distresses of the weak, the failings of the old, the despair of the dying, the sighs of youth, the vows of virgins, the tears of widows. Lighten, I beseech thee, lighten and assuage the sufferings of all. Yes; do thou, O Lord, have mercy on us all, and despise not that which thou hast created. Remember what our substance is: that thou art our Father: that thou art our God. Be not angry with us, and withhold not the multitude of thy mercies from us. For we do not come before thee to justify ourselves, but to pray for thy pardon and pity. Take away from us these hearts of stone and give us feeling hearts which may seek thee, which may love thee, which may tend towards thee and enjoy thee. Look down, O Lord, with a propitious and serene countenance, upon the wants of thy servants; and grant that no prayer may be offered up to thee in vain, that no hope may remain unfulfilled; and do thou thyself, O God, suggest to us those prayers which thou wilt most kindly hear, and most freely grant. We pray to thee, also, O holy Lord and Father, for the souls of the faithful departed; that this great sacrament of love may obtain for them health, salvation, refreshment, and joy. O Lord, my God, let them feel the effects of this great offering of thee, the living bread which came down from heaven and givest life to the world, of thee, the Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world; let them be refreshed and consoled by it; and may its merits avail to bring them to the joy and glory of thy heavenly kingdom. Oh let the fulness of thy blessing, the holiness of thy divinity, let the invisible and incomprehensible majesty of thy Holy Spirit descend upon these our offerings; and enable me also to approach this sacrifice with purity, with devotion, with tears and with reverence, so that even my prayers may conduce to render it available to the salvation of all, whether living or dead. I beseech thee, also, O Lord, by the most holy mystery of thy body and blood, by which, in thy church, we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified, and made partakers of thy great divinity-I beseech thee to fill me with such virtuous dispositions that I may approach with a good conscience to thine altar, and find safety and life in this heavenly sacrament. For thou hast said, "The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of world;" "I am the living bread which came down from heaven;" "If any one eateth of this bread, he shall live for ever." O blessed bread, heal the affections of my heart that I may feel the sweetness of thy love! O bread from heaven, containing all delights, strengthen my heart that it may never fall away from thee, but may ever feel the effects of thy presence! Thou art the bread of angels, and the bread of poor pilgrims, whom from every evil Come into my thou refreshest with so excellent a viaticum, lest they faint by the way. O holy bread, O living bread, O pure bread, which came down from heaven and givest life to the world, come into my heart and purify me inclination of body and soul. heart, and strengthen me and purify me, internally and externally. Be my shield and the salvation of my soul and body. Drive from me every wily foe; let them fly from the presence of thy power; so that, being fortified by thee both within and without, I may advance, by a straight path, to thy heavenly kingdom, where I may no longer see thee beneath veils and mysteries, but where my thirst may be for ever satisfied, and where I may for ever enjoy thee, who, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever. Amen. ANOTHER PRAYER TO THE BLESSED SACRA MENT. I fear, dear Lord Jesus Christ, I fear and tremble to approach to thy holy altar; for I am a sinner who have no merits on which to confide, but who trusts entirely to thy goodness and mercy. For I have stained my heart and my body with many sins; nor have I carefully restrained my thoughts and my tongue. But, O dear Lord, O tremendous Majesty, I feel my wretchedness, and I fly to thee, the fountain of mercy; I hasten to thee to be healed; I crave thy protection; and Him whom I cannot meet as my judge, I fly to as my Saviour. To thee, my God, I declare my wants, I lay bare my sins. I know how many and how great they are; but I hope in thy mercies, which are without number. Look, therefore, upon me with the eyes of pity, O Lord Jesus Christ, King eternal, God and man, crucified for man's salvation, and have mercy on me who hope in thee, the fountain of mercy. Hail, saving Victim, who wast offered for me and for all mankind upon the altar of the cross! Hail, noble and precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord, and washing away the sins of the world! Be mindful, O Lord, of thy creatures, whom thou hast redeemed with thy blood. I grieve that I have offended thee; I desire to amend my faults. Take away from me, most dear Father, all my sins; that being purified, both in body and soul, I may worthily assist at this holy sacrifice; and grant that the sacred offering of thy body and blood may avail to the pardon of my sins, to the avoidance of all evil thoughts, to the renewal of good intentions, to the fulfilment of whatever may be pleasing to thee, now and for ever. Amen. ST. THOMAS OF AQUINO'S HYMN, O God who 'neath these mystic forms dost lie, To thee my heart devoutly bows it down, Sight, taste, and touch, in thee are all deceived, The ear alone may safely be believed. Be all the Son of God has said ador'd!Nought can be truer than Truth's ev'ry word! The God alone was on the cross concealed : Nor Godhead here nor manhood is revealed! Yet, owning both, confessing my belief, I ask what then with sorrow ask'd the thief. Thy wounds, like Thomas, 'tis not mine to see:- O dear memorial of my Saviour's death!— O pious Pelican, O Christ, my Lord, |