Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/96

 jesty a  pure,  a  holy,  and  a  spotless  victim —for  so  thou  hast ordained — the holy  bread  of  eternal  life  and  the  chalice  of our  salvation. Look down,  therefore,  upon  them,  O  Lord, with a  propitious  and  serene  countenance,  and  accept  them, as thou  wast  pleased  to  accept  the  offerings  of  thy  righteous servant Abel,  and  the  sacrifice  of  our  father  Abraham,  and that which  thy  high-priest  Melchisedech  offered  unto  thee,  a holy  sacrifice,  a  spotless  victim. Amen.

O almighty,  everlasting  God,  seeing  that  it  is  the  true  faith of thy  Church  that  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  instituted by thy  Son  is  infinitely  pleasing  to  thy  divine  Majesty,  and renders thee  an  infinite  worship  and  praise,  and  since  by  it alone  thou  canst  be  worthily  and  adequately  worshipped  and praised; impelled  by  an  ardent  desire  of  thy  honour  and glory, I  purpose  to  assist  at  this  present  sacrifice  with  the utmost devotion  of  which  I  am  capable,  and  to  offer  this most Holy  Oblation  to  thee  in  union  with  thy  priest. I offer thee not  only  this  sacrifice,  but  all  those  which  shall  be  this day offered  from  every  part  of  the  world;  and  I  protest  before thee  that  if  it  depended  on  me  whether  they  should  be offered  or  omitted,  I  would  put  forth  all  my  powers  to  procure and  further  their  being  offered. And were  I  able  now to raise  up  to  thee,  of  the  stones  which  are  scattered  over  the earth, most  devoted  priests,  who  should  day  by  day  and  with glowing fervour  offer  to  thee  this  sacrifice  of  praise,  I  would most gladly  do  it. But, being  what  I  am,  I  implore  thee, O most  holy  Father,  through  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son,  to  pour into the  hearts  of  all  thy  priests,  and  especially  those  who might perchance  otherwise  offer  thee  this  acceptable  sacrifice coldly and  without  due  recollectedness,  the  spirit  of  grace  and of fervour  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  celebrate  thy  tremendous Mystery  with  becoming  awe  and  devotion. Grant to  me, and to  all  those  who  are  here  present  with  me,  that  we  may join in  this  most  sacred  action  with  reverence  and  devotion, so that  we  may  have  our  portion  in  its  fruit  and  effect. - I confess to  thee,  O  almighty  God,  and  to  the  blessed  Mary ever Virgin,  and  to  all  the  Saints,  my  own  sins  and  those  of all  the  world;  and  I  lay  them  on  thy  sacred  altar,  that  they may be  entirely  blotted  out  by  the  virtue  of  this  sacrifice. Do thou  deign  to  grant  us  this  grace,  by  that  love  which  held back thy  hand  from  smiting  when  thy  most  beloved  Son, thy only  Son,  was  immolated  by  the  hands  of  ungodly  men. Amen.