Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/136

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conformable with my faith, that my faith may be animated by good works, that I may never be ashamed to declare myself a Catholic, and may constantly maintain the interests of thy holy religion.

O Church of Rome, the persecutions which thou hast endured, far from weakening my faith, do but strengthen it the more, since thy divine Spouse foretold them. I vow inviolable attachment to thee. Lord, draw close the bonds that bind me to thy holy Church; put into my heart a spirit of perfect obedience to its lawful pastors. In its bosom I became thy child, and in its bosom I wish to live and die. Amen.

AT THE OFFERTORY.

Matt. xi. 29.

LEARN of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. Alleluia.

The Priest offering up the Host, says:

ACCEPT, O holy Father, almighty and eternal God, this unspotted Host, which I thy unworthy servant offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my own innumerable sins, offences and negligences, and for all here present, as also for all faithful Christians both living and dead, that it may avail both me and them unto eternal life. Amen.

Putting the Wine and Water into the Chalice, he says:

O God! who, in creating human nature, didst wonderfully ennoble it. and afterwards more wonderfully reform it, grant that by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of his divine nature, who vouchsafed to become partaker