to obey Thy laws, and to be- | you have been a good soldier come a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. LORD JESUS, cleanse me in Thy Precious Blood, and take away all my stains. O Divine Spirit, prepare me for Thyself. I come to give myself to Thee, that Thou mayest live and reign in me for ever. Amen. [See Chapters 20, 21, 133.] After Confirmation. O my GOD, I desire to praise and adore Thee for all that Thou hast done for me, and chiefly for the blessing of Confirmation. May Thy Holy Spirit guide and rule my heart in all things, driving away all that may profane Thy temple. Arm me for the war, stand by me in my conflicts, and crown me with victory at last; for JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen. [See Chapters 20, 21, 134.] 18.-RENEWAL OF CON FIRMATION VOWS. The grace of Confirmation is only given once. If you have been confirmed, you cannot be confirmed a second time. But you may have the grace of Confirmation revived in your soul, and may renew your vows. To do this you must see how far you have used the grace given to you at your Confirmation, and how far or a coward under the standard of the Cross. Then confess the wrong that you have done, and renew your purpose of fighting against the enemies of your soul; praying for the strength and help of the Holy Ghost, without Whom you can do no good thing. Lastly, say, on your knees, the following devotion- In the name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Our Father, [Say the Lord's Prayer] Strengthen me, I pray Thee, O LORD, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase in me Thy gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill me, O LORD, with the spirit of Thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. Let Thy fatherly hand, I beseech Thee, O LORD, ever be over me; let Thy holy Spirit ever be with me; and so lead me in the knowledge and obedience of Thy Word, that in the end I may obtain everlasting life, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Amen. [See Chapters 20, 21, 134.] This devotion may be used at any time. It is good to use it on Whitsunday, when the Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles; on the Anniver sary of your own Confirmation; as often as you are present at a Confirmation, or when there is one in your neighbourhood; when you are greatly tempted to sin, or tried in any other way; when you have fallen into any sin or danger. 19. SIGN OF THE Every infant that is baptized is signed with the sign of the cross, in token that he "shall not be ashamed to confess the Faith of CHRIST crucified." For this reason, among others, we use the sacred sign. When we use it with the Invocation-"In the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen"-it forms a short Creed, meaning that we believe in Three Persons in One GOD, and that all our hope is in JESUS, Who died on the Cross. We ought not to be ashamed of our faith, or of culty. But it is very wrong to use the sign in a formal way, or to wear a cross or crucifix as a mere ornament. A crucifix is a cross with a figure of our Saviour upon it. S. John iii. 14, 15. Ashamed of JESUS! Yes, I may When I've no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save. 20.-SEVEN GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. Isaiah xi., 2. O Holy Spirit of Grace, be Thou my Wisdom, to teach me my faith;-my Understanding, to teach me my duty;-my Counsel, in all my doubts;-my Strength, against all temptations;-my Knowledge, in what belongs to the state of life to which I all my actions;-my Fear, all am called;-my Godliness, in the day long. We pray for Wisdom, more and more To know the GOD our hearts this way of declaring it. You can sign yourself by making a line with your right hand from your forehead to your breast, and another line from your left shoulder to your right. The sacred sign is a defence against temptation, especially against evil thoughts. It may be used at the beginning and end of your prayers, and before you commence any work of importance or diffi- | In judging what is right to do; adore; For grace to Understand and feel The truths Thou dost to faith reveal; For Counsel to be wise and true For Ghostly Strength to meet | In Meekness may our hearts the foe, And bear with courage toil and woe; For Knowledge to direct our will To choose the good and shun the ill; For Godliness, like GOD to be, In truth, and love, and purity; For Holy Fear, to watch and pray, And keep within the narrow way. be still, And yield to all our Father's will. And may we, strong in Patience, bear What GOD may send of grief or care. May Modesty of thought en sure That all our lives be Chaste and pure. May Temperance, with careful rein, T. B. P. And Continence our flesh restrain. 21.-TWELVE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. Gal. v., 22. 23. Spirit of Love, be in our heart, T. B. P. 22.-FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES. And make us loving as Thou Taught by Temperance we ab art; And grant us holy Joy to find In loving GOD and all man kind; stain From all less for greater goods: So in our hearts Thy Peace Slighting little drops we gain 23.-FEASTS AND FASTS. Every Sunday is a Feast of the Resurrection: every Friday is a Fast of the Passion. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST is the Sun that rules our seasons: the Christian year follows the events of His life on earth. On Fast Days, when you deny yourself in food, you ought not to go to any place of amusement. You will find a list of the Feasts and Fasts in the Church Kalendar. [Devotions for the Seasons of the Church, Part VIII.] 24.-THREE GOOD WORKS. S. Matt. vi. 3. 5. 17. Fasting He doth and Giving bless, And Prayer can much avail; Good vessels all to draw the grace Out of salvation's well. 25.-WORKS OF MERCY. Corporal Works. 1. To feed the hungry. 2. To give drink to the thirsty. 3. To clothe the naked. 5. To visit the sick. S. Matt. xxv. 34-40. Visit, give drink, give meat, redeem the slave: Clothe, tend the sick, and lay the dead in grave. Spiritual Works. 1. To warn sinners. 2. To teach the ignorant. 3. To counsel the doubtful. 4. To comfort the afflicted. 5. To bear with the weak. 6. To forgive injuries. 7. To pray for the living and the dead. Gal. vi. 1; Dan. xii. 3; S. James v. 20; Rom. xii. 15; Rom. xv. 1; S. Luke vi. 37; S. James v. 16. Counsel, rebuke, instruct in wisdom's way: Console, forgive, endure unmoved, and pray. 26.-COUNSELS. 1. Poverty. S. Matt.xix. 21. 2. Chastity. 1 Cor. vii. 37,38. 3. Obedience. S. Mark i. 16-20. Christian Duties are binding on all who have been baptized. Counsels of Perfection are for those who are called to them. Great care should be taken lest anyone refuse a call from GOD, or attempt what GOD has not appointed for him. All religious vows are voluntary; and only after long trial are they made perpetual. 27.-GROWTH IN GRACE. "Thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the Commandments, of GOD, and to serve Him without His special grace," (Catechism). Signs of Grace and of its growth. 1. Love to GOD, His people, His ordinances. 2. Christian humility and self-denial. 3. Tenderness of conscience, watchfully resisting sin. 4. Meekness under injuries, and resignation to the will of GOD. 5. Concern for the welfare of the Church, and for the salvation of all. Hindrances. 1. Sinful companions and amusements. 2. Pressure of worldly business carried on according to the customs of the world. 3. Any person or pursuit loved more than GOD. 4. Religious controversy, and lack of Christian converse. 5. Giving up a duty, or going back to a sin. 6. Formal worship, and neglect of private prayer. 7. Prosperity and the praise of man. Helps. 1. Meditation and self-examination. 2. Habitual watchfulness, self-denial, and prayer. 3. Frequent Communion, and a constant sense of the Presence of GOD. 4. The Bible, with other books of instruction and devotion. 5. Christian Work, especially among the sick and the poor. 6. Church Services, and Christian fellowship. 7. Seasons of sorrow and retirement. Perseverance. It is not enough to begin what is right: we must go on and persevere to the end. To do this we must be humble, not trusting in ourselves, trusting in GOD only, trying to do GOD's will, asking and seeking God's help. 1 S. Peter v. 10, 11. |