self to a poor sinner like me, who am so unworthy of it.

Make an Act of Petition.

Divine Saviour, thou knowest all the wants of my soul; remedy its weakness and its poverty; and especially, increase in me thy divine love, and the fear of offending thee. Succor, O Lord, thy Holy Church in all her wants; sanctify all those who are within her pale, and especially my parents, my friends and enemies, my superiors and benefactors; give us all the grace to love thee, and to serve thee alone. Amen.

Q. How much time ought we to spend in our Thanksgiving?

A. We ought to spend, at least, a quarter of an hour; the better way would be to hear another Mass, if another should be said immediately.

Q. What resolutions ought we to take, before we conclude our Thanksgiving?

A. We ought to take the resolution, 1. Of correcting the faults we are most subject to; 2. Of sacrificing to Jesus Christ all those attachments which hinder us from serving him as we ought.

Q. Should we abstain from spitting after having received communion?

A. Yes; we should endeavor to refrain from it for the space of a quarter of an hour, out of respect for the sacrament.

Q. How ought we to spend the day of communion?

A. We should spend it, as much as possible, in holy retreat; hear the sermon and instructions; assist at the offices of the Church; and the remainder of the time should be employed in pious reading.

CHAPTER XIV.

Of an Unworthy or

Lukewarm Com

munion.

Q. Do those who receive communion in mortal sin receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ? A. Yes; but they receive none of the graces; on the contrary, they eat and drink their judg ment and condemnation.

Q. What crime do they commit who receive communion in mortal sin?

A. They commit a horrible sacrilege, and render themselves thereby guilty of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Q. How do you call a communion received in mortal sin?

A. I call it an unworthy communion.

Q. Who are they that expose themselves most to make unworthy communions?

A. 1. They who examine not their consciences as they should; 2. They who do not accuse themselves, at confession, of all their sins; 3. They who take no pains to correct their faults.

Q. What do you mean by a lukewarm communion?

A. I mean that which is made with little preparation and with no devotion.

Q. Who are they that most commonly make lukewarm communions?

A. They who have not sufficient horror of venial sins; who are attached to the goods of the earth, to the pleasures of life; or who are negligent in the practice of good works.

Q. What ought we to think of these communions?

A. We ought to fear them extremely, and carefully avoid them.

CHAPTER XV.

Of a Good Communion.

Q. What do you understand by a good communion?

A. I understand that which is made with the fervor and devotion that so holy an action requires.

Q. What are the advantages of a good communion?

A. The first is, an increase of grace. The second is, the strength which is derived from it against temptations. The third is, the inward joy and consolation which are felt by him who communicates thus.

Q. Which are the means to be employed to preserve these advantages?

A. The first and chief means is, to desire to communicate often, and to approach with devotion.

Q. Is it not enough for us to confess, and to communicate at Easter, as the Church commands?

A. No; a Christian who is careful of his salvation ought to confess once a month, and even oftener; and to communicate as often as his confessor may deem advisable.

Q. What ought to be required before one should be suffered to communicate often?

A. Chiefly two things: 1. To have corrected all his bad habits, as well mortal as venial; 2. To have a sincere desire to advance in Christian perfection.

Q. Are there any other means by which we may preserve the grace of communion?

A. Yes; there are many: 1. To hear Mass every day devoutly.

2. To shun the least appearances of sin, and whatever might lead to it.

3. To assist regularly on Sundays and Holydays at the instructions and offices of the Church; and to spend the rest of the day in reading good books.

4. To continue to assist at the Catechism which is given in the Church.

CATECHISM.

PART THIRD.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE SUNDAYS, FESTIVALS, AND OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR.

CHAPTER I.

Of Sundays and Festivals in General.

Q. Are there any days during the year which we should particularly consecrate to God?

A. Yes, there are; for although there is no day which the Christian should not spend in a holy manner, by abstaining from sin and doing good works, yet he is obliged to sanctify in a special manner certain days which God reserves to himself, and the Church prescribes.

Q. Which are they?

A. Sundays and Festivals.

Q. What do you understand by the Sunday? A. The Sunday, or, as it is sometimes called, the Lord's day, is the day on which God commenced the creation of the world, and on which