the living (N.), and for the consolation of the departed (N.). And I would that I could offer (celebrate) this so mighty a work of Thy love, with all the affection, fervour, and longing of Thy friends, whether now reigning in heaven, or still militant on earth. of future glory, Thou didst, | sins, for the salvation also of with such wondrous power, wisdom, and goodness, give us Thy very Body and Blood for our Meat and Drink. And lastly of Thine unspeakable mercy Thou hast vouchsafed to call to these divine Mysteries, me the most worthless sinner amongst the number of Thy (priests) servants. 30. Abase thyself. But alas! wretched man that I am, who have hitherto lived so unworthily of my calling, and have so often and so grievously offended Thee my God, by my sins (especially these, N.). But now I am sorry for them from my inmost heart, because of the love I bear Thee above all things; and henceforth I purpose to serve, please, and cleave unto Thee alone. 31. Offer. Therefore now coming to the Table of Thy Feast, do I, with the affection of my heart and with a pure and simple intention of mind, offer to the praise and glory of Thine eternal Majesty, and in commemoration of Thy most sacred Incarnation, Life, Passion, and Death, that most worthy Sacrifice of Thy Body and Blood, which Thou didst once offer for us upon the altar of the Cross; in thanksgiving also for all the gifts and blessings hitherto bestowed, or hereafter to be bestowed on all the company of the elect, and on me though most unworthy; in propitiation for my 32. Believe. With all my heart, indeed, I believe, Ó my Jesu, and confess with my mouth that the eternal Father, God supremely blessed in Himself, mighty, perfect, and needing nothing, did, according to His infinite mercy, so love the world as to give Thee, His Only-begotten Son, to be our Saviour. I believe also that Thou Thyself equal in all things to the Father, didst from the might of Thy boundless charity, come down from the bosom of the Father into the Virgin's womb, and for us men was made Man. I believe, that out of love for us, Thou didst institute this Sacrament at the last Supper, and didst give us to eat Thy very Body and Blood, that is, Thine own Self; and lastly, being obedient to Thy Father even unto death, Thou didst offer up Thyself for us a Victim upon the altar of the Cross. to 33. Hope. And therefore do I hope in Thee, and with great confidence come Thee, O Lord! Who for our sake wast willing to do such marvellous things, and to suf fer things so dreadful. What wilt Thou refuse, seeing that Thou didst so love, as to give Thyself? 34. Love. I love Thee also, O good Jesus! with all the strength of my heart; and I will always love Thee henceforth even for ever, if Thou shalt give it. But 35. Offer thyself. what shall I render unto Thee, O Lord, for so great a gift, and for all the benefits which Thou hast done unto me? Behold, I renounce myself, and fully resign myself, and all that I am, body and soul and all that is mine, to the good pleasure of Thy most gracious will. But what have I that I have not received ? What is man when compared with his Maker? What can a vile creature, a worm of earth, a miserable sinner, an unprofitable servant, bestow upon God, his Creator and his Lord? I acknowledge that I am poor and needy, and therefore do I humble myself under Thy mighty hand. But Thou, O Lord Jesus! do Thou as my Advocate and Mediator, rich in merits and in mercies, undertake my cause. And out of the treasury of Thy boundless love do Thou bring help to my need; and represent to Thy eternal Father the price of Thy Blood and of all Thy merits; and thence supply all my lack, and especially, alas! this my too slight and im perfect preparation, with which I come to these most sacred Mysteries; that thus through Thee, the performance of my most unworthy service may be pleasing unto Him. 36. Ask. Grant also, O good Jesu! by all Thy mercies, that I may ever treat this awful Mystery and wondrous gift of Thy love with due faith, reverence and gratitude; and that I may receive It now and ever with a pure and glowing heart; may I endeavour to adorn that state of life, to which Thou, by Thy singular grace, hast been pleased to call me, with charity, purity, humility, gentleness, patience, sobriety, &c., and with all such behaviour as is pleasing to Thee, and as becometh a faithful (priest) servant of Thine. I beg all this of Thee, to the end that my service may be more pleasing to Thee, to Thy great glory, the good of Thy Church, and my own and my neighbour's salvation. Wherefore, lastly, I humbly beseech Thee, that by the virtue of Thy Body and Blood, Thou wouldest effectually wean my heart from all hurtful affections (N.) which hinder the taste and fruit of this Sacrament; and wouldest unite and incorporate me most closely with Thyself; that I may taste how sweet Thou art, O Lord; and be made one spirit with Thee; that Thou mayest abide in me, and I in Thee; and so nothing shall be ever able to separate me from Thee. For it is good to hold me fast by Thee, &c. For whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee, O God, my portion for ever! 37. Prayer for priests. Who can worthily celebrate this Sacrament, unless Thou, almighty God, shalt make him that offereth worthy? I know, O Lord, yea, and truly do I know, and confess that very thing to Thy loving-kindness, that I am not worthy to approach so great a Mystery, on account of my exceeding and numberless sins and negligences. But I know, and truly believe from my whole heart, and confess with my mouth, that Thou canst make me worthy, Who alone canst make clean one conceived of unclean seed, and make sinners righteous and holy. By this Thine almighty power, I entreat Thee, O my God, that Thou wouldest grant to me a sinner, to celebrate this Sacrifice with fear and trembling, with purity of heart, and fountain of tears, with spiritual gladness, and heavenly joy. Let my mind feel the sweetness of Thy most blessed presence, and the love of Thy holy Angels keeping watch round about me. Amen. Tuesday. THANKSGIVING. 38. Rejoice in the Lord. I have found Him Whom my soul loveth: I have held Him, and will not let Him go. Thee, O my Jesus, I embrace. Thee, my love and my joy, I hold fast. Of Thee, the treasure of my heart, do I lay hold, in Whom I possess all things. Deliver me from all my necessities, O Lord; and make me to be as wholly Thine as Thou art mine. Thou, O Jesus, art my Creator that hast formed me; create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Thou art my King and my Lord, do Thou possess me, and none beside Thee. Thou art my teacher and my master; O teach me Thy goodness, and learn me true understanding and knowledge. Thou art my Advocate with God the Father: do Thou cause that He turn away His anger from me. Thou art He that shall come to judge the quick and the dead enter not into judgement with Thy servant, O Lord. Thou art the beloved Spouse of my soul: betroth me to Thee in Thy mercy and loving-kindness. Thou my guide and defender : hold me fast by Thee, and let the hand of any man fight against me. Thou wert made a Victim for me: my trust hath been in Thee, O Lord, therefore shall I not fall. Thou art art my Saviour and Redeemer, finish Thy work; and let not Thy labour be of none effect. Thou art the lot of mine inheritance, my portion in the land of the living, do Thou restore mine heritage unto me. Thou art my glory, my Crown, and my exceeding great reward: admit me to those good things of the Lord which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee. O Jesus, O most merciful Jesus, O Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, pour into me grace, wisdom, love, purity, humility, that I may perfectly love Thee, praise Thee, enjoy Thee, serve Thee, and glory in Thee now and for ever. Amen. Christ 39. Sing unto the God of thy salvation. How fair art Thou, my beloved, the beloved of my vows, Jesus! how fair art Thou! how good and lovely! my only delight! my life! my joy! my chiefest sweetness! O my God, and my All! for Thee I sigh! to Thee I call! for Thee I pant! I embrace and love Thee with all the inmost affection of my heart; for Thou art God, very goodness itself, everlasting love, wisdom inexhaustible, infinite power, and absolute perfection. What then shall ever separate me from Thy love? Shall some fleeting pleasure, failing riches, false honours, vanity of vanities? Not these or any, O good Jesus, for it is good to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God. Help me then, O gracious Jesus, in my good resolve; and suffer me not to forget my promises. Let Thy most holy Sacrament be a most effectual remedy against all the wounds of my sins, and a filling up within me of all grace and strength: let it be a strength and defence against all dangers and evils, and a most firm support to everlasting blessedness. Amen. 40. Give thanks. O most gracious Saviour, Christ Jesus, how sweet and kind art Thou, and of great mercy unto all them that call upon Thee! For when we were not, by divine power didst Thou create us; when we were Thine enemies, Thou didst come down from heaven, and with wondrous wisdom redeem us; and because without Thee we cannot, both in body and soul, live and move and have our being, Thou dost of Thine infinite goodness keep us ever by so many Sacraments and helps of grace; yea, in this Sacrament, Thou dost, after a wholly wonderful manner, give Thy Body and Blood, that is, Thyself: O love, O compassion, O unheard of and awful Mystery! Dost Thou then, my God, vouchsafe to come_to_me? The King and Lord of highest majesty to His lowest servant? God to man, the Creator to the creature? Whence is this to me, that Thou, O Lord, comest unto me? O Lord, our God, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth! Who can express all Thy mighty acts, and shew forth all Thy praise? Though all my members were changed into tongues, and every breath of my life into Thy praises and thanksgivings, still far short should I fall of all Thy mercies. Therefore acknowledging mine insufficiency, this one thing do I choose and desire, that all Thy creatures should with me, and for me, praise and bless Thy Name for ever. Amen. d 2 11 54 Offer Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, Who out of the abundance of Thine infinite love hast given me Thine Only-begotten Son!lo, I, a miserable sinner, now made a partaker of His Body and Blood, enfold Him in my bosom, and possessing Him as mine own and most closely joined to me, Him Himself do I now offer unto Thee, in that union of love wherewith He once gave Himself on the altar of the Cross. Behold, this is the treasure, O most merciful Father, in which I repose all my hope; these are the riches, which I offer in satisfaction of all my debts. Look, gracious Father, upon the face of Thy Christ; and since He is Thy beloved Son, in Whom Thou art ever well pleased, Who now is most inwardly united with me, look upon me also, I humbly beseech Thee, with the eyes of Thy mercy. Under His protection and defence, beneath the shadow of His merits, do I appear before Thee; that gazing chiefly upon Him, Thou mayest regard me also with mercy and favour, whom He has purchased and made His servant for ever. Suffer not, I beseech Thee, that soul to perish, which so often receives into itself Thy Son, Who, sent by Thee, came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. Grant this to me, through Thine infinite mercy. Amen. 42. Call upon God. I pray Thee, O Lord, let this most meritorious Victim, which I have offered to Thee, be for the full amendment, purging and satisfaction of all my sins, and negligences, and the sins of the whole world. By It restore all my spiritual ruin, and fill up all my need. By It mortify in me all whatever is displeasing to Thee, and make me a man after Thine own heart. By It conform my spirit, soul and body, to the Spirit, soul and body of Thy sacred Humanity, and lighten me wholly with the light of Thy Divinity. Grant me by It to be stablished in Thee, perfectly and perseveringly to love Thee, closely to be united to Thee, and entirely to be transformed |