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During the day, you will do well to use the instructions and prayers which you will find in this volume, for each day of the Season. In the Evening, you may use the following Prayers.

NIGHT PRAYERS.

After having made the sign of the Cross, let us adore that Sovereign Lord, who has so mercifully preserved us during this day, and blessed us, every hour, with his grace and protection. For this end, let us recite the following Hymn, which the Church sings in her Vespers of Passiontide:

HYMN.

The Standard of our King Vexilla Regis prodeunt; comes forth the mystery of Fulget Crucis mysterium,

Qua Vita mortem pertulit,
Et morte vitam protulit.

Quæ vulnerata lanceæ
Mucrone diro, criminum
Ut nos lavaret sordibus,
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quæ concinit
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus :
Regnavit a ligno Deus.
Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tan-
gere.

Beata cujus brachiis
Pretium pependit sæculi,
Statera facta corporis,
Tulitque prædam tartari.

O Crux, ave, spes unica, Hoc Passionis tempore, Piis adauge gratiam, Reisque dele crimina.

Te, fons salutis, Trinitas, Collaudet omnis spiritus : Quibus Crucis victoriam Largiris, adde præmium. Amen.

the Cross shines upon us,that Cross on which Life suffered death, and by his Death gave life.

He was pierced with the cruel Spear, that, by the Water and the Blood, which flowed from the wound, he might cleanse us from sin.

Here, on the Cross was fulfilled the prophecy foretold in David's truthful words: "God hath reigned from the Tree."

O fair and shining Tree! beautified by the scarlet of the King, and chosen as the noble trunk that was to touch such sacred limbs !

O blessed Tree! on whose arms hung the ransom of the world! It was the balance, wherein was placed the Body of Jesus, and thereby hell lost its prey.

Hail, O Cross! our only hope! During these days of the Passion, increase to the good their grace, and cleanse sinners from their guilt.

May every spirit praise thee, O Holy Trinity, thou Fount of Salvation! and by the Cross, whereby thou gavest us victory, give us, too, our recompense. Amen.

After this Hymn, say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed, as in the Morning.

Then, make the Examination of Conscience, going over in your mind all the faults you have committed during the day. Think, how great is the obstacle put by sin to the merciful designs your God would work in you; and make a firm resolution to avoid it for the time to come, to do penance for it, and to shun the occasions which might again lead you into it.

The Examination of Conscience concluded, recite the Confiteor (or I confess) with heartfelt contrition, and then give expression to your sorrow by the following Act, which we have taken from the Venerable Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism:

ACT OF CONTRITION.

O my God, I am exceedingly grieved for having offended thee, and with my whole heart I repent for the sins I have committed: I hate and abhor them above every other evil, not only because, by so sinning, I have lost Heaven and deserve Hell, but still more because I have offended thee, O infinite Goodness, who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin.

You may then add the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the recitation of which Pope Benedict the Fourteenth has granted an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each time.

ACT OF FAITH.

O my God, I firmly believe whatsoever the Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church requires me to believe I believe, it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the. very Truth.

ACT OF HOPE.

O my God, knowing thy almighty power, and thy infinite goodness and mercy, I hope in thee that, by the merits of the Passion and Death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, thou wilt grant me eternal life, which thou hast promised to all such as shall do the works of a good Christian; and these I resolve to do, with the help of thy grace.

ACT OF CHARITY.

O my God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the sovereign Good: I would rather lose all things than offend thee. For thy love also, I love and desire to love my neighbour as myself.

PASSIONTIDE.

D

Then say to our Blessed Lady the following Anthem, which the Church uses from the Feast of the Purification to Easter:

ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Ave Regina cœlorum, Ave Domina Angelorum : Salve radix, salve porta,

Ex qua mundo lux est orta;
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa :
Vale, O valde decora,

Et pro nobis Christum exora.

V. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.

B. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.

Hail Queen of Heaven! Hail Queen of Angels! Hail blest Root and Gate, from which came Light upon the world! Rejoice, O glorious Virgin, that surpassest all in beauty! Hail, most lovely Queen! and pray to Christ for

us.

V. Vouchsafe, O Holy Virgin, that I may praise thee. B. Give me power against thine enemies.

OREMUS.

Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostræ præsidium: ut, qui sanctæ Dei Genitricis memoriam agimus, intercessionis ejus auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

LET US PRAY.

Grant, O merciful God, thy protection to us in our weakness; that we who celebrate the memory of the Holy Mother of God, may, through the aid of her intercession, rise again from our sins. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

You would do well to add the Stabat Mater, which is given further on, for Friday in Passion Week.

Here invoke the Holy Angels, whose protection is, indeed, always so much needed by us, but never so much as during the hours of night. Say with the Church:

Sancti Angeli, custodes nostri, defendite nos in prælio, ut non pereamus in tremendo judicio.

Holy Angels, our loving Guardians, defend us in the hour of battle, that we may not be lost at the dreadful judgment.

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Then beg the assistance of the Saints by the following antiphon:

ANT. All ye saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for us and for all men, that we may be saved.

ANT. Sancti Dei omnes, intercedere dignemini pro nostra omniumque salute.

And here you may add a special mention of the Saints to whom you bear a particular devotion, either as your Patrons or otherwise; as also of those whose feast is kept in the Church that day, or at least who have been commemorated in the Divine Office.

This done, remember the necessities of the Church Suffering, and beg of God that he will give to the souls in Purgatory a place of refreshment, light, and peace. For this intention recite the usual prayers.

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