A MANVAL OF PRAYERS USED BY THE FATHERS OF THE primitive Church, for the most part within the four first hundred years of Christ, & all before the end of the sixth hundred year: divided into several Chapters.  
Wherein by the very prayers of the Apostles, and their successors, (here related without any word or syllable, added or altered) all the chiefest questions now in controversy, are invincibly proved for the holy doctrine of the present Roman Church; by which we are instructed how to believe, and what to practise in devotion.  
By R. B. P.  
Simb. Apostol. I believe the holy Catholic Church.  
With Licence. 1618.   

TO OUR MOST Renowned Queen Anne: And all her Right honourable, and other Ladies.  
MOST GRACIOUS QUEEN.  
RIght noble, and other worthy Ladies; as by place of dignity you are honourable in this world, and honour is that which many of you enough, if not to much, affect to have: and being had, continue as careful to increase, and fearful not to lose it: So seeing you consist (as all men and women do) of two portions: the chief and best by nature immortal, and the other, after a short life and death, to be clothed with immortality; and all honours, and pleasures here, be fading & mortal, and no objects of delight for creatures immortal: It is wisdom in time, for all that love and desire honour, to provide how to join honour & immortality together: for most sure it is, that both you, and all human kind shall be immortal, and if we seek not here for a better honour than this which is mortal, we shall remain without honour, and be in dishonour for ever. And all who have or claim title unto honour, must also render true and due honour to every one more honourable in degree. For, to render honour is the urgent and binding law of God, Nature, and Nations.  
But they which be often honourable in this world, are not always so strictly bound for accepting or seeking honour. And because I do not doubt, but many, or most of you, are expert enough in the second case of admitting honour unto your s●●ues, and as negligent, or ignorant in the former, so generally commanding precept of performing honour, office, and duty: I have (to condemn ignorance, wilfulness, and all vain evasions) perused the books of armory, of the best and most anutient Heralds, in the Religion of Christ: next under him his holy Apostles, their happy successors, the practices of Apostolic and all Churches, with the learned virtuous Fathers of this sacred primitive unspotted Church, of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and none after the sixth hundred year after Christ: and out of them gathered together, and set down in this brief summary of true honour: To whom, when, where, how, and what honour, these most divine and honourable persons, yielded unto others: nor by any private inference or exposition of mine own, but in the very words & prayers themselves, without any syllable added, or altered; by which those holy Churches & Fathers, publicly professed and proposed to all posterities, that inward faith which they believed; and also, that office, duty, and honour, which they and all good Christians owe, and aught to render. That except any men or women, naming themselves Christians, will be so impious Antichristians, to condemn these most holy guides, and Pastors in the kingdom of Christ, and now by these professions of their faith, & performings of duty and honour, glorious and happy Saints in heaven, and our most B. Saviour & Redeemer himself, Christ jesus, to be a seducer: the chiefest controversies of this time in Religion, being in this short Treatise, by these invincible Arguments and authorities demonstratively proved, made evident, and adjudged, for the most sacred doctrine of the present Roman Church, will have an end: the wilful and obstinate invincibly refuted, the ignorant truly instructed, the unjustly persecuted truly rewarded and pitied, most sacred priesthood and Sacrifice, by many so prophanly used, will here thus proved appear most reverent, holy, and glorious. To be brief, what homage, honour, duty, love, pity, compassion, or relief we owe, and must render, to the Church Triumphant, Militant, or patient, that we may truly, with the other Articles of our holy Creed, believe and confess the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints: they are here thus manifestly and undeniably determined: and all chiefest matters now called into question, so decided. divers prayers of this subject, I have wholly here omitted, being already lately published in my Manual of Meditations and Prayers. And in some few Controversies (though of least moment) because their prayers do not belong to all estates for which this book is published, I have been silent. The cause why I principally dedicate it to you, is not to make you patrons of the prayers of Saints, and their holy faith, but to make them patrons unto you: not to constitute you judges of the honour which is due to the High Queen and Lady in Heaven, but to make you ladies there: nor to make your unlearned sex umpeare over the whole Church of God, but to procure you to be true members of that holy company, forth of which there is no salvation; not because I would exclude your Lords, whom I duly honour, but to have it presented to them by you, and you in knowing, and performing the true honours and duties here remembered, to be more honourable both to them and others; and them, by this and your example, to learn and do the honours and duties they owe to others. Neither do I omit the inferior of your kind, to be grateful unto you, (though the virtuous among you, I honour with double honour) that live in state. But because virtue or vice, is often learned from the higher, I wish you the first, and you therein to be imitated, and made a Rule. And so in all duty I shall ever rest  
Your majesties dutiful subject and Ladyships. true servant and friend. R. B. P.   

The Table of the contents.  

The first Chapter containeth prayers concerning justification, which is not by faith alone.  
The 2. Chapter; justification and merit of Alms, Sacrifice, suffering persecution, Prayers of Saints, & other good deeds in grace.  
The 3. Chapter, of the Communion of the Militant Church, with the Triumphant, in honour, prayer, & protection; and first of our B. Lady S. Marry, the Mother of God.  
The 4. Chapter, of the same. The 5. Chapter, of Prayer and honour to the holy Angels, and their Protection.  
The 6. Chapter, of prayer and honour to all the Saints in heaven in general, & their protection.  
The 7. Chapter, to Saints in particular, deceased before the Passion of Christ.  
The 8. Chapter, of prayer & honour unto, and the patronage of Saints in particular, after the Passion of Christ.  
The 9 Chapter, the old litanies of the Church.  
The 10. Chapter, Reverence of holy Relics.  
The 11. Chapter, prayers for one departed out of this life.  
The 12. Chapter, prayers for all faithful deceased.  
The 13. Chapter, prayers before receiving the B. Sacrament, proving it to be the true Body, and Blood of Christ.  
The 14. Chapter, prayers after receiving, this B. S. proving the same.  
The 15. Chapter, of Sacramental Confession, a due preparation for that B. Sacrament.  
The 16. Chapter, the external holy priesthood, and Sacrifice of Christians, Christ's true Body and Blood offered both for the living & dead.  
The 17. Chapter, the pre-eminence of S. Peter, and his Successors, in the Apostolic Roman Sea, in this holy priesthood.  
The 18. Chapter, what diversity of orders belong unto holy priesthood; their Vows, Virginity, Chastity, & all degrees of the Church.    

PRACTISE AND PRAYERS OF THE primitive CHURCH.  

How Man is or may be justified: but not by Faith only.  
Chapter 1.  
Whosoever will be saved; 
S. Athanasius Creed.  before all things it is needful that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which except every one shall keep whole and inviolate; without doubt, he shall perish for ever. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity etc. But it is necessary to eternal salvation, that he also believe faithfully, the Incarnation of our Lord jesus Christ etc. At whose coming, all men must rise with their bodies; and render account of their own deeds. And they which have done good things shall go into life eternal: & they which have done evil things, into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith, which except every man faithfully and firmly believe, he can not be saved.  

August. meditat. cap. 33.  O Lord, I beseech, entreat, and desire thee, increase my faith, increase my hope, increase my Charity. Cause us by thy grace, to be always steadfast in fatih, and effectual in work, that by right faith, and worthy works of faith by thy mercy, we may come to eternal life.  

August. Serm. 39 de verbis Domini.  Decline from evil and do good, & when thou hast done this, secure expect life; and then boldly thou shalt say; O Lord, I have done what thou hast commanded, pay unto me what thou hast promised.  

S. Ephrem Ser. de laud omnium Martyrum.  O most holy Martyrs, we beseech you, that you would entreat our Lord for us wretched sinners, that he would power his divine grace upon us, which may continually lighten and illuminate our hearts with the beam of holy Charity, by which we may be able to love him with all our heart, and with all our mind.  

Gregor. natal. SS. Innocent. These Innocents' none above two years old, could have actual faith: much less the new found faith.  O Lord help us we beseech thee, by the prayer of those Saints, which not yet able to profess thy Son with human voice, were crowned with celestial glory, for his Nativity. O Lord we beseech thee, let them obtain for us, purity of minds, whose innocency, we solemnly celebrate.  
O God look upon us, and make, 
S. jacobus in Mis.  that our Oblation sanctified by the holy Ghost, be acceptable for propitiation of our sins, & those sins which the people by ignorance hath committed: and for the rest of the souls of them which are departed before us.  
O Lord God, 
Severus Patriarch. Alexand. de tit. Bap.  grant unto us that with joy we may keep and fulfil thy commandements all the days of our life.  
There remain (saith the holy Apostle Paul) Hope, Faith, and Charity, 
S. Gaudentius Bririen. Epis. Ser. 10. ad Neophitoes, An. 386. 1. Cor. 13.13.  these three: but the greatest of these is Charity. Faith is that, by which we confess the Trinity to be of one substance. Hope is that, by which we hope the Resurrection of the flesh; and rewards to be hereafter for merits. Charity is that, by which we so love Christ, that we would suffer ourselves with a willing mind, to be put to death for his name. But because all which are baptised in the Apostolic faith, believe surely in the Trinity, and hope for things to come: yet all can not say forth of affection with the holy Apostle, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? tribulation? or distress? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or the sword? Therefore some of our water pots hold two measures, 
He there expoundeth Christ's first miracle of water turned into wine, some pots holding two measures others three. Io. 2.  but some three measures. Therefore our Lord jesus rich towards all, and overall who call upon him, vouchsafe to give, that we may receive three measures perfect in his love. Also that without war of persecution, constant in the love of God, with prepared minds, for all suffering of present pains, we may well Merit the Renowned crown of a vanquishing conscience, by the triumph of secret conflict.  

Gotticum Mistress sale antiquis. To. 6. Bibl. SS. Part.  Let us with prayer, beseech our holy and blessed God of reward, entreating for our brethren and sisters, by whose ministery & cost, they which are needy in the Church, do not suffer want, that our Lord will communicate spiritual riches unto them, which give relief of worldly substance, to the poverty of faithful souls by our Lord jesus Christ.  
Merciful God, grant unto the prayers of thy servants, that whosoever; mindful of thy heavenly precepts, do minister necessaries to the poor, may be crowned with incorruptible & heavenly glory, of thy miseration & mercy, by our Lord jesus Christ. Amen.  
O God from whom judas the traitor received the punishment of his offence, 
Supr. Ord. Rom. antiq. in ser. S. i● caena Domini.  and the thief the reward of his confession: grant unto us the effect of our holy petition, that as our Lord jesus Christ in his Passion, gave to them both the stipends of their merits; so he will bestow upon us the grace of his Resurrection.  
Christ our God and our Lord, 
Missa Indor antiq.  who by his grace hath made us worthy to receieu his precious Body and Blood: grant that we may please him in our words, deeds, and thoughts, that this Sacrament which we have received, and shall receive, be unto us a pledge of remission of our debts, and great hope of Resurrection from the dead.  
O Lord our God, 
Can. univers. seu Mistress Ethiop.  make us pure & clean from all ill odours of feines, & worth i● of thy 〈◊〉 ●nd 〈◊〉.  
O lover of men, make us just without spot, with gladness all the days of our life. O Lord our God, protect, nourish, and govern us, by the powers of the Princes of thy Angels. Separate us from all evil works, conjoin us with all good works by Christ thine only Son.  

Aug. l. medit. cap. 20.  O house of God, bright and beautiful, I have loved the dwelling place of the glory of our Lord my possessor and maker. Speak thou, ask thou him, that he may make me worthy of the participation of thy glory. I do not despair to obtain it; olny let thy merits help me.  

Mis. Indor. antiq.  O my Lord, I beseech thee, that this oblation, may be to us, o my Lord, a losing of our debts, & remission of sins, and new life in the heavenly kingdom.  

Muzarab. in fest. S. jacobi.  O Lord my God, grant to me so to receive the body and blood of thy Sonn, our Lord jesus Christ, that by it I may merit to receive remission of all my sins, and to be filled with thy holy Spirit, 〈◊〉 our God, who livest & reignest world without end. Amen.  
O God by whom we reprove the error of them which think, 
August. lib. 5. soliloq. c. 1.  there be no merits of souls with thee.  
O Lord let blessed Agatha the Martyr, 
Gregor. in natal. S. Agathae.  who hath been acceptable to thee both by merit of Chastity, and profession of thy virtue: obtain Pardom for us.  
O holy and blessed Paula: 
Hieronim. epist. 27. ad Eustochium,  thy faith & works, associate thee to Christ.   

That Prayers, Sacrifice, suffering persecution for Christ, Almsdeeds and other good works, done in grace are meritorious.  
Chapter 2.  
O Lord we reverence the memory first of the glorious always Virgin Marie, Mother of God, 
Gregor. l. Sacrament. in Ordnar. Missae. et Mistress Rom. antiq.  and our Lord jesus Christ. Also of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, james, john, Thomas, james, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thadee: Linus, Cletus, Clemens, Xistus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence, Chrisogonus, john & Paul, Cosmas & Damianus, and of all thy Saints; by whose merits and prayers, vouchsafe to grant, that in all things, we may be defended by the help of thy protection.  

Gregor. l. Sacram. in natal. S. Io. Baptist.  O God almighty, we beseech thee that by the intercession of B. S. john Baptist, we may be defended. That he may obtain indulgence and favour for us, that we may be helped by his merits; that by his patronage meriting it, we may have increase of security.  
Grant we beseech thee, that thy family, by the intercession of thy forerunner, blessed john Baptist, may be freed from all sins, and merit to come to him whom he foretold.  

S. Ephrem.  O most gentle God, by the prayers of the Mother of God, ever a Virgin, and the heavenly army, and company of Angels, Cherubins, Seraphines Prophets, Martyrs, godly Rulers: by the intercessions of holy Religious people, & supplications of all the blessed, have mercy on me thy creature.  
O God mercifully hear us, 
Gregor. sh●. in Octau. Apost.  & grant that by the merits of blessed Peter, & his coapostle Paul, we may obtain, the glory of eternity.  
O God almighty we beseech thee, 
In vigil. S. Andr. Apost.  that blessed Andrew thy Apostle, may obtain help for us. Let us be protected by his merits.  

† Pelag. 2. epist. 4. ad Episco. Germ. et Gal. Greg. in vigil Apost. Pet. & Paul. in praef. S. Gregory teacheth the like prayers of the Church before his time of the other Apostles, in particular, S. james, S. Matthew, S. john, S. Thomas, Mathias, Philip, james.  O Lord it is worthy and just, right and helping to salvation, humbly to pray thee, that thou, o eternal Shepherd, wilt not forsake thy flock, but wilt keep thy people with continual protection, by thy blessed Apostles, that it may be governed by the same Rulers, who being the vicar's of thy work, thou hast appointed Pastors to rule it.  

† 
Gregor. sup. in natal. SS. Abdon et Sennen.  
Natal. S. Hermit.   O God grant to thy servants, that by the merits of thy Saints, Abdon and Sennen making intercession for us, we may deserve to be delivered from all adversities.  
O Lord let the intercession of blessed Hermes thy Martyr, not cease to pacify thy justice, and make our service devout unto thee.  

Natal. S. Cornel. et Cyprian.  O Lord by the intercession of thy Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, turn● from us all evils, which we justly deserve.  

Nntal. S. Georgii.  We humbly beseech thee o God omnipotent, that by the intercession of B. George, thy Martyr, thou wilt grant us worthily to serve thee. O Lord cleanse us from all guilt of our sins, by the intercession of blessed George thy Martyr.  

Natal. S. Anastas.  Grant o Lord, that the gifts, which we offer, may be to the help of our salvation, the merit of blessed Anastasia making intercession for us.  

Natal. S. Cecil.  O God we beseech thee, that by the intercession of blessed Cecilie, we may deserve to receive the benefits of thy gift.  


Natal. S. Saturn.  
S. Greg. sup. hath above 50. other the like, used by the Church before his time.  
Prudentius to S. Vincentius in Him. S. Vincentii.   O God grant us to be helped by the merits of blessed Saturninus thy Martyr.  
O twice renowned, be present now & receive the humble words of them that pray unto thee, and be an effectual orator for our offence at the throne of the Father. We beseech thee by thyself, by that prison, the increase of thy 〈◊〉; by thy bonds, flames, hooks, the block of thy prison; by those potsheardes, 
(a) 
The pavement of his prison strewed with sharp pieces of potsherdes, whereon his naked body after other torments, did lie.  
Sophron. Hierosol. Encom. Angel.   by which thou obtained victory, by which, we that come after thee, with reverence kiss thy bed: have mercy on our prayers, that Christ being pacified will not impute our sins unto us.  
O most laudable and excellent spirits, openly propose the infinite mercy of God, praying the bountiful & gentle God, that by your intercession, he will vouchsaife to admit, all the afflictions, and sickness, & calamities, which in all my life I have suffered, for a recompense of my sins, and release & pardon of the condemnation and grievous torments which I have justly deserved, & account them in their stead and place.   

Of the Communion of the Church 〈◊〉 with the Triumphant by Prayer & honour to the Saints there, by us on earth: & their patronage unto us and first of the most B. Virgin Marie.  
Chapter. 3.  

S. Ephrem orat. de laudibus Sanctis. Dei matris.  O Virgin vouchsaife, that I thy servant may praise thee. Hail most bright, & most beautiful vessel of God, Hail Lady Marie fuf of grace: Hail among women most blessed Virgin. Hail most shining star, from which Christ went forth. Hail most glorious light, Mother and Virgin. Hail Lady higher than al. Hail song of the Cherubins, and Hymn of Angels. Hail peace, joy, and salvation of the world. Hail gladness of mankind. Hail praise of the Fathers, and honour of the Prophets. Hail beauty of Martyrs, and crown of Saints, Hail glory of the godly. Hail most excellent ornament of the heavenly holies. Hail most worthy miracle of the world. Hail tree of life, joy, and pleasure. Hail quiet Haven, and deliveresse of those that be troubled. Hail the helper of them that be in danger. Hail ●●ou●● of grace and consolation. Hail refuge of sinners. Hail hope of all that be virtuous, and afflicted with adversities. Hail Queen and defence both of men and women. Hail most glorious Mediatrix of the world. Hail door of heaven. Hail opening of the gates of Paradise. Hail key of heavens, & the kingdom of Christ.  
O immaculate, unspotted, 
S. Ephrem orat. de sanctis. Dei genetrice.  uncorrupted, chaste Virgin, Spouse of God, our Lady, only hope of the despaired, help of the oppressed, and most speedy aid of those that run unto thee, and refuge of all Christians: admit my prayer, most vile, & uttered with unclean lips; and also entreat thy Son my Lord and God, with thy motherly gentleness, that he may also open unto me, those most merciful bowels, of his piety: and setting aside mine innumerable sins, convert me to penance, and grant me truly to fulfil his commandements.  
O merciful, gentle, and bountiful Lady, be always present unto me; in this life an earnest protecti●● and helper, driving back mine enemy's invasions, and bringing me to salvation, and in the last moment of my life, keep my wretched soul, driving far from it the ugsome sight of wicked devils, & in the terrible day of judgement, delivering me from everlasting damnation; last making me heir of that inaccessible glory, of thy Soon and God. Which by thine intercession and favour I beseech thee again and again, most holy Lady, Mother of God, that I may obtain by thy grace, mercy and gentleness of thine only begotten son our Lord, and God, and Saviour jesus Christ.  
As thou art the Mother of the most merciful God; so mercifully receive me a sinner: be present with me, o merciful, gentle, & bountiful Virgin.  

S. Ephrem in lamen. Sanctis. Dei genetricis etc.  O immaculate and blessed Mother, (without sin) of thy Son, & God of all, pure, sound, most sacred; we praise thee, we bless thee, as full of grace, who broughtest forth Christ. We all prostrate ourselves to thee, we all beseech thee. Deliver us o unspotted, from all necessity, from all temptations of the devil. Be our Reconciliatrix and Advocate in the hour of judgement. Deliver us from the fire to command darkness: and vouchsaif us the glory of thy Son; for thou art the most holy hope of Christians with God.  
To whom be honour world without end. Amen.  
O holy and immaculate Virgin Marry Mother of God, 
August. meditat. c. 40.  and Mother of our Lord jesus Christ, vouchsafe to make intercession for me, to him whose Temple thou deservedst to be.  
I beseech the Intercession of blessed Marie the Virgin; 
Ambros. orat. praeparat.  that my prayer may be effectual.  
O holy Mother of God Virgin Marie, pray for us. 
Greg. in Antiphonar.   
O Queen of heaven and Lady of earth, ever most holy Virgin, 
Io. Cassian. Coufes. Theolog. part. 3.  Mother of God & our Lord jesus Christ; pray for us and daily, yea continually make intercession for me thy servant, and for all the holy Church of God, for remission of sins, purging of vices, for increase and perfection of virtues, for the peace and health of the faithful people, for the fruits of the earth, for the stability of the Church, the order of Saints, and for all servants of God, men and women, both living and departed, that by thy prayers and holy merits, God almighty may take mercy on a people full of sins, here, and for ever.  

S. Leander Liturg. Muzarab. infest. S. jacobi.  Hail o Queen, Mother of mercy, life, sweetness, and our hope all haille. We that are the banished children of Eve do cry unto thee. To thee we sigh groaning and weeping, in this vale of tears. Therefore o thou our advocate, turn those thy merciful eyes unto us, and show unto us after this exile, blessed jesus the fruit of thy womb. O merciful, o full of pity, o sweet Virgin Marie. Pray for us o holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  

Athanas. ser. de sanctis. Deipara To. 3.  hearken o daughter of David & Abraham, and incline thine ear to our prayers, and forgeat not thy people. We cry unto thee, o most holy Virgin, remember us, and render unto us for this little speech, great gifts out of the riches of thy graces, thou who art full of grace. We use these words for thy praise, If at any time Hymn, if at any time praise, be offered unto thee, either by us, or any creature, to thee I say our gracious Lady, Queen, Mistress, Mother of God, Ark of the Sanctuary. All orders of Angels and earthly things pronounce thee blessed. We exalt thee with a great and loud voice saying: Hail gracious, our Lord is with thee, o Mistress, and Lady and Queen, and Mother of God, make intercession for us.  
O venerable Virgin, chaste, 
S. Gregor. Nazian. in traged. Chri●● patience.  most happy, adorned with the garment of immortality, accounted as a Goddess: be mercifuly present to my prayers, receive my petitions.  
O Lady grant that I may so depart forth of this life, that having thee so great a governess of it, I may always find thee for me a most acceptable Patroness to thy Son. Suffer me not to be delivered over as it were to be crucified and exposed to the scorn of him that is the sworn enemy & plague of all mortal men.  
O maiden equalled by none in grace, Mother and Virgin, comely above all virgins, and the greatest, who excedest all orders of heavenly inhabitants, Queen, Lady, the good of mankind: be always a friend to mortal men, and to me every where the greatest saifguard.  
O thrice blessed Mother, o light of virgins, which inhabitest the most glorious Temple of heaven, free from the stains of mortality: now thou art adorned with the stole of immortality, hearken gently from above to my words, and I beseech thee o Virgin, receive my prayers.  

S. Chrisostom. in mis. translated by Erasmus of Roterad.  It is worthy and just, to glorify thee God's Mother, & always most blessed, & wholly undefiled Mother of god more honourable than the Cherubins, and, incomparably, more Glorious, than the Seraphins, which without corcorruption, hast brought forth God: verily we magnify thee God's Mother.  
O glorious Mother of God, who brought forth true God: pray unto him to save our souls.  
O Mother of God, because thou art more excellent than all creatures, we which are not able to praise thee worthily, do freely beseech thee, have mercy upon us.  
Hail full of grace, our Lord is with thee. 
S. Andreas Archiepis. Hierosolym. ser. in salutat. S. Mar. Deiparae to. 2. Bibl. SS. Patr. An. 550.  Hail organ of joy, by which the condemnation of our offence is purged, and full compensation of true joy is made. Hail truly blessed. Hail illuminated. Hail magnificent Temple of Divine glory. Hail consecrated Palace of the King. Hail bride chamber, in which humanity was espoused to Christ. Hail elected to God before thou wert borne. Hail God's Reconciliation with men. Hail treasure of life which never fadeth. Hail heaven celestial, Tabernacle of the sun of glory. Hail most ample field of God, whom none other place but thou alone, could comprehend. Hail holy virginal earth, of which the new Adam by an unspeakable framing, was form; which should restore the old Adam to salvation.  
Hail Marry full of grace, 
S. jacob. in mis. received in concil. 6. genral. Can. 32.  our Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb; for thou hast brought forth the Saviour of our souls. It is worthy, it is worthy that we call thee who art truly blessed the Mother of God always blessed & every way irreprehensible, & the Mother of our God, more honourable than the Cherubins, and more glorious than the Seraphins: who without corruption, hast brought forth God the word. We truly magnify thee the Mother of God, o full of grace, to thee every creature maketh joy, the company of Angels, and mankind: thou who art the sanctified Temple, the spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins, of whom God received flesh, and became a child, our God who is before the world: for he made thy bely his Throne, and thy womb more spacious and large, than the heavens themselves. To thee o full of grace, every creature doth gratulate; glory to thee.  

Precat. Syriac. apud Sever. Patriarch. Alex. in prec. Syr. to. 6. Bibl. SS. Patr.  O holy Marie Mother of God, pray for us, I say sinners. Amen.  
O Mother of God, Queen of heaven, door of paradise, Lady of the world, begin prayers for my sin.  
Amen.  

Eutychian. in vit. S. Theophili.  O my blessed Lady, and defence of mankind, the harbour and protection of them that flee unto thee. I know o my Lady Mother of God, that I have greatly offended thee. For who o my Lady hath hoped in thee and was ashamed? or what man hath faithfully asked thy help, able to all things, & hath at any time been forsaken? verly no man at any time. Wherefore I a sinner also and wicked person, ask thy ever-during fountain, from which cures do flow to our souls, be merciful unto me.   

Of the same praying unto, and honouring this most blessed Virgin Marie.  
Chapter. 4.  
Hail full of grace, 
S. Andreas Hierosol. in salutat. Angel. Serm.  our Lord is with thee. He that said Let light be made, let the firmament, and the rest of the works of wonderful creation, be made. Hail Mother of immeasurable joy. Hail new Ark of glory, in which the spirit of God descending, rested; Ark in which rested the sanctification of new glory. Hail ornament of all Prophets and patriarchs, and most true praise of the unsearchable oracles of God. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and verily thou art truly blessed, for God hath blessed thee a Tabernacle to himself. Blessed art thou among women, who alone hast got the blessing which God had promised to the Gentiles by Abraham. 
Gen. 12.  Verily thou art blessed, who art called the Mother of the blessed child jesus Christ our Saviour; for whom the Gentiles cry, 
Math. 22.  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of our Lord, & blessed the eternal name of his glory. Blessed art thou among women, whom all generations proclaim blessed, kings do glorify, whom Potentates adore, whom virgins both following and going before thee, do attend into the Temple of the King.  

August. ser. 2. de anuntiat. et assumpt. B. Mar.  O haphie Marie, and worthy of all praise. O Virgin, o glorious Mother of God, o high child-bearer, to whose bowels, the maker of heaven and earth is committed. O B. Marry, admit our prayers within the sacrary of thy Auditory, and bring again unto us grace of reconciliation. Obtain what we ask and excuse that we fear; for we find none more excellent in merits, to pacify the judges anger, than thou art, who hast deserved to be the Mother of our Redeemer & judge.  
Secure those that be in misery, assist the weak hearted, comfort those that weep, pray for the people, entreat for the Clergy, make intercession for the company of Monks, beseech for the devout woman sex. Let all persons perceive thy help, that celebrate thy name. Have compassion upon the afflicted, bear a merciful affection to us that be pilgrims from heaven. present our weepings unto God, and for us entreat him as thine own son. We on earth are yet afflicted, entertained with injuries, affected with reproaches: do hunger, thirst, are detained in prison. But thou in heaven art preferred before all companies of virgins, thou followest the Lamb whether soever he goeth. Thou in that most happy Region of the blessed, hast got the chiefest dignity. To thee a kingly Queare of Angels is placed in the palace of the eternal King. And the King of kings himself loving thee above all, with an embracing of love, doth sociate thee to him seif, as his true Mother and comely Spouse. Therefore, possessing these felicities, turn thyself to the salvation of our souls: assist the prayers of them that ask thee; be careful daily to pray for the people of God, thou being blessed, diddest deserve, to bear the Redeemer of the world: who liveth, and reigneth, for ever. Amen.  

August. supr.  O blessed Marie, who is able worthily, to render duty of thanks, & solemnity of praises unto thee, who, by thy singular assent, hast sucoured the world which was lost? What praises shall the frailty of man yield unto thee, who by thy negotiation alone, hast? found the means to recover it again Wherefore receive such as they be, very small, such as they be, thanks unequal to thy merits; and when thou hast received our prayers, by praying, excuse our faults.  
Blessed among women, 
Andrea's Cretens. in salut. Angel. in Encom. 2. dormit. Deipar. c. 8.  pacify our Lord for his common creature. For so long as thou diddest converse on earth, a little portion of the earth had thee: but since thou art translated from earth, the whole world containeth thee a common propitiatory.  
O Mother of God, 
cap. 12. supr.  to us that honour thee give again this reward of a little gift, that we may have more precious and resplendent than riches, humble prayers to thy Son and our Lord, and King, and God.  
O unspotted, 
S. Ephrem orat. de laudib. sanctis. Dei matris.  and wholly pure Virgin, God's Mother, Queen of all, hope of the desolate, my most glorious Lady, higher than the inhabitants of heaven, more pure than the beams & brightness of the Sun, more to be honoured then the Cherubin, more holy than the Seraphim, hope of the Fathers, glory of the Prophets, praise of the Apostles, and honour of Martyrs, joy of Saints, and light of the godly Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, ornament of Aaron, shynnig of Moses, fleece of Gedeon, the Crown of the company of sarced Prelates, and all Saints and Virgins; inaccessible for brightness. By thee we are reconciled to Christ, my God, thy Son. Thou art the helper of those that sin, and are destitute of aid, comfort of the world, renowned deliverer of the imprisoned. Thou the receiver of orphans. Thou the redemption of captives. Thou the exultation of the sick and safety of al. Thou the ornament, crown, & joy of virgins, have mercy on me that am defiled, who with vetie many sins, have offended my Creator, my God, and judge, that most hateful Satan do not glory against me. O sincere Virgin, I have none other trust. for thou, o inviolate Virgin, art my harbour and ready helper. Lastly I am wholly under thy wing and protection. most renowned Mother I beseech thee with frequent tears, I lie prostrate to thee, o my Lady, humbly craving, that thy sweet Son, & giver of the life of all, do not take me away, for many sins which I have committed.  

Basilius Seleucus orat. 1. de verb. Incarnate.  O thrice holy Virgin Marie, look upon us from heaven with a merciful eye, and now lead us from hence in peace, place us free from confusion before the Throne of the judge, and at last make us partakers of the station at the right hand; that from thence being taken to heaven together with the Angels, we may praise the increated, and Homoousion Trinity.  
O Virgin Mother of God and Christ, 
Canon univer. +sal. or mis. Ethiop. to. 6. Bibl. po●●.  at all times carry up our prayer with the elect of thy Son, that our sins may be forgiven. Be joyful o Lady because thou hast brought forth to us the true light: pray for us with him, that he will have mercy on our soul; pray for us in the sight of the Throne of thy son jesus Christ: be joyful, o immaculate, verily our Queen: be glad, o glory of our parents, because thou hast brought forth unto us Emanuel: o verily Mediatrix before our Lord jesus Christ. We humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt be mindful of us, that our iniquities may be blotted out.  
Verily the blessed Virgin Marie was a great miracle: for what was, 
S. Chrisostom. apud Metaphrast. et Breu. Rom. 12. Septemb.  or ever shall be found at any time greater, or more renowned than she? She alone 〈◊〉 assed heaven & earth in renown. What more holy than she? Not the Prophets, not Apostles, not Maryrs, not patriarchs, not Angels, not Thrones not Dominations, not Seraphim, not Cherubin; Last no other thing among things visible, or invisible, can be found greater or more excellent, The same is the handmaid and Mother of God. The same a Virgin & Mother. This is the Mother of him, who before all beginning, was begotten of his Father; whom Angels and men acknowledge Lord of all things. Will you know how much this Virgin is more excellent than the celestial powers? They with fear & tembling do assist: she offereth Mankind to him whom she brought forth. By her also we obtain Pardon of sins. Hail therefore o Mother, Heaven, Maiden, Virgin, Throne, of our Church the renown, glory, and firmament: pray for us daily to jesus, thy Son, and our Lord, that by thee we may find mercy in the day of judgement, and obtain those good things, which are laid up for those that love God, by the grace, and bounty of our Lord jesus Christ wit● whom to the Father and Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and Rule, now and ever world without end. Amen.  
O holy Mother of God, 
S. Ciril. Alet. homil. conit. Nestor.  praise be to thee, for thou art the precious pearl of the world. Thou the unquenchable lamp, crown of virginity, Sceptre of true faith, indissoluble Temple containing him, who can no where be contained: A Mother and Virgin. Thou art blessed among women, Mother of him that cometh blessed in the name of our Lord. By thee the Trinity is sanctified: By ●●ee the precious Cross is celebrated and worshipped in all the world. By thee heaven doth joy, the Angels and Archangels rejoice, the devils are driven away, and man himself is called back to heaven. By thee every creature, detained in the error of Idols, is converted to the knowledge of the truth, & faithful men have come to holy baptism, & churches are builded in all the world. Thou being helper, the Nations have come to penance. What more? By thee the only begotten Son of God, that true light, hath shined to them that sat in darkness and shadow of death. By thee the Prohets foretold. By thee the Apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles. Who shall be able to express the greatness of thy praises, o Marry, Mother and Virgin. Let us extol her, adoring her Son, the immaculate Spouse of the Church. To whom be honour and glory world without end.  
Amen.   

Of Prayer and honour unto the blessed Angels in heaven.  
Chapter. 5.  

August. meditat. c. 20.  O jerusalem, the eternal house of God, next to the love of Christ, be thou my gladness and consolation. Let the sweet memory of thy blessed name, be the relief of my sorrow & werisomnes.  

Io. Cassian. ●●●●es. Theo.  O holy Angels, holy Archangels, holy Powers, holy Potentates, 
log. part. 3. et August. meditat. c. 23.  holy principalities, holy Dominations, holy Thrones, holy Seraphins, holy Cherubins, holy Michael, holy Gabriel, holy Raphael, and thou my holy Angel, to whom our common maker, hath committed me to be kept, and all you administering spirits, and heavenly Citizens, & all orders of blessed Spirits make intercession and pray for me, a wretch, and your unworthy servant, & for all the Church of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ, that by your prayers we may be joined to your B. fellowship for ever.  
Let us ask that we may have God, 

Nemetian. Datiu. Felix et Vict. epist. ad Cyprian. inter. epist. eius 7●. Mallabar. Indi in mis.  
S. Sophron. Hierosol. Encom. Angel.   and Christ, and the Angels, favourers unto us in all our actions.  
We beseech the Angel of peace & love with prayer and obsecration.  
O you divine armies of God, & immaterial, O Angels intellectual, & reasonable: But it is better by degree, & in order, to Praise, magnify, and call upon you. O Seraphins, 
Seraphins prayed unto.  I beseech you to cleanse the inward corners of my soul, from the filths of sin; and utterly expelling and putting away the darkness of my heart, lighten the internal senses of my mind.  

Cherubins.  O you Cherubins adorn me with the knowledge of the heavenly word. Kindle anger in me against the old serpent and powerablie carry me on high from the earth.  

Thrones.  O you Thrones, who are the seate-bearers and rest of God almighty, deliver me from all deceit and cursed work, and make me worthy of the glory and Majesty of God.  

Dominations.  O venerable Dominations, grant unto me that I may govern the passions of my mind, which corrupt the understanding: and to the last breath of my life subdue the deceipts of the devil which grievously hurt my soul.  

Potentates.  O Potentates, named agreeable to your office, give power unto me against the visible and invisible enemies, which rise against my soul, & labour to bring my mind into captivity, & endeavour to overthrow my ways.  

Powers.  O you immovable and mighty powers, compass me about with heavenly strength and power, that am weak and infirm, and make me apt, that I may manfully drive away, and tread under foot, those spritual snakes & scorpions.  
O Principalities, 
Principalities.  chief in the third order of Angels, be faithfully present, and use your careful diligence that I may triumph over my most noisome enemies, and resist them without fear & wound even to the end.  
O you the rest of the Angels & Archangels, 
Archangels. Angels.  I ask and beseech your bounty, o you good & without blemish Angels and Archangels, o undefiled spirits, I entreat your magnificence preserve my life without offence, my hope unmoved, manners blameless, my love towards God and my neighbour perfect, and free from all transgression, I beseech you lead and guide me with your hand, and direct me to every way of salvation, and acceptable to God.  
All places are full of Angels, 
Origen homil. 2. in Ezechiel.  o Angel come receive one cenuerted from old error, from doctrine of devils, from iniquity speaking against God: and receiving him as a good Physician, cherish, and instruct him: and call unto thee other fellows of thy ministry, that all you together may instruct them to faith, which sometime were deceived. 
Luc. 25.  For there is greater joy in heaven for one sinner doing penance then eighteen nine just.  

August. in job. conc. 2 ad cap. 19  Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me o my friends. he seemeth to request the Angels to pray for him: or surely the Saints to pray for a penitent.  

August. l. meditat. c. 4.  O holy Michael, holy Gabriel, holy Raphael, o you holy Quiets of Angels, and Archangels, I presume to ask you by him that hath chosen you, and of whose sight you rejoice, that you vouchsafe to pray for me to God a sinner.  

S. Chrisost. in Liturg.  O Michael Prince of the heavenly army, we unworthy do beseech thee, that thou wilt defend us by thy intercessions; keep us with the shadow of thy wings of an immaterial nature. We fall down, and without ceasing cry unto thee: deliver us from dangers, as prince of the heavenly powers.  

Victor Vticenc. l. 3. persec. Vandal. Hebr. 1.14.  Be present unto me o you Angels of my God which are never absent constituted in your ministery, for them that shall receive the inheritance of salvation. Consider and behold, how Zion, the City of our God, is made vile, become as it were polluted among her enemies. All comeliness and delights, are gone from her countenance. Her Virgins & young people brought up in Monasteries, have learned to tread sharp ways,  
O you Angels, succour us. 
Gregor. in agend. mortuor.  
Gregor. in Sacramentar.  O God omnipotent, we humbly ask & entreat, that the intercession of Archangels, be unto our Lord for us, the Intercessions of Michael, and Gabriel, & Raphael, that we may appear worthy before our Saviour, by the intercession of the neene orders of Angels. The Thrones, & Dominations, and Principalities, and Powers: also Cherubins, and Seraphimes, vouchsafe to pray for us.  
O thrice most holy and much beloved, and reverenced Prince, 
Sophron. Hierosol. Encom. Angel.  
S. Machael.  and chief of the Angels Michael, when at the last all those admirable things which are expected, shall be ended, by the sound which thou shalt give: then, o holy Arch-prince, teacher of those that err, raiser of them that fall, defender of souls, preserver of bodies, abandoners of devils, and lightner of every creature: then I beseech thee, vouchsafe to be present, a faithful Patron of my soul.  
O most holy Michael, illustrate my inward senses, and illuminate the internal eye of my soul, and strengthen my heart, tossed with the waves of this life and my mind bended down to earthly things, lift it up ward to heavenvly wisdom, and strengthen my weak hands against mine enemies expert in war; & fortify my feeble feet, that they forsake not the path that leadeth to heaven; and cure the rest of the griefs of my miseries and labours.  

Michael signifieth, who as God.  O Michael both in deed and name, I pray thee, and so much as I am able beseech thee, that when I shall depart forth of this life, thou wilt appear joyful, & pacified, and shroud me under the honoured covering of thy wings: & being delivered from the narrow & dark places of hell, lead me into the rooms of the wonderful Tabernacle, leading me even to the house of God.  

S. Gabriel.  O most heavenly and excellent Angel Gabriel; o Gabriel obtainer, and giver of true gladness: I often request and beseech thee, that thou wilt l●uing visit me oppressed with great sickness, and fill me with celestial virtue, and joy of mind; and being freed from the torments of Belial, and dangers both of visible and not visible enemies, by thine authority, and intercession to God, join me to the company of the just & Saints; and at last settle me in those places which flow with all delghtes.  
O heavenly spirits, I desire to ask, and earnestly beseech you, that when as the last gasp of my life, I shall be compelled to go forth of this earthen vessel, and you are to weigh in a balance, all mine actions, and take account of all things, which openly or secretly I have designed, that then either all of you, or at least they whom God shall send forth of your order, to receive mine unhappy & wretched soul, will show yourselves pleased & gentle unto me; & those weights which I with my wicked deeds, have desperately burdened, you will happily unload, and by all means and skill, as the ministers of our only mercicul God, disburden.  
When the day of confundation cotheth, and the end of the world shall be, when the heavens shall tremble and the firmament shake, and the dreedful judge approach, and you going before his coming, shall run over the bounds & ends of the earth, to gather together, all mortal men that are dead from the beginning of the world, and set them before the uncorrupt judge, for every one to yield account of every deed, every thought, and conceit of mind: Then I beseech you, and will never cease to the end of my life to beseech you, who behold all things, and perform the public ministries of God, with authority, than I say, than I beseech you, be mercifully present with me, and as the Princes of the most excellent King, spare me a wretch, and unhappy, & by your intercession to God, deliver me from that doleful and angry sentence, that sendeth into everlasting fire. And chose, make me, with all my partakers, & kinsfolks, whose names and calling he knoweth, who knoweth all things, partaker of that joyful & pleasant state & life that is void of all sorrow, and wanteth nothing; and lastly pronounce me heir of that joy which never endeth.   

Of prayer and honour to all the blessed Sanctes in heaven in general.  
Chapter. 6.  
O House of God shining and beautiful, 
August. l. meditat. c. 20.  I have loved thy comeliness, and the dwelling place of the glory of our Lord, my possessor and maker.  
Let my pilgrimage sigh unto thee day and night: Let my heart be open unto thee, my mind intend thee, my soul desire to come unto the fellowship of thy blessedness. I speak to him who made thee to possess me in thee, because he hath made me and thee. And speak thou, ask thou him, to make me worthy of the participation of thy glory.  
I will begin to throw down myself upon my knees, and pray unto all Saints, 
Origen in lament.  to succour me, who dare not ask God for the exceeding greatness of my sin, O ye Saints of God, with exceeding sorrow, tears, and weeping, I beseech you, that you will fall down before his mercies for me a wretch. Amen.  

Cassian. Confess. Theolog. part. 3. See S. August. med. c. 23.  O all you heavenly Citizens make intercession and pray for me a wretch, and your unworthy servant; And also for all the holy Church of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ: that by your prayers we may be joined to your blessed fellowship for ever.  
O happy Saints of God, who have now passed over the troublesome sea of this mortality, & are come to the Haven of everlasting quietness, security, and peace, and deserved to be fellows of the heavenly powers; you are secure of yourselves, be careful for us. I beseech you by him that hath chosen you, who hath made you such, of whose contemplation you now rejoice, with whose beauty you are now filled, by whose immortality and unchangeableness, you are become immortal and unchangeable: be mindful of us wretches, yet in the sea of this life, tossed with waters found about us. Make intercession & pray for us wretches, and very negligent sinners, constantly, and without ceasing, that by the arms of your prayers, we may be carried to God. We sail as you know, by this great & vast sea, where the great wahle is ready to devour those that pass by. where there be dangerous places, Scylla, and Charybdis, with many others, in which men unwares, and doubtful in faith, do suffer ship wracks, wherefore in all things we want your help, we are carried on the tree, and by the Cross of our Lord hope to pass over to harbour. Let the adverse parts flee away, by the sight of the sign of Christ. Al you army of the heavenvly country, pray, that by your merits & by your prayers, we may with our ship saife, & merchandise preserved, happily enter into the haven of eternal glory; where you are, where you rejoice, where you reign with God with out end.  
We beseech the Saints, 
S. Hieron●●. ad Psal. 15.  that we be not separated from thee: if we do not deserve to be clothed with glory, yet that we be not excluded from pardon.  
I beseech the intercession of the Apostles. 
Ambros. 〈◊〉 2. praep●r.   
O holy Quires of patriarchs, 
August. l. medit. c. ●0.  Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, priests, Leustes, Monks, Virgins, and all the just; I presume to ask you by him who hath chosen you, and of whose sight you joy, that you will vouchsaife to pray to God for me a sinner, that I may be delivered from the jaws of the devil, and from everlasting death.  

S. Chrisost. in mis. vers. a leone Tusco.  O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets, priests, Confessors, and just men, and holy women, who have well ended your combat, & kept your faith, being faithful to our Saviour, pray for us, that our souls may be saved. Amen.  

Victor uticenc. l. 3. persecut. Vandal.  O you patriarchs, of whom the Church which now laboureth on earth, is descended, make intercession for it. O you holy Prophets, behold how she is afflicted, whom you have tuned forth with Prophetical praise. O you Apostles, be you intercessors for her, whom to gather together, you have run about all the world.  

Paulin. Nolan. natal. 9 S. Felicis.  O you holy prophets, who foretold the coming of God in our flesh: & you Martyrs, who with the slaughter of your bodies, & shedding of your blood, have given testimony to the Lamb that was killed, and is alive: I humbly beseech you to be present with me.  
The Infant's protomartyrs in the order of Saints, 
S. Cyprian. de stel. et mag. ●● Innocent.  acquainted with the divine secrets by their familiar nearness: vouchsafe to entreat the mercy of God for our labours.  
O most blessed Martyrs, who for our Saviour, and the love of him, have freely and perfectly sustained torments, 
S. Ephrem set. de sanctis Martitib.  & therefore are more familiarly joined to God: We entreat you, that you will vouchsaife to make intercession to our Lord for us wretches and sinners, and polluted with the filthiness of negligence, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, to illustrate our hearts with the beam of his holy love.  
O most blessed men, o most glorious Martyrs of God, help me a wretch with your prayers, that I may obtain mercy in that hour, when the secrets of men shall be manifest. Stand before the Throne of the Majesty of God for me, that by your prayers, I may deserve to be saved, and with you to enjoy eternal blessedness.  
I ask the Saints by their intercession, to obtain unto me the goodwill of God. I ask and beseech, that by the Intercession of all Saints, I may obtain the help of God.  

Theodoret. up. vit. ult. he meaneth those Saints whose life he had written in ●hat history.  I beseech those Saints, whose life I have written, that they will not despise me, living far from their spiritual company, but draw me lying beneath, and lift me up to the top of virtue, & join me with them, that I may not only praise the riches of others, but myself may have some occasion of praise, glorifying the Saviour of all, both in deed and word, and thought.  

Gregor. antiphonar. ad Process.  O Saints arise, and keep us humble sinners in peace.   

Of prayer and honour unto some Saints on particular deceased before the Passion of Christ.  
Chapter. 7.  

Origen in lament.  O Father Abraham, pray for me, that I be not driven from the bounds, which I have greatly desired.  
O blessed job, 
Origen. l. 2. in job.  who livest for ever with God, and remainest a conqueror in the sight of the King our Lord: pray for us wretches, that the dreadful mercy of God, defend us in all tribulations and deliver us from all oppressions of the devil, and number us among the just, & inrol us with those that are saved, and cause us to rest with them in his kingdom, where we may continually magnify him with his Saints, Amen.  
O blessed job, be a guide unto us, 
Olimpiodorus. in c. 15. job.  & forsake us not until thou have directed us unto the plain way in which we may travail saifly, & not err from truth.  
The Protomartyrs, 
Ciprianus de Stel. et magis. he meaneth the holy Innocentes put to death by Herode.  which have the first place in the order of Saints, and acquainted with divine secrets by their most familiar nearnes: vouchsafe to entreat the clemency of God for our labours, whom to this day deadly Herode persecuteth: with whose blood, and death, the devil delighteth. Therefore these translated from their cradles to heaven, are made Senators of the heavenly Capitol, and judges there, obtaining pardon for some without deserving.  

Antipater Bostrens. Episcop. orat. in S. Io. Baptist. c. 3 See more supr. cap. 2.  O Baptist, I beseech thee grant unto me the hope of my Prayer, and as thou art a voice, preserve unto me sure & stable, the senses of the instruments of voice.  

S. Ephrem Syr. l. de laudib. joseph. Patriarch. his prayer at the Tomb of Rachel his mother.  O Rachel, Rachel, my Mother, behold joseph thy Son whom thou hast loved, what hath chanced unto him. Behold he is led captive as a malefactor. O Rachel, receive thy son; O mother, receive me; o my mother hear the mourning and bitter scriking of my heart; mine eyes can no longer sustain tears, neither my life sufficeth, to such lamentations and groanings.   

Of prayer and honour unto Saints in particular, deceased after the Passion of Christ.  
Chapter. 8.  

S. Leo ser. 1. de Injun. 10 mens.  THe most blessed Apostle Peter, vouchsaife by his prayers, to help our prayers, fastings, and alms.  
Blessd Peter and all Saints, 
S. Leo in ser. octau. Pet. et Pauli.  that have been present with us in many tribulations, vouchsafe to help our prayers with the merciful God, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  
O Peter, 
Ambros. in c. 22. Luc. prope finem.  from whence may I call thee to teach me what thou didst think when thou didst weep? from whence I say may I call thee? from heaven where thou art among the Queares of Angels, or from thy grave also? because thou thinkest it no injury to be there from whence our lord arose; teach us what thy tears did profit thee.  
O Peter & Paul, 
Chrisost. ho●●. in natal. Apostol. Petri et Pnuli. To. 3. sur. Gal. 6. 2. Pet. 1.  pray for us continually, we beseech you. perform your promises, for these are your covenants, of one of you this; come with me, & let us not faint in good things. and of the other, that: I will study after my death, to make mention of you. Therefore do not forgeat your agreed covenants, but you which are immediately present to the B. Trinity without beginning, ask for us all things belonging to salvation.  
O holy Paul Doctor of the Gentiles, and all you holy Apostles, 
Victor v●. l. 3. persec. V●●●.  lament together with us. We prostrate, ask by him who promoted you lowly fishers, to the highest Apostolical dignity; that you do not despise your wretched sinners.  

Elpis him. de Petro et Paulo.  O Paul excellent Doctor, instruct our manners, and endeavour to translate us in mind into heaven.  

Mis. or cant. univer. Ethiop.  O S. Paul, who hast received the Crown, pray and make intercession for us, that our souls may be delivered by the multitude of the mercies of jesus Christ, and his holy name.  

Damasus de S. Andrea.  O S. Andrew, cherish us which be fainting, have care of us, that by the victory of the Cross, we may go to the country of heaven.  

Mazarab. in office vesper. S. jacob.  O verily worthily, more holy Apostle, the shining head of Spain; be a defender, patron, and saifguard to us from heaven: drive away from us, sickness, sore, and sin. Be favourable, that by heavenly help, we may possess joy, obtaining the kingdom, may be adorned with eternal glory; that by thee we may escape hell.  

Ciril. Alexand. hom. die joh. Evangelist. in Concil. Ephes.  O Evangelist, o blessed john, speak unto us some great and notable thing. O Apostle, open unto us the well of life, grant now that we may draw from thy fountains. 
To S. Clement. Ephrem Episc. Chensonis de S. Clement. An. 500   
O ornament of Martyrs, and glory of Saints, defend and keep this company without harm by thy prayers. O most holy, drive-backe the cruel devils with the dart of thine intercessions.  
O holy Laurence thou hast a double mansion, one of thy body on earth, 
Prudent. him. 2. de S. Laurent.  and an other of thy soul in heaven. There thou art a chosen Citizen of the unspeakable city, & wearest a celestial Crown above, in the everlasting Court. I seem to see a man glittering with illustrious precious stones, whom the heavenly Rome hath chosen unto her for an eternal Consul. What power is bestowed upon thee, and what great office is given unto thee, is expressed by the joys of the Romans, whose petitions thou yieldest unto, what any man doth humbly ask, he prosperously obtaineth. They ask, they offer, they honour, & no man departeth in sadness, as though thou wert always present, embracing in thy nursing bosom; thy country Citizens nourish them with a fatherly love. Among these, o honour of Christ, heart me also confessing the sins of my heart, and bewraying my deeds. I acknowledge and know myself unworthy to be heard of Christ himself, yet I may receive cure by his Martyrs my patrons. O bountiful, hear thy Suppliant: & unbind him from the bands of the world.  

August. l. 7. de Baptismo contia Donatist. c. 1.  Blessed Cyprian, vouchsafe to help us with his prayers, in the mortality of this flesh, as labouring in a dark cloud that by the gift of God, we may, so much as we can, imitate his good things.  

To the same S. Gregor. Naz. orat. in S. Cyprian. in fine.  O noble Maryr, look down mercifully on us from above, and direct our speech and life, and feed this holy fold, or govern it, and so much as is possible dispose other things to the best.  

To the 40. martyrs. S. Basil. ser. in 40. martyrs.  Where two or three be gathered together in the name of our Lord, there is God. But where forty shall be, who will doubt but God is present there? He that is oppressed with any distress; let him flee to these: he that doth joy, let him pray to these. The one to be delivered from things that be evil; the other to continue in his joys. O holy Queare, o sacred order, o common keepers of mankind, most excellent fellows of cares, offerers up of prayers and Vows, most potent Ambassadors with God, the Stars of the world, Flowers of the Churches.  
O holy S. Alban, 
S. Amphibalus apud Capgratr. et alios in vit. S. Albani et Amphibali.  I beseech thee to pray to our Lord for me, that it will please him to send his Angel to lead me securely that I be not hindered in my way, by the cursed enemy the devil.  
O holy Father Alban, who leaving things terrestrial, hast ascended the high seat of heaven with glory: now we beseech thee with earnest prayer, thee who art our true glory, unbind by thy devout prayers, the sins of thy servants. Pray for the English Nation, and for the everlasting peace thereof, & obtain for us thy suppliants, the eternal joys of life, where Alleluya doth sound continually.  

† Gradual. antiq. et mis. Salisb. in fest. S. Albani.  O Saint Alban pray for us. O S. Alban, make intercession for the souls of the deceased.  

† Litan. Angl. antiq. ante Baptist. et commned. animae. allowed by S. Amal. c. 18. litan. l. 1. de office  O twice renuomed, descend hither a while, bringing Christ's favour with thee, 

To S. Vincentius.  
Prudent. him. 5. de. S. Vincent.   that our grieved senses, may feel the ease of pardon. Let no death now remain, but the noble Soul receive flesh again; that as it hath been partaker of labours and common danger, so it may be coheir of glory for ever.  

Ptudent. in him. 10. S. Romanni. martyr.  O Romanus constant Confessor of Christ our God, be friendly unto me, & move the organ of my speechless mouth grant me to declare the marvelous things of thy praises, for thou knowest that the dumb, may be made to speak.  

Gregor. Nys. orat. de S. Theodoro mart.  O blessed Theodorus, be Present unto us; we want many benefits Make intercession and pray for thy country to our common King and Lord. We fear afflictions, we expect dangers. As a soldier defend us, that the mad and wicked Barbarian, rage's not against Churches or Altars; that the profane and impious, do not spurn the holy things, And if there be need of greater advocation and prayer, then assemble the company of thy brethren Martyrs, and pray together for us with them al. Let the prayers of many just blot out the sins of the multitude & people, Move Peter, stir up Paul, & also john the Divine and beloved Disciple, that they will be careful for the Churches which they have founded, for which they have borne Chains, for which they have suffered dangers and death: that heresses do not as thorns overgrow the vineyard; let not cockle choke up the wheat, but by virtue of thine own, and thy fellows prayers, o admirable man, let the Christian common wealth, become a field of corn, which field may remain to the end in a fertile and fruitful foil, of faith in Christ, always bringing forth fruit of eternal life.  
O Felix, o Saint of God, 

Paulin. Nolan. natal. 8.  
Natal. 3. S. Faelicis.   o beloved of God, be a right hand, and most saife Tower of defence unto me. Receive the prayers of thy suppliants, and commend them to God. Entreat the dreadful Majesty of our Lord, that by thy abundant prayers, and merits, he will pardon our offences  
O great Basile, 
Gregor. Naz. mon. in magnum Basilium, in fine.  look down upon us from heaven, and either command my grief to go away, or help me, and persuade me so patiently to endure it, that when I shall at last depart from hence, thou mayst receive me into the eternal Tabernacles, and that with thee, I may behold the Blessed Trinity in such manner as it is.  

Gregor. Naz. orat. funebri in Athanas. Alex. Epis. in fine.  O Athanasius, look down gently upon us from above, and direct this holy people, worshipper of the holy Trinity, and nourish us in peace, & defend us. Direct us in our combat, & receive us: and place us with thyself, and those that be as thou art.  

Gregor. Nis. ser. de vita S. Ephrem.  O holy Ephrem, excellent Father & Doctor of the Church, standing by the heavenly Altar, and Prince of life, & together with the Angels, sacrificing to the sacred Trinity: remember all us, & obtain pardon of sins for us, that we may enjoy the everlasting blessedness of the celestial Kingdom, in Christ jesus our Lord. To whom be glory for ever. Amen.  

To S. Martin. Fortunatus l. 1. vit. S. Martini.  O merciful, have mercy upon me a wretch: that when the high judge of the world shall come, thou wilt procure that my sins be blotted out. Be a mediator between our Lord and me. Let thine intercession unbind him, whom his offence doth bind. Let thy gentle piety hearken unto me; for with prayer, thou art powerable with him whose thou art. what I ask, thou art able to do, because he giveth all to his friends.  
I beseech thee crave pardon, 
Fortunat. l. supr.  thou who hast got the crown, o shepherd, deliver thy sheep, that it be not lame nor shut forth. Be unto me a Medidiator between God and the guilty. Be mindful of thy servants by him whose light thou shalt see for ever.  
O beloved of God, remember, 

To S. Honoratus.  
S. Hilatius Arelaten. inv●ta S. Honra●. An. 450.   remember us continually: Thou standest without blemish before God singing that new song, and following the Lamb whether soever he goeth. Thou that art a follower of him, be a Patron unto us, an interpreter of our Prayers, an acceptable & strong Advocate.  
Make intercession for us to our Lord jesus Christ, 

To S Germanus.  
Constantiu●. Presbyter in vita S Germ. l. 2. c. 7. An. 480.  
To S. Simeo● Priscus. Theodoret. in Philotheo. in vita.   that we may deserve to obtain the song of the heavenly Trmupet, the voice of that desired sound, and the joys of the holy Resurrection.  
I desire Intercession which holy Simeon can give, and I know I shall obtain it. For he will grant my petition, Imitating the Bountifulness of our Lord.  

Theodoret. invit. 8. Sanct. in vit. 10.  I pray also, that I may have the Intercession of holy Aphrates. I ask that I may also have the Benediction of holy Theodosius.  


To one S. james.  
Theodoret. sup. vit. 22.   Holy james, vouchsafe with his prayers, to sustain & uphold our weakness, that being strengthened, we may receive many victories from others that have gotten them against us, and so depart out of this life with them as conquerors.  

Maximus Taur. bomil. de S. Agnete An. 430.  O most blessed Agnes, glorious unto Christ, beautiful to the Son of God, and acceptable to all Angels, and Archangels: vouchsafe to remember us we entreat thee, with what prayers we are able: that he who hath given victory, of thy labours unto thee, will bestow pardon of sins upon us.  

S. Damasus de S. Agnete.  O Agnes a true ornament, the bright image of shamefastness, o noble Virgin I beseech thee, favour my prayers.  

Prudent. him. 14. de S. Agnete.  Agnes o happy Virgin, o new glory, noble inhabitant of the heavenly tower: bow down thy face, adorned with a double Diadem, upon our uncleanness.  

To S. Agatha. S. Damasus de S. Agatha.  Thou shinest as a bride heaven, ask for me, favour those which honour thee.  
O holy & blessed Paula, 
S. Hieron. epist. 27. ad Eustochium.  help with thy prayers the decaying old age of thy worshipper: thy faith and works associate thee to Christ; being present thou shalt more easily obtain what thou askest.   

THE OLD LITANIES used within the first 600 years. cited by Wallafridus Strab. l. de rebus Ecclesiast. 28. de lit. agend. S. Amalar. l 2. the eccls office c. 28. Cermonial. antiq. tit. Lytan. and others.  
Chapter. 9  
LOrd have mercy upon us.  
Christ have mercy upon us.  
Lord have mercy upon us.  
O Christ hear us.  
O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us.  
O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us.  
O God the holy Ghost, have mercy upon us.  
O holy Trinity one God, have mercy upon us.  
O holy Marie, pray for us.  
O holy Mother of God, 
 pray  
O holy Virgin of virgins, 
 pray  
O holy Michael, 
 pray  
O holy Gabriel, 
 pray  
O holy Raphael, 
 pray  
O all holy Angels & Archangels of God, 
 pray  
O all holy orders of blessed spirits, 
 pray  
O holy john Baptist, 
 pray  
O all holy patriarchs & Prophets 
 pray  
S. Peter, 
 pray  
S. Paul, 
 pray  
S. Andrew, 
 pray  
S. john, 
 pray  
S. james, 
 pray  
S. Matthew, 
 pray  
S. Bartholomew, 
 pray  
S. Simon, 
 pray  
S. Thadeus, 
 pray  
S. Mathias, 
 pray  
S. Barnabas, 
 pray  
S. Mark, 
 pray  
S. Luke, 
 pray  
O all holy Apostles and Evangelists, 
 pray for us.  
O all holy Disciples & Innocentes, 
 pray for us.  
S. Stephen, 
 pray  
S. Linns, 
 pray  
S. Cletus, 
 pray  
S. Clement, 
 pray  
S. Fabian, 
 pray  
S. Alban, 
 pray  
S. Cosmas, 
 pray  
S. Damian, 
 pray  
S. Primus, 
 pray  
S. Faelician, 
 pray  
S. Dionise with his fellows, 
 pray  
S. Victor with his fellows, 
 pray  
O all holy Martyrs, 
 pray  
S. Silvester, 
 pray  
S. Leo, 
 pray  
S. Jerome, 
 pray  
S. Augustine, 
 pray  
O all holy Confessors, 
 pray  
O all holy Monks & Erimites, 
 pray  
S. Marie Magdaleine 
 pray  
S. Marry of Egypt, 
 pray  

This S. Margaret was in the primitive Church, not she of Scotland.  S. Margaret, 
 pray  
S. Scholastica, 
 pray  
S. Pernel, 
 pray  
S. Genovefs, 
 pray  
S. Praxedes, 
 pray  
S. Sotheris, 
 pray  
S. Prisca, 
 pray  
S. Thecla, 
 pray  
S. Afra, 
 pray  
O holy Virgins, 
 pray  
O all holy Saints of God men & women, 
 pray for us.   

Of honour & reverence to the holy bodies, and other Relics of Saints.  
Chapter. 10  

S. Ciril. Alex. apud Damas'. l. 2. paral.. cap. 7.  WE honour the vessels of the bodies of Saints, and repay unto them memory, as it were reward and wages of their virtue & magnanimity of mind.  
The noble relics are pulled forth of their unnoble sepulchre. 
S. Ambros. l. 9 epistol. 85. Relics worshipped, lying under the Altar: Christ offered upon the Altar.  The Trophies of victory are showed unto heaven. Let the triumphant victims succeed unto the place where Christ is the Sacrifice: But he who suffered for all, upon the Altar: These redeemed by his passion, under the Altar. This place I had appointed for myself, for it is worthy a priest should rest there, where a Priest accustomed to offer Sacrifice. But I yield the right hand portion to the holy victims. This place belonged to Martyrs: therefore let us bury the sacred relics, & carry them into worthy houses, and celebrate the whole day with faithful devotion.  
O thrice and four times, 
Prudent. him of S. Laurence.  o 7. times happy, that Citizen who celebrateth thee, & nearhand the seat of thy bones, who may lay himself down near them who sprincleth the place with tears, who presseth his breast upon the earth, who offereth vows in secret.  
O blessed Apostles, what thanks shall we render unto you, 
Chrisostom. ser. de Apostol. apud Metaphrast.  who have laboured so much for us. O Peter, I remember thee, and I am amazed. O Paul, I call thee to mind, & ravished in mind, I am oppressed with tears. For what I may say, or what I may speak, beholding your afflictions, I know not. O peter, thou mayst joy, to whom it was given, to enjoy the Cross of Christ. joy thou also o Paul, whose head was cut of with a sword. Let that sword be to me for a crown; and the nails of Peter, for precious Stones, infixed in my Diadem.  
O who will grant unto me to be rolled about the body of Paul, to be fastened to his sepulchre, to see the dust of that body, fulfilling the things, which as yet were wanting in Christ, bearing the signs of his wounds.  

Prudent. to S. Vincentius in him. S. Vincent.  O double renowned, we beseech thee by thy hands, block of thy prison, by those potsheardes by which thou gainedst conquest; by which we that come after, with reverence kiss thy bed,: have mercy upon our prayers.  

S. Ciril. Hierosol. Cateches. 4.  Here Christ verily was crucified for our sins, and if thou wouldst deny it, this place apparent disproveth thee. Blessed is this mount Golgatha, in which now, for him that was crucified, well make joy in him, and the whole globe of the earth is filled with wood of the Cross by parcels.  
When will that day be, 
Hierom. epist. 17. in the persons of Paula & Eustoch. c. 8.  that it may be lawful for us to enter into the Sepulchre of our Saviour? to weep in the Sepulchre of our Lord, and then to lick the wood of the Cross; and in mount Olivet with our Lord ascending, to be lifted in desire and mind.   

Prayer for one in particular deceased.  
Chapter. 11.  
GOd of his mercy forgive to the departed out of this life, 
Dionis. Areopag. l. Eccle. hierarch. c. 12. contempl.  all sins by human frailty and weakness committed, and bring him into light, and the Country of the living, into the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and jacob; into the Place void of all grief, sadness, and groaning.  

Clem. Rom. Constitut. SS. Apostol. l. 8. c. 47.  Let us pray for all that rest in Christ, that our gentle God, who hath received his soul, will forgive him all offence, & being merciful unto him, will place him in the Region of the godly and blessed, in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, & jacob, with all that have pleased him from the beginning of the world, and performed his will, where there is no sorrow, sadness, or sighing.  
God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of jacob, God, not of the dead, but of the living because the souls of all do live with thee, and the spirits of the Just are in thy hands, and torment shall not touch them, for all that are sanctified, are under thy hand: Look thou also now upon this thy servant whom thou hast received into the other life, and pardon him whatsoever he hath offended in. Assign gentle Angels unto him, and place him in the bosom of patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, and all that from the beginning of the world have pleased thee, where there is no sorrow nor horror, but the fellowship of the godly, and such as rejoice, and the blessed Country of the just, beholding the glory of thy Christ, by whom to thee be glory, honour, worship, thanks, and adoration in the holy Ghost for ever. Amen.  
O Lord of life, and death. 

S. Gregor. Naz. orat. in funere Caesatis. By C. is meant Caesati●s the● newly dead, but may be used for any faithful departed.  
Ambros. orat. de obitu Theodosii Imp.   o keeper and benefactor of our souls, receive the soul of C. whom we commend to thy wisdom, by which all things are done, and hereafter in time convenient also, receive us and govern us in our flesh, so long as is profitable for us.  
O Lord who keepest little ones, and savest those that trust in thee, give unto thy perfect servant, that rest which thou hast prepared for thy Saints. Let his soul return thither from whence it came, where it can feel no sting of death: where it may know, that this death is not the end of man, but of sin. For in that he is dead, he is dead to sin, that there may now be no place for sin. Amen.  
O Lord we commend unto thee, 
S. Leander 〈◊〉 spal. in Liturg. Muzarab. in mis. de S. 〈…〉 cobo.  the soul of thy servant, that being dead to the world, he may live to thee. And the sins which by frailty of worldly conversation, he hath committed, blot thou out with the pardon of thy most merciful piety, by our Lord. Amen.  
In the name of our Lord jesus, his soul, and all souls of the faithful deceased, by the mercy of God, rest in peace without end. Amen.  

Antiquis usus apud S. Albin. l. de divin. office c. Quomodo moriturus olim providebatur.  Our Lord raise him up again to everlasting life, and be merciful unto us. Our Lord place him in the bosom of Abraham, and be merciful unto us.   

Of prayer, Sacrifice, Alms, and other good deeds, for all true faithful deceased.  
Chapter. 12.  

Precat. Syrorum antiq. apud severum patriarch. Alex. in precat. Abecedar. To. 6. Bibl. 55. patr.  Opardoner, and cleanser; o forgiver, blotter out, and forgeating our many, and great sinners without number, and the sins of all thy faithful people: pardon oh God, and have mercy upon us. Remember us o Lord God in the mercies that are from thee, and remember our souls, and the souls of our fathers, and brethren, and instructors, and of our deceased. Finally of all faithful deceased, children of thy holy and glorious Church. O Lord God, give rest to their souls and bodies, and sprinkle the dew of thy miserations upon their bones. O Christ our King, take compassion, and be merciful unto us & them.  
O thou my God, 
Armerians divided almost a 1000 years from the Roman Church in their liturg.  who givest rest to the dead and raisest again those that be buried: receive the souls of thy servants, which we have remembered, and place them, o my Lord, in the blessed mansions of the house of thy Father, with Abraham, and Isaac, and jacob, thy friends, and with all Saints, that have performed thy will in the true faith and of thy Father, and thy holy Spirit for ever. Amen.  
O Lord give everlasting rest unto all which have gone before us in the faith of Christ. O Lord remember, have mercy upon, & show favour to the souls which rest; pacify, illuminate them, & associate them unto thy Saints in the kingdom of heaven, & make them worthy of thy love.  
Let us bring forth our prayers, 
Liturg. Eccle. gotticae.  ask of the piety of our Lord, that he will vouchsaife to place the souls of them that rest, in the bosom of Abraham, & admit them unto the part of the first Resurrection.  

S. jacob. liturg. Hierosol.  O Lord grant our oblation be grateful and acceptable, for the rest of the souls of them which are deceased before us.  

Epiphanius 75. haer. contra Aerium.  Because, while we are in this world, oftentimes we be deceived, & ere, both unwillingly, and voluntary: we make memory both of the lust, and sinners that are deceased; for sinners, beseeching the mercy of God.  

Christen. to. 5. in mis. translated by Erasmus.  O God have respect unto us, and remember all that are deceased in hope of the Resurrection, and life everlasting, and cause them to rest where the light of thy countenance is seen.  

Mis. Constantinopolt. ascribed to S. Andrew Apost. & S. Christen.  O Lord as merciful, remember thy servants, & pardon whatsoever things they in their life have offended in.  
We Offer unto thee this reasonable duty for the faithful deceased, for our Brethren and Sisters, by the intercession of patriarchs, Prophets Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, & all Sanctes.  
O Lord remember our deceased Princes, 
Ethiop. in mis. ascribed to S. Matth. Apostle.  Bishops, Kings, and all that are dead in the true faith. O Lord remember all men and women thy servants, brethren and sisters, and all the faithful deceased, and resting in the sign of the true faith.  
O Lord remember all those that sleep in hope of Resurrection of everlasting life, 
Liturg. Capadoc. auth. S. Basil.  and refresh them where the light of thy countenance doth visit.  
O Lord remember all thy servants, 
Gregor. in mis. Gelasius apud S. Albin. l. office c. de celebrat. missae.  which have gone before us with the sign of faith, and rest in the sleep of peace. O Lord we beseech thee to grant unto them, and to all that rest in Christ, a place of refreshing and peace.  
Everlasting God, we humbly beseech thee, that thy servant, 
S. Barnab. or S. Ambros. in mis. meduil. for a Bishop.  to whom thou hast given the government of thy Church being now delivered from the prison of flesh, and joined to the Prelates of Apostolic dignity, may deserve to obtain, the reward of eternal life.  
My praise and my life, 
Augustin. l. 9 confess. c. 13. for father and mother.  God of my heart, I beseech thee for the sins of my mother; hear me by the medicine of our wounds which hanged upon the Cross, & sitting at thy right hand, maketh intercession to thee for us. I know that she dealt mercifully, and with all her heart forgave offences to them that had offended her. Therefore forgive thou also her debts, if she hath incurred any, by so many years after the water of salvation. O Lord forgive her, forgive her I beseech thee; enter not into judgement with her. Let her rest in peace together with her husband.  

Mis. S. jacobi Apost. allowed Concil. general. 6. can. 32.  O Lord our God, remember the souls of the orthodoxal, and true believers, from Abel the just, unto this day: Cause them to rest in the land of the living, in thy Kingdom, and delights of paradise, in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, our holy fathers, from whence is banished, sorrow, sadness, and groaning; where the light of thy countenance, doth rule and shine continually.  

S. Basil. in mis. received concil. 6. supr. c. 32.  O Lord Creator of bodies & souls, remember at thy heavenly Altar, all those that are departed forth of this wretched world, and refresh them in thy Tabernacle full of beauty. Pass them over beyond the horrible mansions of torment, and place them in thy light-some Tabernacles. Deliver them from want of light, & from darkness, & take them forth of tribulation and grief, & let thy countenance appear peaceable unto them, neither severely examine their former life. But whether in word or work, as men in flesh, they have sinned, forgive, and abolish their errors.  
O holy Father, we beseech thee for the souls of the faithful departed, 
Ambros. pre●. 1. praepar. to. 4.  that they may have eternal salvation, perpetual health, joy and comfort everlasting.  
O Lord make an end of our sins, 
S. Leander hispal. et S. Isodor. in liturg. Muzarab.  grant joy, to the afflicted, delivery to captives; health, to the sick, and rest to the dead.  
O Lord our God, 
Liturg. Alexander. ascribed to S. Mark Evangelist.  give rest to the souls of the faithful departed in thy holy Tabernacles in thy Kingdom, granting unto them the good things of thy promises, which the eye hath not seen, and the ear hath not heard, and have not ascended into the heart of man, which thou o God, hast prepared for them who love thy name.  
O God give rest and good memory 
Sever. Patriarch. Alex. l. de ritib. Baptismi.  to all having society with us; & to my father, and to my mother, & to my master who brought me up.  

Io. Cassian. 3. part. confess. Theolog.  O most holy Virgin, Mother of God, pray for all servants of God, men and women, both living and departed out of this life.   

Prayers preparatory, before receiving the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar Christ's true body & blood.  
Chapter. 13.  

S. Ignatius Epist. ad Romanos.  I Do not joy in corruptible nourishment, nor in the pleasures of this life; I desire the bread of God, the bread celestial, which is the flesh of Christ, the Son of God; and drink I desire his blood, which is life everlasting.  

S. Dionysius Areopag. l. eccle. Hier. c. 5. in contempl.  O divine and sacred Mystery, vouchsaif to open the coverings of signifying signs which are about thee, and apparently appeared and replenish the eyes of our understanding, with a singular and manifest brightness of thy light.  
When thou receivest the holy meat, 
Origen. in hom. 5. in diversos evang. locos.  and that incorrupted banquet, when thou dost enjoy the bread and cup of life; thou dost eat and drink the body and blood of our Lord: Then our Lord entereth Under thy roof, and thou therefore humbling thyself, imitate the Centurion and say, O lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.  
O Lord our God, the heavenly bread, 
S. jacob. Apost. in Liturg. See S. Ciril. Hierosol. catech. S. Mistag.  life of all, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and I am not worthy to be made partaker of thine immacuate mysteries; but as a merciful God, make me worthy of thy grace, that without condemnation, I may be partaker of thy holy body & precious blood, to forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting.  
O Lord who dwellest above the Cherubin, 
Canon universal. seu mis. Ethiop. ascribed to S. Mateew Apostle.  and lookest down upon thy people, and inheritance: bless thy servants and their children; grant a portion to them that come to receive of thy miraculous Table for purging of their mind, and remission of sins, & union of the holy Ghost, and health of soul and bo, die, & inheritance of the Kingdom of heaven. Amen.  

jacob. Apost. in mis. supr.  Taste and see that our Lord is bountiful, who distributed into parts, & not divided, and bestowed upon the faithful, is not consumed, for remission of sins, and life everlasting, now & ever & world without end.  

Liturg. S. Marci Evangelist.  O Lord God almighty, we beseech thee, to drive away from our thought the dark assaults of sin, & make our minds ioyfui with the brightness of thy holy Spirit, that being increased with the knowledge of thee, we may worthily participate of those good things, which are proposed unto thee, of the immaculate body, and precious blood, of thine only begotten Son, our Lord, and God, & Saviour jesus Christ. forgive unto us all show of sins, by thy manifold & unsearchable goodness, by the grace, and mercies, and gentleness of thine only begotten Son, with whom to thee, be honour, & Rule, with the most holy, and good, and quitning Spirit.  
O Lord our God, 
S. Basil. Anaphor.  who out of the abundance of thy grace, hast bestowed upon us all things: Thou givest unto us more than we demand, & more bountifully than we understand, thou dealest with us: stretch forth o Lord, thy invisible hand, and bless thy servants, and handmaids, and cleanse them from all spot of flesh and spirit, and vouchsaife us to be made partakers of the body of thine only begotten Son, that with purity and holiness humble, we may offer our prayers to thee, and unto thine only Son our Lord jesus Crist, & to thy most holy Spirit, to be adored world without end. Amen.  
O our God, 
Basil. sup  let us not be guilty of the Body & Blood of Christ thy Son, nor sick in mind, or body, because unworthy we participate the sacred Mysteries: but rather grant unto us, that until our last breath, we may please thee and be accounted worthy to receive the saving Sacraments of our Lord and Redeemer jesus Christ, nor to be unworthy of his body and purging blood; but meet to receive them, that by them being strenghned, cleansed, and perfected, we may worthily beseech thee, by that prayer which thy only begotten Son hath taught us, that we may cry with a pure heart and say. Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  

S. Ambros. l. 4. de Sacram. Tom. 4. Eras. praefat. in come. 4. Ambros.  O high Priest and true Bishop jesus Christ, who hast given for us wretched sinners, thy flesh to eat, and thy blood to drink, cause me by thy grace always to believe and understand, to think and firmly hold, to say and esteem of so great a mystery, that which is pleasing unto thee, and profitable for my soul. O holy bread, o lively bread, bread beautiful, pure bread which did descend from heaven, and givest life to the world, come into my heart, and cleanse me from all uncleanness of body and soul: enter into my soul, heal it within, and without. Be thou a perpetual salvation of my body and soul. Drive back from me the enemies which lie in wait for me. Let them depart from thy presence, that I being both without and within defended by thee, may come by ● ready path, to thy kingdom, where things are not handled with mysteries, as in this time, but we shall see thee face to face, when thou shalt deliver thy kingdoms to God the Father & God shall be all in al. Then thou shalt fill me with thyself with a marvelous fullness, that I shall neither hunger nor thirst for ever. Who with the Father and holy Ghost, livest & reignest world without end. Amen.  
O Lord make me worthy, 
Chrisost. in liturg. to. 5.  by the Intercession of the unspotted, our Lady, Mother of God, and ever Virgin Marie, that without condemnation I may receive thy immaculate gift to remission of sins, to life everlasting, purgation of evil cogitations, for illustration of thy commandments.  
O Lord jesus Christ, 
Gregor. in Sacramentar. Isodor. l. 1. office c. 1●.  Son of the living God, who by the will of thy Father, the holy Ghost cooperating, hast revived the world: deliver me by this thy sacred body and blood, from all mine iniquities, and all evils, & cause me always to cleave to thy commandemen, and suffer me never to be separated from thee: who with the same God the Father and holy Ghost, livest and reignest world without end. Amen.  
O Lord my God, 
S. Leander in liturg. Muzarab. in fest. S. jacobi.  grant unto me so to receive the Body and Blood of thy Son our Lord jesus, that by it I may deserve to have forgiveness of all my sins, and be replenished with thy holy Spirit, o our God, who livest & reignest world without end. Amen.  
Hail for ever, o most sacred flesh of Christ, for ever the greatest sweetness. O Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest enter under my roof, but only say the word, & my soul shall be cured. O Lord I am not worthy thou shoudest enter under my roof, but only say the word, & my soul shall be cured. O Lord I am not worthy thou shoudest enter under my roof, but only say the word, & my soul shall be cured. The Body & Blood of our Lord jesus Christ, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life.  
Amen.  

S. Citil. Hierosol. mystag. catech 5.  After receiving of the body of Christ, I come to the Chalice of his blood prostrate in manner of Adoration and worship saying. Amen.   

Of Prayers & Thanks after receiving of this most blessed Sacrament of the Altar, which is Christ's true Body & Blood.  
Chapter. 14.  
Having received the precious Body and precious Blood of Christ, 
S. Clem. Ro. constitut. Apostol. l. 8. c. 21.  let us give thanks to him, who hath made us worthy to receive his holy Mysteries; And we ask that they be not to us for judgement, but salvation, for the profit of our soul and body, for preservation of godliness, for remission of sins, to life of the world to come.  
O Lord God omnipotent, 
S. Clem. supr. l. 8. c. 22.  Father of Christ, thy blessed Son: the hearer of them which rightly call upon thee, who knowest the intercessions of the silent. Let us give thanks unto thee, for that thou hast made us worthy of the participation of thy holy Mysteries, which thou hast given unto us for confirmation of things well known; for keeping of piety, for remission of sins, because the name of thy Christ is called upon over us, and we are reconciled unto thee: Thou who hast separated us from Communumcatinge with the ungodly, join us with those that be consecrated unto thee, confirm us in truth, by the coming of the holy Ghost, reveal things which we know not, fulfil things which are wanting, strengthen things known, defend priests unspotted in thy service, preserve kings in peace, Magistrates in justice, the air in holsonnes, the fruits in fertility, the world in perfect providence. Repress warring Nations, convert them that err, sanctify thy people, conserve Virgins keep the married in faithfulness, strengthen the ignorant, bring infants unto ripe age, confirm novices, instruct Cathecumen, and make them worthy to be admitted to thy Mysteries, and gather us all together into the Kingdom of heaven, in Christ jesus our Lord, with whom to thee and the holy Ghost, be Glory, Honour, and Worship, for ever. 
S. Thomas Apost. apud Abdiam l. 9 hist. Apost. in S. Thomas Apostol. there the Eucharist was received in one kind.  Amen.  
O Lord jesus, I beseech, that this thy Sacrament, be unto us to life; that it be to us for remission of sins, for thy Passion was celebrated for us. Thou diddest drink gall for us, that all bitterness of the adversary might die in us. Also for us thou diddest drink vinegar, that our weariness might be comforted. Thou wert spitted upon for us, that thou mightest sprinkle us with immortal dew. Thou wast stricken with a brittle reed, to make firm our brittleness to everlasting life & eternity. Thou wast crounned with thorns, to crown those which believe in thee with the everflorishing Laurel of thy love. Further thou wast wrapped in a Syndon, to invest us with a certain enwrapping of thy virtue. Thou wouldst be put in a new Sepulchre, to reform new grace, a new world unto us. I desire this Eucharist be unto us to life, & the bowels of mercy, and grace of salvation, & health of our souls. Amen.  
O Lord fill our mouth with thy praise, 
S. jocobus Apost. in liturg.  & replenish our lips with joy, that we may praise thy glory, and all the day thy magnificence. We give thanks unto thee o Christ our God, because thou hast vouchsaifed us to be made partakers of thy body and blood, to remission of sins, and life everlasting.  
O God who for thy manifold and unspeakable bounty, hast condescended to the infirmity of thy servants, & vouchsafed to make us partakers of this heavenly Table: condemn not us sinners, for receiving thine immaculate mysteries, but bountifully preserve us in sanctification of thy holy Spirit, that we being made holy, may obtain part & inheritance with all Saints, which from eternity have been accepted of thee in the light of thy countenance, by the mercy of thine only begotten Son our Lord and God, and Saviour jesus Christ. Amen.  
O Lord thou hast given unto us sanctification, and receiving of the most holy body and precious blood of thine only begotten Son our Lord jesus Christ. Bestow upon us also, the grace of thy good holy Spirit, and preserve us without offence in faith: lead us into perfect adoption, and Redemption, & into those future eternal fruitions. Amen.  
Blessed be God, that blesseth & sanctifieth the receiving of his holy, lively, and immaculate Mysteries, now & ever, & world without end. Amen.  
We give thanks to thee o our God, 
S. Basilius Anaphora.  we exalt thee the Father omnipotent, & merciful, & praise thee Creator of the world, and adore thee abounding with mercy and grace, because thou hast taken mercy upon us, and cleansed us, and blotted forth our sins, and vouchsaifed us the receiving of thy holy & lively Sacraments, which even the Angels desires to behold: Therefore let their sweetness unto us a cleansing, & their participation, for remission of sins before committed by us, and for a medicine of those in which we are yet conversant: Finally for an avoiding and defence against those which hereafter may be committed by us, and for joy and exultation with Saints, who from the beginning have pleased thee.  
We give thanks unto thee, 
Chrisost. Liturg.  o most gentle Lord Redeemer of our souls, because at this present thou hast made us worthy of thy heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Direct thou our way, keep us in fear, defend our life, strengthen our goings, by the prayers and intercessions of the holy & glorious Mother of God, and always Virgin Marie. O God he thou exalted above the heavens, and thy glory over all the earth, now and ever, world without end. Amen.  

S. Leander et Isodor. in mis. Muzarab. in fest. S. jacob.  O Lord my God, Father & Son & holy Ghost, cause me always to seek & love thee, and by this holy Communion which I have received, never to depart from thee, because thou art God, and besides thee, there shall be none other for ever. Amen.  
Being refreshed with the body and Blood of Christ, we praise thee o Lord, Alleluya, Alleluya, Alleluya.  
The Body of our Lord jesus Christ which we have received, and his holy blood which we have drunk, adhere fast unto our bowels, o everlasting almighty God, that it come not unto us to judgement nor condemnation, but profit to salvation, and remedy of our souls unto life eternal. Amen.  

Liturg. gottic.  O Christ jesus, who hast effected an evening Sacrifice by the Cross, in the evening of the world: vouchsaif to make us new Sepulchres for thy Body.  
Amen.   

Of Sacramental Confession, a due preparation before receiving the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar.  
Chapter. 15.  
THere is yet an other hard and laborious remission of sins by penance, 
Origen. hom. 2. in leui●.  when the sinner doth wash his couch with tears, & is not ashamed to tell his sin to the Priest of our Lord, 
Psal. 32.  & seek remedy, according to that, I will pronounce against me, mine injustice to our Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my heart.  
Grant o Lord, 
Mis. Ethiop. ascribe to S. Matth. Apost.  as thou hast given unto to thy priests, the preisty office in thy holy Church: so we beseech thy goodness and clemency, o lover of men, that they may absolve us thy servants, & all bowing down their heads before thy sight in this thy holy Sacrifice.  
I confess to God almighty, 
S. Damas'. S. Leander liturg. Muzarab. S. Anast. finair. l. de S. Sina● micralog. l. eccle. office c. ●3. gem. animae antiq. rit. miss. c. ibi. 64.  to the Blessed Marie ever Virgin, to the blessed Michael Archangel, to the blessed john Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all Saints, & to you my ghostly Father, that I have grievously offended in thought, word, and deed, by my default, by my default, by my grievous default; Therefore I beseech the B. Marry ever Virgin, blessed Michael Archangel, the holy Apostles Peter & Paul and all Saints, and you my ghostly Father, to pray unto God for me.  

Praxis eccls antiqui ord. tit. confess. penitentialis. S. Albin. l. office eccle. c. in capite jemnii.  I confess to thee o Lord, Father of heaven and earth, and to thee o good & most bountiful jesus Christ, together with the holy Ghost, before thy holy Angels, and thy Priest, that I was conceived in sin, and borne in sin, and nourished in sins, and conversing in sins after Baptism, unto this hour: I confess also, that I have sinned too-much, in pride, vainglory, in proud looks, and apparel, and all mine actions, in envy, in hatred, in covetousness aswell of honour, as money: in anger, frowardness, in sloth, in gluttony etc. Here the penitent maketh particular confession of all his sins he can remember: which done before the Priest absolveth him, 
Antiq. eccle. Praxis apud S. Albin. Flac. Alcuin. supr.  he addeth as followeth. Many surely, and innumerable others are my sins which I can not remember, in deeds, in words, in thoughts; for all which my wretched soul is sorrowful and sometime afflicted with sharp penance: therefore I humbly beseech the counsel and judgement also of thee who art ordained arbitrator and means, between God and man a sinner. And I humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt be an Intercessor for the same my sins.  
Because in these and all other vices, 
Praxis antiq. in ord. supr.  in which human frailty can sin against his Lord and maker, either in thought, word, or deed, or delight, or desire, I know and confess myself to have sinned, and to be guilty in the sight of God, above all men. Therefore I humbly beseech all you, o holy Angels of God, and all Saints, and thee o reverend Priest, in whose sight I have confessed all these things, that you may be witnesses unto me in the day of judgement, against the devil, adversary and enemy of mankind, that I have confessed all these things. I also earnestly entreat thee, o Priest of God, to make intercession for me, and my sins, to our Lord God, that I may deserve to obtain pardon and Indulgence for these, and all other my sins, by the merits & Intercessions of all Saints.  
The Absolution by the Priest, is not for this place, but divers forms thereof are in the Ord. Rom. in S. Albin. sup. Canon univers. & others.   

Of the external priesthood of Christ's Church primarily consisting, in offering the most holy Sacrifice of Christians Christ his most precious Body, & blood for the living & dead.  
Chapter. 16.  

S. Marcus Evangelist. in Liturg.  O Lord, we offer this reasonable & unbloody Oblation, which all Nations offer unto thee, from the rising of the Sun, to the setting thereof, from the north to the south; because thy name is great among the Gentiles, & in every place, Incense, and Sacricfice, & Oblation, is offered to thy name.  

S. Clem. Ro. Constit. Apost. l. 8. c. 5. Bishop's power & office from the Apostles time.  O Lord almighty, give unto him participation of the holy Ghost, that he may have power to remit sins according to thy commandment; also to give orders as thou hast charged, & of unbinding all band, according to the power which thou gavest to thine Apostles, and to please thee in meekness, & a clean heart, offering unto thee without offence always, and without sin, that pure and unbloody Sacrifice which by Christ thou hast appointed, the Mystery of the new Testament.  
O Lord, o Lord, 
S. jacobus Apostol. in liturg. see mis. rom. antiq.  who hast granted unto us abject sinners, and thy unworthy servants, that with confidence we might come to thy holy Altar, & offer unto thee this dreadful & unbloody Sacrifice for our sins & ignorances. O Lord let it please thee, that we may be ministers of the Sacrifice of thine immaculate Mysteries, & admit us coming to thy holy Altar, that we may be worthy to offer Sacrifice for ourselves, and for those things which the people by ignorance hath committed. O God have respect unto us, and behold this our reasonable duty, and receive it, as thou receivedst the gifts of Abel, Sacrifices of Noah, Priestly duties of Moses and Aaron, pacifyings of Samuel, penance of David, Incense of Zachary: as thou receivedst this true worship of the hand of thine Apostles, so also from the hands of us sinners, receive by thy gentleness, these gifts proposed: and make that our Oblation, sanctified by the holy Ghost, be grateful and acceptable for propitiation of our sins, and those which the people by ignorance hath committed.  

Liturg. Ethiop. ascribed to S. Matth. Apost.  O Lord, our god, who receivedst the Sacrifice of Abel, & No, & Abraham, and Elias, and David, and the oblation of the poor widow in the holy Temple: So receive the oblation of me, and all thy servants, offering in thy holy name; & let it be a redemption for mine & their sins; & as we offer, so render reward unto us in the world present, & to come world without end. Amen.  


Enschius Cae. sariens. l. 1. Demonst. Evangelic c. 10.  
Malach. 1.11.   From the rising of the Sun, to the setting thereof, my name is glorified among the gentiles: and in every place, incense & a pure oblation is offered unto me. Therefore we Sacrifice to our Lord, most high Sacrifice of praise, we sacrifice to God the holy sacred Sacrifice, full, and bringing sweetness; we sacrifice after a new manner according to the new Testament, a pure Oblation.  
O Lord God receive our Supplication, make us worthy, 
Chrisost. in liturg. Constant.  in offering prayers and the unbloody Sacrifice, for all thy people. Thou diddest become Man, and wert our high Priest, and as the God of all, deliveredst unto us the Sacrament of this Mystery and unbloody Oblation. Make me worthy endued with grace of Preisthoode, to assist to this thy holy Table, and consecrate thy holy Body & precious Blood. Grant that I may offer these Sacraments unto thee; for thou art he which offereth, and he that is offered, he that receiveth, and he that is distributed Christ our God.  
O Christ our God, 
S. Basil. liturg. eccls Cappad.  thou art he which offerest and art offered. O Lord thou hast showed unto us that great Mystery of salvation, thou hast made us, wretches and thy unworthy servants, to be worthy ministers of thy holy Altar.  
O Lord grant, that our Sacrifice be acceptable, and receveable in thy sighr, for all our sins and ignorance of thy people.  

Basil. liturg. Syror.  Make us worthy to offer this reverend and unbloody Sacrifice, to put away our sins, and for an expiation of thy people, & those sins which by ignorance it hath committed, & for the quiet rest of them that are deceased. O Lord, holy of holies, God of powers, we offer unto thee, this reverend & incruental sacrifice for thy holy Churches which are from one end of the earth, to the other.  

S. Barnab. Apost. and S. Ambros. in liturg. mediolan.  Almighty everlasting God, let this Oblation which I unworthy do offer to thy piety, for me a wretch, and for mine innumerable offences, be placable and acceptable unto thee. We humbly ask and beseech, that thou wilt accept and bless these gifts, these offerings these holy unspotted Sacrifices which we offer unto thee for thy Catholic church. We ask and pray, that thou wilt receive this Oblation in thy high Altar by the hands of thine Angels, as thou diddest vouchsafe to receive the gifts of thy servant Abel the just, and which thy high Priest Melchizedech hath offered unto thee.  

Ambros. l. 4. de Sacramen.  Being mindful of Christ's most glorious passion, and Resurrection from those below, and ascension into heaven: O Lord we offer unto thee this immaculate Oblation, unbloody Sacrifice, this holy bread, and Chalice of eternal life: And we ask and pray, that thou wilt receive this Oblation in thy high Altar by the hands of thine Angels, as thou diddest vouchsafe to receive the gifts of thy servant just Abel, and the Sacrifice of our Patriarch Abraham, & which the high Priest Melchizedech, offered unto thee.  
O Lord, 
Ambros. l. 4 de Sacram.  I being mindful of thy venerable passion, do come to thine Altar (although a sinner) that I may offer unto thee the sacrifice which thou hast instituted and commanded to be offered in commemoration of thee, for our salvation. O high God, receive it I beseech thee, for thy holy Church, and for the people which thou hast gotten with thy blood.  
O high Priest and true Bishop jesus Christ, who hast given unto us thy flesh to eat, and thy blood to drink, & hast put this Mystery in virtue of the holy Ghost saying, So often as you do these, you shall do them in memory of me. I ask by the same thy blood, the price of our salvation, I ask by this marvelous & unspeakable Charity, with which thou hast vouchsaifed to love us wretches, & unworthy, that thou wouldst wash us from our sins in thy blood. Teach me thy unworthy servant whom thou hast vouchsaifed to call unto priestly function: teach me I beseech thee, by thy holy Spirit, to handle so great a Mystery, with that reverence and honour, with that devotion and fear, with which it behoveth, and becometh. For thy great clemency grant me to celebrate the solemnities of Mass, with a clean heart, and pure mind. For with how great contrition of heart, and fountain of tears, with how great reverence and trembling, with how great chastity of body and purity of soul, is that divine and heavenly Sacrifice to be celebrated, where thy flesh in truth is received, where thy Blood in truth is drunk, where lowest things are joined to the highest, earthly things to divine, where the presence of holy Angels is, where thou marvelously and unspeakably, art constituted Sacrifice and Priest.  
We ask thee also o Lord, for the souls of the faithful departed, that this great Sacrament of piety, be unto them salvation, health, joy, and refreshing.  
O Lord let that invisible and incomprehensible Majesty of thy holy Spirit, descend, as long agone it did, upon the Oblations of the Fathers, and make our Oblations thy Body and Blood, and teach me an unworthy Priest, to handle so great a Mystery, with purity of heart and devotion of tears, with reverence and dread, that thou mayst receive pleasedly and gently of my hands, for the salvation of all both living and dead.  
We ask that the holy Ghost coming, 
Liturg. eccle. Hierosol. auct. S. jacobo Apost.  may with his holy, good, and glorious presence, sanctify and make this bread, the holy Body of thy Christ, & this Chalice, the precious Blood of thy Christ, that it may be unto all receiving of them, to remission of sins.  
O lover of men, 
Liturg. Ethiop.  we humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt show thy face upon this bread, and Chalice, upon this portable Altar: Bless, sanctify, cleanse, and change this bread into thine immaculate flesh, and this wine into thy precious blood.  

S. Basil. liturg. Cappadoc.  O Lord jesus Christ, our God, attend from thy holy Tabernacle, & from the Throne of the Glory of thy Kingdom, & come to sanctify us, & vouchsafe with thy powerable hand, to impart unto us thine impolluted body and precious Blood, and by us, to all the people.  

Basil. Anaphor. syr.  O Lord, make this bread, the glorious Body of our Lord, jesus Christ, for expiation of offences, remission of sins, and life everlasting, to them that receive it. Amen. And this Chalice the precious blood of our Lord God & Saviour jesus Christ, for expiation of offences, and forgiveness of sins, & life everlasting to them that receive it.  
Amen.  

S. Chrisost. in liturg. Constant.  O Lord send forth thy spirit upon us, and upon these gifts proposed, and make this bread the precious body of thy Christ, and that which is in this Chalice, the precious blood of Christ thy Soon, transchanging them with thy holy Spirit.  

Gel●si●s apud S. Albin. l. de divin. 〈◊〉. c. de cel●●●●●. missae. ●t S. Isodor. hisp●l. l. 1. de office c. 15. de mis. et or●ti●●●.  O Lord we beseech thee, that pacified. thou wilt accept this Oblation of our service, and of all thy family. Which Oblation, o God, vouchsaif we beseech thee, in all things to make blessed, ratified, & acceptable, that it may be made for us the body and blood of thy most beloved Son our Lord jesus Christ.  
O lord we thy servants, and thy holy people mindful of so blessed passion, rising from hell, and ascension into heaven of the same Christ, thy Son our Lord, do offer to thine excellent Majesty, out of thy gifts, a pure oblation, holy oblation, immaculate oblation, the holy bread of eternal life, and Chalice of everlasting salvation. Vouchsaife to accept them, as thou diddest the gifts of thy servant just Abel, and the Sacrifice of our Patriarch Abraham, & that which Melchizedech, thy high Priest offered unto thee, holy Sacrifice, immaculate Oblation.  
Humbly we beseech thee, o god almighty, that as many of us as shall receive of this participation of the Altar, the holy Body and Blood of thy Son, may be filled with celestial Benediction and grace, by the same Christ our Lord.  
Amen.  

S. Ciril. Hierosolymitan. catech. mystag. 5.  O Lord, we offer this Sacrifice unto thee, that we may remember all those, which before us are departed from this world: First the patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs; that God by their prayers, will receive our prayers. We pray for our holy Fathers and Bishops: after we pray for all which are dead among us, believing it to be the greatest help of souls, for whom is offered prayer of that holy and dreadful Sacrifice, which is placed upon the Altar. When we pray for the dead, although they be sinners, we offer up Christ, who was slain for our sins, that we may procure him who is most bountiful, to be merciful both to ourselves and them.  

Litur. gottic.  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, look upon us, and have mercy upon us. Thou art made unto us a Sacrifice, who art our Priest: Thou art our reward, who art our Redeemer; keep us whom thou hast redeemed, from all evils.   

What pre-eminence above all others, S. Peter & his Successors in his Sea Apostolic have, in this sacred priesthood.  
Chapter. 17.  
O Peter, 
S. Chrisost. ser. in adorat. c. 26. to. 4. sur.  the Rock and firmament of the Church, highest top of the Apostles; I beseech thee to be present this day, taking pity upon us; and in spirit, converse in this place.  
O B. Peter, 
Victor. uticen. l. 3. persecut. vandal.  why art thou silent for the sheep and Lambs committed unto thee by our common Lord, with great charge and carefulness.  
O good Shepherd, gentle Peter, 
Elpis hi●n. de SS. Petro et Paulo.  receive the prayers of them that pray unto thee, and by authority committed unto thee: Untie the bands of our sin.  
The confession of Peter, 
S. Hilarius come. in Matth. c. 16. upon S. Peter's confess.  obtained plainly a worthy reward; because he had seen the Son of God in man. Blessed is this man, who was praised to have fixed his eyes, and seen more than a thing human, 
Tu ei Christus f●lius Dei vi●i.  not beholding that which was of flesh and blood, but perceiving by the revelation of out heavenly Father the Son of God, and judged worthy who should first acknowledge that which was in the Christ of God. O happy foundation of the Church in naming of thy new name, and a rock worthy of the building by that Rock which should dissolve the infernal laws, and gates of hell, & all the cloisters of death.  
O blessed porter of heaven gates, to whose will the Keys of the everlasting entry are committed, whose terrestrial judgement preventeth the authority in heaven; that what things on earth are bound or loosed, obtain the condition of the same decree in heaven.  

Gregor. in se●t. Cathedrae. S. Peeri. Apost. ●t in natal.  O God, who diddest bestow upon S. Peter thine Apostle, the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven, & give unto him the high Priestly power of binding and losing: grant, that by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bands of our sins.  

Gregor. l. 11. epist. 43. c. 44. ●● Leon 〈…〉sse.  By how much you more fear the maker of all things, so much more you may love his Church, to whom it was said. Thou art Peter, 
Matth. 16.  and upon this rock will build my Church, & the gaites of hell shall not prevail against it: & I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: & what soever thou shalt bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt unbind on earth, shall be unbound in heaven. From whence it is not doubtful unto us, with how strong a love you bind yourselves to him, by whom you desire to be unbound from all the bands of sins. Therefore I beseech he may be the keeper of the Empire, a Protector to you on earth, an Intercessor for you in heaven.  
Let it be lawful for no man without danger of his state, 
Concil. Rom. circ. An. 460.  to violate either the divine constitutions, or the Decrees of the Apostolic Sea. We pray, that by S. Peter these things be observed for ever.  
We, with all our Nobles, 
Constantinus magnus Imp. ad sylvest Pap. Isodor. hispal. hist. Isodor. jun. collect. can. Adrian. primus epist. ad Constant. et Iren.  & the whole Senate, and my Lords; and all people, subject to the Roman glory of the Empire, have judged profitable, that as S. Peter, seemeth to have been constituted the Vicar of the Son of God on earth: so also the Popes, which are Successors of the same prince of the Apostles, 
Ado. vine. Chron. aetat. 6. etc.  obtain power of principality, more than the terrene meekness of our Imperial serenity, granted from us and our Empire, choosing unto us the same Prince of the Apostles, and his successors, to be firm Patrons with God.  

Pelag. 2. epist. ad illegit. Synod. Constantinop. An. 579.  Pray, that the Ecclesiastical honour, be not evacuated in our days; nor at any time the Roman Sea, which by our lords inssitution, is the head of all Churches, may want, or be spoiled of her privileges in any place.  

Canon. universalis or Ethiop. liturg. the. Priests prayer.  O Lord God almighty, who by the mouth of thine only begotten Son, our Lord God and Saviour jesus Christ, hast said to our Father Peter, Thou art a Rock, and upon this Rock will I build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (to be shaked) and I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven: whomsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, shall be bound in heaven; & whomsoever thou shalt unbind on earth, shall be unbound in heaven. Let thy servants and handmaids be unbound from the mouth of the holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and holy Ghost, and also from my mouth, thy servant a sinner, & full of offences.   

What diversity of orders and degrees belongeth to true priesthood, Vows, Virginity, Chastity, & all degrees of the Church.  
Chapter. 18.  
O Lord remember thy holy and only Catholic, 
Liturg. S. Marci.  and Apostolic Church, from the ends of the earth, unto the last ends thereof, is diffused, and all thy people, and all thy folds.  
O Lord God omnipotent, we pray & beseech thee, to preserve the most holy, and most blessed high Priest, Pope N. and most reverend Bishop N: Preserve them unto us many years peaceably executing holy priesthood, for thy holy, and blessed will, rightly administering the word of truth, with all orthodoxal Bishop's priests, Deacons, Subdeacons', Lectors, singers, & Lay people.  

S. Basil. Anaphor. concil. 6. general.  O Lord remember the orthodoral Bishops, priests, Deacons Subdeacons', Lectors, singers, Monks, perpetual Virgins, Widows, Lay people living in all places.  

S. Gregor. Sacramentar. Mis. antiq. et ord. ser. 6. Parasc.  O Lord who diddest breathe upon the faces of thine Apostles, & say unto them, Receive the holy Ghost,: so breath upon us thy servants, standing round about in the entrance of the holy ministery, Bishop's priests, Deacons, Lectors, Singers, and Lay people, with all fullness of the Catholic and Apostolic Church.  
O Lord remember our fathers, and brethren, which are dead in the true Faith, priests, Deacons, Subdeacons', Lectors, Monks, living in perpetual chastity.  
Let us pray for all Bishops, priests, Deacons, Subdeacons', Acolythites, Enorcistes, Lectors, Ostiaries, Confessors, Virgins, Widows, and for all the holy people of God.  

Liturg. S. jacobi concil. 6. general.  Let us pray unto our Lord for those which live in Virginity and Chastity in Monasteries, and in venerable Marriage, and for our holy fathers & brethren that be exercised in mountains, in caves, & holes of the earth.  
Let us beseech our Lord, 
Missal. gottic.  praying for our brethren, which have vowed glorious Virginity in body & mind, that the spirit of mercy may prosecute them even to the consummation of their purpose.  
O Lord behold sacred Virgins, and voluntary chaste persons, the precious Margarites of thy Church, that with an equal estimation, they may keep their bodies and spirit, with an inviolate conscience of chastity, by jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
O Lord, thou hast showed unto me, 
S. Thomas Apost. apud Abdiam l. 9 histor. in S. Thoma.  that I am thine, for which I never took wife, that I might wholly intend to thee, lest the use of conjugal love, might diminish, or custom dissolve, the grace of thy Temple.  
You Virgins, 
S. Ignatius ep ad Philadel.  have you only Christ in your prayers before your eyes, and his father, you being illuminate by the holy Ghost. God grant I may enjoy your sanctity, as of jesus the son of Nave, as of Melchizedech, as of Elizeus, as of john Baptist, as of that beloved Disciple, as of Timotheus, as of Titus, as of Euodius, as of Clement, which ended this life in purity.  

Ambros. l. 4. de Sacrment.  O King of Virgins, and lover of chastity and integrity, with the heavenly dew of thy blessing, quench in my body, the nourishment of burning lust, that the tenure of chastity of body and soul remain in me. Mortify in my members the pricks of flesh, & all lascivious motions, and give unto me true and perpetual Chastity, with the rest of thy gifts, which please thee in truth, that I may be able to offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise, with a chaste body, & clean heart.  
Laus Deo.