preserving us from evil. Blessed be thy holy name, and may all creatures praise thy goodness for the benefits we have received from thee. May the saints and angels supply our defects in rendering thee due thanks. Never permit us to be so base and wicked as to repay thy kindness with ingratitude, and thy blessings with offences and injuries. Amen.

BEFORE SELF-EXAMINATION.

O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we humbly orave the light of thy grace to shew us wherein we have offended thee this day by thought, word, deed, or omission: that, by a careful examination of our consciences, we may see what is faulty in our conduct with sorrow, and thy unspeakable mercy with zealous and firm purposes of amend

(Pause for Self-examination.)

ACT OF SORROW FOR LESSER SINS.

We are now aware, O Lord, of the carelessness with which we have hitherto squandered away our time. We acknowledge the ingratitude wherewith we have so long abused thy goodness; and we humbly ask thy pardon and implore forgiveness. We are sorry that we have displeased thee; and, from the bottom of our hearts, we regret the offences with which we have so often requited thy goodness in our behalf. Oh keep us from yielding to temptations for the future.

Make us sensible also, O Lord, of the many ways in which we do wrong without even being aware of it at the time, or afterwards thinking of our negligence. Thou hast said that the just man falls seven times :-how often, therefore, have we not reason to fear that we fall from our duties! and this, without so much as owning our faults! Oh make us watch more carefully over our passing thoughts and words; make us attend more rigorously to all the slightest movements of our tempers, all the hidden springs of our actions. Accept our grateful thanks if thou hast removed us from occasions of committing great and grievous sins: if, through thy mercy rather than our own endeavours, we have none such upon our consciences. Oh make us ever sensible of the favour thou hast shown us in protecting us in preference to so many other souls which are led astray, not by inclinations naturally worse than ours, but by the temptations to which their situations in life expose them.

But, O Lord, teach us also to shew, by our conduct now, that, in any other situation, we should have the strength to resist seductions and to serve thee. Teach us properly to judge of our guilt if we only abstain from offending thee mortally because we have no opportunity of doing so. Grant, O Lord, rather that we may the more carefully watch over our tempers and every bad feeling of our hearts; that, by conforming to thy will in small things, we may deserve thy

protection in all greater dangers and trials to which we may be exposed hereafter. Amen.

Visit, O Lord, we beseech thee, this house and family, and drive far from them all snares of the enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR SEASONS.

To be added before the concluding night prayer, "Visit, O Lord, we beseech thee."

FOR EMBER DAYS.

Listen, Almighty God, we beseech thee, to the prayers which thy universal church offers to thee at this time; beseeching thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to thy holy service at the altar. Give thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst thy clergy; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve thee to the glory of thy great name and the benefit of thy holy church. Amen.

O God, of whose mercies there is no number, and of whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of thy temporal blessings as thou knowest to be for our good.

Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by thy holy favour, increase and multiply: defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from thy hand only that we look for succour, and to thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen.

FOR ADVENT.

Raise up our hearts, O Lord, we beseech thee, in expectation of the coming of thine only Son: that, by his advent, being reconciled to thee, we may serve thee in holiness all the days of our lives. Amen.

FOR LENT.

O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

OCCASIONAL PRIVATE PRAYERS.

FOR GRACE IN ALL THINGS.

Most merciful and bountiful Creator, I firmly believe that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from thee, the Father of mercies; and that without thee and thy grace, I cannot do anything right: to thee, therefore, I address myself; to thee, I cry for mercy: give me grace, I beseech thee, to repent of my past sins; to resist all future temptations; to please thee in all things; to persevere unto the end; to die in thy grace, O my God; and to come speedily to thy eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE ANGELUS.

[In Catholic countries, the church bells are tolled at morn, noon, and evening; and, on hearing them, most devout persons pause in their occupation, and repeat the following prayer in commemoration of our Saviour's becoming man for our salvation.]

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary: and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail, Mary, &c.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: and be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail, Mary, &c.