so graciously pardoned all my sins. and restored me to Thy grace and favor. Blessed be Thy divine compassion, O my God, and blessed be the incomprehensible love of Thy beloved Son, which constrained Him to institute so gentle a remedy for our sins. Wherefore, in union with all the thanksgivings which have ever ascended to Thee from truly penitent hearts, I sing aloud Thy praises in behalf of all in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, forever and ever. Amen.

RE

ECEIVE, I beseech Thee, O my dear Lord, by the merits of Thy blessed Mother, and the merits of all Thy saints, this my confession; let it be pleasing to Thy sacred Majesty and profitable to my own soul; let Thy infinite sweetness of love and bitterness of sorrow supply all its defects; whether a want of fervent contrition, of perfect integrity, of humility, of charity, of

simplicity, of a true sense of feeling of the heinousness of my sins, or of a firm resolution of amendment.

O most holy Father, I offer Thee this my confession and my satisfaction in union with all the acts of penance which have ever been done to the glory of Thy holy name; beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept it, and to render it availing, through the merits of the passion of Thy beloved Son, and through the intercession of the ever blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors, and virgins. Whatever has been lacking to me in sincere and earnest preparation, in perfect contrition, in frank and clear confession, I commend to the most loving Heart of Thine only begotten Son, that treasury of all good and all grace, from whose overflowing abundance all debts to Thee are fully acquitted; that through it all my negligences and defects in the reception of this

holy sacrament may be fully and perfectly supplied to Thine everlasting praise and glory, and that Thou mayest effectually absolve me in heaven, even as Thy minister has, with Thy authority, absolved me here on earth: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

In case absolution has been refused,

say:

O

DIVINE Jesus! I have laid open to Thee the interior of my soul; Thou hast examined my wounds, yet I leave Thee without being healed; Thou hast known my infidelities, yet Thou hast not pardoned me. Ah! when shall I obtain this inestimable inestimable favor? What shall I do, O my dear Jesus, to merit it? I will implore Thy grace to fight with more vigor my inveterate enemies, and to triumph. over my corrupt inclinations; I

shall say with Thy apostle: "Lord, save me, or I perish."

Thou art all-powerful and I am weakness itself. I cast myself at Thy feet to implore Thy clemency. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be moved at the sight of Thy prodigal son, who bitterly weeps for his sins. I am determined to belong entirely to Thee. Fortify my will so that, having accused and humiliated myself anew, I may merit to hear from Thy sacred mouth those words of grace and benediction: Thy sins are forgiven thee. Amen.

The Seven Penitential

Psalms.

Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents; neither take vengeance of our sins.

PSALM 6.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy anger, nor chastise me in Thy

wrath.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are sore.

And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but Thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for Thy mercy's sake.

For in death there is no one that is mindful of Thee: and who shall praise Thee in hell?

I have labored in my groanings; every night I wash my bed: I water my couch with my tears.