Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/87

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FOR DECEASED FRIENDS.
69

AT THE LAST GOSPEL.

MAY now the bright company of angels meet your souls, O departed servants of the Lord; may the crowd of Apostles receive you; may the triumphant army of glorious martyrs conduct you; and may a happy rest be your Portion in the company of the patriarchs. May Jesus Christ appear to you with a mild and cheerful countenance, and give you a place among those who are to be in his presence for ever.

May your God arise and put your enemies to flight. Let them vanish like smoke; and as wax before the fire, so let them perish. May all the reprobate of hell be filled with confusion and shame; but let the just and elect rejoice, and be happy in the presence of God, and may you be of that blessed number. May Christ Jesus himself rescue you from torments, who lovingly died for you. May the eternal Son of the living God place you in his garden of Paradise, and may he, the true Shepherd, own you for those of his flock; may he liberate you from confinement, and place you at his right hand in the inheritance of his elect. We pray that it may be your happy lot to behold your Redeemer face to face; to be for ever in his presence, in the vision of that truth which is the joy of the blessed : and, thus placed among those happy spirits, may you be for ever replenished with heavenly sweetness. Amen.

A PRAYER AFTER MASS.

AND now, O God! having recommended to thy mercy the souls of thy departed servants, grant we may ever remember that we are most certainly to follow them. Give us grace to prepare for our last hour by a good life, that so, death, however