Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/327

 test them  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  because they are  displeasing  to  Thee,  my  God. I renounce them  for  ever,  and  promise  to  be  faithful to Thee.

n Thee,  sweet  Jesus,  I  place  all  my  hope,  because  Thou  alone  art  my  salvation,  my  strength, my refuge,  and  the  foundation  of  all  my  happiness. Were it  not  for  the  confidence  I  place  in Thy  merits,  and  in  the  precious  blood  Thou  didst shed for  my  redemption,  I  would  not  presume  to partake  of  this  banquet. Encouraged, therefore, by Thy  goodness,  I  come  to  Thee  as  one  sick  to his  physician,  as  a  condemned  criminal  to  his powerful intercessor. Heal me  as  my  physician, and as  my  powerful  advocate  deliver  me  from the sentence  of  sin  and  death. It is  in  Thy  mercy that I  put  all  my  trust. Have pity,  therefore,  O Jesus,  on  me,  and  save  me,  for  Thou  forsakest none that  place  their  hope  in  Thee.

divine Redeemer,  how  strong  was  the  force of Thy  love,  that,  being  about  to  depart  from this world  to  Thy  eternal  Father,  Thou  didst  provide for  us  this  divine  banquet,  enriched  with  all heavenly sweetness! It was  through  an  excess of Thy  love  that  Thou  hast  left  us  Thy  body  and blood for  the  food  and  nourishment  of  our  souls; that, as  Thou  didst  unite  Thyself  to  our  human-