vine Majesty. Oh, let this marvellous grace, which has imprinted on my soul the character of a perfect Christian, remain forever engraven there, and excite within me a never-failing gratitude.

An Act of Consecration.-Ō Divine Spirit, who, of thy pure bounty and infinite goodness, hast given thyself to me, notwithstanding my great unworthiness, how could I be so ungrateful as not to give myself wholly to thee? Receive, then, I beseech thee, the offering which I make to thee of all I am. I consecrate to thee my mind with all its thoughts; my soul with all its faculties; my heart with all its affections: henceforth thou shalt be the God of my heart, and my portion forever. Perfect, O Divine Spirit, what thou hast begun in me; strengthen the good desires with which thou hast inspired me, and make me ever wholly on fire with the love of thee.

An Act of Petition.-O Holy and Sanctifying Spirit, thy love towards me hath lavished upon me all thy gifts, and it is thy powerful protection alone that can preserve them to me. I possess this most precious treasure in a frail and earthen vessel; strengthen my weakness, I beseech thee, and grant that henceforth I may show myself worthy of the glorious title of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Rather let me die than drive thee from my heart.

A PRAYER TO BE SAID BEFORE LEAVING THE CHURCH.

O Lord, I am about to leave this holy place, in which thy Holy Spirit hath vouchsafed to visit my soul. I am going to return to the world, whose whole spirit is opposed to the mind of Jesus Christ. Withdraw not thyself from me, O most Holy Spirit; give me not up to its malice and wickedness. Let thy love surround me on every side. Suffer not that this forehead, on which the holy unction is still glistening, should ever be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, nor the members of my body, which is now become thy temple, should ever be dishonored and defiled by sin. Oh, may my heart never resist thee, O most blessed Spirit, but ever yield to the impressions of thy grace; for thou art the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of strength, and thou only canst accomplish in me those good desires with which thou inspirest me. Amen.

OUR private devotions will depend on our Own choice; but some are necessary in any one who seeks to lead a Christian life. We accordingly add a selection of those most generally approved, arranged under convenient heads, the Litanies being all placed by themselves. To these we add the devotions of the confraternities which are authorized by the Church.

The devotions which we insert form no part of the Liturgy of the Church, if we except the Litany of the Saints, but most of them have been long used by the pious, and encouraged by the Sovereign Pontiffs.

The devotions are arranged as follows:

Devotions to the Holy Trinity, to the Holy Ghost. Devotions to our Lord, His Infancy, Passion, His Sacred Heart, and to Him really present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Devotions to our Blessed Lady.

Devotions to the Holy Angels, and the Saints in general, or to particular Saints.

Devotions for particular seasons or circumstances.

Devotions for particular states in life.

Devotions for time of sickness.

Devotions for the dead.

Litanies.

DEVOTIONS TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.

PRAYER TO GOD THE FATHER.

O most clement Father of mercies and God of all consolations! I, a most wretched worm of earth, who am not worthy to be called Thy child, relying solely on the infinite merits of Thy onlybegotten Son, my Redeemer Jesus Christ, stand before Thy divine Majesty, my Creator and Lord. Joyfully do I consecrate to Thee, as an everlasting sacrifice, my body and soul, and all that is in me, acknowledging them all to be Thy gifts. Accept this oblation, wretched as it is, in union with that hallowed sacrifice which Thy beloved Son offered Thee on the altar of the cross. Look on the face of Thy Christ, and recognize in me Thy image made on this model. Let His dignity excuse my vileness, let His sanctity atone for my malice, and enable me to live and die bound to Thee in perpetual charity.

PRAYER TO GOD THE SON.

O most benignant Son of the Almighty Father, splendor of His glory and figure of His substance, upholding all things by the word of Thy power! who, although Thou wast in the form of God, didst humble Thyself, becoming obedient even unto death, the death of the cross, in order to rescue me, a slave of Satan, from the doom of eternal death. What shall I render to Thee, Lord Jesus, for all that Thou hast done for me? Do I not owe myself entirely to Thee, who, when I was lost and doomed to the flames of hell, hast

restored me to Thy Father's grace and eterna. salvation? Receive me, O Jesus, receive Thy pledge, alas! too dearly purchased; receive what is Thine, for all that is in me is the work of Thy omnipotence. Receive and preserve it, lest the infinite price of Thy most sacred blood perish forever.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST.

O Holy Ghost, who proceedest from the Father and the Son, of the same divinity, substance, and glory as the Father and the Son! O life and solace of my soul, I acknowledge that in Thee I was born to heaven by the waters of baptism, by Thee in faith espoused to Thee my God; that by the infusion of Thy power and help of Thy goodness I am governed and defended. How shall I repay Thy innumerable benefits? As I have nothing among created things dearer than myself, and Thou askest nothing without me, accept my heart, my senses, all that is in me. Bind me, a

bond of eternal love, to Thee and to the Father and to the Son; inflame and purify me with Thy flames, that I may serve with chaste body and please Thee by a clean heart.

THANKSGIVING TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.

I acknowledge, O most holy Trinity, the immense and countless benefits which have been conferred upon me from the first moment of my existence to this hour, for which, with all my strength, I render Thee thanks. I give Thee thanks, O Father, for creating me to the image and ikeness of Thy deity, and for constantly

preserving me, that I may praise and bless Thee to all eternity, and Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, with Thy chosen angels. I render Thee thanks, O God the Son, that Thou didst, through love for me, assume my nature, shed Thy blood for me, and undergo a most cruel death, to rescue me from eternal death and reconcile me to Thy Father. I render Thee thanks, O Holy Ghost, for pouring Thyself out upon me in the laver of regeneration, sanctifying me, and making me an heir of the eternal kingdom. How, O most blessed Trinity, shall I thank Thee, in such a way as to be pleasing to Thee? O blessed spirits, O elect of God, and thou especially whom all generations call blessed, Virgin Mother, blessed among women, offer praise and thanksgiving for me; for not all my members, if turned into tongues, could suffice to pay due thanks to Thee, my triune God. Amen.

TRIAGION.

(A plenary indulgence once a month, to those who recite it daily. A partial indulgence of 100 days every time.-CLEMENT XIV.)

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts! the earth is full of Thy glory. Glory be to the Father, glory to the Son, glory to the Holy Ghost.

DOXOLOGY.

(If repeated thrice at morning, thrice at noon, and thrice at night, a plenary indulgence once a month, and a partial indulgence of 300 days each time.)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, an ever shall be, world without end Amen.