Remember, too, that the Church has bound all her Priests to strict secrecy in the following words : If any man confess his secret and hidden sins to the Minister for the unburdening of his conscience, and to receive spiritual consolation and ease of mind from him, we do strictly charge and admonish him that he do not at any time reveal and make known to any person whatsoever any crime or offence so committed to his trust and secresy.-See Canon CXIII. Now listen to the advice of a holy man : W HAT availeth it to delay long the Confession of thy sins, or to defer the Holy Communion ? Make thyself thoroughly clean as soon as possible, spit out the poison with all speed, make haste to apply this sovereign Remedy, and thou shalt find it to be better with thee, than if thou long defer it. If thou omit it to-day for one cause, perhaps to-morrow another of greater force may occur to thee; and so thou mayest be hindered a long time from Communion, and grow more and more unfit. As quickly as ever thou canst, shake off from thyself thy present heaviness and sloth, for it is of no use to continue long in disquietness, or to be going on long with a disturbed conscience, and for every-day impediments to sequester thyself from Divine service. IN the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee. Cleanse my conscience, I beseech Thee, O God, that Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, when He cometh, may find in me a dwelling prepared for Himself. Almighty and Everlasting God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of Thy Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come as one sick to the Physician of life: unclean, to the Fountain of mercy blind, to the Light of eternal brightness: needy, to the Lord of Heaven and earth: a lost sheep, to the Good Shepherd: guilty, to the Giver of pardon. I therefore pray Thee of Thy goodness to heal my sickness, to wash my foulness, to lighten my darkness, to enrich my poverty; that I may receive the Bread of Angels, our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, with reverence and honour, with chastity of body and purity of soul, with faith, humility, and love. And, most loving Father, grant that I may one day behold with these mine eyes Thy well-beloved Son, Whom I now by faith behold veiled under the forms of bread and wine. Hear me, I pray Thee, for His merits, Who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever One God, world without end. Amen. Or, GREAT High Priest, the true Priest, Jesus Christ, who can worthily draw nigh unto this holy Sacrament unless Thou, O Lord God Almighty, makest him worthy? I know, O Lord, yea, surely do I know, and this do I confess to Thy loving mercy, that I am not worthy to draw near to so high a Mystery, by reason of my many sins, [especially. . . . .] and my numberless negligences and omissions. But I know, and truly do I believe with my whole heart, and confess with my lips, that Thou canst make me worthy, Who alone canst make that clean which cometh out of an unclean thing, and sinners to be righteous and holy. By this Thine Almighty power, I pray Thee, grant to me, a sinner, to approach this holy Sacrifice with fear and trembling, with purity of heart and plenteousness of tears, with spiritual gladness and heavenly joy. May my mind feel the sweetness of Thy most blessed Presence and the guardianship of Thy holy Angels round about me; for Thy mercy's sake. Amen. A LITANY. Jesus, Son of God, one with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, Kings of kings and Lord of lords, Have mercy upon us. Jesus, Son of Mary, Incarnate by the Holy Ghost, Two Natures, One Divine Person, Have mercy upon us. Jesus, the Bread of Life, Which camest down from Heaven; of Which whosoever eats shall live for ever, Have mercy upon us. Jesus, Who sittest at the Right Hand of Thy Eternal Father, adored by innumerable Angels, Have mercy upon us. From neglecting to approach Thy Holy Table; and from coming to it unprepared, speaking, lying and slandering, Good Lord, deliver us. sin, all reviling, evilGood Lord, deliver us. From all partaking of the malefactor's From all idle and wandering thoughts, while we offer and present this awful Sacrifice, Good Lord, deliver us. From all hardness of heart and unthankfulness for so unspeakable a blessing, Good Lord, deliver us. |