The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/A Way of Hearing Holy Mass
A WAY OF HEARING HOLY MASS
IN HONOUR OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS.
Of all offerings to our Father in heaven Holy Mass is infinitely the best. It is His only-begotten Son who offers Himself as a Victim. It is one with the Offering on Calvary. His priest at the Altar partakes of His Priesthood; and when you hear Holy Mass you are called by God to join with the priest in this holiest of all offerings.
The Church commands you to hear Mass on Sundays and certain holidays. Do not be content with this; but spend devoutly a half-hour whenever you can in the morning in this holy work. It will draw your heart to God more than any other occupation, and will become a delight to you.
HOLY WATER.
As you take Holy Water upon going into Church, say:
Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall he cleansed; wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
BEFORE MASS.
On taking your place.
O God the Holy Ghost, fill my cold heart with love, that I may hear this Mass with much reverence and devotion.
Mary, my Mother, pray for me. My Guardian-angel, shield me from all vain and wandering thoughts.
ACT OF FAITH.
As the Priest comes into Church.
Eternal Father, I believe that in Holy Mass there is offered to Thee the one only pure and perfect offering: Jesus, Thy eternal Son, God and Man, the Holy Child of Bethlehem and Nazareth; Jesus, the one great High-Priest for ever, who offered Himself to Thee for me and for all mankind upon the Cross.
OFFER INTENTION.
When the Priest is at the foot of the Altar.
I desire to join with Thy priest at the Altar in offering up this Holy Sacrifice:
- In worship of Thee, the great and all-holy God;
- To thank Thee for all the good things Thou hast done for me and all Thy people;
- To beg Thee to turn away Thy anger from my sins and the sins of all men; and
- To ask Thee to continue Thy goodness to me, to bless my father and mother, and [Here mention those for whom you ought or wish to pray, and do not forget to pray for the Holy Father, the Bishop of the diocese, the parish priest, and the priest at the Altar], to bless all who are near and dear to me, especially to give them the grace of a holy death. I also pray Thee to make me meek and lowly of heart, like the Holy Child Jesus, now, that when I die I may live for ever in Thy glory.
AT THE INTROIT.
Jesus, true Light, by Thy holy Birth, which made angels rejoice; by the sorrows of Thy Heart, as Thou didst lie in Thy manger-cradle unheeded by the world which Thou hadst come to save; by Thy sorrow in the Garden, and Thy patience under the insults of the impious Jews,—give me patience and meekness under the trials which Thou mayest think fit to send me.
AT THE KYRIE.
Eternal Father, thrice-holy God, who hast loved me with an everlasting love, have mercy on me and on all Thy children.
Jesus, Son of the Father; Jesus, Son of Mary ; Jesus, God and Man, for love of me once a Child, have mercy on me and on all Thy children.
Holy Spirit, Lord and Life-giver, who with the Father and the Son art one God of Love, have mercy on me and on all Thy children.
AT THE EPISTLE.
Jesus, who hast taught me by Thy holy Church what I am to believe and do, give me the grace to resist temptation, and in all things always to do Thy holy will, to serve Thee, and my neighbour for Thy sake, by good works, and to profess joyfully Thy holy Catholic Faith in life and in death.
AT THE GOSPEL.
Teach me, O Jesus, always to delight in Thy holy Gospel, which tells of Thee and of all Thy words and deeds of love.
Mary, my Mother, Spouse of the Holy Ghost, Teacher of the Evangelist, especially of St. Luke and St. John, pray for me. Pray for me also, ye blessed Evangelists, that the written word be not given in vain for me.
AT THE OFFERTORY.
Jesus, who for me didst offer Thyself up to Thy Father, in the manger, in the Temple, and at the pillar, by Thy Precious Blood wash me so free from sin that I may be accepted by the Father, to whom, unworthy as I am, I wholly offer myself and all that I have, to be His now and for evermore.
AT THE LAVABO
(Washing of hands).
Most innocent Lamb of God, Jesus, in whom Thy enemies could find no fault, keep me pure in thought, word, and deed.
AT THE PREFACE.
It is indeed meet and just, most right and salutary, that we should, at all times and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Lord, most holy Father, almighty, eternal God, because Thou hast given us Christ our Lord, Jesus the Babeof Bethlehem, Jesus the King of glory, our Strength in life, our Hope in death, and our Joy in eternity.
Therefore, with angels, archangels, and with all the hosts of heaven, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, repeating here on earth the everlasting song of heaven:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus!
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God of hosts! The heavens and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
AT THE MEMENTO OF THE LIVING.
Be mindful, great God, eternal Father, of all Thy holy servants, who once were weary here, but now live and rejoice in Thee.
Bless Thy holy Catholic Church, her chief Pastor on earth. Pope Pius, the Vicar of Thy dear Son. Bless also, and keep from harm, our Bishop . . . the clergy, and especially the priest [or priests] of the parish, and the priest at the Altar.
Be mindful also of Thy servants [Here name those who have asked you to pray for them], all the present and absent members of this congregation. Preserve them from all evil both of soul and body. By this most holy Sacrifice save the souls of all for whom I ought to pray from sin, and bring them to Thy everlasting joy.
AT THE ELEVATION OF THE SACRED HOST.
Jesus, Jesus, Thy dear Hands and Feet were nailed to the Cross, and Thy sacred Body was lifted up on high. By those cruel pains endured with such love for me, raise my cold heart up to Thyself, so that ever remembering what Thou hast suffered for sin, I may hate it with all my heart.
AT THE ELEVATION OF THE CHALICE.
May Thy Precious Blood, O Jesus, flowing from those most sacred Wounds, the Blood which is the price of my salvation, wash me from every stain of sin, and be my strength against temptation, even unto everlasting life.
AT THE MEMENTO OF THE DEAD.
Jesus, Lord of all, who didst visit the souls in prison, remember Thy faithful dead. Shorten their pain, and let them quickly see Thy Face, and enjoy the glory of the Kingdom which Thou hast prepared for them and for all who die in Thy holy love.
OUR FATHER.
Repeat this slowly and devoutly.
Our Father, most truly Our Father, for Thou in Thy goodness hast formed us out of nothing to Thy image and likeness. Thou hast redeemed from eternal death those who have fallen into sin. Thou hast adopted us as sons, and sanctified us by Thy Holy Spirit. Thou hast called us to the heirship of heaven, and directed us thither by Thy fatherly care.
O Father, Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier of us all Thy children, Giver of all good gifts, may we do Thy most holy will in all things.
AT THE AGNUS DEI.
Jesus, spotless Lamb of God, true Victim, sacrificed for my sins and the sins of the whole world; Jesus, now upon the Altar, and at the right hand of the Father in heaven, have mercy on us, and give us Thy holy peace.
AT THE COMMUNION OF THE PRIEST.
Renew and purify my heart, dear Jesus, that according to Thy word it may become a dwelling-place fitted for Thee.
AT THE LAST BLESSING.
Dear Lord, who alone art worthy of the love of my heart, which was made to love Thee; who ascending into heaven didst bless Thy disciples, who loved Thee; let Thy blessing rest on me now and at the hour of my death. Amen.