teaches, because it is thou who speakest to me through her. O my God, I hope in thy infinite mercy for pardon of all my sins, for all the help and grace I require to serve thee, and for life everlasting. O God, I love thee, or, at least, desire to love thee with my whole heart, and I love my neighbour as myself for love of thee. Or the following longer Acts: PRAYER BEFORE THE ACTS. O Almighty and eternal God, grant unto us an increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity; and that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us love and practise what thou commandest: through Christ, our Lord. Amen. AN ACT OF CONTRITION, O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee; and I detest my sins most sincerely, because they are displeasing to thee, my God, whom I should have never ceased to adore and love. I now firmly purpose, by the assistance of thy holy grace, Lever more to offend thee, and to avoid for the future, to the utmost of my power, all dangerous occasions which might expose me to sin. AN ACT OF FAITH. O my God, I firmly believe that thou art one only God, the Creator and Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth, infinitely great, infinitely good, and infinitely perfect. I firmly believe that in thee, one only God, there are three Divine Persons, really distinct and in all things equal, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I firmly believe that God the Son, the Second Person of the most Holy Trinity, became man; that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered and died on a cross to redeem and save us; that he arose on the third day from the dead; that he ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father, always living to make intercession for us; that he will come at the end of the world to judge mankind, and render to everyone according to his works; that he will reward the good with eternal happiness, and condemn the wicked to the everlasting pains of Hell. I believe these, and all other articles which the Holy Roman Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because thou, my God, the Infallible Truth, hast revealed them; and thou hast commanded us to hear the Church, which is the pillar and the ground of truth. In this faith I am firmly resolved, through thy holy grace, to live and die. AN ACT OF HOPE. O my God, who hast graciously promised every blessing, even Heaven itself, through Jesus Christ, to to those who keep thy commandments, relying on thy power, which is infinite, thy mercies, which are over all thy works, and thy promises, to which thou art always faithful, I confidently hope to obtain the pardon of my past sins, which I now detest; grace to serve thee faithfully in this life, by doing the good works thou hast commanded and eternal happiness in the next through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ; AN ACT OF CHARITY. O my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sovereign Good, whose boundless charity to me has been unceasing, and whose infinite perfections adoring angels behold with unspeakable delight, I love thee with my whole heart and soul, and above all things; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Oh, teach me, my gracious God, to love thee daily more and more, and mercifully grant, that having loved thee on earth, I may love and enjoy thee for ever in Heaven. If your devotion suggests it add the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. In some places 300 d. ap. each time. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Holy Trinity, one God, Jesus, Son of the living God, Jesus, brightness of eternal light, Jesus, sun of justice, Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, most amiable, Jesus, most admirable, Jesus, mighty God, Jesus, father of the world to come, Jesus, most powerful, Jesus, most patient, Jesus, most obedient, Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Jesus, lover of chastity, Jesus, lover of us, Jesus, God of peace, Have mercy on us. 22 B Have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, deliver us. Jesus, author of life, Jesus, example of all virtues, Jesus, our refuge, Jesus, Father of the poor, Jesus, eternal wisdom, Jesus, the inspirer of prophets, Jesus, crown of all saints, Spare us, O Lord Jesus. Be merciful unto us. Hear us, O Lord Jesus. From all evil, Lord Jesus, deliver us. From all sin, From thy wrath, From the snares of the devil, From the spirit of uncleanness, From everlasting death, From the neglect of the holy inspirations, Through the mystery of thy most holy incarnation, Through thy nativity, Through thy infancy, Through thy most divine life, Through thy labours, Through thy agony and passion, Through thy cross and dereliction, Through thy pains and torments, Lord, &c. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world Hear us, O Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus. Christ Jesus, hear us. Christ Jesus, graciously hear us. Let us pray, O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; grant, we beseech thee, to our most humble supplications, the gift of thy divine love, that we may ever love thee with our whole hearts, and never cease from praising and glorifying thy holy Amen. name. Q Divine Redeemer, give us a perpetual fear and love of thy Holy Name, for thou never ceasest to direct and govern by thy grace those whom thou instructest in the solidity of thy love, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen. O God, who hast appointed thy only begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and hast commanded that he should be called Jesus, mercifully grant that we may enjoy his happy vision in heaven, whose holy name we venerate upon earth; who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen. |