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THE METHOD OF HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY FOR THE ABSENT
(Adapted from The Key of Heaven)

TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Internet Site
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Copyright 1998-2002 CSM. Reproduction prohibited without authorization.
Last Updated: 07/24/02

[Canon 1248.2 (1983). If because of lack of a sacred minister [i.e.,
traditional Catholic priest] or for other grave cause participation in the
celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that
the faithful ... engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time
personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."]

It often happens that Catholics who are at a distance from a
[traditional] church, or because of illness or some other unavoidable
impediment, may be unable to hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of
obligation. Grave causes may excuse bodily presence, but do not
dispense us from uniting ourselves in spirit to those who actually enjoy
the happiness of being in God's holy temple.

The Sundays and Feasts
were instituted by the Church that we may render unto God that worship
that we owe Him every moment of our lives. This worship includes first
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and it is offered for us even when we
are not actually present. But to enjoy the benefits that it procures,
we must by a spiritual Communion become partakers of the altar from
which we are temporarily banished.

Excite a desire of visiting the house of God, and let the whole
family kneel before a crucifix, a statue of the Blessed Virgin, or a
pious picture. Then, transporting themselves in spirit before the altar
where Mass is being celebrated, let them endeavor to follow the service
there performed.

Those who are prevented from being actually present at the celebration
of Mass may yet draw glorious fruits from this great ocean of grace. For we
may assist in spirit at the adorable Sacrifice, just as we may receive Holy
Communion spiritually with great profit to our souls. In fact, we may be
physically a long distance from the churches where Mass is being offered, and
yet be spiritually nearer than one who assists in a careless, distracted
manner.

Form of Making a Good Intention Before Holy Mass

(To be used when, by reasonable cause, one is hindered from going to
church.)

I believe, Lord Jesus, that in the Last Supper Thou didst offer up
a true sacrifice; I believe it because Thou hast made it known to us
through the Catholic Church, which from apostolic times has constantly
taught the same to us. Since Thou didst command the Apostles and the
priests ordained by them to do the same until the end of time, I,
therefore, offer to Thee with the priest this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
(which I believe to be one with that offered on Mount Calvary)

to Thy
honor and glory, in acknowledgment of my most bounden service, in
thanksgiving for the innumerable benefits which Thou hast conferred upon
me and upon the whole world, in satisfaction for my sins and the sins of
all mankind, and for obtaining the grace of perfect contrition for my
sins. I also offer to Thee this Holy Mass for my friends and
benefactors, and for those to whom I am bound,

and for whom Thou wilt me
to pray. I also offer it for my enemies, that they may be converted,
for all the faithful departed, particularly for my parents and relatives
and for the welfare of all Christendom.

Prayers During the Time of Divine Service

I. Heartfelt Desire to Participate in the Holy Sacrifice

Most Holy Trinity, God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, almighty
Source of all things, my best Father, my merciful Redeemer, the Fountain
of my sanctification and happiness, I, Thy most unworthy creature,
venture to appear before Thee, to show Thee, my true God and Creator,
all honor, adoration, and trustful submission; to thank Thee for the
innumerable benefits which I have received from Thee, to praise Thee for
Thy glory (for I am created for Thy praise);

to implore Thy mercies; and
to appease Thy justice, because I have so often and so grievously sinned
against Thee. All this I cannot do in a worthier and more perfect
manner than by hearing, with faith and devotion, Holy Mass. For in that
Holy Sacrifice is offered to Thee the most sublime Sacrifice of praise
and thanksgiving, the most efficacious sacrifice of supplication and
propitiation, the most worthy Sacrifice of salvation for the living and
dead. But because I cannot this day be present bodily at Holy Mass, I
will, at least in spirit, place myself before the altar where Jesus
Christ, in an unbloody manner,

offers Himself, O Heavenly Father, to
Thee. With this glorious Sacrifice I unite my present prayer; I
fervently desire, united with the Son of God, in the strongest manner to
praise, love, supplicate Thee, O Heavenly Father, to repair all the
wrong and shame that I have wrought, and completely to accomplish all
that can be accomplished by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To this end
give me Thy divine grace, and grant that I may perform all this with
sincere devotion.

Amen.

 

II. Contrition for Sins, with Faith and Confidence in Jesus Christ
and an Offering up of His Precious Merits

Holy Father, I confess with sorrow that I have seldom served Thee
with an undivided heart, but rather have often offended Thee, and by my
slothfulness and neglect have brought upon myself infinitely great guilt
before Thee. I, therefore, take refuge in the merits of Thy Beloved
Son, now present upon the altar,

Who so freely commends and imparts to
us His grace and favor. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ
offers to Thee for me the highest veneration and love, the most perfect
praise, the most hearty thanksgiving, and the most kind expiation. For
the perfect forgiveness of my sins, O Heavenly Father, I offer up to
Thee the whole suffering and death of Jesus Christ, which are now, in an
unbloody manner, renewed upon the altar.

O most benign Father, Thy Son
has suffered and died even for me, a poor sinner. With thankful love I
bring before Thee, as a precious and pleasing offering, the infinite
merits of His suffering and death. I firmly trust that, on account of
this inestimable sacrifice of Thy Son, Thou wilt increase in me Thy
graces.

Amen.

O Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, to Thee I turn
for help and grace. Graciously look upon my misery and wretchedness,
and let my supplications come before Thee.

That I may the more surely
be heard by Thee, I appear before the throne of Thy grace, which, for
our salvation, is set up in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where the
innocent Lamb of God is mysteriously offered up to Thee, Holy Father,
Almighty God, for the remission of our sins. Regard, I beseech Thee,
the innocence of this holy Sacrifice,

and for the sake thereof extend to
me Thy mercy. O my Saviour, how great is that love of Thine for me,
which, to make satisfaction for my sins and to gain me the grace of Thy
Father, impelled Thee to endure for me such bitter pains, and even death
itself! How great is yet that love of Thine for me which causes Thee,
in every Holy Mass to renew,

in an unbloody manner, Thy death of
propitiation, in order to apply and communicate to me Thy merits! With
my whole heart I thank Thee for this, Thy great love, and from the
depths of my soul, I beseech Thee to make me a partaker of the fruit of
it and to strengthen and confirm me by the grace of the Holy Ghost, that
I may detest sin and all unholy living,

that I may crucify my flesh,
with all its passions, deny myself, and follow in Thy footsteps, that
all my thoughts and words, all that I do or leave undone, may be a
living service of God and a sacrifice well pleasing to Him.

As Thou hast offered up to Thy Heavenly Father Thyself, so take me
also in the arms of Thy love and mercy, and present me, a poor erring
sinner, as an offering to Thy Father, and let me no more be separated
from His love.

Amen.

 

III. Adoration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
under the Appearance of Bread and Wine

O most holy Jesus, before Thee the heavenly choirs kneel and
adore; with them I lift up my voice and cry: Holy, holy, holy, art
Thou, O Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy grace and
glory. Thou art present, O Jesus, under the appearance of bread and
wine. Hear, O hear my prayer!

I strike my breast and confess my
unworthiness, but with firm confidence I implore Thee, O Jesus, be
merciful to me! O most benign Jesus, forgive me my sins! O holy Blood,
wash me from my sins! O precious Blood of Jesus, O Blood of Jesus,
richin grace, cry out to heaven for mercy upon me!

Most holy God,
receive this precious Blood, together with the love through which it was
shed; receive it as an offering of my love and thankfulness, for the
forgiveness of my sins; in satisfaction of the punishments that I have
deserved; for the washing away of the stains of my guilt, as reparation
for all my neglects, and as amendment for all the sins which I have
committed through ignorance or frailty;

receive it also as a sacrifice
for the consolation of the afflicted; for the conversion of sinners; for
the recovery of the sick and suffering; for the strengthening of those
who draw near to death; for the refreshment, purification, and
deliverance of the souls of the departed in Purgatory.

Amen.

 

IV. Unshaken Confidence in Jesus Christ

To Thee, O most benign Jesus, I lift up my eyes and my heart. Oh,
turn upon me Thy gracious countenance and Thy true love. Behold, O
Lord, my manifest need, and the great danger of my soul. Receive me, O
Thou Who art my only true mediator and helper!

Be Thou, through the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, my salvation, and obtain for me the entire
remission of my sins. Oh, represent to Thy Father how cruelly Thou wast
scourged, crowned, crucified, and put to death for us, and thereby
reconcile with the strict justice of God me,

a miserable sinner.

Amen.


Pater Noster. Ave Maria.

 

V. He Who Asks in the Name of Jesus Shall Receive

O Lamb of God, Who didst suffer for us, miserable sinners, have
mercy upon me, and offer up to the Father Thy Passion for the
forgiveness of my sins! O Lamb of God, Who didst die for us, miserable
sinners, have mercy upon me,

and offer up to God Thy death in
satisfaction for my sins! O Lamb of God, Who didst sacrifice Thyself
for us, miserable sinners, have mercy upon me, and offer up to Thy holy
Blood to the Father for the cleansing of my soul!

Heavenly Father, I offer up to Thee, this precious and most worthy
oblation. My sins are more in number than the hairs of my head, but, O
just and merciful God, lay this precious offering in the one scale and
my sins in the other, and that will far outweigh my guilt.

O merciful,
O holy God, give me Thy blessing before I end my prayer, and through
this blessing let me obtain grace at once to begin to amend my life, and
renounce whatever is sinful and displeasing to Thee. Support me in my
weakness, strengthen me when temptations assail me, and let me never
forget that Thou art near me.

O precious day! but perhaps the last of my life! O happy day!
if it shall make me better! Holy Mother of God, Mary, holy Angels and
friends of God, pray for me and lead me in the way of truth.

O God,
grant Thy love to the living and Thy peace to the dead.

Amen.

Act of Spiritual Communion in Union With the Sacrifice of the Mass
When We Cannot Assist at It

(To the faithful who make an act of spiritual Communion, using any
formula they may choose, there is granted an indulgence of three years.
A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions when the Act
is performed every day of the month. Granted by the Sacred Apostolic
Penitentiary, March 7, 1927, and February 25, 1933.)

As I cannot this day enjoy the happiness of assisting at the holy
Mysteries, O my God! I transport myself in spirit to the foot of Thine
altar; I unite with the Church, which, by the hands of the priest,
offers Thee Thine adorable Son; I offer myself with Him, by Him, and in
His Name. I adore, I praise, and I thank Thee,

imploring Thy mercy,
invoking Thine assistance, and presenting Thee the homage I owe Thee as
my Creator, the love due to Thee as my Saviour. Apply to my soul, I
beseech Thee, O merciful Jesus, Thine infinite merits; apply them also
to those for whom I particularly wish to pray.

I desire to communicate
spiritually, that Thy Blood may purify, Thy Flesh strengthen, and Thy
spirit sanctify me. May I never forget that Thou, my divine Redeemer,
hast died for me; may I die to all that is not Thee, that hereafter I
may live eternally with Thee.

Amen.

Act of Contrition

 

Another Act of Spiritual Communion
By St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed
Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,

come at least spiritually
into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and
unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated
from Thee.

Another Act of Spiritual Communion
By Raphael Cardinal Merry del Val

At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself, and I offer Thee the
repentance of my contrite heart,

which is humbled in its nothingness and
in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the
ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling
that my heart offers Thee.

While waiting for the happiness of
sacramental Communion, I wish to ppossess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O
my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love embrace
my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee,
I love Thee.

Amen.

 

Other Spiritual Acts to Make Holy the Lord's Day

When one for grave cause cannot attend the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass bodily, one nevertheless has an obligation to respect the Third
Commandment: "Remember Thou keep holy the Lord's Day."

In conjunction with the prayers and Act of Spiritual Communion
given above, one should, when able, spend an hour in spiritual
devotions. The ones listed below are all most appropriate and are
indulgenced in one way or another.

1. Meditating upon the Ordinary and Proper of the Mass for
the day from a handmissal and its commentary.


2. Saying all or part of the Divine Office from the Roman
Breviary or from the various adaptations of it (e.g., the Little Office
of the Blessed Virgin Mary).


3. Reading and meditating upon the Sacred Scripture.


4. Reading and meditating upon the works of the Apostolic
Fathers, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the saints, the popes
and councils.


5. Praying the Most Holy Rosary.


6. Praying one or more of the litanies (Litany to the Sacred
Heart, Litany of Loretto, etc.).


7. Praying the Angelus.


8. Praying any of the many private devotions.


9. Engaging in mediation or mental prayer.


10. Reading and meditating upon the lives of the saints in
Butler's Lives of the Saints or in the various adaptations of it.


11. Studying the Roman Catechism (of the Council of Trent), the
Baltimore Catechism, or other traditional sources of the doctrines and
teachings of the Faith.

 

LITANY FOR SUNDAY (FOR PERSONAL DEVOTION ONLY)

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ have mercy on us.
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.

This is the day which the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice, and be glad therein.

Jesus, Who on this day of the week didst

arise from the dead, have mercy on
us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst put on a life immortal, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who on the same day didst appear to Mary Magdalen and to the Apostles,
have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst open the eyes of the two disciples going to
Emmaus, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst comfort Thine Apostles, and give them
peace, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst confirm Thine Apostles in the faith of the
Resurrection by showing them Thy hands and Thy feet, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst breathe on the Apostles and give them the
Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst open their understanding to know the
Scriptures, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst give them power to remit sins, have mercy on
us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst send the Apostles on their mission, and
didst
command them to go and teach all nations, have mercy on us.


Jesus, Who on a Sunday didst condescend to the weakness of St. Thomas, have
mercy on us.


and by the evidence of Thy sacred Wounds didst heal his unbelief, have mercy
on
us.


Jesus, Who on a Sunday didst send down the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, have
mercy on us.


And thus prepared them for laying the foundation of Thy Church, have mercy on
us.


Jesus, Who on the same day didst move Thy Apostle Peter to preach the first
Christian sermon to the Jews, to the conversion of three thousand, have mercy
on
us.

 

Be merciful, O Jesus, and spare us.


Be merciful, O Jesus, and hear us.

From the abuse of this day which

we are commanded to keep holy, preserve us,
O Lord.


From sloth and indevotion, preserve us, O Lord.


From neglect of prayer, and of Thy Sacred Word, preserve us, O Lord.


From all occasions of misspending this day, preserve us, O Lord.


From whatever is an offense to God,

or a scandal to the weak, preserve us, O Lord.

We sinners,
Beseech Thee to hear us.

That we may have Thy grace to sanctify this day as Thou hast commanded,
We beseech Thee, hear us.


That we may this day labor to arise to a new life, We beseech Thee, hear
us.


That we may this day examine into the state of our souls, and resolve to
amend whatever is displeasing to Thee, hear us.


That we may this day be so strengthened in our faith as to bend our
whole endeavors upon seeking those eternal goods which faith has taught
us to obtain, we beseech Thee, hear us.


That Thy Holy Spirit would this day take possession of our hearts, and
so confirm us in every duty that no earthly considerations may be able
to prevail against us to the transgression of Thy law, We beseech Thee, hear
us.


That we may this day join with the Church Triumphant in praising, adoring,
and
praying to Thee, and preparing our souls to celebrate with them an eternal
Sabbath, We beseech Thee, hear us.


That we may not give this day to earth or to self-love, but may offer it
to Thee, Who art our only everlasting Good, Son of God, Who has forever
hallowed
this day, We beseech Thee, hear us.

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, hear us, O Lord.


Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Let us pray.


O God, the Protector of all who hope in Thee

and without Whom nothing can
have

either strength or holiness, multiply Thy mercy,

we beseech Thee, upon us,
that Thou being our Ruler and our Guide,

we may so pass through the goods of this
life as not to lose those which are eternal.

Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.


Amen.

 

 

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J.M.J.

Confession:

"Confess your sins one to another."-St. James 5;16. Confession is a
great remedy for the soul. It purifies it through the words of
absolution, enlightens it through the good counsel received,
strengthens it by the great graces received, humbles it by
acknowledging to another man that we are sinners and gives peace to
the soul being reconciled to God. We didn't care to commit the sin,
but now we are ashamed to confess it. "God resists the proud but
giveth grace to the humble."


Confession has been in the Church from the beginning. The second
Sunday after Easter Our Lord appeared to the Apostles and gave them
His mission to carry on. "As the Father hath sent me, so I send you."
St. John 20;21. Then He gave them the power of the Holy Ghost, He
breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," vs
22.Then with the power of the Holy Ghost within them, He gives them
the power to forgive or retain sin, "Whose sins you shall forgive,
they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are
retained." vs 23. Tangible evidence of this doctrine was brought
forth in Rome when, in 1911, archaeologists unearthed a stone slab
which read: "Here lies Blessed Peter, who absolved us, the elect,
from sins confessed."


A beautiful story --


St Francis and the sinful woman:

St. Francis de Sales was hearing confessions in his church at Annecy.
Among other penitents who went to him was a woman who had led a very
bad life, but who, touched by God's grace, made a good and sincere
confession of all the evil she had done. St. Francis blessed God for
her conversion and felt his soul full of happiness in giving her
absolution. When she received it she said to him: "My father, what do
you think of me now since you have heard of all the crimes I have been
guilty of?" "My child," he answered, "I now look upon you as a saint;
let people say and think what they like, they may judge you as the
Pharisee judged Mary Magdalen after her conversion, but you know what
Jesus Christ thought of her and how he judged her.

 

Your past life now
has no longer any existence. I weep tears of joy because of your
resurrection from the grave of sin to a life of grace. The penitent
was not only consoled by these words of St. Francis, but when the
devil came to try to make her fall into despair by thinking of her
past iniquities, they enabled her to drive the temptation away.-His
Life: Jan.29, Stories from the Catechist.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine

From: http://motherofgodlibrary.com/

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Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org



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