dying will be small. We beg directors, and members of councils, to be very careful in their admission of associates; for, on their piety, devotion, and perseverance, the suc- cess of the Confraternity, and its influence for good in a neighborhood, in great mea- sure, depends.
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FORM.
Act of Consecration, and Promises to be made by the Associates on the day of admission.
Adorable Heart of Jesus, Victim of love for the salvation of souls, I prostrate myself humbly before Thee, and, trusting in Thine infinite mercy, I consecrate myself for ever to Thy service, in this pious Association. I promise to honour, and to lead others to honour, the sorrows of Thy mortal life, and especially Thy holy Agony in the Garden of Olives, with a special worship. I promise to promote the salvation of the dying by my devotion and my prayers. In order to please Thee and to save them, I offer to Thee my body and soul, my joys and sorrows, my life and death, in union with Thy sufferings. 0, Agonizing Heart of Jesus! deign to accept my humble homage, I place it under the protection of Thine Immaculate Mother. Presented by her pure hands, let it ascend to Thee as a sweet-smelling holocaust, and rise to the throne of Thy Heavenly Father, to whom, with Thee, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
THE AGONIZING HEART OF JESUS.
I engage myself by a simple promise, first, to pray each day for those who die each day; secondly, to make half an hour's intercession each month for the same intention; thirdly, to assist at the meetings of the Association.
Note.—1st. This form will be henceforth used in all our Confraternities for the admis- sion of Associates. We beg the directors to omit no part of it. 2nd. Priests, and those in holy orders, monks and nuns, who wish to become Associates, can, on sending their names to the Director, receive permission to pronounce their act of consecration in any church, or any other place, provided only that some witnesses are present. They are not required to make the promises, nevertheless, they ought faithfully to fray every day for the dying, and to make the half hour of intercession every month. We beg priests, who are Associates, or even Compan- ions, to say Mass from time to time, for the living and departed members of the Confra- ternity.
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CHAPTER IV.
Essential practices of the confraternity of the agonizing heart of Jesus.
1. — Duties of the Associates.
In virtue of their engagement, the Associ- ates are hound: first, to say the prayer, "O most merciful Jesus" at least, once every day, on behalf of the eighty thousand who die on that day. It would, be well to say it three times a day, at morning prayer, at half past two in the afternoon, in honour of our Saviour's agony, and, in the evening, for those who are to die during the night. Associates who are unable to read or to learn the prayer, will say a Pater and Ave for the same intention.
Secondly, to make half an hour's inter- cession, at least once a month, for all who are to die within twenty-four hours, from the time when it is begun. This interces- sion should be made in the chapel of the Confraternity, from half past two to three o'clock in the afternoon, in honour of our Saviour's agony in the Garden of Olives and on the cross. We beg those who make it,
THE AGONIZING HEART OF JESUS.
also to pray for all who are to die before their half hour of intercession in the follow- ing month comes round.
Thirdly, to assist at the monthly and yearly meetings of the Association, in the chapel of the Confraternity,, when the Asso- ciates offer their united intercessions for all who are to die during the coming month or year. We shall speak more fully hereafter of these meetings, and also of those held on the Feasts of the Association,, which its- members are bound to attend.
Such are the essential practices of the As- sociates should any one be found negligent in their performance, it is the duty of the director and council to admonish her. If two or three admonitions fail, the unworthy member must be dismissed from the Associa- tion, and her name struck off its books. It is the duty of the Zelatrix to see that the Associates are faithful to their engagements, and to inform the director and council of negligence or omissions.
II. — Duties of the Companions.
The Companions are bound to say the prayer, O most merciful Jesus, at least once a day for the dying of the day; but we hope
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that they will adopt the practice of saying it three times a day, which we have suggested to the Associates. Those who cannot read nor learn the prayer should say a Pater and Ave for the same intention. The monthly half-hour of intercession is not binding on them, but we beg them to make it, and they ought to pray from time to time for the other Companions, as well as for the Asso- ciates, who in their turn pray for them at their meetings. They should pray most especially for any members of the Confrater- nity who are ill or dying, and, if possible, visit them and help them to die well.
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CHAPTER V.
Of other practices in use in some Confrater- nities of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus.
The preceding chapter treats of funda- mental and essential practices of the Con- fraternity, which must never be omitted; we are now about to speak of other practices in use in certain Confraternities, which, al- though neither fundamental nor essential,
THE AGONIZING HEART OF JESUS.
are very profitable, and well calculated to promote the objects in view. We hope that where it is possible, the Directors will en- courage their observance.
The first is visiting the sick and dying. We need not enlarge on the excellence of this holy work of mercy, which is not only corporal but spiritual, since it directly pro- motes the eternal salvation of the dying.
This indeed should always be the chief ob- ject, and every means for its attainment should be used. The visitors should be un- wearied in good counsels, and generous and devoted services; they should also inform the priest of the state of the sick and dying, and endeavor to ensure their reception of the Sacraments, overcoming all difficulties which the negligence of relations and neigh- bours, or any other circumstances, may put in their way. They should mutually sus- tain and assist one another, so that where one has failed another may attempt the good work, and by God's blessing they will often have the consolation of seeing their efforts crowned with success. Let them constantly have recourse to the guardian angels of the Bick and dying, to their patron saints, to the Compassionate Heart of our Lady, to St.
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Joseph, the patron of a good death, to St. Michael the Archangel, guardian of souls, to the Angel who consoled Jesus in His agony in the Garden, and, above all, to Jesus Himself, and to His Agonizing Heart; and let them recommend the dying to the prayers of the Association, and especially of the members who are making the half-hour's intercession. We doubt not that the Direc- tors will duly appreciate the advantages of this holy work, and we trust that their zeal will organize a system of visiting which shall include rich as well as poor. The subject should often be brought before
