rather than permit me to efface thy sacred image ta my soul by mortal sin. I adore thee, O Holy Trinity, I worship thee, I most humbly give thee thanks for having revealed to man this glorious, this incomprehensible mystery, and for granting to those who persevere until death in the faithful profession of it, the reward of beholding and enjoying in heaven, what we now believe, and adore upon earth, one God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Aspiration.-Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end Amen.

Exercise for MONDAY-Devotion for the Souls in Purgatory.

It is a most pious and meritorious custom, to pray frequently for the souls in purgatory, and to offer up occasionally for those suffering friends of God the holy sacrifice of the Mass, the holy Communion, and other satisfactory works in our power. This devotion, though so well founded, is not as general and ively as it should be. There are many who would make any exertion or personal sacrifice to save a fellow-creature from much less pains than are endured in purgatory, yet who hear with unconcern of that prison of fire, where thousands are tormented; amongst whom are perhaps a parent, a brother, sister, or dear friend of theirs. This is generally owing to the weakness of our faith, and to our little notion of the intolerable pain reserved in the next world for a venial sin for every slight fault or trivial imperfection which has not been atoned for in this life. You should endeavour from your youth to nourish the most tender compassion for those who are now absolutely incapa ble of assisting themselves, and who must remair separated from God until the last farthing is paid, either by their own sufferings, or by the interposition

of the faithful Many powerful motives should induce you to be among the most fervent in assisting them: the chief are, that by this spiritual work of mercy you prove your love for God, you benefit your neighbour, and materially serve yourself. You prove your love for God, by interceding for those who are so dear to his Divine Majesty, and whom he so ardently longs to glorify for ever. You next perform an act of the greatest charity towards your suffering fellow-creatures, and by endeavouring to shorten their banishment, confer on them so great a benefit, that you cannot conceive its value, unless you could clearly see, as they do, what it is to be separated from God. Lastly, you essentially serve your own soul, by providing for yourself powerful advocates, who will not forget you when they stand before God.

These considerations should suffice to animate you to do all you can for the souls in purgatory. Devote then fervently the prayers, good works, and the various actions of the day, to their relief. Offer up, in particular, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass for this intention. You have a devout method of doing so in this book, and are already in the habit of saying the Beads of the Dead on Monday; but you should particularly impress on your mind, that sloth or negligence in the prayers or actions which you offer up for those suffering souls would frustrate your own intentions, and make you very unworthy of being heard on behalf of others. On the contrary, so far from benefiting those for whom you pray, you would only expose yourself to a severe purgatory in the same fire which torments them.

Prayer.

O Gon of all holiness infinitely pure and adorable Being! how great must be thy horror of the least stain of sin, since thou punishest so rigorously in the flames of purgatory the venial faults of those whom thou so tenderly lovest Ah! mercifully enlighten

my understanding, that the torments thou inflictest on the least offence in the other world, may teach me the enormity of sin, and penetrate my heart with compassion for those souls who are row enduring inexpressible pains, for such failings as perhaps I too often look on as trivial. My God, though thy justice banishes them from that kingdom where nothing defiled can enter, yet surely thy mercy has not forgotten them; no, thou art too good, too compassionate to abandon the work of thy own hands. Though the season for merit and repentance is now past for them, yet thou hast left them a resource in the prayers of thy servants on earth. Despise not then, O Lord, the supplication which I, thy unworthy child, now make for those who can no longer implore thy mercy for themselves. Remember, O infinite Goodness, that they are all the work of thy hands, redeemed by the precious blood of thy only Son; consider that they are the objects of thy infinite love, who burn with the most ardent desire to be united to thee. Have mercy on them then, O infinite mercy! and for thy own sake stretch forth to their relief those sacred hands by which they were formed; apply to them once more the merits of that adorable blood by which they were redeemed. I most humbly offer up, to implore this favour, the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass at which I shall assist this day, or to-morrow, all the Masses which will be celebrated throughout the world, together with the adorable actions, prayers, and infinite merits of Jesus Christ while on earth; to which I most humbly add all my thoughts, words, actions, prayers, and sufferings during this day. Mercifully accept this oblation, O Lord, on behalf of all who now suffer in purgatory; particularly those for whom thou desirest I should pray-those who are most dear to me-those to whose sufferings I may nave been in any respect accessary—those who are most forgotten by others, and who have no one to pray for them. Give them all speedy repose and eternal

rest, O merciful Father of all mankind! and give me the grace I stand in need of, for spending this day in such a manner as may, through thy infinite goodness, tend to the great object I dare to have in view, which is the repose of thy dear and suffering children.

Aspiration.-Give them, O Lord, eternal rest; and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Exercise for TUES AY.-On Devotion to your Angel Guardian

ONE of the greatest proofs which the Almighty has given of his love for his creatures, is his having appointed angels to take charge of them through lifeto watch over them-to protect them in danger-to admonish them-to pray for them, and never for an instant abandon them, until after death, when those blessed spirits resign their trust into the hands of Him from whom they received it. O how dear must one soul be to God! how precious must it be in his eyes, since he does not disdain to appoint an Angel for its guide and companion! Still, notwithstanding the greatness of the benefit, it is, like most other spiritual blessings, much less valued than it should be. There are many, who never think of the services they receive from the blessed Spirit who guards them, and who, on that account, are deprived of many spiritual advantages, which would be the fruit of more devotion to their Angel Guardians. This devotion is a debt of gratitude due from all Christians; but it is particularly to be recommended to young persons; because the inexperience, thoughtlessness, ignorance of duty, or strong passions, often attendant on youth, expose them to a thousand spiritual and corporal dangers, in which they would be much strengthened and often preserved by a solid devotion to their good Angel. Endeavour to excite this devotion in your heart, by reflecting on the many claims this heavenly Spirit has to your most tender gratitude and confidence. Call to mind the charity and zeal with which

ne took charge of your soul, when it was confided to him at your birth; the tender care with which he has since watched over you, bearing patiently with your ingratitude, grieving over your faults, reminding you of your duty, offering your prayers to God, and frequently imploring graces for you; beside other good offices, which surely merit on your part the most lively gratitude to God, and sincere devotion to your heavenly guide. This devotion, to be solid, should consist, first, in such profound respect for that pure spirit who constantly beholds you, as will restrain you from acting wrong, though you were quite concealed from human observation; since nothing should be done in the presence of an Angel, which you would not do before those whom you most respect. Secondly, it should consist in great confidence in your powerful advocate, recommending all your concerns to his intercession, beseeching him frequently to obtain for you the virtues you most want, the grace to conquer your faults, &c. And thirdly, it should consist in gratefully thanking him for the benefits daily received through his mediation. Endeavour to acquit yourself of those duties with fervour through life, but particularly on this day, which you specially dedicate to honour your Guardian Angel.

Prayer.

O Angel of God! my blessed Protector and most amiable Guardian! to whose care I have been committed by my Creator from the moment of my birth, unite with me in thanking the Almighty for haviny given me a friend, an instructor, an advocate, and a guardian in thee. Accept, O most charitable Guide! my fervent thanksgiving for all thou hast done for me; particularly for the charity with which thou didst ui dertake to accompany me through life; for the joy with which thou wert filled, when I was purified in the waters of baptism; and for thy anxious solicitude in watching over the treasure of my innocence. Thou