CEREMONIES AND PRAYERS OF THE THIRD ORDER. INTRODUCTION OF POSTULANTS TO THE CONGREGATIONAL ASSEMBLIES. THE postulant, having been received by the Council according to the second chapter of the Statutes, will be admitted to the congregational assemblies. After the prayers, which are recited at the commencement of the assemblies, the master or mistress of novices conducts the postulant near to the altar, where the latter kneels, and the master or mistress of novices returns to his or her place. The Father Director intones the Psalm Miserere, which the Brothers or Sisters follow in choir, and continue as follows: Psalm 1 Miserere mei, Deus : secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum dele iniquitatem meam. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea et a peccato meo munda me. Have mercy upon me, O God: according to Thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies: blot out my iniquity. Wash me yet more from my iniquity; and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is always before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight: that Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and mayest overcomewhen Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities: and in sins did my mother conceive me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: and the bones that were humbled shall rejoice. Turn awayThyface from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within my bowels. Ne projicias me a facie tua et Spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui : et spiritu principali confirma me. Docebo iniquos vias tuas et impii ad te convertentur. Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ et exultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam. Domine, labia mea aperies et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique holocaustis non delectaberis. Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies. Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem. Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. I will teach the unjust Thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation and my tongue shall extol Thy justice. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would surely have given it: with burnt-offerings Thou wilt not be delighted. The sacrifice of God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Deal favourably, O Lord, in Thy good will with Sion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. |