Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/1055

 like to  be  found  at  the  hour  of  your  death. We ought, said a  great  saint,  to  ask  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  the grace to  repair  all  the  spiritual  losses  we  have  sustained through our  negligence. We should  beseech  Him,  in  the name and  through  the  merits  of  this  divine  Saviour,  to enable  us  to  attain  that  degree  of  perfection  to  which  He wished  to  conduct  us,  if  we  had  corresponded  with  fidelity. This practice  suits  particularly  the  end  of  the  year.

In thanksgiving  to  almighty  God,  for  the  spiritual  and temporal blessings  bestowed  on  you,  on  your  parents,  on all  mankind,  during  the  past  year,  recite  with  lively  sentiments of  gratitude  the  ''Te  Deum  or  Magnificat. ''

And in  expiation  of  your  infidelities,  recite  the  Miserere.

MY God! another year  is  added  to  the  number  of  those for which  I  am  accountable  to  Thee. Well may  I recount  them  all  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul,  for  they  have been filled  with  infidelities  and  ingratitude. Thou hast  granted them to  me  to  know,  to  love,  and  serve  Thee,  and  every  one of them  brings  to  my  recollection  numberless  omissions  of these  essential  duties. Have mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  have mercy on  me,  for  I  have  no  hope  but  in  Thy  mercy. It now offers me  this  new  year  to  repair  the  evils  and  retrieve  the losses of  those  which  are  past. Grant, O  Lord,  that  it  be entirely  consecrated  to  Thy  glory,  sanctified  by  Thy  love, and wholly  employed  in  Thy  service.

{[di|O}} MOST sweet  Jesus,  how  glorious  is  that  name  which is given  to  Thee  this  day! I rejoice  that  it  is  not  borne by Thee  a  mere  empty  name,  the  shadow  of  a  name,  as  others have borne  it;  but  a  name  full  of  truth,  and  of  all  perfection.

I thank  Thee,  O  good  Jesus,  for  the  will  which  Thou  hadst to save  us,  accepting  the  office,  with  the  name,  of  Saviour; fulfil it,  O  Lord,  effectually  in  me;  and  seeing  Thou  art  Jesus, Esto mihi  Jesus.    Be  to  me  Jesus,  be  my  Saviour. Amen.

O blessed  Virgin,  beseech  thy  Son  to  imprint  in  my  heart that esteem  and  love  of  this  holy  name,  which  He  imprinted in thine.

May the  adorable  name  of  Jesus  be  the  sweet  and  daily