Requiem. A METHOD OF OFFERING THE HOLY SACRIFICE FOR THE REST AND PEACE OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED. Note, that you must use the masculine or feminine gender, the singular or plural number, according as it may happen for whom you are praying. Prayers which may be said before service begins. MOST gracious Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, Who so lovedst the world, that Thou sparedst not Thine Only-begotten Son, but, to restore us, gavest Him up to the suffering of the most bitter death of the Cross; and hast moreover willed that this oblation of Him, most pleasing to Thee, should be daily renewed in Thy Church, that its benefits should be daily renewed to ourselves; grant us, we beseech Thee, to attend on, (and to receive) this wondrous and saving Mystery of Thy divine power, wisdom, and goodness, with such earnestness, reverence and devotion, that by the offering of this unbloody Sacrifice, we, and all Thy faithful people departed, for whom we offer, may partake most effectually of that Sacrifice of Blood; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Memorial of the Passion. Behold, O heavenly Father, making remembrance of the death of Thine Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, I offer Thee this Sacrifice, which He Himself once offered for my salvation, and that of the whole world. Behold I lay before the Altar of Thy Majesty that living Victim, which Thou in the abundance of Thy mercy didst send down to be offered on the Altar of the Cross. Remember, therefore, His most holy sweat, which was as it were drops of Blood falling down upon the ground. Look upon that virgin flesh, cruelly scourged with rods, wounded and buffeted with blows, swollen with stripes, defiled with spittle, reddened with blood, pierced with thorns, fastened with nails, wounded with the lance. Let that love, then, which drew Thy Son down, and overpowered Him, so that He weighed in the balance of the Cross the sins of the whole world, constrain Thee also, O Father, to be merciful to us miserable, and to all the souls of the faithful departed. Look, I beseech Thee, not upon our sins, but upon the face of Thy Christ. For we cast down our prayers before Thee, trusting not in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. Amen. A prayer, which St. Augustine said for his mother Monica; which can be said by any for their parents, or any soul that is dear to them, by changing the persons. : water of salvation. Forgive her, Lord, forgive, I beseech Thee; enter not into judgment with her, let Thy mercy be exalted above Thy justice, since Thy words are true, and Thou hast promised mercy unto the merciful. Accept, O Lord, the freewill offerings of my mouth; for she desired only to have her name commemorated at Thine Altar, which she had served without intermission of one day whence she knew that holy Sacrifice to be dispensed, by which the handwriting that was against us, is blotted out; through which the enemy was triumphed over, who summing up our offences, and seeking what to lay to our charge, found nothing in Him, in Whom we conquer. Who shall restore to Him the innocent blood? Who repay Him the price wherewith He bought us, and so take us from Him? Unto the Sacrament of Which our ransom, Thy handmaid bound her soul by the bond of faith. Let none sever her from Thy protection, let neither the lion nor the dragon interpose himself by force or fraud. GOD of my heart, my praise and my life, laying aside for a while her good deeds, for which I give thanks to Thee with joy, do I now beseech Thee for the sins of my mother. Hearken unto me, I entreat Thee, by the Medicine of our wounds, Who hung upon the tree, and now sitting at Thy right hand, maketh intercession for us. I know that she dealt mercifully, and from her heart forgave her debtors their debts; and do Thou also forgive her debts, what-in this transitory light, my ever she may have contracted brethren under Thee Our in so many years, since the Father, in our Catholic Mo Inspire, O Lord my God, inspire Thy servants, that they may remember at Thine Altar Thy servant N. and N.; may they remember with devout affection, my parents ther, and my fellow citizens | the crown of life, and lead him with Thee into everlasting joys. Cleanse his soul, in that eternal Jerusalem, which Thy pilgrim people sigheth after from their exodus, even unto their return thither, that so my mother's last request of me, may through the prayers of many be more abundantly fulfilled to her. Amen. O Lord, in that blessed water which flowed from Thy wounded and loving Side, from all spot and stain of sin, and by Thy precious Blood surround and adorn him with all virtues, that what we desire for ourselves, do Thou of Thy mercy make perfect in him; purifying his soul from all sin, visiting him with Thy grace, adorning him with Thy merits, so that he may appear well-pleasing in Thy sight; and from out. of Thy divine breast, in which are hid all the treasures of blessings, may he ever draw sweet refreshment; and being so mercifully revived, thus feed happily on Thee, and rest in Thee for ever. Amen. ¶ A particular intercession. INTROIT. Requiem dabo. WILL give thee rest, for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name and I will make all My goodness pass before thee. Ex. xxxiii. PSALM. In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion: but rid me, and deliver me in Thy righteousness (lxxi. 1). Grant them, O Lord, everlasting rest: and let per If the Commandments should be read, say an act of contrition. Judge! petual light shine upon them. | appear before Thee, my I will give thee rest. Woe unto me if Thou shalt then be extreme to mark what I have done amiss! O let the handwriting of ordinances which is against me, and all my sins be blotted out by the Blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for me upon the Cross for the remission of sins! Amen. I know, O Lord, that nothing which is defiled can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; neither dost Thou admit any one except he be reconciled unto Thee and to his neighbour. But alas! I am poor and in misery, and I am bound unto Thee by infinite debts, and have nothing wherewith to pay, or to make satisfaction. What shall I do? Behold, with Thee, O Lord, there is mercy, and plenteous is the redemption of Thy Son. He came to pay our debts, and to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. Enter not, I beseech Thee, into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified, but look upon the face of Thy Christ. I grieve from the bottom of my heart that I ever should have offended Thee, my God and my chief Good. And therefore I heartily forgive all the offences of my neighbour, lest perchance, I hope in vain for mercy from Thee, my Lord, whilst I, servant as I am, retain anger against my fellow-servant. Forgive me, then, according to the promise of Thy Son, Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven," and especially at that last hour when I shall 66 COLLECTS. For a man deceased. LORD, bow down Thine ear to Our prayers, wherein we humbly supplicate Thy mercy: that Thou wouldest place the soul of Thy servant N., whom Thou hast commanded to pass out of this world, in the region of peace and light, and bid him be a partaker with Thy Saints. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For a woman deceased. We beseech Thee, O Lord, according to Thy great goodness have mercy upon the soul of Thine handmaid N. : and, as she is now set free from contact with mortal flesh, restore her to the portion of everlasting salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For many persons deceased. O God, in Whose sight man's life is not guileless even if it be praiseworthy, that were Thy mercy taken away Thou shouldest judge it; search not out the sins of the souls which we commend unto Thee: but grant that they may find some pardon with Thee, for which we faithfully hope and pray. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grant, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants perpetual mercy that it may be to their great and endless profit to have holpen and believed in Thee. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A prayer for yourself. O Lord Jesus Christ, by the love with which Thou hast borne the burdens of all mankind, I beseech Thee, that Thou wouldest make me receive the burden of my sorrow with gratitude from the hand of Thy Providence, and from the will of Thy fatherly heart; and for the love of Thee, endure it, as long as it shall please Thee, with the fullest resignation of myself; so wilt Thou strengthen me by Thy grace, that I may never offend Thee in little things, nor depart in the least from Thy most holy will. I would that I could alone endure the afflictions of all and each of those who have suffered for Thee, that so I might make some return, whatever it might be, to Thine infinite love. Come, I beseech Thee, O most bountiful Jesus, and so unite mine to Thy most holy will and pleasure, that I may be unable to wish anything save what Thou willest. Amen. EPISTLE. Rev. xx. 12. I SAW the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. GRADUAL. I will wait, O Lord, till my change come : Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee; Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands. V. For now Thou numberest my steps: dost Thou not watch over my sin? Job xiv. 14. TRACT. Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. I stretch forth my hands unto Thee: my soul gaspeth unto Thee as a thirsty land. O let me hear Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in Thee |