St. John's Manual; A Guide to the Public Worship and Services of the Catholic Church, and a Collection of Devotions for the Private Use of the Faithful. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt: ...and the promptings of self-love, be sincere and humble yourself before the judgment of your God, and there in the bitterness of your heart prepare to lay open your heart to your confessor. Prayer In Immediate Preparation Before Going To Present One's Self At The Tribunal Of Confession. Let us go, then, my soul, and throw ourselves it the feet of our divine Eedeemer, that we may there cast off the heavy burden of our sins, and obtain grace and mercy. Let us go wash and purify ourselves in the precious bath of His blood, which He has prepared for us in this samnent, I come, Lord, my heart pierced with sorrow, and my countenance covered with, shame, to cast myself at the feet of Thy priest, and there to confess and bewail my sins. Incline Thine ears to the prayers of Thy servant, and cleanse my soul from all iniquity. Approach the confessional with the same reeollectedaess, silence, and modesty which would fill your heart if Christ our Lord were seated there in person ready to hear your confession, and not the priest who is really his representative. When your turn has come, kneel down and say. " Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," and then begin the ' Conriteor, ' proceeding as far as ' Through my fault," &c. Then tell when you last approached the sacraments, the period your confession is to embrace, and begin the avowal of your sins. Accuse yourself first of the faults, if any, in your last confession and communion, and when you have stated all, especially if you are so happy as to have no mortal sin on your conscience, conclude thus: '" For these and all the sins of my past li e, especially my sin of (naming some grievous sin), I' am heartily sorry, beg pardon of God, and absolution of you, my Father," and conclude the &qu...