Invocations of the Holy Ghost; Necessary Virtues; Aspirations

Proper before Reading, or any other Spiritual Undertaking THE HYMN Veni Creator PIRIT divine, who mad’st us all, Visit these souls of thine, And fill with grace from heav’n above The breasts which thou hast made,

Thou who art call’d the Paraclete, The gift of God most high, The living fountain, fire, and love, And unction of the soul.

Thou who art sev’nfold in thy grace, The Father’s promis’d gift, The finger of his great right-hand, And source of eloquence.

Come guide our senses by thy light, Inflame our hearts with love, Strengthen the frailties of our clay With heavenly fortitude.

Far from us drive our hellish foe, Bring peace into our souls; And thro’ all perils lead us safe, Under thy sacred wing.

May we thro’ thee the Father know, With his coequal Son; And thee, the spirit of them both, Ever believe and love.

All glory to the Father be, And to his only Son; The like to thee, great Paraclete, Now and for evermore. Amen. THE HYMN Veni Sancte Spiritus OME, Holy Ghost, send down those beams, Which sweetly flow in silent streams, From thy bright throne above.

O come, thou father of the poor, O come, thou source of all our store; Come, fire our hearts with love.

O thou, of comforters the best, O thou, the soul’s delicious guest; The pilgrim’s sweet relief.

Thou art our rest in toil and sweat, Refreshment in excessive heat, And solace in our grief.

O sacred light, shoot home thy darts, And pierce the centers of these hearts, Whose faith aspires to thee.

Without thy Godhead nothing can Have any price or worth in man; Nothing can harmless be.

Lord, wash our sinful stains away, Water from heaven our barren clay; Our wounds and bruises heal.

To thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow; Warm with thy fire our hearts of snow, Our wandering feet repeal.

Grant to thy faithful, dearest Lord, Whose only hope is thy sure word, The seven gifts of thy Spirit. Grant us in life t’obey thy grace; Grant us at death to see thy face,

And endless joys inherit. Amen, Anthem. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of thy love. y. Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be created. ℟. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray GOD, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of thy Holy Spirit, grant that we may by thy gift of the same Spirit be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolations. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Necessary Virtues

to be exercised every Day I. Humility: by keeping yourself H always little, and as truly nothing in the sight of God, and humbling yourself to every neighbour. In order to this, always remember what you have deserved by your sins: that it is a mercy of God that you are not in hell: and that if you had your due, all God’s creatures ought either to fly and abhor you, for your foul treasons against their maker, or revenge his cause, by joining together in persecuting you: and therefore that the least service you receive from any of them is more than you deserve, and that affronts and contempt are your just due.

2. Penance: by frequent acts of repentance for your past sins, and calling continually upon God to shew you mercy; often presenting yourself at his feet in prayer, like St. Mary Magdalene; or striking your breast with the publican. Offer up also to God in a penitential spirit, whatever pains, crosses, or sufferings you daily meet with, and death itself with all its agonies whensoever it shall come. And make it your study by frequent mortifications and self-denials to chastise yourself, and to offer up daily some satisfaction to God, acceptable through Jesus Christ, for the many injuries you have done him by your sins.

3. Resignation and conformity to the will of God in all events: ever remembering, that nothing happens without his pleasure or permission; and that this or that cross is what God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, from all eternity designed for you. And as in all your sufferings you must embrace the will of God, and chearfully submit to it, so in all your undertakings you must consult this holy will, and in all your actions conform to it as the rule and motive of all you do, 4. Recollection: by calling to mind, as often as you can in the day, the presence of God, represented as in the very center of your soul; making frequent aspirations and ejaculations of love to him; offering frequently in the day your whole being, all the powers of your soul, and all your senses and faculties, with all your thoughts, words and actions to him; and banishing, as much as you can, from you all vain amusements, anxious cares, and irregular affections; that so your heart may easily find him, freely embrace him, and quietly repose in him.

Aspirations and Ejaculations

That May be Made in the Midst of Your Daily Actions

Lord, increase my faith. Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. O let me rather die than consent to the least doubt of thy sacred truths. In thee, O Lord, is all my hope; O let me never be confounded. Hide me dear Jesus in thy wounds, bathe my soul in thy precious blood. O fountain of mercy, have mercy on me. O let nothing in life or death ever separate me from thee. Lord be merciful to me a sinner. Lord be thou my keeper, and keep me from sin. Lord look well to me, or I shall betray thee. O rather let me die a thousand deaths than offend thee mortally. O when shall sin have an end? O my God, teach me to love thee; teach me to serve thee as I ought.

N O that I had the hearts and tongues of all the world, that I might worthily praise thee, and love thee.

O divine love, how little art thou loved in this wicked world; O take possession at least of my heart, and let thy sacred flames ever burn there.

Too late have I known thee, O ancient truth! too late have I loved thee, O ancient beauty!

O the God of my heart, and my portion for ever. My God and my all! I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee.

Who will give me the wings of the dove? and I will fly and repose in thee.

As the hart pants after the fountains of water, so my soul pants after thee, my God. My soul has thirsted after my God, the fountain of life eternal. Oh! when shall I come and appear in the presence of my God! My heart and my flesh rejoice exceedingly in the living God.

O Lord, enlighten my eyes, that I may never sleep in death, The sins of my youth and my ignorances remember not, O Lord.: From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord; and for the sins of others, spare thy servant. Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I recommend my spirit.

Lord save me, or I perish. Lord make haste to help me.

Let God arise, and his enemies be put to flight. Say to my soul, thou art my salvation.

I hope to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Let the name of the Lord be for ever blessed. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Lord, what wouldst thou have me do?

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. I have desired thy law in the very midst of my heart.

I will keep my strength, O Lord, for thee. Turn away my eyes, that they may not look on vanity. j Thou art just, O Lord, and thy judgment is right.

Lord I have said, now I begin: let this be the change of the right-hand of the most high. The mercies of our Lord I will sing for ever. Come let us adore the Lord that made us. All ye works of our Lord, bless our Lord, praise and magnify him for ever.

These and such like short acts of virtue may be proper, in the midst of your ordinary actions and emp'oyments, ‘to be secretly repeated in your hearts, sometimes of one sort, sometimes. of another, as occasion shall require, and the spirit of God shall suggest.