The Last Blessing and Plenary Indulgence.

As the hour of death approaches-that awful hour on which so much depends-the pious Christian should fervently prepare to receive the Last Blessing and Plenary Indulgence granted to those who are near their end. For our Lord Jesus Christ promised to St. Peter (Matt. xvi.), the keys of the kingdom of heaven; assuring him that whatsoever he should bind on earth should be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he should loose on earth should be loosed also in heaven. By this power of binding and loosing, derived from St. Peter to his successors, and by them communicated (by faculty) to the pastors of souls, the latter are authorised to grant a plenary indulgence, together with a solemn blessing, to all such as are in or near their last agony. But then the dying Christian should remember well, that, in order to receive the benefit of this plenary indulgence and blessing, it is requisite that he concur on his part, by renouncing and detesting all his sins, both known and unknown, mortal and venial; by accepting with patience and resignation whatever he may have yet to suffer, and offering up his pains and death, in union with the sufferings and death of his Redeemer, in satisfaction for his sins.

To this end the Church directs the Priest that ministers to the sick person, to put him in mind frequently to invoke the name of Jesus, and to exhort him:

1. That he firmly believe all the articles of the faith, and whatever the holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church believes and teaches. 2. That he confidently hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, in his boundless compassion, will have mercy on him; and that, by the merits of his most holy Passion, and through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, he will obtain everlasting life.

3. That he love the Lord God with all his heart, and that he desire to love him more and more perfectly, with that love wherewith all the Saints and blessed in heaven love him.

4. That, for the love of God, he grieve from the heart for all offences whatsoever that he has committed against God and his neighbour.

5. That, for the love of God, he forgive from the heart his enemies, and all that have in any way injured him and done him wrong.

6. That he beg forgiveness of those whom he has at any time offended in word or deed.

7. That he patiently endure all the pains and discomfort of sickness, for God's sake, in penance for his sins.

8. That if God shall vouchsafe to restore him to his bodily health, he resolve henceforth, to the best of his power, to guard against sin, and to keep his commandments.

While the Priest is conferring the solemn Blessing, the following prayer may be repeated:

O my God, I once more renounce and detest all my sins. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. I cast myself into the arms of thy holy love, and I resign myself to thy blessed will. Receive me, I beseech thee, into the number of thy servants, that I may praise thee for ever. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my soul. Amen.

The Form of conferring the Last Blessing and Plenary Endulgence.

On entering the dying man's room, the Priest says:

V. Pax huic domui.

R. Et omnibus habitanti

bus in ea.

V. Peace be to this house.

R. And to all who dwell therein.

Then is said the Asperges, as at p. 203, after which the Priest

V. Domine, exaudi oratio

nem meam.

R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.

Clementissime Deus, Pater O most gracious God, Famisericordiarum, et Deus to- ther of mercies and God of all tius consolationis, qui nemi- consolation, who wouldest that nem vis perire in te credentem none should perish who believe atque sperantem, secundum and hope in thee; according to multitudinem miserationum the multitude of thy mercies, tuarum respice propitius fa- look favourably upon thy sermulum tuum (famulam tuam) vant N., whom a true ChrisN., quem (quam) tibi vera tian faith and hope commend fides et spes Christiana com- unto thee. Visit him in thy mendant. Visita eum (eam) salvation; and through the in salutari tuo, et per Unige- passion and death of thy Onlyniti tui passionem et mortem, begotten, graciously grant unomnium ei delictorum suorum to him the pardon and remisremissionem et veniam clemen- sion of all his sins, that his soul ter indulge, ut ejus anima in at the hour of its departure may hora exitus sui te judicem pro- find in thee a most merciful pitiatum inveniat, et in san- judge; and, cleansed from every guine ejusdem Filii tui ab om- stain in the blood of the same ni macula abluta, transire ad thy Son, may be worthy to pass vitam mereatur perpetuam. to everlasting life. Through Per eumdem Christum Domi- the same Christ our Lord. num nostrum.

Then the Confiteor being repeated by one of the attendant Clerks, the Priest says, Misereatur, &c. as at p. 207, and then proceeds thus:

Dominus noster Jesus Christus Filius Dei vivi, qui beato Petro Apostolo suo dedit potestatem ligandi atque solvendi, per suam piissimam misericordiam recipiat confessionem tuam, et restituat tibi stolam primam, quam in baptismate recepisti; et ego, fa

May our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who gave to his blessed Apostle Peter the power of binding and loosing, in his most loving mercy receive thy confession, and restore to thee that first robe which thou didst receive in baptism; and by the faculty

The Recommendation of a Beparting Soul.
See Litany for the Dying, in page 637.

Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit; in nomine Jesu Christi, Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est; in nomine Spiritus Sancti, qui in te effusus est; in nomine Angelorum et Archangelorum; in nomine Thronorum et Dominationum: in nomine Principatuum et Potestatum; in nomine Cherubim et Seraphim; in nomine Patriarcharum et Prophetarum; in nomine sanctorum Apostolorum et Evangelistarum; in nomine sanctorum Martyrum et Confes

Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world, in the name of God the Father almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Ghost, who was poured out upon thee; in the name of the Angels and Archangels; in the name of the Thrones and Dominations; in the name of the Principalities and Powers; in the name of the Cherubim and Seraphim; in the name of the Patriarchs and Prophets; in the name of the holy Apostles and Evange

Commendo te omnipotenti Deo, charissime frater, et ei, cujus es creatura, committo: ut cum humanitatis debitum morte interveniente persolveris, ad Auctorem tuum, qui of humanity by death, thou