and deliver me from all the sufferings and pains which I have merited for my sins; and save my soul in the hour of my departure. Open to me, O LORD, the gate of life, and grant me to rejoice with Thy saints in glory, Who with the same GOD the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, art ever One GOD, world without end. Amen.

Commendation of the soul into the hands of the Creator.

"INTO

NTO Thy hands I commend my spirit." I commend it now, O CHRIST, while I am well and strong, that Thou mayest hold it, so commended, when I am able to commend it no more, though not loosed from its bonds. I fear for the time when I shall still be among the living, yet know not my own existence. This we see to be the case with many dying persons-they breathe, they live, yet know not that they are alive. Then, when my spirit quails, dreading to depart at last notwithstanding, from the prison which it loves, then if Thou, its Creator, shut it out, oh! who will be there to receive it?

O CHRIST, most patient, remember that Thou too in Thy last agony didst com

H

plain that Thou wert "forsaken;" Thou commendedst Thy Spirit to Thy FATHER, Thou criedst out, and gavest up the ghost! Now it is I who cry out to Thee, that Thou, my SAVIOUR, wouldst receive my spirit! Let it depart from the body at whatever time or place, or by whatever disease it may.

Remember, O good JESUS, that upon the Cross Thou didst stretch out Thy arms, open Thy breast, and bow Thy head: behold my soul, forsaken by all created things, seeks for refuge! It throws itself into those arms of Thine; it casts itself upon Thy breast! Receive it, I implore Thee, in its wretchedness; admit it, I pray Thee, to Thy bosom, and drive it not from Thee till the wrath of GOD pass away. There let it abide in safety, secure from the ministers of hell.

Into Thy hands, therefore, O LORD, I commend my spirit, nay, Thine, for it is Thou Who hast created and redeemed it. Despise not, O GOD, Thy own work!

ESUS

CHRIST, Father of mercies, have mercy upon me, Thy sorrowful creature, help me in this my hour of

need.

JESUS CHRIST, my Creator and Redeemer, place Thy Passion, Cross, and Death between Thy judgment and my soul. I yield myself wholly to Thee; disown me not. I come to Thee, cast me not out.

Now, LORD, according to Thy will, deal mercifully with me, and receive my soul in peace.

Into Thy hands, LORD, I commend my spirit, for Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou GOD of truth. Let me hear the voice of JESUS, my Leader, saying: "This day shalt Thou be with me in Paradise.

O

LORD GOD, I am that miserable one whom Thou in Thy Fatherly goodness didst create, and whom Thou didst redeem by the most shameful death of Thine only-begotten SoN. Thou only hast power and dominion over me; Thou canst save me according to Thine abundant mercy.

SW

WEET JESU, I await neither life nor death, but only Thy good pleasure. I look for Thee: be it unto me according to Thy will.

If Thou wilt that I die, sweet JESU, re

ceive my spirit. And when the last long evening shall come, let it then be light with me, let me rest for ever in and with Thee, the true and everlasting Light. But if Thou wilt that I live, sweet JESU, this I resolve, and for this I seek Thy graceI resolve to amend the residue of my life, and to offer it wholly for a sacrifice to Thee, for Thy glory, and according to Thy pleasure.

LORD JESU, Life and salvation of my soul, receive me in the spirit of Humility. I lay my prayers before Thee not trusting in my own righteousness, but in the multitude of Thy mercies. I, that lost sheep, return to Thee, the Shepherd: for I know Thy voice, and I will not know the voice of strangers. I beseech Thee, bring me back into the fold. Canst Thou turn away from him who calls on Thee and seeks Thee? ·

Didst not Thou Thyself say, "He shall call upon Me in time of trouble, and I will hear him, yea, I will deliver him ?"

Behold, I cry with heart rather than with tongue. Trouble is hard at hand, O LORD, and there is none to deliver me, save Thou, good JESU!

But, LORD, I ask not for the seat of those happy spirits who behold the face of the most Holy Trinity. Only grant Thy servant some crumbs from Thy most sweet table. This shall be abundance for me; and O how more than abundance if below the feet of the lowest of Thine elect Thou shalt grant me a little place!

ETERNAL GOD, send me the angel of

light, that he may lead me to the place of refreshment, and to the still waters, to the bosom of the Holy Fathers. Thou Who didst quench the flaming sword, restoring Paradise to him who, being beside Thy Cross, sought refuge in Thy mercy, remember me also in Thy kingdom.

If through the frailty of my nature, I have sinned in word, or deed, or thought, forgive my transgressions, Thou Who hast power on earth to forgive sins, that I may find refreshment, and that when my soul shall depart from my body, it may be found without spot before Thee, and Thou mayest receive it blameless and stainless into Thy hands, as an offering of incense in Thy sight. Amen.