at least to sigh after thee, and though I am unworthy of thy embraces, permit me, like the penitent Magdalen, to present myself at least at thy feet, and wash them in spirit with my tears! O may thy sacred blood, which thou hast shed for all sinners, cleanse my poor soul this day from all its filth! O come to me, dear Lord, in spirit, and take possession of all the powers of my soul! Recollect my memory to thee, enlighten my understanding, and inflame my will with thy love. O let me be thine, and thou mine, from henceforth and for ever; and grant that nothing in life or death may ever separate me from thee any more. In this one prayer, hear me, O Lord; and in all things else do with me what thou wilt. A PRAYER AFTER THE COMMUNION. I RETURN thee now most hearty thanks, O my God! through Jesus Christ thy Son, that thou hast been pleased to deliver him up to death for us, and to give us his body and blood, both as a sacrament and sacrifice in these holy mysteries, at which thou hast permitted me, a most unworthy sinner, to assist this day. May all heaven and earth bless and praise thee for ever, for all thy mercy. O pardon me, dear Lord! all my distractions, and the many neglects which I have been guilty of this day in thy sight; and let me not depart without thy benediction. Behold, 1 desire from this moment to give up myself, and all that belongs to me, into thy hands, and beg that all my undertakings, all my thoughts, words And actions, may henceforward tend to thy glory, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN. IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but to bear witness of the light. That was the true light which enlightens every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave to them power to become the sons of God; to them who believe in his name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God: and the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: *sede a dextris meis; Donec ponam inimicos tuos: *scabellum pedum tuorum. Virgam virtutis tuæ emittet Dominus ex Sion:* dominare in medio inimicorum uorum. Tecum principium in die virtutis tuæ in splendoribus sanctorum: *ex utero ante luciferum genui te. Juravit Dominus, et non pœnitebit eum: * tu es sacerdos in æternum, secundum ordinem Melchisedec. Dominus a dextris tuis: * confregit in die iræ suæ reges. Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas; * conquassabit capita in terra multo rum. De torrente in via bibet: * propterea exaltabit caput. Gloria Patri, &c. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. P. Incline unto my aid, O God. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. In Lent. Praise be to thee, O King of eternal glory. PSALM 109. The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand. Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. With thee is the principality, in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day-star, I begot thee. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedec. The Lord, at thy right hand, hath broken kings, in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among nations: he shall fill ruins; he shall crush the heads in the land of many. He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. Glory be to the Father, &c. Beatus vir, qui timet Do PSALM 110. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; in the council of the just, and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, brought out according to all his wills. His work is praise and magnificence, and his justice continueth for ever and ever. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: he hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for ever of his covenant: he will show forth to his people the power of his works. That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment. All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity. He hath sent redemption to his people; he hath commanded his covenant for minum:* in mandatis ejus, eth the Lord: he shall delight volet nimis. exceedingly in his commandments. Potens in terra erit semen ejus generatio rectorum benedicetur. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever. To the righteous a light has risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate, and just. Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy, and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment; because he shall not be moved for ever. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: his heart is strengthened: he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies. He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. The wicked shall see, and shall be angry; he shall gnash with his teeth, and pine away; the desire of the wicked shall perish. Glory be to the Father, &c. PSALM 112. Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth, now, and for ever. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise. The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above "the heavens. Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth? |
