Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

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Jesus, Master of the Apostles,
_Have mercy on us._
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists,
_Have mercy on us._
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs,
_Have mercy on us._
Jesus, Light of Confessors,
_Have mercy on us._
Jesus, Spouse of Virgins,
_Have mercy on us._
Jesus, Crown of all Saints,
_Have mercy on us._
Be merciful unto us,
_Spare us, O Lord Jesus!_
Be merciful unto us,
_Hear us, O Lord Jesus!_
From all sin,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
From thy wrath,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
From the snares of the devil,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
From the spirit of uncleanness,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
From everlasting death,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
From the neglect of thy holy inspirations,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' the mystery of thy holy incarnation,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy nativity,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy divine infancy,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy sacred life,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy labours,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy cross and passion,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy pains and torments,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy death and burial,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy glorious resurrection,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy triumphant ascension,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
Thro' thy joys and glory,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._
In the day of judgment,
_Lord Jesus deliver us._

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Spare us, O Lord Jesus!_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Hear us, O Lord Jesus!_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus!_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Spare us, O Lord Jesus!_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Hear us, O Lord Jesus!_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus!_

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Lord Jesus, _hear us!_
Lord Jesus, _graciously hear us!_

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said, _Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;_ mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of divine charity, that we may ever love thee with our whole hearts, and never cease from praising thy holy name; who liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.

The Salve Regina.

Hail to the Queen who reigns above,
Mother of clemency and love;
Hail thou, our hope, life, sweetness; we,
Eve's banish'd children, cry to thee.

We, from this wretched vale of tears,
Send sighs and groans unto thy ears;
O then, sweet Advocate! bestow
A pitying look on us below.

After this exile let us see
Our blessed Jesus, born of thee.
O merciful, O pious Maid,
O gracious Mary, lend thy aid.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God;

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O Almighty and eternal God! who didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Mary, Mother and Virgin, that by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost she might become a worthy dwelling for thy Son; grant, that as we rejoice in her commemoration, so by her pious intercession we may be delivered both from present evils and everlasting death: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The Angelus Domini.

To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of the adorable
mystery of the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour.

1. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary: and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail, Mary, &c.

2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: May it be done unto me according to thy word. Hail, Mary, &c.

3. And the word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. Hail, Mary, &c.

Let Us Pray.

Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Should the duties of your state of life afford you leisure, you
may, after Morning Prayers, recite the prayer peculiar to the
day, which may be found amongst the "Devotions for every Day in
the Week:" meditate also on the proper Reflections of the day,
which may be seen amongst the "Pious Reflections for every Day
in the Month."

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Aspirations And Ejaculations

Which may be secretly repeated in the heart, amidst the ordinary actions of the day.

O my God, grant me the grace never to offend thee.

O my God, teach me to love thee with my whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, in time and eternity.

Too late have I known thee, O infinite goodness.

Too late have I loved thee, O eternal beauty.

To thee, O God! to thee alone be all honour, and glory, and praise, and adoration, for ever.

Mortify in me, O Jesus, whatever displeaseth thee; and make me according to thine own heart.

O blessed Jesus; give me grace to learn of thee to be meek and humble of heart, that I may be united with thee, and find rest for my soul.

O my God, and my All! teach me in all things to do thy holy will.

O Lord! keep me from sin, and grant me the grace of a happy death.

O Fountain of all Goodness! have mercy on me.

O my God, grant me the grace to perform all my works with the pure intention of pleasing thee.

Let the name of the Lord be blessed and glorified for ever and ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

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From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and let all that is within me bless his holy name.

Thanks be to God for all his benefits.

Praise be to thee, O Christ; blessed be thy holy name, O Jesus.

O God of my heart, and my portion for ever; O let nothing in life or death ever separate me from thee.

O rather let me die a thousand deaths than offend thee mortally.

"In all thy works aim at perfection."--Ecclesiastes xxxiii. 23.

Prayers For Night.

If it be a duty of the greatest importance to begin the day
well, it is, doubtless, one of no less consequence to conclude
it properly. The new graces conferred on us daring the course
of the day, and the protection we stand in need of against the
dangers of the night, are urgent reasons why we should address
ourselves to God, and pray to him with the utmost gratitude and
fervour.

A daily Examination of Conscience, both in general, with regard
to our whole conduct throughout the day, and in particular, with
regard to our predominant vice, passion, or evil custom, and
the particular virtue we want to acquire, is strongly
recommended by all spiritual writers, as one of the most
important duties of a Christian life, and the most profitable
exercise we can apply ourselves to, both for the avoiding of
sin, and the acquiring of virtue. It is a _looking-glass_,
in which we see ourselves in our true colours, and come to the
knowledge of our sins and evil inclinations. It is a
_sponge_, by which we wipe away guilt from our souls, and
become the more pure before God, the more diligently we
practise it. If we do not daily weed the garden of our souls by
this holy exercise, the corrupt ground of the heart will
naturally produce vices and imperfections in abundance.

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The nightly Examination of Conscience makes up the principal
part of the last exercise of the day. The method thereof
consists in the following acts, viz., of the presence of God,
thanksgiving, supplication, examine, sorrow, and good
resolutions.

The many single blessings which God has bestowed and does
bestow on those families where prayers are regularly said in
common, should alone be a sufficient inducement to establish
this practice every where, and chiefly at night, when all may
be assembled with greater convenience.--"_Where two or three
persons shall be assembled in my name, there,_" saith Christ,
"_shall I be in the midst of them._" O Christians, what
stronger inducement can we have to procure so great a
happiness?

+ In the name of the Father, &c. Amen.

Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and for evermore. Amen.

Come, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of the faithful, and
enkindle in them the fire of thy divine love. Amen.

Let us place ourselves in the presence of God,
and humbly adore him.

Impressed with the most lively sense of the presence of thy Eternal Majesty, I adore thee, O my God! I believe in thee, because thou art truth itself; I hope in thee, because thou art faithful to thy word; I love thee with my whole heart, because thou art infinitely amiable and worthy of my love; and, for thy sake, I love my neighbour as myself.

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Let us return thanks to God for the favours he has conferred on
us.

Enable me, O Lord, to return thee sufficient thanks for all thy inestimable blessings and favours.

Thou hast thought of me, and loved me, from all eternity; thou hast formed me from nothing; thou hast delivered up thy beloved Son to the ignominious death of the cross for my redemption; thou didst preserve me from falling into the abyss of eternal misery, when my sins had often provoked thee to cut the slender thread of my life, which thou heldest in thy all-powerful and chastising hand; and thou still continuest to preserve me, notwithstanding I still continue to offend thee. Alas! my God, what return can I make for the innumerable blessings thou hast conferred on me, during the whole course of my life, as well as for the particular favours of this day? O all ye angels and saints! unite with me in praising the God of Mercies, who is so bountiful to so unworthy a creature.

Let us beg of God to make our sins known to us.

O Eternal Source of Light! who saidst, "_Let there be light_," and there was light; illuminate the darkness of my understanding, and dispel those shades of ignorance and error, which conceal from me the filth and enormity of my offences. {42} Discover to me, I beseech thee, all the sins I have committed this day, whether in thought, word, deed, or omission; grant me a lively sense of their enormity, in order that I may hold them in the utmost detestation, and dread nothing so much as ever to commit them hereafter.

Let us examine our consciences, and consider where and in what
company we have been this day. Let us also call to mind the
sins we have committed against God, our neighbour, and
ourselves, and reflect whether we have fulfilled the duties of
our state of life.

Against God: By omission or negligence in the discharge of our religious duties; irreverence in the church; wilful distractions or inattention at prayer; resistance to the divine grace; oaths; murmurings; want of confidence and resignation. _Pause and examine._

Against our Neighbour: By rash judgments; hatred; jealousy; contempt; desire of revenge; quarrelling; passion; imprecations; injuries; detraction; raillery; false reports; damaging, either in goods or reputation; bad example; scandal; want of obedience, respect, charity, or fidelity. _Pause and examine._

Against Ourselves: By vanity; human respect; lies; thoughts, desires, discourses, or actions contrary to purity; by intemperance, rage, or impatience; by an useless and sensual life; or by sloth, in not complying with the duties of our state. _Pause and examine._

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Repeat the General Confession, "I confess," &c. p. 29.

Prayer.

Penetrated with grief, and overwhelmed with confusion, at the sight of my iniquities, I acknowledge myself unworthy, O Lord, to be numbered amongst thy servants, much less to be accounted thy child. Is it possible I could repay such infinite patience and goodness with so much malice and ingratitude? Creator of heaven and earth! I have sinned against thee! I have, alas! offended thee, who are so good, so amiable, and so worthy of my love! Yet, Lord, when I consider that I am the work of thy hands, and the price of the blood of thine only Son, who expired on the cross for my salvation, I cease to despair of thy pardon. It is therefore through his infinite merits, that I implore and hope that thou wilt grant me the forgiveness of my sins. Have pity on me, O eternal Father, and spare me, for the sake of thy beloved Son. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities. I am heartily sorry for them, because they are offensive to thee; and shall continue to repent sincerely of them to the very hour of my death. Amen.

Let us make a firm purpose of amendment.

O Almighty and eternal God, I wish from the bottom of my heart, that I had never sinned against thee; but since I have been so unhappy, O grant me now thy grace, that I may never offend thee more. Thou hast said: "I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live." {44} Convert me therefore, and I shall be converted. "Have mercy on me according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquities." I renounce all sin, firmly purposing henceforth to walk in the path of thy commandments. This fixed resolution I am determined to keep, with the assistance of thy grace, purchased for me through the infinite merits of thine only Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Angelical Salutation, the Creed,
the Acts of the Theological Virtues, and the Angelus Domini, as
in Morning Prayer.

The Litany Of The Blessed Virgin.

Anthem

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O thou ever glorious and blessed Virgin.

Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, _Have mercy on us._
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, _Have mercy on us._
God the Holy Ghost, _Have mercy on us._
Holy Trinity, one God, _Have mercy on us._

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Holy Mary,
_Pray for us._
Holy Mother of God,
_Pray for us._
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
_Pray for us._
Mother^of Christ,
_Pray for us._
Mother of Divine Grace,
_Pray for us._
Most pure Mother,
_Pray for us._
Most chaste Mother,
_Pray for us._
Mother undefiled,
_Pray for us._
Mother unviolated,
_Pray for us._
Most amiable Mother,
_Pray for us._
Most admirable Mother,
_Pray for us._
Mother of our Creator,
_Pray for us._
Mother of our Redeemer,
_Pray for us._
Most prudent Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Most venerable Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Most renowned Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Most powerful Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Most merciful Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Most faithful Virgin,
_Pray for us._
Mirror of Justice,
_Pray for us._
Seat of Wisdom,
_Pray for us._
Cause of our Joy,
_Pray for us._
Spiritual Vessel,
_Pray for us._
Honourable Vessel,
_Pray for us._
Vessel of singular Devotion,
_Pray for us._
Mystical Rose,
_Pray for us._
Tower of David,
_Pray for us._
Tower of Ivory
_Pray for us._
House of Gold,
_Pray for us._
Ark of the Covenant,
_Pray for us._
Gate of Heaven,
_Pray for us._
Morning Star,
_Pray for us._
Health of the Weak,
_Pray for us._
Refuge of Sinners,
_Pray for us._
Comforter of the Afflicted,
_Pray for us._
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Help of Christians,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Angels,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Patriarchs,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Prophets,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Apostles,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Martyrs,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Confessors,
_Pray for us._
Queen of Virgins,
_Pray for us._
Queen of All Saints,
_Pray for us._

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Spare us, O Lord._

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Graciously hear us, O Lord,_

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
_Have mercy on us._

Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Our Father, &c.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God;
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer.

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Prayer.

Bless, O Lord, the repose I am going to take, that by renewing my bodily strength, I may be the better enabled to serve thee. O all ye saints and angels, but especially thou, O Mother of God, intercede for me, not only during this night, and the rest of my life, but more particularly at the hour of my death. Amen.

Another Prayer.

Pour down thy blessings, O Lord, on my parents, benefactors, friends, and on my enemies too, if I have any. Protect my superiors, spiritual and temporal. Help the poor and sick, and those that are in their last agony. Convert all heretics and unbelievers. O God of mercy and goodness! have mercy on the souls of the faithful in purgatory; put an end to their sufferings; and grant to all those for whom I am particularly bound to pray, eternal light, rest, and happiness. Amen.

Hymn.

Before the closing of the day,
Creator, we thee humbly pray,
That for thy wonted mercy's sake,
Thou us into protection take.

May nothing in our minds excite
Vain dreams and phantoms of the night;
Our enemy repress, that so
Our bodies no uncleanness know.

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In this, most gracious Father, hear,
Through Christ thy equal Son, our prayer;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

Prayer.

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive away from it all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell therein to preserve us in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us for ever; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen.

Before you go to bed, read a chapter in some spiritual book.
Resolve within yourself on the subject of the next morning's
meditation, which may be found amongst the "Pious Reflections
for every Day in the Month," and think upon it while you are
undressing. When you compose yourself in bed, think on your
grave, and how soon death, of which sleep is an image, will be
with you; and what your sentiments will then be of all worldly
vanities. Offer up your sleep to God, submitting it with a pure
intention to his holy will; that by this repose of nature you may
recover new vigour of mind and body to serve him. Wish that every
breath you are to draw this night, may be so many acts of praise
and love of the divine Majesty, like the happy breathings of
the angels and saints, who never sleep; and so compose yourself
to rest in the arms of your Saviour.

If you awake in the night, renew the offering of yourself to
God, saying:

"My soul hath desired thee in the night."
Isaiah, xxvi. 9.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I recommend my spirit: Lord Jesus, receive my soul, &c.

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A Prayer Before Sermon, Spiritual Reading, &c.

O incomprehensible Creator, true fountain of light, and only author of all knowledge, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to enlighten our understanding with the rays of thy wisdom, and to chase away from our minds all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, pour on our lips, _and into our hearts_, the grace of thy blessing; give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the continual assistance of thy holy grace: that we may apply whatever we hear, read, or meditate on, to thy honour, and the eternal salvation of our own souls: through, &c. Amen.

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On The Mass.

Of all the duties prescribed by our holy religion, the
Sacrifice of the Mass is that which is most pleasing to God,
and most salutary to man. Here it is that Jesus Christ renews
the great mystery of our redemption; here doth he make himself
our victim in a real, though unbloody sacrifice, and in person
applieth to each of us the merits of that blood, which, hanging
on a cross, he was pleased to shed for mankind. This should
give us the most sublime idea of the Mass, and make us desire
to hear it with the utmost reverence and devotion; for to
assist at it irreverently, or without putting a proper
restraint on our eyes and our whole exterior, is to dishonour
religion, and renew, as far as in us lies, the insults he
received on Mount Calvary. To avoid then so great an evil, let
us always come to this august sacrifice with the most earnest
devotion; let us enter into the spirit of Christ; let us offer
ourselves up with him, and as he does; let the church, as we
enter it, strike us with awe; let our modesty and recollection
be uninterrupted from the beginning to the end thereof; let our
hearts, thoughts, and imaginations be, as it were, buried in
God, and the interests of our souls.

The Practical Reflections (in small letter) at the head of each
prayer, may help to excite our attention.

The Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, usually read on Sundays
and Holidays, before Mass, may be found in page 30.

O merciful Father, who didst so love the world as to give up thy only Son to death, even the death of the cross, for our redemption; vouchsafe, through his infinite merits, to accept in our behalf the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the offering of which we are about to participate. {51} We approach thy throne, O Lord, with humble but firm hope, when we remember that we have the price of the world's redemption to lay before thee. That price has been paid by the death of thy ever blessed Son; and among the wondrous means which he has provided for applying the fruits thereof to our souls, we contemplate, with especial gratitude, that enduring memorial of his love, which he instituted at his last supper, whereby he enables us not only to possess within us; in the divine Communion, the very Author of grace, the Victim of propitiation, who died for us on the cross, but also to present him anew to thy acceptance, really present on our altar, as our Advocate and Mediator, through the ministry of his Priests, in the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass.

At this adorable Sacrifice we are now assembled to assist. O Lord, look upon the face of thy Christ; and grant, that while we unite with thy holy Church and its Minister, in offering him before the throne of thy mercy, for all the purposes for which he once shed his most precious blood, we may be made partakers of the one all-atoning sacrifice which he consummated on Calvary.

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Bowing down, therefore, in humble adoration, before thy sovereign Majesty, we now offer the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass to thy honour and glory, to acknowledge thy infinite perfections, thy supreme dominion over all thy creatures, our entire subjection to thee, and our total dependance on thy gracious providence.

We offer it to thee in thanksgiving for having created us to thine own image, and destined us for eternal glory; for having redeemed us from the slavery of Satan by the precious blood of thy divine Son; for having called us to the true faith; assisted us by thy graces; borne with our ingratitude; watched over us by thy special providence; blessed us, notwithstanding our utter unworthiness, with the continuance of thy gracious protection; and for all the other innumerable favours which we owe to thy undeserved bounty.

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We offer it to move thee to compassion for our spiritual miseries, that thou mayest grant us the gift of compunction and the pardon of our sins.

We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic Faith, that all may be brought into the _one fold_ under the _one shepherd;_ for our most holy Father the Pope, that _the spirit of wisdom, and fortitude, and piety,_ may rest upon him; for our Prelate, and for all the Pastors and Clergy of thy holy Church, that they may direct the faithful in the way of salvation; for the Queen, _and for all who are in high station, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life;_ for concord and good will among all states and people; for the necessities of mankind; for the inhabitants of this parish, particularly for the congregation here present; and to obtain all the blessings that we stand in need of in this life, the happiness of heaven in the next, and eternal rest to the faithful departed.

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And as Jesus Christ so ordained, when he instituted at his last supper this wonderful mystery of his power, wisdom, and goodness, we offer the Mass in grateful remembrance of all that he has done and suffered for the love of us, making special commemoration of his bitter passion and death, and of his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven. Vouchsafe, O almighty and eternal God, to whom alone the supreme worship of sacrifice is due, graciously to accept it for these and all other purposes agreeable to thy holy will. We offer it, not confiding in any merits of our own-- we offer it through the merits of the same Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, our High Priest and Victim, and in the name of the most holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom be honour, praise, and glory, for ever and ever.

O all ye Angels and Saints who stand before the throne of God, vouchsafe to join in our humble supplications; and thou, above all, O ever blessed Virgin, immaculate mother of God our Saviour, assist us with thy prayers. We know that thou art near to that most loving Son, through whom only we can find _access to the throne of grace_, and who will refuse thee nothing, that through his infinite merits thou wilt deign to solicit for us. {55} At thy suggestion he wrought the stupendous miracle of changing water into wine. Oh then, beseech him, by all that he has suffered for our salvation, that the still more wondrous prodigy which he is about to perform on our altar, may not, through our unworthiness, be unprofitable to us; that he may move us to assist at it with the deepest awe, the firmest confidence, and the most ardent love; that it may thus ascend in the odour of sweetness to the throne of mercy in our behalf, to be to us an unfailing source of grace here, and a pledge of eternal life hereafter. Amen.

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Prayers At Mass. [Footnote 2]

[Footnote 2: For an explanation of the Latin liturgy, and of
the sacrifice and sacred ceremonies of the Mass, the reader
is referred to the commencement of the Supplement, where also
will be found the Ordinary of the Mass, (in English,) as read
by the priest at the altar.]

The Beginning Of The Mass.

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

It is in thy name, O adorable Trinity, it is to honour thee, and to do thee homage, that I assist at this most holy and august sacrifice. Permit me then, O Lord, to unite my intention with that of thy Minister now at the altar, in offering up this precious victim; and give me the same sentiments I ought to have had on Mount Calvary, had I been an eye-witness of that bloody sacrifice.

At The Confiteor.

Think, in the bitterness of your heart, on all your past sins,
and recollect, in a general manner, such of them as are most
humiliating. Lay your weaknesses before God, and beg of him to
pardon them. Implore his assistance in all your necessities,
through the infinite efficacy of this great sacrifice.

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I confess, O my God, not only in thy presence, who seest the secrets of hearts, but also in the presence of all the blessed in heaven, and faithful on earth, that I have often and grievously offended thee in thought, word, and deed, _through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault._ Yes, Lord, I have sinned; I acknowledge to my shame, and with the most bitter regret, that I have ungratefully abused all thy gifts; and therefore I humbly beseech thee, O blessed Virgin Mary, and all ye saints and angels, to intercede for me. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to listen to them; grant to the ardour of their prayers, what thou mayest justly refuse to the coldness of mine; and to their services, that pardon to which my offences can have no claim.

When The Priest Is Going Up To The Altar.

Unite, O Lord, our hearts and wills, and remove from us every thing that may any way make us unfit for appearing in thy sanctuary. Of ourselves we are unworthy to appear in thy presence: therefore we implore the intercession of the saints in our behalf. Grant to their prayers the pardon of all our sins: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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At The Introit.

We beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be truly prepared for the offering of this great sacrifice to thee this day. Our sins alone can render us displeasing to thee, we therefore call aloud to thee for mercy.

At The Kyrie Eleison.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, and forgive us all our sins; and though we have nothing of our own to move thy goodness, let our importunity prevail: have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

At The Gloria In Excelsis.

Conceive a vehement desire of promoting the glory of God, and
your neighbour's good. Rejoice with the angels, at the share
you nave in these holy mysteries; and form to yourself the
highest idea of the majesty of God; and of his Son Jesus
Christ.

Who is like unto thee, O almighty God! To whom can the most unlimited tribute of honour, praise, and glory be due, either in heaven or on earth, if not to thee, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and beneficent Creator of the universe! {59} The angels and saints, with unceasing rapture, sing forth thy praises, and glorify thy name in heaven; and shall not I, the work of thy hands, praise thee also on earth? Yes, O Lord! Graciously vouchsafe to accept the homage I now pay thee, and which I purpose fervently to offer thee all the days of my life.

At The Collect.

So called, because the priest lays before God the necessities
of all his people; their vows and desires _collected_, as
it were, together; whence, turning to the congregation, he
invites them to unite with him in the petition, saying:
_Oremus_, or _Let us Pray_.

Almighty and eternal God, we humbly beseech thee to look down from thy heavenly sanctuary upon this congregation, and graciously hear these prayers, which thy church addresses to thee for us by the ministry of thy priest.

Grant us, in thy infinite mercy, pardon of our sins, health of mind and body, peace in our days, unity and increase of Catholic faith, fervent charity, sincere devotion, patience in suffering, and every thing else conducive to thy glory and our own salvation: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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At The Epistle.

Return God thanks for having called you to the knowledge of his
holy law; submit to it with perfect docility; and beg of him to
extend our holy religion over the whole world.

O eternal God, who never ceasest to excite us to the worship and love of thy holy name, or to arm us against the attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil, by the public ministry of thy church, by the doctrine of thy prophets and apostles, and by many other holy admonitions; grant we may faithfully attend to these lessons of salvation, that thus our knowledge of thy law may never rise in judgment against us, but guide us securely to thee: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

At The Gospel.

Look on the Gospel as the rule of your faith and morals; a rule
which Christ himself has drawn up; a rule which you have solemnly
promised by your baptism to follow, and by which you shall most
certainly be judged.

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It is not thy interpreters, O God, who are now to instruct me; it is thy only Son; it is his word I am about to hear. I most gratefully embrace this heavenly doctrine. I stand up to declare in the face of heaven and earth, that I will walk faithfully in that way which he hath marked out for me. He tells me here, that "it will avail a man nothing to gain the whole world, if he lose his own soul; that the sensual, the covetous, the worldling, the libertine, the detractor, and such as are insensible to the miseries of the poor, shall have no share in his heavenly kingdom; and that, in order to become his disciple, I must take up my cross and follow him." I receive with my whole heart all these sacred maxims. Grant me the grace to put them in practice; for to what purpose should I declare myself thy disciple, if I were not to live according to the maxims of thy gospel.

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At The Creed.

Renew your faith in all those articles which the church
proposes to your belief, because they are founded on God's own
word, revealed in the scriptures, announced by the prophets,
supported by miracles, confirmed by the blood of the martyrs,
verified by the establishment of our faith, and obvious by the
sanctity of our religion.

I return thee infinite thanks, O Lord, for having given me birth in the bosom of the holy Catholic Church. The precious gift of faith is much more dear to me than any advantage of birth or fortune. Grant me a perfect docility for all it teaches, as well for what I understand, as for what is above my conception. It is neither just nor possible that I should fully comprehend an infinite God, who cannot even comprehend myself. By thy grace I am firmly convinced of the wisdom and sincerity of thy apostles, by whom thou hast announced these mysteries to the world. By them the world was converted; it submitted, and believed them; which, if done without a miracle, must be in itself the greatest of all miracles. What more then can I desire? What surer grounds can I have? {63} On these principles I rest my belief. Here is the faith which to my last breath I shall profess:--I firmly believe that thou art one God in three distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who of nothing hast created all things. I believe, O heavenly Father, that thy only Son, who is perfectly equal to thee, holy, powerful, and eternal, as thou art, became man for love of us; suffered, died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven; from whence he shall come at the last day to judge the world; and that of his blessed kingdom there shall be no end. I believe in the Holy Ghost, who is also true God as thou art, proceeding from thee and thy Son: I believe that he spoke by the prophets, and that by him we are sanctified, I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection of the body, and the life of the world to come, where I firmly hope to possess thee, Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.

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At The Offertory.

Consider what an advantage it is to have in this sacrifice,
wherewithal to honour God perfectly; to thank him in a manner
equal to his gifts; to blot out entirely your past sins; and to
obtain, both for yourself and others, all those graces you
stand most in need of.

O holy Father, almighty and eternal God, how unworthy soever I may appear in thy presence, yet I presume to offer thee this Host, by the hands of the priest, with the same intention which Christ my Saviour had, when he first instituted this august sacrifice, and which he now has at this very instant that he immolates himself for us. I offer it in acknowledgment of thy supreme dominion over me and all creatures. I offer it in expiation of my crimes; in thanksgiving for all thy benefits. I offer it to obtain from thy infinite goodness, for my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies, all those precious gifts and graces which only through him can be obtained, who is Just by excellence, and who became a victim for the sins of men. {65} I earnestly entreat thee to bless and protect the holy Catholic Church, our chief pastor the Pope, our Bishops and Clergy, the Queen and Royal Family, and all our fellow-subjects of every denomination. Remember also, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed, and grant them, through the merits of thy Son, eternal light and peace. Have mercy upon all heretics, infidels and sinners. Bless and preserve all mine enemies; and as I freely forgive them the injuries they have done, or mean to do me, so do thou, in thy mercy, forgive me mine offences. Amen.

At The Preface.

Raise up your thoughts to heaven, even to the very throne of
the Divinity, and there with most holy and respectful awe, pay
homage to his glorious majesty, mixing your own praises with
those sacred hymns with which the heavenly spirits are ever
praising him.

Do thou thyself, O Lord, raise up my heart; inflame it with thy love, and free it from all earthly affections; let it rest in heaven, where thou my treasure art, and on this altar also, where thou art going to present thyself to thy eternal Father for our sake. As my life, O Lord, is a continual succession of thy favours, so let my thanksgivings be also uninterupted. {66} And since thou art going to renew the greatest of all sacrifices, should not I also break forth into the most lively acknowledgments? Permit me then, O Lord, to join my feeble voice with the host of heavenly spirits, and to exclaim with them, in transports of joy and admiration: "_Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth: The heavens and the earth are filled with thy glory. Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest._"

At The Canon.

Represent to yourself the altar as a throne of mercy, upon
which Christ is to sit; where you are entitled to present
yourself, to expose your wants, to ask for blessings, and
obtain them. Can he who giveth us his only Son, refuse us any
other favour whatsoever?

O Father of Mercy, graciously receive this most holy Sacrifice, which we offer to thee by the hands of thy priest, in union with that which thy beloved Son offered thee during his whole life, at his last supper, and on the cross. {67} Look down on thy Christ, thy dearest and only begotten Son, "in whom thou art always well pleased;" and by the infinite merits of his incarnation, nativity, tears, labours, sufferings, and death, have mercy upon me, and upon all those for whom I ought to pray [_here name the particular persons_]; my parents, brethren, friends, benefactors, relations, and those who have injured me, or whom I may have injured. I also beseech thee to guard, prosper, and extend the holy Catholic Church; to pour down thy blessings upon our chief pastor the Pope, upon the Bishops and all the Clergy; enlighten and guide them in the way of salvation. Bless and preserve the Queen, and all the Royal Family. Look down upon us all, I beseech thee, O Lord, with eyes of mercy and compassion. Bring us all to the perfect practice of a holy and virtuous life here, and to the possession of thy eternal glory hereafter. May we all know thee; may we all please thee perfectly; may we fear, love, and glorify thee: through the same Jesus Christ, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.

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Why have not I, O God, at this moment, the ardent sighs with which the holy patriarchs wished for the Messiah? Why have not I their lively faith and their ardent love? Come, Lord Jesus! come, sweet Redeemer of the world! come quickly to accomplish a mystery, which is an abridgment of all thy other miracles.

Thou art, O Lord Jesus! the true pastor of souls, who didst lay down thy life for thy flock! Thou art the Lamb of God, that died upon the cross to save us! Prostrate in spirit before thee, I desire to praise and bless thee, both now and for ever. Amen.

At The Elevation Of The Host.

Behold your God, your Saviour, and your Judge! Contemplate in
silent astonishment what passes before you. Excite every
fervent sentiment in your soul, which fear, respect, and
confidence can inspire.

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Hail, O Victim of Salvation! eternal King! incarnate Word! sacrificed for me and all mankind! Hail, precious Body of the Son of God! sacred Flesh, torn with nails, pierced with a lance, and bleeding on a cross for us poor sinners! O amazing goodness! O infinite love! O let that tender love plead now in my behalf: let all my iniquities be here effaced, and my name be written in the book of life. I believe in thee; I hope in thee; I love thee. To thee be honour, praise, and glory, from all creatures, for ever and ever. Amen.

At The Elevation Of The Chalice.

Hail, sacred Blood, flowing from the wounds of Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the world! O cleanse, sanctify, and preserve my soul, that nothing in future may ever separate me from thee. Behold, O eternal Father, thy holy Jesus, and look upon the face of thy Christ, in whom thou art well pleased. Hear the voice of his blood crying out to thee, not for vengeance, but for mercy and pardon. Accept this divine oblation; and through the infinite merits of all the sufferings that Jesus endured on the cross for our salvation, be pleased to look upon us, and upon all thy people, with an eye of mercy.

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During the remainder of the Canon contemplate in the most
affectionate manner, your Saviour here present. Reflect on the
mysteries he renews. Unite the sacrifice of your heart to that
of his body. Offer him up to God his Father, with the several
intentions of the four kinds of sacrifice offered in the Old
Law, beseeching him to accept the prayers which his dear Son
addresses to him in our behalf.

It is now, O eternal Father, that we truly and really offer to thy Divine Majesty, that pure, holy, and immaculate victim which thou thyself hast been pleased to grant us, and of which all other offerings were only the types and figures. The sacrifices of Abel, of Abraham, and of Melchisedech, were of no value, when compared to ours. This glorious victim, thy dear Son himself, the perfect object of thy eternal love, and alone worthy of thy altar, is an offering by so much the more precious than theirs, as God is greater than all creatures.

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As A Holocaust, Or Whole-burnt Offering.

O sovereign Creator and Lord of all things! graciously vouchsafe to accept my humble homage, in union with that which thou here receivest from Jesus Christ, the only worthy adorer of thy infinite Majesty. Whilst, therefore, he immolates himself upon this altar, I unite my intentions with those views and purposes himself has, in offering to thee this his holy sacrifice. It is he alone can form a just conception of the boundless excellence and unspeakable majesty of The Great Creator of Heaven and earth; he alone fully comprehends the entire extent of thy dominion. He beholds (what we blind mortals cannot) how far all creatures, visible and invisible, depend on thee. He plainly conceives that thy dominion is absolute over all we are, all we possess or can hope for in time or eternity. It is in acknowledgment of this thy sovereign authority, and to make, in his name, a public profession of our total dependence on thee, that I unite with him in his daily renewal of this most holy sacrifice.

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As A Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving.

Vouchsafe, O most bountiful Lord God, to receive this precious victim in thanksgiving for all thy benefits. Thou hast created me to thine own image and likeness, and if thy all-powerful hand had not continued to preserve the slender thread of my life, I must ere now have fallen back into my original nothing. For my sake thou didst abandon thy beloved Son to the cruelty of the Jews, and to an ignominious death; nor doth a single moment of my existence pass away without fresh proofs of thy bounty. O that I could, in some degree, acknowledge those thy innumerable favours, even at the price of my blood; but the offering I here make thee is infinitely more acceptable; it is nothing less than thy beloved Son, equal to thee in all things, the very figure of thy substance, and splendour of thy glory.

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As A Sacrifice Of Expiation.

Remember, O Lord, that the sacrifice we now offer to thee, is essentially the same, and equally propitiatory with that which our Saviour offered thee on Mount Calvary, though different as to the manner of offering. However base, therefore, our ingratitude may be, or however manifold our transgressions, we cannot but hope for pardon, since it is the blood of a God we offer in atonement.

As A Sacrifice Of Impetration.

O God of infinite bounty, be pleased now to crown all the favours thou hast hitherto conferred on me, by the gifts of a _lively faith_, a _firm hope_, and an _ardent charity_. Bless all my labours and undertakings. Give me an intuitive knowledge of thy holy will, and an unshaken resolution to put it into execution. Grant me perseverance in thy grace to the end of my life. Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed, particularly on those for whom I am in a more especial manner bound to pray. [_Name them_.] Deliver them, O Lord, from all their sufferings, and admit them into the mansions of everlasting bliss: through the infinite merits of Christ Jesus, thy only Son, who liveth, &c. Amen.

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At The Pater Noster.

Let us imagine ourselves present with Jesus on a new Calvary.
Let us remain at the foot of his cross, with the tender
compassion of Magdalen, with the ardent love of St. John; or,
standing afar off with St. Peter, let us weep bitterly over our
manifold sins and offences.

What a happiness, O my God, to have thee for my Father! How joyful to think, that heaven, where thou art, is also to be my eternal dwelling-place! May thy name be glorified throughout the whole world. Reign, O Lord, over all hearts, affections, and desires. Refuse us not our spiritual and corporal food. We freely forgive others; do thou also forgive us. Support us in the trials and temptations of this life, and preserve us from sin, the greatest of all evils. Amen.

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At The Agnus Dei.

God, so glorious in heaven! so powerful on earth! so dreadful
in hell! is here only a lamb, full of sweetness and bounty!
Behold! he comes here to take away the sins of the world, and
thine in particular. O what a motive of confidence! O what a
subject of consolation!

O Lamb of God, sacrificed for my sake, have mercy on me! O adorable Victim of my salvation, look down on me and save me! Divine Mediator! obtain pardon of thy eternal Father for me a sinner, and mercifully grant me the sweets of thy peace. Amen.

At The Communion.

To communicate spiritually, renew, by an act of faith, your
firm belief of Christ's _real presence_. Make an act of
contrition. Desire most earnestly to receive him with the
priest; beg of him to accept these desires, and to unite
himself to you in the effusion of his graces.

O that I were among the number of those whose sanctity allows them to communicate daily! What a happiness, O my God! could I at this moment erect a throne for thee in my heart, pay thee my homage, lay open to thee my wants, and participate in the favours thou grantest to those who _really_ and _worthily_ receive thee. {76} But since I am unworthy, do thou, O Lord, supply my want of the proper dispositions. Grant the pardon of my manifold sins, which I detest from the bottom of my heart, because they displease thee. Cast thy compassionate eye upon me, and purify my soul, that the ardent wish I now conceive to be united to thee by a worthy communion, may be speedily accomplished. But until the arrival of so happy a moment, I earnestly entreat thee, O dearest Lord, that thou wouldst make me partaker of all those advantages which the communion of the priest may produce in those thy people. By the efficacy of this enlivening sacrament, increase my faith, strengthen my hope, revive in my soul the rays of divine charity, inflame my heart with thy love, that it may pant only for thee, and live for thee alone. Amen.

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At The Last Prayers.

Strive earnestly to offer your Lord sacrifice for sacrifice, by
becoming the victim of his love. Immolate freely to him all
your sinful inclinations, and whatever is contrary to his holy
will.

Since thou, O Lord, hast sacrificed thyself for my salvation, shall not I desire to be sacrificed for thy glory? Yes, I am thy victim: do with me as thou willest. I consecrate my whole being to thee. I willingly accept whatever crosses thou art pleased to send me. Receiving them from thy fatherly hand, I embrace them, and unite them with those thou hast endured for my sake. Before I quit thy temple, strengthen the resolution I have made to serve thee with more fidelity, and to struggle, not only against my ordinary failings, but chiefly against that to which I am most inclined. Thy law shall henceforth be my rule of conduct during the remainder of my life; and I will forfeit every worldly consideration, and suffer every calamity, sooner than transgress it. Amen.

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At The Benediction.

Receive the blessing from the priest, as given in the name of
the Lord. Thank him sincerely for the favours here granted you.
Lay up with care the fruits of this sacrifice; and let your
conduct be such, as that all who see you, may clearly perceive
how much you have profited by so holy an action.

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The Complete Manual of Catholic PietyChapter II: Front Matter (2)

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