Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/580



GOD of  all  holiness,  infinitely  pure  and  adorable  Being! how great  must  be  Thy  horror  of  the  least  stain  of  sin, since Thou  punishest  so  rigorously  in  the  flames  of  purgatory the venial  faults  of  those  whom  Thou  so  tenderly  lovest. Ah! mercifully enlighten  my  understanding,  that  the  torments Thou  inflictest  on  the  least  offence  in  the  other  world, may teach  me  the  enormity  of  sin,  and  penetrate  my  heart with compassion  for  those  souls  who  are  now  enduring  inexpressible pains  for  such  failings  as  perhaps  I  too  often  look on as  trivial. My God,  though  Thy  justice  banishes  them from that  kingdom  where  nothing  defiled  can  enter,  yet surely Thy  mercy  has  not  forgotten  them;  no,  Thou  art too good,  too  compassionate  to  abandon  the  work  of  Thine own hands. Though the  season  for  merit  and  repentance is now  past  for  them,  yet  Thou  hast  left  them  a  resource in the  prayers  of  Thy  servants  on  earth. Despise not,  then, O Lord,  the  supplication  which  I,  Thy  unworthy  child, now make  for  those  who  can  no  longer  implore  Thy  mercy for themselves. Remember, O  infinite  Goodness,  that  they are all  the  work  of  Thy  hands,  redeemed  by  the  precious blood of  Thine  only  Son;  consider  that  they  are  the  objects of Thine  infinite  love,  who  burn  with  the  most  ardent  desire to be  united  to  Thee. Have mercy  on  them,  then,  O  infinite Mercy! and for  Thine  own  sake  stretch  forth  to  their  relief those sacred  hands  by  which  they  were  formed,  and  apply to them  once  more  the  merits  of  that  adorable  blood  by which  they  were  redeemed. I most  humbly  offer  up,  to implore  this  favor,  the  adorable  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  in union  with  all  the  Masses  which  will  be  celebrated  throughout the  world  to-day.

In union,  also,  with  the  infinite  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  I offer  all  my  prayers,  works,  and  sufferings  this  day  for  the relief of  the  holy  souls.

Mercifully accept  this  oblation,  O  Lord,  on  behalf  of all  who  now  suffer  in  purgatory,  particularly  those  for whom Thou  desirest  I  should  pray — those  who  are  most dear to  me — those  to  whose  sufferings  I  may  have  been  in any  respect  accessory — those  who  are  most  forgotten  by others,  and  who  have  no  one  to  pray  for  them. Give them all speedy  repose  and  eternal  rest, O merciful  Father  of  all mankind, and  give  me  the  grace  to  spend  this  day  in  such  a manner  that  through  Thy  infinite  goodness,  I  may  obtain the relief  of  these  suffering  and  blessed  souls.