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With ecclesiastical
approval.
In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail
Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
I
believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in
Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He
rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the
Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
We
believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all
that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of
God eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God
from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him
all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from
heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and
became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered,
died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the
Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His
kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of
life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He
is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in
one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of
the world to come. Amen.
The
Glory Be
Glory
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Hail,
holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail 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, thy eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin
Mary.
V.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail
Mary, etc.
V.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R.
Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail
Mary, etc.
V.
And the Word was made flesh,
R.
And dwelt among us.
Hail
Mary, etc.
V.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R.
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
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.
To be said standing during Eastertide instead of the Angelus
Queen
of heaven, rejoice; alleluia.
For
He whom you did merit to bear; alleluia,
Has
risen, as He said; alleluia.
Pray
for us to God; alleluia.
V.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; alleluia.
R.
For the Lord has risen indeed; alleluia.
Let
us pray.
O
God, who gave joy to the world through the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ; grant that we may obtain, through His Virgin Mother, Mary, the
joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to
your protection, implored your aid or sought your intercession, was left
unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my
Mother; to you I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the
Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in your mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Angel
of God, my guardian dear,
To
whom God’s love commits me here,
Ever
this day be at my side,
To
light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
I
wish Lord, to receive You with the purity, humility and devotion with which
Your most holy Mother received You; with the spirit and fervor of the saints.
The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)
1.
The Annunciation
2.
The Visitation
3.
The Nativity
4.
The Presentation
5.
The Finding in the Temple
The
Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
1.
The Baptism of Christ
2.
The Wedding Feast at Cana
3.
The Proclamation of God’s Kingdom and the Call to Conversion
4.
The Transfiguration
5.
The Institution of the Eucharist
The
Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)
1.
The Agony in the Garden
2.
The Scourging at the Pillar
3.
The Crowning with Thorns
4.
The Carrying of the Cross
5.
The Crucifixion
The
Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.
The Resurrection
2.
The Ascension
3.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5.
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven
In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy
love.
Most
holy and adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that Thou art
here present; I adore Thee with the deepest humility, and render to Thee, with
my whole heart, the homage which is due to Thy sovereign majesty.
O
my God, I most humbly thank Thee for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon me
up to the present moment. I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart that
Thou hast created me after Thine own image and likeness, that Thou hast
redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy dear Son, and that Thou hast preserved
me and brought me safe to the beginning of another day. I offer to Thee, O
Lord, my whole being, and in particular all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings of this day. I consecrate
them all to the glory of Thy name, beseeching Thee that through the infinite
merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour they may all find acceptance in Thy sight.
May Thy divine love animate them, and may they all tend to Thy greater glory.
Adorable
Jesus, my Saviour and Master, model of all perfection, I resolve and will
endeavor this day to imitate Thy example, to be, like Thee, mild, humble,
chaste, zealous, charitable, and resigned. I will redouble my efforts that I
may not fall this day into any of those sins which I have heretofore committed
(here you may name any besetting sin), and which I sincerely desire to
forsake.
O
my God, Thou knowest my poverty and weakness, and that I am unable to do
anything good without Thee; deny me not, O God, the help of Thy grace;
proportion it to my necessities; give me strength to avoid everything evil
which Thou forbiddest, and to practice the good which Thou hast commanded; and
enable me to bear patiently all the trials which it may please Thee to send me.
O
my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man,
and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches,
because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
O
my God! Relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon
of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
O
my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because
Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the
love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I
have injured.
O
my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all
because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my
love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do
penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
O
Holy Virgin, Mother of God, my Mother and Patroness, I place myself under thy
protection, I throw myself with confidence into the arms of thy compassion. Be
to me, O Mother of mercy, my refuge in distress, my consolation under
suffering, my advocate with thy adorable Son, now and at the hour of my death.
Amen.
O
faithful Guardian and Father of virgins, blessed Joseph, to whom was confided
the care of Jesus, and of Mary the Queen of Virgins, I most humbly supplicate
thee, by the love thou dost bear Jesus and Mary, to obtain for me that, being
preserved from every stain during my whole life, I may be ever able to serve
them with unspotted purity of mind and body. Amen.
May
the power of the Father govern and protect me! May the wisdom of the Son teach
and enlighten me! May the influence of the Holy Spirit renew and quicken me!
May the blessing of the All-holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, be with me, now and for evermore. Amen.
Bless
us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We
give Thee thanks, O Almighty God, for all Thy mercies. Who livest and reignest
world without end. Amen.
In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy
love.
O
my God, I present myself before Thee at the end of another day, to offer Thee
anew the homage of my heart. I humbly adore Thee, my Creator, my Redeemer, and
my Judge! I believe in Thee, because Thou art Truth itself; I hope in Thee,
because Thou art faithful to Thy promises; I love Thee with my whole heart,
because Thou art infinitely worthy of being loved; and for Thy sake I love my
neighbor as myself.
Enable
me, O my God, to return Thee thanks as I ought for all Thine inestimable
blessings and favors. Thou hast thought of me, and loved me from all eternity;
Thou hast formed me out of nothing; Thou hast delivered up Thy beloved Son to
the ignominious death of the Cross for my redemption; Thou hast made me a
member of Thy holy Church; Thou hast preserved me from falling into the abyss
of eternal misery, when my sins had provoked Thee to punish me; and Thou hast
graciously continued to spare me, even though I have not ceased to offend Thee.
What return, O my God, can I make for Thine innumerable blessings, and
particularly for the favors 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.
Ask of God to discover the sins committed this day.
O
my God, sovereign Judge of men, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but
that he should be converted and saved, enlighten my mind, that I may know the
sins which I have this day committed in thought, word, or deed, and give me the
grace of true contrition.
Here examine your conscience, then say:
O
my God, I heartily repent, and I am grieved that I have offended Thee, because
Thou art infinitely good, and sin is infinitely displeasing to Thee. I humbly
ask of Thee mercy and pardon, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. I
resolve, by the assistance of Thy grace, to do penance for my sins, and I will
endeavor never more to offend Thee.
O
God, hear my prayers on behalf of our Holy Father Pope N., our Bishop N., our
clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, I beseech Thee, the
whole Catholic Church, and convert all heretics and unbelievers. Pour down Thy
blessings, O Lord, upon all my friends, relations, and acquaintances, and upon
my enemies, if I have any. Help the poor and the sick, and those who are in
their last agony. O God of mercy and goodness, have compassion on the souls of
the faithful in purgatory; put an end to their sufferings, and grant to them
eternal light, rest, and happiness. Amen.
O
Almighty and Eternal God, who savest all, and willest not that any should
perish, look, we beseech Thee, upon the souls that are led astray by the
deceits of the devil; that, rejecting all errors, the hearts of those who err
may be converted, and return to the unity of Thy truth. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Bless,
O Lord, the repose I am about to take, that, my bodily strength being renewed,
I may better be the better enabled to serve Thee. Amen.
O
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for me, that I may be preserved this
night from all evil, whether of body or soul. Blessed St. Joseph, and all ye
Angels and Saints, especially my guardian angel and my chosen patron, watch
over me. I commend myself to your protection now and always. Amen.
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 Spirit. Amen.
Imploration
of Divine Assistance in Order to Make a Good Confession
O
Almighty and most merciful God, who hast made me out of nothing, and redeeemed
me by the Precious Blood of Thine Only Son; who hast with so much patience
borne with me to this day, notwithstanding all my sins and ingratitude; ever
calling after me to return to Thee from the ways of vanity and iniquity, in
which I have been quite wearied out in the pursuit of empty toys and mere
shadows; seeking in vain to satisfy my thirst in unclean waters, and my hunger
with husks of swine: behold, O most gracious Lord, I now sincerely desire to
leave all these my evil ways, to forsake the region of death where I have so
long lost myself, and to return to Thee, the Fountain of Life. I desire, like
the prodigal son, to enter seriously into myself, and with the like resolution
to arise without delay, and to go home to my Father – though I am most unworthy
to be called His child – in hopes of meeting with the like reception from His
most tender mercy. But, O my God, though I can go astray from Thee of myself,
yet I cannot make one step towards returning to Thee, unless Thy divine grace
move and assist me. This grace, therefore, I most humbly implore, prostrate in
spirit before the throne of Thy mercy; I beg it for the sake of Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, who died upon the Cross for my sins; 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 most confidently hope that as in Thy mercy Thou
hast spared me so long, and hast now given me this desire of returning to Thee,
so Thou wilt finish the work which Thou hast begun, and bring me to a perfect
reconciliation with Thee.
I
desire now to comply with Thy holy institution of the Sacrament of Penance; I
desire to confess my sins with all sincerity to Thee and to Thy minister; and
therefore I desire to know myself, and to call myself to an account by a
diligent examination of my conscience. But, O my God, how miserably shall I
deceive myself if Thou assist me not in this great work by Thy heavenly light.
O then remove every veil that hides any of my sins from me, that I may see them
all in their true colors, and may sincerely detest them. O let me no longer be
imposed upon by the Enemy of souls, or by my own self-love, so as to mistake
vice for virtue, to hide myself from myself, or in any way to make excuses in
sins.
But,
O my good God, what will it avail me to know my sins, if Thou dost not also
give me a hearty sorrow and repentance for them? Without this my sins will be
all upon me still, and I shall be still Thine enemy and a child of hell. Thou
dost require that contrite heart, without which there can be no reconciliation
with Thee; and this heart none but Thyself can give. O then, dear Lord, grant
it unto me at this time. Give me a lively faith, and a steadfast hope, in the
Passion of my Redeemer; teach me to fear Thee and to love Thee. Give me, for
Thy mercy’s sake, a hearty sorrow for having offended so good a God. Teach me
to detest my evil ways; to abhor all my past ingratitude; to hate myself now
with a perfect hatred for my many treasons against Thee. O give me a full and a
firm resolution to lead henceforward a new life; and unite me unto Thee with an
eternal band of love which nothing in life or death may ever break.
Grant
me also the grace to make an entire and sincere confession of all my sins, and
to accept the confusion of it as a penance justly due to my transgressions. Let
not the Enemy prevail upon me to pass over anything through fear or shame;
rather let me die than consent to so great an evil. Let no self-love deceive
me, as I fear it has done too often. O grant that this confession may be good;
and for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who died for me and for all sinners,
assist me in every part of my preparation for it; that I may perform it with
the same care and diligence as I should be glad to do at the hour of my death;
that so, being perfectly reconciled to Thee, I may never offend Thee more.
Amen.
O
Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who
hast made me out of nothing in Thine image and likeness, and hast redeemed me
with Thine own Blood; whom I a sinner am not worthy to name, or call upon, or
think of: I humbly pray Thee, I earnestly beseech Thee, to look mercifully on
me, Thy wicked servant. Thou who hadst mercy on the woman of Chanaan and Mary
Magdalen; Thou who didst spare the publican and the thief upon the cross, have
mercy upon me. Thou art my hope and my trust; my guide and my succor; my
comfort and my strength; my defense and my deliverance; my life, my health, and
my resurrection; my light and my longing; my help and my protection. I pray and
entreat Thee, help me and I shall be safe; direct me and defend me; strengthen
me and comfort me; confirm me and gladden me; enlighten me and come unto me.
Raise me from the dead; I am Thy creature, and the work of Thy hands. Despise
me not, O Lord, nor regard my iniquities; but according to the multitude of Thy
tender mercies have mercy upon me, the chief of sinners, and be gracious unto
me. Turn Thou unto me, O Lord, and be not angry with me. I implore Thee, most
compassionate Father, I pray Thee meekly, of Thy great mercy, to bring me to a
holy death, and to true penance, to a perfect confession, and to worthy
satisfaction for all my sins. Amen.
O
Lord God, who enlightenest every man who cometh into this world, enlighten my
heart, I pray Thee, with the light of Thy grace, that I may fully know my sins,
shortcomings, and negligences, and may confess them with that true sorrow and
contrition of heart which I so much need. I desire to make full amends for all
my sins and to avoid them for the future to Thy honor and glory, and to the salvation
of my soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I
believe in Thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator, my Redeemer,
and Sanctifier; I believe that Thou art all-holy, just, and merciful. I believe
that Thou art willing to pardon and to save me, if I repent and forsake my
sins.
O
my God, strengthen and increase my faith, and grant me the grace of a true
repentance, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
I
hope in Thee, O my God, because Thou art almighty, faithful, and
long-suffering. I humbly trust that Thou wilt pardon my sins for the sake of
Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for me upon the Cross; and
that Thou wilt cleanse my sinful soul in His precious Blood, and make me holy,
and bring me to everlasting life.
O
Lord, in Thee have I hoped, let me never be confounded. Amen.
I
love Thee, O my God, above all things, because Thou hast been so good, so
patient, so loving to me, notwithstanding all the sins by which I have so
grievously offended Thee. I love Thee, O Blessed Jesus, my Saviour, because
Thou didst suffer so much for love of me, an ungrateful sinner, and didst die
on the Cross for my salvation.
O
make me love Thee more and more, and show my love to Thee by faithfully keeping
Thy Commandments all the days of my life. Amen.
O
Mary Immaculate, Mother of Fair Love: obtain for me that love of God, which is
so necessary for true contrition. Amen.
O
my God, 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 Son.
I
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, O Lord. O spare me for Thy mercy’s sake.
Prove
me, O God, and know my heart ; examine me, and know my paths.
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 sin.
I
confess my sins unto Thee, O Christ, Healer of our souls, O Lord of Life. Heal
me, heal me of my spiritual sickness, Thou who art long-suffering and of tender
mercy ; heal me, O Lord Christ.
Accept
my supplication, O Thou Holy Spirit, unto whom every heart is open, every
desire known, and from whom no secret is hid, and who givest life to our
souls ; hear and answer, O Spirit of God.
O
Heavenly Father, who willest not that any sinner should perish, give me true
repentance for this my sin, that I perish not !
To
what misery am I come by my own fault ! O merciful God, pity and forgive
me for Jesus’ sake.
Thine
eyes, O God, are as a flame of fire searching my inmost heart. O pardon my sin,
for it is great !
Thou,
God, seest me in all the foulness of my sins ! Blessed Jesus, speak for
me, plead for me, come between my soul and my offended God, that I perish not.
Amen.
O
Lord, reprove me not in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath.
Have
pity on me, O Lord, for I am languishing ; heal me, O Lord, for my body is
in terror ;
My
soul, too, is utterly terrified ; but you, O Lord, how long?
Return,
O Lord, save my life ; rescue me because of your kindness,
For
among the dead no one remembers you ; in the nether world who gives you
thanks?
I
am wearied with sighing ; every night I flood my bed with weeping ; I
drench my couch with my tears.
My
eyes are dimed with sorrow ; they have aged because of all my foes.
Depart
from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping ;
The
Lord has heard my plea ; the Lord has accepted my prayer.
All
my enemies shall be put to shame in utter terror ; they shall fall back in
sudden shame.
Happy
is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.
Happy
is the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no
guile.
As
long as I would not speak, my bones wasted away with my groaning all the day,
For
day and night your hand was heavy upon me ; my strength was dried up as by
the heat of summer.
Then
I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not.
I
said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin.
For
this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress.
Though
deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him.
You
are my shelter ; from distress you will preserve me ; with glad cries
of freedom you will ring me round.
I
will instruct you and show you the way you should walk ; I will counsel
you, keeping my eye on you.
Be
not senseless like horses or mules: with bit and bridle their temper must be
curbed, else they will not come near you.
Many
are the sorrows of the wicked, but kindness surrounds him who trusts in the
Lord.
Be
glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just ; exult, all you upright of heart.
O
Lord, in your anger punish me not, in your wrath chastise me not ;
For your arrows have sunk deep in me, and your hand has come down upon
me.
There
is no health in my flesh because of your indignation ; there is no
wholeness in my bones because of my sin,
For
my iniquities have overwhelmed me ; they are like a heavy burden, beyond
my strength.
Noisome
and festering are my sores because of my folly,
I
am stooped and bowed down profoundly ; all the day I go in mourning,
For
my loins are filled with burning pains ; there is no health in my flesh.
I
am numbed and severely crushed ; I roar with anguish of heart.
O Lord, all my desire is before you ; from you my groaning is not
hid.
My
heart throbs ; my strength forsakes me ; the very light of my eyes
has failed me.
My
friends and my companions stand back because of my affliction ; my
neighbors stand afar off.
Men
lay snares for me seeking my life ; they look to my misfortune, they speak
of ruin, treachery they talk of all the day.
But
I am like a deaf man, hearing not, like a dumb man who opens not his mouth.
I
am become like a man who neither hears nor has in his mouth a retort.
Because
for you, O Lord, I wait ; you, O Lord my God, will answer
When
I say, “Let them not be glad on my account who, when my foot slips, glory over
me.”
For
I am very near to falling, and my grief is with me always.
Indeed,
I acknowledge my guilt ; I grieve over my sin.
But
my undeserved enemies are strong ; many are my foes without cause.
Those
who repay evil for good harass me for pursuing good.
Forsake
me not, O Lord ; my God, be not far from me!
Make
haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Psalm
50 (The Miserere)
Have
mercy on me, O God, in your goodness ; in the greatness of your compassion
wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly
wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
For
I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always:
“Against
you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight” –
That
you may be justified in your sentence, vindicated when you condemn.
Indeed,
in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me ;
Behold,
you are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being you teach me
wisdom.
Cleanse
me with hyssop, that I may be purified ; wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow.
Let
me hear the sounds of joy and gladness ; the bones you have crushed shall
rejoice.
Turn
away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.
A
clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast
me not out from your presence, and your holy spirit take not from me.
Give
me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I
will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.
Free
me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God ; then my tongue shall revel in
your justice.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For
you are not pleased with sacrifices ; should I offer a holocaust, you
would not accept it.
My
sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit ; a heart contrite and humbled, O
God, you will not spurn.
Be
bountiful, O Lord, to Sion in your kindness by rebuilding the walls of
Jerusalem ;
Then
shall you be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts ;
then shall they offer up bullocks on your altar.
O
Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Hide
not your face from me in the day of my distress.
Incline
your ear to me ; in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
For
my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
Withered
and died up like grass is my heart ; I forget to eat my bread.
Because
of my insistent sighing I am reduced to skin and bone.
I
am like a desert owl ; I have become like an owl among the ruins.
I
am sleepless, and I moan ; I am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
All
the day my enemies revile me ; in their rage against me they make a curse
of me.
For
I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drink with tears,
Because
of your fury and your wrath ; for you lifted me up only to cast me down.
My
days are like a lengthening shadow, and I whither like grass.
But
you, O Lord, abide forever, and your name through all generations.
You
will arise and have mercy on Sion, for it is time to pity her, for the
appointed time has come.
For
her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity.
And
the nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your
glory,
When
the Lord has rebuilt Sion and appeared in his glory ;
When
he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer.
Let
this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise
the Lord :
“The
Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth,
To
hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die” –
That
the name of the Lord may be declared in Sion ; and his praise, in
Jerusalem,
When
the peoples gather together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
He
has broken down my strength in the way ; he has cut short my days.
I
say: O my God,
Take
me not hence in the midst of my days ; through all generations your years
endure.
Of
old you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They
shall perish, but you remain though all of them grow old like a garment.
Like
clothing you change them, and they are changed, but you are the same, and your
years have no end.
The
children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in
your presence.
Out
of the depths I cry to you, O Lord ; Lord, hear my voice!
Let
your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication :
If
you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?
But
with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
I
trust in the Lord ; my soul trusts in his word.
My
soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More
than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord,
For
with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption ;
And
he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.
O
Lord, hear my prayer ; hearken to my pleading in your faithfulness ;
in your justice answer me.
And
enter not into judgment with your servant, for before you no living man is
just.
For
the enemy pursues me ; he has crushed my life to the ground ; he has
left me dwelling in the dark, like those long dead.
And
my spirit is faint within me, my heart within me is appalled.
I
remember the days of old ; I meditate on all your doings, the works of
your hands I ponder.
I
stretch out my hands to you ; my soul thirsts for you like parched land.
Hasten
to answer me, O Lord, for my spirit fails me.
Hide
not your face from me lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
At
dawn let me hear of your kindness, for in you I trust.
Show
me the way in which I should walk, for to you I lift up my soul.
Rescue
me from my enemies, O Lord, for in you I hope.
Teach
me to do your will, for you are my God.
May
your good spirit guide me on level ground.
For
your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve me ; in your justice free me from
distress,
And
in your kindness destroy my enemies ; bring to naught all my foes, for I
am your servant.
Accept
my confession, O my loving, most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, on whom alone my
soul trusts for salvation. Grant me, I beseech Thee, contrition of heart, and
give tears to mine eyes, that I may sorrow deeply for all my sins with humility
and sincerity of heart.
O
good Jesus, Saviour of the world, who gavest Thyself to the death of the Cross
to save sinners, look on me, a miserable sinner who calls upon Thy name. Spare
me, Thou that art my Saviour, and pity my sinful soul ; loose its chains,
heal its sores. Lord Jesus, I desire Thee, I seek Thee, I long for Thee ;
show me the light of Thy countenance, and I shall be saved ; send forth
Thy light and Thy truth into my soul, to show me fully all the sins and
shortcomings which I must still confess, and to aid and teach me to lay them
bare without reserve and with a contrite heart ; O Thou who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world
without end. Amen.
O
most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer,
intercede for me with Him. Obtain for me the full remission of my sins, and
perfect amendment of life, to the salvation of my soul and the glory of His
name. Amen.
I
implore the same grace of thee, O my Guardian Angel ; of you, my holy
Patrons, N. N. ; of you, O blessed Peter and holy Magdalen, and of all the
Saints of God. Intercede for me a sinner, repenting of my sins, firmly
resolving to confess them, and to avoid them for the future. Amen.
Act
Before Confession (St. Alphonsus de Liguori)
O
God of infinite majesty, behold at Thy feet a traitor, who has offended Thee
over and over again, but who now humbly seeks forgiveness. O Lord, reject me
not ; Thou dost not despise a heart that humbles itself : A contrite heart
and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. I thank Thee that Thou hast
waited for me till now, and hast not let me die in sin, casting me into hell,
as I deserved. Since Thou hast waited for me, my God, I hope that, by the
merits of Jesus Christ, Thou wilt pardon me in this confession for all the
offences I have committed against Thee ; I repent, and am sorry for them,
because by them I have merited hell and lost paradise. But above all, it is not
so much on account of hell which I have merited, but because I have offended Thee,
O Infinite Goodness! that I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I love Thee,
O Sovereign Good! and because I love Thee, I repent of all the insults I have
offered Thee. I have turned my back upon Thee ; I have not respected
Thee ; I have despised Thy grace and Thy friendship. O Lord! I have lost
Thee by my own free-will ; forgive me all my sins for the love of Jesus
Christ, now that I repent with all my heart ; I hate, detest, and
abominate them above every evil. And I repent not only of mortal sins, but also
of venial sins, because these are also displeasing to Thee. I resolve for the
future, by Thy grace, never more wilfully to offend Thee. Yes, my God, I will
rather die than ever sin again.
PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION
O most merciful God, who according to the multitude of Thy mercies dost
so put away the sins of those who truly repent that Thou rememberest them no
more: look graciously upon me, Thine unworthy servant, and accept my confession
for Thy mercy’s sake ; receive my humble thanks, most loving Father, that
of Thy great goodness Thou hast given me pardon for all my sins. O may Thy love
and pity supply whatsoever has been wanting in the sufficiency of my
contrition, and the fulness of my confession. And do Thou, O Lord, vouchsafe to
grant me the help of Thy grace, that I may diligently amend my life and
persevere in Thy service unto the end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bless
the Lord, O my soul ; and all my being, bless His holy name.
Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ;
He
pardons all your iniquities, He heals all your ills.
He
redeems your life from destruction, He crowns you with kindness and compassion,
He
fills your lifetime with good ; your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The
Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.
He
has made known all His ways to Moses, and His deeds to the children of Israel.
Merciful
and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He
will not always chide, nor does He keep His wrath forever.
Not
according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does He requite us according to
our crimes.
For
as the heavens are high above the earth so surpassing is His kindness toward
those who fear Him.
As
far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us.
As
a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those
who fear Him,
For
He knows how we are formed ; he remembers that we are dust.
Man’s
days are like those of grass ; like a flower of the field he blooms ;
The
wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more.
But
the kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear
Him,
And
His justice toward children’s children among those who keep His covenant and
remember to fulfill His precepts.
The
Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless
the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength, who do His bidding,
obeying His spoken word.
Bless
the Lord, all you His hosts, His ministers, who do His will.
Bless
the Lord, all His works, everywhere in His domain.
Bless
the Lord, O my soul!
Preserve
me, O Lord, for in Thee have I put my trust: I have said to the Lord, Thou art
my God, for Thou hast no need of my goods.
To
the saints who are in His land: He hath made wonderful all my desires in them.
Their
infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste.
I
will not gather together their meetings for blood-offerings: nor will I make
mention of their names with my lips.
The
Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: Thou art He that will
restore my inheritance unto me.
The
lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly unto
me.
I
will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also
have corrected me even till night.
I
set the Lord always in my sight: for He is at my right hand, that I be not
moved.
Therefore
my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh shall
rest in hope.
For
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor wilt Thou give Thy holy one to see
corruption.
Thou
hast made known unto me the ways of life: Thou shalt fill me with joy with Thy
countenance: at Thy right hand are delights forevermore.
May
the Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: may the name of the God of Jacob
protect thee.
May
He send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion.
May
He be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt-offerings be made
fat.
May
He give unto thee according to thine own heart: and confirm all thy counsels.
We
will rejoice in thy salvation: and in the name of our God we shall be exalted.
The
Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved His
anointed.
He
will hear him from His holy heaven: the salvation of His right hand is
powerful.
Some
trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the
Lord our God.
They
are entangled and have fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
O
Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon Thee.
Since I have so grievously insulted Thee, O most tender and loving God,
by my manifold sins and negligences, I am ready now to make perfect
satisfaction to Thy divine justice to the utmost of my ability. To this end I
will faithfully and most reverently perform the penance appointed me by my
confessor in Thy name ; and would that I could perform it with so great
devotion and love as to give Thee an honor and delight greater than the insult
and outrage of my sins! And that this may be so, I unite and blend this my
penance with all the works of satisfaction which Thy beloved Son accomplished
during the three-and-thirty years of His life on earth, and in union with His
fastings, His watchings, and His prayers, I offer Thee this my penance and my
prayer. Look down, therefore, O most loving Father, upon me Thy most bounden
debtor, now prostrate at Thy feet, desiring to make thee adequate satisfaction
and reparation for all the insults and injuries I have done Thee ; and
grant me strength and grace to say this prayer according to Thy most holy will.
Amen.
Here perform your
sacramental Penance, and then say:
O
most holy Father, I offer Thee this my confession and my satisfaction in union
with all the acts of penance which have ever been done to the glory of Thy holy
name: beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept it, and to render
it availing through the merits of the Passion of Thy beloved Son, and through
the intercession of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, and of all Thy holy Apostles,
Martyrs, Confessors, and Virgins. Whatever has been lacking to me in sincere
and earnest preparation, in perfect contrition, in frank and clear confession,
I commend to the most loving heart of Thine only-begotten Son, that Treasury of
all good and of all grace, from whose overflowing abundance all debts to Thee
are fully acquitted ; that, through it, all my negligences and defects in
the reception of this holy Sacrament may be fully and perfectly supplied to
Thine everlasting praise and glory: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without
end. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, bless, I beseech Thee, Thy servant who has now ministered to
me in Thy name. Help me to remember his good counsel and advice, and to perform
duly what he has rightly laid upon me. And grant him the abundance of Thy grace
and favor, that his own soul may be refreshed and strengthened for Thy perfect
service, and that he may come at last to the joy of Thy heavenly kingdom. Who
livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world
without end. Amen.
I :
O
most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I, an unworthy sinner, would beg Thee to be
mindful of all holy thoughts which have been Thine from eternity until
now ; above all, that one by which Thou, O Eternal Word, didst will to
become man.
Our
Father.
O
most merciful Lord, I pray Thee, from the bottom of my heart, to pardon me all
the vain, foul, and evil thoughts which, up to this hour, I have entertained,
or in any way have caused others to entertain, against or beside Thy will.
Our
Father.
II.
O
most compassionate Lord Jesus Christ, I, a miserable sinner, would beg Thee to
be mindful of all the good and saving words which Thou didst ever speak when on
earth.
Our
Father.
I
humbly pray Thee, O good Jesus, to forgive me all the words which up to this
hour I have uttered or caused others to utter against Thy holy will.
Our
Father.
III.
O
most sweet Jesus Christ, I, an unworthy sinner, yet redeemed by Thy precious
Blood, would beg Thee to be mindful of all the good works which Thou wroughtest
on the earth for our salvation. I beseech Thee, most compassionate Lord, pardon
me whatsoever, by my ill deeds, I have at any time knowingly or unknowingly
committed, or have caused others to commit, against Thy law and the glory of
Thy name.
Our
Father.
And
now, O most gracious Lord, direct and order all my thoughts, words, and works
according to Thy good pleasure, and to the praise of Thy name ; and
conform them to the perfect pattern of Thy most holy life and conversation. I
am Thine, and will be Thine, O Lord, in life and in death ; into Thy hands
I commend myself and all that I have.
Our
Father.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, Pattern of humility, who didst empty Thyself of Thy glory,
and take upon Thee the form of a servant: root out of us all pride and conceit
of heart, that, owning ourselves miserable and guilty sinners, we may willingly
bear contempt and reproaches for Thy sake, and, glorying in nothing but Thee,
may esteem ourselves lowly in Thy sight. Not unto us, O Lord, but to Thy name
be the praise, for Thy loving mercy and for Thy truth’s sake. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst become
poor, grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods may die
in us, and the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us: keep us from
all idle and vain expenditures, that we may always have to give to him that
needeth, and that giving not grudgingly nor of necessity, but cheerfully, we
may be loved of Thee, and be made through Thy merits partakers of the riches of
Thy heavenly treasure. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, Guardian of chaste souls, and lover of purity, who wast
pleased to take our nature and to be born of an immaculate Virgin: mercifully
look upon my infirmity. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right
spirit within me ; help me to drive away all evil thoughts, to conquer
every sinful desire, and so pierce my flesh with the fear of Thee that, this
worst enemy being overcome, I may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee
with a pure heart. Amen.
O
most meek Jesus, Prince of Peace, who, when Thou wast reviled, didst not
revile, and on the Cross didst pray for Thy murderers: implant in our hearts
the virtues of gentleness and patience, that, restraining the fierceness of
anger, impatience, and resentment, we may overcome evil with good, for Thy sake
love our enemies, and as children of our heavenly Father seek peace and
evermore rejoice in Thy love. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, Mirror of abstinence, who, to teach us the virtue of
abstinence, didst fast forty days and forty nights, grant that, serving Thee
and not our own appetites, we may live soberly and piously with contentment,
without greediness, gluttony, or drunkenness, that Thy will being our meat and
drink, we may hunger and thirst after justice, and finally obtain from Thee
that food which endureth unto life eternal. Amen.
O
most loving Jesus, Pattern of charity, who makest all the commandments of the
law to consist in love towards God and towards man, grant to us so to love Thee
with all our heart, with all our mind, and all our soul, and our neighborfor
Thy sake, that the grace of charity and brotherly love may dwell in us, and all
envy, harshness, and ill-will may die in us ; and fill our hearts with
love, kindness, and compassion, so that by constantly rejoicing in the
happiness and success of others, by sympathizing with them in their sorrows,
and putting away all harsh judgments and envious thoughts, we may follow Thee,
who art Thyself the true and perfect love. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Love, who in the garden didst pray so long and so
fervently that Thy sweat was, as it were, drops of blood falling down to the
ground: put away from us, we beseech Thee, all sloth and inactivity both of
body and mind ; kindle within us the fire of Thy love ; strengthen
our weakness, that whatsoever our hand is able to do we may do earnestly, and
that, striving heartily to please Thee in this life, we may have Thee hereafter
as our reward exceedingly great. Amen.
SEVEN
THANKSGIVING PRAYERS FOR THE SEVEN SHEDDINGS OF OUR LORD’S BLOOD (AGAINST THE
SEVEN DEADLY SINS)
I.
O
most humble Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal
praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because in Thy tenderest age, on the eighth
day of Thy mortal life, Thou didst vouchsafe to shed Thy precious and innocent
Blood for us, and as a true Son of Abraham to bear the pain of circumcision.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beg of Thee the grace of humility
against all pride and worldly vanity.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us:
save us, and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord.
II.
O
Thou whose love is like the pelican’s for her young, Jesus Christ, true God and
true Man, eternal praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because in the Garden,
out of the exceeding anguish of Thy Heart, Thou didst pour forth a bloody
sweat, and, wholly resigning Thyself to death, didst offer it to Thy Father.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I ask of Thee the grace of liberality
against all covetousness and avarice.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
III.
O
most chaste Spouse, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise and
thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thyself to be mercilessly
bound in Pilate’s judgment hall, and Thy virginal flesh to be cruelly scourged
and mangled.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I implore of Thee the grace of chastity
against all sensuality and lust.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
IV.
O
most meek Lamb, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise and
thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thy sacred Head to be
crowned with piercing thorns and struck with a hard reed.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I pray Thee for the grace of meekness
against all anger and desire of revenge.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
V.
O
most sweet Jesus Christ, Pattern of temperance and self-denial, true God and
true Man, eternal praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst allow
Thy garments to be torn from Thy bleeding body both before and after the
carrying of Thy Cross, which opened Thy wounds again, and caused them to bleed
afresh.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beseech of Thee the grace of temperance
and abstinence against all greediness and gluttony.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
VI.
O
good and faithful Samaritan, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal
praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because out of Thy burning love for us Thou
didst suffer Thy sacred Hands and Feet to be pierced and nailed to the Cross
for our redemption.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beg of Thee the grace of brotherly love
against all envy and jealousy.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
VII.
O
most zealous High-Priest, true God and true Man, eternal praise and
thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thy sacred side to be
pierced, opened, and wounded with a
spear.
By
this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I earnestly pray Thee for the grace of
holy zeal and fervor against all sloth and weariness in Thy service, and in
every religious exercise.
Our
Father.
O
Saviour of the world, etc.
Act
After Confession (St. Alphonsus de Liguori)
My
dear Jesus! how much do I not owe Thee. By the merits of Thy blood I hope that
I have this day been pardoned. I thank Thee above all things. I hope to reach
heaven, where I shall praise Thy mercies forever. My God, if I have hitherto
lost Thee so often, I now desire to lose Thee no more. From this day forward I
will change my life in earnest. Thou dost merit all my love ; I will love
Thee truly ; I will no longer see myself separated from Thee. I have
promised Thee this already ; now I repeat my promise of being ready to die
rather than offend Thee again. I promise also to avoid all occasions of sin,
and to use such means as will prevent me from falling again. My
Jesus, Thou knowest my weakness: give me grace to be faithful to Thee till
death, and to have recourse to Thee when I am tempted. Most holy Mary, help me!
Thou art the mother of perseverance ; I place my hope in thee.
Prayer for Help
O
my God, help me to make a good communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to
Jesus for me. My dear Guardian Angel, lead me to the altar of God.
Act of Faith
O
God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body
of Jesus Christ to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe this
with all my heart.
Act of Humility
My
God, I confess that I am a poor sinner ; I am not worthy to receive the
Body and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou
shouldst enter under my roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be
healed.
Act of Sorrow
My
God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have
offended Thee, my God, Who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin anymore.
My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.
Act of Adoration
O
Jesus, great God, present on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.
Act of Love and Desire
Sweet
Jesus, I love Thee, I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet
Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy flesh to eat and Thy blood to
drink. Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live
forever with Thee.
Act of Faith
Awake,
slumbering soul, to bless the Lord for all His mercies. Remember that thy God
became man for thee ; and remember 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 that in receiving the sacred Host
I will receive that very Jesus, Who has redeemed the world.
Act of Adoration
O
my soul, what art thou doing ! Yet a little while, and the God that made
heaven and earth will come to dwell within thee. O God, 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.
Act of Hope
O
Jesus, dearest hope of my soul, I rely on Thy divine promises with unshaken
confidence. I hope in Thee with all the hope of my soul. I hope firmly that
Thou, Whom I am about to receive, will sanctify my body and soul. So come then,
my only hope ; come and enrich me !
Act of Love
O
Jesus, center of my love ! God of my heart, how worthy art Thou of my
love, and of all the pure affections of my heart ! O God, 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 God. O
Love ! O Love ! O eternal Love ! O that I could praise and
bless, and love Thee as the Angels and Saints do in heaven !
O
God, inflame my love, that it may be worthy of Thee !
Mary,
mother of pure love, pray that I may love my God with all my strength.
Act of 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 God, 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. Oh, in truth Thou art my God, infinitely 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.
Act of Humility
O
Lord, Thou art that God, before Whom heaven and earth fade into nothingness.
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.
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 of my happiness. Come, Thou Comforter of the
sorrowful ; Thou solace and refreshment of the weary ! Come, and
delay not ; come, and heal my miseries ! Come, Jesus, come !
R. P. QUADRUPANI:
Act of Confidence
It
is obedience, O my God ! that leads me to Thy Holy Table: the tender words
by which Thou hast invited us would not have sufficed to draw me, for in the
troubled state of my soul I cannot be sure they are addressed to me. Misery and
infirmity are claims for admission to Thy Feast, but nothing can dispense from
the nuptial garment. Therefore when I turn my eyes on myself, after having
raised them to Thee, I doubt, I hesitate, I tremble ; for if I go from
Thee I flee from life, and if I approach unworthily, to my other sins I add the
crime of sacrilege. But Thy merciful wisdom, O my God, whilst foreseeing our
every need, has forseen all our weaknesses and has prepared helps for us against
both presumption and distrust. For if Thou hast not willed that, certain of Thy
grace, we should ever advance with the assurance of the Pharisee and say like
him: I come to the altar of the Lord because I know I am just in His
eyes : neither hast Thou permitted that a sacrament of love should become
for us a torture and an unavoidable snare. I therefore obey, O my God, and in
the darkness that envelops me I wish to follow implicitly the guidance of him
whom Thou hast appointed to lead me to Thee. I shall approach the Holy Table
without wishing for any other warrant than the words spoken by my confessor, or
rather by Thee: You may receive Holy Communion. I accept, O my God ! -- be
it a well merited punishment or a salutary trial, -- this privation of light and
sensible devotion, this coldness and distraction, which accompany me even into
Thy presence when all the faculties of my soul should be absorbed and
confounded in sentiments of adoration and of love. Faith, hope, and charity
seem to be extinct in my heart, but I know that Thou never withdrawest these
virtues when we do not voluntarily renounce them.
Act of Faith
Notwithstanding,
then, the doubts that cross my mind, I wish to believe, O my God ! and I
do believe all that Thy holy Church has taught me. I have not forgotten that
brilliant light of Faith which Thou didst cause to illumine my soul in the days
of mercy in order that the precious remembrance of it should serve me as
support in the days of trial and temptation.
Act of Hope
In
spite of these vague fears that seem to extinguish hope within my soul, I know
that although Thou art the mighty and strong God before whom the cherubim veil
themselves with their wings, the just and all-seeing God who discovers
blemishes in the purest souls, still Thou wishest to be in the most Holy
Sacrament only the Victim whose Blood effaces the sins of the world ; the
Good Shepherd who hastens after the strayed sheep and carries it tenderly and
unreproachfully back to the fold ; the divine Mediator who comes not to
judge but to save. All this I know, O my God ! and therefore I hope.
Act of Love
Notwithstanding
the coldness and insensibility that benumb my soul, I know that I love Thee, O
my God ! since my will prefers Thy service to all the joys of this world,
since Thy grace is the sole good to which I aspire, and because I suffer so
much by reason of my lack of sensible love for Thee.
Act of Desire
No,
I am not indifferent, Thou knowest, O my God ! that I am not indifferent
to this Most Holy Sacrament which I approach unmoved by any sensible
feeling : for Thou seest that although I find in Holy Communion neither
relish nor consolation, I would yet make any sacrifice in order to receive it.
Act of Contrition
I
feel neither hatred nor horror of sins to which the world does not attach shame
and contempt ; I experience no sensible sorrow for the sins I have
committed, but I know, O my God ! that, with the assistance of Thy grace,
my will denounces them, for I am resolved to commit them no more. I have taken
this resolution because sin displeases Thee and because all that swerves from
eternal order is abhorrent to Thy infinite sanctity. I believe, then, that I am
contrite, O my God ! because I believe in Thy promises, and if Thou dost
not always grant us the consolation of realizing our contrition, Thou wilt
never refuse its justifying virtue to those who humbly implore it ; and
this I do.
No,
my God, I shall not pray Thee to grant me sensible enjoyment, not even that of
Thy spiritual gifts: what I implore of Thy grace is to keep my will ever turned
towards Thee and never to permit it to fall or wander anew on the earth. Lord ! into Thy hands I commend my
spirit.
ST. LEONARD OF PORT MAURICE:
Prayer
Arise,
my soul ; revive thy faith, which tells thee that thy God became man, that
same Jesus Who was born in the stable of Bethlehem, that Jesus Who rose
triumphant from the grave, that Jesus Who now sits glorious at the right hand
of the Father, is now present with thee in the Most Holy Sacrament. O
Faith ! O Faith ! what greater thing can be said and believed ?
God is here, in order to enter my heart and become entirely mine – the Almighty
God !
Act of Faith
My
Jesus, Thou Truth infallible, since it is part of Thy revelation, I believe
that Thou art present, soul, body, and divinity, in the consecrated host. I
believe that in Communion I receive the same Jesus Who died, and Who rose
again ; and that in Him I receive the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Act of Adoration
O
my soul, what art thou about ? What thoughts engage thee ? In a few
minutes, thy God will enter within Thee ! O God, I profoundly humble
myself, and I adore Thee. I adore Thee, beloved Jesus, in the Sacrament. Most
holy Virgin, ye angels, saints, and souls who love God, adore with me my
Jesus ; make up for my defect of worship, beseech for me living faith and
profound veneration, now that I approach and receive Jesus Christ.
What
can be wanting to thee, O my soul, now that the Almighty comes to visit
thee ? He comes to illuminate thee, to unite Himself heart to heart with
thee, in order to give thee a lively pledge of that glory which He keeps
prepared for thee in heaven. Up ! arise ! enlarge thy heart, increase
thy confidence ; know that so much as thou hath promised to hear thee,
and, bound by His word, He can give thee every good thing ; it costs Him
no more than the opening of his hand. Thy Jesus is to thee as a Father ;
much He loveth thee, and wishes to bestow on thee every sort of benefit. Thy
Jesus, who is faithful, hath promised to hear thee, and, bound by His word, He
will do thee great favors. Well, then, to grow rich in soul you need only to
seek His graces, and ardently to hope.
Act of Hope
My
Jesus, my hope, confiding in Thy promises through the blood which Thou hast
shed for me, I hope, O Infinite Pity, I hope that in receiving Thee, Thou wilt
sanctify my soul, and enkindle within it heavenly desires ; so that I may
live and die loving only Thee, O Infinite Good. Yes, O my dearest God, God of
all my hopes, Sanctifier of souls, sanctify me.
What
more could God do, in order to get loved by thee ? God has made Himself
man, was born in a stable, died upon a cross and dwells in the Sacrament for
love of thee. Nay, that infinite love invites thee to receive Him, calls thee
to Himself with a desire so strong that He cannot endure thy delays. O
ingenious devices of love ! The great God of infinite beauty and majesty
wishes this morning to confer upon me such a favor as He hath never bestowed on
the seraphim. He purposes to come to dwell in my heart ; He wishes to unite
Himself to me. And thou, my soul, dost thou not burn and flame with love toward
a God Who is all love toward thee ?
Act of Love
O
my Jesus, my love, God of my soul, how good Thou art, how loving, how every way
dear and worthy to be loved ! My God, I love Thee with all my soul, my
life, my heart, my mind, and all my faculties and strength. I love Thee more
than myself, Thou one object of all my desires, my beginning and my last end. O
that I had infinite tongues with which to praise and bless Thee ! O that I
could at any sacrifice carry Thy most holy name through the world, to make Thee
known and loved ! O God ! I would willingly waste myself away in
labors for the love of Thee. I desire to burn with love, I desire to bless
Thee, to thank Thee, to love Thee, with the love that the most holy Mary bore
to Thee ; I desire to love Thee more than all created beings united. I
love Thee, my Jesus, my treasure, my Father, my life, my hope, my heaven.
Spouse of my soul, I love Thee, because Thou deservest to be loved – because
Thou art God ! Ah, Lord ! would that I were all love, would that I
did nothing but love Thee ! My soul, created by God to love God, love Him
then, love thy God ; my heart, which can find no peace or satisfaction out
of God, drive from thee every mere earthly attachment, and give welcome to thy
God. Ah, Mary, mother of holy love, obtain for me to love my God !
How
shouldst thou burn, my soul, to receive a God of infinite purity, holiness, and
majesty, thou art an abyss of vice, ingratitude, and sins ! Hast thou
forgotten all thou hast done against thy God ? Ah, how often hast thou
been more cruel, more afflicting to Jesus than Calvary itself ! Jesus has
been crucified in thee, so often as thou hast mortally sinned.
Act of Contrition
Dear
Lord Jesus, by my sins I have crowned Thee with thorns, I have nailed Thee on
the cross, I have given Thee gall to drink, I have pierced Thy side, I have put
Thee to death ! I am not worthy to live, far less to receive Thee. I
deserve that the earth should swallow me, that heaven should hurl thunderbolts
on my head, that all created things should turn in anger upon me. But, O my
God, how good Thou art ! How often have I trodden under foot Thy blood,
insulted Thy name, dishonored Thy authority ; yet not only dost Thou
pardon me, but Thou art the first to propose to be at peace with me ; and
for an act of penitence, for one tear of grief and affection, Thou forgivest me
all my sins, Thou replacest me in Thy favor, and Thou makest me anew Thy friend
and Thy son. And this is God – that it is that is meant by God ! Oh, how I
rejoice when I think that Thou art God ; that is, infinite liberality,
infinite magnanimity, infinite fidelity, infinite love ; an abyss of
infinite glories, attributes, and perfections ! It suffices to say that
Thou art good and in giving Thyself to me Thou knowest how to ordain for Thy
greater glory, and for the greater good of my soul, even my very bygone sins.
Glory to Thee ! Ah, I could wish to die of grief for having offended so
good a God. I am sorry that I have offended Thee ! Forgive me, O my Lord.
I do not heed my own interest ; I only desire that Thou, great God,
shouldst be honored and glorified by me, without ever being again offended by
me. Wash, O beloved Jesus, my soul with Thy blood, and make it become a fit
abode for Thy divine Majesty. O most holy Mary, obtain for me tears of true
contrition.
My
soul, thou art about to feed upon the blessed body of Jesus. And hast thou well
considered what thou art, and who God is ? If thou wert a seraph of love,
if thou hadst the love felt by all the angels, the virtues of all the saints,
wouldst thou even then be worthy of even once receiving God ?
An Act of Humility
Behold,
O my Jesus, the hour is come when Thou shalt be put into the power of this
great sinner. O have patience with me ; endure me by the bowels of Thy
compassion ! Ah, Lord, Thou art that God before the splendor of Whose
holiness heaven and earth vanish into nothing. I confess the truth, in looking
at Thy Majesty and at my unworthiness ; I am so confounded and ashamed,
that I should wish to hide myself in the abyss of my own nothingness. Yes, I
must needs approach to receive Thee, for Thou incitest and commandest me, and
like a son, I must obey Thee, O my King. Let the seraphim make up, let the
saints make up, let Mary make up – above all, let Thine own infinite goodness
make up for all my shortcomings in right devotion and love. O Lord, if I do not
deserve to receive Thee and to love Thee, Thou deservest to be received and
loved by me !
Dispose
of me for Thine own honor, make me worthy of so great a favor, give me all that
I am wanting in, make me altogether Thine.
The
hour is come, my soul, the blessed moment is come, when thou hast to receive
thy dearest Jesus. Behold the King of kings, behold the Lord of lords, behold
the Friend, behold the Father, behold the Spouse, behold the Joy of paradise,
behold the Delight of heaven, behold thy God Himself, behold all the Most Holy
Trinity in the Divine Sacrament ! Ecce
Sponsus venit, exite obviam ei. “Behold the Bridegroom cometh ; go
forth to meet Him.”[1] But how, my
soul, how standest thou thus so frozen, without one burning desire to feed upon
that sacred body ? Ah, should not the overflowing of the divine compassion
all enkindle thee with love ? And here Shepherd, guide me. Come, O my
Father, my Spouse, my Treasure, my Life, my Bliss, and my Rest. Come, Thou one
end of all my longings. Come, light of souls, refreshment of hearts, consoler
of the sorrowing. Come, Thou expected One of all nations, sighed for by the
holy patriarchs, desire of the eternal hills, joy of angels, delight of heaven,
beatitude of the saints. Come, art thou all frozen ! If it wert to do only
once in all thy life, with what fervor wouldst thou not do it ! But now,
while the Infinite Goodness waits ever ready at thy pleasure, thou goest up so
tepid, so dull of heart, to receive a God so great ! Enamoured souls have
burned with desire of this Communion, and have run like thirsty stags to that
fount divine. Up, up, my soul ; awake, kindle in thyself a most ardent
longing to receive Jesus ; sigh after that Supremest Good, desire Him,
call on Him with tears and with sighs, and with a heart in flames of holy love.
An Act of Desire
Come,
O thou divine food, and nourish my hungry soul. Come, furnace of charity, and
kindle me ; come, flaming fire of love, inflame me by thy flames. Come,
heavenly for Thou hast wounded me with love ; come, delay not, for my
heart is failing, and I feel that life would not be life without Thee. Arise
for pity, O my Jesus, and come.
Most
holy Virgin, already I am at hand, and about to receive thine and my Jesus.
From thy hands I purpose to receive Him. Hold Him forth to me, as thou didst to
the shepherds, and the holy kings and to holy Simeon. Prepare me to receive Him
with love. Give Him to me quickly, and pray to Him to fill me with His dearest
benediction ; and do thou accompany it with thine.
An Act of Offering
I
protest, O my God, that I purpose to unite this my Communion with the Communion
of most holy Mary, of Thy apostles, of thy saints, and of all the just who
receive Thee this morning, or who shall ever receive Thee in time to come. My
desire and purpose is, to make all their devout acts, all their preparations,
all their thanksgivings ; and I mean to offer the whole in union with
those virtues, that merit, that holiness, with which Thou, O my Jesus, didst
receive Thyself in the sacrament, at the Last Supper. May the Church triumphant
and militant now supply my defects of love, and worship, and thanks.
Psalm 83
How
lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts : my soul longeth and fainteth
for the courts of the Lord.
My
heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.
For
the sparrow hath found her a house : and the turtle a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young :
Even
Thine altars, O Lord of hosts : my king and my God.
Blessed
are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord : they shall praise Thee for ever
and ever.
Blessed
is the man whose help is in Thee : in his heart he hath disposed to ascend
by steps, in the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set.
For
the lawgiver shall give a blessing : they shall go from strength to
strength : the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God
of Jacob.
Behold,
O God, our protector : and look upon the face of Thy Christ.
For
one day in Thy courts : is better than a thousand.
I
had rather be despised in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of
sinners.
For
God loveth mercy and truth : the Lord will give grace and glory.
He
will not withhold good things from them that walk in innocence: O Lord of
hosts, blessed is the man that hopeth in Thee.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 84
Thou
hast blessed Thy land, O Lord: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Thou
hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people : Thou hast covered all their
sins.
Thou
hast softened all Thine anger : Thou hast turned away from the wrath of
Thine indignation.
Convert
us, O God our Saviour : and turn away Thine anger from us.
Wilt
Thou be angry with us for ever : or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from
generation to generation ?
Thou
shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us : and Thy people shall rejoice in
Thee.
Show
us Thy mercy, O Lord : and grant us Thy salvation.
I
will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me : for He will speak
peace unto His people :
And
unto His saints : and unto them that are converted in heart.
Surely
His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him : that glory may dwell in
our land.
Mercy
and truth have met together : justice and peace have kissed each other.
Truth
is sprung out of the earth : and justice hath looked down from heaven.
For
the Lord shall give goodness : and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Justice
shall walk before Him : and shall set His steps in the way.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 85
Incline
Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me : for I am needy and poor.
Preserve
my soul, for I am holy : O my God, save Thy servant, that trusteth in
Thee.
Have
mercy upon me, O Lord : for unto Thee have I cried all the day. Give joy
to the soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
For
Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild ; and plenteous in mercy unto all that
call upon Thee.
Give
ear, O Lord, unto my prayer : and attend to the voice of my petition.
I
have called upon Thee in the day of my trouble : for Thou hast heard me.
Among
the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord : and there is none that can
do works like unto Thy works.
All
the nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O
Lord : and shall glorify Thy name.
For
Thou art great, and doest wondrous things : Thou art God alone.
Lead
me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth : let my heart
rejoice that it may fear Thy name.
I
will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart : and I will glorify
Thy name for ever.
For
great is Thy mercy toward me : and Thou hast delivered my soul out of the
lower hell.
O
God, the wicked are risen up against me ; and the assembly of the mighty
have sought after my soul : and they have not set Thee before their eyes.
And
Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and merciful : long-suffering,
and of much mercy, and true.
O
look upon me, and have mercy on me : give Thy strength unto Thy servant,
and save the son of Thine handmaid.
Show
me a token for good : that they who hate me may see, and be
confounded : because Thou, O Lord, hast helped me, and hast comforted me.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 115
I
believed, and therefore did I speak : but I was humbled exceedingly.
I
said in mine excess : All men are liars.
What
shall I render unto the Lord : for all the things that He hath rendered
unto me ?
I
will take the chalice of salvation ; and call upon the name of the Lord.
I
will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the presence of all His people :
precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
O
Lord, I am Thy servant : I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid.
Thou
hast broken my bonds in sunder : I will offer unto Thee the sacrifice of
praise, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
I
will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all His people : in the
courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 129
Out
of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord : Lord, hear my voice.
O
let Thine ears consider well : the voice of my supplication.
If
Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities : Lord, who shall abide it ?
For
with Thee there is merciful forgiveness : and because of Thy law I have
waited for Thee, O Lord.
My
soul hath waited on His word : my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From
the morning watch even until night : let Israel hope in the Lord.
For
with the Lord there is mercy : amd with Him is plenteous redemption.
And
He shall redeem Israel : from all his iniquities.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Ant.
Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents ; nor take
Thou revenge of our sins : Spare us, good Lord, spare Thy people whom Thou
hast redeemed with Thy most Precious Blood, and be not angry with us for ever.
Lord,
have mercy.
Christ,
have mercy.
Lord,
have mercy.
Our
Father (inaudibly).
V. And lead us not into
temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. I said : O Lord, be
Thou merciful unto me.
R. Heal my soul, for I have
sinned against Thee.
V. Return, O Lord, for a little
space.
R. And be entreated in favor of
Thy servants.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be
upon us.
R. As we have hoped in Thee.
V. Let Thy priests be clothed
with justice.
R. And let Thy saints rejoice.
V. From my secret sins cleanse
me, O Lord.
R. And from those of others
spare Thy servant.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto
Thee.
Let
us pray
O merciful Lord, incline Thine ears to our prayers,
and enlighten our hearts by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit : that we may worthily
receive Thy holy Mysteries, and love Thee with an everlasting love.
O
God, unto whom every heart is open, every desire known, and from whom no secret
is hid : cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.
Inflame,
O Lord, our reins and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit : that
we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a pure mind.
We
pray Thee, O Lord, that the Comforter who proceedeth from Thee may illumine our
minds, and lead us, as Thy Son hath promised, into all truth.
May
the power of Thy Holy Spirit, O Lord, be present with us to cleanse us from all
evil and defend us from all adversities.
O
God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of Thy Holy
Spirit : grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort.
Visit,
O Lord, we beseech Thee, and cleanse our consciences, that Thy Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, when He cometh, may find in us a mansion prepared for Himself, who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
Almighty,
Everlasting God, lo, I draw near to the Sacrament of Thine Only-begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. As sick, I come to the Physician of Life ; unclean,
to the Fountain of Mercy ; blind, to the light of eternal
Brightness ; poor and needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth. I implore
Thee, therefore, out of the abundance of Thy boundless mercy, that Thou wouldst
vouchsafe to heal my sickness, to wash my defilements, to enlighten my
blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness ; that I may
receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with such
reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith,
such purpose and intention, as is expedient for the health of my soul. Grant, I
beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood
of the Lord, but also the whole grace and virtue of that Sacrament. O most
merciful God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine Only-begotten Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ, which He took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy
to be incorporated into His mystical Body, and accounted among His members.
And, O most loving Father, grant that whom now I purpose to receive under a
veil I may at last behold with unveiled face, even Thy beloved Son, who with
Thee and the Holy Spirit ever liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.
Amen.
I.
O
great High-Priest, the true Pontiff, Jesus Christ, who didst offer Thyself to
God the Father a pure and spotless Victim upon the Altar of the Cross for us
miserable sinners, and didst give us Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink,
and didst ordain this Mystery in the power of Thy Holy Spirit, saying, Do this
for the commemoration of Me : I pray Thee, by the same Thy Blood, the
great price of our salvation ; I pray Thee, by that wonderful and
unspeakable love wherewith Thou deignedst so to love us, miserable and
unworthy, as to wash us from our sins in Thine own Blood : teach me, Thine
unworthy servant, by Thy Holy Spirit, to approach so great a Mystery with that
reverence and honor, that devotion and fear, which is due and fitting. Make me,
through Thy grace, always so to believe and understand, to conceive and firmly
to hold, to think and to speak, of that exceeding Mystery, as shall please Thee
and be good for my soul.
Let
Thy good Spirit enter my heart, and there be heard without utterance, and
without the sound of words speak all truth. For Thy Mysteries are exceeding
deep, and covered with a sacred veil. For Thy great mercy’s sake, grant me to
approach Thy holy Mysteries with a clean heart and a pure mind. Free my heart
from all defiling and unholy, from all vain and hurtful thoughts. Fence me
round about with the holy and faithful guard and mighty protection of Thy
blessed Angels, that the enemies of all good may go away ashamed. By the virtue
of this mighty Mystery, and by the hand of Thy holy Angel, drive away from me
and from all Thy servants the hard spirit of pride and vainglory, of envy and
blasphemy, of impurity and uncleanness, of doubt and mistrust. Let them be
confounded that persecute us ; let them perish who are bent upon our ruin.
II.
King
of virgins and Lover of chastity and innocence, extinguish in my frame, by the
dew of Thy heavenly blessing, the fuel of evil concupiscence, that I may be
pure both in soul and in body. Mortify in my members the lusts of the flesh and
all harmful emotions, and give me true and persevering chastity with Thine
other gifts which please Thee in truth, so that I may with chaste body and pure
heart offer unto Thee the sacrifice of praise. For with what contrition of
heart and fountain of tears, with what reverence and awe, with what chastity of
body and purity of soul, should not that divine and heavenly Sacrifice be
celebrated, wherein Thy Flesh is indeed eaten, where Thy Blood is indeed drunk,
wherein things lowest and highest, earthly and divine, are united, where the holy Angels are present, and where
Thou art in a marvellous and unspeakable manner both Sacrifice and
Priest !
III.
Who
can worthily be present at this Sacrifice, unless Thou, O God, makest him
worthy ? I know, O Lord, yea, truly do I know, and this do confess to Thy
loving-kindness, that I am unworthy to approach so great a Mystery, by reason
of my numberless sins and negligences ; but I know, and truly with my own
heart do I believe, and with my mouth confess, that Thou canst make me worthy,
who alone canst make that clean which proceedeth from that which is unclean,
and sinners to be just and holy. By this Thine Almighty power I beseech Thee, O
my God, to grant that I, a sinner, may assist at this Sacrifice with fear and
trembling, with purity of heart and plenteous tears, with spiritual gladness
and heavenly joy. May my mind feel the sweetness of Thy most blessed Presence,
and the love of Thy holy Angels, keeping watch around me.
IV.
Mindful
then, O Lord, of Thy worshipful Passion, I approach Thine Altar, sinner though
I am, to join in offering unto Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted
and commanded to be offered in remembrance of Thee for our well-being. Receive
it, I beseech Thee, O God most High, for Thy holy Church, and for the people
whom Thou hast purchased with Thine own Blood. Let not, through my
unworthiness, the price of their salvation be wasted, whose saving Victim and
Redemption Thou didst Thyself vouchsafe to be. Also behold in pity, O Lord, the
sorrows of Thy people, which I bring before Thee ; the perils of Thy
servants, the sorrowful sighing of prisoners ; the miseries of widows and
orphans, and all that are desolate and bereaved ; the necessities of
strangers and travellers ; the helplessness and sadness of the weak and
sickly ; the depressions of the languishing ; the weakness of the
aged and of children ; the trials and aspirations of young men ; and
the vows of virgins.
V.
For
Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest nothing that Thou hast made.
Remember how frail our nature is, and that Thou art our Father and our God. Be
not angry with us for ever, and shut not up Thy tender mercies in displeasure.
For it is not for our just works that we present our prayers before Thy face,
but for the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Take away from us, O Lord, our
iniquities, and mercifully kindle in us the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. Take away
from us the heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh, a heart to love and
adore Thee, a heart to delight in, to follow, and to enjoy Thee. And we entreat
Thy mercy, O Lord, that Thou wouldst look down graciously upon Thy family, as
it pays its vows to Thy most holy name ; and that the desire of none may
be in vain, and the petitions of none unfulfilled, do Thou inspire our prayers,
that they may be such as Thou delightest to hear and answer.
VI.
We
pray Thee also, O Lord, Holy Father, for the souls of the faithful
departed : that this great Sacrament of Thy love may be to them health and
salvation, joy and refreshment. O Lord, my God, grant them this day a great and
abundant feast of Thee, the living Bread, who camest down from heaven and
givest life unto the world ; even of Thy holy and blessed Flesh, the Lamb
without spot, who takest away the sins of the world ; that Flesh, which
was taken of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and conceived by the Holy Spirit ;
and of that Fountain of mercy which, by the soldier’s lance, flowed from Thy
most sacred Side ; that they be thereby fed and satisfied, refreshed and
comforted, and may rejoice in Thy praise and in Thy glory. I pray Thy loving
mercy, O Lord, that on the bread and wine to be offered unto Thee may descend
the fulness of Thy blessing and the sanctification of Thy Divinity. May there
descend also the invisible and incomprehensible Majesty of Thy Holy Spirit, as
it descended of old on the sacrifices of the Fathers, which shall make these
oblations Thy Body and Blood ; and may this offering be acceptable unto
Thee, through Him who offered Himself a sacrifice to Thee, O Father, even Jesus
Christ, Thine only Son our Lord.
VII.
I
entreat Thee also, O Lord, by this most holy mystery of Thy Body and Blood,
wherewith we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified in Thy Church, and are
made partakers of the one Supreme Divinity, grant unto me Thy holy virtues,
that filled therewith I may with a good conscience draw near unto Thy holy
Altar, so that these heavenly mysteries may be made unto me salvation and
life ; for Thou hast said with Thy holy and blessed lips : The Bread
which I will give is My Flesh, for the life of the world. I am the living Bread
which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for
ever. O most sweet Bread, heal the palate of my heart, that I may taste the
sweetness of Thy love. Heal it of all infirmities, that I may find sweetness in
nothing out of Thee. O most pure Bread, having all delight and all savor, which
ever refreshest us, and never failest, let my heart feed on Thee, and may my
inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor. The Angels feed on Thee
fully ; let pilgrim man feed on Thee after his measure, so that, refreshed
by this nourishment, he may not faint by the way. Holy Bread ! Living
Bread ! Pure Bread ! who didst come down from heaven, and who givest
life to the world, enter into my heart and cleanse me from all impurity of
flesh and spirit. Come into my soul ; heal and cleanse me within and
without ; be the protection and continual health of my soul and body.
Drive far from me all foes that lie in wait : let them flee afar off at
the presence of Thy power ; that, strengthened by Thee without and within,
I may by a straight way arrive at Thy kingdom, where, not as now in mysteries,
but face to face, we shall behold Thee ; when Thou shalt have delivered up
the kingdom to God Thy Father, and shalt be God All in all. Then shalt Thou
satisfy me with Thyself by a wondrous fulness, so that I shall never hunger nor
thirst anymore for ever. Who with the same God the Father, and the Holy Spirit,
ever livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
VIII.
O
gracious Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, nothing presuming on my own deserts,
but trusting in Thy mercy and goodness, with fear and trembling approach to the
Table of Thy most sweet Feast. For my heart and body are stained with many
sins ; my thoughts and lips not diligently guarded. Wherefore, O gracious
God, O awful majesty, in my extremity I turn to Thee, the Fount of Mercy ;
to Thee I hasten to be healed, and take refuge under Thy protection ; and
Thee, before whom as my Judge I cannot stand, I long for as my Saviour. To
Thee, O Lord, I show my wounds, to Thee I lay bare my shame. I know my sins are
many and great, for which I am afraid. My trust is in Thy mercies, of which
there is no end. Look therefore upon me with the eyes of Thy mercy, O Lord
Jesus Christ, God and Man, crucified for man ; hearken unto me, whose
trust is in Thee ; have mercy upon me, who am full of sin and misery, O
Thou fount of mercy, that wilt never cease to flow. Hail, saving Victim,
offered for me and all mankind on the Cross of suffering and shame. Hail, noble
and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the whole world. Be mindful, O Lord,
of Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thine own Blood. I repent that I
have sinned ; I desire to amend what I have done. Take therefore away from
me, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins : that, being cleansed
both in body and soul, I may worthily taste the Holy of Holies ; and grant
that this holy feeding on Thy Body and Blood, of which, unworthy as I am, I
purpose to partake, may be for the remission of my sins, and the perfect
cleansing of all my offences, for the driving away of all evil thoughts and the
renewal of all holy desires, for the healthful bringing forth of fruit
well-pleasing unto Thee, and the most sure protection of my soul and body
against the wiles of all my enemies. Amen.
Act of Contrition
I
desire, O my Saviour, humbly to offer Thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit
and a contrite heart. I grieve from my inmost heart that I have ever offended
Thee by my sins, Thee my God and my chief good, Thee who art so gracious to me,
and so oft refreshest me in Thy Blessed Sacrament. I grieve especially for the
sins of ... which Thou knowest, Thou searcher of our hearts, and which I, a
miserable sinner, do confess in the bitterness of my soul. Would that I had
never offended Thee ! Yet a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt
not despise ; Thou who for love of us didst give to us Thine Only-Begotten
Son, to wash us from our sins in His own Blood.
Resolution of Amendment
I
desire, O Lord, earnestly longing for the help of Thy grace, to renew all my
baptismal vows to Thee, to renounce all that displeaseth Thee, and to walk more
perfectly in newness of life. I renounce the devil and all his works and pomps,
the glory of the world with all its covetous desires, all sinful excesses in
things lawful, and whatever may lead my heart from Thee or hinder my duty
towards Thee ; also, I renounce all the sinful lusts of the flesh, with
everything in thought, word, or deed, which displeaseth Thee, especially...,
from all which let it be Thy good pleasure to deliver me, and to turn the whole
stream of my affections to the love of Thee, that Thy will and Thy love may be
the sole rule and guide of my life, and I may love whatever Thou lovest, and
hate whatever Thou hatest.
Act of Faith
Of
a truth I firmly believe, O Good Jesus, and with lively faith confess, that
Thou Thyself, equal to God the Father in glory and in power, true God and Man,
art verily and indeed present in this Sacrament. For Thou, the very Truth
itself, hast said, This is My Body, This is My Blood. I believe whatever the
Son of God hath said. Nothing can be truer than this word of Him who is the
Truth. I do believe, Lord ; help my belief, increase my faith.
Act of Hope
O
Christ Jesus, I am sinful dust and ashes, but Thou callest to Thee all who
labor and are burdened, that Thou mayest refresh them. Art not Thou my
refuge ? To whom else shall I go ? Thou hast the words of eternal
life, Thou alone canst comfort me in every trouble. Lord, I am weak and sick,
but Thou art my salvation. Those who are well need not a physician, but those
who are sick. Therefore I come to Thee, my physician and my refuge, hoping that
this Communion may be to me the increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity ; a
firm defense against the snares of my enemies ; a help to the removal of
the fault and defect of ...., and to the bringing forth of works well-pleasing
unto Thee, especially...., and a pledge of future glory. This is the hope and
desire which I cherish in my heart, for Thou art compassionate and of tender
mercy, and in all Thy promises most faithful.
Act of Love
O
most Sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, how great was Thy love, which drew Thee from
the bosom of the Father to this vale of tears, to take our flesh and endure
infinite miseries and wrongs, yea, even the death of the Cross, and that only
for us miserable sinners and for our salvation. O how great was Thy Love !
Thou mightest have condemned us, and Thou didst rather choose to save us: we
were guilty, and Thou, the sinless One, didst endure our punishment to set us
free. Out of love it was that Thou camest down to take our flesh ; and
when about to depart from this world to the Father, Thou didst leave to us this
Sacrament as a pledge of Thy love, that after a new and wondrous manner Thou
mightest abide with us for ever ;
Thou whose delights are to be with the children of men. O Lord, how worthy art
Thou of love, who dost so much for love of us ! Wherefore I will love
Thee, O Lord, my Strength, my Refuge, and my Deliverer. O God, Thou art true
Love ! He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in Thee. I desire to receive Thee
in this Sacrament, that I may be more firmly united with Thee in the bond of
love. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ my Saviour ? O that
neither life, nor death, nor any creature may have power to do so.
Act of Humility
How
dare I approach Thee, O Lord ? Art Thou not, O God, my Lord, my Creator,
my Redeemer, the King of heaven and earth ? And who am I ? A poor
worm of the earth, and what is yet more unworthy, so often a disobedient and
ungrateful sinner against Thee ! Of a truth, Lord, I am not worthy that
Thou shouldst enter under my roof ; yet remember, O Lord, that, although
Thou wast Lord of all, yet Thou didst take upon Thyself the form of a servant,
and coming unto us didst converse familiarly with publicans and sinners ;
and lastly didst humble Thyself and become obedient unto death. Let this Thy
humility move Thee, I beseech Thee, not to despise me, vile and worthless as I
am, but graciously to come unto me, and mercifully to receive me, who come to
Thee.
Act of Reparation
O
Lord, my God and Saviour, who, as Thou didst endure for our salvation the
outrages of those who crucified Thee, so now deignest to bear with those who by
careless or unworthy Communions approach and touch Thee, not discerning Thee,
and endurest all irreverences rather than withhold Thy sacred Presence from our
Altars : I bewail these indignities, and most earnestly desire to prevent,
to the utmost of my power, whatever thus still grieves Thee. I beseech Thee,
accept this sorrow and this desire as the only offering I can make in
reparation of so great dishonor. O Lord, increase my faith, and preserve me
from the least profanation of this adorable Mystery, and kindle in me and in
the hearts of all Thy people, especially of all who celebrate or assist in its
ministration, such reverence and devotion that Thy most holy name may more and
more be honored and glorified in this Sacrament of love. Amen.
Offering of the Holy Mass
Accept,
Most Holy Trinity, this sacrifice fulfilled at one time by the Divine Word and
now renewed on this altar by the hands of Your priest. I unite myself to the
intentions of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim, that I may be entirely offered
for Your glory and for the salvation of men. I intend through Jesus Christ,
with Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ to adore Your eternal majesty, to thank
Your immense goodness, to satisfy Your offended justice, and to beseech Your
mercy for the Church, for my dear ones, and for myself.
Acts of Faith, Hope and Love
Act of Faith
Jesus,
eternal Truth, I believe You are really present in the holy Host. You are here
with Your body, blood, soul, and divinity. I hear Your invitation: “I am the
living bread descended from heaven,” “take and eat ; this is my body.” I
believe, O Lord and Master, but increase my weak faith.
Act of Hope
Jesus,
sole Way of salvation, You invite me: “Learn from me.” But I resemble You so
little! Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall
be healed. Jesus, You pleased the Father; You are my Model. Draw me to
Yourself, and give me the grace to imitate You especially in the virtue I need
most.
Act of Love
O
Jesus Master, You assure me: “I am the Life,” “whoever eats my flesh will have
eternal life.” In Baptism and in confession You have communicated to me this
life of Yours. Now You nourish it by making Yourself my food.
Take
my heart ; detach it from the goods, pleasures, joys and vanities of the
earth. With all my heart and above all else I love You, infinite Good and eternal
happiness.
ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI:
Prayer before Holy Communion
My
Beloved Jesus, true Son of God, who didst die for me in the cross in a sea of
sorrow and ignominy, I firmly believe that Thou art present in the Most Holy
Sacrament ; and for this faith I am ready to give my life.
My
dear Redeemer, I hope by Thy goodness, and through the merits of Thy blood,
that when Thou dost come to me this morning, Thou wilt inflame me with Thy holy
love, and wilt give me all those graces which I need to keep me obedient and
faithful to Thee till death.
Ah,
my God ! true and only lover of my soul, what couldst Thou do more to
oblige me to love Thee ? Thou wert not satisfied, my love, with dying for
me, but Thou wouldst also institute the Most Holy Sacrament, making Thyself my
food, and giving Thyself all to me ; thus uniting Thyself most closely to
such a miserable and ungrateful creature. Thou dost Thyself invite me to
receive Thee, and dost greatly desire that I should receive Thee. O Infinite
Love ! A God gives himself all to me ! O my God, O Infinite love,
worthy of infinite love, I love Thee above all things ; I love Thee with
all my heart ; I love Thee more than myself, more than my life ; I
love Thee because Thou art worthy of being loved ; and I love Thee also to
please Thee, since Thou dost desire my love ! Depart from my soul, all ye
earthly affections ; to Thee alone, my Jesus, my treasure, my all, will I
give all my love. This morning Thou dost give Thyself all to me, and I give
myself all to Thee. Permit me to love Thee ; for I desire none but Thee,
and nothing but what is pleasing to Thee. I love Thee, O my Saviour, and I
unite my poor love to the love of all the angels and saints, and of Thy Mother
Mary, and the love of Thy Eternal Father ! Oh, that I could see Thee loved
by all ! Oh, that I could make Thee loved by all men, and loved as much as
Thou dost deserve !
Behold,
O my Jesus, I am now about to draw near to feed on Thy most sacred Flesh !
Ah, my God, who am I ? And who art Thou ? Thou art a Lord of infinite
goodness, and I am a loathsome worm, defiled by so many sins, and who have
driven Thee out of my soul so often.
Domine, non sum dignus. Lord, I am not worthy to
remain in Thy presence ; I ought to be in hell forever, far away, and
abandoned by Thee. But out of Thy goodness Thou callest me to receive
Thee : behold, I come, I come humbled and in confusion for the great
displeasure I have given Thee, but trusting entirely to Thy mercy and to the
love Thou hast for me. I am exceedingly sorry, O my loving Redeemer, for having
so often offended Thee in time past ! Thou didst even give Thy life for
me ; and I have so often despised Thy grace and Thy love, and have
exchanged Thee for nothing. I repent, and I am sorry with all my heart for
every offence which I have offered Thee, whether grievous or light, because it
was an offence against Thee, who art infinite goodness. I hope Thou hast
already pardoned me ; but if Thou hast not yet forgiven me, pardon me, my
Jesus, before I receive Thee. Ah, receive me quickly into Thy grace, since it
is Thy will soon to come and dwell within me.
Come,
then, my Jesus, come into my soul, that sighs after Thee. My only and infinite
good, my life, my love, my all, I would desire to receive Thee this morning
with the same love with which those souls who love Thee most have received
Thee, and with the same fervor with which Thy Most Holy Mother received
Thee ; to her Communions I wish to unite this one of mine. O Blessed
Virgin, and my Mother Mary, give me thy Son ; I intend to receive him from
thy hands ! Tell him that I am thy servant, and thus will he press me more
lovingly to his heart now that he is coming to me.
An Act of Faith
Behold, He cometh leaping
upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.[2]
Ah, my most
amiable Saviour, over how many, what rough and craggy mountains, hast Thou had
to pass in order to come and unite Thyself to me by means of this most holy
sacrament ! Thou, from being God, hadst to become man ; from being
immense, to become a babe ; from being Lord, to become a servant. Thou
hadst to pass from the bosom of Thy Eternal Father to the womb of a
Virgin ; from heaven into a stable ; from a throne of glory to the
gibbet of a criminal. And on this very morning Thou wilt come from Thy seat in
heaven to dwell in my bosom.
Behold, He standeth behind
our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.[3]
Behold, O my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with the same love with which he
loved thee when dying for thee on the Cross, is now concealed in the Most
Blessed Sacrament under the sacred species ; and what is he doing ? Looking through the lattices. As an
ardent lover, desirous to see you correspond to his love, from the Host, as
from within closed lattices, whence he sees without being seen, he is looking
at you, who are this morning about to feed upon his divine flesh ; he
observes your thoughts, what is it that you love, what you desire, what you
seek for, and what offerings you are about to make to him.
Awake,
then, my soul, and prepare to receive thy Jesus ; and, in the first place,
by faith, say to him : So, then, my beloved Redeemer, in a few moments
Thou art coming to me ? O hidden God, unknown to the greater part of men,
I believe, I confess, I adore Thee in the Most Holy Sacrament as my Lord and
Saviour ! And in acknowledgement of this truth I would willingly lay down
my life. Thou comest to enrich me with Thy graces and to unite Thyself entirely
to me ; how great, then, should be my confidence in this Thy so loving visit !
An Act of Confidence
My
soul, expand thy heart. Thy Jesus can do Thee every good, and, indeed, loves
thee. Hope thou for great things from this thy Lord, who, urged by love, comes
all love to thee.
Yes,
my dear Jesus, my hope, I trust in Thy goodness, that, in giving Thyself to me
this morning, Thou wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful flame of Thy
pure love, and a real desire to please Thee ; so that, from this day
forward, I may never will anything but what Thou willest.
An Act of Love
Ah,
my God, my God, true and only love of my soul, and what more couldst Thou have
done to be loved by me ? To die for me was not enough for Thee, my
Lord ; Thou wast pleased to institute this great sacrament in order to
give Thyself all to me, and thus bind and unite Thyself heart to heart with so
loathesome and ungrateful a creature as I am. And what is more, Thou Thyself
invitest me to receive Thee, and desirest so much that I should do so ! O
boundless love ! incomprehensible love ! infinite love ! a God
would give himself all to me ! -- My soul, believest thou this ? And
what doest thou ? what sayest thou ? O God, O God, O infinite
amiability, only worthy object of all love, I love Thee with my whole heart, I
love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, more than my
life ! Oh, could I but see Thee loved by all ! Oh, could I but cause
Thee to be loved by all hearts as much as Thou deservest ! I love Thee, O
most amiable God, and I unite my miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts
of the Seraphim, to the heart of the most blessed Virgin Mary, to the Heart of
Jesus, thy most loving and beloved Son. So that, O Infinite Good, I love Thee
with the love with which the saints, with which Mary, with which Jesus love
Thee. And I love Thee only because Thou art worthy of it, and to give Thee
pleasure. Depart, all earthly affections, that are not for God, depart from my
heart. Mother of fair love, most holy Virgin Mary, help me to love that God
whom Thou dost so ardently desire to see loved !
An Act of Humility
Then,
my soul, thou art even now about to feed on the most sacred flesh of
Jesus ! And art thou worthy ? My God, and who am I, and who art
Thou ? I indeed know and confess who Thou art that givest Thyself to
me ; but dost Thou know what I am who am about to receive Thee ? And
is it possible, O my Jesus, that Thou who art infinite purity desirest to come
and reside in this soul of mine, which has been so many times the dwelling of
Thy enemy, and soiled with so many sins ? I know, O my Lord, Thy great
Majesty and my misery ; I am ashamed to appear before Thee. Reverence
would induce me to keep at a distance from Thee ; but if I depart from
Thee, O my life, whither shall I go ? to whom shall I have recourse ?
and what will become of me ? No, never will I depart from Thee ; nay,
even I will ever draw nearer and nearer to Thee. Thou art satisfied that I
should receive Thee as food, Thou even invitest me to this. I come then, O my
amiable Saviour, I come to receive Thee this morning, all humbled and confused
at the sight of my defects ; but full of confidence in Thy tender mercy,
and in the love which Thou bearest me.
An Act of Contrition
I
am indeed grieved, O God of my soul, for not having loved Thee during the time
past ; what is still worse, so far from loving Thee, and to gratify my own
inclinations, I have greatly offended and outraged Thy infinite goodness :
I have turned my back upon Thee, I have despised Thy grace and
friendship ; in a word, O my God, I was deliberate in my will to lose
Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and grieve for it with my whole heart. I detest the
sins which I have committed, be they great or small, as the greatest of all my
misfortunes, because I have thereby offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness. I trust
that Thou hast already forgiven me ; but if Thou hast not yet pardoned me,
oh, do so before I receive Thee: wash with Thy blood this soul of mine, in
which Thou art so soon about to dwell.
An Act of Desire
And
now, my soul, the blessed hour has arrived in which Jesus will come and take up
his dwelling in thy poor heart. Behold the King of Heaven, behold thy Redeemer
and God, who is even now coming ; prepare thyself to receive him with
love, invite him with the ardor of thy desire.
Come,
O my Jesus, come to my soul, which desires Thee. Before Thou givest Thyself to
me, I desire to give Thee, and I now give Thee, my miserable heart ; do
Thou accept it, and come quickly to take possession of it. Come, my God !
hasten ; delay no longer. My only and Infinite Good, my treasure, my life,
my Paradise, my love, my all, my wish is to receive Thee with the love with
which the most holy and loving souls have received Thee ; with that with
which the most blessed Virgin Mary received Thee ; to their Communions I
unite this Communion of mine.
Most
holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, behold, I already approach to receive thy Son.
Would that I had the heart and love with which thou didst communicate !
Give me this morning thy Jesus, as thou didst give him to the shepherds and to
the kings. I intend to receive him from thy most pure hands. Tell him that I am
thy servant and thy client ; for he will thus look upon me with a more
loving eye, and now that he is coming, will press me more closely to himself.
Affections and Prayers
O
my Jesus ! what has induced Thee to give Thyself entirely to us for our
food ? After this gift, what more remains for Thee to give us in order to
oblige us to love Thee ? Ah, Lord ! give us light, make us understand
the excess of Thy love in becoming food in order to unite Thyself to poor
sinners ! But, if Thou givest Thyself entirely to us, it is just that we
too give our whole being to Thee. O my Redeemer ! how have I been able to
offend Thee, who hast loved me so tenderly, and who hast done so much to gain
my love ? Thou hast become man for my sake, Thou hast died for me, Thou
hast become my food ; tell me, what more couldst Thou have done ? I
love Thee, O infinite Goodness ! I love Thee, O infinite Love ! Lord,
come often to my soul ; inflame my whole heart with Thy holy love ;
grant that I may forget all things in order to think only of Thee, and to love
nothing but Thee. Most Holy Mary, pray for me, and, by thy intercession, make
me worthy to receive thy Son frequently in the Holy Sacrament.
Affections and Prayers
O
infinite love of Jesus, worthy of infinite love ! Ah ! my Jesus, when
shall I love Thee as Thou hast loved me ? Thou couldst do nothing more to
make me love Thee ; and I have forsaken Thee, O infinite Good ! for
the sake of vile and miserable goods ! Ah ! enlighten me, O my
God ! discover to me always more and more the greatness of Thy goodness,
that my whole soul may be enamoured of Thee, and that I may labor to please
Thee. I love Thee, O my Jesus ! my love, my all ; and I wish to unite
myself frequently to Thee in this sacrament, in order to detach myself from all
things, and to love Thee alone, who art my life. Through the merits of Thy
Passion, assist me, O my Redeemer ! O Mother of Jesus, and my
Mother ! do thou, too, assist me ; beg of him to inflame my whole
heart with his holy love.
Affections and Prayers
O
enamoured of souls, O my Jesus ! it is not in Thy power to give us greater
proofs of love in order to show us that Thou lovest us. And what more couldst
Thou invent to induce us to love Thee ? Ah ! grant, O infinite Goodness !
that I may love Thee tenderly and with all my strength ! And who is there
that has greater claims on the affections of my heart, than Thou, my Redeemer,
who, after having given Thy life for my salvation, hast given me Thyself
entirely in this sacrament ? Ah ! Lord, that I always remembered Thy
love in order to forget all things, and to love Thee alone without interruption
and without reserve ! I love Thee, O my Jesus, above all things, and I
wish to love Thee alone. Banish from my heart, I entreat Thee, all affections
which are not for Thee. I thank Thee for giving me time to love Thee and to
weep over the offences I have offered to Thee. My Jesus, I desire that Thou
mayest be the only object of my affections. Assist me, save me, and let my
salvation consist in loving Thee with my whole heart, and in loving Thee always
in this life and in the next. Mary, my Mother, obtain for me the grace to love
Jesus Christ ; pray to him for me.
Affections and Prayers
O
Jesus, my Redeemer, O love of my soul ! how much has it cost Thee to
remain with us in the sacrament ? To be able to remain on our altars, Thou
hadst first to suffer death ; afterward, in order to aid us by Thy
presence, Thou hadst to submit to so many grievous insults in this sacrament.
And, after all this, we are so slothful and negligent in visiting Thee, though
we know that Thou so ardently desirest our visits for the purpose of enriching
us with Thy graces when Thou seest us in Thy presence. Lord, pardon me ;
for I too have been one of these ungrateful souls. From this day forward, O my
Jesus ! I wish to visit Thee often, and to remain as long as I can in Thy
presence, to thank Thee, to love Thee, and to ask Thy graces ; for it is
for this purpose that Thou remainest on earth shut up in our tabernacles, and
made our prisoner of love. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness ! I love Thee,
O God of love ! I love Thee, O sovereign Good ! amiable above every
good. Grant that I may forget myself and all things, in order to remember only
Thy love and to spend the remainder of my life wholly occupied in pleasing
Thee. Grant that from this day forward I may relish no pleasure more than that
of remaining at Thy feet. Inflame my whole soul with Thy holy love. Mary, my
mother, obtain for me a great love for the Most Holy Sacrament ; and
whenever Thou seest that I am negligent, remind me of the promise I now make of
going every day to visit the Holy Sacrament.
Affections and Prayers
Since
then, my beloved Jesus, Thou remainest on our altars to hear the supplications
of the miserable who have recourse to Thee, hear the prayer which I, a
miserable sinner, present to Thee. O Lamb of God ! sacrificed and lifeless
on the cross, I am a soul redeemed by Thy blood ; pardon me all the
offences I have offered to Thee, and assist me by Thy grace, that I may never
lose Thee again. Impart to me, O my Jesus ! a portion of the sorrow which
Thou didst feel in the garden of Gethsemane for my sins. O my God ! that I
had never offended Thee ! My dear Lord, had I died in sin, I could never
more love Thee ; but Thou hast waited for me that I might love Thee. I
thank Thee for the time which Thou givest me : and since I can now love
Thee, I wish to love Thee. Give me the grace of Thy holy love, but of a love
which will make me forget all things, to think only of pleasing Thy most loving
heart. Ah, my Jesus ! Thou hast spent Thy whole life for me : grant
that I may spend at least the remainder of my life for Thee. Draw me entirely
to Thy love ; make me all Thine before I die. I hope for all graces
through the merits of Thy Passion. I also hope in thy intercession, O
Mary ! Thou knowest that I love thee : have pity on me.
Affections and Prayers
Ah,
my Jesus ! make Thyself known,
make Thyself loved. Thou art so amiable, Thou canst do nothing more to induce
men to love Thee ; how then does it happen that so few among them love
Thee ? Alas ! I have been
among these ungrateful wretches. I have been sufficiently grateful to
creatures, who have bestowed no gift or favor upon me : to Thee only, who
hast given me Thyself, have I been ungrateful, so as often to offend Thee
grievously, and insult Thee by my sins. But I see that, instead of abandoning
me, Thou continuest to seek after me, and to ask my love. I feel that Thou
continuest to propose to me this loving precept – “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart.” Since,
then, Thou didst wish to be loved even by me after my ingratitude, I desire to
love Thee. Thou wishest for my love, and at present through Thy grace, I desire
only to love Thee. I love Thee, my love, my all. Through that blood which Thou
hast shed for me, help me to love Thee. My beloved Redeemer ! I place all
my hopes in this blood, and also in the intercession of Thy most holy Mother,
whom Thou wishest to assist me by her prayers in the work of my salvation. O
Mary, my Mother ! pray to Jesus for me. Thou inflamest all thy lovers with
the divine love ; I love thee tenderly ; procure it also for me.
Loving Aspirations to Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament
Before Holy Communion
I.
Egredimini et videte, filiae
Sion, regem Salomonem in diademate, quo coronavit illum mater sua in die
desponsationis illius[4] --
“Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see king Solomon in the diadem wherewith
his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals.”
O
daughters of grace, O ye souls who love God quit the darkness of the earth, and
behold Jesus, your king, crowned with a crown of thorns ; the crown of
contempt and suffering with which the impious synagogue, his mother crowned him
on the day of his espousals, -- that is to say, on the day of his death, by
means of which he espoused himself on the Cross to our souls. Go forth again,
and behold him all full of compassion and love, now that he comes to unite
himself to thee in this sacrament of love.
Has
it indeed, then, cost Thee so much, my beloved Jesus, before Thou couldst come
and unite Thyself to souls in this most sweet Sacrament ? Wert Thou indeed
obliged to suffer so bitter and ignominious a death ? Oh, come, then,
without delay, and unite Thyself to my soul also. It was at one time Thy enemy
by sin ; but now Thou desirest to espouse it by Thy grace. Come, O Jesus,
my spouse, for never more will I betray Thee ; I am determined to be ever
faithful to Thee. As a loving spouse, my whole thought shall be to find out Thy
pleasure. I am determined to love Thee without reserve ; I desire to be
all Thine, my Jesus, -- all, all, all.
II.
Fasciculus myrrhae Dilectus
meus mihi, inter ubera mea commorabitur[5] --
“A bundle of myrrh is my Beloved to me ; he shall abide between my
breasts.”
The
myrrh plant, when pricked, sends forth tears, and a healthful liquor from the
wounds. Before his Passion, our Jesus determined to pour forth his divine blood
from his wounds in so painful a way to give it afterwards all to us for our
salvation in this bread of life.
Come
then, O my beloved bundle of myrrh, O my enamored Jesus ; Thou art indeed
a subject of grief and pity to me when I consider Thee all wounded for me on
the Cross : but then, when I receive Thee in this most sweet Sacrament,
Thou becomest indeed to me more sweet and delicious than a bunch of the
choicest grapes can be to one who is parched with thirst : A cluster of cypress my Love is to me, in
the vineyards of Engadai.[6]
Come, then, to my soul, and revive and satiate me with Thy holy love. Ah, what
sweetness do I feel in my soul at the thought, that I have to receive within
myself that same Saviour of mine who for my salvation was pleased to be drained
of all his blood, and sacrificed on a cross ! He shall abide between my breasts. No, my Jesus, never more will I
drive Thee hence ; and Thou shalt never more have to leave me. I am
determined ever to love Thee, and to be always united and closely bound up with
Thee. I will always belong to Jesus, and Jesus will be always mine :
forever, forever, forever He shall abide
between my breasts.
III.
Dum esset Rex in accubitu
suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum[7] --
“While the King was at His repose my spikenard sent forth the odor thereof.”
When
Jesus comes to dwell in a soul in the Holy Communion, oh, how clearly does she
see and know her own nothingness by the bright light which the king of heaven
brings with him ! As the spikenard is the most lowly among plants, so does
the soul confess itself the most vile of all creatures ; and when thus
humbled, oh, how sweet is the odor which she breathes forth to her beloved
king ! and for this reason he invites her to unite herself to him in
closer and closer bonds.
If,
then, my soul, thou desirest that thy Jesus should repose in thee, consider thy own nothingness. Who art
thou ? what dost thou deserve ? Humble thyself as thou shouldst do,
by casting away from thyself all self-esteem which may keep Jesus at a distance
from thee, or prevent him from coming to repose in thee.
Come
to me, my dear Redeemer, come ; and by thy divine light make me to see my
own lowliness, my misery, my nothingness, that Thou mayest be enabled to repose
in me with satisfaction to Thyself, to separate Thyself no more from me.
IV.
Sentite de Domino in
bonitate[8] --
“Think of the Lord in goodness.”
My
soul, why art thou so timid and fearful at the sight of the goodness and
infinite love of thy Lord ? why such distrust ? Now that thou art
made worthy to receive within thee Jesus Christ, let thy sentiments correspond
to this grace, by confiding in that goodness of God, who gives thee all
himself. Truly his judgments are terrible but they are terrible only to the
proud and to the obstinate ; but to the humble and penitent, who desire to
love and please him, his judgments are all mercy and love, emanating from a
heart full of compassion and kindness. So that David, considering these
judgments of God, superabounds with hope : I have more than hoped in Thy judgments. These judgments made him
happy and consoled him : Thy
judgments are delightful ; I remembered Thy judgments, and was comforted.[9]
Ah ! our great God is only too loving and generous to those who seek him
with love : The Lord is good to the
soul that seeketh Him.[10]
How good is God to those who seek to unite their will to the divine will :
How good is God to Israel, to those that
are of a right heart.[11]
My
God, my love, my hope, my all, I desire Thee, and Thee alone, -- to love Thee,
to please Thee, and to do Thy will in all things. Let me always find
Thee ; make me agreeable to Thee ; and never let me leave Thee again.
So be it. Amen, amen.
V.
Vox Dilecti mei
pulsantis : Aperi mihi, soror mea, amica mea, columba mea, immaculata mea[12] --
“The voice of my Beloved knocking: Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My
undefiled.”
Such
are the words which Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament speaks to those who love and
desire him. Open to me, he says, O soul, thy heart, and there I will come to
unite myself to thee ; so that, being one with me, thou mayest become my
sister by resemblance, my friend by participation in my riches, my dove by the
gift of simplicity, my undefiled by the gift of purity, which I shall
communicate to thee. And then he goes on to say, Open to me, for my head is full of dew and my locks of the drops of the
night. As if he said: Consider,
my beloved, that I have waited for thee all the night of the bad life thou hast
led in the midst of darkness and error. Behold, now, instead of bringing
scourges to chastise thee, I come in the Blessed Sacrament, with my hair full
of heavenly dew, to extinguish in thee all impure desires towards creatures,
and to kindle in Thee the happy fire of my love. Come, then, O my beloved
Jesus, and work in me what Thou wilt. I renounce the love of all things, in
order to be all Thine, and that Thou mayest make me as Thou wouldst have me,
entirely united to Thy will.
VI.
Veniat Dilectus meus in
hortum suum, et comedat fructum pomorum suorum.[13]
“Let my beloved come into His garden, and eat the fruit of His apple-trees.”
Cornelius
à Lapide says that this is precisely the invitation that a soul desirous of the
Holy Communion makes to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Come, my beloved, she
says, into my poor heart, which at one unhappy time did not belong to
Thee ; but which now, by the help of Thy grace, has returned to
Thee : Come and eat the fruit of Thy
apple-trees. Come and taste in me those virtues which Thou dost bring with
Thyself when Thou comest to me. O my Lord, at least for the honor of Thy
majesty, purify my heart, adorn it, inflame it with Thy love, and make it
beautiful in Thy sight, that it may be a worthy dwelling-place for Thee.
VII.
Ad ubera portabimini[14] --
“You shall be carried at the breasts.”
It
is thus that Jesus from the sacred altars invites our souls. Come, he says, and
suck my divine milk, which I give you in this Sacrament, wherein I offer you my
own blood to drink. But what shepherd, says St. John Chrysostom,[15]
ever feeds his sheep with his own blood ? Even mothers give their children
to nurses to be fed. But Thou, O divine Pastor, art so enamoured of our souls
as to wish to nourish them with Thine own blood. St. Catharine of Sienna, then,
did well in approaching the holy Communion as if panting to suck the divine
milk, in the same way as an infant presses anxiously to suck the milk from its
mother’s breasts. And well might the Sacred Spouse say to her Beloved, Thy breasts are better than wine,[16]
signifying that she esteemed the milk of this sacrament, as the sacred
interpreters explain it, above all the pleasures of the world, which are
transitory and vain, as are transitory and vain also the joys and pleasures of
wine.
O
my beloved Jesus, since Thou wilt feed me this morning with Thine own blood in
the Holy Communion, it is but reasonable that I should willingly renounce all
the delights and pleasures which the world might give me. Yes, I give them all
up ; I protest that I choose rather to suffer all evils united to Thee,
than to enjoy all the goods of the world away from Thee. It is sufficient
happiness for me to please Thee, who art worthy of all that we can do to please
Thee. I will say, then, with St. Ignatius of Loyola, give me, I pray Thee, but
Thy love and Thy grace ; that is sufficient for me, and I am contented.
VIII.
Comedite, amici, et bibite,
et inebriamini, charissimi[17] – “Eat, O friends, and
drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved.”
The
“friends,” that is beginners, who scarcely enjoy the divine friendship, when
they receive the Holy Communion, feed indeed on the flesh of Jesus Christ, but
they eat with labor ; while those who are on the way to perfection eat
with less difficulty. But by the “dearly beloved” are meant the perfect, who,
inebriated with holy love, live almost out of the world, forgeting all things,
even themselves, and think only how they may love and please their God.
My
beloved Jesus, I am not yet perfect ; but Thou canst make me perfect. I am
not dear to Thee, and it is my own fault, because I have been ungrateful and
unfaithful ; but Thou canst make me become so, by inebriating me this
morning with Thy love. Thy kingdom come.[18]
Come, my beloved Lord, and take possession of my whole soul. Establish Thy
kingdom in me ; so that Thou alone mayest reign in me, that Thy love alone
may command me, and that Thy love only may I obey. Inebriate me, inebriate me
entirely ; make me forget all creatures, myself, my interests, and all,
that I may love nothing but Thee, my God, my treasure, all my good, my
all ; may I sigh for Thee alone, seek Thee alone, think of Thee alone, and
please Thee alone. Do this by the merits of Thy Passion. This only do I ask of
Thee ; this I hope.
IX.
Fulcite me floribus, stipate
me malis ; quia amore langueo[19] – “Stay me up with flowers,
compass me about with apples: because I languish with love.”
The
languor of the soul is when, forgetful of herself and her affairs, she thinks
only of seeking refreshment for her languishing love by holy desires, which are
the flowers, and by good works, which are the fruits of divine love.
O
my God, O Blessed Sacrament, since Thou wilt have me to be all Thine, make me
what Thou wouldst have me. Make me forget everything that does not belong to
Thy love. Increase in me always more and more the desire of pleasing Thee.
Grant that these flowers may not always remain flowers ; make them also
become fruits, by my doing and suffering something for Thee, who hast done and
suffered only too much for me. O God, O God of my soul, make Thyself loved, but
really loved, by me, -- not only in word, but in deed, -- before death comes
upon me.
X.
Dilectus meus candidus et
rubicundus, electus et millibus[20] – “My Beloved is white and
ruddy, chosen out of thousands.”
Our
beloved Jesus is all white by his purity, and all red by the flames of his
divine love.
My
spotless Lamb, all burning with love for me, when shall I make myself like to
Thee, pure as Thou art, O lily, burning with love of Thee as Thou dost burn
with love of me ? Yes, I do renounce all other love, and choose for myself
Thy sweet love, my God, my all. Begone, ye creatures ! what do you want
with me ? Go and enjoy the love of those who seek you. I wish only for my
God ; for God alone will I keep all my hearts and all my affections.
XI.
Benignitas et humanitas
apparuit Salvatoris nostri Dei[21] – “The goodness and kindness
of God our Saviour appeared.”
St.
Paul says that God, by making himself man, showed the world how far his
goodness towards us went. But by giving himself in this sacrament, he makes us
know the depth of the tenderness of his love towards our souls. “Does it not
seem madness to say, Eat my flesh, and drink my blood ?” St. Augustine
says, does it not seem a madness, Jesus Christ saying to us, as he said in that
blessed night,[22] Take and eat, this is My body ?[23]
O men, he says, to make you understand how much I love you, I will that you
should come and feed on my very flesh. O holy faith ! And who among us
would have been able to demand so much ? Who could have even thought of
it, if Jesus had not thought it and done it ? Some of the followers of
Jesus Christ, when they heard that from his mouth, that is, that he wished to
give them his body to eat, said that this was too hard a thing, and that they
could neither believe nor hear it : This
saying is hard, and who can hear it ?[24]
And they went so far as to leave him, because they would not believe it: but
yet it is of faith that so it is. But what else does Jesus Christ ask of us, by
all this he has done for us, but that we should love him ? as the Lord had
once before instructed his people: And
now, Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee, but that thou... love
Him and serve Him with all thy heart ?[25]
O
my most loving Jesus, what dost Thou not give, what dost Thou not promise to
those that love Thee ? Thou dost promise them Thy love : I love those that love Me.[26]
Thou dost promise them Thy caresses, even when they have already turned their
backs upon Thee : Turn ye to Me, and
I will turn to you.[27]
Thou dost promise to come with the Father and the Holy Spirit to abide forever
in their souls: He who loveth Me shall be
loved of My Father, ...and We will come to him and make our abode with him.[28]
And what more hast Thou to promise and to give, to entice men to love
Thee ? My dearest Lord, I see how it is ; Thou dost wish also to be
loved by me : yes, I love Thee with all my heart ; and if I do not
love Thee, do Thou teach me to love Thee ; make me to love Thee, and to
love Thee above all things : “Give what Thou commandest, and command what
Thou wilt.”[29]
XII.
Nolite me considerare quod
fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol[30] – “Do not consider me, that
I am brown ; for the sun has discolored me.”
The
heat of my passions, said the Sacred Spouse (and still more ought I to say it,
O my dear Jesus), has deformed and blackened me: I am black, but beautiful.[31]
But I am black by my own works ; I am beautiful by Thy merits, O my
Redeemer. I was black at one time, when I was alone and separated from
Thee ; but now that I am united to Thee, Thy grace, Thy beauty, Thy love
has made me beautiful.
Yes,
my Jesus, so do I hope. Mayest Thou be blessed forever. Never permit me to lose
Thee again, and to return to my former depravity. I love Thee, O infinite
beauty ; I wish also that my soul should be beautiful, always beautiful,
that it may be always pleasing in Thy divine sight, and that Thou mayest always
love it.
THOMAS A KEMPIS:
Prayer for Help
O
my God, help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to
Jesus for me. My dear Guardian Angel, lead me to the altar of God.
Act of Faith
O
God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body
of Jesus Christ to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe this
with all my heart.
Act of Humility
My
God, I confess that I am a poor sinner ; I am not worthy to receive the
Body and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou
shouldst enter under my roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
Act of Sorrow
My
God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have
offended Thee, my God, Who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin any more.
My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.
Act of Adoration
O
Jesus, great God, present on the altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.
Act of Love and Desire
Sweet
Jesus, I love Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet
Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to
drink. Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live
forever with Thee.
Act of Faith
O
Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink,
because Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.
Act of Adoration
O
Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy hands I came and with
Thee I am to be happy forever.
Act of Humility
O
Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart
may speak to Thee.
Act of Love
Sweet
Jesus, I love Thee ; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knowest that I
love Thee and wish to love Thee daily more and more.
Act of Thanksgiving
My
good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me,
sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Act of Offering
Jesus,
receive my poor offering. Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself to me, and now let me
give myself to Thee :
I
give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.
I
give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.
I
give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.
I
give Thee every breath that I shall breathe, and especially my last ; I
give Thee myself in life and in death, that I may be Thine forever and ever.
O
Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy precious Blood.
O
Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet finished. My Jesus, when
temptation comes near me, make me strong against it. In the moment of
temptation, may I always say : “Jesus, mercy ! Mary, help !”
O
Jesus, may I lead a good life ; may I die a happy death. May I receive
Thee before I die. May I say when I am dying: “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you
my heart and my soul.”
Listen now for a moment to
Jesus Christ ; perhaps He has something to say to you. There may be some
promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you to make again and keep.
Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles. Then pray for
others.
O
Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church ; take care of it.
O
Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them from hell.
O
Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all I ought to
pray for, as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.
O
Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.
Sweet
Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I trust not without Thee. Thou art with
me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear that I
shall do so, though I am weak, because I have hope in Thee. Give me grace to
persevere.
O
blessed Virgin, Mother of my God and Saviour, recommend all these my petitions
to your Son. O all ye Angels and Saints of God, unite your prayer with
mine ; be ever mindful of me, and obtain from Him, and through Him, that
with you I may bless Him and love Him forever. Amen.
Prayer
Behold,
my cravings are appeased. Behold, all my longings are now satisfied. My God 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’s ; I no longer live in
myself, but in Christ, and Christ lives in me. I belong entirely to Christ, and
Christ is mine.
Welcome,
beloved Jesus, I bless Thee for having come to dwell within me. Oh, how it
grieves me to think that Thou art come to abide in a heart that has caused Thee
so much sorrow and affliction ! O Lord, what dost Thou discover in me, but
a heart devoted 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.” Go and
reside within those sinless, loving souls, who long for Thy coming. But no, O
my heavenly Guest, depart not from me ; for if I lose Thee, I am lost. O
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 yours, that I may welcome my Jesus as I should.
Act of Thanksgiving
O
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, O 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
goodness. O God, to Thee be thanksgiving, praise, adoration, and glory from all
creatures through endless ages.
Act 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, O 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.
Act of Oblation
O
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 divine assistance, be entirely
consecrated to Thee. My eyes, which Thou hast opened to the true light, shall
be Thine. My ears, which have heard Thy gentle invitation, shall be Thine. And
this tongue, which has been touched by Thy adorable Body and Blood, shall be
Thine forevermore. 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, O 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.
Prayer after Holy Communion
Behold,
my longings are fulfilled ! Behold, my desires are satisfied ! Now
hath my God come to visit me ! Now Jesus dwelleth within me ! Now I
am no longer my own but Christ’s : I no longer live in myself, in Jesus,
and Jesus lives in me. I am altogether the possession of Jesus, and Jesus is
altogether mine.
O
Infinite Goodness ! A God – the God of heaven – hath touched the tongue,
and come within the breast, and sought the heart of a human creature, and one
so vile, so unworthy as I am ! My soul, of what art thou thinking ?
Behold thyself now in possession of that for which thou hast been sighing ;
behold thyself all hallowed by the presence of Jesus, transformed into Jesus.
Thou and Jesus art one. O union true and wonderful ! My soul, my soul, art
thou thus closely united to Jesus, and yet sayest nothing to Him, and speaketh
not with thy God Who is in thine arms, within thy breast, at thy heart ?
Up, up, arise, collect thyself, gather up all the affections of thy
spirit ; adore Him, and say to Him:
O welcome, dearest Jesus, to the mansion of my soul.
Oh, how long have I desired this hour ! But, oh, how I pity Thee, now that
I see Thee placed in this heart, more hard and cold than the stall where thou
wast born ; a heart more full of what is grief and anguish to Thee than
Calvary was to Thy sacred flesh ; for not once, but a hundred, and a thousand
times, have I renewed Thy death and Passion by my sins ! Lord, what dost
Thou find in me but hardness and obduracy against Thee, and affections all
given to earthly things ! Ah, my God, how is it Thou hast come to dwell in
me ? I must cry out with St. Peter, Depart from me, depart from me, O
Majesty of God ; depart from this soul of sin, which is not worthy to
harbor God ; Exi a me, quia homo
peccator sum, Domine.[32]
Go, and rest within those pure and fervent souls who welcome Thee so tenderly.
But, no, O my most precious blessing ; no, let it never be so ; do
not leave me, for if Thou art far from me, I am lost. O God, my hope, I will
not let Thee go ! O blessing, for which I have sighed, I press Thee to my
heart, and I wish to live and die thus embracing Thee. O most holy Mary, O
angels, saints, and souls that love your God! lend me your affections, that I
may fitly welcome and cherish this presence of my Jesus.
Act of Thanksgiving
O
Divine Trinity, one God, most worthy to be loved, I thank Thee from the very
depth of my heart, because Thou hast given me Jesus ; I thank Thee because
Thou hast left me Jesus in the Sacrament ; I thank Thee for having caused
me to receive Him ; I thank Thee, my Jesus, that Thou hast deigned to
visit me. O God, what return can I make for so much love ! How can I thank Thee enough, O most holy
Virgin, O angels, O saints of heaven, O all enamoured souls, help me to thank
our God, to thank and thank Him again and again, for this infinite kindness.
But, O God, how little even is all this ! The thanksgiving of all paradise
cannot attain to be thanks sufficient to an infinite God, or recommend Him for
His benefits. What, then, shall I do ? I know not, except, O my most holy
Jesus, to offer up Thine own love itself in thanks for Thine infinite love. May
Thine infinite compassion, Thy kindness, and all the abyss of Thine infinite
attributes, render to Thee that honor and that thank-offering which Thou
deservest. O Most Holy Trinity, one God, I thank Thee by the hands of
Jesus ; and do Thou, O Triune God, thank Jesus for me ! And now let
my heart remain full, and let Thy Majesty accept and be satisfied with these
infinite thanks. O my Blessing, to Thee alone be praise, glory, and honor from
all creatures, forever and forever. Amen.
What
art thou doing, my soul ? Dost thou know that now thou art a living temple
in which really dwells thy Redeemer ? It is no time now for lying
slothful, and full of wandering thoughts. It is the time for asking all the
graces of which thou standest in need, and for receiving them from the true and
living God Who is dwelling within thee.
Now
the heavens stand open, now the Most Holy Trinity, with eyes all full of love,
is above thee, looking down on the object of Its own complacency – Jesus
Christ, Who is within thy breast. Now more than ever Mary, and angels, and
saints, thy advocates, are beseeching graces for thee from God. My soul, my
soul, lose not of these precious moments ; bend thy faculties to deal with
the great affair of thy eternal salvation. But how ? Art thou saying
nothing to thy God ? Ah, poor and miserable as thou art, thou delightest
to live on amid thy miseries, while thou hast with Thee the God of all
riches ; and thou art silent, and thy mind begins already to wander, and
thou art so without desire of interest, so dull and so idle of heart !
Dost thou not know that if thou seekest not thou obtainest not ? Were a
king to enter thy house and invite thee to ask favors of him, wouldst thou be
long silent ? Ah, miserable race, through our little faith ! The
Kings of kings, with His royal presence, is within thee, the Lord of the
heavenly treasures. A God – thy God – hath come to thee, Who wishes to bestow
great graces on thee and thou speakest not a word ! This Infinite
Benignity grieves and laments that His favors are not sought ; and, unable
longer to endure the languid and indifference of men, forever longing to be
kind to them and do them good, He Himself takes to inviting them, and beseeches
them to ask. Usque modo non petistis
quidquam in nomine meo. Petite, et accipietis, ut gaudium vestrum sit plenum.[33]
My soul, thou hast within thee a Lord omnipotent, a most loving and munificent
Father, a most faithful God : and of what art thou afraid ? Seek and
confide, enlarge thy heart, revive thy faith ; begin, ask great graces –
heavenly graces, graces worthy of God.
Act of Petition
O
my dear Redeemer, since Thou hast come to me, in order to confer graces upon
me, and invitest me to ask them of Thee, hear me now by the bowels of Thy
compassion. Give me, O my Jesus, an increase of living faith, hope, charity,
and contrition. Give me humility, purity, patience, and all virtues ; take
from me all my corruptions. Change this heart, so full of the world and of
myself, and give me a new heart conformed to Thy will, so that I may always
seek Thy greater glory, and that all its affections may aspire to Thee and aim
only at Thy love, without ever deviating even in the very least. Cor mundum crea in me Deus, et spiritum
rectum innova in visceribus meis.[34]
Grace is indeed a mighty gift, and though I merit it not, Thou meritest it for
me. From a great and glorious God great favors may be sought ; grant me
this, then, which I have asked, by Thy Passion, by Thy death ; grant it by
the love Thou bearest to the Eternal Father ; grant it me by the virtue of
most holy Mary, by all the merits of the Church triumphant and militant ;
grant it me because Thou art Thyself infinite goodness and mercy.
Here apply yourself to ask
with lively faith from God the graces and favors which are needful for yourself
and your neighbor.
O
Most Holy Trinity, O my omnipotent God, hear these my prayers. Now is not the
time to refuse graces even to the most unworthy, because it is not I myself
alone that am seeking them, but, together with me, Jesus Christ is
supplicating. Though I do not deserve to be heard, Jesus Christ deserves it,
Who prays with me, and in me, and for me. Eternal Father, I call up before Thee
the promises of Jesus Christ, Who hath said that whatever graces we seek from
Thee in His name, without any other means, they shall be obtained from Thee: Amen amen, dico vobis, si quid petieritis
Patrem in nomine meo, dabit vobis.[35]
Act of Oblation
My
Jesus, it is but justice and common gratitude that I should give myself entirely
to Thee, after Thou hast given Thyself entirely to me. Thou hast, in coming to
me, penetrated and made godlike all my being with Thy Divinity, and so I ought
henceforward to continue Thine. May these eyes, renewed by Thee, continue
Thine ; may these ears, sanctified by Thee, continue Thine ; this
taste, sanctified by Thee, may it be Thine. Thou hast sanctified all my
senses ; may they be Thine, and so may they never again take pleasure in
opposition to Thy divine Law. Thou hast sanctified my memory ; may it
continually remember Thee. Thou hast sanctified my will ; may it never
turn to love anything in preference to Thee. Unto Thee, then, from the very
depth of my heart, I offer, as a perpetual holocaust, my body and my soul, my
senses and my faculties, all that I have and am, as fully as I can. Burn, O
fire divine, burn and consume, O love omnipotent, all in me which is not Thine!
Amen.
The Benedicite (Daniel 3:
57-88 and 56)
Antiphon.
Let us sing the song of the Three Children.
All
ye Works of the Lord, bless the Lord : praise and exalt Him above all
forever.
O
ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Heavens.
O
all ye Waters that are above the Heavens, bless the Lord : bless the Lord,
O all ye Powers of the Lord.
O
ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Stars of Heaven.
O
every Shower and Dew, bless ye the Lord : bless the Lord, O all ye Spirits
of God.
O
ye Fire and Heat, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Cold and Heat.
O
ye Dews and Hoarfrost, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Frost and
Cold.
O
ye Ice and Snow, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Nights and Days.
O
ye Light and Darkness, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Lightnings
and Clouds.
O
let the Earth bless the Lord : let it praise and exalt Him above all
forever.
O
ye Mountains and Hills, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O all ye things
that spring up in the earth.
O
ye Fountains, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Seas and Rivers.
O
ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless the Lord : bless the
Lord, O all ye Fowls of the air.
O
all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Sons of
men.
O
let Israel bless the Lord : let them praise and exalt Him above all
forever.
O
ye Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Servants of
the Lord.
O
ye Spirits and Souls of the Just, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye
holy and humble of heart.
O
Ananiah, Azariah, and Misael, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt Him
above all forever.
Let
us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Spirit : let us praise and
exalt Hm above all forever.
Blessed
art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of Heaven : and worthy to be praised
and glorified, and exalted above all forever.
Psalm 150
Praise
the Lord in His holy places : praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise
Him in His mighty acts : praise Him according to the multitude of His
greatness.
Praise
Him with the sound of the trumpet : praise Him with psaltery and harp.
Praise
Him with timbrel and choir : praise Him with strings and organs.
Praise
Him upon the high-sounding cymbals : praise Him upon cymbals of joy :
let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
Glory
be to the Father, etc.
Antiphon.
Let us sing the song of the Three Children, which they sang in the fiery furnace,
blessing the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
Christ,
have mercy.
Lord,
have mercy.
Our
Father (inaudibly).
V.
And lead us not into temptation.
R.
But deliver us from evil.
V. Let all Thy works, O Lord,
praise Thee.
R. And let Thy Saints bless
Thee.
V. The Saints shall rejoice in
glory.
R. They shall be joyful in
their beds.
V. Not unto us, O Lord, not
unto us.
R. But unto Thy name give the
glory.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto
Thee.
Let
us pray.
O
God, who for the Three Children didst assuage the flames of fire :
mercifully grant that the flames of sin may not consume us Thy servants.
Direct,
we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy inspiration, and further them with
Thy continual help ; that every prayer and work of ours may always begin
from Thee, and through Thee be brought to an end.
Vouchsafe,
O Lord, to extinguish within us the flames of sin ; Thou who didst grant
to Blessed Lawrence grace to arise whole from his fiery torments. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
I
render thanks to Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Everlasting God, who hast
vouchsafed, not for any merits of mine, but of Thy great mercy only, to feed me
a great sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ ; and I pray that this Holy Communion may not
be for my judgment and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let it be
unto me an armor of faith and a shield of good purpose, a riddance of all
vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires ; an increase of love and
patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues ; a firm defense
against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible ; a perfect
quieting of all my impulses, fleshy and spiritual ; a cleaving unto Thee,
the one true God ; and a blessed consummation of my end when Thou dost
call. And I pray that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that
unspeakable Feast where Thou, with Thy Son and Thy Holy Spirit, art to Thy holy
ones true light, full blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St. Bonaventure
O
most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, transfix the affections of my inmost soul with
that most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, holiest
Apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with genuine love
and longing for Thee, that it may desire Thee, and faint for Thy courts, long
to be dissolved and to be with Thee. Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee,
the Bread of Angels, the Refreshment of holy souls, our daily and
supersubstantial Bread, who hast all sweetness and savor, and the sweetness of
every taste. Let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the
Angels desire to look, and my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy
savor. May it ever thirst for Thee, the Fountain of life, the Source of wisdom
and knowledge, the Fountain of eternal light, the Torrent of pleasure, the
Richness of the House of God. May it ever yearn for Thee, seek Thee, find Thee,
stretch towards Thee, attain to Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do
all things to the praise and glory of Thy holy name, with humility and
discretion, with love and delight, with readiness and affection, with
perseverance even unto the end. And be Thou ever my hope and my whole
confidence ; my riches ; my delight, my pleasure, and my joy ;
my rest and tranquillity ; my peace, my sweetness and my fragrace ;
my sweet savor, my food and refreshment ; my refuge and my help ; my
wisdom ; my portion, my possession, and my treasure, in whom my mind and
my heart may ever remain fixed and firm, and rooted immovably, henceforth and
forevermore. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
O
most holy, O most benign, O noble and glorious Virgin Mary, who wast worthy to
bear in thy sacred womb the Creator of all, and at thy virginal breast to
nourish Him whose true, real, and most holy Body and Blood I, an unworthy
sinner, have just now dared to receive: vouchsafe, I humbly beseech thee, to
intercede with Him for me, a sinner ; that whatsoever, by ignorance or
neglect, by accident or irreverence, I have left undone, or have done amiss, in
this unspeakably holy Sacrifice, may be pardoned through thy prayers to the
same our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit
liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
Aspirations
Who
art Thou, O Lord, and what am I ?
Dost
Thou come unto me, O King most High, even to the very lowest of Thy
servants ?
Behold,
O Lord, I now have Thee, who hast all things : I possess Thee, who
possessest all things and canst do all things ; therefore, O my God and my
All, do Thou wean my heart from all other things beside Thee, for in them there
is nothing but vanity and weariness of
spirit ; on Thee alone may my heart be fixed ; in Thee be my rest,
for in Thee is my treasure, in Thee is sovereign truth, true happiness, and
eternal life.
Let
my soul, O Lord, feel the sweetness of Thy presence. May it taste how sweet
Thou art, O Lord, that drawn by love of Thee, it may seek for nothing wherein
to rejoice out of Thee ; for Thou art the joy of my heart, and my God, and
my portion forever.
Thou
art the Physician of my soul, who with Thine own stripes hast healed our
sickness. I am that sick soul whom Thou camest from heaven to heal ; heal
my soul, therefore, for I have sinned against Thee.
Thou
art the Good Shepherd, who hast laid down Thy life for Thy sheep. Behold, I am
that sheep which was lost, and yet Thou dost vouchsafe to feed me with Thy Body
and Blood ; lay me now upon Thy shoulders. What wilt Thou refuse me, who
hast given Thyself unto me ? O be Thou my Shepherd, and I shall lack
nothing in the green pasture wherein Thou feedest me, until I am brought to the
pastures of eternal life.
O
Thou true Light, which enlightenest every man who cometh into the world,
enlighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.
O
Fire continually burning, and never failing ! behold how lukewarm and cold
I am ; O do Thou inflame my reins and my heart, that they may be on fire
with the love of Thee. For Thou camest to send fire on the earth, and what wilt
Thou but that it be kindled ?
O
King of Heaven and earth, rich in pity ! behold, I am poor and
needy : Thou knowest what I most require ; Thou alone art able to
enrich and help me ; help me ; O God, and out of the treasure of Thy
goodness succor Thou my needy soul.
O
my Lord and my God ! behold, I am Thy servant : give me understanding
and kindle my affections, that I may know and do Thy will.
Thou
art the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the
world ; take away from me whatever hurteth me and displeaseth Thee ;
and give me what Thou knowest to be pleasing to Thee and good for me.
Thou
art my love and all my joy ; Thou art my God and my all ; Thou art
the portion of my inheritance and of my cup ; Thou art He that will
restore my inheritance unto me.
O
my God and my All ! may the sweet and burning power of Thy love, I beseech
Thee, so absorb my soul, that I may die unto the world for the love of Thee,
who for the love of me hast vouchsafed to die upon the Cross, O my God and my
All.
Lord,
if I had lived innocently, I could not have deserved to receive the crumbs that
fall from Thy Table. How great is Thy mercy, who hast feasted me with the Bread
of Angels, with the Wine of Virgins, with Manna from heaven !
O
when shall I pass from this dark glass, from this veil of the Sacraments, to
the vision of Thy eternal light ; from eating Thy Body, to beholding Thy
face in Thy eternal kingdom ?
Let
not my sins crucify the Lord of life again ; let it ever be said of me,
The hand of him who betrayeth Me is with Me on the table.
O
that I might love Thee as well as ever any creature loved Thee ! Let me
think nothing but Thee, desire nothing but Thee, enjoy nothing but Thee.
O
Jesus, be a Jesus unto me. Thou art all things unto me. Let nothing ever please
me but what savors of Thee and Thy unspeakable sweetness.
Blessed
be the mercies of our Lord, who of God is made unto me wisdom, and
justice, and sanctification, and redemption. Let him who glorieth glory in the
Lord. Amen.
Act of Adoration and Praise
O
Lord Jesus, sweetest Guest, mayest Thou have come happily to me, Thy poor and
humble servant. Mayest Thou have entered in blessing under this mean and lowly
roof. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the highest, for that Thou hast come into my
heart, Thou Day-spring from on high. O King of peace, drive from my heart all
vain and idle thoughts, that my soul may imitate and love Thee only, the Author
of peace. For what beside Thee, O Thou peace, Thou calm and sweetness of my
heart, should my soul seek for or desire ?
Prayer for Grace
Grant
me Thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work with me,
and continue with me even to the end. Grant me ever to will and desire what is
most pleasing to Thee. Let Thy will be mine, and my will ever perfectly follow
Thine, that so I may neither choose nor reject, save that Thou choosest and
rejectest.
Grant
me to die to all that is in the world, and for love of Thee to be content to be
despised and unknown in this life. Grant me, above all things, to rest in Thee,
and to still my heart to perfect peace in Thee. For Thou art the true peace of
the heart, Thou art its only rest, and out of Thee there is no rest. In this
peace, that is in Thyself alone, my chief and eternal good, may I lie down and
take my rest. Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving
What
shall I render unto Thee, O Lord Jesus for all that Thou hast done unto me,
especially on this day ? In Thy care for me Thou hast given me Thy Body
for my food, and Thy Blood for my drink, and both as a pledge of future glory.
Would that my lips might be opened, and my mouth filled with Thy praise, that I
might sing of Thy glory and of Thy greatness all the day long, and tell of all
Thy wondrous works. O my soul, magnify the Lord, from whom thou hast received
blessings so many and so great ; and rejoice, my spirit, in God thy
Saviour : for He hath looked down on my lowliness ; and the Mighty
One hath done great things for me, and hath filled me, when hungry, with good things.
Let
my words please Thee, O Lord ; my joy shall be in Thee, and I will strive
to practice Thy commandments. Hold Thou me by Thy right hand, and guide me by
Thy will, that Thou mayest afterwards receive me into Thy glory, for Thy
mercy’s sake. Amen.
Act of Union with Christ and
the Blessed Virgin
O
most merciful Father, who hast so loved me as to give me Thine Only-begotten
Son for my food and drink, and with Him all things, look upon the Face of Thine
Anointed, in whom Thou art well pleased. This Thy Beloved Son, and with Him my
heart, I offer and present to Thee for all the blessings Thou hast this day
given me. Mayest Thou, O Father, be now well-pleased in Him, and through Him
turn away Thine indignation from me.
Behold
the One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, my Advocate and
High-Priest, who intercedes for me. Him do I offer and plead before Thee, who
committed no sin, but bore the sin of the world, and by whose stripes we are
healed. Accept, therefore, O Holy Father, this Unspotted Victim, to the honor
and glory of Thy name, in thanksgiving for all the blessings Thou hast ever
bestowed upon me, for the remission also of my sins, and for the supply of all
my defects and shortcomings.
O
Blessed Virgin, Mother of my God and Saviour, present my petitions to thy Son.
O all ye Angels and Saints, citizens of heaven, join also your prayers with
mine. Ye stand always before the Throne, and see Him face to face, whom I here
receive under veils. Be ever mindful of me, and obtain from Him and through Him
that with you I may bless Him and love Him forever. Amen.
Act of Self-Consecration
O
Lord, since I am Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid, I renounce the devil
and all his works and pomps ; all the vanity of this wicked world, and all
the sinful lusts of the flesh. Thou alone art the God of my heart ; Thou,
O God, art my portion for ever. Thou art the portion of my inheritance and of
my cup. Thou art He that will restore my inheritance unto me. Do Thou therefore
take for Thine own all the powers of my soul, my memory, my intellect, and my
will. All that I am, and all that I have, Thou hast bestowed upon me :
therefore I give back all to Thee, and surrender it to be wholly governed by
Thy sovereign will. Grant me but grace to love Thee alone, and I am rich enough
and ask no more.
Prayer Before a Crucifix
Behold,
O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with
the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst
impress upon my heart, lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true
repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, whilst with deep
affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy
five most precious Wounds ; having before my eyes the words which David in
prophecy spoke concerning Thyself, O good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and feet ; they have numbered all my
bones.”
ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI:
Prayer
Behold,
my Jesus, Thou art come, Thou art now within me, and hast made Thyself all
mine. Be Thou welcome, my Beloved Redeemer. I adore Thee, and cast myself at
Thy feet ; I embrace Thee, I press Thee to my heart, and thank Thee for
that Thou hast deigned to enter into my breast. O Mary, O my patron saints, O
my guardian angel, do you all thank him for me! Since then, O my Divine King!
Thou art come to visit me with so much love, I give Thee my will, my liberty,
and my whole self. Thou hast given Thyself all to me, I will give myself all to
Thee ; I will no longer belong to myself ; from this day forward I will be
Thine, and altogether Thine. I desire that my soul, my body, my faculties, my
senses, should be all Thine, that they may be employed in serving and pleasing
Thee. To Thee I consecrate all my thoughts, my desires, my affections, and all
my life. I have offended Thee enough, my Jesus ; I desire to spend the
remainder of my life in loving Thee, who hast loved me so much.
Accept,
O God of my soul, the sacrifice which I, a miserable sinner, make to Thee, and
who desires only to love and please Thee. Work Thou in me, and dispose of me,
and of all things belonging to me all those affections which are displeasing to
Thee, that I may be all Thine, and may live only to please Thee!
I
ask Thee not for goods of this world, for pleasures, for honors ; give me,
I pray Thee, by the merits of Thy Passion, O my Jesus, a constant sorrow for my
sins! Enlighten me, and make me know the vanity of worldly goods, and how much
Thou dost deserve to be loved. Separate me from all attachment to the world,
and bind me entirely to Thy love, that from henceforth my will may neither seek
nor desire anything but what Thou willest. Give me patience and resignation in
infirmities, in poverty, and in all those things which are contrary to my self-love.
Make me gentle towards those who despise me. Give me a holy death. Give me Thy
holy love. And, above all, I pray Thee to give me perseverance in Thy grace
till death ; never permit me to separate myself from Thee again: Jesu dulcissime, ne permittas me separari a
Te. And I also ask of Thee the grace always to have recourse to Thee, and
to invoke Thy aid, O my Jesus, in all my temptations ; and the grace to
ask Thee always for holy perseverance.
O
Eternal Father, Thy Son Jesus Christ has promised me that Thou wilt grant me
everything that I shall ask Thee in his name: If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you.
In the name therefore, and by the merits of this Son, I ask for Thy love and
holy perseverance, that I may one day love Thee in heaven with all my strength,
and sing Thy mercies forever, secure of never more being separated from Thee.
O
most holy Mary, my mother and my hope, obtain for me these graces which I so
desire ; as also a great love for thee, my Queen: may I always recommend
myself to thee in all my necessities!
An Act of Faith
Behold,
my God is even now come to visit me ; my Saviour to dwell in my soul. My
Jesus is even now within me. He is come to make himself mine, and at the same
time to make me his. So that Jesus is mine, and I belong to Jesus: Jesus is all
mine, and I am all his.
O
Infinite Goodness! O Infinite Mercy! O Infinite Love ! that a God should
come to unite himself to me, and to make himself all mine ! My soul, now
that thou art thus closely bound to Jesus, that thou art thus one with him,
what doest thou? Hast thou nothing to say to him ; dost thou not converse
with thy God, who is with thee ? Ah, yes, renew thy faith ; remember
that the angels now surround thee adoring their God, who is within thy breast,
do thou also adore thy Lord within thyself. Enter into thyself, and banish
thence every other thought. Unite all thy affections, and, clinging closely to
thy God, say:
An Act of Welcome
Ah,
my Jesus, my love, my infinite good, my all, be ever welcome in the poor
dwelling of my soul ! Ah, my Lord, where art Thou ! to what a place
art Thou come ! Thou hast entered my heart, which is far worse than the
stable in which Thou wast born ; it is full of earthly affections, of
self-love, and of inordinate desires. And how couldst Thou come to dwell
there ? I would address Thee with St. Peter: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.[36]
Yes, depart from me, O Lord, for I am indeed unworthy to receive a God of
infinite goodness ; go and find repose in those pure souls who serve Thee
with so much love. But no, my Redeemer ; what do I say ? Leave me
not ; for if Thou departest, I am lost. I embrace Thee, my life ; I
cling to Thee. Mad indeed have I been in having separated myself from Thee for
the love of creatures ; and in my ingratitude I drove Thee from me. But
now I will never more separate myself from Thee, my treasure ; I desire to
live and die ever united to Thee. Most blessed Virgin Mary, Seraphim, and all
souls, do ye who love God with pure love lend me your affections, that I may
worthily attend on my beloved Lord.
An Act of Thanksgiving
My
God and Lord, I thank Thee for the grace which Thou hast this morning bestowed
upon me, of coming to dwell in my soul ; but I would wish to thank Thee in
a manner worthy of Thee and of the great favor which Thou hast done me. But
what do I say ? how can so miserable a creature as I am ever worthily
thank Thee ? Father Segneri says, that the feeling most becoming a soul
that communicates is that of wondering astonishment at the thought, and to
repeat, “A God is united to me ; a God is mine !” David said, What shall I render to the Lord for all the
things that He hath rendered to me?[37] But I ! what return shall I make
to Thee, my Jesus, who, after having given me so many of Thy good things, hast
this morning, moreover, given me Thyself ? My soul, bless, then, and thank
thy God as best as thou canst. And thou, my Mother Mary, my holy advocates, my
guardian angel, and all ye souls who love God, Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great
things He hath done for my soul.[38]
Come and bless and thank my God for me, admiring and praising the indeed great
graces which he has granted me.
An Act of Oblation
My Beloved to me, and I to
Him.[39]
Should a king go to visit a poor shepherd in his hut, what can the shepherd
offer him other than his whole hut, such as it is ? Since, then, O Jesus,
my divine king, Thou hast come to visit the poor house of my soul, I offer and
give Thee this house and my entire self, together with my liberty and will: My Beloved to me, and I to Him. Thou
hast given Thyself all to me ; I give myself all to Thee. My Jesus, from
this day forward I will be no longer mine ; I will be Thine, and all
Thine. May my senses be Thine, that they may only serve me to please Thee. And
what greater pleasure, says Peter of Alcantara, can be found, than that of
pleasing Thee, most amiable, most loving, most gracious God? I at the same time
give Thee all the powers of my soul, and I will that they shall be all Thine ;
my memory I will only use to recall to mind Thy benefits and Thy love ; my
understanding I will only use to think
of Thee, who always thinkest of my good ; my will I will only use to love
Thee, my God, my all, and to will only that which Thou willest.
My
most sweet Lord, I offer, then, and consecrate to Thee this morning all that I
am and have – my senses, my thoughts, my affections, my desires, my pleasures,
my inclinations, my liberty ; in a word, I place my whole body and soul in
Thy hands.
Accept,
O Infinite Majesty, the sacrifice of the hitherto most ungrateful sinner Thou
hast ever had on earth ; but who now offers and gives himself all to Thee.
Do with me and dispose of me, O Lord, as Thou pleasest.
Come,
O consuming fire, O divine love! And consume in me all that is mine, and that
is displeasing in Thy most pure eyes, so that henceforward I may be all Thine,
and may live only to execute, not Thy commands and counsels only, but also all
Thy holy desires and Thy good pleasure. Amen.
O
most holy Mary, do thou present this offering of mine to the Most Blessed
Trinity with thine own hands ; and do thou obtain their acceptance of it,
and that they may grant me the grace to be faithful unto death. Amen, amen,
amen.
An Act of Petition
O
my soul, what art thou doing ? The present is no time to be lost : it
is a precious time, in which thou canst receive all the graces that thou
askest. Seest thou not the Eternal Father, who is lovingly beholding
thee ? for within thee he sees his beloved Son, the dearest object of his
love. Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts ; rekindle thy faith,
enlarge thy heart, and ask for whatever thou willest.
Hearest
thou not Jesus himself who thus addresses thee : What wilt thou that I should do to thee?[40]
O soul, tell me, what dost thou desire of me ? I am come for the express
purpose of enriching and gratifying thee ; ask with confidence, and thou
wilt receive all.
Ah !
my most sweet Saviour, since Thou hast come into my heart in order to grant me
graces, and desirest that I should ask Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the
goods of the earth – riches, honors, or pleasures ; but grant me, I
beseech Thee, intense sorrow for the displeasure that I have caused Thee ;
impart to me so clear a light, that I may know the vanity of this world, and
how deserving Thou art of love. Change this heart of mine, detach it from all
earthly affections ; give me a heart conformable in all things to Thy holy
will, that it may seek only that which is more pleasing to Thee, and have no
other desire than Thy holy love: Create a
clean heart in me, O God.[41]
I
deserve not this ; but Thou, my Jesus, deservest it, since Thou art come
to dwell in my soul : I ask it of Thee through Thy merits, and those of
Thy most holy Mother, and by the love which Thou bearest to Thy Eternal Father.
Eternal
Father, Jesus Christ himself, Thy Son, has said, Amen, amen, I say to you, If you ask the Father anything in My Name, He
will give it to you.[42]
For the love, then, of this Son, whom I now hold within my breast, do Thou
graciously hear me and grant my petition.
Amores mei dulcissimi, Jesu
et Maria ! pro vobis patiar, pro vobis moriar ; sim totus vester, sim
nihil meus.[43]
“My most sweet Loves, Jesus and Mary, may I suffer for you, may I die for
you ; may I be all yours, and in nothing my own !”
Loving Aspirations to Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament
After Holy Communion
I.
Trahe me : post te
curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum[44] – “Draw me : we will
run after Thee to the odor of Thy ointments.”
Since,
then, O my dear Jesus, I cannot, while in this life, ascend to Thee, Thou hast
willed to descend to me, to unite Thyself to me in this sacrament of love. Draw
me, my Lord, all to Thee. I do not wish to draw Thee to me, that Thou shouldst
do my pleasure ; but I desire that Thou shouldst draw me so entirely to
Thee by Thy sweet attractions, that I may not be able to desire or to do
anything else but Thy most holy will. It is just that my inclinations should
yield to Thy disposition. Take me up wholly to Thyself ; and so united, I
shall be free from earthly affections, and shall run with Thee in the path of
virtue, and be able to repose peacefully in Thy divine will both in this life
and in the next : In peace, in the
self-same I will sleep, and I will rest.[45]
II.
Introduxit me in cellam
vinariam, ordinavit in me charitatem[46] – “The King brought me into
the cellar of wine, and set in order charity in me.”
It
is precisely by this cellar of wine that St. Bonaventure understands the Holy
Communion which introduces and then unites the soul to its divine king, and
gives it to taste that wine of love which destroys the desire of created
things ; infuses a well-regulated love, that is just towards itself,
charitable towards its neighbor, supreme towards God, loving him above all
things, who above all things deserves to be loved.
O
Jesus, my king, only Lord of my heart, Thou hast already brought me into the
beautiful cellar of Thy love, that is, into Thyself, uniting me to Thee by
means of this sacrament of love. Yes, my Lord, I already feel my heart changed.
I feel a holy desire, which gives me peace, and makes me loathe all impure
affections, and enkindles in me the pure love of Thee. O my Jesus, since Thou
hast given me an entrance to this beautiful cellar, let me no more depart from
it. Since Thou hast united Thyself to me, do not leave me again. Detach me from
the love of all creatures. Unite me to Thee continually more and more on this
earth, that I may one day come to be perfectly united to Thee in heaven ;
where I shall love Thee face to face with all my strength, without interruption
and without imperfection throughout all eternity.
III.
Dilectus meus descendit ad
hortum suum, ...ut pascatur in hortis, et lilia colligat[47] – “My Beloved is gone down
into His garden ... to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.”
My
sweet Saviour, since Thou dost descend from heaven to come into my soul, by Thy
grace do Thou make it become Thy garden, that Thou mayest gather in it lilies
and fruits which are agreeable to Thee. Pardon me, if I have offended Thee.
Receive me, if I have left Thee, now that I return penitent to Thee. Give me
that purity which Thou dost desire to see in me. Give me strength to do what
Thou desirest. Grant me Thy true love, and then shall I become pleasing to
Thee. I sacrifice to Thee all my inclinations, and I desire and wish for
nothing but to please Thee.
IV.
Totus desiderabilis, talis
est Dilectus meus[48] – “He is all lovely ;
such is my Beloved.”
Jesus,
to those souls who love him as spouses, makes himself altogether desirable,
whether he chastises or consoles them, whether he appears near or distant,
because he does it all for love, and that he may be loved.
Treat
me then, O my Jesus, as Thou wilt, I will always love Thee ; whether Thou
dost give me sweetnesses or tribulations, I know that all will come to me from
Thy loving heart, and that all will be for my greater good. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.[49]
Behold, my will is ready, O Lord, to accept all that Thou shalt ordain. I will
bless the Lord at all times.[50]
At all times, whether prosperous or adverse, I will bless Thee, and love Thee,
O my Creator. I neither seek nor merit any consolation from Thee ; for I
have given Thee nothing but bitterness by my sins: I seel only Thy good
pleasure. Provided Thou art satisfied, I shall be content with any punishment.
My Jesus, my Jesus, whether far off or near, Thou shalt always be desirable to
me, always dear ; whether Thou dost console or afflict me, I will always
love Thee, always thank Thee.
V.
Quae est ista quae ascendit
de deserto, deliciis affluens, innixa super Dilectum suum ?[51]
-- “Who is this that cometh up from the desert flowing with delights, leaning
upon her Beloved ?”
Who,
then, are those souls who, living on the earth, esteem it a desert ? so
that, detached from visible things, they live only to God ; as if there
was no one else but God, whom alone they love and desire to please. And in this
way they almost go out of the world, and raise themselves above it ;
enjoying the delights which are experienced by those who wish for God alone,
and who place in God all their hopes. Who, then, are these faithful souls, if
not those who often and with pure love unite themselves to Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament ?
Yes,
my God, such do I also desire to be by the means of Thy grace, detached from
all things, and to be all Thine. Henceforth the world shall be to me a desert,
where, flying from all attachment to creatures, I will think of nothing but
Thee ; as if Thou and I were the only persons there. In Thee alone will I
put all my confidence, all my love, O God, O beloved God, my hope, my love, my
all.
VI.
If she be a wall, let us
build upon it bulwarks of silver ; if she be a door, let us join it
together with boards of cedar.[52]
This
is precisely what Jesus does when he comes to a soul in the Holy Communion. He
sees that she is a wall too weak to be able to resist the assaults of
hell ; therefore, by the virtue of the sacrament, he fortifies her with
bulwarks of silver, that is, with his divine light. He sees that she is a door
inclined easily to be corrupted, and he renews it, adjusting her with the
planks of strength and perseverance, as is signified by cedar, which is a
strong and incorruptible wood ; that is, with the gifts of holy fear, with
detachment from creatures, with the love of prayer, with supplications, with
holy desires, and still more with the gift of divine love, which are the
support of holy perseverance: Bread
strengthens man’s heart.[53]
Jesus teaches us, that as earthly bread preserves the life of the body, so the
heavenly bread of the Holy Communion preserves the life of the soul : He that eatheth Me, the same shall live by
Me.[54]
He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my
blood abideth in Me and I in him.[55]
Such are the gracious promises which Jesus makes to him who receives him in the
Blessed Sacrament.
Ah,
my Jesus ! who is weaker and more unfaithful than I ? Thou knowest
well how many times I have yielded to my enemies, and how many times they have
seized the gate, that is, my will, by which they have entered to ruin me by
causing me to lose Thy friendship. Oh, fortify me with Thy light and strength,
that I may no more lose Thee or drive Thee from me ! My Lord and my dear
Redeemer, if I am to turn back and offend Thee again, oh, let me die now, while
I hope that I am in Thy grace and united to Thee ! I trust not
myself ; no, nor will I ever, my dear Jesus, live without Thee. But as
long as I live, I am in danger of changing my will and betraying Thee, as I
have done before: do Thou help me. Help me also, most holy Mary ; have
pity on me : thou who art the Mother of perseverance, obtain for me this
gift from thy Jesus. Of thee I seek it, of thee I hope it, of thee I ask it.
VII.
Inveni, quem diligit anima
mea ; tenui eum, nec dimittam![56]
“I found Him whom my soul loveth : I held Him, and I will not let Him go.”
So
ought every soul to say who is united with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
Creatures, depart from me ; go out altogether from my heart. I loved you
once, because I was blind ; now I love you not, nor can I ever love you
again. I have found another good, infinitely more delightful than you ; I
have found in myself my Jesus, who has enamoured me by his beauty ; to
this love I have given myself entirely. He has already accepted me, so that I
am no longer my own. Creatures, farewell: I am not, nor shall I ever again be
yours ; but I am and shall be always Christ’s. He, too, is mine, and will
always be mine: I held Him, and I will
not let Him go.[57]
Now I have pressed him to my heart, receiving him in the Holy Communion ;
for the future I will hold him with my love, and will not let him leave me
anymore.
Permit
me, sweet Saviour, to embrace Thee so closely, that I may never more be
separated from Thee. Behold, I press Thee to myself, my Jesus ; I love
Thee, I love Thee ; and, oh, that I could love Thee worthily. I wish that
my only happiness and repose should be to love Thee and please Thee. Do Thou
command all creatures to leave me, and not to disturb me ; say to them, I adjure you, do not arouse or waken My love.[58]
Ah, if I do not wish it, creatures cannot enter in to disturb and divide me
from Thee. Strengthen, then, my will, unite my miserable heart to Thy divine
heart, that it may always will what Thou wilt. Do this, Lord, by Thy merits.
Amen, amen. So do I hope ; so may it be.
VIII.
Surge, aquilo, et veni,
auster ; perfla hortum meum, et fluant aromata illius[59] – “Arise, O north wind, and
come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices
thereof flow.”
Fly
from me, O north wind ! hurtful and cold wind of earthly affections ;
and come, thou soft, warm breeze of the sacred love of the Holy Spirit, which
comes from the Heart of my Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Do thou alone
breathe through my soul, which has been chosen by Jesus for his garden of
delights. Blow ; for by thy breath how many fresh and sweet odors of holy
virtues shalt thou draw forth from me ! My Jesus, my Jesus, Thou canst do
this ; and this do I hope from Thee.
IX.
Messui myrrham meam cum
aromatibus meis, comedi favum cum melle meo[60] – “I have gathered my
myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the honeycomb with my honey.”
A
soul which has received Jesus must be careful to gather myrrh, that it may
always offer the sweet odor of those virtues which arise from mortification. I
have eaten honeycomb with my honey. In like manner, the soul that loves God
alone is not satisfied with the honey, but will also have the honeycomb ;
therefore it says to Jesus: O Lord, Thy consolations are not sufficient for me,
unless Thou givest me Thyself, who art the fountain of consolation ; the
fruits of love are not enough for me, if Thou dost not give me also Thyself,
who art the object of my love. Truly Thou alone wilt suffice for me ; I am
ready to renounce all Thy delights, provided I possess Thee alone, my God, and
my only good. I love Thee, not to please myself, but to please Thee ; for
Thou dost desire to be loved by me, and Thou art worthy of all our love,
whether Thou dost console or try us.
X.
Nihil mihi deerit ; in
loco pascuae ibi me collocavit[61] – “He hath sent me in a
place of pasture, and I shall want nothing.”
Ah,
my beloved Jesus ! since Thou dost invite me in this feast of love to feed
on Thy divine flesh, what more can I ever want? The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?[62]
Whom shall I fear, if Thou, O God omnipotent, art my light and my
salvation ? I give myself all to Thee. Accept me, and then do with me what
Thou wilt ; chastise me, show Thine indignation towards me when Thou
wilt ; kill me, destroy me, and I will say always, with Job: Although He should kill me, I will trust in
Him.[63] Whilst I am
Thine, and Thou lovest me, I am content to be treated by Thee with every
hardship ; to be even annihilated, if it so pleases Thee.
XI.
In manibus meis descripsi
te ; muri tui coram oculis meis semper[64] –
“I have graven thee in My hands ; thy walls are always before my eyes.”
See
the loving care that God takes of a soul that he wishes to have to himself. He
carries it written in his hands, so that he may never forget it, and says, that
sooner would a mother forget her own son that he a soul in grace: And if she should forget, yet will I not
forget thee.[65] And thy
walls are always before My eyes. His eyes are always open, to watch over that
soul, so that its enemies do it no harm : Thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of Thy good-will.[66]
Our good God surrounds us with the protection of his good-will, wholly
solicitous for our good ; and so he delivers us from all dangers. Ah, my
God ! infinite goodness, who more than any other lovest me and desirest my
good, I abandon myself entirely to Thee. Should every other hope fail me, Thou
wilt never fail me. I know that I also must cooperate by obeying Thy holy will.
Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?[67]
Nothing else can I say ; behold me ready and determined, my sweet Saviour,
to do what Thou pleasest: Thy will be
done.[68] Nothing
else do I desire but to accomplish Thy will. But do Thou help me, otherwise I
shall do no good at all. Teach me not only to know, but also to do, all that
pleases Thee: teach me to do Thy will.[69]
Eternal Father, grant that I may be able to say with truth, as Thy Jesus did
wilst he was on earth : I always do
the things that are pleasing to Him.[70]
My God ! this I desire, this I pray for, and this I hope, through the
merits of Thy Son and the most holy Mary.
XII.
Praebe, fili mi, cor tuum
mihi[71] –
“My son, give Me thy heart.”
O
my soul, behold this is all that thy Lord asks of thee ; when he comes to
visit thee, he would have thy heart and thy will. He gives himself to thee
without reserve ; it is but reasonable that thou shouldst also give him
all thyself without reserve, taking care to follow his will in all things: For the Lord will return to rejoice over
thee in all good things.[72]
Act in such a manner as that Jesus, when he comes to thee again, may find that
thou hast executed all his designs. My Jesus ! I wish to please
Thee ; help Thou my desire. Give me strength, and do with me whatsoever
Thou pleasest.
XIII.
Quid est quod debut ultra
facere vineae meae, et non feci ei?[73]
-- “What is there that I ought to do to my vineyard, that I have not done to it ?”
My
soul, hear what thy God says to thee: What ought I to do more for thee than I
have done? For love of thee I became man: I
am the Word made flesh.[74]
Instead of Lord, I have become servant: taking
the form of a servant.[75]
I went so far as to be born in a stable, like a worm – for worms are born in
stables : I am a worm, and no man.[76]
I died for thee, I died upon the tree of shame : I was made obedient to death, even the death of the Cross.[77]
What remained more for me to do, but to give my life for thee ? Greater
love than this no man hath, that he should lay down his life for his friends.[78]
But my love has invented and done more for thee. After my death, I have chosen
to leave myself in the Most Blessed Sacrament, to give my whole self as food.
Tell me what more could I have done to gain thy love?
It
is true, my Lord and my Redeemer ; what can I answer? I have nothing to
say. Thou hast been too good to me, and I have been too ungrateful towards
Thee. I wonder at Thy immense goodness ; I see my own baseness, and I
throw myself at Thy feet, and say: Have pity on me, my Jesus, though I have
repaid Thy love with so much ingratitude. Avenge Thyself, therefore, I pray
Thee, avenge Thyself upon me, and chastise me ; but do not abandon
me ; chastise me and change me. Let me not live any longer ungrateful to
Thee. Grant that I may love Thee at least out of gratitude, and that before I
die I may make Thee some recompense for Thy love.
XIV.
Pone me ut signaculum super
cor tuum[79] – “Put Me as a seal upon
thy heart.”
Yet,
my beloved Jesus, since I have consecrated to Thee my whole heart, it is but
just that I should put Thee as a seal of love upon it, to close the entrance
against any other affection ; and thus to make known to all that my heart
is Thine, and that Thou alone possessest dominion over it. But, my Lord, what
dost Thou hope from me, if Thou dost not do the work Thyself ? I can do
nothing but give Thee my poor heart, that Thou mayest dispose of me according
to Thy pleasure. Behold, I give it all to Thee, I consecrate it to Thee, I
sacrifice it to Thee. Do Thou possess it forever ; I will no longer have
any part in it. If Thou lovest it, mayest Thou be able to preserve it for
Thyself. Leave it no longer in my hands, lest I should again take it from Thee.
O God most gracious, O infinite love, since Thou hast so constrained me to love
Thee, I pray Thee, make Thyself loved, make Thyself loved by me. I only wish to
love Thee in order to please Thee. Thou who dost work miracles to be able to
enter into my heart in this sacrament, work also this one, make my heart all
Thine ; but all, all, all, without division, without reserve, so that I
may say, both in this life and in eternity, that Thou art the only Lord of my
heart, and my only treasure: God is the
God of my heart, and my portion forever.[80]
Most
holy Mary, my Mother and my hope, do thou help me, and I shall certainly be
heard. Amen, amen. This I wish, this I hope. So be it.
Adoro Te Devote
Hidden
God, devoutly I adore you,
Truly
present underneath these veils:
All
my heart subdues itself before you,
Since
it all before you faints and fails.
Not
to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing
only do we trust secure;
I
believe, for God the Son has said it –
Word
of Truth that ever shall endure.
On
the cross was veiled your Godhead’s splendor,
Here
your manhood lies hidden too;
Unto
both alike my faith I render,
And,
as sued the contrite thief, I sue.
Though
I look not on your wounds with Thomas,
You,
my Lord, and you, my God, I call:
Make
me more and more believe your promise,
Hope
in you, and love you over all.
O
memorial of my Saviour dying
Living
Bread, that gives life to man;
Make
my soul, its life from you supplying,
Taste
your sweetness, as on earth it can.
Deign,
O Jesus, Pelican of heaven,
Me,
a sinner, in your Blood to lave,
To
a single drop of which is given
All
the world from all its sin to save.
Contemplating,
Lord, your hidden presence,
Grant
me what I thirst for and implore,
In
the revelation of your essence
To
behold your glory evermore.
Prayer of Self-Dedication to
Jesus Christ
Lord
Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will.
All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided
by your will. Your grace and your love are wealth enough for me. Give me these,
Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more.
Prayer to Jesus Christ
Crucified
My
good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you, asking you most earnestly to engrave
upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance
for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five
wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good
Jesus, the words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself: they
have pierced my hands and my feet, they have counted all my bones!
Anima Christi
Soul
of Christ, sanctify me.
Body
of Christ, heal me.
Blood
of Christ, drench me.
Water
from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion
of Christ, strengthen me.
Good
Jesus, hear me.
In
your wounds shelter me.
From
turning away keep me.
From
the evil one protect me.
At
the hour of my death call me.
Into
your presence lead me,
to
praise you with all your saints
for
ever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary
Mary,
holy virgin mother, I have received your Son, Jesus Christ. With love you
became his mother, gave birth to him, nursed him, and helped him grow to
manhood. With love I return him to you, to hold once more, to love with all
your heart, and to offer to the Holy Trinity as our supreme act of worship for
your honor and for the good of all your pilgrim brothers and sisters. Mother,
ask God to forgive my sins and to help me serve him more faithfully. Keep me
true to Christ until death, and let me come to praise him with you for ever and
ever. Amen.
A Prayer to St. Joseph
St.
Joseph, father and guardian of virgin, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus,
innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and
beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to
save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my
body chaste ; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect
chastity. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the
Archangel
St.
Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle ; be our defense against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do
you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan
and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Litany of Humility
(composed by Cardinal Merry del Val)
O
Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me
From
the desire of being esteemed, deliver me
Jesus
From
the desire of being loved, etc.
From
the desire of being extolled,
From
the desire of being honored,
From
the desire of being praised,
From
the desire of being preferred to others,
From
the desire of being consulted,
From
the desire of being approved,
From
the fear of being humiliated,
From
the fear of being despised,
From
the fear of suffering rebukes,
From
the fear of being calumniated,
From
the fear of being forgotten,
From
the fear being ridiculed,
From
the fear of being wronged,
From
the fear of being suspected,
That
others may be loved more than I, Jesus
grant me the grace to desire it
That
others may be esteemed more than I, etc.
That
in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease,
That
others may be chosen and I set aside,
That
others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That
others may be preferred to me in everything,
That
others become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should.
Whom I Have Received
I
welcome the true Body born of the Virgin Mary. The Body that truly suffered and
was sacrificed on the cross for mankind. The Body whose pierced side poured out
true Blood. Be for us a food of future strength for the time of death. Dear
king, holy, sweet Jesus, Son of Mary.
Prayer of Adoration
I
adore You present in me, Incarnate Word, only-begotten Son and splendor of the
Father, born of Mary. I thank You, sole Master and Truth, for Your supreme
condescension in coming to me, ignorant and sinful as I am. With Mary I offer
You to the Father: through You, with You, in You, may there be eternal praise,
thanksgiving and supplication for peace to man. Enlighten my mind ; make
me a docile disciple of the Church ; grant that I may live of faith ;
give me an understanding of the Scriptures. Make me Your ardent apostle. Let
the light of Your Gospel, O Divine Master, shine to the farthest bounds of the
world.
Prayer of Resolution
O
Jesus, You are the Way which I must follow ; the perfect Model which I
must imitate. In presenting myself at the judgment I want to be found similar
to You. O divine Model of humility and obedience, make me similar to You. O
perfect example of mortification and purity, make me similar to You. O Jesus,
poor and patient, make me similar to You. O exemplar of charity and ardent
zeal, make me similar to You.
Prayer of Petition
O
Jesus, my Life, my joy and source of all good, I love You. Above all, I ask of
You that I may love You more and more and the souls redeemed by Your blood. You
are the vine and I am the branch: I want to stay united to You always so as to
bring forth many fruits. You are the source: pour out an ever greater abundance
of grace to sanctify my soul. You are my head, I, Your member: communicate to
me Your Holy Spirit with all His gifts. May Your kingdom come through Mary.
Console and save those dear to me. Free the souls in purgatory. Multiply and
sanctify those called to the apostolate.
Prayer for Purity
Jesus,
Mary, and Joseph, I give and consecrate my entire self to you: mind, heart and
body. Guard and defend me always from every sin. May my mind be uplifted to
heavenly things. May my heart love God ever more. May I avoid every evil
occasion. Keep me near you, so that I may keep a close watch over my internal
and external senses. In heaven may I join the company of the pure forever.
Amen.
Prayer of St. Pius X to
Foster the Practice of Daily Communion
O
most sweet Jesus, who has come into this world to give to all souls the life of
Your grace, and who, to preserve and increase it in them, has willed to be the
daily Remedy of their infirmity and the Food for each day, we humbly beg You –
by Your heart so burning with love for us – to pour Your divine Spirit upon all
souls in order that those who have the misfortune to be in the state of mortal sin may, returning to You, find the
life of grace which they have lost.
And
grant that those who are already living by this divine life may devoutly
approach Your divine table every day when it is possible, so that receiving
each day in Holy Communion the antidote of their daily venial sins, and each
day sustaining in themselves the life of Your grace and thus ever purifying
themselves the more, they may finally come to a happy life with You.
THOMAS A KEMPIS:
Act of Faith
O
Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink,
because Thou hast it and Thy word is true.
Act of Adoration
O
Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy hands I came, and
with Thee I am to be happy forever.
Act of Humility
O
Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart
may speak to Thee.
Act of Love
Sweet
Jesus, I love Thee ; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knowest that I
love Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.
Act of Thanksgiving
My
good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me,
sweet Jesus! Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
Act of Offering
O
Jesus, receive my poor offering ; Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself to me,
and now let me give myself to Thee.
Sweet
Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I trust not without Thee. Thou art with
me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear to do so,
though I am so weak, because I have so much hope in Thee. Give me the grace to
persevere. Amen.
POPE CLEMENT XI (attributed to):
The Universal Prayer
Lord,
I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you : strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my
sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning. I long for you as my last end, I
praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector. Guide
me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy,
protect me with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on
you ; my words : to have you for their theme ; my actions :
to reflect my love for you ; my sufferings : to be endured for your
greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me : in the way you ask,
because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will,
purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to
resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weakness and to
grow stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see
myself as I really am : a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to
respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those
under my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out
toward others. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me
patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at
prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good
intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech
blameless, my life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weakness. Let
me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation.
Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the
happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater
trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of
heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Defend
us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all dangers both of soul and body; and, by
the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God,
of blessed Joseph, of Thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N. [here
insert the name of your Patron Saint], and of all Thy Saints, grant us, in Thy
mercy, health and peace; that all adversities and errors being done away, Thy
Church may serve Thee with a pure and undisturbed devotion.
O
God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, 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, we beseech Thee, 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 may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.
Almighty
and Everlasting God, who alone dost great wonders, send down upon Thy servants,
and the congregations committed unto them, the spirit of Thy saving grace; and
that they may truly please Thee, pour forth upon them the continual dew of Thy
blessing.
Grant,
we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy servant our Bishop, that, by preaching and
doing such things as are right, he may by the example of good works edify the
minds of those under his authority, and receive of Thee, most tender Shepherd,
an everlasting recompense and reward.
Mercifully
hear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the prayers of Thy Church: that, all adversities
and errors being done away, we may serve Thee with a pure and undisturbed
devotion.
O
God, our refuge and our strength, who art the Author of all goodness: hear, we
beseech Thee, the devout prayers of Thy Church; and grant that what we faithfully
ask we may effectually obtain. Through our Lord.
O
Almighty God, despise not Thy people who cry unto Thee in their affliction;
but, for the glory of Thy name, turn away Thine anger, and help us in our
tribulations.
Almighty
and most merciful God, who didst cause a fount of living water to spring out of
a rock, for Thy people in their thirst: draw forth tears of compunction from
our stony hearts; that we may weep over our sins, and by Thy mercy deserve to obtain
pardon for the same.
O
God, who rejectest none that come unto Thee, but in loving-kindness art
appeased even with the greatest sinners who repent: mercifully regard our
prayers in our humiliation, and enlighten our hearts that we may be able to
fullfil Thy commandments.
O
God, who justifiest the ungodly, and willest not the death of a sinner: we
humbly entreat Thy majesty to protect Thy servants, who trust in Thy mercy,
with Thy heavenly assistance, and preserve them by Thy continual protection;
that they may constantly serve Thee, and by no temptation be separated from
Thee.
Almighty
and most merciful God, graciously hearken unto our prayers: and free our hearts
from the temptations of evil thoughts; that we may worthily become a fit
habitation for Thy Holy Spirit.
Inflame,
O Lord, our reigns and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit: that we may
serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a pure mind.
O
God, who resistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble: grant us the
virtue of true humility, whereof Thine Only-begotten showed in Himself a
pattern for Thy faithful; that we may never by our pride provoke Thine anger,
but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Thy grace.
O
God, who didst crush the pride of the enemy by the long-suffering of Thine
Only-begotten Son: grant, we bessech Thee, that we may worthily recall those
things which in His tender love He bore for us; and thus following His example
may patiently endure all our adversities.
O
God, who makest all things to work together for good unto those who love Thee;
give to our hearts the lasting affection of Thy love; that such desires as are
inspired by Thee may never be changed by any temptation.
O
Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast compassion on all, and wouldst not that
any should perish: favorably look down upon all those who are seduced by the
deceit of Satan; that, all heretical impiety being removed, the hearts of such
as err may repent and return to the unity of Thy truth.
O
Almighty and Everlasting God, who desirest not the death but the life of
sinners mercifully accept our prayers, and, delivering pagans from the worship
of idols, unite them to Thy Church, to the praise and honor of Thy glorious
name.
O
God, who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, hast poured into the hearts of Thy
faithful the gifts of charity: grant to Thy servants and handmaids, for whom we
implore Thy mercy, health both of body and soul; that they may love Thee with
all their strength, and cheerfully perform those things which are pleasing unto
Thee.
O
God, the lover and preserver of peace and charity: grant unto all our enemies
peace and true charity; give them remission of all their sins, and by Thy power
deliver us from their snares.
Into
the hands of Thy unspeakable mercy, O Lord, I recommend my soul and body; my
senses, my words, my thoughts, and all my actions, with all the necessities of
my body and soul; my going forth and my coming in; my faith and conversation;
the course and end of my life; the day and hour of my death; my rest and
resurrection with the Saints and the Elect.
Almighty
and Eternal God, the everlasting help of those who believe: hear us for Thy
sick servant N., for whom we implore the aid of Thy tender mercy, that, being
restored to bodily health, he (or she) may give thanks to Thee in Thy Church.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty
and Merciful God, who hast conferred upon mankind both the remedies of health,
and the gifts of everlasting life: look upon this Thy servant who laboureth
under sickness of body, and comfort the soul which Thou hast created; that,
freed from the stains of sin, he (or she) may, at the hour of departure,
deserve to be presented unto Thee, his (or her) Creator by the hands of the
holy angels.
Incomprehensible
Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge:
vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from
us all darkness of sin and ignorance. [Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of
those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace
of Thy blessing.] Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of
apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy
grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal
salvation of our own souls.
O
Father of mankind, who hast given unto me these my children, and committed them
to my charge to bring them up for Thee, and to prepare them for everlasting
life: assist me with Thy heavenly grace, that I may be able to fulfill this
most sacred duty and stewardship.Teach me both what to give and what to withhold;
when to reprove and when to forbear; make me gentle, yet firm; considerate and
watchful; and deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence, and the
excess of severity; and grant that, both by word and example, I may be careful
to lead them in the ways of wisdom and true piety, so that at last I may, with
them, be admitted to the unspeakable joys of our true home in heaven, in the
company of the blessed Angels and Saints.
O
heavenly Father, I commend my children unto Thee. Be Thou their God and Father;
and mercifully supply whatever is wanting in me through frailty or negligence.
Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist all
solicitations to evil, whether from within or without; and deliver them from
the secret snares of the enemy. Pour Thy grace into their hearts, and confirm
and multiply in them the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so, faithfully serving
Thee here, may come to rejoice in Thy presence hereafter.
O
Lord, I beseech Thee to grant me Thy divine light, that I may know the designs
of Thy providence concerning me, and that, filled with a sincere desire for my
soul’s salvation, I may say, with the young man in the Gospel: What must I do
to be saved? All states of life are before me; but, still undecided what to do,
I await Thy commands, I offer myself to Thee without restriction, without
reserve, with a most perfect submission. Far be it from me, O Lord, to oppose
the order of Thy wisdom, and, unfaithful to the inspiration of Thy grace, to
strive to subject the will of the Creator to the caprice of the creature. It is
not for the servant to choose the way in which he will serve his master: do
Thou lay upon me what commands Thou pleasest. My lot is in Thy hands. I make no
exception, lest perchance what I except be that which Thou willest, and because
I am too short-sighted to discover in the future the different obstacles I
shall meet with, if, without Thy guidance, I make myself the arbiter of my own
conduct. Speak, Lord, to my soul; speak to me as Thou didst to the youthful
Samuel: Speak Lord; for Thy servant heareth. I cast myself at Thy feet, and I
am ready, if it be Thy will, to sacrifice myself as a victim to Thee for the
remainder of my days, in such wise as Thou shalt deem most worthy of Thy
greatness. O my God, inspire the affections of my parents, and guide their
projects according to the counsels of Thy wisdom. Lord, I sincerely desire to
consult Thee who art the Eternal Truth; grant that my parents also may submit
themselves to its decrees, faithfully and without reserve.
[1] Matthew 25: 6.
[2] Cant. 2: 8.
[3] Cant. 2: 9.
[4] Cant. 3: 11.
[5] Cant. 1: 12.
[6] Cant. 1: 13.
[7] Cant. 1: 11.
[8] Wisdom 1 :1.
[9] Psalm 118: 43, 39, 52.
[10] Lam. 3: 25.
[11] Psalm 72: 1.
[12] Cant. 5: 2.
[13] Cant. 5: 1.
[14] Isaiah 66: 12.
[15] Ad pop. Ant. Hom. 60.
[16] Cant. 1: 1.
[17] Cant. 5: 1.
[18] Matthew 6: 10.
[19] Cant. 2: 5.
[20] Cant. 5: 10.
[21] Tit. 3: 4.
[22] In Ps. 33: en. 1.
[23] Matthew 26: 26.
[24] John 6: 61.
[25] Deut. 10: 12.
[26] Prov. 8: 17.
[27] Zach. 1: 3.
[28] John 14 : 23.
[29] ST. AUGUSTINE, Confessions, I, ch.29.
[30] Cant. 1: 5.
[31] Cant. 1: 4.
[32] Luke 5: 8.
[33] John 16: 24.
[34] Psalm 1: 12.
[35] John 16: 23.
[36] Luke 5: 8.
[37] Psalm 115: 12.
[38] Psalm 65: 16.
[39] Cant. 2: 16.
[40] Mark 10: 51.
[41] Psalm 50: 12.
[42] John 16: 23.
[43] Alphonsus Rodriguez
[44] Cant. 1: 3.
[45] Psalm 4: 9.
[46] Cant. 2: 4.
[47] Cant. 6: 1.
[48] Cant. 5: 16.
[49] Psalm 56: 8.
[50] Psalm 33: 2.
[51] Cant. 8: 5.
[52] Cant. 8: 9.
[53] Psalm 103: 15.
[54] John 6: 58.
[55] John 6: 57.
[56] Cant. 3: 4.
[57] Ibid.
[58] Cant. 8: 4.
[59] Cant. 4: 16.
[60] Cant. 5: 1.
[61] Psalm 22: 1.
[62] Psalm 26: 1.
[63] Job 13: 15.
[64] Isaiah 49: 16.
[65] Isaiah 49: 15.
[66] Psalm 5: 13.
[67] Acts 12: 6.
[68] Matthew 6: 10.
[69] Psalm 142: 10.
[70] John 8: 29.
[71] Prov. 23: 26.
[72] Deut. 30: 9.
[73] Isaiah 5: 4.
[74] John 1: 14.
[75] Phil. 2: 7.
[76] Psalm 21: 7.
[77] Phil. 2: 8.
[78] John 15: 13.
[79] Cant. 8: 6.
[80] Psalm 72: 26.