ought to examine into the sins which are peculiar to their states, and how far they may have neglected the duties of their respective callings.

Contrition, or sorrow for sin, is absolutely necessary for a good confession. It consists of sorrow for past sins, and a determination to avoid for the future both sin and the occasions of sin. Ask of God to give you this true contrition.

A Prayer for obtaining Contrition.

I HAVE now here before me, O Lord, a sad prospect of the manifold offences, by which I have displeased thy divine Majesty, and which I am assured will appear in judgment against me, if I repent not, and my soul be not disposed, by a hearty sorrow, to receive thy pardon. But this sorrow, O Lord, this repentance must be thy free gift, and if it comes not from the hand of thy mercy, all my endeavours will be in vain, and I shall be for ever miserable. Have mercy, therefore, on me, O Father of mercies, and pour forth into my heart thy grace, whereby I may sincerely repent of all my sins; give me a true contrition, that I may bewail my past misery and ingratitude, and grieve from my heart for having offended thee, so good a God. Permit me not to be deluded with a false sorrow, as, I fear, I have been too often, through my own weakness and neglect; but let it be now thy gift, descending from thee, the Father of lights, that so my repentance may be accompanied with amendment and change of life, and I may be fully acquitted from the guilt of all my sins, and once more received into the number of thy servants. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O most merciful and forgiving Lord, for the love

of thee I forgive all who have ever offended me. I firmly resolve to forsake and flee from all sins, and to avoid the occasions of them; and to confess, in bitterness of spirit, all those sins which I have committed against thy divine goodness, and to love thee, O my God, for thine own sake, above all things and for ever. Grant me grace so to do, O most gracious Lord Jesus. Amen.

With all the fervour of your heart, make the Act of Contrition :

An Act of Contrition.

O GOD, for the sake of thy sovereign goodness and infinite perfections, which I love above all things, I am exceedingly sorry from the bottom of my heart, and grieved for having offended by my sins, this thy infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin. Amen.

METHOD OF CONFESSION.

Kneeling down, make the sign of the cross, saying: IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then, ask a blessing in these words:

Pray, father, give me your blessing, for I have sinned.

The Priest's Blessing.

May the Lord be in your heart, and on your lips, that you may, with truth and with humility, confess all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then say the first part of the Confiteor, as follows:

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you, father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.

Then say:

Since my last confession, which was [mention how long since], I accuse myself, &c.

After this, accuse yourself of your sins, either according to the order of God's commandments, or such other order as you find most helpful to your memory; adding, after each sin, the number of times that you have been guilty of it, and such circumstances as may very considerably aggravate the guilt; but carefully abstaining from such as are impertinent or unnecessary, and from excuses and long narrations.

After you have confessed all that you can remember, conclude with this or the like form:

For these and all other my sins, which I cannot at present call to my remembrance, I am heartily sorry, purpose amendment for the future, and most humbly ask pardon of God, and penance and absolution of you, my ghostly father.

Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and you, father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

Then give attentive ear to the instructions and aavice of your confessor, and humbly accept of the penance enjoined by him. Whilst the Priest gives you absolution, bow down your head, with great humility call upon God for mercy, and repeat once again the Act of Contrition.

THANKSGIVING AND SATISFACTION.

Having received from God the great blessing of the pardon of your sins, be careful, at once, to thank him for his goodness.

A Prayer after Confession.

WHAT thanks are not due to thee, O my Jesus, for thy great goodness to me? When I was faithless to thy goodness and loving-kindness, thou hast had patience with me; and even when I offended thee, thy grace waited for me. It is to thy infinite grace and goodness that I am indebted for this sacrament, in which thou hast reconciled me to thyself. To thee, and to thy precious blood, I desire to offer all the love of my heart, just cleansed from sin. Humbled before thee, I cried out like David, Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and thou hast heard my prayer, O my God, thou hast forgiven me my sins, thou hast restored unto me the joy of thy salvation. Join with me, O my dear Mother Mary, and you my Angel Guardian, and holy Patron, in thanking our dear Jesus for his goodness, and mercy to me.

I desire once again, O my Jesus, to express the grief and contrition, of my heart, for having offended thee. Whilst thanking thee for having released me from my sins, I renew the hatred and detestation of them, with which thou hast inspired me. Reject not, I beseech thee, the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart. It is to thee that I have returned, sinful and sorrowing; it is through thy mercy that I have received the pardon of my

sins. Blessed and praised for evermore be thy infinite goodness and mercy. Amen.

A Prayer for Perseverance.

As thou hast given me, O my God, the grace once again to return to thee, I am resolved from henceforth to live wholly for thee. I belong to thee, O my God, keep me as the pupil of thine eye, protect me under the shadow of thy wing. I will fly from sin, I will avoid the occasions, and abstain even from the appearances of sin. From henceforth my whole life shall be devoted to thee, I will seek in all things to do thy most holy will. Assist me, O my God, to keep these holy resolutions; guide my feet in the way of thy commandments; permit not that iniquity should have any dominion over me. Let me not receive thy grace in vain, but do thou, O my God, complete the work thou hast wrought in me, and bestow on me that sorrow which leads to true repentance. Grant me the grace of perseverance, that I may faithfully serve thee all the days of my life. Amen.

SATISFACTION is an integral part of the sacrament of penance; we must therefore be most careful to perform the penance given us by our confessor. It is best to do so before leaving the Church.

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