soul; but it will be easy for thee to grant them to me I most sincerely detest every sin of my life, and every fault, or even imperfect inclination which may be an obstacle to the graces thou desirest to bestow on thy unworthy child. Do thou deign to purify me from every stain, by applying to my soul the infinite merits of thy death and passion. I purpose most sincere to serve thee with fidelity from this day forward; by I feel that I am too weak to execute my resolutio it left to myself; therefore, I conjure thee to impart to me thy holy Spirit, that, like the Apostles, I may be endued with strength from on high, and inspired with courage and resolution to prove myself in reality thy follower. I desire to receive this most precious favour; but do thou render this desire. still more ardent, and accept, on my behalf, the fervent desires which animated the heart of thy blessed Mother and the Apostles previous to the descent of the Holy Ghost, and let their perfect dispositions in every other respect atone and supply for my deficiencies.

Prayer to the Holy Ghost, to beg the Descent of that divine Spirit with his seven-fold Gifts.

O HEAVENLY SPIRIT! whom I earnestly desire to receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation, merci fully deign to descend on me with all thy gifts and graces. Grant me, I conjure thee, the gift of Wisdom, that I may despise in future the vain pleasures of the world, and take delight in the service of God. Grant mesthe gift of Understanding, that I may com

ehend the truths which my holy religion teachesthe gift of Counsel, that I may discover and avoid the snares of the devil and the world—the gift of Fortitude, that I may steadily execute my good resolutions, and imitate the glorious example of many of my age and sex, who preferred torments and death, rather than to offend God. Bestow on me the gift of Knowledge, that I may discern and faithfully execute the will of God in all circumstances-the gift of Piety, that my

heart may be penetrated with tender love for God and for all that regards his most holy service --the gift of Fear, that my soul may be filled with a salu tary apprehension of the divine judgments, and dread nothing so much as to fall unprepared into the hands of the living God. O eternal Light! O infinite Charity! O increated Wisdom, who replenishest the hearts of the faithful, and kindlest in them the fire of thy love! O holy Spirit! who didst inspire the prophets, who presidest over the Church, who convertest sinners, and sanctifiest millions that listen to thy inspirations, despise not my youth, my ignorance, and weakness; in a moment thou couldst enlighten the darkest understanding, and soften the hardest heart. O! come then into my heart; come, heavenly Spirit; and do not delay.

O sacred Virgin! Spouse of the Holy Ghost, whose pure soul was the chosen tabernacle of that heavenly Spirit, and who above all creatures wert plentifully enriched with his choicest gifts and graces, intercede for me, and by thy powerful prayers prepare me for the happiness I so sincerely desire.

Glorious Apostles! who received the plentitude of the Divine Spirit, obtain for me oy your prayers a share in the perfect dispositions which prepared vou to receive that consolatory Spirit.

The CEREMONY of CONFIRMATION.

On the morning of your Confirmation, renew with redoubled fervour your desire to be replenished with the Holy Ghost. Assist at the holy Sacrifice of the Mass with particular devotion, and offer up the adorable Victim of our Altars to atone for all the sins of your life, and to obtain any disposition which the allseeing eye of God may discern to be still wanting in your heart.

After the holy Sacrifice is concluded, call to ming the explanation which has been given you of es

ceremony used in the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, that thereby you may receive it with more devotion and reverence; then devoutly join in the prayers offered for you by the Bishop in adminis tering the Sacrament. The ceremony is as follows: First, the Bishop turning towards those to be con Armed, says:

May the Holy Ghost come down upon you, and the power of the Most High keep you from all sin. R. Amen.

Signing himself with the sign of the

goes on:

Cross, he Bish. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth.

Bish. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.
Bish. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Then he extends his hands over those to be con firmed, and addresses a solemn prayer to the Eternal Father, begging, through Jesus Christ his divine Son, that he would send down his holy Spirit, with all his gifts and graces, into their souls.

Bish. Let us pray. O almighty and everlasting God! who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by water and the Holy Ghost, and who hast given them the remission of all their sins, send forth upon them thy seven-fold holy Spirit, the Paraclete from heaven.

R. Amen.

Bish. The spirit of wisdom and of understanding R. Amen

Bish. The spirit of counsel and of fortitude.

R. Amen.

Bish. The spirit of knowledge and of piety.
R. Amen.

Bish. Replenish them with the spirit of thy fear, and sign them with the sign of the Cross of Christ, in thy mercy, unto life everlasting: through the same

Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit one God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Bishop, making the sign of the Cross on the forehead of each of those who are to be confirmed with holy chrism, and calling her by the name she has chosen, says: N. I sign thee with the sign of the Cross, and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

After which, he gives the person confirmed a slight stroke on the cheek, saying at the same time, Peace be with thee.

As soon as you return to your place, after having been confirmed, raise your heart to God in sentiments of the most lively gratitude. Imagine you are among the Apostles after the descent of the Holy Ghost, and join most devoutly in the transports with which they glorified God. You need not be recommended to observe the most edifying recollection and modesty while the Bishop continues to administer the Sacrament. The adorable guest you have received will excite you to sentiments of the most profound veneration and humility, particularly when you consider how unworthy you are of his presence; you may employ those few moments in reflecting on your happiness, and thank God for it in any terms your devotion may suggest. The sentiments of the heart are at all times preferable to any set form, but more particu.arly at a time when you may humbly hope that they are suggested by the divine Spirit of God himseif.

After all have been confirmed, the Bishop washes his hands; in the mean time the following Anthem is said: Confirm, O Lord, that which thou hast wrought in us from thy holy temple which is in Jerusalem. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, &c.

"Confirm, O Lord,” &c. as above.

Then the Bishop standing, turned towards the altar

says the following prayers, in which you should do voutly join.

Bish. Show us, O Lord, thy mercy
R. And grant us thy salvation.
Bish. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
Bish. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Bish. Let us pray. O God, who gavest the Holy Ghost to thy Apostles, and hast been pleased to ordain that by them and their successors that same divine Spirit should be given to the rest of the faithful, mercifully look down upon what we thy servants have done, and grant that the hearts of these thy faithful, whose foreheads we have anointed with the sacred chrism, and signed with the sign of the Cross, may, by the same Holy Spirit coming down unto them, and by his vouchsafing to dwell in them, be made the temple of his glory, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Bishop concludes the ceremony by giving a solemn Benediction to all present in these words: Behold, thus shall every man be blessed who feareth the Lord. May the Lord bless you out of Sion, that you may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and that you may live with him for all eternity. Amen.

When preparing for Confirmation, you were instructed ir the obligations you were about to contract by that sacrament, you did not of course neglect reflecting on their importance, and resolving to comply with them to the utmost of your power. Now, how. ever, that you have been confirmed, you would do well to renew those good resolutions, and again consider the motives which induced you to form them. Jesus Christ promised that the Holy Ghost should recall to the minds of the Apostles all whatsoever he had said to them :-the presence of the same Divine