ACT OF ADORATION.

What am I about to do? Who am I, O Father Almighty, that I dare present myself before Thee? The heavens cannot contain Thy glory, the Angels and Saints ever sing Thy praises, and how shall I, who am but dust and ashes, offer Thee aught? Overwhelm me with a sense of my dependence and of Thy condescension, and accept the homage of my being, which I now humbly offer Thee. Forgive. me any irreverence in Thy awful presence, and reject not Thy weak and sinful creature.

PREPARATORY PRAYER.

O my God! prostrate before Thee I implore Thy pardon for the manifold sins by which I have offended Thy Divine Majesty; I detest them from the bottom of my heart, and will endeavor henceforward, by due consideration of Thy holy law, to walk in the way of Thy service. I render the homage of my being and life, and consecrate all my powers to Thee. Grant me Thy grace, O Lord, to meditate now in a manner pleasing to Thy Divine will, and let all my thoughts, words, and actions be directed to Thy honor and glory and my own salvation. Amen.

ON SANCTIFYING STUDY.

Especially by Young Persons.

As study is the chief duty of the young, it is most important to sanctify it. For as it will avail nothing to have obtained success, if nothing has been done for God, so, on the contrary, the most trifling school duty is meritorious if offered to Him.

First, Look on study as next in importance to spiritual duties; since submission to the will of God, obedience to parents, and justice to self, demand every exertion to acquire useful knowledge.

Secondly, The primary motive in all studies should be to accomplish God's holy will, to please His divine Majesty, and to obey your parents, as likewise those who hold their place.

Thirdly, According to the advice of St. Vincent Ferrer to young persons: "Let devotion accompany your studies consult God, the giver of all science and ask Him with humility to make you understand what you read and learn. Interrupt your application by short ejaculatory prayers: never begin or end your studies but by prayer. Learning is a gift of the Father of Lights; do not, therefore, consider it as the fruit of your own intellect or industry.'

PRAYER.

I offer, O my God! in union with the adorable actions and sufferings of Jesus Christ during His mortal life, the duties I am now going to perform for Thy love, and in obedience to Thy most holy will. I most humbly beg Thy divine blessing, and the light of Thy holy Spirit, that all my studies may tend to Thy greater glory and my eternal salvation; as likewise to the service and edification of my neighbor. Amen.

MANNER OF SPENDING THE DAY.

Having given God the first-fruits of the day, each enters on his accustomed avocations. But we must not imagine that any moment of the day or any action is wholly our own. For all we must render an account at the moment of our death, a fearful and terrible account. Let us then walk in the presence of God, remembering that though we may forget Him, He never forgets us. Having in our morning prayer offered all our actions, renewed our resolution to combat our predominant failing, and endeavored to foresee the temptations of the day, let us go forth into the battle of life, and endeavor to consecrate each action to God, and recollect ourselves from time to time, to see whether our actions have been pleasing in His sight.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, be always like one who walks in the presence of God. Remember that He is present everywhere, His eye follows you everywhere, and He knows your most secret thoughts. Begin every thing you undertake with a good intention, and keep in mind the words of the Apostle: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all for the glory of God" (1 Cor. x. 31).

GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEAT.

Before Meat.

V. Benedic, Domine, V. Bless us, O Lord, nos et hæc tua dona,

quæ de tua largitate

and these
these Thy gifts,
which of Thy bounty

sumus sumpturi ; per we are about to re

Christum Dominum nos

trum.

R. Amen.

ceive; through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

After Meat.

We give Thee thanks,

Agimus tibi gratias,

omnipotens Deus, pro Almighty God, for al

universis beneficiis tuis; qui vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Thy benefits; Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

BEFORE ANY IMPORTANT ACTION.

Veni Sancte Spiritus! reple tuorum corda fidelium et tuo amoris in eis ignem accende.

V. Emitte spiritum tuum et creabuntur.

R. Et renovabis faciem terræ.

Deus qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti, da nobis in eodem spiritu recta sapere et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. A

men.

Vel,

Actiones nostras, quæsumus Domine aspirando præveni et adjuvando prosequere; ut cuncta nostra oratio et operatio a te semper incipiat et per te cæpta finiatur. Amen.

Come, Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy divine love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.

R. And Thou wilt renew the face of the earth,

O God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant us in the same Spirit to relish what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation; Through Christ, Lord. Amen.

Or,

Our

Inspire our actions, O Lord, by Thy grace, and continue them by Thy aid; that every prayer and work of ours may begin with Thee, and by Thee begun, be happily ended. Amen.

EVENING EXERCISE.

General Remarks.

F it be a duty of the greatest importance to begin the day well, it is doubtless one of no less consequence to conclude it properly. The new graces conferred on us during the course of the day, and the protection we stand in need of against the dangers of the night, are urgent reasons why we should address ourselves to God, and pray to Him with the utmost gratitude and fervor.

A daily examination of conscience, both in general with regard to our whole conduct throughout the day, and in particular with regard to our predominant vice, passion, or evil custom, and the particular virtue w want to acquire, is strongly recommended by all spir itual writers, as one of the most important duties of a Christian life, and the most profitable exercise we can apply ourselves to, both for the avoiding of sin, and the acquiring of virtue. It is a looking-glass in which we see ourselves in our true colors, and come to the knowledge of our inclinations.

The nightly examination of conscience makes up the principal part of the last exercise of the day. It consists in the following acts: The presence of God, Thanksgiving for His favors, Supplication for light, Examination, Contrition, and Resolution of Amendment.

Never in your evening exercise omit, under any pretext, this most necessary duty prepare thus for the sacramental confession, which you cannot omit or perform negligently under pain of mortal sin; and still more, forestall thus the terrible judgment which will follow your death. Judge now, condemn now, that you may not then be judged, and perhaps condemned.

The day, with its cares and its troubles, its joys and its sorrows, its good and evil deeds, has reached its