R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. O God, who for the redemption of the world didst vouchsafe to be born, to be circumcised, to be rejected by the Jews, to be betrayed by Judas, the traitor, with a kiss, to be bound with cords and chains, as an innocent lamb to be led to the slaughter; to be ignominiously exposed before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod; to be accused by false witnesses, scourged, and shamefully. loaded; to be spit upon, crowned with thorns, buffeted in the face, struck with a reed, blindfolded, stripped of thy clothes, fastened with nails to a cross, and then raised upon it; to be numbered among thieves; to taste of gall and vinegar, and to be pierced with a lance: by these thy most holy sufferings, which I, though unworthy, commemorate, and by thy most sacred death and passion, do thou, O Lord, deliver me (or if another says it for him, deliver thy servant N.,) from the pains of hell, and conduct me whither thy mercy did conduct the penitent thief, who was crucified with thee, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever. Amen. Three pious prayers useful for the Dying, to be recited with three Our Fathers, and three Hail Marys, in the agony of death. First is said, Lord, have mercy on us.. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy Our Father, &c., Hail Mary, &c. on us. O Lord Jesus Christ, by thy most sacred agony, and by the prayer which thou didst pour forth for us on the mount of Olives, where thy sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the earth, I beseech thee to offer up the many drops of thy bloody sweat, which, in thy fearful anguish thou didst most abundantly shed for us, and graciously to present them to thy Almighty Father, to be set against the many sins of this thy servant (N.), and mercifully deliver him in this hour of his death, from all the pains and sufferings which he fears he may justly have deserved for his sins. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen. A second time is said, Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father. Hail Mary. O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst vouchsafe to die upon the cross for us; I beseech thee to offer up to thy Almighty Father all the bitter pains and sufferings which thou didst endure for us upon the cross, especially in that hour when thy most holy soul quitted thy most sacred body; and present them in behalf of this thy servant (N.) and deliver him n this hour of death from all the pains and wings which he fears he may justly have deserved for his sins. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen. A third time is said, Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father. Hail Mary. O Lord Jesus Christ, who by the mouth of thy prophet hast said-I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on thee, (Jer. xxxi. 3.) I beseech thee to offer up this same love which drew thee down from heaven to earth, there to endure all the bitterness of thy Passion, and present it to thy Almighty Father for the soul of this thy servant (N.), and deliver him from all the pains and sufferings which he fears to have deserved for his sins. And save his soul in this hour of his departure. Open unto him the gates of life, and give him to rejoice with thy saints in eternal glory. And do thou, O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, who didst redeem us by thy most precious blood, have mercy on the soul of this thy servant, and vouchsafe to introduce him into the ever-verdant and delicious places of Paradise, that he may live to thee with an indissoluble love, and never be separated from thee and thy elect. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen. If the dying person continue in his senses, some of the short acts set down above to be inculcated to dying persons, may be suggested to him, or the following acts be made: AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING. O my God, thou hast created, redeemed, and sanctified me. Thou hast preserved me in many dangers both of body and soul. Thou hast fed me with thy most blessed body and blood. Thou hast shown immense patience in bearing with my repeated crimes, and often called me to repentance. For these and all other blessings bestowed upon me a most ungrateful sinner, I offer thee innumerable thanks. ACT OF RESIGNATION. O my God, I cheerfully receive the certain summons of my death. It is a greater happiness to fulfil thy will, than to enjoy ten thousand lives. O happy news of my departure! I shall soon hear the choirs of Angels sing thy eternal praises. Let death hasten his pace, that dying I may no more offend thee, but live with thee and love thee eternally. ACT OF CONTRITION. am truly and heartily sorry for all my sins, not for the fear of hell, nor for the hope of reward, but for the love of thee my God and only good. And were I beginning, as I am ending my life, I would not offend thee for a thousand worlds. O my God, despise not a contrite and humble heart. When the soul is about to depart from the body, then more than ever ought they who are by to pray earnestly upon their knees around the sick man's bed; and if the dying man be unable to speak, the name of Jesus should constantly be invoked; and such words as the fol lowing again and again be repeated in his ear. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. O Lord Jesus Christ, receive my Spirit. Holy Mary, mother of grace, Mother of mercy, do thou defend me from the enemy, and receive me at the hour of death. The soul being departed, the following Responsory is to be said: Come to his assistance, all ye Saints of God: meet him, all ye Angels of God: receiving his soul, offering it in the sight of the Most High. May Christ receive thee, who hath called thee, and may the Angels conduct thee to Abraham's bosom. Receiving his soul and offering it in the sight of the Most High. |