be accused by false witnesses, scourged with whips, buffetted, defiled with spittle, crowned with thorns, stripped of thy garments, fastened to the cross, placed between two thieves, to have vinegar and gall given thee to drink, to have thy side pierced through with a spear O Lord! by these most grievous pains, which I, though unworthy, do commemorate, and by thy most sacred death and passion, free me from the pains of hell, and conduct me whither thy mercy conducted the good thief crucified with thee; who, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever.

R. Amen.

DEVOUT ADDRESS TO THE FIVE WOUNDS OF OUR

SAVIOUR.

Let us adore the five most sacred wounds of Christ, our Lord, and in particular the wound of his most sacred side.

My Lord Jesus Christ! I humbly adore the most sacred wound in thy blessed side, rendering thanks for the immense love manifested towards us, at the opening of thy inflamed heart; I feelingly condole with thy most afflicted Mother. Grant me pure love and perfect charity; that loving thee above all things, and all things in thee, my miserable soul, by the assistance of thy holy grace, may breathe its last in the sacred wound of thy blessed side. I humbly beg, dear Jesus! that thou wilt protect thy holy Church, direct thy governing vicar on earth, and all ecclesiastical orders and secular persons, who are instrumental in bringing souls to their duty. Preserve in thy happy service all Christian kings and princes. Reduce into the way of salvation all those who have gone astray, whether through malice or ignorance. Bring under thy sweet yoke all infidels, heretics, and other

enemies of thy holy name. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.

O Lord Jesus Christ! God of my heart! by the five wounds which thy love of us inflicted on thee, succour thy servants, whom thy hast redeemed with thy precious blood. R. Amen.

Most merciful Redeemer, by the inexplicable torments, and the immense grief which thou wert pleased to suffer for me, a contemptible creature, especially when thy divine soul was bitterly separated from thy blessed body, I humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt secure my poor soul at its final separation from my body, and comfort me then, as thou didst the good thief, saying, "Thou shalt be with me this day in paradise." R. Amen.

V. The sword of sorrow has pierced my soul.

R. That out of many hearts cogitations may be revealed.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, at the hour of thy passion, had her most holy soul pierced through with a sword of sorrow, may intercede for us with thy clemency, both now and at the hour of our death; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. R. Amen.

"Let us say Our Father, and Hail Mary, three times, in memory of the three hours our dear Redeemer hung upon the cross, for the souls of the faithful departed of this congregation." Our Father, &c.

Hail Mary, &c.

"Let us also say Our Father, and Hail Mary, once, for such as are in the lamentable state of mortal sin." Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.

"Let us likewise say Our Father, and Hail Mary, once, for whoever of this congregation may die next,

that they may be prepared, and depart happily, fortified with the holy sacraments of the Church. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.

"Let us dispose ourselves, by acts of perfect contrition, and pure love of God, to receive worthily the benediction of our Lord and Saviour in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar."

Merciful Redeemer ! and God of infinite patience! great is my confusion to appear in thy divine presence, having so frequently sinned in thy most pure sight; I own myself very guilty. Thou mightest have been glorified in thy justice, by striking me suddenly dead, and condemning me to eternal flames, for these outrages against thee: but blessed be thy holy name, thou wert pleased in thy mercy to call me to repentance. I abhor all my crimes of thought, word, and deed not for the hope of reward, or fear of punishment, but for thy sake alone, and because thou dost hate them infinitely. O God of majesty and mercy! look upon those sacred marks in thy hands, feet, and side, which thou still retainest in thy glorified body, to plead my pardon. By that tender love, which induced thee to create, redeem, and sanctify me, have mercy on me and forgive me. I declare before thy throne, that I would rather die than offend thee by another mortal sin. My heart was created for thee, and I desire to love thee more than myself. Oh! may every breath I breathe, and especially my last, be a fervent act of love of thy divine Majesty. Sweet Saviour of perishing mankind, who openest thy hand and fillest every creature with benediction, give me now thy blessing as thou didst when ascending in triumph from Mount Olivet to thy beloved disciples, that I may live and die in this happy disposition.

R. Amen.

165

A Universal Prayer,

FOR ALL THINGS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.

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 repentance.

I adore thee as my first beginning; I aspire after thee as my last end; I give thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I invoke 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.

That I may be thine, pursuant to my baptism, I renounce the devil and his works; the world and its pomps; the flesh and its sensualities; heresy and its

errors.

To thee I consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforth 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 that thou willest.

May I always regard whatsoever pleaseth thee, despise what thou disregardest, avoid what thou forbiddest, and do what thou commandest.

I beseech thee to enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, purify my body, and sanctify my soul. Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offences, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to practise the virtues proper for my state.

Fill my heart with tender affections for thy goodness, hatred for my faults, love for my neighbour, and contempt for the world.

Let me always remember to be submissive to my superiors, condescending to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies.

Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion.

Fill my heart with fear without despair, confidence without presumption, piety without illusion, and joy without licentiousness.

O my God, make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble in prosperity.

Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions.

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my conduct 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 grandeur of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.

Grant that I may prepare for death, fear thy judgments, escape hell, and in the end obtain heaven.

Vouchsafe, in fine, to grant repentance to all sinners, perseverance to the just, peace to the living, and eternal bliss to the faithful departed. All which I beseech thee, O Lord, to grant, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of our Blessed Lady and all the saints, and the suffrages of our holy Mother the Church. Amen.