themselves incur thy displea sure! Into thy hands I commit myself and all that I have, especially the end for which I live, that thou mayest dispose of me, in time and in eternity, as a thing entirely thy own, as thou pleasest and determinest to be for thy greater glory. Lastly, I offer thee how ever and whatever I best can, but chiefly the life, passion, and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for all the blessings of body and soul which I have hitherto, or shall hereafter receive from thee; especially the charity with which thou hast loved me from all eternity, and for obtaining the gift of perseverance, that I may be inseparably united to thee. This very act, in all its parts, with all that they implicitly contain, I wish confirmed whenever I make any of the signs which I have already or may hereafter resolve upon; nay, every time that any creatures are, or can be produced by thee; whenever I draw my breath, and lastly, as often as it can possibly or imaginably be repeated or multiplied; and this purely for love of thee, and for all conceivable ends that are holy and good. What I have said, O Lord, I wish said, done, accepted, and confirmed, with the ut most permissible fruit, affection, and effect. The exercise of this act once in the day in its longer form is sufficient, particularly in the morning, and before or after Mass; but it should be very often repeated at the set signals, as this may be effected without difficulty by the mere mental direction to it of a single thought, and also by saying, O Jesus! or, O my God and my all! A VERY USEFUL PRAYER For recommending in the morning our actions and all things to God, and uniting them to the merits of Christ. From the German prayers of F. Peter Canisius, of the Society of Jesus. With my whole heart I praise thee and thank thee, O Lord my God, for creating me to thy own image when I was nothing, that I might be capable of enjoying the eternal and supreme good, that is, thyself. And when I was a lost child of wrath, under sentence of the eternal curse, thou redeemedst me notwithstanding by the force of thy immeasurable love, by thy most holy life and passion, thy death and precious blood. Since, then, it is from thy hand alone that I receive all the good that I possess, I cheerfully offer it in return, and also my whole self, to the praise and glory of thy supreme majesty for ever. Then, when I was unworthy of any grace or blessing, nay, full of uncleanness, and worthy of punishment, how graciously thou bestowedst upon me the Holy Ghost, together with his gifts; and, besides all this, preparedst for me in heaven eternal blessings and joys! I beseech thee also, by thy infinite goodness, O most gracious Saviour Jesus Christ! to keep me this day from all sin, that I may not lose thy grace; but may devote my heart, and all my intentions, my understanding, and my will, with all the powers of my body and soul, to thy honour and worship alone; that my thoughts, words, and works may please thee in every respect. But because, from my utter imperfection, I am not sufficient to do, no, nor even think any thing of myself that can be acceptable in the sight of thy divine majesty, meritorious or profitable to myself, for all our sufficiency is of thee; vouchsafe, I most humbly implore thee, to succour my deficiency or poverty out of the infinite abundance of thy charity, and the inexhaustible treasure of thy merits. Thus, then, I now finally offer and recommend to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, my works that are most worthless and vile in themselves, to be by thee united to the most worthy and holy works of thy whole life, done in the most ardent and perfect charity, with which thou wroughtest all things for our salvation in the midst of the earth, according to the will, and for the glory of thy eternal Father. Lastly, whatever is necessary for me to do or suffer this day, I pray thee not only mercifully to accept, but also, by thy most holy incarnation, life, passion, and death, to make meritorious and saving in its effect, that my soul's salvation may be more and more advanced by it, and my whole life be more perfectly conformed to the example of thy most holy life and passion; that thus I may be more fitted to promote my neighbour's salvation, and to maintain with him peace and charity; but above all, that I may be able with my whole heart to promote and accomplish the will, service, and love of thy divine Majesty. Amen. BENEDICTION FOR MORNING AND EVENING. From the same. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the efficacy of his most sacred passion; the sign of the holy Cross with its triumphal title, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF ing Exercise. 1. Thank God. 2. Ask light. THE JEWS; the integrity of The five points of the Eventhe most blessed Virgin Mary; the protection of the holy Angels, especially my guardian, and the suffrages of all God's elect, be between me and all my enemies, visible and invisible, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. EVENING EXERCISE. At night, when going to bed, take care not to forget God, by whose favour thou hast lived through the day and thy life hitherto; and perhaps wilt not live till morning, unless this night thou make thy peace with God. Thy very bed, in fact, in which, as in the tomb, thou layest thy naked limbs to rest, in a manner reminds thee of death. And what is sleep, itself, but the brother and image of death? He is over rash, who, with God offended and unreconciled, ventures to commit himself to the night's sleep. Rather prepare thyself for thy night's rest as though one whispered in thy ear This night shall they require of thee thy soul.i And therefore remember to pray with the Prophet: Enlighten my eyes, that I never sleep in death, lest at any time my enemy say, I have prevailed against him." 1 Luke xii. 20. I. THANKSGIVING. of my heart for all the bless- 11. PRAYER FOR LIGHT. O eternal wisdom, in many things, alas! we all offend; but who can understand sins? Enlighten my darkness, O thou true Light, that I may see and know my failings. Thou knowest all the secrets of my heart, and considerest all my steps. Grant me, therefore, however I have sinned against thee, fully to recount to thee, in the bitterness of my soul, all that I have committed against thee this day by thought, word, or deed. III. EXAMINATION OF CON- O God, the searcher of hearts and reins! woe is me, that I have this day sinned against heaven and before thee; and how can I hide it from thee, who hast foreseen all my ways, and understood my thoughts afar off? What shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? Alas, O my Lord! I have sinned, and my offences are not hid from thee. Yet, if I judge myself, these are the things in which my heart accuses me most. Here examine thy conscience, and for this purpose think over the whole course of the day; weigh well where thou hast been, with whom engaged, what thou hast thought, said, and done. But remember to make thy examination with reference to thy state, office, or vocation; so will it be easy for thee to discover thy sins, whether of commission or omission. Also reflect seriously what progress thou hast made in the practice of some virtue, N., that is most necessary to thee, and in the rooting out of some vice, N., that gives thee the greatest trouble. IV. PRAYER FOR PARDON. O Father of mercies! who delightest not in the perdition of sinners, look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Into the depths of thy eternal love, with which thou hast loved us, I cast all the offences of this day and of my whole life. From the bottom of my heart I am sorry that I have so often offended thee, and been 1 Ps. cxxxviii. 3, 4. so ungrateful for thy many blessings, O my God and my highest good. By the death and the love of thy Son Jesus Christ, I pray thee spare me, a miserable creature, and mercifully forgive me whatever sins I have this day, or ever committed against thee, my neighbour, and myself. V. PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT. O most powerful God, without whose spirit there is nothing in man, I firmly purpose, before thee and the whole court of heaven, to follow more exactly the rule of thy will, to reform my habits, to attend more closely to my vocation, and to avoid sin and its occasions, &c. But though this is my wish, without thee I am unable to accomplish it. Therefore thou who givest me the will, give me also the power to perform. Give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt, that I may live soberly, justly, and godly in this world, and, with thy Saints, praise thee for ever in the next. Accept, O Lord, this my desire, as incense in thy sight. Of thy infinite mercy despise not this my late and evening sacrifice. And you, my holy Patrons! above all thou, O Virgin mother, and thou, my guardian Angel, and thou, N., and all ye denizens of heaven, who never tire in praising God, while I rest awhile in silence, take care of me, and recommend me to God, that I may be protected from the snares of my enemies, who, while we sleep, are ever awake, and ready to harm us. May God be our protector, and no adversity will be able to hurt us. O Lord God, increase in us faith, hope, and charity. Root out entirely all sin and vice, discord, infidelity, errors, and false opinions. Correct the mistaken, convert the unbelieving. Gather back the schismatics into the unity of the Church, and shew them the light of thy grace. Preserve the pastors and governors with the other rulers of thy Church, kings, dukes, bishops, and all in authority, from all adversities of body and soul. Convert all sinners to true penance. Preserve the just in goodness. Confirm their thoughts, words, and works. Have mercy, O Lord, upon all, and strengthen in thy service those who are devoted to thee. Feed the labourers; comfort the sorrowful; cure the sick; supply with necessaries those that are in want; grant to travellers their return to the country of their desire; to those that are in danger at sea a harbour of safety; gladden those that are with child; release the captives. Forgive all who have been my companions in sin, or whom I have caused to sin. To those who have been injured, scandalised, or defrauded by my means, restore a hundredfold. Direct in the way of salvation all who are connected with me by relationship or friendship, my parents, brothers, and sisters, those who work for me, or help me, pray for me, or have recommended themselves to my prayers, and all who think well of me. Hear them in whatever trouble they cry to thee. Give to us and our enemies a constant charity. Let patience, goodness, and mercy be in all of us; and envy, anger, and bitterness be far away from us. Have pity also, most tender Father, upon all the souls of those that sleep in Christ; of my parents first, those with whom I have been intimate, whose property I inherit, and of all who rest in thy faith. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen. Grant me, I beseech thee, eternal Father, by the life and death of thy most beloved Son, and by the bowels of thy mercy to persevere in goodness, and to die in thy grace. By the love of the eternal Father, and by thy last words upon the cross, with which thou commendedst thy spirit to thy Father, receive, O |