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The Roman Martyrology
Upon 14 of April, were born to better life:
On the morrow we keep the feast of the holy martyr Justin, the admirable philosopher. He had presented to the Emperors Marcus Antoninus Verus and Lucius Aurelius born modus his second book in defence of our religion, and was then earnestly spreading the same at Rome by his disputations when he was accused of Christianity through the devices of Crescens the Cynic, whose life and infamous manners he had rebuked, and for a reward of his faithful speaking he received upon this day the crown of martyrdom.
Likewise at Rome, upon the Appian Way, under the Emperor Alexander and the Prefect Almachius, the holy martyrs Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus. Tiburtius and Valerian had been converted to Christ by the exhortations of blessed Cicely and baptized by the holy Pope Urban, and for the confession of their faith were cudgelled and beheaded. Maximus was a chamberlain of the Prefect, and was moved to believe in Christ by beholding the steadfastness of Tiburtius and Valerian, and being confirmed in the same faith by an apparition of angels, he was lashed to death with scourges loaded with lead. At Terni, the holy martyr Proculus, Bishop of that see, [about the year 306.]
Likewise the holy Virgins and martyrs Domnina and her Companions, [about the year 272.]
At Alexandria, [in the fifth century,] the holy martyr Thomais.
On the same day, the holy martyr Ardalion. He was a player, and was making a mock upon the stage of the sacred rites of the Christians, when he was converted all of a sudden, and attested his conversion not only by his words but also by his blood, [about the year 300.]
At Lyon, the holy Confessor Lambert, Bishop of that see, [in the year 688.]
At Alexandria, the holy Abbot Fronto [—in the desert of Nitria, he had 70 monks—] famous for the holiness of his life, and for his miracles, [in the reign of Antonine, about the
year 151.]
At Rome, [in the sixth century,] holy Abundius, watchman of the Church of St. Peter.
Morning Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Place Yourself in the Presence of God, and adore His holy Name.
Most holy and adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that Thou art here present: I adore Thee with the deepest humility, and render to Thee, with my whole heart, the homage which is due to Thy sovereign majesty.
An Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
An Act of Hope
O my God, relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
An Act of Love
O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbour as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Thank God for All Favours and Offer Yourself to Him.
O my God, I most humbly thank Thee for all the favours Thou hast bestowed upon me up to the present moment. I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart that Thou hast created me after Thine own image and likeness, that Thou hast redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy dear Son, and that Thou hast preserved me and brought me safe to the beginning of another day. I offer to Thee, O Lord, my whole being, and in particular all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings of this day. I consecrate them all to the glory of Thy name, beseeching Thee that through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour they may all find acceptance in Thy sight. May Thy divine love animate them, and may they all tend to Thy greater glory.
Resolve to Avoid Sin and to Practice Virtue.
Adorable Jesus, my Saviour and Master, model of all perfection, I resolve and will endeavour this day to imitate Thy example, to be, like Thee, mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable, and resigned. I will redouble my efforts that I may not fall this day into any of those sins which I have heretofore committed (here name any besetting sin), and which I sincerely desire to forsake.
Ask God for the Necessary Graces.
O my God, Thou knowest my poverty and weakness, and that I am unable to do anything good without Thee; deny me not, O God, the help of Thy grace; proportion it to my necessities; give me strength to avoid anything evil which Thou forbiddest, and to practise the good which Thou hast commanded; and enable me to bear patiently all the trials which it may please Thee to send me.
The Lord’s Prayer...
The Hail Mary...
The Apostles’ Creed...
At this point, please go to the relevant text of Fr Hamon’s Meditation. Once I have read and meditated on the text, and its various points . I complete my meditation by saying:
Ask the Prayers of the Blessed Virgin, your Guardian Angel, and your Patron Saint.
Holy Virgin, Mother of God, my Mother and Patroness, I place myself under thy protection, I throw myself with confidence into the arms of thy compassion. Be to me, O Mother of mercy, my refuge in distress, my consolation under suffering, my advocate with thy adorable Son, now and at the hour of my death.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom His love commits me here, Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
O great Saint whose name I bear, protect me, pray for me, that like thee I may serve God faithfully on earth, and glorify Him eternally with thee in heaven. Amen.
Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, ... Jesus, Son of the living God, ... Jesus, splendour of the Father, ... Jesus, brightness of eternal light, ... Jesus, king of glory, ... Jesus, sun of justice, ... Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary, ... Jesus, most amiable, ... Jesus, most admirable, ... Jesus, mighty God, ... Jesus, father of the world to come, ... Jesus, angel of great council, ... Jesus, most powerful, ... Jesus, most patient, ... Jesus, most obedient, ... Jesus, meek and humble of heart, ... Jesus, lover of chastity ... Jesus, lover of us, ... Jesus, God of peace, ... Jesus, author of life, ... Jesus, model of virtues, ... Jesus, zealous for souls, ... Jesus, our God, ... Jesus, our refuge, ... Jesus, father of the poor, ... Jesus, treasure of the faithful, ... Jesus, good shepherd, ... Jesus, true light, ... Jesus, eternal wisdom, ... Jesus, infinite goodness, ... Jesus, our way and our life, ... Jesus, joy of angels, ... Jesus, king of patriarchs, ... Jesus, master of apostles, ... Jesus, teacher of evangelists, ... Jesus, strength of martyrs, ... Jesus, light of confessors, ... Jesus, purity of virgins, ... Jesus, crown of all saints, ...
Be merciful, Spare us, O Jesus. Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil, Jesus, deliver us. From all sin, Jesus, deliver us. From Thy wrath, ... From the snares of the devil, ... From the spirit of fornication, ... From everlasting death, ... From the neglect of Thy inspirations, ... Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, ... Through Thy nativity, ... Through Thine infancy, ... Through Thy most divine life, ... Through Thy labours, ... Through Thine agony and passion, ... Through Thy cross and dereliction, ...Through Thy faintness and weariness, ... Through Thy death and burial, ... Through Thy resurrection, ... Through Thine ascension, ... Through Thy joys, ... Through Thy glory, ...
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; grant, we beseech Thee, unto us who ask, the gift of Thy most divine love, that we may ever love Thee with all our hearts, and in all our words and actions, and never cease from showing forth Thy praise. Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name; for Thou never failest to govern those whom Thou dost solidly establish in Thy love. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
The Angelus
℣ The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
℟ And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail, Mary...
℣ Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
℟ Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail, Mary...
℣ And the Word was made flesh.
℟ And dwelt among us.
Hail, Mary...
℣ Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
℟ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord! Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Evening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Place Yourself in the Presence of God and Humbly Adore Him.
O my God, I present myself before Thee at the end of an other day, to offer Thee anew the homage of my heart. I humbly adore Thee, my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Judge! I believe in Thee, because Thou art Truth itself; I hope in Thee, because Thou art faithful to Thy promises; I love Thee with my whole heart, because Thou art infinitely worthy of being loved; and for Thy sake I love my neighbour as myself.
Return Thanks to God for All His Mercies.
Enable me, O my God, to return Thee thanks as I ought for all Thine inestimable blessings and favours. Thou hast thought of me and loved me from all eternity; Thou hast formed me out of nothing; Thou hast delivered up Thy beloved Son to the ignominious death of the cross for my redemption; Thou hast made me a member of Thy holy Church; Thou hast preserved me from falling into the abyss of eternal misery, when my sins had provoked Thee to punish me; Thou hast graciously continued to spare me, even though I have not ceased to offend Thee. What return, O my God, can I make for Thy innumerable blessings, and particularly for the favours of this day? O all ye saints and angels, unite with me in praising the God of mercies, who is so bountiful to so unworthy a creature.
The Lord’s Prayer...The Hail Mary...The Apostles’ Creed...
Ask of God Light to Discover the Sins Committed this Day.
O my God, sovereign judge of men, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should be converted and saved, enlighten my mind, that I may know the sins which I have this day committed in thought, word, or deed, and give me the grace of true contrition.
Here Examine your Conscience; then Say:
O my God, I heartily repent and am grieved that I have offended Thee, because Thou art infinitely good and sin is infinitely displeasing to Thee. I humbly ask of Thee mercy and pardon, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. I resolve, by the assistance of Thy grace, to do penance for my sins, and I will endeavour never more to offend Thee.
The Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and you, Father, to pray to the Lord our God for me. May Almighty God have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us unto life everlasting. Amen.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. Amen.
Pray for the Church of Christ.
O God, hear my prayers on behalf of our Holy. Father Pope N., our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, I beseech Thee, the whole Catholic Church, and convert all heretics and unbelievers.
Pray for the Living and for the Faithful Departed.
Pour down Thy blessings, O Lord, upon all my friends, relations, and acquaintances, and upon my enemies, if I have any. Help the poor and sick, and those who are in their last agony. O God of mercy and goodness, have compassion on the souls of the faithful in purgatory; put an end to their sufferings, and grant to them eternal light, rest, and happiness. Amen.
Commend Yourself to God, to the Blessed Virgin, and the Saints.
Bless, O Lord, the repose I am about to take, that, my bodily strength being renewed, I may be the better enabled to serve Thee. O blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for me that I may be preserved this night from all evil, whether of body or soul. Blessed St. Joseph, and all ye saints and angels of Paradise, especially my guardian angel and my chosen patron, watch over me. I commend myself to your protection now and always. Amen.
Preparation for Meditation
At this point I will read the paragraph in the daily meditation from Hamon’s meditation of the next day entitled “Summary of the Morrow’s Meditation” and, if applicable, “Summary of the Meditation for the Feast...”
This will allow me to be passively thinking about, during the coming night, the meditation, and the points of the meditation, I will be doing in the morning, during my morning prayer.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy virgin of virgins, ...
Mother of Christ, ...
Mother of divine grace, ...
Mother most pure, ...
Mother most chaste, ...
Mother inviolate, ...
Mother undefiled, ...
Mother most amiable, ...
Mother most admirable, ...
Mother of our Creator, ...
Mother of our Saviour, ...
Virgin most prudent. ...
Virgin most venerable, ...
Virgin most renowned, ...
Virgin most powerful, ...
Virgin most merciful, ...
Virgin most faithful, ...
Mirror of justice, ... Seat of wisdom, ...
Cause of our joy, ...
Spiritual vessel, ...
Vessel of honour, ... Singular vessel of devotion, ...
Mystical rose, ... Tower of David, ... Tower of ivory, ... House of gold, ... Ark of the covenant, ... Gate of heaven, ... Morning star, ... Health of the sick, ... Refuge of sinners, ... Comforter of the afflicted, ... Help of Christians, ... Queen of angels, ... Queen of patriarchs, ... Queen of prophets, ... Queen of apostles, ... Queen of martyrs, ... Queen of confessors, ... Queen of virgins, ... Queen of all saints, ... Queen conceived without original sin. ... Queen of the most holy rosary, ... Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday in Easter Week: His Apparition upon a Mountain of Galilee
And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing Him, they adored, but some doubted. And Jesus, coming, spoke to them, saying: power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Going, therefore, teach ye all nations, bap- tising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
The Gospel according to St Matthew, xxviii:16–20.
Summary of the Morrow’s Meditation
We will meditate tomorrow on the apparition of Jesus Christ to His apostles upon a mountain of Galilee, and we will make of the three portions of His discourse on that occasion the three points of our meditation. We will then make the resolution: first, often during the day to make acts of faith in the infallibility of the Church, and acts of love towards Jesus Christ, who, from love for us, gave it this blessed privilege; second, to keep ourselves recollected and united with Jesus Christ, who desires that we should be always with Him, even as He is always with us. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of Our Saviour: “Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Matt. xxviii:20).
Meditation for the Morning
Let us adore Jesus Christ at the approach of His ascension collecting His apostles together upon a mountain of Galilee, and there giving them the mission to preach the gospel to all the nations, and to their successors the mission to preach it to the end of the world. Let us thank Him for this mission, which interests in the highest degree the whole universe and all coming ages. Let us admire the power and goodness which is shown herein. Let us praise the power, let us love the goodness.
All power, said Jesus Christ, has been given me in Heaven and upon Earth
What words, and what other than a Man-God could utter them! We have indeed often seen men invested with great power, but it has always been a limited power. Who has ever yet had power over the heavens, and over the winds, over thunder and storms, over sicknesses and death? Jesus Christ alone has had unlimited power in heaven and over the earth; the power of commanding the elements, of acting according to His own will over all creation. Of Him alone the astonished people have been able to say: “Who is this whom the winds and the waves obey?” O almighty power of my Saviour! I adore and I bless thee with my whole heart. I tremble for the sinners who do not tremble in presence of Thy omnipotence, O Jesus; but I rejoice for the just who serve Thee, for the apostles whom Thou dost send to the conquest of the world. They are indeed lambs in the midst of wolves, but what does that signify? They have nothing to fear, seeing that Thy omnipotence accompanies them. Thou wilt defend them against all assaults; Thou wilt sustain them in difficulties and trials. O all-powerful and good Master! what a consolation it is to see Thee at the head of Thy Church! How much of honour and respect do we not owe Thee for what Thou art in Thyself; of gratitude and love for what Thou hast done in the past; of confidence for what Thou wilt do in the future!
Go then, said Jesus Christ, teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you
These words are the consequence of those which preceded them; it is as though Jesus Christ had said: In virtue of and with the aid of the omnipotence which has been given Me, go and teach all nations, convert all the peoples, and extend My empire to the very extremities of the earth. The enterprise is, I know, beyond your strength, but not beyond My omnipotence. Doctors and depositaries of My doctrine, by you will be preserved in My Church the faith which makes saints. Blessed are ye to be chosen for so beautiful a mission, one which glorifies God and which saves souls! If, said St Catherine of Siena, anyone could see the beauty of a single soul, he would die a hundred times a day in order to save it. May we esteem, at this lofty price, souls, and the mission of saving them! “Baptise the nations,” continued Jesus Christ, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Thanks, Lord, thanks for this revelation of the Most Holy Trinity a revelation the most clear and the most precise which until then had ever been made to the world; thanks for this institution of baptism, which makes of each one of us a child of God, an heir of heaven, and one of Thy members; thanks for all the sacraments, of which baptism is, as it were, the door, and which are the marvellous channels through which Thy grace flows upon us. “Teach all nations,” again said the Saviour, “to observe all that I have commanded you” I understand it, my God; faith without works is of no avail; faith is the torch which directs (Ps. cxviii:105); it shows us what we must do; but we cannot be saved except inasmuch as we really do it, and that we act from motives of faith; for works without faith are of no more merit for salvation than is faith without works. Let us learn from hence always to perform our works so as to be in harmony with our faith.
Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world, said Jesus Christ in terminating his discourse
What magnificent words! They are the titles of the Church to infallibility; for if Jesus Christ assists it “all days” in its teaching, it cannot be deceived; he who listens to the Church listens to Jesus Christ. O delicious consolation! a God makes Himself the warrant of my belief. But it is not only whilst they teach that Jesus is with His apostles; He is even now with us all, through the love He bears us, and which follows us everywhere. To have Jesus Christ with us! What good the thought does to the heart which loves! Can one be in more delightful society? What good it does to the heart which feels itself to be weak! What have we to fear when we have His omnipotence with us? To have Jesus Christ with us in the blessed Tabernacle, where we can visit Him every day, speak to Him, expose to Him our joys and our sorrows; to have Jesus dwelling in the bottom of our hearts if we desire to find Him there, to enjoy Him by means of the practice of the interior
life, of recollection, and of love: what matter of confidence and peace!
Resolutions and spiritual nosegay as above.