mercy, behold I am poor and needy: Thou knowest what I stand most in need of ; Thou alone canst assist and enrich me. Help me, O God, and out of the treasures of Thy bounty succour my needy soul. O my Lord and my God, behold I am Thy servant; give me understanding, and excite my affections, that I may know and do Thy will. Thou art the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the world: oh, take away from me whatever may hurt me and displease Thee, and give me what Thou knowest to be pleasing to Thee and profitable to myself. O my God and my All, may the sweet flame of Thy love consume my soul, that so I may die to the world for the love of Thee, who hast vouchsafed to die upon the cross for the love of me. Stay with me O, Lord, stay with me, for the day is far spent and the evening draws near; stay with me, I beseech Thee, for I have yet a thousand woes to expose to Thee, my Adorable Saviour; to Thee, who art my Lord, and the only sincere friend soul. of my ANIMA CHRISTI. Anima Christi, sanctifica me; AVE VERUM. Ave verum corpus, natum Ex Maria Virgine; Vere passum, immolatum O clemens, O pie, O dulcis Jesu, Fili Mariæ. SOUL OF CHRIST. Soul of Christ, be my sanctification; In Thy wounds I fain would hide, 300 days at any time; seven years after Communion. AVE VERUM. Hail to Thee, true body sprung The same that on the cross was hung, In our life's last agony. PRAYER. To which is annexed a plenary indulgence, applicable to the souls in purgatory, which all the faithful may obtain, who, after having confessed their sins with contrition, received the Holy Communion, and prayed for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff, shall devoutly recite it before an image or representation of Christ crucified. Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment, whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself, and mentally contemplate thy five most precious wounds; having before my eyes that which David spake in prophecy: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones." FIVE ACTS TO BE MADE BEFORE OR AFTER COMMUNION. 1. I detest and loathe all and each of my sins, and the sins of all other creatures, committed from the beginning of the world down to this hour, or that ever shall be committed; and, if I could, I would prevent them with God's grace, which I now invoke. 2. I praise and honour all good works, past or future, and I would, were I able with God's grace, which I now implore, multiply them again and again. 3. I intend to act, speak, and think to the greater glory of God, in union with all the holy intentions that the Saints have ever formed, or shall form. 4. I pardon and forgive from my heart all my enemies, all who calumniate or detract me, all who in any way injure me or wish me evil. 5. I would that I could save all men by dying for each. I would willingly do so with God's grace, which I now therefore humbly implore, and without which I can do nothing. K |