PRAYER.
O LORD ! finish in me the work thou hast begun. Aid me in fulfilling the good resolutions which thou hast inspired ; for without thee I can do nothing. O holy Virgin! powerful help of Christians! obtain for me the grace to accomplish what I have resolved, for the honor of thy divine Son. Amen.
DEVOTION OF BONA MORS.
THERE is no grace which a Christian should value more, or which he should more fervently ask of God than that of a happy death. An excellent means of securing this happiness is, to honor the agony of Jesus expiring on the cross, and the martyrdom of his holy Mother on that tragic occasion ; and with a view to spread this devotion among the faithful, Father Vincent Caraffa, general of the Society of Jesus, formed an association at Rome in 1648, which derived its name from the agony of our Lord Jesus Christ expiring on Calvary, but is commonly called the association of Bona Mors. It has been approved by the Sovereign Pontiff, and enriched with many spiritual favors. See Indulgences, No. XXXVIII.
Those who wish to join this association must give in their names to the person who keeps the register.
The rules, which all are to observe, are as follows: 1. Every one is to say daily, three times, Our Father, and Hail Mary, in memory of the three hours our blessed Redeemer hung upon the cross, with the intention of obtaining for themselves, and others of the congregation, a happy death. Likewise they shall say, every day, not only for themselves, but also for those at that time in their agonies, or who shall be next under that dreadful trial: Lord! into thy hands I recommend my spirit, and recommend all agonizing souls. -- Mary, Mather of Grace, Mother of Mercy, defend us from the enemy, and receive us at the hour of death. Amen.
2. The Associates (if they can, without great inconvenience) are to frequent the holy communion once every month; that they may be enriched with a plenary indul-
