Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/609

 in the  upper  room  at  Jerusalem,  let  us  say  one  Our Father and  one  Hail  Mary,  to  obtain,  by  the  merits of Jesus  ascended,  the  fruits  of  the  Holy  Ghost — benignity and  goodness. Our Father,  Hail  Mary.

Most holy  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  blessed  St.  Peter, behold us  at  thy  feet,  to  implore  thine  aid  in  obtaining the Holy  Spirit. We, indeed,  have  been  unfaithful to our  Redeemer,  not  three  times  only,  as  thou  wert, but thousands  and  thousands  of  times; so  that  we could  not  hope  that  the  spotless  Dove  would  vouchsafe to  descend  into  our  poor  souls,  stained  with  so many  sins; yet  thine  example,  blessed  Apostle,  gives us courage. Thou didst  weep  bitterly,  and  with  thy tears wert  so  cleansed  as  to  receive  all  the  gifts  of the  Divine  Paraclete. We too  desire  to  bewail  our sins with  bitterest  grief  like  thine,  while  we  humbly implore thine  intercession  to  obtain  for  us,  first  of all,  cleanness  of  heart,  and  then  the  gifts  of  the Holy Ghost,  for  which  we  yearn  most  earnestly. Amen.

Come, O Holy  Ghost,  etc.

V. and  R.  Send  forth,  etc.

O God, who  hast  taught  the  hearts  of  thy  faithful by the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  grant  us  by  the  same Spirit to  think  the  things  that  be  right,  and  ever  to rejoice  in  his  consolation; through  our  Lord  Jesus Christ. In the  unity  of  the  same. Amen.

May the  blessing,  etc.

ET us  prostrate  ourselves  before  the  majesty  of  the Most Holy  Trinity,  and,  uniting  our  dispositions with those  of  our  Blessed  Lady  and  the  holy  Apostles