to so infinite a Majesty? so filthy sinner to such infinite purity and sanctity? alas! my soul is covered with a universal leprosy, and how shall I presume to embrace thee? My whole life hath been nothing but misery and sin, and it is only thy mercy that I have not been long since in hell, which I have deserved a thousand times; and how shall I venture so much as to lift up mine eyes to thee, how much less to receive thee within my breast? I tremble at the sentence of thine apostle, that He that receiveth unworthily, receiveth his own damnation; for I can not but acknowledge myself infinitely unworthy: nor should I dare ever to come to thee, were I not incited by the most loving and pressing invitation, and encouraged by thine infinite goodress and mercy. It is in this mercy, which is above all thy works, I put my whole trust; and it is in this confidence alone that I presume to approach to thee. Oh! grant that it may be with a contrite and humble heart, for this, I know, thou wilt not despise.

5. Make an Act of Contrition.

O Lord, I detest, with my whole heart, all the sins by which I have ever offended thy divine Majesty, from the first moment that I was capable of sinning to this very hour. I desire to lay them all at thy feet, to be cancelled by thy precious blood. What can I do for them, but humbly confess and lament them all my life; and this I heartily desire to do, and from this moment continually to cry to thee for mercy. Hear me, O Lord, by that infinite love, by which thou hast shed thy blood for me; Oh, let not that blood be shed in vain! All my sins displease me now exceedingly, because they have offended thine infinite goodness. By thy grace I will never commit them any more: I am sorry for them, and I will be sorry for them as long as I live; and according to the best of my power, will do penance for them. Forgive me, dear Lord, for thy mercy's sake: pardon me all that is past; and be thou my keeper for the time to come, that I may never more offend thee.

6. Make an Act of Divine Love.

O sweet Jesus, the God of my heart, and the life of my soul, as the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so doth my soul pant after thee, the fountain of life, and the ocean of all good. I am overjoyed at the hearing of these happy tidings, that I am to go into the house of our Lord; or rather that our Lord is to come into my house, and take up his abode with me. O happy moments, when I shall be admitted to the embraces of the living God, for whom my poor soul languisheth with love! Oh! come, dear Jesus, and take full possession of my heart for ever! I offer it to thee without reserve. I desire to consecrate it eternally to thee. I love thee with my whole soul above all things; at least I desire so to love thee. It is nothing less than infinite love that bringeth thee to me; Oh! teach me to make a suitable return of love.

7. Humbly beg God's Grace.

But, O my God, thou knowest my great poverty and misery, and that of myself I can do nothing; thou knowest how unworthy I am of this infinite favour, and thou alone canst make me worthy. Oh! since thou art so good as to invite me thus to thyself, add this one bounty more to all the rest, to prepare me for thyself. Cleanse my soul from its stains clothe it with the nuptial garment of charity, adorn it with all virtues, and make it a fit abode for thee. Drive sin and the devil far from this dwelling, which thou art here pleased to choose for thyself, and make me one according to thy own heart; that this heavenly visit which thou designest for my salvation may not, by my unworthiness, be perverted to my damnation. Oh! never let me be guilty of thy body and blood, by an unworthy communion; for the sake of this same precious blood, which thou hast shed for me, deliver me from so great an evil. Oh, rather let me die ten thousand deaths, than thus presume to crucify thee again.

8. Implore the prayers of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints.

O all ye blessed angels and saints of God who see him face to face, whom I here receive under these humble veils: and thou most especially, ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of this same God and Saviour, in whose womb he was conceived and borne for nine months; I most humbly beg the assistance of your prayers and intercession, that I may in such manner receive him here, in this place of banishment, as to be brought one day to enjoy him with you in our true country, and there to praise him and love him for ever.

The Manner of Receiving Communion.

Before you receive the most holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, you must cleanse your conscience from any mortal sin by the Sacrament of Penance. You must fast from the midnight before. When the time for Holy Commu