AFFECTIONS.

What shall I answer? or what shall I say? God has found out the iniquity of his servant. Gen. xliv. 16. Convert us, O God our Saviour, and turn away thine anger from us. Ps. lxxxiv. 5.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee, O Lord. Ps. ix. 3.

At the Collect, Epistle, and Gradual. Think of all the accusations, mockeries, blows, and spittings, which Christ endured in the houses of Annas and Caiaphas. John xviii. 22. Christ was silent as a lamb before his shearers; but how easily art thou made angry, and reproachest thine

accusers.

AFFECTIONS.

Where is thy fortitude and thy patience? Job iv. 6. Thou art my patience, O Lord. Ps. lxx. 5.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a door round about my lips. Incline not my heart to evil

words. Ps. cxl. 4.

At the Gospel, which the priest reads, crossing over to the other side of the altar. Meditate how Christ was hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, questioned concerning his teaching, and rebuked. Luke xxiii. Dost thou value the precious doctrine of Jesus? Dost thou receive it carefully thyself, and hand it on to others?

AFFECTIONS.

Direct my steps according to thy word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Ps. cxviii. 133. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.

Ps. cxviii.

I will teach thy ways unto the wicked; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Ps. 1. 14.

Meditate upon Christ sent by Pilate to Herod, and by him sent back again to Pilate (when he obtained not the signs he expected to see), clothed in a white garment, as a silly person, not worthy of credit. Luke xxiii. Art thou among those who, before they will believe, demand of Christ that they may see a sign? Mark xii. 59.

AFFECTIONS.

Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. John xx. 29.

I do believe, Lord; help my unbelief. Mark ix. 23. I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself for me. Gal. ii. 20.

At the Offertory. Meditate upon the resignation of Christ, and his offering himself to bear all things for the glory of his Father and the redemption of mankind. Ps. xxxix. Art thou prepared to endure adversity and affliction ?

AFFECTIONS.

I am prepared for scourges. Ps. xxxvii. 18.

I will take the chalice of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Ps. cxv. 4.

Confirm, O God, that which thou hast wrought in me. Ps. lxvii. 29.

At the Lavabo. Reflect how Pilate sought to excuse himself for his most wicked deed by washing his hands, but did not escape the guilt itself. Matt. xxvii. 24. How often dost thou seek to conceal thy sins, and to make excuses for them! So doing, thou dost rather increase than diminish them.

AFFECTIONS.

I confess against myself my injustice unto the Lord. Ps. xxxi. 6.

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not hidden from thee. Ps. lxviii. 6.

If I contend with thee, I cannot answer thee one for a thousand. Job ix. 3.

At the Orate fratres. Meditate upon Christ, about to be condemned by Pilate, presented to the people in a crown of thorns and a purple robe. John xix. 4. What will be thy state, O man, when thou shalt stand before Christ the judge at the last day?

AFFECTIONS.

Who will grant me this, that thou mayest protect me in hell, and hide me till thy wrath pass by? Job xiv. 13.

I will let go my speech against myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, Do not condemn me. Job x. 1.

For, behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Ps. 1. 6.

At the Preface. Reflect that the very same Jews who, five days before, saluted Christ with Hosannas, now cry out, Crucify him, crucify him. John xix. 6. Art thou guilty of similar inconstancy?

AFFECTIONS.

Perfect thou my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps be not moved. Ps. xvi. 6.

Strengthen thou me in thy words. Ps. cxviii. 28.

Thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold Ps. cxxxviii. 9.

me.

At the Canon. Meditate upon Jesus bearing his own cross as he went up to Calvary. John xix. 17. Dost thou not hear the voice of Christ? If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Matt. xvi. 24.

AFFECTIONS.

Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. Cant. i. 3.

God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. vi. 14.

Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Heb. xiii. 13.

At the Elevation of the Host. Meditate on Christ, nailed to the cross by his hands and his feet, set forth as a spectacle to the whole world. Mark xx. 25. Behold, Oman, thy Redeemer! With what affection hast thou hitherto embraced him, who here, with extended arms, invites thee to nis embrace?

AFFECTIONS.

My beloved to me, and I to him.
Tell him that I languish with love.

Cant. ii. 16.

Ibid. v. 8.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or danger? I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. viii. 35.

At the Elevation of the Chalice. Reflect how profusely Christ poured forth his blood from his five sacred wounds for the washing away of our sins. Run to him, O sinner, that you may be cleansed, and draw waters with joy out of the Saviour's fountains. Is. xii. 3.

AFFECTIONS.

Suffer me that I may lament my sorrow a little, before I go and return no more, to a land that is dark, and covered with the shadow of death. Job xx. 20.

Perhaps darkness shall cover me. Ps. cxxxviii. 11.

At the Memento for the Dead. O Jesus, enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Luke i. 79.

At the Pater noster. Meditate upon the seven words of Christ uttered by him on the cross: 1. Christ prayed for his enemies: what dost thou do? 2. The thief, repenting, obtained heaven. Learn seriously to repent and do penance, but delay it not to the last. 3. Christ commends his mother to John, and John to his mother; to whom canst thou better commend thyself? 4. Christ complains that he is forsaken; and dost thou expect consolation as thy due? 5. Christ thirsted for thy salvation: and dost thou turn away from it with loathing? 6. Christ announced that all his torments were finished: thus shall all thy good and evil in this world be brought to a close. 7. Lastly, after the example of Christ, commend thy spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father. Luke xxiii. 46.

AFFECTIONS.

And we also forgive our debtors. Matt. vi. 12. Make me also to hear, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. Luke xxiii. 43.

O Mary, behold thy son! John xix. 26.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God; go not thou far from me. Ps. xxxvii. 22.

For thee my soul hath thirsted. Ps. lxii.

Happy is he who hath finished his course, who hath kept the faith. 2 Tim. iv. 7.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke xxiii. 46.

Reflect upon the sepa

At the Division of the Sacred Host. ration of Christ's soul from his body. It is appointed to all men once to die.

AFFECTIONS.

Matt. xxvii. 50. Heb. ix. 27.

Num. xxiii. 10.

Let my soul die the death of the just. Whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord's. Rom. xiv. 8.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Apoc. xiv. 13.

At the Agnus Dei, when the priest strikes his breast. Reflect how many of those who saw Christ dying on the cross, striking their breasts, returned. Luke xxiii. 48. And dost not thou strike thy breast in token of true sorrow for thy sins?

AFFECTIONS.

Lord, I strike my breast with the publican, and say, Be merciful to me a sinner. Luke xviii. 13.

And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offences, nor those of my parents. Job iii. 3.

Let thy mercies speedily prevent us. Ps. xxviii. 8.

At the Communion of the Priest. Meditate upon the burial of Christ. (John xix. 41.) He asks from thee thy heart for a sepulchre.

AFFECTIONS.

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. Ps. lvi. 10.

Arise, O Lord, into thy resting-place, thou and the ark of thy holiness. Ps. cxxxi. 8.

My heart shall rejoice with thee. Prov. xxiii. 15.