infinitely more. He will not separate the sacrifice of the Body from that inestimable Offering of the Head of which it is the memorial, and which it represents before Him. He gives back Christ Himself to be our joy and our spiritual sustenance in this holy Mystery, whereby Christ dwelleth in us, and we in Him. He renews the gift given in our baptism, even the life of Christ Himself living in us, the members of His Body.

LORD and heavenly Father, what am I,

to come to Thy holy Table for such a Gift as this? All that I can bring, all that the whole Church can bring, is as nothing compared with that which Thou dost now offer us.

Oh, let the sacred Body and Blood of my Lord and Saviour so strengthen and refresh His life in me, that henceforth the natural man may be powerless, that I may live entirely devoted to Thee.

I humbly bow down myself before my Lord present with us in Body, Soul, and Spirit, in His Divine and Human Nature, one Christ. Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord!

Moreover, the unity of the Church's offering to God is maintained in the unity of God's Gift to the Church. In giving us to eat of the one Bread, and to drink of the one Cup, He recognises us individually as belonging to the Mystical Body, He places us in closest communion with the whole Church militant and at rest.

We communicate with one another in reception, as we did previously in oblation.

I

N brotherly kindness and perfect charity with all men, I come to the altar of God, to be

in communión with the Body of Christ as well as with Himself. Away with all irritation and anger! May I be perfectly reconciled with my brethren before I come to offer my gift. May this communion be a seal of final reconciliation with all in the Body of Christ.

And for the whole of this most exalted privilege of access to the majesty of God-for the first part, wherein we present ourselves in contribution towards the memorial made to the Father of His Son-and for the second part, wherein God gives us the very Body and Blood of Christ our Lord-for all, we must prepare ourselves individually by cleansing ourselves most diligently from all taint of unrepented and unforgiven sin and uncharitableness, which would utterly mar our offering, and would render us absolutely unworthy to receive the Gift of God.

LORD our heavenly Father, I bow down myself before They throne to acknowledge my utter, but not hopeless, unworthiness of this double honour. I know that every sacrifice must be without blemish. I come to Thee now to pray and beseech Thee to cleanse me, to heal me, to perfect me to be without blemish of uncleanness and sin. I know that none must come to Thy festival except in the wedding garment of a conscience cleared and quiet. I come to Thee now for pardon, and absolution, and peace ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I solemnly plead before Thee His Death and Passion, His Atonement for the sins of the whole world, as my ransom, as my plea for appearing before Thee, as the universal sinoffering, without which I dare not come with

my offering of thanksgiving. I humbly beseech Thee now to accept me for the sake of His Atonement, of His Cross and Agony which He endured for me. I plead before Thee, O Father, His love for me. I implore Thee, for His sake, to cast all my sins behind Thy back.

Let a man examine himself privately before he dare approach this crowning act of earthly worship. And if he cannot quiet his own conscience, let him go privately to the priest for help.

ELP me now, O God, to search out the leaven of malice and wickedness in my heart, and speech, and deeds.

Grant me the bright light of Thy Holy Spirit to pierce through all veils and excuses, to drag out all that is offensive, to lay it all down before the Cross of my Lord.

I beseech God the Holy Ghost to purify me wholly. It seems impossible; but with God all things are possible-even this! Show forth Thy almighty power, O God, and give me purity and peace, that I may be worthy to be offered! worthy to receive my God!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.'

Preparatory Prayers.

No. I.

GOD; I kneel before Thee to entreat Thy special help to prepare myself for this

I For matter of fuller meditation on the Holy Eucharist, the reader is referred to the author's work on "The Catholic Sacrifice.'

pray

greatest privilege of the regenerate man. that Toy oy Spit may guite and strengthen me to examine myself whether I repent me truly of my former sins, steatas y purposing to lead a new life; whether I have a Ivew tarch in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His Death; and whether I am in charry with al men; through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen."

ALMIGHTY God, who openest Thine

hand, and flest all things living with plenteousness, Who art the true and living Bread that came down from heaven, in the strength whereof we must go all the days of our lie through the wilderness of the world, until we come to the mount of God; I acknowledge that I can do no good thing of myself, that I cannot come to Thee except Thou draw me. I beseech Thee, that as Thou hast given me a good will, so Thou wouldst enable me to perform it. Let me come near to Thee now, blessed Lord, in these Mysteries. Grant me so to receive Thy dear. Son that everything weak in me may be strengthened, that everything impure may be cleansed; and that, dedicating myself wholly to Thee, I may turn away mine eyes from all vanities, and be quickened in Thy holy law. So that, pleasing Thee both in body and soul, I may attain to the exceeding great and eternal reward which Thou dost promise me in Thyself. Through Tesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

of Self-Examination and Confession, see p.

A

No. 3.

LMIGHTY Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast of Thine infinite mercy vouchsafed to ordain this dreadful Sacrament for a perpetual memorial of that blessed sacrifice which Thou didst make for us; grant me with such diligent remembrance and due reverence to assist in the holy celebration of so heavenly and wonderful a Mystery, that I may be made worthy by Thy grace to obtain the virtue of the same, and to receive all that Thou givest herein, even the fulness of Thy Body and Blood. And this I beg only from Thy mercy, Who art my Saviour, and Redeemer, and most gracious God, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Acts of Penitence.

No. I.

LORD my Saviour, Who wast pleased to be made perfect through suffering, and for our sakes didst taste the depths of bitterness, and made trial of extreme human woe; I adore Thy infinite love and compassion, which brought Thee to such unutterable sufferings for us most guilty sinners. For me didst Thou suffer the agony in the garden, when Thy soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, and Thy sweat was as great drops of blood. For me didst Thou endure the odious kiss of the traitor, and the forsaking of Thy chosen disciples.

For me wast Thou falsely accused, and unjustly condemned. For me wast Thou mocked, and struck, and spit upon. For me didst Thou wear the sharp crown of piercing thorns. For me was Thy sacred flesh mangled with the scourge. For