of thy grace, never more to offend thee. I resolve to avoid the occasions of sin; I will confess my sins, and will endeavour to make satisfaction for them. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, and pardon me, a wretched sinner. In the name of thy beloved Son, Jesus, I humbly beg of thee so to wash me with his precious blood, that my sins may be entirely remitted.

Let us endeavour, as much as possible, to put ourselves in the dispositions in which we desire to be found at the hour of death.

O my God, I accept of death as a homage and adoration which I owe to thy divine Majesty, and as a punishment justly due to my sins; in union with the death of my dear Redeemer, and as the only means of coming to thee, my beginning and last end.

I firmly believe all the sacred truths which the Catholic Church believeth and teacheth, because thou hast revealed them. And, by the assistance of thy holy grace, I am resolved to live and die in the communion of this thy Church.

Relying upon thy goodness, power, and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, and life everlasting, through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ, my only Redeemer, and by the intercession of his blessed Mother, and all the saints.

I love thee with all my heart and soul, and desire to love thee as the blessed do in heaven. I adore all the designs of thy divine Providence, resigning myself entirely to thy will.

I also love my neighbour for thy sake, as I love myself; I sincerely forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

I renounce the devil with all his works; the world, with all its pomps; the flesh, with all its temptations.

I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

R. Lord Jesus, receive my soul.

May the blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and all the saints, pray for us to our Lord, that we may be preserved this night from sin and all evils. Amen.

Blessed St. Michael, defend us in the day of battle, that we may not be lost at the dreadful judgment. Amen.

O my good Angel, whom God, by his divine mercy, hath appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me this night. Amen.

May almighty God have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

May the almighty and merciful Lord give us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. Amen.

V. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this night,

R. To keep us without sin.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.

R. Have mercy on us.

V. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
R. As we have hoped in thee.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come to thee.

Let us Pray.

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this house and family, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and let thy blessing be always upon us: Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

May our Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and bring us to life everlasting. And may the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

HYMNS.

Once in David's Royal City.

ONCE in David's royal City
Stood a lonely cattle shed,
Where a Maiden laid her Baby
With a manger for His bed.

Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her only Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall.

With the poor, and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth, our Saviour holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lowly Maiden,

In whose gentle arms He lay.

Christian children all must be,
Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood's pattern,
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew

And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above.

And he leads His children on
To the home where He is gone.

Not in that poor lonely stable,
With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him; but in heaven,

Set at God's right hand on high.

When like stars His children crown'd

All in white shall wait around.

Angels we have heard.

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er our plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echo still their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.