{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_33676/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_33676","id":"gutenberg_33676","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33676","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Catholic Church -- Prayers and devotions"],"text":"Produced by Michael Gray, Diocese of San Jose\n\n\n\n\n  General Catholic Devotions\n\n\n\n  COMPILED BY\n  REV. BONAVENTURE HAMMER, O.F.M.\n\n\n---\n\n\n  NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO\n  BENZIGER BROTHERS\n\n  PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE\n  PUBLISHERS OF BENZINGER'S MAGAZINE\n\n\n\n  Imprimi Permittitur.\n               FR. CHRYSOSTOMUS THEOBALD, O.F.M.,\n               _Minister Provincialis._\n               Cincinnati, Ohio, die 30, Martii, 1908.\n\n  Nihil Obstat.\n                REMY LAPORT, S.T.L.,\n                     _Censor Librorum._\n\n  Imprimatur.\n                JOHN M. FARLEY,\n                Archbishop of New York.\n\n\n\n  NEW YORK, March 4, 1909.\n\n  COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY BENZIGER BROTHERS.\n\n\n\n  CONTENTS\n\n  General Devotions\n\n  MORNING PRAYERS\n  EVENING PRAYERS\n  PRAYERS AT HOLY MASS\n  PRAYERS AFTER MASS\n  PRAYERS FOR CONFESSION\n       Before Confession\n       After Confession\n  PRAYERS FOR HOLY COMMUNION\n       Before Communion\n       After Communion\n  VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT\n  PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS\n  PRAYERS TO JESUS SUFFERING\n  THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS\n  PRAYER TO OUR SUFFERING REDEEMER\n  PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY\n  PRAYER FOR ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO SALVATION\n\n  THE FOUR APPROVED LITANIES\n  LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS\n  LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS\n  LITANY OF LORETO, IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY\n  LITANY OF ALL SAINTS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGeneral Devotions\n\n\n\"The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call\nupon Him in truth. He will do the will of them that fear Him, and He\nwill bear their prayer and save them\" (_Ps._  cxliv. 18, 19).\n\n\"Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer\" (_Rom._\nxii. 12).\n\n\n\nMorning Prayers\n\nOn awaking, sign yourself with the sign of the cross, saying:\n\nIN THE name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.\n\nI rise in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed me by His\nprecious blood. Bless, guide, and protect me from all evil, O Lord!\nStrengthen me to all good and lead me to eternal life. Amen.\n\nAfter dressing, kneel and say:\n\nMy Lord and my God! I prostrate myself before the throne of Thy divine\nMajesty, and give Thee infinite thanks, O Lord, that I have passed this\nnight safely and have not died in my sins, but was preserved by Thy\nbounty for Thy further service.\n\nI offer up to Thee all that I shall do and suffer to-day, and unite it\nwith the prayers, labors, and sufferings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of\nHis blessed Mother Mary.\n\nOFFERING\n\nTAKE, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding,\nand my whole will. Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I\npossess; I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it\naccording to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I\nwill be rich enough, and will have no more to desire.\n\nIndulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.)\n\n\n\nActs of Faith, Hope, and Charity\n\nMY LORD and God! I most firmly believe all that Thou hast revealed and\nall that Thy holy Church believes and teaches, because Thou, who art\ninfallible Truth, hast so revealed and commanded.\n\nMy Lord and God! Because Thou art almighty, infinitely good and\nmerciful, I hope that by the merits of the passion and death of Jesus\nChrist, our Saviour, Thou wilt grant me eternal life, which Thou hast\npromised to all who shall do the works of a good Christian, as I purpose\nto do by Thy help.\n\nMy Lord and God! Because Thou art the highest and most perfect good, I\nlove Thee with my whole heart, and above all things; and rather than\noffend Thee, I am ready to lose all things else; and for Thy love, I\nlove and desire to love my neighbor as myself.\n\nIndulgence. (1) A plenary indulgence, once a month, for devoutly making\nthese acts daily; under the usual conditions. (2) A plenary indulgence\nat the hour of death, under the same conditions. (3) Seven years and\nseven quarantines, every time. (Benedict XIV, January 28, 1728.) The\nsame Pope declared that it is not necessary to use any set formula, but\nthat any form of words may be used, provided it expresses the particular\nmotive of each of the three theological virtues.\n\n\nTo the Blessed Virgin Mary\n\nHail Mary, etc.\n\nMY QUEEN, my Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my\ndevotion to thee I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my\nmouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good\nMother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and\npossession.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 100 days, once a day. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a\nmonth, for saying it every day; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX,\nAug. 5, 1851.)\n\n\nTo the Angel Guardian\n\n  ANGEL of God, my guardian dear,\n  To whom His love committed me here,\n  Ever this day be at my side,\n  To light and guard, to rule and guide! Amen.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence on the\nfeast of the holy Guardian Angels, for saying it morning and evening\nthroughout the year; under the usual conditions. (3) A plenary\nindulgence at the hour of death, for saying it often during life. (Pius\nVI, Oct 2, 1795, and June 11, 1796.) (4) A plenary indulgence, once a\nmonth, for saying it daily; under the usual conditions. (Pius VII, May\n15, 1821.)\n\n\n\nEvening Prayers\n\nETERNAL and merciful God! I adore Thee and give Thee thanks for all the\ngraces and benefits which Thou hast conferred upon me during my whole\nlife, and particularly during this day. May the saints and elect,\nespecially the Holy Helpers, praise and thank Thee for me.\n\nEnlighten me now through Thy holy Spirit, and let me know whether and\nhow I have offended Thee to-day in thought, word, deed, and omission of\nduty.\n\nExamine your conscience.\n\n\nAn Act of Contrition\n\nO MY God! I am deeply sorry for all my sins, for those I committed\nto-day, and for those of my whole life, because thereby I offended Thy\nsupreme and most loving goodness. Pardon me for the sake of Jesus, Thy\nSon, who shed His most precious blood on the cross for our sins. With\nthe help of Thy grace, I firmly resolve to amend my life, and rather to\ndie than again offend Thee by a mortal sin.\n\nPETITION\n\nPROTECT me and mine and all men during this night, and through the\nintercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of the Holy Helpers preserve\nus from all dangers of body and soul. Keep away from us sickness, fire,\nand calamities of every kind. Protect us against the assaults of the\nwicked and of Satan. Into Thy hands I commend my body and soul; let me\nrest in Thy most holy wounds.\n\nVisit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and repel from it all\nthe snares of the enemy; let Thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us\nin peace, and may Thy blessings be upon us for ever. Through Christ our\nLord. Amen.\n\n\nTo the Sacred Heart of Jesus\n\n(_Prayer of St Alphonsus._)\n\nADORABLE Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly for the love of men!\nUntil now I have shown toward Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my\nJesus! Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible\nthat I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my\ningratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast\ngiven Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou\nhast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the\nHoly Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. O\nJesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a\nlively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace\nof perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.\n\n\nTo the Blessed Virgin Mary\n\nREMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any\none who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy\nintercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly\nunto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother! To thee I come; before thee I\nstand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not\nmy petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 300 days, every time, (2) A plenary indulgence, once a\nmonth, for having said it daily; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX,\nDecember 11, 1846.)\n\nLitany of Loreto (located in the list of litanies).\n\n\nTo St. Joseph\n\nGUARDIAN of virgins and father, holy Joseph, to whose faithful care\nChrist Jesus, very innocence, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were\ncommitted; I pray and beg of thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary,\nfree me from all uncleanness, and make me with spotless mind, pure\nheart, and chaste body, ever most chastely to serve Jesus and Mary all\nthe days of my life. Amen.\n\nIndulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Pius IX, Feb. 4, 1877.)\n\n\nBefore Retiring\n\n(_Prayer of St. Alphonsus._)\n\nMY LORD and God Jesus Christ! I adore Thee and give Thee thanks for all\nthe graces which Thou hast granted me to-day. I offer up to Thee my rest\nand every moment of this night, and implore Thee to preserve me from all\nsin. Therefore I place myself into the wound of Thy sacred side, and\nbeneath the protecting mantle of my Mother Mary. May Thy holy angels\nassist me and watch over my peace, and may Thy holy blessing remain with\nme.\n\nIndulgence. 60 days, once a day, also for the souls in purgatory. (Leo\nXIII, June 30, 1898.)\n\nINVOCATION\n\nJESUS, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.\n\nJesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.\n\nJesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.\n\nIndulgence. 100 days for the recital of any one of these invocations,\n300 days for all three. (Pius VII, Aug. 26, 1814.)\n\n\n\nPrayers at Holy Mass\n\n\nPreparatory Prayer\n\nALMIGHTY and eternal God! I appear in Thy presence to assist at the most\nholy sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, my\nRedeemer, and to offer it up jointly with the priest and the faithful\nhere present, in grateful remembrance of His passion and death, for the\npromotion of Thy glory, and for my salvation. Together with all the holy\nMasses that are celebrated throughout the world, I offer up this august\nsacrifice for the following intentions: To adore Thee, O my God, as Thou\ndost deserve to be adored; to give Thee due thanks for the innumerable\nbenefits which I owe to Thy bounty; to make reparation for the many\noffenses I have committed; to appease Thy just anger, and to invoke Thy\ninfinite mercy for me, for Thy holy Church, for the whole world, and for\nthe souls in purgatory. Amen.\n\n\nAt the Beginning of Mass\n\nO HEAVENLY Father! Hear the prayer of Thy holy Church invoking Thy\ndivine Majesty in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to come to the aid\nof Thy children in all their needs. Turn not from us Thy gracious eyes,\nbut deliver us from all evil, so that we may live to please Thee, die in\nThy love, and enter the kingdom of glory. Amen.\n\n\nAt the Gospel\n\nALMIGHTY God, Thou source of all truth, holiness, and justice; having\nspoken in the Old Law by the mouth of Thy prophets, Thou spokest in the\nfulness of time through Thy divine Son Jesus Christ, and speakest now\nthrough Thy holy Church, appointed by Thee the Teacher of truth. We\nthank Thee for the saving doctrines entrusted to her for our good, and\nimplore Thy grace to practise them and to please Thee by all our\nactions.\n\n\nAt the Credo\n\nSay the Apostles' Creed.\n\nAt the Offering\n\nALMIGHTY and eternal God! Look graciously on the forms of bread and wine\noffered up to Thee on the altar by the priest, imploring Thee to bless\nand sanctify them for the eucharistic sacrifice of the New Law. With\nthis sacrifice, O my God, I offer up to Thee my heart with all its\naffections, desires, and inclinations. Sanctify my thoughts, words, and\ndeeds, that they may become a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to Thee.\n\n\nAt the Preface\n\nTO THEE, O Lord, I raise my heart in gratitude for all Thy mercies. For\ntruly meet and just, right and salutary is it for us to give Thee always\nand everywhere praise and thanks, O holy Lord, almighty Father and\neternal God, through Christ our Lord; through whom the angels and\narchangels, the cherubs and the seraphs praise Thy majesty and adore Thy\nmight. With them I unite my voice, joining in their hymns of praise, and\nsaying:\n\n\nAt the Sanctus\n\nHOLY, holy, holy, Lord, God of hosts. Heaven and earth are filled with\nThy glory. Hosanna in the highest.\n\nBlessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the\nhighest.\n\n\nAt the Canon\n\nO GOD! Let my prayer be acceptable to Thee, and graciously hear the\nintercession which I make confiding in the virtue of this holy\nsacrifice. I commend to Thy mercy our holy Father, N., our bishop, N.,\nand all bishops and priests of Thy holy Church. Let Thy kingdom be\nspread more and more all over the earth; grant peace and concord to the\nnations; protect our country; preserve peace and love in all families.\nRemember graciously my parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives, my\nbenefactors, my enemies, and all for whom I am in justice or charity\nbound to pray.\n\n\nAt the Elevation\n\nHAIL, thou body of my Saviour, conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of Mary\nthe immaculate Virgin! With profound humility I adore Thee. Lord, have\nmercy on me!\n\nEternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood of Jesus, in\nsatisfaction for my sins, and for the wants of holy Church.\n\nIndulgence. 100 days, every time. (Pius VII, Sept. 22, 1817.)\n\n\nAfter the Elevation\n\nMOST amiable Jesus! Thou art now present on the altar, God and man,\nreally, truly, and essentially. Divine victim for our sins, have mercy\non us! Be our mediator with Thy Father; avert from us the punishment we\nhave deserved for our sins, deliver us from all dangers that threaten\nus, and from all evil. Promote the welfare of Thy Church, and remember\nin Thy mercy those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and\nrest in peace. (_Remember the departed for whom you intend to pray._)\n\nTo these, O Lord, and to all that sleep in Christ, grant, we beseech\nThee, a place of refreshment, light, and peace.\n\nAlso to us sinners, Thy servants, confiding in the multitude of Thy\nmercies, grant some part and fellowship with Thy saints, through whose\nintercession we invoke Thy favor, and into whose company we beseech Thee\nto admit us, not in consideration of our merit, but of Thy own pardon.\nThrough Christ our Lord. Amen.\n\n\nAt the Pater Noster\n\nINSTRUCTED by Thy saving precepts and following Thy divine directions,\nwe presume to say:\n\nOur Father, etc.\n\n\nAt the Agnus Dei\n\nLAMB of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.\n\nLamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.\n\nLamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, give us peace.\n\n\nAt Communion\n\nLORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but\nthe word, and my soul shall be healed. (_Three times._)\n\n\nSpiritual Communion\n\nO JESUS, I firmly believe that Thou art truly present in the Blessed\nSacrament. I see Thee therein full of love, willing to pardon us,\nanxious to be united with us. I wish most earnestly to respond to this\nThy desire and love. I detest all the sins by which I have ever\ndispleased Thee. Pardon me, O Lord! I desire to receive Thee into my\nheart, and since I now can not receive Thee sacramentally, come at least\nspiritually to me.\n\nI embrace Thee, I unite myself with Thee as if Thou wert really present\nin my heart. With all my love I cling to Thee. Preserve me from sin,\nthat I may never be separated from Thee, but remain united with Thee for\never.\n\nIndulgence. 60 days, once a day. Also for the suffering souls. (Leo\nXIII, June 30, 1893.)\n\n\nAt the Blessing\n\nBLESS me, O Lord, by the hand of Thy priest, and let the power of this\nblessing remain upon me for ever. In the name of the Father, and of the\nSon, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.\n\n\nAt the Last Gospel\n\nO JESUS, incarnate Word of the eternal Father, Thou true light which\nenlightens the world! I give thanks to Thee at all times for having\ndwelt among us, the only-begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and\ntruth. Amen.\n\n\n\nPrayers after Mass\n\nHail Mary, etc. (_Three times._)\n\n\nSalve Regina\n\nHAIL, holy queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our\nhope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we\nsend up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn\nthen, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after\nthis our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O\nclement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!\n\nV. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.\n\nR. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.\n\n_Let Us Pray._\n\nO GOD, our refuge and our strength! Look down with favor upon Thy people\ncrying to Thee; and through the intercession of the glorious and\nimmaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of her spouse, blessed Joseph, of\nthy holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all Thy saints, mercifully and\ngraciously hear the prayers which we pour forth to Thee for the\nconversion of sinners and for the liberty and exaltation of holy mother\nChurch. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.\n\nSt. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection\nagainst the malice and snares of the devil. Command him, O God, we\nhumbly beseech Thee, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the\ndivine power, cast into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam\nthrough the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.\n\nIndulgence. 300 days. (Leo XIII, September 25, 1888.)\n\n\n\nPrayers for Confession\n\n\nBefore Confession\n\nMERCIFUL God! I give infinite thanks to Thee for the many and great\ngraces Thou hast bestowed upon me during my whole life. Would that I had\nnever been ungrateful to Thee, that I never had offended Thee. But I\nhave sinned exceedingly and often, and have done so again since my last\nconfession. Therefore I come to Thee, imploring Thee in profoundest\nhumility to give me Thy light and Thy grace, that I may know and\nacknowledge all my sins, faults, and transgressions, be truly sorry for\nthem, sincerely confess them, do penance, and amend my life; for Thy\ngreater glory and for the salvation of my soul.\n\nExamine your conscience.\n\nSUPREME God and Lord! A poor sinner, I cast myself at the throne of Thy\ndivine Majesty, and contritely confess that I have sinned in thought,\nword, and deed, and through the omission of my duties. I am heartily\nsorry that I was ungrateful to Thee and have deserved to be punished in\nthis life and in the life to come. Above all I am sorry because by my\nsins I have offended Thee, my supreme and infinite God, who art worthy\nto be loved and honored above all else for Thy supreme goodness and\nmercy. I detest and abhor my sins above all other evils, and wish I had\nnever committed them. Humbly I implore Thy pardon, and confidently hope\nto obtain it through the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us\npoor sinners, and through those of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Holy\nHelpers, and of all the saints.\n\nI firmly purpose to amend my life, to avoid all occasions of sin, to use\nthe means for conquering my passions, and to practise virtue by ordering\nmy life according to Thy divine will and pleasure, and rather to die\nthan to offend Thee again, my God and Lord. I am now ready to make\nreparation to Thy divine Justice for all the offenses of which I have\nbeen guilty against Thee, as far as is in my power. Therefore I will\nconfess my sins sincerely, contritely, fully, and perform the penance\nimposed upon me.\n\nBefore entering the confessional.\n\nThe Lord be in my heart and on my lips that I may worthily and\ncompetently confess my sins.\n\n\n\nAfter Confession\n\nO GOD of infinite mercy! I give Thee due thanks, and praise Thee for\nhaving admitted me to the confession of my sins and for having, through\nThy minister, granted me absolution for them. I implore Thee by the\nmerits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, of Mary, His most blessed Mother, of\nthe Holy Helpers, and of all the saints, to accept my confession, and in\nThy infinite mercy to condone and amend all the defects and faults I\ncommitted in making it, and to ratify in heaven the absolution I\nreceived on earth.\n\nO my Jesus! How blind I was in not knowing Thee and preferring\ntransitory beauty and earthly attractions to Thy grace and love, and\nthereby offending Thee! Now I acknowledge my fault, and am convinced\nthat it is my duty and privilege to love Thee above all things. Too late\nI have learned it, but I shall zealously strive to make reparation for\nmy past neglect. Therefore I renounce the pleasures, vanities, and joys\nof this deceitful world, and abhor sin and all that leads to it. In the\nfuture nothing shall ever part me from Thy love. From this moment on I\nam resolved nevermore to offend Thee. Confirm, O Jesus, this my\nresolution, and with Thy almighty power strengthen my frailty. Seal my\npurpose of amendment with the bestowal of Thy grace, and preserve me in\nThy grace and love unto the end. Amen.\n\n\n\nPrayers for Holy Communion\n\n\n\nBEFORE COMMUNION\n\n\nAn Act of Faith\n\nMY LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ! I firmly believe that Thou art really\npresent in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe it contains Thy body and\nblood, Thy soul and divinity. I acknowledge these truths, I believe\nthese wonders. I adore Thy power which has wrought them; I praise Thy\ninfinite goodness which has prepared them for me. \"I will praise Thee,\nmy God, with my whole heart, and will recount all Thy admirable works; I\nwill rejoice in Thee, and bless Thy holy name\" (_Ps._ ix. 2, 3). In this\nfaith, and with this acknowledgment, I presume to approach this adorable\nbanquet, wherein Thou bestowest on me the divine food of Thy body and\nblood to nourish my soul. Grant, O Jesus, that I may approach Thee with\nsuch a sense of reverence and humility as is due to Thy divine Majesty.\nWho am I, O God, that Thou shouldst work such wonders for my sake?\nGrant, O Lord, that I be not altogether unworthy of them, and that I may\nnow receive Thee with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a sincere\nand lively faith. Pardon my sins, which have rendered me most unworthy\nto approach Thee. I detest them from the bottom of my heart, because\nthey are displeasing to Thee, my God. I renounce them for ever, and\npromise to be faithful to Thee.\n\n\nAn Act of Hope\n\nIN THEE, sweet Jesus, I place all my hope, because Thou alone art my\nsalvation, my strength, my refuge, and the foundation of all my\nhappiness. Were it not for the confidence I place in Thy merits, and in\nthe precious blood Thou didst shed for my redemption, I would not\npresume to partake of this banquet. Encouraged, therefore, by Thy\ngoodness, I come to Thee as one sick to his physician, as a condemned\ncriminal to his powerful intercessor. Heal me as my physician, and as my\npowerful advocate deliver me from the sentence of sin and death. It is\nin Thy mercy that I put all my trust. Have pity, therefore, O Jesus, on\nme, and save me, for Thou forsakest none that place their hope in Thee.\n\n\nAn Act of Love\n\nO DIVINE Redeemer, how strong was the force of Thy love, that, being\nabout to depart from this world to Thy eternal Father, Thou didst\nprovide for us this divine banquet, enriched with all heavenly\nsweetness! It was through an excess of Thy love that Thou hast left us\nThy body and blood for the food and nourishment of our souls; that, as\nThou didst unite Thyself to our humanity, so we might be partakers of\nThy divinity. I desire to love Thee, my Jesus, who art my only comfort\nin this place of banishment, the only hope of my infirm soul, my\nhappiness above all I can enjoy in this life. I love Thee, my God, with\nmy whole heart, with my whole soul, and with all my mind and strength. I\nwish that, as every moment is an increase of my life, so it may also be\nof my love toward Thee. I desire, with all the affections and powers of\nmy soul, that, as the inmost thanks are due to Thee, so they may be\nreturned to Thee by all the faithful, for this divine food, which is our\nrefreshment, support, strength, armor, and defense in all our miseries;\nand that my love may never cease, inflame my heart with the fire of\nheaven, that it may continue burning till, nature and corruption being\nconsumed, I may at length be transformed into Thee. Come, O Lord, hasten\nto release me from the bonds of sin, and prepare me for the blessing\nThou art now about to bestow on me.\n\n\nAn Act of Desire\n\nMY LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ! \"As the heart panteth after the\nfountains of waters so my soul panteth after Thee, O God!\" (_Ps._ xlii.\n1). Tired with my own evil ways, I now return to Thee, to taste Thy\nbanquet, that my soul may be refreshed. I henceforth despise all human\nconsolations, that I may be comforted by Thee, my only good, my God and\nSaviour, whom I love above all things and desire to entertain within my\nheart with as much devotion and affection as is conceived by Thy chosen\nservants, who now sit at Thy table in celestial bliss. And however I may\nhave been wanting hitherto in my duty, I now for ever renounce my folly\nand weakness, and from my heart request that for the future my joy, my\nrelief, my treasure, and rest may be entirely centered in Thee. May I\nnever desire anything besides Thee, and may all things seem contemptible\nand as nothing without Thee, O my God!\n\n\nAn Act of Fear\n\nO MY God and Saviour, it is with fear and trembling that I approach Thy\nbanquet, having nothing to confide in but Thy goodness and mercy, being\nof myself a sinner, destitute of all virtue. My soul and body are\ndefiled with many crimes, my thoughts and tongue have been under no\nrestraint. I have frequently resolved to amend, and yet where do I\nremain but in the midst of sin and vice? How little pains do I take to\nrecover from this misery and return to Thee, to whom I have repeatedly\npromised to be faithful! These thoughts cause me to fear that what Thou\nhast mercifully ordained for my salvation, I should now receive to my\njudgment and condemnation. In this wretched condition I hasten to Thee;\nto Thee I expose all my wounds, to Thee I disclose my depravity. Look,\ntherefore, on me with the eyes of compassion, and have mercy on me, O\nLord and Saviour!\n\n\nAn Act of Humility\n\nO IMMENSE, almighty, and incomprehensible God, who am I, that Thou\nshouldst vouchsafe to come to be my food, and to take Thy habitation\nwithin my soul? The consideration of Thy greatness and my unworthiness\npenetrates me with awe and confusion. With the utmost sincerity I can\nonly declare the extent of my misery, and admire that infinite goodness\nwhich induces Thee to visit personally the lowest and basest of Thy\ncreatures. Receive, then, Thy unworthy servant into the compassionate\narms of Thy mercy. Cast all my sins out of Thy sight, and with the\ntenderness of a loving father extend Thy arms to receive me; and let me\neffectually experience the truth of Thy prophet's words: \"A sacrifice to\nGod is an afflicted spirit; a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou\nwilt not despise\" (_Ps._ l. 19).\n\nIMMEDIATELY BEFORE COMMUNION\n\nLORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof: say but\nthe word, and my soul shall be healed.\n\nThe body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting.\n\n\n\nAFTER COMMUNION\n\n\nAn Act of Thanksgiving\n\nO JESUS, my God and Saviour! I return Thee thanks for having, out of Thy\npure mercy, without any desert of mine, been pleased to feed my soul\nwith Thine own most sacred body and blood. Suffer me sooner to be\nforgetful of myself than to be ever unmindful of this great favor.\nAlthough I have hitherto been ungrateful, with the help of Thy grace I\nshall be so no more. But what return can I make Thee, being of myself\ninsolvent, indigent, and miserable? The sacrifice of all that I am or\nhave is not worthy to be presented to Thee; but, behold I offer Thee\nThyself, and consider all my debts as abundantly discharged. May Thy\ninfinite mercy be for ever exalted for having given me such an excellent\nmeans of repaying Thee to the full. O that I could ever remember Thee,\nthink of Thee, ever love Thee alone! Imprint the memory of what Thou\ndidst for me so deeply in my heart, that I spend my whole life in\nthanking Thee for all Thy benefits, but especially for this banquet of\nThy love. Amen.\n\n\nAn Act of Adoration\n\nUNDER the sacred veil of Thy eucharistic presence, where Thy love of man\nconceals the splendor of Thy majesty, I most humbly adore Thee, O\nalmighty God! The grandeur of the heavens is as nothing in Thy sight;\nthey shall perish, but Thou shalt remain for ever. The earth Thou hast\npoised in Thy hand. The ocean is before Thee but as a drop of water. All\nnature bows and trembles in Thy presence. How, then, shall I extol Thee,\nimmortal King of glory? What homage can I give in proportion to Thy\ngreatness? Thou art the perfect image of Thy Father's substance. Thou\nart the splendor of His glory. Thou art His almighty Word, supporting\nall things. Thee He has seated at His right hand. Thy throne, O God, is\nfor ever and ever; a scepter of justice is the scepter of Thy reign. I\nbow before Thy sacred Majesty. I acknowledge with the sincerest\ngratitude that Thou art my redeemer, my creator, the supreme arbiter of\nmy eternal destiny. I desire to humble myself as profoundly for Thy sake\nas Thou art humbled for my love in the center of my soul, and to\nconsecrate to the glory of Thy name the whole extent of my being. Amen.\n\n\nAn Act of Oblation\n\nO MY Saviour! What pledge can I give as an earnest of the gratitude I\nowe to Thee? I have nothing worthy of Thee, and if I had, I have nothing\nbut what is Thine on several accounts. But such is Thy goodness as to be\ncontent to accept from us what is already Thine. Wherefore, behold, I\noffer to Thee my body and soul, which are both now sanctified by the\nhonor of Thy divine presence. I consecrate them to Thee for ever, since\nThou hast chosen them for Thy temple; my body to be continually employed\nin Thy service, and nevermore to become an instrument of sin; my soul to\nknow Thee, to love Thee and be evermore faithful to Thee. And as I am\nnow resolved to serve Thee with body and soul, I will take pains to\ncorrect their evil inclinations. I will declare war against myself,\nrenounce my wonted pleasures, my delights, my passions, my anger, my\nself-love, my pride, my own will, and, in fine, whatever may offend\nThee.\n\n\nOffering and Petition\n\nALMIGHTY God, I offer Thee this holy communion in union with the\nsuperabundant merits of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, and the infinite\nlove of His adorable Heart; in union with the Blessed Virgin and the\nardent love of her immaculate heart; in union with the Holy Helpers and\nall the happy souls who enjoy Thy glorious vision in heaven, and with\nall the just on earth. O my God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, present in me\nin the eucharistic species; fill me with that lively faith, profound\nhumility, tender confidence, pure conscience, and ardent love, with\nwhich so many happy souls are inflamed in partaking of this sacred\nbanquet, and supply by Thy mercy all my deficiencies. I offer my\ncommunion to render Thee the honor and glory which are due to Thy\ninfinite majesty; to satisfy Thy justice, which I have provoked by my\nsins; to thank Thee for the innumerable benefits which I have received\nfrom Thy bounty; and to obtain from Thy infinite mercy the graces\nnecessary for me; particularly the grace to subdue my predominant\npassion and to acquire the virtue in which I am most deficient; but\nespecially the grace of a happy death.\n\nI likewise offer my communion, O merciful Father, in memory of the\npassion and death of Thy dear Son, my divine Redeemer, to love Him with\nmore ardor and perfection; to participate in the merits of His labors\nand sufferings; to acquire His spirit; to imitate His virtues; to model\nmy life on His, and to make His adorable Heart a public reparation for\nall the sacrilegious communions, irreverences, and profanations which\nare committed against Him in this sacrament of His love. I offer it to\nthank Thee, O God, for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on mankind,\nparticularly for all those Thou hast conferred on Thy blessed Mother, on\nall the angels and saints, especially on my guardian angel, on my holy\npatron, and on the Holy Helpers. I offer it, likewise, for the triumph\nof our holy religion, for the exaltation of the Catholic Church, for the\nconversion of infidels, heretics, schismatics, and all those who are in\nthe unhappy state of sin. Also for the needs of my relatives, friends,\nbenefactors, and enemies; for the perseverance of the just, the comfort\nof the afflicted, and the deliverance of the souls in purgatory; in a\nword, for all those for whom I am bound to pray; and I desire to enter\ninto the intentions requisite for gaining the indulgences granted by the\nChurch to-day for worthy communicants.\n\nINVOCATIONS\n\n  SOUL of Christ, sanctify me!\n  Body of Christ, save me!\n  Blood of Christ, inebriate me!\n  Water from the side of Christ, wash me!\n  Passion of Christ, strengthen me!\n  O good Jesus, hear me!\n  Within Thy wounds, hide me!\n  Permit me not to be separated from Thee!\n  From the malignant enemy defend me!\n  In the hour of my death call me!\n  And bid me come to Thee,\n  That, with Thy saints, I may praise Thee\n  For ever and ever. Amen.\n\n\nIndulgence, (1) 300 days, every time. (2) 7 years, once a day, after\nreceiving communion. (3) A plenary indulgence, once a month, to all who\nhave the pious custom of saying it at least once a day for a month;\nunder the usual conditions. (Pius IX, January 9, 1854.)\n\n\nPrayer to Jesus Crucified\n\n[Illustration: A crucifix]\n\nLOOK down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly\nkneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my\nheart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for\nmy sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great\nlove and tender pity Thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, and\ncalling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my\nJesus: \"They pierced my hands and my feet; they numbered all my bones\"\n(_Ps._ xxi. 17, 18).\n\nIndulgence. A plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, if said\nbefore an image or picture of the crucified Redeemer, after holy\ncommunion. (Pius IX, July 31, 1858.)\n\n\n\nVisit to the Blessed Sacrament\n\n(_Prayer of St. Alphonsus._)\n\nLORD Jesus Christ, who through the love which Thou bearest to man, dost\nremain with them day and night in this sacrament, full of mercy and\nlove, expecting, inviting, and receiving all who come to visit Thee; I\nbelieve that Thou art present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the\nabyss of my nothingness I adore Thee, and I thank Thee for all the\nfavors which Thou hast bestowed upon me, particularly for having given\nme Thyself in this sacrament, for having given me for my advocate Thy\nmost holy Mother Mary, and for having called me to visit Thee in this\nchurch.\n\nI this day salute Thy most loving Heart, and I wish to salute it for\nthree ends: first, in thanksgiving for this great gift; second, in\ncompensation for all the injuries Thou hast received from Thy enemies in\nthis sacrament; third, I wish by this visit to adore Thee in all places\nin which Thou art least honored and most abandoned in this holy\nsacrament. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I am sorry for\nhaving hitherto offended Thy infinite goodness. I purpose, with the\nassistance of Thy grace, nevermore to offend Thee; and at this moment,\nmiserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to Thee. I give Thee my\nentire will, all my affections and desires, and all that I have. From\nthis day forward, do what Thou wilt with me and with whatsoever belongs\nto me. I ask and desire only Thy holy love, the gift of final\nperseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of Thy will. I recommend to\nThee the souls in purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to\nthe Blessed Sacrament and to most holy Mary; and I also recommend to\nThee all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my\naffections with the affections of Thy most loving Heart; and thus united\nI offer them to Thy eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Thy name and\nfor Thy sake, to accept them.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 300 days, every time this prayer is said before the\nBlessed Sacrament. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a month, for saying it\nevery day for a month; under the usual conditions. (Pius IX, Sept. 7,\n1854.)\n\n\n\nAn Act of Oblation to the Sacred Heart\n\nDIVINE Heart of my Jesus! I adore Thee with all the powers of my soul,\nwhich I consecrate to Thee for ever, with my thoughts, my words, my\nworks, and my whole self. I purpose to offer to Thee, as far as I can,\nacts of adoration, love, and glory, like unto those which Thou offerest\nto Thy eternal Father. Be Thou, I beseech Thee, the repairer of my\ntransgressions, the protector of my life, my refuge and asylum in the\nhour of death. By Thy sighs, and by that sea of bitterness in which Thou\nwast plunged for me throughout Thy whole mortal life, grant me true\ncontrition for my sins, contempt of earthly things, a burning desire of\neternal glory, trust in Thy infinite merits, and final perseverance in\nThy grace.\n\nHeart of Jesus, all love! I offer Thee these humble prayers for myself\nand for all who unite with me in spirit to adore Thee. Vouchsafe out of\nThy great goodness to hear and answer them, chiefly for that one among\nus who will first end this mortal life. Sweet Heart of Jesus! pour into\nhis heart, in his death agony, Thine inward consolations; receive him\nwithin Thy sacred wound; cleanse him from all stains in that furnace of\nlove, so that Thou mayest soon open to him the gates of Thy eternal\nglory, there to intercede with Thee for all those who tarry yet in this\nland of exile.\n\nMost holy Heart of my most loving Jesus! For myself, a wretched sinner,\nand for all who unite with me in adoring Thee, I purpose to renew and\noffer to Thee these acts of adoration and these prayers at every moment\nand to the last instant of my life. I recommend to Thee, my Jesus, our\nholy Church, Thy well-beloved spouse and our true mother; the souls who\nare following the path of justice, poor sinners, the afflicted, the\ndying, all men on the face of the entire earth. Let not Thy blood be\nshed in vain for them; and vouchsafe, lastly, to apply it for the relief\nof the souls in purgatory, and above all, for those who in life were\nforemost in their devotion to Thee.\n\nMost loving heart of Mary, which, amongst the hearts of all God's\ncreatures, is at once the purest and the most inflamed with love for\nJesus, and the most compassionate toward us poor sinners, obtain for us\nfrom the Heart of Jesus, our Redeemer, all graces which we ask of thee.\nMother of mercies, one throb, a single beat of thy burning heart,\noffered by thee to the Heart of Jesus, has power to console us to the\nfull. Grant us, then, this favor. And then the Heart of Jesus, through\nthe filial love He had for thee, and will ever have, will not fail to\nhear and answer our request. Amen.\n\nDAILY OFFERING\n\nO LORD Jesus Christ! In union with that divine intention, with which\nThou, whilst on earth, didst give praise to God through Thy most sacred\nHeart, and which Thou dost still everywhere offer to Him in the Holy\nEucharist, even to the consummation of the world; I, in imitation of the\nmost sacred heart of the ever-immaculate Virgin Mary, do most cheerfully\noffer to Thee, during this entire day, all my thoughts and intentions,\nall my affections and desires, my words and all my works.\n\nIndulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, Dec. 19, 1885.)\n\n_Ejaculation_\n\nJesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine!\n\nIndulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Pius IX, January 25, 1858.)\n\n\n\nPRAYERS TO JESUS SUFFERING\n\nThe Stations of the Cross\n\nPREPARATORY PRAYER\n\nMOST merciful Jesus! With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow\ndown in profound humility before Thy divine majesty. I adore Thee as my\nsupreme Lord and master; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee\nabove all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my\nsupreme and only good. I resolve to amend my life; and though I am\nunworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Thy holy cross, on which Thou\ndidst die, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will therefore\nmeditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the stations of Thy passion in\ncompany with Thy sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the\nintention of promoting Thy glory and saving my soul.\n\nI desire to gain all the indulgences granted for this exercise, for\nmyself and for the suffering souls in purgatory. O merciful Redeemer,\nwho hast said; \"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all\nthings to myself,\" draw my heart and my love to Thee, that I may perform\nthis devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in\nunion with Thee. Amen.\n\n_Before Every Station_\n\nWe adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee: Because by Thy holy cross Thou\nhast redeemed the world.\n\n_After Every Station_\n\nLord Jesus, crucified: Have mercy on us.\n\n\nFirst Station\n\nJESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH\n\nJESUS, most innocent, who neither did nor could commit sin, was\ncondemned to death, and, moreover, to the ignominious death of the\ncross. To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him to His\nenemies. A fearful crime--to condemn innocence to death, and to offend\nGod, in order not to displease men.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO INNOCENT Jesus, having sinned I am guilty of eternal death, but Thou\ndost willingly accept the unjust sentence of death, that I might live.\nFor whom, then, shall I henceforth live, if not for Thee, my Lord?\nShould I desire to please men, I could not be Thy servant. Let me,\ntherefore, rather displease men and all the world than not please Thee,\nO Jesus.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nSecond Station\n\nJESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS\n\nON BEHOLDING the cross, our divine Saviour most willingly stretched out\nHis bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, and placing\nit on His bruised shoulder, despite His exhaustion joyfully carried it.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO MY Jesus, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry\nthe cross. O dearly beloved cross, I embrace thee, I kiss thee, I\nrejoice to receive thee from the hands of God. Far be it from me to\nglory in anything save in the cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the\nworld shall be crucified to me, and I to the world, that I may be Thine\nfor ever.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail, Mary, etc\n\n\nThird Station\n\nJESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME\n\nOUR dear Saviour carrying the cross was so weakened by its heavy weight\nas to fall exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy\nburden which oppressed Him; the cross was to Him light and sweet, but\nour sins were galling and insupportable.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO MY Jesus! Thou didst bear my burden and the heavy weight of my sins.\nShould I, then, not bear in union with Thee my easy burden of suffering\nand accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? Thy yoke is sweet and Thy\nburden light; I therefore willingly accept it. I will take up Thy cross\nand follow Thee.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc,\n\n\nFourth Station\n\nJESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER\n\nHOW painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful\nMother, to behold her beloved Son laden with the burden of the cross!\nWhat unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly\nshe yearned to die instead of, or at least with, Jesus! Implore this\nsorrowful Mother that she assist you in the hour of your death.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS, O Mary! I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which\npierce your loving hearts. O that my heart also would feel and\nexperience at least some of your sufferings! O Mother of sorrows, let me\nparticipate in the sufferings which thou and thy Son endured for me, and\nlet me experience thy sorrow, that, afflicted with thee, I may enjoy thy\nassistance in the hour of my death.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nFifth Station\n\nSIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS\n\nSIMON of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus\naccepted His assistance. How willingly He would permit you also to carry\nthe cross! He calls you, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you\ndecline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly!\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS! Whosoever does not take up His cross and follow Thee is not\nworthy of Thee. Behold, I join Thee in the way of Thy cross; I will be\nThy assistant, following Thy footsteps, that I may come to Thee in\neternal life.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nSixth Station\n\nVERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS\n\nIMPELLED by devotion and compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus\nto wipe His disfigured face. And Jesus imprints on it His holy\ncountenance; a great recompense for so slight a service. What return do\nyou make to your Saviour for His great and manifold benefits?\n\n_Prayer_\n\nMOST merciful Jesus! What return shall I make for all the benefits Thou\ndidst bestow on me? Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service.\nI offer and consecrate to Thee my heart. Imprint upon it Thy sacred\nimage, never to be effaced again by sin.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nSeventh Station\n\nJESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME\n\nJESUS, suffering under the weight of His cross, again falls to the\nground; but His cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment.\nPushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent\nrepetition of our sins which oppresses Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I\ncontinue to sin?\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS, son of David, have mercy on me! Offer me Thy helping hand, and\naid me that I may not fall again into my former sins. From this very\nmoment I will earnestly strive to reform; nevermore will I sin. Do Thou,\nO sole support of the weak, by Thy grace, without which I can do\nnothing, strengthen me to carry out faithfully this my resolution.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nEighth Station\n\nTHE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS\n\nTHESE devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering\nSaviour. But He turns to them, saying, \"Weep not for Me, who am\ninnocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children.\" Weep thou\nalso; for there is nothing more pleasing to Our Lord, and nothing more\nprofitable for thyself, than tears shed from contrition for thy sins.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS, who shall give to my eyes a torrent of tears, that day and\nnight I may weep for my sins? I beseech Thee through Thy bloody tears to\nmove my heart by Thy divine grace, so that from my eyes tears may flow\nabundantly, and I may weep all days over Thy sufferings, and still more\nover their cause, my sins.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail, Mary, etc.\n\n\nNinth Station\n\nJESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME\n\nJESUS, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third\ntime to the ground. His love for us is not exhausted, not diminished.\nWhat a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to\nfall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would\nhave plunged us into the abyss of hell.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nMOST merciful Jesus! I return Thee infinite thanks for not permitting me\nto continue in sin, and to fall, as I have so often deserved, into the\ndepths of hell. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of amendment. Let me\nnever again relapse, but vouchsafe me Thy grace to persevere to the end\nof my life.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nTenth Station\n\nJESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS\n\nAFTER arriving on Calvary, our Saviour was cruelly despoiled of His\ngarments. How painful must this have been, because they adhered to His\nwounded and torn body, and with them parts of His bloody skin were\nremoved! All the wounds of Jesus are renewed. He is despoiled of His\ngarments that He might die possessed of nothing. How happy shall I die\nafter laying aside my former self with all evil inclinations and\ndesires!\n\n_Prayer_\n\nINDUCE me, O Jesus! to lay aside my former self, and to be renewed\naccording to Thy will and desire. I will not spare myself, however\npainful this should be for me; despoiled of things temporal, of my own\nwill, I desire to die, in order to live for Thee for ever.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nEleventh Station\n\nJESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS\n\nJESUS, being stripped of His garments, was violently thrown upon the\ncross, and His hands and feet were most cruelly nailed thereto. In such\nexcruciating torments He remained silent, because it thus pleased His\nheavenly Father. He suffered patiently because He suffered for us. How\ndo I act in suffering and affliction? How fretful and impatient, how\nfull of complaints I am!\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS, gracious Lamb of God! I renounce for ever my impatience.\nCrucify, O Lord, my flesh and its concupiscences. Scorch, scathe, and\npunish me in this world; do but spare me in the next! I commit my\ndestiny to Thee, resigning myself to Thy holy will; may it be done in\nall things.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nTwelfth Station\n\nJESUS IS RAISED UPON THE CROSS, AND DIES\n\nBEHOLD Jesus crucified! Behold the wounds He received for the love of\nyou! His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you;\nHis arms are extended to embrace you; His Heart is open to receive you.\nO superabundance of love! Jesus, the Son of God dies that man may live\nand be delivered from everlasting death.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO MOST amiable Jesus! Who will grant me that I may die for love of Thee?\nI will at least endeavor to die to the world. How must I regard the\nworld and its vanities, when I behold Thee hanging on the cross, covered\nwith wounds? O Jesus, receive me into Thy wounded Heart; I belong\nentirely to Thee; for Thee alone do I desire to live and to die.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc\n\n\nThirteenth Station\n\nJESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS, AND PLACED IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER\n\nJESUS did not descend from the cross, but remained on it till after His\ndeath. And when taken down from it, He, in death as in life, rested on\nthe bosom of His Mother. Persevere in your resolutions of reform, and do\nnot part from the cross; he that persevereth to the end shall be saved.\nConsider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body\nand blood of Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO LORD Jesus! Thy lifeless body, mangled and torn, found a worthy\nresting-place on the bosom of Thy virgin Mother. Have I not compelled\nThee often to dwell in my heart, full of sin and impurity as it was?\nCreate in me a new heart, that I may worthily receive Thy most sacred\nbody in holy communion, and that Thou mayest remain in me, and I in\nThee, for all eternity.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc\n\n\nFourteenth Station\n\nJESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHER\n\nTHE body of Jesus is laid in a stranger's tomb. He who in this world had\nnot whereupon to rest His head, would not even have a grave of His own,\nbecause He was not of this world. You, who are so attached to the world,\nhenceforth despise it, that you may not perish with it.\n\n_Prayer_\n\nO JESUS, Thou hast set me apart from the world; what, then, shall I seek\ntherein? Thou hast created me for heaven; what, then, have I to do with\nthe world? Depart from me, deceitful world, with Thy vanities!\nHenceforth I will follow the way of the cross traced out for me by my\nRedeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, there to dwell for\never and ever.\n\nOur Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\n\nALMIGHTY and eternal God, merciful Father, who hast given to the human\nrace Thy beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience,\nto precede us on the way of life, bearing the cross; graciously grant,\nthat we, inflamed by His infinite love, may take up the sweet yoke of\nHis Gospel, together with the mortification of the cross, following Him\nas His true disciples, so that we shall one day rise gloriously with\nHim, and joyfully hear the final sentence: \"Come, ye blessed of my\nFather, and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the\nbeginning,\" where Thou reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and\nwhere we hope to reign with Thee throughout all eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\nPrayer to Our Suffering Redeemer\n\nO MY Lord Jesus Christ! Who, to redeem the world, didst vouchsafe to be\nborn amongst men, to be circumcised, to be rejected and persecuted by\nthe Jews, to be betrayed by the traitor Judas with a kiss, and as a\nlamb, gentle and innocent, to be bound with cords and dragged, in scorn,\nbefore the tribunals of Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod; who didst\nsuffer Thyself to be accused by false witnesses, to be torn by the\nscourge and overwhelmed with ignominy; to be spit upon, to be crowned\nwith thorns, buffeted, struck with a reed, blindfolded, stripped of Thy\ngarments; to be nailed to the cross and raised on it between two\nthieves; to be given gall and vinegar to drink, and to be pierced with a\nlance; do Thou, O Lord, by these Thy most sacred pains, which I, all\nunworthy, call to mind, and by Thy holy cross and death, save me from\nthe pains of hell, and vouchsafe to bring me whither Thou didst bring\nthe good thief who was crucified with Thee, who with the Father and the\nHoly Ghost, livest and reignest God, for ever and ever. Amen.\n\nOur Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, etc., five times.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 300 days, once a day. (2) A plenary indulgence, under\nthe usual conditions, on any one of the last three days of the month,\nafter saying this prayer daily for a month. (Pius VII, August 25, 1820.)\n\n\n\nPrayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary\n\n(_By St. Alphonsus._)\n\nMOST holy and immaculate virgin, O my Mother, thou who art the Mother of\nmy Lord, the queen of the world, the advocate, hope, and refuge of\nsinners! I, the most wretched among them, come now to thee. I venerate\nthee, great queen, and give thee thanks for the many favors thou hast\nbestowed on me in the past. Most of all do I thank thee for having saved\nme from hell, which I so often deserved. I love thee, Lady most worthy\nof love, and by the love which I bear thee I promise ever in the future\nto serve thee, and to do what in me lies to win others to thy love. In\nthee I put all my trust, all my hope of salvation. Receive me as thy\nservant, and cover me with the mantle of thy protection, thou who art\nthe Mother of mercy! And since thou hast so much power with God, deliver\nme from all temptations, or at least obtain for me the grace ever to\novercome them. From thee I ask a true love of Jesus Christ, and the\ngrace of a happy death. O my Mother, by thy love for God I beseech thee\nto be at all times my helper, but above all at the last moment of my\nlife. Leave me not until thou seest me safely in heaven, there for\nendless ages to bless thee and sing thy praises. Amen.\n\nIndulgence, (1) 300 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence, once a\nmonth, for having said it daily during the month; under the usual\nconditions. (Pius IX, Sept. 7, 1854.)\n\n\n\nPrayer for All Things Necessary for Salvation\n\nO MY God! I believe in Thee; do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes\nare in Thee; do Thou secure them. I love Thee with my whole heart; teach\nme to love Thee more and more. I am sorry that I have offended Thee; do\nThou increase my sorrow. I adore Thee as my first beginning; I aspire\nafter Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor;\nI call upon Thee as my sovereign protector. Vouchsafe, O my God, to\nconduct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me\nby Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power. To Thee I desire to consecrate\nall my thoughts, my actions, and my sufferings, that I henceforward may\nthink only of Thee, speak only of Thee, and ever refer all my actions to\nThy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou shalt appoint. O\nLord, I desire that in all things Thy will be done, because it is Thy\nwill, and in the manner that Thou willest. I beg of Thee to enlighten my\nunderstanding, to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my\nsoul. Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offenses, to overcome my\ntemptations, to subdue my passions, to acquire the virtues proper for my\nstate. Fill my heart with tender affection for Thy goodness, a hatred of\nmy faults, a love for my neighbor, and a contempt for the world. Let me\nalways be submissive to my superiors, condescending to my inferiors,\nfaithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies. Assist me to\novercome sensuality by mortification, avarice by almsdeeds, anger by\nmeekness, and tepidity by zeal. O my God, make me prudent in my\nundertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble\nin prosperity. Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers,\ntemperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my\nresolutions. Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior\nmodest, my conversation edifying, my comportment regular. Assist me,\nthat I may continually labor to overcome nature, correspond with Thy\ngrace, keep Thy commandments, and work out my salvation. Discover to me,\nO my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the\nshortness of time, the length of eternity. Grant that I may be prepared\nfor death, fear Thy judgments, escape hell, and, in the end, obtain\nheaven.\n\nAll that I have asked for myself I confidently ask for others; for my\nfamily, my relations, my benefactors, my friends, and also for my\nenemies. I ask it for the whole Church, for all the orders of which it\nis composed; more especially for our Holy Father, the Pope; for our\nbishop, for our pastors, and for all who are in authority; also for all\nthose for whom Thou desirest that I should pray. Give them, O Lord, all\nthat Thou knowest to be conducive to Thy glory and necessary for their\nsalvation. Strengthen the just in virtue, convert sinners, enlighten\ninfidels, heretics, and schismatics; console the afflicted, give to the\nfaithful departed rest and eternal life; that together we may praise,\nlove, and bless Thee for all eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\nThe Four Approved Litanies\n\n\n\nLitany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus\n\n  LORD, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, have mercy on us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, hear us.\n  Jesus, graciously hear us.\n  God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.\n  God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.\n  God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, brightness of eternal light, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, king of glory, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, sun of justice, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus amiable, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus admirable, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, powerful God, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, angel of the great council, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus most powerful, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus most patient, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus most obedient, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, model of all virtues, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, zealous for souls, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, our God, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, good shepherd, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, true light, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, joy of angels, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, king of patriarchs, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, master of the apostles, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, teacher of the evangelists, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, strength of martyrs, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, light of confessors, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, purity of virgins, have mercy on us.\n  Jesus, crown of all saints, have mercy on us.\n  Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus.\n  Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus.\n  From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From eternal death, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  From the neglect of Thy inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy nativity, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy infancy, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy most divine life, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy labors, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy agony and passion, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy languors, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy ascension, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy joys, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  By Thy glory, deliver us, O Jesus.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Jesus.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear\nus, O Jesus.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us,\nO Jesus.\n  Jesus, hear us.\n  Jesus, graciously hear us.\n\n_Let us pray_\n\nO LORD Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and\nye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: mercifully attend\nto our supplications, and grant us the gift of Thy divine charity, that\nwe may ever love Thee with our whole hearts, and never desist from Thy\npraise.\n\nGive us, O Lord, a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name, for Thou\nnever ceasest to direct and govern by Thy grace those whom Thou\ninstructest in the solidity of Thy love; who livest and reignest world\nwithout end. Amen.\n\nIndulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, January 16, 1886.)\n\n\n\nLitany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus\n\n(_Approved by Pope Leo XIII, April 2, 1899._)\n\n  LORD, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, have mercy on us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, hear us.\n  Christ, graciously hear us.\n  God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.\n  God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.\n  God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin\nMother, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on\nus.\n  Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,\nhave mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fulness of divinity, have mercy on\nus.\n  Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, of whose fulness we have all received, have mercy on\nus.\n  Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, victim for sin, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in thee, have mercy on\nus.\n  Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.\n  Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear\nus, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us,\nO Lord.\n  V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart:\n  R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.\n\n_Let us pray_\n\nO ALMIGHTY and eternal God! Look upon the Heart of Thy dearly beloved\nSon, and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of\nsinners and of those who seek Thy mercy; be Thou appeased, and grant us\npardon in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son; who liveth and\nreigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.\nAmen.\n\nIndulgence. 300 days. (Leo XIII, April 2, 1899.)\n\n\n\nThe Litany of Loreto\n\n_In Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary_\n\n  LORD, have mercy on us,\n  Christ, have mercy on us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us,\n  Christ, hear us.\n  Christ, graciously hear us.\n  God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.\n  God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.\n  God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Mary, pray for us.\n  Holy Mother of God, pray for us.\n  Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.\n  Mother of Christ, pray for us.\n  Mother of divine grace, pray for us.\n  Mother most pure, pray for us.\n  Mother most chaste, pray for us.\n  Mother inviolate, pray for us.\n  Mother undefiled, pray for us.\n  Mother most amiable, pray for us.\n  Mother most admirable, pray for us.\n  Mother of good counsel, pray for us.\n  Mother of our Creator, pray for us.\n  Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us.\n  Virgin most prudent, pray for us.\n  Virgin most venerable, pray for us.\n  Virgin most renowned, pray for us.\n  Virgin most powerful, pray for us.\n  Virgin most merciful, pray for us.\n  Virgin most faithful, pray for us.\n  Mirror of justice, pray for us.\n  Seat of wisdom, pray for us.\n  Cause of our joy, pray for us.\n  Spiritual vessel, pray for us.\n  Vessel of honor, pray for us.\n  Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.\n  Mystical rose, pray for us.\n  Tower of David, pray for us.\n  Tower of ivory, pray for us.\n  House of gold, pray for us.\n  Ark of the covenant, pray for us.\n  Gate of heaven, pray for us.\n  Morning star, pray for us.\n  Health of the sick, pray for us.\n  Refuge of sinners, pray for us.\n  Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.\n  Help of Christians, pray for us.\n  Queen of angels, pray for us.\n  Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.\n  Queen of prophets, pray for us.\n  Queen of apostles, pray for us.\n  Queen of martyrs, pray for us.\n  Queen of confessors, pray for us.\n  Queen of virgins, pray for us.\n  Queen of all saints, pray for us.\n  Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.\n  Queen of the most holy rosary, pray for us.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear\nus, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us,\nO Lord.\n  V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God:\n  R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.\n\n_Let us pray_\n\nPOUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we,\nto whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message\nof an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His\nresurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.\n\n  V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.\n  R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.\n\n_Let us pray_\n\nVOUCHSAFE, O Lord, that we may be helped by the merits of Thy most holy\nMother's spouse; that what of ourselves we can not obtain may be given\nus through his intercession. Who livest and reignest, world without end.\nAmen.\n\nIndulgence. (1) 300 days, every time. (2) A plenary indulgence on the\nfollowing five feasts of the Blessed Virgin: Immaculate Conception,\nNativity, Purification, Annunciation, and Assumption; under the usual\nconditions, to all who shall have said it daily during the year. (Pius\nVII, September 30, 1817.) These indulgences are granted for the litany\nalone; hence the prayers following it may be omitted.\n\n\n\nLitany of the Saints\n\n  LORD, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, have mercy on us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, hear us.\n  Christ, graciously hear us.\n  God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.\n  God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.\n  God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.\n  Holy Mary, pray for us.\n  Holy Mother of God, pray for us.\n  Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.\n  St. Michael, pray for us.\n  St. Gabriel, pray for us.\n  St. Raphael, pray for us.\n  All ye holy angels and archangels, pray for us.\n  All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.\n  St. John Baptist, pray for us.\n  St. Joseph, pray for us.\n  All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.\n  St. Peter, pray for us.\n  St. Paul, pray for us.\n  St. Andrew, pray for us.\n  St. James, pray for us.\n  St. John, pray for us.\n  St. Thomas, pray for us.\n  St. James, pray for us.\n  St. Philip, pray for us.\n  St. Bartholomew, pray for us.\n  St. Matthew, pray for us.\n  St. Simon, pray for us.\n  St. Thaddaeus, pray for us.\n  St. Mathias, pray for us.\n  St. Barnabas, pray for us.\n  St. Luke, pray for us.\n  St. Mark, pray for us.\n  All ye holy apostles and evangelists, pray for us.\n  All ye holy disciples of Our Lord, pray for us.\n  All ye holy innocents, pray for us.\n  St. Stephen, pray for us.\n  St. Lawrence, pray for us.\n  St. Vincent, pray for us.\n  SS. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.\n  SS. John and Paul, pray for us.\n  SS. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us.\n  SS. Gervaise and Protaise, pray for us.\n  All ye holy martyrs, pray for us.\n  St. Sylvester, pray for us.\n  St. Gregory, pray for us.\n  St. Ambrose, pray for us.\n  St. Augustine, pray for us.\n  St. Jerome, pray for us.\n  St. Martin, pray for us.\n  St. Nicholas, pray for us.\n  All ye holy bishops and confessors, pray for us.\n  All ye holy doctors, pray for us.\n  St. Anthony, pray for us.\n  St. Benedict, pray for us.\n  St. Bernard, pray for us.\n  St. Dominic, pray for us.\n  St. Francis, pray for us.\n  All ye holy priests and levites, pray for us.\n  All ye holy monks and hermits, pray for us.\n  St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us.\n  St. Agatha, pray for us.\n  St. Lucy, pray for us.\n  St. Agnes, pray for us.\n  St. Cecilia, pray for us.\n  St. Catherine, pray for us.\n  St. Anastasia, pray for us.\n  All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us.\n  All ye men and women, saints of God: Make intercession for us.\n  Be merciful: Spare us, O Lord.\n  Be merciful: Graciously hear us, O Lord.\n  From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From a sudden and unprovided death, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From the snares of the devil, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From anger, hatred, and ill will, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From the spirit of fornication, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From lightning and tempest, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From the scourge of earthquake, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From pestilence, famine, and war, O Lord, deliver us.\n  From everlasting death, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy coming, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy nativity, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy cross and passion, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy death and burial, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy holy resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through Thy admirable ascension, O Lord, deliver us.\n  Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, O Lord, deliver\nus.\n  In the Day of Judgment, O Lord, deliver us.\n  We sinners, Beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to bring us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear\nus.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, we beseech\nThee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to preserve our apostolic prelate and all\necclesiastical orders in holy religion, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to humble the enemies of Thy holy Church, we\nbeseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings\nand princes, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people,\nwe beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, we\nbeseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech Thee, hear\nus.\n  That Thou render eternal good things to all our benefactors, we\nbeseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou deliver our souls and those of our brethren, kinsfolk, and\nbenefactors from eternal damnation, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we\nbeseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we\nbeseech Thee, hear us.\n  That Thou vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear\nus, O Lord.\n  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us,\nO Lord.\n  Christ, hear us.\n  Christ, graciously hear us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us.\n  Christ, have mercy on us.\n  Lord, have mercy on us.\n  Our Father, etc.\n  V. And lead us not into temptation.\n  R. But deliver us from evil.\n\nPSALM LXIX\n\n  INCLINE unto my aid, O God: O Lord, make haste to help me.\n  Let them be confounded and ashamed: that seek after my soul.\n  Let them be turned backward and blush for shame: that desire evils\nunto me.\n  Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame, that say to me:\nTis well, 'tis well.\n  Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as\nlove Thy salvation say always, The Lord be magnified.\n  But I am needy and poor: O God, help Thou me.\n  Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no delay.\n  Glory be to the Father, etc.\n  V. Save Thy servants:\n  R. Trusting in Thee, O my God.\n  V. Be unto us, O God, a tower of strength:\n  R. From the face of the enemy.\n  V. Let not the enemy prevail against us:\n  R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us.\n  V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins:\n  R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.\n  V. Let us pray for our chief bishop, N.\n  R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon\nearth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.\n  V. Let us pray for our benefactors:\n  R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life\nall those who have done us good.\n  V. Let us pray for the faithful departed:\n  R. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine\nupon them.\n  V. May they rest in peace.\n  R. Amen.\n  V. For our absent brethren:\n  R. O my God, save Thy servants trusting in Thee.\n  V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy holy place:\n  R. And from Sion protect them.\n  V. O Lord, hear my prayer:\n  R. And let my cry come unto Thee.\n\n_Let us pray_\n\nO GOD, whose property it is always to have mercy and to spare, receive\nour petitions, that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain\nof sin, may, in the compassion of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.\n\nHear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayer of Thy suppliants, and pardon\nthe sins of them that confess to Thee, that of Thy bounty Thou mayest\ngrant us pardon and peace.\n\nOut of Thy clemency, O Lord, show Thy unspeakable mercy to us, that so\nThou mayest both acquit us of our sins and deliver us from the\npunishment we deserve for them.\n\nO God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully\nregard the prayers of Thy people who make supplication to Thee, and turn\naway the scourges of Thy anger, which we deserve for our sins.\n\nO almighty and eternal God, have mercy on Thy servant N., our chief\nbishop, and direct him, according to Thy clemency, in the way of\neverlasting salvation, that, by Thy grace, he may desire the things that\nare agreeable to Thy will, and perform them with all his strength.\n\nO God, from whom all holy desires, righteous counsels, and just works do\ncome, give to Thy servants that peace which the world can not give;\nthat, our hearts being disposed to keep Thy commandments, and the fear\nof enemies being taken away, the times, by Thy protection, may be\npeaceable.\n\nInflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit;\nto the end that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee\nwith a clean heart.\n\nO God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls\nof Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that by pious\nsupplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.\n\nDirect, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations,\nand carry them on by Thy gracious assistance; that every prayer and work\nof ours may always begin from Thee, and by Thee be happily ended.\n\nAlmighty and eternal God, who hast dominion over the living and the\ndead, and art merciful to all whom Thou foreknowest shall be Thine by\nfaith and good works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we have\npurposed to offer our prayers, whether this present world still detains\nthem in the flesh, or the next world has already received them divested\nof their bodies, may, by the clemency of Thine own goodness and the\nintercession of Thy saints, obtain pardon and full remission of all\ntheir sins. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with\nThee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.\n\n  V. O Lord, hear my prayer.\n  R. And let my cry come unto Thee.\n  V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.\n  R. Amen.\n  V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God\nrest in peace.\n  R. Amen.","title":"General Catholic Devotions","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":14215}