sumption; to edify our neighbours both by word and example, without dissembling.

Give us, O Lord, watchful hearts, not to be carried away by idle vanities and temptations; generous hearts, not to be borne down by any unworthy affections; upright hearts, not to be misled by opportunities; invincible hearts, not to be broken by tribulations; hearts entirely free from all that may interfere with holy aspirations to thee.

Lord God, bestow upon us understandings, enlightened with the knowledge of thee; diligence, bent upon seeking thee; wisdom to find thee, or perseverance to wait for thee with fidelity and hope. Let us partake of thy painful sufferings by penance, and make a right use of thy benefits on our way to thy country of eternal glory.

Oh Jesus, do thou help us to overcome all temptations to sin, and the malice of our ghostly enemies.

Strengthen us in soul and body, that we may please thee by executing such works of mercy as may bring us to thy everlasting kingdom.

Grant us a firm purpose, most merciful Saviour, to amend our lives, and to compensate for days past-for those years which we have mispent to thy displeasure in vain, or wicked thoughts, words, deeds, and evil customs.

Make our hearts obedient to thy will, and ready for thy love to perform all the works of mercy. Grant us the gift of the Holy Ghost, which may at length bring us, through virtuous and contented lives, to thy presence in paradise. Amen.

May thy divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.

THURSDAY.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

AN ACT OF GRATITUDE.

With all the faculties of our souls we bless and praise thee, oh eternal Lord, for all the mercies thou hast bestowed upon us; for creating us to thy own image and likeness; for sending thy almighty Son to redeem us with his precious blood; and for associating us by baptism, to the children of thy adoption. All that could be hoped for from the most bountiful creator, thou hast fulfilled towards us; tempering thy justice with mercy, and ever calling upon us not to reject those means of salvation which thou hast provided for our weakness.

To thee, oh Lord, we render our most grateful thanks for having expected from our childhood to this time, that we might come to the amendment of our lives, and to the grateful acknowledgment of all thy benefits. We praise and glorify thee, for having so often delivered us from distresses and misfortunes, and especially for having preserved us from the punishment due to our sins. We praise and glorify thee for having bestowed upon us so many favors in common with others, and so many particular benefits which others have wanted, and which we have in no

way deserved. We beseech thy goodness so to perfect these thy gifts, as to remove from our hearts whatever displeaseth thee; and to deliver us from all such dangers and difficulties as may hinder our progress to thee, or prevent our looking forward to thy blessed haven of rest and peace. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

FOR CHARITY AND THANKFULNESS.

Almighty God, let us still and ever adore thee as our creator and sovereign; let us still and ever acknowledge the many benefits thou hast conferred upon us, in relation both to body and soul. Oh let us not continue to be ungrateful and unprofitable servants. In returning thee thanks for having preserved us during the past night, let us determine to labour this day with more diligence than we have hitherto done, for obtaining that immortal glory which thou hast prepared for us. Let our hearts be every day more spiritualized, that they may still render thee a more ample tribute of praise and thanksgiving. Never, oh Lord, leave us to ourselves, but let thy holy fear be always in our thoughts, to curb and keep us within the compass of obedience. Let that fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, lead us on to the more perfect love which may banish fear and temper all trials and temptations, that we may never more be overcome. For thou knowest how frail we are, and that our strength is nothing; thou knowest we have nothing to depend upon but thee. Give us therefore such a thankfulness for past favours,

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as may secure to our souls a continuance of thy heavenly protection. Amen.

Hail Mary, &c.

FOR BROTHErly Love.

Almighty Saviour, who hast taught us to con sider this life as a preparation to a blessed immortality of which none can partake who do not carry with them from hence that spirit of peace and charity which may be suited to the divine harmony of paradise, grant us to cultivate those feelings of brotherly love to one another, and of thankfulness towards thee, which a common share in thy favours ought ever to beget.

Jesus grant us thy grace to love all men in thee, and thyself above all. Grant us truly to love thee for thy infinite goodness, and those blessings we have received and ever hope to receive from thee.

Let the remembrance of thy kindness and patience master the evil inclinations of our perverted nature.

Let the thought of thy many calls and helps in the way of our lives, make us tremble at our ingratitude

For what dost thou require of us for all thy mercies, but to be grateful and obedient? and why dost thou require it, but for our good?

Oh Jesus, encourage us to give up our whole lives to thee for the future, in token of our humble acknowledgement of all thy past favours and forbearance. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with

us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

FRIDAY.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

FOR SALVATION THROUGH THE REDEMPTION.

Oh blessed Jesus, the God of mercy, and overflowing fountain of compassion, we humbly beseech thee to grant us grace to spend this passing life in virtuous and holy exercises: that when the day of death shall come, though we may feel pain in the body, we may find comfort in our souls; and with faithful hope in thy mercy, sincere love of thee, and perfect charity towards the world, may depart from this vale of misery to be received into that glorious country in which thy sacred blood has purchased for us an everlasting inheritance. O let us be ever mindful of the mysterious order of our redemption; let us be ever mindful of the cause and object of thy death. Grant us to apply to our souls the merits of thy redeeming sacrifice, without which thy fallen creatures could never have aspired to pass the bright gates of heaven. O let not that sacred blood have been shed for us in vain! Let us rather have ever in remembrance the bitterness of thy passion, and daily learn to die to the world for the love of thee who hast vouchsafed