this food of angels strengthen us in every Christian duty, so as never more to yield under temptations, or fall into our common weaknesses.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, according to the will of thy Father, with the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hast by thy death given life to the world; deliver us by this, thy most sacred Body and Blood, from all our iniquities and from all evils; and make us always adhere to thy commandments, and never suffer us to be separated from thee; who, with the same God the Father and Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.

Let not the sacrifice of thy Body and Blood, O Lord Jesus Christ, at which, though unworthy, we presume to assist, turn to our judgment and condemnation; but through thy goodness may it be to us a safeguard and remedy, both to soul and body; who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.

At the Domine, non sum dignus, say thrice: LORD, I am not worthy that thou

shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

The Priest makes the sign of the cross upon himself with the Host, saying, May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting, Amen, and so receives it. Then, after a short pause, he receives the chalice, saying, The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen. Then follows the communion of the people.

Act of Spiritual Communion for those who do not communicate.

O MY Sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, thou art my sovereign good, the fountain of all good, my God, and my all. I most firmly believe that for us sinners, and for our salvation, thou wast pleased to come down from heaven, to take upon thee, by the mystery of thine incarnation, our human nature, and to become one of us, that so thou mightest be our High-Priest and Victim. I most firmly believe that thou offeredst thyself upon the cross a sacrifice for us all, after having suffered many cruel torments for us; and that, by thy glorious resurrection and admirable ascension, thou hast opened the gates of heaven for us. I most firmly believe, that in these sacred

mysteries thou art truly and really present, and that thy sacred Body and Blood are here offered up in sacrifice, and verily and indeed received by the faithful in remembrance of thy death. O come to me, dear Lord, in spirit, and take full possession of my heart and of my soul. To thee I give my memory that thou mayest always dwell in my thoughts, my understanding that it may be ever engaged in contemplating thy love and goodness, and my will that thou mayest direct it to the keeping of thy holy law. To thee I give my whole self, O my Jesus; make me to be ever thine. May the virtue of thy divine Sacrament increase my faith, fortify my hope, purify my charity, and fill my heart with thy love. O let me be thine and thou mine from henceforth and for ever; and grant that nothing in life or death may ever separate me from thee any more! Amen.

After the communion, the Priest takes the ablution of wine and water into the chalice, in order to consume whatever may remain of the consecrated species. Then, covering the chalice, he goes to the book, and reads a versicle of Holy Scripture called the Communion; after which he turns about to the people, with the usual salutation, Dominus vobiscum; and

returning to the book, reads the collects or prayers called the Post Communion.

A Prayer after the Communion.

I RETURN thee now most hearty thanks, O my God, through Jesus Christ thy Son, that thou hast been pleased to deliver him up to death for us, and to give us his Body and Blood, both as a sacrament and a sacrifice, in these holy mysteries; at which thou hast permitted me, a most unworthy sinner, to assist this day. May heaven and earth bless and praise thee for ever for all thy mercies. O, pardon me, dear Lord, all my distractions, and the manifold negligences which I have been guilty of this day in thy sight; and let me not depart without thy benediction. Behold, I desire from this moment to give up myself and all that belongs to me into thy hands; and I beg that all mine undertakings, all my thoughts, words, and actions, may henceforward tend to thy glory, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After the Post Communion, the Friest again says, Dominus vobiscum; and dismisses the people with, Ite, missa est: the clerk answering, Deo gratias, Thanks be to God. Then, bowing down before the

E

altar, he makes a short prayer to the blessed Trinity; and turning to the people, gives his blessing in the name of the blessed Trinity. When the Priest bows before the altar, say:

MAY this homage at which we have assisted be pleasing to thee, O most holy Trinity; and grant that the sacrifice which has been offered up in the sight of thy majesty may be acceptable to thee, and through thy mercy be a propitiation for me, and for all those for whom it has been offered. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless us all, O my God, by the hand of thy servant, and let the effects of thy benediction remain eternally upon us, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Priest concludes the Mass by reading the beginning of the Gospel according to St John, which the people hear standing till these words, Et verbum caro factum est, And the word was made flesh when both Priest and people kneel down in reverence to the mystery of Christ's incarnation. At the end the clerk answers, Deo gratias, Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of St John.

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning