> [[js-cm-13|← An Exposition of the Order, Canon, and Ceremonies of the Mass]] | [[the-carmelite-manual-toc|TOC]] | [[js-cm-15|Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus →]] # The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass THIS ultimate sacrifice, and the only one now to be offered, is that clean oblation offered everywhere on the altar, as foretold by the Prophet Malachy, viii. 1 1, and is called the Most holy Sacrifice of the Mass; or, an oblation and consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ; then truly and really present, true God and true Man, under the veils or appearances only of the said bread and wine; and is a commemorative representation of his passion and death for us, and a standing memorial thereof. Jesus Christ himself instituted and ordained it, at his last supper, the night before his passion and death on the cross: Whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and blessed and broke it, and gave to his disciples, saying, " Take ye, and eat; THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you." In like manner the chalice also; After he had supped, giving thanks, gave it to them, saying, " Drink ye all of this, for THIS IS MY BLOOD of the New Testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins."-Mat. xxvi. 27, 28; Mark xiv. 22. 24; Luke xxii. 19, 20. And Jesus commanded that the same should be done for ever after, saying to his disciples, "Do this for a commemoration or remembrance of me."-Luke xxii. 19. Whereby he invested them and their successors, bishops and priests, who are the ministers of his Church, and dispensers of his sacraments and grace, with power to do the same; as if he had said, "To me is given all power in heaven and earth."-Matt. xxviii. 18. "And as the Father hath sent me, I also send you."-John xx. 2 1. Do, then, this which I have just now done; take ye bread, bless and consecrate it to be truly the substance of my body; and in like manner take ye the chalice; bless and consecrate wine to be truly the substance of my blood; offer them in sacrifice; nourish your souls with this food, for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; not in figure only, but truly, really, and substantially.-John vi. 56. And distribute this food to my faithful ones, who shall believe in me: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.-Matt. xxviii. 20. Not only to the end of that particular age in which his disciples were to continue, but to the end of the gospel age, and the consummation of all ages. "And therefore there are made many priests, because by reason of death they are not suffered to continue."-Heb. vii. It is therefore plain, that by the institution of this sacrifice and sacrament, our blessed Lord intended that it should be the perpetual sacrifice (Dan. viii.) and sacrament, to be offered and received in his true Church until his second coming to judgment. Because, as St. Paul tells, by this sacrifice and sacrament the death of Christ is to be represented and commemorated till he comes: "As often as you eat this bread and drink this chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord until he come."-1 Cor. xi. 26. "But this (Jesus Christ,) for that He continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood."-Heb. vii. Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore a priest for ever, and hath no successor; but he liveth and concurreth for ever with his ministers, the priests of the New Testament in all their functions, and is, in this particular, himself both priest and victim. Wherefore the priests consecrate the bread and wine, not by their own words and power, but by the words and power of Jesus Christ, who, at his last supper, worked this marvellous change of the substance of bread into his body, and the substance of wine into his blood, which change is therefore called by the Church Transubstantiation, and He continues to do the same by his priests in the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Though these truths are obscure and incomprehensible to human reason and understanding; shall we therefore be scandalized and go back? or shall we say: "This saying is hard, and who can hear it?" or, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" John vi. "No! for we believe that Christ is the Son of the living God," v. 70. "That He hath the words of eternal life, and that He is the truth." John x.v., who hath said, "This is my body; this is my blood," Matt. xxvi., and "do you this."-Luke xxii. "With man indeed this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."-Matt. xix. 26. This Sacrifice and Sacrament.is called a mystery of Faith, not only because it is to be believed with a steady faith, but moreover, because by faith, we perceive Christ's body and blood hidden under the species, forms, or appearances of bread and wine. Though it is chiefly said of Christ's blood hidden under the species of wine, because of the difficulty to human reason; when faith offers to us to believe, that the Son of God, both God and Man, suffered death for us; which death is indeed signified in the sacrament of the blood. Wherefore fitly in this place, rather than in the consecration of the body, is the passion of the Lord commemorated in these words:-"Which shall be shed for the remission of sins."-Cat. Con. Trid. Fid. P. ii. Sac. Euch. lxix. The sacrifice which our Lord Jesus made of himself on the cross, and that which is offered of Him in the Mass is one and the same, as to the substance or victim offered; and differs only in the manner of offering. The former being bloody by the actual shedding of his blood; the latter, unbloody and mystical. Upon Calvary, He, by the shedding of his blood, merited for us the remission of sins, the grace of reconciliation and justice with God his eternal Father; in a word, "He obtained for us eternal redemption."-Heb. ix. 12. Upon the altar, "He is the same priest and victim; the High Priest, who is seated on the right hand, etc., continueth for ever, and hath an everlasting Priesthood, according to the order of Melchisedech,; always living to make intercession for us."-Ibid. viii. 1. vii. 24, 25. And He placed the same body that was immolated on the cross, and the same blood that was there shed, in a state under the veils of bread and wine, so as to be truly and really and substantially present; thereby to apply effectually unto us his merits, and to communicate actually to us all the graces He merited for us on the cross, and also to serve for the food and nourishment of our souls. The holy-sacrifice of the Mass, is moreover, a lively representation of the sacrifice on the cross; inasmuch as the bloody separation that was made on the cross of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, is perfectly represented, by the mystical separation which is made on the altar, of that same body and blood. For, by the words of the consecration, viz: "This is my body," the bread is changed into his body; and by these words: "This is the chalice of my blood, (thus understood: 'This is my blood which is contained in the chalice,') of the new and eternal Testament, the mystery of faith, which shall be shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins," the wine is changed into his blood. And, notwithstanding this body and this blood, were once really separated from each other in his passion, and re-united at his resurrection, never more to be separated. Yet his will was, that the real separation made on the cross, should be lively represented on the altar, by the separate consecration of the bread and wine into his body and blood, as said above. And that thus, the sacrifice of the Mass, should be a continued image and representation of that on the cross, even to the consummation of the world, and in every place. Again; the holy sacrifice of the Mass, is truly a commemorative representation of our blessed Saviour's sufferings for us; and is most proper to remind us of them, and to move and raise in us affections suitable to the remembrance and consideration of them. "Do this for a commemoration of me." That is, to bring into your minds and to renew the remembrance of all those grievous pains which.I have endured for your sakes, to procure for you a remission of sins, and a reconciliation to God, my eternal Father. And "as often, &c., you shall shew the death, &c.!" This was the particular thing our Lord gave in charge, when he was going to lay down his life for us; to undergo the most grievous pains and sufferings for our sakes, and to yield up himself to the worst of temporal deaths, that he might deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death. Can we then, without the most horrible ingratitude, neglect this dying charge of the greatest friend and lover of our souls? What a strong impression ought not this charge, and the remembrance of his passion and death, for our salvation, to make upon our minds? especially if we add, those other words of his, not long before his death: "Greater love than this hath no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Yet he did it for us who were his enemies; the consideration of this, ought to raise in us sentiments of the highest gratitude, love, and piety, particularly as often as we assist at this holy sacrifice, or receive the holy communion. We ought to remember what he hath done for us, to look upon him whom we have pierced, and to resolve to grieve and wound him no more by sin. To which purpose so solemn a representation is very conducive, because therein we behold by faith, and in mental effigy, Christ crucified, his body broken, his blood poured out for us; this in some measure places us in the condition of those, who were eye-witness of Christ's sufferings, and beheld him dying upon the cross for us. And as his glorious body is sitting in heaven, at the right hand of God the Father, invisible to our corporeal eye, until he come again at the last day; "The time when this continual sacrifice shall be taken away."-Dan. xii. -To recompense this, and that we should not forget Him, and be wholly estranged from Him; He was pleased to ordain this mysterious sacrifice, in which he is truly and really present with us, for the above purpose of a continual sacrifice, or supreme act of worship, and for the food and nourishment of our souls; of which singular blessing and token of his love to us, we should never be unmindful: but bless, glorify, and praise him, until the end of the world, and for ever. Finally, the holy sacrifice of the Mass, is that august sacrifice of the Christian religion, which only the true church of Christ possesses and glories in. And it is the most excellent, the most pleasing and the most acceptable sacrifice and worship we can offer and pay to God. "Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts, for sin thou wouldst not, neither are they pleasing to thee which are offered according to the law: then said I, behold, I come to do thy will, O God."-HEB. x. ## A Preparation Before Mass *WHENEVER you are about to assist at the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, instantly raise up your mind and heart to God. Recollect your blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, led forth, and carrying his cross to be crucified. Follow and accompany him in spirit, with his blessed mother, and the devout women, who "bewailed and lamented him,"-Luke xxiii. Imagine that you hear him say, "Weep not over me, but weep for yourselves and children." Conceive a deep sorrow for your sins, by which you, even then, contributed to crucify him, and perhaps yet do continue to do the same, "crucifying again to themselves the Son of God."-Heb. vi. 6. Proceed to the church as to Mount Calvary; and while the priest is vesting himself, prepare yourself to assist in due manner, at this august sacrifice.* *To this purpose, if you be in sin, (and particularly if in mortal sin,) by most earnest prayer, beseech your Lord Jesus to turn his merciful eye upon you, as he did on Peter, with pity, love, and compassion; that you may also, as Peter did, go forth from your sins by a true sorrow and purpose of amendment, and weep bitterly for them. Then by a strong and lively faith, excite yourself to the like sentiments, you would have conceived, if you had been present on Mount Calvary, at the crucifixion, last sufferings and death of your dear Redeemer Jesus Christ; then casting your eyes upon the crucifix, excite yourself to a sorrowful and grateful remembrance of him, and his sufferings for you; and retain the same in your mind and heart, during the whole time of this holy sacrifice.* ## Prayer Before Mass O MY God, prostrate before your divine Majesty, I acknowledge myself the most ungrateful and unworthy of your creatures. I accuse myself before you and your angels, of all the sins of my life past; of all my negligences in your service; of my neglects in complying with your blessed will and holy inspirations; of my sloth and tepidity in your service; and in the exercise of your divine love; in reparation of which, I offer you all the merits of Christ, who will soon render himself present for me upon the altar. Receive, Lord, his death and passion in satisfaction and for the remission of my sins; his indefatigable labours, to repair my negligences; his prompt obedience in complying with your heavenly will, to satisfy for my sloth therein. Look not on my unworthiness, but upon your Son, who by an excess of goodness gives himself to me, to satisfy for all my debts. Amen. ## Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity ### A Prayer Before the Acts O ALMIGHTY and Eternal God! grant unto us an increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us love and practice what thou commandest: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ### An Act of Contrition O MY God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee; and I detest my sins most sincerely, because they displease thee, my God, who art so deserving of all my love, for thy infinite goodness and most amiable perfections; and I firmly purpose, by the assistance of thy holy grace, never more to offend thee. ### An Act of Faith O MY God, I firmly believe that thou art one only God, the Creator and Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, infinitely great and infinitely good: I firmly believe that in thee, one only God, there are three divine persons, really distinct and equal in all things, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: I firmly believe that Jesus Christ, God the Son, became Man, that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered and died on a cross to redeem and save us; that he arose the third day from the dead; that he ascended into heaven; that he will come at the end of the world to judge mankind; and that he will reward the good with eternal happiness, and condemn the wicked to the everlasting pains of hell. I believe these, and all other articles which the holy Roman Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because thou, my God, the Infallible Truth, hast revealed them; and thou hast commanded us to hear the Church, which is the pillar and the ground of truth. In this faith I am firmly resolved, by thy holy grace, to live and die.-Mat., xviii. 17: 1 Tim., iii. 15. ### An Act of Hope O MY God, who hast graciously promised every blessing, even heaven itself, through Jesus Christ, to those who keep thy commandments: relying on thy infinite power, goodness, and mercy, and confiding in thy sacred promises, to which thou art always faithful, I confidently hope to obtain pardon of all my sins; grace to serve thee faithfully in this life, by doing the good works thou hast commanded, and which with thy assistance, I will perform, and eternal happiness in the next: through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ### An Act of Charity, Or, an Act of the Love of God and Our Neighbour O MY God, I love thee with my whole heart and soul, and above all things, because thou art infinitely good and perfect, and most worthy of all my love; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Mercifully grant, O my God, that having loved thee on earth, I may love and enjoy thee for ever in heaven. ## A Prayer to Be Said Before Mass O MERCIFUL Father, who didst so love the world, as to give up for our redemption thy beloved Son; who, in obedience to thee, and for us sinners, humbled himself even unto the death of the cross, and continues to offer himself daily, by the ministry of his priests, for the living and the dead; we humbly beseech thee, that, penetrated with a lively faith, we may always assist, with the utmost devotion and reverence, at the oblation of his most precious body and blood, which is made at Mass; and thereby be made partakers of the sacrifice which he consummated on Calvary. In union with thy holy Church and its minister, and invoking the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the angels and saints, we now offer the adorable sacrifice of the Mass to thy honour and glory; to acknowledge thy infinite perfections; thy supreme dominion over all thy creatures; our entire subjection to thee, and total dependence on thy gracious providence; and in thanksgiving for all thy benefits; and for the remission of our sins. We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic faith, for our most holy father the pope, for our archbishop, (or bishop,) and for all the pastors and clergy of thy holy Church, that they may direct the faithful in the way of salvation; for the queen, and all that are in high station; that we may lead quiet and holy lives; for peace and good will among all states and people; for the necessities of mankind; and particularly for the congregation here present; to obtain all blessings we stand in need of in this life, everlasting happiness in the next, and eternal rest to the faithful departed. And as Jesus Christ so ordained, when he instituted at his last supper this wonderful mystery of his power, wisdom, and goodness; we offer the Mass in grateful remembrance of all he has done and suffered for the love of us; making special commemoration of his bitter passion and death, and of his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven. Vouchsafe, O Almighty and Eternal God, (for to thee alone so great a sacrifice is due,) graciously to accept it for these and all other purposes, agreeable to thy holy will. And to render it the more pleasing, we offer it to thee through the same Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour-our High Priest and Victim, and in the name of the most holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom be honour, praise, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ## Prayers at Mass IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. O LORD God, Creator of heaven and earth, graciously vouchsafe to accept the body and blood of our divine Redeemer, Jesus; which is about to be offered to thee in this most adorable sacrifice, for our salvation, and that of all thy faithful servants spread over the whole world. Incline thine ears, O Lord, to the prayers of thy minister and people, and mercifully restore thy true religion where it is wanting. Open the eyes of the blind, and make them know their error; mercifully vouchsafe, through the virtue of this holy and adorable sacrifice, to relieve all our wants, spiritual and temporal; give grace to the living, and eternal peace and rest to the souls of the faithful departed, through the merits of our only Saviour, thy Son Jesus Christ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, be all glory, praise, and sovereignty, for ever. Amen. ### At the General Confession I ACKNOWLEDGE before thee, O Lord God Almighty, in the presence of all the blessed in heaven, and faithful on earth, that I have often grievously offended thee; I confess that I justly deserve thy anger and indignation, because I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed; through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Yes, Lord, I have sinned: I acknowledge it to my shame, and with the most bitter regret, that I have ungratefully abused all thy gifts, yet with my whole heart, and with all my soul, I turn to thee O God, who art mild and very merciful; and purpose and promise by thy holy grace, to walk daily with more care and fidelity in the way of thy commandments. Remember, O Lord, remember the testament or covenant, which thou hast made with us, and confirmed with the blood and death of thy only Son: be merciful to my iniquities, and remember not my sins. O blessed Virgin Mary, and immaculate Mother of Jesus, and all ye saints and angels, intercede for me. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to listen to them; grant to the ardour of their prayers what thou mayest justly refuse to the coldness of mine, and to their services that pardon to which my offences can have no claim. *At the Kyrie Eleison consider Peter, who after such fair promises of constancy and fidelity, thrice his Lord; and repented not, till the merciful Master looked back upon him. Then say:* WERE every instant of my life, O Lord, employed in crying out to thee for mercy, yet would the number fall infinitely short of the comparative multitude of my offences; but if after repeatedly beseeching thee to have mercy on me, thou shouldst nevertheless still appear to disregard my petition, still would I, with a more loud and animated voice, redouble my importunity as did the woman of Cana and the blind man of Jerico; saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Be not, therefore, O Lord, deaf to my prayers and supplications: I know thou lovest to be importuned. If as yet thy goodness hath not induced thee, my perseverance shall, I hope, at length prevail on thee to grant me pardon. Have pity, O my Creator, on the work of thy hands. Grant pardon, O Father of Mercies, to thy rebellious children. *Behold in the fall of Peter, a looking glass of human frailty. We fall as easy, but we cannot rise again unless the mercy of God helps us; and therefore we should always implore it. This is signified by the frequent repetition of Kyrie Eleison; for it is a difficult thing, and a very great work of divine mercy, for a sinner to be converted. But, O what joy arises to the angels by such a sinner doing penance! This is signified by the angelic hymn that follows:* ### Gloria in Excelsis GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee; we bless thee; we adore thee; we glorify thee. We give thee thanks for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God. The Father Almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayers; who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For thou only art holy. Thou art the Lord. Thou only, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. *Then the priest turns to the people and says, " The Lord be with you," and the people answer " and with thy spirit." Which is often repeated in the Mass; by which the priest and the people do mutually pray for the divine assistance to each other, that they may thereby become more capable to celebrate the divine mysteries. Then follows the Collect, or general prayer; in which the priest represents the necessities and dangers, or desires of the whole people, or Church, as it were collected, to God; and therefore the priest says " Oremus," (Let us pray,) as inviting the congregation to make that prayer with united desires and minds. Here you may meditate on the collected accusation of the people against Christ; the counsel in the house of Caiphas, and the divers injuries, blows, and affronts he suffered; and join your intention with the priest, in this prayer.* O ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, we humbly beseech thee, mercifully to give ear to the prayers here offered to thee by thy servants, in the name of the whole Church, and in behalf of us thy people. Accept them to the honour of thy name, and the good of our souls; and grant to us all, mercy, grace, and salvation: through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. *Or in this, on Lady's Day.* O MOST pious Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I beseech thee by the great love thou bearest to thy dear Son, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, vouchsafe to obtain for me a true sorrow for my sins; a perfect guard over my senses; an humble resignation of myself; and the exercises of those virtues, wherewith thou didst so highly please his divine Majesty. I also most humbly request thee to direct my ways in those paths, which may be most agreeable to the will of thy Son, and conducive to the salvation of my soul. Amen. *Or in this, when the Mass is in honour of any particular Saint or Saints.* WE humbly beseech thee, O Lord God, Father omnipotent, to receive the prayers of thy servants, who celebrate the memory of the blessed Saint N., (or Saints N. N.,) that by his (her or their,) holy intercession, our bodies may be delivered from all dangers and adversities, and our hearts cleansed from all evil thoughts: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Or in this, when the Mass is for the Dead.* O Gon, whose property is always to have mercy, and to spare; we humbly present our prayers to thee, for the soul of thy servant N., (or for the souls of thy servants N. N.,) which thou hast been pleased to call out of this world. We beseech thee not to deliver it, (or them,) into the hands of the enemy; nor forget it (or them,) for ever; but command it (or them,) to be received by thy holy angels, and to be carried to paradise. Because it (or they,) bath faith and hope in thee, it (or they,) may be delivered from the pains of hell, and inherit everlasting life: through Christ our Lord. Amen. *Then follows the Epistle which is taken usually out of the Prophetical or Apostolical Scriptures; which we ought to hear as if the apostle or prophet himself did teach or correct us. Or you may, in the mean time, pray thus:* O ETERNAL God, who never ceasest to excite us, thy unworthy servants, by the public ministry of thy Church, and by the apostolical and prophetical, and other holy doctrines and lessons, to the honour and love of thy name, and to arm and fortify us against the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we, thy children, may always receive in our hearts thy sacred doctrines and lessons; and seriously endeavour to conform our manners and life to them. And lest it should turn to our great condemnation, to have known the way of truth, or thy will, by so many of thy interpreters and preachers, and not to have performed it, grant us grace and strength, that we may be able efficaciously to do those things, which we so often have known ought to be done: through Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. Amen. *At the Gospel the priest goes from the right hand to the left side of the altar; which signifies that the Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews, as the proper family of God, but they not receiving it, the apostles went to the Gentiles.* *It is an ancient and pious custom to stand up, and hear the Gospel. 1. In testimony of reverence showed to Christ. 2. To profess ourselves his servants and disciples; to receive his doctrine in our hearts, and to imitate it in our manners. 3. To show ourselves as soldiers under Christ, our Captain; to take the arms of our warfare from the faith and doctrine of Christ; and that for the defence of his truth we are ready to do and to suffer every thing.* *And after the Gospel, the custom of signing the cross on the forehead, on the mouth, and on the breast, admonishes us, that we are so to receive the doctrine of Christ that we embrace it in our hearts, profess it with our mouth, and declare it in our actions and works. And here we may reflect, how Christ was hurried from Caiphas to Pilate; examined by those impious men about his doctrine and disciples; accused for his preaching the Gospel, and attacked with many injuries and affronts.* Grant, O my God, that I may now hear thy gospel with a good and faithful heart; and that I may bring forth much fruit with patience. *DURING THE GOSPEL SAY:* IT is not thy interpreters, O God, who are now to instruct me; it is thy only Son-it is his word I am going to hear. I most gratefully embrace this heavenly doctrine; I rise up to declare it in the face of heaven and earth, that I will walk faithfully in that way which he hath marked out for me. He tells me here, that " it will avail a man nothing to gain the whole world, if he lose his own soul; that the sensual, the covetous, the worldling, the libertine, the detractor, and such as are insensible to the miseries of the poor, shall have no share in his heavenly kingdom; and that in order to become a disciple of his, I must take up my cross and follow him." I receive with all my heart these sacred maxims; grant me the grace to put them in practice; for to what purpose should I declare myself thy disciple, if I were not to live according to thy gospel? *AFTER THE GOSPEL SAY:* PRAISE be to thee, O Christ, who by thy self and thy apostles, hast vouchsafed to preach the gospel to the world, and to illuminate unbelievers with the light of the true faith. After the Gospel follows the Creed, or the profession of faith, and that very properly; for faith comes by hearing the word of God, and many nations by the preaching of the gospel, embraced the faith of Christ. Recite this, when it is said by the priest, with a lively affection of faith and piety; for nothing is more calculated to excite in us the love and fear of God, than a lively faith in those things contained in the Creed. ### The Creed Which also on some occasions is omitted by the priest when celebrating Mass, and should likewise by the congregation. I BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty; creator of heaven and earth, and of all things, visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; and born of the Father before all ages. God of God; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten not made; consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and became incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, AND WAS MADE MAN.* He was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father, and he is to come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end. * At these words the priest kneels down to adore God, for the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who, together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified: who spoke by the prophets. And one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. *When the Creed is to be omitted in the Mass, the priest immediately after reading the Gospel, says, " Dominus vobiscum," or the Lord be with you. But when the Creed Is to be said, it is after the recital of it, that he says, " Dominus vobiscum," He then reads the secret prayer and prayers, and begins the oblation.* *AT THE OBLATION,* *Think, O my soul, how Christ was sent from Pilate to Herod; and from Herod again to Pilate; and everywhere was derided and despised. Then say:* , O holy Trinity, this oblation; which, together with the priest, we offer to thee in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord; who having instituted this new and admirable oblation, to wit, bread and wine, mingled with water to be changed into the body and blood of our Lord; and which thy Catholic Church offers-to thee throughout the world. Vouchsafe to receive the same for the salvation of our souls, and of all the faithful living and dead: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. Amen. *The matter of the sacrifice being prepared, the priest washeth his hands; signifying that this sacrifice is not to be used, but with clean and pure minds, and therefore pray:* WASH me, O *Lord*, yet more from my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin. Purify me from all unknown sins, and from the sins of others, spare thy servant. *Then the priest, conscious of his own infirmity, turns about to the faithful, desiring to be assisted by their prayers, that he may offer, in all their names, a sacrifice acceptable to God. Therefore, they that are present at Mass, ought to do what they are desired to do, when he says " Orate Fratres," (brethren pray for me,) that is, to recommend humbly the priest and the sacrifice to God, that his offering may be profitable to their salvation; saying,* MAY the Lord receive this sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of his name, and to our benefit, and to the advantage of his universal holy Church. *Then the priest coming to the action, in which the very sacrifice properly consists, says the preface; which is a preparation and an exhortation to the people to dispose them to this action with due reverence and piety. So that when he says " Sursum Corda," (lift up your hearts,) we ought to remember that we must now lay aside all earthly cares and thoughts, and raise our minds to divine and heavenly things; and therefore we answer to the admonition of the priest, " Habemus ad Dominum," (we have our hearts lifted up to the Lord.) Here we ought to take care, lest we be guilty of a lie; for, being involved in earthly affairs, we say one thing with our lips, when other things are in our hearts.* *AT THE PREFACE.* Do thou thyself, O Lord, raise up my heart; inflame it with love; free it from earthly affections; let me be all in heaven where my treasure is, and on the altar where the Lamb without spot is going to be. My life, O Lord, is a continual succession of thy favours; O let my thanksgiving be also uninterrupted: and since thou art going to renew the greatest of all sacrifices, should I not also break forth in the most lively acknowledgments? Permit me, then, O Lord, to join my feeble voice with all the heavenly spirits, and say with them, in transports of joy and admiration, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of armies; the heavens and the earth are filled with his glory! Blessed be he who cometh in the name of the Lord: eternal King and God, as he who sends him! *AT THE CANON.* Before the priest consecrates, say: MOST merciful Father, who hast given us, poor mortals, all that we possess and hope for; and that of thine own infinite bounty, without any merit of ours; I bend my knees before thy Majesty, and not having anything of my own to render thee, that is worthy of thy acceptance, I humbly offer thee, by the hands of thy priest, with the intention of thy holy Church, the immaculate sacrifice of the body and blood of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with sentiments of the highest adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, that my soul is capable of, for all thy mercies granted to me, and all thy faithful; especially for the inestimable benefit of our redemption, purchased by his cruel death and passion; and for vouchsafing to make me, though unworthy, a member of thy holy Catholic Church, and for N. N., (here mention any particular favour.) But since my sins render me unworthy of thy mercy, and obnoxious to thy divine Majesty, I offer to thee, O Lord, the death and passion of thy Son; which he offered on the cross for the redemption of the world; and uniting to that immaculate sacrifice, the same holy body and blood in this adorable mystery. I humbly beseech thee, to pardon all my transgressions, and to make me partake of the fruits of his redemption; that I may daily die to the world, and live to thee for ever. Have mercy on thy Church; thy servant, our Chief Bishop; our Queen; and, all orders and degrees, ecclesiastical and civil; all our friends, relations, and.benefactors; all that I have injured or offended, or that have injured or offended me. Finally, in virtue of this holy sacrifice, give to thy Church peace; to sinners repentance; to the just perseverance; and to all the souls of the faithful departed, eternal rest and everlasting life; through the same Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. *AT THE ELEVATION OF THE SACRED HOST.* *Remember now, O Christian, that Christ was lifted up on the cross for thy redemption; and exposed naked and void of all earthly comforts, to the affronts of the Jews: and say, with the most profound respect,* I ADORE the sacred body of thee, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was truly born and crucified for me! Out of whose side, pierced with a spear, there flowed water and blood, the price of my redemption. Oh! let me receive them, in the hour of my death, sweet Jesus! *AT THE ELEVATION OF THE SACRED CHALICE,* *Remember now, how truly Christ loved you, so as to shed his blood and die for you. Remember a bleeding and dying Redeemer to save sinful man, and say:* I ADORE the sacred blood of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the true price of our redemption, which was truly shed for us; and which doth wash away the sins of the world. O Jesus, do thou wash me, sanctify me, - and preserve my soul unto eternal life. Amen. *N.B.-When the Mass is celebrated for the dead say the following prayer three times at the Elevation, both of the Sacred Host and Chalice: Jesus, pious and good Lord, Eternal rest to them afford. Amen.* *THE REST OF THE CANON.* *After the Elevation contemplate in the most affectionate manner, your Saviour here present; reflect on the mysteries he here renews; unite the sacrifice of your heart to that of his body; then lift up your soul to God the Father, and say:* IT is now, O eternal Majesty, that we truly and really offer thee that pure, holy, and immaculate victim, which of thyself thou hast been pleased to grant us, and of which all other offerings were only the types. The sacrifices of Abel, of Abraham, and Melchisedech, were nothing compared to ours. This glorious Victim, thy dear Son himself, the perfect object of thy eternal love, is alone worthy of thy altar-· is an offering by so much the ·more precious than theirs, as God is greater than all creatures. Look down then, O Lord, on the face of thy beloved Christ J Behold what labours he sustained in his life? what pains in his passion, what torments in his death? and all for us. I offer all these to thee in satisfaction for my many sins, by this sacrifice; that in virtue thereof, thou wilt vouchsafe to pardon my iniquities, and grant me grace to persevere in thy love and service to the last moments of my life. *Now turn your heart to Jesus Christ in the holy sacrifice, and say with a deep sense, with a lively faith, and with the most profound sentiments of devotion, the following prayer to God the Son, beseeching him for mercy by his sweet and blessed name, Jesus.* O NAME of Jesus! Name most precious and delightful! For what means Jesus? A Saviour. Therefore, O Jesus, I call upon thee; whose precious body, blood, soul, and Godhead, are now before me, really present in the sacrament of the altar, under the appearance of bread and wine, for thy holy name be to me a Jesus this day! Save me, O Lord; suffer me not to be damned; whom thou hast created out of nothing, and redeemed with thy precious blood. O good Jesus, let not my iniquity be the destruction of me, whom thy almighty goodness hath made. O sweet Jesus! own what is thine; and wipe off what belongs not to thee. O most bountiful Jesus! have mercy on me now, while the time of judging comes. What profit can there be to me in thy blood if I descend into eternal perdition? The dead praise thee not, nor all those that go down to hell. O most loving Jesus! O most desirable Jesus! O meekest Jesus! O Jesus, enrol me in the number of thy elect! O Jesus, the salvation of those-that believe in thee! O Jesus, the comfort of such as fly. to thee! O sweet Jesus, the remission of all sins! O Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary, pour into my soul the graces of wisdom and charity; of chastity and humility: that with all that call on thy name, which is Jesus, I may perfectly love thee, praise thee, enjoy thee, serve thee, and glorify thee.-Amen. *Now Christian, in silent astonishment, contemplate for a moment upon what passes upon the altar; and say, with reverence within thyself, Oh! the depth of thy wisdom and knowledge, O my God! How incomprehensible are thy judgments, and how unsearchable thy ways!* Oh-! sacrament of piety! Oh! sign of union! Oh! bond of charity! He that wisheth to live upon that altar, hath wherewithal to live! Let him come then and believe, and be incorporated, that he may be enlivened. O miracle! O the goodness of God! Who sitting above with his eternal Father is at the same time also in the hands of the priest, and delivered to such as are willing to receive and embrace him. O dreadful Majesty! how much ought I tremble at the very idea of offending thee? O infinite mercy, to thee I come for pardon of my sins; to thee I have recourse this day in all my necessities. Thee, O my God, I adore with all the faculties of my soul and body. Hail, then, most sacred body of my Redeemer! crucified formerly on Mount Calvary, for me and all mankind. O Father of Mercies! we, though unworthy to be called thy servants, yet have the confidence to call thee Father, and ourselves thy children; because thy own free goodness hath adopted us by thy Son, and thy Son himself hath given us the assurance of calling thee Father, by prescribing us this form of prayer. Accept, therefore, the prayer which thy beloved Son bath taught us; and for his sake, grant us mercifully, whatever he hath taught us to ask, saying, Our Father, &c. *Then with the priest, say the Pater Noster; and after the Pater Noster, say this prayer,* DELIVER us, O Lord, we beseech thee, from all our evils, past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the ever blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, and of the holy Apostles, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, and of all the saints, mercifully grant peace in our days: that by the help of thy mercy, we may be fenced and freed from all evil, both now and for ever, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *AT THE DIVISION OF THE HOST,* *Think of the separation of Christ's soul from his body; that is, his death; which, as an innocent lamb led to the slaughter, he suffered, to take away the sins of the world. Then say with. The priest,* Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. *AN ADMONITION,* *AT the Communion, while the priest communicates, you must not neglect a spiritual communion, if you desire to hear Mass to your profit.* *Now a spiritual communion is an exercise of the principal virtues, faith, hope, and charity, by which we acquire the fruit of the sacrament, which is an union with Christ, without taking the sacrament.* 1\. *First, therefore, excite in yourself a lively and true faith concerning this sacrament; which may be easily supported by the consideration of the divine power, wisdom, goodness, and truth.* 2\. *An exercise of hope. For what will he deny us who gives himself P What cannot he do, who when absent in body, cured the centurion's servant and others.* 3\. *Excite your love, and with an ardent desire of heart, thirst after Christ, as a living fountain; of which whosoever drinks shall never be thirsty. Wish, therefore, to be united to Christ, and to become incorporated with him, by the virtue of his body and blood; that as being one spirit with him, you may never hereafter be separated from him.* *This spiritual communion is of great advantage; and, therefore, we ought to be very mindful of it; principally, because it may be performed often in one and the same day; and always with new improvements of grace and charity.* ### A Prayer for Spiritual Communion O MOST loving Jesus, I adore thee with a lively and true faith, who art present in this sacrament, by virtue of thy infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. But conscious of my infirmities and my sins, I dare not now receive thee sacramentally; but I say with the centurion, whose absent servant thou didst cure, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof," but by thy only word, thou canst do all things. Say then the word, and my miserable and languishing soul shall be cured. All my hope is in thee. I love thee, O Lord with my whole heart and soul; and therefore I desire to receive thee now spiritually. For if the looking up to the brazen serpent, was a sufficient remedy to cure those that were bitten by the fiery serpents, shall not the faith, by which I contemplate thee, have more virtue to cure the bitings of the infernal serpent? Come, therefore, O Lord, to me in spirit; and heal my sinful soul. Feed me that am hungry; comfort me that am weak; quicken me; enliven me; and sanctify me with thy sacred body and blood; deliver me from all sin; and make me always adhere to thy commands; and let me never be separated from thee, my Jesus, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. *At the Post Communion, which is one or more collects or prayers after the Communion, say,* O God, who hast left us the memory of thy passion in a most admirable sacrament, we beseech thee, grant that we may so reverence the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood, that we may always find in ourselves the fruits of thy redemption; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, &c. Amen. We graciously beseech thee, O Lord, to receive the prayers of thy Church; that adversities and all errors being taken away, thy Church may serve thee in a quiet liberty, through Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. *WHEN MASS IS CELEBRATED ON LADY'S DAY.* O HOLY Mary, Mother of God, and faithful comforter of the desolate! by that great joy wherewith thy heart was filled, when thou knewest that our Lord Jesus was risen from death, and became glorious and impassible, be a comfort to my soul at the hour of death; that by the help of thy intercession, I may so pass out of this life, as to avoid the sentence of perpetual damnation, and obtain a glorious resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. *ON THE FESTIVAL OF A SAINT.* GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the example of thy saints may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate their festivals, we may also imitate their actions: through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. *BUT WHEN THE MASS IS CELEBRATED FOR THE DEAD, SAY,* GRANT, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the humble prayers we address to thee, for the souls of thy servants, men and women, may be profitable to them; and mayest thou deliver them from all their sins, and make them worthy partakers of thy redemption: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, &c. *When the priest says, "Ite missa est," or at the end of the Mass, reflect within yourself, how Christ, having finished the work of our redemption, as a glorious conqueror ascended into heaven; and the apostles, receiving his blessing, went to preach the gospel to the whole world, say,* Thanks be to God. *When the priest humbly bows before the altar, preparatory to his giving the blessing, say,* MOST holy and adorable Trinity, by thee we have commenced this sacrifice, by thee do we desire to conclude it; we therefore shall not leave thee until thou bless us. Give us, O Lord, thy blessing, by the hands of thy priest; may it influence our actions, and be the sure pledge of that last benediction, which thy elect shall receive, when called by thee into eternal glory. *Then, when the priest gives the blessing, (for on some occasions, he does not,) reverently bow your body, expecting a blessing from God, and say with great faith,* MAY the omnipotent and most merciful God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless us and guard us for ever. *Then make the sign of the cross on your forehead, and while the priest is reading the Last Gospel; say the following prayer:* DIVINE Word! Only Son of the Father! Light of the world! who earnest from heaven to show us the way to it, I adore thy Majesty with the most profound respect; I place my whole confidence in thee. I hope, most firmly, that as thou art my God, a God made man to save mankind, thou wilt grant such graces as my sanctification requires, that I may enjoy thee for ever in glory. *When the priest has concluded the Last Gospel, devoutly say,* Thanks be to God. ### The de Profundis FROM the depths I have cried to thee. O Lord, Lord hear my prayer. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my petition, If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord, Lord who shall sustain it? Because with thee there is mercy; and for thy law; I have expected thee, O Lord. My soul has expected in his word; my soul has hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch, even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with him a plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine on them. LET US PRAY, O GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of thy servants departed the remission of all their sins; that by pious supplications they may obtain the pardon they ever desired: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. Give them, O Lord, eternal rest. And let thy light shine upon them for ever. May they rest in peace. *THE LAST PRAYER,* THOU hast offered thyself, O Lord, this day for my salvation: I desire to be sacrificed for thy glory. I am thy victim: do with me as thou wiliest. Whatever I have, I consecrate entirely to thee. The crosses which thou shall please to send me, I will most freely accept; I bless thee; I will receive them from thy hand, and unite them with those thou has endured for my sake: I am now leaving thy temple, resolved, with thy help, to serve thee faithfully. I will struggle against my failings; but chiefly against that which I am most inclined to. Thy law shall henceforth direct me; and I shall forfeit all, and suffer every thing, rather than mortally transgress it. ## The Manner of Serving a Priest at Mass ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT RITE OF THE HOLY CARMELITE ORDER. *N.B.-When the Priest ascends the altar steps, and uncovers the Chalice, serve him with wine and water, first presenting the wine cruet with the right hand, and receiving it with the left, that you may present the water cruet in like manner; then descend, kneel at the left hand side of the Priest; Pronounce each word distinctly and intelligibly, neither in too high or too low a tone; guard against negligence and too much precipitation in answering. You must not begin your own part till the Priest has finished his; as often as the Priest blesses himself you must do the same, and bow your head whenever the Priest bows.* PRIEST. In nomine Patris, et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,.Amen; confitemini Domino quoniam bonus. CLERK. Quoniam in sreculum misericordia ejus. P. Confiteor Deo, &c. C. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimittat tibi omnia peccata tua; liberet te ab omni malo; conservet et confirmet in omni opere bono et perducat ad vitam eternam. P..Amen. C. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, Beatre Mario semper Virgini, beato Patri nostro Elire, omnibus sanctis et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, locutione opere et omissione: mea culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum patrem nostrum Eliam omnes Sanctos, et te pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Jesum Christum. P. Misereatur tui, &c. C..Amen. P. Indulgentiam, &c. C. Amen. P..Adjutorium nostrum, &c. C. Qui fecit cmlum et terram. P. Kyrie Eleison. C. Kyrie Eleison. P. Kyrie Eleison. C. Christe Eleison. P. Christe Eleison. C. Christe Eleison. P. Kyrie Eleison. 0. Kyrie Eleison. P. Kyrie Eleison. P. Dominus vobiscum, C. Et cum spiritu tuo. P. Per omnia srecula sreculorum. C. Amen. N.B.-At the end of the Epistle, say Deo Gratias, then remove the Book, and always stand or kneel at the contrary side to it. When you pass from one side of the Altar to the other, if the blessed Sacrament be exposed, or in the tabernacle, stop before the middle of the Altar, and with your face turned towards it, respectfully bend your knee; if the blessed Sacrament be not there, only bow your head. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. P. Initium or Sequantia Sancti Evangelii, &c. C. Gloria tibi Domine. N.B.-At the beginning of the Gospel, form the sign of the holy cross, on your forehead, mouth, and breast, make reverence, and at the end say, Laus tibi Christe. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. N.B.-At the Lavabo, pour a little water on the Priest's fingers, holding at the same time a plate in your left hand to receive it; then return to your place, kneel down with your hands joined, your eyes fixed on the Altar, and your heart elevated to heaven. P. Orate fratres. C. Memory sit Dominus omnis sacrificii tui: et holacaustum tuum pingue fiat: tribuat tibi secundum cor tuum: et omne consilium tuum confirmet. P. Per omnia srecula sreculorum. C. Amen. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. P. Sursum corda. C. Habemus ad Dominum. P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. C. Dignum et Justum est. N.B.-At the Sanctus ring the bell three times; that is, once at each Sanctus, continuing after the last till the Priest says Benedictus qui venit, &c., and then stop. At the elevation of the consecrated Host and Chalice, you are to raise the Priest's vestment gently with the left hand, and ring the bell slowly and regularly, thrice at each elevation: first when the Priest kneels down to adore our Lord; and secondly, at the elevation of the Host itself; thirdly, at the elevation of the Chalice. After the elevation return to your place. P. Per omnia srecula sreculorum. C. Amen. P. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. C. Sed libera nos a malo. P. Per omnia srecula sreculorum. C. Amen. P. Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. N.B.-At the Domine non sum dignus ring the bell thrice, and once at the Priest's receiving the Chalice; after the communion, serve him first with a little wine, and after with wine and water, then remove the book to the Epistle side of the Altar. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. P. Per omnia srecula sreculorum. C. Amen. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. P. Ite missa est, or Benedicamus Domino. C. Deo Gratias. P. Benedictio Dei, &c. C. Amen. P. Salve Regina. C. Ora pro nobis sancta Dei Genetrix. P. Oremus, &c. N.B,:-In Paschal Time, instead of Salve Regina, the Priest says Regina Cœli; then answer Gaude et lætare Virgo Maria. If the Priest leaves the book open before he gives the blessing to the people, bring it back to the Gospel side, then kneel down and receive the blessing. P. Dominus vobiscum. C. Et cum Spiritu tuo. P. Initium or Sequentia Sancti Evangelii. C. Gloria tibi Domine. N.B.-Make the sign of the cross on your forehead, mouth, and breast, and at the end of the Gospel say Laus, tibi Christe. ## The Order for the Celebration of the Lord's Supper, Together with Holy Communion, Commonly Called the Mass IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Anth. I will go unto the altar of God. R. To God who rejoiceth my youth. PSALM XLIII, P. JUDGE me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: from the unjust and deceitful man deliver me. R. Since thou, O God, art my strength, why hast thou rejected me? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? P. Send forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me and brought me unto thy holy mount, and into thy tabernacle. R. I will go unto the altar of God: to God who rejoiceth my youth. P. I will praise thee on the harp, O God, my God; why art thou sorrowful, O my soul? and why dost thou disturb me? R. Hope in God, for him will I still praise; he is my God, and the Saviour I look for. P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. P. I will go unto the altar of God. R. To God who rejoiceth my youth. P. May our help be in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. P. I confess to Almighty God, &c. R. May Almighty God be merciful to thee, and, forgiving thee thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. P. Amen. R. I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever a virgin, to blessed Michael, the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you, father, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary, ever a virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, and you, O father, to pray to the Lord our God for me. P. May Almighty God be merciful unto you, and, forgiving you your sins, bring you to life everlasting. R. Amen. P. May the Almighty and most merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. R. Amen. P. O God, thou being turned towards us, wilt enliven us. R. And thy people will rejoice in thee. P. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy. R. And grant us thy salvation. P. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Then, whilst the priest ascends to the altar, he says: Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds into the Holy of Holies: through Christ our Lord. And embracing the Altar, he says: We beseech thee, O Lord, by the merits of thy saints, whose relics are here, and of all the saints, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to forgive me all my sins. Amen. In the solemn service of High Mass, incense is burnt about the altar to shew that we ought only to offer to God the purest worship; and also, that if our prayers be humble and fervent, they will ascend to heaven like a sweet perfume. (Eccl. xiv. 20.) Blessing the incense, the priest says: ' Mayest thou be blessed by him in whose honour thou shalt be burnt. ' BLESSED be the holy Trinity, and undivided Unity: we will praise it, because it hath shewn his mercy to us. Ps. O Lord, our God, how wonderful is thy name over the utmost boundaries of the earth. The priest then goes to the book, and reads the INTROIT,which being different every day, the following may be said: Let the name of the Lord be blessed both now and for ever. From the rising to the setting of the sun all praise is due to the name of the Lord. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, and looks on all that is humble both in heaven and on earth. Glory be to the Father, &c. P. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Lord, have mercy on us. P. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. P. Christ, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. P. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Lord, have mercy on us. P. Lord, have mercy on us. THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS. (In English, page 111.) GLORIA in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus borne voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex cœlestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe, - Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.-Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. The priest turning towards the people, says: P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Then going to the book, reads the Collects, which being different every day, the following may be said on the common days of the week: WE humbly beseech thee, O almighty and eternal God, mercifully to give ear to the prayers of thy servant, which he offers to thee in the name of thy Church, and in behalf of us thy people; accept them to the honour of thy name, and the good of our souls, and grant us all those blessings, which may any way contribute to our salvation: through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The clerk having answered Amen, the priest reads the Epistle, which being different also, say as follows: BE thou, O Lord, eternally praised and blessed, for having communicated thy spirit to the holy prophets and apostles, disclosing to them admirable secrets, redounding to thy glory and our great good. We firmly believe their word, because it is thine. Give us, we beseech thee, the happiness to understand from the Church, by their instructions, what is profitable, and grace to practise the same all our lives. At the end of the Epistle, the clerk answers: Thanks be to God. Then may be said: How wonderful, O Lord, is thy name through the whole earth. I will bless our Lord at all times, his prayer shall ever be in my mouth. Be thou my God and my protector; in thee alone I will put my trust, let me not be confounded for ever. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE GOSPEL. CLEANSE my heart and my lips, O almighty God, who didst cleanse the lips of the prophet Isaiah with a burning coal: and vouchsafe through thy gracious mercy so to purify me, that I may worthily declare thy holy gospel: through Christ our Lord. Amen. Bless me, O Lord. May the Lord be in my heart and in my lips, that I may worthily and meetly declare his gospel. Amen. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. P. The sequence; (or beginning of the gospel according to St. &c.) During the Gospel may be said as follows:* BE thou ever adored and praised, O Lord, who art not content to instruct and inform us by the prophets and apostles, but hast even vouchsafed to speak to us, by thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, commanding us by a voice from heaven to hear him: grant us, merciful God, the grace to profit by his divine and heavenly doctrine. All that is written of thee, divine Jesus, in thy gospel, is truth itself: nothing but wisdom in thy actions; power and goodness in thy miracles; light and instruction in thy words. With thee, sacred Redeemer, are the words of eternal life: to whom shall we go, but to thee, eternal Fountain of Truth? I firmly believe, O God, all thou teachest, give me only grace to practise what thou commandest, and command what thou pleasest. * The people stand while the Gospel is read. At the end of the Gospel is answered: Praise be to thee, O Christ. Then the priest says in a low voice: May our sins be blotted out by the words of the gospel. Amen. Immediately after the Gospel follows the Sermon, or public Instruction of the people, which is usually on the Gospel of the day. THE NICENE CREED, Which is repeated on Sundays and great Feasts of the year. (In English, page 117.) CREDO in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem creli, et teme, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum; et ex Patre natum ante omnia srecula: Deum de Deo; Lumen de Lumine; Deum verum de Deo vero; genitum non factum; consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descendit de crelis, et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria Virgine, ET HOMO FACTUS EST.* Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est; et resurrexit tertia die, secundum scripturas. Et ascendit in crelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris, et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivas et mortuos; cujus regni non erit finis. * At these words the priest and people kneel down, in adoration of the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et Vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit; qui cum patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, Catholicam, et Apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum Baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi sreculi. Amen. The priest then says, turning towards the people: P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. At the Offertory, which differs every day, may be said: O MY God, I sincerely offer myself, and all I have, to thee, to do and suffer whatever thou commandest or permittest. Receive my offering, and bear with my weakness, I most humbly beseech thee. Then the priest uncovers the paten or plate, and the chalice or cup, and holding up the bread, repeats the Offertory prayer, saying: ACCEPT, O holy Father, almighty and eternal God, this unspotted host, which I, thy unworthy servant, offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my innumerable sins, offences, and negligences, and for all here present; as also for all faithful Christians, both living and dead; that it may avail both me and them unto life everlasting. Amen. Then the priest puts the wine and water into the chalice, saying: O Gon, who, in creating human nature, hast wonderfully dignified it, and still more wonderfully reformed it; grant that, by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of his divine nature, who vouchsafed to become partaker of our human nature, namely, Jesus Christ our Lord thy Son, who with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, &c. Amen. Then offering up the chalice, he says: WE offer unto thee, O Lord, the Chalice of Salvation, beseeching thy clemency, that it may ascend before thy divine Majesty, as a sweet odour for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen. Then the priest says before the altar: ACCEPT us, O Lord, in the spirit of humility, and contrition of heart, and grant, that the sacrifice which we offer this day in thy sight, may be pleasing to thee, O Lord God. Then he blesses the bread and wine, saying: COME, O almighty and eternal God, the sanctifier, and bless this sacrifice, prepared for the glory of thy holy name. Washing his hands, he says, PSALM XXV. 6. I will wash my hands among the innocent: and will encompass thy altar, O Lord. That I may hear the voice of praise: and publish all thy marvellous works. Lord, I have loved the beauty of thy house, and the place of the habitation of thy glory. Destroy not my soul with the impious; and my life with men of bloody minds. In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with bribes. But I have walked in my innocence: redeem me, and have mercy on me. My feet have stood in the right path: in the assembly I will bless thee, O Lord. Glory be to the Father, &c. Bending before the middle of the altar, he says: RECEIVE, O holy Trinity, this oblation which we make to thee, in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honour of the blessed Mary, ever a virgin, the blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints; that it may be available to their honour and our salvation: and may they vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven, whose memory we celebrate on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Then turning towards the people, he says: BRETHREN, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty. R. May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of his name, and to our benefit, and to that of his holy Church. As the next prayer differs every day, the following may be said: MERCIFULLY hear our prayers, O Lord, and graciously accept this oblation, which we, thy servants, are making to thee; that as we offer it to the honour of thy name, so it may be to us here a means of obtaining thy grace, and hereafter everlasting happiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who with thee, &c. P. World without end. R. Amen. Then the priest proceeds, saying: P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. P. Lift up your hearts! R. We have lifted them up to the Lord. P. Let us give thanks to our Lord God. R. It is meet and just. The common preface on all festivals and other days that have none proper, and in Masses for the dead. IT is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we. should always, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God. Through Christ our Lord: by whom the angels praise thy Majesty, the dominations adore it, the powers tremble before it, the heavens, the heavenly virtues, and blessed seraphim, with common jubilee glorifying it. Together with whom we beseech thee that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, saying: * Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. * Here the bell at the altar is rung as a sign to the people, that the priest is entering on the more sacred part of the sacrifice, On Trinity-Sunday, and all other Sundays in the year that have no proper prefaces. WHO, together with thy only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, and one Lord: not in a singularity of person, but in a Trinity of substance. For what we believe of thy glory, as thou hast revealed it, the same we believe of thy Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any. difference or distinction. So that, in the confession of the true and eternal Deity, we adore a distinction in the Persons, an unity in the Essence, and an equality in the Majesty. Whom the angels and archangels, the cherubim also and seraphim praise, and cease not daily to cry out with one voice, saying, Holy, &c. From Christmas-day till the Epiphany; on Corpus Christi; and on our Lord's Transfiguration. SINCE by the mystery of the Word made flesh, a new ray of thy glory has appeared to the eyes of our souls: that whilst we behold God visibly, we may be carried by him to the love of things invisible. And, therefore, with the angels and archangels, with the thrones and dominations, and with all the heavenly host, we sing an everlasting hymn to thy glory, saying, Holy, &c. The preface on the Epiphany till its Octave, inclusively. BECAUSE, when thy only begotten Son appeared in the substance of our mortal flesh, he repaired us by the new light of his immortality. And, therefore, &c. The preface in Lent till Passion Sunday. WHO, by this bodily fast, extinguishest our vices, elevatest our understandings, bestowest on us virtue and its rewards. Through, &c. The preface for Passion and Palm Sundays, Maunday-Thursday, and feast of the Holy Cross. WHO hast appointed that the salvation of mankind should be wrought on the wood of the cross: that from whence death came, thence life might arise: and he who overcame by the tree, might also by the tree by overcome. Through, &c. From Holy Saturday till the Ascension. IT is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, to praise thee, O Lord, at all times, but chiefly on this (night or day, or at this time,) when Christ, our passover, was sacrificed for us. For he is the true Lamb who has taken away the sins of the world. Who, by dying, has destroyed our death, and by rising again, restored us to life. And, therefore, &c. From Ascension-day till Whitsun-Eve. THROUGH Christ, our Lord, who, after his resurrection appeared openly to all his disciples, and in their presence ascended into heaven, to make us partakers of his divine nature. And therefore, &c. The preface from Whitsun-Eve till Trinity-Sunday. THROUGH Christ our Lord, who ascending above all the heavens, and sitting at thy right hand, didst send down the promised Holy Spirit (this day) upon the children of adoption. Wherefore the whole world displays its excess of joy: the heavenly virtues also, and all the angelic powers, sing in concert an everlasting hymn to thy glory, saying, Holy, &c. On festivals of the B. V. Mary, the Purification excepted, on which is said the preface of Christmas. THAT we should praise, bless, and glorify thee on the N. of the blessed Mary, ever a virgin. Who by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost conceived thy only begotten Son, and the. glory of her virginity still remaining, brought forth the eternal light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. By whom, &c. The preface on the festivals of the Apostles. IT is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, humbly to beseech thee, that thou, O Lord, our eternal Shepherd, wouldst not forsake thy flock, but keep it under thy continual protection by thy blessed apostles. That it may be governed by those whom thou hast appointed its vicars and pastors. And therefore, &c. At which terminate with, HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. ## The Canon, or More Sacred Part of the Mass WE humbly pray and beseech thee, therefore, most merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept and bless these gifts, these presents, these holy unspotted sacrifices, which in the first place we offer thee for thy holy Catholic Church, to which vouchsafe to grant peace; as also to preserve, unite, and govern it throughout the world, together with thy servant N. our Pope, N. our Bishop, and N. our Queen, as also all orthodox believers and professors of the Catholic and Apostolic Faith. The Commemoration of the Living. BE mindful, O Lord, of thy servants men and women, N. and N. Here the priest silently commemorates those he intends to pray for. AND of all here present, whose faith and devotion is known unto thee, for whom we offer, or who offer up to thee this sacrifice of praise for themselves, their families, and friends, for the redemption of their souls, for the health and salvation they hope for, and for which they now pay their vows to thee the eternal, living and true God. Communicating with, and honouring in the first place, the memory of the ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord God Jesus Christ; as also of the blessed apostles and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, and Thadeus; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xyxtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John, and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all thy saints, by whose merits and prayers grant that we may be always defended by the help of thy protection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Spreading his hands over the oblation, he blesses it, saying: WE therefore beseech thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our servitude; as also of thy whole family, and dispose our days in thy peace, preserve us from eternal damnation, and rank us in the number of thine elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Which oblation do thou, O God, vouchsafe in all respects to bless, approve, ratify, and accept, that it may be made for us the body and blood of thy most beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Who, the day before he suffered, took bread into his holy and venerable hands, and with his eyes lifted up towards heaven, giving thanks to thee, Almighty God, his Father: he blessed, brake, and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat ye all of this, FOR THIS IS MY BODY. After pronouncing the words of consecration, the priest kneeling, adores and elevates the sacred Host; and the bell at the altar is rang to give notice to the congregation. IN like manner after he had supped, taking also this excellent chalice into his holy and venerable hands, giving thee also thanks, he blessed and gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE AND DRINK YE ALL OF THIS, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL TESTAMENT: THE MYSTERY OF FAITH: WHICH SHALL BE SHED FOR YOU, AND FOR MANY, TO THE REMISSION OF SINS. As often as you do these things, you shall do them in remembrance of me.* * This clean sacrifice, which the Prophet Malachy (c, xi.) so distinctly foretold should be offered In every place among the Gentiles, was also most strikingly prefigured by the sacrifice of bread and wine, offered by Melchisedech, and by the Mosaic sacrifice of the paschal lamb. The one was typical of the matter and form, the other of the essence and substance. In the latter type, the innocent victim, whose blood had saved the people, (Exod. xii. 19,) was afterwards made their food and nourishment, and was wholly eaten and consumed. Here also kneeling, he adores and elevates the chalice.† † As the whole Mass is a mystical representation of Christ's passion, so the elevation of the Host and of the chalice is in remembrance of his having been lifted up upon the cross. (John xii. 32.) WHEREFORE, O Lord, we thy servants as also thy holy people, calling to mind the blessed passsion of the same Christ thy Son our Lord, his resurrection and admirable ascension into heaven; offer unto thy most excellent Majesty, of thy gifts bestowed upon us, a pure Host, a holy Host, an unspotted Host, the holy bread of eternal life, and chalice of everlasting salvation. Upon which, vouchsafe to look with a propitious and serene countenance, and to accept them, as thou wert graciously pleased to accept the gifts of thy just servant Abel, and the sacrifice of our patriarch Abraham, and that which thy high-priest Melchisedech offered to thee, a holy Sacrifice, and an unspotted Victim. We most humbly beseech thee, Almighty God, command these things to be carried by the hands of thy holy angel to thy altar on high, in the sight of thy divine Majesty: that as many as shall partake of the most sacred body and blood of thy Son at this altar, may be filled with every heavenly grace and blessing. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. THE COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD. BE mindful, O Lord, of thy servants N. and N. who are gone before us, with the sign of faith, and rest in the sleep of peace. Here particular mention is made of such of the dead as are to be prayed for. To these, O Lord, and to all who sleep in Christ, grant, we beseech thee, a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Here striking his breast, the priest says: ALSO to us sinners, thy servants, confiding in the multitude of thy mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with thy holy apostles and martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecily, Anastasia, and with all thy saints: into whose company we beseech thee to admit us, not in consideration of our merits, but thy own gratuitous pardon. Through Christ our Lord. By whom, O Lord, thou dost always establish, sanctify, quicken, bless, and give us all these good things. By him, and with him, and to him, with thee God the Father Almighty, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory. P. For ever and ever. R. Amen. LET US PRAY, BEING instructed by thy saving precepts, and following thy divine directions, we presume to say. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven: give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: and lead us not into temptation: R. But deliver us from evil. P. Amen. Deliver us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God, and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of Andrew, and of all the saints, mercifully grant peace in our days: that through the assistance of thy mercy, we may be always free from sin, and secure from all disturbance. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God. P. World without end. R. Amen. P. May the peace of the Lord be always with you. R. And with thy spirit. Breaking the Host, he puts a particle thereof into the chalice, saying: MAY the mixture and consecration of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, be to us that receive it effectual to eternal life. Amen. Then inclining, and striking his breast, he says thrice: LAMB of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, give us peace. In Masses for the dead, he says twice: Give them rest; and lastly, Give them eternal rest. Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said to thy apostles, I leave you peace, I give you my peace: regard not my sins, but the faith of thy Church; and grant her that peace and unity which is agreeable to thy will: who livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, according to the will of thy Father, hast by thy death, through the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, given life to the world, deliver me by this thy most sacred body and blood from all my iniquities, and from all evils: and make me always adhere to thy commandments, and never suffer me to be separated from thee: who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity, &c. Let not the participation of thy body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my judgment and condemnation: but through thy mercy, may it be a safeguard and remedy, both of soul and body: who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen. Taking the Host in his hands, he says: I WILL take the bread of heaven, and call upon the name of the Lord. Striking his breast in humility and devotion, he says thrice: LORD I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed. Receiving reverently both parts of the Host, he says: MAY the body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen. Taking the chalice, he says: WHAT return shall I make the Lord for all he has given to me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. Praising I will call upon the Lord, and shall be saved from my enemies. Receiving the Blood of our Saviour, he says: THE blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to everlasting life.* Amen. * In the sacrifice of the Mass the priest always communicates under both kinds, on other occasions he only receives under one kind; and nothing is hereby wanting to complete the sacrament, since every particle is the essential substance and sign of the mystery. If there be any among the people who wish to communicate, the clerk says this general confession; viz. "I confess to Almighty God," &c., and the communicants approach to the communion table, in the front of the altar; and there kneel, holding the napkin with both hands, whilst the priest, turning towards them, pronounces the prayer of absolution, saying: MAY the Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to life everlasting. Amen. May the all-powerful and merciful God, grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of all your sins. Amen. Then with the sacred Host in his hand, he says thrice: BEHOLD the Lamb of God; behold him that taketh away the sins of the world: Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word and my soul shall be healed. Then the priest distributes the consecrated particles, saying to each one: MAY the body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul to everlasting life. Amen. Then the priest returning to the altar, and the people to their respective places, he prays secretly, as follows: GRANT, Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth, we may receive with a pure mind, that of a temporal gift, it may become to us an eternal remedy. Taking the second ablution, he says: MAY thy body, O Lord, which I have received, and thy blood which I have drank, cleave to my bowels; and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me, who have been fed with thy pure and holy sacrament. Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen. As the two following prayers are different every day, the following may be said as a thanksgiving after communion. LET it be now, O Lord, the effect of thy mercy, that we, who have been present at this holy mystery, may find the benefit of it in our souls. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. LET US PRAY. Then may be said: WE give thee thanks, O Lord, for thy mercy in admitting us to have a part in offering this sacrifice to thy holy name; accept it now to thy glory, and be ever mindful of our weakness, pardon all our defects, and grant our requests. Through, &c. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. P. * Go, you are dismissed; (or,) Let us bless the Lord. * Formerly the Mass ended here; the subsequent prayer, the blessing of the priest, and St. John's Gospel, have been since added to the liturgy. R. Thanks be to God. In Masses for the Dead. P. May they rest in peace. R. Amen. Inclining before the altar, the priest says: LET the performance of my homage be pleasing to thee, O holy Trinity: and grant, that the sacrifice which I, though unworthy, have offered up in the sight of thy Majesty, may be acceptable to thee, and through thy mercy be a propitiation for me, and those for whom it has been offered. Through, &c. Turning himself towards the people, he gives them the blessing, saying: MAY Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless you. Amen. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. P. The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John. R. Glory be to thee, O Lord. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to bear witness of the light. That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name; who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt amongst us. And we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. At the end of the Gospel is said: R. Thanks be to God. After solemn Mass, the following versicles and responses are sung for the Queen. P. O Lord, save Victoria our Queen. R. And hear us in the day we call upon thee. P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, &c. THE PRAYER, WE beseech thee, O Almighty God, that thy servant, Victoria our Queen, who, through thy mercy, hath undertaken the government of these realms, may also receive an increase of all virtues, wherewith being adorned she may avoid every enormity of sin, vanquish her enemies, and being rendered acceptable in thy sight, may, together with Albert the Prince Consort, and the royal issue, come at length to thee, who art the way, the truth, and the life. Through, &c. ## An Act of Adoration and Thanksgiving, in Honour of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, Commonly Called Benediction When the Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle or place where it is kept upon the altar, and exposed to the people, then, where there is a choir, the following Anthem and Hymn are sung: O SALUTARIS HOSTIA.* O SAVING Host! that Heaven's gate Laid'st open at so dear a rate: Intestine wars invade our breast; Be thou our strength, support, and rest. To God the Father, and the Son, And holy Spirit, Three in One, Be endless praise: may HE above, With life eternal crown our love. * Incense is here burnt, in testimony that we render to Jesus Christ in the holy Sacrament the homage of a supreme adoration. ### Pange Lingua SING, O my tongue, adore and praise The depth of God's mysterious ways: How Christ, the world's great King, bestow'd His flesh conceal'd in human food, And left mankind the blood that paid The ransom for the souls he made. Giv'n from above, and born for man, From Virgin's womb his life began: He liv'd on earth, and preach'd to sow The seeds of heav'nly truths below; Then seal'd his mission from above With strange effects of pow'r and love. 'Twas on the evening when the last And most mysterious supper past; When Christ with his disciples set To close the law with legal meat; Then to the twelve himself bestowed With his own hands, to be their food. The Word made flesh for love of man, His word turns bread to flesh again, And wine to blood, unseen by sense, By virtue of omnipotence. And here the faithful rest secure, Whilst God can vouch, and faith insure. ### Tantum Ergo To this mysterious table now, Our knees, and hearts, and sense we bow; Let ancient rites resign their place, To nobler elements of grace; And faith for all defects supply, Whilst sense is lost in mystery. To God the Father, born of none, To Christ his co-eternal Son, And Holy Ghost, whose equal rays, From both proceed, one equal praise; One honour, jubilee, and fame, For ever bless his glorious name. Amen. V. Thou hast given them bread from heaven. Alleluia R. Replenished with all sweetness and delight. Alleluia. ### The Prayer LET US PRAY. V. O Gon, who has left us in this wonderful sacrament a perpetual memorial of thy passion; grant us, we beseech thee, so to reverence the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood, that we may continually find in our souls the fruit of our redemption, who livest and reignest, &c. ## Devotions for Confession and Communion God, who wills not the death, but the repentance of a sinner, has in. The sacrament of penance, mercifully provided Christians with the means whereby they may obtain pardon of their sins, and be again restored to the favour of their heavenly Father, which they had forfeited by their offences: so that, whoever is conscious to himself of having provoked the anger of God by his sin, ought diligently to apply himself to seek a reconciliation with him in the manner himself has prescribed and commanded. But then it ought to be his principal care, sincerely to perform all that is exacted of him, with a seriousness proportioned to the greatness of the work he is engaged in; ever remembering, that as mercy and pardon are promised to those who perform it worthily, so nothing but a dreadful curse is pronounced against all those that do it negligently. ### A Prayer Before the Examination of Conscience I AM perfectly sensible, O my God, that I have many ways offended thy divine Majesty, and provoked thy wrath by my sins; and that if I obtain not pardon, I shall be cast out of thy sight for ever. I desire therefore at present to call myself to an account, and look into all the sins whereby I have displeased thee. But, O my God, how miserably shall I deceive myself, if thou assist me not in this work by thy heavenly light. Grant me therefore at present thy grace, whereby I may discover all my imperfections, see all my failings, and duly call to mind all my sins; for I know that nothing is hidden from thy sight. But I confess myself in the dark as to my own failings: my passions blind me; self-love flatters me; presumption deludes me; and though, I have many sins that stare me in the face, and cannot be hidden, yet how many, too, are there quite concealed from me! But discover even these to me, O Lord; enlighten my darkness, cure my blindness, and remove every veil that hides my sins from me, that I may be no longer a secret to myself, nor a stranger to my failings; nor ever flatter myself with the thoughts of having. repented, and at the same time nourish folly and vice within my breast. Come, Holy Ghost, and by a beam of thy divine light, illuminate my understanding, that I may have a perfect view of all my sins and iniquities, and that sincerely repenting of them, I may know thee, and be again received into thy favour. ### An Examination of Conscience According to the three-fold duty we owe-I. To God II. To our Neighbour-III. To Ourselves. I.-IN RELATION TO GOD, HAVE you. omitted morning and evening prayer or neglected to make your daily examination of conscience? Have you prayed negligently, and with wilful distractions? 2. Have you spent your time, especially on Sundays and holydays, not in sluggishly lying in bed, or in any sort. of idle entertainment, but in reading, praying, or other pious exercises; and taking care that those under your charge have done the like, and not wanted the instructions necessary for their condition, nor time for prayer, or to prepare for the sacraments? 3. Have you spoken irreverently of God and holy things? Have you taken his name in vain, or told untruths? 4. Have you omitted your duty through human respect, interest, compliance, &c.? 5. Have you been zealous for God's honour, for justice, virtue, and truth, and reproved such as act otherwise? 6. Have you resigned your will to God in troubles, necessities, sickness, &c.? Have you faithfully resisted thoughts of infidelity, distrust, presumption, impurity, &c.? II.-IN RELATION TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR, 1\. HAVE you disobeyed your superiors. murmured against their commands, or spoken of them contemptuously? 2. Have you been troubled, peevish, or impatient, when told of your faults. and not corrected them? Have you scorned the good advice of others, or censured their proceedings? 3. Have you offended any one by injurious threatening words or actions? 4. Or lessened their reputation by any sort of detraction, or any matter of importance? 5. Or spread any report. true or false, that.exposed your neighbour to contempt, or made him undervalued? 6. Have you, by carrying stories backward and forward, created discord and misunderstanding between neighbours? 7. Have you been froward or peevish towards any one in your carriage, speech, or conversation? 8. Or taken pleasure to vex, mortify, or provoke them to swear, curse, or any way offend God? 9. Have you mocked or reproached them for their corporal or spiritual imperfections? 10. Have you been uncharitable in reprehending those under your care, or been wanting in giving them just reproof? 11. Have you borne with their oversights and imperfections, and given them good counsel? 12. Have you been solicitous for such as are under your charge, and provided for their souls and bodies? III.-IN RELATION TO YOURSELF. 1\. HAVE you been obstinate in following your own will, or defending your own opinion in things either indifferent, dangerous, or scandalous? 2. Have you taken pleasure in hearing yourself praised, or yielded to thoughts of vanity? 3. Have you indulged yourself in overmuch ease, or any way yielded to sensuality? 4. Has your conversation been edifying and moderate, or have you been froward, proud, or troublesome to others? 5. Have you spent over much time in play or useless employments, and thereby omitted or put off your devotions to unseasonable times? If such as confess often, fall into any of the more grievous sins not here mentioned, their own memory will easily suggest them; since it is impossible for a tender soul to forget any mortal offence, which must of necessity afflict her; and therefore it may not be necessary for them to turn over the following table of sins, which is chiefly intended for general confessions. ### An Examination for Confession On the Ten Commandments-Precepts of the Church-and Seven Deadly Sins. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN, First, by Sins against Faith. 1\. To be ignorant of the principal mysteries of Christianity; of the Creed; of the Commandments of God and his Church; or of the sacraments. 2. Wilfully to doubt, or obstinately to err, in any point of faith. 3. To have delayed embracing the faith, out of human respect, interest, fear, &c. 4. To favour heretics or wicked men, in supporting or approving their opinions or actions. 5. To endanger your faith by reading their books with pleasure. 6. To examine divine mysteries with curiosity, and secrets of Providence by pure human reason. 7.. To contemn or deride holy things. 8. To abuse the words of the holy scripture, by perverting them to a wicked or profane sense; making them subservient to jests or other ill-purposes. 9. To desire to know things to come, which belong to God alone; or things past or present, which are hid from us; and for this end to employ unlawful means, as fortune-tellers, or other superstitious inventions. 10. To give credit to dreams, or make superstitious observations; to employ prayers or sacred names to ill-uses; to use charms, &c. Secondly, by Sins against Hope. 1\. BY distrusting the mercies of God, and despairing of the pardon of our sins. 2. By presuming on God's goodness, without the least concern of amendment. 3. By deferring, our conversion or repentance till the end of life. 4. By exposing ourselves to the danger of offending God, either by company, reading, or otherwise, which is called tempting God. 5. By exposing ourselves, without necessity, to some corporal danger, as sickness, wounds, or death. 6. By neglecting the remedies which God has appointed in these dangers, as physic for the body, or prayer and sacraments for the soul. Thirdly, by Sins against Charity. 1\. BY not loving God above all things, but rather choosing wilfully to offend him than suffer any loss of honour, riches, &c. 2. By preferring the love of men before the love of God; or offending him through fear of being jeered or slighted. 3. By omitting our duty through shame or human respect. 4. By thinking seldom of God, or being ashamed to speak of him; or by not hearkening to his inspirations;. by forgetting his benefits, or neglecting to give him thanks. Fourthly, by Sins against Religion, 1\. BY not adoring God, or praying to him but seldom. 2. By praying without attention, and with wilful distractions. 3. By a want of respect to God, in time of prayer; or by talking, or being present in holy places without a becoming modesty and gravity in our looks, words, and actions. Fifthly, by Sins against the care we ought to have of our Salvation. 1\. BY a love of idleness. 2. By being too solicitous in temporal concerns, and neglecting the means of salvation. 3. By deferring amendment of life, or immediately desisting after having begun it. 4. By neglecting the means of salvation, as the sacraments, prayer, good works, or performing them without devotion. THE SECOND COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. 1\. BY taking the name of God in vain. 2. By swearing to what one knowns or doubts to be false. 3..By swearing to what is unjust or prejudicial to others. 4. By swearing without necessity, though the thing itself be true and just. 5 By blaspheming God, or holy things. 6. By cursing one's self, or -others, or taking pleasure in hearing others swear or curse; or by provoking them to it. 7. By not reprehending them when one could and ought. 8. By making a vow to do what is impossible to fulfil, or to do what is evil and displeasing to God; or to do what one never intends to perform. 9. By breaking lawful vows, or deferring to fulfil them without just cause. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN, 1\. BY doing servile works on Sunday, or causing others to do the like without necessity. 2. By employing a considerable part of Sundays and holydays in temporal affairs, as is often the case with merchants, advocates, solicitors, &c. 3. By omitting to hear Mass, or not hearing it with due attention and reverence. 4. By spending Sundays and holydays in idleness, gaming, dancing, feasting, and other recreations. 5. By not dedicating a considerable part of those days to reading and praying, and by not taking care that those under your charge do the like. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. 1\. BY children not paying due respect to their parents, or by despising them, either in their hearts or actions. 2. By not loving them, but wishing their death, or some misfortune; or by forsaking them in their necessities. 3. By not cheerfully obeying them; or by obeying them in things unlawful. 4. By slighting their representations, and resisting their corrections. 5. By putting them into a passion, and not taking care to pacify them. 6. By not executing their last will and testament, or by delaying to do so. **II. By servants.-**1. By disobeying their masters. 2. By a want of diligence in the trust that is required of them. 3. By neglecting the reasonable and just interests of their masters or employers. 4. By letting them sustain any kind of loss, through their sloth, neglect, &c. 5. By obeying them in things unlawful; as lying, swearing, stealing, &c. **III. By parents not discharging their duty towards their children.-**1. In not loving them, and supplying their corporal necessities. 2. In not being careful of their salvation. 3. In not correcting them when it is necessary; in flattering their passions, or indulging their evil inclinations. 4. In treating them with too much severity. 5. In not setting them good example. 6. In forcing them in the choice of their state of life. **IV. By masters.-**1. In not taking due care to regulate the life and conversation of their servants. 2: In not being watchful over them, to reprehend their faults; make them say their prayers; go to Mass on Sundays and holydays, or frequent the sacraments. 3. In commanding them to do something evil. 4. By treating them injuriously. 5. In not paying them their wages. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. 1\. BY anger, quarrelling, or threatening; or by injurious or reproachful words or actions against our neighbours. 2. By revenge, or deliberate thoughts or desires of revenge. 3. By provoking, striking, challenging, wounding, or being the cause of another's death. 4. By bearing malice, refusing to salute or speak to any neighbour out of hatred or aversion, or refusing to be reconciled to him.THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. **I. By the hearing.-**In willingly giving ear to immodest words, discourses, songs, &c. **II. By the sight.-**1. In looking on immodest objects. 2. In reading or keeping immodest books; lending them to others, or neglecting to suppress them when we may. **III. By the tongue.-**1. In speaking immodest words; in relating improper stories, or wicked actions of ourselves or others. **IV. By the touch.-**In using indecent actions. **V. By thoughts.-**By entertaining impure thoughts, wilfully, and with delight. **VI. By immodest actions.-**1. In committing the sin of impurity; and whether effected by soliciting, seducing with promises, or forcing; whether it be fornication, adultery, or incest. 2. In sins against nature. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. 1\. BY taking another's goods, and to what value. 2. By retaining what we know belongs to another. 3. By denying our debts, or wilfully delaying payment to the prejudice of our neighbours. 4. By making unjust bargains or contracts, into which every trade or profession ought to make a strict inquiry. 5. By causing any damage to our neighbours. 6. By putting off false or counterfeit money. 7. By desiring another's property. 8. By not giving alms when necessity requires. 9. By not paying dues to your pastors, or by not contributing to the decent support of religious worship.. 10. By simony.. THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT IS BROKEN. 1\. By witnessing what is false, or defending a false accusation, as in lawyers and solicitors; or in condemning the innocent, or discharging the guilty, as judges or arbitrators. 2. By detraction; either in laying something false to another's charge, or reporting for truth what is merely doubtful; or in revealing something as yet secret or unknown, though true, to the prejudice of some third person; with a declaration, whether it be done out of levity and indiscretion, or out of malice or ill-will; whether in the presence of many, or in a matter of importance. 3. By lying, or speaking what we judge to be otherwise than we say; whether out of custom, or to the considerable prejudice of others. 4. By hypocrisy, which is a lie in action. THE NINTH AND TENTH ARE BROKEN. By all wilful desires of impurity and theft which have been already mentioned in the sixth and seventh commandments. ### The Precepts of the Church 1\. To keep certain appointed days holy; with the obligation of hearing Mass, and resting from servile works, 2. To observe the days of abstinence and fasting. 3. To confess our sins at least once a year. 4. To receive the Blessed Sacrament at Easter, or thereabouts. 5. To contribute to the support of our pastors. The examination of these precepts being very easy, we therefore proceed to THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. THE SIN OF PRIDE CONSISTS in entertaining too great an opinion of ourselves, or in valuing ourselves above our deserts. 2. In publishing what we think good in ourselves, that we may be esteemed by others. 3. In arrogance, by attributing to ourselves the good we have not. 4. In presumption and ambition; by confiding too much in our own strength; considering ourselves capable of accomplishing things above our own abilities, and in rashly attempting them. 5. In contempt of others, on account of the good opinion we have of ourselves; and when this contempt is manifested by words or actions, or by being severe, and too exact on inferiors. 6. In want of submission to our superiors; by disobeying them, blaming their conduct, or murmuring against them. 7. In not acknowledging our faults; or when in confessing the facts, we maintain we have done well, or at least allege false excuses. 8. In contempt of admonitions and corrections. 9. In discord. 10. In hypocrisy. 11. In curiosity, which inclines us to know things prejudicial to our salvation. 12. By ingratitude for God's benefits. The sins of Covetousness, luxury, and sloth, have been already examined in the first, sixth, and seventh commandments. THE SIN OF GLUTTONY, IN eating or drinking to excess, as far as they are prejudicial, either to our health or our reason; or any way scandalous or of ill example to others. THE SIN OF ENVY, 1\. Trouble at the good success of our neighbour, or when we endeavour to do him an unkindness, or speak often against him; or create an ill opinion of him in the mind of another. 2. When we rejoice at our neighbour's harm; THE SIN OF ANGER. 1. Not to endure any thing contrary to our inclinations. 2. To suffer ourselves to be hurried away by emotions of-wrath against those that give us any trouble. 3. To proceed to quarrels, injurious language, oaths, curses, threats; to take revenge, or to desire and wish to be in a capacity of exercising it. 4. To refuse to pardon injuries, or to be reconciled to our enemies, or to such of. our neighbours with whom we have had some misunderstanding, or falling out. A PRAYER FOR OBTAINING CONTRITION. I HAVE now here before me, O Lord, a sad prospect of the manifold offences whereby I have displeased thy divine Majesty; and which I am assured will appear in judgment against me, if by repentance and a hearty sorrow, my soul be not prepared to receive thy pardon. But this sorrow and this repentance, O Lord, must be the free gift of thy mercy; without which all my endeavours will be in vain, and I shall be for ever miserable. Have pity, therefore, on me, O merciful Father, and pour forth into my heart thy grace, whereby I may sincerely repent of all my sins. Grant me true contrition, that I may bewail my base ingratitude, and grieve from my heart for having offended so good a God. Permit me not to be deluded by a false sorrow, as I fear I have been too often, through my own weakness and neglect; but let it now be thy gift, descending from thee, the Father of Lights, that so my repentance may be accompanied by an amendment and a change of life; that being thus acquitted from the guilt of my sins, I may once more be received into the number of thy servants. ### Prayers Before Confession HAVE pity on me, O God, and let me partake of the effects of thy great mercy. I here acknowledge, and am sensible of the multitude and enormity of my sins. It is thou, O my God, perfidious creature as I am, whom I have offended; it is against thee that I have rebelled. To follow my pleasures and indulge my passions, I have abandoned thee; and lost thy grace. I, whom thou hast created to thine own likeness, and redeemed by the blood of thy only Son, have by my sins, made my soul resemble those monsters of ingratitude, the infernal spirits. Like them, I have forfeited heaven, my blessed country, and deserved hell and damnation; which I shall never be able to escape without the assistance of thy boundless mercy. The injury I have offered thee, O Lord, is so great, that it caused thy Son Jesus Christ, my Saviour, to suffer death, How then, O my God, how can I sufficiently deplore so great an evil? Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes, that I may incessantly deplore my misery and malice, and do penance for my sins? Almighty and eternal God, to whom is due all honour and glory, behold I, a miserable and unworthy sinner, who have hitherto lived in ingratitude and rebellion, come to thee, my Creator, my God, my Redeemer, my merciful Judge, and my Saviour; accusing myself, and laying before thee all the abominations by which I have blasphemed thy sacred name, transgressed thy precepts, contemned thy will, and defiled both my soul and body. O my God, when I behold my misery, and consider how often I have abused thy gifts and blessings, despised thy goodness, neglected thy service, added daily sin to sin, and preferred myself; my passions, and other creatures, to my duty and thy commands, I cannot but consider myself as unworthy either to lift up my eyes to heaven, or appear in thy presence. But whither, O Lord, my God, shall I flee from thy face? Where shall I conceal myself from thy anger? Who can restore me to thy favour? It is only from thy goodness that I can expect so great a blessing; for art not thou my Father, whose mercies are infinite, and whose compassion knows no bounds? And I, though unworthy of the name of thy child, acknowledge no other Father but thee. Wherefore I prostrate myself at the feet of thy mercy; and beseech thee, by thy Almighty power, goodness, and wisdom, to pardon, purify, and acquit me from the guilt of all my sins. Receive me again into thy favour, O Lord, and confirm me in all good; that my soul being entirely possessed by thee, may be prepared for glory. And that my petition may find acceptance, I appeal to thee, sweet Jesus, Son of the living God, the Advocate and Mediator between us sinners and thy eternal Father; humbly beseeching thee, through that infinite charity which brought thee from heaven to the ignominy of the cross, and thy precious blood spilt thereon, that I may now partake of the benefit of thy sufferings, and be cleansed from all my offences; that by thy assistance, I may sincerely repent and amend all my failings; that dying to myself and the world, I may live only to thee; and never suffer either passion or pleasure to divide me from thee any more. Alas! my Father and my God, how comes it to pass that I should have so often offended thee? Thou seest, O Lord, neither goodness nor health in me; have mercy, therefore on me, for I have sinned against thee. Heal my soul, O Lord, for thou only art my hope and strength. Alas! my God, how many and dangerous are my wounds? how great my weakness and misery? For the curing of which thou wast crucified: and to whom shall I complain of all these my evils, if not to thee, O Lord, the Saviour and Redeemer of my soul? Be mindful, therefore, of me a sinner, sweet Jesus; for nothing is more pleasing to thee than to have compassion on those that are miserable. Restore me to thy favour; receive me again into thy friendship; and cut me not off on account of my offences. For what can I, a miserable creature do but offend? and what canst thou, O Infinite Goodness, do, but have mercy and spare? Spare me, therefore, according to thy infinite goodness, and grant me now tears of sincere repentance, that I may mourn for the evils I have committed. Grant that I may sincerely grieve for having sinned against thee, my God, my Creator, and Redeemer. Soften my hardened breast, and inflame my frozen heart; that I may with unfeigned sorrow, repent for not loving, nay, for despising and offending thee. What shall I, most miserable and wicked creature, do, O God, to serve thee? Whilst I behold myself, I see no hopes of amendment; all my confidence and hopes of mercy are in thee. Help me therefore, O Lord, and be thou the strength of my soul; that I may from this moment detest and forsake all my past evils; that I may conquer my passions; reform all my bad habits; and by a true change of life and manners; be entirely united to thee, and with thee live for ever. Amen. To thee, O merciful Jesus, in the bitterness. of my soul I come, beseeching thee to have compassion on me, and deliver me from my sins. Despise not, O God, the cries of thy lost sheep; reject not the sighs of thy prodigal child, who desires to return home to thee, and to be received; again into the number of thy servants. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed, and detest them here in thy presence; because I love thee above all things, and honour thee as my gracious God, worthy of infinite love..And for this reason. I now firmly purpose to suffer all evils, nay, even death itself, rather than willingly consent to sin. I resolve to make an exact confession of all my offences; faithfully to discharge what shall be enjoined for my punishment or amendment, and carefully to avoid all occasions of sin. And if any thing be wanting of true contrition, to this my sorrow, may thy sacred passion, O blessed Jesus-thy precious blood and infinite merits, supply all the defects of my weakness: for it is in thy death I place all my trust-through thee I firmly hope to obtain pardon of all my sins; grace to overcome my vicious customs, and perseverance to the end in the good resolutions I have now made in thy presence. As, therefore, it is by thee I come to the knowledge of my misery, so it is by thee my good purposes, and sorrow for my offences may be perfected. May the fire, therefore, of.divine love now inflame my soul, and consume therein whatever is displeasing to thy infinite goodness. Sanctify my heart, purify my affections and desires, that dying to myself, I may ever live to thee; and at length depart this life in thy grace and favour. Amen. Such as go to confession over-night, or otherwise have leisure, may use the following aspirations, either before or after confession, with benefit to their souls. 1\. My Lord and my God! I sincerely acknowledge myself a vile and wretched sinner, unworthy to appear in thy presence; but do thou have mercy on me and save me. O God, my sovereign good, how far have I wandered from thee by my sins? How long have I dwelt at a distance from thee in the region of misery, where I had quite lost myself? Most loving Father! I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am unworthy to be called thy child: make me as one of thy servants, and may, I for the future be ever faithful to thee. It truly grieves me, O my God, to have sinned, and so many times transgressed thy law: but wash me now from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. I detest my sins, O Lord: I abhor my wickedness, I confess my ingratitude, and seek refuge in thy mercy. From this moment I purpose never more to offend thee. Oh! let me suffer all kinds of pain and infamy, nay, even death itself, rather than return to my former course of life, and live thy enemy. Loving Father, assist me by thy grace, that I may bring forth worthy fruits of penance, and not suffer my sins to go unpunished. I have wandered like a sheep that is gone astray; but I hear thy sweet voice crying after me, in the most affectionate manner imaginable, " Come, dear soul, thou hast gone after many lovers, but return to me, and I will receive thee yet again."-Jeremiah, iii. 2\. Now I begin, O Lord, now I begin to live; not trusting in my own strength, nor in the resolutions I make, but in the multitude of thy mercies. Perfect, O God, the work which thou hast now begun in me. Thou hast given me peace and understanding; but wretched sinner that I am, how ungratefully have I abused all thy gifts? And yet, now, with all the tenderness of a loving Father, thou recallest me from sin, and rescuest me from hell and everlasting damnation. Alas! my soul is full of anguish and confusion at the recollection of the many sins whereby I have offended thee, my merciful Redeemer, made myself a slave to the devil, and provoked thy anger. Oh! that I had never transgressed thy commandments, nor fallen into such an abyss of misery and calamity. Oh! that I had never sinned! Happy those souls who have preserved their innocence! Oh! that I had been so happy! But now I am resolved, with the help of thy grace, to be more watchful over myself; to amend my failings and to fulfil thy law. Look down on.me with the eyes of mercy, O God, and blot out my sins. Forgive me what is past; and through the bowels of thy infinite goodness, secure me by thy most efficacious grace, against all my wonted failings for the time to come. Alas! how slothful and careless have I hitherto been? I have deferred my repentance, rejected thy helps, contemned thy visits, and been deaf to thy calls. Lord, what shall I do? or what course shall I take? It grieves me from my heart that I have ever offended thee; but do thou vouchsafe to have mercy on me, O sovereign Lord of my life. Behold, thou seest nothing good nor wholesome in my soul! I am blind and miserable; and without thee, O God, I can do nothing. 3\. My sins surpass in number the sands of the sea, and I confess myself, O Lord, unworthy of thy mercy; but thy goodness is above all my offences. Thou hast declared, O Lord, that there is joy in heaven for the conversion of a sinner; grant me, then, the grace of true repentance, and let heaven rejoice at my amendment. Thou willest not the death of a sinner, but that he be converted and live; grant me, then, that spiritual life which I want; for, behold, O Lord, I sincerely desire to live to thee. Thou didst come, O dear Redeemer, not to call the just, but sinners to repentance; behold a most miserable sinner before thee. Oh! draw him most powerfully to thee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquities. Sprinkle me with thy precious blood, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within my bowels. Dear Redeemer of my soul! how long turnest thou thy face from me, and bringest no relief to my sorrows? Behold thy prodigal child-nay, worse than the prodigal: but do thou, O Father, vouchsafe to have compassion on me. Clothe me with the robes of thy grace, and receive me into the arms of thy mercy. Let not thy precious blood, my dear Saviour, be shed for me in vain; but may it now bring forth in me the fruit of sincere repentance, and open to me the way to life everlasting. 4\. How great is thy goodness, O Lord, in having so long spared such a worthless servant, and waited with so much patience for his amendment? Ah! what return shall I make for thy infinite mercies? Oh! let this mercy be added to the rest, that I may never more offend thee. This single favour I earnestly beg of thee, O Lord, viz:, that I may for the future renounce my own way to follow thine. Come, Lord, take possession of my heart, and cast out from thence whatever thou knowest profanes or defiles this thy temple; destroy and eradicate all that displeaseth thee, and lay therein the foundation of a new life. I confess I have sinned, but if thou wilt thou canst make me whole. Heal, most loving Father, this my soul! Oh! that I were free from all vice; that I could regulate my senses, govern my thoughts, and moderate my affections. Oh! that I were truly composed and orderly, within and without. But when shall I be thus happy?-when thus pure in thy sight? Lord, I will labour and take pains to reform myself; and I beg thy assistance for this work. But if I find not that good effect I desire, I will still persevere in my duty, and wait with patience and humility till thou shalt please to give a blessing to my endeavours. Help me, O Lord, my God, and have compassion on my sinful soul. Amen. AT CONFESSION. HERE you should reflect upon the measures which you ought to take for an entire amendment of your life; considering well what have been the occasions of your sins; what circumstances are apt to prove dangerous to you; what precautions you ought to take against those dangers in future; what pious exercises you ought to practise daily; when, and how often you approached the sacraments, &c. When you find yourself heartily sorry for having offended God, and fully determined for the time to come to amend your life, and avoid all mortal sins, and the immediate occasions of them, then humbly approach the tribunal of penance; and kneeling by the priest, make the sign of the cross, and ask his blessing, saying, " Father, bless me, for I have sinned." After receiving the blessing say the Confiteor, to " mea maxima culpa," (through my most grievous fault,) then begin a plain, entire, and discreet confession of your sins, thus: " Since my last confession, which was a week, a fortnight, or a month ago, I have, or I have not, complied with my penance, and I accuse myself that --." Avoiding superfluous accusations or irrelevant matter; neither obscuring your offences by ambiguous expressions, nor concealing any mortal sin, or any circumstance which either aggravate, its heinousness, or changes it to nature; mention how often you have committed it; and fail not to state whether it be habitual. Having sincerely declared all you can remember, conclude thus: "For these and all other sins and imperfections, which I cannot call to mind, I am heartily sorry; purpose amendment for the future; and humbly ask pardon of God, and penance and absolution of you, my ghostly father." Then humbly bowing down, finish the Confiteor, saying, " Therefore I beseech the," &c. This being concluded, you must listen attentively to the instructions of the priest; accept with humility the penance he enjoins, and whilst he imparts absolution, renew your sorrow, making an act of contrition. ### Prayers After Confession I RETURN thee thanks, O almighty Father, for having admitted me to this sacrament; wherein suffering thy mercy to take place of thy justice, thou hast cast all my sins out of thy sight. Grant me now thy grace, O Lord, that by sincere and perfect contrition, my repentance may be like that of David and Peter; that my offences being effectually remitted, I may hereafter continue faithful in thy service. But this I cannot do, unless with the aid of thy grace; for without it my soul will remain barren and dry, like earth without water. I am perfectly sensible of my own weakness and inability to do anything that is good or acceptable to thee. The only consolation and confidence I have, is to raise up my eyes to my Jesus-to his tears and sufferings; that thy justice being appeased thereby, thou mayest open to me the gates of mercy, and receive me into thy favour. Look down therefore on me with an eye of pity, and have compassion on my miseries. O meek and merciful Lord, strike this hard and obdurate heart of mine, that it may burst forth into a fountain of healing waters-the waters of sincere contrition, wherewith my soul may be cleansed and purified. Perfect the work thou hast begun in me, for I am thy creature; and grant that the confession that I have made may be acceptable in thy sight; and that whatever is wanting towards its perfection, through my weakness, may be supplied by thy infinite goodness and mercy. Thy mercy, therefore, I implore, and through it beg pardon of all my sins; firmly purposing in thy presence to avoid everything that may be displeasing to thee, and to apply myself with all diligence to the practice of virtue. I hope thou wilt not refuse me thy assistance, since thou, O Lord, hast promised never to forsake those that trust in thee. Permit my heart to be no longer hurried away by the follies of this life, nor to experience my own weakness in my wonted relapses. It is high time I should be converted from my evil ways, forsake my errors, and amend my failings, since hitherto, alas! so many days and years have elapsed in good purposes, but with very little improvement of my soul. Command, therefore, O sovereign Lord, my rebellious heart, and force it to a compliance with thy law. Break all my passions, rule my affections, direct my desires, strengthen my good endeavours, and give ear now to thy unworthy servant. Let not my wickedness make thee forget thy goodness; for though my sins cry aloud for justice, yet thou still hast mercy, whereby thou canst save, and once more receive me into thy favour, my God, my Lord, and all my hope, who livest and reignest for ever and ever. O God of mercy! having now, through thy gracious goodness, disburdened my conscience of the guilt wherewith it was oppressed, and in the humblest manner I was able, discovered all the sins I could recollect to thy minister, my ghostly father, I most humbly beseech thee to accept this confession, and forgive me all my trespasses, as well those I have forgot as those I have remembered. Grant me grace, O Lord, to live more carefully hereafter, and to abstain from my former vices, which I utterly detest, firmly purposing never to be guilty of them any more. But especially, O most merciful and bountiful Saviour, enable me to withstand those temptations with which I am most infected, and to avoid all occasions of offending thee for the future. If the just man falls seven times, how much more reason have I to be jealous of myself, O Lord, and to fear that I shall not be steadfast in my resolutions, having, through my own frailty and vicious customs, increased the natural blindness and weakness in which I was born. Yet, O Lord, I firmly purpose, through thy merciful assistance, never to consent to any mortal sin; from which I humbly beseech thee to preserve me whilst I live: and as to my venial sins and imperfections, I resolve to strive against them, and hope, through thy goodness, at length to amend them. ## Devotions for Communion 1\. "LET a man prove (or try) himself," says St. Paul (l Cor. xi. 28,) " and so eat of that bread," &c. This proving, or trying one's self, is the first and most necessary preparation for the holy communion, and consists in looking diligently into the state of one's soul, in. order to discover what indispositions or sins may lie there concealed, and to apply a proper remedy to them by sincere repentance and confession; lest, otherwise, approaching to the Holy of Holies with a soul defiled with the guilt of mortal sin, we become " guilty of the body and blood of Christ, and receive judgment to ourselves, not discerning the body of the Lord."-1 Cor. xi. For this reason we go to confession before communion, in order to clear our souls from the filth of sin. 2\. The person that is to receive the blessed sacrament must be also fasting; at least from midnight, by the command of the Church, and by a most ancient and apostolical tradition, ordaining that, in reverence to so great a sacrament, nothing should enter into the body of a Christian before the body of Christ. Hence, if through inadvertance or otherwise, a person has taken anything, ever so little, after twelve o'clock at night, he must by no means receive that day; excepting the case of danger of approaching death, when the blessed sacrament is received by way of viaticum. 3\. Besides this preparation of confession and fasting, the person that proposes to go to communion, must endeavour to aim at the best devotion he is able, in order to dispose his soul for worthily receiving so great a guest. To this end I recommend to him:First-To think well on the great work he has in hand; to consider attentively what it is he is going to receive, and how far he is from deserving such a favour; and to implore with fervour and humility God's grace and mercy. And this should be the subject of his meditations and prayers for some days before hand, and more particularly the night before his communion, and the morning he receives. Secondly-To propose to himself a pure intention, viz. The honour of God, and the health of his own soul; and in particular, that by worthily receiving Christ in this heavenly sacrament, he may come to a happy union with him, according to that of St. John, vi. 57, " He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him." Thirdly-To meditate on the sufferings and death of his Redeemer; this sacrament being instituted to this end, that we should " show forth the death of Christ until he comes."-1 Cor. xi. 20. Fourthly-To prepare himself by acts of virtue, more especially of faith, love, and humility; that so he may approach to his Lord with a firm belief of his real presence in this sacrament, and of that great sacrifice which he heretofore offered upon the cross for our redemption, of which he here makes us partakers; with an ardent affection of love to him who has loved us so much; and who, out of pure love, gives himself to us; and with a great sentiment of his own unworthiness and sins, joined with a firm confidence in the mercies of his Redeemer. ### A Meditation Before Communion Divided into seven points, which may serve as a seven days' preparation for the blessed sacrament. CONSIDER first, that Jesus Christ, our Lord, whom we receive in this blessed sacrament, is called in scripture, "the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world."-Apoc. xiii. 8. Because from the very beginning of the world, there was no way of coming at God's mercy or grace, but by faith in a Redeemer to come, and by the merits of his future death and passion. Hence Christ crucified, was from the beginning of the world the great object of the devotion of the patriarchs and prophets. For him they constantly sighed; him they regarded in all their sacrifices, which were, indeed, so many figures of him and of his death. All those figures were to have an end when Christ himself, the very TRUTH, came in person into the world, and offered himself upon the cross a sacrifice for the sins of the world. But still, his death and passion is to be the perpetual object of the devotion of all his children and servants, even to the end of the world. Not now, as prefigured in shadows and types, but as commemorated and celebrated in the Eucharistic sacrifice and sacrament; containing and exhibiting verily and indeed, that is, in very truth, our great High Priest and Victim, Jesus Christ. For the ancient figures are now passed, and the reality has succeeded in their place. And that same fountain of all sanctity, who of old communicated himself to his servants spiritually, by faith, now gives himself to us verily and indeed in these heavenly mysteries. For this manner of communicating himself, was best becoming the New Law, which is a law of love, a law of grace, and a law of truth. Ah! my soul, admire and adore the riches of the bounty and goodness of thy God and Saviour, who gives thee in this sacrament so great a gift that heaven itself has nothing greater. Embrace his love, but let it be with a suitable return of love; and see thou prepare thyself worthily to receive so great a visit. Oh! take care to open wide thy heart, that it may be capable to hold those treasures which he brings with him, and which he desires to impart to thee. Consider, secondly, the figures by which God was pleased in the Old Testament to foreshow this sacrament; especially these three: the Tree of Life, the Paschal Lamb, and the Manna from heaven. The Tree of Life, which God planted in the midst of the earthly paradise, had that excellent property, that if sin had not banished us from that happy abode, by feeding on the fruit of it, we should have been maintained in a constant vigour, strength, and health, and have never died. Oh! how well does the blessed Eucharist answer this noble figure! in which we feed upon life in its very fountain; and frequently and worthily approaching to it, receive a copious and constant supply of heavenly grace, for the maintaining of the vigour, strength, and health of the soul; that so we may never incur the second death, but may pass from life to life; from the life of grace, to the life glory; from life concealed under sacramental veils, to life seen and enjoyed without shadow or change for all eternity. The Paschal Lamb, which was first offered in sacrifice to God on the evening on which the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, and then was, by God's command, eaten by all the faithful, was also a figure of the blessed Eucharist, and of the true Lamb of God there communicated to us; even that Lamb which was first offered in sacrifice for our eternal redemption from the bondage of the infernal Pharaoh, and is now received by all the faithful in these heavenly mysteries, for a perpetual commemoration of this our redemption, and a daily application of the fruit of it to our souls. O my soul, let us confidently run to this Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. Let us receive with all affection this Christian passover. Let us embrace this victim of our redemption-this new sacrifice of the new covenant-the covenant of life and of love. Let us sprinkle ourselves with this blood of the New Testament, that so the destroying angel may have no power to hurt us. Another figure of the blessed Eucharist was the Manna from heaven, with which the children of Israel were wonderfully fed during their forty years' sojourning in the wilderness, before their coming to the land of promise. This food was many ways miraculous, but nothing in comparison with that living bread-that bread of life which is given us in the divine mysteries, which comes down from heaven, in order to carry us up to heaven; that true land of promise-the land of the living, and which nourishes our souls to life eternal. O heavenly manna! O bread of angels! let my soul always hunger after thee. Thou art my true and only support during this my mortal pilgrimage. Oh! give me a loathing for all the husks of swine, with which this deluded world seeks to amuse me. Oh! let me ever relish thy hidden sweetness. Consider, thirdly, the mysteries which we celebrate in this thrice blessed sacrament and sacrifice. Here the whole passion and death of Christ is solemnly acted, as a most sacred tragedy, by himself in person. Here the Lamb of God presents himself as slain, to his eternal Father, and his blood most powerfully pleads in our behalf. Here the death of our Lord, the fountain of all good, plentifully flows into our souls, and ever lives and brings forth in us the fruit of life. Here the triumphs of our crucified King, his victorious resurrection, and glorious ascension, are displayed. Here we receive an assurance of the share that we have in Christ, and in his redemption. Here we partake of his body and of his spirit. Here we drink of the fountain of life. Here all the members of Christ are happily united with one another, and with their head, in a sacrament of union and love. Here, in fine, we have a most certain pledge of everlasting life, and of the eternal enjoyment of him in our blessed country, who thus lovingly gives himself to us in this place of banishment. O my soul, reverence with awe, and embrace with love these mysteries, so full of majesty and of love. The high priest of the Old Testament was but once a year to enter into the inward sanctuary of the temple, called the holy of holies, and then not without divers purifications and sacrifices, and a solemn fast of all Israel. See, then, how pure, how holy, thou oughtest to be, who so often are admitted into the sanctuary of the New Testament; that is, to these divine mysteries, sanctified by the presence of Jesus Christ himself, the true Holy of Holies, of which that Jewish sanctuary was but a shadow. Consider, therefore, fourthly, that what most especially calls for our devotion in these most holy mysteries is, the real presence of Jesus Christ himself, true God and true Man, under the sacramental veils. Bow thyself down, my soul, to adore this sacred truth; let no proud thoughts of opposition arise in thee against this admirable sacrament; captivate thy understanding to the obedience of faith; build thyself upon the express words of truth itself, so often repeated in holy writ; and upon the express declaration of the church of God, against which the gates of hell can never prevail. The glory and merit of faith is to believe what thou canst not see; to acknowledge that the Almighty can do infinitely more than thou canst comprehend; and that no effort of mercy and love can be too great for him who has died for love. See, then, what thy devotion ought to be in consequence of this belief; what profound reverence to so great a Lord, who lies concealed in these tremendous mysteries; what purity of conscience, in order to approach worthily to purity itself. What humility, what love, when thou art admitted to his embraces. Consider, fifthly, how many ways the Lord and thy God, the sovereign good, "who delights to be with the children of men" (Prov. viii. 31,) communicates himself to thee. In his incarnation and birth he gave himself to be thy companion, and to take upon him all thy miseries. In his death he gave himself to be thy ransom. In this heavenly sacrament he gives himself to be thy food-the comfort and support of thy exile; and in his kingdom above, he designs to give himself for thy eternal reward. Oh! what can he do more to testify his love to thee? As wise as he is, he cannot contrive anything better for thee; as powerful as he is, he cannot do more for thee, than give thee himself. Oh! how true is that saying of the beloved disciple, that "God is love!" But what dost thou see in me, dear Lord, that can move thee to love such a poor worm-such a wretched sinner as I am? There can be nothing good in me, but what is thy gracious gift; and, alas! I fear I have hitherto abused all thy gifts. It is, then, thy own pure goodness alone that can make thee love me; and thy pure love alone that can make thee communicate thyself to me. Oh! let me then be no longer ungrateful to thy love. Let that divine fire, which thou so much desirest to enkindle upon earth, take hold now of my heart, that I may return thee love for love. Oh! send it now into my soul, that it may prepare thee a suitable lodging there. Oh! let me henceforward give myself wholly to thee, who so often givest thyself to me. Consider, sixthly, who it is that thou art to receive in this blessed sacrament, and who thou art that presumest to approach him. He is the great King and Maker of heaven and earth; and the whole creation is a mere nothing in his sight. What a little atom then art thou compared to him? He is eternal, immense, and every way infinite in power, in majesty, in beauty, in wisdom, in glory, &c.; and thou art a little diminutive worm made of earth, and full of miseries. He is infinitely pure and holy; in whose sight the very heavens are not clean; and who cannot endure iniquity; and thou art the very filth of sin, and a sink of uncleanness and corruption. How, then, my soul, shall we dare venture to enter into this inward sanctuary-to draw near the throne of this infinite Majesty, and, unclean as we are, to touch and receive the Holy of Holies? Oza was struck dead for irreverently touching the Ark of the Covenant; the Bethsamites for irreverently looking on it; and Nadab and Ahidu for offering incense before it with unhallowed fire. Now, what was this Ark (in which were only reposited the tables of the law,) in comparison; with the Lord and giver of the law, whom we here approach to? When God was about to give the law, the children of Israel were commanded to be purified, and to keep themselves chaste; and nevertheless to keep their distance from the mountain, where the Lord appeared in thunder and lightning; only Moses was permitted to ascend the mountain's top, to converse with the divine Majesty, or rather with an angel speaking in his person. And how shall we, with so little purity, dare approach his immense Deity-"this consuming fire?" St. Paul assures us (1 Cor. xi.,) that "the unworthy receiver is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, and receiveth judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." How then shall we, the most unworthy of all sinners, presume to receive this Lord of glory? Must we then stay away till we have the presumption to think ourselves worthy? No, certainly: for one of the most necessary dispositions for receiving worthily, is to acknowledge and believe our unworthiness. Or must we, through awe and fear of so great a Majesty, abstain for ever from partaking of these tremendous mysteries? No, certainly: for it is no less certain death to stay away from the fountain of life, than to come to it unworthily. What then must we do, my soul? We will not run away from our sovereign Good-no: we will run to him; but it shall be like the humble publican; like the poor prodigal returning home; like the penitent Magdalen-such as these he never rejects! It shall be with a contrite and humble heart, which he never despises! It shall be with an entire confidence in his infinite goodness and mercy; for no one ever hoped in him and was confounded! Oh! grant us, dear Lord, to approach thee with these happy dispositions; and since thou art pleased to invite thyself into so poor, so mean, so wretched a cottage as this of my breast, be pleased to send in thither, before-hand, those graces-those virtues-that devotion, which may prepare the place for thee; for thou knowest that of myself I can do nothing. Consider, seventhly, the happy fruits which the divine sacrament produces in those souls that frequent it with preparation. "The bread that I will give," says our Lord, (St. John vi. 52,) "is my flesh for the life of the world." And again, verse-55, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the last day." And again, verse 57, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him," And verse 58, "He that eateth me, shall live by me." And verse 59, "He that eateth this bread shall live for ever." Wheresoever our Lord comes, he carries about with him all the treasures of life; that is, all grace, charity, and sanctity; and, on his part, is ever ready to open these treasures, and to communicate them most plentifully to those souls he comes to visit. These treasures are infinite, and so is the love that he bears to us. What gifts then-what graces may we not expect, if we come with reverence and humility, with love and devotion to him who is the fountain. of life, grace, and sanctity? Here we receive the bread of life, for the food and nourishment of our souls. Here we meet with a constant supply of sanctifying grace, to repair the daily decays caused by our infirmity and corruption; to give us new strength and vigour to walk on in our way, through the wilderness of this world to the mountain of God; and to make us continually grow in virtue, till we become perfect. Here our lesser sins are forgiven us, and we receive a sovereign antidote against the greater. Here devout souls taste the sweetness of heaven in its very fountain. Here, seated like Magdalen at the feet of our Lord, they learn from him heavenly lessons, and enjoy his delicious conversation. Aspire after this happiness, O Christian soul! which, in some measure, makes you enjoy heaven upon earth. If you love Jesus Christ, run to his embraces; if you love yourself, run to your sovereign Good. But see it be with due preparation; and most especially with faith, with fear, and with love. I. Direct your Intention. O LORD Jesus Christ, King of everlasting glory! behold, I desire to come to thee this day, and to receive thy body and blood in this heavenly sacrament, for thy honour and glory, and the good of my soul. I desire to receive thee, because it is thy desire, and thou hast so ordained: blessed be thy name for ever. I desire to come to thee like Magdalen, that I may be delivered from all my evils, and embrace thee, my only good. I desire to come to thee, that I may be happily united to thee; that I may henceforward abide in thee and thou in me; and that nothing in life or death, may ever separate me from thee. 2\. Commemorate the Passion of Christ. I DESIRE, in these holy mysteries, to commemorate, as thou hast commanded, all thy sufferings, thy agony, and bloody sweat; thy being betrayed and apprehended; all the reproaches and calumnies; all the scoffs and affronts; all the blows and buffets thou hast endured for me; thy being scourged, crowned with thorns, and loaded with a heavy cross for my sins, and for those of the whole world; thy crucifixion and death, together with thy glorious resurrection, and triumphant ascension. I adore thee, and give thee thanks for all that thou hast done and suffered for us; and for giving us, in this blessed sacrament, this pledge of our redemption-this victim of our redemption-this body and blood which was offered for us. 3\. Make an Act of Faith, I MOST firmly believe, that in this holy sacrament thou art present verily and indeed; that here is thy body and blood, thy soul and thy divinity. I believe that thou, my Saviour, true God and true man, art really here with all thy treasures; that here thou communicatest thyself to me, makest us partakers of the fruit of thy passion, and givest us a pledge of eternal life. I believe there cannot be a greater happiness than to receive thee worthily, nor a greater misery than to receive thee unworthily. All this I most steadfastly believe, because it is what thou hast taught us by thy word and by thy church. 4. Conceive a great fear, and humble yourself. BUT, O my God, how shall I dare approach to thee, so wretched a worm to so infinite a Majesty -so filthy a sinner to such infinite purity and sanctity? Alas! my soul is covered with a universal leprosy, and how shall I presume to embrace thee? My whole life has been nothing but misery and sin; and it is only thy mercy that I have not been long since in hell, which I have deserved a thousand times; and how shall I venture so much as to lift up my eyes to thee, how much less to receive thee within my breast? I tremble at the sentence of the apostle, that " He that receives unworthily, receives his own damnation;" for I cannot but acknowledge myself infinitely unworthy. Nor should I dare ever to come to thee, were I not excited by thy most loving and pressing invitation, and encouraged by thy infinite goodness and mercy. It is in this mercy, which is above all thy works, I put my whole trust; and it is in this confidence alone that I presume to approach to thee. Oh! grant that it may be with a contrite and humble heart, for this, I know, thou wilt never despise. 5\. Make an Act of Contrition. O LORD, I detest, with my whole heart, all the sins by which I have ever offended thy divine Majesty, from the first moment that I was capable of sinning to this very hour. I desire to lay them all down here at thy feet, to be cancelled by thy precious blood. What can I do for them, but humbly confess and lament them all my lifetime; and this I heartily desire to do, and from this moment continually to cry out to thee for mercy. Hear me, O Lord, by that infinite love, by which thou hast shed thy blood for me. Oh! let not that blood be shed in vain. All my sins displease me now exceedingly, because they have offended thy infinite goodness. By thy grace I will never commit them any more. I am sorry for them, and will be sorry for them as long as I live; and, according to the best of my power, will do penance for them. Forgive me, dear Lord, for thy mercy's sake; pardon me all that is past, and be thou my keeper for the time to come, that I may never more offend thee. 6\. Make an Act of Divine Love. O SWEET Jesus! the God of my heart, and the life of my soul! As the hart pants after the fountains of water, so does my soul pant after thee, the fountain of life, and the ocean of all good! I am overjoyed at the hearing of these happy tidings, that I am to go into the house of our Lord, or rather that our Lord is to come into my house, and take up his abode with me. Oh, happy moments! When shall I be admitted to the embraces of the living God, for whom my poor soul languishes with love! Oh! come, dear Jesus, and take full possession of my heart for ever. I offer it to thee without reserve; I desire to consecrate it eternally to thee. I love thee with my whole soul, above all things; at least I desire so to love thee. It is nothing less than infinite love that brings thee to me, oh! teach me to make a suitable return of love. 7\. Humbly beg God's Grace. BUT, O my God, thou knowest my great poverty and misery, and that of myself I can do nothing; thou knowest how unworthy I am of this infinite favour, and thou alone canst make me worthy. Oh! since thou art so good as to invite me thus to thyself, add this one bounty more to all the rest, to prepare me for thyself. Cleanse my soul from its stains; clothe it with the nuptial garment of charity; adorn it with all virtues, and make it a fit abode for thee. Drive sin and the devil far from this dwelling, which thou art here pleased to choose for thyself, and make me one according to thy own heart, that this heavenly visit, which thou deignest for my salvation, may not, by my unworthiness, be perverted to my damnation. Oh! never let me be guilty of thy body and blood, by an unworthy communion. For the sake of this same precious blood, which thou hast shed for me, deliver me from so great an evil. Oh! rather let me die ten thousand deaths, than thus presume to crucify thee again. 8\. Implore the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, and of the saints. O ALL ye blessed angels and saints of God, who see him face to face, whom I here receive under these humble veils, and thou most especially, ever blessed virgin, mother of this same God and Saviour, in whose sacred womb he was conceived and borne for nine months, I most humbly beg the assistance of your prayers and intercession, that I may in such manner receive him here, in this place of banishment, as to be brought one day to enjoy him with you in our true country, and there to praise him and love him for ever. ### Instructions for Communion AT the time of communion go up to the rail, and take up the towel and hold it before you, Whilst the clerk says the Confiteor humbly confess your sins, and beg God's pardon for them, When the priest turns about to give the absolution, receive it with your head bowed down, as from the hand of the invisible High Priest, whom you are going to receive, When the priest holds up a particle of the Blessed Sacrament, with these words, " Ecce Agnus Dei," &c., " Behold the Lamb of God-behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world;" humbly beg, with a lively confidence in the merits of his death and passion, that he would take away your sins. When the priest repeats three times, " Domine non sum dignus,-Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, speak only the word and my soul shall be healed," say the same with him in your heart, and humble yourself exceedingly, through the sense of your unworthiness and sins; but let this be joined with a lively confidence in him, who can raise you up, and perfectly heal your soul by his only word. When the priest gives you the Blessed Sacrament, saying, " The body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul to life everlasting, Amen," receive it with a lively faith, a profound humility, and a heart inflamed with love. At the time of your receiving, let your head be erect, your mouth open moderately wide, and your tongue a little advanced, so as to rest upon your under-lip, that the priest may conveniently convey the Blessed Sacrament into your mouth, which being done shut your mouth; let the sacred Host moisten upon your tongue, and then swallow it down as soon as you can, and afterwards abstain a while from spitting. If the Host should chance to stick to the roof of your mouth, be not disturbed; neither must you put your finger into your mouth to remove it; but gently and quietly remove it with your tongue, and so convey it down; and then return to your place, and endeavour to entertain, as well as you can the guest whom you have received. Spend at least a quarter of an hour after communion in devotions suitable to that occasion. It would be a great abuse to turn your back immediately upon your Saviour, by going away; as some do, and thinking no more of what you have been doing. I particularly recommend you three things after communion: 1st. To cast yourself down in spirit at the feet of your Lord, whom you have received; to adore him, praise him, and give him thanks, for coming to so unworthy a sinner, and to invite all heaven and earth to join with you in praising and magnifying his holy name. 2nd. To make an offering of your heart and soul, and of your whole being to him, that you may henceforward love him, ## Devotions After Communion ### Aspirations BEHOLD, O Lord, I have thee now, who hast all things! I possess thee, who possessest all things, and who canst do all things! Take off my heart, then, O my God, and my all, from all other things but thee; in all which there is nothing but vanity and affliction of spirit. Let my heart be fixed on thee alone; let me ever repose in thee, where alone my treasure is; the sovereign truth and true happiness; and happy eternity. Let my soul, O Lord, be sensible of the sweetness of thy presence. Let me taste how sweet thou art, O Lord; that being allured by thy love, I may never more go after worldly joys; for thou art the joy of my heart, and my portion for ever. Thou art the physician of my soul, who healest all our infirmities by thy sacred blood; and I am that sick man whom thou camest down from heaven to heal. Oh! heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. Thou art the good shepherd, who hast laid down thy life for thy sheep. Behold I am that sheep that was lost, and yet thou vouchsafest to feed me with thy body and blood; take me now upon thy shoulders to carry me home. What canst thou deny me, who hast given me thyself? Govern me, and nothing will be wanting to me in this place of pasture where thou hast placed me, until thou bringest me to the happy pastures of life eternal. Oh! true light, which enlightenest every man that cometh into this world, enlighten my eyes, that I may never sleep in death. Oh! fire ever burning and never decaying, behold how tepid and cold I am; inflame my reins and my heart, that they may burn with thy love; for thou camest to cast fire upon earth, and what dost thou desire but that it be enkindled? O King of heaven and earth, rich in mercy behold I am poor and needy; thou knowest what I stand most in need of, and thou alone canst assist and enrich me. Oh! help me, my God; and out of the treasures of thy bounty, succour my needy soul. O my Lord and my God, behold I am thy servant, give me understanding and excite my affection, that I may henceforward, in all things, know and do thy will. Thou art the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the world, oh! take away from me whatever is hurtful to me and displeasing to thee; and give me what thou knowest to be pleasing to thee, and profitable to me. Thou art my love and all my joy! thou art my God and my all! Thou art the portion of my inheritance and of my chalice! Thou art HE who will restore my inheritance to me. O my God and my all! may the sweet flame of thy love consume my soul, that so I may die to the world, for the love of thee, who hast vouchsafed to die upon the cross for the love of me. ### Acts of Devotion, Praise, and Thanksgiving After Communion O MY sweet Jesus, my Creator and my Redeemer, my God and my all, whence is this to me, that my Lord, and so great a Lord; whom heaven and earth cannot contain, should come into this poor cottage-this house of clay of my earthly habitation! Oh, that I could give thee a hearty welcome-that I could entertain thee as I ought! Thy loving kindness invites me to thy embraces, and I would willingly say, with the spouse in the Canticles, " I have found him whom my soul loveth; I have held him, and will never let him go!" but the awe of so great a Majesty checks me, and the sense of my great unworthiness and innumerable sins keeps me back. No, my soul, it is the feet of thy Saviour only that thou canst presume to embrace. It is there thou must present thyself, like Magdalen, and wish that, like her, thou couldst wash them away with thy tears. Oh! that thou couldst be so happy. But, first, bow down thyself, with all thy powers, to adore the Sovereign Majesty, which has vouchsafed to come to visit thee; pay him the best homage thou art able, as to thy first beginning and thy last end; and perfectly annihilate thyself in the presence of this eternal, immense, infinite Deity. Then pour thyself forth in his presence, in praise and thanksgiving, according to thy best, and invite all heaven and earth to join with thee in praising and magnifying their Lord and thine, for his mercy and bounty to thee. Oh! what return shall I make to thee. O Lord, for all thou hast done for me. Behold, when I had no being at all, thou hast created me; and when I was gone astray and lost in my sins, thou hast redeemed me by dying for me. All that I have, all that I am, is thy gift; and now, after all thy other favours, thou hast given me thyself, blessed be thy name for ever. Thou art great, O Lord, and exceedingly to be praised. Great are thy works, and of thy wisdom there is no end: but thy tender mercies, thy bounty, and goodness to me are above all thy works; these I desire to confess and extol for ever. Bless, then, thy Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within thee praise and magnify his name. Bless thy Lord, O my soul, and see thou never forgetest all that he has done for thee. O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and glorify him for ever. O all ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and glorify his holy name. Bless the Lord, all ye saints, and let the whole church of heaven and earth join in praising and giving him thanks for all his mercies and graces to me; and so, in some measure, supply for what is due from me. But as all this still falls short of what is due to thee for thy infinite love, I offer to thee, O eternal Father, the same Son of thine whom thou hast given me, and his thanksgiving, which is of infinite value; and this I am sure thou wilt accept of. Look not then upon my insensibility and ingratitude, but upon the face of thy Christ; and with him, and through him, receive this offering of myself, which I desire to make to thee. N. B.-Here also might be recited the Canticle of the Three Children, "Benedicite," &c., and some of the Psalms of Praises. #### An Oblation After Communion O FATHER of mercies, and God of all consolation, how hast thou loved us, to whom thou hast given thy only begotten Son, once for our ransom, and daily for the food of our souls! What can I, a wretched creature, return to thee for this infinite charity? Verily, nothing else but this same beloved Son of thine, whom thou hast given to me, and surely thou couldst give nothing greater, or more worthy of thyself. Him, then, I offer to thee, O heavenly Father, with whom thou art always well pleased; him, whom thou hast lovingly delivered up to death for me, and given me in this most holy sacrament which we frequent for the everlasting memorial of his death. He is our high priest and victim; he is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world; he is our advocate and intercessor. Look down, then, upon him, and for his sake look down upon me, and upon us all. Remember all his sufferings, which he endured here in his mortal life: his bitter anguish, his mortal agony, and bloody sweat; all the injuries and affronts; all the blows and stripes; all the bruises and wounds that he received for us. Remember his death, which thou wast pleased should be the fountain of our life, and for the sake of his sacred passion have mercy on us. And turning myself to thee, O my dear Lord and Saviour, who hast here given me thyself, I would gladly make some suitable return to thee for this infinite love-I would gladly make thee some offering in acknowledgment of this rich present thou hast made me. But, alas! thou knowest my poverty-thou knowest I have nothing worthy of thy acceptance-nothing but what, upon a thousand titles, is already thine. But, O my God, such is thy goodness, thou wilt be contented with the little that I can give thee, though it be thy own already. Thou askest nothing but my heart, and this I here most willingly offer thee. Oh! be pleased to accept of it, and make it wholly thine for ever. I offer thee, here, my whole being; my body, with all its senses, and my soul with all its powers; that as thou hast at present honoured them both by thy presence, so they may both be thy temple for ever. Oh! sanctify and consecrate eternally to thyself this mansion, which thou hast this day chosen for thy abode. I give thee my memory, that it may be for ever recollected in thee; my understanding, that it may be always enlightened and directed by thy truth; and my will, that it may be ever conformable to thine, and ever burn with the love of thee. Oh! take me entirely into thine hands, with all that I have, and all that I am; and let nothing henceforward, in life or death, ever separate me any more from thee. Amen. #### Petitions After Communion O MOST merciful Saviour, behold I have presumed to receive thee this day into my house, relying on thy infinite goodness and mercy, and hoping, like Zaccheus, to obtain thy benediction. But, alas! with how little preparation? With how little devotion? From my heart I beg pardon for my great unworthiness, and for my innumerable sins, which I detest for the love of thee, and I desire to detest them for ever. Oh! wash them all away with thy precious blood; for thou art the Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world; and one drop of this blood, which thou hast shed for us, is more than enough to cancel the sins of ten thousand worlds. You see, O searcher of hearts! all my maladies, and all the wounds of my soul; you know how prone I am to evil, and how backward and sluggish to good. You see the self-love that tyrannizes over my soul, which is so deeply rooted in my corrupt nature, and branches out into so many vices, so much pride and vanity, so much passion and envy, so much covetousness and worldly solicitude, so much sensuality and concupiscence. Oh! who can heal all these my evils but thou, the true physician of my soul, who givest me thy body and blood in this blessed sacrament, as a sovereign medicine for all my infirmities, and a sovereign balsam for all my wounds. Dispel the darkness of ignorance and error from my understanding, by thy heavenly light; drive away the corruption and malice of my will, by the fire of divine love and charity; restrain all the motions of concupiscence, and all irregular sallies of passion, that they may no more prevail over me. Strengthen my weakness with heavenly fortitude; destroy this hellish monster of self-love, with its many heads, or at least chain down this worst of all my enemies, that it may no longer usurp the empire of my soul, which belongs to thee, and which thou hast taken possession of this day. Cut off the heads of this beast, and particularly that which annoys me most, and which is my predominant passion. Stand by me hence forward in all my temptations, that I may never more be overcome; remove from me all dangerous occasions, and grant me this one favour, that I may rather die a thousand deaths, than live to offend thee mortally. O my Jesus, thou art infinitely rich, and all the treasures of divine grace are locked up in thee; these treasures thou bringest with thee, when thou comest to visit us in this blessed sacrament, and thou takest an infinite pleasure in opening them to us, to enrich our poverty. This gives me the confidence to present thee now with my petitions, and to beg of thee those graces and virtues which I very much stand in need of, as thou best knowest. Oh! increase and strengthen my belief of thy heavenly truths, and grant that henceforward I may ever live by faith, and be guided by the maxims of thy gospel. Teach me to be poor in spirit, and take off my heart from the love of these transitory things, and fix it on eternity. Teach me by thy divine example, and by thy most efficacious grace, to be meek and humble of heart, and in my patience to possess my soul. Grant that I may ever keep my body and soul chaste and pure from the corruption of lust; that I may ever bewail my past sins, and by a daily mortification restrain all irregular inclinations and passions for the future. Above all things, teach me to love thee; teach me to be ever recollected in thee, and to walk always in thy presence. Teach me to love my friends in thee, and my enemies for thee. Grant me to persevere to the end in this love, and so to come one day to that happy place, where I may love and enjoy thee for ever. Have mercy also on my parents, friends, and benefactors, and on all those for whom I am any way bound to pray, that we may all love thee and faithfully serve thee. Have mercy on thy whole church, and on all the clergy; and religious men and women; that all may live up to their calling, and sanctify thy name. Give thy grace and blessing to all princes and magistrates, and to all Christian people. Convert all unbelievers and sinners; and bring all strayed sheep back to thy fold; particularly have mercy on N. and N., &c. O Blessed Virgin, mother of my God and Saviour, recommend all these my petitions to your Son. O all ye angels and saints-citizens of heaven-join also your prayers with mine. You ever stand before the throne, and see him face to face, whom I here receive under veils, be ever mindful of me, and obtain from him, and through him, that with you I may bless him, and love him for ever. Amen. ### Te Deum. a Hymn of Thanksgiving THEE, sovereign God, our grateful accents praise, We own thee Lord, and bless thy wond'rous ways. To thee, eternal Father, earth's whole frame, With loudest trumpets sound immortal fame. Lord God of Hosts! to thee the heavenly powers, With sounding anthems fill thy vaulted towers: The cherubim thrice holy, holy, holy, cry; Thrice holy all the seraphim reply, And thrice returning echoes, endless songs supply. Both heaven and earth thy Majesty display They owe their beauty to thy glorious ray. Thy praises fill the loud apostles' choir, The train of prophets in the song conspire; Legions of martyrs in the chorus shine, And vocal blood with vocal music join. By these thy Church, inspired with heavenly art, Around the world maintains a second part; And tunes her sweetest notes, O God, to thee, The Father of unbounded majesty; The Son, adored co-partner of thy seat, And equal, everlasting Paraclete. Thou King of Glory, Christ of the Most High Thou co-eternal filial Deity; Thou, who to save the world's impending doom, Vouchsaf'dst to dwell within a virgin's womb: Old tyrant Death disarmed-before thee flew The bolts of heaven, and back the foldings drew To give access, and make the faithful way From God's right hand thy filial beams display! Thou art to judge the living and the dead, Then spare those souls for whom thy veins have bled. Oh! take us up amongst the blest above, To share with them thy everlasting love. Preserve, O Lord, thy people, and enhance Thy blessing on thine own inheritance. For ever raise their hearts and rule their ways. Each day we bless thee and proclaim thy praise. No age shall fail to celebrate thy name, Nor hour neglect thy everlasting fame! Preserve our souls, O Lord, this day from ill: Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy still! As we have hoped, do thou reward our pain We've hop'd in thee, let not our hope be vain. V. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. R. Let us praise and extol him for ever. N.B.-That upon the whole day after your Communion, you ought to be more than ordinarily retired, and perform more devotions than usual. Particularly, watch over yourself, lest, by giving way to passion, or any other sin, you suffer yourself to be robbed of any part of that treasure you have received; for it is a common artifice of the devil, on the clay that a person has been at Communion, to fling some stumbling-block in their way; to raise them to passion; or disturb their peace, or to draw them aside from their devotions, by worldly distractions or diversions; and therefore Christians must be upon their guard on these occasions; and by retirement, recollection, and prayer, give time to the grace which they have received to sink into their souls, and take deep root there. And let them remember, that they have received this fresh supply of divine grace, to the end, that they may improve in every Christian virtue, and especially in the love of God, and may. serve his divine Majesty with a new vigour and fervour. --- ![[maps/bibliography#^biblio-spratt]] > [[js-cm-13|← An Exposition of the Order, Canon, and Ceremonies of the Mass]] | [[the-carmelite-manual-toc|TOC]] | [[js-cm-15|Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus →]]