Morning Devotions.

“ The wise man will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.” — Ecclus. Xxxix . 6. as you awake, think that your guardian angel has awakened you, and that God has given you the day to work out your salvation. Remember that this day may be the last of your life, that in it you may practice virtue with the more zeal. Do every day what you wish to have done at the hour of your death.

Say, At Rising.

I rise in the name of God the Father Who has created me &, the Son Who has redeemed me &, the Holy Ghost Who has sanctified me &. May the Blessed Trinity preserve me from all dangers of soul and body, Amen.

While Dressing.

O Lord, give me the garment of love, the arms of justice; gird my loins with truth; put on me the helmet of salvation, give me the sword of the spirit, which is Thy divine word; protect me with the shield of faith, with which I may repel the arrows of the enemy. Oh, that I might, like the elect of God, be invested with mercy, benignity, humility, patience, and all other virtues, Amen.

AN ACT OF ADORATION.

O most holy and undivided Trinity, eternal Lord and God, I believe that Thou art here really present, and dost penetrate the inmost recesses of my heart. I adore Thee with the profoundest veneration. I unite my prayers with the praises of the angels and saints in heaven, and with those of Thy faithful servants on earth, who in this morning hour offer up their devotions to Thee. I love Thee with my whole heart, and above all things, Amen.

AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING.

I heartily thank Thee, most gracious God, for all the benefits which Thou hast conferred upon me: that Thou hast created me, redeemed me with Thy most precious blood, sanctified me through holy Baptism, called me to Thy holy religion, and particularly that Thou hast preserved me during the night past. I also give thanks to Thee in behalf of those who fail to acknowledge the mercy of another day, Amen.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION.

Alas, when I look back, I confess with confusion! I reproach myself with many sins and omissions. I acknowledge my ingratitude and most heartily repent of it. Forgive me, O Lord, the bad thoughts by which, whether sleeping or waking, I have during the past night defiled my conscience and offended Thee. My God, deal with me according to Thy goodness and mercy, in which I hope, Amen.

AN ACT OF OBLATION.

O Lord, our Maker, Who hast created all things for Thyself, I offer up to Thy infinite good pleasure whatever I shall this day think, speak, do, or suffer, every pulsation and breathing, every inner and outer act of mine, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the thoughts of His most sacred Heart, and with the intentions which have ever been made by the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all pious souls, in order to praise and glorify Thee, the fountain of all goodness, to lay down a satisfaction for my sins before the judgment-seat of Thy justice, to implore Thy mercy for all living and for the dead. To Thee, O King of Glory, I devote all my labors, Amen.

PETITION AND COMMENDATION TO GOD.

From Thee, O Lord, proceed all good counsels and just works; assist me always with Thy grace, that I may begin, continue, and end all my works in Thee. Give me wisdom to speak what is right and pleasing to Thee, and wisdom to keep silence where silence is better than speech. Give me courage to suffer whatever thou orderest  for my good. Cause Thyself, O Lord, to be devoutly served in all Christian lands, that in all governments good laws may be made, in all families useful works may be done, that by all this day may be sanctified and directed to the glory of Thy name. Bless my friends and enemies; let no one this day perish, either temporally or spiritually. In particular, be gracious to the authorities whom Thou hast set over us for our protection. Let them live in Thy fear and governments according to Thy will, that justice may be promoted and malice prevented. Guide those who travel; provide for the poor; to those who desire to live by their labor grant the rewards of their industry. Give me a heart compassionate towards the poor and suffering; heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, uphold the weary, preserve us all in health and happiness, and grant perpetual peace to the faithful departed, particularly to those who died during the night past. Finally, 0 Creator of all, have mercy on all that Thou hast made. I place myself, O Jesus, in Thy most sacred wounds, particularly in Thy most sacred Heart. Teach me to be like Thee, humble, meek, and patient. Grant that I may daily take up my cross, deny myself, and follow Thee, Amen.

TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL.

Angel of the Lord, and protector of my soul, to whom God has committed me, guard me this day in all my ways, against all my enemies, visible and invisible, enlighten, direct, and govern me, Amen.

TO OUR PATRON SAINTS.

O St. Joseph , St. Ann, ye holy apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Name?, and all ye holy patrons, pray for me, that I may not fall into any sin, that I may imitate your virtues, love my neighbor as myself, and daily become more pleasing to God, until by a happy death I shall, under your protection, pass into your society, in the name of the Father, and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.

(Reflect here what you have to do during the day; consider the obligations you have to fulfill; think of the faults you have committed at other times, of the dangers and occasions of sin to which you may be exposed, and resolve to guard against them.)THE THREE DIVINE VIRTUES.

An Act of Faith.

Almighty, eternal God, before Thy face I prostrate myself before Thee in the depth of my nothingness, and with all saints and angels adore Thee, full of humility and veneration. I believe that Thou art one God, threefold in person — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that Thou rewardest the good and punishest the bad. I believe that the second person in the Godhead, Jesus Christ, for our sakes became man, suffered, died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty, is also truly and substantially present in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and one day shall come to judge the living and the dead. All this, and whatever the Catholic Church proposes to be believed, I firmly believe, because Thou hast revealed it, O God , Who art the Eternal Truth, Who can neither deceive, nor be deceived. this holy faith I will live and die, Amen.

 Act of Hope.

I hope, O my God, through the merits of Jesus Christ and by my cooperation therewith to obtain from Thee the forgiveness of all my sins, the graces necessary to lead a Christian life, and to serve Thee diligently, and to gain finally, after this life, everlasting happiness ; because Thou hast promised this, Who art infinitely powerful, benign, and faithful, Who art able to keep Thy word, Who desirest to keep it, and Who wilt keep it, Amen.
 

Act of Charity.

I love Thee, O my God, with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength; I love Thee as my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sanctifier , the author of my happiness, my greatest benefactor; but yet I love Thee more because Thou art the Supreme Good, infinitely worthy of all love. For love of Thee, I love my neighbor as myself, even my enemies and persecutors, because Thou commandest me to love them . For love of Thee, I also repent of all my sins, I hate and detest them, not out of fear of punishment, but because thereby I have offended Thee, O Supreme Good ! In Thy love, O my God, will I live, and in Thy love I long with ardor to die, Amen.

Download File