Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 3)

When the Creed is recited

O Sovereign Majesty, I firmly believe Thou art one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who created all things out of nothing.

I believe that Thy second person, who is Thy Son, was made man, and was born of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost : that He died for me : that He rose again : that He ascended into Heaven and that He is to judge the world : I believe in the seven Sacraments of the holy Catholic Church, Catholic and Roman.

Finally, I believe everything 

this same Church teaches, and I wish to live and die in this Faith, even if it were necessary to endure torments, following the example of the Holy martyrs.

At the Offertory

Eternal Father, united with Thy holy love, and in memory of this divine Sacrifice offered to Thee on the wood of the Cross by my Saviour Jesus Christ, represented by this (Host), I offer the whole of myself, all my thoughts, words and deeds, imploring Thine infinite goodness to arrange them all to Thine honour and glory. Amen.

At the Sursum corda

Lord, how desirable are Thy Tabernacles! My soul wishes to be united with Thee more ardently than the thirsty hart pants after refreshing waters.[1]

Draw me after Thee, O my All, and I shall run after the fragrance of Thy perfumes : for without Thee, I can aspire to nothing, in Heaven or on Earth!

O that the love of Thine eternal blessings might live forever engraved in my soul, I would pay no more heed to the perishable things of this world!

O my God, when shall I go to see Thee clearly in Thy glory! When shall I have that happiness of prostrating myself before Thee visibly?

At the Sanctus

O Holy of Holies, grant me to know what Thou art and Thy eternal being, so that my soul, illuminated by Thy light, may praise Thee, glorify Thee and bless Thee in Thine eternity. 

Amen.

[1] As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. [Psalm XLI 2]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 2)

At the Kyrie Eleison

O most merciful Lord, I humbly beg pardon of you for all those in mortal sin and implore you by your precious Blood, Death and Passion to inspire in them a perfect contrition and repentance for their sins, so that your holy name may be praised in them and through them.

At the Gloria in Excelsis

O my God! I rejoice to see you adored by the Angels, and I am greatly saddened that you are so unknown and forgotten by men.

Lord, alongside these blessed Spirits, I adore you and wish with all my heart that everyone coud know and adore you.

O King of Glory, lift up my heart so that it can glorify your holy name on earth,just as the Angels glorify it in Heaven.

All that I say and do will be for your glory, not in search of my own : I shall always have these words on my lips, Glory be to God. 

When the Priest says, Dominus vobiscum, say :

Lord, my God, dwell always with me, and never leave me.

At the Collect

O Eternal God, look down with the eyes of your mercy on your Church, and receive the Prayers and Supplications that she offers you through the ministry of the priest, and grant these requests by the merits of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Amen. 

At the Epistle

O Gentle Saviour, grant me the illumination to see and always to carry out your holy will, and grant me the grace patiently to bear, for love of you, whatever adversities come my way.

O God of my heart, give light to the eyes of my understanding, inflame my heart and my affections, so that I may keep and obey your commandments, your advice and your holy inspiration. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 1)

[Continuing the excerpts from the 1701 French book Heures Chre'tiennes Dedie'es au Roy]

Going to Mass

Oh my sweet Jesus, I am going with you to Calvary : make me to share in the love which led you there.

Give me the feelings of the daughters of Jerusalem, meeting you laden with your Cross, a halter around your neck, and the crown of thorns on your head.

Grant me such a resignation of my will to yours as your blessed Mother had 

at the foot of the Cross, and by the merits of your sufferings and of her constancy, grant me the gift of perseverance in your love. Amen.

When entering the Church, say:

Lord, I shall enter your house, I shall adore your holy Altar, I shall see there the Holy of Holies, and I shall praise your holy Name.

You will say before the Crucifix

Oh Love crucified, who has led you to suffer so many pains, and a death so cruel, for the sake of me, a miserable sinner?

Oh God of my soul, bind me close to you, & unbind me from myself!

Grant me this grace, my sweet Jesus! That my Cross be joined to 

your own, and that I bear it with a good will. At your feet, I offer
my intentions, at your side, my actions, desiring with my whole heart that you should be always the unique object of my soul : My God, be merciful unto me. Amen.

At the start of the Mass

Most gentle Jesus, I prostrate myself in all humility at your feet, desirous of bathing and washing them with my tears, on account of the displeasure of sins I have committed against your divine Majesty, imploring you to have mercy on this poor and feeble creature, redeemed by your precious Blood; do not punish her according to her faults.

Lord,  I acknowledge my faults, and I repent of them with a sincere heart : I humbly beg pardon of you for them, and, with the help of your holy grace, resolving in the future to be more on my guard against falling again into such sins,

and to try with all diligence to be more watchful, & to love you with all the strength of my soul.

Amen.

Then, you will say the Misereatur & the Confiteor, after the Priest.

At the Introit of the Mass

Oh everlasting God, I rejoice in that you alone are He who is, & that none has being except through you. Oh infinite greatness! You know well what you are and what I am, you are all and I am nothing, and yet you seek me.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Evening Prayers

Evening Prayers

In the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Ghoʃt. Amen.

Let us place ourselves in the presence of God.

Come Holy Ghost, & the following prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles’ Creed, and the I Confess, as above.

Act of Thanksgiving

My God, I thank you for all the benefits that I have received from your generous bounty, for my creation and preservation,

and for all the graces you have given me each day, each hour and each moment : I offer you as much acknowledgement and gratitude as I can to your divine Majesty.

My God, I am heartily sorry for having sinned against you, because you are infinitely good and sin displeases you; I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to return no more to the sins I have committed; I place them all into the great depth of your mercy, and at the foot of the Cross of your beloved Son, entreating you most humbly in His name and for the love of Him, to pardon me.

My God, I offer myself to you such as I am; do with me as you please : 

My God, I wish only for that which you desire. I reject everything that displeases you and I offer you all that I am capable of offering you. 

O glorious Virgin Mary! Please pray that your beloved Son will give me to know His holy will and that I may do His will entirely for your greater glory.

Dear guardian Angel, I thank you for the loving care you have for me : pray that Our Lord will give me His holy blessing and please give me yours.

The Litany of the Virgin, as below.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Morning Prayers : Part 3

The Commandments of God[1]

I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor any graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing to adore it.

II. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord thy God will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord his God in vain.

III. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.

IV. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be longlived upon the land.

V. Thou shalt not kill.

VI. Thou shalt not commit fornication.[2]

VII. Thou shalt not steal.

VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

IX. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.

The Commandments of the Church

Observe the Feast days prescribed by the Church, abstaining from servile works.

II. Reverently hear the holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays and Feasts.

III. Fast during Lent, Ember Days and Vigils, and abstaining from meat on Fridays and Saturdays.

IV. Confess your sins every year to your own Priest

V. Receive the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist at least once a year in your Parish during Eastertide.

The Commandments of Charity

Love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole strength, with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind, and thy neighbour as thyself.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church

Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy orders & Marriage.

[1] Exodus xx 1-10.

[2] Relations sexuelles hors mariage, péché de chair. Larousse DDF; Sexual relations outside marriage, sin of the flesh. From fornix , icis, m.: an arch, vault, brothel.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Morning Prayers : Part 2

 Act of Adoration

I adore you, my God, by all the Acts of adoration that are due to your divine Majesty, and I thank you with all my heart for having given me a soul capable of knowing you, of loving you and of enjoying happiness with you for ever. I thank you for having redeemed me by the price of your blood and your life, and also for having preserved all the hours and moments of my own, and particularly during this last night.

My God, I beg very humbly pardon for sins that I have

committed since yesterday evening.

My God, here is this heart which through your grace has conceived holy resolutions : I present them to you so that you may bless them and that I may fulfil them for your greater glory. Grant me the grace to know your holy will and make my own will wholly conformable to your own : I offer you my thoughts, my words and my actions. Yes, my Saviour, I promise to do all I can in your service. Everything is yours, everything comes from you, and I place all beneath your holy and adorable providence : I ask only for your love, and the grace to die rather than commit a mortal sin.

Most holy Virgin, please pray to Our Lord Jesus for me so that all my thoughts, words and actions, today and for the whole of my

life, may be pleasing to Him.

My guardian Angel, please continue to look after me with your loving care, inspire God’s will in me in all the works of this day, lead me on the path of my salvation.

The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus (as below)

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Morning Prayers : Part 1

Spiritual Exercise for the Christian

Morning Prayers

In the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Ghoʃt. Amen.

Let us place ourselves in the presence of God.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray

O GOD, Who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Angelic Salutation

Hail Mary full of grace, our Lord is with thee; bleʃʃed art thou amongʃt women; and bleʃʃed 

is the fruit of thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us ʃinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jeʃus Chriʃt, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; deʃcended into Hell; the third day He roʃe again from the dead; aʃcended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He ʃhall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, 

the Communion of saints, the Remiʃʃion of sins, the Reʃurrection of the Flesh, and the Life Everlasting. Amen.

The Confession of Sins

I confeʃs to Almighty God, to the bleʃʃed Virgin Mary, to the bleʃʃed Michael the Archangel, to the bleʃʃed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have grievously ʃinned in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech the bleʃʃed Virgin Mary, the bleʃʃed Michael the Archangel, the blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray for me to our Lord God. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy onus, and all our ʃins being forgiven, bring us to everlasting Life.

R. Amen.

The Almighty and merciful Lord give us pardon, absolution and remiʃʃion of all our sins.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Prayer to Jesus

[Continuing with excerpts from the 1701 prayer book]

Prayer to Jesus

Soul of Jesus, sanctify me,
Body of Jesus, save me,
Blood of Jesus, intoxicate me,[1]
Water from the side of Jesus, wash me.[2]
O good Jesus, hear me,
Hide me in your sacred wounds,
Do not allow me to be ever separated from you,
Defend me from my enemy.
Call me at the hour of my death
And command me to come to you,
So that I may praise you with your saints,
For ever and ever. Amen.

Compare with the following from PREPARATION A LA MORT – 1709:

Soul of Jesus, sanctify me,
Body of Jesus, save me,
Blood of Jesus, purify me,
Water from the side of Jesus, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me,
Wounds of Jesus, heal me,
Heart of Jesus, set me ablaze,
Nails of Jesus, pierce me,
Thorns of Jesus, crown me,
Cross of Jesus, consecrate me,
Goodness of Jesus, absolve me,
Grace of Jesus, fill me,
Spirit of Jesus, inspire me,
Sweetness of Jesus, console me,
Mercy of Jesus, save me,
Feet of Jesus, come to me,
Hands of Jesus, bless me,
O good Jesus, hear me,
Hide me in your wounds,
Do not separate yourself from me,
From the wicked spirit, defend me,
And lead me by your infinite mercy to eternal happiness, 
To praise you with your Saints, world without end. 
Amen. 

[1] Enivrer: In addition to inebriate, the LDDF offers a second meaning: 2. Remplir quelqu'un d'exaltation, d'une émotion vive. 2. To fill someone with exaltation, with a lively emotion. Synonymes : enflammer - entêter - enthousiasmer - étourdir - exciter - griser - soulever – transporter.   Larousse DDF

[2] The traditional version of the Anima Christi prayer at this point has Passio Christi, conforta me / Passion of christ strengthen me.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

The Dedication

[Continuing with excerpts from the 1701 prayer book]

The next two pages contain the Dedication.

To the King,

Sire,

Different by far from that favourite 

of Tiberius, a courtier who presented his vows 

first[1] to the ear of his Prince 

rather than to the Altars of the Gods, 

having consecrated this vow of 

devotion to the Divine Majesty, I come to offer it to your Majesty. The piety which inspires all your royal 

actions will open your hands 

to receive it and your mouth 

to approve its author who has no 

other motive, Sire, 

in planning this work, than the glory 

of God and the desire to contribute 

to the fervour of your holy devotions 

everything that can and should be of 

the greatest piety, justice and value 

in the world to his King 

Your Majesty’s

Most humble and most obedient 

and most faithful subject and 

servant. C.P.

[1] Plus tôt (que), ... avant ; plus vite. Plus tôt implique une idée de temps et s'oppose à plus tard : Before; more quickly. Plus tôt implies an idea of time and is opposed to later.  Larousse DDF

[2] Prose : Chant liturgique strophique et versifié, souvent rimé et qui, à certaines messes, prend place après le graduel. (Par exemple Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.) Liturgical chant in strophes and verses, often rhyming and which in certain Masses follow the gradual (e.g., Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.) Larousse DDF

[3] Oraiʃons: 1. Prière liturgique de la messe et de l'office des heures. 2. Prière mentale sous forme de méditation, dans laquelle le cœur a plus de part que l'esprit. 1. Liturgical prayer of the Mass and the Office. 2. Mental prayer in the form of meditation, in which the heart has a greater role than the mind. SAINTE CATHERINE, DE SIENNE [CATERINA BENINCASA] (Sienne 1347-Rome 1380) Qu'est-ce qui nous rend forts et persévérants ? L'oraison humble et continuelle faite dans la cellule de la connaissance de soi-même et de la bonté de Dieu en soi. What gives us strength and perseverance? Humble and continual prayer in the cell of self-knowledge and God’s goodness in oneself. 

Larousse DDF

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Preserving a 1701 French Book of Prayers

The oldest book I have in my possession is a book of prayers published  in Paris and bearing the date 1701. The pages are intact and legible but the binding is in very poor condition. The book measures 11 cm x 7.5 cm and has 527 pages.

The title of the book is: "Christian Hours, dedicated to the King." The word "Hours" refers to the prayers or offices appointed to be said at the seven stated times of the day allotted to prayer (the canonical hours). The King in question was none other than Louis XIV, the Sun King (1638-1715). 

My intention is to post excerpts from the pages of this book in their original French and Latin, accompanied by my translation and notes. I offer the project today as a birthday present to Our gentle Queen and Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, entreating her to intercede for my family, EEKPTEE & EA, so that through God's mercy we may merrily meet in heaven.[1]

Frontispiece

The Christian Hours

Dedicated

To the King

Containing

The Offices, Vespers,

Hymns and Chants[2] of the Church

In French and in Latin

Newly supplemented with several 

Prayers and Orisons[3] most holy.

By the Rev. Father Le Bossu of the 

Society of Jesus

Paris

La Veuve Senecart

rue des Carmes, at the tree of Life.

M. DCCI.

[1] Farewell ... pray for me, and I shall for you and all your friends, that we may merrily meet in heaven. These are from the last letter of Sir Thomas More to his family and friends, written on 5 July 1535, the day before his execution. More wrote with a stick of charcoal on cloth; King Henry VIII had ordered his books and writing materials to be removed.

[2] Prose : Chant liturgique strophique et versifié, souvent rimé et qui, à certaines messes, prend place après le graduel. (Par exemple Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.) Liturgical chant in strophes and verses, often rhyming and which in certain Masses follow the gradual (e.g., Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Lauda Sion ; Dies iræ.)

[3] Oraiʃons: 1. Prière liturgique de la messe et de l'office des heures. 2. Prière mentale sous forme de méditation, dans laquelle le cœur a plus de part que l'esprit. 1. Liturgical prayer of the Mass and the Office. 2. Mental prayer in the form of meditation, in which the heart has a greater role than the mind. SAINTE CATHERINE, DE SIENNE [CATERINA BENINCASA] (Sienne 1347-Rome 1380) Qu'est-ce qui nous rend forts et persévérants ? L'oraison humble et continuelle faite dans la cellule de la connaissance de soi-même et de la bonté de Dieu en soi. What gives us strength and perseverance? Humble and continual prayer in the cell of self-knowledge and God’s goodness in oneself. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.