Doing things without thinking . . .

If you go and eat in a Dominican House, after Dinner you will say the De Profundis for the benefit of the Departed of the Order, and indeed the whole Dominican family; and in England, at least, the list of those whose anniversary it is will be read . . . a practice which I understand exists, in various modifications, in many other religious houses.

I do it too : for the very simple reason that it takes so little time, but it not only benefits those for whom I pray – I don’t have a list of names, apart from my own private Requiem List; so my prayers are directed generally at that section of the Holy Souls which is before it at that moment – but also myself . . . and yet it involves so little effort, for so much reward.

This practice of developing habits of fitting in little prayers is one which has always seemed to me a valuable one. It costs us so little, and gives so many graces to so many souls who need them . . .

If you’re interested, my Grace after Dinner is as follows :

Gratiarum Actio Post Cenam

V. In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti.

R. Amen.

V. Confiteantur Tibi, Domine, omnia opera Tua

R. et Sanctis Tuis benedicant Tibi.

V. Gloria Patri, &c R. Sicut erat, &c

V. Oremus :

Agimus Tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro universis beneficiis Tuis :
Qui vivis & regnas in Sæcula Sæculorum
R. Amen.

De profundis + clamavi, ad te Domine; *
Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuæ intendentes *
in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, *
Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est; *
et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius; *
speravit anima mea in Domino. *
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem : *
speret Israel in Domino;
Quia apud Dominum misericordia, *
et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel *
ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
Gloria Patri, &c

V. Oremus :
Fidelium, Deus, omnium conditor & redemptor, animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum; ut indulgentiam quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur : Qui vivis & regnas per omnia sæcula sæculorum.
R. Amen.

V. Fidelium animæ, + per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.

R. Et resurgant in gloriam. Amen.

Do feel free to make use of it if you want to !