And when the night's deep gloom shall shut out the day, may our faith know nought of darkness, and the very night be day by faith. Let not our soul, but only sin feel sleep; let faith keep us chaste, and, by its refreshing power, check the vapours of sleep. May our heart's deepest self, unshackled by the allurements of sense, dream of thee: nor let the fear of the enemy, whose envy is ever laying snares, disturb us when at rest. Let our prayer ascend to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit of that Christ and Father: O Trinity, one in essence, and all-powerful, be merciful to us, who pray to thee. Amen. Ut, cum profunda clau- Diem caligo noctium, Dormire mentem ne sinas, Exuta sensu lubrico Christum rogemus et Pa- Christi Patrisque Spiritum: Amen. After this Hymn, say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed, as in the Morning. Then make the Examination of Conscience, going over in your mind all the faults committed during the day. Think, and humble yourself at the thought, how sin makes us degenerate from the divine adoption. Then make a resolution to avoid sin for the time to come, to do penance for it, and to shun the occasions which might again lead you into it. Having concluded the Examination of Conscience, recite the Confiteor (or I confess) with heartfelt contrition; and then give expression to your sorrow by the following Act, which we have taken from the Venerable Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism. ACT OF CONTRITION. O my God, I am exceedingly grieved for having offended thee; and, with my whole heart, I repent for the sins I have committed: I hate, and abhor them, above every other evil, not only because, by so sinning, I have lost Heaven and deserve Hell, but still more because I have offended thee, O infinite Goodness, who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin. You may then add the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the recitation of which Pope Benedict the Fourteenth has granted an Indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each time. ACT OF FAITH. O my God, I firmly believe whatsoever the Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church requires me to believe: I believe it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the very Truth. ACT OF HOPE. O my God, knowing thine almighty power, and thine infinite goodness and mercy, I hope in thee that, by the merits of the Passion and Death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, thou wilt grant me eternal life, which thou hast promised to all such as shall do the works of a good Christian; and these I resolve to do, with the help of thy grace. ACT OF CHARITY. O my God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the Sovereign Good: I would rather lose all things than offend thee. For thy love also, I love, and desire to love, my neighbour as myself. Then say to our Blessed Lady, the following solemn Anthem, which the Church says, in her honour, till Advent. ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope, all hail! To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee we send up our sighs, weeping and mourning in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; And, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O merciful, O kind, O sweet Virgin Mary! V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, B. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ; vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevæ; Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrymarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende; O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria! V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix, B. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. LET US PRAY. O almighty and everlasting God, who, by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of Mary, glorious Virgin and Mother, to become the worthy habitation of thy Son; grant that we may be delivered from present evils, and from everlasting death by Her gracious intercession, in whose commemoration we rejoice. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. OREMUS. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosæ Virginis matris Mariæ corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu sancto cooperante, præparasti: da, ut cujus commemoratione lætamur, ejus pia intercessione ab instantibus malis, et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. You would do well to add the Litany of our Lady. An Indulgence of three hundred days, for each time. it is recited, has been granted by the Church. Pater de cœlis, Deus, mise- God, the Father of heaven, rere nobis. Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Mater divinæ gratiæ, Mater castissima, Virgo potens, Virgo clemens, Virgo fidelis, Speculum justitiæ, Turris Davidica, Turris eburnea, Domus aurea, Fœderis arca, Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Vessel of singular devotion, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, O Lamb of God, who takest V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, B. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. LET US PRAY. Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we thy servants may enjoy constant health of body and mind: and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from all present affliction, and come to that joy which is eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Janua cœli, Stella matutina, Refugium peccatorum, Regina Angelorum, Regina Patriarcharum, Regina Prophetarum, Regina Sanctorum omnium, Regina sine labe concepta. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec cata mundi, parce nobis, Domine. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Christe, audi nos. B. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. OREMUS. Concede nos famulos tuos, quæsumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere: et gloriosa beatæ Mariæ semper virginis intercessione, a præsenti liberari tristitia,_et æterna perfrui lætitia. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Here invoke the Holy Angels, whose protection is, |