Prayer To Say Before The Holy Mass # 4

O merciful Father, who didst so love the world
as to give up for our redemption Thy beloved Son;
who, in obedience to Thee, and for us sinners,
humbled Himself even unto the death of the Cross,
and continues to offer Himself daily,
by the ministry of His Priests,
for the living and the dead;
we humbly beseech Thee, that,
penetrated with a lively faith,
we may always assist with the utmost devotion
and reverence at the oblation of His most precious Body and Blood,
which is made at Mass, and thereby be made partakers
of the sacrifice which He consummated on Calvary.

In union with Thy Holy Church and its Ministers,
and invoking the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
and all the Angels and Saints,
we now offer the adorable sacrifice of the Mass
for Thy honour and glory,
acknowledging Thy infinite perfections,
Thy supreme dominion over all creatures,
our entire subjection and total dependence on Thee,
and in thanksgiving for all Thy benefits,
and for the remission of our sins.
 

We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic Faith,
for our most Holy Father the Pope;
for our Archbishop (or Bishop),
and for all the Pastors and Clergy of Thy Holy Church,
that they may direct the faithful
in the way of salvation; for the King (or Queen),
and for all that are in high station,
that we may lead a quiet and holy life;
for peace and good will among all states and people;
for the necessities of mankind,
and particularly for the Congregation here present;
to obtain all the blessings we stand in need of in this life,
everlasting happiness in the next,
and eternal rest to the faithful departed.

And as Jesus Christ so ordained,
when He instituted, at His Last Supper,
this wonderful mystery of His power, wisdom, and goodness;
we offer the Mass in grateful remembrance of all He has done
and suffered for the love of us,
making special commemoration of His bitter Passion, and Death,
and of His glorious Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven.
Vouchsafe, O Almighty and Eternal God
to whom alone the homage of sacrifice is due,
graciously to accept it for these
and all other purposes agreeable to Thy holy will.
And to render it the more pleasing,
we offer it to Thee, through the same Jesus Christ,
Thy beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour,
our High Priest and Victim,
and in the name of the most Holy Trinity,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost:
to whom be honour, praise, and glory,
for ever and ever.

Amen.