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.
Prioress of the English Austin Canonesses at Bruges
(1668-1744)
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