Raise your thoughts to God, considering either the goodness of the Lord, the shortness of life, or the vanity of earthly things; or you may say to yourselves: "Time passes very quickly, and I am always drawing nearer to the grave. O my God, what will become of me if I continue to live as if I was not born for heaven! Lord, enlighten my mind, give me strength to form generous resolutions, and enable me to save my soul." Before going to sleep, do not forget to make these ejaculations: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I die in peace in your blessed arms." And then say, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." Endeavour, if you can, to fall asleep with these words on your lips. Many of the saints have ended their lives with this ejaculation. If you will imitate the saints, you will die like saints; it is God himself who gives us this advice: "This is the way, walk ye in it." (Is. xxx. 21.) 22 Additional Prayers. A Prayer for Relations, Friends, &c. OUCHSAFE, O Lord, to grant grace, mercy, and life everlasting, to my parents, brothers, and sisters, and all my relations; as also to my godfathers and godmothers, my friends, and every other person for whom I am bound to pray, or who in any way stand in need of my prayers. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. The Scholar's Prayer. Grant me, I most humbly beseech thee, O Lord, the grace of respect and obedience to my spiritual director, my master (or mistress), teachers, and those whom my parents or guardians have placed in authority over me. Grant me also, O Lord, a diligence in learning my lessons, and, above all, a watchfulness to avoid the conversation and company of all persons who offend thee by their wicked words or actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. To Jesus as an Infant. I give thee thanks, most loving Jesus, because thou didst choose to veil the glories of thy divinity, and for our sake to become a little child, to be born in a poor stable of a poor mother, to be wrapt in mean clothes, and to be laid in a manger. Grant, dearest Jesus, that I may be like thee, humble and poor in spirit; and as thou wast obedient to thy Mother, the holy Virgin Mary, and to thy foster-father, the blessed St. Joseph, so I may be ever obedient to my earthly parents and teachers, for thy sake, who art my heavenly father and shepherd; that as I grow in age and stature, I may also grow day by day in wisdom and piety; and as thou, O my Saviour, didst choose while on earth to live in poverty, so I may ever be disposed to honour and love the poor, to treat them kindly, and to share with them whatever I may have. Give me, O Jesus, a mild, humble, loving, and compassionate spirit toward all men, striving in all things to imitate thy most perfect example. Hear this my prayer, O most merciful Saviour, I humbly beseech thee. Amen. Prayer to Holy Mary. O most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of my Saviour, and my Mother, I commend myself to thy gracious protection during this day (or night), and for the rest of my life, and especially at the hour of my death. Watch over me with thy merciful and loving eyes; and grant that by thy holy intercession I may be preserved from all the snares and temptations to which my tender age is exposed, and may grow up in the exercise of all those graces which thou lovest, and in the fear and love of thy Son Jesus, so that I may one day be admitted to thy blessed society, and to the company of saints and angels in heaven, there to enjoy the presence of my God and Saviour for ever. Amen. An Offering of Oneself to the Blessed Virgin. Most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I, (-), desire to choose thee this day, in presence of my angel guardian, and of all the heavenly court, for my special patroness, my advocate, and my mother; I firmly resolve to love and serve thee, and to do all I can to induce others to love and serve thee also. I beseech thee, O my good and amiable mother, by the blood of thy Son shed for me, vouchsafe to receive me as thy child and thy perpetual servant; assist me in all my thoughts, my words, and my actions, at all moments of my life, so that all my deeds and all my thoughts may be directed to the praise and glory of God; grant, by thy powerful intercession, that, having spent a holy life here on earth, I may be preserved from the dangers of eternal death, and may be conducted in safety to everlasting bliss. Amen. Ejaculations. O my God, teach me to love thee. O my God, what wouldst thou have me do? Lord, teach me wisdom. My God, I love thee, and I love thee with all my heart. Holy Mary, Mother of God, be a mother to me. Mother of Christ, I take you for my mother. Mother of divine grace, make me your child. During the course of the day make these short ejaculations, and especially when tempted. Do you wish not to sin? Prepare yourselves for temptations, watch, fly, pray. Watch over your mind, over your heart, over your senses; set a guard upon your eyes and upon your ears, |