Devotions at Mass.

PRAYERS BEFORE MASS.

RECEIVE, O holy Trinity, one God, the holy sacrifice of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which I, thy unworthy servant, desire now to offer unto thy divine Majesty by the hands of this thy minister, with all the sacrifices which have ever been or are to be offered unto thee, in union with that most holy sacrifice offered by the same our Lord at the last supper, and on the altar of the cross. I offer it unto thee with the utmost affection of devotion, out of pure love for thine infinite goodness, and according to the most holy intention of the same our Lord, and of our holy mother Church:

1. To the great and eternal glory and love of thy divine Majesty.

2. In acknowledgment of thy sovereign excellence and supreme dominion over us, and our subjection to thee, and dependence upon thee.

3. In perpetual commemoration of the passion and death of the same Christ our Lord.

4. For the honour and increase of glory of the blessed Virgin, and of all the saints triumphant.

5. In eternal thanksgiving for all thy benefits, conferred upon the most sacred humanity of our Lord, upon the blessed Virgin his mother, upon the saints my patrons; and for all the benefits hitherto or yet to be conferred upon all the blessed and predestinated, and upon me, the most unworthy of all.

6. In satisfaction for my sins, and for the sins of all the faithful, living or dead.

ORDINARY OF THE MASS.

The Priest begins at the foot of the Altar.

In nomine Patris, + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

7. In particular, I offer it for the attainment of these (N N), or for this (N) grace or blessing, for these (N N) persons particularly recommended to me, and for all for whom I am accustomed or bound to pray; that thou wouldst grant to the departed rest, and to the living grace, to know, and love, and glorify thee perfectly now in this life, and hereafter blissfully in heaven. Accept and perfect this my desire, and vouchsafe thy abundant grace and blessing for its accomplishment.

Short Preparatory Prayers before Mass.

Prostrate in spirit at the foot of thy holy altar, I adore thee, O almighty God, and firmly believe that the Mass at which I am going to assist is the sacrifice of the body and blood of thy Son Christ Jesus. Oh, grant that I may assist thereat with the attention, respect, and awe due to such august mysteries; and that, by the merits of the victim there offered for me, I myself may become an agreeable sacrifice to thee, who livest and reignest with the same Son and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

I believe, O my God, that in the sacrifice of the Mass is daily renewed that sacrifice which Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. I believe that it is renewed for the glory of thy divine name, for the sanctification of the just, and for the salvation of sinners. I humbly implore thee, O Father of mercies, to purify my heart before being present at the holocaust of the Lamb without spot. Be far from me all thoughts of earth, while I assist at that greatest work of heaven, which God himself cannot surpass. Jesus, Mary, all ye holy angels, be my aid!

Or,

O most merciful Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, who so lovedst the world that thou sparedst not thine only-begotten Son, but for our restoration gave him up to the suffering and death of

Then, joining his hands and humbly bowing down, he says the Confession.

Then the Priest, with his hands joined, gives the Absolution, saying:

S. Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam æternam.

Signing himself with the sign of the Cross, he says: S.+Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. M. Amen.

P. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. R. Amen.

Then, bowing down, he proceeds:

the most bitter cross; and moreover willest that this sacrifice, most pleasing unto thee, should daily be renewed in thy Church for the renewal of its fruits in us; grant us, we beseech thee, to assist at this adorable and salutary mystery of thy divine power, wisdom, and goodness, with such attention, reverence, and devotion, that by the offering of this unbloody sacrifice we may most effectually be made partakers of that sacrifice of blood, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

At the Confiteor.

O blessed Trinity, one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, prostrate in spirit before thee, I here confess in the sight of the whole court of heaven, and of all thy faithful, my innumerable treasons against thy divine Majesty. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned: I have grievously offended through the whole course of my life, in thought, word, and deed; and therefore am unworthy to lift my eyes to heaven, or so much as to name thy sacred name: how much more am I unworthy to appear here in thy sanctuary, and to assist among thy angels at these heavenly mysteries, which require so much purity, because Jesus Christ himself is here in person, both Priest and Victim! But, O my God, thy mercies are above all thy works, and thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart; and therefore I here venture to come into thy temple, and with the poor publican, strike my breast and say, God, be merciful to me a sinner. Amen.

Another Prayer at the Confiteor.

O divine Jesus, thou art the victim charged with all the iniquities of the wedd; thou didst weep for them bitter tears; thou didst expiate them by the most dreadful torments and by the most cruel of deaths. I come to mingle my tears with thine; I confess to thee, in the presence of Mary ever Virgin and of all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly ;