Page:Latin prayers not fit for Irishmen.pdf/11

 and some of them were wicked. What would any man think of such prayers as the following, if the were asked to say them in plain English:—"O St. Mary, who dost enlighten the whole world, who dost illuminate hearts, who art the Fountain of Mercy, from all evil, good Lady, deliver us." "O holy Dorothy, a clean heart create in me." "O St. George, save us from our sins, that we may rest in heaven with the faithful for ever." Most of these prayers to saints ask from them what God alone can bestow; and we need not wonder at their wishing to hide such blasphemies under cover of an unknown tongue.

The evils which arise from forcing Latin prayers upon Irishmen are very many. In the first place, God's name is taken in vain by every congregation that joins in Latin prayers; they do not understand what is saying, and how can they unite in supplication? or how can their hearts be affected with contrition, by a confession they do not know, or with gratitude by a Latin thanksgiving? They repeat the name