The Cross and the Shamrock | Page 4

woman lay.
"Amen!" answered Mrs. Doherty, aloud. "You would pity her, your reverence, if you seen the misery they are in this two months; and it is easily telling they saw better days in the ould country. It is easily knowing that, by the dacent, mannerly children she has around her, God help 'em."
"Pax huic domui, et omnibus habitantibus in ea"--"Peace to this house, and all that dwell therein," uttered the priest of God, as he opened the latchless door of the room on the third story of the old "Oil Mill House," where the patient was extended on her "pallet of straw." For a moment he stood on the threshold, for within an unusual and solemn sight presented itself to his view. A woman of fair and comely features, between about thirty and forty years of age, lay as described on the floor, with four children kneeling around her. The eldest, a lad of about fifteen years, read aloud the litanies and prayers of the church for the dying, while the three younger children repeated the responses in fervent but trembling accents.
"Lord, have mercy on her," cried Paul, the eldest boy.
"Christ, have mercy on her," answered the younger children.
"Holy Mary." _R._ "Pray for her."
"All ye holy angels and archangels." _R._ "Pray for her."
"All ye choirs of the just." _R._ "Pray for her."
"All ye saints of God." _R._ "Make intercession for her."
"From thy anger, from an unhappy death, from the pains of hell." _R._ "Deliver her, O Lord."
"By thy cross and passion, by thy death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection, in the day of judgment." _R._ "Deliver her, O Lord."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant from all danger of hell, and from all pain and tribulation." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Enoch and Elias from the common death of the world." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Noah from the flood." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Abraham from the midst of the Chaldeans." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Job from all his afflictions." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Isaac from being sacrificed by his father." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Lot from Sodom and the flames of fire." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Moses from the hands of Pharaoh, King of Egypt." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Daniel from the lions' den." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst the three children from the fiery furnace and from the hands of an unmerciful king." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Susanna from her false accusers." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst David from the hands of Goliah and Saul." _R._ "Amen."
"Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Peter and Paul out of prison." _R._ "Amen."
"And as thou deliveredst that blessed virgin and martyr, St. Thecla, from most cruel torments, so vouchsafe, O Lord, to deliver the soul of this thy servant, and bring it to the participation of thy heavenly joys." _R._ "Amen."
"Depart, Christian soul, out of this world, in the name of God, the Father Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, 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 and dominations, cherubims and seraphims; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, 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 Sion, through Christ, our Lord." R. "Amen."
The offering up of this most beautiful prayer by the children for their dying parent was not unattended with several breaks and pauses, caused by the overwhelming grief of the poor orphans. They "gave out" the short prayers of the litany very well, and without much interruption; but when they came to the more solemn portion of that beautiful service, the "recommendation of a departing soul," they could no longer restrain their tears or suppress their lamentations.
Small blame to the poor children for this manifestation of grief, since we have known instances of the most hardened hearts being touched, and the most manly eyes yielding their tribute of tears, at the bare recital of the most beautiful form of prayer for the "soul departing." We have ourselves read this service a thousand times, at least,