The Catholic's pocket prayer-book/Prayers at Mass (another formula)
Prayers at Mass.
Another Formula.
A Prayer before Mass.
O merciful Father, who didst so love the world as to give up for our redemption, Thy beloved Son; who in obedience to Thee, and for us sinners, humbled Himself even unto the death of the cross; and continues to offer Himself daily by the ministry of His Priests, for the living and the dead—we humbly beseech Thee that penetrated with a lively faith, we may always assist, with the utmost devotion and reverence, at the oblation of His most precious body and blood, which is made at Mass; and thereby be made partakers of the sacrifice which He offered for us on Calvary.
In union with Thy Holy Church and its Minister, and invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the Angels and Saints, we now offer the adorable sacrifice of the Mass to Thy honor and glory, to acknowledge Thy infinite perfections, Thy supreme dominion over all Thy creatures, our entire subjection to Thee, and total dependence on Thy gracious providence; and in thanksgiving for all Thy benefits; and for the remission of our sins.
We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic faith; for our most holy Father the Pope; for our Archbishop (or Bishop) and for all the Pastors and Clergy of Thy Holy Church, that they may direct the faithful in the way of salvation; for the President, and for all that are in high stations, that we may lead quiet and holy lives—for peace and goodwill among all states and people—for the necessities of mankind—and particularly for the congregation here present; to obtain all blessings we stand in need of, in this life, everlasting happiness in the next—and eternal rest to the faithful departed.
And as Jesus Christ so ordained, when He instituted at His last supper this wonderful mystery of His power, wisdom, and goodness, we offer the Mass, in grateful remembrance of all He has done and suffered for the love of us; making special commemoration of His bitter Passion and Death, and of His glorious Resurrection, and Ascension into Heaven. Vouchsafe, O Almighty, and Eternal God (for to Thee alone so great a sacrifice is due), graciously to accept it, for these and all other purposes agreeable to Thy holy will. And to render it the more pleasing, we offer it to Thee through the same Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour; our high priest and Victim: and in the name of the most Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom be honor, praise, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE BEGINNING OF MASS.
✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
It is in Thy name, O Adorable Trinity! it is to honor Thee, and to do Thee homage, that I assist at this most holy and august sacrifice. Permit me, then, O Lord, to unite my intention with that of Thy minister, in offering up this precious victim; and give me the sentiments I ought to have had on Mount Calvary, had I been a witness of that bloody sacrifice.
At the Confiteor, say:
I confess to Almighty God, etc., or,
I confess, O my God, not only in Thy presence, who seest the secrets of hearts, but in the presence of all the blessed in heaven, and the faithful on earth, that I have often and grievously offended Thee, by thought, word, deed, and omission. Yes, Lord, I have sinned; I acknowledge it to my shame, and with the most bitter regret; I have abused all Thy gifts; and therefore I humbly beseech thee, O Blessed Virgin Mary, and all ye Saints and Angels, to intercede for me: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to listen to them; grant to the ardor of their prayers, what Thou mayest justly refuse to the coldness of mine, and to their services, that pardon to which my offences can have no claim.
When the Priest is going up the Altar.
Unite, O Lord, our hearts and wills, and remove from us everything that may any way make us unfit for appearing in Thy sanctuary. Of ourselves we are unworthy to appear in Thy presence, therefore we implore the intercession of the Saints in our behalf. Grant to their prayers the pardon of all our sins: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Introit.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be truly prepared for the offering of this great sacrifice to Thee, this day. Our sins alone can render us displeasing to Thee, we therefore call aloud to Thee for mercy.
At the Kyrie Eleison.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, and forgive us all our sins; and though we have nothing of our own to move Thy goodness, let our importunity prevail: have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
At the Gloria in Excelsis.
Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth to men of good-will. We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we give Thee thanks for Thy great glory, O Lord God, O Heavenly King; O God, the Father Almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. O Lord God; O Lamb of God; O Son of the Father; O Thou who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us: O Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayers. O Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou alone art holy; Thou alone art Lord; Thou alone art most high, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
At the Dominus Vobiscum.
Be Thou always with us, O my God, and let Thy grace never depart from us.
At the Collect.
Almighty and eternal God, we humbly beseech Thee to look down upon this congregation from Thy heavenly sanctuary, and graciously hear these prayers, which Thy Church addresses to Thee for us, by the ministry of Thy Priest.
Grant us, in Thy infinite mercy, pardon of our sins; health of mind and body; peace in our days; unity and increase of Catholic faith; fervent charity; sincere devotion; patience in suffering, and everything which leads to Thy glory, and our own salvation: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Epistle.
O eternal God, who never ceasest to excite us to the worship and love of Thy holy name, or to arm us against the attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil, by the public ministry of Thy Church, by the doctrine of Thy Prophets and Apostles, and by many other holy admonitions, grant that we may faithfully attend to these lessons of salvation, that thus our knowledge of Thy law may never rise in judgment against us, but guide us securely to Thee, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Gospel.
It is not Thy interpreters, O God, who are now to instruct me; it is Thy only Son; it is His word I am about to hear. I most gratefully embrace this heavenly doctrine. I stand up to declare, in the face of heaven and earth, that I will walk faithfully in that way which He hath marked out for me. He tells me: That it will avail a man nothing to gain the whole world if he lose his own soul; that the sensual, the covetous, the worldling, the libertine, the detractor, and such as are insensible to the miseries of the poor, shall have no share in His heavenly kingdom; and that, in order to become His disciple, I must take up my cross and follow Him. I receive, with my whole heart, all these sacred maxims. Grant me the grace to put them in practice; for to what purpose should I declare myself Thy disciple if I were not to live according to the maxims of Thy gospel?
The Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and[1] became incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He is to come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who, together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified; who spoke by the Prophets. And one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins; and I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
At the Offertory.
O holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, how unworthy soever I may appear in Thy presence, yet I presume to offer Thee this Host, by the hands of the Priest, with the same intention which Christ my Saviour had when He instituted this august sacrifice; and which He now has at this very instant that He immolates Himself for us. I offer it in expiation of my crimes; in thanksgiving for all Thy infinite goodness, for my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies, all those precious gifts and graces which only through Him can be obtained who is just by excellence, and who became a victim for the sins of men. Remember also, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed; and grant them, through the merits of Thy Son, eternal light and peace. Have mercy upon all heretics, infidels, and sinners; bless and preserve all my enemies; and, as I freely forgive them the injuries they have done or mean to do me, so do Thou, in Thy mercy, forgive me my offences. Amen.
At the Lavabo.
Thou, O Lord, who once didst vouchsafe to wash the feet of Thy disciples, before their invitation to Thy holy table, wash us also, we beseech Thee, O Lord: and wash us again, not only our feet and hands, but our hearts, our desires, and our souls, that we may be wholly innocent and pure.
The Priest goes to the middle of the Altar.
O most holy and adorable Trinity, vouchsafe to receive this our sacrifice in remembrance of our Saviour's Passion, Resurrection, and glorious Ascension; and grant that we may die with Him to our sins, rise with Him to a new life, and ascend with Him to Thee. Let those Saints, whose memory we celebrate on earth, remember us before Thy throne in heaven, and obtain mercy for us: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Orate Fratres.
May the Lord receive this sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of His own name, for our benefit and that of all His holy Church.
At the Secreta.
Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and graciously accept this oblation which we, Thy servants, are making to Thee; that as we offer it to the honor of Thy name, so it may be to us here a means of obtaining Thy grace, and in the next life everlasting happiness.
At the Preface.
Do Thou, Thyself, O Lord, raise up my heart; inflame it with Thy love, and free it from all earthly affections; let it rest in Heaven, where Thou, my treasure, art, and on this altar also, where Thou art going to present Thyself to the Eternal Father for our sake. As my life, O Lord, is a continual succession of Thy favors, let my thanksgiving be also uninterrupted. And since Thou art going to renew the greatest of all sacrifices, should not I also break forth into the most lively acknowledgments?
Permit me then, O Lord, to join my feeble voice with the host or heavenly spirits; and to exclaim with them, in transports of joy and admiration, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, the Heavens and the Earth are filled with Thy glory. Blessed be He who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."
At the Canon.
O father of Mercy, graciously receive this most holy sacrifice, which we offer to Thee by the hands of Thy Priest, in union with that which Thy beloved Son offered to Thee during His whole life, at His Last Supper, and on the Cross. Look down on Thy Christ, Thy dearest and only begotten Son, "in whom Thou art always well pleased;" and by the infinite merits of His incarnation, nativity, tears, labors, sufferings, and death, have mercy upon me, and upon all those for whom I ought to pray [here mention the particular persons]—my parents, relations, brethren, friends, benefactors, and those who have injured me, or whom I may have injured. I also beseech Thee to guard, prosper, and extend the Holy Catholic Church; to pour down Thy blessings on our Chief Pastor the Pope, upon the Bishops and all the Clergy; enlighten and guide them in the way of salvation. Bless and preserve our government, and our fellow-citizens. Look down upon us all, I beseech Thee, O Lord, with eyes of mercy and compassion.
Bring us all to the perfect practice of a holy and virtuous life here, and to the possession of Thy eternal glory hereafter. May we all know Thee; may we all please Thee perfectly; may we all love and glorify Thee, through the same Jesus Christ, who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
Before the Consecration.
Why have not I, O God, at this moment, the ardent sighs with which the holy Patriarchs wished for the Messias? Why have I not their faith, and their love? Come, Lord Jesus! come, sweet Redeemer of the world, to accomplish a mystery which is an abridgment of all Thy other miracles.
Thou art the true Pastor of our souls, who didst lay down Thy life for Thy flock! Thou art the Lamb of God, who didst die upon the Cross to save us! Prostrate in spirit before Thee, I desire to praise and bless Thee, both now and forever. Amen.
At the Elevation of the Sacred Host.
Hail, Victim of Salvation! Eternal King! Incarnate Word! sacrificed for me and all mankind! Hail, precious Body of the Son of God! Hail, sacred flesh, torn with nails, pierced with a lance, and bleeding on a cross for us, poor sinners! O amazing goodness! O infinite love! O let that tender love plead now in my behalf; let all my iniquities be here effaced, and my name be written in the Book of Life. I believe in Thee; I hope in Thee; I love Thee. To Thee be honor, praise, and glory, from all creatures, for ever and ever. Amen.
At the Elevation of the Chalice.
Hail, sacred Blood, flowing from the wounds of Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the world! O cleanse, sanctify, and preserve my soul, that nothing in future may ever separate me from Thee. Behold, O Eternal Father, Thy Holy Jesus, and look upon the race of Thy Christ, in whom Thou art well pleased. Hear the voice of His blood crying out to Thee, not for vengeance, but for mercy and pardon. Accept this divine oblation, and through the infinite merits of all the sufferings that Jesus endured on the Cross for our salvation, be pleased to look upon us, and upon all Thy people, with an eye of mercy.
After the Elevation.
It is now, O Eternal Father, that we truly and really offer to Thy Divine Majesty that pure, holy, and immaculate Victim, which Thou Thyself hast been pleased to grant us, and of which all other offerings were only the types and figures. The sacrifices of Abel, Abraham, and Melchisedech were of no value when compared to ours. This glorious Victim—Thy dear Son Himself, the perfect object of Thy eternal love, and alone worthy of Thy Altar—is an offering as much more precious than theirs, as God is greater than all creatures.
Offer up the Mass as a Sacrifice of Adoration.
O sovereign Creator and Lord of all things! graciously vouchsafe to accept my humble homage, in union with that which Thou here receivest from Jesus Christ, the only worthy adorer of Thy infinite Majesty. Whilst, therefore, He immolates Himself upon this Altar, I unite my intentions with those views and purposes He Himself has in offering to Thee this His holy Sacrifice. It is He alone who can form a just conception of the boundless excellence and unspeakable majesty of the great Creator of Heaven and Earth; He alone fully comprehends the entire extent of Thy dominion. He beholds (what we blind mortals cannot) how far all creatures, visible and invisible, depend on Thee. He plainly conceives that Thy dominion is absolute over all we are, all we possess, or can hope for in time or eternity. It is in acknowledgment of this, Thy sovereign authority, and to make, in His name, a public profession of our total dependence on Thee, that I unite with Him in His daily renewal of this most holy sacrifice.
At the Memento for the Dead.
O god of infinite bounty, be pleased now to crown all the favors Thou hast hitherto conferred on me by the gifts of a lively faith, a firm hope, and an ardent charity. Bless all my labors and undertakings; give me an intuitive knowledge of Thy holy will, and an unshaken resolution to put it into execution. Grant me perseverance in Thy grace to the end of my life. Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed, particularly on those for whom I am in a more especial manner bound to pray [Name them]. Deliver them, O Lord, from all their sufferings, and admit them into the mansions of everlasting bliss: through the infinite merits of Christ Jesus, Thy only Son, who livest, etc. Amen.
At the Pater Noster.
Repeat the Lord's Prayer.
At the Agnus Dei, say:
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, give us peace.
At the Domine non sum dignus.
Say with the Priest thrice:
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
At the Communion.
O that I were amongst the number of those whose sanctity allows them to communicate daily I What a happiness, O my God! could I at this moment erect a throne for Thee in my heart; pay Thee my homage; lay open to Thee my wants; and participate in the favors Thou grandest to those who really and worthily receive Thee. But since lam unworthy, do Thou, O Lord, supply my want of the proper dispositions. Grant me pardon of my manifold sins, which I detest from the bottom of my heart, because they displease Thee. Cast Thy compassionate eye upon me, and purify my soul, that the ardent wish I conceive of being united to Thee by a worthy communion, may be speedily accomplished. But, until the arrival of so happy a moment, I earnestly entreat Thee, O dearest Lord, that Thou wouldst make me a partaker of all those advantages which the Communion of the priest may produce in Thy people. By the efficacy of this enlivening sacrament, increase my faith, strengthen my hope; revive in my soul the rays of divine charity, and inflame my heart with Thy love, that it may pant only for Thee, and live for Thee alone. Amen.
At the Last Prayers.
Since Thou, O Lord, hast sacrificed Thyself for my salvation, shall not I desire to be sacrificed for Thy glory? Yes, I am Thy victim, do with me as Thou wiliest, I consecrate my whole being to Thee. I willingly accept whatever crosses Thou art pleased to send to me. Receiving them from Thy fatherly hand, I embrace them, and unite them with those Thou hast endured for my sake. Before I quit Thy temple, strengthen the resolution I have made to serve Thee with more fidelity, and to struggle not only against my ordinary failings, but chiefly against those to which I am most inclined. Thy law shall henceforth be my rule of conduct during the remainder of my life; and I will forfeit every worldly consideration, and suffer every calamity, sooner than transgress it. Amen.
At the Benediction.
Most holy and adorable Trinity! as it is by Thee we began this sacrifice, so it is by Thee we desire to conclude it. Suffer us not, therefore, O Lord, to depart hence without Thy blessing. Give it to us by the ministry of this Priest. May it ever remain with us; may its influence always direct our actions; and may it be a sure pledge of that final benediction, which Thine elect shall receive when called by Thee to Thy kingdom of eternal glory. Amen.
The Last Gospel.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the Light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the Light, but was to give testimony of the Light. That was the true Light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God. to them that believe in His name, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- ↑ At these words all kneel.