supplication in thy truth: to them that go down into hearken unto me for thy the pit. justice' sake. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought my life down unto the ground. 4 He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead: and my spirit is vexed within me, my heart within me is troubled. 5 I have remembered the days of old, I have thought upon all thy works: I have mused upon the works of thy hands. 6 I have stretched forth my hands unto thee; my soul gaspeth unto thee, as a land where no water is. 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me: lest I be like un 9 Make me to hear thy mercy in the morning: for in thee have I hoped. 10 Make me to know the way wherein I should walk: for to thee have I lifted up my soul. 11 Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto thee have I fled: teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. 12 Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land: for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou shalt quicken me in thy justice. 13 Thou shalt bring my soul out of trouble and in thy mercy thou shalt destroy mine enemies. 14 Thou shalt destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. Glory, &c. Ant. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents: neither take thou vengeance of our sins. K BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. Benediction is a devotion practised by the Church, in order to give adoration, praise, and blessing to God for his infinite goodness and love, testified to us in the institution of the Blessed Sacrament, and to receive at the same time the Benediction or Blessing of our Lord there present. When the priest opens the Tabernacle, and incenses the Blessed Sacrament, is sung the hymn, O salutaris Hostia, Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna gloria, Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen. O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heav'n to man below! Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow. To thy great name be endless praise, After which follows the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, see p. 248, or some Psalm, or Antiphon, or Hymn appropriate to the Feast, or in honour of the Most Holy Sa crament. If the Te Deum, p. 78, be sung, the persons present stand until the words Te ergo, quæsumus (We pray thee, therefore), when they kneel. Then is sung the hymn Tantum ergo Sacramentum, all present making a profound inclination (not prostration) while the words Veneremur cernui are being said. BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. Tantum ergo Sacramentum Genitori, Genitoque Salus, honor, virtus quoque Y. Panem de cœlo præstitisti eis. [Alleluia.] B. Omne delectamentum in se habentem. [Alleluia.] Deus, qui nobis sub Sacramento mirabili, passionis tuæ memoriam reliquisti: tribue, quæsumus, ita nos corporis et sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari; ut redemptionis tua fructum in nobis jugiter sentiamus. Qui vivis, &c. Amen. Down in adoration falling, 131 Lo! the sacred host we hail; Lol o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying Where the feeble senses fail. To the everlasting Father, Forth from each eternally, y. Thou didst give them bread from heaven. AlleJuia.] B. Containing in itself all sweetness. [Alleluia.] O God, who, under a wonderful Sacrament, hast left us a memorial of thy passion; grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood, that we may ever feel within us the fruit of thy redemption. Who livest, &c. Amen. Here the Benediction is given with the Blessed Sacrament, all bowing down in profound adoration, and beseeching his blessing on themselves, and on the whole Church, and upon the world. Adoremus in æternum May we for ever adore Sanctissimum Sacramen- the Most Holy Sacrament. tum. The Blessed Sacrament. Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, Quæ sub his figuris vere latitas; Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit, [ficit. Quia te contemplans totum deAve Jesu, Pastor fidelium; Adauge fidem omnium in te credentium. O Godhead hid, devoutly I adore thee, Who truly art within the forms before me; To thee my heart I bow with bended knee, As failing quite in contemplating Thee. Visus, gustus, tactus, in te fal- Sight, touch, and taste in thee are each deceived; The ear alone most safely is believed: I believe all the Son of God has spoken, Than truth's own word there is no truer token. God only, on the cross lay hid from view; But here lies hid at once the manhood too: And I, in both professing my belief, Make the same prayer as the repentant thief. Thy wounds, as Thomas saw, I do not see: Yet thee confess my Lord and God to be: Make me believe thee ever more and more; In thee my hope, in thee my love to store. O thou memorial of our Lord's own dying! O living bread, to mortals life supplying! Make thou my soul henceforth on thee to live; Ever a taste of heavenly sweetness give. O loving Pelican! O Jesu Lord! Unclean I am, but cleanse me in thy blood! Cujus una stilla salvum facere Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere. Ave Jesu, Pastor fidelium; Adauge fidem omnium in te credentium. Jesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, Oro, fiat illud, quod tam sitio, Ut, te revelata cernens facie, Visu sim beatus tuæ gloriæ. Ave Jesu, Pastor fidelium; Adauge fidem omnium in te credentium. Of which a single drop, for sinners spilt, Can purge the entire world from all its guilt. Jesu! whom for the present veil'd I see, What I so thirst for, O, vouchsafe to me: That I may see thy countenance unfolding, And may be blest thy glory in beholding. (The following is usually sung after every stanza.) |