WA ! 0! 3 sr Yale University Library- Presented in Memory of Charles Andrew Armstrong Bennett Professor of Philosophy in Yale University By Several of his Friends This Memorial Collection was Established in 1934 with the Books on Mysticism Gathered in London by Edward Hubbard Russell Ph.B. 1878 Yale College8T. GERTHUDE. §t.|Jertrude Manual or SPIRIT OF DEVOTION. SELECTED FOR THE MOST PART FROM THE REVELATIONS OF SS. GERTRUDE AND MECHTILDIS. CONTAINING ALSO A VERY USEFUL AND CONSOUNQ INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER; ON THE flOLY M2RIFI6E OF THE MASS; ON HOLY GOMMUNION; ALSO A PREPARATION FOR DEATH, " Gon is a Spirit, and they who adore Him must adore Him in spirit and in truth."—St. John, iv. 24. "Prayer is an affair of the heart, not of the lips."—" Prayer is at once the most difficult and the easiest of works ; also the best work in the world."—Agathon. " No soul ever became holy who was not addicted to prayer."—St. A loysius. 11 Pray, that thou mayest live. Prayer Is the pulse of the soul; by it thou mayest feel whether thou art alive, and in what degree." He, however, who gives life and sustains it, He who confers the gift of prayer, the Lord Jesus, who once taught and still teaches His chosen one's to pray. He it is who hears and grants thy prayer .—Holy Scripture, and the Experience 0/the Saints. Second Revised Edition. FR. PUSTET, Printer to the Holy See and the Sacred Congregat 10:. U n FR. PUSTET & CO., New York and Cincinnati. 1889.gmimraiittt*: * MICHAEL AUGUSTINUS, Archiep. Neo Eborac. Die. 29, Dec. 1888. Copyright, 1882, by E. Stbinback, of the firm of Fr. Pustet & Co.CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Introductory Maxims. Exhortation to fervent prayer, i Short biographical sketch of St, Gertrude, . viii Life of St. Mechtildis, . . . xiv Calendar of Catholic Church, - . . xix Instruction on prayer, , xxxi 1st Article—On the advantage of vocal prayer, . xxxii 2d Article—On which prayers are most pleasing to God,. ... . . xxxv 3d Article—On prayers in honor of the Passion of our Lord, . . . xxxvii 4th Article—On praising God, . . . xxxix 5th Article—On prayer as a petition, . . xli 6th Article—Why God does not always grant our - petition, . ... xlii 7th Article—On the necessity of praying for others, .... xlv 8th Article—How to honor the saints, . . xlvii 9lh Article—On ejaculatory prayers, . . 1 10th Article—On distractions in prayer, . . lii 11th Article-^Wliat to do when distracted in prayer, . . lvi 12th Article—On intention in prayer, . . lvii 13th Article—On zeal, . . . . Ix 14th Article—On union with Christ in prayer, . lxii I5th Article—On recommending our prayer to Christ, .... Ixv 16th Articles-How to ofEer prayer, . . Ixviii 17th Article—How to apply the merits of Christ, . lxix PART L Prayer to the Saint of the day, . . : 1 MORNING DEVOTIONS. Morning prayer, . . . . ,1 34 CONTENTS. Prayer to tlie most holy Trinity, . . .2 Recommendation of self to Christ, . . 3 Another, do. . . . • . . .4 Salutation to holy Mother of God, . . .4 Salutal ion to angel guardian, . . .5 Ejaculation, . . . .. .5 Good resolutions, . . . . .6 Sacrifice and covenant with God, . . .6 Covenant on first day of the month, . . .7 Prayer on entering church, . . .10 Means to banish distractions, . . .11 Prayer before the office, . . . .11 Sacro Sanctae, . . . . . .11 Ejaculation after the office, . . . .12 Prayer after the office, . ' . . .12 before the rosary, . . . .18 after the rosary, . . . .13 on leaving church, . . . .14 on taking holy water, . . .14 when the clock strikes, . . .15 EVENING DEVOTIONS. Thanksgiving for benefits received, . . .15 Contrition and sorrow for sin, . . .16 Three prayers concerning neglect, . . .17 Recommendation of self to the holy Mother of God, 18 Recommendation of self to the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, . . . .18 Prayer to the ever blessed Virgin Mary, . . 19 on going to sleep, . „ 20 PART II. ON THE MASS. Instruction on Mass, Devotions at the beginning of Mass, Offertory, Orate Fratres, Secrets, Preface, Canon, Prayer to God the Father, after the consecration, 21 30 32 34 34 35 36 37 38CONTENTS. 5 Prayer at the Pater Noster, . . . 40 at tlie Agnus Dei, . . .41 at UieDomine, non sum dignus, . . 41 after communion, ... 415 At the priest's blessing, . . . .44 Verbum caro factum est, . , 44 Adoration of the most holy sacrament, . . 44 Three psalms of praise in honor of the blessed sacrament, . . . .48 PART III. CONFESSION AND PENANCE. Instruction on the sacrament, . . 51 Self accusation before God, ... 54 Another, do, . . . . 50 Prayer for forgiveness, ... 58 Penitental prayer, . . . . .5!) Atonement, . . . . . .01 Expiation, . . . . .02 An " Our Fatlw?r," . . , ,04 Prayer to awakeu contrition, fori hose in mortal sin, 66 for those iu venial sin. 68 Prayer for contrition, . .69 before confession, . .71 Another, do. . . . . .71 Aspirations before confession, . . .72 Prayer during absolution. . . . ,72 Thanksgiving after confession, . .7:5 Prayer before saying one's penance, . . 78 after " " . .74 Three other prayers after confession, . . 75 PART IV. ON COMMUNION. Instruction on holy communion, Prayer before communion, to all the Saints before communion. Three prayers to blessed Virgin Mary before com muniori, . . . . Meditation before communion, . 77 . 83 . 85 . 80 . 876 CONTENTS. Prayer to the mother of God, , . . .95 most holy Trinity, . . . ,95 to Jesus Christ, . . . ,96 before communion, . , , .97 of desire, . . . . .99 after holy communion, . , , 100 Offering up of holy communion, . . . 102 for the dead, . .107 Offering to all the saints, .... 108 Thanksgiving after holy communion, . . Ill Another, do. ...... 113 Concluding prayer, 114 THREE PRAYERS TO GAIN AN INDULGENCE. 1. For tlie Catholic Church, . . .116 2. For the extirpation of heresy, . , • 117 3. For peace aDd unity among Christian rulers, . 118 PART Y. DEVOTIONS TO MOST HOLY. TRINITY. Three hymns of praise to most holy Trinity, . 11.9 Five " .... . 119 Offering up of above^ ..... 127 Angelical hymn, . . . . 128 Threefold profession of confidence, . . . 130 Profession of faith, ..... 131 Hope and trust, . . . . . 132 Love of God, . . . .134 Three sparks of love, .... 136 Congratulation, ..... 138 Eulogium, . . . . . . 139 Spiritual holocaust, ..... 139 Surrender of will, ." . 142 PART YI. . PRAYERS TO JESUS CHRIST. A crown of stars, ..... 145 Offerinc thereof, . . 148 Prayer in honor of the Lord, . . .149 Resigning the heart to Jesus Christ, . . 150CONTENTS. 7 Aspirations of love, . . . . . . 152 Prayer in honor of the holy Name, . . . 153 The Church's hymn of praise in honor of the holy Name, ..... 153 Litany of the sweet Name of Jesus, . . . 154 Prayers in honor of the mysteries of the holy childhood, . . . . .157 PART VII. DEVOTION IN HONOR OP THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Meditation on the agony of Jesus on Mount Olivet, . 163 Ten prayers to remind the Lord Jesus of his sufferings, . .... 165 Offering of above, ... . 169 A very useful way of hiding one's self in the five sacred wounds, .... 170 Prayer to the wound in the shoulder of Christ, . 171 in the side of Christ, . , 172 Five hymns in honor of the sufferings of Christ, . 173 Saluting every member of Christ's body, . . 174 Prayers, praises, and salutations to the Lord Jesus when mocked at, and blasphemed, . 175 Three acts of thanksgiving to Christ on the cross, > 178 Compassion for Jesus, ... , 179 Five powerful offerings of the sufferings of Christ for sin, . . . .182 Seven offerings of the Precious Blood, . . 187 Devout meditation before a crucifix, . . 190 Instruction on the way of the cross, . . . 191 Good intention before the way of the cross, . 191 Way of the cross, . . . . 192 Litany of the cross of Christ, . . . 204 PART YIII. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Office of the blessed Virgin, . . . .211 Praise to the blessed Virgin. . . . 215 Salutation of St. Mechtildis to her dear mother Mary, . . .216 Crown of stars for the blessed Virgin Mary, . 2178 ■CONTENTS. Offering of, . . . . . .220 Prayer of St. Edmund (O intemerata), . . 222 Passauer prayer, ..... 223 Memorare of St. Bernard, .... 224 Seven dolors of Mary at the death of Jesus Christ, . 225 Seven joys above all other joys, . . . 2S0 Three Hail Marys for a happy death, . . 2ol Prayer for assistance at the hour of death, . . 2ol Litany of the Mother of God, .... 2l'2 The seven joys, ..... 2E5 Praise lo the hearts of Jesus and Mary. . . 2E8 Litany of Loretio, ..... 2E8 The Stabat Muter, . . . . .241 PART IX. PTtAYERS TO THE SAINTS. A useful instruction on how to reverence the saints, 245 To the holy archangel Michael, . . 246 To the angel guardian, .... 24? To St. Joseph, . . . . . .248 Prayer to St. John the Evangelist, . . . 248 Joys of St. John the Evangelist,, . . . 249 To St Sebastian, . . • . . . 249 St. Benedict, ..... 250 St. Francis of Assisium (Seraphicus), . . 251 St. Antony of Padua, .... 252 St. Anna, ...... 253 In honor of St. Mary Magdalen^ . . . 253 Three acts of thanksgiving for graces granted her, . 254 To St. Catherine, . . . . .254 St. Margaret, . . . . .255 St. Apollonia, ..... 255 St. Barbara, ..... 256 To any virgin saint or martyr, . . . 256 Salutation to St. Gertrude, .... 257 St. Gertrude's titles of honor, . . .258 Thanksgivings for St. Gertrude's graces, . . 258 Prayer to obtain some particular favor through St. Gertrude's intercession, . . 259 Prayer to St. Gertrude during temptation, . . 261 Litany of St. Gertrude, . . . .262 Prayer, . . . . . , .264CONTENTS 9 Congratulation to St. Mechtildis, . . 264 Thanksgiving to Christ for graces conferred on St. Mechtildis, , 265 Three salutations to St. Mechtildis. . . . 266 Prayer to one's patron saint, . . . 267 Litany of all the saints, .... 268 PART X. CHURCH FASTS AND FESTIVALS. Prayer at beginning of Advent, . . . 271 Hymn for Advent, ..... 272 On Christmas day, ..... 274 Glory and praise to the Infant Christ, . . 276 Offering, . . . . . .277 Petition to the newly-born Infant, t . . 277 To Mary on Christmas day, ..... 277 Praise to Mary, ..... 279 On New Year's Eve (conclusion of year), . . 279 On New Year's day, ..... 281 Three offerings on the Feast of the Epiphany, . 282 At the beginning of Lent,... . 285 Easter day: five Easter joys, . . . 286 Easter hallelujahs, ..... 288 Easter hymn of praise, .... 289 Prayers for May-time or summer, . . . 290 Prayer on Ascension day, .... 292 Offering, . . . . . .292 Prayer at Pentecost, ..... 293 Aspirations to the Holy Ghost, . . . 293 Seven prayers to the holy spirit of God, . . 295 On the feast of the holy Trinity, . . .297 On Corpus Christi day, . . c • .297 Litany of the blessed sacrament, .. . „ 298 Feast of the purification, .... 302 Annunciation of blessed Virgin Mary, . . 304 At the Visitation, ..... 305 Assumption of Mary, ..... 307 The antiplion " Tota pulchra es," . . ,308 Feast of Mary's nativity. , 309 On Michaelmas day, .... 311 All Saints day, . . . . . .312 Praise to God on All Saints day, t » 31310 CONTENTS. Short prayer in honor of some particular saint, . 314 Prayer to some special saiDt, .... 315 Prayer to the one whose festival is commemorated, . 315 Three reminders on. the feast of a saint, . . 316 Offering, ' ... 317 PART XI. VARIOUS OCCASIONS. Devout kissing of the five wounds, Prayer for friends, Another do., .... Prayer for enemies, Prayer to obtain some particular favor, Prayer to avert a cross, Offering of one's self to bear suffering, The antiphon, " Hsec est,". . ... Wholesome medicine against infection, Prayer during temptation, Powerful means against temptation, . Seven castles of refuge, Spiritual testament,. . Renewal of vows (for religious), . Sealing the testament, . . . . . PART XII. FOR THE SICK, DYING, AND DEAD Three prayers for a happy death, . . . 345 Prayer for a sick person, .... 349 of one sick or in trouble. . . . 349 Offering up of each separate pain, . . 350 Full and complete resignation of a sick person, . 351 Ejaculations and pious aspirations. . . . 352 Prayer for a sick person, .... 354 Prayer to the holy Mother of God, , . 355 Prayer to all the saints, .... 356 Recommendation of one's last hour. . . . 357 Poweifui ejaculations (for the dying), . . 357 Three short prayers for the dying, , . . 358 Three for the agonizing, , 359 Aspirations for the dying ' , . 360 . 320 . 321 . 322 . 323 . 325 . 326 . 327 . 328 . 328 • '329 . 329 . 331 . 339 342CONTENTS. 11 Ejaculations to the most holy Mother of God, .• 363 Four powerful prayers for a soul in purgatory, . 365 Au Our Father for the dead, .... 368 Offering of the sufferings of Christ for poor souls, . 370 Short, prayer for the dead, .... 371 Another do., . . . . . .372 On eutering a graveyard, .... 372 Litany for the dead, ..... 373 APPENDIX. ADORATION OF BLESSED SACltAMENT. Preamble, . . . . . .377 To awaken faith, ..... 377 To obtain love, . . . . .378 Act of homage to the sacred heart, . . . 380 Thanksgiving for institution of blessed sacrament, . 382 Indulgences, ...... 384 Instruction on, ..... 384 1. Prayer for Catholic Church, . . * . 385 2. Extirpation of heresies, . . 386 3. peace and union among Christian_rulers, 386 Acts of adoration to the blessed sacrament, . 387 Humble acts of reparation, .... 391 Devout aspirations, . 392 Little chaplet of sacred heart, . . . 393 Instruction how to bear sickness patiently, . . 396 Thoughts on death, . . . . .402 Preparation for death, .... 403 Prayer to obtain a good death through Christ's sufferings, ..... 406 Devotions for every day in the week, . . 409 Concluding refnarks, . .... 416MANUAL OF ST. GERTRUDE. INTRODUCTORY MAXIMS. exhortation to fervent prayer. From 81. Bernard's Writings. "Let nothing hinder thee from praying always." " Before prayer prepare thy sonl, and be not as a man that tempteth God."—Eccle-siasticus xviii. 22, 23. "Pray without ceasing."—I. Thess. v. 17. "We ought always to pray and not to faint."—St. Luke xmii. 1. "Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."—St. Matt. xxvi. 41. "Amen, amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it you. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full."—St. John xm. 23, 24. " He who does not pray is not a Christian: he who prays badly is not a good Christian." The more we pray, so much the more profitable and efficacious with regard to our salvation becomes our prayer: and the Lord says in the Grospel: "All things whatsoeverii EXHORT A TION TO FEB VENT PRA TER. you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." St. Matt. xxi. 22. And the Apostle Paul exhorts us all to "pray without ceasing."—I. Thess. v. 17.* And St. James says: "The continual prayer of a just man availeth rtiuch." St. James v. 16. Christian, before prayer, prepare thy soul and be not as a man that tempteth God. Ecclesiasticus xviii. 23. Before prayer prepare thyself, and in thy prayer disclose the interior recesses of thy heart, its occupations, disturbances, desires, that thou mayst obtain grace from God. Pray, therefore, when nothing disturbs thy heart, when it is quite free from every vain and sordid thought or care. For, in very truth, the judge will be moved to grant the prayer, when the sinner, acknowledging his great guilt, turns from his wicked courses to amendment. But "prayer is an affair of the heart, not of the lips." f It is far better to pray quietly in the heart, than with mere words without attention to their import. That prayer is pure into which no wander - * Never desist from prayer! Pray without intermission! Every morning and evening inhale the divine air of life, of reconciliation. Say your morning and evening prayers: for prayer (devotion) is to the bouI what food and drink are to the body: nay, it is more, it is the breath, therefore the life of the soull Pray then with fervor: ptay earnestly, ardently, to the loving, atoning, faithful and true God; pray to the living Truth, to him who is the Eternal Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. t Let not your prayer be a work of the lips, neither mechanical nor task-work: for prayer is and must ever be the work of the sou/, (he work of the heart'* deepest, emotions! " Much love," says St. Augustine, u but not many words, when thou prayest."EXHORTATION TO FERVENT PRATER. Hi ing thoughts foreign to the subject are admitted. But that heart is far removed from God which, when at prayer, busies itself with earthly thoughts and objects. There is also another obstacle to prevent prayer from being heard: it is when the prayer proceeds from a heart still in sin, and which has not forgiven a person by whom one has been offended. Then only is our prayer heavenly, then only does God look down on it with favor, when no earthly objects or thoughts are mixed up with it. By prayer man invokes the Holy Ghost to dwell in his heart, to enlighten his interior, to penetrate the innermost recesses of his soul, and by means of this enlightenment to banish all temptations of the enemy. He who has been injured will not neglect to pray for the injurer, lest he should sin against the command of God, who calls to us: "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you." St. Luke vi. 27, 28. For as a wound from a spear cannot be healed before the spear is withdrawn, even so his prayer is profitless who cherishes hatred in his heart. He also is culpable who lifts up his hands to pray while he proudly boasts of his works : and haughty as the Pharisee in the Temple, seems to praise his own good actions more than God. St. Luke xviii. 11, 12. ThereIV EXHORTATION TO FERVENT PRAYER. fore, dear Christian! pray to God day and night, without fail; pray much; let prayer be your constant weapon ; watch and pray : pray and watch ! Constant prayer overcomes the assaults of the Evil One. Prayer is the most excellent shield against the temptations of the enemy ; it puts to flight the unclean spirit, the enemy of souls. Therefore, dear Christian, let your prayer rise in purity to Heaven ; pray for the good and God-fearing that tliey may persevere in the right path : pray for "the Godless that they may change from evil to good : pray for thy friends ; pray for thy enemies ; pray for all the'living, and for the faithful deceased. ''Let thy prayer be directed as incense in the sight of God : the lit"ting-up of hands as an evening sacrifice." * Psalm 140-2. * The prayer of the true Christian is all-powerful. The force of true, genuine, believing prayer is extraordinary, is infinite, and through prayer we may work miracles. The whole life of a Christian must oe prayer. But he who prays must also keep watch ; for when asleep lio one prays, no one can pray: therefore, watch and pray, pray and watch: the one is not possible without the other! From the spirit of prayer the saints derived all their light, all their power. Prayer was the source of all those blessings which Heaven poured upon earth through their instrumentality; and also was the means by which their own souls acquired a truly angelic purity. This spirit, says St. John of Damascus, is nourished by seclusion; which in a certain sense may be considered as the mother of purity. Thi6 wonderful transformation thus operated in our hearts by prayer is occasioned by God himself, who reveals his glory to the interior of our heart. And in point of fact, when every avenue of our senses is closed against creatures, when God dwells in us, and we in him, when we, standing far away from the rush and bustle of the world, give our whole attention to our interior, and learn to know ourselves as we really are; we shall then be in a condition to contemplate the kingdom of God which is within us, established therein by love and that burning desire which consumes the remainder of earthly inclinations: for the kingdom of Heaven, or rather the Lord of Heaven, is within us, as we are assured by Jesus Christ. Every prayer which rises to Heaven through the spirit of God, expressing itself in voiceless sighs, purifies the inclinations of out hearts, hallows the soul, adorns it with a peculiar heavenly beauty, andEXHORTATION TO FERVENT PRATER. v "Every breath should be a prayer and a sigh to God in heaven. He who loves God soon learns to sigh and to pray to him; soon learns to converse with him. This exaltation of the mind comes from the Holy Ghost. It is the language of holy love, which is well known to the God of holy love. We willingly reflect on what we love, and it is the surest proof that we do not love God when we do not let our thoughts dwell upon him, when we do not willingly converse with him, i. e., when we do not pray to him/' —Jos. Crasset. " 'Prayer' has ever been the gate or entrance to all the great graces which the Lord has conferred upon us. If this door is closed, I do not know after what manner God could so adapt himself as to cause his grace to come to us, for should he desire to enter a soul, to delight and console it, he could in that case find no entrance, because he wishes to find the soul solitary, and pure, and desirous of such consolation. Nevertheless, we desire that God should come to us and impart bis many graces."—St. Theresa. enriches it with the most precious gifts of grace, on which account it is that Jesus Christ has so urgently recommended prayer, with which he himself commenced his most holy Incarnation, and with which he ended his life as he breathed his last sigh upon the Cross. Happy are they who take delight in prayer! They belong to the number of the Elect, because they follow in the footsteps of those who are already crowned in the heavenly Fatherland! "Let us then be also constant in prayer and watching in thanksgiving.11 Col. iv. 2. "We must always pray, ana never faint." St. Luke xviii. 1. "Yes, day and night let us fervently pray to God," I. Thess. iii. 10, that he rotiy vouchsafe to lend a fatherly ear to our petitions, and grant us what wo ask of him!vi EXHORTATION TO FERVENT PRAYER. "It is with much reason, that God complains of those who do not pray, do not invoke him, and in this way close his hands, which are ever ready to open themselves to come to their help."—St. Bernard. ' "I beseech yon therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God.—Rom. XV. 30. Ah! had I but a strong faith, did I but love thee with my whole heart, 0 Lord! then holy prayer would become my most delightful exercise. What can be more charming than to tarry in thy presence, oh, my God! in all humility and love, to speak to thee, to learn through thy inspirations, and like a child confidingly to entertain one's self with an ever-kind Father?—M. V Abbe Laussause. St. JVilus, who in the solitude of the desert experienced what it was to pray, says in his treatise on prayer: "Dost thou desire.to pray well? Deny thyself at every hour of thy life. When thou art patient in suffering, then wilt thou be joyful at prayer. Dost thou love God? Then hast thou learnt the great art of prayer; and if thou prayest aright, thou wilt love God still more and more. As sight is the most perfect of the senses, so is prayer the most divine of the virtues. If in prayer tliou at-tainest to a joy which surpasses all joys, then hast thou realized true prayer."EXHORTATION TO FER VENT PRA YER vii "Come, let us adore and fall down and weep before the Lord who made us. For he is the Lord our God, and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture."— Ps. xciv. 6,7.A SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. ABBESS AT HELPEDE IN 6AXONY. St. Gertrude was born in the year 1232, at Eisleben, a city of the Diocese of Halber-stadt, in the County of Mansfeld. Her lather was a Count of Hackenborn, distinguished alike for nobility and wealth.. In her fifth year she was placed by her parents in the Benedictine Cloister of Rodard, that she might receive a Christian education: after this convent had been established twenty-four years and Gertrude had been its Abbess for seven years, it was removed to Helpede, a mile and a half from Eisleben. In this cloister the children of many distinguished and noble families were educated, and the life led by its inmates was so holy that Christ appeared to many of them and conversed familiarly with them. This holy life lasted for ninety years, until in the year 1342 it was burnt down, after the death of St. Gertrude of Brunswick. The life of St. Gertrude was so holy that it excelled in lustre the lives of the other nuns even as the light of the moon dims that of the stars. She appeared to possess viiiSKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. ix every virtue in the "highestdegree, so that it was difficult to affirm that any one predominated—she was so humble that it seemed impossible to lier thatany one should be a greater sinner than herself, and she was of opinion that each one of her companions acquired more merit by cherishing good thoughts, than she herself did by her severe penitential life. She was so compassionate towards the poor and oppressed that she could not listen to a recital of their sufferings without tears. She loved purity to that degree that she resembled an angel rather than a human being: she blushed at the mere mention of an immodest word. In her intercourse with others she was so friendly that she was beloved by every one, yet kept her heart free from sensitive love. She was a living mirror of patience, never during the serious attacks of sickness which constantly beset her uttering a sign of impatience by word or gesture. On account of these and many other virtues, which for brevity's sake are omitted, she was in her nineteenth year elected Abbess, the duties of which office she performed so perfectly for forty years that nearly all her nuns, who numbered more than a hundred, attained to a life of sanctity. After she had reached her twenty-sixth year, Christ appeared to her for the first time, and at a later period nearly every day, and conversed with her in tlie most pleasingX SKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. manner: she was also visited and consoled by the Blessed Virgin and other Saints, particularly on their festivals. Often was she rapt in spirit to heaven itself, where she learnt many heavenly secrets, and heard the hymns of praise sung by the angels. Once, on Christmas Day, the Mother of God gave her the Christ-Child, which she kept by her to her great delight till the Feast of the Purification, and tended it as other children are tended. Once as she lay sick on the third Sunday in Advent and could not go to Mass, Christ himself, served by many angels and saints, celebrated Mass in her apartment. Were I to mention all the favors of similar nature received by her, this book could not contain them: therefore I refer the reader to the charming book of her revelations,* in which innumerable and astonishing facts are related. Her love to Christ, and on the other hand, his to her, is beyond the power of expression. Sometimes he presented her with his heart, many times exchanged hearts with her. At times he refreshed her with heavenly sweetness from the wounds of his side. He once said to another Yirgin : "I belong entirely to her: yield myself her captive: for love has united me to her in the same degree as when gold and silver are melted together ;" and another time he said : * Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude: newly edited by M. Sinfczel.SKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. XI "There is not another human being who comes nearer to me than she does in upright intention and good-will: therefore to no soul yet living in the flesh am I so graciously inclined as to her ;" to which he added. "In no more desirable place, in no pleasanter place canst thou And me, than in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar, or in the heart of my chosen bride Gertrude; for to her have I miraculously directed all the love of my heart." Christ also grants many privileges and graces to those who love and honor her, more especially that no one who honors her shall die a sudden death; and as she once asked him how should she know that he promised her this great favor, he replied: " Stretch out thy handl" And when she had stretched out her right hand, he took it, laid it in the wound of his side and said: " See, by this I promise thee, that I will keep for thee the promised graces without fail. And should it happen in the wisdom of my foresight that I withhold their action for a period, I hereby engage to compensate for this in a threefold measure in the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of the most Holy Trinity, in whose midst I live and reign, true God, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen." As the saint drew her hand forth from the wound, she had a golden ring on every finger and three on the fourth, and Christ spoke: "These seven rings shall bexii SKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. to thee a certain proof that the seven modes of grace which I have promised thee for the salvation of the world, shall be ratified according to thy wish." At length, at the age of sixty years, she was during a long and wearisome sickness struck with paralysis of the right side, and for twenty-two weeks deprived of the power of speech so that she could only utter: "My soul!" Yet she sometimes caused herself to be led in to Holy Mass, although lame on one side, and that treading on the foot of the other side caused her very great pain. At length, on the 17th of November, the agony came on; it lasted till evening, when she died; meantime a holy virgin saw angels coming by turns from heaven to see how she was, and they sang with lovely voices: "Come, come, come, thou chcsen one! The joys of heaven await thee." When the time of her death approached, Christ appeared, accompanied by his Mother, St. John, and an innumerable crowd of saints, principally virgins. He embraced her. and she gave up her spirit. Christ took her soul in his heart, and carried it in triumphal procession to heaven. At the same time, he freed through her merits an innumerable throng of souls out of purgatory, who accompanied her to heaven for the increase of her glory also. Many sinners were converted, and many prayers granted throughout the world. The next day, as she wasSKETCH OF ST. GERTRUDE. xiil buried, a saintly virgin saw that, as often as earth was thrown on her grave, Christ made the sign of the cross over her, and when the grave was covered, the Mother of God closed it in. She died in the year 1291, nearly sixty years old, on the 17th of November, on which day her feast is kept. May Grod give us grace through her merits!LIFE OF ST. MECHTILDIS. St. Mechtildis was by birth a Countess of Hackenborn, and was sister to St. Gertrude. When she came into the world, it was supposed she could not live; she was therefore taken at once to a priest to be baptized. The priest, however, affirmed that the child would not die, but become a nun of singular holiness, through whose instrumentality God would work many miracles. In her seventh year, she went one day to a convent, in which she remained against her mother's will, and could not be induced to leave either by good words or by threats. In a very short Lime she made such progress in devotion and the love of God, that she reached the highest grade of perfection. She was extremely friendly, and ever ready to assist everybody ; often performing the lowest functions of housekeeping quite alone, without assistance. She loved poverty so thoroughly that she would not even possess what was necessary ; she had but one veil, and often used a ragged cloth in its stead, and had only one worn habit, which was patched in many places. She led a penitential life, and since, as her confessors xivLIFE OF ST. MECHT1LDI8. XV testify, she had never committed a mortal sin in her life, she did penance for the sins of others. On a fast-day she once heard some one singing a wanton song ; to atone for this, she placed broken pieces of glass and crockery in her bed, and wounded herself so severely that she could neither sit nor lie down for pain. She was constantly afflicted with sickness, so that she was scarcely ever free from pain, and was incessantly troubled either with headache, or with disease of the stone or liver; but so patient was she that she appeared more cheerful when suffering than when in good health. Towards other sick people she was so compassionate that her many employments and pressure of business did not prevent her from going to see them and wait upon them. When sick herself she would cause herself to be carried to them, and though there were times when she could not converse with them, she manifested so much sympathy with their sufferings that many were moved to tears. She cherished so strong a devotion to the sufferings of Christ that she could not speak of them without tears, and when she conversed on this subject her face and hands became red as blood. She was at all times so resigned to God's will that she seldom made use of her five senses : so that she often ate spoiled eggs without knowing it till her companions at table remarked it \LIFE OF ST. MECHTILDIS. as also, without knowing it, she would eat meat for fish. In giving instruction, she was so full of unction that the sisters would gather around her as around a preacher, to hear from her mouth the word of G-od. She was also their refuge and consoler; none ever confided to her ear a tale of suffering, without receiving from her consolation and soothing counsels. Christ, her beloved bridegroom, who had espoused her to himself with a ring, often visibly appeared to her, as did also the blessed Virgin and many saints, conversing with her as one human being would with another. She was also often rapt in ecstasy to heaven, in order to behold the secrets of God. In her fits of illness Christ often appeared to her and entertained himself with her a considerable time. When she desired to pray, she asked Christ which prayer pleased him best, to which he vouchsafed to reply by teaching her prayers which penetrate the inmost heart by their power, and giving her so many instructions that no priest ever gave the like number to his penitents. As on Easter Wednesday, the lesson in the Mass ran thus, 4 4 Come, ye blessed of my Father," etc., she said to Christ: "Would I were among the blessed to hear this voice :" He replied : " Yes, thou shalt know for certain that thou art of this number," and he gave her his heart as a pledge, which she hid in herself from this.momentLIFE OF ST. MECHTILDIS. Xvii to that of her death, and felt an extraordinary devotion to it, being accustomed to declare: "If all tlie things which the heart of Jesus has bestowed on me were described, no mass-book could contain them all." When she had been fifty years in the order, and was fifty-seven years old, her end drew near. For three years she was tormented by violent pains, in which her sister St. Gertrude consoled her, and as she received the last anointing, this sister was witness to the fact that Christ himself anointed her in a spiritual manner. On the last day of her life she suffered very violent pain, and could onlyutter the words, "O most kind Jesus, most kind Jesus!" At last, on the Feast of St. Elizabeth, the 19th November, during the Gloria of holy Mass, Christ appeared and said: "Come, thou blessed of my Father," etc., and reminded her of the promise given years ago, in which he had left her his heart as a pledge. As she gave it back to him, he took hers with it, and she gave up the ghost.TABLE OF MOVABLE FEASTS. Tear of Our Lord Dominical Letter. Ash Wed'sday Easter Sunday- Whit-Sunday. Corpus Cbristi. First Sunday of Advent. 1889 f Mar. 6 Apr. 21 June 9 June 20 Dec. 1 1890 e Feb. 19 Apr. 6 May 25 June 5 Nov. 30 1891 d Feb. 11 Mar. 29] May 17 May 28 Nov. 29 1892 c b Mar. 2 Apr. 17! June 5 June 16 Nov. 27 1893 A Feb. 15 Apr 2iMay 21 June 1 Dec. 3 1894 g Feb. 7 Mar. 25|Mav 13 May 24 Dec. 2 1895 f Feb. 27 Apr. 14iJune 2 June 13 Dec. 1 1896 e d Feb. 19 Apr. 5! May 24 June 4 Nov. 29 1897 c Mar. 3 Apr. 18 i June 6 June 17 Nov. 28 1898 b Feb. 23 Apr. 10 May 19 June 9 Nov. 27 1899 A Feb. 15 Apr. 2; May 21 June 1 Dec. 3 1900 g Feb. 28 Apr. 15J,Tune 3 June 14 Dec. 2 1901 f Feb. 20 Apr. 7 Mav 26 June 6'Dec. 1 1902 e Feb. 12 Mar. 30 i May 8 May 18|Nov. 30 1903 d Feb. 25 Apr. 12, Mav 20 May 31 Nov. 29 1904 c b Feb. 17 Apr. 3 Mav 12 May 22!Nov. 27 1905 A Mar. 8 Apr. 23 June 1 June lllDec. 3 1906 ^- g Feb. 28 Apr. 15, May 24; May 24iDec. 2THE CALENDAR OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, In which the Movable and Immovable Festivals and Holy-days in the Church of Christ are laid down. The movable feasts or festivals are such as do not occur every year on the same day of the month: consequently the tables now set forth must be consulted in their regard, and they are regulated by Easter Day. Wheu two Sundays or Dominical letters stand together, It is leap year: for the year consists of 865 days, with six hours, etc., which every four years make one day, being twenty-four hours: this day is added to the month of February. The first letter in this case is the Dominical letter to St. Matthias1 Day: then the second follows. The Ember Days are the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays which occur after the third Sunday In Advent, after the first Sunday in Lent, after Whitsuntide, and after the 14th of September. The figures after the festivals of saints or holydays denote the year of their death, or the institution of such feast. A. denotes Apostle; M., Martyr; D. of C., Doctor of the Church ; P., Pope; B., Bishop; Pr., Priest; Con., Confessor; V., Virgin; O. F., Founder of Order. JANUAEY. 1. A. Circumcision of our Lobd. Fulgentius, B., 532. 2. b. St. Macarius, anchorite, 372. 3. c. St. Genevieve, Y. (of Paris), 511. 4. d. St. Titus, B. M., from Crete. 5. e. St. Telesphorus, Pope M., 139. [sar. 6. f. Epiphany of our Lord. (Caspar, Melchior, Baltha- 7. g. St. Lucian, Pr. M., 312. 8. a. St. Severin, Abt. 9. b. SS. Julian and BAsilissa, MM., 305. 10. o. St. Agatho, P., 681. 11. d. St. Hyginus, P. M., 142. 12. e. St. Arcadius, M. 13. f. St. Leontius, B., 323. St. Veronica, V. Aug. 0. 14. g. St. Hilarius, B. of Poitiers, 399. 15. a. St. Paul, first Hermit, 343. 16. b. St. Marcellus, P., 310. On tbe second Sunday after the Epiphany, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated. xixXX CALENDAR. 17. c. St. Anthony, Hermit, Abt., 358. 18. d. Chair of St. Peter at Rome, 42. 19. e. St. Canute, King of Denmark, 1192. 20. f. SS. Fabian, P., ad Sebastian, MM., 250, [Herm. 21. g. St. Agnes, 13 years of age, Y. M., 304. St. Meinrad, 22. a. St. Vincent, M., 303. 23. b. Espousals of B. V. M. and St. Joseph. Macarius, Abt., 1153. St. Raymond of Penafort, Pr., 1275. St. John the Almoner. 24. c. St. Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, M., 97. 25. d. Conversion of St. Paul, 35. 26. e. St. Poly carp, Bishop of Smyrna, M., 163, 27. f. St. John Chrysostom, B. D., of C., 407. 28. g. St. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, 304. 29. a. St. Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, 1622. 30. b. St. Martina, V. M., 326. 31. o. St. Peter Nolasco, O. F., 1256. FEBRUARY. 1. d. St. Ignatius, B. M., 110. 2. e. Purification of B. V. M., called Candlemas; in- stituted before 550. 3. f. St. Blasius, B. M., 320. 4. g. St. Andrew Corsini, H., 1373. 5. a. St. Agatha, V. M., 250. 6. b. St. Dorothea, V. M., 304. 7. c. St. Romuald, O. F., 1027. 8. d. St. John of Maltha, founder of the Order for the Liberation of Captives, 1213. 9. e. St. Apollonia, 250. 10. f. St. Scholastica (sister to St. Benedict), Y., 543. 11. g. St. Desiderius. B. M. at Lyons, 612. 12. a. St. Eulalia, Y. M., 305. 13. b. St. Julianus, M. at Lyons, 308. 14. c. St. Yalentine, B. M. at Teramo, 362. 15. d. SS. Faustinus and Jovita, MM., 120. 16. e. St. Juliana, V. M., 290. 17. f. St. Theodulus, M., 309. On Fridays in Lent are the following new feasts Introduced: 1. Before the First Sunday in Lent, the Feast of the sufferings of Our Lord Jesufl Christ; 2. Before the Second Sunday, The Feast of the crown of thorns of Our Lord Jesus Christ; 3. Before the Third Sunday, the Feast of the nails and lance of Our Lord Jesus Christ; 4 Before the Fourth Sunday, the Feast of the five wounds of Our Lord Jesqs Christ; 5. Before the Fifth Suuday. the Feast of the most precious blood of Our Lord Jesus ChristCALENDAR. xxi 18. g. St. Simeon, B. M. at Jerusalem, 107. 19. a. St. Gabinus, Pr. M., 305. 20. b. St. Eucherius, Bishop of Orleans, 738. 21. c. St. Adelaide, V. Abbess. 22. d. St. Peter's Chair at Antioch. 23. e. St. Romana, "V. M. St. Florence, Con. 24. f. St. Matthias, Apostle.* 25. g. SS. Victor and Yictorin, MM., 284 26. a. St. Porphyrius, Bishop at Gaza, about S84.. 27. b. St, Le.mder, Bishop of Seville, about 600. 28. c SS. Justus, Rufinus, Theophilus, MM. MARCH. 1. d. St. Swibert, Apostlo of Holland, about 844: 2. e. St. Simplicius, P., 4b3- 3. f. St. Kunigunda, Empress, 1040. 4. g. St. Casimir, Royal Prince of Poland, 1484; 5. a. St. Adrian, B. M. at Caesarea, 309. 6. b. St. Evagrius, B., 391. 7. c. St. Thomas Aquinas, O. Preachers, D. of C., 1274. 8. d. St. John of God, founder of Order of Brothers of Mercy, 1550. 9. e. St. Frances of Rome, "Widow, F. O , 1440. 10. f. SS. Cajus and Alexander, MM., 173. Forty martyrs at Sebaste, 320. 11. g. St. Rosina, V. St. Eulogius, P. M., 269. 12. a. St. Gregory the Great, P. and D. of C., 604. 13. b. St. Nicephorus, Archbishop of Constantinople, 828. 14. c. St. Matilda, Empress, 968. 15. d. St. Longinus, M. 16. e. St. Heribert, Archbishop of Cologne, 1023. 17. f. St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland, 450. St. Gertrude, Abbess, 658. 18. g. St. Narcissus, Apostle of the Grisons, 704. 19. a. St. Joseph, Foster Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 20. b. St. Archippus, Disciple of St. Paul. 21. c. St. Benedict, F. O . 543. 22. d. St. Octavian, Archdeacon at Carthage. S3, e. St. Victorinus. M. in Africa, about 480. 24. f. St. Gabriel, Archangel. ♦When leap-year occurs, the feast of St. Matthias Is celebrated or the 25th. There are then 30 days iii February.xxii CALENDAR, 25. g. Annunciation of B. V. M. Dismas, the Good Thief. 26. a. St. Ludger, B., Apostle of Snxony, 809. 27. b. St. Rupert, first Bishop of Salzburg, 723. 28. c. St. Guntram, King of France, C., 593. .29. d. St. Eustasius, Abbot, 625. -30. e. St. Quirinus, M. at Rome, 130. . 31. f. St. Balbina, Y. M. St. Cornelia, M. APRIL. .1. g. iSt. Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, 1132. 2. a. .St. Francis of Paul, Founder of Order 1507. 3. b. .St. Mary of Egypt, Penitent, 421. St. Richard, Jiishop in England, 1253. -4. c. St. Isidore, Archbishop of Seville, Doctor of the iGtmrch, 636. . 5, . g. SS. Cornelius, M., 252. Cyprian, Archb., M., 258. Euphemia. V. M.. 302. 17. a Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, 1214. St. Hildegarde, Abb., 1178. 18. b. SSi .Jos. of Cupertino C., Min. Ord., Thomas ot Yillanova, Aug. Ord 1535. 19. c. St. Januarius, B. M., with his companions, 300. On the first Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, instituted 1608 (This ia now kept on Oct. 2, in this country.—Note by Translator.)xxviii CALENDAR. 20. d. St. Eustachius, M., 120. 21. e. St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. 22. f. SS. Maurice, and the Theban Legion, MM., 297. 23. g. St. Linus, P. M., 78. St. Thecla, V. M. 24. a. St Gerard, Apostle of Hungary, B. and M., 1046. 25. b. St. Cleopbas, disciple of Christ. 26. c. St. Cyprian, M., converted by.St. Justina,Y.M., 305. 27. d. SS. Cosraas and Damian, Marlyrs, 304. 23. e.jSt. Wenceslaus, Duke, M., 939. 29. f St. Michael Archangel, decreed before 813. 30. g. St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church, 430. OCTOBER. 1 a. St. Remigius, B. of Rheims, Apostle of France, 545. 2. b. St. Otto, Bishop of Bamberg, Apostle of Pome. rania,1139. 3. c. St. Candidas. B. M. 4. d. St. Frauds (Seraphicus) of Assisi, F. O . 1226. 5. e. St. Placid us. Abb., M. St. Flavia, V. M. 6. f. St. Bruno. Founder of Order, 1101. 7. g. St Mark, Pope, 336. St. Auuust, Priest. 8. a. St. Bridget, Widow, 1373. 9. b. SS. Dionvsius, Rusticus, Eleutherius, MM., 552. 10. c. St. Francis of Borgia, Jesuit, 1572. 11. d. St. Pliicidia. V. of"Verona. 12. e. St. Maximilian, B. M., of Lorch. 13. f. St. Edward, King of England, 1066. 14. g. St. Burkhard, B„ 723. St. Callistue, Pope, M., 222. 15. a. St. Theresa, V., Founder of Ord., 1582. 16. b. St. Gallus, Abbot. St. Victor HI., P., 1088 17. c. St. Hedwige, Duchess, Widow, 1143. 18! d. St. Luke the Evangelist. 19. e. St. Peter of Alcantara, Penitent, 1562. 20. f. St. John Cantius, C. St. WendelinuR, Abt., 637. 21. g. St. Ursula and companions, Y. M., 258- St. Hilarion, Ab., 371. 22. a. St. Cordula, Y. M., 258, 23. b. St. Severin, B. of Cologne. St. John Capistran. 24. c. St.Raphael, Archangel. 25 d. SS. Crysanthus and Daria, MM., 184. 26. e. St. Evaristus, Pope, M., 109. 27. f. St. Sabina, M. in Spain. 28. g. SS. Simon and Judas Thaddeus, Ap. and MM.CALENDAR. xxix 29. a. St. Narcissus, B. of Jerusalem. 30. b. St. Eutropia, Martyr, of Alexandria 31. c. St. Wolfgang, Bishop of Ratisbon, 994. The first Sunday in October la the Feast of the Rosary, appointed 1573. 1888. NOVEMBER. 1. d. All Saints, appointed 835. 2. e. All Souls, before 995. 3. f. St. Malachy, Archbishop in Ireland, 1140. 4. g. St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, lo84. SS. Vitalis and Agricola, MM. 5. a. St. Emmeric, Royal Prince of Hungary, St. Magnus, B. 6. b. St. Leonard, Hermit. 559. 7. c. St. Engelbert, Archb., M., 1225. St. Willibrord, Apostle of Under Rhine, 739. 8. d. St. Godfrey, Bishop of Amiens, 1115. 9. e. Consecration of the Lateran Church, Rome. St. Theodore, Soldier, M., 23G. 10. f. St. Andrew Avellin, C. SS. Tryphon, Respicius, . Nympha, MM. 11. g. St. Martin of Tours, 402. 12. a St. Martin. Pope, M , 654. St. Livinus, B. 13. b. St. Stanislaus Kostka, Jesuit, 1568. St. Didacus, Franciscan, 2463. 14. c. St. Clement, M. in Thrace. 15. d. St. Leopold, Margrave in Austria, 113G. St. Eiu genius, Bishop of Toledo, M. 16. e. St. Edmund.B. of Canterbury,1241. St.Othmnr, A. 17. f. St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, (Miracle Worker), 208. St. Gertrude, V., Benedictine Order, 1292. 18. g. Consecration of Church of SS. Peter and Paul at Rome, 1626. St. Odo, Abbot. 942. 19. a. St. Elizabeth, Landgravine of Thuringia. W., 1281. St Pontianus, Pr. M. 235. 20. b. St. Benignus, B. St. Felix of Yalois, 1212. 21. c. Presentation of the B. V. Mary, appointed 1375. 22. d. St. Cecilia, V M., 224. 23. e. St. Clement, P. M., 100. 24. f. St. Chrvsogonus, M.. 303. St. John of the Cross, Carmelite Order, 1591. 25. g. St. Catharine, Virgin, M. at Alexandria, 307.XXX CALENDAR. 26. a. St. Conrad, B. at Constance. St. Peter, Pat of Alex., M., 311. 27. b. St. Basil, Bishop of Antioch, M. 28. c. St. Valerian, B. 29. d. St. Sosthenes, Disciple of St. Paul. [Ancyra, 274. 30. e. ST. Andbew, Apostle, M., 62. St. Philomena, M. at DECEMBER. 1. f. St. Eligius, Bishop at Novon, 665. 2. g, St. Paulina, M., abobt 253. St. Bibiana, V. M., 302. St. Peter Chrysologus, D. of C., about 450. 3. a. St. Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, 1552. 4. 1). St. Barbara, V. M.. 240. 5. c. St. Sabas, Abbott, 551. St. Gratus, M. 6. d. St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, 326. 7. e. St. Ambrose, Archb. of Milan, D. of C., 397. 8. f. Immaculate Conception op tixe B. V. M., de- clared 1865. St. Eucharius, Bishop of Trier, Disciple of St. Peter. 9. g. St. Leocadia, V. M. St. Georgiana, V. M., 305. 10. a. St. Melchiades, Pope, 313. 11. b. St. Damasus, Pope, 384. 10. c. St. DioDysia, M., St. Synesius, Rector, 274. 13. d. SS. Ottilia, V., Lucy, V. M., £00. 14. e. St. Nieasius, Bishop of Rheims, M. 15. f. St. Christina, -who converted the Caucasian people. 1G. g. St. Eusebius, Bishop of Yercell, 370. 17. a. St. Lazarus, Bishop of Marseilles. 1G. b. St; Theotimus, M. at Laodicca. 19. c. SS. Zosimus and Secundus, MM. CO. d. St. Theopliilus, M. at Alexandria. 21. c. St. Thomas, Aposlle, M. at Calamin. 22. f. SS. Florus and Honorntus, MM. g. St. Victoria, V. M., 251. C-l. a. Adam and Eve. St. Irmina, V. at Trier. 25. b. Nativity op our Lord Jesus Christ—Christmas Day. SS. Eugenia, V. M,, Anastasia, 303. 26. c. St. Stephen, First Martyr. 27. d. St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, about 100. 23. e. Massacre of the Innocents. St. Theophila, V. M. 29. f. St. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, M., 1170. 30. g. SS. Honorius and Companions, MM. at Alexandria. 31. a. St Sylvester, Pope, M., 335.INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER TAKEN FROM THE REVELATIONS OF SS. GERTRUDE AND MECHTILDIS. Short Introduction on the Necessity of Prayer. As the bird cannot live without air, nor the fish without water, neither can man live a truly blessed life without prayer*-. Prayer, says a holy father of the Church, is the breathing of the soul. " Even as the body is made alive by the soul, so is the life of the soul sustained by prayer. As the body cannot live without the soul, so also the soul dies and corrupts without prayer,"' says St. Chrysostom. A human being who takes no delight in prayer, who is negligent when praying, or does not pray at all, will almost of necessity fall into'sin, for the grace of God, which alone can keep him from sin, will forsake him. "God," says Sr.. Augustine, " wishes to make us participators of his grace, yet he gives it only to those who ask for it." The Lord himself assures us of this when he says: "Ask and ye shall receive.'' To which St. Theresa adds: "He who does not ask, does not receive." Then again St. Augustine writes : " He who knows not how to pray will never xxxixxxii INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. understand what it is to lead a pious life." So it is not enough merely to pray, we must also know how to pray aright. Prayer is a matter of the heart, not of the lips; it must come from the heart. Now, in point of fact, there are many persons who do not know how to pray, for which reason we place here an instruction . on prayer drawn from the writings of the saintly sisters, and add to it admonitions concerning patience in suffering and illness; also, a preparation for a good death. Christian soul! read these instructions frequently, carefully, and attentively; follow them faithfully, and assuredly you will derive much benefit therefrom for your salvation. FIRST ARTICLE. On the Advantage of Vocal Pi'ayer. Man as belonging entirely to God, and as entirely dependent on him, is under the obligation of worshipping, praising, and glorifying him as his Lord. This worship and adoration consists, indeed, principally in the heart, but as we are taught by experience that the uninstrncted Christian does not usually know what thoughts concerning God he should cherish in his inmost heart, or in what manner he should adore, praise, and honor God, therefore Christ himself, as also by the mouth of his holy Church,INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. xxxiii prescribed certain vocal prayers, by the use of which man may honor and praise God. These prayers are not merely for those who are simple of heart; they may be very useful for those who are already experienced in the ways of God, especially when they find themselves dry and distracted in prayer, for these serve to inflame the chilled heart, as straw kindles the fire, and thus they become necessary means to attain devotion; so that they who neglect vocal prayer at the time when they have no good thoughts and cannot make meditation do wrong, even commit sin, because they do not use a means given them by God himself. Even if meditation or interior prayer is much better than vocal, nevertheless, this vocal prayer is well pleasing to God, as we may see by Christ himself, who not only taught his Apostles to pray vocally, but has by revelation taught his saints vocal prayers. This is witnessed by the holy sisters Gertrude and Mechtildis, who although so much experienced in the contemplative life that they were almost daily carried out of themselves in ecstatic prayer, yet assiduously practised vocal prayer, and composed for themselves little prayers which they repeated from two to three hundred times a day. How pleasing these prayers were to God, maybe seen from the fact that at times they appeared before the face of God as fragrant roses, at times as glittering stars, or asxxxiv INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. musical instruments, giving great pleasure to liirn and to all of his dear saints, and the more devoutly they offered up a little prayer the more beautiful and lovely were all these appearances before God, as we may see in many passages of this little book. To this may be added many words of love which Christ desires to be not merely thought in our hearts, but expressed by our lips, that he may hear, as he once said to St. Gertrude, as she was repeating several of these: "As often as thou sayest such words as these, a marvellously pleasant fragrance and a prodigious joy are shed all over me," (B. iv.ch.l.) audit may be here remarked that when good thoughts come to thee when thy heart is inflamed with devotion, thou mayest then interrupt thy vocal prayer, and follow the Divine inspiration, as Christ expressly declared to St. Meclitildis in these words: 4' When I accord thee a grace quit everything in order to enjoy this without hindrance, for in that case tliou canst do nothing better or more advantageous, for when in prayer thou art reading a Psalm or other prayer which the saints liave composed on earth, then the saints are praying for thee, but when thou dost meditate on me, or converse with me, thou givest joy to all the saints and they give praise to me."INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. XXXV SECOND ARTICLE. Which Prayers Are most Pleasing to God, and of the Loi'd'a Prayer. From the foregoing article it may be clearly inferred that every prayer, be it great or little, if accompanied by the spirit of devotion, is specially pleasing to God. Be assured that not a single devout word escapes thy lips which Christ does not mark. St. Gertrude once saw in spirit that two angels, after the choir had ended their prayers, placed before the Lord two tablets, on which all the words of the Psalms and prayers which the nuns had uttered appeared in the form of beautiful pearls, which shone out with marvellous splendor and gave forth a lovely melodious tone. (B. iv. ch. 2.) Now, although every prayer devoutly addressed is good in itself, yet one may be better than the other ; and the preference is to be given to the Our Father and Hail Mary. Thence it results that when any one has offered up a prayer, an Our Father and Hail Mary are usually added, in order to indicate that as no food has a relish without bread, so no prayer without these two additions is well pleasing to God. Yet must thou ever remember to say the Our Father in union with that love with which it was sanctified by Christ in his heart, and with which his lips spake it: that is, desire through the holy Our Father to pay to God the Father asXXXVi INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. much honor, as much love, to afford him as much pleasure as Christ himself offered to him. With this intention, also, must the Hail Mary be said. As often as thou recitest the holy Our Father, take very great care to do so with all possible devotion. And this devotion will arise in the heart, with the holy reflection, that the holy Our Father consists purely of Divine words full of power and truth : for Christ, the Son of God, gave them utterance and infused into them a singular and extraordinary force. Here arises the question how the holy Our Father can profit another person or one deceased, when it is said with such intention, when no mention of others is made, or even thought of in saying it? Let this serve for a reply: It profits them when the fruit and the merits are made over to them, which proceed from the prayer. For as we afford to God a special satisfaction through the Our Father or Hail Mary, he always rewards us with a special reward; and this reward we make over to those for whom we say the Our Father. A comparison may explain this: If thou present a distinguished x^erson with a costly gift, or perform some service for him, on the understanding that he should bestow a great favor on one of thy friends, he, if he know thy object, although the name of thy friend were not mentioned, would neverthelessINSTR UCTION ON PRA TEE. XXXVli grant liim the desired boon, for the sake of the services thou hast rendered him. In like manner God acts: although in reciting th" Our Father, no name was mentioned, God knew for whom the prayer was offered, when for another than thyself thou wert desiring this or that grace. Nevertheless, when thou art praying for one or more living fellow-brethren or sisters, and comest to the words "give us this day our daily bread," then offer this petition boldly for thyself and for thy good friends, just as if thou wert saying: My God, give me and these good friends our daily bread, forgive us both or all of us our debts, etc., etc. THIRD ARTICLE. Of the Prayer in Eonor of the Bitter Passion of Jesus. After the Our Father and the Angelical Salutation, the best prayers are those in honor of the Passion of Christ. This is clear from various passages of the Revelations, especially of St. Gertrude (Book iii. ch. 40, 42.) Every Friday the sisters made a special contemplation on the Passion of Jesus, and when their strength did not suffice to lift their spirits up to God, the Saviour visited them and strengthened them. From this they learned that if any one is tepid in his devotion, he may yet be pleasing to God, inasmuch as he may not fail to renew the memory of the Passion of Jesus in his spirit.xxxviii' inbtr uction on piia yer. When on another occasion St. Gertrude was occupied with the contemplation of the Passion of Christ, she became aware that the prayers and lectures which treat of the Passion of Christ are infinitely more meritorious than any other exercise. For, as no one can handle flour without becoming white, so no one, with ever so little devotion, can think on the sufferings of the Lord, without deriving some small advantage from it: and if any one read concerning the sufferings of Jesus, he at least prepares his soul to receive the fruit thereof, so that through the diligent and frequent consideration of the sufferings of Christ he acquires more merit than by many other meditations which have not these sufferings for their object. Once the Saint asked the Lord in what way good works might be so performed that they might appear perfect in his eyes ? The Lord replied: "All that thou doest in prayer, fasting, and watching, must be done in remembrance of my Passion, or in union with it: and when thou wouldst mortify the five senses, the mortification must be offered up in union with that iove with which I mortified my senses by suffering." "Ah," cried Gertrude, teach us then, O best of masters, how we can perform a single work in remembrance of thy Passion.'' Then the Lord said to her: "In prayer, stretch out thine arms in the same manner as when on the cross I stretched them forth to my Father,INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. and this for the soul-healing of all the faithful of our holy Church." "Ah, mv God," responded the Saint: "to pray in this fashion wo should have to seek concealed places, for at the present day the people are very far removed from such practices." The Lord replied : "Prayer in concealed places by such as withdraw into solitude to pray is very pleasing to me; and when this concealment is accompanied with the arms stretched out in this fashion, it is the most costly ornament of a soul. But if any one chose, without fear of shame or contradiction, to pray publicly after this manner and fashion with outstreched arms, I should receive as much honor from this act as one who had placed a king on the throne could honor him with." (B. iv. ch. 13.) FOURTH ARTICLE. On Praising God. After the prayers in honor of the sufferings of Christ those will be best which praise and magnify God. This is amply proved by the writings of the holy fathers ; but I will only briefly state what Christ once said to St. Meclitildis : "The greatest and most important work that a man can perform is to praise God, and often to converse with God." In all Ms cares and anxieties, in every untoward circumstance of his life a man should say: "May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessedxl INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. throughout eternity;" or, "Praised be God." Thus we read in the Life of St. Gertrude, that she was always praising God, but especially when she sang the Psalms in choir or led the prayer for this choir on the festivals of our Lord and of his saints. On the evening of Christmas she repeated two hundred and twenty times the short prayer, "I adore thee and praise thee," etc., on which it seemed to her as if all her limbs were suddenly become instruments wherewith to praise and magnify the Lord. (B. iv. cli. 2.) The praise of God is, however, peculiarly excellent because in it we seek purely to advance God's honor and glory, while by our petitions we are intent on our own advantage. And of this we may be sure, that he who in his prayer never forgets to praise and magnify the most high majesty of God will not go away empty, and will obtain as great grace from God as if he petitioned for it. This appears from the words of the Psalmist: "Praising him, I will call upon my Lord, and I shall be saved from the hands of my enemies;" and from the words of the Prophet Isaias: "I will praise thee, O Lord! because thou art wroth with me,"—as if he should say: I can appease thee in no better way than by praising thee and lauding thy name. Therefore, often make use of the five songs of praise which are at the beginning of the fifth part of this book,INSTR UCTION ON PR A TER. X1 i as also of the angel's hymn of praise which follows it; by thus doing thou wilt earn for thyself a special approbation from God. FIFTH ARTICLE. Of Prayer as a Petition. Although the prayers whereby we beg for spiritual or temporal gifts belong to the lowest rank, they are nevertheless very necessary and are as such agreeable to God, for if we need anything from God, he will not give it unless we ask it of him, as St. Gregory says God desires to be prayed to, and. the angelical teacher, St. Thomas Aquinas, says that God has decreed, while time shall last, to give us nothing without prayer. Therefore, when God sends us a cross, we must immediately fall into his arms and take the sword our. of his hand by importunate entreaty. For it is certain that he often withdraws a punishment or gives a grace when we pray for it, as one is ready to give to the poor, but nevertheless does not give unless asked. At prayer itself thou must ever be entirely resigned to the holy will of God, and not pray merely because thou art in need, and in a measure compelled by thy necessities; thou must pray because God wills that thou shouldst pray, and that God will give it thee if it is suitable for thy soul. Ever unite thy prayer with the prayer of Jesus on the Mount of Olives and say: " Lord, not as IXlii INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. will, but as thou wilt." In this way thy prayer will be the sooner granted; for the more thou seekest God and his holy will, the more pleasing art thou to God. Beside this thou must have fall, firm confidence, a confidence not to be shaken, that God on every occasion can and will come to thy help and assistance. "This confidence," our Lord once said to St. Gertrude, " has such power over my goodness, that I can deny nothing to it." And when the holy sister asked: " My Lord, if confidence is so great a good that no one can possess it without thou impartest it, what shall the poor soul do who finds himself without any?" Jesus answered: "Every one can, from the testimony of Holy Writ, overcome his faint-heartedness if he will: for he can, if not from his heart, at least with his lips repeat the words of Job: 'If I am plunged into the depths of hell, thou wilt redeem me thence;' and these words: 'Even shouldst thou slay me, I will still hope in thee.'" (B. iii. cli. 7.) SIXTH ARTICLE. Why God at Times does not Grant our Petition, and Whether . in that Case we have Prayed in yam. There are many reasons why God does not grant our prayer every time we beseech him: for at times we pray for something which is not good for our soul, at times the time for granting it is not yet come ; often oar petition is rejected on account of ourINSTR UCTION ON PEA YER. x]iii sins, sometimes also for the exercise of our patience and perseverance. In short, if we do not always obtain what we ask for, some cogent reason ]ies at the bottom of the refusal. Though here must we take good heed, and firmly believe that if we do not obtain what we pray for, it by no means follows that the prayer was in vain. Our holy faith and the fathers teach that prayer, which is a good work, well pleasing to God, always merits and obtains Something from God, nay, that the smallest prayer one can utter, brings with it some reward. Even if a person is conscious of having committed mortal sin, God rewards his prayer and his good works, not indeed with eternal, but with temporal rewards, and gives him the grace of conversion. That a prayer which is not granted is notwithstanding not offered in vain may be gathered from the following occurrence : Once when the people were distressed by bad weather, and St. Gertrude and her nuns had been beseeching God to abate the evil without perceiving that any good result came from their prayers, she at length addressed the following words to God : " O my beloved, how canst thou for so long a time withstand the wishes of so many persons when I alone, unworthy as I am of thy goodness, have, from my confidence in thee, obtained favors from thy mercy of far greater importance She received this answer: "Even as it would scarcely be won-xliv INSTR ZJCTION ON PRA TER. dered at, if a father would let a son ask him a long time for a dollar, though he had agreed to give him a hundred marks in silver every time he should ask him for them : neither do you wonder if I now delay to grant your petition, because as often as you call on me for assistance by the lightest word or thought. I prepare for you eternal goods which tire worth infinitely more than a hundred marks in silver." (Ch. 30, 31.) From this, 0 Christian soul, thou canst draw heartfelt consolation, and canst gain great delight in prayer, when thou art thus able to convince thyself that no prayer, even the shortest, is without its reward, and when thou thinkest that nothing is gained then it is that thou hast gained tne most. This is manifest from the following : As St. Gertrude once asked the Lord of what use to her friends were the prayers which she offered in their behalf, as she did not see that they derived any advantage from them, the Lord enlightened her by the following comparison : When a child returns home from the palace of an emperor who has bestowed large possessions on it, and endowed it with an unlimited income, nobody can discover on the countenance of the child that it has become so rich. Therefore, do not marvel if thou dost not see that fruit of thy prayer with thy bodily eyes, which I in the order of my providence have destined to serve in a higher range. Know this, the more a perINSTB UCTION ON PR A TER. x| v son is prayed for, the happier will he (or she) be; for a true prayer never remains without profit, even if men do not know in what manner this is to be brought out." (B. iii. ch. 30. §15.) SEVENTH ARTICLE. How Necessary it is to Pray for Others and to Commend One's Self to their Prayers. When thou prayest for others, the virtue of "Love thy neighbor as thyseJf' comes into play, and a double merit is acquired, that of prayer and that of practising a virtue so dear to God. How much God values this kind of prayer, he revealed to St. Mechtildis in the words: '' When any one from brotherly love prays for a neighbor who is in need and trouble, such a prayer is very pleasing to me, but if any one, from pure love to me, prays for the whole Church, then all heaven is illumined by such a prayer as if a new light had just arisen." This is even more pointedly expressed in the Revelations of St. Gertrude. As she was once praying for several persons in various circumstances she saw a stream flowing from the heart of the Son of God, which watered richly all the neighborhood round about; and when she was praying for a person who had formerly persecuted her very much, she heard a voice say : "As it is impossible for any one to be pierced through the foot without feeling it in his heart, even so myx] vj INSTR UCTION ON PRA TER. fatherly goodness cannot behold otherwise than with the eye of mercy, one who, while sighing under the burden of her own sins, with full consciousness that they need forgiveness, nevertheless, from a holy impulse of love, does not cease to pray for the salvation of her neighbor." (B. iii. ch. 74. §1.) As the saint was once offering to God, on Holy Thursday before Communion, the wishes and desires of all the persons who had recommended themselves to her prayers, the Lord answered her : "Thou bast kindled as many flames in my heart as the number of persons for whom thou hast offered prayers." (B. iv.) From this thou may est perceive, how sorely thou art thyself in need of the mercy of God, and what a pleasing act before God is performed in praying for others. Do not fail to observe that thou sliouldst never omit recommending thyself to the prayers of others; for this is of great advantage, as is seen in the Revelations of St. Gertrude. To-wit: as this holy virgin was once praying in the night before Christmas, and for a considerable time before matins lay rapt in contemplation, she saw how they who from humility had recommended themselves to others' prayers, were led by the hand, as if surrounded by those who had prayed for them, while they were conducted straight, without any turning aside, through the splendor of the divine heart to the Lord. Those, on the other hand, who relied solelyINSTRUCTION ON PRATER. xlvji on their own prayers and desires, sometimes went astray, and wandered to other paths, or were kept back, although at last, guided by the light maintained by God, they were again placed on the right path, and conducted to God. (B. iv. ch. 1.) From this thou mayest learn how useful it is to commend thyself to others' prayers, and even should he to whose prayer thou hast sought to unite thyself not pray for thee in particular, thou wilt yet have part in his prayer, as the Lord revealed to St. Gertrude: One day, when she was praying for a certain person, she saw this person surrounded on all sides by the splendor of a heavenly light, and amidst this shining glimmer all the grace flowed out upon her which had been impetrated and which she had hoped to attain through the prayer of this holy servant of God Herewith God gave her to understand that if any one relies with firm confidence on the prayer of another, he receives the grace of God through his intercession, even though the person neglected to pray for him in especial. (B. iii. ch. 24.) Finally follows an admonition to pray for the dead : this is very meritorious and well pleasing to God, as he once revealed to St'. Gertrude: "My sweet desire," said he, "for the redemption of the suffering souls causes me to approve of everything that assists it. In this respect it is as if a prince, some of whose subjects whom he tenderly loved had been imprisoned onxlviii INSTR UCTION ON PEA TEE. account of some violation of the law, would not use the despotic power which he possessed to set them free, in order not to counteract the order of justice, but when his courtiers presented petitions in their regard, and were willing to assist them in making satisfaction, the prince listened willingly, and was ever favorably inclined to grant them grace." "When a soul is liberated by the assistance of others' prayers I feel the same joy as if I myself had been freed from captivity, and shall not fail in due time to reward the benefactor, and thereby to act as beseems my almighty power and supreme goodness." (B. v. ch. 21.) EIGHTH AETICLE. In What Manner We Shall Honor the Saints. Although all the honor which we pay to the saints, as approved servants of Grod and active doers of his will, is properly referred to God, through whose sanctifying grace they have been made participators of eternal glory, and although the bliss which they enjoy in heaven is perfect, yet the Church teaches that we in a certain manner may increase their glory and blessedness, if we pray or perform any act in their honor. They then experience a peculiar joy, because they present the honor done them to their beloved master, to promote whose greater glory constitutes the sole object of tli^ir desires. St. Gtertrude also saw that theIJSTSTR UGTICN ON PRA YER. x] jx prayers said in honor of the saints were presented to them as gifts by Christ. And we read of St. Meclitildis (B. iii. ch. 2.) that she asked a sister who was already in heaven, and who appeared to her: "Tell me, dear sister, of what advantage it is to you, if we say a prayer in your honor?" The soul replied: "I receive every word from your lips as a beautiful rose, which I carry with joy to my bridegroom." Then beneath her mantle she showed her many beautiful roses, which had a golden leaf in the middle, and said: "All prayers said voluntarily, without being of obligation, in honor of a saint, have a gold leaf in the middle, and if you say an Our Father to all the saints collectively, meaning thereby if it were possible to address each one individually, and to honor each one, it is accepted as if it were so performed. Nothing more agreeable can be done to the saints than to salute them in the sweet heart of Jesus, and offer it to them. This gives them inexpressible joy; so also is it well pleasing to them when thanks are given to God for having vouchsafed to confer so many benefits on them. For the saints can never thank God enough, and therefore rejoice when those yet on earth thank God on their account and thus assist them in paying off their debt." Saint Elizabeth once revealed to St. Gertrude how much this pleased the saints. For as on the feast of this saint, while St.1 INSTRUCTION ON PRATER Gertrude was reciting the office in her honor with the choir, her thoughts were directed to God alone, and she asked if this was pleasing to her, St. Elizabeth replied: "It is far more agreeable than any other way, for thus my wishes are gratified: and this mode is as" preferable to any other, as musical notes are to the bleating of sheep and the bellowing of cattle." (B. iv. ch. 58.) And when the holy sister, on the feast of St. Bernard, repeated two hundred and fifty times the words, "Praise the Lord, all ye nations," in thanksgiving for the graces which God had heaped upon him, these words then appeared on the clothes of the saint, in the form of small escutcheons on which were stamped the several virtues which had distinguished him in life, the splendor of which now shed their ravs on St. Gertrude, for which she fervently returned thanks to God. From this can be seen in what manner we may participate in the merits of the saints. NINTH ARTICLE. Of Ejaculalory Prayers, or Sighs. In preference to all other spiritual exercises and prayers which remain to be considered, ejaculations or sighs to heaven take the first place. These are sometimes termed arrows of love, because they are, as it were, shot towards heaven and reach the heart of God. These short sighs or ejaculations haveINSTRUCTION ON PRATER. lj their origin in the love of God, and place tlxeii' aim in becoming united with him. They are, as St. Bonaventure teaches, sighs forced from the interior of a soul which is languishing for God. They are also termed darts of grace, because these desires and sighs, according to the holy fathers, lift the soul to God, and are sent in a moment, piercing the clouds like arrows. There are many kinds of these darts or ejaculations, according as they are prompted by contrition, love, resignation, humility, thanksgiving, or other emotion of the soul; such for example are: "O my God, that I had never sinned!" "Lord, never let me sin again!" "Better die than sin!" " Thanks be to thee, O Lord, for all thy goodness!" "Lord! I am wholly thine, do with me as thou will" "Make me what thou wouldst have me to be!" " Not my will be done, but thine! " " What have I in heaven but thee, what do I love on earth besides thee ?" " Lord, all from love to thee!" "Lord, I am poor and miserable, come to my aid! " No such sigh, no such ejaculation is uttered in vain; such a prayer obtains every time a new grace for the one who prays, as Christ revealed to St. Mechtildis when he spoke to her one day in this manner: " Ejaculations are so powerful, that no one can sigh for me without coming nearer to me than he was before, for the desire arising from love tolii INSTR UCTION ON PRA YER. me effects three things: lsr. It strenglitens the soul, as a delightful perfume strengthens and refreshes a man. 2d. It enlightens the soul, as the sun does a dark place. 3d. It makes all things so sweet to that soul that all that she does or suffers becomes more pleasing and more lovely. But sighing over one's sins from true contrition and regret, obtains the grace of atonement and leaves the conscience pure and tranquil." (B. iv. ch. 49.) Another time he spoke to her: '•As often as thou sighest after me, thou dost attract me to thyself. Nothing, be it ever so little, can be obtained through the sheer exercise of the will, excepting that when a man heartily repents of his sins, and by his will sends up mere sighs to me, I will come to him." To these words Christ added: "If a single sigh is so excellent, and God so easily pleased, how can a man continue to be sad ?" Another time it was revealed to this holy sister that God had more joy from even a short prayer and petition from a man than in the hymns of praise sung by the angels. From this, the great value attached to these ejaculations is manifest. Therefore, accustom thyself, wherever thou art at work, or whithersoever thou goest, to lift up thy heart to God, and by some such short sigh to express love and desire towards him ; thus in a short time thy heart will be inflamed byINSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. ]ijj still greater love, and in the end be changed altogether. TENTH ARTICLE. On Distractions in Prayer. The saints teach that distractions arise from three causes or roots. 1st. They maybe occasioned by our own negligence or indolence ; namely, from our allowing ourselves during the day to be so overburdened with affairs that we forget to keep watch over our hearts and to collect our senses. 2d. They may be temptations of the devil, for he knows that all good comes to us by means of prayer. 3d. They sometimes, often even, occur without blame to us, being the consequence of the weakness and frailty of our nature. For our imagination is so much corrupted by sin that we can scarcely say an Our Father without the intrusion of other thoughts foreign to the subject; this St. Bernard experienced and wept over sadly. But let distractions arise whence they may, they will not hurt us so long as they are against our will and distasteful to us. For example, we begin to pray, but meantime other thoughts beset us and interrupt our prayer; so long as these are not noticed, the prayer is good and meritorious in proportion as the will and intention, before beginning to pray, firmly proposed to pray devoutly. If, on the other hand, we become aware of these distracting thoughts, andliv INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. strive to drive them away, we exercise a virtue, and our prayer becomes also a spiritual combat. Even when the thoughts recur again and again, and cannot he banished, we may yet rest assured that this distracted prayer is as pleasing to God and as meritorious for us as it: we hacl prayed ever so devoutly. For Christ once said to St. Mechtildis: " If a man praises God, prays, or offers up anything in his honor while feeling reluctance in doing so, it is still pleasing and satisfactory to God, who often accepts such devotion the more gladly, as lie wishes to put the fidelity of loving souls to the proof." God looks more to our fidelity than to our devotion. But if, on the contrary, distracting thoughts intrude, and we are aware of them, yet do not drive them away, either from being too lazy or because we take pleasure in them, then these thoughts are a venial, if not a mortal sin. From this it is evident that distractions in prayer are not always sins, sometimes even they are occasions of grace. But it is necessary, on entering a church, not to begin to pray immediately; after saluting God in his own house with all possible reverence, a e^ood intention must be formed, which may be (lone in words somewhat like the following: My beloved Lord and God ! I am come into this holy place to glorify and worship thee! and this I desire to do as devoutly asIN8TB JJGTION ON PRA 7ER. lv the angels praise and adore thee in heaven. I propose to admit no wandering thoughts : but should they come to me against my will I will cast them from me, and not listen to them. Oh, my dear holy angel guardian ! keep my heart and mind from all distractions and assist me that I may perform this holy work to the satisfaction of God. ELEVENTH ARTICLE. What to Do when Distractions Occur During Prayer. As soon as you become aware that your thoughts are wandering, humble yourself before God, acknowledge your weakness, awaken repentance for the distraction, cast it away, and make a new resolution to pray devoutly; then continue your prayer as well as you can, and repeat the above as often as a new distraction occurs. If, however, the distractions become too overpowering, use the means Christ taught to St. Gertrude : As she was once thinking of saying her office in the choir with all devotion, and, from human weakness, felt herself hindered in doing so, she became sorrowful and said to herself: " What will be the end of this, when such inconstancy pervades all my endeavors ?" Then our Lord appeared to her, offered her his heart, in the form of a burning lamp, and said: "See, my sweetheart, I am holding before the eyes of thy mind the work of the Holy Trinity, who is worthy ofIvi INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. all worship throughout all time. Through this heart shalt thou make good every failing, which of thyself tliou canst not mend. In this way all thy works shall appear good and perfect before me. Even as a good friend is every ready to obey the call of a friend in need, so from this time forward my heart will be ever with thee, to compensate for all thy shortcomings at every hour." Astonished at such unheard-of condescension of the Lord, she believed it was not fitting that this most high and worthy heart should deign to present itself to her as one friend to another. But the Lord kindly rebuked her distrust and encouraged her by the following similitude : "If thou who art gifted with a elear and pleasant voice hadst a great desire to sing, and a singer stood by thy side who had such a rough, unmelodious voice that she could not utter a pleasing tone, wouldst thou not be vexed if she did not ask thee to sing for her what she could not sing for herself? In like manner, my heart, knowing the weakness and inconstancy of human nature, greatly desires that thou shouldst ask, if not with words, yet with a gesture, that it should fulfil and perfect for thee what thou canst not do or make perfect for thyself. For as by virtue of its almighty power it is easy for it to do this, so by reason of the indwelling love, it is desirous and willing to assist thee." (B. iii. ch. 25.) What a cheering, con-INSTRUCTION ON PRAYER. Ivii soling answer! Therefore, whenever against thy will thou art distracted in prayer, say these humble words : " My beloved Jesus ! I am heartily sorry that I pray so negligently ; but as I cannot of myself offer this prayer as I ought, I make it over to thy most sweet heart, that it may graciously compensate for all I fail to do." Speak these words as often as thou art distracted in prayer, and trust the infinite goodness of Christ, which certainly will atone for everything. Finally, a powerful remedy for distractions in prayer is to be found in the reflection how sorely thou needest prayer to obtain the help of God. Therefore, betake thyself to prayer with the feelings of a poor beggar, and say with David: "Lord, I am poor and miserable, help me !" Then .Jesus will assuredly come to thine assistance, and accept most graciously thy prayer, poor and weak though it may be. TWELFTH ARTICLE. With What Intention Prayer Should Be Offered. Everything depends on the intention or object with which we perform all our works or justify our omissions. The worth of every transaction depends on the intention or object. If the intention be good and well pleasing to God, a work indifferent in itself, if it contains nothing bad or sinful, becomes thereby good and pleasing to God.1 viii INSTR UOTION ON PRA TER. j If the intention or object is bad or displeasing to God, then a work good in itseJf becomes bad and displeasing to God. But, with respect to good intentions, a distinction exists, as, for example: The intention is good, when for the love of God we do anything that lie may bless us in this life, and preserve us from misfortune; it is better, when we do it to be protected from falling into hell; still better, when done to obtain forgiveness of sins, and the reward of heaven ; but that intention is best when an act is performed purely from love of God, solely with the view to please him and to fulfil his holy will, without looliing for reward. In this way every step we take, the smallest transaction we engage in, may be sanctified and become a good work which God will not let go unrewarded. Therefore, when thou prayest, have a good intention, and propose to thyself beforehand to pray solely from the love of God, and to advance his honor. Of how much advantage such a good intention is, may be gathered from the following revelation to St. Gertrude: She once saw Christ sitting on his throne, with St. John the Evangelist at his feet writing ; sometimes he wrote with black ink, sometimes with gold, sometimes he dipped his pen in the wound of the side of Jesus, and formed rose-colored letters. Then Gertrude became aware that that which was writtenINSTIi UCTION ON PRA YER. }vix in ink were works that were performed from habit, or for one's own advantage ; that with "blood signified the works done in honor ot' the Passion of Jesus ; and that with gold recorded acts done out of pure love of God, and for the sanctification of the Church. For if any one foregoes his own will, renounces his own merits, and thus performs all his works from love to God, they are inscribed in golden letters, and do not remain unrewarded ; for precisely these works increase the sanctity ot the soul in overflowing measure. From this may be seen what a great difference exists with regard to intention. Therefore, use diligence and care in giving to every act performed a good, upright intention. Never seek thine own advantage ; for the greater the reward that thou seekest in regard to thy works, Ihe less wilt thou receive : but the less that thou dwellest on thine own advantage, the more wilt thou obtain. Think in this manner: "If my work pleases God. and he is satisfied, then I am content, even if it does not bring me a cent. I offer to him all the merit of it ; he may dispose of it to whom he will." St. Gertrude knew this well, and therefore as on Christmas Eve she was saying the Miserere with great devotion, and offered her share thereof freely to her divine bridegroom to his eternal honor, and that he might dispose of it according to his pleasure, Jesus took] x INSTR UGTION ON PR A YKR. the prayer from her in the form of a brilliant, costly pearl, and placed it in the ornament he wore on his breast, which was glittering with valuable jewels, thereby demonstrating how pleasing to him this prayer wras. (B. iv. ch. 2.) Do thou likewise, thou wilt never repent it. THIRTEENTH ARTICLE.. With What Fervent Zeal We Must Pray. In prayer much depends on having always an ardent desire to offer it up with all possible devotion. For God does not regard so much what thou prayest as the manner and way in which it is done. Therefore, when thou beginnest thy prayer, or even after this is begun, think within thyself, " Oh, that I could pray as the saints pray in heaven, or Oh, that I could so satisfy God with this prayer as he never before was satisfied." But above all, say: "Oh, that the most holy heart of Jesus would take the place of my heart, that with it I might so honor, praise, and glorify God, as this heart praised and glorified God on earth !" Then represent to thyself this heart really taking the place of thy heart, and that thou wouldst desire to perform thy prayer with the same devotion, assist at Mass with the same reverence, receive Holy Communion with the same fervor as only the heart of Jesus could do. Be assured, a work done after such a manner, is more than usuallyINSTR UCTION ON PR A YER. pleasing to God, for a simple wish in spiritual things with a pure intention is accepted by God as if the work were really done. To confirm this, I will cite the very words of Christ himself, which he once spake to St. Gertrude, >vhen on Christmas Eve, as she was assisting at the Holy Mass which begins with these words : ''Come, 0 Lord, and show us the light of thy countenance," and was devoutly praying for those who had recommended themselves to her prayers, he said to her: "I have given to each one of these a reed of pure gold, through which they may draw from my divine heart every good thing they desire." Then the saint knew that this mysterious channel was no other than the good will by which men can obtain every spiritual blessing from heaven. Thus, for example, when a person inflamed by holy and chaste desires, takes pains to praise, honor, and thank God, and serve him as faithfully as some saints have done, God's infinite goodness looks on this good will as a work done for him. These reeds will shine like gold, when one thanks God in that he has vouchsafed him so noble and exalted a will, whereby he can acquire immeasurably greater advantages than by all the forces of the universe together. (B. ii. ch 30. ch 51.) These are the express words of the revelation to the saint, from which to our consolation we may see what a noble will mankind possesses, by which, we may merit immea6ur-Ixii INSTRITCTIOW ON PRA TER. able treasures. Therefore, we may say with truth that in spiritual things we have great power, and in fact are, before God, in possession of all that we desire : as Christ revealed on another occasion to St. Gertrude. On Maunday Thursday the saint was meditating on the words of the holy Gospel: "He began to wash the feet of his disciples," and s.Nie prayed the Lord, he might cleanse her from sin, by means of one of the apostles ; the Lord answered her : He himself had purified her and her sisters whom she had taught to pray that God might cleanse them from the seven kinds of evil passions. When, however, the saint lamented that while she reproved others, she was herself negligent, she received for answer : "I am satisfied with thy good will, for it is the natural effect of my goodness, to accept as work done and reward as work, all the good that a person has a perfectly good will to do, in so far as he is hindered in carrying out the fulfilment merely by frailty and impossibilities." (B. iv. ch. 25.) Thus thou seest how much depends on good will; then use these means often, for as often as thou hast good will to do a work, which from want of time or strength, thou canst not perform, God reckons it to thee as if thou hadst really achieved it, and rewards it richly. In this also we have a consoling revelation in the life of St. Gertrude. As on Good Friday the saint was asking our Lord for someWSTR UGTION ON PRA TER. lxiii particular favor, lie inquired: " What wilt thou give me for such a grace ?" The saint replied, "I possess nothing worthy of being offered to thee: but nevertheless I cherish the most intense desire, that if I had all thou hast, I would rob myself of the whole possession, to give it and myself to thee, with full liberty for thee to dispose of it at thy pleasure.'' Hereupon replied the Lord : "If thy heart is really ready so to act towards me, thou needest not doubt that I shall act in like manner towards thee, arid even so much the more generously, as I excel thee in love and goodness." (B. iv. ch. 26.) FOURTEENTH ARTICLE. Mow to Unite Our Prayers and Good Works with the Prayers and Works of Christ. It is of great spiritual profit to unite one's prayer and good works with the prayer and works of Christ, as he himself revealed to St. Mechtildis. This saint once asked him : " Tell me then, most sweet Lord Jesus, how one can turn one's work to the best account ?" The Lord replied: "All prayer of man should be offered to God my Father in union with my prayer, for then it rises agreeably to him, and becomes one with my prayer. When several sorts of spices are blended together and set on fire, a smoke ensues, the pleasant smell of which ascends to heaven: so also, when prayer is blended with mine, it like the sweetest in-lxiV INSTR UCTION ON PRA TER. cense ascends to heaven. Every prayer, in fact, pierces heaven, but if not so blended with mine, it is not so agreeable to God, and is not so well accepted by him. Therefore, every labor, every work should be wrought in union with my labor and my works. They are ennobled thereby, as copper melted with gold loses its trivial value and attains to something of the value of gold, or as a drop of water poured into wine is itself changed into wine. In this manner the works of men are improved and ennobled by mine." (B. i. ch. 14.) From this thou ma yes t know how advantageous it is to unite thy works to those of the Lord. Therefore, when thou prayest, say : " Dearest Jesus ! in union with the love and devotion with which thou didst pray, I will now pray." When thou art about to eat, say : "Dearest Jesus! in union with the love with which thougavest me this food, and with which at one time thou didst thyself partake of food upon the earth, will I also now partake of this." When thou art at work, say : " Dearest Jesus ! in union with the love with which thou didst labor on earth, I will now perform this labor: to thine eternal honor, and for the salvation of the whole Church. I recommend this work to thee, that thou mayest guide it according to thy holy will, and'lead it to its completion."IJS'STIi L'CTION ON PRA TER. ] xV When tliou art before the Blessed Sacrament, sa y : " I adore thee, O most holy Sacrament, in union with the love with which thou, my divine Saviour, didst adore thy heavenly Father, and glorify him." When thou deniest thyself anything, say : "Most benevolent Jesus! in union with the love with which thou didst mortify thy live senses, I will perform this act of self-denial." When thou hast anything to suffer, say : "Most beneficent Jesus! in union with the love with which thou didst undergo so much shame and so many pains, I will now take this cross upon myself: to tlnr honor and for the salvation of thy whole Church." Begin every action by similar acts of grace, for thereby they will not only attain their highest value in the eyes of the heavenly Father, but afford him the highest satisfaction. FIFTEENTH ARTICLE. In What Way to Recommend our Prayer to the Lord Christ Another very useful way to make our prayer well pleasing to God "and meritorious for ourselves, is to make it over to Christ our Lord, that he may compensate for all defects in it. For as our heart is miserable enough and full of faults, and as everything that comes from it must appear imperfect and defective in God's sight, it is certainlyIxvi INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. good to make it over to the Lord, that he in his love may supply for what is wanting and amend it. This was Sr. Gertrude's constant practice. Therefore, once when she was rapt in contemplation on Maundy Thursday, Jesus said to her: "All thy actions are perfectly agreeable tome." The saint wondered very much at this, for she was firmly convinced that none of her actions coulcl please men, much more God, who by means of his heavenly light must discover so many imperfections imperceptible to man. But the Lord explained his meaning to her by saying : " The good and laudable practice thou liast of often recommending thy works to me, and of laying them in my hands, causes me to receive them constantly as agreeable, and I amend and make perfect all that I see defective in them, that they may please not only me, but the whole court of heaven." (B. iv. ch. 31.) See then how excellent it is always to recommend thy works to Christ, that he may amend and perfect them. This he also taught to St. Meclitildis, as she once said to l.iim : "Oh, that I had power to make heaven and earth with hell itself and all creatures bow before rhee," he replied : " Recommend it to me, that I should accomplish' it, and present all creatures to mv Father in praise and thanksgiving: for through me all imperfections in the creature must be perfected." And that she mightIN8T11UCTION ON PRA 7ER. ]xvii the better understand this, he said to her another time: "When tliou desirest to praise me, and cannot do it as thou wouldst wish to do, say : ' 0 most beneficent Jesus! I praise thee, and what 1 am unable to do, do thou supply in my behalf.' When thou desirest to have my love, say : ' O most benelicent Jesus ! I love thee, and I pray thee to supply for me what is too little in me, and offer the love of thy own heart to the Father for me.' When thou wouldst stir thyself to contrition, say: 'O-nrost beneficent Jesus ! I am heartily sorry for all my sins, and I most earnestly entreat thee to supply for me what is wanting in my contrition and offer to thy Father the suffering thou didst undergo for my sins.' Tell this," continued Jesus, "to others, that they may do the same, and if they ask it of me a thousand times a day, I will offer these to my Father for them, without wearying of them as troublesome.1' From this thou mayst see how ready and willing Christ is to atone for all shortcomings : therefore, often, when in prayer, use these or similar words: "My beloved Jesus ! I place my prayer under thy protection: and pray thee that thou wouldst offer it instead of me, and make good my failings." Proceed thus also in thy other works, and be assured that Christ will accomplish this for thee and a thousand times better than thou couldst do it for thyself.lx V iii INSTR UCTION ON PR A YER. SIXTEENTH ARTICLE. How to Offer Prayer to God. God created us for his honor. Everything we do should tend to that end. Therefore, to that honor we should offer not only-all we do, but all our acts and omissions. Very much depends on this offering. For what would it profit thee, if thou liadst earned a great deal of money and took no care of it, but threw it out upon the streets? In like manner, what would it profit thee to say many prayers without offering them to God and consigning them to his care to keep for thee ? Therefore, be mindful after concluding thy prayer to offer it every time to God and give it into his keeping, as Christ taught St. Gertrude : " Confide all thy exercises to me, that I like a careful mother may keep them for thee till the fitting time." And when she obeyed him, she saw that Christ took her prayer from her, and laid it away in his heart as in a well-guarded cabinet. Learn thou from St. Gertrude the best mode in which thou canst offer thy prayers and thy good works to God: for as she found some difficulty in accomplishing a work, she said to her heavenly Father: "Lord, I offer thee this work through the mediation of thine only begotten Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to thine eternal honor." And then she received an interior intimation that this in-INSTR UCTIOiY ON PRA TER. Ixix tention lent an extraordinary worth, to her work, and raised it above a mere common human transaction. She also became cognizant that what is offered to the Father through the Son gives him satisfaction and is dearer and more pleasing to him than aught else. (B. iii. ch. 30. 5. 14.) Another mode of offering jirayer to God is to consign it to the care of Christ for this purpose: this he himself taught St. Mech-tildis. As this saint had prayed nine Our Fathers and Hail Marys in honor of the holy angels, and had confided them to her angel guardian to present to the angels, Christ said to her: ''Confide them to me, to offer them for you, for this gives me very great pleasure. Every offering confided to me to be made-over to the saints through me. is as much ennobled and improved as copper is when dipped in melted gold, by which it is gilt and no longer appears what it was before." Follow this teaching closely, and whether thou hast performed any good action, or suffered from a cross, place it in the hands of Christ and beseech him to offer it for thee to his heavenly Father. SEVENTEENTH ARTICLE. In What Way the Merits of His Son Jesus Are to Be Offered to God. Among all the consolations we have considered up to the present time, the most consol-lxx INSTE UCTIOlf 02V MIA TEE. ing of all is the reflection that we may participate in the merits of Christ and by them pay the debts we have incurred. That thou mayst understand this correctly, know that all that Christ merited by the painful labors and sufferings he underwent during the thirty-three years of his earth-life, he has placed at the disposal of those who believe in him, so that in very sooth his merits are our property, and we, in so far as we desire to accept them, have a lawful claim to them. For as any one to whom an inheritance falls, gratefully enters into its jjos-session, so we should enter on our inheritance which is bequeathed us by Christ with thankful hearts, and this we do by a true faith in him and by leading a pious Christian life. If we have this faith and live according to its teachings, then we have part in the nerits of Christ, we can offer them to our heavenly Father, and cancel the guilt of our sins by them; by them we can also increase the joys of the saints in heaven, and we can offer them for the consolation of the souls in purgatory, to mitigate their pains. Jesus has made us a present of all his merits, therefore both are ours, what we may have merited by our good works and what he has given us. That Christ really and truly has made over to us his good works, he himself revealed in express words to St. Meclitildis ;INSTE UCTION ON PEA TEE. ]Xxi he said: " Why should not man take from me that which I am ready to give him ? I give him willingly my most holy, most innocent course of life on earth, that he may participate in its merits and make good all his own deficiencies." (B. i. ch. 21.) And as this holy sister was once afraid she could not serve God as she ought to do, the Lord said to her : " O my beloved daughter ! do not grieve, for all mine is also thine.'' On which she replied: "If all thine is also mine, then thy love is also mine, and I offer this to thee for what is wanting in myself." Jesus accepted this offering with pleasure, and said: "That is the best thing thou couldst do," as if he intended to say: " Thou canst in no way make better amends for thy shortcomings than by offering me my own perfections." Do thou likewise, soul that lovest God! and if devotion, patience, and all other virtues fail thee, and notwithstanding every exertion of thine own thou makest no progress, then offer to the Lord his devotion, his patience, all the virtues that he practised on the earth, and be assured that this compensation will be accepted as valid. And when thou recallest to mind that thou hast uselessly frittered away hours,days, weeks,and years, then excite thyself to interior contrition for thy negligence, and offer to the Lord in atonement all the hours, days, weeks, and years of his holy life on earth with all the good works performed in it.lxxii INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. That thou mayst see how much thou canst gain by such an offering, listen to what Christ once said to St. Mechtildis: " See, I give thee all my holy merits as thine own, that thou mayst offer them again to me as thine ; and if any one will do this, I give these back to him in tenfold power, yea, I will even compensate him a hundredfold in this life, and give him life everlasting as I promised." (Matt. xix. 29.) Are not these consoling words? That indeed is double interest on the merits of the Lord ; therefore, Christian ! take courage ; even when thou sighest beneath the heavy burden of sin. if thou hast made an earnest resolve to do better for the future, do not despair, run, hasten to the treasures of Christ's merits, which stand ever open, and offer to God the merits of the Passion of his Son ; in this way wilt thou regain hope and receive grace. Christ has promised this to thee and to all sinners, in the words which he addressed to St. Gertrude, as rapt in contemplation she was meditating the words, ''-He was offered because it was Ms own will." "If thou dost really believe that I should not have been offered to God, my Father, on the cross, had I not myself so willed it, then believe also, that I now desire as eagerly to offer myself to my Father for each single sinner, as I did then for the whole of mankind together. Therefore, every one, however heavily lie may be laden withJJYSTR TJCTION ON PR A TER. ]Xxii i sin, may hope forgiveness if he offers to my divine Father my sufferings and death, inasmuch as he believes that it can procure for him the gift and fruit of grace, and in as far as he is convinced that the remembrance of my sufferings, in connection with living faith and true contrition, is the most effective antidote to sin." (B. iv. ch. 25.) Besides this we may offer to God, in satisfaction for our sins, the merits of the saints, and all the good works which have ever been wrought by the holy Catholic Church. This offering is a valid one and receives its value from faith in the communion of saints. According to this belief, as long as we are in the grace of God we participate in all the good works of the members of the Church, in those of the Church triumphant in heaven as wrell as those of the Church militant on earth ; we may and can use these to promote the welfare of our souls, as an inmate of a house is permitted freely to use the utensils of the household. But especially do we take part in the merits of the saints when we rejoice in their sanctity and thank God for granting them so many graces ; this we are in many ways given to understand from the Revelations of St. Gertrude, particularly B. iv. ch. 56. As St. Gertrude in the night before the feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins heard the words sung, "Hope and crown of Virgins," she thanked God for the merits of1XX1V INSTRUCTION ON PRATER. these virgins whom she saw before his throne, an4 in doing so she threw as many rays of light upon him who sat upon the throne as was the number of special individual graces for which she had returned thanks. Then again, Gertrude saw that these rays of light streamed back into her own soul, and she thus understood that those who give God thanks for graces lavished on a saint share in that saint's merits. On this account our saint formed the liabit on the festivals of the saints of often repeating the Psalm, " Praise God all ye peoples," in order thereby to return thanks in the stead of the saint commemorated, and every time she saw that she was made to partake of his merits. Finally, in union with the merits of Jesus, thou mayst bring as an offering to God all that thou art, all that thou hast, all that thou canst achieve, in full confidence that thine offering will be accepted : this is attested by the Revelations of Sts. Bridget and Gertrude. Especially pleasing to God is such an offering when presented during the sacrifice of the Holy Mass: for as the venerable Thomis a Kempis asserts, no offering is of greater efficacy, or of higher worth, none more satisfactory to God, than the offering of one's self in union with the offering of the body of Jesus Christ at Holy Mass.MANUAL OF ST. GERTRUDE. PART I. PRAYER TO THE SAINT WHOSE FEAST IS CELEBRATED. Hail, St. N., thou fragrant flower of Paradise! through the sweetest heart of Jesru. I congratulate thee and wish thee joy of the honor shown thee to-day by God and his saints. For the increase and renewal of this I offer to God the most holy heart of Jesus; and through this same heart I beg of thee that thou wouldst pray for me, assist me at all times faithfully, and particularly at the hour of my death! Amen. MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. MORNING PRAYER. Christ said to St. Mechtildis (Revelations B. iii. ch. 16.): As soon as thou art awake in the morning, raise tliv thoughts and heart to God, through my heart, after the following manner: I praise thee, I worship thee, I salute thee, thou sweetest and most blooming- heart of2 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. Jesus Christ, thou fountain of grace which flows like honey, heart from which all the good in heaven and on earth has been poured forth, and will ever pour itself forth. I thank thee with every power of my soul, that thou hast faithfully watched over me this night, and hast praised, honored, and thanked God in my behalf. And now, my only love, I offer thee my miserable heart as a morning gift, and as'faithfully as I can command, I enclose and sink it in thy heart flowing with honey, that thou mayst. preserve it this day from all evil; infuse into it rhy divine grace, and inflame it with thy love, that it may love thee daily more and more, for all eternity. Amen. Morning Prayer to ilie Most Holy Trinity. With the most profound reverence and humility, I adore thee, salute thee, and revere thee, O most holy Trinity, and from the bottom of.my heart I return thee thanks for watching over me this night, thus granting me another day in which to serve thee, and work out my salvation. In thanksgiving I offer thee my body and my soul, all that I am, and all that I have; also I pray from the depths of my heart, that thou wouldst so order the circumstances that concern me this day and every day that all I do or leave undone may be most pleasing to thee and tend to thy "greater honor and glory. Amen.MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 3 Here recommend thyself to God, that he may preserve thee from fin: for it was revealed to St. Gertrude that he who does this, even should he unfortunately fall into sin, may by this, however, more easily obtain grace from God to lead him back to a true repentance. (Rev. B. iii. ch. 39,40.) I commend to thee, O my God, with all the sincerity of my heart, my body and soul, my understanding, memory and will, my senses and all the members of my body, and I pray thee graciously to preserve me from all sin and shame, from all bad thoughts, words, and works. I firmly propose to avoid all sin, and all .occasions of sin, and ihrougli the help of thy grace, faithfully to serve thy divine majesty, that this day may not pass without good works. Here propose (o thyself in what good works or in what virtue tliou wilt especially exercise thyself:, for even shouldst thou resolve to do a great deal of goovd, without reflecting in what manner it is to be done, thou wilt effect little. Recommendation of Self to Jesus Clwist. O most benign Jesus ! Even as thou didst commend thy spirit to thy Father on the cross, I in like manner commend myself to thy care for this day and every day, my body and soul, my thoughts, words and works, but especially my will, beseeching thee, in all humility, that thou wouldst regulate and guide this will according to thine own will, that it may not be able to rebel against thee. All the prayers and devotions which I may address to heaven to-day, I offer and commend to thy most noble heart, begging of4 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. thee that thou wouldst accept every sigh and every prayer, and so soon as it leaves my heart or my lips, place it in thy heart and offer it to thy Father to his eternal praise. I resign myself entirely to thy divine will, that thou shouldst do with me according to thy good pleasure. Amen. Another Recommendation. Christ Jesus! I commend myself to-day and throughout all time to the power of thy holy cross : I enclose myself in the depths of thy holy wounds; I sink into thy rose-colored blood; I lay myself in thy divine heart; I hide myself in the abyss of . thy fathomless mercy ; I enclose myself in the power of thine eternal Divinity and resign myself to thy fatherly care, that I may be secure from all visible and invisible enemies, from all misfortunes and all danger of soul and body, by means of this holy recommendation. Amen. Salutation to the Holy Mother of God. Ever-blessed Virgin Mary, thou my most beloved Mother, at the beginning of this day I salute thee with heart felt love and reverence and recommend myself, my body and soul, to thy maternal fidelity and to thy speciai protection to-day and at every hour, especially at the hour of my death. To thee be confided all my actions and omissions, my necessities and poverty, my life and death, that through thy holy intercessionMORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. Q and merits, all the circumstances of my life may be guided, and all my works well ordered according to tliy good pleasure and that of thy divine son. Amen. To the Holy Angel Guardian. I also salute thee, O holy guardian Angel, and return thee thanks that thou hast so faithfully watched by me this night, and praised and honored God for me. I pray thee to take care of me this day, and obtain of God for me that. I may serve him faithfully. I recommend to thee more especially my heart, that thou mayst preserve it from the evil enemy and from all sinful thoughts. I also beg of thee that thou wouldst present all I do or retrain from doing before God and offer it to him for his greater glory. Amen. Ejaculation. Christ said to St. Mechtildis: "He who when he rises in the morning utters a sigh to me and implores with his whole heart that I should during this day perfect all his works, attracts me to him so tlmt. in the same manner as the body has life from the soul, that soul receives life from me, and perfects her works in me." (B. iv. ch. 29) O Jesus! loved with the inmost love of my heart, I send forth to thee in heaven the first sigh of this day, from the very depths of my soul; and as well as I can pray, I do pray that thou 'wouldst vouchsafe to grant that all my works may be performed in thee, and be united to thy holy works, so that they may redound to the eternal praise of God the Father. Amen.6 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. Good Resolutions for Morning. O my God! That which is thy will is also my firm and earnest will, and I therefore propose this day and every day of my life to direct all my interior and exterior transactions, my prayers and devotions, my steps and movements, my going out and coming in, my eating and drinking, all my business, all my cares, all I do or leave undone, in perpetual union with the power and action of thine own divine works, and in the same manner-and intention which thou findest in thyself to desire them performed. I will therefore perform them in the same intention and perfection with which thy beloved Son Jesus Christ directed while on earth his divine and human, his inward and outer works, to thine eternal praise and to the everlasting salvation of the world. Herewith, I expressly renounce all self-will, all consolation, and all reward, and desire nothing more than thy good pleasure, humbly entreating thee that all my doings may be united and perfected in thine. That this good intention may remain effective during the day, often utter the following aspiration: My God! I still hold to the resolution taken this day in thy presence. SacHfice and Covenant with God. Almighty God! Out of love for thee, and from desire to praise thee the whole day long without ceasing, I now make thisMORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 7 covenant with thee in the presence of the whole company of heaven, that from this present hour until to-morrow, or rather for all the days of my life to come, every movement and every beat of the pulses of my heart shall be only to thy honor and glory, and between thee and me, shall only mean, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Sabaoth," which signification I will affix to it with this sign; so that henceforward thy divine majesty may recognize every such stroke as participating in every word when the Seraphim sing it in heaven. And I hereby consecrate and dedicate to thee my pulse, and every movement in my veinsandmy heart, that they may never cease day or night to praise thee, my Creator, and afford thee new proofs of thy praise, in union with those praises with which the most holy Trinity praises itself and is praised by all the angels, humbly requesting that thou wouldst graciously accept it, and permit it to be pleasing to thee. Amen. During Hie day at intervals feel thy pulse and say: Courage, my heart ; continue faithfully to praise thy God! Do not cease, be not idle, even when I am idle ; speak without ceasing the words: Holy, holy, holy is thy God, from everlasting to everlasting ! Covenant to be Recited in Prayer on the First Day of the Month. This covenant has such force that as often as thou mov-est a limb of thy body, God accepts it as if that were per-8 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS formed which is promised in the covenant, even if at a later period thou no longer beurest it in mind. Most loving God 1 I acknowledge that wliile I enjoy thy blessings at every moment of my lil'e, I ought also to thank thee and serve thee at every moment. But because from human frailty, and on account of my occupations, I am not able to do this, my will shall supply for the work. Therefore, I will make a covenant with thee* so firmly that in eternity it shall not be possible to dissolve it. In furtherance of which I bear witness before thee, O most holy Trinity, that it is my earnest intention, from this day forth to the end of this month, to serve thee most diligently with body and soul, to love thee in the most perfect manner possible, to praise, adore, and revere thee. As often as I draw breath from this hour till the end of this month, I desire to present myself to thee, body and soul, as a perfect and well-pleasing holocaust, even as Christ offered himself in his mother's womb, for the most entire fulfilling of thy most holy will. Farther, I again testify, that as often as my pulse beats this shall signify nothing else but endless thanks to thee for all the benefits which thou hast shown to me and to all creatures, or wilt show for all eternity. Thirdly, I bear witness that so often as I move my eye this shall signify that I worship thee in all humility, and reverence thee even as the nine choirs of angels and theMORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 9 whole army of thine elect adore and praise thee. Fourthly, I bear witness that so often as I move a limb of my body this shall be as much as if I offered to thee all the treasures of heaven and of earth, in the best way a mere creature can offer them. I would adore thee in such a manner, O my God, that as often as a thought arises thou shouldst accept it as if it were an exercise of compassion for the innocent death of thy beloved Son, which aroused pity, awaking sorrow in my heart for the misery he suffered. Lastly, as often as my heart beats, I would have it so understood and so offered up as if this movement of my heart came from no other cause than from the intense love it bears to thee. Yes, every motion shall be a new sigh for thee, a fresh flame of love to transpierce thy divine heart. All these intentions shall hereby be so strengthened and confirmed, that they shall never even in eternity be capable of being recalled or altered. And herewith I unite them all and place them in the most worthy heart of Jesus Christ, that by that ardor of divine lire therein burning eternally they may be inflamed, perfected, and so strengthened and sealed up by the signet of his divine kingdom, that it may never be possible they should be destroyed either by the power of the enemy or by sin. Amen.10 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. Prayer on Entering a Church. Thou Lord and God most high! I thine unworthy creature appear before the throne of thy grace in the intention to pour out my heart before thee, my Lord and my God ! and to worship thee in the best manner I am able. On this account I will begin my prayer in union with all those prayers and devotions which Christ thy beloved !Son ever addressed to thee through love, and to thy greater honor. Would that I could bestow on rliee as much honor, praise, and delight as the most blessed Virgin Mary and the most meritorious humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ have ever procured thee. Yea, were it possible, I would willingly render to thee all the praise, honor, and glory which one divine Person renders to the other in the highest manner from eternity to eternity, and in this act I would willingly continue forever. But because my heart is so lukewarm and powerless to effect this, I will rather make use of the strength of the heart of Jesus Christ, and do it in his name, in the name of all the saints, together with that of all angels and men: not for my own advantage or consolation,' but because it is agreeable and well-pleasing to thee. Therefore, I beseech thee, impart tome tliv holy grace, to preserve me from all my negligence and distraction, and thus I begin in the name of Jesus and Mary. Amen.MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. H Means to Banish Distractions. When thou art distracted at prayer, recommend thyself to the heart of Jesus, that he may supply for thy default. The Lord once appeared to St. Gertrude, when she was mueh distracted in prayer, and with his own hands presented his heart to her, saying: Look, I am holding my heart before the eyes of thy spirit; commit to its care every work thou thyself canst but imperfectly perform: my heart will so truly make good what is deficient in thee, that what thou dost will become absolutely perfect in my eyes. (B. iii. ch. 25 ) Prayer before Reciting the Office. Christ himself taught this prayer to St. Mechtildis, and told her that by uniting this prayer to her daily office, that office would become one with her devotional exercises. (B. iii. ch. 32.) 0])en my mouth, OLord. to bless thy holy name: cleanse my heart. from till vain, evil, and distracting thoughts; enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, that I may worthily recite this office with attention and devotion, and may deserve to be heard in the presence of thy divine majesty, through Christ onr Lord. Amen. O Lord, in union with that divine intention with which thou didst praise God on earth, I offer to thee these hours. Acoustom thyself to pronounce the "Gloria Patri," Glory be to the Father, etc., with great devotion. "Honor, solit. sup. Psalm " relates that a religious who had recited his office negligently appeared after death to another religious, who asked him how he had expiated said negligence. and received this answer: it had been expiated already by his having ever pronounced the " Gloria Patri," etc., with great reverence. The SacrosanctoB. For remission of negligences committed in saying the office, composed by Pope Leo X.12 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. To the most holy and undivided Trinity,[to the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, to the spotless maternity of the most blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, and to the whole assembly of the saints, be everlasting praise, honor, power^ and glory from every creature, and to us forgiveness of our sins, for ever and ever. Amen. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father, and blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary. Ejaculation after the Office. St. Meclitildis was once praying for a person who had complained to her that he was often distracted in saying his office. The Lord replied that he should constantly utter the following ejaculation after his office, adding that if he could not do this alter each separate office, he might recite it seven times a day at his convenience. (B. iii. ch. 33.) O God, be merciful to me, a poor sinner! 0 benignant and compassionate Lamb of God, have mercy on me and supply for me wlia"" was wanting on my part in this office. Prayer after the Office. Most bountiful Jesus! I offer and commend to thy heart flowing with honey this tepid prayer, full of distractions, that thou mayst improve and perfect it and offer it to thy heavenly Father in union with that most perfect attention with which while on earth thou didst thyself praise and worship him. Amen.MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 13 Prayer before Reciting the Rosary. Most blessed Virgin Mary! I thy faithful client venture before thy virginal presence, and will now with all possible devotion recite thy holy Rosary; to renew for thee through the Hail Marys, with which God saluted thee, thy priceless joys; and I desire with my whole heart, by this devotion, to show thee as much reverence as the Archangel Gabriel paid thee when at God's behest he greeted thee with this heavenly salutation; yea, if it were possible, I would by this devotion honor and exalt thee as greatly as the most holy Trinity exalted thee, setting thee above all creatures, when by this salutation thou wert adored as Mother of God. 1 unite this my prayer with the prayer of all those who ever said a devout Hail Mary, I salute and praise thee with the love of all, and all( the Hail Marys which I say myself I would offer to thee as the most precious roses of Paradise of the sweetest fragrance, to adorn thy virgin head, that thou mayst have greater dignity than all the saints in heaven. May God bestow his grace and his holy blessing to that end. Amen. Prayer after the Rosary. Most bountiful Lord Jesus Christ! This rosary which I have just said, in thine honor and that of thy most worthy Mother, I commend to thy sweet heart, that in that heart it may become better and more perfect, and14 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. that with thy holy hands a crown of roses may be woven for thy blessed Mother, to be placed on her head to her greater honor, and that all the filial love which thou hast ever shown her, here on earth or in heaven, may again be hers, that her heart may be filled with heavenly sweetness. Amen. Prayer on Leaving Church. Most benevolent Jesus! I thank thee from my "heart for all the graces tliou hast bestowed on me in this church ; and as I must now go, I offer to thee as my truest friend, all the prayers, devotions, and good works which I have now laid before thee, humbly beseeching thee that thou wouldst place them in thy holy heart to make good and supply for everything wherein I have failed ; also that thou mayst unite these with thine own prayers and those of all the saints, and now and ever, but particularly at the hour of my death, present and offer them to the greater honor of the most holy Trinity and for the remission of my sins through thy most worthy heart. Finally, I beseech thee to bestow on me thy holy blessing, to preserve me from all sin, and to keep my heart, which I enclose in thy holy heart, and confide to thy keeping, in thy love and in devotion to thee, that my every movement may tend to thy greater honor. Amen. On Taking Holy Water, say : Through the sprinkling of thy preciousMORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 15 blood, 0 beneficent Jesus, and by the power of thy bitter Passion, wash my soul from all my sins, and preserve me from all attacks of the enemy. Amen. In the name of the Father, etc. When the Clock Strikes. This prayer is of great power, for through it everything thou doest during the hour becomes pleasing lo God and meritorious for thee; therefore, learn it by heart, and recite it fervently every hour. Most beneficent Jesus! I commend all my doings of this past hour to thy sweetest heart and to the eternal praise of thy heavenly Father, and I propose that everything I shall do during this next hour shall be done solely out of love for thee and in union with all thy holy actions. Amen. EVENING PRAYER. Thanksgiving for Benefits Received. All hail, thou salvation and light of mv soul, all-beneficent God! May all tilings unite with me, to praise thee and retnrn thee thanks. May everything within the circumference of the heavens, on the surface of the earth, or in the depths of ocean, praise and bless thee for the innumerable blessings which to-day and every day thou hast showered on my body and soul, and for which I thank thee myself from the bottom of my heart. But because thy gifts16 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. are so many that I cannot count one in a thousand of them, I transfer my thanks to the immeasurable gratitude through which to thee, most holy Trinity, out of thee, through thee, and in thee, every debt is jjaid ; and uniting myself, who am but a small grain of earthly dust to this, I offer thee through thine only and dear Son, in the Holy Spirit, all the praise and thanks which it is possible for me to give, and which thou art worthy to receive. Here examine thy conscience as to what evil thou hast done, what good neglected during the day; then excite thyself to contrition, ;ind with heartfelt sorrow, ulter this powerful prayer composed by St. Gertrude, and often recited by her. (B. ii. ch. 18.) Contrition and Sorrow for Sin. In the bitterness of the Passion of thy beloved Son, O most kind Father, I bewail before thee the evil I have done, and the great unfaithfulness I have been guilty of this day in having served thee so negligen tly, thought of thee so little, and so often offended thee, my God, by my sins. On this account, I accuse myself before thee, and with contrite heart strike my breast and say with the Publican : Lord, be merciful to me a sinner, for I confess that I have done wrong and have offended thee, my dear God. In satisfaction of these and all my sins, I offer thee the many sufferings of thy dear Son, and the burning tears which he shed for our salvation, and beseech thee throughMORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 17 the same love which caused thy fatherly benignity to allow thy beloved Son to be reckoned among sinners, and adjudged to death, that as I offer this prayer in union with the bloody sweat of thy Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit, thou wonldst graciously grant me forgiveness of my sins. Amen. Three Prayers Concerning Neglect of Duly, Tavghtby Christ to St. Mechtildis. {Rev. B. Hi. ch. 8.) 1. Praise the Lord, all ye heathen, praise the Lord, all ye people. For bis mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Heavenly Father! I offer to thee thy dear Son, together with all the good works which he performed on earth, and beseech thee for his sake to forgive me whatever of good I have neglected to perform. Amen. 2. Praise the Lord, etc., as above. Heavenly Eather! I offer to thee thy dear Son, together with the burning love with which he performed every action, and beseech thee for his sake that thou wouldst forgive me the negligence which I have been guilty of in the good works I have undertaken. Amen. 3. Praise the Lord, etc., as above. Heavenly Father! I offer to thee thy dear18 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. Son, together with all his sufferings, which he underwent in the thirty-tliree years he dwelt on earth, but particularly on Mount Calvary, and I beseech thee that for his sake thou wouldst pardon me for whatever I have sinned against thee. Amen. Recommendation to the Mother of God. Ever-blessed Virgin Mary! I commend myself this night, my body and soul, to thy motherly tenderness, to thy special protection, to the bosom of thy mercy, that thou wouldst watch over me with the same motherly care with which thou didst tend the infant Jesus, thy beloved child, that thus I may be free from all snares of the evil one and remain in safety. Amen. Recommendation to the Heart of Jesus. O sweetest heart of Jesus Christ, soft resting-place of loving souls, I commend to thee this night my heart, my soul, my body, that thou mayst preserve them from all impure temptations and the snares of the enemy. O honey-sweet heart of Jesus, thou sweet-sounding totie of the liolv Trinitv, I beseech thee, as I cannot praise"God during the night, that thou wouldst do it for me; and as often as my heart beats this night, so many thousand times do thou instead of me praise and glorify the holy Trinity; so that at each breath I draw, these praises may be accepted and received through thee. Now call the stars 0/ Leaven to praise God.MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. 19 Ye beautiful, brightly shining stars of heaven, who joyfully shine for your God throughout all time, I pray you as I must sleep and yet desire not to discontinue to praise my God, that you this night would praise him in my stead. Sing joyfully before him through this night, praise and glorify my heavenly bridegroom, saying: "May the eternal God live and reign, may he be for all eternity the only one glorified and praised as the All-Holy: may he alone be worshipped as the one worthy to receive honor, service, and adoration." And thou, O most merciful God, despise not this my desire, but permit this yearning of my heart to praise thee to be well-pleasing in thy sight. Look upon the glittering stars and think of them as if I had so many tongues as these are to sing the praises of thy majesty throughout the night. Look on these fiery constellations and consider them so many hearts to burn before thee in my stead, and consume themselves in thy love, not during this night alone, but for all eternity. Amen. Recommendation to the Blessed Virgin, etc. To thy maternal tenderness and thine es: pecial protection I commend myself this night, O ever blessed Virgin Mary! and pray thee to defend me from the snares of the enemy. O my dear holy guardian angel, and thou my holy patron ! guard me and watch over20 MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS. me this night. While I sleep do yon incessantly praise God and vouchsafe me your blessing, that I also may worship him in all humility. Amen. Prayer on Lying Down to Sleep. Now, my most beloved Jesus ! I will lay myself down with thy holy blessing, and permit my body to take this rest, in union with that love with which thou when upon earth permitted thy humanity to use it, to the glory of thy Father and the salvation of the human race. With the same intention with which thou didst sleep, will I also sleep, to thine eternal glory and the strengthening of my body. As often as my pulse beats this night, so many thousand times may thy saints in heaven praise and worship thee in my name ; and as often as I breathe may all the nine choirs of angels praise and glorify tliee in my name, saying : Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Sabaoth. Amen. Then sign thy forehead with the four letters, I. N. R I., and say: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, preserve me from untimely death. In the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.MANUAL OF ST. GERTRUDE. PART II. INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. There never yet existed on this earth any nation who, however rough, uncouth, and wild the people might be, did not believe in a Supreme Being, and that this Being was to be honored and worshipped. In like manner, we find among all peoples the belief that this Supreme Being was at some time 01 other offended by his creature, Man, and must, there Core, be propitiated. In this belief sacrifices had their origin. Men felt that they owed the deepest reverence to God Most High ; that they were dependent on him, and under the obligation of returning thanks to him for all his gifts, and that they must be reconciled and reunited to him in order to be happy. In order to express this innate feeling, men offered sacrifices, either the fruits of the field or beasts which they slaughtered and burnt; nay, in the course of time men went so far, that while they 2122 INSTRUCTION ON TEE MASS. forgot their Creator and adored creatures, they slew men to offer them in sacrifice. To this instinct of nature inducing them ;to offer sacrifice, God adapted a special law. He commanded the Jews, his chosen people, that they should offer sacrifice to him, and through his servant Moses established closely the manner and way in which it should be done. But these sacrifices were not sufficient to satisfy the infinite, eternal God, to glorify and propitiate him: they were types ojily, and as types referred to that sole and true Sacrifice, which in the fulness of time was offered, and which alone possessed the power worthily to glorify the majesty of God and to reconcile him with mankind. This, the only true, valid Sacrifice worthy to be presented to God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offered up upon the cross. On the cross Jesus restored to God the honor of which he had been robbed, paid with his blood the debt of sin, and reconciled God with man. On Mount Calvary the Son of God offered himself once on the cross; but it was his will that this his sacrifice should continue, that the merits of the Crucifixion should be appropriated by all men, in order that all men might have a means worthily to adore the majesty of God, worthily to thank him for all his graces: one which should be able to appease him for all daily offences, and one that might be offered at all places throughout the world.INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. 23 By the mouth of his prophet Malachias God had already prophesied that this sacrifice should be offered up forever: "From the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and *there is offered to my name a clean oblation" (Malach. i. 11), and by the mouth of David he speaks to the Redeemer in these words : "Thou art a priest l'orever, after the order of Melchisedech." (Ps. cix. 4.) Mel-chisedech was a priest of the Most High in the ancient covenant, who offered up bread and wine: Jesus is by God himself styled a priest forever after the order of Melchisedech. Therefore we must infer that his sacrifice will endure forever. But that which in the Old Testament was prophesied of this everlasting sacrifice, Christ himself ratified with plain, distinct words. For on the evening before he suffered, at the time when tlie Jews slaughtered the paschal lamb, which was a type of the Saviour dying on a cross, Jesus took bread in his holy hands, blessed it, and said: "This is my body which is given for you." Likewise lie took the cup with wine, and said : " This is the chalice of the new testa-■ ment in my blood, which is shed for you and for many ; do this in remembrance of me." With these words he instituted a new sacrifice, and commanded that this sacrifice, which is no other than the show24 INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. ing forth and renewing of the bloody Sacrifice of the Cross, should be from that time forth repeated. He appointed the apostles priests, by whose hands he, as the eternal High Priest, would forever renew the sacrifice. This new, unbloody sacrifice, which Christ instituted at the Last Sapper, is now the holy sacrifice of the Mass, through which we are reconciled to God, and which is the most worthy way to give thanks to God and adore him, as also the most effective way to obtain the grace for which we petition. Therefore, the holy sacrifice of the Mass is alike a real offering of atonement and an offering of prayer and thanksgiving. Through the oblation of his body and blood Jesus reconciles us to his Father, and obtains for us the remission of our sins; he thanks God for us on account of all the gifts and graces vouchsafed to us ; he glorifies his heavenly Father for us, and prays for all the graces necessary to our salvation. From this the force and the excellence of the holy Mass may be learnt. St. Lawrence Justinian says no tongue can tell the richness of the fruits which spring from the sacrifice of holy Mass, or declare the greatness of the gifts and graces which flow therefrom. Through the Mass the sinner is reconciled to God, the righteous man becomes more perfect, misdeeds are left off, vices uprooted, virtues enlarged, merits increased, and devilish desires overcome.INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. 25 A pious man asserts that if all the works of all the saints, including those of the Mother of God, and all the martyrdoms suffered were to be offered to God to obtain a grace, the priest would sooner obtain what he desires by the holy Mass than the saints by their merits. In this way, by means of the holy Mass, Christ has communicated to us participation in all the treasures of Divine power and goodness : for every time a Mass is read, it is just as if Christ were again dying for us on the cross, and when offered for the living or the dead, it is exactly as if he offered himself up for these. From this can be comprehended the advantage gained when a mass is read for an intention or for the dead. I will now prove what an infinite joy and honor results to our Lord God from the holy sacrifice, and what a pity it is to neglect being present at the Mass without weighty reasons: "It is certain," says St. Lawrence Justinian, "that God cannot receive any higher honor than through the spotless Sacrifice of the Altar, which Christ instituted that the Church might sing the Divine praises in consummate perfection." That this may be more clearly comprehended, know that no one can worthily praise God except himself and the Manhood of Christ, the Son of God: for all the praise and honor paid him by angels and26 INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS.. men is, relatively to the majesty of God, as if a million of debts were to be paid with one cent. But the praise which Christ, the God-Man, bestowed on his Father is an infinite, incomprehensible, divine praise, because it proceeds from an infinite, divine Person, who presents it in an infinitely exalted, divine manner. Wherever Christ is, there he exalts his father, God, adores and glorifies him unceasingly, while this adoration, this glorification streams out from his being as rays from the sun. Faith teaches us that according to his human nature Christ is not present in all places, but only in heaven and in the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar; whence it follows that at holy Mass, after the consecration or transubstantiation, Christ is present in bodily form, whereas, with his humanity, he neither was present before the consecration nor could be, had not the Mass been read. The consecration or transubstantiation in the holy Mass has so great a forcfe that it absolutely places Christ there in his being, as he exists in heaven ; and the more consecrations that are jjerformed, and the greater the number of places, so many more times and at so many more places is Christ present in the body, and wherever Christ is present, there, as we have said before, he offers to his Father unceasing praise and exaltation. From this may be seen what a great honor is paid to God at every conse-INSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. 27 cration or transubstantiation of holy Mass, and what joy the heavenly Father feels when his divine Son, "in whom he is well pleased," offers himself as a victim to his honor and glory. But at this holy sacrifice Christ does not alone glorify his heavenly Father : he prays to him for us without ceasing, and by virtue of this prayer we obtain all that is needed for our salvation. In the holy sacrifice it is Jesus who prays—Jesus, the most just, the most hoty, the most exalted of beings—and he prays with all the fervor, devotion, and humility with which he prayed on earth, and particularly as he prayed on the cross. How, then, can God leave such a prayer unanswered ? And when we unite our prayer to the prayer of Jesus, shall we not thereby obtain everything we really require % Christ once said to St. Mechtildis (B. iii. ch. 15) that there never yet was so great a sinner that he did not receive grace if he asked for it when assisting at Mass. At holy Mass, Jesus yields himself as a captive into our hands, so that for his ransom we may desire from heaven all we wish for. As often, therefore, as the priest elevates Christ on the altar after the consecration, we should exclaim with St. Bona venture: " Behold! He whom the universe cannot contain is our captive, we will not let him go till he has granted our desire." And when at holy28 INSTRUCTION ON TEE MASS. Mass, our "united prayer does not obtain what we. asked, it by no means follows that our prayer is ineffective, but it is because God grants us something else that is far better for us. So St. Bernard teaches, and so also the Catholic Church. As St. Gertrude asked Jesus, "Whence comes it, that my prayer is often ineffective?" the Lord answered her: " If I who am the inscrutable wisdom, do not grant thy prayer in the manner thou desirest, I so order temporal things that they are much more useful to thee, since thou with thy human frailty canst not discern what is better— what less good." What a loss is it not then to thee that thou art so seldom at Mass I Hasten, O hasten, dear brother, dear sister, when the bell calls so distinctly, come, come, come, haste then to church, assist at the holy Mass. Here is the place where thou must knock, here must thou pray to obtain every blessing that may aid thee to attain eternal life. Manner of Hearing Mass. As often as thou goest to church to assist at Mass, reflect that thou art about to be present at the most important transaction that can take place on earth. The high, priest of the old covenant entered once a a year with fear and trembling into the holy of holies, in order to offer to God the blood of the animal sacrificed, but thou goest to the sanctuary of God and offerest him theINSTRUCTION ON THE MASS. 29 blood of his own Son. What reverence, what interior devotion should this call forth! Imagine to thyself that thou art standing on Mount Calvary and that thou seest Jesus before thee, hanging on a cross, as he is offering the paschal lamb to his heavenly Father for thee and all men. Enclose thy soul in his holy heart and offer it with his divine heart to the heavenly Father. Place on the altar with Jesus all thy sighs, all thy longings, all thy concerns, all thy cares and grievances, place them with him before the face of the Father, and ask him for grace and help through and with Jesus. If thou wouldst pray for others whom tliou lovest or for the poor souls in purgatory, lay their hearts with that of Jesus on the altar and beseech God that for bis Son's sake he would look down upon them and be gracious to them. At the consecration unite with all the angels and saints in heaven, with all the faithful on earth, and adore Jesus; offer thyself with him in thanksgiving to the praise and glory of God. Then with a contrite heart bewail thy sins, and from thine inmost soul beg God to forgive thee for Jesus' sake. When the priest gives holy Communion, excite thyself to an interior longing for Jesus, beg of him to come spiritually unto thy soul and strengthen it with his grace to life eternal. At the conclusion of the holy Mass thank30 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. God right heartily for the grace of having been permitted to assist at the august office; beg him once more for his blessing, and return home to thy work with renewed hope and courage. Thou wilt discover by experience that thou canst not assist at Mass without great benefit to thyself. DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. Prayer at the Beginning of Mass. Almighty God! I firmly believe that the sacrifice of this holy Mass affords inexpressible honor, praise, joy, and thanks to thy majesty: and that through this alone can a due, fitting, and worthy homage be rendered to this thy majesty. Therefore I rejoice from my heart, and thank thee a thousand times for thy most beloved Son, in that he hath provided such a means for us, to enable us' to praise and adore thy majesty in fitting measure. That I may contribute as much as possible to this and increase thy honor, I will now assist at this inestimable divine word, and with the greatest devotion I can command, offer up this all-holy sacrifice. Yes, were it possible that I could assist at every Mass in the whole world that is offered up to-day, I would willingly do it and bear my part in each one. But as I cannot do this, I offer themDEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. >31 all up together in union with that love with which thy Son offered himself for us on the cross. I rejoice from my heart that such a sacrifice and such praise should be offered to thee in so many thousand places, and on so many thousand altars: and if it rested with me that all these Masses should be said or not said, I would sacrifice everything in order that they should be said. And if I could change all the stones of the earth into pious priests who would say Mass with great devotion every day, I would do it in this very hour, that a fitting honor and highest praise might be rendered to thine infinite majesty. Nay, if I could only accomplish this much, by doing it, that the Masses which are now said negligently might be said with all possible devotion, I would cut my heart into as many pieces as there are indevout priests, that I might therewith inspire them with a perfect reverence and devotion to this most holy sacrament. To this end, I entreat thee, eternal Father, through the infinite satisfaction afforded thee by thy beloved Son on the cross, when, covered with blood, he offered himself to thee, that to-day throughout the world thou wouldst send thy holy spirit to every priest who is about to offer the holy sacrifice, to enlighten their hearts, inflame their love, and preserve them from all indevotion, that, they may treat thy dear Son with reverence equal to that with which in his childhood his loving Mother32 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MA8S. treated him. Finally, I beg of thee that thou wouldst purify me and all present from sin, and wash our impure souls with the rose-colored blood of thy dear Son, that we may appear quite pure in the presence of this holy sacrament; grant us also thy grace, that we should assist at these tremendous mysteries with devotion and a fitting reverence to thine eternal honor, and to the salvation of the whole Church. Amen. As from the beginning of Mass to the Offertory the priest says many prayers, thou on thy part mayst select such as are most suilable to the circumstances in which thou art placed. Prayer at the Offertory. When after the Gospel the priest uncovers the chalice and offers to God bread and wine, do tliou also spiritually approach the altar, and offer thy heart and all thy good works to the dear God as a holocaust. The following prayer is very powerful; therefore thou shouldst not lightly pass it by or omit it: Eternal, infinite God! I thy poor creature acknowledge most gratefully that from thy most loving hand I have received my body and soul and all the good things that I possess and have possessed: that I am bound not only to return thanks, but also as far as I can to repay thee. Therefore, I lay all the goodness thou hast ever shown to me, whether of soul or body, with all the merits of th\ dear Son, beside the Host on the paten, and present it to thee as a perfect offering of praise and thanksgiving, and as an agreeable incense. But as among all the gifts thou hast conferred upon me I know of noneDEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 33 better than my heart, I take this in both my hands, offer it on thy altar, and lay it in the chalice that all the prayers and blessings which are spoken over it, may also be spoken over my heart; and in like manner as the wine which is found in this chalice becomes truly, from the consecration, changed into* thy holy blood, so also may my heart be entirely converted to thy love, and so truly converted that it may be no longer mine, but thine, which thou thyself canst use after thy good pleasure. To these I add also all my crosses, what I have ever suffered in soul and body, or may hereafter suffer, in this same chalice, that it may be sanctified and become pleasing to thee, and I offer it in union with the bitter chalice which thou didst empty on the Mount of Olives for our salvation. Accept then, O heavenly Father, this my sacrifice, which I make thee in union with the bloody sacrifice which the High Priest, Jesus Christ, offered thee on the cross; and extend thy fatherly hand over it, to bless it, that it may be well pleasing to thee. Lastly, I offer and resign myself entirely to thy holy will, in union with that resignation practised by thine only Son—with the most earnest desire that thou shouldst ever act in my regard, through me, and with me in every circumstance according to thy good pleasure. And for this purpose i offer thee, the Lord of lords'and the King of kings, my body and soul: to serve to the in-:34 DEVOTIONS FOB HEARING MASS. crease of glory of thy divine majesty. Amen. At the Orate Fraires. Heavenly Father, Almighty God! accept this most holy sacrifice of thy beloved Son, our Redeemer and Saviour, from the hands of this thy priest, to whom grant thy grace and the assistance of the Holy Ghost, that he may fulfil this important charge which concerns the salvation of the whole Church, to the greater honor of thy divine majesty, to the increase of the joys of thy saints, to the advantage of the Church militant, and to the alleviation of the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen. At the Secrets. Look down, benignant Father! from the throne of thy majesty, and the height of thy heavenly dwelling-place, look down upon this sacrifice, which thy spouse, our holy mother the Church, now offers thee by the hand of the priest, and by the power of this sacrifice be merciful to our many transgressions. Behold, I thy most unworthy servant offer it to thee, my true and living God, in my own name, in the name of the whole world, and in union with the merits of thy beloved Son, and of all the treasures of the Church I offer it to thee for my innumerable sins, offences and negligences, also for all the faithful, the living and the dead, that it may be to me and to them available to salvation in life eternal. Amen.DEVOTIONS FOB HEARING MASS. 35 Prayer at tJie Preface. The holy mysteries begin here: the priest calls on the Christians here congregated to pray by the words: " Lift up your hearts to God!" Therefore do thou also raise thy heart to him who pitieth thee eternally : collect thy thoughts; in a few moments thy Redeemer and Mediator will descend upon the altar to offer himself for thee excite in thyself the most lively sentiments of adoration, humility, of love and confidence: bewail thy sins, acknowledge thy unworthiness to appeal' before the God of heaven and earth. I praise, adore, glorify, and bless thee, most loving Jesus, in union with the ineffable heavenly praise wherewith the most holy Trinity contemplates itself, and which it pours out upon the most blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and saints who incessantly adore, praise, and reverence thy most glorious majesty, on account of all the benefits which thou hast granted and dost constantly grant to all heavenly and earthly creatures, with whom I raise my voice and from my heart proclaim: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of his glory. Hosanna in the highest! Here say an Our Father for thy sins and negligences and then continue as follows: Most beneficent God! I offer thee this prayer in union with the most worthy praise with which heaven and earth and all creatures praise thee and beg thee to accept the same through Jesus Christ, through whom every sacrifice made to thee affords thee the highest satisfaction. I pray thee also that it may compensate for ail the sins and negli-36 DEVOTIONS FOB HEARING MASS. gences I have been guilty of in thy service. At the Canon. Call now to thy remembrance and represent to thyself that Christ was so painfully hanged on the cross, and that he suffered for thy sins : then with humility and thanksgiving recite the following prayer. Inscrutable G-od ! those high mysteries are now commencing which neither cherubim nor seraphim nor any of the high powers of heaven can understand, for thou alone knowest with what great love thou dost daily offer thyself upon the altar to thy Father for the salvation of the faithful. Therefore, in the most profound humility all the choirs of angels bow themselves down and adore this most holy mystery, while they see that the Lord God, who once descended from heaven to redeem mankind, now again descends and conceals himself under the unpretending forms of bread and wine. How great is thy love for human salvation, O Jesus Christ! how great thy wisdom, which invented a means so wonderful to appease thy Father and to assist the miserable. I acknowledge that I am not worthy to assist at these tremendous mysteries: therefore, I will hide myself in the most profound humility, and pour forth my sighs to thee from the bottom of my heart, awaiting thy grace. Ah! come, O my sweet Jesus, inflame with thy holy love all the cold hearts here present; come with thy most charitable liberality and enrich our poor souls; comeDEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 37 with thine eternal light and enlighten our darkened intellects; come with thy great mercy and pardon us all our sins! Amen. At the striking of the first signal say: Hail, oh, sweet Jesus! in the deepest humility I adore thee and implore thy grace. Then strike the breast three times, with the words: Jesus, be gracious to me ! . Jesus, be merciful to me ! O sweet Jesus, forgive me my sins! Contemplate the sacred host with reverence; in this form of bread behold thy God, thy Redeemer, thy greatest benefactor, who is come in order to be the blessing and nourishment of thy soul, to console thee and lead thee to eternal life. Prayer to God the Father. Oh, beneficent Father, look down from thy heavenly throne on this most holy host of the body and blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, whom I offer to thee with all the treasures of heaven and earth, in my own name and in that of all mankind, to thine eternal honor and glory, in thanksgiving for all thy benefits, to the great joy of the Mother of God and of all the saints, for the salvation and consolation of all in sorrow, sickness, and misery, for the redemption of all the poor souls in purgatory, and lastly for myself, for all spiritual and "temporal friends, relatives, and all such as have recommended themselves to my prayers. Bestow on us thy sanctifying grace and eternal life. Ainen.38 DEVOTIONS FOR BEARING MASS. When tlie signal is struck the second time, say: Hail, precious blood of Jesus Christ! with profound humility I worship thee, and beseech thee for thy grace. Here strike the breast three times while saying: O holy blood ! wash me from my sins ! all-powerful blood, efface the sentence of my well-deserved punishment! O most meritorious blood, entreat God the Father for mercy, that he may spare poor sinners! Eternal Father ! I offer to thee this holy blood for the blotting out of my sins, and of those of the whole world, and implore thee that at the hour of death thou wouldst permit one single drop to be poured on my poor soul. Amen. Prayer After the Consecration. As now the greatest treasure of grace with which heaven and earth can'bc enriched is present on the altar, and a* every one is permitted to approach it, do thou also go lliither and think thou art taking him in thy arms as Simeon did ; raise him on high, and with heartfelt devotion offer prayer to God in the following priceless, powerful manner: All-holy Father! Behold me thy poor creature, venturing to step to thy holy altar, and with the reverence due to him, to take thy dear Son into my arms ; and with such love as he himself had when he offered himself to thee, to offer unto thee his most holy soul, his divinity and humanity, together with all he did and all he suffered, during the thirty-three years he was on earth. At the same time I offer to thee all theDEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 39 merits, virtues and gifts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, as also the merits and good works of all men, with all the treasures of the Holy Catholic Church. To all these I add and offer to thee all the good that I and my spiritual friends and relatives have ever performed, and all the evil we have ever suffered. This costly offering I present to thee through thy beloved Son, in the power of the Holy Ghost, first to thine eternal honor and glory, for the recognition and adoration of thy most high Majesty and in thanksgiving for all benefits, as also for the perfect compensation of all outrages and offences by which I or other sinners have offended thee. Secondly, I bring thee the same offering in reverence of the most worthy manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of, and thanksgiving l'or, his bitter sufferings and death, as also to the great honor and joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of my saintly beloved patrons, and of all the saints, that the joy of each and every one may be renewed by this sacrifice and their blessedness increased. Thirdly, I present to thee the same sacrifice for myself, a miserable sinner, and for all my spiritual and temporal needs, for my living and deceased good friends and relatives, especially for N. N., as also for all the people who live on earth, and for all the souls who suffer in purgatory. I offer to thee in40 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. thanksgiving for all the good thou hast ever shown us, for the obtaining of all the graces we need, whether of soul or body, for the averting of such evil as would mar our eternal bliss, and for the perfect remission of sins, for the reformation of and compensation for all our negligences, omissions, and sins which we have ever been guilty of against thee. I place all these sins and negligences in thy holy chalice, that they may be washed, cleansed, and effaced by the precious blood of thy beloved Son. For the insults, however, that we have occasioned thee thereby, I offer thee all the honor and satisfaction which Jesus Christ thy Son has procured thee, through whom, with whom, and in whom, I give to thee, God the Father Almighty, in the unity and power of the Holy Spirit, all the honor and glory which thy divine wisdom can devise, and thy goodness desire. Accept this offering, 0 my God, not only for all these named together, but for each one in particular, as if I had brought each individual name before thee, that each one may enjoy as much grace, advantage, and merit from it as seemeth good to thy divine justice. Amen. At the Pater Noster. Sayan "Our Father" for the exaltation and extension of the Catholic Church, as St Gertrude and her sister St. Mechtildis were accustomed to do, which was at all times accepted by Jesus Christ with ineffable satisfaction, iv. ch. 19 ) "Our Father/' etc.DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 41 Most beneficent Jesus! I offer thee this "Our Father" in union with that absolute perfection with which it was sanctified in thy sweetest heart and spoken for our salvation—for the amendment of all sins, in atonement for all negligences whicfi were ever committed from human weakness, ignorance, or malice, against thine infinite power, thine inscrutable wisdom, and excessive goodness and mercy Amen. At the Agnus Dei. Offer Christ to God the Father, as he revealed to St. Mechtildis that he offered himself at every Mass. (B. iii, ch. 16.) O thou lamb of God, have pity on us and offer thyself for us to the heavenly Father with all thy humility and patience, in compensation for all thy virtues, in which we are deficient. O thou lamb of God, have pity on us and offer thyself for us to thy heavenly Father with all the bitterness of thy sufferings—for the complete remission of our sins! O thou lamb of God, have pity on us and offer thyself for us to thy heavenly Father, with all the love of thy divine heart, for the performance of all those good works which are wanting to us. Amen. Then pray from the devotions that are set down after the Mass prayers. At the Domine, non mm Dignus, Strike the breast three times, and say: Oh, Lord Jesus Christ! I am not worthy.42 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. to name thy holy name; but for thine own sake forgive me my sins ! Oh, Lord Jesns Christ! I am not worthy that earth should bear me ; but for thy Passion's sake remit the punishment due to my sins! • My Lord Jesus Christ! I am not worthy to be called thy creature ; but for the sake of thy blessed sacrament grant me thy grace ! Then communicate spiritually with the priest, as Christ taught St. Mechtildis to do. (B. i. cli. 9.) O sweetest Jesus! how gladly would my heart now receive communion, were I but worthy ! Ah, with what ecstasy would I now receive this holy sacrament, if I dared.' But because my many sins render me unworthy ot this honor, I beseech thee so to prepare me at this present moment, by thine all-powerful wisdom, and by thy sweetest and most benign love, that I may be worthy to receive thee at least spiritually into my soul, that thou mayst effect everything in me that thou didst decree I should do and be, to please and satisfy thee to all eternity. Amen. Ah, do not despise my misery, when like the publican I stand afar off and send up sighs to thee from the bottom of my heart, but give me some crumbs from thy holy table, as thougavesl them to the Canaanitish woman, that my poor soul may be refreshed and strengthened, that it may this day obtain thy grace, zealously to do good and withstand temptation; grant this to me, ODEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 43 loving Jesus ! through thine infinite love and mercy. Amen. After Communion. Say the following prayer, taught by Christ to St. Mech-tildis. (B. i. ch. 9 ) I praise thee, O strongest and wisest love! I proclaim thee sweetest of loves! I venerate thee, kindest love, in and for all the benefits thy glorious Godhead, thy most blessed humanity has already effected and still effects in us, and will continue to effect for all eternity through thy most noble heart Amen. Behold, heavenly Father! Ourholy mother the Church has now brought to thine altar the most worthy of all victims, the victim thou thyself hast given that it might be slain for us. Accept it with that prodigious love with which thou didst once receive thy Son, when he returned from this earth to thy kingdom, and presented to thee, his Father, all the fruits of his manhood and the glorious wounds of his body. Never, O heavenly Father! may his wounds vanish from thy sight that thou mavst ever be mindful of what great satisfaction thou hast received from him for our sins. Through the might of this unbloody sacrifice, have pity on me and on all sinners, as also on all the faithful, whether living or dead; give to us all grace, mercy, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Amen. (Mechtildis, B. iv. ch. 12.)44 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. At the Priest's Blessing Most blessed Jesus! as in this "holy. Mass thou hast with such effective power given thy blessing to the bread and wine as to change tlieni into thy body and blood, I now beseech thee give me also so powerful a blessing that the signet of thy holy benediction may remain this day impressed upon my soul, that by it I may be freed from the power of the enemjr. Amen. (Revelations of St. Mechtildis, B. i. ch 9.) At the "Verbitm Caro factum est" of the last Gospel. Christ said to St. Gertrude. " As often as any one bows ■Willi devotion at the ' Vcrbum caro factum est. and 1 hanks me for becoming man, even so often do I turn to liim, and offer to my Father the fruit of my becoming man, for the increase of that man s blessedness.' (B iv ch 3 ) I thank thee, most amiable Jesus! from the depths of my heart, that thou didst take upon thyself human nature for our salvation and didst suffer so many pains in so doing. I beseech thee that thou wouldst make me a partaker of thy merits, as also of the benefits of this holy Mass, that thy bitter passion may not be without fruit for me. Devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. This prayer is very powerful find meritorious; for it contains the noblest virtues of devotion, of praise, of faith, love, and others, in which God has a special satis faction It may be recited before or after holy communion. during holy Mass, at the feast of Corpus Cliristi or at any other time before the most holy Sacrament of the altar Hail, noble body, and most precious bloodDEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 45 of my Lord Jesus Christ, here truly present under the form of bread, I adore thee with the same devotion and fervor as the nine choirs of angels adore thee. I prostrate myself before thee and acknowledge that thou, my Lord and my God, art here truly present. Hail, all-worthy body of Jesus Christ, my redeemer, the true living sacrifice that was consummated on the trunk of the holy cross! I adore thee in the name of all creatures, and give thee thanks for the love which for our salvation thou dost here conceal. Hail. O Jesus Christ, word of the Father, bread of heaven, sweet food of angels, fountain of true blessedness, lamb of God, salvation of the world, holiest of sacrifices, by which heaven was reconciled with earth. I salute and bless thee, thou most worthy divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, hidden in this small form for the consolation of our souls 1 praise and exalt thee, I give thee glory to all eternity. I firmly believe that thou art here present, oh, my God! that thou seest me from this thy most holy sacrament, and knowest what passes in my inmost heart. I believe that under the form of bread, not only thy body and blood, but also thy divinity and humanity, are truly present. And although I do riot comprehend it, I yet believe it so firmly that I am ready to sacrifice my life in attestation of its truth. I cast myself down before thee, oh, most46 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. holy sacrament, in the deepest reverence and adoration, and with all the angels and archangels, with all governments and principalities, with all powers and thrones, with the cherubim and seraphim, proclaim: ''All praise and blessing, thousands and thousands of times, be to the most holy sacrament of the altar!" Oh, Jesus Christ! my only joy and love, look down with the eyes of mercy on me, thy miserable and sorely-distressed creature, kneeling before thee to do thee honor, and adoring thee, with my whole heart and understanding, acknowledging thee as my Grod. O noble flower of the root of Jesse, thou true, powerful prince of peace! I pray thee from the inexpressible love which in thy divinity thou cherishest for thy Father, and in thy humanity for the souls who love God, have pity on us, and offer thyself to thine eternal Father on our behalf. Treasure-elect of thy Fathers heart! Jesus, worthy of all our love! I salute and venerate thee with all the devotion possible to my soul, and give thee heartfelt thanks that thou hast established this invaluable, this consoling sacrament by which heaven and earth are rejoiced and receive the fulness of grace. Blessed be thy wisdom, 0 most sweet Jesus! by which thou didst invent so won derful a means, in a manner incomprehensible to us, to dwell with us of the humanDK VOTIOJS'S FOR HE A KING MASS 47 rnce, and to live in our hearts! Blessed be thy power which effected this inscrutable miracle that cannot be fathomed even by the angels of heaven. Praised and blessed be the immeasurable abyss of this goodness flowing with honey, which gave to us poor unworthy creatures so great a proof of surpassing love. 0 thou only true hope and securest refuge of my soul, Jesus Christ, I love tliee. I praise thee, 1 honor thee, I adore thee, and ] pray that thou wouldst now offer thyself to thy heavenly Father for my sins even as formerly thou didst offer thyself on the cross for the sins of the world. Oh, heavenly Father! I offer and present thee with this thy dear Son, who gave him self to us in the blessed sacrament, with all that this blessed sacrament contains in a manner as high as it is possible for a creature to recognize thj' highest majesty, and for an offering of praise and thanksgiving for thine ineffable glory and magnificence, which alike for thyself as for us thou preservest in the most exalted manner in this most holy sacrament of which thou makest us participators, and wilt continue to make us participators to the end of the world. 1 offer him to thee as a sacrifice of propitiation for all our sins, which we have criminally committed against thee, our God, and humbly beseech thee that in consideration of the costly satisfaction which he has48 DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. afforded thee, thou wouldst graciously cancel the sentence of punishment recorded against us. I also offer him to thee as a peace-offering for the attainment of all graces necessary for soul and bod}*-, that we may perfectly know thee, honor thee, hope in thee, love and adore tliee, serve thee, and depend on thee to the last moment of our life. Amen. Three Acts of Praise in Honor of the Most Blessed Sacrament. 1. Praised and blessed be the most holy and most meritorious sacrament of the altar with as much praise as there are stars in heaven, sparks in the lire, dust in the air, drops in the sea, or grains of sand on the earth; with as much praise as there are flowers in the spring, fruits in the summer, leaves in the autumn, flakes of snow in the winter, and creatures in heaven and on earth. For thou art worthy of such praise, O God! who art here truly hidden under the forms of bread and wine. Amen. 2. Praised and blessed be the most holy and most meritorious sacrament of the altar, with as much praise as it offered in works, as it spoke by word of mouth, as it conceived in thought, as it desired with the heart, and as it can be in any manner whatsoever laid hold of and explained by the understandings of all angels and men. For thou art worthy of such praise, O Lord! who givest us as food thy most holy flesh, and as drink thy most holy blood. Amen.DEVOTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. 49 3. Praised and blessed be the most holy and meritorious sacrament of the altar, with as much praise as the most holy Trinity can bring forth with its power, can seize with its wisdom, invent by its reason, or wish and desire by its goodness, in every way, in all places, at all times, and in eternity. For thou art worthy of such praise, O Lord, who in this holy sacrament dost give us to partake not only of thy humanity, but of thy divinity. Amen. Pope Pius Y. granted to every one one hundred days' indulgence as often as with devotion he uttered the following ejaculation: Praised and blessed be the most holy sacrament of the altarlMANUAL OF ST. GERTRUDE. PART III. CONFESSION AND PENANCE. The Lord once revealed to St. Gertrude when at prayer, that it affords him an extraordinary pleasure to see a soul penetrated by contrition, firmly resolved by means of his grace never to fall back into sin; and that his heart is filled with sweetness when a person reflects with contrition on how often and in how many ways he has drifted away from God, and then makes the firm resolution to avoid such failings for the future. She also was made aware that all those who make this firm and steadfast resolution become like a temple of God. Great, wonderfully great, is the goodness of God towards the sinner who, in good earnest, turns to him and is converted; and inexpressible is the love with which God instituted the holy sacrament of penance, by which the sinner obtains forgiveness of his sins, and remission of the eternal guilt and punishment! The holy Sacrament of 5152 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. penance is divided chiefly into three parts: 1. Contrition. 2. A full, upright and sincere confession of sins. - 3. Satisfaction. 1, Contrition. Contrition consists in an inward pain and abhorrence of the offence which has been offered to God by sin. Therefore, contrition is not a mere expression of the lips, but an emotion of the heart. It is not sufficient to say a penitential prayer. The heart must feel inward pain for and abhorrence of the sins committed, and must humble itself before God, like the prodigal son, or St. Magdalen, or the publican in the temple. God looks not on the words of the repentant sinner, but solely on the heart. Magdalen wept bitterly for her sins at the feet of Jesus, but spoke not a word, and lo ! Jesus forgave her everything, for she was sincerely contrite at heart, If thou wouldst really obtain forgiveness of thy sins, excite thyself to an inward repentance and contrition, and form the firm resolution to do better for the future, and especially to avoid those sins to which temptation most frequently beset thee. God never rejects an humble and contrite heart. 2. Confession. According to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, to contrition must be joinedCONFESSION AND PENANCE. 53 an humble, complete acknowledgment of sins before a priest, or in case one cannot confess to a priest, at least there must be the wish and desire for confession, if such is God's will; for God has given to the priest the power to forgive sins or retain them, and lie cannot exercise this power unless all sins, or at least the mortal ones, are made known to him. It seems very hard and difficult perhaps to reveal to a priest the most secret thoughts of one's soul; but we must reflect that one day the hour will come when our sins must be acknowledged before the whole world, and that if the sinner purposely conceals his sins in confession, God never forgives them, and the heart is never tranquil. On the other hand, God is well pleased when false shame is overcome and we open the state of our conscience to a priest. This he declared to St. Gertrude, as she once felt a great repugnance to confession and courageously conquered it. (B. iv. ch. 14.) Confess then with childlike simplicity, alike the number and circumstances of thy sins—conceal none, diminish the guilt of none, and thy soul will experience the sweet consolation of knowing they are forgiven. 3. Satisfaction. To the truly penitent sinner, his sins and eternal punishment are remitted by God through the absolution of the priest; but punishment is attached to sin3 and cannot bo54 CONFESSION AND PENANCE absolutely withheld ; every one feels this who is sincerely converted. God is just, therefore either God must punish the sinner, or the father confessor must punish him in God's stead, or lastly, the sinner must punish himself for the sins he has committed. This temporal punishment for sin is called penance or satisfaction. By satisfaction is usually understood the penance laid 011 the penitent by the father confessor for the sins confessed. But according to the council of Trent, such penances must be prescribed as chastise sin, improve our former lives, and preserve us from future falls. The penance which the priest gives is usually a very trifling one, and a penitent sinner will not only perform it willingly, but add other pen ances to it. and earnestly set about leading a better life. To do this, it is especially necessary daily to form a distinct resolution, to avoid and combat such sins as have become habitual, and this can only be done by constant watching and praying. Wouldst thou then, O my soul! worthily receive the sacrament of penance, and partake of its fruits, carefully observe these three points ; besides this, thou canst make use of the following prayer: Self-Accusation of the Sinner Before God. All-powerful God ! Almighty Lord ! I the least and most miserable of mankind—I the most ungrateful and reprobate of sinners,CONFESSION AND PENANCE. £5 present myself before thy majesty with an humble and contrite heart; oppressed by the sense of my sinfulness, I prostrate myself before thee, and like the penitent Magdalen, embrace and kiss thy holy feet. I weep for the many sins which I have committed against thy law and ordinances in thought, word and work, in hearing, speaking, seeing, tasting, feeling; with my memory, understanding and will, and with all the powers of my soul and of my body, whenever it might have happened, and as thou knowest me to be guilty, in many kinds of sin, and in numberless ways, whereby I despised and offended thee my truest friend. O Lord ! I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to name thy holy name. O indulgent, merciful lather ! have mercy on me, grant me thy grace. O most compassionate Saviour, who hast so firmly and kindly sworn, So true as I live, I will not the death of the sinner, but that he should be converted and live ! I pray thee through thy holy name, through the might and power of thy holy Godhead, through the ^ bitter sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, through the agony and torment he underwent on the Mount of Olives, through every drop of his precious blood, through' the power and action of the holy sacrament, and through the intercession and merits of the ever blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, that thou wouldst forgive me and56 CONFESSION AND PL NANCE. graciously remit my sins. I grieve from the bottom of my lieart, that I liave so often slighted and offended thee, my kindest friend and father. Oh, that I had riot done so ; oil, that I had never offended thee in my whole life! Oh, that J had ever truly served thee and followed thy holy inspirations ! Would that I could recall the lost time, undo that which is done, how willingly would I do it! But I now firmly propose to serve thee truly, and never more knowingly to offend thee by sin. And now, my beloved God! all sins and every sin, new and old, my own or others, mortal or venial sins, which I have ever committed, together with the sins of the living and the dead, particularly the sins of those for whom I should pray, I hide in the depths of thy holy wounds, and steep them in thy precious blood ; I throw them into the inextinguishable furnace of thy love, I sink them in the unfathomable sea of thy mercy; I enclose them in the bitterness of thy holy iiving and dying, in the inexhaustible treasure of thy virtues and merits, that they may be extinguished, consumed, destroyed, annihilated, and never more appear or be thought of in thy divine presence. Amen. Another Act of Self-Accusation. Almighty God ! Thou unfathomable ocean of mercy ! the number of my sins is greater than that of the grains of sand on the seashore;confession and penance. 57 I am not worthy to look'up to "heaven to thee.. Behold, oh my God ! thine enemy lies prostrate before thee. I am in thy hand* yule me as thou wilt, I submit to thy righteous decree. 0 what a fountain of wickedness exists in me, what a fulness of. misery! My heart is become a waste, a frightful desert, through sin. I am nothing, I can do nothing, eit'ect nothing. The spirit of pride, desire of vain honors, the lusts of the iiesh, and greed of gain rule my soul. Self-love holds me in bonds, tepidity and sloth drag me to the earth. The roots of the seven sins have planted themselves in my heart and brought forth their wretched fruit. Alas, I must confess, that there is no sin to which I am not inclined, and which I should not commit didst thou not, oh my God ! restrain me. Ah, Lord, what shall I do ? Whither shall I turn myself ? Before thy faxie I venture not to appear. I have done so much evil that I scarcely dare hope for forgiveness! But my good, kind God, where shall I find deliverance? where, but in thee? I am then compelled to come to thee, and the longer I delay, the more wretched I become. Restore me then, 0 beneficent Father, by thine infinite love, I conjure thee, restore me to thy grace. I am sorry for my sins, sorry from the bottom of m/ heart; and because even this sorrow, this contrition, is too little, I wish I had the contrition of the holy penitents, the sorrowful contrition of the holy58 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. isuffering souls of purgatory; nay, I wish I ■ could have in my heart the grief and anguish -which thy divine Son underwent on account «of sin. O my God ! I hate and abhor all my sins with the same hatred with which thou ab-.horrest and ha test sin. 0 that this hatred were as great as thou wouldst have it! But as I have not this, I offer to thee, that hatred to sin which thy .divine Son bore in his heart when he went vto his death on my account; 1 offer to thee .also all the pain he suffered on the Mount of Olives, and on the cross, and I humbly pray thee to accept these sufferings of thy Son , Jesus, in atonement for my feeble contrition, .and by the power of his pkssion to forgive .me all my misdeeds. Prayer for Forgiveness. 1 adore thee, Jesus, most gentle, most mild! Thou who for me didst hang upon the holy Cross! With anguished heart I come before thee to lament the many acts of unfaithfulness I have been guilty of towards thee, and by which I have excited thee to anger. O most kind Jesus! I acknowledge that by my sins, I was the cause of thy sufferings and death, and that my sins were the occasion of more pain anil grief to thee than the hard strokes on the cheeks and unmerciful blows dealt thee by the wicked Jews and the heathen people.CONFESSION AND PENANCE. 59 ' Therefore I confess my crimes and pray thee to forgive them. I hide my sins in thy sacred wounds, I sink them in the abyss of thy sweet mercy, and beg of thee to consume them with the lire of thy love. , What is wanting to me in worthy fruits of penance, do thou supply for, from the infinite merits of thy suffering. Purify me, 0 beneficent Jesus ! with thy holy blood, give life to my soul by thy bitter death: strengthen me by the holy faint-ness which thy heart suffered on the cross : adorn me with thy holy virtues, that I may be pleasant and agreeable in thy sight. Amen. Penitential Prayer in Order to Obtain FuU Remission of Sim from Christ. Tauler and others say : that when men are so sorry for their sius that they are ready to aceept any punishment it may please God to send them, then God is moved thr-eby to remit all punishment deserved. Pray then as follows with fervor and earnestness, and console thyself with the thought that it will be of great profit to iliee. Oh, most amiable Jesus ! most worthy of love ! I, thine unworthy creature, have in so many ways offended thy divine goodness, out of pure rashness, that thou mightest justly cast me off, pursue me as thine enemy, and without mercy punish me in hell. O my Jesus! J acknowledge that I have done evil and have acted against all reason. I am so truly sorry for it, that I would rather endure any suffering, than offend thee again. It is not on account of the frightful60 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. punishment I deserve, that I grieve, but because I have angered thee, my dear, good, great God, who throughout my life has never done me injury; therefore I grieve to have offended thy sweet heart, overflowing with honey and all sweetness, that heart whence all joy and consolation flows. I do not, I fear, lay this to heart so much as I should, yet I would desire that my sins should pain me to that degree, that my heart should burst to pieces in pain : Ah! pardon me, my most merciful Jesus ! for the sake of the love with which thou didst pray to thy Father for those who crucified thee. Lo! I am ready to compensate thee for all the injury I have done thee as far as it is in my power. I desire not that thou shouldst remit my punishment; rather will I accept this from thy divine hand, when and where it is pleasing to thee, so that it tends to the glory of thy justice. Nay, even wouldst thou not punish me, I would not accept the release ; it is too hard for me to think that for so many offences thou shouldst receive no satisfaction. Therefore I beseech thee, my beloved Jesus ! punish me and compensate thyself for the honor of which I have deprived thee; send me as much evil as I have occasioned thee, that the injury I have done thee may be remedied. I submit myself to thy righteous judgment, and will in future accept all the evil that may come to me from men or other creatures, as if it wereCONFESSION AND PENANCE. 61 sent to me from thy holy hands. Grant me the grace to accomplish this ! Amen. An Offering of Atonement or Prayer to Christ that He Would Offer Himself for Our Sins. As St. Gertrude on one occasion desired such an offering from Christ, her soul became so adorned that she became very pleasing in the sight of God. (B. iv., ch. 47.) O Christ Jesus ! As thou, the only son of the eternal Father, dost in thine infinite wisdom perceive the wants of my human frailty much more clearly and readily than I myself or any other mortal can, I therefore beseech thee to have compassion on my many weaknesses and atone thyself to thy heavenly Father for all my failings and negligences. For this, oh, sweetest Jesus ! offer to thy most holy Father the moderation of thy holy tongue, for the real reformation of and atonement of all the sins which I have committed by evil or useless discourse, or by neglecting to speak of matters well pleasing to God. Offer to him the restraint placed on thy holy ears for all the sins I have committed in listening to useless and evil talk, and not listening to wholesome admonitions and advice. Offer to him the modesty of thine eyes for all the stains with which I have spotted my soul by curious and forbidden glances: also, offer to him all the restraint laid by thyself on thy holy hands and feet to atone for the evil62 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. works I have performed, and the forbidden steps I have taken. Lastly, O most beloved Jesus! offer to the majesty of thine heavenly Father thy divine heart so full of sweetness, for all and every sin which I have fallen into from ill-will, in desire and thought: so that the honor of thy heavenly Father which I have wounded, may be abundantly restored and due compensation for my offences. Amen. Expiation. St. Mechtildis was one day rapt in spirit and placed before the judgment-seat of God ; there she was accused by the angels and saints, and even bv the creatures which she had used improperly. She was in a terrible fright ; but Jesus took her part "and showed her how she might acquit her debts by good works. (B i. ch. 28.) Thereupon she Prayed : All-righteous judge ! Almighty God ! I, the most unworthy of all sinners, overwhelmed with shame, now stand before the judgment-seat of thy stern justice, crushed in heart, bowed down in spirit! O my Lord, I most humbly confess, in the presence of all thy saints" and all the creatures which thou hast created for my use and service, that I have greatly sinned by using these latter against thy divine honor. I confess my guilt, O holy'Grod ! and lament from the depths of my heart that I have committed more sins than I have hairs on my head. Forgive me all my sins, for thy dear Son's sake. Behold! O most merciful Father ! ICONCESSION AND PENANCE. 63 ) place before thee thy most humble Son, who has atoned for me in all that I have done wrong through pride; I place before thee thy Son, the meekest of Saviours, who has satis-tied for all the sins which I have committed through anger ; I place before thee thy Son, who is the love of thy heart, and has" fully compensated for all that I have been guilty of from hatred and aversion. I offer thee his pious beneficence in payment of my hard-heartedness and injustice. I offer thee his chastity and purity in atonement for my unchaste thoughts, words, and deeds. I offer thee his patience for my impatience, his temperance for my intemperance, his fasting and asceticism for my immortification, his abstinence for my indulgence, his' silence for my talkativeness, his obedience for my disobedience, his diligence lor my idleness, his devotion for my poor prayers, his watchfulness for my drowsiness, his works of penance for my listlessness, his severe life for my idle and luxurious life, the love and fidelity which he shows to thee, and to every human being, for all the untruthfulness and evil conversation of which I have been guilty. Lastly I offer thee the life of thy beloved Son, with all the works and virtues which he practised during his life, for all m\ ill-spent years, days, hours and minutes. This is the treasure on which I rely; this is the ransom money with which I pay my debts. Therefore, I beseech thee bv all that64 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. is dear to thee in heaven and on! earth, that thou wouldst accept my offering for my sins, and for the sake of thy dear Son, forgive me all my guile and remit its penalty. Amen. An " Our Father" for One's Sins. Christ taught this to St. Meclitildis; it is very powerful: many sins may be atoned for by its use: therefore art thou advised to pray thus with devotion: Our Father, who art in heaven! My adorable Father, most worthy of all my love, who from pure grace adopted me for tby child, I beg of thee to forgive me that I have not loved, not shown thee due honor, but have often driven thee from my heart, which thou hast always desired for thine own. In compensation for this fault, I offer thee the love and honor which thy beloved Son showed thee on earth, and the loving penance he underwent in satisfaction for my sins. Hallowed be thy name. I pray thee to pardon me for not having paid due honor to thy name, for having often taken it in vain, and through my sinful life rendered myself unworthy of the Christian name. In atonement for these sins I offer thee the perfect holiness of thy Son, by which he exalted thy blessed name, preaching and honoring it in all the works of his humanity. Thy kingdom come. I pray, most dear Father! that thou wouldst forgive me, that I have not desired thee and thy kingdom with fervor, having been lukewarm in allCONFESSION AND PENANCE. 65 good; for these sins I offer thee the holy longing of thy beloved Son, in which he desired that I should be co-heir with him of his kingdom. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. I pray thee, benignant Father! that thou wouldst forgive me, that I have not loved thy will in all things, and have often done and lived after my own will. In compensation for my disobedience I offer thee the union of the sweet heart of Jesus, with thy holy will and his obedience, in which he was obedient unto thee, even to the death of the cross. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive me, that I have not received the most holy sacrament of the altar with the requisite desire, devotion and love, and that I have so seldom and so unworthily approached it: for these sins I offer thee the holiness and devotion of Jesus, thy divine Son, as also the glowing love and ineffable desire with which lie bequeathed to us this treasure infinitely beyond all price. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. I beg of thee to forgive me all the mortal sins I have committed, particularly that I have not forgiven those who have offended me, and have not been willing to love my enemies. For these sins I offer thee the most loving prayer thy dear Son uttered for his enemies on the cross.66 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. Lead us not into temptation. I pray thee forgive me, that I have not withstood my evil inclinations and temptations, but have often yielded to the desire'of the evil one, and to the flesh, and have allowed myself to be drawn into sin. For my many sins of this kind, I offer lliee the glorious victory of Christ in which he overcame the world and the devil, as also his holy life, all his labor and trouble, his bitter Passion and death. But deliver me and all Christians from all evil and all punishment, through the merits of thy dear Son, and bring us to the kingdom of thine eternal glory. Amen. To Awaken Repentance and Contrition Before Confession, in those Who have Fallen into Mortal Sin. All powerful and tremendous God, before whose majesty heaven and earth tremble! I, a wicked sinner, confess that I am not worthy that earth should bear me, because I have so often and so greatly offended its Creator. O Lord, I have acted as one faithless and forsworn, because wilfully and with knowledge I have transgressed against thy holy commandments, and wantonly broken the promise I made thee in holy baptism. I know, O my God, that I have driven thee from my heart, and given place to the devil to dwell therein, and had I died then, should have been cast into hell without further cause. I know, O God, that I have lost all merit and can make no claim on eternalCONFESSION AND PENANCE. 67 happiness. Yes, I know that my soul is now dead, and is so ugly and foul that it is an abomination and an object of horror to thee, and to all the saints. O my God! into what a miserable condition am I fallen. O merciful, benignant God! I have done great evil and have sinned against thee and all the saints. But lam sony now from the depths of my heart, and sorry only because I have angered thee so greatly, my good, loving, faithful God, who so generously gavest me all the good I have ever possessed and still possess, in body and soul, and hast loved me so heartily that thou gavest thy beloved Son to be so cruelly treated and to die so painful a death, that I might be redeemed. O most beneficent Father! I entreat thee through the precious blood of thy dear Son, that thou wouldst forgive me my sins and receive me again to thy grace. I bewail my sins in sorrow before thee, in the bitterness of the sorrow of thy dear Son, and I offer thee all his bitter pains and sufferings, all his burning tears shed throughout his whole life for the sins of the world, and pray thee, in union with that most powerful prayer that he addressed to thee on the Mount of Olives, and through the goodness of the holy 6pirit of God, that thou wouldst pardon all my sins and remit the punishment due to them, well deserved as it is. Grant me this through the love which moved thee to permit thy Son to be accounted amid the evil-doers. Amen.68 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. To Awaken Sorrow and Repentance in One Who Tuts Committed only Venial Sins. Lord Jesus Christ! thou inexhaustible fountain of mercy, behold! I, thy miserable creature, present myself before thee again, and in the bitterness of my heart lament that I have not kept my promise, but have fallen back into my former sins, have served thee negligently, have been cold and tepid in devotion, have shown thee so little love, have so often been impatient about trifles, have set so little guard upon my senses, and suffered my heart to dwell so much on things temporal that I can but feel ashamed in thy presence. Through these and many other sins which thou hast peroeived in me, I have so defiled my soul that if I could see it with the eyes of my body I should turn away with loathing. O my Jesus! what dost thou think when thou lookest on my heart? How i&it possible for thee to dwell in such a heart, in which thou canst have neither joy nor pleasure, but find therein only loathing and aversion? O my sweet Jesus, how unthankful I am for thy benefits! How ill do I repay the love and faithfulness thou bestowest on me! How often have J grieved the holy spirit within me! How often have I withstood thy will to follow my own! Thereby I have not only neglected thy grace and lost many merits, but also have incurred the severe and almost unbearable punishment of purgatory. But now, my God,CONFESSION AND PENANCE. 69 I come to thee once more, to lament my folly and unfaithfulness. I confess that I have done wrong: that I have grieved thee, who art the joy of the angels, and robbed thee of many joys thou couldst have found in my heart. I beg for thy gracious pardon on bended knees, through the merits of thy precious blood. I promise thee now in earnest, a real improvement as far as it is possible to my weakness. Grant me thy assistance in this, through the love which drew thee down from heaven unto earth. Amen. A Prayer to Attain Sorrow and Repentance for Sin, When One Cannot Awaken them in One's Own Heart. Heavenly, all powerful God! before whose anger the pillars of heaven and the foundations of earth tremble; I, a miserable worm, who am not worthy to name thy holy name, have so often offended thine inscrutable majesty that all creatures might be reasonably opposed to me, and avenge thy honor upon me. Moreover! I am, by my own fault, fallen into such hardness of heart, that my sins do not affect me, and I do not find in myself the good will and desire to amend. O God of truth! who hast said by thy prophet: I WILL TAKE FROM THEE THE HEART OF STONE AND GIVE THEE ONE OF FLESH, look down on the unfeelingness of my heart and contrariness of my will, and soften with a drop of thy grace this hard stone. Thou know-70 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. est, 0 Lord, that of ourselves we have no good will, unless thou impartest it from thy grace; oh, righteous God! who askest from us no more than we have, and desirest no more than we can give; see, I offer thee what I have, and what I can, and though I feel no contrition, yet I desire to have the deepest repentance that ever animated a human heart. Yes, I would I had such sorrow for sins, and felt such x^ain for having committed them, as thy divine Son conceived in his pure heart for the sins of the whole world, when on the Mount of Olives, thinking of all the sins that had been committed up to that time, and will be committed to the end of time, he fell into such anguish and desolation that from faintness he could not kneel upright, but from unbearable anguish his holy head sank to the ground and he sweated blood from every pore and wrestled with death. This heartfelt contrition of thy well-beloved Son I offer to thee, thou kindest of fathers, and in union with it, I offer thee the contrition which has ever been felt in truly penitential hearts, in compensation for the repentance I ought to feel, and might feel, but alas, do not find within me. I hope thou wilt be content with this my feeble will, and permit the working of the sacrament I now resolve to have recourse to, to work powerfully in me. Grant me this through Jesus Christ thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen.CONFESSION AND PENANCE. 71 Prayer to be Used When About to Approach the Sacrament of Penance. O sweet Jesus! who out of love for the salvation of men, and for.the consolation of all sinners, hast instituted the holy sacrament of Penance, by means of which we are purified from all sin, and are re-adorned with thy grace, behold me a poor sinner, who have sinned so often against thee and defiled my soul. I now come before thee again in the securest confidence to be freed frofn all my sins, to receive this precious sacrament, and, so far as I know them, to disclose all my sins to thy priest, acting in thy stead. Knowingly I will conceal no mortal sin, however horrible it may be, even sins I do not know, as also my venial sins, I will include in this confession. I cannot name them all, they are so many, but I will confess them all to thee as to the true highest priest, and acknowledge in the presence of all thy saints, that I have been guilty of an abominable, disobedience towards thee, of an astonishing ingratitude, and that I have treated thee with great contempt. Oh, I am truly sorry for all this, and I ardently desire to become better! Therefore I pray thee that thou wouldst release me from all my sins and impose such a penance on me in this world or the next as may seem best to thine infinite justice. Amen. Another Prayer immediately before Confession. Oh! all-beneficent Jesus! my heart desires.72 CONFESSION AND PENANCE. my soul longs for this holy sacrament. It is indeed difficult for me to lay open all my abominable sins; yet I will do it willingly, to compensate thee in some measure for the injury which my sins have done thee. Praise be to thee, that thou hast granted me to live until this fortunate hour in which I hope to be released from the heavy burden of sin which oppresses me so sorely. O most blessed Jesus! I beg of thee, through the merits of thy holy blood, and through the power of thy bitter death, give me thy grace, that I may worthily receive this holy sacrament. Grant me strength against the attacks of the enemy of souls, so that I may not from false shame, or from embarrassment, conceal or omit anything. It is my firm purpose, to confess uprightly and as clearly as I know how. I recommend this my confession to thy sweetest heart, that that may graciously supply what may be deficient in it. Amen. Aspiration before Confession. Oh, all-beneficent Jesus! I, thy poor, insignificant, miserable, sinful, wicked and unworthy creature, now come to thee as to the overflowing stream of goodness, that I may be washed from every stain and purified from all sins. Prayer during Absolution. Oh, all-beneficent Jesus! I am heartily sorry for all the sins I have now confessed, because they have offended thee. I there-CONFESSION AND PENANCE. 73 fore pray thee that thou wouldst forgive them all, and make me a participator in the grace of this holy sacrament. Amen. Thanksgiving after Confession. 0 my most merciful God! with every power of my soul and with every faculty of my heart, I return thee thanks for the superabundant goodness with which thou hast treated me. Praised be the infinite love of thy son Jesus Christ, by whom this sacrament was instituted for the consolation of sinners, that we might be cleansed from our sins, and rescued from the snares of the enemy. Oh, my Jesus! how shall I thank thee sufficiently for the grace which thou hast now granted me? How shall I repay thee for so great a benefit? I was lost, and again thou hast sought for me. I was full of filth and uncleanness and thou hast cleansed me in the bath of thy holy blood. My soul was weary and sickly, and with thy holy grace thou hast again strengthened me, and re-enkindled my devotion. For these and all benefits in which by the reception of this holy sacrament thou hast made me participate, I return thee heartfelt thanks, and through the love of thy most sweet heart, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, the comforter, I praise thee, adore thee, and glorify thee unto eternity. Amen. Prayer before Fulfilling the Penance Imposed. Devont soul ! I entreat thee never to omit tbe two folr lowing prayers; for they will render thy confession anS 55 S? os By the love with which thou didst] suffer the bitterest of deaths ! By the love which permitted thy holy heart to -be pierced and laid open ! By the love with which thou, at thy resurrection, didst, glorify the bodies of" the just! By the love with which thou hast raised human nature on thy Father's throne! By the love with which thou dost show to thy heavenly Father thy holy wounds received for us sinners ! By the love which thou hast re-established between God and man ! By the love which exists between thy Father and thyself ! By love itself, which love thou art, Lord Jesus Christ I Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world! Spare us, O Jesus ! Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of of the world, graciously liear us, 0 Jesus ! Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus ! V. Jesus, saviour of the world, grapiously hear us ! R. For thy mercy is without limit! Prayer. Most benignant Jesus ! mellifluent bride-PRAYERS OF CONSOLATION. 157 groom of all loving souls, accept these litanies offered to the lionor and glory of thy sweet name and for the sake of that love with which for the consolation of all men thou hast assumed this holy name, grant that through the might of this exalted name I may be preserved from all temptations in life and death. Amen. Pi'ayers in Honor of the Mysteries of the Holy Childhood. St. Gertrude honored the childhood of Jesus with all possible devotion, and once on the Feast of Christmas she saw that the child Jesus accepted the praj'ers with joy which pious souls laid in his lap as an offering. (B. v. ch. 3.) By reciting the following prayers in a devout manner we can not only please the dear Jesus, but gain an indulgence of 300 days, as often as the prayers are said with a contrite heart, which indulgence was granted by Pope Pius VII. of holy memory on the 23d of November, 1819. V.- O God, come to my assistance. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. JR. As it was in tlie beginning, is now, and ever will be, world without end. Amen. Our Father, etc. 1. The Incarnation. Jesus, sweetest child ! who for bur salvation didst come down from the bosom of the Father, and conceived by the Holy Ghost didst not shrink from the Virgin's womb: O Word made flesh, while taking the form of a servant, have mercy on us ! JR. Have mercy on us, O child Jesus! have mercy onus! Hail Mary.158 PRAYERS OF CONSOLATION. 2. The Visitation. Jesus, sweetest child ! wlio in thy Virgin Mother's womb visited Elizabeth, :uid didst iill John the Baptist, thy forerunner, with the Holy Ghost, sanctifying him in his mother's womb, have mercy on us. R. Have mercy on us, etc., (as above.) Hail Mary. 3. Awaiting the Birth, Jesus, sweetest child! who for nine months lay hid in thy Mother's womb, awaiting thy birth, which the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were longingly expecting, and which by them was offered to God the Father for the salvation of the world, have mercy upon us. It. Have mercy upon us, etc. Hail Mary. 4. Ihe Nativity. O Jesus, sweetest child! born in Bethlehem of Mary ever a Virgin, laid in a crib, whom angels announced and whom shepherds visited, have mercy on us. R. Have mercy on us, etc. Hail Mary. Glory throughout eternity To Jesus Christ, the Virgin's Son, Who with the Father reigns on high, With Holy Spirit, Three in One. V. Christ is at hand. H. Oh, come, let ua adore. Our Father, etc. 5. The Circumcision. Jesus, sweetest child! wounded on the eighth day by circumcision, called by thePRATERS OF CONSOLATION. glorious name of Jesus, and by this name as by thy blood, foreshown to be the Saviour of the world, have mercy upon us. R. Have mercy upon us, O child Jesus ! have mercy upon us. Hail Mary. 6. The Adoration of the Magi. Jesus! sweetest child, made known to the Magi by a star, adored on thy sweet Mother's lap and presented with the mystical gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh, have mercy upon us. R. Have mercy upon us, O child Jesus! have, etc. Hail Mary. 7. The Presentation in the Temple. Jesus! sweetest child! presented in the temple by the Virgin Mother, placed in the arms of Simeon, and by the voice of the prophetess Anna revealed to Israel, have toercy upon us. B. Have mercy, etc. Hail Mary. 3. The Flight into Egypt. Jesus, sweetest child! whom Herod sought to kill, whom St. Joseph carried with his Mother in to Egypt, saved thus by flight from a cruel death, and glorified by the martyrdom of the holy innocents, have mercy on us. R. Have mercy on us, etc. Hail Mary. Glory throughout eternity To Jesus Christ, the Virgin's son, Who with the Father reignson high, With Holy Spirit, Three in One. V. Christ is at hand. R. Come, let us adore. Our Father, etc.160 PRATERS OF CONSOLA1ION. 9. Sojourn in Egypt. Jesus, sweetest child! who didst tarry in Egypt with thy most holy Mother Mary, and the patriarch St. Joseph, until the death of Herod, have mercy upon us. It. Have mercy upon us. Hail Mary. 10. Return from Egypt. O Jesus, sweetest child! wlio in returning from Egypt with thy parents, endured many hardships by the way, and came to the city of Nazareth, have mercy on us. M. Have mercy, etc. Hail Mary. 11. Holy Life. O Jesus, sweetest child! who in the holy house of Nazareth didst live a most holy life, submissive to thy parents, enduring poverty and hard labor, while daily advancing in age, wisdom and grace, have mercy on us! R. Have mercy on us, etc. Hail Mary. 12. Jesus with the Doctors in the Temple. Jesus, sweetest child! brought at twelve years old to Jerusalem, lost by thy parents, sought for in sorrow, and after three days found with joy, disputing with the doctors in the Temple, have mercy upon us. H. Have mercy upon us, etc. Hail Mary. Glory throughout eternity To Jesus Christ, the Virgin's Son, Who with the Father reigns on high, With Holy Spirit, Three in One. V. Christ is at hand. R. Come let us adore. Our Father.PRAYERS OF U0NS0LA1I0N. 161 At Christmas and during the Octave, substitute: V. The Word was made flesh. Hallelujah. H. And dwelt among us. Hallelujah.' At the Feast of the Epiphany and during the Octave, V Christ has manifested himself to us. Hallelujah. B. Come, let us adore. Hallelujah. Let us Pray Almighty and everlasting God! Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal thyself to little ones, grant, we beseech thee, that we may so venerate the holy mysteries of the childhood of thy Son Jesus, and follow him so humbly in our lives, that we may one day come to the kingdom of heaven promised to the little ones. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.MANUAL OF ST. GERTRUDE. PART VII. DEVOTIONS IN HONOR OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD CHRIST. The holy sisters Gertrude and Mechtildis constantly meditated on the bitter sufferings of the Saviour. Gertrude set apart the Friday of every week for this meditation, and it was by means of this practice that the holy sisters attained to so great a love of God and to such high perfection. Imitate the example of these holy sislers, and meditate assiduously on the sufferings of the Lord. St. Gertrude was given to understand that prayers and reading, which treat of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, are immeasurably more meritorious than any other exercises; for as Jesus said to her, " One cannot handle flour without becoming white: in like manner, even a short meditation on my sufferings, with ever so little devotion, cannot fail to be advantageous." ' If," says St. Gertrude, "a person reads something on the Passion of our Lord, lie at least prepares his soul for the reception of the fruit, and by diligent and frequent meditation on this said Passion of Christ he acquires more merit than through other devotions which have not this suffering for their object." Meditation on the Agony of Jesus on the Mount of Olives. O my Jesus! my God and Saviour, how full of pain was thy last day on earth! The hours were passed in the severest anguish and as the moment approached in which, by 163164 PASSION OF OUR LORD. thine own will, thou wert to die for us sin-ners, thine anxiety became so great, thy suffering so intense, that it pierced thy loving heart. I see thee in spirit," sorrowful and dejected, go forth to the Garden of Gethsemane; I see thee ascend to the Mount of Olives; I see thee fall on thy knees and M'ring thy hands in prayer; I see how the immense numbers oi sins thou hast taken upon thyself weighs thee to the ground; I see the chalice filled with every kind of sor row and pain and bitterness, which thou art to drink out even to the last drop; I see a nameless horror seize thee, and a bloody sweat fall to the earth over thy holy countenance; I hear thee call out: ''Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not- as I will, but as thou wilt." I see and hear thee plead for mercy, and behold how the pains press deeper and deeper into thy heart! Beloved Jesus! the contemplation of thine anguish and pains fills me with shame and contrition for my sins; for my sins have given thee this pain; my sins have occasioned thee this anguish; my sins filled the cup given unto thee to drink. Oh, pardon my wickedness with which I have so sorely offended thee! Behold, I prostrate myseif upon the earth, beseeching thee most earnestly to grant that I may participate in that anguish and that suffering which thou didst undergo for me on the Mount of Olives,PASSION OF OUR LORD. 165- that thou wouldst permit, me to share in that bitterness, that I mny be filled with horror for every gin. Heaveqly Father! for the sake of the agony undergone by thy divine Son, have mercy upon me, and forgive me my sins. Amen. TEN PRAYERS REMINDING THE LORD CHRIST OF HIS SUFFERINGS. > First Prayer. Jesus! thou jubilee and sweetness of all loving souls! I remind thee of the inward grief thou liadst to endure from the begin-nir.g of thy captivity, as well as from foreknowledge, especially at the commencement of thy Passion, namely, at the moment when thou didst exclaim : " My soul is sorrowful unto death!" and when from excessive trembling, anxiety, and pain thou didst sweat blood. Think of the pain and bitterness thou didst feel when taken prisoner by the Jews, accused by false witnesses, tried by three judges, struck on the cheek, spit upon, scourged, and crowned with thorns. O sweetest Jesus ! by all these torments and unrighteous dealings, I pray thee have mercy on me a sinner! Amen. Second Prayer. 0 Jesus, thou paradise of joys! Think of the pain and terror thou didst undergo when Pilate spoke the death-sentence over thee,366 PASSION OF OUR LORD. when the godless soldiers placed the heavy cross upon thy shoulders, when they nailed thee so cruelly to the cross, that all thy .nerves and limbs were rent, and all thy .bones could be counted. I pray thee on the •day of judgment pass a mild sentence upon me, and free me from everlasting punishment. Amen. Third Prayer. "O Jesus, thou heavenly physician ! Think on the insults and torments which thou, when raised on the gallows of the cross, had to bear from every side, to feel in every limb. JNot one of these limbs remained in its natural position, so that there was no woe .like to thy woe; from the crown of thy ihead to the soul of thy foot, there was no soundness in thee. And yet, unmindful of all these pangs, thou didst pray to thy Father for thine enemies : " Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Through this thy love and mercy, grant that the value of thy suffering may suffice to effect complete remission of my sins. Amen. Fourth Prayer. O Jesus, mirror of eternal brightness! Think of the pain which thou didst feel when in the bright mirror of thy divinity tliou didst see the great number of reprobates, and how many will one day be eternally condemned. I pray thee by the inexhaustible abyss of thy mercies, byPASSION OF OUR LORD. 107 which thou hast pardoned so many lost and desperate sinners, and especially the thief on the cross to whom thou saidst : " To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise !" have mercy on me at the hour of my death. Amen. Fifth Prayer. O Jesus, most amiable King! think of that mournful abandonment, when thou thyself, the truest friend, wert forsaken by thy friends, so that when assailed by mockery on the cross, thou couldst find no consolation save in thy faithful Mother, who stood steadfastly beneath thy cross, and whom thou didst recommend to thy disciple with the words: "Woman, behold thy son!" and to the disciple: " Behold thy mother!" I pray thee, most benelicent Jesus! by the sword of pain which then pierced thy Mother's soul, have mercy on me, bring me comfort in all my tribulations. Amen. Sixth Prayer. O Jesus! thou inexhaustible fountain of goodness! I remind thee of the bitterness thou didst undergo, when with strength exhausted and dried up, thou didst suffer the most excruciating thirst, and couldst not obtain one drop of water to refresh thy parched tongue, but had vinegar and gall given thee to drink. I pray thee quench in me the thirst for fleshly lusts and worldly enjoyments. Amen.168 PASSION OF OUR LORD. Seventh Prayer. O Jesus! thou royal strength! I remind thee that on our account thou wert sunk in the sea of suffering from the crown of thy head to the sole of thy foot, and that not only wert thou abandoned by men, but by thy Father himself, so as to compel thee to cry out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Through this thy bitter agony I beg of thee, forsake me not at the hour of death. Amen. Eighth Prayer. Jesus! thou strong lion! I remind thee of the pains tlion didst suffer when the forces of thy body and of thy heart forsook thee wholly, and with bowed head thou didst utter the words: " It is consummated!" Through this agony and these pains, have mercy on me at the end of my life, when my soul is overwhelmed with anxiety and my spirit bewildered. Amen. Ninth Prayer. Jesus! thou splendor of the Father and image of hia being! I remind thee of the fervor with which thou didst commend thy spirit to thy Father with the words: " Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." And that with a wounded body, with broken heart, with a loud cry, with side laid open, thou for our sakes didst become pale in death. I pray thee by that love, in which thou didst die for all men, to awaken themPASSION OF OUR LORD. 169 to life, extinguish in me all that is displeasing to thee. Amen. Tenth Prayer. 0 Jesus! The true and fruitful vine! Think of the mass of blood shed from thy body as from a trodden winepress; copiously didst thou permit it to flow, when on the cross thou didst tread the winepress alone, and from thy side, pierced by a lance, blood and water flowed so freely that not a drop more remained within thee. As a tuft of myrrh wert thou raised on high, thy tender body all pale, the juices of thine intestines dried up, the marrow of thy bones shrunk away. By thy bitter pangs, and by the shedding of thy precious blood, I beg of thee, most loving and beneficent Jesus! at the hour of my death wash my soul clean in the effective water poured forth from thy side, and adorn it with the precious blood from thy sweet heart; lastly, purify it by the sweet fire of thy love. Amen. Offering. Accept, O beneficent Jesus! this my prayer, in that insuperable love with which thou didst subject thyself to the bitterest death, and on the day of thine ascension into heaven didst offer these and all the fruits they bear to thy Father. I pray thee also through the depth of thy wounds which pressed into thine innermost body and thy bowels, that thou wilt draw me out of the170 PASSION OF OUR LORD. abyss of sin into which I am fallen, and make me that which is pleasing to thyself. Amen. A Very Useful Manner of Hiding One's Self in the Five Sucred Wounds. This was taught to St. Mechtildis by Christ himself, as she went on one Good Friday to kiss the cross (B i ch. 23 and 29.) v I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for the painful wound of thy left foot, from which flowed the washing-away of our sins. In it I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed. Amen. I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for the painful wound of thy light foot, from which the fountain of peace flowed to us. In it I sink and bury in its depths all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain. Amen. I thank thee, OLord Jesus Christ! for the painful wound of thy left hand, from which the well of grace flowed up to us. In it I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with thy sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience may become of good odor before God. Amen. I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for the painful wound of thy right hand, from which the medicine of the soul was poured forth. In it I hide all my negligences and omissions, which I have committed in my virtuous exercises, that they may be atoned for by thy zealous works. Amen.PASSION OF OUR LORD. 171 I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for the healing wound of thy sweetest heart, from which living water and blood and the riches of all good flowed to us. I place myself in this, and in this unite all my imperfect love to thy divine love, that in this way it may be made perfect. Amen. Prayer to the Wound in the Shoulder of Christ. . St. Bernard asked one day of our Lord, which was his greatest unknown pain ? The Lord answered him: "I had a wound of the depth of three fingers on my shoulder occasioned by the weight of the cross; this wound was much more painful to me than