Prayer when preparing for First Com

munion.

O divine Jesus! who when on earth didst receive children with the tenderness of a father, and didst command that they should not be forbidden to approach thy sacred person, I see that thou art in the holy Eucharist the same God of goodness and mercy; and thou invitest me not only to approach thee, but to receive thy adorable body and blood. I rejoice to think that this happiness will soon be mine, and I bless thee for thy goodness in bestowing upon us, weak and sinful children, the most precious of all thy gifts. O my God, I beseech thee to prepare my soul by thy grace for so great a mystery; and permit not, I most earnestly beseech thee, that I should receive unworthily. O Lord, I depend not upon myself, but upon thee alone, for avoiding so great an evil, and for acquiring all the dispositions necessary for receiving thee worthily. Give me grace to profit by all the advantages of religious instruction which I enjoy; enable me, by a good confession, to purify my heart from every stain of sin; and may my first communion be to me, and to all who are to receive with me, a happy pledge of our eternal union with thee in heaven.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFESSION.

Take time to examine your conscience before confession. Call on the Holy Spirit in the following prayer to assist you, and beg the grace of God to know your sins, and be heartily sorry for them.

O DIVINE Spirit of truth, enlighten my mind, and bring to my remembrance all the sins I have committed, and give me a true sorrow and contrition for them.

Examination of Conscience, in Form of Accusation.

Have I, through negligence, omitted to perform the whole of my last penance? Gone to school against my will; come late through my own fault; lost my time in laughing, talking, and playing; hindered others from improving; turned my thoughts to other things, when I should have listened to instruction; not learned my lessons or catechisms, or learned them badly, or out of vanity, and not from a desire to please God and do my duty.

Omitted prayer morning or evening; prayed to God out of mere custom, or because obliged; prayed hastily, in a disrespectful posture, looking about me, without devotion, or sincerely desiring to ob

tain what I prayed for, or even reflecting that I was speaking to God.

Wanted reverence in church; laughed, or spoken there without necessity, or made a noise, or slept.

Gone to church from a wrong motive, such as to meet friends, put on a new dress, &c.

Despised or been unkind to the poorneglected to do good to my neighbour when I had the opportunity.

Taken the holy name of God in vain; not offered up my actions to God, nor done them with the intention of pleasing him; not been grateful for his blessings; not feared to displease him, but exposed myself to the danger of offending him.

Not been sorry for my sins, or laboured to correct my bad habits, or made endeavours to advance in piety; not been submissive to the will of God, or borne sickness or crosses with patience, and as the punishment of my sins.

Been selfish, studied my own interest, and been attentive only to gratify my own inclinations.

Been proud and vain, fond of pleasure and dress, and of being admired.

Been passionate, and cried with vexation when humbled, despised, or contradicted.

Been obstinate, disobeyed my parents, or those who have authority over me, or are charged with my education; and, when forced to obey, have done it against my will; made insolent answers, and not respected, but spoken ill of them, and despised their advice.

Been insupportable by my ill temper. Been wanting in kindness for my brothers. or sisters, or companions; not borne with their defects, or assisted them in their employments; quarrelled with them, or with my companions; told tales of them without necessity, out of revenge or pride, that I might be preferred before them.

Dwelt with pleasure on sinful thoughts; looked at any thing indecent, such as pictures, &c.; said, done, or consented to any thing contrary to modesty; been curious to know evil; listened to wicked discourse.

Eaten food to excess. Taken things belonging to others without their knowledge or consent. Coveted things belonging to my companions. Been unjust in my dealings with them-taken advantage of their ignorance, &c. Been selfish, or over fond of what I possessed, unwilling to allow a share to others. Considered riches as a great happiness.

Envied my brothers, sisters, or compa

nions, when they were esteemed, praised, or enjoyed any advantage which I did not possess.

Not watched over my tongue-given way to slander or detraction. Told lies to excuse myself, or in boasting, or out of a bad habit. Exaggerated, or made false excuses. Stolen or wantonly injured the property of others.

Partaken of the sins of others, by doing, approving, or laughing at them.

Remember that the priest holds the place of Jesus Christ present yourself, therefore, at the confessional with the utmost recollection and humility, on your knees, yet with confidence and sincerity, like the sick who discover their disorders to their physician, and as children who speak to a kind and compassionate father. When the confessor makes the sign of the cross, then with great respect ask his blessing in a low but distinct voice, saying thus: Pray, father, give me your blessing, for I have sinned." Then say the Confiteor, till you come to the words, "through my exceeding great fault;" stop, and say to your confessor, "It was (so long) since I came to confession, since which I accuse myself," &c.

Act of Contrition.

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O merciful God! I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart, for these, and all my other sins. It grieves me, that I have so offended thee. I implore thy clemency,