The sixteenth SECTION. What is to be done at the Celebration of the Sacrament.
AT the Celebration of the Sacrament, you shall endeavour to stir up in your self a great re∣verence of this incomparable Majestie, who cometh to fill the Sacrifice with his presence, and say:
O God, dispose me to offer unto Thee the merits of the life and passion of thy well-beloved Son. At this present I offer up to thee, in the union thereof, my understanding, my will, my memorie, my thoughts, my words, my works, my sufferings, and consolations, my good, my life, all that I have, and all that I can ever pretend unto.
Afterwards, at the Preface when the Priest inviteth all to lift up their hearts to God, or when the Angeli∣cal Hymn, called by the Ancients Trisagion, is pro∣nounced, may be said as followeth, being taken out of the Liturgies of S. James and S. Chrysostom.
TO thee the Creatour of all things visible and invisi∣ble: To thee the Treasure of eternal blessings: To thee the Fountain of life and immortalitie. To thee the absolute Lord of the whole world, be given, as is due, all praise, honour, and worship. Let the Sun, Moon, and Quires of Stars; the Air, Earth, Sea, and all that is in the Celestial Elementarie world, bless thee. Let thy Jerusalem, thy Church, from the first-born thereof alreadie enrolled in Heaven, glorifie thee. Let the elect souls of Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets; Let Angels, Arch-Angels, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers, and Virutes. Let the dreadfull Cherubims and Seraphins perpetually sing the Hymn of thy triumphs.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy glorie; Save us, O thou that dwellest in Heaven, the palace of thy Majestie.
O Lord Jesus, thou art the everlasting Son of the Fa∣ther. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou clothedst thy self with flesh in the Virgins womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open unto us the Kingdom of Heaven. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father, and shalt judge both the quick and the dead. O Lord, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy pre∣cious bloud.
As soon as you have received the Sacrament, say this prayer of S. Bernard in his Meditations upon the Passion.
O Heavenly Father, look down from thy Sanctuary; from the Throne of thy glory, upon the blessed sacri∣fice, which our High Priest Jesus, thy most innocent and sacred Son, doth offer unto thee for the sins of his Brethren. Pardon the multitude of our offences, and have compassion upon our miseries. Hearken to the voice of the bloud of that immaculate Lamb, which cri∣eth out to thee, and he himself standeth before thee at the right hand of thy Majestie, crowned with honour and glory. Behold, O Lord, the face of thy Messias, who hath been obedient to thee, even unto death; and put not his blessed wounds out of thy sight, nor the satisfa∣ction he made for our sins, out of thy rememberance. O let every tongue praise and bless thee in commemoration of thy infinite goodness, who didst deliver thy onely Son over to death upon Earth, to make him our most prevalent Advocate in Heaven.
For Petition. Immediately after you have recited the Lords Prayer, say these words of the aforesaid Liturgie.
O God, be mindfull of all Pastours and faithfull peo∣ple, dwelling in all parts of the habitable world, in the union of the Catholick Faith, and preserve them in thy holy peace.
O God, bless our most gracious King; and his whole Kingdom; hear the prayers which we offer up at thy Altar.
O God, remember all those that travel by sea or land, and are exposed to so many dreadfull dangers. Remem∣ber the many poor prisoners and exiles, who groan under the miseries of the world.
O God, remember the sick, and all such as are in any discomfort of mind: Remember the many poor souls opprest with bitterness, who implore thy succour. Re∣member also the conversion of so many Hereticks, In∣fidels, and sinners, whom thou hast created after thine own image.
O God, remember our Friends and Benefactours: Ac∣cept this sacrifice for us sinners, and let us all feel the ef∣fects of thy Mercy; drive away scandal, war, and heresie; and grant us thy peace and love.
And at the end of the Communion;
O God, pour down thy graces upon us; direct our steps in thy ways, strengthen us in thy fear, confirm us in thy love, and give us at last the inheritance of thy children.
It is very expedient also to have our devotions or∣dered for every day of the week.