Father, in the name of the Holy Catholic Church; and the prayer of the Church, together with the pious desires and prayers of the faithful, are united with this holy sacrifice. It is Jesus Christ rather who upon the altar offers himself up, and prays for us, and we may confidently hope that what we cannot obtain from God by our prayers alone, we can obtain through the Holy Mass, in which Jesus Christ himself prays for us and with us.

It is an excellent practice, therefore, for those who can, to be present daily at this most holy sacrifice, of which St. Augustine says: "One who devoutly hears the Holy Mass will fall into no mortal sin, and will obtain the pardon of his venial sins." It is good to be present every day; for to hear Mass on a Sunday or holiday is, of course, not only good, buta necessary duty; and to be absent on these days, without a strong reason, is a mortal sin. Be present then, as often as you can, and while the sacrifice goes on, imagine yourself standing near the Saviour when he celebrated his last supper with his disciples; or, if you please, on Mount Calvary, at the foot of the cross, upon which he offered himself to his heavenly Father for the sins of the world.

In order to have a part in the merits of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, either you must follow the actions and prayers of the Priest, especially at the three principal points, namely, at the Offertory, the Consecration, and the Communion; or make a meditation upon the passion of Christ; or you may make use of devout prayers as you find them in your prayer-book; or, in fine, any other devout exercise best suited to your own feelings of devotion, uniting all the while your intention to the intention of the sacrificing Priest.

ACTS OF

Contrition, Faith, Hope, and Charity.

A PRAYER BEFORE THE ACTS.

ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, grant unto us an increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity and, that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us love and practise what thou commandest: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION.

MY God, I am heartily sorry for having offended

MY I am my sins most sincerely,

because they displease thee, my God, who, for thy infinite goodness and most amiable perfections, art so deserving of all my love; and I firmly purpose, by the assistance of thy holy grace, never more to offend thee.

AN ACT OF FAITH.

MY God, I firmly believe that thou art one only

and earth, infinitely great and infinitely good. I firmly believe that in thee, one only God, there are three Divine Persons, really distinct and equal in all things, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I firmly believe that Jesus Christ, God the Son, became man; that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered and died on a cross to redeem and save us; that he arose on the third day from the dead; that

he ascended into heaven; that he will come at the end of the world to judge mankind; and that he will reward the good with eternal happiness, and condemn the wicked to the everlasting pains of hell. I believe these, and all other articles which the Holy Roman Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because thou, my God, the Infallible Truth, hast revealed them, and thou hast commanded us "to hear the Church, which is the pillar and the ground of truth." In this faith I am firmly resolved, by thy holy grace, to live and die. (Matt. xviii. 17; 1 Tim. iii. 15.)

AN ACT OF HOPE.

MY God, who hast graciously promised every blessing, even heaven itself, through Jesus Christ, to those who keep thy commandments, relying on thy infinite power, goodness, and mercy, and confiding in thy sacred promises, to which thou art always faithful, I confidently hope to obtain pardon of all my sins; grace to serve thee faithfully in this life, by doing the good works thou_hast commanded, and which, with thy assistance, I will perform; and eternal happiness in the next : through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

AN ACT OF CHARITY.

MY God, I love thee with my whole heart and soul, and above all things, because thou art infinitely good and perfect, and most worthy of all my love; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Mercifully grant, O my God, that having loved thee on earth, I may love and enjoy thee for ever in heaven.

Prayer before Mass.

MERCIFUL Father, who didst so love the world as to give up for our redemption thy beloved Son; who, in obedience to thee, and for us sinners, humbled himself even unto the death of the cross, and continues to offer himself daily, by the ministry of his priests, for the living and the dead; we humbly beseech thee, that, penetrated with a lively faith, we may always assist with the utmost devotion and reverence at the oblation of his most precious body and blood, which is made at Mass, and thereby be made partakers of the sacrifice which he consummated on Calvary.

In union with thy Holy Church and its minister, and invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the angels and saints, we now offer the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass to thy honor and glory, to acknowledge thy infinite perfections, thy supreme dominion over all thy creatures, our entire subjection to thee, and total dependence on thy gracious providence, and in thanksgiving for all thy benefits, and for the remission of our sins.

We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic Faith, for our most Holy Father the Pope, for our archbishop (or bishop), and for all the pastors and clergy of thy Holy Church, that they may direct the faithful in the way of salvation; for the Queen, and for all that are in high station, that we may lead quiet and holy lives; for peace and good-will among all states and people; for the necessities of mankind; and particularly for the congregation here present; to obtain all blessings we stand in need of

in this life, everlasting happiness in the next, and eternal rest to the faithful departed.

And, as Jesus Christ so ordained, when he instituted at his Last Supper this wonderful mystery of his power, wisdom, and goodness, we offer the Mass in grateful remembrance of all he has done and suffered for the love of us; making special commemoration of his bitter passion and death, and of his glorious resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Vouchsafe, O Almighty and Eternal God (for to thee alone the homage of sacrifice is due), graciously to accept it for these and all other purposes agreeable to thy holy will. And, to render it the more pleasing, we offer it to thee through the same Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour, our High Priest and Victim, and in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to whom be honor, praise, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.