Thou wouldst not refuse to receive into the bosom of Thy patriarchs, a soul for whose sake Thou didst mercifully come down upon earth. Acknowledge, O Lord, Thy creature, not made by strange gods but by Thee, the only living and true God: for there is no other God beside Thee, and none that doeth according to Thy works. Rejoice his soul, O Lord, with Thy presence, and remember not the iniquities and excesses which, through the violence of anger, or the heat of evil passion, he hath at any time committed. For although he hath sinned, he hath not denied the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but hath believed, and hath had a zeal for God, and hath faithfully adored the Creator of all things. Remember not, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the sins of his youth, and his ignorances; but, according to Thy great mercy, be mindful of him in the brightness of Thy glory. Let the heavens be opened to him, let the angels rejoice with him. Receive Thy servant, O Lord, into Thy kingdom. Let St. Michael, the archangel of God, prince of the armies of heaven, receive him. Let the holy angels of God come forth to meet him, and conduct him to the city of the heavenly Jerusalem. Let the blessed Peter, the Apostle, to whom God gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, receive him. Let St. Paul, the Apostle, who was counted worthy to be a vessel of election, assist him. Let St. John, the chosen apostle of God, to whom were revealed the secrets of heaven, intercede for him. Let all the holy apostles, to whom the Lord gave the power of binding and loosing, pray for him. Let all the saints and elect of God, who in this world have suffered torments for the name of Christ, intercede for him, that, loosed from the bonds of the flesh, he may attain unto the glory of the heavenly kingdom, through the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth forever and ever. VII. AFTER THE SOUL HAS DEPARTED Litany for the Faithful Departed. LORD, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed. Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, St. Michael, All ye angels and archangels, All ye orders of blessed spirits, faithful departed. Pray for the souls of the Pray for the souls of the faithful departed. St. John Baptist, St. Joseph, All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John, All ye holy apostles and evangelists, St. Stephen, St. Lawrence, All ye holy martyrs, St. Gregory, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, All ye holy bishops and confessors, All ye holy doctors, All ye holy priests and Levites, All ye holy monks and hermits, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Catharine, St. Barbara, All ye holy virgins and widows, All ye saints of God, Be merciful, spare them, O Lord. Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord. O Lord, deliver them. From all evil, From Thy wrath, From the rigor of Thy justice, From long-enduring sorrow, From cruel flames, From intolerable cold, From horrible darkness, From weeping and wailing, Through Thine admirable conception, Through Thy most sweet name, Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, Through Thy most profound humiliation, Through Thy prompt obedience, Through Thine infinite love, Through Thy sorrow and anguish, Through Thy bloody sweat, Through Thy bonds, Through Thy scourging, Through Thy crowning with thorns, Through Thy carrying of the cross, |