Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/1068

 upon my  heart  lively  sentiments  of  faith,  hope,  and  charity, with true  repentance  for  my  sins  and  a  most  firm  desire  of amendment,  whilst  with  deep  affection  and  grief  of  soul  I consider  within  myself  and  mentally  contemplate  Thy  five most precious  wounds;  having  before  my  eyes  that  which the prophet  David  said  of  Thee,  O  good  Jesus:  "They  have pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet,  they  have  numbered  all  my bones."

JESUS, Who  didst  confound  all  Thine  enemies  by clothing  in  glory  and  splendor  that  body  which  had been the  victim  of  the  cruelty  of  man,  give  me  grace  to  die  to myself  that  I  may  rise  again  with  Thee,  and  after  Thy  likeness lead  a  new,  divine,  immortal  life :  new,  by  change  of  conduct, divine  by  the  generosity  and  purity  of  my  love,  immortal by  perseverance  in  well  doing. Work in  my  heart,  O Lord,  this  happy  change;  make  me  pass  from  death  to  life, from darkness  to  light,  from  a  life  full  of  imperfections  to  a life  perfect  and  worthy  of  Thee. Make me  go  on  from  light to light,  from  virtue  to  virtue,  till  I  come  at  last  to  Thee,  O God  of  virtue,  source  of  all  life,  and  of  all  light. To thee also I  turn,  O  holy  Virgin,  who  had  the  greatest  share  in the  sufferings  and  the  glory  of  thy  divine  Son;  deign  to  make me a  partaker  of  that  divine  joy  which  thou  didst  feel  on  the blessed day  of  His  Resurrection. Dry my  tears  and  free  my heart  from  all  oppressive  sadness. Let Thy  risen  Son  enter into my  heart,  as  through  the  closed  doors,  into  the  upper chamber. Let Him  say  to  me,  as  to  the  Apostles,  "Peace be  to  thee;"  let  Him  show  to  me,  as  to  Thomas,  His  sacred wounds; let  Him  abide  with  me  continually,  and  never  more depart from  me.

Y risen  Jesus,  I  devoutly  kiss  and  adore  the  glorious wound of  Thy  left  foot,  and  pray  Thee  to  give  me