AN ACT OF SELF-EXAMINATION. H AVE I penitence, grief, shame, pain, Do I pray, if not seven times, as David, If not on the ground, and in ashes, If not in sackcloth, at least not in purple and fine linen? Do I give, if not, as Zaccheus, four-fold, If not as the rich, yet as the widow? If not the half, AN ACT OF ADORATION. GOD the Father, of Heaven, Who didst marvellously create the world. out of nothing; Who governest and sustainest Heaven and earth with Thy power. Who, for our sakes, didst give Thine O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Who didst deign to be born of the Virgin; Who didst wash us from our sins in Thy precious blood; Who rising from the dead didst ascend as Conqueror into Heaven. O God the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Who in the form of a dove didst descend upon Jesus; Who didst appear coming upon the Apostles like tongues of fire; Who visitest and confirmest with Thy grace the hearts of Thy saints. O Holy, Supreme, Eternal, Blessed, ever laudable, yet ever ineffable; Whose Majesty is unspeakable, Thou, who art Lord of both quick and dead, Whose are we whom this present world yet retaineth in the flesh, Whose are they also whom, having put off the body, the life to come hath already received, give to the quick mercy and grace; give to the dead rest and eternal light; give to Thy Church truth and peace; and to us sinners penitence and pardon. BEFORE A JOURNEY. PRO ROSPER Thou my journey this day. me not up hence. Thou, Who didst guide Abraham's servant by an Angel, the wise men by a star; Who didst preserve Peter in the waves, be present with me, O Lord, and dispose my way go with me, and lead me out, and lead me back. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; away from me, ye wicked; I will keep the commandments of my God. |