heretics, that they may be enlightened; and for all poor sinners, that they may be converted; and for the universal spread of truth and righteousness. I pray for this our country, that thou wouldst deliver us from all those evils which we most justly have deserved by our sins, and bring us back into the ways of truth, peace, and godliness. I pray for the Queen, and all who are in authority, that they may fear thee, and promote the good of thy Church; for the poor, and all who are tempted or afflicted; and for all who are in their last agony. Lastly, I commend all universally to thy divine protection, that thou mayest vouchsafe to the living forgiveness of their sins, and to the souls departed, rest and peace. Amen. At going forth Shew me, O Lord, thy ways, and teach me thy paths. Direct my steps according to thy word, that no injustice may rule over me. Make perfect my walking in thy paths, that my footsteps may not be moved. O divine wisdom, the eternal word of the Father, I humbly beseech thee, by thy grace, to purge my lips from all wicked and unprofitable words, that my mouth may never open but to thy praise and honour, and to the benefit of others. On going into Church. O Lord, in the multitude of thy mercies, I will enter into thy house, and worship thee in thy holy temple, and praise thy name. At taking Holy Water. Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; wash me, and I shall be made whiter than the Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. snow. Domini I. V. Angelus Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu inter mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. II. V. Ecce ancilla Domini. I. The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among woinen, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. II. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done R. Fiat mihi secundum unto me according to thy verbum tuum. word. Ave, Maria, &c. III. V. Et Verbum caro factum est. R. Et habitavit in nobis. Gratiam tuam, quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde, ut qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur; per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Hail, Mary, &c. III. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. Hail, Mary, &c. Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. [In Paschal time the Regina Cali is said instead of the above. See end of Compline.] Evening Prayers. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever. Amen. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of thy love. Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Our Father, &c. Hail, Mary, &c. I believe, &c. 1. Place yourself in the Presence of God. O almighty and eternal God, whose majesty filleth heaven and earth, I firmly believe that thou are here present; that thy adorable eye is on me; that thou seest and knowest all things, and art most intimately present in the very centre of my soul. I desire to bow down all the powers of my soul to adore thee; I desire to join my voice with all thy blessed angels and saints, to praise thee and glorify thee now and for ever. 2. Give Thanks. I give thee thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed upon me and upon thy whole Church; and particularly for those I have received from thee this day, in thy watching over me, and preserving me from so many evils, and favouring me with so many graces and inspirations, &c. [Here pause, and meditate on God's mercies.] Oh, let me never more be ungrateful unto thee, my God, who art so good and gracious unto me. 3. Ask for Light to discover your Sins. And now, dear Lord, add this one blessing to the rest: that I may clearly discover the sins which I have committed this day, by thought, word, and deed, or by any omission of any part of my duty to thee, to my neighbour, or to myself; that no part of my guilt may be hidden from my own eyes, but that I may see my sins in their true colour, and may detest them as they ought to be detested. 4. Daily Examination. How have you performed your prayers, and other spiritual exercises? Have you neglected them, or shortened them, or said them with hurry and indevotion? Have you endeavoured to live as in God's presence this day, and tried in all things to please him? Have you been guilty of murmuring or impatience under the will and appointments of God? Have you diligently performed all your ordinary duties, without sloth, carelessness, or procrastination? Have you been guilty of any act or word contrary to truth, honesty, or purity? Have you given way to any evil temper-pride, passion, vanity, envy, hatred, &c. ? Have you spoken evil of any one, or unnecessarily of other persons' faults? Have you striven against your besetting sins? Have you carefully avoided all dangerous occasions of sin? Are you endeavouring to make advances in the spiritual life, —in holiness, love of God, and superiority to the world, and not only abstaining from actual sin? Are you using the necessary means of a holy life,—prayer, meditation, and the reading of the word of God and devout books? (Whenever you find that you have been guilty of any sin, note it, with its aggravating circumstances, in order to make full confession of it when you next go to confession.) Having carefully examined yourself, and called to mind your faults, recollect the chief sins of your past life also, and make an act of contrition for all. 5. An Act of Contrition. O Father of mercies! who desirest not the death of sinners; look upon me, a miserable sinner, according to the multitude of thy mercies. I acknowledge and confess, and am heartily sorry for all the sins of my past life, and of this day in particular. I cast myself at thy feet, and beseech thee to cover all my sins with that infinite love with which thou hast loved us from all eternity. I grieve from the bottom of my heart that I have been so ungrateful to thee for thy benefits, and have so often offended thee, my God and my chief good. Spare me, I beseech thee, by the death and love of Jesus Christ thy Son; and mercifully forgive me whatsoever sins I have this day, or heretofore, committed against thee, my neighbour, or myself. (Here you may say the 50th Psalm, or any other act of penance.) 6. A Resolution of Amendment. O Almighty God! I firmly resolve, here in thy presence, and before the whole company of heaven, to live more exactly in conformity to thy will, and to the rule |