DAYS OF ABSTINENCE FROM FLESH MEAT.

Every day in Lent, except when the use of meat is allowed by the Archbishop or Bishop of the diocese.

All Fridays in the year.

If a fasting-day fall on a Sunday, the fast is kept on the Saturday before. If Christmas Day fall upon a Friday, neither fast nor abstinence is observed.

N. B. The Catholic Church commands all her children to be present at the great Eucharistic Sacrifice which we call the Mass; and to rest from servile work on Sundays and Holydays.

Secondly. To abstain from flesh on all the days of fasting and abstinence.

Thirdly. To confess their sins at least once a year.

Fourthly. To receive the Blessed Sacrament at least once a year, during Easter time.

The time for satisfying the Easter precept in the United States, is, in virtue of a late concession, from the first Sunday of Lent to Trinity Sunday, both inclusively.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

Any person, whether man, woman, or child, may baptize an infant in case of danger of death. Thus :

Take common water, pour it on the head or face of the child, and while you are pouring it, say the following words:

"I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

DAILY EXERCISES.

IN THE MORNING.

WHEN you awake, give your first thoughts to God, saying, O my God! I give myself entirely to thee.

Getting out of bed, make the sign of the cross, and say, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

When you are dressed, kneel down and say the following prayers:

O my God! I adore and love thee with all my heart. I return thee thanks for the innumerable favors and benefits which I have received from thy infinite goodness and mercy, especially for having preserved me this last night.

O my God! who art amiable above all things, I am sorry for having offended thee; grant that I may spend this day well, and rather die than commit any mortal sin.

O my God! grant, I beseech thee, that whatever I do this day may be acceptable to thee, and vouchsafe to direct all my actions to thy honor and glory.

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O holy Virgin! I put myself under thy protection, and beg the help of thy prayers.

O my good angel! be thou also my protector, and pray to God for me that I may do his holy will in all things.

The Lord's Prayer.

Our Father who art in heaven! hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Angelical Salutation.

Hail, Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God! pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third

day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of Sins; the Resurrection of the Body, and Life everlasting. Amen.

The Confiteor.

I confess to Almighty God, to the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

May the Almighty God have mercy on me, forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life! Amen.

May the almighty and merciful Lord give me pardon, absolution, and remission of all my sins. Amen.

Before you begin your work, say,

O my God! I offer to thee this work, which

I am going about; vouchsafe to give it thy blessing.

DURING THE DAY.

Raise your mind to God from time to time, especially when you hear the clock strike, saying, Blessed be the hours in which our Lord was born and crucified for us.

Or else say,

Grant, O my God! that all the actions of this hour, and those of every moment of my life, may be to thy honor and glory.

As soon as you perceive you have fallen into any sin, ask pardon for it,

saying,

O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended thee. I make a firm resolution, with the help of thy grace, never more to fall into this sin, to confess it, to do penance for it, and to avoid the occasions of it.

Before meals, say,

Bless us, O Lord! and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

After meals, say,

We give thee thanks, O Almighty God! for