MURPHY'S ENLARGED STEREOTYPE EDITION. 
 THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN'S 
 
 GUIDE TO HEAVEN; 
 
 OR A MANUAL OF 
 
 Ipiritaal (Bxmlsts 
 
 FOR CATHOLICS: 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 (gncEing (DfflrB nf tljB d^ljtirrlj; 
 
 IN LATIN AND ENGLISH; 
 
 WITH A 
 
 SELECTION OF PIOUS HYMNS. 
 
 PUBLISHED WITH THE 
 
 Approbation of the Most Rev, Archhishop Eccleston, 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. MURPHY & CO. 
 
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 PRIVATE BAPTISM. 
 
 Am, persons, whether man, woman, or child, maj 
 baptize an infant, in case of danger of death, thus: 
 
 Take common water, pour it on the hoad or face of 
 the child, and while you arc pouring it, say the foilow- 
 ing words: 
 
 " I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 GRACE BEFORE MEALH. 
 
 BLrrss us, O Lord! and these thy gift", which w« 
 are about to receive from thy bounty; tlirough Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 GRACE AFTER MEALS. 
 
 We cive thee thanks, O Ahnishty God ! for all thy 
 benofils, who livest and reignest, world without end. 
 Amen. 
 
 ■< riN MURPHY. Printer
 
 A TABLE 
 
 3'x 
 
 MOVEABLE FEASTS 
 
 !i 
 
 fl&16 
 rl847 
 C\4l848 
 X.1849 
 1850 
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 C* il856 
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 1858 
 il 1859 
 3 1860 
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 1863 
 UL.1864 
 0186; 
 
 1^' -si 
 
 1^ "^1 
 
 1807 
 1868 
 186 
 187 
 
 1871 A 
 
 1872 GF 
 
 1873 E 
 1874, D 
 
 21 Feb 
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 17 Feb 
 
 8 Mar 
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 18 
 
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 11 
 
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 12 Apr 21 Mav 31 May 11 Jun 
 28 Mar 6 May 16 May[27 May 
 17 Apr 26 Mav 5 Jun 16 Juii 
 
 9 Apr 18 May 28 May 8 Jun 
 31 Mar 9 Mav 19 Mav 30 May 
 
 13 Apr 22 Mav 1 Jun 1 12 Jun 
 , 5 Apr|l4 Ma\i21 Mayl 4 Jun 
 
 
 
 
 1 Dec 
 
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 1253>¥TO
 
 FEASTS, FASTS. &c. 
 
 HOLY DAYS, 
 
 On which there is a strict obligation to h?ar Mciss, and 
 
 to refrain from all servile tvorks. 
 
 All Sundays in the year. 
 Feast of the Circumcision 
 
 of our Lord, 1st Jan. 
 The Epiphany, 6th Jan. 
 The Annunciation, aotli of 
 
 March. 
 Ascension of our Lord. 
 
 Corpus Christi. 
 
 Assumption of B. V. M 
 15th Aujiust. 
 
 Feast of All Saints, 1st ol 
 November. 
 
 Nativity of our Lord Je- 
 sus Christ, 25tli Dec. 
 
 FASTING Days 
 
 All the days in Lent, ex- 
 cept Sundays. 
 
 The Eve of VVhitsuntide. 
 
 The Quarter- Tenses, or 
 Ember days, beinj; the 
 Wednesdays, Fridays, 
 Saturdays next after the 
 first Sunday of Lent, af- 
 
 DAYS OF ABSTINENCE 
 
 All the Sundays in Lent, 
 except when the use of 
 meat is allowed by the 
 archbishop or bishop of 
 tlie diocess. 
 
 All the Fridays tlirough- 
 out the year. 
 
 Wlion Christmas falls on 
 Friday, the precept of 
 
 ter Whit Sunday, after 
 September 14th, and af- 
 ter Docenibcr KJth. 
 
 Tlie Eves of the Assump- 
 tion of tlie 15. V. Mary, 
 of All Saints, and of 
 Christmas day. 
 
 The Fridays in Advent. 
 
 FROM FLESH MEAT, 
 abstinence is not bind- 
 ing on that day. 
 
 Tlie abstinence on Satur- 
 day is disi>pnsed with, 
 for the faithful throujrh- 
 outthe U. Stales, for the 
 space of 20 years (from 
 1840), excei)t when a 
 fast falls on Saturday. 
 
 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 1. I AM the Lord thy God, who brouaht thee out of 
 
 the land of F-u'ypt, out of the house of bondaire. Tliou 
 
 Bhalt not hav<! strange gods before me. 'J'hou shalt 
 
 Dot make to thyself a graven Uung, nor Uie likenesa
 
 of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth 
 beneath, nor oi tliose tilings that are in the waters un- 
 der the eartl). Thou shall not adore tliem, nor serva 
 Uiem. 
 
 •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 tliy mother. 
 
 5. Thou Shalt not kill. 
 
 6. Thou Shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 7. Thou Shalt not steal. 
 
 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against th> 
 neighbor. 
 
 9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. 
 
 10. Thou shalt not covet tliy neighbor's goods. 
 
 COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 1. The Catholic church commands her children, on 
 Sundays and holidays of obligation, to be present at 
 the holy sacrifice of mass, to rest from servile work 
 on those days, and to keep them holy. 
 
 2. She commands them to abstain from flesh on all 
 days of fasting and abstinence ; and on fast days to 
 eat but one meal. 
 
 3. She commands them to confess their sins tothei* 
 pastor at least once a year. 
 
 4. She commands them to receive the blessed sac- 
 rament at least once a year, and that at Easter or du 
 ring the paschal time, which begins on the first Sun 
 day of Lent, and ends on Trinity Sunday inclusively. 
 
 5. To contribute to the support of our pastors. 
 
 6. Not to marry within the fourth degree of kin 
 dred, nor privately without witnesses ; nor to solem 
 nize marriage at certain prohibited times. 
 
 A.N EXPLANATION OF THE ORNAMENTS AND CEREMO 
 NIES THAT ARE USED IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE 0* 
 THE MASS. 
 
 All the visible rites employed in and about the 
 sacrifice of the mass tend td instruction, and to the 
 commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, in compliance witli his own command.
 
 VI 
 
 «* Do this in remembrance of m^," 1 Cor. xi, 24 ; that 
 Is, do this in memory of my passion. This is plainly 
 to be observed in the altar and its ornaments, as like- 
 wise in tlie garments witli which the priest is invest- 
 ed, viz. 
 
 The Altar signifies Mount Calvary, whereon Jesus 
 Christ (tlie only Son of God, and second person of the 
 most blessed 'i'rinity, our Redeemer) was crucified 
 upon a reproaclilul cross : whieli very woid altar 
 hatii relation to sacrifice, which must necessarily be 
 ollered to God in that church where his true faith is 
 professed ; and therefore this name of altar is men- 
 tioned by St. Paul, Ileb. xiii, 10 : " We have an alur 
 whereof they have no right to eat who serve the ta- 
 bernacle:" and 1 Cor. ix, 3, as it is likewise in St. 
 Matt. V, 24. All which is sufticient warrant for us to 
 use the name of altar, which also represents the table 
 whereon our Saviour did celebrate his last supper 
 with his disciples the night before he sulTercd. 
 
 The Corporal and Linen Cloths that cover the altar 
 do signify the linen cloth that wrapped the sacred 
 body of Christ when he was laid in tlie sepulchre. 
 
 The Candles lighted on the altar signify the light of 
 faith revealed to the Jews and gentiles ; and they ad- 
 vertise us of tlie great splendor both of faith and of 
 good life and works, required in the celebration of so 
 high and dreadful a mystery. 
 
 The Crucifix betokens our blessed Redeemer's vie 
 tory over death, and is placed in the midst of the altar 
 to represent to our mind the death and passion of Je- 
 sus Christ, which is there chiefly to be considered 
 and piously meditated on in th<at holy sacrifice. 
 
 The Chalice betokens the holy sepulclire of our 
 Lord. 
 
 The Paten, the great stone which was rolled against 
 the door of the same sepulchre. 
 
 THE GARMENTS WHEREWITH THE PRIEST IS VESTKB 
 DURING THE TIME OF MASS. 
 
 The Amice, a linen cloth which the priest pulli 
 over his head, and fastens on his neck, signifies the 
 rag of linen wlierewith the Jews blindfolded Christ 
 our Saviour in mockery, when tliey smote and buf-
 
 vu 
 
 ftted him, sajing, " Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who 
 is he that struck Uiee ?" Matt, xxvi, 68. 
 
 The Alb (that is, a white linen garment) does repre- 
 sent the garment which Herod put on Clni^t alter he 
 had despised and mocked him. Luke xxiii. 
 
 The Maniple that the priest weareth on his left 
 ami, and the Stole that hangeth about his neck, and 
 the Girdle, do figure the cords and fetters with which 
 the ofiicers of the Jews bound Christ, and led hira 
 from one place to another. John xviii. 
 
 The Chasuble (that is, tlic upper garmen-t) doth ex 
 press the purple garment the soldiers put on Jesus 
 Christ, Malt, xv, and the heavy cross also that Christ 
 carried on his blessed shoulders to Mount Calvary. 
 
 The priest's Tonsure (that is to say, tlie crown of 
 his head shaved in the fashion of a round circle) doth 
 represent the crown of thorns which the soldiers 
 plaited, and put about tlie sacred head of our Sa- 
 viour. Mark xv. 
 
 AN EXPLANATION OF THE COLORS USED BY THB^ 
 CHURCH AT DIVINE SERVICE. 
 
 White is used on the feasts of our Lord, of the 
 Blessed Virgin, and of ail such saints as are not mar- 
 tyrs. 
 
 Red is used at Whitsuntide, on the invention and 
 exaltation of tlie Cross, and on tlie feasts of tlie apos- 
 tles and martyrs. 
 
 Purjde or' Violet, the penitential color, is used ou 
 all the Sundays and Ferias of Advent, in the peniten- 
 tial time from Septuagesima till Easter ; and on Vi- 
 gils, Ember and Rogation days, when the Office ia 
 of them. 
 
 The Green is used on all Sundays a;id Ferias from 
 Trinity Sunday to Advent, exclusively, and from the 
 Octave of the Epiphany to Septuas(!s-ima, exciu?ively, 
 whenever tiie office is of tlie Sunday ; but in the pas- 
 chal time White is used. 
 
 The Black is used on Good Friday, and in Masses 
 for the dead, which may be said on any day which is 
 not a Sunday or a double, except from Palm Sunday 
 to Low Sunday, and during the Octaves of the Epiph 
 ^ly, Pentecost, aiid Corpus Ciiristi.
 
 VllI 
 
 ON THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. 
 This sign is prescribed in our Rituals to be fre- 
 quently used, particularly in the administration of 
 baptism, and in the sacrifice of the altar, to sijinify 
 that all grace is derived from the passion of Christ. 
 The cross, besides, is marked on all parts of the dress 
 of our ministers, and on the vessels appropriated to 
 the service, to denote their destination. On the al 
 tar is raised a cross, with the figure of Christ on it, 
 to bring to our minds that it was he who died for 
 the sins of the world, and that there is no other namt 
 under he.sven whereby we must be saved. Finally, we 
 ofton sign ourselves with the sign of the cross, pro- 
 nouncing the words, Inthe nnine of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; thereby attesting our 
 belief ill the lilessed 'J'rini ty, and in tlie incarnation 
 and death of our Saviour. 
 
 HOLY OR. BLESSED WATER, 
 
 From the history of the earliest .ages of the church, 
 we are informed that it was the prao«ice to bless ail 
 inanimate things destined for the use of man, and par- 
 ticularly such as were used in the services of religioiu 
 Thus a blessing was pronounced over the water and 
 oil used in the administration of the sacramenta. 
 Besides this, water, mixed with salt that had been 
 blessed, was placed at the p-^rch of churches, with 
 which the faithful washed their hands and signed 
 their foreheads as they entered, and with tlie same 
 water they and other things were often sprinkled by 
 the minister. Of this ancient practice much still re- 
 mains in the Catholic church, influenced as she is by 
 tlie religious motives which, in this and other con? 
 cerns, actuated the founders of her discipline ; and 
 laudably tenacious as she ever must be of antiquity. 
 Salt, mingled with water, is deemed the emblem of 
 prudence and incorrnption ; and the water denotes 
 purity and innocence of heart ; while he that entera 
 the place of worship, and ajjphes it, witn the sign of 
 the cross, to his fonihead, is admonished by the ac- 
 tion that with cleanliness of heart and hand he should 
 ippear in the presence of his Maker.
 
 ix 
 
 INDULGENCES EXPLAINED. 
 An Indulgence is not a leave to commit a sin, nor» 
 Oardon of future sins, nor indeed, properly speaking, 
 my pardon of sin at all ; but it is only a remission of 
 'Jae whole or of a part of the temporal punishment 
 that often lemains to be suffered for sins, which, as 
 lo their guilt and eternal punishment, have been al- 
 ready remitted. 
 
 For the validity and effect of an indulgence, it is 
 not only necessary that there be a competent author- 
 Uy in iiim who grants it, and a just cause or motive 
 for the grant; but it is also necessary-, on the part of 
 him wiio obtains it, that he renounce and be sincerely 
 Borry for all his sins, tliat he be in the state of grace, 
 and tiiat he duly perform all the conditions prescribed. 
 Hence inriuliences, so far from withdrawing sin- 
 ners from performing good works, serve to excite and 
 encourage them to greater fervor in the praclice of 
 tliem. They who apply for the benefit of indulgence 
 must do it with a penitential spirit, with a sense of 
 tlie great debts of punishment they have contracted 
 by their sins, and with earnest petitions to be dis- 
 charged from it throush the merits and satisfactions 
 of Christ, by the power of the keys which he bas 
 committed to his church. If this debt be not paid by 
 penif^ntial suffrrings, or graciously remitted by in- 
 dulgences in this life, it will, after death, retard the 
 entrance of a soul into the kingdom of heaven, untfl 
 the last farthing be paid in the prison of purgatory. 
 
 Of indulgences some are called plenary, which, 
 when fully obtained, remit the whole debt of tempo- 
 ral punislnnent that remained due on account of past 
 sins ; others are of a certain number of years or days, 
 Which, when fully obtained, remit so much of the 
 debt of temporal punishment as would have been dis- 
 charged by the performance of so many years or dayi 
 oi' canonical penance.
 
 PLENARY INDULGENCES. 
 
 Granted to the Faithfnl tkrous;hout tJitse 
 States, at the following times. 
 
 I. On Christmas day, and the twelve 
 days follo^ring, to the day of Epiphany, 
 inclusively. 
 
 II. In the first week in Lent, beginning 
 with the first Sunday, and ending with 
 the second Sunday, inclusively. 
 
 III. At Easter, i. e. from Palm Sunday, 
 inclusively, to Low Sunday, inclusively. 
 
 IV. From Whitsunday to the end of the 
 octave of Corpus Christi. 
 
 V. On the feast of St. Peter and St. 
 Paul, during the octave, 
 
 VI. On the feast of the Assumption of 
 the blessed Virgin Mary, and during the 
 octave. 
 
 VII. On the Sunday preceding the fast 
 of St. Michael, and during the octave, un- 
 less St. Michael fall on a Sunday ; in 
 which case it begins on that day. 
 
 VIII. On All Saints' day, and daring 
 the octave. 
 
 IX. Once every month, on any day 
 which each of the faithful shall choose, 
 as best suits himself. 
 
 !Z7te conditions of tlw. first, third, sixth, and 
 seventh are, 
 1. To confess their sins, with a sincere 
 10 
 
 s.
 
 PLENARY INDULGENCES. 1] 
 
 repentance, to a priest approved by the 
 Bishop. 
 
 2. Devoutly and worthily to receive the 
 holy communion. 
 
 3. To visit some chapel or oratory, 
 where Mass is celebrated, and there offer 
 op their prayers, for the peace and wel- 
 fare of God's church. 
 
 4. That they be in a disposition, if their 
 circumstances allow it, to assist the poor 
 with alm.s in proportion to their abihties ; 
 or to frequent catechisms or sermons ; or 
 lo visit and comfort the sick and such as 
 are near their end, if they have the op- 
 portunity. 
 
 JVote. It is not required, for the staining 
 these indulgences, that those works of 
 mercy, corporal or spiritual, or this assist- 
 ing at catechisms or sermons, be done on 
 the same day with the communion; but 
 that persons be then in a disposition or 
 readiness of mind to do those things, or 
 some of them at least, when opportunity 
 shall offer. 
 
 Tlie conditions of the second, fourth, and 
 eight a/re, 
 
 1. To confess their sins, with a sincere 
 repentance, to a priest, approved by the 
 ashop.
 
 12 A PROFESSION, ETC. 
 
 2. Devoutly and worthily to rece've the 
 holy communion. 
 
 3. If their condition will allow it, to 
 give some alms to the poor, either on th^ 
 eve or the day of their communion. 
 
 4. On the day of their communion, to 
 offer up some prayers to God, for the 
 whole state of the Catholic church 
 throughout the world; for the bringing 
 all straying souls to the fold of Christ; for 
 the general peace of Christendom ; and 
 for the blessing of God upon these states. 
 
 Tlie conditions of the fifth and ninth are^ 
 
 1. To confess their sins, with-a sincere 
 lepentance, to a priest, approved by the 
 bishop. 
 
 2. Devoutly and worthily to receive the 
 holy communion. 
 
 3. To pray to God, with a sincere heart, 
 for the conversion of unbelievers, and fot 
 the free propagation of the holy faith of 
 Christ. 
 
 A PROFESSION OF CATHOLIC FAITH. 
 
 I, JV*. JV., with a firm faith, believe and 
 profess all and every one of these things, 
 which are contained in that Creed, which
 
 A I'ROFESSION, ETC. 13 
 
 the Holy Roman Church maketh use of; 
 to wit : 1 believe in one God, the FatJier 
 Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, 
 of all things visible and invisible; and 
 in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only be- 
 gotten Son of God, and born of the Fa- 
 ther before all ages ; God of God ; light of 
 light; true God of true God; begotten, 
 not made; consubstantial to the Father, 
 by whom all things were made. Who, 
 for us men, and for our salvation, came 
 down from heaven, and was incarnate by 
 tlie Holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, and 
 was made man. Was crucified also for 
 us, under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and 
 was buried : and the third day he rose 
 again, according to the Scriptures : He 
 ascended into heaven ; sits at the right 
 hand of the father ; and is to come again 
 with glory to judge the living and the 
 dead ; of whose kingdom there sliall be no 
 end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord 
 and life-giver, who proceeds from the Fa- 
 ther and the Son, who, together with the 
 Father and the Son, is adored and glori- 
 fied, who spoke by the Prophets. And (I 
 beheve) One, Holy, Catholic, and Apos- 
 tolic Church : I confess one baptism for 
 the remission of sins : and I expect the 
 resurrection of the dead, and the life of 
 the world to come. Jlnien.
 
 14 A PROFESSION, ETC. 
 
 I most steadfastly admit and embrace 
 apostolical and ecclesiastical Traditions, 
 and all other observances and constitu- 
 tions of the Church. 
 
 I also admit the holy Scriptures accord- 
 ing to that sense, which our holy Mother, 
 the Church, has held, and does hold, to 
 which it belongs to judg;e of the true sense 
 and interpretations of the Scriptures. 
 Neither will I ever take and interpret them 
 otherwise than according to the unani , 
 mous consent of the Fatiiers. 
 
 I also profess, that there are truly and 
 properly Seven Sacraments of the New 
 Law, instituted by Jesus Chnst our Lord, 
 and necessary for the salvation of man- 
 kind ; though not all, for every one : to 
 wit, Bapthm, Confirmation, EucJiarist, 
 Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and 
 Matrimony; and that they confer grace : 
 and that of these. Baptism, Confirmation, 
 and Order, cannot be reiterated without 
 sacrilege. I also receive and admit the 
 received and approved Ceremonies of the 
 Catholic Church, in the solemn adminis- 
 tration of the aforesaid Sacraments. 
 
 I embrace and receive all and every 
 one of the things which have been de- 
 fined and declared in the holy council of 
 Trenty concerning Original Sin and Justi 
 Jicalion.
 
 A PROFESSION, ETC. 15 
 
 I profess likewise, that in the Mass 
 there is offered to God a true, proper, and 
 propitiatory sacrifice for the living and 
 the dead. And that in the most Iwly Sa- 
 crament of tJie Eucharist, there is truly, 
 really, and substantially, the Body and 
 Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ : and that there 
 is made a conversion of the whole sub- 
 stance of the bread into the body, and of 
 the whole substance of the wine into the 
 blood; which conversion the Catholic 
 Church calls Th-ansiibstantiation. I also 
 confess, that under eilher /emd alone Christ 
 is received whole and entire, and a true 
 sacrament. 
 
 I constantly hold that there is a Purga- 
 tory, and that the souls therein detained 
 are helped by the suffrages of the faithful. 
 
 Likewise that the Saints, reigning to- 
 gether with Christ, are to be honoured and 
 invocated, and that they offer prayers to 
 God for us, and that their relics are to be 
 respected. 
 
 I most firmly assert, that the Imas:es of 
 Christ, of the Mother of God, ever Virgin, 
 and also of the Saints, may be had and 
 retained, and that due honour and vene- 
 ration is to be given them. 
 
 I also affirm, that the power of Indid- 
 gences was left by Christ in the Church,
 
 16 TECLARATION OF FAITH. 
 
 and that the use of them is most whote 
 some to Christian people. 
 
 I acknowledge the Holy Catholic ^.Ipos 
 tolic Roman Church, for the Mother and 
 Mistress of ail Churches ; and I promise 
 true obedience to the Bislwp of Rome, suo 
 cessor to St. Peter, Prince of the Apos 
 ties, and Vicar of Jesus Christ. 
 
 I likewise undoubtedly receive and pro 
 fess all other things delivered, defined, anfl 
 declared by the sacred Canons, and gene- 
 ral Councils, and particularly by the holy 
 Council of Ti'CJit. 
 
 And I condemn, reject, and anathema- 
 tize all things contrary thereto, and all 
 heresies whatsoever, condemned, rejected 
 and anathematized by the Church. 
 
 This true Catholic faith, without which 
 no one can be saved, I, JV. JV., do at this 
 present freely confess and sinceroly hold, 
 and I promise, vow and swear, most con- 
 stantly to retain, and confess the same 
 entire and unviolated, with God's assist- 
 ance, to the end of my life. *^men. 
 
 A DECLARATION OF FAITH, 
 
 COMMONLY CALLED THE CREED OF bT. 
 ATHANASIUS. 
 
 Quicumque vult. 
 Whosoever will be saved, before all
 
 I)ECI-AR\TION OF FAITH. 17 
 
 Amgs It is necessary that he hold the 
 Calhohc faith. 
 
 Which faith, except every one doth 
 keep entire and inviolate, without doubt 
 he shall perish everlastingly. 
 
 Now the CathoHc faith is this : that we 
 worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity 
 in Unity, 
 
 Neither confounding the persons, nor 
 dividing the substance. 
 
 For one is the person of the Father, 
 another of the Son, another of the Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 But the Godhead of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all 
 one, the glory equal, and the majesty co- 
 eternal. 
 
 Such as the Father is, such is the Son, 
 and such is the Holy Ghost. 
 
 The Father is uncreated, the Son is 
 uncreated, and the Holy Ghost is uncre 
 ated. 
 
 The Father incomprehensible, the Son 
 incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost 
 incomprehensible. 
 
 The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and 
 tlie Holy Ghost eternal. 
 
 And yet there are not three Eteru?'": 
 'vkjlX one Eternal. 
 
 And also there are not three Uncre 
 
 ivcds, nor three Incomprehensibles ; but 
 
 2
 
 18 DECLARATION OF FAITH. 
 
 one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensi 
 ble. 
 
 In like manner the Father is Almighty, 
 the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost 
 Almighty. 
 
 And yet there are not three Almighties^ 
 but one Ahiiighty. 
 
 So the Father is God, the Son is God, 
 and the Holy Ghost is God. 
 
 And yet they are not three Gods, but 
 one God. 
 
 So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son 
 is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. 
 
 And yet they are not three Lords, but 
 one Lord. 
 
 For as we are compelled by the Chris- 
 tian truth to acknowledge every person 
 by himself to be Lord and God : 
 
 So we are forbidden by the Catholic re- 
 ligion to say, that there are three Gods or 
 three Lords. 
 
 The Father is made of no one, neither 
 created, nor begotten. 
 
 The Son is from the Father alone, no 
 made, nor created, but begotten. 
 
 The Holy Ghost is from the Father ard 
 the Son, not made, nor created, nor be- 
 gotten, but proceeding. 
 
 So there is one Father, not three Fa- 
 thers ; one Son, not three Sons ; one Holy 
 Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
 
 UECLARATION OF FAITH. 19 
 
 And in this Trinity there is nothing be- 
 Tore or after, nothing greater or lesser; 
 but the whole three persons are co-eternal 
 to one another, and co-equal. 
 
 So that in all things, as has been al- 
 ready said above, the Unity is to be wor- 
 shipped in Trinity, and the Trinity in 
 Unity. 
 
 He therefore that will be saved must 
 thus think of the Trinity. 
 
 Furthermore it is necessary to everlast- 
 ing salvationj that he also believe rightly 
 the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Now the right faith is : that we believe 
 and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 the Son of God, is both God and Man. 
 
 He is God of the substance of the Fa- 
 ther, begotten before the world ; and he 
 is Man, of the substance of his Mother, 
 born in the world. 
 
 Perfect God and perfect Man; of a ra- 
 tional soul, and human flesh subsisting. 
 
 Equal to the Father according to his 
 Godhead ; and lesser than the Father ac 
 cording to his Manhood. 
 
 Who, although he be both God and 
 Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ. 
 
 One. not by the conversion of the God 
 head into flesh, ^ut by the taking of the 
 manhood unto God.
 
 20 MORNFNG EXERCISES. 
 
 One altogether, not by contusion ofsub- 
 stance, but by unity of person. 
 
 For as the rational soul and the flesh is 
 one man, so God and man is one Christ. 
 
 Who suffered for our salvation, de- 
 scended into hell, rose again the third day 
 from the dead. 
 
 He ascended into heaven: he sitteth al 
 the right hand of God the Father Al- 
 mighty: from thence he shall come to 
 judge the living and the dead. 
 
 At whose coming all men shall rise 
 again with their bodies, and shall give an 
 account of their own works. 
 
 And they that have done good, shall go 
 into life everlasting : and they that have 
 done evil, into everlasting fire. 
 
 This is the Catholic faith, which ex 
 cept a man believe faithfully and stead 
 fastly, he cannot be saved. 
 
 HOMING EXERCISE. 
 
 • 
 
 ,At awakening wi the momins;, sayr O 
 ray God, my only good, the autrior of my 
 being and my last end, I give thee my 
 heart. Praise, honour, and glory be to 
 thee for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 At rising up, say : In the name of the
 
 MORNING PRAYERS. 21 
 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. Amen. 
 
 I will raise myself up from this bed of 
 sleep, tu adore my God, and to labour for 
 ttie salvation of my soul. O may I rise 
 on the last day unto life ev^erlasting. 
 
 When clothed, kneel dovm and say : la 
 the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 and of the Floly Ghost. Amen. 
 
 Blessed be the holy and undivided Tri- 
 nity, now and for ever more. Holy, holy, 
 holy Lord God of hosts! The earth is 
 full of thy glory. Glory be to the Fa- 
 ther : glory be to the Son : glory be to the 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 AN ACT OF ADORATION. 
 
 O great God, the Sovereign Lord of 
 heaven and earth, I prostrate myself be- 
 fore thee. With all the angels and saints 
 I adore thee. I acknowledge thee to be 
 my Creator and Sovereign Lord, my first 
 beginning and last end. I render to thee 
 the homage of my being and life. I sub- 
 mit myself to thy holy will; and I devote 
 myself to thy divine service this day and 
 foi ever. 
 
 AN ACT OF FAITH. 
 
 O my God! I firmly believe all the sa- 
 cred truths which thy holy Catholic 
 Church beheves ai^d teaches, because thou
 
 22 MORNING PRAYERS. 
 
 hast revealed them, who neither oaast de- 
 ceive nor be deceived. 
 
 AN ACT OF HOPE. 
 
 O my God! relying on thy infinite 
 goodness and promises, I hope to obtain 
 the pardon of my sins, the assistance oi 
 thy grace, and life everlasting, througft 
 the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and 
 Saviour. 
 
 AN ACT OF LOVE. 
 
 O my God ! I love thee above all things 
 with my whole heart and soul, purely be- 
 cause thou art infinitely perfect and do- 
 serving of all love. I love also my neigh- 
 bour as myself for the love of thee. 1 
 forgive all who have injured me, and ask 
 pardon of all whom I have injured. 
 
 AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING. 
 
 O glorious Trinity ! I praise thee and 
 l^ive thee thanks for the numberless bene 
 fits thou hast bestowed upon me. I thank 
 thee, O heavenly Father, for having cre- 
 ated me to thy own image and likeness, 
 and for having preserved me to this day. 
 I thank thee, O merciful Son, for having 
 redeemed mc by thy death, and so often 
 fed me with thy precious body and blood. 
 I thank thee, O Holy Spirit, for having
 
 MORNING PRAYERS. 23 
 
 cleansed my soal by thy grace m holy 
 baptism, for having called me to the true 
 faith, and so often washed me from my 
 sins in the sacrament of penance. I thank 
 thee, O most bountiful God, for preserv- 
 mg me this night, and granting me this 
 day to serve thee. I earnestly invite all 
 the saints of heaven and earth to join 
 with me in praise and thanksgiving for 
 thy infinite goodness. 
 
 Pause a while, and foresee the sins you 
 are most subject to, and firmly resolve to 
 avoid them. 
 
 AN ACT OF CONTRITION. 
 
 My conscience, O Lord, still reproaches 
 me with many weaknesses and infidelities. 
 I most sincerely repent for having of- 
 fended thy infinite goodness. I firmly re- 
 solve to avoid sin for the future, and 
 rather to die than offend thee. 
 
 Make a firm resolution to avoid evil, and 
 to do good. 
 
 Adorable Jesus ! Divine model of that 
 perfection to which we should all aspire! 
 I will endeavour this day to follow thy ex- 
 ample ; to be mild, humble, chaste, zeal- 
 ous, patient, charitable and resigned. In- 
 cline my heart t^ keep thy command- 
 ments. I am resoi'ved to watch over my- 
 self with the greatest diligence, and to
 
 24 MORNING PRAYERS. 
 
 live soberly, justlj', and pioush''. For the 
 lime to come. I Avill take care of my 
 ways, that I may not offend with my 
 tongue. I Avill turn away my eyes, that 
 tliey may not see vanity, and I will be 
 particularly attentive not to relapse this 
 day into my accustomed failings j but to 
 struggle against them with thy gracious 
 assistance. Enlighten my mind, purify 
 my heart, and guide my steps, that I may 
 pass all my fife in thy divine service. 
 Jimen. 
 
 THE lord's prayer. 
 
 Our Father, who art in heaven, hal- 
 lowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; 
 thy will be done on earth as it is in hea- 
 ven. Give us this day our daily bread: 
 and forgive us our trespasses as we for- 
 give them who trespass against us : and 
 lead us not into temptation; butdehver us 
 from evil. Amen. 
 
 THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION. 
 
 Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is 
 with thfe : blessed art thou amongst wo 
 men, and blessed is the fruit of thy 
 womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of 
 (iod, piay for us sinners, now, and in 
 tliff hour of our death. Amen.
 
 MORNING PRAYERS. 25 
 
 THE apostle's CREEP. 
 
 1 believe in God, the Father Almighty, 
 Creator of heaven an'd earth, and in Jesus 
 Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was 
 conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the 
 V^irgin Mary, suftered under Pontius Pi- 
 late, Avas crucified, dead and buried ; he 
 descended into hell, the third day he rose 
 again from the dead; he ascended into 
 heaven, and 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 resur-' 
 rection of the body, and life everlasting. 
 Amen. 
 
 THE CONFITEOR. 
 
 I confess to Almighty God, to blessed 
 Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed IMichail the 
 archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to 
 the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to 
 all the saints, that I have sinned exceed- 
 higly in thought, word, and deed, through 
 my fault, through my fault, through my 
 most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech 
 the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, the hiosseu 
 Michael the archangel, the blessed John 
 the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and
 
 26 MORNING PRAYERS. 
 
 Paul, and all the saints, to pray to the 
 Lord our God for me. 
 
 May the Almighty God have mercy on 
 me, and forgive me my sins, and bring 
 me to everlasting life. Amen. 
 
 May the almighty and merciful Lord 
 give me pardon, absolution, and remissioa 
 of all my sins. Amen. 
 
 Invoke the bleskd Virgin, your angel 
 gucrrdian and your jyatron saint. 
 
 O holy Virgin, Mother of God, my ad- 
 vocate and patroness, pray for thy poor 
 servajit: shoAV thyself a mother, to me; 
 and thou, O blessed Spirit, whom God in 
 his mercy halh appointed to watch over 
 i!ie, iriterc'^'de for me this day, that I may 
 nor .stray from the path of virtue. Thou 
 also, O happy saint, whose name I bear^ 
 pray ibrme, that I may serv^ God faith- 
 fully in this life, as thou hast done, and 
 glorify him eternally with thee in heaven. 
 Amen. 
 
 THE r.ITANVOF TJIE HOLY NAME OF JESUS 
 
 LORD, have mercy on us. 
 Christ have mercy on us. 
 Christ hear us. 
 Christ graciously hear us. 
 God the Father of heaven, h'^.ve mercy 
 
 on us.
 
 MORNING PRAYERS. 27 
 
 God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
 
 God the Holy Ghost, 
 
 Holy Trinity, one God, 
 
 Jesus, Son of the living God, 
 
 Jesus, Splendor of the Father, 
 
 Jesus, Brightness of eternal Life, 
 
 Jesus, King of Glory, 
 
 Jesus, Sun of Justice, 
 
 Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, 
 
 Jesus, most amiable, 
 
 Jesus, most admirable, 
 
 Jesus, powerful God, 
 
 Jesus, Father of the world to come, 
 
 Jesus, Angel of the great Council, 
 
 Jesus, most patient, 
 
 Jesus, most obedient, 
 
 Jesus, meek and humble of heart, 
 
 Jesus, Lover of Chastity, 
 
 Jesus, God of Peace, 
 
 Jesus, Lover of Manldnd, 
 
 Jesus, Author of Life, 
 
 Jesus, Model of Virtues, 
 
 Jesus, zealous for Souls, 
 
 Jesus, our God, 
 
 Jesus, our Refuge, 
 
 Jesus, Father of the Poor, 
 
 Jesus, Treasurer of the Faithful, 
 
 Jesus, good Shepherd, 
 
 Jesus, true Light, 
 
 Jesus, eternal Wisdom, 
 
 Jesus, mfinite Goodness,
 
 28 M9RNING PRAYERS. 
 
 JesuSj our Way, and our Life, 
 
 Jesus, Joy of angeJs, 
 
 Jesus, King of the patriarchs, 
 
 Jesus, Master of the apostles, 
 
 Jesus, Teacher of the evangelists^ 
 
 Jesus, Strength of martyrs, 
 
 Jesus, Light of confessors, 
 
 Jesus, Purity of virgins, 
 
 Jesus, Crown of all saints, 
 
 Be merciful unto us. Hear us, O Jesus! 
 
 Be merciful unto us. Spare iis, OJesiis! 
 
 From all sin, 
 
 .From thy wrath. 
 
 From the snares of the devil. 
 
 From the spirit of uncleanliness. 
 
 From eternal death. 
 
 From the neglect of thy inspirations 
 
 By the mystery of thy incarnation. 
 
 By thy nativity. 
 
 By thy childhood, 
 
 By tiiy labours. 
 
 By thy agony and passion. 
 
 By thy death and burial. 
 
 By thy resurrection. 
 
 By thy ascension. 
 
 By thy glory. 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 sins of th(^ world, Sjnire us, O Jesus ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 pins of the world, jF/mrifs, O Jesus! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the
 
 M0RN1^"G PRAYERS. 29 
 
 Sins of the world. Have mercy on irs, O 
 Jesus ! 
 
 Jesus, hear us. Lord Jcs-us, gracionishj 
 hear us ! 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, Avho hast said. 
 Ask and you shall receive, seek and ynu 
 nludljind, knock and it shall be opened nnio 
 you, mercirully attend to our supplica- 
 tion, and grant us the divine gift of thy 
 charity, that we may ever love thee with 
 our whole hearts, and never desist from 
 thy praise ; who livest and reignest one 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 A prayer to the blessed virgin. 
 
 We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother 
 of God ! despise not our petitions in our 
 necessities, but deUver us from all dan 
 gers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin' 
 
 THE ANGELUS DOMI^•I, 
 
 To he said morning, noon, and night, in 
 memory of the adm-ahle mystery of the 
 Incaiiiation of our blessed Saviour. 
 
 1. The angel of the Lord declared 
 unto Mary; and she conceived of the 
 Holy Ghost. Hail, Mary, Sec. 
 
 2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; 
 may it be done unto me according to thy 
 word. Hail, Mary, &c
 
 30 PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 3. And the word was made flesh : and 
 
 dwelt among us. Hail, Mary, &c. 
 
 Let vs Fray. 
 
 Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Loid, 
 ihy 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 passion and cross be 
 brought to the glory of his resurrection ; 
 through the same Christ our Lord. Anieii. 
 
 Prayers for the Church, for the Rid'uisr 
 Powers, c^c. 
 
 We pray thee, O almighty and eternal 
 God, who, through Jesus Christ, hast 
 revealed thy glory to all nations, to pre- 
 serve the worlds of thy mercy ; that thy: 
 church, being spread through the whole 
 world, may continue, with unchanging 
 faith, in the confession of thy name. 
 
 We pray thee, who alone art good and 
 holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, 
 sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief 
 bishop, JY. jy., the vicar of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, in the government of his church ,- 
 our own bishop, JV. JV., {or, if he be not 
 consecrated, " our bishop elect ;") all other 
 bishops, prelates and pastors of the church ; 
 and especially those who are appointed 
 to exercise amongst u^ the functions of the
 
 PRAYER5 FOR THE CHURCU. 31 
 
 holy ministry, and conduct thy people 
 into the ways of salvation. 
 
 We pray thee, O God of might, R'lydom 
 and justice, through whom authority is 
 rightly administered, laws are enacted , and 
 judgment decreed, assist with thy Holy 
 Spirit of counsel and fortitude the presi 
 dent of these United States ; that his ad 
 ministration may be conducted in righte- 
 ousness, and be eminently useful to thy 
 people over whom he presides ; by en- 
 couraging due respect for virtue and reli- 
 gion ; by a faithful execution of the laws 
 in justice and mercy ; and by restraining 
 vice and immoraUty. Let the light of 
 thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations 
 of congress, and shine forth in all their 
 proceedings and laws, framed for our rule 
 and government ; so that they may tend 
 to the preservation of peace, the promo- 
 tion of national happiness, the increase 
 of industry, sobriety, and useful know- 
 ledge; an^ may perpetuate to us the 
 blessings of equal liberty. 
 
 We pray for his excellency the go- 
 \rernor of this state, for the members of 
 assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and 
 other officers, who are appointed to guard 
 our political welfare; that they may be 
 enabled, by thy powerful protection, to
 
 32 PRAYF''*n4 FOR THE CHUllCH. 
 
 discharge the duties of their respective 
 stations with honesty and ability. 
 
 We recommend Ukewise, to thy un- 
 bounded mercy, all our brethren and fel- 
 low citizens, thro ughout the United States, 
 that they may be blessed in the know- 
 ledge, and sanctified in the observance of 
 thy most holy law : that they may be 
 preserved in union, and in that peace 
 which the world cannot give ; and, after 
 enjoying the blessings of this life, be ad- 
 mitted to those which are eternal. 
 
 Finally, we pray thee, O Lord of mercy ! 
 to remember the souls of thy servants 
 departed, who are gone before, us, with 
 the sign of faith, and repose in the sleep 
 of peace ; the souls of our parents, rela- 
 tions and friends ; of those who, when 
 living, were members of this congrega- 
 tion : and particularly of such as are 
 lately deceased ; of all benefactors, who, 
 by their donations, or legacies to this 
 church, witnessed their zeal for the de- 
 cency of divine worship, and proved theii 
 claim to our grateful and charitable re- 
 membrance. To these, O Lord ! and to 
 all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech 
 thee, a place of refreshment, light, and 
 everlasting peace, through the same Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS. o6 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 
 FOR HEARING MASS. 
 
 IfTiat the Mass is, and for what end it it 
 to be offered. 
 
 1. FROM the beginning of the world, 
 the servants of God were always accu9» 
 tomed to offer sacrifice to him, by way of 
 acknowledging his sovereignty, and pay- 
 ing their homage to him : and in all an- 
 cient religions, true or false, this worship 
 of sacrifice was always looked upon as a 
 solemn act of religion, due to the deity 
 which they worshipped. 
 
 2. In the law of nature, and in the law 
 of Moses, there was great variety of 
 sacrifices: some bloody, (in which the 
 victim was slain,) others unbloody : some 
 were called holocausts, or whole burnt- 
 offerings, in which the whole host or victim 
 was consumed in fire upon God's altar, 
 for his honor and glory; others were 
 called sin offerings, which were offered 
 for sins; others were offerings of thanks- 
 giving; others, in fine, were pacific, or 
 peace-offerings ; which were offered for 
 obtaining favors of God ; the word peace, 
 in the scripture style, signifying all man- 
 ner of good and prosperity. 
 
 3. A 11 these sacrifices of the law of 
 
 3
 
 34 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 nature and the law of Moses were of 
 themselves but iveak and feebh elements ^ 
 and only figures of a sacrifice to come, 
 VIZ., that of Jesus Christ ; in consideration 
 of which sacrifice only, and of the faith 
 of the offerers, by which ♦hey believed in 
 this Redeemer to come, those ancieni 
 sacrifices were then accepted by the 
 Divine Majesty, when they were accom- 
 panied with the inward sacrifice of the 
 heart: but not for any intrinsic worth or 
 dignity of the things offered ; for no other 
 Dlood but the blood of Christ could wash 
 away our sins. Hence, in the 39th 
 Psalm, spoken in the person of Christ to 
 his Father, we read. Sacrifice and obla- 
 tion thou didst not desire; but thou hast 
 fitted a body for me. So St. Paul reads 
 It: Heb. x. 5. B unit-offering and sin-of- 
 ferinfn; thou didst not require ; then said I, 
 Behold 1 come. To give us to understand, 
 that by reason of the insufficiency of the 
 sacrifices of the old law, Christ himself 
 would come to be our sacrifice ; and would 
 offer up his own body and blood for us. 
 
 4. Accordingly, our Saviour Jesuj 
 Christ, at the time appointed by his Fa- 
 ther, having taken flesh for us, was 
 pleased to offer himself a sacrifice for us 
 all; dying upon the cross fn; the sins of 
 tlie wnole world. By this 7ne offering
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR WASS. 36 
 
 we were completely redeemed, inasmuch 
 as our ransom was paid, and all mercy, 
 grace, and salvation were purchased for 
 us. Neither can there now be any need 
 of his dying any more, or purchasing any 
 other graces for us, than those for which 
 he has already paid the price of his blood. 
 
 5. Nevertheless, for the daily applicor- 
 tion of this one eternal redemption to our 
 Eouls, and that the mercy, grace, and 
 salvation which he has purchased for us 
 may be actually communicated to us, he 
 not only continually appears in our be- 
 half in the sanctuary of heaven, there 
 representing and offering to his Father 
 his death and passion for us, but has also 
 instituted the blessed eucharist, the night 
 Defore his passion, in which he has be- 
 queathed unto us his body and blood under 
 the sacramental veils, not only to be re- 
 ceived by us as a sacrament, for the food 
 and nourishment of our souls, but also, 
 to be offered and presented by his minis- 
 ters to his Father [mystically broken and 
 shedj as a sacrifice, not by way of a new 
 death, but by way of a standing memo- 
 rial of his death, a daily celebrating and 
 representing of this death to God, and 
 an application of the fruits of it to our 
 souls. 
 
 0. The eucharistic sacrifice of the body
 
 36 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 and blood of Christ, daily olTered under 
 the forms of bread and wine, in remem- 
 brance of his passion, is what is called the 
 Mass. This is the solemn liturgy of the 
 Catholic church. This is that jmre offer 
 171^, made to God in every place among 
 the Gentiles, according to the prophecy 
 of Malachia, i. 10, 11. By this Christ is 
 a priest, for ever, according to the order of 
 Melchisedec, Ps. cix., whose sacrifice was 
 bread and wine : Gen. xv. 
 
 7. This sacrifice of the Mass is the same 
 in substance with that which Christ of 
 fered for us upon the cross, because both 
 the victim offered, and the priest, or prin- 
 cipal offerer, is the same Jesus Christ. 
 Tlie difference is only in the manner of thd 
 oflering: because upon the cross our Sa- 
 viour offered himself in such a manner, 
 as really to shed his blood and die for us : 
 whereas now he does not really shed hia 
 blood, nor die any more. And therefore 
 this is called an nnbloody sacrifice; and thai 
 on the cross, a bloody sacrifice. 
 
 8. By reason of this near alliance which 
 this sacrifice of the Mass has with the 
 sacrifice of the cross, it completely an- 
 ewers all the difterent ends of sacrifice, 
 and that in a manner infinitely more per- 
 fect than any of the ancient sacrifices. 
 Christ is there both priest and victim, re-
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS. 37 
 
 presentin;^ in person and offering up his 
 death and passion to his father : First, for 
 the (uioration. praise, honour, and glory 
 of the Divine Majesty. Secondly, in 
 Ihariksgiviug for all his benefits. Thirdl)--, 
 for the obtaining j^ardon of our sins. 
 Fourthly, for the obtaining of gi-ace and 
 salvation for us, by the merits of that same 
 death and passion. And therefore this 
 sacrifice, in order to obtain all these ends, 
 must be infinitely beyond all the holocausts, 
 thank-off enn2;s, sin-offerings, and peace- 
 offerings of tne ancient law. 
 
 9. This sacrifice of the Mass, then, is 
 ofifered up to God in the Catholic church, 
 1st, as a daily remembrance of the passion 
 of Christ ] Tfiis do in remembrance of me, 
 St. Luke, xxii. 2dly, As a most solemn 
 worship of the Divine Majesty. 3dly, As 
 a most acceptable tJianksgiving to God, 
 from whence it has the name of eucharist, 
 4thly, As a most powerful means to move 
 God to show mercy to us in the forgive- 
 ness of our sins i for which reason we call 
 it propitiatory. And, lastly, as a most 
 effectual way to obtain of God all that we 
 want, coming to him (as we here do) 
 with Christ and through Christ. 
 
 10. For these ends, both priest and peo- 
 ple ought to offer up the sacrifice of the 
 Miss. The priest, as Christ's minister 
 
 254860
 
 60 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 and in his person ; and the people by thv 
 hands of the priest ; and both the one an«i 
 the other by the hands of the great higu 
 priest, Jesus Christ. And with this offer- 
 ing of Christ*s, both the one and the other 
 ought to make a total offering of them- 
 selves also by his hands, and in the union 
 with him. 
 
 1 1 , Hence the best devotion for hearing 
 Mass, is that which has for its object the 
 passion of Christ, and which tends to 
 unite us to the soul of Christ, and througti 
 him to his Father; and which most per- 
 fectly answers all the other ends of this 
 sacrifice, viz, the adoration of God, thanks- 
 giving for all his benefits, the obtaining 
 pardon for all our sins, and grace in all 
 our necessities. 
 
 77ic manner ofliearin^ Mass. 
 At the beginning of the mass, the priest, 
 at the foot of the altar, makes the sign 
 of the cross, In the name of the Father, 
 and of tJie Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 
 Amen, and then recites, with the clerk, 
 the 42d Psalm, Judica me, Deus, ^c. , Judge 
 me, O Grod, Sf-c, which you may either in- 
 cite with him, or pray as follows :
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 39 
 
 A Prayer for the beginning of tJie Mass. 
 
 O Almighty Lord of heaven and 
 earth I behold, I, a wretched sinner, 
 presume to appear before thee, this 
 day, to offer up to thee by the hands 
 of this thy minister, and by the hands 
 of our high-priest, Jesus Christ, thy 
 Son, the sacrifice of his body and blood, 
 in union with that sacrifice which he 
 offered thee upon the cross. First, for 
 thy own honor, praise, adoration, and 
 glory. Secondly, in remembrance of his 
 death and passion. Thirdly, in thanks- 
 giving for all thy blessings bestowed 
 on him and on his whole church, 
 whether triumphant in heaven, or mili- 
 tant on earth ; and especially for tho&e 
 bestowed on me, the most unworthy 
 of all. Fourthly, for obtaining pardon 
 and remission of all my sins ; and of 
 those of all others^ whether living o? 
 dead, for whom I ought to pray ; and 
 lastly, for obtaining all graces and 
 blessings both for myself and for the 
 whole church. O ! be thou pleased to 
 assist me in such a manner by thy 
 ^race, thac I may behsve mv^^elf this
 
 40 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 day as 1 ought to do, in thy divine 
 presence ; and that I may so conime- 
 inorate the death and passion of thy 
 Son, as to partake most plentifully oi 
 the fruits of it, through tlie same Jesus 
 Christ thy Son. Amen. 
 
 Then the priest, bowing down, says ths 
 Conjiteor, I confess to JllniiglUy God, «$'C., 
 by way of a general confessjon to God, 
 to the wiiole court of iieaven, and to ail 
 the failhfid there present, of his sins and 
 unworthiness -, and to beg their prayers 
 to God for him. And the clerk in the 
 name of the people prays for the priest, 
 that God would have mercy on him, and 
 forgive him his sins, and bring him to 
 everlasthjg hfe. Then in the name of all 
 there present, the clerk makes the like 
 general confession to God, to the whole 
 court of heaven, and to the priest, and 
 begs his prayers. And the priest prays 
 to God to show mersy to all his people, 
 and to grant them pardon, absolution, 
 and remission of all their sins; which is 
 done to the end that both priest and peo- 
 ple may put themselves in a penitential 
 spirit, in order to assist worthily at hia 
 divine sacrifice
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 41 
 
 Jl Prayer at the Confiteor. 
 O blessed Trinity! one God, Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost, prostrate in spirit 
 before thee, 1 here confess, in the sight 
 of the whole court of heaven, and of 
 all thy faithful, my innumerable trea 
 sous against thy divine Majesty, 
 have sinned^ O Lord, I have sinned ; 
 I have grievously offended through the 
 whole course of my life, in thought, 
 word and deed, and therefore am most 
 unworthy to lift up my eyes to heaven, 
 or so much as to pronounce thy sacred 
 name ; how much more am I unworthy 
 to appear here in thy sanctuary — and 
 to assist among thy angels at these 
 heavenly mysteries, which require so 
 much purity; because Jesus Christ 
 himself is here in person both priest 
 «ind victim ! But, my God, thy mer- 
 cies are above all thy works, and thou 
 wilt not despise a contrite and liumble 
 heart ; and therefore 1 here venture to 
 ^vome into thy temple, and with the 
 poor publican (and, as I hope, with the 
 same penitential spirit) I strike my 
 breast, and say, God^ h^ merciful to
 
 42 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 me a sinner. [Repeat this thrice.] And 1 
 humbly hope to find this mercy which 
 I crave, through that passion and death 
 which is here celebrated. O Fountain 
 of mercy, grant this mercy to me, and 
 to all poor sinners. Amen. 
 
 After the Conflteor, the priest goew up 
 to the altar, saying. Take away from iis, 
 we beseech thee, O Lord! our iniquities, 
 tlmt ive may he worthy to enter with' pure 
 minds into the holy of holies, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. Say the same 
 with him ; and when he kisses the aUar, 
 as a figure of Christ, and the seat of the 
 sacred mysteries, make an act of love for 
 your divine Saviour, and embrace his feel 
 with an humble and tender affection. 
 
 When the priest is come up to the altai 
 he goes to the book, and there reads what 
 is called tlie introit or entrance of the Mass, 
 which is different every day, and is gene- 
 rally an anthem taken out of the Scripture, 
 with the rirst verse of one of the psalm?, 
 and the Glory be to the Father, &,c., to 
 glorify the blessed Trinity. 
 
 A Prayer at the Inlroit. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, we may be triilj 
 prepared for the offering this great sa^
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 43 
 
 crifice to thee this day; and because 
 our sins alone can render us displeasing 
 to thee, therefore we cry aloud to thee 
 for mercy. 
 
 The priest returns to the middle of the 
 altar, and says, alternately with the clerk, 
 the Kyrie Eleison, or Lord have mercy on 
 us, which is said three times to God the 
 father ; three times, Christe Eleison, or 
 Christ have mercy on us, to God the Son ; 
 and three times again, Kyrie Eleison, to 
 God the Holy Ghost. Join in this fre- 
 quent calling for mercy ; but let it be 
 with a truly contrite and humble heart. 
 
 After the Kyi'ie Eleison, the priest re- 
 cites the Gloria in Excelsis, or Glonj be to 
 God on high, &c., being an excellent hymn 
 and prayer to God, the beginning of 
 which was sung by the angels at the 
 birth, of Christ. Join in this heavenly 
 hymn, and excite in your sotil the aflfec- 
 lions which it ex 'presses.
 
 44 
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 27ie Gloi'ia in Exctlsis. 
 
 Gloria in excelsis 
 Deo, et in terra pax 
 honiinibus bonae vo- 
 luntatis. Laudamus 
 te. Benedicimus te. 
 Adoramus te. Glori- 
 ficamus te. Gratias 
 agimus tibi propter 
 magnam gloriam tu- 
 ani. Doniine Deus. 
 Rex CGelestis. Deus 
 Pater omnipolens. 
 Doniine Fili unige- 
 nite, Jesu Christe. 
 Domine Deus, Ag- 
 nus Dei, Filius Pa- 
 tris. Q,ui tollis pec- 
 cata mundi, misere- 
 re nobis. Uui tollis 
 peccata mundi, sus- 
 cipe deprecationem 
 nostram. Clui sedes 
 ad dexleram Patris, 
 miserere nobis. — 
 duoniam tu solus 
 Sanctus. Tu solus 
 Douiinus. Tu solus 
 altissimus, Jesu 
 
 Christe. Cum Sane- 
 
 Glory be to God 
 on high, and peace 
 on earth to men of 
 good ■'.vill. We 
 praise thee. We 
 bless thee. We 
 adore thee. We glo- 
 rify thee. We give 
 thee thanks for thy 
 great glory. O Lord 
 God ! O heavenly 
 King! O God the 
 Father Almighty ! 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, 
 the only begotten 
 Son ! O Lord God, 
 Lamb of God, Son 
 of the Father! O 
 thou ! who lalfest 
 aw^ay the sins of the 
 world, have mercy 
 on us. O thou! who 
 takest away the sins 
 of the world, receive 
 our prayer. O tlinu ! 
 who sittest at the 
 right hand of the 
 Father, have mercy 
 on us. For thou
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 45 
 
 to Spiritu in gloiia 
 Dei Patris. Aincn. 
 
 alone art holy. — 
 Thou alone art Lord . 
 Thou alone art 
 most high, O Je- 
 sus Christ ! together 
 with the Holy Ghost 
 in the glory of the 
 Father. Amen. 
 JV. B. This being a hymn of joy, is 
 omitted in the Masses of Requiem for the 
 dead, and in the Masses for the Sundays 
 and Ferias of the penitential times of Ad- 
 vent and Lent, &c. 
 
 At the end of the Gloria in.Excelsis the 
 priest kisses the altar, and turning about 
 to the people, says, Dominus Dobiscum, 
 Tfie Lord be with you. Answer. Et cum 
 Spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit. As often 
 as this salutation is repeated, pray that 
 our Lord may be always with you, with 
 hjs ministers, and with all his people, by 
 directing and assistmg all with his heaven 
 ly grace. 
 
 ' The priest returns to the book, and 
 Bays, Oremus, Let us pray; and then 
 reads the collect or collects of the day, 
 concluding them with the usual termina- 
 tion, Per Dominum nostrum, TJirongh our 
 Ijn-d Jesus Christ, &c., with which the 
 church commonly concludes all ner 
 prayers. While the priest is reading the 
 collects, you may thus join with him.
 
 46 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS 
 
 w2 Prayer at the Collects. 
 
 O almighty and eternal God, we 
 humbly beseech thee mercifully to give 
 ear to the prayers here offered thee by 
 tliy servants, in the name of thy whole 
 church, and in behalf of us thy people : 
 accept them, to the honor of thy name, 
 and the good of our souls ; and grant 
 to us all mercy, grace, and salva- 
 tion, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Oil the Festival of a Saint. 
 
 Grant, we beseech thee. Almighty 
 God, that the examples of thy saints 
 may effectually move us to reform our 
 lives, that while we celebrate their fes- 
 tivals, we may also imitate their actions, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 The collects being ended, the priest 
 lays his hands upon the book, and reads 
 the epistle or lesson of tlie day. At the 
 end of which, the clerk answers, Deo 
 sratias, Tlianks be to God, viz., for the 
 heavenly doctrine there delivered. Then 
 follow some verses or sentences of scrip- 
 ture, called the Gradual, which are every
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 47 
 
 day different. During the epistle and 
 gradual, you may pray thus : 
 
 A Prayer at the Epistle. 
 Thou hast vouchsafed, O Lord, to 
 teach us thy sacred truths by tliy pro- 
 phets and apostles : O grant that we 
 may so improve by their doctrine and 
 examples, in the love of thy holy name, 
 and of thy holy law, that we may show 
 forth by our lives whose disciples we 
 are ; that we may no longer follow the 
 corrupt inclinations of flesh and blood, 
 but master all our passions : that we 
 may be ever directed by thy light ; and 
 strengthened by thy grace, to walk in 
 the way of thy commandments, and to 
 serve thee with clean hearts, through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 1^ Prayer at the Gradual. 
 
 How wonderful, O Lord, is thy 
 name through the whole earth ! I will 
 bless thee, O Lord, at all times : thy 
 praise shall ever be in my mouth. Be 
 thou my God and my Protector for 
 ever : I will put my whole trust in 
 thee : O let me never be confounded.
 
 48 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 After this, the book is removed to the 
 other side of the ahar, in order to the read- 
 ing of the gospel for the day. This re- 
 moval of the book represents the passing 
 from the preaching of the old law, figured 
 by the lesson or epistle, to the gospel of 
 Jesus Christ, published by the preachers 
 of the new law. The priest, before he 
 reads the gospel, stands awhile bowing 
 down before the middle of the altar, beg- 
 ging of God in secret to cleanse his heart, 
 and his lips, that he may be worthy to de- 
 clare those heavenly words. You may, 
 at the same time, ask of God, that he 
 would open your ears and heart, that these 
 divine lessons may sink deep mto your 
 soul. 
 
 At the beginning of the gospel the 
 priest greets the people with the usual 
 salutation, Domiaus vohiscnm. The Lord 
 be with you. And then tells out of which 
 of the evangelists the gospel is taken, 
 saying, Seniientia S. Evann:elii secundum^ 
 &c,, i. e., }r hat follows is of the holy gospel 
 &c. At which words both priests ami 
 people make the sign of the cross, Isl, 
 Upon their foreheads, to signify t'hatthey 
 are not ashamed of the cross of Christ 
 and his doctrines. Secondly, upon their 
 mouths, to signify that they will ever 
 profess it in words. Thirdly, upon theii
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 49 
 
 breasts, to signify that they will always 
 keep it in their hearts. The clerk answers , 
 Ghna tibi, Domine^ Glory be to thee, O 
 Lord. 
 
 At the gospel stand up, and declare, by 
 that posture, your readiness to go and do 
 whatsoever you shall be commanded by 
 your Saviour in his gospel: and if you 
 have not the opportunity of reading it, or 
 otherwise attending to it, you may pray 
 as follows : 
 
 Jl Prayer at the Gospel. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Clirist, who camest 
 down from heaven to instruct us in all 
 truth, and contitiuest daily to teach us 
 by thy holy gospel, and the preachers 
 of thy word, grant me grace, that 1 
 may be wanting in no care necessary 
 for being instructed in thy saving truths. 
 Let me be as industrious in my soul's 
 concern, as I am for my body : that 
 while I take pains in the affairs of this 
 world, I may not, through stupidity or 
 neglect, let my soul starve and perish 
 everlastingly. Let the rules of thy 
 gospel be the direction of my life, that 
 I may not only know thy will, but 
 likewise do H ; that 1 may observe thy 
 4
 
 50 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 commandments ; and, resisting all the 
 mclinations of corrupt nature, ever fol- 
 low thee, who art the way, the truth, 
 and the life ; for thus only can I be thy 
 true disciple ; and thus only, O Jesus, 
 canst thou be my master. 
 
 At the end of the gospel, the clerk an- 
 swers. Lavs tibi, Christe, Praise be to 
 thee,'0 Christ. And the priest kisses the 
 ' book, in reverence to those sacred words 
 he has been reading out of it. Then upon 
 ail Swidmjs, and many other festival days, 
 standing in the middle of the altar, he re- 
 cites the Nicene Creed, kneeling down at 
 those words, TTe was made man, in rever- 
 ence to the great mystery of our Lord's 
 incarnation. 
 
 The JVicene Creed. 
 
 Credo in unum I believe in one 
 Deum, patrem om- God, the Father Al- 
 nipotentem, facto- mighty, Maker of 
 rem ccrU et terra;, heaven and earth, 
 visibilium omnium, of all things visible 
 et invisibih'um. Et and invisible. And 
 in unum Dominum in one Lord Jesus 
 Jesum Christum, Christ, thp only be- 
 Filium Dei unigeni- gotten Son of God. 
 turn. Et ex Patre And born of the 
 natum, ante omnia Father before all
 
 TEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 51 
 
 saecula. Deum de 
 Deo, Lumen de 
 Lnmine, Deum ve- 
 rum de Deo vero. 
 Genitum, nonfac- 
 tum, consubstanti- 
 alem Patri per quern 
 omnia facta sunt. 
 Qui propter nos ho- 
 mines, et propter 
 nostram salutem, 
 descendit de ccelis. 
 Et incarnatus est de 
 Spiritu Sancto ex 
 Maria Vire^ine; ET 
 HOMO FACTUS 
 EST. Crucifixus 
 etiam pro nobis, sub 
 Pontio Pilato, passus 
 et sepultus est. Et 
 resurrexit tertia die, 
 secundum Scriptu- 
 ras. Et ascend it in 
 co:;lura, sedet ad 
 dcxteram Patris. Et 
 itcrum venturus est 
 cum gloria judicare 
 vivos et mortuos ; 
 cujus regni non erit 
 fi'nis. Et in Spiri- 
 tum Sanctum Do- 
 
 ages. God of God, 
 Light of light, true 
 God of true God. 
 Begotten, not made; 
 consubstantial to the 
 Father, by whom 
 all things vp-ere made. 
 Who, for us men, 
 and for our salva- 
 tion, came down 
 from heaven. And 
 was incarnated by 
 the Holy Ghost of 
 the Virgin Marv ; 
 AND HE WAS 
 MADE MAN: was 
 crucified also under 
 Pontius Pilate; he 
 suffered and was 
 buried. And the 
 third day he rose 
 again, according to 
 the Scriptures. And 
 he ascended into 
 heaven, sits at the 
 right hand of the 
 Father. And he is 
 to come again with 
 glory, to judge the 
 living and the dead; 
 of whose kinoiN m
 
 52 
 
 DEVOTIONS FOll MASS. 
 
 miuum, et vivifican- 
 tem; qui ex Patre 
 Filioque procedit. 
 Q,ui cum Patre et 
 Filio simul adoratur 
 et conglorificatur; 
 qui locutus est per 
 prophetas. Et unam, 
 sanctam, Catholi- 
 cam et Apostolicam 
 Ecclesiam. Confi- 
 teor unum Baptis- 
 ma, in remissionem 
 peccatorum. Et ex- 
 pecto rfiSunectionem 
 mortuorum. Et vi- 
 tam venturi ssecuJi. 
 *B.men. 
 
 there shall be no 
 end. And in the 
 tloly Ghost, the 
 Lord and Giver of. 
 life, who proceeds 
 from the Father and 
 the Son, who, to- 
 gether with the Fa- 
 ther and the Son, is 
 adored and glorified- 
 who spoke by the 
 Prophets. And one, 
 holy, Catholic, and 
 Apostolic Church. 
 I confess one Bap- 
 tism for the remis- 
 sion of sins. And 
 I look for the resur- 
 rection of the dead. 
 And the life of the 
 world to come.— 
 »B:men. 
 
 Then the priest turns about to the peo 
 pie, and says, Doniinus vobiscum, The 
 Lord be with you. And having read in 
 the book a verse or sentence of the scrip 
 ture, which is called the Offertory, and 
 is every day dilFerent, he uncovers the 
 chalice, and taking in his hand the paten, 
 or little plate, offers up the bre»d Ur God;
 
 DEVOTIO^S FOR MASS. 53 
 
 then going to the corner of the altar, he 
 lakes wine, and pours it into the chalice, 
 and mingles it with a small quantity of 
 water, in remembrance of the blood and 
 water that issued out of our Saviour's 
 side; after which, he returns to the mid- 
 dle of the ahar, and offers up the chalice. 
 Then bowing down, he begs that this 
 sacrifice, which he desires to offer with 
 a contrite and humble heart, may find 
 acceptance with God ; and blessing the 
 bread and wine with the sign of the cross, 
 he invokes the author of all sanctity to 
 sanctify this offering. During the offer- 
 tory you may pray thus : 
 
 A prayer at the Offertory. 
 
 Accept, O eternal Father, this of- 
 fering which is here made to thee by 
 thy minister, in the name of us all here 
 present, and of thy whole church. 
 'Tis as yet only bread and wine, but, 
 by the miracle of thy power and grace, 
 will shortly become the body and blood 
 of thy beloved Son. He is our high- 
 priest, and he is our victim. With him 
 and through him we desire to approach 
 to thee this day, and by his hands to 
 offer thee this sacrifice, for thine own
 
 54 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 honour, praise^ and glory, in thanksgiving 
 for all thy benefits, in satisfaction for 
 all our sins, and f^or obtaining conver- 
 sion for all unbelievers, and mercy, 
 grace, and salvation for all thy faithfuL 
 And with this offering of thy only be- 
 gotten Son, we offer ourselves to thee, 
 begging that, by the virtue of this sa- 
 crifice, we may be happily united to 
 thee, and that nothing in life and death 
 may ever separate us any more from 
 thee. 
 
 At the end of this offertory, the pries: 
 goes to the corner of the altar, and washes 
 the lips of his fingers, to denote the clean- 
 ness and purity of soul with which we 
 ought to approach to these divine myste- 
 ries, saying, Lavaho, Sec, / will ivash my 
 hands amonii; the innocent, and I ivill en- 
 compass thy altar, O Lm-d, &c., as in the 
 latter part of the 25th Psalm. Then re- 
 turning to the middle of the altar, and 
 there bowing down, he begs of the 
 blessed Trinity to receive this oblation in 
 memory of the passion, resurrection, and 
 ascension of our Lord .Tesus Christ, and 
 for an honourable commemoration of the 
 blessed Virgin, and of all the saints, tha< 
 they may intercede for us in heaven,
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 55 
 
 whose memory we celebrate upon earth. 
 You may thus join with him : 
 
 A Prayer at the Lavabo, or the washing 
 of the fingers. 
 
 O WHAT cleanness and purity of 
 heart ought we to bring witli us to thia 
 great sacrifice ! but, alas ! I am a poor 
 unclean sinner. O wash me, dear 
 Lord, from all the stains of sin in the 
 blood of the Lamb, that T may be worthy 
 to be present at these heavenly myste- 
 ries. 
 
 .2 Prayer when the Priest stanch howirig 
 down at the middle of the altar. 
 
 O MOST holy and adorable Trinity, 
 Touchsafe to receive this our sacrifice, 
 in remenihrance of our Saviour's pas 
 sion, resurrection, and glorious ascen 
 sion ; and grant that we may die with 
 him to our sins, rise with him to new 
 life, and ascend with him to thee. Let 
 those saints, whose memory we cele- 
 brate on earth, remember us before thy 
 throne in heaven, and obtain mercy for 
 IS, through the same Jesus Ciinst our 
 Lord. Jlmen.
 
 5t> DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 Then the Priest, kissing the altar, turns 
 to the people, and says. Orate, fratres^ 
 &LC., (i. e.) Brethren, pray tluit my saa^^ 
 ficc and yours may be made acceptable to 
 God the Father Almighty. You would do 
 well to pray as he desires, and say with 
 the clerk : 
 
 May the Lord receive this sacrifice 
 from thy hands, to the praise and glory 
 of his own name, for our benefit, and 
 that of all this holy church. 
 
 Then the priest says, in a low voice, 
 the prayers called Secreta, which corre- 
 spond to the collects of the day, and are 
 different every day, during which you 
 may pray as follows : 
 
 A Prayer at the Secreta. 
 
 Mercifully hear our prayers, O 
 Lord, and graciously accept this obla- 
 tion, which we thy servants make to 
 thee ; and as we ofier it to the honour of 
 hy name, so may it be to us here a 
 means of obtaining thy grace, and life 
 everlasting hereafter, through Jesua 
 Christ. Amen.
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 57 
 
 Oa the Festival of a Saint. 
 
 Saxctify, O Lord, we beseech 
 thee, these gifts which we offer thee 
 in this solemnity of thy holy servant, 
 Y., and so strengthen us by thy grace, 
 that both in prosperity and adversity 
 our ways may be ever directed to thy 
 honor, througa our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 The priest concludes i\ie Secreta, by 
 saying aloud. Per omnia sfKcula sceculoi-um, 
 that is, IForld without end. Answer. Amen. 
 Priest, Dominus vobiscum. The Lord he 
 with you. Answer. Et cum spiritu tuo. And 
 with thy spirit. Priest. Surswn corda, Lift 
 up your hearts. Answer. Habemus ad Do- 
 minam, We have them lifted up to the Lord. 
 Priest. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nos- 
 tra, Let us g^ive thanks to the Lord our God. 
 Answer, Dignum et justiun est, It is meet 
 and just. Then the priest recites the pre- 
 face (so called, because it serves as aa 
 jitroduction to the canon of the Mass.) 
 
 TJie Preface. 
 
 Vere dignum et 
 justum est, aequum 
 et salutare, nos tibi 
 semper, et ubique 
 gratias agere ; Do- 
 
 It is truly mee 
 and just, right, and 
 available to salva- 
 tion, that we al- 
 ways, and in all
 
 53 
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 mine sancte, Pater 
 omnipotens, seterne 
 Deus ; qui cum 
 imigenito Filio tuo 
 et Spiritu Sancto 
 unus es Deus, unus 
 es Douiinus ; non 
 in unius singulari- 
 tate Pei-soiicB. sed 
 in unius Trinitate 
 subslaiitia3. Quod 
 enim de tua gloria, 
 revelante te, credi- 
 mus, hoc de Filio 
 tuo, hoc de Spiritu 
 Sancto, sine differ- 
 entia discretionis, 
 sentimus. Ut in 
 confessione verae 
 sempiternneque De- 
 itatis, et in Personis 
 proprietas, et in 
 essentia Unitas, et 
 in Majestate ado- 
 retur tcqualitas. 
 Quatn laudant 
 
 Angeli atque 
 
 places, give thanks 
 to thee, O holy 
 Lord. Father Al- 
 mighty, eternal 
 God ; who, with 
 thy only begotten 
 Son and the Holy 
 Ghost, art one God, 
 and one Lord, not 
 in one single per- 
 son, but in three 
 persons and one 
 substance. For 
 what we believe of 
 thy glory, as thou 
 hast revealed it, we 
 believe the same of 
 thy Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost, with- 
 out any difference . 
 so that in the con- 
 fession of one true 
 and eternal Deity, 
 we adore a distinc- 
 tion of persons, a 
 unity of essence, 
 and an equality of
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR*MASS. 
 
 59 
 
 Archangeli, Che- 
 rubim qiioque ac 
 Seraphim, qui non 
 cessant clamare 
 quotidie, una voce 
 dicenles, 
 
 Sanctiis, sanctus, 
 sanclus Dominus 
 Deus Sabaolh. 
 
 Pleni sunt coeli el 
 terra gloria tua, 
 Hosanna in excel- 
 sis. Bcnedictus qui 
 venit in nomine 
 Domini. Hosanna 
 in excelsis. 
 
 majesty. Which 
 the angels and 
 archangels praise, 
 the Cherubim and 
 Seraphim, also, 
 who cease not to 
 cry out daily, say- 
 ing, with one voice, 
 Holy, holy, ho- 
 ly Lord God of 
 Sabaoth ! The 
 
 heavens and the 
 earth are full of thy 
 glory. Hosanna in 
 the highest. Bless- 
 ed is he that comes 
 in the natne of the 
 Lord. Hosanna in 
 the highest. 
 
 After the preface follows the canon of 
 (he Mass, or the most sacred and solemn 
 part of this divine service, which is read 
 with a low voice, as well to express the 
 silence of Christ in his passion, and his 
 concealing at that time his glory and his 
 divinity, as to signify the vast importance 
 of that common cause of all mankind, 
 which the priest is then representing, as
 
 fiO DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 it Avere, in secret, to the ear of God ; and 
 the reverence and awe with which both 
 priest and people ought to assist at these 
 tremendous mysteries. 
 
 The canon begins by the invoking the 
 Father of mercies, through Jesus Christ 
 his Son, to accept this sacrifice for the 
 holy Catholic church, for the pope, for 
 the bishop, for the government, and for 
 all the professors of the orthodox and 
 apostolic faith throughout the whole 
 world. Then follows the Memento, oi 
 commemoration of the living, for whom 
 in particular the priest intends to offer up 
 that Mass, or who have been particularly 
 recommended to his prayers, &c. To 
 which is subjoined a remembrance of ail 
 there present, followed by a solemn com- 
 memoration of the blessed Virgin, of the 
 apostles, martyrs, and all the saints ; to 
 honour their memory, by naming them in 
 the sacred mysteries, to communicate 
 with them, and to beg their intercession 
 through Christ our Lord. During mis 
 part of the canon you may pray thus : 
 
 JI Prayer at the beginning of the Canon. 
 
 O ETERNALand most merciful Father! 
 behold, we come to offer thee our 
 homage this day ; we desire to adore.
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 61 
 
 praise, and glorify thee ; and to give 
 thee thanks for thy great glory, joining 
 our hearts and voices with all thy 
 blessed in heaven, and with thy wl ole 
 church upon earth. But acknowledg- 
 ing our great unworthiness and innu- 
 merable sins, for which we are heartily 
 sorry, and humbly beg thy pardon, we 
 dare not approach thee otherwise than 
 in company with thy Son, our advocate 
 and mediator, Jesus Christ, whom thou 
 hast given us to be both high-priest 
 and sacrifice. With him therefore, and 
 through him, we venture to offer thee 
 this sacrifice : to his most sacred in- 
 tentions we desire to unite ours : and 
 with this ofTering which he makes of 
 himself, we desire to make an offering 
 of our whole being to thee. With him 
 and through him we beseech thee to 
 '«xalt thy holy Catholic church through- 
 tout the whole world; to maintain her 
 iin peace, unity, holiness and truth; to 
 !have mercy on thy servants, JV., our 
 chief bishop, JV., our prelate, and all 
 that truly fear thee; on our parents, 
 children, friends, and benefactors, kc.
 
 62 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 on all those whom we have any wnys 
 scandalized, injured, or offended, or for 
 whom we are any other way bound to 
 pray ; on all that are in their a^ony, or 
 under violent temptations, or other ne- 
 cessities, corporal or spiritual ; on all 
 our enemies ; and, in a word, on all 
 poor sinners ; that we may all be con- 
 verted to thee, and find mercy, through 
 Jesus Christ thy Son : through wliom 
 we hope one day to be admitted into 
 the company of all thy saints and elect, 
 whose memory we here celebrate, 
 whose prayers we desire, and with 
 whom we communicate in these holy 
 mysteries. 
 
 Then the priest spreads his hands, ac- 
 cording to the ancient ceremony of sacri- 
 fices, over the bread and wine, which are 
 to he consecrated into the body and 
 blood of Christ, and begs that God would 
 accept of this oblation, which he makes 
 in the name of the whole church; and 
 that he would grant us peace in this life 
 and eternal salvation in the next. After 
 which he solemnly blesses the bread and 
 wine with the sign of the cross, and in- 
 vokes the Almighty that they may be
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 63 
 
 made to us the body and blood of his 
 most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 And so he proceeds to the consecration, 
 (irst of the bread into the body of our 
 Lord, and then of the wine into the blood; 
 which consecration is made by Christ's 
 own words, pronounced in his name and 
 person by the priest, and is the most 
 essential part of this sacrifice ; because 
 thereby the body and blood of Christ are 
 really (exhibited and present to God, and 
 Christ is mystically immolated. Imme- 
 diately after the consecration follows the 
 elevation, first of the host, then of the 
 chalice, in remembrance of Christ's ele- 
 vation upon the cross. At the elevation 
 of the chalice, the priest recites those 
 words of Christ : As often as you shall do 
 these tilings, you shall do them in remem- 
 brance of me. Then he goes on, making 
 a solemn commemoration of the passion, 
 resurrection, and ascension of Christ ; and 
 begging of God to accept this sacrifice, 
 "as he was pleased to accept the oblations 
 of Abel, Abraham, and Melchisedech ; and 
 to command, that it may, by his holy 
 angel, be presented upon the altar above, 
 in presence of his Divine Majesty, for 
 the benefit of all those who shall panake 
 of these mysteries here below. In the 
 mean time, you may prav thus:
 
 64 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 A Prayer when the Priest spreads his handi 
 over the Oblation. 
 
 We present to thee, O Lord ! this 
 bread and wine, which being composed 
 of many, reduced into one, are symbols 
 of concord and unity, that, by thy all- 
 powerful blessing, they may be made 
 for us the precious body and blood ol 
 thy beloved Son^ and that through 
 him, and through his death and passion, 
 applied to our souls by these sacred 
 mysteries, we may obtain mercy, grace, 
 and peace, in this life, and eternal hap- 
 piness in the next. 
 
 Jit the Consecration. 
 
 Make an act of faith of the real pre- 
 sence of your Saviour's body and bloody 
 soul and divinity, under the sacramental 
 veils. OlTer your whole self to him, and 
 through him to his Father. Beg that 
 your heart and soul may be happily 
 changed into him. 
 
 At the Elevation. 
 
 Contemplate with the eyes of your 
 soul, your Saviour elevated upon the 
 cross for you. Bow down all the powers
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 65 
 
 of your soul to adore him ; and beg thai 
 he would draw all hearts to himselE 
 
 A Prayer after the Elevation. 
 
 Look down, now, O Lord ! we 
 beseech thee, upon this sacred victim, 
 which was once offered to thee upon 
 the cross, and is now daily offered to 
 thee. Remember that thy only begot- 
 ten Son, for us poor sinners, was con- 
 ceived and was born in this world ■ 
 that for us he suffered a bitter agony 
 and sweat of blood ; for us he was be- 
 trayed into the hands of sinners, buffeted, 
 spit upon, and many ways abused ; for 
 us he was scourged at a pillar, crowned 
 with thorns, and nailed to a cross 5 for 
 us he died, and for us he triumphed 
 over death by his resurrection, and he 
 opened heaven for us by his ascension 
 We desire gratefully to commemorate 
 all these mysteries this day, in the 
 oblation of this pure and holy sacrifice. 
 ! look not on our sins, but on the 
 infinite ransom paid for them. And 
 whilst we ofler it here below upon oui 
 altars, do thou receive it upon thy altai 
 above from the hands of the angel of 
 5
 
 66 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 the great council, the eternal priest, 
 and from thence send down thy bless- 
 ing upon us all, who here below assist 
 at these divine mysteries, through the 
 same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 Then the priest proceeds to the Me- 
 mento, or commemoration of the dead, 
 saying, Remember, also, O Lord! thy 
 servants, N. and N., who are gone before its 
 with the sig*/i of faith, and repose in the 
 sleep of peace; praying for all the faithful 
 departed in general, and, in particular, 
 for those for whom he intends to offer 
 diis sacrifice. Do you the same ; and 
 during this Memento, recommend in par- 
 ticular to God's mercy, through Jesus 
 Christ's death and passion, the souls of 
 your relations, friends, &c., such as are 
 lately dead, or have been particularly re- 
 commended to your prayers; all such as 
 you have any ways injured or to whom 
 you have been an occasion of sin; such 
 as are in the greatest want of prayers, or 
 have none to pray for them: in fine, all 
 such as God would have you particularly 
 to pray for, and conclude with the priest: 
 To tlvcm, O Lord ! and to all that rest in 
 Christ, grant, we beseech tliee, a place of 
 refreshment, light and peace, through tJie 
 same Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 67 
 
 After this Memento, or commemoration 
 of the dead, the priest, raismg his voice a 
 little, and striking his breast, says, A'ohis 
 qiioque peccatorihm, See, And to us also 
 sinners, Sec, humbly craving mercy and 
 pardon for our sins, and to be admitted to 
 Bome part and society with the apostles 
 and martyrs, through Jesus Christ. Then 
 kneeling down, and taking the sacred host 
 in his hands, he makes the sign of the 
 cross with it over the chalice, saying. 
 Through him, and tvith him, and m him, 
 is to thee, God the Father omnipotent, 
 in the unity of the Holy GJiost, all honor 
 and glory; which last words he pro- 
 nounces, elevating a little the host and 
 chaUce from the altar, and then kneels 
 down, saying, with a loud voice. Per 
 omnia scecula scecuhnim. For ever and ever. 
 Answ. Amen. After which he recites 
 aloud the Pater A'oster, or hordes Prayer; 
 the clerk answering at the end, Sed libera 
 nos a malo. But deliver us from evil. In 
 - the mean time you may pray thus : 
 
 A Prayer at the A^obis quoque Peccatorihus, 
 
 We humbly implore thy mercy, O 
 Lord! for ourselves also. We beg 
 pardon for all our sins ; we desire to 
 detest them, and to renounce them for
 
 68 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 ever. All our hope is in the multitude 
 of thy tender mercies, from which we 
 confidently expect forgiveness, through 
 Jesus Christ, and to be one day, through 
 him, admitted into the company of the 
 blessed apostles and martyrs in thy 
 heavenly paradise. In the mean time, 
 we desire to offer thee daily, through 
 him, all honor and glory. 
 
 At the Pater Noster, join with the priest 
 in that sacred prayer . 
 
 Pater nosier, qui 
 es in ccelis -, sancti- 
 ficetur nomen tuum. 
 Adveniat regnum 
 tuum. Fiat volun- 
 tas tua sicut in ccelo 
 el in terra. Panem 
 nostrum quotidia- 
 num da nobis hodie. 
 Et dimitle nobis de- 
 bita nostra, sicut et 
 nos diraittimus debi- 
 toribus nostris. Et 
 ne nos inducas in 
 tentalionem. R. Sed 
 hbera nos a malo. 
 P. Jlmcn. 
 
 Our Father, who 
 art in heaven, hal- 
 lowed be thy name^ 
 Thy kingdom come. 
 Thy will be done on 
 earth as it is in hea- 
 ven. Give us this 
 day our daily brearl 
 And forgive us our 
 trespasses, as we 
 forgive them thai 
 trespass against us. 
 And lead us not into 
 temptation; but de- 
 liver us from evil. 
 
 I
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 69 
 
 After this, the priest breaks the Host 
 f^er the chalice, in remembrance of 
 Christ's body being broken for us upon 
 the cross : and he puts a small particle 
 of the Host into the chalice, praying that 
 tlie peace of the Lord may be always with 
 us. Then kneeling down, and rising up 
 again, he says, Agnus Dei, 8cc. Lamb of 
 God, who takest away the sins of the world, 
 have mercy on us. He repeals this thrice ; 
 but at the third time, instead of have merey 
 on us, he says, g^-ant us peace. After the 
 Agnus Dei, the priest says three short 
 prayers, by way of preparation for re- 
 ceiving the blessed sacrament; then kneel- 
 ing down and rising again, he takes up 
 the Host, and striking his breast, says 
 thrice, Domine, noii sum dignus, &c.. Lord, 
 lam not ivorthy tlmt thou shouldst enter 
 under my roof, hut only say the word, and 
 my sold shall be healed. After Avhich he 
 makes the sign of the cross upon himself 
 with the Host, saying. The body of oitr 
 Lord Jesus Chiist presei-ve my soul to life 
 everlasting. Amen. And so he receives it. 
 Then, after a short pause in mental prayer, 
 he proceeds to the receiving of the chalice, 
 using the like words. The blood of our 
 Loi'd Jesus Cluist preserve my soid to life 
 tvexlasting. Amen. Then follows the
 
 70 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 communion of the people, if any are to 
 receive. 
 
 Tiie devotion most proper for the peo- 
 ple, from the Pater M)ster till after the 
 priest's communion, is to make during 
 that time a spiritual communion; first, 
 by a lively faith of the real presence, ia 
 the blessed sacrament, of the Lamb of 
 God slain for our sins, and of the abun 
 dance of graces which he brings with 
 him, to such as receive him worthily. 
 Secondly , by an ardent desire of partaking 
 of this life-giving food. Thirdly, by hanh 
 blij acknowledging, and heartily bewail- 
 ing their unworthiness and sins, wnich 
 hinder them from daring to approach this 
 heavenly table. Fourthly, by inflamed 
 affections of love, aspiring after Jesus 
 Christ, and an eternal union with him, 
 inviting him to come, at least spiritually, 
 and take full possession of all the powers 
 of their souls, and to give them a large 
 share in those graces which he usually 
 bestows on the Avorthy communicant, &c. 
 This is a devotion which may be made 
 with great profit, not only as often as a 
 person hears Mass, but at any other hour 
 in the day, and the oftener the better. 
 You may, if you please, make use oi 
 this form.
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 71 
 
 A Sinritual Communion. 
 
 O MY sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 thou who art my sovereign Good, the 
 Fountain of all goodness, my God and 
 my all, I most firmly believe, that for 
 us sinners, and for our salvation, thou 
 wast pleaged to come down from hea- 
 ven, to take upon thee, by the mystery 
 of thy incarnation, our human nature, 
 md to become one of us, that so thou 
 mightest be our high-priest and our 
 victim. I most firmly believe that thou 
 jfleredst thyself upon the cross, a sa- 
 crifice for us all, after having suiTered 
 5nany cruel torments for us; and that, 
 by thy glorious resurrection and ad- 
 mirable ascension, thou hast opened 
 die gates of heaven for us. I most 
 firmly believe, that in these sacred 
 mysteries thou art truly and really pre- 
 sent, and that thy sacred body and 
 blood are here oflered up in sacrifice, 
 and verily and indeed received by the 
 faithful in remembrance of thy death. 
 how happy are those souls who 
 worthily receive thee in this divine 
 sacrament! O what graces, what sane-
 
 72 DEVOTIONS FOR >IASS. 
 
 tity do they receive from this fountain 
 of all holiness! O that I were so 
 happy as to be worthy to approach 
 this day thy heavenly banquet, and to 
 feed on the food of life, the bread of 
 angels ! But, alas ! I am the most 
 wretched of all sinners, who, from my 
 first coming to the use of reason, to 
 this hour, have innumerable ways of- 
 fended thee, my God. My soul is 
 overspread with a universal leprosy, 
 covered on all sides with ulcers, and is 
 unclean and filthy beyond measure; 
 and therefore infinite-ly unworthy to 
 approach the Lord of all purity and 
 sanctity. In this lamentable state that 
 I am in, I dare not so much as look 
 up towards thy altar, much less ap- 
 proach it : but, with eyes and heart cast 
 down, and with a deep sense of my 
 manifold treasons, and great unworthi- 
 ness, I humbly beg pardon of thee for 
 all my sins, and implore thy mercy. 
 O Fountain of mercy, have compassion 
 on me, and suffer me at least to sigh 
 after thee, and though I am unworthy 
 of lliy embraces, permit me, like tlie
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 73 
 
 penitent Magdalen, to present myself 
 at least at thy feet, and wash them in 
 spirit with my tears I O may thy 
 %'acred blood, which thou hast shed for 
 ell sinners, cleanse my poor soul this 
 day from all its filth ! O come to me, 
 dear Lord, in spirit, and take possession 
 of all the powers of my soul ! Re- 
 collect my memory to thee, enlighten 
 my understanding, and inflame my will 
 with thy love. O let me be thine, and 
 thou mine, from henceforth and for 
 ever; and grant that nothing in life or 
 death may ever separate me from thee 
 any more. In this one prayer, hear 
 me, O Lord ; and in all things else do 
 with me what thou wilt. 
 
 After the communion, the priest takes 
 the lotions or abhitions of wine and water, 
 into the chaKce, in order to consume 
 whatever may remain of the consecrated 
 epecies. Then covering the chahce, he 
 goes to the book, and reads a versicle of 
 holy scripture, called the communion; 
 e.fler which he turns about to the people 
 with the usual salutation, Domimis vohis- 
 cum; and turning to the book reads the 
 coilectSj or prayers, called The post com-
 
 74 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 nmnioii. After which he again greets the 
 people with Domimis vobiscum, and gives 
 them leave to depart with Ite inissa esL 
 The clerk answering, Deo gratias, Tlmnks 
 he, to God. Then the priest, bowing down 
 before the altar, makes a short prayer to 
 tlie blessed Trinity, and turning about to 
 tiie people, gives his blessing to them all 
 in the name of the blessed Trinity. The 
 mass is concluded by reading the begin- 
 ning of the Gospel according to St. John, 
 which the people here standing, till these 
 words, Et Verhwn caro factum est, Jlnd 
 the Word was made flesh; when both priest 
 and people kneel down, in reverence to 
 tlie mystery of Christ's incarnation. At 
 the end, the clerk answers, Deo gratias. 
 Thanks be to God. After this tlie priest, 
 retires from the altar to the sacristy, and 
 unvests himself, reciting in the mean time, 
 the benedicUe, or the canticle of the three 
 children, inviting all creatures in heaven 
 and earth to praise and bless the Lord. 
 After the communion of the priest, yoi; 
 may pray as follows : 
 
 A Prayer after the Communion. 
 
 I RETURX thee now most hearty thanks 
 O my God! through Jesus Christ thy 
 Son, thai thou hast been pleased to d(w
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 75 
 
 liver him up to death for iis^ and to 
 ^ve us his body and blood, both as a 
 sacrament and sacrilice in these holy 
 mysteries, at which thou hast permit- 
 ted me, a most unworthy sinner, to 
 assist this day. May all heaven and 
 earth bless and praise thee foi ever, for 
 all thy mercy. O! pardon me, dear 
 Lord ! all my distractions, and the 
 many neglects which I have been guilty 
 of this day in thy sight ; and let nie 
 not depart without thy benediction. 
 Behold, 1 desire from this moment to 
 give up myself, and all that belongs to 
 me, into thy hands, and beg that all 
 my undertakings, all my thoughts^ 
 words and actions, may henceforward 
 tend to thy glory, through the same 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Tim beginning of the Gospel of St. John. 
 
 In the beo;inninor was the Word and 
 the Word was with God, and the Word 
 was God. This was in the beginning 
 with God. All things were made by 
 him, and without him was made no- 
 thing that was made. In him was life,
 
 76 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 
 
 and the life was the light of men, ant! 
 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 wit- 
 ness to bear witness of the light, that 
 all might believe through him. He 
 was not the light, but to bear witness 
 of the Ywht That was the true light 
 which enlightens every man that cometh 
 into this world. He was in the world, 
 and the world was made by him, and 
 tlie world knew him not. He came 
 unto his own, and liis own received 
 him not. But as many as received 
 him, he gave to them power to become 
 the sons of God ; to them who believe 
 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 loord 
 was made jlesh^ and dwelt among us 
 And we saw his glory, the glory as of 
 the only begotten of the Father, full 
 of grace and truth. 
 
 Method of hearing Mass spiritually for tlie 
 absent. 
 
 It often happens, that Christians,
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 77 
 
 through distance of place, indisposition, 
 or other unavoidable impediments, are 
 hindered from being present at the great 
 sacrifice of the Mass. In these cases, it 
 is proper they should endeavour to assist 
 thereat, at least in spirit, which may be 
 done, with great fruit to their souls, in 
 this manner. 
 
 Let them choose a proper time in the 
 morning and by themselves, (or, if they 
 have a family, summoning them together,) 
 go into their oratory, and there present 
 themselves in spirit before the altar of 
 God. Having bewailed their misfortune, 
 in being kept at a distance from these 
 heavenly mysteries, let them join them- 
 selves in heart and affection with all who 
 are offering this sacrifice to God at that 
 time, representing more particularly to 
 themselves that Mass which is then of- 
 fered in the place where they commonly 
 hear Mass; and applying themselves to 
 the same devotions they commonly use 
 in time of hearing Mass. 
 
 Thus, for example : at the confiteor, let 
 them confess their sins, with a hearty re- 
 pentance ; at the Kyrie Eleison, let them 
 cry out to God for mercy ; at the Gloria 
 m excelsis, let them give adoration and 
 glory to God j at the collects, let them re- 
 commend to him their own and the
 
 78 INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. 
 
 diurch's necessities ; at the Epistle and 
 Gospel, let them, beg God's grace, that 
 they may conform their lives to his holy 
 word. Let them thus accommodate their 
 devotion to all the other parts of the 
 Mass; remembering always the/owrz?i- 
 tentions of the sacrifice, the passion of 
 Christ, and a spij-Uual commwiion ; uniting 
 themselves in every part of this sacrifice 
 to Jesus Christ, and offering themselves 
 to God with him and through him. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 FOR CONFESSION. 
 
 In order to prepare yourself to make a 
 good confession, endeavour, in the first 
 place, to recommend the matter earnestly 
 to God ; and, for some days beforehand, 
 frequently and fervently beg his divine 
 grace and assistance ; and this more espe- 
 cially, if you have, for a long time, lived 
 in the habit of sin : in which case, it is 
 most proper to prepare yourself by a 
 spiritual retreat for some days, durin^f 
 which time you may seriously enter into 
 yourself. 
 
 Examine your conscience with care 
 and diligence, yet without too much 
 anxiety and scrupulosity. Consult the 
 table of sins, to help your memory ; and
 
 INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. 79 
 
 leflect, in particular, on the evil inclina 
 tions you are most subject to, on the 
 places and companies you have been in, 
 on your usual employments, on the duties 
 of your calling, and how you have dis- 
 charged them, &,c. 
 
 When you have duly examined your 
 conscience, do not think that this is all 
 ) ou have to do, in order to be well pre- 
 pared for confession. The greatest part 
 of the work remains still to be done 5 and 
 that is, to take proper time and care to 
 procure a hearty sorrow and detestation 
 of all your sins, by which you have of- 
 fended so good a God, with a full deter- 
 mination, with the grace of God, to avoid 
 the hke sins for the future. 
 
 In order to obtain this hearty sorrow 
 for your sins, and this firm purpose of 
 amendment, you must earnestly beg it of 
 God, whose gift it is : and you must make 
 use of such prayers, considerations, and 
 meditations, as may be most proper to 
 move you to it. Particularly reflect on 
 the four last things, on the enormity of 
 sin, on the goodness of God, and his 
 benefits to you, on the death and passion 
 of Christ, &c. 
 
 If you have any thing upon your con- 
 science, which you have a particular 
 difficulty of confessing, cease not, wit^
 
 80 INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. 
 
 prayers and tears, to importune your 
 heavenly Father to assist you in this re- 
 gard, till he gives you the grace to over- 
 come that difficulty; and be sure never to 
 go to confession with a design of telling 
 a lie to the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Let your confession be humble, with- 
 out seeking excuses for your sins, oi 
 throwing the fault on others. Let it be 
 entire, as to the kind and number of your 
 sins, and such circumstances as quite 
 change the nature of the sin, or notori- 
 ously aggravate it. Be modest in youi 
 expressions, and take care not to name 
 any third person. 
 
 xQ. Prayer to implore the Divine asslstanc*, 
 in order to make a good confession. 
 
 O ALMIGHTY and most merciful 
 God! who hast made me out of no- 
 thing, and redeemed me by the precious 
 blood of thy only Son — who hast, with 
 so much patience borne with me to 
 this day, notwithstanding all my sins 
 and ingratitude; ever calling after me 
 to return to thee from the ways of 
 vanity and iniquity, in which I have 
 been quite wearied out in the pursuit 
 of empty toys and mean shadows;
 
 I>-STRUCT10NS, ETC. 81 
 
 seeking in vain to satisfy my tliirst with 
 muddy waters, and my hunger with 
 husks, like swine : behold, O most 
 gracious Lord! I now sincerely desire 
 to leave all these my evil ways, to for- 
 sake this region of death, where I have 
 so long lost myself, and to return to 
 thee, the fountain of life. I desire, like 
 the prodigal child, to enter seriously 
 into myself, and, with the like resolu- 
 tions, to rise without delay, and go 
 home to my Father, though I am infi- 
 nitely unworthy to be called his child, 
 in hopes of meeting with the like re- 
 ception from his most tender mercy. I 
 know, thou desirest not the death of a 
 sinner, but ^that he may be converted 
 and live. I knoTfHhy mercies are above 
 all thy works : and I most confidently 
 hope, that as in thy mercy thou hast 
 spared me so long, and hast now given 
 me this desire of returning to thee; so 
 thou wilt finish the work thou hast 
 begun, and bring me to a perfect recon- 
 ciliation with thee. 
 
 I desire now to comply with thy-- 
 holy institution of the sacrament of 
 6
 
 82 INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. * 
 
 penance. I desire to confess my si»« 
 with all sincerity, to thee, and to thy 
 minister, and therefore I desire to know 
 myself, and to call myself to an account 
 by a diligent examination of my con- 
 Bcience. 
 
 But, O my good God ! what will it 
 ivail me to know my sins, if thou dost 
 not also give me a hearty sorrow and 
 repentance for them ? Without this, 
 my sins will be all against me still, and 
 1 shall be still thy enemy and a child 
 of hell. Thou insistest upon a change 
 of heart, without which there can be 
 no reconciliation with thee : and this 
 change of heart none but thou can 
 give. O give it me then, dear Lord, at 
 this time. Give me a lively faith, and 
 a firm hope, in the passion of my Re- 
 deemer. Teach me to fear thee, and 
 to love thee. Give me, for thy mercies' 
 sake, a hearty sorrow for having of- 
 fended so good a God. 
 
 O blessed Virgin, mother of my Re- 
 deemer, mirror of innocence and sanc- 
 tity, a^id refuge of penitent sinners, 
 intercede for me through the passion
 
 INSTRUCTIONS^ ETC. 83 
 
 of thy Son, that I may obtain the grace 
 to make a good confession. O all you 
 blessed angels and saints of God ! pray 
 for me, a most miserable sinner, that I 
 may now efTectually turn from my evil 
 ways, that my heart may henceforward 
 be for ever united with yours in eternal 
 love, and never more go astray from 
 the Sovereign Good. Jiimn. 
 
 AN EXAMINATION 
 
 OF 
 
 THE TEN COiDIANDMENTS. 
 
 I. Commandment. 
 
 Given to any creature the honour due 
 only to God. 
 
 Not loved God above all things. 
 
 Arrogated to myself any part of the 
 glory in any action, and not given all to 
 God. 
 
 Borne overmuch love to creatures. 
 
 Doubted in matters of faith. 
 
 Ignorant of the creed^ the ten command- 
 mentSj or the precepts of the church. 
 
 Murmured against God for my owa 
 adversity, or prosperity of others. 
 
 Wanted confidence in God. 
 
 Presumed on his goodness.
 
 84 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 Despaired of his mercy. 
 
 Believed dreams or teller? of fortunes, 
 
 Gone to witches or cunning men foi 
 counsel, for the recovery of things lost. 
 
 Used charms, or superstitious words, 
 or actions, for the cure of diseases, or any 
 thing else. 
 
 Given any scandal. to heretics, or fa- 
 voured their heresy. 
 
 Hindered any one's conversion from 
 heiesv or schism. 
 
 recommended myself daily \o God 
 
 Ndf^pn formed my will in all things to 
 the div^fe,.Avill. 
 
 Commandment. 
 
 Taken t|ie name of God in vain. 
 
 Blasphsffiiied God or his saints. 
 
 Spoken irreverently of holy things, or 
 profaned any thing relating to religion. 
 
 Sworn falsely, or, rashly for any trivial 
 matters. ■' 
 
 Cursed myself or others, or any crea 
 tures. 
 
 Broken my vows. » 
 
 Angered others so far as to make thera 
 swear or blaspheme God. 
 
 III. Commandment. 
 
 Not kept holy the Lord's day, and other 
 days commanded to be kept.
 
 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 85 
 
 Bought or sold things not of necessity 
 OTi that day. 
 
 Done or commanded some servile work. 
 Dot of necessity. 
 
 Not heard Mass, or been willingly dis- 
 tracted in the time of Mass. 
 
 Talked, gazed, or laughed in the church. 
 
 Not cared to hear Catholic sermons. 
 
 Spent the day in dancing, drinking, 
 sards, &c. 
 
 Omitted saying my morning and even- 
 ing prayers or other devotions. 
 
 IV. Commandment. 
 
 Not honoured my parents, superiors, 
 masters, or betters, every one according 
 to my just duty. Despised them. Spoke 
 evil of them. Cursed them. Murmured 
 against them. Not prayed for them. De- 
 ceived them. Disobeyed them. Not suc- 
 coured my parents. Been ashamed of 
 them. Made them sa(\. Not used reve- 
 rence to aged persons. Mocked or jested 
 at them. 
 
 V. Commandment. 
 
 Procured, desired, or hastened the death 
 of myself or others. 
 
 Borne hatred. Oppressed any. Desired 
 revenge. Not forgiven. Refused to speak 
 to others. Given provoking language.
 
 8a THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 Threatened, or struck others, not uudei 
 my charge. Made others quarrel. 
 
 VI. Commandment. 
 
 Committed adukery, fornication, or m- 
 cest. Procured pollution in one's self oi 
 others. Wanton words, looks, or gestures^ 
 Lascivious dressing, colours, or painting. 
 Lewd company. Lascivious balls, or ro- 
 veilings. Dishonest books. Unchaste 
 songs. Kissing, or unchaste discourses. 
 
 VII. Commandment. 
 
 Stealth, cozenage, deceit, in gaming, 
 reckoning, buying, or selling ; in wares, 
 prices, or weights. 
 
 Bought of such as could not justly selL 
 Taken of such as could not justly give. 
 Wilfully damaged another man's goods. 
 Negligently spoiled them. Run into debts 
 carelessly beyond my power, or without 
 purpose of payment. Vexeu uiners by 
 unjust lawsuits. Not paid my debts. Not 
 fulfilled my promises. Kept that "which 
 ought to be restored. 
 
 VIII. Commandment. 
 
 Borne false witness. Called injurious 
 names. Uttered another's secret sins. 
 Flattered myself or others. Believed false 
 reports of oliiHra. Not defended their good
 
 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 87 
 
 name. Sowed discord. Opened others' 
 letters. Judged rashly. Falsely suspected. 
 Too much disturbed. Listened to others. 
 Talked with an evil design. Concealed 
 the truth, to the detriment of others. 
 
 IX. QBmmandment. 
 
 Inward concupiscence of the flesh, that 
 passes no farther than the mind ; as de- 
 siring, or willingly taking pleasure in 
 thinking of those things which are forbid- 
 den to be done in the sixth commandment, 
 
 X. Commandment. 
 
 Coveted any thing belonging to an 
 other; not contented with what God has 
 given, me. Greedy of growing rich. 
 
 ON THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 
 I. Fride. 
 
 Pride. Vain-glory. Ambition. Super 
 fluity. Presumption.' Vanity. Hypocrisy. 
 Flattery. Dissimulation. Obstinacy.. Cu- 
 riosity. Flouting, or scoffing. Contempt 
 of others. 
 
 II. Covetovsness. 
 
 CovETOusNEss. Niggardliness. Gree 
 diness. Without pity. Not given alms, 
 hsvL^ig whe'-ewithal. Not lent to some
 
 88 SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 
 
 in need. Not contented with my own 
 state. 
 
 III. Luxury, or Lust. 
 
 Of the sins of luxury, see under he 
 Sixth commandment. ^ 
 
 IV. Anger. 
 
 Anger. Impatience. Hastiness. Rage 
 or fury. Disdainfulness. Waywardness. 
 Fretfulness. Disconlentedness. Picking 
 of quarrels. Immoderate grieving. Severe 
 correcting. 
 
 V. Gluttony. 
 
 Gluttony. Drunkenness. Delicate 
 dishes. Eating more than one meal on 
 fasting days. Eating flesh on prohibited 
 days. Banqueted and feasted above my 
 ability. Intemperate feeding. 
 
 VI. Envy. 
 
 ^ Envy. Grieved at others' prosperity, 
 or to hear them well spoken of Rejoiced 
 at their hurt. Dispraised their merchan- 
 dise. Interpreted their doings or sayings 
 in the worst sense. 
 
 VII. Sloth. 
 
 Sloth, Indevotion. Drowsiness, or 
 s(eepuiess. Idleness, or laziness. Over-
 
 SEVEN DEADLY S^-S. 89 
 
 much seeking ray own ease. Inconstant 
 in good purposes. Neglected things given 
 me in charge. Ungrateful to God for his 
 benefits. Unthankful to my friends and 
 benefactors. Chosen rather to want, than 
 to work or labour for my living. Not 
 prayed for the faithful souls departed. 
 
 In all which we not only sin ourselves, 
 but al50 become accessory to another's 
 fin; either by commanding, counselling, 
 consenting, or approving; by not endea- 
 vouring to hinder; by not admonishing; 
 and, lastly, by evil example. 
 
 Jl Prayer for ohtaining Contrition. 
 
 I HAVE now, here before me, O Lord ! 
 a sad prospect of the manifold offences 
 by which I have displeased thy divine 
 fllajesty, and which, I am assured, will 
 appear in judgment against me, if I re- 
 pent not, and my soul be not disposed, 
 by a hearty sorrow, to receive thy par- 
 don. But this sorrow, O Lord ! this 
 repentance must be thy free gift ; and 
 and if it comes not from the hand of 
 thy mercy, all my endeavours will be 
 vam, and I shall be for ever miserable. 
 Have mercy, therefore, on me, O Father 
 of mercies! and pour forth into my
 
 90 MEDITATION BEFORE COXFESSIOT*. 
 
 heart thy grace, whereby I may sin- 
 cerely repent me of all my sins ; give 
 me a true contrition, that 1 may bewail 
 my past misery and ingratitude, and 
 grieve from my heart for having of- 
 fended thee, so good a God. Permit 
 me not to be deluded with a false sor- 
 row, as I fear I have been too often, 
 through my own weakness and neglect: 
 but let it be now thy gift descending 
 from thee, O Father of lights! that so 
 my repentance may be accompanied 
 with an amendment and change of life, 
 and I may be acquitted of all my sins, 
 and once more received into the num- 
 ber of thy servants; through Jesus 
 Cliiist our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Meditation before confession, in order to 
 excite in the soid a hearty sorrow for 
 having offended God. 
 
 Consider, first. My soul, that God is 
 hy first beginning, from whom thou hasl 
 received thy Avhole being; that he has 
 made thee ibr himself, and for a happy 
 eternity; and sent thee into this world, to 
 the end, that, by loving and serving him, 
 thou mightest iiierit this happy eternity.
 
 MEDITATION BEFORE CONFESSION. 91 
 
 Consider, secondly. What a filthy mon- 
 ster sin is, which thou hast hitherto car- 
 ried about with thee, and cherished in thy 
 breast. Mortal sin is so great an evil, so 
 black, so odious, and hideous, that hell 
 Itself has nothing worse. It is the greatest 
 of all evils, and infinitely opposite to the 
 Sovereign Good. This dismal poison 
 changed, in a moment, innumerable an- 
 gels into ugly devils ; it is the bane of the 
 whole world ; and daily crowds hell with 
 innumerable souls. 
 
 Consider, thirdly. The multitude of thy 
 sins; and how, from thy first attaining to 
 the use of reason, till this very hour, thou 
 hast not let one day pass, whhout many 
 ways offending thy God. And what had 
 he done, to deserve this treatment at thy 
 hands? Ah! how early didst thou turn 
 thy back to him! How quickly didst thou 
 fall from the Supreme Good into the bot- 
 tomless pii of sin and misery ! Hast thou 
 not defiled all the powers of the soul, and 
 all the senses and members of the body, 
 oy manifold sins? Hast thou not per- 
 verted all the gifts of God, by abusing 
 them, and turning them to the offence of 
 tlie giver? And yet all this while he has 
 spared thee, Avhile millions of others have 
 Deen cut oif in their sins.
 
 92 MEDITATION BEFORE CONFESSION. 
 
 Consider, fourthly. That death will be 
 with thee very quickly : and that a suddea 
 and unprovided death is frequently the 
 just punishment of sin. Ah! make then 
 thy peace with God in time; and remem- 
 ber, that a death-bed repentance is but a 
 poor chance. Alas! they will certainly 
 deceive themselves, who design to impose 
 upon God's justice, by living in sin, and 
 dying in grace. Consider also the dread- 
 ful account thou must give, immediately 
 after death, of all the sins of thy life ; and 
 how wretched thy case will then be, if 
 thou dost not now wash away thy sinful 
 stains by penitential tears. 
 
 Consider, fifthly. How good God is in 
 himself, and how good he has been to 
 thee. He is an ocean every way of in- 
 finite goodness and perfection; a beauty 
 so charming as to ravish all that see him, 
 and fill their souls eternally with incon- 
 ceivable joy, delight, and love. He is the 
 inexhaustible source of all perfection, and 
 of all beings ; and every good that is in 
 any of his creatures is from him, by him, 
 and in him. He is eternal, without be- 
 ginning, ending, or change; he is im- 
 mense and incomprehensible, filling hea- 
 ven and earth, and all things therein 
 His power, wisdom, mercy, and justice
 
 MEDITATION BEFORE CONFESSION. 93 
 
 are all infinite: and who art thou, my 
 f«oiil, that so great a God should set his 
 fjeart upon thee? 
 
 Consider, sixthly, The innumerable 
 benefits and favours thou hast received 
 from God. He has g'iven thee thy very 
 being, he formed thy body in thy mother's 
 womb, and created thy immortal boul to 
 his own image and likeness. He pre- 
 served thee from perishing by any of 
 those innumerable accident3 to which 
 thou wert exposed for the space of nine 
 months; and brought thee safe to the 
 waters of baptism, where he washed thee 
 from sin, made thee his child, and heir to 
 his kingdom. 
 
 Consider, seventhly. How much thy 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 
 has suffered for thy sins. His whole life 
 was a continual suffering: but what 
 dreadful torments did he endure for thee 
 in his passion and death! What a bitter 
 agony in the garden of Gethsemane! 
 What a bloody sweat! O! the anguish 
 _of his sacred soul, which forced from his 
 body this dreadful sweat! O! the hein- 
 ousness ol thy sins, my soul, which thy 
 Saviour has tnus bewailed with tears of 
 blood ! Alas ! it was for the love of thee, 
 he suffered ail this ; judged to be worse 
 than Barabbas ; rent and torn v^ith whips
 
 94 MEDITATION BEFORE CONFESSION. 
 
 and scourges ; crowned with thorns ; de- 
 rided as a mock king; vested with a pur 
 pie garment, and a reed given him instead 
 of a sceptre; condemned to a disgraceful 
 death; loaded with a heavy cross on his 
 wounded shoulders; his thirst quenched 
 with gall and vinegar; violently stripped 
 of his clothes, which now cleaved fast to 
 his wounds ; stretched on the cross as oi 
 a rack, and nailed to it with gross nails 
 driven through his hands and feet; hoist 
 ed up in the air, between two thieves 
 and there, in most bitter torments and 
 anguish, he was pleased to hang for the 
 space of three hours, bleeding and dying 
 for the love of thee. Run now at least to 
 thy crucified Saviour; embrace his feet 
 hke Magdalen, and strive to wash them 
 with thy tears. 
 
 .Affections and Resolutiom. 
 
 My Lord and my all! I am confounded 
 at the multitude and enormity of my of- 
 fences against so good a God; I dare not 
 presume even to lii't up my eyes to heaven, 
 much less to come near thy altar, after so 
 many treasons against thee. Alas! what 
 shall I now do, O Lord — what shall I say 
 — but with the humble publican, strike 
 my breast, and cry unto thee, O God! be 
 merciful unto me a sinner.
 
 MEDITATION BEFORE CONFESSION. 95 
 
 Father! I have sinned against Heaven 
 and in thy si^ht, and am not worthy to be 
 called thy child. Oh ! receive me as one 
 of the least of thy servants, and never 
 suffer me to stray from thee any more. 
 
 It grieves me, O my God ! that I have 
 offended thee. I am heartily sorry for 
 all the sins I have committed against thy 
 infinite goodness. O ! that I could suffi- 
 ciently lament them, even with tears of 
 blood. 
 
 Who will give water to my head, and 
 fountains of tears to my eyes, that nighl 
 and day I may bewail all my sins and in- 
 gratitude. 
 
 Have mercy on me, O God ! according 
 to thy great mercy, and according to the 
 multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out 
 all my iniquities. Wash me yet more 
 from my iniquities, and cleanse me from 
 my sins ; because I know my iniquities, 
 and my sins are always before me. 
 
 Lord ! thou hast said. There is joy in 
 heaven upon one sinner doing penance, 
 more than upon ninety-nine just : O ! 
 give me now grace to be a true penitent, 
 indeed, that thereby heaven may rejoice 
 at my conversion. 
 
 I know, thou wiliest not the death of a 
 sinner, but that he may be converted and 
 live. O ! let me no longer remain dead
 
 JKJ AN EXAMINATION, ETC. 
 
 m my sins ! O ! let me now at least be- 
 gin to live to thee. 
 
 Create a clean heart in me, O God ! 
 and renew a right spirit within my 
 bowels. O ! grant that I may now serve 
 thee in good earnest! O ! let this be the 
 change of the right hand of the Most 
 High. 
 
 Too late have I known thee, O eternal 
 truth ! too late have I loved thee, O eter- 
 nal beauty ! too long have I gone astray 
 from thee ! From this moment, O my 
 Sovereign^ Good ! I desire to be for ever 
 thine. O ! let nothing in life or deatn 
 ever separate me from thee any more! 
 
 divine love ! how little art thou 
 known in this wicked world ; how little 
 art thou loved! Come now to me, and 
 take full possession of my whole heart 
 and soul, for time and eternity. 
 
 1 am resolved, by thy grace, never 
 more to return to my sins. Rather let 
 me die than offend thee wilfully any 
 more. I am resolved to avoid all evil 
 company, and dangerous occasions ; and 
 to take proper measures for a thorough 
 amendment of my Hfe for the future. AH 
 this I resolve; but thou knowest my 
 frailty, O my God ! and if thou assist me 
 not with thy fjrace, all my resolutions 
 will prove ineffectual, and I shall be for
 
 FOR CONFESSION. 97 
 
 ever miserable. O ! look to me, O Lord ! 
 thai I may never betray thee any more. 
 
 The Method of Confession. 
 The penitent kneeling down at the side 
 9f his gho=;tly father, makes the sign of 
 the cross, *tnd asks his blessing. Fray, 
 father, give me your blessing, for I haue 
 finned. Then he says the confiteor in 
 Latin or in English, as far as mea culpa, 
 ^c, through my fault, <$'C. 
 
 2. After this he accuses himself of his 
 sins, either according to the order of God's 
 commandments, or such other order as he 
 finds most helpful to his memory ; adding, 
 after each sin, the number of times that 
 he has been guilty of it, and such circum- 
 stances as considerably aggravate the 
 guilt ; but carefully abstaining from such 
 as are impertinent or unnecessary, and 
 from excuses and long narrations. 
 
 3. After he has confessed all that he 
 can remember, he may conclude with this 
 or the like form : For these and all other 
 qf my sins, lohich I cannot at this present 
 call to my remembrance, I am heartily 
 sorry ; purpose amendment for the future; 
 most humbly ask pardon of God, and pe- 
 nance and absolution qf you my ghostly 
 father. He may then finish the coiifileor, 
 and give an attentive ear to the instruc- 
 
 7
 
 yS DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 
 
 lions and advices of his confessor, and 
 humbly accept the penan^^e enjoined by 
 him. 
 
 4. While the priest gives him absolu- 
 tion, let him bow down his head, and 
 with great humihty c^U upon God for 
 mercy ; and beg of him that he would be 
 pleased to ratify the sentence of absolution 
 in heaven, which his minister pronounces 
 here upon earth. 
 
 5. After the confession, let the penitent 
 return to his prayers -, and after having 
 heartily given God thanks for having ad- 
 mitted him by the means of this sacra- 
 ment to the grace of reconciliation, and 
 received him, like the prodigal child re- 
 turning home, let him make an offering 
 of his confession to Jesus Christ, begging 
 pardon for whatever defects he may have 
 been guilty of in it; offering up his reso- 
 lutions to l^is Saviour, and begging grace 
 to put them in execution. 
 
 b. Let him be careful to perform his* 
 penance in due time, and with a peniien 
 lial spirit. 
 
 ./3 Prayer after Confession, 
 
 O ALMIGHTY and most merciful 
 God ! who, according to the multitude 
 of thv tender mercies, liast vouchsafed
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 99 
 
 once more to receive this prodigal 
 child, after going so many times astray 
 from thee, and to admit him to the sa- 
 crament of reconciliation ; I give thee 
 thanks, with all the powers of my soul, 
 for this, and all thy other mercie?, 
 graces, and blessings, bestowed on me, 
 the most unv/orthy of all sinners ; and, 
 prostrating myself now at thy sacred 
 feet, I ofier myself to be henceforward 
 for ever thine. Oh ! let nothing in life 
 or death ever separate me from thee. 
 I once more renounce, with my whole 
 soul, all my treasons against thee, and 
 all the abominations and sins of my 
 past life. 1 renew my promises made 
 in baptism, and from this moment I 
 dedicate myself eternally to thy love 
 and service. Oh! grant tftat for the 
 time to come, 1 may ever fly from and 
 abhor sin more than death itself, and 
 avoid all such occasions and companies 
 as have unhappily brought me to it. 
 I resolve henceforward to shun them 
 all, by thy divine grace, without which, 
 of myself, I can do nothing. I resolve 
 to perform suck and such devotions^ for
 
 100 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION 
 
 Obtaining this grace. I resolve to avoid 
 idlenesss, and to model for myself a 
 regular order and method of living for 
 the time I have yet to come. I beg 
 thy blessing upon these my resolutions, 
 that they may not be ineffectual, like 
 so many others I have formerly made ; 
 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. I am sensible 
 it has been very imperfect, and that 1 
 was far from having that true sorrow 
 which the heinousness of my sins re- 
 quired; but let the precious blood of 
 thy only Son supply the deficiency. 
 Accept my poor performance, such as 
 it is, and give me grace to be now and 
 always a «true penitent, through the 
 same Jesus Christ thy Son. Amen. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 FOR COMMUNION. 
 
 1 . " Let a man prove himself,''^ says St, 
 Paul, 1 Cor. xi. " and so let him eat of that 
 hread,'^ &c. This proving or trying one's 
 self is the first and most necessary prepa- 
 ration for tl e holy communion; and con-
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION 101 
 
 sists in looking diligenth'- into the state of 
 one's soul, in order to discover what in- 
 dispositions or sins may be there con- 
 cealed ; and to apply a proper remedy to 
 them by sincere repentance and confes- 
 sion. Lest otherwise approaching to the 
 holy of holies whh a soul defiled with 
 mortal sin, we become gidlty of the hodij 
 and blood of Chnst, and eat and drink 
 judgment to ourselves, not discerning the 
 body of the Lord. 1 Cor. xi. For this reason 
 we go to confession before communion, in 
 order to clear our souls from the filth of 
 sin. 
 
 2. The person that is to receive tne 
 blessed sacrament, must be fastmg, at 
 least from mi-dnight, by a precept of the 
 church, and by a most ancient and apos- 
 tolic tradition, ordaining, that, in reve- 
 rence to so great a sacramept, nothing 
 should enter into the body of a Christian 
 before the body of Christ. 
 
 3. Besides this preparation of confes- 
 sion and fasting, the person that proposes 
 to go to communion must endeavour to 
 aspire to the best devotion he is able, in 
 order to dispose his soul for worthily re- 
 ceiving so great a guest. To which end 
 I recommend to him: 
 
 First, To think well on the great work 
 Ue has in hand; to consider attentively
 
 102 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
 
 what he is going to receive, and how far 
 he is from deserving such a favour ; and 
 to implore with fervour and humihty 
 Grod's grace and mercy. 
 
 Secondly, To propose to himself a pure 
 intention, viz., the honour of God, and 
 salvation of his own soul, and particu- 
 larly, that by worthily receiving Christ, 
 in this heavenly sacrament, he may come 
 to a happy union with him, according to 
 St. John vi. 57. He that eateth my Jiesh. 
 and drinketh my blood, ahideth in me, and 
 I in him. 
 
 TJiirdly, To meditate on the sufferings 
 and death of his Redeemer: this sacra- 
 ment being instituted to this end also, 
 that we should show forth the death of 
 Christ until he comes. 1 Cor. xi. 
 
 Fourthly, To prepare himself by acts of 
 virtue, more especially of faith, love, and 
 humility; that so he may approach his 
 Lord wittju a firm belief of his real pre- 
 sence in mis sacrament, and of that great 
 sacrifice which he heretofore offered upon 
 tiie cross for our redemption. 
 
 A Meditation before Communion, divided 
 vito seven points, which may serve as a 
 seven days^ preparation for the blessed 
 sacrament. 
 1. Consider, first, Tliat Jesus Christ
 
 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNIO^. i03 
 
 our Lord, whom we receive in this V.e?^3- 
 ed sacrament, is called in Scripture, T^ie 
 Lamb which was slain from the begiTMing 
 of the world. — Apocalypse, xiii. 8. Because 
 from the very beginning of the 'world, 
 there was no way of comuig to God's 
 mercy or grace, but by fc.iih in a Re 
 deemer to come, and by f/ie merits of his 
 future death and passioA. Hence Christ 
 crucified was, from thy beginning of tlie 
 world, the great object of the devotion of 
 die patriarchs and pr^jphets : for him they 
 constantly sighed : nrm they regarded in 
 all their sacrifices which were, indeed, so 
 many figures of him, and of his death. 
 All these figures were to have an end, 
 v/hen Christ hinself, the very truth, in 
 person, came inf j the world, and offered 
 himself upon the cross, a sacrifice for the 
 sins of the world. But still his death and 
 passion is to be the perpetual object of 
 liie devotion of all his children and ser- 
 vants, even to the end of the world. 
 
 Consider, secondly, the types, by which 
 God was pleased in the Old Testament to 
 prefigure this sacrament — especially these 
 three, the tree of Hfe, the paschal lamb, 
 and the manna from heaven. The tree 
 of life which God planted in the midst of 
 tiie earthly paradise, had that excellent 
 property, that if sin had not baiiJished us
 
 104 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
 
 from that happy abode, by feeding on tl 
 fruit of it, we should have been mai» 
 tained in constant vigour, strength auj 
 health, and have never died. O! hor^ 
 well does the blessed eucharist aruswei 
 this noble figure! in which we feed upon 
 life itself, in its very fountain; and by fre- 
 quently and worthily approaching it, re- 
 ceive a copious and constant supply of 
 heavenly grace, for maintaining the vi- 
 gour, strength, and health of the soul; 
 tiiat so we may never incur the second 
 death, but may pass from life to life — from 
 the life of grace to the life of glory, from 
 life concealed under sacramenUil veils, to 
 life seen and enjoyed without shadow or 
 change for all eternity. The paschal lamb, 
 which was first offered in sacrifice to God, 
 on the evening on which the children ot 
 Israel were dehvered from the bondage ot 
 Egypt, and then was by God's command 
 eaten by all the faithful, was also a figure 
 of the blessed eucharist, and of the trua 
 Lamb^T God. 
 
 Another figure of the blessed eucharist 
 was the manna from heaven, with which 
 the children of Israel were wonderfully 
 fed, during their forty years' sojourning 
 in the wilderness, before their coming to 
 the land of promise. This food was many 
 ways miraculous, but nothing in compa
 
 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 105 
 
 rison of that living bread, that bread of 
 life, which is given us in the divine mys- 
 teries, which comes down from heaven, 
 in order to carry us up to heaven, that 
 true land of promise, the land of the liv- 
 ing, and which nourishes our souls *d 
 life eternal. O heavenly manna! O bre-ad 
 of angels! let my soul always hunger 
 after thee. 
 
 Consider, thirdly, the mysteries which 
 we celebrate in this thrice blessed sacra- 
 ment and sacrifice. Here the whole pas 
 sion and death of Christ is solemnly acted 
 as a most sacred tragedy, by himself in 
 person. Here the Lamb of God presents 
 himself, as slain, to his eternal Father, 
 and his blood most powerfully pleads in 
 our benalf. Here, by the drnth of our 
 Lord, the fountain of all our rood plenti- 
 fully flows into our souls, and ever Uvea 
 and brings forth in \is the /^ruit of life. 
 Here the triumphs of our c':ucified King, 
 his victorious- .resurrectioa and glorious 
 ascension, are displayed. Here we re- 
 ceive an assurance of the share that we 
 have in Christ, and in his redemption. 
 Here we partake of his bodtj and his sj)iriL 
 Here we drink of the fountain of life. 
 Here all the members of Christ are hap- 
 pily united with one another; and with
 
 106 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMU!«ION. 
 
 iheir head^ in a sacrament of union and 
 love. 
 
 Consider, therefore, /owrf/Jy, that what 
 most especially calls for our devotion in 
 these most holy mysteries, is the real pre-, 
 fience of Jesus Christ himself, true God 
 and true man, under the sacramental veils. 
 Bow thyself down, my soul, to adore this 
 sacred truth: let no proud thoughts ot 
 opposition arise in tliee, against this ad- 
 mirable sacrament. Captivate thy under- 
 standing to the obedience of faith. Rely 
 upon the express words of truth itself, so 
 often repeated in holy writ, and upon the 
 express declaration of the church of God, 
 against which the gates of hell can never 
 prevail. The glory and merit of faith is 
 to b^^£\'e what thou canst not see; ro 
 ackn^MJI^that the Almighty can do 
 inlini^PB^'ihan thou canst compie- 
 hend, and that no effort of mercy and 
 love can be too great for him who hiu 
 died for love. 
 
 Consider, fifthly, how many ways thy 
 Lord and thy God, the Sovereign Good, 
 who delights to be with the children of 
 men, Prov. viii,, 31, communicates him- 
 self to thee. In his incarnation and birth, 
 he gave himself to be thy companion, and 
 to take upon him all thy miseries. In his
 
 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 1G7 
 
 death, he gave himself to be thy ransom. 
 In his heavenly sacrament, he gives him^ 
 self to be thy food, thy comfort and sup- 
 port in thy exile : and in his kingdonj 
 above, he designs to give himself as thy 
 eternal reward. Oh! what can he do 
 more, to testify his love to thee? As 
 powerful as he is, he cannot do more for 
 tiee, than to give thee himself. Oh! how 
 true is that saying of the beloved disciple, 
 that God is love ! But v^hat dost thou see 
 in mey dear Lord, that can move thee to 
 iove siieh a poor worm, such a wretched 
 sinner &.^ ^ am ! 
 
 Conii.uer, sixthly, who it is that thou 
 L^rt to receive in this blessed sacrament j 
 and who thou art that presumest to ap- 
 proach him. He is the great King and 
 Maker of heaven and earth : and the 
 whole creation is a mere nothing in his 
 sighl^Avhat a little atom then art thou, 
 compared to him! He is eternal, im- 
 mense, and every way infinite in power, 
 majesty, beauty, wisdom, and glory. 
 How then, my soul ! shall we dare venture 
 to enter into this inward sanctuary, to 
 approach the throne of this infinite ma- 
 jesty, and, unclean as we are, to touch 
 and receive the Holy of Holies ? Ozias 
 was struck dead for irreverently touching 
 the ark of the covenant ; the Bctlishemites
 
 lOS MEDITA.TIONS BEFORE COMMUNlOn 
 
 for irreverently looking on it ; and JVadah 
 and Jlhihu for offering incense before it 
 with unhallowed fire. Now what was 
 this ark, (in which were laid up the tables 
 of the law,) in comparison with the Lord 
 and Girer of the law, whom we here ap- 
 proach to? When God was about to 
 give the law, the children of Israel were 
 commanded to be purified, and to keep 
 themselves chaste ; and nevertheless, to 
 Keep their distance from the mountain, 
 where the Lord appeared in thunder and 
 lightning. Moses only was permitted to 
 ascend to the mountain's top, to con- 
 verse with the Divine Majesty, or rathei 
 with an angel, speaking in his person. 
 And how shall we, with so little purity, 
 dare approach this immense Deity, this 
 comuming fire ! St. Paul assures us, 1 
 Cor., that the unworthy receiver is guilty 
 of the bodfi and blood of ike Lord, and re 
 ceiveih. judgment to himself, not discermna, 
 the hodij of the Lord. Hoav then shall 
 we, the most unwoi'thy of all sinners, pre- 
 sume to receive this Lord of glory ? 
 Must we then stay away till Ave have the 
 presumption to think ourselves loorihy f 
 No, certainly : for one of the most neces- 
 sary dispositions for receiving worthily, 
 is to acknowledge and believe our own 
 unworthiness
 
 MEDITATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 109 
 
 Consider, seventhly. The happy fruits 
 which this divine sacrament produces in 
 those souls that frequent it v/ith due pre- 
 paration. The bread that I will ^ive, says 
 our Lord, St. John vi., is myjiesh for the 
 life of the world. And again : He that 
 eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath 
 eternal life, and I will raise him up at the 
 last day. And again : He that eateth my 
 flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, 
 and I in him. And, He that eateth me, 
 shall live by me. And, He that eateth this 
 bread, shall live for ever. Wheresoever 
 our Lord comes, he carries with him all 
 the treasures of life; that is, all grace, 
 charity, and sanctity ; and is, on his part, 
 ever ready to open these treasures, and 
 to communicate them most plentifully to 
 those souls which he comes to visit. 
 These treasures are infinite, and so is the 
 love he bears to us. What gifts, then, 
 what graces, may we not expect, if we 
 come with reverence and humility, with 
 love and devotion, to him who is the 
 fountain of life, grace, and sanctity? 
 Here we receive the bread of life, for the 
 food and nourishment of our souls. Here 
 we meet with a constant supply of sanc- 
 tifying grace, to repair the daily decays 
 caused by our infirmity and corruption ; 
 to give us new strength and vigor to walk
 
 110 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
 
 on our way, through the wilderness of 
 this world, to the mountain of God ; and 
 to make us continually grow in virtue, 
 till we come to the slate of a perfect man, 
 to the measure of the age of the fulness 
 of Christ. 
 
 A Preparatory Prayer, containing the chief 
 acts of devotion proper hefo^e Communion, 
 
 1. Direct your Intention. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, King of ever- 
 lasting glory ! behold, I desire to come 
 to thee this day, and to receive thy 
 body and blood in this heavenly sacra- 
 ment, for thy honor and glory, and the 
 good of my soul, I desire to receive 
 thee, because it is thy desire, and thou 
 hast so ordained; blessed be thy name 
 for'ever. I desire to come to thee, like 
 Magdalen^ that I may be delivered from 
 all my evils, and embrace thee, my only 
 good. 
 
 2. Commemorate the Passion of Christ, 
 
 1 desire, in these holy mysteries, to 
 commemorate, as thou hast com- 
 manded, all thy sufferings, thy agony 
 and bloody sweat, thy being betrayed
 
 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. Ill 
 
 and apprehended; all the reproaches 
 and calumnies, all the scoffs and af- 
 fronts, all the blows and buffets thou 
 hast endured for me; thy being 
 scourged, crowned with thorns, and 
 loaded with a heavy cross for my sins, 
 and for those of the whole world ; thy 
 crucifixion and death, together with 
 thy glorious resurrection and triumph- 
 ant ascension 
 
 3. Make an act of faith. 
 
 I most firmly believe, that in tliis 
 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 Saviour, true God 
 and true Man, art really here with all 
 thy treasures; that here thou commu- 
 nicatest thyself to us ; makest us par- 
 takers of the fruits of thy passion, and 
 givest us a pledge of eternal life. 
 
 4. Conceive a great fear, and humble your- 
 self 
 
 But, O my God ! how shall I dare 
 approach to thee — so wretched a worm
 
 112 PR.WERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
 
 to SO infinite a majesty — so filthy a 
 sinner to such infinite purity and sano 
 tity ! Aids ! my soul is covered with 
 a universal leprosy ; and how shall I 
 presume to embrace thee ! My wholf» 
 life has been nothing but misery anc^ 
 sin ; and it is owing to thy mercy, tha* 
 I have not been long since in hell, 
 which I have deserved a thousand 
 times ; and how shall I venture sc 
 much as to lift up my eyes to thee 
 much less to receive thee within m; 
 breast ? 
 
 5. Make an act of contrition. 
 
 Lord ! I detest, with my whole heart 
 all the sins by which I have ever of- 
 fended thy Divine Majesty, from the 
 first moment that I was capable of sin- 
 ning, to this very hour : I desire to lay 
 lliem all down here at thy feet, to be 
 cancelled by thy precious blood. Whal 
 CMi I do for them but humbly confess 
 and lament them all my lifetime ? and 
 this I heartily desire to do, and from 
 tliis moment continually to cry to thee 
 for mercy. Hear me. O Lord ! by thy
 
 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 113 
 
 infinite love by which thou hast shed 
 thy blood for me ; O ! let not that blood 
 be shed in vain. All my sins displease 
 me now exceedingly, because they have 
 offended thy infinite goodness. 
 
 6. Make an act of divine love. 
 
 O sweet Jesus ! the God of my heart, 
 ftnd the life of my soul ! as the heart 
 pants after the fountains of water, so 
 does my soul pant after thee, the foun- 
 tain of life, and the ocean of all good. 
 I am overjoyed at the hearing of these 
 happy tidings, that I am to go into the 
 house of our Lord : or rather, that our 
 Lord is to come into my house, and 
 take up his abode with me. O happy 
 moments, when shall J be admitted tc 
 tlie embraces of the living God, for 
 whom my poor soul languishes with 
 (ove ! O come, dear Jesus ! and take 
 full possession of my heart for ever ! 
 I offer it to thee without reserve : I de- 
 sire to consecrate it eternally to thee ; 
 I love thee with my whole soul, above 
 all things ; at least I desire so to love 
 thee. 
 
 8
 
 !14 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
 
 7. Humbly beg God^s gi-ace. 
 But, O my God ! thou knowest m> 
 great poverty and misery, and that of 
 myself I can do nothing : thou knowest 
 how unworthy I am of this infiniie fa- 
 vour ; and thou alone canst make me 
 worthy. Oh ! since thou art so good 
 as to invite me thus to thyself, add this 
 one bounty more to all the rest, to pre* 
 pare me for thyself. Cleanse my soul 
 from its stains, clothe it with the nup- 
 tial garment of charity; adorn it with 
 all virtues, and make it a fit abode for 
 thee. Drive sin and the devil far from 
 this dwelling, which thou art pleased 
 to choose for thyself, and make me one 
 according to thy own heart; that this 
 heavenly visit, which thou designest 
 for my salvation, may rot, by my un- 
 worthiness, be perverted to my dam- 
 nation. 
 
 8. Implore the prayers of the blessed Vif* 
 gm, and of the Saints. 
 
 O ALL ye blessed angels and saints ol 
 God, who see, face to face, him whom I 
 here receive under these humble veila
 
 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 115 
 
 — and thou, most especially, ever 
 blessed Virgin, mother of this same 
 God and Saviour, in whose sacred 
 womb he was conceived and borne for 
 nine months, I most humbly beg the 
 assistance of your prayers and inter- 
 cession, that I may in such manner re- 
 ceive him here, in this place of banish- 
 ment, as to be brought one day to en 
 joy him with you, in our true country, 
 and there to praise him and love him 
 for ever. 
 
 At the time of communion, go up to 
 the rail, and, kneeling, take up the towel 
 and hold it before you. Whilst the clerk 
 says the conjiteor, humbly confess your 
 sins, and beg God's pardon for them"! 
 When the priest turns about, to give the 
 absolution, receive it with head bowed 
 down, as from the hand of the invisible 
 hi^h-priest, whom you are going to re- 
 ceive. 
 
 When the priest holds up a particle of 
 tlie blessed sacrament, with these words, 
 Ecce ^2gnus Dei, 4*c. Behold the Lamb of 
 God, behold him who lakclh away the sirts 
 of the world, humbly beg, with a lively con- 
 fidence in the merits of his death and pas- 
 sion, that he would take away your sins.
 
 116 DIRECTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 
 
 When the priest repeats three times, 
 Domine, non sum digniis, ^-c. Lord, 1 
 am not ivorthy thou shoiddst enter under 
 my roof; speak only the word, and my soul 
 sh(dl he healed ; say the same with him in 
 your heart, and humble yourself exceed- 
 ingly through the sense of your unworthi- 
 ness and sins. 
 
 When the priest gives you the blessed 
 sacrament, saying. The body of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ j)reserve thy soid to life ever- 
 lastmg, Jlmen, receive it with a lively 
 faith, a profound humility, and a heart 
 inflamed with love. At the time of your 
 receiving, let your head be erect, your 
 mouth opened moderately wide, and your 
 tongue a little advanced, so as to rest upon 
 your under lip : that the priest may con- 
 veniently convey the blessed sacrament 
 into your mouth ; which being done, shut 
 your mouth, let the sacred host moisten 
 a little upon your tongue, and then swal- 
 low it down as soon as you can, and af- 
 terwards abstain awhile from spitting. 
 If the host should chance to stick to the 
 roof of your mouth, be not disturbed, nei- 
 ther must you put your finger in youi 
 mouth to remove it, but gently and quietly 
 remove it with your tongue, and so con- 
 vey it down. And then having received 
 the priest's blessing, return to your place,
 
 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 117 
 
 and endeavor to entertain, as well as you 
 can, the guest whom you have received. 
 Spend at least a quarter of an hour, 
 after communion, in devotions suitable to 
 that occasion. It would be a great abuse 
 10 turn your back immediately upon your 
 Saviour, by going away, as some dQ, and 
 thinking no more of what you have been 
 doing. Particularly, I recommend to you, 
 three things after communion : 1st, To 
 cast yourself down in spirit at the feet of 
 your Lord, whom you have received ; to 
 adore him, praise him, and give him 
 thanks for coming to so unworthy a sin- 
 ner ; and to invite all heaven and earth 
 to join with you in praising and magni- 
 fying his holy name. 2dly, To make an 
 offering of your heart and soul, and of 
 your whole being to him, that you may 
 henceforward love him and serve him for 
 ever. 3dly, To present him your peti- 
 tions for all the graces that you stand in 
 need of, and to make good use of this fa- 
 vorable opportunity to pray heartily for 
 yourself, for your friends, and for the 
 whole world. 
 
 Aspirations after Communion. 
 Behold, O Lord! I have thee now, 
 who hast all things ; I possess thee, 
 who possessest all things, and who
 
 •18 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 
 
 anst do all things : Take off my heart 
 then, O my God and my all ! from all 
 other things but thee, in all which there 
 IS nothing but vanity and affliction of 
 spirit. 
 
 Let my soul, O Lord ! be sensible of 
 the sweetness of thy presence. Let 
 me taste how sweet thou art, O Lord! 
 that being allured by thy love, I may 
 never more hunt after worldly joys ; 
 for thou art the joy of my heart, and 
 my portion for ever. 
 
 Thou art the Physician of my soul, 
 v/ho healest all our infirmities by thy 
 sacred blood. And I am that sick man, 
 whom thou earnest from heaven to 
 heal. O ! heal my soul, for I have 
 sinned against ihee. 
 
 Thou art the good Shepherd, who 
 hast laid down thy life for thy sheep. 
 Behold I am that sheep that was losl^ 
 and yet thou vouchsafest to feed me 
 v/ith thy body and blood. 
 
 O true light ! which enlightenest 
 every man that cometh into this world, 
 enlighten my eyes that 1 may never 
 eloep in death. 
 
 O kinjx of heaven and earth ! rich in
 
 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 119 
 
 mercy, behold I am poor and needy ; 
 tliou knowest what I stand most in 
 need of; and thou alone canst assist 
 me and enrich me. 
 
 Thou art the Lamb of God, the 
 Lamb without spot, ivho takest aioaij the 
 sins of the world. O ! take away from 
 me whatever is hurtful to me and dis- 
 pleasing to thee; and give me what 
 tiiou knowest to be pleasing to thee 
 and profitable to me. 
 
 Thou art my love, and all my joy : 
 thou art my God and my all : thou art 
 the portion of my inheritance and of 
 my chalice : thou art he that wilt re- 
 store my inheritance to me. 
 
 O my God and my all ! may the 
 sweet flame of thy love consume my 
 soul, that so I may die to tlie world for 
 tlie love of thee, who hast vouchsafed 
 to die upon the cross for the love 
 of me. 
 
 Acts of Devotion, Praise, and TlianksgiV' 
 ing, after Communion. 
 
 O MY sweet Jesus ! my Creator and 
 
 my Redeemer ! my God and my all ! 
 
 jrhence is this to me, that my Lord
 
 reO DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 
 
 and so great a Lord, whom heaven apd 
 earth cannot contain, should come into 
 this poor cottage, this house of clay of 
 my earthly habitation ? O ! that 1 
 could give thee a hearty welcome ! O ! 
 tliat I could entertain thee as I ought' 
 Thy loving kindness invites me to thy 
 embraces, and I would willingly say, 
 with the spouse in the Canticles, '//^ave 
 found him whom mij soul loveth; I have 
 held him^ and will never let him go ; 
 but the awe of so great majesty checks 
 me : and the sense of my great un- 
 worthiness and innumerable sins keeps 
 me back. 
 
 Bow down thyself with all thy powers, 
 to adore this sovereign majesty, which 
 has vouchsafed to come to visit thee. 
 Pay him the best homage thou art able, 
 as to thy fii;st beginning and last end; 
 and perfectly annihilate thyself in the 
 presence of this eternal, immense, infinite 
 Deity. Then pour thyself forth in his 
 presence, in praise and thanksgiving, ac 
 cording to thy best ; and invite all heaven 
 and earth to join with thee in magnifying 
 their Lord and thine, for his mercy and 
 bounty to thee.
 
 DEVOIIONS AFTER COMMUNIO 
 
 N. >121 
 
 Oh ! what return shall I make to thee, 
 
 Lord ! for all that thou hast done for 
 me ? Behold, when I had no being at 
 all, tliou hast created me. And, when 
 
 1 had gone astray, and was lost in my 
 sins, thou hast redeemed me, by dying 
 for me : all that I have, all that I am, 
 is ihy gift; and now, after all tliy favors, 
 thou hast given me thyself. Blessed 
 be thy name for ever. Thou art great, 
 O Lord ! and exceedingly to be praiserL 
 Great are thy works, and of thy wis- 
 dom there is no end. But thy tender 
 mercies, thy bounty and goodness to 
 me, are above all thy works : tliese I 
 desire to confess and extol for ever. 
 Bless then thy Lord, O my soul I and 
 let all that is within thee praise and 
 magnify his name. Bless thy Lord, 
 my soul ! and see thou never forget all 
 that he has done for thee. O, all ye 
 works of the Lord ! bless the Lord, 
 praise and glorify him for ever. O all 
 ye angels of the Lord ! bless the Lord ! 
 praise and glorify his name. Bless the 
 Lord, all ye saints ! and let the whole
 
 IZ'^ DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 
 
 church of heaven and earth join in 
 praising and giving him thanks. 
 
 Ail Ohlation after Commimion. 
 
 O Father of mercies and God of all 
 
 consolation ! how hast thou loved us I 
 To whom thou hast given thy only be- 
 gotten Son once for our ransom and 
 daily for the food of our souls. What 
 can I, a wretched creature, return to 
 thee for this infinite charity ? verily, 
 nothing else but this same beloved Son 
 of thine, whom thou hast given to me , 
 and surely tliou couldst give me no- 
 tliing greater or more worthy of thyself. 
 Him, then, I offer to thee, O heavenly 
 Father! witli whom thou art always 
 well pleased; him whom thou hast lov- 
 ingly delivered up to death for me, and 
 given me in this most holy sacrament, 
 which we frequ<?nt for the everlasting 
 memorial of his death. He is our high- 
 priest and victim • He is the propitia- 
 tion for the sins of the whole world. 
 He is our adv'>cate and intercessor. 
 Look down, then, upon him; and for 
 his sake look dovvn Mpon me, and upon 
 us all. Remember ill his sufferings.
 
 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 123 
 
 which he endured here in liis mortal life, 
 his bitter anguish, his mortal agony 
 any bloody sweat, all the injuries and 
 affronts, all the blows and stripes, all 
 tlie bruises and wounds that he re- 
 ceived for us. Remember his death, 
 which thou wast pleased should be 
 Uie fountain of our life ; and for tlie 
 sake of his sacred passion have mercy 
 on us Receive, O holy Father, al- 
 mighty and everlasting God! this 
 holy and unspotted victim, which I 
 here offer thee, in union with that 
 love, with which he offered himselt 
 to thee upon the altar of the cross. 
 Receive him for the praise and glory 
 of thy name ; in thanksgiving for all 
 thy beneffts bestowed on me and all 
 mankind ; in satisfaction also for all 
 my sins, and for the benefit of thy 
 whole church, and the refreshment 
 and comfort of all thy faithful, living 
 and dead. Through the same Lord 
 Jesus Christ thy Son. Amen. 
 
 Petition after Coviniunion. 
 
 O MOST merciful Saviour! behold 1 
 buve presumed to receive thee this
 
 124 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 
 
 day into my house, relying on thy 
 infinite goodness and mercy, and 
 hoping, like Zaccheus^ to obtain thy 
 benediction. But, alas ! with how 
 little preparation ! With how little 
 devotion ! From my heart I beg par- 
 don for my great unworthiness, and 
 for my innumerable sins, which I de- 
 test for the love of thee, and I desire 
 to detest them for ever. O ! wash 
 them away with thy precious blood : 
 For thou art the Lamb of God, that 
 takest away the sins of the world, 
 and one drop of this blood, which 
 tliou hast shed for us, is more than 
 enough to cancel the sins of ten 
 thousand worlds. 
 
 Thou seest, O Searcher of hearts! 
 all my maladies, and all the wounds 
 of my soul. Thou knowcst how prone 
 J am to evil, and how backward and 
 shiggish to good. Thou seest this 
 self-love, that tyrannizes over my 
 soul, which is so deeply rooted in my 
 corrupt nature; and branches into 
 so many vices, so much pride and 
 vanity, so much passion and envy, so 
 much covetousness and worldly so-
 
 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUMON. 125 
 
 licitude, so much sensuality and con- 
 cupiscence. Oh ! who can heal all 
 these my evils, but thou, the true 
 physician of my soul, M'ho givest me 
 thy Dody and blood in this blessed 
 sacrament, as a sovereign medicine 
 for all my infirmities, and a so- 
 vereign balsam for all my wounds. 
 Dispel the darkness of ignorance and 
 error from my understanding by thy 
 '4.heavenly light. Drive away the cor- 
 Jruption and malice of my will, by the 
 fire of divine love and charity. Re- 
 strain all the motions of concupis- 
 cence, and all the irregular sallies of 
 passion, that they may no more pre- 
 vail over me ; and strengthen my 
 weakness with heavenly fortitude. 
 Destroy this hellish monster of self- 
 love with its many heads : or at least 
 chain down this worst of all my ene- 
 mies, that it may no longer usurp the 
 -empire of my soul, which belongs to 
 thee, and which thou hast taken pos- 
 session of this day. Cut off the heads 
 of this beast, and particularly that 
 which annoys me most, and whitih is 
 my predominant passion. Stand by
 
 126 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 
 
 me henceforward in all my tempta- 
 tions, that I may never more be over- 
 come. Remove from me all dange> 
 ous occasions ; and grant me this one 
 favor, that I may rather die a thou- 
 sand deaths than live to offend thee 
 mortally. 
 
 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 comest to visit us in this 
 blessed sacrament, and thou takesi 
 an infinite pleasure in opening them 
 to us to enrich our poverty. This 
 gives me the confidence to present 
 thee now with, my petitions, and to 
 beg of thee those graces and virtues 
 which 1 very much stand in need o^ 
 as thou best knowest. O ! increase 
 and strengthen my belief of thy hea- 
 venly truths, and grant that hence- 
 forward I may ever live by faith, and 
 be guided by the maxims of thy gos- 
 pel. Teach me to be poor in spirit, 
 and separate my heart from tjie love 
 of these transitory tilings, and fix it 
 upon eternity. Teach me, by tliy
 
 DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION. 127 
 
 divine example, and by thy most effi 
 cacious grace, to be meek and hum- 
 ble of heart, and in my patience to 
 possess my soul. Grant that I may 
 ever keep my body and soul chaste 
 and pure from the corruption of lust: 
 that I may ever bewail my past sins., 
 and, by a daily mortification, restrain 
 ail irregular inclinations and passions 
 for the future. Above all thing*, 
 teach me to love thee, teach me to 
 be ever recollected in thee, and to 
 walk always in thy presence. Teach 
 me to love my friends in thee, and 
 my enemies for thee : grant me to 
 persevere to the end in this love, and 
 so to come one day to that happy 
 place where I may love and enjoy 
 thee for ever. 
 
 Have mercy also on my parents, 
 friends, and benefactors, and on all 
 those for whom I am any ways bound 
 to pray, that we may all love thee 
 and faithfully serve thee. Havo 
 mercy on thy whole church, and on 
 all the clergy and religious men and 
 women, that all may live up to their 
 calling, and sanctify thy name. Give
 
 128 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 
 
 thy grace and blessing to all princen 
 end magistrates, and to all Christian 
 people. Convert all unbelievers and 
 sinners, and bring all strayed sheep 
 back to thy fold : particularly have 
 mercy on J\\ and JV*., &c. 
 
 O blessed Virgin! mother of my 
 God and Saviour, recommend all these 
 my petitions to your Son. O all ye 
 angels and saints! citizens of hea- 
 ven! join also your prayers with 
 mine. You ever stand before the 
 til rone, and see him face to face ; 
 whom I here receive under veils. 
 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. 
 
 SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS, 
 
 Pi-oper to he said mi Fasting Days, and 
 other penitential times. 
 
 ANTHEM. 
 
 Remember not, O Lord ! our offences, 
 nor those of our parents, and take no< 
 revenge on our sins.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 129 
 
 Psalm vi. Domine, ne in furore. 
 
 Lord! rebuke me not in thy fury, 
 nor chastise me in thy wrath. 
 
 Have mercy on me, O Lord ! for I ana 
 weak ; heal me, O Lord ! for all my bones 
 are troubled. 
 
 And my soul is troubled exceedingly, 
 but thou, O Lord ! how long? 
 
 Turn to me, O Lord ! and deliver my 
 soul; O! save me for thy mercy's sake. 
 
 For there is none in death, that is 
 mindful of thee ; and who shall confess 
 to thee in hell ? 
 
 1 have labored in my groanings, every 
 night I will wash my bed ; I will water 
 my couch with my tears. 
 
 My eye is troubled through fury ; I 
 have grown old among all my enemies. 
 
 Depart from me, all ye that work ini- 
 quity ; for the Lord hath heard the voice 
 of my weeping. 
 
 The Lord hath heard my petition : the 
 Lord hath received my prayer. 
 
 Let all my enemies be ashamed, and 
 very much troubled ; let them be turned 
 back, and be ashamed very speedily 
 
 Glory be to the Father, &c. 
 
 Psalm xxxi. Beati qtuyrum. 
 
 Blessed are they whose iniquities 
 are forgiven, and whose sms are covered.
 
 l30 PENITENTIAL PSALM*. 
 
 Blessed in xuc man to wnom me Lord 
 hath not imputed sin, neither is there 
 guile in his spirit. 
 
 Because I was silent, my bones grew 
 okl ; whilst I cried all the day. 
 
 For day and night thy hand was heavj 
 upon me ; I am converted in my anguish 
 whilst the thorn is fasteiied. 
 
 I have acknowledged my sin to thee, 
 and my injustice I have not concealed. 
 
 I said 1 will confess against myself my 
 injustice to the Lord ; and thou hast for- 
 given the impiety of my sin. 
 
 For this shall every one that is holy 
 pray to thee in a seasonable time. 
 
 Yet in the deluge of many water?, 
 they shall not approach him. 
 
 Thou art my refuge from the tribula- 
 tion which hath surrounded me ; my joy, 
 deliver me from them that encompass me. 
 
 I will give thee understanding, and I 
 will instruct thee in the way in which 
 thou shalt go ; I will fix my eyes upon 
 lJ\ee. 
 
 Do not become as the horse and mult 
 that have no understanding. 
 
 With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws/ 
 who do not approach thee. 
 
 Many are the scourges of a sinner, but 
 mercy shall encompass him that hopeth 
 in the Lord.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 131 
 
 Be joyful in the Lord, and rejoice, ye 
 just ! and glory, all ye right of heart I 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Psalm xxxvii. Domine, ne in furore. 
 
 Lord, rebuke me not in thy fury, 
 nor chastise me in thy wrath. 
 
 For thy arrows are fastened in me, and 
 thy hand hath been strong in me. 
 
 There is no health in my flesh, because 
 of thy wrath ; there is no peace for my 
 bones, because of my sins. 
 
 For my iniquities are gone over my 
 head ; and as a heavy burden, are become 
 heavy upon me. 
 
 My sores are putrefied and corrupted, 
 because of my foolishness. 
 
 1 am become miserable, and am bowed 
 down even to the end : 1 went sorrowful 
 all the day long. 
 
 For my loins are filled with illusions ; 
 and there is no health in my flesh. 
 
 I am afllicted and humbled exceed- 
 ingly J I roared with the groaning of my 
 _ heart. 
 
 % O Lord ! all my desire is before thee, 
 and my groaning is not hid from thee. 
 
 My heart is troubled, my strength hath 
 left me ; and the light of my eyes itself is 
 Dot with me.
 
 132 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 
 
 My friends and my neighbors havf 
 drawn near, and stood against me. 
 
 And they that were near me stood afar 
 off: and they that sought my soul used 
 violence. 
 
 And they that sought evils to me, spoke 
 vain things, and studied deceit all the day 
 long. 
 
 But I, as one deaf, did not hear ; and 
 as one dumb, that openeth not his mouth. 
 
 And I became as a man that hearetb 
 not; and that hath no reproofs in his 
 mouth. 
 
 For in thee, O Lord ! have I hoped ; 
 thou wilt hear me, O Lord, my God ! 
 
 For I said, lest at any time my ene- 
 mies rejoice over me; and whilst my feet 
 are moved, they speak great things 
 against me. 
 
 For I am prepared for scourges, and 
 my sorrow is always in my sight. 
 
 For I will declare my iniquity j and I 
 •will think of my sin. 
 
 But my enemies live, and are strength- 
 ened over me; and they are multiplied, 
 who hate me unjustly. 
 
 And they that return evil for goodf 
 have detracted me, because I followed 
 goodness. 
 
 Forsake me not, O Lord my God ! d& 
 part not from me.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSAJLMS. 133 
 
 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God 
 »f my salvation ! 
 Glory, &,c. 
 
 Psalm 1. Miserere. 
 
 Have mercy on me, O God ! according 
 10 thy great mercy. 
 
 And accordin:^ to the multitude of thy 
 tender mercies, blot out my iniquity. 
 
 Wash me yet more from my iniquity ; 
 and cleanse me from my sin. 
 
 For I know my iniquity, and my sin 
 IS always before me, 
 
 To thee only have I sinned, and have 
 done evil before thee, that thou mayest 
 be justified in thy words, and mayest 
 overcome when thou art judged. 
 
 For behold I was conceived in iniqui- 
 ties; and in sins hath my mother con- 
 ceived me. 
 
 For behold thou hast loved truth : the 
 uncertain and hidden things of thy wis- 
 dom thou hast made manifest to me. 
 
 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, 
 and I shall be cleansed ; thou shalt wash 
 me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 
 
 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and 
 gladness ; and the bones that are hum- 
 bled shall rejoice. 
 
 Turn away thy face from my sins, and 
 blot out all my iniquities.
 
 134 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 
 
 Create a clean heart in me, O God' 
 and renew a right spirit within my 
 bowels. 
 
 Cast me not away from thy face, and 
 take not thy holy spirit from me. 
 
 Restore unto me the joy of thy salva- 
 tion, and confirm me with a perfect 
 spirit. 
 
 I will teach thy ways to the unjust; 
 and the wicked shall be converted to thee. 
 
 DeUver me from blood, O God, the 
 God of my salvation ! and my tongue 
 shall extol thy justice. 
 
 Thou, O Lord ! wilt open my lips, and 
 my mouth shall declare thy praise. 
 
 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, 
 verily I had given it; with burnt-offerings 
 thou wilt not be delighted. 
 
 A sacrifice to God is an aflElicted spirit ; 
 a contrite and humble heart, O God! 
 thou wilt not despise. 
 
 Deal favorably, O Lord! in thy good 
 will with Sion, that the walls of Jeru- 
 salem may be built up. 
 
 Then slialt thou accept the sacrifice of 
 justice, oblations, and whole burnt-offer- 
 ings ; then shall they lay calves upon thy 
 altar. 
 
 Glory, &c.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 135 
 
 Psalm ci. Domine, exaiidi. 
 
 Lord ! hear my prayer, and let my 
 cry come unto thee. 
 
 Turn not away thy face from me -, m 
 what day soever I am m tribulation, in- 
 cline thine ear to me. 
 
 In what day soever I shall call upon 
 thee, hear me speedily. 
 
 For my days are vanished as smoke ; 
 and my bones are withered as fuel for 
 the fire. 
 
 1 am smitten as grass, and my heart is 
 withered ; because I forgot to cat my bread. 
 
 Through the voice of my groaning, 
 my bones have cleaved to my flesh. 
 
 1 am become as a pelic-au of the wil- 
 derness ; I am become as a night-raven 
 in the house. 
 
 I have watched, and am become as a 
 sparrow, solitary upon the house-top. 
 
 All the day long my enemies upbraid- 
 ed me, and they that praised me, did 
 swear against me. 
 
 For I did eat ashes like bread, and 
 mingled my drink with weeping. 
 
 From the lace of thy wrath and in- 
 dignation, because lifting me up thou 
 hast thrown me down. 
 
 My days have declined hke a shadow 
 and I am withered as grass.
 
 136 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 
 
 But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever • 
 and thy memorial, from generation to 
 generation. 
 
 Thou, rising up, shalt have mercy on 
 Sion ; for it is time to have mercy on it, 
 for the time is come. 
 
 For the stones thereof have pleaded 
 thy servants, and they shall have pity on 
 the earth thereof. 
 
 And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, 
 O Lord ! and all the kings of the earth 
 thy glory. 
 
 For the Lord hath built Sion ; and he 
 shall be seen in his glory. 
 
 He hath regard to the prayers of the 
 humble ; and he hath not despised their 
 petition. Let these things be written 
 unto another generation ; and the people 
 thai shall be created shall praise the Lord. 
 
 Because he hath looked forth from his 
 high sanctuary ; the Lord from heaven 
 hath looked upon the earth. 
 
 That he might hear the groans of them 
 that are in fetters ; that he might unbind 
 the children of them that are slain. 
 
 That they may declare the name of 
 the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jem 
 salem. 
 
 In the assembling of the people to- 
 gether in one, and kings to serve the 
 Lord.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 137 
 
 He answered him in the way of his 
 Btrength; declare unto me the fewness of 
 my days. 
 
 Call me not back in the midst of my 
 days. Thy years are unto generation 
 and generation. 
 
 In the beginning, O Lord! thou 
 foundedst the earth ; and the heavens are 
 the works of thy hands. 
 
 They shall perish, but thou remainest; 
 they shall grow old as a garment. 
 
 And as a vesture thou shalt change 
 them, and they shall be changed : but 
 thou art always the self-same, and thy 
 years shall not fail. 
 
 The children of ihy servants shall in- 
 habit ; and their seed shall be directed for 
 ever. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Psalm cxxix. De Profimdis. 
 
 From the depths I have cried to thee, 
 O Lord ! Lord ! hear my voice. 
 
 Let thy ears be attentive to the voice 
 of my petition. 
 
 If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord! 
 Lord! who shall stand it? 
 
 For with thee, there is merciful for- 
 giveness : and fc^r thy law I have ex 
 pected thee, O Lord!
 
 l38 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 
 
 My soul hatn 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 Israel from aJ 
 his iniquities. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Fsalm cxhi. Bombie, exaudi. 
 
 Lord! hear my prayer, with thine 
 ears receive my petition in thy truth, 
 hear me in thy justice. 
 
 And enter not into judgment with thy 
 servant ; for no man living sliall be justi- 
 fied in thy sight. 
 
 For the enemy haih persecuted my 
 soul; he hath humbled my life in the 
 earth. 
 
 He hath made me dwell in darkness, 
 ds those who have been dead of old ; and 
 my spirit is in anguish upon me, ray 
 heart is troubled wiiliin me. 
 
 1 was mindful of the ancient days, I 
 meditated on all thy works ; on the works 
 of thy hands did 1 meditate. 
 
 1 stretclied forth my hand to thee ; my 
 soul is as earth without water unto thee. 
 
 Hear me speedily, O Lord ! my spirit 
 hath fainted away.
 
 PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 1,?9 
 
 Turn not away thy face from me, lest 
 I be like unto them that go down into the 
 pit. 
 
 Cause me to hear thy mercy in ihu 
 morning, for I hoped in thee. 
 
 Make the way known to me wherein 
 I should walk j for I have lifted up my 
 soul to thee. 
 
 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord ! 
 tc thee have I fled ; teach me to do thy 
 will, for thou art my God. 
 
 Thy good Spirit shall conduct me into 
 the right land ; for thy name's sake, O 
 Lord ! thou wilt enliven me in thy 
 equity. 
 
 Thou wilt bring my soul out of tribu- 
 lation ; and in thy mercy, thou wilt de 
 stroy my enemies. 
 
 And thou wilt destroy all them that 
 afflict my soulj for I am thy servant. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Remember not, O Lord ! our offences, 
 oor those of our parents, and take not re 
 renge of our sins.
 
 140 TH£ LITANY OF SAINTS. 
 
 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 Christ: have mercy on us. 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 Christ! hear us, Christ! graciously hear us. 
 God the Father of heaven, have mercy on v». 
 God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
 
 have mercy on us. 
 Gt)d the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
 Holy Trinity one God, have mercy on us. 
 Holy Mary, 
 Holy Mother of God, 
 Holy Virgin of Virgins, 
 St. Michael, 
 St. Gabriel, 
 St. Raphael, 
 
 All ye holy Angels and Archano-els, 
 All ye holy Orders of blessed Spirits, 
 St. John Baptist, 
 St. Joseph, 
 
 All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, 
 St. Peter, 
 St. Paul, 
 St. Andrew, 
 St. James, 
 St. John, 
 St. Thomas, 
 St. James, 
 St. Philip, 
 
 >
 
 Dopier .;. ' '■ - a Pari^ 
 
 S^ 'VINCENT DE PAL^L.
 
 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 141 
 
 St. Bartholomew, 
 
 St. Matthew, 
 
 St. Simon, 
 
 St. Thaddaeus, 
 
 St. Matthias, 
 
 St. Barnaby, 
 
 St. Luke, 
 
 St. Mark, 
 
 All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, 
 
 All ye holy Disciples of our Lord, 
 
 All ve holy Innocents, 
 
 St. Stephen, 
 
 St. Laurence, 
 
 St. Vincent, 
 
 St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, 
 
 St. John and St. Paul, 
 
 St. Cosmas and St. Damian, 
 
 St. Gervaise and St. Protase, 
 
 All ye holy Martyrs, 
 
 St. Sylvester, 
 
 St. Gregory, 
 
 St. Ambrose, 
 
 St. Augustine, 
 
 St. Jerome, 
 
 St. Nicholas, 
 
 St. Martin, 
 
 All ye Holy Bishops and Confessors, 
 
 All ye holy Doctors, 
 
 St. Anthony, 
 
 St. Bennet, 
 
 St. Bernard, 
 
 I
 
 142 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 
 
 St. Dominick, 
 
 St. Francis, 
 
 All ye holy Priests and Levites, 
 
 All ye holy Monks and Hermits, 
 
 St. Mary Magdalen, 
 
 St. Agatha, 
 
 St. Lucy, 
 
 St. Agnes, 
 
 St. Cecily, 
 
 St. Catharine, 
 
 St. Anastasia, 
 
 All ye holy Virgins and Widows, 
 
 All ye Men and Women, Saints of God, 
 make intercession for us. 
 
 Be merciful unto us. Spare us, O Lord ! 
 
 Be merciful unto us. Graciously hear us, 
 OLord! 
 
 From all evil. 
 
 From all sin. 
 
 From thy wrath. 
 
 From a sudden and unprovided 
 death. 
 
 From the deceits of the Devil, 
 
 From anger, hatred, and all ill-will. 
 
 From the spirit of Fornication, 
 
 From Lightning and Tempest, 
 
 From everlasting death. 
 
 Through the mystery of thy holy In- 
 carnation, 
 
 Through thy Coming, 
 
 Through thy Nativity, 
 
 O
 
 THE MTAlVr or SAINTS. 143 
 
 Through thy Baptism and Holy" 
 
 Fasting, 
 Through thy Cross and Passion, 
 Through thy Death and Burial, 
 Through thy Holy Resurrection, 
 Through thy admirable Ascension, 
 Through the coming of the Holy 
 
 Ghost, the Comforter, 
 fa the Day of Judgment, 
 
 We sinners. Do beseech thee to hear us. 
 
 That thou spare us. We beseech thee to 
 ^lear us. 
 
 That thou pardon us. We beseech thee 
 to hear us. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to govern 
 and preserve thy holy Church, 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to preserve 
 our Apostolic Prelate, and all Eccle- 
 siastical Orders, in thy holy reli- 
 gion. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to humble 
 the Enemies of thy holy Church, 
 
 That thou vouchsafe lo give peace 
 and true concord to Christian kings 
 and princes. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to grant 
 peace and unity to all Christian peo- 
 ple. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to confirm 
 and preserve us in thy holy service,^
 
 144 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 
 
 That thou lift u.p our minds to 
 heavenlj^ desires. 
 
 That thou render eternal good 
 things to all our benefactors. 
 
 That thou deliver our souls, and 
 those of our brethren, kinsfolks, and 
 benefactors, from eternal damnation. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to give and 
 preserve the fruits of the earth. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe to give eter- 
 nal rest to all the Faithful departed. 
 
 That thou vouchsafe graciously to 
 hear us, So-n of God, 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away'tlie 
 sins of the world, -Spare M5, O Lord ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 sins of the world. Hear us, O Lord ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 sins of the worKi, Have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ hear us ; Christ graciously hear 
 us. 
 
 Lord have mercy on us; Christ have 
 mercy on us ; Lord have mercy on us. 
 
 Our Father, &c., in secret. 
 
 V. And lead us not into tf^mptation. 
 
 JR. But deliver us from evil. Amen. 
 
 Psalm Ixix. 
 Incline unto my aid, O God! O 
 Lard! make haste to help me.
 
 THE LITAKY OP SAINTS. 145 
 
 Let them be confounded and ashamed 
 that seek my soul. 
 
 Let ihera be turned backward ana 
 nlush for shame, that desire evils to 
 me. 
 
 Let them be turned backward and blush 
 for shame, that say to me, 'Tis well, 'lis 
 well. 
 
 Let all that seek thee, rejoice and be 
 glad m thee ; and let such as love ihy sal- 
 vation say always, the Lord be magnified. 
 
 But I am needy and poor, O God! 
 help me. 
 
 Thou art m.y helper and my deliverer 
 O Lord! make no delay. Glory be to 
 the Father, &c. 
 
 V. Save thy servants. 
 
 R. Trusting in thee, O my God ! 
 
 F. Be unto us, O God! a tower of 
 strength. 
 
 R. From the face of the enemy. 
 
 V. Let not the enemy prevail against 
 
 U9. 
 
 R. Nor the son of iniquity have power 
 to hurt us. 
 
 V. O Lord ! deal not with us accord- 
 ing to our sins. 
 
 R. Neither reward us according- to o""^ 
 miquities. 
 
 V. Let us pray for our chief bishop, JV. 
 
 R. The Lord preserve him, and give 
 10
 
 »46 THE LITANY OF SAINTS, 
 
 him life, and make him blessed upon 
 earth, and deliver him not to the will of 
 his enemies. 
 
 F". Let us pray for our benefactors. 
 
 R. Vouchsafe, O Lord! for thy name's 
 sake, to reward with eternal life all those 
 who have done us good. 
 
 V. Let us pray for the faithful departed. 
 
 JR. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord . 
 and let perpetual light shine upon them. 
 
 V. May they rest in peace. jR. t^rnen. 
 
 V. For our absent brethren. 
 U. O my God ! save thy servants trust, 
 mg in thee. 
 
 V. Send them help, O Lord! from thy 
 holy place. 
 
 JR. And from Sion protect them. 
 
 V. O Lord! hear my prayer. 
 
 R. And let my cry come unto thee. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O God ! whose property is always to 
 show mercy and to forgive, receive our 
 petitions : that we and all thy servants, 
 who are bound by the chains of sin, may, 
 by the compassion of thy goodness, mer 
 cifuUy be absolved. 
 
 Hear, we beseech thee, O Lord ! the 
 prayers of thy suppliants, and pardon the 
 sins of them that confess to thee ; that in 
 thy bounty thou may est give us paraoD 
 and peace.
 
 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 147 
 
 Out of thy clemency, O Lord! show 
 thy unspeakable mercy to us, that so 
 thou mayest both acquit us of our sins, 
 and deliver us from the punishments 
 which we deserve for them. 
 
 O God ! who by sin art offended, and 
 by penance pacified, mercifully regard the 
 prayers of thy people, making supplica- 
 tions to thee, and turn away the scourges 
 of thy anger, which we deserve for our 
 sins. 
 
 O ALMIGHTY and eternal God! have 
 mercy on thy servant JV., our chief 
 bishop, and direct him, according to thy 
 clemency, into the way of everlasting 
 salvation ; that by thy grace he may de- 
 sire those things that are agreeable to 
 thee, and perform them with all his 
 strength. 
 
 O God! from whom proceed holy 
 desires, right counsels, and just works, 
 give to thy servants that peace which the 
 world cannot give ; that both our hearts 
 may be disposed to keep thy command- 
 ments, and the fear of enemies being re- 
 inoved, the times, through thy protection, 
 may be peaceable. 
 
 Inflame, O Lord! our reins and 
 Hearts with the fire of thy Holy Spirit, 
 that we may serve thee with a chaste 
 body, and please thee with a clean heart
 
 148 THE LITANY OF SAINTS. 
 
 O God! the Creator and Redeemer 
 of all the faithful, give to the souls of 
 thy servants departed, the remission of 
 all their sins : that, through pious sup- 
 plications, they may obtain the pardon 
 which they have always desired. 
 
 Prevent, we beseech thee, O Lord! 
 our actions, by thy holy inspirations, and 
 carry them on by thy gracious assistance : 
 that every prayer and work of ours may 
 begin always from thee, and by thee be 
 happily ended. 
 
 O ALMiGHTT and eternal God! who 
 hast dominion over the living and 
 the dead, and art merciful to all whom 
 thou foreknowest shall be thine by faith 
 and good works : we humbly beseech 
 thee, that they for whom we have pro- 
 posed to offer up our prayers, whether 
 this present world still retains them in 
 the flesh, or the world to come hath al- 
 ready received therh out of their bodies, 
 may, by the clemency of thy goodness, 
 all thy saints interceding for them, obtain 
 pardon and full remission of all their sins j- 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, 
 who Tiveth and reigneth one God with 
 thee and the Holy Ghost, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 V. O Lord ! hear my prayer. 
 
 jR. And let my cry come unto thee.
 
 SoiT.beKold r'h.\'- Mofhei
 
 THE ROSARY. 149 
 
 V. May the almiglitj' and merciful 
 Lord graciously hear us. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 V. And may the souls of the faithful, 
 through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 
 
 R. Amen, 
 
 
 THE 
 
 ROSARY 
 
 
 OF 
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 
 
 Bi the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 Vers. Hail, Mary, full of grace ! the 
 Lord is with thee. 
 
 Resp. Blessed art thou amongst wo- 
 men, and blessed is the fruit of thy 
 womb, Jesus. 
 
 Vers. Thou, O Lord! wilt open my 
 hps. 
 
 Resp. And my tongue shall announce 
 ihy praise.
 
 l50 THE ROSARY OP 
 
 Vers. Incline unto my aid, O God! 
 
 Resp. O Lord ! make haste to help me. 
 
 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. Amen. Alleluia. 
 
 From Septuagesima to Easter, instead 
 ^Alleluia; say. Praise be to thee, O 
 Lord, King of eternal glory. 
 
 THE FIRST PART. THE FIVE JOYFUL MY9 
 
 TERIES.* 
 
 The First Mystery — Tlie Incaiviation, 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how the Angel Gabriel saluted our bless- 
 ed Lady, with the title of Full of Grace ; 
 and declared unto her the incarnation of 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Then say, Our Father, &c. once. Hail 
 Mary, &c. ten times. 
 
 ['Vhen the Hail Mary is repeated a tenth 
 time, the Decade finishes with Glory be to 
 the Father, &c. ; then the pratjer.-f 
 
 * The five mysteries of the first part, called 
 Joyful, are said on all Mondays and Thursdays, 
 the Sundays of Advent, and those after Epi- 
 phany, until Lent. 
 
 •}■ This method is to be observed in begiiv 
 ning and saying each part of the Rosary.
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 151 
 
 Let US pray. 
 
 O HOLY Mary, Q,ueen of Virgins! 
 by the most high mystery of the incarna- 
 tion of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, by which our salvation was so 
 happily begun, obtain for us, by thy in- 
 tercession, light to know this so great a 
 benefit, which he had bestowed Upon us ; 
 vouchsafing in it to make himself our bro- 
 ther, and ihee, his own most beloved mo- 
 ther, our nwther also. Amen. 
 
 II. THE VISITATION. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how the blessed Virgin Mary, under- 
 standing from the Angel, that her cousin, 
 ■3t. Elizabeth, had conceived, went with 
 haste to the mountains of Judea to visit 
 her, and remained with her three months. 
 Our Father, SfC. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O HOLY Virgin, most spotless mirror 
 of humihty ! by that exceeding charity, 
 which moved thee to visit thy cousin, St. 
 Elizabeth, obtain for us by thy interces- 
 sion, that our hearts may be so visited by 
 thy most holy Son, that being free from 
 all sin, we may praise him, and give him 
 thanks for ever. Amen.
 
 152 THE ROSARY OF 
 
 III. THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS 
 
 CHRIST IN BETHLEHEM. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how the blessed Virgin Mary, when the 
 time of her delivery was come, brought 
 forth our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at mid- 
 night, and laid him in a manger, because 
 there was no room for him in the inns at 
 Bethlehem. Oar Father, ^^c. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O MOST pure mother of God! by thy 
 virginal and most joyful delivery, in 
 which thou gavest unto the world thy 
 only Son, our Saviour, we beseech thee 
 obtain for us, by thy intercession, grace 
 to lead such pure and holy lives in this 
 world, that we may ^vorthily sing with- 
 out ceasing, both day and night, the mer- 
 cies of thy Son, and his benefits to us by 
 thee. Amen. 
 
 IV. THE OBLATION OF OUR BLESSED LORD 
 
 IN THE TEMPLE. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 now the most blessed Virgin Mary, on the 
 day of her Purification, presented the 
 child Jesus in the temple, where holy 
 Simeon, giving thanks to God with great 
 devotion, received him into his arms. 
 Our Father, 4*c«
 
 THE BLESSEV3 VIRGIN. l5l 
 
 Let US pray. 
 
 O HOLT Virgin! most admirable mis- 
 tress and pattern of obedience, who didst 
 present in the temple, the Lord of the 
 temple, obtain for us of thy beloved Son, 
 that, with holy Simeon and devout Ann, 
 we may praise and glorify him for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 V. — THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN 
 THE TEMPLE. 
 
 Let us contemplate in tliis mystery, 
 now the blessed Virgin Mary, having lost, 
 without any fault of hers, her beloved Soq 
 in Jerusalem, sought him for the space 
 of three days, and at length found him in 
 the temple, in the midst of the doctors, 
 disputing with them, being of the age of 
 twelve years. Our Father, 4^c. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 Most blessed Virgin ! more than Mar- 
 tyr in thy sufferings, and yet the comfort 
 of such as are afflicted ! by that unspeak- 
 able joy wherewith thy soul was ravished 
 in finding thy beloved Son in the temple, 
 in the midst of the doctors, disputing Avith 
 them, obtain of him for us, so to seek 
 him, and to find him in the holy Catho- 
 lic church, that we may never be sepa- 
 »ated fiom him. Ameii.
 
 154 
 
 THE ROSARY OF 
 
 THE SALVE REGINA. 
 
 Hail ! holy Glueen, mother of mercy, 
 our life, our sweetness, and our hope ! to 
 thee we cry, poor banished sons of Eve, 
 to thee we send up our sighs, mourning, 
 and weeping, in this valley of tears; turn, 
 then, most gracious advocate, thy eyes of 
 mercy towards us, and after this our exile 
 is ended, show unto us the blessed fruit 
 of thy womb, Jesus; O clement! O 
 pious ! O sweet Virgin Mary ! 
 
 Vers. Pray for us, holy mother of God ! 
 
 Resp. That we may be made worthy ol 
 the promises of Christ. 
 
 Let vs pray. 
 
 O God ! whose only begotten Son, by 
 his life, death, and resurrection, has pur- 
 chased for us the rewards of eternal life, 
 grant, we beseech thee, that, meditating 
 upon those mysteries in the most holy 
 Rosary of the most blessed Virgin Mary, 
 we may imitate what they contain, aod 
 obtain what they promise; through the 
 same Christ our Lord. Aineii.
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 155 
 
 27ie Second Part. — T7ie Jive Dolorous 
 Mysteries.* 
 
 I. THL PRATER AND BLOODY SWEAT 
 
 OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR IN THE 
 GARDEN. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord Jesus was so afflicted for 
 us in the garden of Gethsemani, that his 
 body was bathed in a bloody sweat, 
 which ran trickling down in great drops 
 to the ground. 
 
 Ckir Father, 8,-6. Hail Mary, 4'C. 
 Glory, ^'c, as before. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Most holy Virgin, more than Martyr ! 
 by that ardent prayer, which thy most 
 beloved Son poured forth unto his Father 
 in the garden, vouchsafe to intercede for 
 us, that our passions being reduced to 
 the obedience of reason, we may always, 
 and in all things, conform and subject 
 ourselves to the will of God. Amen. 
 
 * These five mysteries, of the second part, 
 called Dolorous or Sorrowful, are said on 
 Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year, 
 and on Sundays in Lent
 
 156 THE ROSARY OP 
 
 n. — THE SCOURGING OP OUR Bl^ESSE^ 
 LORD AT THE PILLAR. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our blessed Lord Jesus Chnst, al'ter 
 being derided, calumniated, bufteted, and 
 ailed with reproaches, was by Pilate's 
 order most cruelly scourged, and thus 
 abandoned to the fury of the Jews. 
 
 Our FatJier, ^*c. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O MOTHER of God, overflowing Foun^ 
 tain of patience! by those stripes thy 
 only and most beloved Son vouchsafed 
 to suffer for us ; obtain of him for U3 
 grace, that we may know how to mortify 
 our rebellious ;"enses, and to cut off all 
 occasions of sin.\ing, with that sword of 
 grief and compassion, which pierced thy 
 most tender soul. Amen. 
 
 III. THE CROWNING OF OUR BLESSED S-\- 
 
 VIOUR WITH THORNS. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how those cruel ministers of Satan, plat- 
 ted a crown of thorns, and most cruelly 
 pressed it on the head of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Our Father, Sfc. 
 
 IM lis pray. 
 
 O mother of our eternal Prince and 
 King of glory! by those sharp thorni
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 157 
 
 wherewith his holy head was pierced, 
 we beseech thee, that, by thy interces- 
 sion, we may be delivered here, from all 
 motions of pride, and in the day of judg- 
 ment, from that confusion which our sins 
 deserve. Amen. 
 
 IV. — JESUS CARRYING THE CROS? 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord Jesus Christ, being sen- 
 tenced to die, bore, with the most amaz- 
 ing patience, the cross, which was laid 
 upon him for his greater torment and 
 ignominy. 
 
 Our Father, Sec. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O HOLY Virgin, example of patience! 
 by the most painful carrying of the cross, 
 in which thy Son. our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 bore the heavy weight of our sins, ob- 
 tain of him for us, by thy intercession, 
 courage and strength to follow his steps, 
 and bear our cross after him to the end of 
 ^our lives. Amen. 
 
 V. — THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD JE- 
 SUS CHRIST. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 bfcing come to Mount Calvary, was strip-
 
 158 THE ROSARY OP 
 
 ped of his clothes, and his hands and feet 
 most cruelly nailed to the cross, in the 
 presence of his most afflicted mother. 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O HOLY Mary, Mother of God ! as the 
 body of thy blessed Son was for us ex- 
 tended on the cross, so may our desires 
 be daily more and more stretched out in 
 his service, and our hearts wounded with 
 compassion for his most bitter passion. 
 And thou, O most blessed Virgin ! gra- 
 ciously vouchsafe to help us to accomplish 
 the work of our salvation, by thy power- 
 ful intercession. Amen. 
 
 Hail, holy Q,ueen, &c., with the verse 
 and prayer as above. 
 
 Tlte Third Part.— The five Glorious Mys- 
 teries.* 
 
 I. — THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM 
 THE DEAD. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing 
 gloriously over death, rose again the thira 
 day, immortal and impassable. 
 
 Our Father, 8fC. Hail Mary, ^c. Glory^, 
 ^c, as before. 
 
 * These mysteries are assigned for Wednes. 
 days and Saturdays throughout the year, and 
 for Sundays from Easter until Advent.
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIIf. 159 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O GLORIOUS Virgin Mary ! by that un- 
 speakable joy thou receivedst in the re- 
 surrection of thy only Son, we beseech 
 tJiee obtain of him for us, that our hearts 
 may never go astray after the false joys 
 ot this world, but may be ever and 
 wholly employed in the pursuit of the 
 only true and solid joys of heaven. 
 tdmen. 
 
 n. — THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST INTO 
 HEAVEN. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days 
 after his resurrection, ascended into hea- 
 ven, attended by angels, in the sight of his 
 most holy mother, his holy apostles and 
 disciples, to the great admiration ci" them 
 :all. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O MOTHER of God ! comfort of the af- 
 flicted ! as thy beloved Son, when he as- 
 cended into heaven, lifted up his hands 
 ;and blessed his apostles ; so vouchsafe^ 
 most holy Mother ! to lift up thy pure 
 hands to him for us, that we may enjoy 
 the benefit of his blessing and thine, here 
 on earth, and hereafter in heaven. *inien.
 
 160 THE ROSARY OP 
 
 III. THE COMING OF THE HOLY GHOST TO 
 
 THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 how our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated 
 at the right hand of God, sent, as he had 
 promised, the Holy Ghost upon the apos- 
 tles, who, after he was ascended, return- 
 ing to Jerusalem, continued in prayei 
 and supplic<ition with the blessed Virgin 
 Mary, expecting the performance of his 
 promise. 
 
 Our Father f 8fc. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O SACRED Virgin, tabernacle of the- 
 Holy Ghostj we beseech thee obtain, by 
 thy intercession, that this most sweet 
 Comforter, whom thy beloved Son sent 
 down upon his aposties, filling them 
 thereby with spiritual joy, may teach us 
 in this world the true way of salvation, 
 and make us walk in the paths of virtue 
 and good works. Amen. 
 
 IV. THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED 
 
 VIRGIN MARY INTO HEAVEN. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, ^ 
 how the glorious Virgin, twelve years « 
 after the resurrection of the Son, passed r 
 out of this world unto him, and was by
 
 THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 161 
 
 Ktm assumed into heaven, accompanied by 
 the holy angels. 
 Our Father, fyc. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O MOST prudent Virgin ! who, entering 
 mto the heavenly palace, didst fill the holy 
 angels with joy, and man with hope, 
 vouchsafe to intercede for us at the hour 
 of death, that, free from the illusions and 
 temptations of the Devil, we may joyfully 
 and successfully pass out of this tempo- 
 ral state, to enjoy the happiness of eter- 
 aal life. Amen. 
 
 ft. THE CORONATION OF THE MOST 
 
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN HEAVEN. 
 
 Let us contemplate in this mystery, 
 low the glorious Virgin Mary was, with 
 ID (;;reat jubilee, and exultation of the whole 
 iourt of heaven, and particular glory of 
 U the saints, crowned hv her Son, with 
 "le brightest diadem of glory. 
 Our Father, 4'C. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O GLORIOUS dueen of all heavenly 
 
 litizens! we beseech thee, accept this 
 
 losary, which, as a crown of roses, we 
 
 ffer at thy feet, and grant, most gracious 
 
 .ady ! that, by thy intercession, our souia 
 
 liiay be inflamed with so ardent a desire 
 
 11
 
 162 PRATERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 of seeing thee so gloriously crowned', 
 that it may never die in us, until it he 
 changed into the happy fruition of thy 
 blessed sight. Amen. 
 
 Hail, Holy dueen, &c., with tlie verst 
 and prayer as before. 
 
 PRATERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 t 
 In the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen, 
 
 Blessed be the holy and undivided 
 Trinity, now and for evermore. — 
 Amen. 
 
 Come, O Holy Ghost ! replenish the 
 hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in 
 them the fire of thy divine love. 
 
 Let us place ourselves in the pre* 
 sence of God, and humbly adore hinu 
 
 Great God ! the Lord of heaven and 
 earth! I prostrate myself before thee. 
 With all the angels and saints, I adore 
 thee. I acknowledge thee to be my 
 Creator and sovereign Lord, my first
 
 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 163 
 
 beginning and last end. I render to 
 thee the homage of my being and life. 
 I submit myself to thy holy will, and 
 I devote myself to thy divine service 
 now and for ever. 
 
 AN ACT OF FAITH. 
 
 O MY God ! I firmly believe all the sa- 
 cred truths, which thy holy Cathohc 
 church believes and teaches; because 
 diou hast revealed them, who neither 
 canst deceive nor be deceived. 
 
 AN ACT OF HOPE. 
 
 O MY God! relying on thy mfinite 
 goodness and promises, I hope to obtain 
 pardon for my sins, the assistance of thy 
 grace, and hfe everlasting, through the 
 merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 AN ACT OF LOVE. 
 
 O MY God ! I love thee above all things 
 with my whole heart and soul, purely be- 
 cause thou art infinitely perfect and de- 
 serving of all love. I love also my neigh- 
 bour as myself, for the love of thee. 1 
 forgive all who have injured me, and ask 
 pardon of all whom I haTe injured.
 
 164 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 Let US return thanks to God for thi 
 favours bestowed on us. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 How shall I be able to thank thee, 
 O Lord, for all thy favours ? thou hast 
 thought of me from all eternity ; thou 
 hast brought me forth from nothing; 
 thou hast given thy life to redeem 
 me, and thou continuest still daily to 
 load me with thy favours. Alas ! my 
 God ! what return can I make thee for 
 all thy benefits, and particularly for the 
 favours of this day? Join me, ye 
 blessed spirits, and all ye elect, in 
 praising the God of mercies, who is so 
 bountiful to so unworthy a creature. 
 
 Let us beg of God to make known our 
 sins to us. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 O Holy Ghost, eternal source of 
 light, remove my darkness, and dispeL 
 those shades that hide from me the filth 
 and enormity of my offences. Show 
 me, I beseech thee, the sins I have this 
 day committed, in thought, word, and
 
 PRATERS FOR NIGHT. 165 
 
 action. Grant me a feeling sense of 
 them, that I may detest them all from 
 the bottom of my heart, and dread no- 
 thing so much as ever to commit them 
 hereafter. 
 
 Let us examine our consciences^ and 
 consider ichere toe have been this day^ 
 and in what company. Let us call to 
 mind the duties of our state and our 
 dijferent offences. 
 
 *^gainst God : By omissions, negli- 
 gence in our religious duties, irrever- 
 ence in the Church, wilful distraction 
 m prayer, faults in our intentions, re- 
 sistance to the divine grace, oaths, 
 murmurings, want of confidence and 
 resignation. 
 
 Against our JVeighhour : By rash 
 judgments, hatred, jealousy, contempt, 
 desire of revenge, quarrelling, passion, 
 imprecations, injuries, detraction, rail- 
 lery, false reports, damaging either in 
 goods or reputation, bad example, scan- 
 dal, want of obedience, respect, charityj 
 or fidelity. 
 
 Jigainst ourselves : By vanity, hu
 
 166 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 man respect, and lies ; by thoughts, 
 desires, discourse or actions contrary 
 to purity ; by intemperance, rage, im- 
 patience ; by a useless and sensuaWife, 
 or sloth in complying with the duties 
 of our state. 
 
 Repeat the General Confession, as 
 in page 25. I confess to Jilmiglity 
 God, &fc. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Behold me, O Lord, overwhelmed 
 with confusion, and penetrated with 
 grief at the sight of my iniquities. I 
 am not worthy to be called thy child, 
 nor even to be reckoned among thy 
 servants, because I have repaid thy 
 goodness with malice, and thy patience 
 with ingratitude. I have sinned against 
 heaven and earth. I have offended thee 
 who art so good, so amiable, and so 
 worthy of my love. Yet, Lord, I am 
 tlie work of thy hands, ransomed with 
 the precious blood of thy own Son, 
 who died for my salvation. Through 
 his infinite merits I implore forgiveness. 
 Have pity on me, and spare me for his
 
 PRAYERS FOR MGHT. 167 
 
 sake. Turn away thy face from my 
 sins, and blot out my iniquities. I am 
 heartily sorry for them, because they 
 are ofiensive to thee, and shall con- 
 tinue to repent sincerely of them, to 
 the very hour of my death. 
 
 Let us make a firm 'purpose of amend- 
 ment. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 O ETERXAL God, against whom T 
 have sinned, I wish from my heart that 
 i had never offended thee; but as J 
 have been so unhappy, O grant me 
 now grace never more to offend thee. 
 Thou wiliest not the death of a sinner. 
 but rather that he be converted and 
 live. Convert me, then, and J shall be 
 converted. Have mercy on me accord- 
 ing to thy great mercy, and according 
 to the multitude of thy tender mercies, 
 blot out my iniquities. I renounce all 
 sin, and iirmly purpose to shun all the 
 occasions of it, and to walk henceforth 
 in the path of thy commandments. 
 This is my fixed resolution, which I 
 hope I shall faithfully keep, relying
 
 168 PRATERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 upon thee : through Jesus Christ oui 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED 
 VIRGIN. 
 
 We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mo- 
 tner of God! despise not our petitions in 
 our necessities, but deHver us from all 
 dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Vir- 
 gin! 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ! hear us; Christ! graciously 
 hear us. 
 
 God the Father of Heaven, Imve 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 onus. 
 Holy Mary, 
 Holy Mother of God, 
 Holy Virgin of virgins. 
 Mother of Christ, 
 Mother of divine grace. 
 Mother most pure. 
 Mother most chaste. 
 
 I
 
 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 169 
 
 Mother undefiled. 
 
 Mother unviolated. 
 
 Mother most amiable. 
 
 Mother most admirable, , 
 
 Mother of our Creator, 
 
 Mother of our Redeemer, 
 
 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, V«Z 
 
 Vessel of Honour, ^ 
 
 Vessel of singular Devotion, 
 
 Mystical Rose, 
 
 Tower of David, 
 
 Tower of Ivory, 
 
 House of Gold, 
 
 Ark of the Covenant, 
 
 Gate of Heaven, 
 
 Morning Star, 
 
 Health of the Weak, 
 
 Refuge of Sinners, 
 
 Comforter of the Afflicted, 
 
 Help of Christians, 
 
 Q,ueen of Angels, 
 
 dueen of Patriarchs,
 
 170 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 dueen of Prophets, 
 dueeu of Apostles, 
 Gtueen of Martyrs, 
 €lueen of Confessors, 
 Q,ueen of Virgins, 
 dueen of all Saints, 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 sins of the world. Spare lis, O Lord 1 
 
 Lamb of God, wrio takest away the 
 sins of the world. Graciously hear tis, 
 Lord! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the 
 sins of the world. Have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ! hear us; Christ! graciously 
 hear us. 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. Christ! have 
 mercy on us. Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 
 
 JR. That we may be made worthy ol 
 the promises of Christ. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord! 
 thy grace into our hearts, that we to 
 whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy 
 Son, has been made known by the mes- 
 sage of an angel, may, by his passion and 
 cross, be brought to the glory of his re- 
 surrection. Through the s£ime Christ 
 our Lord. Amen.
 
 PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 171 
 
 Pour down thy blessing, O Lord ' on 
 thy holy Church, on our holy Father the 
 Pope ; on this diocess, on our Reverend 
 Bishop and all pastors of souls ; on 
 this country, on our Rulers and all su- 
 periors, temporal and spiritual, on this 
 congregation, on this family, on our pa- 
 rents, relations, benefactors, friends, and 
 enemies. Help tlie poor, the sick, and 
 those that are in their agony; convert 
 all heretics, and enlighten the infidels. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. Hail Mary, 8fC. I be- 
 (kve in God, Sfc. 
 
 PSALM cxix. 
 
 Let us pray for the souls of all the 
 Faithful departed, jmrticularlij for tliose 
 cf our friends and benefactors. 
 
 OvT of the depths I have cried unto 
 tliee, O Lord ! Lord ! hear my voice- 
 Let thine ears be attentive to the voice 
 of my supplication. 
 
 If thou, O Lord ! wilt mark iniquities : 
 Lord! who shall stand it? 
 
 For with thee there is merciful for- 
 giveness : and by reason of thy law, I 
 have waited for tnee, O Lord ! 
 
 My soul hath rehed on his word : ray 
 soul hath hoped m the Lord.
 
 172 PRA.YERS FOR NIGHT. 
 
 From the morning watch until night, 
 let Israel hope in the Lord. 
 
 Because with the Lord there is mercy, 
 and with him plentiful redemption. 
 
 And he shall redeem Israel from all his 
 iniquities. 
 
 V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord ! 
 
 JJ. And let perpetual light shine upon 
 them. 
 
 May they rest in peace. Amen. 
 
 V. O Lord ! hear my prayer. 
 
 R. And let my prayer come unto thee. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O God ! the Creator and Redeemer of 
 all the faithful! grant to the souls of thv 
 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 world without end. Amen. 
 
 Let US recommend our rest to God, to tJie 
 blessed Virgin and the Saints. 
 
 V. Vouchsafe, O Lord ! this night to 
 keep us without sin. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord . have 
 mercy on us. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord ' this
 
 PRATERS roil NIGHT. 173 
 
 habitation, and drive from it all the snares 
 of the enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell 
 therein to preserve us m peace, and may 
 thy blessing be upon us for ever, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Bless, O Lord ! the repose I am going 
 to take, in order to renew my strength, 
 that I may be better able to serve thee. O 
 all ye saints and angels ! but chiefly thou, 
 O Mother of God ! intercede for me this 
 night, and during the rest of my life, but 
 particularly at the hour of my death. 
 
 May the divine assistance remain al 
 ways with us. Amen.
 
 174 
 DEVOTIONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK. 
 
 SUNDAY. 
 
 To the Most Holy Trinity. 
 
 A HOLY and ancient practice amongst 
 the faithful has consecrated every day in 
 the week to some particular devotion. Ii 
 is with this spirit, that a prayer is here 
 set down for eacli of these days; but il 
 is not so much by this prayer, as by the 
 practice of devotion annexed to it, thai 
 the mystery or the saint is to be honoured. 
 
 Sunday, which is, in a special manner, 
 the Lord's day, is selected for our more 
 particular homage ; and to return thanks 
 to the three adorable Persons, for all the 
 inestimable benefits conferred on us. It 
 would be quite irreligious to make this 
 day a day of amusements, and of tempo- 
 ral concerns. Sanctify it, as well as the 
 other festivals, by assisting at the divine 
 offices, listening to sermons, reading some 
 good book, and other pious practices, rest-
 
 DEVOTIONS. 175 
 
 Ing particularly on the great affair of 
 salvation. 
 
 There are three who give testimony in 
 heaven — the Father, the Word^ and the 
 Holy Ghost, and these three are one. 1. 
 John V. 7. 
 
 Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, who, by his 
 power, hath brought me forth from no- 
 thmg, and created me to his own like- 
 ness. Glory be to the Son, who, by his 
 wisdom, hath delivered me from hell, and 
 opened heaven for me. Glory be to the 
 Holy Ghost, who, by his mercy, hath 
 sanctified me in baptism, and still con- 
 tinues to sanctify me, by the graces which 
 I every day receive from him. Glory be to 
 the three adorable Persons of the blessed 
 Trinity, as great now, and for ever, as it 
 was from the beginning. We adore thee, 
 O Holy Trinity ! we worship thee ; we 
 most humbly give thee thanks for having 
 revealed to us this glorious, incompre- 
 hensible mystery; and for granting, that, 
 by continuing to profess, to the last mo- 
 ment of our lives, this holy faith, we may 
 behold and glorify eternally in heaven, 
 what we now are believing on earth — • 
 One God in three Persons, the Father, '^^ 
 the Son, and the Holv Ghost. Amen.
 
 176 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 MONDAY, 
 
 To the Holy GJwsL 
 Though the three adorable personages 
 of ihe blessed Trinity have an equal 
 share in the sanctifying of our souls, yet 
 our spiritual regeneration, and all the 
 graces we receive from heaven, are par- 
 ticularly attributed to the Holy Ghost ; 
 because, these favours being an effect of 
 God's love for us, he that is the love of 
 the Father and of the Son is considered 
 the author of them. It is incredible what 
 good this Divine Spirit produces in those 
 souls who do not oppose his inspirations. 
 What an abundance of light and strength 
 would he not communicate to us, by his 
 seven gifts, his fruits, and his beatitudes, 
 if, with docility and attention, we would 
 listen to him. Let us then commit 
 ourselves to his all-wise and bounti-' 
 ful guidance; let us study incessantly 
 the motions of our hearts ; let us follow 
 those which the Divine Spirit excites 
 there; and which alone can overcome 
 the corrupt inchnations of our nature; 
 let U3 fear nothing so much as toj-esist 
 him; let us preserve his grace : or should 
 we, by sin, unfortunately lose it, let us 
 have recourse to that sacrament, where it 
 may again be recovered; ar<i let us live
 
 EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK. 177 
 
 with more vigilance and attention to the 
 future. 
 
 A Prayer to the Holy Ghost, 
 
 O Sanctifier of our souls ! thou Spi- 
 rit of love and truth ! I adore thee as the 
 principal of my eternal happiness : I 
 thank thee as the dispenser of all heavenly 
 favours ; and I invoke thee as the source 
 of that light and strength, by which alone 
 I can know what is good, and be enabled 
 to practise it. Enlighten my understand- 
 ing, fortify my will, purify my heart, re- 
 gulate its movements, and make me at- 
 tentive to all thy inspirations. Pardon 
 me, thou spirit of grace and mercy ! par- 
 don me my constant infidelities, and the 
 shameful insensibility with which I have 
 so often resisted the most touching im- 
 pulses of grace. I am at length resolved 
 to be no longer rebellious to it, but to obey 
 it with* such docility, that I may taste 
 those fruits, and enjoy those beatitudes, 
 which thy sacred gifts can produce in our 
 _souls. 
 
 ■ Prayers for the Faithful dejmrted. 
 
 It is a holy and wholesome thought to 
 pray for the dead, that they may be 
 loosed from their sins. 2 Mach. xii. 46. 
 12
 
 178 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 A Prayer for the suffering Souls in Pvr 
 gatory. 
 
 O God of all consolation! sole authoi 
 of the salvation of souls ! have mercy 
 on those who suffer ia purgatory. Look 
 with compassion on the greatness on their 
 torments ; they are more keenly devoured 
 by their ardent desire of being united to 
 thee, than by the purging flames wherein 
 they are plunged. With them I adore 
 thy avenging justice, and confess tha 
 equity of thy judgements; but since thou 
 art pleased favourably to hear the prayers 
 which the members of thy holy church 
 offer to thee in behalf of their brethren, 
 graciously hear the supplication which I 
 now address to thee for those suffering 
 souls. Remember, O Lord! thou art 
 their Father, and they are thy children. 
 Forget the faults, which, through the 
 frailty of human nature, they have com- 
 mitted against thee, during the course of 
 their mortal pilgrimage. Adorable Jesus ! 
 victim of propitiation both for the living 
 and the dead! vouchsafe, in thy quality 
 of Redeemer, to apply the merits of thy 
 passion and death to the relief of those 
 souls whom thou punishest as their so- 
 vereign judge. Remember, O Lord ! that 
 they are thy living members, tliy faithlul
 
 EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK:. 179 
 
 followers, thy spouses. Let some drops 
 of that precious blood, which thou hast 
 shed for their salvation, flow on those 
 devouring flames ; and let the infinite 
 price of that sacred blood afford a full 
 satisfaction for their offences. Deliver 
 them, O most merciful God! from that 
 place of darkness and torture, and call 
 them to a place of refreshment, light and 
 peace. Grant them the possession of the 
 sovereign good, after which they so ar- 
 dently sigh, and for which thou hast 
 created them : receive them into thy pa- 
 ternal bosom, where they will praise and 
 love thee to aU eternity. Amen. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 To our Angel Guardian, and all the Holy 
 Angels. 
 
 Are they not all ministering spirits, 
 «:ent to minister for those who shall re- 
 ceive the inheritance of salvation ? Heb. 
 i. 14. 
 
 We should have for our Guard iaa 
 Angels the highest sentiment of respect, 
 of thanksgiving, of love, and confidence ; 
 their dignity, their good offices, and the 
 esteem they have for us, most justly de- 
 mand this. We should constantly in- 
 voke their assistance, and consult them 
 IP. all we undertake ; as also the angels
 
 180 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 of those we are concerned with ; beg of 
 them to pray to God for us, and endea- 
 vour to be faithful to their wholesome 
 suggestions. 
 
 Jl Frayer to our Angel Guardian. 
 
 O HOLY Angel! to whose care God, in 
 his mercy, hath committed me; thou 
 who assistest me in my wants, who con- 
 solest me in my afflictions, who sup- 
 portest me when dejected, and who con- 
 stantly obtainest for me new favours ; I 
 return thee now most sincere and humble 
 thanks; and I conjure thee, O amiable 
 Guide! to continue still thy care; to de- 
 fend me against my enemies ; to remove 
 from me the occasions of sin, to obtain 
 for me a docility to thy holy inspirations; 
 to protect me, in particular, at the hour 
 of my death ; and then conduct me to 
 the mansions of eternal repose. AtneP. 
 
 A Prayer to St. Michael. 
 
 Glorious St. Michael! Prin'^e of the 
 heavenly host ! who standest plways 
 ready to give assistance to the people of 
 God, who didst fight with the dragon, the 
 old serpent, and didst cast him ^>ut of 
 heaven, and now valiantly defen''-?st the 
 church of God, that the gatej* ol he'! 
 may never prevail agai»st her . I ea*
 
 EVERY BAY IN THE WEEK 181 
 
 nestly entreat thee to assist me also, in 
 the painful and dangerous conflict which 
 I have to sustain against the same for- 
 midable foe. Be with me, O mighty 
 Prince .' that I may courageously fight 
 and happily vanquish that proud dragon, 
 whom thou hast, by the Divine Power, 
 so gloriously overcome, and whom our 
 powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our 
 nature, so completely overthrown : to 
 the end, that, having triumphed over the 
 enemy of my salvation, I may, with thee 
 and the holy angels, praise the clemency 
 of God, Avho, having refused mercy to 
 die revo'ited angels after their fall, has 
 granted repentance and forgiveness to 
 fallen njan. 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 To St. Joseph. 
 
 Thf. gicrious functions with which St. 
 Joseph was honoured, and the great ex- 
 ample of humility, of wisdom, of pa- 
 tience, of fidelity, of obedience, and sub- 
 mission, which he has given, should 
 inspire us with the highest idea of hLs 
 sanctity, and with great uevotion to him ; 
 but let the honour you show him chiefly 
 consist in the imitation of his virtues*
 
 i82 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 rely oq him with confidence, and induce 
 Others to have recourse to him. 
 
 Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom 
 was born Jesus, who is called Christ,— 
 Malt. i. 16. 
 
 A Prayer to St. Joseph. 
 
 O GREAT saint ! who art this wise and 
 faithful servant, whom God hath charged 
 with the care of his family ; thou, whom 
 he hath established the guardian and pro- 
 tector of the life of Jesus, the c-onsoler 
 and support of his mother, and his faith- 
 ful associate in the great design of our 
 redemption ; thou, who hadst the happi- 
 ness to live with Jesus and Mary, and to 
 expire in their arms. Chaste spouse of 
 the mother of God ! thou model of pure, 
 numble, and interior souls ! be touched 
 with the confidence we have in thee ; and 
 graciously accept these testimonies of de- 
 votion. Ws return God thanks for the 
 favours he hath bestowed on thee; and 
 we beg, through thy intercession, that we 
 may imitate thy virtues. Pray for us, 
 then, O glorious saint! and by that love 
 thou always hadst for Jesus, and for 
 M&ry, and which Jesus and Mary had 
 also for thee, obtain for us the incom- 
 parable advantage of living and dying 
 in their holy love. Amen. ■
 
 EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK. 183 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 To the most holy Sacrament. 
 
 To correspond with the love which 
 Jesus Christ shows us in the blessed sa- 
 crament, let us unite ourselves to him in 
 frequent and holy communion; let us 
 often present him our most profound 
 homage, and never let pass a Thursday 
 without performing this duty ; let us go 
 to him, at one time, like the shepherds 
 and the kings who adored him in the 
 manger ; at another time, like the apos- 
 tles and disciples, to hear him and 
 to receive his instructions ; and at another 
 time, like Magdalen, to bewail our sins, 
 or to contemplate and admire his divine 
 perfections. Let us go to him, as the 
 sick persons in the Gospel did, to be 
 cured of our spiritual infirmities ; or like 
 beggars, to lay before him our wants, 
 and our anxieties, doubts, and afflictions, 
 imploring that grace and consolation we 
 stand in need of; but let us remain in his 
 presence, with that modesty, recollection, 
 respect, fear, love, and gratitude, which 
 this adorable sacrament so juslJy de- 
 mands. ,^ 
 
 My flesh is meat, indeed, and my blood 
 •s drink indeed. He who ealeth my flesh,
 
 184 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 and drinketh my blood, abideth m me, 
 and I in him. John vi. 55, 57. 
 
 A Prayer to Jesiis in the blessed Sacra- 
 ment, 
 
 O SWEET and adorable Jesus ; who, in 
 the excess of thy love, art pleased to 
 dwell with us in the sacrament of the al- 
 tar; I here acknowledge thee as my so- 
 vereign and my God ; I adore thee with 
 the most profound huraihty ; I thank 
 thee, with all my heart, for the tender- 
 ness thou here showest us, in spite of the 
 treatment thou receivedst. Pierced with 
 the sincerest grief at the sight of our in- 
 graiitude, I come, God of majesty ! to 
 make some poor amends for all the sacri- 
 leges and the impiety which were ever 
 committed, or ever will be committed, 
 against this adorable sacrament. Why 
 cannot I, O God, sufficiently testify my 
 own regret, for having so often appeared 
 before thee with indifference, and foi 
 having approached thee with so little fer- 
 vour, and so little love 1 Forget, O Lord ! 
 our iniquities, that thou mayest only re- 
 member thy own infinite mercies. Deign 
 to accept the desire I have of honouring 
 thee in this amiable sacrament. Yes, \ 
 wish with all my heart to love thee, tc 
 bless, to praise, and to adore thee here as
 
 EVERY DAT IN THE WEEK. 185 
 
 much as the saints and angels dc in hea 
 ven : and I conjure thee, by this sacred 
 body, and this most precious blood, that 
 I may henceforth honour thee so fer- 
 vently, and receive thee so worthily, that 
 after this hfe, I may praise thee for ever 
 with thy saints in heaven. 
 
 To Jesus siiffey-ing. 
 
 You should not only be careful to avoid 
 every thing that may renew the passion 
 of our Lord, you should likewise honour 
 this mystery by every pious exercise 
 which a tender devotion can inspire you 
 with. The holy sacrifice of the Mass, 
 offered up with this intention, fervent 
 communions, stated and regular prayers 
 before a crucifix, frequent reflections 
 on the pangs of our Saviour; some 
 voluntary mortifications, such as fasting 
 upon Fridays, a constant patience in 
 carrying your cross in union with Jesus, 
 are so many devout practices, by which 
 you may show him your love, and apply 
 to your soul the fruits of his passion. 
 
 Christ suffered for us, leaving you an 
 example that you should follow his steps. 
 1 Pet. ii. 21.
 
 186 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 ^ Prayer to Jesus suffering. 
 
 O SPOTLESS Lamb! O innocent victim* 
 who, by thy death and blood, hast ef- 
 faced the sins of mankind, blot out my 
 iniquities, and do not permit that thy suf- 
 ferings should become useless to me. I 
 am abandoned by every one ; sorrowful, 
 desolate, and resigned to death ; help me 
 now to receive, with a resignation like 
 thine, whatever afflictions thou shall 
 please to send me. O Jesus! calum- 
 niated, accused, despised, teach me to 
 look down on the judgments of men, and 
 to suffer, with patience, the most base in- 
 juries. O Jesus! torn with stripes, 
 pierced with thorns, weltering in blood 
 for my sake, teach me to endure, for love 
 of thee, the anguish and inconvenience 
 of ill health and sickness. Jesus ! aban- 
 doned to executioners, shamefully con- 
 demned to a cross, enable me to fly al] 
 vain-glory, and embrace the most hum- 
 bling confusion. O Jesus! sinking under 
 tiie weight of thy cross, I unite myself 
 to thee, and my cross also to thine. 
 May I ever carry it with the same strength 
 and sweetness which thou didst. O 
 Jesus ! raised up on thy cross, draw me 
 now powerfully to theej thou art expi- 
 piring for my sake, let me never live but
 
 EVEttI DAY IN THE WEEK. IS7 
 
 for thine, that, being henceforth crucified 
 with thee, my whole occupation may be 
 to love, praise, and adore thee. Amen. 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 To the blessed Virgin. 
 
 The eminent sanctity of Mary, her 
 dignity of Mother of God, the glory she 
 new enjoys, ner power on earih and in 
 heaven, iier tenderness to poor mortals ; 
 a "e the motives which have actuated the 
 saints, and which now inspire all those 
 who are devoted to her service, to enter- 
 tain a lively and affectionate devotion to 
 her. Follow their example, and put 
 yf urself under her protection. 
 
 8c^ But what is here meant by devotion 
 is widely different from what we are 
 falsely impeached wrth supposing; and 
 it must never be thought, that she has 
 any divinity in herself; though she be 
 the purest of God's creatures, she is yet 
 no more than his creature. Her interces- 
 sion, as Mother of God, must certainly 
 be powerful ; and we should never let a 
 day pass, without fervently imploring it ; 
 we should celebrate her festivals, re- 
 ceiving the blessed sacrament on these 
 days, in honour of her; we should some- 
 times recite her rosgry, and address her
 
 F88 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 tTequently in the words of the Angel; 
 having always recourse to her in our ne- 
 cessities, and earnestly beseeching her to 
 assist us at our death. But, all these 
 practices, though highly advantageous 
 and commendable in themselves, were 
 they to be merely outward, and not ef- 
 fectually animated by a true spirit of 
 piety, must be of very little, or rather, 
 perhaps, of no assistance. The best de- 
 votion v/e can practise towards her, and 
 the one most recommended by all the 
 saints, is to imitate her excellent virtues ; 
 to abhor sin; to love God tenderly; and 
 copy her humility, her purity, and her 
 heroic patience, in the different occur- 
 rences of our lives. 
 
 A Prayer to the blessed Virgin. 
 
 Behold from henceforth, all the nations 
 shall call me blessed; for he who is 
 mighty has done great things in me. 
 Luke i. 41, 49. 
 
 O BLESSED Virgin, Mother of God] 
 and by this august quality worthy of all 
 respect from men and angels, I come to 
 offer thee my most humble homage, and 
 to implore the aid of thy prayers and 
 protection. 
 
 Thou art all powerful with the Al-
 
 EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK. 189 
 
 mighty, and ihy goodness for mankind 
 is equal to thy influence in heaven. 
 Thou knowest, O blessed Virgin ! that 
 from my tender years, I looked up to 
 thee as my mother, my advocate, and 
 patroness : thou wert pleased to consider 
 me, from that time, as one of thy child- 
 ren ; and whatever graces I have re- 
 ceived from God, I confess with humble 
 gratitude, that it is through thee I received 
 them — Why was I not as faithful in thy 
 service, as thou wert bountiful in as- 
 sisting me? But I will henceforth serve, 
 honour, and love thee. Accept, O 
 blessed Virgin ! my protestations of 
 fidelity ; look favourably on the confidence 
 I have in thee ; obtain for me, of thy dear 
 Son, a Hvely faith, a firm hope, a tender, 
 generous, and constant love. Obtain for 
 me a purity that nothing can soil; a hu- 
 mihty, that nothing can elate; a patient 
 submission to thewillof God, that nothing 
 can ever disturb. In fine, O glorious 
 Virgin! obtain for me so faithful an imi- 
 tation of thy virtue in my life, that I may 
 experience the power of thy protection 
 At my death. Amen.
 
 190 A PRAYER IN CHILD-BEARINO. 
 
 w2 Prayer that may he daily said hy a 
 woman with child. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty, Creator of 
 heaven and earth, who hast made iis 
 all out of nothing, and redeemed us by 
 the precious blood of thy only Son ; 
 look down upon thy poor handmaid, 
 here prostrate before thee, humbly im- 
 ploring thy mercy, and begging thy 
 blessing for herself and her child, 
 which thou hast vouchsafed her to con- 
 ceive. Preserve, I beseech thee, the 
 work of thy hands, and defend both 
 me, and the tender fruit of my womb, 
 from all perils and all evils. Grant 
 me, in due time, a happy delivery ; and 
 bring my child safe to the font of bap- 
 tism, that it may be there happily dedi- 
 cated to tliee, to love and serve thee 
 faithfully for ever. But, O my God, 1 
 have too much reason to fear, lest my 
 great and manifold sins should hinder 
 thee from hearing my prayers, and 
 draw down thy judgements upon me 
 and mine, instead of the mercies which 
 I sue for : and therefore 1 am sensible
 
 A PRAYER IN CHILD-BEARING. 191 
 
 the first thing 1 ouglit to do is, to re- 
 pent, from the bottom of my heart, for 
 all my offences, humbly confess them, 
 and continually cry to thee for mercy. 
 J detest, then, all my sins with my 
 whole heart, and desire to lay them all 
 down here at thy feet, to be effaced 
 and destroyed for ever. I renounce 
 And abhor them with my whole soul, 
 because they are infinitely odious to 
 thee ; and I wish I could expiate them 
 with tears of blood. 1 humbly beg thy 
 pardon for them all, and 1 wish, with 
 all my heart, that I had never com- 
 mitted them. I here ofTer myself to 
 make what satisfaction I am able for 
 them ; and I most willingly accept of 
 whaiever I may have to go through in 
 child-bearing, and offer it up now be- 
 forehand to thee for my sins ; firmly 
 resolving, by thy grace, never wilfully 
 to offend the€ mare. See here my 
 poor heart, O Lord ; and if it be not 
 such as 1 here express, at least I desire 
 it should be such. I desire it should 
 be that contrite and humble heart 
 which thou never despisest. In this
 
 192 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS. 
 
 disposition of soul, and with a lively 
 con^fklence in thy mercies, and in the 
 raerits of the death and passion of 
 Jesus Christ thy Son, I renew the pe- 
 tition I made before, and I once more 
 beg of thee, for myself, thy grace and 
 protection, and a happy delivery : and 
 for my child, that thou wouldst be 
 pleased to preserve it for baptism, 
 sanctify it for thyself, and make it 
 tliine for ever : through the same Jesus 
 Christ thy Son, our Lord. Amen. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 FOR THE SICK. 
 
 1. Tf you are attacked by any consider- 
 able illness^ let your first care be to send 
 for your spiritual physician, and settle 
 the state of your soul. This is much 
 better done in the beginning of sickness 
 tlian afterwards, when the strength of the 
 fever, or the qualities of the remedies, may 
 render a person absolutely unfit for so 
 great a work. Sickness is often sent as i 
 punishment of sin, and therefore a sin- 
 cere repentance and confession of sins u
 
 FOR THE SICK. 198 
 
 often a more effectual means of recovery 
 than any other. 
 
 2. If you have not your will already 
 made, as in prudence you ought, let this 
 also be done in the beginning of your 
 sickness, that so, having settled your 
 temporal affairs, you may apply your 
 soul, without disturbance, to the spiritual, 
 
 3. Engage your best friends to give you 
 timely notice if your distemper be danger- 
 ous, and not to flatter you with hopes of 
 life, when there are little or no grounds 
 for hopes. 
 
 4. Take proper care lor the discharge 
 of your debts, and all other obligations 
 incumbent upon you : and this, as much 
 as may be, iii the beginning also of your 
 sickness. Forgive all those, who nave 
 any ways injured you, and ask pardon 
 of those you have injured. 
 
 5. Receive your sickness from the hand 
 of God, with a perfect resignation to his 
 holy will, as a just punishment of your 
 offences. 
 
 6. Often procure some friend to read to 
 you the Penitential Psalms, the Litanies, 
 A cts of the Love of God, of Patience, and 
 Resignation, &-c. 
 
 7. Have the Crucifix, or a picture of 
 Christ crucified, always before your eyea. 
 Think often upon his passion i hide your- 
 
 lo
 
 194 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 
 self, in spirit, in his wounds, and em 
 brace his feet with all the affection of you 
 soul. 
 
 8. Aim, as much as you can, at a peni 
 tential spirit, during your sickness. Oftei 
 cry to God for mercy, and make frequein 
 acts of contrition for your sins. Si. Augiis 
 tine used to say, that no Christian, how 
 ever innocent his life might have been 
 ought to venture to die in any other stale 
 than that of a penitent. 
 
 v2 Prayer to be repeated daily in Sickness. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ! behold, I receive 
 this sickness, with which thou art pleased 
 to visit me, as coming from thy fatherly 
 hand. Thy will be done on earth, as it is 
 in heaven. May this sickness be to the 
 honor of thy holy name, and for the good 
 of my soul. For this end, I here offer my- 
 self, with an entire submission to all thy 
 appointments : to suffer whatever thou 
 pleasest. 
 
 But rebuke me not, O Lord! in thy 
 fury, nor chastise me in thy wrath ; buJ 
 have regard to my weakness. THou 
 knowest ho<7 frail I am, that I am nothing 
 but dust and ashes. Deal not with me, 
 therefore, according to ray sins, neither 
 punish me according to «iy iniquities*
 
 FOR THE SICK. 195 
 
 bttt according to the multitude of thy 
 moot tender mercies, have compassitm on 
 me. O ! let thy justice be tempered with 
 mercy ; and let thy heavenly grace come 
 to my assistance, to support me under 
 this my illness. Confirm my soul with 
 strength from above, that I may bear, 
 with true Christian patience, ail the 
 uneasiness, pains, disquiets, and difficul- 
 ties of my sickness ; and that I may 
 cheerfully accept them as the just punish- 
 ment of my offences; and, through the 
 merit? of thy death and passion, be ad- 
 mitted into the company of the blessed, 
 whore I may praise thee for ever. Amen, 
 
 SHORT ACTS 
 
 Of Ihe most necessary virtues, proper to be 
 inculcated in tJie time of Sickness. 
 
 Lord ! I accept this sickness from thy 
 hands, and entirely resign myself to thy 
 blessed will, whether it be for life oi 
 death. Not my will but thine be done. 
 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in 
 heaven. 
 
 Lord ! I offer up to thee all that I now 
 suffer, or may have yet to suffer, to he 
 united to the sufferings of my Redeemer, 
 and sanctified by his passion.
 
 196 rNSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 
 I adore thee, O my God, and my all I 
 as my first beginning and last end. 
 
 Lord ! I desire to praise thee for ever, 
 in sickness, as well as in health. I desire 
 to join my heart and voice with the whole 
 Church of heaven and earth in blessing 
 thee for ever. 
 
 I give thee thanks from the bottom ol 
 my heart, for all thy mercies and bless 
 ings bestowed upon me and thy whole 
 Church, through Jesus Christ thy Son ; 
 and above all, for thy having loved me 
 from all eternity, and redeemed me with 
 his precious blood. Oh ! let not thai 
 blood be shed for me in vain. 
 
 Lord! I believe all those heavenly 
 truths which thou hast revesded, and 
 which thy holy Catholic Church believes 
 and teaches. Thou art the sovereign 
 truth, who neither canst deceive nor l>e 
 deceived. And thou hast promised the 
 Spirit of Truth to guide thy Church into 
 all truth : / believe in God the Father Al- 
 mi2;hty, S^^c. In this faith I resolve, 
 through thy grace, both to live and die. 
 O Lord ! strengthen and increase this my 
 faith. 
 
 O my God ! all my hopes are in thee , 
 and, through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, 
 and through his passion and death, j
 
 FOR THE SICK. 197 
 
 hope for mercy, grace, and salvation 
 from thee. 
 
 I desire to be dissolved, and to be with 
 Christ. 
 
 I desire to embrace every neighbour 
 with perfect charity, for the love of thee. 
 I forgive, from my heart, all who have 
 any ways offended or injured me : and 
 ask pardon of all whom I have any way 
 offended. 
 
 Have mercy on me, O God ! according 
 to thy great mercy, and according to the 
 multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out 
 all my iniquities. 
 
 Lord ! be merciful to me a smner. 
 Sweet Jesus! Son of the living- God! 
 have mercy on me. 
 
 I commend my soul to God my 
 Creator, who made me out of nothing; 
 to Jesus Christ my Saviour, who redeemed 
 me with his precious blood 5 to the Holy 
 Ghost, who sanctified me in baptism. 
 Into thy hands, O Lord ! I commend my 
 spirit. 
 
 O holy Mary. Mother of God ! pray 
 for us sinners now, and at the hour of 
 our death. O all ye blessed Angels and 
 Saints of God ! pray lor me, a poor sinner.
 
 198 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 A SHORT EXERCISE, 
 
 As a preparation for Death, which may be 
 used every day. 
 
 1. My heart is ready, O God ! my heari 
 IS ready ; not my will, but thine be done, 
 
 2. I most humbly ask pardon for all my 
 sins, committed against thy sovereign 
 goodness, and repent of them all from the 
 bottom of my heart. 
 
 3. I firmly believe whatsoever the holy 
 Catholic Church believes and teaches ; 
 and by thy grace, I will die in this behef, 
 
 4 I hope to possess eternal life through 
 tliy infinite mercy, and the merits of my 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 5. O my divine Jesus ! how g-eat is my 
 desire to receive thy sacred body! O! 
 come now into my sou J, at least by a 
 spiritual communion. O! grant that I 
 may worthily receive thee before my 
 death. I desire to unite myself to all the 
 worthy communions, which shall be 
 made in thy holy Church, even to the 
 end of the Avorld. 
 
 6. Grant me thy grace, O my divine 
 Saviour ! perfectly to efface all the sins I 
 have committed by any of my senses, by 
 applying daily to my soul thy blessed 
 merits, and the holy unction of thy pre- 
 cious blood.
 
 FOR THE SICK. 199 
 
 7. Holy Virgin. Mother of God ! de- 
 tond me from my enemies in my last 
 i.our, and present me to thy divine Son. 
 Glorious St. Michael, prince of tiie 
 heavenly host ! thou, my Angel Guar- 
 dian ! and you, my blessed patrons ! in- 
 tercede for me, and assist me in this last 
 and dreadful passage. 
 
 8. O my God ! i renounce all tempta- 
 tions of the enemy, and in general what- 
 soever may displease thee. 
 
 9. O Jesus, my divine Saviour! be a 
 Jesus to me, and save me! O my God! 
 hiding myself with an humble confidence 
 in thy dear wounds, 1 render my soul 
 into thy divine hands ; receive it into the 
 bosom of thy mercy. Amen. 
 
 A prayer before Extreme Unctimi. 
 
 Thou hast mercifully provided reme- 
 dies, O Lord! lor all our necessities, 
 grant me thy grace so to make use of 
 them, that my soul may receive all those 
 good effects which thou hast appointed 
 in their institution. Now I desire to he 
 anointed, as thou hast commanded me 
 by thy apostle; grant, I beseech thee, 
 that by this holy Unction, and the prayers 
 of the church, I may partake of that 
 ijpirit, with which Christ suffered on the
 
 200 INSTRUCTIONS AND HEVOTIONS 
 
 cross for thy glory, and for the destruc- 
 tion of sin. Give me true patience to 
 support all the pains and trouble of my 
 distemper ; give me an inward strength 
 to resist 'all the temptations of the enemy ; 
 give me grace for the pardon of all my 
 failings -, give me that true light, by which 
 I may be conducted through the shadow 
 of death, to eternal happiness ; and if my 
 health be expedient for thy glory, let this, 
 under thy good pleasure, be the means to 
 restore it. Behold I approach to this 
 holy ordinance with a firm faith and con- 
 fidence in thy goodness, that thou will 
 not forsake me in this time of my distress, 
 but that thou wilt stand by me with thy 
 grace, and defend me from all evil, and 
 noAV prepare my soul for a happy passage. 
 
 My eyes have often been delighted 
 with vanities, but now let them be shut 
 to the world, and open to thee alone, my 
 Jesus ! pardon me all the sins I have 
 committed by my seeing. 
 
 My ears have been open to detractions, 
 
 f)rofaneness, and unprofitable discourses ; 
 et me now give ear to thy word, to thy 
 commands, and thy call, and pardon me, 
 O Jesus ! all the sins I have committed 
 by my hearing.
 
 r 
 
 FOR THE SICK. 201 
 
 After Extreme Unction. 
 
 Hear our prayers, O God! in behalf 
 of thy servant; and since thou hast shown 
 this mercy to him, as to admit him to the 
 helps of thy church, grant he may par- 
 take of the effects of them, even those 
 which thou hast appointed for the com- 
 fort of the poor souls in the day of their 
 distress. Grant him a full discharge of 
 all his sins, that, whenever he shall aj> 
 pear before thee, the enemy may find no- 
 thing against him. Stand thou by him, 
 we beseech thee, and be his protector 
 against all evils ; let thy grace comfort 
 him, and heavenly strength support him, 
 tliat however he be weak of himself, yet 
 through thy assistance he may stand in 
 this day of trial, and cheerfully submit to 
 whatever thou hast appointed for him. 
 Restore him to health, if thou knowest it 
 expedient for him; but if thou hast or 
 dained it otherwise, grant him a happy 
 passage, and admit him into the number 
 of the blessed, through the merits of thy 
 dear Son, who liveth and reigneth with 
 thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one 
 God, world without end. Amen.
 
 202 INSTRUCTIONS A.ND DEVOTIONS 
 
 Proper to he recited by the assistants, loken 
 the dyiiii^ person is in the extremity, and 
 unable to speak for himself. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ ! we beseech thee, 
 by thy bitter agony and prayer in the 
 garden, that thou wouldst be pleased tr 
 be an advocate with the eternal Father in 
 behalf of this thy servant. Our Father 
 Hail, Mary. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ! who wast pleased 
 to suffer death on the cross lor us, we 
 beseech tliee to offer up all that anguish 
 and pain, which thou then enduredst, 
 and most especially at the hour of thy 
 death, in behalf of this thy servant. Oar 
 Father. Hail, Mary. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ! who hadst such 
 love for man, as to become man for his 
 salvation, we beseech thee to show this 
 charity and goodness of thine to the eter- 
 nal Father ; let that appear in behalf of 
 tiiy servant, plead his cause, that, by thy 
 powerful mediation, he may be freed 
 from his sins ; that he may be safe at the 
 hour of his departure, and find the gate 
 of life open to him. Our Father. Hail, 
 
 Mary.
 
 FOR THE SICK. 
 
 203 
 
 LoRi> Jesus Christ ! who, by ihy pre- 
 cious blood, hast redeemed us, we be- 
 seech thee to imprint in the soul of this 
 thy servant, the memory of thy most sa- 
 cred wounds, that having them in his 
 eight, he may be encouraged to suffer 
 with patience and resolution, and be 
 armed against all the pangs of death. 
 
 Grant him now to partake of the fruit 
 of thy holy incarnation, of thy bitter pas- 
 sion, of thy glorious resurrection, and 
 admirable ascension. 
 
 Grant he may be sensible of the effects 
 of thy holy mysteries and sacraments, 
 and of all the prayers which are offered 
 thee by thy holy Church. 
 
 Christ Jesus ! who wast crucified for 
 our redemption, we beseech thee, by that 
 love which brought thee from heaven, to 
 have compassion on the soul of this thy 
 servant; forgive him all his sins, and by 
 tlie merits of thy bitter passion, satisify 
 for all his failings, and supply his defects. 
 Let him noAV experience the multitude 
 of thy tender mercies, and be sensible 
 how good his Lord is. Dispose now 
 his soul by thy grace, that he may be 
 prepared, at thy call, to go forth to meet 
 thee. Grant him, we beseech thee, true 
 patience and perfect resignation in his
 
 204 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 
 pains and anguish. Give him a fall Ais- 
 charge from all his sins ; and confirm his 
 faith ; strengthen his hope, and perfect his 
 charity, that, departing hence, his soul 
 may be received into thy mercy. O dear 
 Redeemer! by that distress which thou 
 sulTeredst on the cross, when thou criedst 
 aut to thy eternal Father, we pray thee 
 show mercy to this thy servant in his ex- 
 tremity ; hear the sighs and desires of his 
 heart, and since he cannot speak for him- 
 self, speak thou for him, we beseech thee, 
 who art the eternal' Word, and to whom 
 the Father will refuse nothing. 
 
 Let those hands which were once 
 nailed to the cross, now plead for him, 
 and obtaining his pardon, conduct him 
 mto thy eternal rest. Amen. 
 
 THE RECOMMENDATION OV A SOUL DE- 
 PARTING. 
 
 Lord! have mercy on us. 
 Christ ! have mercy on us. 
 Lord I have mprcy on us. 
 Holy Mary, Pray for him, (her.) 
 All ye Angels and Archangels, Pray for 
 
 him, (her.) 
 Holy Al^el, pray for him. (her.) "1 ^ 
 A II ye Choir of the Just, ( ^^ 
 
 Holy Abraham, j " 
 
 St. John the Baptist, J J
 
 I 
 
 FOR THE SICK. 205 
 
 St. Joseph, 
 
 All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, 
 
 St. Peter, 
 
 St. Paul, 
 
 St. Andrew, 
 
 St. John, 
 
 All ye holy Apostles and Evangehsts, 
 
 All ye holy Disciples of our Lord, 
 
 All ye holy Innocents, 
 
 St. Stephen, 
 
 St. Laurence, 
 
 All ye holy Martyrs, f 
 
 St. Sylvester, 
 
 St. Gregory, 
 
 St. Augustine, 
 
 All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, 
 
 St. Benedict, 
 
 St. Francis, 
 
 All ye holy Monks and Hermits, 
 
 St. Mary Magdalen, 
 
 St. Lucy, 
 
 All ye holy Virgins and Widows, 
 
 All ye Saints of God, make intercession 
 
 for him, (her.) 
 Be merciful ; Spare him, (her,) O Lord ! 
 Be merciful ; Deliver him, (her,) Lord ! 
 Be merciful; Receive him, (her,)0 Lord! 
 From thy Anger, Deliver him, {her,) O 
 
 Lord! 
 From the Danger of Death, Deliver hinh 
 
 (/ler,) OLord'
 
 ^? 
 
 20b INSTRTJCTIONS AND DEVOTIOirS 
 
 PVom an ill end. Deliver him, (her,) O 
 
 Lord ! 
 From the pains of hell. 
 From all evil. 
 
 From the power of the Devil, 
 By thy Nativity, 
 By thy Cross and Passion, 
 By thy Death and Burial, 
 By thy glorious Resurrection, 
 By thy admirable Ascension, 
 By the Grace of the Holy Ghost, the 
 
 Comforter, 
 In the Day of Judgment, 
 We sinners beseech thee to hear us. 
 
 That thou spare him, (her,) IVe beseech 
 thee to hear us. 
 
 Lord have mercy on us. Christ have 
 mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. 
 
 Depart, Christian soul! out of this 
 world, in the Name of God the Father 
 Almighty who created thee : in the Name 
 of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, 
 who suffered for thee; in the Name of the 
 Holy Ghost, who sanctified thee; in the 
 Name of the Angels, Archangels, Thrones, 
 and Dominations, Cherubim, and Sera- 
 phim ; in the Name of the Patriarchs and 
 Prophets, of the Holy Apostles and 
 Evangelists, of the Holy Martyrs and 
 Confessors, of the Holy Monks and
 
 FOR THE SICK. 207 
 
 Hermits, of the Holy Virgins and of all 
 the Saints of God ; let thy place be this 
 day in Peace, and thy abode in Holy Sion : 
 Tiirough Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 God of mercy, God of goodness ! O 
 God! who, according to the multitude 
 of thy mercies, forgivest the sins of such 
 as repent, and graciously remittest the 
 guilt of their past offences, mercifully re- 
 gard this thy servant JV., and grant him a 
 Full discharge from all his sins, who most 
 earnestly begs it of thee. Renew, O 
 merciful Father ! whatever is corrupt in 
 him, through human frailty, or by the 
 snares of the enemy; make him a true 
 member of thy Church, and let him par- 
 lake of the fruits of thy redemption. 
 .^men. 
 
 I RECOMMEND thee, dear brother! to 
 Almighty God, and leave thee to his 
 mercy, whose creature thou art, that hav- 
 ing paid the common debt, by surrender- 
 ing thy soul, thou mayest return to thy 
 Maker, who formed thee out of the earth. 
 Let, therefore, the noble company of 
 Angels meet thy soul at its departure ; 
 let the court of the Apostles receive thee ; 
 let the triumphant army of glorious Mar- 
 tyrs conduct thee ; let the crowds of joyful 
 Confessors encompass thee j let the choir
 
 208 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS 
 
 of blessed Virgins go before thee ; lei a 
 happy rest be thy portion in the company 
 of the Patriarchs ; and let Jesus Chrisi 
 appear to thee with a mild and cheerful 
 countenance, and give thee place among 
 those who are to be in his presence foi 
 ever. Mayest thou be a stranger to aF 
 that which is punished with darkness, or 
 chastised with flames, and condemned U 
 torments. Let thy wicked enemy, witi 
 all his evil spirits, depart from thee : may 
 he tremble at thy approach, in the com 
 pany of Angels, and retire into the horrid 
 confusion of eternal night. May thy God 
 arise, and thy enemies be put to flight. 
 May all who hate him fly before his face. 
 Let them vanish like smoke, and as wax 
 before the fire ; so let sinners perish in 
 the sight of God; but for the just, let 
 them rejoice and be happy in his presence. 
 May all the ministers of nell be filled with 
 confusion and shame, and let no evil 
 spirit dare to stop thee in thy way. 
 Christ Jesus, who vouchsafed to die for 
 thee, deliver thee from death ; Christ 
 Jesus, Son of the living God, place thee 
 in his Garden of Paradise; and may he, 
 the true Shepherd, own thee for one of 
 his flock. May he absolve thee from all 
 thy sins, and place thee at his right hand, 
 m the inheritance of his elect. We pray
 
 FOR THE SICK. 209 
 
 It may be thy happy lot to behold thy 
 Redeemer face to face, to be ever in his 
 presence, and in the vision of that truth 
 which is the joy of the blessed. And 
 thus placed among those happy spirits, 
 mayest thou be ever filled with heavenly 
 sweetness. Amen. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 We commend to thee, O Lord! the 
 soul of this thy servant, and beseech thee, 
 Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world! 
 that as in mercy to him thou becamest 
 man, so now thou wouldst vouchsafe to 
 admit him into the number of the blessed. 
 Remember, Lord ! he is thy creature, not 
 made by strange gods, but by thee, the 
 only true and living God ; for there 
 is no other God but thee, none that can 
 work thy wonders. Let his soul find 
 comfort in thy sight, and remember not 
 his former sins ; nor any of those excesses 
 which he has fallen into, through the 
 violence of passion and corruption. For 
 although he has sinned, yet he has still 
 retained a true faith in thee. Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghost! he has had a zeal for 
 thy honouj", and faithfully adored thee, 
 his God, and the Creator of all things. 
 
 Remember not, O Lord! we beseech 
 thee, the sins and isrnorances of his youth ; 
 ^14
 
 210 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS. 
 
 but according to thy great mercy, be 
 mindful of him in thy eternal glory. Let 
 the Heavens be open to him, and the 
 Angels rejoice with him. Receive, Lord! 
 thy servant into thy kingdom. Let the 
 Archangel St. Michael, the chief of the 
 heavenly host, conduct him. Let the 
 holy Angels of God meet him, and bring 
 him into the city of heavenly Jerusalem, 
 May blessed Peter, the Apostle, to whom 
 were given the keys of the kingdom of 
 Heaven, receive him. May holy Paul, 
 the Apostle, who was a vessel of election, 
 help him. May St. John, the beloved 
 Disciple, to whom God revealed tl^ 
 secrets of Heaven, intercede for him^ 
 May all the holy Apostles, to whom was 
 given the power of binding and loosing, 
 pray for him. May all the blessed and 
 chosen servants of God, who in this world 
 have suffered torments for the name ot 
 Christ, pray for him, that, being delivered 
 from this body of corruption, he may be 
 admitted into the kingdom of Heaven, 
 through the assistance and merits of oui 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reign 
 eth with the Father and the Holy Ghost 
 world without end. Jlmen.
 
 FOR THE SICK. 211 
 
 Tfie Soul being now departed, the follow- 
 ing Responsoi'y is to be said. 
 
 Come to his assistance, all ye Saints 
 of God ! meet him, all ye angels of God! 
 receive his soul, and present it now be- 
 fore its Lord! May Jesus Christ receive 
 thee, and the Angels conduct thee to thy 
 place of rest : may they receive his soul, 
 and present it now before its Lord. 
 
 R. Eternal rest grant him, O Lord! 
 and let perpetual light shine unto hinu 
 May they present him noiv before his Lord, 
 
 Lord have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ have mercy on us. 
 
 Lord have mercy on us. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 V. And lead us not into temptation. 
 
 R. Bid deliver us from evil. 
 
 V. Eternal rest grant him, O Lord ! 
 
 R. Jlnd let perpetual light slant unto him, 
 
 V. From the gates of Hell. 
 
 R. Deliver his soul, O Lord ! 
 
 V. May he rest in peace. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 V. O Lord, hear my prayer. 
 
 R. Jlnd let my cry come unto thee. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 To thee. Lord, we recommend the soul 
 of tny servant JV., that, being dead to this
 
 212 MEDITATIONS ON 
 
 world, he may lire to ihee. And what* 
 ever sins he has committed through hu- 
 man frailly, we beseech thee, in thy 
 goodness, mercifully to pardon, througn 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Then for a conclusion may be added the 
 following Prayer for the Assistants, 
 
 Grant, O God, that while we here 
 lament the departure of thy servant, we 
 may ever remember, that we are mosi 
 certainly to follow him. Give us grace 
 to prepare for that last hour by a good 
 life, that we may not be surprised by 
 sudden death, but be ever watching when 
 thou shalt call, that so with the Spouse 
 we may enter into eternal glory : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 FIFTEEN MEDITATIONS, 
 Chi the Passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 
 1.0 GOOD and gracious Jesus! who 
 being most high in the glory of the Fa- 
 ther, and equal to his divine Essence, 
 vouchsafedst, through thy infinite charity, 
 to be made man, to be born in a stable, 
 to be laid m a manger, to be circumcised, 
 and fly into Egypt j afterwards to be
 
 Christ's passion. 213 
 
 baptized, to be tempted, to fast, to watch, 
 to teach the ignorant, and heal the dis- 
 eased; in thy whole life to suffer con- 
 tinual afflictions and persecutions; and 
 at length voluntarily suffer death on the 
 cross, and all this for me, and such 
 wretches as I. 
 
 2.0 GOOD and gracious Jesus! thou 
 naving eaten the Paschal Lamb, with thy 
 dearly beloved Disciples, didst arise from 
 cupper, and gird thyself with a towel; 
 and pour water into a basin, and kneeledst 
 on thy knees, and humbly washedst the 
 feet of thy Disciples, and wipedst them 
 with thy own hands, 
 
 3. O GOOD and gracious Jesus ! who, 
 when the time of thy death approached, 
 didst bequeath a most excellent legacy to 
 thy children, leaving us thy most sacred 
 body to be our meat, and thy most pre- 
 cious blood to be our drink. No wit can 
 teach, nor understanding penetrate tbe 
 bottomless depth of this thy charity. 
 
 4. O GOOD and gracious Lord ! thou 
 entering into the Garden of Olivet, began 
 to fear and to be heavy, whereupon thou 
 said^t to thy Disciples, Jl/^ soul is sorrow- 
 ful to death ; and then leaving them, 
 kn<^ledst upon the ground, and falling 
 fl»*- on tiiy face, prayedst to thy father.
 
 214 MEDITATIONS ON 
 
 "if it be possible to let this cup pass 
 from me ;'' and yet, with perfect submis- 
 sion, wholly resignedst thyself to him, 
 saying. Father, not my will but thine be 
 done ; and at length, through most pain- 
 ful agony, thy afflicted and faintmg body 
 sweat drops of blood. 
 
 5. O GOOD and gracious Jesus ! thou, 
 inflamed with ineffable desire to redeem 
 me, didst go to meet thy enemies, and 
 sufieredst Judas, the traitor, to kiss thee, 
 and thyself to be taken and bound with 
 cords, and, as a malefactor, disgrace- 
 fully led by the basest of the people to 
 Annas, where, with admirable meekness, 
 tliou receivedst a cruel stroke on thy face, 
 most unjustly given thee by a vile wretch 
 and slave. 
 
 6. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! who 
 wast led fast bound, like a notorious male- 
 factor, from Aniuis to the house of Cai- 
 pJias, the high-priest, where the Jews 
 most unjustly accused thee, and, with 
 barbarous insolence, spit upon thy meek 
 and amiable face, buffeting thy cheeks, 
 and blindfolding thy eyes, scornfully 
 wocking and maliciously affronting thee 
 with injuries all that night. 
 
 i, O GOOD and gracious Jesus! thou
 
 Christ's passion. 215 
 
 i\t the morning wast brought to the pre- 
 sence oi' Pilale, and with a most sweet 
 and humble countenance, casting thine 
 eyes down, sto'odest before him in the 
 Judgement hall; and when ihou wast 
 most falsely calumniated by the Jews, 
 and many an insolent rebuke and provo- 
 cation given thee, thou meekly heldest 
 thy peace, and patiently suffered their 
 unjust proceedings. 
 
 8. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! who 
 wast sent from Pilate to Herod, who, out 
 of a vain curiosity, coveting to see some 
 miracle at thy hand, demanded many 
 things of thee, and the Jews continuing 
 still their perverseness against thee, but 
 to all these thy meekness rephed not a 
 word ; wherefore Herod and all his court 
 despised thee, and putting on thee a white 
 garment, in scorn and derision, sent thee 
 thus back again to Pilate. O unspeakable 
 humihty and obedience ! at the will of thy 
 enemies, thou wentest forth and retura- 
 edst again, and wast led up and down 
 from place to place, without gainsaying, 
 and suflering them to do whatever they 
 would. 
 
 9. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! who 
 in the Judgement hall was stripped naked.
 
 216 MEDITATIONS OW 
 
 and without any compassion, most Cru- 
 elly scourged. There was thy blessed 
 virginal and tender flesh cut with whips, 
 and torn with stripes, altogether mangled 
 and deformed, so that streams of thy 
 most precious blood ran down on every 
 side upon the earth. 
 
 10. O GOOD and gracious Jesus ! after 
 thy sharp and bloody scourging, to put 
 thee to more shame and confusion, as 
 also to increase thy torments, they clothed 
 thee with an old purple garment, and 
 platted a crown of thorns, and pressed it 
 on thy head, till the sharp points pierced 
 thy temples, and thy most precious blood 
 ran down, and covered thy face and neck. 
 They gave thee, in derision, a reed for 
 thy sceptre, and kneeling down before 
 thee in scorn, saluted thee, saying, AU 
 Juiil, King of the Jews; then took they 
 the reed out of thy hand, and with it 
 struck thy sacred head, and again spit 
 upon thy blessed face. 
 
 11. O GOOD and precious Jesus! thou 
 wast brought forth by Pilate to the Jews, 
 to be gazed on, Avearing the crown of 
 thorns, and purple garment, Pilate 
 showing thee to the people, saying. Be- 
 hold the man; but they cried out with
 
 Christ's passion. 217 
 
 loud rage and insatiable malice. Crucify 
 him ! Crucify him ! 
 
 12. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! who 
 wast delivered up to the will and pleasure 
 of the Jews, who immediately led thee to 
 be crucified, laying a heavy cross upon 
 thy sore and bloody shoulders ; thus didst 
 thou most humbly bear thy own cross, 
 whose weight pained thee excessively, 
 and coming to the place all weary and 
 breathless, thou refusedst not to taste 
 wine mingled with gall and myrrh, which 
 was the only relief given thee. 
 
 13. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! when 
 thou wast again stripped naked, then 
 were thy wounds, by the pulling off thy 
 dothes, renewed. What bitter pain didst 
 thou suffer, when thou wert, with cruel 
 nails, fastened to the cross, and the joints 
 of thy hmbs stretched on a rack ! O ! 
 with what love and sweetness of charity 
 didst thou offer thy hands and feet, to be 
 bored through, whence, as from a foun- 
 tain, thy precious blood gushed out! 
 
 14. O GOOD and gracious Jesus! thou, 
 hanging on a cross between two thieves, 
 wast assailed by blasphemies, and after 
 BO long continuance of thy tortures, thou 
 prayedst to the Father to forgive iliem,
 
 218 MEDITATIONS ON 
 
 and even when their furj^ was at the 
 highest, didst thou exercise the greatest 
 bounty, promising Paradise to the repent- 
 ing thief, and bequeathing thy dearly b^ 
 loved Mother, (who, pierced by sorrow, 
 stood by the cross,) to thy beloved disci- 
 ple John, and, in him, to us all, to be oui 
 mother. And after thou hadst suffered, 
 three long hours, intolerable pains and 
 extreme thirst, they gave thee vinegar to 
 drink, which, when thou hadst tasted, 
 bowing down thy venerable head, thou 
 yieldedst up thy spirit. 
 
 15. O Goon and gracious Jesus! Ogood 
 Shepherd! thou bestowedst thy life for 
 thy sheep, and even after death, still thou 
 wouldst suffer for us, the sacred side of 
 tky dead body being opened with a spear, 
 out of which flowed water and blood. 
 Thus at at last ended all thy sufferings, 
 and thy enemies having satisfied their 
 thirst after thy blood, and being gone 
 away, thy disciples came and took thy 
 immaculate body down from the cross, 
 and reposed it upon the knees of thy 
 blessed mother ; and after all imaginable 
 expressions of piety, reverence, and 
 love, they wrapped it in fine hnen anl 
 laid It in a sepulchre.
 
 CHRIST'S PASSION. 
 
 219 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O MILD and innocent Lamb of God ! 
 thus heartily thou didst love me, these 
 pains most patiently and lovingly thou 
 sufferedst for me! What shall I rendei 
 thee? I adore and glorify thee, I piaise 
 thee and give thee thanks with all the 
 powers of my soul, Jesus, Son of the 
 living God, King of kings, and Lord of 
 lords ! hail, most glorious Redeemer of 
 our souls! whose death quickens and 
 gives life to the world. 
 
 O blessed Saviour! have mercy on m©> 
 for thy goodness' sake ; forgive all my 
 sins, destroy and mortify in me whatever 
 displeaseth thee. Make me one accord- 
 ing to thy heart, and grant that, to tha 
 utmost of my power, I may most dili- 
 gently imitate thy holy life. O blessed 
 Father of Heaven ! behold, I offer thee 
 tiie most holy incarnation, life, and 
 passion, of thy dearly beloved Son, Jesus 
 Christ, in full satisfaction for all our sins, 
 and perfect amendment of our lives. 
 Grant, most merciful Father! through 
 the merits of thj only begotten Son, to 
 the living, mercy and grace, and to the 
 souk departed, rest and hfe everlasting. 
 Amen.
 
 220 
 INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS ij 
 
 FOR 
 
 CONFIRMATION. 
 
 Confirmation is a sacrament insti- 
 tuted by our Lord Jesus Christ, to ena- 
 ble us to arrive at the state of perfect 
 Christians, and to strengthen the spiri- 
 tual life of grace, which we received at 
 baptism. It is called confirmation from 
 its effect, which is to confirm and fdriifij 
 those who receive it, with the necessary 
 dispositions, in the profession of the true 
 faith, to arm them against their spiritual 
 enemies, and to complete and finish in 
 them the sanctification which baptism 
 had began. In baptism, we receive the 
 character of the children of God : in con- 
 firmation, we receive the strength of men, 
 and the character of the soldiers of Jesus 
 Christ, says St. Melchiades. In baptism, 
 we are enlisted under the standard of 
 Christ crucified : in confirmation, we 
 are armed with the shield of faith, and en- 
 abled to combat against the devil, the 
 world, and the flesh. In baptism we are 
 regenerated, and receive the sanctifying 
 g^race of God, for the remission of sins: 
 m confirmation, we are prepared for a 
 spiritual warfare^ and receive the Holy
 
 CONFIRMATION. 221 
 
 Ghost, for force and corroboration, 
 that we may stand firm in the divine 
 service, for the sake of Christ, with a 
 holy vigour of spirit and constancy of 
 mind, amidst the terrors of the severest 
 Uials and persecutions. 
 
 The effects of this sacrament appeared 
 visibly, not only in thousands of holy 
 martyrs, but also in the apostles, who, 
 after they had been confirmed on Whit- 
 sunday, by the Holy Ghost coming 
 down upon them, were immediately 
 changed into new men, and were ani- 
 mated by this Divine Spirit to that de- 
 gree, that sufferings for the sv/eet name of 
 Jesus became the subject of their glory. 
 It is evident, from Acts 3 and 19, that 
 the Apostles practised confirmation, as a 
 means to communicate the graces and 
 gifts of the Holy Ghost to the faithful 
 It is of confirmation, also, that St. Paul 
 makes mention, Heb. vi. 1, 2, and 2 Cor. 
 i. 21, 22, where he expressly says, JYmo 
 he who confirmeth lis with you in Christy 
 and hath anointed us, is God; who hath 
 also sealed us, and g^iven ns the tamest of 
 the Spirit in our hearts. 
 
 The testimonies of the most ancient 
 writers plainly show that the church of 
 God, from the Apostles' days, has always 
 Delieved confirmation to be a sacrament
 
 SSii INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
 
 of the new law, and administered it as 
 such. Among the rest, St. Clement, a 
 contemporary of the Apostles, says, 
 chap. 4, that he received this doctrine 
 from blessed Peter and other Apostles; 
 and therefore he exhorts all, without 
 delay, to hasten to be signed by the 
 bishop, that they may receive the seven- 
 fold grace of the Holy Ghost, since he 
 cannot be a perfect Christian who wil- 
 fully neglects this sacrament. TertuUian, 
 St. Fabian, and St. Melchiades, who 
 flourished in the second, third, and fourth 
 centuries; St. Cyprian, 3t. Jerome, St. 
 Ambrose, &,c., have handed down the 
 same doctrine; and St. Augustine, lib. 2. 
 cent. lit. Pelil. c. 104, says, in express 
 terms, "The sacrament of chrism, in the 
 kind of visible seals, is sacred and holy, 
 even as baptism itself" Moreover, it is 
 plain from the 8th chap, of the Acts of 
 the Apostles, v. 14, that the visible sign 
 of the imposition of hands has annexed 
 to it an invisible gi-ace, viz., the impart- 
 ing of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, 
 confirmation is a sacrament; as it has 
 all the things necessary to constitute a 
 sacrament; and is a visible sign of an m- 
 visible grace, Sfc. 
 
 The ordinary minister of this sacrs^- 
 ment is a bishop only ; and it was foi
 
 CONFIRMATION. 223 
 
 Ais reason that St. Peter and St. John, 
 who were both bishops, were sent to con- 
 firm the Samaritans, who had been con- 
 verted and baptized by Philip, the Dea- 
 con ; which is an additional proof that 
 confirmation is a holy- sacrament, and 
 not a mere ceremony, as Calvm pretends ; 
 for were it only a ceremony which they 
 administered, why did not Philip the 
 Deacon, who baptized the Samaritans, 
 use that ceremony ? — where was the ne- 
 cessity of sending two bishops to Sama- 
 ria, as the Apostles did ? Acts, viii. 
 
 As water is made use of in baptism, so 
 chrism is used in confirmation. Chrism is 
 a sacred ointment, composed of oil of 
 diiyes and balsam or halm of Gilead, 
 solemnly blessed by a bishop on Holy 
 Thursday. The unction, or outward 
 anointing with Chrism, represents the in- 
 ward anointing of the soul with the gifts 
 of the Holy Ghost; as the outward 
 ablution with water, in baptism, denotes 
 the inward washing of the soul, by the 
 sanctifying grace of God. The oil, whose 
 properties are to assuage pains, to fortify 
 the limbs, and to give a certain vigour to 
 the body, represents the spiritual effects 
 of the grace of this sacrament in the soul ; 
 and the balm, which is of a sweet smell, 
 dnd whose property it is to preserve bo-
 
 224 INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
 
 dies from putrefaction, represents the good I 
 odour, or sweet savour of Christian vir- 
 tues, with which we are to edify our neigh- 
 bours, after having received this sacra- 
 ment. The form of words used in confer- 
 ring this sacrament are these : / sign thee 
 with tJie sign of the cross, I confirm thee \ 
 with the chrism of salvation, in the name of 
 the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. Whilst the bish.op pronounces 
 the form, he makes the sign of the cross, 
 with the lioly chrism, upon the forehead 
 of each person that is to be confirmed, 
 to give them to understand, that no 
 worldly fear or shame is to deter them 
 from confessing Christ crucified, but that 
 they are openly to profess the doctrine 
 and maxims of his Gospel, and live as be- 
 comes members of his church, in spite ot 
 the ill example and corrupt maxims of 
 the world. Hence TertuUian says, 1. 1. 
 adv. Marc. " The flesh is anointed, 
 that the soul may be consecrated. The 
 flesh is signed, that the soul may be fenced . 
 The flesh, by the imposition of hands, is t 
 shadowed, that the soul, by the spirit, 
 may be illuminated." This is what the ' 
 bishop prays for, when, turning himself 
 towards those who are Xo be confirmed, . 
 with his hands joined before his breast, 
 he says, May the Holy Glwst come down
 
 CONFIRMATION. 2^5 
 
 upon ymi, and the power of the Most High 
 keep you from ail sins. — -Amen. A litiJe 
 blow is given on the cheek to the persons 
 comfirmed, to imprint in their minds, that 
 jhey are to be ready to bear, with meek- 
 ness and patience, all crosses, persecu- 
 tions, trials, affronts, and injuries, for the 
 sake and glory of their Lord and Master 
 Jesus Christ. At the same time the 
 bishop says. Peace he with thee, to signify, 
 Uiat the true peace of God, which, as St. 
 Paul says, eoxeeds all understanding, is 
 chiefly to be found in patient suffering 
 for God and his truths. Lastly, the 
 bishop prays for those who have been 
 confirmed, that the Holy Ghost may ever 
 dwell in their hearts, and make them 
 temples of his glory. After wlrich he 
 dismisses them with his blessing, &.c. 
 
 Q. Can the sacrament of confirmation 
 be received more than once? 
 
 A. No : because, like baptism, it im- 
 prints an indehble character, or spiritual 
 mark in the soul, which always remains, 
 
 Q. Is there any spiritual kindred con- 
 tracted in confirmation? 
 
 A. Yes : the godfather, or the god- 
 mother, contracts the same spiritual 
 kindred as in the sacrament of baptism. 
 
 Q. Is confirmation absolutely necessary 
 to salvation ? 
 
 15
 
 226 INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
 
 A. It is not so necessary but that a per- 
 son may be saved without it ; yet, 
 w^hen a favourable, opportunity offers for 
 receiving it, it would be certainly a sin to 
 neglect so powerful a help to salvation, 
 and deprive ourselves of the benefit of 
 his holy sacrament, which our blessed 
 Redeemer was mercifully pleased, of his 
 infinite goodness, to institute, as the 
 never-failing means in his church to 
 communicate his Divine Spirit to his fol- 
 lowers. It would be still a more grievous 
 crime to neglect confirmation through 
 contempt, disregard, or want of faith. It 
 is to a wilful neglect of this sacrament 
 that the holy Fathers attribute the down- 
 fal of several apostates from the true re- 
 ligion. 
 
 Q. What kind of persons stand most 
 m need of the grace of this sacrament? 
 
 A. Those who are the most exposed 
 to temptations against faith, or to perse- 
 cutions upon account of their religion. 
 
 Q. At what age may a person be con- 
 firmed? 
 
 A. Ordinarily speaking, the church does 
 not give confirmation to children before 
 they are seven years old, but defers it till, 
 they come to the use of reason, and are 
 sufficiently instructed and prepared. 
 Fathers and mothers should take care to, ■
 
 CONFIRMATION. 227 
 
 have tKem carefully instructed in the 
 Christian doctrine, and regularly pre- 
 sented to the bishop for confirmation, at 
 the proper time, before they have re- 
 ceived the blessed eucharist. If their 
 children be lost through ignorance they 
 5hall answer for it to God, 
 
 Q. What are the dispositions necessary 
 for receiving the sacrament of confirma- 
 tion worthily 1 
 
 A. A person must be free from the 
 guilt of mortal sin, and in the state of 
 grace, for the Holy Spirit of wisdom will 
 A)t enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell 
 in a body subject to sins. Wisd. i. 4. He 
 must also be well instructed in the princi- 
 ples of the Christian faith, according to 
 his age and capacity, and have a proper 
 sense of what he is doing. 
 
 Q. In what manner, then, must a 
 person prepare himself for confirmation ? 
 
 A. First, he must examine his con- 
 science diligently, and if he finds it 
 charged with wilful sin, he must take 
 care to purge it by a good sacramental 
 confession J for it would be a grievous 
 sacrilege to presume to receive the sacra- 
 ment of confirmation knowingly in a 
 state of mortal sin. Secondly, he must 
 prepare himself some days before, by 
 devout and humble prayer, frequently
 
 228 tItSTRUCTIONS FOR 
 
 and fervently calling upon God to dispose 
 his soul for receiving the Holy Ghost, 
 who communicates his gracious gifts and 
 favours in proportion to the dispositions 
 with which they are received. 
 
 Q. As confirmation is ordained for the 
 sanctification of souls, why do not all 
 who receive it become saints ? 
 
 Jl. The fault is entirely their own. 
 God, on his part, is ready to bestow all 
 the graces necessary to enable them to 
 become saints ; but alas ! how few are 
 disposed to improve and co-operate with 
 them as they might and ought! how few 
 make the proper use of them! How 
 many, on the contrary, resist them, like 
 the stiff-necked Jews! how many corir 
 tristate and extinguish the Divine Spirit! 
 as the Apostle expresses it. How many 
 banish this heavenly guest from the tem- 
 ple of their souls, by falling into mortal 
 sin, and thus obstruct the operation of 
 this holy sacrament! 
 
 Q. Is a person obliged to receive the 
 sacrament of confirmation fasting? 
 
 Jl. No, there is no strict obligation or 
 precept for it, though to fast on the eve 
 and day of confirmation, is a laudable 
 custom, and conformable to the practice 
 of the primitive church. 
 
 Q. Why are the fervent exercises of
 
 CONFIRMATION. 229 
 
 piety and devotion required before con- 
 firmation'? 
 
 Jl. For two reasons; First, because 
 our Saviour has assured us, that his 
 heavenly Father icill ^ve his good Spirit to 
 them that ask it. LuKe xi. 13. — Secondly, 
 in imitation oi'the Apostles, who during 
 the ten days between the ascension of 
 our Lord, and the descent of the Holy 
 Ghost on Pentecost, retired from the noise 
 and tumults of the world, and continued 
 with one accord in prayer, with Mary, 
 the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 
 Acts i. 14. 
 
 Q. Why are we to invoke the Holy 
 Ghost in particular? 
 
 A. Not that we are to neglect praying 
 to the Father and Son also, as we know 
 that all the three persons are but one and 
 the same God, but because the work of 
 our sanctification, the pouring down the 
 grace of God into our souls, and ail the 
 heavenly favours and helps that are 
 necessary for conducting us in the way 
 of salvation, are the eflects of the divine 
 love, and are, by a peculiar appropriation, 
 attributed, in a special manner, to the 
 oj)pration of the Holy Ghost, as he is the 
 love of the Father and of the Son, as it is 
 from God^s love that all grace, all virtue 
 and sanctification flow and proceed.
 
 230 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 A pray&r before Confirmalion. 
 
 O GOD of infinite goodness and bounty ! 
 who hast been pleased in my baptism to 
 make me a Chrisiian, to sanctify my soul 
 with thy grace, and to honour me with 
 the glorious title of thy child; which, alas! 
 for my part, I have so wretchedly cor 
 responded with, and have even forfeited 
 a thousand times by my sins ; behoid, 
 notwithstanding all my ingratitude, und 
 my repeated treasons, which tliou »iast 
 so long and so patiently endured, mou 
 art still pleased, not only to invite i le to 
 return to thee, and to offer me thy mercy, 
 but also to call upon me at this time, to 
 come and present myself, in order lo re- 
 ceive the greatest of all thy gifts, even 
 thine own most Holy Spirit, to be con- 
 secrated to thee by this unction, to be 
 made a strong and perfect Christian, and 
 a soldier of thy Son. O ! may all heaven 
 and earth praise thee, bless thee, and 
 glorify thee for ever, for all thy mercies, 
 goodness, and bounty tome! And now, 
 dearest Lord! I desire to come, because 
 such is thy will, and my duty, to receive 
 this great sacrament of confirmation : that 
 I may, like thy apostles, be baptized with 
 the Holy GJwst, and endowed with poioef 
 from on hi^h; and like them be changed
 
 CONFIRMATION. 
 
 231 
 
 by divine grace, into another man, in such 
 manner as henceforward to live up to 
 the dignity, and to fulfil every part of the 
 duty of SL soldier of Christ; and to preserve 
 and maintain, even to death, that purity 
 and sanctity, which become the temple of 
 tlie living God. But, O my God! how 
 far am I from being worthy to approach 
 this heavenly sacrament ! How can I ex- 
 pect that the Holy Spirit should come 
 into my inward house, to make it his 
 temple, which has been so long possessed 
 by unclean spirits ? Where are the dis- 
 positions in me, which the apostles 
 brought, and which all the Christians 
 ought to bring along with them, to ths 
 receiving of the Holy Ghost? O! I ac- 
 knowledge myself infinitely unworthy ; 
 I confess and detest, from the bottom of 
 my heart, all my past uncleanness and 
 abominations ; I humbly crave thy mercy 
 and pardon, through Jesus Christ thy Son; 
 and beg, through him, that thou wilt be 
 pleased to cleanse my soul from all its 
 filth with his precious blood, and give me 
 thy grace to come to this sacrament, with 
 that humility, faith, and devotion, which 
 is most agreeable to thee. O divine Spirit! 
 do thou prepare my soul for thyself! 
 Behold, I come, desiring to give up my- 
 self to thee for lime and eternity ; thai
 
 232 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 thou mayest ever live and reign in my 
 soul: and O! let my whole soul hence- 
 forward be perpetually subject to thee, 
 and let nothing in me evermore rebel 
 against thee ! Amen. 
 
 Those wlw are preparing themselves for tfa 
 Sacrament of Confirmation may like- 
 wise breathe forth, from time to time, 
 the following slwrt ejaculations. 
 
 Come, Holy Ghost! who replenishes! 
 the hearts of the faithful, descend into my 
 soul, and make it the place of thy abode. 
 
 Come, O divine Spirit! take full pos- 
 session of my heart, and kindle in it the 
 fire of divine love. 
 
 Enter into my soul, and abide there for 
 ever, to be my light, my guide, and my 
 strength. 
 
 Come, Holy Ghost ! with all thy gifts, 
 and fill my soul ; enlighten, direct, and 
 conduct me in all my ways, strengthen 
 me against all the assaults of self-love ; 
 remove from me all vicious shame, and 
 inspire me with a Christian courage. 
 
 O ! grant, that I may make the Gospel 
 the rule of my life. Preserve me from 
 the corruption of sin, and from the per- 
 nicious maxims of the world. Give me 
 grace, God I to do thy will in all things.
 
 CONFIRMATION. 233 
 
 Enlighten my eyes, O Lord ! that I may 
 never sleep in death. 
 
 O uncreated Fire ! when wilt thoa 
 consume whatever is imperfect in my 
 soul? 
 
 Inebriate my soul with thy holy love, 
 O thou sovereign beauty ! 
 
 O ! may I never forget the obligations 
 that are contracted by being enlisted a 
 disciple of the cross, in the sacrament of 
 confirmation. 
 
 ' O ! grant, that I may ever have before 
 my eyes the duties thereunto annexed, 
 and that I may live henceforth accord- 
 ing to the spirit of a true and perfect 
 Christian. 
 
 "Short ejaculations of this kind, fre- 
 quently darted from an humble and fer- 
 vent heart, penetrate the clouds, pierce 
 the paternal heart of the Father of 
 mercies, and draw down an ample bene- 
 diction on those pious souls, to whom 
 they become familiar by practice and 
 habit. This manner of prayer is highly 
 commended by the Saints, and was one 
 of the principal exercises, by which the 
 ancient Solitaries arrived at the highest 
 perfection. It has this peculiar advan- 
 tage, that it can be practised at all times, 
 on all occasions, and in the midst of ex-
 
 234 
 
 DEVOTIONS FOR 
 
 lernal employments, without being ex- 
 posed to the danger of vain-glory, as it ia 
 secretly performed in the closet of the 
 heart. It is short and easy, does not dis- 
 tract or fatigue the mind, but keeps up 
 the fervour of the spirit, and attention to 
 the divine presence." 
 
 A Prayer after Confirmation. 
 
 My God! I now desire to adore thee, 
 bless thee, and glorify thee for ever, for 
 all thou hast done for me, and for thy 
 whole church, both of heaven and earth. 
 I v/ould now gladly join my heart and 
 voice, with all thy angels and saints in 
 heaven, and with all that fear thee, and 
 love thee on earth, in giving perpetual 
 praise to thee for thy infinite goodness, 
 and in particular for that love thou hast 
 showed to me this day. I give thee 
 thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for 
 having sent down thy Holy Spirit into 
 my soul, with all its gifts and graces. Oi 
 let him now take full possession of my 
 soul : let this heavenly unction penetrate 
 into the very centre of my interior : let 
 his divine wisdom ever preside there ; 
 may it ever enlighten me with his gift of 
 understanding, and. dispel all my dark- 
 ness ; may it direct me v/ith his ce*insel.
 
 CONFIRMATION. 235 
 
 Strengthen me with his fortitude, instruct 
 me with his knowledge, make me ever 
 fervent in all good with his piety and god- 
 liness, and let his divine fear ever restrain 
 me from all evil. And now, dear Lord ! 
 since thou hast been pleased, by this 
 sacrament, to consecrate and to sanctify 
 my soul for thyself, and to make it thy 
 temple ; be pleased also to drive far from 
 it, by thy grace, all that may violate or 
 profane it, or render it any ways disagree- 
 able in thy eyes. O ! keep it for ever thy- 
 self, and restrain Satan from ever enter- 
 ing into it any more. O ! let it be a house 
 affrayer, in which thou may est be ever 
 worshipped in spint and in truth, and 
 suffer it not to be made any more a den 
 of thieves. Give me grace also to fulfil, 
 with perfection, every branch of the duty 
 of thy soWicr, which glorious title thou hast 
 conferred on me this day : arm me com- 
 pletely for the warfare in which I am 
 happily engaged, and stand by me in all 
 my conflicts, to crown me with victory. 
 O ! make me faithful unto death, and 
 bring me safe through all the dangers of 
 my mortal pilgrimage, to the crown of 
 everlasting life j through Christ Jesus our 
 Lord, .dinen.
 
 236 CONFIRMATION. 
 
 Tlie hymns appointed hij the Church fot 
 invocatin^ the Hohj Ghost, and proper to 
 be recited before receiving the sacrament 
 of Confirmation, are. Spirit, Creator of 
 Mankind; Come, Holy Ghost, send down 
 those beams. 
 
 A Prayer after the Hymv^. 
 
 O GOD ! to whom every heart lies open, 
 every will speaks its desire, and from 
 whom no secret is concealed: purify the 
 thoughts of our hearts by the mspiration 
 of the Holy Ghost, in order that we may 
 perfectly love thee, and worthily praise 
 I'.hee, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 thy Son, who with thee and the same 
 Holy Ghost, who liveth, &c., Amen. '
 
 237 
 PRAYER 
 
 FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 O MOST gracious Father! sanctify 
 thy Church : take away from it all 
 schisms and scaiulals, that it may be 
 one fold under one Shepherd. Pour 
 down thy mercy on the nations thai 
 know thee not, an.d enlighten their 
 hearts that they may acknowledge and 
 love thee. Dissipate the councils of 
 the wicked, that they may cease to 
 oppose thy kingdom and the propaga- 
 tion of thy glory. To our beloved 
 father, Gregory XVI., to all prelates, 
 bishops, priests, and to all religious 
 orders and communities, grant thy di- 
 vine love, that they may rightly fulfil 
 the duties of their states. To all 
 rulers, princes, kings and magistrates, 
 give thy wisdom, whereby they may 
 faithfully administer the laws and 
 follow peace ; and to thy people give 
 thy benediction. Vouchsafe to grant 
 to the agonizing true contrition and 
 thy love: to sinners, true repentance 
 and pardon of their offences : to our
 
 238 PRAYERS. 
 
 enemies thy charity and sweetness : to 
 our friends, benefactors and relatives 
 thy grace and blessing. 
 
 Mercifully deign so to direct us in 
 all our thoughts, words and actions, 
 that thy holy Church may be moie 
 and more strengthened and glorified : 
 and that thy worship may always and 
 everywhere flourish, and continue until 
 thy coming. 
 
 To the souls in purgatory, to those 
 who especially need our prayers, or 
 for whom we are bound to pray, grant 
 eternal rest and the joys of thy hea- 
 venly kingdom. 
 
 " The Church of God is helped by 
 nought so much, as by the secret pray- 
 ers and intercession of holy souls "
 
 PRAYERS. 239 
 
 1 BELIEVE THE HOLT CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 O GLORIOUS, O venerable, O holy 
 Church, whose Saints are Sages, whose 
 Sages are Apostles, whose Apostles are 
 Martyrs, whose princes are the hum- 
 ble ! O beautiful Church, whose poetry 
 is divine, w^hose music is angelical, 
 whose painting is inspired, whose archi- 
 tecture is inimitable! 
 
 Rise up, O Shepherd of this flock of 
 ages, rise up, O head and leader of the 
 hosts of God on earth ; rise up, O bishop 
 of the Churches of Rome and of the 
 world, call around thee some few 
 honourod from among thy multitudes. 
 Show to those who know thee not, and 
 are proud because they know thee not, 
 show them thy great Gregories, thy 
 great Augustins, thy great Aquins, thy 
 Benedicts and thy Loyolas : Show them 
 thy Antonies, and thy Xaviers, thy Ed- 
 wards and thy Charlemagnes, thy 
 Catharines and thy Clares. Show them 
 thy Dantes, thy Angelicos, thy Raphaels, 
 and show them those whose names 
 we know not, but whose works are
 
 240 PRAYERS. 
 
 superhuman in science, and in beauty, 
 and in majesty. Show thyself to them, 
 O St. Peter, the fisherman of Galilee, 
 founder of an eternal dynasty, Fatlier 
 of an eternal philosophy, master., of 
 the great masters in all tlie arts of the 
 noble. Show thyself to them, O thou 
 Rock Catholic, that all who would have 
 dieir works to stand may build on thee ; 
 Show tliyself to them, O thou Spring 
 Catholic, that all who would be inspired 
 may drink of thee; Show thyself to 
 them O thou Shepherd Catholic, that 
 all who would be folded with tlie flock 
 of Christ may flee to thee. Show thy- 
 self to all the world, that all the world 
 may become Catholic in wisdom. Catho- 
 lic in science. Catholic in faith : that the 
 beauties and the miracles of Rome 
 may be seen every where, that llie 
 ministers of England may be multiplied 
 in both the Indies ; that thy schools may 
 be ubiquitary, and their scholars once 
 more be armies. Rise up, O glorious 
 Vicar of God, not in anger, but in power ; 
 Smite not, but pity ; Remember thy own 
 unfaithfuhiess, and pray for those who
 
 PRAYERS. 2-11 
 
 have not followed thy repentance. 
 Pray for our country, pray for our dear 
 islands of our Fathers, pray for our 
 offspring, that the people whose habita- 
 tions the day-light never dies upon, the 
 music of whose language is breathed 
 by all thp winds, may become dwellers 
 in the tabernacle of holiness, and 
 chant thy hallowed liturgy, and the 
 nameof Jesus, with the sun that never 
 sets. — Amen. 
 
 16
 
 242 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 Have compassion on me, O Godi 
 and mercifully deliver me from the per- 
 plexity in which I am, be a helper to 
 me, and direct me in fulfilling thy 
 blessed will. Thou seest the danger in 
 which I am of ruining myself — of beino 
 misled by my own deceitful passions — 
 of being drawn into the snares of the 
 enemy — of framing to myself a false, 
 rash, and erroneous conscience — of 
 mistaking light for darkness and 
 darkness for light. If this be my un- 
 happy condition, what will become of 
 my soul ? Direct me therefore, in this 
 important inquiry, O my God, and 
 never let me be so miserable as to for- 
 sake my duty and iose my soul. As 
 thou didst show mercy to Corne- 
 lius, and directed him to Peter, by 
 whom he was to be taught the way to 
 heaven, as thou didst show mercy to 
 Saul, and sent him to Ananias, by whom 
 he was to learn the holy will, so like- 
 wise, O God of innnite goodness, show 
 flfiorcy to me, an unworthy sinner, itial
 
 PRATERS. 243 
 
 I may have both light to know my 
 duty, and courage to comply entirely' 
 with it. And if thou seest, O Lord, 
 that in reality I have taken part with 
 false teachers, behold me here in thy 
 presence, ready to renounce the errors 
 I have professed, whatever they are. 1 
 disown the allurements by which I 
 have been misled : and now lay before 
 thee my most sincere desire of becom- 
 ing a member of thy true Church. 
 Hear my prayer, O God, in this great 
 affair of eternity ; and so lead my soul 
 by thy grace, that while I seek the 
 truth, I may not be obstinate against it. 
 I beseech thee to take from me, all 
 blindness of judgement, and corruption 
 of heart; let not interest, worldly con- 
 sideration, or human respect, bias me ; 
 let not education, custom, or affection, 
 prevail against truth, but let my soul 
 act with that freedom, which the im- 
 portance of the affair requires. Assist 
 me, most merciful Father, in what I 
 have now before me, give me under- 
 standing and courage, and suffer me 
 not to be deluded, as thou knosvest my
 
 244 PRAYERS. 
 
 only desire is to find thee and do tliy 
 will. Assist me, O God, and be thou 
 my guide, for thus only can I come to 
 thee, O iVlmighty and Eternal God, 
 Father of mercies, and Saviour of man- 
 kind ; I humbly entreat thee, by thy 
 sovereign goodness, to enlighten my 
 mind, and to move my heart, that by 
 faith, hope, and charity, I may live and 
 die in the true religion of Jesus Christ. 
 J am sure that as there is but one true 
 God, so there can be but one faith ; one 
 religion, one way of salvation ; and 
 that every other way, contrary to this, 
 can only lead to endless misery. It is 
 this faith, O my God, which I earnestly 
 desire to embrace, in order to save my 
 soul ; 1 protest therefore, before thy Di- 
 vine Majesty, that I will follow that 
 religion, which thou shalt show me to 
 be true, and that, cost what it may, I 
 will abandon that in which I shall dis- 
 cover error and falsehood. J do not 
 deserve, it is true, this favour, on ac- 
 count of the greatness of my sins, for 
 wliich 1 now have a profound sorrow ; 
 because they offend a God, so good, so
 
 PRAYERS. 245 
 
 great, so holy and so worthy of all my 
 love. What I do not myself deserve, I 
 hope to obtahi from thy infinite mercy, 
 and I conjure thee to grant it, through 
 the merits of the precious blood which 
 was shed for us poor sinners, by thy 
 only begotten Son, Christ Jesus our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 PLENARY INDULGENCE. 
 
 A PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX, OR PIC- 
 TURE OF JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED. 
 
 Clement VIII. and Benedict XIV. 
 have granted a plenary indulgence to 
 those who recite the following prayer, 
 before any image or representation of 
 Christ crucified, provided they confess 
 and approach the holy communion. 
 This indulgence is confirmed by Pops 
 Pius VII., by a decree of the sacred con- 
 gregation of indulgences, dated the 10th 
 of April, 1821, and is made applicable, 
 by way of suffrage to the suffering souls 
 in purgatory. — Decree of Leo XIL, I7th 
 September 1825.
 
 246 
 
 Behold me, O good and amiable 
 Jesus ! prostrate in thy divine presence, 
 and beseeching thee, with all the ardour 
 of my soul, to impress upon my heart 
 lively sentiments of faith, hope and 
 charity, and of repentance for sins, and 
 a most determined resolution of never 
 offending thee again; whilst with all 
 the affection of my heart, and with the 
 sincerest sorrow, I consider and con- 
 template thy five wounds, meditating 
 chiefly on the words of the Roval 
 Prophet, concerning thee, O my Jesus ! 
 " They have dug my hands and my 
 feet : they have numbered all my 
 bones.''' — Psalm xxi. 18. 
 
 This indulgence can be gained every 
 day by iveeldy penitents, on the condition 
 of communion. — Decree of the sacred con- 
 P'Cf^ation of indulgences, 9th of December^ 
 1763, apjyroved by Clement XIII.
 
 247 
 
 MANNER OF SERVING A PRIEST 
 AT MASS. 
 
 The Clerk must kneel at his left hand, and 
 answer him as follows : 
 
 P. Introibo ad altare Dei. 
 
 C. Ad Deum, qui laetificat juventutem 
 me am. 
 
 P. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam 
 meam, de gente non sancta : ab horaine 
 iniquo et doloso erue i.-^e. 
 
 C. Q,uia tu es Deus, fortitude mea: 
 quare me repulisti, et quart tristis incedo, 
 dum affligit me inimicus 7 
 
 P. Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem 
 tuam : ipsa me deduxerunt, et addux- 
 erunt in montem sanctum tuum et in 
 tubernacula tua. 
 
 C. Et introibo ad altare Dei : ad Deum 
 qui laetificat juventutem meam. 
 
 P. Ccnfitebor tibi in cithara, Deus 
 mens. Q.uare tristis es, anima mea, et 
 quare conturbas me? 
 
 C. Sppra in Deo, quoniam adhuc con- 
 fitebor illi ; salutare vultus mei, et Deus 
 meus. 
 
 P. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui 
 Sancto.
 
 24S MANNER Of JsERViISG MASS. 
 
 C. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, el 
 semper, et in specula soeculorum. Anieru 
 
 P. Introibo ad altare Dei. 
 
 C. Ad Deum, qui laetificat juventutera 
 meam. 
 
 P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Do- 
 mini. 
 
 C. Glui fecit coslum et terram. 
 
 P. Confiteor Deo, &c. 
 
 C. Misereatur tui Omnipotens Deus, 
 et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad 
 vitam a3ternam. 
 
 P. Amen. 
 
 C Confiteor Deo omnipotent!, beatas 
 Marias semper virgini, beato Michaeb 
 arcliangelo, beato Joanni baptistse, sanctia 
 apostolis Petro et PaulOj^omnibus Sanctis, 
 et tibi. Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogi- 
 tatione, verbo, et opere. [Knock your 
 breast and say] Mea culpa, mea culpa, 
 mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam 
 Mariam semper virginem, bealum Mi- 
 cJiaelem archangelum, beatum Joannem 
 baptistam sanclos apostolos Petrura ei 
 Paulum, omnes sanctos, et te Pater — 
 orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nos- 
 trum. 
 
 P. Misereatur vestri, &c. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. Indulgentiam, absolutionem, &C. 
 
 C. Amen.
 
 MANNER OF SERVING MASS. 249 
 
 P. Deus" tu conversus vivificabis nos. 
 
 C. Et plebs tua Isetabitur in le. 
 
 P. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericor- 
 liam tuam. 
 
 C. El salutare tuum da nobis. 
 
 P. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. 
 
 C. Et clamor mens ad te veniat. 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum, 
 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 
 P. Kyrie eleison. 
 
 C. Kyrie eleison. 
 
 P, Kyrie eleison. 
 
 C. Christe eleison. 
 
 P. Christe eleison. 
 
 C. Christe eleison. 
 
 P. Kyrie eleison. 
 
 C. Kyrie eleison. 
 
 P. Kyrie eleison. 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum 
 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 
 IVlien the Priest says, Flectamus genua; 
 answer, Levate. 
 
 [Jit the end of tJie epistle say, Deo graliaa 
 — tlien remove the rtutss-book, and ever kned 
 or stand on the side contrary to tfiat m 
 which the book Juis been placed.^ 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum. 
 C. El cum spiritu tuo. 
 P. Sequentia sancti evangelii secun- 
 lum, Scc.
 
 250 MANNER VF SERVING MASS. 
 
 [ Make the sipi of the cross and say;] 
 0. Gloria tibi, Domine. 
 
 [Make a reverence at the beginning and 
 ending cf the gospel, and at the name of 
 Jesus — and at the end say : ] 
 
 C. Laus tibi, Christe. 
 P. Dominus vobiscum. 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 
 [Here the clerk is to give ivine and water, 
 and prepare the basin, water, and towel, fm 
 the priest. The pnest having washed, let 
 Jiim kneel in his former place, and answer:] 
 
 P. Orate, fratres. 
 
 C. Suscipiat, Dominus sacrificium, de 
 manibus tuis :id laudem et gloriam no- 
 minis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, 
 totiusque ecclesice suae sanctoe. 
 
 P. Per omnia saecula sasculorum. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum. 
 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 
 P. Sursum corda. 
 
 C. Habemus ad Dominum. 
 
 P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro* 
 
 C. Dignum et justum est. 
 
 \^t Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, &c. ring 
 the little hell] 
 
 Wlien you see the priest spread Ids hem/**
 
 MANNER OF SERVING MASS. 251 
 
 offCt tJie chalice, you nrnst give warnings 
 by the bell, of the consecration which is 
 about to be made. Then Iwldins; up tlvt 
 vestment with your left hand, and having 
 Vie hell in your right, you must ring during 
 Vie elevation of the host : — As often as you 
 pass by tlie blessed sacrament, you must 
 adore on your knees. 
 
 P. Per omnia saecula saeculomm. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. El ne nos inducas m tentationem. 
 
 C. Sed libera nos a malo. 
 
 P. Per omnia saecula sajculorum. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. Pax Domine sit semper vobiscum. 
 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 
 P. Pax tecum. 
 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. , 
 
 l^Pnusing a little, rise, and make adora- 
 ■4ion to the sacrament. The priesVs com 
 munion being ended, he ready to give him 
 wine and water. Jf there be communicants j 
 ■provide a towel, and say the confteor 
 After they have received, remove the booh 
 to the left hand of the altar ; take away tJu 
 towel from the communicants, if there h 
 any, and return to your former place.^ 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum. 
 C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 
 P. Per omnia saecula sseculorum.
 
 252 MANNER OF SERNING MASS. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. Ite ; missa est : or, benedicamufl 
 Domino. 
 
 C. Deo gratias. 
 
 [7/1 masses for the dead.] 
 
 JP. Requiescani in pace. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 [Remove the hook if it he left open ; 
 kneel and take the pricst^s blessing.'] 
 
 P. Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. 
 
 C. Amen. 
 
 P. Dominus vobiscum. 
 
 C. Et cum spirilu tuo. 
 
 P. Initium (or, sequentia) sancti evan- 
 gelii, Sec. 
 
 C. Gloria tibi, Dornine. 
 
 [At the end say, Deo gratias. 
 
 . Put out the candles, and lay up all dc- 
 cently and carefully. 
 
 If yon have leisure, meditate awhile^ kiss 
 iJiG altar, saying:] 
 
 I will adore in the place where his feet 
 stood.
 
 VESPERS. 253 
 
 VESPERS. 
 
 Next to the offering of the Eucharisti- 
 cal Sacrifice, which is the most subUme 
 and the most essential act of divine wor- 
 ship, the singing of the praises of God 
 and of the Lamb is unquestionably the 
 noblest employment of a Christian. He 
 who sings to God with a proper sense of 
 devotion, associates himseli" to the choirs 
 of angels, and shares upon earth in the 
 sweetest occupation of the blessed inha- 
 bitants of heaven. It cannot be doubted, 
 but that the most proper time for this holy 
 exercise, is when the faithful meet to- 
 gether in church; and especially when 
 tiie Lamb that was slain on the cross, for 
 the redemption of the world, continues 
 on our altars to offer himself for us to 
 his heavenly Father. It is then every 
 laithful soul should unite with him in the 
 immortal praises he gives to his Father, 
 and sing in accord w^ith the heavenly 
 citizens, the praises of the Lamb himself: 
 Wat'thy is the Lamb that was slain to rfr 
 ceive power and divinity, and wisdom an/i 
 itrengtJi, and honour, and glory, and ben^ 
 diction. Rev. v. 12.
 
 ii54 
 
 THE VESPERS ; 
 
 OR EVENING SONG FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 Our Father, 8^0. Hail Mary, 6,'e. 
 
 V. Incline unti 
 my aid, O God ! 
 
 R. OLord! mafee 
 haste to help me. 
 
 F. Glory be to 
 the Father, and to 
 the Son, and to tlie 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 R. As it was in 
 the beginning, is 
 now, and ever shall 
 be, world without 
 end. Amen. Alleluia. 
 Or, Praise be to 
 thee, OLord! King 
 of eternal glory. 
 
 Psalm cix. 
 
 Dixit Dominus The Lord said 
 Domino meo : * unto my Lord, Sit 
 
 V. Deus in ad- 
 
 jutorium meum 
 mtende. 
 
 R. Domine, ad 
 adjuvandum me 
 festina. 
 
 F. Gloria Patri, 
 et Filio, et Spiritui 
 Sancto. 
 
 R. Sicut erat in 
 principio, et nunc, 
 et semper, et in sae- 
 cula saeculorum. 
 Amen. Alleluia. Or, 
 Laus tibi, Domine, 
 Rex seternaj glorice.
 
 LettKe old -witK iKe yoiin.pex. praise t 
 iiame of tKe Lord.. ' JPs- CXLV;::
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 255 
 
 sede a dextris meis ; 
 
 Donee ponara 
 inimicos tuos: sca- 
 bellum pedum tuo- 
 rum. 
 
 Virgam virtutis 
 tuae eruitet Domi- 
 nus ex Sion : * 
 dominare in medio 
 inimicorum tuo- 
 *um. 
 
 Tecum principi- 
 um in die virtutis 
 tu£e in splendoribus 
 sanctorum; * ex 
 utero ante lucife- 
 nim s:enui to. 
 
 Juravit Domi- 
 nus, et non poenite- 
 bit eum : * tu es Sa- 
 cserdos in aeternum, 
 secundum ordinem 
 Melchisedech. 
 
 Uominus a dex- 
 tris cuis : * confre- 
 
 thou on my right 
 hand; 
 
 Until I make 
 thy enemies the 
 foot-stool of thy 
 feet. 
 
 The Lord will 
 send forth the scep- 
 tre of thy power 
 out of Sion: Be 
 thou the ruler io 
 the midst of thy 
 enemies. 
 
 With thee is the 
 principality in the 
 day of thy strength, 
 in the brightness 
 of holy Ihings^ 
 From the womo 
 before the day-star 
 I begot thee. 
 
 The Lord has 
 sworn; and it shall 
 not repent him ; 
 thou art a priest 
 for ever, according 
 to the order of Mel- 
 chisedech. 
 
 The Lord at thy 
 right hand,^ hath
 
 ^56 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 git in die irae suae 
 reges. 
 
 Judicabit in na- 
 tioaibus ; iinplebit 
 ruinas: * conquas- 
 sabit capita in terra 
 multorum. 
 
 Detorrentein via 
 bibetj * propterea 
 exaltabit caput. 
 
 Gloria Patri, &c 
 
 broken kings in the 
 day of his wrath. 
 
 He shall juc'.oe 
 amor.g nations, he 
 shall fill ruins : he 
 shall crush the 
 httdds in the land 
 of many. 
 
 He shall drink of 
 the torrent in the 
 way ; therefore he 
 shall lift up his 
 head. 
 
 Glory be to the 
 Father, Stc. 
 
 Psalm ex. 
 
 CONFITEBOR tibi, 
 
 Domine, in toto 
 corde nieo; * in con- 
 silio justorum et 
 congregatione. 
 
 Magna opera 
 Domini; * exqui- 
 sita in o nines vo- 
 luntates ejus; 
 
 Confessioetmag- 
 niiicentia opus ejus; 
 • et jusiitia ejus 
 
 I WILL praise 
 thee, O Lord ! with 
 my whole heart; in 
 the counsel of the 
 just, and in the 
 congregation. 
 
 The works of the 
 Lord are great ; 
 sought out accord- 
 ing to all his wills. 
 
 His work is 
 worthy of praise 
 and magnificence:
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 manet in sacculum 
 fiseculi. 
 
 Memoriam fecit 
 mirabilium suoruni 
 misericors et mise- 
 rator Dominus ; 
 * escam dedit ti- 
 menlibus se. 
 
 Memor erit in 
 soeculum testamenti 
 sui; * virtu tern ope- 
 rum suorum an- 
 nuntiabit populo 
 suo. 
 
 Ut det illis hajre- 
 ditatem gentium; 
 * opera manuum 
 ejus Veritas et judi- 
 cium. 
 
 Fidelia omnia 
 mandata ejus ; con- 
 firmata in socculum 
 seeculi ; * facta in 
 veritate et equitate. 
 Rederaptionem 
 oaisii populo suo : 
 
 257 
 
 and his justice re- 
 main eth for ever 
 and ever. 
 
 He hath made a 
 remembrance of his 
 wonderful works_, a 
 merciful and com- 
 passionate Lord. 
 He hath given food 
 to them that fear 
 him. 
 
 He will be mind 
 ful for ever of his 
 covenant; he will 
 show forth to his 
 people the power 
 of his works. 
 
 That he may- 
 give them the in- 
 heritance of the 
 Gentiles ; the works 
 of his hands are 
 verity and judge- 
 ment. 
 
 Faithful are all 
 his commandments, 
 confirmed for ever 
 and ever, made in 
 truth and equity. 
 
 He hath sent re- 
 demption to his 
 17
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 258 
 
 * mandavit in oeter- 
 num testamentum 
 suam. 
 
 Sanctum et lerri- 
 bile no men ejus : 
 *mitiura sapientioe 
 timer Domini. 
 
 Intellectus bonus 
 omnibus facienlibus 
 eum; * laudatio 
 ejus manetin sascu- 
 lum sseculi. 
 
 Gloria Patri, &c. 
 
 people ; he hath 
 commanded his 
 covenant for ever. 
 
 Holy and terrible 
 is his name. The 
 fear of the Lord is 
 the beginning of 
 wisdom. 
 
 A good under- 
 standing to all tha. 
 do it : his praise re 
 maineth for evei 
 and ever. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Psalm cxi. 
 
 Beattjs vir qui 
 timet Dominum, 
 *in mandatis ejus 
 volet nimis. 
 
 Potens in terra 
 erit semen ejus ; 
 * generatio recto- 
 rum benedicetur. 
 
 Gloria et divitia? 
 in domo ejus ; * et 
 justitia ejus manet 
 •n saeculum soeculi. 
 
 Blessed is the 
 man that feareth 
 the Lord, he shall 
 delight exceedingly 
 in his command- 
 ments. 
 
 His seed shall be 
 mighty upon earth ; 
 the generation of 
 the righteous shall 
 be blessed. 
 
 Glory and riches 
 in his house ; and 
 his justice abideth 
 for ever and ever.
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 259 
 
 Exortum* est in 
 tenebris lumen rec- 
 tis ; * misericors, et 
 miserator, et Justus. 
 
 Jucundus homo 
 qui miseretur et 
 commodate disponet 
 sermones suos in 
 judicio ; * quia in 
 EDtemum non cora- 
 movebitur. 
 
 In memoiia SDter- 
 na erit Justus ; * ab 
 auditione malo non 
 timebit. 
 
 Paratum cor ejus 
 sperarein Domino; 
 confirmatum est cor 
 ejus ; * non com- 
 movebitur donee 
 despiciat iniraicos 
 suos. 
 
 Dispersit ; dedit 
 pauperibus : justi- 
 tia ejus manet in 
 sseculum sseculi : 
 * cornu ejus exal- 
 tabitur in gloria. 
 
 A light is risen in 
 darkness to the 
 righteous ; he is 
 merciful and cam- 
 passionate and just. 
 
 That man is ac- 
 ceptable that show- 
 eth mercy, and 
 lendeth; he shall 
 dispose his words 
 in judgement; be- 
 cause he shall not 
 be moved for ever. 
 
 The just shall be 
 in eternal memory ; 
 he shall not fear 
 from the evil hear- 
 ing. 
 
 His heart is ready 
 to hope in the 
 Lord; his heart is 
 strengthened ; he 
 shall not be moved, 
 till he overtake his 
 enemies. 
 
 He has distri- 
 buted ; he has 
 given to the poor: 
 his justice remain- 
 eth for ever and 
 ever : his horn
 
 SbO 
 
 VESPERS FUR SUNDAYS. 
 
 Peccator videbit, 
 et irascetur : denti- 
 bus suis fremet ta- 
 bescet; *desiderium 
 peccatorum peribit. 
 
 Gloria Patri, &c. 
 
 shall be exalted in 
 in glory. 
 
 The sinner shall 
 see, and shall be 
 angry j he shall 
 gnash with his 
 teeth, and pine 
 away ; the desire 
 of sinners shall 
 perish. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Psalm cxii. 
 
 Laudate, pueri ! 
 Dominum ; * lau- 
 date nomen Do- 
 mini. 
 
 Sit nomen Do- 
 mini benedictum, 
 *ex hoc, nunc, ut 
 usque in sa^culum. 
 
 A solis ortu us- 
 que ad occasum, 
 * laudabile nomen 
 Domini. 
 
 Eccelsus super 
 cranes gentes Do- 
 minus; * et super 
 coelos gloria ejus. 
 
 Praise ye the 
 Lord, O children I 
 praise ye the name 
 of the Lord. 
 
 Let the name of 
 the Lord be blessed, 
 from henceforth, 
 now, and for ever. 
 
 From the rising 
 of the sun, to the 
 going down of the 
 same, the name of 
 the Lord is worthy 
 of praise. 
 
 The Lord is high 
 above all nations : 
 and his glory above 
 the heavens.
 
 VESPER3 FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 261 
 
 duis sicut Doini- 
 nus Deus nost^r, 
 qui in altis habitat, 
 * et humilia respicit 
 in coelo ei in terra ? 
 
 Suscitans a tv^r- 
 ra inopem/' et de 
 stercore erigeiis 
 pauperem. 
 
 Ut collocet eiua 
 cum principibus, 
 * cum principibus 
 populi sui. 
 
 Q,ui habitare 
 facit sterilem iji 
 domo, * matret 1 
 filiomm lEetanteiii. 
 
 Gloria Patri, oc \ 
 
 Who is the Lord 
 our God, who 
 dwelleth on high, 
 and beholdeth the 
 low things in hea- 
 ven and earth ? 
 
 Raising up the 
 needy from the 
 earth, and hfting up 
 the poor from the 
 dung. 
 
 To place him 
 with princes, with 
 the princes of his 
 people. 
 
 Who maketh the 
 barren worhan to 
 dv.'ell in a house, a 
 joyful mother of 
 children. 
 
 Glory be to the 
 Father, &c. 
 
 Pmlm cxiii. 
 
 In exitu Israel i.!e 
 ^gypto, * donuiN 
 [acob de popuio 
 iarbaro : 
 
 Facta est Judaia 
 
 When Israel 
 
 came out of Egypt, 
 the house of Jacob, 
 from among a bar- 
 barous people : 
 Judea was made
 
 262 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 sanctificatio ejus, 
 
 * Israel potestas 
 qus. 
 
 Mare vidit, et 
 fugit; * Jordan is 
 conversus est re- 
 trorsum. 
 
 Montes exultave- 
 runt ut arieles : * et 
 coUes sicut agni 
 ovium. 
 
 Q,uid est tibi, 
 mare, quod fugisti? 
 
 * et tu, Jordanis, 
 quia conversus est 
 retrorsum ? 
 
 Montes exultas- 
 tis sicut arietes, * et 
 colles sicut agni 
 ovium ? 
 
 A facie Domini 
 mota est terra — * a 
 facie Dei Jacob : 
 
 Q,ui convertit pe- 
 tram in stagna aqua- 
 rum, * et rupem in 
 
 his sanctuary, Is- 
 rael his dominion. 
 
 The sea saw, and 
 fled away : Jordan 
 was turned back- 
 ward. 
 
 The mountains 
 skipped like rams, 
 and the hills like 
 the lambs of the 
 flock. 
 
 What aileth thee, 
 O thou sea! thai 
 thou didst flee? and 
 thou, O Jordan! that 
 thou turnedst back- 
 ward? 
 
 Ye mountains ! 
 that ye skipped like 
 rams? and, ye little 
 hills! like the lambs 
 of tl.e flock ? 
 
 The earth was 
 moved at the pre- 
 sence of the Lord 
 — at the presence of 
 the God of Jacob ; 
 
 Who turned the 
 rock into pools of 
 waters, and tha
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 263 
 
 fontes aqua rum. 
 
 Non nobis. Do- 
 mine, non nobis ; 
 * sed noraini tuo da 
 gloriam. 
 
 Super misericor- 
 dia tua, et veritate 
 tua; * ne quando 
 dicant gentes ; ubi 
 est Deus eorum? 
 
 Deus autem nos- 
 ter in coelo ; * om- 
 nia, qufficumque 
 voluit, fecit. 
 
 Simulachra gen- 
 tium argentLim, et 
 aurura, * opera ma- 
 nuum hominum. 
 
 Os habent, et non 
 loquenlur ; * oculos 
 habent, et non vi- 
 debunt. 
 
 Aures habent, et 
 non audient; * na- 
 res habent, et non 
 odorabunt. 
 
 Man us habent, et 
 non palpabunt ; pe- 
 des habent. et non 
 
 stony hills nito foun- 
 tains of wateis. 
 
 Not to us, O 
 Lord! not to us; but 
 to thy name give 
 glory. 
 
 For thy mercy 
 and for thy truth, 
 lest at any time the 
 Gentiles say, where 
 is their God ? 
 
 But our God is in 
 heaven -, he hath 
 done all things 
 whatsoever he 
 
 would. 
 
 The idols of the 
 Gentiles are silver 
 and gold, the v/orks 
 of the hands of men. 
 
 They have 
 
 mouths, and speak 
 not; they have eyes, 
 and see not. 
 
 They have ears, 
 and hear not; they 
 have noses, and 
 smell not. 
 
 They have hands, 
 and feel not ; they 
 have feet, and shall
 
 2G4 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAFS. 
 
 anibulabunt : * non 
 clamabunt in gut- 
 lure suo. 
 
 Similes illis fiant, 
 qui faciunt ea, *" et 
 omnes qui confi- 
 dant in eis. 
 
 Dornus Israel 
 speravit in Domi- 
 no; * adjutor eo- 
 rum et protector eo- 
 rum est. 
 
 Domus Aaron 
 speravit in Domi- 
 no ; * adjutor eo- 
 rumet protector eo- 
 rura est. 
 
 Q,ai timent Do- 
 minum, sperave- 
 runt in Domino ; 
 * adjutor eoruni et 
 protector eorum est. 
 
 Do minus memor 
 fait nostri ; * et 
 benedixit nobis. 
 
 not walk; neither 
 shall they cry out 
 through theii 
 
 throats. 
 
 Let those that 
 make them, become 
 like to them, and all 
 such as put theii 
 trust in them. 
 
 The house of Is- 
 rael hath hoped in 
 the Lord ; he is theii 
 helper and their 
 protector. 
 
 The house of 
 Aaron hath hoped 
 in the Lord ; he is 
 their helper and 
 their protector. 
 
 They that fear 
 the Lord, have 
 hoped in the Lord ; 
 he is their helper 
 and their protector. 
 
 The Lord hath 
 been mindful of us, 
 and hath blcsed 
 
 Benedixit domui 
 Israel ; * benedixit 
 domui Aaron. 
 
 He hath blessed 
 the house of Israel ; 
 he hath blessed the 
 house oi Aaron.
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 265 
 
 Benedixit omni- 
 bus qui timent Do- 
 rninum; * pusillis 
 cum majoribus. 
 
 x\djiciat Domi- 
 nus super vos — 
 
 * super vos el super 
 filios vestros. 
 
 Benedicti vos a 
 Domino, * que fecit 
 aoslum et terram. 
 
 Coelum coeli Do- 
 nxino j * terram au- 
 tem, dedit filiis lio- 
 minum. 
 
 Non mortui lau- 
 dabunt te, Domine; 
 
 * neque omnes qui 
 descendant in in- 
 fernum. 
 
 Sed nos qui vivi- 
 raus benedicimus 
 Domino, * ex hoc, 
 nunc, et usque in 
 saeculum. 
 
 Gloria Patri, Sic. 
 
 He halh blessed 
 all that tear the 
 Lord ; both little 
 and great. 
 
 May the Lord 
 add blessings upon 
 you; upon you and 
 upon your children. 
 
 You are blessed 
 of the Lord, who 
 made heaven and 
 earth. 
 
 The heaven of 
 heaven to the Lord; 
 but the earth he 
 hath given to the 
 children of men. 
 
 The dead shall 
 not praise thee, O 
 Lord! nor all they 
 that go down to 
 hell. 
 
 But we that live, 
 do bless the Lord, 
 from this time, now 
 and for ever. 
 
 Glory, &c.
 
 266 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 Tlie follow mg Psalm is to he sung on mih- 
 dry Festivals, in place of the foregoing. 
 
 Psalm cxvi. 
 
 Laudate Domi- 
 num, omnes gen- 
 tes ; * laudate eum, 
 omnes populi. 
 
 Q,uoniam confir- 
 mata est super nos 
 misericordia ejus ; 
 * et Veritas Domini 
 manet in seternum. 
 
 Gloria Patri, &c. 
 Capitulum, 2 Cor. i. 
 
 Benedictus De- 
 US et Pater Domini 
 nostri Jesu Christi, 
 Pater misericordia- 
 rum, et Deus tolius 
 consolationis, qui 
 consolatur nos in 
 omni tribulatione 
 nostra. 
 
 R. Deo ffratias. 
 
 O ! praise the 
 Lord, all ye nar 
 tions; praise him, 
 all ye people. 
 
 For his mercy is 
 confirmed upon us ; 
 and the truth of th.e 
 Lord remaineth for 
 ever. 
 
 Glorv, &c. 
 Little Chap.2 Cot. L 
 
 Blessed be God 
 and the Father of 
 our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the Father 
 of mercies, and the 
 God of all comfort, 
 who comforts us in 
 all our tribulations. 
 
 R. Thanks be to 
 God. 
 
 Lucis 
 optime. 
 
 THE HVMN. 
 
 Creator O great Creatoi 
 of the lia:ht!
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 Liicem dierum 
 prol'erens. 
 
 Primordiis 
 novae. 
 
 luc.is 
 
 parans 
 
 Mundi 
 oii^^inem, 
 
 Q,ui mane junc- 
 tum vesperi. 
 
 Diem vocari pras- 
 cipis^ 
 
 Illabitur 
 ehaos. 
 
 tetrum 
 
 Audi pieces cum 
 fletibus^ 
 
 Ne mens gravata 
 criraine, 
 
 VitGB sit exul mu- 
 ll'.- re ; 
 
 Dum nil perenne 
 igitat 
 
 Seseque 
 Liigat; 
 
 culpis 
 
 267 
 
 Who from the 
 darksome womb of 
 night, 
 
 Broughl'st forth 
 new hght at na- 
 ture's birth. 
 
 To shine upon 
 the face of earth. 
 
 Who by the 
 morn and evening 
 ray. 
 
 Hast measured 
 time, and call'd it 
 day; 
 
 Vouchsafe to 
 hear our prayers 
 and tears. 
 
 Whilst sable 
 night involves the 
 spheres. 
 
 Lest our frail 
 mind with sin de- 
 filed. 
 
 From gift of life 
 should be exiled. 
 
 Whilst on no 
 heavenly thing she 
 thinks. 
 
 But twines her- 
 self in Satan's links.
 
 268 
 
 Cceleste 
 ostium ; 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 pulset 
 
 Vitale tollat proe- 
 mium; 
 
 Vitemus orane 
 noxium ; 
 
 Purgemus omne 
 pessimum. 
 
 Praesta, 
 piissirae. 
 
 Pater 
 
 Patrique compar 
 unice. 
 
 Cum Spiritu Pa- 
 raclito, 
 
 Regnans per 
 omne saeculum. 
 Amen. 
 
 V. Dirigatur, Do- 
 mine ! oratio mea, 
 
 R. Sicut incen- 
 Rum in conspectu 
 tuo. 
 
 O ! may she * 
 soar to iieaven 
 above. 
 
 The happy seal 
 of life and love ; 
 
 Meantime all sin 
 ful actions shun. 
 
 And purge the 
 foul ones, she hath 
 done. 
 
 This prayer, most 
 gracious Father, 
 hear. 
 
 Thy equal Son 
 incline his ear ; 
 
 Who with the 
 Holy Ghost and 
 thee. 
 
 Doth Jive and 
 reign eternally. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 V. May my 
 prayer, O Lord ! 
 be directed, 
 
 R. As incense in 
 thy sight. 
 
 TJie Magnificat, or the Canticle of the 
 Blessed Virii;m. St. Luke, i. 
 
 Magnificat* ani- My soul dotb
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 2G9 
 
 /na mea 
 num: 
 
 Et exultavit spi- 
 ritus me us *m Deo 
 Salutari meo. 
 
 Q,uia lespexit 
 humilitatem ancillae 
 suae, * ecce enim 
 ex hoc, beatam me 
 dicent omnes ge- 
 neradones. 
 
 Q,uia fecit mihi 
 magna qui potens 
 ^t, * et sanctum 
 nomen ejus. 
 
 Et misericordia 
 ejus a progenie in 
 progenies, * timen- 
 tibus eum. 
 
 Fecit potentiara 
 in brachio suo, * 
 dispersit superbos 
 mente cordis sui. 
 
 Deposuit, poten- 
 les de sede ; * et 
 exaltavit iiu miles. 
 
 Domi- magnify the Lord 
 
 And my spirit 
 hath rejoiced in 
 God, my Saviour. 
 
 Because he halh 
 regarded the hu- 
 mihiy of his hand- 
 maid : for behold! 
 from henceforth all 
 generations shall 
 call me blessed. 
 
 Because he that 
 is mighty hath done 
 great things to me ; 
 and holy is his 
 name. 
 
 And his mercy 
 is from generation 
 to generations, to 
 them that fear him. 
 
 He hath showed 
 power in his arm ; 
 he hath scattered 
 the proud in the 
 conceit of their 
 heart. 
 
 He hath deposed 
 the mighty from 
 their seat j and hath 
 exalted ihe^humble.
 
 270 
 
 VKSPERS FOR SUNDAYS, 
 
 Esurientes im- 
 plevit bonis ; * et 
 diviles dimisit 
 
 inanes. 
 
 Israel 
 
 # 
 
 Suscepit 
 puerurn suum^ 
 recordalus miseri- 
 cordise sure. 
 
 Sicut locutus est 
 ad patres nostros — 
 * Abraham et se- 
 mini ejus in sascula. 
 
 Gloria Patri, &c. 
 
 The hungry bj 
 hath filled with 
 good things ; and 
 the rich he hath 
 sent empty away. 
 
 He hath received 
 Israel his child ; 
 being mindful of his 
 mercy. 
 
 As he spoke unto 
 our fathers ; to 
 
 Abraham and his 
 seed for ever. 
 
 Glory, &c. 
 
 Tlie prayer is the collect of the day; 
 which is different evei-y Sunday. You may 
 my this that follows : 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Look down, we beseech thee, O Lord ! 
 upon this thy family, for which our Lord 
 Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be de- 
 livered into the hands of sinners, and to 
 undergo the torment of the cross. Who 
 liveth and reigneth with thee, in the 
 unity of the Holy Ghost^ God, world 
 without end. Jlmen.
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 271 
 
 .5 Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin 
 Mai-y. 
 
 ANTHEM. 
 
 O HOLY Mary ! succour the miserable, 
 help the faint-hearted, comfort the afflict- 
 ed ; pray for the people ; intercede for 
 the clergy; make supplication for the 
 devout female sex : let all experience thy 
 help, who celebrate thy holy commemo- 
 ration. 
 
 F. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! 
 
 R. That we may be made worthy of 
 the promises of Christ. 
 
 Let lis praij. 
 Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God! 
 »hat we, thy servants, may enjoy perpe- 
 tual health of mind and body : and that 
 by the glorious intercession of blessed 
 Mary, ever Virgin, we may be delivered 
 from present sorrows, and come to eternal 
 joys, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 A Commemoration of the Holy Apostles 
 Peter and Paul. 
 
 ANTHEM. 
 
 The apostle Peter, and Paul, the doctor 
 of the Gentiles, were they that taught us 
 thy law, O Lord ! 
 
 F. Thou shalt estabhsh them rulers 
 over the whole earth.
 
 272 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 R. They shall be mindful of thy name, 
 O Lord ! 
 
 Let us pray. 
 * O God ! whose right hand raised np 
 St. Peter walking on the waters, that he 
 might not be drowned ; and delivered 1.13 
 fellow apostle, Paul, from the depth of 
 the sea, when he was thrice shipwrecked : 
 mercifully hear us, and grant that by the 
 merhs of them both, we may obtain the 
 glory of eternity. 
 
 For Peace. 
 
 Give peace, O Lord! in our days . 
 
 For there is no other to fight for us bu* 
 
 thou, our God. 
 
 V. Let peace be made in thy strength 
 R. And plenty in thy towers. 
 
 Let lis pray. 
 
 O God! from whom proceedeth holy 
 desires, right counsels and just works- 
 Give to us, thy servants, that peace whicb 
 the world caiinot give; that our hearti 
 may be addicted to thy commandments 
 and the fear of enemies being taken away, 
 the times may be quiet by thy protection. 
 Through our Lord Jesus, &c. Amen. 
 
 F. The Lord be with you.
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 273 
 
 R. And with thy spirit. 
 
 y. Lee us bless the Lord. 
 
 R. Thanks be to God. 
 
 F". May the souls of the faithful, througk 
 the mercy of God, rest in peace. 
 
 R. Amen. Oar Father, &c. 
 
 When Complin is not said immediately 
 after Vespers, after the verse Fidelium 
 animae, Slc. May the souls, &-c., and 
 Our Father, is said. 
 
 V. Dominus det 
 nobis suam pacem, 
 
 R. Et vitam aster- 
 nam. Amen. 
 
 V. Our Lord 
 grant us his peace. 
 
 R. And lite ever- 
 lasting. Amen. 
 
 Tlien is said one of the following An- 
 thems according to the time. 
 
 The Anthem from the first Sunday of 
 Advent to the Purification, inclusively. 
 
 Alma Redemp- 
 toris mater, quae 
 pervia coeli. 
 
 Porta maes, et 
 siella maris, suc- 
 curre cadenti, 
 
 Surgere qui curat 
 populo; tu quas 
 genuisti, 
 
 Natura mirante. 
 
 Mother of Je- 
 sus, Heaven's opea 
 gate. 
 
 Star of the sea, 
 support the fallen 
 state 
 
 Of mortals ; thou 
 whose womb thy 
 Maker bore. 
 
 And yet. strange 
 18 .
 
 274 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 tuum sanctum ge- 
 nitorera, 
 
 Virgo prius ac 
 posterius ; Gabrielis 
 ab ore, 
 
 Sumens illud 
 Ave, peccatorum 
 miserere. 
 
 thing, a virgin as 
 before ; 
 
 Who didst from 
 Gabriel's liail, this 
 news receive. 
 
 Repenting srn- 
 ners by thy prayert 
 relieve. 
 
 In Advent. 
 
 V. Angelus Do- 
 mini nuntiavit 
 Marise. 
 
 R. Etconcepitde 
 Spiritu Sancto. 
 
 Oremiis. 
 
 Gratiam tuara, 
 quoesumus, Do- 
 raine, mentibus 
 nostris infunde ; ut 
 qui, angelo nunti- 
 ale, Christi Filii tui 
 jncariiationem cog- 
 novimus, per pas- 
 sioneui ejus et cru- 
 cem, ad resurrec- 
 tion is gloriam 
 perducamur. Per 
 
 V. The angel of 
 the Lord declared 
 his message to 
 Mary, 
 
 R. And she con- 
 ceived by the Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Pour thy grace 
 into our souls, O 
 Lord! we beseech 
 thee ; that we, who, 
 by the angel's mes- 
 sage, came to the 
 knowledge of the 
 incarnation of 
 
 Christ thy Son, 
 may, by his cross 
 and passion, be 
 brought to the glory
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 275 
 
 eundem Christum 
 Dominum nostrum. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 of resurrection. 
 Through the same 
 Christ our Lord. 
 R. Amen. 
 
 After Advent. 
 
 V. Post partum 
 virgo inviolata per 
 mansisti. 
 
 JR. Dei genitrix, 
 intercede pro nobis. 
 
 Oremxis. 
 
 Deus, qui salutis 
 EEternae, beatce, Ma- 
 riae virginitate fos- 
 cunda, humano 
 generi prsemia prce- 
 stitisti; Iribue, quce- 
 sumus, ut ipsam 
 pro nobis interce- 
 dere sentiamus, per 
 quam meruimus 
 Auctorem vitse sus- 
 cipere Dominum 
 Dostrum Jesum 
 Christum^ filium 
 tuum. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 V. After child- 
 birth, thou dids*. 
 remain an inviolate 
 virgin. 
 
 R. Mother of 
 God! make inter- 
 cession for us. 
 
 het us pray. 
 
 O God ! who, by 
 the fruitful virginity 
 of the blessed Vir- 
 gin Mary, hast 
 given to mankind 
 the rewards of 
 eternal salvation; 
 grant, we beseech 
 thee, that we may 
 be sensible of the 
 benefits of her in- 
 tercession, by 
 whom we have re- 
 ceived the Author 
 of life, our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, thy 
 Son. JR. Amen.
 
 276 
 
 VESPLRS FOK SUNDAYS. 
 
 From the Purification till Easter. 
 
 Ave, Regina 
 ccelorum! 
 
 Ave, Domina 
 angelorum ! 
 
 Salve, radix ! 
 salve, porta! 
 
 Ex qua mundo 
 lux est orta. 
 
 Gaude, virgo glo- 
 riosa ! 
 
 Super omnes 
 speciosa ! 
 
 Vale, o valde de- 
 cora ! 
 
 Et pro nobis 
 Christum exora. 
 
 V. Dignare me 
 laudare, te, virgo 
 sac rata ! 
 
 R. Da mihi vir- 
 tu tem contra hosies 
 tuos. 
 
 Hail, Mary, 
 
 queen of heavenly 
 spheres ! 
 
 Hail, whom the 
 angelic host re- 
 veres ! 
 
 Hail, fruitful 
 root ! hail, sacred 
 gate ! 
 
 Whence the 
 
 world's light de- 
 rives its date. 
 
 O glorious maid, 
 with beauty bless'd ! 
 
 May joys eternal 
 fill thy breast -, 
 
 Thus crown 'd 
 Avilh beauty and 
 with joy. 
 
 Thy pray'rs with 
 Christ for us em- 
 ploy. 
 
 y. Vouchsafe, 
 sacred Virgin ! to 
 accept my praises. 
 
 R. Give me 
 power against ihy 
 enemies.
 
 VESPEl^S FOR SITNDAYS. 
 
 277 
 
 Oremus. 
 
 Concede, mise- 
 ricors Deus ! fra- 
 gilitali nostrae prce- 
 sidium ; ut qui 
 sanctse Dei genitri- 
 cis memoriam agi- 
 tnus, intercessionis 
 ejus auxilio, a nos- 
 tris iniquitatibus 
 resurgamus. Per 
 eundem Christum 
 Dominum nostrum. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Grant us, O 
 merciful God ! 
 
 strength against all 
 our weakness ; that 
 we, who celebrate 
 the memory of the 
 holy mother of 
 God, may, by tlie 
 help of her inter 
 cession, rise again 
 from our iniquities. 
 Through the same 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 R. Jimen. 
 
 From Easter to Trinity Eve. 
 
 Re GIN A cceK ! 
 lEetare, Alleluia; 
 
 Q.uia quem me- 
 ruisti portare. Alle- 
 luia; 
 
 Resurrexit, sicut 
 dixit, Allelulia! 
 
 Ora pro nobis 
 Deum, Alleluia. 
 
 V. Gaude et lae- 
 txn?, Virgo Maria.' 
 Alleluia. 
 
 O queen of hea- 
 ven ! rejoice. Alle- 
 luia; 
 
 'For he whom 
 thou didst deserve 
 to bear. Alleluia ; 
 
 Is risen again, 
 as he said. Alleluia. 
 
 Pray for us to 
 God, Alleluia. 
 
 V. Rejoice and 
 be glad, O Virgin 
 Mary! Alleluia.
 
 27S 
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 R. duia surrexit 
 Dominus vere. Al- 
 leluia. 
 
 Oremiis. 
 Deus ! qui per 
 
 resurrectionem Filii 
 tui Domini nostri 
 Jesu Christi, mun- 
 dum lastificare dig- 
 natus es, prtesta 
 quaesumus, ut per 
 egus genitricera vir- 
 ginem Mariam, per- 
 petuse capiamus 
 gaudia vitce. Per 
 eundem Christum 
 Dominum nostrum. 
 
 jR. Amen. 
 
 R. Because our 
 Lord is truly risen. 
 Alleluia. 
 
 Let us prmj. 
 
 O God ! who, by 
 the resurrection oi 
 thy Son, our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, hast 
 been pleased to fill 
 the world with joy ; 
 grant, we beseech 
 thee, that by tiie 
 Virgin Mary, his 
 Mother, we may 
 receive the joys of 
 eternal life. Thro* 
 the same Christ 
 our Lord. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 From Trinity Sunday to Advent. 
 
 Salve, Regina, 
 mater misericor- 
 diae ! vita, dulcedo, 
 et spes nostra, 
 salve ! 
 
 Ad te clamamas, 
 exules filii Evsg. 
 Ad te suspiramus, 
 gementes et llentes. 
 
 Hail, O queen, 
 O Mother of 
 mercy ! hail, our 
 life, our comfort, 
 and our hope ! 
 
 We., the banished 
 children of Eve, 
 cry out unto thee. 
 To thee, we send
 
 VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS. 
 
 279 
 
 m hac lacrymarum 
 valle. 
 
 Eiaergoadvocata 
 nostra ! illos tuos 
 misericordes oculos 
 kid nos converte. 
 
 Et Jesum ; bene- 
 dictum fructum 
 ventris tui, nobis 
 post hoc exilium 
 ostende : 
 
 O clemens! O 
 
 pia 
 
 O dulcis 
 
 Virgo Maria ! 
 
 V. Ora pro nobis, 
 Sancta Dei Geni- 
 trix! 
 
 R. Ut digni effi- 
 ciamur promis- 
 sionibus Christi. 
 
 up our sighs, 
 groaning, and 
 
 weeping, in this 
 vale of tears. * 
 
 Come, then, our 
 advocate ! and look 
 upon us with those 
 thy pitying eyes! 
 
 And after this 
 our banishment, 
 show us Jesus, the 
 blessed fruit of thy 
 womb; 
 
 O merciful ! O 
 pious ! 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. 
 
 Or emus. 
 
 Omnipotens sera- 
 piterne Deus! qui 
 gloriosaj Virginis 
 Matris Marise cor- 
 pus et animam, ut 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Almighty and 
 eternal God ! who, 
 by the co-operatiort 
 of the Holy Ghost, 
 didst prepare the
 
 280 
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 
 
 dignum Filii tui 
 habitaculum effici 
 mereretur, Spiritu 
 Saftcto cooperante, 
 praeparasti; da, ut 
 cujus commemora- 
 tione lastamur, ejus 
 pia intercessione ab 
 instantibus malis, 
 et morte perpetua 
 liberemur. Per 
 
 eundum Christum 
 Dominum nostrum. 
 
 R. Jlmen. 
 
 V. Divinum 
 
 auxilium maneat 
 semper 'aobiscum. 
 
 R. ^rAen. 
 
 body and soul of 
 the glorious Virgin 
 Mother, Mary, thai 
 she might become 
 a worthy habitation 
 for thy Son ; grant 
 that, as with joy 
 we celebrate hei 
 memory, so, by her 
 pious intercession, 
 we may be deli- 
 vered from present 
 evils and eternal 
 death. Through 
 the same Christ 
 our Lord. 
 
 R. Amen. 
 
 V. May the di- 
 vine assistance al- 
 ways remain with 
 us. 
 
 R, Amen. 
 
 THE BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRA- 
 MENT. 
 
 What we call the Benediction, is a de- 
 votion practised by the Church, in order to 
 give adoration, praise, and blessing, or 
 Benediction, to God ; for his infinUe good^ 
 ness and love, testified to us in tlie institii-
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 281 
 
 tion of the blessed sacrament, and to receive, 
 at the same time, the Benediction or Bless- 
 ing of our Lord, there present. 
 
 JVhen the blessed sacrament is taken out 
 of the tabernacle, and set up to be seen by 
 the people, the choir sinii;s, O salutaris hos- 
 tia, Sfc, i.e., O saving victim! which 
 openest the gates of heaven ; io ! the wars 
 of our enemies press upon us : do thou 
 give us strength and aid. To the great 
 Lord, who is three in one, be everlasting 
 glory. O ! may he grant us life without 
 end, in our heavenly country. 
 
 After this, is usually simg some psalm, 
 or pious metre, according to the order of 
 superiors, or discretion of the officiant, or 
 exigence of the times. Tlicn follows the. 
 hymn of the blessed sacrament, Pange, 
 lingua, or at least the latter part of it, 
 Tantum ergo. 
 
 THE HYMN, PANGE, LINGUA. 
 
 Pange, lingua! 
 
 Sing my 
 
 gloriosi. 
 
 tongue! adore and 
 
 
 praise. 
 
 Corporis myste- 
 
 The depth of 
 
 rium. 
 
 God's mysterious 
 
 Sanguinisque pre- 
 tiosi. 
 
 ways : 
 
 How Christ, the 
 world-s great king, 
 bestpw'd
 
 282 
 
 Q,uem in mundi 
 pretium. 
 
 Fruclis ventris 
 generosi. 
 
 Rex effudit gen- 
 tium. 
 
 Nobis datus, no- 
 bis natus. 
 
 Ex intacta vir- 
 gine. 
 
 Et in mundo con- 
 versatus, 
 
 Sparso verbi, se- 
 mme ; 
 
 Sui moras inco- 
 latus, 
 
 Miro clausit or- 
 dine. 
 
 In supremse nocte 
 casnse, 
 
 Recumbens cum 
 fratribus. 
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 
 
 His flesh con 
 ceaPd in human 
 food. 
 
 And left man- 
 kind the blood that 
 paid 
 
 The ransom for 
 the souls he made. 
 
 Giv'n from 
 
 above, and born for 
 man. 
 
 From virgin's 
 womb his life" be- 
 gan : 
 
 Heliv'donearth, 
 and preach'd to 
 sow 
 
 The spods of 
 heav'nly truth be- 
 low ; 
 
 Then seal'd his 
 mission from above. 
 
 With strange 
 effects of pow'r and 
 love. 
 
 'Twas on that 
 evening when the 
 last. 
 
 And most mys- 
 terious supper past ;
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 
 
 Observata lege 
 plene, 
 
 Cibis in legalibus, 
 
 Cibum turbee 
 duodenae, 
 
 Se dat suis ma- 
 lubus. 
 
 Verbum caro, pa- 
 nem verum: 
 
 Verbum carnem 
 efRcit: 
 
 Fitque sanguis 
 Christi merum, 
 
 Et si sensus de- 
 ficit ; 
 
 Ad firmandum 
 cor sincerum 
 
 Sola fides sufficit. 
 
 Tantwn ergo Sa- 
 cramentum 
 
 Veneremur, cer- 
 nui: 
 
 2«3 
 
 When Christ 
 with his disciples 
 sat, 
 
 To close the law 
 with legal meat ; 
 
 Then to the 
 twelve himself be 
 stow'd. 
 
 With his own 
 hands to be their 
 food. 
 
 The Word's 
 
 made flesh for love 
 of man; 
 
 His word turns 
 bread to flesh again, 
 
 And wine 10 
 blood, unseen by 
 sense, 
 
 Bv virtue of om- 
 nipotence. 
 
 And here the 
 faithful rest secure. 
 
 Whilst God can 
 vouch, and fahh 
 insure. 
 
 To this myste- 
 rious table now 
 
 Our knees, our 
 hearts, and sense, 
 we bow.
 
 284 
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 
 
 Et antiquum do- 
 cumentum 
 
 Novo cedat ritui, 
 
 Prsestet fides sup- 
 ple raentum, 
 
 Sensuum defec- 
 tui. 
 
 Genitori, Genito- 
 que, 
 
 Laus et jubilatio, 
 
 Salus, honor, 
 virtus, quoque 
 Sit et benedictio ; 
 
 Procedenti ab 
 utroque 
 
 Compar sit lau- 
 datio. Amen. 
 
 P. Panem de 
 caelo praeslitisti eis. 
 Alleluia ; 
 
 R. Omne delec- 
 tamentum in se ha- 
 bentem. Alleluia. 
 
 y. Ora pro nobis. 
 
 Let ancient rites 
 resign their place 
 
 To nobler ele- 
 ments of grace. 
 
 And faith for all 
 defects supply. 
 
 While sense '9 
 lost in mystery. 
 
 To God the Fa- 
 ther, born of none. 
 
 To Christ, his co- 
 eternal Son, 
 
 And Holy Ghost, 
 whose equal rays 
 
 From both pro- 
 ceed, one equal 
 praise ; 
 
 One honour, ju- 
 bilee, and fame. 
 
 For ever bless 
 his glorious name. 
 Amen. 
 
 V. Thou hast 
 given them bread 
 from heaven. Al- 
 leluia. 
 
 R. ReplenishM 
 with all sweetness 
 and delight. Alle- 
 luia. 
 
 V. Pray for us.
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 285 
 
 sancti Dei genitrix ! O holy Mother of 
 
 God! 
 R. Ut digni effi- R. That we may 
 ciamur promissi- be made worthy of 
 oaibiis Christi. the promises of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O God ! who hast left us, in this won- 
 derful sacrament, a perpetual memorial 
 of thy passion : Grant us, we beseech 
 thee, so to reverence the sacred mysteries 
 of thy body and blood, that we may con- 
 tinually find in our souls the fruit of thy 
 redemption, who livest and reignest. Sec, 
 
 Defend, we beseech thee, O Lord! by 
 the intercession of blessed Mary, ever 
 virgin, this thy family from all adversity: 
 and being prostrate before thee, with oar 
 whole hearts, protect us in thy mercy 
 from the snares of our enemies ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Wheji the pnest gives the benediction 
 ruith the blessed sacrament, bow down, and 
 profoundly adore your Saviour there pre- 
 sent. Give him thanks for allhis mercies; 
 offer your wlvole self to him, to be liis for 
 ever; and earnestly beg his blessing upon 
 you and yours, and upon his whole churdi. 
 Or you may say thus :
 
 286 THE BENEDICTION". 
 
 Adore te devote, 8^c. 
 
 I DEVOUTLY adore thee, O hidden 
 
 Deity ! 
 Which Hest concealed indeed under these 
 
 forms ; 
 To thee my whole heart subjects itself. 
 Because it finds itself quite lost in coil- 
 
 templaiing thee. 
 The sight, the feeling, and the taste, 
 
 are here deceived. 
 But the hearing alone may be safely be- 
 lieved; 
 I believe whatever the Son of God has 
 
 spoke : - 
 
 Nothing can be more true than the word 
 
 of truth. 
 Upon the cross the Divinity alone was 
 
 conceal'd ; 
 But here the humanity also lies hid. 
 Yet I believe and confess both one and the 
 
 other. 
 And make the same pethion as did the 
 
 penitent thief. 
 I don't here see the wounds, as Thomas 
 
 did : yet I confess thee to be my God ! 
 O ! grant that I may ever believe in thee 
 
 more and more. 
 And evermore put my trust in thee, and 
 
 love thee.
 
 THE BENEDICTION. 2S7 
 
 O blessed memorial of the death of our 
 Lord! 
 O living bread ! giving Hfe to man. 
 Grant that my soul may ever live on thee: 
 Grant that I may ever relish thy sweet- 
 ness. 
 O pious pelican ! Jesus our Lord ! 
 Cleanse me, an unclean sinner, with thy 
 
 blood ; 
 One drop of which is sufficient to save 
 The whole world from all its guilt. 
 O Jesus ! whom I now see under a 
 veil, 
 O ! when will that hour come, w^hich I so 
 
 much long for ! 
 When the veil being removed, I shall see 
 
 thy face. 
 And be happy for ever in the contem- 
 plation of thy Glory. Amen. 
 
 Tlie following are sometimes sung at the 
 Benediction of the blessed Sacrament. 
 
 Chor. Adoremus in seternum, 
 Sanctissimum Sacramentura, 
 Solo — Laudate Dominum. 
 
 Tlie same, in English. 
 
 Prostrate in trembling awe, let's all adore 
 This Holy Sacrament for evermore.
 
 288 THE BENEDICTION. 
 
 O saving victim ! pledge of love ! 
 Who open^st the heavenly gales abovtS, 
 By hostile wars we are oppress'd. 
 Be thou our force, support, and rest. 
 To God the Father, and the Son, 
 And Holy Spirit, three in one ; 
 Be endless praise, may he above. 
 With hfe immortal, crown our love,
 
 (289) 
 CATHOLIC HBmS, &c. 
 
 FOR ADVENT. 
 
 I. 
 
 The period's come, and, lo, to-day 
 The Son of God begins his way, 
 To rescue, by a wondrous birth. 
 The world enslaved to sin and earth. 
 
 Our minds, O God, with light inspire, 
 And warm our hearts with heav'nly fire; 
 Till, flaming with seraphic love, 
 We rehsh only things above. 
 
 That on the great accounting day, 
 Thou shalt us judge, our actions weigh, 
 Condemn the had lo hell's abyss, 
 The good prefer to lasting bliss. 
 
 Giant that oar lot be not the same 
 With their's wiiofeed th' infernal flame; 
 IJut, oh ! vouchsafe that we may see 
 Thy heav'nly face eternally : 
 
 To God the Father, and the Son, 
 And Holy Spirit, three in one. 
 Be endless glory, as before 
 The world began, so evermore. Amen^ 
 
 . II. 
 Creator of the stars aoove, 
 rUt light by which thy faithful move; 
 19
 
 290 HYMNS. 
 
 The righteous cause, and humble vows, 
 Of those whom you redeem'd, espouse. 
 
 Who, lest the specious wiles of hell 
 Should o'er the yielding world prevail, 
 Compell'd by love's enforced decree. 
 Did make yourself its remedy. 
 
 Your early sufTrings now begin 
 To save the world involved in sin, 
 And from the Virgin's sacred womb 
 Continue to the cross and tomb. 
 
 The VOICE no sooner sounds the fami 
 Of the Almighty Jesus^ name, 
 But heav'n and hell at once agree, 
 And jointly bend the trembling knee. 
 
 Vouchsafe, O Sov'reign Judge, we pray, 
 That at the last accounting day, 
 Our foe may not prevail, nor we 
 Give up the souls redeem'd by thee. 
 
 May each succeeding age proclaim 
 Thy glory and eternal fame ; 
 And sing with the celestial host. 
 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ye faithful, all rejoice and sing. 
 To Bethlehem your trophies bring: 
 Before the new-born Angels' King : 
 Come let tcs Christ adore, 
 Come let us Christ adore, 
 Come let us Christ, our Lord and God, adofe.
 
 HYMNS. 291 
 
 Ttw God of God, true light of light, 
 Born in the womb of Virgin bright, 
 Cego*., not made, true God of might: 
 Come let us Christ, (f-c. 
 
 Angelic choirs with joy now sing, 
 Th' heavenly courts with echoes ruig ; 
 Glory on high to God our king: 
 Come let us Christ, ^-c. 
 
 Jesus, whose Hfe this day begun. 
 The Father's co-eternal Son, 
 Glory to him be ever done : 
 
 Come let us Christ, ^. 
 
 II. 
 
 From ev'ry part o^er which the sun, 
 Does in its annual compass run, 
 May creatures all conspire to sing 
 The praises of our new-born King. 
 
 The God of nature, for our sake, 
 Our servile nature chose to take ; 
 With flesh to lend, our flesh his aid, 
 And save the works his hands had made. 
 
 In Mary^s womb he takes his place, 
 And there erects his throne of grace : 
 In silence she adored, and blest 
 The sacred myst'ry in her breast. 
 
 Her virgin womb, that chaste abode, 
 >*ecomes the temple of her God : 
 And she of nature's works alone, 
 Gainst nature's laws conceives a son. 
 
 Thus does the bearing maid unfold, 
 I' he mystery Gabriel foretold ;
 
 292 HYMNS. 
 
 Which John, within his mother's womb, 
 Foresaw, and blest the Lamb to come. 
 
 Behold him in the manger laid ; 
 A sheaf of straw his royal bed ; 
 And he, whose bounty feeds the rest, 
 Lies craving at his mother's breast. 
 
 Here angels to their Maker sing : 
 Here heav'n's loud choirs with echoes ring, 
 While shepherds here adore, and know 
 Their Pastor and Creator too. 
 
 May age to age for ever sing 
 The virgin's Son and angels' King, 
 And praise, with the celestial host, 
 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen 
 
 FOR LENT. 
 
 The Hymn. 
 
 BOUNTIFUL Creator I hear 
 The praye'-s which with an humble fear, 
 Before thy throne, this sacred Lent, 
 We pour from hearts with sorrow rent. 
 
 Almighty Searcher of our hearts! 
 Tliou kiiovv'st the weakness of our parts; 
 We to thy tender mercies fly ; 
 Ah! do thy healuig grace apply. 
 
 Alas ! our sins are numberless ; 
 But we our guilt with grief confess ; 
 Lord, for the glory of tny name, 
 From death our sinful souls reclaim. 
 
 Whilst we by fast our flesh restrain, 
 Permit us not to sin again :
 
 ^ HYMNS. 
 
 may our hearts from vices free, 
 For ever live and burn for thee ! 
 
 Grant, O most holy Trinity ! 
 
 O undivided Unity ; 
 
 The labcur of this solemn fast, 
 
 May lead us to eternal rest. Amen, 
 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 Jerusalem, my happy home. 
 
 How do 1 sigh for thee ; 
 When shall my exile have an end, 
 Thy joys when shall I see ? 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 
 
 Jerusalem, my happy home, 
 How do I sigh for thee. 
 
 No sun, no moon, in borrow'd light, 
 
 Revolve thine hours away ; 
 The Lamb on Calvary's mountain slain. 
 
 Is thy eternal day. 
 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, &c. 
 
 From every eye He wipes the tear, 
 ,All sighs and sorrows cease ; 
 
 No more alternate hope or fear, 
 But everlasting peace. 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, &c. 
 
 The thought of Thee to us is given, 
 
 Our sorrows to beguile, 
 T' anticipate the bliss of heaven. 
 
 In His eternal smile. 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, &c. 
 
 The Christinas Vesper Hymn^ 
 
 Depart, awhile, each thought of care. 
 Be earthly things forgotten all ;
 
 294 HTMNS. 
 
 And speak, my soul, thy vesper pray*i 
 Obedient to that sacred call, 
 For hark ! the pealing chorus swells ; 
 Devotion chants the hymn of praise, 
 And now of joy and hope it tells, 
 Till fainting on the ear, it says 
 
 Gloria :ibi Domine, 
 
 Domine, Domine. 
 
 Thine, wondrous babe of Galilee ! 
 Fond theme of David's harp and song, 
 Thine are the notes of minstrelsy — 
 To thee its ransomed chords belong. 
 And hark ! again the chorus swells ! 
 The song is wafted on the breeze, 
 And to the listening earth it tells— 
 In accents soft and sweet as these — 
 Gloria tibi Domine. 
 
 My heart doth feel that still He's near, 
 To meet the soul in hours like this ; 
 Else — why, O why, that falling tear! 
 When all is peace, and love, and bliss ! 
 But hark ! that pealing chorus swells 
 Anew, its thrilling vesper strain. 
 And still of joy and hope it tells 
 And bids rreation sing again 
 Gloria tibi Domine. 
 
 FOR PASSION AND PALM SUN 
 DAYS. 
 
 I. 
 
 Under the world-redcerning rood, 
 The most afflicted Mother stood. 
 Mingling her tears with her Son's blood.
 
 HYMNS. 295 
 
 As *hat stream'd down from ev'ry part, 
 Of all his wounds she felt the smart : 
 What pierced his body pierced her heart. 
 
 Who can with tearless eyes look on, 
 When such a Mother, such a Son, 
 Wounded and gasping, does bemoan? 
 
 O worse than Jewish heart, that could 
 Unmoved behold the double flood, 
 Oi Mary^ s tears and Jesus' blood. 
 
 Alas ! our sins they were not his, 
 In this atoning sacrifice. 
 For which he bleeds, for which he dies. 
 
 When graves did open, rocks were rent. 
 When naTurs and each element. 
 His torments and her grief resent. 
 
 Shall man, the cause of all his pain, 
 And all her grief, shall sinful man 
 Alone insensible remain? 
 
 Ah ! pious Mother, teach my heart 
 Of sighs and tears the holy art. 
 And in thy grief to bear a part. 
 
 That eword of grief, which did pass through 
 Thy very soul, O may it now 
 One kmd wound on my heart bestow. 
 
 Great Queen of sorrows ! in thy train 
 Let me a mourner's place obtain, 
 W'ith tears to cleanse all sinful stain. 
 
 To heal the leprosy of sin, 
 We must the cure with tears begin: 
 All flesh corrupts without their brine.
 
 296 HYMNS. 
 
 Refuge of sinners ! grant that we 
 May tread thy steps, and let it be 
 Our sorrow not to grieve like thee. 
 
 O ! may the wounds of thy dear Son 
 Our contrite hearts possess alone, 
 And all terrene affections drown ! 
 
 Those wounds which now the stars outshir^ 
 Those furnaces of love divine ; 
 May they our drossy souls refine, 
 
 A*nd on us such impressions make, 
 That we of suffring for his sake 
 May joyfully our portion take. 
 
 Let us his proper badge put on ; 
 Let's glory in the Cross alone ; 
 By which he marks us for his own. 
 
 That when the last assizes come, 
 For every man to hear his doom. 
 On his right hand we may find room. 
 
 O ! hear us, 3Iary Jesus, hear 
 Our humble pray'r, secure our fear ; 
 When thou in judgment shalt appear. 
 
 Now give us sorrow, give us love ; 
 That 80 prepared we may remove 
 When called to the blest world above. 
 
 IL 
 
 Behold the Royal Ensigns fly 
 The cross's shining mystery ; 
 Where fife itself gave up its breath, 
 And Christ, by dyuig, conquer'd death. 
 
 Th' audacious steel let out a flood 
 Of water mix'd with saving blood,
 
 HYMNS. 297 
 
 Whilst man's redemption, with the tide, 
 Came rushing from the Saviour's side. 
 
 What David's faithful numbers told, 
 Succeeding nations thus unfold : 
 That God should rule from main to main, 
 And wood, not steel, assert his reign. 
 
 Hail ! bounteous tree ! whose branches wor 
 The purple of his royal gore ; 
 Preferr'd to bear those arms, from whence 
 Spring all our blessings and defence. 
 
 On thee, as in the world's great scales, 
 The ransom of the world prevails : 
 Our sin, tho' great, his pains outweigh. 
 And rescue hell's expected prey. 
 
 All hail, O happy, mournful tree. 
 Our hope with Christ is nail'd on thee; 
 Grant to the just increase of grace. 
 And mediate for the sinner peace. 
 
 Bless'd Trinity, to thee we sing, 
 The Source from whom all graces spring ; 
 Immortal crowns on them bestow, 
 Who conquer by the cross below. 
 
 FOR EASTER TIME. 
 
 1. 
 
 YoTTNo men and maids, rejoice and sing, 
 '■Che King of Heav'n, the glorious King, 
 This day from death rose triumphing, 
 Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
 
 298 HYMNS. 
 
 On Sunday morn, by break of day, 
 His dear disciples haste awav 
 Unto the tomb wherein he lay. 
 
 Alleluia, &.c. 
 
 Nor Magdalen, nor Salome, 
 Nor James's mother now delay, 
 T' embalm the precious corpse straightway. 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 An angel clothed in white they see. 
 When thither come, and thus spoke he ; 
 The Lord is gone to Gahlee. 
 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 The de'ur beloved apostle Jo?in, 
 Much swifter than St. Peter run, 
 And first arrived at the tomb. 
 
 Alleluia, &c, 
 
 While in a room the apostles were, 
 In th' midst of them Christ did appear, 
 And said : Peace be unto all here. 
 
 Alleluia, &-c. 
 
 When Didymus had heard it said, 
 That Christ was risen from the dead, 
 His feeble faith still staggered. 
 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 O Thomas, view my side, and see 
 The wounds in hands and feet that be ; 
 Renounce thine incrcduUty. 
 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 When Tlwmas Jesus had survey'd, 
 And on his wounds his fingers laid ; 
 Thou art my Lord and God, he said. 
 
 Alleluia, &.c.
 
 HYMNS. 290 
 
 Bless'd are they who have not seen, 
 And yet whose faith entire hath been, 
 Them endless life from death shall screen. 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 On this most solemn feast let's raise, 
 Our hearts to God in hymns of praise. 
 And let us bless the Lord always. 
 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 Our grateful thanks to God let's give 
 In humble manner, while we live, 
 ^^or all the fevours we receive. 
 
 Alleluia, &c. 
 
 11. 
 
 From purple seas and land of toil. 
 We come to feed on Egypt's spoil ; 
 May whitest robes our souls prepare, 
 To meet the Christian Passover. 
 
 Christ's love the priestly function play'fl; 
 The victim on the altar laid : 
 His blood inflamed with love for man, 
 •At every saving channel ran. 
 
 The wasting angel passes o'er 
 The posts distain'd with sacred gore : 
 The yielding sea divides its waves, 
 Egyptians float in liquid graves. 
 
 Now Christ becomes our heav'niy fare, 
 Our sacrifice and passovev : 
 By him (the pure unleaven'd bread) 
 The pure and faithful minds are fed. 
 
 O true celestial sacrifice ! 
 By whom hell's slaves from death arise?
 
 300 HYMNS. 
 
 By thee death's old tyrannic laws 
 Submit, and life regains its cause. 
 
 Hence dost thou, crown'd with laurels, rise 
 And lead'st thy triumph thro' the skies : 
 Loaded with spoils each axle reels, 
 And hell and death attend the wheels. 
 
 From death of sin, O Jesus, free 
 Them that are born again of thee ; 
 Be thou alone our chosen Guest, 
 And everlasting Paschal Feast. 
 
 May endless worlds the glories tell 
 Of Christ, who vanquish'd death and hell; 
 And one eternal prai?e repeat 
 To th' Father and the Paraclete. Amen. 
 
 FOR ASCENSION DAY. 
 
 I. 
 
 The sun now darts his cheerful rays, 
 The heav'ns rejoice in hymns of praise : 
 The earth resounds in tuneful strains, 
 More loud than hell can shake its chains ; 
 
 To see the mighty Jesus lead 
 The Patriarchs ransom'd from the dead, 
 Late sons of shades, and heirs of night, 
 To people realms of endless light. 
 
 The dead's First-born resumes his breathy 
 And forces thro' the gates of death. 
 To come victorious, and increase 
 The triumphs of his own decease.
 
 HYMNS. 301 
 
 Cease, mournful tears : behold relief ! 
 Enough, you have indulged to grief: 
 The herald angels now proclaim, ' 
 
 Life's reign restored, and sound his fame. 
 
 From death of sin, O Jesus, free 
 Them that are born again to thee ; 
 Be thou alone our chosen guest, 
 And everlasting Paschal Feast. 
 
 May endless worlds the glory tell 
 Of Christ, who vanquish'd death and hell, 
 And one eternal praise repeat 
 The Father and the Paraclete. 
 
 FOR PENTECOST. 
 
 I. 
 
 Now Christ hath pierced the skies, to claim 
 His Father's throne, from whence he came 
 Intent to send the sacred Dove, 
 The Holy Ghost, true God of love. 
 
 The day was come, on which the sun 
 Had sev'n times sev'n glad courses run, 
 To usher in the seven-k)ld rays, 
 With a mysterious term of days. 
 
 Three hours from the sun's rise were past, 
 When lo, in a surprising blast, 
 The twelve at pray'rs, the ghostly God 
 Rush'd down to take his new abode. 
 
 Thus, from the Father's li^ht there cam« 
 k sacred warmth and living flame,
 
 S02 HYMNS. 
 
 To make their faithful hearts reveal, 
 By fiery tongues, their ardent zeal. 
 
 They, fiU'd with God, in transports bless, 
 With various tongues and languages, 
 The God that taught those wond'rous waya, 
 To preach his works and speak his praise. 
 
 The Romans, Greeks, and barbarous sectSj 
 AU nations and all dialects, 
 Their native tongues perceive, and praise 
 The author of their strange amaze. 
 . Whilst Jews alone, of all mankind 
 The most perversely deaf and bhnd, 
 Revile God's miracles, and think 
 The gift of tongues th' effect of drink. 
 
 But Peter thwarts their impious spite, 
 And brings the sacred truth to light : 
 A truth which, tho' from them concear^. 
 The Prophets taught, and God reveal'd. 
 
 To God the Father, and the Son, 
 Who rose from death, be honour done, 
 And equal adoration be. 
 Eternal Paraclete, to thee. 
 
 II. 
 
 Creator Spirit, by whose aid 
 The world's foundation first was laid ; 
 Come, visit ev'ry pious mind, 
 Come, pour thy joys on human-kind; 
 From sin and sorrow set us free, 
 And make thy temples worthy thee. 
 
 O Source of uncreated light. 
 The Father's promised Paraclete ! 
 Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
 
 HTMNS. 303 
 
 Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire ; 
 Come, and thy sacred unetion bring 
 To sanctify us while we sing. 
 
 Plenteous of grace, descend from high, 
 Rich in thy sev'n-fold energy ! 
 Thou strength of his Almighty hand, 
 Whose pow'r does heav'n and earth command ; 
 Proceeding Spirit, our defence, •\ 
 
 Who dost the gift of tongues dispense, >• 
 And crown' st thy gift with eloquence. J 
 
 Refine and purge our earthly parts : 
 But, oh ! inflame and warm our hearts: 
 Our frailties help, our vice control, 
 Submit the senses to the soul ; 
 And when rebellious they are grown, 
 Then lay thy hand, and hold them down. 
 
 Chase from our minds the infernal foe ; 
 And peace, the fruit of love, bestow : 
 And, lest our feet should step astray, 
 Protect and guide us in the way. 
 
 Make us eternal truths receive. 
 And practise all that we believe : 
 Give us thyself, that we may see 
 The Father and the Son, by thee. 
 
 Immortal honour, endless fame, 
 Attend th' Almighty Father's name. 
 The Saviour Son be glorified, 
 Who for lost man's redemption died ; 
 And equal adoration be, 
 Eternal Paraclete to thee. Amen. 
 
 III. 
 Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams 
 Which sweetly flow in silent streams,
 
 304 HYMN8. 
 
 From thy bright throne above : 
 
 come, thou Father of the poor, 
 Thou bounteous source of all our store 
 Come, fire our hearts with love. 
 
 Come, thou of comforters the best. 
 Come, thou the soul's delicious guest, 
 The pilgrim's sweet relief: 
 
 1 hou art our rest, in toil and sweat, 
 Refreshment in excessive heat, 
 And comfort in our grief. 
 
 O sacred light, shoot home thy darta 
 pierce the centre of those hearts, 
 Whose faith aspires to thee : 
 Witiiout thy Godhead nothing can 
 Have any worth or price in man ; 
 Nothing can harmless be. 
 
 Lord, wash our sinful stains away: 
 Water from heav'n our barren clay ; 
 Our wounds and bruises heal, 
 To thy sweet yoke, our stiff necks bow 
 Warm with thy fire our hearts of snow 
 Our wand'ring feet repeal. 
 
 O grant thy faithful, dearest Lord, 
 Whose only hope is thy sure word. 
 The seven gilts of thy Spirit : 
 Grant us in life t' obey thy grace; 
 Grant us in death to see thy face, 
 
 And endless joys inherit. 
 
 FOR TRINITY SUNDAY. 
 I. 
 
 When Faith was proved by pow'r divine, 
 Its mysteries began to shine.
 
 HYMNS. 305 
 
 God's chosen preachers soon reveai d 
 What was before from man conceal'd. 
 
 The nature of the Deity 
 In Godhead one, hi persons three, 
 Eternal all ! co-equal too ! 
 Stupendous truth, all Christians knew. 
 
 The God who made the heav'ns, the earth. 
 Who gave to all that be their birth, 
 Who can't be seen by mortal eye, 
 He's unity and trinity. 
 
 In him we be, we live, we move, 
 He claims our homage, fear, and love, 
 The King of kings, things great and small, 
 That were, are, shall be. God of all. 
 
 Past, future time to him can't be, 
 No change ; all one eternity ; 
 All present ; co-existing he. 
 In one immense Identity ! 
 
 Our God ! he ne'er began to be, 
 Nor shall his beinw cease ; for he 
 Existeth necessarily, 
 From self, all self-sufficiency ! 
 
 Sun, moon, and stars, the world he made 
 Shall perish, all like flowers fade ; 
 Eternal he, survive he must. 
 To punish sin, reward the just. 
 
 Sins present, past, and sins to come, 
 He knows our hearts, our future doom. 
 Tremendous Lord ! blot out the score, 
 With Jesus' blood ; we'll sin no more. 
 
 All glory to the sacred three. 
 Our great, our ever-living Lord, 
 20
 
 306 
 
 As at the first, still may he be 
 By all beloved, obey'd, adored. 
 
 FOR CORPUS CHRISTI DAY. 
 
 I. 
 
 SiNa, O my tongue, adore and praise 
 The depth of God's mysterious ways, 
 How Christ, the world's great King, bestow'd 
 His flesh conceal' d in human food. 
 And left mankind the blood that paid 
 The ransom for the souls he made. 
 
 Giv'n from above, and born for man, 
 From Virgin's womb his life began: 
 He liv'd on earth, and preach' d to sow 
 The seeds of heavenly truths below: 
 Then seal'd his mission from above. 
 With strange effects of pow'r and love. 
 
 'Twas on that ev'ning, when the last 
 And most mysterious supper past; 
 When Christ with his disciples sat, 
 To close the law with legal meat ; 
 Then to the twelve himself bestowed, 
 With his own hands, to be their food. 
 
 The Word made flesh, for love of mail. 
 His word turns bread to flesh again ; 
 And wine to blood, unseen by sense, 
 By virtue of Omnipotence: 
 And here the faithful rest secure, 
 Whilst God can vouch, and faith insure. 
 
 To this myt-terious table now. 
 Our knees, our hearts, and sense we bow ♦ 
 Let ancient rites resign their place 
 To nobler elements cf grace ;
 
 HYMNS. 307 
 
 And faith for all defects supply, 
 Whilst sense is lost in mystery. 
 
 To God the Father, born of none, 
 To Christ, his co-eternal Son, 
 And Holy Ghost, whose equal rajs 
 From both proceed, one equal praise : 
 One honour, jubilee, and fame. 
 For ever bless his glorious name. Amtn, 
 
 II. 
 
 Our hope, our food, our sacrifice, 
 Sweet Jesus, on the altar lies; 
 The church's joy, the angels' theme-, 
 Sound sweetly, sound the blessed name. 
 
 To awe our foes, the pow'rs of hell, 
 He promised in his church to dwell ; 
 Behold our incarnated Lord, 
 FulfiUeth here his gracious word. 
 
 Behold the awful mystery ! 
 His flesh, blood, soul, divinity, 
 Wrapp'd up (our wounded souls to heal) 
 In mystic, not substantial veil. 
 
 Each particle, both great and small, 
 Sweet Jesus, is sweet Jesus all ; 
 This food to thee, my soul, shall be 
 A source of immortality. 
 
 When devil, world, and flesh combine, 
 To counteract thy God's design, 
 Sweet Jesus in the host shall be. 
 The guardian of thy purity. 
 
 Feel first contriiion's piercing dart; 
 Confession next will ease the heart ;
 
 308 HYMNS. 
 
 Submit to penance ; — then prepare 
 To feast upon this heav'nly fare. 
 
 All hail to thee ! sweet Jesus, hail ! 
 We now our wofal sins bewail ; 
 Melt, melt our hearts with pow'rful grace. 
 And bless us in this holy place. 
 
 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 To Jesus, in the sacred host, 
 All glory be — to Mary too, 
 His Virgin Mother, praise is due. 
 
 Adore him. Angels, man adore ; 
 In solemn silence all adore. 
 With bended knees, and hearts contrite, 
 Adore both heav'n and earth's delight. 
 
 FOR ASSUMPTION DAY. 
 I. 
 
 BRiaHT Mother of our Maker, hail ! 
 Thou Virgin ever blest ! 
 The ocean' s-star, by which we ssul, 
 A.id gain the port of rest. 
 
 Whilst we this Hail do thus to thee 
 From GahrieVs mouth rehearse ; 
 Prevail that peace our lot may be, 
 And Eva's name reverse. 
 
 Release our long entangled mind 
 From all the snares of ill ; 
 With heavenly light instruct the blind, 
 And all our vows fulfil. 
 
 Exert for us a Mother's care, 
 And us thy children own ;
 
 HYMNS. 
 
 Prevail on him to hear our prayer, 
 Who chose to be thy Son. 
 
 O spotless maid ! whose virtues shine 
 Wuh brightest purity, 
 Each action of our Uves refine, 
 And make us pure like thee. 
 
 Preserve our lives unstain'd with ill, 
 In this infectious way ; 
 That heav'n alone our souls may fill 
 With joys that ne'er decay. 
 
 To God the Father endless praise, 
 To God the Son the same, 
 And Holy Ghost, whose equal rays 
 One equal glory claim. A7nen. 
 
 309 
 
 FOR ST. MICHAELMAS DAY. 
 I. 
 
 LoKD of hosts, whose beams impart 
 New life and vigour to the heart ; 
 For thee we tune the grateful lyre, 
 And mingle with the Angels' choir. 
 
 Myriads of chiefs their lanocs wield, 
 And glitter o'er the azure field ; 
 Whilst Michael, like the blazing star, 
 Displays the Cross, and ends the war. 
 
 The dragon's head he crush'd with this, 
 And drove him down the vast abyss : 
 Whilst rebel angels, with their head, 
 Impatient of his lightning, fled. 
 
 may we choose a better guide. 
 And vanquish all attempts of pride ;
 
 310 HYMNS. 
 
 That we the vacant seats may gain, 
 And with the Lamb for ever reign. 
 
 To God the Father, &c 
 
 FOR ALL SAINTS' DAY 
 
 I. 
 
 O Sov'keign Jesus, give thy aid 
 To all thou hast redeem'd and made : 
 Mother of grace, make sinners share 
 The helps of thy maternal care. 
 
 Blest Spirits, who assist before 
 The throne of God, for us implore : 
 Ye Patriarchs pray : ye Prophets plead i 
 And for indulgence intercede. 
 
 Thou Baptist, thou Precursor blest, 
 'itVjU chief of Pastors, with the rest 
 Of Christ's apostles, pray that we 
 Way live from sinful fetters liee. 
 
 Next Martyrs' and Confessors' choir 
 With sacred virgins' vows conspire, 
 And join with us, of heav'n l' obtain 
 Discharge of every sinful stain. 
 
 All happy great ones, that rei5ort 
 To Hll high heav'n's imperial court, 
 With just compassion now bestow. 
 Your heav'nly gifts on us below. 
 
 May each succeeding age proclaim, 
 Thy glory, Lord, and endless fame : 
 And praise, with the celestial host, 
 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
 
 HYMNS. 311 
 
 11. 
 
 O Christ, before whose throne of grace, 
 Tny Mother stands to plead our case : 
 Exert thy love, and grant that we 
 May share thy Father's clemency. 
 
 Angels, Archangels, Thrones and Pow'rs, 
 And all who guard the heavenly Tow'rs, 
 From present, past, arni future ill, 
 With watchful eye preserve us still. 
 
 Blest Prophets and Apostles, plead 
 Our guilty cause ; and intercede 
 With our offended Jud^e, that we 
 With tears may move his clemency. 
 
 May Martyrs' robes of purple dye 
 With stoles of white Confessors vie; 
 And both prevail to call us home 
 From exile, and reverse our doom. 
 
 Chaste train of Virgins, blest supplies, 
 Who, nurst in deserts, fill the skies : 
 And all ye choirs of Saints, obtain 
 That we with you may jointly reign. 
 
 Preserve thy faithful's Kingdom free 
 From unbehevers' tyranny : 
 That all mankind, united, may 
 One Pastor of their souls obey. 
 
 Great everlastmg God, to Thee, 
 \n essence One, in persons Three, 
 May all thy works,their tribute bring, 
 A.n^ every age thy glory sing. Amen,
 
 312 HYMNS. 
 
 Anthem for Christmas. 
 
 There were Shepherds abiding in thw field. 
 Keeping watch over their flocks by nigbl. 
 And lo ! the angel of the Lord camo upon 
 
 them ; 
 And the glory of the Lord shone round jAkOHl 
 
 them ; 
 And they were sore afraid. 
 And the angel said unto them, Fear ttot^ 
 For behold I bring you glad tidinga ; 
 Glad tidings of great joy. 
 For unto you is born, this day, a Saviour 
 Which is Christ, the Lord. 
 The marvellous world beholds, amazed, 
 The glorious hierarchy of Heaven ! 
 Who, from the ethereal vaults, resound 
 The praise of God, and of his only Son. 
 
 Adoration of Jesus in the blessed Sacraii^<i^X% 
 
 Saving Host ! we fall before thee, 
 
 Trusting in our Saviour's word; 
 Thee, we own the Lord of glory, 
 
 Thee wo own our sov' reign Lord. 
 While our evil foes contending. 
 
 Threaten our eternal loss ; 
 Be with heav'nly grace defending, 
 
 And protect us with thy cross. 
 
 From thy Father's throne descending. 
 
 Thou becom'st our daily bread; 
 'Midst celestial hosts attending. 
 
 With thy flesh our souls are fed. 
 Come, thou Source of ev'ry blessing 
 
 Warm our hearts with love divine, 
 Let thy grace, our souls possessing. 
 
 Make us all for ever thine.
 
 313 
 
 Aspirations before Communion. 
 
 My God ! my life ! my love ! 
 
 To thee, to thee, I call ; 
 ! come to me from heaven above, 
 
 And be my God, my all. 
 
 My faith beholds thee, Lord ! 
 
 Conceal' d in human food ; 
 My senses fail ; but in thy word 
 
 I trust and find my God. 
 
 O ! when wilt thou be mine, 
 
 Sweet lover of my soul ! 
 My Jesus dear ! my King divme ! 
 
 Come, o'er my heart to rule. 
 
 O come ! and fix thy throne 
 In the midst of my heart ; 
 
 O ! make it burn for thee alone, 
 And from thence ne'er depart* 
 
 Begone ye. from my mind, 
 Vain childish, earthly toys ; 
 
 Fn my .Tesus alone I find 
 True pleasures, solid joyg.
 
 BONA MORS. 
 
 PIODB ASSOCIATION FOR OBTAINING, BT MDTO. 
 PRAYERS, THE BLESSING OF 
 
 A HAPPY DEATH. 
 
 I heard a voice from heaven smms. unto me, write 
 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. — Apoc» xiv, 1} 
 
 PRAYERS 
 
 M Public Meetings and for Private Devotions 
 
 In the name of the Father, and of the Son. 
 and of the Holy Gho^t. Amen. 
 
 Open, O Lord, our mouths, to bless thy 
 holy name, cleanse our hearts from all vain 
 and distractin<:r thouo;hts, enlighten our un- 
 derstanding, inllame our will, that we may 
 worthily perform this holy exercise with at- 
 tention and devotion, and may deserve to 
 be heard in the presence of thy divine Ma- 
 jesty, who, with the Father and the Holy 
 Ghost, Vue.i-t ^nd roigne-*, '""'> God, world 
 without end. Amen.
 
 BONA MORS. 315 
 
 Lord, have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ, have mercy on us. 
 
 Lord, have mercy on us. 
 
 Holy Mary, 
 
 All ye holy angels and archangels, 
 
 St. Abel, 
 
 All ye choirs of just souls, 
 
 St. Abraham, 
 
 St. John the Baptist, 
 
 All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, 
 
 St. Peter, 
 
 St. Paul, 
 
 St, Andrew, 
 
 St. John, 
 
 All ye holy apostles and evangelists. 
 
 All ye Itoly disciples of our Lord, 
 
 All ye holy innocents, 
 
 St. Stephen, 
 
 St. Laurence, , 
 
 All ye holy martyrs, 
 
 St. Sylvester, 
 
 St. Gregory, 
 
 St. Augustin, 
 
 All ye holy bishops and confessors, 
 
 St. Benedict, 
 
 St. Francis, 
 
 All ye holy monks and hermits, 
 
 St. Mary Magdalen, 
 
 St. Lucy, 
 
 All ye holy Virgins and widows, 
 
 All ye saints of God, Make intercession for us! 
 
 Be merciful unto us, Spare us, O Lord ! 
 
 Be merciful unto us. Hear us, O Lord! 
 
 From thy anger, "| 
 
 From the danger of death, ! q Lord, deliver u» 
 
 h rom an unfortunate death, 
 
 From the pains of hell, J 
 
 ,« 
 >
 
 ol6 
 
 BONA MORS. 
 
 From all evil, 
 
 from the power of the devil, Q 
 
 Tlii-ongh ihy nativity, h 
 
 Through thy cross and passion, 
 
 Through thy death and burial, 
 
 Throii^ih thy glorious resurrection, 
 
 Tiiro!io;ii thy admirable ascension, 
 
 Through the grace of the Holy Ghost, the 
 
 comfjrter. 
 In the clay of judgment. 
 We sinners, J)o beseech thee to hear us. 
 That tiiou ?pare us, IVe beseech tliee to hear us. 
 Lord, have mercy on us. 
 Christ, iiave mercy on us. 
 Lord, have mercy on us. 
 
 Let ns Pray. 
 
 May thy clemency vouchsafe, O God, so 
 to confirm thy servants in thy holy grace, 
 that at the hour of their death the enemy 
 may not prevail againsl them, but that with 
 tliy angels they may deserve to pass into life 
 everlasting, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 jlmen. 
 
 Omnipotent and most merciful Creator, 
 who, to refresh thy thirsty people in the des- 
 eri, didst command streams of water to flow 
 from the hardest rocks, draw, we beseech 
 thee, Irom our dry eyes, and stony hearts, de- 
 sired tears of perfect compunction, that we 
 may fully detest all sin, and only thirst after 
 the ha[)py and glorious vision of thee our 
 Gdd, tlie Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 
 Jlme7i.
 
 BONA MORS. 317 
 
 Jin J^d of Contrilion. 
 My dear Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer of 
 the world, behold, prostrate at thy leet, the 
 most unhappy and most untrrateful creature 
 on the face of the earth. My God, I have 
 offended thee most grievously, in thouj^hts, 
 words, and deeds. My heinous crimes fixed 
 thee on the bloody cross. To rescue me from 
 eternal damnation, thou didst asjonize three 
 hours on Mount Calvary. But, oh how 
 much am I displeased with myself! How I 
 E;rieve for having offended thee, a God of 
 infinite goodness, of infinite charity! I am 
 astonished and conibunded at thy incompre- 
 hensible patience in supporting the most pro- 
 voking wretch that breathes. From the very 
 bottom of my heart, I detest all my sins ; and 
 because I love thee, and will love thee above 
 all things created. I steadfastly purpose, by thy 
 holy grace, never to oifend thee more, to die 
 a thousand deaths rather than commit one 
 mortal sin. j-lmen. 
 
 The Staiiojis of the Sacred Passion. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus, praying to the 
 Father in the garden, sorrowful even unto 
 death, and sweating in an agony of grie^ 
 have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 F. O most sweet Jesus, delivered by the 
 traitor's kiss into the hands of thy enemies, 
 seized and bound like a thief, and abandoned 
 by thy disciples, have mercy on us.
 
 318 BONA MORS. 
 
 K. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 r. O most sweet Jesus! by the unjust ver- 
 dict of the Jews found guilty of deathl^ brought 
 like a malefactor before the tribunal of Pilate, 
 scorned and derided by impious Herod, have 
 mercy on us. 
 
 R.'E.a.ve mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! stripped of thy 
 garments, and most inhumanly scourged at 
 the pillar, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! crowned with 
 thorns, blindfolded, buffeted, struck with a 
 reed, clothed in derision with a purple gar- 
 ment, and many other ways scorned and re- 
 viled, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! reputed more cri- 
 minal -than Barabbas the murderer, rejectea 
 by the Jews, and condemned to the igno- 
 minious death of the cross, have mercy on 
 us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! loaded wuth a 
 heavy cross, and led like an innocent lamb to 
 the place of execution, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! hanging between
 
 BONA MORS 31? 
 
 hfr« ttiieves, derided, blasphemed, made to 
 tastw vinegar and £;aU, and enduring most 
 horrible torments from the sixih to the ninth 
 hour, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lonirhavo mercy 
 on us 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! dead upon the 
 cross, and wounded in thy side with a spear, 
 in thy holy Mother's presence, whence issued 
 forth water and blood, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most swee Jesus ! taken down from 
 the cross, and bathed with the tears of thy 
 most sorrowl'ui Mother, have mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. O most sweet Jesus ! torn and bruised 
 ail over, thy body bearing the sacred marks 
 of thy five most precious wounds, embalmed 
 with spices, and laid in the sepulchre, have 
 mercy on us. 
 
 R. Have mercy'on us, O Lord, have mercy 
 on us. 
 
 V. He truly bore our sorrows. 
 
 R. And he carried our griefs. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 O God, who for the redemption of the 
 world didst vouchsafe to be born, circum- 
 cised, rejected by the Jews, betrayed with a 
 kiss, bound like a malefactor, and like an in- 
 nocent lamb, led to slau^jhter, i^nominiously 
 brought before Annas, Caiphas,Pilate and He-
 
 320 BOA^A MOES. 
 
 rod, accused by false witnesses, scourged with 
 whips, bulft'ted, defiled with spittle, crowned 
 with thorns, stripped of thy clothes, fastened 
 to the cross, placed between two thieves, to 
 have vincijar and gall given thee to drink, 
 and thy side pierced through with a spear: 
 mayest thou, O Lord (by these most grievous 
 pains, which I, though unworthy, do com- 
 meraorate, and by thy most sacreci <leatli and 
 passion), free me from the pains of hell, and 
 conduct me whither thy mercy conducted 
 the good thief, crucified with thee, who, to- 
 gether with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, 
 Iivest and reignest for ever. Anxcn. 
 
 Devout Addresses to the Five Wounds of our 
 Saviour. 
 
 Let us adore the five most sacred wounds of 
 Christ our Lord, and each one in particular, with 
 an assured coufidetice of obtaiuino; ail blessings 
 through his passion and death oilerod for us to 
 his eternal Father, We will also condole with 
 the holy INIotber of Christ, whose soul was 
 pierced with tin- sword of grief, standing under 
 the cross of her beloved Son: we will likewise 
 praise and magnify the most blessed Trinity, for 
 so great and incomprehensible a benefit. 
 
 • To the wound of the left foot. 
 My Lord Jesus Christ! I humbly adore the 
 most sacred wound of thy left ("ootr 1 rendei 
 thee Ihaiiks for that cruel pain sudered with 
 so great love and charity? I feelingly com 
 passionate thy torment and the excessiv'e grief
 
 BONA MORS. 321 
 
 of thy most afflicted mother; I humbly beg 
 pardon for all my sins, which I lament more 
 than all imaginable evils, because they of- 
 fend thee, infinite goodness ! And I resolve 
 never more to sin. O bring all sinners, with -v 
 me, to a true conversion, and give them light 
 to discover the heinousness, the enormity, 
 ana brutality of a mortal crime. 
 
 Our Father — Hail, Mary — Glory be, Sec. 
 
 To the wound of the right foot. 
 
 My Lord Jesus Christ! I humbly adore 
 the most sacred wound of thy right foot. J 
 render thee thanks for that cruel pain suf- 
 fered with so great love and charity. I feel- 
 ingly compassionate thy torments, and the 
 excessive grief of thy most afflicted mother. 
 I supplicate thee to grant me strength against 
 all temptations, and a prompt obedience in 
 the execution of thy divine will. Comfort, O 
 Jesus ! all poor, miserable, afflicted, tempted 
 and persecuted persons. Most just Judge, 
 govern those'who administer justice, and as- 
 sist all laborers in the cure of souls, whether 
 amongst Christians or infidels. 
 
 Our Father— Hail, Mary— Glory be, &c. 
 
 To the wound of the left hand. 
 My Lord Jesus Christ ' I humbly adore the 
 most sacred wound of thy left hand. I render 
 thee thanks for that cruel pain, suffered with 
 so great love and charity. I feelingly com- 
 passionate thy torments and the excessive 
 21
 
 322 BONA MORS. 
 
 grief of thy most afflicted mother. By them 
 I petition "thee to deliver me from the pairig 
 of hell, and grant me patience and conformity 
 to thy blessed pleasure in all. the contradic- 
 tions of this present life. I offer unto thee 
 all my exterior and interior sufferings, in sat- 
 isfaction for my sins, which have so often 
 deserved eternal torments. I beg thee to par- 
 don all my enemies, and others ill aifectod 
 towards me ; bless, O Lord, the sick with 
 patience and health ; support with thy assist- 
 ing grace all those in their agony, that thej 
 may not perish. 
 
 Our Father— Hail, Mary— Glory be, &c. 
 
 To the wound of the right hand. 
 
 My Lord Jesus Christ ! I humbly adore the 
 most sacred wound of thy right hand. I ren- 
 der thee thanks for that cruel pain, suffered 
 with so great love and charity. I feelingly, 
 compassionate thy torments, and the exces- 
 sive grief of thy most afflicted mother. I 
 supplicate thee to grant me a firm and reso- 
 lute will in all things relating to my salvation. 
 Bless me with final perseverance in grace, toi 
 gecure the enjoyment of that glory which 
 was purchased with the price of thy most sa- 
 cred blood. Grant also, my Jesus ! speedy 
 peace and repose to the souls in purgatory; 
 cause thy holy servants in this world to make 
 daily progress in perfection, especially thofle> 
 who are of this confraternity. 
 
 Our Father — Hail, Mary — Glory be, &c.
 
 BONA MORS. 323 
 
 To the wound in the sacred side. 
 
 My Lord Jesus Christ ! I humbly adore the 
 most sacred wound in thy blessed side, ren- 
 dering thanks for the immense love mani- 
 fested towards us, at the opening of thy in- 
 flamed heart ; I feelingly condole the affronts 
 and the excessive grief of thy most afliicted 
 mother. Grant me pure love and perfect 
 charity, that loving thee above all things, and 
 all things in thee, my miserable soul, by the 
 assistance of thy holy grace, may be worthy 
 to be breathed out in the sacred wound of 
 thy blessed side. I humbly beg thee, dear 
 Jesus, to protect thy holy Catholic church, 
 direct thy governing vicar upon earth, all 
 ecclesiastical orders and secular persons, who 
 are instrumental in bringing souls to do their 
 duty. Preserve in thy happy service all 
 Christian rulers. Reduce into the way of 
 salvation all those that are gone astray, whe- 
 ther through malice or ignorance. Ei ing un- 
 der thy sweet yoke all infidels, heretics, and 
 other enemies of thy holy name. 
 
 Our Father— Hail, Mary— Glory be, &c. 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ ! God of my heart; by 
 those five wounds which the love of us inflict 
 ed on thee, succor thy servants, wiiom thoi 
 hast redeettied with thy precious blood. j9men 
 
 Most merciful Redeemer! I humbly be- 
 seech thee, by the unspeakable torments, 
 and the immense grief, which thou wast 
 pleased to suffer for me, a contemptible crea*
 
 324 BONA MORS. 
 
 ture, especially when tliy divine soul waa 
 bitterly separated from thy blessed body, that 
 thou wilt secure my poor soul at the final 
 separation, and comfort me then, as thou didst 
 the good thief, saying to me, This day shalt 
 thou be with me in paradise. Amen. 
 
 Let us have recourse to the ever immaculate 
 Virgin, Mother of God, beseeching her to pro- 
 tect us under the shadow of her wings, until the 
 wrath of God be appeased ; and to obtain for us 
 true contrition and perseverance in the holy 
 grace of her blessed Son. We will also petition 
 for what each one here present stands in need of, 
 according to his spiritual or temporal necessities, 
 to the greater glory of God. To merit these 
 favors, we will pray in union with that more than 
 seraphic love wherewilh the dolorous Mother 
 stood under the cross of her bleeding Jesus. 
 
 STABAT MATER DOLOROSA. 
 
 Under tlie world's redeeming wood 
 The most aftticted Motlier stood, 
 Mingling her tears with her Son's blood. 
 As that streamed down from every part, 
 Of all Ills wounds she felt the smart, 
 What pierced his body, pierced her heart. 
 Who can with tearless eyes look on, 
 When such a mother, such a Son, 
 Wounded and gasping, does bemoan ? 
 O worse than Jewish heart that could. 
 Unmoved, behold the double flood, 
 Of Mary's tears and Jesus' blood/ 
 
 It is our sins, alas ! not his, 
 
 For wbich he bleeds, for vvliich he diea, 
 
 In this atoning sacrifice, 
 
 When graves did open, rocks were rent» 
 
 When nature, and oacli element. 
 
 His torments and his erief resent :
 
 BONA MORS. 325 
 
 Shall man, the cause of all his jiain 
 And al! his prief, shall sinful maa 
 Alone insensible remain? 
 
 Ah ! pious Mother, teach my heart 
 
 Of sighs and tears tlie holy art, 
 
 And in thy grief to bear a part. 
 
 The sword of grief that did pass tlirough 
 
 Thy very soul, O ! may it now 
 
 One kind wound on my heart bestow. 
 
 Great Queen of sorrows in thy train 
 
 Let me a mourner's place obtain, 
 
 With tears to cleanse all sinful stain. 
 
 Refuge of sinners, grant that we 
 May tread tliy steps, and let it be. 
 Our sorrow not to grieve with thee. 
 O may the wounds of thy dear Son 
 Our contrite hearts possess alone, 
 And all terrene attections drown. 
 May they such impressions make, 
 That we, of sufl'ring for his sake. 
 May joyfully our portion take. 
 
 Let us his proper badge put on, 
 
 Let's glory in his cross alone, 
 
 By which he marks us for his own. 
 
 That when the dreadful day shall come, 
 
 For ev'ry man to hear his doom, 
 
 On his right hand we may find room. 
 
 O ! hear us, Mary ! Jesus, hear 
 
 Our humble prayer, secure our fear, 
 
 When tliou in judgment shalt appear. 
 
 Now give us sorrow, give us love. 
 
 That so prepared we may remove, 
 
 When called, to the blest seats above, ,8mcft, 
 
 V. The []word of sorrow has pierced thy 
 •oul. 
 
 R. That out of many hearts cogitations 
 may be revealed.
 
 326 BONA MORS. 
 
 Let US pray. 
 
 We beseech thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that 
 the blessed V. Mary may effectually intercede 
 with thy clemency for us, both now and ut 
 the hour of our death, who at the hour of thy 
 I)assion had her holy soul run through with 
 the sword of sorrow; who livest and reignest 
 with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, one 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Let us say Our Father and Hail Mary three 
 times, in memory of the three hours our dear 
 Redeemer huns; upon the cross, aud apply thera 
 to the souls of the departed of this confraternity 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 i 
 
 Let us also say an Our Father and a Hail Mary 
 for such as are in the lamentable state of mortal 
 sin. 
 
 Our Father, See. 
 
 Let us a»ain say an Our Father and a Hail 
 Mary for him or her of this confraternity that is 
 to die next, that he or she may be prepared, and 
 depart heartily fortified with the holy sacra- 
 ments of the church. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 Let us dispose ourselves by acts of perfect con- 
 trition and pure love of God, to receive worthily 
 the benediction of our Lord and Saviour in the 
 adorable sacrament of the altar. 
 
 Merciful Redeemer, and holy God of infinite 
 patience ! great is my confusion to appear in 
 thy divine presence, having so frequently 
 postponed tlioe, the omnipotent Creator o^ 
 the universe, to vile and contemptible crea*
 
 BONA MORS. 327 
 
 tnreg. T, a miserable worm of the earth, v/ho 
 utterly detest my horrid confidence of sinning 
 in thy most pure sight; 1 own myself a no- 
 torious criminal, and I plead guilty at the bar 
 of thy dread tribunal. Thou mightest have 
 been glorified in thy justice by suddenly strik- 
 mg me dead, and by condemning me to eter- 
 nal flames, for base indignities put upon thee. 
 But thou wert pleased to be glorified in the 
 high prerogative of thy mercy, in calling me 
 back to repentance. I abhor all my crimes 
 of thought, word, and deed, not for the hope 
 of reward, or fear of punishment, but lor thy 
 own sake, and because thou dost infinitely 
 abominate them. Oh ! my God of majesty 
 and mercy ! look upon those sacred marks in 
 thy hands, feet, and side, which thou retain- 
 est in thy glorified body, to plead my pardon 
 By that tender love which induced thee to 
 create, redeem, and sanctify me, unite the 
 abyss of thy merits to the abyss of my mis- 
 ery. I declare before thy throne, and the 
 whole court of heaven, that I freely clioose to 
 die here upon my knees, rather than live any 
 lojjger, to rob thee of due honor by one mor- 
 tal srn^ My heart was created for thee, and 
 I love ^ee more than myself. Every respi- 
 ration coming from me, especially the last, 
 when I breathe out my soul, shall be an irre- 
 vocable protestation of my pure and sincere 
 love of thy divine Majesty. Sweet Saviour of 
 perishing mankind I who openest thy hand, 
 and fillest every creature with benediction, 
 give me now such a blessing as thou didst be-
 
 328 BONA MORS. 
 
 stow on thy belov-ed disciples when ascending 
 in triumph from Mount Olivet, that I may 
 live and die in this happy disposition, jlmen 
 When this exercise is performed in public, it 
 is terminated by the bencdictioa of th.e blessed 
 sacrament. 
 
 Litany for obtaining a good death. 
 
 Lord Jesus, graoiotis God, Father of mercy, I 
 present myself before thee with an humble and 
 contrite heart. I recommend my last hour, and 
 all that shall follow, into thy hands. 
 
 When my inmiovable feet will warn me 
 that my course in this life will soon be fin- 
 ished. 
 
 When my eye'«, obscured at the approach 
 of deatli, shall cast their dying looks to- 
 wards thee. 
 
 When my lips, cold and trembling:, will 
 pronoufice, for the last time, thy adorable 
 name, 
 
 When my pale and livid cheeks will in- 
 spire the beholders with compassion, 
 
 When the cold sweat of death will an- 
 nounce my aiiproachinir end, ■ 
 
 When my ears shall be about to close to ' 5^ 
 
 every human voice, and open only to hear 
 the irrevocable sentence of thy justice, which 
 shall separate me from the number of the 
 living. 
 
 When my imagination, agitated by dark 
 and terrifying phantoms, will be plunged in 
 cruel sadness. 
 
 When my mind, troubled at the sight of 
 my iniqu tics, and by the fear of thy justice, 
 shall co(it<'hd with the angel of darkness, 
 who would hide thy mercies from me, and 
 cairt me into despair,
 
 BONA MORS. 
 
 329 
 
 "When my weak heart, overpowered by') 
 the pains of sickness, will be seized with 
 the horrors of cUath, 
 
 When I shall be surrounded by my rela- 
 tives and friends, lamenting my sad condi- 
 tion, and offerina; up to thee their supplica- 
 tions in my behalf, 
 
 When I shall shed my last tears, the fore- 
 runners of my dissolution, receiving them as 
 a tribute of jjenance, 
 
 AVhen I shall have lost the use of my 
 senses, and the whole world shall disappear 
 from my view, 
 
 When ihe last sighs of my heart shall , 
 force my soul from my body, accepting them 
 as expressive of a holy impatience to be 
 thine. 
 
 When my soul shall be on my lips, de- 
 parting from this world, and shall leave my 
 body cold and lifeless, accepting the destruc- 
 tion of my being as a homage paid to thy 
 divine majt-sty. 
 
 When ray soul shall appear before thee, 
 and for the first titne behold the glory of thy 
 countenance, O that it may not be then cast 
 from thee, but that it may be received into 
 the bosom of thy mercy, to sing thy praises 
 for ever. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O God ! who condemning us to death, hast 
 concealed from us the moment of its occur- 
 rence, a:rant that, spending all the days of our 
 lives in justice and holiness, we may have 
 the happiness to breathe our last in thy love , 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
 330 
 
 THE SCAPULAR. 
 
 The Scapular was instituted by St Simon 
 Stock,* in 1245, and became from that time 
 the badge of the order of Mount Carmel.j 
 
 St, Simon Stock, soon after he was pro- 
 moted to the dignity of general, instituted this 
 confraternity, to unite the devout clients of 
 the blessed Virgin in certain regular exer- 
 cises of religion and piety. Several Carmel- 
 ite writers assure us that he was a monished 
 by the Mothef of God, in a vision with which 
 he was favored, on the 16th of July, to estab- 
 lish this devotion. This confraternity has 
 been approved and favored with many privi- 
 leges, by several ])opes. (See bulls of Pius 
 V, Clement VIll, Clement X. See also, tor 
 an account of his history and life, Alban 
 Butler's Lives of the Saints, May 16th.) 
 
 The great feast of the Rosary is celebrated 
 the first Sunday in October, for an eternal and 
 grateful commemoration of that most remark- 
 able and altogether miraculous naval victory 
 gained over the Turks, by a handful of Chris- 
 
 * So called from his performing the most rigorous 
 morlifications on himself in the hollow or stock of mi 
 old oak tree, which he made his residence. Ai tli;»! 
 time < hristiaii.s would not ^et down such mortifica- 
 tion as foil)', or call it shameful. 
 
 [Hence Uie title of Carmelites.
 
 THE SCAPULAR. 331 
 
 t(«ns, in the Bay of Lepanto, upon the 7th of 
 October, which was then the first Sunday in 
 that month in the year 1571, about the end of 
 Pius Quintus' popedom, who was the zealous 
 promoter of this holy war, and had at Rome 
 a revelation of that victory the very moment 
 it happened in the Gulf of Lepanto, though 
 more than four hundred miles distant. 
 
 The infidels lost, besides the great bashaw 
 and their principal officers, thirty thousand 
 men killed, upwards of three hundred galleys 
 v/ere taken, burnt, or sunk ; three hundred 
 and seventy-two pieces of cannon were 
 tjiken ; amongst the prodigious number of 
 prisoners they made, were two nephews of 
 tlie grand signior, besides twenty thousand 
 Christians freed from slavery, whom they 
 found in chains on board the Turkish fleet, 
 and the Catholic cause asserted from most 
 imminent danger and calamity. The pope 
 Greg. XIII, in his Bull Monet Jlposiolus zXixi- 
 butes this great victory to the prayers of the 
 devout Rosarists, w^ho at that very time vt^ere 
 making their public processions in the seve- 
 ral parts of Christendom for this end, and im- 
 ploring most earnestly the divme assistance, 
 by the intercession of this powerful Mother. 
 
 Wherefore, I will conclude with what is 
 related, 4 Kings v, 13, where Naaman the 
 Syrian, who was infected with leprosy, was 
 told by Eliseus, the prophet, " Go and wash 
 in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be 
 c^ean." But he, contemning to follow this 
 advice, as a thing that would not at all avail
 
 332 THE SCAPULAR. 
 
 him, was emphatically exhorted thereto by 
 his servant, in this manner* If the prophet 
 had bid thee do some great thing, thou ought- 
 est to have done it; how much rather, then, 
 when he saiih to thee, wash and be clean? 
 I say the same at present concerning the sa- 
 cred habit of" the Scapular ; if our blessed 
 Lady had bid us do some great thing, we 
 ought to do it; how much rather, then, when 
 she saith, " Wear my livery and you shall not 
 suffer eternal fire?" If she had enjoined us 
 to make great abstinence; to undergo some 
 rigorous moitification, or to undertake a long 
 and tedious pilgrimage, with this condition, 
 that we should be freed from eternal damna- 
 tion, from the torment of purgatory, and from 
 the many dangerous events which easily do 
 befall us in this life ; right reason would dic- 
 tate to us that we ought to attempt any thing 
 for the obtaining of so great a good: how 
 much more, then, when she hath annexed 
 these and many other extraordinary graces, 
 to the reception only and devout wearing of 
 her holy habit of the Scapular, with a final 
 confidence in her powerful protection ; but 
 you will perhaps, with Naaman, object, what 
 can such a weak thing avail us, as the Scap- 
 ular is? To tliis 1 answer, with the apostle, 
 1 Cor. i, 27, "The weak things of the world 
 hath God chosen, that he might confound the 
 strong. " He hath made choice of the weak 
 element of vyater 1o wasli us from original 
 sin, which is so deeply indicated in us by the 
 prevarication of our first father Adam, and he
 
 THE SCAPULAR. 333 
 
 hath made use of the weak habit of the Scap- 
 ular, to produce those excellent effects which 
 are mentioned in the chapter following. 
 
 It is no new thing to Almighty God to con- 
 cur with the clothes and garments of saints 
 in order to the effecting of i)rodigiou3 things 
 The mantle of our holy patriarch, St. Elias, 
 divided twice the water of Jordan, 4 Kings 2 
 The shadow of St. Peter did cure all dis- 
 eases. Acts V, 15. The handkerchiefs and 
 napkins of St. Paul did drive away evil spir- 
 its, and heal all sorts of infirmities. Acts ix, 
 12. Nevertheless, our Saviour did never so 
 frequently concur with the relics of any 
 saints, to the effecting of such like things, as 
 he hath done with the sacred habit of his Vir- 
 gin Mother, which he seems to have made 
 choice of, that he may thereby demonstrate to 
 the world both the C^icaciousness of her in- 
 tercession, and the height of her merits and 
 glory. For, during those six hundred years, 
 ever since the time of St. Simon Stock, most 
 miraculous and extraordinary things have 
 been, and daily are done throughout the whole 
 Christian world, by the intercession of the 
 most blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, 
 and by means of her sacred Scapular. Where- 
 fore, courteous reader, seeing thou bast at 
 hand so easy and efficacious a way of pro- 
 moting both thy spiritual and temporal good, 
 thou wilt, if thou art wise, procure forthwith 
 to make use of it. If thou dost not, it can 
 not be attributed but to thy negligence, of 
 that impoitant affair of thy salvation, wnich
 
 334 THE SCAPULAR. 
 
 thou oughtest principally to mind ; and il 
 thou comest at last miserably to lose thyself, 
 Almighty God will have just cause to objeci 
 against thee, what he objected against the 
 Israelites, — Osea xiv, 9, — Thy perdition is 
 from thyself. 
 
 Those who wear it should imitate the life 
 of the immaculate Virgin, and emulate her 
 virtues, particularly her purity, humility, and 
 charity. The Scapular should be worn around 
 tlie neck, and if worn out or lost, the person 
 may get another : the same is allowed to 
 those who have for a length of time aban- 
 doned the order. The second need not be 
 blessed. 
 
 The Scapular imposes no obligation on its 
 wearers under pain of sin, but in order to be 
 entitled to the special protection of the blessed 
 Virgin ; to a participation in the meritorious 
 acts of the Carmelites, (the prayers, alms, 
 fastings, &,c. of the whole body all over the 
 world,) and to the indulgences attached, it 
 is necessary to be received into the order by 
 a priest duly authorized — to wear the Scapu- 
 lar constantly, and to be registered on the 
 book of the confraternity. 
 
 The Form of offering oneself to the B. Virgin 
 Mary to be admitted into her Confraternily . 
 
 Thrice, sacred Virgin Mary, Mother of 
 God, 1, N. N., though most unworthy to be 
 registered amongst your servants, (yet moved
 
 THE SCAPULAR. 335 
 
 by that goodness which the angels admire in 
 you to an ardent desire of honoring, loving, 
 atid serving you,) do here this day, with all 
 possible humility, sincerity and devotion, (in 
 the presence of my angel guardian, and the 
 whole court of heaven,) make a choice of 
 you for my singular Lady, advocate, and 
 Mother ; firmly purposing to honor, love, and 
 serve you, with all filial duty, diligence, and 
 fidelity : and to procure (as much as it shall 
 lie in my power) that all others may do the 
 same. I therefore most heartly beseech 
 you, O most merciful and compassionate Mo- 
 ther ! by the precious blood which your dearly 
 beloved Son, my blessed Saviour, shed for 
 me in his bitter passion, that you will be gra- 
 ciously pleased to receive, and admit me into 
 the number of your devout clients, as one 
 devoted to your perpetual service. 
 
 Be thou favorable to me, O blessed Lady, 
 an(t obtain for me of your all-powerful Son, 
 that 1 may so behave myself, in all my 
 thoughts, words, and actions, as never more 
 to think, speak, or act any thing displeasing 
 to his sacred Majesty, 
 
 Grant, furthermore, O my good and gra- 
 cious Mother ! that I may never forget you, 
 nor forfeit this, my now made promise of 
 honoring, loving, and serving you all the 
 days of my life. That so 1 may never be 
 forgotten, forsaken, nor abandoned by you; 
 out be always protected, aided, and assisted 
 bv you, especially in the hoiLi of my death 
 Amen.
 
 336 PRAYERS or ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 Let ?fs Pray. 
 
 O God, who didst instruct the hearts of 
 the faithful by the ilhunination of the Holy 
 Ghost, f^rant that, by the same Spirit, we 
 may have a right uuderstanding in all things, 
 and evermore rejoice in this holy consolation, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ, &:c. Jmen 
 
 O most blessed and adorable Jesus, who 
 in thy mercy art pleased to inspire this thy 
 servant to enrol himself amongst the devout 
 clients of thy glorious virgin Mother, grant 
 him and us so to persevere in thy love and 
 service, that after we finish the course of thig 
 miserable life, we may come to sing thy 
 praises for all eternity. Amen. 
 
 THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 To be said in honor of the sacred wounds of our 
 blessed Saviour. 
 
 O MOST benign Lord Jesus Christ, eternal 
 happiness of those who love thee, joy above 
 desire, firm hope of the hopeless, solace of llie 
 sorrowful, and luost merciful lover of ail peni- 
 tential sinners ; who hast said that thy delight ii 
 to be with the sons of men, for the love of whom 
 thou didst assume human nature in the fulness 
 of time ; remember most holy Lord Jesus, all 
 those sharp sorrov/s which then pierced fhy 
 sacred soul, from the first instant of thy incarna- 
 tion until the time of thy solitary passion, pre-
 
 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 337 
 
 ordained from all eternity ; remember, O most 
 amiable Saviour, all those bitter anguishes thou 
 didst aufl'er, when at thy last supper thou didst 
 wash the feet of thy disciples, didst feed them 
 with the sacred banquet of thy precioiis body 
 Rud blood, and most sweetly comforting them, 
 didst foretell them thy ensuing passion; aftei 
 which, going to 3Ioimt Olivet, thou saidst. My 
 toul is sorrowful unto death; remember, I be- 
 seech thee, O most benign Saviour, the bittei 
 grief and anguish which thy sacred soul did suf- 
 fer, when praying three several times to thy 
 heavenly Father, thou didst sweat water and 
 blood, thou wert betrayed by thy own disciple, 
 apprehended by thy people, accused by false wit- 
 nesses, unjustly judged by three judges, and in 
 thy elected city, in the paschal solemnity, in 
 the flourishing age of thy youth, wert wrong- 
 fully condemned, bound, beaten, spurned, spit 
 upon, stripped of thy own garments, and clothed 
 with others in scorn; wert blindfolded, buffeted, 
 spit upon again, bound naked to a pillar, most 
 cruelly scourged, crowned with thorns, struck 
 with "a reed, and afflicted with innumerable tor- 
 ments, pains and injuries. O merciful Lord 
 Jesus, by the memory and merit of all these 
 bitter pains and anguishes before thy expiralioa 
 on the cross, vouchsafe to grant me before my 
 death, true contrition, entire confession, a flow- 
 ing fountain of tears, full satisfaction, and plen- 
 ary remission of all my sins. Amen. 
 
 O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 II. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus, true joy of 
 angels, and the light of the world, remember, I 
 beseech thee, that grief and sorrow which thou 
 22
 
 338 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 didst suffer, when thy cruel enemies, like fierce 
 lions, with furious and dreadful looks, compass- 
 ing thee round ahout, did pull off thy hair, spit 
 upon thy sacred lace, tear, beat, and buftVt thee, 
 and with all manner of unheard-of injuries, out- 
 rages, and torments, did most cruelly and basely 
 blaspheme, scorn, and affront thee : O most 
 merciful Lord Jesus, by all those most barbarous 
 and inhuman outrages which thou didst sutler, 
 vouchsafe to deliver me from all my enemies, 
 visible and invisible; that protected under tlva 
 shadow of (by wings, I may safely arrive at the 
 port of eternal glory. Amen. 
 
 O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, be propi- 
 tious to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 III. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus, omnipotent 
 Creator of the world, and Redeemer of man- 
 kind, who containest both heaven and earth in 
 thy hands, and whose immensity no bounds can 
 limit; remember, I beseech thee, the bitter 
 pains and anguishes which thou didst endure, 
 when the perfidious Jews pierced thy delicate 
 and tender hands and feet, with most rough and 
 blunt nails, stretching them forth so violently 
 with cords, to the holes which they had mado 
 in the cross; thus they heaped dolor upon do- 
 lor, most cruelly disjointing all thy bones, 
 breaking al! thy veins, and renewing all thy 
 sacred wounds. O merciful sweet Jesus, by the 
 memory of these thy pains and toinients on 
 tlie cross, vouchsafe to give me thy fear and 
 love, with perfect charity towards my neighboi* 
 Jimen. 
 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be pro]»itiou9 to 
 me a sinner Pater Noster. Ave W aria.
 
 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 339 
 
 IV. 
 
 O MY merciful Lord Jesus, heavenly physi- 
 cian of human nature, and eternal king, renaeiti- 
 »er, I beseech thee, all those bitter pains and 
 torments which thou didst endure in thy sacred 
 (vounds, who being suspended by nails on the 
 cross, with all thy precious body rent and torn, 
 ftU thy bones being so disjointed that not one 
 remained in its right place, no. having from the 
 crown of thy head unto the soles of thy feet, any 
 part left whole; so that no dolor could be com- 
 pared to thine ; at which time being unmindful 
 of thy own torments, thou didst mercifully pray 
 to thy heavenly Father, for thy cruel enemies, 
 saying, " Father, forgive them, for they know 
 not what they do !" O most meek and merciful 
 Lord Jesus, by this thy admirable benignity, 
 goodness, love and mercy, and by all thy bitter 
 pains and torments, grant that the memory of 
 thy dolorous passion may be to me a most pow- 
 erful protection, both of soul and body, against 
 all th^ deceits, temptations, and molestations of 
 tlie devil, my cruel enemy. Amen. 
 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. 
 
 V. 
 
 O MOST benign Lord Jesus, mirror of eternal 
 brightness and wisdom of the omnipotent Father, 
 remember the bitter grief and sorrow thy sacred 
 soul did feel, when beholding in the clear mirror 
 of thy divine prescience, the predestination of 
 th}' elect, who through the merits of thy most 
 wholesome passion were to be saved, and the 
 reprobation of the wicked, who for their ingrati- 
 tude were to be damned, and the abyss of thy 
 immense mercy by which thou didst commise- 
 rate and shed tears for us miserable lost, forlorn
 
 340 PRAYERS or ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 sinners, and chiefly by that mercy which thou 
 tiidst show to the thief upoa the cross, saying to 
 him, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. 
 I beseech thee, O most clement Lord Jesus, my 
 Lord and my God, to show the like mercy unto 
 me, now and at the hour of my death. Amen 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be merciful unti 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 VI. 
 
 O MOST benign Lord Jesus, omnipotent kin» 
 of heaven and earth, remember the bitter griel 
 and sorrow thy sacred soul did suffer, when 
 being forsaken of thy friends and acquaintance, 
 thou didst hang naked, rent, and torn, upon the 
 cross ; few remained to comfort or compassionate 
 thee, but the glorious Virgin Mary, thy mother, 
 who standing under the cross, in the bitterness 
 of her soul accompanied tliee in all thy tor- 
 ments ; unto whom thou didst commend thy 
 beloved disciple, St. John, in thy. place, saying 
 unto her, Woman, behold thy Son ; and after tc 
 thy disciple. Behold thy Mother. O most be- 
 nign Lord Jesus, by that sword of sorrow which 
 did then transpierce her sacred soui, and by the 
 tender love and compassion wherewith thou 
 didst behold the grief and anguish of thy sorrow- 
 ful mother, have pity and compassion on me, I 
 beseech thee, ray dearest Lord, and mercifully 
 help, comfort, succor, and assist me in all my 
 tribulations, adversities, necessities, sorrows 
 and sufferings, both spiritual and corporal. Amen. 
 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be propitious tu 
 cie a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 VII. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus, crown of joy 
 treasure of felicity, sweet source of consolatioa
 
 PRAYERS OF ST BRIDGET. 341 
 
 Bnd unexhausted fountain of mercy, who hang- 
 ing upon the cross, out of the most inflamed de- 
 sire thou hadst of the salvation of our souls, 
 saidst, I thirst, viz. for the redemption of man- 
 kind ; O good Lord, by this thy ardent charity, 
 inflame our hearts with thy holy love, enkindle 
 our desires to accomplish diligently all good 
 works, and wholly extinguish the heat of all 
 evil concupiscence and worldly afiections in me. 
 Amen, 
 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave iWaria. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus, true light of 
 those that believe in thee, comfort of hearts, and 
 sovereign solace of all the faithful souls, by that 
 bitter gall and vinegar thou didst taste for us 
 upon the cross at the hour of thy death ; grant 
 to us, miserable sinners, grace worthily to re- 
 ceive frequently, and particularly at the hour of 
 our derfth, thy most precious body and blood, 
 that by the virtue of this divine banquet, and all 
 other salutary sacraments, we may be preserved 
 from all evils, sins and punishments, and, re- 
 plenished with all joy, securely appear in thy 
 divine presence. Amen. 
 
 O most merciful Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 IX. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus, true God and 
 man, remember, I beseech thee, those excessive 
 pains and anguishes thou didst endure for us upon 
 the cross, when through the bitterness of death, 
 and the impious blasphemies, derisions, scorns 
 and reproaches of the Jews, with a loud voice
 
 342 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 and weeping eyes, thou didst cry to thy hea- 
 venly Father, with this sad complaint, Eloi, 
 Eloi, lamma sabacthani? that is to say, Mp 
 God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? O 
 most merciful Lord Jesus, by thy bitter torment, 
 sorrow, grief, and anguish, vouchsafe, I beseech 
 thee, to have pity on me, and succor me in all 
 my sorrows, sufferances, and tribulations, and 
 particularly at the hour of my death: O then, 
 my gracious Lord and my God, vouchsafe to 
 assist and succor me, and not forsake me, I be- 
 seech thee. Amen. 
 
 O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 X. 
 
 O MOST sacred Lord Jesus, Alpha and Omega, 
 the beginning and end of all things, and mirror 
 of virtues, remember how from the crown of thy 
 head to thy feet, thou wert immerged in tho 
 deluge of thy dolorous passion, for the love of U3 
 vile sinners. O most benign Lord Jesus, by the 
 numberless multitude of thy sacred wounds, take 
 from me the love of the world, and teach me by 
 a true and perfect charity, always to keep thy 
 holy laws and commandments^. Amen. 
 
 O most meek Lord Jesus, be propitious to me 
 a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 XI. 
 
 O MOST benign Lord Jesus, sovereign good- 
 ness, eternal beatitude of thy saints, and most 
 profound abyss of mercy, by thy deep and dulor- 
 ous wounds, which did not only transpierce thy 
 eacred tlcsh, but even thy bowels, and the mar- 
 row of thy bones, be merciful to me a miserable 
 sinner, who now am drowned in my sins and 
 iuiqiiities, and bide me in thy sacred wounds
 
 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET, 343 
 
 from the face of thy wrath, until thy indignation 
 be past mid appeased. Amen. 
 
 O most humble Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster Ave Maria. 
 
 XII. 
 
 O MOST meek Lord Jesus, mirror of all vir- 
 tues, pledge- of unity, and bund of charity; re- 
 member tue innumerable multitude of ail those 
 painful wounds wht-rewith thou wert covered 
 from head to foot, all thy holy body most cruelly 
 rent and torn by the impious and most dreadful 
 dolors thou didst endure for us vile sinners ; O 
 most gracious Lord, engrave these thy dolors 
 deeply in my heart, that in them I may always 
 read thy love and anguish; so that the memory 
 of thy painful passion may daily be renewed in 
 me, and my love increased towards thee, and I 
 remain perpetually thankful to thy immense 
 charity to the last period of my life, until I come 
 to eiijoy thee, my only dear Lord; and most 
 desired treasure, abounding with ali joy and 
 felicity, which through thy goodness be pleased 
 to ~rant, O most meek Lord Jesus. Amen. 
 
 O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, be propi- 
 tious to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria. 
 
 XIII. 
 O MOST holy Lord Jesus, most victorious, it>- 
 vincible, triumphant, and immortal king, re- 
 member, I beseech thee, all the bitter pains and 
 anguishes thou didst endure, when all the forces 
 of thy h.'art and body failing, bowing down thy 
 sacred head, thou saidst. It is consummated ; O 
 moit patient Lord, by these thy dying dolors, 
 have mercy on me at my last passage when my 
 heart and soul shall be iu anguish and anxiety. 
 Amen.
 
 344 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 
 
 O most patient Lord Jesus Christ, be propi 
 tiouB to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria 
 
 XIV. 
 
 O MOST benign Jesus, only begotten Son of 
 the eternal Father, figure of his substance, 
 splendor of his glory ; remember that most 
 earnest recommendation wherewith thou didst 
 commend thy most sacred soul to thy omnipf> 
 tent Father upon the cross, saying, Father, into 
 thy hands I commend my spirit; at which tirjie 
 thou didst hang nailed upon a cross, and thy 
 most holy body all over wounded, rent, and 
 torn, pouring forth streams of thy most precious 
 blood, with thy face pale and wan, thy head 
 crowned with thorns, thy arms extended, thy 
 hands nailed, thy veins broken, thy bones dis- 
 jointed, thy bowels of mercy opened, thy eyes 
 weeping and obscured, thy voice failing, thy 
 breath thirsting, and thy whole heart broken. 
 O my most merciful Lord, unto all those cruel 
 pains, and torments didst thou deliver thy most 
 sacred, innocent, tender, pure, and precious 
 body, for the redemption of us most wretched, 
 vile, and miserable sinners, and in this manner 
 renderedst thy precious soul to thy celestial Fa- 
 ther : by which most precious and innocent 
 death of thine, and by the virtue of thy holy 
 cross, I beseech thee, O Father of mercy, and 
 omnipotent king of glory, to give me grace to 
 resist the world, the flesh, and the devil, that 
 being dead to all terrestrial things, I may live 
 to thee alone, and have the happmess to be re- 
 ceived by thee at my last passage, when this 
 toy mis<rable exile shall be endrd. Amen. 
 
 O most pious Lord Jesus, be propitious to me 
 a siimer. Pater Noster, Ave Maria,
 
 PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 345 
 
 XV. 
 
 O MOST benign Lord Jesus, raost flourishing, 
 true, and faithful vine, remember the supera- 
 bundant effusion of thy precious blood, which 
 thou didst pour forth so plentifully from all parts 
 of thy sacred body, like a cluster of pressed 
 grapes, when thou thyself alone didst tread the 
 wine-press, on the cross, and out of thy |>ierced 
 side didst give us water and wine to d: ink, not 
 leaving so much as one drop ; and all this to save 
 us from damnation. O most benign Lord Jesus, 
 by this mo»t liberal effusion of thy precious 
 blood, by thy bitter death and passion, and al] 
 thy sacred wounds, vouchsafe to wound my 
 heart with that tend°r love wherewith the holy 
 heart of thy most blessed mother was wounded 
 under the cross, that tears of love and penance 
 may be my bread, day and night; and convert 
 me wholly to thee, that thy heart may be my 
 perpetual habitation, ray conversation pleasing 
 and acceptable to thy divine majesty, and at the 
 end of my life so laudable, that having finished 
 this mortal pilgrimage, I may be admitted into 
 immortal glory, to praise and glorify thee, ray 
 sovereign Lord, in the blessed society of thy 
 holy angols and saints, to all eternity. Amen. 
 
 O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to 
 me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave .\laria. 
 
 O MOST merciful Lord Jesus Christ. Son of 
 the living God, vouchsafe to receive these 
 prayers, in union of that most excellent love, 
 ivherewith ihou didst suffer all the woimds of 
 thy most precious body, and be merciful to me 
 thy poor and unworthy servant, arid all sinners, 
 with all faithful souls both living and di>ad, gra- 
 ciously granting to us all, mercy, grace, remis* 
 siou of sins, and life everlasting. Amen,
 
 346 
 PRAYERS 
 
 FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS 
 
 A Prayer to be said daily by those who caj-rf 
 about them an Agnus DcL 
 
 O MY Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb that 
 takest away the sins of the world, by thy mer- 
 cy, which is infinite, pardon ray iniquities, and 
 by thy sacred passion preserve me this day 
 from all sin and evil. I carry about me this 
 holy Agnus Dei in thy honor, as a preservative 
 against my own weakness, and as an incentive 
 to the ])ractice of meekness, humility, and inno- 
 cence, which thou hast tau«;ht. I offer myself 
 up to thee as an entire oblation, and in memory 
 of that sacrifice of love thou otferedst for me on 
 the cross, and in satisfaction for my sins. Ac- 
 cept, O my God, the oblation I make, and may 
 it be agreeable to thee in the odor of sweetness. 
 
 Prayer of St. Bernard to the B. V. Mary. 
 
 Remember, O most pious Virgin Mary, that 
 no one ever had recourse to thy protection, im- 
 plored thy help, or sought thy mediaiion, with- 
 out obtaining relief. Confiding, then, on t' 
 goodness and mercy, I cast myself at thy sacred 
 feet, and do most humbly supplicate thee, O 
 Mother of the eternal Word ! to adopt me as 
 thy cliild, and take upon thyself the care of my 
 salvation. O let it not be said, my dearest mo- 
 ther, that I iiave perished where no one evei 
 found but graee and salvatiop Amen.
 
 PRAYERS. 347 
 
 For one^s Confessor. 
 
 Hear, O adorable Saviour, my humble prayer 
 in behalf of him whom thou hast appointed to be 
 my spiritual guide throuo:h the difficulties that 
 beset my path. As I desire to hear in his voice 
 the expression of thy holy will in my regard, 
 enlighten him with thy holy inspiration ; make 
 him a worthy minister of thy altar, a priest ac- 
 cording to thy heart ; that his advice may urge 
 me to the i)erformance of the duties incumbent 
 on m.e as thy child, and finally lead me tu ever- 
 lasting happiness. Give him that peace which 
 the world can not give ; bestow on him an ar- 
 dent love for thee, and a tender confidence ia 
 thy Virgin Mother. Grant that he may faith 
 fully discharge all the duties of his exalted sta- 
 tion ; and be thou, O amiable Jesus, his exceed- 
 ing great reward during all eternity. I ask 
 these favors of thee for him through the power- 
 ful intercession of IMary, thy spotless and ever 
 blessed Mother. 
 
 For the souls in purgatory 
 
 O God, whose goodness and mercy are un- 
 bounded, listen to the prayers we offer thee in 
 hehalf of our suffering brethren of purgatory, O 
 bountiful Jesus, who upon the cross didst shed 
 the last drop of thy blood for the redemption of 
 mankind, look with compassion upon the suffer- 
 ings of these dear souls. Let some drops of that 
 firecious blood flow upon them, and purify their 
 east stains, and extinguish the devouring flames 
 in which they are plunged. Deliver tht m, O 
 merciful JeSus, from that place of darkness and
 
 348 PRAYERS. 
 
 tortures;, and receive them immediately into thy 
 
 f>atenial bosom, there to behold and praise and 
 ove thee for all eternity. Amen. 
 
 For the conversion Of sinners and of those 
 separated from the church. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful Father, who hold- 
 est in thy hiiuds the destinies of thy creatures, 
 and who desirest not the death of the sinner, but 
 rather that he be converted and live, hearken to 
 the humble petition which I offer to thee in be- 
 half of those who are separated from thee by a 
 sinful life, or remain out of thy church which 
 thou hast commanded all to obey \mder pain of 
 incurring thy displeasure. Grant that all may 
 forsake their evil ways, and serve thee faith- 
 fully to the end. Enlighten those who belong 
 not to thy fold, open their eyes to a knowledge 
 of thy truth, and give them grace and courage to 
 embrace it. Grant them patience under the 
 suiferings they may have to endure for thy sake ; 
 and guide them through the thorny path of this 
 world to the endless happiness of the world to 
 come. I ask these favors of thee, O merciful 
 Father, through the merits of thy adorable Son, 
 and through the intercession of his spotless Mo- 
 ther. Amen. 
 
 Our Father- -Hail Mary. 
 
 2b know our vocation. 
 
 O Almighty God! whose wise and loving 
 providence watclies over every human event, 
 deign to be my light and my counsel in all my
 
 pa A VERS. 349 
 
 undertakings, particularly in the choice of a state 
 of life. On this important step my sanctification 
 and salvation, in a great measure, depend, and I 
 am not capable of discerning what may be best 
 for me ; therefore I cast myself into thy arms, 
 beseeching thee, my God ! who hast sent me 
 into this world only to love and serve thee, to 
 direct every action of my life to the glorious end 
 of my creation. 1 renounce most sincerely every 
 other wish, than to fulfil thy designs on my soul, 
 whatever they may be ; and I pray thee to give 
 me grace to imbibe the true spirit of a Christian, 
 that I may qualify myself for any station which 
 thy adorable providence may assign to me. O 
 my God ! whenever it will be my duty to make 
 a choice, vouchsafe, in thy mercy, to "make 
 the way known to me, wherein i should walk, 
 for I have lifted up my soul to thee." Preserve 
 me from Listening to the suggestions of self-love, 
 or worldly prudence, in opposition to thy holy 
 inspirations. " Teach me to do thy will, for 
 thou art my God, and my lots are in thy hands. 
 Show, O Lord! thy ways to me, and teach me 
 thy paths. Lead rae in the eternal way," to 
 which thou hast called me "from my mother's 
 womb." May thy all-ruling providence place 
 me, not where I might be happiest, according to 
 the world, but where I shall love and serve thee 
 most perfectly, meet with most abundant means 
 to work out my salvation, and enjoy that peace 
 "which the world can not give." This is all 
 that I ask; for what would it avail rae to gain 
 the whole world, if in the end I were to lose my 
 soul, by being so unfortunate as to prefer tempo- 
 ral advantages to the eternal enjoyment of ihj 
 divine presence in heaven?
 
 350 PRAYERS. 
 
 To our Angel Guardian.* 
 
 Angelof God, who art my guardian, watch oveii 
 Die, whom the divine goodness hath committcfl 
 to thy care ; enlighten, direct, and govern me 
 
 To our Patron Saint. 
 
 Great St. N., who at my baptism wast chosen 
 as a guardian and witness of my obligaiious, ana 
 under whose name I then became the adopted 
 chihl of God, and solemnly renounced Satan, his 
 works and pomps, assist me by thy powerful in- 
 tercession in the fulfilment of these sacred pro- 
 raises. Thou, too, didst make them in the days 
 of thy earthly pilgrimage, and ihy fidelity in 
 keeping them to the end has obtained for thee 
 an •' unfading crown of glory." I am called to 
 the same happiness that thou enjoyest ; the siimo 
 assistance is oU'ered to mc that enabled thee to 
 acquire it; temptations, similar to those which 
 I experience, tliou didst overcome. Pray for 
 me, therefore, O my holy patron, that being an- 
 imated by thy example 1 may courageously 
 " run to the fight proposed to mc," and, with 
 the help of divine grace, "press towards the 
 mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation oJ 
 God in Christ Jesus." Amen. 
 
 * An indulgence of one hundred days is granted to 
 tlie faitliful cveiy time ihty recite ihifi prayer. 
 
 M
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE MASS. 
 
 A.S Mass is the supreme act of \vorsnip in 
 the Catholic church, we make it a chief ob- 
 ject of consideration to our readers, many of 
 whom, we have reason to think, know nothing 
 of it but from its misrepresentation. We 
 deem it, therefore, our duty to lay before the 
 lovers of truth a full, fair, and faithful expo- 
 sition of it. 
 Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order 
 
 of Melchisedech. — Ps. cix, 4. Heb. v, 6. 
 
 The Mass is accounted by Catholics the 
 unbloody sacrifice of the new law, and \h» 
 most solemn and sacred part of their worship. 
 In its whole ceremonial, and the very robea 
 the priest puts on, when about to celebrate, 
 the passion of Jesus Christ is particularly al- 
 luded to; and the dress represented, which 
 our Supreme Pontiff wore at the time he of- 
 fered himself up for us as a bloody sacrifice 
 on the cross. The memory of this bloody 
 sacrifice is thus renewed : and, according tc 
 St Paul, the death of our Lord is thus shown 
 fot-th till he come. — 1. Cor. xi, 26. 
 
 Considering, therefore, that this is the great- 
 est and most important act of the Catholic 
 worsnip, it may not be unacceptable to most
 
 352 THE MASS. 
 
 persons, to be informed of the meaning which 
 this most ancient and universal of all Chris-> 
 tian churches is wont to attaeh to its severed 
 ceremonies. 
 
 The word Mass is derived from the Latin 
 e:xpression Missa, which signifies sent away, or 
 *Ulispersed.^^ For it was customary for th« 
 deacon at the end of the service to dismiss tlie 
 people by saying "Go, the congi-egation is sent 
 aioay.^' A form which is still used at the end 
 of the solemn worship, when the priest says, 
 lie, Missa est. 
 
 The image of Christ crucified stands over 
 Ae altar, not for purposes of adoration, but as 
 a memorial of the death of Christ, which we 
 are told by St. Paul ever to remember at this 
 solemn rite. "You shall shew the death of the 
 Lord until he come." — 1. Cor. xi, 26. 
 
 To denote the purity of soul with which we 
 should assist at the Lord's supper, each one, 
 on entering the temple, sprinkles himself with 
 water blessed by the church, and says: "Thou 
 shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be 
 cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shedl be 
 whiter than snow." — Ps. 1. 
 
 The priest, when going to celebrate, puta 
 over his head, and ties about his neck, a white 
 inen cloth, called the Jlmice, as an emblem 
 of the handkerchief with which our Saviour, 
 at his passion, was blindfolded by his enemies, 
 wlio, spitting upon him, and smiting him on 
 the face, desired him, in this state, to prophesy 
 who it was that struck him. 
 
 He next puts on the .4/6, a white linen robe, 
 
 II
 
 THE MASS. 353 
 
 which represents the white garment, or fool 'a 
 coat, with which King Herod ordered our 
 Lord to be clothed in derision, as a fool. For, 
 to this day, in eastern countries, and particu- 
 larly among the Turks, the fool's coat is 
 white, emblematical of his spotless innocence. 
 It is hence also intended to denote the mysti- 
 cal robe of spotless innocence, and mental 
 purity, styled in the Gospel the ivedding gar- 
 vient, (Matt, xxii, 11, 12,) with which the souls 
 of those should be decked, who present them- 
 selves as guests at his divine supper, or mar- 
 riage-feast ; in which he comes to wed himself 
 to our humanity; that, as he says, he may be 
 ill us, and ice in him. — John xiv, 20 — xvii, 23. 
 
 The Girdle, Stole, and Maniple, signify. the 
 cords with which he was bound, like a male- 
 factor, tied to the pillar to be whipped, and 
 dragged by his executioners through the streets 
 of Jerusalem to Mount Calvary. 
 
 The Chasuble, or upper vestment, signifies 
 the purple garment with which the Roman 
 soldiery, in the court of Pilate, dressed him, as 
 a mock king •, and on the back of this robe 
 the figure of the cross is commonly seen re- 
 presented, because he carried the cross on hia 
 ehoulders to the place of his execution. 
 
 Such was the pontifical robe in which our 
 High Priest himself, in person, was pleased to 
 offer up once, the great atoning, bloody sacri- 
 fice, to his heavenly Father in our behalf; and 
 such in figure, are still retained in the Catholic 
 church, by those who are his representatives, 
 through whom he continues still invisibly, in 
 23
 
 354 
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 an unbloody manner, to renew this same sa 
 crifice, and to apply its merits to the souls of 
 all, and of each individually, down to the end 
 of time. 
 
 It is true, these robes of ignominy, on ac- 
 count of the infinite worth and dignity of hira 
 who wore them, are now changed into robea 
 of honor, being made of the richest stuffs that 
 c^n be aflorded, magnificently embroidered 
 with gold and silver, and ornamented with 
 precious gems. For Christ, tKough he hum- 
 bled himself in this life for our sake, is now to 
 be honored, exalted, and glorified by all in alU 
 The candles are then lighted on the altar, 
 the meaning of which ceremony is to remind 
 us to bring the light of faith to the celebration 
 of the Christian mysteries — and "fo let our 
 light shine forth before men, that they may see 
 your good works and glorify your Father who 
 13 in heaven." — Matt. v. 
 
 Nothing renders us so acceptable to God 
 as humility, rvho rejects the proud and gives his 
 p'ace to the humble — James iv, 6 ; the Mass 
 begins with a most solemn act of that virtue. 
 The priest, or prelate, who celebrates, with- 
 draws himself in the first instance from the 
 altar ; bows himself down before it ; and stri- 
 king his breast, like the humble publican in the 
 Gospel, loudly acknowledges himself a sinner, 
 and guilty, through his own repeated fault, of 
 having grievously offended his God, in thought j 
 word, and deed. At the same time he invokes 
 the prayers of the whole court of heaven, in 
 whose presence he avows his unworthines 
 
 I
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 355 
 
 Then, putting his tnist in the mercy of the 
 - Most High, saying : Our help is in the name of 
 the Lord, ivho made heaven and earth: Ps. cxxviii, 
 8 ; and begging that his prayer may be heard, 
 he goes up to the akar, and kissing it, prays 
 God to take away his sins, in order that he 
 may approach with a pure mind to the holy of 
 holies, and that through the merits of th3 
 saints, whose relics are there, and of all the 
 saints. Almighty God may the more readily 
 be induced to forgive him all his iniquities. 
 He then passes to the right hand side of the 
 £dtar where he reads the Introit, which is a 
 sentence or two of holy Scripture, chosen 
 analogous to the feast of the day. He thence 
 returns to the middle of the altar, where, in the 
 immediate presence of Jesus Christ, who is 
 regarded ns residing in the tabernacle under 
 die sacramental form of the consecrated host, 
 he makes the solemn and repeated invocation 
 of mercy, in the Kyrie eleison. After this he 
 recites that sublime act of praise to God, called 
 the Gloria in excelsis. Then kissing again the 
 altar, as the Almighty's footstool and hia 
 throne of mercy, he turns round to the people, 
 and greets them with the scriptural salutation : 
 Dominus vobiscum! or, the Lord be icith you — 
 Gen. xlviii; 2 Parab. xv, 2, 10, 11 ; Job vii, 
 15 ; 2 Cor. xiii, 11. And he is answered by 
 the people, or by the clerk in their name : Et 
 cum spu-itu tuo ! And with thy spirit .' He re- 
 turns again to the right side of the altar, and 
 recites the Collects, or prayers for the day. 
 After which follows the Epistle, which is al
 
 35f) THE MASS. 
 
 "vi-ays selected from the inspired writings of the 
 propliets or apostles, and alluding particulai'ly 
 to the feast that is celebrated. The book is 
 then changed from the right to the left hand 
 side, where the Gospel for the day, selected 
 from one of the four evangelists, and alluding 
 also to the occasion of the solemnity, is read. 
 Previous to this, the celebrant, on crossing the 
 altar, bows down before the middle of it, and 
 prays that God of his free mercy would vouch- 
 safe to purify his heart and lips, as he did 
 those of his prophet Jsaias with a burning 
 coal, in order that he may worthily and ade- 
 quately announce the Gospel to the faithful. 
 On his naming aloud the Gospel, all present 
 stand up, to show their respect for the words 
 of the Redeemer, and their readiness to walk 
 in that path of perfection which he himself 
 in person has deigned to point out to us, and 
 with the priest all sign themselves on the fore- 
 head, mouth and breast, with the sign of the 
 cjoss, to signify that their countenance shall 
 never blush for the ignominy of the cross of 
 Christ; that their lips sliall ever readily con- 
 fess their belief in tJieir crucified God ; and 
 that they shall ever cherish in their hearts that 
 faith which he has taught, and the remem- 
 brance of all he has done and sufl'ered for them. 
 We must here observe that the Catholic 
 church attaches a mystical meaning even to 
 the act of removing the JMissal, or Mass-book, 
 from one side of the altar to the other. She 
 thereby indicates the loss sustEiined by the 
 Jews of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Mes-
 
 THE MASS 357 
 
 niah, and of the true faith and fulfilment of the 
 promises; for not having attended, as thej' 
 ought to have done, to the true spirit of the 
 prophets and inspired writers, whose preach- 
 ings and writings were first directed to them, 
 out are now made over to the Gentiles. 
 
 The priest then recites the ^Vicene Creed, or 
 profession of the Christian and Catholic belief, 
 standing before the middle of the altar, to show 
 that in matters of faith, one is not to swerve 
 to either side, but to have God alone in view, 
 the centre of truth and unity, who has reveal- 
 ed it. This circumstance indicates also that 
 the faith is offered alike to Jew and Gentile 
 At the words, Et homo factus est — vSnd he 
 was made man — all present kneel, to show that 
 they adore him as God who had made himself 
 man. After kissing the altar, he turns round to 
 the people, and repeats the Dominus vobiscum. 
 Thereby wishing the Lord to be with them to 
 confirm their faith •, and the same wish is ex- 
 pressed in the Et cum spiritu txio. 
 
 He now proceeds to the Oflfertory, and dedi- 
 cates to Almighty God the elements of the 
 sacrifice, the bread and wine, which are thu3 
 set aside to be consecrated. After this, in of- 
 fering up the bread, he prepares the cup for 
 oblation in a manner that indicates a mystery, 
 as appears from the words of the prayer he 
 recites on the occasion. He first pours the 
 wine into the chalice, without previously bless- 
 ing it. Then he blesses the water with tha 
 sign of the cross, a mere drop of which he 
 mixes with the wine. The prayer recited at
 
 358 7HE MASS 
 
 the same time is as follows : Deus, qui huma- 
 nae substantice dignitatem mirabiliter condidis- 
 ti, et miribilius reformasti ; da nobis per hujus 
 aquae et vini mysterium ejus divinitatis esse 
 consortes,qui humanitatis nostras fieri dignatua 
 est particeps, Jesus Christus, Dominus noster 
 qui tecum vivit et regnant in saecula saeculorum 
 God. who hast so wonderfully constituted 
 tlie dignity of the human substance, and still 
 more wonderfully reformed it, grant us through 
 tlie mystery of this water and wine,- to be 
 partakers of the divinity of him who deigned 
 to become a partner in our humanity, Jesus 
 Christ thy Son, who lives and reigns with 
 thee, world without end^ 
 
 From this prayer it would appear that by 
 tlie union of the water with the wine is desig- 
 nated, in the first place, the union of the humaij 
 nature with the divine, in the person of Jesus 
 Christ, and in the second place, the union of 
 the blessed with the Deity in the kingdom of 
 heaven. On this account the drop of water, 
 which represents the humanity, is blessed be- 
 fore its union with the wine, which is not 
 blessed, as it represents by its more valuable 
 substance the Deity ; the source itself of all 
 benediction, and does not therefore re(|uire, 
 like the other substance, to be pre-sanctified. 
 And as the drop of water is in a manner lost 
 and swallowed up in the greater and more es- 
 timated sul)stance, the wine, so in Jesus Christ 
 the human person was so lost and absorbed in 
 the divine nature, as that only one person re- 
 mained in this Man God after the incai-nation
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 359 
 
 viz: the second person of the adorable Trinity J 
 for in this mystery God made himself like 
 onto man, (a being, though but one person, 
 consisting of two distinct substances, a body 
 and a soul,) in order to restore him to his own 
 image and likeness, to which he was first 
 made, but which sin had impaired. This 
 little, and apparently trifling ceremony, in eis 
 far as it represents the union of mcUikind with 
 the Deity in the kingdom of heaven, shows 
 how little all creatures are when compared 
 with the Creator, and that, as the prophet 
 says, All the nations are but like the drop of a 
 bucket before him — Isaias xi, 15. In Masses 
 for the dead, the drop of water is not, as in 
 other Masses, pre-sanctified with the sign of 
 the cross, representing as it does, that portion 
 of human kind whose sanctification is con- 
 firmed, and such as secures for ever their final 
 union with the Deity. 
 
 The prayers recited during the Offertory by 
 the priest, as he bows down before the altar, 
 are all expressive of the general ends for 
 which the sacrifice is offered up, that is, for 
 the glory of God, to the honor of his saints, 
 and as a propitiation for his own sins in par- 
 ticular, for those of the faithful present, and 
 for the sins of all mankind in general, as also 
 for the repose of the faithful departed. Then, 
 turning round, he bids " the brethren pray that 
 their common sacrifice may be acceptable to 
 God the Father Almighty;" and these answer, 
 or the clerk in their stead: " May the Lord 
 receive the sacrifice from thy haiids to the
 
 360 THE MASS. 
 
 praise and glcry of his own name, for our 
 good, and that of his whole holy church." 
 
 After tlie Secreta, which are prayers corres- 
 ponding in number and meaning with the 
 Collects, and which the priest recites in a low 
 voice, he calls aloud to the hearers to raise up 
 tlaeir hearts and give thanks to God. They 
 answer him that they have done so, and that 
 to thank him is meet and just. Then he be- 
 gins what is called the preface, or introduction 
 to the Canon of the Mass, with these words: 
 "It is truly meet and just, right and salutary, 
 that we always and in all places give thanks 
 to thee, Lord! holy Father, Almighty and 
 eternal God ! &c.;" then some particular rea- 
 son, or mystery, is assigned, for which \ve 
 ought to praise him on the occasion, after 
 which he concludes in the following strain : 
 "Therefore, together with the angels and arch- 
 angels, with the thrones and dominations, and 
 with the whole host of heaven, do we sing 
 unto thee without end, Holy! holy! holy! 
 Lord God of Sabaoth! The heavens and 
 the earth are filled with thy glory, Hosannah 
 in the highest! Blessed is he that cometh in 
 the name of the Lord. Hosannah in the 
 highest." 
 
 Next follows the Canon, the most sacred 
 and invariable part of the Mass, in which the 
 
 Eriest addresses himself in secret to God alone ; 
 ut which may be seen, with all the rest, 
 translated verbatim in most Catholic prayer- 
 books. The benediction is renewed over the 
 elements, and the particular ends in behalf of
 
 THE MASS. 361 
 
 the living, for which the Mass is offered up, 
 are commemorated in the Memento The 
 priest, now to consecrate, spreads his hands 
 over the bread and wine, and beseeches God 
 to receive our oblation, and grant us peace in 
 our days; to save us from perdition, and 
 eause us to be reckoned among the chosen. 
 Then, as our Lord did at the last supper, and 
 commanded his apostles to do also, he takes 
 first the bread, and blessing it, begs that God 
 would now convert the oblation into the body 
 ajid blood of his beloved Son. He repeats 
 tlien over it the words of Christ: Hoc est 
 enim corpus meum. This is my body ; immedi- ■ 
 ately adores, and rising, elevates the consecra- 
 ted host. In like manner he takes the cup, 
 and blessing it, pronounces over it these words 
 of our Lord: " Hic est enim calix san'guinis 
 
 MEI, NOVI ET iETERNI TESTAMEXTI, MTSTERIUM 
 FIDEI ; QUI PRO VOBIS ET PRO MULTIS EFFUN- 
 DETUR IN REMISSIONEM PECCATORUM." FoT 
 
 this is the chalice of my blood, of the J^^ein and eter- 
 nal Testament: the mystery of faith, which shall 
 he shed for you, and for many to the remission of 
 dns. — Matt, xxvi, 26, 27, 28. After which 
 he adores also, and elevates the now consecrek- 
 ted species of wine, no way doubting but that 
 the same omnipotent Word that called up all 
 things out of nothing, is fully able to perform 
 whatever he has promised to do. 
 
 Here now, in the opinion of Catholics, is 
 rendered present the UTimaculate victim, so 
 foretold by the prophets, and particularly by 
 Mala^iiy in these words : '* From the risir
 
 S62 THE MASS. 
 
 of the sun to the going down thereof," (that 
 is, from one extremity of the eat ih to the other) 
 "great is my name among the Gentiles : ana 
 in every place there is sacrifice, and there ia 
 ofTered up to my name a pure oblation, for my 
 name is great among the Gentiles : saith the 
 Lord of iSosts, &c. — Mai. i, 11. 
 
 The elevation denotes the raising up of our 
 Saviour on the cross. It thus also exhibits tD 
 the faithful the object of their faith, hope and 
 love, who is no longer exposed, as on Mount 
 Calvary, to the derision and blasphemy of the 
 public, but to the adoration, praise, and in- 
 vocation of the grateful creatures whom he 
 h£is redeemed. 
 
 The apparently lifeless state in which thb 
 divine Victim lies on the altar, with his blood 
 seemingly separated from his body, under the 
 distinct species of the bread and wine, repre- 
 sents his state of death upon the cross, after 
 having poured out the last drop of his sacred 
 blood for our ransom. 
 
 The priest then beseeches Almighty God to 
 look down with a propitious countenance on 
 this our sacrifice, as he did on that of the just 
 Abel, of Abraham, and of his high priest Mel- 
 cliisedech. Then, bowing down, and kissing 
 the altar, he prays that he, and all who parti- 
 cipate with him in the body and blood of Jesus 
 Christ, may be replenished with all heavenly 
 g;race and benediction. 
 
 Next follows the Memento for the dead, in 
 which are recommended to the special mercy 
 of God the souls of those for whom the pr'eat 
 
 I
 
 THE MASS 363 
 
 intends more particularly to intercede, and 
 next the souls of all the faithful departed. 
 
 In the J^^obis qiioque peccatoribus he returns 
 to his supplications in his own behalf, and that 
 of all sinners ; beseeching Almighty God, in 
 the multitude of his mercies, to vouchsafe to 
 grant us a portion and association with hia 
 saints, not from any consideration of our merit, 
 but from that of his own mercy and readiness 
 to forgive, through Jesus Christ our Lord, &c 
 Then, uncovering the chalice, and kneeling, 
 he takes ihe host, and makes with it three 
 crosses over the cup, and two towards himself 
 and the people, saying : By ichom (viz. Jesus 
 Christ) thou createst, sanctifiest, vivifiestj 
 blessest, and givest to all of us these good 
 tilings, through him, with him, and in him 
 to rhee, God the Father, together with the 
 Holy Spirit, (here he puts the host over tlie 
 chalice, and elevating them both together, con- 
 tinues) is all honor and glory. Then, laying 
 down tlie host on the altar, he kneels, and 
 rising, covers the chalice, concluding the cere- 
 mony with these words : Per omnia snscula 
 saeculorum. Amen! World luithout end. ^Smen, 
 Here Almighty God is acknowledged as th-e 
 creator, sanctifier, and vivifier of the elements 
 now (hanged into the heavenly bread of life, 
 who lias given us, together with all other good 
 things, this most precious of all his gifts, to 
 whom therefore all glory and honor is render- 
 ed as his due. 
 
 By the descent of the host upon the chalice 
 and the three crosses made over it, a mystica
 
 364 
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 allusion is made to the descent of the second 
 person of the blessed Trinity upon our earth 
 m Judea, in form of man, and his preaching 
 there, first to the Jews, the mystery of the 
 Trinity and the cross, from whence this faith 
 proceeded forth towards us, the Gentiles. Vet 
 only two crosses are made on our side, to in- 
 timate that the great end of revelation ?» not 
 completed till both Jews and Gentiles ai-e 
 finally \inited in the same church : which, ac- 
 cording to the prophecies, must happen before 
 the end of the world, and ere the church has 
 rendered to God all that honor and glory, and 
 paid to him the full measure of that homa^^e 
 which he expects from her before the final 
 consummation of this universe. Therefore is 
 the host returned back to the chalice, and both 
 are elevated together, with these words : Qm- 
 nis honor et gloria — ^U honor aiid glory 
 When, after kneeling, as was said, he risea 
 and covers the chalice with the words. Pier 
 omnia, &p., signify mg that all true believers, 
 Jews and Gentiles, shall in the end be united 
 and raised up with Christ, and shall reign 
 with him for ever and ever. 
 
 The Lord's prayer is now solemnly recited. 
 After which, having prayed that God would 
 deliver us from all evils past, present, and to 
 come, and, through the intercession of his 
 saints, would propitiously grant us peace in 
 our days, that, aided by his mercy, we may 
 be ever preserved from sin, and secured against 
 all trouble, the priest takes up the host, and, 
 breaking; it, to show that our Saviour's body
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 365 
 
 was bruised and broken for us, puts a small 
 portion of it into the chalice, with these words; 
 J\Iay this mixing and consecration redound to the 
 life everlasting of us who receive it! Meaning, 
 that now is mixed and consecrated, spread out 
 and prepared for us, our celestial banquet, to 
 the worthy participation of which eternal life 
 IS annexed ; and to the participation in which 
 the little ones, and the unicise, or those who 
 are simple enough to believe it what wisdOm 
 has declared it to be, are invited — Prov. ix, 
 John vi, 44. It is to this banquet that the 
 royal prophet alludes, as follows: "Thou hast 
 prepared before me a table against those who 
 afflict me." — Ps. xxii, 5. 
 
 Next is repeated the Agnus Dei, or Lamb 
 of God icho takest away the sins of the xcorld, 
 have mercy upon us, SjC. Grant us peace ! (In 
 Masses for the dead, grant them rest !) After 
 which, the celebrant prays in secret that God 
 would not have in view his sins, but only the 
 faith of his church; and, that He who said, 
 My peace J leave you, and my peace I give you, 
 would, as he sees best, grant her peace and 
 unity; and that, having in concurrence with 
 the will of the Father, and the co-operation 
 of the Holy Ghost, by his death given life to 
 the world, he would also deliver him (the 
 celebrant), by means of this holy sacrament of 
 his body and blood, from sin and all evil, and 
 make him so to abide by the divine command- 
 ments, as never more to be separated from his 
 God. Kneeling then, he rises and takes the 
 host into his hands, with these words : / will
 
 366 THE MASS. 
 
 receive the bread of heaven, and invoice the namt 
 of the Lord. Then, striking his breast, thrice, 
 he repeats (adapting them to his own case^ 
 the words of the humble centurion mentionea 
 in the Gospel : Domine, non sum dignus ut in- 
 tres sub tectum meum ; sed tantum die verbo, 
 et sanabtur anima mea. "Lord, I am not 
 worthy that thou shouldst enter under my 
 roof: but say only the word, and my soul 
 shall be healed." He signs himself then with 
 the host, and receives it, saying : " May the 
 body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my 
 soul unto life everlasting!" Uncovering the 
 cli&lice, he then takes it up, saying: "What 
 shall I render to the Lord for all that he haa 
 given to me? I will take the chalice of salva- 
 tion, and call upon the name of the Lord, and 
 I shall be saved from all mine enemies." — Ps, 
 cxv, 3. Then, signing himself in like manner 
 with the cup, he takes it, praying also, "that 
 the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ may pre- 
 serve his soul unto life everlasting." After 
 which, he purifies, or washes out the chalice, 
 repeating other prayers to the like purpose. 
 The ablution water and wnne at the end of the 
 sacrifice reminds us of the water mixed with 
 blood which flowed from the Saviour's wound- 
 ed side, at the conclusion of his bloody sacri- 
 fice on the cross. 
 
 The priest now passes to the right hand 
 side of the altar, to which agtiin the book is 
 restored, and here read^? the communion sen- 
 tence, commonly some text of the Scri[)ture { 
 mi then returning to the middle of the altaij
 
 THE MASS. 367 
 
 he bowing, kisses it, and turning round to- 
 wards the people, wishes now the Lord to he 
 with them, to make them benefit by the holy 
 sacrifice at which they have just assisted. 
 
 The restoration of the book to its former 
 place indicates the restoration of the faith and 
 the Gospel to the Jews before the end of the 
 world. He returns to the book and reads from 
 it the post communion prayer ; after which ha 
 repeats, from the middle of the altar, the lie, 
 missa est, which is the- formal annunciation 
 that the Mass is now concluded, and from 
 which the service took its name of Mass. 
 Again bowing before the altar, the priest 
 of the holy Trinity to receive our oblation, 
 tliat it may prove advantageous to all present, 
 and to the whole of mankind. Then raising 
 up his hand to heaven, and turning round to 
 the hearers, he makes the sign of the cross to- 
 wards them, pronouncing over them the words 
 of the benediction : Benedicat vos omnipotens 
 Deus, Pater, Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus ! — May 
 the Jllmlghty God bless you, the Father, the Soru, 
 and the Holy Ghost ! The whole service is 
 concluded with the Gospel, commonly taken 
 from the first chapter of St. John, in which 
 the divinity and incarnation of Jesus Chiist 
 are so sublimely and clearly announced. A 
 small bell is rung several times to admonish 
 the people of the more solemn parts of the 
 service. 
 
 It were endless to give all the other mystical 
 meanings and particular allusions to the pas-
 
 368 
 
 THE MASS. 
 
 sion of our Lord which Catholics attach to 
 the ceremonies of the Mass. But this plain 
 and simple exposure of it may suffice to show 
 how free it is from any thing savoring of idola- 
 try or superstition, and how very replete, on 
 the contrary, it is with the most fervent and 
 humble supplication, and with the most sub- 
 lime acts of praise and homage to tlie Deity 
 
 But why, one will ask, is it constantly said 
 in Latin, and not in the vulgar idiom of each 
 country, which is best understood by the 
 generality of the hearers? The reasons as- 
 signed for this custom are the following: 
 
 First. Because it is an act of prayer and 
 adoration directed to God alone, not a dis- 
 course, or exhortation made to the understand- 
 ing of the hearers, who are otherwise taught 
 from their earliest infancy how to assist de- 
 voutly at Mass, and to join in the common 
 intention for which it is offered up. The Jews 
 often did not so much as see the priest while 
 he offered up sacrifice for them, much less did 
 they hear and understand the prayers he said 
 at the time, as appears by what is related in 
 the Gospel, of Zacharias the father of St. John 
 tlie Baptist. — Luke i, 2L 
 
 Second. Because Catholics do not consider 
 their church as a national, but as a Catholic, or 
 universal one. They, therefore, use in this, 
 the greatest act of their worship, as well as in 
 tlie administration of the sacraments, a Catho' 
 lie, or universal language, which, withal, ia 
 most generally understood, and is, like what
 
 THE MASS aXi^ 
 
 they consider their church to be, one and un- 
 changeable. 
 
 Third. Because it is one of the three lan- 
 guages consecrated on the tree of the cross in 
 Bie inscription hung over the head of our Sa- 
 viour, which, as the evangelist thinks it worth 
 while to remark, was written in Greek, in He" 
 brew, and in Latin, part of all which are ad- 
 mitted into the Mass. These also having 
 become dead languages, are thereby no more 
 liable to change, and seem best calculated to 
 preserve in all its original and primitive mean- 
 ing the sacred Liturgy of the Christian church. 
 
 The bread used in this sacrifice is not com- 
 mon and leavened, but unleavened bread, such 
 as our Saviour must have used at his last sup- 
 per. For it was death, by the law of Moses, 
 for any one to eat, or even to keep in his 
 house leavened bread at the paschal time. Of 
 such a breach of the Mosaic law our Lord 
 was never once accused by his enemies, who 
 sought every opportunity of bringing him in 
 guilty of some capital crime. 
 
 The shape itself of this bread is determined 
 and the form is not undesignedly given it 
 For the circle was considered by most nations 
 as the emblem of perfection and perpetuity, 
 the most peculiar attributes of the Deity. 
 
 This bread is also considered as an emblem 
 of the mystical body of Christ, the church, 
 1 Cor. V. For, as the bread is one whole, 
 composed of many particles cohering together 
 and amalgamated by means of water, and cott" 
 
 24
 
 370 THE MASS. 
 
 firmed by fire, so the church is but one whole, 
 composed of many members adhering togeth- 
 er, and united with their supreme head Jesus 
 Christ, by means of the water of baptism and 
 the fire of charity, as also by their participa- 
 tions in his other sacraments, but above all in 
 this sacrament of the altar, which unites ua 
 so closely to our Lord, that, as he himself ex- 
 presses it, loe may be in him, and he in us: John 
 xiv, 20. It is also worth remarking, with 
 what pi-opriety, in so solemn and sacred a 
 service, every gesture and motion is regulated, 
 so as to leave as little as possible to personal 
 awkv/ardness or affectation. 
 
 I should think it not easy to find in so short 
 a service as this, which lasts no more than 
 half an hour, such variety of most appropriate 
 prayer, put up for ourselves and all mankind; 
 such sublime and fervent acts of humility and 
 repentance, of faith, hope, and love of God 
 and man, of supreme homage and adoration 
 to the Deity ; in fine, such deep sacred mean- 
 ing, such full, just, and edifymg allusion tci 
 the great mystery of the redemption, the in- 
 finite merits of our Saviour, and their applica- 
 tion to our souls. Yet this part of the Catholic 
 worship, which is so pregnant with all that ia 
 and must be accounted most holy and divine, 
 by every one professing himself a Christian, 
 is often, nevertheless, fi'om a profound igno- 
 rance of the intention of the worshippers, 
 Btyled, in derision, mere mximmery — although 
 the chun',h of England herself, in her liturgy,
 
 IBE MASS 
 
 371 
 
 has thought proper to copy after it. If such 
 ceremonies, however, are but nmrnmery, what 
 are we to think of those used even by Jesua 
 Christ himself; for instance, when he gave 
 sight to the man who was born bhnd, and re- 
 Btored speech and hearing to him who was 
 deaf and dumb? — ^John ix, 6; Mark vii, 33.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Private Baptism ...3 
 
 Grace before and after rneals 3 
 
 Table of Movable Feasts 3 
 
 Feasts, Fasts, &c 4 
 
 The Ten Commandments 4 
 
 Commandments of the Church .5 
 
 An Explanation of the Ornaments and Ceremonies 
 
 used in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass .....5 
 
 An Explanation of the Sacerdotal Vestments 6 
 
 An Explanation of tlie Colors used by the Church 
 
 at divine service 7 
 
 Of the sign of the Cross 8 
 
 Holy or blessed Water 8 
 
 Indulgences explained 9 
 
 Plenary Indulgences 10 
 
 A Profession of Catholic Faith 12 
 
 A Declaration of Faith, (Creed of St. Athanasiu3)..16 
 
 Morning Exercise ..20 
 
 Litany of the holy name of Jesus 28 
 
 Prayers for the Church, Ruling Powers, &c 30 
 
 Instructions and Devotions for hearing Mass 33 
 
 Devotions for Mass 39 
 
 Method of hearing Mass spiritually for the absent.. 76 
 
 Instructions and Devotions for Confession 78 
 
 An Examination of the Ten Commandments, the 
 
 Seven Deadly Sins, &c 83 
 
 Prayers before Confession .89 
 
 RIethod of Confession 97 
 
 Prayer after Confession 98 
 
 Instructions and Devotions for Communion 100 
 
 Devotions after Communion 117 
 
 The Seven Penitential Psalms 128 
 
 The Litany of the Saints 140 
 
 The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin 149 
 
 Prayers for Night 162 
 
 Litany of the Blessed Virgin 168 
 
 Devotions for every day in the Week 174 
 
 A Prayer in Child-bearing 190 
 
 Instructions and Devotions for the Sick 192 
 
 Fifteen Meditations on the Passion of our Saviour 
 
 Jesus Christ ... 212
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Instrnctions and Devotions for Confirmation 220 
 
 Prayer for the Church a"(7 
 
 Belief in the Holy Catholic Church 239 
 
 A Prayer to know the true ReUgion *24i 
 
 Plenary Indulgence 245 
 
 Manner of serving Mass 247 
 
 Vespers 254 
 
 Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 280 
 
 HYMNS. 
 
 for Advent 289 
 
 For Christmas 290 
 
 For Lent 292 
 
 Jerusalem 293 
 
 Christmas Vesper Hymn 293 
 
 For Passion and Palm Sunday 294 
 
 For Easter time 297 
 
 For Ascension Day 300 
 
 For Pentecost 301 
 
 For Trinity «unday 304 
 
 For Corpus Christi 306 
 
 For Assumption 308 
 
 For St. Michael's Day 309 
 
 For All Saints 310 
 
 For Christmas 312 
 
 Adoration of Jesus in B. Sacrament 312 
 
 Aspiration before Communion 313 
 
 Bona Mors 314 
 
 Devotions to the Scapular 330 
 
 Prayers of St. Bridget 336 
 
 PRAYERS FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. 
 
 Prayer to be said by those who carry about them 
 
 an Agnus Dei 'W6 
 
 Prayer of St. Bernard to the Blessed Virgin 349 
 
 For one's Confessor "^7 
 
 for the souls in Purgatory 347 
 
 For the conversion of sinners, &c 348 
 
 To know our vocation 348 
 
 To our Angel Guardian 3.50 
 
 To our Patron Saint 3.50 
 
 iuiaiioii of tlie Mass 351
 
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