SECTION IX.

Evening Prayers.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now, and for ever. Amen.

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. I believe in God, &c.

ACTS OF ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING.

Eternal God, who, dwelling in the highest heavens, dost vouchsafe to regard the lowest creatures upon earth, I humbly bow down before Thy sacred presence, and adore Thy majesty. Thou art my Creator, O my God, and beneficent protector. Thou art my first beginning and my last end; under the shadow of Thy wings is perpetual repose, and from the light of Thy countenance flow perpetual joy and felicity. To Thee be honour and glory, to Thee adoration and obedience from all Thy creatures. And now, O most gracious and bountiful Lord, with my whole strength, and with all the faculties of my soul, I thank Thee for

Thy great and innumerable benefits, which proceed purely from Thy bounty, and are directed entirely for my good, particularly for preserving me this day amidst so many dangers, and for delivering me from those evils and miseries, which I have merited by my sins.

Ask light and grace for discovering and detesting your Sins.

O sweet and merciful Jesus, true and never-failing light, illuminating every man who comes into this world; vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to enlighten my understanding, and to inflame my heart, that I may know my sins, and conceive a lively sorrow and purpose of amend

ment.

Here examine diligently what sins you have committed during the day, by thought, word, deed, or omission. Afterwards say:

I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my

fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, the blessed Michael the Archangel, the blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION.

O eternal God, my most loving and merciful Father! I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy servant, much less to be accounted Thy child, having repaid Thy bounty with contempt, and Thy benefits with ingratitude. Oh how could I, who am the work of Thy hands, and who was purchased by the blood of Thy divine Son, who expired on the Cross for my salvation; how could I dare rebel against Thee, and offend Thy infinite Majesty. Alas! it is dreadful to provoke the wrath of the living God! But what chiefly grieves my heart is, that I have offended against a God of infinite goodness, who is worthy of all my love. How shall I, O Lord, express my detestation of all the crimes I have committed ? Have pity on me, O merciful Lord, and spare me for the sake

of Thy beloved Son. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities. Forgive, O Lord! forgive, and bear not the sins of my past life in remembrance. Look upon me, O my God! not in Thine anger, but according to the tender bowels of Thine infinite mercy, for Thou art our Father, and we are Thy children; Thou art our Maker, and we are all as clay in Thy hands. Thou canst cleanse all our defilement with those waters which flow from the fountains of Thy beloved Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and with one drop of His blood Thou canst mould us again into vessels of honour. From Thee, O merciful Father, I beg, and hope for pardon; upon Thee I call, and to Thee I trust for help, whereby I may hereafter constantly serve Thee, with a true and faithful obedience, and be inseparably united to Thee with a pure and perfect love, for ever. Amen.

AN ACT OF PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT.

O Almighty and eternal God, I would from the bottom of my heart, that I had never sinned against Thee; but since I have been so unhappy as to sin against

Thy infinite Majesty, O grant me now Thy grace, that I may never do so again; Thou hast said, "I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live;" convert me, then, and save my soul. "Have mercy on me, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquities. I abhor and detest all my sins, and firmly purpose to walk henceforth in the path of holiness and justice. Accept, O Lord, of this my resolution, and grant that by the help of Thy holy grace, and through the infinite merits of thine only Son our Lord Jesus Christ, I may keep it faithfully during the whole course of my life. O most gracious and bountiful Lord, Thou hast ordained the day for labour, and the night for us to take our rest; I praise Thee for the blessings of this past day, and I beseech Thee to protect me during this night. Look upon me with a merciful eye, and let Thy holy angels keep their watch over me, that, being safely delivered from all dangers, I may be enabled to perform so faithfully the duties of my state, that having passed my days in Thy holy service and love, I may end them in Thy favour, and reign