The Daily Prayer-Book/Prayers at the mass

A METHOD OF HEARING MASS BY WAY OF MEDITATION ON THE PASSION.

The Priest begins Mass,

Son of the living God, who, being in prayer, wouldst be comforted by an angel, grant me, by the virtue of Thy prayer, that when I pray Thy holy angel may assist and comfort me. Amen.

Confiteor.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, praying in the garden unto Thy heavenly Father, being in agony, didst miraculously sweat blood from all Thy members; grant that by the remembrance of Thy bitter passion, I may shed tears of sincere repentance now in Thy presence. Amen.

The Priest kisses the Altar.

Lord Jesus Christ, who sufferedst Judas to betray Thee with a kiss; grant that I may never betray Thee in my neighbour or myself; nor ever return evil to my enemies, but the good offices of charity. Amen.

The Priest goes to the Epistle Side.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be bound by the hands of wicked men; loosen, I beseech Thee, the chains of my sins, and so tie me with the bonds of charity, and the cords of Thy commandments, that I may neither in thought, word, nor deed, offend Thee hereafter. Amen.

The Introit.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be brought bound to Annas as a malefactor by an armed band of wicked persons, give me grace, that by no malignant spirit or bad men, I be ever drawn to sin, but by the good Spirit led to the fulfilling of Thy divine will. Amen,

Kyrie Eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, who sufferedst Thyself to be thrice denied by the prince of the Apostles, in the house of Caiphas, preserve me, I beseech Thee, from ill company, that I may suffer all worldly losses, and even death itself, rather than deny Thee once. Amen.

Dominus Vobiscum.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, mercifully looking back on Peter, didst cause him bitterly to weep for his offences, look on me, I beseech Thee, with an eye of Thy mercy, that I may with tears fully bewail my sins in Thy presence, and neither in word nor deed offend Thee. Amen.

The Epistle.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be brought to Pilate, and before him falsely accused; teach me to avoid the fallacies of the wicked, and profess Thy faith truly by good works. Amen.

Munda cor meum.

Lord Jesus Christ, who before Herod didst for my sake suffer the same allegations of crimes against Thee, without returning the least word to justify Thyself, grant that I may patiently bear the injuries of the wicked, and learn from Thee, O my divine Master, to be meek and humble of heart. Amen.

The Gospel.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be again sent back by Herod to Pilate, and by that means cause a reconciliation between them, grant me not to fear the designs of my enemies, but to profit by their persecutions and follow Thy example. Amen.

The Unveiling of the Chalice.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be despoiled of Thy garments, and stripped naked, and scourged for my sake; grant me, by a naked confession of my sins, to put off the old man with all his acts, and never to appear naked of virtue in Thy sight. Amen.

The Offertory.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for me wouldst be bound unto a pillar, and there cruelly whipped, give me grace willingly to bear the rods of Thy paternal correction, and never to scourge Thee more by my transgressions. Amen.

The Covering of the Chalice.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for my sake wouldst be so cruelly crowned with thorns, pierce me so thoroughly with the thorns of penance, that I may have a right to be crowned by Thee in heaven. Amen.

The Priest washes his fingers.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, though pronounced innocent by the president Pilate, didst hear, without opening Thy divine lips, the outcries of the Jews to crucify Thee; grant that I may live innocently, and that the malice of others may not trouble me. Amen.

Orate, Fratres.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for me wouldst be shown unto the Jews, with the ensigns of their mockery on Thee; give me grace to fly the ostentation of vain- glory, and to submit to mockery and contempt for Thy sake. Amen.

The Preface.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst for my sake vouchsafe to receive the sentence of death, even the death of the Cross; make me for Thy love not to fear the sentence of the most cruel death that the perverted judgments of men can pronounce against me, nor ever perversely to judge others. Amen.

The Memento for the Living.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for me didst bear on Thy own shoulders Thy Cross; make me ardently to embrace the cross of mortification, and for the love of Thee to bear it daily after Thee. Amen.

The Priest holds his hands over the Chalice.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, in that miserable journey wherein Thou travelledst to Thy torture, didst so lovingly admonish the women that wept over Thee to mourn for themselves; give me grace to shed tears of repentance, that with them I may wash away my sins, and become acceptable to Thee. Amen.

The Priest makes the sign of the Cross over the Oblation.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst for my sake be nailed on the Cross, and to the same didst fasten the handwriting of sin and death that was against me; transfix, I beseech Thee, my body with Thy holy fear, that firmly adhering to Thy precepts, I may for ever be fastened with Thee to Thy Cross. Amen.

The Elevation of the Host.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst be raised on the Cross, and in that manner exalted from the earth for my sake; raise me, I beseech Thee, from all earthly affections, that my soul may always live in heaven. Amen.

The Elevation of the Chalice.

Lord Jesus Christ, who from Thy saving wounds madest the fountain of Thy grace to flow to us; grant that so often as wrong desires or sinister affections assail me, I may, presently recur to Thy wounds, and from them draw my remedy. Amen.

The Memento of the Dead.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, hanging on the Cross, didst implore Thy Father for all mankind, even Thy crucifiers; give me, I beseech Thee, the grace of humility and patience, that according to Thy word and example, I may love my enemies, and do good to those that hate me. Amen.

Nobis quoque peccatoribus.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst so mercifully promise heaven to the thief that humbly acknowledged his injustice; behold me, I beseech Thee, with the same eyes of mercy, that now confessing my crimes, I may obtain pardon, and in the end of my life be strengthened with hope to be with Thee in heaven. Amen.

Pater Noster.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, amongst other words spoken by Thee on the Cross, didst recommend Thy Mother to Thy beloved disciple, and him again to her; I commend unto Thee myself and all that I have, with a firm faith and confidence in Thy protection, beseeching Thee that, by their intercession, Thou wouldst. preserve me amidst the troubles and dangers of this life. Amen.

The Breaking of the Host.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for my sake, dying on the cross, didst commend Thy soul unto Thy Father; grant that in this life I may spiritually die with Thee, and in the hour of my death commend my soul unto Thee, who livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

The Priest puts part of the Host into the Chalice.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, after Thy glorious victory over the power of the devil, didst descend into Limbo, and tookest thence the souls of the Fathers, till then detained there: extend, I beseech Thee, the virtue of Thy most precious blood and passion to the faithful in Purgatory, that they may come to Thy eternal joys. Amen.

Agnus Dei.

Lord Jesus Christ, at whose patience in torments and blessed death, many beating their breasts lamented their offences; by Thy bitter passion and death, give me grace with my whole heart to grieve for my sins, and never to offend Thee more. Amen.

The Communion.

Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldst for my sake be buried in a new monument, give me, O Lord, my God, a new heart, that dying in Thee, I may happily participate in the glory of Thy resurrection. Amen.

The Ablution.

Lord Jesus Christ, who for me, miserable sinner, being dead, wouldst by Joseph and Nicodemus be embalmed with spices, and wrapt in white linen; grant me worthily to receive from Thy holy altar Thy true and living body in the Eucharist, and for ever conserve it in a clean heart and body. Amen.

After Communion.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst, through Thy shut and sealed sepulchre, rise triumphant from the dead; grant me grace to rise from the bondage of sin, to walk in newness of life, that when Thou, who art my Judge, shalt appear, I may also appear with Thee in glory. Amen.

Dominus Vobiscum.

Lord Jesus Christ, who, after Thy resurrection, didst manifest Thyself to Thy beloved mother and disciples, to their great joy and consolation; mercifully grant me Thy grace that after this mortal life I may with them rejoice in Thy heavenly kingdom, enjoying Thy presence for ever. Amen.

The last Collect.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst vouchsafe, after Thy resurrection, to converse forty days with Thy disciples, and instruct them in all the mysteries of faith; teach me, I beseech Thee, to live according to Thy doctrine, and never to swerve in the least from Thy will. Amen.

The last Dominus Vobiscum.

Lord Jesus Christ, who after the term of forty days didst ascend glorious into heaven, in the sight of Thy disciples; grant that my heart may, for Thy love, loathe all earthly things, attend only to eternal, and pant, hunger, and thirst after Thee. Amen.

The Gospel of St. John.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst send the Holy Ghost upon Thy disciples, when they did continue praying; cleanse, I beseech Thee, my heart from all sin, that the same Holy Ghost may always dwell in it by His manifold gifts, and my soul be everlastingly comforted. Amen.