hope. Teach us, oh Lord, in future, to reflect on our latter end more rationally than we have hitherto done; and if we dread the justice of thy judgments, enable us to cleanse our consciences now, that we may look forward to the bliss which thou hast prepared for us in heaven, as to a sure inheritance, in which we are destined to possess an everlasting share, and of which we can be deprived by nothing but our own wilfulness. Grant us, therefore, most merciful Saviour, to look forward with cheerful hope to the time of our death, and to the great account we are then to give; that, our souls being always well disposed, they may depart out of this world in thy grace. Then remember thy mercy, and turn not thy face from us because of our offences; secure us against the terrors of that day, by causing us now to die daily to all earthly things, and to have our continual conversation in heaven. Let the remembrance of thy death teach us how to esteem life, and the memory of thy resurrection encourage us to descend cheerfully to the grave with the assured hope of arising again to thee, and to a blessed immortality. Amen. May the divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. SATURDAY. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. hallowed be Thy will be Give us this Our Father, who art in heaven, thy name. Thy kingdom come. done on earth as it is in heaven. day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. FOR A CHRISTIAN LIFE. Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we give thee our most humble and heartfelt thanks for all thy goodness to us and all men. We thank thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all we thank thee for the inestimable love shown in thy redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and the hope of glory. And we beseech thee to give us such a due sense of all thy mercies that our hearts may always be really grateful, and that we may shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but also in our lives; that we may give ourselves up to thy service, and, by walking before thee all the days of our lives, strive for the blissful hereafter which heaven offers to our endeavours. Hail, Mary, &c. Amen. THE PRAYER OF SAINT CHRYSOSTOM. Oh almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and hast promised that, when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests, fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. AGAINST WORLDLY CARES. We beseech thee, most merciful Lord Jesus, to protect us from the dangers of business and inordinate care; and so to ward off from us the temptations of this world that we may never be ensnared by any of its more engrossing interests. Keep us from all irregular sadness, grief, and worldly fear, and from whatever thou knowest to be a hindrance to our souls. And hereby, O Lord, we ask to be delivered not only from the greater sins, but also from those daily weaknesses which proceed from the common corruption of mankind and our own fallen natures, which, calling us back to earth, prevent our spirits from soaring to thee when we would. Help us, oh Lord, that flesh and blood may not overcome us, and make us prefer a short and deceitful pleasure before an immense and eternal joy; that we may not make less account of the honour and treasures of thy everlasting king dom, than of the vain honours and perishing riches of the world; and lastly, that we may not be circumvented by the crafts and wiles of the enemy, who never ceases to endeavour our destruction. Give us, O Lord, spiritual prudence to discern, courage to resist, patience to suffer, and constancy to persevere. Give us, rather than any worldly comfort, the sweet consolations of the Holy Ghost, and pour into our souls the all-pervading love of thy holy name. Make us to continue in virtue and godliness, and never to give over thy service, till thou bringest us to our reward in thy kingdom. In all pious customs and holy duties, in our honest and necessary employments, confirm and strengthen, oh Lord, both our souls and bodies. Is our life anything but a pilgrimage on earth towards the new Jerusalem, to which he that sits down or turns out of the way can never arrive? Oh Jesus, make us always consider thy blessed example-through how much pain and how little pleasure thou didst press on to a bitter death-that being the way to a glorious resurrection. Make us, divine Redeemer, seriously weigh those severe words of thine, that he only who perseveres to the end shall be saved. May thy divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through thy mercy, rest in peace. Amen. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. IN PRAYERS BEFORE MASS. N the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.-A. Amen. O Lord, open thou our lips.-A. And our mouths shall declare thy praise. Let us adore the Glory of the Lord.-A. Let us adore the God of our Salvation. The King of Heaven inviteth us and graciously calleth us into his sacred presence; to him we owe all the days of our lives; let us give, at least, this one to his service.-A. Let us adore the Lord of Glory. Always are the angels assembled in their choirs above; always are the saints ready with their hymns; behold now the church also prepareth her solemn offices, and summoneth all her children to bring in their tribute of prayer and praise.-A. Let us adore the God of our salvation. Come, let us rejoice before the Lord; let us sing joyfully to God our Saviour; let us make haste to approach his presence, and proclaim his praises; for great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; in his hands are all the ends of the earth.-A. Let us adore the God that made us. Let us adòre, and fall down, and lament before the Lord that made us: for he is the Lord |