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Receive, therefore, I beseech thee, the sacrifice which I make to thee of the remainder of my life. Instead of so many years already past, receive, I entreat thee, the repentance, the confusion, the mourning and sighs of a contrite heart, and the sincere desires of doing penance; accept and strengthen my firm purpose and resolution of profiting by my sickness, and of consecrating my health to thee. Never permit me to forget the danger from which I have escaped. And like the leper mentioned in the gospel, who returned to bless his deliverer, I will humble myself at thy feet, and whilst I gratefully thank thee, I will offer to thee the remainder of my life. Grant, O Lord, that it may be only employed for thee; and having spent the years of my banishment in thy service, I may possess thee for ever in thy glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ In Honour of our Angel-Guardian.

O God, who hast appointed one of thy holy angels to be my spiritual guardian, and hast committed me to the care of this heavenly spirit that he may continually watch over me, intercede for me, and defend me, what thanks ought I not to give thee for this signal instance of thy love! I regret that I have been so little attentive to his holy inspirations, and confess that I am indebted to him for my safety in many dangerous temptations. May he then redouble his watchfulness and pious care. And I resolve, most holy spirit, through God, to become thy obedient disciple, and by his divine grace to walk constantly as thou shalt vouchsafe to direct me. I resolve, in all my thoughts, words, and actions, to be continually mindful of thy holy presence; and I resolve, in imitation of thee, to discharge all the duties of my state with attention to God, and an ardent desire

of pleasing him. Pray for me incessantly, and obtain, that under the eyes of that infinitely pure Being I may have a horror of every thing contrary to purity. Assist me to become fervent in prayer, that ascending like a sweet perfume, my supplications may be presented by thee before the throne of the Almighty; and at the hour of my death, let my soul be conducted by thee into his sacred presence, that I may have the happiness of being added to the number of the blessed for all eternity, through thy intercession, and the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ In Honour of the Patron Saint of the Place where we dwell.

O LORD, who by an effect of thy singular bounty towards the inhabitants of this place, hast given us St. N. as a special patron, vouchsafe to accept the most humble thanks we can offer to thee for so great an act of thy tender charity : and in consideration of that favour which he enjoys with thee, and his earnest intercessions for us, preserve us from all misfortunes and accidents, and especially from all sin. Grant that peace and charity may reign among those who inhabit this place, and that faith and piety may daily increase among them. And thou, great saint, vouchsafe to make us every day experience the powerful effects of thy protection, and after procuring for us from our Lord the grace of leading a truly christian life, obtain for us the special grace of dying a holy death, thro' the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.

40

THE

COLLECTS, EPISTLES, AND GOSPELS,

TO BE USED ON SUNDAYS AND THE PRINCIPAL

FEASTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

The first Sunday in Advent.*

The Collect.

EXERT, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power, and come: that by thy protection we may be freed from the imminent dangers of our sins, and be saved by thy mercy, who liveth and reigneth, &c,

The Epistle. Rom. xiii. 11.44.

Brethren: Know ye that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness: not in chambering and impurities: not in contention and envy : but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel. Luke xxi. 25. 33.

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves, men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of the heavens

* The four weeks immediately preceding the nativity of our Lord are called ADVENT; because the Church in her public prayers and instructions, is wholly engaged in reminding the faithful of the coming of God, our Redeemer in the flesh.

shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and Majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand. And he spoke to them a similitude: See the fig-tree and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know the summer is nigh; so likewise when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, my word shall not pass away.

but

The second Sunday in Advent.
The Collect.

EXCITE, O Lord, our hearts to prepare the ways of thy only begotten Son: that by his coming we may be enabled to serve thee with pure minds. Who liveth.

The Epistle. Rom. xv. 4, 13.

Brethren: What things soever have been written were written for our instruction, that by patience and the comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ; that with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also has received you to the honour of God. For I say that Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the Fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written : "Therefore I will confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name." And again :

the same prophet saith: "Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people." And again: "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and magnify him all ye people." And again Isaiah saith: "There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel. Matt. xi. 2. 10.

At that time: When John had heard in prison' the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or do we look for another? And Jesus making answer, said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitude, concerning John: What went you out into the desart to see.? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man cloathed in soft garments? Behold, they that are cloathed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A Prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than a Prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: "Behold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."

The third Sunday in Advent.

The Collect.

INCLINE thine ear, O Lord, we beseech thee, to our prayers, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation. Who livest.

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