Jesus Psalter

There is no other name under heaven, given to men whereby we must be saved. Acts, iv. 12.

THIS Psalter consists of fifteen petitions, and the glorious Name of Jesus being repeated ten times before each of them, the repetition is made thrice fifty times. It may be said either all at once, or at thrice, according to a person's devotion and leisure, as this sacred Name is not to be repeated hastily ever, but with great reverence and devotion.

PART 1.

You must begin by a devout kneeling, or bowing, at the adorable name of Jesus, saying,

IN the name of Jesus let every knee bow, of things in heaven, of things on earth, and of things under the earth; and let every tongue confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Phil, ii. 10.

The First Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Have mercy on me.

Jesus, have mercy on me, O God of compassion, and forgive the many and great offences which I have committed in thy sight.

Many have been the follies of my life, and great are the miseries which I have deserved for my ingratitude.

Have mercy on me, dear Jesus, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, who am unable to help myself.

Deliver me from setting my heart upon any of thy creatures, which may divert my eyes from a continual looking up to thee.

Grant me grace henceforth, for the love of thee, to hate sin; and out of a just esteem of thee, to despise all worldly vanities.

Have mercy on all sinners, Jesus, I beseech thee; turn their vices into virtues, and, making them true observers of thy law, and sincere lovers of thee, bring them to bliss in everlasting glory.

Have mercy also on the souls in purgatory, for thy bitter passion, I beseech thee, and for thy glorious name Jesus.

O blessed Trinity, one eternal God, have mercy on me. Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

The Second Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

help me

Jesus, help me to overcome all temptations to sin, and the malice of my ghostly enemy.

Help me to spend my time in virtuous actions, and in such labours as are acceptable to thee.

To resist and repel the motions of my flesh to sloth, gluttony, and impurity.

To render my heart enamoured of virtue, and inflamed with desires of thy glorious presence.

Help me to deserve and keep a good name, by a peaceful and pious living, to thy honour, O Jesus, to my own comfort, and the benefit of others.

Have mercy on all sinners, &c., as before. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Third Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

strengthen me.

Jesus, strengthen me in soul and body, to please thee in doing such works of virtue, as may bring me to thine everlasting joy and felicity.

Grant me a firm purpose, most merciful Saviour, to amend my life, and to recompense for the years past.

Those years, which I have mispent to thy displeasure in vain or wicked thoughts, words, deeds, and evil customs.

Make my heart obedient to thy will, and ready for thy love, to perform all the works of mercy.

Grant me the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which, by a virtuous life, and devout frequenting of thy most holy sacraments, may at length bring me to thy heavenly kingdom. Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Fourth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

comfort me.

Jesus, comfort me, and give me grace to place my chief, my only joy, and felicity in thee.

Send me heavenly meditations, spiritual sweetness and fervent desires of thy glory; ravish my soul with the contemplation of heaven, where I shall everlastingly dwell with thee.

Bring often to my remembrance thy unspeakable goodness, thy gifts, and the great kindness which thou hast shown me.

And when thou bringest to my mind the sad remembrance of my sins, whereby I have so unkindly offended thee;

Comfort me with the assurance of obtaining thy grace, by the spirit of perfect repentance, which may purge away my guilt, and prepare me for thy kingdom.

Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Fifth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

make me constant.

Jesus, make me constant in faith, hope, and charity, giving me perseverance in all virtues, and a resolution never to offend thee.

Let the memory of thy passion, and of those bitter pains which thou sufferedst for me, strengthen my patience, and recreate me in all tribulation and adversity.

Let me always hold fast the doctrines of thy Catholic church, and render me a diligent frequenter of all holy duties.

Let no false delight of this deceitful world blind me, no fleshly temptation, or fraud of the devil, shake my heart.

My heart, which hath for ever set up its rest in thee, and resolved to undervalue all for thine eternal reward.

Have mercy on all sinners, Jesus, I beseech thee; turn their vices into virtues, and making them true observers of thy law, and sincere lovers of thee, bring them to bliss in everlasting glory.

Have mercy also on the souls in purgatory, for thy bitter passion, I beseech thee, and for thy glorious name Jesus.

O blessed Trinity, one eternal God, have mercy on me.

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. Phil. ii. 8.

Hear these my petitions, O my most merciful Saviour, and grant me grace so frequently to repeat and consider them, that they may prove easy steps, whereby my soul may ascend to the knowledge, love, and performance of my duty to thee, and my neighbour, through the whole course of my life. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God.

PART II.

Begin as before, saying,

In the name of Jesus let every knee, &c.

The Sixth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

enlighten me with spiritual wisdom.

Jesus, enlighten me with spiritual wisdom to know thy goodness, and all those things which are most acceptable to thee.

Grant me a clear apprehension of my only good, and discretion to order my life according to it.

Grant that I may wisely proceed from virtue to virtue, till at length I arrive at the clear vision of thy glorious Majesty.

Permit me not, dear Lord, to return to those sins for which I have been sorry, and of which I have purged myself by repentance and confession.

Grant me grace to benefit the souls of others by my good example, and to reduce those by good counsel, who misbehave towards me.

Have mercy, &c., as at first. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Seventh Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to fear thee.

Jesus, grant me grace inwardly to fear thee, and to avoid all occasions of offending thee.

Let thy threats of the torments which are to fall on sinners, the fear of losing thy love and thy heavenly inheritance, always keep me in awe.

Let me not dare to remain in sin, but soon return to repentance, lest, through thine anger, the dreadful sentence of endless death and damnation fall upon me.

Let the powerful intercession of thy blessed mother, and all thy saints, but above all, thy own merits and mercy, O my Saviour, be ever between thy avenging justice and my poor soul.

Enable me, O my God, to work out my salvation with fear and trembling; and let the apprehension of thy secret judgments render me a more humble and diligent suitor to the throne of thy grace.

Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Eighth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to love thee.

Jesus, grant me grace truly to love thee for thine infinite goodness, and those excessive bounties which I have received, and hope for ever to receive from thee.

Let the remembrance of thy kindness and patience conquer the malice and wretched inclinations of my perverse nature.

Let the consideration of my many deliverances, thy frequent calls, and continual assistance in the ways of life, make me ashamed of my ingratitude.

And what dost thou require of me for all thy mercies, or by them, but to love thee? And why dost thou require it, but because thou art my only good?

O my dear Lord, my whole life shall be nothing but a desire of thee; and because I indeed love thee, I will most diligently keep thy commandments.

Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Ninth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to remember my death.

Jesus, grant me grace always to remember my death and the great account which I am then to give: that so, my soul, being always well-disposed, may depart out of this world in thy grace.

Then by the holy intercession of thy blessed mother, and the assistance of the glorious St. Michael, deliver me from the enemy of my soul; and thou, my good angel, I beseech thee to help me at that most important hour.

Then, dear Jesus, remember thy mercy, and turn not thy most amiable face away from me, because of my offences.

Secure me against the terrors of that day, by causing me now to die daily to all earthly things, and so to have my conversation continually in heaven.

Let the remembrance of my death teach me how to esteem my life; and the memory of thy resurrection encourage me to descend cheerfully into the grave.

Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Tenth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

send me here my purgatory.

Jesus, send me here my purgatory, and so prevent the torments of that cleansing fire, which attends those souls in the next world, that have not been sufficiently purged in this.

Vouchsafe to grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions, which thou seest necessary for the taking off my affections from all things here below.

Since no one can see thee that loveth any thing which is not for thy sake, suffer not my heart to find any rest here, but in sighing after thee.

Too bitter, alas! will be the anguish of a soul that is separated from thee, that desireth, but cannot come to thee, being clogged with the heavy chains of sin.

Here, then, O my Saviour, keep me continually mortified to this world; that, being purged thoroughly with the fire of thy love, I may immediately pass hence into thine everlasting possession.

Have mercy, &c. as at the end of the fifth Petition. Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God.

PART III.

Begin as before, saying,

In the name of Jesus let every knee, &c.

The Eleventh Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to avoid bad company.

Jesus, grant me grace to avoid bad company; or if I chance to come among such, I beseech thee, by the merits of thine incorrupt conversation among sinners, preserve me from being overcome by any temptations to mortal sin.

Cause me, O blessed Lord, to remember always with dread, that thou art present, and nearest, who wilt take an account of all our words and actions, and wilt judge us according to them.

How dare I then converse with slanderers, liars, drunkards, or swearers; or with such, whose discourse is either quarrelsome, dissolute, or vain.

Repress in me, dear Jesus, all inordinate affections to carnal pleasure, and to the delight of taste; grant me grace to avoid such company as would blow the fire of those unruly appetites.

Thy power defend, thy wisdom direct, thy fatherly pity chastise me, and make me live so here among men, that I may be fit for the conversation of angels hereafter.

Have mercy, &c. as at first. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Twelfth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to call on thee for help.

Jesus, grant me grace in all my necessities to call on thee for help, faithfully remembering thy death and resurrection for me.

Wilt thou be deaf to my cries, that wouldst lay down thy life for my ransom? or canst thou not save me, that couldst take it up again for my crown?

Whom have I in heaven but thee, O my Jesus, whose blessed mouth hath pronounced, Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.

Thou art my sure rock of defence against all sorts of enemies; thou art my ready grace, able to strengthen me to every good work.

Therefore, in all my sufferings, weaknesses, and temptations, I will confidently call on thee; hear me, O my Jesus, and, when thou hearest, have mercy.

Have mercy on all sinners, &c. as before. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Thirteenth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

make me persevere in virtue.

Jesus, make me persevere in virtue and a good life, and never give over thy service, till thou bringest me to my reward in thy kingdom.

In all pious customs and holy duties, in my honest and necessary employments, continue and strengthen, O Lord, my soul and body.

Is my life any thing but a pilgrimage on earth towards the new Jerusalem, to which, he that sitteth down, or turneth out of the way, can never arrive?

O Jesus, make me always consider thy blessed example: through how much pain, and how little pleasure, thou didst press on to a bitter death; that being the way to a glorious resurrection.

Make me, O my Redeemer, seriously weigh those severe words of thine, he only that persevereth to the end shall be saved.

Have mercy on all sinners, &c. as before. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Fourteenth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

grant me grace to fix my mind on thee.

Jesus, grant me grace to fix my mind on thee, especially in time of prayer, when I directly converse with thee.

Stop the motions of my wandering head, and the desires of my unstable heart; suppress the power of my spiritual enemies, who endeavour at that time to draw my mind from heavenly thoughts, to many vain imaginations.

So shall I, with joy and gratitude, look on thee as my deliverer from all the evils I have escaped; and as my benefactor for all the good I have ever received, or can hope for.

I shall see that thou art my only good, and that all other things are but means ordained by thee, to make me fix my mind on thee, to make me love thee more and more, and, by loving thee, to be eternally happy.

O beloved of my soul, take up all my thoughts here, that mine eyes, abstaining from all vain and hurtful sights, may become worthy to behold thee face to face in thy glory for ever.

Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.

The Fifteenth Petition.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

give me grace to order my life towards my eternal welfare.

Jesus, give me grace to order my life towards my eternal welfare, heartily intending, and wisely designing, all the operations of my body and soul to obtain the reward of thine infinite bliss, and eternal felicity.

For what else is this world, but a school to breed up souls, and fit them for the other; and how are they fitted, but by an eager desire of enjoying God, their only end?

Break my froward spirit, O Jesus, make it humble and obedient: grant me grace to depart hence with contempt of this world and a heart filled with joy at my going to thee.

Let the memory of thy passion make me cheerfully undergo all temptations or sufferings here for thy love, whilst my soul breatheth after that blissful life, and immortal glory, which thou hast prepared in heaven for thy servants.

O Jesus, let me frequently and attentively consider, that whatever I gain, if I lose thee, all is lost; and whatever I lose, if I gain thee, all is gained.

Have mercy, &c. as in the fifth Petition. Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe.