Manual of the Sisters of charity/Morning Prayers
DEVOTIONS
BEFORE
MORNING PRAYERS.
The following are the Community Exercises.
(They can be used to advantage by others.)
At this time, each one is at liberty to follow the inclination of her own peculiar turn of piety; yet, these little devotions may be useful and suggestive.
At the first sound of the bell, which is for you the voice of God, prostrate yourself in spirit before the tabernacle, make the sign of the Cross, recall to mind the subject of the meditation and say:
JESUS, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul! Good Jesus, take me into Thy Sacred Heart; suffer me to dwell therein. All for Thee, O my God! All in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for Thy greater honor and most pure love!
When taking Holy Water:
WASH me, O my Jesus! in Thy own precious blood, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Purify my soul from every stain of sin.
Or:
Blood of Jesus, wash me! Water from the side of Jesus, purify me, that I may be prepared to dwell in His adorable heart!
When putting on your shoes:
GRANT, O my God! that every step I take, this day and throughout my life, may be guided by Thy will and bring me nearer to Thee!
Whilst dressing:
CLOTHE me, O my God! with the mantle of innocence and the robe of charity. Permit not that I appear stripped of good works, before Thy face.
Putting on the habit, kiss it with affection and say:
I AM unworthy, O my Jesus! to be clothed in the livery of Thy spouses; yet, give me the grace to wear it faithfully until death, and grant that the sentiments of my heart may be worthy of Thee and of my vocation.
Kneeling by the bedside:
O MY God, I cast myself humbly in adoration before Thee. I thank Thee for having preserved me during the night, for giving me another day to love, praise and serve Thee. I offer to Thee my whole being: my soul with all its powers; my heart with all its affections and inclinations; my mind with all its faculties; all my thoughts, words and actions, in union with the adorable Heart of Jesus, and with the intention of gaining whatever indulgences may be attached to them. Grant me wisdom, prudence and love, that I may do all Thou requirest of me, and offer no obstacle to Thy grace. Bestow upon me and every member of the Community, a spirit of union and charity, that we may all live and die in Thy holy love. My beloved Mother, my Angel guardian, St. Joseph, St. Vincent, aid and guard me until the hour of my death.
Going down stairs:
O MY Jesus! deign to descend into my heart, by Thy grace, and dwell therein forever.
Or:
Grant, my Jesus! that I may descend deeply into my own heart, discern my weakness and learn to trust in Thee. Amen.
During the little visit to the Blessed Sacrament, which may be made before prayers, or whilst waiting for Mass, the following prayers may be said:
A Prayer of Union with Jesus in all our Actions.
WHATEVER I do, I will do under the auspices of Jesus. When I visit, Jesus will be before my eyes. When I walk, Jesus will be my companion. When I sit down, Jesus will be by my side. When I study, Jesus will teach me. When I teach, Jesus will direct me. When I read, Jesus will give me light and understanding. When I write, Jesus will guide my pen and my hand. When I pray, Jesus will form and animate my words. When I hunger or thirst, Jesus will feed and give me to drink. When I am sick, Jesus, my love, will be my physician. And when I die, I will die with Jesus; Jesus will close my eyes, the bosom of Jesus will be my tomb. Amen.
A Prayer of Submission and Confidence.
LORD, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee. Thou alone knowest what I want; Thou lovest me better than I can love myself. O Father, give to Thy child that which she knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I only present myself before Thee; I lay open to Thee my heart; behold my necessities, and act according to Thy mercies; strike or cure, raise up or cast down; I adore Thy divine will without knowing it. I hold my peace; I sacrifice and abandon myself to Thee; I have no other desire than to accomplish Thy divine will. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin.
Indulgence of 100 days, to be gained once a day by saying the following prayer, the Hail Mary and ejaculation morning and evening, to obtain the aid of the Blessed Virgin in temptations, especially those against chastity. When said for a month, a plenary indulgence may be gained on a day at option, by complying with the ordinary conditions.
MY Queen! my Mother! I give thee all myself; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day eyes, ears, mouth, heart, myself wholly, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as a thing of thine, thine own possession.
Ejaculation.
MY Queen! my Mother! remember that I am thine own. Keep me, guard me as a thing of thine, thine own possession.
For the last ejaculation alone, Indulgence of 40 days each time it is said by one who thus seeks the aid of the Blessed Virgin, when attacked by temptation.
Act of Resignation to the Holy Will of God.
O MY God! I do not know what will happen to me to-day; all that I know is, nothing can befall me which Thou hast not foreseen and ordained from all eternity; and, therefore, I am resigned to all. O my heavenly Father! I adore Thy eternal designs; I submit to them with all my heart. I offer to Thee the entire sacrifice of my own will, and I unite this sacrifice to that of Thy dear Son, my Saviour; and I beseech Thee, through His infinite merits, to grant me, in all my trials and afflictions, that unalterable patience and perfect submission which are due to all Thou dost will or permit. Amen.
Prayer for the Dying.
One hundred days' Indulgence each time. When recited three times a day, at distinct intervals, a Plenary Indulgence once a month, on the ordinary conditions.
MERCIFUL Jesus, Lover of souls! I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the woes of Thy Immaculate Mother, to cleanse in Thy blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and about to die this day. Amen.
Heart of Jesus, once in agony, pity the dying.
Act of Oblation.
One hundred days' Indulgence once a day; a Plenary Indulgence once a month, on the ordinary conditions ditions. (To gain these Indulgences, the prayer must be said before an image of the Sacred Heart.)
MY loving Jesus, I (N. N.) give Thee my heart; and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and as a reparation for all my unfaithfulness to grace; and with Thine aid, I purpose never to sin again.
For the Conversion of Sinners.
ENTERNAL Father! I offer Thee the merits of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the repentance of unbelievers, the uprooting of heresy, and the conversion of sinners.
Prayer for those Engaged in Teaching.
THOU, O Lord, art my patience and my strength; Thou art my light and my counsel; Thou subduest under me the little people whom Thou hast committed to my care. Oh! leave me not one moment to myself, but give me, for the instruction of others and for my own salvation, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety, and, above all, the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Amen.
Prayer for One who Attends the Sick.
GRANT, O my Jesus! that I may suffering members, committed to my care, and whilst, in Thy name, I minister to the wants of their bodies, strengthen and enlighten their souls. Restore them to health if they can thus labor more effectually for Thy honor and glory, or give them grace to suffer with profit and to die the death of the just. Amen.
Prayer to Prevent Sin.
O MOST holy Virgin, O Mary! offer to the eternal Father the precious blood of thy divine Son Jesus, for that efficacious grace which will prevent the commission of, at least, one mortal sin to-day, in some part of the world. Amen.
MORNING 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 more. Amen.
COME, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy divine love. Impress our minds with the respect and attention which we owe to the presence of our God, our Father, and our Judge, before Whom we presume to appear and to Whom we dare to offer up our prayers, whereas we are but dust and ashes.
An Act of Adoration.
O MY God! I adore Thee as my Creator and sovereign Lord; I am nothing before Thee, I depend on Thee, and submit myself entirely to Thee.
An act of Faith.
O MY God! I firmly believe all the sacred truths, the holy Catholic Church believes and teaches; because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
An Act of Hope.
O MY God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain, pardon for all my sins, the assistance of Thy grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ and by the intercession of His Blessed Mother and all the Saints,
An Act of Love.
O MY God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, purely because Thou art infinitely perfect and deserving of all love; I love also my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee; I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
An Act of Thanksgiving.
O MY God! I give Thee thanks for having created me, for having preserved me, for having redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy Son, for having made me a child of the holy Catholic Church, and generally for all the favors I have received from Thy infinite goodness.
Let us foresee the sins to which we are most subject, and make a firm resolution to avoid them. — (Here all pause for a while.)
An Act of Contrition.
MY conscience, O my God, still reproaches me with many weaknesses and infidelities; I repent sincerely of them in Thy presence and for Thy sake; and I resolve henceforward to be more diligent in shunning and correcting them. Strengthen, O Lord, my resolution and perfect in me what Thy grace has begun.
An Act of Offering.
O LORD, I offer up unto Thee my soul and body, my whole being, all my thoughts, words, actions and sufferings of this day. May all, O my God! be directed to Thy greater glory and to my salvation. Alas! this day shall perhaps be the last of my life; permit me not to be so unhappy as to abuse it.
Let us beg of God the graces we stand in need of to spend this day holily; and let us address to Him the prayer which He Himself has given us.
The Lord's Prayer.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
The Angelical Salutation.
HAIL, Mary full of grace! the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed.
I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Let us Pray.
LORD, God Almighty, Who hast granted us to come to the beginning of this day; preserve us by Thy powerful assistance from falling, during it, into any sin whatever, and grant that our discourse, our thoughts and our actions may tend to the practice of Thy righteousness: through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray for our Holy Father, the Pope, our Rt. Rev. Bishop, all the Pastors and Ministers of the Church, for those who govern us, and, generally, for all those for whom we are bound to pray.
LORD, God Almighty, Who art the Author of all good! grant, we beseech Thee, to us, and to all those for whom we pray to Thee, an increase of faith, hope and charity; and that we may obtain what Thou dost promise, make us love what Thou dost command.
O Holy Virgin, most worthy Mother of God, show thyself to be our Mother also, and prevail on Him to hear our prayers, "Who, for our redemption, vouchsafed to be born of thee.
And ye, O Blessed Spirits, to whose care we are committed, great Saints whose names we have the honor to bear; ye all, the elect and friends of God, vouchsafe to intercede for us at the throne of His divine Majesty, that He may establish our days and our actions in His holy peace, preserve us from all evil and lead us to eternal life; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Let us place ourselves in the presence of God. (A few moments of silence ensue, after which, all say aloud:)
I CONFESS to Almighty God, to the 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, Blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
May the Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord, grant us pardon, absolution and remission of all our sins.
Then all secretly invoke the Holy Ghost, and beg of Him the light, love and recollection to make a good meditation. After which the following prayer is said:
COME, O holy Spirit, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be regenerated.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us Pray.
O GOD, Who by the light of the Holy Ghost didst instruct the hearts of the Faithful; grant us, by the same holy Spirit, the love and relish of what is right and just, and the constant enjoyment of His comforts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Note. — Meditation is proposed and made, at the end of which the following prayers are said:
WE fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities; but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin!
O Angel of God, who art my guardian! and to whose care I am committed by the supreme clemency, enlighten, guard and direct me this day and every day, and at the hour of my death. Amen.
O JESUS, living in Mary! come and live in Thy servants, in the spirit of Thy sanctity, in the fulness of Thy power, in the perfection of Thy ways, in the truth of Thy virtues, in the communion of Thy mysteries, triumph over all adverse powers in Thy Holy Spirit, for the glory of Thy Father. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Repeat seven times.)
Hail Mary! &c.
The Angelus.
THE Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, &c.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord!
May it be done unto me according to Thy word!
Hail Mary, &c.
And the Word was made flesh! And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, &c.
Let us Pray.
POUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Regina Coeli.
(Said instead of the preceding from Holy Saturday at noon until Trinity Sunday.)
O HAPPY Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia!
The Son thou lovest, by heaven's choice, Alleluia!
From death is risen, as He did say, Alleluia!
To God for us, thy children pray. Alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
R. Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us Pray.
O GOD, Who, by the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, hast been pleased to fill the world with joy; grant, we beseech Thee, that, by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may receive the joys of eternal life; through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
May the divine assistance always remain with us. Amen.
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
For Protection against Fire.
WE fly to thy patronage, &c. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God;
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Blessed St. Vincent, our holy Founder! pray for us and protect us. Amen.