Q. What should you say when God sends you any cross, or suffering, or sickness, or pain? A. I should say, "Lord, Thy will be done; I take this for my sins." Q. And what other little prayers should you say to yourself from time to time in the day? A. O Lord, teach me saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean (S. Mark i. 40). And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that He sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; and standing behind at His feet, she began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment (S. Luke vii. 37). Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. And He said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee (S. Luke vii. 47). In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and Isaias the son of Amos the prophet came unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die and not live. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Ezechias wept with great weeping. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying: Go and say to Ezechias: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I will add to thy days fifteen years (Isa. xxxviii. 1). Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to Thee. Turn not away Thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline Thy ear to me. In what day soever I to do Thy holy will in all things. Lord, keep me from sin. May the Name of our Lord be for ever blessed. Come, my dear Jesus, and take full possession of my soul. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Q. What ought you to do before you go to bed? A. I should kneel down and perform my evening exercise. Q. How should you finish the day? A. I should observe due modesty in going to bed; occupy myself with the thoughts of death; and endeavour to compose myself to rest at the foot of the cross, and to give my last thoughts to my crucified Saviour. shall call upon Thee, hear me speedily (Ps.^ci. 2). As the hart panteth after the fountains of water: so my soul panteth after Thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? Ps. xli. 2. Let my prayer be directed as incense in Thy sight: the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and a door round about my lips. Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins (Ps. cxl. 2). Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds (Ps. iv. 5). In peace in the self-same I will sleep, and I will rest: For Thou O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope (Ps. iv. 9). Into Thy hands I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth (Ps. xxx. 6). L APPENDIX. INDEX OF TEXTS. THE following “Index of Texts" is intended to give a short course of passages illustrating the Catechism which children may easily find out and learn. As far as I have seen, children can easily be led to take an interest in remembering a reasonable number of Scripture passages, appropriate to the Catechism they are learning; and I think that such a practice would be very useful to them, both intellectually and morally. It is arranged in three columns. 1. The different subjects the Catechism treats of, placed in order. 2. Two or three words of the text, chosen so as best to remind them of its bearing. 3. The reference to its place in the Scripture. The texts referred to are all given in full in the earlier part of the book; but I think it well that children should sometimes, at least, try to find them for themselves, so as to know the context in which they occur, and understand the particular part applicable to the subject they are learning. The few words given may sometimes appear rather quaint, standing by themselves; but the object to be considered is, which words will best suggest the passage. Obviously, in many cases, the first words would not do so at all. |