The Book of Perpetual Adoration. H.M. Boudon

Priests to His Church, and to prevent, as far as lies in our power, those who have no vocation for that divine office from being brought into it…………………………………………………. 100 Conclusion — With an exhortation to the love and adoration of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacra- ment of the Altar………………………………………………. 108 ____________ Instruction and Prayers for the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament…………………………………………… 115 Crown of twenty-four Adorations, in honour of the Most Holy Sacrament,to make reparation for the insults offered to it during the twenty-four hours of the day and night……………………………………... 120 Method of assisting at the Procession of the Most Holy Sacrament………………………………………………… 126

      Contents.

	PAGE
Paraphrase of the Litany of the Most Holy Sacrament …………	131
Prayer in adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament……………….	142
Method for assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass with profit………………………………………………..	143
From the Introit to the Gospel…………………………………….	145
From the Gospel to the Elevation…………………………………	146
From the Elevation to the Communion………………………….	148
From the Communion to the end of Mass……………………….	149
Exercise during the Holy Mass in the form of a
conversation, the greater part of which is
taken from the works of St. Alphonsus Liguori……………	152
Prayer before Mass…………………………………………………	ib.
From the beginning of Mass to the Gospel………………………	ib.
When the Epistle is about to be read……………………………...	154
From the Gospel to the Sanctus……………………………………	ib.
During the Offertory………………………………………………..	156
From the Sanctus to the Domine Non Sum Dignus…………….	157
Towards the Elevation……………………………………………..	158
Towards the Pater…………………………………………………..	159
From the Domine Non Sum Dignus to the end…………………	ib.
At the end of Mass…………………………………………………..	161
Act of Reparation……………………………………………………	162

      PREFACE.

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      HENRI MARIE BOUDON, author of the work of which we here give a new edition, was one of the holiest priests, as well as one of the most skilful directors of souls that adorned the Church of France during the 17th century.

       Promoted to the archdeaconry of Evreux at the age of thirty, he at once applied himself zealously to paying annual visits to the parishes confided to his care, to the reforming of abuses, and to the revival of piety. He employed all possible means to procure the salvation of souls, such as sermons, pious books, and other lessons in perfect virtue. Not contented with having inspired the faithful with great zeal for ornamenting the churches, in a book entitled : " Of the respect due to the sanctity of Churches and of the profanation committed in them" he strenuously endeavoured to rekindle in all hearts the most lively sentiments of faith and

      Preface.

      the most ardent love to the august Sacrament of the Altar.

       Supported by many truly christian persons, he established an association at Evreux, for the perpetual adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. It was to inspire the members of that Confraternity with a clear and practical devotion to the adorable Eucharist, that he wrote this little work, to which we give for its first title : " The Book of Perpetual Adoration"

       When it was published, this book met with wonderful success, though it was written with great simplicity, and the style was very little studied, on account of the numerous occupations of its author, added to the little importance he attached to worldly eloquence. The work was translated into German, Italian, Spanish, Flemish, Polish, -and even into Latin; fifty thousand copies were sold in a very little time, and such great blessings at- tended it that, eighty thousand persons in the town of Augsburg (in Germany) and the neighbourhood gave in their names to take an hour for the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament.

       If there be one thing that is astonishing after such a success, it is that this work and others from the pen of the holy author, should have been almost entirely forgotten; or, rather, we think we perceive in this forgetfulness a sad proof of the

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      falling off of faith in our age, when even persons who make profession of piety too often seek a pleasing style in devotional books, instead of substantial