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FOR DECEASED FRIENDS.
63

AT THE CANON.

WE recommend to thee, O Lord! the souls of thy servants N. N., and as, in mercy to them, thou didst become man, so now vouchsafe to admit them into the number of the blessed. Remember, O Lord! that the souls for whom we pray are thy creatures, not made by strange gods, but by thee the only true and living God, for there is no other God but thee; none that can work wonders like unto thine.

Let their souls find comfort and mercy in thy sight, and remember not their former sins, nor any of those faults they may have fallen into through human frailty, or the violence of temptation; for though they sinned, they still retained a true faith in thee, O holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and a lively zeal for thy honour; they faithfully adored, and died in favour with thee, O divine Lord, as well as in peace and charity with thy church.

Remember not, O Lord! we beseech thee, the sins and ignorance of their youth, but, according to thy great mercy, be mindful of them in thy glory. May the heavens be now opened to receive them. May the Archangel St. Michael, chief of the heavenly host, conduct them. May the holy angels of God meet and accompany them into the city of the heavenly Jerusalem. May blessed Peter the Apostle, to whom were given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, receive them. May holy Paul the Apostle, who was a vessel of election, help them. May St. John the beloved Disciple, to whom God revealed the secrets of heaven, intercede for them. May all the holy Apostles, to whom was given the power of binding and loosing, pray for them. May all the blessed and chosen servants of God intercede for them,