ST. BERNARD'S PRAYER: MEMORARE.

Remember, O most holy Virgin Mary, that no one ever had recourse to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy mediation, without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in thy goodness, behold me, a penitent sinner, sighing out my sins before thee, beseeching thee to adopt me for thy son, and to take upon thee the care of mine eternal salvation.

Despise not, O Mother of Jesus, the petition of thy humble client, but hear and grant my prayer.

A CATHOLIC PRAYER.

Oh Thou whom the Angel called "full of grace," Oh Thou who didst foretel that "all generations should call thee blessed," - Oh, blessed Virgin, give me the grace to hallow thee when others slight thee, to crave thy prayers when others disown them. Pray for me, Holy Mother of God: pray for me in every trial of soul and body: pray for me that I may get that which I now most need. Show forth thy might in my behalf; let me bear witness to its avail; and mayest thou be blessed by all whose spirits rejoice in God thy Saviour. Blessed Hope of the sorrowful, help me and uphold me now and for ever. Amen.

AN APPEAL TO CHRIST.

Dear Jesus! thou knowest what I now stand in need of thou knowest the boon that I am

now most anxious to obtain. Oh forgive me if I trust too firmly in thee that I shall not pray for it in vain. Forgive me if I remember that thou hast said "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Behold now I pray to thee; behold now I seek, I knock, I ask. Grant, oh grant me my request; and let not my trust in thy blessed promise be disappointed.

"Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name it shall be granted unto you." Remember, great God, eternal Father, whom Christ thy Son has taught me to adore as my Father also in heaven, remember this promise of my Redeemer, and fulfil my request. In His name, in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, I beg of thee to hear my petition, and to bestow this blessing upon me. Redeem, great God, His promise; and enable me so to ask that my faith may be strengthened and assured.

Let me not be disappointed, O God; for I have trusted in Jesus Christ thy Son, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

AN OFFERING OF SELF.

O Lord my God, I beseech thee to give me understanding, and to enable me to do thy will. I offer myself entirely to thee: do with me during my whole life as may tend most to thine own honour and the good of my soul. Receive

me, O God, as thy servant, and appoint me my duty. I renounce every wish that may be contrary to thy providence; and only pray that I may be employed as a tool to work out thy hallowed designs.

Direct, I beseech thee, my lot in this world according to my hopes, if those hopes are not displeasing to thee: but if they are so, O my God, I willingly renounce them, and ask only to be made the means of advancing thy glory upon earth, that I may hereafter be received as a faithful servant into thy eternal joy. Amen.

NIGHT THOUGHTS.

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Lord Jesus receive my soul. Receive my soul, dear Jesus, into thy holy keeping. Preserve it from all imaginings that may be displeasing to thee. Grant that I may not die this night: but when I awaken in the morning, restore it to me purified and strengthened-able and willing to labour to advance mine own salvation and thy merciful intentions in regard to myself, to others, and to thee. Amen.

A PARENT'S OFFERING.

Grant, O God, that the life of the children whom thou hast given to me may be a blessing to themselves, a blessing to me, and may be worthy of being blessed by thee or may they be deprived of it this day in thy mercy, rather

than that a longer existence should prevent their everlasting salvation: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER AGAINST IDLENESS.

O God, whom I have so much displeased by squandering away, on worldly cares and idle vanities, so many, many hours of that existence which was given to me for the performance of good works, for mine own sanctification, and for the edification of my neighbours; keep me, I pray thee, from all such heedless waste of time for the future. May thy grace teach me to remember that I shall have to give an account of the manner in which I shall have spent every fleeting hour; and may this remembrance prompt me to employ the rest of my life in working out my salvation: so that, in the name and by the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ, I may be able to apply diligently to all my duties and to acquire that deathless life of glory for which thou didst create me.

For what, O God, are the idle vanities that delight me compared to those interests which concern my eternal salvation? Ought even the most important worldly pursuits of the longest life to withdraw me from those mighty objects with which thou hast charged every day of mine existence? No, my God; no. Teach me to bear in mind those important objects; teach me to bear in mind those duties which ought first

to engross each day, and for which all other matters ought to be slighted and despised : teach me to remember that, on this very day, and on every day of my life, it is my first duty to glorify thee, my God; to imitate thee, my Jesus; to honour the saints and angels; to mortify my flesh; to expiate my sins; to strive for virtues; to edify my neighbours; to despise the world; to resist temptations; to overcome my passions; to make the most of my time; to think on eternity; to avoid hell; to aim at heaven; and perhaps, O God, to die ere dawn another sun, and to appear before thy judgment

seat.

These are my first calls: teach me to remember them-enable me to fulfil them; and never let me idle away one single hour in vanities or in worldly matters that may hinder me from performing those duties which thou thyself hast imposed upon me. Amen.

IN SLIGHT PROVOCATIONS.

Almighty God, my dear Saviour, who didst vouchsafe to set us an example by following which we might grow in grace with God and man, enable me, I beseech thee, to practice those virtues of meekness, forbearance, and brotherlylove which may prepare my soul for the companionship of thy blessed saints. O remove from me all vain-glory, presumption, rivalry; and teach me to be meek and humble of heart, and