Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/145

 know our  sins,  nor  be  sorry  for  them,  nor  confess them well,  without  God’s  grace. Hence prayer,  which is the  great  key  to  divine  grace,  is  the  best  part  of our  preparation  for  confession.

With regard  to  persons  who  approach  the  Sacraments but  seldom,  viz.,  at  Christmas  and  Easter  only, they ought  to  begin  their  preparation  some  days beforehand; and during  these  days  they  should  make a serious effort  to  correct  every  bad  habit,  and should, from  time  to  time,  with  great  fervour,  beg  of God  the  grace  to  make  a good  confession  and  a worthy  communion. Let this  grace  be  asked  in  the name of  Jesus  Christ,  and  through  the  prayers  of the  Blessed  Virgin,  of  our  Guardian  Angel,  of St. Joseph, and  of  all  the  saints  and  angels  of  heaven.

As to  pious  people  who  frequent  the  Sacraments, and who  seldom  or  never  fall  into  a grievous  sin,  it  is very  desirable,  when  they  go  to  confession,  that, after confessing  any  sins  committed  since  last .absolution, they  should,  at  least  in  a general  way, accuse themselves  of  all  their  past  sins. “No man,” says St.  Augustine,  “ should  cease  to  bewail  his  sins till his  last  breath.”  How  instructive  is  the  example of Holy  David. Although he  knew  his  gross  crimes were pardoned,  he  still  continues  to  cry  out: “ Have mercy on  me,  O God,  according  to  thy  great  mercy. Wash me  yet  more  from  my  iniquity,  and  cleanse me from  my  sin. For I know  my  iniquity,  and  my sin  is  always  before  me.”  (Psalm  1.)

First, you  must  pray  fervently  for  grace  to  make a good confession,  asking  that  grace  again  through the merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  through  the  intercession of  his  blessed  Mother  and  of  all  the  angels  and