That thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, We beseech thee, hear us. That thou vouchsafe graciously to to hear us, We beseech thee, hear us. Son of God, We beseech thee, hear us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father, in secret. V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil. Amen. THE LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH. Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, receive our prayers. Lord, Jesus, grant our petitions. O God the Father, Creator of the world, Have mercy on us. O God the Son, Redeemer of mankind, Have mercy on us. Holy Ghost, perfecter of the elect, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, St. Joseph, honoured amongst men, St. Joseph, pattern of humility & obedience, St. Joseph, nursing father to the Son of St. Joseph, the just and perfect man, St. Joseph, pattern of the industrious and St. Joseph, endowed with all virtue, St. Joseph, possessed of all-glorious privi- St. Joseph, union of all Christian perfections, St. Joseph, protector of the dying, St. Joseph, our dear patron and defender, Pray for us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Lord. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, O holy St. Joseph. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God, who didst make choice of holy St. Joseph, to be the spouse of the blessed Virgin Mary, the nurse and guardian of thy beloved Son Jesus, we humbly beseech thee to grant us, through his intercession, purity both of soul and body, that being free from all sin and adorned with the wedding garment, we may be admitted to the nuptials of the Lamb in eternal Glory, through the same Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. A PRAYER TO OUR ANGEL GUARDIAN. O holy angel, who art appointed by the divine goodness to be my guardian, to conduct my blindness, teach my ignorance, strengthen my weakness, and excite my slothfulness; I heartily praise our common Lord for so singular a benefit, and thank thee for the many good offices which thou hast done for me, defending me amidst so many dangers both of soul and body, but especially by withholding me from sin, and preserving me when I was hastening to my own destruction. I humbly beseech thee to continue the same care on my behalf, till thou shalt have brought my soul to the happy port of everlasting salvation. Amen. A PRAYER TO THE SAINT OF OUR NAME, OR PATRON. O blessed Saint N. glorious citizen of heaven, as I render most humble thanks to God for all the good he hath done thee, so I beseech thee to remember me in thy prayers, and obtain for me the entire remission of my sins, the amendment of my life, and the imitation of thy good spirit and holy graces, that I may be perfectly reconciled to my Saviour, and always please him: but especially I recommend to thee the hour of my death, that by thy holy intercession my soul may depart this world in the grace of God, and immediately come to life everlasting. Amen. INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. "1. If you are attacked by any considerable illness, let your first care be to send for your spiritual physician, and settle the state of your soul. This is much better done in the beginning of sickness than afterwards, when the strength of the fever or the quality of the remedies may render a person absolutely unfit for so great a work. Sickness is often sent for a punishment of sin, and therefore a sincere repentance and confession of sins is often a more effectual means of recovery than any other. "2. If you have not your will already made, as it is prudent you ought, let this also be done in the beginning of your sickness, that so having settled your temporal affairs, you may apply your soul, without disturbance to the spiritual. "3. Engage your best friends to give you timely notice if your distemper be dangerous, and not to flatter you with hopes of life when there are little or no grounds for hopes. Make the best use you can of that time which, perhaps, is to be your last. Admit but of few visits, nor of any other discourse but such as may be for your soul's profit. "4. Take proper care for the discharge of your debts and all other obligations incumbent upon you; and this as much as may be in the beginning also of your sickness: forgive all those who have any way injured you, and ask pardon of those you have injured. "5. Receive your sickness from the hand of God, with a perfect resignation to his holy will, as a just punishment of your offences; frequently offer yourself up to him and beg that he would give you patience and sanctify your sufferings, and that he would accept of all your pains and uneasinesses, in union with the sufferings of your Saviour, Jesus Christ, in deduction of the punishment due to your sins. "6. Often procure some friend to read to you such prayers as are most affective, and most proper for your present condition; especially the Penitential Psalms, the Litanies, Acts of the Love of God, of Patience and Resignation, &c. "7. Have the crucifix, or the picture of Christ crucified, always before your eyes; think often upon his passion, and the hopes which it has opened to you, and embrace his feet with all the affections of your soul. "8. Aim, as much as you can, at a penitential spirit during your sickness; often cry to God for mercy, and make frequent acts of contrition for your sins. St. Augustine used to say, that no Christian, however innocent his life might have been, ought to venture to die in any other state than in that of a penitent." |