O GOD, Who Thyself art Love, draw us into the burning fire of Thy Love, and consume us therein, that we be wholly Thine for ever. Amen.

O JESUS, the True Light that lightenest every one that cometh into the world, grant, I beseech Thee, by the inestimable merits of Thy Passion and Death, that the darkness of heresies and errors being dispersed, all men may embrace the light of Thy Truth, and be brought into the bosom of Thy Church, fulfilling Thine own most holy prayer, that Thy servants may be one even as Thou and Thy FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT are One. O Thou Good Shepherd, Who didst lay down Thy life for Thy sheep, protect Thy flock, strengthen and purify it. Grant that all may have one fold and one Shepherd, even Thee, Blessed JESUS. Loosen the bands of iniquity, put away all strife and bitterness, and fill us all with perfect charity, Thou Who art Love itself, even Thou our only SAVIOUR and Redeemer. Amen.

O Most Gracious and Eternal GOD, and Loving FATHER, Who hast poured out Thy mercies upon us, and sent the SON of Thy Love unto us to die for love, and to make us dwell in love; do Thou fill my heart with a holy charity towards Thee, and all the world. LORD, I forgive all that have

ever offended me, and beg that both they and I may enter into the possession of Thy mercies, and receive a gracious pardon from the same fountain of grace: do Thou forgive me all acts of scandal whereby I have ever provoked, tempted, or disturbed anyone. LORD, let me never be of those who disturb the union and peace of Thy Church, and forgive all who do. Make me to be in charity with all men, and to be ready to brethren give my life for the souls of my preserve me in the unity of Thy Holy Church, and do unto Thy servant as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy Name: let Thy truth comfort me, Thy staff support me, Thy grace sanctify me, Thy goodness pardon all my sins, Thy angels guide me safely in this land of the shadow of death, and Thy Most HOLY SPIRIT lead me forth into the Land of Righteousness, for Thy Name's sake, which is so comfortable, and for JESUS CHRIST His sake, our dearest LORD and Gracious SAVIOUR. Amen.

Our FATHER, &c.

PSALM XLI. Beatus qui intelligit.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble.

The LORD preserve him, and keep him

alive, that he may be blessed upon earth: and deliver not Thou him into the will of his enemies.

The LORD comfort him, when he lieth sick upon his bed : make Thou all his bed in his sickness.

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me : heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me when shall he die, and his name perish?

And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself, and when he cometh forth, he telleth it.

All mine enemies whisper together against me even against me do they imagine this evil.

Let the sentence of guiltiness proceed against him and now that he lieth, let him rise up no more.

:

Yea, even mine own familiar friend whom I trusted who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.

:

But be Thou merciful unto me, O LORD: raise Thou me up again, and I shall reward them.

By this I know Thou favourest me : that mine enemy doth not triumph against me. And when I am in my health, Thou upholdest me and shalt set me before Thy Face for ever.

Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel : world without end. Amen.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.

SHROVE TUESDAY.

"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD."-Lam. iii. 40.

In this week of Quinquagesima, especially on this day, all the faithful in ancient times made confession of their sins, and they who had fallen under the strict discipline of the Church were put to open penance. Shrove-tide is the preparation for Lent, and, as its very name implies, it is the time of confession.

But this ancient discipline no longer exists. What then is the sinful soul to do? the soul that feels its wounds and longs for its bands to be loosed, and its spirit to be renewed, is there for such no balm in Gilead? no Physician there? Blessed be GOD

"the Blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanseth from all sin." And he that cannot quiet his own conscience by self-examination, by bewailing and confessing his sins to GOD, with full purpose of amendment of life, and

by applying to JESUS through the general means of His Church, is invited to come to Him through His Priests, that, by opening his grief to them also in confession, he may receive by their ministry the benefits of absolution. O blessed ordinance of restoration for all contrite hearts, by the power of those words, "Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them." And O salutary correction when it is necessary to apply that discipline, "whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Now then, my soul, as thou enterest upon this season of repentance," prepare to meet thy GOD." And remember how thou art warned by the Spirit of JESUS, and by the practice of His Church, to pass these forty days in sorrow and humiliation, in reading GOD's holy Word, and in public prayer,and to nourish thy spiritual life by devotion, by alms-deeds, by fasting, by watching, by confession, by attendance at the Holy Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Altar, by meditation, by forgiveness of others, by making restitution and satisfaction, and by doing all things in charity, that thou mayest adorn the doctrine of GOD thy SAVIOUR; and be so transformed by the renewing of thy mind, that thou mayest "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."