And the Word was made flesh and dwelt' Hail, Mary, &c. among us. Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son has been 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, from Easter Eve till Trinity Sunday, the anthem Regina Cœli and prayer (page 286) is to be said, standing, instead of the Angelus.] GRACE BEFORE MEALS. May He who is blessed, bless: through Christ our Lord. Amen. OR, Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which, by thy bounty, we are about to receive. Amen. GRACE AFTER MEALS. Blessed be He who is blessed; through Christ our Lord. Amen. OR, We give thee thanks, Almighty God, for all thy benefits; through Christ our Lord. Amen. AN UNIVERSAL PRAYER. O my God, I believe in thee, do thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in thee, do thou secure them. I love thee with my whole heart, teach me to love thee daily more and more. I am sorry that I have offended thee: do thou increase my sorrow. I adore thee as my first beginning; I aspire after thee as my last end; I give thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I call upon thee as my sovereign protector. Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by thy wisdom, to restrain me by thy justice, to comfort me by thy mercy, to defend me by thy power. To thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of thee, speak of thee, willingly refer all my actions to thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever thou shalt appoint. Lord, I desire that in all things thy will may be done, because it is thy will, and in the manner thon willest. I beg of thee to enlighten my understanding, and to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my soul. Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offences, to overcome my femptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper for my state. Fill my heart with a tender affection for thy goodness, a hatred for my faults, a love for my neighbours, and a contempt for the world. Let me always remember to be dutiful to my superiors, conciliating to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to mine enemies. Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion. O my God, make me prudent in mine undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in afflictions, and humble in prosperity. Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in mine employments,and constant in my good resolutions. Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my comportment regular. Assist me that I may continually labour to overcome nature, to correspond with thy grace, to keep thy commandments, and to work out my salvation. Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity. Grant that I may prepare for death, that I may fear thy judgments, that I may escape hell, and in the end obtain heaven, through Jesus Christ. Amen. A PRAYER TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL. O holy Angel, who art appointed by the divine goodness to be my guardian, to conduct my blindness, teach mine ignorance, strengthen my weakness, and to excite my slothfulness; I heartily praise our common Lord for so singular a benefit, and I thank thee for the many good offices which thou hast done me:-for defending me amidst so many dangers to both soul and body, and especially for withholding me from sin when I was hastening to mine own destruction. Continue, I beseech thee, the same care on my behalf. Offer up to God all my good desires; offer to him my hopes and my sighs. Make known to him all my wants. Do thou watch over me while I sleep; strengthen me when I faint; and enlighten my blindness. Shield me from the enemies who persecute me; and, at the hour of my death, intercede for me and bring my soul to the happy haven of everlasting salvation. Amen. A PRAYER TO PATRON SAINTS. O Blessed Saint N—, glorious citizen of heaven, as I render most humble thanks to God for all the good he has done thee, so I beseech thee to remember me in thy prayers, and to obtain for me the entire pardon of my sins, the amendment of my life, and the imitation of thy good spirit and holy graces, that I may be reconciled to my Saviour and always please him. But especially I recommend to thee the hour of my death that, by thy holy intercession, my soul may depart from this world in the grace of God, and may immediately come to everlasting life. Amen. ST. BERNARD'S PRAYER: MEMORARE. Remember, O most holy Virgin Mary, that no one ever had recourse to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy mediation, without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in thy goodness, behold me, a penitent sinner, sighing out my sins before thee, beseeching thee to adopt me for thy son, and to take upon thee the care of mine eternal salvation. Despise not, O Mother of Jesus, the petition of thy humble client, but hear and grant my prayer.. THANKSGIVING TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Most Holy Virgin Mary, we acknowledge the many blessings for which we are indebted to your intercession. Oh continue to watch over us protect what you have given us: pray for us in all our pains and troubles; and take upon you the care of our earthly welfare and eternal salvation. Receive, most Blessed Virgin, our thankfulness for the past; and vouchsafe to us, at this time also, your merciful intercession; through Jesus Christ, your Son, who, with God the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen. AN APPEAL TO CHRIST. Dear Jesus! thou knowest what I now stand in need of thou knowest the boon that I am |