O God, of whose mercies there is no number, and of whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of thy temporal blessings as thou knowest to be for our good.

Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by thy holy favour, increase and multiply: defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from thy hand only that we look for succour, and to thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen.

FOR ADVENT.

Raise up our hearts, O Lord, we beseech thee, in expectation of the coming of thine only Son: that, by his advent, being reconciled to thee, we may serve thee in holiness all the days of our lives. Amen.

FOR LENT.

O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

OCCASIONAL PRIVATE PRAYERS.

FOR GRACE IN ALL THINGS.

Most merciful and bountiful Creator, I firmly believe that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from thee, the Father of mercies; and that without thee and thy grace, I cannot do anything right: to thee, therefore, I address myself; to thee, I cry for mercy: give me grace, I beseech thee, to repent of my past sins; to resist all future temptations; to please thee in all things; to persevere unto the end; to die in thy grace, O my God; and to come speedily to thy eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE ANGELUS.

[In Catholic countries, the church bells are tolled at morn, noon, and evening; and, on hearing them, most devout persons pause in their occupation, and repeat the following prayer in commemoration of our Saviour's becoming man for our salvation.]

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary: and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail, Mary, &c.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: and be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail, Mary, &c.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt' among us. Hail, Mary, &c.

Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son has been made known by the message of an angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

[In paschal time, from Easter Eve till Trinity Sunday, the anthem Regina Cœli and prayer (page 286) is to be said, standing, instead of the Angelus.]

GRACE BEFORE MEALS.

May He who is blessed, bless: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

OR,

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which, by thy bounty, we are about to receive. Amen. GRACE AFTER MEALS.

Blessed be He who is blessed; through Christ

our Lord. Amen.

OR,

We give thee thanks, Almighty God, for all thy benefits; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

O my God, I believe in thee, do thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in thee,

do thou secure them. I love thee with my whole heart, teach me to love thee daily more and more. I am sorry that I have offended thee: do thou increase my sorrow.

I adore thee as my first beginning; I aspire after thee as my last end; I give thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I call upon thee as my sovereign protector.

Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by thy wisdom, to restrain me by thy justice, to comfort me by thy mercy, to defend me by thy power.

To thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of thee, speak of thee, willingly refer all my actions to thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever thou shalt appoint.

Lord, I desire that in all things thy will may be done, because it is thy will, and in the manner thon willest.

I beg of thee to enlighten my understanding, and to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my soul.

Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offences, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper for my state.

Fill my heart with a tender affection for thy goodness, a hatred for my faults, a love for my neighbours, and a contempt for the world.

Let me always remember to be dutiful to my superiors, conciliating to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to mine enemies.

Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion.

O my God, make me prudent in mine undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in afflictions, and humble in prosperity.

Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in mine employments,and constant in my good resolutions.

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my comportment regular.

Assist me that I may continually labour to overcome nature, to correspond with thy grace, to keep thy commandments, and to work out my salvation.

Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.

Grant that I may prepare for death, that I may fear thy judgments, that I may escape hell, and in the end obtain heaven, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL.

O holy Angel, who art appointed by the divine goodness to be my guardian, to conduct my blindness, teach mine ignorance, strengthen