WAnUAb of 3doratiob

MAR 7 1891
502. Serz &Co. Edits..¥iirriberg XWdel.
ItaEDICTUM SIT SANCTIS SMJM SACRAMMTTJM.
 Hboration

of tbe

fIDoet Blesseb Sacrament

BY A
BENEDICTINE, CONCEPTION, MO.

Permissu Superiorum.

FEB 121898

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Published by B. HERDER,
17 South Broadway.
MP*
 NIHIL OBSTAT.
Fro win us,
Abbas Neo-Angelo-Moutanus.

IMPRIMATUR.
Mauritius,
Bishop of St. Joseph.
2543

Copyright 1897,
By Jos. Gummersbach.
All rights reserved

— B EC KTO LD —
PRINTING AND BOOK MFG. CO.
ST. LOUIS, A\0.
 U. I. O. G. D.

PREFACE.

HE love and devotion towards the most

blessed Sacrament is happily spread-
ing and increasing also in these United
States. The Encharistic League, the Per-
petual Adoration , the various Associations
in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, are
steadily gaining in membership.
Several parties having made us sugges-
tions to that effect, we hereby present to
the pious adorers of our Eucharistic Grod a
Manual that may be useful to them. We
have endeavored to adapt it as much as
possible to the liturgy of the Church. Its
arrangement follows the order of her seasons
and feasts. Most of the prayers are from
VI Co)) tents.

Contents,

Advent 1
Christmas-Tide - - 24
Holy Name of Jesus 44
The Holy Season of Lent 64
Penance 64
Passion of Christ 89
The Cross and the holy Wounds of Christ ... Ill
Eucharistie Way of the Cross 133
Easter-Tide 160
Rogation-Days 178
Ascension of Our Lord. 204
Whitsunday t 220
Trinity Sunday 242
Corpus Christi 26?
The Institution and Nature of the Most
Blessed Sacrament 267
Lessons taught by Christ in the Most Blessed
Sacrament 290
Various Prayers to the Most Blessed Sacra-
ment 310
Feast ok the Sacred Heart of Jesus 328
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary 349
The Prerogatives of the Blessed Virgin 349
Various Prayers to the Blessed Virgin 370
In honor of the Sorrowful Mother.. 395
Feasts of St. Joseph 418
Feasts of the holy Angels 446
Feasts of the Saints 472
The Poor Souls 492
Preparation for Death 516
 Contents, vn

LITANIES.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus 57
Litany of the Passion of Christ 104
Litany of the Holy Wounds of Christ 126
Litany of the Saints 192
Litany of the Holy Ghost 235
Litany of the Blessed Trinity 260
Litany of the Blessed Sacrament 285
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 342
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Mary 365
Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows 412
Litany of St. Joseph 438
Litany of the Holy Angels 464
Litany of the Faithful Departed 510
Litany for a happy Death 537
APPENDIX.
Daily Prayers 547
Morning Prayers 547
The Angelus 550
Meal Prayers 551
Short Indulgenced Prayers 552
Evening Prayers 555
Mass Prayers 559
The Asperges 559
The Ordinary of Mass 560
Other Prayers for Mass 586
Method of Assisting at Holy Mass, by St.
Leonard of Portu Mauritio 601
Prayers for Confession 607
Prayers for Holy Communion 619
VIII Contents.

Blpbabetical Ifn&ex of Seasons

anb jfeasts,
The numbers placed after the feast indicate the page on which the
Hour-Prayers, suitable for the Festival, can be found.
Advent 1
Angels, feasts of the holy 446
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin . 349 ; 370
Apostles, feasts of the holy 472
Ascension of Our Lord 204
Ash- Wednesday 67 ; 89 ; 516
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin 370
Blessed Virgin Mary, feasts of the 349 ; 370
Blood of Christ, feast of the Precious Ill ; 133 ; 89
Christmas 24
Christmas-Tide 24; 44
Circumcision of our Lord 44
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 349
Corpus Christi 267 ; 290 ; 310
Cross, feasts of the holy Ill ; 133
Crown of Thorns of Our Lord, feast of the holy 89; 111; 133
Easter-Sunday 160
Easter-Tide 160
Ember-Days 64; 516
Epiphany of Our Lord 24 ; 44
Exaltation of the holy Cross Ill ; 133
Finding of the holy Cross Ill ; 133
First Friday of the month 328
Good Friday Ill ; 133 ; 89
Guardian Angels, feast of the holy 446
Heart of Jesus, feast of the Sacred 328
Heart of Mary, feast of the Sacred 349 ; 370
 IX
Contents.

Help of Christians, feast of Mary 370

Holy Ghost, in honor of the 220
Holy Thursday 267; 133
Holy Saturday Ill ; 133
Holy Week 89; 111; 133
Holy Wounds of Christ, feast of the Ill ; 89
Jesus, Holy Name of 44
Jesus, Sacred Heart of 328
Immaculate Conception of the B. V. M 349
Joseph, feasts of Saint 418
Lance and Nails of Our Lord Ill ; 89
Lent, the holy Season of 64 ; 89 ; 133; 516
Mark, the feast of St,.. 472. Rogation Day 198
Mary, the Blessed Virgin, feasts of 349; 370
Mount Carmel, feast of Our Lady of 370
Name of Jesus 44
Name of the Blessed Virgin 370 ; 349
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 349; 370
New Year's Day 44 ; 24
Octave of any festival, same as on the feast.
Palm Sunday 64 ; 89 ; 111 ; 133
Passion of Christ 89; 111 ; 133
Patronage of the Blessed Virgin 370
Patronage of St. Joseph 418
Pentecost Sunday 320
Precious Blood of Christ Ill ; 89; 133
Presentation of the B. V. M 349; 370
Poor Souls 492
Rogation-Days 198
Rosary of the B. V. M., feast of the holy 370
Saints, feast of any or all 472
x Contents.

St. Andrew, Ap 472

St. Anna, Wid 472
St. Barnabas, Ap 472
St. Bartholomew, Ap. 472
St. Benedict, Abb 472
St. Dominic, Conf 472
St. Francis, Conf 472
St. Gabriel, Arch. ... 446
St. Gregory the Great, P. D 472
St. James, Ap , 472
St. Joachim, Conf 472
St John, Ap 472
St. John Bapt 472
St. Joseph 418
St. Lawrence, M 472
SS. Simon and Jude, Ap 472
St. Luke, Ev 472
St. Martin, B 472
St. Matthew, Ap 472
St. Matthias, Ap 472
St. Michael, Arch 446
St. Paul, Ap 472
SS. Peter and Paul, Ap 472
SS. Philip and James, Ap 472
vSt. Raphael, Arch 446
St. Stephen, M 472
Seven Dolors B. V. M 395
Sacred Heart Friday 328
Sacred Heart of Jesus ... 328
Transfiguration of Christ 310
Trinity Sunday 242
Visitation B. V. M 370
Whit-Sunday , , 220
 XI

prater before tbe Bboration^lbour*

Open my mouth, HE* 0 Lord! to bless thy
holy name; cleanse my heart from all vain,
evil and distracting thoughts; enlighten my
understanding, inflame my will, that I may
worthily recite this office, with attention
and devotion, and may deserve to be heard
in the presence of thy divine Majesty.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
0 Lord ! in union with that divine intention
with which thou didst praise God on earth,
and now dost praise him in the blessed
Sacrament, I offer thee these prayers — for
my own poor soul — that I may never
commit a mortal sin — that I may live a
more perfect life — that my devotion to
the blessed. Sacrament may daily increase —
that I may truly venerate the blessed Vir-
gin — that I may have a special love for
St. Joseph.
For my parents — for my relations — for
my benefactors — for my friends — for the
needs and wants of holy Church — for our
common father, the Pope — for our Bishop
— for the clergy of this diocese — for the
clergy of this parish — for my Pastor — for
the members of our congregation — for the
members of the Perpetual Adoration — for
the conversion of sinners, heretics, and
XII

heathens — for the children, that they may

preserve their holy innocence — for the
young men and women, that they may live
piously and chastely, and choose that state
of life to which they are called — for the
married people, that they may faithfully
fulfill their duties — for those that are
tempted, that they may overcome their
temptations — for the poor, the troubled,
and the sick, that they may bear their cross
patiently — for the dying, that God may
give them a happy hour of death — for the
poor souls in purgatory, that they may find
eternal rest.
In honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus —
the Blessed Virgin — the Immaculate Con-
ception — St. Joseph — the holy Angels —
the Patron of this parish etc.

prater after tbe Bboration^lbour*

To the most holy and undivided Trinity,
to the humanity of our Lord crucified, to
the spotless maternity of the most blessed
and glorious ever Virgin Mary, and the
whole assembly of the Saints, be everlasting
praise, honor, power, and glory, from every
creature, and to us forgiveness of all our
sins for ever and ever. Amen. — Our Father.
■— Hail Mary.
 XIII

Commemorations.
These are said at the end of each Hour; not however on
great festival days, nor within their Octaves.
©f tbe Blessed IDirgtn /IDat£*
Holy Mary ! be thou a help to the helpless,
a strength to the fearful, a comfort to the
sorrowful; pray for the people, plead for
the clergy, make intercession for all women
vowed to God ; may all feel thine assistance
who keep thy holy remembrance.
y. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of Grod!
Tfy. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
Grrant, 0 Lord Grod! we beseech thee,
that we, thy servants, may rejoice in con-
tinual health of mind and body ; and through
the glorious intercession of blessed Mary
ever Virgin, be freed from present sorrow
and enjoy eternal gladness.
©f St 5osepb*
Behold a faithful and wise servant, whom
the Lord hath set over his household.
y. Grlory and riches shall be in his house.
1^. And his justice endureth for ever and
ever.
XIV

LET US PEAY.

0 Grod! who, by thine unspeakable pro-

vidence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed
Joseph to be the spouse of thy most holy
mother: mercifully grant that, as we vener-
ate him for our protector on earth, we may
be found worthy to be aided by his inter-
cession inheaven. Amen.
 O Lord! thou vrilt open my lips.
1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O God! incline unto my aid.
J^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory he to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Bborattoru

Come, let us adore the King our Lord

who is to come.
The Lord is now nigh. Come, let us
adore him.
Let us adore the Saviour of the world,
whom the nations desired.
Come, let us thank and praise him for
the mystery of his holy Incarnation.
Glory be to Jesus Christ who has appeared
amongst us.
(i)
2 ADVENT.

Come, let us adore Mm in the most holy

Sacrament of the Altar.
Come, let us with all the Angels and
Saints sing to him:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord G-od of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation,
The time is come; the prophecies are
fulfilled ; the Holy One has appeared ;
the Word is made flesh, that the flesh may
be cleansed; that sin may disappear and
justice and peace reign upon earth.
Thy coming, O divine Lord! O Sun of
Justice! should have dispelled darkness;
but man loved darkness more than the light.
Thou, O Lord! the light of the world,
becamest man and art yet daily descending
from heaven upon the altar ; renewing the
mystery of thy holy Incarnation ; really and
truly dwelling amongst us. Alas! people
do not know thee, and remain blind.
O Grod! forgive us; we have sinned
against thee; and we are become as one
unclean, and we have all fallen as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken
us away.
 ADVENT. 3

0 Lord! see the affliction of thy people,

and send him whom thou hast promised to
send. Send forth the lamb, the ruler of
the earth, that he himself may take off the
yoke of our captivity.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down the Just One.

Maker of the stars above !

The light by which the faithful move ;
Jesus, Saviour, Lord of all!
Hearken to thy people's call.

When our nature fainting lay,

Crushed by Satan's cruel sway,
Blest Physician! 'twas thy love
Brought us healing from above.

In the blessed Mary's womb

Purest flesh thou didst assume,
That to Grod above might rise
The all-holy sacrifice.

Unto heaven exalted now,

At thy sacred name shall bow
All that on the earth do dwell,
All in heaven and all in hell.
4 ADVENT.

Thou who, on the judgment day,

Our most secret thoughts wilt weigh,
Shield us now with pitying care,
Guard us from temptation's snare.

Honor, glory, love and praise

Be through never-ending days,
To the Father and the Son m
And the Spirit, Three in One.

Zfoz 3o£ of Bbvent*

May the sun, and stars, and land, and

sea sound forth the coming of the most
high God.
May the rich and the poor unite their
songs of praise to the Son of the supreme
Creator.
He is the Saviour promised to our fathers :
the glorious offspring of the Virgin; the
Son of the mighty God, born of him before
the morning star.
He is the King of glory and is coming to
rule as God over kings; to trample our
wicked enemy beneath his feet, and heal
this sick world of our's.
Let the Angels rejoice; let all nations
exult. He that is high is coning in lowli-
ness, to save what had been lost.
 ADVENT. 5

A God-Man is born. The Son, co-eternal

with the Father, our Lord descends upon
earth.
Let the prophets cry out and prophesy :
u Emmanuel is nigh unto us." Let the
tongues of the dumb speak, and ye, poor
lame ones, run to meet him.
Let the lamb and the wild beasts feed
with each other; let the ox and the ass
know him that lies in the manger.
Oh, the blessed message sent to the Virgin
Mary! By believing she conceives; she is
a Mother and a Virgin knowing not man.
All ye nations and peoples applaud this
grand triumph.
Let the eyes of the blind who have been
sitting in darkness now learn to throw off
the night, and open to the true light.
Let Galilee and Greece, Persia and Judea,
receive the faith. A God deigns to become
man and remains the Word with the Father.
Praise, honor, power, and glory be to
the Vford made man, and ever since living
amongst us in the most holy Sacrament of
the Altar.
6 ADVENT.

£be propbeciea of tbe ©it) Testament.

!♦ Usatas*

"The Lord himself shall give you a sign:

Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a
son , and his name shall be called Em-
manuel." (7,14.)
CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING.
I will give thanks to thee, 0 Lord! for
thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is
turned away and thou hast comforted me.
Behold! Grod is my Saviour. I will deal
confidently and will not fear: because the
Lord is my strength and my praise, and he
is become my salvation.
You shall draw waters with joy out of
the Saviour's fountains.
And you shall say in that day : praise ye
the Lord, and call upon his name; make
his inventions known among the people;
remember that his name is high.
Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done
great things : show this forth in all the earth.
Rejoice and praise, O thou habitation of
Sion! for great is he that is in the midst of
thee, the Holy One of Israel.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain the Just One.
 ADVENT. 7

Let the earth be opened, and bud forth

the Saviour.
LET US PKAY.
Exert, we beseech thee, 0 Lord! thy
power, and come, that by thy protection
we may be freed from the imminent danger
of our sins, and be saved by thy mercy.
0 Lord! who didst not only assume flesh
at thy holy Incarnation, but art ever since
daily descending from heaven upon our
altars, give us the grace, always worthily to
receive and adore thee, who livest with the
Father and the Holy Ghost from eternity
to eternity. Amen.
2* Seremias*

uIn those days shall Juda be saved, and

Israel shall dwell confidently, and this is
the name they shall call him: "The Lord
our Just One.77 (23, 6.)
THE CANTICLE.
Hear the word of the Lord, all ye nations,
and declare it in the islands that are afar
off, and say:uhe that scattereth Israel will
gather him: and he will keep him as the
shepherd doth his flock.77
For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and
delivered him out of the hand of one that
was mightier than he.
8 ADVENT.

And they shall come and give praise on

mount Sion, and they shall flee together
to the good things of the Lord, and their
soul shall be as a watered garden, and they
shall be hungry no more.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
the young men and the old men together:
and I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them and make them
joyful after their sorrow.
And I will fill the soul of the priests with
fatness ; and my people shall be filled with
good things, saith the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain the Just One.
Let the earth be opened, and bud forth
the Saviour.
LET US PKAY.

Stir up, 0 Lord! our hearts to prepare

the ways of thy only begotten Son, that by
his coming we may be enabled to serve thee
with pure mind.
Give us the grace, 0 Lord ! always worthily
to receive thee in the holy Communion, to
live in and with thee, who art God with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, in all eternity.
A men,
 ADVENT. 9

3. EsecbteL

"And I will set up one shepherd over

them, and he shall feed them, even my
servant David; he shall feed them and he
shall be their shepherd, and I, the Lord,
will be their (rod, and my servant David
the prince in the midst of them: I, the
Lord, have spoken it.?? (34, 23 and 24.)
THE PEOMISES.
I will make a covenant of peace with
them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease
out of the land ; and they that dwell in the
wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests.
And I will make them a blessing round
about my hill: and I will send down the
rain in its season: there shall be showers
of blessing.
And the tree of the field shall yield its
fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase,
and they shall be in their land without fear ;
and they shall know that I am the Lord,
when I shall have broken the bond of their
yoke, and shall have delivered them out of
the hand of those that rule over them.
And they shall be no more a spoil unto
the nations, neither shall the beasts of the
earth devour them; but they shall dwell
securely without any terror.
10 ADVENT.

And I shall raise up for them a bud of

renown, and they shall be no more consumed
with famine in the land ; neither shall they
bear any more the reproach of the Gentiles.
And they shall know that I, the Lord,
their Gk>d, am with them, and that they are
my people, the house of Israel, with the
Lord Glod.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain the Just One.
Let the earth be opened, and bud forth
the Saviour.
LET US PEAY.
Lend thine ear, 0 Lord! we beseech thee,
to our prayers, and enlighten the darkness
of our minds by the grace of thy visitation .
Come, O Lord! who dwellest in the
blessed Sacrament as formerly in the chaste
womb of Mary; come into our hearts, there
to find thy abode and to unite us to thyself
forever. Amen.
4* BanieL

" Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy

people, and upon thy holy city, that trans-
gressions may be finished, and sin may have
an end, and that iniquity may be abolished,
and everlasting justice maybe brought, and
vision and prophecy may be fulfilled, and
 ADVENT. 11

the Saint of Saints may be annointed."

(9, 24.)
CANTICLE OF PRAISE.
Blessed art thou, O Lord! the Grod of
our fathers, and worthy to be praised, and
glorified, and exalted above all forever ; and
blessed is the holy name of thy glory; and
worthy to be praised and exalted above all,
in all ages.
Blessed art thou on the throne of thy
kingdom; and exceedingly to be praised
and exalted above all forever.
O ye sons of men, bless the Lord; bless
the Lord, praise and exalt him above all
forever.
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord ;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the
Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
O give thanks to the Lord, because he is
good ; because his mercy endureth forever
and ever.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain the Just One.
Let the earth be opened, and bud forth
the Savior.
12 ADVENT.

LET US PRAY.
Exert, we beseech thee, 0 Lord! thy
power and come, and succor us by thy
great might ; that by the assistance of thy
grace, thy indulgent mercy may hasten
what is delayed by our sins.

for"We
theehave,
in our0 hearts
Lord! : prepared
come thena and
dwelling
give
us thy precious body and blood as a pledge
of our reconciliation and of thy holy love.
Amen.

£be fulfillment of tbe propbedee*

Let all nations sing their best thanks-

givings and their highest praises to their
Creator.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
When his only begotten Son, who created
this world, redeemed us, he fulfilled the
promises, which the divine prophets spoke
in the ages past.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
The Word having come down from
heaven, and shown himself to men, he
took away the punishment due to their
sins; and assuming our nature, though but
dust, he vanquished the prince of death.
 ADVENT. 13

Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord

in the most holy Sacrament.
God has come into this world, made man;
that our old man being changed into the
new, we may put on new beauty, by being
regenerated in the new-born Grod.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
Let the Gentiles, who have received this
new birth of grace, in gladness and joy
prepare for the divine Nativity.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
Let this coming of Jesus, be celebrated
with devout solemnity by all who have so
just a share in it.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
That when the second coming of Christ
shall burst upon the world, and fill it with
fear, this most humble expression of our
devout celebration of the first may give us
confidence.
Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord
in the most holy Sacrament.
To our Lord in the most holy Sacrament,
be honor, praise, and glory for all eternity.
C ome forth sweet Babe ! 0 hild of C hastity !
Child of a Virgin-Mother ! C ome, O thou our
Mediator ! Man-God ! Come into our hearts !
14 ADVENT,

Moved with compassion to see the human

race perish, thou didst descend to these
depths of our misery.
Thou didst save all on earth that was lost ,
giving joy to the world.
Come, then, 0 Christ! purify our souls
and our bodies, and make them thy own
pure abode.
Justify us in thy first coming, and in thy
second deliver us.
That so when thou judgest all things, on
the day of the great light, we may be
adorned with a spotles robe , and may
follow thy foot-steps wheresoever they are
seen.

Zhe announcement of tbe HnoeL

Gabriel, sent forth from heaven, the
faithful bearer of the Word, holds sacred
converse with the holy Virgin.
In the inner chamber he discloses the
good and sweet word, and inverting the
name of Eva, *) he greets her.
Hail, Queen of Virgins! Thou shalt con-
ceive in thy womb the Lord of heaven and
earth.
Thou shalt bring forth the salvation of
mankind, bringing to the world the remedy
for its iniquities.
*) Eva becomes "Ave" which means ''Hail."
 ADVENT. 15

How shall this be, replied the Virgin, for

I know not man ? How wouldst thou have
me break the vow which I have sworn to
keep ?
The grace of the Holy GKhost shall accom-
plish all these things, said the Angel. Fear
not! thy virginity shall be kept intact.
The power of Grod shall maintain it.
To this the noble Virgin answering said :
"I am the lowly handmaid of the Lord, be
it done unto me according to thy word".
The covenant made and instantly there
was present the Word ; and yet the pure maid
a virgin still forever.
Parent, like no other; mother, yet not
loosing the treasure, diving birth to her
child, yet not a pain or travail.
Unheard of prodigy! It is so indeed, and
all thou, my soul, canst do, is, to believe it.
It is the great, the wondrous miracle
of the burning bush; let him that would
approach take the sandals from his feet.
A dry branch, without one drop of dew,
once yielded a flower and a fruit ; it was a new
law, a new way ; so it was when the Virgin
brought forth the Son.
What a blessed fruit! He is our Jesus!
the good Jesus ! lovely burden of a lovely
mother! He who has a throne in heaven,
has a stable for his birth-place.
16 ADVENT.

May he that for our sakes was thus born,

wipe away all our guilt.
0 dear Mother of Jesus ! who didst bring
peace to angels and to men, by giving birth
to Christ, pray for us to thy Son, that he
be merciful to us, and give us his assistance,
whereby, after this exile, we may possess the
blessed joy of eternal life.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto
Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Grhost.
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, the Son of Mary, in the most holy
Sacrament.

Greeting to tbe Bleseeb Dirgtm

Hail, Mother of the divine Word! Hail,

most humble and most spotless Virgin !
Rejoice, thou Mother of a Son who sup-
ports thee! Rejoice, thy burden is a burden
most sweet to bear.
Hail, branch of Jesse ! fruit-bearing
branch! Hail, gate of the temple! closed to
all but Grod.
Hail, shining star of Jacob lighting up
the sea ! Hail, thou sealed-up sanctuary,
thou burning bush !
What bliss is thine, that thou, the humble
star, shouldst be clad with the Sun, and then
 17
ADVENT,

bring forth the Sun! What bliss is thine,

that thou shouldst be elected the bright
ladder reaching up to heaven.
Sing to thy God, thou aurora rising in
the light of the new star. Sing, thou ark
of the covenant, bearing unto us sinners the
three treasures;
Oh! let the soul magnify Jesus, and, 0
sweet Mary! pray that with thee, we, too,
may magnify him.

Zhc Seven (Sreat Bnttpbona*

They are said at Vespers before and after the Magnificat \
from the ijth to the 23rd of December.
1. Antiphon. O Wisdom! that pro-
eeedeth from the mouth of the most High,
reaching from end to end, disposing all
things with strength and with sweetness:
come, to teach us the way of prudence.
Come, 0 Lord! and tarry no more.
0 almighty Grod! grant, we beseech thee,
unto all this thy family, the desire of
meeting, by good works, thy Son, Christ
our Lord who is coming to us ; that being
placed on his right hand, we may deserve
the possession of thy heavenly kingdom.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
18 ADVENT.

2. Antiphon. 0 Adonai and Ruler of

the house of Israel ! who didst appear unto
Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him
the law on Sinai: come, to redeem us with
an outstretched arm.
Come, O Lord! and tarry no more.
Almighty and everlasting Grod! who by.
the coming of thine only begotten Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ, didst deign to shine on
us with a new light, grant unto us, that as
we deserved to have him as a companion in
the form of a body, by the birth the Virgin
gave him, so we may merit to be also his
companions in the kingdom of his grace:
who liveth and reigneth with thee forever
and ever. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
3. Antiphon. 0 Root of Jesse! who
standest for a standard of the people;
before whom kings shall shut their mouths :
whom the Grentiles shall seek: come, and
deliver us; tarry no more.
Come, O Lord! and tarry no more.
0 Jesus! almighty Son of God, merci-
fully come and save thy people, and deign
with thy wonted compassion, to deliver us
from all the anxieties and fears of this
present time, who livest and reignest with
 ADVENT 19

the Father and the Holy Grhost forever and

ever. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
4. Antiphon. 0 Key of David and
Scepter of the house of Israel! who openest
and no man shutteth, who shuttest and no
man openeth : come to bring out the pris-
oners from the prison , and them that sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death.
Come, 0 Lord! and tarry no more.
Grant, we beseech thee, 6 almighty God!
that our souls be filled with the desire of
being influenced with thy spirit, that being
nourished with the divine gift, as lamps
with their oil, we may shine as bright lights
before the face of Christ, thy Son, who is
coming to us. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
5. Antiphon. 0 Orient! spendor of
eternal light and Sun of Justice! come, and
enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in
the shadow of death.
Come, 0 Lord! and tarry no more.
0 Lord! God, Father almighty! purify
the recesses of our hearts and mercifully
wash away the stains of our sins; and grant,
20 ADVENT.

0 Lord! that we may await in confidence

the coming of thy Son Jesus Christ, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost forever and ever, Amen.
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
6. Antiphon. 0 King of nations and
their desired One, and the Cornerstone that
maketh both one, come, and save man whom
thou hast made out of earth.
Come, 0 Lord! and tarry no more.
0 God! who. by thine only begotten Son,
hast made us to be a new creature unto
thyself, mercifully look on the works which
thy mercy has produced, and cleanse us in
the coming of the Son from all the stains
of our old habits. Through the same Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.-
7. Antiphon. 0 Emmanuel! our King
and Law^-giver ! the Expectation and Saviour
of the nations! come, and save us, 0 Lord,
our God!
Come, 0 Lord! and tarry no more.
0 Lord Jesus Christ ! who having assumed
human nature, and becoming the Saviour
of the human race wast given as a light to
 ADVENT. 21

the nations: open the eyes of the hearts of

them that believe in thee, and mercifully
set free from their prison them that are
bound in the fetters of unbelief: who livest
and reignest with the Father and the Holy
Grhost forever and ever. Amen.
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the most holy Sacra-
ment.
Conclusion*

O Lord Jesus Christ! graciously accept

the prayers which I have offered thee in
memory of, and in thanksgiving for thy holy
Incarnation, in which thou hast deigned to
assume human nature so as to make us
children of Grod.
Look down with mercy upon all those for
whom I have prayed during this hour,
especially upon my friends, benefactors,
and the members of our congregation.
Give us thy grace that we may all share
in the blessing of thy coming, live a holy
life, and die a happy death.
My last prayer is to thee, 0 Word Incar-
nate! really and truly present on our altars.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
2
 ADVENT.

0 Jesus Christ ! remember.

When thou shalt come again
Upon the clouds of heaven
With all thy shining train,

When every eye shall see thee

In Deity revealed.
Who now upon this altar
In silence art concealed.

Remember then, 0 Saviour!

1 supplicate of thee.
That here I bowed before thee
Upon my bended knee.

That here I owned thy presence.

And did not thee deny j
And glorified thy greatness
Though hid from human eye.

Accept, divine Redeemer!

The homage of my praise ;
Be thou the light and honor
And glory of my days.
 23
ADVENT.

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
Ii. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
Iy. Thanks be to God.
y . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
1^ Amen.
 Cbristmas-Xttbe.

y. Lord! thou "wilt open my lips.

R. And my mouth shall declare thy praise.
y. O God! incline unto my aid.
1$. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Hboration.

Come, let us adore the most holy Eucha-

rist. This day is exhibited a mystery of
love; this day the Angels are astonished;
this clay unhappy man is redeemed from
the tyranny of hell.
Come, let us adore the divine Infant
Jesus in the most holy Eucharist. To-day
the law and the prophets are fulfilled ; to-
day the Desire of the Everlasting Hills has
come down ; to-day the heavens are broken
through, and the Expectation of nations
has descended.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day the heavens have dropped
down dew., and the clouds have rained the
(24)
 THE BIRTH OF CHKIST. 25

Just; to-day the earth has opened and

budded forth a Saviour.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day the iniquity of the earth is
destroyed, to-day the Saviour of the world
reigns over his people.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day true peace has descended
from heaven; to-day the entire extent of
the heavens is overflowing with honey.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day is the brilliant day of new
redemption : the day of ancient reparation :
the day of eternal bliss.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day he who is the fountain of
riches is covered with rags ; to-day Omni-
potence assumes the form of a helpless
infant; to-day the Creator of heaven and
earth cannot find a resting-place among men.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day he comes into the world
which was made by him, and it knows him
not; to-day he comes unto his own, and
they receive him not.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. To-day Jesus Christ, the Son of the
living Grod, is born of the Virgin Mary in
the stable of Bethlehem.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
26 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

nient. He has come from his royal throne,

whilst all things were in deep silence, and
the night in the midst of its course.
Come, let ns adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. His advent is announced by a
heavenly army; his praise is hymned by
an angelic choir.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. The lowly of the earth are invited
to his birth: the shepherds of Bethlehem
are summoned to the joyful scene.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Let us pass over to Bethlehem with
them and enter the humble cave: let us
explore the mysteries of this sanctified grot.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Let us satiate our eyes with the
sight of the lovely Babe ; let us admire in
secret the poverty by which he is surrounded.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Let us sing: "Great is the Lord,
and worthy of praise; ""Little is the Lord,
and exceedingly worthy of love."
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Behold the divine Infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger ;
behold the wretchedness by which he is
surrounded.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Behold his innocent flesh exposed
 THE BIRTH OF CHBIST. 27

to the rigors of the cold ; behold his limbs

shivering, whilst the smile of heaven is
playing upon his beautiful lips.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Behold the little hands which framed
the universe and which are one day to be
cruelly pierced, now stretched forth in
supplication to heaven for our sins.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Behold the tender feet that are to
walk about doing good, and that are to be
finally lacerated with the cruel nail and
hammer.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Behold the countenance on which
the Angels desire to look, now upturned to
heaven in silent entreaty for our trans-
gressions.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See those beauteous eyes resplendent
with light from above, now suffused with
tears of sorrow for our crimes — now radiant
with the delight of redeeming us.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See the pulsations of that little
heart, which pants for our happiness, and
remember that for love of us it is to be
pierced with the bitter lance.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Consider that under all those humble
28 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

forms, Eternal Wisdom, Immaculate Sanc-

tity, Almighty Power, and Infinite Majesty
are veiled.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See his Virgin Mother bending over
the lovely Babe, and contemplating with
chaste eyes all the fulness of the Godhead.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See how she laments the poverty
and weakness that surround him, and yet
bows in submission to the decrees of heaven ;
how she adores him with profoundest
homage as her Lord and her Grod, and
welcomes him with joy as the deliverer of
her fellow-creatures.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See with what delight she stretches
him forth for the adoration of the shepherds,
and how she treasures up in her heart the
mysteries which she beholds.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See the joy of the humble carpenter,
his reputed father : how he is ravished with
amazement : how he kisses off the precious
tear-drops from the Infant's eye: how he
reverently composes his little limbs, and
then retires a short distance to survey and
adore him in silent wonder.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Like the two Cherubim who faced
 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 29

the propitiatory of the ark, consider Mary

and Joseph beholding and adoring the True
Propitiation for the sins of the world.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. See the shepherds of Israel prostrate
before him, and welcoming to earth their
expected Messiah.
Come, let us adore the most holy Sacra-
ment. Let us join them and Joseph and
the Angels and the Virgin; let us sing
glory to Grod and peace to men; let us
throw ourselves at the feet of the divine
Infant and say:
O sweet, adorable, and lovely little Babe
of Bethlehem! we kiss thee, we salute thee,
we adore thee, we thank thee, we praise
thee, we love thee, we bless thee, we glorify
thee for the great glory thou givest thy
Father.
0 come, let us adore the most holy
Eucharist, the Babe of Bethlehem, the
Jesus, the Saviour, the Redeemer, the
Creator, and the future Judge of the world.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
IReparattom
Joyful and glorious was thy birth, 0
Jesus ! Angels glorified thee by their hymns
of jubilee; the shepherds in humble love,
30 CHKISTMA8-TIDE.

adored thee ; and the three holy kings from

the East offered thee their gifts.
All this pleased thee, but how bitter was
to thee the ingratitude of so many people ;
the hatred of the Jews; thy future cruel
passion and death; the sins of all mankind,
and that the majority of men would believe
neither in thy Incarnation , nor in thy
presence in the most holy Sacrament.
O Jesus ! I beg of thee receive now my
humble prayers in atonement for the sins,
the coldness, and the unbelief of so many
poor sinners.
Forgive them, they do not know thee. If
they knew thee, they would love thee.
Thy whole life, from the crib to the cross,
was one continuous sacrifice for our trans-
gressions. Save, therefore, thy people.
O divine Child ! I cast myself at thy feet,
and humbly ask pardon, grace, and mercy
for myself, and for the whole world.
Thou earnest from heaven to bring us
peace; give us, then, this peace, sweet holy
Child!
Thou art present in the most holy Sacra-
ment, as once in the crib. Do not regard
the coldness, the irreverence and disrespect
with which men treated thee there, and
now treat thee here, but remember the
mission that has brought thee from heaven.
 THE BIKTH OF CHRIST. 31

Convert the sinners, guide the erring,

enlighten the ignorant, and bring us all to
thee.

IDerbum Caro jFactum est*)

Dry your tears, ye silent mourners;
Fling the sorrow from your breast ;
See the dawn of happy Christmas :
Verbum caro factum est.

Christ has come to dwell among us;

He hath come to give us rest ;
He hath come our foes to vanquish:
Verbum caro factum est.

Angels sing their joyous carol;

Angels in the snowy vest,
Bowing down in adoration :
Verbum caro factum est.

Welcome him with loving worship ;

Welcome him our precious guest ;
Bless him now, and bless him ever:
Verbum caro factum est.

Oh! the jubilee in heaven;

Oh ! the raptures of the blest ;
Unto us a Child is given:
Verbum caro factum est.

*) * 'Verbum caro factum est" means "The Word

was made flesh."
32 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

Ring the bells, and swing the censers;

Let our gladness be expressed
In each outward act and token :
Verbum caro factum est.

Grateful words will give you pleasure ;

But our grateful deeds are best :
Let them all be for his honor:
Verbum caro factum est.

£be £riple Birtb of Cbrist

i. Ube Btrtb from tbe jfatber.

In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
All things were made by him, and with-
out him was made nothing that was made.
O eternal Son of God! before the crib I
confess thy eternity, thy omnipotence, and
thy divinity, and most profoundly do I
adore thee.
Thou wast in the beginning ; thou wast
in God; and thyself wast God.
Born from the bosom of the Father,
before the world began, thou art the be-
ginning and the end of all things, present,
past, and future,
 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 33

With God the Father and the Holy

Ghost didst thou found the earth ; and the
work of thy hands are the heavens.
Thou commandest and they were created ;
thou spokest and they were made: earth,
heaven and sea, thy triple kingdom.
All things shall perish, but thou shalt
continue ; they shall all grow old as a gar-
ment and shall be changed, but thou art
the self same and thy years shall not fail.
O God of heaven and earth ! come to our
help. Help us to lead a holy life, so as to
become hereafter partakers of thy divinity.

Ube Birtb of Gbrist from /IDarp*

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt

among us.
And we saw his glory, as it were the
glory of the only begotten Son of the
Father.
Oh! the happy birth, when a Virgin-
Mother having conceived of the Holy
Ghost, brought forth the child, that was
the child of God. The true God became
true man. He clothes himself with a frail
body, and with members subject to death.
He becomes our Saviour and Redeemer, nay
our brother.
34 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

Behold thy God in the crib, having be-

come achild; in every thing, save sin, like
the rest of men. To-day he begins his life
of suffering.
He is poor. "The foxes have holes and
the birds of the air have nests ; but the Son
of God hath not where to lay his head.7'
He is subject to all kinds of pains. His
whole life from the crib to the cross is filled
with bitterness. He is blood of our blood;
flesh of our flesh, therefore also partaker of
our misery.
Thanks, 0 divine Child ! Thanks, 0 Jesus !
for thy great love for us, which caused thee
to become man.

3- Xlbe 3Birtb of Gbrist in us.

As many as received him, to them he gave

power to he 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.
Thou, O Jesus! wast born of God the
Father ; thou wast born of Mary ; thou art
ciiso born in our hearts.
Thrice glorified be thou for this triple
birth! But what would thy first and second
birth help us, if the third did not take place
in us?
 THE BIRTH OF CHKIST. 35

J esus was born in our hearts by faith and

love. We must believe in him, and we
must love him. Then he will stay with us;
will become man again , as it were, in our
hearts.
But what do I say, 0 Jesus ! Dost thou
not become man in us in reality every time
we receive thee in holy Communion?
Come ? then, O Jesus ! come and transform
our hearts, and create in us new hearts.

©R> anfc IRew pra^ere of tbe Cburcb*

Glory be to God on high, and on earth
peace to men of good will.
We bless thee ; we adore thee ; we glorify
thee; we give thee thanks for thy great
glory.
O Lord God! heavenly King! G-od 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 humble prayer.
Who sittest at the right hand of the
Father, have mercy on us.
For thou alone art holy ; thou alone art
36 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

G-od; thou alone, 0 Jesus Christ! together

with the Holy Grhost, art most high in the
glory of Grod the Father.
Be comforted, be comforted, my people!
saith the Lord.
Arise, arise, put on thy strength, 0
Sion ! put on the garments of thy glory, 0
Jerusalem !
O shepherds ! whom have you seen ; say,
tell us, who is it that has appeared on earth?
We have seen the child that is born, and
choirs of Angels praising the Lord.
We have received thy mercy, 0 Grod!
which appeared to us in Bethlehem, in the
midst of thy temple.
O great mystery and wonderful secret!
Brute beasts see their new born Lord laid
in a manger.
Blessed is the Virgin that deserved to
carry in her womb Christ our Lord!
Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is
with thee.
O holy and immaculate virginity ! I know
not with what praises I shall extol thee.
Thou didst bear in thy womb him whom
the heavens cannot contain.
Blessed art thou amongst women; and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
A holy day hath shone upon us; come,
ye Gentiles ! and adore the Lord who deigned
 THE BIRTH: OF CHRIST. 37

to be born of the Virgin for the world's

salvation.
LET US PRAY.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0 almighty God!
that we,who groan under the old captivity
of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new
birth of thine only begotten Son.
Give us that, as we are enlightened by
the new light of thy Word become flesh, we
may show in our actions the effects of that
faith which shineth in our midst. Through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Zo tbe Bieeseb Mvqiw.

Eejoice, 0 Virgin-Mother! in thy joy-

giving delivery, for thy chaste womb was
made fruitful of the very Son of God.
O wondrous sight! Jesus feeding from
the lily of purity ! Yes, O most pure Virgin !
thou feedest at thy breasts his infant life.
The only begotten Son of the Father, by
whom he made this world, is dwelling here,
the Babe of a pure Mother.
There he is feeding the Angels with joy : —
here he is in hunger and thirst from his
cradle.
There he holds all things in subjection: —
here he is in subjection to a mother.
38 CHRISTMAS -TIDE.

There he commands : — here he obeys his

handmaid.
There he is sitting on the throne of God : —
here he is lying swaddled and weeping in a
manger.
Think of this, 0 man! and recall to thy
memory these stupendous works of God's
mercy.
And though thy sins be great, yet thou
canst not despair, for the proofs thou seest
here of Jesus' love, speak but of pardon.
Thou art desirous to obtain pardon? fly
to the Mother for intercession, for she holds
on her lap the infinite fountain of mercy.
Often bend thy knee before her, and with
hopeful love salute her :
Sweet Mother of our Redeemer! gate
whereby we enter heaven, and star of the
sea! help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.
Nature looked upon thee with admiration,
when thou didst give birth to thy divine
Creator, thyself remaining before and after
a pure virgin.
Gabriel spoke his "Hail" to thee; we
sinners crave thy pity.
After childbirth, thou didst remain most
pure, O Virgin !
0 Mother of God ! make intercession for us.
0 God, who by the fruitful' virginity of
the blessed Mary hast given to mankind
 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 39

the rewards of eternal life ; grant, we beseech

thee, that we may experience the intercession
of her, by whom we received the Author of
Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.

Zbe Statmt ftDater of tbe Crib.

Stands that Mother more than beauteous

"Where
In that her blessed
stable, Childmanger,
by that is laid ; —
Stands that raptured Mother-Maid.
How her virgin soul is swelling,
Thrilling with unearthly bliss ;
She hath seen him, she hath heard him,
She hath felt his infant kiss.

How she sings with joy ecstatic;

Sings the pure and undefiled ;
Stainless, spotless Virgin-Mother!
Mother of the holy Child!

Who can choose but share her rapture,

As she clasps him to her breast ;
Playing now in child-like beauty ;
Sleeping now in peaceful rest.

For our sins and for his nation,

See the little Jesus lies
In the stable, with the oxen;
Tears are in his infant eyes.
40 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

"Nato Christo in praesepe/* *)

So ! the white-winged Angels sing ;
Coming down from highest heaven,
Praises to that crib to bring.

Stands the holy peaceful Joseph,

With that spotless Virgin Flower ;
Speechless in their holy rapture ;
Speechless at that midnight hour.

Ah! my Mother fount of loving,

Since from thee all loving flows,
Breathe into my inmost spirit
All the love thy bosom knows.

Make me feel the pain he suffers

From the cradle to the grave,
Who in that poor stable lying,
Comes from heaven my soul to save.

Bind me close, and bind me closer,

To that Babe of Bethlehem,
To thy gentle Jesulino :
Love must find new names for him.

Even in my exile burning,

Make me give for his sweet love,
With a rapture hourly deepening,
Till he takes me home above.
*) "Christ is born in the crib.*1
 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 41

Virgin of all virgins purest !

Spotless, stainless, undefiled,
Give me in my arms to clasp him ;
Let me kiss thy blessed Child.

Let my soul be lost in loving

Him who dying, gives us life ;
Who is born this blessed morning,
Peace to bring, to banish strife.

Flood me with enraptured sweetness,

Let me love my life away,
Mother spotless with the Infant,
And thyself this blessed day.

At my dying let me see him,

Let me clasp him to my breast,
Loving living, loving dying,
Thus to go to endless rest.

Conclusion*

Divine and loving Child! I am now called

away from thy holy crib and altar, but I
will leave my heart at least with thee.
I will never forget thy love which caused
thee to leave heaven and to become a poor
child,
And is the same love not drawing thee
daily from heaven upon the altar f
42 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

Thou, 0 Jesus! wast really and truly

present in the manger, true God and true
man.
I firmly believe that thou art also really
and truly present in the Sacrament of the
Altar, likewise true God and true man.
0 God ! keep this holy faith ever alive in
me. Make me think of thee frequently,
that I may unite my actions with thine in
the manger and on the altar, my intentions
with the intentions that brought thee from
heaven and keep thee captive in the holy
Eucharist.
This most holy and blessed Sacrament :
May it be praised and adored without
end!

My God, my life, my love!

To thee, to thee, I call,
0 come to me from heaven above,
And be my God, my all.

My faith beholds thee, Lord!

Concealed in human food;
My senses fail, but in thy word
1 trust and find my God,
 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 43

0 when wilt thou be mine

Sweet lover of my soul ?
My Jesus dear ! my king divine !
Come, over my heart to rule.

0 come, and fix thy throne

Within my very heart,
0 make it burn for thee alone,
And from me never depart.

Begone ye, from my mind,

Vain childish earthly toys !
In Jesus only do I find
True pleasures, solid joys.

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
Iy. Thanks be to Grod.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
l\. Amen.
 1bol\> flame of Jesus.

y. O Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1$. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y 0 Grod! incline unto my aid.
1^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Hfcoration.
us adore our Lord whose name is
above all other names.
Come, let us joyfully sing to him, for his
name is very sweet.
He is the great Grod, and the King above
all kings.
Come, let us adore him.
At his name, every knee bends, in heaven,
on earth, and under the earth.
Come, let us do the same and humbly
adore him in the most holy Sacrament of
the Altar.
His name is praised and glorified by
Cherubim and Seraphim, and by all the
Angels and Saints in heaven,
(44)
 HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 45

Come, let us unite our voices with theirs ,

and sing to his holy name :
Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 Lord, Glod
of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.

IReparatioru
I know, 0 Jesus! that thy name is
greater, sweeter, and more glorious than
any other name.
It pains and grieves me, therefore, to see
thy holy name blasphemed by so great a
number of people.
Thy name, O Jesus! is an object of hatred
to the demons and the wicked ones. It is
profaned every moment by cursing and
swearing. It is often spoken of, even by
good people, without reverence and de-
votion.
To give thee, 0 Jesus! satisfaction, in
some measure, for all the sins committed
against thy most holy name, I kneel here
before thy holy altar and humbly ask thee
for forgiveness and mercy.
May thy holy name, O Jesus! be praised
forever and ever.
And praise, adoration and thanksgiving
be to thy sacred heart in the blessed Sacra-
ment.
46 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

1b\mtn,

Jesus ! the very thought of thee

With sweetness fills my breast ;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing.

No heart can frame.
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name.
0 Saviour of mankind !

0 hope of every contrite heart !

0 joy of all the weak!
To those who fall, how kind thou art !
How good to those who seek !

But what to those who find !

Ah! this no tongue, nor pen can show:
The love of Jesus what it is
None hut his lov'd ones know.

Jesus! our only joy be thou,

As thou our prize wilt be,
Jesus! be thou our glory now
And through eternity.
 47
HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

praters of tbe Cburcfx

Blessed be the name of the Lord, from
henceforth , now and forever.
At the name of Jesus , let every knee bend
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
0 Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy
name over the whole earth !
From the rising of the sun even to the
going down thereof, the name of the Lord
is worthy of praise.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
1 will sacrifice the sacrifice of praise, and
I will call upon his holy name.
I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy
in Grod my Jesus.
I will praise thee, Lord, my God! with
my whole heart, and I will glorify thy
name forever.
Because, O Lord! thou art good and
gracious, and full of mercy towards all
that call upon thy name.
Thy name, O Jesus! is as oil poured out.
Therefore have virgins loved thee.

Let us pray.

O Grod ! who didst appoint thy only be-

gotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and
commandest that his name should be called
48 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

Jesus : mercifully grant that we who vene-

rate his name on earth, may also enjoy his
sight in heaven. Through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Salutation to tbe CbUb Sesus*

Hail ! thou most lovely little Jesus ■ thou

sweetest love far above ail created love ! I
salute thee, and in the desires of all Christ-
endom, Iembrace thee.
Hail! most charming little Jesus; thou
noble plant of Nazareth; full rose of
Jericho; thou flourishing flower from
heaven! Draw our hearts to thee and
refresh them by thy sweetest love.
Hail! most gracious little Jesus; thou
living bread of Bethlehem; thou innocent
lamb of Jerusalem; thou born king of
Judea ! Receive us into the number of thy
chosen servants.
Hail! thou most beautiful little Jesus;
thou careful shepherd of the heavenly
sheep; thou beloved fellow-brother of ail
the children of men; thou sweet plant
planted by the Holy (rhost in the virgin heart
of Mary; thou bright daybreak rising out
of the dark night, to the joy of the whole
earth! Ah! drive away from us the dark-
ness of sin.
 49
HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

Grlory and praise be to thee, 0 tender,

darling little Jesus ! From the utmost depths
of my heart I adore thee, that for love of me
and mankind thou didst will to lie in the
manger, and suffer such great poverty and
misery.
I praise and adore thy tender limbs, and
I magnify the inexpressible love which drew
thee forth from the bosom of thy heavenly
Father down into a poor and miserable
stable.
Grlory and praise be to thee 0 noble little
Jesus! I salute and praise thee with that
same love which made thee leave heaven
and become a child.
Grlory and praise be to thee most estimable
Jesus, thou joy and honor of the heavenly
Father! I magnify thee, and give thee
thanks through thy own sweet heart, which
thou hast made manifest to the whole world
through thy birth.
I salute thee thousands and thousands of
times, thou most beautiful little Jesus, thou
all-sweet marrow of the fatherly heart;
thou all-sw^eet refreshment of sick souls!
I offer and present thee with the marrow
of my heart, to thy eternal glory and
service.
O Jesus, thou crown, thou love, thou joy,
thou bliss of virgins, thou whose love made
50 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

thee the son of a virgin i Be thou glorified

and exalted forever. Amen.

Unfculgencefc prater to tbe Hol£

IRatrte of 3esus*
O good Jesus! 0 most sweet Jesus! 0
Jesus, Lord of the Virgin Mary, full of
mercy and tenderness! 0 sweet Jesus!
according to thy great mercy, have mercy
on me.
0 most merciful Jesus ! I implore thee, by
that precious blood which thou didst deign
to shed for sinners, to wash away my
iniquities, and look upon me in my misery
and unworthiness, humbly begging pardon,
and calling upon this holy name, Jesus.
O name of Jesus, name of sweetness!
Name of Jesus, name of delights! Name of
Jesus, name of comfort ! For what is Jesus
but Saviour.
Therefore, O Jesus! on account of thy
holy name be to me a Jesus, and save me.
Suffer me not to perish whom thou hast
created out of nothing.
O good Jesus ! let not my iniquities over-
whelm me whom thy omnipotent bounty
has made.
0 sweet Jesus! acknowledge what is
thine and efface what is not thine.
 HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 51

0 most gentle Jesus ! have mercy on me

while yet the time of mercy lasts, lest thou
condemn me in the day of judgment. The
dead will not praise thee, O Lord, Jesus!
nor they that descend into hell.
0 most loving Jesus! O most amiable
Jesus! O sweetest Jesus! O Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus ! take me into the number of thy elect.
O Jesus salvation of those who believe in
thee ! comfort of those who fly to thee !
O Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary! infuse
into my soul grace, wisdom, charity, chastity
and humility, that I may love thee perfectly,
praise thee, enjoy thee, serve thee, and be
glorified in thee, with all those who call
upon thy name, Jesus. Amen.

flD^steries of the Hol$ Cbilfcboofc,

y. O God! incline unto my aid.
1^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
y. Glory be to the Father, etc.
3$. As it was in the beginning, etc. Our
Father, etc.
U Zhc Uncarnation*

Jesus, sweetest Child! who for our salva-

tion didst come down from the bosom of the
Father, and conceived by the Holy Ghost
didst not shrink from the Virgin's womb:
52 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

0 Word made flesh ! taking the form of

a servant, have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus!
have mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
2* TLhc Hesitation*

Jesus, sweetest Child! who in thy Virgin-

Mother's womb didst visit Elizabeth, and
fill John the Baptist, thy forerunner, with
the Holy Ghost, sanctifying him in his
mother's womb, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.

3. Bwaitmg tbe Mvtb.

Jesus, sweetest Child ! who for nine
months didst lie hid in thy Mother's womb,
awaiting thy birth which the Virgin Mary
and* St. Joseph were longingly expecting,
and which by them was offered to Grod the
Father for the salvation of the world, have
mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
4. Ube 1Rati\ut£,
0 Jesus, sweetest Child! born in Beth-
lehem of Mary ever Virgin, laid in a crib,
whom Angels announced and whom shep-
herds visited, have mercy on us.
 HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 53

Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have

mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
0 Jesus! born of Virgin bright,
Infinite glory be to thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
y. Christ is at hand.
Iy. Come, let us adore him. Our Father,
etc.
5. Uhc Circumcision,
Jesus, sweetest Child! wounded on the
eighth day by the circumcision, called by
the glorious name of Jesus, and by thy
name and thy blood foreshown to be the
Saviour of the world, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
6. Zftc B&oration of tbe ZlDagL
Jesus, sweetest Child! made known to
the Magi by a star, adored on thy sweet
Mother's lap, and presented with the mys-
tical gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh, have
mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
7. Zhc presentation in tbe Uemple,
Jesus, sweetest Child! presented in the
temple by thy Virgin-Mother, placed in the
3
54 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

arms of Simeon, and by the voice of the

prophetess Anna revealed to Israel, have
mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.

8. TCbe flight into JEgspt

Jesus, sweetest Child! whom Herod
sought to kill, whom St. Joseph carried
with his Mother into Egypt, saved thus by
flight from a cruel death, and glorified by
the martyrdom of the holy Innocents, have
mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
0 Jesus! born of Virgin bright,
Infinite glory be to thee ;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally,
y. Christ is at hand.
^. Come, let us adore him. Our Father,
etc.
9. Sojourn in )£G2Pt-
Jesus, sweetest Child! who didst tarry
in Egypt with thy most holy Mother Mary
and the patriarch St. Joseph, until the death
of Herod, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
 55
HOLY NAME OF JESUS,

10. IReturn from BgppL

Jesus, sweetest Child! who, in returning
from Egypt with thy parents, endured many
hardships by the way, and came to the city
of Nazareth, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.

Jesus, sweetest Child! who in the holy

house of Nazareth didst lead a most holy
life, submissive to thy parents, enduring
poverty and hard labor while daily advancing
in age, wisdom, and grace, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.

\2. Jesus with tbe Doctors m tbe temple,

0 Jesus, sweetest Child! when twelve
years old brought to Jerusalem, lost by thy
parents, sought in sorrow, and after three
days found with joy, disputing with the
doctors in the temple, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Child Jesus! have
mercy on us. Hail Mary, etc.
0 Jesus! born of Virgin bright,
Infinite glory be to thee ;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Grhost eternally.
56 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

V. Christ is at hand.
1$. Come let us adore him. Our Father,
etc.
At Christmas and during its Octave say:
The word was made flesh. Alleluia.
And dwelt among us. Alleluia.
At the Epiphany and during its Octave:
Christ has manifested himself to us.
Come, let us adore him.
During the year say:
The Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.
LET US PRAY.
Almighty and everlasting Grod, Lord of
heaven and earth ! who dost reveal thyself
to little ones, grant, we beseech thee, that
we may so venerate the mysteries of the
child-hood of thy Son, Jesus, and follow
him so humbly in our lives, that we may
one day come to the kingdom of heaven,
promised to the little ones. Through the
same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Jesus, king most wonderful!

Thou conqueror renowned!
Thou sweetness most ineffable !
In whom all joys are found.
 57
HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

When once thou visitest the heart,

Then truth begins to shine ;
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.

0 Jesus, light of all below!

Thou fount of life and fire !
Surpassing all the joys we know,
All that we can desire.

May every heart confess thy name,

And ever thee adore ;
And seeking thee, itself inflame
To seek thee more and more.

Thee may our tongues forever bless,

Thee may we love alone ;
And ever in our lives express
The image of thine own.

Xitan$ of tbe Hol£ flame of 3e0us*

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
58 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

God the Father of heaven, *)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Jesus, Son of the lining God,
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Jesus, king of glory,
Jesus , sun of justice,
Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary,
Jesus amiable,
Jesus admirable,
Jesus, powerful God,
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Jesus, Angel of the great council,
J esus most powerful,
Jesus most patient,
Jesus most obedient,
Jesus meek and humble of heart,
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Jesus, lover of us,
Jesus, God of peace,
Jesus, author of life,
Jesus, model of virtues,
Jesus, zealous for souls,
Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our refuge,
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
* Have mercy on us.
 HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

Jesus, good shepherd , *)

Jesus , true light,
Jesus , eternal wisdom,
Jesus, infinite goodness,
Jesus, our way and our life,
Jesus, joy of angels,
Jesus, king of the patriarchs,
Jesus, master of the apostles,
Jesus, teacher of the evangelists,
Jesus, strength of martyrs,
Jesus, light of confessors
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Jesus, crown of all saints,
Be merciful.
Spare us, O Jesus!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Jesus!
From all evil, **)
From all sin,
From thy wrath,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of fornication,
From eternal death,
From a neglect of thy inspirations,
By the mystery of thy holy incarnation
By thy nativity,
By thy infancy,
By thy most divine life,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) O Jesus ! deliver us,.
60 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

By thy labors, *)
By tliy agony and passion,
By thy cross and dereliction,
By thy languors,
By thy death and burial,
By thy resurrection,
By thy ascension,
By thy joys,
By thy glory,
Lamb of Grod ! who takest away the sins
of the world.
Spare us, O Jesus!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 Jesus!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Jesus!
Jesus! hear us.
Jesus! graciously hear us.
LET US PRAY.
0 Lord Jesus Christ! who hast said: Ask
and ye shall receive ; seek and ye shall find ;
knock and it shall be opened unto you;
mercifully attend to our supplications, and
grant us the gift of thy divine charity, that
we may ever love thee with our whole heart,
in word, and work, and never desist from
thy praise.

*) O Jesus! deliver us.

 61
HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

Give us, 0 Lord! a perpetual fear and

love of thy holy name ; for never dost thou
abandon the care of those whom thou in-
structest in thy true and solid love. Who
livest and reignest world without end.
Amen.
Conclusion.
O my dearest Jesus ! I end this hour by
recommending myself and all for whom I
have prayed to thy sacred heart in the
blessed Sacrament.
" The prayers to thy holy name have given
me great consolation. I confidently hope,
through this sweet name, to obtain all the
graces I need for my salvation.
May thy name, O Jesus! be my shield in
the moment of temptation.
May it give me strength in the trials of
this life; light in doubts; sweetness in
sufferings.
0 Jesus, my Saviour and Redeemer! give
me especially the grace, that thy sweet
name be on my lips at the moment of my
death, and that, with this holy name on my
tongue, my soul may depart in peace, to
praise thy sweet name in heaven.
My last prayer is, as usual, to the Sacra-
ment in which thou, 0 Jesus! dweilest
amongst us.
62 CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament

divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving, be every
moment thine.

1bpmn.
As pants the hart for cooling springs,
Among the rocks and barren sands,
So doth my soul, 0 King of kings!
Long for refreshment at thy hands.

My soul, 0 Grod! doth thirst for thee,

For thee the source of every grace ;
0 when shall I thy beauty see !
When shall I see thee face to face !

My tears have fxowed by day and night,

When I have felt thy chastening rod ;
But wicked men enjoyed the sight
And mocking asked : wher's now thy Grod f
Where art thou, Lord! my life, my all ?
Thou art above, around, within;
Whatever betides, on thee I'll call,
To save me, and to pardon sin.

Joy, then, and endless jubilee;

Divine reward of faith and love ;
1 hear the strains of harmony
From the triumphant Church above.
 HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 63

Why, then, my soul, art thou depressed ?

God is thy drink and he thy food, —
Bequeathed to thee — his last bequest —
His body and his precious blood.

Trust, then, in him for he is good,

He gives what he alone can give ;
He gives himself to be thy food,
That thou with him mayst ever live.

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
Iy . And let my cry come unto thee
y. Let us bless the Lord.
1^. Thanks be to Grod.
>7. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
^. Amen.
Zhe 1bol£ Season ot lent

penance.
y. O Lord! thou wilt open my lips.
1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. 0 God! incline unto my aid.
1$. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

HDoration.
Come, let us adore Jesus in the blessed
Sacrament.
Let us go to him who is ever ready to
receive the greatest sinner.
Let us go to him who died for our sins
on the cross, and who washed them away
in his most precious blood.
Come, let us adore the merciful God who
left the ninety nine sheep in the desert, and
went after the one which was lost.
Come, let us adore the merciful God who
left his throne of glory in heaven, to go in
search of the lost sheep.
(64)
 ON PENANCE. 65

Come, let us return to him with a sorrow-

ful heart. Let us implore his mercy , pros-
trate ourselves before his throne, and
humbly adore him with his Angels and
Saints:
Holy, holy, holy art thou Lord, Grod of
Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation.
0 Lord! who by thy love didst create me,
I come to thee in the bitterness of my soul,
to confess that I am a poor sinner.
In the arrogance of my heart I have
defiled, O Grod! thy image that was in me.
1 have sinned against heaven and before
thee, O heavenly Father! and am unworthy
to be called thy child.
We have all sinned. We have done un-
justly. We have committed iniquity. But
this day, we return to thee, O Grod!
Give ear, O Lord! to our humble suppli-
cations and mercifully hear us.
We wish to return from the way of error
to the path of justice.
Graciously receive us, 0 Grod! and merci-
fully listen to the prayers which I offer thee
during this hour, for my own sins, for the
66 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

sins of the whole world, and especially for

those of niy friends and benefactors.
Accept them also and in particular, 0
my Grod! as satisfaction for the outrages
and insults which thou sufferest in the
blessed Sacrament, and for all the coldness
and indifference with which men treat thee
in this most holy mystery.
And as my prayers come from an unclean
heart and defiled lips. I unite them with
the fervent prayers of all the just, but
especially with those which the holy Church
continuously sends to heaven.
Have mercy on us. therefore. OLord!
according to thy great mercy.

fflMserere 2)omine!*)
Soul of Jesus. make me holy.
Make me contrite, meek, and lowly:
Soul most stainless, soul divine.
Cleanse this sordid soul of mine :
Hallow this polluted soul.
Purify it. make it whole;
Soul of Jesus, hallow me:
Miserere Domine!

*) "Miserere Domine!' 1 means "Lord, have mercy!"

 ON PENANCE. 67

Save me, body of my Lord!

Save a sinner vile, abhorred;
Sacred body, wan and worn,
Braised and mangled, crushed and torn ;
Pierced hands and feet and side ;
Scourged, insulted, crucified;
Save me, to the cross I flee,
Miserere Domine!

Miserere ! let me be
Never parted, Lord! from thee;
Guard me from my ruthless foe,
Guard me from eternal woe ;
In the dreadful judgment day,
Be thy cross my hope and stay ;
When the hour of death is near,
And my spirit faints for fear,
Call me with thy voice of love,
Place me near to thee above,
With thine angel-host to raise
Never ending hymns of praise.

Zhe Seven penitential psalms,

1. penitential psalm.
Lord! rebuke me not in thy indignation,
nor chastise me in thy wrath.
Have mercy on me, O Lord! for I am
weak; heal me, O Lord! for my bones are
troubled.
68 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

And my soul is troubled exceedingly ; but

thou, 0 Lord! 0 Lord! how long?
Turn to me, O Lord! and deliver my
soul: 0 save me! for thy mercy's sake.
For there is no one in death that is mindful
of thee: who shall confess to thee in hell?
I have labored in my groanings; every
night , I will wash my bed: I will water my
couch with my tears.
My eye is troubled through indignation :
I have grown old amongst all my enemies.
Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity :
for the Lord hath heard the voice of my
weeping.
The Lord hath heard my supplications,
the Lord hath heard my prayers.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and be
very much troubled: let them be turned
back and be ashamed very speedily.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
PRAYER.
Turn away thy face from our sins, 0
Lord! and blot out all our iniquities.
Take from thine eyes the guilt of our
sinful pleasures, and mercifully incline thine
ear to our confession.
 69
ON PENANCE.

Have mercy, we beseech thee, upon us

thy supplicants, 0 thou, that lookest with
pity upon them that are in affliction.
The publican who stood afar off and
struck his breast found forgiveness; do
thou in like manner mercifully hear us
sinners.
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord, our God!
and forgetting our iniquities, remember
only thine own mercy.
Graciously hear us, we beseech thee, 0
thou that forbiddest us to sin; that com-
mandest us to repent ; that permittest us to
pray.
Thy patience awaits our return to the
needed repentance; thy justice inspires us
with a fear of thy future judgment; thy
mercy shows us how we may avoid death.
May our sacrifices find favor in thine
eyes; our sins, pardon; our wounds, cure;
our sighs, pity; our chastisements, conso-
lation; our tears, joy; our days, peace;
our prayers, reward.
2* penitential psalm*
Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven ; and whose sins are covered
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit
there is no guile.
70 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Because I was silent, my bones grew old,

whilst I cried out all the day long.
For day and night thy hand was heavy
upon me : I am turned in my anguish whilst
the thorn is fastened.
I have acknowledged my sins to thee,
and my injustice I have not concealed.
I said, I will confess against myself my
injustice to the Lord : and thou hast forgiven
the wickedness of my sin.
For this shall every one that is holy pray
to thee, in a seasonable time.
And yet in a flood of many waters, they
shall not come nigh unto him.
Thou art my refuge from the trouble
which hath encompassed me: my joy,
deliver me from them that surround me.
I will give thee understanding and I will
instruct thee in this way, in which thou
shalt go : I will fix my eyes upon thee.
Do not become like the horse and the
mule, that have no understanding.
With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws:
who come near unto thee.
Many are the scourges of the sinner, but
mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in
the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye just,
and glory all ye right of heart.
GUory be to the Father, etc,
 ON PENANCE.
71
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
PRAYER.

0 almighty and eternal Glod ! spare those

that repent; show mercy to those that
humbly entreat thee.
O Grod! who desirest the conversion and
not the death of sinners, graciously consider
the weakness of human nature.
O Glod! who art appeased by humiliation,
and pacified by satisfaction, incline to our
prayers the ear of thy mercy.
O God! who forgavest the Ninivites when
they did penance, look also mercifully down
upon our penance, and forgive us our sins.
Hear us, 0 Lord! for thy mercy is kind;
look upon us, O Lord! according to the
multitude of thy mercies.
Spare, 0 Lord! 0 spare thy people, and
shut not the mouths of those who praise
thee.
Look down, 0 Lord! and take pity, for
we have sinned against thee.
Help us, 0 Grod, our Saviour! and deliver
us for the glory of thy name.
72 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

3. penitential psalm.
Rebuke me not, 0 Lord! in thy indigna-
tion, nor chastise me in thy wrath.
For thy arrows are fastened in me, and
thy hand hath been strong upon me,
There is no health in my flesh because of
thy wrath; there is no peace for my bones
because of my sins.
For my iniquities are gone over my head:
and as a heavy burden are become heavy
upon me.
My sores are putrified and corrupted,
because of my foolishness.
I am become miserable and am bowed
down even to the end: I walk sorrowful all
the day long.
For my loins are filled with illusions : and
there is no health in my flesh.
I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly ;
I roared with the groaning of my heart.
Lord! all my desire is before thee, and
my groaning is not hid from thee.
My heart is troubled, my strength hath
left me: and the light of my eyes itself is
not with me.
My friends and my neighbors have drawn
near and stood against me.
And they that were near me stood afar
off: and they that sought my soul used
violence.
 ON PENANCE. 73

And they that sought evils to me spoke

vain things : and studied deceits all the day
long.
But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and was
as a dumb man, not opening my mouth.
And I became as a man that heareth not,
and that hath no reproof in his mouth.
For in thee, O Lord! have I hoped: thou
wilt hear me, O Lord my God!
For I said: Lest any time my enemies
rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are
moved, they speak great things against me.
For I am ready for scourges: and my
sorrow is continually before me.
For I will declare my iniquity, and I will
•think of my sin.
But my enemies live and are stronger
than I ; and they that hate me wrongfully
are multiplied.
They that render evil for good have
detracted me, because I followed goodness.
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God! do
not thou depart from me.
Attend unto my help, 0 Lord! the God
of my salvation.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
74 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

PEA YES.
0 Grod ! I cry unto thee with the prodigal :
Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before thee ; I am no longer worthy to be
called thy child.
1 have gone astray like a sheep that is
lost. O seek thy servant, for I have not
forgotten thy commandments.
Enter not into judgment with thy servant,
0 Lord! O spare me for thy mercies7 sake.
Thou whose property is always to have
mercy and to spare, O meet me in pity,
embrace me in love, and forgive me all my
sins.
I confess my sins 'unto thee, 0 Christ!
healer of our souls, 0 Lord of Life! Heal
me of my spiritual sickness, thou who art
long-suffering and of tender mercy. Heal
me, O Lord Jesus!
O Grod! unto whom every heart is open,
every desire known, and from whom no
secret is hid, and who givest life to our
souls, graciously accept my supplications.
O heavenly Father ! who wiliest not that
any sinner should perish, give me true
repentance for my sins, that I perish not.
To what misery am I come by my own
fault ! O merciful Grod ! pity and forgive me
for Jesus' sake.
 ON PENANCE. 75

Thine eyes, 0 Grod! are as a flame of fire

searching my inmost heart. 0 pardon my
sin, for it is great.
Dear Jesus! speak for me, plead for me,
come between my sinful soul and my offended
G-od, that I perish not.

4* penitential psalm*

Have mercy on me, 0 Grod! according to

thy great mercy.
And according to the multitude of thy
tender mercies, blot out my iniquities.
Wash me yet more from my iniquity:
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my iniquity, and my sin is
always before me.
To thee only have I sinned and done evil
before thee, that thou mayest be justified in
thy words, and mayest overcome when thou
art judged.
For behold, I was conceived in iniquities:
and in sins did my mother conceive me.
For behold thou hast loved truth: the
uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom
thou hast made manifest unto me.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and
I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and
I shall be made whiter than snow.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and
76 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

gladness : and the bones that were humbled

shall rejoice.
Turn away thy face from my sins ; and
blot out all my iniquities.
Create a clean heart in me, 0 Gk>d! and
renew a right spirit within my bowels.
Cast me not away from thy face, and
take not thy holy spirit from me.
Eestore unto me the joy of thy salvation,
and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
I will teach the unjust thy ways; and the
wicked shall be converted to thee.
Deliver me from blood, 0 Grod! thou G-od
of my salvation ! and my tongue shall extol
thy justice.
O Lord! thou wilt open my hps, and my
mouth shall declare thy praise.
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice. I would
surely have given it: with burnt-offerings
thou wilt not be delighted.
A sacrifice to G-od is an afflicted spirit : a
contrite and humbled heart, 0 God! thou
wilt not despise.
Deal favorably, 0 Lord ! in thy good will
with Sion: that the walls of Jerusalem may
be built up.
Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of
justice, oblations, and whole-burnt offerings i
then shall they lay calves upon thine altars.
 ON PENANCE, 77

PBAYER.

Come, let us adore our Lord in the blessed

Sacrament, and lay our sins before his
tabernacle.
Come, be converted unto me, saith the
Lord. Let us go, then, and pour out our
tears before him.
Let us hasten to avert the wrath of Grod ;
let us weep and cry: O thou that takest
away the sins of the world, have mercy on us !
Let us change our dress for ashes and
sack-cloth; let us fast and weep in the
presence of our Lord ; for our Grod is very
merciful.
Let us throw off the effeminacy of the
flesh, redouble the gifts of the spirit, and
suffer with Christ.
Let us bow down our heads to Grod, and
say to him: Spare, 0 Lord! spare thy
people, that having been justly chastised,
we may find comfort in thy mercy.

5* penitential psalm.

Hear, 0 Lord! my prayers: and let my

cry come unto thee.
Turn not away thy face from me: in the
day when I am in trouble incline thine ear
to me.
78 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

In what day soever I shall call upon thee :

hear me speedily.
For my days are vanished like smoke;
and my bones are grown dry like fuel for
the fire.
I am smitten as grass, and my heart is
withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.
Through the voice of my groaning, my
bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
I am become like to a pelican of the
wilderness ; I am like a night-raven in the
house.
I have watched and am become as a
sparrow all alone on the house-top.
All the day long my enemies reproached
me, and they that praised me did swear
against me.
For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled
my drink with weeping.
Because of thy anger and indignation
for having lifted me up, thou hast thrown
me down.
My days have declined like a shadow;
and I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord! endurest forever: and
thy memorial to all generations.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion ;
for it is time to have mercy on it, for the
time is come.
For the stones thereof have pleased thy
 ON PENANCE. 79

servants : and they shall have pity on the

earth thereof.
And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, 0
Lord! and all the kings of the earth thy
glory.
For the Lord hath built up Sion ; and he
shall be seen in his glory.
He hath regard to the prayer of the
humble; and he hath not despised their
petition.
Let these things be written unto another
generation; and the people that shall be
created shall praise the Lord.
Because he hath looked forth from his
high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath
looked upon the earth.
That he might hear the prayers of them
that are in fetters: that he might release
the children of the slain.
That they may declare the name of the
Lord in Sion; and his praise in Jerusalem.
When the people assembled together, and
kings to serve the Lord.
He answered him in the way of his
strength: declare unto me the fewness of
my days.
Call me not away in the midst of my
days: thy years are unto generation and
generation.
In the beginning, 0 Lord! thou foundest
80 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

the earth : and the heavens are the works

of thy hands.
They shall perish but thou reniainest:
and all of them shall grow old like a garment.
And as a vesture thou shalt change them,
and they shall be changed: but thou art
always the self -same, and thy years shall
not fail.
The children of thy servants shall con-
tinue; and their seed shall be directed
forever.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
PRAYEE.

My Lord and my God! I sincerely

acknowledge that I am a vile and wretched
sinner, unworthy to appear in thy presence:
but do thou have mercy on me and save me.
Most loving Father ! I have sinned against
heaven and before thee, and am unworthy
to be called thy child; make me at least as
one of thy servants.
It truly grieves me, 0 God! to have
sinned ! but wash rne now from my iniquity ;
cleanse me from my sins ; and assist me to
bring forth worthy fruits of penance.
 ON PENANCE. 81

Oh, that I had never trangressed thy

commandments ! that I had never sinned !
Happy those who have preserved their
innocence! Oh, that I had been so happy!
Now, however, I am resolved, with the
help of thy grace, to be more watchful over
myself, to amend my life, to serve thee
more faithfully.
Look down upon me with eyes of mercy,
0 God! and blot out my sins. Forgive me
what is past, and secure me against all my
wonted failings for the time to come.
Thou didst come, O Redeemer! not to
call the just, but sinners to repentance;
behold, a miserable sinner here before thy
tabernacle.
Have mercy on me, 0 Grod! according to
thy great mercy. Sprinkle me with thy
precious blood, and I shall be whiter than
snow. Help me, O Lord! and have com-
passion on my sinful soul.
6* penitential psalm.
Out of the depths I have cried to thee, 0
Lord! Lord! hear my voice.
Let my ears be attentive to the voice of
my supplications.
If thou, O Lord! wilt mark iniquities:
Lord! who shall stand?
For with thee there is merciful forgive-
82 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

ness: and by reason of thy law, I have

waited for thee, 0 Lord!
My soul hath relied on his word: my
soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night,
let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy, and
with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all
his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
HYMN FOE PARDON.
Saviour ! when in dust to thee
Low we bend the adoring knee ;
When repentant to the skies
Scarce we lift our streaming eyes ;
Oh, by all the pains and woe
Suffered once for man below ;
Bending from thy throne on high,
Hear our solemn Litany.

By thy birth and early years,

By thy human griefs and fears,
By thy fasting and distress,
In the lonely wilderness,
 ON PENANCE, 83

By thy victory in the hour

Of the subtle tempter's power;
Jesus ! look with pitying eye ;
Hear our solemn Litany.

By thine hour of dark despair,

By thine agony of prayer.
By thy purple robe of scorn,
By thy wounds, thy crown of thorn,
By thy cross, thy pangs and cries,
By thy perfect sacrifice,
J esus ! look with pitying eye ;
Hear our solemn Litany.

By thy deep expiring groan,

By thy sealed sepulchral stone,
By thy triumph o'er the grave,
By thy power from death to save ;
Mighty Grod ! ascended Lord !
To thy throne in heaven restored,
Prince and Saviour! hear our cry,
Hear our solemn Litany.

7* penitential psalm*
Hear, 0 Lord! my prayer: give ear to
my supplication in thy truth: hear me in
thy justice.
And enter not into judgment with thy
servant, for in thy sight no man living can
be justified.
84 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ;

he hath brought down my life to the earth.
He hath made me to dwell in darkness as
those that have been dead of old ; and my
spirit is in anguish within me; my heart
within me is troubled.
I remember the days of old ; I meditated
on all the works of thy hands.
I stretched forth my hands to thee : my
soul is as earth without water unto thee.
Hear me speedily, 0 Lord! my spirit
hath fainted away.
Turn not away thy face from me, lest I
be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear thy name in the
morning , for in thee have I hoped.
Make the way known to me wherein I
should walk, for I have lifted up my soul
to thee.
Deliver me from my enemies, 0 Lord! to
thee have I fled ; teach me to do thy will,
for thou art my Grod.
Thy good spirit shall lead me into the
right land: for thy name's sake, 0 Lord!
thou wilt quicken me in thy justice.
Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble:
and in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my
enemies.
And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict
my soul, for I am thy servant.
 ON PENANCE. 85

Grlory be to the Father, etc.

0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine!
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
PRAYERS.

0 G-od ! whose property is always to have

mercy and to spare: receive our petitions,
that we and all thy servants, who are bound
by the chain of sin, may, by the compassion
of thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.
Hear, we beseech thee, O Lord! the
prayers of thy supplicants, and pardon us
our sins who confess them to thee ; that of
thy bounty thou mayest grant us pardon
and peace.
Out of thy clemency, 0 Lord! show us
thy unspeakable mercy ; that so thou mayest
both acquit us of our sins, and deliver us
from the punishment we deserve for them.
O God ! who by sin art offended and by
penance pacified, mercifully regard our
prayers, and turn away the scourges of thy
anger, which we deserve for our sins.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Conclusion*
O Lord Jesus Christ! I offer thee the
prayers of this hour in the same intention,
4
86 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

with which thou didst offer the merits of

thy most holy life, sacred passion and death
to thy heavenly Father.
Accept them graciously, and give us the
desired forgiveness. Cleanse us from our
sins, and receive us again as thy children.
O sorrowful Mother of God! present to
him, who was sacrificed for sin, the sacrifice
of a sinner's prayer.
It is through thee the sinner comes to
God, for this God has come to the sinner
through thee, 0 thou, the Mediatrix between
God and man.
It was for the sake of sinners that thou
wast made worthy of such a Son: therefore,
do not despise us sinners.
It was because there were sinners to be
redeemed that thou wast made Mother
of the Redeemer; therefore, receive the
humble prayers of these sinners, and present
them to our Sovereign Lord.
This Lord let me now greet once more,
saying to him from my heart :
Praised and adored be without end ;
Jesus, our Lord, in the most blessed
Sacrament.
 ON PENANCE.

1b\>mn»
I come to thee, my Love!
From ways of grief and pain
I come to thee, my Love!
Who here in light dost reign.
The tempest raves without,
The angry billows roll,
But here thy peace is mine,
Thou Lover of my soul !

I long, when far away,

To be with thee again,
"Where
Fall liketreasures
the silentof rain.
thy grace
O veiled and hidden Love !
0 loving, gracious Lord!
From thee the silver showers
Upon my heart are poured.

The storm of pain and grief

Bends me beneath its power ;
1 have no help but thee
In sorrow's darkest hour.
0 help me, then, my Love!
For I am dark and lone,
And joy and light are thine
Upon this altar-throne.
88 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear ray prayer.
fy. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
1^. Thanks be to God.
y . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
1^. Amen.
 passion of Cbrtst

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
J. 0 Grod! incline unto my aid.
Iy. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning , etc.

Hfcoratton*

^OME, let us adore our Lord who has

suffered for us.
Let us give him thanks for his bitter
passion and death.
For by his passion he has redeemed the
world, and opened heaven to mankind.
Let us, therefore, gratefully remember all
the sufferings he has endured for us poor
sinners.
Let us praise and glorify him for all he
has done for us.
Come, let us unite our sinful prayers
with the pure and holy songs of the Angels
and Saints and devoutly join in their:
(89)
90 THE HOLY SEASON OE LENT.

Holy, holy , holy, Lord God of Hosts !

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*
Look down, 0 pitiful Father! from the
throne of thy majesty and the lofty habita-
tion of thy heaven, and behold thy beloved
Son hanging on the cross, his sacred body
all racked and torn with cruel wounds.
Look down upon the spotless lamb, who
opened not his mouth when in the jaws of
the wolves to speak one word of deprecation
or complaint.
Behold thy most beloved Son, our sweet
Jesus, shedding his precious blood with
most profuse liberality.
Remember, O most compassionate Father !
who it is that suffers thus ; and remember
in thy mercy for whom he suffers.
The ingratitude, the sins and crimes of
men are indeed great. I myself have often
offended thee, O my God and Creator!
But did our Lord not do ample penance
for all? Did he not shed his blood even for
the greatest sinner?
Suffer thyself, then, O heavenly Father!
to be touched with that great sight which
 PASSION OF CHRIST. 91

thy only begotten Son hath set before thee

on the cross, and by the satisfaction he
hath made for our sins.
Remember all his groanings; remember
all his sufferings ; while he prayed for those
that crucified him, saying: Father forgive
them!
Trusting, therefore, in the bitter passion
and death of our divine Redeemer, I come to
thee, O my Grocl! to pray during this hour
for myself, my friends, my relations, and
for the whole world.
Graciously receive my humble prayers, and
grant us the desired forgiveness, mercy,
grace, and salvation.
Behold! thy beloved Son even now con-
tinues his prayers for us.
Behold! the same sacrifice which he
offered on Grood Friday on the cross, is
daily renewed upon our altars, and his
precious body and blood which he then
sacrificed for us, is really and truly present
in our tabernacles.
For his sake, then, have mercy on us;
blot out our sins, and lead us to thy heavenly
kingdom.
92 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

A wondrous mystery this day

Reveals itself before our eyes ;
The true Son of the living G-od
Upon the cross in torment dies.

To advocate a servant's cause,

He takes that servant's guilty guise;
The master suffers for the slave ;
The just man for the sinner dies.

The emblem of his cruel death

And triumph, we behold impressed
Upon the robe, which, with its folds,
His mangled body did invest.

They are the signs of victory won

O'er death, o'er hell, and o'er the world;
They are the trophies which our chief
Displays triumphantly unfurled.

This gratitude at least we owe

To him who brought eternal life,
That 'neath his banner we should stand,
And fight and conquer in the strife.

Then let us die to all our sins,

And let us rise to life of grace j
That by the cross we may deserve
To see the glory of thy face.
 PASSION OF CHRIST. 93

Grant this, 0 Father merciful!

And thou, his own co-equal Son!
Grant this, O Spirit! who dost bear
The sceptre while the ages run.

praters of St, pins V.

Lord Jesus Christ, my crucified Saviour!
Son of the most blessed Virgin Mary ! open
thy ear and listen to me, as thou didst listen
to thy Eternal Father on Mount Thabor.
Lord Jesus Christ, my crucified Saviour!
Son of the most blessed Virgin Mary ! open
thy eyes and look down upon me as thou
didst look down, from the tree of the cross,
upon thy sorrowing and afflicted Mother.
Lord Jesus Christ, my crucified Saviour!
Son of the most blessed Virgin Mary! open
thy sacred lips and speak to me, as thou
didst speak to St. John, when thou gavest
him as a son to thy beloved Mother.
Lord Jesus Christ, my crucified Saviour!
Son of the most blessed Virgin Mary! open
thy arms and embrace me, as thou didst
open them on the tree of the cross, to
embrace the whole human race.
Lord Jesus Christ, my crucified Saviour!
Son of the most blessed Virgin Mary ! open
thy heart and accept mine, and graciously
hear my prayer, if such be the pleasure of
thy most holy will,
94 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

£be Sorrowful masteries of tbe

IRosar^

I* 5esus Sweating JSlcofc,

Eternal Father ! look on the face of thy
Christ. Behold this thy beloved Son.
trembling, agonizing, and sweating blood.
But, my Jesus ! in this garden there are
no executioners to scourge thee, nor thorns,
nor nails to torture thee : what, then, extracts
so much blood from thee!
Ah, I understand this! It was not the
foresight of thy future sufferings that then
afflicted thee so grievously ; for to these
pains thou didst spontaneously offer thyself.
It was the sight of our sins, of my sins.
These were the cruel press which forced so
much blood from thy sacred veins.
Hence it was not the executioner, nor the
nails, nor the thorns, but my sins which
made thee so sorrowful in the garden.
Had I been guilty of fewer sins, thou
wouldst have suffered less.
Behold ! then the return I have made for
thy love in dying for me. I have added to
thy great sufferings.
My beloved Lord! I repent for having
offended thee. 1 am sorry for my sins.
Oh, through the bitter agony which thou
 PASSION OF CHKIST. 95

didst suffer in the garden , give me a portion

of that abhorrence which thon didst then
feel for my sins.
/ believe in God the Father etc. Glory be to the
Father etc. Our Father etc. O Sacrament most holyy etc.
The first decade of the sorrowful rosary.
H. 5esus Being Scourged
My sweet Saviour! I see thee covered
with wounds.
I behold thy beautiful countenance, but,
O my Grod! it no longer wears its comely
appearance. It is disfigured with blood,
bruises and shameful spittings.
From the sole of thy foot to the top of
thy head, there is no soundness in thee.
But, O my God! the more I see thee thus
disfigured, the . more lovely and beautiful
dost thou appear to me.
For what are these disfigurements that I
behold, but signs of that love which thou
dost bear towards me?
Who, save thou, O my Lord! has endured
forme such cruel scourging and loss of blood?
Give me, then, the grace to love thee, who
was thus wounded and torn for me.
The second decade of the sorrowful rosary.
in. Jesus CrowneD witb tborns,
O sinful thoughts of men! you pierced
the sacred head of my Redeemer,
96 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Yes, my Jesus! our criminal consent to

sin has formed thy thorny crown.
0 my afflicted -Saviour! O king of the
world! to what do I see thee reduced?
1 behold thee a king of mockery and
sorrow. I see thee the laughing-stock of
all Jerusalem.
From thy wounded head, streams of blood
flow down upon thy face and breast.
Not content with having left no sound
spot on thy body, thy enemies continue to
torment thee with fresh cruelties and in-
sults.
But, O my Grod! how great w^as thy
patience amidst those unspeakable suffer-
ings!
"Who when he was reviled did not revile ;
when he suffered, he threatened not; but
delivered himself to him that judged him
unjustly? "
Thou, O Jesus ! wast willing to be crowned
with thorns to obtain for us a crown of
glory in heaven.
O assist us that we may never lose this
crown by committing sin.
The third decade of the sorrowful rosary.

IV. Jesus Carrying IRis Cross-

My Jesus ! since Grod had burdened thee
with all the sins of mankind, my sins, alas!
 97
PASSION OF CHBIST.

have added to the weight of the cross thou

didst carry to Calvary.
How heavy was this cross, that caused
thee to fall thrice beneath its weight !
O cross ! 0 sweet and noble tree ! thou art
my salvation.
If Christ had not carried thee to Mount
Calvary, what would have become of me ?
O Lord ! give me the grace to follow thee
on the way of the cross.
The fourth decade of the sorrowful rosary,
v. Jesus WyiwQ on tbe Cross.
0 Saviour of the world, O my Jesus!
behold to what thy love for men has at
length reduced thee !
O what was it that nailed thy hands and
feet to the wood of the cross, but the love
thou didst bear to us sinners !
By the pain of thy pierced hands, thou
hast been willing to pay the penalty due to all
the sins of touch that men have committed.
By the pain of thy sacred feet, thou hast
been willing to pay for all the steps by
which we went astray.
O my crucified Love! with thy pierced
hands give me thy benediction.
Nail this ungrateful heart of mine to thy
feet, that I may no more depart from thee,
but ever remain steadfastly fixed in thy love.
The fifth decade of the sorrowful rosary.
98 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Salutation of tbe Sacreb Xtmbs of

3e0U6*
Hail, tender Limbs of my Lord Jesus
Christ! tormented with manifold pain for
our salvation.
Hail, thou adorable Head! crowned for
us with thorns, and stricken with the reed.
Hail, most worshipful Face ! for us spit
upon and smitten.
Hail, most gentle Eyes of our Saviour!
for us suffused with tears.
Hail, sacred Mouth ! filled for us with
vinegar and gall.
Hail, most noble Ears! pierced for us
with reproach and contumely.
Hail ,venerable Hands and Arms ! stretched
out for us upon the cross.
Hail, divine Breast! disquieted for us and
mangled.
Hail, adorable Knees! so often bent in
prayer for us, now crushed and out of joint.
Hail, worshipful Feet ! pierced for us with
the nails.
Hail, glorious Side! opened for us with
the soldier's lance.
Hail, noble Body of my Jesus! for us
hanged on the cross, torn and wounded,
dead and buried.
 PASSION OF CHRIST. 99

Hail, Sacred Heart ! broken for us on the

cross.
Hail, thrice-holy Soul of Jesus! sorrowful
for us even unto death.
Hail, most precious Blood! flowing so
lavishly from the wounds of Jesus.
Hail, adorable Wounds of my Saviour!
tokens of his love and price of our redemp-
tion, inflicted on Jesus in his passion, and
now radiant as stars in the highest heaven.
Oh! write my name in these thy wounds,
good Jesus! and hide me therein from the
face of the tempter.
By the many wounds and merits of all
thy sacred limbs, vouchsafe to my soul at
its departure hence that innocence which
thou hast acquired for thy Church by their
anguish and pain.

praise of tbe Works anfc Sufferings

of Christ

O Jesus ! praised be that laying-aside of

thy majesty, in which thou didst take the
form of a poor servant.
Praised be the misery which thou didst
endure for thirty-three years, that thou
mightest bring us to the inheritance of
eternal bliss.
Praised be all the works, the distress and
100 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

sweat of thy pilgrimage , through which

thou hast healed our anxieties and siknesses.
Praised be the poverty, the watchings
and the works of penance, by which thou
art become to us a father of mercy.
Praised be each and every drop of thy
precious and rosy blood, by which thou
hast redeemed and sanctified the human
soul.
Praised be the precious wounds of thy
holy hands and feet, by which thou hast
secured and appropriated us to thyself.
Praised be thy side that was pierced, out
of which flowed water and blood for the
washing away of our sins.
Praised be thy divine heart, sweeter than
honey, which thy strong love caused to
break in death.
Praised be the pure flesh of thy most
worthy manhood, in which thou becamest
our brother and mediator.
Praised be the precious pledge of thy most
noble soul, by which thou didst redeem us
from the snares of perdition.
Praised be the bitterness of thine igno-
minious death, to which the strength of
thy love compelled thee.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
 101
PASSION OF CHRIST.

praters in Ibonor of Eacb fl>am of

Cbnst
O my Jesus ! by that humiliation which
thou didst practice in washing the feet of
thy disciples, I pray thee to bestow upon
me the grace of true humility, so that I
may humble myself to all, especially to such
as treat me with contempt.
My Jesus! by that sorrow which thou
didst endure in the Garden sufficient as it
was to cause thy death, I pray thee to deliver
me from the sorrow of eternal death.
My Jesus ! by that horror which thou didst
have of my sins, in that same Garden of
Olives, give me a true sorrow for all the
offences which I have committed against
thee.
My Jesus! by that pain which thou
didst experience at seeing thyself betrayed
by Judas with a kiss, give me the grace to
be faithful to thee until death.
My Jesus ! by that pain which thou didst
feel at seeing thyself bound like a culprit, to
be taken before the judges, I pray thee to
bind me to thyself by the sweet chains of
holy love, that so I may nevermore see my-
self separated from thee, my only Good.
My Jesus! by all those insults, buffetings,
and spittings which thou didst suffer in the
102 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

house of Caiphas, give me strength to

endure in peace, for love of thee, all the
affronts which I shall meet with from men.
My Jesus! by that ridicule which thou
didst receive from Herod in being treated
as a fool, give me the grace to suffer with
patience all that men shall say of me, when
treating me as base, senseless, or wicked.
My Jesus ! by that outrage which thou didst
receive from the Jews when Barrabas was
preferred to thee, give me the grace to suffer
with patience the humiliation of seeing my-
self less esteemed than others.
My Jesus! by that pain which thou didst
endure in thy most holy body when thou
wast so cruelly scourged, give me the grace
to suffer with patience all the pains of my
sicknesses, and especially those of my death.
My Jesus ! by that pain which thou didst
suffer in thy most sacred head when it was
crowned with thorns, give me the grace
never to consent to thoughts that may dis-
please thee.
My Jesus ! by that act of thine whereby
thou didst accept the death of the cross to
which Pilate condemned thee, give me the
grace to accept with resignation my death,
together with all the pains that shall
accompany it.
My Jesus! by the pain which thou didst
 PASSION OF CHKIST. 103

suffer in carrying the cross on the journey

to Calvary, give me the grace to accept with
patience all my crosses in this life.
My J esus ! by that pain which thou didst
suffer in having the nails driven through
thy hands and feet, I pray thee to nail my
will to thy feet, so that I may will nothing
save that which thou dost desire.
My Jesus! by the affliction which thou
didst suffer in having gall given thee to
drink, give me the grace not to offend thee
by intemperance in eating and drinking.
My Jesus ! by that pain which thou didst
experience upon the cross in taking leave of
thy holy Mother, deliver me from an inor-
dinate love for my relatives, or any other
creature, so that my heart may be wholly
and always thine.
My J esus ! by that desolation which thou
didst suffer at thy death in seeing thyself
abandoned by the Eternal Father, give me
the grace to suffer all my desolations with
patience, and without ever losing confidence
in thy goodness.
My Jesus ! by those three hours of afflic-
tion and agony which thou didst suffer when
dying on the cross, give me the grace to
suffer with resignation, for love of thee, the
pains of my last agony.
My Jesus! by that great sorrow which
104 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT,

thou didst feel when thy most holy soul

separated itself from thy sacred body, give
me the grace to breathe forth my soul, at
the hour of my death, whilst making an act
of perfect love, that so I may go to love thee
in heaven with all my strength, and for all
eternity.

%itan\> of tbe passion.

Lord, have mery on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Jesus, prostrate in the Garden of Olives
before thy Father, and charged with the
sins of the whole world,
Jesus, overwhelmed with sadness, reduced
to agony and submerged in a sea of
sorrow,
Jesus, who from every part of thy body
didst sweat blood abundantly,
*) Have mercy on its.
 PASSION OF CHRIST. 105

Jesus, betrayed by a traitor-apostle and sold

at a low price, like a slave,*)
Jesus, giving a loving kiss to the traitor
Judas,
Jesus, dragged by a rope through the streets
of Jerusalem, and overwhelmed with
curses,
Jesus, unjustly accused and condemned,
Jesus, overwhelmed with insults, spat upon
and buffeted,
Jesus, clothed in a robe of ignominy and
treated as a madman in Herod7 s court,
Jesus, whose flesh was torn with scourges
and whose blood flowed plentifully,
Jesus, crowned with sharp thorns,
Jesus, treated as a mock king,
Jesus, placed on a parallel with Barrabas
who was preferred to thee,
Jesus, given over to thine enemies by
Pilate,
Jesus, exhausted with sufferings and bending
under the weight of the cross,
Jesus, fastened to the cross between two
malefactors,
Jesus, man of sorrows,
Jesus, obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross,
Jesus, filled with mercy towards those who
offered thee gall and vinegar.
*) Have mercy on us.
106 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Jesus , praying for thy executioners, and

pleading for them with thy Father,*)
Jesus, for our redemption sacrificing thine
honor and life,
Jesus, expiring on the cross out of love for us.
Be merciful unto us and pardon us, 0 Lord!
Be merciful unto us and hear us, O Lord!
From all evil, **)
From all sin,
From a bad death,
From everlasting damnation,
By thine agony and bloody sweat,
By thy cruel scourging,
By thy crown of thorns,
By thy cross and sufferings,
By thy sacred thirst and dereliction,
By thy five wounds,
By thy death,
By thy resurrection.
At the day of judgment.
We sinners beseech thee, to hear us.
That by thy passion thou wouldst make
known to us the enormity of sin. the
cause of thy sufferings, t )
That by the remembrance of thy sorrows and
sufferings, we may be enabled patiently
to bear trials, adversities and sickness,

*) Have mercy on us. **) O Lord ! deliver us,

t) We beseech thee to hear us.
 107
PASSION OF CHRIST.

That in our afflictions, sadness and tribula-

tions, we may look to thee for patience,*)
That without murmuring, we may receive,
from thy hands, humiliations, scorn, out-
rage and persecution,
That following thy example, we may
patiently bear with false accusations and
unjust judgments,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to make us
share in the fruits of thy cross,
That by virtue of thy cross we may triumph
over the devil, the world, and the flesh,
That we may be purified from all sin in thy
blood,
That we may daily take up our cross and
follow thee,
That we may frequently and lovingly
remember thy passion,
That calling to mind, that thou didst die
for us, we may love thee with our whole
heart, and live for thee alone,
That at the hour of our death thou wilt
vouchsafe to strengthen us by thy cross
and death,
That by thy cross, thou wilt vouchsafe to
bring us to eternal glory,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
*) We beseech thee to hear us.
108 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Lamb of God, etc.

Graciously hear us, 0 Lord !
Lamb of God, etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
LET US PEAY.
O Lord Jesus Christ! who to redeem the
world, didst vouchsafe to be born amongst
men, to be circumcised, to be rejected and
persecuted by the Jews, to be betrayed by
the traitor, Judas, with a kiss, and as a
lamb, gentle and innocent, to be bound
with cords and dragged in scorn before the
tribunals of Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and
Herod; who didst suffer thyself to be
accused by false witnesses, to be torn by
the scourge and overwhelmed with oppro-
brium; to be spit upon, to be crowned with
thorns, buffeted, struck with a reed, blind-
folded, stripped of thy garments, to be
nailed to the cross and raised on it between
two thieves; to be given gall and vinegar
to drink, and to be pierced with a lance:
do thou, O Lord! by these thy most sacred
pains which I, though unworthy, call to
mind, and by thy holy cross and death,
save me from the pains of hell and vouchsafe
to bring me - whither thou didst bring the
good thief who was crucified with thee, who
with the Father and the Holy Ghost. live>t
and reio-nest God forever and ever. Amen.
 PASSION OF CHRIST. 109

Conclusion.
0 my dear Jesus! I have meditated
during this hour on thy passion and death ;
let me never forget what thou hast suffered
for me.
Let me hate sin which has caused thee so
much suffering.
Let me imitate thee and patiently bear
all the sufferings and trials of this life.
Hear the prayers which I have offered to
thee in honor of thy passion, in behalf
of myself and those who are in any way
connected with me.
Grant that, through thy sufferings, our
sins may be forgiven, our souls may be
strengthened, and paradise opened to all.
1 close this devotion by addressing thee,
0 crucified Saviour! in the holy Eucharist,
saying from the depths of my heart and
with the greatest reverence :
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the most blessed
Sacrament !

Soul of Christ! sanctify me;

Body of Christ ! save me ;
Blood of Christ ! inebriate me ;
Water from the side of C hrist ! wash me ;
Passion of Christ ! strengthen me ;
110 THE HOLY SEASON OE LENT.

0 Good Jesus ! hear me ;

Within thy wounds hide me ;
Permit me not to be separated from thee ;
From the wicked enemy defend me :
In the hour of my death call me ;
And bid me come to thee,
That with thy Saints I may praise thee
For ever and ever. Amen.

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

Si. Joseph.
¥ . 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
^. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Zhc Cross anb tbe 1bol£

maounbs of Christ

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

fy. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Glod! incline unto my aid.
3^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

BfcoraUon*

Come, i et us adore the holy wounds

which Christ has received for us.
Come, let us adore the holy cross on
which he has redeemed mankind.
Hail ! ye glorious signs of the divine love :
ye precious wounds which our Lord has
borne on his bruised body.
And thou, O holy cross! be saluted a
thousand times. I devoutly kiss thee; I
lovingly embrace thee.
O Jesus, my crucified Love! receive my
humble thanks for thy cross and holy
wounds.
(Ill)
112 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

I praise thee and humbly adore, in the

most holy Sacrament, the hands and feet
which have been pierced for us, and the
sacred side which has been opened for us.
0 come, all ye creatures! for whom our
good Jesus has shed his precious blood, and
let us in union with all the Angels and
Saints lovingly sing to him:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God. of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

■Reparation,
0 my dear Lord and Saviour ! I prostrate
myself before thy tabernacle, and in pro-
found humility adore thy sacred body and
blood here really and truly present.
1 believe that it is the same body which
was fastened to the cross, and the same
blood which thou didst shed for the redemp-
tion of mankind.
Thy sacred body still bears the marks of
thy cruel passion ; they are the signs of thy
love and mercy for us sinners.
0 holy wounds! be praised and adored.
To you we owe our redemption.
Alas! how many have no share in this
redemption? For millions the precious blood
of Christ has been shed in vain.
 THE GROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 113

Christ received his sacred wounds for all

and died for all — but behold the ingratitude
of men !
Cruel nails were driven through the sacred
hands and feet of the Eedeemer ; his side
was opened ; his body was treated like that
of the greatest malefactor.
Man has no thanks for the patience with
which thou, 0 Lord! hast suffered all this
for the redemption of the world.
This same world continues to heap insults
upon thee. Thy most sacred body in the
blessed Sacrament is yet the object of
hatred; and even those who should know
thee better and who pretend to be devoted
to thy holy service, make themselves guilty
of all kinds of irreverences towards thy
august presence in this Sacrament of Love.
O Jesus! forgive us. 0 Jesus! have
mercy on us.
O heavenly Father! look graciously down
upon the sacred face and the holy wounds
of thy beloved Son, which cry to thee for
mercy.
Behold! how thy Jesus is continualty
praying for us.
Hear his prayers, and listen to my humble
supplications, and grant that all poor sinners
may find refuge and salvation in the cross
and the holy wounds of our Redeemer.
114 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Ib^trm.
Hail, holy wounds of Jesus! hail,
Sweet pledges of the saving rood,
Whence flow the streams that never fail,
The purple streams of his dear blood.

Brighter than brightest stars ye show,

Than sweetest rose your scent more rare ;
No Indian gem may match your glow,
No honey's taste with your's compare.
Portals ye are to that dear home
Wherein our weary souls may hide,
Whereto no angry foe can come :
The heart of Jesus crucified.

What countless stripes our Jesus bore,

All naked left in Pilate's hall,
What copious floods of purple gore
Through rents in his torn garments fall!

His beauteous brow, oh, shame and grief!

By the sharp thorny crown is riven ;
Through hands and feet without relief.
The cruel nails are rudely driven.

But when for our poor sake's he died,

A willing priest, by love subdued,
The soldier's lance transfixed his side,
Forth flowed the water and the blood.
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHEIST. 115

In full atonement of our guilt,

Careless of self, the Saviour trod —
Even till his heart's best blood was spilt —
The wine-press of the wrath of Grod.

Come, bathe you in that healing flood,

All ye who mourn, by sin opprest;
Your only hope is Jesus7 blood,
His sacred heart your only rest.

All praise to him, the eternal Son,

At Grod?s right hand enthroned above,
Whose blood our full redemption won,
Whose spirit seals the gift of love.

praises of tbe Cross*

Let our most beautiful praise magnify the
victory of the great king of the cross.
On the cross was conquered the empire
of death.
On the cross was made void the hand-
writing of the sin that was of old.
On the cross was sacrificed the Lamb for
the flock.
By the cross is the world brought back
into God's favor; it was in Adam sold by a
tree and by a tree is now redeemed.
By a tree we wrere made slaves ; by the
tree of the cross we are now made freedmen.
116 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Here was fulfilled the prophecy foretold

in David's truthful words: "God hath
reigned from the tree. ? 7
O cross! thou tree of life, thou bearest
the life and ransom of the world.
Thou art the balance whereon the body
of the Lord was placed; and thereby heil
lost its prey.
Thou art the antidote that cures the sting
of the serpent's wound.
O mighty cross ! thou drawest the whole
world to thyself, and with thy two arms
embracest all mankind.
O lofty cross ! thou penetratest into the
depths below, and raisest to heaven the
captives thou loosest.
By thee, the Lamb did rescue his sheep
from the jaws of the wolf.
On thee, the Lord washed our wounds
with his own blood.
O sweet and noble tree ! how vigorous is
thy growth, when on thy branches hang
fruits so rare!
Thy fresh fragrance restores the dead to
life. He that shelters beneath thy shade,
rests sweetly.
Planted near the running waters, thou
art lovely in thy verdure, and blossoms ever
fresh bloom on each fair branch.
Between thine arms hangs the pendant
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 117

vine, whence wine most sweet flows in a

ruddy stream.
O cross! thou art the divine sceptre of
the king !
O cross! thou art the sacred armour of
my life; the strength of them that wage
war; for it is our confidence in thee that
puts our enemies to flight.
0 cross! consecrated by the body of
Christ, and adorned by its members as with
pearls.
O admirable cross! O desirable cross! 0
good cross! O cross brighter than all the
stars ! O star which shineth throughout the
world; thou the world's glory; our true
hope and joy; the standard of salvation;
our protection in dangers, save us; help
us ; strengthen us ; shield us !
O Lamb of the sovereign Father! that by
thy cross takest away the sins of the world,
grant that we may be able to comprehend
the measure of the cross.
On the cross, thou, 0 Christ! didst slay
original sin.
By thy holy cross, cleanse us from our
guilty stains; have pity on our human
frailty, and grant pardon to those that have
fallen.
5
118 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT..

Zo tbe Cructfieb Saviour,

0 Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, through

thee alone, through thy holy cross, do I
expect salvation.
Through thy death upon the cross, I have
received the forgiveness of my sins.
I, therefore, embrace thy holy cross as
the sign of my election.
Thou, 0 Jesus! didst die for me upon
the cross, and thus didst open the way to
heaven.
To thy cross, 0 Lord! I take my refuge.
Thy cross I will never leave.
1 believe in thee, O my crucified Love!
I hope in thee, O my crucified Saviour!
I love thee, O my crucified Redeemer!
I call upon thee, 0 my crucified Jesus!
Have mercy on me for the sake of thy
bitter passion and death.
0 Jesus! thy cross and thy holy wounds
are my only hope. Into thy sacred wounds
I recommend my soul and my body.
O painful wounds of my Saviour! at the
sight of you my heart is filled with com-
passion.
Cruel nails! which wounded and trans-
fixed thy sacred hands and feet, 0 Jesus!
 THE CEOSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 119

Unmerciful lance! piercing and laying

open thy divine heart, O Jesus!
0 most loving Redeemer ! What are these
wounds on thy sacred body?
They are signs of the cruelty committed
against the Son of God by those who owe
him all adoration, love, and gratitude.
They are yet more the tokens of thy love,
0 Jesus! for the sinful world, which thou
hast redeemed by these holy wounds.
0 Jesus ! I am written in thy hands and
engraven in thy heart.
Thy wounds, O my Jesus! are no more
my terror, but my refreshment and sweetest
consolation.
1 cannot doubt thy ineffable love, the
infinite extent of which I behold in thy
sacred wounds.
O most consoling wounds ! the streams of
graces gushing from you fill me with delight.
All the treasures of heaven are enclosed
in thy wounds, O Jesus! who should not
find consolation in them?
The effusions of thy love, the precious
balsam of salvation issue from them. Who
should not approach them?
O Jesus ! with loving confidence I hasten
to draw from these sources of love whatever
1 need for soul and body.
120 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

prater in Honor of tbe jfive Sacrefc

Mounts
I thank thee, O Lord Jesus! for the
painful wound of thy left foot, from "which
flowed the washing away of our sins. In it I
sink and hide all the sins I have committed.
I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for
the painful wound of thy right foot, from
which the fountain of peace flowed to us.
In it I sink and bury all my desires, that
they may be purified and remain unspotted
by any earthly stain.
I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for
the painful wound of thy left hand, from
which the well of grace flowed to us. In it
I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills,
that, in union with thy suffering, they may
become sweet to me, and by patience may
become of good odor before Grod.
I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for
the painful wound of thy right hand, from
which the medicine of the soul was poured
forth. In it I hide all the negligences and
omissions of which I have been guilty in
my virtuous exercises, that they may be
atoned for by thy zealous works.
I thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for
the healing wound of thy sweetest heart,
from which living water and blood, and the
 THE CEOSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 121

riches of all good flowed to us, I place

myself into this wound, and therein unite
all my imperfect love to thy divine love,
that so it may be made perfect. Amen.

Seven ©ffertnge of tbe precious

Bloot) of CbrtsL
first ©ffertng.
Eternal Father! I offer thee the merits of
the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my Grod,
for my dear mother, the holy Catholic
Church, that her boundaries may be
extended, and that she may be exalted
among the nations of the earth; for the
safety and wrell-being of her visible head,
the Pope, our spiritual father; for the
Cardinals, Bishops and Pastors of souls,
and for all the ministers of thy sanctuary.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.
Second ©ffertng-
Eternal Father! I offer thee the merits of
the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God,
for the peace and quietness of all Catholic
kings and princes, for the humiliation of
122 THE HOLY SEASON OF LEXT.

the enemies of the holy Catholic faith, and

for the welfare of all Christian people.
dory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.

Eternal Father! I offer thee the merits of

the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy well-
beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for
the conversion of unbelievers, the extirpa-
tion of heresy, and the repentance of all
sinners, that they may return to thee.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.

jfourtb Offering.
Eternal Father! I offer thee the merits
of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy
well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God,
for all my relations, friends and enemies:
for all the sick and sorrowful, and for all
those for whom thou knowest that I ought
to pray, as well as for those for whom thou.
0 God! wouldst have me pray.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 123

jfiftb ©ffering.
Eternal Father! I offer thee the merits of
the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy well-
beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for
all those, who are this day departing from
this world, that thou wouldst free them
from everlasting punishment, and speedily
admit them to the mansions of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.
Stxtb ©ffering*
Eternal Father ! I offer thee the merits of
the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy well-
beloved Son, my God and my Saviour, for
all those wTho love and value this priceless
treasure, and unite with me in this adoration
and worship ; also for those who endeavor
to extend this devotion.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.
Seventh ©ffering*
Eternal Father ! I offer thee the merits of
the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy well-
beloved Son, my God and my Saviour , for
all my spiritual and temporal wants, and
for the poor souls in purgatory, particularly
124 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

for those who were devout to the precious

blood of our Saviour, and to the sorrows of
most holy Mary, our dear Mother.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus
who, with his blood, hath redeemed us.
Grlory be to the blood of Jesus, now and
forever, and throughout all ages. Amen,

Sing my tongue the Saviour's glory;

Tell his triumph far and wide ;
Tell aloud the famous story
Of his body crucified ;
How upon the cross a victim,
Languishing in death, he died.

Eating of the tree forbidden,

Man had sunk in Satan's snare,
When our pitying Creator
Did this second tree prepare ;
Destined many ages later
That first evil to repair.

Such the order Grod appointed

When for sin he would atone ;
To the serpent thus opposing
Schemes yet deeper than his own ;
Thence the remedy procuring,
Whence the fatal wound had come.
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST.

And when at length the fulness

Of the sacred time drew nigh,
Then the Son, the world's Creator,
Left his Father's throne on high;
From a Virgin's womb appearing,
Clothed in our mortality.

All within a lowly manger,

Lo ! a tender babe he lies ;
See his gentle Virgin-Mother,
Lull to sleep his infant cries !
While the limbs of Grod incarnate
Round with swathing bands she ties.

Thus did Christ to perfect manhood

In our mortal flesh attain ;
Then of his free choice he goeth
To a death of bitter pain ;
And as a lamb upon the altar
Of the cross for us is slain.

Lo ! with gall his thirst he quenches.

See the thorn upon his brow !
Nails his tender flesh are rending ;
See his side is opened now!
Whence to cleanse the whole creation
Streams of blood and water flow.
126 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Lofty tree ! bend down thy branches

To embrace thy sacred load:
0 release the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood ;
Grently, gently, bear the members
Of the dying King and God.
Tree which solely was found worthy
The world's great victim to sustain;
Harbor from the raging tempest ;
Ark that saved the world again ;
Tree with sacred blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Blessing, honor everlasting,

To the immortal Deity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit
Equal praises ever be ;
Grlory through the earth and* heaven
To Trinity in Unity.
Xitan^ of tbe Sacreb Mounts of

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 127

Glod the Father of heaven, *)

Grod the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Grhost,
Holy Trinity, one Glod,
Jesus, who wast laid upon the cross, the
altar of thy bloody sacrifice,
Jesus, whose sacred limbs were cruelly
distorted upon the cross,
Jesus, whose sacred hands and feet were
pierced with painful nails, and fastened
" to the cross with heavy strokes of the
hammer,
Jesus, who didst suffer the distortion of
thy bones, the rending of thy sinews, and
the opening of thy veins with wonderful
patience,
Jesus, who from thy wounds didst pour
forth so much blood for the salvation of
the world,
Jesus, from whose wounds flowed forth
four streams of blood, like the four rivers
of the earthly paradise, to water and
purify the whole earth,
Jesus, whose tormenting pains of the wounds
in thy hands and feet were increased
above all measure, by the erection of the
cross,
Jesus, who for three hours didst hang on

*) Have mercy on us.

128 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

the cross in these wounds, under excruci-

ating pains,*)
Jesus, who in the pains of thy wounds didst
die upon the cross,
Jesus, whose sacred side was opened with
the lance by a soldier,
Jesus, from whose wounded heart gushed
forth a stream of water and blood,
Jesus, whose sacred wounds were kissed
and venerated with loving devotion by
thy sorrowing Mother,
Jesus, who in the resurrection didst preserve
and adorn thy wounds with glory and
splendor,
Jesus, who after the resurrection didst show
thy glorified wounds to thy disciples for
their consolation and joy,
Jesus, who didst permit the incredulous
Thomas to lay his hands and fingers into
thy sacred wounds,
Jesus, who didst carry thy wounds into
heaven to the throne of thy Father,
Jesus, who didst preserve thy sacred wounds
in the most blessed Sacrament for our
consolation,
Jesus, from whose sacred wounds flows
upon us the abundance of grace and
heavenly sweetness,

*) Have mercy on us.

 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 129

Jesus, in whose wounds we find sweetest

refreshment and secure rest,*)
Jesus, whose sacred wounds strengthen us
against all temptations,
Jesus, through whose wounds we shall enter
into heavenly bliss,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!

LET US PRAY.

0 most loving Saviour! who in the great

Mystery of the Altar, dost present thy
sacred wounds to thy heavenly Father, to
obtain grace, mercy and reconciliation for
us, I beseech thee most earnestly, let the
torments thou didst suffer when the cruel nails
pierced thy hands and feet, and fastened
them to the cross, be conducive to my
eternal salvation, that I may praise thy
goodness and mercy, in thy heavenly king-
dom for all eternity. Amen.

*) Have mercy on us.

130 THE HOLY SEASON OE LENT.

Conclusion.

0 Jesus, my Gk>d and Savour! during

this hour of adoration. I have called to
mind thy unspeakable love to man. of
which thy holy cross and thy sacred wounds
are the glorious pledges.
1 now close this devotion with the fervent
petition, that thou wouldst pour the treas-
ures of thy holy wounds upon myself, my
friends, and upon ail those for whom I am
bound to pray.
0 Jesus! through the splendor of thy
wounds, enlighten my faith: through the
precious balsam of thy wounds, strengthen
my hope; and through the dames of thy
heart, enkindle my love.
Let thy sacred wounds, and thy holy
cross be our consolation in our miseries:
protection in danger, and refreshment in
affliction. That through the infinite merits
and the abundant graces of thy holy vrounds
and thy cross we may obtain fife everlasting.
My concluding prayer be to thee, 0 Jesus,
our God in the tabernacle :
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving he every
moment thine.
 THE CROSS AND WOUNDS OF CHRIST. 131

Close veiled in that sweet Sacrament,

Our Jesus' heart, our treasure lies,
Love's priceless, dearest testament
Is shrouded in that mystic guise. „
Our Jesus left his realms of light,
On wings of love to earth he's flown,
To dwell with us 'tis his delight,
He makes our hearts his dearest throne.
O wounded heart! how sweet 'twould be,
If we would die for love of thee !

Love is not loved ! 0 Angels weep ;

Ye virgins chaste! breathe bitter sighs,
0 earth be clothed in mourning deep,
Withdraw your light ye radiant skies.
For all our soul's dear Spouse hath died,
For all his heart with love doth burn,
Yet this meek Saviour men deride,
And for his love make no return.
0 wounded heart! how sweet 'twould be,
If we would die for love of thee !

That heart for us could do no more,

In anguish deep it sighed and bled;
A cruel spear pierced through its core,
For us his last life's blood was shed;
That spear, O Jesus! pierced thy heart,
That we within its depths might flee,
132 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

0 wound our own with love's sweet dart.

Let us expire for love of thee!
O wounded heart! how sweet 'twould be.
If we would die for love of thee !

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer :
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
fy. Thanks be to God.
X . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
^. Amen.
 Eucbaristtc Ma\> of the
Cross.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
f. O G-od! incline unto my aid.
1^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
G-lory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoration.
Come, let us with profound reverence
adore Jesus Christ our Lord.
Who, as a memorial of his passion, is
ever present in the most holy Sacrament.
Come, let us render eternal thanksgiving
to our loving Saviour who has shed his
precious blood, and traveled for us the way
to Calvary, laden with the cross.
Come, let us devoutly adore, in the most
holy Sacrament, the body which he has
given for us and the blood which he has
shed for us.
Let us with all the Angels and Saints
follow in spirit his bloody footsteps; and
(133)
134 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

mindful that he who has suffered for us is

our Lord and G-od, with great humility join
them in their unceasing :
Holy, holy , holy Lord GTod of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory,
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatiom

0 my Grod ! behold me here at thy feet

preparing to begin the holy way of the cross.
1 recall to mind, O good Jesus! that thou
didst walk this way for our sins, and that
they have been the cause of thy bitter
sufferings and death.
Accept then, O Lord! this my devotion
in satisfaction for all my offences, as well
as for those of the whole world.
Regard not, O heavenly Father! our
ingratitude and our sins, but look upon this
thy Son, our Saviour, who hath rendered
thee full satisfaction for them.
For his sake, forgive us, and receive us
again as thy children who have been washed
in the precious blood of thy Son, which he
shed for us on the way to Calvary.
O Jesus ! I will now accompany thee on
thy bloody journey, with love and gratitude
for thy infinite goodness.
 EUCHAEJSTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 135

Assist me, 0 Lord! in my devotion, and

let me gain thereby, for myself and the poor
souls, all the indulgences attached thereunto.

Forth comes the standard of the King ;

All hail, thou mystery adored!
Hail Cross! on which the Life himself
Died, and by death our life restored.

On which our Saviour's holy side,

Rent open with a cruel spear,
Of blood and water pour'd a stream
To wash us from defilement clear.

0 sacred wood ! in thee fulfilled

Was holy David's truthful lay;
Which told the world that from a tree
The Lord should all the nations sway.

Most royally empurpled o'er,

How beauteously thy stem doth shine !
How glorious was its lot to touch
Those limbs so holy and divine !

Thrice blest, upon whose arms outstretched

The Saviour of the world reclined ;
Balance sublime! upon whose beam
Was weighed the ransom of mankind.
136 THE HOLY SEASON OP LENT.

Hail Cross! thou only hope of men,

Hail, on this holy passion-day!
To saints increase the grace they have ;
From sinners purge their guilt away.

Salvation's spring, blest Trinity!

Be praise to thee through earth and skies :
Thou through the cross the victory
Doth give ; oh, also give the prize !

Jfirst Station*
Jesus is Gonbemnefc to tbe 2>eatb of tbe
Cross*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
I^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
Jesus, the righteous Judge of the living
and the dead, was condemned without cause
and without a fair trial, by the high-priests
and people as well as by Pontius Pilate to a
most cruel and ignominious death. Had
they known that this same Jesus would, at
the end of time, come again upon the
clouds with great power and majesty, to
judge the world, they would have fallen on
their knees to adore him with fear and
trembling, and to pray for a merciful judg-
ment. Jesus, however, remained silent and
 EUCHAEISTIC WAY OF THE CEOSS. 137

submitted to the unjust sentence, in order

that I might not be confounded before his
judgment seat, on account of my sins, and
condemned to eternal torments.
0 divine Saviour! More profoundly than
in the presence of Pontius Pilate, dost thou
conceal thy majesty in the most holy
Sacrament. Here thou art present in the
same splendor of that glory which will one
day cause the sun to fade away and the
earth to tremble. Most humbly I adore
thee. To save me from eternal damnation,
thou hast done thy utmost in this Sacrament
of Love. Thy own body and blood thou
givest me now and in the hour of my death,
as a pledge of eternal life. For this I thank
thee. May all praise and glory and gratitude
be given to thee, now and forever, O just
and mighty Judge in the blessed Eucharist !

>r. 0! Sacrament
divine most holy ! 0 Sacrament

Tfy. All praise and all thanksgiving be

every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !
138 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Seconfc Station.
$esus Carries fus Cross,
J. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
Iy. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
Jesus foresaw the dreadful sufferings and
shameful outrages, to which he would be
subjected on the cross; nevertheless he
eagerly stretched out his hands towards the
cross, embraced it and kissed it, because it
was the means, according to his Father's
will, whereby sinners should be saved.
Stronger than death is the love of his
sacred heart.
0 divine Saviour! before thou didst
accept this cross made for thee by human
malice, thy own excessive love prepared for
thee another cross. Thou didst foresee that
an awful flood of insults would overwhelm
thee in the Sacrament of thy Love, and thy
dwelling in the holy tabernacle would give
occasion to a constant renewal of the
sorrowful scene of G-ood Friday; never-
theless thou didst institute this most holy
Sacrament with a great desire, and it was thy
wish to bear this heavy cross, for the love of
the faithful, to the end of time. Most pro-
foundly adore
I thy divine love and fortitude.
 EUCHARISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 139

Grant me, I beseech thee, the grace to know

and to love thee more and more in the
blessed Eucharist.
Y . 0 Sacrament most holy ! 0 Sacrament
divine !
Iy. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus , have mercy on
us!
1^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !

ftbirfc Station.
Jesus jfalis tbe first Zimc beneatb tbe
Cross.
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee!
ty. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
O Jesus! Almighty Grod! The heavens
narrate thy glory J thou reignest above the
Cherubim; the world is in thy hand like a
dewdrop! But now thou dost conceal thy
power and fallest to the ground under the
weight of the cross ? while sinners dare to
place their feet upon thy neck. In this
manner dost thou desire to make atonement
for my pride and disobedience.
140 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

0 divine Saviour! In the sacred Host

thou reignest with infinite power. From
thy throne in the blessed Sacrament thou
dost support and govern the world, as well
as guide the destiny of man. But thou
dost hide thy majesty and power under an
appearance of weakness and inactivity,
abandoning thyself to the will of thy
servants, and submitting even to the satan-
ical fury of impious men, in order that I
might be able to approach thee without
fear, to learn the lesson of true humility
and to arrive at eternal glory. Jesus, meek
and humble of heart, have mercy on us!
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
fy. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
1^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother,pray for us!

Ifourtb Station.
Jesus ZlDeets His Sorrowful /iDotber,
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
 EUCHAKISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 141

0 Mary, queen of creation! most beautiful

of the works of Grod! Like thy divine Son,
thou didst most carefully conceal thy dignity,
but thou wast most anxious to share publicly
his deep humiliation and bitter sufferings.
Whose sorrow can be compared with thine?
Not content to suffer with Jesus in spirit, it
was thy wish to follow him in person along
the entire way of the cross.
O Sorrowful Mother! thou knowest and
lovest thy Son Jesus here in the blessed
Eucharist, as on the way of the cross, and
thy eyes always rest upon his holy taber-
nacle. Itis thy most ardent desire that he
be known and loved by all in the most holy
Sacrament, and thou dost cherish with
special affection those who frequently visit
and devoutly adore him here in his desti-
tution and obscurity. Obtain for me, I
beseech thee, the favor that I may love to
dwell here before the tabernacle, and to
spread most earnestly the devotion to the
blessed Sacrament.
y. 0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
Iy. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
142 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

1^. And help the suffering souls in pur-

gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!

Jftftb Station.
Simon of Gyrene IHelps $esus to Carr^
Mis Cross*
y. We adore thee, O Christ! and bless
thee.
1^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
Jesus, the divine cross-bearer, is exhausted
and finds his burden almost unbearable.
He staggers and stumbles under the weight
of the cross. His agonized countenance is
covered with blood, filth and perspiration.
Fearing, lest he might die upon the way
and thus escape the cruel crucifixion, his
persecutors compel a pagan to assist him in
bearing the cross. He, whom a host of
Angels was willing to render service, wTas so
despised that not a man was ready to come
to his assistance.
Let us reflect how painful and burdensome
must be the cross of contempt, neglect and
forgetfulness, which Jesus has borne so
many centuries in the Sacrament of his
Love! True, the blessed spirits hover around
him continually in holy adoration, but since
 EUCHABISTIO WAY OF THE CROSS. 143

he offers himself here as man for man, it is

his most longing desire that men should
testify their love by visiting him frequently
and thus making his heavy cross more
bearable. O my Grod ! I am heartily sorry
for all coldness and neglect in thy holy
service.
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
1^. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
fy. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !

Stitb Station*

Deronica Wipes tbe face of $esus,

y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless

thee.
^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
The holy face of our Lord, the eternal
beauty of which ravishes the Angels, is
covered with spittle and perspiration ; that
splendid mirror of his divine Majesty is
horribly disfigured with filth and blood.
144 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Not to Angels, however, but to Veronica is

granted the blessed privilege of wiping this
holy face. The defilement caused by man's
depravity shall be atoned for by human
compassion.
Thy holy face, O divine Saviour! in the
sacred Host is the center and most perfect
expression of all created and eternal beauty ;
and s<T, even now, when the sacred species
are sometimes insultingly trampled under
the feet of the impious, or outraged by the
sacrilegious communion of the unworthy, —
while the blessed spirits offer thee their
adoration, — it is thy earnest wish that
reparation and atonement to thy sacred
heart be made by men. Thou hast com-
plained to another Veronica, the Blessed
Margaret Mary Alacoque, of the horrible
insults that are heaped upon thee in the
most holy Sacrament; thou desirest that
atonement and reparation be rendered
thy most sacred heart; thou hast even
condescended to designate the manner of
this atonement. Most willingly, my dear
Lord! will I render thee this service, so
that I may be found worthy to behold thee,
face to face, for all eternity.
y. 0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
 EUCHARISTIC WAY OF THE CKOSS. 145

fy. All praise and all thanksgiving be

every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
1$. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother,pray for us!

Seventb Station.
Jesus jfalls tbe Second Unite*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
fy. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
0 Jesus! for whom the nations have
longed and sighed ; to whom the prophets
have cried out: uO that thou wTouldst rend
the heavens and wouldst come down;" and
for whom the angels sang: "Lift up your
gates, O ye princes! and the king of glory
shall enter in." All the princes and people
should have led thee with shouts of joy,
with pomp and splendor to the Mount of
Sion ; but now thou art ignominiously cast
out of the city, led by a procession of
mockery and dirision, and fallest under the
weight of the cross beneath the gates.
O Lord! in the sacred Mystery of the
Altar we truly possess thee, the Desired of
146 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

all nations. Thou hast the right to demand

here the most respectful homage of all
princes and people; but, instead, thou hast
been cast out of thousands of temples by
heretics, and, even now, the churches
wherein thou dost dwell are lonely and
deserted throughout the day, because thou
art banished from the hearts and minds of
so many Christians ; yea, thy sworn enemies
commit the outrage of dragging thee from
thy poor, solitary tabernacle, of trampling
upon thee and throwing thee in the mire.
I am most heartily sorry for all coldness
and indifference towards thee in the blessed
Eucharist.
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
R. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
JT. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
I^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!

jetQbtb Station.
Sesus Comforts tbe Women of Jerusalem*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
 EUCHARISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 147

1^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast

redeemed the world.
0 merciful J esus ! since thou didst even
admonish these devoted and compassionate
women to do penance, how much more
reason have we to excite ourselves to con-
tinual sorrow and repentance on account of
the multitude and gravity of our sins !
0 my God, hidden in the Sacrament of
Love ! I am heartily sorry for all sins which
have ever been committed by myself and
others, against this holy Mystery; — for
all blasphemies and irreverences; for the
neglect of attending Mass on Sundays and
Holydays of obligation; for all want of
respect and the thoughtlessness of men
while passing before thy holy temples ; for
every careless bending of the knee before
thy tabernacle; for all unworthy com-
munions and sacrilegious outrages , offered
to thy sacred Host. Merciful Jesus ! have
mercy on us poor sinners.
JT. 0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
JT. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!
1^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!
148 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

IRtntb Station.

Sesus jfalls tbe Utnrb Uime*

JT . We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless

thee.
Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
O Jesus, almighty and eternal Grod!
under thy feet the earth shall tremble, the
mountains shall bend and the hills be
scattered, but now on the way of sorrows
thou fallest to the ground the third time.
Thou art completely exhausted and yet
they beat thee most unmercifully. So
much suffering did Christ endure, that we
poor sinners might rise again from our
fallen state.
O dear Jesus! towards the end of time
when wickedness shall reign supreme and
the Anti-Christ shall make his appearance
in the world, the most abominable crimes will
be committed against thy divine Majesty,
but even then tl»u wilt remain in the blessed
Sacrament to comfort the faithful. Since
we are unable to ward off these insults, we
pray for the grace that we may now love
thee with all our power.
JT. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
 EUCHAKISTXC WAY OF THE CROSS. 149

fy. All praise and all thanksgiving be

every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
1^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!

^erttb Station,
Jesus is Stripped of Mis Garments*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
ty. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory!
thou art clothed with light and beauty, as
with a garment. Thou dost impart to the
sun his brilliant rays ; thou dost clothe with
beauty the flowers of the field and the birds
of the air. Thou hast deserved to be
adorned with the most precious jewels of
the world, but now thou art most shame-
fully stripped of thy garments and exposed
in thy scarlet dress of blood, like Joseph's
coat, steeped in the blood of the ram.
O Jesus! in the sacred Host thou dost
appear robbed of all external beauty and
thou art satisfied with those adornments,
with which the love of the faithful supplies
6
150 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

thee. Thou hast deserved that all the gold

and precious stones and splendid jewels of
the earth, with all the most beautiful pro-
ductions ofthe fine arts be used for adorning
thy tabernacles and decorating thy churches ;
instead , however , the world builds palaces
for itself, while thy sacred ministers go
begging laboriously to erect in thy honor
the plainest habitation; yea! the world
has even despoiled thee in a most sacri-
legious manner of thy vestments and the
treasures of thy churches. For this reason
we are resolved, O King of Grlory! always
to love the beauty of thy house, and to
defend the rights of the Church, that we
may be admitted to the kingdom of ever-
lasting glory.
y. 0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
It. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!

1$. And help the suffering souls in pur-

gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!
 EUCHABISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 151

i£Ie\>entb Station.
Jesus is IRatleb to tbe Cross*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
1^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
J esus the eternal High-priest now ascends
the altar of the cross. With outstretched
arms and elevated hands , in the attitude of
the true priest praying for the people, he is
nailed to the cross. For all the sins com-
mitted in the body and in the soul, he
makes a sacrificial offering of the most in-
tense bodily sufferings and mental anguish.
O divine Saviour! Thou eternal priest
according to the order of Melchisedech !
This same sacrifice of the cross is daily
renewed by thee in the holy Mass on
thousands of altars throughout the world.
Here, in this sacred mystery, thou art
crucified again, and thou dost obtain for
us, by thy merits, more graces, in a single
instant, than all creatures by their com-
bined effort can accomplish; here thou
dost exhibit the same infinite love for thy
heavenly Father, and the same charity
towards all mankind ; here thou dost prac-
tice the same wonderful humility and heroic
obedience, until the end of time; here the
152 THE HOLY SEASON OP LENT.

land-mark, the limit of thy eternal and

almighty love has been reached. Would
that our hearts were filled with the beautiful
virtues of thy sacred heart !
O Mary ! thou didst most perfectly com-
passionate Jesus, during the painful cruci-
fixionobtain
; for us the grace, that we may
understand the infinite value of the holy
sacrifice of the Mass and never fail to assist
at it with proper attention and devotion.
^. O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament
divine !
3^. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
I^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !

£welftb Station*
Ube Beatb of Sesus*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
3^. Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
Jesus dies on the cross. The wicked
world has, by the death of the Saviour of
mankind and the Creator of the universe,
 EUCHABISTIC WAY OF THE OEOSS. 153

consummated the mystery of the most

malicious depravity; on the other hand,
Jesus has consummated the mystery of the
greatest love by the redemption of the
world. He certainly deserved that all the
redeemed should bitterly bewail their sins,
and hastening in crowds to the foot of the
cross, adore him with compunction of heart
and deepest gratitude. He has truly merited
that all should be ready to die, or at
least to live in the future for love of him
alone. And yet, besides the sorrowful
Mother, only a few faithful souls attended
the sacrifice of the cross.
O divine Redeemer ! Eternal High-priest !
In the holy sacrifice of the Mass thou dost
renew the same offering and accomplish the
most astounding miracles. Is it not meet
and proper that all nations should daily
assemble at this sacrifice of infinite merit,
to adore thee, to bless thee, and to cry out
to thee with reverence : holy (xod ! almighty
Grod! eternal God! have mercy on us!
And yet the holy sacrifice of the Mass is
sadly and strangely forgotten and neglected
by the faithful, and only a few devout souls
attend on ordinary week-days. O Jesus!
infinitely great, yet poorly honored ; loving
eternallv, vet loved so little, have mercy on
us!
154 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

0 Mary! obtain for us the grace, that we

may thoroughly appreciate the holy sacrifice
of the Mass.
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
1^. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
f. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
II . And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !

£birteentb Station.

Jesus is Uafcen Down from tbe Gross anD

placet) in tbe arms of SHis /IDotber*
f. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
Iy . Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the "world.
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows ! How much
hast thou loved! How much hast thou
suffered! Mary's heart was wounded by the
lance, that pierced the side of Jesus, and
when she received in her arms the lacerated
body of her divine Son, her sufferings were
intense and indescribably great. If at the
death of Jesus even the distant planets, the
 EUCHARISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 155

rugged, rocks and all nature mourned, and

the dead of all centuries came out of their
graves, who can describe the sorrow of
Mary, his blessed Mother? In these, thy
bitter sufferings, dear Mother! we were
born again to life eternal. Thy name shall
be indelibly imprinted upon my heart, and
I shall remember thy great love as long as
I live.
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows ! Obtain for
us the grace, always to receive the sacred
body of our Lord, in holy communion, with
the most worthy preparation and in the
proper disposition.
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
1^. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
fy. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us!
Ifourteentb Station*
Hsns is Xatb in tbe Sepulcbre*
y. We adore thee, 0 Christ! and bless
thee.
Because by thy holy cross thou hast
redeemed the world.
156 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.

Jesus, the God-Man, the Lord and Maker

of life is laid as a rigid and motionless
corpse in the grave, but yet worthy of the
most profound adoration, while his soul is
still active in works of external charity,
descending into Limbo, to comfort and
rescue the souls of the just.
O divine Redeemer! In the most august
Sacrament of the Altar thou hast retained
the quiet, motionless condition of the sacred
body in the sepulchre. Amidst these quiet
and solitary surroundings, however, thou
dost continue to present to thy heavenly
Father, in our name, the most subhme and
effective offerings of respect, gratitude,
atonement, and prayer, and here thou wilt
watch over us and defend us to the end of
time. Therefore, should thy holy temple
be our dearest dwelling-place day and night .
Full of faith and confidence, we will come
to thee with all our sorrows, trials, and
difficulties, and ask thee for thy blessing
upon all our labors. Here lies the secret of
our success, If thou art with us, O Lord!
who can prevail against us ! Without thee,
we can do nothing; with thee, we can
accomplish everything. On thy altar lies
concealed the horn of plenty and of power.
O Mary, thou blessed Mother of Christ!
comforter of the poor souls in purgatory!
 EUCHABISTIC WAY OF THE CBOSS. 157

obtain for us the grace, henceforth to live,

to labor, to suffer and to die for Jesus in
the most holy Sacrament of the Altar. He
is our God and our All ; he is our eternal
reward.
y. O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
Iy. All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
y. Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on
us!
3^. And help the suffering souls in pur-
gatory.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us !

Conclusion,

Divine Saviour! graciously accept this

holy devotion whereby I have venerated
thy sacred passion.
Grant me pardon for my sins, the cause
of thy bitter sufferings and ignominious
death.
Impart to me the infinite graces thou
hast merited for me on the cross.
Keep me in thy love which thy holy
death has obtained for me.
I ask thee to grant the same grace to all
for whom I have prayed during this hour.
May thy holy passion and death lead us
158 THE HOLY SEASON OF LEXT.

all to life everlasting, and may the blessed

Sacrament, the memorial of thy bitter
passion, be adored forever and ever.
May it always preserve in our souls the
fruits of our redemption.
Hvmn,
All ye who seek a sure relief
In trouble or distress,
"Whatever sorrow vex the mind,
Or guilt the soul oppress :

Our Lord who gave himself for us

Upon the cross to die,
Unfolds to us his sacred heart ;
Oh, to that heart draw nigh.

Ye hear how kindly he invites,

Ye hear his words so blest :
UAXL ye that labor come to me,
And i will give you rest."
0 Jesus! joy of Saints on high.
Thou hope of sinners here ;
Attracted by those loving words,
To thee I lift my prayer.

Wash thou my wounds in that dear blood,

Which forth from thee did flow ;
New grace, new hope inspire anew.
And better life bestow.
 EUOHARISTIC WAY OF THE CROSS. 159

Praise him who with the Father sits

Enthroned upon the skies ;
Whose blood redeems our souls from guilt ,
Whose spirit sanctifies.

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
fy. Thanks be to God.
f . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
^. Amen.
 Easter TLibe*

V. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

R. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
Y. 0 God! incline unto my aid.
Pv. 0 Lord! make haste to help ajtq.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As i: was in .. A ginning, etc.
Hftoratibh.

^HE Lord hath truly risen. Alleluia!

Come, let us adore him with joyful
hearts. Alleluia!
Let us adore our Lord in the blessed
3a lament.
For it is he who. for our sakes. has
triumphed over sin and grave. Alleluia !
Come, let us adore and praise the Lord
for his goodness and mercy.
Let us. with his glorious Mother and all
the Saints, joyfully sing to our risen Re-
deemer:
Alleluia. Alleluia. Allelulia ! Thanksgiving
be to thee. 0 Lord! who hast buried our
sins, and opened heaven for us.
(160)
 THE BESUREECTION OF CHBIST. 161

Glory be to the Father , etc.

As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*

Hail, thou festive, ever memorable day,

whereon hell is conquered and heaven is
won by Christ.
The woods with their leaves, the meadows
with their flowers, light, firmament, earth,
and sea give justly praise to the God that
defeats the laws of death, and rises above
the grave.
But what do I see? Whilst all nature and
entire heaven is rejoicing and singing never-
ending Alleluias, millions of men take no
part in the universal joy.
They have no gratitude for the God, who
has freed them from the bonds of sin ; no
praise for the conqueror of death.
They do not believe in his resurrection ;
they deny his divinity ; ridicule his human-
ity, and have insults only for the continued
presence of the God-Man in the blessed
Sacrament.
O Saviour of mankind! have mercy
on these unfortunate creatures of thine.
Remember that thou didst suffer and die
for them; therefore, raise them to life on
this day of thy triumph.
162 EASTER TIDE.

Enlighten their blindness ; let the glorious

Easter-sun penetrate and warm their cold
hearts, and lead them back to thy true fold.
Thou. O my dear Jesus! hast shed thy
precious blood for us poor sinners ; there-
fore, forgive us our sins, and let us share
in the glory, joy, and happiness of thy
resurrection.

1b\>mn.
Bring, all ye dear-bought nations, bring
Your richest praises to your King.

That spotless Lamb, "who more than due

Paid for his sheep, and those sheep you;
That guiltless Son. who wrought your peace.
And made his Father's anger cease.
Life and death together fought.
Each to a strange extreme were brought.
Life died, but soon revived again.
And even death by it was slain.
Say, happy Magdalen! oh say.
What didst thou see there by the way?
I saw the tomb of my dear Lord ;
I saw hiinself , and him adored.
I saw the napkin and the sheet.
That bound his head and wrapt his feet.
 THE INSURRECTION OF CHRIST. 163

I heard the Angels witness bear,

i 6Jesus is risen ; he is not here :
Go, tell his followers, they shall see
Thine and their hope in Galilee."
We, Lord! with faithful heart and cheerful
voice,
On this thy glorious rising day rejoice.

0 thou, whose conquering power overcame

the grave,
By thy victorious grace us sinners save.

Gbe flD$ster$ of Easter.

O Jesus, Saviour of the world! Loving

Creator and Redeemer! Only begotten Son
of God the Father!
Seeing the human race sunk in misery,
thou didst become man, that thou mightest
rescue man.
Nor wouldst thou be content to be born ;
but being born in the flesh, in the same
wouldst thou suffer death.
Thou, the author of life and of all creation,
wast buried in the tomb, treading the path
of death, to give us salvation.
The gloomy bonds of hell were broken ;
the abyss shook with fear, as the light
shone upon its brink.
164 EASTER TIDE.

The brightness of Christ put darkness to

flight, and made to fall the thick veils of
everlasting night.
But, redeem thy promise, I beseech thee,
merciful King ! this is the third day : arise,
my buried Jesus !
It is not meet, that thy body lie in the
lowly tomb, or that a sepulchral stone should
keep imprisoned the ransom of the world.
Throw off thy shrowds, I pray thee.
Leave thy winding-sheet. Thou art our
all, and all else, without thee, is nothing.
Show us once more thy face, that all ages
may see the light. Bring back the day
which fled when thou didst die.
But thou hast done all this. 0 loving
Conqueror, by returning to our world.
Death lies defeated, and its rights are gone.
The greedy monster, whose huge throat
had swallowed all mankind, is now thy
prey, O God!
Hell, now trembling, vomits forth the
victims it had made, and the Lamb tears
the sheep from the jaws of the wolf
Hail, then, thou day of days! Happy
day of Jesus' victory ! Day worthy of cease-
less joy!
To-day the immortal and heavenly bride-
groom rose from the dead.
This is the day privileged from the very
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 165
.
beginning of the world : the day enriched
with the resurrection of Christ.
Let us, then, all rejoice and sing a glorious
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Zcll us, fIDar$ !

Tell us, 0 Mary! what sawest thou, when

standing under the cross of Christ?
I saw my Jesus stripped, and raised on
the cross by the hands of sinners.
Tell us, O Mary! what sawest thou, when
looking at the cross of Christ?
His head crowned with thorns, his face
disfigured with spittle and blows, his hands
pierced, and his side wounded by a spear.
Tell us, Mary! what did thy Jesus, when
hanging on the cross?
He commended himself to his Father ; he
bowed down his head, and gave up his spirit.
Tell us, Mary! what didst thou after
losing Jesus?
I kept close to his weeping Mother, and
returned with her to the house. I prostrated
myself on the ground, and compassionated
both Son and Mother.
Tell us, Mary! what didst thou after
losing Jesus?
I redoubled my tears, prepared my oint-
ment, and visited the tomb.
166 EASTER TIDE.

Tell us, Mary! what did happen to thee

at the tomb!
I weeped and prayed. Then an Angel
appeared to me and said: Weep not, Mary!
Christ is not here, he is risen. He shall go
before you into Gralilee.
Tell us, Mary! what thou didst see after
the Angel hath spoken to thee?
I saw the winding-sheet and clothes of
the Lord. I saw the glory of him, that
had risen. I saw himself, my beloved one.
I heard his voice, and my heart was glad.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O Mary, happy Mary! pray for us to
Jesus: obtain the forgiveness of our sins
and draw his mercy upon us.

©R> anfc IRew pra^era of tbe Cburcb*

This is the day which the Lord hath made.
Let us be glad and rejoice therein.
The Lord hath truly risen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Angel of the Lord descended from
heaven, and coming rolled back the stone
of the sepulchre and sat upon it.
And he saith to the women: Fear not for
I know that you seek the Crucified ; he is
risen, he is not here. Come, and see the
place where the Lord was laid.
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 167

And the countenance of the Lord, when

he rose, was as lightning, and his raiment
was as snow, so that the guards were terri-
fied with fear of him, and became as men
struck dead.
O God! who on this day, by thy only
begotten Son's victory over death, didst
open for us a passage to eternity, grant
that our prayers, which your preventing grace
inspires, may, by thy help, become effectual.
Purge out, O Lord! in us the old leaven,
that we may be new paste, as we are unleav-
ened: for Christ our pasch is sacrificed.
Therefore, let us feast not with the old
leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth.
Let us sing hymns of praise and joy on
this most holy feast. Let us bless the Lord ;
for the Lord is risen.
Didymus, having heard that Jesus had
risen, was incredulous. Therefore, the Lord
said to him: see, Thomas! see my side; see
my feet; see my hands. Put in thy finger
hither, and be not faithless but believing.
As soon as Thomas saw Jesus' side, and
feet, and hands, he said: O my Lord and
my God ! Thou art truly my G-od !
But Jesus said: blessed are they that
168 EASTER TIDE.

have not seen and have firmly believed.

They shall have eternal life.
Let us then sincerely believe that Jesus
hath risen.
Indeed Jesus is risen. Alleluia. Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Let us give the Lord most humble, devout,
and due thanks for his resurrection.
The "whole world was going headlong to
the abyss: but the power and wisdom of
God softened the eyes of his mercy,
The world despaired of a remedy: but
Grod the Father sent his only Son to them
that had no hope.
We were restored to our former dignity by
Jesus, whose resurrection now gladdens us.
He. the Restorer of mankind, rose again,
free from the dead: he carried his sheep,
on his shoulders, back to heaven.
Peace is made between angels and men.
The heavenly ranks are filled up. Praise,
eternal praise is due to our triumphant Gktd.
Let the voice of Mother-Church blend in
harmony with that of heaven : let the faithful
sing now. without ceasing, their Alleluia.
A triumph has been won over the power
of death: let us rejoice in it.
Peace on earth to ail men: and jubilee
among all the saints. Alleluia.
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 169

0 eternal King! graciously receive the

hymns we devoutly sing to thee.
Thou sittest at the right hand of the
Father.
Universal Conqueror ! thou didst vanquish
death and enter into the joys of heaven.
O mercy of Christ! how great, how sub-
lime, how beautiful, how sweet, how tender
art thou !
Praise, honor, and glory be to thee, that
didst lighten our heavy weight of old.
Purchased by the blood of the infinitely
merciful Lamb, the Church glitters with
the ruby flowers of her redemption.
He, who by his mighty power washed
away our sins, loads us with precious gifts.
Bewildered in my admiration of this day's
wonders, I am unworthy to proclaim its
great mysteries.
Son of David ! Child of the tribe of Juda !
Thou didst rise in glory, a lion in strength.
Thou was seen on earth as a gentle lamb.
It was thou, that, in the beginning, didst
create the world.
Thou hast ascended to the kingdom above,
and there thou mercifully rewardest the just
with the rewards of everlasting joy.
Say, Satan! thou wicked spirit! what
now hath thy craft profited thee?
170 EASTER TIDE.

The victory of Christ has bound thee fast

in fetters of fire.
0 ye tribes and nations, be astounded!
Who hath heard of miracles like these?
That death should so conquer death ?
That criminals should receive favors like
unto this!
Therefore, 0 Jesus! merciful King! for-
give us our sins, loosen our fetters, and
grant that thy elect may rise with thee.

Go tbe IRisen Saviour in tbe Blessefc

Sacrament.
O Lord Jesus Christ ! the magnificence of
thy works shines so brightly, that we are
compelled to give glory to thy name every-
where and at all times.
We believed in thee, when thou didst
show thyself a weak babe in the crib of
Bethlehem ; there was a mysterious power
that attracted us, and with the Angels we
adored thee, wrapt in thy humble swathing
bands.
When we saw thee hanging on the cross,
outraged and blasphemed by a whole people,
we still acknowledged thee to be our king,
and said • to thee with the good thief:
Remember us, O Lord! when thou shalt
come into thy kingdom.
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 171

But now that thou hast triumphed over

death and art risen gloriously from the
tomb ; now that the whole earth resounds
with thy praise , and the tidings of thy
resurrection fill all nations with gladness,
as fresh as though thy triumph were but of
yesterday; who should refuse to confess
thy divinity, adore thy mysteries, and cry
out with thy disciple : my Lord and my Grod !
Though my eyes see thee not; though
my hands cannot touch thy sacred wounds,
yet do I most firmly believe thee to be my
Lord and my Grod.
Thou hast said: Happy they that have
not seen and have believed : of these happy
believers I would be one, O Jesus!
I confess that thou hast verily risen, the
Son of God, and the Son of man.
I believe also that thou art the living
bread come down from heaven to give life
to the world, and that I am really kneeling
in thy holy presence.
When thou didst visit thy Apostles on
the day of thy resurrection, thou saidst to
them : It is I ; fear not !
The same words, thou speakest to my
soul at this moment ; thou biddest me fear
not at the sight of thy majesty in the taber-
nacle, and mine own misery and unworthi-
ness.
172 EASTER TIDE.

The soul of Magdalen was melting within

her, when she was at thy tomb and heard
the sound of thy voice ; and throwing herself
at thy feet she could say nothing, but call
thee Master,
And I, dear Jesus! my Master! I who
not only hear thy voice for a moment, but
kneel in thy very presence for hours, nay,
receive thee into my heart in holy com-
munion, what do I say to thee?
The disciples of Emmaus had but a short
conversation with thee, and they said to
each other: Was not our heart burning
within us, whilst he spoke in the way ?
And thou, my heart, why art thou not
consumed with love for thy risen Saviour,
who is so near to thee ?
0 risen Jesus! thou didst take Magdalen's
love; thou didst encourage that of thy
disciples: deign to inspire me with the
same love.
1 belonged to thee, 0 Jesus! because I
was redeemed by thee: I am thine now
because thou hast restored life to me by thy
resurrection, and because of thy sacramental
presence amongst us, and by thy coming to
me in holy communion, thou hast made
me a partaker in all the glory of thy victory
over death.
O Jesus! let this most holy Sacrament be
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 173

to me a pledge of my own future resurrection ,

and of my eternal and perfect union with
thee in heaven.

1b$mn.
Woeful Mary! cease from sighing,
This is not a time for gloom ;
No more sorrow, no more crying,
As in Simon's supper-room;
?Tis a time for voices raising
Shouts of triumph and of praising ;
Let the Alleluias ring.

Mary! smile in thankful gladness,

Let thy brow be sweet and bright ;
Ended is the time of sadness,
Shine a new and radiant light ;
And the chains of men are broken ;
Let the Alleluias ring.

Triumph, Mary!
Of the grave, from t'he
in which prison
he lay,
Comes the victor newly risen,
Pain and anguish gone for aye ;
Dying thou didst once bewail him,
Now in Easter-glory hail him;
Let the Alleluias ring.
174 EASTER TIDE.

Mary ! take thy fill of gazing,

See how bright the look he wears ;
See he liveth — joy amazing —
See the five dear wounds he bears,
J ewels meet for adorning
On this new and glorious morning ;
Let the Alleluias ring.

Happy Mary! rapture burning,

Thrills thy pulses in this hour ;
Seeing thus thy light returning,
Knowing death has lost its power ;
No more grief and sad complaining.
Love and joy forever reigning;
Let the Alleluias ring.

Hntbem to tbe Bies^ Dirgin.

Rejoice, 0 Queen of heaven! Alleluia.
For he whom thou deservest to bear,
Alleluia.
Hath risen as he said. Alleluia.
Pray to Grod for us, Alleluia.
y. Rejoice and be glad, 0 Virgin Mary!
Alleluia.
1^. For the Lord hath risen indeed,
Alleluia.
LET US PRAY.
0 Gfod! who by the resurrection of thy
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, hath been
i

THE BESURKECTION OF CHRIST. 175

pleased to fill the world with joy, grant, we

beseech thee, that by the Virgin Mary, his
Mother, we may receive the joys of eternal
life. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
doncluaioru

The celebration of thy resurrection, 0

Lord! has greatly consoled me.
Let me be ever mindful of it, and draw
therefrom strength and comfort in moments
of trial and suffering.
At such moments, I will remember my
own future resurrection, and henceforth
live a life that will merit for me a glorious
rising on the day of judgment.
How much didst thou have to suffer, 0
my Lord ! before thou couldst enter into
thy glory?
Everlasting thanksgiving be to thee, for
all thou hast done for me ; assist me to do
a great deal for thee, so as to be made a
partaker of thy glory and happiness.
I ask thee also for the same grace for all
those for whom I have offered the prayers
of this hour, especially for N. N.
Graciously receive my humble petitions
and hear them.
I close this devotion by uniting myself
176 EASTER TIDE.

with the Angels, who lie prostrate before

this most holy Sacrament.
With them, I exclaim from my heart:
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

O Jesus! who for love of me,

Upon the cross hung, in disgrace ;
How gladly would I die for thee,
And haste to thy embrace.

Thine own pure flesh and precious blood,

To nourish me, thou hast given,
That I, e?en here, 0 highest Grood!
May taste the joys of heaven.

Shall I not, then, with joy give thee

My life, my soul, my love,
That I may reign eternally,
In bliss, with thee above /

Henceforth the object of my life

To suffer for thy sake shall be,
And neither pain nor bitter strife,
Shall from thy love e'er sever me.
 THE RESURRECTION OF CHBIST. 177

And not less ardent, Virgin pure!

Shall be my filial love for thee,
Should I be worthy to secure
This grace, what happiness for me !

Through Jesus' wounds, O Mother dear!

Thy help I now implore,
That I may, having conquered here,
Rejoice with thee forever more.

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph, if outside of the Octave.
Y. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
fy. And let my cry come unto thee.
f . Let us bless the Lord.
3^. Thanks be to God.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
ty. Amen.
 IRooatton SDa^s-

prapers of petition*

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Grod! incline unto my aid.
3^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
GHory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcorattoru
Come , let us approach the throne of Jesus
Christ, the omnipotent Grod and the
Father of all mankind.
Come, let us adore his majesty, power,
and goodness in most profound reverence.
Let us implore his blessing for our true
welfare, and present to him our humble
petitions for his help in our wants and needs.
He has said : ask and you shall receive ;
knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Let us, therefore, soften his heart by im-
ploring his mercy, that he may pour out
upon us his graces and benedictions.
(178)
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 179

Come, let us fall on our knees before

him, and render him eternal praise, honor,
love, and thanksgiving.
Let us sing to him with all the Angels
and Saints of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatiom
O my J esus ! I acknowledge thy unspeak-
able kindness, whereby thou hast found a
means to abide forever with the children
of men, in the most blessed Sacrament.
Day and night thou art ready to impart
the treasures of thy grace to all those who
come to thee with confidence.
Thou hast erected thy throne of mercy
also in our midst, and art ever ready to
receive all who approach thee.
Alas ! thy infinite goodness is not known ;
and the great mystery of thy love is dis-
honored and abused.
Countless numbers of men never come to
thee, and never ask thee for anything;
others do pray, but their heart is far from
thee.
0 Jesus! in the bitterness of my heart, I
throw myself at thy feet and beg for pardon,
180 EASTER TIDE.

grace, and mercy for myself, for this country ,

and for all mankind.
Spare the blind world, and do not punish
us according to our guilt.
Do thou, O true Light! illuminate the
darkness of those who do not love thee, and
whose hearts are far from thee.
Come to the assistance of thy faithful,
and help thy Church in all her dangers.
O divine Saviour! should my heart not
be filled with consolation, when I consider
that the Father has given thee all power,
and that thou wilt refresh all those, who
come to thee.
Behold, then, I come to pray for all.
Lord, hear my prayer!

Fret not, poor soul! while doubt and fear

Disturb thy heart ;
The pitying Angels, who can see
How vain thy wild regret must be
Say, "trust and rest."

Plan not, nor scheme — but calmly wait;

His choice is best :
While blind and erring is thy sight,
His wisdom sees and judges right;
So trust and rest.
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 181

Strive not, nor struggle; thy poor might

C an never rest ;
The meanest thing to serve thy will ;
All power is his alone ; be still
And trust and rest.

Desire not ; self-love is strong

Within thy breast ;
And yet, he loves thee better still,
So let him do his loving will
And trust and rest.

What dost thou fear? His wisdom reigns

Supreme confessed:
His power is infinite ; his love
Thy deepest, fondest dreams above:
So trust and rest.

for tbe Cburcb*

O holy Church! which Christ Jesus,
according to his infallible promise, has built
upon a rock, thou art the blissful paradise
of the Lord, planted by his own hand, and
bedewed with his precious blood.
But thou, O most holy and adorable
Sacrament of the Altar ! art the tree of life
in the centre of this paradise ; thy fruit is
eternal life and supernatural strength for
the sanctification of the Church.
7
182 EASTER TIDE.

O Jesus Christ ! I adore thee on the altar

as myGlod, in whom I believe; my Saviour,
in whom I hope ; my sovereign G-ood, whom
I love ; my Lord, to whom I pay the homage
of my heart; the divine Teacher, whose
Grospel I profess ; the Light of the world,
whom I thank for the grace of the true faith.
O Jesus, thou invisible and supreme head
of the Church ! preserve this holy faith in
all her children.
Look down, in thy mercy, upon thy
servant N. (here mention the Pope's name)
whom thou hast appointed to preside over
thy Church; and grant that both, by word
and example, he may edify all those who
are under his charge ; so that, with the flock
entrusted to him, he arrive at length unto
life everlasting.
Send thy Holy Spirit upon the bishops
and the congregations committed unto them,
and that they may truly please thee, pour
forth upon them the continual dew of thy
blessing.
Send, O Lord! zealous laborers into thy
holy vineyard, that they may diligently
cultivate and plant it.
Inspire thy priests with thy holy Spirit,
and infuse into their souls those virtues
and that ardor of zeal, which may merit for
them a place with thy Apostles.
PEAYEES OF PETITION ON EOGATION DAYS. 183

Defend, O Lord! thy faithful and thy

entire Church, against all the attacks of the
wicked enemy.
Behold! how the elect generation, thy
kingly priesthood, and thy people whom
thou hast made thine own, by the price of
thy most precious blood, suffer much from
the prince of darkness.
O Jesus! have mercy on them, preserve
thy faithful in the profession of thy holy
doctrine and in thy love, so that no illusion
of heresy or unbelief may ever turn them
from the path of truth, no menance alarm
them, no flattering embarrass them, but
that they, as the children of light, in all
piety, may persevere therein till to the end.
Our Father. Hail Mary.

jfor tbe Conversion of Sinners ant>

Unbelievers*

Great Glod! after the deluge, thou didst

set the rainbow in the sky, as a token of
thy clemency and mercy.
A yet greater sign of thy infinite goodness
and love for thy creatures, is thy continued
presence in the blessed Sacrament, wherein
thou offerest thy pardon and grace to all.
How is it possible, that notwithstanding
1-4 easier tide.

this excess of thy love, there are so many

ungrateful and sinful people on this earth ?
0 sweetest Jesus! suffer not the loss of
those souls, whom thou hast redeemed by
thy precious blood.
Behold! with the eyes of thy mercy, this
family, this country, for which thou hast
been pleased to be delivered into the hands
of the wicked, and to suffer the torments
of the cross.
0 Jesus ! in thy sacred blood soften those
hardened hearts, which refuse to recognize
thy love, and to turn away from sin.
Thou lovest the souls, for thou didst die
for them all, that not one may be lost.
According to thy great mercy have,
therefore, mercy on all those, who, on the
broad road of destruction, hasten to eternal
perdition.
Enlighten them that are sitting in the
shadows of death, that they may know
their shameful errors.
Dispose their weak and wavering wills,
that they may prefer eternal salvation to
temporal goods.
Blot out, O Lord! all wickedness, that sin
prevail not among us. but let true piety and
devotion, love of Christian virtues, and zeal
for thy holy service reign in our midst.
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 185

Take care, 0 good Shepherd! that all

straying sheep return to thy flock, that
there may be but one fold and one shepherd,
and that we may all profess and adore thee
with one heart and one mouth.
Our Father. Hail Mary.

tfov Hvertma (Sob'a pumsbment

0 Lord Jesus C hrist ! I adore thee most
humbly, in the mystery of the holy Eucha-
rist, as the only begotten Son of the Father,
who appeared to Moses in the midst of a
bush, which was burning, yet not consumed,
and who did there disclose the design of
delivering his people from the evils they
were suffering.
Thou, O good Jesus! art our true Moses,
our high-priest, our mediator, and our pro-
pitiation, for thou offerest thyself continu-
ously, as an immaculate sacrifice, to appease
the just anger of thy Father.

to I,'
thytherefore,
heavenlybegFather
of thee,in OLord! present
.our behalf, all
thy sacred wounds, the pains thou hast
suffered, the cross on which thou hast died,
the precious blood which thou hast shed
for us.
1 acknowledge the great and innumerable
insults offered thee by men ; but I also know
thy clemency and mercy.
186 EASTEB TIDE.

Moved by these , avert from our country

all the punishments , we have so well
deserved.
Preserve thy people from infertility of the
earth ; from want and famine ; poverty and
hunger; from pernicious tempests; from
inundations and conflagrations; from
noxious plagues and diseases; from pest,
rebellion and war, and from every other
evil.
O Jesus, spare us! 0 Jesus, graciously
hear us! O Jesus, have mercy on us! that
we, with grateful hearts, may spend this
present life in the enjoyment of thy divine
blessings, and in the use of thy gifts and
benefits for thy greater honor and glory.
Our Father. Hail Mary.

3for peace ant> TUnify.

O Lord Jesus Christ ! as the dove brought
the olive-branch of peace to Noah in the
ark, so thou earnest into this world to
establish peace, and hast given and be-
queathed thy peace to thy disciples.
Thy holy Sacrament, especially, is the
bond which unites all in love and peace, and
by which the faithful are made to be of one
mind and one heart.
We eat of the same bread, and drink of
PEAYEKS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 187

the same chalice; by thy precious blood,

shed for us on the cross and offered daily in
the holy sacrifice of Mass, heaven and earth
are united.
Let, then, thy holy peace reign in all of
us, that, united by the bonds of love, we
may praise and serve thee in sweet tran-
quility.
Remove from thy inheritance all discord ;
all contention, confusion, and disharmony.
Suffer not that among thy people be found
a person given up to quarrel, a man of dis-
pute, who shall disturb unity and peace, but
make love, joy, peace and patience, kindness
and meekness, goodness and longanimity
prevail among us, so that every one may
know, that thou, 0 Jesus! the Grod of peace
dwellest in our midst.
Our Father. Hail Mary,

for ©staining all BleesinQS*

Jesus, my Grod in the most blessed Sacra-

ment !I kneel before thy throne and implore
thy holy blessing.
O God! bless me, a poor, destitute crea-
ture, that I may serve and adore thee with
soul and body, and may be ever blessed in
thee.
188 EASTER TIDE.

O God! bless this house which is conse-

crated to thy holy service, so that in it thy
grace, honor, and glory may ever be exalted.
O God ! bless thy children, who day and
night appear before thy throne, and make
them agreeable and pleasing to thee.
O God ! from whose powerful hands flow
all welfare, happiness, and benediction,
bless this parish, and thy people therein,
whom thou hast created, redeemed and
sanctified.
O God ! bless this country over which thy
providence rules, and dispel from it every-
thing that might disturb its peace and
hinder its prosperity.
O God ! through whom authority is rightly
administered, laws are inacted, and judge-
ment decreed, bless and assist with thy
Holy Spirit, the President of these United
States, that his administration may be con-
ducted in righteousness, and be useful to
thy people over whom he presides.
O God ! bless and direct the deliberations
of Congress, and shine forth in all the pro-
ceedings and laws framed for our govern-
ment, so that they may tend to the pro-
motion of national happiness.
O God ! bless his Excellency, the gover-
nor of this state, the members of the
Assembly, all judges, magistrates, and
PEAYEES OF PETITION ON EOGATION DAYS. 189

other officers, that they may be enabled, by

thy powerful protection, to discharge the
duties of their respective stations with
honesty and ability.
Bless, likewise, all our brethern and fel-
low-citizens, throughout the United States
and the whole w^orld, that all may be blessed
in the knowledge, and sanctified in the obser-
vance of thy holy law, and after enjoying
the blessings of this life, be admitted to
those which are eternal.
O Grod, Father of light! from whom all
good things come, bless us.
O Grod ! who didst bless man when creating
him, bless us.
O God ! who didst give a great blessing to
Noah after the deluge, bless us.
O Grod! who didst bless Abraham after
his sacrifice, and didst promise a blessing
through him to all nations, bless us.
O G-od! who didst bless Jacob through
his father Isaac, and didst give him an
abundance of the dew of heaven and the
fatness of the earth, bless us.
0 Grod! who hast been with Joseph in
Egypt, and by thy blessing hast made him
prosperous in all things, bless us.
O .Grod! who through Moses, didst promise
an universal blessing to thy people Israel,
190 EASTEE TIDE.

if they would keep thy commandments,

bless us.
OGrod! who through Josue, didst lead the
Israelites into the land of promise, which
was flowing with milk and honey, bless us.
O Jesus ! thou blessed fruit of the Virginal
Mother! bless us.
Thou, in whom the Father blessed us with
all heavenly blessings, bless us.
Thou, whose blessing flows in streams
over the entire Church, bless us.
Thou, who in the most blessed Sacrament,
dost so often give us thy most efficacious
blessing, bless, sanctify, and assist all those
who call upon thee.
May, then, the blessing of the almighty
Grod, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Grhost descend upon this place, upon the
fruits of the earth, and remain always with
us. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary.

(So to 3C6U0 for His Blessing*

Souls of men ! why will ye scatter

Like a crowd of frightened sheep?
Foolish hearts, why will you wander
From a love so true and deep?
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 191

Was there ever kinder shepherd

Half so gentle, half so sweet
As the Saviour, who would have us?
Come, and gather at his feet.

There's a wideness in God's mercy,

Like the wideness of the sea :
There's a kindness in his justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth's sorrows

Are more felt than up in heaven ;
There is no place where earth's failings
Have such kindly judgments given.

There is welcome for the sinner,

And more graces for the good ;
There is mercy with the Saviour;
There is he?Jing in his blood.

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed ;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrow of the Head.
192 EASTER TIDE.

If our love were but more simple,

We should take him at his word ;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.

Xitan^ of Hll Saints.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Grod, the Father of heaven,*)
Grod the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Grod the Holy Grhost,
Holy Trinity, one Grod,
Holy Mary,**)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Grabriel,
St. Raphael,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits,
St. John Baptist
St. Joseph,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for us.
PKAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 193

All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets,*)

St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas.
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All ye holy Disciples of our Lord,
All ye holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS.' Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Grervase and Protase,
All ye holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
*) Pray for us.
194 EASTER TIDE.

St. Gregory,*)
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
All ye holy Doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All ye holy Priests and Levites,
All ye holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
All ye holy men and women,
Make intercession for us.
Be merciful.
Spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
*) Pray for us.
PKAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 195

From all evil,*)

From all sin.
From thy wrath,
From a sudden and unlooked-for death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and ill will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From war, famine, and pestilence,
From lightning and tempest,
From dangerous earthquakes,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation,
Through thy coming,
Through thy nativity,
Through thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through thy cross and passion,
Through thy death and burial,
Through thy holy resurrection,
Through thine admirable ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost,
the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment,
We sinners,
Beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst spare us, **)
That thou wouldst pardon us,
That thou wouldst show us indulgence,
That thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
*) O Lord ! deliver us.
**) We beseech thee, hear us.
196 EASTER TIDE.

That thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and

preserve thy holy Church,*)
That that wouldst vouchsafe to preserve
our apostolic prelate, and all orders of
the Church, in holy religion,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the
enemies of holy Church,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace
and true concord to Christian kings and
princes,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace
and unity to all Christian people,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm
and preserve us in thy holy service,
That thou wouldst lift up our minds to
heavenly desires,
That thou wouldst render eternal blessing
to all our benefactors,
Tnat thou wouldst deliver our souls, and
. the souls of our brethren, relations, and
benefactors from eternal damnation,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and
preserve the fruits of the earth,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal
rest to all the faithful departed,
That thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to
hear us,
Son of God,

*) We beseech thee, hear us.

PKAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION BAYS. 197

Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of

the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Our Father, (secretly.)
Psalm 69.

0 God ! come to my assistance : 0 Lord !

make haste to help me.
Let them be confounded and ashamed
that seek my soul.
Let them be turned backward and blush
for shame that desire evils to me.
Let them be presently turned away blush-
ing for shame that say to me: 7Tis well, 'tis
well.
Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad
in thee, and such as love thy salvation say
always: the Lord be magnified.
But I am needy and poor: 0 God! help
me.
198 EASTER TIDE.

Thou art my helper and my deliverer : 0

Lord! make no delay.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
y. Save thy servants.
R. Who hope in thee, 0 my God!
V, Be unto us, 0 Lord! a tower of
strength.
1$*. From the face of the enemy.
y. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
1^. Nor the son of iniquity approach to
hurt us.
y. O Lord! deal not with us according
to our sins.
1^. Neither reward us according to our
iniquities.
JT. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff,
N.
fy. The Lord preserve him and give him
life, and make him blessed upon the earth;
and deliver him not up to the will of Irs
enemies.
y. Let us pray for our benefactors.
fy. Vouchsafe, O Lord! for thy name's
sake, to reward with eternal life all those
that do us good. Amen.
y. Let us pray for the faithful departed.
fy. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord!
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
y. Let them rest in peace.
fy. Amen.
PKAYERS OF PETITION ON KOGATION BAYS. 199

y. For our absent brethren.

fy. Save thy servants, who hope in thee,
0 my God !
y. Send them help, 0 Lord! from thy
sanctuary.
1^. And defend them out of Sion.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
^. And let my cry come unto thee.

LET US PEAY.

0 God ! whose property is always to have

mercy and to spare, receive our humble
petitions; that we, and all thy servants
who are bound by the chains of sin, may,
by the compassion of thy goodness, merci-
fully be absolved.
Graciously hear, we beseech thee, O Lord!
the prayers of thy supplicants, and forgive
the sins of those who confess to thee; that,
in thy bounty, thou mayest grant us both
pardon and peace.
Show forth upon us, 0 Lord! in thy
mercy, thy unspeakable loving kindness;
that thou mayest both loose us from all our
sins, and deliver us from the punishment
which we deserve for them.
O God! who by sin art offended, and
by penance pacified, mercifully regard the
prayers of thy people making supplication
200 EASTER TIDE.

to thee, and turn away the scourges of thine

anger, which we deserve for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting Grod! have mercy
upon thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff,
and direct him, according to thy clemency,
into the way of salvation; that, by thy
grace, he may both desire those things that
are pleasing to thee, and perform them with
all his strength.
O Grod! from whom all holy desires, all
right counsels, and all just works do come,
give unto thy servants that peace which the
world cannot give; that our hearts being
devoted to the keeping of thy command-
ments, and the fear of our enemies being
taken away from us, we may pass our time,
by thy protection, peacefully.
Inflame, O Lord! our reins and hearts
with the fire of the Holy Ghost; that we
may serve thee with a chaste body, and
please thee with a clean heart.
O Grod ! the Creator and Redeemer of all
the faithful, give to the souls of thy servants
departed the remission of all their sins;
that through pious supplications they may
obtain the pardon which they have always
desired.
Prevent, we beseech thee, 0 Lord! our
actions by thy inspirations, and further
them with thy continual help; that every
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 201

prayer and work of our's may always begin

from thee, and through thee be likewise
ended.
Almighty, everlasting Grod ! who hast
dominion over the living and the dead, and
art merciful to all whom thou foreknowest
will be thine by faith and works : we humbly
beseech thee, that they for whom we intend
to pour forth our prayers, whether this
present world still detains them in the flesh,
or the world to come hath already received
them stripped of their mortal bodies, may,
by the grace* of thy loving kindness, and by
the intercession of all the Saints, obtain
the remission of all their sins. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth
and reigneth, one God with thee and the
Holy Grhost, world without end. Amen.
y. May the almighty and merciful Lord
graciously hear us.
1^. Amen.
JT. And may the souls of the faithful
departed, through the mercy of Grod, rest in
peace.
K . Amen
Conclusion*

O Jesus in the blessed Sacrament! thou

art the inexhaustible source of all graces.
From thee I expect the fulfillment of the
202 EASTER TIDE.

prayers, which I have offered during this

hour.
0 heavenly Father! graciously hear my
petitions, and let thy blessing descend upon
all those, in whose behalf they were pre-
sented to thee.
As thou didst spare the people of Israel,
after Moses had rendered to thee the sacri-
fice of propitiation ; so also let the sacrifice
of thy divine Son, who offers himself on
our altars, be a pledge of the granting of
my humble prayer.
Mayest thou, 0 Jesus in the blessed
Sacrament! be blessed forever and ever0
Amen.

I rise from dreams of time,

From the shadows of this life,
From the tombs and places waste,
From an earth of sin and strife ;
I rise from dreams of time,
And an Angel guides my feet,
To thy sacred altar throne,
Whereon thy heart doth beat.

A lone lamp quivers still,

And a wondrous silence reigns,
Only with voice low and mild
The Holy One complains ;
PRAYERS OF PETITION ON ROGATION DAYS. 203

Long have I waited here,

And though thou heed'st not me,
The heart of Mary's Son,
Beats ever on for thee.
In the womb of Maiden meek,
In the crib and on the tree,
Heart of undying love,
It lived, loved, broke for me;
While round me thunders peal,
Yet as then, behold me now,
By thy pierced and wounded hands,
By thy torn and bleeding brow.
O voice of the inward ear !
O voice of complaining love !
O thou, who art awful Glod,
To realms below and above.
Thou waitest and pleadest here,
And canst not from us part,
O veiled and wondrous Son !
0 love of the sacred heart !
Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and
St. Joseph.
1l. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord.
1^. Thanks be to God.
J. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace,
II. Amen.
 Hscension of ©ur Xorb.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Q-od! incline unto my aid.
^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoration.
Come, let us adore Christ, our Lord.
Let us adore him who has gloriously
ascended into heaven.
Come, let us render our homage to Jesus,
who sitteth on the throne of his Father, and
is really and truly present in the blessed
Sacrament.
It is truly just and meet to praise our
Lord.
For he has redeemed us, and has now
returned to heaven, to prepare a dwelling
for us.
Come, let us give thanks to our Redeemer,
and sing joyfully the song of the heavenly
Spirits : (204)
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 205

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, Grod of Hosts!

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatton,
O Jesus, our Creator and Brother! our
eyes and hearts have followed thee, from
thy first rising upon this world.
We have celebrated each of thy giant
steps.
But our very seeing thee thus ever growing
in beauty and brightness told us that thou
must one day leave us, to go and take
possession of the place that was alone
worthy of thee.
The splendor that has been upon thee
since thy resurrection, is not of this world.
Thou canst no longer abide among us.
Thou didst remain here below for these
forty days, only for the purpose of conso-
lidating thy work.
The earth that has been blessed with thy
visible presence for three and thirty years,
is now to be deprived of its privilege
and joy.
We rejoice at thy triumph, as did thy
blessed Mother, thy Apostles, and Disciples;
but we are sad at the thought of losing thee
— and thou wilt forgive us.
206 EASTEK TIDE.

Thou wast our Emmanuel, our God with

us: but, henceforth, we shall no longer be
able to hear thee, nor see thee, nor touch
thee, O Word of Life!
Still, dearest Jesus! we say to thee, with
all our hearts: glory and love be to thee,
for thou hast treated us with infinite love
and mercy.
Thou didst not owe us anything; we were
not worthy of a single look from thee ; and
yet thou earnest down upon this sinful earth.
Thou hast dwelt among us, thou hast paid
our ransom by thy blood, thou hast re-
established peace between God and man.
It is, therefore, most just that thou shouldst
return to him that sent thee.
It is only to be regretted, that the majority
of men refused to share the blessings of thy
life amongst us.
Thy precious blood has been shed in vain
for many. Thy earthly labors and sufferings
have profited nothing to millions. Thy
heavenly kingdom, which thou didst open
at thy ascension, will be obtained by but
a few.
O Jesus ! have mercy on thy poor creatures
who are so ungrateful for what thou hast
done for them, and who, on account of their
blindness, will be excluded from thy heaven-
ly glory.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 207

Enlighten all by thy holy grace, that their

eyes may be opened, and that they may see
what is for their salvation.
Ascended to thy heavenly Father, thou, 0
good Jesus! hast not left us orphans. Thou
art still amongst us in the blessed Sacra-
ment. But, as did the Jews of old, many
deny thy presence in our midst.
Forgive them, merciful God and Saviour!
Forgive us all our coldness and tepidity,
and help us that henceforth our love for
thee may daily increase, and that we may,
one day, be found worthy to praise and
adore thee in heaven, whom we adore here
on earth under the Eucharistic veil.

O thou, eternal King most high!

Who didst the world redeem ;
And conquering death and hell, receive
A dignity supreme.
Thou, through the starry orbs, this day
Didst to thy throne ascend ;
Thenceforth to reign in sovereign power,
And glory without end.
There seated in thy majesty,
To thee submissive bow
The heaven of heavens, the earth beneath ;
The realms of hell below.
208 EASTER TIDE.

With trembling, there the Angels see

The changed estate of man ;
The flesh which sinned by flesh redeemed,
Man in the Godhead reign.
There, waiting for thy faithful souls,
Be thou to us, O God!
Our joy of joys, while here we stay;
In heaven our great reward.

©Ifc ant> IRew praters of tbe Cburdx

Sing to the Lord, who hath ascended
towards the East, above all the heavens.
God is ascended with jubilee, and the
Lord with the sound of trumpets.
Ye men of Galilee, why look ye wondering
up to heaven !
As they looked up, he was raised up and
a cloud received him into heaven.
As ye have seen him ascending into
heaven, so shall he come again.
0 King of glory! Lord of Hosts! who
didst ascend in triumph above all the heav-
ens, leave us not orphans, but send upon
us the Holy Ghost, promised us by the
Father.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0 Almighty God!
that we, who believe that thy only Son, our
Redeemer, ascended into heaven, may also
dwell there in desire.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 209

Only begotten Son of Grod! who having

conquered death, didst pass from earth to
heaven, who, as son of man, art seated in
great glory on thy throne, receiving praise
from the whole angelic host, give that we,
who in the jubilant devotion of our faith
celebrate thine ascension to the Father, may
not be fettered by the chains of sin to the
love of this world ; and that the aim of our
hearts may unceasingly be directed to the
heaven into which thou wast received.
To-day, our Saviour, after assuming our
human nature, returned to the throne of
the Grodhead.
To-day he offered to his Father that same
nature, which he had previously offered to
the endurance of his passion.
He exalted in heaven the humanity, that
he hath humbled in Limbo.
He well deserved to see glory, who had
seen the tomb.
To-day he returned to the Father, though
he hath not been here on earth without
possessing all the power of the Father.
To-day he ascended into heaven, though
he hath not lost the adoration of the Angels,
when he descended upon our world.
One with the Father, he so entered into
heaven as the new man, he that was not
new to Grod.
210 EASTER TIDE.

The powers of heaven trembled when they

witnessed thine ascension , 0 Christ! and
said to each other in fear: "Who is this
King of glory? I7
This is Grod, the Word made flesh, who
put sin to death upon the cross — the Grod
mighty in power.
This is he that rose from the tomb and
destroyed death, and now comes, by a
glorious ascension, to the Father — the
Lord mighty in war.
The heavenly principalities were amazed
at thy coming, 0 Lord ! and cried unto each
other with tremulous voice: "Lift up, lift
up your gates, O ye princes! and the King
of glory shall enter. \9
The Cherubim of heaven were singing a
new canticle, and saying in admiration: It
is the King of glory, the Saviour and De-
liverer of mankind. Open, open, and let
him in.
O how grand is the glory that is this day
conferred on the Son of Grod!
The fruit of our earth is this day exalted
above all the thrones of the heavenly court.
Like Moses, he enters the tabernacle, and
people flock to see the grandeur of the
mystery j the men of Gralilee stand looking
up to the clouds that received him out of
their sight.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 211

Like Jacob, he passed over the Jordan,

enduring suffering of wondrous avail to us ;
— and the staff he used was the cross.
He ascended into heaven with two troops :
— of angels and of the souls set free from
Limbo — and ladden with treasures.
When Elias was taken up from earth, he
gave his two-fold spirit and his mantle to
Eliseus: when Jesus ascended into heaven,
he gave to his servants the talents of his
graces.
Let us, therefore, ask the almighty Father,
through the name of his Son our Saviour,
that he grant us admission into a spiritual
life of grace, the gift of eternal happiness,
and an ascension into the mansion of bliss.
He surely will hear us now that we praise
him, who went in search of us when we
were lost.
He will assist us that are now his people,
who abandoned us not when we were aliens.
He will be with us now that we know
him, for he was not absent from us even
when we knew him not.
He will not suffer us to be orphans now
that we are devoted to him, for he has
vouchsafed to make us his children when
we were his enemies.
He will grant us what we ask, for he has
promised to send us the Holy Ghost.
212 EASTER TIDE.

0 Lord Jesus Christ! who didst bow

down the heads of the lofty clouds when
thou humbly earnest to live among men;
and who in the same body wherein, for our
sake, thou didst suffer death from the
wicked, didst ascend above the heaven of
heavens and receive the praises of Angels :
graciously hear our prayers and mercifully
grant, that being freed from sin, we may
follow thee in desire to the region whither
thou hast ascended in thy glorified humanity ;
that thus we may one day see thee in thy
majesty. Amen.
Psalm 46.

Clap your hands all ye nations; shout

unto God with the voice of joy.
For the Lord is most high, he is terrible;
he is a great king of all the earth.
He hath subdued the people under us;
and the nations under our feet.
He hath chosen for us his inheritance:
the beauty of Jacob which he hath loved.
God is ascended with jubilee; and the
Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
Sing praises to our God, sing ye, sing
praises to our King, sing ye.
For God is the king of all the earth : sing
ye wisely.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 213

God shall reign over the nations: God

sitteth on his holy throne.
The princes of the people are gathered
together with the God of Abraham : for the
strong gods of the earth are exceedingly
exalted.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Gbe Hscenaion ant> tbe Blessefc Sao

rament

Thou hast ascended into heaven, O Jesus!

thou hast returned to thy heavenly Father
and hast left this world.
But, O good Jesus! thou art still with
us; thou art yet among us in the blessed
Sacrament.
How thankful must we, thy poor creatures,
be to thee, O Lord! for this excess of thy
love.
How sad it would have been to live on
earth, after thy ascension, if we had not the
holy Eucharist !
Now we need not to envy the Apostles
and the faithful, who had the happiness to
be in thy company during thy earthly life.
We enjoy the same privilege; nay, a
greater one. We are more closely united
to thee in the Sacrament of Love, than
214 EASTER TIDE.

those who lived with thee nineteen hundred

years ago.
Thou art always with us. Day and night,
we find thee in the tabernacle.
Thou even becomest our food, and deign-
est to enter into our hearts, whenever we so
desire.
But, 0 dear Jesus! how is all this pos-
sible! In heaven thou reignest over the
whole universe. Angels and Saints lay
prostrate at thy feet. Thou art their God.
Everything is subject to thee.
Here, in the tabernacle, thou art known
to but a few j neglected even by thy friends ;
insulted by many; ignored by the greater
majority of thy favored people.
O Jesus! were it not for thy boundless
love for us, we could never account for thy
presence amongst us.
May, therefore, also our hearts burn with
love for thee.
Henceforth I shall live only for thy love.
That which the Angels do in heaven, I shall
do here on earth: praise and adore thee.
O Jesus ! look down upon this my promise
with eyes of mercy, and as thou didst bless
the faithful before thou didst ascend into
thy heavenly kingdom, so now bless me and
help me to keep what I have promised.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. 215

Sigbs for ©ur 1beawnl$ Ibome*

O Jesus! who didst on this day ascend
into thy heavenly kingdom, when shall I
also go to heaven?
When shall the time come, 0 Lord! that
I shall be delivered from all my troubles
and afflictions?
When shall I enjoy that unchanging
peace, free from all temptations, and from
all danger of being lost?
When, my Grod! shall I find myself
dwelling with thee, and enjoying the sight
of thine unveiled beauty?
When shall I attain to the possession of
thee, my Creator! in thy celestial kingdom?
O my Saviour ! whilst thou seest me an
exile and full of trouble, in this land of
enemies, where I live in continual warfare,
help me with thy grace, and console me in
my sorrowful banishment.
Exile as I am in this valley of tears, I
would fain think continually of thee, O my
Grod! and share in that infinite happiness
which thou en joy est; but the evil appetites
of sense make themselves heard within me
and disturb me.
O that my affections were ever occupied
in loving and thanking thee; but, in my
flesh, I feel drawn towards sensual delights,
216 EASTER TIDE.

and I am constrained to exclaim with St.

Paul: "Unhappy creature that I am, who
shall deliver me from the body of this
death? " i
Miserable man that I am, in continual
combat, not only with external enemies, but
also with myself !
O house of my Grod ! prepared for those
that love thee, to thee I sigh from this land
of misery!
O beloved Shepherd of my soul! who
didst descend from heaven to save all, save
also me, that I may dwell with thee forever
in that home of bliss.
Take away, O Jesus! my sins, and give
me courage to hope, that some day, I may
come to love thee and behold thee unveiled
in thy blessed kingdom.

O Christ, the source of our delight!

Enthroned on thy celestial light ;
Thou rulest all these lower skies,
That far above them we may rise.

Hence, thee once more we pray, forgive,

That through thy pardon we may live ;
Oh! raise our hearts to grace divine,
To thee, their only worthy shrine.
 THE ASCENSION OF OUB LORD. 217

That so when thou shalt come in flame

To judge men in thy Father's name;
Thou mayest call thy children blest
And summon them to perfect rest.

Be thou our joy in whom is stored

Our hope and promise of reward ;
Be thou our glory, till the age
Of heaven shall reach a final stage.

To thee, 0 Lord! be glory given,

Who climbest high the starry heaven,
With Sire and Spirit, Three in One,
As long as endless ages run.

%ttan$ of tbe Hol$ IRame of 3esus*

(See page 57.)

Conclusion*
O my dear J esus ! whom I have adored
enthroned at the right hand of thy eternal
Father, and here on the altar, graciously
hear my humble prayers and mercifully
accept them.
Raise my heart frequently to heaven.
Teach me the way to heaven, and give me
the grace to obtain heaven by a good life.
0 Lord! be thou near me at the moment
of temptation, and let me never lose heaven
by mortal sin.
218 EASTER TIDE.

Let heaven be the only object 01 my desires.

Let me do and suffer all things for heaven,
that after this life, I may be found worthy
to be united to thee in thy kingdom for ever
and ever.
In conclusion let me give due praise to
thy most blessed Sacrament.
O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

Jesus, sweet Jesus, my treasure divine!

0 with what rapture I call thee all mine ;
Brilliant, celestial, my glory, my sun,
0 that I loved thee, thou beautiful One!

Fountain of sweetness, abyss of delight,

Robed in thy splendor, immortal and bright !
Thou Grod of my heart ! O when shall I flee
Away from my prison to love only thee?

Jesus, my Jesus, so priceless in worth!

Joy of the Angels, and hope of the earth!
Strong are the links and the bonds, which
confine
My heart and my soul to thee, Jesus! all
mine.
 THE ASCENSIOH OF OUB LORD. 219

y. O Lord! hear my prayer.

fy. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord.
Tty. Thanks be to Grod. _
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
1^. Amen.
 y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.
1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Grod! incline unto my aid.
1^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcorattom

ALLELUIA! The Spirit of the Lord hath

filled the whole world.
Come, let us adore him.
Come, let us give praise to our Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Who, unwilling to leave us orphans, has
sent the Paraclete to remain with us forever.
Come, let us prepare a dwelling for the
Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Let us dispose ourselves to receive him
worthily, and falling upon our knees before
him, humbly say with all the Angels and
Saints of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
(220)
 THE HOLY GHOST. 221

Grlory be to the Father ] etc.

As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatioru
O Lord Jesus Christ! when the time had
come for thee to return to thy Father, thou
didst console thy disciples, by promising
them the Holy Grhost.
Thou didst fulfill the promise on Pente-
cost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit descended
upon the Apostles, in the form of fiery
tongues.
That grand day saw thy faithful servants
suddenly filled with unheard of graces, and
they began to preach thy Grospel in divers
tongues.
It now seems that this great miracle and
the many others which the Holy Grhost
wrought, should have converted every
person.
Alas! there are men, who rather believe
the spirit of darkness, than the Spirit of Cod.
They do not accept the doctrine of the
only saving Church, which is governed by
the Holy Grhost, but live in heresy and
infidelity.
They even reject thy very presence, 0
Lord! in the blessed Sacrament, refuse to
listen to thy inspirations, and to follow thy
sweet voice.
222 WHITSUNTIDE.

O my dear Jesus! I cast myself at thy

feet, and humbly ask pardon for these
unhappy people.
Forgive them, 0 Lord! and do not
remember their sins.
Send thy Holy Spirit upon them to
enlighten their darkness, to soften their
hardened hearts, and to bring them back
to the way of truth.
Create a clean heart in us, and renew a
right spirit within us.
Cast us not away from thy face, and take
not thy holy spirit from us ; but strengthen
us with a perfect spirit.
That we may all serve thee faithfully and
be found worthy to praise thee, with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, for all eternity.

Come, Holy Ghost! Creator, come!

From thy bright, heavenly throne;
Come, take possession of our souls,
And make them all thine own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,

Best gift of Grod above :
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction and true love.
 THE HOLY GHOST. 223

Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,

Finger of Grod's right hand;
His promise, teaching little ones
To speak and understand.

0! guide our minds with thy blessed light,

With love our hearts inflame ;
And with thy strength, which ne'er decays,
Confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our hellish foe,

True peace unto us bring ;
And through all perils lead us safe,
Beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know ;

Through thee th? eternal Son,
And thee, the Spirit of them both;
Thrice blessed Three in One.

All glory to the Father be,

With his co-equal Son,
The like to thee, great Paraclete!
While endless ages run.

praters of tbe (Tburcb.

When the days of Pentecost were accom-

plished, they were altogether in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and
224 WHITSUNTIDE.

it filled the whole house where they were

sitting.
And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and published the wonderful works
of God.
O God! who by the light of the Holy
Grhost, didst instruct the hearts of the
faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we
may relish what is right and ever rejoice in
his consolation.
May the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost
into our hearts cleanse them, O Lord! and
render them fruitful by the inward sprink-
ling of the dew of his grace.
Come, O Holy Spirit! fill the hearts of
thy faithful and kindle within them the fire
of thy love.
Come, 0 Holy Spirit! and send from
heaven a ray of thy light.
Come, Father of the poor! Come, Giver
of gifts! Come, thou Light of our hearts!
Thou best of Comforters! The soul's
sweet guest and refreshment !
Her rest in toil; her shelter in heat; her
solace in woe!
O most blessed Light ! fill the inmost soul
of thy faithful.
Without thy divine assistance, there is
naught in man, there is naught but evil.
 THE HOLY GHOST. 225

Cleanse our defilements; water our dry-

ness; heal our wounds.
Bend our stubborn will; warm up our
cold hearts; guide our straying steps.
Give to thy faithful who hope in thee thy
holy Seven of Gifts.
Give them the merit of virtue ; give them
the happy issue of salvation; give them
endless joy. Amen. Alleluia.

©lb praters of tbe Cburcfx

The venerable lips, whose words were
ever grave, said to his Apostles: " Depart
not from Jerusalem, for when I shall be
seated on my Father's throne, I will pour
forth on you who desire the light, the
infinite grace of the Spirit. 17
Having consumated his course, the Word,
ever faithful to his promise, filled their
hearts with sweet peace, and gave them the
Spirit in the form of fiery tongues.
How incomprehensible is the power of
our most holy God !
Of illiterate men he made orators, whose
words silenced philosophers, and by the
bright Spirit that was within them, rescued
countless people from the thick veil of error.
O dear Spirit! thou enlightener of men,
dispel from our souls the horrid darkness
that is in them.
226 WHITSUNTIDE.

0 divine Lover of holy thoughts ! merci-

fully infuse thine unction into our minds.
O Spirit, Purifier of all our sins! purify
the eyes of our inward man.
O sacred Fire ! O paraclete Spirit ! thou
art the life of every creature's life.
Thou art the Holy One, vivifying all
beings.
Thou art the Holy One, healing with
thine unction them that are dangerously
bruised.
Thou art the Holy One, cleansing our
putrid wounds.
O Breath of holiness ! O Fire of charity !
0 thou sweet Saviour of the soul!
O purest Fount ! wherein is reflected Ood's
mercy that adopts aliens for his children,
and goes in search of them that are lost.
O save us, thy people. Be the protector
of them that have been imprisoned by thy
enemy. Loose the bonds of them, whom
God's power would save.
It was thou that inspired the Prophets,
and gavest them to foretell the grand glories
of Christ.
It was thou that didst strengthen the
Apostles, that they might carry the trophy
of Christ throughout the world.
When God, by his Word, created the
heavens, earth, and seas, thou, O Holy
 227
THE HOLY GHOST.

Spirit ! didst stretch thy divine and fostering

influence upon the waters , making them
fruitful with living beings.
By thine inspiration, thou makest men to
be spiritual.
. Thou, O Holy Spirit! didst give unity to
the world, that, heretofore, was divided in
language and religion.
Mercifully hear, then, us who offer thee
our prayers, without whom all prayers are
vain and unworthy to be presented to Grod.
O Holy Spirit ! merciful Paraclete ! Love
of the Father and the Son! Link of the
Begetting and the Begotten !
Their Groodness and Charity! the Purity
of their essence ! benignity, sweetness, and
joy!
The Bond that joinest Grod to man! the
Power that unitest man to Grod !
To thee, who, with the Father and the
Son, art alone worthy of adoration; to thee,
that proceedest from both, be worship and
honor.
Thou art gentle and joyous, worthy of
love and praise.
Thou cleansest the soul from vanity;
thou art the lover of purity.
Thou art music to them that mourn in
exile; the melody of them that are in joy.
228 WHITSUNTIDE.

The consoler of the pious, the inspirer of

the good, the counsellor of the afflicted.
The remover of errors, the teacher of the
ignorant, the solver of doubts.
Thou supportest the weak, guidest the
wanderer, bringest back him that is astray,
holdest him that is falling, encouragest him
that strives, perfectest him that loves.
Thou art the foundation of sanctity ; the
nourishment of chastity; the beauty of
meekness ; the solace of poverty ; the treas-
ury of munificence ; the bulwark of honesty ;
the refuge of the miserable; the deliverer
of captives.
Thou art the spirit of truth and the bond
of brotherly love.
Thou givest reward to them that merit
it ; thou inflictest punishment on them that
have no merit.
Thou breathest where and when thou
wilt; thou teachest whom thou wilt, and as
much as thou wilt.
Thou art order, that beautifiest all things j
thou art beauty, that ordainest all things —
said, done, or thought; — giving truth to
what is said; honesty to what is done;
purity to what is thought.
Thou art the good and perfect gift, giving
both, understanding and love.
 THE HOLY GHOST. 229

Thou guidest man to truth ; thou f ormest

his love ; thou confirmest him in good, and
having made him deserving of love, thou
crownest him at heaven's gate.
Praise, then, be to thee, O thou praise-
yielding Spirit! thou joy of life, our hope,
our highest honor, the giver of the reward
of light.

Mumble Supplicatione to tbe Hoty

©boat

0 Holy Spirit, divine Paraclete! father

of the poor, consoler of the afflicted, light
of hearts, sanctifier of souls! behold me
prostrate in thy presence.
1 adore thee with the most profound
submission, and I repeat a thousand times
with the Seraphs before thy throne: Holy,
holy, holy.
I firmly believe that thou art eternal and
consubstantial with the Father and the Son.
I hope that by thy goodness, thou wilt
sanctify and save my soul.
I love thee, O Grod of love! and wish to
love thee above all.
I offer thee my heart, cold as it is, and I
supplicate thee to let a ray of light and a
spark of fire enter therein, to melt the
hardened ice of my iniquities.
230 WHITSUNTIDE.

Thou who didst fill the soul of Mary with

immense graces , and didst inflame the
hearts of the Apostles, vouchsafe also to set
my heart on fire with thy love.
Thou art a divine Spirit: fortify me
against evil spirits.
Thou art light: enlighten ine, so that I
may know eternal things.
Thou art a dove : give me great purity of
heart.
Thou art a breath that is full of sweet-
ness :dissipate the storms that my passions
raise up against me.
Thou art a tongue : teach me the manner
of praising thee without ceasing.
Thou art a cloud: cover me with the
shadow of thy protection.
Thou art the author of all heavenly gifts :
0, I beseech thee, grant them to me.
Vivify me by thy grace ; sanctify me by
thy charity; govern me by thy wisdom;
adopt me by thy bounty as thy child ; and
save me by thy infinite mercy.

prater for tbe Seven (Sifts of tbe

1bol£ 6bost
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom! and instruct
my heart, that I may always have my last
end before me, and perform my good works
 THR HOLY GHOST. 231

with a pure intention. Let me value and

use earthly goods only in-as-much as they
are useful to my soul, and necessary
for the wants of this life; but heavenly
things let me ever know and praise more
and more. Make known to me the safest
way in which I can find, and finding possess
thee forever. Amen. Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Understanding!
enlighten my soul, to know and embrace
with grateful love the mysteries of faith,
that, in thy light, I may come to the perfect
knowledge of thee, the Father, and the Son.
Amen. Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Council! assist me in
all the affairs of this unsettled life, incline
my heart to good, turn it away from evil,
assist me on all doubtful occasions that I
may reach the destined goal of everlasting
happiness by the way of thy command-
ments. Amen. Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Fortitude! strengthen
my heart in every temptation, confusion,
and affliction • give me virtue and courage
in all malicious attacks of the enemy, that
I may never be misled shamefully to forsake
thee, my God. Amen. Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Knowledge ! guide my
desire of learning, that I may not seek
that science which may prove useless or
232 WHITSUNTIDE.

dangerous. Let me know the vanity of all

transitory goods. Grive me diligence in
learning and practicing the duties of my
religion and state of life ; teach me to fulfill
them in a manner pleasing to thee. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Piety! fill my heart
with true devotion and holy love for Gk>d,
my Lord, that, in all my prayers, I may
continually seek, and by true charity find
him. Amen. Our Father, etc.
Come, O Spirit of Fear! penetrate my
heart wdth a loving reverence towards Gk>d,
that I may never do anything displeasing
to his divine Majesty. Amen. Our Father,
etc.

prater for tbe twelve jfrutte of tbe

1boi\> (Sbost
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Charity , that I may be united
to thee by the bond of love.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Joy, that I may be filled
with holy consolation.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
 THE HOLY GHOST. 233

me the fruit of Peace, that I may ever enjoy

inward tranquility of soul.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Patience, that I may humbly
endure everything that may be opposed to
my own desires.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son! I beseech thee, to grant
unto me the fruit of Benignity, that I may
willingly relieve the necessities of my
neighbor.
O Holy Spirj^ ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Goodness, that I may be
benevolent towards all.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Longanimity, that I may not
be discouraged by delay, but may persevere
in prayer.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Mildness, that I may subdue
every rising of evil temper, stifle every
murmur, and suppress the susceptibilities
of my nature, in all my dealings with my
neighbor.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
234 WHITSUNTIDE.

me the fruit of Fidelity, that I may rely,

with assured confidence, on the word of Glod.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Modesty, that I may order
my exterior regularly.
O Holy Spirit ! eternal Love of the Father
and the Son ! I beseech thee, to grant unto
me the fruit of Continence and Chastity,
that I may keep my body in such holiness
as becometh thy temple, so that, having by
thy assistance preserved my heart pure on
earth, I may merit in Jesus Christ, to see
Grod eternally in the glory of his kingdom.
Amen.

Holy Grhost ! come down upon thy children,

Give us grace and make us thine ;
Thy tender fire within us kindle,
Blessed Spirit, Dove divine!

For all within us good and holy

Is from thee, thy precious gift;
In all our joys, in all our sorrows,
Wistful hearts to thee we lift.

For thou to us art more than father,

More than sister, in thy love,
So gentle, patient, and forebearing,
Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove!
 THE HOLY GHOST. 235

0 we have grieved thee, gracious Spirit!

Wayward, wanton, cold are we;
And still our sins, new every morning,
Never yet have wearied thee.
Dear Paraclete ! how hast thou waited
While our hearts were slowly turned ;
How often hath thy love been slighted,
While for us it grieved and burned.

Now, if our hearts do not deceive us,

We would take thee for our Lord ;
O dearest Spirit ! make us faithful
To thy least and lightest word.

Holy Grhost ! come down upon thy children,

Give us grace and make us thine ;
Thy tender fire within us kindle,
Blessed Spirit, Dove divine!

Xltan^ of tbe Moly (Sbost

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
236 WHITSUNTIDE.

Gk)d, the Father of heaven,*)

Gk>d, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Gk)d, the Holy Grhost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Grhost, thou Spirit of wisdom and
understanding,
Spirit of council and fortitude,
Spirit of knowledge and piety,
Spirit of faith and hope,
Spirit of holy fear and love,
Spirit of peace and joy,
Spirit of patience, longanimity and good-
ness,
Spirit of continency and chastity,
Spirit of humility and mortification,
Spirit of life and salvation,
Spirit of all virtues and graces,
Spirit of the children of Gk)d,
Teacher and governor of the Catholic
Church,
Searcher of human hearts,
Consoler of the afflicted,
Strength of pious souls,
Crown of all saints,
Joy of the angels,
Light of the patriarchs,
Inspirer of the prophets.
Wisdom of the apostles,
Victory of martyrs and confessors,
*) Have mercy on us.
 THE HOLY GHOST. 237

Purity of virgins,*)
Be merciful.
Spare us, O Holy Ghost!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Holy Ghost!
From the spirit of heresy,**)
From the spirit of blasphemy,
From all sin and temptation,
From impugning the known truth,
From presumption of God's mercy,
From despair,
From envy, malice and ill-will,
From obstinacy in sin,
From all sloth and indifference in the ser-
vice of God,
From all bad and impure thoughts and
desires,
From a sudden and unprovided death,
From everlasting death,
We sinners,!)
That thou wouldst exalt the Catholic Church,
enlighten her pastors, and sanctify her
members,
That thou wouldst grant us the grace never
to offend thee,
That thou wouldst increase in us devotion
and resignation to the will of God,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Deliver us, O Holy Ghost !
f) We beseech thee, to hear us.
238 WHITSUNTIDE.

That thou wouldst infuse in us zeal, meek-

ness, and love,*)
That thou wouldst sanctify all our thoughts,
words, and actions,
That thou wouldst cleanse our hearts and
make them thy dwelling,
That thou wouldst preserve our body and
soul, as thy temple, from all stain,
That thou wrouldst confirm us in thy grace,
That thou wouldst enlighten the erring and
bring them back to the true fold,
That thou wouldst take us all into the com-
pany of the elect,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
PRAYER.
We beseech thee, 0 Holy Spirit! descend
with thy light and consolation lovingly into
our souls, enlighten our understanding, and
consecrate the hearts which thou hast sancti-
fied as thy temples. 0 Holy Ghost! come
*J We beseech thee, to hear us.
 THE HOLY GHOST. 239

and bring us God's blessing and peace;

console us and all the afflicted, encourage
and strengthen the weak; instruct and
support the wavering ; rouse the sinners to
penance, and enkindle in their cold hearts
the fire of divine love and a filial confidence
in thee, that all men, in peace and joy, may
thankfully praise and adore thee, together
with the Father and the Son, one God,
world without end. Amen.

Conclusion.
O dearest Jesus! who, in the tabernacle,
art always praying for us to thy heavenly
Father, graciously accept my prayer, and
mercifully unite it to thine that it may be
pleasing to the divine Majesty.
Thou, O Lord! didst promise thy Apost-
les the Holy Ghost. Send him, I beseech
thee, also upon me, that he may rule and
guide me, and assist me especially always
worthily to adore thee in the blessed
Eucharist.
Thou, O Jesus! art one with the Father
and the Holy Ghost ; therefore is the Father
and the Holy Ghost also united with thee
in the Sacrament of Love.
Our adoration of the blessed Sacrament
is, consequently, also the adoration of God
the Father and the Holy Ghost.
240 WHITSUNTIDE.

What an encouragement forme, O Lord!

to spend every spare moment before the
tabernacle, there to do what the Angels are
doing in heaven: to praise God the Father,
thee his Son, and the Holy Ghost .
But, now, O Jesus! I must leave thy holy
altar. Let thy Holy Spirit accompany me
to the cares and troubles of this life, that
all I do or suffer may be sanctified by him,
and directed to thy greater honor.
0 Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

1b\mtn,
Jesus! my Lord, my God, my All!
How can I love thee as I ought !
And how revere this wondrous gift.
So far surpassing hope or thought ;
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore!
Oh, make us love thee more and more!

Had I but Mary's sinless heart,

To love thee with, my dearest King!
Oh, with what bursts of fervent praise.
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing!
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore!
Oh make us love thee more and more !
No Commemoration, if said within the Octave of
Pentecost.
 THE HOLY GHOST, 241

y. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.

1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
fy. Thanks be to Grod.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Gk>d? rest in peace.
fy. Amen.
 Xtrtmt£ 5unba\>.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O G-od! incline unto my aid.
^. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
G-lory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoration,

Come, let us adore the eternal Grod, the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Grhost.
Come, let us prostrate ourselves in spirit
before his heavenly throne, and render him
our most humble adoration.
Let us give him thanks for all his benefits ;
let us glorify and exalt him above all
heavens.
Let us, in particular, honor the second
Person of the blessed Trinity, our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, in the blessed Sacra-
ment.
Come, let us most humbly adore him in
this great mystery of love ; and let us offer
him due praise and thanksgiving.
(242)
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 243

Let us join in the canticles of the angelic

choirs , and sing to the triune Grod:
Holy, holy , holy, Lord God of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*
O most holy and adorable Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Grhost! I come to render
thee my humble homage.
Thou art the great and holy Grod, worthy
of all praise and adoration.
But, how dare I approach thee? I know
that I am a poor sinner, and thou art
sanctity itself.
Mercifully forgive my sins, 0 Lord! and
receive me again as thy servant.
Also graciously accept my petitions for
the remission of the sins of all mankind.
Avert thy wrath from thy people, and
remember that with thee there is mercy and
plentiful redemption.
O Jesus ! who art always praying for us
in the blessed Sacrament, ask thy heavenly
Father in our behalf for forgiveness and
mercy.
Through thee, I offer the prayers of this
hour, and hope to obtain thereby thy grace,
2U TRINITY SUNDAY.

the charity of the Father, and the com-

munion of the Holy Grhost.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with
the Holy Ghost.
Let us bless and exalt him for ever and
ever.

Have mercy on us, G-od most high!

Who lift our hearts to thee ;
Have mercy on us worms of earth,
Most holy Trinity!
When heaven and earth were yet unmade,
When time was yet unkown,
Thou, in thy bliss and majesty,
Didst live and love alone.

How wonderful creation is,

The work that thou didst bless ;
And oh! what then must thou be like,
Eternal loveliness !

0 majesty most beautiful,

Most holy Trinity!
On Mary's throne we climb to get
A far-off sight of thee.
0 listen, then, most pitiful.
To thy poor creature's heart;
It blesseth thee that thou art GTod,
That thou art what thou art.
 THE HOLY TEINITY. 245

Most ancient of all mysteries,

Before thy throne we lie ;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most holy Trinity !

praiee of tbe Ibolip Grimt^

Blessed be the holy Trinity and the
undivided Unity.
Great is the Lord : he exists from eternity
unto eternity, and his kingdom is without
end.
Bless the Lord, ye children of Israel!
bless him in the assembly of all nations.
Make known all the wonders of his hands,
for he is the Almighty and none is equal
to him.
Bless the Lord all ye just: praise and
exalt him above all forever.
O Lord ! thou art our Creator, and we are
the work of thy hands.
Thou hast created heaven and earth by
thy strong and mighty arm, and nothing is
impossible to thee.
Great, strong, and mighty Grod; thy
name is Grod of Hosts.
Thou art great in thy designs, and
incomprehensible to human thoughts.
Almighty Grod of Israel! thou art our
Lord and Grod, and our hearts shall sing
thy praise for ever and ever.
246 TEINITY SUNDAY.

Thou hast engraven thy fear upon our

hearts ? that we may call upon thy holy
name.
May Grod, our Grod bless us : may Grod bless
us; and all the ends of the earth fear him.
O incomprehensible, triune Grod! O abyss
of wisdom, power, and goodness! to thee be
all glory and adoration.
Blessed be the holy name of thy glory,
for it is worthy of all praise and adoration
throughout eternity.
Blessed be thou, O Lord Grod! for thou
art worthy of all praise and glory in eternity.
O Grod of my heart ! May all the choirs of
Angels and all the hosts of the Saints, whom
thou hast elected from all eternity, glorify
thee, and praise thee for me.
May that wonderful tabernacle of thy
glory, which worthily bore thee for nine
months, praise thee for me.
May the seven glorious Spirits, who ever
stand before thy throne, praise thee for me.
May the countless army of thy holy
Angels, whom thou sendest forth in the
sendee of thy chosen people, praise thee
for me.
May the four-and-twenty Elders, with all
the Patriarchs and Prophets, who lay down
their crowns and fall prostrate before thy
majesty, praise thee for me.
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 247

May the four winged beasts, who, in

unceasing tones, pour forth thy praises, day
and night, praise thee for me.
May the celebrated Apostles, through
whose prayers thy Church is wonderfully
upheld, praise thee for me.
May the conquering army of Martyrs,
who have washed their garments in the
precious blood of the Lamb, praise thee
for me.
May the whole multitude of Confessors,
whose spirits have been made mighty in thy
marvelous light, praise thee for me.
May the holy and spotless band of Vir-
gins, whom thou hast specially adorned
with the splendor of thy lily-white purity,
praise thee for me.
May they all praise thee for me, who sing
the wonderful song which they alone can
sing, who follow thee whithersoever thou
goest.
May the whole army of Saints, and the
whole band of thine Elect, praise thee for
me; for thou art their God, and they are
thy people.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
248 TRINITY SUNDAY.

lprofeesicm of jfaitb in tbe 36le6seb

0 rnyGod! I believe in thee. I believe

that thou art one God in essence, but three
in person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
1 believe that the Father is uncreated, the
Son uncreated, the Holy Ghost uncreated.
That the Father is infinite, the Son in-
infinite, the Holy Ghost infinite.
That the Father is eternal, the Son etern-
al, the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but-
one eternal; not three uncreated, but one
uncreated; not three infinites, but one
infinite.
In like manner do I believe that the
Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the
Holy Ghost almighty.
And yet there are not three almighties, but
one almighty.
I believe that the Father is Lord, the Son
is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord; but
that they are not three Lords, but one Lord.
I believe that the Father was made by no
one, neither created, nor begotten.
I believe that the Son is by the Father
alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
I believe that the Holy Ghost is from the
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 249

Father and the Son, not made, nor created,

nor begotten, but proceeding.
I believe that there is one Father, not
three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons,
one Holy Grhost, not three Holy Grhosts.
I believe that in this Trinity there is
nothing before or after ; nothing greater or
less, but that the whole three persons are
co-eternal together and co-equal.
I do not understand this, O my G-od! —
thy mysteries exceed the understanding of
a poor creature ; — but I believe it, because
thou, O eternal Truth! hast been pleased
to reveal it to us.
I believe further the Catholic doctrine of
the Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Re-
surrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
second Person of the blessed Trinity.
I believe that Jesus Christ, in order to
save and redeem us, became man and was
born of the Virgin Mary.
% I believe that he is both, perfect Grod and
perfect man, consisting of a rational soul
and human flesh.
I believe that he is Grod of the substance
of his Father, begotten before the world;
and man of the substance of his Mother,
born in the world.
I believe that he is equal to the Father,
250 TRINITY SUNDAY.

according to his Divinity • and less than the

Father, according to his humanity.
I believe that he is, although both God
and man, not two. but one Christ.
One, not by the conversion of the God-
head into flesh, but by the assuming of
human nature unto God.
One altogether, not by confusion of sub-
stance, but by unity of person.
For as the rational soul and the body
constitutes one man, so God and man is
one Christ.
I believe that the Son of God, made man,
suffered for our salvation, descended into
hell, and arose again the third day.
I believe that he established the Catholic
Church for our salvation, made St. Peter
the head of his Church, and is ever since
teaching and guiding us through the
Church.
I believe also that he instituted the seven
Sacraments for the salvation of mankind,
that is to say: Ba'ptism, Confirmation, Holy
Eucharist. Penance, Extreme Unction,
Order, and Matrimony.
I believe more especially that he is really
and truly present in the most blessed
Sacrament of the altar and changes, in every
holy Mass, through the priest, bread into
his body and wine into his blood.
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 251

I believe that Jesus Christ, after he had

accomplished the redemption of mankind,
ascended into heaven ; sitteth at the right
hand of Grod the Father, and shall come
again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe that at his coming all men must
rise again with their bodies, and must give
an account of their works ; and they that
have done good, shall go into life ever-
lasting; and they that have done evil, into
everlasting fire.
All this I believe most firmly, and desire
to believe it unto the end of my life, and to
live and die in this faith.

Ibope ant> Zvmt in (Bob.

(From the Psalms.)

0 G-od, Father, Son, and Holy Grhost!

all that the holy Catholic faith teaches of
thee, fills my heart with unbounded con-
fidence.
Thou art the good G-od, the merciful Grod ;
it is thy property always to have mercy
and to spare.
Thou wiliest not the death of the sinner,
but that he be converted and live.
With thee there is salvation and blessing;
thou art strong and patient.
252 TKINITY SUNDAY.

Thou art the Lord who heareth the desire

of the poor, and the prayer of the humble.
In thee our fathers have hoped; they
have hoped and thou hast delivered them.
They cried to thee, and they were saved ;
they trusted in thee ,and were not confounded .
Thy mercies, O Grod! are from the be-
ginning of the world ; I have them always
before my eyes.
Father and mother have left me, but
thou, O Lord! hast taken me up.
The Lord is my helper and protector ; in
him hath my heart confided, and I have
been helped.
The Lord is the strength of his people ;
and the protector of the salvation of his
annointed.
The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
O Lord, my Grod! I have cried to thee,
and thou hast healed me.
Thou, O Lord! hast brought forth my
soul from hell, thou hast saved me from
them that go down into the pit.
Thou hast turned for me my mourning
into joy; thou hast cut my sack-cloth, and
hast compassed me with gladness.
Thou hast regarded my humility; thou
hast saved my soul out of distress.
Thou hast not shut me up in the hands
 THE HOLY TKINITY. 253

of the enemy ; thou hast set my feet in a

spacious place.
I have put my trust in thee, 0 Lord! I
said: Thou art my God, and thou hast
heard me.
Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them
that fear him: and on them that hope in
his mercy.
To deliver their souls from death: and
feed them in famine.
Therefore, our soul waiteth for the Lord,
for0 hemagnify
is our'helper and with
the Lord protector.
me : and let us
extol his name together.
1 sought the Lord, and he heard me;
and he delivered me from all my troubles.
Come ye to him and be enlightened, and
your face shall not be confounded.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard
him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The Angel of the Lord shall encamp
round about them that fear him : and shall
deliver him.
O taste and see that the Lord is sweet :
blessed is the man that hopeth in him.
Fear the Lord all ye Saints; for there is
no want to them that fear him.
The rich have wanted and have suffered
hunger ; but they that seek the Lord shall
not be deprived of any good,
254 TRINITY SUNDAY.

The just cried, and the Lord heard them;

and delivered them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a
contrite heart ; and he will save the humble
of spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the just ; but
out of them all, will the Lord deliver them.
The Lord keepeth their bones: not one
of them shall be broken.
The Lord will redeem the souls of his
servants: and none of them that trust in
him shall offend.
Men and beasts thou hast preserved, 0
Lord! oh how thou hast multiplied thy
mercy, O Grod!
"With thee is the fountain of life ; and in
thy light we shall see the light.
Trust in the Lord and do good; delight
in the Lord, and he will give thee the
requests of thy heart .
Commit thy way to the Lord and trust
in him; and he will do it.
Expect the Lord and keep his way ; and
he will exalt thee to inherit the land.

%ovc of (Sob,
O Lord! who am I that thou hast so
loved me, and that thou shouldst so much
desire to be loved by me!
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 255

0 my (lod! worthy of infinite love, I love

thee, or rather I should say, I love thee not.
1 love thee above all things \ nevertheless,
I see that I love thee yet too little.
O Grod the Father, King of heaven ! make
thyself also king of my heart, possess me
entirely.
0 God the Son, Jesus in the blessed
Sacrament ! fountain of all love ! make me
love thee above all things.
0 Grod the Holy GKhost ! author of holy
love! fill my heart with thy divine love.
1 leave all and turn to thee, O Lord! I
embrace thee; I press thee to my soul; I
love thee; despise me not.
0 Grod! O Grod! whom shall I love, if I
love not thee, my life, my love, my all?
" Chosen amongst thousands. *; My Grod,
thee only, thee alone, do I choose for my love.
O Grod, not known! O Grod, not loved!
He that loves thee not, is a fool.
Lord! after having given me so many
graces, permit me not to betray thee anew.
Rather let me die.
Thou hast borne with me, that I might
love thee. Yes, I will love thee.
O Grod ! how many graces did I lose when
I loved thee not! I consecrate to thee, at
least, the remainder of my life.
What are riches f What are honors? What
256 TRINITY SUNDAY.

are pleasures? Grod, Grod alone is worthy

of my heart and my love.
0 Grod, 0 king of hearts! reign in my
heart. Draw me wholly to thee.
Bind me, 0 Grod! to thee in such a way,
that I shall never be able to loose myself
from thee.
My Grod! when shall I be able to say:
"I cannot love thee more?"
When shall I see thee face to face as thou
art, and love thee, with all my strength, for
all eternity?
My Grod ! I earnestly desire to love thee
exceedingly in this life, that I may love
thee exceedingly in the next.
1 seek not thy consolations j I desire only
to please thee, my Grod, my Love, my All!
It will be for thy glory, O most holy
Trinity ! to make one who was thine enemy,
become thy loving servant.
Thou didst seek me, my Grod! while I
was yet fleeing from thee; thou wilt not
reject me now that I seek thee.
Heavenly Father! thou hast given me
thy Son. I, a miserable creature, give my-
self to thee ; accept me for his sake.
O Jesus, Son of Grod! thou who dost love
me so much as to become my food in holy
communion, and for my sake to take up thy
abode in the tabernacle ; oh let me love thee !
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 25?

O most holy Trinity, Father, Son, and

Holy Grhost! O my Gk>d! I esteem thee
above all things ; I give myself entirely to
thee; graciously accept my poor offering,
and increase in me thy divine love.

Zbe Zc Beum Xaufcamus,

We praise thee, 0 Gk>d! we acknowledge

thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee: the
Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud : the heavens
and all the powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim contin-
ually do. cry forth:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Gk>d of Sabaoth !
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty
of thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles praise
thee.
The admirable company of the Prophets
praise thee.
The white-robed army of Martyrs praise
thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world
doth acknowledge thee.
The Father of an infinite majesty.
The adorable true and only Son.
Also the Holy Grhost, the Comforter.
258 TRINITY SUNDAY.

Thou art the King of glory, 0 Christ!

Thou art the everlasting Son of the
Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver
man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin \s
womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sting of
death, thou didst open the kingdom of
heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of Grod, in
the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be
our Judge.
• We pray thee, therefore, help thy servants,
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious
blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy
Saints, in glory everlasting.
O Lord ! save thy people, and bless thine
inheritance.
Govern them, and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify thee.
And we praise thy name forever: yea,
for ever and ever.
Vouchsafe, 0 Lord! this day to keep us
without sin.
O Lord! have mercy upon us, have mercy
upon us.
O Lord ! let thy mercy be showed upon
us, as we have hoped in thee.
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 259

0 Lord! in thee have I hoped; let me

not be confounded for ever.
f . Let us bless the Father, and the Son,
with the Holy Grhost.
fy. Let us praise and exalt him above all
for ever. Amen.

LET US PRAY.

Almighty and everlasting Grod! who in

thy infinite mercy didst call us to thy true
Church, in which we, by faith, acknowledge
and humbly adore the great and ineffable
mystery of the most holy Trinity ; grant us
thy powerful grace, to lead a life of true piety
and to persevere in thy holy love and service
to the end, that we may, after this mortal
life, be admitted to the blissful contemplation
and eternal adoration of the most blessed
Trinity, through Jesus Christ, thy Son,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in unity
with the Holy Ghost, Grod for ever and
ever. Amen.

O God! by whose command is swayed

This ordered world which thou hast made ;
Parent of heavenly clemency !
In nature One, in persons Three.
260 TRINITY SUNDAY.

Assist us whilst our minds we raise,

Inflamed with thy immortal praise ;
That, by our sober thoughts, we may
Forever our thanksgiving pay.

May age to age thy wonders tell,

Eternal praise thy works reveal,
And sing with the celestial host,
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Xitan^ of tbe Bleseefc £rinit^

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, *)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Grhost,
Holy Trinity one Gk>d,
God, one in nature,
God, threefold in person,
Holy and all-powerful God,
Holy, holy, immortal God,

*) Have mercy on us.

 THE HOLY TRINITY. 261

God, who by thy almighty word didst create

all things, *)
God, who marvelously dost sustain all
things,
God, who disposest everything for our best,
God, whom the heaven of heavens cannot
contain,
God, from whom, through whom, and in
whom are all things,
God, in whom we live, and move, and are,
God, who is, was, and shall be for all
eternity,
God, most high,
God, incomprehensible wisdom,
God, unspeakable love,
God, whose mercy excells all thy works,
God, whose justice is holy and tremendous
in its judgments,
God, whose providence is infallible in its
incomprehensible arrangements,
God, most faithful in all thy promises,
Be merciful.
Spare us, O blessed Trinity!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O blessed Trinity!
From heresy and unbelief, **)
From all diffidence and despair,

*) Have mercy on us.

**) O blessed Trinity ! deliver us.
262 TRINITY SUNDAY.

From all transgressions of thy holy com-

mandments, *)
From the concupiscence of the eyes,
From the concupiscence of the flesh,
From the pride of life,
From all abuse of thy grace and benefits,
From a sudden and unprovided death,
From eternal damnation and deprivation of
thy blessed contemplation,
We poor sinners, **)
That we may know thee, the only true Grod,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,
That we may submit our understanding to
all the articles of our holy faith,
That we may, in every temptation and trib-
ulation, remember thy love and mercy,
That we may in joy and sorrow have a true
love for thee,
That we may through an humble and con-
trite heart, which thou never despisest,
bring forth worthy fruits of penance,
That we may, in life and death, unite our
will with thy most holy will,
That, at the hour of death, we may be
strengthened by the heavenly Viaticum,
That we may breathe forth our souls, in
the arms of thy divine love,

*) O blessed Trinity ! deliver us.

**) We beseech thee, to hear us.
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 263

That we may in thy holy name depart from

this world, and be admitted to the
espousals of the divine Lamb, *)
0 blessed Trinity, our God and most high
and amiable Good,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O holy Trinity!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 holy Trinity!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 holy Trinity!
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
°fti Blessed
fathers ! art thou, 0 Lord, God of our
1^. And worthy to be praised and exalted
for ever.
y. Let us bless the Father, and the Son,
with the Holy Ghost.
Iy. Let us bless and magnify him.
~ft. Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my supplication come unto
thee.
LET US PRAY.
Almighty, everlasting God! who didst
deign to grant to thy servants, to acknowl-
*) We beseech thee, to hear us.
264 TRINITY SUNDAY.

edge in the profession of the true faith, the

glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of majesty to adore the Unity ; grant,
we beseech thee, that by steadfastness in
this faith, we may ever be defended from
all adversities, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Conclusion*

0 most blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and

Holy Grhost! I close this hour of adoration,
by renewing my praises of thy glory and
majesty.
1 thank thee for all the graces and bene-
fits, which thou hast bestowed upon me
during my whole life.
I again devote my life to thy holy service,
and consecrate my heart and my soul anew
to thy divine love.
O Heavenly Father ! this is the true life —
to know thee.
Grant us then, that we may, by a true
knowledge of the mysteries of our holy
religion, come to the possession of that
happy life.
O Jesus Christ ! who in the blessed Sacra-
ment art always adoring thy heavenly
Father, assist also me, that I may ever
praise him by my words and actions.
 THE HOLY TRINITY. 265

And thou, O Holy Ghost! give me the

grace of final perseverance in thy holy
service, and grant, that having served thee
faithfully on earth, I may be found worthy
to praise thee eternally in heaven.
My last prayer is to thee, 0 Grod-Man of
our altars:
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the blessed Sacrament !

My Grod! I love thee, not because

I hope for heaven thereby ;
Nor because they, who love thee not,
Must burn eternally.

Thou, 0 my Jesus! thou didst me,

Upon the cross, embrace,
For me didst bear the nails and spear
And manifold disgrace.

And griefs and torments numberless,

And sweat of agony ;
Even death itself, and all for me
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, 0 blessed Jesus Christ !

Should I not love thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heaven,
Nor of escaping hell.
266 TRINITY SUNDAY.

Not with the hope of gaining aught ;

Not seeking a reward :
But as thyself hast loved me,
0 ever-loving Lord!
Even so I love thee and will love,
And in thy praise will sing ;
Solely because thou art my G-od,
And my eternal King.

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph,
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
3^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord
^. Thanks be to G-od.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
ty. Amen.
 Corpus Cbrtsti-

Zbe Unatttutton, IRature ant> lEffects

of tbe flDost 1fool2 Sacramento

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

Iy. And my month shall declare thy
praise.
y. 0 Grod! incline unto my aid.
ty. O Lord! make haste to help me.
G-lory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

liberation.
Come, let us humbly adore the most holy
Sacrament of the Altar.
Let us adore Jesus Christ who, in the
Sacrament of Love, continues his life upon
earth.
Come, let us praise and thank him for his
ineffable love towards us poor sinners.
Let us joyfully approach the throne of
his mercy, and offer him our hearts and
our love.
0 Jesus! in the most blessed Sacrament,
(267)
268 CORPUS CHEISTI.

thou rulest over all nations, and dost com-

municate thy grace to all people.
Look, then, mercifully down also upon me
and graciously receive my feeble homage.
To thee be perpetual adoration, praise,
honor, love and thanksgiving!
But as I cannot praise thee as I desire, I
unite myself during this hour with all the
heavenly Spirits, and with them say most
humbly i
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparattom
O Jesus ! 0 my Grod in the tabernacle !
my heart is filled with sorrow when I call
to mind my ingratitude, coldness, and
tepidity in thy holy service.
Numberless are the sins which I have
committed before thy very eyes and in thy
holy presence.
Thousands of times, did I forget that I
was so near thee who art ever mindful of
me ; — my body was before thy tabernacle,
but my heart was far from thee.
And where are the millions of thy re-
deemed children that ought to adore Thee
in this most holy mystery J
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 269

Many do not believe in thee, and seldom,

or never approach thy dwelling. Their
minds and their hearts are for this world,
and not for thee, O Lord of our altars !
All this fills my heart with bitterness. I
grieve, O Lord! for my own sins and the
sins of the whole world, committed against
thy august person in the Sacrament of Love.
O Jesus! forgive us, and accept this hour
of adoration in atonement for all the out-
rages and insults which thou dost suffer in
this most holy mystery.
O ye Angels of the Lord! supply, through
your praises and benedictions, what we poor
sinners fail to do, and sing to him, for us,
your incessant :
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord in the most holy Sacra-
ment !

Sing, 0 my tongue, adore and praise

The depths of Grod's mysterious ways.
How Christ, the world's great king, bestowed
His flesh concealed in human food ;
And left mankind the blood that paid
The ransom for the souls he made.
270 CORPUS CHRISTI.

Griven from above, and born for man

From Virgin chaste, his life began:
He lived on earth and preached to sow
The seeds of heavenly love below ;
Then seal'd his mission from above
With strange effects of power and love.

?Twas on that evening when the last

And most mysterious supper past ;
When Christ with his disciples sat,
To close the Law with legal meat ;
Then to the twelve himself bestowed,
With his own hands, to be their food.

The Word made flesh for love of man.

His word turns bread to flesh again,
And wine to blood as seen by sense,
By virtue of Omnipotence ;
And here the faithful rest secure,
Whilst Gi-od can vouch and faith insure.

To this mysterious table now

Our knees, our 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 Ood the Father, born of none,

To Christ his co-eternal Son,
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 27]

And Holy Grhost whose equal rays

From both proceed, be equal praise:
One honor, jubilation and fame,
Forever bless his glorious name.

from tbe Writings of £t ftbomas*

Let our praises resound from our inmost
heart; let old things give way; let all be
new; both, hearts, and words and works.
We are celebrating that night's last
supper, when, as faith tells us, Christ gave
his brethren the lamb and unleavened
bread, as the law, given to the ancient
fathers, prescribed.
After giving them the figurative lamb,
and when the repast was over, we confess
with faith that our Lord, with his own
hands, gave his body to his disciples, and
so gave it that the entire was given to all,
and the entire to each.
They were frail, and he gave them his
body as food; they were sad, and he gave
them his blood for their drink.
He gave them his flesh and his blood
under the twofold species, that he might
thus feed man, who is of a twofold nature.
He was born, and became our companion ;
he eat with us, and became our food; he
died, and became our ransom; he reigns,
and is our reward.
272 CORPUS CHBISTI.

The bread of Angels becomes the bread

of man ; the bread of heaven puts an end
to the types.
0 wonderful thing! He that is poor, and
servant and lowly, eateth the Lord!
O saving Host! Thou openest heaven's
gate! We are pressed by wars and foes: 0
give us strength and aid !
O precious and wonderful banquet . health-
giving, and replete with eveiy sweetness!
What can possibly be more precious than
this banquet ? wherein not the flesh of calves
and goats, as heretofore in the Law. but
Christ, very God, is put before us that we
may take him.
Where is there a nation so great, that
hath gods so nigh them, as our Grod is
present with us?
Let, then, our praise be full: let it be
sweet:
it let our souls' Jubilee be joyous: let
be beautiful.
Praise thy Saviour, O Sion! praise thy
guide and shepherd, in hymns and canticles.
As much as thou hast power, so also dare :
for he is above all praise: nor canst thou
praise him enough.
Lo! the bread of Angels is made the food
of pilgrims !
He is received by one. he is received by
 NATITEE OF THE BLESSED SACKAMENT. 273

thousands ; the one receives as much as all ;

nor is he consumed who is received.
The good receive, the bad receive, but
with the difference of life and death.
It is death to the bad; it is life to the
good: how unlike is the effect!
What thou understandest not ; what thou
seest not, that let a generous faith confirm
thee in, beyond nature's course.
Under the different species — which are
signs, not things — there hidden lie things
of infinite worth.
The flesh is food, the blood is drink, yet
Christ is whole under each species.
He is not eaten by the receiver, nor
broken, nor divided; he is taken whole.
Of the substance that is there, there is no
division; it is but the sign that is broken,
and he who is signified is not thereby
diminished.
O good shepherd, true bread, J esus ! have
mercy upon us: feed us, defend us, give us
to see good things in the land of the living.
O thou, who knowest and canst do all
things, who feedest us mortals here below,
make us to be thy companions in the banquet
under above, and thy joint-heirs, and fellow-
citizens with the Saints.
For thou hast said: If a man shall eat of
this bread, he shall live forever.
274 CORPUS CHRISTI.

This is the bread of life. The fathers did

eat manna in the desert, and are dead.
This is the bread coming down from heaven,
that if any man eat thereof, he may not die.
Thy flesh, OLord! is meat indeed; thy
blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth thy flesh, and drinketh
thy blood abideth in thee, and thou in him.
Thy bread, O Christ ! is fat, and it yields
dainties to kings.
Thou didst feed us with the fat of wheat,
and art filling us with the honey out of the
rock.
O sacred banquet! wherein Christ is
received ; the memorial of his passion cele-
brated the
; mind filled with grace ; and a
pledge of future glory is given unto us.
O God! who under the wonderful Sacra-
ment has left us a memorial of thy passion:
grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate
the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood
that, in our souls, we may always feel the
fruit of thy redemption.

(Soft's presence in tbe JSlesseft

Sacrament.
O most dear Jesus! I believe with the
whole Catholic Church that thou art the
true God? the Son of the living God.
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 275

Thou art born of the Father before all

ages, G-od of Grod; light of light; begotten,
not created ; of the same substance of the
Father, by whom all things were made.
Thou, O Jesus! didst come down from
heaven ; hast assumed flesh \ clothed thyself
with our human nature j and united it with
the divine nature in one person.
Thirty-three years didst thou spend with
us as the Word made flesh .
When, then, the malice of men was about
to banish thee from the land of the living,
thou, in thy wisdom and charity, didst
institute the most holy Sacrament of the
Altar, wherein thou wishest to remain with
mankind until the end of time.
On the eve of thy bitter passion, thou
didst take bread into thy sacred and vener-
able hands, saying: "Take ye, and eat,
this is my body/7
In like manner didst thou take up the
chalice, saying: "Drink ye all of this, for
this is my blood which shall be shed for
you and for many unto the remission of sins.
Do this for a commemoration of me."
As often, therefore, as the priest, in the
holy sacrifice of Mass, pronounces these
words over bread and wine, thou art present
under the appearance of bread and wine,
with thy flesh and blood, body and soul,
276 CORPUS GHRISTI.

divinity and humanity, and dost remain

there as long as the appearances last.
Thou, who hast created heaven and earth,
art here present.
Thou, who didst speak from Mount Sinai:
"I am the Lord thy Grod/; art here present.
Thou, who wast born for us in a stable at
Bethlehem, and to whom the Angels sang:
"Glory be to God on high/7 art here.
Thou, who didst deliver thy life for us on
Mount Calvary, thou art here.
Thou, who didst rise gloriously from the
dead, and didst ascend triumphantly into
heaven, thou art here.
Thou, who sittest in eternal glory, at the
right hand of the Father, thou art present.
Saint Theresa assures us of this when,
after her death, having appeared to one of
her religious, she said: "You on earth, and
we in heaven have the same Jesus : we see
him in his glory, and you have him under
the veil of the Sacrament. ??
I, therefore, most humbly adore thee, 0
Jesus in the blessed Sacrament! as my
Creator, by whom all things were made,
which were made.
I adore thee as the supreme Law-Giver,
whose will I shall obey in all things.
I adore thee as my divine Saviour, born,
suffering, and dying for my salvation.
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACEAMENT. 277

I adore thee as Conqueror of death and

hell, who now thronest with thy Father in
heaven, as our intercessor and mediator.
I adore thee most humbly as my Lord
and Grod, and in union with the Angels and
Saints most fervently say:
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, our Lord, in the blessed Sacrament !

Zhe Meeseb Sacrament a (Breat

fllMracle*

O Lord ! when kneeling before thy most

holy Sacrament, I must exclaim with the
Psalmist: how wonderful is thy name
throughout the world!
A miracle, yea a great miracle didst thou
perform for our salvation.
, Thou becamest man, and as God-Man be-
earnest our nourishment. What a prodigy!
Thou, the Son of Grod, true Grod with the
Father, becamest man, and yet didst not
cease to be Grod.
Thou didst clothe thyself with flesh and
blood out of the body of the Virgin, thou
who for all eternity hadst been clothed with
divine glory.
Thou, who for all eternity hadst a father
without a mother, didst assume, on earth,
a mother without a father.
10
278 CORPUS CHRISTI.

Thou, who didst create all things, becomest

a creature thyself.
The earth has seen what it never before
beheld : a child is the father of its mother ;
the child has a mother who, at the same
time, is a virgin.
Wonderful humility! Thou, who didst
clothe the fields and forests with herbs,
blossoms, trees and fruits, earnest bare and
naked upon this earth.
These are miracles — miracles wrought
for my salvation.
But these are only the beginning of
wonders; I am to see still greater.
Thou wast sacrificed on the cross, and
yet remainest with us till to the end of time.
Thou who becamest man, by the word of
thy almighty power, changest bread and
wine into thy own sacred body and blood,
and givest thyself to thy disciples as food.
The substance of bread is changed into
the substance of thy body; thy body is
present under the form of bread without
being bread; it appears to be dead, and is,
nevertheless, truly alive; it is connected
with thy soul, and united to thy divinity.
Thou art really and truly present under
the form of bread in all places on earth
where the blessed Sacrament is present.
Thou comest to me in holy Communion,
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 279

and unitest thyself most intimately with

me, so that I can say: I abide in thee, and
thou, O Jesus! in me. What a stupendous
miracle !
But to thee, 0 Lord! nothing is impos-
sible, nothing difficult.
Thou, who in the garden of paradise
didst change dust into the body of Adam ;
who, at the wedding-feast, didst change
water into wine; who daily changest our
nourishment into flesh and blood, and,
every year, changest thousands of things in
nature, thou canst also change bread and
wine into thy adorable body and blood.
But the miracle of all miracles is, that
thou, O Jesus! shouldst love man so much
as to effect such a miracle.
0 the depths of thy wisdom, and abyss
of thy love and mercy! who hath known
thy ways, or who hath been thy counsellor?
Thou remainest with us, dwellest with us
and amongst us, day and night.
Thou even commandest us under pain of
condemnation to receive thy sacred body,
for thou speakest thus: u Unless you eat of
the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his
blood, you shall not have life in you."
Thou promisest us, in this wonderful
Sacrament, immortality and everlasting
life: "He that eats of my flesh and drinks
280 CORPUS CHRISTI.

of my blood, abides in me and I in him.

andTherefore.
I will raiseI him
come uptoonthee,
the last day. " 0
0 Jesus!
Eucharistic God! amazed at such a miracle,
believing thy word, the word of eternal
truth, and I adore thee as God and man in
the most blessed Sacrament.

£be $les^ Sacrament ©ur HIL

0 my good God! the thought of all thy
holy Sacrament is to us. ought to make my
heart overflow with love and gratitude for
thy unspeakable goodness.
There I find thee, the true Lamb of God,
that was offered in propitiation for our sins.
Thy blood did truly deliver us from Satan :
in thy blood our sins were washed away;
thou art the lamb who did not open his
mouth, when led to the slaughter, that
knew of no complaint when insulted and
abused.
0 good Jesus! thou art still with us in
the blessed Sacrament, and art daily sacri-
ficed upon our altars; even now thou art
the lamb that is offered for our sins: the
lamb that bears in silence all the affronts
which sinful men offer thee.
But thou art more than the lamb. Thou
art the shepherd himself, the good shepherd
that has given his life for his sheep.
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 281

Thou hast come from heaven; hast left

the ninety nine sheep and the holy angels
there, and hast descended upon earth in
order to save the one lost sheep — mankind.
Thou hast guided us into the fold of thy
holy Church ; thou hast given us priests to
be our guides, and angels as invisible pro-
tectors; thou hast quenched our thirst in
the fountains of grace, the Sacraments; —
and who can understand it? — hast given
us thy own blood for our food and nourish-
ment !
Other shepherds clothe themselves with
the wool of their sheep, and nourish them-
selves with the milk and flesh of their flock ;
but thou, O good Shepherd! clothest us
with the robe of sanctifying grace, woven
out of thy merits; nourishest us with the
milk of thy doctrine; quickenest us with
thy flesh, and quenehest our thirst with thy.
own blood.
And when we are sick, who, save thou, 0
Jesus in the adorable Sacrament! heals us?
Thou art the physician who heals every
sickness, and cures every disease.
During thy earthly life, thou -didst cure
all kinds of persons ; hast restored sight to
the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech
to the dumb.
Thou hast received sinners, and hast
282 CORPUS CHRIST!.

cured them ; thou hast opened the eyes of

the spiritually blind, and the ears of the
spiritually deaf.
Thou art yet doing the same in thy most
holy Sacrament. In it I find the antidote
against all my passions; enlightenment,
courage, fortitude and strength to avoid
evil and do good. Through it sanctifying
grace is increased, venial sin forgiven, and
mortal sin prevented.
The blessed Sacrament unites me most
closely to thee> O my Grod! and if thou art
with me, who can be against me? who can
injure me?
Thou, O Jesus in the blessed Sacrament !
art also our greatest consolation in the
sorrows of this life.
Like an exile in the enemy's country, I
am far away from my heavenly home ; my
days here are short and bitter ; full of pain
and tribulation.
Sullied with many sins; surrounded by
many passions, annoyed by many fears,
racked with many cares, pressed by many
temptations, I wander about lonely and
abandoned.
In these trials, 0 Jesus! I hear thy
inviting voice, saying to me from the taber-
nacle: "Conie all to me who are burdened
and heavy ladden, and I will refresh you."
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 283

Thou knowest and understandest my

wants and miseries ; thou stretchest out thy
strong arm to protect me ; thou drawest me
to thy holy dwelling, and to thy most loving
heart. Should I not, therefore, feel con-
soled in thy divine presence?
Truly, 0 Jesus! I find all, in the most
holy Sacrament, for there I find thee, and
in thee all: the teacher that teaches us the
way to heaven ; the light that shines in the
darkness ; the merciful Samaritan who heals
all our wounds; the good shepherd that
goes in search of the lost sheep and carries
it on his shoulders to the fold ; the living
bread which came down from heaven and
gives life to the wwld ; our greatest bene-
factor; our most precious treasure; our
only comfort ; the spouse of our souls ; our
king; our Grod.
Thy most holy Sacrament, 0 Jesus! shall,
therefore, be my refuge in all my troubles;
to thy holy altar I will come in all my
temptations; there I shall ever remain, at
least in thoughts and desires; that after
having been united to thee here on earth, in
the Sacrament of Love, I may be found
worthy of thy eternal company in heaven.
284 CORPUS CHBISTI.

Humbly I adore thee, hidden deity,

Who beneath these symbols art concealed
from me ;
Wholly in submission thee my spirit hails,
For in contemplating thee it wholly fails.

Seeing, touching, tasting, all are here

deceived,
But by hearing only, safely 'tis believed:
I believe whatever Grod's own Son averred:
Nothing can be truer, than Truth's very
word.

On the cross, thy Grod-head only was con-

cealed,
Here not even thy manhood is to sight
revealed ;
But in both believing and confessing, Lord!
Ask I what the dying thief of thee implored.

I do not, like Thomas, see thy wounds

appear,
But with him confess, my Lord and Grod is
here.
Grant this faith may ever more in me in-
crease,
And my hope in thee, and love may never
cease.
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 285

O thrice blest memorial of my dying Lord,

This true bread of life doth life to man
afford ;
Grant, O Lord! my soul may ever feed on
thee,
And thy taste of all things to it sweetest be.

Victim for thy people, Jesus, Lord and God !

Cleanse me, wretched sinner, in thy precious
blood —
Blood whereof one drop for human kind
outpoured
Might from all transgressions have the
world restored.

Jesus! whom in this life veiled I do behold,

Grant what my soul thirsts for with desire
untold :
Oh! may I, beholding thine unveiled grace,
Rest in blissful vision of thine open face.

Xitan^ of tbe flfroet Blessefc Sacra*

merit
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
286 CORPUS CHRISTI.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Eedeenier of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Living Bread from heaven,
Hidden God and Saviour,
Wheat of the elect,
AVine "whose fruits are virgins,
Perpetual sacrifice,
Lamb without spot,
Most pure feast,
Food of Angels,
Hidden Manna,
Memorial of the wonders of God,
Word, made flesh, dwelling in us,
Sacred Host,
Chalice of benediction,
Mystery of faith,
Most high and adorable Sacrament,
Most holy of all sacrifices,
Most wonderful of all miracles,
Most holy commemoration of the passion
of Christ,
Gift transcending all fullness,
Special memorial of divine love,
Sweetest banquet at which Angels minister.
Refreshment of holy souls,
Viaticum of such as die in the Lord,
*) Have mercy on us.
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, 287

Pledge of future glory,*)

Be merciful.
Spare us, 0 Lord!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
From an unworthy reception of thy body
and blood, t)
From the concupiscence of the flesh,
From the concupiscence of the eyes.
From the pride of life,
From every occasion of sin,
Through that profound humility in which
thou art present in this most holy Sacra-
ment,
Through that ardent charity whereby thou
didst institute this holy Sacrament,
Through thy precious blood which thou
hast left us on our altars,
We sinners,**)
That thou wouldst increase our faith and
devotion to this admirable Sacrament,
That thou wouldst prepare us for a frequent
reception of this holy Sacrament,
That at the hour of our death thou wouldst
strengthen us by this heavenly Viaticum,
Lamb of Grod! who takest away the sins of
the world,
*) Have mercy on us.
f) O Lord ! deliver us.
**J We beseech thee, to hear us.
288 C0KPUS CHKISTI.

Spare us, O Lord!

Lamb of Grod! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord!
Lamb of Gfod! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
y. Thou didst give them bread from
heaven.
Iy. Containing in itself all sweetness.
LET US PRAY.

0 G-od ! who in this wonderful Sacrament

hast left us a memorial of thy passion:
grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries
of thy body and blood, that we may ever feel
within us the blessed fruit of thy redemp-
tion. "Who Amen.
and ever. livest and reignest, God forever

Conclusion,

1 thank thee, 0 Jesus! that thou hast

permitted me to visit thee, and rendered me
worthy of being so near thee during this
hour.
Thou hast most graciously vouchsafed to
listen to me, and hast spoken to my heart.
Now, then, let me depart hence, strength-
ened and fortified ; but do thou remain in
my thoughts and my heart.
May I henceforth live in such a manner,
 NATURE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 289

that I can truly say: "I live, yet not I, but

Christ lives in me."
Let thy mysterious presence amongst us
be ever before my eyes, and let all my
actions be united to thine in the blessed
Sacrament.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
Commemoration of the Messed Virgin and
St. Joseph, if not within the Octave.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
Tfy. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
X^. Thanks be to God.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
fy. Amen.
 Xessons taught
BY THE

flfcost Blesseb Sacrament

T. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips,

ty. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
T. 0 G-od! incline unto my aid.
R. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoratton,
Come, let us adore Jesus, our divine
teacher, in the most blessed Sacrament.
Let us humbly kneel before his tabernacle,
and at his feet hear words of wisdom and
instruction.
Let us ask him to show us the way to
salvation, and learn from his mouth the
path of virtue.
Let him be our teacher and guide; our
model and example, and let his eucharistic
life be the pattern of our lives.
And that I may worthily spend this hour
290
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHAEISTIC GOD. 291

of adoration, come, ye heavenly Spirits!

and unite your fervent sighs with my own
humble prayers.
With you, O holy Angels and Saints! I
devoutly bow down before this adorable
Sacrament, and cry out most fervently:
O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*

O my Jesus! day and night thou art

present on our altars, inviting all mankind
to visit thee, saying: "Come ye all to me,
and learn from me,"
But men have no time to heed thy loving
invitation.
They keep far from thee. They are their
own teachers and guides, and as the blind
are leading the blind, they all go astray
and perish.
O Jesus! have mercy on these blind
people. I beg thee not to regard their in-
gratitude, for they know not what they do.
292 CORPUS CHPJSTI.

Do continue to call them, and to show

them, from thy holy tabernacle, thy adorable
countenance, that enraptured "with its divine
beauty, they may draw near to thy sacred
heart.
To obtain for them and myself this grace,
I now offer thee, 0 Jesus! Teacher of man-
kind! my most humble prayers.
Teach me how to pray, that this hour of
adoration may be acceptable to thee.

The "Word descending from above.

Though with the Father still on high,
Went forth upon his work of love,
And soon to life's last eve drew nigh.
He shortly to a death accursed
By a disciple shall be given :
But to his twelve disciples, first
He gives himself, the bread of heaven.
Himself in either kind he gave ;
He gave his flesh, he gave his blood:
Of flesh and blood all men ane made,
And he of man would be the food.

At birth, our brother he became;

At board, himself as food he gives;
To ransom us he died in shame ;
As our reward, in bliss he lives.
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHAEISTIC GOD. 293

0 saving Victim ! opening wide

The gate of heaven to men below ;
Our foes press on from every side ;
Thine aid supply } thy strength bestow.
To thy great name be endless praise ,
Immortal Grodhead, one in three !
Oh ! grant us endless length of days
In our true native land with thee.

3e0ue ©ur ZTeacber*

"Master, we know that thou as teacher

hast
demus come
after from he hadGod! /,; — so but
witnessed spoke Nico-
a few of
thy miracles, and had heard some of thy
instructions.
But, O Lord! what far greater reasons
have we to exclaim i Thou art truly a teacher
sent by God! Thou art the Son of God;
thy doctrine is, in truth, the word of God.
How lovingly didst thou go about from
place to place in Palestine, teaching the
people, and pointing out to them the way
to the kingdom of heaven.
And that mankind might know the truth
of the Gospel at all times, thou hast estab-
lished thy holy Church, with infallible
teaching authority.
It was, however, thy desire to speak to
294 CORPUS CHRISTI.

the hearts of thy servants also in an unusual

manner, and for that end thou art present
in the most holy Sacrament.
Thou callest thy faithful to thy holy
tabernacle, and converses! with them in a
mysterious Way:
Not with the ears of the body do they
hear thee; but they perceive thy voice in
their inmost hearts.
Jesus. Yes, my child! through this
Sacrament I speak to thee. Does it not
recall to thy memoiy all I have done for
thy salvation!
The Soul. My God, and my All! thou
hast created me ; thou hast redeemed me ;
thou hast sanctified me.
Jesus. For my honor I have created
thee. Out of nothing I have called thee
into existence, that thou mightest serve me
at all times, in all places, and "with all thy
strength and faculties. That is the one
thing necessary for thee to do; "thou art
troubled about many things, but only one
is necessary. "
The Soul. I acknowledge, 0 my G-od!
I have been created for thy service. Behold !
I offer and consecrate myself to thee whole
and entire. I will often come to thee to sit at
thy feet, and listen to thy words. " Speak,
O Lord! for thy servant heareth."
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 295

Jesus. It is indeed pleasing and agree-

able to me that thou dost visit and converse
with me. Know, however, that this alone
is not sufficient. It is not enough to say:
"Lord! Lord! Thou must also do my
will.'7 "He who has my commandments
and keeps them, he it is who loves me, and
I will love him in return, and my Father
will love him, and we will come, and take
up our abode with him."
The Soul. Yes, Lord! I am ready to
comply with thy holy will in all things.
May it be praised and adored forever; for
"thy yoke is sweet and thy burden is light."
Jesus. It is very true that my yoke is
sweet and my burden light, but remember
that my service is not without trials and
difficulties. "He who will be my disciple
must deny himself, take up his cross, and
follow me." "The kingdom of heaven
suffers violence, and only those that use
violence bear it away."
The Soul. I daily experience, 0 Lord!
how hard it is to deny one's self, to humble
one's self, to crucify the flesh with all its
concupiscences ; — and bowed down under
the weight of this conflict, I sigh with the
Apostle: "Who will deliver me from this
body of death? I feel a law within my
296 CORPUS CHEISTI.

members which combats against the law of

God."
Jesus. Art thou desirous to complain
with the Apostle, then do thou, like the
Apostle, take courage and have confidence;
for having said to him "my grace is sufficient
for thee," he soon confessed: "I can do all
things in him who strengthens me."
The Soul. O Lord! if thou be with me,
who can injure me? Thy light will enlighten
me; thy hand direct me; and thy cross
protect me.
Jesus. Whenever thou callest upon me,
I will hear thee. Dost thou not know, that
I have said: "Ask and you shall receive;
seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you."
The Soul. Truly, 0 Lord! thou hast
spoken right to my heart. In thee alone
will I place my confidence. Call me often
to thy holy altar and converse with me from
the tabernacle.
Show me the way upon which I should
walk ; encourage me when I become weak ;
guard me when my enemies attack me;
strengthen me with the bread of life, that
on the strength of this food, I may strenu-
ously walk to the mount of God, as did
Elias of old.
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHAKISTIC GOD. 297

But above all, give me the greatest of all

graces — perseverance till the end, and when
my dissolution approaches, do not let me
depart until I am fortified with the heavenly
Viaticum.

3esu0 fIDofcel of IbumUtty,

Thou, 0 Jesus! art the King of glory;
the only begotten Son of the Father; true
God from all eternity.
Thou art the Word of which St. John
says: "In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God ; and the Word was
God; and this Word was made flesh and
dwelt amongst us.??
O astonishing humiliation! O incompre-
hensible degradation ! which can be meas-
ured only by him who can comprehend the
infinite God.
By the Incarnation, the Almighty made
himself weak; the Infinite, little; the Im-
mortal, mortal; and the immensely Rich
has made himself poor.
Thou, the Son of God! hast become a
babe, a helpless child ; thou earnest to thy
own, and thy own received thee not; thou
hast taken up thy first abode in a stable.
Thou, the splendor of the eternal Father,
hast passed thirty years of thy life in seclu-
sion.
298 CORPUS CHKISTI.

Thou, 0 infinite Sanctity! didst place

thyself in the rank of sinners.
Thy own brethren seized thee, and num-
bered thee among the evil-doers, and nailed
thee to the cross.
All that thou hast endured to atone for
the pride of man — for my pride.
But this was not enough for thee : i ;having
loved thy own, thou didst love them till to
the end.7'
Therefore it was thy wish to debase thyself
still more ; yea even to rob thyself of thy
human form, and hide thyself under the
appearance of bread, to be consumed as
food by thy children.
In this most holy Sacrament, thou, the
Life itself, appearest to be dead; thou, the
Immense and Infinite, art closed up in the
little Host; thou, the Almighty, seemest to
have no strength whatever.
Truly, in this most holy Sacrament the
words of the Prophet: UI am a worm" are
fulfilled.
As a worm, godless men have trampled
the sacred Host under foot; in their
unworthy Communions, they have cast
thee, like a nuisance, into the sewer of a
heart filled with mortal sin.
All this thou sufferest and bearest patiently
— and why?
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 299

"Behold," sayest thou, "I have come to

do thy will. I have come to accomplish
the eternal designs of my heavenly Father ;
I have humbled myself tiil the end, to make
atonement for the pride of men."
How then, O Jesus! can I who am but
dust and ashes; a miserable creature, a
sinful wretch, puff myself up in my own
opinion, as though I were something.
How can I desire to be honored, since
thou hast exposed thyself to all manner of
insults?
How can I wish to be preferred before
others, since all my ability is in thee alone?
Woe to me, for ever having exalted my-
self! Iwill humble myself now, however,
and be contemptible in my own eyes.
Look down, 0 Lord! with an eye of mercy
upon my lowliness, that I may not sink
altogether.
Thou hast said: "Come to me and learn
of me, because I am humble of heart."
Therefore, I come to thee with sorrow and
compunction.
Although I am not worthy to sit at thy
table with thy children, let me, at least,
enjoy the crumbs which fall from thy table.
I would gladly eat of the bread of thy
children ; with pleasure would I taste of the
300 CORPUS CHRISTI.

heavenly manna; but, 0 Lord! I am not

worthy.
Thou canst, however, make me worthy:
"say but the word, and my soul shall be
healed. "
Thou didst call out to Zacheus: "Come
down; I must enter into thy house." Let
me, I beseech thee, also hear the same
words.
I have already descended from the fig-tree
of pride, and am kneeling on the ground;
say the word: "To-day, I will enter in with
thee."
Behold, my heart is open; enter in! I
embrace thee in spirit and say: "To-day,
salvation has reached my house."
Jesus the fIDobel of ©betnence.
Exceedingly wonderful it appears to me,
0 Jesus! that thou submittest thyself, in
this most holy Sacrament, entirely to the
will of thy servants, the priests.
At their word, thou descendest upon the
altar; they take thee into their hands, and
bring thee whithersoever they wish; they
receive thee themselves, and give thee as
food to the faithful j they even carry thee
to the remotest huts of the sick and the
dying, no matter how high the garret, or
how low the basement.
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 301

Can we perceive a more perfect obedience?

Art thou not like a dead man, at the com-
mand of thy ministers?
Well can I admire thy obedience at Naza-
reth :that thou wast obedient to Mary and
Joseph; that thou -wast obedient to thy
heavenly Father in drinking the chalice of
suffering; but that thou, in the most holy
Sacrament, art willing to render the most
perfect obedience to sinful men, to thy
priests, in all things: thou the Lord God
and Judge of all mankind — this surpasses
all the intellectual power of man.
Should I, then, not also be obedient to
thee? Should I not keep all thy command-
ments most punctually? Should I not
observe all the laws of thy holy Church
willingly? Should I not render the most
perfect, willing, prompt and humble obedi-
ence to my lawful Superiors?
Yea, Lord! be it so. I will obey thee.
Not only thy commandments, and the direc-
tions of my Superiors will I obey; but will
also willingly submit to the dispositions of
thy providence in all things, and lend a
willing ear to thy holy inspirations. Only
speak, O Lord! thy servant heareth.
302 CORPUS CHRISTI.

3eeu0 tbe flDobel of poverty.

Thy holy Apostle, St. Paul, says of thee,

O Jesus: "Being rich, he became poor for
your sake's, that through his poverty you
might become rich. "
Thy first dwelling on earth was poor.
Thou, the richest of princes, was born in an
humble stable.
Thou who wast vested with the glory of
heaven, didst rob thyself of all ornaments,
and wast dressed poorly; didst earn thy
living by the work of thy hands ; didst live
on alms, during thy missionary life ; didst
have nothing of thy own, so that you couldst
say: "The foxes have their dens and the
birds of the air their nests ; but the Son of
man has not whereupon to lay his head."
On the cross wast thou deprived even of
thy clothes ; in truth thou didst die, void of
all things, and thy body rested in a strange
grave.
Thou becamest so poor, O my Lord ! to
atone for our sins, and to teach us the virtue
of poverty which was ignored and despised
by the greater number of men.
For this reason didst thou so earnestly
exhort the rich to become poor: "Blessed
are the poor in spirit." "Verily, I say unto
you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHAKISTIC GOD. 303

into heaven/7 Thou hast called riches

thorns which choke the seed of the word of
God.
But thou hast done still greater things.
Thou remainest in the most holy Sacrament
of the Altar; closed up in the narrow limits
of the tabernacle; under the disguise of
bread, to give us a continual example of
perfect poverty and entire renunciation.
In the blessed Sacrament , thou art, for
love of us, robbed of every comfort; left
alone ; day and night abandoned by man ;
in poor churches ; closed up in a little vessel.
Since, then, thou, O Jesus! hast become
so poor, for my sake, would it not be a
shame for me to seek the riches of the world?
Should I not banish from my heart all
attachment to them? Should I not be truly
poor in spirit?
O how I am forced to blush that my
heart is so much taken up with worldly
things ; that I think so much about acquiring
and gaining earthly and temporal goods;
that I take more pains to amass transitory
riches, than to gather treasures for heaven !
Now, however, I will renounce all; will
never seek treasures u which rust and moth
consume, and thieves dig through and
steal;77 will seek thy grace, O Lord! but
304 CORPUS CHKISTI.

above all thyself, for thou art the greatest

treasure.
H I possess thee. I possess all: but I
cannot possess thee, as long as other treas-
ures are in my heart. "I cannot serve thee
and mammon. 9-
For that reason, remove from me all
attachments to earthly goods. Destroy,
with the fire of thy divine love, whatsoever
my heart contains, which is not for thee,
that from this moment I can call thee my
own: my Gk>d, and my All.

3es\\e tbc HDoDel of flDeefcness,

When I consider and ponder over thy

words, 0 Jesus! "learn of me, because I am
meek." then it appears to me that meekness
is one of the most prominent features of
thy heart, and that it. with loving force,
draws all hearts to itself.
"What meekness didst thou not exercise
towards thy disciples! They were simple
and uneducated men, and to associate with
them was surely enough to exhaust patience.
Thou didst willingly explain to them the
doctrines they did not understand: and
didst kindly and gently bring about peace,
when they introduced quarrels and dissen-
sions.
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 305

Thy associations with the people were

characterized by the same gentleness. Thou
didst not become weary of clothing thy
doctrine in different parables, in order to
make them understood by the people; no
one was excluded from thy love ; thou didst
communicate thyself to the rich and poor,
simple and learned.
The Apostles deserted thee, and thou didst
love them still; Peter denied thee, and thou
didst behold him with an eye of kindness,
without ever reproaching him for his infi-
delity; even Judas who pressed the traitor's
kiss to thy sacred lips, was styled by
thee "friend;" and to the brutal servant
before Annas, thou didst answer with all
calmness, when he struck thee: "If I have
spoken wrongfully, prove it."
My most meek Jesus ! thou art still con-
stantly with us in the most holy Sacrament,
calling out to us from the tabernacle : "Learn
of me, because I am meek and humble of
heart."
Thou still bearest with patience the indig-
nant treatment of thy children ; — they are
inattentive to thy word ; they occupy their
minds with worldly thoughts, yea often
entertain sinful desires in thy presence;
they indulge in idle talk, laugh and play;
they treat thee with contempt ; blaspheme
306 CORPUS CHRISTI.

and deny thee; they approach thy holy

table as traitors, and all this thou bear est
with patience and meekness.
Thou dost not withdraw thy presence
from our temples, and dost not send a curse
upon the profaners thereof; we hear only
the pitiful complaint; "My people, why do
you act thus towards me? Friend! for what
purpose
introduce hast
the thou come?
Son of man "Why dost guilty
into thy thou
heart?" And, nevertheless, thou enterest
such a heart. "Behold thy king comes to
thee in meekness."
0 my Jesus! thou hast all reasons to
complain, but how meek is thy complaint!
Thou art goodness and meekness itself
towards every one.
0 J esus ! How much I must learn of thee !
How thy meekness puts my quick and
untimely excitemept, and the angry and
haughty manner in which I approach others,
to shame.
Have, then, mercy on me, O my meek
Grod and Saviour! and help me to imitate
thy holy meekness.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make
my heart like unto thine !
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 6

O Heart of Jesus, heart of God,

O source of boundless love !
By Angels praised, by Saints adored,
From their high throne above.

The poorest, saddest heart on earth

May claim thee for its own ;
O burning, throbbing heart of Christ!
Too late, too little known.

The very sound of those sweet words :

4 4 The sacred heart" can give
To the most lone and burdened soul,
Strength to endure and live.

A mother may forget her child,

A father prove untrue ;
A brother, or a sister turn
Unkind and thankless too.

The hearts of men are often hard,

And full of selfish care ;
But in the sacred heart we find
A refuge from despair.

To thee, my Jesus! then I come,

V poor and helpless child ;
And on thy own words: "Come to me'
My only hope I build.
308 CORPUS CHRISTI.

The world is cold and life is sad,

I crave the blessed rest
Of those who lay their weary heads
Upon thy sacred breast.

For love is stronger far than death,

And who can lore like thee,
My Saviour! whose appealing heart
Broke on the cross for me?

The purest, deepest, earthly love,

"What is it, Lord! to thine!
A single drop from a great fount,
Eternal and divine.

Conclusion*
0 Jesus, my divine Teacher! I have
learned much during this hour of adoration.
Thou hast instructed me not only by the
words of thy mouth, but also by thy holy
example.
Thou hast proposed to me for imitation
thy holy earthly life, and thy continued
Eucharistic life.
1 return thee heartfelt thanks for thy
salutary instructions, and humbly ask for
thy grace, that I may be enabled to practice
what I have learned, and imitate thy holy
example.
So often I have the happiness to be near
 LESSONS BY THE EUCHARISTIC GOD. 309

thee; to assist at holy Mass, and even to

receive thee into my heart. I beg of thee,
let not these graces be received by me with-
out impressing my mind, and inducing me
to live also a holy life.
Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and
St. Joseph.
y. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord.
Iy. Thanks be to God.
y . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
Py. Amen.

ii
{praters anb Hcts tn Ibonor
OF THE

Blesaeb Sacrament.

T, O Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise,
y. O Grod! inehne unto my aid.
R. 0 Lord! make haste to help me,
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

HDoration.
(^OME, let us adore our Lord and Gk>d in
the most blessed Sacrament.
The Eternal, the Infinite, the Immense,
the All-Powerful is present on our altars.
Let us most humbly adore him.
The Angels veil their faces in his pres-
ence the
; Saints lay their crowns at his feet.
Coine, let us unite with them, and adore
him.
Holy, holy, holy. Lord Grod of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
(310)
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 311

0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament

divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

IReparation,

0 Jesus, God of majesty! Almighty Lord

of heaven and earth, and my most loving
Saviour!
With a lively faith and in deepest humility
I approach thee, and prostrate myself before
the tabernacle which is thy throne upon
earth.
1 adore thee from the bottom of my heart,
and offer thee my most humble homage.
But how dare I approach thee? Thou art
the Omnipotent, and I am an abyss of
weakness and nothingness.
Thou art eternal Wisdom, and I am
nothing but ignorance.
Thou art infinite Goodness, and I am
nothing but wickedness.
Thou art my God, and I am thy creature.
Thou art my Lord, and I am thy servant.
Thou art my King, and I am thy subject ;
thou art the author of all graces, and I am
a poor wretch.
Thou art sanctity itself, and I am a miser-
able sinner.
312 CORPUS CHBISTI.

Therefore I acknowledge that I am not

worthy to kneel before thy holy altar.
But I trust in thy goodness. I humbly
pray for pardon and mercy, and ask that
thou, O fountain of sanctity ! mayest cleanse
and purify my sinful heart and lips.
I also offer my prayers for the sins of the
whole world, in the same intention in which
thou, O Jesus! hast sacrificed thy life for
them ; especially in satisfaction for the sins
committed against thy most holy Sacra-
ment at
; the time of holy Mass ; in receiving
holy Communion j or in adoring this most
sacred mystery.
Blot out our sins, 0 Lord! and forget
our offenses, that we may please thee, and
that our prayers may be acceptable to thee.

1b$mn«

Lord! thou thyself hast said this golden

word:
"Where e'er thy treasure, there thy heart
shall be. "
Here at thy feet, my Eucharistic Lord!
The meaning of thy word grows plain to me :
Thou art my treasure, Jesus! and with thee
my heart must be.
 PRAYEBS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 313

Silver and gold, and every precious thing

That thief can steal or moth and rust con-
sume,
Not to such perishable goods I cling;
For treasures infinite my heart hath room.
Thou art my treasure, Jesus! and with thee
my heart must be.

This altar is the school where I am taught

To hear thy word, and love thy holy law.
Here in thy heart sweet modesty is sought,
Fervor and charity I hence may draw.
Thou art my treasure, Jesus! and with thee
my heart must be.

Thrice happy he who gazes thus on thee

Before thy tabernacle, night and day.
Such happiness, alas! is not for me;
But when I leave, my love behind will stay:
For thou my treasure art, and, Lord! with
thee my heart must be.

Darioua Hcts,

Hct of jfaitb.
In adoring thee, O my Grod ! I must first
confess that I believe it to be truly thyself,
thy soul, thy body, thy divinity, thy human-
ity, that is present here under the Euchar-
istic veil.
314 CORPUS CHRISTI.

Thou, O Jesus! art the truth, and when

presenting to thy disciples the bread changed
into thy body, thou didst say to them:
"This is my body." I believe thy word. I
adore thee living bread come down from
heaven, to give life to the world.
When about to enter Mary's virginal
womb, thou didst send thine Angel to her,
and she believed his word, when he said:
"Nothing is impossible to Grod; the Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Most High shall overshadow thee."
Thou hast not sent an Angel to me, O
my Saviour! to tell me that thou art really
and truly present in the tabernacle. Thou
thyself hast spoken, and hast willed that
thy words, spoken so many hundred years
ago, should reach me by thy Church, that
thus I might have the certainty that they
are thine, and the merit of submitting my
reason to the deepest of mysteries.
I do believe, then, O Lord! humbly and
gratefully. Thou sayest to me: "This is
my body. — This is my blood' ■ — thy word
is enough.
Though my eyes see thee not ; though my
hands cannot touch thy sacred wounds, like
Thomas, yet do I most firmly believe thee
to be my Lord and my Grod.
When thou wast upon the cross, thy
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 315

divinity was hidden from view; in the

sacred Host, thy very humanity is hid from
our eyes: but, I believe, O my God! that
both, thy divinity and humanity, are present
beneath the cloud which shrowds them from
all mortal sight.
I have been taught by thine Apostle, 0
Light inaccessible! that it is by faith alone,
that we can approach thee in this present
life. I believe, O Lord! but do thou help
my unbelief, and enable me to submit to
thy infinite wisdom.
Set of E&oration*
Thy presence in our midst, O Lord! is
joy and sweetness to me, and yet before
indulging in the delight it brings, I feel
impelled to prostrate my entire being before
thy majesty.
I must, I will first adore thee, for thou
art the great Glod of heaven and earth.
Thou standest in no need of us, and yet
thou earnest down to this our nothingness,
Where, then, shall I begin, if it be not in
humbling myself profoundly before thee,
and acknowledging that thou art the Lord,
the only begotten Son of the Father ; that
thou art he by whom all things were made ;
the Eternal, the Infinite, and the supreme
Judge of the living and the dead?
316 COKPUS CHBISTI.

The Seraphim who see thee in thy unveiled

majesty, and drink their fill of everlasting
happiness from thy essence ; these glorious
Spirits, as the Prophet tells us, cover their
faces with their wings ; they tremble before
thee, as the Church tells us ; and yet whilst
trembling in thy presence, their love is so
ardent and so tender, as if they were nothing
but love.
I would follow their example, 0 my Gk>d!
and offer thee, at this moment, the creature's
first duty to its Creator — adoration.
Thou art so nigh to me at this happy
moment that my being feels renovated and
almost lost in thine; how, then, can I be
otherwise than overwhelmed by the weight
of thy glory, and most reverently adore
thee, O eternal, infinite, immense, all-power-
ful, and wonderful Grod! before whom all
things created are, as though they were not.
I confess before thee my own nothingness ;
I acknowledge thine absolute dominion over
me and over everything which thy power
and goodness have produced in creation.
I acknowledge thee to be the Sovereign
Being, the Creator and Preserver of ail
creatures, the undisputed Master of all that
belongs to me.
I delightedly confess my dependence on
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 317

thee, and offer thee with all my heart my

humble services.
King of ages! Immortal and invisible!
Glory be to thee !
Bet of SRummts*
Taught, as I have been, by thy words, 0
my God! I know, and with a certainty
which my reason and senses could never
have given me, that thou art really and
truly present on this thy holy altar.
Thou hast said it: "This is my body;
this is my blood. "
My whole being thrills at these words. I,
a poor sinner, all marked with the sores of
my iniquities, and still fighting with passions
but half subdued, I am in thy holy presence !
And thou, the great God, the Creator of
mankind, thou art in our midst!
At such a truth as this, what else can I
do than cry out with the Centurion of the
Gospel: "Lord, I am not worthy! "
And yet, I hear thee saying also those
other words: "Unless you are with me, you
shall not have life in you."
This life, I would have, 0 Jesus! and
didst thou not work all thy mysteries, in
order that we might have life?
What, then, can I do, but take shelter in
the depths of humility, think of my own
318 CORPUS CHRISTI,

vileness, be mindful of the pool of sin that

exists within me, and acknowledge the
infinite distance that is between myself and
thee, 0 my Redeemer and my Judge?
I know that then thou wilt have pity on
my misery, and wilt say but one word, and
my soul shall be healed.
Say, I beseech thee, that word which is
to comfort my heart.
Till thou sayest it, I dare not raise mine
eyes towards thine altar ; I can but tremble
in thy august presence.
Sin has so long tyrannized over me j its
consequences are still upon me; it has
given me such dangerous tendencies : and I
am so weak in resisting its bidding.
When my first parent sinned, he hid him-
self, lest ho should meet thee; and thou
biddest me come unto thy holy altar.
Can this be ! Art thou not the infinitely
holy God?
I must needs yield and come, for thou
art my Sovereign Master; and who is there,
that resist eth thy will ?
I come, then, humbling myself even to
my very nothingness, before thee, and be-
seeching thee to pardon my coming, for I
come because thou wilt have it.
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 319

Bet of %ovc.
0 my J esus ! such is thy love for us in
this world, that, as thyself hast said, thou
art come not to judge but to save.
1 should not satisfy thee, in this happy
adoration-hour, were I to offer thee but the
salutary fear which has led me to thy sacred
feet, and the shame-stricken conscience
which makes me tremble in thy holy pres-
ence.
The Sacrament which our tabernacles
enclose, is the Sacrament of thy love, and
it requires of us love more than anything
else.
Thou, 0 Lord! hast said that he loves
most to whom most has been forgiven. My
heart, then, must dare to love thee; it must
love thee with all its warmth; the very
recollection of its past disloyality must
make its loving thee more fervent.
Ah ! sweet Lord ! behold this poor heart
of mine; strengthen it, console it; drive
away its fears ; make it feel that thou art
its Jesus. It has come back to thee because
it feared thee; if it loves thee, it will never
again leave thee.
Nothing but my love will satisfy thee, O
infinite Treasure! Thou hast ever loved me,
thou art still loving me ; I must love thee
in return.
320 COEPUS CHRIST!.

Thou hast borne witn me ; thou hast for-

given me ; thou art overpowering me with
honors and riches ; and all this out of love
for me ! The only return thou askest of me
is my love.
I will, therefore, summon all the energies
of my heart, to tell thee that I love thee ;
that thy love for me has emboldened me ;
that I belong to thee; that I love thee
above everything else that I love ; and that
henceforth all my joy and happiness shall be
in pleasing thee, and doing whatever thou
askest of me.
Bet of ©biatton*
I know, O dear Jesus! that what thou
askest of me is not the passing sentiment
of a heart excited by the thought of thy
goodness towards it.
Thou hast loved me from eternity ; thou
didst love me even when I was doing nothing
for thee; thou hast given me light to
know my miseries ; thou hast shielded me
against thine own angry justice; thou hast
pardoned me a countless number of times ;
— and all these works of thy almighty hand
have been for but one end — to make me
give myself to thee, and live, at last, but
for thee.
Thou dwellest for me on this holy altar;
 PKAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACKAMENT. 321

thou givest me so often thy precious body

and blood, solely to induce me to give my-
self unreservedly to thee.
0 Bread! which came down from heaven,
henceforth thou shalt be the source of my
life.
1 give my life unto thee ; I dedicate unto
thee my soul, my body, my faculties, my
whole being.
Do thou direct and govern me. I resign
myself entirely into thy hands.
I am blind, but thy light will guide me ;
I am week, but thy power will uphold me ;
I am inconstant, but thy unchangeableness
will give me stability.
He that loves Grod, lives for him ; I love
thee, O Jesus! therefore, I will live for thee.
I am thine, O Grod of my heart ! as thou
art mine; mine so often in holy Com-
munion; mine constantly in the tabernacle.

Bet of TCbanftsgipino for tbe flnstttution

of tbe 3BIesset> Sacrament.
0 my divine Saviour J esus Christ ! it was
not enough for thine infinite love to die as
a victim for our sins, upon the cross.
In the excess of thy love, thou wouldst
go still further, and leave to every one that
believes in thee a memorial of thy love;
322 CORPUS CHRISTI.

and place a means in his hands whereby he

may unite himself in love with thee. And
what has thy divine wisdom done to effect
this!
Thou hast done that which is past belief,
and changed the bread which is our daily
nourishment into thy own flesh, that we
may feed upon thyself, and being by this
heavenly food united to thee, may become
changed into thee.
Thou hast willed to become the food of
our soul: its daily spiritual bread. This
stupendous, this incomprehensible miracle
is a work of thy boundless love. And this
boundless love keeps thee a prisoner in the
holy tabernacle.
There thou remainest in the form of
bread, to enter every soul that desires thee,
and bestow on it the true life.
What thanks, O Jesus! are due to thee
for this love?
For thousands of years, the human race
was in expectation of the favors which thou
hast bestowed upon us.
Abraham, the father of believers; Moses,
thy much loved friend; David, the inspired
chanter of thy mysteries : — all sighed after
it in vain. And this bread of Angels has
come down from heaven for us — for me!
Oh, unheard of goodness of a Grod! who
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 323

can measure its length and breadth, or scan

its height , or fathom its depth?
These expressions of thy Apostle, 0
Jesus! regarding the mystery of our altars,
teach me what is the value of the wondrous
gift thou hast bestowed upon mankind.
With what humble and lively gratitude
should it not, then, be adored!
Thou hast not been deterred, either by
our nothingness; or the coldness of our
feelings; or our infidelities: be thou, there-
fore, forever blessed, O Lord! that thou
hast overstepped every limit, and removed
every obstacle.
I give thee thanks for the institution of thy
most holy Sacrament. Deign to enlighten
me that I may understand more and more
the magnificence of thy gift. Deign to
cherish within me the sentiment of love,
that my desire to visit thee may thus be
increased; that I may know how to honor,
as I ought, thy presence on our altars; and
that I may never dare to approach thee out
of custom, but always bring with me the
profoundest respect due to thee.
Salutations to tbe Blesseb Sacra*
merit
Hail! noble body and most precious blood
of my Lord Jesus Christ, here truly present
324 CORPUS CHKISTI.

under the form of bread ! I adore thee with

the same devotion and fervor as the nine
choirs of Angels adore thee. I prostrate-
myself before thee, and acknowledge that
thou art indeed the bread of life and the
food of our souls.
Hail! all- worthy body of Jesus Christ,
my Redeemer, the true living sacrifice that
was consummated on the trunk of the holy
cross! I adore thee in the name of all
creatures, and give thee thanks for the love
which, for our salvation, thou dost here
conceal.

Hail!*of0 Jesus
bread Christ,
heaven, Word
sweet foodof the Father,
of Angels,
fountain of true blessedness, lamb of God,
salvation of the world, holiest of sacrifices,
by which heaven was reconciled with earth !
I salute and bless thee, thou most worthy
divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ,
hidden in this small form for the consolation
of our souls. I praise and exalt thee ; I give
thee glory to all eternity.
Mayest thou be praised, O most wonderful
Sacrament of the Altar! with as much
praise as there are stars in heaven, sparks
in the fire, dust in the air, drops in the sea,
or grains of sand on the earth; with as
much praise as there are flowers in the
spring, fruits in the summer, leaves in the
 PRAYEKS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 325

autumn , flakes of snow in the winter , and

creatures in heaven and on earth. For
thou art worthy of such praise, O God! who
art here truly hidden under the form of
bread.
Mayest thou be praised, 0 most holy
Sacrament of the Altar! with as much
praise as can be offered up in works, spoken
by words of mouth, conceived in thought,
desired in heart, and as can be in any
manner laid hold of, and explained by the
understanding of Angels and men. For
thou art worthy of such praise, O Lord!
who givest us as food thy most holy flesh,
and as drink thy most holy blood.
Mayest thou be praised, 0 most divine
Sacrament of the Altar! with as much
praise as the most holy Trinity can ever
bring forth with its power, can seize with
its wisdom, invent by its reason, or wish or
desire by its goodness, in every way, in all
places, at all times, and in all eternity. For
thou art worthy of such praise, O Lord!
who in this Sacrament dost give us to
partake not only of thy humanity, but also
of thy divinity.
Saluted, praised, and blessed be, there-
fore, the most holy Sacrament of the Altar!
Amen.
326 CORPUS CHKISTI.

In this Sacrament, sweet Jesus!

Thou dost give thy flesh and blood,
With thy soul and Grod-head also,
As our own most precious food.

Yes, dear Jesus! I believe it,

And thy presence I adore,
And with all my heart I love thee,
May I love thee more and more !

Come, sweet Jesus! in thy mercy

Q-ive thy flesh and blood to me :
Come to me, O dearest Jesus!
Come, my souPs true life to be.

Come ! that I may live forever,

Thou in me, and I in thee ;
Living thus, I shall not perish,
But shall live eternally.

Conclusion*

0 my Lord ! my heart has been inflamed

anew by the conversation which I had with
thee during this hour.
1 have had the happiness to speak to
thee, O my Creator and Redeemer! and
thou hast deigned to incline thine ear, and
listen to my unworthy prayer.
 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 327

0 Jesus! I thank thee for thy infinite

goodness, and pray thee never to let me
forget thy presence in our midst.
How great is thy love for us, 0 Lord!
which keeps thee a prisoner in the taber-
nacles of our churches.
Let thy holy dwelling among us be the
centre of all my thoughts and actions, the
object of all my love and desires.
Let me live united with thee in the Sacra-
ment of Love, that I may one day be found
worthy to adore thee in heaven.
O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
ft. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
y . Let us bless the Lord!
Tfy. Thanks be to Grod.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
Amen.
jfeast of tbe Sacreb Ibeavt

of Jesus.

>~\ O Lord! thou wilt open my Eps, thy

Py. And my mouth shall declare
praise.
T. 0 God! incline unto my aid.
R. 0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
Bboration,

^OME, let us adore the sacred heart of

Jesus.
That heart which has loved us so much,
and which was wounded for our iniquities ;
that heart which has poured forth the last
drop of its sacred blood for our salvation.
Come, let us adore the sacred heart of
Jesus in the most blessed Sacrament ; the
heart of the God-man ; the heart so full of
mercy and goodness; the heart which is
always praying for us; the source of all
graces.
Let us adore this most holy heart, with
all the love and strength of our hearts.
(328)
 PRAY EES TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 329

Let us render the sacred heart the homage

of our humble adoration and thanksgiving.
Come, let us unite with the Angels and
Saints of heaven, and sing with them the
praises of the heart of our Saviour.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
Praised and adored be without end:
The sacred heart of Jesus in the most
blessed Sacrament.

IReparattoru
O divine heart of Jesus! heart in the
sacred Host! heart offered as a victim !
royal and magnificent heart towards which
ungrateful men show only forgetfulness,
indifference and contempt: permit me to
consecrate this hour to thee, and to make
reparation for all the treasons, sacrileges
and insults, of which thou art the adorable
victim in the Sacrament of Love.
Suffer me during this hour to make satis-
faction for the crimes of sinners; for the
hatred of the impious ; for the blasphemies
uttered against thee, for the sacrileges which
profane thy adorable Sacrament; for the
irreverence committed in thy sacred pres-
ence for
; the coldness of the greater part of
330 FEAST OF THE SS. HEAKT OF JESUS.

thy children; for the abuse of thy grace;

for my own unfaithfulness ; for the hardness
of my heart ; for my long delay in loving
thee ; for my tepidity in thy holy service.
0 Jesus, divine Saviour! from whose
heart came forth this bitter complaint : "I
looked for one that would comfort me, and
I found none/' graciously accept the feeble
consolation I offer thee.
Thy heart is not only outraged by infidels,
Jews, and heretics, but even those who call
themselves thy people and thy children
seem to unite with thy enemies, to fill up
the measure of their crimes and sorrow.

1 myself, O my Grod ! have often contrib-

uted to thy sadness by my ingratitude, my
irreverences, and other profanations.
0 amiable Saviour! whose heart is always
open to welcome us, graciously forgive these
our sins.
Pardon my weak faith, my insensibility,
my coldness and all the offences and crimes
by which mankind has ever offended and
continues to offend thee every moment.
Deign to receive this humble reparation,
for it comes from a heart, which, in future,
shall be entirely devoted to the love of thy
sacred heart.
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 331

To Christ, the prince of peace,

And Son of Grod most high,
The Father of the world to come,
Sing we with holy joy.

Deep in his heart for us

The wound of love he bore :
That love, wherewith he still inflames
The hearts that him adore.

0 Jesus, victim blest!

What else, but love divine,
Could thee constrain to open thus
That sacred heart of thine?

0 fount of endless life !

0 spring of waters clear!
0 flame celestial, cleansing all
Who unto thee draw near.

Hide me in thy dear heart ,

For thither do I fly ;
There seek thy grace through life,
In death thine immortality.

Praise to the Father be,

And sole begotten Son ;
Praise, holy Paraclete,to thee;
While endless ages run.
332 FEAST OF THE SS. HEART OF JSEUS.

Salutations to tbe Sacret) Ibeart of

Jesus.
Hail, heart of my Jesus — save me !
Hail, heart of my Creator — perfect me!
Hail, heart of my Saviour — deliver me!
Hail, heart of my Judge — pardon me !
Hail, heart of my Father — govern me!
Hail, heart of my Spouse — love me!
Hail, heart of my Master — teach me !
Hail, heart of my King — crown me!
Hail, heart of my Benefactor — enrich me !
Hail, heart of my Pastor — keep me !
Hail, heart of my Friend — caress me!
Hail, heart of the infant Jesus — attract
me !
Hail, heart of Jesus dying on the cross —
atone for me !
Hail, heart of Jesus in all its conditions
— give thyself to me !
Hail, heart of my brother — remain with
me!
Hail, heart of incomparable goodness —
forgive me!
Hail, heart most glorious — shine forth
in me!
Hail, heart most amiable — inflame me!
Hail, heart most charitable — work in me!
Hail, heart most merciful — answer for
me!
 PRAYERS TO THE S.S. HEART OF JESUS. 333

Hail, heart most humble — repose in me !

Hail, heart most patient — bear with me!
Hail, heart most faithful — make satis-
faction for me !
Hail, heart most adorable and most wor-
thy — bless me !
Hail, heart most peaceful — calm me !
Hail, heart most desirable and most
beautiful — delight me !
Hail, heart most illustrious and most
perfect — e noble me !
Hail, heart most holy and balm most
precious — preserve and sanctify me !
Hail, heart most holy and salutary —
reform me !
Hail, heart most blessed, true physician
and remedy for all ills — heal me !
Hail, heart of Jesus, consolation of the
afflicted — comfort me!
Hail, heart of Jesus, ardent furnace
burning with love — consume me !
Hail, heart of Jesus, model of perfection
— enlighten me !
Hail, divine heart, source of happiness —
strengthen me!
Hail, heart of eternal benediction — call
me to thee !
334 FEAST OF THE SS. HEART OF JESUS.

Unvocatioua to tbc Sacreb Ibeart.

Divine heart of Jesus! thou lovest nie;
grant that I may also love thee: sweetest
heart of Jesus ! I implore that I may love
thee more and more.
Divine heart of Jesus! thou always
thinkest of me; grant, that I may often
think of thee.
Divine heart of J esus ! possess my heart ;
possess my imagination ; possess my mem-
ory.
i)ivine heart of Jesus ! grant, that I may
seek thee alone in all things; that I may
find thee in all things ; confide in thee for
all things ; please thee in all things.
0 divine heart of Jesus! mayest thou
reign in all hearts.
Heart of Jesus! perfect adorer of God,
teach me to adore the heavenly Father with
thee and through thee.
Heart of Jesus! infinitely humble, annihi-
late my pride.
Heart of Jesus ! perfect model of meek-
ness, inspire we with that salutary virtue.
Heart of Jesus ! infinitely pure and spot-
less, give me an inviolable purity of body,
mind and heart.
Heart of Jesus! full of zeal for the glory
of the heavenly Father, animate my heart
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 335

with an ardent zeal for thy glory and my

own sanctification.
Heart of Jesns ! heart full of sorrow and
bitterness on account of our sins, make
reparation for my sins, and help me to
avoid them,
Heart of J esus ! be thou my heart.
O Jesus! I desire to adore, love and
thank thy Father with thy heart.
O Jesus! I desire to adore, love and
thank thee; ask pardon, pray, serve and
follow thee, with thine own heart.
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like unto thine.
O Jesus! infinite goodness, open to us thy
divine heart ; let us regard it as the centre
of our happiness, and suffer not that sin
should ever separate us from thee.

ibomaae to tbe Sacteb Ibeart*

O my Jesus! Son of the eternal Father

become man, from thy most sacred heart
flows every blessing, ail repose, all pleasure,
all peace, all joy, all delight, every charm,
all goodness, as from the most eminent
fountain.
Thy heart is the seat of every virtue.
Thy heart is the delight of thy Father ; the
joy of Angels and Saints. Thy holy heart
336 FEAST OF THE SS. HEAET OF JESUS.

is the altar on which the most perfect sacri-

fice of praise , thanksgiving and adoration
may be offered to the most holy Trinity.
Nothing in heaven, and nothing on earth,
is more beautiful, more glorious, purer,
sweeter, more full of delight than thy heart,
It is the object of love, veneration and
adoration of the whole heavenly court, and
of all pure souls on earth.
O who will give me words that I may
offer to this most sacred heart the homage
which is due to it? "Where shall I find
language to express the feelings of my in-
most soul, when I consider thy most loving
heart, O Jesus !
Behold ! in profound reverence, I prostrate
myself before thee, and worship thy most
lovely, most sweet heart, and offer to it all
the praise and glory it deserves.
0 that with my own blood, I could wash
away the insults which have already
wounded thy most loving heart, that I
might mitigate the pains occasioned by so
many sins !
O my Jesus! accept my desires. I know
that I am too miserable to afford thee any
compensation by my homage and adoration.
Instead of this, look favorably upon the
hymns of praise offered by all pious souls.
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 33?

and by all the saints in heaven, who love

thee so intensely, and rejoice thee so greatly.
With these, I unite my desires and
exclaim: "Praised, adored, and loved be,
for ever and everywhere, the sacred heart
of my Jesus! ?? Amen.

Bet of Consecration to tbe Sacrefc

Heart,
0 Jesus! Word of God made flesh, Son
of the eternal Father from all eternity, and
in time, Son of the immaculate Virgin
Mary! our Saviour and Eedeemer!
Behold here, at thy feet, thy unworthy
servant, who is about to consecrate himself
(herself) again to thy most sacred, and by
love and grief wounded heart.
Through this consecration I openly testify,
that I wish to believe all that the holy,
Catholic Church believes and teaches con-
cerning thy heart, O good Jesus! and the
honor due to the same.
Therefore, I adore this most sacred heart,
because, with the remainder of thy body
and soul, it is inseparably united with thy
divine nature.
1 honor and love this heart which is
worthy of the highest honor and love ; for
it is indeed the sanctuary and centre of all
338 FEAST OF THE SS. HEART OF JEST'S.

the divine solicitude for the glory of the

Eternal Father, and the salvation of man-
kind.
I thank thee, 0 sweetest Jesus! with my
whole heart; and in union with all the
Saints who were, are, and ever shall be, I
praise thee &nd thy most amiable heart on
account of the immeasurable treasures of
grace, which thou hast unceasingly poured
forth from it, and continually pourest forth
upon me, upon the Church, and over the
whole world.
But I beseech thee also with all the Saints,
to forgive me and all mankind, for having
repaid thy unspeakable love, and the num-
berless benefits of thy most amiable heart,
with slothfulness, ingratitude, yea even
with sin.
And further I promise, that I now. con-
secrated to thy wounded heart, will with
increased diligence and care strive to make
my heart as much as I am able conformable
to thy heart, by purity of intention, con-
tempt of the world, constant mortification,
patience in sufferings, and the fulfillment of
the duties I have to discharge.
And as I am a child of that holy Church,
which was born in thy heart, and came
forth from thy opened side. I further, there-
fore, promise, with thy assistance, not only
 PEAYEKS TO THE SS. HEAKT OF JESUS. 339

never to neglect my duties, but also by

example and prayer to endeavor to lead all
hearts to thy Church, at the same time
drawing them to the love of thy sweetest
heart.
Lastly I promise that in future I shall be
entirely intent on making reparation, by
praise and thanksgiving, mortification,
patience, and the devout offering of holy
Masses and Communions, for the sins by
which many ungrateful persons, particularly
by manifold profanation of the holy Eucha-
rist, offer outrage to thy amiable heart.
O divine heart worthy of infinite love and
adoration! O wounded and bleeding heart
of Jesus! 0 heart of love! Behold, I com-
mend myself to thee; I unite myself to
thee ; in thee I enclose myself and all that
I have and am.
Purify me in thy blood ; imprint on me
the indelible sign of thy cross, that I may
always and everywhere prove myself worthy
of my holy vocation ; Worthy of all the Saints
in heaven j yes worthy of thy most sacred
heart, to which I have consecrated myself.
O Jesus, my crucified love ! This I humbly
ask of thee through the merits of thy pierced
heart, of the ever blessed, immaculate
Virgin, thy and my Mother, and through
the intercession of all the Saints, who while
340 FEAST OF THE SSt HEAET OF JESUS.

on earth, were especially devoted to thy

adorable heart.

IDaricus ]pra$er0.
O adorable heart of my Jesus! heart
created expressly for the love of men ! Until
now I have shown towards thee only in-
gratitude.
How is it possible, 0 sweetest heart! that
I do not die of sorrow for my sins, and ail
ardent love for thee! Through thy tears
and thy blood, give me the grace of perse-
verence in thy fervent love till to the end.
Almighty God ! who by the power of the
Holy Ghost didst form the holy and spotless
heart of Jesus, which was conceived for us
in the womb of the blessed Virgin, withdraw
from our hearts all worldly inclinations,
and make them pure in thy sight.
O Jesus! who dwelling on earth didst
converse with men with a meekness and
humility capable of engaging the hearts of
all, I beseech thee to increase in me those
two amiable virtues, which thou didst hold
so dear, that following thy example, I may
find the rest which thou promisest to the
meek and humble of heart .
O adorable Saviour! whose sacred heart,
full of sorrow and bitterness, has many
times bewailed the guilty pleasures of men,
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 341

grant, I beseech thee, that by making my

heart conformable to thine, I may despise
the allurements of the world and the flesh,
and may thus deserve to share in thy ever-
lasting glory and happiness,
O divine Redeemer! who art the glory
and the happy centre of all hearts, and who
didst say that thou wouldst draw all things
to thyself; I beseech thee, to purify my
heart by the fire of thy divine love, and to
draw it to thee by the bond of thy charity.
Imprint, O divine heart! thyself like a
seal on my heart, that I may ever remember
my obligations, and never be separated from
thee.
May my name ever be fixed and engraven
on thee, O book of life, 0 divine heart of
my Redeemer ! that I may merit to praise
and glorify thee for all eternity.

O heart of Jesus, purest heart!

Altar of holiness thou art,
Cleanse thou my heart, so sordid, cold,
And stained by sins so manifold.

Take from me, Lord! this tepid will,

Which doth thy heart with loathing fill ;
And then infuse a spirit new,
A fervent spirit, deep and true.
12
342 FEAST OF THE SS. HEAET OF JESUS,

Most humble heart of all that beat !

Heart full of goodness, meek and sweet !
Give me a heart more like to thine.
And light the flame of love in mine.

But, ah! were e'en my heart on fire

"With all the
Till love Seraphims' proved,
a conflagration desire,
Not yet wouldst thou enough be loved.

That, therefore, thou mayest worthily

Be loved, O loving Lord! by me,
That love which in thy heart doth burn,
Give me to love thee in return.

May this thy love's most fiery dart

Strike deep and set on fire my heart,
And in that burning may it be
Dissolved and all-consumed in thee.

Xttan^ of tbe Sac^ Heart of 3e6us,

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 343

God, the Father of heaven,*)

God, the Son Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the
blessed Virgin,
Heart of Jesus, reposing on the bosom of
the blessed Virgin,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well
pleased,
Heart of Jesus, hypostatieally united to the
Son of God,
Heart of Jesus, wonderful work of the Holy
Ghost,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the blessed
Trinity,
Heart of Jesus, furnace of love,
Heart of Jesus, source of sweetness,
Heart of Jesus, miracle of obedience,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of humility,
Heart of Jesus, ocean of goodness,
Heart of Jesus, infinite patience,
Heart of Jesus, full of wisdom,
Heart of Jesus, full of grace and truth,
Heart of Jesus, mighty in word and work.
Heart of Jesus, inflamed with zeal for the
glory of God,

*) Have mercy on us.

344 FEAST OF THE SS. HEART OF JESUS.

Heart of Jesus, working miracles every-

where,*)
Heart of Jesus , refuge of the afflicted,
Heart of Jesus, always solicitous for sinners,
Heart of Jesus, full of forbearance for thy
enemies,
Heart of J esus, overwhelmed with bitterness,
Heart of Jesus, suffering in the garden,
Heart of Jesus, sad even unto death,
Heart of Jesus , betrayed by Judas,
Heart of Jesus, afflicted by the cowardice of
thy Apostles,
Heart of Jesus, comforted by an Angel,
Heart of Jesus, submissive to the will of the
Father,
Heart of Jesus, suffering every kind of in-
justice,
Heart of Jesus, abandoned to the fury of
thy enemies,
Heart of Jesus, loaded with indignity,
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto the death of
the cross,
Heart of J esus, victim ftmlj sacrificed for us.
Heart of Jesus, speaking through a thousand
wounds,
Heart of Jesus, crying by the voice of thy
blood,
Heart of Jesus, disarming divine justice,
Heart of Jesus, praying for thy enemies,
*) Have mercy on us.
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 345

Heart of Jesus, thirsting for our salvation,*)

Heart of Jesus, exhausted of blood,
Heart of Jesus, dying of love for us,
Heart of Jesus, breaking on the cross for us,
Heart of Jesus, finishing the work of our
redemption,
Heart of Jesus, reconciling heaven with earth ,
Heart of Jesus, pierced and opened by the
lance,
Heart of Jesus, from whence issued the
holy Church, thy spouse,
Heart of Jesus, paradise of crucified souls,
Heart of Jesus, hope of the dying,
Heart of Jesus, risen from the dead,
Heart of Jesus, glorious and triumphant,
Heart of Jesus, the glory of Mary,
Heart of Jesus, the splendor of the Father,
Heart of Jesus, the honor of the blessed
Trinity,
Heart of Jesus, placed at the right hand of
the Father,
Heart of Jesus, purifying the Angels,
Heart of Jesus, sanctifying the Archangels,
Heart of Jesus, confirming the Thrones,
Heart of Jesus, governing the Dominations,
Heart of Jesus, reigning over the Princi-
palities,
Heart of Jesus, commanding the Powers,
Heart of Jesus, strength of the Virtues,
*) Have mercy on us.
346 FEAST OF THE SB. HEART OF JESUS.

Heart of Jesus, enlightening the Cherubim ,

Heart of Jesus, inflaming the Seraphim,
Heart of Jesus, the Drown of all Saints,
Heart of Jesus, living and glorious, though
concealed, in the blessed Sacrament,
Heart of Jesus, adored on our altars by all
devout souls,
Heart of Jesus, surrounded by millions of
Angels,
Heart of Jesus, profaned and despised by
the wicked,
Heart of Jesus, cruelly treated by Jews,
Heretics, and Christians,
Heart of Jesus, always praying for us in
the tabernacle,
Heart of Jesus, our consolation in our trials
and afflictions,
Heart of Jesus, inexhaustible source of all
graces and blessings,
Lamb of Grod, who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of Grod, etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord !
f. O most sacred heart of Jesus, have
mercy upon us,
1^. That we may worthily adore thee in
the Sacrament of Love.
*) Have mercy on us.
 PRAYERS TO THE SS. HEART OF JESUS. 347

LET US PRAY,

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty G-od!

that we who glory in the most sacred heart
of thy beloved Son, and commemorate the
singular benefits of his love towards us,
may rejoice both in their accomplishment
and in the fruit thereof. Through the same
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Conclusion.

0 my loving Redeemer! before I leave

thy sacred altar, I enclose myself in thy
adorable heart.
1 glorify and praise thee for all the bene-
fits which thy most glorious divinity and
thy blessed humanity have ever wrought in
mankind through thy sacred heart.
Let a ray of the love from thy own loving
heart sink into my poor heart, that it may
love thee above all.
And do thou, O heavenly Father! accept
these my humble prayers, in union with
that love and fervor with which thy only
Son Jesus offered thee all his actions, from
his birth until his painful death upon the
cross.
May the sacred heart of Jesus graciously
supply whatever has been wanting in my
devotions !
348 FEAST OF THE SS. HEART OF JESUS.

0 heart of Jesus, in the blessed Sacra-

ment! be praised, adored and loved with
grateful affection, at every moment, in all
the tabernacles of the world, even to the
end of time.
Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and
St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
fy. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord.
^. Thanks be to God.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
1^. Amen.
 jFeasts of the Bleseeb

prerogatives of tbe Blesaeb IDlroin.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.
1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Grod! incline unto my aid.
fy. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
Bboration*
Come, let us adore Jesus Christ, the Son
of Grod from all eternity, and born of
the blessed Virgin Mary in time.
Come, let us most humbly adore him, in
the blessed Sacrament; let us praise and
glorify him.
Let us pay our homage to the Lord, who
called Mary by the sweet name of Mother.
Let us unite ourselves with her to whom
we are indebted for the adorable victim of
our altars, and who was the first to adore
him in the crib.
His flesh is of her flesh ; his blood of her
(349)
350 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

blood; let us glorify him and praise his

most holy Mother.
Let our voices blend with those of the
Angels in our praise and adoration of the
Most High, and in extolling their holy queen.
With them let us say with great devotion :
Praised and adored be without end:
Jesus, the Son of Mary, in the most holy
Sacrament!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparattcm.
O Jesus ! I believe that thou art the Son
of Grod, born of thy heavenly Father before
all ages, equal to him in all things, the
Lord of heaven and earth.
But seeing the misery, into which the sin
of our first parents had plunged us, and
that we had lost heaven, and were doomed
to hell, thou hadst compassion on us, and
didst resolve to redeem us.
Thou earnest down from heaven, and lo!
didst take flesh in the chaste womb of the
Virgin Mary, and wast born of her.
In this way thou becamest her Son, and
she thy Mother; all for the love of man.
 PREEOGATIYES OF THE B. V. M. 351

But alas! the majority of mankind has

no thanks for thy great love !
They do not know thee, nor do they
acknowledge what thou hast done for them.
They even reject thy very presence
amongst us; have no faith in the blessed
Sacrament; and ignore thee entirely.
Nay. even I myself have often offended
thee, and have repaid thy love with coldness
and ingratitude.
For these our sins, 0 Lord! I humbly
ask pardon and forgiveness. Turn thy face
away from them; look not at our crimes,
but at thy immaculate Mother.
Remember the love thou bearest to her
remember what she has done for thee ; and
that she is always interceding for us.
If, therefore, my prayers are not worthy
to be heard ; attend at least to her supplica-
tions, and grant us the desired mercy and
forgiveness.

Hail, bright star of ocean ,

God's own Mother blest!
Ever sinless Virgin.
Grate of heavenly rest !
352 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Taking that sweet Ave

Which from Grabriel came.
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.

Break the captives fetters ,

Light on blindness pour ;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a mother ;

May the Word divine,
Born for us thine Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine,

Virgin all excelling,

Mildest of the mild!
Freed from guilt, preserve us
Meek and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,

Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy forevermore.

Through the highest heaven,

To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son and Spirit,
One same glory be.
 PREROGATIVES OP THE B. V. M. 353

Zhc Hmmaculate Conception of tbe

Let every heart, that is devout, now raise

itself, and devoutly celebrate the conception
of the Virgin ever blessed.
Let the mind be inflamed with love, and
let praise and jubilee unite with love.
In her admirable conception, she is a rose
in its beauty; she is a lily in its whiteness.
As fruit that comes from the flower, so
was Mary brought forth in her purity, for
her Son hath possession of her from the
first.
As a dew-drop contracts not a stain from
the earth whereon it is formed, so was Mary
unstained by original sin, when she was
conceived in her mother's womb.
Let us, then, sing our sweetest hymns, in
praise of a cloudless brightness, the Immac-
ulate Conception.
Put on all your joys, ye choirs of earth!
and sing of her that was a daughter of
Adam, but not of sin.
Mary went forth from the root of Jesse ;
she was conceived without sin, and the head
of the old serpent was crushed by her.
The Word of the Father is made living
flesh ; a spotless virgin is his mother ; not
made so by the ordinary laws of wedlock,
354 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Iff.

but by the overshadowing of that bright

Spirit who is Grod, yet chooses Mary for his
spouse.
Here is the cause of that ancient hate,
that everlasting quarrel between the serpent
and man — that now the crouching viper is
crushed by the woman's feet.
The Virgin that was made worthy to be
the mother of God, triumphs over all the
poisons of Satan. The green monster , now
sluggish and disabled, coils his huge folds
round himself, and on the grass vomits out
his venom.
Well may the fierce wolf tremble, and flee
from the dear white lambs of the fold.
Sulky and vexed, he prowls around the
enclosure wherein they safely browse, he
dare not think of blood, nor show his rabid
teeth.
0 wonderful change! the lamb commands
the lion, and the heavenly dove, in her
descent to earth, makes the ravenous eagle
flutter through the clouds and the wind.
Where is the man with words sublime
enough to tell the gifts bestowed on the
Virgin, by whom life was restored to the
world, which was prisoner in the snare of
the old death?
She is the branch of Jesse; the garden
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 355

wherein grew the divine plant; the holy

fountain sealed with the mysterious gifts.
Our first parent brought death on himself
by drinking in the poison of the wicked
serpent ; thence came the pestilence on all
mankind, and it was mortal.
But the Creator of the world took com-
passion on man; and seeing the womb of
the Virgin, that was pure from sin, it is by
her he decrees to convey the joys of salva-
tion to the world that languished in crime.
The Creator was born in her — in his
own ; — the sceptre was wrested from the
hands of the dreaded enemy ; a new light
shone through the whole world.
With justice do we then rejoice over the
conception of Mary.
The Virgin Mother is begotten; she, the
sweet source of pardon, is conceived.
It was the remedy of those two evils : the
long exile of Adam, and the disgrace of
Joachim.
It was this that the inspiring grace of
God made the Prophets foretell, and the
Patriarchs foresee.
There is conceived Jesse's branch, that
was to produce a flower ; the star that was
to bring forth the sun.
Who is the flower that was to rise from
356 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

the branch ; who is the sun that was to be

born from the star, but Christ, our Lord!
O happy and glorious Conception: so
welcome to us, and so dear to Grod!
Misery is at an end; mercy is given to
us : sadness is succeded by joy.
That which was heretofore hid under the
thick cloud of figures, is now made manifest
by the daughter of the holy Anne.
He that is the source of true light, brought
up this branch from the root of Jesse ; and
his wisdom has made her the temple of his
grace.
It is a new rising of a new star, at which
our death dies; it is now, that what was
lost by the fall of Eve, is found again in
Mary.
This is the holy Virgin that is described
as the aurora, rising as the lovely moon, as
the sun, the brightest of orbs.
O Virgin Mother, Virgin of virgins,
fragrant cloud of smoke, in thee both
heaven and earth delight.
Truly, then, thou art the cause of our joy
and hope. Oh! pray, that after running the
race of this present life, we may receive the
looked for prize in heaven.
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 357

£be fiDotberboot) of tbe Bleesefc

May all heaven and earth be glad, and

resound with the praises which are sung to
the maternity of the Virgin.
Yea, this Virgin, Mother of the Word, is
made the gate of heaven : she gave Grod to
the world, and by this opened heaven to us.
This happy Mother of Jesus conceived
him without humiliation, and bore him
without a moan ; such a mother could not
be under the law put on Eve.
O that rich treasury of Mary's womb! it
held the price which purchased our redemp-
tion, setting us free from the yoke of our
debt.
The Son of the eternal Father dwelt
within her ; the Holy Grhost overshadowed
her; what is such a Virgin's womb but a
new-made heaven?
The King of kings is born of the Virgin ;
the Sun is born of a star.
The Sun knows no setting; the star is
ever shining, ever bright.
As a star gives forth its ray, so does the
Virgin her child.
The star loses naught of its purity by the
ray it yields, so neither does the Virgin by
her child.
358 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Unhappy Eve was the cause of our ruin ;

but Mary brought forth a son, who redeemed
us sinners.
Death and life were thus strangely recon-
ciled: there reigns now God, the Son of
Mary.
It was by the Virgin-Mother, that man
was restored to the primeval state.
A Virgin brought forth our God, and the
ancient anger ceased.
Guilty man was drawn from the mire,
when God lay on his crib of straw.
The Virgin feeds the Creator — the Re-
deemer who had become her child; — divine
wisdom lay hidden in childhood.
The milk of the Mother's breast fed her
J esus ; her J esus feeds us with the milk of
his tender mercy.
Therefore, let our sweetest music give
our "Ave Maria" in sacred words and with
speaking hearts.
Hail ! Virgin ever blest, thou didst destroy
the curse. Hail! Mother of the Most High,
and spouse of the lamb most meek.
Thou didst conquer the serpent, and
crush his head, for the God that was born
of thee, was the serpent's death.
Thou art the couch of the King, and the
throne of the Almighty. Thou givest life
to him, who giveth life to us.
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 359

Mary hath the prerogative of other

mother's without their humiliations.
She conceived thee, O Jesus! but was a
virgin; she fed thee at her breasts, but was
a virgin. It was thy bidding, O Lord! and
at once the purest virgin was the perfect
mother.
She carries thee in her arms, and refreshed
with thy lovely sight, she feels no weight.
She gives thee food, for thou didst will to
hunger; she gives thee drink, for thou didst
will to thirst.
And when she willed to press thee to her
heart, thy love did temper down the burning
fire of thine infinite perfections, that she
might fondle thee and live.
Nature's laws were truly suspended in
thee, most pure Virgin! for thou remainest
a virgin after thy delivery, as thou wast
before it.
O spotless Mother of Grod! heal the
passions of my wretched soul; appease my
mind tossed by the attacks of my enemy as
with tempests, and bring, O Virgin Mother!
peace unto my heart.

Greeting to tbe Blessefc DtrQin.

Hail, Mary! sweet hope of the world!
Hail, gentle queen! Hail, loving mother!
Hail, full of grace!
360 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Hail, peerless virgin! imaged in the bush

that burned, yet was not burned.
Hail lovely rose ! Hail, Jesse's rod! whose
fruits broke the chains of our misery.
Hail, holy Mother! for whom Grod set
aside all nature's laws, and made thy virginal
womb bring forth his Son.
Hail matchless queen! it was thou that
didst make the long sad world rejoice.
Hail, virgin! of whom the King of heaven
would be born, and suck the food whereon
he deigned to live.
Hail, pearl! Hail, heavenly orb! Hail,
temple of the Holy Grhost !
Hail, flower of purity ; sanctuary of chas-
tity; mother of mercy!
Hail, gentle maid, source of life, beautiful
light! full of the dew of the sevenfold
Spirit ; adorned with all virtues and bloom-
ing in holiness of life !
Hail, fruitful mother! who givest birth
to the Son of Q-od, and yet remainest a
pure virgin.
Hail, gate open to none but God! Thou
bringest into the world the light of truth ;
the very sun of justice clad in human flesh.
Hail, thou beauty of the world, queen of
heaven, brilliant as the sun, lovely as the
moon's brightness! think of us all who love
thee.
 P&EKOGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 361

Hail, thou spouse of the divine Word!

haven of the sea ! burning bush ! cloud of
sweet aromatic spices !
Hail, most pure dwelling of spiritual light !
cause of our union with Grod! destroyer of
the curse! thou didst call from this exile
the children of this earth.
Hail, glorious, powerful, and sovereign
empress! noble mother and daughter of
Jesus! branch lovely in bloom! and leaf,
matured by the plentiful grace of God!
Hail, O star of the sea! Calm its storms,
and suffer not that they overwhelm us.
Defend us from sin in this present life, and
when our last hour comes, deliver us by thy
holy prayer from the abyss of hell, and
obtain for us the joys of heaven

petitions to tbe Blessed Dtrgtm

Look down upon us, O Queen of the

Angels7 kingdom! With thy Son, thou
reignest forever on the heavenly throne.
Sweet Mother Mary! truly sweet and
loving and most gentle !
Thou art as a fountain, full of love and
clemency ; and as a land flo wing with honey .
Thou mercifully aidest the sorrowing, to
obtain the forgiveness of their sins.
362 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

By thy prayers, the guilty one rises from

his abomination.
O mother of mercy! O singular hope of
the fallen! bear up, this day, to heaven, the
prayers and sighs of thy clients.
Restore us to the favor of our Emmanuel,
whom thou didst feed at thy sacred breasts,
and whose sweet infant limbs thou didst
warm.
Do thou, 0 mediatrix! appease him in
our regard.
By thy virtue, do thou obtain forgiveness
for the guilty, and bring courage to them
that fear.
Thou art our good, our merciful mother;
thou art our hope, O Mary!
Thou art the hope and refuge of humble
sinners; thou healest them whose hearts
are sick from crime; and thou winnest
salvation for them that repent.
Thou art the comfortress of the afflicted
and the support of the weak j the unclean
of heart ask thee to pray them pure ; and
souls discouraged get bravery from thee.
O Mary, full of motherly love! thou art
the sinner's advocate and the sweet consoling
hope of them that are in wretchedness.
Raise up the hearts of us thy clients, and
turn them to the holy joys of the heavenly
kingdom-,
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 363

Heal the wounds of my heart, O Virgin!

and direct the movements of my soul in a
bright and happy path, so that I may fulfill
(rod's will.
O Virgin! that lovest holy souls, make
mine holy, for it is depraved by the evil of
sin ; make it good, for thou hast given birth
to the good God and Lord.
Enlighten, O thou gate of light! the eyes
of my heart; send within me the bright
ray of compunction ; and deliver me from
eternal darkness.
Tossed by the troublesome attacks of my
passions, as by so many storms, and buffeted
by the blows of my sins as by angry billows ,
I lovingly fly to thy untiring protection, O
maid most worthy of all praise !
Turn the faculties of my soul, O most
pure one ! to the divine commandments of
him who shone forth from thy womb, and,
by thy prayers, deliver me from the storms
of this life's scandals.
0 Virgin Mother! thou pourest forth an
ever flowing stream on all who have recourse
to thee. Refresh us then by its plentiful
grace, that we may praise thy purest Son,
O purest maid! and extol him above all,
for ever.
364 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

0! be thou mindful, Mother most tender!

Ne'er was thine aid implored in vain;
Faint in the combat, lest we surrender,
Do thou our faltering hearts sustain.

In ages gone by, as all records declare,

cry, hast thou slighted the suppliant's
Not once
Nor shall ages that follow, thy mercies
impair ;
To all that invoke thee, sweet Mother!
thou'rt nigh.

For this, in the midst of my sin and my

dread,
At the thought of thy mercies, with hope
I'm inspired;
Oh Virgin ! thy Son on the cross for me bled,
Thy Son on the cross for my ransom expired.

Though countless and grievous the sins I

deplore,
Despair
flee; at thy name from my bosom shall
In thy love will I hope for my pardon once
more,
Oh! Virgin and Mother! I fly unto thee.
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 365

To my prayers and my sighs, blessed Mother !

give ear ?
And be thou as ever the penitents' friend,
Neath the shield of thy favor, no danger
Fll fear,
But with thee and thy Son hope to reign in
the end,

%ttan$ of tbe Sacred Ibeart of flDar^

Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Sacred Heart of Mary,**)
Heart of Mary, conceived without sin,
Well beloved Heart of the daughter of the
heavenly Father,
Most blessed Heart of Mary, mother of the
divine Son,
Chosen Heart of the spouse of the Holy
Ghost,
Amiable Heart of the mother of our Re-
deemer?

*) Have mercy on us,

**) Pray for us,
360 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Heart of Mary, seat of wiedoin,*)

Heart of Mary, mirror of justice,
Heart of Mary, throne of mercy,
Heart of Mary, containing all holiness,
Heart of Mary, ark of the covenant,
Heart of Mary, gate of heaven,
Heart of Mary, most glorious,
Heart of Mary, most powerful,
Heart of Mary, most merciful,
Heart of Mary, most faithful,
Heart of Mary, most praiseworthy,
Heart of Mary, most loving.
Heart of Mary, most meek,
Heart of Mary, most humble,
Heart of Mary, most patient,
Heart of Mary, pierced by sufferings for us,
Heart of Mary, light of the erring,
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners,
Heart of Mary, fortitude of the just,
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted,
Heart of Mary, strength in temptation,
Heart of Man', hope of the dying,
Heart of Mary, help in all tribulations.
Heart of Mary, pledge of the promises of
Jesus,
Heart of Mary, perfect holocaust of divine
love,
Heart of Mary, joy of all hearts.
Heart of Mary, admiration of the angels,
*) Pray for us.
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 367

Heart of Mary, delight of all the saints,*)

Heart of Mary, crowned with glory in
heaven,
0 sweetest, O mildest, 0 most beloved,
maternal heart of Mary,
Lamb of Grod! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord !
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Have mercy on us, O Lord!
y. Sacred Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Iy. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
PRAYER.
0 Grod of mercy! who hast filled the
sacred and immaculate heart of Mary with
most tender feelings of mercy and love,
grant, we beseech thee, that all who know
this virginal heart, may, by the merits
of the same, attain to a perfect conformity
of their inclinations to the most sacred-
heart of Jesus, and may preserve it until
death.
Conclusion*
0 blessed Mother of Grod, and my Mother !
graciously hear the prayers which I have
*) Pray for us.
368 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Iff.

directed to thee, and obtain for me, and all

those for whom I have prayed, Grod's mer-
ciful protection.
From thee, O most holy Virgin ! did Jesus
take the body which is present for us in the
tabernacle ; thou didst give him the blood
which he shed for us on the cross, and
which is daily offered in the holy sacrifice
of the Mass.
Obtain for us a special love for the G-od
of our altars, who is thy divine Son. Inter-
cede for us that we may direct our thoughts
and actions more and more to him, and
make the blessed Eucharist the centre of
our lives.
Mayest thou, 0 Jesus ! in the holy Sacra-
ment be praised and adored by all men,
through the immaculate heart of thy and
my Mother.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all!

Hear me, blest Saviour! when I call;
Hear me, and from thy dwelling place
Pour down the riches of thy grace:
Jesus, my Lord! I thee adore;
Oh! make me love thee more and more!
 PREROGATIVES OF THE B. V. M. 369

Jesus ! too late I thee have sought ;

How can I love thee as I ought ?
And how extol thy matchless fame,
The glorious beauty of thy name ;
Jesus, my Lord ! I thee adore;
Oh ! make me love thee more and more .

Jesus! what didst thou find in me,

That thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that thou hast brought,
So far exceeding hope or thought,
Jesus, my Lord! I thee adore;
Oh ! make me love thee more and more !

Jesus ! of thee shall be my song ;

To thee my heart and soul belong ;
All that I have and am is thine,
And thou, blest Saviour! thou art mine,
Jesus, my Lord! I thee adore;
Oh! make me love thee more and more !

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
fy. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord.
^. Thanks be to Ood.
J. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
ty. Amen.
 Datlous {praters to the

Blesseb tyivgin,

T. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise,
y, 0 God! incline unto my aid.
0 Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoratton.
Come, let us adore our God, the Lord of
Hosts, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Let us pay the homage of humble adora-
tion before the tabernacle, wherein Jesus
our Lord dwells with soul and body, with
humanity and divinity.
Come, let us offer him our prayers through
the hands of his blessed Mother, from whom
he took the body which we adore, and the
blood whereby we are nourished.
Come, let us praise his Mother from the
depths of our heart, for such praise is pleas-
ing to our Lord and will draw upon us his
benedictions.
(370)
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 371

Come, let us ask the inhabitants of heaven

to unite their praises with ours; let us join
the angelic choirs and sing with them the
glories of Mary and the goodness of our
Lord and Saviour.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatkm*
O my dear Lord ! it is truly meet that we
praise and glorify thee in thy Sacrament of
Love.
It has cost thee a great deal to remain
with us, and to dwell on our altars.
Thou hadst to die and shed thy own
blood; since then, thou didst endure in-
numerable insuits in this thrice holy mystery.
A few chosen souls only come to visit
thee ; the greater number have no love for
thee; desecrate thy holy temple by their
misbehavior; nay even dare to receive thee,
in holy Communion, into a heart that is
given to Satan.
For these poor sinners, as well as for my
own sinful soul, I offer thee, O my dear
Saviour! the prayers of this hour.
O Mother of God, and my Mother ! unite
372 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Mr.

thy fervent prayers with mine, and help me

to pray with devotion.
My prayers come from sinful lips, and
have no claim to be accepted by the Holy
One: but thine, 0 Mary! are always accept-
able.
Pray. then, for us. 0 merciful Mother!
refuge of sinners, and help of Christians!
that the mercy of God may graciously for-
give us.

Hail, queen of the heavens!

Hail, mistress of earth!
Hail, Virgin most pure!
Of immaculate birth.

Clear star of the morning,

In beauty enshrined !
0 Lady! make speed
To the help of mankind.
Thee God in the depth
Of eternity chose ;
And formed thee all fair.
As his glorious spouse :

mother thee
Own called
And his Word's
to be.
By whom he created
The earth, sky and sea.
 PEAYEES TO THE B. V. M. 373

Unbulgencefc praters of St. Hlpbonsus

to tbe Bleeseb Virgin.
fot par&on of Sins.
See, Mother of my God! at thy feet a
wretched sinner, who has recourse to thee.
I am not worthy that thou shouldst even
cast thine eyes upon me ; yet well I know
that thou, beholding Jesus, thy Son dying
for sinners, dost thyself yearn to save them.
0 Mother of mercy ! look on my miseries
and have pity on me. Men say thou art
the refuge of the sinner, the hope of the
despairing, the aid of the abandoned; be
thou, then, my refuge, my hope, and my aid.
It is thy prayers which must save me.
For the love of Jesus Christ be thou my
help, reach forth thy hand to the poor fallen
wretch who cries to thee for succor.
1 know that thy heart delights to aid the
sinner when thou canst; help me, then,
now whilst thou canst.
My sins have forfeited the grace of Grod
and my own soul. Behold me in thy hands.
O tell me what to do that I may regain my
Saviour's grace, and lo! I do it.
He bids me go to thee for help ; he wills
that I should seek thy tender pity's refuge,
that so not thy dear Son's merits only, but
thine own prayers too may help to save me.
13
374 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

To thee. then. I have recourse: pray thou

to Jesus for me. and make me know and feel
what thou canst do for one who trusts in
thee. Be it done unto me according to my
hope. Amen.
Three Hail Mary-.
for J&clv perseverance.
Most holy Mary, queen of heaven! I who
was once the slave of Satan, now dedicate
myself to thy service forever. I offer my-
self to honor and to serve thee while I live.
Accept me as thy willing servant and cast
me not from fche€ as I deserve.
Mother! in thee have I placed all my
hope. All blessing and thanksgiving be to
(rod, who. in his mercy. giveth me this trust
in thee.
True it is that in the past I was miserably
fallen in sin. But through the merits of
Jesus Christ, and by thy prayers. I hope
God has pardoned me my sins.
Yet it is not enough, my Mother! to be
forgiven, whilst the thought appals me that
I may still lose the grace of God. Danger
is ever nigh, the devil sleeps not. fresh
temptations assail me.
Protect me. then, my sovereign mistress!
help me against the assaults of hell. 0
never, never, let me sin again, and offend
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 375

Jesus thy Son. No never, never more suffer

me to risk my soul, heaven, and my God, by
sin. For this one grace I ask thee, Mary!
this I desire ; this may thy prayers obtain
for me. Such is my hope. Amen.
Three Hail Marys.

for a (Boob H>eatb*

Holiest Mary, Mother of goodness ! Mother
of mercy! when I reflect on my sins and
on the moment of my death, I tremble
and am filled with confusion. My sweetest
Mother ! in the blood of Jesus, and in thy
intercession are my hopes.
Comfort of the afflicted! abandon me not
at my death agony ; fail not to console me
in that great affliction. If even now I am
so tormented with remorse for sin, connected
by the uncertainty of forgiveness, by the
danger of a relapse, and the rigor of divine
justice, how will it be then?
Mother! before death overtakes me, ob-
tain for me a great sorrow for my sins, a
true amendment, and a constant fidelity to
Glod in all that yet remains to me of life.
And when, indeed, my hour is come,
then do thou, Mary! be my hope, be thou
mine aid in the anguish in which my soul
will be overwhelmed ; when the enemy sets
 \

376 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M,

before my face niy sins, oh! comfort me

then, that I may not despair.
Obtain for me at that moment to invoke
thee often , that with thine own sweet name
and that of thy most holy Son upon my
lips, I may breathe forth my spirit. This
grace thou hast granted to many of thy
servants: I. too, desire it and hope to
obtain it.
Three Hail Marys,

fox preservation from IHelL

Mother of God, most holy Mary! how

often, by my sins, have I merited hell! Ere
now the judgment had gone forth against
my first mortal sin, hadst not thou, in thy
tender pity, stayed awhile God's justice,
and then softening my hard heart drawn
me on to take confidence in thee.
And oh! how often, in dangers which
beset my steps, had I fallen, hadst not thou,
loving Mother! that thou art, preserved me
by the graces which thou didst obtain for
me.
My queen! what will thy pity and thy
favor have availed me, if I perish in the
flames of hell? If ever I have not loved
thee, now, after Grod, I love thee above all
things. Ah suffer not that I turn away from
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 377

thee and from Gfod, who through thee hath

granted me so many mercies.
Lady most worthy of all love ! suffer not
that I be doomed to hate and curse thee
forever in hell. Couldst thou bear to see a
servant whom thou lovest, lost forever? O
Mary! say not so. Say not that I shall be
among the lost, yet lost am I assuredly, if
I abandon thee. But who can have the
heart to leave thee? How can I ever forget
the love which thou hast borne me? No, it
is impossible for him to perish who hath
recourse to thee, and who, with loyal heart,
confides in thee.
Leave me not to myself, my Mother! or
I am lost. Let me ever have recourse to
thee. Save me, my hope! save me from
hell, and first from sin, which alone can
cause my eternal ruin.
Three Hail Marys.
tfov ©btammg iparaDtee,
Queen of heaven ! sitting enthroned above
the nine choirs of Angels, nighest to Grod,
from this vale of tears I, a wretched sinner,
hail thee, praying thee, in thy love, to turn
on me those gracious eyes of thine.
See, Mary! see the danger in which I am
and ever shall be, whilst I live upon this
earth, of losing my soul, paradise, and God.
S78 FEASTS OF THE B, V. Bit,

In thee. Lady! is my hope, I love thee

and I sigh after the time when I shall see
thee and praise thee in heaven's courts.
O Mary! "when will that blessed day come
that I shall see myself safe at thy feet?
When shall I kiss that hand so often out-
stretched to minister graces to me? Alas!
too true it is, my Mother! that in my life I
have often been ungrateful ; but if I reach
heaven, there I will love thee for all eternity,
and make reparation for my ingratitude by
ever blessing and praising thee.
Thanks be to God for having given me
such trust in the precious blood of Jesus,
and in thy powerful intercession. In these,
thy true servants have ever hoped, and
none of them has been disappointed. No,
neither shall I be deceived in mine.
0 Mary! pray to thy Son Jesus, and I
will pray him too, by all the merits of his
passion, to strengthen and increase this my
hope.
Three Hail Marys.
for ©btaming tbe %ovc of Jesus an&

Mary! of all creation the noblest, highest,

purest, fairest, holiest work of Grod! O that
all men knew thee, and loved thee, my
queen ! as thou deservest to be loved !
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 379

Yet great is my consolation, Mary ! that

so many blessed souls in heaven, and so
many just souls still on earth, are filled with
love for thy beauty and goodness. But
above all I rejoice in this, that G-od himself
loves thee alone more than all men and
angels.
I too, loveliest queen! I a miserable
sinner dare to love thee, mean though my
love be. I would I had greater love, more
tender love: this thou must gain for me,
since to love thee is the surest mark of
predestination, and a grace which Grod
vouchsafes to the elect.
Then, too, my Mother! when I reflect
upon the debt I owe thy Son, I see that his
love for me demands in return an immeasu-
rable love. Do thou, who desirest nothing
else than to see him loved, pray that I may
obtain this grace — a great love of Jesus
Christ. Obtain it, thou who obtainest from
Grod what thou wilt. Not goods of earth,
nor honor, nor riches do I covet, but that
which thine own heart dasires most — to
love my God alone. Oh can it be that thou
wilt not aid me in a desire so acceptable to
thee! Impossible! even now I feel thy help,
even now thou prayest for me.
Pray Mary! pray; and never cease to
pray, till thou dost see me safe in paradise,
380 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

sure of possessing and loving ray Gk>d and

thee, niy dearest Mother! for ever and ever.
Amen.
Three Hail Marys.
for tbe protection of tbe Blessed Dtrgin.
0 my most holy Mother! on the one
hand I see the graces which thou hast ob-
tained for me; and on the other, the
ingratitude I have shown thee. The un-
grateful are unworthy of all favors ; yet not
for this will I distrust thy mercy.
Great advocate, have pity on me! Thou
Mary ! dost bestow every grace which Grod
vouchsafes to us sinners, and. therefore, did
he make thee mighty, rich and kind that so
thou mightest succor us.
1 wish to save my soul. In thy hands I
place my eternal welfare ; to thee I intrust
my soul. I wish to be of those who are thy
especial servants: cast me not, then. away.
Thou art seeking the wretched to console
them. Do not abandon a wretched sinner,
who has recourse to thee. Speak for me,
Mary! thy Son grants what thou askest.
Take me under thy protection, and it is
enough, because with thee to guard me, I
fear no ill. No, not my sins, because thou
wilt obtain God's pardon for them: nor the
devils, because thou art far mightier than
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 381

hell; nor my judge, Jesus Christ, for at thy

prayer, he will lay aside his wrath.
Protect me, then, my Mother! obtain for
me pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, holy
perseverance, a good death, and paradise.
It is true, I merit not these graces ; yet do
thou only ask them of our God, and lo!
they shall be mine. Pray, then, to Jesus
for me. Mary, my queen! in thee I trust;
in this trust I rest, I live; in this trust I
hope to die. Amen.
Three Hail Marys.

Hail, Virgin most wise !

Hail, Deity's shrine!
With seven fair pillars,
And tables divine !

Preserved from the guilt

Which hath come on us all !
Exempt, in the womb,
From the taint of the fall !

O new Star of Jacob !

Of Angels the queen !
0 gate of the Saints !
0 Mother of men !
382 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

To Zabulon fearful
As th'embattled array;
Be thou of the faithful
The refuge and stay.

flntmlgencefc Cbapiet of twelve Stars.

All praise and thanksgiving be to thee,
ever blessed Trinity! who hath manifested
to us Mary, ever Virgin, clothed with the
sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and
on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars.
3$. For ever and ever. Amen.
Let us praise and give thanks to Grod the
Father, who chose her for his daughter.
fy. Amen.
Our Father.
Praise be to God the Father, who pre-
destined her to be the Mother of his Son.
Iy. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to Grod the Father, who saved
her from all stain in her conception.
I^. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to Grod the Father, who, on her
birthday, adorned her with his choicest gifts.
fy. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to Gk>d the Father, who gave
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M, 383

her St. Joseph for her pure spouse and

companion.
1^. Amen.
Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father.
Let us praise and give thanks to God the
Son, who chose her for his Mother.
Iy. Amen.
Our Father.
Praise be to God the Son who became
incarnate in her womb, and dwelt there for
nine months.
ty. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to God the Son who was born
of her and nourished with her milk.
ty. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to God the Son, who, in his
childhood, willed that Mary should teach
him.
Iy. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to God the Son, who revealed
to her the mysteries of the redemption of
the world.
^. Amen.
Hail Mary and Grlory be to the Father.
Let us praise and give thanks to God the
Holy Ghost, who made her his spouse.
R. Amen.
384 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Iff.

Our Father.
Praise be to God the Holy Grhost, who
first revealed to her his name of Holy Ghost.
1^. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to the Holy Grhost , through
whose operation she was at once Virgin
and Mother.
ty. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to the Holy Grhost, through
whom she became the living temple of the
most holy Trinity.
Iy. Amen.
Hail Mary.
Praise be to the Holy Grhost, by whom
she was exalted in heaven high above all
creatures.
I^. Amen.
Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father.
For the holy Catholic Church, for the
propagation of the faith, for peace among
christian princes and for the uprooting of
all heresy.
Hail holy Queen! — Mother of mercy, our
life, our sweetness, and our hope; to thee
do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn,
then, most gracious advocate! thine eyes of
 PEAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 385

mercy towards us, and after this our exile,

show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus, 0 clement, O pious, 0 sweet Virgin
Mary !

Hail, ark
Pure Solomon's throne!
of the law!
Fair rainbow and bush !
Which the Patriarch saw.

Hail, Gredeon's fleece!

Hail, blossoming rod!
Samson's sweet honey comb!
Portal of G-od!
Well fitting it was,
That a Son so divine
Should preserve from all touch
Of original sin ;
Nor suffer by smallest
Defect to be stained,
That Mother, whom he
For himself had ordained.

Zbc praises of tbe Blessefc Dirgtm

(After the "Te Deum.")
We praise thee, O glorious Virgin! we
acknowledge thee to be the queen of all.
All the earth doth worship thee; the
Mother of mankind.
386 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

To thee all Angels ; to thee the heavens

and all the powers therein ;
To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim cry
with unceasing voice :
Blessed, blessed, blessed, Mother of the
Eedeemer!
The heavens and the earth are full of the
majesty of thy glory.
Thee the glorious choir of Apostles,
Thee the admirable company of the
Prophets,
Thee the white-robed army of the Martyrs,
praise.
Thee the holy Church, throughout all the
world, doth acknowledge.
Thou art the daughter of the Father.
Thou art the mother of the Son.
Thou art the spouse of the Holy Grhost.
Thou art the queen of heaven, O Mary!
Thou sittest at the right hand of Christ,
thy Son.
We beseech thee, therefore, to help thy
servants, whom Jesus, thy child, has re-
deemed with his precious blood.
Make us to be numbered with the Saints,
in glory everlasting.
O Mother! save thy people, and bless
thine inheritance.
Govern them, and lift them up forever.
Day by day we bless thee.
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 387

And we praise thy name forever; and

world without end.
Vouchsafe, 0 Lady! this day to keep us
from sin.
Have mercy on us, 0 Mary! have mercy
on us.
Let thy mercy be upon us, as we have
hoped in thee.
O Mother in thee have I hoped ; let me
never be confounded.

1b$mru
Hail, virginal Mother !
Hail, purity's cell!
Fair shrine! where the Trinity
Loveth to dwell.

Hail, garden of pleasure!

Celestial balm !
Cedar of chastity !
Martyrdom's palm!
Thou land set apart
From uses profane !
And free from the curse
Which in Adam began.
Thou city of God !
Thou gate of the East !
In thee is all grace,
O joy of the blest!
388 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Iff*

Xitan^ of tbe Ble06e^ X)\vq\w.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven.*)
God the Son. Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost.
Holy Trinity one God.
Holv Marv,**)
Holy Mother of God.
Holv Virgin of virgin-.
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace.
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable.
Mother most admirable,
Mother of our Creator.
Mother of our Saviour.
Virgin most prudent.
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for us.
 PEAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 389

Virgin most venerable,*)

Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful ,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
*) Pray for us.
390 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Queen of all saints,*)

Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen of the most holy Bosary,
Lamb of Grod ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of Grod ! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
Ant. of"WeGrod!
Mother fly to thy patronage,
despise O holy
not our petitions
in our necessities; but deliver us always
from all dangers, 0 ever glorious and
blessed Virgin !
J. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God!
^. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PEAY.
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord! thy
grace into oui\ hearts; that we to whom the
Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made
known by the message of an Angel, may,
by his passion and cross, be brought to the
glory of the resurrection. Through the
same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

*) Pray for us.

 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M. 391

y. Pray for us, Saint Joseph!

3^. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
Assist us, O Lord! we beseech thee, by
the merits of the spouse of thy most holy
Mother, that what of ourselves we are
unable to obtain, may be granted to us
through his intercession, who livest and
reignest, world without end. Amen.

Hail, Mother most pure !

Hail, Virgin renowned !
Hail, Queen with the stars
As a diadem, crowned !
Above all the Angels,
In glory untold ;
Standing next to the king
In a vesture of gold.
0 Mother of mercy!
O star of the wave !
0 hope of the guilty !
0 light of the grave !
Through thee may we come
To the haven of rest ;
And see heaven ?s King
In the courts of the blest.
392 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

These praises and prayers

I lay at thy feet,
0 Virgin of virgins !
0 Mary, most sweet !
Be thou my true guide
Through this pilgrimage here ;
And stand at my side
When death draweth near.

Conclusion.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus ! I choose thee

this day again as my mother, my queen and
my advocate at the throne of thy divine Son.
Take, I pray thee, my place before his
altar, when other duties call me elsewhere.
O dear Mother ! it is thy earnest desire to
see Jesus in the blessed Sacrament adored
and praised by all men.
Praise him, then, in my stead, and offer
him my humble petitions in behalf of all
those who neglect to visit and adore him in
this holy mystery.
To thee, 0 blessed Mother! and to thy
divine Son, I devote my whole life.
May the blessed Mother of Grod be praised
for ever and ever !
And may Jesus, her Son, in the blessed
Sacrament, be exalted and adored for all
eternity.
 PRAYERS TO THE B. V. M, 393

O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament

divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.

Silent and still the heavenly Host,

Prostrate in love and fear :
And "we, for whom thou art hidden thus!
Not one is kneeling here.

Alone in the day; and crowds rush past,

Like a stream in noisy glee ;
Yet none of them stay their steps, to come
And waft a prayer to thee.

Alone in the night ; the weary world

Is sleeping its toil away ;
While the rich and the great, in idle ease,
Are gathered to feast and play.

Not one of them here to visit thee,

To draw from thy sacred heart
Those words so tender, loving, dear,
Which bid us in peace depart.

None of them dream of the floods of joy,

So tender, so full, so sweet,
Which flow when we weep, as wept of old
The sinners at Jesus' feet.
394 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Draw us, 0 Lord! with the chords of love;

Draw us until we rest
In the twilight dim, before thy throne.
Sharing the watch of the blest.

Heavy and dull, we are clothed in clay.

Oh ! scatter thy holy fire ;
Light up our hearts from thy heart of flame,
Our souls with love inspire.

Then shall we come with ardent joy,

Then shall we kneel and pray.
With Angels who keep their vigils blest
At thine altar, night and day.
Commemoration of St. Joseph,
>v. 0 Lord! hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord !
^. Thanks be to God.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
3^. Amen.
fln Ibonor of tbe Sorrowful

flfcotber.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

I^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O God! incline unto my aid.
^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning , etc.

Hfcoration*
Come, let us adore the victim of our
altars, Jesus Christ our crucified Saviour.
Come, let us, with his sorrowful Mother,
stand beneath his cross, and in deep sorrow
meditate on his and Mary's sufferings.
Come, let us thank our loving Redeemer
for his passion and death, and for daily
renewing, in the holy Mass, the sacrifice
which he offered on Good Friday on the
cross.
Let us invite the Angels and Saints, who
witnessed the crucifixion of our Lord and
the sorrows of our blessed Lady, to assist
us in this pious devotion.
(395)
396 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Let us, with them, most humbly sing to

our crucified Saviour:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.
IReparattom
O Lord ! who is like unto thee ! Who is
as holy, as powerful as thyself?
Thou art the Lord above all lords, the
Creator of all things, and yet men dare to
offend thee, and to rise against thy Majesty!
Out of love for sinners, thou didst descend
from the throne of thy heavenly Father,
and ascend the tree of the cross. For three
hours, thou didst hang on the cross, in
order to open heaven to all; and — oh, the
ingratitude of men! — they crucify thee, as
it were, anew every day by committing sin,
even in thy very presence and before thy
very altar.
O sorrowful Mother of my Jesus! thou
hast been witness of his sufferings; thou
knowest how much he did for our redemp-
tion. Oh! come and help me to make
satisfaction for the insensibility, insults, and
crimes by which ungrateful men offend him.
In hoiy love and with great compassion,
I will meditate on thy sorrows, O blessed
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 397

Lady! for I know how pleasing this is to

our crucified Saviour.
Do thou, O Lord! accept these prayers
in honor of thine and mine Mother, who
suffered wdth thee, and for her sake, forgive
us all what we have committed against thee.

0 ye who know love's conquering power,

Come, watch with me one dismal hour;
My heart doth writhe with pain
'Neath Calvary's crimson rain:
Oh ! pity me, poor wilted flower.
1 am the Mother of the Crucified,
The holy Spirit's anguished bride,
My Son in woes all steeped,
His sheaves of sorrow reaped,
The Jews in Pilate's hall deride.
Did ever burn a mother's love
As that lit by this heavenly dove?
But, oh! my breaking heart
Did feel the piercing dart
Of anguish falling from above.

I saw him clambering Calvary's steep,

With cross and crown of thorns pierced deep ;
All bound in galling chains,
O'ercome by racking pains,
With feeble step, I could not weep.
398 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

0 ye with hearts of tender mould,

Lament with me o'er hearts so cold.
Three times he fell to earth,
To Jews a source of mirth ;
They scourged my Son by Judas sold,
They laid him on his bed of pain,
His blood that cruel race did stain j
They pierced his hands and feet,
That heart, with woes replete,
Which often on my breast had lain,

Oh how my heart was wrung to see

My dying Son on Calvary's tree!
My soul I joined to his;
To suffer then was bliss.
With him to die, I was not free,

1 lived but felt the deadly smart

Of sorrowing love, a breaking heart.
My murdered Son in pain
Still, still, I see again:
Oh! love my Son and joy impart,

from tbe jpropbet 3eremias>

How doth the city sit solitary ; how is the
mistress of nations become as a widow !
Weeping she hath wept in the night, and
her tears are on her cheeks ; there is none
to comfoi^t her among all them that were
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 399

dear to her ; all her friends have despised

her, and are become her enemies.
Her adversaries are become her lords;
her enemies are enriched ; all her beauty is
departed.
Oh! all ye that pass by the way, attend
and see, if there is a sorrow like to my
sorrow.
From above, the Lord hath sent fire into
my bone, and hath chastised me ; he hath
made me desolate and spent with sorrow
all the day long ; he hath trodden the wine-
press for the virgin-daughter of Juda.
Therefore, do I weep, and my eyes run
down with water; because the comforter,
the relief of my soul, is far from me, My
children are desolate, because the enemy
hath prevailed.
Behold, O Lord! for I am in distress; my
bowels are troubled; my heart is turned
within me, for I am full of bitterness;
abroad the sword destroyeth, and at home
there is death alike.
They have heard that I sigh, and there is
none to comfort me ; all my enemies have
heard of my exile, and they have rejoiced:
my eyes have failed with wreeping.
To what shall I compare thee, O Mary!
or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of
Jerusalem! To what shall I equal thee, that
400 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

I may comfort thee, 0 virgin daughter of

Sion ! For great as the sea is thy destruction S
who shall heal thee?
All they that passed by the way have
clapped their hands at thee, O Mother of
sorrows! they have hissed and wagged their
heads at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying:
Is this the city of perfect beauty, the joy of
all the earth?
All thy enemies have opened their mouth
against thee ; they have hissed and gnashed
with the teeth, and have saith: We will
swallow her up; lo, this is the day which
we looked for.
The Lord hath done that which he pur-
posed he
; hath fulfilled his word which he
commanded in the days of old; he hath
destroyed and hath not spared, and hath
caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, and
hath set up the hour of thy adversaries.
Their heart cried to the Lord upon the
walls of the daughter of Sion; let tears
run down like a torrent, day and night;
give thyself no rest, and let not the apple
of thy eye cease.
The Lord hath led me and brought me
into darkness; my skin and my flesh he
hath made old; he hath broken my bones.
He hath built round about me; and he
hath compassed me with gall and labor.
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER, 401

He hath set me in dark places, as those

who are dead forever.
He hath bent his bow, and set me as a
mark for his arrow.
He hath filled me with bitterness! he
hath inebriated me with wormwood.
O Mary, O Mother most sorrowful! how
bitter was thy grief, how great thy affliction,
when thou didst stand under the cross of
thy divine Son !
Thou sawest Jesus, thy beloved one,
stripped of his garments, hanging as a
criminal between heaven and earth, in the
midst of murderers, on the ignominious wood
of the cross. Thou sawest his sacred and
innocent body unnaturally extended; the
nerves stretched out, the veins torn asunder,
the bones- dislocated^ his hands and feet
nailed through; his face disfigured with
blood and wounds, his head sunken down
with weakness; his eyes and mouth closed,
his side pierced by the lance.
O what a sight for thy loving and ma-
ternal heart! what a sight to see thy Son,
the Son of God, the only joy of thy heart,
expire amid the most agonizing pains!
O Mother! sweet, suffering Mother! be
pleased to accept my heart-felt compassion !
my humble prayer for sinful mankind.
Pray for us sinners, O Mother most
402 FEASTS OF THE B. V. Bf.

sorrowful , and reconcile us by thy powerful

intercession with Jesus crucified.

£be Stabat flDater,

Near the cross, whilst on it hung her Son.

the sorrowing Mother stood and wept.
A sword pierced her soul, that sighed,
and mourned, and grieved.
Oh! how sad, and how afflicted was the
blessed Mother of an only Son !
The loving Mother sorrowed and mourned
at seeing her divine Son suffer.
Who is there that would not weep to see
Jesus' mother in such suffering?
Who is there that could contemplate the
Mother and the Son in sorrow, and not
join his own with theirs ?
Mary saw Jesus tormented and scourged
for the sins of his people.
She saw her sweet Child abandoned by
all, as he breathed forth his soul and died.
0 Mother fount of love! make me feel
the force of sorrow: make me weep with
thee!
Make this heart of mine burn with the
love of Jesus, my God, that so I may con-
tent his heart.
Do this, O holy Mother! deeply stamp
the wounds of the crucified upon my heart.
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER, 403

Let me share with thee the sufferings of

thy Son, for it was for me he graciously
deigned to be wounded and to suffer.
Make me lovingly weep with thee ; make
me compassionate with thee our crucified
Jesus, as long as life shall last.
This is my desire, — to stand nigh the
cross with thee, and be a sharer in thy grief.
Peerless Virgin of virgins! be not dis-
pleased at my prayer; make me. weep with
thee.
Make me to carry the death of Jesus;
make me a partner of his passion, an adorer
of his wounds.
Make me to be wounded with his wounds ;
make me to be inebriated with the cross
and blood of thy Son.
And that I may not suffer the eternal
flames, let me be defended by thee, O
Virgin! on the day of judgment.
O Jesus! when my hour of death comes,
let me, by thy Mother's aid, come to my
crown of victory.
And when my body dies, oh! give to my
soul the reward of heaven's glory.
404 FEASTS OF THE B. V, Mi

Zhe Seven Colors of tbe Blessefc

HMrgtn.
Ube propfoecp of Simeon.
0 most afflicted Virgin ! I commemorate
the sorrow "which filled thy heart when on
presenting thy divine Son in the temple,
holy Simeon foretold that a sword should
pierce thy soul, thereby announcing the
share thou shouidst have in the sufferings
of Jesus.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee, 0 Queen
of Martyrs! to obtain for me the grace,
that I may always have before me the
thought of death, which will preserve me
from all sin. Hail Mary, etc.
Ube flight into Eg^pt
0 most holy and afflicted Virgin ! I com-
memorate the sorrow which filled thy ma-
ternal heart when thou didst see thy divine
Infant persecuted by his own creatures, and
wast obliged to flee into Egypt to save him
from the fury of Herod.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee, O Queen
of Martyrs ! to obtain for me the grace to
avoid all the snares of my enemies on the
perilous road to heaven. Hail Mary, etc.
 THE SOKKOWFUL MOTHEK. 405

Jesus %ost in tbe Uemple*

0 most afflicted Virgin ! I remind thee of
the sorrow which filled thy maternal heart
when thou wast separated from thy divine
Son, who remained for three days absent
from thee on the journey to Jerusalem.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee, O Queen
of Martyrs! to obtain for me the grace
never to lose Jesus by sin, but by the help
of his grace always to remain united to
him. Hail Mary, etc.
/Meeting witb Jesus Bearing Ibis Gross*
0 most afflicted Mother! I remind thee
of the sorrow which filled thy maternal
heart when thou didst follow thy dear Son
to Mount Calvary, and beheld him sinking
under the weight of the cross.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee, 0 Queen
of Martyrs ! to obtain for me the grace to
bear patiently whatever cross it shall please
the Lord to lay upon me. Hail Mary, etc.
Crucifixion of 3esus*
0 most blessed and afflicted Virgin! I
remind thee of the immense grief which
filled thy maternal heart when thou didst
stand 14by the cross of Jesus, and didst wit-
406 FEASTS OF THE B. V. fit;

ness all his torments, and see- him at last

expire for the sins of the world.
I most devoutly compassionate thy sorrow
on that occasion, and beseech thee, 0 Queen
of Martyrs! to obtain for me from our
divine Redeemer, that all my passions may
be nailed to iiis cross, and that fortified
with his and thy sweet presence, I may close
my life by a holy death. Hail Mary, etc.

ilDarp IReceipes 5esus Beafc in 1ber Brms*

0 most sorrowful Mother ! I remind thee
of the sorrow which filled thy maternal
heart when the adorable body of thy divine
Son was taken down from the cross, and
laid in thy arms.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee to obtain
for me the grace to receive J esus into my
heart at my last hour, and that I may enjoy
his perfect possession in heaven. Hail
Mary, etc.
Burial ot Jesus.
0 most afflicted Virgin ! I commemorate
the sorrow which filled thy maternal heart
when the sacred body of Jesus was taken
from thy arms and laid in the grave.
1 most devoutly compassionate thy grief
on that occasion, and beseech thee, O Queen
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER, 407

of Martyrs! to obtain for me, through the

sufferings of Jesus, which were the cause of
all thy Dolors, a sincere sorrow for my
sins, an ardent love of God, and a tender
and practical devotion towards thee. Hail
Mary, etc.
y. Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful!
Iy . That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord Jesus
Christ ! that the most blessed Virgin Mary,
thy Mother, may intercede for us before
the throne of thy mercy, now, and at the
hour of our death, through whose most
holy soul, in the hour of thy own passion,
the sword of sorrows passed. Amen.

\Dariou0 prater© anb IReflecttons*

O most afflicted Mother ! Queen of martyrs
and of sorrows ! now the sword has indeed
pierced thy soul. With thy Son, thou
hast been struck, scourged, crowned with
thorns, nay, even nailed to his cross.
As the ocean is all bitterness, and has
not within its bosom a single drop of water
which is sweet, so also wast thou, O Mary!
all bitterness during the passion of thy
beloved: " Great as the sea is thy destruc-
408 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

tion : a bundle of invrrh is thy beloved to

thee."
What do not the words of the Grospel
reveal to me: "Now there stood by the
cross of Jesus his mother!" The disciples
left thee, O crucified Lord ! thy own
sorrowful Mother did not leave thee, but
remained with thee to share thy sufferings.
No grief was ever more bitter than her's,
because no Son was ever as dear as her Son.
Never was there a son more worthy of
love than Jesus; nor a mother who ever
loved as Mary loved. What sorrow can,
therefore, be compared with her sorrow?
Other holy martyrs suffered in their
bodies; thou, O Mary! didst suffer in thy
soul, the pains of which are felt as much
more as the soul is exalted above the body.
Other holy martyrs suffered but a short
time; thou, O afflicted Mother! didst suffer
every moment of thy life, because the
sufferings of thy beloved were always
present to thee.
Other holy martyrs suffered torments
which the fury of men imposed upon them ;
thou, O blessed Lady! didst suffer torments
inflicted by love.
Other holy martyrs were comforted in
their sufferings, nay even made cheerful by
the sweet consolations of (rod ; in thy afflic-
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 409

tions, O holy Virgin! thou wast consoled

by no one: "I looked about whether there
was one to comfort me; but there was
none."
Who can, therefore, ever doubt that the
martyrdom of Mary was without its equal,
and that it exceeded the sufferings of all
the martyrs?
O most sorrowful Mother ! thou art indeed
the Queen of Martyrs, and deservest an in-
finitely greater crown of glory than they;
because thou didst suffer infinitely more
than any of them.
O Queen of Martyrs! by the merits of
thy sufferings, obtain for me the grace to
bear, with patience, the trials God sends me.
Thou and thy Jesus, both innocence
itself, have carried a far heavier cross ; and
shall I, a sinner, refuse to carry mine?
Keep me near thee, oh Mother! in thy
sufferings, that I may weep with thee —
that I may weep over my sins and the
afflictions I have helped to bring upon thee
and Jesus.
Blessed art thou, 0 Mary! amongst
women : blessed because thou hast suffered
most: blessed because thy sufferings have
obtained for thee an everlasting joy, ex-
ceeding the glory of all the Angels and
Saints. Oh ! assist me to suffer as thou
410 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

didst, that hereafter I may share thy crown

of bites.
1b\mtru
0 ye who pass along the way
All joyous, where with grief I pine.
In pity pause awhile, and say:
Was ever sorrow like to mine !

See hanging here, before my eyes.

This body, bloodless, bruised and torn,
Alas! it is my Son who dies.
Of love deserving-, not of scorn.
For know this weak and dying man
Is Son of him who made the earth ;
And me. before the world began.
He chose to give him human birth.

He is my G-od ; and since that night

When first I saw his infant grace.
My soul hath feasted on the light.
The beauty of that heavenly face.
For he hath chosen me to be
The loved companion of his heart:
And ah! how that dear company
With love transpierced me like a dart !
And now behold this loving Son
Is dying in a woe so great.
The very stones are moved to mourn
In sorrow at his piteous state.
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. lit

Where 'r his failing eyes are bent,

A friend to help, he seeks in vain;
All, all on vengeance are intent,
And eager to increase his pain.
Eternal Father! God of love!
Behold thy Son ; ah ! see his woe !
Canst thou look down from heaven above,
And for thy Son no pity show!

But, no — that Father sees his Son

Cloth' d with the sins of guilty men ;
And spares not that beloved one,
Though dying on his cross of pain.

My Son ! my Son ! could I at least

Console thee, in this hour of death!
Could I but lay thee on my breast,
And there receive thy parting breath !

Alas ! no comfort I impart ;

Nay rather this my vain regret
But rends still more thy loving heart,
And makes thy death more bitter yet.

Ah, loving souls! love, love that God

Who, all inflamed with love, expires;
On you this life he has bestowed ;
Your love is all that he desires.
412 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

%\tms> of ©ur Xafc\> of Sorrows.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary,**)
Holy Mother of God,
Mother of our crucified Saviour,
Mother most sorrowful,
Mother most tearful,
Mother most afflicted,
Mother most forsaken,
Mother most desolate,
Mother bereft of thy child,
Mother transfixed with the sword,
Mother consumed with grief,
Mother filled with anguish,
Mother most sad,
Fountain of tears,
Mirror of patience,
Rock of constancy,
Anchor of confidence,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for us.
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 413

Refuge of the forsaken,*)

Shield of the oppressed,
Comfort of the wretched.
Medicine of the sick,
Strength of the weak,
Help of the tempted,
Harbor of the wretched,
Allayer of tempests,
Resource of mourners,
Consolation of widows,
Mother of mercy,
Queen of martyrs,
Through thy poverty in the stable at Beth-
lehem,**)
Through thy pain at the prophecy of Simeon,
Through thy flight into Egypt,
Through thy sorrow at the loss of J esus in
the temple,
Through thy affliction at the capture of
Jesus,
Through thy sorrowful meeting with J esus
on the way to Calvary,
Through thy agony at the death of Jesus,
Through thy dereliction at the burial of
Jesus,
Through the tears thou didst shed for thy
beloved Son,

*) Pray for us.

**) We beseech thee, to hear us.
414 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

Through the wonderful patience with which

thou didst bear thy sufferings,
In all our troubles,
In our sicknesses and pains,
In our sufferings and anxieties,
In poverty and misery,
In temptations,
At the hour of our death,
At the fearful judgment,
Lamb of Grod! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
LET US PRAY.
Imprint, 0 Lady! thy wounds upon my
heart and soul, that I may read therein thy
sorrow and love: thy sorrow, to endure
every sorrow for Jesus, in union with thee;
thy love, to despise all earthly love for
Jesus' sake.
Conclusion.
O my Grod and Saviour in the most holy
Sacrament! graciously hear the prayers
which I have offered during this hour in
honor of thy sorrowful Mother.
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 415

May she intercede for us, and draw down

upon us thy mercy.
Be mindful, O God! of her dolors, when
trials and afflictions are upon us, and give
us grace to suffer all things patiently. Let
the sorrows of Mary plead for us especially
at the moment of death.
Regard not our manifold sins, 0 most
just God! but behold the innocence of the
blessed Mother of thy Son, Jesus, and
remember that all her sufferings were
endured for us poor sinners ; therefore have
pity on us.
0 Mary, most sorrowful! pray for us
sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
1 am now called away from thy altar,
0 Jesus! but will not leave until I have
received thy blessing.
Bless me in the goodness of thy most
sacred heart, and enclose me in the holy
wounds thereof, secure from sin and temp-
tation.
O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
416 FEASTS OF THE B. V. M.

O Sacred Heart !
Our home lies deep in thee ;
On earth, thou art an exile's rest,
In heaven, the glory of the blest,
0 Sacred Heart!

0 Sacred Heart !
Thou fount of contrite tears :
Where'er those living "waters flow,
New life to sinners they bestow,
O Sacred Heart !

0 Sacred Heart!
Our trust is all in thee ;
For though earth's night be dark and drear,
Thou breathest rest where thou art near,
0 Sacred Heart !

0 Sacred Heart !
When shades of death shall fall.
Receive us 'neath thy gentle care.
And save us from the tempter's snare,
0 Sacred Heart!
0 Sacred Heart!
Lead exiled children home,
Where we may ever rest near thee,
In peace and joy eternally,
0 Sacred Heart !
 THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. 417

Commemoration of St. Joseph.

y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
3^. And let my cry come unto thee.
Jf. Let us bless the Lord.
1^. Thanks be to God.
Y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of (xod? rest in peace.
It. Amen.
 jfeasts of St. Joseph.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

= B. And my month shall declare thy
praise.
y. O Grod! incline unto my aid.
1^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Q-lory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcorattoru
Come, let us humbly adore Jesus, and
sing to him our best hymns and can-
ticles.
Come, let us in great joy gather around
his altar, and in loving remembrance cele-
brate the memory of St. Joseph, the foster-
father of our Eucharistic Grod.
Jesus himself honored St. Joseph above
all men, therefore our praises of this Saint
must be dear to our Lord and Saviour.
Come, then, and let us honor Jesus in
St. Joseph, the first adorer and guardian of
the Word made flesh.
Let us unite our praises with those of the
(418)
 PKAYEBS TO ST. JOSEPH. 419

Angelic Choirs, saying with a pure and

devout heart :
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*

O glorious St. Joseph! father and pro-

tector of the faithful ! we bless our mother,
the Church, for having now, that the world
is drawing to the close of its existence,
taught us to confide in thee.
Many ages passed away, before thy glory
was made known to the world; but even
then thou wast one of mankind'' s most
powerful intercessors.
Most affectionately didst thou fulfill thy
office as head of the great human family,
whereof the Incarnate Word was a member.
Nations and individuals experienced the
benefit of thy prayers, but there was not
the public acknowledgement of thy favors,
there was not the homage of gratitude which
is now offered to thee.
The more perfect knowledge of thy glories,
and the honoring thee as the protector of
mankind, — these were reserved for our own
unhappy times, when the state of the world
420 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

is such as to require help beyond that which

was granted to former ages.
We come, then, before thee, 0 blessed
Joseph ! to honor the unlimited power of thine
intercession, and the love thou bearest for
all the children of the Church, the brethren
of Jesus.
Thou, O Mary! art pleased at seeing us
honor him, whom thou didst so tenderly
love. Never are our prayers so welcome to
thee as when they are presented by his hands.
The union formed by heaven between
thyself and Joseph will last for all eternity •
and the unbounded love thou hast for Jesus
is an additional motive for thee to love him,
who was the foster-father of thy child, and
the guardian of thy virginity.
O Joseph! we also are the children of
Mary thy spouse, treat us as such, bless us,
watch over us, and receive the prayers
which now, more than ever, the Church
encourages us to present to thee.
Thou art the "pillar of the world thou
art one of the foundations whereon it rests ;
because of thy merits and prayers, our Lord
has patience with it in spite of the iniquities
which defile it.
How truly may we say of these our times i
"There is now no Saint: truths are decayed
from among the children of men."
 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 421

How powerful, then, must not thine in-

tercession be, to avert the indignation of
God, and induce him to show us his mercy!
Grow not weary of thy labors, O thou
universal protector! The Church of thy
Jesus comes before thee, beseeching thee to
persevere in thy task of love.
Behold this world of ours is now become
one great volcano of danger by the boasted
liberty granted to sin and heresy : delay not
thine aid, but quickly procure for us what
will give us security and peace.
Whatever may be our necessities, thou
art willing and able to assist us.
We may be the poorest and the least
among the children of the Church ; — it
matters not: thou lovest us with all the
affectionate compassion of a father. What
a joy is not this to our heart, O Joseph!
We will, therefore, turn to thee in our
spiritual wants. We will beg thee to assist
us in gaining the virtues of which we stand
in need \ in fighting the battle against the
enemies of our souls, and in bringing the
sacrifices which duty requires of us.
Make us worthy to be called thy children,
0 thou father of the faithful!
Nor is thy power limited to what regards
our eternal welfare. Daily experience shows
us how readily thou canst procure for us
422 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

the blessing of God upon our temporal

interests, provided they are in accordance
with his divine will.
Hence it is, that we also hope for thy
protection and aid in what concerns our
worldly prospects.
The house of Nazareth was confided to
thy care ; deign to give council and help to
theru, that make thee the patron of what
regards their earthly well-being.
Glorious Guardian of the holy family!
the family of Christendom is placed under
thy special patronage: watch over it in
these troubled times.
Hear the prayers of them that seek thine
aid, when about to chose the companion
who is to share with them the joys and
sorrows of this world.
Maintain between husbands and wives
that mutual respect, which is the safeguard
of their fidelity to each other, and obtain
for them the pledge of heaven's blessings.
Grant us also, O Joseph! another favor.
There is one moment of our lives, which is
the most important of all, since eternity
depends upon it : it is the moment of death .
And yet we feel our fear abated by the
thought that God's mercy has made thee
the special patron of the dying.
Thou hast been intrusted with the office
 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 423

of making death happy and holy for those

who invoke thee.
To whom could such a prerogative have
been given more appropriately than to thee,
0 Joseph ! whose admirable death was one
of the sublimest spectacles ever witnessed
by Angels or men; for Jesus and Mary
were by thy side when thou didst breathe
forth thy soul.
Be, then, our helper in that awful hour.
We hope to have Mary's protection, for we
daily pray to her that she would aid us at
the hour of our death ; but we know that it
pleases Mary if we confide in thee, and that
where thou art; she also will be.
Encouraged by thy fatherly love, 0
Joseph! we will calmly await our death,
for if we faithfully have recourse to thee
during life, thou wilt not fail to take us
under thy protection in that dreadful hour.
But thou, O Jesus, child of Joseph! do
not despise my humble prayers which I
offer to thee through thy foster-father and
guardian.
I know that my prayers are not worthy
to be heard, therefore I have confided them
to him.
For his sake have mercy on us, 0 Grod!
and forgive us our sins. Turn away thy
face from the coldness, indifference, and
424 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

ingratitude of the people. Give us what

we need for soul and body.
Behold thy beloved Joseph whom thou
didst call "Father ?? here on earth. He was
thy faithful servant and adorer. Even
before thou didst institute thy most holy
Sacrament, he adored, in his own house,
thee, the Host of hosts, the Lamb of God,
the Word made flesh.
Remember, O Lord! those most sweet
moments, when this holy patriarch, with
a heart overflowing with love, kissed and
caressed thee, and even at that time averted,
through
from his prayers,
mankind. Grod?s just indignation
He has not ceased to pray for the sinful
world. Hear, then, his prayer, 0 Lord! if
mine are not worthy to be heard.

Holy Joseph, dearest father!

To thy children's prayer incline,
Whilst we sing thy joys and sorrows,
And the glories which are thine.

How to praise thee, how to thank thee,

Blessed Saint! we cannot tell;
Favors countless hast thou given,
Can we choose but love thee well?
 PBAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 425

We have prayed, and thou hast answered ;

We have asked, and thou hast given.
Need we marvel? Jesus tells us:
Joseph has the stores of heaven.

Near to Jesus, near to Mary,

And kind father! near to thee,
Keep us while on earth we wander,
And in need our helper be.

One more favor we will ask thee,

Thou of all canst grant it best ;
When we die,be thou still near us.
Bring us safe to endless rest.

privileges of St Soeepb*
Great art thou, 0 blessed Joseph! great
and exalted above all the Saints.
The Grospel tells us that the Angel Gabriel
was sent to a Virgin espoused to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; $nd the Virgin's name was Mary.
Thou, 0 J oseph ! wast the true and worthy
spouse of the Mother of Grod ; adorned by
the Almighty with all the virtues required
for so glorious a dignity.
Thou wast a virgin like Mary; chaste
and pure like Mary; a faithful copy of
Mary. Thou wast the lily inseparably
united to the mystical rose.
426 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

Thou wast the cherub to whom was con-

fided the keeping of the new terrestiai
paradise, of the true propitiatory which
contains the price of the reconciliation of
heaven with earth.
Thou wast elected by Grod to become the
reputed father of his divine Son. "Thy
father and I have sought thee." uSon!
why hast thou done so to us? behold , thy
father and I have sought thee sorrowing. "
From all eternity, the Eternal Father
hath willed that thou, 0 blessed Joseph!
shouldst take his place upon earth. He, in
some way, communicated to thee his divine
paternity.
Thou art the spouse of Mary ; therefore
also the father of the Lord.
By this dignity of father, thou art con-
stituted master of the Saviour, and allowed
to dispose of him as a father disposes of his
son.
Thou, 0 Jesus! art the King of heaven
and earth, and yet St. Joseph had full
authority over thee. He had a right to
command thee, because thou didst volun-
tarily cede thy liberty to him.
Thou didst serve St. Joseph for thirty
years; he employed thee in his workshop,
and thou didst share his labors and fatigues.
Jesus obeys St. Joseph! who has evet
 PBAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 427

seen the like? "He went down with them,

and came to Nazareth, and was subject to
them."
Mary, the greatest of creatures; Jesus,
the Lord of the universe: both were subject
to St. Joseph: to him belongs the govern-
ment of the family.
Vfhat an incomparable dignity! what a
holiness and sanctity! what a justice and
perfection !
Now I can understand why many eminent
Saints claim, that thou, 0 blessed Joseph !
hadst been sanctified from thy mother's
womb. It was meet that thou shouldst be
so on account of thy high office.
The Holy Grhost himself tells us in the
Grospel that thou didst possess the plenitude
of all virtues: he calls thee "Just" — the
first to whom he gave this title.
How admirably suitable it is! Thou, 0
blessed Saint ! art just, for grace and sanc-
tity met and were united in thee even before
thy birth.
Thou art just, because Grod gave thee
sanctity proportioned to the eminence of thy
dignity, that thou mightest suitably repre-
sent the Eternal Father upon earth, and be
worthy of thy immaculate Spouse.
Thou art just, because thou didst add
unceasingly to the primitive sanctity with
428 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

which Grod hath favored thee, and didst

enrich thyself, each day. with new merits,
by the exercise of all virtues.
Thou hadst constantly before thee the
two models of perfect holiness, Jesus and
Mary. Couldst thou, 0 Joseph! do other-
wise than study them always, and retrace
them in thy actions !
I do not wonder, then, that thou art
considered to surpass all others in sanctity,
merit, and felicity.
Thou wast the crown of the patriarchs
and of the other ancestors of the Messiah ;
thou didst inherit all their benedictions,
and didst see them accomplished; their
prerogatives and their desires were united
and perfected in thee.
Jacob was great by the eminence of his
virtues and piety; but how much greater
were thine. 0 holy Patriarch!
Thou wast greater than Xoah and the
other patriarchs. Thou didst excel them
all by two privileges : namely as the spouse
of Mary, and as father of Christ.
Thou art the crown of the Saints of the
new testament : blessed among men for the
same reason that Mary is blessed among
women.
Let all the solitaries, all the anchorites,
all those within and without the cloisters
 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 429

learn of thee, 0 blessed Joseph ! the art of

leading a heavenly life on earth ; a life of
contemplation, of silence , of love, and
union with G-od.
Who among men has had as lively a faith
as thou ; as ardent a charity, and as clear
and extensive a knowledge of the mysteries
of the redemption?
St. John and St. Paul were great con-
templatives: the first because he was per-
mitted to repose on the heart of Jesus ; the
second because he was raised to the third
heaven and there discovered ineffable mys-
teries.
But, O glorious Joseph! who can number
the ecstasies, the secrets with which thou
hast been favored?
Thou hadst before thy eyes and in thy
possession, the true paradise in the person
of Jesus. How often didst thou have the
happiness of reposing on his heart and of
making him repose on thine?
From thee, even the most perfect should
learn to direct their flight towards heaven,
and to contemplate the sun of justice.
Thou also givest a most sublime example
for those engaged in the active and apostolic
life, by the painful labors of thy profession ;
by thy solicitude for the holy family; by
•i30 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

the instruction, consolation, and the relief

thou didst procure for thy neighbor,
Thou art, then, the happy Saint, whose
life here on earth was most wonderful;
most perfect ; — a truly heavenly life.
Such a perfect, heavenly life I would like
to live, O dear Saint! Help me to imitate
thy life of prayer and contemplation, com-
bined with activity and zeal for the welfare
of others.
Help me to imitate thy holy "virtues, thy
love of God and men, thy patience, thy
chastity, and humility.
May thy most holy life, 0 St. Joseph! be
in future my model and example, that I
may merit to share in the graces which Grod
has bestowed upon thee, and finally also in
the glory which is now thine.

praises of St Sosepb,
Ever blessed, 0 great St. Joseph ! be thy
soul, which was adorned with all the virtues
and gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Ever blessed be thy intellect, which was
full of the most sublime knowledge of Grod,
and enlightened with heavenly revelations.
Ever blessed be thy memory, which
always sweetly and fondly remembered
Jesus and Mary.
 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 431

Ever blessed be thy will, which was

always perfectly conformable to the divine
will.
Ever blessed be thy eyes, to which it was
granted to look upon Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed be thy ears, which merited
to hear the sweet words of Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed, O happy Joseph! be thy
saintly face, which was caressed and kissed
by the Infant Jesus.
Ever blessed be thy tongue, which con-
tinually praised God, and was deemed
worthy to converse with Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed be thy lips, which often
reverently kissed the Infant Jesus.
Ever blessed be thy neck, to which the
Infant Jesus clung.
Ever blessed be thy breast, against which
thou didst often fondly press the divine
child.
Ever blessed, 0 dear St. Joseph! be thy
hands, with which thou didst clothe, serve,
and caress Jesus.
Ever blessed be thy arms, on which thou
didst tenderly carry the divine Infant.
Ever blessed be thy most pure heart, with
which thou didst ardently love Jesus and
Mary.
Ever blessed be thy knees, which thou
didst so frequently bend to adore Jesus.
432 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

Ever blessed, 0 my father! be thy feet

for the weary steps which they so often
took to serve and save Jesus.
Ever blessed be thy thoughts, words, and
actions, each and all of which ever tended
to the service of Jesus and Mary,
Ever blessed be the tears, which thou
didst shed, through tender compassion for
the pains and sufferings of Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed be every moment of thy
life, which were spent for Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed be that moment of thy life,
in which thou didst most sweetly die in the
arms of Jesus and Mary.
Ever blessed. 0 glorious St. Joseph! be
that moment, in which thou didst enter
into the eternal joys of heaven.
0 my dear Protector! be thou ever blessed
by me and by all creatures, for all eternity,
with all the blessings which the most holy
Trinity bestowed upon thee: and with all
the benedictions given thee by Jesus and
Mary, and by the whole Church, triumphant
and militant.
0 thrice holy Joseph! blessed in soul and
body, in life and death, on earth and in
heaven, obtain also for me. a poor sinner,
but nevertheless thy true and faithful client,
a share in thy blessings, the grace to imitate
thee, to ardently love and faithfully serve
 PEAYEES TO ST. JOSEPH. 433

Jesus, Mary and thyself, and especially the

happiness to die in thy holy arms.

Intmlgenceb praters*
1Fn Utonor of tfoe Seven Sorrows an&
3o$s of St Josepb*
I. Pure husband of most holy Mary,
glorious St. Joseph! great was the travail
and anguish of thy heart when, in sore
perplexity, thou wast minded to put away
thy stainless spouse ; but unspeakable was
thy joy when the Angel revealed to thee
the high mystery of the Incarnation.
By this thy sorrow and joy we pray thee,
comfort our souls now and in their dying
agony with the sweet consolations of a well
spent life, and a death like unto thine own,
in the embrace of Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Grlory be to the
Father, etc.
II. Thrice happy patriarch, glorious St.
Joseph! chosen to be the foster-father of
the Word made man, keen was the pain
thou didst feel when thou didst see the
Infant born in abject poverty; but thy pain
was suddenly changed into heavenly joy
when upon thee burst the harmony of the
angel-choirs, and thou didst behold the
glory of that refulgent night.
434 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy we pray

thee, obtain for us that, when the journey
of our life is over, we too may pass to that
blessed land where we shall hear the angel-
chants, and enjoy the brightness of celestial
glory.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the
Father, etc.
III. O thou who wast ever most obedient
in fulfilling the law of Gk>d, glorious St.
Joseph ! when at his circumcision the Infant
Saviour's precious blood was shed, thy
heart was pierced through and through;
but with the name of Jesus came again to
thee new life and heavenly joy.
By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain
for us that, freed in life from the vile yoke
of sin, we too may die with joy, with the
sweet name of Jesus in our hearts and on
our lips.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Grlory be to the
Father, etc.
IV. Faithful Saint, who wast admitted
to take part in man's redemption, glorious
St. Joseph! Simeon's prophecy of the
coming woes of Jesus and of Mary filled
thy soul with agony like death; but thy
soul was filled with blessedness when he
foretold salvation and glorious resurrection
to innumerable souls.
 PRAYERS TO ST, JOSEPH. 435

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, help us

to be of those who, by the merits of Jesus
and his Virgin-Mother, shall be partakers
of his glorious resurrection.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the
Father, etc.
V. Watchful guardian, bosom friend of
the incarnate Son of God, glorious St.
Joseph! how didst thou toil to nurture
and to serve the Son of the Most High,
especially in the flight into Egypt ; but far
greater was thy joy in having with thee
God himself, and in seeing Egypt's idols
fall to the earth.
By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain
for us to keep aloof from the infernal tyrant,
quitting all dangerous occasions, that all
earthly idols may be cast out from our
hearts, and that, employed in the service
of Jesus and Mary, we may ever live for
them alone, and with them calmly die.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the
Father, etc.
VI. Angel on earth, glorious St. Joseph !
while thou didst marvel at seeing the King
of heaven obedient to thy bidding, fear of
the tyrant mingled with thy joy when thou
didst bring him back from Egypt; but
reassured by the Angel, thou didst dwell at
436 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

Nazareth with glad heart, in the sweet

company of Jesus and Mary,
By this thy sorrow and thy joy. obtain
for us that, with heart set free from all
hurtful fear, we, too, may taste the quiet
of a tranquil conscience, safely dwelling
with J esus and Mary, and one day die within
their loving arms.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the
Father, etc.
TIL Pattern of all holiness, glorious
St. Joseph! without fault of thine, thou
didst lose the holy Child Jesus, and for
three days, to thy great sorrow, didst seek
for him, until, with joy unspeakable, thou
didst find thy Life among the doctors in
the temple.
By this thy sorrow and thy joy. we pray
thee with all our heart, stand between us
and danger, that we may never lose Jesus
by mortal sin; but if. to our shame and
disgrace, we lose him. may we seek him
with such ceaseless grief that we may find
him propitious to us. especially at the hour
of our death, and thus go to enjoy him in
heaven, and there with thee sing his divine
mercy forever.
Our Father, Hail Mary. GHory be to the
Father, etc.
 PEAYEES TO ST. JOSEPH. 437

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old,

being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph.
Y . Pray for us, blessed Joseph!
1^. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
let us peay.
Grod, who in thy ineffable providence didst
vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be
the husband of thy most holy Mother:
grant, we beseech thee, that we may be
made worthy to receive him for our inter-
cessor in heaven, whom, on earth, we
venerate as our holy protector, who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.

Dear Gruardian of Mary!

Dear nurse of her Child!
Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild ;
Bleak sands are all round us ; no home can
we see :
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! we lean upon
thee.

For thou to the pilgrim art father and guide,

And Jesus and Mary felt safe by thy side ;
Ah! blessed St. Joseph! how safe should
I be,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! if thou wert
with me.
15
438 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

0 blessed St. Joseph! how great was thy

worth,
The one chosen shadow of Grod upon earth.
The father of Jesus ; ah ! when wilt thou be,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! a father to me?

God' chose thee for Jesus and Mary; — wilt

thou
Forgive a poor exile for choosing thee now?
There's
thee no; Saint in heaven, St. Joseph! like
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! 0 deign to
love me.

Xitan^ of St 3osepb-
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Grod, the Father of heaven,*)
Grod the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Grod the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity one Grod,

*) Have mercy on us.

 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 439

Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph,*)

St. Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin,
St. Joseph, guardian of the virginity of
Mary,
St. Joseph, foster-father of Jesus,
St. Joseph, head of the holy family,
St. Joseph, honored with the continual
presence of the Incarnate Word,
St. Joseph, savior of our Saviour,
St. Joseph, chosen minister of the councils
of the Most High,
St. Joseph, who was present at the birth of
Christ,
St. Joseph, who was found worthy to bear
Jesus in thy arms,
St. Joseph, who didst, with Mary his mother,
present Jesus in the temple,
St. Joseph, who, at the warning of the
Angel, didst fly with the mother and the
child into Egypt,
St. Joseph, who in exile was the greatest
consolation for Jesus and Mary,
St. Joseph, who after the death of Herod
didst return with Jesus and Mary into
the land of Israel,
St. Joseph, who didst seek Jesus sorrowing
when he was lost in the temple,
St. Joseph, who didst find him with great
joy after three days,
*) Pray for us.
440 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH,

St. Joseph, who for many years didst dwell

with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, *)
St. Joseph, who hadst the Lord of lords
subject to thee,
St. Joseph, who wTast the happy witness of
his hidden life,
St . Joseph, declared in Scripture a just man,
St. Joseph, man of perfect obedience,
St. Joseph, model of charity,
St. Joseph, lily of chastity,
St. Joseph, teacher of humility,
St. Joseph, splendor of modesty,
St. Joseph, faithful imitator of Jesus and
Mary,
St. Joseph, abounding with the gifts of the
Holy Grhost,
St. Joseph, patron of the Catholic Church,
St. Joseph, patron of the interior life,
St. Joseph, protector of virgins,
St. Joseph, mirror of married persons,
St. Joseph, advocate of sinners,
St. Joseph, comforter of the afflicted,
St. Joseph, friend of the poor,
St. Joseph, solace of all who labor,
St. Joseph, guide of travellers,
St. Joseph, safety of the ship-wrecked,
St. Joseph, helper of all who invoke thee,
St. Joseph, defender of the dying,

*) Pray for us.

 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH* 441

St. Joseph, our patron.

Hear us.
St. Joseph, our advocate,
Graciously hear us.
In our necessities,*)
In our distress,
In our temptations,
In dangers of soul and body,
In our temporal wants and needs,
In our spiritual wants and needs,
In our prayers,
In living an interior life,
In detaching our hearts from the pleasures
of this world,
In loving our neighbor as ourselves,
In faithfully serving thy holy spouse, the
blessed Virgin,
In preserving holy purity,
In advancing on the path of perfection,
In persevering in the service of God to the
end,
At the moment of our death,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord !
Lamb of God ! etc.

*) St. Joseph, help us.

442 FEASTS OF ST. JOSEPH.

Have mercy on us, 0 Lord !

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
y. Pray for us, St. Joseph!
1^. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.

0 G-od, who by an ineffable providence

didst deign to choose the blessed Joseph to
be the spouse of thy most blessed Mother,
grant, we beseech thee, that whilst we
venerate him on earth as our protector, we
may merit to have him in heaven as our
intercessor.
Remember, 0 most pure spouse of the
blessed Virgin Mary, my sweet protector,
St. Joseph ! that no one ever had recourse
to thy protection, or implored thy aid with-
out obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore,
in thy goodness, I come before thee and
humbly supplicate thee. Oh! despise not
my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer!
but graciously receive them. Amen.

Conclusion*

O my dear Jesus! 0 Child of St. Joseph!

carressed, loved, nursed and protected by
him, I beg thee graciously to accept the
 PRAYERS TO ST, JOSEPH. 443

prayers which I have offered in honor of

thy faithful guardian and father.
May St. Joseph supply by his merits and
perfections, what has been wanting in my
devotion.
Through the intercession of this holy
patriarch give us, I humbly beseech thee,
O Lord! all what I have asked, especially
an unlimited confidence in his powerful
protection.
Praise be to thee, 0 Jesus! for the love
with which thou didst inspire me for thy
holy foster-father. Increase, I pray thee,
this love in me and in all thy children.
Deign to give us the grace to imitate
St. Joseph, and to learn from him how to
serve thee and thy blessed Mother ; how to
live a life of prayer combined with labor ; a
life of retirement, yet useful to our neighbor,
and to die as dear St. Joseph died, in thine
and thy Mother's arm.
Before I depart from this holy place, help
me, O my heavenly protector! O silent
adorer of the divine Child ! to greet him as
thou hast so often greeted him, and to say
with a heart full of love and humble devo-
tion:
Praised and adored be without end!
Jesus, our Lord, in the most blessed
Sacrament !
444 FEASTS OF ST, JOSEPH,

Jesus, my God, my all!

How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this "wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament! we thee adore;
Oh make us love thee more and more !

Had I but Mary's sinless heart,

To love thee as my dearest King!
Oh with what bursts of fervent praise,
Thy goodness, Jesus! would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament! we thee adore;
Oh make us love thee more and more !

Oh see within a creature's hand,

The vast Creator deigns to be
Reposing infant-like, as though
On Joseph's arm or Mary's knee.
Sweet Sacrament ! we thee adore ;
Oh make us love thee more and more!

Thy body, soul, Grodhead, all —

0 mystery of love divine !
1 cannot compass all I have.
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament! we thee adore;
Oh make us love thee more and more!
 PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH. 445

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin.

'f. 0 Lord ! hear my prayer.

1^. And let my cry come unto thee,
J. Let us bless the Lord !
1^. Thanks be to God.
Jf . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
Iy. Amen.
 jFeasts of tbe Hnoels.

Jf. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

3^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
J '. O0
Iy. G-od! inchne
Lord! unto my
make haste aid. me.
to help
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Sboratioru

Come, let us adore our Lord Jesus Christ.

who is really and truly present in the
most blessed Sacrament.
Come, let us pay our homage to the G-od-
Man, whom the Angels continually praise
and glorify in his Sacrament of Love.
He is the Lord of the heavenly choirs,
and is always surrounded and served by
them.
Day and night, the celestial Spirits are
gathered around the altar of the Lord, and
sing to him their canticles.
Come, then, and let us praise our Lord in
his Angels. Let us thank them for their
(446)
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 447

love to our Eucharistic God, and let us ask

for a share in their prayers.
With the Angels let us sing joyfully too
Jesus in the sacred Host :
Holy , holy , holy, Lord God of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparation*

0 ye holy Angels of God! what men

neglect to do, is your most loving task and
perpetual occupation.
Your life is devoted to the adoration of
the Most High: here on earth, before the
altar; and in heaven, before the throne of
the Almighty.
0 holy Angels! you are the true
adorers of the triune God, and of the God-
made man, who is dwelling amongst us;
you continuously carry on an admirable
perpetual adoration.
To you I come, O heavenly Spirits! and
complain of the coldness, the ingratitude,
and offences of which men make themselves
guilty m the presence of our loving Saviour
and Redeemer.
Daily you see our disrespectful behavior
towards the blessed Sacrament, and how
448 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

we forget the presence of our divine guest

whom you love so ardently; and in your
sorrow you cover your faces, and shed tears
of grief.
O ye Angels of the Lord ! obtain for me
the grace to weep with you over my own
sins and those of all mankind.
Make intercession for us with your Lord
and Master, that he may touch our cold
hearts and inflame them with a portion of
that love wherewith you are burning,
Graciously ask the Most High for pardon
and mercy, and what is wanting in our
disposition for obtaining his mercy, do you
lovingly supply.
Do you take, before the Sacrament of
Love, the place especially of those heartless
men who have no love for his eternal love,
no gratitude for our God and Redeemer,
and no time for his adoration and service.
In satisfaction for my sins and offences
and those of all mankind, I now beg to be
found worthy to spend this hour in your
society, and to share in your humble adora-
tion, repeating with you:
O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 449

Praise those ministers celestial

Whom the dread Father chose,
To be the guardians of our nature frail
Against our scheming foes.

For, since that from his glory in the skies

The apostate Angel fell,
Burning with envy, evermore he tries
To down our souls in hell.

Then hither, watchful Spirit ! bend thy wing,

Our country7 s guardian blest!
Avert her threatening ills, expel each thing
That hindereth her rest.

Praise to the glorious Trinity, whose strength

This mighty fabric sways ;
Whose glory spreads beyond the utmost
length
Of everlasting days.

£be ©ffice of tbe Hugeis,

Let us now consider how great the love
of Grod is for us, and how solicitous he is
for our welfare.
He makes his Angels our guardians, and
his ministers our servants.
He says: "Behold! I will send my Angel
who shall go before thee, and keep thee in
450 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

thy journey, and bring thee into the place

that I have prepared/7
"Take notice of him, and hear his voice,
and do not think hira one to be contemned,
for he will not forgive when thou hast
sinned, and my name is in him.??
"But if thou wilt hear his voice, and do
all that I speak, I will be an enemy to thy
enemies, and will afflict them that afflict
thee, and my Angel shall go before thee."
O good God ! how thankful should we be
to thee, that thou hast given thy Angels
charge over us, to keep us in all our ways.
What is man that thou art mindful of
him, or the son of man that thou visitest
him?
0 ye holy Angels ! how can we ever repay
you for your care and protection !
The good God gave a command in our
behalf. He commanded you, O most beau-
tiful Spirits ! who are adorned with all gifts
of grace and nature, to watch over us and
to protect us.
How faithfully you have complied with
his command, O holy Angels!
When the Israelites went forth from
Egypt, you were with them ; you brought
them, by the will of God, into the land of
promise, and defended them from their
enemies.
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 451

You were with all the chosen ones of the

Almighty: with Moses, Aaron, Elias, David,
and thousand others, and most zealously
kept them from harm and evil.
You punished the evil doers and the
enemies of God, and those that stretched
out their hands towards the servants of Grod.
You saved Daniel out of the lion's den,
and Tobias out of the mouth of the fish
that assaulted him.
You were seen by Jacob ascending and
descending on the ladder which reached
from the earth to heaven.
And we know that you have not ceased
to serve the children of men. Our Lord
assures us of this ; our holy Church teaches
it, and our daily experience proves it.
O holy Arigel-Gruardian ! if thou hadst
not protected me, what would have become
of me?
Into how many sins would I have fallen,
if thou hadst not been at my side?
From how many dangers didst thou save
me; to how much good encourage me?
But, O ye holy Angels! this is not all
that you do for us.
You are always standing before the throne
of the Almighty, praying and interceding
for us.
You unceasingly carry our prayers and
452 FEASTS OF THE -ANGELS.

good works to the triune God, and unite

them to your fervent petitions, thus making
them pleasing to the divine Majesty.
O what a wonderful sight meets me when
my spirit carries me to your celestial habi-
tation, and I there behold your angelic
assembly !
St. John saw you with the golden censers,
and the trumpets, and the harps whereon
you bring forth your sweet melodies in
honor of the Holy One.
"And I saw," he says, "four Angels
standing on the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that
they should not blow upon the earth, nor
upon the sea, nor on any tree . . . And I
saw seven Angels standing in the presence
of God. And all the Angels stood round
about the throne, and they fell down before
the throne upon their faces and adored God,
saying: Amen! Benediction and glory;
and wisdom and thanksgiving; honor and
power, and strength to our God for ever
and ever. Amen . 7 7
This, then, is your heavenly song, O ye
holy Angels ! the praise and benediction of
God, your eternal occupation.
Divided into those nine, mysterious choirs,
you stand in his court, ten thousand times
a hundred thousand, offering the incense
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 453

to the Almighty, and pouring forth your

tuneful praises on your sweet-sounding
harps.
O remember us, 0 ye heavenly Spirits!
and whilst enjoying your life of bliss, be
mindful of us exiled in this vale of tears.
Come to our assistance ; help us to over-
come your adversaries, the devils, and
obtain for us the victory over our own
flesh, and frail human nature, that we may
share your glory hereafter.

praters of tbe Cburcb anb tbe

Hngelic Grown*
1fn IHonor of tbe ©uar&ian^Bngels*
0 God! who, in thy unspeakable provi-
dence, vouchsafest to send thy Angels to
keep guard over us : grant unto thy suppli-
cants that we may be continually defended
by their protection, and rejoice eternally in
their society.
tn Honor of St flMcbael*

0 G-od! who didst render blessed Michael,

thy Archangel, victorious over the proud
Lucifer, and all the wicked spirits, we be-
seech thee, that combating under the cross,
and ever adopting his motto "who is like
Grod," we may be victorious over all our
454 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

enemies, and, delivered from all impedi-

ments, regulate our lives according to thy
will and commandments.
1Tn SHonor of St Gabriel*
0 God! the lover of the salvation of
mankind who didst commission blessed
Grabriel, assisting before thy throne, to
announce to the ever-glorious Virgin the
mystery of thy blessed Son's becoming
man, we beseech thee, that recurring to
his intercession, we may be succored in all
our wants, spiritual and temporal.
1Tn Ittonor of St IRapbaet
O Grod! who, in thy ineffable goodness,
hast rendered blessed Raphael the conductor
of thy faithful in their journeys, we humbly
implore thee that we may be conducted by
him in the way of salvation, and experience
his help in the maladies of our souls.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Ube Hngeltc Crown*
1. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the heavenly choir of the Seraphim,
may it please Grod to make us worthy to
receive into our hearts the fire of his perfect
charity. Hail Mary.
2. By the intercession of St. Michael
 PKAYEKS TO THE ANGELS. 455

and the heavenly choirs of the Cherubim,

may God, in his good pleasure, grant us
grace to abandon the ways of sip., and follow
the faith of Christian perfection. Hail Mary.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the sacred choir of the Thrones, may
it please God to infuse into our hearts the
spirit of true and sincere humility. Hail
Mary.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the heavenly choir of Dominations,
may it please God to grant us grace to have
dominion over our senses, and to correct
our depraved passions. Hail Mary.
5. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the heavenly choir of Powers, may God
vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles
and temptations of the devil. Hail Mary.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the choir of the admirable heavenly
Virtues, may it please God to keep us from
falling into temptations, and may he deliver
us from evil. Hail Mary.
7. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the heavenly choir of Principalities,
may it please God to fill our souls with the
spirit of true and sincere obedience. Hail
Mary.
8. By the intercession of St. Michael
and the heavenly choir of Archangels, may
456 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

it please Grod to grant us the gift of perse-

verance in the faith and in all good works,
that we ma-jr thereby be enabled to obtain
the glory of paradise. Hail Mary.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and
the heavenly choir of all the Angels, may
God vouchsafe to grant us their guardian-
ship through this mortal life, and after death
a happy entrance into the everlasting glory
of heaven. Hail Mary.

Jpra^ers to tbe <5uarfc>tan*Hngel.

0 most holy Angel of Grod! appointed by
him to be my guardian. I give thee thanks
for all the benefits which thou hast ever
bestowed on me in body and soul.
1 praise and glorify thee that thou dost
condescend to assist me, all miserable and
worthless as I am, with such patient fidelity,
and to defend me against all the assaults of
my enemies.
Blessed be the hour in which thou wast
assigned me for my guardian, my defender,
and my patron.
Blessed be all thy love and care for me,
wherewith thou dost unceasingly further
my salvation.
In acknowledgment of all thy loving
ministries to me from my youth up, I offer
thee myself, body and soul, beseeching thee
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 457

to forgive me for having so often striven

against thy holy inspirations ; and saddened
thee, my nearest and dearest friend.
I promise thee for the future obedience
and gratitude. I recommend myself anew
to thy care and fidelity, and pray thee to be
always my guard against the attacks of the
enemy.
Angelhisoflove
whom Grod, my guardian
commits me here;dear! to'
ever be
at my side, to light and guard, to rule hnd
guide.
But also to you, 0 holy Angels! who are
the guardians of my fellow-creatures, I
direct my prayers, begging you to permit
me to address you in behalf of your clients,
especially those who are ungrateful to you.
O Angels of those happy infants, who, as
yet, are without spot before Grod, preserve
their holy innocence, I earnestly conjure
you.
Implant in their hearts the seeds of piety,
of the love of God, of purity, and all other
virtues, that they may grow up to be the
joy of their parents, and the consolation of
our holy mother the Church.
Above all, I beseech you, let none of
your little charges die without the grace* of
holy baptism; and if Grod, in his inscrutable
wisdom, should have resolved their early
458 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

departure from this vale of tears, stir up

their parents or others to hasten their holy
baptism.
Angels of the young people, of those who
are exposed to so many dangers, conduct
them safely through their temptations and
the stormy SQa of this life.
Assist them when their and your enemies,
the evil spirits, or the allurement of this
world, or their own flesh should urge them
to forbidden actions; inspire them, at such
moments, with the holy fear of Grod and
his terrible judgments, and keep them on
the path of virtue.
Angels of parents, and of those who are
engaged in the instruction of youth, animate
them with your zeal and love.
Obtain for them the necessary patience ;
frequently remind them of the responsibility
of their holy task: of the value of souls, the
temporal and eternal welfare of which is
greatly in their hands ; in one word', make
them worthy and successful co-operators
with you, the invisible guardians of their
young charges.
O Angel of the clergy, whose office it is
to represent you here on earth; to take
your place at the altars, in the service of
the Almighty, in sanctifying souls and
conducting them safely to the shores of
 PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 459

eternity: be mindful how greatly they need

your help and assistance in order to discharge
worthily the duties of their sacred calling.
Be, therefore, always at their side; obtain
for them all the graces they need for their
own sanctification and that of others ; purify
their intentions and actions in the fire of
love which animates you, that they may thus
save themselves and their fellow-creatures.
Angels of religious, who, by their holy
vows, are called, on earth to imitate your
pure and holy life, in detaching their hearts
from all earthly affections, in living in
purity and chastity ; who should ever be as
ready to obey their superiors, as you are to
obey the commands of your Creator, and
who should always stand with you before
the throne of the Almighty, praising and
glorifying him: lead them all, I pray you,
to that perfection which they have promised.
Do not permit their zeal to relax ; their love
to get cold; but keep ever alive in them
that holy fervor with which they dedicated
themselves to Grod.
Angels of sinners, of heretics and unbe-
lievers, of those unhappy souls that are in
the darkness of death, separated from Grod,
and in danger of being separated from him
for all eternity, I conjure you, do not cease
to watch over these unfortunate creatures,
460 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

to pray for them, and to move their hearts

by your gentle whisperings; do not rest
until you have brought them back to their
Grod and Saviour
Angels of those , who are now struggling
in the agonies of death, and are soon to
appear before the judgment-seat of Grod to
receive their sentence , either of everlasting
bliss or eternal woe ; you know how much
there depends on the last moments of this
life, and how the evil spirits endeavor at
that time to draw the departing soul to hell.
O good Angels! Come to the assistance
of these souls, snatch them from the hands
of the evil one, take them into your own
loving arms, and conduct them safely to
the throne of Grod, there to adore him with
you for all eternity.

praters to 3t« fHMcbael,

tbe Guarfctan Bngel of tbe Gburcb, ant)
ot tbe Souls Departing.
How beautiful art thou, O glorious St.
Michael! in thy heavenly armor, giving
glory to Grod whose enemy thou overcamest.
Thy humble and fervent eye is fixed on
the throne of the Almighty, whose rights
thou didst defend, and who gave thee the
victory.
 PBAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 461

Thy sublime cry: aWho is like unto

Grod?" roused the faithful legions and
became thy name and thy crown. It will
remind us, for all eternity, of thy fidelity
to our Creator, and thy triumph over the
dragon. Meanwhile we enjoy thy loving-
protection ; we are thy happy clients.
Guardian Angel of the holy Church ! now
is the time for thee to exert all the might of
thy arm. Satan is furious in his efforts
against the noble spouse of thy Master;
brandish thy bright sword and give battle
to this implacable enemy,
The Vicar of Christ is a prisoner within
the walls of his own palace ; in many states,
the Church is deprived of her most sacred
rights, and the faithful are persecuted.
Is it that the reign of the Man of Sin is
about to be proclaimed on the earth? Are
we near that last day, when thou art to
exercise, in the name of the Sovereign
Judge, the terrible office of separating the
goats from the sheep?
If this earth is still to exist ; if the mission
of the Church is not yet completed; is it
not time for thee, O Michael! to show the
dragon of hell that he may not, with im-
punity, insult on this earth the Grod who
created and redeemed it ?
The torrent of error and crime is unceas-
462 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

ingly dragging the world to the brink of

the precipice : save it, 0 glorious Archangel !
by confounding the dark plots which are
laid for its destruction.
Thou, 0 St. Michael! art also the pro-
tector of our souls in their passage from
time into eternity.
During this present life, thine eye is upon
our wants and thine ear open to our prayers.
Though awed by the brightness of thy
glory, we love thee, dear Prince of heaven!
and we live happy and contented beneath
the shadow of thy wings.
In a few days, or, at most, years, our
holy mother, the Church will perform her
last sacred rites over our lifeless remains;
she will pray for us %,that we may be
delivered from the lioms mouth, and that
the standard-bearer, St. Michael, may bring
us into the holy light."
Watch over us now, O holy Angel! lest
we should then not deserve thy protection.
The dragon is ever threatening us ; he makes
no secret of his wish to devour us. Teach
us, O Michael! to repeat thy beautiful
words: "Who is like unto God."
Pray for us, that we, like thee, may love
our Lord and Master: then we, too, shall
be invincible. Satan cannot make headway
 PKAYEKS TO THE ANGELS. 463

against a creature that is filled with the

love of the great God.
This God created thee, O holy Archangel !
and thou lovest him as thy Creator ; but as
to us, he not only created, but also redeemed
us; yea, and at the price of his own blood!
What, then, should be the intensity of our
love for him !
O St. Michael! strengthen this love in
our hearts ; and since we are fighting under
thy leadership, guide us; let thy look give
us courage ; ward off from us the blows of
the enemy's sword.
We venture to hope that thou wilt be pres-
ent at our last moments. In return for our
tender devotion towards thee, deign to keep
guard round our death-bed, and cover it
with thy shield. If the dragon see the flash
of thy sword, he will not dare to come near
us.

May herself
throw our soul,
with when leaving
affection the body,"
into thine arms.
Cast her not from thee, O holy Archangel!
when she seeks to cling to thee ; carry her
to the judgment-seat ; take her beneath thy
wings ; calm her fears ; and may the Lord,
thy Master, bid thee bear her speedily to
the kingdom of eternal bliss.
464 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS,

Holy God ! we praise thy name ;

Lord of all ! we bow before thee ;
All on earth thy sceptre claim,
All in heaven above adore thee ;
Infinite thy vast domain.
Everlasting is thy reign.

Hark ! the loud celestial hymn —

Angel choirs above are raising :
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising.
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord!

Spare thy people, Lord! we pray,

By a thousand snares surrounded ;
Keep us without sin to day,
Never let us be confounded:
Lo ! I put my trust in thee.
Never, Lord! abandon me.

Xitan$ of tbe Hol$ angels.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us,
Lord, have mercy on us,
 PBAYEKS TO THE ANGELS. 465

Christ, hear us,

Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, queen of Angels,**)
St. Michael, who didst drive from heaven
Lucifer and his followers,
St. Michael, who wast ever the defender of
the people of God,
St. Michael, who dost carry the souls of
the faithful to heaven,
St. Gabriel, who didst expound to Daniel
the heavenly vision about the future
Redeemer,
St. Gabriel, who didst foretell to Zachary
the birth and ministry of John the Baptist,
St. Gabriel, who didst announce to Mary
the Incarnation of the divine Word,
St. Raphael, who didst lead Tobias safe
through his journey,
St. Raphael, who didst deliver Sara from
the evil spirits,
St. Raphael, who didst restore sight to
Tobias the elder,
All ye holy Angels, who stand around the
lofty throne of God,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for us.
466 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

All ye holy Angels, who always behold the

face of our Father who is in heaven,*)
All ye holy Angels, who sing to him con-
tinually: Holy, holy, holy,
All ye holy Angels, who are the messengers
of heavenly things to men,
All ye holy Angels, who art set over king-
doms and provinces,
All ye holy Angels, who have been appointed
by Grod to be our guardians,
All ye holy Angels, who struck the Sodo-
mites with blindness,
All ye holy Angels, who descended and
ascended on the ladder of Jacob.
All ye holy Angels, who delivered the divine
law to Moses on Mount Sinai,
All ye holy Angels, who brought good
tidings when Christ was born,
All ye holy Angels, who ministered to Christ
in the desert,
All ye holy Angels, who comforted Christ
in his agony,
All ye holy Angels, who sat in white gar-
ments at the sepulchre of our Lord,
All ye holy Angels, who appeared to the
disciples at the time of the ascension of
our Lord,
All ye holy Angels, who shall go before our

*) Pray for us.

 PRAT EES TO THE ANGELS. 467

Lord bearing the standard of the cross,

when he comet h to judgment,*)
All ye holy Angels, who shall gather to-
gether the elect at the end of the world,
All ye holy Angels, who shall separate the
wicked from among the just,
All ye holy Angels, who offer to God the
prayers of those that pray,
All ye holy Angels, who, in our behalf,
perform signs and wonders,
All ye holy Angels, who have often put to
flight armies of enemies,
All ye holy Angels, who have often delivered
God's servants from prison, and other
perils of this life,
All ye holy Angels, who have often consoled
the holy martyrs in their torments,
All ye holy Angels, who rejoice over every
sinner doing penance,
All ye holy Angels, who are our monitors,
All ye holy Angels, who are our councilors,
All ye holy Angels, who are our intercessors,
All ye holy Angels, who are the witnesses
of all our actions,
All ye holy Angels, who enlighten us in
our doubts,
All ye holy Angels, who comfort us in our
troubles,
All ye holy Angels, who help us in our needs,
*) Pray for us.
468 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

All ye holy Angels, who assist us at the

hour of death, *)
Lamb of God! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of G-od! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, O Lord!
y. Bless the Lord, all ye Angels!
fyi Bless the Lord, all ye Hosts!
y. He has given his Angels charge con-
cerning thee.
Iy. In the sight of the Angels, I will sing
unto thee, O my God!
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
LET US PEAY.
O God! who dispensest the services of
Angels and men in a wonderful order:
mercifully grant that our life may be pro-
tected on earth by those who always do
thee sendee in heaven. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Conclusion*
O ye holy Angels of God! 0 my dear
Guardian- Angel! take, I humbly beseech
*) Pray for us.
 PKAYERS TO THE ANGELS. 469

you, to the throne of the Almighty the

prayers I have said during this hour, and
ask him to graciously accept them.
O blessed Spirits! look compassionately
down upon me, and be pleased with the
devotion I have performed in your honor.
Continue to watch over me; to rule,
guide, and protect me, and do not permit
that I should ever grievously offend God,
our common Father and Creator.
In the time of temptation inspire me with
the holy fear of God, and drive from me
the evil spirits, that are ever intent upon
drawing me down to hell.
And when I have to leave this holy
temple, take, I implore you, my place before
the altar, and adore God for me.
With you, I humbly greet Jesus in the
tabernacle once more, and say from my
heart :
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, our Lord, in the most blessed
Sacrament !

My God ! my Lord ! in thine own place

I kneel before thy sacred face,
That face which once for me on high
Hung white in death beneath the sky ;
16
470 FEASTS OF THE ANGELS.

And hail thee, King, and Lord, and Love!

My heaven on earth, my all above.

0 Love supreme ! O Love divine !

Who stoopest low to make us thine.
0 Jesus! God and Master ! pent
Within this gracious Sacrament,
1 love thee, praise thee, thank and bless
Thy Godhead in thy lowliness.

For me made low ; for me the Lord

Of heaven, the uncreated Word
Of God, doth condescend to dwell
By night and day within this cell.
Oh! break, proud heart! such love to see
Eevealed in such humility.

My God ! my Jesus ! thou hast done

All that thou canst to make me one
Within thine own self. What need I more?
What grace is left me to implore!
Bought with thy blood, for me outpoured,
Fed with the body of my Lord.

Yet, ah! my Jesus, kind and meek,

One other grace I still must seek :
That all this love and all this pain
May not be felt and borne in vain,
But that thy love may win my love,
And make me thine in heaven above.
 PRAYERS OF THE ANGELS. 471

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
fy. And let my cry come unto thee.
y. Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ym May the souls of the faithful departed ,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
^. Amen.
 leasts of the Saints

y. O Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1^. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O God! incline unto my aid.
O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

adoration.

QOME, let us adore the most holy Sacra-

ment!
Let us adore Jesus, who is really and
truly present in the blessed Eucharist.
Come, let us pay him the homage of our
hearts, for he is the Lord of lords, the King
of kings ; the Ruler of mankind, the Crown
of the Saints.
The entire multitude of Saints is gathered
around his throne, and is ever praising and
adoring him.
Come, let us honor the Lord in his Saints,
and the Saints as the friends and servants
of the Lord.
(472)
 PRAYERS TO THE SAINTS. 473

Come, let us unite our adoration with

their holy prayers, and say most fervently:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts !
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatiom
What a great consolation it is for us, O
Lord! that thou hast made thy Saints our
helpers and intercessors.
They lived a life most pleasing to thee
and died in thy holy friendship. They are
now united with thee. Gathered around
thy throne, they are praying for us unceas-
ingly, and are ever ready to assist us in the
afflictions and temptations of this life.
O Lord! be pleased to hear their prayers,
and for their sake forgive us our sins and
offenses.
We know that we are not worthy to find
favor in thy eyes. We are an unclean
generation, and a worldly people. Our
hearts are with the things of this earth, and
scarcely ever do we rise above the heavens.
But thy ministers, O God! thy Saints,
are pure and holy, inflamed with thy love,
and ever intent on serving thee.
Do, then, O ye Saints! make intercession
for us. Offer to God your fervent prayers
474 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

and petitions ; all you have done and suffered

for him during your earthly life.
O dear Saints! in you we put our trust.
You are able to obtain for us forgiveness
and mercy; grace and assistance.
You, who have experienced the dangers of
this life, pray for us that Grod may graciously
attend to our needs, that, with his help, we
may turn from our evil ways, and return to
the path of justice.

Giver of life — eternal Grod!

Thy own redeemed defend ;
Mother of grace! thy children save,
And help them to the end.
Ye thousand, thousand Angel Hosts!
Assist us in our needs :
Ye Patriarchs, with the Prophet choir,
For our forgiveness plead.
Heralds of Christ ! and thou who still
Dost heaven's dread keys retain!
Ye glorious Apostles all!
Unloose our guilty chain.
Army of Martyrs ! holy Priests !
In beauteous array ;
Ye happy troops of Virgins chaste !
Wash all our stains away.
 PRAYERS TO THE SAINTS. 475

All ye, who high above the stars

In heavenly glory reign !
May we, through your blest prayers,
The gifts of endless life obtain.

Praise, honor, to the Father be,

Praise to his only Son ;
Praise to the Spirit Paraclete,
While endless ages run.

praises of tbe Saints,

O ye faithful friends of God ! most brilliant
luminaries of earth! stars of fairest light!
I joyfully celebrate your combats, whereby
you did destroy the powers of hell and the
kingdom of Satan.
You were the true followers of our God-
made-man ; the sweet sounding harp of the
Holy Ghost, resplendent with the knowledge
of divine truths, the inspired ministers of
God's mysteries.
You .were soldiers most invincible in
battle, and immovable as a tower. You
went through the great tribulation, and
passed unhurt through fire and water.
Imitating your Lord, you cheerfully and
willingly delivered yourselves up to the
battle, and gained the victory over Satan,
the world, and your own flesh.
Decked with a brilliant crown ; beautiful
476 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

with a royal diadem and sceptre, and clad

with the robe of immortality, you now reign
in heaven with the King of the Angelic
Hosts. You sowed in much weeping, but
reaped in great joy.
Come, then, all ye people! and let us sing
the praises and celebrate the memory of
these glorious champions.
You, O Saints of Glod! can truly say with
the Apostle: "I have finished my course."
You have lived a most holy life ; you have
died a most holy death ; your crown is now
immortality.
Like a light from smoke ; like a rose from
the midst of briars, so did you rise from the
midst of corruption and wickedness.
But wrho can worthily praise you, 0
soldiers of Christ? Is there, in the wide
world, a poet who can write an ode suffi-
ciently immortal wherewith to honor you?
O Saints! illustrious examples of all that
is noble! you were poor in earthly; goods,
but most rich in virtue and wisdom; and
with the riches of your temperance, forti-
tude, piety, justice, and prudence, you
ascended into heaven.
Bravely despising the vain grandeurs of
this short, mournful, and miserable life —
so replete with every evil — your ambition
was for heaven alone.
 PRAYEBS TO THE SAINTS. 477

And heaven alone is able to enrich you

with all good things; reward your holy
lives ; and recompense your sublime virtues.
Joys of earth, vanities of dress, beauty
of body, none had charms for you. To
reduce your body to subjection; to live a
retired and penitential life ; to atone for the
sins of others was all you desired on this
earth.
You had compassion on all that were
suffering, no matter where they might be,
or what their misfortune. Your sympathy
was ever ready for them that were a prey
to care.
Illuminated with the rays of the great
Light, you did shine in the darkness of
this world as magnificent stars, and did
light up and warm up your fellow-creatures.
O wondrous prodigy ! These servants of
Grod were as lambs in the midst of wolves,
but remained unhurt by them, and feared
them not. Yea, they turned them, that
were wild beasts, into lambs.
Such is the power of the sanctity and
virtue; of the living faith and grace, that
was poured out over these Saints and
attracted all men.
They were in the world as a well of living-
waters, whence all might draw wisdom. We
have received of the streams that flowed
478 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

from this well ; we have drunk of its mirac-

ulous Sowings. We have been edified by
the example of these servants of Christ.
Fervently did you, 0 imitators of our
Lord! take up the yoke of his Gospel, and
the light of your holy deeds was seen to the
ends of the earth.
You have put to flight the ranks of the
Lord's enemies, and courageously destroyed
them with the sword of the Holy Spirit.
Most wisely have you shunned the dangers
and snares of the flesh; renounced all
earthly things, and ascended the mount of
virtues.
You have filled up, in your flesh, those
things, that are wanting of the sufferings of
Christ ; — you have washed your robes and
have made them white in the blood of the
Lamb, and in your own blood.
You have humbled yourselves ; now you
are exalted. You have borne on your flesh
the wounds of Christ crucified; now you
reign with him in his kingdom.
O ye happy Saints ! do not forget us in
your abode of bliss. Eeach down your
hands to help and guide us. Offer your
prayers for us, that the crown of glory may
also be ours.
 PBAYEKS TO THE SAINTS. 479

pratsee of tbe 3uet in tbe Bible*

Blessed is the man who hath not walked
in the council of the ungodly, nor stood in
the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of
pestilence.
But his will is in the law of the Lord, and
on his law he shall meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree which is
planted near the running waters, which shall
bring forth its fruits in due season.
And his leaf shall not fall off; and all,
whatsoever he shall do, shall prosper.
The just man, if he be prevented with
death, shall be in rest.
Being made perfect in a short space, he
fulfilled a long time.
For his soul pleased Grod; therefore he
hastened to bring him out of the midst of
iniquity.
The just shall live forever; and their
reward is with the Lord, and the care of
the Most High.
They shall stand with great constancy
against those that have afflicted them, and
taken away their labor.
The wicked seeing this, shall be troubled
with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at
their unexpected salvation; saying within
themselves: "these are they whom we had
4:80 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

sometimes in derision, and for a parable of

reproach. We fools esteemed their life
madness, and their end "without honor.
Behold how they are numbered among the
children of God, and their lot is among the
Saints. "
The just shall receive a kingdom of glory,
and a crown of beauty at the hand of the
Lord: for with his right hand he will cover
them, and with his holy arm he will defend
them.
Blessed is the man that is found without
blemish, and that hath not gone after gold jj
nor put his trust in money and in treasures.
"Whodone
hath is he, and we things
wonderful will praise
in hishim,
life.for he
Who hath been tried thereby, and been
made perfect ; he shall have glory everlast-
ing. He that could have transgressed, and
hath not transgressed; could do evil things,
and hath not done them.
Therefore are his goods established in the
Lord, and all the Church of the Saints shall
declare his alms.
He that feareth the Lord, shall receive
his discipline : and they that will seek him
early, shall find a blessing.
No evils shall happen to him that feareth
the Lord ; but in temptation Grod will keep
him, and deliver him from evils.
 PRAYERS TO THE SAINTS. 481

The spirit of those that fear God is

sought after, and by his regard shall be
blessed.
The eyes of the Lord are upon them that
fear him ; he is their powerful protector ; a
strong stay ; a defense from the heat, and
a cover from the sun.
Nations shall declare the wisdom of the
just ; and the just shall show forth his
praise. He shall leave a name above a
thousand.
God glorified him in the sight of kings ;
he made him like the Saints in glory, and
magnified him in the fear of his enemies.
He sanctified him in his faith and meek-
ness, and chose him out of all flesh.
He made an everlasting covenant with
him; and made him blessed in glory.
He girded him about with a glorious
girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory,
and crowned him with majestic attire.
He gave him a holy robe of gold, and
blue, and purple; and a crown of gold
upon his head; an ornament of honor, a
work lovely to the eyes for its beauty.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost, the triune God, who
hath made the Saints great, and in whose
kingdom they shall dwell forever.
482 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

Salutation to tbe Saints*

O ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets! I
salute you through the sweet heart of Jesus
Christ, and beseech you to offer Grod for me
the great desire you had for the coming of
Christ in the flesh.
0 ye holy Apostles ! I salute you through
the sweet heart of Jesus, and I pray you.
that you would offer for me to our dear
Lord the fidelity and steadfastness with
which, by your preaching, you converted
the nations to the faith.
O ye holy Martyrs ! I salute you through
the sweet heart of Jesus, and beseech you
to offer to our dear Lord for me the patience
*■
with which you shed your blood for Christ's
sake.
0 ye holy Confessors ! I salute you through
the sweet heart of Jesus, and I entreat you
to offer to Grod for me your great holiness,
by which you showed to others, alike by
teaching and example, the way of life.
O ye holy Virgins! I salute you in the
most sweet heart of Jesus, and I entreat
you that you would offer to Grod for me
your purity and chastity, by which you
deserved to be now nearest to Christ.
O all ye Saints and Elect of God! I salute
you through the sweet heart of Jesus and
 PRAYERS TO THE SAINTS. 483

to each of you I offer the same salutation

for your increase of bliss.
I praise, bless, and glorify thee, 0 God
the Father ! that thou didst eternally elect
thy Saints to obtain heaven by their holy
lives, and to reign with thee for ever and ever.
I praise, bless, and glorify thee, O God
the Son! that thou didst, through thy
passion and death, merit for thy Saints that
grace which enabled them to work out their
eternal salvation.
I praise, bless, and glorify thee, 0 God
the Holy Ghost! that thou, by thy grace,
didst so sanctify the Saints, and so confirm
them in their holiness, that they were found
worthy to share in thy eternal joy and
happiness.
O ye happy Saints! I entreat you all to-
gether, that each of you would offer to the
most holy Trinity for me, a poor, miserable
sinner, all the merits, all the virtues, and
good works which you individually and to-
gether performed on earth to the honor of
God. Amen.

praters for tbe Intercession of tbe

Saints,
O ye Saints of the Lord! I come to you.
humbly to ask you for your help and pro-
tection.
4S4 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

When on earth you were untiring in your

efforts to convert sinners, in offering your
prayers for them, and in bringing them
back to the path of heaven.
Behold, then, how many of us are also in
danger; a prey to sin and Satan; strayed
from the fold; and, ■ therefore, defend us
from the ravenous wolves that cease not to
seek our destruction.

"We honor your virtues and praise your

worthy deeds. TVe rejoice in the recom-
pense wherewith Gk>d has crowned your
merits: in return we beg you to hear the
prayers which we direct to you in our wants
and* needs.
Look down from heaven on your clients
who honor you with earnest devotion;
revive our faith ■ restore to us the vigor of
Christian morality; pray for us that we,
like yourselves, may come unhurt from the
many temptations which surround us.
O ye zealous lovers of souls! into your
hands we place the great risk of our per-
severance. You have triumphed over sin
and hell; help us also to gain the same
victory, that we may merit to be crowned
with the same glory.
Speak in our behalf to the Immortal King
for whom you so bravely fought, and in
whose love you died; ask him to fill also
 PKAYEKS TO THE SAINTS. 485

our hearts with divine love, and to make us

as brave and courageous as you were.
You, O happy Saints! despised this fleet-
ing life; we, too, must despise it, if we
would share in the happiness you now
enjoy.
The battle we have to fight may differ
from yours, but the reward that awaits us
is like your own — everlasting.
Rather than betray Christ, you were ready
to lay down your lives; our duty requires
the same of us: — we must die rather than
commit sin.
Baptism has numbered us among the
soldiers of Christ ; Confirmation has given us
the Spirit of Fortitude; — we, too, must then
be ready for battle.
0 ye Saints ! beloved of Grod and man !
help us in this battle ; support us by your
prayers; protect us, and make us loyal to
the Grod, whose cause was so dear to you
when here on earth.
The love of Jesus is weak in our hearts.
We are affected, and even shed tears at the
recital of your heroic deeds, but we are
cowards in the battle which we, ourselves,
have to fight against the world and our
passions.
The habitual seeking after ease and com-
fort has fastened upon us a certain effemi-
486 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

nacy; we are ever throwing away our

interests upon trifles; how, then, can we be
earnest and courageous in the performance
of our duties!
Sanctity! — we cannot understand it; and
when we hear or read of it, we gravely say
that the Saints did very strange things, and
were indiscreet, and were carried away by
exaggerated notions !
Oh what are we ! Are not we too Chris-
tians, like you, O Servants of Grod! Pray,
then, for us, that we may love like Chris-
tiansthat
: is with a general and active love ;
and bravely follow your holy example.
You were powerful in word and work, and
our Grod rewarded you with an everlasting
crown. From your throne of glory, cast a
look of pity upon us, and obtain for us from
Grod those rich virtues which merited for
you such a happiness.
You were so patient — we are so impatient ;
you were so charitable — we are so selfish ;
you were so inflamed with a holy love — we
are so cold ; you were so pure — we are so
impure ; you were so zealous — we are so
slothful! Oh! assist us to imitate your
most holy lives !
You know what it is to live in this wicked
world, which is full of snares and tempta-
tions; therefore compassionate us who must
 PEAYEES TO THE SAINTS. 487

live in it; speak for us to our dear Lord,

and pray that his sweet blessing may descend
upon us. Obtain for us the grace of perfect
detachment from transitory things; the
love of prayer and self-denial ; and an ardent
desire for our heavenly home.
Watch over us, O dear Saints! in the
temptations which the enemy unceasingly
puts in our way, and assist us that we may
be vigilant in the combat, prudent in avoid-
ing dangerous occasions, courageous in
trials, and humble in our victories.
Obtain of God for us that docility to his
grace, that loving submission to his every
will, that contempt for the things of this
world, which ever marked your lives.
When death came upon you, it found you
prepared, and carried you to the bosom of
that God who had been your heaven even
here below, and who, then, welcomed you
as his most dear children.
We, too, are looking for that last wave
which is to break over us, and carry us from
the shore of this present life to eternity.
Oh ! pray for us that it may find us ready ;
that our death may be like yours ; and our
crown with you before the throne of our
Lord-God.
 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

O Christ! thy guilty people spare!

Lo ! bending at thy gracious throne
Thy Virgin-Mother pours her prayer,
Imploring pardon for her own.

Ye Angels ! happy evermore,

Who in your circles nine ascend,
As you have guarded us before,
So still from harm our steps defend.

Ye Prophets and Apostles high !

Behold our penitential tears ;
And plead for us when death is nigh ;
And our all-searching Judge appears.
Ye Martyrs all! a purple band,
And Confessors, a white-robed train,
0 call us to our native land,
From this our exile back again.

And ye, 0 choirs of Virgins chaste !

Receive us to your seats on high,
With Hermits whom the desert waste
Sent up into the sky.

Drive from the flock, O Spirits blest!

The false and faithless race away ;
That all within our fold may rest,
Secure beneath one Shepherd's sway.
 PRAYERS TO THE SAINTS. 489

To God the Father glory be,

And to his sole-begotten Son ;
The same, O Holy Ghost! to thee,
While endless ages run.

XUan$ of tbe Saints.

(See page 192).
Conclusion*
O ye Saints of God ! you are always pray-
ing before the throne of the Almighty and
never cease to praise and glorify him.
We poor mortals are not able to do this :
the spirit is indeed often willing, but the
flesh is weak.
Be, then, O ye Servants of God! mindful
of our inability to praise him as he deserves,
and substitute your prayers for ours.
Continue the perpetual adoration in our
stead: adore God in heaven, and here on
the altar ; thank him for the graces he gives
us ; ask him to assist us, and make repara-
tion to him for our sins and offences.
O happy Saints! look mercifully down
upon us who are surrounded by the snares
and temptations of this life, and come to our
help when we are in danger of losing the
happiness which is prepared for us; that
hereafter, we also, may be united to you in
eternal bliss.
490 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS.

0 Jesus in the blessed Sacrament! graci-

ously deign to accept these prayers which
we offer thee through the hands of thy
Saints.
With them, I say most humbly:
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine!
All praise and all thanksgiving, be every
moment thine.

1b\>mrL
While, 0 Lord! we kneel before thee,
Low in adoration bent ;
Deign to hear our prayers — our pleadings,
To thy throne of mercy sent.

We have come into thy presence.

One sweet hour to dwell with thee ;
We have come to render homage,
To thy Sovereign Majesty.

We now give thee, heart of Jesus!

All the love our hearts contain ;
And we offer reparation j
Grant that it not be in vain.

Here, 0 Lord! in all thy glory,

As in heavenly realms above ;
Thou dost reign in thy transcendence.
King of kings! on throne of love.
 PRAYEKS TO THE SAINTS. 491

Thou dost look benignly on us,

While repentant now we pray;
Veiling thy resplendent beauty.
Lest in fear we turn away.

Viewless Angels hover near thee,

Whose ethereal voices sing
Sweet celestial strains of music,
Praising thee, O Grod and King!
Let us blend our feeble voices
In these dulcet hymns to thee ;
We will praise thee, dearest Jesus!
Now and everlastingly.

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come to thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord.
^. Thanks be to Grod.
y. May the faithful departed, through
the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
 XEbe poor Souls*

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

If*. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
JT. O Grod! incline unto my aid.
fy. O Lord! make haste to help me.
G-lory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

Bfcoratiom

(£OME, let us adore the King whom all

kings must serve.
Come, let us adore Jesus Christ in the
most blessed Sacrament, the first born of
the dead, the prince of all the kings of this
earth.
Come, let us render eternal adoration,
praise, honor, and thanksgiving to our
Lord, who is the judge of the living and the
dead, and possesses the keys of death and
hell.
Let us implore his help for those that
have died in his grace, but are yet deprived
of his happy vision. Let us, by our sup-
plications, open heaven for these poor souls,
(492)
 THE POOR SOULS. 493

that they may praise God there with all his

Angels and Saints.
Come, let us join the choirs of the heavenly
Hosts and sing to the God of our altars their
eternal song :
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatkm*
O Jesus, great and holy, but also infinitely
merciful God ! thy throne in heaven is eternal
and incomprehensible glory ; the Cherubim
and Seraphim adore thee, and the entire
heavens extol and praise thee for all
eternity.
And yet thou condescendest to be really
and truly present amongst us in the most
blessed Sacrament. O sublimest miracle!
O adorable mystery! 0 excess of love!
O King of kings ! O Lord of lords ! I
adore thee with profoundest reverence.
Thou art worthy of infinite honor, of bound-
less love, and undying thanksgiving.
But alas! instead of this, what insults,
what outrages, and ingratitude thou dost
suffer from so many of thy children !
0 highest Good! for love of us submitting
494 THE POOR SOULS.

to such ignominy ; behold me on my knees

before thee, humbly praying thee to pardon
the numerous offences of thy divine Majesty.
Oh! that the world would know thee, O
Jesus! that all men would praise, honor
and adore thee !
O Grod of goodness and mercy ! I implore
thy clemency and pardon. Graciously
accept my contrite supplications for all
men — the living and the dead.
Pour out thy graces on the living, that
their eyes may be opened and their hearts
moved, and that all may be converted to
thee. Help the dead; forgive them what
they have sinned against thee, and admit
them to the heavenly joys, there to praise
thee for all eternity.

1b\>mn*
The day of wrath : that fearful day
When, David and the Sibyls say,
The spheres in heat shall melt away.
How terror stricken then, each eye,
Thought, word, and deed, all open lie
To meet the judge's scrutiny.
Lo! the last trump's wondrous tone
Upheaves the drear sepulchral stone;
It summons all before the throne.
 THE POOR SOULS. 495

Nature and death, astounded see

All creatures from the tomb set free,
To answer to the dread decree.

Wide open is the volume spread.

The history of each one read, —
Judgment of living and of dead.

'Fore him enthroned in that high sphere

All that is latent must appear,
Nor can aught pass unpunished here.

0 wretched, what then can I say?

To what kind patron may I pray,
When Saints can scarce their fears allay !

King of tremendous majesty!

Whose grace alone sets sinners free,
Fountain of mercy, save thou me !

Recall the pains that thou didst take

For me : the pains thy frame did shake ;
Me, on that day, do not forsake.

Weary wast thou in seeking me,

Saved by the cross' sharp agony;
Not then in vain thy labor be.

Avenging judge of retribution!

Truly grant me absolution
Before that day of dissolution.
496 THE POOR SOULS.

Overwhelmed,
fears, oppressed with doubts and
Their load my soul in anguish bears:
My shame, my blushes, speak in tears.

Pardon thou gavest to Mary's sighs,

Grace to the thief who with thee dies,
Therefore my heart on thee relies.

Unworthy are such prayers as mine ;

Yet save me through thy love benign.
Lest in eternal flames I pine.

Give my immortal soul a place

Among the chosen right hand race.
The sons of Grod, the heirs of grace.
When the accursed far are driven
And unto endless torments given,
Then call me with the blest to heaven.

A suppliant, Lord! to thee I bend;

My Gk>d, my Father and my Friend!
Do not forsake me at the end.

How full of sadness, full of dread.

Will be the day which wakes the dead,
Which calls to judgment for the past!

To life or death — for e'er to last; —

Thou great Creator of mankind!
Let all thy faithful mercy find.
 THE POOR SOULS, 497

From the ages of the past,

Lord of mercy, Jesus blest!
Grant the faithful light and rest.

StQbe of tbe poor Souls*

Give ear, 0 Lord! to my words: under-

stand my cry ; hearken to the voice of my
prayer, O my King and my Lord!
Lord! rebuke me not in thy indignation,
nor chastise me in thy wrath. Have mercy
on me, O Lord! for I am weak; heal me,
for my bones are troubled.
Spare me, O Lord! for my days are noth-
ing; Ihave sinned, what shall I do to thee,
0 Keeper of men? Why dost thou not
remove my sin, and why dost not thou take
away my iniquity?
Woe is me, 0 Lord! because I have sinned
exceedingly in my life. 0 wretch! what
shall I do ; whither shall I flee from thee, my
God? 0 Lord! where shall I hide myself
from the face of thy wrath?
Have pity on me ! Have pity on me ! at
least you my friends, because the hand of
the Lord hath touched me. Wash me, 0
Lord! from my iniquity, and cleanse me
from my sin.
My flesh is consumed, my skin hath
cleaved to my bone, and nothing but lips
498 THE POOR SOULS.

are left about my teeth. I have said to

rottenness: thou art my father: to worms,
my mother and my sister. 0 Grod! in thy
name save me ; and in thy strength deliver
me; because I am in hell.
My tears have been my bread day and
night ; 0 Lord ! turn not away thy face from
me; decline not in thy wrath from thy
servant.
My soul has thirsted after the living Grod ;
when shall I come and appear before the
face of the Lord? As the hart panteth
after the fountains of water, so my soul
panteth after thee, O Grod!
Eternal rest give unto them, 0 Lord!
And let perpetual light shine upon them.

praters of tbe Cburcb*

Eternal rest give unto them, 0 Lord!
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Deliver, O Lord! their souls from the
gates of hell; and let them rest in peace.
Enter not into judgment with thy ser-
vants, OLord! whom the true supplication
of Christian faith doth commend unto thee ;
but, by the succor of thy grace, may they
merit to escape thy vengeance, who, while
they lived, were marked with the seal of the
holy Trinity.
 THE POOR SOULS. 499

Grant, 0 Lord! this mercy unto thy ser-

vants that
? having in intention kept thy
will, they may not suffer in requital of their
deeds; but that as here a true faith joined
them unto the company of the faithful, so
there thy compassion may associate them
with the choirs of Angels.
Absolve, O Lord! the souls of thy ser-
vants from all the bonds of their sins, that
rising again in the glory of the resurrection,
they may enjoy repose among the Saints
and Elect.
Incline, 0 Lord! thy ear to our prayers
in which we humbly beseech thy mercy,
that thou wouldst place in the regions of
peace and light the souls of thy servants,
which thou hast ordered to depart from
this world, and admit them to the fellow-
ship of thy Saints.
Have mercy, we beseech thee, 0 Lord!
according to thy goodness, on the souls of
thy servants, that being delivered from the
corruption of mortality, they may be
restored to the inheritance of everlasting
salvation.
O God ! Lord of mercy ! grant to the souls
of thy servants, that being dead to the
world, they may live to thee; and whatever
they have committed through human frailty,
 500 THE POOR teOULS.

do thou wipe away by the pardon of thy

most merciful goodness.
Give, O Creator and Redeemer of all
the faithful! to the souls of thy servants the
remission of all their sins, that by the inter-
cession ofthe blessed Mary ever Virgin, and
of all the Saints, they may obtain the
pardon which they have always desired,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
psalm E>e profuntte.
Out of the depths I have cried to thee. 0
Lord! Lord! hear my voice.
Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of
my supplication.
If thou, O Lord! wilt mark iniquities:
- Lord, who shall stand?
For with thee there is merciful forgive-
ness: and by reason of thy law, I have
waited for thee, O Lord!
My soul hath relied on his word ; my soul
hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night ,
let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy:
and with him, plentiful redemption,
And he shall redeem Israel from all his
iniquities.
y. Eternal rest give unto them, 0 Lord!
1^. And let perpetual light shine upon
them.
 THE POOR SOULS. 501

©tber praters*
O Jesus! I believe that thou art Christ,
the Son of the living God, who art come
into this world. Thou art the resurrection
and the life, and whoever believes in thee,
shall live even when he dies.
Moved by thy loving kindness, thou hast
shown mercy to the departed Lazarus and
his sisters, Martha and Mary.
Thou didst graciously hear their prayer
and didst raise Lazarus to life, after he had
lain in the grave for four days.
O most loving Saviour! let me, in this
hour, find grace at the throne of thy mercy
for the faithful departed, who, on account
of their failings and frailties, are detained
as prisoners of thy justice, sitting in the
shades of death and deprived of the vision
of the divine countenance. Hear my sighs
and loosen their fetters, that they may be
admitted to the liberty of thy children.
Christ Jesus ! thou hast sacrificed thyself
for the trespasses of the whole world ; thou
hast fastened to the cross the bill that was
against us, and hast canceled it by thy
blood.
May thy unspeakable mercy suffer the
infinite treasures of thy merits and satis-
faction to be applied to the poor suffering
17
502 THE POOR SOULS.

souls in purgatory, that what of themselves

they are unable to obtain, may be granted
to them by thy bitter passion and death.
O Jesus! who art rich in mercies and in
the inexhaustible treasure of thy merits,
discharge in full the debts of these poor
suffering souls, that they may eternally
praise thy infinite bounty in heaven.
Behold, my divine Saviour ! I spend this
hour in thy sacred presence before the most
blessed Sacrament, to obtain of thy love the
redemption of these suffering souls.
Remember these prisoners, for whom
thou didst die on the cross, and for whom
I offer to thy justice thy pains, thy wounds,
thy blood, thy death, and thy merciful heart.
O Jesus! mercifully accept thy own
sufferings instead of the punishment still
due to their sins. Pour upon them the
balsam of mercy that flows from thy sacred
wounds; let thy blood extinguish their
flames; and in virtue of thy death admit
them to the joys of life everlasting. Ah!
let thy loving heart be induced to show
mercy to those, for whom it was wounded
on the cross.
Father of mercy and God of all goodness !
have pity on the souls who hold the faith
of Christ, and are now kept in purgatory
by their sins.
 THE POOR SOULS. 503

Behold the flames wherein they are so

piteously burning. Look on their heartfelt
sighs, their painful tears. Hear their pitiable
beseeching and calling for redemption and
mercy.
Remember, 0 kindest of Fathers! how
much thy well beloved Son suffered and
endured for them, and let a single drop of
his precious blood fall upon them to refresh
them in their pains and torments.
For all the sins they have ever committed,
I offer thee the most holy life of thy dear
Son, and all the virtues he practiced for
love of thee.
For their negligent indifference, I offer
thee the superabundance of good works he
performed.
For all the injury they did to thee, I offer
all the good pleasure he manifested towards
thee.
Lastly for all the punishment, still due to
them, I offer thee all the works of penance,
which he performed in the thirty three years
of his life, in fasting, watching, and prayer,
in teaching, preaching, and labor, in troubles
and difficulties, and in bearing all kinds of
insults with the most perfect patience ; that,
thy justice being appeased, thou mayest
lead these souls to eternal bliss.
To Almighty God, O departed brethren!
504 THE POOR SOULS.

I commend you. May the bright company

of Angels come to seek you; may the
assembly of the Apostles come to greet
you; may the triumphant army of glorious
Martyrs come to meet you; the glittering
throng of Confessors encompass you with
lilies in their hands; the choir of Virgins
receive you with songs of joy; and a happy
rest enfold you on the bosoms of the Patri-
archs.
May Jesus Christ appear to you with a
mild and cheerful smile, and give you a
place in his presence forever.
May you be far removed from the horrible
darkness, the hissing flames, the agonizing
torments.
May Christ who was crucified for you.
deliver you from your pains.
May Christ, the Son of the living Grod.
place you in the ever green and pleasant
pastures of paradise, and may he, the true
shepherd, acknowledge you among his flock.
May he absolve you from all your sins,
and place you at his right hand in the
inheritance of his elect.
May you see your Redeemer face to face,
and being continually in his presence with
the happy company of the blessed, may you
enjoy the sweetness of the vision of God
forever more. Amen.
 THE POOR SOULS. 505

©fferin^s of tbe precious Bloofc for

tbe poor Souls.
i.
Lord, God Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious body and blood of thy divine
Son Jesus, which he gave with his own
hands upon the eve of his passion to his
beloved Apostles to be their meat and drink,
and which he left to his whole Church, to
be a perpetual sacrifice and life-giving food
of his own faithful people, deliver the souls
in purgatory (and especially that one which
was most devoted to this mystery of love),
that with thy divine Son, and with thy Holy
Spirit, they may ever praise thee in thy
eternal glory. Hail Mary.
II.
Lord, God Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which thy divine Son
Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls
in purgatory (especially that soul which is
most destitute of aid) ; and bring them to
thy glory, there to praise and bless thee
forever. Hail Mary.
III.
Lord, God Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which thy Son Jesus
506 THE POOR SOULS.

shed m his cruel scourging, deliver the

souls in purgatory (especially that soul
which is nearest its entrance into heaven),
that they may soon begin to praise and
bless thee forever. Hail Mary.
IV.
Lord, Glod Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which thy divine Son
Jesus shed in his bitter crowning with
thorns, deliver the souls in purgatory (espe-
cially that one which would be the last to
issue from those pains), that they tarry not
so long a time before they come to praise
thee in thy glory and bless thee forever.
Hail Mary.
V.
Lord, Grod Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which thy divine Son
Jesus shed through the streets of Jerusalem,
when he carried the cross upon his sacred
shoulders, deliver the souls in purgatory
(especially that soul which is richest in
merit before thee), that on the throne of
glory, which awaits them, they may magnify
and bless thee forever. Hail Mary.
VI.
Lord, God Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which thy divine Son
 THE POOR SOULS. 507

Jesus shed upon the tree of the cross from

his sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls
in purgatory (especially that for which I am
most bound to pray), that they may praise
and bless thee in thy glory forever. Hail
Mary.
VII.
Lord, God Almighty! I beseech thee, by
the precious blood which gushed forth from
the side of thy divine Son Jesus, deliver the
souls in purgatory (especially that one
which was most devout to the sacred heart
of Jesus), that they may soon attain unto
thy glory, there to praise thee in all eternity.
Hail Mary.

Ye souls of the faithful,

Who sleep in the Lord,
But as yet are shut out
From your final reward ;
Oh ! would I could lend you
Assistance, to fly
From your prison below
To your palace on high !
O Father of mercies!
Thine anger withhold ;
These works of thy hands
In thy presence behold;
 THE POOK SOULS.

Too oft' from thy path

They have wandered aside,
But thee, their Creator,
They never denied.
0 tender Redeemer!
Their misery see.
Deliver the souls,
That were ransomed by thee.
Behold how they love thee,
Despite of their pain !
Restore them ! Restore them !
To favor again.
0 Spirit of grace !
O Consoler divine !
See how for thy presence,
They lovingly pine.
Oh! then, to enliven
Their sadness, descend,
And fill them with peace,
And with joy in the end.
0 Mother of mercy !
Dear soother in grief !
Send thou to their torments
A balmy relief ;
Attemper the rigor
Of justice severe,
And soften their flames
With a pitying tear.
 THE POOR SOULS.

Ye Patrons, who watched

O'er their safety below;
Oh ! think how they need
Your fidelity now,
And stir all the Angels
And Saints of the sky,
To plead for the souls,
That upon you rely.

Ye friends who, once sharing

Their pleasure and pain,
Now haply ready
In Paradise reign ;
Oh ! comfort their hearts
With a whisper of love,
And call them to share
In your pleasures above.

All ye, who would honor

The Saints and their Head,
Remember! remember!
To pray for the dead ;
And they, in return,
From their misery freed,
To you will be friends
In the hour of your need.
510 THE POOR SOULS.

%itan\> of tbe jfattbful Departed

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son. Redeemer of the world.
G-od the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity one God,

Holy Mary,'**)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St, Michael,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
All ye choirs of celestial Spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ve holv Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter/
St, Paul.
St. John.
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists.
St. Stephen,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for them.
 THE POOR SOULS,

St. Lawrence,*)
All ye holy Martyrs,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
All ye holy Pontiffs and Doctors,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All ye holy Priests and Monks,
St. Mary Magdalene,
St. Agnes,
St. Barbara,
St. Catherine,
All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
All ye Saints of God,
Be merciful unto them.
Pardon them, O Lord!
Be merciful unto them.
Hear us, O Lord!
From all evil, **)
From thy wrath,
From the rigor of thy justice,
From the gnawing worm of conscience
From their fearful darkness,
From their mourning and tears,
*) Pray for them.
**) Deliver them, O Lord !
512 THE POOR SOULS.

From their manifold pains,*)

By thy holy penance and fasting,
By thy hitter anguish and torments,
By thy bloody sweat,
By thy bonds and chains,
By thy crown of thorns,
By thy holy cross,
By thy ignominious death,
By thy sacred wounds,
By thy precious blood,
By thy resurrection, -
By thy ascension,
By the merits of thy heavenly Mother,
By the intercession of all the Saints,
Lamb of God ! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God! etc.
Have mercy on us, O Lord!
y. From the gate of hell:
ly. O Lord! preserve their souls.
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my supplication come ante
thee.
LET US PRAY.
0 God! the Creator and Redeemer of
all the faithful, grant to the souls of thy
*) Deliver them, O Lord !
 THE POOR SOULS. 513

servants departed the remission of all their

sins ? that they may be released from the
pains of purgatory, and may come to thee,
their last aim and end, to behold, love, and
praise thee for ever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion*
O Lord Jesus Christ, my Grod and my
Saviour! thy most holy Sacrament is a per-
petual memorial of thy love and goodness.
What may I not hope to obtain of thee
through this holy mystery? Thou art in-
finitely rich, and thy mercies therein are of
no end.
Thou hast commanded me to be merciful
towards my fellow creatures, that I, too,
may obtain mercy.
Behold, then, how during this hour I
have poured forth my humble prayer before
the throne of thy mercy, in behalf of the
poor suffering souls.
O most kind and bountiful Saviour ! grant
that the infinite merits of thy passion may
make my prayers and supplications effica-
cious for the relief and redemption of these
dear souls.
Grant them the desired rest, and to us
give the grace to live piously and godly, so
that after death we may speedily be admitted
to thy holy presence.
514 THE POOR SOULS.

My concluding prayer, 0 Jesus! is, as

usually, to thy most holy Sacrament, which
I greet and salute with my whole heart,
saying most humbly:
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine !

Jesus, Saviour of my soul!

Let me to thy altar fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is nigh.

Hide me, 0 my Saviour! hide,

Till the storm of life is past ;
Safe into thy haven guide,
0 receive my soul at last !

Other refuge have I none ■

Hangs my helpless soul on thee,
Leave, 0 leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.

All my trust in thee is stayed,

All my help from thee I bring ;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
 THE POOR SOULS. 515

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
JT. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1^. And let my cry come unto thee.
JT. Let us bless the Lord.
fy. Thanks be to God.
JT. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
1^. Amen.
 preparation for 2)eatb.

y. 0 Lord! thou wilt open my lips.

1}. And my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
y. O God! incline unto my aid.
1^. O Lord! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

(£OME,let us adore our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Saviour who died for us on the
cross, and now lives for us in the blessed
Sacrament.
Come, let us adore Jesus Christ, the high
priest, who, by his blood, entered into the
sanctuary and merited salvation for us.
Come, let us in holy love devote this hour
to his adoration, and ask him, the conqueror
of death, to give us a happy hour of death,
and that life which he hath come to give.
Come, let us praise, glorify and adore
our Lord with all the Angels and Saints, and
joyfully sing to him their heavenly song:
(516)
 tBEPARATION FOR DEATH. 517

Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts!

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
As it was in the beginning, etc.

IReparatioru

Jesus, my Grod and supreme Lord! on

Calvary, thou didst deign to die for me;
and on the altar, thou dost still offer the
unbloody sacrifice for our sins.
I kneel before thee, who wilt soon be my
judge, and before whom I shall have to
appear when my soul departs from my body.
My dear Saviour! I am penetrated with
fear and hope; and my soul is filled with
bitterness and anguish, when I remember
my numerous sins and thy infinite justice.
My ingratitude towards thee is very great ;
and my love for thee exceedingly weak.
But, O my Lord ! I now detest my wicked-
ness, and I am sorry for all the sins of my
life. Thy love for sinners, the love that
made thee die on the cross and keeps thee
captive in the tabernacle of our altars, in-
spires me with confidence.
O Jesus! be mindful of this thy love, and
do not despise the contrition of a child, who
now returns to thee, imploring thy mercy.
Behold me here prostrate before thy
518 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

throne of grace, and hear my prayers, ere

death makes it impossible for me to pray.
Enlighten my mind ; strengthen my will,
and inflame my heart, that I may employ
this hour for my salvation, and thereby
obtain thy mercy for myself and for all
those for whom it is my duty to pray.
1b$mru
Jesus, ever loving Saviour!
Thou didst live and die for me.
Living, I will live to love thee ;
Dying I will die for thee.
Jesus! Jesus!
By thy life and death of sorrow,
Help me in mine agony.
When the last dread hour approaching
Fills my guilty soul with fear,
All my sins rise up before me,
All my virtues disappear :
Jesus! Jesus!
Turn not thou in anger from me;
Mary, Joseph, then be near.
Kindest Jesus ! thou wert standing
By thy foster-father's bed,
While thy Mother softly praying,
Held her dying Joseph's head.
Jesus! Jesus!
By that death so calm and holy,
Soothe me in that hour of dread.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 519

Mary! thou canst not forsake me,

Virgin Mother undeflled!
Thou didst not abandon Jesus,
Dying, tortured, and reviled.
Jesus! Jesus!
Send thy Mother to console me.
Mary! help thy guilty child.
Jesus! when in cruel anguish,
Dying on the shameful tree,
All abandoned by thy Father,
Thou didst writhe in agony :
Jesus! Jesus!
By those three long hours of sorrow,
Thou didst purchase hope for me.
When the priest with holy unction,
Prays for mercy and for grace,
May the tears of deep compunction
All my guilty stains efface !
Jesus! Jesus!
Let me find in thee a refuge,
In thy heart a resting place.
Then by all thou didst suffer,
Grant me mercy on that day ;
Help me, Mary, my sweet Mother!
Holy Joseph! near me stay.
Jesus! Jesus!
Let me die, my lips repeating:
Jesus, mercy! Mary, pray!
520 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

Zvmt in the paseton of CbrisL

0 Jesus, my Lord and my Grod ! I appear

before thy majesty in the most holy Sacra-
ment, and adore thee in profound humility.
1 know that I cannot live forever, but
that it is appointed for me once to die and
to leave all earthly things. I submit, in all
obedience, to thy divine will, and accept
death with humble resignation.
I fear, however, to appear before thee, 0
holy Grod ! after having sinned and offended
thee so often.
Thou hast promised heaven to the clean
of heart; alas! my heart is unclean and
defiled; not worthy of thy holy vision in
heaven.
But, O my Jesus! thou didst die in order
to merit for us the grace of a happy death
and of an everlasting life in heaven.
Through thy holy passion and cross, I can
expect a happy death. Through thy pre-
cious blood, we all can receive forgiveness
of our sins, thy holy love, and final per-
sev rance. 4
Thou, O Jesus! didst die for me upon the
cross and didst thus open for me the way to
heaven. With thee I will confidently meet
death; and through thee I hope to enter
into life everlasting.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 521

Although death terrifies me, I place my

hope in thy cross, and take refuge at the
foot thereof j nor will I leave this anchor of
hope until I am united with thee in heaven.
O Jesus ! for the sake of thy bitter passion
and death, do not let me perish. Thy five
holy wounds are my consolation, I kiss
them devoutly and with most tender love.
In my last hour, let me find therein thy
sweetness, thy grace and love, that I may
die happily.
Into thy sacred wounds do I recommend
my body and soul, my life and my death,
and my eternal salvation.
O dear Jesus! extend thy omnipotent
right hand which was wounded for me;
extend it over my poor soul when I pass
from time into eternity, and protect me
against my enemies.
Eternally unhappy will those be, who, on
the day of judgment, shall be placed at thy
left hand, there to hear from thee the sen-
tence of eternal damnation. But, O my
Jesus! I trust in thy goodness, that thou
wilt not place me on that side. Remember
that thy left hand was pierced for my salva-
tion. In it I place my confidence. Do thou
save me for the sake of that sacred wound.
O divine Saviour! like penitent Magdalene
I throw myself at thy sacred feet ; I kiss and
522 PKEPAKATION FOR DEATH.

venerate them in profound humility, tender

love, and with the greatest confidence. Oh!
let me, at my departure from this world,
hear the same words thou didst address to
that happy woman, when she annointed thy
holy feet: "Many sins are forgiven thee,
Gro in peace. ??
Do thou, O my Jesus! not refuse to hide
me at that terrible moment in the wound of
thy most holy heart, that there I may be
secure from the attacks of the wicked
enemy, and depart from this life united with
thee in holy love.
Thy death, O crucified Redeemer! is my
life. Thy death saved the penitent thief,
who was crucified with thee and who heard
from thee the consoling words: "To-day
thou shalt be with me in paradise. 9J O
Jesus ! speak these words also to me at the
hour of my death.
In that moment remember thy agony on
the cross, thy cry of desolation: "My GrOd!
My Grod! why hast thou forsaken me!" and
assist me in the pains and desolation of my
death. Oh! was it not for me, that thou
didst suffer all the torments of the cross?
Thou didst thirst for my soul ; therefore
thy fifth word on the cross was: "I thirst.7'
Receive, then, my soul at the moment of my
death, that it may be thine, thine forever.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 523

With thy death, the work of our redemp-

tion was finished ; the anger of the heavenly
Father appeased; heaven opened for us;
and thou couldst say: "It is consumated."
Ah ! grant that my work may also be eon-
sumated when thou callest me from this
vale of tears, to receive the reward of my
deeds.
Like thyself , I commend my spirit to thy
heavenly Father, and beg of thee to present
my poor soul to him at the hour of my
departure, that I may be found worthy to
enter into that kingdom which thou hast
purchased with thy precious blood.

Zvmt in tbe flDost Blessefc Sacra*

ment

0 Jesus, my divine Redeemer! I adore

thee most humbly in the most holy Sacra-
ment, which thou didst institute before thy
death for the salvation of man.
1 kneel here before thee who art my
supreme Judge, and who wilt soon pro-
nounce over me the final sentence, upon
which my eternity will depend.
Should I become discouraged at the ap-
proach of death ? I ought indeed to tremble
when I remember my sinful life; but, O
Jesus! can I not hope for anything, when I
524 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

consider thy infinite bounty in the blessed

Sacrament?
Upon the cross thou didst shed thy most
precious blood in order to merit for us a
good death. The same blood is offered for
us every day upon the altar, and is received
by us in holy Communion as a pledge of
our eternal life.
Thou, O Jesus! in the most holy Sacra-
ment art the source of all graces j thou art,
then, also the source of the greatest grace
that can be given to man — the grace of a
happy death.
Thou, thyself , O Jesus! hast said: "I am
the living bread, that came down from
heaven ; if any man shall eat of this bread
he shall live forever. "
0 my Jesus! I need not, then, fear death,
and may also hope to live forever, if I ap-
proach thy holy table often worthily, and
have a great devotion to thy most holy
Sacrament.
This Sacrament is a memorial of thy
death ; it is no less an antidote against our
death; and gives us the victory over death.
The more I venerate this most holy mys-
tery, the more I can hope for a happy
death, and for a future glorious resurrection.
1 ask for but one grace, O my dear Jesus!
the grace not to depart from this life with-
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 525

out having worthily received thee in holy

Communion.
The world will then abandon me. Even
my nearest friends will leave me; but, O
Jesus ! do thou not depart from me at that
awful hour.
Make that hour sweet for me by giving
me, for the last time, thyself, thy most
precious body and blood.
Thou hast loved us till to the end, and
at the end of thy life hast instituted this
memorial of love: Oh! stay then with me
till to the end.
Fortify me by thy adorable presence
against all temptations; nourish and refresh
me, so that even death shall not be able to
separate me from thee.
Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast!
Thy blessed body be, then, my saving guest !
Blood of my Jesus, bathe me in thy tide!
Wash me, ye waters, flowing from his side!

Zvmt in flDar^t 3oeepb anb tbe

Saints.
After Grod and my Saviour Jesus Christ,
to whom but to thee, O Mother of mercy!
shall I turn in the horrors of death.
Thy kindness, O Mary! and thy love for
me, inspires me with an unbounded con-
526 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

fidence that thou wilt assist me at that most

important hour.
At that moment ;show thyself my mother ;
take me into thy maternal arms ; and keep
the wicked enemy from me.
Obtain for me the undeserved grace of a
worthy reception of the last sacraments, a
perfect contrition for my sins, and an entire
resignation to the holy will of Grod.
Let me die, O good Mother! with thy
sweet name on my hps ; receive my depart-
ing soul, and carry it to the throne of thy
divine Son.
I ask the same grace also of thee, O blessed
Joseph! my holy patron, and the patron of
the dying.
It is not without reason that we honor
thee as the special protector of those who
desire to die well.
Thine death was so beautiful, so sweet,
and precious ! Thou hadst at thy side J esus
and Mary, ever assisting thee. From time
to time they offered thee the relief their
poverty permitted. Jesus fortified thee by
the words of eternal life; Mary revived thee
by her most tender cares. How often did
not Jesus support thy dropping head with
his divine hands ! How many times did not
the pure hands of Maiy wipe the sweat from
thy brow? Oh! thou didst die of love when
 PKEPABATION FOR DEATH. 527

thou, in thy agony, didst behold thyself

supported by a God, assisted by the Mother
of God.
O holy Patriarch ! since thy death was so
sweet, take, I conjure thee, mine in thy
care. Let me die in thy holy arms ; remove
from me, at that moment, all fear; inspire
me with a great confidence in the mercy of
my Saviour. Lead my poor soul before his
judgment seat; tell him that you are my
father, and I thy devoted child, and that
you claim my soul for the eternal joys of
heaven.
All ye Elect of G-od ! all ye holy Angels
and Saints! intercede for me in my last
hour, that through your united intercession
I may obtain grace, mercy, and life ever-
lasting.
You, O happy Saints! are now removed
from the dangers of this mortal life, and
fixed in the abode of eternal peace. I, too,
sigh for that place and for your blissful
company; come then to my assistance;
strengthen my weakness in my last struggle,
and pray for me for a happy death.

flntmlaencefc ft>ra$er0 for a (Boob

2>eatb,
Lord Jesus, Grod of goodness, Father of
mercies! I stand before thee with a heart
528 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

humbled, contrite and full of compunction;

to thee I commend my last hour and all
that awaits me after it.
When my feet, unable to move, shall
warn me that my course is well-nigh run:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my hands, trembling and be-
numbed, shall no more be able to clasp the
crucifix, and I am forced, in spite of myself,
to let thee fall upon my bed of pain : .
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my eyes, dim and distorted through
dread of approaching death, shall fix on
thee their languid, dying gaze:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me !
When my lips, cold and quivering, shall
utter for the last time thy most adorable
name:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my cheeks, pale and livid, inspire
the bystanders with compassion and awe,
and my hair, bathed in the sweat of death,
stands erect on my head, and declares that
my hour is come ;
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my ears, soon to be shut forever to
the words of men, shall be opened to hear
thy voice pronouncing the sentence by
which my lot is to be irrevocably fixed for
all eternity:
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 529

Merciful Jesus , have pity upon me!

When my imagination, preyed upon by
horrible and fearful spectres, shall be
plunged in mortal woe; and my spirit,
stricken with the sight of my ill-doings and
the fear of thy justice, shall wrestle with the
powers of darkness, striving to take from me
the consoling sight of thy mercies, and to
cast me down headlong into the pit of
despair :
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my weak heart, borne down with
the pain of my disease, shall be overtaken
with the horror of death, and be exhausted
by the efforts it has made against the
enemies of my salvation :
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When I shed my last tears, the sign of
my dissolution, do thou receive them as an
expiatory sacrifice, that thus I may expire a
victim of penance; in that dread moment:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my friends and relations, standing
around me, have compassion at my sad
state, and invoke thee in my behalf:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me !
When my senses are gone, and the whole
world has vanished from my sight, and
when, in the anguish of my last agony and
in the fear of death, I groan:
530 P PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

Merciful Jesus , have pity upon me!

When my heart's last sobs shall force my
soul to depart from my body, do thou accept
these sobs as the offspring of a holy impa-
tience to come to thee, and then do thou:
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
When my soul shall issue forth from my
lips forever out of this world, and leave my
body pale, cold and lifeless, 0 do thou
accept the dissolution of my being as the
homage which I render thy divine Majesty;
and then do thou :
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me!
Last of all, when my soul shall appear
before thee, and shall see for the first time
the immortal brightness of thy Majesty,
O cast it not away from thy presence ; but
vouchsafe to receive me into the loving
bosom of thy mercy, there forever to sing
thy praises :
Merciful Jesus, have pity upon me !
PRAYER.
0 Grod! who while condemning all men
once to die, hast yet concealed from them
the moment and the hour of their death:
grant that, spending all the days of my life
in justice and in holiness, I may be made
worthy to depart out of this world in thy
holy love. Through the merits of our Lord
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 531

Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with

thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Testament of a Cbnstian SouL

In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Grhost. Amen.
My most adorable Q-od ! as I, a poor sinful
creature, am sure that I must die, but do not
know the hour, so I will now, while I am in
full possession of my reason, declare, before
thee, this my last will, namely, how I wish
to live and to die; and this my last will
shall be unchangeable forever.
1. Through the sweet heart of Jesus, to
which I entirely belong, I consecrate and
give over to thee, O most holy Trinity! my
whole body and soul, and all the actions I
have done during my life. I give thee
eternal thanks that thou hast enriched me
with numberless graces, and confess that
thou alone hast full power over me, and
that I acknowledge no other Lord but thee
alone.
2. To thee I ascribe all benefits, all cor-
poral and spiritual graces, and I confess
that thou, out of pure goodness, hast done
me infinitely more good than I deserved;
for which I thank and praise thee now and
for all eternity.
532 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

3. I firmly confess the faith, and every

article
Catholicof Church
the same, "whichandtheteaches.
believes holy Roman
I will
rather loose my life and shed the last drop
of my blood, than deny one single article of
this faith. If at the hour of my death,
through temptation of the evil one, I should
think, speak or do anything against this
faith, I now declare it to be null and void;
and that this may not happen, I recommend
this my faith to thy omnipotence, wisdom
and goodness, 0 my God! that it may be
found pure and perfect at the hour of my
death.
4, I detest and abhor each and every
one of my sins, in whatever way and at
whatever time I have committed it j and in
the bitterness of my soul I grieve for them,
0 most benign God ! purely for love of thee ;
yet I desire to grieve for them with infinite
sorrow and to weep over them with bloody
tears. I offer thee, O my God and highest
Good ! all the sorrows ever felt by peniten-
tial hearts, with the unchangeable resolution
never more to offend thee. And that I may,
in some measure, make atonement for the
great insults I have committed towards thy
divine Majesty, I am ready, with thy grace,
to accept and to bear every punishment thou
dost wish to impose upon me.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 533

5. But as my satisfaction is altogether

insufficient, I take my refuge to the inex-
haustible treasures of the merits of Jesus
Christ, and offer thee his life, his labors
and sufferings, his passion and death. I
submerse and inclose all my sins in his holy
wounds, fervently imploring that my divine
Saviour would wash away from me all stains,
and consume them with the fire of his love.
6. I humbly beg pardon of each and
every one I have offended, by word or deed,
and declare myself ready to repair, according
to the measure of justice, all the injury I
have done their honor or property. I forgive
with my whole heart all who have offended
me, as Christ forgave and prayed for his
enemies on the cross.
7. I acknowledge and confess that
through my own merits I could not obtain
heaven. Therefore, I do not rely upon
them in the least, but on the infinite mercy
of Grod, on the merits and sufferings of Jesus
Christ, our Eedeemer, and on the interces-
sion, protection and merits of the Blessed
Virgin, of St. Joseph and all the Saints. In
these I place my confidence with a firm hope
for my eternal salvation, because I know
that thy mercy, O my God! and the merits
of our Lord Jesus Christ infinitely surpass
the measures of my sins,
18
534 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

8. I surrender myself entirely and with-

out any reserve, together with all that I am
and all that I have, to thy most holy will,
with the heartfelt desire that thou wouldst
dispose of me in time and in eternity, in life
and in death, according to thy good
pleasure.
9. I love thee, 0 my God, and my Love !
and I desire to love thee in the most perfect
manner for all eternity, because, on account
of thy infinite perfections and bounty, thou
art worthy of all love. 0 that I could love
thee a thousand times more ! Yes, had I the
hearts of all the elect, willingly would I love
thee with them all. But as I can not love
thee sufficiently, I beseech thee, to love thy-
self, in my stead, with a love which is worthy
of thee. For this end I offer thee, 0 Triune
Grod ! now and forever the love of the divine
heart of Jesus.
10. Lastly I testify, that I wish to die as
a true Catholic Christian, and that I ardently
desire to receive the holy sacraments at the
hour of death. I also desire and wish to
participate in all holy masses, which shall
be celebrated, in all blessings given, and all
prayers said, and indulgences gained until
the day of judgment. And I beseech thee,
0 most merciful Jesus! from the bottom of
my heart, that thou wouldst offer thyself as
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 535

a sacrifice to the heavenly Father, for my

numberless and grievous sins; and that, in
my last hour, thou wouldst apply to my soul
but one single drop of thy most precious
blood.
11. If, at the hour of my death, I should
owe restitution to any one for harm done in
spiritual or temporal goods, and because of
my poverty or misery should not be able to
fulfill my obligations, I beg of them, for the
love of Grod, forgiveness and remission, and
implore the bounty of the divine heart of
Jesus, for all whom I have harmed, that
through the blessing and graces of this heart
everything may be adequately supplied.
12. Now, 0 most holy Trinity! I promise
and testify before thee and the whole
heavenly court, that all which is contained
in this testament is my last and earnest will,
according to which I wish to live and die.
I desire also that this testament shall remain
in force as well before, as at and after my
death. And that it may be manifest before
God and man, to whom my body and soul
belongs, how I wish to live and die, I
will sign and seal this testament with my
own hand, while I am in full possession of
my reason, I a most unworthy creature,
"N. N."
536 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

ittmttti
Ave Maria! bright and pure,
Hear, O hear when I pray.
Pains and pleasures try the pilgrim
On his long and drear way,
Fears and perils are around me :
Ave Maria! bright and pure,
Ora pro me, ora pro me!
Ave Maria! queen of heaven,
Teach me, 0 teach me to obey.
Lead me on through fierce temptations,
Stand and
When I fallmeet
and me" in the
faint, my way,
Mother!
Ave Maria! bright and pure,
Ora pro me, ora pro me!
Then shall I, if thou, 0 Mary!
Art my strong support and stay,
Fear, nor feel the three-fold danger,
Standing forth in dread array.
Now and ever shield and guard me.
Ave Maria! bright and pure,
Ora pro me, ora pro me!
When my eyes are slowly closing,
And I fade from earth away,
And when death, the stearn destroyer.
Claims my body as his prey.
Claim my soul, and then, sweet Mary!
Ave Maria! bright and pure,
Ora pro me, ora pro me!
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

Xitan$ for a 1bapp\> ©eatb.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,*)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity one God,
Holy Mary,**)
Holy Mary, refuge of sinners,
Holy Mary, comfortress of the afflicted,
St. Michael,
St. Raphael,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
Holy Abel,
Holy Abraham,
All ye choirs of the Just ,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph, patron of the dying,
All ye holv Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
*) Have mercy on us.
**) Pray for us.
538 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

St. Andrew,*)
St. John,
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
All ye holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Augustine,
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
St. Benedict,
St. Francis,
St. Camillus,
St. John of God,
All ye holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalene,
St. Lucy,
St. Barbara,
All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
All ye Saints of God,
Be merciful.
Spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us. 0 Lord!
From thy wrath,** )
From a sudden and un-looked-for death.
From an evil death,
From an everlasting death,
*) Pray for us.
•*) Deliver us, O Lord !
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 539

From the snares of the devil,*)

From the pains of hell,
Through thy nativity.
Through thy cross and passion,
Through thy death and burial.
Through thy glorious resurrection,
Through thy admirable ascension,
In the hour of death,
In the day of judgement,
We sinners,**)
That thou wouldst give us time for penance,
That thou wouldst pardon our sins,
That thou wouldst give us patience in our
last sickness,
That thou wouldst give us perseverance
until death,
That thou wouldst inspire us with true
sorrow for our sins,
That thou wouldst give us the grace to make
a good confession on our death-bed,
That thou wouldst nourish us with a worthy
reception of the holy Viaticum,
That thou wouldst strengthen us by the
sacrament of Extreme Unction,
That thou wouldst let our souls depart from
this life in peace,
That thou wouldst be our merciful Judge,

+) Deliver us, O Lord !

**) We beseech thee, to hear us.
540 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

That thou wouldst receive us into thy ever-

lasting dwellings.*)
Lamb of Grod! who takest away the sins of
the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Graciously hear us, 0 Lord!
Lamb of Grod! etc.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord!
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
LET US PRAY.
O Jesus! who didst deign, for our salva-
tion to die a most painful death, and for the
consolation of man to institute the sacred
mystery of the altar ; we beseech thee, grant,
that we may, before our death, worthily
receive the holy Viaticum, and by a happy
death be found worthy to be united to thee
forever in heaven.

Conclusion
O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ! perhaps
the hour of my death is near at hand ; at all
events it is sure to come, and is approaching
with hasty steps.
Thus a single hour, nay a single moment
will end my whole life. Ah! that this
*) We beseech thee, to hear us.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 541

moment, on which all depends, may, by thy

mercy, be a happy one !
My dear Jesus! I conclude this hour,
during which I have prayed for a happy
death, as I desire to close the last hour of
my life, with the most fervent petition : 0
Lord! have mercy on me; reject me not
from thy face ; and when thou shalt come
to judge the living and the dead, do not
condemn me.
The same grace of a happy death, I most
humbly ask also for my friends, benefactors,
relations and for all those for whom I am
bound to pray.
Thou, O Jesus! didst die for all; let them
all, through a happy death, enter into life
everlasting.
Grant, O Lord and Saviour in the blessed
Sacrament! that after having devoutly
adored thee here on earth, under the sacra-
mental veil, we may there adore thee face to
face, singing to thee for all eternity:
Praised and adored be without end :
Jesus, Our Lord, in the most blessed
Sacrament !

When by thy altar, Lord! I kneel,

And I think upon thy love,
0 make my heart thy goodness feel,
Fix it on things above.
542 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

About to leave this wretched earth,

On man thy thoughts still bent,
Thy sacred boundless love gave birth
To this sweet Sacrament.

O manna ! which my Sovereign God

In pity left for me ;
Without his Majesty adored,
What would this exile be?

A desert land of woe and care,

A pilgrimage of strife,
Who could its griefs and trials bear,
Without this bread of life ?

My soul here finds a sovereign balm,

A care for every grief ;
Mid care and pain a heavenly calm,
A solace and relief.

Supported by this heavenly bread,

My Lord's last pledge of love,
With joy themount
To HoreVs ruggedabove.
path I'll tread

Consoled by him, my soul its flight

Shall from this exile soar,
To dwell in realms of bliss and light
Forever — ever — more.
 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 543

Commemoration of the blessed Virgin and

St. Joseph.
Jf.. 0 Lord! hear my prayer,
fy. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. Let us bless the Lord !
1$. Thanks be to Grod.
Jf. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
^. Amen.
Bppenbtx.
 £>ail\> praters.

Aborning praters*

Come, unto my help, 0 Lord!

O Grod! make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Grhost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
0 Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament
divine !
All praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine.
1 believe in thee, 0 my Grod! because
thou art infinite truth.
I hope in thee, 0 my Grod! because thou
art infinite goodness.
I love thee, 0 my Grod! because thou art
perfect love.
I thank thee for all the graces thou hast,
till this hour, bestowed upon me for soul and
body; but in particular that thou hast so
graciously preserved me during this night.
Forgive, I beseech thee, all whatever I
may have committed against thee in my
sleep or otherwise.
(547)
548 DAILY PRAYERS.

0 Lord, Grod Almighty! who hast brought

me to the beginning of this day; let thy
power so defend me therein, that this day
I fall into no sin, but that all my thoughts,
words and actions may always tend to what
is just in thy sight.
0 Lord Grod, King of heaven and earth !
vouchsafe this day to direct and to sanctify,
to rule and to govern my soul and body,
my senses, words and works in thy law,
and in the works of thy commandments,
that both, now and forever, I may deserve
to be saved and delivered through thy
protection, 0 Saviour of the world! who
livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord ^ bless me, and keep me from
evil, and bring me unto life everlasting.

Cburcb SH^mn.

The star of morn to night succeeds ;

We, therefore, meekly pray,
May Grod, in all our words and deeds,
Keep us from harm this day.

May he in love restrain us still.

From tones of strife and words of ill,
And wrap around and close our eyes.
To earth's absorbing vanities.
 MORNING PRAYERS. 549

May wrath and thoughts that gender shame

Ne'er in onr breasts abide,
And painful abstinences tame,
Of wanton flesh the pride.

So when the weary day is o'er,

And night and stillness come once more,
Blameless and clean from spot of earth,
We may repeat with reverent mirth :
To God the Father glory be,
And to his only Son,
And to the Spirit, One and Three,
While endless ages run.
0 Lord J esus Christ ! in union with that
divine intention with which thou, whilst on
earth, didst give praise to Grod, through thy
most sacred heart, and which thou dost
still everywhere offer to him in the holy
Eucharist, even to the consummation of
the world; I, in imitation of the most sacred
heart of the ever immaculate Virgin Mary,
do most cheerfully offer to thee, during
this entire day, all my thoughts and inten-
tions, all my affections and desires, my
words and all my works. Amen.
O sweetest heart of Jesus! I implore, that
I may love thee more and more.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart! make
my heart like unto thine.
550 DAILY PEAYEKS.

Sweet heart of Jesus! be my love.

0 Mary j my queen and my mother!
remember I am thine. Keep me, guard me
as thy property and possession. To show
thee my love, I offer thee this day my eyes,
my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole
body and soul, as well as the indulgences I
can gain.
O sweet heart of Mary! be my salvation.
Guardian of virgins and father, St. Joseph !
to whose faithful care Christ Jesus, very
innocent, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were
committed; I pray and beg of thee, by
these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, free
me from all uneleanness, and make me
with spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste
body, ever more chastely to serve Jesus and
Mary all the days of my life. Amen.
Angel of Grod, my guardian dear ! to whom
his love commits me here ; ever be at my
side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen .
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of (rod. rest in peace.
Amen .

The Angel of the Lord declared unto

Mary ; and she conceived of the Holy Grhost.
Hail Mary, etc.
|

THE ANGELUS. — MEAL PRAYERS. 551

!
Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; be it
done unto me according to thy word. Hail
Mary, etc.
And the Word was made flesh ; and dwelt
among ns. Hail Mary, etc.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of Grod!
That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
Pour forth, we beseech thee, 0 Lord!
thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom
the incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was
made known by the message of an Angel,
may, by his passion and cross, be brought
to the glory of the resurrection. Through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
You may add;
y . May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of Grod, rest in peace.
Amen.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.

flfceal praters.
Before /IDeais,
Bless us, 0 Lord! and these thy gifts,
which of thy bounty we are about to receive ;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
552 DAILY PRAYERS.

Htter /IDeals,
We give thee thanks, almighty God! for
all thy benefits, who livest and reignest
world without end. Amen.
y. May the souls of the faithful departed,
etc. Our Father, etc.

Sbort flnfculgenceb praters.

To be said often during the day,
1. Every time you make the sign of the
cross saying: In the name of the Father,
etc., you can gain an indulgence of 50 days ;
and if you make the sign of the cross with
holy water, 100 days' indulgence each time.
2. Every time you pronounce the holy
names of Jesus and Mary with devotion,
25 days' indulgence.
3. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts;
the earth is full of thy glory. Glory be to
the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be
to the Holy Ghost. (100 days' indulgence,
once a day.)
4. May the most just, most high and
most amiable will of God be done in all
things, be praised and magnified forever.
(100 days' once a day.)
5. Praised be Jesus Christ — forever!
Amen. (100 days' each time.)
6. My Jesus, mercy! (100 days' each
time. )
 SHORT INDULGENCE!) PRAYERS. ODD

7. My sweetest Jesus, be not my Judge ,

but my Saviour. (100 days' each time.)
8. Jesus, my God, I love thee above all
things. (50 days7 each time.)
9. Eternal Father, I offer up to thee the
precious blood of Jesus, in satisfaction for
my sins, and for the wants of holy Church.
(100 days7 each time.)
10. O sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore,
that I may love thee more and more. (300
days' each time.
11. Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love.
(300 days7 each time.)
12. Jesus meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like unto thine. (300 days7
once a day. )
13. May the sacred Heart of Jesus be
loved everywhere. (100 days7 once a day.)
14. May the Heart of J esus in the blessed
Sacrament be praised, adored and loved
with grateful affection, at every moment , in
all the tabernacles of the world, even to the
end of time. Amen. (100 days7 once a day. )
15. O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament
divine ! All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine ! (100 days7 once a day. )
16. My loving Jesus, I N.N. give thee
my heart, and I consecrate myself wTholly
to thee, out of the grateful love 1 bear thee,
and as a reparation for all my unfaithful-
554 DAILY PRAYERS.

ness ; and with thy aid I purpose never to

sin again. (100 days' once a day, when said
before a picture of the sacred Heart of Jesus. )
17. Praise be to Jesus and Mary! Now
and forever. (50 days' each time.)
18. Blessed be the holy and immaculate
Conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary*,
Mother of Grod. (300 days' each time.)
19. In thy Conception, O Virgin Mary,
thou wast immaculate. Pray for us to the
Father, whose Son Jesus, conceived in thy
womb by the Holy Grhost, thou didst bring
forth. (100 days' once a day.)
20. O Mary, who didst come into this
world free from stain, obtain of Grod for
me, that I may leave it without sin. (100
days' once a day. )
21. Mary, conceived without sin, pray
for us, who have recourse to thee. (300
days' once a day.)
22. To thee, O Virgin Mother, never
touched by the stain of sin, actual or venial,
I recommend and confide the purity of my
heart. (100 days' once a day. )
23. Sweet heart of Mary,be my salvation.
(300 days' each time.)
24. My Queen, my Mother, remember
I am thine: keep me, guard me as thy
property and possession. (40 days' each
time in temptation. )
 EVENING PKAYERS. 555

25. Mary, Mother of God, and Mother

of mercy, pray for me, and for the departed,
(100 days7 once a day.)
26. Help us, Joseph, in our early strife;
e'er to lead a pure and blameless life. (300
days' once a day. )
27. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you
my heart, my soul and my life. (100 days'
each time.)
28. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me
in my last agony. (100 days' each time.)
29. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I
breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
(100 days' once a day.)
30. Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
to whom his love commits me here; ever
be at my side, to light and guard, to rule
and guide. Amen. (100 days' each time.)
Evening praters-
Almighty and eternal God! I prostrate
myself before thee and thank thee from my
heart for all the blessings thou hast bestowed
on me this day, for food and drink, for
health and strength, for all thy holy lights
and inspirations, and for all other graces
which I cannot sufficiently understand or
recollect. I thank thee for all through the
sweetest heart of Jesus in the blessed Sac-
rament.
556 DAILY PRAYERS.

0 omniscient Grod ! who wast mindful of

all my actions during this day, and hast
numbered all my steps, and from whom
none of my thoughts wras hidden, enlighten
my understanding, that I may know the
evil I have done, and the good I have
omitted; and also move my will to be
heartily sorry for my transgressions and
earnestly endeavor to amend them.
Examine your conscience.
0 my Grod! I am much grieved to find
that I have again offended thee this day in
many ways. Forgive me, 0 merciful Father !
I heartily regret that I have transgressed
thy holy commandments, and have dis-
pleased thee, O my Creator and Redeemer!
who art worthy of all love. I resolve, by
the assistance of thy grace, to live hence-
forth a better life, and to remain faithful
to thee until death.
Also hear my prayers, at the close of this
day, for all those who are in any way
connected with me. Bless, O Lord! all my
relatives and acquaintances ; my benefactors,
friends, and enemies. Protect my spiritual
and temporal superiors, our Holy Father,
the Pope, our Bishop, our Pastor, and the
whole Church. Assist the poor and those
wiio are afflicted, prisoners and travellers,
 EVENING PRAYERS. 00/

the sick and the dying. Rescue and pre-

serve those who are in danger of losing
their innocence; convert the sinners and
the heretics , enlighten the heathens and
infidels. Be merciful also to the poor souls
in purgatory; put an end to their sufferings
and bring them all, especially those for
whom I am bound to pray, to eternal rest,
and the joys of heaven.
Visit, I beseech thee, O Lord! this habi-
tation, and drive far from it all snares of
the enemy, let thy holy Angels dwell therein
to keep us in peace ; and may thy blessing
be upon us always.
May the almighty and merciful Lord
bless and protect me: the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Grhost.
Cburcb SHpmn.

Before the day's last moments fly,

Maker of all ! to thee we cry ;
Beneath thy kind protection take,
And shield us for thy mercy's sake.
Let no ill dreams our souls alarm ;
No powers of night approach to harm ;
Defend us from the tempter's art,
And keep us ever pure in heart.
Father of mercies ! hear our cry ;
0 hear, co-equal Son most high!
558 DAILY PRAYERS.

Whom with the Spirit we adore,

One only Grod for evermore.
Holy and immaculate Virgin and Mother
of Grod ! to thy blessed keeping and special
protection, and to the bosom of thy tender
compassion, I recommend my soul and
body; all my hopes and consolations; all
my needs and anxieties; my life and death,
that, by thy intercession and merits, all my
doings may be guided and disposed of
according to thine and the greater pleasure
of thy divine Son.
St. Joseph! my Angel Guardian! and all
ye my holy Patrons ! defend and keep me in
safety through this night. Praise my Grod
for me without ceasing whilst I sleep, and
deign to bestow on me your blessing in
answer to my humble prayers.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I give you my
heart, my soul and my life.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph! assist me in my
last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph ! may I breathe
forth my soul in peace with you.
Save me, O Lord! watching; guard me
sleeping; that I may watch with Christ,
and may rest in peace.
O Sacrament most holy! 0 Sacrament ^
divine! All praise and all thanksgiving be
every moment thine.
 praters for 1bol£ flDass.

Gbe Hsperges.
While the Priest sprinkles Holy Water before Solemn
Mass on Sundays, the following anthems are sung:
Ant. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop,
0 Lord! and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt
wash me, and I shall be made whiter than
snow.
P. Have mercy on me, 0 Grod! according
to thy great mercy,
y. Grlory, etc.
Ant. Thou shalt, etc.
The Priest returning to the foot of the altar says:
Show us, O Lord! thy mercy.
fy. And grant us thy salvation,
y. O Lord! hear my prayer.
^. And let my cry come unto thee,
y. The Lord be with you.
1^. And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY.
Graciously hear us, 0 holy Lord! Father
Almighty ! Eternal Grod ! and vouchsafe to
send thy holy Angel from heaven, who may
keep, cherish, protect, visit and defend ail
[559]
560 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

who dwell in this habitation. Through

Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

I.— Zhe ©rfcinar^ of flfcaes*

(As on Corpus ChrishS)
Ht tbe BegmnuiQ ot /IDass.
The Priest at the foot of the altar begins, saying:
Zhc Hltar prater*
^ In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Grhost. Amen.
Ant. I will go unto the altar of Grod.
1^. To Grod who rejoiceth my youth.
Psalm.
P. Judge me, O Grod! and distinguish
my cause from the nation that is not holy ;
deliver me from the unjust and deceitful
man.
Jfy. For thou, G-od! art my strength, why
hast thou cast me off ? 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 to
thy holy mount, and into thy tabernacles.
ty. And I will go unto the altar of God,
who giveth joy to my youth.
P. I will praise thee on the harp, 0 Grod !
my Grod! why art thou sorrowful, O my
soul? and why dost thou disquiet me?
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 561

1^. Hope in God, for I will still praise

him who isfehe salvation of my countenance,
and my God.
P. Glory be to the Father , and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
fy. 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.
1^. To God who giveth joy to my youth.
P. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
ty. Who made heaven and earth.
Then the Priest humbly bowing down> says:
P. I confess to Almighty God, etc.
1^. May Almighty God be merciful unto
thee, and forgiving thy sins, bring thee to
life everlasting.
P. Amen,
Tty. I confess to Almighty God, to blessed
Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the
Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to
the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, to all the
Saints, and to you, Father, that I have
sinned exceedingly in thought, word and
deed, through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault. Therefore
I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John
the Baptist, the holy Apostles, Peter and
Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to our Lord
God for me.
562 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

The Priest \with hands joined, says:

P. May Almighty Grod be merciful unto
you, and forgiving you your sins, bring you
to life everlasting.
fy. Amen.
Signing himself with the sign of the cross, he says:
P. Hh May the Almighty and Merciful
Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and
remission of our sins.
Amen.
Then, bowing dozvn, he proceeds:
P. Thou, 0 God! being turned, wilt
enliven us.
fy. And thy people will rejoice in thee.
P. Show us, O Lord! thy mercy.
1$. And grant us thy salvation.
P. O Lord! hear my prayer.
1$. And let my cry come unto thee.
P. The Lord be with you.
Ify. And with thy spirit.
And ascending to the altar ; he says secretly:
P. 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.
Amen.
He then bows over the altar, and says:
We beseech thee, O Lord! by the merits
of thy saints, whose relics are here, and of
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 563

all the saints that thou wouldst vouchsafe

to forgive me all my sins. Amen.
At High Mass the altar is here incensed. After
ivhich the Priest turns to the book, makes the sign of the
cross, and reads:
Ube flntroit
He fed them with the fat of wheat, and
filled them with honey from the rock.
B> Rejoice unto Gk>d, our helper; sing
aloud to the Gk)d of Jacob.
V. Grlory be to the Father.
After the Introit, is alternately said:

P. Lord! have mercy on us.

Iy. Lord! have mercy on us.
P. Lord! have mercy on us.
1^. Christ! have mercy on us.
P. Christ! have mercy on us.
3^. Christ! have mercy on us.
P. Lord! have mercy on us.
J^. Lord! have mercy on us.
P. Lord! have mercy on us.
Then the Priest, standing at the middle of the altar,
extending, and then joining his hands, says:
Zhe (Bloria,
Grlory be to Gk>d 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
564 PRATERS FOR HOLY MASS.

glory, 0 Lord Gk>d! heavenly King! Grod

the Father
the only begotten Almighty
Son! !00 Lord*
Lord Jesus
Grod, Christ
Lamb ,
of Grod, Son of the Father! vtho takest
away the sins of the world, have mercy
upon us ; thou who takest away the sins of the
world, receive our prayer ; thou who sittest
at the right hand of the Father, have mercy
upon us. For thou only art holy; thou
only art Lord; thou only, O Jesus Christ!
with the Holy Grhost, art most high in the
glory of Grod, the Father. Amen.
Kissing the altar, and turning to the people, he says:
P. The Lord be with you.
1^. And with thy spirit.
Then follows the Collect:
LET US PRAY.
0 Grod! who under a marvelous Sacra-
ment has left us the memory of thy Pas-
sion; grant us, we beseech thee, so to ven-
erate the sacred mysteries of thy body and
blood, that we may ever feel within us the
fruit of thy redemption. O thou thatlivest
and reignest with Grod, the Father, in unity
with Grod the Holy Grhost, world without end.
Amen.
After the Collect follows:
Zhc Epistle.
Brethren! I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto you, that
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 565

the Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in

which he was betrayed, took bread, and
giving thanks, broke and said: Take ye and
eat : This is my body which shall be delivered
for you ; this do for the commemoration of
me. In like manner also the chalice, after
he had supped, saying: This chalice is the
new testament in my blood; this do ye, as
often as you shall drink, for the commemora-
tion of me. For as often as you shall eat
this bread and drink the chalice, you shall
show the death of the Lord, until he come.
Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread or
drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily,
shall be guilty of the body and of the blood
of the Lord. But let a man prove himself,
and so let him eat of that bread and drink
of that chalice. For he that eateth and
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
judgment to himself, not discerning the
body of the Lord.
fy. Thanks be to Grod.
Then is said:
Zhc ©ra&ual.
The eyes of all hope in thee, 0 Lord! and
thou givest them in due season. Thou
openest thy hand, and fillest every living
creature with blessing, alleluia, alleluia. My
flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink
566 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS .

indeed ; he that eateth iny flesh and drinketh

my blood, abideth in me and I in him.
The book is moved to the other side, and the Priest,
standing at the middle of the altar, says:

Cleanse my heart and my lips, 0 Almighty

God ! who didst cleanse the lips of the pro-
phet Isaias with a burning coal : vouchsafe
so to cleanse me by thy gracious mercy,
that I may be able worthily to proclaim thy
holy Gospel. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Give me thy blessing. 0 Lord!
The Lord be in my heart and on my lips,
that I may "worthily and in a becoming
manner announce his holy Gospel. Amen.
The Priest now proceeds to the Gospel side, and says:
P. The Lord be with you.
R . And with thy spirit.
Pt (Making the sign of the cross.) The Con-
tinuation ofthe holy Gospel according to X.
R. Glory be to thee, 0 Lord!
XTbe 6ospeL
Gospel, John VI. At that time Jesus
said to the multitude of the Jews, my flesh
is meat indeed, and my blood is drink in-
deed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh
my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. As
the living Father hath sent me, and I live
 THE ORDINAEY OF MASS. 567

by the Father, so he that eateth me, the

same also shall live by me. This is the
bread that came down from heaven. Not
as your fathers did eat manna and are dead.
He that eateth this bread shall live forever.
II. Praise be to thee, 0 Christ!
Then follows:
Ube IRicene Greet)*
( Omitted in some Masses.)
I believe in one Grod, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only
begotten Son of Grod, and born of the
Father before all ages; Gk>d of Grod, light
of light, true Grod of true Grod; 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
Grhost, of the Virgin Mary; and was made
man. He was crucified also for us, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And
the third day he rose again according to the
Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, sit-
teth at the right hand of the Father; and
he is to come again with glory to judge both
the living and the dead ; of whose kingdom
there shall be no end.
568 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

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.
Turning to the people, the Priest says:
P. The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
P. Let us pray.
Then the Priest reads:
TLhc ©fEertor£,
The priests of the Lord offer incense and
loaves unto God, and, therefore, shall they
be holy to their God, and shall not defile
his name.
Then follozvs:
Ube ©blatton of tbe Host,
The Priest, taking the paten with the Host, says:
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, offenses and negligences, and for all
here present; as also for all faithful Christ-
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 569

ians, both living and dead; that it may

avail both me and them unto life everlasting.
Amen.
Afterwards the Priest goes to the Epistle side, pours
wine into the chalice, and mixes it with a few drops of
water, saying:
Zhc micsBUxQ of tbe Mater.
0 Grod ! 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, etc.
Amen.
The Priest then takes the chalice and offers it to God,
standing at the middle of the altar.
tlbe ©ffedng of tbe Cbaitce.
We offer unto thee, O Lord! the Chalice
of salvation, beseeching thy clemency, that
it may ascend before thy divine Majesty, as
a sweet odor for our salvation, and for that
of the whole world. Amen.
Bowing down, the Priest says:
Accept us, O Lord! in the spirit of
humility and contrition of heart ; and grant
that the sacrifice we offer in thy sight, this
day, may be pleasing to thee, 0 Lord God!
576 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

He then 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.
At the solemn High Mass, the altar is incensed; after
which the Priest washes his hands ', reciting Psalm 25.
XTbe Wasbxng of tbe IRanfcs,
I will wash my hands among the innocent,
and will compass thy altar, O Lord!
That I may hear the voice of thy praise,
and tell all thy wondrous works.
I have loved, O Lord! the beauty of thy
house, and the place where thy glory
dwelleth.
Take not away my soul with the wicked,
nor my life with men of blood.
In whose hands are iniquities: their right
hand is filled with gifts.
But I have walked in my innocence:
redeem me and have mercy on me.
My foot has stood in the direct way, in
the churches I will bless thee, 0 Lord!
Grlory be to the Father, etc.
Returning, and bozving before the middle of the altar,
he says:
Receive, 0 holy Trinity! this oblation
which we make to thee in memory of the
passion, resurrection, and ascension of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and in honor of the
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 571

blessed Mary ever a Virgin, of blessed John

Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
and of all the Saints; that it may be avail-
able to their honor, and our salvation ; and
that they may vouchsafe to intercede for us
in heaven, whose memory we celebrate on
earth. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Turning to the people ; the Priest says:
Brethren! pray that my sacrifice and
yours may be acceptable to God the Father
Almighty.
^. May the Lord receive the sacrifice
from thy hands to the praise and glory of
his own name, and to our benefit, and that
of all his holy Church.
He men recites:
XTbe Secret prater*
Unto thy Church, we beseech thee, 0
Lord! do thou graciously grant the gifts of
unity and peace; which, in the gifts offered,
are mystically signified. Through, etc.
Which being finished, he says aloud:
Zhc preface,
P. World without end.
1^. Amen.
P. The Lord be with you.
^. And with thy spirit.
572 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

P. Lift up your hearts.

Iy. We have lifted them up to the Lord.
P. Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
Iy. It is meet and just.
It is truly meet and just, right and salu-
tary, that we should always, and in all places,
give thanks to thee, O holy Lord! Father
almighty, eternal God! Because by the
mystery
light of of thythebrightness
"Word made
hathflesh, the upon
shone new
the eyes of our minds ; that while we behold
God visibly, we may by him be carried on
to the love of things invisible. And, there-
fore, with the Angels and Archangels, with
the Thrones and Dominations, and with all
the army of the heavenly Host, we sing a
hymn to thy glory, saying :
Ube Sanctus*
Here the Clerk ri?igs the bell thrice.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna
in the highest.
CTbe Canon.
The Priest says, in a low voice:
We, therefore, humbly pray and beseech
thee, most merciful Father! through Jesus
 THE OKDINAKY OF MASS. 573

Christ, thy Son, our Lord, to accept and

bless these gifts, these *b presents, these
holy unspotted sacrifices, which, in the
first place, we offer thee for thy holy Cath-
olic 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, as also
all orthodox believers and professors of the
Catholic and Apostolic faith.
Commemoration of tbe Xuung.
Remember, 0 Lord! thy servants of both
sexes, N. and N.
And all here present, whose faith and
devotion are known unto thee, for whom
we offer up to thee this sacrifice, for them-
selves, 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 Grod.
Communicating wTith, and honoring in
the first place, the memory of the ever-
glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord
and God Jesus Christ ; as also of the blessed
Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul,
Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and
Thaddeus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus,
574 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chryso-

gonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian,
and of all thy Saints, through 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 continues:
We, therefore, beseech thee, 0 Lord!
graciously to accept this oblation of our
servitude, as also of thy whole family: and
to 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, 0 God! vouch-
safe in all respects to bless, *b approve,
ratify, and accept ; that it may be made for
us the ^ body and Hh blood of thy most
beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

TLhc Consecration.
The Priest takes the host into his hands, saying;
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 Hh blessed it, broke it, and gave
it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat ye
all of this, for This is my Body.
 THE OKDINAEY OP MASS. 575

After pronouncing the words of Consecration, the

elevates'; kneeling
Priest adoresit onthethesacred
it; then placing Host;
corporal, again rising, he
adores it,
(At the elevation the bell is rung three times?) Talking
the chalice into his hands, he says:
In like manner after he had supped,
taking also this excellent chalice into his
holy and venerable hands, giving thee also
thanks, he bles^sed, 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 he shed for you an'd for
many to the remission of sins.
As often as ye do these things, ye shall
do them in remembrance of me.
Here, also kneeling, he adores the sacred chalice;
rising, he elevates it; then replacing it on the corporal,
he covers it, and again adores it.
( The bell is here also rung three times.)
The Priest then proceeds:
Wherefore, 0 Lord! we, thy servants, as
also thy holy people, calling to mind the
blessed passion of the same Christ thy Son
our Lord, his resurrection from the dead,
and admirable ascension into heaven, offer
unto thy most excellent Majesty of thy gifts
bestowed as a pure HE* Host, a holy HE* Host,
an unspotted Host, the hoty 4< bread of
eternal life, and Hh chalice of everlasting
salvation.
Extending his hands, lie says:
 576 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

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
unspotted victim.
Bowing down, he says:
We most humbly beseech thee, Almighty
Grod! to command these things to be carried
by the hands of thy holy Angels to thy
altar on high, in the sight of thy divine
Majesty, that as many as shall partake of
the most sacred >b body and Hh blood of thy
Son at this altar, may be filled with every
heavenly grace and blessing. Through the
same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commemoration of the 2Dea&*
Be mindful, 0 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,
for which the Mass is offered up.
To these, O Lord! and to all that sleep
in Christ, grant, we beseech thee, a place of
refreshment, light and peace. Through the
same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Striking his breast, and raising his voice a tittle, the
Priest says:
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 577

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, Mathias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Peter,
Alexander, Marcellinus, Felicitas, Perpetua,
Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and
with all thy Saints ; into whose company, we
beseech thee, to admit us, not in consider-
ation of our merit, but of thy own gratuitous
pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
By whom, O Lord! thou dost always
create, sanctify, ^ quicken, HE* bless, and
give us all these good things.
He makes a genuflection, and continues, taking the
sacred Host into his hands:
By him, and with him, and >t* in him,
is to thee, Grod the Father * Almighty, in
the unity of the *h Holy Grhost, all honor
and glory.
He makes another genuflection, and says aloud;
Ube pater IRoster,
{The Lord's Prayer.)
P. For ever and ever.
Iy. Amen.
LET US PRAY.
Instructed by thy saving precepts, and
following thy divine teachings, we dare to
say:
578 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed

be thy name ; thy kingdom come ; thy will
be done on earth, as 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 tempta-
tion.
R. But deliver us from evil.
P. Amen.
Afterwards the Priest continues t in a low voice:
Deliver us, we beseech thee, 0 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.
77?^ Priest genuflects, breaks the sacred Host, and
makes the sign of the cross thrice, with a particle thereof,
over the chalice, saving:
P. World without end.
R. Amen.
P. The peace of the Lord be 4« always
with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 579

He puts the particle into the chalice saying:

May this mixture and consecration of the
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be
to us that receive it effectual to eternal life.
Amen.
Covering the chalice, and making a genuflection , he
bows down, strikes his breast three times, and says:
Lamb of Grod ! who takest away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God! who takest away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of Grod ! who takest away the sins
of the world, give us peace.
Then he continues:
Lord Jesus Christ! who saidst 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 for ever and ever. Amen.
At solemn High Mass, here, the kiss of peace is given.
Lord Jesus Christ ! Son of the living Grod,
who, according to the will of thy Father,
hast by thy death, through the co-operation
of the Holy Grhost, 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 Grod the Father, etc. Amen.
580 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

Let not the participation of thy body, 0

Lord Jesus Christ! which I, though unwor-
thy, presume to receive, turn to my judg-
ment and condemnation ; but through thy
mercy may it be a safeguard and remedy,
both to soul and body ; who with God the
Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
livest and reignest God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Ube Communion-
The Priest makes a genuflection, and taking the sacred
Host in his hands, says :
I will take the bread of heaven, and call
upon the name of our Lord.
Striking his breast with humility and devotion, he
says thrice, the Acolyth ri?iging the bell each time:
Lord ! I am not worthy that thou shouldst
enter under my roof: say but the word, and
my soul shall be healed.
Taking both parts of the sacred Host in his right
hand, and making the sign of the cross with it upon
himself, he says:
May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ
preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.
He then receives the sacred Host, and after a short
meditation uncovers the chalice, and putting into it zvith
the paten the smallest atoms of the Host left upon the
corporal, says:
What return shall I make the Lord for
all he has given to me? I will take the
chalice of salvation, and call upon the name
 THE OEDINABY OF MASS. 581

of the Lord. Praising, I will call upon the

Lord, and shall be saved from my enemies.
Taking the chalice in his right ha7id, and making the
sign of the cross with it upon himself, he says:
May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
preserve my soul to everlasting life. Amen.
The Priest then receives the most precious blood,
together with the particles in it.
[Here the Holy Communion is administered, if there
are persons to receive. Those who are to commmiicate
go up to the sanctuary at the Domine non sum dignus,
when the bell rings. ]
The priest then puts wine, and again wine and water
into the chalice, to clean it, and taking the first ablution,
he says:
Grant, 0 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 abluiicn, he says:
May thy body, O Lord! which I have
received, and thy blood which I have drunk,
cleave to my bowels ; and grant that no stain
of sin may remain in me, who have been
fed with this pure and holy sacrament.
Who livest, etc.
Afterwards he wipes the chalice and covers it; then
reads a prayer called:
Communion*
As often as you shall eat this bread, and
drink the chalice, you shall show the death
of the Lord until he come. Therefore, who-
582 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

soever shall eat this bread or drink the

chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be
guilty of the body and of the blood of the
Lord. Alleluia.
Turning to the people > he says:
P. The Lord be with you.
1^. And with thy spirit.
Then the Priest reads the Post-Commtutio :
LET US PRAY.

G-rant us, we beseech thee, 0 Lord! to be

filled with the everlasting fruition of thy
G-od-head, which the reception, in this life,
of thy precious body and blood presignify.
0 thou, that livest, etc.
Afterwards he turns again towards the people \ and
says:
P. The Lord be with you.
1^. And with thy spirit.
P. Gro, you are dismissed; or, Let us
bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to Gk>d.
Then bowing down before the altar, he 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 all
those for whom it has been offered.
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 583

He then gives the blessing (which, hoivevcr, is not

given in Masses for the dead) saying:
May Almighty Grod, the Father , Son,
and Holy Grhost bless you.
Tfy. Amen.
Then turning towards the Gospel side, he says:
P. The Lord be with you.
Iy. And with thy spirit.
Placing the sign of the cross upon the altar, and then
upon his forehead, lips, and heart, he says:
P. The beginning of the holy Grospel
according to St. John.
1^. Grlory be to thee, 0 Lord!
And then reads the Gospel of St. fohn, if no other is
appointed.
In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was
Grod. The same was in the beginning with
Glod. 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 com-
prehend it.
There was a man sent from Grod, whose
name was John. This man came for a
witness to give testimony of the light, that
all might believe through him. He was not
the light, but came to give testimony of the
light. That was the true light which en-
584 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

lighteneth 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
among us; and we saw his glory, as it were
the glory of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
R. Thanks be to God.

praters orfcerefc ftg pope Xeo xin.

To be said, kneeling, after the celebration of Low
Mass in all the churches of the world.
The Priest with the people recites the Hail Mary thriu ;
then the
Salve Regixa.
Hail! holy queen, Mother of mercy, our
life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee
do we cry, poor banished children of Eve ;
to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn,
then, most gracious advocate! thine eyes of
mercy towards us, and, after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
 THE ORDINARY OF MASS. 585

Jesus. 0 clement, 0 loving, 0 sweet

Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God!
1^. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
O Grod! our refuge and our strength, look
down with favor upon thy people, who cry
to thee; and through the intercession of the
glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of Grod, of her spouse, blessed
Joseph, of thy holy Apostles, Peter and
Paul, and all the Saints, mercifully and
graciously hear the prayers, which we pour
forth to thee, for the conversion of sinners,
and the liberty and exaltation of holy mother
Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Add the Invocation.
St. Michael the Archangel! defend us in
battle ; be our protection against the malice
and snares of the devil. We humbly beseech
God to command him: and do thou, O
prince of the heavenly host ! by the divine
power thrust into hell Satan and the other
evil spirits who roam through the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
To all those who recite these prayers as directed, Our
Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII., grants an indulgence of
joo days.
586 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

©tber praters for flfrass,

Ht tbe 35eginmng of flhass.
0 ray Grod ! I firmly believe that thou art
here present. I most humbly adore thee in
union with all the Angels and Saints. For
thy greater honor and glory I will now hear
this holy Mass. Give me the grace to assist
at it with due devotion and reverence.
Cleanse me from my sins. I am heartily
sorry for all of them, and I promise never
to offend thee again.
Offering of tbe /IDass.
(In du Igen ce of th ree yea rs.)
Eternal Father! I offer thee the sacrifice
which thy beloved Son, Jesus, made of him-
self on the cross, and now renews on this
altar. I offer it in the name of all creatures,
together with the masses which have been
said and which will be said throughout the
whole world, to adore thee and to give thee
the honor which thou deserves! ; to render
thee the thanks which are due thee for thy
numberless benefits, to appease thy anger,
and to satisfy for our many sins-, to suppli-
cate thee for myself, for the Church, for the
whole world, and for the blessed souls in
purgatory^
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 587

Ht tbe Ifcprie JEleisotu

When the Priest goes from the mass-book to the middle
of the altar.
Have mercy on me, 0 Lord! Have
mercy on me, my dear Jesus! Have mercy
on me, 0 my good Grod ! and forgive me my
sins.
Ht tbe Gloria,
(From St. Gertrude.)
O great Glod! I unite myself with the
Angels and Saints of heaven to sing thy
praise and glory. Thou art the being of all
beings-, the life of all life; the beginning
without beginning and without end. Thou
art worthy of all praise. May, therefore, O
my Lord and God ! thy goodness, thy wis-
dom, thy mercy, and all thy other innumer-
able perfections praise thee.
May Jesus Christ, thy only Son; his holy
life and actions; his holy virtues and
prayers; his holy passion and death; his
resurrection and ascension praise thee.
May the most illustrious queen of heaven,
the most chaste Virgin Mary, praise thee.
May St. Joseph, the holy foster-father,
and all the Saints of Christ, praise thee.
May the entire holy Church sing joyfully
unto thee; may all her holy sacraments do
thee honor ; and all her sacred ceremonies
588 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

and usages, all her psalms and prayers

praise thee.
May the whole creation, all plants and
trees, the water and the air, and all living
creatures praise thee.
May all names, all words, all songs which
can be spoken or used, praise thee.
I praise thee, O thrice holy Grod! with all
the powers of my body; with all my veins
and limbs; with all my bones and every
drop of my blood; with all my will, my
understanding, my memory ; with my whole
heart and its incessant beating and moving.
Praise, honor and glory be unto thee,
Grod the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Grhost, now and in all eternity. Amen.
Ht tbe Bommus Wobfscum.
When the Priest turns towards the people.
Be thou always with us, O my God! and
let thy grace never depart from us.
Ht tbe Collects-
When the Priest reads the prayers at the mass-book.
0 Grod! hear, I beseech thee, the prayers
of the priest, thy servant, and our own
humble prayers which we offer thee for our-
selves, this congregation, and the whole
Church.
Loosen, 0 Lord! we pray thee, in thy
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 589

pity ? the bonds of our sins, and by the in-

tercession of the blessed and ever Virgin
Mary, Mother of Grod, St. Joseph, the
blessed Apostles St. Peter and Paul, and
all the Saints, keep us, thy servants, and
our abodes, in all holiness; cleanse us, our
relations, kinsfolk, and acquaintances, from
all stain of sin; adorn us with all virtue;
grant us peace and health ; drive far off all
our enemies visible and invisible ; bridle our
carnal appetites ; give us healthful seasons ;
bestow thy love upon our friends and our
enemies ; guard the holy city ; preserve our
Sovereign Pontiff, N. ; and defend all our
prelates, princes and all thy Christian people
from all adversity. Let thy blessing be
ever upon us, and grant to all the faithful
departed eternal rest. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
(Indulgence of 40 days.)
Ht tbe Bpistle,
What the Priest is reading now, is a
chapter from the Bible — the very word of
Grod. Grod, in his goodness, not only created
man according to his own image, but he
also made known to him, through his ser-
vants, the priests of the Old and New Law,
what he must believe and do to save his
soul for heaven.
590 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

Mayest thou, 0 Lord! give me, therefore,

the grace to believe all thy holy doctrines.
Give me the necessary understanding to
know "what I must do ; and give me also the
strength to do it. I will courageously walk
on the way to heaven. I will avoid every-
thing that may rob me of my holy faith. I
will do everything that may help to increase
my faith. I will live and die in the holy
Catholic faith. 0 God! assist me to do so.
Ht tbe (Sospel.
When the people rise.
0 Jesus ! thou hast the words of eternal
life ; teach me, I beseech thee, what I must
do to merit and obtain life.
Ansiver of Jesus: "If thou wilt enter into
life, my child, and obtain heaven, keep the
commandments. Love the Lord thy God
with thy whole heart, and with thy whole
soul, and with thy whole mind, and with
thy whole strength. Seek first the kingdom
of heaven, and all other things shall be given
to thee. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love
thy enemies; do good to those that hate
thee, and pray for those that persecute thee.
Take thy cross upon thee and follow me.
Watch and pray, that thou enterest not into
temptation. Happy they, who hear the
word of God, and keep it."
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 591

0 my good Saviour ! give me grace to lay

to heart these and all thy holy precepts;
and to practice them. What will it profit
me to know the way of life, if I do not show
forth in my conduct that I am thy child. 0
Jesus! assist me to believe in thee, to love
thee, and to imitate thee.
m tbe Cree5,
Say the Apostles" Creed with great devotion.
1 believe in Grod the Father, etc.
Ht tbe ©ffertorp.
When the Priest offers to God bread and zvine.
Receive, 0 holy Father! almighty and
eternal Glod! this bread and wine which
thy priest offers thee, for myself, for all
those here present, and for all the faithful,
the living and the dead.
In union with this offering accept, 0
Lord! the offering which I now make of
myself. Take and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, my wiil,
all that I am or have. Thou hast given
me all. To thee, O Lord! I return it.
Dispose of it according to thy pleasure.
And as thou wilt change this offering of the
priest into the body and blood of thy divine
Son, change also me, so that I may hence-
forth be all thine and thou all mine.
592 PRAYEKS FOB HOLY MASS.

Ht tbe Xavmbo,
When the Priest washes his fingers.
0 Lord! wash my soul and cleanse it
from all stains of sin. Let my first and most
earnest care be to keep myself unspotted
from every defilement and to pass through
this life in such a manner, that on the
judgment-day I maybe found worthy of the
everlasting joys of heaven.
Ht tbe ©rate ffratres.
When the Priest, after havi?ig washed his hands,
turns to the people.
0 Lord! hear the prayers of all thy
faithful united here to offer this great sacri-
fice, which we implore thee to receive for
the glory of thy name, for our particular
benefit and the good of all thy Church.
Pour forth into our hearts the dispositions
necessary to assist with fruit at this great
act of our religion ; sanctify the priest who
celebrates thy divine mysteries, and purify
his hands and heart that he may be in a
state to draw down thy graces on himself
and on us.
Ht tbe preface*
0 eternal Father! the moment approaches
when thy divine Son, our Saviour Jesus
Christ, is about to descend on this altar.
Nothing of earth should now engage my
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 593

mind. My heart should sigh only after him

who taketh away the sins of the world.
O Grod ! by what gratitude shall I acknowl-
edge thy benefits, and especially that of
giving us thy only begotten Son, who every
day, and several times a day, renews for us
the sacrifice which he offered thee on Calvary.
Through him, therefore, and in union
with the Angels and Saints of heaven,
permit us all to glorify thee, and to say
with one heart and one mind, with joy,
love and gratitude :
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Grod of Hosts;
the earth is full of thy glory. Grlory be to
the Father ; glory be to the Son ; glory be
to the Holy Grhost. (Indulgence of 100 days.)

Ht tbe Canon*
{At which the most sacred part of the Mass commences.)
0 Lord Jesus Christ! who, to redeem the
world, didst want to be born amongst
men, to be circumcised, to be rejected, and
persecuted by the Jews, to be betrayed
by the traitor Judas, with a. kiss, and
as a lamb, gentle and innocent, to be
bound with cords, and dragged, in scorn,
before the tribunals of Annas, Caiphas,
Pilate and Herod ; who didst suffer thyself
to be accused by false witnesses, to be
594 PRAY EES FOE HOLY MASS.

torn by the scourge and overwhelmed

with opprobrium; to be spit upon, to be
crowned with thorns, struck with a reed,
blindfolded, stripped of thy garments: to
be nailed to the cross and raised on it
between two thieves ; to be given gall and
vinegar to drink, and to be pierced with a
lance; do thou, O Lord! by these thy most
sacred pains, and by thy holy cross and
death, which we gratefully remember in
this holy sacrifice of Mass and in every holy
Mass, save me from the pains of hell, and
bring me whither thou didst bring the good
thief who was crucified with thee.
Also grant, through these thy cruel pains
and death, and this holy sacrifice, which is
the unbloody renewal of thy sacrifice on the
cross, grace and life everlasting to all those
for whom we offer thee this holy Mass,
especially our Holy Father, the Pope, our
bishop, all the bishops and priests, our
relations, friends and enemies.
But above all give us now the grace
worthily to receive and adore thee, who art
about to come down upon this altar. Verily
thou, O Lord! art descending from thy
heavenly throne. Thou art, through the
hands of the priest, changing the bread and
Wine on the altar into thy most sacred body
and blood.
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 595

Ht tbe Blevation of tbe Sacrefc Most.

(The bell is rung Ihrice.)
Hail, sweetest Jesus! prostrate in the
greatest humility, I worship and adore thee.
O Jesus, have mercy on me! O good Jesus,
spare me! O most compassionate Jesus, be
merciful to me a sinner!
Ht tbe Elevation of tbe precious 3Bloo&*
( The bell is rung Ihrice?)
Hail, most precious blood of my Lord!
prostrate before thee in lowliest devotion I
worship and adore thee. O sacred blood,
w^ash me! O crimson blood, cleanse me! 0
most precious blood, cry out for me unto
Grod the Father, that he may have mercy
on me!
Hfter tbe Elevation*
{From Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque.)
0 Jesus, now really and truly present on
the altar, look at me with eyes of mercy.
Heart of my Jesus, have mercy on me.
Heart of my Creator, perfect me.
Heart of my Saviour, save me.
Heart of my Judge, pardon me.
Heart of my Father, govern me.
Heart of my Spouse, love me.
Heart of my Master, teach me.
Heart of my King, crown me.
596 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me.

Heart of my Pastor, keep me.
Heart of my Friend, caress me.
Heart of the Infant Jesus, attract me.
Heart of Jesus dying on the cross, atone
for me.
Heart of Jesus in all its conditions, give
thyself to me.
Heart of my Brother, remain with me.
Heart of incomparable goodness, forgive
me.
Heart most glorious, shine forth in me.
Heart most amiable, inflame me.
Heart most charitable, work in me.
Heart most merciful, answer for me.
Heart most humble, teach me humility.
Heart most patient, bear with me.
Heart most faithful, make satisfaction
for me.
Heart most peaceful, calm me.
Heart most beautiful, delight me.
Heart most perfect, ennoble me.
Heart most holy, sanctify me.
Heart most blessed, true physician and
remedy for all our ills, heal me.
Heart of Jesus, consolation of the afflicted,
comfort me.
Heart of Jesus, source of all happiness,
strengthen me.
 OTHER PBAYEBS FOB MASS. 597

Heart of eternal benediction, call me to

thee.
Give me, 0 Jesus ! and all those for whom
thou desirest me to pray , thy grace and thy
sweet love. Grant us the forgiveness of our
sins; thy holy friendship; peace of heart
and mind ; and to the poor souls in purga-
tory, especially the soul of N.N., give eternal
rest.
at tbe pater Hester-
Our Father, who art in heaven, etc.
O Father, O Son, 0 Holy Ghost! 0 most
holy Trinity! 0 Jesus, our Lord and
Saviour! who hast taught us the beautiful
prayer which the priest is saying now, grant
that all the graces for which we ask in this
holy prayer may be given to me, but more
especially the following, viz: 1. To do
always the will of God. 2. To remain
always united with God. 3. To think of
no other than of God. 4. To love God
alone. 5. To do all for God. 6. To seek
only the glory of God. 7. To know better
and better the will of God. 8. To trust in
God in all my bodily and spiritual needs.
9. To receive always worthily, in holy com-
munion, the precious body and blood of my
God and Saviour. 10L To nourish, for
God's 20sake, a true love to mv neighbor, no
598 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

one excepted. 11. To call upon the help

of God in all my temptations, and not to
commit sin in them. 12. To be, after my
death, delivered from the pains of hell, and
admitted to the happy vision of God in
heaven.
Most holy Mary ! and all ye Saints ! obtain
for me these graces. I ask for them in the
name of him who is now offering himself
for me on this altar, and who has shed for
me his most precious blood on the altar of
the cross.
at bol£ Communion.
0 Lord Jesus Christ ! I confess that thou
art the true and living bread which came
down from heaven, and that thou art now
truly present on the altar.
1 believe in thy words: "He that eateth
my flesh and drinketh my blood, remain eth
in me and I in him, and he shall have life
everlasting/'
Alas, I am not prepared and not worthy
to receive thee at this moment. But I
know that thou canst, without thy real visit,
with a single word, purify my soul. Do so
then, my dear Jesus! Remove from my
heart everyt hi ng that displeases thee, and
fill it with thy holy grace. Come to me
spiritually. 0 Lord ! and heal my sinful soul.
 OTHER PRAYERS FOR MASS. 599

Feed me, for I am hungry. Strengthen

me, for I am weak. Enlighten me, for I
am in darkness. Gruide me, for I am blind.
Lead me on the path of salvation, until I
shall be united to thee in heaven, never to
be separated.

at tbe last prater.

May, 0 Lord! the oblation of this holy
sacrifice, at which we have assisted, both
cleanse and defend us; and by the inter-
cession of the blessed Virgin Mary, her
spouse, St. Joseph, the Apostles Peter and
Paul, and all the Saints, free us from sin,
and deliver us from all evil.
O my Jesus! during the hours of thy
holy passion, thou didst suffer unspeakably
in order to render full satisfaction to the
divine justice for us, to merit for us eternal
happiness, and to make the way of the
cross and self-denial easy and agreeable to
us. For the same purpose thou didst offer
thyself in this holy mass and art continu-
ously offering thyself upon our altars.
Ah, let not all thou hast done and art yet
doing for us, be lost on me or on any of
those dear to me. May we become daily
more wise and virtuous, more humble and
obedient, more patient and gentle.
600 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

This grant us for the honor of thy Father,

for thy own honor, 0 Jesus Christ, true
Son of God! and for the honor of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ht tbe Xast OospeL

O eternal Word! who wast made man
that thou mayest make men the children
of God, I thank thee for this unspeakable
grace; and grant, O Jesus! that I may
preserve this blessed title of a child of God
by faithfully imitating thy sacred example.
I am now going to occupy myself with
those duties in the world to which thy
providence hath called me. Give me the
grace, that I may ever have before my mind
thy patience in adversities, thy obedience
to Mary and Joseph, and thy tender charity
in bearing with all men. Strengthen me
against all temptations ; preserve me from
sin ; make me firm and immovable in the
faith; in fine, transform me into thyself, O
Jesus! so that thy heart and my heart may
be united in one, both in time and eternity.
Amen.
 THIRD METHOD. 601

fIDetbofc) of assisting at IRoty fIDass*

By St. Leonard of Portu Mauritio.

The holy fathers St. Chrysostom and St.

Gregory teach, that as often as the holy
sacrifice of the Mass is offered, the heavens
are opened and the angelic hosts descend
in great numbers to assist. We must, then,
if we wish to participate fully in the great
blessings of this awful mystery, approach
holy Mass with such preparation, as if we
were approaching Calvary, and assist at
this tremendous sacrifice as if standing in
the midst of the Angels before the throne
of God.
St. Thomas, the Angelic Doctor, enumer-
ates four debts, which we owe to the divine
Majesty: the first is the debt of adoration
and praise; the second, of atonement; the
third, of thanksgiving; the fourth, of im-
petration. In a word: it is an obligation
we have towards God to adore and praise
him, to atone for our sins, to thank him,
and to ask him for his grace. This obliga-
tion is fully discharged through holy Mass.
It is a sacrifice of adoration, atonement
thanksgiving, and impetration.
To discharge this fourfold indebtedness,
divide the Mass into four parts :
602 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

The first part extends from the beginning

to the Gospel. Humble yourself with Jesus,
and acknowledging your own unworthiness
sincerely confess your depravity. Thus
humbled interiorly, and with a composed
and modest exterior say:
uO my God! I adore thee; I acknowledge
thee for my Lord and the master of my
soul. I protest that whatsoever I am and
what I possess, proceeds from thee. Thy
supreme Majesty deserves infinite honor
and homage. I, however, being a poor,
miserable creature, utterly incapable of dis-
charging the great indebtedness I owe to
thee, offer to thee the humiliations and
homage which Jesus presents to thee on
the altar. What Jesus does, I also intend
to do. I humbly prostrate myself with him
before thy divine Majesty. I adore thee
with the same humble sentiments which
Jesus offers to thee. I am rejoiced and
delighted because Jesus renders to thee, for
me, infinite honor and homage. "
Repeat many internal acts of this kind.
It is not essential to adhere to the words,
as given here: use such as your devotion
will suggest. Oh! how fully would you
discharge your indebtedness in this manner !
In the second part — from the Gospel to
the Elevation — reflect on the enormity and
 THIRD METHOD. 603

multitude of your sins; you will perceive

what an immense indebtedness you have
incurred by them towards divine justice.
Say with a contrite heart :
"Behold, O my God! the traitor who has
so often rebelled against thee. With a con-
trite heart I abhor and detest my numerous
offences; I offer for them the atonement,
which Jesus presents to thee on the altar.
I offer to thee all the merits of Jesus, the
blood of Jesus, Jesus entire — God and
Man, — as he is here sacrificed anew for me.
And since Jesus himself becomes, on this
altar, my mediator and advocate, and, in
virtue of his most precious blood, claims
pardon for me, I unite my prayer with the
voice of his blood, shed for the love of me,
and implore mercy for my manifold and
grievous offenses. The blood of Jesus
supplicates for mercy; my contrite heart
implores the same. Should my tears not
move thee, let at least the supplications of
Jesus move thee to mercy. Why should
he not obtain it for me, having obtained it
for the entire human race upon the cross?
I sincerely hope that for the sake of that
precious blood thou wilt pardon my grievous
sins, and I will continue to deplore them
till my last breath.'7
Repeat such acts of contrition, and rest
604 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

assured that you will thus completely dis-

charge the indebtedness which you have
incurred by so many grievous sins.
In the third part — from the Elevation to
the Communion — reflect on the great and
manifold benefits, which you have received
from God, and offer him in return a gift of
infinite value: the Body and Blood of
Christ. Invite all the Angels and Saints to
join you in thanking God. Do this in the
following or some similar manner:
"0 most amiable God! I am completely
overwhelmed with the benefits, general and
particular, which thou hast bestowed upon
me, and which thou wilt continue to bestow
in time and eternity. I acknowledge that
thy mercy towards me was and is infinite ;
nevertheless I desire to repay thee fully.
Therefore, as a tribute of my gratitude and
in discharge of my indebtedness, I offer
thee by the hands of the priest, this divine
blood, this divine body of thy Son, a most
guiltless victim. This oblation is all-suffi-
cient to repay thee for all the graces thou
hast conferred upon me; this gift of in-
finite value is an equivalent for all the
favors I have ever received, or continue to
receive from thee. Oh, ye holy Angels and
blessed Spirits ! assist me to thank my God;
and in thanksgiving for his manifold bene-
 THIRD METHOD. 605

fits, offer to him not only this Mass but also

all the Masses at this moment celebrated
throughout the world, that his loving good-
ness may be fully recompensed for all the
graces he has bestowed, and is to bestow on
me, now and for all eternity. Amen.
Oh, how pleasing to our good Grod will
be such an affectionate thanksgiving! This
oblation, surpassing all other gifts and of
infinite value, has greater efficacy than all
other offerings.
In the fourth part — from Communion to
the end of Mass — confidently ask for divine
graces, knowing that Jesus is united with
you and prays and supplicates for you.
Expand your heart, then, and ask not for
trifles, but for great graces ; for great indeed
is the sacrifice which you offer to the Father,
the sacrifice of his divine Son. With a
humble heart address him as follows :
"Most gracious Grod ! I acknowledge that
I am utterly unworthy of thy favors. I con-
fess that, tor manifold and grievous offenses,
I am not worthy to be heard ; but it is im-
possible, that thou shouldst not listen to
thy divine Son, who, on this altar, intercedes
for me and offers for me his life, his blood.
My most loving God ! Hear the praj^ers of
this my advocate, and for his sake grant me
all the graces which thou knowest to be
606 PRAYERS FOR HOLY MASS.

necessary for me in the great work of my

salvation. I am now encouraged to ask of
thee a general pardon of all my sins, and
the grace of perseverance. Trusting in the
merits of my Jesus, I ask of thee, O Grod!
all virtues in heroic degree and all efficacious
helps necessary to make me a saint. I ask
of thee the conversion of all sinners, especi-
ally of those related to me. I implore thee
to grant me and mine the spirit of prayer,
that thou mayest henceforth dwell in our
hearts as in a paradise, leading us from
virtue to virtue on to perfection. Amen."
Pray for yourself, pray for your relatives,
pray for the whole Church. Pray with
supreme, unbounded confidence, and rest
assured that your prayer, in union with that
of Jesus Christ, will be heard.
Other prayers, suitable for the time of holy Mass, you
will find from page 267 — 348.
 praters for Confession,

prater for ($o&$ 1belp*

0 almighty and most merciful God ! who
hast made me out of nothing and redeemed
me by the most precious blood of thy only
Son; who hast, with so much patience,
borne with me to this day, notwithstanding
all my sins and ingratitude ;— behold, I now
sincerely wish to leave my evil ways and to
return to thee. I know that thou desirest
not the death of a sinner, but that he may
be converted and live. I know thy mercies
are above all thy works, and I confidently
hope, that as in thy mercy thou hast spared
me so long, thou wilt also receive me now,
when I am resolved to serve thee better.
1 desire now to approach the holy sacra-
ment of penance. I desire to confess my
sins to thee and to thy priest, and therefore
I desire to know myself and all that I have
done against thee. O Grod! assist me in
this great work. Enlighten me and let me
see all my sins. Show me all the offences I
have committed against thee, and the great
evil I have brought thereby upon myself.
(607)
608 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

But, 0 Lord! what will it avail me to

know my sins, if thou dost not also give
me a hearty sorrow for them? With-
out this sorrow, my sins will be all
against me still, and I shall be still thine
enemy and a child of hell. Thou insistest
on a change of heart, and this change none
but thyself can give. Grive it me, then, O
dear Lord ! Give me a lively faith . and a firm
hope in thy holy passion. Teach me to
fear thee and to love thee. Give me a
hearty contrition for having offended thee.
Lastly, grant me, O Lord! the grace to
make an entire confession of my sins ; and
to tell them to the priest in all the sincerity
of my heart.
O blessed Virgin, mother of myEedeemer
and my mother ! refuge of penitent sinners !
intercede for me that I may obtain the
grace to make a good confession.
St. Joseph! my holy Guardian Angel !
and all ye Angels and Saints! pray for me.
Examination of Conscience.
When did you make your last confession? Was it a
good one ? Did you conceal a sin ? Did you perform
the penance ?
Have you since neglected your morning, evening, or
meal prayers ? Often, or only a few times ? Have you
been ashamed to perform your religious duties, when
others saw you ? Did you say your prayers with will-
ful distraction ? Did you do so often ? Did you neg-
 609
PBAYEKS FOE CONFESSION.

lect to think of God sometimes during the day ? Have

you doubted any article of faith ? Have you exposed
your faith to danger by going to Protestant churches ;
reading Protestant books ; having company with a
Protestant person ?
Did you speak of God's holy name, or of holy things,
without necessity, or devotion ? Have you cursed and
sworn ? Have you broken your promises and vows ?
Did you on Sundays and Holydays stay away from
mass willfully, or did you come too late ? How often ?
Did you laugh, talk, look around in church ? Did you
spend Sundays in idleness, neglect afternoon's service,
go to sinful parties ?
Have you been disobedient and stubborn to your
parents, teachers, priests ? Have you murmured against
them, and disregarded their advice ? Did yon pray for
your superiors ?
{For Parents .) Have you neglected to have your chil-
dren baptized soon after their birth ; to teach them their
prayers, and to send them to school, catechism and
church ? Have you given them a bad example by curs-
ing, quarreling, or by speaking disrespectfully of
priests, teachers, etc., in their presence ? Did you let
them keep late hours, go to dangerous places, etc ?
Have you done your duty to each other as husband and
wife ?
Have you been impatient or angry ? Frequently, or
but a few times? Did you quarrel or fight with any
one ? Did you make others angry, or lead them into
other sins ?
Did you willfully think or speak of immodest, bad
and dirty things? How often? Did you do such things?
Was it with yourself, or others ? Did you expose your-
self to the danger of committing such sins by keeping
bad company, or going to bad places ? How often ?
Did you steal something ; or did you cheat or injure
your neighbor in any way ?
Did you tell lies ? Were they lies of excuse, or on
your neighbor, perhaps priests or teachers ? Did you
make known the hidden faults of your neighbor ? Did
you think bad of your neighbor?
610 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

Did you eat flesh-meat on a Friday, willfully ?

Did you support your church and school ?
Have you been proud and thought yourself better
than others ? Have you been jealous ? Have you been
slothful in your work ?
Having examined your conscience, consider:
1. What you have deserved by committing sin. If
you committed but one grievous sin, and were to die in
this sin, you would be damned forever. You have lost
heaven and have made yourself guilty of the most terrible
torments. And even if there should be no mortal guilt
on your soul, remember what the poor souls have to
suffer for but small faults. The same sufferings also,
you have deserved by those sins which you scarcely
mind. Then consider
2. Whom you have offended by committing sin.
You have offended God. God, who could let you die
in your sins at this very moment, and condemn you to
hell. God, who has given you, and gives 3-ou yet a
multitude of blessings and graces. Finally, God, who
is so great, so holy, so infinitely amiable, that nothing
in heaven or on earth can be compared with him.
And should it not grieve you, that you have offended
such a great and such a good God ? — Finally
3. Look up to the cross. There you see the Son of
God hanging; one sore from head to foot; bleeding
from innumerable wounds, suffering untold pains for
the sins of men ; also for your sins. By this you may
learn what a great evil sin must be, that even a God
had to suffer for it such cruel torments ; but from the
cross you may also learn what an unspeakably great
love God had for you and all men, that he allowed him-
self to be nailed to it. Therefore, love this God too ;
and promise to do so in future ; and to serve him hence-
forth more faithfully; tell him how sorry you are for
having not loved, but even offended him, and humbly
ask his forgiveness.
 PEAYEES FOE CONFESSION. 611

prater for parboru

0 divine Eedeemer ! humbly prostrate at
the foot of thy cross, I call upon thee for
pardon.
Jesus, misjudged and dispised on account
of our sins, have mercy on me! Jesus,
calumniated and persecuted, have mercy on
me ! Jesus, abandoned by men, have mercy
on me! Jesus, betrayed and sold, have
mercy on me! Jesus, insulted, accused
and unjustly condemned, have mercy on
me! Jesus, mocked and scoffed at, have
mercy on me! Jesus, bound with cords
and led through the streets, have mercy on
me! Jesus, cruelly scourged, have mercy
on me! Jesus, despoiled of thy garments,
have mercy on me! Jesus, crowned with
thorns and reviled, have mercy on me!
Jesus, bearing the cross amid the maledic-
tions of the people, have mercy on me!
Jesus, bowed down by ignominies, pain and
humiliations, have mercy on me! Jesus,
crucified between thieves, have mercy on
me! Jesus, dying for my sins amid all
kinds of suffering, have mercy on me!

Hct of Contrition*
0 Jesus, 0 good Jesus! who didst suffer
so much for me, who hast died for me, and
612 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

shed the last drop of thy precious blood to

blot out my sins, forgive me.
I must confess, that I am guilty of many
faults, offences and negligences. I have
indeed served thee, O Grod! very indiffer-
ently. have
I often broken my good resolu-
tions. Ihave been careless and distracted
during prayer ; and I have omitted the per-
have done. formance ofmany
Who good
can "works that Iallcould
enumerate the
sins I have committed? Is there a single
commandment "which I have not trans-
gressed? have
I many a time injured my
soul ; dishonored the image of God in me ;
disregarded my holiest and most sacred
duties.
But now I am sorry, truly sorry for all
this. I am sorry that I have offended thee,
0 eternal Love! Oh, what have I done? I
have lost heaven by my sins ; I have deserved
hell ; and above all — I have grieved my best
father, my greastest benefactor, the good
Grod! O God! with the help of thy grace,
1 will never offend thee again. Henceforth
I will try and love thee above all things,
and serve thee most faithfully. I will most
carefully avoid everything that may lead
me into sin. 0 Jesus! forgive me! Thou
hast said to thy apostles, and in them to
their successors — the bishops and priests:
 PEAYEKS FOR CONFESSION. 613

"Whose sins you shall forgive, they are for-

given them." I believe in these words,
and therefore I am now going to confess my
sins. Let me hear from the priest's lips
the words: "Q-o in peace; thy sins are for-
given thee."
pious Bsptrations before Confession*

My Lord and my Grod! I sincerely

acknowledge myself a vile and wretched
sinner, unworthy to appear in thy presence ;
but do thou have mercy on me, and save
me.
Most loving Father ! I have sinned against
heaven and before thee, and am unworthy
to be called thy child ; make me as one of
thy servants, and may I for the future be
ever faithful to thee.
It truly grieves me, 0 my Grod! to have
sinned, and so many times transgressed thy
law, but wash me now from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sins.
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, rather than return to my former
course of life and live thine enemy.
614 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

0 loving Father! assist me by thy grace,

that I may bring forth worthy fruits of
penance.
Now., 0 Lord! I begin to live, not trust-
ing in my own strength, nor in the resolu-
tions I make, but in the multitude of thy
mercies. Perfect, 0 Lord! the "work which
thou hast begun in me.
Alas ! my soul is full of anguish and con-
fusion at the recollection of the many sins
whereby I have offended thee, my merciful
Redeemer !
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 my-
self; to amend my failings, and fulfill thy
law. Look down on me with the eyes of
mercy, 0 Ood! and blot out my sins.
Forgive me what is past, and, through
thine infinite goodness, secure me against
all my wonted failings for the time to come.
Thou hast declared, 0 Lord! that there
is joy in heaved for the conversion of a
sinner; grant me, then, the grace of true
 PBAYEES FOR CONFESSION. 615

repentance, and let heaven rejoice at my

amendment.
Thou didst come, 0 blessed Redeemer!
not to call the just, but sinners, to repent-
ance behold
; a miserable sinner here before
thee: Oh, draw me powerfully to thyself.
Have mercy on me, O God! according to
thy great mercy ; and according to the mul-
titude of thy tender mercies, blot out my
iniquities. Sprinkle me with thy precious
blood, and I shall be whiter than snow.
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 . Amen .

UbanfcsQunnci after Confe5Sion.

How great are thy mercies towards me,

0 Lord! in having pardoned my sins after
so many relapses! Thou mightest have
condemned me a thousaud times and cast
me into hell ; but thou hast had compassion
on me. How can I thank thee worthily for
thy infinite goodness and mercy !
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all
that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never for-
get all he hath done for thee.
516 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

Who forgiveth all thy iniquities; who

healeth all thy diseases.
Who hath not dealt with me according to
my sins j nor rewarded me according to my
iniquities.
For as far as the East is from the West,
so far hath he removed my iniquities from
me.
As a father hath compassion on his chil-
dren so
) hath the Lord compassion on us.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, bless the
Lord.
May the manhood of Jesus Christ, his
holy life and actions, his holy virtues and
prayers, his holy passion and death, his
holy blood and tears, his holy wounds and
pains, praise Grod for me.
May the illustrious queen of heaven, the
most chaste Virgin Mary, praise thee. 0
Lord! for me; and with her, the countless
number of angelic spirits who stand ever
ready for thy Service.
May the entire holy Church, all her holy
sacraments, all her sacred ceremonies and
usages, all her psalms and prayers, all her
virtues and holiness, all her fervent desires,
and the love she bears to thee, praise thee
for me.
I praise thee, 0 Lord! with all the powers
of my body and soul; with all my veins and
 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION. 617

limbs , with all my bones and my blood,

with all my desires, my will and my
memory.
Praise, honor and benediction be nnto
thee, 0 Grod of my life! for thy infinite
goodness in which thou hast cleansed me
from my sins, and restored nnto me the
peace of my soul. Amen.
praper before saving tbe penance.
I will now perform the penance which the
priest, in thy name, O Lord! has imposed
upon me in satisfaction for my sins. To
increase the value of this small penance, I
unite it with the bitter passion of our Lord;
with all the sufferings of the blessed Virgin,
and with all the penances which thy saints
have ever offered up to thy holy name. Oh
how ashamed must I feel, when considering
what the faithful followers of Christ have
done and suffered for their small transgres-
sions, and how they have wiped them out
with their tears, nay with their own blood!
0 Jesus! give me the spirit of fortitude.
Let me henceforth do also some penance
for my many sins. Let me at least bear
patiently and for the love of thee all the
troubles of this life. And now give me the
grace to say my penance with great devo-
tion and compunction.
{Here say the penance.)
618 PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION.

Concluding prater-
How great was thy goodness, 0 Lord! in
having pardoned my sins in holy confession.
Mayest thou be praised for ever and ever.
Oh, let this grace be added to the rest, that
I may never offend thee again. This single
favor I earnestly beg of thee, 0 Lord! viz:
that I may for the future renounce my own
way to follow thine. Help me, 0 Lord!
and have compassion on my poor soul.
How bitterly I shall bewail, at the moment
of death, all the sins I committed against
thee, and how much it will then grieve me
that I have done so little for heaven.
Henceforth I will try and do more for my
poor soul. It is my firm resolution to be
faithful to the holy promises which I have
made in this confession. 0 God! assist me
to keep them.
Other suitable prayers for Confession , see on 'page 6j-Sg .
praters for 1bol£ Com-
munion,
From St. Leonard of Port Maurice.

Before boty Communion*

act of faith.
Awake, slumbering soul, to bless the
Lord for all his mercies. Remember that
thy God became man for thee ; and remem-
ber that the same God who was born for
thee, who lived thirty-three years for thee,
who died for thee, and is now in heaven on
his throne, is also really and truly present
in the most holy Sacrament; nay, is now
standing before the door of thy heart,
therein to take his abode.
Indeed, so it is, O my God! I believe it
firmly, for thou hast said it. I believe
firmly that in receiving the sacred Host, I
will receive that very Jesus, who has
redeemed the world.
act of B&oratfon*
0 my soul, what art thou doing! Yet a
little while, and the God that made heaven
(619)
620 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.

and earth will come to dwell within thee.

0 Grod! what can I do, but most humbly
adore thee! So come then, Mary, my
tender mother; come all ye angels and
saints, and help me to adore my Jesus.
Obtain for me a lively faith, and a profound
veneration for the sacrament I am about to
receive.
My soul, in a few moments the Lord of
lords, the King of kings shall abide in thee.
He comes to unite himself with thee.
Awake then, and exult, 0 my heart!
Let thy confidence grow stronger; and
remember that thou art about to obtain the
gratification of all thy most fervent desires.
Jesus is almighty. He can give thee all
thou needest. He opens his hands, and
showers benedictions on all. He is to thee
a loving Father, and desires to enrich thee.
0 Jesus, do so! Give me thy graces, for
without them I can do nothing; above all
help me to prepare myself to receive thee
to-day; teach me to love thee more and
more and to place my hope in thee alone.
Bet of 5Hope,
0 Jesus, dearest hope of my soul! I rely
on thy divine promises with unshaken con-
fidence. hope
I in thee with all the hope of
my soul. I hope firmly that thou, whom I
 PKAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 621

am about to receive , will sanctify my body

and soul. So come then, my only hope;
come and enrich me !
O my soul, what is there, that Grod has
left undone to win thy confidence and love?
Did he not, for thy sake, take flesh of the
Virgin Mary? Was he not born for thee in
a miserable stable? Did he not die for thy
salvation on the cross? And — O miracle
of love! — is he not present for thy consola-
tion, in the holy Eucharist? There he in-
vites thee now to the heavenly banquet to
receive him; there he is about to bestow
such blessings upon thee, as he never
bestowed on the angels. He deigns, nay he
desires to take up his abode in thee. — He,
the almighty Grod, desires to be united with
me! And thou, O my soul, wilt thou not
give all thy love to that God, who loves
thee so tenderly?
Bet of %ove.
0 Jesus ! center of my love, Grod of my
heart ! how worthy art thou of my love, and
of all the pure affections of my heart ! 0
Grod ! I love thee with all the faculties of my
soul. Thou art my Creator; thou art my
Redeemer; thou art my Sanctifier; thou
art my only Good. O Love! O Love! 0
eternal Love! 0 that I could praise and
622 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.

bless, and love thee as the angels and saints

do in heaven! 0 that I were able, even at
the sacrifice of my life, to make all mankind
praise, bless, love and adore thee! O God!
inflame my love, that it may be "worthy of
thee ! Teach me to love thee as thy blessed
Mother has loved thee. I love thee, 0
Jesus! but do thou, in thy goodness, so
strengthen that love of mine, that it may
never fall away from thee. Jesus! thou
art my treasure, my life, my hope, my bliss.
I love thee, because thou hast suffered and
died for me. I love thee, for thou alone
art worthy of my undivided love. My soul,
God has created thee to love him ; give him,
therefore, all thy love. 0 heart, thou
knowest that there is no peace, happiness,
or contentment without thy God. Sever,
then, all earthly attachment; and hail the
coming of the God of love, Mary, mother
of pure love, pray that I may love my God
with all my strength.
Alas, my soul, hast thou not been the
abode of indifference to God? Hast thou
not often and often transgressed his laws?
Hast thou not often despised his love, and
grieved him? 0 my soul, now thnt thy God
is about to visit thee in the sacrament of
love and reconciliation, implore him to
fripe out every stain of thy iniquity.
 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 623

Contrition.
My loving Jesus! by my sins I have
crowned thee with a crown of thorns; I
have fastened thee to the cross; I have
drenched thy lips with vinegar and gall ; I
have thrust the spear into thy side ; I have
caused thee to die. How could I be worthy
to receive thee? But, my Grod! thou art
infinite Goodness. For an act of true
penance, for a hearty tear of contrition and
love, thou forgivest all my sins, restorest me
to thy favor, and makest me once more thy
child. 0 in truth thou art my Grod ; in-
finitely kind, infinitely great, faithful and
loving. Ah, how great is thy goodness in
giving thyself to me — a miserable sinner !
O that I had never offended thee ! O Jesus !
purify, with thy most precious blood, this
sin-stained soul of mine, till it is made a fit
tabernacle for thy Majesty.
But, my soul, even if Grod, in his good-
ness, should pardon thy sins, nay, even if
thou wert one of the angels, thou wouldst
never be worthy of receiving thy Grod.
Consider who the Grod is, that is about to
come to thee !
Bet of Ibumilits-
0 Lord! thou art that Grod, before whom
heaven and earth fade into nothingness.
624 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.

Oh, how unworthy then am I, to appear in

thy sight ! Yet I hasten to receive thee, for
this is thy will and command. Let the
Seraphim, let the Saints, let the ever blessed
Mary satisfy for my defects and want of
devotion. O Lord! I am not worthy to
love and receive thee, but thou deservest to
be loved and received by me.
Take, then, courage my soul. Go and
meet thy bridegroom; hunger and thirst
after him. Awake! Invite him with a
burning love and an ardent desire.
act of Desire*
So come then, thou bread of Angels, and
satisfy the cravings of my soul. Come, thou
glowing furnace of charity, and inflame my
soul with the fire of thy divine love. Come,
divine shepherd, and guide me. Come,
my hope, my life, my joy, and source of all
my happiness. Come, thou comforter of
the sorrowful ; thou solace and refreshment
of the weary ! Come to me, O thou for whom
the nations prayed, and the patriarchs
sighed; the desired of ages, the joy of
Angels, the delight of the Saints, the glory
of heaven! Come, and delay not; come,
and heal my miseries! Come, Jesus, come!
Most holy Mary! behold, 1 am going to
receive the body and blood, the soul and
 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 625

divinity of thy adorable Son. From thy

blessed hands I would fain receive him.
Present him to me as thou didst to the
shepherds, and to the three holy kings. 0,
obtain for me the grace to receive him
worthily.
Hfter Moly Communion,
Behold, my cravings are appeased. Be-
hold, all my longings are now satisfied.
My Grod has deigned to visit me. Now
Jesus abides in my heart. Now I can say
with the apostle: I am no longer my own,
but Christ ; I no longer live in myself but
in Christ, and Christ lives in me. I belong
entirely to Christ, and Christ is mine. Oh,
infinite Groodness ! The Grod of heaven has
passed the door of my lips, has come into
my bosom, and taken up his abode in the
heart of a creature so unworthy!
My soul, of what art thou now thinking?
Thou art now sanctified by the real presence
of Jesus. Thou and thy Jesus are one.
What a union! My soul, now, that thou art
so intimately united to Jesus, wilt thou not
address him? Awake then, be recollected,
employ all thy faculties to adore him, and
greet him thus :
Welcome, beloved Jesus! I bless thee for
having come to dwell within me. Oh, how
626 PKAYEES FOB HOLY COMMUNION.

it grieves me to think that thou art come to

abide in a heart that has caused thee so
much sorrow and affliction! 0 Lord! what
dost thou discover in me, but a heart de-
voted to the perishable things of this world!
Wherefore, then, hast thou come to dwell
in me! Let me, in the bitterness of self-
reproach, say with St. Peter: "Depart from
me, for I am a sinful man." Gro and reside
within those sinless, loving 'souls who long
for thy coming. But no, 0 my heavenly
guest, depart not from me; for if I lose
thee, I am lost. 0 God! thou art my chief
hope, and I will not be separated from thee.
I will clasp thee to my heart; and, oh, may
I live and die in thy tender embrace ! Mary,
my holy protectress, and all ye Angels and
Saints, inspire me with love like your's,
that I may welcome my Jesus, as I should.
Bet of ITbanftsotYrtng.
0 adorable Trinity, one God, most worthy
of my love, I thank thee with my whole
heart for having given Jesus to me, a poor
sinner. And, oh, sweet Jesus, how can I
ever thank thee sufficiently for having
deigned to visit me ! O spotless Virgin ! O
all ye blessed citizens of heaven ! O all ye
souls glowing with purest love, enable me
to thank my Lord incessantly for his infinite
 PEAYEES FOE HOLY COMMUNION. 627

goodness. 0 God, to thee be thanksgiving,

praise, adoration, and glory from all crea-
tures through endless ages.
Of what art thou thinking now, my soul!
Art thou not a living temple, in which thy
Redeemer dwells ! Dismiss then all idle and
distracting thoughts : now is the propitious
moment ; now is the time to petition for the
graces which thou needest. The source of
all grace now dwells within thee. O my
soul, waste not a moment so precious.
Thy God hath visited thee. He desires to
enrich thee. Ask, therefore, and thou
shalt receive.
Hct of petition*
My loving Lord ! since thou hast deigned
to visit me that I may be enriched with thy
graces ; and since thou hast commanded me
to ask them of thee, listen to me now, I
implore thee. Bestow on me, 0 Jesus, an
increase of faith, hope, charity, and sorrow
for my sins. Grant me humility, purity,
patience and every other virtue; cleanse
me of all my sins. Detach my heart from
the perishable things of this world," and
conform it to thy divine will. And, my
dear Jesus! give, in thy goodness, the same
graces to N. N. 0 my God! accept my
humble petition. Now is the moment when
628 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION.

thou wilt not deny thy graces even to the

most unworthy, because it is not I alone
that ask them, but thy divine Son Jesus
unites with me in imploring them.
Bet of ©blation,
0 Jesus ! thou hast given thyself entirely
to me ; and gratitude requires that I should
give myself wholly to thee. Thou hast
sanctified me by dwelling in me ; henceforth
I will, with thy assistance, be entirely con-
secrated tothee. My eyes which thou hast
opened to the true light, shall be thine.
My ears which have heard thy gentle imi-
tation, shall be thine. And this tongue
which has been touched by thy adorable
body and blood, shall be thine for ever
more. May all my senses be devoted to
thy greater glory and honor; may they
never again rebel against thy holy law. To
thee I offer all that I am and have. 0
Jesus ! confirm me now in thy holy grace :
let me never lose it again, let me ever love
and serve thee here on earth, so as to be
happy with thee in heaven. Amen.

praper.
to which a Plenary I?idnlgence is attached.
Remark. — You are now free from sin, my dear soul.
Your sins have been forgiven in confession. Yet the
temporal punishment due to your sins may not yet be
 PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. 629

forgiven. Perhaps the just God will make you suffer

for them in purgatory for a long time. Yet there is a
means by which you can also have that punishment
remitted to you, viz: by prayer, good works, etc.; and
especially by gaining indulgences. Be, therefore, very
zealous in gaining indulgences, thus to satisfy for your
many sins ; and offer them up also for the poor souls,
thereby to shorten their immense sufferings. To gain
a full remission of the punishment due to your sins,
viz : a plenary indulgence, it is generally necessary, to
receive the holy sacraments, to be heartily sorry for the
sins committed, and to pray a while in church according
to the intention of the Pope. Recite then, before the
crucifix of the altar, or any other crucifix, the following
prayer, and afterwards say five Our Fathers and Hail
Marys, or the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, or any
other prayer, according to the intention of the Pope.
Look down upon me, good
and gentle Jesus! while be-
fore thy face I humbly kneel,
and with burning soul pray
and beseech thee to fix deep
in my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope and charity,
true contrition for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amend-
ment ;the while I contem-
plate with great love and tender pity thy
five wounds meditating upon them within
me, whilst I call to mind the words which
David, the prophet, said of thee, my Jesus:
"They pierced my hands and my feet; they
numbered all my bones. " (Ps. XXI. 17, 18).