Another Prayer before the Holy Communion, omitted in the First Part, (p. 132.) (S. Thomas Aquinas.) The Translation taken chiefly from Sutton's Meditations. OMNI MNIPOTENT and merciful God, behold we unworthy sinners approach to the most Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; we come as the sick to the Physician, as the unclean to the Fountain of mercy, as the blind to the Light of eternal brightness, as poor and naked and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. We crave of thee the abundance of thine unbounded pity, to heal our infirmity, to wash our foulness, to enlighten our blindness, to enrich our poverty, to clothe our nakedness, that we may receive thee, the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and fear, with such faith and purity, with such a purpose and intention, as is expedient for the health of our souls. Give us, we beseech thee, O Lord and Father, not only to receive the Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood, but the virtue and substance of that Sacrament. And grant us, O most gracious God, so to receive the Body and Blood of thine only-begotten Son, that we may be incorporated into his mystical body, and be numbered amongst the members thereof. O most loving Father, grant us that thy dearlybeloved Son, whom we now desire on our earthly journey to receive, as it were covered with a veil, we may at length behold with open face in glory, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. A LITANY For occasional use when the General Litany is said in public, or on other occasions. [Compiled from various sources.] O GOD, the FATHER, of Heaven, Who didst wonderfully create the world out of nothing; Have mercy upon us. Who by thy power dost govern and uphold the heavens and the earth; Who art the eternal Fountain of all being; Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. O GOD, the SON, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Who didst vouchsafe to be born of the blessed Virgin; Who art the conqueror of sin and death; Have mercy upon us. O GOD, the HOLY GHOST, the Comforter, Have mercy upon us. Who art the author of all good gifts; Have mercy upon us. Who art the free dispenser of all grace; Have mercy upon us. O HOLY, BLESSED, and GLORIOUS TRINITY, THREE PERSONS and ONE GOD, ever worthy to be praised; Have mercy upon us. O HOLY, BLESSED, and GLORIOUS TRINITY, of equal glory and coeternal majesty, from whom, and by whom, and in whom, are all things; Have mercy upon us. O HOLY, BLESSED, and GLORIOUS TRINITY, to whom all Angels and Saints of heaven continually sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, Have mercy upon us. O THOU, Who hast made us in thine own image-who hast redeemed us by thine only Son-who hast called us by thine Holy Spirit; O Thou, who hast adopted us as given thine Angels charge over us us with all blessings; Have mercy upon us. thy children-who hast who hast encompassed Have mercy upon us. O Thou, who hast chosen us in thy Son before the creation of the world-who hast called us to the fellowship of thy Saints who hast prepared for us an eternal kingdom; Have mercy upon us. O THOU, Who to save sinners tookest upon thee the frail nature of man who didst fast for our sakes-who wast tempted like as we are, yet without sin; Have mercy upon us. O Thou, who for our redemption becamest obedient unto death, even the death of the cross-who by thy precious Blood hast cleansed us from all sin-who didst lay in the grave for our sakes; Have mercy upon us. O Thou, who didst overcome death, and rise from the dead-who hast ascended into heaven-who at the last dreadful day wilt come with glory to judge the world; Have mercy upon us. O THOU, By whom was wrought the mystery of our Saviour's Incarnation-who didst descend upon Jesus our Saviourwho wast sent down upon the Apostles; Have mercy upon us. O Thou, who convertest from all error-who dost regenerate our hearts-who dost enlighten our minds; Have mercy upon us. O Thou, who dost give strength to thy people-who sanctifiest the elect—who guidest thy Church unto all truth; Have mercy upon us. From all evil and sin, from thy'wrath, from the snares of the devil, from a spirit of uncleanness, from neglect of thy Holy Inspirations, thy Word, and Commandments; Good Lord, deliver us. Through the mystery of thy Holy Incarnation; through thy Nativity and Circumcision; through thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation; through thy Holy Life, and Labours, and Travels; by thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy Pains and Torments; by thy Precious Death and Burial; by thy Glorious Resurrection and Ascension; by thy Joys and Glory; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost; Lord Jesus, deliver us. From all heresies and schisms; from war and violence; from the workers of iniquity; from all perils and dangers; from sudden and everlasting death; and in the day of judgment; Good Lord, deliver us. We sinners beseech thee to hear us, O Lord: For thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church dispersed throughout the world; for all Bishops and Priests; for all Deacons and Ministers in Christ; and for the whole Congregation of the Faithful; that thou wouldest give to all a large portion of thy Holy Spirit, and withal a healing of every Schism, and peace and tranquillity for ever; We beseech thee to hear us. For Kings and Queens, and all that are in authority, especially all who bear rule over us, that they may be favourable to thy Holy Church, that so we may enjoy a quiet and peaceable life, and spend our days in all godliness and honesty ; We beseech thee to hear us. For this our country and nation, and for every other country and nation, and all that dwell therein, rightly professing the faith of Christ, that they may all be kept in peace and safety; We beseech thee to hear us. For our Bishop, that he may be preserved many years in peace and quietness, that he may faithfully discharge the duties of the High Priesthood committed to him, rightly dispensing, according to thy holy will, the Word of Truth; We beseech thee to hear us. For our Pastors, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy Holy Sacraments; We beseech thee to hear us. For all who bring forth good fruit in thy Holy Church, and are rich in good works, who are benefactors to thy Churches, and forget not the poor; that thou wouldest re |