A Manner Of Hearing Mass When We Consider It As A Propitiatory Sacrifice For Our Sins, For Which End We Must Offer It.

SASSETTA 
St Thomas Inspired by the Dove of the Holy Ghost 
1423

A Manner Of Hearing Mass When We Consider It As A Propitiatory Sacrifice For Our Sins, For Which End We Must Offer It.

CONSIDERATION.

When the Priest is at the steps of the altar reciting the Confiteor, imagine yourself to appear in the sight of Almighty God all covered with sin, which is so detestable to him. Conceive a true confusion, and humbly acknowledge yourself a sinner, and incapable of repairing the injury you have done to God, or satisfying for your sins; then reflecting that Jesus Christ offers to satisfy his eternal Father for you, raise your hope and confidence inis goodness.

AFFECTIONS. 

My most dear Saviour, you are my only hope. Your presence puts fear and despair to flight; it is in your sacred merits that I place all my trust and confidence. How great is my obligation to you, my dear Redeemer, for vouchsafing to be my bail, and to pay those debts which I could never have paid. If malice could have equalled so great a goodness, mine had done it, since, instead of spending my life in loving and serving so good a Lord, I have employed it in offending you.

How often have I abused your goodness, slighted your friendship, contemned your love, and turned the stream of mine (which you only can challenge and deserve) towards creatures; thus preferring my own will to yours.

Behold here a copious subject for your pardon, and an ample object to exercise your mercy on. Pardon, O infinite Abyss of mercy, pardon the multitude of my offences. From the bottom of my soul I cry to you, I have sinned, and my sins are in number more than the hours of my life; but though equal to the minutes I have lived, your mercy pradons all, and for one Peccavi from the heart are remitted, O forgive my unfaithfulness. Besides your pardon for the past, give me amendment for the future. Give me grace by the merits of this Sacrifice to sin no more; or if sin be still necessary to suppress my pride, at least grant me a perfect contrition. Enkindle in my heart thay flame charity, that I may love you purely or yourself.

O love of my God, which as much exceeds our love as you Lord excel us! you witness it by dying for us, not only once, but daily dying mystically on our Altars. Give me a gratitude as ample as these benefits. Take from me what is mone, and odious, and give me what belongs to you. Give me an upright heart, and a will conformable to yours, and in all my thoughts, words, and actions, let me have no other aim but your will and greater glory. 

O my God and Father! but shall I dare call you so, after having so much offended you? Being sensible of my unworthiness, I durst not do it, were it not for the precious Blood your Son shed, which he will here offer for me. If my sins provoke your just anger, his Blood will move your compassion. If you are deaf to my sign and tears, you will not be so to his Blood, which cries louder than that of Abel, not for punishment but pardon of my crimes, Besides I know you had rather be esteemed the Father of mercy than the God of vengeance; all which makes me hope that you will not reject a contrite and humble heart; especially when presented by your Son, who, as our High Priest, is going to immolate himself in favour of me; for his sake


pg 65

IN TIME OF THE EPISTLE AND GOSPEL.

CONSIDERATION.


AFFECTIONS.

pg 66

pg 67

AT THE OFFERTORY. CONSIDERATION.

pg 68.

AFFECTIONS.
 pg.69


AT THE ELEVATION. CONSIDERATION. 

Represent  to yourself Jesus Christ fastened to a Cross, to expiate the sins of all mankind. Consider in his passion, as in a faithful mirror or glass, how enormous sin is. At this spectacle, excite your heart  to conceive so great a sorrow of them, as never more to commit them. 

AFFECTIONS.

O my soul! what is represented to us by the  the body of Christ on the one fnle and his blood on the other, and himself lifted up in the Hoft^ but his Sacred death on the Cross? all that our eyes behold here, is a lively representation of the bloody Tragedy acted upon Mount Calvary.

My divine Saviour, after having adored! you as my God, permit me to ask you what has reduced you to this deplorable condition? 'tis fin; 'tis to expiate the disobedience found in all the sins of mankind, that you are obedient even to the death of the cross; as also to satisfy for the pains they deserve that you suffer such sad torments.

O infinite goodness, to suffer so much for me your enemy, who had a hand in alf you suffer! 'twas not so much Judas that betrayed you, as my treacherous heart ; not so much the soldiers that struck, reviled, and fpit upon you, as did my passions. 'Twas my sensuality that scourged you; my gluttony that gave you gall; in short, 'twas my fins that nailed you to the cross, drew all the blood from your veins, and bereaved you of life.

Lord, what have I done in sinning? takcn away your life, and crucified you anew. After such proceedings-, I might with reason despair, did I not bear you pray upon the cross for your Crucifiers, which prayer cannot  fail to be heard, and to obtain what it aiks, and that is the pardon of my fins. Add to this favour the grant of N N. and a true and perfect sorrow for having ever offended you, which may preserve me from doing it again. I here offer myself in satisfaction for my fins, and to suffer for your love whatever you please, provided you will grant me your love and your grace, which I most heartily beg through the merits of this Sacrifice; and that you will please to unite all I shall do and suffer to your sacred merits; without which, all I can perform will avail me nothing

AT THE AGNUS DEI. CONSIDERATION. 

Be persuaded that you can never better atone, and satisfy for your fins, than by offering Christ and his Sacred Merits (which you possess in communion) both to his eternal Father, and to himself. 'Tis likewise the most efficacious means to preserve you from falling into sin. Therefore whenever you offer up the Sacrifice of holy Mafs for your fins, fail not to communicate at least spiritually.

jiffeSiions^ -Come my most amiable jefus, come ; for you come chiefly for finnerSi Com^ ^Jtv^v\. ( 72 )

to me who am the moft ufl worthy of them.- But before you enter to make your oiibr- ing, confecrate the temple of my heart fo much de£kd by ^n, and pro£aned by the idol self-love. Break and destroy that enemy of yours J and since all things are pof- fibie to you, change ihe love I bear myself into your love, and fo make a great faint of a great (inner.

Pardon, dearest Lord, my fins and misdemeanors for your mercy's fake, for tho' I do not deserve it, yet you having merited it for me, I requ^fl it on your score. You have done abundantly more than sufficient to satisfy for all my debts ; I therefore lay claim to pardon. Grant it me then, since I can pay you more than enough ; for I give you, dear Jefus, your death and passion, which you have given me, with the which you mufl needs be satisfied, and I cleared from guilt.

What will you lose by forgiving me? Who will blame you for that mercy? On the contrary, you will acquire great glory by it; for it is ever more glorious to your name to save than to condemn; it i^ there- fore I beg it. Pardon that vaft multitude of my fins which I have incurred, partly through ignorance^ but much more thro* wilfulness in both I have offended you.r

Cure also those wounds they have caused in me; your wisdom knows the depth of them, your power is able, and your good- nefs, I am sure, is willing, which gives me hopes much larger than my fears have been.

The inveteracy of no disease can make reddance, if you command all maladies will obey you. Say to me only, as to the leper, volo mundare^ that word will restore me to perfect health : For as your word alone created me, fo your word can again repair me. No distemper can remain in me, if you will but fay you will have mc be freed. Take away the caufe, pull up the root, self-love, which is the origin of all.

I know you more desire what I ask, than I do who ask it: grant it me then, to fulfil your desire. Give me also love, and a true zeal of your glory; but give me plenty, for I cannot be satisfied with a little, nor is it glorious for your name to give sparingly. My Jesus do this for me, and let me know what you desire of me, and I will bestow the remainder of my life in performing it: Or if you think fit to punish me for my sins and misdemeanors, I beg it may be fo, as to correct and not harden me, as to bring me to you, and not drive me from you.

Lady Lucy Herbert 
Prioress of the English Austin Canonesses at Bruges 
(1668-1744)

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