mine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus

Sancti.

R. Amen.

the chrism of salvation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen.

Then he strikes him gently on the cheek, saying:

Pax tecuni.

Peace be with thee.

When all have been confirmed, the Bishop wipes his hands with bread-crumb, and washes them over a basin. Whilst he is washing his hands, the following antiphon is sung or read by the clerks :

Confirma hoc, Deus, quod operatus es in nobis, a templosancto quod est in Jerusalem.

R. Gloria Patri, &c.

Confirm, O Lord, that which thou hast wrought in us, from thy holy temple, which is in Jerusalem.

R. Glory be to the Father, &c.

Then the antiphon Confirma hoc Deus is repeated; after which the Bishop, laying aside his mitre, rises up, and standing towards the altar, with his hands joined before his breast,

Then, with his hands still joined before his breast, and all the persons confirmed devoutly kneeling, he says:

Then he says:

And turning to the persons confirmed, he makes over them the sign of the Cross, saying:

Benedicat vos Dominus ex Sion, ut videatis bona Jerusalem omnibus diebus vitæ vestræ, et habeatis vitam æter

nam.

R. Amen.

May the Lord bless you out of Sion, that you may see the prosperity Jerusalem all the days of your life, and have life everlasting. R. Amen.

of

On returning to your place, after having been confirmed, consecrate some moments to thank God for the graces he has so mercifully bestowed upon you in the sacrament of Confirmation. Imagine you are among the Apostles after the descent of the Holy Ghost, and join most devoutly in the transports with which they glorified God. Renew your good resolutions; place yourself under the protection of the most holy Virgin, praying the august Spouse of the Holy Ghost to obtain for you grace to remain faithful to the divine inspirations, and to perform all that you have promised, for the glory of God and your own salvation. The Te Deum is usually sung after Confirmation.

(See page 104.)

Prayer.

O LORD, I am about to leave this holy place, in which thy Holy Spirit hath vouchsafed to visit my soul. Withdraw not thyself from me, O most Holy Spirit; but let thy love embrace me on every side. Suffer not that this forehead, on which the holy unction is still fresh, should ever be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, nor the members of my body, which is now become thy temple, should ever be dishonoured and defiled by sin. May my heart never resist thee, O most blessed Spirit, but ever yield to the impressions of thy grace; for thou art the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of strength, and thou only canst accomplish in me those good desires with which thou inspirest me. Amen.

Sacrament of Penance.

-0-

THE PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. I. A Prayer to implore the Divine assistance in order to make a good Confession.

MOST merciful God, I most humbly thank thee for all thy mercies unto me, and particularly at this time, for thy forbearance and long-suffering with me, notwithstanding my many and grievous sins. It is of thy great mercy that I have not fallen into greater and more grievous sins than those which I have committed, and that I have not been cut off and cast into hell. O my God, although I have been so ungrateful to thee in times past, yet I now beseech thee to accept me, returning to thee with an earnest desire to repent and devote myself to thee, my Lord and my God, and to praise thy holy name for ever.

Receive my confession, and spare me, O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, whom I, an unworthy sinner, am not worthy to name, because I have so often offended thee. Rebuke me not in thine anger, and cast me not away from Thy face, O good Jesus, who hast said that thou willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live. Receive me, I beseech thee, returning to thee with a penitent and contrite heart. Spare me, O most kind Jesus, who didst die upon the cross that thou mightest save

sinners. To whom shall I flee but unto thee, my only hope and my salvation? Have mercy upon me, O most gracious Lord, and despise not the humble and contrite heart of thy servant. I know thy mercies are above all thy works, and I most confidently hope that, as in thy mercy thou hast spared me so long, and hast now given me this desire of returning to thee, so thou wilt finish the work thou hast begun, and bring me to a perfect reconciliation with thee.

I desire now to comply with thy holy institution of the sacrament of Penance; I desire to confess my sins with all sincerity to thee and to thy minister; and, therefore, I desire to know myself, and to call myself to an account by a diligent examination of my conscience. But, O my God, how miserably shall I deceive myself, if thou assist me not in this great work by thy heavenly light. Remove then every veil that hides any of my sins from me, that I may see them all in their true colours, and may sincerely detest them. Let me not any longer be imposed upon by the enemy or by my own self-love, so as to mistake vice for virtue, to hide myself from myself, or in any way to flatter myself in my sins.

I beg of you, most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, intercede for me with him. Obtain for me the full knowledge of all my sins, with the grace of a sincere sorrow and a firm determination to amend my life, to the salvation of my soul and the glory of his name.

I implore the same grace of thee, my Angel Guardian, who was present with me when I