V.

How to Prepare for Holy Communion.

Q. What is required of persons who come to the Lord's Supper?

A. To examine themselves whether they (1) repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; (2) have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death; and (3) be in charity with all men.— Church Catechism.

[ "The best Preparation is a Holy Life.

"He who lives a holy life is always ready to depart and to be with Jesus. Must he not be always ready to stay and be with Jesus in His Blessed Sacrament?

"But a special preparation is needed. This preparation is like dressing your soul for a Feast. You are going to feast with Jesus."—BISHop of Bedford.

¶ The time devoted to special preparation should vary according to the frequency of your Communions; but even if you communicate weekly (or more frequently) you should not fail to examine yourself as to your Repentance, Faith, and Charity. Enlargements of the Commandments and of the Creed (by which you should examine yourself) will be found on pp. 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 81.

Another help to self-examination is given on the next page.

Suggestive Thoughts for Self-Examination.

(From the Imitation of Christ, bk. iv. ch. vii.)

THE VOICE OF CHRIST TO A DISCIPLE.

Lament with pain and sighing that thou art yet so carnal and worldly, so unmortified in thy passions, so full of motions of concupiscence:

So unwatchful over thy outward senses, so often entangled with many vain fancies:

So much inclined to outward things, so negligent in things inward and spiritual:

So prone to laughter and unbridled mirth, so hard and indisposed to tears and compunction:

So prompt to ease and pleasures of the flesh, so dull to zeal and strictness of life :

So curious to hear what is new, and to see what is beautiful; so slack to embrace what is humble and

mean:

So covetous of abundance, so niggardly in giving, so close in keeping:

So inconsiderate in speech, so reluctant to keep silence :

So unhandsome in manners, so fretful in conduct : So eager about food, so deaf to the word of God: In such a hurry to rest, so slow to labour:

So wakeful after gossiping tales, so drowsy in the sacred services:

So hasty to arrive at the end thereof, so inclined to be wandering and inattentive:

So negligent in the Prayers, so lukewarm in celebrating, so heartless in receiving the Holy Eucharist : So quickly distracted, so seldom thoroughly selfcollected:

So suddenly moved to anger, so apt to take displeasure against another :

So ready to judge, so severe to reprove :

So joyful at prosperity, so weak in adversity :

So often making good resolutions, and yet bringing them at last to so little effect.

These and other thy defects being confessed and bewailed, with sorrow and great displeasure at thine own infirmity, make thou a firm resolution to be always amending thy life, and making progress in all that is good.

Then with full resignation, and with entire will, offer up thyself to the honour of My Name on the altar of thine heart, a perpetual whole burnt-offering, even thy body and soul, faithfully committing them unto Me.

And thus mayest thou be accounted worthy to draw near to celebrate this Eucharistic Sacrifice unto God, and to receive the Sacrament of My Body and Blood to thy soul's health.

VI.

A short Service of Preparation.

(To be used on the day of Communion, and according to opportunity.)

X

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, etc.

Psalm lxxxiv.

O how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou Lord of hosts!

My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young, even Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be alway praising Thee.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are Thy ways.

Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water.

They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: hearken, O God of Jacob.

Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of Thine Anointed.

For one day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

For the Lord God is a light and defence: the Lord will give grace and worship, and no good thing shall He withhold from them that live a godly life.

O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in Thee.

An Act of Contrition.

O most merciful Father, I confess that I have sinned against Thee, broken my resolution, and grievously offended Thee, especially. . . . Forgive, I beseech Thee, my past sin, and accept and strengthen my good purposes for the future, that I may worthily partake of Thy Holy Mysteries, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

An Act of Faith.

O my God, I believe that Thou art one God in three Persons, and that God the Son became man, and died for me upon the Cross. Do Thou increase my faith.