Turning himself towards the people, he gives them the

Blessing, saying:

AY Almighty God, + the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

ΜΑ

bless you.

C. Amen.

P. The Lord be with you.
C. And with thy spirit.

P. The beginning of the Holy
Gospel according to St. John.
C. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

N the beginning was the Word,

IN

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 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 word.

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, to them gave he 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, as it were the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. R. Thanks be to God.

* Here he genuflects, to do honour to the Mystery of the Incarnation.

72

The Sacrament of Yenance.

A PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.

A PRAYER BEFORE THE EXAMINATION
OF CONSCIENCE.

I am perfectly sensible, O my God, that I have in many ways offended thy divine Majesty, and provoked thy wrath by my sins; and that if I obtain not pardon, I shall be cast out of thy sight for ever; I desire, therefore, at present to look into all the sins whereby I have displeased thee: but, O my God, how miserably shall I deceive myself, if thou assist me not in this work by thy heavenly light! Grant me, therefore, at present, thy grace, whereby I may discover all my sins; for I know that nothing is hidden from thy sight. I confess myself ignorant of my own failings : my passions blind me, self-love flatters me, presumption deludes me; and though I have many sins which stare me in the face, and cannot be hidden, yet how many, too, are there quite concealed from me! But discover even those to me, O Lord; enlighten my darkness, cure my blindness, and remove every veil that hides my sins from me, that I may be no longer a secret to myself, nor a stranger to my own failings, nor ever flatter myself with the thoughts of having repented, and at the same time nourish sin within my breast. Come, Holy Ghost, and, by a beam of thy divine light, illumine my understanding, that I may see clearly all my sins and iniquities, and that sincerely repenting of them, I may be again received into thy favour. Amen.

Add, if your fervour suggests it, other prayers for the same purpose, at least the Memorare.

EXAMEN OF CONSCIENCE.

Examine yourself on the following points :

1st Commandment-Faith.-Have you wilfully entertained doubts against Faith, denied it, sneered at it? Gone to heretical churches during service? Read heretical books? Advised poor parents to send their children to heretical schools or orphanages? Gone or brought others to heretical meetings or tea-parties? Advised marriages with heretics, assisted at them? Ridiculed piety?

Hope. Have you despaired? Presumed on God's mercy?

Charity. Have you neglected for a considerable time to make acts of Charity?

Religion. Have you shown disrespect in church, to God's ministers, at prayer, at Mass? Have you committed sacrilege by hiding a mortal sin in Confession, by receiving unworthily? Got fortunes told? Committed other superstitious works?

Ask yourself how often each day, each week, each month, &c., and try to discover, as well as you can, the number of your sins, especially your grievous sins?

II. Have you taken God's name in vain? Sworn uselessly? Perjured yourself by swearing falsely, or by swearing to a thing doubted or unknown? Have you broken your vows? Do you belong to any secret society? Did you curse?

III. Have you wilfully and unnecessarily neglected Mass on Sundays or holidays? Have you done unnecessary servile work on such days? Have you advised or caused others to neglect an obligatory Mass? Have you neglected to send children and servants to Mass? or sent young people to it unattended?

IV. Duties of Children.-Have you been dis

obedient or disrespectful to parents or superiors, cursed or struck them, called them names, or wished them evil?

Duties of Parents.-Have you been wanting in correcting children, in warning them, in seeing that they attend their religious duties? Have you given excessive correction, or provoked them to anger by misconduct of any kind?

Duties of Superiors. Have you failed to correct servants when acting improperly, or speaking on bad subjects, or cursing, &c.?

Have you shown scandal by bad example, bad advice, seduction? Induced to drink, given drink to persons under its influence? How often?

V. Have you quarrelled, struck, beaten, or killed anybody? Taken or wished revenge, or evil of any kind, or borne ill will?

VI. IX. Have you consented to bad thoughts, bad desires? Have you said or listened to bad words, told or willingly heard bad stories, done bad actions, looked at bad things, pointed out bad objects to others? What sins? How many present? How often?

VII.-X. Have you stolen, cheated? How much? Taken loans without permission? Given away what was not your own? Adulterated? What restitution is due? How much can you make?

VIII. Have you detracted or calumniated? In what? How many? What injury have you done? What restitution is due? Have you told lies? Have you betrayed secrets?

COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH.

Have you violated the abstinence or fasts of the Church? How often? Have you neglected your