whom Thou hast given me. Mortify in me all violence of earthly passion, all selfishness and inconsiderateness (here name any besetting sin which may be a hindrance to you), that I may love her as Christ loved His Church, cherish and comfort her as my own body, and have as great care for her happiness as for my own. Grant that we may live in peace, without contention; in unity, without discord. [Give us, O Lord, discreet hearts and understanding minds, to bring up our children in Thy faith and fear, that they may be obedient to Thee and to Thy commandments, and to all that Thou requirest of them in duty towards their parents.] And give us, O Lord, a competency of estate, to maintain ourselves and our family according to that rank and calling wherein Thou hast placed us, without excess or vainglory, in singleness and pureness of heart. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. A WIFE'S PRAYER MERCIFUL Lord God, who in the beginning didst take Eve out of the side of Adam and didst give her to him as a helpmate: give me grace to live worthy of the honorable estate of matrimony to which Thou hast called me, that I may love my husband with a pure and chaste love, acknowledging him as my head, and truly reverencing and obeying him in all good things; that thereby I may please him, and live with him in all Christian quietness. Keep me from all worldliness and vanity. Help me, O Lord, that I may, under him, prudently and discreetly guide and govern his household. Let no fault of mine aggravate any sins by which he may be especially tempted; enable me to soothe him in perplexity, to cheer him in difficulty, to refresh him in weariness, and, as far as may be, to advise him in doubt. [Give me understanding so to fulfil my part in the education of our children, that they may be our joy in this world and our glory in the next.] Grant that our perfect union here may be the beginning of the still more perfect and blissful union hereafter in Thy kingdom; and this I pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER TO BE SAID BY HUSBAND OR WIFE. MERCIFUL God, we humbly beseech Thee to send Thy blessing continually upon us, and to make us thankful for all that Thou hast already vouchsafed unto us; and as Thou hast made us one in the mystical grace of matrimony, grant that we may be also inwardly of one heart and of one mind, paying due honor one to another, united in love to Thee and to each other in Thee; living together in peace and holiness, as faithful members of Thy Church, denying ourselves, and being a mutual help, comfort, and support to each other, all the days of our life. [Give us grace to train our children in Thy faith and fear.] Bless us with health and strength, if it be Thy will, and with whatever else Thy good providence shall see to be best for our souls and bodies. Fit and prepare us day by day for our departure hence, that we may together inherit eternal life in Thy heavenly kingdom. Through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. A A PARENT'S PRAYER. LMIGHTY God, the Father and Maker of us all, who of Thy blessing and goodness hast vouchsafed to make me a father [or mother] of children: be pleased to accept my hearty thanksgiving and devout praise for the same; grant me Thy heavenly grace and assistance so to train up my children in Thy faith, fear, and love that as they advance in years they may grow in grace and may hereafter be found in the number of Thine elect. Through Jesus Christ our The Blessing of Women after Childbirth. COMMONLY CALLED THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN. If, according to a pious and praiseworthy custom, a woman, after childbirth, wish to come to the Church to give thanks to God for her safe delivery, and to ask the Priest's blessing, he, vested in sur plice and white stole, and attended by an acolyte carrying the holywater sprinkler, will proceed to the door of the Church. While the woman kneels there, holding a lighted candle in her hand, the Priest sprinkles her with holy water, and then says: D OMINI est terra, et T HE earth is the Lord's, plenitudo ejus: or and the fulness bis terrarum, et universi thereof: the world and all qui habitant in eo. Quia ipse super maria they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it fundavit eum: et super upon the seas: and hath flumina præparavit eum. Quis ascendet in montem Domini: aut quis stabit in loco sancto ejus? Innocens manibus et mundo corde: qui non accepit in vano, animam suam, nec juravit in dolo proximo suo. Hic accipiet benedictionem a Domino: et misericordiam a Deo salutari suo. Hæc est generatio quærentium eum : quærentium faciem Dei Jacob. Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini, portæ æternales: et introibit Rex gloriæ. Quis est iste Rex gloriæ ? prepared it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord : or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart: who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord; and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the generation of them that seek Him: of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Dominus fortis et potens; Glory? the Lord strong Dominus potens in prælio. and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your gates, O ye |