Then the Priest, returning to the middle of the altar, says: Libera nos, &c., as usual; and, after he has received the Blood, communicates the newly-married couple and proceeds with the Mass: and having said the Benedicamus Domino, or Ite, Missa est, before he blesses the people he turns to the bride and bridegroom, and says: May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and himself fulfil his blessing upon you; that you may see your children's children unto the third and fourth generation; and may afterwards have everlasting life, without end, by the help of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, God, world without end. Amen. The Blessing of a Toman after Childbirth. This blessing is only for married women. If a woman after childbirth wishes to give thanks to God for her safe delivery, and to ask the Priest's blessing, she shall pause at the church door, holding in her hand a lighted taper, where the Priest shall come to her, and sprinkling her with holy water, shall say: V. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Ant. She shall receive. Psalm xxiii. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: the world and all that dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas: and upon the streams does he make it fast. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord ? and who shall stand in his holy place? He that is clean of hands and pure of heart; who has not vainly lifted up his soul, neither hath he sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord: and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the generation of them that seek him : that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of Glory shall come in. : Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory. Glory be to the Father, &c. Ant. She shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God her Saviour: for this is the generation of them that seek the Lord. The Priest, placing the end of his stole into the hand of the woman, leads her into the church, saying: Come into the temple of God, adore the Son of blessed Mary, the Virgin, who has granted thee fruitfulness of offspring. Having entered, she kneels before the altar, giving thanks to God, and the Priest says: Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Our Father, &c. (in secret). V. And lead us not into temptation. V. Save thy handmaid, O Lord. V. Send her help, O Lord, from thy Sanctuary. V. Let not the enemy prevail against her. R. And let my cry come to thee. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY everlasting God, who by the delivery of blessed Mary, the Virgin, hast turned into joy the pains of the faithful in childbirth; graciously look upon this thy handmaid, coming in gladness to thy holy temple to give thee thanks, and grant that after this life, by the merits and intercession of the same blessed Mary, she may be found worthy to attain, together with her offspring, the joy of everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Priest sprinkles her with holy water, saying: May the peace and blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, come down upon you, and remain for ever. Amen. + Endulgences. I. WHAT AN INDULGENCE IS. By an Indulgence is meant the remission of the temporal punishment due to us on account of our sins. Every sin, however grievous, is remitted through the sacrament of penance, or by an act of perfect contrition, as regards its guilt and the eternal punishment due to it. But the debt of temporal punishment is not always remitted at the same time. This latter is done away with by deep penitence, or by works of satisfaction, e.g. prayers, alms, fasting, &c.; or by the patient endurance of troubles and adversities sent us by God, &c. ; or by the satisfaction of our Lord Jesus Christ and the saints, applied to us through Indulgences by those who have the power to apply them. And although, in order to escape this temporal punishment, we must not rely on Indulgences alone, to the neglect of good works; yet because, at the best, our own good works are very imperfect, and the debt of punishment due by us very great, we ought to endeavour, as frequently as possible, to avail ourselves of the benefits of Indulgences. Indulgences are of two kinds :-1st, A plenary Indulgence, when duly gained, is a full and entire remission of all the temporal punishment due to sin. The eight Indulgences granted to the faith + ful, at the principal festivals in the year, are plenary Indulgences. A jubilee is also a plenary Indulgence occasionally granted by the Pope to the whole Church, in the most ample manner, and with the greatest solemnity. There are many other plenary Indulgences granted to various good works. 2d, A partial or limited Indulgence, as of ten years or a hundred days, &c., remits as much of the temporal punishment as would have been remitted by ten years, or a hundred days, &c., of the canonical penances formerly imposed on public penitents. II. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR OBTAINING AN INDULGENCE. 1. A Plenary Indulgence; to approach to the sacraments of penance and the Holy Eucharist; to perform the special work to which the Indulgence is attached. Most plenary Indulgences have attached to them as a condition that we are to pray for the intention of the Holy Father. For this purpose, we may say a litany, a portion of the rosary, Jesus psalter, or five Paters and five Aves. One Communion suffices for several Indulgences, if they can be gained on the same day. 2. Partial Indulgence: To be in a state of grace: to perform the work to which the Indulgence is attached. N.B.-Power is generally given to confessors to change the works for some others, in the case of the sick, or persons who are confined, and who cannot therefore fulfil some of the conditions, such as fasting, or visiting certain churches. |