+ A.M.D.G. +

Devotions

I. PRAYERS AND PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH.
1. The Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

2. The Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father.

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

3. The Angelical Salutation, or Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

4. The Apostles Creed.

1 I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; 2 and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord: 3 Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, 4 suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. 5 He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; 6 He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; 7 from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. [That is to say, those who are alive at the Last Day, and who, as a matter of course, must die before the final judgment; besides those who died previously; or it may also mean the redeemed and the reprobate.] 8 I believe in the Holy Ghost; 9 the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, 10 the forgiveness [remission] of sins, 11 the resurrection of the body, 12 and the life everlasting. Amen.

5. The Two Precepts of Charity. (Mark xii. 30, 31.)

(1). Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength.

(2). Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

6. The Ten Commandments of God. (Exod. xx. 1-17.)
  1. Thou shalt have no strange gods before Me. [That is to say, thou shalt believe in the one true God alone, and not worship any other.]
  2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. [That is, thou shalt not utter the name of God irreverently.]
  3. Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day. [Under the Christian Dispensation the Sunday.]
  4. Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be long-lived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.
  5. Thou shalt not kill.
  6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
  7. Thou shalt not steal.
  8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
  9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
  10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, nor his servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his.
7. The Six Precepts of the Church. (These are an amplification of the Third Commandment of God.)
  1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holy-days of obligation.
  2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
  3. To confess at least once a year.
  4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Easter time.
  5. To contribute to the support of our pastors.
  6. Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the fourth degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.
II. PRAYERS WHICH MAY BE USED DAILY AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

1. A Morning Prayer.

Thy goodness, my God, and might, Have brought me to this morning’s light. Keep and preserve me every hour, From sorrow, sin, temptation’s power. Grant me Thy blessing, Lord, this day, On all I think, or do, or say.

2. A Night Prayer.

When to rest I lay me down God’s protecting love I own; Hands and heart to Him I raise, For His gifts I give Him praise. The ill that I this day have done, Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son. Thou, Who hast kept me through the day, Watch o er me through this night, I pray.

3. An Act of Good Intention. (Bl. Clement Hofbauer.)

Let my object ever be To give glory, Lord, to Thee; If I work, or if I rest, May God’s holy name be blest. Grant me grace my all to give Unto Him by Whom I live; Jesus, for Thy help I plead: Mary, for me intercede.

4. Grace before Meals.

Bless us, Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

5. Grace after Meals.

We give Thee thanks, Lord, for these and all Thy gifts, which of Thy bounty we have received, and may the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God. rest in peace. Amen.

6. Prayer for One’s Parents.

My God, I commend my parents to Thee; protect them, and spare them long to me, and requite them for all the good that they have done to me. Amen.

III. PRAYERS TO BE SAID AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THE CHURCH BELL IS HEARD.
1. The Angelus. (Morning, noon, and evening.)

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, etc.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary, etc.

V. And the Word was made flesh.

R. And dwelt amongst us. Hail Mary, etc.

V. Pray for us, holy Mother of God;

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His Passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(An indulgence of one hundred days may be gained each time that the Angelus is said kneeling (except on Saturday evening and on Sunday, when it is said standing), and a plenary indulgence, once a month, on the usual conditions, if it has been said daily for a whole month. Those who are reasonably prevented from saying the prayers kneeling, or who cannot hear the bell, are still able to gain the indulgence if the prayers are duly recited.)

2. Prayer in Commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion, to be said at three o’clock on Fridays.

I bless Thee, Thou Lord of heaven! Whose life for sinful man was given. Let not Thy cross and bitter pain Have been for me borne all in vain.

3. Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory, to be said when the Church Bell is Tolled or after the Evening Angelus.

Thy mercy, Lord, we humbly crave
For souls whom Thou didst die to save.
Suffering amidst the cleansing fire,
To see Thy face they yet aspire.
Grant them, Lord, a swift release,
And bring them where all pain shall cease.

Eternal rest give unto all the faithful departed, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

4. Prayers to be Said when the Bell is Rung at Mass.

When the priest, standing at the foot of the altar, begins the prayers of the Mass, make the sign of the cross, direct your intention, and commence your prayers. At the Gospel stand up and cross yourself on forehead, lips, and breast.

5. Prayer at the Offertory.

Accept, Lord, this sacrifice, which, in union with the priest, I offer to Thy divine majesty, together with all I have and all I am. Mercifully pardon my sins, and grant that I may find acceptance in Thy sight.

6. At the Consecration.

Kneel down, bless yourself, clasp your hands, and fixing your eyes upon the altar, say: 

Flesh of Christ, hail, sweet oblation, Sacrifice for our salvation; On the cross a victim slain. Bread of angels, ever living, Health and hope to mortals giving.

Remain upon your knees, motionless, until the bell rings again at the elevation of the chalice. Then bless yourself again, and say:

Fount of love, good Jesus, Lord, Cleanse us, unclean, in Thy all-cleansing blood; Of which one single drop for sinners spilt, Can free the entire world from all its guilt.

7. At the Communion [if you are lucky enough to have a parish that still does this).

When the bell rings, bless yourself, strike your breast, and say with the priest:

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Bless yourself again here, and also when the priest gives the blessing. At the last Gospel do the same as when the first was read.

IV. DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION AND COMMUNION.

1. The Form for Confession. 

Kneeling down in the confessional, make the sign of the cross when the priest gives you his blessing; then say the first part of the Confiteor, and accuse yourself of the sins you have committed since your last confession, following the order of the Ten Commandments, the precepts of the Church, and the seven deadly sins. After having confessed all that you can remember, conclude with these or similar words:

For these and all the sins of my past life I am heartily sorry, because I have thereby offended my Father in heaven and deserved His chastisements. I purpose amendment for the future, and humbly ask pardon of God and absolution and penance of you, Father.

Listen attentively to the instructions the priest gives you, especially in regard to the penance he sets you. When he gives you absolution and his blessing, bless yourself; then go to the altar to give thanks to God for having granted you forgiveness of sin, and perform the penance enjoined on you.

2. Acts of the Three Theological Virtues. 

(1). An Act of Faith.

I believe that there is one God, and that in this one God there are three persons. That the Son of God was made man for us, that He died upon the cross, rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven. I believe that the Son of God will come again at the Last Day, and call all men to judgment. I believe this because Christ is the Son of God and therefore can neither deceive nor be deceived; and because He has confirmed His teaching by many, miracles. Moreover I believe whatever the Catholic Church by Christ’s authority proposes to us to be believed; *I believe it because the Catholic Church is guided and defended against error by the Holy Spirit; and because even down to the present day God corroborates by miracles the truths which the Catholic Church teaches. God, increase my faith.

(2). An Act of Hope.

My God, I hope that after death Thou wilt admit me to everlasting happiness, and that Thou wilt give me here such means as are essential to the attainment of that happiness. I trust that Thou wilt grant me for this end the grace of the Holy Spirit, such temporal good things as are necessary to me, pardon of sin, help in time of need, and a gracious answer to my petitions. I hope this, because Thou, Who art almighty and all-bountiful and ever-faithful to Thy promises, hast promised these things to me, and because Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, has merited them for me by His cruel death upon the cross. God, increase my hope.

(3). An Act of Charity.

My God, I love Thee with my whole heart, and above all things, because Thou art supreme beauty and perfection, because Thou art my greatest benefactor and Thy love for me is infinite. I will, therefore, think of Thee in all my actions; I will avoid even the slightest sins; I will give thanks to Thee for all Thy benefits and for all Thou givest me to suffer, and I will love my neighbor because he is Thy child and made after Thy image. God, increase my charity.

(As often as acts of the three theological virtues are made, either by the use of this formula, or in the words our own devotion may suggest, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines may be gained; and for daily repetition of these acts a plenary indulgence once a month is granted, on the usual conditions. Also a plenary indulgence at the hour of death.)

3. An Act of Contrition.

God of infinite majesty, I, a sinner, have offended against Thee. Thou art my heavenly Father; Thou hast given Thy Son for me, and hast lavished innumerable benefits upon me, and yet I have grieved Thee. Thou art a just God; I know that Thou dost leave no sin unpunished, and yet I was so ungrateful as to offend Thee. I am exceedingly sorry for having sinned; I will hence forth avoid sin and keep Thy commandments. Grant me Thy pardon, and receive me again as Thy child.

4. Renewal of Baptismal Vows.

I thank Thee, my God, for having made me Thy child by holy Baptism. I desire this day to renew the covenant then made with Thee: I promise to renounce all the sinful pleasures of the world, to believe and to follow the teaching of the Gospel. I hope for Thy grace to enable me to do this, and after my death to enter into eternal felicity.

DEVOTIONS TO THE HOLY GHOST.

1. Prayer to the Holy Ghost.

To Thee, Holy Ghost, we cry Strengthen the weakness of our Thou highest gift of God most will, high:

Help us our duty to fulfil;
Enlighten us with light divine, Give solace to the troubled
Keep far from us the foe malign.
breast, And after death, eternal rest. Amen

2. Hymn to the Holy Ghost.

Come, Creator, Spirit blest! Kindle our senses from above, And in our souls take up Thy rest; Come, with Thy grace and heavenly aid, And make our hearts overflow with love; With patience firm and virtue high,

To fill the hearts that Thou The weakness of our flesh supply- Far from us drive the foe we dread, hast made. Great Paraclete! to Thee we cry highest gift of God most And grant us Thy true peace high! fount of life, fire of love, And sweet anointing from above!

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts art known; instead; So shall we not, with Thee for guide, Turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow The finger of God’s hand we The Father and the Son to own know, The promise of the Father Thou, And Thee through endless time Who dost the tongue with confest, power endow.

Of both the eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run Be to the Father and the Son Who rose from death; the same to Thee, Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.

(An indulgence of three hundred days may be gained each time this hymn is said, and a plenary indulgence once a month. Pius VI., 1796.)

VI. SPECIAL PRAYERS.

1. The Salve Regina. 

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. clement, loving, sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V. Make me worthy to praise thee, holy Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

V. Blessed be God in His saints.

R. Amen.

We fly to thy protection, holy Mother of God! Despise not our petitions in our necessities, and deliver us from all dangers, ever glorious and blessed Virgin. Reconcile us with thy Son, commend us to thy Son, present us to thy Son!

2. The Memorare.

Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

(An indulgence of three hundred days may be gained each time the Memorare is said; and a plenary once a month, on the usual conditions, by those who repeat it daily.)

3. The Holy Rosary.

The Creed is repeated first, then one Our Father and three Hail Marys, followed by Glory be to the Father, etc. Fifteen decades are then said, each decade consisting of one Our Father and ten Hail Marys, and ending with a Glory be to the Father.

The Mysteries of the Rosary are:

The five Joyful Mysteries, which may be said chiefly from Advent to Lent, or on Mondays and Thursdays.

(1), The Annunciation, (2), The Visitation, (3), The Nativity of Our Lord, (4), The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, (5), The Finding of the Child Jesus in Jerusalem.

The five Sorrowful Mysteries, which may be said chiefly during Lent, or on Tuesdays and Fridays.

(1), The Prayer and Agony of Our Lord in the Garden, (2), The Scourging, (3), The Crowning with Thorns, (4), The Carrying of the Cross, (5), The Crucifixion.

The five Glorious Mysteries, which may be used chiefly from Easter until Advent, or on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

(1), The Resurrection of Our Lord, (2), The Ascension, (3), The Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles, (4), The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven, (5), The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thus each chaplet of the Rosary consists of the Creed, six Our Fathers, six Glorys and fifty-three Hail Marys.

The beads must be blessed and the indulgences attached by a priest who has the powers. If this be duly done the faithful can gain an indulgence of one hundred days for every Creed, Our Father, and Hail Mary, each time the Rosary is recited.

4. Prayer to St. Joseph.

Glorious Joseph, kind father and friend, Humbly to thee myself I commend; Keep me, watch over me, help and defend. By virtue’s path lead to the heavenly land, And in my last hour be thou near at hand. Amen.

5. Prayer to Our Guardian Angel.

Holy angel, guardian mine, Given me by love divine; Day and night watch over me, From harm, from sin, let me be free. By a pious life I fain would eternal joys attain. Amen.

 


This article, Devotions is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/bf_catechism/the-catechism-explained/devotions/
Do not repost the entire article without written permission. Reasonable excerpts may be reposted so long as it is linked to this page.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Flip