anguish when my soul, affrighted with the sight of my iniquities and the terrors of Thy judgments, shall have to fight against the angel of darkness, who will endeavour to conceal thy mercies from my eyes, and to plunge me into despair, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When my poor heart, exhausted by its frequent struggles, shall feel the pangs of death, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When the last tear, the forerunner of my dissolution, shall drop from my eyes, receive it as a sacrifice of expiation for my sins; grant that I may expire the victim of penance, and in that dreadful moment Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When my friends and relations, encircling my bed, shall shed the tear of pity over me, and invoke Thy clemency in my behalf, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When I shall have lost the use of my senses, when the world shall have vanished from my sight, when my agonizing soul shall feel the sorrows of death, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When my last sigh shall summon my soul to burst from the embraces of the

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body, and to spring to Thee on the wings of impatience and desire, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When my soul, trembling on my lips, shall bid adieu to the world, and leave my body lifeless, pale, and cold, receive this separation as a homage which I willingly pay to Thy divine Majesty, and in that last moment of my mortal life, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

When at length my soul, admitted to Thy presence, shall first behold with terror thy awful Majesty, reject me not, but receive me into Thy bosom, where I may for ever sing thy praises, and in that moment, when eternity shall begin to me, Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.

Let us pray.

O God, who hast doomed all men to die, but hast concealed from all the hour of their death, grant that I may pass my days in the practice of holiness and justice, and that I may deserve to quit this world in the peace of a good conscience, and in the embraces of Thy love through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A SHORT EXERCISE

IN PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY VIATIWHICH MAY BE USED

CUM, AND

EVERY DAY.

1. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready; not my will, but Thine, be done. O my God, I resign myself entirely to Thee, to receive death at the time and in the manner it shall please Thee to send it.

2. I most humbly ask pardon for all my sins committed against Thy sovereign goodness, and repent of them all from the bottom of my heart.

3. I firmly believe whatsoever the holy Catholic Church believes and teaches; and by Thy grace, I will die in this belief.

4. I hope to possess eternal life by Thy infinite mercy, and by the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ.

5. O my God, I desire to love Thee as my Sovereign Good, above all things, and to despise this miserable world. I desire to love my neighbour as myself, for the love of Thee, and to forgive all injuries. from my heart.

6. O my divine Jesus, how great is my

desire to receive Thy sacred Body! Oh, come now into my soul, at least by a spiritual communion! Oh, grant that I may worthily receive Thee before my death! I desire to unite myself to all the worthy communions which shall be made in Thy holy Church, even to the end of the world.

7. Grant me the grace, O my Divine Saviour, perfectly to efface all the sins I have committed by any of my senses, by applying daily to my soul Thy blessed merits and the holy unction of Thy precious blood.

8. Holy Virgin, Mother of God, defend me from my enemies in my last hour, and present me to Thy Divine Son. Glorious St. Michael, prince of the heavenly host, and thou, my angel guardian, and you, my blessed patrons, intercede for me, and assist me, in this last and dreadful passage.

9. O my God, I renounce all the temptations of the enemy, and in general whatsoever may displease Thee. I adore and accept of Thy Divine appointments with regard to me, and entirely abandon myself to them as most just and equitable.

10. O Jesus, my Divine Saviour, be Thou a Jesus to me, and save me. O my God, hiding myself with an humble confidence in Thy dear wounds, I give up my soul into Thy divine hands. Oh! receive it into the bosom of Thy mercy. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE DYING.

O God, the giver of pardon, and lover of man's salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that of thy merciful clemency those who are in their agony and are to die this day may, by the intercession of the ever blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, attain to the fellowship of everlasting happiness.

PRAYERS IN TIME OF SUFFERING.

O Lord Jesus Christ, accept my sufferings which I desire to unite with Thine; sanctify this affliction, so that every pain I feel may purify my soul, and bring it nearer to Thee. O Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee to give me such love for Thee, that I may love the very sufferings that will take me sooner to Thee. Only stand Thou by me with Thy supporting grace, and then order for me what Thou pleasest. Amen.