to God is maintained in the unity of God's Gift to the Church. In giving us to eat of the one Bread, and to drink of the one Cup, He recognises us individually as belonging to the Mystical Body, He places us in closest communion with the whole Church militant and at rest.

We communicate with one another in reception, as we did previously in oblation.

IN brotherly kindness and perfect charity

to be in communion with the Body of Christ as well as with Himself and Thee. Away with all irritation and anger! May I be perfectly reconIciled with my brethren before I come to offer my gift. May this communion be a seal of my acceptance in the Body of Christ, an assurance of my place in the blessed company of the faithful.

And for the whole of this awful privilege of access to the majesty of God-for the first part, wherein we present ourselves in contribution to the memorial made to the Father of His Son-and for the second part, wherein God gives us the very Body and Blood of Christ our Lord-for all, we must prepare ourselves individually by cleansing ourselves diligently from all taint of unrepented and unforgiven sin and uncharitableness, which would mar our offering, and would render us absolutely unworthy to receive the Gift of God.

O

LORD our heavenly Father, I bow down myself before Thy throne to acknowledge my utter, but not hopeless, unworthiness of this double honour. I know

that every sacrifice must be without blemish. I come to Thee now to pray and beseech Thee to cleanse me, to heal me, to perfect me to be without blemish of uncleanness and sin. I know that none must come to Thy festival except in the wedding garment of a conscience cleared and quiet. I come Thee now for pardon, and absolution, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

to

I solemnly plead His Death and Passion, His Atonement for the sins of the whole world, as the universal sin-offering, without which I dare not appear before Thee with my offering of thanksgiving. I beseech Thee now to accept me as ransomed by His life; to see Him in me crucified and dead unto sin: and then, O Father, do Thou so conform me to His image by the Gift of His Body and Blood, that Thou mayest see Him in me offering Himself acceptably to do Thy will, O God.

Let a man examine himself before he dare approach this crowning act of earthly worship. And if he cannot quiet his own conscience, let him go privately to the priest for help.

HELP me now, O God, to search out the

leaven of malice and wickedness in my heart, and speech, and deeds.

Grant me the bright light of Thy Holy Spirit to pierce through all veils and excuses. Give me courage to drag out all that is offensive, to lay it down under the Cross of the Lord.

I beseech God the Holy Ghost to purify me wholly. It seems impossible. But with God all things are possible-even this! Show forth Thy almighty power, O God, and give

me purity and peace, that I may be worthy to be offered! worthy to receive my God! Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.'

Preparatory Prayers.

No. I.

GOD, I kneel before Thee to entreat Thy special help to prepare myself for this greatest privilege of the regenerate man. I pray that Thy Holy Spirit may guide and strengthen me to examine myself-whether I repent me truly of my former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life-whether I have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His Death-and whether I am in charity with all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.2

No. 2.

A hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness, Who art the true and living Bread that came down from heaven, in the strength whereof we must go all the days of our life through the wilderness of the world, until we come to the mount of God; I acknowledge that I can do no good thing of myself, that I cannot come to Thee except Thou draw me. I beseech Thee, that as Thou hast given me a good will, so Thou wouldst enable

For matter of fuller Meditation on the Holy Eucharist, the reader is referred to the author's work on "The Catholic Sacrifice."

2 For devotions of Self-Examination and Confession, see p. 28, etc.

me to perform it. Let me come near to Thee, O Blessed Lord, in these Mysteries. Grant me so to receive Thy dear Son that everything impure in me may be cleansed, everything weak strengthened; and that, dedicating myself wholly to Thee, I may turn away mine eyes from all vanities, and be quickened in Thy holy obedience. So that, pleasing Thee both in body and soul, I may attain to the exceeding great and eternal reward which Thou dost promise me in Thyself. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

No. 3.

ALMIGHTY Lord Jesus Christ, who hast

of Thine infinite mercy vouchsafed to ordain this perpetual memorial of Thyself; grant me with such diligent remembrance and due reverence to assist in the holy celebration of so heavenly and wonderful a Mystery, that I may be made worthy by Thy grace to receive all that Thou givest herein, even the fulness of Thy Body and Blood. And this I beg only from Thy mercy, Who art my Saviour, and Redeemer, and most gracious God, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Acts of Penitence.

No. I.

LORD my Saviour, Who wast pleased to be made perfect through suffering, and for our sakes didst taste the depths of bitterness, and make trial of extreme human woe; I adore Thy infinite love and compassion, which brought Thee to such unutterable sufferings for us most guilty sinners. For me didst Thou suffer the

agony in the garden, when Thy soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, and Thy sweat was as great drops of blood. For me didst Thou endure the odious kiss of the traitor, and the forsaking of Thy chosen disciples.

For me wast Thou falsely accused, and unjustly condemned. For me wast Thou mocked, and struck, and spit upon. For me didst Thou wear the sharp crown of piercing thorns. For me was Thy sacred flesh mangled with the scourge. For me didst Thou go forth bearing the Cross, until Thou didst sink under the load.

For me didst Thou hang in mortal agony upon the Cross, the nails rending Thy sacred hands and feet.

For me didst Thou endure the terrible hiding of Thy Father's Face, the awful death-struggle, the parting asunder of Soul and Body.

O Lord our God and Saviour, Who didst so love me in Thy perfect love, kindle in my heart a spark of like love and self-devotion. Make me

glad to be made like unto Thee, if it be Thy will, by sharing in Thy suffering and walking in Thy path of pain. And make me willing to bear all things gladly for Thy sake, Who now reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O

No. 2 (for Lent).

MOST holy Lord Jesus, Who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights, and didst teach us that fasting hath great power with God, I humbly implore Thy acceptance of my humiliation during these forty days.

O Lord, I desire to keep this season in honour of Thee, in imitation of Thy Saints, in obedience to Thy Church. I desire to employ