and defend me; preserve me from a sud-
den and unprovided death, and from all dangers, and
bring me to life everlasting with Thee.



8 ACTS AND PRAYERS

INDULGENCED PRAYERS
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. (100 days,
three times a day.)

In all things may the most holy, the most just, and
the most lovable will of God be done, praised, and
exalted above all for ever. (100 days, once a day.)

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!

(100 days, once a day.)

My Jesus, mercy! Mary, help! (100 days each
time.)

My sweetest Jesus, be not to me a judge, but a
Saviour. (50 days each time.)

Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things. (50
days each time.)

O sweetest Heart of Jesus I implore.
That I may ever love Thee more and more.

(300 days.)

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart
like to Thine. (300 days, once a day.)

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart and my
life.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul

in peace in your blessed company. (300 days each

time.)



HOLY MASS 9

O my good Angel, whom God, by His divine mercy,
has appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and pro-
tect, direct and govern me. (100 days each time.)

HOLY MASS
The first commandment of the Church binds all Catholics to

hear Mass on all Sundays and Holydays of OMigation.
The Holydays of Obligation are :

—

1. Christmas Day, December 25th.
2. The Circumcision or New Year’s Day. January 1st.
3. Ascension Thursday, forty days after Easter Sunday.
4. The Assumption of our Lady into heaven, August 15th.
5. The Feast of All Saints, November 1st.
6. The Immaculate Conception, December 8th.
To miss Mass on Sunday or on one of the above named Holy-

days, through one’s own fault, is a mortal or grievous sin.
To come in late, willfully or through carelessness, when Mass

has begun, before the Gospel, is a venial sin.
To be absent from one of the principal parts of Mass is not

hearing Mass at all.
To miss Mass when you cannot help it, or when it would be

very difficult for you to hear Mass, is not a sin. So if you
missed Mass because you were ill, or because you had to stay
at home to mind a sick person or children, or because you
were a long way from church, or if for some other reason you
could not go, it would not be a sin. When you cannot go to
Mass, say some prayers at home ; but in no case may you join
in the services of another religion. Servants should try not to
take a place or situation where they cannot go to Mass on
Sundays and Holydays of Obligation.
The three principal parts of the Mass are :

—

I*—The Offertory, or Offertory of the Bread and Wine.
II—The Consecration or Elevation (when the Bread and

Wine are consecrated, or made holy by being changed
into our Lord’s Body and Blood).

Ill—The Priest’s Communion (when the Priest gives himself
Holy Communion, after the last bell has rung at the
Domine non sum dignus.)

Short Instruction on Holy Mass
Holy Mass is the most solemn act of the worship of God. It

is now more than nineteen hundred years since our Lord Jesus
Christ hung for three long hours on the Cross of Mount Cal-
vary, and then died on it for our salvation—that is, to save
us from sin and hell.



10 HOLY MASS

Mass is the same sacrifice as that of Calvary ; the manner
only in which it is offered is different ; so that when you assist
at it, you may think you are standing with our Blessed Lady
and St. John at the foot of the Cross.
The bread and wine are changed by the Priest in the mid-

dle of the Mass at the Consecration, into the Body and Blood
of Jesus Christ, who then offers Himself again to His Eternal
Father for the salvation of mankind. The graces obtained for
us by the shedding of our Lord’s Blood on Calvary are given
in an especial manner to those who hear Holy Mass devoutly.
You know that our Lord died once only, on Good Friday.

But in the Mass His death on the Cross is commemorated by
the separate Consecration of the Bread and Wine. He can-
not really die again. His Body and Blood cannot really be
separated, for His glorious risen Body cannot suffer any more
—it is immortal. But in the Mass the Bread is first changed
into our Lord’s Body and then the Wine is changed into His
Blood. Thus it looks as though the Body and Blood were
separate, and this recalls the real separation, the real shed-
ding of our Lord’s Blood on Mount Calvary. Then He really
died for us. In the Mass His death is represented, as “shown
forth,” as St. Paul says. Both on Mt. Calvary and in the
Mass the victim (that which is offered) is the same—the Body
and Blood of Christ ; and the Priest is the same—Christ our
Lord, who offered Himself on Calvary through the execution-
ers who put Him to death, and who offers Himself in the
Mass on the altar through His Priests, who say the words of
Consecration. So the sacrifice of Calvary and the Mass are
the same sacrifice, only the manner in which they are offered
is different. On Calvary our Lord’s Blood was really shed, and
He really died

;
in the Mass His Blood appears to be shed, and

His death is represented. Thus our Lord offers Himself for us
every time Mass is said.

To pray well during Mass is the best way to worship God
and to obtain His blessing. Jesus Christ Himself then prays
with us and for us and His sacrifice is offered for us.

How the Mass Reminds Us of the Passion of
Christ Our Lord

As the Mass represents the Passion of Christ our Lord, its
chief parts remind us of His sufferings. Thus :

—

At the beginning of the Mass the Priest bows down for the
Confiteor, as our Lord bowed Himself to the ground during His
agony.

The Offertory, or offering of bread and wine, reminds us that
our Lord offered His sacred Body to be scourged and His Head
to be crowned with thorns.



HOLY MASS 11

At the Elevation or Consecration, our Lord appears as if
dead on the altar. This speaks to us of Calvary, when our
Redeemer really died for our salvation.
The Prayer for the Dead represents our Lord’s going down

to Limbo, to comfort the holy souls detained there.

The PriesPs Communion puts us in mind of Christ’s burial,
when He was hidden from the sight of men.
The reading of the Prayers called Communion and Post-

Communion signifies His rising again after being part of three
days in the tomb.
The Blessing given by the Priest to the people represents our

Lord’s Ascension
;
when, stretching His hands, He blessed His

Virgin Mother and His disciples, and then departed from them
into heaven.

Prayer Before Mass

0 my Saviour, I come before Thy holy Altar to
assist at Thy divine Sacrifice. Do Thou prepare my
soul to receive Thy grace

;
fix my mind on Thee

;
wash

away in Thy Precious Blood all the sins of which Thou
seest me guilty

;
I hate them for the love of Thee, and

most humbly beg pardon for them. Grant, O sweet
Jesus, that uniting my intentions to Thine, I may spend
my whole life for Thy glory, as Thou didst give Thy
life for the saving of my soul. Amen.

1 wish to share in the communion of saints by gain-
ing all the indulgences I can today; and I place them
in the hands of our Blessed Lady for the relief of the
souls in purgatory. My Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!
The Priest begins Mass standing at the foot of the Altar.

Call to mind the Garden of Olives, where our Lord went on
Holy Thursday night, taking with Him His three chosen Apos-
tles—Peter, James and John. It was then that our Saviour
began His Passion. He went a little distance from these His
companions and prayed. His face bowed to the earth. The
pain He felt was so bitter that He sweated blood, which ran



12 HOLY MASS

in great drops to the ground. He accepted His sufferings, al-
though they cost Him so much, saying to His heavenly Father,
“Not my will, but Thine be done.*' Let us lovingly remember
our dear Lord’s agony which was the beginning of His Pas-
sion, as we join ourselves with the Priest and say the following
prayers.

The Beginning of Holy Mass
The Priest makes the sign of the Cross {make it with him),

saying

:

In nomine Patris, Hh et
Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

Amen.

Priest Introibo ad altare
Dei.

Clerk, Ad Deum qui laeti-
ficat juventutem meam.

In the name of the
Father, ^ and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.

I will go unto the altar
of God.
To God, who gives joy

to my youth.
Then follows Psalm 42, which is said in Latin ; you can say

it in English.

Psalm 42

Pr, Judica me, Deus, et
discerne causam meam de
gente non sancta, ab homine
iniquo et doloso erue me.

Cl, Quia tu es Deus, forti-
tudo mea, quare me repul-
isti ? et quare tristis incedo
dum affligit me inimicus?

Pr, Emitte lucem tuam
et veritatem tuam; ipsa me
deduxerunt et adduxerunt
in montem sanctum tuum et
in tabernacula tua.

Cl. Et introibo ad altare
Dei: ad Deum qui laetificat
juventutem meam.

Judge me, O God, and
distinguish my cause from
the nation that is not holy:

deliver me from the unjust
and deceitful man.
For Thou art my strength,

O God: why hast Thou cast
me off? and why do I go
sorrowful, whilst the enemy
afflicteth me?
Send forth Thy light and

Thy truth: they have con-
ducted me and brought me
unto Thy holy hill and into
Thy tabernacles.
And I will go in to the

altar of God: to God who
giveth joy to my youth.



HOLY MASS 13

Pr. Confitebor tibi in ci-
thara, Deus, Deus meus;
quare tristis es, anima
mea? et quare conturbas
me ?

Cl. Spera in Deo, quoniam
adhuc confitebor illi

;
salu-

tare vultus mei, et Deus
meus.

Pr. Gloria Patri, et Fi-
lio, et Spiritui Sancto.

CL Sicut erat in princi-
pio, et nunc, et semper, et
in sa&cula saeculorum.

Arnen.
Pr. Introibo ad altare Dei.

Cl. Ad Deum, qui laeti-
ficat juventutem meam.

The Priest makes the

Pr. Adjutorium f» nos-
trum in nomine Domini.

Cl. Qui fecit coelum et
terram.

To Thee, O God, my God,
I will give praise upon the
harp: why art thou sad, O
my soul ? and why dost thou
disquiet me?
Hope in God, for I will

still give praise to Him

;

the salvation of my coun-
tenance and my God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in the begin-

ning, is now, and ever shall
be, world without end.
Amen.

I will go in to the altar of
God.
To God who giveth joy

to my youth.
sign of the Cross.

Our help *i* is in the
name of the Lord.
Who made heaven and

earth.

The Priest hows down and says the Confiteor.

Pr. Confiteor Deo omni-
potenti, beatae Mariae sem-
per virgini, beato Michaeli
Archangelo, beato Joanni
Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis

Petro et Paulo, omnibus
sanctis, et vobis fratres,

quia peccavi nimis cogita-
tione, verbo et opere, mea
culpa, mea culpa, mea max-
ima culpa. Ideo precor

I confessi to Almighty
God, to blessed Mary ever
Virgin, to blessed Michael
the Archangel, to blessed
John the Baptist, to the
holy Apostles Peter and
Paul, to all the saints, and
to you, brethren, that I have
sinned exceedingly in
thought, word and deed,
through my fault, through



14 HOLY MASS

beatam Mariam semper
Virginem, beatum Mich-
aelem Archangelum, beat-
urn Joannem Baptistam,
sanctos Apostolos Petrum
et Paulum, omnes sanc-
tos, et vos fratres, orare
pro me ad Dominum
Deum nostrum.

CL Misereatur tui omni-
potens Deus et dimissis pec-
catis tuis, perducat te ad
vitam aeternam.

Pr, Arnen.

The clerk now hows down
name of

Cl. Confiteor Deo omni-
potenti, beatae Mariae sem-
per Virgini, beato Michaeli
Archangelo, beato Joanni
Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis

Petro et Paulo, omnibus
sanctis, et tibi Pater, quia
peccavi nimis cogitatione,
verbo et opere, mea culpa,
mea culpa, mea maxima
culpa. Ideo precor beatam
Mariam semper Virginem,
beatum Michaelem Archan-
gelum, beatum Joannem
Baptistam, sanctos Aposto-
los Petrum et Paulum, om-
nes sanctos, et te. Pater,

orare pro me ad Dominum
Deum nostrum.

my fault, through my most
grievous fault. Therefore I
beseech blessed Mary ever
Virgin, Blessed Michael the
Archangel, blessed John the
Baptist, the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the
saints, and you, brethren, to
pray to the Lord our God
for me.
May Almighty God be

merciful to thee, and forgiv-
ing thee thy sins, bring thee
to everlasting life.

Amen.

and says the Confiteor in the
the people,

I confess to Almighty
God, to blessed Mary ever
Virgin, to Blessed Michael
the Archangel, to blessed

John the Baptist, to the holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, to
all the saints, and to you,
father, that I have sinned
exceedingly in thought, word

|

and deed, through my fault,
through my fault, through
my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech blessed
Mary ever Virgin, blessed
Michael the Archangel,
blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and
Paul, and all the saints, and



HOLY MASS

Pr, Misereatur vestri om-
nipotens Deus, et dimissis
peccatis vestris, perducat
vos ad vitam aeternam.

Cl. Arnen.
Pr, Indulgentiam f» abso-

lutionem, et remissionem
peccatorum nostrorum tri-
buat nobis omnipotens et
misericors Dominus.

Cl, Arnen.
Pr, Deus, tu conversus

vivificabis nos.

Cl, Et plebs tua laetabitur
in te.

Pr, Ostende nobis. Dom-
ine, misericordiam tuam.

Cl, Et salutare tuum da
nobis.

Pr, Domine, exaudi ora-
tionem meam.

Cl, Et clamor meus ad te
veniat.

Pr. Dominus vobiscum.
Cl. Et cum spiritu tuo.

15

you, father, to pray to the
Lord our God for me.
May Almighty God have

mercy on you, and forgive
you your sins, and bring you
to life everlasting.

Amen.
May the almighty and

merciful Lord give us par-
don, absolution, and re-
mission of our sins {make
the sign of the Cross fivhile
saying this). Amen.
O God, Thou being turned

towards us, wilt give us the
life of grace.

And Thy people will re-
joice in Thee.
Show us, O Lord, Thy

mercy.
And grant us the grace

to save our souls.
O Lord, hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto
Thee.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

The Priest goes up to the Altar, and says in a low tone
of voice:

Take away from us our sins, we beseech Thee, O
Lord, that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds
into the Holy of Holies; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.



16 HOLY MASS

We beseech Thee, O Lord, by the merits of Thy
Saints whose relics are here, and of all the Saints, that
Thou wouldst mercifully forgive us all our sins. Amen.

The Introit
The Introit is the first prayer the Priest reads at the right

or Epistle side of the Altar. This prayer reminds us how much
those who lived holy lives under the Old Law wished for the
coming of our blessed Redeemer. “Glory be to the Father” is
added in honor of the Blessed Trinity.

Prayer During the Reading of the Introit

Let the name of the Lord be blessed both now and
for ever. From the rising to the setting of the sun
let all praise be given to the name of the Lord. 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.

The Kyrie Eleison is a cry for mercy. It is repeated three
times to God the Father, three times to God the Son, and three
times to God the Holy Ghost.

The Kyrie Eleison
Fr, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.
CL Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.
Pr. Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.
CL Christe eleison. Christ have mercy on us.
Pr, Christe eleison. Christ have mercy on us.
CL Christe eleison. Christ have mercy on us.
Pr, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.
CL Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.
Pr, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy on us.

The Gloria in Excelsis
The Gloria begins with the hymn the angels sang on Christ-

mas night, to honor the birth of our Lord. Let us give to God
the glory which is due to Him, and let us humbly ask for our-
selves that peace which the world cannot give, but which God
can bring into our hearts, as the angels then foretold.



HOLY MASS 17

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et
in terra pax hominibus bonae
voluntatis. Laudamus te;
benedicimus te; adoramus
te; glorificamus te. Gratias
agimus tibi propter magnam
gloriam tuam, Domine Deus,
Rex- coelestis, Deus Pater om-
nipotens. Domine Fili uni-
genite Jesu Christe; Domine
Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius
Patris, qui tollis peccata

mundi, miserere nobis; qui
tollis peccata mundi suscipe
deprecationem nostram

:
qui

sedes ad dexteram Patris,
miserere nobis. Quoniam tu
solus sanctus: tu solus Dom-
inus: tu solus altissimus,

Jesu Christe, cum Sancto
Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris.
Arnen.

Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace to men
of good will. We praise
Thee

;
we bless Thee

;
we

adore Thee; we glorify
Thee. We give Thee thanks
for Thy great glory, O Lord
God, heavenly King, God
the Father Almighty. O
Lord Jesus Christ, the only
begotten Son, O Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of the
Father, who takest away the
sins of the world, have
mercy on us

;
Thou who

takest away the sins of the
world, receive our prayers;
Thou who sittest at the
right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us. For Thou
alone art holy: Thou only
art the Lord: Thou alone,
O Jesus Christ, with the
Holy Ghost, art most high
in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.

At the end of the Gloria, the Priest kisses the Altar and turns
to the people saying:

Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you.
The clerk answers:

Et cum spiritu tuo. And with Thy spirit.
This is a blessing the Priest and people wish each other many

times during Mass.

The Collect
The Collect, which means “gathered together,” is so called

because in it the Priest offers to God the united prayers of the
faithful. It ends in the name of Jesus Christ to show that



18 HOLY MASS

we can only come to God through His Divine Son. You must
now think for what particular intention you are hearing this
Mass, and ask the Blessed Virgin and your patron saint to
pray for you and with you. Sometimes there are two or more
Collects.

O merciful God and Father, hear the prayers of
Thy children and of Thy Church. We beg of Thee
to help us. Give us Thy grace without which we can-
not keep from sin, or do any good. Help us to get
what we need for our bodies. Help us to love Thee
with our whole hearts, and bring us all to Thy heav-
enly kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle
Epistle means a “letter.” It is often taken from the letters

of the Apostles to the faithful in different places, from the
writings of the Prophets, or from other parts of Holy Scrip-
ture. As a part of the Mass, it reminds us of the Old Law.

While the Priest reads the Epistle, you may read the following:

My child, all the days of thy life have God in thy
mind, and take heed that thou never consent to sin,
nor break the commandments of the Lord our God.
Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind or in thy words.
See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate
to have done to thee by another. Bless God at all
times and desire Him to direct thy ways. If sinners
entice thee, consent not. The Lord says to thee: My
son, give Me thy heart, and let thine eyes keep My
ways.

The clerk answers:

Deo gratias. Thanks be to God.
The Book or Missal is carried to the left or Gospel side of

the Altar. This reminds us that when the Jews refused to
listen to the teachings of our Lord, the Apostles preached the
true faith to the Gentiles in their stead. Before beginning the



HOLY MASS 19

Gospel the Priest bows down to pray at the middle of the
Altar. Join with him and say

:

Create a clean heart in me, O God, and grant that
I may listen to Thy holy Gospel with respect and bless
Thy name for ever.

The Gospel
No longer Prophets and Apostles speak to us, but Jesus

Christ Himself. We stand out of reverence for the words of
Christ, and to signify that we should always be ready to obey
Him. Make the sign of the Cross on your forehead to show
that you believe the gospel ; on your lips to show that you will
never deny it or speak against it ; and on your heart because
you love it and will follow it faithfully.
While the Priest reads the Gospel, you may read the following:
Pr. Dominus vobiscum.
CL Et cum spiritu tuo.
Pr, Sequentia Sancti

Evangelii secundum Mat-
thaeum.

CL Gloria tibi Domine.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
The continuation of the

Holy Gospel according to St.
Matthew.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Gospel—St. Matt. v. 1-12. At that time, Tesus, seeing
the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when He
was set down, His disciples came unto Him. And open-
ing His mouth, He taught them, saying, Blessed are the
poor in spirit

;
for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for
they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful

;
for

they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart;

for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers; for
they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they
that suffer persecution for justice sake; for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they revile you,
and persecute you, and speak all that is eyil against you
untruly, for My sake; be glad and rejoice, for your reward
is very great in heaven.



20 HOLY MASS

At the end the cleric says:
Laus tibi Christe. Praise be to Thee, 0 Christ.

After reading the Gospel the Priest kisses the Missal.

The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Greed (that is, the Creed of the Council of Nice)

is an explanation of several points of Catholic doctrine. Al-
mighty God likes to hear us tell Him what we believe.
We kneel with the Priest when he says Et homo factus est

“and was made man,” in grateful remembrance of our Lord
coming down from heaven and taking flesh for us.

Credo in unum Deum,
Patrem omnipotentem, fac-
torem coeli et terrae, visibil-
ium omnium et invisibi-
lium.

Et in unum Dominum
Jesum Christum, Filium Dei
unigenitum, et ex Patre
natum ante omnia saecula.
Deum de Deo

;
Lumen de

Lumine
;
Deum verum de

Deo vero; genitum non
factum

;
consubstantialem

Patri, per quem omnia
facta sunt. Qui propter
nos homines, et propter

nostram salutem, descend-
it de coelis, et incarnatus est
de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria
Virgine: et homo factus
EST. Crucifixus etiam pro
njobis; sub Pontio Pilato

passus et sepultus est. Et
resurrexit tertia die secun-

dum scripturas, et ascen-
dit in coelum, sedet ad dex-

I believe in one God, the
Father Almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisi-
ble.

And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the only begotten
Son of God, born of the
Father before all ages,
God of God

;
Light of

Light
;

true God of true
God; begotten not made;
consubstantial with the
Father, by whom all things
were made. Who for us
men, and for our salvation,
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the
Holy Ghost of the Virgin
Mary, and was made man.
[Kneel in reverence for
Chrisfs Incarnation.^ He
was crucified also for us,
suffered under Pontius Pi-
late, and was buried. The
third day He rose again



HOLY MASS 21

teram Patris ; et iterum ven-
turus est cum gloria judicare
vivos et mortuos: cujus regni
non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum
Dominum et vivificantem,
qui ex Patre Filioque pro-
cedit; qui cum Patre et Fi-
lio simul adoratur et con-
glorificatur

;
qui locutus est

per prophetas. Et unam
sanctam Catholicam et Apos-
tolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor
unum baptisma in remis-
sionem peccatorum. Et ex-
pecto resurrectionem mortuo-
rum, et vitam venturi saeculi.
Arnen.

P. Dominus vobiscum.
Cl. Et cum spiritu tuo.

according to the Scrip-
tures

; and ascended into
heaven, and sitteth at the
right hand of the Father:
and He shall come again
with glory to judge both the
living and the dead : of
whose kingdom there shall
be no end.
And I believe in the Holy

Ghost, the Lord and life-
giver, who proceedeth from
the Father and the Son: who
together with the Father and
the Son is adored and glori-
fied: who spake by the proph-
ets. And in One Holy Catho-
lic and Apostolic Church. I
confess one baptism for the
remission of sins. And I look
for the resurrection of the

dead, and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

The Offertory or Offering
The First Principal Part of the Mass

The best gift we can make to God is our heart, if it is hum-
ble and full of sorrow for sin. Let us then join ourselves to
the Host which the Priest is about to offer to Almighty God,
and which, later on, in the middle of the Mass, will become
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

What the Priest Does at the Offertory
At the beginning of Mass, the Priest placed on the Altar a

chalice with a silver plate on it, called a paten. These are
covered with a silk veil. He now takes off the veil, and hold-
ing up with both hands the paten, on which lies a large Host



22 HOLY MASS

—the breacl which is to be changed into our Lord’s Body and
Blood—he prays :

—

Accept, O holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
this unspotted Host, ^hich I, Thy unworthy servant,
offer unto Thee for my many sins, my faults, and my
negligences. I offer it also for all here present as well

as for all faithful Christians, both living and dead,
that it may help both them and me to gain eternal life.

The Priest Pours Wine and Water into the Chalice
The mixing of wine and water reminds us that the Son of

God took to Himself our human nature and makes us sharers
of His divine nature.

Prayer

O my God, I believe that Thy Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, became man for my sake. May I live in Thy
love, and never lose Thy grace by mortal sin. Amen.

Offering of the Chalice
The Priest now offers the wine, which will soon he changed into

our hordes Precious Blood.

Let us ask that this Precious Blood may be applied to our
own souls and the souls of those for whom we ought to pray.

Prayer

We offer Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation,
humbly begging Thy mercy, that it may ascend to
Thee for our salvation, and that of the whole world.
Amen.

Offering of the Faithful
The Priest says the following prayer for himself and for the

people:

Prayer

Accept us, O Lord, who come to Thee with con-
trite and humble hearts; and grant that the sacrifice



HOLY MASS 23

we offer Ais day in Thy sight may be pleasing to Thee,U Lord God.
The Blessing of the Bread and Wine

All is now ready for the sacrifice. First the bread nevf

of grace without the help of the Hofy Spirit, the Vr“est prays f

Prayer

Come, O mighty and eternal God and bless this
sacrihce prepared for the glory of Thy holy Name.

The Priest Washes His Hands

wh^eu"wrii°^st\rHolfS?as"s^ to be

Prayer

O Jesus, most pure of heart; O spotless Lamb of
tjod; help me that I may keep my heart pure; that all
through rny hfe I may never displease Thee by any
wicked thing. Give me the blessing of the clean of
heart.

Prayer to the Blessed Trinity
The Priest returns to the middle of the Altar, and howinadown, offers the sacrifice to the Most Holy Trinity.

^

Prayer

Recdve, O holy Trinity, this oblation which we
offer Thee in memory of the Passion, Resurrection

^ Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, in honor of
^e Blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John the
Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. St.
Joseph, our angel guardians and patron saints. And



24 HOLY MASS

may all the saints and angels, whom w^e now honor
upon earth, intercede for us in heaven. Amen.

The Orate Fratres, or “Brethren Pray”
The Priest turns to the congregation^ andj with his hands

stretched out, invites them to pray with him.

Orate fratres, ut meum ac Brethren, pray that my
vestrum sacrificium accepta- sacrifice and yours may be
bile fiat apud Deum Patrem acceptable to God the
omnipotentem. Father almighty.

The cleric anstcers:

Suscipiat Dominus sacri-
ficium de manibus tuis, ad
laudem et gloriam nominis
sui, ad utilitatem quoque
nostram, totiusque ecclesiae
suae sanctae.

May the Lord receiye the
sacrifice from thy hands, to
the praise and glory of His
Name, to our benefit and
that of all His holy Church.

The Secret Prayers
The Priest now prays in a Imo tone of voice.

During this time, do you in charity think of the thousands
who are to pass today from this world to the next. Say most
earnestly for them this

Prayer

Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have pity on the

dying.

The Preface
The Preface leads to the Canon, and the bell is rung to

teU us that the Priest is entering upon the most solemn part
of the Mass.

Let us heartily join the angels in praising God.

Pr. Per omnia saecula sae-
culorum.

Cl. Amen.
Pr. Dominus vobiscum.
Cl, Et cum spiritu tuo.
Pr. Sursum corda.

World without end.

Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.



HOLY MASS 25

CL Habemus ad Domi-
num.

Pr. Gratias agamus Do-
mino Deo nostro.
CL Dignum et justum est.

We have lifted them up
to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.

It is right and just.

It is truly right and just that we should always, and
in all places, give thanks to Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord

;

through whom the angels praise Thy Majesty, adore
Thee, reverence Thee, and sing Thy everlasting
praise. Together with them we beseech Thee that
Thou wouldst allow our voices' also to be admitted,
whilst we humbly say:

The Sanctus
{The hell rings.)

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.

Dominus Deus Sabaoth,
Pleni sunt coeli et terra

gloria tua. Hosanna in ex-
celsis. Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domini. Hosanna
in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy. Lord
God of Hosts. Heaven and
earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. Ho-
sanna in the highest.

The Canon of the Mass
The word ^^Canon” here means *^rule/^ and it is used for this

part of the Mass because the prayers said during it are seldom
changed. The angels gather round with awe and reverence

;

the Priest prays in a low tone, and all should be quiet and
still, for the great moment is fast approaching when our Lord
Jesus Christ will come down upon the Altar.
The Priest begins the Canon by kissing the Altar, to show

he is united to Clirist, the invisible High Priest. He then prays
for the living.

Prayer During the Canon

O Jesus, dying on the Cross for love of poor sin-



26 HOLY MASS

ners, through Thy Sacred Head, crowned with thorns,
I beg Thee to have mercy on the Pope, all Bishops,
Priests, all religious orders, and all those placed over us.
Through the Wound in Thy right Hand I recom-

mend to Thee my father, mother, brothers, sisters, re-
lations and friends, and benefactors.
And through the Wound in Thy left Hand my ene-

mies, all poor sinners, and those who have never been
baptized. Help Thy servants who are trying to con-
vert them.

Through the Wound in Thy right Foot I pray for
the poor, the sick, and the dying, and for all who are
in any kind of pain, temptation, or trouble.
Through the Wound in Thy left Foot I beg of

Thee mercifully to grant eternal rest to the souls of the
faithful departed.

Through Thy Sacred Heart, O Jesus, I offer myself
to do and suffer all things for Thy love. Give me all
the graces I stand in need of, and especially the grace
I am hearing this holy Mass to obtain {name it).

The clerk rings the hell once.

Make an act of contrition, and join yourself to the angels
present around the Altar.

The Consecration or Elevation

The Second Principal Part of the Mass
The solemn moment has arrived. The Priest takes in his

hands the bread, and lifting his eyes to heaven to show that
this great wonder is worked by the power of God, he says the
very words of our Lord at the Last Supper : *^This is My Body.**
The bread at that moment is changed into the Body of Jesus



HOLY MASS 27

Christ, true God and true Man, now present on the Altar. The
Priest genuflects in deepest reverence, and then holds up the
Sacred Host for the people to adore. Hook for a moment on
the Sacred Host, then bow down and adore. The bell is rung
three times.

Prayer

O my God, I adore Thee through Jesus; I beg par-
don through Jesus; I thank Thee through Jesus: I
humbly ask every blessing and grace through Jesus.
May I lead a holy life and die a good death. My
Jesus, mercy. My Jesus, mercy. My Jesus, mercy.

The Consecration bell rings again three times. The Priest
is now changing the wine into our Lord’s Precious Blood. He
says over the wine : is My Blood/^ and the wine itself
is no longer in the Chalice, but the Blood of our Lord is there
instead. Raise your eyes to the Chalice in which is the Pre-
cious Blood of Jesus, then bow down and adore.

Prayer

Hail, Sacred Blood, flowing from the wounds of
Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the world.
O cleanse, sanctify and keep my soul, that nothing
may ever separate me from Thee. Eternal Father,
through the death of Thy Son Jesus on the Cross, and
through the shedding of His Precious Blood, have
mercy on me and on all Thy creatures.

After the Elevation

We firmly believe Jesus Christ is now present on the Altar.
He has come to us for our good—to hear us tell Him what
we want, and to help us. Remember His own words, “Ask
and you shall receive,’’ and pray with all your heart.

Prayer

O Jesus, who after Thy death upon the Cross wast
laid in the grave and didst raise thyself to life on the



28 HOLY MASS

third day, help me to keep my soul in the life of grace.
Help me so to live that on the last day I may rise in
glory and be happy with Thee in heaven.

Prayer for the Dead
As soon as our Lord died, His blessed Soul went down to

Limbo, to comfort the saints of the old law who were waiting
to be set free. Let us not forget the poor souls in Purgatory,
but ask Him to set them free from their dreadful pains.

Prayer

O most merciful Lord Jesus, give unto them eternal
rest. Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants who are
gone before us with the sign of faith, and sleep in the
sleep of peace.

Mention the names of your friends for whom you wish to
pray, especially those recently dead.

To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light
and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here, striking his l>reast and raising his voice, the Priest says:

Nobis quoque peccatoribus. And to us sinners.

Prayer

And to us sinners, O Lord, also show mercy, and
admit us to the happy company of the Saints, not con-
sidering what we deserve, but forgiving us all our sins.
We ask this favor of Thee, through Christ our Lord.
It is through Him Thou givest us every good thing.
And through Him and with Him, and in Him be to
Thee, God the Father almighty, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, all honor and glory.



HOLY MASS 29

Pr, Per omnia saecula For ever and ever,
saeculorum. Amen.
CL Amen.

The Pater Noster, “Our Father.”
The Priest is going to speak to God in our Lord’s own words.

Say the Our Father with him, and add a Hail Mary for the
conversion of sinners.

Oremus
Praeceptis salutaribus mo-

niti, et divina institutione
formati, audemus dicere :

—

Pater noster, qui es in
coelis, sanctificetur nomen
tuum

;
adveniat regnum

tuum; fiat voluntas tua sicut
in coelo, et in terra. Panem
nostrum quotidianum da no-
bis hodie : et dimitte nobis
debita nostra, sicut et nos di-
mittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tenta-
tionem.

The clerk answers:

Sed libera nos a malo. But deliver us from evil.
The Priest says in a low voice *‘Amen,” and continues:

Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils,
past, present and to come; and by the prayers of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, mercifully
grant peace in our days, that with Thy help we may
be always free from sin and safe from harm. Through
the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth God.

Let us Pray
Instructed by Thy saving

precepts, and following Thy
divine institution, we pre-
sume to say:
Our Father who art in

heaven, hallowed be Thy
name. Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth;
as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation.



30 HOLY MASS

Then he

Pr. Per omnia saecula
saeculorum.

Cl. Amen.
Pr. Pax Domini sit sem-

per vobiscum.
Cl. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Breaking the Host, the Priest j

ys aloud:

World without end.

Amen.
May the peace of the Lord

be always with you.
And with thy spirit.
a part of it into the Chalice.

Prayer

Thy Body was broken and Thy Blood was shed for
US': grant, O sweet Jesus, that we, who receive Thee
in this Holy Sacrament, may ever believe in Thee, and
hope in Thee, and love Thee, more and more. Amen.

The Agnus Dei: ‘^Lamb of God’^
God is so glorious in heaven, so powerful on earth, and so

terrible in hell ! But here He comes mild and gentle as a lamb,
full of sweetness and humility. He comes to take away the
sins of the world, and chiefly our own. How good He is

!

Strike your hreast and say:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, dona nobis
pacem.

In Masses for the Dead, the
“give them eternal rest.”

Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest

away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest

away the sins of the world,
grant us peace,

riest says, “dowa eis requiem.**

Preparation for Holy Communion
Lord, Jesus Christ, who saidst to Thy Apostles,

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you;
look not upon my sins but upon the faith of Thy



HOLY MASS 31

Church, and give her that peace which Thou dost love
to see among her children

;
who livest and reignest God

for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by

the will of Thy Father and by the power of the Holy
Ghost, hast by Thy death given life to the world, de-
liver me, by this Thy most Sacred Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from all evils; and make me al-
ways follow Thy commandments, and never let me be
separated from Thee: who, with the same God the
Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God
for ever and ever. Amen.
May this Holy Communion, which I am about to

receive, O Lord, keep my soul and body from all evil.
Who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, livest and reignest God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Priest takes the Sacred Host in his hands and says:

I will take the Bread of Heaven, and call upon the
name of the Lord.

Then he strikes his breast three times, saying:

Domine, non sum dignus Lord, I am not worthy that
ut intres sub tectum meum; Thou shouldst enter under
sed tantum dic verbo, et san- my roof; say but the word
abitur anima mea. and my soul shall be healed.

The clerk rings the bell.

The Priest’s Communion

The Third Principal Part of the Mass
The Priest bows down and gives himself Holy Communion.

This part of the Mass is not finished until he has received the
Precious Blood in the Chalice.



32 HOLY MASS

If you are obliged through sickness, or any other cause, to
leave the church before the Priest has done this, you must
take care, on Sundays or Holydays of Obligation, to hear an-
other Mass if you can, as the first one does not fulfill your
Mass of Obligation.

During this time, if you are not going to receive Holy Com-
munion,* make a

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
This means to tc^ish to receive our Lord.

Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly and really
present in the Sacrament of the Altar. I adore Thee;
I love Thee; come into my heart. May the Body of
our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life ever-
lasting.

After a short pause, in tchich he is speaking quietly to our
Lord, the Priest says:

Prayer

^Vhat shall I give to the Lord for all that he hath
given me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and
call upon the name of the Lord. Praising I will call
upon the Lord, and I shall be saved from my enemies.
While the Priest empties the Chalice, think of the power of the

Precious Blood to take away sin.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, wash my soul in Thy Precious Blood.
May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my
soul to life everlasting. Eternal Father, I offer Thee
the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in satisfaction for
my sins, and for the needs of Holy Church. Amen.

Devotions for Holy Communion wiU be found on pages 45
to 52.



HOLY MASS 33

The communicants, that is, those who are going to receive
Holy Communion, go up to the Altar rail when the bell rings
the last time at the Domine non sum dignus. As soon as the
Priest’s Communion is finished and the clerk has said the
confess/^ the Priest turns to the people and says

:

Pr. Misereatur vestri
omnipotens Deus, et dimis-
sis peccatis vestris, perducat
vos ad vitam aeternam.
CL Arnen.

Making the sign of the

Pr. Indulgentiam, abso-
lutionem, et remissionem
peccatorum vestrorum tribuat
vobis omnipotens et miseri-
cors Dominus.
CL Arnen.

May the Almighty God
have mercy upon you, and,
forgiving you your sins,
bring you to life everlasting.
Amen.

Cross over them he says:

May the Almighty and
merciful Lord grant you par-
don, absolution and forgive-
ness of your sins.

Amen.

Then the Priest takes the Ciborium—the cup or vessel con-
taining the Blessed Sacrament—and, holding up the Blessed
Sacrament, turns again to the people, saying:

Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui
tollit peccata mundi.

Domine, non sum dignus
ut intres sub tectum meum:
sed tantum dic verbo, et san-
abitur anima mea.

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold Him who taketh away
the sins of the world.

Lord, I am not worthy
that Thou shouldst enter un-
der my roof; say but the
word, and my soul shall be
healed.

This prayer is repeated three times. Strike your breast each
time.



34 HOLY MASS

The Priest now goes down the Altar steps and places the
Blessed Sacrament on the tongue of each communicant, saying:

Corpus Domini nostri Jesu May the Body of our Lord
Christi custodiat animam tu- Jesus Christ preserve thy
am in vitam aeternam. soul to life everlasting.
Amen. Amen.

While the Priest is giving Holy Communion, say the Rosary, or
Litany of the Holy Name (p. 60), or any other prayers.

The Ablutions
The Communion being over, the Priest holds out the Chalice

to the Clerk, who pours wine into it, which the Priest drinks,
saying

:

Prayer

Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our
mouth we may receive with a pure mind; and may
it do us good both for time and eternity. Amen.
Then the clerk pours wine and water over the fingers of the

Priest.

Prayer

May Thy Body, O Lord, which I have received, and
Thy Blood which I have drunk, remain with me; and
grant that no stain of sin may be left on my soul,
which has been fed with this pure and holy Sacra-
ment. Who livest and reignest one God, world with-
out end. Amen.

The Priest covers the Chalice, folds the Corporal, places it
on the Chalice as at the heginning of Mass. He then reads the
prayers called the Communion and the Post-Communion.

Communion
My God, I thank Thee for all Thou hast done for

me. In return for all Thy mercies t wish never more
to displease Thee. Make me wholly Thine, and let
me always love Thee more and more.



HOLY MASS 35

He turns to the people and says:
Pr. Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you.
CL Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit.
Pr, Oremus. Let us pray.

Post-Communion

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like
to Thine. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore that I
may love Thee daily more and more. O Mary, con-
ceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to
thee. St. Joseph, foster-father of our Lord, pray for us.

Afterwards the Priest turns again to the people and says:

Pr. Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you,
CL Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit.
Pr. Ite, missa est. Go, the Mass is ended.
CL Deo gratias. Thanks be to God.

Or, in Lent and Advent:

Pr. Benedicamus Domino. Let us bless the Lord.
CL Deo gratias. Thanks be to God.

Or, in Masses for the dead:

Pr. Requiescant in pace. May they rest in peace.
CL Arnen. Amen.

The Priesty lowing down before the Altar, says:

Prayer

O Holy Trinity, let what I have done be pleasing
to Thee; and grant that the sacrifice which I, though
unworthy, have offered up in the sight of Thy majesty,
may be accepted by Thee; and through Thy mercy



36 HOLY MASS

may I, and all for whom it has been offered, receive
forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
He now kisses the Altar, and then turning to the people tlesses

them, making over them the sign of the Cross.

Benedicat vos omnipotens May Almighty God, the
Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Father, Son and Holy
Spiritus Sanctus. Ghost, bless you.
CL Amen. Amen.

In Masses for the dead the Blessing is not given.
Going to the Gospel side, he says:

Pr. Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you.
CL Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit.

The Last Gospel
Pr. Initium sancti

Evangelii siecundum Joan-
nem.
CL Gloria tibi Domine.
In principio erat Verbum

et Verbum erat apud Deum;
et Deus erat Verbum; hoc
erat in principio apud Deum.
Omnia per ipsum facta sunt,
et sine ipso factum est nihil
quod factum est: in ipso vita
erat, et vita erat lux homin-
um; et lux in tenebris lucet,
et tenebrae eam non compre-
henderunt.

Fuit homo missus a Deo,
cui nomen erat Joannes. Hic
venit in testimonium ut testi-

The beginning ^ of the
holy Gospel according to St.
John.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word
was God, the same was in
the beginning with God. All
things were made by Him,
and without Him was made
nothing that was made: in
Him was life, and the life
was the light of men; and
the light shineth in darkness,

and the darkness did not
comprehend it.
There was a man sent from

God, whose name was John.
This man came for a witness,



PRAYERS AFTER MASS 37

monium perhiberet de lu-
mine, ut omnes crederent per
illum. Non erat ille lux; sed
ut testimonium perhiberet de
lumine: Erat lux vera quae il-
luminat omnem hominem
venientem in hunc mundum.

In mundo erat, et mundus
per ipsum factus est, et mun-
dus eum non cognovit. In
propria venit, et sui eum non
receperunt. Quotquot autem
receperunt eum, dedit eis po-
testatem filios Dei fieri

;
his

qui credunt in nomine ejus,
qui non ex sanguinibus, ne-
que ex voluntate carnis, ne-
que ex voluntate viri, sed ex
Deo nati sunt. Et Verbum
CARO FACTUM EST, et habita-
vit in nobis

;
et vidimus glori-

am ejus, gloriam quasi Uni-
geniti a Patre, plenum gra-
tiae et veritatis.

CL Deo gratias.

to give testimony of the light,
that all men might believe
through him. He was not the
light, but came to give testi-
mony of the light. He was
the true light which enlight-
eneth every man that cometh
into this world.
He was in the world, and

the world was made by Him,
and the world knew Him not.
He came into His own, and
His own received Him not.
But as many as received
Him, to them He gave power
to become the sons of God

;

to those that believed in His
name, who are born not of
blood, nor of the will of the

flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. And the Word
WAS MADE FLESH [Here the
Priest and people kneel
do^n^ and dwelt among us;
and we saw His glory, as it
were the glory of the Only-
begotten of the Father, full

of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYERS
To Be Said After Mass

Hail Mary, etc., to be said three times by the Priest and
people.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our life, our sweet-
ness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished



38 THE ANGELUS

children of Eye; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this vale of tears. 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.

V, Pray for us O holy Mother of God.
R, That we may be made worthy of the promises of

Christ.

Let us Pray

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with
favor upon Thy people, who cry to Thee

;
and through

the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin
Mary, Mother of God, of her Spouse, Saint Joseph, of
Thy Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints,
mercifully and graciously hear the prayers, which we pour
forth to Thee, for the conversion of sinners and the liberty
and exaltation of Holy Mother Church, through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our
protection against the malice and snares of the devil. We
humbly beseech Thee, O God, to command him; and do
Thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power
thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam
through the world seeking the destruction of souls. Amen.

THE ANGELUS
Tx) "be said morning^ noon, and night, to put us in mind that

God the Son became man for our salvation.

1. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
And she was conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, etc.
2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.



THE DE PROFUNDIS 39

3. And the Word was made Flesh
And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, etc.
V, Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Grace into our

hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Pas-
sion and Cross 4* be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the divine assistance remain always with us 4* and may

the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.

Psalm 129, ‘‘DE PROFUNDIS”
Out of the depths I have

cried to Thee, O Lord
;
Lord,

hear my voice.
Let Thine ear be attentive

to the voice of my supplica-
tion.

If Thou, O Lord, shalt
observe iniquities; Lord who
shall endure it?
For with Thee there is

merciful forgiveness: and by
reason of Thy Law I have
waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on

His word
;
my soul hath

hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch

even until night let Israel
hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord

there is mercy, and with
Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Is-

rael from all his iniquities.
Eternal rest give to them

O Lord, and let perpetual
light shine upon them.

Let us pray.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faith-
ful, grant to the souls of thy servants departed the

remission of all their sins, that through pious supplica-

tions they may obtain that pardon which they have
always desired; who livest and reignest for ever and
ever. Amen.
May they rest in peace. Amen.



40 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION

PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION
Before Confession

O most merciful God, I most humbly thank Thee
for all Thy mercies unto me; and particularly at this
time, for Thy forbearance and long suffering with me,
notwithstanding my many and grievous sins. It is
of Thy great mercy that I have not fallen into greater
and more grievous sins than those which I have com-
mitted, and that I have not been cut off and cast into
hell.

O my God, although I have been so ungrateful to
Thee in times past, yet now I beseech Thee to accept
me, returning to Thee with an earnest desire to re-
pent, and to devote myself to Thee, my Lord and my
God, and to praise Thy holy Name for ever.

Grant me, I beseech Thee, a perfect contrition for
my sins, that I may detest them with the deepest sor-
row of heart. Send forth Thy light into my soul, and
discover to me all those sins, which I ought to confess
at this time. Assist me by Thy grace, that I may be
able to declare them to the priest, fully, humbly, and
with a contrite heart, and so obtain perfect remission
of them all through Thine infinite goodness. Amen.

O most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of
Jesus Christ my Redeemer, intercede for me with Him.
Obtain for me the full remission of my sins and per-
fect amendment of life, to the salvation of my soul,
and the glory of His Name.



PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION 41

Now try to find out your sins, and how often you have
committed them.

How long is it since your last confession? Did you
conceal any sin in your last confession? Did you say
your penance? Did you go to Holy Communion
without preparing yourself, or after having broken

your fast? Have you always said your morning and
night prayers? Did you say them badly? Have you
used bad words? Did you stay away from Mass on
Sundays or Holydays through your own fault? Have
you been disobedient to your parents or superiors?

Have you called them names? or grumbled at them?
or struck them ? Have you been angry or in a passion

;

or sulky? Have you quarrelled? or fought? or struck
anyone? Have you borne malice to anyone ? Have you
done anything wrong by thought, word, or deed
against purity or modesty? Have you got others to
do wrong? Have you stolen anything? or done any
wilful damage? or kept that to which you had no
right? Have you told lies? Have you told lies
against anyone? Have you injured your neighbor’s
character by speaking ill of him without reason? Have
you eaten meat on Fridays or other days on which
it is forbidden? Have you been proud or vain of
yourself? or despised others? Have you committed
sin by eating or drinking too much? Have you wasted
your money in drink? or frequented public houses? or
gone with bad company? Have you been jealous of



42 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION

others J Have you been idle or slothful? Have you
done anything else that you ought to confess?

For those who are in service—Have you been dis-
respectful to your employers? Have you wasted or
wilfully damaged their goods? or allowed others to do
so? Have you stolen from them or given away their
things without leave? Have you been idle or careless
at your work ? or not done what you were told to do ?
Have you read other people's letters? Have you gos-
siped about the private affairs of your employers?

God is very good. He made you and gave you your soul
and body, and everything that you have. He is also very
holy and just; and He hates sin. He made Heaven for
good people, and hell for the wicked. He loves you very
much. He was made man for you, and died upon the Cross,
with great nails in His Hands and Feet, and a crown of
thorns upon His head, to help you to be good, and to get to
Heaven. And when you sin, you offend this good God, who
loves you so much.

Try now to be very sorry for your sins, and make up your
mind not to sin any more.

Acts of Contrition

O Lord Jesus Christ, lover of our souls, who, for
the great love wherewith Thou hast loved us, wouldst
not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be

converted and live; I grieve from the bottom of my
heart that I have offended Thee, my most loving
Father and Redeemer, unto whom all sin is infinitely
displeasing ; who has so loved me that Thou didst shed



PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION 43

Thy Blood for me, and endured the bitter torments of
a most cruel death. O my God, O Infinite Goodness,
would that I had never offended Thee. Pardon me, O
Lord Jesus, most humbly imploring Thy mercy. Have
pity upon a sinner, for whom Thy Blood pleads before
the face of the Father.

O most merciful and forgiving Lord, for the love
of Thee I forgive all who have ever offended me: I
firmly resolve to forsake and flee from all sins, and to

avoid the occasions of them; and to confess, in bitter-
ness of spirit, all those sins which I have committed
against Thy divine goodness, and to love Thee, O my
God, for Thine own sake, above all things for ever.
Grant me grace so to do, O most gracious Lord Jesus.
O my God, I am very sorry that I have offended

Thee, because Thou art so good; and I will not sin
again.

My Lord and my God, I sincerely acknowledge
myself a vile and wretched sinner unworthy to appear
in Thy presence

;
but do Thou have mercy on me, and

save me.

Most loving Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before Thee, and am unworthy to be called Thy
child; make me as one of Thy servants, and may I for
the future be ever faithful to Thee. I am now re-
solved, with the help of Thy grace, to be more watch-
ful over myself, to amend my faults and fulfil Thy
law. Look down on me with the eyes of mercy, O
God, and blot out my sins.

Say the Our Father and the Hail Mary,



44 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION

After Confession

O Almighty and most merciful God, who, accord-
ing to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, has been
pleased once more to receive me, after so many times
going astray from Thee, and to admit me to this’ sac-
rament of forgiveness! I give Thee thanks with all
the powers of my soul for this and all other mercies,
graces, and blessings bestowed on me; and casting
myself at Thy sacred feet, I offer myself to be hence-
forth for ever Thine. Let nothing in life or death
ever separate me from Thee. I renounce with my
whole soul all the sins of my past life. I renew mv
promises made in baptism, and from this moment I
give myself eternally to Thy love and service. Grant
that for the time to come I may hate sin more than
death itself, and avoid all such occasions and company
as have unhappily brought me to it. This I resolve to
do, by the aid of Thy divine grace, without which I
can do nothing. I beg Thy blessing on these my reso-
lutions, for O Lord, without Thee I am nothing but
misery and sin. Supply, also, by Thy mercy, whatever
defects have been in this my confession, and give me
grace to be now and always a true penitent; through
Jesus Christ Thy son. Amen.
Mary, Mother of God, be a Mother to me

!

Now say your penance.



PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION 45

PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION
1—Say these prayers slowly, a few words at a time.
2 It is well to stop after every few words that they may

sink into the heart.
3—Each Prayer may be said several times.

Before Holy Communion*

Prayer for Help—O my God, help me to make
a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray
to Jesus for me. My dear Angel Guardian, lead me
to the Altar of God.

Act of Faith—O God, because Thou hast said
it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of

Jesus Christ to eat, and His Precious Blood to drink.

My God, I believe this with all my heart.
Act of Humility—My God, I confess that I am

a poor sinner; I am not worthy to receive the Body
and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I

am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my
roof

;
say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Act of Sorrow—My God, I detest all the sins of
my life. I am sorry for them, because they have
offended Thee, my God, who art so good. I resolve
never to commit sin any more. My good God, pity
me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.

Act of Adoration— Jesus, Great God, present
on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.

Act of Love and Desire—Sweet Jesus, I love
Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee

For other devotions for Holy Communion, see p. 48 .



46 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION

Most sweet Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give
me Thy flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink. Give
me Thy whole Self, Body, Blood, Soul and divinity,
that I may live for ever with Thee.

In Receiving Holy Communion
(1) In going to the Altar rails, and returning to your place,

keep your hands joined, your eyes cast down, and your thoughts
on Jesus Christ.

(2) Hold your head straight up, keep your eyes closed, your
mouth well open, and your tongue out, resting on the under
lip. Then with great outward reverence, receive the Sacred
Host, saying in your heart with all the faith of St. Thomas

—

“My Lord and my God.”

After Holy Communion

Act of Faith—O Jesus, I believe that I have re-
ceived Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, be-
cause Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.

Act of Adoration—O Jesus, my God, my Cre-
ator, I adore Thee, because from Thy hands I came
and with Thee I am to be happy for ever.

Act of Humility—O Jesus, I am but dust and
ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor
heart may speak to Thee.

Act of Love—Sweet Jesus, I love Thee; I love
Thee with all my heart. Thou knowest that I love
Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.

Act of Thanksgiving—My good Jesus, I thank
Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind



PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION 47

Thou art to me, sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the
most holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Act of Offering—O Jesus, receive my poor of-
fering. Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself to me, and
now let me give myself to Thee:

—

I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.
I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.
I give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.
I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe, and

especially my last; I give Thee myself in life and in
death, that I may be Thine for ever and ever.

Remember the words of Jesus: ‘Ask and you shall
receive,” and

Pray for Yourself

O Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy Precious
Blood.

O Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet
finished. My Jesus, when temptation comes near me,
make me strong against it. In the moment of temp-
tation, may I always say, “Jesus, mercy! Mary, help.”
O Jesus, may I lead a good life; may I die a happy

death. May I receive Thee before I die. May I say
when I am dying, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you
my heart and my soul.”

Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ, perhaps
He has something to say to you. There may be some
promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you
to make again and keep.



48 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION

Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles.
Then

Pray for Others

O Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church; take
care of it.

O Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them
from hell.
O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers

and sisters, and all I ought to pray for, as Thy Heart
knows how to bless them.
0 Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory

and give them eternal rest.
Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I

trust not without Thee. Thou art with me by Thy
grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do
not fear to do so, though I am so weak, because I
have such hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere.
Amen.

OTHER DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION
Before Communion

Make an Act of Faith.

1 most firmly believe, O Jesus, that in this holy
Sacrament Thou art present verily and indeed; that
here is Thy Body and Blood, Thy Soul and Thy
Divinity. I believe that Thou, my Savior, true God
and true Man, are really here, with all Thy treasures;
that here Thou communicatest Thyself to us, makest
us partakers of the fruit of Thy Passion, and givest us
a pledge of eternal life. I believe there cannot be a



PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION 49

greater happiness than to receive Thee worthily, nor
a greater misery than to receive Thee unworthily. All
this I most steadfastly believe, because it is what Thou
hast taught us by Thy Church.

Make an Act of Contrition.

O Lord, I detest, with my whole heart, all the sins
by which I have offended Thy Divine Majesty, from
the first moment that I was capable of sinning to this
very hour. I desire to lay them all at Thy feet, to
be cancelled by Thy Precious Blood. Hear me, O
Lord, by that infinite love by which Thou hast shed
Thy Blood for me. O let not that Blood be shed in
vain! I detest my sins, because they have offended
Thy infinite goodness. By Thy grace I will never
commit them any more: I am sorry for them, and will
be sorry for them as long as I live; and according to
the best of my power, will do penance for them. For-
give me, dear Lord, for Thy mercy’s sake; pardon me
all that is past: and be Thou my keeper for the time
to come, that I may never more offend Thee.

Make an Act of Divine Love.

O Lord Jesus, the God of my heart and the life of
my soul, as the hart pants after the fountains of water,
so does my soul pant after Thee, the fountain of life,
and the ocean of all good. I am overjoyed at hear-
ing the happy tiding that I am to go into the house of
the Lord; or rather that our Lord is to come into my
house, and take up His abode with me. O happy
moments, when I shall be admitted to the embraces of
the living God, for whom my soul languishes with love.



50 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION

Come, Lord Jesus, and take full possession of my heart
for ever! I offer it to Thee without reserve; I desire
to consecrate it eternally to Thee. I love Thee with
my whole soul above all things; at least, I desire so
to love Thee. It is nothing less than infinite love that
brings Thee to me; O teach me to make a suitable re-
turn of love.

Humlly beg God^s Grace.

But, O my God, Thou knowest my great poverty
and misery, and that of myself I can do nothing

;
Thou

knowest how unworthy I am of this infinite favor, and
Thou alone canst make me worthy. Since Thou art
so good as to invite me thus to Thyself, add this one
bounty more to all the rest—to prepare me for Thy-
self. Never let me be guilty of Thy Body and Blood
by an unworthy communion. For the sake of this
same precious Blood, which Thou hast shed for me,
deliver me, O Jesus, from so great an evil.
Implore the Prayers of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints.

O all ye blessed Angels and Saints of God, and thou
most especially, ever blessed Virgin, Mother of this
same God and Sayior whom I am now going to re-
ceive in this holy Sacrament, pray for me that I may
receive Him worthily.

After Communion

What return shall I make to Thee, O Lord, for
all Thou hast done for me? Behold, when I had no
being at all. Thou didst create me; and when I was



PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION 51

gone astray, and lost in my sins, Thou didst redeem
me by dying for me. All that I have, all that I am,

is Thy gift ; and now, after all Thy other favors, Thou
hast given me Thyself ; blessed be Thy name for ever.
Thou art great, O Lord, and exceedingly to be praised

;

great are Thy works and of Thy wisdom there is' no
end; but Thy tender mercies, Thy bounty and good-
ness to me, are above all Thy works ; these I desire to
confess and extol for ever.

O my Jesus, Thou art infinitely rich, and all the
treasures of divine grace are locked up in Thee. These

treasures Thou bringest with Thee when Thou dost
visit us in this Blessed Sacrament, and Thou takest
an infinite pleasure in opening them to us, to enrich

our poverty. This it is that gives me confidence to
present Thee now with my petitions and to beg of
Thee those graces and virtues which I stand so much
in need of. O increase and strengthen my belief of
Thy heavenly truths; and grant that henceforth I may
ever live by faith and be guided by the maxims of Thy
Gospel. Teach me to be poor in spirit, and take off
my heart from the love of these transitory things, and
fix it upon eternity : teach me, by Thy divine example
and by Thy most efficacious grace, to be meek and
humble of heart, and in my patience to possess my
soul. Grant that I may ever keep my body and soul
chaste and pure; that I may ever bewail my past
sins, and by a daily mortification restrain all irregular

inclinations and passions for the future. Teach me to
love Thee, to be ever recollected in Thee and to walk



52 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION

always in Thy presence; teach me to love my friends
in Thee, and my enemies for Thee; grant me grace to
persevere to the end in this love, and so to come one
day to that blessed place where I may love and enjoy
Thee for ever.

Have mercy also on my parents, friends and bene-
factors, and on all those for whom I am bound to
pray, that we may all love Thee and faithfully serve
Thee. Have mercy on Thy whole church, especially
on the clergy and religious men and women, that all
may live up to their calling, and sanctify Thy name.
Give Thy grace and blessing to all princes and magis-
trates, and to all Christians and sinners, and bring all
strayed sheep back to Thy fold; particularly have
mercy on etc.

O blessed Virgin, Mother of my God and Savior,
recommend all these my petitions to your Son. O
all ye angels and Saints of God, unite your prayers
with mine; be ever mindful of me, and obtain from
Him, and through Him, that with you I may bless
Him and love Him for ever. Amen.

Here name those for whom you wish especially to pray.



NECESSARY TRUTHS 53

Before you leave say this

INDULGENCED PRAYER
To he said before a Crucifix.

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself
on my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent
desire of my soul, I pray and beseech Thee that Thou
wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of
faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my
sins, and a firm desire of amendment, while with deep
affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself
and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious
wounds; having before my eyes that which David
spake in prophecy: ‘‘They pierced My hands and My
feet; they have numbered all My bones/’

Say also five times the Our Father and Hail Mary, for the
Pope and the Church.

Truths of Faith Which Every Christian is Bound to Know

There is one God, who will reward the good and
punish the wicked.

In this one God there are Three Persons, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
God the Son was made man and died for us

;
after-

wards He rose again and ascended into Heaven.



54 BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION
When the Priest opens the Tabernacle and incenses the

Blessed Sacrament, the following Hymn is sung:
O Saving Victim, opening

wide
The gate of Heaven to

man below

;

Our foes press on from every
side

;

Thine aid supply, Thy
strength bestow,

To Thy great Name be end-
less praise.

Immortal Godhead, One in
Three

;
[of days

O grant us endless length
In our true native land

Amen. with Thee. Amen.
After which usually follows:

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin
Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Christe eleison. Christ have mercy.
Christe eleison. Christ have mercy.
Kvrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Christe audi nos. Christ hear us.
Christe exaudi nos. Christ graciously hear us.
Pater de coelis Deus. God the Father of tt}

heaven,
g |

Fili Redemptor mundi God the Son, Redeemer
^ ^

of the world, f® ^Deus,
Spiritus Sancte Deus, God the Holy Ghost, §
Sancte Trinitas, unus Deus, Holy Trinity one God,
Sancta Maria, o Holy Mary, 0“ ^
Sancta Dei Genitrix. Holy Mother of God,
Sancta Virgo Virginum, Holy Virgin of Virgins,

O Salutaris Hostia
Quae coeli pandis ostium;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni Trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.



LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 55

Mater Christi,
Mater divinae gratiae,
Mater purissima,
Mater castissima,
Mater inviolata.
Mater intemerata.
Mater amabilis,
Mater admirabilis,
Mater boni consilii.
Mater Creatoris,
Mater Salvatoris,
Virgo prudentissima,
Virgo veneranda,
Virgo praedicanda,
Vigro potens,
Virgo clemens,
Virgo fidelis, 5
Speculum justitiae, ®

Sedes sapientiae, ^
Causa nostrae laetitiae. •
Vas spirituale, ®

Vas honorabile, S'
Vas insigne devotionis.
Rosa mystica.
Turris Davidica,
Turris eburnea.
Domus aurea,
Foederis arca,

Janua coeli,
Stella matutina,

Salus infirmorum.
Refugium peccatorum.
Consolatrix afflictorum.

Auxilium Christianorum,
Regina Angelorum,
Regina Patriarcharum,
Regina Prophetarum,
Regina Apostolorum,

Mother of Christ,
Mother of Divine grace.
Mother most pure.
Mother most chaste.
Mother inviolate.
Mother undefiled, 5
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator, |
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable.
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful.
Virgin most merciful.
Virgin most faithful.
Mirror of justice.
Seat of wisdom.
Cause of our joy.
Spiritual vessel.

Vessel of honor,

Singular vessel of devotion.

Mystical Rose,
Tower of David,
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,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,



56 BENEDICTION

Regina martyrum,
Regina Confessorum,
Regina Virginum, ^
Regina Sanctorum ®

omnium,
Regina sine labe origin-

ali concepta, ©

Regina Sacratissimi %
Rosarii,

Regina pacis,

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi,

Parce nobis Domine,
Agnus Dei, etc.
Exaudi nos. Domine.
Agnus Dei, etc.
Miserere nobis.

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta
Dei Genitrix.

R. Ut digni efficiamur
promissionibus Christi.

Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,

Queen conceived without
original sin.

Queen of the most holy
Rosary,

Queen of Peace,

Lamb of God who takest
away the sins of the
world. Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, etc.
Have mercy on us,

V. Pray for us, O holy
Mother of God.
R. That we may be made

worthy of the promises of
Christ.

Then the following Hymn is sung, all present lowing down at
the words ^^Veneremur cernui.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:

Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:

Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio.

Down in adoration falling,
Lo, the Sacred Host we hail

;

Lo, o’er ancient forms de-
parting.

Newer rites of grace prevail

;

Faith for all defects supply-
ing.

Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who reigns on

high.

Pray

for

us.



BENEDICTION

Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio;

Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.

Arnen.

V. Panem de coelo prae-
stitisti eis (Alleluia^.

R. Omne delectamentum
in se habentem (Alleluia).

Deus, qui nobis sub sacra-
mento mirabili passionis tuae
memoriam reliquisti; tribue,
quaesumus, ita nos corporis et
sanguinis tui sacra mysteria
venerari

;
ut redemptionis

tuae fructum in nobis jugiter
sentiamus; qui vivis, etc.
Amen.

57

With the Holy Ghost pro-
ceeding

Forth from each eternally.
Be salvation, honor, blessing.
Might and endless majesty.
Amen.
V, Thou hast given them

bread from heaven (Alle-
luia).

R, Having in itself all
that is delicious (Alleluia).

O God, who in this won-
derful Sacrament has left us
a memorial of Thy Passion;
grant us we beseech Thee, so
to reverence the sacred mys-
teries of Thy Body and
Blood, that we may continu-
ally find in our souls the fruit
of Thy redemption: who liv-
est, etc.

Amen.

HerCj bowing down in fervent adoration, receive the Benediction
of the Most Holy Sacrament. Then is usually sung:

Ant. Adoremus in aeter-
num Sanctissimum Sacramen-
tum.
Laudate Dominum omnes

gentes ;* laudate eum omnes
populi.

Quoniam confirmata est su-
per nos misericordia ejus* et
veritas Domini manet in
aeternum.

Gloria Patri, etc.

Ant. Let us adore for-
ever the Most Holy Sacra-
ment.

O praise the Lord, all ye
nations; praise Him all ye
people.

For His mercy is confirm-
ed upon us; and the truth
of the Lord remaineth for
ever.

Glory be to the Father, etc.



58 THE WAY OF THE CROSS

The Divine Praises*
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph her most chaste Spouse.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS
The Way of the Cross is a devotion to the Blessed Passion,

in which we accompany, in spirit, our Blessed Lord in His
sorrowful journey from the house of Pilate to Calvary, and
recall to mind, with sorrow and love, all that took place from
the time when He was condemned to death to His being laid
in the Tomb. There are fourteen Stations, at which something
took place which it is well for us to call to mind, and to think
over. At each of them we should say the Our Father and the
Hail Mary, and think, with love and sorrow for our sins, on the
suffering of our Lord represented to us at the stations. Many
indulgences are attached to this devotion ; to gain them we must
be in a state of grace, must visit each station in order, thinking
over what is represented, and must pray for the intentions of
the Holy Father.

I. Jesus is condemned to death.
II. Jesus is made to bear the Cross.

III. Jesus falls the first time under the Cross.
IV. Jesus meets His afflicted Mother.
V. The Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene.
VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

VII. Jesus falls the second time.
VIII. Jesus speaks to the daughters of Jerusalem.
IX. Jesus falls the third time.
X. Jesus is stripped of His garments.

* Indulgence one year every time they are said.



THE HOLY ROSARY 59

XL Jesus is nailed to the Cross.
XII. Jesus dies upon the Cross.
XIII. Jesus is taken down from the Cross.
XIV. Jesus is placed in the sepulchre.

THE HOLY ROSARY
The Rosary is a devotion to the Blessed Virgin. It is com-

posed of fifteen decades, each decade consisting of the Our
Father, ten Hail Marys, and the Glory be to the Father, and
each being recited in honor of some mystery in the life of our
Lord and of His Blessed Mother. During each decade we should
call to mind the mystery which it is intended to honor, and
pray that we may learn to practise the virtues specially taught
us by the mystery.
Many indulgences can be gained by saying the Rosary de-

voutly.

I. THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1. The Annunciation.
2. The Visitation.
3. The Nativity.
4. The Presentation of our Blessed Lord in the Temple.
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

II. THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
1. The Agony in the Garden.
2. The Scourging of our Blessed Lord at the Pillar.
3. The Crowning of our Blessed Savior with Thorns.
4. Jesus Carries His Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.

III. THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1. The Resurrection.
2. The Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of

Heaven.



60 LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS*
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of

the world.
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Jesus, splendor of the Father,

Jesus, brightness of eternal

light, i5j

Jesus, King of glory, |
Jesus, sun of justice,

Jesus, Son of the Virgin |
Mary,

^ |
Jesus, most amiable, ^
Jesus, most admirable,
Jesus, mighty God, |
Jesus, Father of the world

‘

to come,
Jesus, Angel of great coun-

sel,

Jesus, most powerful,
Jesus, most patient.

Jesus, most obedient,
Jesus, meek and humble of

heart,

Jesus, lover of chastity,

Jesus, lover of us,

Jesus, God of peace,
Jesus, author of life,
Jesus, example of virtues,
Jesus, zealous lover of souls,

Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our refuge,
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Jesus, treasure of the faith-

ful,

Jesus, good Shepherd,
Jesus, true light,

Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Jesus, infinite goodness,

Jesus, our way and our life,
Jesus, joy of Angels,

Jesus, king of Patriarchs,
Jesus, master of Apostles,
Jesus, teacher of Evangelists,

Jesus, strength of Martyrs,
Jesus, light of Confessors,

Jesus, purity of Virgins,

Jesus, crown of all Saints,

Be merciful unto us.
Spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful unto us,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.

Indulgence of 300 days, for those who say it devoutly.

Have

mercy

on

us.



LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS 61

From all evil,
From all sin,
From Thy wrath.
From the snares of the devil.
From the spirit of unclean-^

ness, I
From everlasting death, ^
From the neglect of Thy

inspirations,

Through the mystery of
Thy holy incarnation,

Through Thy nativity.
Through Thy infancy.
Through Thy most divine

life.

Through Thy labors,
Through Thine agony and

passion.

Through Thy Cross and
dereliction.

Through Thy faintness and
weariness.

Through Thy death and ^
burial, |

Through Thy resurrection, v?®
Through Thine ascension, §•
Through Thine institution
of the most holy Eucharist,

Through Thy joys, g
Through Thy glory, ^

Lamb of God who takest
away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord Jesus,
Lamb of God who takest
away the sins of the world.

Graciously hear us, O Lord
Jesus,

Lamb of God who takest
away the sins of the world.

Have mercy on us, O Lord
Jesus,

Jesus, hear us,
Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us Pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye
shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it
shall be opened unto you: give, we beseech Thee, to
us who ask, the gift of Thy most divine love, that with
all our heart, words, and works, we may love Thee,
and never cease to praise Thee.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love

of Thy holy Name; for Thou never failest to govern
those whom Thou dost solidly establish in Thy love;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.



62 A QUARTER OF AN HOUR BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

A QUARTER OF AN HOUR BEFORE THE;
BLESSED SACRAMENT i

To please Me, my dear child, it is not necessary to know
much; all that is required is to love Me much, to be deeply
sorry for ever having offended Me and desirous of being ^
ever faithful to Me in future.

Speak to Me now as you would to your dearest friend.
Tell me all that now fills your mind and heart. Are there
any you wish to commend to Me? Tell Me their names, and
tell Me what you would wish Me to do for them. Do not

"

fear, ask for much ; I love generous hearts, which, forgetting
themselves, wish well to others.

Speak to Me of the poor you wish to comfort ; tell Me of
the sick that you would wish to see relieved. Ask of Me
something for those who have been unkind to you, or who i

have crossed you. Ask much for them all ; commend them i

with all your heart to Me.
And ask Me many graces for yourself. Are there not many

and many you would wish to name^ that would make you i
happier to yourself, more useful and pleasing to others, more

worthy of the love of Me, the dearest Lord, Master and 1

Spouse of your soul ? Tell me the whole list of the favors
you want of Me. Tell Me them with humility, knowing

;

how poor you are without them, how unable to gain them by
yourself

;
ask for them with much love, and they may make

you more pleasing to Me.
With all a child’s simplicity, tell Me how self-seeking you .

are, how proud, vain, irritable, how cowardly in sacrifice, ,
how lazy in work, uncertain in jaur good resolutions, and I

then ask Me to bless and crown your efforts. Poor child, ,
fear not, blush not at the sight of so many failings; there:
are Saints in Heaven who had the faults you have ; they
came to me lovingly, they prayed earnestly to Me, and my
grace has made them good and holy in My sight.
You should be mine, body and soul ; fear not, therefore to i

ask of Me gifts of body and mind, health, judgment, memory, ,



A QUARTER OF AN HOUR BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 63

and success—ask for them for My sake; that God may be
glorified in all things. I can grant everything, and never
refuse to give what may make a soul dearer to Me and bet-
ter able to fulfill the will of God.
Have you no plans for the future which occupy, perhaps

distress, your mind? Tell Me your hopes, your fears. Is it
about your future state? your position among My creatures?
some good you wish to bring to others? In what shall I
help and bless your good will?
And for Me you must have—have you not?—some zeal,

some wish to do good to the souls of others. Some, perhaps,
who love and care for you, have ceased, almost, to know or
care for Me. Shall I give you strength, wisdom and tact, to
bring these poor ones close to my Heart again? Have you
failed in the past? tell Me how you acted; I will show you
why you did not gain all you expected; rely on Me, I will
help you, and will guide you to lead others to Me.
And what crosses have you, my dear child? Have they

been many and heavy ones? Has some one caused you pain?
some one wounded your self-love? slighted you? injured you?
Lay your head upon My breast, and tell Me how you suffered.
Have you felt that some have been ungrateful to you, and
unfeeling towards you? Tell Me all, and in the warmth of
My Heart you will find strength to forgive and even to for-
get that they have ever wished to pain you.
And what fears have you, my child? My providence

shall comfort you; my love sustain you. I am never away
from you, never can abandon you. Are some growing cold
in the interest and love they had for you? Pray to Me for
them; I will restore them to you if it be better for you and
your sanctification.
Have you not some happiness to make known to Me?

What has happened, since you came to Me last, to console
you, to gladden and give you joy? What was it? a mark
of true friendship you received? a success unexpected and
almost unhoped for? a fear suddenly taken away from you?
and did you not remember the while, that in all it was My



64 A QUARTER OF AN HOUR BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

will, My love, that brought all that your heart has been so
glad to have? It was My hand. My dear child, that guided
and prepared all for you. Look to Me now, My child, and
say, “Dear Jesus, I thank you.”
You will soon leave Me now; what promises can you

make Me? Let them be sincere ones, humble ones, full of
love and desire to please Me. Tell Me how carefully you
will avoid every occasion of sin, drive from you all that
leads to harm, and shun the world—^the great deceiver of
souls.

Promise Me to be kind to the poor; loving for My sake,
to friends; forgiving to your enemies, and charitable to all,
not in word alone and actions, but in your very thoughts.
When you have little love for your neighbor, whom you see,
you are forgetting Me who am hidden from you.

Love all My saints; seek the help of your holy patrons. I
love to glorify them by giving you much through them.
Love, above all. My own sweet glorious Mother—she is
your mother; O love her, speak to her often, and she will
bring you to Me, and for her sake I will love and bless
you more each day.

Return soon to Me again, but come with your heart empty
of the world, for I have many more favors to give, more
than you can know of, bring your heart so that I may fill it
with many gifts of My love.
May peace be with you.



SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 65

SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
I. We are bound to know and to believe : 1. That there is

one supreme, eternal, infinite God, the Creator of heaven and
earth

;
and that the good will be rewarded by Him for ever in

heaven, and the wicked punished for ever in hell. 2. That in
God there are three persons, co-eternal, co-equal, God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. 3. That God
the Son, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, was
made Man, and died upon the Cross to save us.

II. We are bound also to know and to believe the Apostles’
Creed ; to have a knowledge of the Commandments of God and
of the Church, and of the Holy Sacraments

;
and to know the

Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary.
III. We are bound moreover, to believe whatever God teaches

us by His holy Church, who in her teaching cannot deceive
us nor be deceived. Her teaching is, amongst other ways, in-
fallibly made known to us by the Roman Pontiff “when he
speaks ex cathedra”—that is, when, discharging the office of
Pastor and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by virtue of
his supreme apostolic authority, a doctrine, regarding faith or
morals, to be held by the universal Church.

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
1. Baptism: by which we are made Christians, children of

God
;
members of His holy Church, and heirs of heaven.

2. Confirmation: by which we receive the Holy Ghost, to
make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Christ.

3. The Holy Eucharist: which is really and truly the Body
and Blood, the Soul and the Divinity, of Jesus Christ, under
the appearance of bread and wine. The Holy Eucharist is not
only a sacrament in which we receive our Divine Lord for the
food and nourishment of our souls, and in which He is really
present to be adored upon the altar

; it is also a Sacrifice, the
Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, in which, at the time of consecra-
tion, the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood
of Jesus Christ, and in which He is offered up for us to His
Eternal Father.

4. Penance: by which the sins committed after Baptism are
forgiven.

5. Extreme Unction: which, in dangerous illness, comforts
the soul, remits sin and restores health if God sees it to be
expedient.

6. Holy Orders: by which Bishops, Priests, and other Minis-
ters of the Church are ordained.

7. Matrimony: which is the Sacrament of Christian Marriage.



66 SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

THE TWO PRECEPTS OF GOD
1. Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart,

4

and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with]
thy whole strength. 2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy-i
self.

’

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
1 . Thou shalt not have strange Gods before Me. Thou shalt

not make to thyself any graven thing
;
nor the likeness of

anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor
of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou
shalt not adore them nor serve them. 2. Thou shalt not take
the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 3. Remember that
thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. 4. Honor thy father and
thy mother. 5. Thou shalt not kill. 6. Thou shalt not com-,
mit adultery. 7. Thou shalt not steal. 8. Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbor. 9. Thou shalt not;
covet thy neighbor’s wife. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor’s goods.

1

THE SIX COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
1. To keep the Sundays and Holy-days of Obligation holy,!

by hearing Mass and resting from servile works. 2. To keep
the days of Fasting and Abstinence appointed by the Church.tj|
3. To go to Confession at least once a year. 4. To receive;
the Blessed Sacrament at least once a year, at Easter or there-i
abouts. 5. To contribute to the support of our Pastors. 6.'
Not to marry within certain degrees of kindred, nor to solemm
ize marriage at the forbidden times.

The Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and

Temperance.
I

Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost: Wisdom, Understanding,!
Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, the Fear of the Lord!

Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost: Charity, Joy, Peace,

|

Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Longanimity, Mildness, Faith,!
Modesty, Continency, Chastity (Galatians v. 22, 23).

Seven Corporal Works of Mercy: To feed the hungry ; to givf

I

drink to the thirsty ; to clothe the naked ; to harbor the harbor^l
less ; to visit the sick ; to visit the imprisoned ; to bury the
dead.

|

Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy: To counsel the doubtful Jlj
to instruct the ignorant ; to admonish sinners ; to comfort the|
afflicted ; to forgive offences ; to bear wrongs patiently ; tco
pray for the living and the dead.

Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Glut!
tony. Envy, Sloth. The opposite virtues: Humility, Liberality!
Chastity, Meekness, Temperance, Brotherly Love, Diligence.



SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 67

INDULGENCES
An Indulgence is a remission granted hy the Church to those

who are free from the guilt of mortal sin, of the whole, or of
a part of the temporal punishment due for sins already for-
given.

Explanation—1. By temporal punishment, as distinguished
from eternal punishment, is meant punishment which is due
for sin, and which is to be undergone, either in this world or
in the next world in purgatory. The repentance for sin may
be so great as to obtain from God the remission both of the
guilt and of all punishment

; but often through the imperfec-
tion of our repentance, some punishment remains due for sin
after the guilt has been removed. 2. Indulgences are granted
on the condition of the performance of certain specified good
works ; and they cannot be gained by any one who is not free
from the guilt of all grievous sins. 3. The Church, in grant-
ing an indulgence, offers to God, for the remission of the tem-
poral punishment deserved for our sins, the infinite super-
abundant merits of our Lord, and also (but only secondarily)
the merits of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints. 4. A Plenary
Indulgence is a remission of the whole of the punishment due
for forgiven sins

; a Partial Indulgence is a remission of some
part of that punishment. An indulgence, granted as Plenary,
will, if there be an obstacle to its full effect, be only partiallv
obtained. In the early ages of the Church, “canonical pen-
ances,” as they were called, were infiicted for sin

; and an in-
dulgence of forty days, for example, represents a remission of
as^ much of the temporal punishment as would have been re-
mitted by means of forty days of such canonical penance.
For most of the Plenary Indulgences Confession is required.

THE LAW OF THE CHURCH CONCERNING
MARRIAGE

1. In consequence of tbe Papal decree Tcmere, which
came into force at Easter, 1908, every marriage between Cath-
olics, or between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, must be cele-
brated before a Bishop or Priest duly authorized and two wit-
nesses. Such marriages if otherwise celebrated, e. g., before
the Registrar, or any minister of the non-Catholic sects—may be
binding legal contracts under the civil law

; but they are null
and void before God, and the parties are not in the sight of
God really husband and wife.

2. Catholics who apostasize, either formally or equivalently,
are not thereby withdrawn from the Church’s jurisdiction in
this matter.



68 SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

3. These rules have nothing to do with marriages between
non-Catholics neither of whom has been baptised in the Catho-
lic Church.

4. As ecclesiastical law requires the publication of banns in
the church, persons intending to marry should give notice to
the parish priest at least three weeks before the date proposed
for the marriage.

5. The solemn celebration of marriage is forbidden from
Ash Wednesday till after Low Sunday, and from the 1st Sun-
day in Advent till the day after the Epiphany.
Ao#6—The marriages of those already married before Easter,

1908, are to be judged by the rules then in force in this coun-
try.

Mixed Marriages.
A “mixed marriage” (that is, a marriage between a Catholic

and one who, though baptised does not profess the Catholic
Faith) may not take place without a dispensation ; and the dis-
pensation cannot lawfully be given unless for a suflSciently
grave reason, and subject to the following conditions : 1. That
all the cjhildren that may be born of the marriage shall be
baptised, and brought up, in the Catholic Faith. 2. That the
Catholic party shall have full liberty for the practice of the
Catholic religion. 3. That the Catholic party shall endeavor
to convert the other to the Catholic Faith. 4. That no relig-
ious marriage ceremony shall take place elsewhere than in the
Catholic Church.



DEVOTIONAL PAMPHLETS

His Cross* by Mother Mary Lioyola.
A Simple Confession Book* by Mother Mary liOyola.
A Simple Communion Book, by Mother Mary liOyola.
A Simple Confirmation Book* by Mother Mary Lioyola.
Spiritual Bxercises of St. Ignatius Arranged in
Prayer.

Conformity With the Will of God* St. Alphonsus
liiguori.

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed
Virgin.

An Hour With My Crucifix.
Novena of Reparation to the Sacred Heart.
Prayers to the Blessed Virgin (with Novena).
Prayers to the Sacred Heart (with Novena).
Prayers to St. Joseph (with Novena).
Our Dead (with Novena).

SO for $2^S, too for $4.00 POSTAGE EXTRA.
J04 Single Copy includes postage.

An Explanation of the Prayers and Ceremonies of
the Mass* by Abbe F. Hallett.

Manual of the Forty Hours Adoration.
Manual of General Devotions.
Memento (for Funeral Mass).

SO for $4.00, 100 for $7.00 POSTAGE EXTRA.
10^ Single Copy includes postage.

INTERNATIONA!* CATHODIC TRUTH SOCIETY*
407 BERGEN STREET* BROOKDYN* NEW YORK.