Pious Practices Before Retiring to Rest
St. John’s Manual, 1856Source and notes
Source
| Printed in | ST. JOHN’S MANUAL: A GUIDE TO THE PUBLIC WORSHIP AND SERVICES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND A COLLECTION OF DEVOTIONS FOR THE PRIVATE USE OF THE FAITHFUL. |
|---|---|
| Imprint | New York, T. W. STRONG, LATE EDWARD DUNIGAN & BRO., CATHOLIC PUBLISHING HOUSE, 599 BROADWAY., 1856 |
| Pages | pp. 85–86 |
| Scan | leaf 91, leaf 92 of the Internet Archive copy |
| Approval | “ST. JOHN’S MANUAL” HAVING BEEN DULY EXAMINED, WE HEREBY APPROVE OF ITS PUBLICATION. † John Abp. of N. York NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 1856. |
| Indulgence | And recite the following aspirations, to which an indulgence of 300 days is attached. |
| Rights | Public domain in the United States. |
- Saints
- St. Joseph
- Prayers for
- a happy death, contrition, modesty
AFTER EVENING PRAYERS.
Having concluded your evening devotions, prepare to retire to rest—not with a mind given up again to the vanities and follies of the world, but with a deep feeling of your sinfulness, and remembering that death, of which sleep is so striking a figure, may surprise you this very night, and that the torments of hell and the joys of heaven are infinite and eternal.
Prepare then to retire to rest, as if about to descend into the grave, to which your sins condemn you. Occupy your mind with pious thoughts, humiliation, gratitude, and a desire of serving God, that you may so rest and so rise, with God’s grace accompanying you through life, that you may one day awake to everlasting joy.
While you are undressing, be careful to observe the utmost modesty, as your angel guardian is by your side, and say—
Strip from my soul, O my Jesus, all the garments of iniquity, all sin and all affection to sin, all pride and vanity, all self-will and self-love, all that is in the least displeasing to Thy divine Majesty; and robe me in the wedding garment of Thy love.
Then commend yourself especially to the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, and the choirs of countless angels, imploring them to watch over you during the night.
When undressed, kneel for a moment by your bedside, and say—
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, I lay me down to rest; may He bless, govern, and preserve me, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
And recite the following aspirations, to which an indulgence of 300 days is attached.
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, I offer you my heart, I give you my life.
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, come to my assistance in my last agony.
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, may my life close in peace in your love.
Lain down, say:
Bless, O Lord, the repose I am going to take in order to renew my strength, that I may be better able to serve Thee; and all ye saints and angels, but chiefly thou, O mother of God, intercede for me this night, and during the rest of my life, but particularly at the hour of my death.
Finish the day as you have begun it, in flying to the protection of God. The few moments before sleep are precious. Profit by them; make an act of contrition for the faults which you have committed that day, and generally during your life; implore the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, for all sinners and for yourself, and recite some prayer dear to her, such as the Magnificat, the Ave Maris Stella.
After thus again invoking your good Mother and your holy Angel Guardian, sleep sweetly in the arms of our Lord.
“In peace in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest” (Ps. iv. 9). “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit” (Ps. xxx. 6).
If you awake during the night, raise up your mind to God, and renew your act of contrition. You may also renew the aspiration “Jesus, Joseph, Mary,” and in the silence of night unite yourself with the choirs of angels who unceasingly praise and glorify God.