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النشر الإلكتروني

nion is come, go up to the altar respectfully, kneel down there, take the cloth into your hands and hold it before your breast, do not wipe your mouth with it; let your head be raised up, the eyes shut, the mouth open, the the tongue forward and resting on the under lip. Shut your mouth after receiving the Blessed Sacrament, and when it is a little moistened on your tongue swallow it. If it stops on the roof of your mouth, do not remove it with your hand, but with tongue. Pray for at least a quarter of an hour after Holy Communion. During the whole day, after communion, you ought to be more than ordinarily retired, and perform more devotions than usual.

Aspirations after Communion.

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BEHOLD, O Lord, I have thee now, who hast all things; I possess thee. who possessest all things, and who canst do all things: take off my heart then,

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my God and my All, from all other things but thee, in all which there is nothing but vanity and affliction of spirit: let my heart be fixed on thee alone, let me ever repose in thee, where alone my treasure is, the sovereign truth, true happiness, and happy eternity.

Let my soul, O Lord, feel the sweetness of thy presence. Let me taste how sweet thou art, O Lord; that being allured by thy love, I may never more hunt after worldly joys; for thou art the joy of my heart, and my portion for

ever.

Thou art the physician of my soul, who healest all our infirmities by thy sacred blood; I am that sick man, whom thou camest from heaven to heal: Oh, heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

Thou art the good shepherd, who hast laid down thy life for thy sheep; behold I am that sheep that was lost, and yet thou vouchsafest to feed me with thy body and blood; take me now upon thy shoulders to carry me home. What canst thou deny me, who hast given me thyself? Govern me, and I

shall want nothing in the place of pasture where thou hast put me, until thou bringest me to the happy pastures of life eternal.

O true light, which enlightenest every man that cometh into this world, enlighten my eyes, that I may never sleep in death.

O fire, ever burning, and never decaying, behold how tepid and cold I am; inflame my reins and my heart, that they may burn with thy love; for thou camest to cast fire upon earth, and what dost thou desire but that it be enkindled?

O king of heaven and earth, rich in mercy, behold I am poor and needy, thou knowest what I stand most in need of; thou alone canst assist and enrich me. Help me, O God, and out of the treasures of thy bounty succour my needy soul.

O my Lord and my God, behold I am thy servant; give me understanding, and excite my affections, that I may know and do thy will.

Thou art the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the world Oh, take away from

me whatever is hurtful to me and displeasing to thee, and give me what thou knowest to be pleasing to thee and profitable to me.

Thou art my love and all my joy; thou art my God and my All; thou art the portion of my inheritance, and of my chalice: thou art he that will restore my inheritance to me.

O my God and my All, may the sweet flame of thy love consume my soul, that so I may die to the world for the love of thee, who hast vouchsafed to die upon the cross for the love of me.

Acts of Devotion, Praise, and Thanksgiving after Communion.

O MY sweet Jesus, my Creator, and my Redeemer, my God and my All, whence is this to me, that my Lord, and so great a Lord, whom heaven and earth cannot contain, should come into this poor cottage, this house of clay of my earthly habitation! Oh, that I could give thee a hearty welcome! Oh, that I could entertain thee as I ought! Thy loving kindness inviteth me to thine embraces, and I would willingly

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say with the spouse in the Canticle, I have found him whom my soul loveth, I have held him, and will not let him go: but the awe of so great a majesty checks me, and the sense of my great unworthiness and innumerable sins keeps me back. No, my soul, it is only the feet of thy Saviour that thou canst presume to embrace; it is there thou must present thyself, like Magdalen, and wish that, like her, thou couldst wash them with thy tears. Oh, that thou couldst be so happy!

But first bow down thyself with all

thy powers, to adore the Sovereign Majesty which hath vouchsafed to come to visit thee: pay him the best homage thou art able as to thy first beginning and thy last end; and perfectly annihilate thyself in the presence of this eternal, immense, infinite Deity. Then pour thyself forth in his presence, in praise and thanksgiving, in the best manner thou art able, and invite all heaven and earth to join with thee in magnifying their Lord and thine, for his mercy and bounty to thee.

Oh! what return shall I make thee, O Lord, for all that thou hast done for

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