The Complete Manual of Catholic Piety / Containing a Selection of Fervent Prayers, Pious Reflection, and Solid Instructions, Adapted to Every State of Life. To Which is Annexed a Supplement, Containing Excellent and Approved Devotions, With the Epistles and Gospels for All the Sundays and Festivals of the Year.

by William Gahan

Grant that he (she) may be sensible of the effects of thy holy mysteries and sacraments, and of all the prayers which are offered by the whole church.

Remember, O Lord, that thou wast once in the straits of death; and in this extremity, after crying out to thy eternal Father, and commending thy spirit to him, didst expire. Behold now this thy servant in his (her) anguish crying aloud to thee; stand thou by him (her), defend and comfort him (her) in this his (her) distress, and receive his (her) soul into thy merciful embraces.

Remember, O Jesus, that thy arms were stretched forth, thy side opened, and thy sacred head bowed down from the cross; have regard now, we beseech thee, to the soul of this thy servant, which, departing out of this world, seeks refuge in thee; receive it into thy arms, clasp it to thy breast, and there let it hide itself, secured from the attacks of all its enemies, till the anger of God pass over. Into thy hands we commend his (her) spirit, which has been created and redeemed by thee, despise not, we beseech thee, the work of thy hands.

O Christ Jesus, who was crucified for our redemption, we beseech thee, by that love which brought thee from heaven, to have compassion on the soul of thy servant; forgive him (her) all his (her) sins, and by the merits of thy bitter passion, satisfy for all his (her) failings, and supply his (her) defects; let him (her) now experience the multitude of thy tender mercies, and be sensible how good thou, O Lord, art. Dispose now his (her) soul by thy grace, that he (she) may be prepared at thy call to go forth to meet thee, his (her) heavenly bridegroom. Grant him (her), we beseech thee, true patience and perfect resignation in his (her) pains and anguish. Give him (her) full discharge from all his (her) sins; confirm his (her) faith; strengthen his (her) hope, and perfect his (her) charity; that departing hence, his (her) soul may be received into thy mercy. O dear Redeemer, by that distress which thou didst suffer on the cross, when thou criedst out to thy eternal Father, we pray thee to show mercy to this thy servant in his (her) extremity; hear the sighs and desires of his (her) heart; and since he (she) is now deprived of the faculty of speech, speak thou for him (her) we beseech thee, who art the eternal Word, and to whom the Father will refuse nothing.

By thy victory over death, and the infinite merits of thy passion, we beseech thee, on behalf of this thy servant, to have no other thoughts but of peace, of mercy and comfort, and not of affliction. Bear him (her) up against all distrust and despair; deliver him (her) from his (her) necessities, and be his (her) comforter in his (her) distress. Let those hands which were once nailed to the cross, now plead for him (her) and obtaining his (her) pardon, conduct him (her) into thy eternal rest. Amen.

The Recommendation Of A Soul Departing.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Pray for him (her).All ye Angels and Archangels,
Pray for him (her).Holy Abel,
Pray for him (her).All the choir of the Just,
Pray for him (her).Holy Abraham,
Pray for him (her).St. John Baptist,
Pray for him (her).St. Joseph,
Pray for him (her).All ye Patriarchs and Prophets,
Pray for him (her).St. Peter and St Paul,
Pray for him (her).St. Andrew,
Pray for him (her).St. John,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy disciples of our Lord,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Innocents,
Pray for him (her).St. Stephen,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Martyrs,
Pray for him (her).St Sylvester,
Pray for him (her).St. Gregory,
Pray for him (her).St. Augustine,
Pray for him (her).St. Laurence,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
Pray for him (her).St. Benedict,
Pray for him (her).St Francis,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Monks and Hermits,
Pray for him (her).St. Mary Magdalen,
Pray for him (her).St. Lucy,
Pray for him (her).All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
Pray for him (her).All ye saints of God,
make intercession for him (her).
Be merciful,
spare him (her,) O Lord.Be merciful,
deliver him (her,) O Lord.Be merciful,
receive him (her,) O Lord.From thy anger,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.From the danger of death,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.From an ill end,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.From the pains of hell,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.From all evil,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.From the power of the devil,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through thy nativity,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through thy cross and passion,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through thy death and burial,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through thy glorious resurrection,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through thy admirable ascension,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.Through the grace of the Holy Ghost, the comforter,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.In the day of judgment,
Deliver him (her), O Lord.We sinners,
beseech thee to hear us.That thou spare him (her),
we beseech thee to hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Let Us Pray.

Depart then, O Christian soul, out of this miserable world, in the name of God the Father Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Ghost, who sanctified thee; in the name of the angels, archangels, thrones, dominations, cherubim, and seraphim; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy apostles, and evangelists, of the holy martyrs and confessors, of the holy monks and hermits, of the holy virgins, and of all the saints of God: let thy place be this day in peace, and thy abode in holy Sion: through Christ our Lord. Amen.