Devotions for the sick


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,
Albert A

for A*z Sic^

Devotions
for tin

Sick

Compiled ty

ALBERT A. MURRAY
of tfie Paultft Fatfier*



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Devotions for the Sick

Compiled by

Rev. Albert A. Murray
of the Paulist Fathers

THE PAULIST PRESS
401 West 59th Street
New York 19, N. Y.



Nihil Obstat:
John M. Fearns, S.T.D.,

Censor Librorum.

Imprimatur:

© Francis Cardinal Spellman, D.D.,
Archbishop of New York.

New York, October 14, 1946.

Copyright, 1946, by

The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostli
in the State of New York

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN THE U. S. A. BY

THE PAULIST PRESS, NEW YORK 19, M. Y.

IJMI- -»
USftCiumfu



A Pew Suggestions for a
Sick ‘Person

1. Receive your sickness from the
hands of your heavenly Father deal-
ing with you as a child.

2. Look on it as a loving correction
for your sins, and as a summons to
prepare more carefully for death.

3. Practice the virtues of patience

and submission to the will of God;
deepen your repentance and offer
yourself to God to suffer, if it pleases
Him, still greater pains; give thanks
for the blessings you enjoy.

4. In any dangerous illness let
your first concern be to send for a
priest.

5. Ask your real friends to give
you timely notice if your illness be
dangerous, and not to flatter you with
false hopes of recovery.

6. Make the best of the time you
have; admit but few visitors; try to
keep your conversation off worldly
matters.

7. Settle your temporal affairs, in
order to give yourself more entirely
to spiritual matters.

8. Think frequently of our Lord’s
Passion.

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9. Consider these words of St.
Augustine: “However innocent your
life may have been, no Christian
ought to venture to die in any other
state than that of a penitent.”

‘Preparation for a Sick Call

The Viaticum

The Blessed Sacrament is the bread
of life, of which every good Catholic
partakes frequently in health, but a
new and peculiar obligation of receiv-
ing it arises when serious illness oc-
curs, and the soul may set out on its
journey to heaven. The Holy Eucha-
rist administered to the sick, is beau-
tifully termed “Viaticum,” which
means, “pertaining to a road or jour-
ney.” The Blessed Sacrament is the
safeguard that preserves the soul on
its last journey, and is a pledge of im-
mortal glory. The sick person will,
therefore, use his best endeavors to
make a worthy preparation for the re-
ception of this sacrament.

Before the priest arrives, the pa-
tient and the sick-room should be pre-
pared for his coming. It should be
clean and in order. If the sick person
is to go to Confession, place a chair

4



at the head of the bed, facing the foot,
so that the confessor will not be

obliged to turn away in order to avoid
looking the patient in the face.

For the other sacraments a table,
covered with a clean, white cloth, is
required, placed, if possible, where the
patient can see the crucifix. On the
table should be : 1, a crucifix. 2, two
candlesticks with two blessed, lighted
candles. 3, a small bowl of common
water. 4, a glass of water. 5, a
spoon. 6, Holy Water and sprinkler.
7, a napkin. If Extreme Unction is to
be administered, have also, 8, a saucer
with six small balls of cotton, and 9,
a small plate with small piece of bread
and lemon.
The priest, bearing the Blessed Sac-

rament, should be met at the door by
someone holding a lighted candle, who
should go before him to the sick-room,
where all are kneeling. All should
then retire while the confession of the
sick person is being heard; return
immediately when given a sign by the
priest to do so, and remain kneeling
and praying while the priest gives
Holy Communion to the sick person.
Kneel in silence until the priest gives
his blessings before he leaves.

e



‘Prayers

“Come, to me, all you that labor, and
are burdened, and I will refresh you.
Take up my yoke upon you, and learn
of me, because 1 am meek, and humble
of heart. And you shall find rest to
your souls. For my yoke is sweet and
my burden light” (Matt. xi. 28).

Act of Commendation to God

I commend my soul to God my
maker, Who created me from noth-
ing; to Jesus Christ my Saviour Who
redeemed me with His Blood; to the
Holy Ghost Who sanctified me in
baptism. Into Thy hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.

Act of Thanksgiving

I give Thee thanks, 0 Lord, from
the bottom of my heart, for all the
mercies and blessings which Thou
hast bestowed upon me, above all be-
cause Thou hast loved me from all
eternity, and hast sent Thy Son to
redeem me with His precious Blood.
0 let not that Blood be shed for me
in vain.

6



Act of Renunciation of Evil

I renounce from this moment and
for all eternity, the devil and all his
works and pomps. I abhor all his
suggestions and temptations. Suf-
fer not, 0 Lord, this mortal enemy
of my soul to have any power over
me, either now or at my last hour.
Let Thy holy Angels ever keep me
and defend me against all the powers
of darkness.

0 Kind and Merciful God, I ask
Thy help and forgiveness. I believe
in Thee, and in everything Thou hast
revealed and taught.

1 believe in one God, Who will re-
ward all who seek Him. I believe
that in God there are three divine
persons—God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

I believe in Jesus Christ—the Son
of God, Who became man and died
on the cross for my salvation and
happiness.

0 my God, Who art all-good and
all-merciful, I sincerely hope to save
my soul. Help me to do everything
that is necessary to obtain eternal
life.

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Have mercy on me, 0 my God, and
forgive me my sins. I am sorry, truly
sorry for all of them, because I have
offended Thee, my God, Who art all-
good, all-holy, and all-merciful.

I love Thee, 0 my God, with all my
heart, and I sincerely promise that,
with Thy help, I will never offend
Thee again.
Help me, 0 God, and have mercy

on me.

Act of Resignation

Lord, I accept this sickness from
Thy Fatherly hands; I entirely re-
sign myself to Thy blessed will,
whether it be for life or death. Not
my will but Thine be done. Thy will
be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Act of Submission

Lord, I submit to all the pains and
uneasiness of this my illness ; my
sins have deserved infinitely more.
Thou art just, 0 Lord, and Thy judg-
ment is right.

Act of Self-Oblation

Lord, I offer up to Thee all that I
now suffer, or may have to suffer, to

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be united to the sufferings of my
Saviour, and to be sanctified by His
Passion.

Act of Adoration

I adore Thee, 0 my God and my
All, as my first beginning and my
last end; I desire to pay Thee the
best homage that I am able, and to
bow down all the powers of my soul
to Thee.

Act of Praise

Lord, I desire to praise Thee for-
ever, in sickness as well as in health;

I desire to join my heart and voice
with the whole Church of heaven and
earth, in blessing Thee for ever.

Act of Contrition

Come hither to the cross of Christ.
Press your forehead against the hard
wood of it. Let His blood trickle
down on your hair. Kiss those feet
and say:

Dear feet that walked so far and
wearily for me and now are pierced
for me, I love you.

9



Dear arms of Christ outstretched,
embrace me. Dear blood of Christ,
flowing for me, cleanse me. Dear
heart of Christ, broken for me, for-
give me. I am yours. Your cross
has conquered me. I am sorry for
my sins, I wish I had never com-
mitted them. If I had it to do over
again I would do otherwise. By Thy
love and Thy grace I will never,
never sin again.

"Thy Will Be Done"

My dearest Lord, what wilt Thou
send me today? Humiliations, con-
tradictions, physical sufferings, pain-

ful intelligence which I do not ex-
pect; an aching heart, a failure?
Shall I see myself misjudged, wrong-
ly suspected, despised? All that

Thou wishest, 0 my God, I accept it
all in advance, and if I weep through
weakness, oh, regard it not ; if I mur-
mur, check me; if I am forgetful,
punish me

;
if I am discouraged, raise

me up. But through it all, teach me
to say, “Thy Will be done." Amen.

0 most merciful Jesus, Lover of
souls. I pray Thee, by the agony of
Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the

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sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother,
cleanse in Thine own Blood the sin-
ners of the whole world who are now
in their agony and who are to die this
day. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, once in agony,
have pity on the dying.

0 my Lord and Saviour, support
me in my last hour by the strong
arms of Thy sacraments, and the
fragrance of Thy consolations. Let
Thy absolving words be said over me,
and the holy oil sign and seal me

;
and

let Thine own Body be my food, and
Thy Blood my sprinkling; and let
Thy Mother Mary come to me, and
Thy glorious saints and my own dear
patrons smile on me, that in and
through them all I may die as I de-
sire to live, in Thy Church, in Thy
Faith, and in Thy love. Amen.

0 Lord, support us all the day long
of this troublous life, until the shades
lengthen and the evening comes, and
the busy world is hushed, the fever
of life is over, and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us
a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace
at the last, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

ll



For All Who Suffer
Dear Lord, we beseech Thee by the

loneliness of Thy sufferings on the
cross, be nigh to all who are desolate
and in pain or sorrow today; and let
Thy sacred Presence transform their
loneliness into comfort and consola-
tion.

Sweetest Jesus, we entreat Thee
for those from whose path in life the
flowers have faded, and song has
ceased; and to whom it seems now
but a weary beaten road, shut in by
gray walls. Give them to see Thee
always walking in the way before
them, talking with them as they rest
by the wayside, and leading them
surely to the place where they would
be.

Breathe down, 0 Lord, upon them
Thy spirit of healing, Thy spirit of
life, Thy spirit of peace and hope, of
love and joy, Thy spirit of courage
and endurance. Cast out from them
the spirit of anxiety and fear, grant
them perfect confidence and trust in
Thee, that in Thy light they may see
light. Amen.

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For Trust

0 Christ Jesus, when all is dark-
ness and we feel our weakness and
helplessness, give us the sense of

Thy presence, Thy love, and Thy
strength. Help us to have perfect

trust in Thy protecting love and
strengthening power, so that nothing

may frighten or worry us, for living
close to Thee we shall see Thy hand,
Thy purpose, Thy will through all
things.

For Peace of Mind

0 my God, I know not what will
happen to me; but this I know, that
nothing will happen to me which
Thou hast not forseen from all eter-
nity; and this, my God, is enough to
give peace to my mind. I adore Thy
eternal designs on my soul. I sub-
mit to them from the bottom of my
heart; I desire all, I accept all, I

make a sacrifice of all to Thee. I add
this sacrifice to that of Thy divine
Son, my Saviour, beseeching Thee,
by His infinite merits and sacred pas-
sion, to inspire me with patience un-
der afflictions and with that perfect

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submission which is due to all Thou
wiliest, in all Thou permittest, O
Jesus. Amen. —st. Elizabeth.

Before an Operation

O loving Father, I commit myself
in peace and trust into Thy hands.
Grant that as I become unconscious
of earthly things I may find rest in
Thy presence. Watch over me in my
hour of weakness. Guide all who are
to tend me and bless their work. If
I am to suffer pain comfort me with
a sense of Thy presence. Grant me
a measure of Thy patience and Thy
courage so that being helped and
comforted in my hour of need, I may
be the means of helping others in
their hour of trial.

While Waiting for the Operation

Dear Lord, give me quietness, calm-
ness, courage and trust in Thee.
Guide and direct the hand of Thy
servant (the surgeon) , give him con-
fidence in Thee. Whether it be for
life or death, into Thy hands dear
God, I commend my spirit.

0 God Who hast doomed all men
to die, but hast concealed from all

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the hour of their death
;
grant that I

may pass my days in the practice of
holiness and justice, and that I may
be made worthy to quit this world in
the peace of a good conscience and
in the embrace of Thy love. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.

0 Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to
thee. 0 Refuge of sinners, 0 Mother
of those in their agony, forsake us
not in the hour of our death, but ob-
tain for us perfect sorrow, sincere
contrition, remission of our sins, a
worthy reception of the most holy
Viaticum, the strengthening power
of the Sacrament of Extreme Unc-
tion; that we may present ourselves
without fear before the throne of
that Judge Who is both Just and
Merciful, our God and our Redeemer.
Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you
my heart and my soul.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me
in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I
breathe forth my soul in peace with
you.

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The blessing of God Almighty, the
Father, * the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, descend upon me and all
belonging to me, and dwell in my
heart and be with me in my going
out and my coming in, now and for
ever. Amen.

A Prayer for Others
0 Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech

Thee, mercifully to remember and to
visit all who are mindful of me, and
all who have commended themselves
to my unworthy prayers, and who
have shown any charity or pity to-
wards me, and all those who are
connected with me by relationship,
friendship, service whether they be
living or dead; that these who faith-
fully serve Thee may be defended
from all adversity

;
and that Thou wilt

deliver us from all punishment, and
lead us to everlasting rest. Amen.

May the Divine Assistance, the
Protection of the Blessed Mother, the
succor of the Angels and the prayers
of all the Saints abide always with
us. Amen.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the virtue of His Sacred Pas-

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sion, and the intercession of all His
Saints, and elect of God, be with me
now and at the hour of my death.
Amen.

For a Greater Love of the Cross

Penetrate my heart 0 Jesus with
a love for Thy holy cross and support
me in all my afflictions; for, alas!
Thou knowest how naturally I hate
and fly from the cross, although I am
persuaded that it was by the cross
Thou didst save me, and that I can-
not gain salvation, nor enter into
heaven, but by the way of Calvary.
Inspire me with that patience, that
strength, and that courage which
Thou didst impart to Thy Martyrs;
and since I cannot better evince my
love and gratitude towards Thee
than by suffering for Thee, nor ren-
der myself more worthy of Thy grace
and glory than by carrying the cross,
vouchsafe to support me when sink-
ing, under its burden by the desire
of pleasing Thee, and the hope of
eternal happiness. Amen.

For the Last Sacraments

Jesus, lover of the sick, come to
me when death is near, and through

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the Sacrament of Extreme Unction,
lay Your holy hands on me. Jesus,
lover of the sick, and comforter of
those in sorrow, give me the grace to
welcome You with a glad heart in that
hour, so that I may be the better pre-
pared to receive the strength and con-
solation which You alone can give.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for
me now, and at the hour of my death.

St. Joseph, pray for me that my
death may be like yours.

Consecration of the Sick to the

Sacred Heart of Jesus

0 Adorable Heart of Jesus, truly
present in the Most Holy Eucharist,
Lover of the sick and the afflicted,
look down upon me as I offer Thee
my loving homage and profound
adoration.

In union with all the members of
the Apostolate of Suffering, I conse-

crate myself to Thy Sacred Heart.
To Thee I consecrate my body with
all its afflictions and infirmities, that
I may become a worthy apostle
through my life of suffering. Give
me the grace to accept my cross of
illness in a spirit of humble resigna-

18



tion, repeating Thy own words,
“Father, not my will but Thine be
done.”

To Thee I consecrate all the mem-
bers of my body. May my eyes look
upon my sufferings and trials in the
light of faith; may my ears always
hearken to Thy voice which bids me
to take up my cross and follow Thee;
may my tongue ever speak the words
of holy Job, “The Lord hath given,
the Lord hath taken, blessed be the
Name of the Lord”; may my hands
be ever uplifted in prayer for my
fellow men, my companions in suf-
fering, my benefactors, and for all
the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart;
may my feet be ever guided toward
that way of peace which is granted
to those who love Thee.
To Thee I consecrate my mirm.

May I always reflect upon the vanity
of earthly pleasures, honors, and
riches; may I realize that true joy
can be found only in the practice of
virtue and by living in the shadow
of the cross; may my will be submis-
sive and conformative to Thy Holy
Will at all times and in every circum-
stance of life.

To Thee I consecrate my heart.
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Establish Thy Kingdom firmly there-
in, and give increase to Thy grace so
that I may bring forth fruits of pa-
tience and resignation, joy and holi-
ness, love and peace.
To the clemency of Thy divine

Heart I commend all the souls who
have not experienced the joy of suf-
fering for Thee, and who, question-
ing Thy ways turn against Thee.
Have mercy on them and draw them
to Thy loving Heart. Make known
to them that Thy yoke is sweet and
Thy burden light to those who love
Thee.

0 Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, deign
to accept this my consecration; look
upon me with love and compassion.
Pour down upon me the blessing of
Thy Heart, and give me the grace of
perseverance so that having glorified
Thee by serving loyally beneath the
standard of Thy cross, I may one day
rejoice with Thee in the Kingdom of
heaven. Amen.

Stay with me, God. The night is dark.
The night is cold : my little spark
Of courage dies. The night is long

;

Be with me, God, and make me strong.
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Almighty and most merciful Fa-
ther, by Whose hands I have been
fearfully and wonderfully made, and
Who hast graciously preserved me
hitherto, I bless and praise Thee for
all Thy love and mercy towards me
in the past, and I desire now to hum-
ble myself under Thy mighty hand.
Lord, I believe and know that Thou
dost not afflict willingly, nor grieve
the children of men. Thou doest all
things wisely and lovingly. Help me
to accept this sickness at Thy hands
as a means whereby I may be enabled
to draw nearer to Thee. Grant me
to be patient under all suffering or
discomfort, gentle and grateful to
those who minister to my needs, and
diligent in using the opportunities of
devotion which Thou mayest now af-
ford me. Give me grace to repent
heartily of my sins, and time to
amend all that has been displeasing
to Thee. Grant this, 0 merciful Fa-
ther, for the sake of Jesus Christ,
Thine only Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Patience
0 Lord Jesus Christ, Who for our

sakes didst bear grievous suffering;
Who wast scourged, and buffeted.

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and crucified
; and upon the cross

didst endure thirst and bitter torture,
and didst die for our sins; I humbly
beseech Thee to help me to bear pa-
tiently whatever pain or discomfort
may fall to my lot today. Teach me
to follow Thine example in perfect
and glad submission to the will of
my Heavenly Father. Keep me from
all fretfulness and irritability of
temper

;
and grant that by my gentle-

ness and obedience I may show forth
the power of Thy grace and promote
Thy glory; Who livest and reignest
with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
ever one God, world without end.
Amen.

0 Lord, I beseech Thee to have
compassion upon me in this my great
need. Bless, if it please Thee, the
means used for my recovery; and if
it be Thy gracious will to restore me
to health and strength, grant that I
may devote myself more entirely
than heretofore to Thy service. Help
me to remember that my life is in Thy
hands and so to prepare myself now
for the hour of death that, whether
I live or die, I may be wholly Thine,
and that when Thou callest me hence

22



I may be accepted of Thee, not for
my own merits, but for the sake of
Him Who died for me upon the cross,
and ever liveth to make intercession
for me, my only Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. Amen.

Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art
truly present in the Most Blessed
Sacrament. I love Thee above all
things, and I desire to possess Thee
within my soul. Since I cannot now
receive Thee sacramentally, come at
least spiritually into my heart. I
embrace Thee as being already there,
and unite myself wholly to Thee.
Never permit me to be separated from
Thee.

A Simple Prayer

0 Jesu! in the midst of glory, for-
get not the sadness upon earth!
Have mercy upon those, to whom

God has sent the bitter trial of sepa-
ration from those they love!
Have mercy on that loneliness of

heart so full of sadness, so crushing,
sometimes full of terror!
Have mercy upon those struggling

23



against the difficulties of life, and
faint with discouragement!
Have mercy on those, whom for-

tune favors, whom the world fasci-
nates, and who are free from care

!

Have mercy on those to whom Thou
hast given great tenderness of heart,
great sensitiveness!

Have mercy on those who cease to
love us, and never may they know
the pain they cause!
Have mercy on those who have

gradually withdrawn from Holy
Communion, and Prayer, and who
are losing peace within, yet dare not
return to Thee!
Have mercy on all we love; make

them holy, even through suffering!
if ever they estrange themselves from
Thee.

Have mercy on those who weep,
those who pray, those who know not
how to pray!
To all, O Jesus! grant Hope and

Peace

!

To Jesus and Mary

Soul of Christ, sanctify me!
Heart of Mary, help me!
Body of Christ, save me!
Mother of my soul, convert me!

24



Blood of Christ, inebriate me!
Sorrows of Mary, pierce me!
Water from the Side of Christ, cleanse
me!

Tears of Mary, purify me!
Passion of Christ, comfort me!
Loneliness of Mary, sustain me!
O my good Jesus, hear me!
O Mary most tender, behold me!
Within Thy Wounds, O Jesus, hide
me!

In the depths of thy soul, O Mary,
inflame me!

From the evil enemy, 0 Jesus, defend
me!

In thy arms, at my death, 0 Mary,
receive me!

With the angels and the saints, 0
Jesus, place me!

To behold thee in Heaven, 0 my
Mother, summon me. Amen.

A Nurse's Prayer

Dearest Lord, may I see Thee to-
day and every day in the person of
Thy sick, and whilst nursing them,
minister unto Thee. Though Thou
hidest Thyself behind the unattrac-
tive disguise of the irritable, the ex-
acting and the unreasonable, may I

25



still recognize Thee, and say: “Jesus,
my patient, how sweet it is to serve
Thee.”

Lord, give me this seeing faith,
then my work will never be monoto-
nous. I will ever find a new joy in
humoring the fancies and gratifying
the wishes of all poor sufferers. Oh

!

my beloved sick, how doubly dear you
are when I realize that you personify
Christ and what a privilege is mine
to be allowed to nurse you.

Sweetest Jesus, help me to appre-
ciate the dignity of my high vocation
and its many responsibilities. Never
permit me to disgrace it by giving
way to coldness, unkindness or impa-
tience. Finally, dear Lord, increase
my faith, bless my poor efforts and
sanctify my work now and forever.
Amen.

That God's Will Be Done

0 Sweet Jesus, I desire neither life,
nor death, but Thy most holy will.
Thou art the One 0 Lord that I long
for. If it be Thy holy will to have
me die, receive my soul; and grant
that in Thee and with Thee, I may
receive everlasting rest. If it be Thy

26



holy will to have me live longer upon
this earth, give me the grace to
amend the rest of my life, and with
good works to glorify Thy Holy
Name, Who with the Father and the
Holy Ghost livest and reignest ever
one God, world without end. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for Recovery
Most gracious Lord, may I praise

and magnify Thee for Thou hast for
the love of my soul restored me to
health again. It is of Thy mercy
alone, O Lord, that Thou hast pre-
served my life. Thou hast chastened
and corrected me, but Thou hast not
given me over unto death. 0 let this
life which Thou hast so graciously
spared, be henceforth wholly conse-
crated unto Thee. Make me strictly
careful to sin no more. May I regard
this reprieve as a golden opportu-
nity to prepare my soul, to employ
every minute allowed me to better fit
myself for Thy coming. Lord, I
have learned from this experience
what a dreadful thing it is to die un-
prepared. Hear me, dear Lord, and
as Thou hast in Thy mercy afforded
me more time grant me now all the

27



graces that I need to work out my
salvation. Amen.

Act of Contrition

Forgive me my sins, 0 Lord, for-
give me my sins; the sins of my
youth, the sins of my age, the sins of
my soul, the sins of my body ; my idle
sins, my serious voluntary sins, the
sins I know, the sins I do not know;
the sins I have concealed so long, and
which are now hidden from my mem-
ory. I am truly sorry for every sin,
mortal and venial, for all the sins of
my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy
tender Heart. 0 my Saviour, let me
be freed from the bonds of evil
through the most bitter Passion of
my Redeemer. Amen.

In Great Pain

I am crucified with Jesus Christ;
and I live, yet not I but Jesus Christ
liveth in me. I live by faith in the
Son of God Who loved me and gave
Himself for me.
0 God, let me bear on my body the

marks of the death of Jesus that the
life of Jesus may grow in me.
My Father, if it be Thy will, Thou

28



canst take this cup from me, but, O
God, Thy will, not mine, be done. O
God, give me patience. Thou hast
promised us that Thou wouldst not
suffer us to be tempted above that we
are able. O God, Thou art faithful.
I trust in Thy promise. I know, O
Lord, that if this mortal grain dieth
not, it will bring forth no fruit.
Make me bring forth fruits meet for
repentance. 0 Jesus, I embrace the
cross which Thou puttest upon me:
I wish to carry it unto the end; give
me the strength to bear it.

Accept this poor sacrifice and unite
it to Thine which is perfect and in-
finite.

In Preparation for Death

O Jesus, Who didst pray for Thine
enemies, when they crucified Thee,
forgive me my offenses, as I forgive
those who have sinned against me.
0 Jesus, Who upon the cross didst

promise to the good thief that he
should enter Paradise with Thee,
give me a place in Thy kingdom
though I am more guilty that he.
O Jesus, Who by Thy burning love

for suffering didst will to be for-
saken of Thy Father in Thy bitter-
est pain, forsake me not at the hour

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of my death; be Thou always near
me that I be not shaken, and do Thou
hide me in Thy sacred wounds.
0 Jesus, Who in Thy scorching

thirst wast given to drink only vine-
gar and gall, kindle in my heart an
ardent thirst for my safety and for
Thy glory.
0 Jesus, Who didst accomplish by

Thy death the work of our redemp-
tion, give me the grace to finish and
complete before I die all the plans
Thou hast for me for Thine honor
and my sanctification.
0 Jesus, Who at the hour of death

didst commend Thy spirit into Thy
Father’s hands, receive me with the
arms of Thy mercy when I shall
draw my last breath.
0 Jesus, have pity on me.
0 Jesus, forgive me.
0 Jesus, save me ; be my Jesus and

my Saviour at the hour of death.
Mary, Mother of grace, Mother of

mercy, help me at that last moment;
protect me against the enemies of my
salvation. Show them that thou art
my Mother and cease not to pray for
me until thou hast taken me to thy
Divine Son in Heaven.
Great St. Joseph who had the hap-

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piness of dying in the arms of Jesus
and of Mary, obtain for me the grace
to die under their protection.
My holy Guardian Angel, all the

Saints, my protectors, leave me not
at that last moment ; pray for me and
come to meet my soul.
And Thee, my Jesus, the Saint of

Saints and the author of my salva-
tion, I will not lears until Thou hast
?iven me Thy Massing for the time
present and fer all eternity. Amen.

—St. Francis de Sales.
For Perseverance

Lord, let Thy Holy Spirit enable
us with His grace to fight a good
fight with perseverance, to finish our
course with holiness, and to keep the
faith with Constance unto the end,
that at the day of judgment we may
stand at the right hand of the throne
of God and hear the blessed sentence
of, “Come, ye blessed of My Father;
receive the kingdom prepared for you
from the beginning of the world.”

For Physicians and Surgeons

0 Merciful Father, Who hast won-
derfully fashioned man in Thy own
image and hast made his body to be
a temple of the Holy Ghost; sanctify,

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we pray Thee, all those whom Thou
hast called to study and practice the
arts of healing the sick, and the pre-
vention of disease and pain. Streng-
en them in body and soul, and bless
their work, that they may themselves
give comfort to those whom He lived
and died to save. This we ask through
Him Who now liveth with Thee in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.

A Final Prayer

Dear Lord of Courage and Forti-
tude, if I must have Rheumatism, so
help me by Thy divine grace to bear
it in such a manner that I do not make
every person in the house feel the pain.

Give me the grace to refuse to de-
scribe over and over again the misery

and pangs that belong to me alone.
Strengthen in me the desire to get
well, that I may not even be tempted
to live in the pity and sympathy that
is expected to be extended to an in-
valid. May I remember continually
that pains in nerves are multiplied by

pains in description. Amen.

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