Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- Lamb of God, who takest cata mundi, Parce nobis, Domine. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec. cata mundi, Exaudi nos, Domine. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec. cata mundi, Miserere nobis. away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta V. Pray for us, O holy DEI Genitrix. R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of CHRIST. HOLY COMMUNION. If you have not yet made your First Communion, look forward with longing desire to the day of your receiving it. That wonderful day is to be the great day of your life. Let each day, as it comes, form a part of the preparation for it. If the day has passed, always renew, before you go to Holy Communion, the good desires and resolutions of that time. PRAYER BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. Thou alone, who art all pure, knowest how pure I ought to be to receive Thee in Thy most Holy Sacrament. Thou alone canst make me worthy. Have pity on me, a creature of Thy hands, a soul whom Thou hast ransomed with Thy Precious Blood, and whom Thou desirest to have united to Thee. Look not upon my past sins, which I hate and heartily grieve for, but make me fit to receive Thee and to be Thine now and for evermore. ACT OF FAITH. I believe, for Thou who art the very truth hast said it, that Thou who art GoD and MAN art present in the Blessed Sacrament, the same JESUS who wast born, died, and rose again; JESUS, who sits at the right hand of the FATHER, Who will come in majesty and glory to be my Judge and the Judge of all men. ADORATION. Adore JESUS thy GOD, O my soul. In a few moments He will come to thee and give Himself to thee. My GoD, most deeply do I humble myself. I would that I could adore Thee more fervently. Kindle the fire of Thy love in my cold heart. Mary, my Mother, Mother of JESUS, adore Him with me. O ye Angels and Saints, supply my shortcoming; obtain for me that I may love Him better, adore Him more truly, and be more worthy to receive Him. ACT OF LOVE. JESUS, I love Thee, at least I desire very much to love Thee. What joy it would be to love Thee as I ought to love, and as Thou desirest to be loved! Give me grace to love Thee in Thy most Holy Sacrament, with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my strength. Teach me ever more and more to love Thee now; give me grace to die in Thy holy love, so as to live in the joy of that love for evermore. ACT OF DESIRE. Come, dear JESUS, to be my Divine Food to nourish me in Thy way. Come, dear Shepherd, to guard me; my Father, to take possession of me; my Life, to live in me; my Light, to guide me. Come, Expected of the nations, Desire of the fathers, Joy of the angels, Delight of heaven, Bliss of the saints, Brightness of the everlasting city of peace. Come; for Thee have I wished. me. Come and kindle Thy love in Mary, my Mother, JESUS can only be received at thy hands; from thy hands I receive thy Son and thy God. Beg of Him for me that I may have at least some little of thy deep humility, thy fervent love, thy strong desire. AFTER HOLY COMMUNION. After you have received the Blessed Sacrament, take great care lest you spoil all by a want of gratitude, and so by your heedlessness lose the fruits of a good Communion. Be not in a hurry to return to the things and thoughts of this world. The very GOD has come to you, and dwells within you. Pause and be silent. Spend at least ten minutes or a quarter of an hour in thanksgiving. |