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The Roman Martyrology
On the 12th day of April, were born into the better life:
At Verona, the holy martyr Zeno, Bishop [of that see,] which he governed with admirable faithfulness amid the storms of persecution. He was crowned with martyrdom in the time of the Emperor Gallienus.
In Cappadocia, the holy martyr Saba the Goth, who was put to grievous torments and then drowned in the river, when Athanaric, king of the Goths, was persecuting the Christians under the Emperor Valens. At the which time, according to holy Austin, very many orthodox Goths won the crown of martyrdom.
At Braga, in Portugal, [about the year 300, under Diocletian,] the holy martyr Victor. He was only as yet preparing for baptism, when he refused to worship an idol, and with great faithfulness confessed Christ Jesus, for the which cause he was put to many torments and beheaded, and so obtained baptism in his own blood.
At Fermo, in Picenum, the holy Virgin and martyr Vissia.
At Rome, upon the Aurelian Way, holy Pope Julius [I.], who contended stoutly for the Catholic Faith against the Arians, and after many eminent acts fell asleep in peace, [in the year 352,] famous for holiness.
At the town of Gap, the holy Confessor Constantine, Bishop [of that see, about the year 455.]
At Pavia, holy Damian, Bishop of that see, [about the years 671-710.]
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.
Wednesday in Easter Week: His Apparition on the Borders of the Lake of Tiberias
After this Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, where they had fished all the night and had caught nothing. And when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered Him: No. He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship: and you shall find. They cast therefore; and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. The disciple then whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship. As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither the fishes which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them: Come and dine. And none of them durst ask Him: Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner.
The Gospel according to St John, xxi:1–13.
Summary of the Morrow’s Meditation
We will meditate tomorrow upon the apparition of Jesus Christ to His apostles on the borders of the lake of Tiberias, as it is recounted in the gospel of the day, and we shall see: first, what Jesus Christ did for His apostles in this apparition; second, what the apostles did for Him. We will then make the resolution: first, in our relations towards our neighbour to imitate the charity of Jesus Christ in this circumstance; second, to bring to the services of God the courage of the apostles and their docility to grace. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words which St John applied to Jesus Christ at that time, “It is the Lord” (John xxi:7).
Meditation for the Morning
Let us adore Jesus Christ impelled by love to show Himself to His apostles on the shores of the lake of Tiberias. Let us thank Him for this delicate attention bestowed on His dear disciples, and let us ask Him to give us an abundant share in the grace of this mystery.
What Jesus did for his apostles in this apparition
The apostles having fished all night without taking anything, had nothing on which to subsist. Jesus takes pity on their distress and comes to them. “Children” He says to them, “have you any meat?” (John xxi:5) What amiable forethought! What paternal solicitude in this Divine Saviour! He is about to provide for their wants, but let us see on what condition: it is on condition that they will labour. For labour is the law imposed on all the children of Adam, and idleness is their ruin. “Cast the net” He said to them, “on the right side of the ship” (John xxi:6). Mysterious words, which signify that in all our actions there is a good and a bad side; the essential thing is to choose the right side. The good side is the side of God, and not that of the creature; We ought always to consider God alone, without seeking ourselves or paying any attention to human opinions. The good side is the side of grace, and not that of nature; we ought not to be led to anything by natural inclinations, but by the movements of grace, which alone ought to regulate our whole conduct, our recreations, and our repose, as well as our affairs and our employments. The good side is the side of heaven and not of earth; we ought to govern ourselves by eternal maxims, like heavenly-minded men, who do not touch the earth except from pure necessity. The good side, lastly, is the side of the cross, and not that of delights and of pleasure; we ought to attach ourselves to the cross, which is the portion of the elect, and not to the enjoyments of this life. What blessings we lose from want of observing these holy rules! Whilst the apostles were executing the command which had been given them, Jesus lights the fire, cooks the fish, lays the table, puts bread upon it, and when all is ready, “Come and dine,” He says to them. They come, bringing to shore their net which contained one hundred and fifty-three great fishes; and with His divine hands He Himself serves His dear disciples. Who would not admire the charity of Jesus Christ in this circumstance? a foreseeing charity, which could not bear to see His disciples Suffer without relieving them; a generous charity, which, in order to render them a service, condescends to perform with delight the most humble functions; an amiable charity, which studies how to give pleasure to our neighbour.
What the apostles did for Jesus Christ in this apparition
Four things are worthy of remark in the conduct of the apostles: first, they immediately obey the command of the Saviour; they cast their net where Jesus had told them, and the fishes were gathered together there. They, who until then had taken nothing, catch at one single throw, as soon as they obey, one hundred and fifty-three great fishes. Let us imitate them; let us always be docile to grace; let us do all through obedience, from the desire to please God, in the manner in which God wills, and we shall be blessed in all our works.
Second, the apostles did not at first recognise Jesus Christ; it was necessary in order to do so that they should have a special grace and a special light, and how few there are who render themselves worthy of this grace! how few who apply themselves to recognise Jesus Christ in His mysteries, in His doctrine, and in His love; how few see and recognise His hand in all events, be they good or unhappy. To know Jesus is the science of the saints, it is the privilege of love and purity, as we may see by the example of St John, who was the first of the apostles to recognise His good Master, and to exclaim: “It is the Lord.”
Third, on hearing these words of the virgin disciple, Peter girds his coat about him and casts himself into the water that he may sooner reach the feet of Jesus. The ardour of his desires makes him oblivious of danger and difficulty. Fervent hearts spare themselves nothing. As soon as there is a question of serving God, they devote themselves and throw themselves forward, whilst the cowardly and lukewarm hesitate, are wanting in resolution, and are afraid of trouble.
Fourth, the apostles, during their repast, behave in a respectful manner, they adore, they admire, they enjoy in silence the sweetness of the conversation and the looks directed upon them by Jesus; but no one dare ask Him: “Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord” (John xxi:12). It is thus that faithful souls act; the goodness of Our Lord so confounds and humiliates them that they dare not interrogate Him or put vain questions to Him or indulge in vain re searches, knowing that it is the Lord, all of whose conduct requires from us veneration and love. The nearer they are to Him, the more respect they have for Him; and if sometimes they ask, Who art Thou? it is only with the object of knowing Him better, that they may humble themselves for their littleness in presence of such greatness. Lord, I dare not lift my eyes to look at Thee, or open my mouth to speak to Thee! I am nothing but a miserable worm crawling to Thy feet in the dust, poorer and more miserable than I can understand; I am nothing, I can do nothing. Thou alone art good, just, and holy; pour down on me Thy infinite mercy.
Resolutions and spiritual nosegay as above.